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Synopsis

That cream-filled, caramel-topped doughnut should have been hers. Still, Haley Raynor can’t deny that the pastry thief with the dreamy blue eyes looks even more delicious. But moving in on a handsome devil like Trevor Kelly is bad news for a die-hard romantic like Haley. Trevor doesn’t believe in love. She does. Giving in to a fling and Trevor’s irresistible charms can’t end well. Can it? What can it hurt to give it a shot?

Girls always fall for Trevor, and in the end, he always ends up looking like a bad-boy cad. Still, spending some time with Haley and her smart-talking, kissable mouth sounds pretty perfect. Besides, he’s only going to be in Dogwood Lane for one week. How much trouble could they possibly get into?

The only answer? A “no falling in love” contract. All Trevor and Haley have to do is follow the rules and resist the attraction sizzling between them…before their hearts get completely tangled up in temptation.

 

 

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Review

4 stars!

This is a really cute read. A sweet, sexy and fun story with great characters, fantastic chemistry and a whole lot of sexual tension. It’s a sort-of friends-to-lovers with a sizzling slow burn, and it’s an exciting journey as a woman in love with love falls for a guy who doesn’t believe in it.

This is the second book in the Dogwood Lane series, and Haley is the younger cousin of Dane from book #1, Tumble. There are some character tie-ins, but this book can also be read as a standalone.

Smart, sensible, honest and outspoken Haley is trying to find her place in the world. Now that she’s no longer looking after Dane’s daughter, she’s searching for her ideal career and working on creating a good life for herself, and that includes actively avoiding relationships and her tendency to fall in love too quickly and too often. And then along comes Trevor. Gorgeous, funny, and an absolute sweetheart, he is just the man to test her newly-implemented ideals of singledom, so it’s lucky that he’s not interested in love. He’s a good guy with a big heart but he’s still dealing with the fallout from trying to do the right thing and walking away from clingy women who wanted more from him than he felt able to give. He’s not sure he believes in love, he’s certainly not interested in looking for it, but his interest is snagged by the beautiful woman throwing a hissy fit in the middle of a café because he stole the last donut.

From that first argument, the sparks are flying! The attraction between Hayley and Trevor is apparent to all, and as they run into each other over and over again, neither of them are able to deny that they are feeling it. But they want different things, they are both very upfront about that, so they agree to hang out and enjoy their connection, but not to take things any further than just having platonic fun together. Even signing a contract on a napkin to that effect. Too bad the love doesn’t work that way.

I want her to want me the same way I’m wanting her, even though I know it’s fucking stupid. And unfair. And illogical. But she doesn’t. And I shouldn’t.

This is such a fun read. The friendship that develops between Haley and Trevor is just fantastic, full of jokes, flirting and great banter. It’s so natural and easy, and with their chemistry sizzling through each and every encounter, the UST is sensational as they fight all that they are feeling for each other. The anticipation builds and builds until it all becomes too much, and all of that passion ignites into something neither of them were expecting.

He’s eating me alive with his eyes. Sizzling the sides of my face where his thumbs gently stroke my skin. Setting my body ablaze as it becomes apparent he’s on the verge of losing control.

But they both still want different things. And their battle to figure out exactly what is happening between them is such an entertaining ride.

“See you later, sexiest-friend-I’ve-ever-had-whom-I-can’t-touch-and-it-makes-me-crazy-but-I-need-to-be-a-responsible-adult.”

I really loved these characters. Haley is smart, honest and so relatable, and Trevor is gorgeous as the hero who is trying to do the right thing while working hard to figure out his feelings. It’s a great journey for these two as they figure out what they want – holding nothing back from each other and sorting through it all with honesty, wit and humour.

“Don’t worry– you have me so tangled up in you now, you’ll never get away.”

I loved getting to catch up with the characters that we met in the first book. This is a great bunch, with potential there for some great stories. And the ending of this one gives us a glimpse of things happening for Penn, and OMG, I can’t wait for his book!

I listened to this one as an audiobook, narrated by Summer Morton and Aiden Snow, and they do a great job with it. Definitely one worth listening to.

4 stars.

 

Dogwood Lane

 

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Excerpt

“Did you just buy my coffee?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You know what goes good with coffee …” I look at his plate and then back to him. All he does is laugh.

He gets to his feet, unfolding a body that’s taller, and harder, than I expected. His jeans are coupled with a grey and black flannel that fits him well enough to see the lines of his body. The curve of his biceps, the dip of his waist, and the slight angle from his shoulder to his neck is divine.

“Are you finished?” he asks.

I zip a line from his boots to his face. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to walk out of here until you’ve finished appreciating me.” He grins. “If you’re done, I do need to go.”

A full-on blush covers my body and, when he laughs, I wonder if he’s thinking it’s the same color as my panties. This makes me blush more.

“You are not the gentleman I hoped you were,” I say, failing to hide a laugh.

He smiles devilishly, assessing me as he shoves his wallet back in his pocket. Then, with a pained expression and a dose of hesitation for my benefit, he slides his plate in front of me. “Here. You can have my donut. I know it’s not all you wanted, but it’ll have to do. I’m late.” He takes a cup from Claire for the road.

“I didn’t hear anything you said after ‘You can have my donut’,” I say, sticking my finger in the middle of the pastry. “But thanks.”

“They have forks, you know.”

“I know. But I wanted to make sure you didn’t ask for it back.” A warmth spreads through my middle as he laughs.