Name: Lover of Romance 's review of Don't Kiss the Bride by Carian Cole
Item: Don't Kiss the Bride
Rating: 5
Author: Lover of Romance

Carian Cole

I guess you could say I was a damsel in distress, and he was my knight in shining armor.But more accurately, I was a girl with a lot of bad luck, and he was a guy with a lot of muscles and tattoos.Jude "Lucky" Lucketti wasn't just a sexy, brooding construction worker. He was my own personal hero who seemed to be in all the right places at the right times. Like when my car broke down and I needed a ride home, and when I face planted on the sidewalk right in front of him and had to be taken to the emergency room.Those weren't exactly my best moments, but they were his. We became friends, and it didn't matter that he was sixteen years older than me. We had a lot in common-like our love of old rock music and vintage fast cars, and our aversion to relationships.When he approached me with a crazy idea to help me out, I couldn't say no.The arrangement was supposed to be temporary. A marriage on paper and nothing else.It should've been easy, but it wasn't.Because here I am, eighteen years-old, still in high school, and married to a man I was never supposed to fall in love with.We had just one rule-no kissing the bride.But we broke that rule, and it sealed our fate forever.

An Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience Romance

Don't Kiss the Bride

Lover of Romance 

sisyphean

I loved this story and how unexpectedly good it was. Jude "Lucky" Lucketti is a big tough tattooed construction worker who keeps rescuing a high school girl 16 years younger than him and barely 18, Skylar Timmons. Finally he realizes she lives a miserable life in a hoarded home with no access to essentials. So he does what any good guy would do and offers to marry her - in name only. Well, that doesn't last long. While the age gap is significant and it has a small forbidden aspect to it, Lucky is a great character and their relationship does not feel forced or groomed, but just right!

This story was truly beautiful and loved the humor and writing in regards to some serious topics. Rather than a dark romance, this story is light and love and beauty.

Nouran Hazem

Nouran

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance


I’m not sure how he does it. Somehow, he makes me feel like every molecule in my body has learned how to smile. I like it. I like him.

 



First Impressions

Don’t Kiss The Bride is a standalone by Carian Cole. I think the reason I chose this book was that it wasn’t part of a series but also this book has been the most raved about. I was first introduced to this book by Bree from In Love and Words and I was so captivated that I have been meaning to try this author for the longest time. I will admit at first I wasn’t sure if I would like this book and it’s a bigger book at 500 pages, however, I fell in love quite quickly. While the pacing is off at first, once you reach about fifteen percent, you will be so drawn into the story. What really impressed me was that this was taboo but it didn’t feel taboo. That is very rare to see in a romance when dealing with certain topics and when an author can make it feel so genuine, it just makes the story shine beautifully. I was stunned in how this story just made me feel to the heart, and in a way that was genuine and slowly built that worked in the best of ways.


After a few seconds, he gently squeezes my hand, then pulls his from mine. It’s a tiny, affectionate gesture, that squeeze. But us girls know what it is. A hand hug.






Summary

Skylar and Judge meet in the most unlikely of moments and he rescued her when her car was having the worst of issues. And for a while, it seems like he watches out for her and they start building a slow friendship with each other. But then one day everything changes…..when Jude sees the truth of her situation and how horrible things are for Skylar he offers her a deal. To marry him, so that she can have safety and security and access to medical aide which she really needs or her health will deteriorate. He reassures her this would be completely platonic and Skylar agrees to it. Even though she hasn’t known Jude for very long, there is a building trust that she is coming to have faith in. But what starts out as a platonic relationship, with friends caring for each other starts to build into something more. Jude knows that its wrong to have these feelings for Skylar, because while she is eighteen she is still in high school and he is in his thirties. But there is a passion and beautiful love that blossoms that is naturally building and both Judge and Skylar are willing to take the risk on these intense feelings. But learning to accept what they are together isn’t going to be so easy for either of them and learning to trust in the heart can be a bigger challenge than either of them expected.


Connecting with someone doesn’t always have to be pretty and beautiful. It can be raw and ugly and infected with need. I want all of him—the good and the bad.

