Laramie Briscoe: Dakota

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246721367-dakota

book 2 in the Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife Series #2 

While I've been looking for the love of my life, she's been standing in front of me...
Dakota

I've known Molly Harrison for most of my life. She's always been the annoying, yet hot, older sister of my best friend.

Until one night, the two of us act on an attraction we've ignored for years.

Not sure how far we want to take it, we decide to hide our friends with benefits arrangement from everyone.

But when things start to get serious, neither one of us is prepared for the situation that outs the secret we've been keeping.

Dakota is a small town, hot cop, friends with benefits, to friends to lovers romance. It's got plenty of gossip, laughs, and spice.

*ARC read 2026  *Small town romance  *Friends to more  *Best friends older Sister 

*Spice  *officer x nurse (FMC)  *secret/hidden relationship *State Challenge Alabama 

*Dyslexia representation  *Quick cozy read  *Girl next door *Green flag MMC  

Thoughts:

This was a sweet small town romance it was the second in the series but I didn't feel lost by not reading the first book.  The book starts after our couple Molly & Dakota have been in a secret situationship for several months which actually worked well since it was a shorter story, I feel that if the book is shorter and it's a strangers to more situation it generally feels more rushed with our couple it feels like they already have been building something for awhile since they have known each other since they were kids and that comfort between the two of them is there and feels real.

Dakota is a Fish & wildlife officer and works with her brother Levi, even though they haven't put a label on what they are doing they haven't been seeing anyone else but they still want to keep what they have to themselves before letting everyone else know... in a small town where everyone is in your business it's nice to have a few things just for you.

Molly never wanted to get involved with anyone in law enforcement because she is related to too many officers and knows how dangerous it can be.  She is a nurse at the hospital and loves her job but it can be stressful what starts out as a friends with benefits situation with her brother's best friend has been building to more without her even realizing it would it be so bad if they became something so much more?

I loved how sweet Dakota was with Molly even when Molly wasn't sure about her feelings towards him he was always there for her without her even needing to ask, book boyfriend material.

I enjoyed the family interactions but I did feel that the "secret" relationship lasted too long I mean they are all adults and it's going to come out just tell everyone already especially when they think it might cause some hard feelings for her brother and her father.  

This might just be a me thing and I know it's fiction but I've been a nurse for a long time and I had some questions about where she was working and how they let her leave whenever she wanted without saying anything... definately fiction.  

Overall this was a cute quick read, I thank the author for this arc copy and I have put the first book on my TBR list to check out at some point. 

Have you read this book?  Have you read anything by this author?  what did you think?