Angela Casella: Falling for Mr. October

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244868798-falling-for-mr-october

Book Blurb:

He’s the internet’s favorite Shirtless Chef.
I’m the only woman in town who's not impressed.

Bianca
My grandmother invited her former best friend to move in for the month of October and help run our annual pumpkin patch.

To our surprise, she brings her grandson Giovanni—a thirty-something Italian playboy who calls me Doctor Death because I’m a former hospice nurse. (At least he gave me a promotion?)

The whole situation is suspicious. What grown man willingly goes on a month-long walkabout with his grandmother? He and my brother used to be close, but that was years ago.

Then we find out Giovanni isn't just visiting Apple Ridge.

He’s hiding.

Apparently, he’s the anonymous YouTube sensation known as The Shirtless Chef. He was recently unmasked in his hometown and left to escape the chaos.

Unfortunately for him, a reporter tracks him down after a national magazine names him their official Mr. October.

Now tourists are swarming. Women are throwing themselves at him. My grandmother wants him to stay forever.

And Giovanni—who once thrived on attention—suddenly hates it.

He begs me to pretend we’re dating, and against my better judgment I agree. On one he has to help with my seniors’ group.

I tell myself, and my concerned siblings, that it's a harmless agreement.

Except fake dating a secret internet heartthrob in the middle of pumpkin season turns out to be…complicated.

Because I’m starting to see the man behind the brand, and I’m not sure I want to give him back.

Giovanni
Apple Ridge was supposed to be safe and anonymous.

Instead, I’ve been exposed, crowned Mr. October, and chased by every woman within fifty miles.

Once, that would have been my dream. Now it’s my nightmare.

The only person not impressed with my fame?

Bianca.

Which is exactly why I need her.

Except the longer I pretend she’s mine…the less I’m pretending.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ARC *Small Town Romance *Brother's best friend *Frienemies to more

*fake dating *Fall fling *Rom-Com *Cozy read *Nurse FMC *Social media star MMC 

*hallmark vibes *meddling grandmothers (nonnas) *State Challenge North Carolina (repeat)

*Green Flag MMC *Banter

Thoughts:

This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last, this was a fun feel good cozy, small town fall rom-com and I truly enjoyed this one! 

Bianca (FMC) is a nurse, she's caring and loves her job at the local assisted living facility which has been dubbed "The Rotten Apple", she lives with her Grandmother on their family farm that her brother runs but they could really use the help, sales and visits to the farm have declined especially since her rotten ex-fiance (the Mayor) has taken their business off of the towns website, not only that but he bought her place of employment, he's seriously the worst.

Bianca comes home to a surprise... and it's not a great one, her nonna has decided to invite her ex-best friend and her grandson to stay with them for the season to help out, last time these two nonna's saw each other they were making threats, getting older they have decided to let go of their old grudge and work together, and Bianca really can't be that upset about it because her nonna has been sad since her husband passed away and she could really use the extra support.

Giovanni (MMC) has agreed to come with his nonna for a few different reasons, one being that he told his best friend (Bianca's brother) that he would come in his place and help at the family farm when he isn't able to come himself.  Second reason being that he had a secret online persona as a shirtless chef and had gained thousands of followers but his identity has been uncovered and he figured going to a small town where no one knows him would be a good place to hide out until things settled.

Giovanni is handsome, charming and sweet he loves his nonna and he is willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy even if that means staying to help out at the farm longer than he initially planned.  Even though he is hot he has his own feelings of inadequacy ever since his ex-girlfriend told him he basically would never make anything of himself... but now that he's become famous she of course wants back in his life, that's going to be a no!... she's moved on she's married after all.

Gio and Bianca come to an arrangment that will benefit them both for the season if they are fake dating Bianca can help Gio by getting the women coming after him to back off, and Gio will help Bianca and her family get business for their pumpkin patch... win/win what could go wrong?  

Naturally the closer they get together the more the lines begin to blur between what is fake and what is real... and things are beginning to feel so real, but this has an expiration date Gio and his nonna live in Maine, and Bianca's life is in North Carolina she's where she's meant to be. 

This story mixes back story, family drama, romance, banter and heart and it's just a feel good cozy read.  I also appreciate that the author has given the option for people to have a sweet or spicy version of the story for those that like closed door.  

This had everything I love in a small town, cozy rom-com fake dating, meddling nonnas (and brothers & sisters), Bianca's patients and her bestie that meant well and added to the fun (seriously that hat that her friend got for Gio!).  Add in an irritating ex who uses his power as the mayor to add extra shenanigans to the story.  Was this story ridiculous at times... yes, did I enjoy it... yes!   

If you are looking for your next fall romance add this one to your TBR.  I'm looking forward to reading more in this series! 

Thank you to Hambright PR and the author for this early copy! 

Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

Janice Whiteaker: Untamed

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237471577-untamed

Book Blurb:

I’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life.
Showing up on Tucker Bradshaw’s doorstep claiming we share a daughter is not one of them.
The youngest Bradshaw brother’s reputation is well known in Willow Bend and I plan to use it against him.
I thought he’d simply throw money at the problem, hoping to make us go away.
But Tucker doesn’t see my daughter and me as a problem.
He sees us as a solution.
So, instead of getting to take the money and run, I find myself being moved into his mansion. Driving one of his cars. Spending time with his family.
But I draw the line at sleeping in his bed. That’s never going to happen.
Except Tucker isn’t at all the man I expected him to be. He’s funny and kind. Selfless and humble.
When he reads my daughter bedtime stories, my resolve forms a crack.
When he builds her a princess bed, complete with a tower, that crack widens.
And when he pulls me close one night, telling me what a good mother I am, it crumbles completely.
And that’s a problem.
Because while Tucker’s presence is keeping my daughter and me safe, mine is putting him in danger.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ARC  *Forced Proximity *Fake Dating *single parent (FMC) *Strangers to more

*spice *close family *Found family *He falls first *Reformed playboy *Small Town

*State Challenge Wyoming *Schemers to More *long term grief  *guarded hearts

*3rd book in series but can be read as a stand alone *Protective MMC *Slow Burn

Thoughts:

Untamed is the first book in this series that I have read and I think while it can be read as a stand alone anyone reading this would benefit from reading the books in order as a lot of characters are introduced and I struggled at first to keep track of who was who, basically our guy Tucker has a big family they are all close and they are all in and out of each others lives/homes.

Ruth (FMC) is a single mother of an adorable toddler Birdie.  Due to her daughters father who wanted nothing to do with their child making threats Ruth feels like she has no other options but to move out of state and start a new life across the country... only she has limited resources, funds and no support system (Since her mother passed away) but she needs to keep herself and her daughter safe so she comes up with a plan to go to the town playboy Tucker... thinking that he won't want anything to do with her and will possibly give her money to go away she shows up on his doorstep... with not much of a plan really.

Tucker (MMC) is known as a ladies man and for many years he has been, he still doesn't want  to settle down any time soon but is wanting to get away from his mother's match making ideas feels that Ruth has magically shown up to his home just in time... so he makes her a deal that she really can't turn down because she needs the money she just needs to pretend to be dating him in front of his family... it will only be for a few weeks then she will make her move and have the money to do so what could go wrong?  

This book took me a bit to get into and while I appreciated the toddler was an actual main character too and not a side character always taking a nap, there were sections that were a bit repetitive when it came to talking about the child's potty time... I could have done with less of that (could just be a me thing, it is relateable for anyone who has had a toddler).

At first our couple is just playing their part keeping their distance from each other in private and getting closer in front of others but soon it becomes hard to keep their hands to themselves even in private... but he doesn't do relationships he's a one night stand kind of guy right?  And she's moving across the country to start her new life, that's what she's been working towards and she still wants that?  

Even though the reason for the fake relationship to me felt a bit more forced I did begin to enjoy this story more once we got past toddler messes and more into our couple growing closer together and it was truly sweet to see a well known playboy who no one thought could be a one lady man go from one night to all in with the right person and he was so caring, protective, and supportive not only of just Ruth but her daughter as well.  Tucker is a sweetheart he is just holding a past tragedy so closely that he can't see around it to the future he could have if he let himself have what he wants. 

Ruth we see is a strong woman who is willing to do anything to protect her daughter and even though their relationship didn't start out in the usual way our couple got to know each other better and grew closer together naturally, they are able to help each other with tougher times which helps with our couple letting their walls down easier... and they didn't even realize it at first.  

Tucker's family is amazing and anyone who has a family like this cherish them!  There are some funny moments throughout with his big lovable family group.

There is a side story that flows over from the first few books and I do plan to eventually go back and read the first two books in this series and I'm looking forward to the next book as well!  

Once I got into this book I was invested this was a sweet small town romance where you knew from the start that the fake part of the dating wouldn't last but the journey to get there was worth the wait.  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?