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Dumped
Who would have known that the football star and the town queer would fall in love?
Wedding planner, Alex Haynes, is left heartbroken and humiliated when his fiancé leaves him at the altar. Too ashamed to show his face in Manhattan again, Alex flees for his upstate hometown and vows never to plan another wedding again. When his best friend announces her engagement, she begs him to reconsider his decision. Torn between his duty as BFF and his newly acquired cynicism for love, Alex reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that by agreeing to do so, he’s also agreeing to work with his high school bully, Hank Morrison.
Once a college football star heading for greatness, Hank Morrison now runs the inn he inherited from his aunt in the small town of Redwood. The problem is, his aunt’s beloved inn isn’t getting business and with the bank threatening repossession, Hank needs to come up with a way to acquire money fast. When his high school nemesis and first love interest, Alex shows up wanting to plan a wedding at the inn, he can’t turn down the kind of money on offer. Even if it means having to deal with the uptight wedding planner who always thought he was too good for him.
Opposites in every way, Alex can't ever imagine hunky straight Hank ever being anything to him. Until he finds out Hank isn't so straight after all. Especially after all those years he made his life hell. Tensions run high between the pair as they're forced into close proximity due to their working relationship. It also means that they can't help getting to know each other and when they find out they aren't as different as they once thought, things become complicated.
Wedding planner, Alex Haynes, is left heartbroken and humiliated when his fiancé leaves him at the altar. Too ashamed to show his face in Manhattan again, Alex flees for his upstate hometown and vows never to plan another wedding again. When his best friend announces her engagement, she begs him to reconsider his decision. Torn between his duty as BFF and his newly acquired cynicism for love, Alex reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that by agreeing to do so, he’s also agreeing to work with his high school bully, Hank Morrison.
Once a college football star heading for greatness, Hank Morrison now runs the inn he inherited from his aunt in the small town of Redwood. The problem is, his aunt’s beloved inn isn’t getting business and with the bank threatening repossession, Hank needs to come up with a way to acquire money fast. When his high school nemesis and first love interest, Alex shows up wanting to plan a wedding at the inn, he can’t turn down the kind of money on offer. Even if it means having to deal with the uptight wedding planner who always thought he was too good for him.
Opposites in every way, Alex can't ever imagine hunky straight Hank ever being anything to him. Until he finds out Hank isn't so straight after all. Especially after all those years he made his life hell. Tensions run high between the pair as they're forced into close proximity due to their working relationship. It also means that they can't help getting to know each other and when they find out they aren't as different as they once thought, things become complicated.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2018
152 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 15, 2019
When i started reading this book, I said:
Let this be a win. You know i need a win.
At 10% i said:
20% I said: This is a test, right?
45% I decided to call it:
Time of death at 45%.
It is official, the book Gods have abandoned me! I have been turned into a nit-picking bitter Quinine.
I need a break; I need an amazing book.
The story is one misunderstanding after another, making assumptions and some stiff dialogue. And this:
Thick tension loomed in the air, making it difficult for Hank to breathe.
All the breath whooshed out of Hank’s lungs as though Alex had punched him.
He fisted both hands in Hanks’s shirt, their breath mingling.
And everyone and their grandmother keeps telling the MCs how they belong together. Lawd! Let them find out by themselves. Then when they decide they have been the one since high school, Yay! Finally, then poof! No Chemistry! LAWD! LAWD! REALLY? LIKE REALLY?
Let this be a win. You know i need a win.
At 10% i said:
20% I said: This is a test, right?
45% I decided to call it:
Time of death at 45%.
It is official, the book Gods have abandoned me! I have been turned into a nit-picking bitter Quinine.
I need a break; I need an amazing book.
The story is one misunderstanding after another, making assumptions and some stiff dialogue. And this:
Thick tension loomed in the air, making it difficult for Hank to breathe.
All the breath whooshed out of Hank’s lungs as though Alex had punched him.
He fisted both hands in Hanks’s shirt, their breath mingling.
And everyone and their grandmother keeps telling the MCs how they belong together. Lawd! Let them find out by themselves. Then when they decide they have been the one since high school, Yay! Finally, then poof! No Chemistry! LAWD! LAWD! REALLY? LIKE REALLY?
September 13, 2018
Alex Haynes has everything he ever dreamed of:
A rich and handsome fiancé, a fast paced big city life and a successful business as a wedding planer for the rich elite of New York City.
His dreams turn into a nightmare, however, when said fiancé doesn't show up on their own fairytale wedding.
His heart shattered and his reputation destroyed, Alex flees back to his hometown and moves in with his mom and sister, eating ice cream, feeling sorry for himself and vowing to never plan another wedding in his life.
His best friend Hazel pulls him out of his funk when she announces her own wedding - and begs Alex to do his wedding planning magic once more for her.
Hardly able to say no, Alex starts planning and runs into his high school bully Hank, who now runs the beautiful Lakeside Inn, where Hazel wants her wedding to take place.
Getting to know the adult Hank and working with him on making Hazel's dream come true, their hostility turns into friendship.
And Hank possibly isn't the homophobic bully Alex remembers him as after all.
