Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail. And nobody (nobody!) can learn of the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. It was wrong, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. Even if he is the sexiest thing on two legs. Blake Riley sees the wedding … the wedding as fate’s gift to him. Jess is the maid of honor and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if he’s facing a little (fine, a lot) of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.
But Jess has more pressing issues to deal with than sexy-times with a giant man-child. Such as: Will the ceremony start on time, even though someone got grandma drunk? Does glitter ever belong at a wedding? And is it wrong to murder the best man?
Warning: Do not read while sipping hot liquids. Or cold ones. Or while sitting anywhere laughter would be inappropriate. Contains hot but hilarious hockey players, puppies and a snarky pair of underwear.
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It’s official. If Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen were a single person, I’d put a ring on it. I love them together. The word that comes to mind is synergy (of course I normally think about that regarding antibiotics and bacteria…but samsies). Writing together they can do no wrong.
Now on to the actual book. I went through the entire range of emotions while reading this; I laughed (out loud, while smiling at my phone like a crazy person), I nearly cried, and I was so happy I felt I could burst. Good Boy had the rare combination of likable and relatable characters with the ability to touch my true emotions. Blake was over the top and ridiculous and I couldn’t have adored him more, while Jessie was so vulnerable and relatable that I couldn’t help but root for her.
Plus Jamie and Wes’s wedding was a moment I had been waiting for since I devoured Us last year. It was worth the wait.
What more can I say to convince you? Just do it….cheezus!
Loved this book.
Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen have me in stitches!!!! I had no idea that GOOD BOY was so good.
Things you need to know:
1. Good Boy takes place starting at Jamie and Wes’ wedding. (think Hockey hotties from HIM and US)
2. It is a comedy. Like ridiculous internal monologues that make you laugh out loud even when you are trying to be quiet while your hubs is asleep.
3. OF course there are going to be sexy times!!!!
The audiobook has me laughing out loud while telling my kids to go away. You’re going to thank me!!!
The lovely Jodi Prellwitz Duggan let me borrow this delicious book and I freaking loved it. Our heroine, Jess, has the perfectly relatable conflict of trying to discover exactly who she is — which career is for her? How can she be sure? Is she destined to let her family — and herself — down forever? Or can she carve her own path?
Blake, our hero, is 100% delicious, gigantic, hottie-with-a-heart-of-gold, hockey-player-man-meat. He’s FUNNY and silly and every time you think he’s just a hockey “bro” he’ll do something so utterly romantic, sweet and/or heart-warming I was literally grabbing my chest at parts. (THERE ARE PUPPIES INVOLVED).
What I love about Sarina and Elle’s books is that the conflict is always nuanced, character-driven and very real. Blake and Jess are two people trying to find their way in this word, and trying their hardest to be Good People. And along the way, there is hot AF sexual tension and coat-closet-sex and…and…and…okay you just read it.
I had just finished listening to Him and Us on Audio and even though Good Boy was a spin off I am glad that I finally went and read this book. In the first book I loved Blake but at the same time I kinda felt sorry for him. I felt like he was there for everyone and as much as he annoyed them they still loved him but I felt that people didn’t see the real him so I was super excited that he got his book.
I am so glad that Blake was the first book in this Wags series because I felt there was so much to this guy and he was a fantastic character in Him and Us. I loved how at first we got the same joking, light hearted, laid back Blake that we knew but as the book went on we got all the different sides to him and as the different layers got peeled off we saw the guy who just wanted to be loved and he just wanted people to be there for him like he is for them.
Jess I felt was kind of in a similar boat, I think she felt that she was a joke to her family because she kept changing her career paths and I think she always thought she was going to be this way. Christ I’m in my 30’s and I still don’t know what I want to do. What I loved most was her family were still supportive and when she decided that going back to college for nursing she had no fear and just went for it.
The chemistry between Blake had Jess was amazing and I loved the Banter between the two. Everything about this story was awesome, Blake’s past would come back to haunt him, we went through the stress of College with Jess and Blakes determination to win Jess was so good to read that I read this book in one sitting.
Loved everything about this story and if you love Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen then you will not be disappointed at all another 5 star read for me.
I FLOVED Good Boy!!!! And the key to my love? Blake Riley. This man is such a big, lovable goofball full of silly charm that there was no way Jess would have been able to resist falling for long. Definitely gonna pick up Stay now.
I just love these two authors together. I’ve read both of their hockey series that they have written individually so it’s only natural that I would read this collaboration. While some of these characters are from their books HIM and US, you can totally read this without them and be fine. I haven’t read them yet but you can guarantee that I will be very soon.
Jess Canning has always felt like she is a failure so the pressure is really on when she is tasked with being the wedding planner for her brother’s wedding. Even more so with the high pressure of celebrities from Toronto’s NHL team. She’s extremely stressed out and has to face the one man that she has been trying to avoid for months now. The guy that she can’t stop thinking about but knows it was a mistake and can never happen again. But when he shows up for the wedding and does some unexpected things, Jess just can’t seem to stay away.
Blake Riley has always had a thing for Jess. He loves to rile her up and loves the back and forth banter that the two of them have. He’s all fun and is always cool and collective. The jokester of the group that wants everyone to have fun. So when he shows up at the wedding and sees how stressed Jess is, he wants to help relax her. Preferably with sex because let’s face it, he always wants in her pants.
When the two are thrown together more and more now that Jess has moved to Toronto, will Blake be able to calm Jess down and keep her interested as friends with benefits or will the pull between the too of them be too much?
I had fun with this book. I’ll be honest and say that at first I was a little annoyed with Blake. I felt like his humor was so childish and annoying but then it grew on me. Funny how that works out, huh? Since that is exactly what happens with Jess. There’s just something about him that you can’t help but love. He’s like a big kid but has such a big heart.
The banter between Blake and Jess was extremely fun and humorous. I also liked how connected everyone was and what a close group the ended up being. Everyone was overall likable and contributed to the overall ambiance of the group.
If you are looking for a fun, witty and hilarious love story with gorgeous hockey players, loud families and the always awesome gay bff, then this is absolutely the book for you. It certainly will be a fun time.
5 CHEEZUS THIS WAS SO GOOD stars
So good. So. Damn. Good. I don’t know why I’m even surprised. It may have something to do with this thing that happens, the disappointment I usually feel after expecting this book that I waited for months to be fabulous and it’s not, but that was so not what happened here. Because this book: fabulous.
I loved Jess and Blake and the dynamic between them. I fell in love with that grizzly of a man, with his beautiful personality, the goodness of his heart, his charm, his easy-going nature and his love for using the non-existing words that he insists on! (for reference, see cheezus up there *wink wink*) He’ll take the spot on your favorite BBF shelf if you let him! (Let him! Let him! It’s so worth it!) And he’s like a hot, hot, oh-so-hot hockey player, and that’s always a plus in my book! And Jess is this amazing person with a huge heart and one of us – she’s just the ordinary girl with same dreams and same insecurities like the rest of us. But she’s one of the strong ones, and the way she just keeps going, keeps believing was beautiful to me.
I loved the unique story, the unexpected turns and twists. I loved Blake’s made-up words even more and I laughed so much as I always do when our two ladies are writing. And they wrote a fabulous piece.
Yep. This is just the series I needed to make me happy. I *almost* forgot how much I love Blake Riley. Well, until I reread Us and then I was quickly reminded why I needed to read Good Boy for a second time.
And I don’t just read the books. I listen. I get invested. I devour the voices of Teddy Hamilton and Tanya Eby as if they’re sitting right beside me, talking into my ears.
In a way they are. They are the perfect Blake and Jess. PERFECT. I am such a Teddy Hamilton girl. He just has that voice that leaves me all swoony. Couple that with the awesomeness that is Blake Riley and you have character perfection.
Cheeezus.
If you haven’t had the chance to meet Blake and Jess and Wes and Jamie, well, you’re really missing out on a great group of people. The Rileys and the Cannings are the coolest families out there. And is it just me or does Mama Riley remind you of Marshall’s mom on How I Met Your Mother? Loud, tall, boisterous, enthusiastic. No? Just me? Oh well. I very clearly picture that woman every time Mama Riley is on the page. And now you will too. You’re welcome.
Grab this. You’ll feel better if you read it. It’s hard not to smile when half of Blake’s vocabulary is made-up.
This is Book 1 in the Spin-off of HIM & US…..I loved Him, I freaking loved US and now I have to say, this books was amaze-balls. I fell in love with Blake’s character in US so I was really excited to dig into his own story. Blake has now made it to my top 3 fave male romance characters of all times. I LOVE HIM so much. He is such an honest and loyal man to his team, family and friends. He is even loyal to those who have betrayed him. Blake is such a big teddy bear always wanting to take care of everyone he loves. He hides his vulnerability under his sarcasm and fun attitude.
…..and Jess…she is the perfect match for Blake. These two had undying chemistry. They developed such an amazing friendship with one another that neither realized they were in love from the beginning.
Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen have a fantastic way in sucking us into the world of these characters. I loved that we got to see Wes and Jamie and see how the team is progressing. I truly enjoyed this book very much. It was me literally laughing out loud in some parts and in other parts it made me so angry I wanted to slap some characters. Love this world these two amazing authors created.
This was a fun story with complex characters, a lot of heart, and great humor. I always love to read stories where someone whom everyone has written off as a goof gets to be silly, and a romantic lead. Both Blake and Jess had strong story arcs, made a lot of sense together, and were fun to read.
I’ll be honest. I was worried about my feelings going into this book. I loved Wes and Jamie so much. So much. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them. I was afraid that I would treat Good Boy as a Wes and Jamie knock-off, and only live for the scenes we spent with them. I will admit. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. For fans of Wes and Jamie, or Wesime, as Blake likes to refer to them, you’ll get plenty of them. But this is Jess and Blake’s story, and they tell it beautifully. If you haven’t read US, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to know you if you haven’t, that’s where Blake and Jess first meet. Don’t worry though, they tell you all about their first encounter, so you don’t feel like you’ve missed anything.
If there is only one thing I can tell you about this book, it is funny. Laugh-out-loud, snorting-a-beverage-out-of-your-nose funny. Even the chapter titles are funny, (Ch. 2 WTF Does Everyone Have Against Glitter). But it’s more than just a good time.
So much more.
Blake wants Jess, and Jess will do anything and everything to avoid him. Their game of cat and mouse is incredibly entertaining. It was a lot of fun to watch a man, who really just liked sleeping with a girl, figure out he was falling for her. In the same respect, I knew that Jess wasn’t going to be able to avoid Blake for very long. He was just too damn sexy for his own good! Blake is charming, outgoing, and the guy that everyone wants to be friends with. He’s always up for a good time, something that is a fault in Jess’s eyes. Coming from a family that has no problem achieving their goals, Jess is still finding her way. Any involvement with Blake will knock her off her path. Problem for Jess is, Blake is damn near irresistible.
Bowen and Kennedy help Blake and Jess navigate the friends with benefits waters perfectly. They are a supreme writing duo. The best co-written books are the ones that are seamless, and that is Good Boy. They could be writing whole chapters, or just paragraphs, but you get the same excellence from page one, straight through until the end. It would be easier to tell you the parts I didn’t highlight as opposed to did. My kindle is full of pink highlights! Every scene and line were pure magic. Good Boy is firmly cemented in my top reads of all time.
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy are a powerful duo. Both authors individually have great series that I enjoyed reading. ‘Off-Campus’ by Elle Kennedy and ‘Ivy Years’ and ‘Brooklyn Brusiers’ by Sarina Bowen are my favorites. I first read ‘Him’ series by the powerful duo and what can I say I love Wesley and Jamie, a.k.a. ‘Wesmie’ I was waiting for the third book or a novella for the Jamie and Wesley’s wedding and definitely did not expected their wedding become the start of a new series (No complaints here. I am loving it!)
Before starting the review I want to thank authors for the ‘Caution’ at the beginning of the book. For me it is so usual that I start laughing or crying while reading but this time there was a ‘Caution’ so I was more prepared
‘‘Caution: May cause accidental aspiration of tea or coffee. Do not read in a public place where loud laughter is inappropriate. Contains hot but hilarious hockey players, puppy cuddling and a snarky pair of underwear.’’
If you already read ‘Him’ series, you already met with our hero and heroine. Blake Riley is Wesley’s teammate and also Wesmie’s neighbor, who is loud, annoying and have a tendency to knock on the door at the most inappropriate times. Jess is Jamie’s sister, who cannot stick to a career more than a few months.
‘Good Boy’ starts with Wesley and Jamie’s wedding. Jess is the wedding planner and also the maid of honor and Blake is Wesley’s best man. I loved the banter between Blake and Jess that started at the very beginning. It was hilarious. After their one night stand in Toronto, Blake is looking for a repeat while Jess is determined that there are no repeats. Their chemistry is off the charts and they drive each other crazy. But it is really hard to avoid Blake, who has a big personality. His is loud, funny, protective, sweet, stubborn, selfless and full of life. His is the biggest man-child ever. It is impossible to imagine him being serious but he knows when to step up and be mature. Jess is also really protective, sweet and loyal. Because she still didn’t find her calling, she keeps jumping from one career to another, which make her feel like a failure. Also depending on her parents financially makes her feel like a burden. But finally she decides that being a nurse is her calling and this time she wants to reach her goal on her own. And when she gets into a nursing program in Toronto, her only goal is to focus in school. What she miscalculates is how persistent Blake is with his pursuit. It is for you to find out how persistent Blake and how determined Jess are but be ready for laughter
‘Good Boy’ is fast paced, funny and sexy read and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. There is nothing I didn’t like about this book. I am looking forward to read the second book of the series ‘Stay’ which will come out on June 20th, 2017.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Definitely.
Would I read future books by these authors: Yes.
The review was originally posted on: http://miabookaddict.com/
Blake Riley has to be the most boisterous male hero I have ever read! I loved him! Cheezus! This book kept me smiling and snorting!