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Legally Wed
Love comes along when you least expect it.
That’s what Duncan Taylor’s sister, Scout, tells him. Scout has everything Duncan wants―a happy life with a wonderful husband. Now that Seattle has made gay marriage legal, Duncan knows he can have the same thing. But when he proposes to his boyfriend Tucker, he doesn’t get the answer he hoped for. Tucker’s refusal is another misstep in a long line of failed romances. Despairing, Duncan thinks of all the loving unions in his life―and how every one of them is straight. Maybe he could be happy, if not sexually compatible, with a woman. When zany, gay-man-loving Marilyn Samples waltzes into his life, he thinks he may have found his answer.
Determined to settle, Duncan forgets his sister’s wisdom about love and begins planning a wedding with Marilyn. But life throws Duncan a curveball. When he meets wedding planner Peter Dalrymple, unexpected sparks ignite. Neither man knows how long he can resist his powerful attraction to the other. For sure, there’s a wedding in the future. But whose?
That’s what Duncan Taylor’s sister, Scout, tells him. Scout has everything Duncan wants―a happy life with a wonderful husband. Now that Seattle has made gay marriage legal, Duncan knows he can have the same thing. But when he proposes to his boyfriend Tucker, he doesn’t get the answer he hoped for. Tucker’s refusal is another misstep in a long line of failed romances. Despairing, Duncan thinks of all the loving unions in his life―and how every one of them is straight. Maybe he could be happy, if not sexually compatible, with a woman. When zany, gay-man-loving Marilyn Samples waltzes into his life, he thinks he may have found his answer.
Determined to settle, Duncan forgets his sister’s wisdom about love and begins planning a wedding with Marilyn. But life throws Duncan a curveball. When he meets wedding planner Peter Dalrymple, unexpected sparks ignite. Neither man knows how long he can resist his powerful attraction to the other. For sure, there’s a wedding in the future. But whose?
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First published January 2, 2014
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About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,046 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 24, 2014
You know that romantic comedy with Jennifer Lopez who plans a couple's wedding and ends up falling for the groom? This is kind of like the gay version of that.
"Legally Wed" had moments of greatness but it also had parts that didn't work for me. Much of the book isn't about romantic development, but rather Duncan's journey of self-discovery. A lot of the book features Duncan and Marilyn's friendship, which, surprisingly, ended up being my favorite part of the story. They had an easy, slow-developing dynamic that was really interesting to witness. Marilyn is pretty hilarious at times, and I often found myself grinning along with the two of them. I also liked seeing Peter's relationship with his dad. It was tender and complicated, and I could feel the affection between them.
I wish that the romantic part of the story was given the same attention. I felt like the relationship side of the book was rushed to the point where I missed the connection between Peter and Duncan. I knew that Peter and Duncan were attracted to one another, but it went from zero to sixty when they finally got together (with very little sex on page, if you are curious). I happen to like it when we get to know a couple over a long period of time, and this was more of a quicky relationship and a happy epilogue than a slow-burn romance.
Stylistically, there is also something about this author's writing that doesn't exactly align with my tastes. I think I like my writing to be more lyrical or something. Rick Reed writes in a way that reads very matter-of-fact to me and I have a hard time getting inside the characters' heads for some reason.
Overall, this was a nice read with a story that I think is close to the author's heart. It was humorous and touching, if not exactly my tastes, and I'm sure most Rick Reed fans will love the book.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
"Legally Wed" had moments of greatness but it also had parts that didn't work for me. Much of the book isn't about romantic development, but rather Duncan's journey of self-discovery. A lot of the book features Duncan and Marilyn's friendship, which, surprisingly, ended up being my favorite part of the story. They had an easy, slow-developing dynamic that was really interesting to witness. Marilyn is pretty hilarious at times, and I often found myself grinning along with the two of them. I also liked seeing Peter's relationship with his dad. It was tender and complicated, and I could feel the affection between them.
I wish that the romantic part of the story was given the same attention. I felt like the relationship side of the book was rushed to the point where I missed the connection between Peter and Duncan. I knew that Peter and Duncan were attracted to one another, but it went from zero to sixty when they finally got together (with very little sex on page, if you are curious). I happen to like it when we get to know a couple over a long period of time, and this was more of a quicky relationship and a happy epilogue than a slow-burn romance.
Stylistically, there is also something about this author's writing that doesn't exactly align with my tastes. I think I like my writing to be more lyrical or something. Rick Reed writes in a way that reads very matter-of-fact to me and I have a hard time getting inside the characters' heads for some reason.
Overall, this was a nice read with a story that I think is close to the author's heart. It was humorous and touching, if not exactly my tastes, and I'm sure most Rick Reed fans will love the book.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 28, 2014
Marriage.
What is the key to a happy marriage? What are the essentials required for success? Why do we all want it so badly? Who can have it and why? There’s a lot of controversy and questions about marriage. A fierce storm of opinions have gathered with lots of fire on both sides of the matrimony battle and who has the right to it.
For me, it’s quite simple.
I believe in love. I believe love sees no color, gender or heritage. You may have different beliefs, and if you do…I still encourage you to try this book. For this is a journey of one man’s failures and success at love, and witnessing his challenges just might shed some light on why none of us should ever give up on love.
Duncan proposes to his boyfriend because…he can. Same sex marriage becomes an option, a right he’s been denied till now, and he pounces on the dream he’s always longed for. He is stunned to conclude the night with unexpected bling for himself, a broken heart, and a new single status.
A moment of drunken desperation leads to the posting of a crazy ad… ’Gay man searching for Straight woman for marriage’.
Whut?
Allow me to repeat…’Gay man searching for Straight woman for marriage.’ Yeaahh, this spells disaster for me too. What’s even crazier is someone responds. And here we have Marilyn. Larger than life, she’s a force to be reckoned with. As she happens to be looking for love as well the bond and soon they find they have more in common than either of them ever imagined. Can they make a go of the long haul, of ‘till death do us part’ without the spark, the ‘it’, the romance?
Just when their course seems to be set, fate has other ideas. When Duncan’s sister and best friend is struck by tragedy he has no choice but to face the cold hard facts. While life is hard, love can be harder.
More than a romance, more than a personal journey…it belongs in a class of its own. Expert storytelling with strong, solid cast of characters, I can tell you I am adding my name to Rick Reed’s fan club.
I laughed, I squirmed, and I wept…and honestly, that tells me all I need to know. It’s an absolutely remarkable and inspiring tale of love.
*4.5 unpredictable-uncontrollable-unexpected stars*
What is the key to a happy marriage? What are the essentials required for success? Why do we all want it so badly? Who can have it and why? There’s a lot of controversy and questions about marriage. A fierce storm of opinions have gathered with lots of fire on both sides of the matrimony battle and who has the right to it.
For me, it’s quite simple.
I believe in love. I believe love sees no color, gender or heritage. You may have different beliefs, and if you do…I still encourage you to try this book. For this is a journey of one man’s failures and success at love, and witnessing his challenges just might shed some light on why none of us should ever give up on love.
Duncan proposes to his boyfriend because…he can. Same sex marriage becomes an option, a right he’s been denied till now, and he pounces on the dream he’s always longed for. He is stunned to conclude the night with unexpected bling for himself, a broken heart, and a new single status.
A moment of drunken desperation leads to the posting of a crazy ad… ’Gay man searching for Straight woman for marriage’.
Whut?
Allow me to repeat…’Gay man searching for Straight woman for marriage.’ Yeaahh, this spells disaster for me too. What’s even crazier is someone responds. And here we have Marilyn. Larger than life, she’s a force to be reckoned with. As she happens to be looking for love as well the bond and soon they find they have more in common than either of them ever imagined. Can they make a go of the long haul, of ‘till death do us part’ without the spark, the ‘it’, the romance?
Just when their course seems to be set, fate has other ideas. When Duncan’s sister and best friend is struck by tragedy he has no choice but to face the cold hard facts. While life is hard, love can be harder.
More than a romance, more than a personal journey…it belongs in a class of its own. Expert storytelling with strong, solid cast of characters, I can tell you I am adding my name to Rick Reed’s fan club.
I laughed, I squirmed, and I wept…and honestly, that tells me all I need to know. It’s an absolutely remarkable and inspiring tale of love.
*4.5 unpredictable-uncontrollable-unexpected stars*
January 3, 2014
The title funnily reminded me of the movie Legally Blonde. No connections whatsoever with the plot or the characters in the movie, the title actually fits well with this book’s set up.
Duncan craves for his happily ever after and his dream to get married to the person he loves. So when the state of Washington makes Gay Marriage legal, he wastes no time in proposing to his boyfriend, Tucker. However, the reply from Tucker comes unexpected. He not only refuses to marry Duncan, but also dumps him after that. Obviously heartbroken, Duncan begins to think that maybe his dream is unrealistic after all the fucked up relationships he has had over the years. He makes up his mind that in order to have a happy, successful marriage, there is a woman needed in the whole formula.
That’s how Marilyn Samples enters his life. A funny ad posted on Craigslist titled – “Gay Man Seeks A Woman to Marry” (something like that…) – gets Duncan numerous funny replies and one of them is Marilyn. She is different – bold, doesn’t fear to express her true feelings and someone Duncan finds common grounds with. After meeting her, he realizes that this could actually work and as few months pass by, the determination gets strong and finally both of them decide to get married.
