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thathannah's review
3.0
This is a cute little novella where we get to see more of Lacey and Galen. I loved them so much in their book so I was excited to have a little bit more of them. This was a cute short book that didn't even take me an hour to read. I do wish that there was a different base story line or that it was longer so that it could take more time for the subject matter. Also just in general I wanted it to be longer.
It was nice to have more of Lacey and Galen. Or course their full book was more enjoyable to read but I would still read more with them.
It was nice to have more of Lacey and Galen. Or course their full book was more enjoyable to read but I would still read more with them.
cocktailsandbooks1's review
4.0
I always enjoy catching up with couples after their story has ended. Christine Bell lets us in on Lacey and Galen's life as the prepare for their upcoming wedding.
I loved Lacey and Galen in DOWN FOR THE COUNT. Galen helped Lacey forget the disaster that was her wedding and to realize she needed to start living life. As the story begins they are a week away from their wedding and there is a bit of tension between them. Not because they don't love each other and don't want to get married, but because of the stress of dealing with infertility issues...including adoptions that fell through. Lacey is internalizing her feelings and shutting Galen out. Galen doesn't understand what's happening with Lacey and he wants to get the girl he loves and adores back.
It was fun to see the lengths Galen would go through to spice things up. It was very clear just how important Lacey was to Galen and what he would do to make her happy. Of course, at the time he thought it was just the lack of sex that was the issue. But Galen tried and you couldn't help but love him for it.
Lacey held way too much in instead of relying on Galen to be there to support her. Her reasoning, wanting to save the bad news until after the wedding was noble, but in the end it tore her apart (resulting in a less than perfect wedding ceremony).
In the end, Lacey and Galen get their happily ever after, again.
A quick read, but one that was fun and emotionally charged. For anyone that's read the Down for the Count series, this is definitely one to pick up.
I loved Lacey and Galen in DOWN FOR THE COUNT. Galen helped Lacey forget the disaster that was her wedding and to realize she needed to start living life. As the story begins they are a week away from their wedding and there is a bit of tension between them. Not because they don't love each other and don't want to get married, but because of the stress of dealing with infertility issues...including adoptions that fell through. Lacey is internalizing her feelings and shutting Galen out. Galen doesn't understand what's happening with Lacey and he wants to get the girl he loves and adores back.
It was fun to see the lengths Galen would go through to spice things up. It was very clear just how important Lacey was to Galen and what he would do to make her happy. Of course, at the time he thought it was just the lack of sex that was the issue. But Galen tried and you couldn't help but love him for it.
Lacey held way too much in instead of relying on Galen to be there to support her. Her reasoning, wanting to save the bad news until after the wedding was noble, but in the end it tore her apart (resulting in a less than perfect wedding ceremony).
In the end, Lacey and Galen get their happily ever after, again.
A quick read, but one that was fun and emotionally charged. For anyone that's read the Down for the Count series, this is definitely one to pick up.
ela_35's review
2.0
This book was fine but it was definitely too short as it didn’t really seem like Galen and Lacey sorted their issues out.
They never actually talked about the situation and just avoided saying anything to do with it.
If things had been different at the end, I’m not sure that they would have stayed together and been happy.
Also, I didn’t really see the point in the scene with Lacey’s mother.
This was fine but hopefully the next book will be better.
They never actually talked about the situation and just avoided saying anything to do with it.
If things had been different at the end, I’m not sure that they would have stayed together and been happy.
Spoiler
I liked that they were able to adopt a baby but I felt like before that they should have actually talked to each other instead of just avoiding everything.Also, I didn’t really see the point in the scene with Lacey’s mother.
This was fine but hopefully the next book will be better.
brookecannotread's review
4.0
I loved this as I was really rooting for a novella continuing a little more on Lacey and Galens story.
Maybe.. just maybe shed a few tears bere and there
Maybe.. just maybe shed a few tears bere and there
beckymmoe's review
4.0
Full review on my blog, Becky on Books.
Lacey Garrity and Galen Thomas are cohabiting, and their wedding day is fast approaching. All is not quite as it appears on the surface, though. They both have been looking forward to starting a family, and soon--only to discover that infertility might be an issue. As the big day looms closer, Lacey and Galen face internal struggles over the issue, both hesitant to broach the topic out loud. Will they be able to face their situation together, strengthening their bond, or will it divide them forever?
Oh, the heartbreaking angst in this one! Watching Lacey try to carry a devastating secret all alone so as not to "ruin" the wedding day and honeymoon for Galen was painful to read. Poor Galen--he can tell that Lacey is pulling away, but doesn't know exactly why, nor does he know what to do about it. They were killing me with the drama--in a good way. Being a romance novel, I was fairly certain there'd be a HEA of some sort at the end, but yikes, there were some pretty dark moments along the way to it.
Galen has his own secret, though, and that's what will bring on the happy ending. (Phew!) It was a bit on the short, sweet, and sudden side, but as it's a novella, that tends to be par for the course. For fans of the series, Down the Aisle will give a satisfying glimpse into the lives of the couples from both books one and two, and show you the direction that book three will be taking. (Can't wait to read it! Courtney and Rafe's story sounds like all kinds of smexy fun.) If you haven't read the rest of the series yet, you're definitely going to want to--pronto.
In a nutshell: Angsty glimpse into the future lives of series characters. A quick but satisfying ending. A- rating.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lacey Garrity and Galen Thomas are cohabiting, and their wedding day is fast approaching. All is not quite as it appears on the surface, though. They both have been looking forward to starting a family, and soon--only to discover that infertility might be an issue. As the big day looms closer, Lacey and Galen face internal struggles over the issue, both hesitant to broach the topic out loud. Will they be able to face their situation together, strengthening their bond, or will it divide them forever?
Oh, the heartbreaking angst in this one! Watching Lacey try to carry a devastating secret all alone so as not to "ruin" the wedding day and honeymoon for Galen was painful to read. Poor Galen--he can tell that Lacey is pulling away, but doesn't know exactly why, nor does he know what to do about it. They were killing me with the drama--in a good way. Being a romance novel, I was fairly certain there'd be a HEA of some sort at the end, but yikes, there were some pretty dark moments along the way to it.
Galen has his own secret, though, and that's what will bring on the happy ending. (Phew!) It was a bit on the short, sweet, and sudden side, but as it's a novella, that tends to be par for the course. For fans of the series, Down the Aisle will give a satisfying glimpse into the lives of the couples from both books one and two, and show you the direction that book three will be taking. (Can't wait to read it! Courtney and Rafe's story sounds like all kinds of smexy fun.) If you haven't read the rest of the series yet, you're definitely going to want to--pronto.
In a nutshell: Angsty glimpse into the future lives of series characters. A quick but satisfying ending. A- rating.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
jaimearkin's review
4.0
Lacey and Galen are just around the corner from their wedding day. Both excited to start their lives together. Lacey wants to start on the big family they've both been dreaming about, but problems arise in the form of fertility issues.
Galen doesn't care how many children they have and if it's not meant to be they will find another way... but he can't wait to start married life with Lacey.
When bad news arrives just a week before the big day, Lacey struggles with the idea that she can never give Galen the life he imagined and Galen does everything he can to show her that she is who she wants.
It was really wonderful to revisit Galen and Lacey. I really enjoyed their book in this series. Bell does a wonderful job of bringing us back to their story and these two were as hot as ever.
But there are some heavier issues in this short novella. Lacey is struggling with fertility issues and it's causing a rift between her and Galen. Her focus has been on doing what she can to get pregnant and start a family rather than on Galen and their relationship and in turn it's suffering. They feel disconnected from each other... and Bell does an amazing job of capturing the feelings that not only Lacey, but Galen is going through during it all.
I love that we got peeks at some of my favorite secondary characters, but also I'm kind of hoping that this leads into a story for Rafe and maybe Courtney... because I'm as intrigued by him as she is!
If you're looking for something short with a lot of emotion definitely pick up Down the Aisle! I'll be looking for more in the Dare Me series ... soon I hope!
Thanks to Entangled and Christine for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Galen doesn't care how many children they have and if it's not meant to be they will find another way... but he can't wait to start married life with Lacey.
When bad news arrives just a week before the big day, Lacey struggles with the idea that she can never give Galen the life he imagined and Galen does everything he can to show her that she is who she wants.
It was really wonderful to revisit Galen and Lacey. I really enjoyed their book in this series. Bell does a wonderful job of bringing us back to their story and these two were as hot as ever.
But there are some heavier issues in this short novella. Lacey is struggling with fertility issues and it's causing a rift between her and Galen. Her focus has been on doing what she can to get pregnant and start a family rather than on Galen and their relationship and in turn it's suffering. They feel disconnected from each other... and Bell does an amazing job of capturing the feelings that not only Lacey, but Galen is going through during it all.
I love that we got peeks at some of my favorite secondary characters, but also I'm kind of hoping that this leads into a story for Rafe and maybe Courtney... because I'm as intrigued by him as she is!
If you're looking for something short with a lot of emotion definitely pick up Down the Aisle! I'll be looking for more in the Dare Me series ... soon I hope!
Thanks to Entangled and Christine for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
renc7c69's review
3.0
Originally reviewed on Words in a Teacup
This is a short novella (around 75 pages) about Lacey and Galen's wedding. After having to deal with Cat and Shane it was a relief to go back to characters that I actually cared about. The story deals with the issues of infertility and adoption, but because of the low page count it felt rushed. There's so many things going on, and a whole scene revolves around introducing a new character who's going to be the protagonist of the third book.
I liked catching up with Lacey and Galen but it would have been better to either give them a second book or scrap the infertility plotline and just have a few scenes about the upcoming wedding.
This is a short novella (around 75 pages) about Lacey and Galen's wedding. After having to deal with Cat and Shane it was a relief to go back to characters that I actually cared about. The story deals with the issues of infertility and adoption, but because of the low page count it felt rushed. There's so many things going on, and a whole scene revolves around introducing a new character who's going to be the protagonist of the third book.
I liked catching up with Lacey and Galen but it would have been better to either give them a second book or scrap the infertility plotline and just have a few scenes about the upcoming wedding.
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