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Southern Wedding #5
Mine to Take
When two worlds crossover. From the This Is Series and The Southern Series.
Things are supposed to go smoothly on your wedding day.
Aren't they?
Sofia Barnes
I’ve always loved to play dress-up.
Creating fake weddings was my childhood pastime.
Now it is my dream come true.
I’ve finally been handed my first client.
But nothing could prepare me for who greeted me when I walked in.
He was my first kiss, my first everything, including my first and only heartbreak.
Now I have to plan his wedding.
Matthew Petrov
My family is filled with hockey royalty.
From my grandfather to my uncle to my father.
Now it is my turn to work my way up the leaderboard.
I had everything that I’ve ever wanted in my life.
Or so I thought.
Nothing could prepare me for coming face-to-face with Sofia.
I knew her inside and out.
She knew my inner secrets.
Two years ago, I let her go, and now she’s planning my wedding to someone else.
They say time heals old wounds. They lied.
Maybe she was just mine to take.
Things are supposed to go smoothly on your wedding day.
Aren't they?
Sofia Barnes
I’ve always loved to play dress-up.
Creating fake weddings was my childhood pastime.
Now it is my dream come true.
I’ve finally been handed my first client.
But nothing could prepare me for who greeted me when I walked in.
He was my first kiss, my first everything, including my first and only heartbreak.
Now I have to plan his wedding.
Matthew Petrov
My family is filled with hockey royalty.
From my grandfather to my uncle to my father.
Now it is my turn to work my way up the leaderboard.
I had everything that I’ve ever wanted in my life.
Or so I thought.
Nothing could prepare me for coming face-to-face with Sofia.
I knew her inside and out.
She knew my inner secrets.
Two years ago, I let her go, and now she’s planning my wedding to someone else.
They say time heals old wounds. They lied.
Maybe she was just mine to take.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2023
1570 people are currently reading
6069 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Madison
88 books8,375 followersWhen Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author's nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews
July 24, 2023
‼️ Slight spoilers, but if you're used to this genre, they're things you'd expect.
The MMC ruined it for me. He's a coward. He let her go 2 years earlier because his friends goaded him into it, and then he never went after her because his friends were watching him and he just dropped her. This, even though they had been planning a wedding and a life together and he was supposedly in love with her. Then a little over a year later he starts dating someone else, and 9 months after that, when she heavily hints that she wants to get married, he's just like, ok. And they start planning their wedding. He just goes along with everything she says from then on. And even when he was realizing just how much she didn't fit him or his life, and was actually annoyed with her, he STILL would have gone on and married her at that point. It took HER breaking it off for their relationship to even end.
It's not until halfway through the book before his fiancee breaks up with him and he immediately tries to start winning the FMC back.
“How was I supposed to tell my fiancée that my wedding planner was the only woman I’ve ever loved? How do you think that conversation would have gone? Because she would have asked me if I still had feelings for you and the answer would have been yes.”
Like I said, he's a coward. He never even told the woman he was going to marry about the FMC.
“You aren’t anyone’s rebound or second choice...You’re the fucking first choice every single time.”
When?!!! When did he show that she was his first choice? It wasn't two years earlier when he let his friends goad him into dumping her and then let her walk away with a fight. And it wasn't a week earlier when he was still planning to marry his now ex fiancee until she finally ended it.
“The minute I saw you, I knew it was wrong.”
And yet he continued to plan the wedding and stay with her for almost two months until she broke it off.
And from then on he persistently pursues the FMC, not letting her have space, not letting her tell him no. Usually I would applaud this kind of persistence, but this is a man who, even one week earlier, had just let other people make decisions and influence his life decisions.
And the most annoying part is that the FMC lets him. She talks a big game, and she tells him no often, but then she does everything he asks her to. She says no to his little dates and meals but shows up anyway. Tells him she's seeing someone (she isn't) but lets him kiss her anyway (a week after his engagement has been broken off). Tells him she needs time, then sleeps with him, at which point they're together and the families are now meeting with the expectation that they're going to move in together and start a life together now.
I just can't. The execution was horrible.
On top of that, it's clear the side characters were from other series books by this author, none of which I've read. Most of the time it was ok, but there were a couple parts, and one big standoff, that I got bored and annoyed with, and it was clear they I'd had to have read all these other books and series to find the immature way these characters were acting endearing.
The MMC ruined it for me. He's a coward. He let her go 2 years earlier because his friends goaded him into it, and then he never went after her because his friends were watching him and he just dropped her. This, even though they had been planning a wedding and a life together and he was supposedly in love with her. Then a little over a year later he starts dating someone else, and 9 months after that, when she heavily hints that she wants to get married, he's just like, ok. And they start planning their wedding. He just goes along with everything she says from then on. And even when he was realizing just how much she didn't fit him or his life, and was actually annoyed with her, he STILL would have gone on and married her at that point. It took HER breaking it off for their relationship to even end.
It's not until halfway through the book before his fiancee breaks up with him and he immediately tries to start winning the FMC back.
“How was I supposed to tell my fiancée that my wedding planner was the only woman I’ve ever loved? How do you think that conversation would have gone? Because she would have asked me if I still had feelings for you and the answer would have been yes.”
Like I said, he's a coward. He never even told the woman he was going to marry about the FMC.
“You aren’t anyone’s rebound or second choice...You’re the fucking first choice every single time.”
When?!!! When did he show that she was his first choice? It wasn't two years earlier when he let his friends goad him into dumping her and then let her walk away with a fight. And it wasn't a week earlier when he was still planning to marry his now ex fiancee until she finally ended it.
“The minute I saw you, I knew it was wrong.”
And yet he continued to plan the wedding and stay with her for almost two months until she broke it off.
And from then on he persistently pursues the FMC, not letting her have space, not letting her tell him no. Usually I would applaud this kind of persistence, but this is a man who, even one week earlier, had just let other people make decisions and influence his life decisions.
And the most annoying part is that the FMC lets him. She talks a big game, and she tells him no often, but then she does everything he asks her to. She says no to his little dates and meals but shows up anyway. Tells him she's seeing someone (she isn't) but lets him kiss her anyway (a week after his engagement has been broken off). Tells him she needs time, then sleeps with him, at which point they're together and the families are now meeting with the expectation that they're going to move in together and start a life together now.
I just can't. The execution was horrible.
On top of that, it's clear the side characters were from other series books by this author, none of which I've read. Most of the time it was ok, but there were a couple parts, and one big standoff, that I got bored and annoyed with, and it was clear they I'd had to have read all these other books and series to find the immature way these characters were acting endearing.
September 29, 2024
He dumps her when he’s drunk because his team mates told him she was keeping him back.
Two years later he meets her again accidentally because she’s a wedding planner and he is getting married to another woman.
Just peachy.
Romantic as fuck.
I hate this bs, this is why second chance never works for me.
Two years later he meets her again accidentally because she’s a wedding planner and he is getting married to another woman.
Just peachy.
Romantic as fuck.
I hate this bs, this is why second chance never works for me.
July 28, 2023
If I found out my friend was dumped by her boyfriend of two years because he was a sorry ass bitch who got pressured by his friends, I’d make sure he never got to breathe same air as her. Not constantly try to push her into his arms because “closure is important and she still loves him.” Fuck that.
July 28, 2023
Basically this Hero needs a back bone.
He let's the heroine go because he's spineless and I'm not sure there is any evidence he's changed as he still shows no spine when his next girlfriend says they should get married and he's says 'okay', even though he's not feeling it and she's been super pushy while they dated, hinting at marriage after 2 weeks.
She of course is unreasonable and anti his family etc, totally unsuitable.
The original breakup.
The Hero and heroine dated for 2 years, he's successful, he goes out after a match to party and has too much to drink, his team mates goad him so he drinks more, let's her down by being late for their date, they row, then packs her stuff up and has it returned to her.
He then takes his time going after her in which time they loose contact. They had no real closure.
He then proceeds to plan a wedding up to 50% of the book with his new pushy fiance with the heroine who is a wedding planner.
As predicted it's difficult to help the reader feel its okay to switch brides.
She tries to date but he's boring.
They have been broken up 2 years.
She has the Mills and Boon, he touches her and she melts, looses all resistance.
HEA. If you believe it.
Dual POV. Girl posse.
No go for me.
He let's the heroine go because he's spineless and I'm not sure there is any evidence he's changed as he still shows no spine when his next girlfriend says they should get married and he's says 'okay', even though he's not feeling it and she's been super pushy while they dated, hinting at marriage after 2 weeks.
She of course is unreasonable and anti his family etc, totally unsuitable.
The original breakup.
The Hero and heroine dated for 2 years, he's successful, he goes out after a match to party and has too much to drink, his team mates goad him so he drinks more, let's her down by being late for their date, they row, then packs her stuff up and has it returned to her.
He then takes his time going after her in which time they loose contact. They had no real closure.
He then proceeds to plan a wedding up to 50% of the book with his new pushy fiance with the heroine who is a wedding planner.
As predicted it's difficult to help the reader feel its okay to switch brides.
She tries to date but he's boring.
They have been broken up 2 years.
She has the Mills and Boon, he touches her and she melts, looses all resistance.
HEA. If you believe it.
Dual POV. Girl posse.
No go for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 27, 2023DNF
====
Wow! Just when I think I've seen it all, I see a more stupid hero and a heroine without a backbone worse than the previous ones.
A weak hero who lets himself be carried away by the opinion of his friends and who follows the flow of events at the whim of others. He is engaged and making arrangements for the wedding and our heroine is the event planner. He actually doesn't even know what he really wants and gets carried away by his fiancée.
Our heroine is still frozen and unable to move on, as he has moved on.
====
Wow! Just when I think I've seen it all, I see a more stupid hero and a heroine without a backbone worse than the previous ones.
A weak hero who lets himself be carried away by the opinion of his friends and who follows the flow of events at the whim of others. He is engaged and making arrangements for the wedding and our heroine is the event planner. He actually doesn't even know what he really wants and gets carried away by his fiancée.
Our heroine is still frozen and unable to move on, as he has moved on.
March 26, 2025
This is one of those books where you wish you've read all the previous books by NM before it because it literally starts with a 3-page family tree(s) and has cameos from 4 different series and around 30 books. (Not exaggerating btw)
Mathew and Sofia are cute and perfect together. But I mean, they literally had their first conversation at 46% in the book. And I am kind of over this type of pace with second-chance romance.
Yeah, Mathew was an idiot, but like I think they're 22 in the book? How about we chill and be more mature? Because you guys tried the bare minimum.
It is electric when they're together, but why not talk?
I liked it, I had fun, but I know we can get more from NM.
I duno, it seems my loved authors are disappointing me this month.
--
Pre-read:
Another day, another book I'm going in blind, another time I find Second-Chance Romance. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Mathew and Sofia are cute and perfect together. But I mean, they literally had their first conversation at 46% in the book. And I am kind of over this type of pace with second-chance romance.
Yeah, Mathew was an idiot, but like I think they're 22 in the book? How about we chill and be more mature? Because you guys tried the bare minimum.
It is electric when they're together, but why not talk?
I liked it, I had fun, but I know we can get more from NM.
I duno, it seems my loved authors are disappointing me this month.
--
Pre-read:
Another day, another book I'm going in blind, another time I find Second-Chance Romance. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
July 20, 2023
Spoiler Warning!
H & h were in a 2 yr relationship and deeply in love - or so we are told. Not sure ages because I pretty much skimmed and DNF'd this one, but at least out of HS I think.
Anyway, one night after a game, H celebrates with his teammates and gets drunk. He was supposed to have a date with h to celebrate something but his teammates rag on him to drink and not be a p***y for h so he ends up drunk and after ignoring her texts, she is worried that something happened to him so goes to his place and finds him getting out of a car with his buddies drunk. She tells him she was worried when he wasn't answering her texts & not showing up for their date and goes to leave when he tells her if she leaves now, not to ever come back. She leaves thinking he will call her the next day when he is sober but later that night he shows up with a box with her things that she had at his place and that is the end of it. (I think he said he tried to call her a week later but she had left and changed phone #'s.
