What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Heron #1
The Best Man
Sometimes The Best Man Is The One You Least Expect...
Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she’s ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family’s vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there’s some great scenery there....
Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief - and best friend of her former fiancé. There’s a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it’s not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she’s having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.
Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she’s ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family’s vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there’s some great scenery there....
Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief - and best friend of her former fiancé. There’s a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it’s not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she’s having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.
426 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 26, 2013
1947 people are currently reading
22658 people want to read
About the author
Kristan Higgins
60 books12.8k followersKristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. If you want to receive a free short story and be notified when Kristan releases a new book, sign up at kristanhiggins.com.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,360 reviews
November 21, 2021
2 Stars. Barely.
This is my first read by this author. I can see why so many readers love her books. Her writing is compelling and witty. And while I do admit this book was funny and entertaining at times, it basically rubbed me the wrong way.
***********Spoilers Below. Rant Ahead.**********
Issue No. 1:
I couldn’t relate to the heroine. She is naïve, whiny and has low self-confidence. She blushes all the time, needs to be looked after and has to be carried around because she forgets to take her meds and, as a result of that, has epileptic seizures.
Furthermore, she had a boyfriend for 8 years and, although it took their friend one look to see that man was gay, she was oblivious.
But that's not all.
After she was left at the altar, she occasionally went on dates. The first two men turned out to be gay as well (wtf?) and the third one was married with a child. Not to mention she found a potential wife for her father, who ended up being... a man?!
However.
The MOST irritating thing is, without doubt, her favorite cuss word: "Oh, hemorrhoid!".
Issue No. 2:
The hero and the heroine are indifferent to each other throughout the book. They didn’t like each other in high school and they don’t like each other now. This is not love-to-hate-you thing; they simply DON'T LIKE each other.
The hero thinks the heroine is boring and unimportant. He gives her disinterested looks and practically ignores her all the time. His attitude towards her is condescending. He has a low opinion of her.
He does find her ‘attractive’ in that soft, warm, milky flesh waybut, basically, he thinks she’s fat:
Which leads us to issue No. 3.
Issue No. 3:
Unlike the heroine, the hero's ex-wife is drop dead gorgeous. The J.Lo look-alike is a badass military pilot. She is the woman he adored and wanted to have children with as soon as he saw her. She is his first love. When she left, she broke his heart.
When she appears out of nowhere at the end of the book (yes, after he hooked up with the heroine), his first thought when he sees her is:
"Gorgeous."
His second thought is:
"Her ass was the seven wonders of the natural world."
His further random thoughts:
"She has a sex goddess smile."
"She was the type of woman who could seduce in seconds."
He even feels un unwilling tug of affection for her.
Of course, the ex-wife wants him back. She tells him she wants to spend time with him over the weekend to convince him they should get together again. He does NOT refuse. He says: Fine.
And then he ignores the heroine FOR DAYS.
He doesn’t say NO to his ex-wife because he doesn’t love her anymore. He says NO because he isn’t sure she won’t vanish again.
But you know what pissed me off the most?
At around 90%, when the hero’s ex-wife announces that she’s leaving and accuses the hero that he never really loved her because they never fought, the hero does not agree with her. He actually thinks they didn’t fight because they were compatible.
Whatever.
Issue No. 4:
After the ex-wife drama, the hero dumps the heroine without a second thoughtnot because he was an ass ignoring her and spending time with his ex-wife but because she didn’t tell him she was going away for a month because of her job.
Issue No. 5:
After dumping the heroine, the hero, of course, gets lonely. After all, it’s winter and life in a small town during the winter can be boring.
So he decides to reconcile with her. He tells her: “I love you and... that’s all I’ve got”. She forgives him. No groveling. The end.
I was left with the impression that he did not really love her. Hell, it didn't even feel like he was in love with her.
I am not a very demanding reader. I can read about cheaters and unrequited love as long as it’s done well. But I need a convincing ending. Sadly, this one didn’t convince me at all.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment: 2/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 2/5
Hero: 1.5/5
Heroine: 2/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/steam: 1.5/5
Romance: 1.5/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 1/5
Humor: 3.5/5
Depth of the book: 3/5
POV: third person, dual
Triggers:
This is my first read by this author. I can see why so many readers love her books. Her writing is compelling and witty. And while I do admit this book was funny and entertaining at times, it basically rubbed me the wrong way.
***********Spoilers Below. Rant Ahead.**********
Issue No. 1:
I couldn’t relate to the heroine. She is naïve, whiny and has low self-confidence. She blushes all the time, needs to be looked after and has to be carried around because she forgets to take her meds and, as a result of that, has epileptic seizures.
Furthermore, she had a boyfriend for 8 years and, although it took their friend one look to see that man was gay, she was oblivious.
But that's not all.
After she was left at the altar, she occasionally went on dates. The first two men turned out to be gay as well (wtf?) and the third one was married with a child. Not to mention she found a potential wife for her father, who ended up being... a man?!
However.
The MOST irritating thing is, without doubt, her favorite cuss word: "Oh, hemorrhoid!".
Issue No. 2:
The hero and the heroine are indifferent to each other throughout the book. They didn’t like each other in high school and they don’t like each other now. This is not love-to-hate-you thing; they simply DON'T LIKE each other.
The hero thinks the heroine is boring and unimportant. He gives her disinterested looks and practically ignores her all the time. His attitude towards her is condescending. He has a low opinion of her.
He does find her ‘attractive’ in that soft, warm, milky flesh way
“…her shirt coming out of her jeans to reveal a patch of creamy flesh. Looked like the fitness revolution had passed her by…”
“The baggy sweatshirt wasn’t doing her any favors—gave her the same shape as a side of beef…”
Which leads us to issue No. 3.
Issue No. 3:
Unlike the heroine, the hero's ex-wife is drop dead gorgeous. The J.Lo look-alike is a badass military pilot. She is the woman he adored and wanted to have children with as soon as he saw her. She is his first love. When she left, she broke his heart.
When she appears out of nowhere at the end of the book (yes, after he hooked up with the heroine), his first thought when he sees her is:
"Gorgeous."
His second thought is:
"Her ass was the seven wonders of the natural world."
His further random thoughts:
"She has a sex goddess smile."
"She was the type of woman who could seduce in seconds."
He even feels un unwilling tug of affection for her.
Of course, the ex-wife wants him back. She tells him she wants to spend time with him over the weekend to convince him they should get together again. He does NOT refuse. He says: Fine.
And then he ignores the heroine FOR DAYS.
He doesn’t say NO to his ex-wife because he doesn’t love her anymore. He says NO because he isn’t sure she won’t vanish again.
But you know what pissed me off the most?
At around 90%, when the hero’s ex-wife announces that she’s leaving and accuses the hero that he never really loved her because they never fought, the hero does not agree with her. He actually thinks they didn’t fight because they were compatible.
Whatever.
Issue No. 4:
After the ex-wife drama, the hero dumps the heroine without a second thought
Issue No. 5:
After dumping the heroine, the hero, of course, gets lonely. After all, it’s winter and life in a small town during the winter can be boring.
So he decides to reconcile with her. He tells her: “I love you and... that’s all I’ve got”. She forgives him. No groveling. The end.
I was left with the impression that he did not really love her. Hell, it didn't even feel like he was in love with her.
I am not a very demanding reader. I can read about cheaters and unrequited love as long as it’s done well. But I need a convincing ending. Sadly, this one didn’t convince me at all.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment: 2/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 2/5
Hero: 1.5/5
Heroine: 2/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/steam: 1.5/5
Romance: 1.5/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 1/5
Humor: 3.5/5
Depth of the book: 3/5
POV: third person, dual
Triggers:
April 27, 2019
I’m sure the number of enthusiastic reviews I’ve written for her work hardly makes this a secret, but nevertheless, I feel compelled to mention, Kristan Higgins has earned favorite storyteller status from this reader. She’s become a go-to author. An automatic reach. No marketing campaign necessary to convince me. The heart, humor, and relatability dominating her storylines have captured my heart time and again, ensuring any and all of her books earn a place in my read (if not my loved) pile.
With that said, The Best Man is far from what I would consider Kristan’s strongest work and not a candidate for my loved pile. With the number of books she’s released into the world, there was bound to be a “dud” among the bunch though. Granted, this series starter is one of her earlier works—published in 2013—which says to me that she’s not only grown considerably as a writer but reigned herself in a bit.
Present and accounted for is the author’s witty sense of humor I’ve come to adore. The majority of which is expressed through the “quirky” characters she brings to life among the pages. This time though, Higgins straddled that fine line between chuckle-inducing humor and just plain overkill. There were so many secondary characters fighting for the spotlight with their colorful personalities that it tended to overshadow what I showed up for—Faith and Levi’s love story.
Three years post-life-altering-heartbreak, Faith finds herself back in her idyllic hometown of Blue Heron. It’s not only time to face her demons—the husband-to-be who outed himself on their wedding day—but to reconnect and find her place in the family vineyard. Having the WORST luck with men means she’s showing up single and ready to mingle.
In a fun twist of fate, it's the somewhat grumpy town sheriff, a guy Faith grew up with, that ignites the spark of possibility. Levi and Faith were never what you’d call friends. You might even say Levi wasn’t Princess Super-Cute’s biggest fan. Their history is one riddled with secrets and stunted by assumptions—made on both ends. Now, with time and a little space, things feel a bit different. Walking away is no longer a possibility. The progression of their relationship is a bit unbalanced, extremely slow at some points and rushed in others, but sweet nonetheless.
Being this is the first novel in the Blue Heron series, I assume Higgins wanted to get readers acquainted with the characters fans would be spending considerable time with (this is now a 5-book series). Or the excuse I’m running with for why she didn’t force her secondary characters to take a seat.
My biggest gripe with this storyline stems somewhat from the interference brought on by those pesky (but still loveable) secondary characters. Faith and Levi’s storyline demanded more development—less side noise and more focus on their connection. Especially with what felt like the author’s determination to conclude things on one particular note. The *wince* triggering finale she presented lacked natural progression and happens to be one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in the genre. Adding to my discontent was the lengthy page count I'd just trucked through. Higgins had more than enough time to get her characters to that particular place without the wham, bam, too much, way too soon feel. Eek.
Regardless of my non-love (I’m still going with I “liked” it) for this particular book, I will most definitely read the rest of the series and anything else this author pens. Without a doubt, Kristan Higgins is the BEST in the genre.
It's darn near impossible to love them all, right?
With that said, The Best Man is far from what I would consider Kristan’s strongest work and not a candidate for my loved pile. With the number of books she’s released into the world, there was bound to be a “dud” among the bunch though. Granted, this series starter is one of her earlier works—published in 2013—which says to me that she’s not only grown considerably as a writer but reigned herself in a bit.
Present and accounted for is the author’s witty sense of humor I’ve come to adore. The majority of which is expressed through the “quirky” characters she brings to life among the pages. This time though, Higgins straddled that fine line between chuckle-inducing humor and just plain overkill. There were so many secondary characters fighting for the spotlight with their colorful personalities that it tended to overshadow what I showed up for—Faith and Levi’s love story.
Three years post-life-altering-heartbreak, Faith finds herself back in her idyllic hometown of Blue Heron. It’s not only time to face her demons—the husband-to-be who outed himself on their wedding day—but to reconnect and find her place in the family vineyard. Having the WORST luck with men means she’s showing up single and ready to mingle.
In a fun twist of fate, it's the somewhat grumpy town sheriff, a guy Faith grew up with, that ignites the spark of possibility. Levi and Faith were never what you’d call friends. You might even say Levi wasn’t Princess Super-Cute’s biggest fan. Their history is one riddled with secrets and stunted by assumptions—made on both ends. Now, with time and a little space, things feel a bit different. Walking away is no longer a possibility. The progression of their relationship is a bit unbalanced, extremely slow at some points and rushed in others, but sweet nonetheless.
Being this is the first novel in the Blue Heron series, I assume Higgins wanted to get readers acquainted with the characters fans would be spending considerable time with (this is now a 5-book series). Or the excuse I’m running with for why she didn’t force her secondary characters to take a seat.
My biggest gripe with this storyline stems somewhat from the interference brought on by those pesky (but still loveable) secondary characters. Faith and Levi’s storyline demanded more development—less side noise and more focus on their connection. Especially with what felt like the author’s determination to conclude things on one particular note. The *wince* triggering finale she presented lacked natural progression and happens to be one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in the genre. Adding to my discontent was the lengthy page count I'd just trucked through. Higgins had more than enough time to get her characters to that particular place without the wham, bam, too much, way too soon feel. Eek.
Regardless of my non-love (I’m still going with I “liked” it) for this particular book, I will most definitely read the rest of the series and anything else this author pens. Without a doubt, Kristan Higgins is the BEST in the genre.
It's darn near impossible to love them all, right?
February 24, 2013
I'm really puzzled about how to approach this review. There is much about this book that is sensitive, generous, moving, and funny. There is also much that feels like getting a pie in the face. With a rock in it.
Faith has an exceptionally bad history with men, even for a Higgins heroine. Her longterm sweetheart Jeremy came out to her at their wedding and it's been nothing but bad revelations ever since. Yet fate has chosen her to be a matchmaker for her widowed father, who the family fears is in danger of marrying Lorena, "clearly a gold digger and not a candidate for stepmother." The burden of guilt Faith carries about her mother's death makes it impossible to refuse to go home, even though it means facing the lover who dumped her -- and his best friend Levi, who pushed him into doing it.
Starting with a gossipy prologue about the aborted wedding, the story is firmly set in the "small town full of lovably eccentric characters" subgenre, and the romance cliches fall thick and fast at the beginning. As I read on, I found I didn't mind, because the elements were all used -- yes it's a bit over the top that Chief of Police Levi gets called out to rescue pet chickens from dogs but it also reveals something about his dependable character. Faith's relationship with Jeremy is also more than just a plot point; they still care deeply about each other and regain some of their former closeness over the course of the story, and Jeremy and Levi's friendship is also strong. Despite his deceit, Jeremy is really a love and I would have read a romance for him in a minute.
And there's a realistic ugly side to this small town. In one poignant scene, Levi thinks about how, as police chief, he helped a woman who had once begrudged him some Halloween candy, because he was a "trailer park kid."
Levi's sensitivity about class issues was one of the reasons he and Faith had never been friends -- that and his contempt for her people-pleasing attitude. Faith is so aware of his dislike, she has a "boredom scale" that measures the way he looks at her: "One was Oh. It's you. Ten was You're invisible." They start the story with a lot of bad feeling between them -- as well as a bit of history of attraction and a forbidden kiss. And that attraction begins to blossom as they start to understand how each misinterpreted the other.
The parts of the story from Levi's perspective were my favorites. He's written a little too self-consciously "just an average guy" at times, like when he thinks "A regular… what was that Greek chick's name? The one who caused the slaughter of an entire city?" He remembers the details, but not the well-known name Helen of Troy? But he's a good guy with a hard past, and I liked him for coping so well. Faith is less easily likable, until we discover what makes her so needy. "Jeremy, the only one who'd ever seen in her something that was special and rare and precious. Jeremy had been proof that she was forgiven. But now there was nothing."
Good characters, good backstory, good romance -- what went wrong for me was the humor, which too often sailed over-the-top into very offensive. I was uncomfortable when the wife of Faith's date shows up--toddler in tow--and gleefully calls her "whore." Ten times. I was uncomfortable with the depictions of no-class "gold digger" Lorena, and Faith's grandparents, who can't say a word to each other that doesn't contain an insult. I was uncomfortable when a blind date starts whimsically grilling Faith about whether she likes to be tied up, completely ignoring her obvious distaste. And I was enraged when a blind date for Faith's father turns out to be a "she male," to everyone's horror and amusement. "Humor" at the expense of a marginalized minority is ugly and mean-spirited.
And that's when I stopped wanting to read Jeremy's story, because who knows what might happen in it? I had a hard time even finishing this book, and I had to rate it down because my enjoyment was significantly spoiled. Here, two stars doesn't mean "it was okay," because it was not okay. It's just my acknowledgement that there was much about the story that was worth reading.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netgalley)
Faith has an exceptionally bad history with men, even for a Higgins heroine. Her longterm sweetheart Jeremy came out to her at their wedding and it's been nothing but bad revelations ever since. Yet fate has chosen her to be a matchmaker for her widowed father, who the family fears is in danger of marrying Lorena, "clearly a gold digger and not a candidate for stepmother." The burden of guilt Faith carries about her mother's death makes it impossible to refuse to go home, even though it means facing the lover who dumped her -- and his best friend Levi, who pushed him into doing it.
Starting with a gossipy prologue about the aborted wedding, the story is firmly set in the "small town full of lovably eccentric characters" subgenre, and the romance cliches fall thick and fast at the beginning. As I read on, I found I didn't mind, because the elements were all used -- yes it's a bit over the top that Chief of Police Levi gets called out to rescue pet chickens from dogs but it also reveals something about his dependable character. Faith's relationship with Jeremy is also more than just a plot point; they still care deeply about each other and regain some of their former closeness over the course of the story, and Jeremy and Levi's friendship is also strong. Despite his deceit, Jeremy is really a love and I would have read a romance for him in a minute.
