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bananatricky's review
4.0
Three and a half stars, I thought the absurd climax to the book tarnished it slightly.
This is clearly a spin off of Denise Grover Swank's Wedding Pact trilogy, this time featuring three guys instead of three girls.
Holly is a saint, she singlehandedly pays for her grandmother's care in a home, pays the majority of the household bills in the house she shares with her cousin and works for a uber-demanding boss as a wedding planner.
Kevin is Megan's brother from [b:The Substitute|23290347|The Substitute (The Wedding Pact, #1)|Denise Grover Swank|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417909474s/23290347.jpg|42847591], fresh back from his second tour as a marine in Afghanistan he has (sight-unseen) bought the house next-door to Holly and her cousin Miranda on his sister's advice as a 'fixer-upper'. Little does he know that the cute, slightly kooky girl next door is also his mother's 'assistant'. Kevin and his two best friends have sworn off women, each of them having had numerous bad experiences - hence the Bachelor Brotherhood series.
When Holly is asked to plan THE wedding of the year for the daughter of a wedding dress designer that will be featured in a 10 page magazine spread tensions mount with her boss and her relationship with Kevin is put to the test.
I very much liked this book, it had the same light-hearted, fun vibe as the three books in the Wedding Pact series, without the slightly OTT manic quality that one or two of those books possessed (yes, Grams I'm looking at you!).
The only thing that slightly spoilt it for me was the climax of the book.
Overall, recommended for those who enjoy a lighthearted romantic read with no angst. looking forward to the next one.
This is clearly a spin off of Denise Grover Swank's Wedding Pact trilogy, this time featuring three guys instead of three girls.
Holly is a saint, she singlehandedly pays for her grandmother's care in a home, pays the majority of the household bills in the house she shares with her cousin and works for a uber-demanding boss as a wedding planner.
Kevin is Megan's brother from [b:The Substitute|23290347|The Substitute (The Wedding Pact, #1)|Denise Grover Swank|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417909474s/23290347.jpg|42847591], fresh back from his second tour as a marine in Afghanistan he has (sight-unseen) bought the house next-door to Holly and her cousin Miranda on his sister's advice as a 'fixer-upper'. Little does he know that the cute, slightly kooky girl next door is also his mother's 'assistant'. Kevin and his two best friends have sworn off women, each of them having had numerous bad experiences - hence the Bachelor Brotherhood series.
When Holly is asked to plan THE wedding of the year for the daughter of a wedding dress designer that will be featured in a 10 page magazine spread tensions mount with her boss and her relationship with Kevin is put to the test.
I very much liked this book, it had the same light-hearted, fun vibe as the three books in the Wedding Pact series, without the slightly OTT manic quality that one or two of those books possessed (yes, Grams I'm looking at you!).
The only thing that slightly spoilt it for me was the climax of the book
Spoiler
, when Bridezilla finds her maid of honour and groom in a compromising position, the wedding of the year is a disaster until the mother of the bride suggests Holly and Kevin get married insteadOverall, recommended for those who enjoy a lighthearted romantic read with no angst. looking forward to the next one.
nicolet2018's review
3.0
I wanted some romance after all the dreary and tense thrillers I have been reading. I stumbled upon this and was excited because books on wedding planners are rare.
I enjoyed reading about the way Holly manages weddings. Somehow the interaction between Kevin and her should have been cliche but it worked. I had the impression that her boss was similar age to her and was surprised when it turned out to be Kevin's mother. Holly was very open about her needs and did not wait for Kevin to take the lead in the steamy scenes. But her shyness and overthinking makes me wonder if the switch is a little too unbelievable.
It was really nice to see a refreshing change from the stereotypes as men beng handyman when Holly takes charges to stop a gushing pipe and Kevin is helpless. I felt that Kevin's experience as a Marine was glossed over.
The relationship aspect between Kevin, Megan and their overbearing mother Nicole was interesting too. I can't imagine how annoying and frustrating it can be to deal with such a controlling and frankly abit crazy mother. I mean in the sense that she does not listen to her children and somehow sees things in her own reality despite their misgivings.
The plot turned out to be more twisty than expected. Though the ending was very over the top and unrealistic.
Still a fun, humorous and well written wedding romance.
I enjoyed reading about the way Holly manages weddings. Somehow the interaction between Kevin and her should have been cliche but it worked. I had the impression that her boss was similar age to her and was surprised when it turned out to be Kevin's mother. Holly was very open about her needs and did not wait for Kevin to take the lead in the steamy scenes. But her shyness and overthinking makes me wonder if the switch is a little too unbelievable.
It was really nice to see a refreshing change from the stereotypes as men beng handyman when Holly takes charges to stop a gushing pipe and Kevin is helpless. I felt that Kevin's experience as a Marine was glossed over.
The relationship aspect between Kevin, Megan and their overbearing mother Nicole was interesting too. I can't imagine how annoying and frustrating it can be to deal with such a controlling and frankly abit crazy mother. I mean in the sense that she does not listen to her children and somehow sees things in her own reality despite their misgivings.
The plot turned out to be more twisty than expected. Though the ending was very over the top and unrealistic.
Still a fun, humorous and well written wedding romance.
slc333's review
3.0
A spin-off from the Wedding Pact series this was a cute contemporary romance featuring Kevin who is the brother of Megan(from The Substiute) and Holly the wedding planner assitant for Megan and Kevin's bitch of a mother. The story is amusing and Kevin & Holly are cute together with some great chemistry. I hated Nicole, the mother in the substitute as she is just as unpleasant here. I get why Holly puts up with it cause she needs the job but it is annoying that her family don't slap her down for her treatment of everyone else.
tanyarobinson's review
3.0
Cheesy beginning + lame plot + unrealistic ending + lovable lead characters + super fast read = 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. It seems like I have to wade through a lot of dumb books with high Goodreads ratings to find romances I really love, but for me it's worth it!
jcmbank's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lenoreo's review
4.0
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/only-you-by-denise-grover-swank/
3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Up to the end this was a solid 4 star book for me. Fantastic rom-com with likeable characters and great chemistry. I was sucked in from their first awkward encounter. It might have even been more than 4 stars if they had had more encounters earlier in the book. It felt like two separate stories for a while and as this is a romance, I was kind of chomping at the bit to see them interacting in any way, shape, or form. But once they did get together they were pretty great together. It was definitely one of those books that followed a lot of romance cliches, but being a romance lover that stuff doesn't tend to bother me too much. And there were plenty of scenes that had me just grinning away!
And then the ending happened, and I just found I wasn't satisfied. I felt like it was rushed, a bit too much of a stretch (even for a rom-com lover such as myself), and I lost the magic somehow. So that was a little disappointing. I think I'll still round up to 4, because the rest of the book was solid, but yeah...
Great supporting cast -- loved seeing Megan again, she is such a hoot. I've only read book 1 in the Wedding Pact series, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse at some of those characters again. And Matt and Tyler presumably get their own stories in this spin off series, so I'm looking forward to checking out their stories as well.
All in all a solid read only marred by an ending that didn't quite do it for me.
3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Up to the end this was a solid 4 star book for me. Fantastic rom-com with likeable characters and great chemistry. I was sucked in from their first awkward encounter. It might have even been more than 4 stars if they had had more encounters earlier in the book. It felt like two separate stories for a while and as this is a romance, I was kind of chomping at the bit to see them interacting in any way, shape, or form. But once they did get together they were pretty great together. It was definitely one of those books that followed a lot of romance cliches, but being a romance lover that stuff doesn't tend to bother me too much. And there were plenty of scenes that had me just grinning away!
And then the ending happened, and I just found I wasn't satisfied. I felt like it was rushed, a bit too much of a stretch (even for a rom-com lover such as myself), and I lost the magic somehow. So that was a little disappointing. I think I'll still round up to 4, because the rest of the book was solid, but yeah...
Great supporting cast -- loved seeing Megan again, she is such a hoot. I've only read book 1 in the Wedding Pact series, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse at some of those characters again. And Matt and Tyler presumably get their own stories in this spin off series, so I'm looking forward to checking out their stories as well.
All in all a solid read only marred by an ending that didn't quite do it for me.
abby_h's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
jaimereadsromance's review
4.0
This was my first read by this author but I really liked this book and it won't be my last.
It was a little insta-love but The connection between Holly and Kevin was believable enough that I can get over that.
Kevin's mother was so frustrating and the way that Holly just sort of sat by and let herself be treated so badly was annoying, but understandable. Holly's cousin Melanie was almost as frustrating. One minute she's pushing Holly towards Kevin and the next she's telling her to stay away. She gave me whiplash. I loved his sister Megan though. Her plotting and planning is what brought Kevin and Holly together in the first place after all.
This story was somehow both fast-paced and slow burning and I enjoyed the ride. I think that my only complaint it how I was really enjoying the story, even the direction it took in the end, but then it was just over. I wanted more. I still had so many questions and I would have really enjoyed a wrap up in the form of an epilogue but I look forward to reading more about everyone in the rest of the series.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for voluntary review
It was a little insta-love but The connection between Holly and Kevin was believable enough that I can get over that.
Kevin's mother was so frustrating and the way that Holly just sort of sat by and let herself be treated so badly was annoying, but understandable. Holly's cousin Melanie was almost as frustrating. One minute she's pushing Holly towards Kevin and the next she's telling her to stay away. She gave me whiplash. I loved his sister Megan though. Her plotting and planning is what brought Kevin and Holly together in the first place after all.
This story was somehow both fast-paced and slow burning and I enjoyed the ride. I think that my only complaint it how I was really enjoying the story, even the direction it took in the end, but then it was just over. I wanted more. I still had so many questions and I would have really enjoyed a wrap up in the form of an epilogue but I look forward to reading more about everyone in the rest of the series.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for voluntary review
katrinamarie's review
4.0
This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & MoreThis book was so much fun. It's lighthearted and perfect for those that love sweet romances.
Holly and Kevin have so much chemistry. You can tell from the very first time they meet. They are so much fun to watch while they get to know each other. There are embarrassing moments, and moments when you want to knock some sense into them. But they are definitely meant to try to work things out.
Holly has a hard time letting love in. She doesn't want to let anyone too close because she's scared she will lose them in some form. Kevin has a tendency to date the crazies. And he has a hard time saying no to his mom. I really enjoyed seeing them work through their issues together.
I also loved their friends. They have a tight-knit group and so many laughs shared between them.
As I said before, this is a fun book. You should definitely give this one a try.
Holly and Kevin have so much chemistry. You can tell from the very first time they meet. They are so much fun to watch while they get to know each other. There are embarrassing moments, and moments when you want to knock some sense into them. But they are definitely meant to try to work things out.
Holly has a hard time letting love in. She doesn't want to let anyone too close because she's scared she will lose them in some form. Kevin has a tendency to date the crazies. And he has a hard time saying no to his mom. I really enjoyed seeing them work through their issues together.
I also loved their friends. They have a tight-knit group and so many laughs shared between them.
As I said before, this is a fun book. You should definitely give this one a try.
hereisbridget's review
3.0
I am a huge fan of Denise Grover Swank's new adult series, Off the Subject, but this was my first foray into one of her adult series. The Bachelor Brotherhood series is a spinoff series--so you may have met some of these characters in her The Wedding Pact series, but this was my first time meeting them.
I did sort of feel like I missed something by not reading The Wedding Pact series first, but Only You is still very much a standalone and is easy to follow. For me, it was more a matter of missing out on the growth of previous characters and missing out on their journey to a HEA. So, I will definitely be going back to read the The Wedding Pact series.
But I digress.
Only You is an enjoyable read! Kevin Vandemeer is our hero and Holly Greenwood is our heroine--both of whom have sworn off relationships. Kevin is tired of have to deal with crazy (like clown-obsessed crazy) girlfriends, and Holly feels the need to focus on her career and make a name for herself in the wedding planning business. So when Kevin and Holly become neighbors, they're surprised by their instant attraction to one another. But what's even more of a surprise to them both is that Kevin's mother happens to be Holly's boss. Talk about an obstacle--especially considering the impossibly high standards Mrs. Vandemeer appears to have.
I loved the little moments in this story! Every endearingly awkward encounter (the first time they meet each other, when Holly gets locked out, when the water won't shut off, etc.) had me swooning and laughing. Kevin was sweet and sexy, and I was able to relate to Holly on multiple levels. She's smart, determined, and real. The relationship between Kevin and his sister, Megan, was cute. They really fed off of each other's banter, and I found Megan's "cupid" antics amusing.
Nicole Vandemeer, Kevin's mother and Holly's boss, is an intriguing character. She is part of the reason I want to go back and read The Wedding Pact series. By the end of Only You, Nicole Vandemeer is seen in a totally different light. Therefore, I am curious about her character growth in Megan's story.
I really liked Only You, but in a way, I felt like it dragged a bit in the middle. Nothing was really happening but the same push and pull between Kevin and Holly, which really didn't provide the amount of tension I felt was needed because they really didn't resist all that much. Nonetheless, Only You is a light read that will leave you all warm and fuzzy in the end. I'm excited for Matt and Tyler's stories, and I really hope Melanie ends up with one of them!
I did sort of feel like I missed something by not reading The Wedding Pact series first, but Only You is still very much a standalone and is easy to follow. For me, it was more a matter of missing out on the growth of previous characters and missing out on their journey to a HEA. So, I will definitely be going back to read the The Wedding Pact series.
But I digress.
Only You is an enjoyable read! Kevin Vandemeer is our hero and Holly Greenwood is our heroine--both of whom have sworn off relationships. Kevin is tired of have to deal with crazy (like clown-obsessed crazy) girlfriends, and Holly feels the need to focus on her career and make a name for herself in the wedding planning business. So when Kevin and Holly become neighbors, they're surprised by their instant attraction to one another. But what's even more of a surprise to them both is that Kevin's mother happens to be Holly's boss. Talk about an obstacle--especially considering the impossibly high standards Mrs. Vandemeer appears to have.
I loved the little moments in this story! Every endearingly awkward encounter (the first time they meet each other, when Holly gets locked out, when the water won't shut off, etc.) had me swooning and laughing. Kevin was sweet and sexy, and I was able to relate to Holly on multiple levels. She's smart, determined, and real. The relationship between Kevin and his sister, Megan, was cute. They really fed off of each other's banter, and I found Megan's "cupid" antics amusing.
Nicole Vandemeer, Kevin's mother and Holly's boss, is an intriguing character. She is part of the reason I want to go back and read The Wedding Pact series. By the end of Only You, Nicole Vandemeer is seen in a totally different light. Therefore, I am curious about her character growth in Megan's story.
I really liked Only You, but in a way, I felt like it dragged a bit in the middle. Nothing was really happening but the same push and pull between Kevin and Holly, which really didn't provide the amount of tension I felt was needed because they really didn't resist all that much. Nonetheless, Only You is a light read that will leave you all warm and fuzzy in the end. I'm excited for Matt and Tyler's stories, and I really hope Melanie ends up with one of them!