I adored this new book from Meghan Quinn (who is one of my auto-buy authors!) Runaway Groomsman was a great slow burn (like slow as molasses but worth it 100%), enemies-to-friends-to-more, second chance romance that had an amazing amount of depth and heart. Sawyer runs out as best man in the wedding of his ex-girlfriend and ex-best friend and escapes to Canoodle, California. Fallon is in Canoodle as the main caretaker for her grandfather, Sully, and also working to renovate their much-loved but neglected cabin rental property - and as luck would have it, that’s where Sawyer needs to stay while laying low.

While the Runaway Groomsman felt a little differently paced from Quinn’s usual humor, it was so thoughtfully presented and lovely that I didn’t even mind. It reminded me more of her Port Snow series. (But don’t worry, fans of Quinn - it’s still humorous and the banter between Sawyer and Fallon is fantastic!)

The budding friendship and bromance between Sawyer and Sully was my very favorite part of the entire book. I loved this book and highly recommend it to those that love a second chance, slow-burn romance with great banter and a lot of care & attention to relationships beyond those of the main characters.

Note: Fallon is in a relationship when they meet, but there is 0% cheating, period.

I absolutely loved this book! I cannot say how much I adored this story! The plot, the characters and the humor were amazing. I love the build up of Sawyer and Fallon’s friendship turned relationship.

After an amazing and comical exit out of his ex-girlfriend's and best friends wedding, Sawyer needs to get away from the city. Fallon is trying to redo her grandfather's inn in the small town of Canoodle. One night though Sawyer makes an amazing entrance into the bar and meets Fallon and Jaz. What starts as acquaintances and avoiding each other at all costs turns into a friendship. Eventually the angst is broken and the steam comes in hot.

This is an absolutely amazing story with two amazing main characters and so many loveable secondary characters. Fallon’s Parents and Grandfather are amazing, Jaz is a hoot and Sawyer's brother is great! ALSO, every person in the town makes me want to move to a small town!

One last time, I love love love this book! The build up of the relationship was perfect!

Runaway Groomsman is my latest read from Meghan Quinn. Now starting from the outside in, how stinking cute is this cover?! For me Runaway Groomsman was on the lighter end of Meghan's style of Rom Com goodness. But don't mistake a novel lighter in romance and angst with a novel that is lacking in heart; because this story is full of heart.

Fallon the heroine is a down to earth genuine character. She finds herself giving up her career as a nurse to care for her Grandfather Sully who suffers with Dementia. All whilst trying to keep the vacation cabin business her Grandfather Sully and her Grandma Joan started decades earlier.
Sawyer the Hero is a screen writer that went nuclear during the wedding of his best friend and his ex. Landing in a small mountain town called Canoodle (yes, the place names in this novel are some of the best). He finds himself face to face with Sully who confuses him for his deceased brother and sets Sawyer to work under his supervision to fix and update things on the property land.

The bond between Sully and Sawyer throughout the book is pretty special and one of the highlights of the book. Fallon and Sawyer's romance is absolutely a slow burn. Despite the pace of their developing relationship, there is still plenty of story to keep the reader happy. Jaz is the heroine's best friends and a feisty one at that. Witty, fiercely protective of Fallon and an excellent best friend to her.

Granted there were no big plot twist here, no out of nowhere surprise moments within this story; but there is plenty to love. Runaway Groomsman is full of heart warming scenes, adorable characters and plenty of story to keep the reader engaged. A light and pleasant romantic comedy that can sit proudly amongst Meghan Quinn other published works.

Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn
3.5 Stars
1 Chili

This is a super sweet, small town, second chance romance that I have pretty mixed feelings about. I apologize in advance for my rambling review.

The story opens with Sawyer running out of his ex-girlfriend’s and ex best friend’s wedding during their vows. He’s been keeping up appearances for the sake of the production company he writes screenplays for, but at that moment he just can’t take it anymore. He drives until he finds a bar in the small town of Canoodle where he can drink himself into oblivion. When he wakes up in a rustic cabin, still wearing his tux and only one shoe, he’s confused and then mortified to learn that Fallon, the cute girl from the bar the night before, helped drag him there to sleep it off. He needs a place to hide out until the media coverage dies down, so he decides to stick around for a while and see what happens.

