ONLY YOU (Bachelor Brotherhood 1) by Denise Grover Swank-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-Release Date October 25, 2016

Never say never . . .

Romance isn’t an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor . . .

Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world’s craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.

After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn’t play by the rules

•••••••

REVIEW: ONLY YOU is the first installment in Denise Grover Swank’s contemporary, adult BACHELOR BROTHERHOOD romance series focusing on three friends (Kevin, Tyler and Matt) who call themselves The Bachelor Brotherhood. This is former-Marine Kevin Vandemeer, and events planner Holly Greenwood’s story line. The Bachelor Brotherhood series is a spin off from the author’s The Wedding Pact Series but you do not need to have read the previous series to enjoy The Bachelor Brotherhood.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Holly and Kevin) ONLY YOU follows Holly Greenwood as she struggles in both her personal and professional life-a demanding boss who thinks of Holly as her very own personal assistant; a bridezilla client who could make or break Holly’s career; a grandmother whose dementia and mind are quickly deteriorating; and a new neighbor who is everything Holly wants but is strictly off limits and insists on being part of Holly’s life-one way or another. What ensues is the building relationship between Holly and Kevin, and a series of misunderstandings and revelations that force Holly to push Kevin into the friend-zone.

ONLY YOU is a sweet, fun and humorous look at two people as they struggle with family issues, and well-meaning friends. Kevin is caught between trying to please his family as his sister Megan (The Wedding Pact #1) and his mother Nicole continue to meddle in the relationship department. As an events planner Holly is making a name for herself but struggles with a boss who refuses to acknowledge all of our heroine’s hard work.

The relationship between Holly and Kevin is one of immediate attraction but both have sworn off relationships for the forseeable future. Holly’s cousin Melanie is a pitbull as it pertains to Holly’s relationship and potential broken heart, and gives Kevin fair warning if something where to happen. The $ex scenes are intimate and romantic without the over the top graphic imagery and text.

The world building looked at the frenetic life of a wedding planner-the clients, the rants, the back room drama when things don’t go according to plan. We are also up close and personal as Kevin enters the world of home renovations-broken pipes and all.

We are introduced to Holly’s cousin Melanie and their grandmother Barb. Holly and Melanie were raised by Grandma Barb, and they are both struggling, in different ways, with their grandmother’s deteriorating condition. Kevin’s well-meaning but interfering family continue to intrude in his ‘lack’ of a personal life-sister Megan whose impending baby shower throws another wrench into Kevin and Holly’s relationship status; and mother Nicole whose own plans for Kevin include a crazy woman who believes that Kevin is the one. Kevin’s friends and beer drinking bromance with Tyler and Matt add some comic relief as each reveals their disastrous dating relationships with no plans for the future. There is plenty of easy going, back and forth banter between the story line characters that will elicit a smile or two on every page.

ONLY YOU is a lighthearted and delightful story line. The premise is heartwarming and wonderful; the characters are playful and energetic; the romance is provocative. Denise Grover Swank invites the reader into the world of the Bachelor Brotherhood, and three men who never expect to find love.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy