Release Blitz + Review: "Without a Hitch" by Avery Maxwell

Congratulations to Avery Maxwell on the publication of her latest novel, "Without a Hitch."  

 

This is a tough review for me to write because I was looking forward to reading this book and really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, it ended up being a bad match for me. I think the biggest problem is that while it was promoted as a standalone, it was actually a spinoff of the author's earlier series involving the Westbrook family. I haven't yet read those books (or any of the author's previous works), which made it very difficult to keep track of the many secondary characters and their relationships. Readers already familiar with those books will probably have an easier time and even enjoy the various cameo appearances, but for me, it was a struggle.

 

I also had a tough time connecting with either of the book's main characters, Tilly Camden and Lochlan Bryer-Blaine. About a third of the way through the book, Lochlan's assistant described him as being a "cinnamon roll," but up to that point I hadn't seen any evidence of that for myself. I never did warm up to Lochlan, which was a shame because I usually love grumpy heroes. He consistently came across as a bitter jerk to me, and aside from their physical attraction, I couldn't figure out what Tilly saw in him. As for Tilly, I found myself growing annoyed with her as the story progressed too. Her obsession with getting married was very over the top, and the fact that she basically gave him an ultimatum after a two-night stand was ridiculous. Whatever happened to dating and getting to know each other before deciding whether or not to spend the rest of your life together?

There were a number of plot inconsistencies that bothered me as well. For example, if Lochlan's friends had evidence that his ex-wife Christine and former stepfather Paul were con artists, why did they wait until he was lying in a hospital bed at the end of the book to share this information with the FBI and have them arrested? Why not share this information sooner, so that Lochlan wouldn't have had to come up with his absurd revenge scheme?

Bottom line, while this book may not have been a good match for me, I think it's likely to appeal to fans of alpha heroes and steamy contemporary romance in the vein of Tessa Bailey. I'd give the author another chance in the future.

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Enticing Journey Book Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.    

About "Without a Hitch"

“A wedding is the beginning of the end.” —Lochlan Blaine
Look, I’ve seen firsthand what marriage does to a man. I’m not interested. You want to take the leap? Fine. But have the decency to elope. Leave me out of it.

And then I see her. The happily-ever-after-loving bridesmaid at the wedding I couldn’t get out of.

This flower-wielding bombshell is all wrong for me. But one night together is enough to convince me that she could be the answer to my problem. All I need is three weeks with her…

“Weddings are magic.” —Tilly Camden
I love love. And weddings. That’s how I land the best job in the world: professional bridesmaid. Brides hire me to make sure their big day goes off without a hitch…usually while dressed in taffeta.

I can’t wait until I find the one. The cranky, three-piece-suit-wearing Adonis who smirks at the idea of happily ever after is definitely not him. Lochlan Blaine has “heartbreaker” written all over him.

I should know better. But when a panty-melting one-night stand turns into an offer I can’t refuse, what’s a bridesmaid to do? It’s only three weeks. It’s just business.

I can’t possibly get my heart broken. Can I?