The Wedding Deal

3.5 stars--THE WEDDING DEAL is the first instalment in Cindi Madsen’s contemporary, adult HEART IN THE GAME romance series. This is former NFL quarterback and team owner Lance Quaid, and HR manager Charlotte James’ story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Lance and Charlotte) THE WEDDING DEAL follows the building but forbidden relationship between the former NFL quarterback and San Antonio Mustangs’ owner Lance Quaid, and the team’s HR manager Charlotte James. Upon the recent death of his beloved grandfather Lance Quaid inherited the struggling NFL San Antonio Mustangs. Already at the end of his rope Lance fires the majority of the team executive and coaches but retains his feisty HR manager Charlotte James. Lance and Charlotte must pull together in an effort to reorganize and recruit for the upcoming season but Lance’s brother’s wedding throws a kink into their tight schedule. Needing a plus one to keep his mother off his back, Lance invites Charlotte to Nag’s Head, North Carolina where their search for a new executive and quarterback continues. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Lance and Charlotte, and the potential fall-out as Lance’s issues of trust come to a head with the reveal of team secrets and Charlotte’s past. Charlotte James has a head for statistics; a mind for numbers and in this she is a stickler for rules and regulations, so much so that her relationship with Lance is directly affected by her need to recite and follow the rules. Lance Quaid struggles between head and heart knowing to get involved with a member of his staff could bring about another round of publicity that will affect negatively against himself and the team. The relationship between Lance and Charlotte begins acrimoniously as Charlotte continues to speak her mind. A case of instant attraction tempered by Charlotte’s almost obsessive-like quality to quote and obey the rules, Lance battles his need for a woman whose secrets are about to be revealed. The $ex scenes are passionate but limited, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Charlotte’s friend and roommate Shannon, and Lance’s large extended family including his parents Maribelle and Chuck, brother Mitch and fiancee Stacey, and her bridesmaids Grace and Bridget; sister Taylor and husband Scott, nephews Aaron and Austin, as well as an assortment of prospective team members and executive. The world building focuses on the game of football- behind the scenes as our leading couple struggle to rebuild a team that has fallen below expectations. There is plenty of rules and regulations, legalese and statistics as Charlotte is not above laying down the law and offering her opinion. THE WEDDING DEAL is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and trust. The premise is engaging; the romance is flirty and fun; the characters are sexy and sassy but I did have an issue with the frenetic change in third person perspectives so much so that I had to re-read several passages in order to clarify which point of view was presented.

I absolutely loved The Wedding Deal by Cindi Madsen, the first book in her Heart in the Game series. The Wedding Deal is an incredible story and I loved reading every moment on every page and could not put it down. Cindi Madsen provides her readers with the amazing characters, that I loved, who feel like close friends! She shows her readers that she is an incredible storyteller. One of my favorite things that I love about The Wedding Deal is how Cindi Madsen incorporates the title of the book into the love story. I love all the characters in The Wedding Deal, they feel like family! Who doesn't love hot sexy men, strong, passionate females, and big loving families, who always support one another? I love how Cindi Madsen manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy men. I could not put it down and loved every moment on every page. I enjoy how Cindi Madsen writes from the perspective of the two main characters. That way you get to know what is going on in each of their minds. The Wedding Deal is a wonderful love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud and the bittersweet moments that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. The Wedding Deal is filled with such moments, and with so much more. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. The Wedding Deal is the story of Charlotte James, Head of Human Resources for the San Antonio Mustangs, who excels at football statistics, and Lance Quaid, former professional quarterback, and current owner of the San Antonio Mustangs. Charlotte is a rule follower, because of events from her childhood and approaches Lance to make him aware of complaints that have been filed against him because of his language. Lance has inherited the ownership of the Mustangs from his maternal grandfather, and his own retirement from football because of a knee injury. Lance is voted the most eligible bachelor in the NFL. The Mustangs were winless in the last season, so Lance wants to make changes and fires his entire coaching staff. Lance’s brother is getting married in North Carolina. Lance’s mother, Maribelle is trying to set up Lance with a plus one for the wedding. Lance convinces Charlotte to enter into the wedding deal with him and accompany him to Mitch and Stacy’s wedding. As Lance and Charlotte begin spending time together rebuilding the football team, things quickly heat up between the two of them, despite their agreement. As they spend more time together, they each share secrets that they haven’t revealed to anyone. Deep down, Lance is not sure he will ever trust a woman and to find love again. I love the chemistry between Lance and Charlotte. I love that both Lance and Charlotte were both so vulnerable and that each of them changed because of their love for one another. I love that Charlotte becomes a much stronger woman. Then an unexpected plot twist that changes everything that they had built with each other. Lance decides to take matters into his own hands and does the right thing. I loved his proposal and where and when he proposes to Charlotte. I loved the story and am so glad that both Charlotte and Lance got their happily ever after. I love all the surprises that Cindi Madsen has included in The Wedding Deal. My favorite part in the book is the epilogue and how it wraps up all the details of the happily ever after, and it did not disappoint. The Wedding Deal contains all the elements that I have love most in a love story, romance, great characters and setting, bittersweet moments and the plot twist that ties it all together. Amazing story. I could not put it down. Highly recommend this love story.

Charlotte James is the HR manager for the San Antonio Mustangs NFL team. Her job just got a whole lot harder when her old boss died and left the team to his grandson, former quarterback for the Tennessee Titans Lance Quaid, her peaceful existence was over. Lance can't believe how his grandfather allowed so many of his employees to slack at their jobs and he's not going to tolerate it on his watch, he starts by firing half the staff and using inflammatory language. As the two of them work together to fill the vacancies with the right staff, and make sure they have legally terminated everyone that Lance sacked, Lance learns that Charlotte has a encyclopedic knowledge of NFL stats and Charlotte learns that her hot boss is also a secret geek. Then, when all the work isn't enough pressure, Lance's family are on his back about his brother's wedding and his plus one. Cunning idea ... why not get Charlotte to act as his fake date, they can work when not involved in wedding activities and he'll get some respite from the family pressure. This was fun, lighthearted chick-lit romance. Well-written and easy to read, but nothing memorable. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.