Sawyer has forgotten all about the terrible blind date he went on with Fallon after his breakup, but she hasn’t. She is determined to keep him at arms length while he stays at her family’s rustic resort, but his selfless actions and the way he looks without a shirt on are chipping away at her resolve.

This was a very lighthearted and fun romantic comedy. There’s a lot of the snark and humor that I’ve come to love from Meghan Quinn and the tension between Sawyer and Fallon was well written. Fallon is a complex character and I really enjoyed the way she slowly figures out who she wants to be throughout the story. Sawyer is a cinnamon roll hero who is surprised to find that he enjoys the quiet life that this small town has to offer. I loved Fallon’s dads and grandpa and the great disability (Alzheimer's) rep in the story.

Now for the mixed feelings part. I don’t think these are spoilers, but proceed with caution.

For a large chunk of the book Fallon is in a relationship with another man, Peter, who is a very sweet, kind and attentive boyfriend. They’re in a long distance relationship and seem to have really grown apart, but when they inevitably break up and she runs right to Sawyer, it still feels like a betrayal to me. This situation wouldn’t have bothered me as much if it didn’t go on for so long.

I don’t understand the significance of the blind date that Fallon and Sawyer went on years ago that he doesn’t remember. I feel like this fact is thrown out there so often just to remind us that this is a book about second chances, so there should also be a second chance romance vibe attached.

The third act breakup at the very end was suuuuuper frustrating and also unnecessary. It took Fallon and Sawyer over half the book to admit their feelings, so there was no reason to break them up once they finally got together.

Fallon’s best friend Jazz was intolerable. She’s not nice to anyone, including Fallon, and her penchant for crazy antics and tire slashing got old very quickly. She honestly ruined every scene that she was in.

Overall, this story has a lot of cute and funny moments, but it was also repetitive and much too long. If I had picked this up without knowing it was a Meghan Quinn book, I never would have guessed it was written by her. I will still read anything that Quinn writes and I am so appreciative for the early copy to read and review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Montlake for providing it. Runaway Groomsman is available now.

5 When Running Away Results in Love Stars!!

The minute I started this book I knew I was going to love everything about it… not only because it’s a Meghan Quinn book, but also because from the get-go I was already chuckling to myself at the opening scene and vivid pictures that Ms. Quinn draws with the magic of her words.

Sawyer is a man that decides he just can’t take it anymore when it comes to the farce of a wedding he is part of thanks to the fact that it’s his Ex and his former best friend so what’s a man to do, but escape to a small town named Canoodle where no one should know who he is or why he’s running. What he didn’t expect to find was Fallon Long. A woman that’s determined to save her family business and Sawyer could be key to this as it allows a stream of income she desperately needs. What she doesn’t need nor was she expecting was the draw she had to Sawyer even though she has a boyfriend… don’t let this put you off the story, there’s so much to this part of the storyline that will explain itself in a way that even I was okay with Sawyer and Fallon flirting their way through a good portion of this book. And oh my stars, the slow burn building up to them coming together was truly delightful.

This book is filled with witty banter, fabulous secondary characters, sizzling chemistry and a setting that made we wish Canoodle, California truly existed. There were moments that I was truly laughing out loud because there’s something about the way Ms. Quinn has her characters interacting with each other and their sassy one-liners that I just couldn’t help myself. But this isn’t the typical Hollywood story where it’s a given that the H/h end up together… there’s some definite road blocks in their way… her family obligations and Sawyer’s very visible Hollywood persona and all the drama including the paparazzi that comes with his job that just might prevent them from having their HEA… you’ll need to read this one to find out how it all ends!

Runaway Groomsman is a standalone romantic comedy by one of my favorite authors! This is Sawyer and Fallon’s story and what can I say! I LOVED IT!

How, how, how could Sawyer attend his best friend Simon’s and his ex-girlfriend Annalisa’s wedding. Of course that is what started the whole wonderfully funny & sweet story!

I loved the characters, especially the endearing old crotchety grandpa and Fallon’s BFF! Fallon couldn’t have asked for a better friend than Jaz! I loved the glass slipper moment and the canoodling in Canoodle. Those are just some of the things you will miss if you don’t read this book! Personally I consider Runaway Groomsman to be a MUST READ!

•Small town romance
•love triangle
•second chance at love
•slow burn
•dual point of views
•romcom

How often do we hear of the jilted bride? The always a bridesmaid never a bride? Getting the scoop from the male perspective is rare & in this book it really worked. Runaway Groomsman focuses on Sawyer...betrayed by his ex girlfriend and best friend...who are now set to marry each other. Overwhelmed by not only the betrayal but the media circus following the new happy couple's every move, Sawyer runs off to Canoodle, to escape the craziness that has become his reality! Canoodle is typical small town USA, and also home to Fallon...a familiar face from Sawyer's past. Told in dual point of views alternating between Sawyer and Fallon, this book is a slow burn with lots of angst and build up. Spicy and funny. A perfect mix of fun! Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for an ARC of this book! 4 stars.

I loved this. From the opening scene where Sawyer loses it and flips off the ‘happy couple’ as he flees the church, I was immediately hooked. And then meeting Fallon…and more specifically her best friend Jaz, who immediately hates Sawyer for not remembering that he’s already met Fallon and once took her on a blind date. Jaz is a total psycho (and I mean that in the best possible way) This second chance small town rom-com was an absolute blast. Not only does it have an wonderful, and for the most part wonderfully lighthearted, storyline while also tastefully addressing the pain and struggle of dealing with a loved one experiencing Alzheimers, the cast of characters is just fantastic, especially the secondary characters. Everyone is larger than life, in a good way. I’ve no doubt I’ll be re-reading this one again sometime down the road. Thanks so much to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this fantastic book.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1ODT6223ZNBB2/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

When you hear about someone running away from a wedding it's usually the bride or groom.
In this case it's Sawyer, a groomsman and the ex-boyfriend of the bride and ex-best friend of the groom.

Of course it causes a media storm and he needs somewhere to go. When he heads to the town of Canoodle, CA to lay low, he meets Fallon.

This story was so charming, fun, and entertaining! It was sweet watching Sawyer and Fallon fall for one another as they each deal with the issues in their lives. They had fantastic chemistry and I really liked them individually as characters as well as together as a couple.

Meghan Quinn is an expert at mixing humor, romance, drama, and plenty of emotion together to write amazing books. This book is no exception, and I loved every second of reading it.

“His arm is draped along the bench, and I just know he’s wrapping his arm around Joan, talking to her as the sun begins to set. And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything more romantic in my life. Because even though Joan is gone, she’s still in his heart, and the man continues to love her, ache for her, include her in his life. That’s the kind of love movies are written about.” - Sawyer

I feel like I should just leave this quote here as my review, it feels like it’s enough. But I won’t, this was really cute. I truly enjoyed my first Meghan Quinn book. I loved the characters, Fallon and especially Sawyer where fantastic. Sawyer is book boyfriend material. Omg and Sully just an amazing side character that you couldn’t help but love and care about.

The book starts off and ends with a wedding. At the beginning you get this dramatic scene where the best man takes off, loses a shoe (Cinderella style) and races up the California mountains (runaway bride style). He ends up in an adorable mountain town and proceeds to get wastey faced at the local bar. While passed out the bar owner and owner of the local resort (Fallon) drag his sorry butt to an empty cabin so he sleep it off. But Fallon recognizes this groomsmen, she went on a blind date with him and he didn’t even recognize her. Awkward! Comedy, renovations and drama continue to unfold.

This story is filled with typical Meghan humor and heart! I’ve never met a more loveable cast of characters. This story had me grinning from ear to ear for most of the book, except the times I teared up. I absolutely adored the relationship Sawyer had with Fallons grandpa. And the sweet gestures of helping fix things around the cabins was the icing on the cinnamon roll that is Sawyer. He was the sweetest hero I believe I’ve ever read, even with the threat of violence from Fallons best friend. This story was amazing from beginning to end!

