This was a super cute series! Gotta love those meddling older adults in your family who think they know what's best for you, right?
Due to this being a long post, I'll tell you how to work it! Immediately after the jump (& author bio), you'll find a super cute Montgomery quiz to learn which brother is your perfect match (if William were still matching him with anyone, anyway).
Also, each book has it's own review. You can continue to read the post full-on, or you can click each book cover to jump to the individual review!
about Samantha || New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
{ quiz } .
Which Montgomery Brother Is Right For You?
With Author Samantha Chase
With Author Samantha Chase
With plenty of Montgomery Brother books on shelves now (and more coming your way soon) bestselling author Samantha Chase invites you to take this quiz to find out which Montgomery man is right for you.
What is your ideal hero’s idea of a perfect date?
a) Wandering the aisles of IKEA – if you don’t break down and start yelling at each other, then you know it is meant to be!
b) Locking yourself in your office to work. Who has time for fancy dates?!?!
c) A pizza picnic at the local arboretum. Ten points to the one who can guess the most species of plants and flowers!
d) Bungee jumping followed by a long, hot soak in a hot tub. The both can provide an adrenaline rush!
Which flavor of ice cream do you associate with your guy?
a) Neapolitan because there are just so many different sides to this man.
b) Coffee Mocha Fudge because he is strong and intense and can stay up…all night long.
c) Rocky Road because loving him is a journey with ups and down, but definitely worth it!
d) Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough because he is amazingly sweet and indulges your every whim.
Where would your perfect man take you on vacation?
a) An isolated ski chalet, including a snow storm that would keep you two alone for days.
b) New York City – plenty to do there, both business and pleasure.
c) A super-private beach resort where you can feel like you’re the only ones there, complete with candlelit dinners and dancing in the moonlight.
d) A nature walk in the woods, a pampering day at the spa, whale watching … it really doesn’t matter to him, as long as you can be together.
Your man’s best quality is:
a) His nurturing nature. Once you get past his gruff exterior, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.
b) Rock solid work ethic.
c) Independence. He knows who he is and doesn’t let anyone push him around.
d) Deep down loyalty to everyone he cares about.
His best physical feature is:
a) His devastatingly strong shoulders – he’s got the body of an athlete.
b) His smile – wicked or sweet, one smile can melt your heart.
c) His hands – he really knows how to use them!
d) His kind, soulful eyes that see the real you.
A romantic gesture that he plans just for you is…
a) Having the band play only slow songs so he can continue to dance with you in his arms.
b) Buying you tickets to your very favorite sporting event.
c) Planning a surprise engagement party!
d) Sweeping you off your feet (literally!) to convince you that he loves you and wants you to stay – forever.
***
If you chose mostly ‘A’s, then Lucas Montgomery from Wait for Me is your soul mate. To the world, Lucas seems like a loner, but deep down he’s not. He cares fiercely about the people in his life and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them. He may come off as grouchy, but don’t let his growling get to you because this just hides his big heart. Lucas is not afraid to apologize and admit when he’s wrong and, in the end, he’ll do anything to prove how much he loves you.
If you chose mostly ‘B’s, then you will not be able to take your eyes off of the delicious Jason Montgomery from Trust in Me. Confident, level-headed, and seemingly all about business, Jason is a man of action. He likes to take control of almost any situation and prefers things to go his way. But all this aside, he’s considerate of those around him and pays close attention to details – a person’s likes and dislikes – and incorporates them into the relationship. Whether it’s business or pleasure, Jason is a man who takes notes and remembers exactly what it is that will mean the most to you.
If you chose mostly ‘C’s, then James Montgomery from Return to You is the hero of your dreams. James is a very hands-on type of man. He enjoys working with his hands and his love language is primarily all about the touching. He puts his heart and soul into everything he does – he loves deeply and hurts just as much. His pride and his need for privacy may get in the way at times, but the lucky woman in his life will know that she is everything to him because he loves so completely.
