Save the Date

by R.J. Groves

One dressmaker. One billionaire. Two broken hearts. How long could it last?

Darlington Vineyard is the perfect wedding venue, and Andie Gray has always made sure she had a date booked, with or without a fiance. Her dreams come true when she lands the perfect man to go with the perfect venue, but then she discovers he's not who she thought he was. All of a sudden love and fairy tales no longer make sense, leaving her questioning everything about her life...

Taylor Ballin knows what he wants, and love isn't it. He's been burned before, and it won't happen again. How was he to know that offering to pay for his sister's wedding would bring bridal seamstress Andie Gray, with her maddening allure, into his world and tear down the walls he'd built around his heart?

She's the kind of woman he's spent ten years avoiding, and he's everything her ex is. But the pull between them is unavoidable and neither of them can fight it. Perhaps a no-strings-attached kind of deal is exactly what they both need.

Or is it the one thing they should avoid?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2020

About the author

Australian author R.J. Groves has been passionate about writing since she could put pen to paper and can usually be found jotting plots and stories down on anything she can get her hands on. Describing herself as a mum, wife, author, and coffee lover, her other passions include music, cooking, books, adventures, and searching for plot bunnies in even the most mundane activities.

Reviews

[MarvelUsReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Save The Date is a quick read about a wedding dress seamstress finding love with a bachelor billionaire. While accompanying his sister bridal dress shopping, Taylor and Andie share a bumpy, yet captivating interaction. Both distrustful of relationships and initially hesitant towards love, their perspectives quickly evolve, as they build upon their relationship.

A storyline that maintained a very steady pace, leaving us craving intrigue, chemistry, and more depth to their personalities. We also sought for the action and resolution to unfold at a slower pace.

With that being said, we look forward to future books by R.J. Groves.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy'sThoughts]

3 For Real Saving The Date Stars
* * * Spoiler Free
Andie Gray bought the fairy tale story of what some little girls are fed. They will grow up, find love, have the wedding of her dreams...with roses, beautiful views, and perfect lighting. There will be a picture-perfect cake and everything will happen just as she was told...

Andie believed in this so much, she reserved Darlington Vineyard every two years with the intention of being married there to the perfect fella...When she found him.

Yes, that is correct...she would need to find him because she would reserve the place without the man. Not to worry, he would show up.

And he did.

He was wonderful, perfect and it was going to be the perfect wedding because...she had the perfect place, right...Well, not exactly, turns out Mr. Perfect isn't and the wedding is off...and so is the idea of love, being who she thought she was, and everything else.

Taylor Ballin is rich, really rich and he loves his sis so he is paying for her wedding. This brings him into Andie's
world as she is a wedding dress seamstress. He is full of himself and she is not interested but due to circumstances, they end up being around each other more than is good for them.

Expect fireworks

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Save the Date is a lovely romance that sweeps you away to every little girl's dream of their wedding day, princess dresses, walking down the aisle, and prince charming. The characters are realistic and well-written with intriguing backstories. The author's writing is magical and takes readers on a journey that is sure to leave them wanting more. 

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Perth, Save The Date, is a nice combination of the second chance at romance and billionaire tropes. Heroine Andie, who works in a bridal shop, is still licking her wounds after her engagement was broken six weeks earlier. She’s a strong character but definitely facing the once bitten, twice shy problem when it comes to dating wealthy businessmen. I quite liked Andie though to be honest I found some of her behaviour incredibly childish.
Taylor Ballin, Tay to his family and friends and determinedly single billionaire is just the sort of man to cause red lights to flash for Andie yet somehow these two find themselves on an incredibly uncomfortable date together. Neither wants a relationship and yet both of the, feel the pull. I found Tay a lot more real than Andie and while he did some pretty stupid things, he seemed a lot more human.
I liked the premise of this story. Second chance at love is a favourite and I thought that notion was drawn out well with plenty of heat between the protagonists. I also thought the story flowed well. It was an entertaining read, perfect for a relaxed weekend or beach read.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn’t all little girls dream of their weddings as a child! Princess dresses and walking down long aisles with rose petals being strewn about by a pretty little girl with a flower basket?
Andie Gray works in a Wedding Dress shop, but she takes her dream one step further and actually books a venue every 2 years whether she is in a relationship or not! Now that is wanting to make sure her ultimate wedding dream is going to be an actuality!
Her bubble is broken by a slime ball! She has her save the dates almost in he mail!

Taylor Baldwin is helping finance his little sisters wedding, but he doesn’t believe in love. He is a confirmed there is no way to attach yourself to a woman, he was burned but scorched!

