Member Reviews

It's Amelia's and Drew's wedding day. That is, before Van catches groom hooking up with bride's cousin. The ceremony is obviously cancelled, but what about the honeymoon? They won't get a refund this last minute. Not to mention, after the disaster that just accured, Amelia could very much use a vacation. Not wanting her to be alone in this difficult time, Van comes to the rescue and volunteers to keep her company.

Another delightful read by Mrs. Claire! So much fluff, but also drama, and a whole lot of swooning!

Van is the team's proclaimed bad boy, but don't get it twisted, there really isn't a bad bone in his body. He is definitely rough around the edges, but inside he's a softie. Such a good book boyfriend.

I also loved Amelia's character and her development. She is so much stronger than me, I don't think I would survive an embarrassment of my soon-to-be husband hooking up with my family member the day of our wedding. Plus, a lowkey abusive dad. I loved watching her grow and stand up for herself.

Van's and Amelia's relationship isn't an easy one. As coach's daughter, she's off-limits. Adding Van's reputation as a womanizer, there's no way her father could ever approve of this relationship. But the heart wants what the heart wants.

Was this review helpful?

This book is definitely one of my top 5 books of the year! I loved how the book just jumped right in and there was not a moment where it slowed down....or maybe that was my reading speed. I devoured this book. Twice. I loved it that much.

You know when reading a book you don't realize how far into the book you are because you're so focused? This book totally gave me that feeling. I knew ahead of time that there was something big at chapter 17 and about halfway through chapter 16 I saw what was coming and like horrible reality TV you sit there saying "No! But Yes!" and aren't sure how you feel about the fall out. I actually loved the fall out and especially the scene in the locker room with all of the family members (Again, horrible reality TV that you love to watch but hate to say you watch ::chef's kiss::)

This book gets a full 5 stars from me! Loved every bit of it and the bonus epilogue is one of the sweetest ev-ah!!

Was this review helpful?

Anytime I need to inject some book momentum into my life, I just need to read some Emma St. Clair. She always hits it out of the park for me, and this book is no exception.

I may not like a bad boy in real life, but I play someone who does in my reading life. I'm here for more of Van and his snark and penchant for fun! Plus he is SO CHARMING. The way Emma balances his bad boy persona with his more gentle side that he only shows Amelia and his sisters is just perfection.

Amelia is so relatable. Writing the end of the story in her head instead of living it out is so frustrating to read and yet, I do it, so I get it. I loved her character arc here.

As always the Appies text chain was so fun and that alone could be a whole hilarious book. Give us some bonus scenes from the text chain Jenny and Emma!

I will be forever recommending this one!

Content Warning (from author): Parents passing away (past), Divorce and parental neglect (past), Cheating boyfriends (VERY present), Some punching, Some pinching, Criticism of Keanu Reeves’s body of work

Thanks to the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for letting me get an arc of this book. It was SUCH a fun read, a perfect choice for anybody in a bit of a reading slump wanting something that leaves you giggling and rolling your eyes (in a good way). The miscommunication trope is my LEAST favorite trope, so it says something that I gave this book such a high rating. Definitely a fun time and also a tad bit tug-on-the-heartstrings kind of book. 4.5, would recommend.

This rating is on Goodreads too!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to @bookedwiththeemilys @jennyproctorbooks for the #gifted copy of this book!

We're back, back back again in the Appies world! The Appies Hockey universe is one of my favorite places to be and Emma hits it out of the park once again.

This time around we follow Van, the mouthy bad boy of the this tight knit team. If there's one rule this rule-breaker follows it is this: never date the coach's daughter. However, when Van finds her groom cheating on their wedding day, he can't stand idly by. What ensues is Van suddenly juggling a fist fight, a jilted runaway bride, and a secret deal with the coach to escort the bride on a vacation to forget this whole day ever happened. But while enjoying the Florida sunshine with Amelia, the two of them come to realize there's a bit more than just a spark between them. I won't give anything else away, but you certainly won't want to put this book down to see what happens next.

I loved Van in the other Appie books because as Emma puts it best in her author's note at the end, Van was prime real estate for hidden depths. He only presents what he wants others to see, so it was so wonderful to see a different side of him around Amelia. The romance was a bit instalove for my tastes, but it makes sense given the plot of the book. While their days in Florida were lovingly sweet, it's not until the two return to Harvest Hollow that this becomes a true rom-com romp that you'll want to make popcorn to munch on as hilarious chaos ensues.

If you're looking for a romance that checks off a lot of tropes (forbidden romance, forced proximity, hockey romance, and even a few secret fun ones), make sure to check out this one out.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve really been enjoying the appies series by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. Each of the stories has been better than the last in my opinion. These are great options for people who want a hockey or sports romance without the spice and explicit content those typically have. I also think Emma St. Clair is an excellent option for people who typically like “spicy” romance. She manages to include enough nuance and innuendo to make it feel like there is heat and chemistry between the characters without any explicit content whatsoever. I often find that authors in the “clean” or “sweet” romance genre can be a bit too cheesy and watered down, but I don’t feel that way at all when I read Emma’s books. There’s tension without too much drama, and they always make me laugh and smile. I especially liked Runaway Bride and Prejudice for its unique storyline and pacing. I had a hard time putting it down once I got to the second half of the book! I can’t wait to see more from this series!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Each book in this series is unique and perfect. I didn't expect Van's story to surprise me so much, every time, in every chapter I thought I knew what was going to happen but no, I was very wrong, there is no way I could have seen it coming.
.
The Appies are already one of my favorite teams, each character within this team is a box of surprises that leaves you with that feeling that only a perfect book boyfriend can cause. I really enjoyed this serie so much.
.
Van is the most misunderstood of the team's players, with his reputation as a serial dater, and always flirting with every woman in his path, no one takes him seriously. And for a few months he can’t blame them, he hasn't been on his game since he met the woman he thought that could be the one and but he never saw her again.
.
Until the moment he has to be present at her wedding, with another man.
.
Amelia should be thinking about her fiancé minutes before going to the altar but something seems very wrong, and she can’t stop thinking about the man she met months ago and never saw him again until the rehearsal, but when she ends up discovering that he fiancé cheated on her. That man she met months ago, who turned out to be one of her dad's players, seems to be the only get away car available.
.
What does a woman do when she discovers that all her plans and dreams collapse, when everything around her is chaos and the man she couldn't stop thinking about is by her side but off limits and she still has the tickets and reservations for her honeymoon?
well, you're going to have to read it and no matter how much you think you know what's going to happen, there's a good chance that you won't guess right
.
Very good characters, excellent plot twist and things that I didn't see coming but I enjoyed a lot. You can never go wrong with an Emma St. Clair book
.
Thanks to Emma St. Clair and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my voluntary and honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

This story was so much fun to read! You never knew what was going to happen especially when the guys from The Appies are involved. Coach has always had one absolute rule for his players, and that is to NEVER date his daughter. Of course he should have known that Van was going press his luck.

There are so many fun twists and turns in this story, to say much more would mean I’d be ruining the experience for others.

This is a good, clean romance with lots of fun chaos that ensues.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely read! I always love Pride and Prejudice spin offs as Jane Austen is one of my favorite writer. This book did not disappoint and have you feeling all emotions. From character growth to humor to wit, it was impossible to put it down. A definite must read!

Was this review helpful?

If it's a riff on Pride and Prejudice, I'm in, but pair that with hockey?! Yes. That aside, I have loved all of the books in this series and this one about Van and Amelia was great. In fact, I think this is probably my favorite overall so far. There was great dialogue and I just liked the overall feel of the story in general. 5 stars!

Was this review helpful?

Overall, this story was fun and unique. The characters grew together as a couple, got to know each other, and ultimately the HEA was successful. I do feel like this book lacked a bit of depth. For the coach/Van relationship to be SUCH a big deal even towards the end with no real explanation behind why the coach would think so poorly of him, was a bit odd. I felt like there was a piece of development missing there around Van’s character.

The idea characters of Van’s sisters were a nice break from the main storyline, but seemed a bit more like filler than an integrated part of the story.

The concept was different and I did appreciate that!

Was this review helpful?

I have fallen in love with this series and I was so excited to get a chance to read this book! This series is so good and each character is so like able and sweet. I would highly recommend this series!

