Can two men keep a childhood promise for marital bliss?Wyatt is overwhelmed after his grandfather dies, leaving him to take over the cattle ranch. The Triple J is floundering, vandals are targeting him, and his first and only love is finally within reach–and still holding a grudge. Wyatt has wanted to marry Diego since they made a childhood pact, but Diego isn’t back for their second chance.When … second chance.
When a funeral calls Diego back to Texas, he comes face-to-face with the cowboy who broke his heart. Resentment has burned inside him for years, but his anger wavers as he realizes just how much Wyatt is struggling to keep his head above water. The man he once loved is lonely and burdened, and Diego feels compelled to help him rediscover the strong, capable rancher he knows him to be.
Hostility gives way to passion, then friendship as they fall into a rhythm of work and sex. Wyatt has renewed hope he might wrangle the man he wants to be his groom. But Diego has a life waiting for him one thousand miles away, and love may not be enough to prevent history from repeating itself.
Wrangling a Groom is Book 2 of the Marital Bliss series, but it can be read as a standalone. It’s approximately 85,000 words.
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The author had me with hot cowboys, but toss in a second chance romance and marriage pact at age 6? Awe so sweet! Now they are 25 and will they be able to rekindle the broken hearts and honor that pact so many years ago.
The story is well written, fun, sexy and an allover good romance. There is a touch of tension and suspense.
If you like cowboys, bartenders, second chances, broken hearts, marriage pacts and hot man-sex this is for you.
Audio update…The narration was Ok. Wyatt Baker did give the story some life but I am kinda spoiled to voice actors that give each character a voice and missed that. I did like being able to listen to the story while I did chores. I have read the book and listened to it so I recommend either that suits you.
3.5 stars-
Wrangling a Groom was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The second standalone book in the Marital Bliss series, I was excited to read the story of Diego, Julien’s bartender friend who we met in the first book. The concept and plotline of Wrangling a Groom was great. I love second chance romances, especially childhood best friends turned first loves. I also really liked the idea of Wyatt righting the wrongs his grandfather’s narrow views caused and making the family ranch his own legacy. Despite having so many things going for it, including a good cast of characters and lovely setting, I never really fell for this couple or felt the emotion I was expecting given their past history and hurts.
The writing in Wrangling a Groom was smooth with a good pace, and while this is a second chance at first love story, it didn’t feel like it was rushed too much or the past was swept under the rug. That said, I still felt as though something was missing. Perhaps I was expecting more angst or heart-tugging emotion. It was there to a degree, especially as Diego and Wyatt worked through the pain of six years apart, but it never felt as strong as I expected. I also felt like the emotional connection between Wyatt and Diego was secondary to their physical chemistry. Although that made sense initially, I really wanted to feel that pull between them. I got some teases, but considering how scorching their sexy scenes were, it never translated to more depth and that all-encompassing chemistry I hope for in romances.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Diego and Wyatt’s story, I simply wasn’t as invested as I’d expect. That said, Wrangling a Groom will be a great fit for readers in the mood for a cowboy or ranching romance that’s jam-packed with heat and has a milder degree of angst.
*eARC provided by Signal Boost. Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*