Given to the Groom

by Annabelle Winters

INSTA-LOVE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN . . .

So I get to the hotel and realize I've stumbled into the wrong wedding!

But before I know it someone stuffs flowers into my hand and puts me on the bride's side.

I'm about to laugh and tell them it's a mistake, but then the groom looks over at me and I realize I'm not a bridesmaid in this strange, twisted wedding . . .

I'm the bride.

OMG this one is gonna be fun, don't you think?

Drama and madness. Twists and turns. Chaos up and down the aisle.

Sweetness and darkness.

No cheating. No cliffhangers. Always a happy ending.

More insta-love, Annabelle Winters style.

Genres: Romance, Smut, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Erotica

100 pages, ebook

First published January 21, 2020

About the author

Get three Annabelle Winters stories free when you join her private list at WNTRS.CO/JOIN

Suspense and steam.
Drama and madness.
Fate and destiny.

This is romance like you've never seen. Annabelle Winters style.

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Reviews

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad. A definite DNF. The male lead is literally insane. He thinks he’s a god and doesn’t stope talking about it or talking to Zeus. He refers to himself out loud and in his head in the third person.

Bell is an idiot who keeps denying she’s married to him but decides to just go with it. Then denies it again, then goes with it. Drinking a glass of water is signing her marriage certificate. She literally says this out loud. So so stupid. Run far and fast from this.

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this it lost a star because the freak booty scenes were too much at times.

"All I can do is stare at his monstrous shaft that I swear looks thicker than a tree-trunk. His cockhead shines like a dark red comet, oozing his clean natural oil, and all I can think about is how deep he’s going to push that thing, how hard he’s going to drive it in, how full I’m going to be when he empties those big Greek balls inside me."

Exhibit A lol 😂 Chapter #5 things were about to go down. I had to keep checking the first page to make sure the scenes were not in fact written by a sassy man lmao 🤣.

I’ll get more into the nitty gritty tomorrow but you can enjoy this part for now 🥰😛😜

[Alayna Angel]

Interesting concept but annoying characters and very repetitive.

[Mysti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the author would have been better off cutting this down about 30 pages and simplifying the story. There's only one real sex scene and everything is OTT.

Bellanca called for an Uber, but a car with two mafia looking guys pulls up instead. She decides to get into the car and just go with the flow. They arrive at a church and she somehow realizes that she's supposed to be the bride. Sure - why the hell not. Only when she's standing in front of the groom and preacher, she decides maybe it's not such a good idea. But it's too late.

Brakos (mafia boss who refers to himself in third person) needs a mafia princess to marry. He's been sent a dossier for a Greek princess and arranges the marriage via her grandma.

After 60 pages they finally have sex. There's a lot of arguing about who she really is. I guess a HEA, I didn't bother reading the epilogue.

Some quotes:

"According to the rumors she is not the most attractive pea in the pod. Not that I care. I look down on sex, anyway.

how full I’m going to be when he empties those big Greek balls inside me.

"How can you say you are grand when you do not offer Beluga Caviar! Preposterous! Connect me to the CEO immediately, please."

[SyFeR · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first time reading an Annabelle Winters book. Perhaps she just isn’t my style. I found the writing to be uneven and disjointed. The characters’ actions seemed bizarre and their motivations were barely explained. I couldn’t feel the heat between the main characters because I couldn’t imagine anyone behaving the way they did with each other. If you find inexplicable absurdity entertaining, then you may have better luck with this book than I did.

