Somebody to Lean On

Love in Charlotte Oaks #2

by Jess Mastorakos

Do I want to kiss my best friend? Yep. Always have. Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jackson Wilson and I are long-distance co-guardians of our friends' daughter, and even though we're best friends and we're totally committed to Phoebe, this isn't a romcom where the best friends get together in the end.

Unfortunately.

But now, Phoebe and I have nowhere to go but Jackson's tiny Tennessee town. And even though it’ll be hard to ignore my feelings, we’ll raise this adorable, sassy ballerina—while patching up the injury-prone busybodies of Charlotte Oaks—side-by-side, as friends.

Except ... what's with that fire in his eyes? And why is he smiling at me like that?

Uh-oh. I don’t deserve to ride off into the sunset with Jackson and Phoebe. And if we go there and it blows up, Phoebe is the one who’ll pay the price, and not even a pair of former combat medics have the skills to repair that kind of damage.

Then again, this job has taught me that there are no guarantees in life or love, but the reward is always worth the risk.

Am I brave enough to risk everything for a chance at a romcom-worthy happily ever after, or are we destined to stay in the friend zone forever?




Somebody to Lean On is the second book in the Love in Charlotte Oaks series, where you'll find families as sweet as the tea, hot veterans who've returned home to find true love, and a beloved pet goat who has the habit of coming in clutch to save the day.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Clean Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2023

About the author

Jess Mastorakos writes sweet military romance books that feature heroes with heart and the strong women they love. She is a proud Marine wife and mama of four. She loves her coffee in a glitter tumbler and planning with an erasable pen.

Get a free novella from her San Diego Marines series, Forever with You, at the link below!

www.jessmastorakos.com/forever-with-you

Reviews

[Rhiannon Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE:
*Best friend
*Veteran MMC and FMC
*Clean romance
*Small town
*Co-guardians
*
WHAT I LOVED:
• Charlotte Oakians
• Goat nicknames and the goatstable course
• the sticky bra
• Stuffed Animals
• Proposal pranks

[Rose | Adventurous Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. The writing style and humor were similar to Carina Taylor’s so if you like her books, you’ll like this author’s book as well.

[Kims.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years ago, a terrible accident left Bailey and Jackson, best friends and former combat medics, the legal guardians of their best friend's young daughter Phoebe. After years of living in different states, Bailey bites the bullet and moves them to Jackson's home town of Charlotte Oaks, Tennessee. The only problem is... she didn't let Jackson know they were coming.

Jackson is shocked to find his two favourite ladies on his doorstop and with some resistance, moves them into his parents home. Bailey had presumed they would live with him, but he can't share the real reasons why that won't be happening. He won't risk hurting Phoebe after all she's lost, even if it means ignoring his heart. Little does he know that Bailey has been keeping a few secrets of her own...

This was the second book in the Love in Charlotte Oaks series and can be read as a stand alone. I read it all in one sitting and found the writing style really easy to relax into. I was hooked from the beginning and loved getting to learn more about each of the characters as the story unfurled.

Bailey and Jackson have both lived through so much. To have lost their best friends in a car accident whilst home 'safe' after combat was a huge blow. I appreciated the Author including detail on how they each process their trauma and how this affects their decision making.

Ultimately, this is a story of romance and focused on the ways that Bailey and Jackson broke down the barriers around their hearts. There was a lot of miscommunication at times which isn't my favourite, but it is a clean romance and it was fun to watch them open their hearts.

Thank you to Author Jess Mastorakos for providing me with this ARC. All opinions expressed within this review are my own. The book publishes on the 26th of May 2023 so pre-order today!

[Heather (heathers.clean.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s you another excerpt from my fav scene bc I just couldn’t resist!!

"Uh, Jackson," Bailey whispered into the dark when the buzz of the drill finally ceased. "Did they just lock us in their closet?"
"I think they did, yeah."
"Um, is this the part where they chop us up into little pieces and hide our bones in all this mess so we'll never be found again?" I chuckled. "No, I don't think so, B."

This adorable book was a breath of fresh air!! This was my first read by @author_jessmastorakos and it definitely won’t be my last!!! I’ve already got several of her books waiting in my TBR!! I was intrigued that this book featured former combat medics who became civilian paramedics! It was very interesting to read about and learn from!

Jackson and Bailey stole my heart from the very beginning!! Their story was so beautiful and unique! I loved the whole best friends to lovers trope, especially when they both secretly had felt this way for a long time! It made for some very funny moments! All the different sneaky ways the town tried to get Jackson and Bailey to admit their feelings had me rolling with laughter!

I loved little Phoebe!! She was adorable and a little fireball! I loved anytime she was on the page!!

I fell in love with the small town of Charlotte Oak, TN (which reminded me of my small town in TN!) The Wilson and Cole clans captured my heart and I can’t wait to read more about the Wilson brothers and the Cole sisters! ❤️

But most importantly, if this book doesn’t leave you wanting a baby goat and some onion rings, I don’t know what will!!! 😉😂

Things I loved:
💙Gertie the goat!!
💙Best Friends to Lovers
💙Charlotte Oakians!
💙Small town in TN!🧡
💙The first (long overdue) kiss!!!! (Prepare yourself, it’s 🔥!)
💙”Lean on Me”, it may or may not have gotten stuck in my head throughout this book! 😂
💙Onion Rings!
💙The proposal!!!! ❤️💍🥹
💙All of Bailey’s nicknames!

This was book #2 in the series!!

Thank you to the author for my ARC Copy!! All thoughts and opinions are my own!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody to Lean On by Jess Mastorakos was a story I didn’t even know I needed. I absolutely adored this Rom-Com journey! From page one to page done, I was hooked, and I hated having to put this book down. I’m not a big fan of the best friends-to-lovers trope. I find it annoying and highly unbelievable that supposed best friends can talk about anything and everything under the sun…except how they feel for one another. I also can’t get on board with the argument many characters in these types of stories make: we can’t be more than best friends because if we break up, I don’t want to lose my best friend. What a strange argument. Strange because it means the characters who feel this way assume their romantic relationship with their best friend is doomed to fail before it even begins. Who wants to read that kind of romance? Somebody to Lean On is a best friends-to-lovers story, BUT Jackson and Bailey talk A LOT and neither one of them feels a romantic relationship would be doomed before it even began. No, their issues are a lot more realistic and heartbreaking, and they added a lovely depth to this excellently written Rom-Com. I was cheering for Jackson and Bailey the whole time. I found both characters to be highly relatable and realistic, and they endeared themselves to me early in the story. If I could have hugged them, I would have! The chemistry between Jackson and Bailey is palpable from page one, and the romantic tension is perfectly crafted. The tension is what had me turning pages well past midnight. I just had to know what was going to happen with these characters. So, so good!

I am really, really loving the Love in Charlotte Oaks series. It is Rom-Com at its finest. This is one of those series where every book is a favorite. Somebody to Lean On is as superb as No Place Like Home, and I cannot recommend both books enough. If you love really good, highly engaging, well-written Rom-Coms with heart and depth, then you definitely need to get your hands on a copy of these books asap!

I borrowed a copy of this eBook edition from Kindle Unlimited on May 23, 2024. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the title of this book. It’s based of that old song “Lean on Me”, one of those songs you can’t help but belt out the lyrics to whenever you hear it (granted no one is around of course). This is a comedy but at the same time it’s also a recovering from tragic loss book. These veterans have seen some pretty bad things and endured loss that still haunts them to this day. It effects their life decisions and how this co-guardian pair of BFFs are now raising, together but separately, cute little Phoebe.

This book is labeled as friends to lovers but I feel like it’s more of a chickens to lovers story. Both like the other but are just so afraid to move to the next step. I didn’t understand why at first and was ready to throw my pillows at my Ipad to knock some sense into them. But when all is revealed I was like ‘wow! That’s heavy!’ and my heart broke and then mended all at once for them.

It takes a cute little emotional support goat, great loving nosy family, and a matching making community to get them to work out their problems. Great first kiss scene!

Rating: PG, clean, sweet romance, triggers: tragic death of best friends, nightmares due to experiences serving overseas in the military, perceived guilt.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, light, easy read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🧼

Bailey & Jackson have been in love with each other for years, but have never confessed it. Many life events have been excuses for why it was “never the right time.”

Finally, they are living in the same town, after 3 years of long distance co-guardianship of their best friends’ daughter, Phoebe. Is it finally time to admit how they feel, and be the family they deserve, together?

I enjoyed this book! It was an easy read, and hard to put down.
My hesitation on giving it 5 stars is that it was predictable, and the miscommunication could have all been avoided with one conversation. Either way, I’ll continue to read the rest of this series!

This is the second book in the Love in Charlotte Oaks series (No Place Like Home is the first). It can be read as a standalone, but there are definitely references that come from the first book!

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Best friends to lovers
⭐️ Co-guardianship
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Sweet little 7 year old?
⭐️ Found Family
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Short chapters
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you to author Jess Mastorakos for an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own!

[Mandi Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much. The humor was spread throughout while also tackling real, emotional wounds for both of them. I loved their friendship, and seeing them grow into more with the help of their little ballerina was just perfect. When Bailey was able to admit her guilt, I thought Jackson was so sweet as he helped her through it. Things like that are so hard to talk about when you don't know how someone else will react, and I thought the whole story was very realistically done. Oh, and the ending was incredibly sweet. I loved seeing them happy together just as much as I loved the tension during their push and pull stage. Five stars from me!

[Jennifer Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Happy Pub Day @ ✨

I absolutely devoured this book! I could not put it down, the whole story was fast paced and kept me wanting more. I desperately need to know what had happened between Bailey and Jackson to make her feel like she had to stay away, and I wanted to see them get their happily ever after.

This was a different and fresh take on the friends-to-lovers trope, tossing in co-guardianship of a sweet 7yo ballerina after the tragic death of their friends. The were fantastic parents from the get go and Phoebe put a whole lot of heart into the story.

I loved all the meddling towns people, who let’s be honest maybe meddled a little too much, but it gave Bailey & Jackson the push they so desperately needed.

I loved this story, I loved seeing two people heal and get their happy ending (always a favorite trope for me) and I cannot wait for the next story in this series!!

I highly recommend this book, start with the prequel novella called No Place Like Home.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess Mastorakos is an auto-read author for me. Her books always include military/veterans, great secondary characters, humor, and romance that has all the feels. This one is a friends-to-more story and I loved the addition of the child they held guardianship over and the goat. All in all, a good read!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The review was not required nor influenced.

[Connie Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean fast read. A little to sappy for me. Also Baileys guilt over an accident three years ago didn’t seem real. The mom suddenly moving to Bora Bora? That was like the mom needed to be gotten rid of so Bailey would move out. And the relation of Bailey and Jackson had me skimming.

[Heidi Gorecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute and often funny, but did well looking at serious topics of grief and a light amount of ptsd. I especially enjoyed the antics of the fellow townspeople and loved that they took things into their own hands.

[Judy Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

And, yes - it's a quick read... but the characters have depth and seem like they could fit right in with my many southern cousins.

[Michelle Angus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you are in love with your best friend? But you also share custody of a little girl with your best friend and suddenly (out of the blue) move back home to live with him? Lot’s of things! That’s what!

I would say that jackson and Bailey’s relationship is a bit complicated. The love they have for one another is obvious, as it should be after being friends for a really long time. But throw a little girl in the mix, moving back to a town you once lived far away from, and then starting work side by side with the man you love but can never do anything about it because of the situation you have been placed in, in caring for and loving the little girl of your other best friends who died. (run on sentence much, yes, but I had to get it all out.). You will adore these two and you will DIE LAUGHING at a certain part in the book where a certain weird couple who live in basically a junk yard, may or may not do something to put these two in close proximity for awhile. In the dark. I loved it. You will also love it.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.❤️❤️❤️

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.50 stars

I love best friends to lovers trope, most especially when it’s done well. Sadly, this wasn’t the case for this.