If you chose mostly ‘D’s, Meant for You’s Ethan Reed will have you melting like butter. While he may not be a Montgomery, he has been in the family for years as a best friend and confidant. There is nothing boring about Ethan! The woman in his life had better enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle because Ethan offers it all – romance, adventure, passion. He knows his limitations and his sense of loyalty to the people that mean the most to him may have him hesitating in going after what it is that he truly wants, but in the end, he’ll make it worth the wait!
{ reviews } .
This was a super cute series, as I stated above. I have to say, though, before I get any further into these reviews...
...at times I felt that Samantha had one idea that she wanted to play out two ways, so she made two books for that particular play-out. WAIT FOR ME and TRUST ME felt very similar, as did MORE OF ME and RETURN TO YOU. But that aside, each individual story was certainly cute!
Wait for Me
There’s no time like the present… Unless you’re still running from your past.
Executive assistant Emma Taylor is desperate for a little time away; away from her job, her life and from thoughts of her boss’s son who doesn’t seem to know she even exists. Tired of waiting for the time to be right, she takes advantage of her boss’s generous offer for a little weekend getaway to thank her for helping out with a difficult business deal.
Former NFL superstar Lucas Montgomery is still suffering from a career-ending injury. His self-imposed exile from life is exactly what he wants; a sanctuary where there’s no chance for disappointment or distractions and that’s exactly the way he likes it. While his family has been patiently waiting for Lucas to come around and embrace life once again, they don’t realize that it wasn’t just his career that was lost, but his sense of identity.
Lucas thought everything was fine until sweet, sexy and completely off-limits Emma Taylor comes crashing into his carefully constructed world one snowy weekend and turns his entire life upside down.
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Putting aside the fact that I read RETURN TO YOU weeks before I picked up this story and rather enjoyed it, I felt that this was a strong introduction to this series. William Montgomery is saddened by the fact that his son, Lucas, goes into hiding and feels he has nothing to offer anyone now that his career in football is over. Lucas was injured and rather than take the steps to fix the injury, he lives with the pain as a reminder that he failed.
Once a month, though, he goes into the family offices and works on projects -- otherwise, he holds a role in the business that he can complete from home.
He is attracted to the little assistant, Emma, but knows better than to mix business with pleasure.
Wanting his son back home, and happy at home at that, William notices the lingering looks Emma gives toward Lucas, and he recognizes the same looks Lucas gives Emma. So he begins his foray into matchmaking.
Thrust together for a weekend due to a snowstorm, Emma and Lucas learn that they get along rather well. Lucas is a pretty smart cookie, though, and often feels as if his father was up to something by sending Emma up to his cabin, but William doesn't ever admit to the truth.
What I loved most about Emma was that she wasn't a pushover. She could be quiet and timid, sure, but when it came to Lucas, she wasn't a sugar-coating gal; she called it out like she saw it.
Of the two, Lucas had the most growth, I felt. He became more human as the story progressed, and as much as Emma wanted to push him away toward the end, he proves again and again that he's in it for the long haul.
Trust in Me
All work and no play… would make Jason Montgomery a very happy man.
Ever since his brother had married a woman who worked for their company, Jason has been walking around fending off the unwanted advances of all of the single women in his employ. Now, with a make or break business expansion in the works, Jason needs an assistant he can trust not to mix business with romance.
For three years Maggie Barrett has happily hid in the shadows of Montgomery’s. After dealing with her own unwanted advances from her previous employer, staying under the radar was working just fine for her. But now she’s thrown into the spotlight as Jason’s assistant because he believes her to be a safe choice because she’s married.
The only problem? She’s not.
Working in close proximity wasn’t supposed to be an issue. The lines of their relationship were clearly defined. But when a mutual respect turns into a mutual attraction how will Maggie explain that the only thing holding Jason back was just a little white lie?
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Again, we have William pinning to get his sons in forever relationships. This time, though, he's focused on his workaholic son, Jason, who is in need of an assistant -- because they all keep trying to get in his pants.
William saved Maggie from a pretty nasty situation, and as such, Maggie wanted to be a nobody in the business world. William hired her to work a low-tier job, and helped her out by telling everyone she was married. William, though, likes Maggie for his son, Jason, and because Jason's looking for an assistant who won't want to get in his pants (ok, so William doesn't think it in those terms but...) --
Married Maggie will work out well, right?
Maggie knows that Jason doesn't want a relationship; Jason 'knows' that Maggie is married but avaible to go on a weeks-long business trip. All will work out, yes?
Except Jason slowly becomes incredibly attracted to this allegedly married woman.
I enjoyed Jason and Maggie, as I did Emma and Lucas. I liked that Maggie was a quieter girl, but put her in a hockey rink and watch out, the lady was loud and ruthless (totally like me). I liked that they both went into the relationship not looking for anything -- it made everything happen rather naturally, regardless of the meddling of Jason's father.
Jason's growing in this story has to do with his timeliness -- he needs to learn how to balance work and personal life (which he does, but almost to the degree where he loses what he really wants out of life).
Stay with Me
Was a little peace and quiet too much to hope for?
Mac Montgomery spent two years watching his father play matchmaker for his brothers and their wives and as the last Montgomery standing, he knew it wouldn't be long until all eyes would be on him. While he couldn't deny that things had worked out well for his siblings, the last thing that Mac wanted was to get married and settle down.
He hadn't counted on his father not wanting to set him up with anyone.
And he hadn't counted on Gina Micelli.
After more than a dozen years away from her beloved family friends, Gina Micelli comes home to take care of her ailing father. Some of her most cherished memories are of the times she spent with the Montgomerys - and her crush on Mac. She was a child when she moved away, but now as a grown woman, the thought of seeing Mac again actually has her wondering at the possibilities.
Ever the responsible one, Mac makes sure that Gina is taken care of during such an emotional time. He wants to see her as a friend, as the girl that he remembers from his youth. Unfortunately, the beautiful woman she has grown into has all thoughts of a platonic relationship flying out the window. Torn between honor and passion and peace or chaos, all Mac knows is that his life is never going to be the same.
The timing is all wrong but for two people fighting for control over their own lives, their response to one another is anything but.
Rating: ★★★★
So finally, William has his last son to wed off. He's getting better through the years at his predictibility, I must say. This time, he semi-includes his ailing good friend; William wants to see his last son married, and his friend wants to see his daughter happy and settled.
Mac always liked Gina well enough, but he was seven years her senior and he wasn't touching that with a ten-foot pole. When William offers the guest house to Gina, Mac thinks he knows what his father is up to -- there's no way his father is putting him and Gina together.
I rather enjoyed, then, the converation between Mac and his father when William told him, in no uncertain terms, was he good enough for Gina; not only that, what kind of man plays matchmaker with the daughter of a gravely ill friend?
Have to say... it's almost believable. William even goes as far as suggesting to set up Gina with another man. I think of all the sons, Mac was definitely the correct one to do this with. It takes Mac some serious steps to win his way in with Gina (and I love that his brothers hackled him as well as helped him along the way).
As a separate side note... be prepared for the waterworks in this one's epilogue.
More of Me
When Ryder Montgomery shows up on her doorstep ten years after breaking her heart, Casey can't decide which burns hotter - her desire to be with him or the pain he left her with...
Rating: ★★★★
Oh, you thought William would be done when his sons were married off? Oh, heck to the no -- he has nephews, after all.
Mac and Gina are getting married, and plan on getting married on the coast. While Mac has to go out of town for business, Gina is going to be working with Casey, a wedding planner. When William learns that the wedding is going to be on the east coast, and he recalls his nephew Ryder is there, he comes up with the brilliant plan to get Casey and Ryder (back) together and figures he can just have them working together.
Casey and Ryder have some past things that need to be worked out for sure in this story. Ryder left her behind when he decided to leave home and make a name for himself outside of the Montgomery empire. When he left, though, he knew he was leaving behind a part of himself that he'd regret.
Watching these two thrown back together was fun -- even though I was equally thrilled that it was almost a sequel to Mac and Gina's story, being their wedding and all. They had a lot to work through, including distance as she was on the west coast and he the east. There were past hurts and mistakes that needed mending, but all in all, they were cute!
Return to You
She will never forget their past...
He can't stop thinking about their future...
James Montgomery has achieved everything he'd hoped for in life...except marrying the girl of his dreams. After a terrible accident, Selena Ainsley left ten years ago. She took his heart with her and she's never coming back. But it's becoming harder and harder for him to forget their precious time together, and James can't help but wonder what he would do if they could ever meet again.
Rating: ★★★★1/2
This was my first 'foray' into the world of those Montgomerys (err... or the world of a certain William Montgomery) and oh, how enjoyable it was!
One of my favorite romance book styles is the meddling [grand]parent who plays matchmaker. I think it's fun and keeps them young. William has matched up all three of his sons and now he's on his way to his nephews, and even though his one nephew denies it, William takes all the credit in the coupling of Ryder and Casey.
James and Selena were sweethearts back in the day. Although years separated them and they didn't attend school together, they met through Kent, Selena's friend and James's cousin. However, their plans came to an abrupt stop and their lives would be separate for the next ten years.
Both harbor hurt. Neither really wants to deal with the pain the other brought them, so they both figure the best way to deal with it is to not deal with it.
Thanks to the meddling of William and Ryder, as well as Selena's best friend, Jen, they're going to have no choice but to deal with it.
Even without knowing the full and true story, Selena knows her father played a vital role in James's disappearing act. Between that and other aspects of her life, she has estranged herself from her father. However, that does not stop his menacing words from echoing in her head whenever she does something wrong. Girl has some trust issues.
Selena refuses to forgive James... but the version that James was told? It's no wonder he refuses to forgive Selena.
Trying to distance himself from his family, James gives up his dreams of landscape and goes into police work. Said police work leads him right to Selena, when she's staying at Jen's and Jen's stalker lurks by.
I enjoyed the fumbling between James and Selena. Just when Selena thinks she's going to be able to forgive and move on, James (accidentally) misses their meeting and they're back at square one. These two have many missed opportunities but they all combine to make a sweet love.
What these two had was immature in a sense that it was very much puppy-love. Things happened, they made plans on a dime. They were head over heels, to the moon and back, in love with each other. And as hard as those 10 years apart were, they very much needed them to grow up and into themselves. They became different people, yet still the same, and their love was much more mature this time around.
I loved every little bit of Selena and James's story. Re-finding love can be extremely sweet, and Samantha nailed this one on the head.
Meant for You
She dares to dream...
Summer Montgomery wants to be taken seriously almost as much as she wants her brother's best friend, Ethan. But with a long resume of seemingly random career choices and a protective brother on watch, those things are nothing more than pipe dreams...
Does he dare to try?
Ethan Reed would like nothing more than to live by his own rules. Not wanting to disappoint his best friend Zach, or any of the Montgomerys, Ethan's had to push his long-denied feelings for Summer aside. But it only takes one night away from watchful eyes to make impossible dreams come true...
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Ah, so now we have a niece William wants to marry off (he really just wants his entire Montgomery fold happy). To do so, he's going to pull the card with his niece and her brother's best friend -- because "If William didn't know better, he'd swear his nephew was [going on the Alaska trip] purposely to avoid spending time with him. He chuckled. He'd get to him eventually."
So I have to add real quick... I can't wait to watch Zach's story... but this is Summer's story, so move aside Zach Montgomery.
Summer has earned a reputation, to say the least, where her father is concerned. Her father doesn't think Summer is cut out for the business world, as she's 'flaky' -- to which William doesn't care to hear. He feels his neice has more to offer, she just chooses not to. So while his brother doesn't think Summer should be going to the Oregon offices, William is sending her to Ethan Reed while Zach is out of town.
Ethan is ill-prepared for grown-up Summer. She's certainly grown into her skin, but the last thing he wants is for Ethan to beat him up for hitting on his little sister. So, what better thing to do than be rude to the woman who's got his hormones all up in a bundle?
Gotta say, Ethan... calling a girl a corporate Barbie isn't really the best way to handle things.
Gotta say, Ethan... calling a girl a corporate Barbie isn't really the best way to handle things.
That's not the last time Ethan will do stupid things where Summer is concerned, of course, but watching him battle his feelings and find a way to not make them work was certainly entertaining.
Of all the Montgomerys, I think that maybe... just maybe, these two were my favorite.
{ giveaway } .
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