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Only in Seaside #2
Only for Revenge
A dancer with a plan, a cinnamon roll fake fiancé & their first chance at falling in love. After being publicly humiliated, Ryan never expected to see Delilah again. She left town over a year ago and no one’s heard from her since, until she shows up on Ryan’s doorstep with a suitcase and a plan. It’s not something I just thought of. It’s a foolproof plan to get back at the man who publicly broke my heart and trashed my reputation. It only makes sense to include the one other person who could possibly understand what I’m feeling. Now, if only I can convince him to propose to me. I swear I shouldn’t even be considering this. Her plan is insane. Moving in and faking an engagement? That kind of stuff only happens in the movies. But I just couldn’t turn her away. What happens when their fake engagement starts to feel real? Will this turn into something or will they pretend this is only for revenge?
Book 2 in the Only in Seaside series, following the romance of Delilah and Ryan.
Book 2 in the Only in Seaside series, following the romance of Delilah and Ryan.
222 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Shannon O'Connor
64 books850 followersShannon O’Connor is a twenty something, bisexual, self published poet of several books and counting. O’Connor enjoys life’s simple pleasures: coffee, reading, traveling, and spending time with her new baby. O’Connor is continuously working on new poetry projects, book reviews, and more, while also diving into motherhood. She loves supporting local indie authors & shops as much as possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 9, 2023
*This was as an ARC reader.*
I have never read any books by Shannon O'Connor, nor have I been exposed to her writing styles. I asked to be an ARC for this book because I needed a new style to read, an exceptional breath of fresh air. This was just the ticket I was looking for!
Even though I have never read any of the other books in this series, I was not lost or left wondering if I should have read the previous stories. Shannon eased into the story with back stories about (I'm assuming previously engaged characters) which made the link between the stories engaging and smoothed over any mishap I could have thought from not diving into previously released books.
The characters are great and Shannon did an amazing job of creating their unique personalities and their perspectives on their problems at hand. I really feel in love with Delilah's passion and drive after all of the negatives that seem to have surrounded her previously. She's a curvy woman who's the leading lady in the story. Her ex- husband is a twatwaffle and tries to ruin her life by hanging on to not signing divorce papers. He pops in an at inopportune moments (because honestly aren't all of our cringy exes like this) and tries to steal Delilah's joyous moments.
Ryan is not the knight in shining armor type of guy. He's recovering from a marriage to a woman who lied and cheated on him (& honestly this is not a subject wrote about often). The history between Ryan and Delilah are the matches that start the fire that burns between them. Ryan, still single after his divorce, is surprised by a visit from Delilah seeking to deploy a game of revenge on their exes. Ryan agrees and thus begins their plot to extract a jealous revenge, but alas they fall for the other.
Acquaintances to friends to lovers to partners is the epitome of this story and I was there for it! This read was definitely a HEA that I needed after my dark stories here lately. Shannon O'Connor wrote a book I can only dream of having in my life.
I have never read any books by Shannon O'Connor, nor have I been exposed to her writing styles. I asked to be an ARC for this book because I needed a new style to read, an exceptional breath of fresh air. This was just the ticket I was looking for!
Even though I have never read any of the other books in this series, I was not lost or left wondering if I should have read the previous stories. Shannon eased into the story with back stories about (I'm assuming previously engaged characters) which made the link between the stories engaging and smoothed over any mishap I could have thought from not diving into previously released books.
The characters are great and Shannon did an amazing job of creating their unique personalities and their perspectives on their problems at hand. I really feel in love with Delilah's passion and drive after all of the negatives that seem to have surrounded her previously. She's a curvy woman who's the leading lady in the story. Her ex- husband is a twatwaffle and tries to ruin her life by hanging on to not signing divorce papers. He pops in an at inopportune moments (because honestly aren't all of our cringy exes like this) and tries to steal Delilah's joyous moments.
