Don't Call Me Sweetheart is the BEST book I have read in a while! OMG! I love Marley! She is a firecracker, she speaks her mind, and doesn't seem to have a filter, but is never mean. Marley works for Something Borrow as a Maid Of Honor for hire. Like Jessup is a former Marine who is now a SWAT Team Officer in LA. Marley and Luke meet when he comes to the town of Sweetheart for his best friend, Brent' s wedding. Wow! Right from their first meeting sparks fly! I almost spewed tea all over myself when Marley says to Luke "What they want to make sure you can keep up in the sack before they take you seriously?" A word of warning don't drink or eat before you put the book down. Marley and Luke have alot in common. Both having suffer the lost of important people in their lives and it affect them both in very different ways. But, because of Marley' s job she is not suppose to be seeing Luke. But, they can't stay away from each other. Has been Pop star Sonora is a "witch" and treats every one like they are poop on the bottom of her shoe. Marley does her best to keep her in line, but When Sonora goes to fat and Marley tells her off, Marley get fired and what happen next could cost Marley everything! Ms. Gary has written a story that keeps the reader engaged from the very first page. This is a laugh out, emotional, Heartwarming, charming and sexy read!

I think this story was quite fun. I liked the hero a lot and thought he was everything you’d want in a hero – funny, passionate, charming and relentless. Marley was also an interesting character – although I didn’t love her quite as much as Luke. The side characters were well fleshed out and I did enjoy seeing their stories come alive as well. I was not a fan of the villain in this one – she was too much. I know that was the point but she was so too much that it was almost annoying. The journey of Luke and Marley was a really good read. Very charming and heart-warming!

Don’t Call Me Sweetheart by Codi Gary
Something Borrowed #1

Small town romance with a wedding theme has Marley, a rent-a-MOH, doing her best to adhere to the confidentiality clause of her job description while dealing with Bridezilla Sonora, trying to avoid Luke who might be the man of her dreams, making friends with the sister of the bride and dealing with her conscience.

Luke was a hunk and a half that I really liked. He was a nice guy who was there for (and worried about) his friend Brent engaged to Sonora. He was caring and kind and just all around a good guy. I know he was attracted to Marley physically but I did not see her personality and on-off attitude as one to keep his interest. I guess I had trouble understanding Marley and her behavior and seeing her as someone I might like to know.

Anyway – sweet story with HEA’s for two couples and the introduction of other characters that may end up with HEA’s in future books. The plot was somewhat predictable but definitely a book that some will enjoy greatly. That said, thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical Shine for the ARC – this is my honest review – for me it rates 3 Stars.

there are a lot of things marley stevenson shouldn't be doing in don't call me sweetheart. number one is letting luke jessup call her sweetheart. he shouldn't be calling her anything at all given that he's the groomsman on the wedding she's just been hired to act as maid-of-honor on. there's an non-disclosure agreement that says that she can't tell him the truth about her job and a code of conduct that says no funny business with the groomsmen.

the thing is, she needs this job. the bonus that she'll receive will allow her to move out of sweetheart and onto her dream job at a publishing house in new york. but luke proves himself too tempting. and also too kind. he's there for her every single time she needs him. even when she'd rather he not stick around he comes through for her. and soon it's hard to remember why it's so important she push him away.

she keeps trying though. she pushes him away and then forgets and pulls him back in. and poor luke is all turned inside out. he doesn't understand why she blows so hot and cold with him. but he likes her and keeps giving the possibility of what they might have together a chance. she pushes so hard she makes him doubt his sanity. except he's so sure that what they have together is something worth fighting for.

but he can't do all the fighting on his own. at some point marley needs to do some fighting too. and maybe that fight means she needs to readjust some of her dreams. but sometimes what we think we want isn't what we actually need. and sometimes new dreams are better than anything our old dreams could have ever hoped to be. these are two lessons marley needs to learn before she can be with luke, but once she figures this out, then all she needs to do is win him back.

Review by Amber for Love Romance Books Blog

Marley has spent the last seven summers as a bridesmaid for hire at the company Something Borrowed. It is good money, fun work, and she is hoping this summer will be the last summer she needs to get the financial boost she needs for a start in New York City.

Luke is from Los Angeles, but is in Sweetheart, CA, to be the best man for his best friend. Even if he can't stand the bride to be, Sonora Star, he is determined to be there for Brent in his time of need. When he runs into Marley in the grocery store, he thinks she might be a fun bonus to him time spent in the small town. Then he finds out that Marley is the maid of honor to the wedding he is best man in. He is confused, since he has no idea how laid back Marley would ever be friends with bridezilla diva Sonora. But he still wants to spend time with her, no matter what happens with the wedding.

This was a cute book. I would give it three stars. I was asked by the author for an honest review.

Marley Stevenson is a bridesmaid for hire, and her latest client is the ultimate bridezilla. To make matters worse, the sexy man she met and was instantly attracted to, turns out to be a groomsmen in a wedding she's working... and therefore off limits.

Luke Jessup lives in L.A. and is visiting Sweetheart, CA for his best friends wedding preparations. After a fantastic first date with Marley, he can't understand why she suddenly goes cold on him... maybe if he keeps working on her he will find out...

I liked this book! Marley has big dreams and is working towards them... one wedding at a time. Luke is former military and a SWAT police officer who is starting to question his lonely lifestyle upon meeting Marley.

Set in the adorable town of Sweetheart, CA, where everything is hilariously wedding themed, this book was a sweet and lighthearted read. I was definitely fuming at the bridezilla and her antics, and crossing my fingers that she would get what she deserved at some point. This book was a great beginning to a new series, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

Marley's latest job assignment at Something Borrowed is to be the Maid of Honor to a spoiled, high maintenance bride. Right before she is given this assignment, she meets Luke and agrees to go on a date with him. Once she discovers that Luke is the best man for the wedding, she must find a way to push him away, while trying to ignore their undeniable chemistry. Marley is used to dealing with difficult brides, but this eight week assignment pushes her patience to the limits.

I enjoyed Don't Call Me Sweetheart and liked both Luke and Marley. I love the town of Sweetheart and look forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.

3.5 stars

Don't Call Me Sweetheart is one of those reads I struggled on how to rate. I enjoyed majority of the book and some scenarios not so much.
What I did enjoy was Luke's character. I liked his humor, his passion, he was charming and I liked how sure he was that Marley was the girl for him, even when she would push him away.
I also enjoyed the side characters, Marley's mum and Luke's best friend were fab, I liked them from the get go and they truly added to my overall enjoyment.
What I didn't like so much was the Bridezilla storyline and how it affected my view on Marley.
Some of Marley's actions and the push pull with Luke didn't endear me to her so I wasn't a big fan.

In closing, Don't Call Me Sweetheart wasn't a bad read, it's well written, the storyline held my interest and kept me turning the pages and I'm looking forward to Riley and Dustin's story in Kiss Me, Sweetheart which is due to be released February 13th 2018.

*Purchase Links*
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*I received an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts*

Fun new series from Codi Gary. Marley and Luke are instantly attracted to each other there's just one little problem, she's been hired to work a wedding he's the best man of which means no fraternizing. Luke is a great guy who knows what he wants and is willing to be patient with Marley. She's a bit more complicated but still likable and she's got some great moments with the spoiled bride. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

DNF - No rating.

Love the authors writing style, but I haven't got the energy to drag myself through a book with a bridezilla that after the second meeting with the bitch I want to throat, and tit punch her simultaneously.

Not feeling much for the h either, and I already want the H to give up on her and find someone better.

This is totally more a case of character and story-line over writing, so I would absolutely be happy to read more from Codi Gary in the future.

ARC generously provided by the publisher, I am sorry I cannot offer a more positive review on this occasion.

Prepare to be charmed. How she does it I'll never know, but by the end of the first chapter, Ms. Gary has managed to steal my heart. Don't Call Me Sweetheart is the latest in a long string of heartwarming stunners. Maybe it's the way she modernizes the fantasy of the childhood dream of Cinderella finding her prince. She humanizes the dream with flawed characters and realistic obstacles in a way that is full on humor but never lacks for heart and always keeps the dream alive. The best of what makes us human shines through ever character she creates and that is what keeps me coming back for more.

I've really been enjoying the books I've read from Codi Gary. They are always easy to read with the characters I love to read about. It seems lately that weddings are a theme again in romance. That's fine, they are usually full of fun.

Don't Call Me Sweetheart is more about wedding planning and the fun services of being a bridesmaid for those who need one in a pinch. I like the idea, it works if you don't have someone you're close to when you get married or maybe you are alone with no friends around and need someone to stand in, or maybe, you don't want to hurt a friends feeling and this works out best.

Or, you are a super huge bitch and no one really likes you!

See, plenty of reasons to need a bridesmaid service. I know, you now want to find out who the bitch is...read the book!!!!

Don't Call Me Sweetheart is so good! I really enjoyed the town and the people in it. You won't be able to not fall in love with it. You will also really like Marley. She works so hard and is very focused, maybe to focused on leaving town and having a new life. At times I got a little tired of hearing about her plan to leave, it sometimes took away from the romance.

After a while I just blocked that part out of the story and moved on and turned my sights on Luke! Now him I really enjoyed. There was something about him that made me want to know more. He was just a great guy!

The ending is kinda predictable but that's okay, I really didn't mind that so much. I think that's because I was so busy enjoying the story and wanting more from this series that the minor thing didn't matter much. The only real negative I found with this series is that I have to wait for Kiss Me, Sweetheart which isn't due out till 2/13/18! Feeling a little sad!! Not to worry, I have plenty of books that need reading!

