Reviewer: Tracy Don't Call Me Sweetheart by Codi Gary
Series: Something Borrowed #1
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Publication Date: August 15th 2017
Genres: Contemporary Romance
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Weddings are big business in picturesque Sweetheart, California, and Something Borrowed’s rent-a-bridesmaid service is thriving among the Hollywood elite. For the women who work there, a walk down the aisle is just a paycheck—until the right guy makes it priceless . . .
RULE #1: GROOMSMEN ARE STRICTLY OFF LIMITS
Marley Stevenson never imagined her stint as a rented Maid of Honor would practically become a career. Then again, nothing in her life has gone according to plan. At least the money’s good—and she needs it to pay off student loans and help out her mom. But the job has rules, which have never been an issue . . . until one encounter with a gorgeous best man—and his swoon-worthy Southern accent—sends Marley reeling.
Determined to get through the weekend with her professional reputation intact, Marley grits her teeth and sends out her best “unavailable” vibes, but Luke Jessup doesn’t give up that easy. A former Marine and a current SWAT team officer, his focus is legendary—and it’s on Marley. Jeopardizing her job is bad enough, and starting a relationship based on half-truths is worse—yet Marley is beginning to wonder if certain risks are worth taking, especially in the name of true love . . .
Marley works at Something Borrowed – a rent-a-bridesmaid service. She’s doing well and while she doesn’t love her work it pays the bills and lets her save money so that she can fulfill her dream of moving to New York and working for a large publishing house.
Marley meets Luke while he’s in town for his best friend’s wedding and she’s instantly attracted – until she finds out that he’s a groomsman in a wedding that she’s a hired bridesmaid. Members of the bridal parties are strictly off-limits to employees of Something Borrowed. Marley can’t tell Luke the truth and the she has to act like the bridezilla is a friend of hers when all she wants to do is smack her. Marley does her best to steer clear of Luke but she ends up giving in. She knows she might lose her job but she thinks she’s in love with him. Of course she can’t be with him as he lives in LA and she’s moving to New York.
This was a cute story. Gary does a great job at small town romance and this one hit that mark to a T. I love small towns so I always wonder what’s so horrible in them that the characters always want to move away. I guess if you grow up in one it becomes mundane. Luckily Marley finally saw her town of Sweetheart for the wonderful place it was – it just took her a little while.
The romance in the book was a cute one. It seemed to happen pretty quickly but it was hot and sexy. There was a tragedy in this story – no one got hurt – that Marley blames herself for but that all gets worked out. I liked the story and thought it was a good, entertaining read.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5