Rachel Anthony: So Screwed

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256492222-so-screwed

Book Blurb:

One hundred days. No hookups. No touching his best friend’s sister. No chance in hell.

Connor Solano has slept his way into a playboy reputation he can’t sand down. To prove he can be trusted with the renovation company he hopes to inherit, the handyman heartbreaker must do the unthinkable: keep it in his pants.

When Sienna Weaver loses her job and apartment in the city on one spectacularly bad day, she comes home to Wisteria Lake with no plan, no confidence, and a long history of freezing up around men. So she asks Connor—her brother’s best friend and star of her teenage fantasies—to help her trade awkward for irresistible.

Connor agrees because even if he’s on the bench, someone ought to be getting off. But Sienna is no longer the gangly teen he remembers. She’s darkly funny, deliciously weird, and already more irresistible than anything he could teach her to be.

Now every flirting lesson tests his restraint, and teaching Sienna how to make another man want her leaves Connor desperate to prove she already has him. But if he breaks his promise, he won’t just risk his heart—he’ll prove his gossipy small town was right not to trust him.

Connor isn’t just screwed. He’s so screwed.

So Screwed is the first book in the Wisteria Lake series, set in a cozy lakeside town filled with nosy neighbours and a downright suspicious number of hot blue collar men. This brother’s best friend spicy rom-com brings yearning, shameless flirting, and a Happily Ever After built to last.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *ARC read *First in series *Brother's best friend *Best friend's sister

*Small Town Romance *Friends --> more *lessons in love *Playboy MMC 

*Spice *Slow burn *Rom-Com *family drama *found family *opposites attract

*mutual pining *teenage crush *Blue Collar MMC *Workplace romance *secret relationship

Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this author's hockey series and I was excited to see that they had a new series coming out this book sounded adorable and I jumped at the opportunity to be an ARC reader!

To start with we have Sienna (FMC) she is having a bad day finding out that her company is doing lay offs and she is one of the ones let go she returns home early to find her room mate and her boyfriend "celebrating" their engagement on the kitchen counter of all places... to top things off her room mate owns their condo and she asked her to leave so that her fiance can move in... by the end of the month (which is like a week away).  Homeless and jobless she goes to her best friends place (which is closet sized) to figure out what to do before eventually realizing the only thing to do is to ask if she can move in with her older brother and her niece.

Good news is that her brother is happy to let her stay with him her grandmother left her and her brother the home so it is her house too, bad news being she is moving back to the same small town that was so judgemental and made her younger days a nightmare, starting over is terrible but at least she will have some family time.

Connor (MMC) is a jack of all trades type of handyman while he's a hard worker and is good at his job he is also known to be more on the irresponsible side when it comes to showing up late to meetings and he has a reputation for getting around town with the ladies he isn't there for a long time but is there for a good time... unfortunately he is late to an important meeting with his boss and his grumpy best friend Matt (Sienna's brother) giving him a lecture on how irresponsible he is he makes a pact to be on his best behavior for the next 100 days to prove that he is able to commit to the job and become a partner when the owner sells he will do something no one in town believes he can do... become celibate for a short period of time.  He can do this right?

Sienna while back home helps her brother with his daughter Ivy, begins to get used to small town living again and since she's looking for work at the moment when her big brother asks if she can come help organize things at his company she accepts... it's something to do and he's paying her so win/win.  While there she runs into her first crush (you know who it is already...) her brother's best friend Connor.

Sienna and Connor re-connect and she ends up talking him into giving her lessons on how to get herself out there in the dating world since he has so much experience and her past dating experiences have been less than stellar.  

Along the way they grow closer together, learn more about each other and truly see each other flaws and all.  Sienna struggles with run ins with the mean girls from high school who are still in town her brother and Connor were popular and on the sports team so didn't have the same issues in that way but Connor has his own internal struggles that involve his self worth and everyone feeling like he is a lost cause just like his father who walked out on his mom... now his mom she is on a whole other level.

I loved the found family aspect, the small town characters that are meddling but mean well and the family dynamics between Sienna and her grumpy brother and her adorable niece and between Connor and his younger brother.  

The lead characters are easy to love and from the start I was invested in what was happening to them and wanted them both to succeed.... and finally kiss already!  The tension between these two was fireworks!! 

This was so cute and mixed comedy, romance and more emotional moments to make it a well balanced story that was easy to get lost in I stayed up way too late reading.  

I knew where some things were headed but that didn't take me out of the story at all if you are looking for your next small town, feel good, cozy read pick this one up!  

I can't wait for more books in this series!!  Book 2 where are you?? 

Have you read this one yet?  what did you think?  

Kassie Jones: Bake It 'Til You Make It

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250712358-bake-it-til-you-make-it

Book Blurb:

All Taylor Madden has ever wanted is to own a bakery filled with whimsical designs and unforgettable flavors. Landing a spot on America's Next Great Baker is her chance to make that dream a reality--even if her biggest competition is a cocky, annoyingly gorgeous distraction who smirks every time she slips up. Winning could mean a fresh start. Surviving him might be the bigger challenge.

Alexander Harrington only agreed to the competition to get his parents off his back, not to complicate things with the disaster-prone optimist who insists on making everything cute. She's not supposed to be his biggest obstacle, but the longer they're stuck in the kitchen together, the harder it is to remember he's meant to beat her... not fall for her.

The stakes are high, the ovens are hot, and the cameras are rolling. But when the rivalry starts to taste like something sweeter, will either of them walk away with more than just the prize?

*Rom-Com  *Grumpy/Sunshine  *Flirty Banter  *Cozy read  *Baking competition  

*Reality TV Hijinks *protective MMC  *lighter spice *loveable leads and side characters 

*state Challenge (California repeat state) *Rivals to More  *Indie Author  *ARC 2026

Thoughts:

Taylor (FMC) is on the struggle bus she's in a dead end job that is sucking the life from her... and not even paying well as evidenced by her late payment due notices but then she gets the most amazing news... She's going to be a contestant on America's Next Great Baker a new reality show that mixes all of those cute cozy baking competitions but they are taking it up a notch by the show following them while at their shared house as well (think Real world or Big Brother).

Where Taylor is a walking ray of sunshine Alex (MMC) is the exact opposite he is uptight and grumpy he didn't even want to come and he was voluntold by his dad that if he didn't come to this show and put up a real effort his dreams will be gone before they even start... and he and his cousin have worked too hard to throw it away now... besides there are a few good things he's found about this competition like Taylor for instance her sunny disposition might just crack thru his layers before this competition is over.

Alex might take some people a bit to warm up to but he gets there eventually!  I really liked him even when he was the king of Grumps, he just takes a bit to warm up to people.  

This was a fun cozy read there were a lot of cute moments between our couple and I loved watching them fall for each other and support each other through the ups and downs of the competition.  The MMC stands up for what is right even if he knows that it could possibly ruin his chances in the competition I love a protective MMC. 

I love watching those baking competitions and the author did a really great job making that part of the book just like the actual shows... even with the corny jokes from the host and judges.  

I also enjoyed that the story didn't end when the show ended, Taylor and Alex had to actually work to keep something going after leaving their reality show bubble and going back to their real lives and Alex lived in Canada while Taylor lived in California this felt very real their relationship wasn't easy and the ending felt earned.  

I was excited to get my hands on this one and wasn't disappointed this book was a delightful feel-good read.  If you enjoy baking competitions, rom-coms, and characters with heart grab this one it comes out soon!  Thank you Kassie for letting me read this book early I loved it 💓

Kate Sweden Hooked by You

 

Wilder Horizons Book 3

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243018011

Emme (FMC) works with her sisters for Wilder Horizons a company that provides luxury trips to the wealthy.  When she gets Voluntold by her sister that she needs to secure a partnership with some vendors in Patagonia she is less than thrilled… she’s going from the sunshine state to snow… she better pack extra layers… only when she gets where she’s going her luggage took a detour and the owner of the lodge is less than friendly.

 Luc (MMC) likes his lodge in the middle of nowhere with minimal contact to the outside world… it’s part of the charm so when Emme bursts into his world with big plans for some more modern elements (like Wifi) he is less than thrilled.

