Adorable one minute and then bed-breaking steamy the next, this was a very solid read. Rose is a new-to-me author, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that her writing is right up my alley. The hero was cinnamon roll sweet with alpha vibes in the bedroom, the chemistry was immediate, and the shared history made this a rich, fulfilling read. These two have known each other their whole lives, and they’ve always had sparks – one way or another. What once felt like bickering now feels a whole lot like banter, and I loved how perfectly they fit into each other’s lives. Really the only thing holding me back from a 5-star rating is an awkward lull in the middle. I get why it was necessary – this is an accidental baby romance, after all – but it basically demolished all of the momentum. But I enjoyed this quite a bit overall, and I will definitely be checking out more from the author.
The story follows Olivia and Tyler, two people who have been in each other’s lives for as long as they can remember. Most of that time against their will. Their parents are friends, so Olivia and Tyler are connected, despite the fact that they’ve always clashed. The sparks that fly between them have always felt like hate, but when Olivia agrees to do Tyler a favor (be his date to a wedding he’s dreading), the whole dynamic starts to shift. What should’ve been a one-night truce turns into something else entirely, and neither one is sure what to think. So when Olivia discovers that she’s pregnant, it’s just one more change to the dynamic.
It’s my first time reading something by Rose, so I really didn’t know what to expect going in – but I really liked this. Tyler is such a sweet guy, a baker who is loving and loyal. I loved how steady he was, the perfect complement to Olivia’s fire. He may not know how to handle her, but he’s certainly willing to try. I also liked Olivia, even though it sounds like she’s been a bit of a brat to Tyler in the past. It’s definitely got a frenemies to lovers vibe at the start, though things are softer and easier later on. The only thing that really bugged me was the lack of communication – these two waste a whole lot of time by not saying what’s on their minds, and that drove me a little crazy. I’m still convinced there was a better way to handle the middle of the book, but I loved how low angst the overall story feels. This was a very solid introduction to Rose’s work, and I’m eager to read some more.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/34Q0yUO
Blurb:
Tyler Bennett and I hate each other.
The annoying jerk my parents forced me to play with as a kid grew up to be a sexy, grumpy baker who still can’t stand me. Sure, maybe I enjoy our bitter banter, his cocky smirk, his chocolate chip cookies. But there’s a reason I can’t play nice.
You’re wondering why—if I hate the guy so much—did I agree to be his fake date to his cousin’s wedding? Look. Just because I love being a pain in the man’s well-formed butt doesn’t mean I want someone else torturing him. Especially not the ex-fiancée who left him for his best friend.
One night of faking it takes an unexpected turn. Heated glances, lingering touches, that arrogant mouth against mine. One night of getting swept away in an attraction that maybe isn’t so one-sided after all.
Aside from this new, tentative friendship laced with sexual tension, something else has grown out of that night.
And Tyler and I will have to figure it all out…in about nine months.
Author’s note: Just One Favor is an enemies-to-lovers standalone romance with a hot side of longing, sexually-charged banter, a broken hotel bed, and chocolate cream pie.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/34Q0yUO
About the Author:
Stephanie Rose is a badass New Yorker, a wife, a mother, and lover of all things chocolate. Most days you’ll find her trying to avoid standing on discarded LEGO or deciding which book to read next. Her debut novel, Always You, released in 2015, and since then she’s written several more—some of which will never see completion—and has ideas for hundreds to come.
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