Absolutely adored this book. The characters Nikki and Max were strong and well written. The descriptions of the places were so good that I could picture it all in my mind like a running movie.

When tennis superstar, Max Conway, agrees to be the best man for an old friend he’s just reconnected with, he has no ideas that instead of handing over the rings, he’s soon going to be running away with the bride in his arms, leaving a media furore behind them. Six months later, the two meet again on a beautiful Indonesian island, and both realise that the spark of attraction they felt previously has not been diminished. But with trashy media always on the hunt for a story – true or not – can they risk giving in to those feelings?
I loved the story here, and it’s what initially drew me to the book. The exotic, paradise like feel of the island was also attractive and it was interesting to follow Nikki and Max around the island. However, this was also where the book fell down a little. Clearly the author knows a lot about the area, and it’s great when you can get a really authentic feel for a place, but there was more than one occasion when this book risked verging on guide book territory with the result that, at times, the dialogue could sound a little stilted and unnatural.
My other small gripe was the propensity for broken sentences – a few are fine but it seems to be a particular style for this author and wasn’t particularly to my taste. However, this is a purely subjective view and other readers may enjoy this aspect of the writing style much more.
On the whole, this was a good, escapist read.

*I read this advance copy voluntarily
3/5

This is an emotive read. Discovering her groom is a lying cheat, Nikki Lucas flees what should have been her wedding, assisted by the best man, Max Conway. Unfortunately the wedding was a high society event and Max is a successful sportsman so the story of the runaway bride gets lots of unwanted media attention. Six months later, Max decides to go to stay at an island resort, not knowing that Nikki is there, too! Assumptions, worries about anyone finding them both there and many other factors are involved to drive this couple apart but the attraction is definitely hot. Will they give in? What will happen to them in future?

This is a lovely story, most of it set on the beautiful island of Bali which is brought to life in the reader’s imagination by the author’s brilliant descriptions of the place, food and people. It is a sweet romance that has moments that make you sad, mad, swoon and sigh. It is the first book in the True Love series from Mills and Boon and I’ll definitely be looking out for more books in this series in future in the hope they’ll be as great as this one!

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Nice easy book to read, quite liked the characters and the story line. Was a bit obvious at times but a great little holiday read

I read this book on a warm summer's day and it honestly was the perfect accompaniment to the day. This story is so beautifully told about two people who meet in the most abnormal circumstances and find they can love and better each other in such a practical way. Thailand is depicted so beautifully through the author's eyes that I immediately started contemplating holidays there. It is very well done and Kandy Shepherd has captured their story in a very real and relatable way.

This was an enjoyable light romance, although predictable.
A ideal Holiday read whether by the pool or on the beach.

Kandy shepherd has written a brilliant novel about a runaway bride Nikki and her saviour Max who rescued her from making the biggest mistake of her life. I love this book.

This book started promisingly, with successful entrepreneur and eager bride Nikki Lucas ditching her groom at the altar after discovering he had been lying to her. She turns for help to the best man, Max Conway, a world-class tennis player who has had his name in the press in the past following a public break-up with a fellow tennis player. He reluctantly helps her escape and thus gets embroiled in another public scandal, which added to a persistent injury, he feels is the last nail in the coffin of his professional career..

Six months later, and Max takes a solo low-key holiday on a remote island to consider his options, only to find that Nikki is occupying the cabin next door. This in itself is a pretty improbably premise, but my real problem with the book from here on in is that it is really quite unimaginative and rather repetitive. Because of the previous scandals publicised in the press, Max and Nikki agree that the attraction they feel for each otehr cannot be allowed to blossom, as the press would have a field day with it. Seriously? In this day and age when every news story lasts all of five minutes?? The rest of the novel consists of smouldering encounters and descriptions of impossibly toned bodies, cut short by discussions about how impossible a relationship would be. Quite frankly, both protagonists are so wet that I lost all interest in their budding romance early on. It's lazily written and feels very formulaic.

Ah,
A classy, sexy, sweet, exotic location, based, romantic story. A classic Mills and Boon quality emotional, escapism read.

Best Man and the Runaway Bride is written by Kandy Shepherd and is part of the revamped/ renamed Cherish now True Love collection.

Assisted by the best man, Max Conway, the bride, Nikki Lucas, after discovering that her intended was cheating on her, flees her own high society wedding. She then bumps into him six months later when she is working at her friend' B&B on Bali. Max is a high profile tennis player who has injured himself and so has had to retire from the game. He doesn't want to be recognised as he has come to Bali to recover, regroup and plan his future. There is an instant attraction between the pair but is Nikki looking for more than Max can offer. Is he prepared to move the goal posts and enter in to a long term relationship which is Nikki's goal (I couldn't think of any tennis analogies but it is the World Cup at the moment).