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is unabashedly over-the-top. From the chaos that makes up the initial chapters to the heat that scorches the sheets to the revelations of the past and glimpse into the future. There's a bit of a mystic and mythic vibe running throughout but not overwhelmingly so. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. The characters are well developed and engaging and the storyline is well written and has a smooth flow from page to page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kath · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐️

I don't know what I just read but I found this book cringey that I just laugh it off so I won't DNF.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to the Groom By: Annabelle Winters
There's Lots of Twists & Turns Ahead... As She's "Given to the Groom" UnExXxpectedly!
She's on Her WAY to a Wedding...
But the Ride She ordered isn't ExXxactly WHAT She gets,
Cuz She's NOT delivered to Her destination...
She's brought to SomeOne else's Nuptials instead!
Although, that's NOT the MOST Bizarre Event to Transpire...
Ohhh NO, that hasn't happened just YET!
Cuz before She knows what's Even Happening...
She's giv'n some Flowers & Her Eyes are Colliding with His!
Which is how She was "Given to the Groom,"
But at the Time She didn't know by whom...
Although, if you gotta be giv'n a Spouse,
At least, She was "Given to the Groom" that's Handsome & Virile!
As it's NOT LONG after She was "Given to the Groom,"
That She finds HerSelf "Given to the Groom" in lots of other WAYS!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Annabelle Winters' "Given to the Groom." I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!
My Rating Sytem:
4🌟: I like IT a lot. Great, Solid Story w/ few if any inconsistencies or errors. This is a HIGH Rating, & I rarely give OUT a Higher Rating.
If My Review is helpful to you, please check the box below~ Thank You.

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blood is destiny” or is it?
“The only time that matters is now. The only place that matters is here. Because in this place called here and now I’ve found my always, found my forever, chosen my destiny.” Just a sample of the beauty of this narrative. My favorite quote from this book.
I love these short steamy books with insta-lust turns to love and insta-awareness thrown in for good measure. In this one Bell is somehow propelled to her destiny which appears to be beyond her control. When she first sees Brakos, her brutish groom-to-be, she doesn’t understand any of this: how she came to be in this Uber, how she came to accept the bouquet of flowers or how she came to be walking down the aisle toward him??? Scarily amusing when she realizes what has happened.
I love that Ms. Winters includes a little supernatural something in these books too. What was that cool air around Bell’s neck? Where did it come from in this enclosed space?
As always, we have the beautiful curvaceous woman meeting her forever mate and in this case, Brakos. I loved this character: arrogant Greek Mafioso is a lover not a fighter who will kill when it suits him. There was a twist near the end that I surely didn’t see coming. Loved the glimpse thirty years in the future epilogue. All-in-all, I’m glad I got to read and review this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Booksprout and it comes highly recommended if you like short, sweet but naughty stories.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW This story had me intrigues from the very first chapter! WOOHOO its brilliant
WoW This is one magical read.
I was totally lost to this story from the very first chapter. I just didnt know where it was going but boy! did I want to know.
Bell got in the back of her uber to only feel something wasn't right. why were there two drivers and why did they look like bodyguards. When questioned I think there's been a mistake? They said they dont make mistakes. But something stops Bell from ringing for help. And she doesn't understand why.
When she is finally ley out she is walked into a wedding. But when she tries to hide in the back all eyes turn to her. Then the music starts and she finds herself walking down to the front to where a man is waiting. She cant see him as he hasn't turned around but she cant get over this feeling she is feeling. Finally he turns and once again she finds herself saying I think there's been a mistake.
The sexy man says Bellanca I dont make mistakes.
OMG I want to tell you everything but I dont want to spoil the twists and turns. But let me tell you its a fantastic read that you wont be able to put down. Its a brilliant read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenny Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.

In this book we meet Bellanca "Bell" and Brakos. Bell is leaving her little apartment to go to a greek wedding. So she thinks nothing of it when she finds 2 ubers outside waiting. She gets in the one with the 2 men that look like they should be a on a set from men in black. It takes her a bit but she realizes somethings not right. When she checks her uber app she finds a message stating her driver left because she never showed. This can't get any worse right? Wrong not only is she going to a wedding but when she gets there she is handed flowers and realizes she is the bride. Brakos is just looking for an arranged marriage. He isn't looking for a real wife in any way. Something in the way Bell smells though draws him in a way he never has with a woman before. Can these two find a HEA or will it be a battle of wills to find out who will come out on top.

