This is the first I have read by Natasha Anders. It will not be the last!

Cute story. Really enjoyed watching Mason and Daisy together.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is a book that makes me smile. I smiled throughout the entire book. The setting is like many books with a supposedly ugly duckling and hot guy but it is so much more. Daisy is the baby among her 3 sisters. The "wingman" Mason is asked by his brother to keep Daisy occupied while he talks to her sister. But Mason is really a good guy and feels bad for even doing it. Daisy does find out however and is obviously hurt, but comes up with a way for Mason to make it up to her by being her date for her sisters wedding. But, of course, that is too simple. This romance has to be believable. I don't want to give too much away but the story goes from there. A "fake' romance and true love in the end. I loved this story so much because it was quiet long but you needed the length in the story to give you the background and to put the characters in enough situations to make you love them and it worked. I was cheering for Mason and Daisy throughout the entire book. The book also sets up the next book in the series, which is Daisy's sister, who we learn enough about to make you excited about what is to come.

This book uses one of my favorite tropes in romance: The fake relationship. I don't know why, but it always strikes the right chord with me and "The Wingman" was no different. I enjoyed these characters and I hope the author follows this up with stories about some of the side characters introduced in this story. I would most certainly read them. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.

An forgotten girl meets hot guy.
A romance story between rich and poor.

I hear you thinking: Story like we heard a thousand times before of seen on tv. But I must tell you, the way it is written you'll enjoy reading it. I know I have ;-)

The romance between Daisy and Mason is sweet and cute, where do you find these guys? Do they excist ;-) (Lucky for me, I have one)  

I was glad that Mason wasn't a typical alpha male jerk, but just a sweet guy who meets an insecure girl and takes a chance.

I definitely think that there are times that you read something and it just fits your mood and what you are needing at that exact moment. ‘The Wingman’ by Natasha Anders was that for me. Reading this time of book at valentines just seemed to fit the romance of it perfectly.

I don’t know if it is because we all have that fantasy of how we have at some point all wished that a certain someone would have noticed us and been stunned by how we now look or act that makes me enjoy this type of book.

Daisy is the wallflower who has grown up being the other one, the McGregor sister that doesn’t get attention and the one people used to get to her sisters but when she finds out that all the attention she was getting from Mason was really about distracting her so Spencer could hit on her sister she is furious. This time though instead of wallowing in self-pity she uses it and convinces Mason to accompany her to her sister wedding as her boyfriend. Luckily for Daisy, Mason is actually one of the good guys and in an effort to redeem himself he agrees to her scheme. What could go wrong?

This was an entertaining and romantic read. Instead of the big reveal of a makeover Mason began to realise just what a catch Daisy was as he got to know her. I think this kind of ‘ugly duckling’ type trope worked well in this instance because Daisy didn’t have to change, Mason got to know her. She was witty, snarky and beautiful already but just had a way of hiding herself and her personality because of those around her. It was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more from Natasha Anders.

Natasha Ander’s stories are so addictive. The Wingman was no different and I loved it! Her stories are usually filled with angst and one hot alpha asshole but this story was quite different and didn’t follow the usual formula.

Mason Carlisle, originally from the wrong side of the tracks, had made himself into a success. He, against his better judgment, decided to act as a distraction to Daisy McGregor while his brother Spencer attempted to connect with Daisy’s sister, Daffodil. After convincing Daisy he was interested, she very quickly learned the truth and was humiliated, leaving Mason feeling quite guilty. 

In a turn that was surprising to Daisy, she used Mason’s guilt to talk him into going to her sister, Dahlia’s, wedding with her. And so the story began…

Daisy, known in town as “the other one” when talking about the McGregor sisters, had super low self-esteem. I loved the way she worked through this, thanks largely in part, to Mason. His no nonsense approach to inner negative monologue was refreshing.

I think what really worked for me, though, was Mason. Though I felt bad for Daisy, I have to say that Mason did not come across as a douche at all. I also did not feel like he started out “shallow” and then, after getting to know Daisy, started to see the real her and fall for her. Instead, I think Mason’s own self-esteem issues caused him to never allow anyone close and therefore shaped his point of view. 

One thing that struck me whenever the reader got a view into Mason’s thoughts - all of his thoughts were a direct contradiction to his actions. His jaded thoughts about relationships and his own worth had him warping what he was really feeling. Each time he said he wasn’t interested in Daisy, he proved himself wrong in his actions. Each time he said he didn’t have feelings for her, again his actions betrayed him. In the end, Mason and Daisy were exactly what the other needed.

I couldn’t help but notice that things for Daffodil and Dahlia were left very unresolved. Is it too hopeful to think we may have more stories into the McGregor sisters?

Great read!

2 stars 

I am a huge fan of Natasha Anders, The Unwanted Wife is one of my all time favorite romances ever. I knew going into this book it wasn’t going to be like her past ones, less angst and more humor. But even knowing that, I did not care for this one which makes me sad because I was very much looking forward to this book. I found this book to be really boring, and at times it felt very choppy with rapid changing POV’s. I also felt the plot itself wasn’t focused very well.

This book reminded me a lot of her other book His Unlikely Lover (the only other book by Anders I didn’t enjoy) and I think her take on the ugly duckling trope just doesn’t work for me. I already don’t love the ugly duckling trope in general, but I also found the main character Daisy to be really annoying and I didn’t empathize with her at all. And I have a very high tolerance for “annoying heroines”. Mason and Daisy’s family also would seem clued in to her insecurities and yet still always say the wrong thing to her and hurt her feelings. 

I have lots of other friends who read and enjoyed this book, so I encourage you to read their positive reviews while considering picking up this book. I tend to have very picky tastes and what doesn’t work for me works fine for other readers. I will still reading anything Natasha Anders puts out, she’s a one of a kind author. This book just simply did not work for me.

Another great book from Anders. She is one author who I know will twist my feeling for the characters and every turn. One minute you want to hug them and the next smack them upside the head! I really hope we get a sotry for the other sisters. Unputdownable... not sure if that's a real word but it is now!

This book was so much fun to read. The banter, the confusion, the mixed signals. It was all so messy, but so enjoyable. I loved every second of it. The Wingman covers topics like self-worth and bullying in society, topics which are so relevant these days. 

The Wingman is about Daisy McGregor, a third of the McGregor sister trio.  She is the one no one knows about. She is the one who people forget exists. And she has preferred her life to be that way so long because when she is in the spotlight, she only gets hurt and criticised. She isn’t seen as ugly per say, she is just seen as plain. The third of the McGregor sisters that is no fun. Which we see from the beginning hating her sister’s bachelorette party wanting to leave the second she gets there. 

“No misunderstandings. You’re the wingman. I’m the ugly girl.”

 I think that many readers may be able to find her personality at the beginning to be very relatable. I could see myself in her during parts, where she would lack faith in herself where others like her family knew she stood out. It was nice to know that she is special to people, it makes you hope you are too. 

She wasn’t born with the lack of appreciation for herself. A lot of it came from the people around her. Her sister’s b*tchy friends were the worst. They were out to get her from the beginning. It is still hard to understand why even now finishing the book. The girls don’t explain, but Shar and Zinzi are the actual worst. They are so condescending and speak down on Daisy from the very beginning. It is not fair. The world is full with cruel people like this who fuel their own ego by bringing people down. So it turn out, Daisy doesn’t have lot of faith in herself for a very long time. Not until Mason Carlisle.
Mason Carlisle. He is sort of a douche. At the beginning he talks to Daisy acting as a wingman for his brother who wants another McGregor sister. And Daisy ends up finding out and she is hurt. So hurt. But slowly Mason brings her out of her shell and shows her that after their first talk, the rest of the friendship has been all true. It takes a long time because of Daisy’s insecurities. But Mason shows her she is really special. He can be rude, and seemingly selfish at times, but he really cares for her and wants her. Other people may not see her, but he does. And that is something really special in itself. I really loved that throughout the whole book
. 
“What do you see when you look at me, Mason?” …
“Everything,” he grated out. “I see my whole fucking world, Daisy. I see all my days, my weeks, and my years. Every season of my life. All spent with you. I see everything I want, need, and desire all wrapped in you.”

Their love is so special. I think it is because it took so much work to get there. Both Mason and Daisy saw the worst characteristics of each other before finding the good. And I think that is how you find true love. You can see their love is strong and true as they have met their match, trait for trait. 

“I’ve always been shy. For years I’ve remained happily curled up in my shell in public, in private, with family or friends. I don’t think anybody ever really saw me. I don’t think even I saw the real me. But something weird happened around you. Even on that very first night when you were being a good little wingman… I opened my mouth and I spoke and I laughed and I engaged. You looked at me and saw Daisy. You helped me find myself, and I liked the person I found hiding in that shell. Even after I learned you were just talking to me as a favour to Spencer, there was just no going back the meek little wallflower Daisy. How can I not love you for that?"

Ahhh !! I would really love to have a love like this. It is one were both the hero and the heroine grew to be much better people around each other. Daisy was able to lose a lot of her insecurities and Mason found a love he could trust inexplicably.
Their story was so special and relatable. I loved it so much!!!
Take a read and enjoy a little slice of mayhem heaven with Mason and Daisy. 
4.5 Stars!!!

I've been hearing about The Wingman by Natasha Anders for awhile now - in Goodreads and Amazon forums. Readers have been gushing about it so much I decided to take the plunge and request an ARC from Netgalley. And then I read the book, all the while doubting that it could up to its hype. To my surprise, it did. It really did.

Daisy is not the typical h found in most romance novels. She's pretty, yes. But she's not the conventional pretty with the constant admirers vying for her attention. Out of three sisters, she is known as the other one. Her older siblings are the pretty one and the cute one. So you can guess how much self-esteem she has, right? Nil. Nada. Zip. 

Mason is your typical H - ruggedly handsome, cool, sexy, what all women want. He's retired from the army, used to own a celebrity security agency, and even modeled underwear for a time. So you can already see how mismatched these two people are.

When they meet, Mason is acting as his brother's reluctant wingman. And when Daisy discovers this, she blackmails him into being her wingman to her sister's wedding. While she doesn't really think that people will believe their sudden (and completely out-of-this-world, in her opinion) relationship, she just wants someone there to buffer the well-meaning jibes and insults. 

Mason finds himself feeling so guilty for making Daisy feel as bad as others have done so he agrees. He also finds himself enjoying Daisy's company so much that he insists on meeting up again and again before the wedding happens. She's witty, smart, and loyal. She's nothing like he thought she would be. As their friendship grows, so does his attraction. And then the fun really begins.

I loved how Natasha Anders went off the beaten path and gave us an H and h that start out as really just friends. There's no instalust or instalove or insta-anything. Just two people who found themselves enjoying each other's company in a non-sexual way. I also loved how she showed us the slow but steady growth of their relationship from barely acquaintances to best friends and then something more. Best of all, Daisy never undergoes a makeover that turns her into this sex bomb that every man is suddenly attracted to. Instead, she finds her own style and becomes more confident that her real sexiness comes out - all because of Mason's belief in her. 

There was so many things to love about this book. The witty remarks, the loyalty and love between the sisters, and the swoonworthy thoughts of Mason are just the tip of the iceberg. I could have done less with Daisy's self-deprecating at times. But we are the product of our experiences and I really can't fault her for doubting Mason or being terrified of entering a relationship with him. 

And the feels. GAH! I was so emotionally involved with this story. I really felt for Daisy when she talks about how people have treated her. I must admit to crying a lot whenever she talked about it. I also felt as depressed as Mason when things went bad between them. I cried here too. And then there were the lines. Double GAH!

"What do you see when you look at me, Mason?"
"Everything," he grated out. "I see my whole fucking world, Daisy. I see all my days, my weeks, and my years. Every season of my life. All spent with you. I see everything I want, need, and desire all wrapped up in you."

SIGH. Everything everyone ever said about this book was true. And I can't wait to go through Natasha Anders' backlist to see what else I missed out on.

This was super cute, I absolutely loved it! The way both Mason and Daisy were characterized made me fall simultaneously in love with the both of them as they fumbled their way into each others arms. Daisy's innocence was super cute and paired with Mason's everything it made them a interesting couple

Loved this book! I've read all of the author's other books and this is definitely the best one. Great hero, low angst, the book draws you in from the first paragraph.

I enjoyed the book although the set-up was a mash-up of various romance plots.  Mason Carlisle, a former poor boy in town, has returned to their small South African town after spending time as a soldier in special forces in Iraq, an underwear model, and the owner of a private security firm to the stars.  Apparently, this made him a millionaire when he sold out to return to do … he doesn’t know what.  So he’s a hunky millionaire whom all the women in town are intrigued by.

His brother asks him to flirt with Daisy McGregor while the brother makes a play for her sister, Daffodil.  Mason and Daisy hit it off until she finds out that it started off as a ploy.  She’s tremendously insecure about her looks since she has two older, slimmer, more attractive sisters.  She then blackmails him with his guilt at hurting her to be her date for her middle sister’s destination wedding.  He insists on taking her out so people will believe that they’re really dating.  So now we have the couple faking a romance and the good-looking guy slowly falling for the not gorgeous girl.

It’s hard to get a handle on Daisy’s looks.  She thinks of herself as dumpy and frumpy.  He looks at her and thinks she’s cute and has a hot body reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe’s.  It’s difficult as a reader to get a mental image between her extreme self-doubt and the way everyone else treats her as “the other sister” since her two older sisters are nice and love her, but are also beautiful and rather clueless about how they have made her feel all her life.  

I enjoyed reading how Mason starts falling for her because of who she is and through their conversation, rather than having insta-love based on sexual attraction as so many romances do.  There are a bunch of mean women and mean men in the novel who are extremely cruel to Daisy in a high school mean-girls sort of way.  Are there really people in this world who are so nasty as adults?  Maybe I’ve been lucky, but I never met anyone, much less a whole group of people, who would be so cruel but apparently, this small town is full of them.

I was interested to read my first book to take place in South Africa and would have liked a bit more of the local setting.  Daisy is a veterinarian and does go into a township to offer a free clinic there, but we don’t get much of a background on that.  I think the author could do more in incorporating what, for a lot of readers, will be an exotic locale.

This is setting up as a series and I look forward to reading about the romance between Mason’s brother and Daisy’s sister.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I really, truly hate about a Natasha Anders title is that I know I'll have to wait a looonng time for the next one (I feel like there's cherry blossom reference in there somewhere, but I'll leave the talented word-stringing for the professionals. You get what I mean). :P For me, Ms. Anders is like Leylah Attar, Lexi Blake or Mariana Zapata. Their books always hit all the right spots, but there are so few of them and they always leave you wanting more. When people ask me what I want for a present, I'm tempted to ask if they could get these talented ladies to publish on a bi-weekly basis. :P

Now, about the book. Mason was practically perfect, like I mentioned earlier. All throughout the book, he acted like a Natasha Anders hero AFTER he realized how much of an a** he was being. Unlike Dante or Sandro or Bryce, he didn't act like a frog for the first several chapters. He was a real prince from the get-go. Sure, he hurt Daisy in the beginning, but it wasn't done with malice. And oh, but his jealous and protective moments were so precious. His caring acts rivaled those of his predecessors - and he didn't even have anything to make up for like those three MOST DEFINITELY did! 

Daisy, on the other hand, was me. She's Ms. Anders' tribute to the normal girl, so I couldn't like her more if I tried. Her experiences, her secret desires, her insecurities were mine, and I was rooting for her from the very beginning. Yes, a lot of readers scoff at books where the plain Jane gets the guy because they're not realistic and readers read books for the fantasy and a regular girl has no place in a fantasy. But I respectfully disagree, and I hope there are more readers like me too, so more authors will write about the average girls. That being said, Daisy wasn't perfect. She had a couple of TSTL moments toward the end. I actually felt like she needed to grovel more, and that she got off easy just because ... well, you'll see. :P

The book was well-written, as expected. I feel like Ms. Anders has carved an interesting niche for herself in the romance world. She produces books reminiscent of some classic Mills and Boon titles, only she adds an extra 200 or so pages to give the hero time to redeem himself. Or in this book's case, give the couple time to get to know each other and generate some unexpected heat. I had a lovely time watching Daisy and Mason valiantly fight their pesky feelings for each other. :)

So yes, this book was definitely worth the year-long wait (but please, Natasha, I'll promise you my first-born if you'll promise to publish more often).

I was sucked into the story from the first page and not a lot of authors can do that.  The reader will be happy with the characters and the setting.  The author did a wonderful job and will be looking for more books.

I've read Natasha Anders before as I'm no stranger to angsty novels and jerky H's. Her second book in The Unwanted Wife series is still one of my favourites, so naturally I picked this up. Although this one was low on the angst factor, it definitely didn't disappoint. Small town, fake wedding date, ugly duckling plot... what more do you need?

Things I loved: 
- Mason!
- The slow burn.. So much yes. This made the sex scenes scorching.
- The back and forth banter between Daisy and Mason

What I didn't like: 
- Daisy's insecurities were very irritating and brought up way too frequently. It made it difficult to feel much empathy anymore towards her. 
- Ending seemed very rushed.

All in all, if you're into the slow burn novels - I'd definitely pick this up! 4/5.

I received a free ARC copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
After loving The unwanted wife it was a lovely surprise I was given free arc copy. It was a very different read but definitely worth it. I adored Daisy, she was such a breath of fresh air. I liked the fact that she wasn't confident or beautiful she was shy, introverted and had painfully low esteem.
I really loved Daisy with Mason. The lovely dark and brooding Carlisle brother, Mason ex soldier/model/ complete and utter babe!!!
I'm just hoping we get Spencer's book next❤❤

This is a love story.  Just your basic everyday story of two people who meet, date, spend time together getting to know one another and fall in love.  Except it’s all fake.
  
Mason reluctantly agrees to distract Daisy while his brother attempts to gain the attention of Daisy’s sister.  The two appear to get along quite nicely until Daisy learns that Mason has no real interest in her.  However, due to a lifetime of being the “other” sister, frumpy and unfashionable, she turns the tables on Mason and using his feelings of guilt, she blackmails him into being her date at her sister’s wedding.
  
Now I’ve read other books with this trope but this author took this story line and added into it two characters who are each charming, fun, damaged in their own ways, and completely unaware they are falling in love.  The writing is pure magic.  It is all completely believable as the author shows the reader each step of the way how, when, and why Mason and Daisy move from not friends into something more.  It is never wordy or bogged down and the pace is fast and engaging.  The banter between these two is so entertaining and they are able to laugh at their own flaws even when embarrassed by them.  It was especially fun to catch the unspoken/written comparison of Daisy and Mason’s relationship to that of their dogs Peaches, a feisty little furpuff, and Cooper, a huge mixed lab.  And if you think an ex-soldier alpha can’t be intimidated then wait until you read about his first meal with Daisy’s parents.  Good cop/Good cop (yes both Goods) has never been so hilarious!  

This is written in both POVs with a nice little epilogue one year later.  May the chicken dance commence!

Will post review on Amazon closer to release date.

Natasha Anders is one of my favorite authors. I can always count on her books to have angst and groveling. This book is a bit different, but I still enjoyed it. There were some parts that I felt dragged on and I wanted to shake some sense into Daisy, but the author laid tge groundwork well, therefore the reader could understand why Daisy was the way she was at times. Then there is Mason, the complete package. Sigh.