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't full of angst, flouncing or disaster, but was full of lovely flowing duscriptions of Bali, the food, culture, sea and clothing.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for an honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

A sweet story perfect for summer
4 stars

This book is one of a fairly new series from Mills and Boon, called True Love. Books in this series promise sparkling romances that will make you laugh, cry and fall in love over and over again.

Well, I’m not sure I ran the whole gamut of those emotions but this book definitely delivered on the true love in a sweet and gentle way. It’s the first book that I’ve read from this series and I certainly wouldn’t be against picking up another again when I’m feeling in the mood to remember that true love really does exist - no matter the odds.

Nikki was a great character. She’s smart, sharp, knows what she wants and goes out and gets it. She does have a vulnerable side - particularly evident when deciding whether she wanted to sleep with Max - which makes you relate to her and root for her some more.

Similarly, Max is a hero that you can’t help but love and want for yourself (sorry Nikki). He’s a former tennis player with the body to match (swoon) and while he’s got a reputation as a bad boy, he’s actually a bit of a sweetheart.

The story moves on at a leisurely pace. The writing style flows well and makes you want to keep reading. One thing I did note was that the way the story is told, you really believe that Nikki and Max are falling in love. And it’s gosh-darned adorable.

I would have liked Nikki to be a wee bitty more assertive with her feelings and her wants with Max. And while Max was a bit of a muppet when he accused Nikki of breaking his trust - at least he managed to catch on to his mistake pretty quickly.

And in the keeping of the book being a sweet and romantic tale - we get a few kisses and when the time comes to do the deed, the bedroom door firmly shuts us out. Not even a peek. Nor a rundown of events after the fact either. Oh well, at least I have my imagination!

This was a lovely, sweet tale of two people who are so right for each other - just with the wrong circumstances and the wrong time. It’s a book any Mills and Boon fan will enjoy reading and I’ll be looking out for more stories by Kandy Shepherd in the future. 4 stars.

I absolutely fell in love with this story it was perfect the plot the characters everything.
This is definitely one I won’t forget .
5 stars ⭐️

Kandy Shepherd’s ‘Best Man and the Runaway Bride’ is a fast paced tale about misconceived first impressions, finding what one truly wants out of life, love, and doing the right thing, saying the right thing, even when it is most difficult.
The story of Nikki and Max was engaging from start to finish, giving the reader insights into what makes both of them tick as they rediscover themselves and learn more about the other, and how they could possibly be the other’s perfect match. Max helps Nikki escape on her wedding day, and six months later they run into one another again at an Indonesian resort. The taste of local flavor and culture was a lovely background to their relationship journey, as they figured out how to proceed, how to deal with the welcome and difficult feelings that were resurrected by being in the same place, and how to be honest with themselves as well as one another. In a place that they both treated as a hideaway, Nikki and Max have to decide once and for all what is truly important to themselves, and whether they have the guts to go after it, and to hold onto it.
This story drew me in from the start, and kept my attention until the very end, even with the few bumps in the road along the way (not unlike the potholes described on the local roads!). Nikki and Max had the opportunity to be true to themselves, to share their original, most personal and private selves with the others in a beautiful location, where the mention of food constantly reminded me how hungry I was for some actual Indonesian nasi goreng! I really felt the tension as it built up to the climax, yet wanted just a bit more from the resolution, even as I gobbled up the sweetness of the conclusion, the lovebirds getting to do what they wanted, how they wanted it, without any outside interference trying to tear them down or rip them apart. If you’re looking for a most enjoyable read about two people that have had their dreams literally torn from their hands and hearts, and how they learn to find what makes them happy individually, and together, then look no further than this wonderful tale about how the bride ended up with the best man for her!

Nikki is due to get married, when she finds out her fiance is a liar. Sat in the car on the way to her wedding Nikki begs her father to help her run away. He wont help, as the car pulls up at the church Nikki spots Max the best man. She begs him to help her run away. As they make their escape a guest starts snapping photo's. Of the fleeing pair. Max is a famous tennis player, anything he does is tabloid fodder. A media frenzy ensures, painting the pair as lovers.
Six months pass and Max finds himself at a cross roads in life. He decides to take a trip to Bali for some rest and relaxation. Little does he know that Nikki is currently working at the hotel he is staying in. When they finally meet face to face, its pretty obvious they are attracted to each other. Something neither of them is willing to do anything about as they don't want the press intrusion.
They tentatively reach an agreement on how to handle the situation. As they start to spend time together feelings are aroused. Kandy Shepard did a wonderful job of describing Bali, she makes the reader feel like they are there. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance.
ARC received as part of Mills & Boon insiders. In exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and feel that it is the perfect read in the run up to Wimbledon with it’s handsome tennis-player hero! The opening scene was so clearly drawn that it was like watching the opening scene of a romcom movie and and this made me want to carry on reading to see what happened next. I liked both the fascinating characters and the way in which the author introduced details about the setting without making it sound like a travel lecture. A perfect summer read.