This is a very, very beautiful and absolutely romantic story, with amazing characters and well developed conflicts.
I'm usually not a fan of characters who identify as high-strung and high maintenance twinks, but Alex is a pretty decent guy when he isn't having a dramatic meltdown, which - yes - happened from time to time.
Alex' fate is very very sad and actually had me rooting for him throughout the story. I mean, what's worse than having a wedding planner who makes other people's weddings lasting memories, be set up at his own wedding? The humiliation alone had me cringe.
And Hank is simply the PERFECT romance character. He ALWAYS said the right thing and acted supportive and gentle. BUT I especially liked that he didn't shy away from a fight with Alex when Alex' mistrust got the better of him. Hank *might* be bordering on naïve, a bit
But still, Alex and Hank fit together very beautifully and it's heartwarming to see that Alex' fairytale happy ending wasn't as a big city socialite with a trophy boyfriend, but as
And even though I found myself shaking my head at some of their conflicts (which were mostly based on a lack of communication), looking back, I found them all well developed and believable. I still can't believe how Hank handled things with his brother, but it shows that family and loyalty mean everything to him.
So there, 5 stars!
And yeah, the book has one of the worst titles... Dumped. That's like calling a delicious chocolate cake 'garbage', LOL. Just saying.
A rich and handsome fiancé, a fast paced big city life and a successful business as a wedding planer for the rich elite of New York City.
His dreams turn into a nightmare, however, when said fiancé doesn't show up on their own fairytale wedding.
His heart shattered and his reputation destroyed, Alex flees back to his hometown and moves in with his mom and sister, eating ice cream, feeling sorry for himself and vowing to never plan another wedding in his life.
His best friend Hazel pulls him out of his funk when she announces her own wedding - and begs Alex to do his wedding planning magic once more for her.
Hardly able to say no, Alex starts planning and runs into his high school bully Hank, who now runs the beautiful Lakeside Inn, where Hazel wants her wedding to take place.
Getting to know the adult Hank and working with him on making Hazel's dream come true, their hostility turns into friendship.
And Hank possibly isn't the homophobic bully Alex remembers him as after all.
This is a very, very beautiful and absolutely romantic story, with amazing characters and well developed conflicts.
I'm usually not a fan of characters who identify as high-strung and high maintenance twinks, but Alex is a pretty decent guy when he isn't having a dramatic meltdown, which - yes - happened from time to time.
Alex' fate is very very sad and actually had me rooting for him throughout the story. I mean, what's worse than having a wedding planner who makes other people's weddings lasting memories, be set up at his own wedding? The humiliation alone had me cringe.
And Hank is simply the PERFECT romance character. He ALWAYS said the right thing and acted supportive and gentle. BUT I especially liked that he didn't shy away from a fight with Alex when Alex' mistrust got the better of him. Hank *might* be bordering on naïve, a bit
But still, Alex and Hank fit together very beautifully and it's heartwarming to see that Alex' fairytale happy ending wasn't as a big city socialite with a trophy boyfriend, but as
And even though I found myself shaking my head at some of their conflicts (which were mostly based on a lack of communication), looking back, I found them all well developed and believable. I still can't believe how Hank handled things with his brother, but it shows that family and loyalty mean everything to him.
So there, 5 stars!
And yeah, the book has one of the worst titles... Dumped. That's like calling a delicious chocolate cake 'garbage', LOL. Just saying.
June 27, 2018
Rolling my eyeballs so hard that if anyone sees me, they'll think I'm possessed!!
The HEA was a good one, it was, so there is THAT! BUT, considering the fact that this book opened with a failed engagement (and Alex left at the altar), you'd think the HEA would give us an ACTUAL wedding (instead of a marriage proposal/engagement)!! Don't get me wrong, I am positive Alex and Hank WILL get married and it'll be awesome, but again, this should have ended with an actual wedding, not another engagement; we needed to see Hank and Alex MARRIED!! All in all, this book was a train wreck and I believe this author is an absolute novice, either at writing in general or at writing M/M books!! I DO think beginner M/M lovers WILL like this book, because frankly this fluff and fodder might satisfy the sweet tooth, but once they know much better, will realize this book is pretty ridiculous :-/!! I have to be honest ... and I was!!
OH and HANK NEVER BULLIED ALEX!!!!!!
P.S. There are quite a few updates to scroll through if you're interested to know more about why I just did NOT like this book o__O!!
*********************************
Borrowed this on Kindle Unlimited because I was entirely too wary of this book and this author, and decided to give it a try before purchasing!! Thank G-d for Kindle Unlimited, because I will NOT be purchasing this book after I return it [something I do when I adore a book I was initially wary about and borrowed from Kindle Unlimited]!!
That said, I MIGHT give this author's books a try again but ONLY if they're on Kindle Unlimited; borrowing is enough for me with this one!!
I do have to ask though ... WHY ON EARTH are the chapter titles on separate pages from the beginning of each chapter?!!? Example: "Chapter One" is on a page all of its own and the chapter actually begins on the following page!! I have to wonder if it's to pad/add more pages to the book, given that every page-read counts when borrowed from Kindle Unlimited o__O!! NOT appreciating that move, by the way!!
