Member Reviews
3.3⭐️
This was sweet and quick. With a granny with a fabulous persona, which is always my favorite side character in a book. They dealt well with some of the heavier things in their lives before they had each other which is good. Definitely insta love even though it’s been a long time (you’ll get it when you read it)
The Do Over was entertaining, touching and fun reading. I like the characters, their interactions and the story as a whole.
Maggie and Finn's meet-cute is fun. A crazy, drunken, dare-filled weekend spent together is Las Vegas that Maggie didn't take very seriously but Finn did more so. Paperwork that was never filed correctly and a new, broken engagement bring them together eight years later. Even through the relief of her fiancé breaking up with her Maggie is initially focused on getting him back post-divorce. It's what her parents want. It's advantageous to her chosen career/charitable cause. Even if it doesn't make her happy and doesn't feel right. Finn can't believe Maggie is here and is immediately in favor of not divorcing. With the extra incentive of using Maggie to prove the lie that he has a girlfriend. The fake girlfriend and the don't kill grandmother plots were superfluous to the story. These two have plenty of real reasons to stay together though I suppose both served to keep Maggie closer and acting the girlfriend/fiancé part initially.
You just know these two are perfect and meant to be together but it's fun to watch them figuring it all out and working on melding their two very different lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled: Bliss for the ARC.
This story was absolutely adorable. I swooned so much reading this. I also found myself laughing out loud and falling hard for these characters. Melissa MacKinnon is a new to me author, but I will definitely be looking for more from her. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next and I look forward to reading more in this series.
3.5☆
Cute
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Second chances
Part of a series: Finding Home
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Eight years ago Maggie Kelly went on her first trip to Vegas, which was so liberating and so much fun that she just couldn't say No to one more dare...to get married to a hot and handsome boatbuilder from Maine.
Fast forward eight years ...Maggie is about to get married to a plastic surgeon with lots of important political connections. Maggie's family are also overjoyed, even if there is no chemistry or real human connection between the engaged couple. There's just one snag. The sexy boatbuilder Finn Garrity never filed the divorce papers. It turns out Maggie's fiance never did care that much for her anyway, so the engagement is off, but she still needs to sort the situation out. Finnegan Garrity, you do have some explaining to do.
Now look at the things from Finn's point of view. Yes, his gorgeous brand new wife promised to take care of their marital status. Only she never did. Even so, she is still as beautiful and feisty... Can he possibly try to convince her to give them a second chance? Before he knows, his sweet and outspoken grandmother assumes Maggie is his girlfriend (oh, look at the rock on her finger-they are engaged, let's plan their wedding).
If you loved Sweet Home Alabama, you'll love this book as well. There are some differences, of course, but the message is similar. Friends and family are more important than displays of wealth, power or connections. Maggie cares a lot about her career of a charity event organiser and she never loses the sight of why she does it- to help people who need these charities.
Lovely supporting characters-did I mention Finn's Nana and his sister who has a lot ofserious stuff to deal with, but still finds time to worry about her brother's love life? Finn's family are a boisterous and caring bunch, very different from people in Maggie's world.
Sweet, fun, easy to read...if you are in need of a quick romantic read or are a fan of the second chance and fake engagement tropes, don't miss The Do-Over.
Psst!
C’mere!
I want to talk to you, *whispers* but I’ll deny I ever had this convo with you. Got it?! *wags finger* Coz we all know (as I tend to repeat it ad nauseum) that I am in no way a romantic *shakes head*.
Anyhoo, I never thought I’d ever say this, but I need this book to be turned into a movie. My heart, my soul, my ovaries NEED it.
Most people come home from a weekend in Vegas with epic memories and wild tales to tell. Fast forward eight years and Maggie Kelley realises she also left hers with a husband. *snorts* Try explaining that to your fiancé!
Let Operation D-I-V-O-R-C-E commence! Only it’s not that D-word I’d be thinking about if I rocked up to Finn Garrity’s boat shop *smirks*.
Oh boy! Ladies let’s hear it for The Vee (you know what I’m talking about! *winks*), arm p0rn and did I mention the prickle-tickle?!
Finn is a man with a plan. Fate has given him a second chance and he’s not about to squander it. D is for Do-Over.
I loved the whole small-town ‘everybody-knows-everybody’ vibe complete with interfering, but well-meaning family members, picturesque scenery and a hellavu lot of heart. (I have to confess to some tear duct leakage. I was caught unaware in the feels *shrugs*.)
The Do-Over is the perfect feel-good romance; cute, sweet, and left this reader with a big cheesy grin on her face.
Job done!
I really enjoyed this book. The story of Finn and Maggie definitely gave me all the feels! I laughed a lot and cried some. Their banter was hilarious and their chemistry is still as much alive. I just loved their story a lot. It was a sweet second chance romance.
Maggie and Finn got married in Vegas after a drunken weekend together. They both thought the other would get the marriage annulled, and the truth that they are still married came to light when Maggie went to apply for a marriage license.
When Maggie shows up at Finns boat shop in a small town in Maine to finally finalize the divorce, the only thing Finn can think is, how does he convince his wife to give them a chance ?
I enjoyed reading this second chance romance. It’s set in a small town with some wonderful characters. It’s a very cute, light hearted read that will leave a smile on your face.
This is a delightful second chance romance, one in which the couple married in Vegas eight years ago then, after three days, went their separate ways. Maggie Kelley assumed he’d filed the paperwork to have their wedding annulled until she was planning to marry someone else and found out she’s still married to Finn. Travelling to visit him, hoping to get their marriage annulled finally, their attraction is still there, and his family enfold her in their delight . . . Can he woo her again or will this be the end of the road for them?
This is a story of family, opposites, plans and romance. The Garrity clan are diverse but so welcoming, taking Maggie in and making her feel like she fits right in amongst them. His grandmother and sister are particularly great characters, adding humour to the story. It has a great family vibe to it and the work to support cancer patients is heartwarming. Maggie is a strong, determined and independent young woman from a wealthy background. He’s a talented carpenter and boat builder. Can they work together to make their lives plain sailing or will there be storms ahead?
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
After 8 years, Maggie realizes that the quickie Vegas wedding she thought was "taken care of" that same weekend in fact wasn't. She travels across the country from California to Maine to find Finn and settle things once and for all. But the spark that they had in Vegas has never died out and they are both left questioning what they really want.
The Do-Over is a sweet romance with plenty of heart. The instant rekindled chemistry between Maggie and Finn was obvious from the first chapter. And the family dynamic between Finn and his Nana was so cute it could give you a tooth ache, in the best way.
I loved seeing snippets of what Finn and Maggie were like on their Vegas vacation together, each of them challenging the other with fun and light dares as well as with more important matters in their lives, like their dreams and career goals. But they also allowed each other to be who they are, without pushing for either to change.
I would recommend The Do-Over to anyone looking for a romance that will make you say "awww" and feels like being snuggled in your favorite oversized hoodie.
This was a sweet and fun read!
I have to admit at the beginning I was surprised by Finn's reaction to seeing Maggie again for the first time in 8 years. He seemed so sure about wanting to be with her from the start. As I read, though, they totally won me over. I absolutely loved the two of them and how easy things were between them. There were certainly obstacles for them to overcome, but they just fit so we'll together.
The small town setting and Finn's family and friends also added to the story's charm. I really hope there are more books to come for the secondary characters! I am looking forward to reading more of Melissa MacKinnon's books.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
I have been finding myself picking up every single Entangled book that there is, and I am usually very happy with the result - or at least pleasantly surprised at what I find contained in the pages. This book was one that came up as an option to read and I was intrigued by the concept, it gave me "Sweet Home Alabama" feels and I wanted to go back to that early 2000s easy romantic-comedy in a book. While this book was easy enough to read, this was not quite the swoon-worthy read that many of my other Entangled reads have been recently. However, just because it wasn't my cup of tea doesn't mean it might not be yours. The lead man fought hard for his love, and the main woman really developed as a character. This was a nice book, but it is one that will stay on my shelf.
What a great summer book- just in time for your beach vacay! The chemistry between Finn and Maggie was so adorable! This was a run and quick read that made me smile. The banter was hilarious and Finn was so darn likable and charming. I was excited to see this was book 1 in a series- I am looking forward to reading about more characters in this darling town.