Two years later, he was in a nine month relationship with OW and had gotten engaged so no heartbreak for him. He & his fiancee go to meet with a wedding planner who happens to be heroine and they pretend in front of his fiancee that they don't know each other.
A few chapters later, he & OW break things off because he just realized that she doesn't like his family and they don't have the same tastes in wedding things and that he said that he had gotten engaged to OW after she suggested they get married and he went along with it. Lol.
So after he breaks up with OW, he reaches out to heroine to finally apologize - 2 years later and suddenly he remembers that she is the love of his life and that he was "too young" before - so in two years he is finally an adult how????
This is pretty much a stupid read and if you value your brain cells, trust me you want to avoid it. If you don't, best of luck to ya.
PS: After breaking up with OW, the next day he is all over the heroine and within 3 weeks he & h are moving in together and getting married. So you can say this "Hero" doesn't have much loyalty or problem moving on from one person to another. He also stated that he loved the OW but it took them until they were making wedding plans to finally see they were not meant to be? Uhm... he was with her for 9 months and didn't take time to see if they were compatible? Didn't see that she hated his family? Didn't ask questions about what they wanted out of life? Lol.
I'm all for fictional romances authors but at least make it believable & likable characters to at least enjoy the idea of a possible HEA. At what part would any sane woman ever take this loser back or want to ever have anything to do with him after he so easily threw her away and was able to live & enjoy his life with others as if she meant nothing to him? Saying he was sorry & that he never loved anyone as much as he loved heroine was a lot of BS because if one loves someone, you CANNOT move on to OP - much less fall in love with them either! Not to mention, he SAID that he didn't break up with OW because of heroine. He broke up with her because she didn't like his family so that tells me if she had liked his family he would have married the OW and the BS about how heroine was the only woman for him, was a bunch of 💩.
H & h were in a 2 yr relationship and deeply in love - or so we are told. Not sure ages because I pretty much skimmed and DNF'd this one, but at least out of HS I think.
Anyway, one night after a game, H celebrates with his teammates and gets drunk. He was supposed to have a date with h to celebrate something but his teammates rag on him to drink and not be a p***y for h so he ends up drunk and after ignoring her texts, she is worried that something happened to him so goes to his place and finds him getting out of a car with his buddies drunk. She tells him she was worried when he wasn't answering her texts & not showing up for their date and goes to leave when he tells her if she leaves now, not to ever come back. She leaves thinking he will call her the next day when he is sober but later that night he shows up with a box with her things that she had at his place and that is the end of it. (I think he said he tried to call her a week later but she had left and changed phone #'s.
Two years later, he was in a nine month relationship with OW and had gotten engaged so no heartbreak for him. He & his fiancee go to meet with a wedding planner who happens to be heroine and they pretend in front of his fiancee that they don't know each other.
A few chapters later, he & OW break things off because he just realized that she doesn't like his family and they don't have the same tastes in wedding things and that he said that he had gotten engaged to OW after she suggested they get married and he went along with it. Lol.
So after he breaks up with OW, he reaches out to heroine to finally apologize - 2 years later and suddenly he remembers that she is the love of his life and that he was "too young" before - so in two years he is finally an adult how????
This is pretty much a stupid read and if you value your brain cells, trust me you want to avoid it. If you don't, best of luck to ya.
PS: After breaking up with OW, the next day he is all over the heroine and within 3 weeks he & h are moving in together and getting married. So you can say this "Hero" doesn't have much loyalty or problem moving on from one person to another. He also stated that he loved the OW but it took them until they were making wedding plans to finally see they were not meant to be? Uhm... he was with her for 9 months and didn't take time to see if they were compatible? Didn't see that she hated his family? Didn't ask questions about what they wanted out of life? Lol.
I'm all for fictional romances authors but at least make it believable & likable characters to at least enjoy the idea of a possible HEA. At what part would any sane woman ever take this loser back or want to ever have anything to do with him after he so easily threw her away and was able to live & enjoy his life with others as if she meant nothing to him? Saying he was sorry & that he never loved anyone as much as he loved heroine was a lot of BS because if one loves someone, you CANNOT move on to OP - much less fall in love with them either! Not to mention, he SAID that he didn't break up with OW because of heroine. He broke up with her because she didn't like his family so that tells me if she had liked his family he would have married the OW and the BS about how heroine was the only woman for him, was a bunch of 💩.
July 27, 2023
4.25 stars!
what would you do if on your FIRST DAY as a wedding planner, client number one just happens to be your ex boyfriend? yeah. this is a second chance, enemies to lovers, hockey romance. matthew broke things off when he was drunk and succumbing to some peer pressure in college and when she retaliated the next day, they never spoke again. flash forward two years, the life he's built that really isn't fulfilling so when she comes back into his life, something's gotta give.
he was just so cute and in love with her, i can't. so many funny anecdotes and side characters too.
frequently asked q's (will have some spoilers!!!):
groveling - what he did was not that intense so there is groveling like he calls her every single day, waits for her every single day after work, etc. but he did not alex volkov level mess up so it doesn't warrant an alex volkov level grovel. he just broke things off while he was drunk and being pressured by his friends and then she retaliated the next day so they never resolved it.
the fiance - there is no cheating and his fiance kinda sucks. she's obsessed with his fame and hates his family and his family is like everything to him. he never even proposed to her, they never lived together, she just told him they're getting married and he didn't argue.
owd - all of that being said, they were engaged so there is obvi other woman drama.
timeline - he's with his fiance for a decent chunk of the book because he tries to talk to the heroine and get closure but she won't give him the time of day for a while (as she shouldn't)
what would you do if on your FIRST DAY as a wedding planner, client number one just happens to be your ex boyfriend? yeah. this is a second chance, enemies to lovers, hockey romance. matthew broke things off when he was drunk and succumbing to some peer pressure in college and when she retaliated the next day, they never spoke again. flash forward two years, the life he's built that really isn't fulfilling so when she comes back into his life, something's gotta give.
