Hot Mess Wedding

The Galentine's Chronicles #2

by Kat Baxter

Cleary

Unlike my group of friends, I don’t have just one fear to conquer. I have a laundry list of phobias. Spiders, confined places, the color orange (don’t ask), flying, traveling alone… and the massive, inked, bearded, giant who’s my seat partner to Las Vegas. I don’t expect the ridiculously attractive stranger to be gentle or to hold my hand through turbulence. I certainly don’t expect to wake up the following morning with a wedding band on my left ring finger snuggled up to a shirtless, pantsless Ian Miller. Oh dear…

Ian

The minute the luscious curvy redhead peeks up at me with her freckled face and sparkling green eyes, I’m a goner. Cleary Decker is the most innocent, sweet beauty I’ve ever seen and I know without a doubt, she’s meant to be mine. So when she assumes we got married, I run with it. I’ll get her to fall in love with me before I have to tell her the truth. Then I really will make the feisty bombshell my wife. Oh yeah…

If you love over-the-top heroes who fall hard and fast and curvy awkward bookworms getting swept off their feet, then Hot Mess Wedding is for you!

***

Valentine's Day? This group of single besties hasn't celebrated since, well...they don't want to talk about that. But this year looks a whole lot different. Thanks to a bottle of wine and a ridiculous Galentine's Day pact, they're conquering their fears, one outlandish adventure at a time. Love wasn't supposed to be in the cards, but they'll tumble headlong into it anyway when they meet the men of their dreams in the last places they expected.

Seven of your favorite instalove authors are taking you on a rom-com adventure to remember this Galentine's Day. Buckle up. These feisty heroines are going down in infamy!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Fiction, Adult, Rom Com

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2023

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Kat Baxter writes fast-paced, sweet & STEAMY romantic comedies. Readers have dubbed her “The Queen of Adorkable.” and her books “laugh-out-loud funny,” and “hot enough to melt your kindle.” She lives in Texas with her family and a menagerie of animals. Kat is the pseudonym for a bestselling historical romance author.

Connect with Kat online.

www.katbaxterauthor.com

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Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Zane, the younger brothers book. But this one isn’t fantastic. We get a manwhore instalove book where he doesn’t speak clearly and she’s a virgin smut writer.

It’s super short and full of miscommunication.

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Humorous! Sassy!

Six "Ride or Die" friends - Cleary, Peyton, Cordy, Devyn, Mandy and Gem agree to do something, on Valentine's Day, that scares them , something they have never done before! Some of the ladies are already scared because Cordy's ideas often end in disaster! lol!!! But what Cleary does is mind-blowing!

Cleary tells her friends she is going to Vegas for a work related function but in reality she is a famous erotic novelist, and is on her way to a book signing. She meets Ian on the plane and is shocked that he looks just like Bolt, the main character in her latest novel. Well, they end up having a series of adventures, including a missing 3 million dollar wedding ring. Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there!

Awesome Story!!!!!!

[MissyLynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better short stories I've read in a while.

Ian Miller?! Uh, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is the first thing that comes to mind.

Could have done without “I want you to take me home tonight and put a baby in me."
Pardon me while I gag. That isn't shit I want in my books.

[Thisbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleary and her friends made a pact to do something on Valentine’s day week, that scares them. Cleary fears a lot of things, but is determined to grab the chances life is offering. The last year she dared to write and publish romance novels and now secretly attends a conference, everybody thinks it is work related. On her first plane flight she happens to sit next to a man, who looks like the hero in her last book, very hot. Ian is on his way to Vegas because an old friend asked him for a favor and because the friend is famous, it has to stay a secret. Funny cicrumstances lead Cleary to think Ian and her got married and for mutliple reasons Ian plays along. After first rying to resist her, he knows this red curvy romance author is his woman. How do they get out of this crazy situation?
This story is funny and romantic. Cleary is so innocent and sweet, but also has some daring and steamy side to her. Ian, who seems gruff, is such a big sweetheart, afraif to hurt her,and possesive of his woman. When they really opened up to each other, it is heart and panty melting.

