I requested this several years ago and I don't think it's a book for me anymore. So I will not be reviewing at this time, but if I do read it, I will update this review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Almost a Bride. Unfortunately, I was unable to get into this book and, since I've not finished it, I won't be rating or reviewing here or on my blog.

This is the second book in the Destination Love Series but could be read as a standalone. Annie works at a fashion magazine. One day is was having a bad day and headed to work but forgot a pair of shoes for a photo shoot so she had to run home. When is hot home she knew something was off. She heard something in her room so she grabbed a knife and headed that way. When she walks in she finds her boyfriend having sex with his co-worker with nipple clamps on. She's shocked and forgot she had the knife and he calls the police and she gets arrested. She then lost her job due to being arrested.

She decided to go on vacation by herself. While on vacation she meets Chris a writer. Chris and Annie become friends. In all the places in the world to vacation her ex boyfriend shows up with his new girlfriend. So what does Annie do she pretends that Chris is her boyfriend from Austria. He tries so hard to pull off the accent but it's so funny the way he talks.

When Trey (Annie's ex) brags that he's getting married, Chris decides to tell him Annie and him are getting married too. Throughout the whole story each couple tries to do something better then the other and it is so funny to see. Trey is an jerk and I couldn't stand him. Annie and Chris are so funny you can't help but fall in love with them and hope they find their happily ever after. A great story about two people who aren't looking for love but find friendship first then hopefully love. You will laugh and cry throughout the whole story.

**My thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a new author to me and i am really glad that i gave her a chance. Although this book is part of a series you do not need to read the first one to enjoy this one.

This is a rom com that will certainly have you laughing out loud. I really enjoyed this book and was so happy that Annie was able to have her happy ever after after the shit storm that had been her life for the last year or so.

So much happened and i really just could not help myself from turning page after page and devouring the book, and as night approached i just continued to read. Sometimes a book just grabs you and i just really found myself wanting to know what happened next.

I can't wait to start the next book in the series by her and will certainly be reading the first book in the series too.

If you love some good laugh-out-loud moments with your romance, you will LOVE this! I certainly enjoyed the fun, tongue-in-cheek humor laced throughout this really fantastic story. :)

Chris is a screenwriter who is staying at a tropical resort, hoping to overcome his writer's block. Annie is a woman who is on a vacation trying to get away from wallowing over the fact that she found her boyfriend (who she was so sure was about to propose!) having some kinky sex with his business partner. But she can't get away from them because they happen to be staying at the same resort... So Chris, practically a stranger, steps in and pretends to be her boyfriend.

Chris and Annie both grow so much from start to finish in this, becoming better and happier versions of themselves, which is really just such an absolute joy to watch! I loved Chris's vulnerability and just how much of a sweetheart he was... and yet also how snarky he could be. Annie gets stronger and more confident, and you seriously cannot help but root for her plucky character. 'Cause, honestly, who can't relate at least a bit to how she handles things with her ex?

The setting of this was wonderful, and I really liked that Annie was from South Africa, and that they went to Mauritius. As with everything else with this story, it was just different enough to be intersting while still being relatable.

Their chemistry is hot & steamy, and undeniable basically from the first moment they meet. Add to that their adorably sweet moments and you've got a solid romance.

There are some pretty outrageous things that happen in this, and it reminded me a lot of the Rom Coms "Just Go With It" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". The hijincks are so vivid and well-described that you can see them happening right in front of you and have no problem suspending a bit of disbelief.

The only real criticism that I have of this is that it did drag a bit after the vacation is over. Though I won't deny that that also may have been because I was so impatient for these two to get their acts together. :)

This is funny, sweet, and sexy, with some wonderful build-up and an amusing story. Definitely one that I would recommend!!

A laugh-out-loud at times silly and over the top Rom Com, about finding love in the most idyllic of locations, under the most ridiculous of circumstances. It wasn’t all light and fluffy though, there were some very deep and tender moments that the author touched on with subtlety and respect.

Annie Anne and Chris/Boyden were so good together, even though both were “playing” along with the fake relationship, there were real feelings and chemistry from that initial meeting. However, we all know that playing with real feelings in a fake relationship inevitably means that someone will get their feelings hurt.

“It’s ironic, but my fake relationship with you has probably been the best relationship I’ve ever been in. You’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had and you aren’t even real.”

The island setting of Mauritius played a key role in the story, and it was almost like an additional character. The descriptions of locations and places visited were so vivid that I actually felt like I was right there alongside Annie and co.