he was just so cute and in love with her, i can't. so many funny anecdotes and side characters too.
frequently asked q's (will have some spoilers!!!):
groveling - what he did was not that intense so there is groveling like he calls her every single day, waits for her every single day after work, etc. but he did not alex volkov level mess up so it doesn't warrant an alex volkov level grovel. he just broke things off while he was drunk and being pressured by his friends and then she retaliated the next day so they never resolved it.
the fiance - there is no cheating and his fiance kinda sucks. she's obsessed with his fame and hates his family and his family is like everything to him. he never even proposed to her, they never lived together, she just told him they're getting married and he didn't argue.
owd - all of that being said, they were engaged so there is obvi other woman drama.
timeline - he's with his fiance for a decent chunk of the book because he tries to talk to the heroine and get closure but she won't give him the time of day for a while (as she shouldn't)
July 25, 2023
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Trope: second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
I really struggled with this one despite being a huge fan of Natasha Madison as well as second chance stories. I mean, we knew his ex from previous books and it was well know she “wasn’t liked”, but I had an equally difficult time liking the MMC as well as the FMC who came across as being a bit shallow. The part I liked most about the book was the teaser for the next one - which I’m super excited for!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Trope: second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
I really struggled with this one despite being a huge fan of Natasha Madison as well as second chance stories. I mean, we knew his ex from previous books and it was well know she “wasn’t liked”, but I had an equally difficult time liking the MMC as well as the FMC who came across as being a bit shallow. The part I liked most about the book was the teaser for the next one - which I’m super excited for!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
July 28, 2023
Would you survive if your first job as a wedding coordinator is to organize your ex boyfriend's wedding? Sofia finds herself in this situation, and she tries to be professional, even if after two years it's still hard to resist to Matthew Petrov.
Matthew is still immature for his age, he just gets carried away by people quite easily. Fortunately he puts a stop to the wedding preparation, because everyone can tell that that woman isn't right for him. For the first time he understands what is important for himself, and he decides to reconquer his ex girlfriend. Sofia tries to be impassive in front of Matthew courting, but even if she is still scarred for their previous break up, he is impossible to say no to.
Sofia and Matthew have a great chemistry, a good connection and some deep feelings for each other that don't let them to forget what a special relationship they had before.
Overall, very enjoyable. Even if I got angry at the main characters when they reveal their broke up story, they could have acted very differently in order to avoid so much grief and sadness, but in the end I was happy how they made things work.
I really love these big families depicted by Natasha Madison, they give some humour to the story. I'll look forward to the next book in this series because I'm so curious to see the kids of the original families all grown up.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
August 7, 2023
Mine to Take is part of Natasha Madison’s Southern Wedding series and it was my first time reading this author. The heroine is a wedding planner, and her first client ends up being her ex and his fiancée! 👀 I saw these tropes and was like yes please! Second chance, hockey romance, small town, enemies to lovers…it’s like this book was made for me! 😍
Sofia is a wedding planner whose first wedding client is her ex-boyfriend…who was her first everything. Matthew comes from a family of hockey royalty (his grandfather, uncles, cousins, and father all play/played). And he comes face to face with the woman whose heart he broke two years ago!
“They say time heals old wounds. They lied.
Maybe she is just mine to take.”
I had such a fun time with this read, the first half really pulls you in and just feels so comforting and fun. I loved all the side characters and knowing that this book is a spin-off of multiple other series from this author and we get multiple generations of stories, well now I want to read the other books/series that the characters in this one are related to! They both come from big families and it was fun seeing how they all fit into this story.
Sofia is a wedding planner whose first wedding client is her ex-boyfriend…who was her first everything. Matthew comes from a family of hockey royalty (his grandfather, uncles, cousins, and father all play/played). And he comes face to face with the woman whose heart he broke two years ago!
“They say time heals old wounds. They lied.
Maybe she is just mine to take.”
I had such a fun time with this read, the first half really pulls you in and just feels so comforting and fun. I loved all the side characters and knowing that this book is a spin-off of multiple other series from this author and we get multiple generations of stories, well now I want to read the other books/series that the characters in this one are related to! They both come from big families and it was fun seeing how they all fit into this story.
June 17, 2023
5 stars!
Natasha Madison has delivered another sensational crossover – this time between her hockey dynasty and the Southern Series, all within the Southern Wedding series - and she’s given us two fabulous characters in a swoony and emotional second-chance-romance that had my heart racing. I loved everything about this one!
What you need to know:
- Sofia Barnes is the daughter of Reed and Hazel from Southern Sunshine (Southern Series, #8)
- Matthew Petrov is the hockey playing son of Viktor and Zoe from This Is Wild (This Is, #2)
(I was giddy with excitement from this combination alone!)
You can read this one as a standalone, but you’ll obviously be missing a lot of family context, and it would definitely be more enjoyable for those who have read at least one, preferably both, of the series.
Sofia has just started working with the Baker sisters at their wedding co-ordinating business, and when her very first client walks in, it’s none other than Matthew Petrov – her first love, and the man who shattered her heart. Sofia and Matthew fell in mad love in college. They were together for two years, blissfully happy and planning their life together, until it suddenly and brutally fell apart (no cheating). In the two years since they’ve been apart, Sofia thought she had moved on, but one look at Matthew, and she is flooded with all of those old feelings.
Matthew is just as shocked to see Sofia. He pretends not to know her to avoid a nasty confrontation, but it puts him in a complete tailspin. He’s been going with the flow, dedicated to his hockey but otherwise coasting through life, and seeing the face of the girl he loved and lost, suddenly has him questioning everything.
From the moment we meet Matthew’s bridezilla, you can see exactly how this story is going to play out, and I was here for it! The anticipation builds beautifully, with the two of them in each other’s space, but keeping their distance and pretending to be completely indifferent to each other, while it’s clear that neither of them have been able to move on from the other. I was frantically flipping pages waiting for the inevitable moment when they finally confronted each other, and OMG! The feels!
