CROSSING THE FRIEND ZONE is the third and final book in Kelly Eadon's Belmont Beach series. CROSSING THE FRIEND ZONE is a sizzling romantic comedy, but also a little bit like the film THE ODD COUPLE. Being a planner is who Ainsley Sloane is at her core, as well as what she does for a career. Ryan Lawhill is a charming modern-day rake in the best sense, and with no plans to change his lifestyle. Ainsley and Ryan might not be besties, but after Ainsley's boyfriend unceremoniously ditches her, it's Ryan who provides a sympathetic ear, a distraction, and an offer to be her new life coach.

Even though they're opposites in some ways -- she's a wedding planner, and he's allergic to the word marriage -- I like how the teasing between Ryan and Ainsley never gets nasty or mean-mean-spirited. I dislike stories in which the hero and heroine get intimate when they actively dislike, and have no respect for, each other. By throwing them together and spending lots of quality time having fun, Ryan and Ainsley grow to like each other more, so that the romance develops very organically and the chemistry seems very real. It's interesting to me how Ainsley craves a committed relationship when the relationship with her family is so dysfunctional, and Ryan goes out of his way to flee from commitment when he has such a close relationship with his mom and sister. This attention to detail and such character-driven story is exactly why I love CROSSING THE FRIEND ZONE so much.

CROSSING THE FRIEND ZONE is one of the best opposites- turned-lovers stories out there. Ryan is a dynamite hero with hidden depths, and definitely worth taking a chance on. With Ryan, Kelly Eadon brilliantly captures the devil-may-care sexy player, with a hidden heart of gold, who is even sexier when he develops some self-awareness. The sparks between Ainsley and Ryan are electric and amazing, making for some torrid trysts. Since each book just keeps getting better, I anxiously await Kelly Eadon's next book!

I have discovered Kelly’s book a while back when the opportunity to review her first book The Wedding Date was made available. I am not going to explain why, but that book really touched me in ways I did not expect.

From that moment on, I became a huge fan and religiously awaited the next book in the series and to finally to get to this one.

The Belmont Beach Brides series follows the lives and mostly the loves of a group of friends as they meet and fall in love with their significant other. Kate was our leading lady from Book 1 The Wedding Date and then we got to have Beth’s story in The Family Man and finally here we are closing the circle with Crossing the Friend Zone where we actually handle the last 2 remaining friends Ainsley and Ryan.

The title says it all, but that is not to say that the journey is not really enjoyable.

We meet Ainsley and Ryan in the first book and we all know (if you have read said previous books) that Ainsley pretty much hooked Kate up with her now fiancé. I like Ainsley, she is quite a bit controlled but that girl is a great friend and I tend to love that!

It comes to no surprise that I loved Ryan at first sight when I met him reading The Wedding Date, he did not have a major role to play other than being a good friend and I really liked him. You could see straight away that there is something really special about him even then.

Need I mention sparks flying all over the place when all of a sudden those 2 become more aware of each other?

Like all of Kelly’s book, you can feel deeply the emotions both Ainsley and Ryan are going through and it is all so real and realistic. For all we know I could be Ainsley too (though I relate more to Kate) and it is quite confusing developing sudden feelings for a friend.

Never happened to me, but I can imagine if I were in her shoes and taking into account her current circumstances, I get it that she is being cautious.

I will admit, that it took me quite a bit of time finishing the book, all because I kept being interrupted by work (Real Life sucks!!!). But it is needless to say, that Crossing the Friend Zone is beautifully written and reads fast and easy.

I have always loved Kelly’s writing style and when I think of her books, I always feel that they come with so much heart. To be honest, this series is so very special to me.

Now, you can read this book as a stand alone if you have not read the first 2 and just discovered the series, but to enjoy it and have a clearer view of the group dynamics then I would highly recommend reading the 2 previous books first.

Did I mention that they are awesome and really fantastic reads? Nope? Well, now you know.

It actually is a bit sad that we are finishing the series (wait…. Kelly is there another one in the series???) cause I have grown really attached to Kate, Beth and Ryan.

But then, if there is another book after for someone else in this series, I would not say who (I seem to have spotted someone liking someone else that was slipped in there somewhere and with a makeover to boot)

Am I right? or Am I right?

I don’t know, as we will have to wait and see with what Kelly comes up with next and you know I will be all over this baby too.

All joking aside, this is a wonderful series and every book is so special and wonderful in its own way. You are going to love every word of Crossing the Friend Zone and you can trust me on this.

Crossing The Friends Zone (Belmonte Beach Brides Series)
Ryan and Ainsley has something special simmering below the surface it just took some time to rise to the top. Ryan had that fun loving guy attraction that drew women to him. He was not over bearing but sweet and endearing. Ainsley felt she knew what was best for her. Keeping Ryan as a friend was what she thought was best for her but life has a way of showing you otherwise. Ainsley and Ryan had a connection that was beyond that of friends. It just took a few well place incidents to open both of their eyes to the possibility. 

This was a welcomed addition to the series that gave a friends-to-lovers aspect to their romance. Kelly Eadon has done a great job mixing the characters and bringing them together to make a couple that shows a different side of their relationship and how it could be deeper and more lasting when they both are in it for keeps. A beautiful contemporary romance series that builds with each new book that is added to the series.

Ryan is the self-professed “Minister of Fun”, convinced that life is to be grabbed and enjoyed, and relationships are not possible.  He’s bold, funny, caring and most definitely someone you’d want to hang out with. Fortunately for him, Ainsley the wedding planner and friend, perhaps even bestie, enjoys his antics and their relationship is easy –because they are friends.  Sure, there’s an attraction between them – but that might ruin their friendship, and what would they do then? 

Ainsley’s last relationship just dissolved, and she’s decided that a series of rules and guidelines will be her best option. But, Ryan has the next three weeks to convince her to go for the gusto and just enjoy life – if a relationship happens, it won’t survive with rules an guidelines – and if you are him, it won’t even get a chance to start.  But, then the “we’re just friends’ moments start to weigh on them both. 

The banter, attraction and personalities of these two are perfectly suited, and the giant neon sign that flashes “perfect for each other” can be seen a mile off.  But, knowing that you have a friendship that you rely on, and could lose that in crossing that line leaves the two completely conflicted, until the temptations are too great to resist.  Adorable together and fairly low angst, this story was light and engaging: perfect in tone to wrap up the series and leave readers with a smile.  

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.  

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-8Oy”> I am, Indeed </a>

What a great book!

I absolutely love Crossing the Friend Zone! It was a great growing up story about adults.

Ryan is a terrific person. He’s a great friend who tries to act shallow so he doesn’t get hurt.

Ainsley is all about relationships. Ryan’s way of life completely confuses her. Trying to see life from his point of view seems like the best idea after she’s dumped by the man she’s loved for years.

Crossing the Friend Zone is almost perfect. I loved the plot and characters. I thought the foul language was unnecessary. There was a steamy weekend at a B&B but it wasn’t more than a handful of pages.

This is a fun romp that'll have you smiling. The banter between Ainsley and Ryan is fast, fun, and full of energy - both sexual and spirited. These two love to get under each other's skin, and watching them fall for each other was a a good time.

Ainsley is a wedding planner. She's very much an uptight, live-life-by-the-rules woman. When her fiancé leaves her and the dreams she'd built her life on in the dust, she's adrift and hates the feeling. She decides to change herself - starting with how to loosen up and have a little fun. Watching her change her core self was wonderful. It seemed very authentic.

Ryan is a self-admitted manwhore. He loves women and he's one of the smoothest male leads I've read in awhile. He charms with humor and I loved that about him. He has some issues from when his dad left him as a young child, which makes him think that he's cut from the same cloth. I bought the story for the sake of suspending belief, but I regretted that when Ryan decided he wasn't like his bio dad. There was a moment between him and his mom that left me scratching my head. I absolutely did not understand what sort of revelation he came to, and I read the scene three times. Eventually I just let it go...I wanted to get back to him and Ainsley.

I liked the ending a lot, but then the author threw in an epilogue that I felt was 100% unnecessary. In my opinion, it didn't add anything to the story. I was left with a feeling of hope and happiness, then, when the epilogue hit, I thought the author felt that maybe I didn't see that Ainsley and Ryan were going to make it. It fell flat.

Overall, I give the story 3.5 stars. If the author had spent a little more time on Ryan's character changes (and more than a couple of lines that miraculously "fix" his issues) and axed the epilogue, I'd be more interested in reading the other two books in the series.

reviewed by Nancy

http://www.starangelsreviews.com/2017/03/release-blitzreview-crossing-friend.html

This was a cute story of frenemies.  So, here’s the playbook now pay close attention Ainsley Sloan and James have grown up together at the Points community the finer area of town. They’re best friends.
     Then, you have Kate and Ryan Lawhill who grew up together and who are also best friends.  Somewhere along the way Kate and Ainsley become friends and she introduces her to James and now they are engaged.
     The four of them are friends with Griffin and Beth who are a couple and Griffin has a little girl, Mabel from a previous relationship.  Now, when the book opens Ainsley has just been dumped by her ex-Scott.  Who didn’t really say anything just boarded a plane for Hong Kong.
     Ainsley comes from a family with a point of view that you need to be seen in a good light or your no one.  A broken promise of a maybe engagement, her father, is not happy.  She finds this out at Kate and James engagement party.  They didn’t even care for her date which was set up by Kate because she knew her best friend would do what’s right to make her smile when all eyes were on her. (Meaning all of the Point at the reception.)
     Ainsley had to say it was barrable with Ryan as her date.  Not bad at all.  The left early and they went to a club and from this point on their bantering doesn’t change but their relationship sure does.  You see Ryan made her a deal that he could teach her how to have fun in three weeks the Lawhill way.  Because the Lawhill way is no attachments, no commitments, just having fun.
     I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com

Crossing the Friend Zone by Kelly Eadon is book number three in the Belmont Beach Brides series.   This is Ainsley Slone and Ryan Lawhill's story.

Ainsley is a successful events planner but is going through a bad breakup.  Ryan is one of their friends and the group have asked him to help Ainsley forget her breakup.  

Ainsley is a planner by nature and always has to have everything in place.  Ryan is the party guy, the fun guy.  They are always doing and saying things to get the other one going.  As they spend time together the lines between friend and more start to blur.  Ainsley wants marriage and babies.  Ryan doesn't think he is made for marriage and babies.  Will Ryan figure it out in time?  

FYI, contains mature content.  I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I have loved Ryan since The Wedding Date when he Kate cursing his name for changing her ringtone - and we hadn't even met him yet! So a whole book about Ryan? When I found out, it made my bookish heart sing.

At the start if this book, i would've said it's about the classic case of opposites attract. but that's not what I finished the thinking and feeling. I mean, sure, it's a little bit about that, but it more about becoming your best self when with someone you least expected. That is what Ryan and Ainsley (BTWs I totally had to google how to pronounce that) do for each other. They help each other grow into the poeple that they wanted to be - even if they weren't aware originally that was what they wanted.

There are so many sweet, funny, cute, awkward, worrying, and heartfelt moments in Crossing the Friend Zone, and I felt every single one of them. This book was just a general delight to read, and I really don't know how to fully express that with words. So please just take my lost-for-words-ness as a standing ovation. Eadon defiantly save the best for last with this series.

There is nothing not to love about Eadon's Crossing the Friend Zone. It has everything a good NA romance novel needs, so why aren't you reading it yet?

When A Planner Falls For A Player . . .

This is the third novel in the Belmont Beach Brides Series and each novel can be read as a standalone. However, having read only the first novel prior to this release, I did feel a little left out in not knowing all the connections of friends and places mentioned. The main characters are the last two in a group of friends who unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other when they should be nothing but friends and friends only.

In a town like Belmont image is everything, so when event/wedding planner, Ainsley Slone, endures a cold breakup just when she envisioned herself finally becoming the bride, Ainsley decides to rent out the bachelor of the town, Ryan Lawhill. Ryan as a good friend wants Ainsley to forget her problems and learn his ways of easy loving and living. Spurred by the need to beat Ryan at his own games, Ainsley agrees to a 3 week do as he says deal of fun. What neither expected was the chemistry that ignited from their times well spent together. Suddenly Ainsley and Ryan find themselves asking, should they proceed past the friend zone when hearts may be involved?

Overall, enjoyable light romantic read. The witty banter between Ainsley and Ryan which was cute and flirty. I'm very qualified in sarcasm so totally loved how the couple prodded one another even when they knew they were pushing their friendship boundaries. The friendship dynamic of the whole group of characters/couples is great, but with only two single friends left in the bunch it was kinda like duh Ainsley and Ryan should get together. Ainsley by far grows the most and her progression felt real. From her time of seeking advice online to jumping into Ryan's deal or doing the camping hike I loved every part of Ainsley's story. Now Ryan, that stubborn idiot, his process was going great till the end where it got u-turned then righted then rushed, his mom needed to speak with him a whole lot earlier in life. I will say that the ending was okay but I was hoping for a bit more. So if you love a story where a woman finds herself a bit and a man discovers he can love while both try to one up each other, then you'll enjoy this novel.

This is the third book in Kelly Eadon's Belmont Beach Brides series. And, because it's me, upholding a fine tradition acquired over nearly a year of book blogging, I have not read the preceding two.

As such, I came to Crossing the Friend Zone knowing nothing about Eadon's style or the characters. When the female main character of Ainsley made her appearance, I suffered one of those instant judgy things because I so don't like to read books about women whose main goal in life is "the wedding." I may have pouted because up to then I was enjoying Ryan's character.
Thankfully, Eadon is a smart writer because Ainsley's obsession with "wedding" and marriage does not show the complete Ainsley who does, in fact, change over the course of the novel.

Ryan, while he doesn't fundamentally change, comes to realizations about himself and why he's been keeping women away from his heart.
I came away liking both characters immensely. Ainsley can be tough and kind and Ryan is funny with a gooey center.

Crossing the Friend Zone felt like a fresh take and a fresh voice, enough so that I'll probably seek out the previous two novels in the series.

I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From Amazon: Crossing the Friend Zone

This was a cute friends to lovers story. Ryan and Ainsley's chemistry was obvious from previous books in the series, but now that Ainsley is single, they seem to finally realize it themselves. Unfortunately, Ryan doesn't think he's built for commitment and Ainsley got dumped by her boyfriend. She's always cared what people think about her and the break up has tongues wagging, while Ryan doesn't seem to care what people think about him. As Ryan helps her loosen up and not worry too much about what people think, Ainsley discovers that underneath his careless ways, lies a heart of gold. I loved it from beginning to end!
4.5 stars

Another great read from Kelly Eadon!The third book in the Belmont Beach Brides series focuses on Ainsley and Ryan!All the books in the series can be read as standalones,but I urge you to read all of them as I'm pretty sure you'd love it!

Ainsley has just come out of a relationship.Her boyfriend left for a job overseas without even telling her, when she was expecting him to propose to her.Poor girl!Not only does she have to deal with the questions, but on top of that her snobby,elite parents are disappointed that she remains unmarried.
She is a little bit of a control freak and has always been in serious relationships only.

Ryan is her polar opposite.He is a band manager and is not one for commitment.He knows that though he finds Ainsley incredibly attractive, their friends would have his head if he hurt her in any manner.And he would definitely hurt her since she's always looking for a serious relationship.As a favor to her and their friends, he escorts her.But, even though both try to put each other in the friend-zone, certain lines always end up being crossed.
Ainsley wants to learn to let go and have fun and she thinks Ryan is the best person to help her with it.So they go for a no strings attached relationship, but as always, emotions end up getting tangled!

Ryan and Ainsley were really great together!I loved how Ryan brought out the carefree side of Ainsley and how Ainsley helped Ryan with many other things.It was fun seeing the slow development of their relationship and it didn't feel rushed at all!
Watching Ainsley unwind and learn to have fun was so cute!In the beginning she was a little tensed and the start between her and Ryan felt awkward.So it was quite realistic!
And then it slowly transformed into a sweet friendship and a beautiful relationship!
Loved seeing all my favorite characters from the previous books back again!The friendship between the girls is one thing that I admire a lot!Kate,Beth and Ainsley are all so different from each other, but have each others backs!
And I think this is the last book in the series?If it is, then I am quite sad.But I will be eagerly waiting for more books from Kelly!

Crossing the Friend Zone is an adult contemporary romance by author Kelly Eadon. This is the third book in the Belmont Beach Brides series. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, but each of the books can be read as standalones. They are all set in the same world, and I enjoy seeing the character crossover. I loved Kelly’s easy way with romance and building a connection between characters. Her first book, The Wedding Date, was a feel good read for me, and her next book, The Family Man was the same. And Crossing the Friends Zone was no different. It was a  feel good romance that I read in one sitting.

Crossing the Friend Zone is the story of Ainsley and Ryan. If you have read my reviews, you know that I love a good friends to more storyline. Mix that in with Kelly’s gift for writing fun, sweet and sexy romances that make you want to smile, and I knew this one was going to be a hit with me. Ryan and Ainsley are both such good people. Yes, neither one of them is perfect and I Ryan has a bit of a playboy in him, but he is what I am calling playboy light. Underneath it all, he is a big softie. The best thing about Kelly’s books is that she writes characters that you can’t help but like and you can’t help but relate to. I felt like I was friends with Ainsley and Ryan. Like I was watching two of my friends get together, which meant there were a whole lot of cheering and awh moments on my behalf.  Plus, he rescued her! That earns major points in my book!

Bottom line: Crossing the Friend Zone, and the entire Belmont Beach Brides series is a very fun read. I love the way the series is set up because you can still read each of the books independently, but if you do read them in order you are privy to some extra insights into the various characters and you get to watch them interact in the background throughout the books. It it one of my favorite setups for contemporary romances. Kelly Eadon is quickly becoming a go-to feel good read author. I know that her books will put a smile on my face.

received in exchange for a honest review.

You cannot help but love Ryan. He was like a puppy and a kid in a candy store. So full of vibrant energy and always enjoying life. Inside though he was a little broken. After what happened with his dad as a kid he closed off the idea of love. He feared the person wouldn’t find him worth it and run from him. He feared he would hurt those that would love him and leave him. So instead he kept life lighthearted.

Ainsley was the serious friend. She didn’t really enjoy stopping to smell the roses. Now she is looking to have some fun and turns to Ryan for help there. Together they do some adventurous things. I love his lighthearted approach to some things. he doesn’t let life keep him down. When he needs to be serious he is but other than that he lets life come as it needs to and takes it one moment at a time. They balance each other out. She gives him a sense of calm and wanting to have more. Teaches him to open up and let someone in. To be more responsible and he teaches her it is okay to enjoy life. To let go and live once in a while.

the attraction between them is through the roof. They don’t act on it at first. First they get to know one another and just enjoy life as it comes. I love his van moments. He is just so adorable. Once they cross the line from friends to friends with bennies is when things change for Ryan. He gets feelings and emotions. he is wanting more and confused by this. It is Ainsley that keeps things more distant. When he comes with more she steps back. There comes a time though when their friends get on him he backs off afraid of hurting her. unfortunately Ainsley does get her dander up and in a moment to prove a point goes off on her own and puts herself in danger. This is when we see Ryan become a hero and rescue her. We also get them in a steamy and sexy 48 hours.

This is such a adorable and fun book. I love how opposite these two are and yet they both want the same thing someone to love them and be there for them. Someone to make them feel safe, wanted and there for them. Someone to come home to and wake up to. Someone to let in and trust. You can’t help but adore the characters and the journey that Ryan and Ainsley go on to find their way to each other.

I started reading Kelly Eadon’s books with book #2 in the series, The Family Man, which I absolutely loved. It was a little confusing as I did not read book #1 prior to #2. Even though each can be read as a stand-alone, I would highly suggest reading all of the books in order.

Ryan is a lady’s man who was very funny and a total charmer. He has a number of different women and is not one to be tied down. Living life, family and friends is what is important right now, not a girlfriend nor a long-term commitment. However, Ryan seemed bound and determined from the start to get Ainsley to live a little after her recent breakup has her down despite his attraction to her.

Ainsley, recently dumped and very uptight makes a connection with the free-spirited Ryan. She decides to take Ryan up on the offer of living life his way even when she knows she has sparks with this man like no other before him. I honestly had trouble at the beginning liking Ainsley as she seemed a little too uptight and I didn’t see how the two main characters would connect.

The chemistry between Ryan and Ainsley was good, as was their banter. Two people so unlike each other really brought out the fun in each other.

Bringing Ryan and Ainsley together had me a little weary but it all came together in the end. Crossing the Friend Zone was a romance low on drama and the characters are very relatable. However, I did just not feel any certain way about this book. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It really did not keep my attention and I found myself briefly skimming pages to get to the ending.

3.5 “No Friend Zone” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Forever Yours!

Crossing the Friend Zone is the third title in Kelly Eadon’s debut series, and I had the pleasure of reading all three of them. Lucky me!

For now (not sure if this is supposed to be the last book in the series or not), The Family Man is still my favorite, but once again Kelly Eadon did a great job creating a sweet romance with likable characters.

In this book, we get to see more of Ainsley and Ryan, characters we met back in book 1, since they’re best friends with the main characters in The Wedding Date. Ainsley is James’ close friend, and Ryan is Kate’s BFF, so I was more than happy to see them happy together.

The road to get to that happiness is a long one, though.

When we met Ainsley, she was engaged and close to getting married to a man I suspected wasn’t as invested in their relationship as she was. The thing with Ainsley is: she’s always a 100% in. That drive sometimes works in her favor, like when she planned the whole fake relationship thing that put James and Kate together, helping them find love; or how she’s so dedicated to wedding planning that she’s made a successful career out of it.

There are other times that Ainsley’s dedication doesn’t pay off. Her engagement is the biggest example. The man she was sure she’d marry decides to leave the country without her, and she goes from a woman with a plan (get married, buy a house with a white picket fence and have the 2.5 kids) to a single woman nearing her 30s. Look, unlike Aileen, I don’t think a woman in her thirties need to desperately look for a husband or she’ll die alone. That’s ludicrous, in my opinion, but Ainsley was raised to think that way. Her father is extremely conservative and judgmental, from the little we got to see of him. Point is, Ainsley, the wedding planner and bridesmaid-to-be in Kate’s wedding, is alone and sad. So very sad.

Enters Ryan, the bon vivant allergic to relationships. Due to a childhood trauma, Ryan doesn’t believe he can be happy with the same woman for the rest of his life, so he does the whole no-strings-attached thing and is happy about it. For Ryan, the important thing is to know how to have fun. And he does that quite a lot. When he sees Ainsley’s struggle, he decides to help her get some fun, too. He proposes a three-week plan that will lead them to spend a lot of time together doing things Ainsley wouldn’t, otherwise. As long as he doesn’t do her, that should be fine.

Ryan and Ainsley are the perfect example of opposites attract. They’re nothing alike—Ryan is afraid of commitments, and Ainsley is looking for the perfect guy; Ryan lives life unafraid of what other people will think, and Ainsley smiles even when she’s hurting inside; Ryan is relaxed and carefree, and Ainsley is serious and driven. The list goes on and on. But they have one thing in common: they’re attracted to each other and trying to hide that.

The drama in this book relies on the fact that these two people want different things out of life, but they still want each other. I really enjoy stories like that. When the character’s inner conflicts and life values/choices are what keep them apart. It makes for a fun (and sometimes angsty) ride. In this case, it’s more fun than angsty. Like all other Kelly Eadon’s books I’ve read so far, sweet and fun are her stories’ trademark.

I had fun watching Ryan and Ainsley banter, than get to know who they truly were—the man behind Ryan’s give-no-F attitude and the woman behind Ainsley’s give-too-much-F attitude. They revealed their true selves to one another and that was the first step they took toward building a relationship.

I wish things had moved a little faster, or that they had acknowledged their attraction to each other a bit earlier, but I still enjoyed how the book was written. There were a few things here and there that I didn’t approve of (mainly Ryan’s attitude toward other women in the beginning) or wish had been handled differently, but Ainsley and Ryan kept me entertained and rooting for them.

Another positive was the chance to see Kate and James and Griffin and Beth again. We even got to see Mabel! Let me just tell you, Mabel is still as sweet, smart and funny as I remembered her. That made me extremely happy.

Crossing the Friend Zone is a great addition to the Belmont Beach Brides, and it will please not only this author’s fans, but also readers who like their romances light, sweet and fun.

This was my first book from this series, so I can attest to the fact that this is enjoyable as a standalone. I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I were already familiar with the characters.

In this story, we have Ainsley, who is an event organizer for a hotel and also a socialite who was relatively recently dumped by the man everyone figured she would marry. She is uptight, particular, and a serial monogamist, which contrasts with Ryan, our hero. Ryan works in the music industry, managing bands, and is a one-night stand kind of guy who lives to have fun. 

I liked both of these characters and thought they worked well as a couple.There was definite chemistry between them, and I always enjoy a couple who banters and bickers. My favorite scene is about 60% in, when they visit a mountain.

This did feel a bit rushed though, and left me wanting more, in particular with the more complex development of Ryan and Ainsley as individuals. Ryan's problems were nothing new but they worked... but were then rushed to where he acknowledged them and fixed himself in the last 4%. Ainsley felt a little unfinished, as well. I expected her to start her own event planning business. And stand up more to her parents. I was amused by how uptight she was at first and expected some big changes. And she did grow some, but I just really wanted to see her really bloom.

I did also get the impression that this was written mostly with the intent to wrap up the series and to tie up the Ryan and Ainsley loose ends. It makes for a fun, lighthearted read, and is perfect for someone looking for exactly that.

Kelly Eadon’s Crossing the Friend Zone is the final book in her Belmont Beach Brides series. Each book can be read as a standalone novel. The books intersect via common secondary characters. Ms. Eadon’s series is fun, fun, fun! The three stories are light-hearted and easy to read. While each leads to a HEA ending, the premise, character situations and journey in each story is unique. 

Ainsley Sloan is a mess. She is a successful event planner whose life was basically laid out by her demanding parents and their social expectations. When her boyfriend takes a job overseas instead of proposing, it is a blessing in disguise. Cue Ryan Lawhill, who is committed only to staying single, to take the role of friend/escort. Ryan passes himself off as a man-child whose main goal in life is having fun, and that allows him to hide his baggage.

Fans of the series will recognize these characters from their roles in the prior books, and new readers are sure to fall in love with them. Ryan is funny and charming; even though his friends consider him a player, he really is a stand-up friend. While in the same circle of friends, Ainsley and Ryan are virtual opposites. Ryan is go-with-the-flow, and Ainsley is a detail-oriented, planner who leaves nothing to chance. Her own and her parents’ expectations have made her so high-strung that deviations from plans can push her over the edge emotionally.

Although it is obvious that Ryan’s role as last-minute event escort is going to lead to a friends to lovers relationship, every bit of the journey is entertaining. The banter between the two is great. It gives authenticity to Ainsley and Ryan’s roles as friends of different halves of various couples in their social circle. I appreciated that even though the two characters acknowledged the other as attractive, the author didn’t push them into an insta-love. Ms. Eadon set up her story with an interesting premise that gave her characters ample opportunity to get to know one another. Along the way, both Ryan and Ainsley get to know themselves better as well.

It is through that self-knowledge and growth that both characters become more likable and eventually find their happily-ever-after. Crossing the Friend Zone is a friends-to-lovers story with plenty of sweet moments, a dollop of humor, and a smidgeon of angst. A lovely read that left a smile on my face.

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