I Don't), Runaway Groom (I Do

Full honesty first...I hate The Bachelor! So when I got the ARC for this book...for which I thank the ...I was not sure if I was going to get through it, never mind enjoy it. And while it took me a chapter or two, I then fell in love with this laugh-out-loud fun fest!!
Gage and Ellie are comedy gold. These two snark-traders are much more alike than either want to acknowledge...and that makes their interactions even funnier. Both have their reasons for taking partnin this reality show. And while Ellie feels her reasons are for a noble cause, Gage is honest enough to know his image needs this show, even if it is suppose to end in a wedding!
This book has all the trademark Lauren Layne snappy dialog, interesting characters and sexy scenes, to be enjoyed by long time fans as well as new readers. Though part of the I Do, I Don’t series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, as I haven’t read book 1 (but will!), and was not missing a thing.
A new favorite book for me, it’s bound to be one for you, too!

In this latest novel by Layne, Runaway Groom, she sweeps you away to a tropical paradise and onto the set of the reality TV show Jilted, a Bachelor-type show where Gage is reluctantly the new bachelor up for grabs, Ellie is determined to be sent home first after shamelessly plugging her t-shirt company, producers are hoping for as much drama as possible, and eighteen other women are committed to marrying the man of their dreams.

The characterization is perfection, with an incredible cast of characters who are fun, charming, quirky, and loveable. The writing style is humorous and crisp and a delightful mixture of text messages, letters, and first-person narration from dual points of view. And the plot is an irresistible blend of emotion, drama, witty dialogue, hilarious hijinks, smoldering chemistry, and steamy romance.

Runaway Groom is pure magic. It's a light, funny, entertaining read that's deliciously swoon-worthy and hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!

4.5 stars

So much love for Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne.

I found the storyline entertaining, it was well written with smart, likable and relatable characters who I easily connected with and couldn't get enough of.

Ellie and Gage are going down as one of my fav couples. From the moment they set eyes on each other I felt their connection. I loved their banter, I loved their honesty, they had amazing chemistry and I loved watching them fall in love.
Seriously I can't find anything I didn't love about these two!

I'm truly in love with author Lauren Layne. I love her storytelling and I love how she writes with her heart giving us entertaining, memorable romances that will touch your heart and leave you with a satisfying smile on your face.

The I Do, I Don't series is turning out to be a great read, each book has been a joy to read and I highly recommend it.

Runaway Groom was a free download from instaFreeby that turned out to be a delight to read. Gage Barrett, Hollywood heartthrob and serial jilter, looses bet and finds himself starring in a reality show. He is supposed to fall in love with one of the contestants and marry her on the season finale. I won’t give anything away. Just grab your own copy and have a most enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

I really loved everything about this book. The story is so engaging and was an easy read. The characters were complex enough to be engaging and entertaining and still be real. There was just enough heat to make the book sexy but not have the book be only about the attraction. My favorite part was Ellie though. She is a spunky fun woman who is nothing like someone you'd normally see in a reality show but I think everyone would love to watch. She is also the perfect match for Gage. I would recommend this to anyone who loves romantic comedies.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Gage is a reluctant bachelor on a reality TV show and Ellie a reluctant participant in the show. Of course, their chemistry is off the charts and the situations they are put in are hilarious. Combine that with the behavior of the other women on the show and you have a fun romance read!

Runaway Groom was a fast-paced, full on romantic comedy with all the bells and whistles of a five-star novel!

Lauren has done it again— and I’m not surprised she has because Ready to Run, the first book in this series, was top notch fun.

Ellie and Gage were a perfect couple!

I go to this author every time I need a pick-me-up because I know that I’ll laugh from start to finish and root for a new, interesting couple, daydream about big grand gestures, and crave a new pair at the book’s end.

I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne is book Two in the "I Do, I Don't" series. This is the story of Gage Barrett and Ellie Wright. I have read the previous book but feel this can be a standalone book.
Gage ended up on a reality TV series sort of like the bachelor. Ellie was talked into doing the relality tv show by her friends. Ellie goal was to get some attention to her businesses and assumed the bachelor would vote her off pretty quickly. But Gage has taken a liking to Ellie and Ellie is finding that she likes him too. Can these two survive a reality TV relationship?

Loved this book! Well written with a twist I didn’t see coming. Ellie and Gage had chemistry from the start. I enjoyed tagging along on their journey to a HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC received through NetGalley.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Loveswept for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I liked the cover. I had no idea that this was number 2 in a series. It totally reads as a stand alone. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I rate it a 4.5. It was fun and fast paced with a few twists. It made me laugh. I think most romance readers would like it.

***warning: may contain spoilers***

I really like Lauren Layne - she's an excellent writer and I am rarely disappointed when reading her work (I particularly enjoyed her Stiletto series). For the most part, Runaway Groom was not an exception. I'll admit, I've never watched the Bachelor/Bachelorette and the only "Reality T.V." I watch is the news and sports, however the fact that I find shows like The Bachelor ridiculous didn't keep me from enjoying this book. I really liked Gage and Ellie, and Ms. Layne does a good job giving her characters depth. I enjoyed Gage & Ellie's banter - and in particular, their texts were the best. I was rooting for them all the way, however it all fell apart for me at the end.

Up until the season finale scene, I would have given the book a solid 4-4.5 stars, but I felt the ending was a major let down. As far as Gage goes - the reader gets way more information about him than any of the characters (Ellie included) ever do - while this contributes greatly to his likeability, it also left me wanting more for him in the end than he got. As the reader, we are privy to all these inner monologues regarding his feelings, the details of his past, and his hopes for the future - but I kept waiting for at least some of these details to also become known within the plot of the book, not just between Gage & the reader; and while Ellie does learn some of it, he never tells her (or anyone else) most of it. And Ellie - she's written as this strong, independent, spirited character, and she is those things when she engages with Gage, but when he's not around (and particularly after her time on the show is done) she's extremely insecure and weak. Her woe-is-me attitude in the last portion of the book started grating. And for someone who supposedly doesn't want a relationship with a "Hollywood type" because she's so concerned that he'd just easily tire of her & change his mind, she's the flighty one who can't commit - she makes Gage get her off the show because she's scared of her feelings for him even though he asked her to stay, and she makes it clear the only reason she went on the show in the first place was to promote her business but in the end she has her partner buy her out because she's bored with it & decides she wants to do something else.

After everything the reader is given in regards to Gage, I wanted a better ending for him - I wanted Ellie to be the one to step up to the plate and go after him. Gage bent to her whim almost always, and the reader is told repeatedly that for once he wants someone to love him for him, to want to be with him despite the sacrifices his life entails - so, especially since she was the one who made him let her go in the first place, I wanted her to be the one to fight for him in the end, to prove she loved the real him. That it was Gage that came back for her was extremely disappointing to me - especially since even when he does, Ms. Layne still had the chance to redeem Ellie a little bit, but fails to do so. He's obviously come for her, so it would have been minimal risk at that point for Ellie to finally admit her feelings, but even when Gage gives her the chance to say how she feels & what she wants first, her response to him is to clam up and say "Nothing" (that's literally what she said). It just rubbed me the wrong way since I felt she was the one who should have been chasing after him to win him back - the grand gesture was hers to make, not his.

I really enjoyed this fun take on The Bachelor! There were tons of funny moments as the girls try to make an impression on and off the air. There were also plenty of sexy and emotional ones between Gage and Ellie as they fall in love. It was a solid 4 star read and I'm adding an extra half star because I cried :)
4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

Gage and Ellie are perfection! I’ve never been a fan of the Bachelor type shows so I was a bit worried I wouldn’t love the story as much as love everything else by Lauren Layne. But she does such a great job of the behind the scenes stuff and adding some twists that it’s now one of my faves by her. Can’t wait for the next one.