Can a runaway bride find love with someone else’s jilted groom?Flower shop owner Flora has waited years to say “I do” but when she gets to the altar, all she can say is “I can’t.” Ex-ballplayer Dean waits for his turn to find wedded bliss but has nothing to say when his bride-to-be texts that she’s not coming.As Flora makes her escape from the chapel in Las Vegas, she barrels into Dean and it … chapel in Las Vegas, she barrels into Dean and it changes everything.
They never expect to spend the night together.
One perfect night where they share everything but names, numbers, or even Facebook pages. In the morning, Dean leaves without waking Flora, thinking the note he leaves will be enough.
Maybe it would have been if Flora had found it.
Once they get back to the real world, Flora can’t stop thinking about Dean. And Dean keeps dreaming of Flora. Could they be closer than they think?
When fate steps in with a bouquet of flowers, will Flora and Dean get a second chance at love? And will they be ready to take it?
With a hint of Runaway Bride and a bit of Serendipity, Flora and Dean discover some love stories are perfectly played.
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This book by Holly Kerr is absolutely PERFECTLY PLAYED. It is a quick and easy read with closed door sexy times making this a clean romance.
The story moves quickly both in pace and in time frame of the book. Even with the pace, the characters are well developed, it is understood what role they play in the M/m’s life and every character has a purpose *even the dog and the neighbors*. The story presents itself as one that was well plotted and doesn’t waste time with too much detail or fillers to up the word count. While I could have done without two specific characters, I understand the part they play in moving the story along.
PERFECTLY PLAYED sets up as if it is going to be a series and I am very interested in finding out about the friends and siblings we are introduced to and hope that the author will continue with this theme.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr
I absolutely LOVED this book. The characters were so relatable and I felt each thing they did as they were going through it all. That makes for a great story.
This book drives home the “small world” saying, and also the “when you know, you know”.
This is a must read and I cannot wait to see we get more from the other characters in this book as they left me hanging near the end.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr is a sports themed romantic comedy. A story of coincidences and second chances with fate playing a grand hand. Holly Kerr delivers an enchanting story when life doesn’t go exactly as planned with a group of characters that are rife with hilarious conversations and acts. Who wouldn’t laugh at half the stuff that occurs in this story?! I loved Dean and Flora in this novel and felt that they each grew from where they began at the start. There were definitely a couple characters I wanted to toss in a box and throw out because they were just drove me to feel that way; however, they added much needed dimension to the story and provided those characters that you love to hate! Perfectly Played was a great story and followed along with the sport theme that carried with the characters perfectly!
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr is a nice second chance story and my first read of Holly’s work. I enjoyed her writing style and loved the characters. It is a quick and easy read and you will find yourself invested in the lives of the characters. The story is told in multiple POV’s which enriches the story and the understanding of the characters and their emotions and backgrounds. It is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride but it works in the end.
Flora is starting to finally see the man she is supposed to marry one step at a time for what he truly is. Walking away is the best thing she needs to for herself and in doing so she meets the one person who could make her life complete.
Dean has just had his heart crushed and he isn’t sure why when he literally bumps into the one person who makes his heart feel whole again and could be his whole life and accept him for who he is. If only he can get over his past.
I look forward to reading more from Holly.
4 Stars
“Suddenly I have the urge to run, run away from the chapel and the justice of the peace and what is undoubtedly going to be on the top ten list of all-time worst days. Hiking up the dress I bought off the rack at Nordstrom for forty percent off, I run down the aisle to the lobby, with M.K. and Ruthie hot on my heels.
And then the toe of my shoe really does catch on a loose thread on the carpet, sending me careening right into a man standing in the doorway of the chapel.”
Perfectly Played is an angsty second chance romance by Holly Kerr. The story was quite a clever idea, with lots of drama to keep the tension at a high level. The angst, push-pull, assumptions, miscommunication, and misunderstandings which added to the drama, was quite frustrating. There were several moments where I wanted to shake some sense into both of our MC’s.
Flora Shaughnessy owns her own flower shop, “Fleur”. She’s in Vegas to finally marry her long-time boyfriend. On the way down the aisle, she has a realization that prompts her to turn and run- right into an innocent bystander. Little does she know that fate has plans for them, but right now all she wants to do is find the nearest bar and drown her sorrows. With her two best friends in tow, they begin a wild night that will take them on a bit of an adventure. And Flora will find herself in the arms, and bed, of a handsome stranger- before waking up to an empty bed. But fate isn’t done with them yet. And so the angst, drama, and hilarity ensue.
