Very well written book. Really enjoyed this author, would definitely read more by this author and recommend on my book IG

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book contains all the right items for a good romcom, and while a couple of parts of the storyline are rather predictable the whole makes up to an interesting and enjoyable read. I thought the characters were likeable and realistic, and the mentions of carb-heavy food was completely credible whilst the Irish settings were lovely. And to cap it all there were English spellings!
An author I've signed up to follow after reading this light escape.

Super fun story! Really cute characters :) I enjoyed reading this!

Thank you NetGalley and Maxine Morrey!

"Just Say Yes" by Maxine Morrey is an enchanting tale set in the charming English countryside, where wedding planner Madeleine faces both professional and personal challenges. With a leaking roof and a need for a significant event to boost her finances, she takes on the extravagant wedding of Californian heiress Peyton and the amiable Patrick. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she's paired with the frustratingly handsome Lorcan, the best man. As they navigate the preparations in rural Ireland, Maddie discovers warmth, humor, and a chance at love amidst her client-centric world. Morrey weaves a heartwarming narrative, blending humor and romance flawlessly, making it a delightful read that captivates until the very end. Perfect for enthusiasts of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella, this feel-good story is a testament to love's unexpected ways, leaving readers smiling and thoroughly content.

I did not enjoy this story as much I had anticipated. I had high hopes for this narrative but found it to be quite slow and the characters too obvious.

I was desperate to see the two protagonists, Lorcan and Maddie, get together so I could see some proper romance. Yet, Morrey leaves readers waiting until the very end for this to happen. Instead, this book is all about Maddie planning a wedding for Lorcan’s best friend, the groom, and Lorcan is the best man. Like many stories I have read in the past, Lorcan and Maddie constantly bicker about what is best for the bride and groom, with Maddie being maddened by Lorcan’s anti-wedding beliefs. To see a warring duo that will inevitably be romantically attached is, well, a little bit over-used and this was one of the main reasons why I fell out of love with this story.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the smouldering Lorcan and the fact that he is Irish added another level of charm to his character! With the wedding taking place in the Irish countryside, Morrey takes readers to this beautiful place and I felt like I was discovering this gem with Maddie. Maddie is warmly received by the local, small community and I especially liked seeing the affectionate welcome she receives from Lorcan’s family. Using many local businesses to help shape the wedding of Patrick and Peyton, it seems like Maddie has everything in control – no surprise when she is such a control freak.

But I think I wanted to see more romance rather than sparring in this tale. The wedding is actually glossed over in the end and I felt a bit bereft as, after all, the whole novel is building up to this main event. I would have liked to have seen Maddie in her element on the big day, as well as further interactions with Lorcan – especially as by this point she realises she cannot deny her growing attachment to this hunk of an Irishman. Instead, it is all glossed over as Morrey moves the narrative forwards to its final climax.

Overall, I thought this was quite a slow burner. The Irish setting, the characters and the general concept behind the story were all really appealing. However, I wanted a more pacy narrative that fizzed with more excitement and romance. Instead, seeing the couple at loggerheads and disagreeing throughout felt like something I have seen too many times already.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by Maxine Morrey and it won’t be my last, another one that broke my star rating, SUPERB! Definitely my new favourite rom com author!

When Maddie, who is a professional wedding planner, is asked to plan American Heiress’s Peyton and her fiancé Patrick’s wedding she is delighted, especially given she needs funds to fix the leak in her cottage’s roof. However, she didn’t count on having to work so closely with Patricks best man, Lorcan O’Malley. Maddie tries to keep Lorcan at arm’s length due to her rule of never getting involved with a member of the wedding party even if they are tall, dark and handsome with the loveliest Irish accent. Lorcan repeatedly reminds Maddie that he doesn’t believe in weddings but still wants Peyton and Patrick to have the best wedding they can in Ireland where Patrick and Lorcan are from. With Peyton and Patrick in America with Patrick’s job it’s down to Maddie and Lorcan to plan the day and even go as far as to taste the food and sample wedding cakes. But when ultra organised Maddie spends a weekend in Ireland visiting the venue and organising suppliers, she starts to let her guard down with Lorcan. Both of them organise the most perfect wedding for Patrick and Peyton and at the end of the wedding day Lorcan is suddenly not out of bounds anymore for Maddie, but can a wedding planner and a wedding hater really work long term, or will it just be a passing moment between them? You’ll have to read to find out.

Oh WOW this was an excellent read! I loved the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book which saved me from having to either not pronounce the names right in my head the whole way through or googling how to say them. At 4% in I was already laughing out loud about the “hobbit houses” and the story continued to make me laugh our loud all the way though. I absolutely loved the flanter between Maddie and Loran and the gorgeous descriptions of where Maddie lived and in Ireland where the wedding was to take place and I know instantly this was my new favourite rom com author when the story described the “chicken bloomers”. As a chicken owner I compliment my hen on her bloomers on a daily basis so to see this written was just fantastic. I totally fell in love with Maddie, Lorcan and of course Bod and I really slowed my reading down as I got to the end of the book as I was not ready to finish the story. I admit for the first time ever I had a little cry once I finished it as I was sad it was over and didn’t want to let Maddie, Lorcan and Bod go.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough; it is so fuzzy and warm and funny and feel good and any rom com lovers will really enjoy this. I can’t wait to read Maxine Morrey’s next book and I have already bought a few others of hers to read. A great escape from life and I hugely recommended it. 5+ star rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, Maxine Morrey and Boldwood Books for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

I have enjoyed two of the author's other books. This was no exception. It is the kind of light read with strong characters that make a reading experience easy and fun.
We plunge right into a narrative when this story begins. It is a rainy day, and our lead protagonist hopes her roof will hold off leaking for a little bit longer. She is a wedding planner who is gearing up for a meeting with a well-to-do couple. They are planning to have their big day in Ireland.
Madeleine does not expect to deal with the best man for everything, but that is how the plot plays out. She is not the first wedding planner to be working on this wedding, the previous one having run off without having done anything. This requires a trip to Ireland to get the lay of the ground.
The only disadvantage she has is that the best man is a local favourite, and she is unsure of her own feelings about him. There are a lot of smaller mishaps and one slightly bigger one before the story wraps up, but the people carry the plot forward. The smaller building blocks that make up a big fancy destination wedding is dealt with in some detail to add to the atmosphere.
The writing is something I have come to expect from the author, even with my limited experience. I even suggested it to my sister, who read it and liked her own read of it.
It is definitely one that readers of the genre will appreciate.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I love Maxine Morrey and her writing style, this book is easy to follow, with well rounded characters. Thanks for letting me read it and apologies for the delay in giving feedback.

Wedding planner Maddie needs a big job to pay for the repairs on her beautiful cottage. When she takes on the wedding of an American heiress she thinks all her problems are solved. However, while the happy couple are in America the groom's best man, Lorcan, has agreed to be on hand with the little details. Can Maddie and Lorcan work together to create a dream wedding? And can these two find a happily ever after together?

I will forever be a fan of anything Maxine Morrey writes.

Romantics everywhere are going to fall in love with the latest page-turner by Maxine Morrey: Just Say Yes.

Wedding planner Maddie loves her beautiful cottage in a picture-perfect English village. The problem is that her cottage needs a lot of work and a lot of money to repair and if Maddie does not manage to get a big job soon then she will be left with no other choice but to sell her dream home. Just when she’s about to lose all hope, Lady Luck smiles down upon her when Maddie takes on the wedding of Californian heiress Peyton to Patrick. Maddie is over the moon about it – even if it means having to contend with handsome best man Lorcan giving her a helping hand!

With the wedding taking place in a castle in rural Ireland, Maddie and Lorcan head off to Ballalee where they quickly begin to pull out all the stops to ensure that Peyton and Patrick have the wedding of their dreams. Maddie’s job is immensely important to her and with life having been tough on her, she tends to keep her heart under lock and key and focus on her work. However, the kindness and warmth of Lorcan’s family enables her to finally let down her guard and let other people in for the first time in a very long while.

Maddie is used to worrying about the romantic lives of her clients, but maybe this wedding will bring her closer to finding her own happy ever after…

Maxine Morrey does not disappoint with her absorbing new novel, Just Say Yes. A cosy, heartwarming and feel-good romantic tale about taking a chance on love, second chances and finding your soulmate in the most unexpected places, Just Say Yes is a witty, entertaining and hugely enjoyable romantic read that hits all the right notes and will delight fans of Julie Caplin and Phillipa Ashley.

💍 BOOK REVIEW 💍

Synopsis: Wedding planner Madeleine lives in a picture-perfect thatched cottage, in a picture-perfect English country village.
There’s only one problem - dream cottages take a lot of work, and with a leaking roof, and not enough money to pay for it, what Maddie needs now is a big wedding to plan.
So she’s delighted when she takes on the wedding of Californian heiress Peyton, to all-round good guy Patrick. She’s less delighted to find out that she's going to have help – from the admittedly gorgeous, but equally maddening, tall, dark and handsome best man Lorcan.
The wedding is set to take place in a castle in rural Ireland, and so, in no time, Maddie and Lorcan are on their way to Ballalee. Life hasn’t always been easy for Maddie, and work has become her refuge. But soon the warmth and humour of Lorcan’s Irish family and friends start to chip away at Maddie’s walls. And as the big day approaches, it might be time for Maddie to focus less on her clients’ love life and more on her own…

Review: This is my second attempt to read a book by this author after DNFing the first. I received an ARC of this via NetGalley but listened via audio as that is my preferred platform. Holy guacamole. The narrator says like one word a second! It’s so slow and I could speed it up as I was using Spotify. Honestly, it made the entire story unbearable, I couldn’t concentrate.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
It’s a DNF for me.

1/5 stars ⭐️

Well, this was riveting! Truthfully, I couldn’t put it down. I love books with this kind of pace. Great book and congrats. I’m sure many more will enjoy it as well. I loved it . . . stayed up late to finish it!

First of all this book felt way too long. It dragged on and on. I loved that it was set in Ireland but the main characters didn't seem to have any common ground so the romance didn't feel real.

A sweet romance with a lovely feel-good vibe. A wedding planner meets the best man at the upcoming big/fancy wedding she is working on, and is immediately attracted but on guard. Lorcan is a tall, muscular Irishman with dark hair and a cheeky wink (swoon) who almost makes wedding planner Maddie forget about her lists and rules for a hyper-organised life. A few secrets and sad aspects of their pasts come to light, as they work together to vet chefs and florists and plan the details of the wedding at an Irish castle. Morrey has a deft hand with adding scenic details and writing fun side characters in the small town setting, but at times I longed for the main characters to get it together and have a proper conversation. And oddly, after so much attention was given to wedding planning, the actual big wedding day was not on the page. Definitely a slow burn romance. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of the ebook.

Madeline is a wedding planner who was engaged by Peyton to plan her wedding to Patrick. As they are around for the wedding, Patrick’s good friend Lorcan agreed to help with the wedding detail. As they travel to Ireland and spending time together, they get to know each other and not long after, Madeline found herself to be attracted to him.

The characters are well developed with great chemistry. Madeline is strong l,focused and determined character who thrives on routine while Lorcan is laid back and compassionate. They have this wonderful opposites attract. Overall it is a light hearted relationship romance that i enjoyed.

*review post scheduled to be posted on my blog on 17/2/23*

Just Say Yes was a sweet romance between a wedding planner and an anti-wedding best man. I liked the characters as individuals but I wasn't feeling the chemistry between them. Their interactions seemed forced and I felt more invested in the wedding planning business than the romance. The setting was fun too, I haven't read too many books that take place in an Ireland and a small village. Although Just Say Yes missed the mark slightly for me, I'd still read another book from the author.

This book was just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump at the end of a long year. Madeleine is a wedding planner who lives and works with everything meticulous planned and organised. In her job, this is a positive. In her personal life, this is to save her from dealing with the past. This is put to the test when she is hired to plan a wedding in Ireland and the best man (Lorcan and his cute dog Bod) are tasked with showing her the venue and helping her out. Whilst the wedding details go to plan (for the most part), what Madeleine didn't plan for was how irresistible Lorcan (and Bod) would be.
A great read with some really lovely characters and beautiful writing.

This didn't work for me. It was all just a little too much, a little too over the top, a little too sickly sweet.

Please, just say yes to this book
It is definitely a brilliant read, just look!
With a wedding planner stepping in to sort an heiress out
After their previous planned had messed them about!

Madeline is the planner and she definitely likes to plan everything
She doesn't like what spontaneity or surprises can bring.
With colour coding planners for work and her life
Assuming every minute needs planning or there'll be strife.

The bride, however, can't be around and sets on Lorcan
He's gorgeous, Irish, maddening and the best man!
Lorcan agrees to help check things out
Starting with a visit to an Irish castle and the area about!

Get ready for shenanigans, laughter and fun
As these two endeavour to get the wedding planning done.
The warm welcome from the Irish families and friends
Show how on each other they all can depend.

The love shines through the whole of this book
Though there's also more than one who may be a crook!
Their heartwarming welcome helps to melt your heart
Encouraging you to hope these two will never part.

What a lovely read it proved to be
A gorgeous, humorous and fun story.
With a leaking roof, a cuddly dog, too,
I highly recommend this book to you!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
It's a fabulous romcom and this is my honest review.

This isn’t my first read by Maxine Morrey but I find the more I do read her books, the more I love each one. This was my favourite so far, it was just so gorgeous, so delight to read and such a warm and fuzzy feeling it left me with. I adored this so much.

Maddie and Lorcan are great lead characters, I loved their chemistry, even though it has references to the last few years terrible events, I didn’t mind so much ( I’m not really into reading about it usually as I like to escape when I read) and it was to emphasise the issues etc and key to plot etc.

I really loved Maddie, she’s such a great, interesting and heartwarming character, her backstory will intrigue you and pull you in, it did for me. Lorcan is fabulous too, I just loved the slow burn romance between them both, the build up from awkward beginnings to hidden attraction, misunderstandings, I just loved it all.

I really did enjoy this, I love that it managed to wring so many emotions out of me, the emphasis on family and friendship as well as love, it’s just a gorgeous and heartwarming read. I really hope there’s a follow up to this, even if it’s different characters I’d love a cameo from these to see how they are getting on. I’d buy it yesterday.

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Maxine Morrey and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free copy of this wonderful read, for full disclosure I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own and freely given