 



What I Loved
There was SO much to love about this book. First off, all the combination of these tropes just seemed to work so well within this story. We have an age gap (May to December), Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love, and Marriage of Convenience. I will admit that at first, I was curious to see how this author would handle such a taboo topic. You never know in these situations is how authors will handle them and I was highly impressed with the natural progression of their story. It can feel the slow burn at times as well, as it does slowly build and it’s not like they are having sex from the first few chapters haha Yeah nope that doesn’t happen. But what I really respected is the talent that this author showed in having a taboo topic and having it written in a way that didn’t seem so taboo and I just admire that ability so well. The character development that grows within this story was truly wonderful. I adored both Jude and Skylar and their differing personalities but how accepting they are of each other. Jude has a history of drug abuse, and screams bad boy with his muscle and tatts, but has a heart of gold. He has overcome so much in his life while not receiving much good in his life but being so generous to others. Skylar suffers from a mental illness and struggles in eating many foods as she had some food/meal-based trauma when she was a child. Seeing the way that these two connect in the small moments that only capitalizes on their love story as a whole was superb. I experienced so many delights in the slow-built romance that has such an emotional attachment that pulls you even further into the story.


Marriage has nothing to do with rings or vows or a fuckin’ piece of paper. None of that shit binds people together,” he said. “Marriage—being in love—is a choice to stay every day, and keep staying, no matter what. You don’t lie, you don’t cheat, you don’t leave, and you don’t give up. You stay.






What I Struggled With
There wasn’t much I struggled with, the only thing I would have changed would be the first 15%, it was a slow start and I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to get into this, but I was thankful. But it’s the only aspect of the story I would change to get it to a five-star rating.

Overall View
Don’t Kiss The Bride is a heart-achingly written romance that is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings in the unexpected moments that will entrench you into this captivating love affair that is guaranteed to make you feel like you are falling in love for the first time. 



Since we met, every touch, every kiss, every talk between us has come naturally. Effortless in every way. Without motive or expectation.

Vesselina

“𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮— 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥.”

__________

𝙄𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠
✔ age-gap
✔ older man / younger heroine
✔ marriage of convenience
✔ angsty af
✔ slow burn
✔ hot hot hot 🔥

Carian Cole delivers yet again amazing age gap romance.
Just when you've though you've read every possible take on this trope, she gives you something different.

Skyler is a 18 years old poor and sick high school student. One hot afternoon when she's having car trouble, she meets 34 years old Jude. He offers her help and then gives her a ride home. They click instantly and soon become kind of friends.

When Jude learns about Skyler's home situation and inability to pay for her medication, he offers her a solution - marry him, and move in with him, so he can put her on his insurance plan.

Very soon sparks start flying and their relationship is tested by all kinds of outside forces and Jude's moral code.

𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 is an amazing read that will suck you right in and won't leave you until you've devoured it. Skyler and Jude are both very down to earth characters, and despite Skyler being just 18, I didn't find her annoying or unrealistically mature. I recommend 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 to every fan of the age gap trope.

mientras leía no podía dejar de pensar “esto es un birthday girl 2.0” pero con más drama y sin novio de por medio.

El temita del age gap fue excesivo, o sea ya me sentía medio incomoda, pero que toda la historia fuera un tira y afloja con respecto a eso me irritó. 

La primera mitad estuvo genial, en realidad me hizo pensar que sería un libro de cinco estrellas; sin embargo, muchas cosas se alargaron, y otras simplemente quedaron en nada, y la cosa fue en declive.

macy

Missy Zuber 

Don't Kiss the Bride may be my second favourite Carian Cole book.

Skylar and Jude were a perfect pair for one another, each with the own demons and issues that seem to draw them together.

Marriage of convience stories can either be written great or shitty, but this was a great one.

I read this book in one sitting and it held my attention the entire time.


(view spoiler)[ And the most romantic sentences a man can speak to a woman, “And if you decide you never want a baby, I’ll get a vasectomy. I don’t want you to have to take birth control for half your life.”