Best Man And The Runaway Bride is a standalone book by Kandy Shepherd.

On the morning she is supposed to be getting married, Nikki Lucas discovers that her groom is a lying cheat. She arrives at the church, and no sooner does she set foot outside the car than she spots the best man Max Conway. She begs him to help her get away, and although in two minds as he is supposed to be helping the groom, he grabs her up in his arms and they make a mad dash to his car and to her freedom.

Max is a number one tennis player, he's good-looking, and the press always hounds him. Of course, they get hold of the story of him running away with the bride and ridiculous stories hit the headlines.

Six months later when the scandal has finally died down Max decides he needs to get away, to totally relax and evaluate his future. An injury has stopped his tennis career and he needs to decide what is next for him. He chooses a quiet part of Bali for his respite not knowing that he is in for a surprise.

Nikki Lucas is friends with the owners of the resort that he has chosen. She is having a much-needed break whilst also helping her friends out with running the place. The very first person that Max sees when he arrives at the resort is Nikki!

When Nikki spots Max she thinks that her ex has sent him to try to get her to go back to him. She is furious. Max himself is furious because the last thing he needs is for anybody to recognise him, realise Nikki is there too and the stupid stories of him being a love cheat would resurface.

Thankfully the resort isn't a popular tourist place, yet, because when Nikki realises that Max isn't there on behalf of her ex, and he realises there is little chance of them being spotted if they are careful, they both start to enjoy each others company. There is an instant attraction between them, and they definitely like each other, but Nikki wants more than a holiday fling. It's something that isn't possible thanks to the scandal they have already been through which will take off again with a vengeance if they were to be seen as a couple. Will she listen to her heart and body that wants to live for the moment and enjoy a passionate fling, or her head that tells her she needs to concentrate on her dream of marriage and children which won't be possible with Max?

This is a really great story which had me captivated from the first pages. Max and Nikki are so obviously perfect for each other. I couldn't wait until they finally gave in to their attraction and couldn't read quickly enough to find out how they would deal with the question of the future. Bali is a beautiful island and I enjoyed the author's description of the area and about the culture of the place including the food and the clothing traditionally worn. She also writes a very good steamy love scene or two, definitely time to break out the hand fan!

Max agrees to act as best man, for a person he hardly knows, and ends up recuing the bride. Six months later they unexpectedly reunite on a beautiful, idyllic holiday isle. No prizes for guessing the outcome!
A very easy holiday read. No unexpected turns. Just a straight forward and enjoyable read. Would recommend to pack for a lazy holiday read.

The Perfect Holiday Read, 4 Stars 🌟

When Max Conway agrees to be an old acquaintance's best man, he doesn't expect to find himself at the centre of a media scandal by helping the bride to runaway! Runaway Bride Nikki Lucas had to get away after discovering the truth about her fiancé on the morning of their wedding (from his ex-wives) and decides to take refuge at her friends hotel on the small Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan to escape the media frenzy of her disastrous ‘nearly marriage’. Six months later the last person she expects to see on the beach is Max. Max is looking for a quiet place to reinvent himself after a career ending injury and to escape the media scandal he found himself inadvertently dragged into, so neither Max nor Nikki are pleased to find themselves on the same stretch of beach and agree it is best if they stay away from one another to avoid further scandal. However, despite their mutual agreement to stay away from each other, they find themselves irresistibly drawn together and so agree to ‘discreetly’ spend sometime together during Max’s stay on the island, but with past hurts clouding their judgment, can Max and Nikki learn to trust themselves and each other to find their own Indonesian HEA!

Best Man and the Runaway Bride is my first book of Ms. Kandy Shepherd's and I can not believe I haven’t discovered her before now, I thoroughly enjoyed her more gentle style and her beautifully descriptive writing added an extra dimension to the story, in fact I enjoyed this book so much I am hoping Maya and Kadek have their own story, as I for one would love to revisit Nusa Lembongan again!

I received my copy from Netgalley and Mills and Boon via Mills and Boon Insiders, but this does not influence my opinions as all opinions are my own.

Enjoyable, short read. Would be good for holidays given it's mainly set on a holiday island.

Nikki runs out on her wedding when she finds out her fiance's secrets. Max, the best man, helps her with the getaway.
6 months later they meet again when they are both hiding out on a remote island, trying to figure out what to do next in life. They shouldn't be seen together but they can't help themselves. But what will happen when the time out is over and they have to return to real life back in the city?

First book I have read by this author and looking forward to reading more.