It took me quite a while to connect with the characters. They were really well developed, interesting and likeable- but the drama, indecision, and miscommunication really made it difficult to connect with them because there was so much of it. I felt that a lot of the drama was added just for the sake of it. For me, the story would have worked even better, with less drama. But having said that, I did enjoy the story, reading it in one sitting just so I could find out how everything tied together in the end.
Thank you, Ms. Kerr!
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr
Four Stars
These characters were so awkward. I can’t believe how cute it was. I mean the whole beginning was a big stage of bad impressions. I liked how they started and it made the ending so much better. I love big men with beards. Dean was a good character he was nice when he didn’t have to be. He seemed genuinely confused about his next steps in life. I believe that him and Flora met at the perfect time. Neither understood where they were going but it lead them to something special. I think that creates a beautiful bond. When you’re not looking for it but it finds itself in your path anyway.
When Flora calls off her wedding as she is walking down the aisle and runs away from the chapel, she literally bumps into Dean, who is also at the same Vegas chapel waiting to marry his Fiancee. When he is left at the alter, and the two (along with their friends) happen to run into each other again at a bar. After a night of misadventures and another chance meeting and hookup, they each go their own ways and go back home to pick up their lives, each as newly single adults. As fate intervenes, it turns out that they both live and work in the same area, and happen to reconnect again in their home city of Toronto, with the agreement that they should remain friends.
This is the first time reading a book from this author, and I really enjoyed Dean and Flora’s journey. The book was a fun read, with realistic undertones to the relationship of these two characters. Each are dealing, not only with picking their lives up after their respective breakups, but they are also fighting their attraction to each other. There is an aspect to their friendship that is very relatable. As they are each trying to live their newly single lives, and work through getting over their ex’s, they agree that being friends is the best course of action, despite their constant pull and attraction to each other. This is more than just a romance, this is a journey that we are taken on, where there is heat, love, and respect that each of the main characters have for each other. Neither wants to be each others rebound, and I think this is something many can really identify with. As they each deal with navigating through the next chapter of their lives, they are also dealing with career struggles, as well as being there for each other without crossing a line that they wont be able to come back from.
I really enjoyed this book, and while not a super fast read, the author brings the reader on a journey where you are rooting for these two, even though you really understand their inner struggles and know that a HEA is all about timing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a fun book to read. One jilted groom and one runaway bride who bump into each and spend one night together. I enjoyed this storyline so much it had a couple that was made for each other. Characters are well developed and engaging the chemistry is off the charts.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Flora and Dean…you are characters that are worth getting excited about. This book from beginning to end felt like some of my favorite romantic comedy movies… it screams Sandra Bullock to me. The author does a beautiful job keeping the reader engaged, invested, laughing as the tale unfolds and we learn more about Flora and Dean. Loved every page and cannot wait to go back and read it again!
This is the first book that i have read by this author and it will not be my last. The author has a great writing style and i enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Flora is our man character and i adored her. She has horrid taste in men though. She is fixing to marry a man who she has been with for the last 8 years and he is a terrible person. He nitpicks everything she does and puts her down any chance he gets. Fiona finally decides she has had enough and runs away from him and their never-to-be wedding. That is when she runs into Dean. He was just stood up by his own bride and has gone through the ringer too. These two go through a roller coaster of feelings, both for the things they’re going through and for each other. Will they end up together or are they destined to move on and see other people who haven’t been so close to saying I DO?
I enjoyed this book a lot and i cannot wait to read more by this author. I would recommend this to a friend!
Perfectly Played was a joy to read. This book has wonderfully fun, human characters that make perfect companions. Baseball is a major player in this story. This is just such a fun story with a meet cute and second chances at love. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spend reading this charming book.
DELIGHTFULLY DELICIOUS!!!
Wow! Talk about last ditch save. One intriguing tale that hooks you from the start and reels you in for the duration. Drama, danger and suspense make for one exciting experience. A whirlwind of mishaps, surprises and events that bring all of your emotions bursting to life flawlessly. Drawing you in so deep until everything else ceases to exists. Twists and turns abound with unexpected circumstances that thursts this bad boy to life beautifully. The characters are authentic, believable and so realistic with traits and on point personalities that bend and flow. The scenes are so vividly descriptive it paints an amazing backdrop that really brings forth the each scenario as they play off one another in perfect balance. Fantastic job Holly, thanks for sharing this awesome gem with us.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr had so many things I love to read about.
