Childhood best friends meets small-town romance, and the result absolutely kills me. This is the perfect storm for me. I needed this story this weekend, and I don’t think I even know why. I loved seeing these two dance around their feelings for each other. It was obvious they’ve been in love forever, but both have their understandable hang ups about love. They were so perfect for each other, and gave each other the room to be quirky and comfortable in their skin.

These two really dislike each other. Sort of. There's this underlying chemistry between them that's mixed with past regrets and a whole lot of what ifs. Their interactions are funny, and brought several smiles to my face. People, when a guy says “I can’t be in a relationship” or “I am not wired for love”, believe him. The problems start when you think you are special enough to change him because no one changes unless they want to and are willing to do the work. Hutton said that the entire time to Felicity and then when she fall for him, he said “I warned you”. He had zero affective responsibility. He said he didn’t want a relationship but bought her a diamond ring, invited her to live with him… I mean, actions speak louder than words. Also, he has multiple personality, he has OCD and anxiety but in the bedroom he was Christian Grey. It made no sense, it was like he was all in one. There seemed to be different little subplots that never really got explored the way I would have liked. How did Hutton get through the hearing? How did Felicity's career aspirations go? What happened with her relationship with her mother?the epilogue. He’s so flustered 🤣🤣🤣 I loved it 🥹 if you sigh up for Melanie Harlow’s newsletter, you can get a bonus one 🥰 now, reading a romance where you share the same name as the heroine is kinda trippy. especially with how similar she was to me? was definitely freaking out. but that meant i could sympathise and connect with Ellie so much more. I published THE SPEAK EASY DUET in 2013, and it remains my favorite. In 2014 I switched to contemporary romance with the Frenched Series. By 2019, I moved fully into small town romance have have been there ever since!

Hear me when I say there are very few books by Melanie Harlow that I haven't read... she's undoubtedly one of my favorite authors. This is one of her best. GAH?! I was not expecting to say that when I started this!!!! I was hoping to like it despise the premise - instead, I fell head over heals for these two and their story. And the plot fits beautifully with their personalities and situation. If the fake dating isn't enough to convince you, the MMC alone will... Melanie attended Miami Ohio and got a degree in American Studies. She finds that she loved every moment of it, and that she should read deeper into any sort of story, whether it was the story of a place, a person, or a historical event. practice makes perfect 🔥👀. I love LOVE that they do the whole “let’s practice kissing” which leads to “let’s practice un dressing” and well… “let’s practice…🥵💦😉🔥” sigh. I needed a cigarette after that 👀 ( I don’t smoke… But you get the picture) I understand," he said quietly, "that this is unusual. I know most people don't gift diamond rings to their friends- it's traditionally something reserved for the one person you're going to spend your life with. Your soul mate. But you know what?"[...] "At the risk of sounding a little crazy, my mom taught me that there are all kinds of soul mates--past-life soul mates, kindred spirits, soul ties... She thinks there are certain people you just feel a deep, extraordinary connection with, and it transcends time and place as we know it.[...] "So think of this as a symbol of that connection. Because even though we aren't getting married, you are the person I cherish most, someone I will always want in my life." Loved the appearances from other previous main characters in the series as well. It's one of my favorite things in interconnected standalone series... cameos!!!)Undeniable” is the second novel in the “Cloverleigh Farms” series and was released in the year 2019. This novel stars Oliver Ford Pemberton and Chloe. When Chloe and Oliver Ford Pemberton were both eleven, he dared her to jump off the roof of a barn. He said that you couldn’t break a leg from just a twelve foot jump. That was a lie. You can also break a collarbone, which served him right as far as she was concerned. Eventually, Gianni pulls his head out of his ass regarding the baby vs his career and they ride each other into the sunset. Happy ending all around My goal as an author is to entertain my readers with stories about ordinary people falling in extraordinary love. I want to make you feel warm and cozy and loved–and laugh a lot along the way.

Nothing happened, of course - because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year. Even protective men with chiseled jaws, bulging biceps, and deep brown eyes that make my breath come faster. Even former SEALs with broad chests and strong hands that make my skin sizzle. Even gorgeous, grumpy guys who have their hands full raising two adorable little girls and claim they don’t believe in love.There’s also banter that suggested they couldn’t stand each other which is actually my favorite thing ever— And let me tell you about the tension. The TENSION. How did MH avoid a slow burn but still build up the pay off like she did?? I was gasping up every time they even hugged or brushed elbows haha This book starts with a Nora Ephron quote from When Harry Met Sally. Suffice to say, that instantly got my attention. It was one of my favorite movies growing up. It's supposed to prove that men and women can't be friends, but to me it was always about friendship needing to be an essential part of any relationship. Even when the people involved don't realize they're actually friends. Case in point, Gianni and Ellie. This was disappointing… /: There was no angst, no built up of sexual tension, no flow of the story. It was just eh.

I love how real these characters are, and how this story could happen anywhere. I loved that they’re still who they were as kids, and that they didn’t let life change them. Honorable mention to what is one of my favorite lines from the whole book. This was actually said by a random side character at a gas station the lie he tells 😬. Look. It’s almost required in a forced proximity book 💁🏻‍♀️. How else would they spend more time together 😈? I never want you to change, Hutton. I’ll always take you. I just wish you could see yourself like I do."

So what happens when they decide they need some practice - practice kissing, practice EVERYTHING... and feelings get involved. In short, Tease had tropes that I absolutely loved. Everything from best friends to lovers to faking a relationship to living together to make everyone believe it’s real; this book had it all. And when you toss in a large helping of Melanie Harlow’s magic, you know you’re in for a treat. And this book gave me everything and more. I loved Felicity and I loved Hutton and I loved them together so much that I never wanted this book to end! These characters brought so much life and beauty to the story that you really felt like you were a part of it all. And god, it was so wonderful. Bellamy Creek meets Cloverleigh Farms Bonus Scene: https://www.melanieharlow.com/cloverleigh-farms-meets-bellamy-creek-in-this-series-crossover-bonus/