Enter the wedding planner that Marillyn suggests is very good at his job – Peter Dalrymple (Damn, I love saying that name!). He is hot, he is smart and is so GAY! And of course, when Duncan wants his life to be free of complications, it pops up in form of Peter because that man has some super-effect on Duncan’s libido.
After reading a few books from Rick R. Reed, I have built up some great expectations with this author. Whenever I pick one of his books, I am certain that I will get a whole package of hot romance, characters that I can cheer for, comic relief, deep emotions and happy endings. And Legally Wed promises all that.
The plot was entertaining. The beginning is perfect because it hooks the reader’s attention right away. Duncan’s feelings are captured well as he decides to propose Tucker. Funny, how books can affect you. I suddenly went from that peak of happiness down to the pit of dark melancholy with Tucker’s “No”. It was sad and I felt really bad for Duncan that he had to go through that bad of a rejection and that too in public! I would have died of mortification if I woulda been him, that’s for sure!
Marilyn is the character I had mixed feelings for. Don’t get me wrong – she is amazing when you get to know her. But I kept seeing her as the one keeping Duncan from the life he could have. That wasn’t true, of course – It was Duncan who was stupid enough to keep making the wrong decisions and that was annoying like hell. I felt like going and shaking some sense into him. And that is why I was glad that Scout, his sister, made an attempt to do just that. More on her later. But I have to say, even though I kind of didn’t like Marilyn for the obvious reason, I was also hoping for a happy ending for her. I was almost afraid and disappointed by the end of the book that we won’t get it, but we do and that was almost satisfying. My only complain is that when the author gave her POVs throughout the book, why couldn’t we get a brief scene at the end where Marilyn is proposed. I personally would have definitely liked that.
What to say about Peter Dalrymple! He doesn’t show up until later in the book, but when he does, he gets a grand entry into the plot! I could hear drums and bass guitars playing in the background when he is introduced (Oh yea, that could be because I may have kept my music player on…). He is the perfect candidate to stir up romantic feelings in Duncan and I thought he was the one with a sensible head in the book. There has to be one of them among the main characters, eh?
It felt like it was dragged somewhere in between before Peter is brought in. Also, I kept comparing this story with Rick’s other book Raining Men. Not the plot, but a few things struck similar to me. Someone’s death in the family brings a change of mindset – that trick seemed overused to me after reading somewhat similar situations in Chaser and Raining Men.
Secondary characters definitely stole the show. Scout is the sister every gay man needs to have! She is simply amazing. Peter’s gay dad – Ray – is an interesting one too! He brings in some amusing conversations with his son. I saw him as well as Scout to be the cupids in Duncan and Peter’s love story. Also, Ben McBride makes a great cameo. The way he is described -I totally had hots for him! Sadly he is not gay … and oh yea, a fictional characters…
Like I said, the story is good. The moral of “Love comes along when you least expect it” comes off loud and clear!
Duncan craves for his happily ever after and his dream to get married to the person he loves. So when the state of Washington makes Gay Marriage legal, he wastes no time in proposing to his boyfriend, Tucker. However, the reply from Tucker comes unexpected. He not only refuses to marry Duncan, but also dumps him after that. Obviously heartbroken, Duncan begins to think that maybe his dream is unrealistic after all the fucked up relationships he has had over the years. He makes up his mind that in order to have a happy, successful marriage, there is a woman needed in the whole formula.
That’s how Marilyn Samples enters his life. A funny ad posted on Craigslist titled – “Gay Man Seeks A Woman to Marry” (something like that…) – gets Duncan numerous funny replies and one of them is Marilyn. She is different – bold, doesn’t fear to express her true feelings and someone Duncan finds common grounds with. After meeting her, he realizes that this could actually work and as few months pass by, the determination gets strong and finally both of them decide to get married.
Enter the wedding planner that Marillyn suggests is very good at his job – Peter Dalrymple (Damn, I love saying that name!). He is hot, he is smart and is so GAY! And of course, when Duncan wants his life to be free of complications, it pops up in form of Peter because that man has some super-effect on Duncan’s libido.
After reading a few books from Rick R. Reed, I have built up some great expectations with this author. Whenever I pick one of his books, I am certain that I will get a whole package of hot romance, characters that I can cheer for, comic relief, deep emotions and happy endings. And Legally Wed promises all that.
The plot was entertaining. The beginning is perfect because it hooks the reader’s attention right away. Duncan’s feelings are captured well as he decides to propose Tucker. Funny, how books can affect you. I suddenly went from that peak of happiness down to the pit of dark melancholy with Tucker’s “No”. It was sad and I felt really bad for Duncan that he had to go through that bad of a rejection and that too in public! I would have died of mortification if I woulda been him, that’s for sure!
Marilyn is the character I had mixed feelings for. Don’t get me wrong – she is amazing when you get to know her. But I kept seeing her as the one keeping Duncan from the life he could have. That wasn’t true, of course – It was Duncan who was stupid enough to keep making the wrong decisions and that was annoying like hell. I felt like going and shaking some sense into him. And that is why I was glad that Scout, his sister, made an attempt to do just that. More on her later. But I have to say, even though I kind of didn’t like Marilyn for the obvious reason, I was also hoping for a happy ending for her. I was almost afraid and disappointed by the end of the book that we won’t get it, but we do and that was almost satisfying. My only complain is that when the author gave her POVs throughout the book, why couldn’t we get a brief scene at the end where Marilyn is proposed. I personally would have definitely liked that.
What to say about Peter Dalrymple! He doesn’t show up until later in the book, but when he does, he gets a grand entry into the plot! I could hear drums and bass guitars playing in the background when he is introduced (Oh yea, that could be because I may have kept my music player on…). He is the perfect candidate to stir up romantic feelings in Duncan and I thought he was the one with a sensible head in the book. There has to be one of them among the main characters, eh?
It felt like it was dragged somewhere in between before Peter is brought in. Also, I kept comparing this story with Rick’s other book Raining Men. Not the plot, but a few things struck similar to me. Someone’s death in the family brings a change of mindset – that trick seemed overused to me after reading somewhat similar situations in Chaser and Raining Men.
Secondary characters definitely stole the show. Scout is the sister every gay man needs to have! She is simply amazing. Peter’s gay dad – Ray – is an interesting one too! He brings in some amusing conversations with his son. I saw him as well as Scout to be the cupids in Duncan and Peter’s love story. Also, Ben McBride makes a great cameo. The way he is described -I totally had hots for him! Sadly he is not gay … and oh yea, a fictional characters…
Like I said, the story is good. The moral of “Love comes along when you least expect it” comes off loud and clear!
February 8, 2014
This is not the typical romance story, at least not in the sense of man meets man, they deal with some issues, fall in love and live happily ever after. In most books the story is centred around the main characters, allowing us, the reader, to get to know these men as they discover each other.
However this book is more one man’s journey as he reaches the point in his life where he wants marriage and a home and a family. Duncan’s latest relationship is a bust as a finds he was on a totally different wavelength to the man he just proposed to. In his grief he decides that marrying a straight woman (in an open fashion) is the way to go. He places an ad which leads him to Marilyn.
Marilyn is a driving force in this book and is absolutely wonderful – a strong, tell-it-like-it-is woman who agrees to marry Duncan after they get to know each other. Duncan and Marilyn’s whole arrangement sounds absolutely insane to me however the author does such a great job of providing insight into Duncan’s frame of mind and reasoning that somehow it makes sense that he would do such a thing!
Yes, I wanted Duncan to find the man of his dreams earlier. Yes, I wanted the interaction between the two men to happen earlier (it was fabulous when it finally did!) but Duncan’s journey needed to be experienced to make his happy-ever-after all that more special.
This is a story that reinforces that there is someone out there for everyone. You may need to wait a while to find them, things might not always be perfect and there can be pain but you need to grab true love when you find it and make the most of it. Don’t settle for second best because everyone deserves the magic.
I loved seeing the little reflections of the author’s own life woven throughout the story. If you don’t know much about Rick R. Reed, do check out his bio/website or the blog posts he’s done in conjunction with this book release and you will see what I mean!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
However this book is more one man’s journey as he reaches the point in his life where he wants marriage and a home and a family. Duncan’s latest relationship is a bust as a finds he was on a totally different wavelength to the man he just proposed to. In his grief he decides that marrying a straight woman (in an open fashion) is the way to go. He places an ad which leads him to Marilyn.
Marilyn is a driving force in this book and is absolutely wonderful – a strong, tell-it-like-it-is woman who agrees to marry Duncan after they get to know each other. Duncan and Marilyn’s whole arrangement sounds absolutely insane to me however the author does such a great job of providing insight into Duncan’s frame of mind and reasoning that somehow it makes sense that he would do such a thing!
Yes, I wanted Duncan to find the man of his dreams earlier. Yes, I wanted the interaction between the two men to happen earlier (it was fabulous when it finally did!) but Duncan’s journey needed to be experienced to make his happy-ever-after all that more special.
This is a story that reinforces that there is someone out there for everyone. You may need to wait a while to find them, things might not always be perfect and there can be pain but you need to grab true love when you find it and make the most of it. Don’t settle for second best because everyone deserves the magic.
I loved seeing the little reflections of the author’s own life woven throughout the story. If you don’t know much about Rick R. Reed, do check out his bio/website or the blog posts he’s done in conjunction with this book release and you will see what I mean!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
January 4, 2014
4.5 stars
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Rick R. Reed has done it again. He's taken a character that I despised in one book and made me like them later on. Granted, Marilyn is no Bobby from Chaser and Raining Men but I can assure you that she was most definitely not a favorite of mine. We met Marilyn in Hungry for Love and we meet her again in Legally Wed.