First, there is a dog Cappie and I’m a firm believer that every book should have a dog and/or a cat. Second, a hot guy with a beard, you can’t go wrong there and as an added bonus he’s a baseball player which is one of my favorite things about summer. Finally you have a sweet story about how fate brought two people together so far from home.
Dean and Flora’s story is just adorable and really not too far fetched which I enjoyed. After they both have their previous relationship end on what should have been their wedding day they literally run into each other and the games began immediately.
I loved Flora and her relationships with M.K., Ruthie and Patrick. Though two were family they were amazing and I fell in love with Patrick.
This story drew me in front the start and I hated having to put it down. I throughly enjoyed this book.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr is a sweet romantic story. Flora (great name) is a flower shop owner who has a runaway bride moment. She runs directly into Dean in her escape. What will brew between the two of them? This was a quick, fun romantic read. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Flora is funny and cute. Dean is sweet and chivalrous. Both challenge the other but in a good way. The two go through and start fast but later become friends and more. I really wanted them to have their happily ever after.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr was a sweet light heart read that hooked me right from that wicket opening.
I have to say, as far as book openings go, this one has probably been the best, for me, this year. Straight to the point, with a punch of excitement, ending with the fated meetcue, and you have a start that hooks you in seconds. I loved the plot, the characters, all of them not just the MC’s. Though I fell hard for Flora, what ever she saw in her ex is a mystery, cause that girl is fun, nerdy, and someone I would be friends with. Dean was also wonderful, my fave scene was when he got some well deserved advice from a “queen”.
Man this book, is one of those light reads that just makes you feel off the good feels, with just a touch of drama to keep you guessing and interested. So to end this book gets my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
Perfectly Played is a lovely book, and the author has created an endearing set of characters who quickly drew me into their story. Flora and her BFF M.K. are adorable. Dean, our hero, is both the nice guy our parents wanted us to date and the hot guy we wanted to date. This is one of those stories where you find yourself giving the heroine and hero advice on how to navigate through the sticky situations.
The book is well written with fully developed characters, great dialog and realistic problems that the hero and heroine have to find their way through. I will not give details of the plot as it is well described elsewhere. I do recommend Perfectly Played as a one of the books to keep on the bookshelf to read and reread.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Perfectly Played
By Holly Kerr
Rated 3 stars
This is a slow story that took a bit to get moving. Once I got to about half way it picked up. I’m not sure the problem but it just couldn’t keep my interest until the story started getting better.
I was so crushed when Dean took off as soon as he heard his ex fiancée showed up looking for him. I mean they have history sure but was he hoping to still marry her? Dang! Typical guy move. Dean was kinda disappointing to me throughout the story. I didn’t really care for his thoughts or actions. He seemed more into his past and not looking for a different future.
Flora (great name) has relationship baggage. She also has a wonderful flower shop. I loved that about her. Her wonderful friend MK works conveniently close and has a coffee shop. They have been besties forever so they had some nice conversations.
While this is a nice story it just didn’t do anything for me. It has perks but overall I just couldn’t get over the short period of time from the Incident to the final. Maybe a six or nine months later chapter would have been better. We could have missed the whining and moping and I would have felt better about the relationship as a whole. Sorry.
It was a great story with tissues by my side. The characters were interesting with their own baggage of disappointments and heart aches. This book gave you a rollercoaster of emotions with what Flora and Dean, they were suppose to marry different people.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr is a fun and entertaining book. I loved the play on the whole runaway bride story with both of them not getting married that day.
Holly Kerr is a new author to me and I enjoyed her writing style. It was easy to read and refreshing in the way she created her characters.
My only contention with this book is that I wish the gap between the characters meeting was a little smaller. There isn’t any reason I could put my finger on I just felt like it would have been nice for them to meet sooner than they did.
However this was a great read and I enjoyed the authors work. I will definitely be reading more by her in the future.
This is a very cute story about Flora and Dean – who are in no way connected when this story starts. Flora has walked away from her “boyfriend” of eight years and literally runs right into Dean. He has been left by his “girlfriend”. What follows is their story after the passage of time and space. Will this new encounter bring them together or not? This is another very sweet story by Holly Kerr that is hard to put down. Good and lighthearted reading that I would recommend.
I received an ARC copy of this book. This is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING