Accidentally Married on Purpose
by Rachel Harris
Published by Entangled: Bliss
Book #3 of the Love and Games Series
One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she's all about what's happened in Vegas staying there. Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity...though there's something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories...and rings on their fingers. Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn't the hardest part--it's reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can't last. Tyler's first love will always be music--and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.
Genre #RockstarRomance
My reviews are spoiler-rich. So, you know, read the book before reading my thoughts.
Accidentally Married on Purpose is the third book in the Love and Games series by Rachel Harris, and centers on Sherry, a hostess at her family restaurant, with dreams of one day starting her event planning business, and Tyler, country music super star. What I didn't know until a few chapters in was that this book was a part of a series. To be honest, it usually bugs me enough to stop reading and start from the very start ... but honestly the story was so centered on Sherry and Tyler, the other books wouldn't add much to the story, so I am choosing not to read them. Not because this book wasn't good. It was good. Cute and fluffy. Just didn't love it so much that I wanted to take time to read her siblings love stories as well.
The first half of the book is good. Notice I say good, and not great. I liked the idea of two people with an instant attraction, both wanted a fling, and ended up getting way more than that. Is it a bit cliche to get drunk and married in Vegas? Sure! But the results from that wedding make for a cute, romantic story between two sweet characters. The added twist of Sherry only wanting a fling with an exciting man before finding "Mr. Boring" to settle down with, and Tyler going along with Sherry's mistake of thinking he was a roadie instead of Tyler Blue, country star, famous playboy and being pushed by his team to commit to someone, makes it interesting. Not to mention, the sexual tension between these two is great. The second half of this book I lean more towards great. I think once we get past Sherry and Tyler's awkwardness around one another when first living with one another, it gets good.
Tyler and Sherry are both nice characters. Perhaps sometimes a bit too perfect. Sherry was a bit of a contradiction, with her punk rock look, southern-belle charm, that is in love with love. That being said, it works for her. I don't get a whole lot of backstory from her, perhaps its explained in the previous two books. From what I could tell, Sherry's only problem is her addiction for love, and falling for men who hurt her. Tyler is also a sweetheart, despite what the media portrays him as. He admits he has had his fun in the past, but now he is more selective with who her is with. He also admits he doesn't want a relationship. Music is his life, and a relationship would complicate that. Case in point: his Dad. His Dad was on his way to living his dream in music, until his wife (Tyler's Mom) is diagnosed with breast cancer. Tyler plays music not just for him, but for his Dad, and lives life assuming his Dad lost out. It takes a long time for Tyler to actually ask his Dad how he felt, and his answer was simple, and obvious: his wife was his life .... the music was just part of it, and something he gladly gave up to be with her. Even now, after five years of fighting breast cancer, and now dying of ovarian cancer, life being as hard as it is, he has no regrets.
It's what Tyler needed to hear ... even if it still takes time to sink in that he actually does want a wife and family. Sherry knows what she wants. She knows she is falling hard for Tyler. Their chemistry and easy conversations with one another have them both hooked, and despite Sherry's no sex rule (admitting that adding sex to the ruse would make it hard for her to not connect with him, making the eventual divorce painful), they can't stand to be apart. The last night Tyler was with her, before he had to start his tour, Rachel Harris's words describing Sherry's heartbreak, sneaking off in the morning before he woke up so she wouldn't have to say goodbye, had me in tears. How I went from annoyed that I read 90% of the book, only to find out that the sex that is hinted at throughout the book is behind closed doors, to bawling like a baby, I don't know, but it happened.
If you like cute and fluffy romances I recommend this book. If you are looking for something a bit steamier, which I typically prefer, this isn't for you. I was very annoyed at the steamy flashback memories of their night in Vegas teasing me that good stuff was to come, only to cut off in a very "Breaking Dawn" way. Otherwise, it's a good story with a happy ending. It was obviously good enough to surpass my annoyance and make me cry.
Tyler: "Sugar, you can call me anything you like. And what can I call you?"
Sherry: "Who said you could call me at all?"
Tyler: "So, my flight arrives at eight in the morning. Any chance you can come and get me?"
Sherry: "Gee, I don't know. Pick you up from the airport? That seems hardcore, Ty. Normally, I'm married to a guy for at least a couple weeks before I take that big a step."
Tyler: "Funny."
Sherry: "I am, aren't I?"
Sherry: "Which leads to the fourth rule ... no more sex. I know what you're thinking. Been there, bought the T-shirt, so what's the big deal, right? But see, that's the thing. I don't do casual sex. Not normally at least. Our weekend was a first for me, and the only reason I escaped with my heart intact was because it was just for the holiday. But an entire month? Years together? I can't do that, Ty. Not if I want to walk away from you unscathed."
Sherry: "Dancing isn't a spectator sport. Don't tell me you don't dance, music man. I ain't buying it."
Cane: "Have any sisters, Tyler?"
Tyler: "Nope. Only child. Lots of cousins, though. In high school, I had to dunk a dude's head in the toilet for standing one up at her prom."
Cane nodded and exchanged a look with Jason.
Cane: "Yeah, he'll fit right in."
Tyler: "Great. So basically you're saying your entire family is trained to kick my ass if I step out of line."
Sherry: "And don't you forget it."
Random Woman: "That girl's heart is bigger than Texas. And it's as tender as a baby's butt. You take care with it, you hear?"
Sherry: "You gonna tease me with your package all night? Or are you gonna give it to me?"
After kissing as man and wife:
Tyler: "Now it's too late to say no. You're stuck with me."
Charlie: "Man, you've been asleep since we left Louisiana. We all see it. You're not here. You're back there, with your wife. Where you should be."
Arianne: "Guys! This is live to tape. Move your asses!"
Charlie: "Go get your woman, kid."
Tyler: "I intend to."
Charlie: "Good. Just, maybe wait till after the show."
Tyler: "You're about to be a mama."
Sherry: "You're about to be a daddy."
Tyler: "Thank you."
Sherry: "Thank you."