Gay marriage has just been made legal in Seattle. Duncan has the ring, the man and the perfect setting for the proposal. Unfortunately, he doesn't get the answer he's hoping for and this puts him in a state of despair. He wants marriage. He wants kids. He's tired of relationships ending badly. Why can't he just find that one man who wants to spend the rest of his life with Duncan? Deciding that gay men and straight women get along better than most, he decides he'll find a woman to marry. He wants kids but there will be no hanky panky with his future wife. Oh no. He's never been with a woman and he doesn't plan on being with one that way now. Any kids from the marriage will be created in a lab, thank you very much.
After a few too many drinks, Duncan puts an ad on Craigslist detailing what - and who - he's looking for. This is where Marilyn comes into play. Later, throw in a hot wedding planner, the brother of Duncan's ex, fantastic relatives and a slew of adorable animals and you have one hell of a great story.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Rick R. Reed has done it again. He's taken a character that I despised in one book and made me like them later on. Granted, Marilyn is no Bobby from Chaser and Raining Men but I can assure you that she was most definitely not a favorite of mine. We met Marilyn in Hungry for Love and we meet her again in Legally Wed.
Gay marriage has just been made legal in Seattle. Duncan has the ring, the man and the perfect setting for the proposal. Unfortunately, he doesn't get the answer he's hoping for and this puts him in a state of despair. He wants marriage. He wants kids. He's tired of relationships ending badly. Why can't he just find that one man who wants to spend the rest of his life with Duncan? Deciding that gay men and straight women get along better than most, he decides he'll find a woman to marry. He wants kids but there will be no hanky panky with his future wife. Oh no. He's never been with a woman and he doesn't plan on being with one that way now. Any kids from the marriage will be created in a lab, thank you very much.
After a few too many drinks, Duncan puts an ad on Craigslist detailing what - and who - he's looking for. This is where Marilyn comes into play. Later, throw in a hot wedding planner, the brother of Duncan's ex, fantastic relatives and a slew of adorable animals and you have one hell of a great story.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 21, 2020
Several of Rick Reed's novels are on my all-time favorites list, but "Legally Wed" is that rare Reed book that just does not work for me.
After Duncan proposes to his boyfriend of 3+ years and is soundly rejected, Duncan - who seems to be more in love with the IDEA of love and marriage - ends up engaged to his "zany" friend Marilyn. They meet through a plot device that feels very "movie of the week" to me (personally) and after becoming fast friends, Duncan accepts Marilyn's marriage proposal. They set out to have the perfect wedding they both want, determined that their life together will be "enough."
Much of the book deals with Duncan coming to terms with what he really wants, and once perfectly wonderful wedding planner Peter Dalrymple enters (about half-way through the book) sparks fly and all-too-quickly they have their HEA. Perhaps my discontent is because their growing attraction and relationship isn't given enough time to ripen on-page and feels too quickly solved, resolved and moved to a HEA.
Honestly, I wish I absolutely loved this book because there is some wonderful stuff here, but I fully admit that this may be a case of "it's not you...... it's me." 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
After Duncan proposes to his boyfriend of 3+ years and is soundly rejected, Duncan - who seems to be more in love with the IDEA of love and marriage - ends up engaged to his "zany" friend Marilyn. They meet through a plot device that feels very "movie of the week" to me (personally) and after becoming fast friends, Duncan accepts Marilyn's marriage proposal. They set out to have the perfect wedding they both want, determined that their life together will be "enough."
Much of the book deals with Duncan coming to terms with what he really wants, and once perfectly wonderful wedding planner Peter Dalrymple enters (about half-way through the book) sparks fly and all-too-quickly they have their HEA. Perhaps my discontent is because their growing attraction and relationship isn't given enough time to ripen on-page and feels too quickly solved, resolved and moved to a HEA.
Honestly, I wish I absolutely loved this book because there is some wonderful stuff here, but I fully admit that this may be a case of "it's not you...... it's me." 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2014
Not what I was expecting. When I see Rick R Reed named as the author on a book I usually have to prepare myself for an ugly cry. This wasn’t the case here. I had myself all worked up, waiting for the ax to fall, but it never happened. Yes, bad stuff did happen but it wasn’t the gut wrenching pain that I usually associate with this author. This is different, and once I was finally able to wrap my mind around the fact that I wasn’t going to be gutted I was able to enjoy it.
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a story where a gay man has given up on men and decides to look for a woman to marry instead. Especially when he doesn’t even plan on having sex with the woman; talk about desperation. ..jeez. Unfortunately I didn’t like his choice, Marilyn, but then again I wasn’t the one marrying her. She was just too over the top for me. I could feel both of their pains at believing that their soul-mate didn’t exist but seriously, these two needed counseling more than a wedding.
My main wish was that there was more time spent with Peter and Duncan, after Duncan and Marilyn came to their senses and realized that the marriage wasn’t going to work. I knew it was going to happen and I wanted less Marilyn face time and more Peter. And honestly, if an overweight forty-something woman can find a dreamboat like she did at the end, then there is hope for all of us. I think my main issue was my inability to see the attraction of Marilyn to either guy. I had to go back and reread her description because she has something that draws men to her like flies, but I just didn’t get it.
So, my impression of this story, once I looked passed the issue above, and realized that it wasn’t a traditional gay romance, was that I really liked it. The main storyline is more focused on Duncan, his life, and his family drama and how in the end he meets and falls in love Peter. I believe if you go into this book understanding that it’s not boy meets boy at the beginning then you will really enjoy it.
Reviewed for http://thebloggergirls.wordpress.com/...
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a story where a gay man has given up on men and decides to look for a woman to marry instead. Especially when he doesn’t even plan on having sex with the woman; talk about desperation. ..jeez. Unfortunately I didn’t like his choice, Marilyn, but then again I wasn’t the one marrying her. She was just too over the top for me. I could feel both of their pains at believing that their soul-mate didn’t exist but seriously, these two needed counseling more than a wedding.
My main wish was that there was more time spent with Peter and Duncan, after Duncan and Marilyn came to their senses and realized that the marriage wasn’t going to work. I knew it was going to happen and I wanted less Marilyn face time and more Peter. And honestly, if an overweight forty-something woman can find a dreamboat like she did at the end, then there is hope for all of us. I think my main issue was my inability to see the attraction of Marilyn to either guy. I had to go back and reread her description because she has something that draws men to her like flies, but I just didn’t get it.
So, my impression of this story, once I looked passed the issue above, and realized that it wasn’t a traditional gay romance, was that I really liked it. The main storyline is more focused on Duncan, his life, and his family drama and how in the end he meets and falls in love Peter. I believe if you go into this book understanding that it’s not boy meets boy at the beginning then you will really enjoy it.
Reviewed for http://thebloggergirls.wordpress.com/...
March 22, 2014
I have to admit this is the first Rick R Reed book I have read (it wont be my last!) and I bought it on the recommendation of Amber Kell (but no one tell her that!).
This is a very up close and personal account of the shift in marriage laws up in Seattle, where it rains a lot and people wear socks with sandals (The horror!).
I don't know where to start with this book. I loved it, and the characters, it didn't matter that you kind of knew how things may go because that was the point. This is a beautiful look at love and all the parts of it we don't always think about. The cuddles, and looking at a nice view together, and the companionship. Sometimes it is about the spark, the sex, but there is the *peace* of absolute certainty that you are with someone who loves you that is often overlooked.
I loved this book. Very clever. Very real. Recommended.
This is a very up close and personal account of the shift in marriage laws up in Seattle, where it rains a lot and people wear socks with sandals (The horror!).
I don't know where to start with this book. I loved it, and the characters, it didn't matter that you kind of knew how things may go because that was the point. This is a beautiful look at love and all the parts of it we don't always think about. The cuddles, and looking at a nice view together, and the companionship. Sometimes it is about the spark, the sex, but there is the *peace* of absolute certainty that you are with someone who loves you that is often overlooked.
I loved this book. Very clever. Very real. Recommended.
January 4, 2014
This book was so good! It was sweet but not sappy, funny, endearing, sad, melancholy, and in the end, beautiful.. Thanks for the experience, Rick.
December 1, 2014
3.5 stars
I always enjoy Rick Reed's straightforward writing style. This story to me was Duncan's journey to remember what is really important. He is so fixated on the prize of a white picket fence and happily ever after, that he loses sight of what makes that all worthwhile. So focused on being married, in a drunken state when his boyfriend rejects his proposal, he posts an ad on Craig's List looking as a gay man looking for a woman to marry. In comes Marilyn and the two become fast friends. I had mixed feelings about their relationship moving forward towards a wedding, but really both of them were just hurt and looking for comfort, albeit in the wrong way. While they were great friends who talked about everything, they never really discussed the actual downside of going through with a marriage. When wedding planner Peter enters the picture (about halfway through the book), things change for Duncan rather quickly, but again it is something he doesn't have the courage to bring up with Marilyn.
This was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed all the characters, though at times I wanted to shake both Duncan and Marilyn. Peter was a wonderful character, and I do wish we had spent more time with the two men. As long as you can go into the story as a knowing it takes time for Duncan to find the man of his dreams, it is an enjoyable, well written romantic comedy with a satisfying HEA.
I always enjoy Rick Reed's straightforward writing style. This story to me was Duncan's journey to remember what is really important. He is so fixated on the prize of a white picket fence and happily ever after, that he loses sight of what makes that all worthwhile. So focused on being married, in a drunken state when his boyfriend rejects his proposal, he posts an ad on Craig's List looking as a gay man looking for a woman to marry. In comes Marilyn and the two become fast friends. I had mixed feelings about their relationship moving forward towards a wedding, but really both of them were just hurt and looking for comfort, albeit in the wrong way. While they were great friends who talked about everything, they never really discussed the actual downside of going through with a marriage. When wedding planner Peter enters the picture (about halfway through the book), things change for Duncan rather quickly, but again it is something he doesn't have the courage to bring up with Marilyn.
This was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed all the characters, though at times I wanted to shake both Duncan and Marilyn. Peter was a wonderful character, and I do wish we had spent more time with the two men. As long as you can go into the story as a knowing it takes time for Duncan to find the man of his dreams, it is an enjoyable, well written romantic comedy with a satisfying HEA.
January 7, 2014
This is a love story—truly a love story, between two ordinary men. It’s not an explicit-every-other-page sex story. There are no shifters, assassins, superhuman, or paranormal characters, only men, those that we might meet and befriend in real life. But this is not just a story. It’s a superbly crafted, emotional tale of one man’s journey from hope to hopelessness, onward to compromise, and finally, to finding the courage to go for the gold.
Duncan, a very sweet and charming thirty-seven-year-old elementary teacher, is so excited when he learns same sex marriage is legalized in Washington that he decides to propose to his boyfriend of three years. He’s always desired all that marriage represents—a fulfilling relationship with one partner, a home, stability, children, and, of course, love. Unfortunately, Duncan is crushed when his boyfriend turns him down and, instead, breaks up with him. Totally despondent, he gets thoroughly drunk then composes a Craig’s List ad seeking a woman willing to marry a gay man. I wish I could include that ad in this review—it’s a classic!
Among the responses to the ad is one very odd email from a very unique, outspoken woman named Marilyn. They meet at a coffee shop and, after a period of each doubting the other’s veracity, discover they have a lot in common. Over the next few weeks, the two hit it off so well that they are rarely apart and find common ground while spending time in each other’s apartments, restaurants, and the local gay bars. Marilyn has always loved m/m romance, and gay men in general, so she’s totally onboard with the idea of the two of them finding their HEA. One night, after quite a few drinks, she proposes to Duncan and he accepts. Once they confirm their location and date, they decide to hire a professional wedding planner.
The wedding planner, Peter, is a tall, muscular bear who dresses flamboyantly. When they first meet each other, Duncan is struck speechless with desire. Since the author alternates POVs with the two MCs throughout the story, we get Peter’s perspective on Duncan as well, and it’s apparent that the attraction is mutual. Peter’s professionalism and Duncan’s personal ethics keep the men from acting on their attraction, though Peter truly believes that the marriage between Duncan and Marilyn is doomed to failure for many reasons. A few weeks before the wedding, when Marilyn can’t get to one of the meetings, Duncan meets with Peter alone and Peter finally acts on his attraction, grabbing Duncan in a lip-locking, desire-inducing kiss. Duncan is floored but forces himself to turn away in self-disgust, telling Peter that they’ll no longer need his services.
The person Duncan trusts most in the world is his sister, Scout. She’s been there to support him through all of his broken relationships, and she’s aware of his attraction to Peter. So when he receives a call from her early one morning, he assumes she’s just calling to chat. But what she tells him sends him off to Pennsylvania to help with a family tragedy without notifying Marilyn of his destination. During his days away, Scout finally loses her temper with Duncan, forcing him to see that he’s a fool for marrying without true love and throwing away his chance for future happiness. When he returns, he finds Marilyn at his home seeking to find out if he’s alive or dead, and he realizes that, although he loves her dearly as a friend, he never even thought of her while away, so he breaks off the engagement.
The last segment of the story centers on what happens when Duncan contacts Peter and they finally have a chance to act on their attraction to each other. What we get is Romance with a capital R and Love with a capital L. What I enjoyed about this story is that the author really took the time to explore the men’s characters, to engage us with them, and to fill our lives with all the fantastic support characters in their lives, up to and including, the family pets. He also showed us that love comes in many forms and Duncan’s love for Marilyn, and hers for him, is enriching and lasting even though it’s not the true love they desire.
I also totally enjoyed the pace of this wonderful story. I wasn’t in any hurry to get to the finale to find out what would happen to these men. Instead, I enjoyed the scenery along Duncan’s journey to get there. The secondary characters—Marilyn, Duncan’s sister, and Peter’s father were so enjoyable to be around, so real and so human, that it didn’t really matter that it took a while for the guys to get together. We got a truly character-driven story of a man with a dream of someday having the magic of true love, a heart that beats in tune with his, marriage, family, and a happily ever after where the two could grow old together. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a story that will warm their heart and leave them feeling totally content.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Duncan, a very sweet and charming thirty-seven-year-old elementary teacher, is so excited when he learns same sex marriage is legalized in Washington that he decides to propose to his boyfriend of three years. He’s always desired all that marriage represents—a fulfilling relationship with one partner, a home, stability, children, and, of course, love. Unfortunately, Duncan is crushed when his boyfriend turns him down and, instead, breaks up with him. Totally despondent, he gets thoroughly drunk then composes a Craig’s List ad seeking a woman willing to marry a gay man. I wish I could include that ad in this review—it’s a classic!
Among the responses to the ad is one very odd email from a very unique, outspoken woman named Marilyn. They meet at a coffee shop and, after a period of each doubting the other’s veracity, discover they have a lot in common. Over the next few weeks, the two hit it off so well that they are rarely apart and find common ground while spending time in each other’s apartments, restaurants, and the local gay bars. Marilyn has always loved m/m romance, and gay men in general, so she’s totally onboard with the idea of the two of them finding their HEA. One night, after quite a few drinks, she proposes to Duncan and he accepts. Once they confirm their location and date, they decide to hire a professional wedding planner.
The wedding planner, Peter, is a tall, muscular bear who dresses flamboyantly. When they first meet each other, Duncan is struck speechless with desire. Since the author alternates POVs with the two MCs throughout the story, we get Peter’s perspective on Duncan as well, and it’s apparent that the attraction is mutual. Peter’s professionalism and Duncan’s personal ethics keep the men from acting on their attraction, though Peter truly believes that the marriage between Duncan and Marilyn is doomed to failure for many reasons. A few weeks before the wedding, when Marilyn can’t get to one of the meetings, Duncan meets with Peter alone and Peter finally acts on his attraction, grabbing Duncan in a lip-locking, desire-inducing kiss. Duncan is floored but forces himself to turn away in self-disgust, telling Peter that they’ll no longer need his services.
The person Duncan trusts most in the world is his sister, Scout. She’s been there to support him through all of his broken relationships, and she’s aware of his attraction to Peter. So when he receives a call from her early one morning, he assumes she’s just calling to chat. But what she tells him sends him off to Pennsylvania to help with a family tragedy without notifying Marilyn of his destination. During his days away, Scout finally loses her temper with Duncan, forcing him to see that he’s a fool for marrying without true love and throwing away his chance for future happiness. When he returns, he finds Marilyn at his home seeking to find out if he’s alive or dead, and he realizes that, although he loves her dearly as a friend, he never even thought of her while away, so he breaks off the engagement.
The last segment of the story centers on what happens when Duncan contacts Peter and they finally have a chance to act on their attraction to each other. What we get is Romance with a capital R and Love with a capital L. What I enjoyed about this story is that the author really took the time to explore the men’s characters, to engage us with them, and to fill our lives with all the fantastic support characters in their lives, up to and including, the family pets. He also showed us that love comes in many forms and Duncan’s love for Marilyn, and hers for him, is enriching and lasting even though it’s not the true love they desire.
I also totally enjoyed the pace of this wonderful story. I wasn’t in any hurry to get to the finale to find out what would happen to these men. Instead, I enjoyed the scenery along Duncan’s journey to get there. The secondary characters—Marilyn, Duncan’s sister, and Peter’s father were so enjoyable to be around, so real and so human, that it didn’t really matter that it took a while for the guys to get together. We got a truly character-driven story of a man with a dream of someday having the magic of true love, a heart that beats in tune with his, marriage, family, and a happily ever after where the two could grow old together. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a story that will warm their heart and leave them feeling totally content.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
February 10, 2014
Duncan wanted to be married so bad that he sprung the question on his lover, Tucker. Tucker didn't realize Duncan thought their relationship was more than it was and immediately said no, dashing Duncan's dreams of getting married.
Duncan decides to put an ad in the paper to marry a female and from there Duncan goes on a journey to find out who he really is and what he deserves in life.
This read was not romantic to me. Over half of the book was Duncan befriending Marilyn and seeing if they were compatible with one another. Duncan is still all gay, but would like to be married. They are great friends, but Marilyn's feelings blur from friend, to something more.
Things get complicated when Duncan meets Peter and Duncan begins to question his decision of marrying Marilyn.
This was a very simple read and the relationships were a bit unrealistic and rushed. I couldn't get past the point that these two people would not admit to each other that it was a bad idea to get married, even when ones feelings were hurt.
It was difficult for me to appreciate these characters, but they stayed true to their role. The plot was promising and the writing was solid. I just needed more logical reasoning behind the character's actions and more of Duncan and Peter to really call this a romance.
*I was given an ARC of this read in exchange for an honest review*
January 7, 2014
A good read, as you'd expect from Rick Reed. The story was a bit slow initially but really picked up once the other MC (Peter) came into the picture. I never did like Marilyn very much, but I was glad to see her get her HEA. Good contemporary romance. It really made me miss Capitol Hill!
February 7, 2014
Rick R. Reed NEVER disappoints me!!!! LOVED IT!!!!!
February 9, 2014
3.5 stars
Nice easy read with an interesting and different premise that works fine in the end.
June 24, 2017
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
*I read Legally Wed in the Feel-Good True Romance bundle.
3 Hopeless Stars.
The beginning of the book gave me 'the feels' for Duncan. With legalized gay marriage, Duncan gets wedding fever. Having been in a relationship for 3 years, he pops the question, only to get a no... this is the catalyst for Legally Wed.
After having a disturbing dream where he's at the altar 'here she comes', getting married to a woman, Duncan decides he will marry one- gay or not. As soon as this premise hit the pages, I feared what would come next... an MF novel featuring a gay character and his new bestie girlfriend. I just hoped it wouldn't take up the majority of the pages- it did.
Marilyn is the lucky bride-to-be. If you're reading the bundle, she was in Hungry for Love,
the second book, where she rubbed me all kinds of wrong, and her portrayal was no better in Legally Wed. CRAZY OTT.
Legally Wed is not MM romance
In Hungry for Love, the reader is subjected to Hannah's narration, with one scene of Marilyn narrating, and now she gets her own book. MM, where women get their 'own' books...
It's Duncan's journey as he solidifies a friendship with Marilyn, while her voice is also narrated on the pages. While there were plenty of sweet, endearing, and humorous interactions between the two, I couldn't help but feeling anything but hopelessness.
Duncan and Marilyn are settling... for each other.
How is this inspiring? It just made me feel sad.
This is a romance novel featuring little romance, as two people meet and become friends, and all I could think was how delusional they were being. How hyper-focused on being married instead of what the union represents.
Romance is more fantasy, sure. Marriage is reality, but there should be love in a marriage, not just because you're ready to be married and doubt you'll ever find Mr. Right. How hopeless. Sad. Settling for less than you deserve. No matter how banterific Duncan and Marilyn were together, this was disturbing, delusional, and not at all Feel-Good romance.
Peter- the wedding planner. Yes, after the halfway mark, Duncan's 'the one' finally reveals himself, but there aren't many scenes where they interact with one another in a romantic sense, and I don't just mean sexually (between-the-sheets action is very light, not that I'm complaining). There is no build-up or tension, as the foundation of the novel was given to Marilyn and Duncan's relationship, with their love interests thrown in at the end.
Legally Wed features a budding friendship between two hopeless souls, where the romance and the love interest takes a backseat, to the point I felt nothing on that end emotionally. Yes, Marilyn and Duncan together were humorous. This book features a friendship, and a MF and MM romance riding in at the end.
As I'm reading this in the Feel-Good True Romance bundle, on it's own, I could have taken Legally Wed at face-value. But it was not 'Feel-Good' or 'True Romance' in nature. Yet again, the majority of the focus was on a female narrator, leaving the relationship development between the two male love interests to take a backseat.
In the past, when I'd hear MM Romance readers say how much they did not like F in their MM, I used to scoff. Now I get it. I apparently had never come across MM featuring F narrators and MF romance before. Two in a row in this bundle, sharing the same narrator, and I hope the last book doesn't.
*I read Legally Wed in the Feel-Good True Romance bundle.
3 Hopeless Stars.
The beginning of the book gave me 'the feels' for Duncan. With legalized gay marriage, Duncan gets wedding fever. Having been in a relationship for 3 years, he pops the question, only to get a no... this is the catalyst for Legally Wed.
After having a disturbing dream where he's at the altar 'here she comes', getting married to a woman, Duncan decides he will marry one- gay or not. As soon as this premise hit the pages, I feared what would come next... an MF novel featuring a gay character and his new bestie girlfriend. I just hoped it wouldn't take up the majority of the pages- it did.
Marilyn is the lucky bride-to-be. If you're reading the bundle, she was in Hungry for Love,
the second book, where she rubbed me all kinds of wrong, and her portrayal was no better in Legally Wed. CRAZY OTT.
Legally Wed is not MM romance
In Hungry for Love, the reader is subjected to Hannah's narration, with one scene of Marilyn narrating, and now she gets her own book. MM, where women get their 'own' books...
It's Duncan's journey as he solidifies a friendship with Marilyn, while her voice is also narrated on the pages. While there were plenty of sweet, endearing, and humorous interactions between the two, I couldn't help but feeling anything but hopelessness.
Duncan and Marilyn are settling... for each other.
How is this inspiring? It just made me feel sad.
This is a romance novel featuring little romance, as two people meet and become friends, and all I could think was how delusional they were being. How hyper-focused on being married instead of what the union represents.
Romance is more fantasy, sure. Marriage is reality, but there should be love in a marriage, not just because you're ready to be married and doubt you'll ever find Mr. Right. How hopeless. Sad. Settling for less than you deserve. No matter how banterific Duncan and Marilyn were together, this was disturbing, delusional, and not at all Feel-Good romance.
Peter- the wedding planner. Yes, after the halfway mark, Duncan's 'the one' finally reveals himself, but there aren't many scenes where they interact with one another in a romantic sense, and I don't just mean sexually (between-the-sheets action is very light, not that I'm complaining). There is no build-up or tension, as the foundation of the novel was given to Marilyn and Duncan's relationship, with their love interests thrown in at the end.
Legally Wed features a budding friendship between two hopeless souls, where the romance and the love interest takes a backseat, to the point I felt nothing on that end emotionally. Yes, Marilyn and Duncan together were humorous. This book features a friendship, and a MF and MM romance riding in at the end.
As I'm reading this in the Feel-Good True Romance bundle, on it's own, I could have taken Legally Wed at face-value. But it was not 'Feel-Good' or 'True Romance' in nature. Yet again, the majority of the focus was on a female narrator, leaving the relationship development between the two male love interests to take a backseat.
In the past, when I'd hear MM Romance readers say how much they did not like F in their MM, I used to scoff. Now I get it. I apparently had never come across MM featuring F narrators and MF romance before. Two in a row in this bundle, sharing the same narrator, and I hope the last book doesn't.
January 6, 2014
Duncan Taylor believes in love. He craves what his parents and siblings have, he is so invested in his feelings he can almost taste them. Unfortunately he also believes that Tucker his partner of 3 years has the same dreams and when this proves not to be the case his life changes drastically and he gets carried along, sometimes hilariously, until love comes when he is least expecting it.
Within the first five pages of this book I fell for Duncan. He is such a beautiful soul. With same sex marriage just being legalized in Washington he is watching the first couples queuing to get their licences on TV with a tear in his eye. This is it for him, the pinnacle of his relationship, and he has already decided to ask Tucker to marry him. With a spring in his step and a ring in his pocket they head out for dinner later that week. In his mind he is already telling his family the good news, even posting a Facebook update, but then the unthinkable happens and Tucker says NO. To add further insult he also breaks up with him. Tucker you moron!!!
The night is spent on his houseboat with his good friend Jack Daniels. The next day is spent hungover with a lot of soul searching. He even begins to question whether a gay man can have the sort of loving, long term and monogamous relationship he so craves. With a what the hell attitude whilst he is surfing Craigslist he places an advert. ‘Gay man seeks straight woman for marriage’.
This is how we meet Marilyn. Her reply to the wanted ad had been sassy and rude, just like the woman herself. They meet for coffee a few days later and after an awkward start they become steadfast friends. Their friendship builds over the next couple of months with dinners out and nights out in bars. The whole marriage things seems to be forgotten until Marilyn drops down on one knee one evening and proposes. Duncan says yes thinking that although he can never have sex with this woman, he is strictly ‘sausage not pie’ he can have what he craves which is family and stability.
Love comes when you least expect it. No wedding these days is complete without a wedding planner so in walks Peter Dalrymple (I love that name!). When Duncan first meets Peter he has an ‘experience’. Words fail him, he loses himself from the conversation and has to physically grip the banister to stop himself falling down the stairs. The attraction is instant and mutual and oh how this complicates his little plan. Marilyn is clearly jealous after the meeting and for just a little while I found myself not liking the woman and shouting at my kindle ‘he’s gay let him have Peter!’
As their charade continues and the day draws closer Duncan receives devastating news from home. This is a turning point. After a very emotional outburst from his sister about true love and not settling until you find it Duncan returns home with a plan to ensure his HEA.
The authors description of places will make you think you have been there whilst you read this book. It is a story full of emotion and they are conveyed to the reader on every page. It is a story about getting out there and making sure you get what you deserve and that you are not settling for less. It is a story about love coming along when you least expect it.......
Within the first five pages of this book I fell for Duncan. He is such a beautiful soul. With same sex marriage just being legalized in Washington he is watching the first couples queuing to get their licences on TV with a tear in his eye. This is it for him, the pinnacle of his relationship, and he has already decided to ask Tucker to marry him. With a spring in his step and a ring in his pocket they head out for dinner later that week. In his mind he is already telling his family the good news, even posting a Facebook update, but then the unthinkable happens and Tucker says NO. To add further insult he also breaks up with him. Tucker you moron!!!