****************
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
I will always state when I borrowed something from Kindle Unlimited and whether I purchased it afterward or not! Why? Well, if I've borrowed something from KU, it - by default - means I am very unsure of either the author (if that author is new to me) or that specific book (in general)! I ADORE purchasing and owning my books, BUT for books or authors I'm unsure of, KU is a phenomenal way to try before committing!
Regardless, it means I'm very much on the fence, for whatever reason!
I'll highlight the outcome either way ... I'll either be glad it was on KU so I could give it back, or I'll have ADORED it and will decided to purchase right after borrowing :-)!!
I think it's a nice way to keep track; it might help someone else who's on the fence!
The HEA was a good one, it was, so there is THAT! BUT, considering the fact that this book opened with a failed engagement (and Alex left at the altar), you'd think the HEA would give us an ACTUAL wedding (instead of a marriage proposal/engagement)!! Don't get me wrong, I am positive Alex and Hank WILL get married and it'll be awesome, but again, this should have ended with an actual wedding, not another engagement; we needed to see Hank and Alex MARRIED!! All in all, this book was a train wreck and I believe this author is an absolute novice, either at writing in general or at writing M/M books!! I DO think beginner M/M lovers WILL like this book, because frankly this fluff and fodder might satisfy the sweet tooth, but once they know much better, will realize this book is pretty ridiculous :-/!! I have to be honest ... and I was!!
OH and HANK NEVER BULLIED ALEX!!!!!!
P.S. There are quite a few updates to scroll through if you're interested to know more about why I just did NOT like this book o__O!!
*********************************
Borrowed this on Kindle Unlimited because I was entirely too wary of this book and this author, and decided to give it a try before purchasing!! Thank G-d for Kindle Unlimited, because I will NOT be purchasing this book after I return it [something I do when I adore a book I was initially wary about and borrowed from Kindle Unlimited]!!
That said, I MIGHT give this author's books a try again but ONLY if they're on Kindle Unlimited; borrowing is enough for me with this one!!
I do have to ask though ... WHY ON EARTH are the chapter titles on separate pages from the beginning of each chapter?!!? Example: "Chapter One" is on a page all of its own and the chapter actually begins on the following page!! I have to wonder if it's to pad/add more pages to the book, given that every page-read counts when borrowed from Kindle Unlimited o__O!! NOT appreciating that move, by the way!!
****************
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
I will always state when I borrowed something from Kindle Unlimited and whether I purchased it afterward or not! Why? Well, if I've borrowed something from KU, it - by default - means I am very unsure of either the author (if that author is new to me) or that specific book (in general)! I ADORE purchasing and owning my books, BUT for books or authors I'm unsure of, KU is a phenomenal way to try before committing!
Regardless, it means I'm very much on the fence, for whatever reason!
I'll highlight the outcome either way ... I'll either be glad it was on KU so I could give it back, or I'll have ADORED it and will decided to purchase right after borrowing :-)!!
I think it's a nice way to keep track; it might help someone else who's on the fence!
November 20, 2023
I think I’m being pretty generous with 2⭐️ I choose to believe this was written by a teenager, I’ve a headache from rolling my eyes throughout!
February 17, 2022
I loved this book the first time I read it and I loved it just as much the second time around.
Sure there's a whole lot of non communication going on between Alex and Hank and Alex is very dramatic with a tendency to run instead of talking things trough. And let's not talk about the title. However, it's such a sweet and magnificent love story. Hank might be one of my favorite book characters ever. He's gentle and sweet and just a little naive.
Reread 2022-02-17
What I said still stands
Sure there's a whole lot of non communication going on between Alex and Hank and Alex is very dramatic with a tendency to run instead of talking things trough. And let's not talk about the title. However, it's such a sweet and magnificent love story. Hank might be one of my favorite book characters ever. He's gentle and sweet and just a little naive.
Reread 2022-02-17
What I said still stands
June 14, 2018
4.5 stars
A really good and solid read. Very plausible personalities. I loved them and at times they were so realistic flawed I loved them even more.
Alex returns to his family home after he is left at the altar. Humiliated to the bone he is done with everything. Home is not everything... bad memories from years ago.
There he meets one of his bully from school.
Hank has always eyes for Alex, but his attitude at school years ago made him unapproachable.
Maybe Alex can help him out with his business. He desperately needs an events-planner.
It had just perfectly the right amount of emotions, not too dramatic, nothing too much or too less of anything... it was completely right.
The length of the story was good. The way of writing was absolute appealing it kept me the fullest into the story. The story was good developed. The content and the course of the story was just wonderful. Again the personalities were excellent put down.
The whole package.... great!!
Kindly received an arc from the author
A really good and solid read. Very plausible personalities. I loved them and at times they were so realistic flawed I loved them even more.
Alex returns to his family home after he is left at the altar. Humiliated to the bone he is done with everything. Home is not everything... bad memories from years ago.
There he meets one of his bully from school.
Hank has always eyes for Alex, but his attitude at school years ago made him unapproachable.
Maybe Alex can help him out with his business. He desperately needs an events-planner.
It had just perfectly the right amount of emotions, not too dramatic, nothing too much or too less of anything... it was completely right.
The length of the story was good. The way of writing was absolute appealing it kept me the fullest into the story. The story was good developed. The content and the course of the story was just wonderful. Again the personalities were excellent put down.
The whole package.... great!!
Kindly received an arc from the author
July 22, 2018
I liked this a lot.
I'm sure my inner masochist liked the ex-drama, but that thread is a very minor part of the story. Otherwise this is well-paced, mostly low-stakes and very satisfying.
Recommended if you like lowish drama, appealing MCs and well-paced story telling.
Mike
I'm sure my inner masochist liked the ex-drama, but that thread is a very minor part of the story. Otherwise this is well-paced, mostly low-stakes and very satisfying.
Recommended if you like lowish drama, appealing MCs and well-paced story telling.
Mike
June 10, 2018
sweet and hopeful second chance romance, with a lovely HEA. realistic? not much, but who cares? it's a lovely story that melted my heart, just what I needed after a stressful day 😁
November 16, 2018
"Do you know where you belong now? he asked. Alex nodded "With you. Always with you"
This book gave me so many mushy feelings. I had such a stupid smile on my face reading this. Even though sometimes I wanted to shake them cause at times their constant denials that the other was into them was so frustrating. Other than that this was the exact gay boy fluff I needed in my life right now
May 12, 2020
I'm on the verge of DNF right now - b/c this audiobook is almost 9 hours and I'm 2 hours in and there's so much info dump about their past. And Alex is just so whiny (and not b/c he was left at the altar - that I could have understood but he's actually mature sounding when it's about his heartbreak - everything else makes me see why he was dumped in the first place). Like, he's an idiot.
Anyway, maybe I'll take a break and go back to listening to it. The narrator is NOT doing it for me.
Anyway, maybe I'll take a break and go back to listening to it. The narrator is NOT doing it for me.
January 9, 2021
Adorably cute, although it was a very “cookie cutter” story it still had its uniqueness. It kept me interested and entertained.
July 26, 2018
This was a nice story about a city boy (and wedding planner) who is dumped at the altar of his own wedding.
It is a typical KU read, nice while it lasts, without a big lasting impression.
I am a little bit disappointed, however.
In the beginning, the author sets the stage for a few very interesting plot twists and turns.
For example, the bed & breakfast, Hank, one of our main characters and former high school football player runs, after his aunts`death is financially struggling.
We learn, that his brother suddenly disappeared some time ago, taking along all the money, Hank made while playing football and we learn, that Hank always had a crush on Alex, trying to protect him when he was bullied by Hank`s football friends.
This is not, of course, how Alex remembers the story of his high school bullies, Hank being one of them...
The sad thing about this book is, that all that carefully laid out plots are not carefully executed.
Many of the twists from the beginning are just sorted out, passing by.
What could have been used very nicely to enhance the development of the story and our main characters is often just wasted.
For example, the issue of the financially struggling in
So, although I enjoyed the story overall, I am going with 3 stars here, because I think this had so much potential, that was unnecessary wasted.
Not a bad read at all, but not really satisfying in the end- at least for me!
It is a typical KU read, nice while it lasts, without a big lasting impression.
I am a little bit disappointed, however.
In the beginning, the author sets the stage for a few very interesting plot twists and turns.
For example, the bed & breakfast, Hank, one of our main characters and former high school football player runs, after his aunts`death is financially struggling.
We learn, that his brother suddenly disappeared some time ago, taking along all the money, Hank made while playing football and we learn, that Hank always had a crush on Alex, trying to protect him when he was bullied by Hank`s football friends.
This is not, of course, how Alex remembers the story of his high school bullies, Hank being one of them...
The sad thing about this book is, that all that carefully laid out plots are not carefully executed.
Many of the twists from the beginning are just sorted out, passing by.
What could have been used very nicely to enhance the development of the story and our main characters is often just wasted.
For example, the issue of the financially struggling in
So, although I enjoyed the story overall, I am going with 3 stars here, because I think this had so much potential, that was unnecessary wasted.
Not a bad read at all, but not really satisfying in the end- at least for me!
June 16, 2018
Alex was big time wedding planner. He loved helping people create their perfect day. That is, until his own big day got ruined by being stood up at the alter. He was depressed, embarrassed, and lost his love for planning weddings. 3 months later, his best friend asks him to plan her wedding and he can't refuse. She wants it done in the hometown where they grew up, and the owner of the inn now happens to be someone that Alex was afraid of because of bullying in high school.
Hank was always gay, but afraid to say anything because of how Alex was treated. He always admired him from afar, but Alex always thought he was trying to bully and intimidate him. They both have some trust issues, things to get over from the past, and a lack of communication, but when they finally acknowledge their feelings, they have the whole world opened to them.
I liked these two together. They both had things that needed to be worked on, but the other person was the one to help them get there. I liked the story line with the brother, and thought it was well orchestrated. I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC received by the author
Hank was always gay, but afraid to say anything because of how Alex was treated. He always admired him from afar, but Alex always thought he was trying to bully and intimidate him. They both have some trust issues, things to get over from the past, and a lack of communication, but when they finally acknowledge their feelings, they have the whole world opened to them.
