Member Reviews
3.5 rounded up to 4 star.
A Second-Chance Romance for the 5th book in the Bromance Book Club series.
I have read the a few of the other books in this series before picking up this book. This series reads really well as a standalone.
This is such a well done series and is one of the few Trad Pub authors that I really enjoy their books.
This book has some great funny and steamy moments to make for a very cute Holiday Themed Romance. The main characters in this book are just delightful. You instant connect with them and their feelings and are all in with them. I was desperate for these characters to get their HEA.
So much Merry and Bright Holiday antics in this Christmas Romance. The ending of this book was just so sweet cute and everything you want in romance but especially a holiday romance. I enjoyed this book a lot and think it should be on everyone's holiday TBR.
Lyssa Kay Adams has such a way with words.
A wonderful edition to the fantastic world of characters she's created!
This has simply become my favorite series! This turn around is Colton’s chance at love. Colton is one of the most favorite country musicians and most girls are falling at his feet, except for Gretchen.
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After one night together a year ago Gretchen needs to try to get Colton on board as the face of her family’s whiskey brand. He agrees under one condition. She needs to go on three dates with him before Christmas. This book, like the others in the series purely shines when the members of the bromance book club are all together!
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This was my most anticipated Christmas read and it did not disappoint!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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When Mack and Liv got married in Nashville among their good friends and members of the Bromance Book Club, their friends Colton Wheeler and Gretchen Winthrop fell into each other’s arms for the night. Only the next morning, Gretchen quickly left Colton’s motel room. It’s now been a year, and they haven’t spoken to or seen each other since despite Colton’s many efforts to do so.
Gretchen is an immigration attorney working mostly pro bono in Nashville and trying desperately to make ends meet. It’s almost Christmas when Gretchen’s brother summons her to return home to Homestead, where AOC Whiskey is made. Yes, it turns out that she’s one of those Winthrops, the ultra rich family who founded the distillery in the 1800s, only she’s never participated in running the business, preferring to help others more financially downtrodden. Yet her brother Evan informs her that a spot on the family’s charitable foundation board will open up at year’s end, which she very much desires, and it’s hers, if she’ll encourage Colton Wheeler to be their next celebrity spokesperson.
Colton is a country western singer living in Nashville and managing to stay down to earth despite the millions he’s made recording music. He has no clue why Gretchen ran out of his room, and he’s thought of her every day since. His buddies in the Bromance Book Club, where they use romance novels as manuals, all have ideas and suggestions as they choose a Christmas romance to share. Colton worked on some new music for his record label which they hated and reminded him of his contractual duties while suggesting many changes. He’s drowning his sorrows at a dive bar when Gretchen walks in. Stunned, he talks with her about “the entanglement” as well as the proposed ad campaign.
Colton says he’ll consider the sponsorship if she’ll go out to dinner with him, and she reluctantly agrees. Despite her dislike for Christmas, they enjoy dinner at a Christmas festival where family secrets begin to come out of the shadows, as Colton learns she has never really had a true family Christmas, so he decides to show her the real deal.
On a whim, Gretchen takes Colton to her family home for their Christmas gala. Once Colton sees the Vanderbilt-sized mansion with a dozen trees surrounded by ropes, he begins to understand. Colton defends Gretchen’s lifestyle and choices to her family, but they take every opportunity to belittle her. It is more important and more urgent than ever for Colton to show Gretchen that he loves and respects her, but her family makes that as difficult as possible.
I love how the author brings together romance, comedy, and sex with love, family, and friends. She combines daily activity with the deeper issues of family and self esteem. This book centers on Christmas and how differently Gretchen’s family of origin and her new family with Colton and his friends celebrate and cherish (or not) the holiday, which is a metaphor for life. In the end, I could not put the book down and read late into the night as Colton and the club performed one more Christmas miracle.
If Lyssa Kay Adams keeps writing bromance book club books, I'll keep reading them, and I loved this "Christmas romance" addition to the series featuring Colton Wheeler and Gretchen Winthrop- characters we've met before and who, reading this, really deserved their own HEA. This was warm and sweet (and spicy, like the rest of the books in the series, versus a typical Christmas romance). Not only the men of the book club but their partners make many features in this one, and it was really lovely to see the community and family they've grown.
My boys are back!! Country singer Colton is struggling in his career, when his one night stand from a year ago that had run out on him comes back into his orbit. Gretchen is trying to secure a spot on the board at the family company, and her brother wants her to convince Colton to be the new face of their brand. Unfortunately for her, Colton will only consider the offer if she agrees to a date with him, and Colton is the opposite of her Christmas scrooge personality.
Ok so I’m not sure any book could ever surpass my dear, sweet, favorite Russian, but this one got pretty dang close! First of all I died when they mentioned the silver sneakers workout class. Years ago I didn’t know what that meant and showed up to the gym for a class to a room full of 80 year old women! I decided to just run the treadmill instead that day! That aside. How badly did I want to punch every member of Gretchen’s family in the face? Pretty dang badly! Every single one of them (besides Jack) was an absolute garbage human being. I love how Colton quickly saw through them and stood up for Gretchen when they tried to bring her down. I also truly adored how he worked over time to slowly break down her walls and get her to open up. I don’t need to say much about this book other than if you have enjoyed the series, this one will just continue that fabulous trend!
The Bromance Book Club gets another book and this time Colton Wheeler is getting his HEA. The book is a great addition to the series and I loved the Christmas theme. Gretchen is a bit of a grump. Her family is awful and it has influenced how she treats and reacts to our ray of sunshine Colton. Colton and Gretchen clearly have a lot of chemistry and the banter comes easily to them. I like the added twist of Colton showing Gretchen what Christmas is really about. Yes, he did compare her to Scrooge. The story sexy, intense, and full of heart. I adore the men of the book club and to make this romance happen, Colton really needs their help.
While I found Gretchen to be too harsh at times, the character arc works well with the story to show an evolution. Gretchen's family story line also felt over the top, but it did made a dramatic ending to the book. Overall, this is an outstanding addition to the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the ARC. This is my honest review.
A non-Christmasy Christmas story! This series is a delight and there's a lot to like about Gretchen and Colton's story and their evolution as a couple was fun. As always the boys and their grand gesture is swoon worthy- especially because it shines a light on the importance of the family you choose.
IMHO, if you're not a Christmas person, you'll still like this book.
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams is the 5th book in her wonderful Bromance Book Club series. Having enjoyed the first four books in this series, I looked forward to reading A Very Merry Bromance, and happy to say I thought it was the best one yet. This is a fun romantic series that centers around a male book club group, most being athletes, and how they read and discuss romance novels to help teach each other how to handle their women with care and love.
Colton Wheeler, our hero, is a country music star, who is attending one of his friends (bromance book club members), wedding, and ends the evening with an amazing one-night stand with Gretchen Winthrop (she used to date Mack). But she walks out in the morning claiming she needed to get back to her life, which did not include Colton.
Gretchen is an immigration attorney, who is an heiress of Winthrop family: one of Tennessee's richest and most influential families. But Gretchen is not close to her family, but when her brother asks her to help obtain Colton as a brand ambassador for the family-owned whiskey line, Carraig Aonair Whiskey, she agrees. Gretchen forces herself to visit Colton, making an offer to be the face of the famous Carraig Aonair Whiskey. Still unable to forget their glorious night together, Colton makes a counter offer; go on some dates with him.
Colton and Gretchen’s relationship becomes steamy, though she was a hard case to love. Gretchen comes from a wealthy family, but the family did not treat her good; especially her bad brother, Evan. We totally understood how her family was unbearable; and why she was closed off. I loved how Colton would push Gretchen to begin to enjoy Christmas, as well as meet all of his friends, making her know what a true family was like.
What follows is a fun sexy holiday story, that had many tender moments, as well as being emotional. I enjoyed meeting Colton’s family, did not like the Winthrops, and loved seeing the wonderful members of the Bromance Book Club. The guys were so much fun, and the women also joined in.
A Very Merry Romance was another humorous fun story line, with a couple that won us over later in the book, and the fantastic group of alpha men/females that had me laughing throughout. Lyssa Kay Adams did a wonderful job writing this fun story, which you need to read. I know I will be waiting for the next book in this series.
I love this series so much, and this 5th book really satisfied a Christmas craving for this romantic. While it deals with some heavy topics (cw: abuse, physical abuse—on the page and past—, neglect), Adams continues to give readers characters that they should root for. I’m a huge fan of this author and this is one of my favorite series to handsell. I loved it.
I love this series so much, and this 5th book really satisfied a Christmas craving for this romantic. While it deals with some heavy topics (cw: abuse, physical abuse—on the page and past—, neglect), Adams continues to give readers characters that they should root for. I’m a huge fan of this author and this is one of my favorite series to handsell. I loved it.
It is time for country super-star Colton Wheeler to get his career back on track and win the heart of the woman that he loves. Gretchen Winthrop hates Christmas and wants to avoid the romantic advances of a very determined charmer. Will this sunshine/grumpy pairing make it to their happy ending? Join the Bromance Book Club for another heartwarming love story full of some of romance readers’ favorite tropes and themes.
Recommended for: romance novel junkies; Christmas romance readers
Content warning: alcoholic/abusive brother
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Probably my favorite book in the Bromance series to date! I can't believe they just keep getting better and more bingeable. I related to this one particularly well as the main character is a lawyer and so am I. I also loved her struggles with her family. Who doesn't have those?
I love these bros and Colton is one of the guys that I was excited to read about. I liked this story but wished we'd had more of Gretchen's backstory so I could connect with her earlier. But what I really missed was the diner breakfasts where the guys discuss the book they're reading and counsel each other on relationships. That's what makes the Bromance Book Club so much fun to read. And those scenes were sadly lacking in this book.
I received a gifted galley of A VERY MERRY BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
A VERY MERRY BROMANCE is the fifth installment in the Bromance Book Club series, this time focusing in on country music star Colton. Colton spent a fantastic night (he thought) with Gretchen, but she takes off the next morning and it is a full year before the wind up together again.
Gretchen is an immigration attorney who is struggling to find anything merry in the Christmas season with a horrible family and a lot of stress over the state of immigration. When she is asked by her brother to convince Colton to endorse her family’s family business, she feels like she needs to say yes. Colton is reluctant, but with his own career somewhat on the rocks, he is convinced to take a chance with a condition. Gretchen has to agree to go out with him.
While this is the fifth book in a series, these books would absolutely stand on their own as well. I haven’t read the first few books and haven’t felt like I was missing out. I think the best part of the books is seeing the friendships between the men of the romance book club and the way they support each other.
Gretchen is a tough character to get to know as she’s very (understandably) walled off from the world. Her family is absolutely the worst and the lack of love she’s experienced in her life is heartbreaking. In comparison, Colton is definitely the sunshine in the relationship. As a fan of country music, I was hoping for a bit more of the storyline about his career to come into play, but overall it was a fun read.
A VERY MERRY BROMANCE is out today!
Okay, okay, I liked but did not love this particular entry in the bromance series. Sad face. I just couldn't get past my dislike of Gretchen. Plus, I'm spoiled by having just read Vlad s story which was touchy feely all the stars and tough to top.
Lyssa Kay Adams, I was very unsure if I wanted to read this early, because the wait for your next would be sooo long, but I went for it! I tried to read it little by little, and of course the was impossible. Once I started, I was officially on "Do Not Disturb" Mode. I find all of her books binge-worthy! You can't help but get caught up in the storyline. Thankfully, PRH Audio gave me access to listen too so I really never had to stop and a perk: my house looks CLEAN! I really liked the audiobook narrator Andrew Eiden!
A Very Merry Bromance centers around Colton Wheeler, the country singer and Gretchen who we've actually met before. She went on the disaster date with Braden Mack book #2. Gretchen is an immigration attorney working her butt off to do right by those in need. While she struggles to make ends meet and refuses assistance from her truly awful family, Gretchen finds herself with an unusual proposal from her family, get Colton to be the new face of the family's whiskey brand, and she can have a place on the board for their foundation.
These two are enjoyable together and apart. The chemistry is undeniable and their pasts really do haunt them both. Gretchen and Colton are forced. to grow and reflect. The Bromance Book Club as always is aching for a grand gesture and what I liked about this book is that Colton was more subtle with his approach.
Alright friends, since I went ahead and read this one, it's time for me to shift gears and embrace the holiday spirit. Recommendations? I'm ready!
I have been an avid fan of the Bromance Book Club since its inception, and it is one of my current fave series. And all this time I have been (im)patiently waiting to get the story of Colton, our resident country superstar. And I have to say, this latest installment is definitely my favorite so far. What did I like about it so much?
- grumpy meets sunshine - Gretchen is the BEST grump and we all know that Colton is just a ray of sweetness
- a second chance romance with a one-night stand twist
- seeing all of our previous couples with their families!
- three words: Vlad. As. Santa.
- panties (ifkyk)
- a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and patiently knocks down all the walls that the woman he loves has shut herself behind
- all of the fun and snark and irreverence that we've come to expect from this series
If you are in the mood for a sweet and funny and heartwarming Christmas-y read, I cannot recommend this one highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and to Berkley Romance for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was cute!! I really enjoy this series and all its themes (brotherhood, embracing emotions) and specifically to this book- themes of social justice, found family, etc. The love stories are always cute, but the whole case of characters really make the books.
Country music star Colton gets his story in this book, being captivated by the alluring Gretchen. With a family who loves Christmas, Colton is determined to share how the holiday season should be with Gretchen, who grew up with Christmas being a different way.
It's amazing how Lyssa Kay Adams keeps churning out these books with each one better than the last. This book was so festive. So many books say they are Christmas-y and then when you read them, they only vaguely mention the holiday season. This book was Christmas all over. The spirit of the holiday, family relationships, being with those you love....and Vlad in a Santa suit! I've always enjoyed the sunshine/grumpy trope and this one was unique in that our male lead was the sunshine with our girl being the grump. And yes, it was hard to like Gretchen at the start for this reason, but once more of her backstory was revealed, it became apparent why she was the way she was. This is probably my favourite Christmas story that I've read. But then I'm a sucker for a good romance and LKA has won me over with all her books. Highly recommend this series if you haven't given it a go.