The night is spent on his houseboat with his good friend Jack Daniels. The next day is spent hungover with a lot of soul searching. He even begins to question whether a gay man can have the sort of loving, long term and monogamous relationship he so craves. With a what the hell attitude whilst he is surfing Craigslist he places an advert. ‘Gay man seeks straight woman for marriage’.
This is how we meet Marilyn. Her reply to the wanted ad had been sassy and rude, just like the woman herself. They meet for coffee a few days later and after an awkward start they become steadfast friends. Their friendship builds over the next couple of months with dinners out and nights out in bars. The whole marriage things seems to be forgotten until Marilyn drops down on one knee one evening and proposes. Duncan says yes thinking that although he can never have sex with this woman, he is strictly ‘sausage not pie’ he can have what he craves which is family and stability.
Love comes when you least expect it. No wedding these days is complete without a wedding planner so in walks Peter Dalrymple (I love that name!). When Duncan first meets Peter he has an ‘experience’. Words fail him, he loses himself from the conversation and has to physically grip the banister to stop himself falling down the stairs. The attraction is instant and mutual and oh how this complicates his little plan. Marilyn is clearly jealous after the meeting and for just a little while I found myself not liking the woman and shouting at my kindle ‘he’s gay let him have Peter!’
As their charade continues and the day draws closer Duncan receives devastating news from home. This is a turning point. After a very emotional outburst from his sister about true love and not settling until you find it Duncan returns home with a plan to ensure his HEA.
The authors description of places will make you think you have been there whilst you read this book. It is a story full of emotion and they are conveyed to the reader on every page. It is a story about getting out there and making sure you get what you deserve and that you are not settling for less. It is a story about love coming along when you least expect it.......
May 15, 2020
2 Stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of NineStar Press via NetGalley
Genre: MM romance
Standalone
Here is the irony. When I went to post this I just realized I already read it previously and didn't like it back then. Usually if I read something a second time it rings a bell. Sadly it didn't and also unfortunately I didn't like the second time as well. The characters I just couldn't relate too. Marilyn was too over the top and too much. The synopsis was better than the story because it's hooked me twice. The fact that the book didn't ring a bell the second time around also tells me the characters were forgettable. I wanted to like this one but I just couldn't.
eARC for Honest Review from Smith Publicity -- Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley
Well I thought I was going to love the concept of this book but I really couldn't fully get into it. Here we have a gay man who wants his HEA since same sex marriages are now allowed. After being turned down by his boyfriend when he purposes he puts in an ad for a straight woman to marry a gay man. ....WTF?
This is where I was not loving the story. From the beginning I didn't love this idea and then I just couldn't love Marilyn from the very beginning there was just something about her that I couldn't gel with.
As their stupid wedding day approaches they both finally start to realize that maybe this was a bad idea...really you think? Any hoo with this pseudo wedding Duncan meets Peter the wedding planner and instead of his marriage with Marilyn he gets
This story had potential but for me unfortunately I just couldn't love it. I am sure others will disagree with me but that is the beautiful thing about life where we all don't have to agree together.
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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of NineStar Press via NetGalley
Genre: MM romance
Standalone
Here is the irony. When I went to post this I just realized I already read it previously and didn't like it back then. Usually if I read something a second time it rings a bell. Sadly it didn't and also unfortunately I didn't like the second time as well. The characters I just couldn't relate too. Marilyn was too over the top and too much. The synopsis was better than the story because it's hooked me twice. The fact that the book didn't ring a bell the second time around also tells me the characters were forgettable. I wanted to like this one but I just couldn't.
eARC for Honest Review from Smith Publicity -- Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley
Well I thought I was going to love the concept of this book but I really couldn't fully get into it. Here we have a gay man who wants his HEA since same sex marriages are now allowed. After being turned down by his boyfriend when he purposes he puts in an ad for a straight woman to marry a gay man. ....WTF?
...He was sober enough to know that this was nothing more than the drunken ravings of a brokenhearted homo, desperate for love.
This is where I was not loving the story. From the beginning I didn't love this idea and then I just couldn't love Marilyn from the very beginning there was just something about her that I couldn't gel with.
As their stupid wedding day approaches they both finally start to realize that maybe this was a bad idea...really you think? Any hoo with this pseudo wedding Duncan meets Peter the wedding planner and instead of his marriage with Marilyn he gets
This story had potential but for me unfortunately I just couldn't love it. I am sure others will disagree with me but that is the beautiful thing about life where we all don't have to agree together.
For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe
Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook
Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter
September 5, 2014
The premise of this book sounded weird enough to me that I just couldn't resist. I mean, in the words of Marilyn when she read Duncan's Craig's List add, "You gotta be fucking with me." And it was ... odd. And funny.
Duncan is a guy who wants to get married. He sees everyone in his family happily married with families and he aches for the same. His last boyfriend, of three years, just wasn't on the same page at all. I wonder how Duncan could have missed that, but his focus was elsewhere, I guess. He's 38 and really just wants to settle down to his 'happily ever after'. So, on a drunken whim, one night, he places an add on Craig's List looking for a bride. What the hell, right? What could possibly go wrong?
What transpires is a friendship with Marilyn. She turns out to be his best friend. After their first meeting, he doesn't give much thought to the add that brought them together, but on the spur of the moment one night she proposed. This just gets crazier and crazier.
Now, of course, we are, all of us, a sum of our experiences and you never know where your experiences will lead you. If it weren't for Duncan and Marilyn embarking on this crazy journey to getting married, Duncan would have never met Peter - the wedding planner.
I'm not going to keep going or I will give spoilers, but suffice it to say that both Marilyn and Duncan find their happiness. Just not with each other. It was a fun read.
Duncan is a guy who wants to get married. He sees everyone in his family happily married with families and he aches for the same. His last boyfriend, of three years, just wasn't on the same page at all. I wonder how Duncan could have missed that, but his focus was elsewhere, I guess. He's 38 and really just wants to settle down to his 'happily ever after'. So, on a drunken whim, one night, he places an add on Craig's List looking for a bride. What the hell, right? What could possibly go wrong?
What transpires is a friendship with Marilyn. She turns out to be his best friend. After their first meeting, he doesn't give much thought to the add that brought them together, but on the spur of the moment one night she proposed. This just gets crazier and crazier.
Now, of course, we are, all of us, a sum of our experiences and you never know where your experiences will lead you. If it weren't for Duncan and Marilyn embarking on this crazy journey to getting married, Duncan would have never met Peter - the wedding planner.
I'm not going to keep going or I will give spoilers, but suffice it to say that both Marilyn and Duncan find their happiness. Just not with each other. It was a fun read.
January 12, 2014
I liked this book but it did not rank as one of my favorites of Mr. Reed. It felt very melancholy throughout the book. It was also a slow read in the middle of the book. I really like the author's style of writing. I loved all the very descriptive details about places in Seattle. I just could not relate to Marilyn. I think she was delusional if she thought the marriage could work. Duncan was an okay MC but Peter was the only one i truly liked.
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March 27, 2014Rick just wrote a piece that appeared on Huffington Post about this book:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-r-...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-r-...
February 21, 2016
The message here is don't settle. No matter how lonely. This was a very romantic story. I loved it.
May 6, 2020
After a slow start Legally Wed by Rick R. Reed eventually turns into a sweet romance. I really liked Duncan and could feel his pain but it took what felt like forever for the author to resolve issues that were painfully obvious to even the most casual observer. My hero in the whole tale was Scout. She is the take no crap kind of character that moves the story along.
July 21, 2017
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is a rather odd book to define - I think it is misnamed as an MM romance, as the majority of the book is about an openly gay man deciding that he is better off marrying a woman. The interactions between him and Marilyn are amusing, but in a strange context.
I found the book to be based on an interesting idea, and enjoyed reading it, but I think that the twist could have been resolved more quickly and the relationship between Peter and Duncan given the coverage that it truly deserved. It probably did not help that I found Marilyn to be the type of person who I would go to great lengths to avoid.
An interesting addition to the series, even if rather sad.
This is a rather odd book to define - I think it is misnamed as an MM romance, as the majority of the book is about an openly gay man deciding that he is better off marrying a woman. The interactions between him and Marilyn are amusing, but in a strange context.
I found the book to be based on an interesting idea, and enjoyed reading it, but I think that the twist could have been resolved more quickly and the relationship between Peter and Duncan given the coverage that it truly deserved. It probably did not help that I found Marilyn to be the type of person who I would go to great lengths to avoid.
An interesting addition to the series, even if rather sad.
January 4, 2014
Original Blog Post: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
Legally Wed is the story of Duncan, a man who has lost out on love and commitment. In a drunken move, he posts a curiously headlined ad on Craigslist of all places. This is where one of my favorite fag hags from Hungry For Love, Ms Marilyn herself, comes in.
She is beautiful here. I totally loved her. She had her own story to tell and it was sad, grim, but happy and exciting all at once. She is her usual vivacious, straightforward self and develops a fantastic friendship with Duncan. Soon, they are BFFs, getting closer. She still reads the MM books and totally believes in the HEA endings, however, she is also feeling the loneliness Duncan found himself wallowing in.
As Duncan and Marilyn prepare for their marriage, they face the reality of not knowing where to begin. This is where wedding planner, Peter Dalrymple, comes in.
And he is a hunk! (I just want to shout that out in the open.)
The book's events had me grinning from ear to ear, then made me wonder over some of the views mentioned, then I found myself cringing and wondering even more before I finally ended up crying at some. I loved it when Duncan's sister unexpectedly slapped her point across and made him finally see the light. That what he was doing was immature, cowardly and just plain stupid. Somehow that slap solidified this story for me.
This is not the usual MM romance we all expect to read where, in most cases, insta-love or insta-lust precedes an HEA. This is more like how it is in real life, albeit from a fictional view. To push this view further, the author does not introduce Peter until around 45% of the book. Late his entrance may be, but it was exactly what Duncan needed. I just love that Peter came in as a bearish ginger in pink. Somehow, that image is not my usual idea for gay men, but this book is from the eye of a male author, so I think he has seen more than we women ever will.
This is a beautiful story about a man's awakening, of finding romance and a love when he least expected it. This is a story of a growth, the maturation of a gay man who finally gets himself straight after a series of events that were not so funny, nor so happy. This maturation, his growth from a cowardly and desperate man, this was delightful to read.
In another diversion from the usual, Rick R. Reed provides us with really sexy scenes without explicitly going into erotica. There were things going on here that made me blush and I am not usually one who blushes. But blush I did and continued to do so. And wow, I was just reading about a kiss, okay? It was a freaking HOT! kiss. (enough now....)
The first lines of the blurb, Love comes along when you least expect it, really comes to light when the end is reached. It is when Duncan stopped looking for love when he finally finds it with Peter. It was the same for Marilyn.
Overall, this was a funny, frustrating, romantic and sexy book, quite hard to put down and definitely worth reading.
Legally Wed is the story of Duncan, a man who has lost out on love and commitment. In a drunken move, he posts a curiously headlined ad on Craigslist of all places. This is where one of my favorite fag hags from Hungry For Love, Ms Marilyn herself, comes in.
She is beautiful here. I totally loved her. She had her own story to tell and it was sad, grim, but happy and exciting all at once. She is her usual vivacious, straightforward self and develops a fantastic friendship with Duncan. Soon, they are BFFs, getting closer. She still reads the MM books and totally believes in the HEA endings, however, she is also feeling the loneliness Duncan found himself wallowing in.
As Duncan and Marilyn prepare for their marriage, they face the reality of not knowing where to begin. This is where wedding planner, Peter Dalrymple, comes in.
And he is a hunk! (I just want to shout that out in the open.)
The book's events had me grinning from ear to ear, then made me wonder over some of the views mentioned, then I found myself cringing and wondering even more before I finally ended up crying at some. I loved it when Duncan's sister unexpectedly slapped her point across and made him finally see the light. That what he was doing was immature, cowardly and just plain stupid. Somehow that slap solidified this story for me.
This is not the usual MM romance we all expect to read where, in most cases, insta-love or insta-lust precedes an HEA. This is more like how it is in real life, albeit from a fictional view. To push this view further, the author does not introduce Peter until around 45% of the book. Late his entrance may be, but it was exactly what Duncan needed. I just love that Peter came in as a bearish ginger in pink. Somehow, that image is not my usual idea for gay men, but this book is from the eye of a male author, so I think he has seen more than we women ever will.
This is a beautiful story about a man's awakening, of finding romance and a love when he least expected it. This is a story of a growth, the maturation of a gay man who finally gets himself straight after a series of events that were not so funny, nor so happy. This maturation, his growth from a cowardly and desperate man, this was delightful to read.
In another diversion from the usual, Rick R. Reed provides us with really sexy scenes without explicitly going into erotica. There were things going on here that made me blush and I am not usually one who blushes. But blush I did and continued to do so. And wow, I was just reading about a kiss, okay? It was a freaking HOT! kiss. (enough now....)
The first lines of the blurb, Love comes along when you least expect it, really comes to light when the end is reached. It is when Duncan stopped looking for love when he finally finds it with Peter. It was the same for Marilyn.
Overall, this was a funny, frustrating, romantic and sexy book, quite hard to put down and definitely worth reading.
January 23, 2014
My Review:
The premise of this book is great...really unusual and for the most part, I felt like it worked. Both Marilyn and Duncan are at the points in their lives that they aren't so sure they will ever find that forever love, but neither one is ready to give up on marriage. But they see marriage as more than sex and passion...it's about companionship and becoming partners in life. On paper, it seems like a marriage would work for bff's who happen to be a straight woman and a gay man...so they begin to make plans. But they both have their moments of doubt especially as they both meet men during the course of their engagement who they are drawn to.
This is not just a book about Duncan and Peter and their path to each other. At the heart, this is a book about Duncan and how he finds his way to marriage through several miscues and wrong turns. It's about the journey that gets him there and how all those things along the way are important lessons too. Love isn't easy and there isn't a single type of love...for anyone or everyone. As you follow Duncan, you see how different things have affected his viewpoints on love and especially marriage....that perfect ideal out there to achieve. There are a series of people who bring him to that point that you meet throughout the book....Tucker, Marilyn, Ben, Scout, and Peter.
There's an overall "moral" to this book that I love....about finding true love. As a romance reader and writer, I love that idea. The author showed it beautifully in a completely unexpected way. I did not expect the story line with Scout, but it was so right and so true, it brought tears to my eyes and made me want to go snuggle with my hubby of 22 years. True love is a gift and when you have it, you know it. That portion of the story line was expertly executed.
Overall the book was good, but don't expect your typical romance story line because it wasn't that. There were subtle differences in this story that made it different and that wasn't a bad thing.
I do have one teeny-tiny complaint. Overall, the sexual heat in the book is pretty mild, which I'm fine with. It's a rare thing in most m/m stories these days. My issue was that most the heat on the page came through the men's daydreamed fantasies instead of actual events. And then when the actual events happened, it was glossed over. I would so much rather the daydreaming be glossed over than the actuals. I love steamy books, but I want the steam to come more from the real events rather than the other way around. Like I said, it's a tiny thing, but it did kind of bother me while reading the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The premise of this book is great...really unusual and for the most part, I felt like it worked. Both Marilyn and Duncan are at the points in their lives that they aren't so sure they will ever find that forever love, but neither one is ready to give up on marriage. But they see marriage as more than sex and passion...it's about companionship and becoming partners in life. On paper, it seems like a marriage would work for bff's who happen to be a straight woman and a gay man...so they begin to make plans. But they both have their moments of doubt especially as they both meet men during the course of their engagement who they are drawn to.
This is not just a book about Duncan and Peter and their path to each other. At the heart, this is a book about Duncan and how he finds his way to marriage through several miscues and wrong turns. It's about the journey that gets him there and how all those things along the way are important lessons too. Love isn't easy and there isn't a single type of love...for anyone or everyone. As you follow Duncan, you see how different things have affected his viewpoints on love and especially marriage....that perfect ideal out there to achieve. There are a series of people who bring him to that point that you meet throughout the book....Tucker, Marilyn, Ben, Scout, and Peter.
There's an overall "moral" to this book that I love....about finding true love. As a romance reader and writer, I love that idea. The author showed it beautifully in a completely unexpected way. I did not expect the story line with Scout, but it was so right and so true, it brought tears to my eyes and made me want to go snuggle with my hubby of 22 years. True love is a gift and when you have it, you know it. That portion of the story line was expertly executed.
Overall the book was good, but don't expect your typical romance story line because it wasn't that. There were subtle differences in this story that made it different and that wasn't a bad thing.
I do have one teeny-tiny complaint. Overall, the sexual heat in the book is pretty mild, which I'm fine with. It's a rare thing in most m/m stories these days. My issue was that most the heat on the page came through the men's daydreamed fantasies instead of actual events. And then when the actual events happened, it was glossed over. I would so much rather the daydreaming be glossed over than the actuals. I love steamy books, but I want the steam to come more from the real events rather than the other way around. Like I said, it's a tiny thing, but it did kind of bother me while reading the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 12, 2014
Originally reviewed for The Book Vixen
In a Nutshell: Well written characters in an interesting story but lacked a developed romance in my opinion.
Why I Read this Book: Synopsis caught my attention and though this is a new-to-me author I tried it.
What I Liked: This author has written lovely characters who felt like real people. Duncan’s home-body life and his desire for a committed partner are well developed as is quirky Marilyn’s character. I could nearly see these two paling around together and drinking brunch of bloody marys. Duncan’s sister Scout with her large and loving personality is also a charming character and provided the emotional punch for me near novel’s end. Though Peter is less well developed, in my opinion, his father is a great character. Peter and his father have phone conversations that were heartfelt and humorous. Peter’s father’s role in the book’s ending was a great layer on the novel’s HEA.
What I Also Liked: The plot revolves around Duncan and his female best friend, Marilyn, deciding to get platonically married. This was an interesting concept and though predictable, had plenty of humor and heart. Duncan’s relationship with his sister Scout has a small part in the plot’s conclusion and this was my favorite part of the entire book.
What I Didn’t Like: As much as I think this was good storytelling I didn’t think Peter and Duncan’s relationship was well developed AT ALL. They don’t meet until more than 50% into the book and to make it worse they only have 2 short scenes before the final emotional denouement scene. In contrast, Marilyn and Duncan spend most of the book together sharing their lives and dreams. Duncan and Peter’s connection was insta-forever-love and the relationship development happened at light speed. I read romance to watch the incremental progress of two people becoming a couple both emotionally and sexually and I didn’t get that here.
IMO: This was a good story but with a superficial romance that didn’t impress this avid romance reader.
