Just One of the Groomsmen

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I love a good friends to lovers story. Addie is not the stereotypical woman. She's her own woman who happens to be best friends with four guys. You can easily see how close this group of friends is. People think that Addie is odd the way she acts and how not girly she is. That's what I loved about her so much she's conformable being herself and who wouldn't want to have group of friends that have your back no questions asked? People are now looking at her strangely because she's going to be a one f the groomsmen for her friend's wedding. The characters in this one drew me right into the book. I laughed quite often while reading this book. I really loved Addie and Tucker's special bond and you can really feel it once he moves back. Tucker is realizing all that he has missed while he was away and Addie being a main one. It's not going to be easy for these two because their putting their long time friendship plus their group of friends on the line. As I was reading this one I kept thinking I hope the other guys are going to get books too. This is a town I would love to keep on revisiting.

JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is the first instalment in Cindi Madsen’s contemporary, adult GETTING HITCHED IN DIXIE romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends from Uncertainty, Alabama. This is physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Tucker and Addison) JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN follows the best friends to lovers relationship between physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford. Addison Murphy is the only woman in her tight knit group of friends from home but being the only woman has made her a target of innuendo and speculation especially when she is unwilling to conform to society’s and small town expectations of femininity and womanhood. The upcoming wedding of one of their own, finds Addison in the unenviable position as one of the groomsmen, but a groomsmen that is expected to help out the bride. Enter attorney Tucker Crawford, Addison’s lifelong best friend, and the man with whom Addison is secretly in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Addison and Tucker, and the potential fall-out when Addison is offered a position out of town, a position that may break down the relationship between our leading couple. Tucker Crawford struggled with his most recent position as a big city lawyer but returning to his hometown of Uncertainty, Alabama brought closure and a familiarity along with friends and the woman with whom he will fall in love. Addison Murphy is one of the boys: a beer drinking, football playing, poker playing physical therapist who is more at home in overalls than heels but finds herself on the outside looking in when her femininity and sexuality are called into question by the people she loves. As the wedding of Will Shepherd and Lexi approaches, Addison finds herself wondering is she is truly just ‘one of the guys’. The relationship between Addison and Tucker is a best friends to lovers romance wherein Tucker tries to keep their affair on the down-low. Believing herself to be Tucker’s ‘dirty little secret’ Addison struggles with the possibility that their relationship is only a temporary thing. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Will Shepherd and his fiancé Lexi, Easton, and Ford: Addison’s sister Alexandria,; their Nonna Lucia, dentist Davis Nelson as well as a large assortment of busy-bodies and town gossips who relish in spreading secrets and lies. JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is a story of family and friendships; misunderstanding and miscommunication; struggle, hardship, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful, energetic and fun.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I love the drama of the will they, won't they. I love the uncertainty. Addie and Tucker's journey is one of my absolute favorites. I loved how they talked to each other and did constant check ins that this was what they wanted. But the journey wasn't without its bumps and that kept me glued to the story. I felt every emotion that Addie and Tucker felt and was immediately rooting for them. Their friendship was my favorite part of their story and watching it grow was amazing!! This story was like all of my favorite romantic movies rolled into one book!! I'm absolutely in love with these characters and this town. I NEED this to be a series so I can visit all of them again and get to know them better.