The Wedding Confession

Wedding Meet Cute #1

by J.J. Knight

She sparkles. He growls. Baring their true feelings could be the start of a wild love story―or the end of it―in a sexy romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author. One spilled glass of wine and bridesmaid Ensley James is ejected from a country club wedding in the rain. Ensley looks on the bright side. That would be her longtime crush Drew Daniels. The moody, broody, skin-pricklingly sexy groomsman is tossed out with her. Waiting out a hot spring storm in a cozy shed for two, it’s time for Drew’s he’s strictly a one-nighter. Ensley’s dare? Give her three date nights and see where it goes. A veterinarian like Drew is great when it comes to puppy love, but he has his reasons for his rules about no true feelings, just flings. So why agree to Ensley’s three-date challenge? Easy. Miss Ray of Freaking Sunshine is absolutely irresistible. Night after night, Ensley and Drew can’t ignore the heat, the growing intimacy―and the unexpected complications. Drew’s walls may be crumbling, but Ensley’s still at risk of being another tryst. Especially with Ensley’s final confession. This one could be their rockiest challenge yet.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Rom Com, Fiction, Friends To Lovers

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

JJ Knight is the Kindle All-Star and USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and sports romance. She’s a fierce mama bear for all the humans under her care: biological, adopted, and those in need of mom hugs. Her books portray characters who learn to push through hardship to find love and belly laughs. For more information visit www.jjknight.com.

THE PICKLEVERSE OF BESTSELLING ROMANTIC COMEDIES:

- Big Pickle: Secret Boss
- Hot Pickle: Brother's Best Friend
- Spicy Pickle: Fake Engagement
- Second Chance Santa: Pickled Holiday Rom Com

- Royal Pickle: Marry a Prince in 7 Days
- Royal Rebel: Princess and Guard Secret Love
- Royal Escape: Secret Identity Princess

- Tasty Mango: Billionaire and Single Mom
- Tasty Pickle: Billionaire Opposites Attract
- Tasty Cherry: Boss and Intern

- Juicy Pickle: Stranded on an Island
- Salty Pickle: Surprise Baby
- Hold the Pickle: Unexpected Roommates

- Wicked Pickle: Bad Boy Biker Bar
- Tricky Pickle: MC Club

ROM COM DUETS:
- The Wedding Confession
- The Wedding Shake-up

- Single Dad on Top: Billionaire Surprise Dad
- Single Dad Plus One: Billionaire Secret Baby

ROM COM STANDALONE:

Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance: Sunshine-Sunshine Work Besties to Lovers

- The Accidental Harem: Yup, what it says. It's...a lot. I went nuts.

SPORTS ROMANCE SERIALS:
Grab individually or in boxed sets.

COLT AND JO
- Uncaged Love 1
- Uncaged Love 2
- Uncaged Love 3
- Uncaged Love 4
- Uncaged Love 5
- Uncaged Love 6

COLT'S FRIEND PARKER AND MADDIE
USA Today bestselling series
- Fight for Her 1
- Fight for Her 2
- Fight for Her 3
- Fight for Her 4

JO'S BROTHER HUDSON
- Reckless Attraction 1
- Reckless Attraction 2
- Reckless Attraction 3

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Lily tra le righe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve found it really nice, a cute light read, finished it in one sitting.
I’m usually not a big fan of short romances, always find everything too rushed together, but this time I think everything works perfectly, the timing seems right.

Ensley meets again Drew, her brother's childhood best friend, during her best friend's wedding; I was reading this book while on the train at it was really hard trying not to laugh out loud during the first scenes, I loved how she stepped forward for her friend during what would be the worst nightmare for every bride, genius!
Drew is the typical playboy, never had serious relation, not even an high school girlfriend, the motive in my opinion is a bit weak, but still understandable.

I'm not a fan of the misunderstanding trope, but here worked fine, still not my favourite, but at least was not dragged for too long and it was solved right away.

On the whole I really enjoyed it, absolutely recommend

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do you ever start a book after reading the synopsis and realize it has nothing to do with the story? This book did that for me. I was listening to it and almost halfway in I thought, “what the heck is this book about?”

The main guy is literally the worst, with the dumbest backstory ever, the main gal is so desperate it’s painful, and the three date bet doesn’t even happen till about the 50% mark.

The amount of times I wanted to quit was more than the amount of reviews on this book. I should have, but I didn’t, huge mistake.

[⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Miss Sunshine stars!!

Well, this was such a fun book. I really enjoyed Ensley and Drew, they were so cute! I'm talking kitten cute.



I loved their banter and I really think having a main character be a vet in a rom-com helps, you can't go past animals for a good chuckle. I usually hate when there are too many puns in a book but I didn't mind the pussy puns in this, it actually worked.

If you are looking for a light, fun and super cute romance look no further.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

"The Wedding Confession" by JJ Knight is a short, quick, slightly steamy, romantic comedy where Ensley, who has been in love with Drew since they were younger, might finally get her chance to go all the way with the grump. Drew is a very serious veterinarian who also happens to be a huge player. He doesn't do relationships, only first dates (aka one night stands), but Ensley may be the one woman to change all that. Unfortunately, a pretty major miscommunication ensues and threatens their budding relationship.

What this book lacks in an intriguing, new premise, it makes up for with its characters. We get to know Ensley and Drew rather fast because they are thrust together right at the beginning of the story, but we learn the details of their life as we go along the story. I really enjoyed watching Drew go from being a playboy to realizing he has real feelings for Ensley. He is SUCH a grumpy character, almost to the point of it being a turnoff. We learn more about Drew's feelings for Ensley and just how far they go until the last 10% of the book. Ensley is the one making the most of the effort for most of the book. She might come off as a little try-hard, but I thought she was a fine character. The steaminess isn't anything special, but I like that this wasn't a closed door romance. Like I said, this book flies by quickly and is a page turner, so it doesn't take a lot of effort to fall in love with this story!

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake, and JJ Knight for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cover for this light, short (264 pages) romance. Told from both POV’s alternating each chapter. Ensley James re-meets with Drew Daniels while part being part of a mutual friends wedding. In a cute set up they end up locked out of the ceremony and spend time sharing confidences in a shed. Both had feelings for each other in childhood (he was too old for her then). They continue texting, and bantering when he leaves Alabama returning to his home and veterinary practice in Atlanta. Hearing his latest office receptionist is leaving shorthanded she decides to take some vacation time and help out at his office. It also allows her to visit and stay with her pregnant sister. Drew mis-understands and thinks she’s taking the job not just staying for a week.

I like Ensley the flirting and the dating challenge. She wants three dates from Drew who never goes on a second one. But Drew is harder to like. He is confident in his seduction skills but can be a jerk especially to his office staff. I think the trope is suppose to sunshine vs. grumpy but his quickness to anger him unlikable to me. Animals are seemingly the only ones worthy of true kindness. Of course there is a sort of explanation but it is revealed late. And maybe if there had been more time to see Drew change (beyond one phone call with mom) I would have like him better. The ending is sweet enough.

This author is new to me and I would like to read the next in the series (maybe it will be about her sister). Thank you to Montlake for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I see a new book from this talented storyteller, it's an auto pre-order and then eagerly anticipating when it will hit my Kindle. The world stops turning and I read straight through. And she has yet to disappoint.

Ensley James is determined to help her best friend through her wedding events, even if it means dealing with the stepmother who makes Cinderella's look like a paragon of love and motherhood. But her best efforts result in Ensley being banished from the wedding. As in locked outside the country club. Makeup and hair already picture worthy in her bridesmaid’s dress. In the rain. The torrential rain.

Enter, Drew Daniels, her brother's best friend, who rescues Ensley from the rain by finding a tool shed where they can wait out the storm. Finally, she has hopes of something developing with the guy she's crushed on for years, until he tells her he’s strictly a one-night kind of guy. What's a girl to do? If you’re Ensley, you goad the grumpy, broody, swoony veterinarian into giving you three dates.

I adore everything about this phenomenal romantic comedy! Ensley and Drew are the perfect opposites – authentic, relatable and charming grumpy/sunshine. Their story is full of humor, heat and heart, with possibly a secret or two, and I hated to see it end. Cute, funny, and sweet with a touch of angst, this fantastic read will give you hours of epic fun guaranteed to make any romantic heart smile.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the start! I loved so many things about it: the banter, the hilarious situations they found themselves in, the supporting characters, all of it! I’ve come to expect I will love those things from the other books I’ve read by this author, and it’s great to know she’s continued to not disappoint!

It started off with a majorly big crazy event when Ensley gets kicked out of the country club where her best friend is getting married because of the wicked stepmother of the bride! However the man who comes to her rescue, Drew, is perfect. While he doesn’t come off as much of a grump at first during their escape to the maintenance shed at the country club to get out of the rainstorm, as he goes back to the real world and we see his interactions with his employees and others at his vet clinic, wow is he a grump!