Where to beginning with Don't Call Me Sweetheart? Basically, we have a cast of characters that pretty important to the story:

Marley Stevenson- She works for Something Borrow, which is if you have a bridesmaid or maid of honor back out at the last minute, then she would be your go to girl to make the wedding party work. The ultimate bridesmaid.

Luke Jessup- He's the best man. Has the hots for Marley, but isn't sure about her since she's Sonora Star maid of honor. However, there is this attraction to her, but Marley runs hot and cold around him.

Brent Harwood- The groom. In a bind, and marrying Sonora would solve a lot of problems. Is it worth being wrapped up with a gold digger.

Sonora Star- A washed up pop singer who needs to get married. She's bagged a rich one with Brent. She's psychotic to say the least. She makes other bridezillas look like little lizards. She's a bitch to say the least. Extremely vindictive. If she was a real person, you would want to put a hit on her. She's that bad.

Kendall- Sonora's sister. Super sweet girl and is hated by her sister. Not sure why, because Sonora gets everything she wants.

So, those are the key players in the story. Sonora is a real beast throughout the story. We basically see Marley and Luke trying to keep things on the down low. Actually, Marley is trying to keep things professional, while Luke is trying to go out with her. Seriously, the dude is pretty awesome with all the crap Marley puts him through. I have to give Marley credit for handle all the crap Sonora puts her through.

I did like reading Don't Call Me Sweetheart. I'm glad Brent ended up getting what he really wanted in the long run, but it was a long couple of months to get there. I love Luke, because was a super decent guy. I liked Marley, but when she broke Luke's heart I wasn't a huge fan, but I'm glad she came to her senses. I can't wait to see what else happens in this serious. It definitely holds promise. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.

Copy provided by Lyrical Press via NetGalley

I have to admit, the premise of this story was rather intriguing to me, and since it was written by an author I'd enjoyed previously, I had to give it a chance. I am very pleased that it lived up to my early expectations!

Marley was a rather annoying heroine overall, but I could understand where her attitudes were coming from. Her most annoying trait was the constant push/pull that she kept doing with Luke, though I did like how she tried to make the best of a bad situation with Sonora. I loved how quickly she became friends with Kendall, and how she eventually stood up for herself with her boss.

Luke was a good hero, and I enjoyed the fact that he had a tie to one of the author's other series, but I really hated how little he seemed to trust Marley, and how much he demanded the truth from her. I do wish we had seen a bit more of his life in L.A. and how he came about to be where he was in the end of the book, but he was left in a good spot overall.

The secondary characters were well fleshed out, and I did enjoy seeing the small town's daily life. The villainess of the story was one you loved to hate, and I felt her punishment was really glossed over. I would have liked to see a more personal apology from either her or her parents, but after their actions at the end of the book regarding Kendall, I didn't see them changing their ways.

All things considered, I really enjoyed this story and am eager to read the next book in the series!

Loved, loved, loved this book! Marley and Luke work so well together, I could feel their chemistry and it was fun to see Luke get Marley to loosen up. He knows life can be too short so you have to go after what you want. Marley isn't so sure about that. It would be just her luck to meet a fantastic guy and he's off limits. She works for a wedding planner as a rent-a-bridesmaid and dating anyone in the wedding party is forbidden. Luke unfortunately is the best man. She needs this job too much to take the risk but Luke is refusing to take no for an answer. Will this horrible wedding ever be over??

A fun read and one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

3.5 stars - Marley Stevenson has had a rough life but things are finally starting to look up. Her family consists of just her mom & her. Her father had died in a car accident when she was eight & her sister Beth died way too young. Marley has been working as a rented Maid of Honor/wedding organizer for Something Borrowed for years. She's managed to pay off Beth's medical expenses & is hoping to use this summer to give her mom a boost at the cafe she owns & increase her own nest egg so she can head to New York & her dream career. Who knew that her main client would be such a pain?

Luke Jessup is resigned to spending two months watching his best friend Brent make a big mistake by marrying stuck up Sonora Star. Until Luke runs into the girl of his dreams in the market that is. Maybe this summer won't be so bad. Until the girl ends up being Marley & is Sonora's maid of honor & friend. Luke can't figure out why Marley keeps going hot/cold on him. And why does it seem like Marley can't stand Sonora?

This story has a good plot line and travels at a decent pace. There are some unexpected twists that add drama to the story but at times the drama seems forced & unnecessary. The character development is okay. I was unable to connect with the characters in this story. I wanted to feel bad for Marley due to the loss of her father & sister but instead I wanted to hit her for the way she was treating Luke. She was getting upset with the way Sonora treated people but how was she any better? Then there's Luke. He's a SWAT team member from LA but he acts like a wimp taking all that Marley is dishing out. The interactions between Sonora's sister, Kendall & Sonora's fiancée, Brent almost take the focus of Luke & Marley. It's an okay book if read for pure enjoyment. I'm interested in Rylie's story (Book 2) because I liked the glimpses of her character in this book.

