Runaway Groom

Lauren Layne

Jan 2018 · I Do and I Don't Book 2 · Sold by Loveswept

About this eBook

For one charming playboy, getting cast on a Bachelor-esque reality TV show is the shock of a lifetime—until he finds love where he least expects it. And now the chase is on!

“Romantic comedy at its finest . . . Readers will not want to put it down.”—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog

Gage Barrett’s reputation as a ladies’ man has been greatly exaggerated, but none of that matters after a drunken bet lands him on Jilted, a reality TV show that matches runaway grooms with wannabe brides. Now he’s stuck at a Hawaiian resort with nineteen women competing to drag him back to the altar—and one contestant who’s even more miserable than he is. Gage has no idea how feisty, independent Ellie Wright wound up in the cast, but it’s obvious she hates his guts. And if there’s one thing Gage likes, it’s a challenge. . . .

Ellie can’t believe she let her best friend talk her into exchanging her dignity for a glorified bikini contest. Still, she could use the exposure—her business is struggling—and she’ll probably be one of the first to get eliminated anyway. But Gage isn’t the shallow jerk Ellie anticipated—and he’s in no rush to send her home. As stolen kisses turn into secret trysts, she finds herself losing track of what’s real and what’s for the camera. With the wedding finale looming, this runaway groom is tempting Ellie to start believing in storybook endings.

Praise for Runaway Groom

“Lauren Layne gets the red rose for this one, and fans of The Bachelor will fall in love with this thoroughly charming story.”—Kate O’Keeffe, bestselling author of One Last First Date

“It’s the perfect beach read—or snow day read, if you’re stuck in cold weather like me!”—All About Romance

Lauren Layne’s New York Times bestselling Oxford Novel series can be read in any order:
IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
I WISH YOU WERE MINE
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
I THINK I LOVE YOU

Don’t miss any of Lauren Layne’s hot reads:

The Love Unexpectedly series: BLURRED LINES | GOOD GIRL | LOVE STORY | WALK OF SHAME | AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS

The Sex, Love & Stiletto series: AFTER THE KISS | LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH | JUST ONE NIGHT | THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

The Redemption series: ISN’T SHE LOVELY  | BROKEN | CRUSHED

The I Do, I Don’t series: READY TO RUN | RUNAWAY GROOM

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Ratings and reviews

A bet that he won't ignore because he made it (and a bet is a bet) has Gage ready to star as the 'prize' in Jilted: a reality dating show where this runaway groom will narrow the field to two women - one of which he'll marry. An actor by trade, he's not looking forward to this fiasco and the intrusion into his actual life: cameras and charm aren't difficult - he is an actor after all. But it's those moments - the two failed (day of the wedding) engagements that have branded him as unstable and fickle, the tabloids follow his 'many' dates, and he's never even gotten close to the real thing - not since Her. Ellie has a t-shirt company that she hopes to promote, an absent father, a best-friend and business partner who wants her to 'get out there', and a history with her mother that provided more of a revolving door model of 'love', pushing her to want stability and make her own way. She'd interviewed for the show with a push from her bestie, got ON the show and wants nothing more than to leave. Nothing is real here: not the manufactured time with Gage, the two-minute (she stretched hers to two and one half) introductory chat, the 4 to a room (bunkbeds - need I say more?) and the fact that one man is 'dating' multiple women. It's rife for drama and backstabbing (because yes - many of the women are either unstable or decidedly competitive and mean) as they are 'encouraged to make good television. SO - I thought I would find this plot trying - seriously - WHO goes on these things? You've obviously got a few motives - notoriety being the primary one. But Ellie - so willing to judge Gage and his "intentions" but actually able to notice that some of her comments sting him. Gage's interest in Ellie - not the curviest, not the one vying for his attention but the one who asks to be the first to leave - but also shares some information about the stability (or lack thereof) of another contestant. Gage and Ellie are wonderful together - the chemistry sends shock waves through her and puts her in the bull's eye: this is a competition after all. The thing is, Ellie isn't competing - she's struggling with her own feelings for Gage, her own fears about relationships and some sparks of jealousy that she didn't expect at all. And, she likes the Gage she's met: the off-camera, stolen moments in the cleaner's closet, riding down the highway in a convertible, floating on surfboards as 'shark bait" in the ocean. Late night texts, a tricked out closet and the realization that he could break her heart, permanently, push her in so many directions and away from Gage. But, he's got other ideas - even as he takes her advice and befriends her best-friend in the house- taking her and the only other 'normal" (read this as not crazy with no ulterior motives) to the end... Such a fun book with plenty of laughs, twists and plenty of tension at the end as the show airs on television and questions (she won't ask and he won't tell) about who he marries go on and on. Grab it - you'll love it. Just be sure to start reading before ten at night - Or you'll be sleepless and up too late! I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

4.5 stars — Dudes, this book was made for me. It was almost a perfect Lenore story, and I was just sucked right in and didn’t want to put it down. Honestly, the ONLY thing preventing a full 5 stars was that I got annoyed with Ellie and the way she treated Gage sometimes. I know it came from a place of self-protection, and I got it a few times in the beginning, but there was a point where I was disappointed in her. She did the age old stereotypical female habit of wanting the guy to read her mind and give her what she wanted when she asked for the opposite. Despite that, I actually really enjoyed Ellie. She was snarky and sassy — some of her one-liners back to Gage just had me laughing out loud. Even though she was cautious, she was hardworking. And despite being in a reality show whose goal is drama, she wasn’t too hard on the other girls…I wouldn’t have been happy about that. In a weird way, Gage was the star for me — even though we generally got less POV time from him. But I honestly can’t believe how much Ms. Layne got me to feel for him. I cried for his secret hopes and dreams…and how incompatible that could be from his career dreams. He was cocky, yes, and arrogant…and some of that was a front, but some of it was just confidence. He made me laugh and he made me feel. I really enjoyed the two of them together. From their hilarious banter, and secret meetings, to their tangible chemistry. Despite them both having moments where they lashed out at one another, they really did fit well. I wanted to see them find a way. And even though I totally saw a lot of the ending coming, I was okay with that…especially because I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up. Some crazy secondary characters, as expected, but some fun and delightful ones as well. I don’t know. The ratings don’t necessarily reflect how perfect a book is, but how much I enjoyed myself reading it. And I mega enjoyed myself with this one.

**4.5 Stars** I love everything that Lauren Layne gives to us. Runaway Groom was no different. there is something refreshing about Gage and Ellie. Their story was fun and full of laughter. Gage didn't want to do a bachelor type show, but somehow he lost a best and we were given an amazing story of two unlikely people who fell in love. Ellie never thought she'd be competing to win a man's heart on national TV, let alone have it be Gage. But here she was, being number 21 thanks to her mom and best friend/business partner. I loved Ellie. She wasn't your typical female that one would picture going on a reality TV show. I think that's why I loved her even more. Gage wasn't what I was expecting either. He traits that made me think of a typical actor when picturing an actor, but I was pleasantly surprised at how wrong I was about him. Gage and Ellie were refreshing. They were funny and they were just what I needed to get me out of my book funk. I can't wait for more from Lauren Layne.

About the author

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedy novels. A former e-commerce and Web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated in 2011 to New York City, where she left the corporate world behind to pursue a full-time writing career. Lauren’s hobbies include maintaining a designer purse addiction and observing cocktail hour. She lives with her high school sweetheart in midtown Manhattan, where she writes romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush.