Down With Love is book 1 in the Love Wars series. I love the witty banter, the chemistry and sizzling scenes. I love a great enemies to lovers story. I have read many Kate Meader books and this one goes to the top of my list as favorites.

I really thought interesting what's going on in this book. Let us see,

A man. Max Henderson. Divorce attorney, and that despite having parents who until today live together and happy, he personally does not believe in this happy ever after thing.
When his beloved brother tells him that he is going to get married - after being with the girl for only 3 months - Max finds it all surreal.
And it all gets worse when he meets Charlie, the wedding planner who wants to convince groom and bride to spend a lot of money on the wedding party.

And then, we have a woman. Charlie Love. Wedding planner, who lost her parents very early and was raised in foster home - despite that, she has nothing to complain about.
She loves her work and knows that through it she can spread through the air all the love that people should feel in the world.
Until she meets Max. He manages to irritate her in an unimaginable way.
However, when Charlie and Max have their first kiss ..

Oh oh...
Eternal enemies or friends with benefits?
Who will win this game?
4,5 stars

Down with Love by Kate Meader is the first book in her Laws of Attraction series and the first book I have read of hers. A story about two people with very different thoughts of love! Can a cynic and a romantic find a path to love?

Charlie is a wedding planner who is waiting for her happily-ever-after. Max is a divorce attorney who sees how love can destroy everything. Now Max’s brother is getting married and he intends to help him any way he can, but not exactly in a good way. Sparks fly and personalities clash!

Though Max may believe weddings are a waste of money, he finds Charlie irresistible. She is beautiful and smart, while Charlie is cynical and honest. Yet they continue to be drawn to each other. I loved the banter between them and the tension that kept brewing between them!

Down with Love was a charming read with sparks flying right off the pages, great characters, and engaging story! I can’t wait to read more of this series!

Happy reading!

“I thought I was in the mood for a quick, dirty encounter. It would better suit my state of mind but Max is sending my brain in a different direction, one where quick and dirty is replaced by slow and sensual. Romantic. Max Henderson is courting me.”

Oh swoon! Max Henderson starts off as a cynical divorce lawyer & self proclaimed bachelor for life. Wedding planner Charlie Love is his exact opposite- a true believer in love who suppresses her temper & passion under a cool, confident exterior. Their chosen careers make them natural enemies and sparks fly as they’re thrown together while she plans his brother’s wedding. Max finds himself falling for the passionate fire he sees in Charlie and for the first time in his life wants to slow things down & enjoy the romance. Too bad she she can’t see his potential & only wants to enjoy their super sexy fling before moving on to find her ideal mate.

I was immediately drawn in by this fun & flirty enemies to lovers book. From the entertaining brotherly riffs in the first chapter to subsequent encounters with nemesis/soulmate Charlie, I was captivated by the smart & sexy banter. Icing on the cake were the plentiful pop culture references- Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Wars- and classic movie nods which called out to my inner nerd girl. The supporting cast of family, co-workers and a fuzz ball dog are all engaging and I can’t wait to read the next book about Brit friend Lucas.

I'm really torn between a 3 & 4 star. I loved the first 1/2 of this book. The last 27% of this book it sort of went into a different direction. Which it totally shocked me. Its not all hearts and flowers or your typical wedding planner/divorce lawyer trope. I will say Kate does an awesome job with the male pov.

I loved the interaction between Charlie and Max. I even liked the all the other nicknames that were thrown out. What got me was that sometimes Max called Charlie (short for Charlotte) Charles. If I was her, I'd ask why would he be calling me that? It was never pointed out. I wished there was more fun banter between the two. I also think there were too much inter monologue ramblings that made it difficult to concentrate and clothing attire was a bit over descriptive. I also didn't like Charlie's past upbringing, it just for me didn't fit her character. Her 1st ballpark scene response came out of nowhere. I just didn't feel enough interaction between Charlie and Max to get to the first kiss scene.

This was my first Kate Meader book. I know she tried some new things with this book. With that said, I'm willing to try her others works that I have.

I usually really enjoy books by Kate Meader but this one just didn't work for me. I had a ton of trouble getting into it and didn't really like the characters. I didn't care for the writing style on this one.

Laws of Attraction #1, The first in a brand new series by Kate Meader. At first I wasn't to thrilled about it being alternating first person POV but seeing as to how I love Kate Meader I gave it a pass and since it was also well done and well written. I love Meaders writing style and switching to first person changes nothing about adept she is at writing.

Max got burned by love and ever since he has been Mr. Cynical when it comes to love and happily ever afters so when his brother, James, tells him he's getting married to his girlfriend of three months Max's cynical mind goes into over time. It doesn't help that James wants a big wedding and that there's a wedding planner. Max has no problem with James' girlfriend but as a divorce attorney he knows people aren't the same as when they first got married.

Charlie Love loves helping people plan their perfect day so when her good friends, Gina and James, announce that they are getting married she of course is going to be their wedding planner. First thing, however, James and Gina warn her about James' cynial divorce attorney brother who will no doubt be all around unpleasant about the whole thing. Charlie thinks she's prepared for it until she meets him. Already off to a bad start with the bad date Charlie is in no mood for Max's bad pick up lines and cocky attitude. Max couldn't help but notice Charlie across the room, he could barely keep his eyes off of her he tries hitting on her but she's immune to his charm and then he finds out she's the wedding planner. First impressions aren't great but Max's sardonic attitude toward Charlie quicky turns to fascination the more time he spends with her. Charlie starts to see that Max isn't as derisive as he seems, after all can he really be that bad if his favorite movies are classic romances or that he normally takes in abandoned housewives for clients?

Overall, I loved this book. And your damn right if I didn't watch An Affair to Remember right after reading this, I would have watched Rear Window too but I don't own it, even though it is one of my favorite Hitchcock movies. Charlie and Max at first glance seem like opposites attract but they have more in common than differences and the differences are only side effects of their baggage once they sort out all their baggage the differences don't seem to matter anymore. It's hard work, love, and you have to be willing to work it out and stick through it and Charlie and Max have to figure that out. I look forward to the other books in the series.

Down With Love is a steamy, funny, engaging, enemies-to-lovers romance that gave me a feel-good vibe and a smile that lasted long after I read the last line. Told in dual POV, I fell in love with Max & Charlie's witty, snarky back-and-forth, as well as their inner dialogue that never ceased to amuse me.

His occupation aside, Max Henderson is a gentleman, do-gooder, and a firm believer in hard work. The catch? He's leery of the hard work relationships entail. So, inherently disliking his brother's wedding planner is par for the course, until he realises that Charlie Love touches that thing in his chest formerly known as a heart.

Accustomed to cynics and frogs who don't turn into princes after they're kissed, Charlotte Love is unprepared for the way her body and heart react to Max The Cynic™ Henderson. He infuriates her, yet understands her in ways she doesn't expect. Can she dare hope that he can be "The One"?

I really enjoyed this first look into the Laws of Attraction series. After meeting Max, Lucas & Grant, I honestly can't wait for the rest of the stories.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book, received via NetGalley.

This was a good read. The writing flowed well, and I thought the characters were developed nicely. Max and Charlie are good together eventually, but I wasn't a fan of Charlie's for most of the book. They got off on the wrong foot from the start, but she never wanted to see the good in him. She constantly judged Max, but expected him to completely overlook her flaws. Max overreacted when he found out some news that honestly didn't have anything to do with him. He was grown up enough to apologize immediately though. When Charlie's time comes, she goes straight for Max's jugular. He didn't have anything to do with the situation, but she tries to blame it all on him. She kept wanting him to change, but expected him to accept her the way she was. It was annoying. They both eventually realize that you can't change people, just accept them the way they are. The ending was good, and I thought it fit these characters. This was a first for me from this author, but I will be reading her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

Max Henderson likes his job as a divorce attorney. It probably helps that he's suffered through a broken heart, like his clients, and he's developed a bit of cynicism when it comes to love. The truth is, he stands for his clients and works hard to make sure whatever decision is made is the best one for them. So when his younger brother announces his engagement to his girlfriend of only a few months, Max is ready to step in to ensure his brother's happiness if needed. If that means going head-to-head with the wedding planner, so be it.

Despite going through a rough break up a few years ago, Charlie Love hasn't given up on finding the one. She believes it with all her heart that true, lasting love is possible and she loves being able to help give couples a special day. Despite what a certain divorce lawyer would have you think, her optimism for love is not a shtick to get the bride and groom to shell out more money on her wedding planning services.

As these two are quick to spar with one another, their chemistry is explosive. What starts out as a fling, just a good time, while waiting (or not waiting in Max's case) for the right one to come along, turns into something far more serious for both Charlie and Max and both end up questioning their preconceived notions on love and relationships.

A divorce lawyer and a wedding planner (i.e. opposites attracting) is not an unfamiliar plot twist in romance. But I'd say Kate Meader has hands down done the best job with it that I've read anyway.

Typically the divorce lawyer is almost viewed as the villain. The one responsible for putting the final nail in the coffin of people's ended relationships. But Max shows readers a different side. A caring compassionate side, a side that is no less valid than the person who brings a couple together on their happy day. Maybe he's not ended a relationship, more that he's allowing someone to find a love that will compliment them better, make them happier. I loved that despite his cynicism Max is clearly a hopeless romantic at heart as shown through his love of classic movies and knowledge of famous romantic movie quotes. I'd say the reason for Max's reticence on love is a little more developed than Charlie's. Max was, essentially used and discarded by a woman he thought he cared for deeply. It undoubtedly shaped his perception on love and relationships. Not until Charlie does he understand what he kept hidden, or pushed aside of himself, his ability to want to love.

Charlie has a brighter outlook on marriage. She wants the family, love, and commitment. But her broken relationship left her unable to express all that she really wants. Leaves her almost settling for ok rather than perfect. Because if she settles for ok, she'll be fine if it breaks again, but if she goes for perfect, and it breaks, she won't recover from that again.

It's an interesting dynamic that Charlie and Max have. He being the surprising one and wanting more than just a one-night-stand and she wanting to cut and run after the first time their together. The balance of figuring out their relationship is subtle and sweet, but not overly saccharine. I'd say Kate Meader shows reader a more realistic view of love and relationships and it was kind of refreshing to read, honestly.

So, if you couldn't tell, I loved Down with Love, and it's clear that Max's partners Grant and Lucas are prime candidates for their own stories and I can't wait.

Kate Meader is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors, highly recommended reading!

Another wonderful book by Kate Meader. The ever cynical Max & the very loveable Charlie are a hit in this book about a divorce attorney & a wedding planner. They cross paths when Max’s brother decides to get married in 3 months time & she’s hired to get everything done. Max doesn’t believe in love anymore since his broken engagement & after a near death experience by her foster father Charlie has decided that it’s time to settle down. They clash with high attitude & that makes their predicament that much more fun to watch. The high levels of distrust become a distraction & neither realizes that they are getting in deeper with every argument or dig sent the others way. This book made me laugh & cry & even made me sigh, sometimes with happiness & sometimes with pure exasperation. This is looking to be another great series you won’t want to miss. Definitely recommend to read.

Sometimes you come across an absolutely wonderful book that reminds you of that absolutely wonderful Doris Day-Rock Hudson film, Pillow Talk. You know, the one where Rock Hudson is a cynical playboy with the shag room and Doris Day is the sweet and also gorgeous career woman looking for the one. Suddenly, you’re wishing that you had a party line and a beautiful, sultry voice capable of drawing in a crowd with your rendition of “Roly Poly.”

Kate Meader’s Down with Love is, for me, an even better treat. It's Pillow Talk taken to the modern age. A strong, beautiful heroine who’s passionate, doesn’t pull any punches, and wants to be in charge. A smooth-talking playboy hero who can’t fully disguise that he’s also a decent person, no matter how hard he tries. Sex that will bring the house—or in this case, very expensive Chicago condo—down. And a cast of secondary characters that you know and love, even if you’ve never actually encountered them before.

This book made me all kinds of happy.

Here’s the plot on a simple level: Max Henderson is a divorce attorney and a player who is still recovering from a broken engagement—even though he would say otherwise. His brother, James, breaks the news that he and his girlfriend, Gina, are getting married and that they’ve hired a wedding player. This is too much for cynical Max to take; there’s no way their marriage will last and also, who would want to spend that much money on one day?

Gorgeous wedding planner Charlie Love has heard it all before. But besides loving her job, she believes that what she does—creating beautiful experiences that kick-start couples’ lives together—actually matters. On a personal level, after almost losing her father to a heart attack she’s looking for the one, but she’s dealing with her own issues here: namely a past that some might find unpalatable.

Meader has pointed out that this book is a departure for her, and she’s right. Sure, Down with Love has all the good things we’ve come to associate with Meader and her style: an explosive romance, a fantastic dynamic between family members, and a book filled with strong women. But here, those trademark qualities are amplified and we get even more. The book is wildly funny; both main characters have the gift of snark. Told from both Max and Charlie’s points of view, the book has a strong sense of voice, and Max, in particular, plays to the crowd. And the romance between them is big, sexy, and beautiful: you see the weaknesses of both characters and the fact that they’re not a turn-off for each other makes them not a turn-off for the reader. I loved Charlie’s vulnerability and Max’s tenderness. After all, what’s swoonier (is that a word?) than a partner who accepts all of you?

Nothing.

Okay, maybe a partner who accepts all of you and who is also nicely muscled and has a keen intellect. And a good sense of humor.

Down with Love is one of those books that’s going to stay with me for a good, long while, and I’m pretty happy about it.

Pssst! If You Liked This: Why mess with a good thing? For more cynical playboy v. optimistic woman looking for her one and only, try the movie Pillow Talk (Rock Hudson!) or Lauren Layne’s Walk of Shame.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley, but all opinions included are my own.

I loved this book. A great start to a new series. Max and Charlie were wonderful, fun characters with lots of depth. I can't wait to read more in this series.

The cynic and the optimist have declared war. Let the temptation begin. Charlie and Max are fighting a losing game. Whether fairy-tale fantasy trumps real life drama. Love is at stake and it's anybody's game. What happens when your enemy becomes your heart's desire? Kate Meader never loses her humorous side. Down with Love begins as a flight of fancy but transforms into a dance of love. A broken heart in need of a fresh perspective finds it's home in this fantastic fight to the finish.

This new series by Kate Meader is a hilarious, sexy romp about a hot-shot divorce attorney who is a cynic when it comes to marriage and a wedding planner who gives him a run for his money. Max Henderson is the best man for his brother's upcoming wedding and feels that his brother is going into marriage all googly-eyed thinking everything will be fabulous. Charlie Love does everything she can to always make a couple's upcoming nuptials the best day of their life. Max thinks he knows what Charlie's angle is -- to try and suck everything out of the unsuspecting couples.

One kiss shared between them will have Max willing to be suckered. Max and Charlie start a very steamy, heated affair. Charlie insists that it's just a fling. The cynic Max starts seeing things differently. Will he be able to convince Charlie that there is more to this relationship than just a fling?

3.75 stars. This was a pretty good book. This is Charlie and Max's story. The two meet in a bar and feel an attraction to each other, but that attraction hits a bump when they find out of who each other are. Charlie is a wedding planner and is planning Max's brother's wedding. Max is a divorce lawyer who is not really on-board with his brother getting married to someone he hasn't known long and having a very short engagement. The two are at odds from the beginning. But they keep running into each other during the wedding planning process. Sparks fly, and even though Charlie knows Max is not Mr. Long Term, they begin a casual relationship. That leads to more and to love between them. Both are forced to examine their feelings about marriage and come to term with what they really want out of life and love. There are some funny, sweet and sexy moments and they get the HEA they deserve.

I liked this book. I liked Max and Charlie. Max is charming, confident and not at all interested in a relationship. Charlie is sweet and wants to get married soon, looking for the one. There was a little too much animosity between them when they first met and kept running into each other, but I liked where they got by the end. They started the book with opposing personalities that I felt like swapped with each other by the end. Max came off as a smarmy, divorce lawyer who was cynical about love, while Charlie came off as a sweet wedding planner who was in love with love. But by the end, we can see that the reality is that Max was a closet romantic, who helps his clients rebuild their lives and get over their divorces, and who was holding out for the perfect love for himself because he wanted to get it right in one try. And Charlie had been hurt in her past, so she was holding back putting herself completely out there in relationships to protect herself.

I did think the first half of the book was a bit slow moving, while the ending was a little rushed. There was a little too much "will they or won't they get together", back and forth angst. I wanted a bit more happy time with them together, after they'd both laid all their cards on the table. It seemed like they left it until the very end to get their acts together and admit to each other they were in love. Also, I could have done without Charlie's parents having marital issues. That felt like unnecessary added drama. But, overall, I enjoyed this book. I felt a chemistry and connection between the couple. I enjoyed their relationship development and felt like they were a good match. There are some sweet, funny, emotional moments, too.

Overall, I enjoyed this matchup of a wedding planner and a divorce lawyer. They were opposite on the surface, but alike in many ways underneath. I enjoyed Max and Charlie's journey to love. There are some fun side characters that I can see having their own books, potentially, in this series. I look forward to more from Ms. Meader and this fun, sexy series!

3.5 Stars for a cute, fun “not quiet enemies” to lovers story.
I liked Max and Charlie and truly enjoyed getting to know the characters behind the facades they initially portrayed. It was fun to watch them butt heads and eventually figure out what they needed.
Well written and entertaining this is a good start to a new series from the reliable Ms Meader. The cast, both primary and secondary, is well rounded and funny. I am looking forward to seeing more of them in future books.
One thing that I was very impressed by was Ms Meader’s ability to world build and introduce us to future players without taking away from Max and Charlie. Definitely a fun read!

This is a truly fantastic read. Filled with heat, heart and humor, this fun romance will sweep you off your feet. The chemistry and banter between Max and Charlie is sizzling and sharp. This opposites attract story offers a cute plot and lovable characters. Both of these characters had been hurt before and both dealt with the scars very differently. I loved the sparks that these two created together and the sweet emotions that they brought out in each other. This is an amazing book that is poignant and passionate. I adored it and am already impatiently waiting for book two.

Opposites Attract??



Lawyer Max Henderson has seen the worst of people representing his clients
in divorces, as a result he doesn’t believe in marriage even though his
parents have been married for over 30 years. Little did Max know that the
gorgeous woman at the bar was his brother’s wedding planner Charlie Love.


I loved the book with a divorce (I still sing Tammy Wynettewhen I spell it)
lawyer and a wedding planner because you can’t get any people so opposite
in personality. He just wants his clients to not feel like they were taken
to the cleaners in the divorce and Charlie wants helps the couple in
planning their weddings.


I love the start of the new series by Kate Meader because divorce lawyers
always get a bad rap in books and Max is actually one of the nice guys and
Charlie doesn’t take any crap from Max. Plus the quotes at the beginning of
each chapter are funny!


I voluntarily read and review.

This wordy piece is the first of Kate Meader’s new series Love Wars.
Down With Love centers around male protagonist Max Henderson, a raised-wealthy donated-his-trust-fund-to-charity divorce attorney and female protagonist Charlotte “Charlie” Love, an orphaned foster child who was adopted as a teenager wedding planner, who claims to have a temper and smart mouth. The reality of this book was Charlie talked a big game in her inner monologues, however she never used her “smart mouth” in real life situations, especially in her romantic relationships. And Max, proclaimed “playboy”, burned by a past relationship, added to the monotony of their I-want-something-more-but-not-with-you back and forth.

I felt there was so much going on, I got lost in the wordiness, especially when inside Max’s mind.
I have read many a romance story with a similar playboy-turned-monogamous plot-line, and I thought this would be a new and refreshing take on an old story. Meader’s trademark colorful ensemble cast livened up the monotony while bursting for a story of their own.
The thing is, with Kate Meader, no matter how off putting the main characters are and rub you the wrong way, there is a particular charm to her storytelling, a comedic tone that draws you in to want to read more books by her, no matter your initial first feelings.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.