New Release & ARC Review: The Problem with Dating (Problems, #1) by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Problem with Dating

by Brittainy C. Cherry

Released – 12 October 2023

Available Now!
Amazon | Paperback

Blurb

If I had to choose a person to hate, Alex Ramírez would’ve been first on the list…

Welcome to Honey Creek, Illinois, where life was as sweet as the town’s name suggested. That was, until Mr. Fine Dining himself, Alex Ramírez, rolled into town with a permanent scowl. Even worse, he decided to park his snooty five-star restaurant across from my cozy dog daycare. He was tall, dark, and about as warm as a frozen entrée.

After one too many unpleasant interactions, I was determined to stay out of his way and to keep him out of mine.

But fate had a quirky sense of humor. When Alex inherited his great-aunt’s cranky canine, he had no choice but to come to me, the local dog whisperer, for help. As for me? I needed a fake boyfriend to ward off my ex-husband, who was determined to win me back.

So, we struck a deal: I’d turn his dog into the town’s best-behaved pet, and in return, he’d be my arm candy for a few family events and social gatherings. Simple, uncomplicated, and absolutely not romantic—at least, that was what we told ourselves.

As we played house, I couldn’t help but notice that underneath Alex’s prickly shell was a dash of charm that wasn’t listed in the ingredients. Our pretend dates started to feel a little too real. And our feigned kisses? They were getting laughably close to crossing the line. Suddenly, our interactions felt less like a food fight and more like foreplay.

With every playful touch and lingering glance, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was this fake relationship with Alex secretly penning its own authentic ending? Or was I risking it all for someone who was nothing more than make-believe?

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Review

5 stars!

Alex and Yara’s story takes us to the small town of Honey Creek where everyone knows everyone and everyone is up in everyone’s business. They tend to stand by their own and so, it’s not surprising when newcomer Alex, isn’t welcomed, especially because he has a permanent scowl and is opening a new restaurant that the townspeople think doesn’t belong in their small town but rather in a big city. However, Alex has a promise to keep so nothing is going to stop him.

Yara owns the doggie daycare across the street from the new restaurant and has to endure Alex’s grumpiness every time she sees him. She does everything to make Alex feel welcome in this new town but he is not accepting of her kindness. When Alex inherits a dog that seems to have been put on this earth to torment him, he has no other choice than to ask Yara, the town dog whisperer, to help him. Since Yara needs a fake boyfriend to help ward off her ex, they decide to work together. He’ll help with her ex problem and she will help with the dog. What follows is a heartwarming, sweet, and delightful love story that neither Alex nor Yara could have dreamed.

Omg, I loved Yara. She has a huge heart and really wants to do whatever she can to help people even if it will end up hurting her. She has fantastic character development though. She was always so nice to everyone but never really stood up for herself until she got a spark. Then, she transformed in front of us and became everything she wanted.

Alex had so much heartbreak. He’s been through so much that shaped the way he sees the world and the people in it. He has lost so much in one way or another and there was really only one constant, his great-aunt Teresa, who changed his life when he was a boy. Her diaries were a great addition to the story. It’s gave us wonderful insight on Alex’s life and how Teresa was as a person and her love for her nephew. She was such a sweet, kindhearted woman who raised an amazing man, and her story, though heartbreaking, warmed me up inside.

Even though it’s a lighter read it doesn’t skimp on emotion. Yara and Alex started out as enemies but when circumstances force them together, they quickly realize that first impressions are not always correct. Alex has built up so many walls that it is nearly impossible for Yara to break through but when she does it is wonderful. They are so fun together and bring out the best in one another. There is also and entertaining push and pull in this grumpy/sunshine story creating entertaining banter and tension, and I absolutely loved when these two realize that what’s between them is real.

I wanted to share my bad days and my good. I wanted to tell her things that I kept to myself. I wanted to show more of me the way she showed herself.
Being around her was making me better. Being near her was making me whole again.

Overall, I loved The Problem with Dating. It’s the first book in The Problem series and I want more. I adored Yara’s sisters, Willow and Avery, and cannot wait for their stories.

*ARC generously provided by the author*

The Problems Series

The Problem with Dating (#1) – (Yara & Alex)
Review
Buy: Amazon | Paperback

The Problem with Players (#2) – (Avery & Nathan)
Buy: Amazon

About the Author

Amazon #1 Bestselling author, Brittainy Cherry, has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. She loves to take part in writing screenplays, acting, and dancing—poorly of course. Coffee, chai tea, and wine are three things that she thinks every person should partake in! Brittainy lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When she’s not running a million errands and crafting stories, she’s probably playing with her adorable pets.

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