Ryan is not the knight in shining armor type of guy. He's recovering from a marriage to a woman who lied and cheated on him (& honestly this is not a subject wrote about often). The history between Ryan and Delilah are the matches that start the fire that burns between them. Ryan, still single after his divorce, is surprised by a visit from Delilah seeking to deploy a game of revenge on their exes. Ryan agrees and thus begins their plot to extract a jealous revenge, but alas they fall for the other.
Acquaintances to friends to lovers to partners is the epitome of this story and I was there for it! This read was definitely a HEA that I needed after my dark stories here lately. Shannon O'Connor wrote a book I can only dream of having in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2022
So, there were things I LOVED about this book and there were things I didn’t.
I’ll start with the negative so we can end this on a positive note!
The way it was written spoiled it for me at times. There’s typos, missing words, and the “I am” and “It is” instead of “I’m” and “It’s” every single time, brought me back to the real world instead of getting lost in the book. There were a lot of sentences that just did not make sense.
I’m not big on slow burn romances, but this one was so far at the other end of the spectrum that I felt like I missed something. All of the sudden they were in love. I didn’t get a chance to fall in love with the idea of them together.
All of the spicy and/or romantic scenes were generic and cliche. There was nothing that made me feel like their love was special or different, and nothing I haven’t heard before.
A couple of the big twists or turns in the story were blown out of proportion or unrealistic. For example: Delilah got upset with Ryan because of the video that went out. He just made a statement, he didn’t do anything wrong. That’s not comparable to what her ex did. It was a stretch. Then, she told him she was pregnant after she had been pregnant for FOUR MONTHS and already had been to the doctor and found out it was twins without him? And they live together and are madly in love? It seems like that was just thrown in there for the hell of it.
We didn’t hear a bough about the actual revenge plot.
For the good now ☺️
I really did enjoy these characters. I actually really liked Delilah and that we finally have a plus size/curvy FMC who loves her body and isn’t afraid to eat WITHOUT fetishizing her. I also liked that Ryan was your typical 10’ tall, muscles on muscles on muscles, alpha male. Not that I don’t love me one, but it was nice to read about a NORMAL yet charming dude for once. I also loved the side characters. His niece was so cute and his parents were awesome. Delilah’s best friend was a perfect addition as well.
The revenge plot was a good one, even though we didn’t hear a lot about it.
This book had a lot of potential, just could have been executed better in my opinion. I’m still glad I read it and will probably read more from this author. I appreciate the ARC and hope I get the chance again in the future!
I’ll start with the negative so we can end this on a positive note!
The way it was written spoiled it for me at times. There’s typos, missing words, and the “I am” and “It is” instead of “I’m” and “It’s” every single time, brought me back to the real world instead of getting lost in the book. There were a lot of sentences that just did not make sense.
I’m not big on slow burn romances, but this one was so far at the other end of the spectrum that I felt like I missed something. All of the sudden they were in love. I didn’t get a chance to fall in love with the idea of them together.
All of the spicy and/or romantic scenes were generic and cliche. There was nothing that made me feel like their love was special or different, and nothing I haven’t heard before.
A couple of the big twists or turns in the story were blown out of proportion or unrealistic. For example: Delilah got upset with Ryan because of the video that went out. He just made a statement, he didn’t do anything wrong. That’s not comparable to what her ex did. It was a stretch. Then, she told him she was pregnant after she had been pregnant for FOUR MONTHS and already had been to the doctor and found out it was twins without him? And they live together and are madly in love? It seems like that was just thrown in there for the hell of it.
We didn’t hear a bough about the actual revenge plot.
For the good now ☺️
I really did enjoy these characters. I actually really liked Delilah and that we finally have a plus size/curvy FMC who loves her body and isn’t afraid to eat WITHOUT fetishizing her. I also liked that Ryan was your typical 10’ tall, muscles on muscles on muscles, alpha male. Not that I don’t love me one, but it was nice to read about a NORMAL yet charming dude for once. I also loved the side characters. His niece was so cute and his parents were awesome. Delilah’s best friend was a perfect addition as well.
The revenge plot was a good one, even though we didn’t hear a lot about it.
This book had a lot of potential, just could have been executed better in my opinion. I’m still glad I read it and will probably read more from this author. I appreciate the ARC and hope I get the chance again in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed the characters, happy to read something with a curvy female main character. I enjoyed the dog that was thrown into the mix too simply because I love dogs. I thought that was a good touch. I thought Dee overreacted getting so upset with Ryan for something he had no control of, so I kinda thought that was hard to believe. Her anger towards her ex, totally understandable though. I did think it took too long to find out exactly what he did, other than assuming it was a leaked sex video, I thought many times “just come out and say what happened”. I thought it was great how the author brought the ex’s back into the picture at the angsty part of the book. The spice was fine as well for a quick read. I thought the part at the end where she’s pregnant was a little odd simply because she specifically kept saying she wanted to take things slow. I’m glad Ryan and Dee got their happily ever after!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2023
Thank you to Shannon O’Connor follow allowing me to read this great story!
This novel is a fun and quick read. The author is great at making cute, cozy novels! 🍁
The characters Delilah and Ryan are so sweet and spicy 🔥 The chemistry throughout the novel was off the charts 📈 I can’t wait until next novel!
⭐️ Fake Dating
⭐️ Dual POV
⭐️ Quick Read
⭐️ Romance
⭐️ HEA
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a fun and quick read. The author is great at making cute, cozy novels! 🍁
The characters Delilah and Ryan are so sweet and spicy 🔥 The chemistry throughout the novel was off the charts 📈 I can’t wait until next novel!
⭐️ Fake Dating
⭐️ Dual POV
⭐️ Quick Read
⭐️ Romance
⭐️ HEA
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2023
Deliah and Ryan's story will keep you laughing. From the time she lands on his doorstep with her suitcase you'll be hooked on this story of revenge, fake dating, etc. Their spouses had an affair which caused all of them to get divorced. No spoiler here but this quick read is one you don't want to miss. How long does it take long for fake to become real? A book with cute characters and a fun story line. I read an advance copy and voluntarily chose to review it.
December 19, 2022
The love of Dee & Ryan was everything I wanted and more! This was such a good, quick read.
My only complaints were the inconsistencies, which I understand this is a rough read as I received it as an ARC. These were the inconsistencies I hope will be fixed: 1. Delilah was specifically called “Dee” by her friend, but when Ryan called her it a few chapters later, it said she never had a nickname before. 2. Ryan and Dee specifically had a conversation about her wanting to have 3 kids but chapters later, he said he had no idea if she even wanted kids and that it was crazy to have a conversation about kids so early anyway. 3. There was a HUGE gap I feel like with Jackson signing the papers? It was just so sudden where she was like “he signed the papers weeks ago and I didn’t know how to tell Ryan”. No mention of it at all until weeks after it supposedly happened.
I also was not a huge fan of the explosion dee had on Ryan. And her friend saying “Ryan can’t hurt her again” like he even did anything wrong in the first place? He was having a private conversation that Jackson recorded. Dee is the one who left Ryan. He never did anything to hurt her. And everything he said in the recording was true/just stating the facts. I don’t understand the explosion.
Other than those pieces, which I know seems like a lot but really in the grand scheme of things it’s not, I LOVED this book.
I love that Dee is curvy, confident, and popular on social media. I loved the spice. It was absolute perfect spice. I loved Pancake, and all of the references to beloved shows like HIMYM & Friends. I loved the food scenes.
