Thank you so much to NetGalley and Montlake publishing for this advance copy of The Wedding Confession by JJ Knight in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored this one - Drew and Ensley are both so wonderfully written, and watching them reignite a childhood crush (one sided at first) was so special. I liked that Drew was written as a half-grump, because anytime you have that grumpy sunshine trope, it can straddle grumpy and asshole-ish. Luckily Drew’s sweet personality made it totally believable that he was just a little guarded. I loved watching these two fall in love, and found the spice to be pretty solid! I see that there’s another book in this series staring Ensley’s sister Tillie, and it’s giving me Part of Your World/Yours Truly vibes with characters from the same universe. If you’re a romantic comedy fan, you’d love this one. Troupes throughout: Childhood friends to lovers, mild grumpy sunshine

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy in exchange for my honest review - this one is available now!

She sparkles. He growls. Baring their true feelings could be the start of a wild love story―or the end of it―in a sexy romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author. One spilled glass of wine and bridesmaid Ensley James is ejected from a country club wedding in the rain. Ensley looks on the bright side. That would be her longtime crush Drew Daniels. The moody, broody, skin-pricklingly sexy groomsman is tossed out with her. Waiting out a hot spring storm in a cozy shed for two, it’s time for Drew’s he’s strictly a one-nighter. Ensley’s dare? Give her three date nights and see where it goes. A veterinarian like Drew is great when it comes to puppy love, but he has his reasons for his rules about no true feelings, just flings. So why agree to Ensley’s three-date challenge? Easy. Miss Ray of Freaking Sunshine is absolutely irresistible. Night after night, Ensley and Drew can’t ignore the heat, the growing intimacy―and the unexpected complications. Drew’s walls may be crumbling, but Ensley’s still at risk of being another tryst. Especially with Ensley’s final confession. This one could be their rockiest challenge yet.

A great cutesy read that will help chase away the blues. Really loved the chemistry between Ensley and Drew. Will recommend to others.

Drew and Ensley met in the past but meet up again when at a wedding.. Can Ensley get Drew to find that there is more to life than the one he is living. how do things work out ? you will have to read this to find out.
4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

4.25 stars - Such a cute and funny book.

You'll really route for Ensley to get a HEA. She's sweet and kind and deserves someone to love and appreciate her generous heart. Drew is a grump and needs someone to pull him out of his shell and appreciate his good side.

The story had some great LOL scenes and Ensley always tries to be positive and not let life, despite all her obstacles, get her down. A great book when you need a pick-me-up.

I would defnitely read the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC

A fun, low-ish angst story perfect for a day at the beach or by the pool. Ensley and Drew knew each other’s when they were kids and are brought back together when they are kicked out of their friends wedding (don’t cry over spilled wine). After Drew’s one-date only confession and Ensley’s dare for three, they beginning spending more time together.
For all that she’s been through, Ensley’s sunny disposition keeps grumpy Drew on his toes and wondering if there could be more to living one date at a time.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Drew and Ensley reconnect at a wedding. He only has flings, can she convince him that there could be more? I liked how it was told from both points of view.
A great read, looking forward to more books from this author.

The Wedding Confession by JJ Knight
Wedding Meet Cute #1

Delightfully fun, highly recommended, happy-making romance that I thoroughly enjoyed!

What I liked:
* Ensley: grew up poor, in charge of younger siblings way too young, caring, kind, outgoing, talkative, responsible, thrifty, crush on Drew for years, really REALLY liked her
* Drew: from a upper middle class family, grumpy, veterinarian, HS football player, has a temper, guarded, one nights only – for a reason that comes out later, really like him for Ensley – eventually
* The “meet cute” at the wedding, the reconnection of Drew & Ensley, and the shed scene
* The way Ensley stood up for her friend at the wedding
* Ensley’s close relationship with her siblings
* The texting between Ensley and Drew
* The confessions – one was almost too late
* The growth Drew made and the insights he gained
* The conversations with suggestive innuendos
* The animals – especially Sasha
* The references to Pretty Woman and an Officer and a Gentleman
* That both main characters were complex, likable, relatable, and lovable – I cared about them
* Reading a new-to-me author I would gladly read again
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about people who make everything about themselves – even at someone else’s wedding
* Contemplating the difficult childhood Ensley and her siblings had to live through, endure, and survive as children

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

The first chapter had me laughing and thinking I was in for a fantastic ride. The characters were fun and unique, a few problems here and there, but everything works out. After the next few chapters the story seemed to fizzle out a little and it was like the best parts already happened. I liked Drew and Ensley, an odd couple with a childhood past, however they needed work. It seemed like the end took a while to come about and the last few chapters rushed around solving problems. It was a fun read, long and worth the read but not a repeat read. I was given an early copy and provided my review voluntarily.

In her attempt to be a loyal friend Ensley finds herself ostracized from her friend’s wedding and uncertain what to do when Drew, the man who stole her teenage heart and who also happens to be her brother’s best friend’s brother. Their reunion leaves her wanting more so when he needs help at his veterinary clinic she returns to Atlanta to assist.

While Ensley believes in happy ever after Drew’s philosophy on romance is one night is enough. He isn’t sure how she convinced him that they needed to partake in three dates especially with the misunderstandings and unsaid things between them.

Despite the fact that they couldn’t be more different when it came to their personalities and their lifestyles, they find the perfect balance in each other. The interactions between them are humorous, their romance is endearing and there is just enough turmoil to make things interesting.

The Wedding Confession is the first book in the Wedding Meet Cute series. Ensley has loved Drew for most of her life, and after the worst day and being holed up in a shed with Drew, she’s determined to find out if there’s something more that can develop between them. When a visit turns into a job and three dates, is this their chance for more or will they be over before they even began?

This book was super cute! Talk about a bunch of mixups and misunderstandings, mixed with some fun and grumpy personalities, it all equaled a great read that had me feeling all of the feels. Giggles, tears, and swooning all took place within these pages, and I loved it! Ensley is who she is because of how she grew up, but I loved that she was trying so hard to be positive instead of focusing on the negative. She was fierce, protective, and so brave. Drew was a bit of a grump, with some good reasons, but I loved how he softened up to Ensley. I loved their interactions, both the fun and the shenanigans, and I loved the chemistry they had between them. I really thought this was a fun story and I loved the relationship building and how the characters developed throughout the book. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
When your BFF gets married and one of the groomsmen is your childhood crush, you try to stay away from him. But when the stepmother is a bridezilla in waiting, you have to help your friend make her wedding day the best.

Now Ensley is stuck outside the country club with Drew, and it is about to rain. Drew thinks if they continue around the side, they will come to the front and be able to get back inside. Needless to say, they don't. They only find a shed to hide from the rain and things get hot and heavy.

Now the wedding is over, and the couple is on their honeymoon. Drew is back home and working at his vet's practice and Ensley is back at her local bank. After several racy emails, Ensley decides to surprise Drew and visit him to continue their time from the shed when Drew misreads her visit.

Now they are getting along, Drew has calmed down, Ensley's vacation is coming to a close and she has to tell Drew she has to leave. How is he going to react to the news she is leaving? Can he forgive her? Will Ensley be able to make him see that they belong together?

I loved this story, there was so much banter between Ensley and Drew that made their past and present collide. Can they forgive and make a future together? I loved this one and can't wait for book two.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a fun read, with a very engaging female lead, and a pretty grumpy male one! It has a fabulous start at a wedding, which is being commandeered by a self-serving stepmother, until Ensley saves the day – but ends up being ejected from the event. Cue meeting up with her childhood crush, Drew, and starting a challenge to get him to see her for more than one hook-up.

Drew now has his own vet's practice three hours away from Ensley's home, and he has a very poor manner with humans, even if a great vet. When Ensley comes to visit, he makes a huge assumption that she wants a job and causes chaos in her life. It was fascinating to me how I couldn't decide who was more silly in that moment – Drew for making the assumption he could help her out by giving her a job three hours from her home, or her for not saying something about the fact she was just visiting...

Anyway, as she breaks down his walls, and he realises he has no desire to rebuild them, we get to enjoy two people who have known each other for a long time finally get the happiness that they deserved all along, and that is just what this romance reader enjoys!

The hero and the heroine reconnected at the mutual friends' wedding. It is at this event that the two had a conversation that revealed some things about themselves. The heroine dared the hero to give her three-date nights and see where the relationship will go from there. This turn in their relationship begins at the city where the hero's veterinary clinic is located and where the heroine's pregnant sister resides. Thus, the journey towards the couple's happy ending begins...

This is the first book in the WEDDING MEET CUTE series by J. J. Knight. This book features a grumpy hero, a sunshine heroine, and some cute animals, too. I liked the beginning of the story and how both got to know each other again after years apart. There were also some supportive secondary characters that helped the couple, though there were also some other secondary characters that were not as helpful to the couple. I would have liked some more details in certain areas of the book for better transitions since there were times when the story didn't grab all of my reading attention. Overall, a nice beginning to the J. J. Knight series and I look forward to reading future additions when they are available.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

2.5 Stars. Ensley had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Drew, all through childhood and when they’re reunited at a friend’s wedding, the connection is electric. When their makeout session in a shed is interrupted they go their separate ways until Ensley returns to Atlanta to visit her sister and pops into Drew’s veterinary practice to say hi. Drew misinterprets her presence and assumes she’s there to fill the open receptionist spot and hires her. In the week that she’s there the two share passionate moments beforee everything unravels.

I really enjoyed the the start of this book, but once we got to the veterinary practice, it all went down hill. I hate books based on misunderstandings. Ensley had ample opportunities to clear up her presence and the fact she did not need the job. Drew was also a huge jerk to literally anyone that was not a pet. Seriously a jerk to his employees, a jerk to his friends, and a jerk to Ensley. He showed zero growth, which is honestly not surprising considering the book took place over a week, but I very much was not rooting for an HEA between the two. On top of that there was bizarrely thrown in childhood trauma (Ensley grew up in poverty, and Drew had an abusive dad) that really did nothing to enhance the story or characters which really felt out of place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Brothers former best friend
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- 3 proper dates from the man who only does one night stands
- cute animals
- steam 🌶️

This was a cute read. It follows Ensley James a bubbly bank teller determined to live positively. Growing up, her and her siblings struggled immensely through poverty and growing up she was more determined than ever to thrive and never feel helpless again. The book opens at a wedding where Ensley is maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding. Before the wedding begins, the bride’s stepmother shows up in a white bridal gown with news her father will not be walking her down the aisle but she will instead. Felicia is honestly the evil stepmother and doesn’t care about anyone but herself. Ensley takes matters into her own hands and spills (accidentally?) red wine on the dress resulting in her being kicked from the wedding!
Drew, our main male character is also part of the wedding. He grew up with Ensley, being best friends with Garrett, her brother. Seeing her get taken away by security, Drew stays with Ensley and the two get caught in a huge rainstorm, forcing them into a shed where attraction burns intensely and the two have a…moment.
Both part with Drew not wanting anything further but Ensley will not let him slip out of her grasp and emails him. The two continue getting to know each other and things develop, to the point Ensley takes time from her job to go and help at his vet practice but this leads to a mistake where Drew assumes she is there to stay. The two agree to three dates with benefits if they so choose and boy do they choose.
I liked this. Drew was beyond nasty at some points which did not feel entirely necessary so it took the trope grumpy/sunshine to the extreme. I look forward to reading Ensley’s sisters book next!

When Ensley James and groomsman Drew Daniels get kicked out of her best friend's country club wedding during a spring storm, they shelter together in a storage shed where things start to get steamy. Ensley is finally happy to get a chance at her childhood crush, but unfortunately they get interrupted and he has to return home to Atlanta. After a series of flirty emails, Ensley decides to take a chance and challenge the self proclaimed one-night stander to go on three dates with her. Can she change his mind about relationships or will her final confession break them apart?
This was a cute story. As an animal lover, I liked the setup on the vet office with the grumpy veterinarian. I like how the details of their past were introduced throughout the story until Drew's confession at the very end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first time reading a book by this author. I enjoyed the book and storyline. It was an easy read. Some parts of the storyline were a little cheesy and unrealistic, but overall it was cute. If you like reading romance books, you will enjoy this one. I am interested in reading other books by this author now.

arc received by netgalley
the wedding date by jj knight follows ensley and drew who basically go on three dates because drew (broody playboy guy) has a one-date rule that ensley is trying to break.
soooo this was a such a cute book omg!! it's brother's childhood bestfriend and grumpy/sunshine which i love, and its dual pov. they meet again at a wedding which is always a cute setting for romance books (i'll never get bored with it, it screams fun romance book to me. i need more authors to incorporate this)
it was fun to read about the characters, theyre complex but not unnecessary complex and the smut was great, not too much but a good amount
i liked the fact that there werent unnecessary characters or plots solely added to make the story longer so id consider this a quick fun read if you want to get out of a slump. its not revolutionnary but it does the job and it follows the usual rules of romance books with the miscommunication trope.
the growling was cringy tho and the writing and plot was kinda boring at some point

When Ensley James is kicked out of the wedding of her best friend, only to find herself stranded in the rain, she should be dejected. Except that her long-time crush Drew Daniels, comes to her rescue. Drew is moody yet sexy and when they must wait out the storm in cosy shed, they reveal some of their secrets. Drew confesses that he is strictly a one-nighter, so Ensley dares him to give her three date nights and see where it goes. Drew is able to express his feelings to the animals in his care as a veterinarian, but he is has his reasons for his rules about women: no true feelings, just flings. Yet when he is with Ensley, he feels happy. However, he also can’t ignore his growing feelings for her as they spend time together. Yet Ensley fears that after their three dates, she will be a similar statistic in Drew’s life.
This was an easy read with some fairly intense moments between Ensley and Drew, starting in the shed, and continued as she begins to work for him at his vet practice. Ensley wears her heart on her sleeve, which was so sweet. From the moment she stands up to her best-friend’s evil stepmother and for her friends. Whilst Drew appears to be quite grumpy and at times, unnecessarily, his reasons for being reluctant to start a relationship with Ensley, is gradually revealed as the story progresses. Whilst Drew grew on me, Ensley shone through as a courageous woman, who Drew was lucky to have in his life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A playful, cute story. Ensley grew up with nothing and Is fiercely loyal to her family. She’s also had the hots forever for Drew, but he is slow to figure this out.
I loved what Ensley did at Ronnie’s wedding.
One of my favorites parts of the book was Drew’s interaction with his kitty, Sasha.
I also liked how real and down to earth the situations were, easy to read and also relate.

Like in JJ Knight's true fashion, she comes with a witty, fun and sweet rom-com. Having read the Pickles series (not sure if that's the correct title), I knew what to expect from the author and she totally made the reading worthwhile. I really enjoyed reading this entertaining and funny story.