But the longer she’s with him the more he can see how she takes charge but is willing to help, she’s a force and she has started to find her way through his cool outer shell. 

The closer she gets to leaving the more he finds that he wants her to stay and when a few disasters strike during their time together will they be able to weather these storms together or will Emme be taking the first flight home.  

This was another enjoyable read in this series I liked the banter and loved how both our characters were drawn to each other but were holding back for various reasons:  she's there for work not a whirlwind relationship with an expiration date,  he's had a big loss in his past and his lodge is his safety/comfort zone Emme disrupts his world in the best possible ways maybe he's been set in stone for too long focusing on the past, while it's 100% ok to take all the time you need to work through your feelings you also still have a life to live it was great to see Emme bring some joy back to his life that maybe had been missing for awhile.

It did take me a bit longer to get into this story maybe it was the long descriptions of the day to day tasks and landscapes. Using different languages scattered in also took me out of the story a bit at times because I was scanning for the English translation of what was said.  I also wasn't completely sure how much time had passed since she had been at his cabin but it was thrown into the story occasionally and I thought she had been there for a lot longer than she was, I guess I might be a bit cynical but I didn't see them completely falling for each other in the week (plus a few days) she had been there (even though they were together for some bigger events) making this more of an insta love story.

I have been truly enjoying this series and I look forward to the next book!    

*Travel romance *Rom- Com *Strangers à more *work trip *French MMC *forced proximity *Grumpy/sunshine *insta lust/love *meddling sisters

*Some spice *ARC Read *mentions of loss of loved ones (in the past)

Katie Bailey: The Quit List

2025 read:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196018590-the-quit-list

Holly Greene is feeling like she is getting too close to 30 without completing some of the things she would have liked to have done by now like going on more adventures and finding "the one" it doesn't help that she has been pining for her ex-college boyfriend who is now her boss when they broke up he told her "it wasn't their time" but it appears now isn't their time either and she's tired of waiting for him to notice that she's been there all along he's just stringing her along and she's sick of waiting.

Holly decides to get out of her comfort zone and go on a series of dates at the same bar,  each one seems to be worse than the last, seriously where are these guys coming from?  she says exactly what she wants in her bio so why does she keep getting a bunch of oddballs who are already in a relationship and want a side piece or just want a one night stand?  On one of these nights Jax the handsome mountain man bartender comes to help get rid of her current date and also gives her a bit of tough love by telling her that she is going about finding "the one" all wrong... taking this to heart Holly shortly after this asks Jax to be her dating guru.

Only Jax while observant is not a "true love" "one love" kind of guy due to some issues he has with his father growing up and seeing how his relationships went he doesn't want to go down that same path and that's why he keeps up his walls and doesn't due long term commitments he is a no strings attached kind of guy, or is he?  The more time he spends with the beautiful Holly the more he can't remember his reasons for not wanting more if he were to find the right woman could she be right in front of him?

Holly knows that Jax isn't looking for the same things in a relationship as she is they have talked about it plenty of times and his response has always been anti long term relationship... but the longer she spends time with him she can't help but see how caring he is and he is really doing his best to help her when he didn't have to especially since he's trying to set up his new business maybe she can help him too she works at the hotel and always has lots of ideas to promote which go no where because her boss (yes the ex) squashes all of her ideas.

Jax is also working towards his new career goals of being a wilderness guide and he is well on his way he's been certified and is working on fixing up his cabin all he needs is a novice to take with him and since his sister is newly pregnant (she is the lead FMC from Season's Scheming's) Holly volunteers herself to go she has been looking for adventure after all and she can help promote his business win/win Holly just will have to keep her distance from her growing feelings towards her dating coach, no big deal.  

The longer these two spend together the closer they get but will Jax ever give up his bachelor ways?  

*city girl/country boy  *Opposites attract  *one tent/forced proximity  *dating coach  

*no spice (some mentions of nudity)  *dual POV  *banter  *afraid of commitment MMC

*golden retriever MMC *Super slow burn  *Rom Com

My thoughts on this book:

While this was a funny & cute quick read with likeable lead characters and side characters, I didn't feel all that invested in their relationship since it was such a slow burn that it took them till around 70% to even kiss... leaving me feeling like while they were together as friends during most of the book their time together as an actual "couple" of any sort was short and more rushed.  