And there's a realistic ugly side to this small town. In one poignant scene, Levi thinks about how, as police chief, he helped a woman who had once begrudged him some Halloween candy, because he was a "trailer park kid."
Levi's sensitivity about class issues was one of the reasons he and Faith had never been friends -- that and his contempt for her people-pleasing attitude. Faith is so aware of his dislike, she has a "boredom scale" that measures the way he looks at her: "One was Oh. It's you. Ten was You're invisible." They start the story with a lot of bad feeling between them -- as well as a bit of history of attraction and a forbidden kiss. And that attraction begins to blossom as they start to understand how each misinterpreted the other.
The parts of the story from Levi's perspective were my favorites. He's written a little too self-consciously "just an average guy" at times, like when he thinks "A regular… what was that Greek chick's name? The one who caused the slaughter of an entire city?" He remembers the details, but not the well-known name Helen of Troy? But he's a good guy with a hard past, and I liked him for coping so well. Faith is less easily likable, until we discover what makes her so needy. "Jeremy, the only one who'd ever seen in her something that was special and rare and precious. Jeremy had been proof that she was forgiven. But now there was nothing."
Good characters, good backstory, good romance -- what went wrong for me was the humor, which too often sailed over-the-top into very offensive. I was uncomfortable when the wife of Faith's date shows up--toddler in tow--and gleefully calls her "whore." Ten times. I was uncomfortable with the depictions of no-class "gold digger" Lorena, and Faith's grandparents, who can't say a word to each other that doesn't contain an insult. I was uncomfortable when a blind date starts whimsically grilling Faith about whether she likes to be tied up, completely ignoring her obvious distaste. And I was enraged when a blind date for Faith's father turns out to be a "she male," to everyone's horror and amusement. "Humor" at the expense of a marginalized minority is ugly and mean-spirited.
And that's when I stopped wanting to read Jeremy's story, because who knows what might happen in it? I had a hard time even finishing this book, and I had to rate it down because my enjoyment was significantly spoiled. Here, two stars doesn't mean "it was okay," because it was not okay. It's just my acknowledgement that there was much about the story that was worth reading.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netgalley)
August 6, 2016
4.5
First off I want to say that I love Kristan Higgins. Have read all her books and totally love her stories, her characters, her humour, her dogs…. She has it all. Felt like I was waiting forever for this one as it only just became available NOW on KINDLE in Europe – why make us wait so long? Not fair…..
It is the story of Faith and Levi…. Oh and Jeremy is in there somewhere too.
Faith left her hometown after she was jilted at the altar.
Everybody loves her, she is popular, well off, has lots of friends and she lived in the “good” part of town …
We have Levi …
Tall, dark, handsome, good at sports but lives on the wrong side of the tracks…
Jeremy is Levi’s best friend and Faith’s ex-fiance.
Faith comes back to town after living in San Francisco for a number of years. She is under the impression that Levi never liked her. She was just too bubblegum for him. They meet up again on her first day back when he stops her for speeding. He is now the Chief of Police. Gotta love a man in Uniform.
The interactions between Faith and Levi are great – she feels that he is giving her dirty looks all the time. She admits that he is Fine but cannot get over the fact that HE was the one that OUTED, Jeremy, on their friggin supposed Wedding Day… She moves in next door to him. Faith also suffers from Epilipsy and one night she has a seizure and Levi takes care of her…. So Sweet. NOT, especially what happens the next morning. Annoying or what?
Just finished with a big goofy grin on my face. Seriously can anything be more PERFECT than a Kristan Higgins story. LOVED IT. Makes me want to go back and read her other books again. HURRY UP AND GET THE NEXT ONE OUT QUICKLY!!
Love the best friend, Colleen too. She is a hoot.
They get together – no HOT SEX SCENES HERE – and to tell you the truth I did not care. I just love her storytelling that I don’t need it. Jeremy is still friends with both of them.
Love the Grandparents too…. Goggy and Pops….
And the “Dates” they are trying to set up for the Dad ….
LOL, Love Prudence and her sexting her Old Man – and that Fifty Shades reference, love it.
Her face grew red. “I flushed my sweater down the toilet.”
“That happens to me all the time.”
This earned another glare.
“So you decided to climb out the window?”
“Mmmm-hmmm.”
“Where you are now stuck.”
”Wow. Those analytical powers of yours are just stunning Levi. No wonder you’re a cop.”
Levi saw Faith at school, of course. Jeremy’s angelic girlfriend, who couldn’t tell the difference between a guy who wanted to bang her silly and a guy who didn’t.”
For the first time in a long time, it seemed like Levi was looking at her with something other than contempt. And you know … a man in uniform … with those big, brawny arms…. Her knees felt abruptly weak.
And she forgot, at least for a little while, that Levi was the one who ruined her wedding and outed the man she loved.
The man was suchapainintheass.
Cookies and wine … looked like those fifteen pounds wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Damn. Colleen was right. Levi Cooper was sex on a stick.
Shit. He shouldn’t be having those thoughts again. Faith was … well, she wasn’t his type. Too – too much, that was all. Too delicicious edible complicated. He should not have kissed her that morning.
That Rose Quartz heart – Sigh …
Yes ...
First off I want to say that I love Kristan Higgins. Have read all her books and totally love her stories, her characters, her humour, her dogs…. She has it all. Felt like I was waiting forever for this one as it only just became available NOW on KINDLE in Europe – why make us wait so long? Not fair…..
It is the story of Faith and Levi…. Oh and Jeremy is in there somewhere too.
Faith left her hometown after she was jilted at the altar.
Everybody loves her, she is popular, well off, has lots of friends and she lived in the “good” part of town …
We have Levi …
Tall, dark, handsome, good at sports but lives on the wrong side of the tracks…
Jeremy is Levi’s best friend and Faith’s ex-fiance.
Faith comes back to town after living in San Francisco for a number of years. She is under the impression that Levi never liked her. She was just too bubblegum for him. They meet up again on her first day back when he stops her for speeding. He is now the Chief of Police. Gotta love a man in Uniform.
The interactions between Faith and Levi are great – she feels that he is giving her dirty looks all the time. She admits that he is Fine but cannot get over the fact that HE was the one that OUTED, Jeremy, on their friggin supposed Wedding Day… She moves in next door to him. Faith also suffers from Epilipsy and one night she has a seizure and Levi takes care of her…. So Sweet. NOT, especially what happens the next morning. Annoying or what?
Just finished with a big goofy grin on my face. Seriously can anything be more PERFECT than a Kristan Higgins story. LOVED IT. Makes me want to go back and read her other books again. HURRY UP AND GET THE NEXT ONE OUT QUICKLY!!
Love the best friend, Colleen too. She is a hoot.
They get together – no HOT SEX SCENES HERE – and to tell you the truth I did not care. I just love her storytelling that I don’t need it. Jeremy is still friends with both of them.
Love the Grandparents too…. Goggy and Pops….
And the “Dates” they are trying to set up for the Dad ….
LOL, Love Prudence and her sexting her Old Man – and that Fifty Shades reference, love it.
Her face grew red. “I flushed my sweater down the toilet.”
“That happens to me all the time.”
This earned another glare.
“So you decided to climb out the window?”
“Mmmm-hmmm.”
“Where you are now stuck.”
”Wow. Those analytical powers of yours are just stunning Levi. No wonder you’re a cop.”
Levi saw Faith at school, of course. Jeremy’s angelic girlfriend, who couldn’t tell the difference between a guy who wanted to bang her silly and a guy who didn’t.”
For the first time in a long time, it seemed like Levi was looking at her with something other than contempt. And you know … a man in uniform … with those big, brawny arms…. Her knees felt abruptly weak.
And she forgot, at least for a little while, that Levi was the one who ruined her wedding and outed the man she loved.
The man was suchapainintheass.
Cookies and wine … looked like those fifteen pounds wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Damn. Colleen was right. Levi Cooper was sex on a stick.
Shit. He shouldn’t be having those thoughts again. Faith was … well, she wasn’t his type. Too – too much, that was all. Too
That Rose Quartz heart – Sigh …
Yes ...
June 8, 2016
I just love Kristan Higgins’ author’s “voice.” She could write the phone book, and I’m sure I’d read it.
July 23, 2020
Sorry Mou, couldn't like the hero. I tried.
1. He had lots, she had ONE- her gay ex fiancé who pretended she's Justin Timberlake wearing a hoodie.
2. HE dumps her when she was upset because he's been spending time with his ex wife and he wasn't clued in her plans. He DUMPS her where she merely was looking for space while he was off emotionally cheating with his ex wife.
3. He DOES emotionally cheat with his ex wife. She wanted to talk, she wants him back, he says no. Who the fuck on their right mind keeps seeing her after she blatantly tells his current girlfriend she's planning to get him back and her being in the picture is only a slight awkwardness not a drawback? What WAS there to talk about? Unless he was considering taking her back? She said give me some time to persuade you, and he says OK???? And then he dumps heroine saying it wasn't working between them because she didn't tell him about leaving for a month because she was upset over seeing him everywhere with his ex wife? And while she was insecured because he made no commitment?
4. He also finds his ex wife gorgeous AND does NOTHING to get the heroine back until ex-wife leaves the town. He's clearly hungover on her and can't move on with heroine if the ex wife is in picture. Kinda makes the heroine second best.
5. There was absolutely ZERO grovelling. He deserved to be beaten up by all of her friends!
1. He had lots, she had ONE- her gay ex fiancé who pretended she's Justin Timberlake wearing a hoodie.
2. HE dumps her when she was upset because he's been spending time with his ex wife and he wasn't clued in her plans. He DUMPS her where she merely was looking for space while he was off emotionally cheating with his ex wife.
3. He DOES emotionally cheat with his ex wife. She wanted to talk, she wants him back, he says no. Who the fuck on their right mind keeps seeing her after she blatantly tells his current girlfriend she's planning to get him back and her being in the picture is only a slight awkwardness not a drawback? What WAS there to talk about? Unless he was considering taking her back? She said give me some time to persuade you, and he says OK???? And then he dumps heroine saying it wasn't working between them because she didn't tell him about leaving for a month because she was upset over seeing him everywhere with his ex wife? And while she was insecured because he made no commitment?
4. He also finds his ex wife gorgeous AND does NOTHING to get the heroine back until ex-wife leaves the town. He's clearly hungover on her and can't move on with heroine if the ex wife is in picture. Kinda makes the heroine second best.
5. There was absolutely ZERO grovelling. He deserved to be beaten up by all of her friends!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2021
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins is a 2013 HQN publication.
Faith had her life all mapped out. Perfect guy, perfect wedding, perfect happily ever after… until her perfect fiancé leaves her at the alter after making a bombshell announcement.
Now, several years later, Faith has returned home for the first extended visit since her wedding day fiasco. She’s successful in her work, but her love life is in shambles. She’s had one disastrous encounter after another- but Levi Cooper is the last person on earth she ever expected to develop feelings for.
Levi is the man responsible, in Faith’s opinion, for messing up her perfect life. If not for him, she would be married to the perfect man, living her perfect life right now. But, as luck- or fate would have it, they are now temporary neighbors and the tension between them is palpable…
I have been cleaning up my TBR and in the process I discovered I had a nice collection of books by Kristan Higgins I had never gotten around to reading- so I have vowed to start a ‘mini-side challenge’ to get these books read, immediately!
This is the second of KH's back-listed titles, I have struggled with in recent weeks, this one being around eight years old.
The premise is overused, and not my favorite, but, the backstories are emotional, and Higgins’ large families are always fun.
Unfortunately, though, instead of sexual tension between Faith and Levi, the vibes felt more like resentfulness, hurt feelings, and even prejudice or jealousy, and they were so rude to each other, which I'm sure was meant to be funny, but I just wasn't feeling it.
But I did slowly warm up to Levi- and Faith’s assessment of him towards the end of the book convinced me he was a good fit for her.
The conclusion was nice, and of course Faith finally gets the right guy and can make peace with some heavy issues that influenced her decisions over the years.
Levi is still a diamond in the rough, at least verbally, but is ‘the best man’ where it really counts.
Overall, a 3.5 for this one.
Faith had her life all mapped out. Perfect guy, perfect wedding, perfect happily ever after… until her perfect fiancé leaves her at the alter after making a bombshell announcement.
Now, several years later, Faith has returned home for the first extended visit since her wedding day fiasco. She’s successful in her work, but her love life is in shambles. She’s had one disastrous encounter after another- but Levi Cooper is the last person on earth she ever expected to develop feelings for.
Levi is the man responsible, in Faith’s opinion, for messing up her perfect life. If not for him, she would be married to the perfect man, living her perfect life right now. But, as luck- or fate would have it, they are now temporary neighbors and the tension between them is palpable…
I have been cleaning up my TBR and in the process I discovered I had a nice collection of books by Kristan Higgins I had never gotten around to reading- so I have vowed to start a ‘mini-side challenge’ to get these books read, immediately!
This is the second of KH's back-listed titles, I have struggled with in recent weeks, this one being around eight years old.
The premise is overused, and not my favorite, but, the backstories are emotional, and Higgins’ large families are always fun.
Unfortunately, though, instead of sexual tension between Faith and Levi, the vibes felt more like resentfulness, hurt feelings, and even prejudice or jealousy, and they were so rude to each other, which I'm sure was meant to be funny, but I just wasn't feeling it.
But I did slowly warm up to Levi- and Faith’s assessment of him towards the end of the book convinced me he was a good fit for her.
The conclusion was nice, and of course Faith finally gets the right guy and can make peace with some heavy issues that influenced her decisions over the years.
Levi is still a diamond in the rough, at least verbally, but is ‘the best man’ where it really counts.
Overall, a 3.5 for this one.
September 28, 2016
I just finished listening to this one which makes it the second book for me by this author.
Since I read the second book first I knew a little bit about this story. I knew Faith was engaged to the love her life but was left at the altar when Jeremy came to terms with his true feelings. It wasn't that he didn't love her but that he was gay and had never accepted that as who he was until his best man, Levi, challenged him to see what he really wanted in life.
The title is so fitting for this story because Faith learned that the title Levi held as Best Man at her wedding was more than just a title. He is the best man she knows.
Since I read the second book first I knew a little bit about this story. I knew Faith was engaged to the love her life but was left at the altar when Jeremy came to terms with his true feelings. It wasn't that he didn't love her but that he was gay and had never accepted that as who he was until his best man, Levi, challenged him to see what he really wanted in life.
The title is so fitting for this story because Faith learned that the title Levi held as Best Man at her wedding was more than just a title. He is the best man she knows.
January 15, 2016
RE-READ JANUARY 15/16
10++++ MILLION STARS!!!!!!
I read this last year, loved it and then subsequently read everything else KH has ever written. I have faves from her amazing database, but some distinct standouts. This Blue Heron series is truly remarkable, but The Best Man is...UN-BELIEVABLY OUT OF THIS WORLD, FANTASTIC!
I noticed things I didn't the first time around, and frankly, fell in love with Levi and Faith even more. Much, much more. Levi, gah! I can't even tell you how incredibly amazing he is! And Faith, what a beautiful heroine. This is funny, laugh-out-loud, funny, sweet, beautiful, heart-breaking and emotional. I adored it more than I thought I could and can't believe how much more it resonated with me the second time around. Can't emphasize how much I LOVED this!
The whole series is among my favorite ever, and this, true as it was the first time I read it, is my utmost fave. I'll stop now because gushing tears don't imprint onto paper! <33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Why had I never heard of this author? Shame on me. But now I've found another talent to add to my roster, so I'm all good. This was a beautiful and sweet story about second chances in the most unlikely of places. Getting jilted at the alter left Faith Holland humiliated and alone. She flees to San Fran and leaves Manningsport in the Finger Lakes region, her beloved home town.
But now, 3 and a half years later, Faith is back. She misses her family, misses home but unfortunately the first person she sees is Levi Cooper, the current chief of police in Manningsport, and her ex-fiancées best man that ruined everything. But there's a history there, a connection that was never explored. And what starts out as forced civility soon turns into a passionate and long overdue encounter.
I loved Faith and Levi! They were so cute and loveable. Faith was a great heroine, always doing things for others and treating everyone kindly. Levi was the strong and silent type, saying few words but having an intimidating presence nonetheless. He was a sexy and seductive man who finally gave in to the simmering feelings for Faith. There were several scenes I wanted to reach through the pages and kiss the man. He was such a wonderful support for Faith, using his stoic presence to cushion her pain.
This was also a very atmospheric story. It reminded me of Terri Osburn's writing. The book was evocative and written in a way I loved. It almost read like a narrator was telling the story, very beautiful and moving. I'd love to visit Manningsport and buy a few crates of wine while I'm down there!
The epilogue was sweet and really came full circle, I was in tears during half of this book---sometimes happy tears but other times sad or empathetic ones. I loved this so much and even with the fade to black sex, it was a powerful and sexy book. Of course I prefer the steam! But when a book is written so well, when the story is so compelling and the romance is thick and rich....the steam is no longer a necessity. There was lovin' and such, foreplay working up to the main event, good stuff.
I am definitely checking out this authors another work, LOVED IT!!
10++++ MILLION STARS!!!!!!
I read this last year, loved it and then subsequently read everything else KH has ever written. I have faves from her amazing database, but some distinct standouts. This Blue Heron series is truly remarkable, but The Best Man is...UN-BELIEVABLY OUT OF THIS WORLD, FANTASTIC!
I noticed things I didn't the first time around, and frankly, fell in love with Levi and Faith even more. Much, much more. Levi, gah! I can't even tell you how incredibly amazing he is! And Faith, what a beautiful heroine. This is funny, laugh-out-loud, funny, sweet, beautiful, heart-breaking and emotional. I adored it more than I thought I could and can't believe how much more it resonated with me the second time around. Can't emphasize how much I LOVED this!
The whole series is among my favorite ever, and this, true as it was the first time I read it, is my utmost fave. I'll stop now because gushing tears don't imprint onto paper! <33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Why had I never heard of this author? Shame on me. But now I've found another talent to add to my roster, so I'm all good. This was a beautiful and sweet story about second chances in the most unlikely of places. Getting jilted at the alter left Faith Holland humiliated and alone. She flees to San Fran and leaves Manningsport in the Finger Lakes region, her beloved home town.
But now, 3 and a half years later, Faith is back. She misses her family, misses home but unfortunately the first person she sees is Levi Cooper, the current chief of police in Manningsport, and her ex-fiancées best man that ruined everything. But there's a history there, a connection that was never explored. And what starts out as forced civility soon turns into a passionate and long overdue encounter.
I loved Faith and Levi! They were so cute and loveable. Faith was a great heroine, always doing things for others and treating everyone kindly. Levi was the strong and silent type, saying few words but having an intimidating presence nonetheless. He was a sexy and seductive man who finally gave in to the simmering feelings for Faith. There were several scenes I wanted to reach through the pages and kiss the man. He was such a wonderful support for Faith, using his stoic presence to cushion her pain.
This was also a very atmospheric story. It reminded me of Terri Osburn's writing. The book was evocative and written in a way I loved. It almost read like a narrator was telling the story, very beautiful and moving. I'd love to visit Manningsport and buy a few crates of wine while I'm down there!
The epilogue was sweet and really came full circle, I was in tears during half of this book---sometimes happy tears but other times sad or empathetic ones. I loved this so much and even with the fade to black sex, it was a powerful and sexy book. Of course I prefer the steam! But when a book is written so well, when the story is so compelling and the romance is thick and rich....the steam is no longer a necessity. There was lovin' and such, foreplay working up to the main event, good stuff.
I am definitely checking out this authors another work, LOVED IT!!
February 26, 2017
The one thing you can always count on in a Kristan Higgins story is you’re going to experience just about every emotion before you reach the end…and that’s with the same characters! This one is no different in that your heart breaks for Faith Holland at the outset when she’s jilted at the altar after Jeremy Lyons, her fiancé, announces he can’t marry her because he’s gay. And, his best man, Levi Cooper, is the one that halted the wedding to make him fess up. Since they were planning to honeymoon in San Franciso anyway, Faith goes alone and ends up staying there for three years.
When Faith returns home to work on a project at her family’s winery, she only plans to stay for a few weeks. She’s only visited a couple of times since her fiasco of a wedding and the town is so small that most everyone had attended. The first person she encounters is Levi, now the police chief and former Army vet (decorated at that) and the tension is thick; he never really cared for Princess Super-Cute and she hasn’t forgiven him for his responsibility in halting her wedding.
While you can’t help but like Faith, there are times you want her to get a backbone. But, there’s a reason for why she behaves the way she does and it’s an important part of the story. Her clashes with Levi sizzle with their animosity and lustful attraction, which neither really gets for a while. There are a lot of colorful characters in the town and no one is shy about sharing their points of view about and with the two. It doesn’t help that Jeremy is beloved by all of them and is still there, too. Add to that Faith’s pretty whacky family and you’ve got a story that is often hilarious, sometimes sad and always romantic in some form or fashion.
I love Higgins’ stories with her less than perfect characters who end up surprising you when you dig underneath the surface. Faith doesn’t look for your sympathy and you can’t help but admire how she picked herself up and never shied away from what happened to her. Levi is über sexy and has his own issues to deal with and his journey to discover the real Faith helped him to look at his own situation in a different light. It’s a fun, adult romance that tackles some serious issues but not so seriously that you end up in a bad place. I laughed so hard at times it brought me to tears. I liked them as a couple and am glad this is the first book in a new series, which will allow me to revisit some favorite characters again. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
When Faith returns home to work on a project at her family’s winery, she only plans to stay for a few weeks. She’s only visited a couple of times since her fiasco of a wedding and the town is so small that most everyone had attended. The first person she encounters is Levi, now the police chief and former Army vet (decorated at that) and the tension is thick; he never really cared for Princess Super-Cute and she hasn’t forgiven him for his responsibility in halting her wedding.
While you can’t help but like Faith, there are times you want her to get a backbone. But, there’s a reason for why she behaves the way she does and it’s an important part of the story. Her clashes with Levi sizzle with their animosity and lustful attraction, which neither really gets for a while. There are a lot of colorful characters in the town and no one is shy about sharing their points of view about and with the two. It doesn’t help that Jeremy is beloved by all of them and is still there, too. Add to that Faith’s pretty whacky family and you’ve got a story that is often hilarious, sometimes sad and always romantic in some form or fashion.
I love Higgins’ stories with her less than perfect characters who end up surprising you when you dig underneath the surface. Faith doesn’t look for your sympathy and you can’t help but admire how she picked herself up and never shied away from what happened to her. Levi is über sexy and has his own issues to deal with and his journey to discover the real Faith helped him to look at his own situation in a different light. It’s a fun, adult romance that tackles some serious issues but not so seriously that you end up in a bad place. I laughed so hard at times it brought me to tears. I liked them as a couple and am glad this is the first book in a new series, which will allow me to revisit some favorite characters again. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
February 17, 2022
A bittersweet story!
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2022...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2022...
February 10, 2016
I am so happy that I decided to pick up one of Kristan Higgins books. I absolutely adored this story and I cannot wait to read more from her.
The Best Man is book #1 in the Blue Heron series. What I loved most about this story was that the romance between the two main characters was so refreshing to read. It was sweet, tender, sexy and there was just the right amount of angst thrown in too. Nothing was overdone.
This is Faith Holland and Levi Cooper’s story. Both characters were easy to love. Levi was that kind of guy that was imperfect in ways that drew you in and made you swoon like crazy. And sweet beautiful Faith. She was the perfect match for Levi even if he had a hard time seeing that himself.
With a shared past that had been a bit bumpy, Levi and Faith’s lives end up going down paths that wouldn’t cross again until a number of years had passed. Both of them have changed in different ways but there was a piece of their past that hadn’t changed. There was something that had always simmered just below the surface when they were together and soon enough it would bubble over.
Faith and Levi’s past involved Levi’s best friend and Faith’s ex-fiancé Jeremy. When Faith was left broken hearted at the alter nothing could take away the humiliation she felt. How did she not know? Why didn’t someone say something to her? So she did the only thing she could and left Manningsport and headed to San Francisco.
There is something stirring within Faith’s family that brings her back home after a few years. She was looking forward to seeing her father John, her brother Jack, her sisters Honor and Pru, her best friend Colleen and lets not forget Goggy and Pops. The one person that she wasn’t looking forward to was seeing Levi.
Faith hadn’t forgotten what happened on her wedding day and her feelings towards Levi hadn’t changed much. That’s until she runs into him and realizes that there is a bit of a spark between them. This spark sends them both into a passionate tailspin. ❤
I really enjoyed these two together. One minute Levi would be all brooding and the next minute he was being sweet and sexy. I loved Faith’s tenacity and her sweetness. Their romance was slow building and I’ll admit, the sex scenes were not over the top hot and heavy but it really didn’t matter. They were sexy in such a tender way that it was rather refreshing.
There was so much more to this story than just the romance brewing between Faith and Levi. Faith needed to come to terms with something that happened when she lost her mom and Levi needed to realize he was so much more than that boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He deserved to be happy.
I also enjoyed the side story of Faith and her siblings trying to find a girlfriend for their dad John. It was comical. Groggy and Pop were a hoot too. And everyone needs a best friend like Colleen. She was rather entertaining to say the least. Oh and Blue. What a sweet dog he was. That is when he wasn’t humping Levi’s leg. :)
September 23, 2017
I was late to the game when I finally found Kristan Higgins. My first experience with her was the perfection that was If You Only Knew. Although her former works are probably very good, if you've read any of her newer stuff, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say nothing else compares. The Best Man was published in 2013 and is the first installment in a series of romances set in the community of Blue Heron. I found it to be a good contemporary romance for adults. Overall, I liked it. It was simple, funny, a little long, and it did the trick. I plan to work my way through more of this series along with her other former books... but I will without a doubt be reading every single one of her new releases. I'm not sure when she found her mojo but I will have her publication dates on every calendar in my home from now on.
My favorite quote:
“Maybe love isn't just a bouquet of roses once in a whole. Maybe it's just sticking it out, when it's hard, when you're mad, when you're tired.”
My favorite quote:
“Maybe love isn't just a bouquet of roses once in a whole. Maybe it's just sticking it out, when it's hard, when you're mad, when you're tired.”
February 26, 2014
I just loved Faith and Levi! This is the first in the Blue Heron series by Kristan Higgins and my fourth book to read of hers. She never fails to impress me with her evocative, if somewhat long winded family drama and sweet, slow, believable romances. Add in a dash of humor that is seriously chuckle-worthy, and I'm game for everything she can throw at me. And anyone who calls enemies hemorrhoids and utilizes Fifty Shades of Grey as sexy, silly comic relief is, quite frankly, DA BOMB!
This is set in the Finger Lakes wine country of New York. I always know an author is fantastic if I just have to look up their settings after I'm done reading their book. Yeah, I totally went out and bought a bottle of wine for myself :) And check out some gorgeous photos I found of the area.
(That last pic holds special meaning for a young Faith and Levi.)
Levi is the town sheriff and the best friend of Faith's ex fiancee. In fact, Levi is responsible for her ex leaving her at the altar! In fact, he's only the one who stopped the two from making a big mistake, but it takes years for Faith to realize that. Levi is very stoic, quiet and steady, and at times somewhat abrasive...especially when it comes to Faith. But he's also loyal to a fault, and he's willing to do anything to help the people of his town.
Faith has recently come home and quickly falls back in love with her hometown and her friends and family. Her predicament is common for those of us who come from small towns...you've moved on and spread your wings, found a new place in the world. But there's always something that calls you home.
Faith's family is wonderful! Her sister the sex maniac just slays me.
Seriously?
Laugh. My. Ass. Off.
Kristin Higgins always manages to work a lovable, loyal canine friend into the mix and in this case it's a dorky, tennis ball loving, leg humping Golden Retriever.
I would have thought, with the length of this book and the very PG sex scenes (*Note: there is ONLY fade to black sex in all of KH books that I've read so far....big fat bummer, and what does it say about me that I'd likely have rated this five stars if she went the extra mile there? Idk, I just need that intimacy) that I'd have taken a break between books like I normally do. Not the case. I moved right on to the next in the series and I loved it as well.
Do yourself a favor and read a Kristin Higgins novel. For lovers of Nora Roberts, Bella Andre, Jill Shalvis, Terri Osburn, and for lovers of fairly clean romance.
This is set in the Finger Lakes wine country of New York. I always know an author is fantastic if I just have to look up their settings after I'm done reading their book. Yeah, I totally went out and bought a bottle of wine for myself :) And check out some gorgeous photos I found of the area.
(That last pic holds special meaning for a young Faith and Levi.)
"How many men have you slept with? Levi asked.
Busted. "Uh, counting you?" she said, feeling her chest practically burst into flame with a blush.
His forehead crinkled with that incredulous look she'd seen so many times in their high school years. "We haven't slept together, Faith."
"No, I know that. You have a point. Can't argue with that."
Levi is the town sheriff and the best friend of Faith's ex fiancee. In fact, Levi is responsible for her ex leaving her at the altar! In fact, he's only the one who stopped the two from making a big mistake, but it takes years for Faith to realize that. Levi is very stoic, quiet and steady, and at times somewhat abrasive...especially when it comes to Faith. But he's also loyal to a fault, and he's willing to do anything to help the people of his town.
Faith has recently come home and quickly falls back in love with her hometown and her friends and family. Her predicament is common for those of us who come from small towns...you've moved on and spread your wings, found a new place in the world. But there's always something that calls you home.
Faith's family is wonderful! Her sister the sex maniac just slays me.
"I refuse to sign your contract, Mr. Grey, and furthermore, I've never even heard of that Japanese thingamajig you mentioned in your last email. And yes, I remain untouched, I have never even kissed a man before, yadda yadda." She looked at Levi. "I'm forty-seven years old, Levi, and the mother of Carl's children. Why I have to pretend to be an insipid virginal college student is beyond me."
Seriously?
Laugh. My. Ass. Off.
Kristin Higgins always manages to work a lovable, loyal canine friend into the mix and in this case it's a dorky, tennis ball loving, leg humping Golden Retriever.
I would have thought, with the length of this book and the very PG sex scenes (*Note: there is ONLY fade to black sex in all of KH books that I've read so far....big fat bummer, and what does it say about me that I'd likely have rated this five stars if she went the extra mile there? Idk, I just need that intimacy) that I'd have taken a break between books like I normally do. Not the case. I moved right on to the next in the series and I loved it as well.
Do yourself a favor and read a Kristin Higgins novel. For lovers of Nora Roberts, Bella Andre, Jill Shalvis, Terri Osburn, and for lovers of fairly clean romance.
October 24, 2019
I'm bailing on this one really early in. I just can't take the cartoons presented as characters and Faith's self-flagellation is already old and Levi is a self-righteous jerk who apparently blames Faith for not noticing that her boyfriend was gay while sitting on that information himself the entire time. I'm not a fan of flashbacks in general, so getting a huge honker of a flashback where we see Levi figuring out that Jeremy is gay on first meeting him means that the entire six plus years of the relationship between Faith and Jeremy were one big, fat lie that he was party to enabling. So his little judgmental jag while we were in his PoV remapped in that moment to a malicious projection that was both unjust and cruel.
And I'm sorry, but either her dad is a child in need of adult supervision or Faith and her siblings are overwrought busybodies in need of a reality check. The setup smacks of Higgins trying to have it both ways by making dad "oblivious", but we see the behavior right there on-page and that's not oblivious. Either he's winding them up on purpose or he really is an intellectual child in need of round-the-clock care. It's extreme behavior (if you actually believe an adult human is capable of being that crassly, openly avaricious in front of her mark), is what I'm saying, so there's really no middle ground that's reasonable on that evaluation...
And I'm sorry, but either her dad is a child in need of adult supervision or Faith and her siblings are overwrought busybodies in need of a reality check. The setup smacks of Higgins trying to have it both ways by making dad "oblivious", but we see the behavior right there on-page and that's not oblivious. Either he's winding them up on purpose or he really is an intellectual child in need of round-the-clock care. It's extreme behavior (if you actually believe an adult human is capable of being that crassly, openly avaricious in front of her mark), is what I'm saying, so there's really no middle ground that's reasonable on that evaluation...
July 25, 2017
Este es el cuarto libro que leo de esta autora y menos en Too Good to be True, por ahora el mejor que he leído, se repite casi siempre el mismo patrón: protagonista divertida y bonita pero no un bellezon, que suele ser una metepatas de cuidado, tiene un perro, una familia pelin chiflada y vive en un pueblo pequeño y pintoresco, se enamora de un tiarron de pocas palabras pero grandes acciones que vuelve su mundo del revés.
Esta historia no es una excepción, pero no importa, cumple lo que promete: hacerte pasar un buen rato y echarte unas buenas risas, en esta ocasión con el wc loco, las conversaciones en el club de lectura de la Biblia y la señora crudivora.
Esta historia no es una excepción, pero no importa, cumple lo que promete: hacerte pasar un buen rato y echarte unas buenas risas, en esta ocasión con el wc loco, las conversaciones en el club de lectura de la Biblia y la señora crudivora.
November 1, 2017
First time reading this author and I AM IN LOVE!
March 9, 2013
Rose Quartz
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Amy Rubinate is another narrator I haven't heard before, but I quite liked her. I do think she did a better job on the second half of the story, but maybe that is influenced by my liking the later half better. When a character’s voice is supposed to hold a note of humor or derision, she handles it nicely.
In the first half of this book I thought the heroine was a bit too hung-up on what the hero did in the past. I kept thinking, “Geez, lady. Give the guy a big hug and a thank you instead of such a hard time.” But then, when a little more of their history is revealed...ah!
Nevertheless, this story actually got pretty funny in the second half of the book, so much so I had to kick up the rating a notch. I laughed out loud several times and was reminded how this author can bring it home.
