JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN (Getting Hitched in Dixie #1) by Cindi Madsen-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date May 28 ,2019

Addison Murphy is the funny friend, the girl you grab a beer with—the girl voted most likely to start her own sweatshirt line. And now that one of her best guy friends is getting married, she’ll add “groomsman” to that list, too. She’ll get through this wedding if it’s the last thing she does. Just don’t ask her to dive for any bouquet.

When Tucker Crawford returns to his small hometown, he expects to see the same old people, feel comfort in the same old things. He certainly doesn’t expect to see the nice pair of bare legs sticking out from under the hood of a broken-down car. Certainly doesn’t expect to feel his heart beat faster when he realizes they belong to one of his best friends.

If he convinces Addie to give him a chance, they could be electric…or their break-up could split their tight-knit group in two.

Hiding the way he feels from the guys through bachelor parties, cake tastings, and rehearsals is one thing. But just as Tucker realizes that Addie truly could be the perfect woman for him—he was just too stupid to realize it—now she’s leaving to follow her own dreams. He’s going to need to do a lot of compromising if he’s going to convince her to take a shot at forever with him—on her terms this time.

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REVIEW: JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is the first instalment in Cindi Madsen’s contemporary, adult GETTING HITCHED IN DIXIE romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends from Uncertainty, Alabama. This is physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Tucker and Addison) JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN follows the best friends to lovers relationship between physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford. Addison Murphy is the only woman in her tight knit group of friends from home but being the only woman has made her a target of innuendo and speculation especially when she is unwilling to conform to society’s and small town expectations of femininity and womanhood. The upcoming wedding of one of their own, finds Addison in the unenviable position as one of the groomsmen, but a groomsmen that is expected to help out the bride. Enter attorney Tucker Crawford, Addison’s lifelong best friend, and the man with whom Addison is secretly in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Addison and Tucker, and the potential fall-out when Addison is offered a position out of town, a position that may break down the relationship between our leading couple.

Tucker Crawford struggled with his most recent position as a big city lawyer but returning to his hometown of Uncertainty, Alabama brought closure and a familiarity along with friends and the woman with whom he will fall in love. Addison Murphy is one of the boys: a beer drinking, football playing, poker playing physical therapist who is more at home in overalls than heels but finds herself on the outside looking in when her femininity and sexuality are called into question by the people she loves. As the wedding of Will Shepherd and Lexi approaches, Addison finds herself wondering is she is truly just ‘one of the guys’.

The relationship between Addison and Tucker is a best friends to lovers romance wherein Tucker tries to keep their affair on the down-low. Believing herself to be Tucker’s ‘dirty little secret’ Addison struggles with the possibility that their relationship is only a temporary thing. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Will Shepherd and his fiancé Lexi, Easton, and Ford: Addison’s sister Alexandria,; their Nonna Lucia, dentist Davis Nelson as well as a large assortment of busy-bodies and town gossips who relish in spreading secrets and lies.

JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is a story of family and friendships; misunderstanding and miscommunication; struggle, hardship, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful, energetic and fun.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy