Saying “I Do” has never been such a mess. Marlee Medford just got dumped. Yes, things have become ho-hum in her longtime relationship, but she was two days away from walking down the aisle with the man she thought was her forever when he called it off. Convincing herself that they’d be able to reignite their spark once the wedding craziness settled? That was easy. Suddenly finding herself without … finding herself without a fiancé? Not so much. Marlee needs to regain control of her life, and a weekend away with her friends is a solid first step.
One of Denver’s best up-and-coming chefs, perpetual bachelor Eli Howard, isn’t into serious relationships—especially the kind that ends in marriage. As if to prove his point that they aren’t worth the trouble, the wedding he was supposed to be catering just fell apart. Feeling oddly protective of the jilted bride—his little sister’s best friend—his weekend plans now involve a trip to Sin City with her group of friends. But it looks like he had a bit too much fun in Vegas when he wakes up married…wedding night included.
Marlee’s attempts at getting her life back together are failing miserably. Her ex-fiancé is taking the house, her chihuahua is intent on a love affair with Eli’s sneakers, and she’s now accidentally hitched to the guy who can’t even say the word marriage. With their quickie annulment denied, Eli and Marlee just have to hang tight until the divorce goes through. It’s just a little divorce amongst friends, what’s the worst that could happen?
Take It Off the Menu is book three of the Mile High Matched series, but stands alone and can be read in any order. If you love a hunky caterer and an accidental marriage then this book is for you! Buy now for a fun, friends-to-lovers romance!
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Oh my what should a gal do when her fiance calls off the wedding two days before the big day. Take some time with her gal pals and head to Vegas to regroup! Marlee has been let down and her fiance has not only stayed in their home, he will be going on their honeymoon and keeping his job her family busniess. This is a little too much to handle so when her best friends decide to wisk her away that makes perfect sense! Eli is the perpetual bachlor that is also a well known chef and he has been looking after his little sister and her girlfriends for as long as he can remember. When he finds the lovely Marlee in need he gelps her move and then follows them to Vegas as a chaperone but soon they find that they have more in commmon than they once thought , they are now both single and hell they are in Vegas!!! This was a sweet, funny sexy read !!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
“She was only falling in love with the guy who had the power to totally decimate the remains of her tattered heart.”
Eli was hired as a caterer to the wedding of his youngest sister’s best friend. What he didn’t expect was to have to comfort a jilted bride, take part on a girl-only trip to Vegas and end the weekend with a different marital status. One that makes him shiver.
Marlee planned her wedding for eighteen months and is now married. But with the wrong groom. After being abandoned two days before her wedding, there’s nothing like going to Vegas with her bridesmaids and drowning her sorrows in alcohol. What wasn’t in the plans was to marry her best friend’s older brother.
He has a wedding phobia. She was just abandoned. They have known each other since adolescence and have never looked at each other differently. Until they get married in Vegas. And this will be the beginning of a journey of discovery.
The always frowning and lonely Eli and the sweet, talkative, radiant Marlee seem to have no place in each other’s lives. But they complement each other perfectly. The evolution of this relationship that started upside down is as natural as breathing. And it culminates in a story full of flavors and feelings that warms the heart and makes us sigh.
A special read, full of romance, with some steamy scenes near the end of the narrative. With that touch of destiny that shakes the lives of the characters and makes them rethink what is really needed to achieve happiness.
Eli and Marlee will make you laugh, fall in love and cheer for happy endings. Even when they happen out off plan and totally the upside down.
What a wonderful, wonderful book. I mean you can’t help but fall in love with ALL the characters in it (everyone but Scotty) and the dog! I love it when I’m reading a book and I alternate between rereading dialogue because of the witty banter and/or laughing out loud over the writing. Christina Hovland gives us all that and more. You can’t help but love Eli and his confused heart and mind (bless him), while Marlee is sassy, quirky and a little off side (bless her). Add in a slew of side characters and Lothario the shoe humping scene stealing service dog and you have the recipe for the perfect story. I couldn’t put this book down and cannot recommend it enough. Add it to your TBR list and read it, you won’t regret it.
I read an arc and voluntarily left an honest review.
