MARRIAGE LESSONS is the third book in Katie Allen's "Off Guard" series. This is technically a romance that develops between a boss and his employee, but I think it's much more of a classic and exquisite friends-to-lovers story. Gallery manager Annabelle Shay has had a crush on her boss and friend, Louis Dumont, for a long time. Annabelle and Louis have the kind of friendship that is very fun and flirtatious, although neither of them has ever made a move to change the dynamic of it. When Annabelle suddenly needs to find a place to stay, Louis is only too happy to volunteer his couch. I loved this book! This is a must-read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope.

Louis is an amazing hero: gallery owner, artist, military veteran, and an easygoing charmer. A lot of the time in romances with heroes who have had past traumas, they can be moody because of emotional baggage they haven't gone to therapy for. In Louis' case, he has a crippling shyness when it comes to being physically intimate with a woman because of his missing body parts. Annabelle is somebody he's attracted to and is comfortable enough to be himself around. It's obvious to most people, except Annabelle, that he has a crush on her just as she has one on him. His attraction isn't initially confirmed for the reader, because this story is told strictly from Annabelle's perspective. The sexual tension is delicious as Annabelle and Louis grow closer, both emotionally and physically. Katie Allen adds a little danger toward the end of the book, but it never eclipses the sensational, sexy, and immensely entertaining romance.

MARRIAGE LESSONS is a phenomenal blend of fun and sexy as a friendship turns red-hot. These main characters are so easy to like and root for that it makes this story ten times more enjoyable. I am now on a mission to hunt down the previous two books in this series. I eagerly await Katie Allen's next romance.

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!

Every single one of the Off Guard books is amazingly well written. Katie Allen (known by many of you as Katie Ruggle) has done an astonishing job. I finished the book less than one hour ago and I am seriously considering re-reading the three books now....

First off we have Louis... The man made me laugh and swoon so so much. He was perfection.

He has not been with a woman in a very long time, since he was seriously injured in Afghanistan. To see him being both the most confident guy ever and this guy that is not sure of himself at the same time was really special. Louis is your ultimate hero: sweet, kind, charming, sexy, protective, confident in public, and little hurt and vulnerable in private because of his injuries. There is no way he is not going to melt your heart.



Annabelle is just as amazing. She works hard, or tries too- Luis is always trying to distract her. She has some sass, but is ultimately one of the sweetest heroines out there. She has had a crush on her boss in forever and finds it really hard saying no to him. When things go wrong with her current apartment and she needs a place to go Luis offers and although she knows it is probably a bad idea leaving with the boss you have feelings for she can't say no to him.

I loved how their friendship and understanding of each other grew into something more. Their silliness and banter was charming and their steamy scenes were off the charts while at the same time adorable and touching. How on earth the author did that is beyond me.

I don't remember the last time I read a book with a wounded hero that I liked this much, they are not always written well. Louis' charming and funny mannerisms and the way he hid some of his feelings behind that made his character approachable, relatable, lovable...

I could really go on and on here for some time, but that would probably end up in spoilers.

I must admit I started the book and put it away as it did not grab me. But I wanted to give it another chance and it turned out to be quite an enjoyable story!

As said, it took a while for the story to get going and it also takes a while for the couple to 'get together'. I wish we had some POV of his side. But overall I liked both MC's and the storyline of her hero wounded in Afghanistan.

I look forward to reading more of this author!

*** I requested an ARC via Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review. ***

Marriage Lessons is the third book in the Off Guard series by Katie Allen, and is currently scheduled for release on October 15 2018. Each book does stand up on its own, with only brief mentions of the characters from the previous books. However, the books are all great, so I still recommend reading them all.

Falling for your boss—no matter how fast he makes your pulse race—is such a cliché. But it’s one Annabelle Shay can’t seem to avoid. Gallery owner Louis Dumont is stupid hot. Plus, he’s sweet, sensitive and a brilliant artist. But he’s also oblivious. Which is good because Annabelle loves her job too much to risk it. Louis hasn’t been with a woman since he was wounded in Afghanistan, remaining guarded about his body and his heart. But Annabelle is different. She keeps him grounded. Which is why protecting her—first pretending to be her husband to ward off unwanted attention, then inviting her to move in after her landlord kicks her out—feels so natural, even if it invites rampant temptation. Try as Annabelle might, there are some desires you simply can’t shake. Louis repeatedly joke-asking her to marry him isn’t helping, especially when their unbearable attraction upgrades them to roomies with benefits. But Louis is still keeping pieces of his past to himself, leaving Annabelle to wonder if he’ll ever truly be vulnerable with her—or if she stands to lose everything.

Marriage Lessons is a contemporary romance that hit all the right chords with me. Annabelle and Louis have chemistry from the very beginning- but work together and are friends but neither seems willing to take the risk. It is only after Annabelle faces unwanted attention at the gym, she needs a place to live, and she is attacked in the gallery they finally have to think about the attraction and where it might go. I thought Annabelle was a great character- she is strong, smart, and quirky. I liked Louis a lot, he is funny and thoughtful, with a humorous fear of ladies hunting him. I thought a little bravery- and conversation about how they felt might have wrapped things up a little quicker but I really enjoyed the ride. I liked the danger and suspense portion of the story- although I have a vague suspicion about the who and what before hand. I really wanted to get inside Louis's head, I wanted to know what he was thinking and how he felt- much like Annabelle wanted to. However, I was completely engaged with the characters and was left wanting more insight into the characters, and maybe a follow up to the series where all the characters get together and interact (maybe a weeding?). I just love the personalities in the entire series and want to see them all again.

Marriage Lessons is another wonderful book from Allen. The characters drew me in and never let me go, and I can not wait to read more

This is an okay story, didn't really grab my attention. I found it fairly predictable, and too much time was spent showcasing the friendship. There are moments we see where Annabelle thinks about Louis as more than a friend, but those moments are few and far between. Also, this is told in third person POV, but it's only Annabelle's POV; I do wish we'd have been able to get Louis' view of their friendship as well.

This was a unique story line about two people who work together starting a relationship together.

My issues: the first 55% of the book is them just being friends. She has thoughts that suggest she has feelings about him but nothing is acted on for more than half the book. Despite the book being told in 3rd person point of view, we get nothing about how Louis is feeling.

I had trouble relating to the characters, but to be honest I can't figure out why. I didn't connect with either one. Perhaps this goes back to not having enough from Louis.

Once things got going, the book ended pretty fast. I think we needed more after they finally got together.

This book sounded really good and I had high hopes for it. Honestly I just found it kind of boring and very very predicable.

Annabelle and Louis are a cute, cute couple in this newest book by Katie Allen. Ordinarily I would be annoyed by this, but Allen's skill makes this an thoroughly enjoyable story.

I love a slow burn story, and this is a great one. The entire first half was getting to know each other and deepening their friendship. Louis has quirks and is the definition of an eccentric man. He has hang-ups but hides them. Annabelle discovers those quirks bit by bit and that only serves to deepen the crush she has on him. Heck, I fell for Louis, too, and he isn't even my type!

This was a book that made me smile even as I assume that Louis is someone who wouldn't exist in real life. I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it! It definitely scores high on the "re-readibility" scale.

Five stars for a charming, happy story.

I'm not sure where the idea for the title comes from, but I did enjoy the book. Marriage Lessons, took a surprising turn in the end. Kind of made me think WTH. Just added to the charm of this story.

Girl falls in love with her boss - this setting has been done many times over - but I liked the way Katie Allen took this and wrote a funny, yet caring story. Annabelle definitely has something for her boss, Louis and he doesn’t hide the fact that he likes her too. While Louis is conscientious over his body since being wounded, leave it to Annabelle to help him overcome his vulnerability. This is the first book I have read of Katie’s and it won’t be the last. Start with this one if you wish and go back an read binge the others in the series - I am!

A love story from boss/employee to roommates to lovers. Anabelle has a secret crush on her boss Louis artist and Galery owner and everything changes when she ends living with him. The story is interesting, with likable characters, funny moments and a little bit of mystery, little bit of suspense. I couldn't read Louis his character his character is very special. I couldn't connect painter with the ex-military guy, famous artist with his personality. Annabell is a sweet little thing and I liked that she saw Louis whole as a person and her effort to convince Louise that although unperfect he was for her perfect.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

I loved Marriage Lessons. I loved the war vet who's now a successful painter, the gallery manager who's been crushing on him forever, and the chemistry that eventually can't be denied. Their relationship is all sweetness and sexual tension with obvious signs of lasting comfort.

This romance stays on a mostly positive note, although our hero is an insomniac who runs when he can't sleep, so there is likely some PTSD of something going on, but the book doesn't explore that sensitive topic. I like that the author didn’t hide the fact that he has trouble sleeping, whatever the reason, and don’t mind that she didn’t explore it further.

Reading this one was a delight from start to finish. It was just what I needed.

I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. This book is actually the third book in this series, which I didn't know at first, but I still really enjoyed it! I'll have to pick up the first two!!

This was a really heartwarming summer read. I liked this book a lot! a short, sweet read.
Can't wait to read more from this author!

A good book. I enjoyed it, although it started out a little slow. I didn't love it, but I liked it. I'd try the author again.

Imagine my excitement when I saw Marriage Lessons was available. After the first two books, I was breathlessly awaiting this installment to once again experience the comedic genius that is Katie Allen.
If you haven't read Acting Lessons and Baking Lessons, you need to. Of course, you don't need to read them to enjoy this book since all three standalone well but catching a glimpse and a mention of previous characters in a series is my catnip. I'm such a series whore. And I loved the little mentions of James and Topher, and Ham and Leah. It was good to know they were still happy together.
But let's talk about this book. And more importantly, let's talk about the gorgeousness that is Louis Dumont. From the first moment he uttered "Annabelle Shay" he stole my heart. Louis is funny, sweet, charming, and a rascal. He's completely irrepressible and unapologetic about it. And he's so dang adorable about it that you forgive him his high-handedness and his being a super high maintenance artist while being a wounded, scarred army veteran. There are many sides to Louis. The side he shows the world that is sweet, charming, and unassuming. The side that's protective when it comes to his Annabelle Shay, and the side that's slightly battered from his injuries and scars after being caught in an explosion. It takes a lot of love and patience on Annabelle's side to coax all of Louis out into the open and it's a delightful journey.
Annabelle Shay, as Louis likes to call her, is a delight. She's sweet, competent, and crazy in love with Louis. Has been for months. And she tries so hard to hide it as she falls deeper and deeper for his charms. And what's not to love because Louis is a wonderful guy. I kinda wanted him for myself too. I loved Annabelle's patience with Louis because well, Louis can be a bit like a big child a times. But where it matters, Louis steps up and blows Annabelle away. I loved the way Annabelle resisted Louis while trying to remain professional, friendly, and unaffected. It's a tough place to be until Louis demolishes all her self-preservation mechanisms.
I loved Louis and his Annabelle Shay as a couple, and I couldn't get through the book fast enough. I had very limited time to read and I found myself sneaking in a chapter or two here and there whenever I could. The story kept me entertained, delighted, and held my very scattered attention.
Well done, Ms Allen. This did not disappoint at all and the anticipation and wait for worth it. I hope there will be more Off Guard stories.

This friends-to-lovers story is adorable!
Louis Dumont, a ”one-legged Cajun artist”, is the ultimate wounded hero. Charming, sweet, funny, fiercely protective of the heroine, and a bit messed-up (but hiding it well).
“Marriage Lessons”, by Katie Allen, displays a refreshing take on the wounded hero trope and while reading the story I felt almost giddy with this singular former soldier, now a painter and gallery owner, whose quirks and mannerisms give him a feminine tone sometimes, especially in the beginning, without lessening his masculinity. And how can a Beta male be so virile – well, that’s a paradox I wasn’t able to solve...
I must say that cute people in fiction and sometimes inane dialogue usually don’t work for me, but Louis Dumont and Annabelle Shay do form a cute, very romantic couple, friends that take their time to turn to lovers, despite the heroine’s early revealed crush for her boss. And yes, in the beginning I found the banter a bit silly sometimes and I anticipate not everybody will enjoy it – but what can I say? Another paradox, I guess.
I found Louis adorable, sweet, vulnerable, and incredibly strong. There were times I couldn’t decide if he was being ridiculous or funny – perhaps both – but it was utterly delicious and enjoyable to watch the former soldier, who is a Beta hero at its finest, crutching around, pampering, wooing and protecting the heroine.
I guess Louis is as charming, kind and gentle as a bear when Annabelle is at stake. The balance of all that charm and humor with the vulnerability about his mutilated body is something Katie Allen writes with the utmost talent, showing the often contradictory feelings and emotions that go with these physical changes: it seems that rationally Louis accepted them – the casual way he speaks about them – but deep down he’s still self-conscious and has trouble with his self-image.
I loved all that touching and cuddling, and the hero’s celibacy; how he’s so kind and generous with Annabelle and so stoic about his messed-up self.
I also loved that, in spite of being very proficient with his different prosthetics, Louis doesn’t turn out to be a super robotic hero or the author doesn’t simply forget his condition (as often happens in romance novel): and we get to watch, throughout the story in a very consistent way, his difficulties, the pain, the need to adaptations and changes or different ways of doing things.
I would like to have seen more about Louis military background and to have an epilogue; but it was really enjoyable to read this intense romance, always written from Annabelle’s perspective.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. This book is actually the third book in this series. This book is about Louis and Annabelle. Louis is a painter and owns a gallery. Annabelle works for Louis and has been secretly in love with him for a while. Louis is so sweet but also has some insecurities that he has a hard time getting past. Annabelle is also very sweet and really has a mind of her own. Annabelle runs into some problems and needs a place to stay so Louis invites her to live with him. I found this story to be so entertaining and so much fun to read. I loved everything about it. I am going to go back and read the other books in this series now. Thanks NetGalley for the chance. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was engaging and for those fed up with perfect rich guy something a bit different. Yes he is rich and has a fit body but he also has an amputated leg which has left him uncomfortable with his body although he is still fancied by the women he is not willing to allow any to see him undressed.
I enjoyed this book and was able to emphasise with both Louis and Annabelle as it was so well written. I just wanted a bit more story after they eventually got together.
I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary and impartial review.

Funny romance with lots of smoldering looks. I liked that they helped each other overcome their fears.

This is my first time reading this author and this book appears to be a series. It easily stands alone. It is also very one sided, told from only Annabelle's view point. To be honest I wanted Louis' side and that was what was frustrating about this story.

That said I really enjoyed the story and the characters and it was very well written. Annabelle works for Louis and he is a former soldier who only has one real leg. This has caused him issues with confidence and Annabelle who works for him and who they become besties and then roomates too, has crushed on him awhile. Both have issues with confidence and they lowly work through them.

I enjoyed the story but at times the story dragged and knowing Louis thoughts would have made things move faster and kept me more interested, I did really enjoy the story and characters, I just wanted more action.