No Weddings

I LOVED this story! I am a little sad because I just assumed the next books would be about the Michaelson Sisters, not more on Cade and Hannah. I was hoping for a HEA and closure in this story but honestly, while I am bummed I loved every second of it. Cade and Hannah are so amazing together and they both have damage and I really enjoyed having Cade’s POV the entirety of the story, something refreshing about his male thoughts and actions. I am going to be patiently, ok let’s face it impatiently waiting for the rest of this duo’s hot story. I adored the secondary characters, the Sisters 3 were so fun and spunky and Ben and Mase were funny and I enjoyed their interactions with Cade and Hannah. I cannot wait for September… (Yes … ;))
This was a complimentary e-copy via the authors/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I absolutely loved this book.  The character development was great.  I can't wait to read the next book in the series and hope to find out what else happens with Cade and Hannah!

Very good read. Two people overcoming heartbreak together. It was a nice change of pace to have the male lead (Cade) recognize Hannah's need to take things slow. He put her needs in front of his own. Loved the symbolism of them using the firepit as a step towards leaving the past behind. Good way to end the story too. I kept thinking "just give me a little more". Already spreading the word about this one. This could make a great series using the other characters!

When I came across this book and saw that it was from a male POV (point of view), I was very intrigued. I like reading different POVs so I thought, why not give “No Weddings” a try?

I’m very glad I did because this has turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. I had so much fun reading it.

Cade’s POV is hilarious and so undeniably male! And so very endearing you can’t help but love him. There’s more to him than what you see on the surface.

I was very impressed by Kat and Stone Bastion’s writing as well. It was quirky and fun and there were many sentences that struck a chord in me.

The chemistry between Cade and Hannah was so wow, supercharged. I enjoyed the interactions between them very much.

The ending left me wanting more and at the same time felt oh, so right.

This story is a brilliant, unique one & I highly recommend it. Very well-written.

*Received book through NetGalley

This was my first read from Kat or Stone Bastion, and I can’t wait to read more from them.

No Weddings is one of those feel good romantic comedies that you pull out when you need a perk-me-up. It was fun and sweet; with great side characters and lots of laughs.

This is the first in a series of books that will chronicle the various stages of a couples relationship. Both the H/h have been badly burned in the past and have no interest in new relationships. When business dealings bring them together frequently, it is hard to escape the draw between them.

Really enjoyed this read and am glad to have discovered a new to me author. While I'm not usually patient enough for "serials" I like the way the authors have handled that. Even though this book doesn't have an HEA and I know the story isn't over, I wasn't left hanging. This particular part of the new relationship was well handled and simply left me wanting more. Luckily all the books will be released quickly so we won't be wanting for long.

I highly recommend this book.

No Weddings by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

Description from the publisher:

I think I have my act together as a successful bar owner, my master’s degree within reach, and a list of no-strings-attached women warming my bed. Turns out, I don’t.

Hannah believes she has safeguarded her wounded heart by shunning men and focusing on her new baking business. The thing is, she hasn’t.

When my three sisters and I start a new event-planning business with Hannah as our baker, I have no idea how my life is about to change. As Hannah and I work closely together, the attraction between us becomes irresistible. And complicated. I’ve promised my sisters I wouldn’t mix business with pleasure. But I’ve never been one to follow the rules.

This book was amazing. I did not want to put it down! The characters were well written and exciting. There was never a dull moment! Hannah is sweet and sarcastic and hilarious. Cade is a full blooded male who tries desperately NOT to get attached. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance books. Perfect book to read on a lazy day! Grab a coffee, this book and stretch out on the couch! You will enjoy it!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Thank you for gifting me with the opportunity to read a fantastic story. If course now I am hooked. Being from Cade's point of view is part of what makes this story amazing. This is a well written story with lots of heart and fun. I was screaming at my kindle.wanting more.

Oh my! I fell in love with this book and the main characters.  I just wish this book was longer!  The best thing about this book is that it's not an instant love affair.  Nope...it's a slow burn.  In the begging it's ice queen vs. player, but as they start to work together and learn more about each other, it's a match made in heaven.  I totally recommend this story and it's really great how we get to read this story from the hero's pov...it's refreshing.

Great read! I left a glowing review in Goodreads because I enjoyed it so much. Written from a man's POV, it had a different voice, very refreshing and entertaining.

From frenemies to so much more than friends this flawlessly written story is a fresh delight, feeling like an old school romance set in modern times. 

I say old school because there’s no rushed affair or race to get between the sheets even though the electrically charged atmosphere around Cade and Hannah alone could light up a small town. No, the Ice Queen and swaggering player take their time peeling away their armor and breaking through the façades built to protect their hearts. 

Cade and Hannah are great characters. Each with their unique personalities that are impossible not to love, and there’s so much more to them beneath the surface. Hannah is cunning and witty but very feminine with a certain vulnerability. She’s a great match for the overconfident man.

Cade’s sharp intellect is hypnotic and his close bond with this sisters is endearing. I enjoyed reading the transformation of the cocky philanderer. Slowly shedding his shields, facing his past and turning into a fiercely sweet, sexy and caring caveman. 

I loved their frenemy banter. Their negotiations on just about everything were smart, sexy and funny and their chemistry is palpable.

“Ever ridden on a bike? Live a little, Hannah. Slide something wide between your legs and hold on tight to me. You might like it… It vibrates…”

I enjoyed that everything from their friendship to their attraction grew slowly but surely. 

“For two people who’d been blindsided by love so horrifically, damaged almost beyond repair, the wait was necessary. The slow dance of ours had become much-needed therapy.”

There were so many other aspects I liked about their story. Like the fact that there was no angst or excessive drama; the way Cade included her with his friends. 

“She’d become one of us with her raunchy banter and fearlessness. She was ours.”

This book is told from Cade’s POV. It was very entertaining to be in his manly man’s head. But sometimes his inner thoughts were too lengthy and felt a bit scripted which I found difficult to believe. It’s the only reason I didn’t give this book the full 5 stars.

I so excited that there is more to come. And the next part will be told from Hannah’s perspective. I can hardly wait to see what Kat & Stone Bastion have in store.

* I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review by Netegalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *

4.5 star rating...  will be giving this on GR when i write my review as Wendy'sThoughts.  This had warm, sass and from a male point of view that actually rang true... Wonderful. It felt like a real family bond between the brother and his sisters. You wanted all of them to just be happy and live their lives because they seemed like good people over all... not perfect but people you would want to know.
The love story was very special due to the way it was handled. Both parties had been severely hurt... their ability to trust others as well as themselves ripped out. So what do two people like that do when they feel the pull to each other... This is their story.
Perfect set up for the series and Bravo to the writers. A real winner in my book and i will be telling my friends to give it a try.

I loved this book. Why?

~ There’s a strong female main character, instead of ‘oh look, a charismatic guy with 2-day scruff *fan fan*! There goes every ounce of my common sense and self-control, not to mention, whoops, my panties!’
~ It’s told from a male POV, a fresh eye, if you will. Not back and forth, but the whole book.  As a rule, I prefer the feminine narrative, but this viewpoint was really well done. 

The Plot: This story is about Hannah and Cade, both casualties of the love wars; they’re badly scarred but they’re survivors. *[SPOILER ALERT] * Hannah was jilted, literally, at the altar. Cade’s proposal of marriage was not only rejected, but laughed at. Although they feel an instant connection, Cade, a Wharton business student working with his sisters, has been warned not to get involved with Hannah, the new cake baker they’re attempting to sign. Both honor the agreement, building a friendship and, of course, falling in love along the way.

The Characters:  Hannah is a terrific character, strong, sassy, and she didn’t put up token resistance to the hot hero and then crumble and promptly fall into bed with him anyway, as too many heroines do, a la ‘eek eek, oh never mind’ (this tired ploy annoys me SO much – where’s their self-respect?). Cade is crafty. He’s a little arrogant, but not obnoxiously so. And he’s smart enough to trade his business advice to get close to Hannah. I laughed out loud when he admitted to her that he was going to use their agreement for his thesis – right AFTER they closed the deal. Then she zinged a cupcake at his head. The sisters were hilarious, too, as interfering ‘for his own good’ as only older sisters can be. Cade was constantly worrying whether he was scamming them about Hannah or they were scamming him.

Interestingly, although we know The Deed is imminent by the last few pages, the MCs never have sex.  So if your thing is lots of hot, seamy sex scenes, this isn’t the right story for that. 

Borrow it, buy it, but definitely grab a copy of this. It’s an amazing ride.

*ARC from NetGalley in return for agreement to review*

OH. MY. GOSH! 