*review copy via NetGalley*
In a Nutshell: Well written characters in an interesting story but lacked a developed romance in my opinion.
Why I Read this Book: Synopsis caught my attention and though this is a new-to-me author I tried it.
What I Liked: This author has written lovely characters who felt like real people. Duncan’s home-body life and his desire for a committed partner are well developed as is quirky Marilyn’s character. I could nearly see these two paling around together and drinking brunch of bloody marys. Duncan’s sister Scout with her large and loving personality is also a charming character and provided the emotional punch for me near novel’s end. Though Peter is less well developed, in my opinion, his father is a great character. Peter and his father have phone conversations that were heartfelt and humorous. Peter’s father’s role in the book’s ending was a great layer on the novel’s HEA.
What I Also Liked: The plot revolves around Duncan and his female best friend, Marilyn, deciding to get platonically married. This was an interesting concept and though predictable, had plenty of humor and heart. Duncan’s relationship with his sister Scout has a small part in the plot’s conclusion and this was my favorite part of the entire book.
What I Didn’t Like: As much as I think this was good storytelling I didn’t think Peter and Duncan’s relationship was well developed AT ALL. They don’t meet until more than 50% into the book and to make it worse they only have 2 short scenes before the final emotional denouement scene. In contrast, Marilyn and Duncan spend most of the book together sharing their lives and dreams. Duncan and Peter’s connection was insta-forever-love and the relationship development happened at light speed. I read romance to watch the incremental progress of two people becoming a couple both emotionally and sexually and I didn’t get that here.
IMO: This was a good story but with a superficial romance that didn’t impress this avid romance reader.
*review copy via NetGalley*
February 6, 2014
Duncan Taylor thought he’d found his mister right. So when gay marriage becomes legal in Seattle, he pops the question to his long time boyfriend. When Tucker declines, Duncan is floored. His sister Scout has always been his rock, and she’s stays steadfast while he heals his broken heart, with a hair brain scheme.
Marilyn Samples is a curvaceous, vivacious, gay man loving woman. She meets Duncan when she answers his ad for a wife. Neither one wants to settle, but they both want the same things. Someone to love and grow old with, a family and a life that isn’t lead singularly. They hit it off straight away and soon decide to take the plunge. Duncan’s sister, Scout, told him that love would come along when he least expected it.
The attraction between Duncan and his and Marilyn’s wedding planner, Peter, is immediate and mutual. But Duncan is determined to fulfill the commitment he made to Marilyn. And after meeting Duncan’s ex’s brother, Marilyn is smitten with someone else as well. They truly do love each other, they just aren’t IN love with each other. Will they open up their lives and their hearts to the possibility these two men could bring? Or will they carry on with their plans to become Legally Wed?
This was such a fun story about life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Both Duncan and Marilyn have found something within each other that they’ve longed for. Safety, love, comfort and compassion. But sex and passion are a huge part of a relationship, don’t kid yourself, and in that department they are lacking. The agreement they made, made sense at the time, and sounded good on paper. I absolutely loved the fact that the author didn’t write Duncan and Peter taking their relationship to the next level until after he and Marilyn had talked and decided they were best friends, and best as just friends.
If you are looking for something just a little sexy with a dash of romance and a slight bit of drama, then Legally Wed is the perfect book for you.
Marilyn Samples is a curvaceous, vivacious, gay man loving woman. She meets Duncan when she answers his ad for a wife. Neither one wants to settle, but they both want the same things. Someone to love and grow old with, a family and a life that isn’t lead singularly. They hit it off straight away and soon decide to take the plunge. Duncan’s sister, Scout, told him that love would come along when he least expected it.
The attraction between Duncan and his and Marilyn’s wedding planner, Peter, is immediate and mutual. But Duncan is determined to fulfill the commitment he made to Marilyn. And after meeting Duncan’s ex’s brother, Marilyn is smitten with someone else as well. They truly do love each other, they just aren’t IN love with each other. Will they open up their lives and their hearts to the possibility these two men could bring? Or will they carry on with their plans to become Legally Wed?
This was such a fun story about life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Both Duncan and Marilyn have found something within each other that they’ve longed for. Safety, love, comfort and compassion. But sex and passion are a huge part of a relationship, don’t kid yourself, and in that department they are lacking. The agreement they made, made sense at the time, and sounded good on paper. I absolutely loved the fact that the author didn’t write Duncan and Peter taking their relationship to the next level until after he and Marilyn had talked and decided they were best friends, and best as just friends.
If you are looking for something just a little sexy with a dash of romance and a slight bit of drama, then Legally Wed is the perfect book for you.
March 6, 2014
Reed effortlessly slides from his gritty, brutal Raining Men to this nearly chaste look at true love, proving that he not only has depth as an author but also can span the width of the romance genre. Again he takes a fairly unlikeable character from a previous novel and turns her into someone to respect and enjoy.
When Duncan Taylor is humiliatingly rejected after he proposes to his boyfriend in a busy restaurant, he decides that since he's nearing forty and hasn't found Mr. Right, he needs to change up his life. What Duncan wants, he realizes, is what every straight guy he's ever known has wanted: He wants love and happily ever after.
But how is a gay man supposed to find love if everywhere he looks men are only searching for a one-night-stand and no commitment? Studying the world around him, he realizes two things: He really likes women, and maybe he's been seeking the perfect life in the wrong places.
In a fit of drunken desperation one night, he advertises online for a woman to be his wife. He's up-front about the fact that he's a gay man who isn't looking for sex, but for a lifelong loving partner. Into his life struts brash, loud Marilyn Samples, last seen in Reed's Hungry for Love.
Marilyn tells Duncan that he's crazy, that love and commitment don't happen as a result of an online listing, but since her love life's not much better than his, she's willing to give his experiment a try.
With this inauspicious beginning, Reed weaves another of his plausible fairytales, this time surrounding two disillusioned people who see a full life slipping away from them and who desperately want to rectify the situation.
Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
When Duncan Taylor is humiliatingly rejected after he proposes to his boyfriend in a busy restaurant, he decides that since he's nearing forty and hasn't found Mr. Right, he needs to change up his life. What Duncan wants, he realizes, is what every straight guy he's ever known has wanted: He wants love and happily ever after.
But how is a gay man supposed to find love if everywhere he looks men are only searching for a one-night-stand and no commitment? Studying the world around him, he realizes two things: He really likes women, and maybe he's been seeking the perfect life in the wrong places.
In a fit of drunken desperation one night, he advertises online for a woman to be his wife. He's up-front about the fact that he's a gay man who isn't looking for sex, but for a lifelong loving partner. Into his life struts brash, loud Marilyn Samples, last seen in Reed's Hungry for Love.
Marilyn tells Duncan that he's crazy, that love and commitment don't happen as a result of an online listing, but since her love life's not much better than his, she's willing to give his experiment a try.
With this inauspicious beginning, Reed weaves another of his plausible fairytales, this time surrounding two disillusioned people who see a full life slipping away from them and who desperately want to rectify the situation.
Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
March 10, 2014
I received Legally Wed in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Oh Duncan…. where do I even begin? I guess I should start by saying that I really did like this book. Yet, parts of it scared me to death. No, you didn’t mis-read the tags – this isn’t a horror story. It’s just that this romance was set up to fail from the start. I reached one point and I almost threw in the towel. I’m so glad that I stuck with it.
Duncan wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a caring guy who just wanted someone to love. He thought he had it but he was wrong. His devastation led him to some creative measures that had disaster written all over them.
Marilyn wasn’t someone that I immediately liked. Even so, my concern and fear weren’t for Duncan, but for her. She was the one that I felt stood the most to lose if things didn’t work out. Crazy, I know. Like I said, I’m so glad I stuck with this story.
And then there was Peter. I loved him from the moment he was introduced. His personality was easy and honest. He was perfect for Duncan, even if the timing was off.
There was so much emotion in this book, it sometimes took me by surprise. The characters were witty and I liked them all by the end…. with the exception of Tucker. I especially loved Duncan’s sister, Scout. The love and devotion between these siblings was front and center and just as important to the plot as the romance – which this book wasn’t heavy on, but that’s okay… it made up for it in oh so many ways.
Legally Wed was a sweet little emotional diversion. Not what I expected, but I kinda like it when that happens ;)
Oh Duncan…. where do I even begin? I guess I should start by saying that I really did like this book. Yet, parts of it scared me to death. No, you didn’t mis-read the tags – this isn’t a horror story. It’s just that this romance was set up to fail from the start. I reached one point and I almost threw in the towel. I’m so glad that I stuck with it.
Duncan wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a caring guy who just wanted someone to love. He thought he had it but he was wrong. His devastation led him to some creative measures that had disaster written all over them.
Marilyn wasn’t someone that I immediately liked. Even so, my concern and fear weren’t for Duncan, but for her. She was the one that I felt stood the most to lose if things didn’t work out. Crazy, I know. Like I said, I’m so glad I stuck with this story.
And then there was Peter. I loved him from the moment he was introduced. His personality was easy and honest. He was perfect for Duncan, even if the timing was off.
There was so much emotion in this book, it sometimes took me by surprise. The characters were witty and I liked them all by the end…. with the exception of Tucker. I especially loved Duncan’s sister, Scout. The love and devotion between these siblings was front and center and just as important to the plot as the romance – which this book wasn’t heavy on, but that’s okay… it made up for it in oh so many ways.
Legally Wed was a sweet little emotional diversion. Not what I expected, but I kinda like it when that happens ;)
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