Head Over Feet

Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #5

by Whitney Dineen

Princess Aubrey of Malquar has loved Grady Basset since they were kids. She followed him and her brother around wherever they went; she wrote his name in her diary repeatedly; and she even practiced saying her name with his last name—for years.

There’s only one problem. Grady has never shown any romantic interest in her.

As the son of the king’s secretary, Grady grew up playing with the royal children. His best friend is Prince Alistair, the second in line for the throne. While he’s drawn to Princess Bree, he knows that there’s no way they can be together. Bree’s station is too far above his.

As the captain of the royal yacht, Grady sees Bree often, but in recent months the princess has been rude, belligerent, and an all-around pain in the butt. When unforeseen circumstances have Grady taking Bree on a cruise in the Mediterranean—alone—things really start to heat up.

Will Grady finally give Bree a chance? Will it be too late?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2022

About the author

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.


Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017

Reviews

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story! The meddling match making mommas were hilarious! And the fact that one of them is the Queen of her country? Even better!

The animosity between Bree and Grady was hostile. But they have such a rich history and Bree has a totally justified reason for her feelings. I honestly think Grady got off a little easy for his part, both in the far past and more recent past. Especially if he truly had feelings for Bree.

This was my first in this series and I really want to go back and read the others and I definitely don't want to miss the rest of them. Andrew and Agnes should be interesting!

[Racheli Zusiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

הספר החמישי בסדרת Seven Brides for Seven Mothers, שבה אמהות מנסות לשדך חתנים/כלות לבנות/בנים שלהן.
אני מאוד אוהבת את הסדרה וגם את הסופרת. הפעם הספר מתמקד באוברי (ברי), אחת הבנות של המלך והמלכה אלפרד ושרלוט. אוברי היה מאוהבת כל חייה בגריידי, חבר ילדות של אחיה אליסטייר (שהספר הקודם עסק בו), והבן של המזכיר של המלך אלפרד ושל חברה טובה של המלכה שרלוט, שעובד כקפטן של היאכטה המלכותית, לאחר ששירת בחיל הים. גריידי שבר את ליבה של אוברי כשהיתה צעירה יותר ומאז היא כועסת עליו ושניהם מסוכסכים. גריידי מצידו נמשך לאוברי אבל חושב שזה לא הולם שעובד של בית המלוכה יצא עם הנסיכה. המלכה שרלוט, בעזרתם של אליסטייר, אמא של גריידי, וסופי, אחת האחיות האחרות של אוברי, מנסה למשוך בחוטים מאחורי הקלעים כדי לקרב בין השניים...
ספר חמוד ומשעשע כמו כל הספרים בסדרה. מחכה כבר לספר השישי שיצא באוקטובר ויעסוק באנדרו, יורש העצר.

[Melanie Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulously fun! Another winner in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series! Well done, Whitney!

[AJ's Book ReMarks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Head Over Feet is the fifth book in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series. It's a laugh-out-loud rom-com that will bring joy to your life reading this book.

Princess Aubrey of Malquar has loved Grady Basset since they were kids. Bree followed her brother Prince Alistair and Grady everywhere they went; she fantasized about him most of her life. However, Grady never returned her interest; he learned that his station and hers were not the same, and he could never be good enough for the princess.

Queen Charlotte is a woman that gets what she wants, and she wants her children to be happy and settled down, with children of their own; she knows no boundaries and drags her friends along for the ride!

I adore Whitney Dineen's writing each book brings a smile to my face, and I hope this one does the same for you!

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can it really be falling in love if he's the one who literally tossed her overboard?

If you've been following this series, you'll remember when Grady tossed Bree off the family yacht - whether she deserved it or not depends entirely on one's perspective. If you haven't read the earlier books, don't worry - you'll quickly be brought up to speed. The author does an amazing job of showcasing the various ups and downs of Grady and Bree's relationship through the years, since they were small children, including the recent, aforementioned yacht excursion.

Grady and Bree's chapters are done in first-person POV, and in between each of theirs we have a third-person POV narrative from each of their mothers. The mothers are, as designed for this series, deviously plotting to bring their children together, despite the obstacles. In this case, the obstacles include Grady's father's opinions about class distinction and the ongoing animosity between Grady and Bree as a mask for their seemingly unrequited affections.

There are good conspiracies afoot, as well as one unsavory plan that is quickly thwarted. There is also a bit of a "marriage reset" for one of the older couples, which was very sweet and well done. Bree and Grady join the rest of her siblings who are enjoying their HEAs, leaving only two more royal siblings still awaiting their own stories.

This is a series of low-steam standalone romances that started in the Pacific Northwest but quickly moved to a fictional European monarchy. Each one is a delight, and once you start you'll want to binge-read them all. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head over Feet is the latest in Whitney Dineen’s 7 Brides for 7 Mothers clean romantic comedy series. Princess Aubrey Margot Eloise Hale of Malquar is the fifth in line to the throne. She has loved her older brother, Alistair’s best friend, Grady Basset, since she was six years old. She followed the boys around wherever they went and made a nuisance of herself. Grady is the son of the king's secretary and is now the Captain of the Royal Yacht. While he's attracted to Princess Aubrey “Bree”, he believes that he’s a commoner who cannot be romantically involved with a royal.

When Grady and Bree are together, she acts juvenile, rude, belligerent, and an all-around pain in the butt. Their mothers, Queen Charlotte and Jacqueline, plot and connive to throw them together so they will sort their feelings out. Grady and Bree take a cruise in the Mediterranean by themselves and are forced to address their differences.

There are so many characters that it’s hard to keep up with them unless you have read the earlier “royal” books in the series. Bree behaved very immaturely to be 20 years old, in my opinion. I just couldn’t identify with her. The mothers and uber-efficient Agnes provided more humor.

I prefer the first books in any Whitney Dineen series and enjoy the subsequent books less. Also I think the books that Whitney Dineen co-writes with Melanie Summers are better than the books she writes solo. With that said, Head over Feet is a well-written story, just not one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contains: some mild language, kisses. I cannot stand Queen Charlotte and her manipulative and meddling ways. I also hate the cliche that hate and love are close together. Aubrey was rude and childish the whole time. She’s been rude to Grady for 6 + years. Grady ghosted Aubrey 6 years ago and then all of a sudden he decides to pursue her event though his reason to not pursue her hasn’t changed. There was just no character growth nor did they learn from their mistakes. They went from enemies to lovers without an impetus behind it. I also thought the writing was weird. It was in first person present tense when following Grady or Aubrey but in third person with Charlotte and Jacqueline (also the whole Jacqueline side story was unnecessary unless her husband has a change of heart, which he doesn’t).

[Rochelle Hamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I'm a sucker for "fake royals" stories. (I've read several) This one includes, instead of a disapproving queen, one who actively meddles in her kids lives to set them up! Queen Charlotte is a hoot , and I love the whole setup! Princess Aubrey (Bree to her friends) was in love with Grady since she was six. He broke her heart when she was 20, and they constantly bicker and fight. The queen is convinced that strong emotion has merit, even when it's negative. So, she constantly throws the two together at every opportunity. There are twists, other people and a lot of mayhem when the stubborn couple finally realize they're made for each other! I love happily ever afters!

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It tied me up in knots at times trying to keep track of who hated who, and who was meddling in what relationships. Whitney Dineen did a stellar job writing this web of meddling mothers and their offspring in a way that made it both interesting and emotional.

Captain Grady and Princess Bree were the targets of the matchmaking. They might have worked it out on their own if their mothers, siblings and friends hadn’t decided to “help” them. The help resulted in one mess after another sparking jealousy, hurt feelings and deceit.

If you enjoy enemies to lovers that grew up together and a contemporary royal family you should enjoy this book.

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

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princes Bree has been in love with Grady since she was a child. He is her brother’s best friend, the a royal yacht’s captain and his father is the King’s personal secretary. Everything is against them. But can their mother plot to bring them together even if they’ve been fighting for so long that, even sometimes, they question their own feelings? Sweet and funny.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melinda Swaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and delightful read! I enjoyed reading this book and the author did a great job with world building and allowing you to connect to the characters. Absolutely adore Seven Brides for Sevens Mothers and I fall more and more in love with it with each new book. Happy reading everyone

[Sheri P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been excited for Grady and Bree’s story ever since their interaction in “You’re So Vain.” Their story does not disappoint when Bree’s childhood crush turns into her biggest enemy.
These characters are endearing with the Royal siblings and the meddling mothers. Dineen’s writing is engaging sprinkled with humor and heart. With flirty banter and witty dialogue this is a charming rom-com that I didn’t want to put down until it was finished.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outrageously funny story about two people who can’t stand each other even though they love each other, their mothers who try to bring them together, the ten date rule they can’t manage and so much more

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another awesome addition to the Seven Brides series!

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked the previous books in this series, you will certainly like this one as well. This time, the romance is not the love at first sight, but a triumph of the heart over (what seemed like) unrequited love.

It is clear - all people love, suffer, have dreams and fears and hopes no matter their looks or the circumstances of their birth. So go ahead and see what being royalty feels like.

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

[Hilary Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy series and was dying for Aubrey & Grady's story.... I loved the chemistry between these two characters from the first time they were introduced into the series. Head Over Feet exceeded my expectations (which were quite high). I loved this book and struggled to put it down... I can't wait for the next book...

[Gin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. For the second time this month I find myself asking if I have read the same book as other people leaving reviews.

My biggest issue with this book is that it was like being stuck in stop and go traffic. Just as I would settle into the groove of the main story, the chapter would end. The next chapter would start from the POV of one of the mothers. This would make me lose any momentum that had been created. Given the number of chapters, and the fact that the chapters are so short, this resulted in a very frustrating read. I've read a couple of other books in this series, and while I remember there being meddling mother vignettes, I don't remember them being in every. single. chapter. (I could be wrong though).

Another issue I had were the subplots. They were so involved that they detracted from the main story. I didn't care about Jacqui and Georges' relationship; I was trying to focus on Bree and Grady. Write a short story about them instead of squishing it into a book that's ostentatiously about another couple. Likewise with the Agnes/Drew set up. I don't mind a few hints dropped into a book foreshadowing which characters will be the stars of a forthcoming book. But honestly, I'm afraid that the first few chapters of Agnes and Drew's book will seem like a rehashing of scenes from this book, only from their POVs (another thing I hate). However, I understand why Agnes was initially brought in (even if her character stayed too long) and at least the Jordon subplot was relatively intertwined with the main storyline.

The blurb was a bit misleading, too. Bree and Grady do not go on a cruise alone. They get on a yacht, yes. But other people are on the yacht. And they have a clear destination.

I was left with the feeling that all of this other stuff was jam packed into the book because the author thought that Bree and Grady's story just wasn't interesting on its own. And their story was relatively drama-free. Hints were dropped about this horrible thing that happened on the night of Bree's graduation party. When we finally get to the Big Reveal, I felt let down-- while yeah, it was kind of douchey, it was by no means as bad as I was expecting.

I also felt there was almost no chemistry between the two characters, but this could be because it seemed at times the author was actively keeping them away from each other and preventing them from having opportunities to let that chemistry shine. Grady didn't seem to work very hard to prove to Bree that he was interested in her, either. All in all, when they finally do get around to declaring their feelings, it was really underwhelming and anticlimatic.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, Whitney Dineen's writing shines! I almost didn't continue on with this book because I really disliked the main character's brattiness but I kept on because I knew it had to get better. And it did but not until the very end. The writing was still good but the story just wasn't my favorite. I was not a fan of Aubrey; even after she changes, she's still bratty. The big issue for me was the start pf every chapter was a different point of view (not the couple) so it took you out of the story and ruined any flow. Otherwise, it was a cute story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book five of the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers and the main characters are Bree (Princess Aubrey of Malquar) and Grady Bassett, captain of the royal yacht and a close friend of her brother Al since childhood. Bree has loved Grady since she was young and used to follow her brother Al (Alistair) and him around all the time. When she was fifteen and he was leaving for college, she thought it was her chance to kiss him and tell him how she felt, but it ended in a disaster, leaving her bereft. When he turned up at her graduation party, she tried again, only to find him with someone else. He then disappeared on her again, until coming back to serve on the royal boat. Her heart was broken and he won’t even talk to her. Now instead of being annoying as she was as a kid, she now acts like she hates him, even going as far as interrupting his date night on the yacht and he ended up throwing her overboard! She thought he should have been sacked for that, but everyone knows she likes him and has annoyed him for years. She told him he shouldn’t even have a date on the royal yacht, as he was a member of staff and shouldn’t have the privilege, even though Al had authorised it. Due to the way she has been behaving towards Grady whenever they are together in the same space, Al and Lu have arranged for them to attend ten events with them, for them to prove they can act like adults around each other, as they both have important roles in their upcoming wedding. Each time they fail, another event is added and they have to start all over again.
Grady knows his place however and disappeared from Bree’s life for years, trying to avoid his own feelings for her. Having his own father (Georges) be the king’s personal secretary, he was brought up to know his place and to never cross the line and be too familiar. It was made plain that a relationship between them could lose his father his job and very livelihood, so it is something he has put out of his mind, or at least tried to. Unfortunately for the pair, their mothers love to meddle and with a couple of the Queen’s children now married or close to, they are trying to matchmake a coming together of Bree and Grady, knowing full well they both have feelings for each other. Charlotte wants to see all of her children matched up and still has her and Alfred’s oldest son Drew (Andrew), the heir to the throne to be considered. Sophie has also been left hanging after finding her fiancé cheating on her and has been slowly recovering. Jacqueline is getting tired of Georges always putting business first and delivers him an ultimatum. Whilst Charlotte meddles with a replacement royal secretary for Drew and fireworks begin! Charlotte takes Sophie and Bree with her on the royal yacht, to a small private island they own, to get some peace and quiet. But Bree picks just the wrong time to tell her mum how much she resents being a royal and being unable to pick her own way in life like her sister Cherie in Paris. Charlotte leaves the girls there, without Bree even getting any time to think about what she said or even to apologise, making Bree a bit guilty!
Charlotte takes the yacht back with her, leaving Bree and Grady alone on the island with just Sophie, along with the small staff who live there. Bree had been set up with the brother of one of Sophie’s friends, Jordan Markham, a wealthy banker, but something isn’t quite right about the relationship as Grady finds out and he doesn’t impress the king and queen either! Bree has had some time to think whilst on the island and has shared her dreams for the future with Grady, about what she would love to actually do. After they all spill their dreams Sophie leaves them to have a private time and Grady ends up kissing her, something he tells her he has wanted to do since she was fifteen! She stopped talking to him after that summer and he thought he didn’t have a chance and the guilt over his father’s job wore him down. Now he wants a chance at the happiness he can see his friend Al having and the two finally come together and agree to start dating and the hope that their parents will allow it to happen. Since Charlotte was a florist before the king set his eyes on her, there is certainly ample precedent for it to happen. Another couple of characters are still to find their partners and there are some nice hints to that along the way. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Just Love books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Audrey has loved Grady Basset since she was all of six years old, having grown up playing together and always being around each other one would think this would be the making of a cute royal fairytale. Alas Grady has never so much as give Bree a second look well nothing more than friends really, which is why Bree is now determined to put so distance between herself and the new Royal Yacht captain. Well this would have been a great plan of only her meddlesome mother didn’t get involved, now Bree has no choice but to face Grady all alone!