I was so glad to read a five star book with that had no accidental pregnancy or talks of one. Characters who don't automatically settle their life plans around children.

 (hide spoiler)]

Megan Beth Davies

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but in my opinion it ran a little too long and it lost a star for a scene that I just didn't feel was necessary *spoilers below*

I really enjoyed the premise of this book as well as the main characters. Their motivations felt authentic and genuine and their attraction grew organically. Despite the age gap, I really did feel that they were very suited for eachother and their chemistry was unmistakable. As I said above, it was a bit too long for me which led to me feeling the second half was too drawn out with conflict for conflict's sake and a lot of 'will they, won't they'....

The book would have gotten 4 stars if it weren't for the scene where Jude got drunk and "used" Skylar for sex to almost f**k his rage out - now it wasn't that she didn't consent to the sex, she did, but what I really didn't like about it was the fact that he was completely degrading, pushing her face away saying "don't look at me" - she may have consented to have sex with him, but I doubt she consented to feel so used. I've seen this trend a lot in books and I don't mind it when the MC genuinely is providing comfort, but not when it turns into some degrading and disrespectful. 

Just my 2 cents - but enjoyable for the most part.

Abigail

Carian Cole is one of those rare authors who I will put up with the slow burn for because the ultimate payoff is so worth it. Per usual this is a beautiful story about two people just trying make a happy life for themselves and the obstacles they face considering doing that together. It’s labeled age gap which it definitely is, but unlike other romances with it that’s not a fetishized aspect of the relationship, it’s dealt with in a very real way. This is a longer story but I surprisingly could’ve spent even more time with them. 

Souhaila

I don't remember why I dnf-ed it the first time but maybe because I was getting bored and when all the miscommunication started I was done with it but now that I finished it, I think it's not a bad book. It's just that it wasn't for me. 

READ IF YOU LIKE: 
- Age Gap 
- Marriage of Convenience 
- Friends to Lovers 
- A tattooed and bearded although sweet MMC and a sassy FMC


Tanya 

This book actually shocked the hell out of me. I didn’t expect it to be as emotional as it was. It deals with so many different issues that were displayed in such an educational way which I can appreciate.

Jude was soooooo freaking hot! He’s literally every woman’s wet dream if I’m honest. The way in which he took care of Skylar was so sweet he really adored her.

Skylar was a little firecracker her personality was a little spicy yet she still seemed a little bit innocent & she was so strong. She’s been dealt a pretty shitty hand but was making the best of her situation no matter the circumstances.

The two of them together? Omg the angst and sexual tension was driving me NUTS! It was a slow burn so it was dripping with anticipation but when they finally came together it was amazing to see. They faced sooo many obstacles it was heartbreaking but everything happened the way it should have in the end.

Alyssa Amey 

This was such a beautiful story. My heart broke for Skylar. She was such a fighter and she never gave up. This was such a good representation of mental health and how it effects everyone differently. It also comes to shape that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. Not everyone is as they seem.

Kelly Casey

This book was way too long. A fake marriage and a real relationship between an 18 year old high school girl and a 34 year old man with a shady past is just pure angsty drama. I liked it well enough, but the amount of hurt these two caused each other despite their love was just unnecessary and hard to read. Overall, it read quicker than I thought it would, had decent writing, and good chemistry, but it just wasn't quite what I want in a romance. I do think that a lot of people will love this book, but I just found it ok.

Linda Quintanilla

It was unexpected how much I enjoyed reading this book. I thought that it was going to be another smut romance book. But it's more of a slow-burning romance between Jude and Skylar.

It's supposed to be a marriage of convenience between Jude and Skylar. Yet Jude and Skylar have so much in common that they start developing feelings for each other. It's going to be difficult for them because of the age gap. But love is always worth it in the end. They will need time to figure out what they want for each other.

Leonie

There was too much of Skylar and Jude pushing each other away, and some parts of the book were a little cheesy, but other than that I enjoyed Don't Kiss the Bride.

Lover of Romance &
Don't Kiss the Bride by Carian Cole

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