Was this review helpful?

In this book, we follow Van, the much-loved hockey player from the Appies, and Amelia, the coach’s daughter. On what should have been Amelia’s wedding day, Van discovers that her fiancé was cheating on her. Instead of walking down the aisle, Amelia cancels the wedding and makes a bold decision and asks Van to join her on what would have been her honeymoon.

As someone who has followed Van’s journey throughout the series, I was excited to finally dive into a book centered on him. I’d always been curious when he would leave behind his womanizing ways and embrace commitment. From the beginning, Van shows he’s more than just the flirtatious athlete we’ve seen before—he’s a true gentleman, stepping up for Amelia. Watching him evolve and seeing his genuine care and protectiveness towards Amelia was truly heartening.

This book hit all the right notes for me. Van and Amelia’s chemistry was palpable, and their journey together was filled with emotional highs and lows, sprinkled with humor, warmth, and wonderfully written banter.

On top of the romantic storyline, the camaraderie between Van and his teammates added an extra layer of fun. The text thread of the “dream team” kept the book funny as hell, and showcased the tight bond they share, which has always been one of my favorite aspects of this series.

Overall, this was hands down my favorite book of the series so far. It was a delightful, emotional rollercoaster that left me smiling. I couldn’t put it down, and the unexpected turns in Van and Amelia’s story kept me engaged until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Loved it! Runaway bride is one of my fav movies so I was excited for this. This book was fun to read and laugh out loud funny. And I really loved Van’s sisters! I wish they had a big part in the story line.

This was my first of the Appie series but now I’ve got to go back and read them all.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the arc. Opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Instalove, hockey, forbidden romance — mix those with a good dose of humor, and voilà, you get this gem! But honestly, from a book that starts with a runaway bride, you know you're in for a treat. What I really loved, though, was Van’s point of view — everyone deserves a Van in their life. So don’t waste any time, read it, and then go find your own Van!

Was this review helpful?

“This life we’ve built, Mills? It’s the furthest thing from duty. It’s a choice—you’re a choice—I’d choose every day all over again.” Van and Amelia's story is full of banter, runaway brude, a soft hero, crazy teammates and a mad father and it's an amazing one. The Appies and their love stories are the best

Was this review helpful?

First of all, Thank You Netgalley for the ARC granted. I truly like when books make references to other books , startingby the title, and this making it to one of my beloved stories in the whole literary world (yes, Lizzie e Darcy <3 ) I just couldn't not love it. I have read the previous stories from this series and was compeled to read the next ones. Totally recommended!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy the plot of this story and how Amelia and Vans love story played out. Drew was a pain and really annoyed me and I couldn’t be happier once he was fully out of Amelia’s life but I did really enjoy the scenes where Van stood up against him for Amelia. My favorite characters have got to be Van sisters as I loved every second they were mentioned. I was not expecting the twist when part two started which I love because that doesn’t happen often for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book in this series and my first from this author, and it was utterly charming. Emma St. Clair delivers a romance with the one bed trope (which never gets used!! Kissing only in this series!!!), but it doesn’t feel tired. If you don’t fall in love with the bad boy MMC or the runaway bride, you will fall in love with the hockey team community setting and the supportive sisters that are literal family. St. Clair knows the audience and doesn’t shy away from Marvel and TS references while offering deeper themes if the reader wants them. If you love Fearless or Getaway Car, or if you enjoyed Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, you’ll fall for Runaway Bride and Prejudice.

Was this review helpful?

RUNWAY BRIDE AND PREJUDICE
by Emma St. Clair

Ive been LOVING this series of Appies AHL team and this book did not disappointed me at all.
The world of Harvest Hollow and AHL team has written so well, it is our magic. Can I move there, like asap?

This book is for our ”bad boy” of the team, Van and how he met this girl, who (surprised - not surprised) happened to be the coaches only daughter. They end up to share honeymoon suite in resort at Florida. And the rest is history as they say, even everything didn’t go smoothly…

I couldn’t put this book down. I was on the edge to know what gonna happen next. Even in the end; all the hustle was so funny - and looked so this couple, so it was perfect ending of this book.

NOTHING LESS that 5 / 5 stars!!

Was this review helpful?