*Thank you to the author for providing this read for free in exchange for an honest review*
My only complaints were the inconsistencies, which I understand this is a rough read as I received it as an ARC. These were the inconsistencies I hope will be fixed: 1. Delilah was specifically called “Dee” by her friend, but when Ryan called her it a few chapters later, it said she never had a nickname before. 2. Ryan and Dee specifically had a conversation about her wanting to have 3 kids but chapters later, he said he had no idea if she even wanted kids and that it was crazy to have a conversation about kids so early anyway. 3. There was a HUGE gap I feel like with Jackson signing the papers? It was just so sudden where she was like “he signed the papers weeks ago and I didn’t know how to tell Ryan”. No mention of it at all until weeks after it supposedly happened.
I also was not a huge fan of the explosion dee had on Ryan. And her friend saying “Ryan can’t hurt her again” like he even did anything wrong in the first place? He was having a private conversation that Jackson recorded. Dee is the one who left Ryan. He never did anything to hurt her. And everything he said in the recording was true/just stating the facts. I don’t understand the explosion.
Other than those pieces, which I know seems like a lot but really in the grand scheme of things it’s not, I LOVED this book.
I love that Dee is curvy, confident, and popular on social media. I loved the spice. It was absolute perfect spice. I loved Pancake, and all of the references to beloved shows like HIMYM & Friends. I loved the food scenes.
*Thank you to the author for providing this read for free in exchange for an honest review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy of this book! A fall rom-com with fake dating, modern day social media references and the cutest dog ever!
Delilah shows up on Ryan’s doorstep with a crazy revenge plan to get back at her ex for publicly humiliating her… but maybe the plan isn’t so crazy after all.
Ryan’s wife Celeste cheated on him with Delilah’s husband Jackson. While both couples got a divorce, Jackson made things messy by publicly humiliating Delilah and driving her out of her small hometown, while refusing to sign the divorce papers. After finding out via social media that Jackson and Celeste are engaged, Delilah shows up at Ryan’s house with a revenge plan.
I love fake dating, it’s an amazing trope and filled with angst/tension! Delilah and Ryan are wonderful, I liked their banter and chemistry, but in my opinion everything moved pretty fast. I wish there were more events/details written between the two to help solidify their feelings for one another. The spicy scenes are open door, but they were tame and respectful in my opinion.
Like many contemporary romances, there is a 3rd act breakup. In my opinion, the event that took place wasn’t grounds for immediate breakup, they just needed to sit down and actually talk through what happened. There was no communication about it besides a fight while Delilah was grabbing her things. However, I do understand Delilah’s trauma response due to her past with Jackson.
Throughout majority of the book, a video of Delilah going viral is referred to. It’s pretty easy to assume what the video is, however we do not actually get detail of the video until maybe 3/4 of the way into the book.
Overall, this was a feel good read and I enjoyed it! I rated 3.5/5, however it won’t let me do half here so I bumped up to 4. I love rom-coms and HEA, so if you do too then check this out!
Delilah shows up on Ryan’s doorstep with a crazy revenge plan to get back at her ex for publicly humiliating her… but maybe the plan isn’t so crazy after all.
Ryan’s wife Celeste cheated on him with Delilah’s husband Jackson. While both couples got a divorce, Jackson made things messy by publicly humiliating Delilah and driving her out of her small hometown, while refusing to sign the divorce papers. After finding out via social media that Jackson and Celeste are engaged, Delilah shows up at Ryan’s house with a revenge plan.
I love fake dating, it’s an amazing trope and filled with angst/tension! Delilah and Ryan are wonderful, I liked their banter and chemistry, but in my opinion everything moved pretty fast. I wish there were more events/details written between the two to help solidify their feelings for one another. The spicy scenes are open door, but they were tame and respectful in my opinion.
Like many contemporary romances, there is a 3rd act breakup. In my opinion, the event that took place wasn’t grounds for immediate breakup, they just needed to sit down and actually talk through what happened. There was no communication about it besides a fight while Delilah was grabbing her things. However, I do understand Delilah’s trauma response due to her past with Jackson.