At some point a long the way of reading the book I kind of got a bit bored nothing was really happening "couple" wise and it took me a bit to get back into it... too much time is spent with Jax's inner monologue of being "interested" but not the "right guy" per Holly's list that she made and Holly spends too much time still looking for "the right guy" on the dating app when me as the reader is honestly getting frustrated with our leads talking to each other about Holly's dating life but not about what is in front of them that they are into each other.  

Just ok for me will still read more from this author but if you are not into books that feature the above mentioned things I wouldn't put it on the top of your read list.   

Kat Paige: Storm in A Teacup

 ARC read 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232924067-storm-in-a-teacup

Book #3 Love in Edinburgh series

Linny Jenkins was engaged while this was supposed to be a happy time... she broke it off due to her fiancé being the king of red flags good thing she dodged having to spend the rest of her life with him especially since she's already dealing with an eye disease (Retinitis Pigmentosa) that is slowly taking away her vision... she truly doesn't need to waste her time looking at that guy anymore except when she's out for a walk at night she sees him sitting outside with friends not knowing what else to do she kisses a random handsome guy sitting on a bench, did she plan for this no, was it the worst decision also no.

Ben Pyeon  (MMC) (our guy on the bench) is brooding after recently confessing his love in a big way for his best male friend only to find out that he doesn't return his love in that way how could he do this now he has wrecked this relationship, he recently admitted his feelings to himself of being bi-sexual even if he can't admit it to the rest of his family and friends yet and with this blow he has been keeping to himself avoiding all gatherings where David might be present.  Linny comes into his life like a whirlwind giving him a kiss that has for once taken him out of his brooding but then she leaves just as quickly as she came into his life.

Linny works at an Antique shop that her aunt owns and lives above it with her cat.  Many months after encountering the handsome stranger she runs into him again... it's a small world, he and his sister now own the cafe next door to their shop and the pair begin to pick up where they left off in a way forming an alliance they both need a date to upcoming events to shield them from having awkward encounters. Linny's cousin is getting married and her ex is also a member of the bridal party (he is the grooms cousin).  Ben needs Linny to help prove to his family that he has moved on from his confession and can get things back to normal again between him and his best friend.

What is the harm in extending their "relationship" they keep things casual go to these events together and then have a "break up" after the wedding... no big deal it will be fine.  Only the more time they spend together the more feelings get involved and walls start to break down Linny is dealing with some really tough issues with her medical condition and her ex did a number to her heart... is she even ready to let another person in after what happened last time?  She did say she was done with relationships after all.

Ben is a sweet and sensitive guy and while trying to get out of love with his best friend finds himself drawn to the beautiful girl above the antiques shop... and her wonderful Cat too.  But will they be able to make a go of a real relationship after they have been lying to most of their family and friends about their relationship?  

This book deals with a lot of sensitive topics but it's well done.  Ben and Linny's "fake" relationship grows naturally over the course of the book and doesn't feel forced they have you rooting for them to cross out the "fake" part of their relationship as they were on the fence of friends to more frequently throughout the book and led to some suspense of will they or won't they.

It took me awhile to get into this book but once I was into it I was all in.  I really enjoyed all the loveable side characters  as well like Ben's sister and her partner and even his friend (yes that friend) who all stuck by him even when he was trying to push everyone away.  Linny has a quirky aunt who regularly discusses the ghosts that are in their shop and it gives a nod towards the Ghost Whisperer show (early 2000's Jennifer Love Hewitt show).  

Linny's ex is something else... upgrade to Ben already!    

*Rom Com  *ARC read  *some spice  *Dual POV  *fake dating  *Black cat x golden retriever 

*Visually impaired FMC  *Found family  *Bi MMC  *Mental health rep  *Scotland

Trigger warnings:  mentions of miscarriage (in the past), past emotional/verbal abuse by an ex