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Amy Rubinate is another narrator I haven't heard before, but I quite liked her. I do think she did a better job on the second half of the story, but maybe that is influenced by my liking the later half better. When a character’s voice is supposed to hold a note of humor or derision, she handles it nicely.
In the first half of this book I thought the heroine was a bit too hung-up on what the hero did in the past. I kept thinking, “Geez, lady. Give the guy a big hug and a thank you instead of such a hard time.” But then, when a little more of their history is revealed...ah!
Nevertheless, this story actually got pretty funny in the second half of the book, so much so I had to kick up the rating a notch. I laughed out loud several times and was reminded how this author can bring it home.
May 25, 2016
le doy 4 estrellas porque me he reído taaaaaannnntoooo
Amena y divertida desde el momento 0. Faith y su familia son un puntazo, todos y cada uno. Me ha gustado mucho el romance de Faith y Levi.
De verdad que vale la pena leerlo. Nos ha mantenido riendo toooodo el libro.
No me lo esperaba, ha sido divertidísimo!!!!
Si queréis pasar un buen rato, no dejéis de leerlo.
Olga, gracias por la compañía en este viaje tannnnnnnnnnn diver, no nos hemos podido reír más.
Amena y divertida desde el momento 0. Faith y su familia son un puntazo, todos y cada uno. Me ha gustado mucho el romance de Faith y Levi.
De verdad que vale la pena leerlo. Nos ha mantenido riendo toooodo el libro.
No me lo esperaba, ha sido divertidísimo!!!!
Si queréis pasar un buen rato, no dejéis de leerlo.
Olga, gracias por la compañía en este viaje tannnnnnnnnnn diver, no nos hemos podido reír más.
February 5, 2017
Esperaba mucho más del libro. La primera parte me pareció muy lenta y a veces un poco aburridilla. Sip, si hubo algunos momentos hilarantes pero no los suficientes como para los comentarios esos que decían que te morías a carcajadas. Igual no era mi momento jajaja
Lo que si es que la segunda parte mejoró mucho y tuvo más romance, cosa que me encantó. Ideal para pasar el rato no más.
Lo que si es que la segunda parte mejoró mucho y tuvo más romance, cosa que me encantó. Ideal para pasar el rato no más.
November 2, 2020
My 7 years review just gone like that, because I clicked finished through the app!!!!! Why this problem still happened after all this while??
December 28, 2016
Adorable book. Faith was a hoot!! I liked that this wasn't your typical "insta-love" type read. And the family banter was hilarious, great family camaraderie.
February 19, 2017
She's done it to me once again...
June 23, 2014
2.5 stars
I definitely had issues which reduced my reading experience. Now, the good thing was ... it had all the element of small town romance, heck down to the meddling secondary characters.
BUT, I felt that the romance was a bit lacking. For enemies-to-lovers theme to work, I need proofs that the animosity can change. Here, I just felt that both Faith and Levi spent more time with other people than being together and in love. I mean, how can I believe in them, when on pages, it seemed that I kept being reminded that Faith's true love was her ex, Jeremy?
Levi was a bit too cold and too stubborn and too, I dunno, not a likable character for me to root for. And Faith? Gah, I needed a girl with more spine! Plus it seemed that her whole world focused on her getting married with the perfect guy.
And then ... there was the humor. I'm sorry but I found it VERY offensive. I didn't get the whole 'gay' humor thing. I was pissed with the use of trans* character as a source of amusement. And the whole attitude of Levi being able to give Faith the great sex because "he's straight" was plain rude. I felt like Levi thought Faith never know what sex was, because her only experience was with gay man. Like gay man couldn't give any satisfaction compared to straight man. That whole issue made me see red.
I was going to give this 3-stars because I did finish it and well, some parts were just okay. But when I wrote this, I realized that I was angry and disappointed with the gay and trans* humor, so I decided to knock down the stars. It didn't deserve my 3* because all I could remember in the end was resentment.
PS: I read sample of the 2nd book. Decided NOT to continue with this series. The whole idea that a woman being above 35 years old = an old spinster and time to get the baby project was one reason that makes me run far far away from M/F CR in the first place. Since I'm still in the mood for M/F CR, I'd better run before it get ruined.
I definitely had issues which reduced my reading experience. Now, the good thing was ... it had all the element of small town romance, heck down to the meddling secondary characters.
BUT, I felt that the romance was a bit lacking. For enemies-to-lovers theme to work, I need proofs that the animosity can change. Here, I just felt that both Faith and Levi spent more time with other people than being together and in love. I mean, how can I believe in them, when on pages, it seemed that I kept being reminded that Faith's true love was her ex, Jeremy?
Levi was a bit too cold and too stubborn and too, I dunno, not a likable character for me to root for. And Faith? Gah, I needed a girl with more spine! Plus it seemed that her whole world focused on her getting married with the perfect guy.
And then ... there was the humor. I'm sorry but I found it VERY offensive. I didn't get the whole 'gay' humor thing. I was pissed with the use of trans* character as a source of amusement. And the whole attitude of Levi being able to give Faith the great sex because "he's straight" was plain rude. I felt like Levi thought Faith never know what sex was, because her only experience was with gay man. Like gay man couldn't give any satisfaction compared to straight man. That whole issue made me see red.
I was going to give this 3-stars because I did finish it and well, some parts were just okay. But when I wrote this, I realized that I was angry and disappointed with the gay and trans* humor, so I decided to knock down the stars. It didn't deserve my 3* because all I could remember in the end was resentment.
PS: I read sample of the 2nd book. Decided NOT to continue with this series. The whole idea that a woman being above 35 years old = an old spinster and time to get the baby project was one reason that makes me run far far away from M/F CR in the first place. Since I'm still in the mood for M/F CR, I'd better run before it get ruined.
August 13, 2017
Compared to the dreary The Perfect Match, this was awesome. Okay, readable.
The h is dumped at her wedding when the best man pushes the groom to make his big confession: he's gay! The sweet couple had been the cutest high school couple, and everyone is shocked at the fallout. She beat feet for the bright lights of San Francisco and who could blame her.
Three years later and the h is back in town. She needs to get over the past, see her ex-fiancee who is still, at heart, her best friend, glare at the evil H who stirred her fiancee up, and get a life. A life would include actually having sex with a heterosexual man. Apparently the move to SF didn't resolve that pesky problem. The H is now the sheriff in town and is so reserved both as a hero and as a written character it's hard to get a handle on him. The author says he loves/lusts for the heroine so I just went with it.
Unlike most of these jilting stories, the original fiancee is not a creep other than the Timberlake confession. He and the heroine connect again as friends, and I actually teared up, yes weepy eyes, at his confession at the wedding. Sounds like the heroine is not the only one who needs to get a life.
Lots of secondary characters, an awesome dog, and it reads like a cutesy rom-com. It is saved by its realistic depiction of small town life (the heroine is confronted with townspeople constantly asking "Are you doing okay?" and "Have you recovered from the humiliation of being dumped at the altar?" Yes, thanks for asking!). It also touches on some serious issues like the h's epilepsy and her mother's death.
The h is dumped at her wedding when the best man pushes the groom to make his big confession: he's gay! The sweet couple had been the cutest high school couple, and everyone is shocked at the fallout. She beat feet for the bright lights of San Francisco and who could blame her.
Three years later and the h is back in town. She needs to get over the past, see her ex-fiancee who is still, at heart, her best friend, glare at the evil H who stirred her fiancee up, and get a life. A life would include actually having sex with a heterosexual man. Apparently the move to SF didn't resolve that pesky problem. The H is now the sheriff in town and is so reserved both as a hero and as a written character it's hard to get a handle on him. The author says he loves/lusts for the heroine so I just went with it.
Unlike most of these jilting stories, the original fiancee is not a creep other than the Timberlake confession. He and the heroine connect again as friends, and I actually teared up, yes weepy eyes, at his confession at the wedding. Sounds like the heroine is not the only one who needs to get a life.
Lots of secondary characters, an awesome dog, and it reads like a cutesy rom-com. It is saved by its realistic depiction of small town life (the heroine is confronted with townspeople constantly asking "Are you doing okay?" and "Have you recovered from the humiliation of being dumped at the altar?" Yes, thanks for asking!). It also touches on some serious issues like the h's epilepsy and her mother's death.
March 21, 2019
#RitaKristan
#RetoRita3
La verdad es que el único libro que había leído de la autora no me había gustado del todo pero fue hace mucho tiempo que lo leí, lo que no me acordaba es la manera tan amena de escribir de la autora.
Sus historias a pesar de que son pausadas y el principio un tanto aburrido no puedes parar de leer siempre hay algo que te incita a seguir leyendo.
