What do you think?
Rate this book
Bachelor Brotherhood #1
Only You
Never say never . . .
Romance isn't an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor . . .
Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world's craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.
After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn't play by the rules . . .
Romance isn't an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor . . .
Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world's craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.
After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn't play by the rules . . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 14, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
May 15, 2016
Only You is book one in the Bachelor Brotherhood series by Denise Grover Swank. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and by the author. This series is a spin off of The Wedding Pact series but you do not need to have read it in order to enjoy this.
Holly Greenwood is a wedding planner. She has loved planning people’s weddings since she was a little girl. Working for Nicole Vandemeer was perfect for Holly. She had someone to teach her the ropes. Except that Nicole was the boss from Hell. Holly worked countless hours, only to have all the credit go to her boss. But the ultimate goal is that Holly wants to open her own business.
There is no room in her life for anything except work, her cousin/roommate, and visiting her grandmother in the nursing home where she is cared for. Her grandmother has dementia and it is progressing rapidly. That is why she can’t do anything to jeopardize her job. Her grandmother’s care costs money. But when she saw her new gorgeous neighbor, everything changed.
Kevin Vandemeer can’t believe the money pit his sister bought for him. Kevin is Megan’s brother whom we met in the first Wedding Pact book. Nicole is his mother. Neither Kevin or Holly knew they were linked by Holly’s boss and by Megan. Kevin has just finished up his enlistment in the Marines. He’s anxious to come back to his home town and start over as a civilian. Kevin’s sister picked up a fixer-upper house for Kevin to work on and to eventually flip for a profit. But when Kevin sees the house, he can hardly believe his sister spent his entire savings on THIS house. It was a mess, a money pit for sure. But then he saw his gorgeous new neighbor, and everything changed.
“He made her want to take a chance on love, but not just with anyone. She wanted to take a chance with him.”
After one mind blowing night together, Kevin and Holly know they want more. But, with misunderstandings, families, responsibilities, bosses, and so much more getting between them, can they make it work? Not to mention Holly’s cousin’s Chihuahua named Killer and an adorable gray kitten Kevin found under his steps.
This was just a wonderful, sweet, funny, sexy book. Denise Grover Swank is a favorite author of mine and I pretty much know going in that it’s going to be good. Holly and Kevin were adorable. Neither of them were looking for love. But sometimes when you least expect it, that’s when it happens. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series. Kevin has two other friends that are part of his bachelor brotherhood, Matt and Tyler. I wonder who will be the next to betray the brotherhood and to fall in love?
Holly Greenwood is a wedding planner. She has loved planning people’s weddings since she was a little girl. Working for Nicole Vandemeer was perfect for Holly. She had someone to teach her the ropes. Except that Nicole was the boss from Hell. Holly worked countless hours, only to have all the credit go to her boss. But the ultimate goal is that Holly wants to open her own business.
There is no room in her life for anything except work, her cousin/roommate, and visiting her grandmother in the nursing home where she is cared for. Her grandmother has dementia and it is progressing rapidly. That is why she can’t do anything to jeopardize her job. Her grandmother’s care costs money. But when she saw her new gorgeous neighbor, everything changed.
Kevin Vandemeer can’t believe the money pit his sister bought for him. Kevin is Megan’s brother whom we met in the first Wedding Pact book. Nicole is his mother. Neither Kevin or Holly knew they were linked by Holly’s boss and by Megan. Kevin has just finished up his enlistment in the Marines. He’s anxious to come back to his home town and start over as a civilian. Kevin’s sister picked up a fixer-upper house for Kevin to work on and to eventually flip for a profit. But when Kevin sees the house, he can hardly believe his sister spent his entire savings on THIS house. It was a mess, a money pit for sure. But then he saw his gorgeous new neighbor, and everything changed.
“He made her want to take a chance on love, but not just with anyone. She wanted to take a chance with him.”
After one mind blowing night together, Kevin and Holly know they want more. But, with misunderstandings, families, responsibilities, bosses, and so much more getting between them, can they make it work? Not to mention Holly’s cousin’s Chihuahua named Killer and an adorable gray kitten Kevin found under his steps.
This was just a wonderful, sweet, funny, sexy book. Denise Grover Swank is a favorite author of mine and I pretty much know going in that it’s going to be good. Holly and Kevin were adorable. Neither of them were looking for love. But sometimes when you least expect it, that’s when it happens. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series. Kevin has two other friends that are part of his bachelor brotherhood, Matt and Tyler. I wonder who will be the next to betray the brotherhood and to fall in love?
June 27, 2019
Surviving the freaks helps you recognise the spark.
I think anyone who knows me or knows anything about my life would see that I LOVE my hubby. He is the most important person in my life. Funny thing is, I went through a few toads to get to my Prince Charming. BUT, I actually think meeting those toads put me in a position to recognise what I wanted, what I needed and what would work best for me when I found him. We are not alike (he likes sports...weird) and have differing opinions (he thinks reading is boring...weird), but there's a spark that was ignited and lucky for us the spark turned into a flame that still glows brightly.
Kevin, Matt and Tyler are the Bachelor Brotherhood. These three blokes have had a wee bit of bad luck with the ladies lately. In their case, they’ve been meeting a few witches, freaks and psycho chickens. One night they sit down to beer and burgers and decide to stop dating/hooking up for a while. The BB decide that blue balls were better than what they’ve previously had and are starting to question their judgement in picking women. What they previously thought was a spark in their relationships, turned out to be a ticking time bomb.
In Only You we meet Bachelor #1 – Kevin Vandemeer, a former marine and survivor of the circus freak (you’ll have to read it, to find out that hilarious story). Kevin has come home to be closer to his family and friends after serving his last tour. He is craving normalcy and decides to get his sister, Megan, to find him a flick-and-trick home to live in while he does it up. Lucky for Kevin, his mate Matt, offers him a job running the accounting side of his construction company.
Kevin thinks he has all his ducks lined up in a row UNTIL he sees the great investment Megan has found for him. It’s a complete DUMP. Hardly even livable. What was she thinking? He’s OK as a handyman, but definitely not up to the standard needed for this mess. Megan seems a little cagey on why she chose this particular house. Kevin gives her the benefit of the doubt purely because Megan's pregnant and hormonal and doesn’t want to deal with that on top of his other worries. There is one positive to the rundown house, his very cute neighbour.
Holly Greenwood has a lot on her plate. She’s a wedding planner with a dragon of a boss. Holly is biding her time, getting experience and trying to learn as much as she can from her boss Nicole. One of the main reasons she is biding her time and biting her tongue is because the pay is good and allows Holly to pay for her Grandma's special care in a nursing home. Holly and her cousin Melanie have lived with their Grandma since they were little. Grandad had died of a heart attack and then one year later, both of their parents were killed in a car accident which left the three of them the only surviving family. With the loss Holly has suffered she finds it hard to have relationships. No guy has made her feel anything close to love…UNTIL…she meets her new and very cute neighbour.