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

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is cheesy and cringy at times and I’m sorry but I ate this sh*t up! Ian reminded me so much of my husband with the things he would say. Cleary is sassy but also sweet. This novella is instalove, so if that isn’t your thing then probably skip it. Ian knew her for 2 minutes and already called her “sugar baby” 🤣 The storyline was super cute. I really enjoyed this read. I feel like the cheesiness was done right with this one. I’m glad I read it.

[Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten stars!
I knew when I read Zane that Ian was going to be amazing but it’s better than I thought!
The story is safe, veeeery romantic and veeeeery hot, the couple is so cute,
I laugh a lot reading and that’s really difficult because english is not my language but the book is very funny, the heroine is smart, lovely and a delight to read!
If you want to read a great couple of brothers, read Zane and this one!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had written a review for in Amazon and it disappeared before I could hit submit. I hope this one sounds as good…

This was a steamy cute book! Short enough to get right into and finish without having to read all night.

The main characters were engaging and funny especially their self dialogue.

A comedy of errors and misunderstandings make the main characters go through so much angst and worry but it all ends with a sweet HEA.

A glass/cup of your favourite beverage, curl up and shut off the world for a while and enjoy this story about to people overcoming a mess of misunderstandings to find the HEA they needed.

[Geeky Girl Review Cafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! I am a sucker for a Vegas whirlwind romance...add in Kat's special brand of humor and I'm a goner.

As a redhead, Cleary had a special place in my heart...I could totally relate to some of her comments and internal thoughts.

Ian was just yummy....plain and simple. Bearded, tattooed, and pierced. SWOON. Plus like any good MMC he fell and he fell hard, my kinda guy.

Kat did a great job of tying together characters from previous books and upcoming too. I definitely have some books to go find!

[Moriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Ian and Cleary’s story. She's a hot mess, but hilarious and he's a tattooed and pierced man who takes care of her when she relaxed a bit too much for her first plane ride. This story is funny and sweet and seriously hot.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Safety and Spoilers

Completely safe. No ow/om drama. This was a good story. I liked both the h and H.
Not much is mentioned about the H’s past except he’s always been a one and done kind of guy. h is a virgin. There is a little drama and misunderstanding that is cleared up really quickly. There is a little misrepresentation about the H’s brother Zane. I read that book and he didn’t wait for the h to be ready. He spent a few years sleeping with as many women as he could until he realized he loved the h. Then he was celibate and waited for the h.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good instant love quick story that was loaded with steamy chemistry and a fun storyline. It's a must read.

[Nikki_Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Fab*u*lous Absolutely love this one!! I couldn't put this one down. This was a nice quick, short read.