Me encanta que esta historia se desarrolla en un pueblo pintoresco, creo que esa es una característica de la autora, donde todos se conocen.
Por lo que todos están al tanto de la desgracia de Faith una chica que 3 años antes fue dejada en el altar por su novio de siempre y al que creyó el amor de su vida ya que en el instante que iba a dar el sí fue interrumpido por su mejor amigo Levi para que no cometiera un error y lo motiva a que al fin se declare gay.
3 años después Faith está de vuelta encontrándose en todos lados a la persona causante de la cancelación de su boda, es un arrogante y en muchas ocasiones un idiota y parece que siempre la ha odiado pero gracias a esos encuentros se van volviendo más cercanos las chispas entre ellos surge hasta que sin darse cuenta se van enamorando.
Faith a pesar de todo me agradó mucho, es la típica chica buena pero es bastante madura ha salido adelante no es rencorosa y a pesar de sus inseguridades no toma decisiones equivocadas.
Levi no me terminó de convencer del todo, no entendí porque al principio trataba tan mal a Faith si ella siempre fue amable con él no tenía motivos a veces siento que era más por prejuicios. Para mí Levi era un idiota que tenía que haber hecho más méritos para merecer valga la redundancia a Faith.
Lo que no me gustó fue que en todo momento estaban esas etiquetas de es que yo soy heterosexual, como soy heterosexual puedo hacer esto y aquello.
No se viste tan bien no creo que sea gay le gusta esto o aquello no puede ser como no me di cuenta que era gay y en toda el libro están ese tipo de frases que me llegó a molestar.
En conclusión, fue una lectura agradable hasta cierto punto adictiva y más adelante le volveré a leer algo de la autora.
#RetoRita3
La verdad es que el único libro que había leído de la autora no me había gustado del todo pero fue hace mucho tiempo que lo leí, lo que no me acordaba es la manera tan amena de escribir de la autora.
Sus historias a pesar de que son pausadas y el principio un tanto aburrido no puedes parar de leer siempre hay algo que te incita a seguir leyendo.
Me encanta que esta historia se desarrolla en un pueblo pintoresco, creo que esa es una característica de la autora, donde todos se conocen.
Por lo que todos están al tanto de la desgracia de Faith una chica que 3 años antes fue dejada en el altar por su novio de siempre y al que creyó el amor de su vida ya que en el instante que iba a dar el sí fue interrumpido por su mejor amigo Levi para que no cometiera un error y lo motiva a que al fin se declare gay.
3 años después Faith está de vuelta encontrándose en todos lados a la persona causante de la cancelación de su boda, es un arrogante y en muchas ocasiones un idiota y parece que siempre la ha odiado pero gracias a esos encuentros se van volviendo más cercanos las chispas entre ellos surge hasta que sin darse cuenta se van enamorando.
Faith a pesar de todo me agradó mucho, es la típica chica buena pero es bastante madura ha salido adelante no es rencorosa y a pesar de sus inseguridades no toma decisiones equivocadas.
Levi no me terminó de convencer del todo, no entendí porque al principio trataba tan mal a Faith si ella siempre fue amable con él no tenía motivos a veces siento que era más por prejuicios. Para mí Levi era un idiota que tenía que haber hecho más méritos para merecer valga la redundancia a Faith.
Lo que no me gustó fue que en todo momento estaban esas etiquetas de es que yo soy heterosexual, como soy heterosexual puedo hacer esto y aquello.
No se viste tan bien no creo que sea gay le gusta esto o aquello no puede ser como no me di cuenta que era gay y en toda el libro están ese tipo de frases que me llegó a molestar.
En conclusión, fue una lectura agradable hasta cierto punto adictiva y más adelante le volveré a leer algo de la autora.
March 31, 2013
I love me some Kristan Higgins. Just when I think she can’t reel me in any longer (not too impressed with her last book), she comes out with this gem.
Faith and Jeremy have been high school/college sweethearts. The happiest day of Faith’s life is when Jeremy proposed. On their wedding day, Jeremy jilts her (coward!) and his best friend Levi ismostly partly responsible. Years later, Faith is finally coming home. The past is in the past. Except for Levi….he is still definitely on her hit list (if she had one). Growing up, Faith over compensated for (read the book) and was an unrepentant people pleaser. Levi disliked her back in the day (not because he was secretly in love…more like annoyed of). The more she tried to get him to like her as a friend (because he is best-friends with Jeremy), the more it irritated Levi.
But not all the time….
As with most of her books, the characters in this story are well-rounded and believable. And her story lines…hilarious! I could read this one over and over (and I have at least twice).
I usually love a book based on the MC but on this one….I really liked Faith. She was a good person caught in a messed up situation. Her strength really showed. It took her years to deal with the blow of her break up with Jeremy but she eventually put her big girl panties back on.
Oh…but Levi
He’s strong…arrogant….gorgeous….warrior-returned-from-Afghanistan-now-turned-cop *author may have gone into over kill with him*
NOPE! Don’t care. Still happy with the results. *panting*
He has Faith pegged as a push over, goody two shoes, but Faith is starting to prove him otherwise. He tries to resist his attraction to her because (read the book) but he cannot keep his mind off her and his eyes off her “amazing rack” (his words, not mine).
Plus there's that one incident back in high school…
That has got to be one of the sexiest reads I’ve seen in a while. There’s no sex scene. But (oh lord!) the longing, the sexual tension…
Also…
And on..and on…. I know, right? Holy burning britches Batman! Best part of the whole book was that flashback. Hands down.
Writing: Great
Characters: Even better (no face palms at all)
Recommend:
Faith and Jeremy have been high school/college sweethearts. The happiest day of Faith’s life is when Jeremy proposed. On their wedding day, Jeremy jilts her (coward!) and his best friend Levi is
But not all the time….
As with most of her books, the characters in this story are well-rounded and believable. And her story lines…hilarious! I could read this one over and over (and I have at least twice).
I usually love a book based on the MC but on this one….I really liked Faith. She was a good person caught in a messed up situation. Her strength really showed. It took her years to deal with the blow of her break up with Jeremy but she eventually put her big girl panties back on.
Oh…but Levi
He’s strong…arrogant….gorgeous….warrior-returned-from-Afghanistan-now-turned-cop *author may have gone into over kill with him*
NOPE! Don’t care. Still happy with the results. *panting*
He has Faith pegged as a push over, goody two shoes, but Faith is starting to prove him otherwise. He tries to resist his attraction to her because (read the book) but he cannot keep his mind off her and his eyes off her “amazing rack” (his words, not mine).
Plus there's that one incident back in high school…
That has got to be one of the sexiest reads I’ve seen in a while. There’s no sex scene. But (oh lord!) the longing, the sexual tension…
She glared. He grinned. And then she blushed, her cheeks growing pink, color staining her throat and chest. Her eyes fluttered down his bare torso. Then she jerked her gaze back to the vine and fumbled for a tie.
Dropped it.
Well, well, well. Levi’s smile grew.
Also…
She moved steadily, bending, sometimes kneeling, holding a cluster of the dusky grapes in her hand from time to time, and somehow, out here in the field, everything she did looked unabashedly sexual. She was soft and round and sweaty now, her red hair in pigtails, basically any male’s fantasy of a farm girl.
Jeremy’s girlfriend, dude, his conscience chided.
She bent over again, and the lust felt much less generic.
And on..and on…. I know, right? Holy burning britches Batman! Best part of the whole book was that flashback. Hands down.
Writing: Great
Characters: Even better (no face palms at all)
Recommend:
May 24, 2016
Si queréis un libro para reír con ganas y sonreír cuando acaba la última página, este es el libro... La historia es pasable pero los puntos de humor de la familia de ella y de ella misma hacen que tengas que parar de leer porque te reís a más no parar!
Os lo recomiendo para un impass '
Os lo recomiendo para un impass '
December 31, 2019
What in the hell is wrong with this book? Why is it bad for a woman to enjoy sex? Why can’t boots be empowering and sexy? HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE AUTHOR USE THE WORD “SLUTTY?”
This may have been an okay read. I was okay with the story line. Okay with characters. Curious to see what happens next. But every use of the word “slut,” or “whore” or “slutty” was like a stab in the eye ball.
No thank you. And I won’t pick up this author again. Awful judgmental shit.
This may have been an okay read. I was okay with the story line. Okay with characters. Curious to see what happens next. But every use of the word “slut,” or “whore” or “slutty” was like a stab in the eye ball.
No thank you. And I won’t pick up this author again. Awful judgmental shit.
November 20, 2021
Loved it!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,360 reviews