User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
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.
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.
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.
Sadly, will not recommend nor would be continuing with the series.
**An e-ARC provided by Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
Rating: really liked it
3.5 What There All Along Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️
Let's see...
When Your Fiancé...
Waits until 3 Days Before...
Your Long-Awaited Wedding...
He can't Even Man-Up...
Doesn't Tell You in Person...
Instead Hides behind a Break-Up Email...
Well, the only thing to do...
Get Frisky...
With the Only Man...
Who Knows you Best...
But Now there is Another Hiccup...
He wants More...
And More Sounds Kinda Good...
Like Really Good...
But How Real Is All of This...
He knows It is Real...
But He is Patient...
In fact, So Patient...
He has come up with The Best Man Plan (Boots and Bouquets, #1)-May 26th 2020
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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Rating: really liked it
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
Rating: really liked it
4 -
"Anything for you…" Stars!
Having fell in love with
Red Moss Vineyards and the Bellini family after reading
The Matchmakers Mistletoe Mission at Christmas, I was eager to read
The Best Man Plan and on the whole Erin and Jason’s story delivered exactly what I expect from a book by Ms Burton.
This series has started in the same vein as the
Hope Springs 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.
Erin, Owen and Jason have been BFF’s since childhood, Erin & 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.
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… 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.
This was what he’d waited a lifetime for and never thought he’d have… 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.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Rating: really liked it
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Rating: really liked it
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.
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.
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.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
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Rating: really liked it
3 stars!
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.
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.
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.
It's a good read for someone looking to quickly escape into the wonderful world of childhood love, friends, pets and weddings.
Rating: really liked it
Well, I was absolutely here for that cover and premise.
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.
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.
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.
**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge**
Rating: really liked it
I really enjoyed this one! Be sure to add it to your TBR!
*** Full review closer to release day
Rating: really liked it
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
Rating: really liked it
Erin receives an email two days before her wedding that her fiance is bailing and going on their honeymoon without her. Jason is the best man that has had feelings for Erin since they were kids and wants to help her get through this jilting. There is a ton of set up for future installments in this series throughout this book, in an aggressive info-dumping way - ie. This is my friend Alice, we met in a snowstorm last year, her boyfriend is named Clay, she works in matchmaking and telecommutes to LA. Like, what? This is elementary school level writing (and while I'm not quoting exactly, because this is an arc copy, this is basically how everyone's intro goes down), something Burton should be well past with the number of books under her belt. I've read a few of her other books, and it is possible that this is the intro style she has always used - but for some reason it was annoying and quite glaring throughout The Best Man Plan.
Quite separate from that, the story is lacking proper pacing and character development. When the reason for Owen abandoning his wedding is revealed, with minimal pages remaining - I have to say Erin becomes the villain for being that dialed out. Owen is still a bit of a moron, but also was perhaps in the throes of a mental health crisis, which is never dealt with.
I didn't buy the romance between Erin and Jason, and it really should've been a story about her hooking up with a random best man, not a lifelong friend best man. How do you trust the competence of a person who was going to stand up at your wedding and sign your marriage license but also has huge misgivings with your relationship and has wanted to date the bride, for years, himself ? I know it's a romance and isn't that deep, but my God.
Sadly, this book was not at all what I was expecting from Jaci and I wouldn't recommend it - although it seems to have struck a positive cord with the other early reviewers, perhaps I am a dour monster?
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review. This has in no way influenced my opinion.
Rating: really liked it
Jaci Burton's
The Best Man Plan is one of the better small town contemporary romances I've read this year. It's a soft, unassuming friends-to-lovers story that focuses in on the time the protagonists spend together and the easy, angst-free connection they forge. Burton manages to sell a 100% convincing love story without a Dark Moment or a third-act breakup, which gave the overall story a hint of "realism" that I sometimes crave, though there's nothing the matter with bananapants high-intensity romance when the mood strikes.
Another
huge thing I loved about this book was that Burton was sure to portray a diverse, three-dimensional community. I love small town romance, but I'm the first to admit that it's probably the greatest bastion of casual racism, misogyny, and homophobia in the genre as a whole. That's not the case in
The Best Man Plan. Burton took care to include a variety of other couples (Black, lesbian, East Asian), and though I don't think it probably took a lot of "effort" on her part, it's so far from the norm in most comparable books that it caught me by surprise in the best way. I do hate to give a white author cookies for something so simple as
mentioning that other races/sexualities exist, but...the bar is so low.
📌 .
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Rating: really liked it
review to come
Rating: really liked it
If that adorable cover hadn't convinced me to give this book a try, the blurb would have. Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes but Burton takes it a step further in this first book of her new Boots & Bouquets contemporary romance series. Not only do we have best friends to lovers, we also have a jilted bride, and a bit of a love triangle. With the three main characters (jilted bride, jilting groom, and best man) all being best friends since childhood, it has the potential for a whole lot of emotion, chaos, and hurt feelings. Burton manages to avoid expected pitfalls, keeping things realistic while also creating a fun, sexy, and heartwarming romance that, in the end, secures a happy ending for two of the friends, without permanently alienating the third. And even making me forgive, and hope for a happy ending, for a character that I spent most of the book actively disliking.
I adored Jason and was in his corner from the beginning. I loved his staunch support of Erin and his determination to not take advantage of her. He's such a good guy, a good friend, a great puppy dad, and sexy as all get out. And he cooks! My feelings for Erin evolved along with her character. I appreciated the time she was given to work through her emotions concerning both Jason and Owen. I liked her and while I didn't always agree with her actions, I understood them. I loved Erin and Jason together, enjoying both the sweet and the sexy times as their friendship slowly transitioned to new territory. By the end of the book, I was fully confident in the love between them that had been tested and emerged strong and sure.
I love the Bellini's Italian-Irish family dynamic and am looking forward to getting to know all of them better, especially Erin's sisters. I have hopes for a match between one of the sisters and a certain Irishman and am curious to see if my thoughts about the other sister also pan out.
I'm not sure when book two will be released but after finishing this one I did some searching and discovered a novella, The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission, that introduces this series with the story of Clay and Alice, two of my favorite secondary characters from The Best Man Plan. I've already downloaded it and am ready to dive in while I wait for the next Red Moss Vineyard couple to take center stage.
*ARC received via NetGalley for fair and unbiased review
Rating: really liked it
This was a bit slow going in the beginning, it took me a while to really get into things but once I did it was an enjoyable read.
Erin was a little all over the place with her emotions. Which I actually quite liked because it made
sense. Everything she thought she knew has been completely upended, she has a wedding day and no groom to share it with. I did think the party idea was a bit strange but I went with it.
I didn't particularly Erin's idea to have a 'revenge fling' with the best man, Jason. A man who happens to also be one of her best friends.
I did absolutely
adore Jason. He was so lovely and understanding with Erin, he was always patient with her and some of things he came out with had me swooning. Jason has had feelings for Erin for a long time and I liked how he wouldn't settle for Erin's idea of little fling, he wanted her for real. I love a bit of pining and Jason had that down to a T.
It was a bit slow in places, and there was a lot of build up for relationships that will take place in the following books, I did find it a bit overmuch at times. Although I did enjoy reading about Erin's relationship with her sisters, I thought that was brilliantly well done, and I'm looking forward to Brenna's book!
Overall this was a very cute book that was full of sisterly friendship and a lovely friends-to-lovers romance.
{Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review}