Holly and Kevin are really attracted to each other. They fight the feelings they have because they are wary of starting something that they think will be doomed. One night of passion at first makes them think that this was the spark they’ve been looking for. Unfortunately, their spark flickers and fizzles. Will their fire ever get the chance to start?
I really enjoyed Only You. It was sweet, a little corny and funny. I was reading early this morning before hubby woke up and trying not to bust a gut laughing. I even had to put my kindle down for a minute so I could cover my mouth to try and muffle the sound. There’s this chick Bethany…absolute space cadet (another story you'll have to get the book to find out more). I didn’t particularly like Nicole (boss) or Melanie (cousin). I don’t think either of them was looking out for Holly’s best interests. There are a couple of sexy scenes but it's not kinky or OTT. We get enough though to see their attraction and feel their connection. This was a little insta-love and the ending was very unrealistic, but it’s a love story and anything can happen when you find true love’s spark.
I'd definitely consider reading more from this author.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
I think anyone who knows me or knows anything about my life would see that I LOVE my hubby. He is the most important person in my life. Funny thing is, I went through a few toads to get to my Prince Charming. BUT, I actually think meeting those toads put me in a position to recognise what I wanted, what I needed and what would work best for me when I found him. We are not alike (he likes sports...weird) and have differing opinions (he thinks reading is boring...weird), but there's a spark that was ignited and lucky for us the spark turned into a flame that still glows brightly.
Kevin, Matt and Tyler are the Bachelor Brotherhood. These three blokes have had a wee bit of bad luck with the ladies lately. In their case, they’ve been meeting a few witches, freaks and psycho chickens. One night they sit down to beer and burgers and decide to stop dating/hooking up for a while. The BB decide that blue balls were better than what they’ve previously had and are starting to question their judgement in picking women. What they previously thought was a spark in their relationships, turned out to be a ticking time bomb.
In Only You we meet Bachelor #1 – Kevin Vandemeer, a former marine and survivor of the circus freak (you’ll have to read it, to find out that hilarious story). Kevin has come home to be closer to his family and friends after serving his last tour. He is craving normalcy and decides to get his sister, Megan, to find him a flick-and-trick home to live in while he does it up. Lucky for Kevin, his mate Matt, offers him a job running the accounting side of his construction company.
Kevin thinks he has all his ducks lined up in a row UNTIL he sees the great investment Megan has found for him. It’s a complete DUMP. Hardly even livable. What was she thinking? He’s OK as a handyman, but definitely not up to the standard needed for this mess. Megan seems a little cagey on why she chose this particular house. Kevin gives her the benefit of the doubt purely because Megan's pregnant and hormonal and doesn’t want to deal with that on top of his other worries. There is one positive to the rundown house, his very cute neighbour.
Holly Greenwood has a lot on her plate. She’s a wedding planner with a dragon of a boss. Holly is biding her time, getting experience and trying to learn as much as she can from her boss Nicole. One of the main reasons she is biding her time and biting her tongue is because the pay is good and allows Holly to pay for her Grandma's special care in a nursing home. Holly and her cousin Melanie have lived with their Grandma since they were little. Grandad had died of a heart attack and then one year later, both of their parents were killed in a car accident which left the three of them the only surviving family. With the loss Holly has suffered she finds it hard to have relationships. No guy has made her feel anything close to love…UNTIL…she meets her new and very cute neighbour.
Holly and Kevin are really attracted to each other. They fight the feelings they have because they are wary of starting something that they think will be doomed. One night of passion at first makes them think that this was the spark they’ve been looking for. Unfortunately, their spark flickers and fizzles. Will their fire ever get the chance to start?
I really enjoyed Only You. It was sweet, a little corny and funny. I was reading early this morning before hubby woke up and trying not to bust a gut laughing. I even had to put my kindle down for a minute so I could cover my mouth to try and muffle the sound. There’s this chick Bethany…absolute space cadet (another story you'll have to get the book to find out more). I didn’t particularly like Nicole (boss) or Melanie (cousin). I don’t think either of them was looking out for Holly’s best interests. There are a couple of sexy scenes but it's not kinky or OTT. We get enough though to see their attraction and feel their connection. This was a little insta-love and the ending was very unrealistic, but it’s a love story and anything can happen when you find true love’s spark.
I'd definitely consider reading more from this author.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
June 29, 2016
3 Getting What You Want Stars
* * *
What do you do when you work for the reincarnation of the "Devil Wears Prada" of Wedding Planning... why you suck it up due to family needs and loving obligations. You also want to learn from the master so that when you open your own event company, you will be the success you desire.
Add an ex marine as your new hot neighbor who is redoing the house and it is a recipe for sparks to fly. A cute romance story with some built in interest from the past series.
A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * *
What do you do when you work for the reincarnation of the "Devil Wears Prada" of Wedding Planning... why you suck it up due to family needs and loving obligations. You also want to learn from the master so that when you open your own event company, you will be the success you desire.
Add an ex marine as your new hot neighbor who is redoing the house and it is a recipe for sparks to fly. A cute romance story with some built in interest from the past series.
A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 18, 2016
Started off real good. Cute and funny plus the two main characters have this great chemistry going on. Unfortunately, it started fizzling out the moment the Holly and Kevin hooked up.
Now that's usually a good thing but it didn't work in this instance because the conflict that followed was weak and was basically caused by meddling people around them. What's even worse was that instead of fighting these people, the two of them basically allowed themselves to be manipulated and pushed around even when they should know better. Really, meddling parents, best friend, family only works when the characters are in high school or college. A time when you're basically dependent on other people. But these characters are in their early 30s. It's not a good look.
Anyway, there were some cute moments but it was outweighed by how much the secondary characters annoyed me.
But don't let my review discourage you though. This is my personal opinion and what didn't work for me might work for others.
ARC provided by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
Now that's usually a good thing but it didn't work in this instance because the conflict that followed was weak and was basically caused by meddling people around them. What's even worse was that instead of fighting these people, the two of them basically allowed themselves to be manipulated and pushed around even when they should know better. Really, meddling parents, best friend, family only works when the characters are in high school or college. A time when you're basically dependent on other people. But these characters are in their early 30s. It's not a good look.
Anyway, there were some cute moments but it was outweighed by how much the secondary characters annoyed me.
But don't let my review discourage you though. This is my personal opinion and what didn't work for me might work for others.
ARC provided by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2016
NOW LIVE
*Amazon*B&N*Kobo*
Only You was a cute story and a pretty light read. I easily immersed myself into this story and the lives of these characters. It made me smile while reading, laugh some, and even swoon over Kevin and Holly's relationship.
The first half of the book was very intriguing, so when the second half seemed to loose it's momentum I was disappointed. There was nothing majorly wrong with the ending, just the fact that it lost my interest. The story seemed to start slowly dying down until it got to the point nothing interesting was happening.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and I liked seeing Kevin and Holly together. I wish there was a little more in the second half, but I still count this book as a win. I definitely recommend it for anyone that's looking for an easy and sweet read.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon*B&N*Kobo*
Only You was a cute story and a pretty light read. I easily immersed myself into this story and the lives of these characters. It made me smile while reading, laugh some, and even swoon over Kevin and Holly's relationship.
The first half of the book was very intriguing, so when the second half seemed to loose it's momentum I was disappointed. There was nothing majorly wrong with the ending, just the fact that it lost my interest. The story seemed to start slowly dying down until it got to the point nothing interesting was happening.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and I liked seeing Kevin and Holly together. I wish there was a little more in the second half, but I still count this book as a win. I definitely recommend it for anyone that's looking for an easy and sweet read.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2017
I loved this! Holly and Kevin were such likable characters and I absolutely loved them together. Though everything happened very fast, I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress. With a large focus on family and a few zany characters this reminded me a lot of a Kristan Higgins book, who is my favorite Romance author. I realized that I have a couple of this author's books that I've never read before and I am remedying that right away.
May 15, 2016
2.5 stars
I'm always looking for some sweet sorbet to read and this one sounded perfect.
I liked Holly and Kevin well enough. They're both good people. They're loyal to their friends and family. I liked their playfulness together and the small pockets of banter.
I struggled with the push and pull between them. I didn't feel like enough of a connection was shown to have Kevin believe Holly was the one he wanted to marry when they had only talked 4 times for about 30 seconds each time. There were other pieces of the plot that felt forced to me as well.
Overall, it had potential in the characters, but fell flat with the execution. Judging from the reviews that are already here, I'm in the minority.
**Huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I'm always looking for some sweet sorbet to read and this one sounded perfect.
I liked Holly and Kevin well enough. They're both good people. They're loyal to their friends and family. I liked their playfulness together and the small pockets of banter.
I struggled with the push and pull between them. I didn't feel like enough of a connection was shown to have Kevin believe Holly was the one he wanted to marry when they had only talked 4 times for about 30 seconds each time. There were other pieces of the plot that felt forced to me as well.
Overall, it had potential in the characters, but fell flat with the execution. Judging from the reviews that are already here, I'm in the minority.
**Huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
June 15, 2016
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Only You has a lot of humor, flirty dialogues and characters who think they should stay far away from anything that resembles love...
Romantic comedy at is finest - Only You fits the bill, for sure. Between the whirlwind romance, the reluctant couple, the dragon-lady mother-in-law from hell and the fact that Holly didn't really trust anyone, everything seemed to indicate that there were too many obstacles in the way of happiness for Kevin and Holly. While there is a lot of fun and lightness in Only You, there are some more serious themes explored as well. Like the fact that Holly's parents were killed in a car accident when she was only five. Or how her grandmother, who raised her and her cousin Melanie has dementia and lives in a home for senior people with health problems.
And Kevin has seen his share of difficult situations, home from several tours overseas in the army, he just wants to have a nice, quiet life in his hometown. Close to his sister and friends, and - unfortunately - also close to his meddling mother. Next-door romances with mature characters always work well for me, and Only You was a sweet, quick read that hit the right spot. I kind of do wish there had been a little more exploration of Melanie's bitchiness, though, even if I suspect she will show up in a future Bachelor Brotherhood story very soon.
Only you is the kind of story you can read either at home or at the beach. You'll have some great laughs, some nice romantic moments, and even a few toe-curling hotness times. Written in third person point of view, past tense, from both Kevin's and Holly's perspective, the story is evenly paced, and moves forward nicely. Covering one month, the romance was fast, but still managed to make me believe in its potential.
Her face burned at the thought of their mouths touching the same utensil. Her eyes shifted to his mouth and she suddenly wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Would he hold her tightly to his chest like he had moments ago? Oh, my God. she had just turned into every clichéd woman she'd made fun of since high school.
"It was a long drive from San Diego, Mom. I wanted to be fresh when I saw you."
"Fresh? I saw you covered in slime when you came from my body. How could anything be less fresh than that?"
"Mom. That definitely falls under TMI." He was going to be traumatized by that mental image for weeks to come.
"Love is a very precious gift, Holly. Some people are fickle, falling in and out of love. But that's not really love." She waved her free hand back and forth. "But once you find real love, something so deep it sinks to your toes, a love that fills you so completely it makes you a better person than you were without him - once you find that love, don't let it go."
Only You has a lot of humor, flirty dialogues and characters who think they should stay far away from anything that resembles love...
Romantic comedy at is finest - Only You fits the bill, for sure. Between the whirlwind romance, the reluctant couple, the dragon-lady mother-in-law from hell and the fact that Holly didn't really trust anyone, everything seemed to indicate that there were too many obstacles in the way of happiness for Kevin and Holly. While there is a lot of fun and lightness in Only You, there are some more serious themes explored as well. Like the fact that Holly's parents were killed in a car accident when she was only five. Or how her grandmother, who raised her and her cousin Melanie has dementia and lives in a home for senior people with health problems.
And Kevin has seen his share of difficult situations, home from several tours overseas in the army, he just wants to have a nice, quiet life in his hometown. Close to his sister and friends, and - unfortunately - also close to his meddling mother. Next-door romances with mature characters always work well for me, and Only You was a sweet, quick read that hit the right spot. I kind of do wish there had been a little more exploration of Melanie's bitchiness, though, even if I suspect she will show up in a future Bachelor Brotherhood story very soon.
Only you is the kind of story you can read either at home or at the beach. You'll have some great laughs, some nice romantic moments, and even a few toe-curling hotness times. Written in third person point of view, past tense, from both Kevin's and Holly's perspective, the story is evenly paced, and moves forward nicely. Covering one month, the romance was fast, but still managed to make me believe in its potential.
Her face burned at the thought of their mouths touching the same utensil. Her eyes shifted to his mouth and she suddenly wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Would he hold her tightly to his chest like he had moments ago? Oh, my God. she had just turned into every clichéd woman she'd made fun of since high school.
"It was a long drive from San Diego, Mom. I wanted to be fresh when I saw you."
"Fresh? I saw you covered in slime when you came from my body. How could anything be less fresh than that?"
"Mom. That definitely falls under TMI." He was going to be traumatized by that mental image for weeks to come.
"Love is a very precious gift, Holly. Some people are fickle, falling in and out of love. But that's not really love." She waved her free hand back and forth. "But once you find real love, something so deep it sinks to your toes, a love that fills you so completely it makes you a better person than you were without him - once you find that love, don't let it go."
May 14, 2016
I've read a few wedding planner romances lately and Only You is by far my favorite. The writing was so good! I hadn't read any of Grover Swank's Wedding Pact novels, so I didn't know any of the characters to start this new Bachelor Brotherhood spin-off. That didn't matter, though. It was easily read as a standalone novel.
In Only You, Kevin has returned home to start his life over again. He's got a new job working for his best friend, a new fixer-upper house and he's sworn off all women. It's a promise he can't keep after meeting his adorably sexy neighbor, Holly.
Holly's working her butt off working for a wedding planner trying to save up enough money to start her own wedding planning business. She hates her boss, but the job keeps her aging grandma in special home and is increasing her savings. She's not going to let anything get the way of her plans -- not even her attraction to her new, sexy neighbor Kevin.
Kevin and Holly have every intention of staying away from each other, but it's only time before they can no longer deny their attraction.
From the moment they met, I knew Kevin and Holly's love story was going to be so much fun to watch unfold. I loved their instant attraction and the effects it had on them. Kevin might have been reluctant to fall for Holly because of his past experiences with women, but once he set his sights on her he wasn't going to take no for answer. Holly wasn't as sure as Kevin. She had so much riding on the success of her work that she didn't think love was in the cards for a relationship with Kevin. She need him to relentlessly pursue her and prove they were worth it.
My favorite thing about Only You was how funny it was. I can't count how many times it had me laughing out loud. All of the characters were hilarious. I especially loved Bethany. Oh my. That girl was missing a few brain cells!
I loved Only You. It made me smile so much! I would recommend it to romance readers who enjoy a funny and sweet contemporary romance with a happy ending. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and checking out the author's previous novels.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
In Only You, Kevin has returned home to start his life over again. He's got a new job working for his best friend, a new fixer-upper house and he's sworn off all women. It's a promise he can't keep after meeting his adorably sexy neighbor, Holly.
Holly's working her butt off working for a wedding planner trying to save up enough money to start her own wedding planning business. She hates her boss, but the job keeps her aging grandma in special home and is increasing her savings. She's not going to let anything get the way of her plans -- not even her attraction to her new, sexy neighbor Kevin.
Kevin and Holly have every intention of staying away from each other, but it's only time before they can no longer deny their attraction.
From the moment they met, I knew Kevin and Holly's love story was going to be so much fun to watch unfold. I loved their instant attraction and the effects it had on them. Kevin might have been reluctant to fall for Holly because of his past experiences with women, but once he set his sights on her he wasn't going to take no for answer. Holly wasn't as sure as Kevin. She had so much riding on the success of her work that she didn't think love was in the cards for a relationship with Kevin. She need him to relentlessly pursue her and prove they were worth it.
My favorite thing about Only You was how funny it was. I can't count how many times it had me laughing out loud. All of the characters were hilarious. I especially loved Bethany. Oh my. That girl was missing a few brain cells!
I loved Only You. It made me smile so much! I would recommend it to romance readers who enjoy a funny and sweet contemporary romance with a happy ending. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and checking out the author's previous novels.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 15, 2016
Swank has created a fun and real romance with this novel that romance lovers from all walks of life will enjoy. I enjoyed the intricate world building that flowed naturally with the romantic yet meddling plot that Swank pens. The flow of her writing suits the characters perfectly, allowing the plot to flow naturally. It did have a bit of a comedy of errors feel at times which made the entire story even more fun.
I’ll admit that I was expecting a bit of a formulaic tale based on the burb of this novel. But I was pleasantly surprised when it definitely blew me away. This was an original and at times comical tale that had me laughing and loving long with the characters. That said, it did take me a bit to get fully invested in this novel, but once all of the characters were on the same page, I couldn’t put it down.
Swank has created main characters that I loved getting to know, and allows readers to get to know them within the context of their everyday lives. The interactions between the main characters were so blatantly real that I couldn’t help but envy them. I also couldn’t help but laugh when they finally realized their connection to one another. Talk about degrees of separation. There is actually a great deal of character development throughout this novel, and it doesn’t stop with the main characters. Kevin’s mom was so over the top throughout. She really stood out without overshadowing the main characters.
This new to me author is one that I’ll definitely be watching for in the future.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll admit that I was expecting a bit of a formulaic tale based on the burb of this novel. But I was pleasantly surprised when it definitely blew me away. This was an original and at times comical tale that had me laughing and loving long with the characters. That said, it did take me a bit to get fully invested in this novel, but once all of the characters were on the same page, I couldn’t put it down.
Swank has created main characters that I loved getting to know, and allows readers to get to know them within the context of their everyday lives. The interactions between the main characters were so blatantly real that I couldn’t help but envy them. I also couldn’t help but laugh when they finally realized their connection to one another. Talk about degrees of separation. There is actually a great deal of character development throughout this novel, and it doesn’t stop with the main characters. Kevin’s mom was so over the top throughout. She really stood out without overshadowing the main characters.
This new to me author is one that I’ll definitely be watching for in the future.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2016
This is the first book I've read by Denise Grover Swank and I've already bought more of her books! I can honestly say that I liked all of the characters even Nicole, who at times was a bit difficult to take. Nicole's antics just made me laugh, of course I would have totally felt differently if she were my boss or heaven forbid, my mother! Right from the very beginning this story drew me in as Kevin sees the dump of a house his sister bought for him. Little does Kevin know that his sister is also trying to play matchmaker with the neighbor. While Holly is just someone you want to get her happy ending considering the rough start in life she had. Overall, I thought this was a great romance with endearing characters.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2018
Pretty standard stuff here. The narration by Loretta Rawlins was good but I found myself being pulled out of the story several times, thinking 'that should have been phrased differently. If this character had been a person it would have sounded like . . . ' That's never good when you're listening to an audiobook because it interrupts the flow.
Otherwise it was cute. A little farfetched and the main character waffling overmuch, but it worked out in the end. The ending was really sweet. Totally unrealistic but totally entertaining.
Otherwise it was cute. A little farfetched and the main character waffling overmuch, but it worked out in the end. The ending was really sweet. Totally unrealistic but totally entertaining.
August 17, 2017
Lovely story about two people falling in love... weddings, a house in need of a lot of TLC, a mother and boss with a stick up her you know what.... two sisters looking out for their siblings.... naked yoga...
The narrators did a good job.
The story is sweet and funny... true love finding you when you don't won't it but need it the most.!
The narrators did a good job.
The story is sweet and funny... true love finding you when you don't won't it but need it the most.!