I really enjoyed this story and I’m looking forward to reading more from this new-to-me author. The premise and setting were wonderful. I did have a hard time believing nobody from any of these weddings catches on to the “fake” bridesmaid thing…I’m assuming everyone in this small town knows what they women at Something Blue do for a living. But I could look beyond that point. And it was definitely feasible that Marley could get away with it for the particular wedding this story is about.

Luke, the hero, is wonderful. I wish his past could have been a bit more fleshed out. Yet, Luke in the present was enough for the story being told. (Although I found it odd that the fact that he has money never seemed to come up…especially later in the story when it would have had a reason to be known.) The way Marley and Luke bantered from the very beginning was delightful. It’s like they couldn’t NOT flirt with each other and I loved it.

Lately, authors are surprising me (in a good way) in the books I’m reading. I saw the writing on the wall on this one so far in advance…I knew exactly what the major conflict would be and I knew I was going to get pissed at Luke for that conflict. NOPE! Instead, this story went beyond where I thought it would go and instead, once that climactic conflict reared its head, I was pissed at Marley. Up until that point I totally understood where she was coming from with her confidentiality agreement. I didn’t agree but I understood. The other issue that came up later I did not understand. So this author tricked me and gave me something I didn’t expect. Sure I got mad at Marley, but I was supposed to get mad at her. Job well done Ms. Gary.

This would be a fun book to take on vacation or to read on your lunch break at work…it’s a great escape from the real world. There are a few dark elements that are mentioned in this story, but all in all it’s a light read.

3.5 stars

In Sweetheart, California you can rent a Bridesmaid and a Maid of honor. That’s what Marley Stevenson did. She wanted to pursue her career in editing in publishing company in New York for last 8 years but she couldn’t leave her mother alone and was saving her money so she has been working as wedding planner/bridesmaid/maid of honor at her home town.
Marley made sure this summer will be her last before she would leave Sweetheart. When she got a call to be a maid of honor, what she didn’t know was that bride would become her nightmare.
Luke has been in Sweetheart to be his best friend’s groomsman and meets Marley. He liked her from the first encounter with her. She was funny, smart and easy to talk to. He was set on getting to know her more.
But Marley had one rule on dating, never to date any of wedding party. When Marley finds out Luke is part of her wedding part, she wanted to put a distance between them.
As the wedding day progress, Luke and Marley becomes aware of each other and decided to seize the day. Luke is in LA and she is bound to NY so this would work best if they just kept it casual.
Marley being the rental maid of honor kept her from opening up to Luke and he was understanding as long as they were seeing each other.
But this wedding won’t be easy as both. It will test their patience and understanding. Will Marley finally get out of this small town and pursue her career or will she pursue her love??

Perfect summer read. I really loved her bunny who had much character as any other in the book. Whole town sounds so pretty and quaint also I can’t wait to read about her friends from Sweetheart.

"What took you so long, woman?"


Don't Call Me Sweetheart is the first book in the Something Borrowed series.

Marley Stevenson dreams of becoming a book editor and relocating to NYC. In the meantime, she lives in Sweetheart, California, a small town where her mother has a cafe and she works as a wedding planner and sometimes fills in as the maid of honor or a member of the bridal shower. Her next big client is the famous Sonora Star. Sonora has had some bad press and a recent stint in rehab but her wedding is going to be phenomenal. Sonora is marrying into money. Her fiancee Brent comes from a well-known wealthy family. Marley can't wait to start planning the impending wedding and with the commission she receives, her dreams can become a reality.

Luke Jessup is part of a SWAT team. He travels to Sweetheart to help his best friend Brent who's marrying Sonora. He's going to be the best man. Luke doesn't like Sonora. He believes his friend can do much better (and I agree wholeheartedly). When he stumbles into Marley, he's attracted to her. He thinks she feels the same way, but getting her alone is proving more difficult than what he was expecting it to be. Unbeknownst to him, there is a little issue of a confidentiality agreement and Marley is not able to date the best man. Meanwhile, Luke can't understand Marley's evasiveness.

I love Luke. He was a good friend to Brent and he was awesome with Marley and her mother. He was sweet and romantic. He was also very patient with Marley. He kept on coming back to her despite being pushed away, repeatedly.

I had a harder time liking Marley. She was too childish for my taste. Most of the time, her feelings for Luke run hot and cold. Her last excuse for pushing Luke away after they had been together was weak in my opinion. Still, I'm happy with how things worked out for this couple.

As a side note, I enjoyed the secondary characters and I was happy with the way Sonora and Brent's relationship was handled.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.