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I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.

This is a v very different type of Georgia Beers book. It is very similar to what she has been writing lately which I categorize as lesbian versions of half ark movies, but in book form. I thought the two characters were interesting, but the circumstances that brought them together as well as Teddie's ability to throw all the bitterness she had been holding in for over two years away within a matter of days seemed unrealistic and like a but of a stretch.

The story line is typical and predictable Girl meets sisters wedding planner, turns out she destroyed her life and livelihood in her divorce, The girl Teddi and the other girl Leah soon realize that they love each other immesly and cannot live without each other. There are the other story lines having to deal with Teddi planning Leah's younger sisters wedding, as well as one of Leah's friends falling in love with a social worker. It was a sweet book, but it was boring and as I said predictable.

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I only recently picked up my first Georgia Beers book, so I had fresh expectations in mind for this book. (Most of what I have to say is going to be a spoiler.)
Teddi and Leah were combustible. From the moment that they first met, there were sparks. Each one sounded like they wanted to jump the other on the spot. It was nice that there were some fluffy moments before they got into bed.
Okay, the last part of the book. I can't say I liked it. I understand that most people would rather get married, and our hopeless romantic Leah is one of those people. That's not a surprise, and I have no issue with it: I'm also one of them. It does bother me that Leah keeps using the phrase "working toward." Her stance seems to be that relationships need to progress in order to be worthwhile, and marriage is the future of all "productive" relationships. What they had was good, but it could only be better with marriage. On that note, I sided with Teddi. Is it such a dealbreaker? A long-term committed relationship should be the same whether you call the person girlfriend or wife. (I wouldn't know, so don't chew me out.) You can have all the same things: the promise to be exclusive, living together, a picket fence, two and a half cats. For the same reason, Teddi was being irrational as well, considering that she isn't averse to long-term commitment. She just won't call it marriage.
I get that they're both set in their ways. But then all the work is done on Teddi's side. Leah shows her the door after ignoring her for a day. She does seemingly no reflection in the time that they're apart, no signs that she'd be willing to compromise. She makes no efforts to reach out to Teddi. I was fed up when it came to comparing reactions from their groups of friends. Leah is comforted by her friend and told that she needs to do what feels right. Teddi gets snapped at by Preston for being dense enough to let her relationship slip away because she can't "meet in the middle." What? First, there isn't a middle ground for this. It's either marriage or not. Second, that would really upset me if I were Teddi. I don't care who this friend is, they aren't in the relationship, so they should not be aggressively passing their judgement like this. I thought there would be a little good cop to offset the acerbity, but none came.
It's clear why Preston is allowed to go off like this. Teddi is shown as broken. Not just jaded, as the blurb would have us believe, but damaged from her experience with marriage, burned badly enough to swear it off forever. But obviously this isn't a valid choice for her to make, not if it's because she's broken. No, she needs to do a lot of thinking and come back to Leah with the right answer so that everyone can move on. Marriage is good and right and necessary. I knew from the start of their conflict that Teddi would be the one changing her mind. It was disappointing to see it carried out.
The ending scene was dull. Okay, she takes a bunch of scenes from Leah's rom-coms. Nothing wrong with paying homage, but it seems unoriginal. Teddi asks for a second chance on one knee and with jewellery in her hand, but not a ring. Hooray for compromise.
I want to think that my personal bias isn't all of the negative tone here. As I mentioned, I would 100% be the proponent of marriage that Leah is. Yet when I read Teddi's perspective, it was reasonable. She isn't commitment-phobic, and she sees a future with Leah. She isn't letting her experience with marriage taint her new relationship, other than the marriage part. She is surprisingly well-adjusted, more than you'd think from the way that her friends see her. Maybe for Teddi personally, there was in fact a need to recover a positive attitude towards marriage. It doesn't sit right with me that Leah immediately called dealbreaker and threw her out, and that her friends piled on the blame. She started having panic attacks, for goodness' sake. Nobody worked with her through it, and Leah felt nothing but self-pity.
I wanted to like this book. I really enjoyed the first 70% of it. The writing itself is excellent. Unfortunately, none of the ending sat well with me. Three and a half stars.

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A nice, easy way to spend five hours during this tough time in the world. I'm not crazy about the cover (sorry Ann McMan) but this has to represent Leah since Teddi is blonde, and it's not how I pictured Leah at all. I wasn't completely sold on the chemistry between the two, and there were some parts that were hokey, but I'd still recommend this book for fans of Georgia Beers.

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Soooo close to 5 stars for me. It's hard for me to give a book 5 stars, so I'd probably concur with others who do give this story 5 stars. Just an overall solid book from Beers.

The main points - loved the main characters. Both of them were likable right from the get-go. And the banter from them made me laugh out loud at time. They were just cute, and had this instant connection that was a joy to read.

Most importantly, I thought it was clever that the divorce attorney was the romantic, while the wedding planner was the cynic/skeptic. It was a very interesting "opposites attract" scenario. Very unique, I should say.

Last thing, kudos that the relationship spanned over a year. I love that it wasn't 2 weeks! It leant to the credibility of their feelings and the true nature of the discussion of marriage, and how important that was at the time of their relationship.

Overall, a definite buy from me.

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Can a wedding planner believe that true love doesn't exist? No? Then meet Teddi. Due to an awful divorce, she has given up any hopes of a true love in the future. She does not want to have to deal with that terrible experience again. All bets are off on this, until she meets her new client's sister, Leah. The only problem is Leah is the divorce attorney that her ex-wife employed.
Despite Teddi having to see Leah with her sister every appointment, she realizes that it was not Leah, but her ex-wife that destroyed her life. Once that realization sets in, her eyes are open to the chemistry between them. It is the chemistry that scares Teddi and she tries to avoid it all costs.
I would highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Evan Blood
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Hopeless Romantic by Georgia Beers
Hopeless Romantic
by Georgia Beers (Goodreads Author)
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When a wedding planner still recovering from her own divorce meets a divorce attorney looking for that hallmark level happily ever after, will love be enough to conquer all?

Georgia Beers is back with her latest novel. Our two protagonists are women who have attitudes opposite to what you may expect. Teddi Baker had her heart crushed in her divorce and has only started to get to a point with more good days than bad - divorce shattered her and another marriage is off the table. Leah Scott is a divorce attorney who spends the time out of of the office cosily enjoying Hallmark channel and dreaming of her own wedding. These women have their careers, dreams and baggage. Apart from that they have irresistible chemistry and a story that drives you to keep reading.

I enjoyed watching this story play out. Beers creates characters with depth, writes fiery passion, and shows the growth that is a necessary part of mature relationships. As always, this has left me for ready for her next new novel. (Loved the gentle nod to a previous novel though!)

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I wanted to like this more than I did. It was good! I just wasn't completely captivated. I thought there would be more angst, more enemies to lovers. And it's fine that it wasn't there, but I thought it would be. The characters had chemistry and I liked that they were able to overcome their history.

I had some personal issues/baggage with the conflict at the end. Firstly, it felt a little rushed both how it showed up and how it was resolved. Secondly, the personal baggage and my own feelings around marriage made it hard for me to feel HEA for them.

Beers always writes a good book and this book doesn't change my thoughts on that. But this particular story wasn't my favorite.

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Teddi plans weddings even though her own marriage dissolved terribly. One of her clients brings her irresistible sister, Leah, along with her. There is definitely a spark there between Teddi and Leah. However, Leah's job as a divorce lawyer brings all to many painful memories for Teddi.

This book reminded me of a romantic comedy. Even the super extravagant and cheesy ending. But we all love these movies, right? I really enjoyed all of the cute scenes where Teddi and Leah interacted. I particularly liked a New Years Eve party that Leah is forced to go to where she discovers that Teddi is also there and they are drawn to one another.

A good dose of angst was served as the two struggle over differing outlooks on life. It felt realistic and true to the characters experiences. I appreciate that type of integrity to character and development.

Overall, you can't go wrong with this Georgia Beers romance. A love story that makes you work for it.

I recommend this to people who love to read about romance, jaded characters, weddings, lawyers, divorce, and hopeless romantics.

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I am including a disclaimer that I am 20+ book reviews behind. Unfortunately, that means quite some time has passed since reading. So this review is likely not as in depth as normally would be as it is not fresh on the brain.

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An enemy to lover story. Teddi is a 40 something wedding planner. She is also jaded by her divorce in which her ex-wife got half of her money forcing her to reduce her wedding planning business. She takes on a new client whos sister is no other than Leah, her ex-wife divorce attorney.

A fun romance with mature career woman. A little bit of angst and lots of wedding planning.

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Mostly Wonderful
Teddi is a wedding planner. After her divorce and losing half her assets she is no longer a fan of the institution for herself. Her latest client Kelly is a gem with a supportive, beautiful sister who captures Teddi’s attention. Leah is a divorce attorney who believes in happily ever after and wants that for her sister. When she meets Teddi, she is taken by the lovely woman. What happens when Teddi realizes Leah is responsible for her having to close two of her shops to pay off her ex-wife?

I really liked the story, for the most part. It was funny and witty, well written and engaging, no pun intended. I loved all the sexy, sensualness that this couple had. It was fun to watch them fall in love and I loved their love. However, there was a part of the book that I had a problem with. Spoiler Alert! Teddi does not want to get married again and suddenly Leah wants that for herself and she has been dreaming of this since she was little. That was never brought up before so it seems weird that it only comes into the story after Teddi tells Leah she doesn’t want to get married again. Leah says that marriage is the next step and without something to work toward there is no point in a relationship. I think this is utter Bull S***! There is ALWAYS something to work toward in any relationship, whether it’s with a piece of paper of not. Why is marriage the make or break of their relationship? This was never going to be an either or situation and that really sucked about the book, and in life too I guess but it just doesn’t seem fair that Teddi has to do all the bending. End Spoiler Alert! Overall, it was a good book but not Ms Beer’s best, in my opinion. Maybe you will feel differently.

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This was a sweet, low-angst romance featuring two intelligent, mature women navigating a romance that seemingly springs up when they least expect it. Teddi is a 40+ wedding planner who was previously married, but whose relationship crashed and burned 2 yrs before, leaving her barely able to salvage her business after the financial settlement with her ex. She’s still hurt and bitter about the whole experience and pretty determined to never get married again, although she still loves her wedding planning business. Leah is the divorce attorney who represented Teddi’s ex, still believes in love in spite of her profession, and at age 39 has not yet given up her own dream of finding that special person.

These two meet when Leah’s younger sister hires Teddi to manage her wedding. Sparks fly immediately and neither can resist the attraction, but somehow they will need to resolve their conflicting views on marriage as well as Teddi’s lingering resentment for Leah’s role in her divorce. I really enjoyed how competent, mature, and low-drama both characters were. They were both caretakers who enjoyed nothing more than taking care of the people they loved and were a perfect match for each other. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Hopeless Romantic is one of those books we all need right now. A book where irony is not lost on no one, including the characters, but the charm wins everyone over in the end. Charm is what this book has in spades, and so does Leah until Teddi finds out she’s her ex-wife’s divorce attorney. Oh boy, it doesn’t get more ironic than that. This is a modern day fairy tale woven so well together, with characters you can’t help rooting for to find their happily ever after. This is a delightful book to let your imagination get lost in. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Who doesn’t love enemies to lovers. Such a brilliant Rom-Com style book all about Teddi a wedding planner and divorcee, who meets Leah the sister of a new bride. But there’s one snag, Leah happens to be the attorney who dealt with her divorce for the other side.

The chemistry and way the relationship is treated is 10/10 and one of the best/most realistic F/F novels I have read in a long time. I adored the pair together and was rooting for them the whole way!

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This read had me at the Hallmark channel and I appreciated it very much. Leah Scott, divorce attorney, with a passion for romance movies, and looking for love. Teddi Baker, divorced, wedding planner extraordinary, and not looking for love. The meet cute is unique and well presented. The attraction pull is immediate. Leah's sister Kelly is getting married and Leah is paying and plans to be involved in every aspect of her only sister's wedding. Teddi is blown away when she realizes that Leah is her ex-wife's divorce attorney. I enjoyed the build up as Teddi and Leah got to know each other.i also enjoyed the reference to popular romance movies. Although the conflict was not a surprise, the romance was pretty awesome. The ending fell a little short for me.

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This is such a great book with characters that are extremely well developed, a cast of secondary characters which add to understanding the two main characters better, and a good amount of heat.
Teddi is the wedding planner who is still trying to get over the loss of two of her businesses in a brutal divorce, in which her ex-wife left her in financial peril. However she is a successful wedding planner who is much in demand. The interesting part of her is that she does not believe in marriage and has no intention of ever getting married again. Into her shop walks Leah and her sister Kelly who is there to support her baby sister Leah in her wedding plans. When Teddi and Kelly meet there eye contact is intense. As the wedding planning meetings continue there is a growing attraction between Leah and Teddi which the author develops so beautifully and erotically. At a New Year’s Eve party at midnight there was a magical kiss between the two women, a kiss that spoke of words neither women were able to express. As the two women are beginning to get closer to one another Teddi finds out that Leah was her ex wife’s lawyer and she blames the lawyer for her financial problems and hardships.Are used to have a huge obstacle to navigate if you’re ever able to possibly develop a relationship.
through all of the ups and downs in this novel, that were masterfully developed by Georgia Beers, you keep hoping that the main characters are going to be able to find a way to be together. There should be a warning with this book that tells the reader that once you start reading it you will not be able to put it down, yes it is just that good.

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OMG, this book almost gave me heart attack. I mean who let's such a perfect relationship go?
I was glad neither of them did. I love both characters so much that their happy ending made me cry.
Their love, their frienda and family that was something amazing.
This really awesome book.

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This is a standard romance, one of those that are so common in this author, so it is a safe bet if you are looking for sweet, romantic, passionate and everything in between. Some will think that it is too predictable, perhaps, too cliché, but isn't that what many of us are waiting for when we decide on one or the other story, after all? I definitely am.

The two protagonists have a common past, painful for one of them, but that will not prevent them from pursuing the attraction they feel for each other from the first moment they meet. Here we find a little twist to the script, which is also a bit funny, as the seemingly fierce divorce attorney Leah is more romantic at heart than the highly skilled and successful wedding planner Teddi. What a change of roles between professional and personal life, between them.

And in the end, of course, a bit of drama is to be expected, as it could not be otherwise. Well, okay, I accept it, if it is so that the end has been what it has been, I do not complain.

In short, this has been a classic but not negligible romance. Rather, it has what one likes to find in a good romance.

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This was amazing! I mean who doesn't love enemies to lovers romance?

Teddi is Kelly's wedding planner, Leah is Kelly's older sister and the one who represented Teddi's ex in their messy divorce, basically taking everything she had.

The chemistry between Teddi and Leah is so strong it is felt through the pages and isn't long before Teddi's attitude towards Leah drops and boy does things get interesting from there.
This was a super sweet and realistic romance that doesn't shy away from some tough obstacles that these two need to overcome.

Ultimately, this is one that will leave not only a smile on your face but one on our heart.

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I loved the concept of ‘what if’ following the author’s fascination with her niece’s wedding planner. Loved the first pages and the number of ‘goddam it’ appropriately expressed. Swooned at shared cheesecake. Horrified at the monstrosity of a drink (Earl Grey with frothed milk! And vanilla syrup! No! Really Americans - this is a travesty). Meanwhile this is a beautiful love story. Rooted in the reality of second relationships and the worries of getting older and maybe not finding a one true love. This story says you’ve got to jump in with an open heart even though last time you nearly drowned, because love will find a way if you fight for it. Sounds a bit schmaltzy? It isn’t. The writing is pitched perfectly and both the friendships and the romance are sharp with crisp and sassy dialogue. Favourite character to look out for? It has to be Angelica.

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This was well written as always from this author. She has a formula and knows what works. Sadly for me I didn’t fall in love with any of the characters. I also wondered if this was a standalone or the start of maybe a small series that takes place with a group of several characters introduced briefly but with a strangely high level of detail. I wouldve judged it differently if it is the opener in a series, since those have a different objective than a standalone.

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