I AM HOOKED! Tell me it didn't just end with me hooked. Sure glad I already have the second book preordered! 

Cade and Hannah have both been burned bad by past relationships, but have each handled them differently. Cade did so by shutting down his feelings and having meaningless sex "frequently". Hannah on the other hand hasn't had any closure and has lost her self confidence. Together they deal with their past and try to move forward together as friends and possibly lovers.

I loved how Cade was willing to burn his list for Hannah and is willing to take things slow and at a pace that doesn't scare her off. Hannah feels the connection to Cade but is afraid to feel again..

Together they face these issues but can they discover love and trust again?

My thoughts:

Now, even though this book is tagged as romance, I really was expecting erotica. Was I disappointed that it wasn't? Okay, maybe I wanted a couple of more explicit scenes, but ultimately, this book was much more satisfying as written than I anticipated.

No Weddings is written entirely from the perspective of Cade Michaelson. Cade's developed a reputation as a player in recent years - he's avoided any intimate attachments like the plague since, well, I'll let him tell you. When he's drawn to Hannah

I can probably count on one hand the number of romance novels I've read that are written entirely from the male perspective. I think partially this is because women tend to be the authors and I have to imagine it's easier to write what we know - the perspective of women in love rather than men. The other part, I suspect, is that with women as the primary readers of romance, I suspect that it's (perceived as?) easier for us to identify with a female voice. 

Whatever the actual reasons, I have been missing out. 

Watching Cade fall, being aware of his reasoning, his protectiveness, his possessiveness in the first person was a revelation. I loved it! Rather than ride along with Hannah while she tried to decide whether or not she could trust her heart to the player who suddenly was popping up all over in her life, we got to experience Cade figuring out how to navigate Hannah's issues.

I loved the details about the bakery, the party business that Cade opens with his sisters, and the creative elements therein. It was a lot of fun to read these sections, and they created a vivid backdrop for Cade and Hannah to dance through. 

The relationship itself is rife with sexual tension and teasing. Cade's imagination provides some really sexy moments, and there's plenty of heat between these two. That said, there's not a lot of actual hands-on time with these two. The book doesn't need it - it's plenty hot without it, and there are reasons why it doesn't really go there. But... it was a *lot* of teasing. 

The only real huh moment that I had (other than realizing that my expectation of erotica was incorrect) was about the ages of Cade and Hannah and the huge amounts of angst these two are carrying around. In general, they seemed older to me than their early twenties ages suggest, and while I agreed that their pasts did give them plenty of cause to be cautious with each other.... I don't know. As far as damaging pasts go, these two were pretty tame.

Bottom line:

No Weddings was a delight. It's a very well-written romance, with an explosive amount of chemistry. I don't think the cover is doing this one any favours - look past it, and pick this up!

4.5 stars For fans of contemporary romance, sexy heroes, entrepreneurs

Adorable and unexpected…

Don’t freak out over what I’m about to tell you…
There was NO SEX in this book.
This is still a 4+ Star read with fabulous romance, witty dialogue, a fun cast of characters… And most importantly, it made me want to read the rest of the series.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I read a book that didn’t have some sex in it. I’m a Professional Reader of Erotica. I don’t usually receive a copy of a book unless someone’s rod-A winds up in someone else’s slot-B.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and all it had to offer.

The entire book is told from Cade’s POV. He is the youngest of five children, and the only boy. His relationship with his older sisters was a joy to watch – their lovable banter and antics were a fabulous addition to this story.

Cade starts off as your classic man-whore character. Scarred by a past relationship, he shuns emotional commitment in favor of regular sexual encounters with a list of women. Literally. He keeps a list.

He is a brilliant businessman who already has a few successful ventures, even though he is still studying for his MBA. The newest project: Staring an Event Planning company with his sisters called Invitation Only. There are two important rules in this new company – they don’t do weddings, and Cade has to keep it in his pants. Now they just need to find the perfect baker…

Enter Hanna, who is an amazingly talented artist. She’s exactly the kind of baker needed to compliment their trendy new company. Unfortunately, the “No Weddings” rule might be a deal breaker for a woman who makes beautiful cakes for a living. She’s playing hardball, and Cade suddenly becomes responsible for getting her to sign on the dotted line…

Hannah is also guarding her heart, a devastating betrayal left her hiding behind emotional walls and a frosty demeanor. She’s been focused on opening her bakery (called Sweet Dreams) where she creates artistic confections with ease, but could really use some help on the business end of things…

Enter Cade, who is offering her an exclusive contract with Invitation Only, and lessons in marketing for her growing business. Their strategy sessions lead to a warm friendship, and a hard-to-ignore sexual attraction.

