Title: Runaway Groom
Series: I Do, I Don’t Book #2
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Lauren Layne
Genre: Romance
Blurb: For one charming playboy, getting cast on a Bachelor-esque reality TV show is the shock of a lifetime—until he finds love where he least expects it. And now the chase is on!
Gage Barrett’s reputation as a ladies’ man has been greatly exaggerated, but none of that matters after a drunken bet lands him on Jilted, a reality TV show that matches runaway grooms with wannabe brides. Now he’s stuck at a Hawaiian resort with nineteen women competing to drag him back to the altar—and one contestant who’s even more miserable than he is. Gage has no idea how feisty, independent Ellie Wright wound up in the cast, but it’s obvious she hates his guts. And if there’s one thing Gage likes, it’s a challenge. . . .
Ellie can’t believe she let her best friend talk her into exchanging her dignity for a glorified bikini contest. Still, she could use the exposure—her business is struggling—and she’ll probably be one of the first to get eliminated anyway. But Gage isn’t the shallow jerk Ellie anticipated—and he’s in no rush to send her home. As stolen kisses turn into secret trysts, she finds herself losing track of what’s real and what’s for the camera. With the wedding finale looming, this runaway groom is tempting Ellie to start believing in storybook endings.
Favorite quote(s)/excerpt(s): And that right there….that’s why I’m in a bad mood. I want her to be jealous. I want her to want me like I want her.
Thoughts: It hasn’t been that long ago that I discovered Lauren Layne as an author, and I quickly found that I love her books. Runaway Groom is original, focusing on reality television – book-style. I was leery at first on how this would work in a romance, but Layne’s talent comes across in her writing of this book and it definitely surpassed my expectations! Neither Gage or Ellie really want to be on the show, and their reasons are varied – Gage decided to do the show as part of a lost bet with a friend, and Ellie is there for a little free publicity for her t-shirt company. Ellie thought she’d last a round or two and then go home, and she was happy with that. Gage, however, is in no rush to send her home. The thing is, the longer Ellie is on the show, the more they are drawn together.
I just wound up loving this book – and I am a sucker for a super romantic ending! Can’t wait to read more in this series. Runaway Groom book is definitely an ‘I do!’
Rating: A+
Other books in this series: Ready to Run (Book #1)