Now while I liked Ensley’s idea to go help him out, the miscommunication in her taking the job was a little unrealistic IMO, but that’s okay I guess since it led to the little misunderstanding that was the big darkest night point of the story. Even though you know that I am not a fan of those types of miscommunications, so that did make me drop the rating here on my blog to a 4.5 from the 5 stars I will put on review sites. I loved the vet clinic, although I could never work at one because of how sad I would be with the animals who were hurting. But it was neat to have that as part of the story. And I did love that the owner who kept calling about her dog she was worried about was a dachshund owner, because I get that!!! lol I might be a little over-concerned about my dogs. Oh, and I also was not a fan of how Ensley’s “favorite” boss talked about the new boss, not really giving it to her straight.

I enjoyed the look into Ensley’s sisters’ lives too, and I’m hoping, I think that the other books in the series will be their stories? The next book looks like it is for sure. A wonderful new book from J.J. Knight and I’m looking forward to reading the e-galley of the second one that I have soon!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[tara • tarasbookworld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! The Wedding Confession follows Ensley as she challenges Drew to a three date rule, who is known for only having one night stands.
Written in dual POV, you get insight to both of the character's thoughts, which is a great experience for a romance novel. While the plot itself was good, a tried and true romance which did get my heart pumping, the writing fell flat for me. At times, the writing seemed almost juvenile, with abrupt dialogue, missing details, and 'growls' or 'grunts' coming from the male character. Overall, it was a fun and quick read but it probably won't leave a lasting impression on me.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book of my Spring Reads session took me back to the world of bumbling adults. Knight's romcom bonafides keep growing with fun, light stories like this one. Pick up a coy for that pool side entertainment.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

[❤️Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute wedding rom com, with just the right amount of spice!

[Allyson Schick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read that follows the typical love story formula - two people hook up and they each think the other one isn’t as into the relationship as they are, it ends and hearts are broken, then they get back together and live happily ever after.
The story was cute and we get to know the main characters quickly but a lot of little details were left out so some parts of the story seemed like they were added as an afterthought - for example, Ronnie and Franklin show up at Drew’s office to berate him about how he treated Ensley, but it was never mentioned in the story that Ensley had been texting Ronnie about what was going on. Also, Drew being the way he is because of his dad could have been mentioned much earlier in the story.
Despite some of the missed details, I enjoyed the book and would read more from this author.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

The synopsis seem great but reading/listening to it was a huge dumpster fire.. The h came off as annoying more than funny and the H was whatever.. DNF

[Shinara Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this adorable ARC. What a perfect game of cat and mouse (pun intended!). I have a soft spot for the opposites attract trope and this book did not disappoint. Misunderstandings, bargains and the cat that was meant to be, The Wedding Confession had me tearing up and laughing at the same time. I loved that there were no jealous exes or conniving parents, just two stubborn people learning to be open with their love.
#TheWeddingConfession #NetGalley.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute! There were a lot of funny, cheesy moments, and the pining was sweet and steamy. I also enjoyed the clinical setting and the discussion of medical care with furbabies.

For me, the FMC was a bit insufferable. There's eccentric, and then there's...this. I love a good awkward female lead because, well, we're not all perfect! But honey was flat-out cringey and immature. The way she kept inserting how she grew up poor was so uncomfortable. Also, she needed to grovel for lying--yes, women need to apologize for their sins, too, even if it's to a man. That miscommunication was heavily on her for not speaking up. I felt bad for our MMC.

I didn't quite understand the correlation between the MMC's past (which was so out of left field) and his stance on relationships and ONS. I get he has trauma despite being a well-educated individual. But then the FMC encourages him once via text, and suddenly he sees the light and... yeah. It was all a bit far-fetched. As a reader, you know there has to be a reason behind his attitude, but when you finally find out what it is, it wasn't very satisfying. Very rushed.

I really liked the ending. Even though it's a bit "tropey," there was something sweet and unique about it that just made me feel all lovey-dovey inside.

All things considered, this was an easy read that kept me entertained! A little strange in the pacing and the events would probably never happen... but there are animals! And a grumpy man adopts a kitten. I'm not a cat person, but C'MON... that's presh.

⭐️- 3.5
🌶- 2.5

[Rachel Manders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wedding Confession by JJ Knight is one of the most charming romantic comedies that I’ve encountered. Maid of Honor Ensley is kicked out of her best friend’s wedding, and bumps into her childhood crush Drew. They hilariously get caught in a downpour, take shelter in a run-down shack, and spend the moments reminiscing about childhood and sparking sexual chemistry.

Drew has one rule in his love life: absolutely no second dates. Ensley challenges him to three dates to see if he is capable of change and finding a connection. On the surface this is a typical meet-cute, grumpy/sunshine, and somewhat predictable rom-com. While being an easy read, I found that the characters had significant depth and emotional complexity that affected their actions. Multiple difficult topics are discussed in the book, while somehow never bringing the reader’s mood down.

What I loved:
•Amazing dialogue and banter
•Spice that felt realistic🌶🌶🌶
•Drew is a veterinarian and there are multiple animal characters that I found endearing.

Add this to your list if you like
🐶Animals
🌦Grumpy/Sunshine
🌶Moderate level of spice
❤️Childhood friends to lovers
😂Laugh-out-loud dialogue

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mary Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
When your BFF gets married and one of the groomsmen is your childhood crush, you try to stay away from him. But when the stepmother is a bridezilla in waiting, you have to help your friend make her wedding day the best.
Now Ensley is stuck outside the country club with Drew and it is bout to rain. Drew thinks if they continue around the side they will come to the front and be able to get back inside. needless to say, they don't. They only find a shed to hide from the rain and things get hot and heavy.
Now the wedding is over and the couple is on their honeymoon. Drew is back home and working at his vet's practice and Ensley is back at her local bank. After several racy emails, Ensley decides to surprise Drew and visit him to continue their time from the shed when Drew misreads her visit.
Now they are getting along, Drew has calmed down, Ensley's vacation is coming to a close and she has to tell Drew she has to leave. How is he going to react to the news she is leaving? Can he forgive her? Will Ensley be able to make him see that they belong together?
I loved this story, there was so much banter between Ensley and Drew that made their past and present collide. Can they forgive and make a future together? I loved this one and can't wait for book 2.

[Stephanie Richey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light, cute and funny read. I enjoyed the banter and the overall story, it was fast paced and quirky. I wanted more depth out of the story and characters so it didn’t hit me in the feels like I was hoping. The animal parts were cute and I loved little Sasha and her shenanigans. This story was 3.5 stars for me.

Thank you montlake and NetGalley for my arc in exchange for my honest feedback!

[CindyReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty dumb book. The female main was fun and spunky in a number of ways and is the only reason I’m giving this 2* instead of one. The male main is a dolt and his backstory is so thin and so bluntly revealed that the book is irretrievable. I wouldn’t have finished the book if I hadn’t been stuck on public transport and it was my only available new audio book. (I read parts and listened to parts. )

There are so many better romances out there, go find them.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc! Current rating would be 3.75 ⭐️ (almost 4). Imagine an early 2000s rom com, that’s what this book is! Ensley is this firecracker with so much spunk and personality, and Drew is the grumpiest grump. Friends to lover, workplace, second chance in a way. A fun quick and lighthearted read.

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ensley and Drew connected at a wedding they got thrown out of. He is a growly, grumpy veterinarian and Ensley volunteers to replace his receptionist on her vacation. There's a sexual spark but she's not sure she can trust him enough to leave her current job and move towns to be with him. I was entertained by this well written story.

[Karina]

DNF . Nope just bad

[Rebekah Hatch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ooof

[Anita Rupert · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[LeyanneForbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a really enjoyable, fun, easy read.

[Leah reading & recording · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to pretend like I didn’t give 5 stars solely because the guy was an animal-loving vet and that had my swooning. 🥰🥰

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I felt as though I'm reading some sort of fanfiction, but after a while I managed to see depth into characters and overall it's a light, easy story for a nice evening.

[Fedythereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Montlake, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!!

“He's told me no second dates. So this will be it. A one-time tryst. A wedding fling.”

I absolutely loved it !!!!! Wow !!! Funny, spicy, entertaining and romantic. This book was all of these things.
Ensley has had the greatest crush on Drew since she was twelve and he was her brother’s football mate … now they find themself at a wedding and secrets will be spilled. The blossoming of an attraction that will lead to very funny and hilarious moments shared between them that I love reading !!!!
Three dates together to explore their attraction and they even start working in the same space !!! Boss romane with some very opposite’s attraction like a grumpy/sunshine and silent/talkative dynamics that I was so in for !!!
This was the romance I didn’t know I need it right now and that I really enjoyed !!!!
And Drew was just … wow !!!! The spicy scenes were very romantic even sweeter than I thought and I liked that !!!
Overall I think it’s was a good and lighthearted read that everyone should experience !!!

“I am playing with a brushfire named
Ensley James.”

[Nate Brightman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve listened to a book on Audible rather than actually reading it. And it will most likely be my last time. Neither of the readers voices playing the female protagonist Hensley James or male protagonist Drew Daniels appealed to me. The reader playing Drew Daniels voice really grated on me and when he mimicked the voice of Hensley it was like nails on a chalkboard. It almost made the story unlistenable for me. I’ll chalk it up to the possibility that no reader’s voices can live up to the voices in my head. Or maybe I just never got used to the listening to the character narrating what he was thinking or what he said? But I persevered for reasons unbeknownst to me and when I finally got lost in the story itself, the voices playing the protagonists took a backseat to the story. Although I think its worth asking why even though the characters in this story grew up in Alabama and some then moved to Georgia, the only characters with a Southern accent were the doctor and nurses at an Atlanta hospital?
Drew Daniels was a good friend of Hensley’s older brother growing up. Twelve-year-old Hensley had a major crush on him. He was too much older than her to ever be more than her brother’s friend but he did often save her from troubles she got herself into. Hensley’s family was poor. After her mother died, she ended up being the mother to her two younger sisters doing her best to keep them all clothed and fed on a shoestring budget, because her father had emotionally checked out on his family after the loss of his wife. Time went by and everyone grew up and went their separate ways. Drew became a veterinarian opening a clinic in Atlanta while Hensley and her brother and sisters who couldn’t afford to go to college took non-professional jobs. Hensley had worked her way into the local bank’s assistant head tellers job being much loved by her customers and most of her co-workers as well as Cindy, the bank manager.
As the story opens Hensley is a bridesmaid at her childhood BFFs wedding. The only reason she’s not the M.O.H. is because the brides wicked stepmother insisted her own daughter fill that role. She also insists the wedding be held at her country club even though it wasn’t the brides preference. When the bride’s stepmother (will call her Drucilla) shows up for the wedding in a designer wedding gown and informs the bride that her father isn’t feeling well so she’ll be accompanying her down the aisle, Hensley realizes she must do something to save her friend. She accidentally on purpose spills wine on the stepmother’s dress ruining it and forcing her to have to change. The evil woman who has some pull with the country club management insists they escort Hensley out of the club before the wedding. I’m not thinking very highly of either the bride or her father at this point for allowing Drucilla to cow them and run roughshod over them. Drew is a groomsman. When he sees Hensley being forcefully escorted out by the security guard he intervenes. The guard tells them all Hensley need do is leave the building for a few minutes until Drucilla calms down and then she’ll be able to return and participate in the wedding. Drew insists on accompanying Hensley and the guard leads them both to a door outside which has them on the opposite side of the building from where the wedding is being held. As Hensley and Drew begin walking around the large building looking for an unlocked door to get back inside they get caught in a thunderstorm leaving them drenched. Desperate for any kind of shelter from the storm they find a nearby work shed. Soaked to the bone and cold they of course have to strip out of their clothes to get warm. Despite Drew’s surly attitude towards Hensley they almost have sex. Waiting out the storm they miss the entire wedding. When the storm and the wedding service end they go their sperate ways. But Hensley takes a week’s vacation from work and returns to Atlanta to care for her younger sister who is pregnant by her worthless boyfriend who has abandoned her and is suffering with terrible morning sickness. While there she seeks out Drew at his clinic to see if the chemistry she felt with him in the work shed is real and if there is any possibility that she and the man she still has a crush on might have a future together. Drew mistakenly believes Hensley is there to apply for the recently opened office manager’s job at his clinic. Drew is loud and just short of verbally abusive and has gone through several office managers due to his appalling behavior. At this point in the story I’m not sure why Drew’s behavior before, during and after their time in the shed together didn’t put an end to Hensley’s childhood crush? He hires her believing he has solved two problems with one stroke. He believes Hensley will do a great job as his office manager and by making her his employee he can keep her at a distance and ignore the unsettling feelings he has for her. Hensley seeing this as an opportunity to get close to Drew for a week and see if there is any chance they have a future together doesn’t tell Drew she’s just in Atlanta on ten days vacation from her bank job. Of course eventually this plan like many of Hensley’s blows up in her face.
In spite of my issues from listening to this story rather than reading it, it turned out to be pretty entertaining. Hensley was sweet as the doggedly determined if insecure heroine. Drew was the typical grumpy emotionally closed off male protagonist. Most of the secondary characters played their small supporting roles well. Drew trying to deny his deeper feelings for Hensley while almost reluctantly being sweet to her on their dates is what passed for romance in this story until the end. Listening to the sex scenes rather than reading them seemed far less erotic to me. It was all wrapped up in a nice happy ever after for Drew and Hensley which was also pretty funny.

[Peaceful · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rom com magic

This story pulled me right in. Brothers best friend vibes with sunshine and Mr grumpy vibes all day long. I laughed and cried and laughed again