Such a sweet, fun, and heartwarming story that makes you fall head over heels in love with its characters. Sawyer makes this story so much because he is so caring and just fun perfection. Fallon at times was hard to connect with and I felt like she didn’t put a lot of effort in like Sawyer did, but she had her moments. This story is a slow burn somewhat of a second chance because Sawyer royally messed up a previous date with Fallon and drama but will leave the reader smiling.

This was a wonderful little small town romantic comedy from Meghan Quinn. I've read some of her work previously and honestly I'm not quite sure why it's been so long since I've read one of her books. I think I'm going to have to seriously play catch up.

I just fell in love with this little town and all of the quirky characters who lived there. Sawyer and Fallon were such an absolutely beautiful couple and I'm just so thrilled they got their second chance. Sawyer comes stumbling into the bar in Canoodle, California one night after causing a media frenzy when he walks out of a wedding in which he's a groomsman - hence the title of the book. Little does he know he comes in contact with Fallon, who he had went on one blind date with previously and ignored her the entire time.

Throughout the book, we see Sawyer slowly open his eyes to the fact that ignoring her on that date may just have been the worst mistake of his life. I really loved the interactions between Sawyer and Fallon's grandfather, Sully. He was truly a great side character. The bond that those two built was truly beautiful.

This was so much more than just a romantic comedy. It is a beautiful second chance love story with a whole lot of heart.

A sweet, slow burn, low steam story that will leave you feeling good.
Sawyer probably makes one of the most dramatic and hilarious exits from a wedding that I have ever read and ends up at a bar in a small town and ends up in a cabin there. The owner? Fallon, the woman that he completely ignored on a blind date.
I LOVED Sawyer. He truly made this book for me. You can’t help but likeable from the start and it never waivers throughout the story. Fallon, I liked her, but she wasn’t my favorite at times throughout the story. Sawyer and Fallon definitely had chemistry though.
There are loveable and hilarious secondary characters and were such great additions to the story.
If you’re looking for a second chance, slow burn, rom com check this one out.

I had plenty of laugh out loud moments. My husband said to me, "It's been a long time since I've heard you laugh so much reading a book". It was a campy kind of love story but I tend to like those when I'm looking for comic relief. Sawyer commits a faux pas that could sideline his career and finds the perfect place to ride out the storm. Canoodle CA. The name of the town explains everything and Meghan absolutely delights with some of the store names, trail and mountain names and the myriad of creative characters. While rom-com is probably what the author is going for, there are some genuinely tender moments, some had tears flowing for me as well. Fallon and Sawyer spend much of the book sidestepping their current lives (relationships current and ex) and well...Jaz is a completely other story. Was it explosive chemistry? Not really. It was a slow build up which I think worked for these particular characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for this Read Now copy of Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn!

I really wanted to like this, and was super excited because I know Meghan Quinn is a fan favorite, but this one just wasn't for me. I felt like the romance was the smallest part of this story. Fallon had a boyfriend most of this book which is something that just didn't work for me. HOWEVER. I loved Sawyer, I wish I could've seen him in more of a relationship dynamic but I adored his relationship with Sully.

Maybe fans of love triangles or Meghan Quinn's other works will like this. There were some cute/funny parts just overall not for me.

So this one’s a bit tough for me, I have a lot of mixed feelings on it. I think that this book has so much potential but I don’t think it was well executed. The ending seemed rushed for a book so long and overall it left me wanting more. I’m also not a huge fan of slow burn and boy was this one slooowwww.