Ian and Clearly met when they are both on the same flight to Vegas. Ian has the seat right next to Clearly and after he sits down he asks the flight attendant if he can switch seats, but there are no other available. Clearly lets him know she is offended that he would ask for another seat but he tells her that he needs the leg room. Clearly is on her way to Vegas for a book signing, she started writing books under a pen name. Ian is on his way to Vegas as a favor to his friend Micah Micah who proposed and now as lost the wedding ring his the honeymoon suite. Clearly has never flown before and she was prescribed Xanax to take on the flight. When she starts to ramble at Ian that he looks just like a character in her book she orders a margarita. The combination doesn't mix and soon Clearly is out of it, so Ian has to help her off the plane. Clearly wakes up in the hotel suite and doesn't remember getting off the plane then she realizes she up against a hard body and thinks it's her character from her book. Until she remembers she met Ian on the plane but she has a ring on her left ring finger and then thinks she got married to Ian. Clearly runs to the bathroom to get ready for her book signing and doesn't have the time to let Ian explain what happened. Ian goes along with Clearly thinking they're married since he needs to get that ring back, so he goes to the book signing with her. When Clearly sets out of the honeymoon suite the reports start snapping pictures of her, and Ian know he needs to do something. When he steps out of the room he grabs Clearly and kisses her, he tells them they have the wrong room. Ian hovers around the table at the book signing and Clearly notices all the woman looking at him like he a model. When a creepy guy comes to offer Clearly something Ian steps up and tells him not the finished the sentence. The creepy guy asks Ian who he is and he tells him he's her husband. When Ian tells him they are newlyweds all Clearly's fan scream and want their pictures. The head coordinator for the book signing comes and asks Ian and Clearly if they wouldn't mind modeling for them since their models missed their plane. They agree to be the models, but grab some lunch before they go. When Ian can tell Clearly doesn't like the ring on her finger he suggest they go get one she loves. So Clearly slips Micah's ring on her right ring finger. When they arrive to the photo shoot everyone is there, the photographer tells Ian to take off his shirt. Then he instructs Clearly to sit on Ian's lap, when she starts to tense up he pulls her close to him and gets her to relax. Ian tells her to pretend it's just them, then pulls her face up to look at him. The photographer instructs Clearly to push Ian down on the bed, when she does he lifts his head and kisses her. Ian asks her if she can tell how turned on he is, and she nods. The photographer tells Ian to move to the wall so he tells Clearly to wrap her legs around him. When Ian has her up against the wall he begin to kiss her, he tells her if they don't leave soon he'll be pulling down her panties. Clearly tells him she has a migraine coming on, so Ian tells everyone she has a headache and needs to take care of her. The minute they get back to the hotel suite they are all over one another. Ian pleasures Clearly, his filthy words are sexy to her. Ian takes off his briefs then Clearly finds out he's pierced, then pleasures him. When Ian comes all over Clearly's chest she asks him if he didn't want to do it, but he tells her he wants to more then she'll ever know. He tells her he knows what she's looking for and it's not him. Clearly gets up grabs her phone which has been vibrating, goes to the bathroom and locks the door. Clearly finds she has several missed texts from her two sisters-in-law, Cassia Romancing the Cowboy and Paige Romancing the Mountain Man. They share the picture of her with Ian and asks what that's about. Clearly tells them she came to Vegas for a book signing she an author. Before Clearly comes out of the bathroom Ian hears the door open and Micah walks in asking where the ring is. Clearly is out of the bathroom and asks him what ring. Micah introduces himself as Ian's best friend before he gets a chance to explain to her what is going on. Finally Clearly starts to put the pieces together and she gives the ring back to Micah. Clearly starts to pack her things and asks Ian if he lied about everything. Ian tries to explain to her that he tried to tell her they weren't married but she wouldn't listen. Clearly tells Ian she was a fool as she wipes away the tears, they she walks out the door. Ian tells Micah how much he wants Clearly and how he messed up. After Micah leaves Ian goes to the bathroom searching for something but can't find it, he searches the whole room but comes up empty. Clearly calls her brother to come pick her up from the airport to take her home, he tells her to call if she needs anything. The following morning Clearly wakes to Cassia and Paige arguing in her kitchen, they asks her if she's alright and what happened. Clearly tells them she fell in love with the wrong man, she tells them it was just a mistake. They point out that she is still wearing her ring, she tells him he took her to the jewelry store and let her pick it out, why would he do that. They tell her that she needs to ask him, but when she tells them she doesn't even have his number she hears his voice. Clearly stands and turns to him asking him why he's here. Ian tells her he had to come after his wife, she asks him if he wants his ring back. Ian repeats that he had to come after his wife, she tells him they aren't married. Ian tells her she's wearing his ring, she tells him her fingers are swollen and she can't take it off. Ian tells her he has things he needs to say and she's going to listen. Ian tells her about his father and his grandfather, they weren't good men they got drunk and pounded on him and his brother Zane Zane. His father and grandfather were terrible husbands, he thought this was who he would become, he never wanted to bring kids into that kind of relationship. Ian learned from his younger brother, Zane how to treat a woman. Ian tells her he wants to hold her hand when she's afraid, wipe away her tears when she's sad, he wants everything with her, only if she wants him too. Clearly asks him what he meant when she left the bed saying he couldn't be what she wanted. Ian tells her he can't be her one night stand, he won’t settle for anything less than her whole heart and all of forever. When Clearly hears Cassia and Paige behind her she tells them she's calling her brothers, so they leave. Ian makes it clear he doesn't want to be a character in her book, he tells her he's in love with her. Clearly walks him back to her bedroom, she tells him he's nothing like any of her characters. They both get naked pleasure one another then make love. Ian tells her he loves her and Clearly tells him she loves him. Ian tells her he read her books and she's shocked. Ian tells her he wants to hold her and she asks him how about forever. He tells her that sounds perfect. Sometime later, Clearly gets to have a book signing with Paige at the books store in Saddle Creek. Clearly wants to tell Ian she wants him to knock her up. When he comes with her pastries she tells him and he asks her how quickly she can sign books.

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

'No te pareces en nada a ningún héroe que haya creado o leído en ninguna de las miles de novelas románticas que he leído. Eres más y mejor. Eres real y estoy tan enamorada de ti, Ian Miller.'




•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.




Hot mess wedding de Kat Baxter

Argumento:

Cleary

A diferencia de mi grupo de amigas, no tengo un solo miedo que conquistar. Tengo una larga lista de fobias. Arañas, lugares confinados, el color naranja (no preguntes), volar, viajar solo... y el enorme gigante tatuado y barbudo que es mi compañero de asiento en Las Vegas. No espero que el extraño ridículamente atractivo sea amable o me tome de la mano en medio de la turbulencia. Ciertamente no espero despertarme a la mañana siguiente con un anillo de matrimonio en mi dedo anular izquierdo acurrucado junto a un Ian Miller sin camisa ni pantalones. Oh, querido…

Ian

En el momento en que la deliciosa pelirroja con curvas me mira con su cara pecosa y sus brillantes ojos verdes, estoy perdido. Cleary Decker es la belleza más dulce e inocente que he visto en mi vida y sé sin lugar a dudas que está destinada a ser mía. Entonces, cuando ella asume que nos casamos, lo hago. Haré que se enamore de mí antes de tener que decirle la verdad. Entonces realmente haré que la bomba luchadora sea mi esposa. Oh sí…



Mi humilde opinión:

Hot mess wedding es un divertido y dulce romance rápido con un héroe tatuado y una heroína que escribe romance/matrimonio falso/opuestos se atraen.

Me la pasé genial con Ian y Cleary. Toda la confusión del anillo y el casamiento no lo podia creer! Cleary cómo no dejas que Ian explique nada? Me gustó la pareja, tenían gran quimica. Solo había que verlos en la sesión de fotos, mucho calor ahí! LOLA?! cómo me reí con eso!

Ian te amé pero... No entendí cómo él no corrió detrás de Cleary si quería explicarle la verdad y prefirió discutir con su amigo músico y echarle la culpa. La hubiera alcanzado antes de tomar un taxi para ir al aeropuerto. No tengo idea de cómo descubrió dónde vivía ella tampoco. Me gustan las cosas claras y no le vi sentido a eso.

Hay muchas parejas felices de libros anteriores dando vueltas y hay bebés! Me encantan las pequeñas actualizaciones. Me reí mucho con el grupo de amigas. Están locas todas, debe ser por el Galentine's day!

Lindo HEA y epilogo. Me gustaría leer la historia del amigo de Ian. Ese anillo más que problema llevó a Ian a encontrar al amor de su vida! Así que él también merece un final feliz.

[Amanda R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Clearly may look unassuming and she’s shy too but she loves herself. She just doesn’t put herself out of her comfort zone often. When her and friends make a pact to go outside their lines, do something they wouldn’t normally do.

Cleary works for the police department but at night her mind comes alive with romance, and she’s talented enough to write it all out and publish them. She hasn’t told anyone just been doing it on her own. Well since she made the pact to go outside her comfort zone, she’s going to a convention as her writing alter. She’s never been on a plane, never told about her writing and now she’s flying to Las Vegas to show everyone that she’s Anita Dix.

Ian isn’t looking for love, a woman, nothing. Walking down aisle of the plane Ian is praying that he’s not next to the curvy woman that he can see. Everything about her calls to him and he is not wanting to answer that call. Fate has other ideas. First though he’s going to piss off the woman by letting her hear him ask for another seat. Then he lies through his teeth telling her he just wanted a seat with more leg room. Not planning on this going any further he chats with her. And dang if that doesn’t make it worse. Thank goodness he can get away from her after they land but xanax and a margarita have other plans and wouldn’t you know it she’s staying at the same hotel as him. He’s so screwed.

I really loved reading about Ian and Cleary. They both invoke feelings in a person. I relate to Cleary so much, I never go outside my comfort zone. Even though she’s fictional I want to be like Cleary. Ian is so grumpy and aloof. I still want someone like him in my corner. He was behind Cleary 100% from day one. Even though he said the wrong things sometimes that’s normal for a man haha. Cleary and Ian were opposites attract, grumpy sunshine and HEA all rolled into one.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Baxter joins the fabulous multi-author series The Galentine's Chronicles with Hot Mess Wedding. Ian and Cleary's romance is pure spicy magic from their hilarious meet-cute to the epilogue. After her best girlfriends make a pact to do something out of their comfort zone for Valentine's Day, Cleary jumps in with both feet - flying (for the first time) to Vegas for a book signing (when no one in her life knows she's published a series of romance books). Ian is headed there to locate a missing object for a friend. When they meet on the plane, the big, burly tattoo artist who swore he would never settle down is enamoured by the curvy, freckled beauty sitting next to him. Cleary's way of handling her flying nerves ends up with her loopy enough that she wakes up next to Ian the next morning in a strange hotel room - with a ring on her finger that makes her believe they got married. A delightfully entertaining, steamy and swoon-worthy rom-com, you will be rooting for Ian and Cleary's HEA until you reach the final page.

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

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleary and her friends promised each other that they would do something new and exciting on Valentine's day (I fully expect that they will all meet a guy while doing it). Cleary goes to Las Vegas to attend a romance writers conference and outs herself as the author of steamy romances. She is rather nervous of flying though, and in the plane she gets a bad reaction from combining medicine and alcohol. Her seatmate Ian helps her to her hotel. When she wakes up she thinks she and Ian got drunk married. If she just listened to him she'd have found out they didn't but Ian would love it if they had. He blows a bit hot and cold because his childhood didn't make him a believer in love but it takes just a few days for them to sort all the misunderstandings out.

This is a quick instalove story, nothing deep but good for those times you want to be entertained by some fluff that you can finish in one sitting.

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

[Jackie Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleary is on her way to Vegas for a book signing. She and her friends decided that everyone needs to conquer a fear and hers is this signing. She uses a pen name and no one, not even her friends and family, knows she does this. She also has never flown. When the hottest man she has ever seen walks onto the plane she gets nervous he may have the seat next to her. When he does and then promptly asks for a new seat she takes it that he can't stand the sight of her.

Ian is on his way to Vegas to help his friend, Micah. When he gets on the plane and finds his seat is next to a woman who literally makes his heart beat out of his chest, he needs to move. He won't ever settle down and this woman gives him all kinds of thoughts and feelings. But when Cleary confuses she's nervous he is determined to calm her and help her.

Things get crazier in Vegas and Cleary wakes up thinking they ran off and got married, which Ian doesn't correct her. Can a weekend in Vegas become the rest of their lives?

Another hit for Kat!

[Jennifer Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleary and all her best girlfriends make a pact to do something outside their comfort zone. Cleary already had something planned but none of them knew it. She was flying to vegas for an Author conference where she would come out to her fans as the author known as "Anita Dix." However life has a funny way of putting you where you need to be and it put Cleary on a plane sitting next to a mountain of a man who looks like one of her hero's come to life.

I was so excited to learn that Ian was actually Zane Miller's brother. Ian and Cleary don't get off on the right foot but after a mid flight margarita, Cleary wakes up in a suite with Ian thinking they got married. Ian doesn't bother to correct her. I loved their banter and how Ian got Cleary to step out of her comfort zone with that photo shoot. Ian might look like a gruff guy on the outside but he really is just a teddy bear who is falling fast for the fair skinned redhead in the seat next to him.

Their story was super cute and I loved that it was tied into Saddle Creek as well.

[jenniO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really Enjoyed Ian and Cleary's book, Ian is an Ink Slinger in Saddle Creek, TX. When Ian gets a call from his friend Micah Stone the Country Music star asking for a favor, Ian jumps on a plane. When on a plane to Vegas, Ian is put next to the woman of his Dreams, he is a hit and quit guy and Cleary is anything but and he tried to temper his feelings, thinking that he isn't good enough, Cleary has never been on a plane before and panics and ends up with the hot guy next to her holding her hand.
after mixing her meds with alcohol, she is a bit of a mess and Ian takes her to the honeymoon suite, where he is looking for a $3 Million ring for Micah.
With some confusion and Cleary waking up with the ring on her finger. Ian decides to show her how good they could be together. Ian wants more than their "fake" Marriage, and sets about showing her what it could be like. After a few twists and turns and bumps and plane rides along the way, Love wins out in the end. Ian and Cleary get their Happy ever after. Out the 9th Feb. Check it out x

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review of Hot Mess Wedding by Kate Baxter
* * * * *
A steamy romance in the romance novel filled world that started with a lie but will end up with both happier than ever.

Cleary has been keeping a secret from her family, but she is beginning to accept and be excited with her new journey as an author. When her book buddies and her make a pact for Galentine's Day, she later hops on a plane to go to a book signing only to end up sitting next to a super hot tattooed giant who is drooling for her...
Now for some reason they are in the same bed with a magnificent ring on her finger.
Ian was supposed to only be doing a favour for his buddy, now he was in one hell of a mess...and he would not change a thing!
He loved this red headed beauty the second he saw her. Ian knows that he should have told her the truth the second she woke up, but now he was knee deep in the mess. A mess he doesnt want out of because he can't thing of letting Cleary go.

A quick dose of sweet and steamy. That photoshoot! Wowzers! And the cost of that ring? Was that guy insane?!

[Michele McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat has once again entertained me with or words, made me fall in love with her characters and gave me a whirlwind Vegas romance to boot! Ian and Cleary are short, sweet and bringing on the heat!
Cleary is an undercover romance writer, not even her best gals know her secret. They made a pact to take a chance and move out of their comfort zone if the opportunity arose. So, when an author signing in Vegas reaches out to Cleary, she takes the leap! She is not a flyer so she takes a little something in the form of Xanax to take the edge off and then she may have washed it down with an adult beverage. This is going to be an interesting flight. Just as she is trying to settle in, he walks down the aisle. No, it can't be. Her latest fictional man hero has just seemed to leap off her written pages and holy heck he is her seat partner.
Ian is a big burly tattoo artist that is on his way to Vegas to do his rockstar friend a favor. When he is seated next to his kryptonite on the plane, he knows he is a goner. She is sweet, sassy, vulnerable, curvy and to top it off a brilliant redhead. He takes care of her but when she wakes up un his bed with a ring on her finger she thinks they may be married!
Ian and Cleary are funny, sweet, have the sizzle and have wonderful witty banter!
~~Michele McMullen~~

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT-MESS-WEDDING by Kat Baxter: A short story that's steamy with Rom-com romance. Cleary Decker is taking her first airplane ride to Las Vegas. She is trying to be brave but is very scared. Then she sees a hot, bearded giant of a man, who is walking down the aisle, and takes the empty seat next to her. She can't stop herself from starring at him. Because he looks just like the hero in the book, she is writing Only her book hero is named Bolt and he introduces himself as Ian Miller. When a bit of turbulence happens, Ian says she can hold his hand, if it would help, and she holds it as tight as she can. Cleary makes a mistake of taking a Xanax than on top of that having had a Margarita. Ian couldn't let her go off somewhere in Vegas all alone in her condition. They share a cab to the same hotel. The next thing Cleary knows, she wakes up in bed with Ian, and she is wearing a huge wedding ring.

[Aliama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly and her friends make a pact to do something wild and exciting for Valentine’s. Clearly has been secretly writing romance novels under an assumed name and she’s off to Vegas for a book signing. None of her friends and family know what she’s been doing so the trip is totally out of her comfort zone. Add in a fear of flying, a sexy guy who looks just like her latest hero, Xanax and a margarita and you’ve got a recipe for a crazy experience. Ian is on a secret trip to Vegas to help out a longtime friend. The trip gets complicated when he sees who he’s sitting next to and all his beliefs of what he thought he wanted fly out the window. This was a sweet story with lots of sizzle and sass. Ian and Cleary are well suited and have an instant connection. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, flirty, and sexy

I enjoyed Cleary and Ian’s pretend marriage, forced proximity, virgin, instalove romance. This is just a happy fairly low angst book. On her first flight, Cleary accidentally mixes alcohol and Xanax to get over here fear of flying. Ian is on the flight to Vegas to locate a missing wedding ring in a hotel room for a famous friend. They end up randomly being seat mates on the flight followed by a series of misunderstandings and coincidences which result in Cleary believing they’re married. But pretend relationships sometimes start to feel real. The story included sweet moments, steamy scenes, chuckles, supportive friends and families, painful pasts, and love. Despite being short, the story included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters, and an engaging, if a bit ridiculous, storyline. 3.5 stars.

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to shout from the roof tops just how much I loved Cleary and Ian's story.
Ian has got to be my favorite hero that Kat Baxter has given us.
He's just the perfect mix of sweet and loving with Cleary, but man does he got a dirty mouth on him when the moment calls for dirty talk.
Cleary is just a shy girl who is trying to step out of her comfort zone when her group of friends make a pact. She never expected to find herself waking up married to the hot yet extremely rude stranger who was her seat mate on the flight to Las Vegas.
I won't lie, I'm really ify about Micah and his story. But hopefully he can be redeemed. Just from the way he is written in this one he seems very selfish and as if he doesn't understand why Ian was so mad about his flippant attitude when Cleary finds out about their sham of a marriage.

[T Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters with books by this author and books by other authors in this series
*over 18 readers only *
BBW


Cleary has many, many phobias. Ian meets her on a plane to Vegas. She is temptation incarnate. But he's on a mission for his friend and can't get distracted. Too bad no one told her before she mixed alcohol and Xanax. Now she's passed out in the room he needs to search. When they wake up the next morning, she assumes they are married and freaks out. But she has what he was looking for so now he can't let her out of his sight. It's all a hot mess, but he won't let her go. Only, he doesn't have a choice when she runs.

I would have liked to have read about how he tracked her down, but otherwise, this book was cute and funny. It didn't lag or drag. No noticeable triggers, no cheating, no big drama.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleary is trying so hard to be brave and do things out of her comfort zone. Meeting Ian on the plane is the best sort of accident. This cute and sweet story has great chemistry between the main characters and the tension is at a level ready to snap. I love reading more about Saddle Creek even if most of it is only SC adjacent. Ian is a new favorite because he is strong and protective and immediately knows he is going to go out of his comfort zone and he is going to have to over come his idea that he is broken. I cannot wait for the next SC story.

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

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This was a phenomenal opposites attract romance. I simply don’t know how Kat Baxter does it but it seems that every new story is better than the last. This story just had me from the start. I loved Cleary even if she was a bit of a hot mess at times but it was just in the best way. And don’t get me started on “her secret identity” because that whole storyline was just hilarious. Ian was not at all what I expected but so much better. This is a must read for anyone who loves short steamy romance with a lot of humor.

[Stacie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have been impatiently waiting for Ian’s book since reading “Zane” a few weeks ago. And I have to say, ladies and gentlemen, it more then lived up to my expectations. Ian’s intention of remaining single because he comes from a long line of crappy men gets blown out of the water when he meets Cleary. He’s the kind of over the top man we all wish for. Ms. Baxter has, yet again, written a so-sweet-it-makes-your-teeth-ache kind of book that needs to be read in one setting. Well, at least that’s what I did.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleary has a secret. She is a romance novelist with a pen name. On her way to a book signing, she meets Ian on the plane. Cleary is so afraid of flying that she mixes medication with alcohol.
Ian cannot bring himself to leave her alone. He helps her out more than any stranger would do. After a series of misunderstandings, Cleary believes that they are married. Ian just goes with it because he finds himself falling for her.
I enjoyed the interaction between Cleary and Ian. Cleary is overwhelmed with her situation.
I am voluntarily leaving this review.