This is another amazing story by this author. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin the story for any other readers. I will say you will find a connection with this characters that will have you not wanting to put them down. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellanca (“Bell”) is on her way to her high school friend's wedding and calls for an Uber. The vehicle that arrives is black and has two guys in sunglasses and dark clothes. When did Uber start allowing that? She gets in the vehicle and realizes she must have made a mistake, but they tell her they do not make mistakes! They take her to a hotel, but she doesn't recognize what she expected for her friend's wedding. The wedding she is at is full of strangers – dressed much like the two Uber drivers. As she is thinking it is definitely the wrong wedding, someone hands her flowers as if the wedding were hers and she is the anticipated bride!

Brakos is standing at the end of the aisle alongside the minister and yes, she is definitely the bride they were waiting for! Brakos is a Greek mafia big-wig and wants a partner through an arranged marriage. Will this be the wife he anticipated? Or will Bell change his entire life to something much more?

This was a good short read, filled with fun, confusion, and love. There is a mild paranormal element to it that doesn’t affect the story line itself. Grab your copy and enjoy a cute adventure with Bell.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle Winters takes on quite the ride in Given to the Groom. All the insta-love steam is there, but so is a sort of dark, twisted reality.

Bellanca, aka Bell, is an unassuming small town curvaceous woman who was raised by her Greek grandmother in middle America. Grandma was not all that Bell thought, and neither is the wedding she is attending. Brakos is a king in his own mind and seems to live up to his own legend. A self-made man, he seeks a partner in life through an arranged marriage. He gets more than he bargains for as he meets his match and his mate.

Filled with life-changing revelations, humor, a little drama, and lots of steamy sex, Given to the Groom delivers the insta-love punch, with an added peak way into the future, that we expect from Annabelle Winters. She takes this one to another level of extreme that is also plausible.

I can hardly wait to see what and who Ms. Winters brings in the next installment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Pate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift of an advanced read copy. Having read it I would like to give an honest opinion of what I have read.

If you are a person that is bothered by strong language, and very descriptive sexual situations this is definitely not the book to read. It does make up a good portion of the story line. I will say though that the plot of the story was very good. I like how it was presented as a puzzle. Who murdered her parents was it Brusco that had call in a hit on them. Was she going to give herself over to him as a captive for him to kill as well, or will she be able to get one over him and kill him first. What she doesn’t know is that he had no part in their deaths, but he was going to play the game with her. Had they been waiting for each other since they were children and if so what was holding them back for so long. All of these questions will be answered by reading the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JLH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brakos, son of Zeus he says. Bella is late for a wedding. For some reason she does not pay attention and get a car that is not Uber. She knows is after she gets into the car that there are two men wearing sunglasses and driving her to a location that was not planned. She shows up there’s a man, Brakos, standing at the end of the aisle with the minister and she is the bride. Now this is where things get a little weird. Because her she’s an only child and grandma raised her. all those details are definitely in the story how imagination is like crazy. At some point I couldn’t tell if she was in reality or the similes or a comparison to fairytales. But as the story continues, the smoke clears episode it is reality. This is definitely a new twist to a new curvaceous women. I like how the world evolved around her with no cliffhangers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the instant love story between Bellanca "Bell" and Brakos. Brakos is a mob boss and was promised Bell as part of a business deal. Brakos never believed in love and only agreed to the marriage for the business. ell had no idea she was going to be married, she thought she was going to attend a wedding. Bell was shocked to learn she was the bride. Brakos explained about her grandmother being a part of a mob family and Bell told him she always thought her grandmother's stories were her imagination. brakos also is very attracted to Bell and decides he wants her as his own. Now they just have to decide if they can be together and work things out. I enjoyed this story. I liked Brakos, i think he really wanted to be with Bell. Bell was a little overwhelmed at first andi think she would have put up more of a fight about being the bride without knowing the groom. Good one.

[Chey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this and I wasn't sure what to expect.
We have Bell (Bellanca) who is taken somewhat against her will to be married to Brakos, who is a part of the Greek mafia. She marries him and slowly understands her lineage through her grandmother, who set up the marriage.
The plot would have been better if the details were fleshed out more. I liked where it was going, but the story was so rushed it didn't make a whole lot of sense. First we see Bell arguing that her grandmother was lost in her own head and Brakos saying she was a part of the underground Greek network with her laundering business. But then he knows she was just in her own head and none of it was true? But they still marry each other and stay together? And not only that, but she's becomes a part of his mafia business and is completely ok with it?
This story would have been a lot better had there been more to the story rather than rushing through it.

[HelenCita Hoffmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I got the audible entire series- but it is AI read and not the best way to go when doing audible.

I liked the story but at times dude got on my nerves with the whole god thing- So he thinks he's a god and Zeus aint got shyt on him.
He is a killer and doesn't need sex therefore everyone else is below him for needing it -animals! (that's his take on it)
But when he sees his curvy bride and his cock loses its mind over her and he can't comprehend it but is ready and willing to act on it immediately -animal!

She is funny, and although taken back y the fact she is married to a complete stranger, she doesn't mind it too much because, he is such a...wait for it...god! He was yummy and his rooster, well thick as thieves.

It is steamy and the style is not bad at all, I really enjoyed it. Maybe if I had actually read the book instead of listening to the audible, I may have rated it higher. It is still a possibility.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic story it’s about Bellanca (Bell) who gets into a car thinking that it’s her Uber but there are two buff men with sunglasses on sitting in the front, she is in her way to a wedding but instead she thinks that it’s a case of mistaken identity because the groom standing at the end says that he knows her and she is to be his wife then Bell faints. Brakos is the boss of the Greek mafia he believes that he is a god a king but he must marry this Greek American princess he’s never seen a picture of her but he doesn’t care what she looks like because it’s not going to be that kind of marriage, but when Brakos scents her his body is telling him differently and when he turns to look at her his mind says he is ready to claim what is his. Fantastic story and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was interesting and mafia lite with romance. The characters were good, frustrating at times but also funny/snarky.

Bell (Bellanca) is on her way to her friend's wedding. But she doesn't end up at her friend's wedding instead, she ends up at a wedding where she doesn't know anyone. Bell realizes it's the wrong wedding but before she knows it someone hands her flowers. All of a sudden she realizes that the wedding is hers and she's the bride.

There are lots of twists and turns and I went back and forth on who was crazy or uninformed or whatever. It definitely had me guessing. Will it make you guess too, you'll have to read it to find out! I recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was intense as well as romantic. Belle absolutely didn't know what she was getting into once she go into that car to go to a wedding. That wedding being hers....arranged by her dead grandmother. She is marrying Brakos a Greek mafia don who gets what he wants...and he wants Belle. I love Brakos...he is in your face, no holds barred, and the epitome of the alpha male. He didn't mean to fall in love with his curvy wife but who can deny fate. After their steamy get together after they got married, everything fell into place especially for him. It took Belle a little longer to fall in line with the destiny/fate the Gods has given her but according to the epilogue...all ended as it was suppose to be. A great short story with a lot of intense and comical parts. I recommend giving it a try.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is a Greek Mafia Princess who doesn't know it until ther Greek Mafia Prince claims her

Given to the Groom was a book that I had a hard time finishing. I thought the beginning was interesting but it quickly took a turn into a whole fantasy type thing that I just found myself being less and less interested in as I read more of the story. I think it may have to do with the completely way, way, way OTT (as in it jumped the shark) story-line and what I found ridiculous characters that became more caricature to me. So I finally gave up about 50% in and flipped to the back to read the epilogue.
I am disappointed by this as I have usually quite liked Annabelle Winters books and found them entertaining even when they are OTT. Now I will say that the story itself is well written and if you could get into it I believe it would be really entertaining.

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bell thinks she got into an uber to go to a friend's wedding but instead it took her to the groom she is in fact marrying. Brakos is her husband and he made an agreement with her grandmother before she passed away. Bell doesn't understand any of it but Brakos isn't about to let her go now that he has her for his own. When Bell go back to her grandmother's home and looks through her things some shocking secrets are reveal. Will these secrets cause more conflict between them? Can they move forward from their family's history?

This is an amazing story once I started it I couldn't put it down. The chemistry between them is blazing hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend it to any book lover.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Style: Insta Romance
Story: 3/5
Sexual: OK
Enjoyment: 2/5
Series: Book 1

Words can not express what I just read. I am used to insta romance but this, wow. The story line was good. Right up until the moment Brakos turn to finally see his bride, Bell, I was good, feeling it and loving it. However, this is an insta romance; I thought most of the book was wasted on Bell saying wrong girl to the point where it felt repetitive and took up most of the story. I felt like it read like one long chapter of the same thing.

Overall, I do like the premise of the book and some parts of it but for an insta romance need to hit to the point

***I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s definitely about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the stories you read. I hope this review was helpful.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short whimsically dark mafia romance with Bellanca and Brakos. All orchestrated by her deceased grandmother as Bell is swept up into a world of violence and intrigue as she marries a stranger in a trance like state.
I liked the way Brakos started out as cold and unmoved as he vowed to himself to keep the marriage as a business contract only. His intense visceral reaction to her that started with her scent, was unique and erotic in nature.
Their mutual attraction and chemistry lit up the pages of my virtual reader along with the mysterious past they both shared.
Short but totally entertaining!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one very interesting over the top insta love story about Bellanca, Bell who believes she is heading to a friends wedding and ends up a bride her unknown groom, Brankos who is from Greece to claim the bride he was given by Bell’s grandmother. Bell can not believe she is the bride and when she comes to she is in a bed with Brankos. Grandmother’s painful past and hurts set up this arranged marriage for a purpose of her own but instead of her intentions Bell and Brankos make their own history. Annabelle gives us another wonderful love story with twist and turns and an ending worthy of who Bell and Brankos are! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha Hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I downloaded the whole curvy for keeps series through kindle unlimited but I barely made it through the first book (given to the groom).

For me, I was always waiting for the ball to drop and for it to turn out to be a supernatural/fantasy romance. There was too much referencing to gods, the male mc always referred to himself in the third person and the female mc honestly seemed to have no idea what was happening at any given time.

Had this been a supernatural romance, I feel like it would have made more sense but it was ALMOST a DNF for me.

After getting a feel for the writing style and reading the synopsises for the other books in this series, I decided to give the others a miss.

Disappointing as the arranged marriage/dark/enemies to lovers trope is one of my favourites.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Holy shit, this was awful.


1. First of all, the dude refers to himself in the third person and also refers to himself as a god. GTFO.

I normally refer to the main love interest guy as the hero, but this guy is no hero.


2. The idea of romanticizing the mafia is abhorrent and gross.


3. The female love interest (she's not a heroine either) is annoying as fuck and constantly rambles out loud.


4. The way he speaks is so stupid. The author is trying to make him old-fashioned and poetic. Nope. It just comes across as ridiculous.


SPOILERS for the 5th point....
v
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5. In the epilogue...30 years later...she's pregnant with her 14th child! Are you fucking kidding me??



Just a gross, gross story.

[Leeza W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers are included.

This book was a fast and fun read. Nearly half is about who Bellanca really is and having to accept that she was given as a bride to Brakos. The rest is then sorting things out between them and figuring out what her grandma had been up to. Of course that’s not counting the sexy times they have. Like I said, it was fast and fun - not meant to be taken to seriously. As a huge fan of Greek Mythology, I got a laugh out of the references made, but you do not need to know anything about mythology to appreciate the book. Anything needed is explained in story, and even then it’s mostly bonus details.