Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams Narrator: Andrew Eiden
Series: Bromance Book Club #5
Published by Berkley, Penguin Audio on November 1, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 368
Length: 9 hours, 41 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity.
It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…
Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together.
The Bromance Book Club series has worked its way into the must read category. I really enjoy getting the depth on a new couple in each book but getting to see all the guys in the club and sometimes their ladies. The humor is the real deal. I was a little worried about a country music star being a main character but I shouldn’t have. Many of the guys in the series have money and power. I don’t like the imbalance if the woman is struggling.
Colton Wheeler is a very famous country music star. He’s got a great family and spends time with them. He hasn’t released a new album in 2 years and now is under pressure from his label. He’s also set on Gretchen who is part of his wider circle of friends.
Gretchen Winthrop is from an old money family but she doesn’t have the power. She doesn’t enjoy the politics and show her family does. She has her own law firm practicing immigration law now, after being a public defender. Her focus is to help others. She’s been avoiding Colton since their initial encounter because of her toxic family.
I can’t say Gretchen was totally wrong about her toxic family. Luckily, Colton and her friends are up to the challenge and aren’t going to let her be bullied by them. It was heart-warming to see both Colton and Gretchen learn things as they fell for each other. The toxic was over the top, more than the celebrity issues. The “grand gesture” was perfect for them and I cried.
Narration:
Andrew Eiden has been with the whole series but this is the first book I have listening instead of just reading. I really thought the voices were well performed with male and female voices appropriate for gender. There were distinct voices for the characters and the emotional tones added to the performance. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Sophia’s Review:
A Country Music Charmer has been ghosted by the woman who caught his fancy for over a year. Time for the Bromance Book Club to take up their holiday romance pick and get busy working on this holiday lover vs. Grinch romance conflict. Another heartwarming and humorous installment to a series that is Christmas lights out fantastic.
A Very Merry Bromance is book five in this series of standalone romances centered around a men’s romance book club.
Colton Wheeler is a Country Western song star who started out in a poor, loving family and his golden voice and country boy looks and charm had him hitting it big. Well, until recently…
But, as dreary as this Christmas season is starting out to be, he’s learned to put a smile on it and just keep going. The smile isn’t fooling his book pals and the club has whipped out their holiday romances to help a bro in need when back into his life walks Gretchen Winthrop with a business deal. Colton can work with that and show Gretchen Christmas, ahem, love, isn’t as bleak and painful as she thinks.
Gretchen is one of THE Winthrops, but she’s the barely mentioned or acknowledged one who doesn’t work for the family’s wealthy whiskey business and spends her days as an immigration lawyer working through heartrending situations and defending people in crisis. Now, her brother has pressured her with promises of being on the company foundation board if she can land Colton Wheeler to be the face of the company. Yep, the guy she ditched and ghosted and who is her total opposite and a bad idea.
I have to confess I didn’t warm to Gretchen right away like I did Colton, but I’ve learned to be patient because Lyssa Adams likes to reveal layers to her characters that aren’t always obvious up front. Gretchen is no exception. Sure she runs out on a chance at a relationship with a nice guy, keeps apart from her family, and yep, she’s rather a Grinch about Christmas, but it makes sense as her past with her family comes out and she is scared of being emotionally vulnerable with Colton. Her uncle is the only relation worth calling family. Fortunately, she does have her friends from the men in book club and, by extension, their gals and families- as does Colton.
I loved it when Colton was able to take her out- the snappy dialogue was great- and, in their ongoing time together, they have holiday fun with the others. Warm vibes start to grow as they reconnect and hang out. Oh yes, they follow the formula of having that heart-wrenching conflict that the bros all know must happen before the romance hero makes his big play for the woman he loves.
Oh, and the Silver Sneakers group was a hoot (along with Cheese guy). These old gals show the young guy athletes that aerobics can kick butt and take names.
There was a blend of holiday feel good, growing opposites attract romance, found family and camaraderie, but the contemporary social elements ground it all with some gritty reality, too. Each couple are different from the ones before, fight their own demons and come from a variety of situations. All in all, this is a series that has captivated me from the beginning and I don’t hesitate to recommend it to contemporary romance or RomCom lovers.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a new print paperback of A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams. US only
About Lyssa Kay Adams
Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston.
Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book.
Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores.
Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer.
About Sophia
Reviewer at Books of My Heart
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I’ve not read this author but I heard this series is really good!
It’s both heartwarming and funny with book mentions.
Glad to put it on your radar, Elizabeth!
I didn’t know there was a Christmas Bromance Book Club book! This is a series I’d love to start at some point😁
Well it’s really the Bromance book club and this one just happens to be a holiday one in its series. But it’s a good series.
