Make-Believe Wedding

Make-Believe Wedding by Sarah Mayberry

Andie Bennett has been in love with Heath McGregor forever, too bad he doesn't actually see her as a woman.  To Heath she is just one of the guys.  His best friend's kid sister and the best electrician on his crew.  Not exactly dating material.  After yet another attempt to catch Heath's eye falls flat at the Valentine's Ball, she drunkenly fills out an entry for for the Great Wedding Giveaway, never intending to actually turn it in.  Unfortunately, her intentions didn't matter to the person cleaning her table after she left.

Heath McGregor is holding out for the right woman.  He knows she is out there, and would rather remain a bachelor forever, than settle for anything less than meant to be.  In the mean time, dating attractive women and hanging out with the guys seems like a great way to pass the time.  That is until the Chamber of Commerce announces that he and Andie Bennett have been made finalists in the Great Wedding Giveaway.  To save Andie from utter humiliation, Heath agrees to a fake engagement until the contest ends.  Now Heath is seeing a new side to his best friend's kid sister, and he is wondering if the right woman wasn't "out there", but "right here" all along.

What a great end to a fun concept!  While not the first series that I have reviewed from beginning to end, this is the first series that I reviewed all of the books as they were released.  It was a test in patience, but I persevered.

This was just a plain, old-fashioned, sweet book.  It was funny and thrilling, but when it boiled down to it, the idea of falling in love with your brother's best friend (or best friend's brother) is a universal concept that most women can relate to.  I'm pretty sure half of the women who read this book can think of a million times they have fantasized about marrying, dating, kissing - jumping - said guy.  Tons of paper every year is covered with "Mrs {brother's friend}", and tons of make-up is applied in hopes of catching this elusive one's eye.  Andie did nothing that every teenage girl in history class hasn't done a hundred times.  The only difference is she forgot to cover up her "doodling" and now the whole "class" is privy to her fantasy.

The characters in this story are all mostly likable.  Even Beau, who is pushy and overbearing, is endearing in his desire to protect his sister.  I loved the initial conversation between Beau and Andie.  It truly showed that they love each other, but are not above taking the mickey out when it is needed.

Overall, this was a fun read that made me smile and laugh and whole lot.  I am sad to see the series come to an end, but I look forward to seeing more from Sarah Mayberry, including a possible story between Beau and Lily.  One can only hope.

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Almost A Bride

Almost A Bride By Sarah Mayberry

Tara Buck never wants to be her mother...ever.  Her mother is vulnerable, weak, and dramatic.  But most of all, her mother loved her father so much that she completely shut down when he left.  Tara never wants to lose it that way, so she decides to play it safe.  She lives her life by the rules, keeps herself in a safe little bubble, and plans her life with her stable, history teacher fiance.  That is, until her partner gives her some news that has her safe world crashing around her ears.

Reid Dalton is a gypsy at heart.  Raised in Marietta, Montana, Reid left the Bozeman PD six years ago to pursue a life of adventure abroad.  However, when a family emergency calls him home, he returns to the force and is paired with the very attractive, and very off-limits Officer Buck.  Now, after Reid witnesses a scene that destroys Tara's world, he begins reassessing everything; where he wants to be, what he wants to do, and who he wants to do it with.

Tara is one of those characters that you just can't pity.  She won't allow it.  She is as far from a wilting violet as it is possible to be.  Her reaction to Reid's news is pretty on par with how many women wish they could respond to information like that.  Her actions after that make for pure fun and the most relate-able story of this series so far.

Reid is an enigma.  He is a world traveler without precisely being a playboy.  He is anchored to his home, but doesn't necessarily wish to stay there.  His character in this story is actually far more defined by his actions than your typical literary hero...that and his awesome, meddlesome, but loving mother.

I said that this was the most relate-able story, and that really comes across in Mayberry's ability to draw you in to situations and make your heart race as if they were actually happening to you.  This happens more than once in the book and makes this book worthy of the highest of praises.  The language and sex might turn some off, but those who don't mind such distractions will thoroughly enjoy this tale.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5