I hadn’t previously read the first book in the series Burning Moon, but after having enjoyed Almost a Bride so much, I will definitely be going back and reading it. -Tamara, 4 Stars

Annie knows life isn't always fair. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you get mistaken for a crazed intruder when you come home early and find your boyfriend wearing nipple clamps with a coworker on the night you thought he was going to propose to you.

The important thing is to move on, and for Annie that means treating herself to a tropical vacation. But when she runs into her ex and his new woman staying at the same resort, reason is washed out to sea. Caught off guard, Annie pretends she's with Chris, a cute screenwriter she meets on the beach. With his own writing blocked, Chris is happy to help Annie craft a story to save face. Soon Annie isn't just getting over her ex, she's getting under Chris. As her fictional feelings grow increasingly real, Annie has to decide if she's ready to risk her heart on a new relationship.

This book could have been a miss for me based on the unlikable Double T's (Trev and Tess.) That's Trevv with 2 VV's!! I don't think I've ever hated an antagonist as much as I hated these two. They were horrible, down to the fact that "Trevv" bordered on creepy, stalker, "I-want-to-make-a-skin-suit-out-of-you-while-you-aren't-looking" type of guy. So many times in this book I wanted to yell "Anne, grow a spine, you weak nit!!" Trevv sleeps with a partner in his firm while Anne and him are dating and she pulls the Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy "Be with me, Date me, Love me" card. I would have taken the knife that she carried up those stairs while Nippleclamp Trevv and Rodeo Tess were getting it on and chopped it off Lorena Bobbett style...Now, maybe that's just me but let's see who's whining now!!! To all the women out there who have ever wanted to beat down a skinny, perfect-haired, botox-induced broad because she stole your man - DON"T READ THIS BOOK! You have been warned. You will throw your kindle in the trash after running it through the food processor. I almost did this 1o times and I've never been cheated on. So if you have....read this in a tiny room with no hacksaws, food processors, paper shredders, sharp objects or fire....yes you read that right. All through this book I kept asking myself "Why doesn't she kick Creepy Trevv in the nuts?" Or better yet - rip off those babymakers and make the world a safer place? Are some women like that? If you are and you're out there - there's help for you!!! Just don't read this...skip to the end of the book LOL.

A little about the book: Anne goes on Holiday and meets Chris who's a writer and after telling an astronomical lie that he's her "pretend boyfriend" to keep Creepy Trevv from perving on them through the trees of their penthouse suite...hilarity and fun ensues. There's a lot of angst and Anne not feeling good enough about herself because of Pervy Trevv and Botox Tess however Chris is a gem of a guy so he makes up for it. Her friends are one in a million and it's worth it to check out the book for all of them. I could have really done without the Twinsies (Trevv and Tess) but then the book wouldn't have been the same because I was laughing out loud at some places over the fact that Trevv broke in their room to "catch" them not sleeping in the same bedroom. He really was a douche. Or when Chris delivers them the drink Slippery Nipples because...Nippleclamp LOL!! The fake wedding they have will have you pumping your fist in the air and shouting Breakfast Club style. After a mistake and misunderstanding, a lot of growing on both their parts they find their happy ending. True love prevails for Chris who doesn't believe it exists but it's a long road.

Final thoughts: This author was new to me, I had no preconceived notions going in so it could have been a total miss but I'm glad it wasn't. Buy this book but stay away from anything remotely electrical, fire related or power-related while reading. You might keep looking at the man your with like he's a little bug after reading the parts with Creepy Trevv....just a forewarning. Enjoy because Jo Watson did an awesome job!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

