The Husband Games by Jamie Farrell – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
After Natalie Castellano’s marriage imploded on the field of the Husband Games in Bliss, Illinois, the Most Married-est Town on Earth, the last job she expected to inherit was planning the fiftieth anniversary of her hometown’s unique Games. But with her mother’s unexpected passing, that’s exactly what Natalie’s doing. And the position demands that she play nice with CJ Blue, the man who ultimately caused Natalie’s marital demise.
Winning Bliss’s Husband Games and being crowned Husband of the Year was the brightest spot in CJ’s short marriage. Since his wife’s untimely death, he’s taken himself around the world, hiding from his grief. But now, family obligations have him trapped in Bliss, where he’s been invited to participate in the Games and humiliate himself in the name of closure. The whole town wants him to play. The whole town, except one. And he can’t decide what bothers him more—that Natalie doesn’t think he belongs in the Games, or that she’s right.
These two would make great enemies. But all games aside, the more they find themselves in close quarters, the harder it is to deny their mutual attraction. She’s battled Bliss’s bridal brigade, and he’s jumped out of airplanes and soared over waterfalls, but now they’re both facing the biggest risk of all: taking another chance on love.
Review:
The Husband Games is book 1 in Jamie Farrell’s Misfit Brides of Bliss series. I had the opportunity to read a previous book of Jamie’s titled Southern Fried Blues and enjoyed everything about it and her writing. So when I was asked to read The Husband Games I wasn’t passing up the chance. I just love Jamie’s writing style, her characters, the small town settings and all that goes with living in a small town. Jamie writes contemporary romances that are comical, honest, with realistic characters living in realistic situations and are just completely fun to read.
The characters in The Husband Games are well written and developed, with a cast of secondary characters that support both the main couple and the story. Every character we meet in the book adds a new layer to the story and help us to better understand both the hero and the heroine better. The secondary characters are just as fun and comical as her main couple in this one. I don’t know how many times I burst out laughing at the situations that some of her characters got themselves into in this one. I swear the comical situations in this one is one of the highlights for me, and just had me wanting to keep reading and see what was going to happen next. Any book that can keep a smile on my face, and chuckling out loud throughout it, is a winner for me.
We get to learn who both the hero – CJ and heroine-Natalie are really well. Ms. Farrell takes the time to build layer upon layer to these two characters, and they just come to life before your very eyes as you read. We get to feel the emotions and pain that both are carrying around and why. Many times I wanted to shake both CJ and Natalie silly and tell them to smarten up and grab what’s in front of them and don’t let go. However, due to their pasts that they haven’t completely come to terms with, or forgiven themselves for they can’t move on just yet. I liked how Ms. Farrell didn’t rush their romance, but instead built a very intense and hot chemistry between them that keep me wanting more from Natalie and CJ. These two make a great couple, they compliment each other nicely and seem to balance each other out even though they don’t see this at first. Their scenes together are comical at times, well others are real, serious and very emotional. Speaking of emotional, one of my favourite scenes is when CJ finally admits his feelings to Natalie. CJ brought tears to my eyes as he manned up and put everything out there to let Natalie know how he truly feels, that he loves her and needs her. It was a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt scene that Ms. Farrell wrote.
As I said earlier, I really enjoy Jamie Farrell’s writing and creativity to bring her small town stories to life. If you are a fan of contemporary romances that combine comedy and romance together then this ones for you. It won’t disappoint and I can’t wait to read the next installment of the Mistfit Brides of Bliss series.
Until next time, happy reading everyone!
Reviewed by Marcie
Copy provided by Author
Jamie is offering an e-copy of THE HUSBAND GAMES to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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8 Giveaway runs from September 12-16, 2014
Jamie: The Misfit Brides of Bliss is about three women—a divorced single mother, a divorce lawyer, and a lovably quirky wedding cake baker—who stumble into love despite not fitting the norms of their hometown of Bliss, Illinois. Bliss is the self-proclaimed Most Married-est Town on Earth. It’s also the premiere wedding destination of the Midwest. Every summer, Bliss hosts a Knot Festival where the pinnacle event is the Husband Games. (Think husband Olympics, with events such as fastest tire changer and best lawn mower.) I have three books planned that are actively in the works, and ideas for more if readers love it as much as I do. I am having an absolute ball writing this series.