Can these two people meet in the middle? The author does have a tremendous insight into the characters flow which takes the readers on a journey worth reading!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, R.J. Groves and R.J. Groves for the ARC of Save the Date.
This was a great way to spend a day. The story was everything a romance should be and even more.
The book is about Andie who is a seamstress that makes wedding dresses and the brother of one of her customers. Neither of them was looking for love but the best love stories start out that way.
This is from an author whom I have not read before but I will read more now. Thank you for taking me away for a day into the great tale you wrote!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received for review

2.5 stars

It was just meh. They were both all over the place and so much angstyness. It took forever to find out what her ex had done and even longer to find out what his issue in the past was.

[BP34 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andie and Taylor Will liven up your Kindle. They both have a lot of baggage from past relationships and aren't looking for another one. They are thrown together a lot because she is the bridal gown seamstress for his sister and he is paying for the wedding. They both have trust issues and she is insecure so this all adds to the drama. He is very wealthy and he never misses a chance to remind you of that fact. The book is a good read and the characters are well developed. He's definitely an alpha male who is hard to like at times. Lots of drama but chemistry wins out in the end. I read an arc via NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Ancillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so cute and such a good read.It tells the story of Andie a wedding dress seamstress and billionaire brother of one of her customer's. So they all not looking for a relationship but because they have to spend time together they end up falling for each other. Enjoyed this book so much. Recommended it and totally would read again. It's written so well and the characters are lovable. Huge thanks to the publisher for my eArc

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Save the Date by Australian author R. J. Groves is a totally enjoyable romance about Andie, a wedding dress seamstress and Taylor, the brother of one of her shop’s brides. Neither one is looking for a relationship, but they do end up spending a lot of time together because of his sister’s coming nuptials. The thing that struck me about the way this story is constructed is that the angst portrayed as the pair agonize over a most unwelcome but extremely strong attraction actually often is humorous. They are fighting preconceived notions about each other based on previous relationships, and neither one is very forthcoming with information so the misunderstanding is prolonged. The writing is good and the Australian punctuation was not a problem. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

[M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Groves has a gift for taking what seems like a straightforward story and pulling you in with characters you can’t help falling for and an emotional ride you can’t help getting swept up in. Andie and Taylor are so relatable in their reluctance and so well suited. The tension between them, both good and bad, flowed naturally and built beautifully to their happy ending. I’m very much looking forward to book two!

[SH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Save the Date has all the right ingredients for an enjoyable romance, with two characters reluctant to reveal their true feelings having been hurt in the past. Andie, who works in a bridal shop in Perth, Australia, is miserable, having broken up with her fiancée only six weeks earlier. When she meets Taylor Ballin, the billionaire brother of one of her clients, she is confused by her instantaneous feelings for him. Likewise, Taylor (Tay) is also reluctant to get emotionally involved with Andie but finds himself drawn to her from the start. Yet the more time they spend together, the more intense their feelings become.
Both Tay and Andie were great characters, each with their own personal baggage. The intensity of their feelings almost leapt from the pages. I found this such an easy read and enjoyed reading both points of views, alternating in a well-connected manner. A great read!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read a book before by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had wonderful characters and was an interesting romance.

Both Andie Gray and Taylor Ballin have been hurt by their exes and have trust issues. It was fun to watch them try to ignore the sparks and chemistry between them. I also enjoyed that Andie thought Taylor was an attractive, sexy, and arrogant man that could not possibly have feelings for her or be attracted to her.

Thank goodness they were constantly being thrown together because of Taylor's sister's wedding. Andie worked at the bridal shop where Libby bought her dress and ordered her tuxes.

This book was definitely a page turner with fun, interesting characters. I want to read more books by this author. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Leanne Lovegrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic contemporary romance! It had all the necessary ingredients for a fabulous read - sexy billionaire, innocent damaged heroine who is a wedding dress seamstress, loads of loving and plenty of reasons they can't be together. It was everything a romance should be and I simply adored it. And the best news - there is another book in this series coming soon. Highly recommend.

[TLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Save the Date is the first book in The Bridal Shop series. It was the first book I have read by this author. It was a short but easy book to read. The storyline was developed, and the characters were perfect for each other. The book draws you in and keeps your attention with all the emotions. I look forward to future books from this author.

[Cassandra's Rebellion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.

This book was so wonderful. I love the story line behind it. It was amazing. I would love to read more of this family. Definitely recommend.

[Becca Akins · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many scenes that I really enjoyed but the overall story wasn’t very memorable.

I received an e-arc via netgalley. This in no way affects my rating of this book.

[Kathryn Thomason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did somebody say cold shower...?
A cleverly composed novel, Rebecca captivates the audience, whilst addressing the subsequent struggle scorned lovers experience in new relationships.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This is a new author for me and I couldn't have enjoyed this book more. Andi runs a bridal shop and when a young woman comes in looking for the perfect dress, she brings her brother who is paying for it. Andi thinks he is an overbearing groom - however sparks fly and these two could not be more different. Both with baggage of past bad relationships - it was fun to see Tye and Andi fall in love. Great book! Can't wait for more from this author.

[Klynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully lighthearted contemporary romance between a quirky wedding dress seamstress and a grumpy billionaire. The book cover and blurb originally sucked me in and I'm so glad it did. I thoroughly enjoyed Save the Date and look forward to reading more from author R.J. Groves. A definite 4 stars in my book.

[Caroline David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves all the stars. It was so romantic and kind of cliche but not too cliche. It was such a beautiful story and it really came down to the last few pages to see what happened. it was so well-written and gosh, I just loved it. It was the romance I needed.

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

The more I think about "Save the Date," the more insufferable I find it to be. As a young girl, Andie Gray attended a wedding at Darlington Vineyard and instantly fell in love with its magic. Now older, she's made sure to have a date reserved there every two years, with or without a groom. It is revealed she has done this at least four times; eight years holding out hope that she will marry at this location. She thinks she has finally hit the jackpot with her Joseph, her fiance, but five months before the wedding, she discovers he's not who he said and calls off the wedding. She swears she has given up on love (and her venue!) but is that still the case after Taylor Ballin waltzes through her door? Andie, a seamstress at a bridal shop, is supposed to help his sister, Lily, pick and tailor a wedding dress, not put up with her older, good-looking brother who is paying for the dress and the wedding. Taylor comes with his own baggage after suffering heartbreak nearly a decade ago. Afraid that women are simply interested in him for his wealth, he's determined to not let anyone else get close enough to hurt him again and until Andie enters his life, he's been doing a great job. It should be easy for neither of them to see each other ever again after Taylor pays for the dress but nothing is ever that simple.

For lack of a better word, there was too much of everything in the novel. From Andie's ex and her lack of funds mentioned on nearly page, from Taylor's wealth mentioned all the time. How awkward and uncomfortable is it to discuss your financial situation with someone you barely know? How awkward and uncomfortable must you feel to have someone keep offering to throw money at you? Taylor even arrives at the bridal shop to chisel Andie down on the price of the dress, as if she's the one setting it, cutting into her commission because he's so determined to not feel taken advantage of. The two characters have serious trust issues so there is also a lot of miscommunication because neither of them are willing to talk it out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy. This book is scheduled for release on October 20th, 2020.

[Sonya Wasden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy and Tay couldn't be less alike. He is wealthy; she drives a well used car. She works in a bridal shop and he is the brother of one of her clients. Their first meeting doesn't go so well but the more time they spend together, they can't continue to ignore the attraction they feel for each other but neither of them really wants a relationship; just to be exclusively casual.

The banter between these two is funny at times. There are moments of real emotion and heartbreak and other times you just want to say, "OPEN YOUR EYES... LOOK AT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU".

There were some more graphic details of their intimacy and a few f-bombs thrown in. I don't particular care for those details but I didn't enjoy the story and the happy ending.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

[Helena#bookdreamer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This started out as a promising novel but turned into a big disappointmen. Andi works in a bridal shop when she meets the arrogant Tay. He comes in expecting his sister to be there already. He's all kinds of rude and pushy and he doesn't get much better as the story progresses. He cons her into a date and shorts her on the wedding gown for his sister. That first date scene was painful to watch. She starts eating his popcorn and drinking his drink and he gets upset because she didn't get her own. What! Then he worries about backwash after he spent the whole night dreaming about her lips.
Just not the romance novel of the year for sure.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first experience reading Ms. Groves' work. It was a quick and enjoyable read, although there was nothing unusual or unique in the plot and storyline. I liked the characters but I would have liked the story to have moved just a bit faster. If you're looking for a quick weekend read with low angst, I think you would enjoy this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

[Alyce Caswell]

I won't be posting my NetGalley review here, since I think this book really wasn't geared towards me (I am not a fan of heroes who are jerks and/or Alpha-holes). I don't think the problem lies with the author, instead with the people in charge of the cover and blurb - they suggest quite a different kind of book to what you get.

[zen_s · Rating 1 out of 5]

[1 star] book was bland and not interesting. to be honest, the characters weren't very likeable either. and then the author keep bringing up the characters' exes every chance there is but only gave a glimpse of the exes history, and finally at the very last chapter, the truth of their exes was finally revealed. i was getting really pissed that the exes keep appearing but w/o any further explanation. overall, you can give this book a miss.

[Lynette Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good story about arranging a wedding at a winery