Always the (Mc)Bridesmaid…

Synopsis

Is the best man also Mr Wright?

Perpetually single Hayley McBride – hairdresser and hopeless romantic – is delighted when her brother asks her to help plan his wedding. Until that is, she’s forced to work with her brother’s best friend, Oliver Wright – a cold and aloof divorce lawyer and a man who’s always hated her.

Oliver has seen enough broken relationships to know love doesn’t last. Being his friend’s best man is just a formality. What is there to do other than ensure his friend’s younger sister, Hayley, doesn’t waste too much money on a one-day event?

But Hayley has a knack for making people smile, and Oliver has struggled for years to resist her. As they work together, he starts to wonder if he’s been living in denial.

Hayley keeps chipping away at his walls, and uncovering a different side to him, but can she risk her heart on such a committed cynic?

They must decide whether to take a chance on love or stick to being nothing more than Bridesmaid McBride and Mr Wright the best man.

My review

Hayley McBride couldn’t be happier for her brother as he has finally found the love of his life. And of course Hayley is more than happy and willing to help not only with the wedding itself, but also with the sten party. Weren’t it only that Finlay’s best man is Oliver Wright, a cynical divorce lawyer, who doesn’t believe in love at all and sees weddings as a waste of time and money. Yet forced to work together, Hayley realizes that there is more than an adverse – to – love man than she thought… And Oliver himself finds himself unable to resist Hayley anymore… And when a week in London brings them to an one – off, once back in Glenbriar can they truly just return to the hate – relationship they used to have?

If there was one couple I was very eager to be happening, it for sure was Hayley and Oliver! From the snippets we saw in the previous books in this amazing series, the too obvious dislike for each other for sure had to turn into a great story! And what a story it was!!!

Hayley for sure is a ray of sunshine whenever and wherever she appears! She stands so positive in life, and is happy to see all her loved ones finding love.

But even the brightest of people can have a moment of difficulties, and I for sure could understand those little bits of jealousy. Because it was very recognizable, in my case at least, seeing everyone finding their perfect match, building a life, while you yourself seem to be unable to find that same kind of love…

Of course such a bubbly character is meant to clash with a character like Oliver Wright…

In one way, I could understand his not – believing in love. Being a divorce lawyer for sure makes you see the most ugly bits of a marriage. But I also felt that there was so much more to his tale than just seeing too many marriages going awry…

And his tale for sure truly saddened me, as it’s clear that in fact, cold Oliver is in fact just a lonely person, wanting nothing more to love and be loved. And with the relationship with his own family not being an easy one, and still coping over a huge loss, I couldn’t exactly blame him of being afraid to do exactly that what he wishes the most, because as far as he knows, love will only hurt in the end…

From the start of this book, Hayley and Oliver clash just over everything. And of course I enjoyed every moment of it! 😊

But when the change starts, on their trip to London, I truly fell in love with story. Because not only do we see how attentive and kind Oliver in fact can be, but we also see how slowly his walls are falling down. And seeing how Hayley starts to understand the enigma that Oliver is, truly made me cheer for this unlikely couple!

Sparks start to fly around in London, but I appreciated how both characters don’t find themselves rushing things, even if they want to.

They don’t longer ignore what is building between them, yet they are just there for each other, also in time of need.

And in those moments, whether it’s looking for the right sten activity, or offering a shoulder to lean on in a scary situation, we can see the real depth of what is growing between them.

Now, of course this pair still have several struggles to overcome, some easier than others. Because fear can at times be a sensible thing, but it can also be the thing that keeps you away from something beautiful. And while it may seem easy to say to just let that fear go, when it got such a hold on you, giving in to your feelings isn’t easy at all!

Margaret Amatt wrote once again a marvellous next chapter in the Glenbriar series. I loved the new main characters, as they show not only show depth and growth, but also show us that sometimes love can be found closer than we might think.

And with characters from the previous reappearing and new entries showing their presence, I cannot wait what next story this amazing author has up in her sleeve! 😊