I really felt the love growing between these two…

There’s something to be said for a romance where the main characters believably fall in love before falling into bed… I know that’s probably some sort of sacrilege, and I love book sex as much as the next chick… But seriously.

Sex will always be more vibrant when honest emotion is involved.

All too often characters will have a wild sexy night and the rest of the book winds up being about the guy proving that he’s not a player anymore… you can practically hear the thought process: “Hey, this is a really awesome vagina, I think I’ll stay here”

That’s not what I found in the pages of this book. The friendship and sexual chemistry led to some serious UST, but it also made me believe that these two are perfect for each other.

Lust,
flirting,
laughter,
dirty talk,
friendship,
confessions,
& respect…

Respect but not worship – There is a difference. Cade respects Hannah as a friend and business partner; he doesn’t place her on a pedestal of perfection. Both characters are human: flawed and broken, but not irreparably so. Neither believes that they are unworthy or incapable of love or anything ridiculous like that. They just need to take the time to find the path together…

I can’t wait to continue the series and see how these crazy kids balance their blossoming romance as well as their growing business!

Fun & flirty!

In "No Weddings" you get a wonderful casts of characters from the main H/h of Hannah and Cade, to Cade's feisty sisters, Mace the roommate and Ben the business partner/friend. Absolutely loved the sisters and the chemistry Cade has with them!

Basically we get a story of two people that have each experienced devastating heartbreak from previous relationships that has left them both very untrusting and unwilling to put themselves out there again. The same two people who are in business together and who are without a doubt attracted to one another! 

Over time they become more than just business partners and friends but are not exactly a couple either. Together Hannah and Cade begin to face their pasts so they can move forward as a possible couple.

Lots of tease time here, just take the plunge already! Nope not happening in "No Weddings".....maybe in "One Funeral"? I hope so, the sexual tension is off the charts between these two!

Recommended to all Rom-Com fans!

This is my new favourite series! Fun, flirty, hilarious and endearing. I have so many great things to say about it and THE ONLY negative is the love scene holdout - which I respect and understand, but was still disappointed beyond belief. I love Hannah and Cade and I'm worried that if they put it off too long, her issues will drive their relationship (and the series) and turn it maudlin and overdramatic. Knock boots, already!
My worry for two imaginary people stems from the fantabulous writing, which makes these people real and wildly interesting. I feel at turns like i know them, or want to BE them.  The Bastions could re-write the phone book, and I would be rapt.
Thank you, my girlfriends will be hearing about this great new series!

5 naughty three dots  Stars 

No weddings.. totally not the book I thought I was getting and just wow.  Clearly most people that read my reviews know I like a little sexy time in my reading time. But there is  ZERO, ZILCH,NADA, NIEN  Sex. 
*Sigh* --Ladies Meet Kincaid 

This is Cade (Kincaid) ‘s book. The book calls him Cade( but damnit Im loving the Name Kincaid )decides with his three sisters they will create an exclusive party business. His even is called Invitation Only which was created the night of the success of Loading Zone which is the bar they all created and own.  His sisters decide their party business needs to have an exclusive baker of exclusive intricate cakes and the only girl they want is Hannah Martin or as Cade discovered the Ice Queen because she did not fall for his charm and manslut behavior.  Cade practically helped the Ice Queen revamp her first cake business and with the deal of 3 dinners you cook for me I will offer 6 hours of business savvy tips. As the dinners grew, their relationship with eachother and themselves grew. Cade came out of his sticky note sex list and Hannah learned how to be in the sun again.  Both of these characters have been hurt immensely. Both of these characters are witty, charming, funny, and developed. The interactions between them are amazing, between Cade’s friends= amazing and between his sisters. Hannah she belongs in his life and with him. And the sexual tension hurts!  The entire book ends with two kisses. That’s it.. 2. And the moments where they defined their compatibility and friendship make my heart hurt because its perfect. 

Cade proposed to a girl who laughed in his face  Hannah agreed to marry her ex who never showed at the alter.  What happens when I do because I don’t… can they get over No Weddings? 

I cant wait to find out..