American lass seeks brawny Scot…
As if being newly single isn’t brutal enough, Sloane Chatfield’s friends are getting obnoxious about setting her up. When Sloane insists she’s waiting for a certain sexy fictional Highlander to come along, her friends surprise her with a trip to Scotland to find her a new boyfriend. She’d rather have a root canal. But if she can find a Highland hunk to “break … Highland hunk to “break her heart” before her friends arrive…
In a remote Highland village, Galen Buchanan is struggling to keep the family pub afloat. Everything is falling apart, he’s running out of money, and now there’s an opinionated American lass parked at his best table, driving him mad. But then Sloane asks Galen to be her pretend Highland boyfriend… and offers him enough money to save the pub. It’s only for a few days, he figures. What’s the worst that could happen?
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I love Julia London and I’ll definitely be reading through the rest of this series. Sloan is in need of a way to shake her friends’ concerns about her recent dumping… enter the fake boyfriend, Galen. This story is well constructed, and the characters will tug on your heartstrings right up until the end.
Sloane goes into Galen’s pub daily. He has the best WI-FI and cell service. The only way she can stay in touch with her life in the States. She tells him her ideas to improve his pub while she is there. He very much hates that she has all these ideas. He is annoyed by these daily conversations.
Galen is trying to make it work. He has the pub that was his Grandfather’s. His family gives him little to no help and thinks he is crazy for trying. He left his job as a solicitor to make this happen. Now he has a crazy American woman offering him a deal.
This story was so fun to read. There was a lot of humor. I enjoyed the banter, and the heat was literally of the charts HOT! I found myself rooting for this couple early on. They really were the perfect set of opposites attract.
***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.
Great palate cleanser between heavy books!
The characters were loveable and the story was original. Gave every girl hope for a prince charming to come along after a true frog. And nothing can ever beat a story set in Ireland with a gorgeous Scottish man to fall for.
I loved this book. A truly “feel good” story. Loved the characters!
I like the characters. The situation is a bit of a stretch, but really loved the writing and the depth of the characters.
I loved this story!! The characters were perfectly imperfect, with weaknesses and all to make them likeable. Definitely would read this again!!
3.5 STARS
Adult, Contemporary Romance
Third person; dual-POV
Book #1 of the How to Marry a Highlander Series
“My girlfriends cook. They can dig a ditch and they donna fear getting dirty. They donna worry about fingernails and hair. My girlfriends desire only to please me.”
“Well, that certainly answers the mystery of why you don’t have one.”
by Galen & Sloane
WHAT HAS REALLY WORKED FOR ME
Addictiveness: 3.5/5 I struggle a bit with the pace at the beginning, but about 30% on my kindle the story started to hook me and kept me wondering until the end.
Cover: art 4/5, title 4/5, color-font 3/5, buy 3.5/5 I’m obsessed with book covers. I love to find snippets of the stories within the art. I don’t find this art work gorgeous, but it doesn’t feel generic. I can see the couple (red hair guy with the blond girl), and I can see he is Scot by wearing a kilt. The title fits the story and the subtitle also gives hints to the story. I don’t really like the all white background and the font with all the writing is a bit confusing. I would probably buy this book, but I would need to read the blurb.
Freshness: 3.5/5 This book is not unique, but it has enough creativity to hook the reader from most part of the story.
Plot: believable 3/5, conflict 4/5, dialogue 3/5, ending 5/5, enjoyment 3.5/5, opening 3/5, pace 3.5/5, setting 5/5, subplots 3.5/5, twists 4/5 Not a very good opening, but with a great ending. A fun plot, with lots of LOL moments. Dialogues were good and the pace was ok. I’ve really liked the subplots and the twists added quality to the story. I’ve enjoy this reading. Good level of satisfaction!!!
Romance: believable 3/5, chemistry 3.5/5, description 4/5, development 4/5, steam 4/5 This was insta-love but the romance was good. There was good smut permeated with good love growth. The chemistry was believable and the romance was interesting. Playful Love
Writing Style: 3.5/5 I’ve enjoyed the setting and the concept of the plot. I’m curious enough to want to read Sloane friends’ stories. I will read the series!
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
Character: hero 3.5/5, heroine 4/5, secondary characters 4/5, growth 4/5, real 2/5 Both hero and heroine were ok. Did I love them? Not really. But they presented personal growth throughout the book.
Galen was a jerk at the beginning, it really took me a while to like him. He also had a huge complex about Scots versus Americans. He evolved throughout the story and at the end I liked him and understood why Sloane was in love. (I mean, the kilt really helped, but sorry, he was no Jamie)
Sloane was a bit of a pain at the beginning, but I really liked the turn she took throughout the story. She was in Scotland to discover herself and she really proved to be a fighter.
I like Sloane with her friends and I’m looking forward to read their books.
The villains… ok, they are not villains, more the antagonists… not really major antagonists, I believe the couple fears were their biggest hurdle.
They had good personal growth even though IMO, they were hard to love and connect . I did understand them!
MY THOUGHTS
I’ve enjoyed the concept of the book and I am looking forward to read the series.
I love small town settings and this tiny village in Scotland sounds beautiful and exotic.
Usually, I’m a character reader, so I’ve missed a connection with the characters.
If I only could choose one thing to say about this series: wonderful setting!!!
25.5/35 STARS – 3.5STARS (between 24.5 stars and 27.5 stars)
Addictiveness: 3.5 Character: 3.5 Cover: 4 Freshness: 3.5 Plot: 3.5 Romance: 4 Writing Style: 3.5
Action 0/5
Angst 0/5
Darkness 0/5
Humor 4/5
Romance 5/5
Suspense/Mystery 0/5
Would I recommend? Sure. For anyone that enjoys a fun romance in exotic lands.
Would I re-read this book/series? I don’t know. I will follow the series, but I don’t think I would re-read the book.
Would I read more from the author? I would like to read the series.
You MAY read this because you like small town romance; you SHOULD read this because you enjoy men wearing kilt; you MUST read this for some fun, sexy time!!!
After a painful breakup just months before what was to be her wedding, Sloane Chatfield is trying to adjust to single life. Her friends mean well but their efforts to set her up with someone new have become too much. Sloane tells them she’s waiting for the perfect Highlander, like the heroes in her favorite books. This turns into a full-blown trip to Scotland. Sloane arrives before her friends, intent on finding the perfect Highlander and staging a breakup before her friends arrive so she can finally get them off her back.
Galen Buchanan is struggling to save his grandfather’s old pub in his remote Highland village. Things aren’t going well, he’s nearly decimated his savings, and now there’s a loud-mouthed American using his best table each day, hogging the Wi-Fi, and unnerving the regulars. But when she asks Galen to pretend to be her boyfriend and offers enough money to save the pub, he reluctantly acquiesces thinking he can surely make it work for a week or so.
This was a cute setup and I could definitely see it as a romcom movie. As a book though I think we got too much of Sloane’s inner thoughts for her to be likable. Her poor little rich girl persona was not endearing to me, especially when she tried to belittle and judge Galen when he was the only one with an actual understanding of business agreements and she had almost no practical knowledge. Galen was charming in his own quirky, strong, silent way, but I don’t think we got to know him as much and I would’ve liked more background on him and why he was gun shy about relationships. Sloane’s snobby friends were insufferable, overbearing busybodies and I wanted her to stand up to them more. The final chapter or so of this book was adorable and had me rooting for the couple, but the rest was a bit of a slog. Overall, this was a cute premise but I doubt I’ll reread.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hmm. I can’t in good conscience give this one more than 3 stars. It wasn’t bad, it was OK, it just didn’t blow me away. I liked the premise from the book and it did enjoy it. I just didn’t love it. The Perfect Bargain is entertaining and quick. If you’re looking for an afternoon read it’s OK.
This was an ok read for me. It was a quick read that had plenty of heat. Sloane and Galen were a cute couple. She fled to Scotland after her fiancé left her at the altar. She meets Galen at a pub that he owns and they don’t really hit it off at first. She offers him money as an investment to help his pub in exchange for him to be a fake boyfriend for when her friends get there. Can what starts as a fake relationship turn into something real? This story just didn’t speak to me but it may to others.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.