Anne’s alarm had not went off and she was an hour late for work. Then she discovered that she had left the Christian Louboutins at her apartment and they were the centerpiece of the days photo shoot. Anne had just started this new job as a fashion assistant at Glamorous Girl magazine. Anne had a successful job as a stylist in advertising but changed careers ass he wasn’t happy in that job. So on her lunch break Anne rushed home to find her live in boyfriend having sex with is co worker Tess. Anne had a knife in her hand as she thought there was an intruder and Trevv acted like she was trying to hurt them when she was just in shock. Anne Is the one who had called 911.to top it off the shoes were ruined and Annie was arrested and taken to a holding cell. Trevvy and Tess dropped the charges but the Trevvy said he wanted Anne to move out as it was his house and he was going to be with Tess. then Anne finds out she has been fired from her new job and her boss warns her she won’t be working in fashion again. Anne went to her friend Jane and Jane helped Anne get her things. Anne had met Trevvy at a fancy place when her and her friends had been out drinking. Anne had made Trevvy laugh and he was into her. Maybe she was different from who Trevvy usually dated. Now Annie was living with Jane and after two months Anne knew she had to get a off her butt and get a job and her own place.Anne had been sure of herself and made bold decisions but now she was someone who questioned everything. Anne gets a job at a family owned tailor business and gets a small apartment of her own. But she was staying at home all the time when she wasn’t working and her friends were worried about her and talked her into a vacation.that Damian would pay for who was Lily's boyfriend. Damien was a trust fund baby but lived very normally and had no problem spending as lot of money on his girlfriend and her friends. At The last minute Lily And Jane called off the trip for a couple of days as they had food poisoning but urged Anne to still go and they would meet her when they were better in a couple days. So Anne went alone knowing the girls would soon be with her. Anne’s first day she went to the beach and ordered a fancy drink. She noticed a shaggy looking guy with a laptop and cell phone he seemed to be busy talking to himself. Later on the man came and woke Anne up to tell she had better get out of the sun as she was already burnt. . later on that evening came up to Annie and offered to buy her a drink. The man’s name is Chris and he writes screenplays for a living. Then as they talked Chris admitted he had writers block and his screenplay was due in two weeks Chris also admitted he writes romantic comedies or at least that is what he is suppose to be doing but he doesn’t believe in love. Chris s not Anne’s type but she did decide to have dinner with him. Then at dinner Anne admits that is strange having dinner with a stranger on a strange island. Anne found herself telling Chris about everything that happened from finding Trevvy and Tess to losing her job. Chris’s mom had been cheated on by his dad and she had never been the same, so this is why Chris didn’t believe in love. At thirty three Chris had never been in love . He had some girlfriends but it ended bad as the girls thought they would be the one to make Chris fall in love with them. Anne felt herself feeling sorry for Chris that he couldn’t or wouldn’t love a woman. Anne realized now there was a lot she had overlooked a lot about Trevvy because of his image and outward success and good looks and that made Anne feel better about herself. Chris talked Anne into taking a walk on the beach as they talked when they got back Chris told Anne he liked her and told her she wasn't like the girls he usually met and that she was funny without trying to be. Then Anne and Chris agreed to meet up the next day and hang out together some more. Then Tess and Trevvy show up at the same hotel Chris and Anne are at. Trevvy notices Anne and calls out to her. Chris tells Trevvy Anne is there with him. That he was Australian and his name was Boyden as she had told Trevvy when running into him and made up a boyfriend. . Christ old Anne to get her stuff as she was suppose to be with him so she needed to stay with him.
I didn’t really care for this story. I felt it dragged in the beginning and I almost gave up on it but had to do a review so hoped the story would get better for me. I read a third of the story and basically it was just like a book I had read and reviewed two days ago. With the pretend relationship and ex showing up with new love only this book just didn’t hold my attention. So i tried but so unrealistic meeting on a random island at the same time. As I said it just didn’t hold my interest.

I'm really not sure how I feel about this book. Annie has this whole image of her and her boyfriend Trevv made up in her head. She was happy with the life that they had and she was sure that he was ready to propose to her. That is until she walks in on him with his fellow coworker doing things even she hadn't even imagined doing with him. I believe that started the snowball effect on her life.

Trevv is straight up asshole. Not only cheating on Annie but also having her arrested when she catches them just because she is holding a knife thinking it's an intruder? Seriously? Who does that! Of course he not going to press charges but he pretty much kicks her out. He definitely needs some kind of ass whopping.

Annie goes to pretty much a big depression slump and her friends try to get her out of it by sending her on vacation. One thing I didn't like about the book is that she gets lost in her thoughts and in turn, it was hard for me to keep up. I wasn't sure if she was thinking things in her head or talking to her actual friends. I kept having to reread several portions.

When she goes on her vacation, she meets Chris a screenwriter who is pretty much a writing slump. They pretty much connect and becomes fast friends. I love how both Annie and Chris can both be natural with one another, they just click. But when Trevv and his new girl come to the same resort they stay it turns her vacation upside down. The entire vacation because a pissing contest with Chris and Annie joining forces. It's as if Trevv has something against Annie because everything he does he just tries to one up Annie in every which way. It seems like he wasn't a to see her miserable.But Annie and Chris seem to hold their ground and fight back. Some situations seem to be outrageous and at one point was just too much for me. At first I was team Chris and Annie until they just kept going at it.

Chris finally gets his groove back but at the expense of Annie, which I saw coming from a mile away. This totally throws Annie for a loop, finally coming to realization that she needs to work on her self. I loved Annie when she focused on herself and no one else. I think she needed to ind the confidence and strength in herself first before she can focus on someone else. Because of this she has become a better person, one that I like more. While she works on herself, Chris gives her the courtesy and still remains her friend through the transition since he betrayed her.

What will become of Chris and Annie in the future? Can he redeem himself to her? Can she forgive him? Will she find herself strong enough tone with someone as confident as Chris?

Jo Watson's second novel in the Destination Love series is another hit, and I must say I loved it a lot more than Burning Moon.
There was just something about Annie and Chris that was adorable and I totally loved them together!
This book had me laughing from the first page itself.The first chapter!OMG!What a hoot!
Imagine thinking that your boyfriend is going to propose to you, but only to come home mid-work to find your boyfriend boinking the lady-friend he works "closely" with.With a blindfold.And wearing nipple clamps.Lolol!!
And then you get arrested by the police as they think you were trying to kill him with a knife, and to only end up losing the most coveted job!To say that Annie had a bad day is quite an understatement!
After sufficient time spent pity-partying,shifting and attempting to move on, Annie's friends book a group holiday to Mauritius.But, they come down with food poisoning and are delayed, so Annie has to spend the first few days on her own.
And she comes across Chris, a successful screenwriter, who is trying his best to come up with a new screenplay.And he doesn't believe in love!Somehow they end up spending time together and her story pours out.
But to make matters worse, guess who is also on the island?
Yup!Trey(her ex) and Tess, the terrible T-square! :D
One lie turns into another and Chris ends up pretending to be her new "Australian" boyfriend-Boyden, the one she had made up previously to save face.
Soon their fake relationship merges with reality, and Annie is developing feelings for him.But the question is does he feel the same, especially for a guy who is adamant not to believe in love?

This felt just like a rom-com movie, but it was even better!All the characters were well developed- especially Annie and Chris.I loved how Annie still believed in love despite being heartbroken.She is practical,down-to-earth and with a lot of love to give.Chris had his own set of beliefs stemming from his childhood experiences.The banter and interactions between them were amazing!And the chemistry was off the charts!I loved this couple a lot more than Lily and Damien.
I also think that the author's writing has improved greatly since Burning Moon!
The supporting characters were also well done, and I love the group of girlfriends.
The ending chapters were just perfect!Realistic, but still romantic!
You should definitely try this book, if you're looking for a light, rom-com which will give you a stomachache from laughing and leave you with a big smile on your face!
Can't wait for Jane's book in Finding You!I think her story is going to be very interesting! :D

Review Scheduled to go live on blog on January 31st
4.5 Stars

This was the first book I've read by Jo Watson, and I was surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. Set in South Africa (in the beginning), it was heartbreaking to watch Annie struggle to begin with, but some of the situations she managed to get herself into were amusing! I also enjoy stories that have a fake relationship in them, so it was no surprise that I would like this one!

Annie's life turned upside down from the opening chapters. She walked in on her cheating boyfriend, lost her job and was homeless in a matter of hours. With the help of her close friend Jane, she was able to find some sort of stability. When her friend Lilly suggested an all expenses paid trip to Mauritius, she was hesitant at first, but decided it was time to change her life. Her first meeting with Chris was a little rocky, but after a while they realised how much they liked being with each other. When Annie's ex turned up, Annie somehow found herself in a fake relationship that soon escalated out of control.

I enjoyed this book right from the beginning, I actually devoured it within a day. I laughed at some of the situations that Annie found herself in, swooned as I watched the connection between Chris and Annie grow, and felt her loss as her heart broke. She had a strong group of friends that supported her through her loss and her crazy plan of revenge. What I loved most was how Chris and Annie's feelings grew throughout the story, considering that Chris didn't believe in love and that neither of them were looking for a relationship. Despite the short amount of time they've known one another, they were cute together and found it easy to open up to one another.

Even though this was the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. The first book was Lilly's and the next book will be Jane's, who was Annie's best friend. For my first Jo Watson book, I enjoyed the way she pulled me into the story and developed characters that I loved, and a couple that I despised. It touched on a serious topic that was handled well, but overall it was a fun, cute read, and I'm looking forward to more from this world.

Almost a Bride is a fun rom-com read that's a subtle reminder about what you think you want may not always be what's good for you. The second in her Destination Love series, this is the first book by Jo Watson that I'v read and I found it to be an easy going quick read. There are some sorrowful *gasp* moments, but for the most part it's sweet and tender story about finding oneself (and love).

For Annie, what seems like a it's an unfortunate thing to find her live in boyfriend in an uncompromising position, is actually a good thing. Sure her life is upended, but Annie has had her head in the sand when it came to her stuffy lawyer Trevv (Watson captures his pretentious nature in the spelling alone, but he does show himself to be quite the annoying putz). Annie has equally bad and good luck when it comes to her love life. She takes a post breakup vacation and finds herself at the same resort as her ex. Yep , that's the bad luck. The good luck is that she meets Chris, who agrees to act as her fake boyfriend Boyden, so that she can save face. Here is where a majority of the story takes place.