I liked these two together. They both had things that needed to be worked on, but the other person was the one to help them get there. I liked the story line with the brother, and thought it was well orchestrated. I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC received by the author
July 6, 2018
I enjoyed this, despite not being new to the genre, as this book did something slightly different. It just showed a relationship progressing with history and baggage that had to be resolved to get to a HEA. That said, it is clear Hawkins is a new author as, evidently, she believes fiction means you can make anything up. This led to a glaring plot hole.
There was the usual manufactured conflict that required lack of communication to land , but Hawkins did make this believable by fleshing out characters who you could understand acting the way they did due to their baggage.
So, some fact checking, some beta readers who aren’t afraid to be critical and know the genre and Hawkins will be quite an author.
There was the usual manufactured conflict that required lack of communication to land , but Hawkins did make this believable by fleshing out characters who you could understand acting the way they did due to their baggage.
So, some fact checking, some beta readers who aren’t afraid to be critical and know the genre and Hawkins will be quite an author.
June 10, 2018
Hank and Alex
This was enjoyable. Friends to lovers romance. Hank was the jock and Alex the gay. They meet 10 years later, when Alex got left at the later and goes back to his home town. Alex is getting to plan his best friends wedding. The venue happens to be an unexpected surprise when he meets his high school nemesis Hank. No one knew Hank was hiding his true self all those years had a crush on Alex.
They had to learn to work together to build a working relationship. From there came an easy friendship.
What they needed to do next was trust and enjoy the connection .
Great easy writing and reading.
This was enjoyable. Friends to lovers romance. Hank was the jock and Alex the gay. They meet 10 years later, when Alex got left at the later and goes back to his home town. Alex is getting to plan his best friends wedding. The venue happens to be an unexpected surprise when he meets his high school nemesis Hank. No one knew Hank was hiding his true self all those years had a crush on Alex.
They had to learn to work together to build a working relationship. From there came an easy friendship.
What they needed to do next was trust and enjoy the connection .
Great easy writing and reading.
July 11, 2018
Enjoyable
April 27, 2020
3.5 stars
Audiobook
Audiobook
October 21, 2025
**3.5 stars**
June 16, 2018
A sweet, feel good read. Liked both Alex and Hank and all the secondary characters. Great afternoon read!!
June 22, 2018
It was ok. I liked the idea behind the set, the high school "bully" and the quintessential gay theater kid who he "picked on". I even liked the twist that Hank wasn't even really a bully, just a closeted gay boy with a crush and a group of assholes for friends. But I felt the execution left something to be desired.
I felt that the end was dragged out. I really didn't like Alex much by the end of this. He was playing games with Hank and being passive aggressive and whiny. Hank was great, he listened to what Alex told him and stayed away like he was told. Alex was dumb for thinking Hank would come for him after he told him not to. I'm glad that there were people around telling him how dumb this one but the climax was drawn out for no obvious reason and it just got irritating after the third time someone tells Alex to stop being a bitch and go apologize.
Also I wished that the reveal that Hank was gay had been handled differently than using Paul (his...weird friend with benefits that came out of nowhere to surprise him? Even though that didn't seem to be their arrangement at all and he wasn't mentioned or thought of in chapters). I also wish that Alex's discovery that Hank wasn't a bully, but a crushing closeted teen, was a bigger...thing. This book felt kind of shallow. I don't know. There were moments where I thought the author should have dug deeper and didn't, or made a choice that would have a bigger impact but chose a safer plot path.
Also, Hank is stupid for trusting his brother so easily and forcefully after what happened with literally no explanation. Alex was right on that one. And that irritated me. So both characters irritated me at different points for different reasons and that is sometimes fine, but not when your plot is otherwise weak and simple. This was fine.
I felt that the end was dragged out. I really didn't like Alex much by the end of this. He was playing games with Hank and being passive aggressive and whiny. Hank was great, he listened to what Alex told him and stayed away like he was told. Alex was dumb for thinking Hank would come for him after he told him not to. I'm glad that there were people around telling him how dumb this one but the climax was drawn out for no obvious reason and it just got irritating after the third time someone tells Alex to stop being a bitch and go apologize.
Also I wished that the reveal that Hank was gay had been handled differently than using Paul (his...weird friend with benefits that came out of nowhere to surprise him? Even though that didn't seem to be their arrangement at all and he wasn't mentioned or thought of in chapters). I also wish that Alex's discovery that Hank wasn't a bully, but a crushing closeted teen, was a bigger...thing. This book felt kind of shallow. I don't know. There were moments where I thought the author should have dug deeper and didn't, or made a choice that would have a bigger impact but chose a safer plot path.
Also, Hank is stupid for trusting his brother so easily and forcefully after what happened with literally no explanation. Alex was right on that one. And that irritated me. So both characters irritated me at different points for different reasons and that is sometimes fine, but not when your plot is otherwise weak and simple. This was fine.
