You May Kiss the Groomsman

Meet Me at the Altar #3

by Samantha Chase

It seemed like a good idea at the time…

When Josie Sullivan agrees to marry her friend Tyler, it’s just so he’ll get a promotion at work. That’s what friends do, right? But what should have been a quick, quiet affair starts to look like the real thing when his family shows up in the middle of the “proposal.” Now, it’s no longer a quick stop at the courthouse during a lunch break, but a full-blown wedding and there’s nothing Josie can do to stop it.

There was no way he could hold his peace…

Daniel Alexander hasn’t been home in years. After fifteen years as a Navy SEAL, he’s more than ready to return to civilian life. Being away for so long, he’s missed a lot of his younger brother’s life and it seems like he’s back just in time to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. No matter how he breaks it down, something’s just not adding up about this wedding and he’s determined to figure out why. And he’s not just trying to stop it from happening because he’s finding himself wildly attracted to the bride-to-be.

Or because they can’t stop kissing each other.

Josie had given up on finding her own happily ever after and as her attraction to Daniel keeps growing, she’s suddenly regretting her decision to help out a friend. Now she just needs to decide if she wants to kiss the groom…or the groomsman.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Friends To Lovers, Family

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical fake engagement!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 🖤💜🤎💚💛
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌍
Character development: 😍😕🙃☺️🤩

The heroine: Josie Sullivan - part owner of a wedding planning/event planning business called Meet Me at the Alter. Josie suffers from wedding planner syndrome where she is always planning somebody else’s wedding but never her own. One of her partners in the business, Skye married her brother Elliot not too long ago and they just had their first child.

The Hero(es): Daniel Alexander - Just returned from 15 years as a Navy Seal, he plans to start a Security business with his two friends and strengthen his family ties which fell to the wayside a bit while he was in the military. He meets Josie in the hospital while visiting a friend and takes her out to dinner which doesn’t go too well though they are wildly attracted to each other.

The story: Josie, who is yearning for a marriage and family of her own, helped her best friend Tyler plan a party for his Law Firm. Tyler has seen other men is his firm reach partner status by doing things like that and especially after getting married, so when Tyler’s boss and his wife assume that Josie is his fiancé, neither of them correct the mistake.

Tyler sees that he could get on the partner track by getting married and so he suggests that he and Josie get married in a civil ceremony and stay married for a year or so in order for him to become a partner and to grow her business from wedding planning to event planning using his contacts at the firm. He proposes to her in a restaurant only to find that his parents and brother Daniel who just returned from the military are in the next booth and overhear his proposal.

Josie and Daniel are attracted to each other and Daniel couldn’t get her out of his mind after their date. He can’t figure Josie out. He is determined to find out what is up with his brothers engagement and wants to prove that Josie won’t be faithful to his brother.

The story is a good one and so different from the fake engagement/fake marriage stories I have read before where the bride and groom get involved for whatever reason and fall in love for real as the story progresses. In this story, Josie is the kind of person that never wants to let anyone down and she feels her friend Tyler really needs her, but she is having trouble fighting her attraction to his brother Daniel.

The narration, done by Avery Reid, was good. She has a pleasant voice which was perfect for Josie and her friends. However, the book was told in dual POV (Josie and Daniel) and there was only a female narrator so I am taking off a point for that. I just hate when female’s do the male voice and vice versa. Especially for a big, tough Navy Seal. I like to hear a sexy male voice for that.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

You May Kiss the Groomsman is an OK read. This is a NA vanilla romance. There is nothing very memorable from the story. Even though the idea of the story what really gets me attention. Sadly Miss Chase only developed it into vanilla romance.

The characters, the chemistry is good enough. The conversation and banter can be developed to be much better but again, Miss Chase only gives us vanilla romance. The keyword here is vanilla. I am repeating the word vanilla. Where is the drama? Where is the twist? Where is the climax?

Overall: OK read.

3 stars

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of Samantha Chase's that I have read and I plan to read the other two in this series. What can I say, this book had me right from the beginning to the end. I've never listened to anything performed by Avery Reid but the narration was done very well. Daniel and Josie were likeable characters in the story and the chemistry between the two was just on point. I loved the attraction at the hospital with either one not knowing who should make the first move. The only craziness that I detest was Josie's inability to kick Daniel's brother to the curb. Her lack of backbone, friendship or no friendship was sometime annoying, yet she was decisive about her feelings towards Daniel and what she wanted from him...a bit confusing. The intimacy between Daniel and Josie was just right and not overdone...totally liked. I so loved her relationship with her BFFs. They were an extra addition to the storyline. As I have not read the others in this series, this was a nice standalone and did not really need the other two to catch up on other characters in the book. A romantic and entertaining listen that I recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another feel-good, clean romance in this series. Some game playing, but nothing too drawn out. I loved the outcome and am ready for the next in the series! The author is a great writer and I'm glad I found her books.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN is the third instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult MEET ME AT THE ALTAR romance series focusing on the woman who work for, and own Meet Me at the Altar Wedding and Catering services. This is wedding planner Josie Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL turned security specialist Daniel Alexander’s story line. YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty . Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.


Told from dual third person perspectives (Daniel and Josie) YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN follows wedding planner Josie Sullivan as she ‘pines’ for a wedding and family of her own. When her best friend Tyler suggests they marry one another for business purposes only, Josie battles between head and heart knowing a marriage of convenience means a marriage without love but when Jose meets former Navy SEAL Daniel Alexander, our heroine, knows there is only one choice, and that choice means turning down the proposal she never wanted to accept. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Daniel and Josie, and the potential fall-out as a lack of communication, heart break and rejection force our heroine to walk away from the man that she loves, possibly losing a friendship in the process.


The relationship between Daniel and Josie is one of immediate attraction but our heroine is easily manipulated by her best friend Ty. If not for meeting Daniel Alexander, Josie would have probably agreed to a marriage of convenience but quickly discovers that she has been taken advantage of, and easily coerced into something she didn’t want to do. Daniel never expected to fall for his brother’s fiancée but something about their ‘relationship’ was awkward and wrong. Falling to Josie was easy, breaking her heart was easier still. There are no $ex scenes-everything fades to black or is mostly implied.


There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and well-meaning secondary and supporting characters including Josie’s business partners Lea and Skylar, Josie’s brother Elliott, as well as Josie’s best friend Tyler, and his extended family; and Daniel’s business partners and former Navy SEALs Xander and Knox.


YOU MAY KISS THE GROOMSMAN is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendships, a definite lack of communication, issues of trust, and heart break and pain. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is sweet and sexy; the characters are challenging and energetic.


www.thereadingcafe.com

[Laiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of this series.. I liked the story of Sky and loved Lea!
I am very excited to read about Josie and this book is one of my anticipated book for Aug!
Soooo I was very sad that it did not live up to my expectations did not enjoy as much as the first two books.. Josie is just so desperate and TBH I was so frustrated with her on the entire book...like I wanted to shake and slap 👋 her to wake up😐😒 and punched Tyler in the face🥊
#DesperateJosie
#TylerTheUser
#DanielTheProdigalSon
#NotForMe
#SorryNotSorry

[Susan Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Chase writes an engaging, heartfelt story for Josie Sullivan and Daniel Alexander. The instant attraction between Josie and Daniel drew me into their story.
Josie Sullivan is an independent, confident businesswoman who can handle any business- related crisis. In the past year, her brother Elliot has married Skye; Josie’s friend and business partner. Skye and Elliot are celebrating the birth of their new born daughter. Lea who owns Meet me at the Altar with Josie and Skye is newly engaged. Samantha Chase crafted this piece of the story perfectly-it was so relatable. Josie was thrilled for Skye and Lea but, at the same time she was realizing that something was missing in her life.
Tyler Alexander and Josie have been friends for years. He is all about himself and his career. Tyler offers Josie a marriage of convenience with a one year commitment—so he can make partner at his law firm. The author does a fabulous job scripting this piece of the story. Tyler knows Josie is feeling left out and he pushes at Josie to accept his offer and then disappears on a work assignment.
Tyler’s older brother, Daniel Alexander has returned home after 15 years in the navy. The former Navy Seal and his partners have started a security business. The instant attraction between Daniel and Josie was HOT. The undeniable chemistry paired with Josie’s commitment to Tyler was perfectly written and I rooted for Josie and Daniel to own their feelings.
You May Kiss the Groomsman is a fun twist on the marriage of convenience storyline. The charming characters, the steamy romance and the family drama kept me engaged in this book. The relationship between Skye, Lea and Josie changes and develops during each novel. Loved that their commitment to each other and their growing business remained strong as they balanced their love and work lives.
Samantha Chase scores a hat trick with the Meet Me at the Altar series! Each novel is filed with engaging characters and heartfelt romance. I love that this series is a little edgier, the romance is more sensuous and the each couple faces different challenges.
Am wondering who will Meet Xander and Knox At The Altar?

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book blind, because I love the author and the series. From previous books, I thought I knew where this was going. I was suprised-in a good way-when it took a different turn. I loved Daniel, and wanted to shake some sense into Josie a few times, but loved the, together! A great book!

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give this book 3 stars because I did enjoy several moments during the story. I loved the parts that included our hero and heroin together... Their first meeting in the hospital, their first kiss, them watching Disney movies... but then I realized it was a clean romance. Not a huge huge deal, but I felt that there was a fairly good build up of chemistry, so then to suddenly allude that they were 2 seconds away from sleeping together and then just end the chapter and the next chapter has the story starting the next day was a let down. I felt like an important part of the story was missing.

What I did not enjoy was how the bride/heroine would not stand up to her supposed BFF Tyler. I can understand her not wanting to disappoint him by breaking off their fake engagement if he was honestly a wonderful friend. But he wasn't! He was a selfish ass that did not treat her with any consideration whatsoever. So it was to frustrating to watch that element of the story.

[Susan, aka Pooh Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway. This is my honest review.

Overall 4,5 stars, will give it 5


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For amount of romance. Kept my attention and you could feel the chemistry between Josie and Daniel, started out she was marrying Tyler, Daniels younger brother, so he could get a job promotion. Also for the character building of the characters.

♨️♨️♨️♨️ For amount of steam and heat. I enjoy both hot & steamy books, as well as inspirational, clean romance. This book had just the right of steam for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For story plot. This is not your usual fake engagement story.


You May Kiss the Groomsman is the third book in the Meet Me at the Altar. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Josie Sullivan is part owner of a wedding and event planner company called Meet Me At the Altar. She always seems to be planning everyone’s wedding but her own.

Josie’s best friend Tyler has her plan a party for his law firm. Tyler notices that the lawyers who are married tend to make partner easier and faster. He mentions it to Josie, and when people assume Josie his is fiancé, neither deny it.

Why not fake a marriage? A quick ceremony at the court house seems to be easy. Stay married for a year. However, things get complicated when Tyler proposes at a restaurant. They don’t realize things are about to get sticky. Sitting at another booth are Tyler’s parents and his brother Daniel Alexander who is home after 15 years as a Navy Seal. They overhear the proposal.

The parents want in on the wedding planning, and Daniel wants to prove to his kid brother Josie won’t be faithful.

Daniel At met Josie at a hospital while visiting a friend. He took her out to dinner, and although the chemistry was there, things didn’t go well.

The story has some twists and turns, but I rooted for Daniel from the beginning.

This was a quick read book, but other things kept interfering.

If you’re looking for a hot and steamy romance, this may not be the book for you. If you like some heat, but not much steam, grab the book.

[Pennie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie is surrounded by brides and babies and wondering when it is going to be her time! She is a wedding planner and with no prospects in sight for herself her friend Tyler comes up with a scheme for them to marry...on paper only...so he can get a promotion at work and at the same time get to increase her business. Even though she knows this is not a good idea she is always the one to help the other person before herself and gets manipulated into it. Little does she know she would meet someone just before and accept a dinner date and they would spark attraction. Daniel came out of nowhere. He was just the right someone for her. To her surprise he turns out to be Tyler's brother. Now what is she going to do! This one was a lot of crazy, a lot of lovely, and a lot of feels all rolled into one. Definitely the perfect book to curl up with on a hot and steamy summer afternoon!

**Received this ARC for review**

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the first two in the series and, while I would like to go back and read them now, this can easily be read as a standalone.
Josie is willing to do anything for those she loves. She agrees to help her good friend, Tyler, by agreeing to a fake relationship so that he can appear to be solid and committed to his employer. The only problem is that in the meantime, Josie meets Daniel, Tyler's brother, and their chemistry is off the charts. But Tyler needs help and Daniel seems to be a blip on the radar, so what's a girl to do?
I like the twist on the brother's best friend trope with a tinge of love triangle and fake dating. The love triangle is more from the LI's perspective rather than reality, so I believe readers who aren't a fan of the trope will still enjoy it here.
I listened to the audiobook for this title and the narrator, Avery Reid, is a perfect fit for the tone and content. Her inflection added interest to the story.
Steam: innuendo and skippable open door scene
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Was it the best romance I've ever read? No. However, if you can get through the first section where the main character is being insufferable, then this book is almost a romantic comedy.


The characters do kind of fall flat, but it's cute romance if you're not looking for too much depth. They have cute moments and even some really realistic moments. Like the longing many people feel when those around them start to get married and have children.

The narrators were great, nothing to complain about.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest in the series.

[Jess Reads2Much · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet, fluffy and predictable 2.5⭐

[Fedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half stars

You May Kiss the Groomsman by Samantha Chase is the third in her Meet Me At the Altar series.

Josie Sullivan loves her job. She loves her friends and her family. But she has to admit that watching everyone pair off joyfully has got her starting to recognize that maybe she actually wants a little of that for herself. Which is part of why she caves when her best friend proposes a marriage of convenience that should benefit them both professionally.

Daniel Alexander is newly returned from more than a decade as a SEAL and isn’t really looking for anything more than getting reacquainted with civilian life, renewing his relationship with his family, and getting his security business with his teammates off the ground. When a chance meeting with Josie spurs interest on both their parts, it’s a bit of a surprise to discover that she’s technically engaged… to his brother.

Samantha Chase writes a page-turning story with likable characters. Josie is fiercely loyal and her friendships mean the world to her. Watching her wrestle with her perceived responsibilities to her loved ones and herself, and seeing Daniel come to see his own desires and capacity for connection is by turns charming, frustrating, and wonderfully satisfying. Ms Chase brings out the gamut of emotions, and also brings the laughs, sighs, and pleasure the whole way. You May Kiss the Groomsman is a winner!

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the middle of agreeing to marry Tyler, one of her good friends, for the sake of his promotion at work, Josie finds herself second guessing her decision especially when she meets up with a gorgeous man she feels an instant attraction to. But when the brief encounter with Daniel turns into a disaster because he is introduced to Josie as Tyler's brother the plot thickens and her heart sinks. Can you really fall in love instantly with a stranger? And can Josie disappoint Tyler while trying to find her HEA? With instantly lovable characters and a storyline that will keep the reader flipping pages as quickly as they can this was a wonderful addition to the Meet Me at the Alter Series. Samantha Chase never disappoints and can only prove time and time again that no matter the storyline she can write romance that her readers always love.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC - thanks to the author, Samantha Chase, and the publisher.

I really love this series and this is a great addition! Pro-tip, while this is a stand-alone, I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the Meet Me At The Altar series.

Tyler & Josie are in a relationship of convenience so that he can get a promotion and she can get access to more work for her wedding event planning... and it looks like they are heading to the altar, until Josie meets a hot stranger. Only problem, he's Tyler's brother!

Sparks, laughter, and miscommunications abound!

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star Review You May Kiss The Groomsman (Meet Me At The Altar #3) by Samantha Chase
When I read the blurb for You May Kiss The Groomsman I couldn’t wait to read it. From the first chapter I was hooked on the story that Ms.Chase wove. It was complicated, fun, entertaining and I fell for the characters as they were so easy to like and relate to.
When Josie Sullivan agrees to marry her best friend Tyler Alexander to help him obtain a promotion at work she has no hesitation. After all she has given up on finding love so she may as well help out her friend.
Meeting a man she is instantly attracted too she is shocked to later learn that he is Tyler’s older brother Daniel, a retired Navy Seal. Their attraction to one another is instant and this causes complications for everyone. There were moments of humour, moments that were heartwarming and times that were heart breaking.
This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read but the friendship and love between Josie and her friends Lea and Skye added an additional layer to the story. This is one of those books that you need to experience for yourself.
I have to say I couldn’t put this one down. This is a little gem of a read. One click you won’t be disappointed.

[Macy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really adorable and funny concept. Josie is an amazingly loyal friend who promises to help her BFF Tyler get a promotion at work. Marriage for a year, quickie quiet divorce and voila’. No potential for any issues there right? Before the marriage she meets Daniel, with whom she has an instantaneous undeniable connection. He is recently retired from the military, starting his own business and oh wait a moment, just happens to be Tylers brother. Tyler is filled with rage, jealousy and hatred towards his brother and also happens to be a gold medalist in selfishness, egomania and narcissism. Josie is a strong smart woman and yet where Tyler is concerned has zero spine. I can’t imagine any way she’d have actually been friends with him as he has ZERO redeeming qualities and no where in the book lets us know why she’d be friends with him. Again, cute concept but would have been more believable had we learned one single decent thing about Tyler so the story made sense. Love this author, but this one missed the mark for me. Mostly I was annoyed listening to it.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you meet a hot guy, go out with him, than get fake engaged to your friend, only to find out the Hot guy is your fake fiancés brother. I don’t know about you but this storyline totally drew me in. I have not read another story like it. I absolutely LOVE You May Kiss the Groomsmen!! It gave me all the feels and than some!!
Josie is a beautiful and successful women, who is a great friend and loyal almost to a fault.
Daniel just retired from the Navy Seals and is now back home to start a new business with a couple of buddies.
They run into each and are immediately attracted to each other.
This book did have a sexy feel to it. But it was so much more than that, Daniel just drew me in and was completely swoon worthy. I was also intrigued to see how Josie would get herself out of the mess she was in. I loved all the characters and adored the story. I would say this is one of my favorite recent reads!! I would Highly Recommend You May Kiss the Groomsmen, you will be glad you did!!

[Renee Entress · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, pain, and heartbreak.

The below are part of this series if you want to read those books(s) first
The Engagement Embargo (Meet Me at the Altar, #1)
With This Cake (Meet Me at the Altar #2)

This is Josie and Daniel’s story. Josie is going to help out her friend Tyler. But what was supposed to be quick quiet affair at the court house has blown far out of proportion. When his brother gets involved it gets all kinds of crazy. Josie gave up on a real happily ever after. When his family gets involved and starts planning a huge wedding it turns into crazy times. She is attracted to his brother Daniel and supposed to marry Tyler so he can get a promotion. Daniel can tell something is off and he is not willing to let them marry after all he wants the bride for himself. Can Josie figure out if she can help her friend even though her heart wants another? Or will it all blow up?

I recommend this book.

[Tina Todd shobe]

This is the 3rd book in the Meet Me at the Altar series and well worth waiting for. Josie Sullivan is partners with her good friends, Lea and Skye in a wedding business. Skye just had a baby and Lea is engaged. Josie is feeling a little lost and agrees to a marriage of convenience with her friend Tyler to help him get an advancement at work.

While visiting Skye in the hospital she meets Daniel Alexander, who has returned to his hometown after being a Navy Seal for the past 15 years. Their attraction is instant, unfortunately Daniel is Tyler's brother. Now Josie is fighting against her going through with her commitment to Tyler and her possible HEA with Daniel.

Samantha Chase has such a great way of writing that pulls the reader into the story. I went from wanting to punch Tyler, 'Gibbs' slap Josie, laughing along with Daniel and Josie and cheering at the end. Absolutely loved this book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute love story. This is exactly the feel-good book you’re looking for. The characters were interesting and their relationships were well developed and complex. This is the third and final book in the “Meet Me at the Alter” series. It did give a few spoilers to the previous books but they actually made me want to go back and read them more. The dialogue flowed easily. Steamy scenes were very well done. The narrator had a pleasant voice and did a great job.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Samantha Chase, and NetGalley for giving me the chance to listen to this story and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie and Daniel are a delight. Chase shakes up the heart with humor while pushing emotions to their limit. You May Kiss the Groomsman feels like an unfinished love letter. It gives the heart something to hope for, yearns to be understood yet recognizing that there needs to be action. I Fall in love with love every time I step inside of a Samantha Chase fantasy.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

What's lower than a door mat?

Josie was so pathetic. She wasn't A strong, intelligent woman like her friends insinuated. Tyler was awful and how could he even be described as such a good friend when her brother hadn't really befriended him that long ago.
Daniel was a jerk, full stop.
This was a skipping large chunks STF.

[Jill Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would love this book but I didn't. I found the plot to be frustrating and implausible. Josie had no backbone when dealing with Tyler. I had a hard time believing that a smart woman would get herself into this predicament.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved You May Kiss the Groomsman! Samantha Chase has once again delivered another wonderful romance in You May Kiss the Groomsman, the third book in her new Meet Me at the Altar series. Samantha Chase has once again provided her readers with amazing characters. Each book in this series keeps getting better and better, but I think that You May Kiss the Groomsman is my favorite. I love how all the characters in You May Kiss the Groomsman feel like best friends! Who doesn't love hot sexy men, strong, passionate females, and loving friends, who always support one another? Samantha Chase continues to deliver all that and so much more. I really enjoyed You May Kiss the Groomsman and am looking forward to hopefully reading more books in the Meet Me at the Altar series. I have read other books by Samantha Chase and have always enjoyed her wonderfully written love stories. Samantha Chase has once again shown that she is an amazing storyteller. You May Kiss the Groomsman did not disappoint; I could not put it down and loved every page. One of my favorite parts is how Samantha Chase incorporated the title of the book into the love story. I enjoy how Samantha Chase writes from the perspective of the main characters. That way you get to know what is going on in each of their minds. You May Kiss the Groomsman is a wonderful love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud and the bittersweet moments that cause me to sigh, say aww to myself with tears filling my eyes. You May Kiss the Groomsman be filled with such moments, and with so much more. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Samantha Chase love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. Who doesn’t love a story about a love at first sight love story? You May Kiss the Groomsman is the story of Josie Sullivan, wedding planner, co-owner and event planner for Meet Me at the Altar Wedding Services, and Daniel Alexander, retired Navy SEAL and older brother of Josie’s friend, Tyler. Josie and Daniel meet in the hospital cafeteria following the birth of Skye and Elliott’s daughter, Bella. Daniel and his friends were meeting with hospital security personnel, to discuss the new security business venture that Daniel and his friends want to start up. They decide to grab dinner together and share a kiss in the parking lot afterwards. With Skye and Lea finding their happily ever after, Josie has decided to help her friend, Tyler out by quietly marrying him, even if it is not the wedding she always dreamed about. Tyler thinks that in order to get the next promotion at the law firm where he works, he needs to be married. He promises Josie that the partners’ wives will use Meet Me at the Altar for their party planning needs, helping her to grow the business. Daniel and his parents unexpectedly arrive at the same restaurant just as Tyler gets out the ring for his fake proposal to Josie. The quiet, quick proposal and marriage has now become anything but what Josie wanted it be. While Josie and Daniel spend more time with one another because Tyler is a “no show”, things change between them. Eventually, Josie tells Daniel the truth about her relationship with Tyler. Josie worries how the Alexanders will react about her relationship with Daniel. A surprise plot twist happens and this changes everything between them. I love how Daniel and Tyler open up to each other in the emotionally charged, gut wrenching dialogue that transpires between the two of them, about their relationship and Tyler’s dreams. I love how Josie’s conversation with her brother Elliott, explained how Daniel and Tyler’s relationship was different from the one that Josie and Elliott share. I love how Josie and Elliot show their vulnerable sides, where Daniel admits that he has never felt for any woman the way he feels for Josie. I love that because of Tyler’s conversation with Daniel he made changes in his own life and no longer needed to fake marry Josie and that Tyler was instrumental is getting Josie and Daniel back together. I love that during their heart-to-heart, Daniel apologizes to Josie and confesses how he really feels about her. I love Josie’s relationship with Lea and Skye, it feels like a real friendship, and I love how they always love, support, and have each other’s backs. I enjoyed catching up with Lea and Skye, it felt like a get together with best friends. My favorite part of the book was the epilogue, I truly love how it goes above and beyond the normal happily ever after, I also enjoyed how each chapter had a quote about love. My favorite moment was the happy surprise for me at the end, where hopefully the next couple in the series is revealed. You May Kiss the Groomsman contains all the things that I have come to love most and expect in a Samantha Chase story, romance, great characters and setting, bittersweet moments and the plot twist that ties it all together. Amazing story. I could not put it down. Highly recommend this wonderful romance. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"These were the things he hadn’t really missed while on active duty for the last fifteen years–the family dinners, the lackluster conversation, and how his mother always seemed to get her way.

Even when she was wrong."

[I may spoil some things but nothing too big.]

There is a difference between being kind to people, especially friends, and letting them walk all over you. The best moment in the book was when Lea told it all to Josie, it was great and Josie did the expected thing - she left. It was hard to like her. A successful, seemingly independent woman who wants a serious relationship that will lead to her having a family. That's perfectly normal. And her agreeing to marry her friend for business reasons/friend-favor makes a book. But it was very hard to read her cave in again and again, and just stay quiet when she had things to say. And even harder when she wanted to have her cookie and eat it too. Here she was, engaged to Tyler and not getting out of it despite not wanting to marry her and at the same time, she was continuously getting closer and closer to Daniel, kissing him, throwing herself at him (her words).

Daniel was a little better, showing some self-control, that though disappeared quickly time and again. But he had the guts to say it out loud that he noticed things were off and ask her WTF. However, to Josie was it was the value of a state secret, and revealing it meant treason.

Tyler, the lawyer, was no friend at all. I didn't see him being worth shit as a friend, just an arrogant workaholic who had no problem lying to his family and friends or colleagues, scheming behind their backs, manipulating everyone for his gain.

Which made me all the angrier at Josie for letting him do the obvious. Josie, meet doormat - you share a purpose. Her whining was intolerable, considering everyone who knew the truth encouraged her to do the right thing, the thing she wanted and she'd come full circle back to whining. And then there was her trying to force people to relate to her in this. "What would you do if you were me?" kind of thing was infuriating. She was walking on her true friends but coming back to complain about Tyler only to keep going with the engagement and then getting involved with Daniel, then trying to make him see it was all ok. Also, the only thing that made Tyler and Josie such "great friends" was their thinking business was a priority in life and it was ok to hurt people if it meant gaining something at work.

Anyway, the plot idea was good but reading all of those things together made me feel all kinds of negative. I'm against anyone not being unable to really stand up for themselves and though it may be a necessary character flaw for some books, I truly hate to read that.

[Deb Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You May Kiss The Groomsman
Meet Me At The Altar #3
Samantha Chase
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was sweet sexy story of the finally ever after. Josie Sullivan has watched her co-owners and best friends find their forever loves, but for headstrong, take no prisoners Josie, hers has always been out of reach. So when her brothers best friend Tyler asks her to marry him so he can become partner at his legal firm, she accepts but the truth is she still misses the love e retinue around her has. That is, Until a mystery man in the hospital cafeteria literally sweeps her off her feet… He’s fine,& sexy and everything she wants, so with a sneaky kiss she walks away.

Daniel Alexander has finished 15 years as SEAL, and is ready to settle into normal life. He’s starting a business with friends in security, he has a house to call home for now and everything is looking up, he’s settled. Until a woman in a hospital cafeteria turns his head upside down, not only thinking with real brain, he asks her out to dinner, her ending the night kiss is still on his lips days later! Oh and now she’s front and centre in his life, and not as a lover. Gorgeous Josie is marrying his brother, has an engagement ring and all. Furious he sets out to ruin her for two timing him and Tyler, but it seems the joke might just be on him… Since he can’t stay away from her, their affair turns very real and when the truth of her “engagement”, becomes clear it’s no longer Josie being the jerk but his brother, Tyler, giving Josie attitude, leaving her to deal with his family and many days and weeks on her own.

While this pushes Tyler and Josie further apart, it gives Daniel more time to spend with her, but what started as hot kisses and great sex turns to feelings, the ones that Josie desperately wants… Could Daniel be “her” one, even though he doesn’t share her love, can she see Daniel while continuing the farce of Tyler/Josie, will she make the ultimate choice which could push two special men her life away permanently?

Never fear the girls of Meet Me At The Altar, her real BFF’s will walk her, push her, wipe her tears and guide her with the best path forwards all with nothing but love… hoping Josie will one day meet her perfect man at the altar!

I loved the friendship and love that Josie, Skye and Lea have, they are the peoples every woman needs in her life! Through tears and triumph they always come together with the best results!!!