Reviewed by PizzyGirl

TITLE: The Worst Best Man

AUTHOR: M.J. O’Shea

NARRATOR: Dorian Bane

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 5 hours, 27 minutes

RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017

BLURB:

It was her special day…but his worst nightmare.

A rekindled romance wasn’t part of the plan.

Despite his American background, August O’Leary is the most sought-after wedding planner in London. Naturally, Libby and Edward come to him for a wedding the city will never forget. But Edward is an international businessman, so the details are left to Libby and her best friend – who happens to be the love of August’s life and the one who broke his heart eight years ago: Christopher Burke.

How’s August supposed to pull off the event of the year with Christopher distracting him and old feelings crashing the party uninvited?

Christopher has let money and status dictate his life, but no more. His failure to stand up to others’ expectations cost him his future with August – one he hoped would include marriage. Now he has to face August’s hurt and anger and prove he’s still the best man to make August happy.

STORY REVIEW:

I thought this story was another great example of a Dreamspun Desires story. The characters were likable and the romance was sweet with just enough depth to avoid being too OTT. There was some social commentary that is well done if you understand the basis and it adds to the warm and fuzzy feeling when the HEA finally happens.

I enjoyed the way this was a combination of two tropes merged well so that each was made unique enough not to be boring. I enjoy a good second chance romance, but often struggle with the rushed and overly perfect reunion that is often the result. In this case, pared with the wedding planner trope, the second chance was a give a chance to flourish but also had enough meat not to feel forced or too perfect. In fact, there was the whole misunderstanding, lack of communication element that added some frustration on my part, but some realism to the story.

I will admit that sometimes I felt the reestablishing of the romance was a bit rushed and some elements were too easy, but it worked for me because the author easily set up the backstory and I understood that these men were still very much in love even 8 years later. The authors used some time jumps to indicate that these men were getting to know each other again and I never once felt like they were assuming the other was the same man from University. I understood that they had grown and were trying to pick up again but recognized that time had passed.

I liked that August didn’t just roll over on everything, he defended himself and what he wanted even when it was painful. Christopher wanted to just run over everything and be perfect, but August demanded his due and I appreciated that the author allowed that to happen.

I enjoyed this story very much. It was sweet and grand and a bit whimsical. It fit everything I want in a Dreamspun Desires romance and I recommend this one to all fans of this line.

NARRATION REVIEW:

Dorian Bane would not have been my first choice as narrator for this story. His voice was rather harsh and gruff and he lost a bit of the softer emotions. However, his accents were good and I never questioned who the characters were or where they were from. I think he did a pretty good job even if the narration was harsher than I’d have liked.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon  

Audible