Matthew finally sees the light, and he is a man on a mission to win back his girl. It’s heartfelt, sweet, fun, flirty, and so freaking swoony! He’s got a lot to make up for, and he grovels like a champ, holding back nothing from Sofia, fighting for her in words and with sweet gestures, and letting her know exactly where his heart is at.
It’s emotional and so beautifully romantic, and I was completely swept up in it all as these two figure it all out and find their way back to each other.
*dreamy sigh*
You can’t have a crossover of these two series without the families getting involved. Not only are Sofia’s workmates all up in her business, but Matthew and Sofia’s families are both wildly intrusive, and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Not just the parents (who I loved seeing again), but Uncle Matthew, and Sofia’s grandpa Casey are right in on the action, coming out swinging in defence of their kids, and OMG, it’s hilarious!
This is a great addition to Natasha’s world. It’s a beautiful second-chance-romance, and as a crossover of three series, it’s a great chance to catch up with much-loved characters, and continue to see the next generation find their HEA.
I finished this book within a day, unable to put it down. It had my heat pounding, it made me laugh and it made me swoon, I absolutely loved it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Natasha Madison has delivered another sensational crossover – this time between her hockey dynasty and the Southern Series, all within the Southern Wedding series - and she’s given us two fabulous characters in a swoony and emotional second-chance-romance that had my heart racing. I loved everything about this one!
What you need to know:
- Sofia Barnes is the daughter of Reed and Hazel from Southern Sunshine (Southern Series, #8)
- Matthew Petrov is the hockey playing son of Viktor and Zoe from This Is Wild (This Is, #2)
(I was giddy with excitement from this combination alone!)
You can read this one as a standalone, but you’ll obviously be missing a lot of family context, and it would definitely be more enjoyable for those who have read at least one, preferably both, of the series.
Sofia has just started working with the Baker sisters at their wedding co-ordinating business, and when her very first client walks in, it’s none other than Matthew Petrov – her first love, and the man who shattered her heart. Sofia and Matthew fell in mad love in college. They were together for two years, blissfully happy and planning their life together, until it suddenly and brutally fell apart (no cheating). In the two years since they’ve been apart, Sofia thought she had moved on, but one look at Matthew, and she is flooded with all of those old feelings.
Matthew is just as shocked to see Sofia. He pretends not to know her to avoid a nasty confrontation, but it puts him in a complete tailspin. He’s been going with the flow, dedicated to his hockey but otherwise coasting through life, and seeing the face of the girl he loved and lost, suddenly has him questioning everything.
“You aren’t supposed to think you found the one. You are supposed to know. If it’s the one, there isn’t that question … there isn’t any question, it just is.”
From the moment we meet Matthew’s bridezilla, you can see exactly how this story is going to play out, and I was here for it! The anticipation builds beautifully, with the two of them in each other’s space, but keeping their distance and pretending to be completely indifferent to each other, while it’s clear that neither of them have been able to move on from the other. I was frantically flipping pages waiting for the inevitable moment when they finally confronted each other, and OMG! The feels!
“There are a few things I’ve done in my life that I regret,” I tell her, swallowing the lump in my throat. “That night is number one on that list. I lost the best thing that has ever happened to me. I lost the woman I loved more than life itself. I lost half of my soul that night.”
Matthew finally sees the light, and he is a man on a mission to win back his girl. It’s heartfelt, sweet, fun, flirty, and so freaking swoony! He’s got a lot to make up for, and he grovels like a champ, holding back nothing from Sofia, fighting for her in words and with sweet gestures, and letting her know exactly where his heart is at.
“Stop fighting this, Sofia, and listen to my words. What I gave to you, I never gave to anyone else … I was meant to always be with you. You were always mine.”
It’s emotional and so beautifully romantic, and I was completely swept up in it all as these two figure it all out and find their way back to each other.
I loved you before. I love you now. I will love you always.
*dreamy sigh*
You can’t have a crossover of these two series without the families getting involved. Not only are Sofia’s workmates all up in her business, but Matthew and Sofia’s families are both wildly intrusive, and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Not just the parents (who I loved seeing again), but Uncle Matthew, and Sofia’s grandpa Casey are right in on the action, coming out swinging in defence of their kids, and OMG, it’s hilarious!
“Look, I’d love to sit here and talk about this longer,” Viktor says, “but Matthew senior and Casey are literally having a pissing contest, and I’m just hoping no one whips out a private part.”
This is a great addition to Natasha’s world. It’s a beautiful second-chance-romance, and as a crossover of three series, it’s a great chance to catch up with much-loved characters, and continue to see the next generation find their HEA.
I finished this book within a day, unable to put it down. It had my heat pounding, it made me laugh and it made me swoon, I absolutely loved it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2023
F*CK NO. F*cking loser ass, garbage ass "hero."
NOTHING romantic about this book or redeemable about this fucking coward.
It wouldn't surprise me if 2 years from now a fan convinces him to cheat on her - that's how weak he is.
NOTHING romantic about this book or redeemable about this fucking coward.
It wouldn't surprise me if 2 years from now a fan convinces him to cheat on her - that's how weak he is.
July 25, 2023
I’m sad to give this book such a low rating because I was looking forward to it, but I am really struggling to find things I liked about it. I was intrigued by the plot since usually it’s a runaway bride scenario, not a H who is the one getting married. You have Matt who is engaged to a woman he’s been with for almost a year, and Sofia his ex who ends up being his wedding planner.
I think one of the good things was how quickly he ended up breaking the engagement off. This was like 30%ish into the book so we didn’t have to wait a long time, there honestly was hardly any conversations between him and Sofia until after he broke up with his fiancé. It was a short book, so if it had been done any later you wouldn’t have had time to fit in him trying to win her back. And I say this loosely, him trying was pretty much forcing her to go out to eat with him.
The whole breakup was weird. You just don’t know if his relationship with Helena had always been so strange or if it was solely because of Sofia. She just accepts it so easily then you never see her again, and literally the next day he’s trying to get Sofia back. This was after he also didn’t want her as the wedding planner. I just didn’t entirely feel the connection between him and her, it felt rushed and forced.
I also was quite disgusted by their breakup and how he ended things/made very little effort to go after her. It had only been two years since and he was with Helena for one. I just don’t think two years was a long time to have the “growth” he was talking about especially when he spent a year of it with another woman. He also NEVER tells Sofia WHY he got drunk and WHY he dropped her stuff of that night. This was a HUGE issue for me. She puts up a fight for all of three seconds and then gets back with him, literally the man is single for 3 weeks before they’re moved in together. Without even knowing why he did what he did, just that he regretted it. Like girl, he left your two year relationship because the guys called him pussy whipped 🤣 where was the explanation and grovel!?!?
There was very little spice but what we did get was good? It was towards the end of the book, but you definitely felt their chemistry there even when they lacked it the rest of the time. Over all I think if this book had been longer with much more redemption for him and time spent working on themselves as people and even maybe some more flashbacks this would’ve helped the book tremendously.
I think one of the good things was how quickly he ended up breaking the engagement off. This was like 30%ish into the book so we didn’t have to wait a long time, there honestly was hardly any conversations between him and Sofia until after he broke up with his fiancé. It was a short book, so if it had been done any later you wouldn’t have had time to fit in him trying to win her back. And I say this loosely, him trying was pretty much forcing her to go out to eat with him.
The whole breakup was weird. You just don’t know if his relationship with Helena had always been so strange or if it was solely because of Sofia. She just accepts it so easily then you never see her again, and literally the next day he’s trying to get Sofia back. This was after he also didn’t want her as the wedding planner. I just didn’t entirely feel the connection between him and her, it felt rushed and forced.
I also was quite disgusted by their breakup and how he ended things/made very little effort to go after her. It had only been two years since and he was with Helena for one. I just don’t think two years was a long time to have the “growth” he was talking about especially when he spent a year of it with another woman. He also NEVER tells Sofia WHY he got drunk and WHY he dropped her stuff of that night. This was a HUGE issue for me. She puts up a fight for all of three seconds and then gets back with him, literally the man is single for 3 weeks before they’re moved in together. Without even knowing why he did what he did, just that he regretted it. Like girl, he left your two year relationship because the guys called him pussy whipped 🤣 where was the explanation and grovel!?!?
There was very little spice but what we did get was good? It was towards the end of the book, but you definitely felt their chemistry there even when they lacked it the rest of the time. Over all I think if this book had been longer with much more redemption for him and time spent working on themselves as people and even maybe some more flashbacks this would’ve helped the book tremendously.
July 27, 2023
1. Needed editing. Eg. “I grab the cup and bring it to my lips, smelling the aroma of coffee fill my nose makes me smile right before I take a sip.”
2. So much unnecessary filler. "I put the car in park." "I unbuckle my seatbelt." "I open my door." "I lean over and reach for my coffee" "I grab my purse" "I step out of the car" "I make my way up the steps".
3. “I was drunk and stupid” may have explained Matthew’s breaking up with Sofia, but it didn’t excuse not doing anything to try to fix what he’d done for TWO YEARS!
4. This book was so ridiculous and childish; the H broke up with the h because of peer pressure and didn’t bother to try to fix things because he was too proud and we’re supposed to believe that she was the love of his life. DNF
2. So much unnecessary filler. "I put the car in park." "I unbuckle my seatbelt." "I open my door." "I lean over and reach for my coffee" "I grab my purse" "I step out of the car" "I make my way up the steps".
3. “I was drunk and stupid” may have explained Matthew’s breaking up with Sofia, but it didn’t excuse not doing anything to try to fix what he’d done for TWO YEARS!
4. This book was so ridiculous and childish; the H broke up with the h because of peer pressure and didn’t bother to try to fix things because he was too proud and we’re supposed to believe that she was the love of his life. DNF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
Sofia es una wedding planer y le acaban de asignar la primer boda, pero es de nada más y menos que de su ex, su primer amor y su primer todo.
Es un libro corto y me gusta que se resuelvan rápido las cosas pero en este libro salieron muchos personajes que al parecer tienen libro y me confundía con tanto nombre.
Es un libro corto y me gusta que se resuelvan rápido las cosas pero en este libro salieron muchos personajes que al parecer tienen libro y me confundía con tanto nombre.
July 29, 2023
I have been following the Southern Wedding series from the beginning and enjoyed every installment. With that experience, I eagerly awaited the chance to read Mine to Take. My level of eagerness was further enhanced upon learning that this installment would combine two of the author’s well-loved worlds. Sadly, things didn’t go as planned. I struggled with this one. At first, I thought it was a case of not being in the right frame of mind. However, after closer evaluation, I concluded that the story just did not cut it. A situation which left me sorely disappointed.
As a fan of second chance romance and the author’s work, I expected a great read. Unfortunately, everything about this book was bland. The plot, the characters and the execution.
First off, I wasn’t a fan of the hero, and my opinion of him diminished further on learning of the manner in which he ended his relationship with the heroine. His actions reeked of the lack of a backbone, which he proved by how he treated the situation with his fiancée.
I expected more from the heroine, knowing how much hurt she endured from the hero’s actions. However, in no time at all, he broke down her defenses, and soon they were all over each other.
There wasn’t much of a romantic development here. A lack of sufficient background information regarding their romance in the past made it difficult to buy into their romance in the present. The author tells how much they loved each other, but one could not envision it.
The story delivered some light moments which involved the families of both the hero and the heroine. As usual, these guys brought levity to the story, although sometimes their interference became a bit too much.
Overall, with better character development and added depth, Mine to Take had the potential to be a great read.
As a fan of second chance romance and the author’s work, I expected a great read. Unfortunately, everything about this book was bland. The plot, the characters and the execution.
First off, I wasn’t a fan of the hero, and my opinion of him diminished further on learning of the manner in which he ended his relationship with the heroine. His actions reeked of the lack of a backbone, which he proved by how he treated the situation with his fiancée.
I expected more from the heroine, knowing how much hurt she endured from the hero’s actions. However, in no time at all, he broke down her defenses, and soon they were all over each other.
There wasn’t much of a romantic development here. A lack of sufficient background information regarding their romance in the past made it difficult to buy into their romance in the present. The author tells how much they loved each other, but one could not envision it.
The story delivered some light moments which involved the families of both the hero and the heroine. As usual, these guys brought levity to the story, although sometimes their interference became a bit too much.
Overall, with better character development and added depth, Mine to Take had the potential to be a great read.
July 24, 2023
I adore that Madison blended two series together and it became something so magical. I loved Matty and I loved Sofia. The whole concept of this story from how these two are tangled up to how things all play out, made my heart happy. The whole Stone family conglomerate is intense to start but the blend is perfect for a second chance romance. The history between these two added an extra level of intensity. Great read!
July 27, 2023
I absolutely loved this book!!! This was such a beautiful second chance romance. Sofia is a wedding planner and when she meets her very first clients the future groom turns out to be her ex-boyfriend who was the love of her life, her first everything!!!
The Hockey world crosses over in this book. I did go into this book without reading all the hockey series. I only read the first few books from the Something So series. So it wasn’t really that confusing with all the characters that do crossover. I can’t wait for Addison & Stefano story in Mine to Promise.
Thank you Natasha Madison & Wildfire Marketing for this ARC🫶🏼
Instagram: judyreadsromance
The Hockey world crosses over in this book. I did go into this book without reading all the hockey series. I only read the first few books from the Something So series. So it wasn’t really that confusing with all the characters that do crossover. I can’t wait for Addison & Stefano story in Mine to Promise.
Thank you Natasha Madison & Wildfire Marketing for this ARC🫶🏼
Instagram: judyreadsromance
August 21, 2023
This was so cute. I really enjoyed this second chance romance! Cannot wait for the next book
October 25, 2023
While I loved the idea of this book, I hated the actual book.
The love bombing from Matthew was gross. The breakup between the two of them was for a stupid, childish, underwhelming reason.. and we’re supposed to believe she’s the love of his life after two years of no contact, no trying to fix things and getting engaged to another woman JUST BECAUSE she suggested it? No way. The referencing of the sweet tea, taking shots of it all the time when she was stressed and the way it “burned going down” was weird bc it’s JUST sweet tea?? & finally, too much from the side characters in the book, esp if you read this as a stand alone. Literally had to skip through them because it was so much talk of their lives that didn’t pertain to the main story any.
The love bombing from Matthew was gross. The breakup between the two of them was for a stupid, childish, underwhelming reason.. and we’re supposed to believe she’s the love of his life after two years of no contact, no trying to fix things and getting engaged to another woman JUST BECAUSE she suggested it? No way. The referencing of the sweet tea, taking shots of it all the time when she was stressed and the way it “burned going down” was weird bc it’s JUST sweet tea?? & finally, too much from the side characters in the book, esp if you read this as a stand alone. Literally had to skip through them because it was so much talk of their lives that didn’t pertain to the main story any.
July 31, 2023
i hate myself for reading this
July 26, 2023
I don't know why I got so angry reading this book. I guess because I've enjoyed some of the other books in the Southern Wedding series, I was expecting more from this one. All the way through, I was thinking, why is this so bad? What a waste of a premise.
There's no real plot and no character development. Lazy writing and grammatical errors. The whole thing feels like it was dictated and not really edited after that. For instance, the heroine ignores a message from the hero and he smiles, because he knew she'd do that. Next sentence: "I don't know why I was so surprised". Well... you weren't. You predicted she'd do that. That is literally the opposite of being surprised. Did no editor read those two consecutive sentences and scratch their head?
One chapter opens with a paragraph describing someone parking and getting out of a car, step by step: I engage the emergency brake and turn the engine off. Unclipping my seatbelt, I turn to the passenger seat, where I have coffees. I pick them up and open my door, stepping confidently out and shutting the door behind me. (Not an excerpt; just my memory of what she wrote because I'm not downloading this book again, that's for sure.)
Why. Why did I have to read that. Why would an author write that, think it's interesting, and decide to keep it. I don't understand.
Also, this book includes one of my pet hates in a romance novel. Heroine comes into work and a colleague points at her and screeches "You got laid!"
Ugh.
We're meant to dislike the fiancee because she thinks his family is a bit much for asking her overly personal questions second time they met her. Sounds like a perfectly reasonable reaction to me! And the heroine's male family members seem actually unhinged with their patriarchal bullshit. I think we're meant to find it funny.
DNFed at 83%, and I think that's me done with NM books.
There's no real plot and no character development. Lazy writing and grammatical errors. The whole thing feels like it was dictated and not really edited after that. For instance, the heroine ignores a message from the hero and he smiles, because he knew she'd do that. Next sentence: "I don't know why I was so surprised". Well... you weren't. You predicted she'd do that. That is literally the opposite of being surprised. Did no editor read those two consecutive sentences and scratch their head?
One chapter opens with a paragraph describing someone parking and getting out of a car, step by step: I engage the emergency brake and turn the engine off. Unclipping my seatbelt, I turn to the passenger seat, where I have coffees. I pick them up and open my door, stepping confidently out and shutting the door behind me. (Not an excerpt; just my memory of what she wrote because I'm not downloading this book again, that's for sure.)
Why. Why did I have to read that. Why would an author write that, think it's interesting, and decide to keep it. I don't understand.
Also, this book includes one of my pet hates in a romance novel. Heroine comes into work and a colleague points at her and screeches "You got laid!"
Ugh.
We're meant to dislike the fiancee because she thinks his family is a bit much for asking her overly personal questions second time they met her. Sounds like a perfectly reasonable reaction to me! And the heroine's male family members seem actually unhinged with their patriarchal bullshit. I think we're meant to find it funny.
DNFed at 83%, and I think that's me done with NM books.
August 15, 2023
Obsessed and can’t get enough! Sofia and Matthew fell in love years ago and had a rough breakup where neither of them ever got closure. Thankfully, fate intervenes and years later, on Sofia’s first day of her dream job, she comes face-to-face with Matthew, who is engaged to another girl. It’s a gut-punch for both of them for different reasons – Sofia for seeing Matthew moved on, and Matthew for seeing Sofia the first time after their breakup. As the storyline goes on, we find out that their breakup revolved around a drunk incident involving peer pressure, and it’s somewhat of a silly situation and it shows that they both have very strong personalities that they ended up broken up in the first place. It was frustrating reading about their breakup because as a reader we wanted to shake them over how trivial it was. Matthew isn’t really happy with his relationship, revealing that he didn’t even actually propose to his fiancé, and when he sees Sofia again, he realizes that she really is it for him, and starts to go through the motions of breaking off his engagement and letting Sofia know that he is going to pursue her. This was a wild ride for this couple of constant back and forth situations combined with misunderstandings and pressure, but per usual, the families (who each have their own series of books), makes things with their personalities. Can’t wait for the next book from Natasha – I’m obsessed with her books!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
July 24, 2023
I am obsessed with Natasha’s books!!! Her writing is top notch and she delivers some of the best HEAs!! This book was everything that I had hoped it would be, plus so much more. It seriously gets all the stars!
Matthew and Sofia bring two separate world’s together in the most captivating, emotional, and heartwarming read that is going down as one of my favorite books of the year.
What to expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💍Small Town Romance
🏒Second Chance
💍Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🏒All The Feels
Sofia is a wedding planner and in walks her first client…the bride to be and the man she’s marrying, who just so happens to be Sofia’s ex who broke her heart.
Matthew thought he was happy. He had his family, a thriving hockey career, and was going to get married. Then he comes face to face with Sofia. Letting her go was the biggest regret in his life.
Cue the swooning people!!! When Matthew realizes his life is not going the way he wants…the gloves come off and Matthew is determined to show Sofia that she’s been it for him all along.
If you’re not familiar with Natasha’s books….Matthew is from the Stone Family hockey dynasty. I just want to say I wish I could be adopted by this family. Those series are my favorite hockey romances of all time. Then we have Sofia who is from the Barnes Family, and they are the definition of Southern Small Town charm, and will sweep you off your feet and have you swooning. All I can say is that when these two families collide you have better buckle up, because the show down is EPIC!
💍This book can be read as a standalone.
Matthew and Sofia bring two separate world’s together in the most captivating, emotional, and heartwarming read that is going down as one of my favorite books of the year.
What to expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💍Small Town Romance
🏒Second Chance
💍Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🏒All The Feels
Sofia is a wedding planner and in walks her first client…the bride to be and the man she’s marrying, who just so happens to be Sofia’s ex who broke her heart.
Matthew thought he was happy. He had his family, a thriving hockey career, and was going to get married. Then he comes face to face with Sofia. Letting her go was the biggest regret in his life.
Cue the swooning people!!! When Matthew realizes his life is not going the way he wants…the gloves come off and Matthew is determined to show Sofia that she’s been it for him all along.
If you’re not familiar with Natasha’s books….Matthew is from the Stone Family hockey dynasty. I just want to say I wish I could be adopted by this family. Those series are my favorite hockey romances of all time. Then we have Sofia who is from the Barnes Family, and they are the definition of Southern Small Town charm, and will sweep you off your feet and have you swooning. All I can say is that when these two families collide you have better buckle up, because the show down is EPIC!
💍This book can be read as a standalone.
July 16, 2023
Mine to Take gave me all the feels. From the very first page I knew this was going to be a great story. I absolutely loved Sofia and how she put those big girl panties on and tried to show she was a girl boss. How it took Matthew so long to see Helena was all wrong was beyond me. That man is so stubborn.
Sofia and Matthew are just perfect and just them being in the same room you could tell. I loved that once Matthew grew a pair that Sofia make him work for it. The bater just added to the combustible sexual tension and foreplay. These two heated up the pages.
Natasha has a way with words and she just knows how to give you all the feels along with that amazing love story. When two huge families collide all you can get is all the humor and Natasha gave us so many laughs.
I fell in love with Natasha’s books when she wrote the Southern series and it was a hoot to see some favorite characters even if they were being donkeys. LOL Now with that gasp at the end I can not wait to get Addison and Stefano’s story.
Sofia and Matthew are just perfect and just them being in the same room you could tell. I loved that once Matthew grew a pair that Sofia make him work for it. The bater just added to the combustible sexual tension and foreplay. These two heated up the pages.
Natasha has a way with words and she just knows how to give you all the feels along with that amazing love story. When two huge families collide all you can get is all the humor and Natasha gave us so many laughs.
I fell in love with Natasha’s books when she wrote the Southern series and it was a hoot to see some favorite characters even if they were being donkeys. LOL Now with that gasp at the end I can not wait to get Addison and Stefano’s story.
July 26, 2023
I love the stories that Natasha writes! This story was a struggle for me until about 72%. Matthew struggled to talk about his mess up that cause him and Sofia to break up. He just thought Sofia would take him back with just a sorry. Sofia was a strong female character that was not taking crap from anyone.
Read
July 18, 2023Sighs. I really would like to go back to the 'Something So...' series or any of the ones that immediately followed. But this series? It just doesn't work for me. Rather like the 'Made For...' series. I don't like the idea of someone who is prepared to marry someone other than the MC who they will inevitably end up with them. I just can't class these as 'swoony romances'... I think that they are really rather sad.
So why write this 'review'? To remind me not to read it.
So why write this 'review'? To remind me not to read it.
January 16, 2024
3.5
I was iffy about reading this one bc I didn’t like the idea of the plot. The man leaves his fiancé for the wedding planner?? Anyway it was actually the best in the series so far.
I was iffy about reading this one bc I didn’t like the idea of the plot. The man leaves his fiancé for the wedding planner?? Anyway it was actually the best in the series so far.
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