Runaway Groom
I Do I Don't • Book Two
🔥 Steamy
After losing a bet, the hottest name in Hollywood finds himself in Maui as the main attraction in a reality dating show, and the only woman who catches his interest wants nothing to do with him.
Ready to Run
Ellie & Gage
🔥 Steamy
Trope: Famous Hero, Friends-to-Lovers
I Do I Don't | Book Two
“Romantic comedy at its finest . . . Readers will not want to put it down.”—USA TODAY
🏆
Amazon Best Book of the Month
For one charming playboy, getting cast on a Bacheloresque reality TV show is the shock of a lifetime—until he finds love where he least expects it. And now the chase is on!
Gage Barrett’s reputation as a ladies’ man has been greatly exaggerated, but none of that matters after a drunken bet lands him on /Jilted/,a reality TV show that matches runaway grooms with wannabe brides. Now he’s stuck at a Hawaiian resort with nineteen women competing to drag him back to the altar—and one contestant who’s even more miserable than he is. Gage has no idea how feisty, independent Ellie Wright wound up in the cast, but it’s obvious she hates his guts. And if there’s one thing Gage likes, it’s a challenge. . . .
Ellie can’t believe she let her best friend talk her into exchanging her dignity for a glorified bikini contest. Still, she could use the exposure—her business is struggling—and she’ll probably be one of the first to get eliminated anyway. But Gage isn’t the shallow jerk Ellie anticipated—and he’s in no rush to send her home. As stolen kisses turn into secret trysts, she finds herself losing track of what’s real and what’s for the camera. With the wedding finale looming, this runaway groom is tempting Ellie to start believing in storybook endings.
about the story
if you're wondering...
Is this book for me?
I TRY TO BE AS UPFRONT AS POSSIBLE ABOUT EACH OF MY BOOKS. EVERYONE HAS UNIQUE PREFERENCES!
Fun fact: I almost never read my books after publication. I've read this one at least a dozen times because I love it so much!
This book is written in first-person with dual POVs.
This takes place in Maui, which makes it a great beach read—literally!
Gage is one of my favorite heroes. Charming and confident, but Ellie brings out a surprise vulnerable side.
🔥 This book is steamy with explicit sex scenes.
Totally not one of my most popular, so if you like to read "off the beaten path," this is for you!
reviews & praise
“Romantic comedy at its finest . . . Readers will not want to put it down.”—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
“Lauren Layne gets the red rose for this one, and fans of The Bachelor will fall in love with this thoroughly charming story.”—Kate O’Keeffe, bestselling author of One Last First Date
“Runaway Groom was a charmingly fun romance centered around a Bacheloresque reality show, and underneath the backdrop of this show was a wildly hot and explosive love affair steeped with interesting characters and Layne’s signature wit.”—Book Reader Chronicles (five stars)
“If you’re a fan of Lauren Layne, The Bachelor, or witty contemporary novels, this book is for you. It’s the perfect beach read—or snow day read, if you’re stuck in cold weather like me!”—All About Romance“
I haven’t read anything else by this author yet, but now I just have to. Five suns!”—Up ’Til Dawn Book Blog
“I loved it. You just know it’s going to be good with a happy ending that makes you smile. It did!”—My Reading Journeys
“Runaway Groom was so good.”—Obsessive Book Nerd
“Runaway Groom is such a fun, witty and laugh-out-loud kind of romance. I think readers will enjoy this addition to the series.”—Smitten by Books
“Runaway Groom was just what the doctor ordered. . . . Light, fun and flirty with a stunning setting guaranteed to whisk you away from real life for a few hours.”—Book Angel Booktopia
“Runaway Groom is a fun and romantic getaway filled with all the drama and craziness you can expect from a reality dating show, characters that will charm your pants off, and a chemistry that starts with a sizzle and ends with a bang.”—Of Pens and Pages
“Hilarious, sigh-worthy, crazy at times, and so much fun!”—Star-Crossed Book Blog
“I was absolutely obsessed with Runaway Groom, reading it in one sitting. I literally couldn’t put it down because I had to know how it would all shake out.”—Kimberlyfaye Reads
“Holy cow, this book was good. It was the perfect book to read after a really bad book because Gage and Ellie’s antics perked me right up. . . . It was so good that I read the entire thing in one sitting. I can’t think of a single thing that I didn’t like about it.”—Weendizzle
“Lauren Layne does it again! What a fun and charming read!”—Ebs and Her Reads (five stars)
“What fun! Runaway Groom is destined to be a runaway hit. Packed with smart snarky humor, witty banter, poignant insights, and steamy love scenes, this rom-com is one of Layne’s best.”—Books & Bindings (five stars)
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
Excerpt
He’s still holding my hand, his face just a few inches from mine. “What was the deal with you today?”
“What do you mean?” I avoid his eyes.
“You were acting weird. You ignored my texts. You wouldn’t even look at me on the boat. Or at dinner.”
“I never look at you. Your ego shines so brightly, it hurts my eyes.”
Instead of letting me escape with the joke, Gage snags my chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting my face to his as he searches my expression. “Talk to me.”
He’s so close. My eyes drop to his mouth for a split second, and I have the insane urge to press my lips to his.
For the Reality-TV Fans
I Do I Don't
One of my more underrated series if I do say so myself 😉 Apple named Ready to Run a best book of the Year, and Runaway Groom is the only one of my books that I read sometimes just for fun...as a reader!
"romantic comedy at its finest."
❗️This series is not available as a paperback or print version. Penguin Random House controls the print rights, and has declined to make a paperback available for my readers.
These books are connected in theme, but have no overlapping characters. No need to read in order!
🔥 steamy