Every book in this series so far has been beyond amazing, and Eli’s story is just as great. I loved everything about this book I loved Marlee and her personality, attitude, strength, and heart. She was a caring girl who did come from money but she never really let that define her and she loved her friends deeply. This group of friends that Marlee had included Eli’s sister Sadie and they all had me laughing so hard and poor Eli was always there to take care of them and make sure they didn’t lend up in trouble. As usual a trip to Vegas doesn’t actually stay in Vegas so this is the start of things for Eli and Marlee. Eli was such a beautiful person inside and out he helped everyone around him, he would give anyone the shirt off his back I’d they needed it yet he pushed people away in fear of having to take care of them and he didn’t realize he was already doing that because he cared about his family and friends. These two together were insanely perfect because they balanced each other, Marlee being outgoing and Eli being kind of closed up. I also loved how we get to see the other characters from the previous books and my favorite as always is when the guys get together and hang up on the Hero at the time to show them they are being an idiot and need to get their head out of the sand . I really hope this isn’t the last book in the series because it’s such a great one and the author makes you feel a part of their group, their families, and town.
Take It Off the Menu is the first book I have read by Christina Holland and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is part of a series but that doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of the story.
Marlee is dumped by her long term boyfriend 2 days before their wedding. Even worse, he told her father that he was going to do it a day before he did! Marlee and her 3 best friends head for Las Vegas with Eli, her friend’s older brother along to keep the girls out of trouble. After much alcohol, tattoos and other dares, Eli and Marlee go through a fake marriage in response to a dare from Eli’s sister Sadie. A marriage that later turns out to be real.
Improbably, the marriage is reported in the newspapers, Marlee’s parents cut off her money and Marlee has to join the real world. Eli gives her a job and moves her into his apartment while Sadie helps them get a divorce. The events that follow are funny, heartbreaking and enlightening for both Marlee and Eli.
At first, this seemed to be another “poor little rich girl” book. Christina Hovland’s well developed characters and carefully crafted plot keep the story moving and provide more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. I especially enjoyed Marlee’s realization that she was a walking cliche and her determined efforts to become a better person.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.
I really enjoyed this book.
Heiress Marley is 2 days away from her wedding when her fiancé calls it off. Enter her best friend, Sadie and her older brother Eli. They pack up Marley and move her into Eli’s apartment. A quick trip to Las Vegas leads to a drunken marriage and Marley’s funds being cut off by her parents. Yep, the ‘rents sided with the ex fiancé. As Marley and Eli wait for the divorce to go through, Marley finds happiness without money. There’s a meddling and troublemaking Russian grandmother, Babushka, an amorous Chihuahua named Lothario and true friends. You will laugh, you will be indignant, but most of all, you will love this book!
Marlee and Eli are such a sweet couple! They seem so different. Marlee is a hedge fund lady. She has never had to work or really even cook her own food. Eli was raised modestly, always wanting to do his best so that he doesn’t have to rely on anyone, but is available to help his friends out if they need it. He an up and coming chef. He has big dreams, that he has put off because of family issues. What happens in Vegas, comes back to make everything more complicated. Jase’s grandma, Babushka, is back and as always, awesome! She is one of my favorite characters in the books. I hope she is in all the rest as well!
Marlee Medford has found herself single once again. The problem is that she was to get married in two days. The groom has said that the spark is gone because of all of this wedding craziness. Now she has realized that she does not either but during the course of the day and the next, she sees her parents siding with him. Since they both worked at her father’s firm she now feels that she has lost her parents and fiancé amongst other friends. Her real friends. Her posse has her back and comes in and takes her to Las Vegas for a true getaway. The only male is the older brother Eli Howard who was going to carter the wedding but now has gone back to his old duties as getting his sister and friends out of trouble. Well, that would be good except he wakes up with Marlee in the morning and they are married. Having to wait a day for court and his sister needing to go back for a case they are to handle it themselves and let’s just say that when they are returning to Denver they are still married. That is just one of the funny scenes, when she tries to cook in their apartment not good or when she tries to help him at his business. She does find working next door at the florist fun and easy and something she is good at. She also comes up with a plan to get back at her ex who is still living in her house, working for her father, while her parents cut off her trust. She does not go back to them, as a matter of fact, she walks out on them and does not return their call telling them it was he who called off the wedding not her. There is so much more to this story that you just must read it. The characters are all good and this is a fun story. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com
This is book three of the Mile High Matched series and can be read as a stand alone.
Marlee and her best friend’s older brother end up in Vegas and waking up married after her douche of a fiance dumps her two days before her wedding. I love that Marlee has a tribe of friends that immediately jumped to her aid in an effort to help her move past her failed wedding. I LOVED Eli. He is a chef who takes care of everyone without admitting to himself that he does. He is commitment phobic to a degree that is hilarious. Marlee is so mature and is able to roll with everything that happens and I thought she was an amazing heroine. This story introduces us to new secondary characters and revisits characters from previous books including Babushka. There is laughter, heat, and a lot of emotion built into this well written, well edited book.
I am really enjoying this new to me author. I can’t wait for the next book in the series in April. I will be impatiently waiting.
Christina Hovland’s “Take it Off the Menu” is a sweet, hysterically funny story featuring wonderful, well-developed, and likeable characters. In some places, the secondary characters almost stole the show from main characters Eli and Marlee, especially Lothario the chihuahua and Babushka, Eli’s friend Jase’s elderly Russian grandmother. One of my favorite parts of this book was Lothario’s love affair with shoes (and various other inappropriate objects). His name was certainly an appropriate one!
The male lead character, Eli, was a lovable grump who kind of reminded me of a grown-up Oscar the Grouch. Even though he thought he’d had his fill of responsibility as a teenager, when he stepped up to help his family through a difficult time, meeting Marlee helped Eli realize that there could be more to life than constantly working to achieve his goal of opening his own restaurant. Marlee, who was sweet, generous, and genuinely seemed to care about others, was a great influence on Eli. She deserved to be treated so much better than she was by her ex-fiance, Scotty, so it was lovely to see the way Eli came to care for her while also helping her take her first steps towards independence.
Overall, I highly recommend “Take it Off the Menu” for all romantic comedy fans. The rest of the series looks to be just as good as this book, and I plan to check them all out soon.
*Review copy provided by the author via InkslingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
And Babushka is back!!! The high jinx continue with orange dicks that get thrown on trees. OMG – hysterical! Plus the old ladies stocking up on condoms – priceless. On to the story of Marlee and Eli…and Lothario. Sometimes things in Vegas don’t stay in Vegas. I like how down to earth Marlee was despite being born into money. And who doesn’t love a man who can cook?!?
Marlee Medford is ready to walk down the aisle, however, there’s been a minor glitch, the groom has called it off! Two days before! Yes the spark was gone from their relationship, but she really hoped it would reignite after their wedding. Sad thing is that she’s not feeling that upset about it. Now Marlee needs to regroup and a trip to Vegas with her besties, including Eli Howard, her best friend’s brother, is in the plans. He’s an up and coming chef, who was going to cater the wedding, and they all feel they need a guy to protect them in Vegas.
Eli is not that upset about the cancelled wedding. He has known Marlee since childhood and is very protective of her. Eli also wants to make sure these ladies are well taken care off, and who better to do it but him.
After a night of too many shots and partying all night, Eli wakes up in his hotel room with Marlee next to him. However, that’s not all, he’s now married to her. Taking a trip to the courthouse, the judge decides that their story of too much drinking, is not valid enough for an annulment.
Now they need to return home and figure out how to get out of this mess. The thing is, Eli is not upset about them being married. What to do?
Since her ex-fiancé won’t move out of their apartment, Marlee moves in with Eli. What starts out as friends all of a sudden turns into so much more.
This story was not only fun to read, but oh so sexy!
I received a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was another lighthearted addition to Mile High Matched.
Eli and Marlee did not anticipate an accidental marriage, after she was dumped by her fiance. They interacted with such ease. It was interesting the way they just seemed to be together so comfortably.
Eli was protective of all of Sadie’s (his sister) friends, but there was that underlying attraction to Marlee that I think he didn’t want to acknowledge. Eli brought out his sexy side with Marlee.
I liked both Eli and Marlee’s characters. They were such opposites, but complimented each other. Eli was a good guy. Kind, generous, always taking care of everyone. Marlee had such a fun personality. Marlee also learned who she could truly count on as friends. With Babushka added into the mix, this book couldn’t help but have a series of funny moments.
