The Best Man Plan

When I read the blurb for The Best Man Plan by Jaci Burton it sounded exactly like the book I'd enjoy. Fiancé breaks up a few days before wedding, heartbroken and angry heroine decides to have a whirlwind rebound romance with the guy supposed to be best man at her wedding - oh yes, that's a fun premise! I love a good romance and am not even bothered by cliches and those typical tropes used in a lot of romantic fiction, as long as it is well executed. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for The Best Man Plan. <br /><br />The writing felt disjointed with repetitive dialogues and a choppy pacing. The chemistry was seriously lacking between the two main characters, Erin and Jason. Frankly, nor did I buy the romance between these two, nor was I satisfied by how Owen's (the ex-fiancé) breakup and the reason behind it was handled, particularly the aftermath and Erin's behavior after she found out about it. <br /><br />And finally, I know I read an uncorrected proof, and damn I hope this gets fixed in the final copy, but damn was I irritated by the damn number of times the word "damn" was used in the first half of this book! I don't DNF but this itself would have been reason enough to stop reading before the book even reached the halfway mark.<br /><br />Sadly, will not recommend nor would be continuing with the series.<br /><br /><i>**An e-ARC provided by Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**</i>

<b>3.5 What There All Along Stars<br>* * * 1/2 <i>Spoiler Free-A Quick Review</i><br>Jaci Burton's reputation in the Romance World is first class. She can take a troupe and turn it on its ear. In starting her new series, we have the jilted bride who finds out what's what through email. <br><br>Yes, you read that right, email. And since the wedding was supposed to be at the family's place, our gal figures, What the Hell...Let's have a Wing Ding Party.</b> Her other genius idea is to get a little revenge and pleasure while at it. Let's have a one night stand with who was the Best Man. <br><br>Now, this soon-to-be-lucky-guy is in a pickle because he the gal's bestie and the stinkin' ex's best friend. The other thing that is complicating things is he doesn't want a one night stand. He wants all the coming nights. <br><br>What happens under Jaci Burton's guidance is a man willing to take the time necessary to heal the heart of the woman he wants.<br><br><a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/43807371.The_Matchmaker_s_Mistletoe_Mission__Boots_and_Bouquets___0_5_" title="The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets, #0.5) by Jaci Burton" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565949166l/43807371._SY75_.jpg" alt="The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets, #0.5) by Jaci Burton" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><b> The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5) <br><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2991560481">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...</a><br><a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/51789066.The_Best_Man_Plan__Boots_and_Bouquets___1_" title="The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1) by Jaci Burton" rel="noopener"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581222741l/51789066._SX50_SY75_.jpg" alt="The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1) by Jaci Burton" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a> The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1)<br><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2991558363">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...</a></b><br><br><b>~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~</b><br>❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ <br><b> <i>Let's see...<br>When Your Fiancé...<br>Waits until 3 Days Before...<br>Your Long-Awaited Wedding...<br><br>He can't Even Man-Up...<br>Doesn't Tell You in Person...<br><br>Instead Hides behind a Break-Up Email...<br><br>Well, the only thing to do...<br>Get Frisky...<br>With the Only Man...<br>Who Knows you Best...<br><br>But Now there is Another Hiccup...<br>He wants More...<br>And More Sounds Kinda Good...<br><br>Like Really Good...<br>But How Real Is All of This...<br><br>He knows It is Real...<br>But He is Patient...<br>In fact, So Patient...<br>He has come up with </i> </b><br><br><b>The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1)-May 26th 2020<br><br><i>A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.</i><br><br><strong>For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways</strong><br><div> <br><a href="http://starangelsreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt=" photo banner_zpsb3ab83a0.jpg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1407612151i/10746470._SX540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a> </div></b>

3.5 stars -- Jaci Burton is one of those authors that I think of as an "old reliable" in the romance genre. Her books are always well written with a nice balance of character development, plot, and sexiness, and this book is no different. This is a nicely executed friends to lovers story combined with a left at the altar trope. I will say that there wasn't much that I felt was special or unique about this book, which kept me from fully loving it, and I though it was a little slow getting going. Nevertheless, this was a lovely way to pass some time, and if the trope combo here sounds good to you, I think you'll get along nicely with this book

4 - <b>"Anything for you…"</b> Stars!<br><br>Having fell in love with <i>Red Moss Vineyards</i> and the Bellini family after reading <i>The Matchmakers Mistletoe Mission</i> at Christmas, I was eager to read <i>The Best Man Plan</i> and on the whole Erin and Jason’s story delivered exactly what I expect from a book by Ms Burton.<br><br>This series has started in the same vein as the <i>Hope Springs</i> one did, and feels and reads a lot like it too. In that it is set in one locale with many likeable characters and plenty of scope for future books, with pets, canine so far playing a part in the stories. <br><br>Erin, Owen and Jason have been BFF’s since childhood, Erin &amp; Owen are soon to be married, that is until he dumps her by email and disappears on their honeymoon alone. The one thing that stood out for me about Erin was the fact that she had very little reaction (apart from anger) to the fact her husband to be had dropped her like a hot coal. And this is the one thing I struggled with for the whole book, she almost came across as callous in her lack of feelings about the fact Owen had dumped her, with more single minded focus on using their mutual friend Jason to exact her revenge on him.<br><br><b> <i>She’d been thrown off the horse, metaphorically speaking. Getting back on was the best thing she could do for herself right now… Easing the pain of rejection by having a revenge fling would make her feel better. And who better to do that with than Owen’s best friend…</i> </b><br><br>And this almost desperate pursuance starts at the party which would have been her wedding reception if she had gotten married. What she doesn’t realize is that Jason has been carrying a torch for her for years, and if it wasn’t for the fact he is a nice guy and stepped aside when Owen indicated his interest in her, he’d likely have been the one she ended up with. She is so eager to have said fling, she misses all of the signs that this isn’t a man that wants something casual with her, but being the friend he is, and having the feelings he does, he steps in and tries to be everything she needs him to be, at the risk of his own heart.<br><br><b> <i>This was what he’d waited a lifetime for and never thought he’d have…</i> </b><br><br>That’s my only gripe really, I still read the book in pretty much one sitting, I loved spending more time with the Bellini family as a whole, and it was great to see more from Alice and Clay, The whole Owen aspect of the story is resolved much later down the line, and I loved Jason start to finish, Erin… I will be honest and say I still wasn’t convinced by the end, but I hope that will come with seeing more of her as a secondary character in the future books in the series.<br><br>ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1457954696i/18425325._SX540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>

The Best Man Plan really made my heart sing. I fell madly in love with Jason and hoped that Erin saw what was right in front of her for her whole life.<br /><br />Erin was mad as a hornet when she got that email. But, was she mad at the engagement ending or the way he did it? So, instead of doing some soul-searching, she decides that a fling to get Owen out of her system is the way to go. What she didn’t expect was finding out that there is so much more to the person that has been her best friend since she was a kid. Yea, he’s hot … wonderful with animals … makes her laugh … has always been there. But, he’s just a fling and then they will go back to being friends again. Right?<br /><br />Jason has been in love with Erin since they were kids. He stepped aside for Owen because, well, that’s the kind of man he is. If he was going to make her happy then he wouldn’t stand in their way. But, breaking up with her in an email and three days before the wedding … no … he’s no friend of his anymore. Now, the woman of his dreams wants to have a fling to get over him. With him. No, that’s not happening either. When Erin comes to him, it will be with an open mind and an open heart. But, he’ll keep her occupied, he’ll help her get over him, he’ll show her what a real man will do for the woman he loves. And, maybe, he’ll win the girl in the end or just be friends.<br /><br />When all is said and done, it’s way more than a fling. Erin sees Jason now but Owen steps back into her life and things get complicated. But, thank god for Agatha and her broken heart.<br /><br />What a wonderful story. It was really heart-warming. Jason was just perfect. Kind, gentle, fun and fun-loving. The perfect man, really. It took a while for Erin to open her eyes, but, when she did, it was beautiful to see and feel the love they had for each other. Then there was Puddy and Agatha … I loved them! What a wonderful book to lose myself in. Jaci Burton truly swept me away with this story. I am looking forward to reading all about the rest of Bellini’s. This looks like it will be a fun and interesting series.<br /><br />Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1530300825i/25888638.png" width="400" height="150" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>This is a very sweet romance featuring the friends to lovers trope, and I’d categorize it as a beachy kind of read - easy to pick up, easy to put down but still enjoyable. It’s set in a vineyard with three sisters and their friends at its core, and it’s a very familiar kind of a read. I didn’t realize that vineyards are becoming a subgenre, but I’ve read several now, so who knows. If you’re looking for a small town/vineyard romance, and if you like that glimpse into what is essentially a very privileged kind of life, you may really dig this. <br><br>I think I couldn’t rate it higher because instead of feeling how much of a connection there was between the MCs, it ultimately felt more like an afterthought. The “revenge” against the ex-fiance that dumped the heroine felt more front and center. Now is this the consequence of setting the romance to begin immediately after the heroine was dumped at the altar? Perhaps. All I know is alot of the heroine’s inner thoughts centered around that betrayal for a long time, I didn’t think she was ready to move on into another romance, and she clearly didn’t accept the end until very, very late into the story and well after she’d begun with the hero. It set up a very imbalanced relationship between the MCs, and I struggled to connect with it.<br><br>This group of friends is ripe for more books though, and again, if you’re into vineyard romances with that Nancy Meyers aesthetic, you may love this more than I did.<br><br>**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**<br><br>For more reviews, visit<br><br><br><a href="https://www.instagram.com/afterdarkbooklovers/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1499991196i/23287625.jpg" width="409" height="100" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/After-Dark-Book-Lovers/290327777811010?ref_type=bookmark" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1453918230i/17891087.png" width="34" height="34" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/113109434312544905742/posts" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1453918230i/17891089.png" width="34" height="34" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/afterdarkbooklovers/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1453918230i/17891088.png" width="34" height="34" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/AftDarkBkLovers" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1453918230i/17891086.png" width="34" height="34" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br>

3 stars! <br /><br />My feelings for this book are a bit torn. It was fast paced and sweet and really easy to read, but also it didn't completely wow me as I was expecting it to. It started out so fast and halfway through it seemed to be losing itself a bit. The unexpected twists were a great touch but I felt that a lot of the story was just repeating itself. <br /><br />Erin Bellini's wedding is broken off three days before the big date by her fiance in an e-mail. Furious and hurt, Erin decides the best way to get through this tough period of her life is to have a fling with childhood best friend Jason. However, Jason has been in love with Erin for the longest time and would rather take things slow so none of them end up hurt. <br /><br />Some of the most enjoyable, lovable and sweet moments in this novel are between Erin and Jason whilst they recount their childhood memories. This was overall a good and enjoyable novel with really sweet and steamy moments.<br /><br />It's a good read for someone looking to quickly escape into the wonderful world of childhood love, friends, pets and weddings.

Well, I was absolutely here for that cover and premise. <br /><br />I liked Erin and Jason well enough. I liked that they had been friends since they were kids and had some history. I really liked Erin’s sisters and the relationship the three of them had. Annnnd the entire situation with Owen didn’t sit with me.<br /><br />Plot wise, it was a bit repetitive. There are a lot of phrases and words used over and over and a few of the scenes in the first half felt exactly the same. On top of that, both Erin and Jason were sort of bland and I didn’t see the chemistry between them or believe the jump from friends to more.<br /><br />Overall, I was eager to see the HEA and that’s what kept me reading. Sadly, I wanted a lot more from the ending and I’m left wondering if 3 stars is too high of a rating. <br /><br />**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge**

I really enjoyed this one! Be sure to add it to your TBR! <br />*** Full review closer to release day

What a fantastic way to kick off a new series! I thoroughly enjoyed The Best Man Plan by Jaci Burton. As always, the author weaves a well written story with strong characters that you can't help but love. Thanks @Berkley Romance for the Advance Readers Copy! *** Full review closer to release day