Sandy M’s review of Put a Ring On It (Black Dog Bay, Book 3) by Beth Kendrick
Contemporary Romance published by NAL 3 Nov 15
I’m sure I’m like most of you out there in romanceland – I have scads and scores of books everywhere. Any back-cover blurb that sounds even a little bit interesting to me, whether I’m buying or borrowing, I pick that book up and then start putting that author’s entire backlist with the rest of the scads and scores. Beth Kendrick’s books have always sounded like fun to me, thus I have a good number of them waiting for me to read some day. I think my some day for her is here, after reading this delightful new release. I’m going to be pulling out all of her paperbacks from that huge TBR mountain.
From the opening when Brighton’s fiance shocks her by calling off their wedding and asking for his ring back – all because of her backseat driving – this book is charming and fun, even when it gets down to the nitty-gritty later when Brighton has to make some tough decisions. I didn’t know this book is the third in a series, but I didn’t miss a thing by not reading the first two. The writing and the characters are that great.
After her breakup, Brighton needs a little time away from real life. She heads to Black Dog Bay to visit a friend, where she immediately runs into Jake Sorenson at a local bar. It’s one of those days when drinking a bit too much can lead to big mistakes. Their mistake is an impromptu marriage. But it’s all sweet and amazing for them both, despite their differences and the knowledge it can’t and won’t last.
Jake is as handsome as he is rich. Brighton is buttoned-up to the max and never does anything spontaneously. Total opposites, but you know they’re perfect for one another from the get-go. Jake talks her into living on the fly, having fun, and he hopes she’ll want to stay after experiencing all that. I usually don’t quote lines from books, but as much as I loved Jake from the beginning, this made me love him more:
He kissed her again, tender and unhurried. “Stay.”
“For a little while,” she relented, closing her eyes.
He brushed his lips across her eyelids, his voice like a caress. “Forever.”
I think it hit Brighton in the same way, it just takes her longer to realize it. To want it. And to make it happen. She has a life to get back to, a job – which is the most boring on the planet – but it goes with her endless planning and need for control. However, while she’s in Black Dog Bay she has a chance to renew her love of jewelry designing, so you hope against hope that she really will decide to stay with Jake and live a happy and carefree life with him.
The banter throughout keeps you laughing. The turn of events around unforeseen corners keeps you guessing. The romance keeps you light-hearted and hopeful. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this story. As I said earlier, I’m going to be reading more of Beth Kendrick, and I’m going to start with the first two books in this series, because I had a blast in Black Dog Bay and I fell in love with every one of its characters.
Grade: A
Summary:
Brighton Smith doesn’t do outrageous. As an insurance actuary, it’s her job to assess risk and avoid bad investments. But when her fiancé calls to confess he’s married someone else on a whim (“I looked at her and I just knew!”), she snaps…
That night, at a local bar, Jake Sorensen—hot, rich, and way out of her league—buys Brighton a cocktail. At midnight, she kisses him. And by dawn, they’re exchanging vows at a drive-through chapel.
Brighton knows Jake is a bad bet, but she doesn’t care. After a lifetime of playing it safe, she’s finally having fun. Until the whirlwind romance gives way to painful reality…and Brighton finds out the truth about why a guy like Jake married a girl like her. With her heart on the line and the odds stacked against them, Brighton must decide whether to cut her losses or take a leap of faith that this love affair is one in a million.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
