Runaway Groom (I Do, I Don't, #2)

by Lauren Layne

Amy Melissa Bentley (Narrator) and Rudy Sanda (Narrator)

• ISBN13: 9798200441662
• Publish Date: 20 February 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Imprint: Tantor Audio
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 6 hours and 46 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

I can always count on Lauren Layne for a fun romance, and once again, she delivered. I adored the whole reality show setting, and liked the way the characters navigated it. Gage and Ellie had such amazing chemistry, and their banter was top notch. I could not get enough of them together, and just wanted to get on that set and push the two of them into each other's arms. The thing that surprised me the most, was Gage's growth. I wasn't sure about him in the beginning of the book, but the more I got to know him, the more I loved him.

Overall: I laughed lots, smiled until my face hurt, and shed some seriously happy tears.

[Rowena]

Runaway Groom was everything I hoped my last read was going to be...and more. It was such a delightful read and Lauren Layne delivered another steamy romance that hit all of my happy buttons. Gage and Ellie were so much fun. I laughed, I cheered and I sighed all over this book. So good!

Full review to come soon.

[Lynn]

I absolutely loved this novel because it's a one hundred percent break from reality and an appreciated breath of fresh air.

I don't watch T.V. but I'm familiar with The Bachelor concept reality programme, so a novel based around this idea felt both familiar and original.

Gage Barrett is a Hollywood alpha male actor with a less than stellar reputation with the ladies. With two brides jilted at the altar already in his past, he's a perfect contestant for a new reality television programme called Jilted. He's not keen, but after losing a bet in Las Vegas, he dutifully signs an iron-clad contract. Does he want to get marry one of the contestants? No, but the time spent filming in Hawaii will be a welcome distraction from his brother's news from home.

Unbeknown to Ellie Wright, her best friend and business partner enters her as a potential contestant on a new reality TV show. The chosen woman will marry her beau, but for the business savvy pair, it's an opportunity to showcase their t-shirts to a wide audience for a week or two if she becomes a contestant. When Ellie's selected, she's not pleased, but the filming in Hawaii turns out to be far more rewarding than she ever dreamed.

Gage is definitely a hero who is a keeper. Beyond his cocky bravado persona is a caring, compassionate and honourable man with a misinformed past; a reality he's decided to keep to himself. therefore it's a surprise to the heroine when his actions speak beyond doing her a favour.

Ellie is a woman whose ambition has led her to still be single. She's adored by her friend and mother, but they always seem to coerce her into doing what they 'think' she should do, rather than what she wants to do deep down. It's heart-warming and heartbreaking when she meets someone who is willing to go along with her wishes when deep down she's unsure it's the right decision.

The feel of this novel is so appealing simply because it's different to anything I've read in a long time. It was a surprise, not because it's fun and entertaining but because it's unexpected. I've read many of Ms Layne's novels, and always adore her protagonists along with their witty, hilarious dialogue; so this is another shining example of what I enjoy about her writing style. The joy of Runaway Groom lies in its stand out, refreshing, 'different to what I've read recently vibe'.

Overall, I loved the format and all the quirky contestants. Usually, I struggle to keep up when many new names introduced into the narrative but this worked for me; I was never left scratching my head to remember who they all are-bravo! Runway Groom is definitely a new favourite from this author and I'm looking forward to reading many more soon.

5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Loveswept via NetGalley***

[chymerra]

Going to let everyone in on a secret. I have never seen a single episode of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. I couldn’t watch those men or women make fools of themselves on national TV over someone they never met. But, I did watch a show called Temptation Island. Which was kinda like The Bachelor but it involved married couples. While I liked that show, it turned me off from watching shows like The Bachelor.

Seeing that I have read book one of the I Do, I Don’t series, I needed to read book 2. Once I start a series, I have to finish, no matter how much I dislike it. Its kind of OCD thing with me. I can’t leave things unfinished. I liked Runaway Groom. Liked it and it made me excited to read book 3.

Runaway Groom had a fun plot. Gage is locked into a TV contract where he is to appear on the show Jilted. Jilted is a Batchelor type show where a man is put on a resort with many of beautiful women and has to choose one. That woman he will marry in the last episode. Gage does not want to be there. He does not want to be married. He is happy being the movie star playboy. That is until he meets Ellie. Then the show becomes much more interesting.

Ellie does not want to be on Jilted. Her best friend signs her up, against her wishes. When Ellie is picked as one of the final girls, she is shocked. She decides to go out of her way to have Gage give her a rose and a wedding invite. Which didn’t work. Gage saw her as a challenge. Ellie sees Gage as a manwhore. Once she gets to know him, she realizes that there is a lot more to Gage. The same goes with Gage. What will happen to them? Read the book to find out.

I loved Ellie. She was snarkiness personified when she was with Gage. Some of the things she said to him, oh my!! I did feel bad for her when she revealed her unconventional upbringing to Gage. It wasn’t horrible or abusive but it still affected her. She craved stability and things to be normal. Which is why Gage rubbed her the wrong way at first. He was exactly not what she was looking for.

I liked Gage but man, did he have some baggage. He was obsessing over certain events in his life that didn’t exactly go his way. Which made him push his family away. While I can sympathize him being mad and upset, I did think that he let it go on too long. Which is why I was glad that he met Ellie. She put him in his place. She also made him realize that he shouldn’t dwell on the past. Once he realized he wanted Ellie, he pursued her. I was laughing that he used Ellie’s “insider status” to get rid of contestants on the show. His reasons why compared to what Ellie told, had me laughing so hard I was crying.

What set this book apart is that the two main characters formed a friendship before falling in love. It was sweet that she met him every night in a janitor’s closet…after that first time. It was also sweet that they texted when they couldn’t see other. Once the friendship was established, then the romance/sexual relationship started. I loved it.

Gage and Ellie had out of this world sex. It was out of this world to me because of the friendship. They didn’t have hot stranger sex (yes, I made that up). Instead, when they had sex, it was more charged. While I like heat of the moment, picked them up in a bar sex, sometimes I need to read a scene where there is more emotion there.

The end of Runaway Groom was typical but it made me so happy. I liked how the author kept what would happen with Gage and Ellie a mystery to not only Ellie but to me, as a reader. I also felt for Ellie. Put it this way, she tortured herself for 6 weeks. No wonder she was an emotional mess. I know I would have been.

Runaway Groom is a cute romance. It had characters that I could relate too. The plotline was fun. I loved the one liners that both Ellie and Gage had. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 20 (Adult per my rating system). There are explicit sex and mild language.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Runaway Groom.

All opinions stated in this review of Runaway Groom is mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**