Scan barcode
winemakerssister's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
A quick enjoyable read. However, I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between Gwen and Beau. Somehow the author wasn't able to hit that sweet spot between best friends and undeclared lovers.
Beau and Gwen have been best friends since they were teenagers. When his grandfather's will stipulates that he marry to receive his inheritance (legal? probably not), he casually proposes to her saying that it would be a marriage in name only. But she's been in love with him and knows her heart will be broken if she enters into that sort of marriage with him. Now I know that this is the major plot of the novel, but we still spend too much time watching them dither and not 'get' it.
A highlight of the book is the end. No spoilers here, but it definitely made me enjoy the read more than I had been up until then.
Cover: Okay, Cute but not fabulous.
Narrators: Also okay, but where were the Charleston accents?
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Beau is absolutely a beta-hero, sweet Hufflepuff sort of guy. Gwen is more difficult to sort. Gryffindor maybe? But she could also be a Hufflepuff....
Themes: Charleston, boat building, family, h older than H, forced marriage
A quick enjoyable read. However, I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between Gwen and Beau. Somehow the author wasn't able to hit that sweet spot between best friends and undeclared lovers.
Beau and Gwen have been best friends since they were teenagers. When his grandfather's will stipulates that he marry to receive his inheritance (legal? probably not), he casually proposes to her saying that it would be a marriage in name only. But she's been in love with him and knows her heart will be broken if she enters into that sort of marriage with him. Now I know that this is the major plot of the novel, but we still spend too much time watching them dither and not 'get' it.
A highlight of the book is the end. No spoilers here, but it definitely made me enjoy the read more than I had been up until then.
Cover: Okay, Cute but not fabulous.
Narrators: Also okay, but where were the Charleston accents?
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Beau is absolutely a beta-hero, sweet Hufflepuff sort of guy. Gwen is more difficult to sort. Gryffindor maybe? But she could also be a Hufflepuff....
Themes: Charleston, boat building, family, h older than H, forced marriage
laur_mckenzie's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
My heart was aching - LOVED the ending!
kerrythefire's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
This was fine. Rating is somewhere between a 3.25 and 3.5... Like the first book, the plot of the book really only took a few days and that makes the story feel different from other books that span longer timelines. It's more like watching people's lives than say, a movie. I don't think this one was quite as interesting to follow as the first book though because we weren't watching a new relationship develop, completewith all the flirty banter that comes along with that.
I liked Gwen and Beau well enough, and their relationship and them finding their feelings for each other felt believable and satisfying enough, it's just that not much else happened and their interactions were more tense and angst filled than a slow build of watching people gradually fall in love (again, like was the case in the first book)...
It was a good background listen while I did other stuff, but I was never pulled into it. I also never actively got bored with it either, it was just, fine. I doubt I'll remember much of it in a few months, though.
I liked Gwen and Beau well enough, and their relationship and them finding their feelings for each other felt believable and satisfying enough, it's just that not much else happened and their interactions were more tense and angst filled than a slow build of watching people gradually fall in love (again, like was the case in the first book)...
It was a good background listen while I did other stuff, but I was never pulled into it. I also never actively got bored with it either, it was just, fine. I doubt I'll remember much of it in a few months, though.
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Boyd and have loved everything I've read written by her, but admit to being somewhat nervous starting this book. She is such an emotional author, and I was uncertain how I would enjoy seeing a lighter side to her work. I admit to be completely wrong, because this book was adorable and the perfect summer/vacation read.
I started reading this before realizing it was connected to Accidental Tryst. I was already smitten with the characters and couldn't stop reading. I never felt lost or cheated, and this can be read as a complete standalone.
I am a sucker for the marriage of convenience storyline and this is even better because Beau and Gwen are life long friends. Gwen is a lovable heroine and Beau is her perfect match, even if they don't realize it. While this is the slowest of burns, it is engaging. I found myself reading it one evening. As always with Boyd, the detail to the setting is spectacular. It was like I was part of Charleston's elite, or least on the outside looking in.
I look forward to the third installment of the series.
I started reading this before realizing it was connected to Accidental Tryst. I was already smitten with the characters and couldn't stop reading. I never felt lost or cheated, and this can be read as a complete standalone.
I am a sucker for the marriage of convenience storyline and this is even better because Beau and Gwen are life long friends. Gwen is a lovable heroine and Beau is her perfect match, even if they don't realize it. While this is the slowest of burns, it is engaging. I found myself reading it one evening. As always with Boyd, the detail to the setting is spectacular. It was like I was part of Charleston's elite, or least on the outside looking in.
I look forward to the third installment of the series.
paintbrush's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abeckreads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
simplysalcedo's review
4.0
Not as good as the first, but still very cute. A quick and fun read about marriage of convenience / friends to lovers. (From Goodreads ⤵️)
All Beau Montgomery, one of Charleston's most eligible bachelors, wants to do is build boats. He has no interest in marriage whatsoever .. until it means he might not get his inheritance and he can kiss his boat building dreams goodbye.
But the hungry hordes of Charleston debutantes looking to score a Montgomery scare him sh*tless. Gwen has loved Beau Montgomery since she used to run barefoot around the marina as scrappy teenager. Knowing she'll never fit into his high society family, she decided long ago that she'd become his indispensable best friend rather than not be in his life at all. When he tells her he needs to marry in order to fulfill his dreams, she panics that he might actually meet someone and she'll lose him forever.
All Beau Montgomery, one of Charleston's most eligible bachelors, wants to do is build boats. He has no interest in marriage whatsoever .. until it means he might not get his inheritance and he can kiss his boat building dreams goodbye.
But the hungry hordes of Charleston debutantes looking to score a Montgomery scare him sh*tless. Gwen has loved Beau Montgomery since she used to run barefoot around the marina as scrappy teenager. Knowing she'll never fit into his high society family, she decided long ago that she'd become his indispensable best friend rather than not be in his life at all. When he tells her he needs to marry in order to fulfill his dreams, she panics that he might actually meet someone and she'll lose him forever.
cstina's review against another edition
2.0
it wasn't the best in the series. I like how we she still meet the first couple from the first book, and that they just didn't vanish. I just don't think the story was my style.
sydnee_calhoun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25