I thought that was neat that she set it during the holiday time, too. At least one from the past crosses into the Christmas season if I remember right, but its not about holiday romance.
Oh my gosh I am loving this series. Great review pal and fingers crossed it’s my lucky entry 😉
Thanks Debbie. I always want everyone to win. I hope you get to read this one anyway.
Thanks, Debbie! Aren’t these fabulous? Cheering you on!
I have not read this author yet…but I have the other books in this series ready to binge! 🙂
OK Maria I will tell you I have enjoyed all the books but my least favorite was the first one so don’t let it put you off because I think it’s a really good series. And I liked the first one but I have loved several of the others.
Oh boy, you make me curious what this series would be like as a binge. A few emotionally exhausted me so I think I’d have to break it up with a few different types of books, too. Hope you love them when you get the chance!
This is a new to me author but that cover convinces me
This is the 5th book in the series and they are all good to great.
Oh yeah, the covers are a good attention grabber and match the series well. Hope you get the chance at them, Caitlin!
I’ve been reading this series and really enjoying it!
Yay for a fellow fan, Janie!
I love the background support of the bromance guys and the humorl
I like the sound of this one; Colton sounds like a great guy. 😀
He really was. Gretchen turned out to be a good match for him after they worked through stuff together.
For a star, he is really very family oriented and grounded.
We are review twins, Sophia and Anne! I enjoyed this one, too! Yes, Gretchen was a little hard to warm up, definitely the grump in the grump vs. sunshine romance, but I ended up really liking her. Colton balanced her out. I forgot to mention about the Silver Sneakers group! They did make me laugh! Wonderful reviews, ladies!
Isn’t it fun? Kimberly reviewed it today, too.
Yes, Gretchen grew and earned my respect so much when I saw what she was really up against and had to work through. LOL, those old gals and the Cheese guy are fun side characters with the club guys.
Thanks, Rachel!
Thank you Rachel. I enjoyed your review too. The wide range of supporting characters really adds to the couple in the romance. We got some of Colton and Gretchen’s families as well. The character development in these books really adds to the appeal, and the humor.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who cried at the grand gesture, haha. Great reviews, ladies!
Ahhh, these do bring the feels in places. Thanks, Suzanne!
yes Suzanne I am a sucker for the grand gesture for sure.
I keep seeing great reviews for this book, so I think it’s time I finally give this series a try. Good to know you enjoyed the audiobook.
Oh yes, definitely nudge it to your wish list, Lucy!
It’s a good series. I have enjoyed the ebook and the audiobook versions for these.
I want to read this book and this series. Wonderful review, Sophia!
It’s a heartwarming series.
It is well worth it and will be there when you’re ready for it, Wendy. 🙂
I’m really looking forward to this book! The series was selected as a group read beginning in January and I’m excited. I’ll be getting to this later in 2023. Glad to see you enjoyed it, Sophia💜
I know you will enjoy it Jonetta. The character development is a key part.
Now, that will be a fun group read for you, Jonetta. I liked some more than others in the series, but that’s typical. 🙂
Great reviews guys, thanks. Jennifer has been reviewing them for my blog. Every time I read a review, I know I’d love them… now to just find the time!
Thanks Jen. I know you’d enjoy this series with its well developed characters, the strong support circle and the humor. There’s even book mentions.
That is the age-old reader dilemma. Time to read them all. 🙂
Wonderful reviews ladies.. and I am glad the audiobook is good too!
Thanks Kimberly. I’ve read some in ebook and some on audio. I like both versions.
Thanks, Kimberly! Enjoyed your thoughts on this pair, too.
I really need to read these books! They always sound so good. Maybe I should try the audiobooks. Thanks for sharing this!
You should try them Lisa. They are fun and worthwhile reads. I liked both the ebooks and the audio; either will work.
I second that vote to try them, Lisa. 🙂
The Bromance Club series never fails to deliver, and this is no exception!
yes it’s just such a great setting and group of characters.
Agreed! 🙂
This is a series that I really want to read. I have the first 3 books on my shelf which I think my daughter has read. I may have to go with the audio. Good to know that each book works as a stand-alone.
You could read them as stand-alone but I would go in order for the relationships and groups which develop. I liked the ebook and the audio. Either is good. I hope you do get to try these. I also love the humor.
Look at you all set to hit the series. 🙂
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading this one too. Maybe I should try to squeeze it in this month to help me get in that holiday mood.
You could. It certainly has some holiday fun. This is book 5 though and I’d hate to have you miss 2-4 which are also excellent.
I love how each book spotlights couples who are different from the ones before and different struggles and personalities.
Loving the cover and title!
I agree. It’s a really good series and a fun read.
Always grab my attention too, Carole!