This was a fast paced, humorous, sexy, romantic comedy. I think all of the couples are matched now. Dean & Claire, Brek & Velma, Jase & Heather, and now Eli & Marlee. Will the series end, or will Sadie end up with a story?
I’m not sure how a book that starts with our heroine getting dumped two days before her wedding turned out to be so funny and lighthearted, but this book is just that. I loved the last book in the series, so I knew I was going to be in for plenty of laughs with this one, but it exceeded my expectations by having so much heart mixed in. The story follows Marlee, a woman who has been with the same guy for the last ten years. When he calls off their wedding in the final hours, she knows she should be devastated, but she can only feel relieved. Somewhere along the way they fell out of love, and she’s been living a lonely life while coupled up. Her friends take her on a trip to Vegas to lift her spirits, and her best friend’s brother, Eli, accompanies them because he’s always been the one to bail them out when they get into trouble. Fast forward to the next morning, and Marlee finds herself a married woman… just not to the groom she originally intended. What follows is the story of how these two deal with the fallout from their drunken wedding.
This book could easily have felt like a total downer, but the author’s writing makes the pages fly by and put a smile on my face for much of the book. Eli may be a bit of a commitment-phobe, but he’s known Marlee for years and their relationship doesn’t feel new. He’s a great guy who just wanted to focus on himself for a change, and now he finds himself married to a woman he likes and respects. I absolutely loved the courtroom scene – Hovland made some smart word choices here, leading to a hysterical predicament for our couple. While this can definitely be read as a standalone, characters new and old make appearances that enhance the story. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve loved getting to know these characters and look forward to the next couple.
Somehow this little gem got lost in my kindle AND the email from InkSlinger PR got lost in my spam box. I’m so glad I found both and read it this weekend.
Better late than never, though I DO apologize for the delay!
Marlee and Eli were awesome! This book made me laugh then cry before making me laugh some more. Plus we got more Babushka!!
Most of us have been through the death of a relationship, and Marlee’s was a DOOZY! Lucky for her that Eli was there to help her pick up the pieces and start over… eeven if they ran into some bumps along the way.
Definitely a book and a series (The Mile High Matched Series) not to be missed.
/5
Take It Off the Menu is the third book in the Mile High Club. It can be read as a standalone, as I haven’t read the other book in this series, and I had no problem getting into this story. I enjoyed this story, it was fun, steamy, romantic. What do you do when your jilted two days befor your wedding? Well you grab your girlfriends and head to Vegas of course. What could go wrong? You wake up married to your bestfriends brother. I liked Eli and Marlee together. Secondary characters one liners made me laugh out loud. This is the first book I have read from this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her stories.
This is the second book I have read by Christina Hovland and both are freakin’ awesome. These fun, sweetly romantic, sexy stories are pure pleasure. In Take It Off The Menu, Eli and Marlee have some major chemistry going on as they try to figure things out after their drunk (but not that drunk) Vegas wedding. Marlee feels like she lost her family and her friends to her jerk of an ex after he dumped her, and her besties all live out of the area, but not to worry as Eli comes with some great friends that take her into their hearts, who also happen to be characters from previous books in the series. Eli and Marlee’s story is a delightful read guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I loved it.
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance reader copy of this book.
Loved to read about Eli, down to earth and nice guy, and his mistake…
Marlee made me laugh several times but I still love her, too.
Sweet story about two seemingly opposites but with love in the air, they are totally made for each other.
Recommendation for this five star story, Christina made it so, so enjoyable….
Waiting for next one…
Marlee is dumped days before her wedding. The relationship had grown stale but Marlee was convinced it’d pick back up right after the wedding. Needing to get away from the madness she and her close girlfriends head to Vegas for a weekend.
Eli is an up and coming chef and was supposed to be catering Marlee’s wedding. Now with time on his hands he finds himself watching after his sister and her best friends in Vegas, Marlee being one of those friends.
Trying to prove a point that Eli is afraid of marriage and that Marlee too, can overcome this hurdle; they get fake married. Only when they wake up the next morning, in bed together, it’s not so fake.
Determined to get a quick annulment they hit a speed bump. Having to wait out all the legalities, Eli and Marlee become closer and closer.
Will they want to remain divorced when this is over? Definitely one click to find out.