Can't Fight This Feeling

by Kirsten S. Blacketer

Welcome to 1985

Marcy Maxwell
I’ve worked damned hard to get where I am. After a failed marriage to an abusive asshole, I’m in no hurry to dive into another relationship. My business is booming, and I’m rubbing shoulders with the cream of New York!
But when one of my clients gets rough, I have no one to back me up. So I run to the one man who will bandage me up without judgment. My brother's best friend. He knows too much, has seen me at my worst, and is completely off-limits.

Dr. Rob Thompson
I’ve been in love with my best friend’s sister from the first moment I met her. But she hates my guts. After her divorce, I watched her hit rock bottom. Her pride and persistence made her ten times hotter, and a million times more stubborn. There’s no convincing her of anything, let alone my sincerity. Until she finds herself in hot water.
I would do anything for her, even if it means sacrificing everything.

158 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2023

Reviews

[Lorrie]

Marcy was a fashionista in charge of a crew of hair stylists, makeup artists, and wardrobe personnel. She was a strong independent woman. Except there was something in her past that kept needling its way into relationships. Something she has tucked away but will soon have to deal with. She was witty, yet charming, and loved working with the elite of Hollywood. She has had a crush on her brother's best friend for as long as she could remember and over the years that crush morphed into anger for some reason. One she couldn't explain.

Rob was a doctor and thrived in the noisy, busy chaos of an ER. But he was the young medical grad student he used to be, and the long hours were beginning to take a toll on him making him wonder if a slower-paced medical facility may be the answer. He's loved his best friend's sister, Marcy, for as long as he could remember but admitting that out loud even to himself was not in the cards. Besides, it seemed she hated him which was one small roadblock. There was fire when they were in the same room together and he couldn't help but wonder how they'd do romantically and how he would ever break it to her that he loved her for so long.

This story was so much fun to read. I was gifted with an ARC and wanted to post my thoughts. The wit between these two was humorous and it gives the reader the knowledge that there's a spark there, if only one of them would light the fire.

[Buffyanna]

Marcy Maxwell is a freelance stylist entrepreneur who is 100% dedicated to her work after a difficult marriage and divorce. Her brother's recent wedding brings her in close proximity to the one man who shatters her romantic complacency, Dr. Rob Thompson, her brother's best friend. Truth be told, she's had a crush on Rob since she was a teen, but the two never got together. Her feelings aren't unrequited, but Marcy's post-divorce barriers are daunting and Rob just doesn't know how to overcome them.

Marcy and Rob literally make googly-glaring eyes at each other for much of the intro. Love and hate are different sides of the same coin? Well, these two have yet to figure out the meaning of their very strong feelings towards each other, and while they "can't fight this feeling", oh, do they sure try! Even once Marcy realizes that the restlessness she feels near Rob is actually attraction, she convinces herself that she is not worthy of him. What's good for the goose is good for the gander? In this case, the gander is good for the goose! It takes a near tragedy to bring Marcy and Rob to their mutual connection.

While Marcy took some time to warm up her frosty exterior, Rob is a picture of perfect selflessness, both at work and in his personal life. From working repeated double shifts in the ER, to cat-sitting for his honeymooning best friend, to giving Marcy ALL THE SPACE that she needs while she pulls her head out of the sand, Rob is a unicorn combination of the ideal sensitive male, who nevertheless has alpha tendencies to defend his lady's honour when the situation calls for it. Plus, he's great in bed. Why is Rob hiding in 1985, and where can we get our own Rob?

Can't Fight This Feeling takes contemporary romance back to the '80s, but the issues of domestic abuse, bullying, and post-trauma are timeless in their truth and poignancy. This tale of romantic angst and vindication captures a wide range of emotions.

(This is an ARC review of an author-gifted copy.)