June 16, 2018
3.5 von 5 Sterne
Ausgerechnet am Tag der Hochzeit bekommt Alex' Verlobter Panik und kalte Füße. Kann es noch schlimmer kommen als vor dem Altar versetzt zu werden? Ja, wenn man Hochzeitsplaner ist und eigentlich nur auf diesen Tag hingearbeitet hat. Alex Haynes flieht zurück in seine Heimatstadt - in die Provinz. Dort leckt er erstmal seine Wunden, verkriecht sich bei seiner Mutter und seiner Schwester. Erst seine beste Freundin schafft ihn aus seinem Jammertal zu befreien. Denn Hazel braucht einen Weddingplaner - und das pronto.
Zu allem Übel will Hazel auch noch in ihrer gemeinsamen Heimatstadt heiraten und die Lokalität gehört inzwischen Hank Morrison. Jemand, den Alex eigentlich nie wieder sehen wollte. Gehörte der sportliche Hank doch früher zu seinen Widersachern und war auch ein Grund für Alex' Flucht in die Großstadt.
Hank fühlt sich seiner Pflegemutter verpflichtet und scheint doch das geerbte Inn zu verlieren. Der finanzielle Druck ist unglaublich hoch und kaum zu stemmen. Doch diese Hochzeit, die Alex planen soll, scheint Rettung in schwerer Not zu sein. Hank will mit Alex zusammenarbeiten und mit der Zeit kommen die Geheimnisse der Vergangenheit auch ans Licht. Hank war zwar Footballspieler, doch er war nicht wirklich Alex' Feind. Ganz im Gegenteil. Doch in seiner Jungend konnte Hank nicht die Courage aufbringen und sich outen.
Alex und Hank kommen sich näher, doch Alex' Bruch mit seinem Verlobten und Hanks Geheimniskrämerei machen es schwierig.
Die Geschichte wird sehr flüssig erzählt und geizt weder mit Humor, noch mit Drama. Ja, auch die Erotik kommt nicht zu kurz, nimmt jetzt aber keinen zu großen Teil der Geschichte ein. Leider plätschert sie teilweise halt einfach nur so dahin. Vieles ist so vorhersehbar und ein wenig hat mir hier die Spannung gefehlt. Einzig der ältere Bruder von Hank und seine Taten in der Vergangenheit bringen etwas Spannung hinein.
Fokus liegt bei dieser Geschichte ganz klar auf Hank und Alex. Leider kreisen sie eben nur um sich und auch wenn die Vergangenheit aufgearbeitet wird, bleibt ein etwas unbefriedigendes Gefühl zurück. Aber für Zwischendurch kann diese Geschichte durchaus gelesen werden.
Ausgerechnet am Tag der Hochzeit bekommt Alex' Verlobter Panik und kalte Füße. Kann es noch schlimmer kommen als vor dem Altar versetzt zu werden? Ja, wenn man Hochzeitsplaner ist und eigentlich nur auf diesen Tag hingearbeitet hat. Alex Haynes flieht zurück in seine Heimatstadt - in die Provinz. Dort leckt er erstmal seine Wunden, verkriecht sich bei seiner Mutter und seiner Schwester. Erst seine beste Freundin schafft ihn aus seinem Jammertal zu befreien. Denn Hazel braucht einen Weddingplaner - und das pronto.
Zu allem Übel will Hazel auch noch in ihrer gemeinsamen Heimatstadt heiraten und die Lokalität gehört inzwischen Hank Morrison. Jemand, den Alex eigentlich nie wieder sehen wollte. Gehörte der sportliche Hank doch früher zu seinen Widersachern und war auch ein Grund für Alex' Flucht in die Großstadt.
Hank fühlt sich seiner Pflegemutter verpflichtet und scheint doch das geerbte Inn zu verlieren. Der finanzielle Druck ist unglaublich hoch und kaum zu stemmen. Doch diese Hochzeit, die Alex planen soll, scheint Rettung in schwerer Not zu sein. Hank will mit Alex zusammenarbeiten und mit der Zeit kommen die Geheimnisse der Vergangenheit auch ans Licht. Hank war zwar Footballspieler, doch er war nicht wirklich Alex' Feind. Ganz im Gegenteil. Doch in seiner Jungend konnte Hank nicht die Courage aufbringen und sich outen.
Alex und Hank kommen sich näher, doch Alex' Bruch mit seinem Verlobten und Hanks Geheimniskrämerei machen es schwierig.
Die Geschichte wird sehr flüssig erzählt und geizt weder mit Humor, noch mit Drama. Ja, auch die Erotik kommt nicht zu kurz, nimmt jetzt aber keinen zu großen Teil der Geschichte ein. Leider plätschert sie teilweise halt einfach nur so dahin. Vieles ist so vorhersehbar und ein wenig hat mir hier die Spannung gefehlt. Einzig der ältere Bruder von Hank und seine Taten in der Vergangenheit bringen etwas Spannung hinein.
Fokus liegt bei dieser Geschichte ganz klar auf Hank und Alex. Leider kreisen sie eben nur um sich und auch wenn die Vergangenheit aufgearbeitet wird, bleibt ein etwas unbefriedigendes Gefühl zurück. Aber für Zwischendurch kann diese Geschichte durchaus gelesen werden.
June 10, 2018
This is my first book by Lucy Hawkins and I will definitely be looking out for her work in the future. We have a bit of drama, angst, sweetness and love.
Alex is a wedding planner living in Manhattan who is left at the altar by his boyfriend of four years. Escaping the humiliation of a planned left at his own nuptials, he goes back to his home town. A couple months on and his best friend comes to him asking the big question - will you plan my wedding? Who can say no to their best friend? This is how he meets Hank, the man now running the inn where the wedding is to be held, his high school bully.
Hank now runs the inn his aunt left to him, though for how much longer is unknown with so much debt attached. Along comes Alex, wedding planner who is willing to pay the big bucks to have the ceremony and guests to stay at the inn. Possibly a life line for him, he can't say no and the two create a tentative friendship whilst attraction bubbles between them.
We feel so bad for Alex in the beginning and how he's been left but admire his he's willing to do something he's begun to fear for his friend.
A big part of this story is how things that you perceived in the past may not have appeared as you thought so misconceptions and judgements are held against people. There is forgiveness, apologies, friendship and love abound throughout the story. The MC's are strong characters but also come to show a lot of emotion to each other. Is beautiful reading how their relationship evolves through tentative friendship to the love they come to feel.
The friends and family are entertaining and supportive, often setting the men straight on what they're doing or not doing.
The lake which the inn is located in sounds absolutely stunning, especially with the little addition Hank makes on Alex's behalf just in time for the wedding.
I cannot recommend this book enough, it's really enjoyable with a little bit of everything. I'd say enemies to friends to lovers .
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Alex is a wedding planner living in Manhattan who is left at the altar by his boyfriend of four years. Escaping the humiliation of a planned left at his own nuptials, he goes back to his home town. A couple months on and his best friend comes to him asking the big question - will you plan my wedding? Who can say no to their best friend? This is how he meets Hank, the man now running the inn where the wedding is to be held, his high school bully.
Hank now runs the inn his aunt left to him, though for how much longer is unknown with so much debt attached. Along comes Alex, wedding planner who is willing to pay the big bucks to have the ceremony and guests to stay at the inn. Possibly a life line for him, he can't say no and the two create a tentative friendship whilst attraction bubbles between them.
We feel so bad for Alex in the beginning and how he's been left but admire his he's willing to do something he's begun to fear for his friend.
A big part of this story is how things that you perceived in the past may not have appeared as you thought so misconceptions and judgements are held against people. There is forgiveness, apologies, friendship and love abound throughout the story. The MC's are strong characters but also come to show a lot of emotion to each other. Is beautiful reading how their relationship evolves through tentative friendship to the love they come to feel.
The friends and family are entertaining and supportive, often setting the men straight on what they're doing or not doing.
The lake which the inn is located in sounds absolutely stunning, especially with the little addition Hank makes on Alex's behalf just in time for the wedding.
I cannot recommend this book enough, it's really enjoyable with a little bit of everything. I'd say enemies to friends to lovers .
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
October 22, 2018
Well, there's melodrama and then there's melodrama. And hiding under all that melodrama, cheesiness, cliched dialogue and that extra seasoning of convenient story-telling is a somewhat readable book. At least it wasn't so bad that I had to dnf, though I was fairly close at times.
The plot was so convenient I am fairly sure there must be a handbook floating out there somewhere which the author has had followed to a T. Its like a checklist that had been marked off along the way. MCs meeting in a surprising manner? Checked. MCs disliking each other at first? Checked. MCs realising they have feels for each other as time goes by? Checked. Misunderstandings that can either bolster their relationship or tear it apart? Checked. Obligatory make up sex? Checked. I have read many a romance novel that has followed that checklist mind you, but add in all that cringe-worthy melodrama and cheesiness, and cliched as hell dialogue, this might as well have been something to make teens and tweens swoon and go ooh and ahh.
And lets not forget the cookie-cutter, stereotypical caricatures of MCs we have here. Football jock, in the closet and afraid of being found out he was gay while young, has surprising (gay) talents like cooking and baking. And the other a flighty, almost obnoxious, sensitive and oftentimes high strung. The funny thing is, the two met many, many years after high school and yet at times they sound like they are not even out of middle school as they came across as somewhat immature. And best of all, the the victim falling in love with his bully angle that many love? Totally misleading, as the bullying never even happened to begin with .
Overall not as bad as some books I had attempted, but still at times it elicits a "why did I even bother?" out of me.
The plot was so convenient I am fairly sure there must be a handbook floating out there somewhere which the author has had followed to a T. Its like a checklist that had been marked off along the way. MCs meeting in a surprising manner? Checked. MCs disliking each other at first? Checked. MCs realising they have feels for each other as time goes by? Checked. Misunderstandings that can either bolster their relationship or tear it apart? Checked. Obligatory make up sex? Checked. I have read many a romance novel that has followed that checklist mind you, but add in all that cringe-worthy melodrama and cheesiness, and cliched as hell dialogue, this might as well have been something to make teens and tweens swoon and go ooh and ahh.