June 15, 2017
This is a cute funny story that opens up with Ex- Marine Kevin Vandemeer coming home only to fine that his sister found him the most god awful, run down, you can fix it up and flip it home in the city. Looking for peace and quiet, he is now looking at who knows what. But his sister says it’s a steal. He is thinking he got taken to the cleaners and wants to know how much she made off this deal with his money while he was out fighting which right now is better than what he is looking at. That is until he sees the neighbor come home. She is Holly Greenwood who is a wedding planner and right now that is not looking very promising. Being a wedding planner is all she has ever wanted to be and she needs to stay focused on that and not on the new guy next door. But like any good neighbor she takes him homemade cookies as a welcome present only to have her foot go through the front porch and lose her shoe in the process. Things go back and forth until one night when they decide to spend the night together and now neither can get the other one out of their head. That is until she finds out the she has been working for Kevin’s mom all along and when his mother finds out that she is dating her son Holly does not match up. That is until Kevin finds out and gives his two cent and this all comes out at a party which adds to the celebration. Now can it all be fixed? Read this fun story and find out. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
June 14, 2016
I haven't had the pleasure of reading anything by Denise Grover Swank before now, but with this introduction to her writing I'll definitely be remedying that immediately. ONLY YOU is sweet, cute and funny. I enjoyed it so much because it had me laughing right from the beginning and it kept me engrossed all the way to the end!
Holly Greenwood loves to put a smile on the faces of brides by giving them the weddings of their dreams, but she's not holding out hope of walking down the aisle anytime soon. First, she would have to fall in love and that is a long shot as well. For now, she's pouring her emotions into planning weddings and getting enough experience to set up her own event planning company. Until the most attractive and captivating man moves in next door and she finds herself acting way out of character. After a hot and steamy night together, a series of misunderstandings and the revelation that he is her boss's son means that Holly must keep their relationship platonic to avoid losing her job.
Kevin Vandemeer just wants to relax in his new home and enjoy some normalcy, except the new house can only be charitably described as a rat trap and his next door neighbor may be a little crazy. Well, Kevin has dated his fair share of crazy women so he knows just what to look out for. Or does he? His pact with his two friends to remain woman-free, while reasonable in theory is actual a nonstarter in reality because he lasts only about twenty-four hours before ending up in bed with his neighbor. Even though he wants more from her, she is not willing to risk her career on what could be nothing and it's Kevin's job to convince her that taking a chance on him could be the best thing that ever happened to her.
I enjoyed pretty much every character in this book except the boss from hell, but even her issues made sense in the end. Holly is a charming mix of worldly and innocent, vulnerable and strong, and also very sweet and Kevin is a really good guy. I loved his relationship with his sister as well as his interactions with his friends. With an interesting mix of secondary characters and really great dialogue, the entire story was delightful and enjoyable and lighthearted and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun summer read.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
Holly Greenwood loves to put a smile on the faces of brides by giving them the weddings of their dreams, but she's not holding out hope of walking down the aisle anytime soon. First, she would have to fall in love and that is a long shot as well. For now, she's pouring her emotions into planning weddings and getting enough experience to set up her own event planning company. Until the most attractive and captivating man moves in next door and she finds herself acting way out of character. After a hot and steamy night together, a series of misunderstandings and the revelation that he is her boss's son means that Holly must keep their relationship platonic to avoid losing her job.
Kevin Vandemeer just wants to relax in his new home and enjoy some normalcy, except the new house can only be charitably described as a rat trap and his next door neighbor may be a little crazy. Well, Kevin has dated his fair share of crazy women so he knows just what to look out for. Or does he? His pact with his two friends to remain woman-free, while reasonable in theory is actual a nonstarter in reality because he lasts only about twenty-four hours before ending up in bed with his neighbor. Even though he wants more from her, she is not willing to risk her career on what could be nothing and it's Kevin's job to convince her that taking a chance on him could be the best thing that ever happened to her.
I enjoyed pretty much every character in this book except the boss from hell, but even her issues made sense in the end. Holly is a charming mix of worldly and innocent, vulnerable and strong, and also very sweet and Kevin is a really good guy. I loved his relationship with his sister as well as his interactions with his friends. With an interesting mix of secondary characters and really great dialogue, the entire story was delightful and enjoyable and lighthearted and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun summer read.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
June 19, 2016
After I finished Only You, I had one question ... why have I not read this author before?!? Apparently, it's because I'm a bumbling idiot. Denise Grover Swank is now on my list of 'Always Read' authors that I've been working on for the last decade.
I really just loved every single little thing about this book. I thought that Kevin and Holly were beautifully created. I found myself immediately enamored with both of them and I don't know if I could say which was my favorite because they are pretty much tied. Holly was just the right amount of sweet and innocent and spunky while Kevin was proud and devoted and had just the right amount of mommy-issues to make him perfect.
There were some absolutely adorable exchanges between Kevin and Holly that were sweet and funny. I was grinning like a fool in some spots. From the very first page until the last, I found myself completely swept up in this story. I was able to lose myself within the pages for a few hours as I was sitting by the pool.
The plot and character development were completely on point for me. The story chugs along at a nice pace, I never found myself praying for it to just be over and instead, I was hoping that it would never end. I could say more but really, it will just be about how much I love everything about this book, so I'll save you a couple of very long paragraphs and just tell you that you should read this one. If you like semi-awkward girls who become flustered around handsome guys, then this book is for you. If you like handsome dudes who get put into awkward situations that make you laugh, then this book is for you. And if you enjoy a charming romance novel that you can fall in love with, then this book is definitely for you.
Great job, Swank and I'll be checking out more of your stuff sometime very soon. Thanks for the getaway.
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *
Check out more of my reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!
December 17, 2016
Contemporary romance / romantic comedy books are my favourite, team that up with the Author Denise Grover Swank, and I am one happy lady. I have read The Wedding Pact series and absolutely love it, and did too with this spin off series. This is the first of three new books for this new series, and you don't need to read the other, but in my opinion, you will be missing out on some good entertainment. I can see each series would make an awesome movie!
This series is about three high school / college friends that are bachelors, and have sworn off women because they have dated nothing but either shallow Barbies or psycho crazy girls. They decide that they should abstain from dating for six months, but Kevin only lasts one night. He has a thing for his cute next door neighbour, Holly, but it is not an easy progression for them. There are a few obstacles that make dating hard for this couple, Knickers being one of them.
What I loved most about this book is the humor that Denise writes, it has me giggling constantly. The characters are people that you just want to hang and have a drink with. Mostly, I love the connection the lead characters have together, the banter and tenderness just sweeps me up. I picked this book up one morning and utterly forgot all about the world around me until I finished it. I completely fell into each chapter wanting more and more. I was happy that we got to read a little bit too of a couple of the characters from the first series, and I am guessing with the next two books, we will see a little more of them too. Absolutely loved this book, and I know that I will be re reading it again in the near future.
This series is about three high school / college friends that are bachelors, and have sworn off women because they have dated nothing but either shallow Barbies or psycho crazy girls. They decide that they should abstain from dating for six months, but Kevin only lasts one night. He has a thing for his cute next door neighbour, Holly, but it is not an easy progression for them. There are a few obstacles that make dating hard for this couple, Knickers being one of them.
What I loved most about this book is the humor that Denise writes, it has me giggling constantly. The characters are people that you just want to hang and have a drink with. Mostly, I love the connection the lead characters have together, the banter and tenderness just sweeps me up. I picked this book up one morning and utterly forgot all about the world around me until I finished it. I completely fell into each chapter wanting more and more. I was happy that we got to read a little bit too of a couple of the characters from the first series, and I am guessing with the next two books, we will see a little more of them too. Absolutely loved this book, and I know that I will be re reading it again in the near future.
October 18, 2016
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***
This book was light and funny. It was well-written and there were definitely characters in it that I enjoyed.
I liked Kevin and Holly and I liked them as a couple. There was an attraction there from the beginning that I was compelled by...I did want to see where their story would go. I was cheering for them to succeed, to be happy and to find their HEA.
To me, a 3 is a book that is neither notably bad or impressively good. And this book was exactly that for me. I thought the pacing was a little off...and I was a little off-put by the fact that there always seemed to be a bigger than life drama. The house that was falling apart, the friends with the over the top ex stories, the abandoned pet, the boss who was a nightmare...all of these rolled into one story made it feel less emotional to me and a little bit of a comedy.
I think I felt that too much effort was placed on the funny and over the top that the heart of the story was lost in the shuffle...which was a shame, as the heart, the relationship with Holly and Kevin was short changed.
I do recommend this book, but it is not quite as good as I think it could have been.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
This book was light and funny. It was well-written and there were definitely characters in it that I enjoyed.
I liked Kevin and Holly and I liked them as a couple. There was an attraction there from the beginning that I was compelled by...I did want to see where their story would go. I was cheering for them to succeed, to be happy and to find their HEA.
To me, a 3 is a book that is neither notably bad or impressively good. And this book was exactly that for me. I thought the pacing was a little off...and I was a little off-put by the fact that there always seemed to be a bigger than life drama. The house that was falling apart, the friends with the over the top ex stories, the abandoned pet, the boss who was a nightmare...all of these rolled into one story made it feel less emotional to me and a little bit of a comedy.
I think I felt that too much effort was placed on the funny and over the top that the heart of the story was lost in the shuffle...which was a shame, as the heart, the relationship with Holly and Kevin was short changed.
I do recommend this book, but it is not quite as good as I think it could have been.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
December 31, 2017
This is my first read by Denise Grover Swank and I am completely smitten! I absolutely LOVED this book!
ONLY YOU is one of the best books I’ve ever read! It’s charming, hilarious, heart-felt and enchanting! I couldn’t put it down! The characters are easily relatable. The dialogue is witty and had me laughing out loud throughout the book.
Holly is a strong, hardworking woman with a lot on her plate. She doesn’t need the distraction of her sexy new neighbor…no matter how tempting he is. After a string of crazy relationships, Kevin has sworn off women, that is until he meets Holly. He’s instantly mesmerized by Holly’s awkward charm, blunt honesty and sexy curves.
It was a joy to follow their love story through all their cheeky shenanigans right along with a brilliant cast of secondary characters including: a methodically matchmaking sister, an overbearing mother, two onery grandmas, a cantankerous cousin and a cute little kitten!
ONLY YOU is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s a beautifully written story full of hope, laughter and love. I highly recommend it to every reader!
***I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***
ONLY YOU is one of the best books I’ve ever read! It’s charming, hilarious, heart-felt and enchanting! I couldn’t put it down! The characters are easily relatable. The dialogue is witty and had me laughing out loud throughout the book.
Holly is a strong, hardworking woman with a lot on her plate. She doesn’t need the distraction of her sexy new neighbor…no matter how tempting he is. After a string of crazy relationships, Kevin has sworn off women, that is until he meets Holly. He’s instantly mesmerized by Holly’s awkward charm, blunt honesty and sexy curves.
It was a joy to follow their love story through all their cheeky shenanigans right along with a brilliant cast of secondary characters including: a methodically matchmaking sister, an overbearing mother, two onery grandmas, a cantankerous cousin and a cute little kitten!
ONLY YOU is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s a beautifully written story full of hope, laughter and love. I highly recommend it to every reader!
***I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***
October 24, 2016
This is a spin off of The Wedding Pact series, which I read and enjoyed for the most part. This one started off really strong, it was funny and cute and I thought Kevin and Holly had chemistry. But once it was found out that Holly worked for Kevin's mom, that was the main source of conflict, and I found it kind of weak. These aren't teens or young adults, they're both in their 30's, so the whole sneaking around thing was weird. Sure, Kevin's mom was a nut job (as she was in The Substitute, but she provided more comic relief in that book), but everyone being so fearful of her was over the top.
I do wish the relationship hadn't been so rushed. From start to finish they hadn't even known each other for a month, way too soon for that ending.
I do wish the relationship hadn't been so rushed. From start to finish they hadn't even known each other for a month, way too soon for that ending.
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 23, 2016Sorry, bored with this. It took me three weeks to get to 117 pages. Even the fact that it was written about the area of the world I'm from couldn't keep me interested. It wasn't poorly written but nothing really shone either. Sometimes I can stick with a meh book but not this time.
October 15, 2016
"If you want your fairy tale , maybe you should come down from the tower instead of waiting for your prince to find you."
There was something about 'Only You' that made me feel l warm and giddy inside. I'm a romantic person but I don't enjoy reading about insta-love. I feel like this book had insta-love but the H/h spent the entirety of the book trying to fight it off. I think that was its saving grace for me. The angst. The forbidden. And of course the adoration that the hero so clearly showed our heroine.
Holly is a wedding planner to a woman who treats her like she's scum. That may be a little excessive...Nicole actually treats Holly like she's an assistant instead of giving her credit for the wedding she's already planned and had success in. What I liked about Holly is how driven and ambitious she was. But I mostly liked how she's one of those girls whose a big stickler for rules.
You may be thinking that means she has a stick up her butt; I can assure you she doesn't though. The day she meets the sexy ex-marine, Kevin, she knows she's going to have a hard time resisting him. Who can blame her? Kevin is anything but a coward. He sees what he wants and he's going to get it. If the girl he happens to be interested didn't already work for his mother. Oh, did I mention that yet? Kevin is Nicole's son.
That obviously causes problems all on its own. I don't know what's been up with me and wedding themed books, but I just can't help myself! They're way too addicting. I would like to add that although this a standalone, there are characters from past books. Such as the ladies from 'The Wedding Pact' series. Obviously, I went and bought all those books just to somewhat stay in the world.
The books that are going to follow in this trilogy are about Kevin and his friends who form a pack, Bachelor Brotherhood, for obvious reasons. They have sworn off women! It's funny to see how Kevin totally doesn't even last all that long. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's fun, light-hearted, and the romance is so swoony!
*Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 24, 2016
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 25, 2016
Never say never . . .
Romance isn't an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor . . .
Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world's craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.
After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn't play by the rules
•••••••
REVIEW: ONLY YOU is the first installment in Denise Grover Swank’s contemporary, adult BACHELOR BROTHERHOOD romance series focusing on three friends (Kevin, Tyler and Matt) who call themselves The Bachelor Brotherhood. This is former-Marine Kevin Vandemeer, and events planner Holly Greenwood’s story line. The Bachelor Brotherhood series is a spin off from the author’s The Wedding Pact Series but you do not need to have read the previous series to enjoy The Bachelor Brotherhood.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Holly and Kevin) ONLY YOU follows Holly Greenwood as she struggles in both her personal and professional life-a demanding boss who thinks of Holly as her very own personal assistant; a bridezilla client who could make or break Holly’s career; a grandmother whose dementia and mind are quickly deteriorating; and a new neighbor who is everything Holly wants but is strictly off limits and insists on being part of Holly’s life-one way or another. What ensues is the building relationship between Holly and Kevin, and a series of misunderstandings and revelations that force Holly to push Kevin into the friend-zone.
ONLY YOU is a sweet, fun and humorous look at two people as they struggle with family issues, and well-meaning friends. Kevin is caught between trying to please his family as his sister Megan (The Wedding Pact #1) and his mother Nicole continue to meddle in the relationship department. As an events planner Holly is making a name for herself but struggles with a boss who refuses to acknowledge all of our heroine’s hard work.
The relationship between Holly and Kevin is one of immediate attraction but both have sworn off relationships for the forseeable future. Holly’s cousin Melanie is a pitbull as it pertains to Holly’s relationship and potential broken heart, and gives Kevin fair warning if something where to happen. The $ex scenes are intimate and romantic without the over the top graphic imagery and text.
The world building looked at the frenetic life of a wedding planner-the clients, the rants, the back room drama when things don’t go according to plan. We are also up close and personal as Kevin enters the world of home renovations-broken pipes and all.
We are introduced to Holly’s cousin Melanie and their grandmother Barb. Holly and Melanie were raised by Grandma Barb, and they are both struggling, in different ways, with their grandmother’s deteriorating condition. Kevin’s well-meaning but interfering family continue to intrude in his ‘lack’ of a personal life-sister Megan whose impending baby shower throws another wrench into Kevin and Holly’s relationship status; and mother Nicole whose own plans for Kevin include a crazy woman who believes that Kevin is the one. Kevin’s friends and beer drinking bromance with Tyler and Matt add some comic relief as each reveals their disastrous dating relationships with no plans for the future. There is plenty of easy going, back and forth banter between the story line characters that will elicit a smile or two on every page.
ONLY YOU is a lighthearted and delightful story line. The premise is heartwarming and wonderful; the characters are playful and energetic; the romance is provocative. Denise Grover Swank invites the reader into the world of the Bachelor Brotherhood, and three men who never expect to find love.
Copy supplied by the publisher
www.thereadingcafe.com
Never say never . . .
Romance isn't an option for Holly Greenwood. With her wedding planner career on the line she needs to stay focused, and that means pleasing her demanding boss, not getting distracted by her mind-alteringly hot neighbor . . .
Ex-Marine Kevin Vandemeer craves normalcy. Instead, he has a broken-down old house in need of a match and some gasoline, a meddling family, and the uncanny ability to attract the world's craziest women. At least that last one he can fix: he and his buddies have made a pact to swear off women, and this includes his sweetly sexy new neighbor.
After one hot night that looks a whole lot like a disaster in the light of day, Kevin and Holly are about to learn that true love doesn't play by the rules
•••••••
REVIEW: ONLY YOU is the first installment in Denise Grover Swank’s contemporary, adult BACHELOR BROTHERHOOD romance series focusing on three friends (Kevin, Tyler and Matt) who call themselves The Bachelor Brotherhood. This is former-Marine Kevin Vandemeer, and events planner Holly Greenwood’s story line. The Bachelor Brotherhood series is a spin off from the author’s The Wedding Pact Series but you do not need to have read the previous series to enjoy The Bachelor Brotherhood.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Holly and Kevin) ONLY YOU follows Holly Greenwood as she struggles in both her personal and professional life-a demanding boss who thinks of Holly as her very own personal assistant; a bridezilla client who could make or break Holly’s career; a grandmother whose dementia and mind are quickly deteriorating; and a new neighbor who is everything Holly wants but is strictly off limits and insists on being part of Holly’s life-one way or another. What ensues is the building relationship between Holly and Kevin, and a series of misunderstandings and revelations that force Holly to push Kevin into the friend-zone.
ONLY YOU is a sweet, fun and humorous look at two people as they struggle with family issues, and well-meaning friends. Kevin is caught between trying to please his family as his sister Megan (The Wedding Pact #1) and his mother Nicole continue to meddle in the relationship department. As an events planner Holly is making a name for herself but struggles with a boss who refuses to acknowledge all of our heroine’s hard work.
The relationship between Holly and Kevin is one of immediate attraction but both have sworn off relationships for the forseeable future. Holly’s cousin Melanie is a pitbull as it pertains to Holly’s relationship and potential broken heart, and gives Kevin fair warning if something where to happen. The $ex scenes are intimate and romantic without the over the top graphic imagery and text.
The world building looked at the frenetic life of a wedding planner-the clients, the rants, the back room drama when things don’t go according to plan. We are also up close and personal as Kevin enters the world of home renovations-broken pipes and all.
We are introduced to Holly’s cousin Melanie and their grandmother Barb. Holly and Melanie were raised by Grandma Barb, and they are both struggling, in different ways, with their grandmother’s deteriorating condition. Kevin’s well-meaning but interfering family continue to intrude in his ‘lack’ of a personal life-sister Megan whose impending baby shower throws another wrench into Kevin and Holly’s relationship status; and mother Nicole whose own plans for Kevin include a crazy woman who believes that Kevin is the one. Kevin’s friends and beer drinking bromance with Tyler and Matt add some comic relief as each reveals their disastrous dating relationships with no plans for the future. There is plenty of easy going, back and forth banter between the story line characters that will elicit a smile or two on every page.
ONLY YOU is a lighthearted and delightful story line. The premise is heartwarming and wonderful; the characters are playful and energetic; the romance is provocative. Denise Grover Swank invites the reader into the world of the Bachelor Brotherhood, and three men who never expect to find love.
Copy supplied by the publisher
www.thereadingcafe.com
December 4, 2016
This was my first read by this author but I really liked this book and it won't be my last.
It was a little insta-love but The connection between Holly and Kevin was believable enough that I can get over that.
Kevin's mother was so frustrating and the way that Holly just sort of sat by and let herself be treated so badly was annoying, but understandable. Holly's cousin Melanie was almost as frustrating. One minute she's pushing Holly towards Kevin and the next she's telling her to stay away. She gave me whiplash. I loved his sister Megan though. Her plotting and planning is what brought Kevin and Holly together in the first place after all.
This story was somehow both fast-paced and slow burning and I enjoyed the ride. I think that my only complaint it how I was really enjoying the story, even the direction it took in the end, but then it was just over. I wanted more. I still had so many questions and I would have really enjoyed a wrap up in the form of an epilogue but I look forward to reading more about everyone in the rest of the series.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for voluntary review
It was a little insta-love but The connection between Holly and Kevin was believable enough that I can get over that.
Kevin's mother was so frustrating and the way that Holly just sort of sat by and let herself be treated so badly was annoying, but understandable. Holly's cousin Melanie was almost as frustrating. One minute she's pushing Holly towards Kevin and the next she's telling her to stay away. She gave me whiplash. I loved his sister Megan though. Her plotting and planning is what brought Kevin and Holly together in the first place after all.
This story was somehow both fast-paced and slow burning and I enjoyed the ride. I think that my only complaint it how I was really enjoying the story, even the direction it took in the end, but then it was just over. I wanted more. I still had so many questions and I would have really enjoyed a wrap up in the form of an epilogue but I look forward to reading more about everyone in the rest of the series.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for voluntary review
December 6, 2016
OMG I loved Kevin and Holly! This book was the perfect blend of sweet and romantic with some some fun thrown in for good measure.
Kevin is an ex-Marine who has moved home... into a money pit! That's what he gets for having his sister help him find a fixer upper. The place he moves into is beyond fixing up. It should be condemned. The only good thing about the house is the cute girl who lives next door. There is definitely an attraction there, but Kevin needs to get his head in the game and fix this house. Not start a new relationship when he just got out of one that leaves him a little skeptical of the opposite sex.
Holly is trying to make a name for herself in the wedding planning biz, and what better way than to work for the best party planner in town... even if she is pure evil. She's so close to finally making a name for herself. She definitely doesn't need the distraction of the handsome guy who moves in next door to her and makes her a little weak in the knees.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for more in the series!
Kevin is an ex-Marine who has moved home... into a money pit! That's what he gets for having his sister help him find a fixer upper. The place he moves into is beyond fixing up. It should be condemned. The only good thing about the house is the cute girl who lives next door. There is definitely an attraction there, but Kevin needs to get his head in the game and fix this house. Not start a new relationship when he just got out of one that leaves him a little skeptical of the opposite sex.
Holly is trying to make a name for herself in the wedding planning biz, and what better way than to work for the best party planner in town... even if she is pure evil. She's so close to finally making a name for herself. She definitely doesn't need the distraction of the handsome guy who moves in next door to her and makes her a little weak in the knees.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for more in the series!
October 25, 2016
Charming, flirty, and incredibly romantic!
This is a classic contemporary romance story full of heart, humour, and emotion.
The writing is clear and fluid. The characters, which includes some of our all-time favourites from the Wedding Pact series, are quirky, endearing, lovable, and deliciously sexy. And the plot is a good mix of familial relationships, friendship, steamy chemistry, witty dialogue, and true love.
Overall, this is a clever, fun, easy read that will leave a smile on your face and have you wishing for your very own new swoon-worthy neighbour.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
This is a classic contemporary romance story full of heart, humour, and emotion.
The writing is clear and fluid. The characters, which includes some of our all-time favourites from the Wedding Pact series, are quirky, endearing, lovable, and deliciously sexy. And the plot is a good mix of familial relationships, friendship, steamy chemistry, witty dialogue, and true love.
Overall, this is a clever, fun, easy read that will leave a smile on your face and have you wishing for your very own new swoon-worthy neighbour.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 18, 2016
This story was sweet, with low drama. That being said, it was just okay for me. There was nothing wrong with the story, and it didn't overwhelm me with emotions....it was just a nice, light read. The ending was a little too neatly and quickly wrapped up, but I'm guessing we'll get glimpses of Holly & Kevin in future tales.
Copy recieved courtesy of publisher via NetGalley
Copy recieved courtesy of publisher via NetGalley
January 25, 2017
The bursts of 'colorful language' really threw me. I really disliked that and felt it added nothing to the story. Also some repetitions of motivations; one doesn't need to be reminded more than a time or two. Otherwise a pretty good read.
September 30, 2016
** 4 / 4.5 stars **
May 19, 2018
Only You: Bachelor Brotherhood, Book 1 is by Denise Grover Swank. This series follows her series on the Wedding Pact. This book is about Kevin Vandemeer. Kevin has just returned from Afghanistan and out of the army. He had asked his sister, Megan, to find a place for him in town for an investment. She found a dilapidated house for him to redo and profit from. He couldn’t believe she had gotten this house. He had his work cut out for him. This was, of course, in addition to the job he had for his best friend Matt. Best of all, or worst of all, it was next door to Holly, the woman who worked for his Mother.
Holly is a wedding planner and hopes to get out on her own. For now, she works for Nicole Vandemeer. Nicole is a taskmaster and a horrible boss. She runs her family and her business like a queen. When a client comes in for Nicole and she isn’t there, she wondered what happened. Coraline is the Bride no one wants to see coming. She changes her mind every second. Holly can handle that. If Holly messes this up, she will be fired. Can she do this wedding without loosing her job? Can she see Kevin as more than a friend without losing her job? Keeping Nicole happy until Holly can go out on her own is all she wants.
Holly is a wedding planner and hopes to get out on her own. For now, she works for Nicole Vandemeer. Nicole is a taskmaster and a horrible boss. She runs her family and her business like a queen. When a client comes in for Nicole and she isn’t there, she wondered what happened. Coraline is the Bride no one wants to see coming. She changes her mind every second. Holly can handle that. If Holly messes this up, she will be fired. Can she do this wedding without loosing her job? Can she see Kevin as more than a friend without losing her job? Keeping Nicole happy until Holly can go out on her own is all she wants.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews