The Trouble with Runaway Brides

Lake Starlight, Book 3

By: Piper Rayne

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Emily Woo Zeller

I should not still be hung up on my high school girlfriend.

I’m a billionaire, with a penthouse in New York City, a private plane, and was recently crowned one of Manhattan’s most eligible bachelors.

She’s engaged to my rival. A real prick of a guy whose family is about as famous as mine. So, pictures of the happy couple are plastered everywhere, and it’s driving me insane.

The last time I spoke to her was my freshman year of college, and I never imagined I’d bump into her at a crowded restaurant in the busiest city in the world. But fate had other plans, and when I innocently suggest that the press wouldn’t bother with her wedding plans if she held it in our small Alaskan town where we grew up, I had no idea she’d take me seriously.

Now, I find myself helping her plan the wedding at my dad’s luxury resort while the town’s gossip app follows our every move, afraid that their golden boy will get his heart broken twice by the same girl.

But that’s impossible because she stole my heart when we were 15 and never gave it back.

©2023 Piper Rayne Inc. (P)2023 Piper Rayne Inc.

It is so much fun seeing this second generation of Baileys!

Seeing the original Bailey couples as parents has been amazing! I’ll start by saying this book has tropes/situations that would usually keep me from picking up the book, but Piper Rayne is a favorite and I had to just attempt it. The angst the first half of this book gave me. Dear lord. But it made the ending so satisfying. I loved Lance so much and he is a total book boyfriend. The way he knows Kenzie and wants the best for her, SWOOOOON. I think readers are going to absolutely love this one. I also CANNOT wait for the next book after that ending!!

Childhood sweethearts

Kenzie is engaged and her planning for the wedding to Will seems to be announced. zenzie wanting it to be intimate along with showing her family heritage. Working in New York City as a podcaster with her business partner. She runs into lance whitmore her first love turn enemy. Making chit chat she mentions the venue is announced to the public. As the time running out Lance makes a suggestion of her having it at his family hotel. But she thinks it’s a wonderful idea. Now, what to do. They are brought together to plan her wedding. Will old feeling stay hidden? Will the truth they don’t want to talk about finally surface?

I got confused with the voice of Zenzie’s father. Is he suppose to be Filipino too? Or a white man?

Why is every new book my favorite?

There’s always been something about Lance that drew me in. I don’t know if it was his quiet demeanor when compared to Easton or his drive to achieve all the things. There’s usually something really deep, profound, and dare I say a little sexy to those quiet ones. But Lance’s heart is his true treasure. He has loved and lost, but his dedication to make the dreams of everyone around him come true is his major draw. And his ability to be vulnerable yet still be a beacon is so admirable.

Kenzie has had a hard go in the close friend department ever since the dreaded events that surrounded her, Lance, & Easton. She’s found success in a career of podcasting and she’s found a man she feels that she loves enough to marry. But sometimes, her strong suit is not standing up for herself…especially when it comes to her steamroller of a fiancé, Will.

I loved how Kenzie & Lance were forced together enough to where they found their way back to the true happiness only they could provide each other. In truth, their love never really faded in all their time apart. I loved how Kenzie & Brinley were able to mend their fences, and even Easton was able to find peace in their friendship again. The addition of Blake & Geoff was a little bit of comedic relief & flat out honesty that was needed.

There’s soooooo much history in so many aspects of this story. There’s history between Lance & Will, history between their parents, history between Kenzie & Brinley, Kenzie & Easton, & most of all Kenzie & Lance. Then you bring in Kenzie & Lance’s parents, & there’s even more connections to awe over. How it all played out, how every aspect was explored, & how every person was impacted was a fine web of laughter, tears, swoons, & just flat out heart eyes. I love how Piper Rayne always takes me on the most enjoyable emotional rollercoaster.

Audiobook Review:
Aiden Snow’a narration was as spectacular as always. I love his voice, it just draws me in & holds me captive. This was my first listen narrated by Emily Woo Zeller. She took Kenzie’s character & owned it! Her distinction between all off the different female characters was so well done.

A great enemies to lovers/second chance romance!

The Trouble With Runaway Brides is the third book in the Lake Starlight series by Piper Rayne, featuring an entertaining enemies to lovers/second chance romance for Lance and Kenzie. Lance might be a successful billionaire, but he still has a weakness named Kenzie, his high school girlfriend, and the one he let get away. Now she’s marrying his arch nemesis in his family’s hotel, and he is helping with the planning! Too bad his heart didn’t get the memo that Kenzie was not his anymore. Despite all the pain and hard feelings from the past, the love is still there between them. As they plan the wedding without the groom, they begin to repair their friendship. Will they make it through this wedding planning process with their hearts intact?

I was so excited to return to Lake Starlight again, and this book did not disappoint!! There’s so much backstory with Lance, Kenzie, Easton, and Brinley that this book was full of emotion, drama, and angst! It was clear early on that Kenzie shouldn’t be with Will, but the “Will they or won’t they” aspect of Lance and Kenzie’s relationship was played up to the max! When they finally did unleash their passion for each other at the end of the book, it was like a five-alarm fire had erupted!🥵🥵 Once again, the Bailey family and the townspeople bring the banter, the gossip, and small town camaraderie that make me feel right at home every time I read one of these books! I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next one!!

I also listened to the duet audio version, narrated by Aiden Snow and Emily Woo Zeller. I loved both of them in this duet format. They really brought the characters to life for me, with all the emotion and angst that was in play. This was my first experience with Emily as a narrator, and I was really impressed with her ability to embody so many unique female voices. Aidan Snow is always a joy to listen to. I hope more authors opt to do duet narration going forward!!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.