[Elizabeth]

*BOOK REVIEW*
Book 2: Can’t Fight This Feeling
Rate: 4.75 🌟

~Book 2 of the Craving 1985 Series! Can’t Fight This Feeling focuses on Marcy and Rob’s love story!!! Yes, Marcy is Arthur’s sister in which we meet in Book 1 and Rob is the Doctor/best friend of Arthur. As we know Marcy is a fashionista and a strong independent woman. Based on her backstory she suffered from domestic violence from her ex-husband. She never dated ever since that. Now she always had this rule that she will never date clients because she would not want to mix work with pleasure. Until one day she did and things backfired on her. Now because of this she got closer to Rob. Marcy always had feelings for him, but they never dated. Rob worked in the ER and one night he had a patient that came in with signs of domestic abuse but was afraid to speak up. This is when he had a flashback and thought of Marcy and her past. After Marcy had that tragic date with a client, the relationship with Rob started to move forward!!! The love and hate relationship they have it’s crazy! This book was such a fun read. There is humor. Some teasing between the main characters… It’s just cute!

[Amy]

Can't Fight This Feeling was an amazing and very well written second chance and brother's best friend romance by Kirsten S. Blacketer. Marcy and her brother's best friend Rob have an intense attraction to each other but Marcy is resistant to any relationship due to her traumatic past with her ex. Not only is she still struggling but Rob was there the night she ended up the hospital after husband attacked her. Rob has been in love with Marcy for years but she keeps pushing him away. But when she is attacked again, this time by a client, Rob is the first person she calls. Can Rob help her to heal to finally give them a chance at a HEA?

[Monica]

Great characters. The story is focused on a few tough topics that are hard to digest for some, but absolutely relevant to speak out on. I do find myself wishing the tension was developed further to create more angst so M's fear of a relationship makes the HEA aspect even more solid and maybe if the story dived into the drama and downfall of the Vic Simmons character to have more closure. Aside from those points, I think the story itself was really worth a read! I really love that M and R found happiness after M's many terrifying life events.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caitie’s Reading Nook]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The story itself was charming, a brother's best friend to lovers story with recovery from domestic abuse. I do think some of the flow of the story didn’t work as well and some of the word choices made the story a bit choppy. I did like how caring and supportive all the characters were of one another and that Rob loved Marcy even when she was in disarray. It was a cute story and I'm glad there was a happy ending and justice in the end.

[Jenn Theis]

I was excited to read this book because I loved the first one, but it didn't pull me in like When I Found You, it took some work for me to get into it. The characters didn't really click and there wasn't enough back story to explain why they both loved each other for years, but went separate directions. It left some odd loose ends too, though I understand those are supposed to be future books. The lack of detail though doesn't leave me eager to read them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila]

Marcy and Rob are attracted to each other but because of her previous abusive ex she thinks she is too broken to Rob but all he wants is Marcy but she will not let him get close. It takes her getting assaulted again before she realizes that Rob does not think of her as broken and only wants to support her in anything she wants to do.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[FD]

The story didn't do much for me. It's not badly written, but I found the pace too slow, it was a bit long-winded. A central theme is abuse of and violence against women. It is respectfully included in the story, but it just didn't contribute to a compelling story.
Possibly I would have liked it if I had read the first book in this series, in itself there is enough fascinating data, but in this case I did not find it an entertaining story.

[Claire Ingledew]

Wow what a book, Kirsten has written a fabulous book covering a very hard real life issue. Kirsten has covered this so well. I loved the main characters. It was hard in parts but it makes you look at life in a different way and if anyone is suffering with this i hope it gives the courage or helps them . 5⭐️

[Brenda Moser]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Marcy and Rob who have an attraction that both are fighting. The author tackles some tough issues such as bullying, domestic abuse and a ton of emotions and does a terrific job moving the story fluidly, delivering a great read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Tara B.]

Loved the connection between the two MCs. Told from a dual POV, this story is an amazing show of the FMC overcoming the trauma of her past. Her growth is powerful and she’s supported by love the entire way.

[Maren Jenner]

I really enjoyed watching Marcy overcome her trauma. She has such growth in this book! And all the love, Rob, her brother, Kate. Their support is the best!