I spent a majority of this book seeing how aloof Jackson was with Bailey. I get that harboring romantic feelings for your best friend is not easy but I would have enjoyed more if they were thrown in situations together and see dynamics of their friendship more.

The first 7 chapters of this book was dedicated to one moment — moving to Charlotte Oaks. It’s not even different days after moving in, it’s the same day. I don’t understand why it had to be dragged out. There were so many unnecessary descriptions that could have appeared somewhere else later on so the decision to lump them all in those chapters wasn’t a wise one in my decision.

I couldn’t get on board with this story because I didn’t feel the characters’ love for each other. How would I when all I’ve seen is them ignoring each other and passing it off as “keeping my feelings a secret”. All those grumpiness didn’t make me feel excited for the story, it just took me out of the story.

I almost DNF-ed this. Every time I have to pick it up, I had to mentally prepare myself and think that the more I read it, the sooner I’ll be done with it.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kisses only. First off, this book made me so mad at the townsfolk!! They abused the first-responder system for their own gain and could have put peoples lives in danger because of it. Phony 911 calls—even for good intentions—are never cool. Other than that, it felt like something was missing from this book. I don’t think it is mentioned in the previous book that Jackson is a co-guardian (although his role seemed more like divorced dad getting a monthly visit). Most of the action takes place before the book begins which leaves the MCs to both misconstrue what the other means and silently pine for each other.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Bailey & Jackson’s points of view

– both characters were in the military

– Phoebe’s parents (who were friends of Bailey & Jackson) passed in an accident years ago

– both characters deal with guilt and/or PTSD

Review:

I loved loved loved this wonderful best friends to more romantic comedy! Bailey and Jackson were too stinkin’ adorable with Phoebe and I loved how they managed to make their coparenting work for them. I loved Phoebe’s sass and personality and how she just said what she meant, causing Bailey and Jackson to be shocked by her knowledge of what was going on around her and with them. I loved Jackson’s desire to make them a real family and to get Bailey to see how much she really meant to him. I loved that Bailey tried to be strong for Phoebe and those around her. I loved that both Bailey & Jackson had some things that they held onto but let themselves let go of them a bit when they realized that the other was holding onto that burden. Some of my favorite scenes/moments in this book included: Gertie the goat, Jackson getting jealous of Riley, Riley stepping back in favor of Jackson & Bailey’s feelings, girl’s night interrupted, multiple funny paramedic situations/calls, Shifty & Bernice, and that epilogue! 😍

Summary:

Bailey and Jackson are best friends who have been long distance coparenting their friends’ daughter. But all that is about to change. With nowhere else to go, Bailey is finally making the move to Charlotte Oaks with Phoebe. Now they’ll be just a few blocks from one another, parenting and working together. And with Jackson’s family in the same town, Bailey finds herself with more time to herself. Which might be bad, because it means she has that much more time to think about her unrequited crush on Jackson. Even if he did reciprocate her feelings, Bailey feels that she wouldn’t deserve them. If only he knew the secret that she’s kept from him…

Jackson is both thrilled and pained that Bailey and Phoebe have moved into town. Not only is he thrilled that they are closer, giving him more opportunities to spend time with both of them, but he’s also pained by Bailey’s interest in other guys. She seems to have taken his comment from when they first became friends as truth: that he cares for her like a sister. But that was never the case and Jackson needs to prove it to her, as soon as he chases off the other suitors and manages to get a moment to talk to her himself. But that’s difficult when his other small town residents have taken it upon themselves to try and pair them up on their various paramedic calls…

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Oaks, the #1 buttinsky Tennessee city of love is at it again.

Jackson Wilson returned home to Charlotte Oaks, Tennessee, from the Navy with two secrets. He's in love with his best friend, Bailey Baxter, but she just wants to be friends. They had both been deployed as Navy combat medics with a Marine special ops unit. She'd been injured and he thinks it was all his fault. And now they will be tied together for several years as co-guardians for their friends' daughter, Phoebe James.

Bailey Baxter returned home from her Navy service to Syracuse, New York, with two secrets. She's in love with her best friend, Jackson Wilson, but thinks he just wants to be friends. She feels that she's the cause of the death of their friends, Bryan and Marie James making Phoebe, an orphan.

Jackson has been flying to Syracuse monthly to visit Phoebe and Bailey. Bailey had planned to move to Charlotte Oaks at one time but for some reason changed her mind. Now, in a surprise move after her mother sold the house and moved to Bora Bora, she and Phoebe have arrived at his door. They've left New York for good. She thought they'd move in with Jackson, the man who hates surprises...

Well, that didn't go as planned. Jackson moved them to his parents. His mother, Georgia, knew of her plans so she welcomed them with open arms.

Phoebe is thriving with her dance classes and all the love and attention from Jackson's family and the entire town. But she wants more. She wants a mommy and a  daddy... Gertie, the goat from next door becomes her support goat service animal despite the fact that she freaks out Bailey.

Bailey is settling in with her paramedic job at COFD alongside Jackson. They aren't quite sure how to get out of the friend zone that they think the other one wants. But with his family and the entire town plotting and scheming to bring them together... And never underestimate Charlotte Oakians and a little girl named Phoebe!

Such a pleasure to revisit Charlotte Oaks! The song, "Lean on Me", is a prominent part of this story. Jackson’s extended family along with the Cole's, his parents'next door neighbors, and country music star, Riley, are all there. With so many people plotting to bring them together, how can it not happen? But that doesn't mean it will be easy...

I received an ARC of this book from the author via BookFunnel. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy I found Jess Mastorakos’ books! I’m smiling as I’m writing this review remembering all the funny, sweet moments in Somebody to Lean On. I also couldn’t help but hear the song in my head whenever I read the title. This heartfelt romcom tugged on my heartstrings while also delivering plenty of side splitting laughs. It’s a best friends to more romance I couldn’t put down and binged in a day.

Bailey has several secrets she’s been keeping. One of them is that she’s in love with her best friend. But, her fears of ruining their friendship have prevented her from ever acknowledging her feelings. What makes things more complicated is she and Jackson are the co-guardians of a darling little girl whose parents died in an accident. When she decides to surprise Jackson by moving from New York to his home in Charlotte Oaks, Tennessee, her secrets might just have a way of coming out.

Jackson’s been in love with Bailey for years, but when she moved to New York, he worried his feelings may have been totally one sided. When she shows up on his doorstep unexpectedly, he panics hoping he’ll be able to keep his feelings in check with Bailey being so close now. Will these two ever recognize that there’s more to their relationship than just friendship?

I absolutely loved this story! Bailey and Jackson were just so perfect for each other. I loved watching them figure out their feelings. Bailey carries a lot of guilt and I loved the way Jackson helped her overcome her past. As former combat medics, both suffer from PTSD and their experiences tugged on my heartstrings. There were so many tender feelings as they worked through all they’ve been through together.

The author brilliantly balances the serious & swoony with so many great, hilarious moments. I found myself laughing out loud at Gertie the terrorist goat, Phoebe the precocious seven year old, the neighbors calling 911 just so they could get these two together, and the swoony closet incident! I loved every minute, especially the quirky, endearing secondary characters.

Highly recommend this touching, funny, sweet romcom! Although it’s the second book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author but also purchased it through KU. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Friends to Lovers trope and Jess Mastorakos did a fabulous job with this one! It was full of so many tender heartwarming moments. It was kind of like being wrapped in a warm hug but also combined with the perfect blend of humor making it such a great read! One that was very hard to put down!

I found the premise of this book to be very unique. I loved that both Jackson and Bailey had feelings for each other for so long. They thought their love was unrequited and they both had reasons for not telling each other. Also after their friends Bryan and Marie died Jackson and Bailey agreed to raise their friend's child together. For 3 years Bailey has lived in New York with the little girl Phoebe and now has moved to Charlotte Oaks to be near Jackson so they no longer need to raise her long distance. There are some heavy topics around this situation but it is done well and the book still remains a light fun read.

I also enjoyed how Jackson and Bailey are always there to comfort each other especially as the truth comes out to what each of them are hiding that have been keeping them from being in a romantic relationship with each other all these years. I felt so many emotions during these scenes and especially as they started to figure out their feelings for one another. I just loved both Jackson and Bailey so much and they were perfect for one another!

The town of Charlotte Oaks and the people there are so much fun! Seriously, I want to live there! All the characters are so likable! I love how the town worked to get these two together. The scene where they were locked in the closet which led them to that amazing first kiss was soooo good! I loved seeing Everett and Laney again and of course all the comic relief of Gertie the Goat!

This is the second book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. It is such a binge worthy rom-com full of all the sweet and funny moments! I know you are going to want to read them all to fully dive into the fun town of Charlotte Oaks! Speaking of that, I need to go get myself book 3 pronto!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curse reading slumps! (If you’re following my reviews, be warned, you will see me say this multiple times.) I felt like my slump prevented me from devouring this story as quickly as I have done for every other Jess Mastorakos. Reading slump aside, I just love her books so much. There’s just something about her writing style that feels like it clicks for me as a reader. Plus her stories are always clean and super sweet. I cannot recommend her books enough. This book falls in that category of recommended reads.

Somebody to Lean On is the second book in this relatively new series and it follows the story of Jackson and Bailey, who are two best friends who definitely do not have romantic feelings for one another. Psych! Of course they do! They’ve been just friends for years but are now navigating co-guardianship of the daughter of their friends who had passed. Jackson struggles with feeling friend zoned while Bailey struggles with her own feelings of guilt. While it takes some time, these two friends finally take the time to work through it and finally talk to each other for real. Like when an “emergency” call they respond to has them locked in a closet by some well-intentioned meddlers with no hope of immediate rescue. Plus there’s fun Gertie hijinks and funny moments sprinkled throughout.

You can read this book as a standalone, but there are interconnected storylines from the first book. Since that is also a recommended read, you can always start there and just keep going! The epilogue of this book has some fun stuff for both Jackson and Bailey as well as Everett and Laney (the couple from book 1, No Place Like Home). I believe book three is not far behind so I’m excited for that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I’m leaving an honest and voluntary review.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson and Bailey both served in the military with their best friends, a couple who passed away when they were back stateside, and whose daughter they now share custody of. After sharing custody long-distance, Bailey moves to the town Jackson and his family live in. This forces both of them to face the feelings they have secretly had for each other for so long, and decide if they are worth sharing, along with the other secrets they have kept from each other.
🐐
I enjoyed this story so much! I felt like I could empathize with Bailey, and her struggle to let others in, though her reasons looked different than my own. Both her and Jackson were admirable in the way they served others and cared for each other and the friends they had. Jackson’s family is absolutely delightful, and it was so wonderful getting to see more of them, along with Laney and Everett from book 1 in this series! Phoebe was precious and I could easily picture her and enjoyed her way of speaking the truth like kiddos do!
🐐
This story has
💜friends to more
💜a family goat
💜a matchmaking town
💜ex-military turned paramedics
💜sweet family relationships
💜discussions of grief, guilt and loss- which I thought were handled with care
🐐
I am enjoying this series so much and look forward to what’s next in Charlotte Oaks! Swipe to see some of my favorite lines throughout the book! 💕
🐐
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I thought No Place Like Home had me grinning ear to ear and swooning over one of the Wilson brothers, Somebody To Lean On just took it up a notch and I think my grin is permanently engrained on my face.

Love in Charlotte Oaks Book Two is about Jackson Wilson, Navy Medic turned civilian paramedic and his best friend from the Navy, Bailey Baxter.

A sad event left them being named guardians of their best friends little girl, Phoebe. They've been raising her co-dependently the past three years while living states away when finally Bailey and Phoebe show up on Jackson's front porch one day moving permanently to Charlotte Oaks.