And lets not forget the cookie-cutter, stereotypical caricatures of MCs we have here. Football jock, in the closet and afraid of being found out he was gay while young, has surprising (gay) talents like cooking and baking. And the other a flighty, almost obnoxious, sensitive and oftentimes high strung. The funny thing is, the two met many, many years after high school and yet at times they sound like they are not even out of middle school as they came across as somewhat immature. And best of all, the the victim falling in love with his bully angle that many love? Totally misleading, as the bullying never even happened to begin with .
Overall not as bad as some books I had attempted, but still at times it elicits a "why did I even bother?" out of me.
June 4, 2023
This was an ok read. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it didn't really disappoint either. I didn't have many expectations going into it to begin with, though. I think this has a lot of very stereotypical stuff in it, like a high struck twink, a jock turns farm boy in a small town, gays loving rom coms and being better at fashion or design, etc. But, I still liked the relationship between these two characters. It felt natural, which is good, even if I didn't love the way the author explained their relationship in the past. I'm very glad this wasn't a Glee situation where the bully is turned into a love interest, but something still felt a little icky.
I quite liked seeing how people's perceptions of things can cause them to have vastly different experiences and memories of an event. I fully sided with Alex about not trusting the brother who basically robbed Hank. Even if you knew the backstory of what happened, Hank should and would be understanding of putting some training wheels on first before everyone just goes full speed ahead with trusting him. I was infuriated that Hank couldn't see why Alex wanted to be cautious. But, I did enjoy some of the quiet moments they had together in-between all the drama. If you want a dumb, fun read, then this is fine. If you're looking for a more complex story, maybe move along to the next story.
I quite liked seeing how people's perceptions of things can cause them to have vastly different experiences and memories of an event. I fully sided with Alex about not trusting the brother who basically robbed Hank. Even if you knew the backstory of what happened, Hank should and would be understanding of putting some training wheels on first before everyone just goes full speed ahead with trusting him. I was infuriated that Hank couldn't see why Alex wanted to be cautious. But, I did enjoy some of the quiet moments they had together in-between all the drama. If you want a dumb, fun read, then this is fine. If you're looking for a more complex story, maybe move along to the next story.
August 9, 2019
I couldn't bring myself to rate this higher than an OK read because I just couldn't find much to like about Alex's character. He comes across as extremely shallow and materialistic more times than not and the extreme levels of self pity that pop up in a couple of places seemed way over the top and just made me like him even less. Initially, I really liked Hank's character. He is kind of stereotypical in that nice guy kind of way, but even he eventually pushed the boundaries between nice and doormat and just ended up being more doormat. Neither character showed any kind of real growth or development throughout the entire story. You get out of it the exact same characters you stared with.
Tie the lack of really liking either character by the end with some over the top break-up-because-I'm-too-mired-in-my-self-pity-fest-to-actually-communicate/get-back-together-and-everything-is-perfect-because-we-said-I-love-you and you end up with a book that is trying way too hard to be cute and sweet, but falls short.
Tie the lack of really liking either character by the end with some over the top break-up-because-I'm-too-mired-in-my-self-pity-fest-to-actually-communicate/get-back-together-and-everything-is-perfect-because-we-said-I-love-you and you end up with a book that is trying way too hard to be cute and sweet, but falls short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2024
I’m still in the middle of listening to the audiobook but I needed to get this out - the Daniel story line is the most frustrating thing I’ve ever “read”. He somehow stole $3M from his brother and yet Hank blindly trusts him? And then gets mad at Alex when he thinks it’s even a possibility Daniel took a missing check? Are you kidding me? And yet Alex is the one that seems to have to grovel when he finds it? An apology, sure. But OF COURSE the first person you’d think took it was the guy who stole THREE MILLION DOLLARS previously.
Honestly hating Hank and Daniel at this point.
Update: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Hank just randomly believes Alex’s ex that they’re back together. After like a few days? If I didn’t have less than an hour left, this would’ve been a DNF moment.
Honestly hating Hank and Daniel at this point.
Update: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Hank just randomly believes Alex’s ex that they’re back together. After like a few days? If I didn’t have less than an hour left, this would’ve been a DNF moment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2023
the best thing
About this book is the cover. I was good, getting into the story and liking the second-chance misunderstood-bully-gay-nerd trope until the brother, Daniel, came into the story. And he’s in it a LOT. So MC is in the NFL, prison brother comes along, steals all his money and jets. MC spends a year trying to find him, begs him to come back into his life, once he has his aunt’s failing business turned around, no questions asked. And by the end, Daniel is basically a hero. I never like when the MC is a doormat.
About this book is the cover. I was good, getting into the story and liking the second-chance misunderstood-bully-gay-nerd trope until the brother, Daniel, came into the story. And he’s in it a LOT. So MC is in the NFL, prison brother comes along, steals all his money and jets. MC spends a year trying to find him, begs him to come back into his life, once he has his aunt’s failing business turned around, no questions asked. And by the end, Daniel is basically a hero. I never like when the MC is a doormat.
May 30, 2023
This was so ridiculously bad and cheesy- only reason I don’t give it one star is that I reserve that for books with truly atrocious grammar or spelling. I listened to the the audio for this (albeit not raptly), but I didn’t notice any glaring issues.
June 11, 2018
This felt too long.
November 18, 2021
Author over uses cliches and the word Really? And all the characters do it.
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