..

Grady has always know the difference between his social standing and that of the royal family, just because they played together as kids and the Prince is his best friend doesn’t not mean that he is worthy of the attention of Bree which is exactly why he has kept his feeling for her strictly out of reach. But now that both the Queen and his meddlesome mother have plotted to send him and Bree on a cruise of the Mediterranean alone some of those well hidden feelings begin to surface and Grady is force to face his very real feeling for Princess Bree.. the question is are these going to be calm water or a chopped ride?

..

I just loved this force proximity, childhood crush, enemies to lovers romcom. This was the perfect fast clean read that will have you chuckling and plotting along side these two mothers. Dineen has done a brilliant job with creating this cute and fulfilled series with loveably relatable characters. Head Over Feet can be read as a standalone novel but I would suggest checking out the rest of the series.

..

I just loved the intense tension between Bree and Grad, these two were just perfection. I really liked that they had this shared history which made them so comfortable together, all while having this intense feeling bubbling under the surface. I have to say it was nice getting to see Bree finally come into her own and grow up to a dredge as the story progressed. As for Grady I did feel he got off easy for his past actions but that is neither her nor there. Ultimately these two made one cute couple.

..

The meddlesome mothers were just a hit for me! I loved that they were the masterminds behind this couple finally figuring out their way. It was also such a hoot getting to see the King adding to all the crazy.

..

Head Over Feet is a definite must read, this royally cute romcom will melt you heart while having you hooked to Bree and Grady’s adventure.

[R Huiszoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney Dineen, ‘Head Over Feet’.

As an Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily wrote an honest review. Here it is.

Rating: 4 (of 5 stars).

In general: From enemies to lovers.

Main characters:
- Aubrey ‘Bree’ Hale, princess of Malquar (30). Malquar is a fictitious, little kingdom on an European island. As the 5th child it’s very unlikely that Bree will inherit the throne.

- Grady Basset (33).
Son of of the king’s Royal Secretary and friend of prince Allistair, Aubrey’s brother. After several years as a Marine Grady is now the captain of the royal yacht.
He has a secret crush on Aubrey, who he knows since they were toddlers. But he thinks that he, son of the king’s employee, cannot court a princess. So he avoids her as much as possible and when they meet there’s often a lot of bickering.

The author, Whitney Dineen, describes how the two, sometimes hot-tempered, main characters evolve from enemies to lovers with the assistance of manipulating mothers and other members of their families. The result is a very funny story with a sassy heroine and a future lover who not always understands what’s happening around him in his love life. Many comical scenes, nice additional characters and a not so unexpected HEA.
For me, living in a real little European kingdom it’s not always credible that princes and princesses have such a lot of freedom to choose their own personal life as those in this book, but all in all it was a pleasure to read this funny, romantic love story.

R. Huiszoon.

[Ali's In Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute (kind-of) enemies-to-lovers rom-com with meddling mothers

The fifth book in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers follows Grady (Alistair's best friend) and Bree, the Prince's sister. They've shared a tempestuous past, having grown up almost like siblings, until Bree started to develop a crush on the older boy. A couple of false starts in their teens turns them into enemies. When Alistair and his fiancée, Lu, force the squabbling pair to be civil for ten consecutive occasions, sparks fly and both must reassess old feelings.

This was a cute addition to the series (I would definitely recommend reading the others first as there are several supporting characters from previous stories). The meddling mothers weren't too overbearing in this one, thankfully. I also appreciated the way in which both lead characters did some retrospection as to how they'd gone from great friends as young children, to enemies as adults. If I have one disappointment, it's that with all of the build up, I would have loved to read more of Grady and Bree actually together, but that's me just being greedy probably!

I also liked the subplots with Grady's parents, and setting up Drew and Sophie's respective storylines. I look forward to reading them.


Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:
Emotional Rating: 😂😂🥰🥰

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when the Queen conspires to steer the course of your life??? And the Queen happens to be your mother??? It’s pretty funny, when you think about it.

Yes, mothers are at it again! This time it’s the Queen of Malquar and the hero’s mother doing the meddling. I think it’s adorable that even the King adds his two cents in this matchmaking. Princess Aubrey, to me, is a wee bit of a spoiled…dare I say, princess? She even stamped her foot a few times when she didn’t get her own way. Too funny. I loved Grady, even when he was being a boy; he was a bit clueless at times but he was living protocol as taught by his father. Kind of an oversimplification of his beliefs but it’s a big part of who Grady is.

More of Bree’s family (from previous stories) show up and they have big opinions about what’s going on. I love how they all conspire together and basically make Bree’s life miserable…or is that help her “see the light”? Honestly, I loved Grady more than Bree but her redeeming quality is that she is a wee bit lost in life but it’s only in her own mind. When she finally grows up, for lack of a better term, she was more likable. Just my opinion.

Fun story in this series. I wonder where MY yacht captain is hiding???

[Curtis E Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Whitney Deneen that has not been said already? She is a storyteller extraordinaire. She can capture and keep you glued to her pages from beginning to end and still leave you wanting more. She has a great sense of humor and is not afraid to show it, etc.

Head Over Feet is Book 6 in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series and trust me, I have been waiting for this one since about book 3…LOL. Bree and Grady have been in the background of a number of her stories, but in this one, they shine! Of course, bright lights can also blind… and these two are about as blindingly bright for each other as they come. But they don’t know it. Of course, what better way for them to see what is in front of them than with the help of friends and family. Oh, and I use the word help very loosely. To find out what I mean by that, you will have to read the story.

But alas, all is not complete with this series as Whitney leaves us with breadcrumbs into the next adventure to be had. If you need a story or a series to keep you on your toes and have you laughing one minute and swooning the next, these stories fill that void nicely.

Great job Whitney Deneen and well worth all the stars!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Head Over Feet was an interesting take on what can happen when you have supposed thoughts and opinions on how something should be, vs. what really is. Grady has never allowed himself to “go there” with Bree because he never thought their stations in life would allow it, while Bree can’t let go of the past events that have led her to believe that Grady is a jerk–whether it’s true or not remains to be seen. Even though they have developed feelings for each other, feelings that have been brewing for years, neither wants to act on it, which only adds to their turmoil.

Both characters come off as a bit childish, which I appreciated. I’ve heard somewhere before that certain events in one’s life can sometimes lock you in place there; you pick up those emotions and personifications. Given their past history, both Grady and Bree are locked together within their teen years, for different reasons, and neither seems to understand that they’re past that era. There is hope for new beginnings together, but it’s hard to fathom. They need to work beyond it so they can appreciate who they are now, and whether that can happen is initially a mystery–it was a slow burn to that discovery for these two lovelorn characters.

The meddling mothers are back! I’ve read several of the books within Dineen’s Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series, and it’s always been an adventure with the meddling mothers. They add a little sweetness and spice to the mix, with an intent to do some good for their children, even if at times they only compound the drama. They always have the best of intentions, and at heart, so do Grady and Bree. It made them endearing. This was a great addition to the series, and I’m eager to read the next one!

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so much with this book. There are two conniving mothers on of whom is the queen; feuding friends; pushy siblings and scheming wannabes. Bree has loved her brother's best friend, Grady, forever, but he never seemed to feel that way about her. Bree's mom, the queen, and Grady's mom, her best friend, just know that their children belong with each other and together they start plotting. One of Bree's brothers and his fiancée want Bree and Grady to be in their wedding, but only if the two can stop feuding long enough. They tell the two that they must attend 10 functions together without fighting, but then Grady brings a date, which forces Bree to find one and things snowball from there. Also, Grady's parents are having growing pains in their relationship and the queen wonders if she will have another successful matching or will she have bitten off more than she can chew. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would like to go back and start reading the series at the beginning or at least the story before this one and I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

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

[Imfullybooked2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun flirty and swoony read

This read was fun, flirty, funny, playful, swoony, sweet and more. I was hooked from beginning til the end. It started with the ever loving, strong minded, determined, feisty Aubrey tackling her first love. So adorable hehe!


The love-hate relationship between Aubrey and Grady made the story so much fun and hilarious. You can feel the passion through the pages. They focus so much on each it's hilarious and sweet. I adore their meddling mothers. They are such sneaky, sweet, and loving ladies. 

I have so many favorite moments one is the first meal with the Queen and King it was a hilarious LOL moment with tears. There're also the moments they both acted jealous of each other's dates. I enjoyed the little flashbacks of what happened between Grady and Aubrey. They reveal so much of why they are the way they are with each other. So adorable! Aubrey's mother was a brilliant and loving matchmaker.

The ending is so sweet and swoony. I felt all giddy inside and out. Afterwards I reread some of my fave parts. I must check out the rest of the books in the series! 

[Anonymous 5]

This is the fifth installment of the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series. If you haven't been following this series, you have been missing out! I guarantee these books will have you smiling and laughing out loud till the end. Bree and Grady have known each other since they were kids. She would always follow him and her brother around and even back then she had completely fallen for him. Grady never reciprocated her feelings because they are separated by class. Grady is the son of the king's secretary and Bree a princess. He knew he would never be good enough for her. Queen Charlotte wants nothing more than for her kids to be happy, and instead of disapproving of the match, she plays matchmaker and takes every chance to get them together. Meddlesome mamas are always a hoot and bring a whole new level of humor and fun, and this book did all that and more. This was a cleverly written story with heart, humor, and emotion and I enjoyed it. I found this to be a thoroughly entertaining and absolutely adorable story and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Erica Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read of this series and it was such a fun and sweet romance story. 4.5 stars!

Aubrey (Bree) is a Princess who has always done what is expected. That is, unless it involves Grady. Grady is a childhood friend of the royal family turned Royal Yacht Captain. Bree and Grady’s chemistry is built on an openly contentious relationship which has only grown since childhood. I loved it!

The characters really added to the fun of this story! The meddling mothers, family, and friends of Bree and Grady add so much humor! I found myself laughing a lot while reading this book. I also really liked that I could get a feel for each character. I was worried I wouldn’t since this is my first in the series, but I am happy that the author portrayed every character fully.

The only thing that brought this down for me is that I felt like the ending was rushed a bit. The whole book was so wonderfully built up, that I wish there was a little more to the resolution.
Overall, I would recommend this book and will be reading the entire series!

I was given a complimentary advance copy of the book and this honest review is provided voluntarily.

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of the book is good, but I think the execution is not done well.

Meddling mothers is hilarious, except when the book switches to their point of view at the beginning of each chapter - in a completely different tense than in the point of view of Aubrey and Grady. Either pick first- or third-person, don't use both.

There's no way Aubrey and Grady like each other. I don't believe it one bit. Aubrey seemed to hate Grady and I never once felt like Grady was interested in Aubrey. There was never an "aha" moment that convinced me they should be romantically involved, which was why it was so annoying their mothers kept getting involved because it felt like the whole relationship was forced.

I could have done without all the subplots too - I know part of it is to set up the next one, but I thought it would just introduce the relationship and call it a day, but it became much more than it needed to be. Plus, I didn't care at all about Grady's parents and their little section. The sudden shifts to different parts of the story made it hard to follow Grady and Aubrey.

thank you HiddenGems for the free ARC