These two have always had chemistry and were best friends first which helps cement in their relationship. They know everything about one another, however both have their own reasons and secrets for not believing they are meant to be allowed to be together as a couple.

Well it is Charlotte Oaks after all and the Charlotte Oakians (aka towns people) decide to stick their noses into Jackson and Baileys love life and go about trying to get them to see what they all can see plain as day.

Oh and Gertie the Goat is back too so there's plenty of entertainment to go around along with slow burn and a wonderful HEA!

Thanks to Jess for allowing me to be a part of her ARC team and help spread the word about her books.

[D.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Wins

Jackson Wilson and Bailey Baxter are long time friends who served as Navy combat medics. Due to the death of their friends, Bailey and Jackson have guardianship of their daughter, Phoebe. Since Bailey and Phoebe lived in Syracuse, New York, and Jackson lived in Charlotte Oaks, Tennessee, he would fly to visit them once a month. As a surprise for Jackson,Bailey and Phoebe are moving to Charlotte Oaks. He is definitely surprised and tells Bailey that she and Phoebe can not stay with him. It is not that he does not want them to live with him, but he is afraid of how he will handle having Bailey around. What Bailey does not realize is that her best friend is in love with her.

Bailey and Phoebe settle in at his parents home. Phoebe befriends a goat named Gertie, who freaks Bailey out. Bailey gets a job as a paramedic working with Jackson. Bailey is in love with Jackson but thinks he only wants friendship. Can the two work together?

Bailey feels guilty for the deaths of Phoebe’s parents just as Jackson feels guilty about Bailey being hurt on their last mission. This guilt plays a part in the way they handle things. Charlotte Oaks is a small town and everyone appears to be trying to get Jackson and Bailey together. Will Bailey and Jackson declare their love for one another?

Somebody to Lean On is story of friendship, family, love, sorrow, laughter and happiness. Loved the book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐐 Review 🐐

💜 Hook: Bookstagram made me read it. I was hooked before I even started!

I loved this story from beginning to end! The “thrown into parenthood” trope has always been a favorite for me. Friends to more can go either way in my opinion, but in this case it was definitely done justice.

I thought the pacing was perfect. The depth of Jackson and Bailey’s friendship was heartwarming and I found myself fully invested in their relationship. Just when I was about to become impatient for the first kiss, the they behaved themselves and got their act together. 🤣 And, I really enjoyed being able to see a bit of their lives together after the first kiss.

💜 What I loved!
🐐 Mayberry Vibes
🐐 Gertie the Emotional Support Goat
🐐 The citizen’s arrest. 😂🔥
🐐 The Wilson bro’s
🐐 The engagement and the rings!! 💍

This is the first book I’ve read by the author, but if all of her books are as much fun as this one she’s going to move to the top of my autobuy list soon! I’m not typically drawn to celebrity romance, but I’m with Bailey on wanting the scoop on the Riley and Aubree gossip. I just saw that As the Crow Flies that releases May 31st, so I won’t have to wait long! Also, when Adam gets his HEA I WILL be there for it! 🥰🥰🥰

⚠️Trigger Warnings: Death of parents (orphaned child), war injuries

🫣Content: Clean (kissing only)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long time friends, single parent vibes but not really single parents at all, small town shenanigans, precocious kiddo, a goat, all mixed into a coworker romance! Yep, read this book and you'll get all of this, plus more that I won't share because people hate spoilers. (I personally love spoilers 🤷‍♀️)
So, I mean, I've convinced you, yes? Go ahead, available today, included in KU.

And just in case I haven't convinced you, here are some book notes:
- first Jess Mastorakos book! I've been meaning to read them so this is exciting
- okay, strong first chapter and I have questions
- maybe a little Life As We Know It vibe?
- poor Jackson. Intense friend zone
- "hide your wives kind of handsome" 😂😂
- "I've been in this movie before and it wasn't good enough for a sequel." Good line
- sticky bra 😅
- what a crazy town. I grew up in a crazy town, I don't remember it being quite this eccentric. Mostly just cliquey.
- Shifty and Bernice are mischievous folks
- huh. Mischief managed.
- what exactly did she think was going to happen?
- I see what Bailey is saying but I don't think so.
- I like the chapter art.
- I like these Wilson brothers. I think the Cole sisters are pretty fun too

Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding binge worthy books. This one by Jess Mastorakos was so amazing. I didn't want to put it down. And I finished it in 24 hours.

I loved Bailey. She's the kind of girl who is willing to raise the daughter of friends who have died with her best friend. Her relationship with Phoebe was so cute. It was one of my very favorite parts of the book. She was just so great with her. And I loved seeing her with Jackson, too.

Bailey surprises Jackson by moving to his hometown in the beginning of the book. And that part made me smile. It was so funny how she didn't tell him. And she didn't tell him her plan to move in to his condo with him. I loved seeing Jackson with Phoebe, too. These 3 were so sweet together.

There were so many parts of this book that made me laugh out loud. It's such a cute rom-com. But there are serious parts too. Both Jackson and Bailey work as first responders and they both served in the military. I love how the author balanced out the serious with the rom-com. She did such a great job on this whole book.

Now...excuse me while I go binge the first book in this series. I've heard great things about it!

I was sent an e-copy of Somebody to Lean on as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when I pick up a book by Jess Mastorakos I know it's going to be a solid read. She writes entertaining plots with likeable charters and sweet romance. Somebody to Lean On is one such book.
Bailey and Jackson had a definite bond and when Jackson finally kisses Bailey, well there was no going back to the friendzone after that. I liked the connection that they shared and the way they took Phoebe in as their very own daughter. I'm a big fan of the friends to more trope and always like when it's crafted well so the reason for being only friends is believable, but the chemistry is also undeniable.
I didn't rate this five stars because there were a couple of little things that weren't my personal preference including the light manner in which the author addressed pranking 9-11. One time would have been a thing, but multiple times was not okay with me. That is not something that should ever be seen as comical and personally it rubbed me wrong instead of making me laugh. I think the author could have found more creative ways to bring them together.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you love:
🚑 friends to lovers
🚑 small town romance
🚑 goats
🚑 military veterans
🚑 paramedics
🚑 meddling kids and townsfolk
🚑 “Lean On Me”

“𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝙊𝙖𝙠𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙨𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨—𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚—𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙.“

This was an adorable friends to lovers romance with all the charm of a small town. Two best friends coming together to raise the daughter of their best friends who passed away just warmed my heart. Bailey and Jackson had great chemistry and I love how Phoebe completed the dynamic. Their feelings for each other are apparent to everyone but them. The lengths the town went to to get these two together was hilarious even if it was questionable at times. But hello, wall kisses!!

Jackson and Bailey have reasonable reservations concerning each other. Bailey’s guilt and Jackson’s fear of abandonment by Bailey were things that could have led to a lot of miscommunication. But I really appreciated how these two worked their issues out like adults and there was no dramatic third act breakup. I highly recommend this sweet small town romance!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

first viewed here: https://belovedgraceful-carissasbooks...

Title: Somebody to Lean On

Author: Jess Mastorakos


Ch: 36 plus epilogue


Pg:324


Series: Charlotte Oaks


Genre: Contemporary Rom Com


Rating: 5 stars


Publisher: Indie


This one gave me Life as we know it vibes but better. Because both Jackson and Bailey are actually friends. There’s something about Jess Mastorakos’s writing and the way she tips rom com troupes on their heads. As I normally don’t like friends to more. But with the way Bailey and Jackson are written it works. That bond between Navy Corpman runs deep.


Somebody to Lean On does use miscommunication as one of the troupes normally not my fave but the way Jess writes it and the reason for it works for this story.


While I loved seeing Bailey and Jackson’s story playing out. But I also loved being back in Charlotte Oaks and seeing old friends. But Gertie the goat and Phoebe stole the show.





I received a copy of this book from the author I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.