You know when you see one of those commercials at Christmas and it's so sweet and touching that you find yourself just weeping...Well that's THE DO-OVER! It has this layer of down home sweetness and true romance that I haven't read in a long time. Melissa MacKinnon did a fabulous job of making you love Maggie and Finn separately and then bringing them together with explosive fireworks. One drunken night of fun and games left Maggie and Finn married but that was 8 years ago. Now, Maggie raises money for non-profit charity groups a job she loves and is devoted too. While Finn works at his family's business making boats, a business he's father passed on to him. When Maggie discovers they are still married she has to track Finn down just to find the spark is still there. How will they ever make Maggie's California life and Finn's Maine life work? Will they be able to reach a compromise or do they get a divorce? Check out this great feel good book of 2021.
Finn and Maggie met eight years ago and got married on a dare. When she goes to file for a marriage certificate she realizes she is still married. She sets out to finally get divorced, but her plans go astray when Finn’s grandma shows up and they pretend to be engaged.
Their interactions were filled with banter, sparks and regret. I liked the dual point of view so we could see how each character was feeling. He always knew what he wanted and decided to fight for her. She grew a lot throughout this book, but I wish there would have been a little more information when it came to his reasoning of it not being only a dare.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to other books in the series. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
The Do-Over by Melissa MacKinnon was such an adorable read. Maggie was ready to get married. He may not have been the man of her dreams, but he could be her Mr. Right now. Except she has a very big problem. She is kind of already married. After spending some great days together in Vegas years ago, Maggie and Finn has mistakenly thought they had taken care of everything, but now learn they are still married. Maggie needs the divorce; Finn is ready to fight for the one that got away.
Finn was charming, sweet and so damn likable. Maggie was determined to get her divorce but could not deny the chemistry they share. I just loved their story so much. It was a sweet second chance romance.
Happy reading!
Maggie thinks she’s ready to marry for real, but is this really what should happen? The characters in this book were adorable, strong and lovable, with plenty of spark!
A joy to read and the storyline is fantastic, it kept me wondering and hoping! The family connections and romance are superb, I will definitely want to read the next book in this series!
Well done Melissa Mackinnon on this fabulous heart-warming read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was really sweet, with a good dose of sexy thrown in. It grabbed me from the first few pages, and made a world that was really inviting.
Finn makes custom wooden boats in a small town in Maine. Maggie, a socialite from Los Angeles, shows up at his door looking for a divorce. They got married on a whim in Vegas years before.
I liked their relationship dynamic a lot. He was fun, flirty, and supportive. She learned to loosen up, and become more of herself with him. Neither pushed the other around, they didn't have issues with misunderstandings, and they were able to talk through things. That isn't always the case in stories like this, so it was refreshing. They also shared pieces of themselves in ways that felt true.
This read a lot like a rom com movie with heart. A small town, complete with eccentric supporting characters, and some really fun laughs. It had a "Sweet Home Alabama"-vibe, but without a love triangle (Maggie does find out they are still married when she tries to get a marriage license, but that is an engagement of convenience that ended before the book starts).
The ending felt a little rushed in ways, and there wasn't quite the conflict I would have expected. She stands up to her controlling dad and then he isn't mentioned again, and she seems unaffected, which surprised me some.
All in all, I really liked this!
3.5 Stars. Eight years after getting married in Las Vegas, Maggie arrives at Finn’s home in Maine to ask for a divorce, however Finn is still in love with Maggie and determined to win Maggie back. The beginning of the book gave off Sweet Home Alabama vibes but with slightly lower stakes as Maggie is not trying to return home to a new fiancee. In addition to being a second chance romance, there are also elements of fake dating as FInn’s family assumes Maggie is his long distance girlfriend and he doesn’t correct them.
I liked both Maggie and Finn. They are an opposites attract couple with Maggie being an upperclass event planner from Los Angeles and Finn being a gruff boat builder. They had some fun banter and there was definite heat between the pair. I was surprised to find that this was a closed door romance as there was quite a bit of dirty talk in the pair’s flirting.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a bit shorter than a lot of the books I read and because of that the pacing of the story felt rushed, but it worked for the story it was telling. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started reading this, it gave me big Sweet Home Alabama vibes. However, it's nothing like the movie. Maggie and Finn married in Vegas and both thought the other took care of the annulment... until Maggie files for a marriage license to another man.
Finn and Maggie's story starts out with lots of laughs that made me want to see where this would take them. It's cute, sweet, angsty and emotional at times.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to see more from the other characters in this story.
The only reason I didn't rate it five stars was because it was in third person. Third person makes it hard to feel the story - to be in the story. Had it been in first person, I think the author could have gotten more laughter and tears out of me.