Annie and Chris are natural together; immediately at ease and just seem to connect. I enjoyed how the challenge bonded them, at times comical and at time sexy. Mistakes are made and Chris and Annie's fake turned real relationship is tested. While the story is build up through cliche's and a pretty implausible activities, Annie and Chris and both very endearing and one can't help but root for their success. This is 3.5 star read and one that is great for an afternoon escape.

Almost a Bride was a hilarious read that had me laughing out loud throughout most of it.

Annie is a woman who has everything going for her. The job of her dreams, the perfect man and the life that she has always wanted. What she doesn’t know is all of that is about to change in the blink of an eye.

When she finds out what a jerk her boyfriend really is she embarks on a new journey that leads her to finding more than she ever thought possible. This has her meeting Chris Christopherson. He is a man that doesn’t believe in love but when certain things transpire with Annie’s ex, Annie & Chris decide to start one comical, whirlwind, fake romance that will keep you, as the reader entertained and very amused up until the final page. These two characters are fun loving and good hearted and I loved anticipating what was going to happen to them next.

“Well I didn’t want you to think I was staring at you…or staring back at you.”

“So have you dated since nipple-gate?”

This story has tons of one liners that will just make you giggle but it will also leave you feeling happy & giddy. It will have you sighing at all the romantic thoughts & gestures. However it is worth mentioning that Annie’s ex Trevv ( yes that’s Trevv with two v’s) was the most annoying , rude, condescending character and I couldn’t wait to see him get what was coming to him!

I loved this mad caper of a tale. Annie was a hot mess but funny and likable, and Chris was just an all-around good guy. I want more!

On the day Annie thought her boyfriend Trevv was going to propose, she finds out he's been cheating on her and is leaving her for the other woman. She is also arrested and loses her job at a fashion magazine. To move on, she goes on holiday to Mauritius where she meets gorgeous and funny writer Chris. They hit it off right away and when Trevv turns up on the island with her new girlfriend, Chris offers to pretend to be her boyfriend to prove to Trevv that she's moved on. But as Chris and Annie spend more time together, snorkelling and watching French movies, and trying to avoid Trevv who seems to be stalking them, they have to admit they have real feelings for each other. Annie gets herself in hilarious and unlikely situations that had me laughing out loud. Despite being a bit predictable, this is a witty and romantic novel with a tropical setting and entertaining characters.

I read the first book in this series, Blood Moon, on Wattpad a few years ago. I remember really enjoying that book and was excited for more from this author.

Unfortunately this one moved incredibly slowly for me and I eventually lost patience with it.. I felt like there was a lot of "telling" and not very much "showing". There's a lot of time spent inside of Annie's head while she processes things and I found myself getting bored with it and skimming over a great deal of the story that felt stalled out for me. Despite all the time spent in her head, I didn't feel connected with Annie at all.

I did enjoy some moments after she met Chris. There were a couple laugh out loud moments and some incredibly sweet things that came out of Chris's mouth. Unfortunately by that point I'd already lost patience with the story and I felt desperate for things to move forward. I adore the idea of a romance screenwriter getting together with a quirky down-on-her-luck ordinary woman - but it played out far too slowly for me. By the time it started picking up, I felt completely disconnected and impatient with the entire storyline.

I felt like a bit more of the "fluff" could have been culled from this book to increase the pace of the story. I would have liked to see a bit more backbone in Annie at the start to justify my sticking with her through her journey. While there were definitely pieces that I enjoyed - unfortunately it wasn't enough to keep my attention or invest me in the story.

Almost a Bride is a hilarious story about one person's bad luck.

From the beginning you instantly feel heartbroken for Annie and all that she is going through. All she wants to do is escape her own misery for a while. Unfortunately the surprise waiting for her on her getaway does nothing to relieve the huniland suffering. Will Annie finally catch a break? Grab your copy and find out.

Jo has written an amazing story that plays with your emotions, not enough to make you cry, but enough to make feel. I was completely blown away by how easily the story flowed. It was fresh, and different. I am definitely a lifelong fan of Jo's writing after reading Almost a Bride.

It's a thin line between love, hate and a jail cell. Or maybe she's losing her mind. Almost a Bride is a breath of fresh air. Author Jo Watson not only delivers hilarious moments of comic relief but shines with her message of positivity in situations that could break anyone's spirit. Annie may not be as optimistic as she pretends to be but she lights up each page with her antics and helps the story shine. I've just added Jo Watson to my one click collection.