I really did not like that Fallon had a boyfriend for at least 60% of the book. I know this book is supposed to be slow burn, but she wastes so much time in this relationship. Then she instantly started something with Sawyer when she broke up with her boyfriend, like within minutes. Even though the break up might have been a long time coming, it’s still just left a bad taste in my mouth. Sawyer, he was the shining star for me in this book. He is so charming and charismatic, and so thoughtful. I really love the relationship he had with Sawyer‘s grandfather, Sully. The banter between them was everything!!! They were just so precious. I never really felt fully invested in Sawyer, I think because she had a boyfriend, so I never really bought into the romance between her and Sawyer. Her friend Jaz…I found her to be so annoying. She was a bit psycho but not in a cute way.

Okay negatives aside, there were things that I really liked about this story. I loved Sawyer and that he was able to find himself in this small town. I loved the sense of community in this town. The way they all rally around Fallon to help take care of Sully, was really heartwarming. I appreciated how this story brought a realistic perspective to what it’s like to have a loved one with Alzheimer’s. It’s just so heartbreaking and added a lot to the storyline. For me, this book was less about the romance and more about the growth, familial relationships, friendships, and finding peace within yourself.

Another gem from Meghan Quinn! This book had me laughing out loud and gasping at some of the antics of our main characters but also of the quirky supporting characters. Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer escapes his life in rather dramatic (but not unwarranted) fashion and finds himself in the small mountain town of Canoodle. He takes some time at some rundown cabins where he meets owner, Sully, and his granddaughter, Fallon. (Sully has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has his good and bad days.) Sawyer makes himself useful and helps with much needed renovations.

I won’t give away the great plot points but I’m a fan and think you will be too!

Meghan Quinn’s “Runaway Groomsman” is a small town romance that had me laugh and cry and it’s definitely a memorable story of forming relationships you thought you’d never have.

Screenwriter Sawyer Castle is standing by the groom, his former friend who is marrying Sawyer’s ex and the only reason he’s doing this is for optics. But at the moment of full realization of “what the heck is he doing?”, he flips off the bridal beast and arse of a friend and runs off. He ends up at the small town of Canoodle, California.

Get your Hallmark wine tumblers, for here is where Sawyer meets Fallon Long, who runs her family-owned business, “Canoodle Cove Cabins”, and of course this is also where Sawyer decides to temporarily escape. Realizing he’s found himself in the midst of the cabin renovations, Sawyer can’t help but feel for Fallon who is not only financially strained and lacking hands-on help, but she’s also caring for her grumpy grandfather who has Alzheimer’s.

This is a story that has Sawyer being 2022’s nomination for number 1 friend you could lean and depend on. It’s an endearing story of how Fallon strives to restore the classic vibes this place had back in the days of her grandmother and grandfather running it - the days when their love was so infectious that Fallon dreamed of being loved and loving back that same way. It’s a story where a friendship out of nowhere is formed between a committed and devoted man in Sawyer and Fallon’s grandfather, Sully, who’s long-term memory is in tact as he relishes in the sweet memories of his true love.

I appreciated the strangers to friends to lovers story and while I am NOT a love triangle fan, I am happy to say that this element did not last long and Meghan worked it in a way that didn’t leave you throwing your kindle against the wall.

Thanks for the laughs and the tears, Meghan, Montlake, and Netgalley. I stand by my recommendation and honest review.

**3.75 Stars**

The Runaway Groomsman was an overall sweet and romantic story about second chances and finding love when you least expect it. Sawyer finds himself in a small town after having what some would consider a very public meltdown. There, he finds peace, himself and a new purpose in life.

Fallon is overwhelmed with taking care of her ailing grandfather, while also trying to renovate the cabins that are part of the family business and what he himself has built.

Sawyer and Fallon's grandather connect and form a friendship of sorts and Sawyer helps with various projects. It both helps to get his mind off his own problems and help ease some of Fallon's burdens. Over time, they too become good friends and then it grows into a bit more.

This story is a slow burn romance. I adored Sawyer. He was sweet, patient, extremely romantic, and anything one could want in a hero. I also really liked Fallon. She was a rockstar trying to be a caretaker while also running a business. She had the world on her shoulders. I loved them together and was rooting for them. I thought the drama towards the end didn't quite fit with the story line and I felt like the book seemed a little longer than necessary, but overall it was an engaging read and I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.