4 stars - Camilla Isley’s latest release of The Love Proposal is the 3rd in a series. While it may be read as a stand alone novel, you will understand SO much more if you read them in order.

Okay, so I was ready to not like this story as I really didn’t like MFC Summer based on the prior books in this series. But…I really did like her and feel sorry for her once I was able to read her history and understand her behavior in the prior stories. I already had an opinion of Archie based on the last book and was looking forward to seeing how the relationship would develop between these 2 unlikely characters. Low and behold – this was a really good story. Yes, the characters seem a bit shallow at first, but Summer and Archie both do some reflection, and the story is compelling. My favorite part of the whole book is just before the ceremony and Archie is getting ready for the wedding and “sees” part of his future. I felt as though he had a big breakthrough!

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley, the author Camilla Isley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance copy in return for an independent, honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up!

The Love Proposal may be the steamiest of Camilla Isley’s books I’ve read, but I am here for it! A sweet friends-with-benefits story set over a week at a resort wedding, this best man and bridesmaid make the most of their time before the big day.

Don’t worry if you’re a fan of closed door, fade to black romances. This dual point of view story is still very much a closed door one, but we get plenty of time with Archie and Summer. It’s the long, lustful looks and build up of anticipation that works in this one. No open door needed.

I’d met Archie and Summer in previous books. Isley recently joined Boldwood Books publishing and many of her previous self-published books are being reedited, renamed, and republished, including this one, which was originally titled You May Kiss the Bridesmaid. It was part of the First Comes Love series, and it included overlapping characters. I’ve read all but two in the series now, but many out of order. It didn’t really effect my enjoyment, but I did have to refresh my memory on a few characters.

Luckily, I did just read and review The Love Theorem, the book that precedes this one, and I knew of Summer. I knew things had not been going well for her. She’d made some big mistakes that hurt several people, and I was curious to see how that would play out. Isley did a good job making Summer a sympathetic character, explaining how she’d made such a mess of her life. Watching her learn to deal with the fallout was rewarding, as well.

One of the things I enjoy the most about Isley’s books is where she places her characters. She always gives them a meaningful setting that readers can enjoy, too. And I had fun with this group of friends as they’re gathered together for a week for the wedding of Winter, Summer’s twin sister, and Logan, Archie’s best friend. Set at a resort, we spend time with Summer and Archie in yoga class, the spa, a winery, and follow them as they try to be discreet about their current relationship status.

The Love Proposal is just the kind of book I want to read during the long, lazy days of summer. Fun, lighthearted, and romantic!

They deserve each other.

Summer had an affair with her best friends boyfriend. She's terrible. Does she deserve her own story? I'm not sure she does. She's truly awful. Archie is a player, frivolous and down to have a fling with Summer for the wedding week. I guess they are suited for each other.

Thanks to Boldwook Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This book involves cheating (which happens in a previous book that I had read). I should say that up front because some people do have a problem with heroines who have digressed in this manner.

In the Love Theorem, Summer seemed to be a pretty terrible person at worst, and easily manipulated at best. So, in the beginning I wasn't sure that I wanted to read a story about her. But I remembered the mistakes I had made in my earlier life, and relationships I have regretted, and I thought I would give poor Summer a chance.

Summer Knowles is not perfect, she's in fact starting a new chapter in her life and trying to leave her past behind her. She has lost everything she holds dear and she can't move on without forgiving herself.

When Archie comes along, she's reluctant to commit and he doesn't seem the type to want commitment anyway. But Archie is pretty irresistible and the connection between the two of them is electric so, well, you know what happens to her plans to stay aloof.

I'm glad I gave Summer a chance and it's nice to see female characters who aren't perfect gain redemption and find their own happy ever after.

Firstly I’d like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. It was such a cute spinoff to love quest.. Summer and Archie’s story was so fun to read.. this book had me smiling and kicking my feet like a love sick teenager… another great easy read that I couldn’t put down.

What is this book about?

Prince Charming will unexpectedly appear at your doorstep when you least expect it!

Summer Knowles has no desire for a boyfriend, as relationships have brought her enough trouble in the past. As a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding, she intends to steer clear of anything romantic, especially the strong and trendy best man who seems to have a fear of commitment.

When Archie Hill meets Summer, he sees an opportunity for a casual fling between a bridesmaid and the best man. With just one week together, they might as well make the most of it. However, what if one week is simply not enough?

As wedding fever takes hold, can a bridesmaid who has sworn off men and a confirmed bachelor learn valuable lessons about happily ever after?

My Review of The Love Proposal:

I was so excited to see Archie again from The Love Quest and continue seeing Winter and Tucker live out their happily ever after. Surprisingly to me, I enjoyed the Love Proposal more than the Love Quest. I think this was an interesting perspective for a book. Typically, the role of a cheater is written as a male, and we usually never follow them after everything, so I thought Camilla Isley did a great job of telling a different story.

I hurt for Summer for the bullying she was experiencing, but her growth was such a crucial aspect of the story, and acknowledging what she did and why she was wrong and learning from it.

Archie and Summer had such a natural banter and chemistry. I think the end resolution could have been drawn out a little more. It seemed like a big change in Archie overnight that is hard to feel is realistic, but it didn’t deter from the overall story!

If you like _____, you’ll enjoy this book!

- The ladies' man is reformed
- Friends-with-Benefits
- Just for fun/ Just for now relationship
- Forced proximity
- Bridesmaid/Groomsmen

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely and heartwarming rom-com book! Is it a love story? Yes, but it is so much more! It's about having the strength to overcome your past mistakes, seeking forgiveness from others and giving yourself permission to forgive yourself. I did not realize that this book was part of a series when I received the arc. However, this book can be read as a stand alone and I had no issues. I loved the book so much!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷

Summer Knowles did the unimaginable when she had a past affair (previous book) with her best friend's boyfriend. Because of her indiscretion, Summer has lost most of her friends and her relationship with her family is a struggle. Therefore, she has sworn off all men and plans to stay single forever! Now Summer has to participate in a week long wedding celebration with her family and ex-friends because her twin sister, Winter, is getting married. Consequently, she is not sure how in the world she will survive this week!?! When Archibald Hill, philanderer and best man, shows up and offers her a no strings attached week together, Summer wonders if this the perfect distraction she need to get through the week. Ultimately, what starts out as a week of fun turns into something more along the way.

Knowing what she did was wrong, Summer felt she did not deserve forgiveness. The personal growth she went through was amazing and it lead to redemption and a second chance for her. I loved seeing Archie fall in love and want more for the first time in his life. Their connection was a bit insta-love and seemed kinda fast due to it all taking place over the course of a week. However, the tension and chemistry was off the charts!

Overall, the author does a wonderful job making the characters feel real and relatable that you can't help but root for them. I was completely captivated from start to finish! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Love Theorem and Love Quest, I was eager to read The Love Proposal.

I thought it was an interesting choice to focus on Summer, who was the “villain” in The Love Theorem. I enjoyed reading her reasons for acting as she had, and she’s definitely a character I feel sympathy for. This story puts her in a very uncomfortable position.

The male lead was also a character I was less fond of. He’s pretty arrogant (at least in his dealings with women), and I was expecting his character to change more, sooner in the story. He’s also kind at heart, and he definitely does become a more rounded character by the end.

I really enjoyed this book, as always with Camilla Isley, it was a total joy to read, full of funny moments and generally easy and fun to read. I absolutely loved the epilogue. So often, I wonder if a couple will make it for the long haul, so it was lovely to see.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was my first by the author and the first of the series—I wasn’t aware of this when I requested it, but it stood alone wonderfully without feeling lost or missing anything—except to go back and read the rest! Summer was so relatable and it was also a struggle right along with her as she walks in to a situation that she expected to be very hard for her. And it was but also wasn’t. It was very satisfying to see her healing journey. And then we have Archie and boy do we loooove Archie. Summer catalogs his many facets by his outfits and it’s adorable! I just loved how he was able to be a rock for Summer in a turbulent time, and she was able to help him realize his future dreams. Plus, who doesn’t love a secret affair… It’s certainly brings all of the excitement. I definitely enjoyed that a book and would recommend it!

Interesting premise and backstory to this novel. I don’t think I’ve ever read another story where one of the central characters is dogged by a previous cheating incident in quite this way. The story takes place in the week of events before her twin sister’s wedding, and Summer is thus required to be around the friends and relatives who are aware of her earlier “Mistake” (as it is labeled in the story). Quite the “phoenix from the ashes” story as Summer takes on all the baggage, tells off some folks, seeks forgiveness, and meets someone who helps her move on. Her savior is the best man Archie, who swoops in just because he wants company for the week, and ends up falling and doing some growing up himself.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Summer and Archie are believable characters who definitely each had their share of drama to overcome. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series so I can better appreciate how this story fits in.

This was a quick and fun read! It's a fast-burn flings to forever trope, set during a wedding (the playboy best man and a looking-for-serious-relationship bridesmaid). The book also deals with some heavy emotional themes because of a past affair the FMC had with a committed man (regret, grief, shame etc.) and imo the author has done a good job of writing the plotline and redeeming the mistake.

The emotional connection between the MCs was amazing to read and really wholesome. And the third-act makeup and hea were so cute!

TWs - the aforementioned cheating + all the shame/fallout from it

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this book. After reading the Love Quest, I knew I wanted to continue on and learn more about Archie and Summer and I am glad I continued the series because I really enjoyed their story

A fairly typical rom-com. Loved the descriptions off Archie's outfits. Lumberjack, surfer, etc. They were funny. The female lead could have been a bit stronger I felt. She was a little too one dimensional for me.

I really enjoyed this. Summer and Archie just seemed to click right away and it was super cute. The fact that almost right after they got together they both started thinking about long term was funny. However I do wish that they talked about themselves a bit more with each other. At the end I believe that they love each other but I also don't because I don't feel like they talked enough.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I was so excited for this book after reading The Love Quest. I fell in love with Archie in that story and couldn't wait for him to get his own love story. He was just as charming as I expected him to be. If you enjoy Camilla Isley's other books, you should love this.

Summer and Archie are polar opposites. She has sworn off men. He is fun but don’t do commitment. Can they have a relationship without strings during the week they are sharing for Summer’s twin sister and Archie’s best friend? A sweet and lovely happily ever after.

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining, but not my favourite of the series.

Another charming installment in the Love universe! This story follows Summer and Archie, an unlikely pair who have more in common than they originally thought.
The Love Proposal follows the pattern of its predecessors, delivering a sweet, charming story with the perfect hint of closed door romance. The character growth seen in Isley’s third installment is absolutely heartwarming, showing that sometimes, two wrongs can definitely make a right.

Ever had to attend a wedding that you didn't want to go to? Try being the one that everyone considers the evil twin to the bride and being in the wedding while knowing that everyone there hates you! What's a girl to do? Anything and everything, but hookup with the best man, right!?! Yeah, failed that too! A fun rom com about overcoming beliefs and moving on to the next phase of life. While this book does deal with some serious emotions, the witty banter and fun interactions are what makes this book the fun read that it is! This is the 3rd in a series and it just gets better and better! I would recommend reading The Love Theorem, then Love Quest before reading this one as each book builds onto the next one and the backstory presented in each book is the foundation for the next book. Added bonus is triple the entertainment! This author is quickly becoming one that I turn to when I want a fun quick read!

This was a really cute read. It was close door romance but did talk about spicy things. I haven’t read a book by this author before. But I enjoyed this and I think I will read more by her.