Throughout majority of the book, a video of Delilah going viral is referred to. It’s pretty easy to assume what the video is, however we do not actually get detail of the video until maybe 3/4 of the way into the book.
Overall, this was a feel good read and I enjoyed it! I rated 3.5/5, however it won’t let me do half here so I bumped up to 4. I love rom-coms and HEA, so if you do too then check this out!
January 17, 2023
It was OK, it wasn’t great.
Positives:
New to me author. This was the second in the series but there was sufficient explanation to know who all the characters were and where they came into this story from.
I really liked the dog character, Pancake, for me, probably the best character in the book but him getting lost seemed superfluous to the story.
Not so positives:
I found the writing didn’t flow as readily as the authors I have been reading lately.
I thought Ryan, our main male character, was a bit of a nothing character. Both his ex-wife and Delilah, the main female character, walked all over him although he did finally grow a backbone and stand up to his ex in the end.
The fake relationship / forced proximity tropes hit right from the start, no beating around the bush, she had moved herself into Ryan’s house before the opening credits had rolled (and he stood back and let her).
I found the conversation to be really stilted and quite formal at times, it didn’t flow and at times just didn’t sound at all real.
I found her anger at him for getting caught on video having a private conversation with his bestie was totally misplaced and indicative of the character who was all over the place.
The author continually referred to a leaked video that had damaged her reputation yet no mention of what that video was until the book was all but over.
Ultimately, there was nothing about the book that made me feel like I needed to read “just one more chapter” before putting it down, and that disappointed me and lead to me giving this a generous 3 stars.
Positives:
New to me author. This was the second in the series but there was sufficient explanation to know who all the characters were and where they came into this story from.
I really liked the dog character, Pancake, for me, probably the best character in the book but him getting lost seemed superfluous to the story.
Not so positives:
I found the writing didn’t flow as readily as the authors I have been reading lately.
I thought Ryan, our main male character, was a bit of a nothing character. Both his ex-wife and Delilah, the main female character, walked all over him although he did finally grow a backbone and stand up to his ex in the end.
The fake relationship / forced proximity tropes hit right from the start, no beating around the bush, she had moved herself into Ryan’s house before the opening credits had rolled (and he stood back and let her).
I found the conversation to be really stilted and quite formal at times, it didn’t flow and at times just didn’t sound at all real.
I found her anger at him for getting caught on video having a private conversation with his bestie was totally misplaced and indicative of the character who was all over the place.
The author continually referred to a leaked video that had damaged her reputation yet no mention of what that video was until the book was all but over.
Ultimately, there was nothing about the book that made me feel like I needed to read “just one more chapter” before putting it down, and that disappointed me and lead to me giving this a generous 3 stars.
December 17, 2022
I received this book as an ARC. There were many things I enjoyed about the story. I liked getting to know Ryan and Delilah, and seeing where their story went, and I really enjoyed Pancake. The foodie in me loved the cooking and food scenes, and the spicy side of me enjoyed the spice. I enjoyed the tension between Ryan and Delilah and was happy it wasn't a slow burn. I found myself laughing and enjoying the story unfolding.
Although I am happy this story wasn't a slow burn, there were some instances where the timing of things developed a little quickly for me. In one particular where Delilah mentioned she achieved her goal, but we, the readers, didn't find out anything about what happened, why he finally signed without a fight or anything. I would have liked to see more of that developed and possibly more of a glimpse into Delilah's concerns about everything ending, etc.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little spice, a little cooking, a cute puppy, revenge, and romance. Thank you again for the opportunity to receive the ARC.
Although I am happy this story wasn't a slow burn, there were some instances where the timing of things developed a little quickly for me. In one particular where Delilah mentioned she achieved her goal, but we, the readers, didn't find out anything about what happened, why he finally signed without a fight or anything. I would have liked to see more of that developed and possibly more of a glimpse into Delilah's concerns about everything ending, etc.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little spice, a little cooking, a cute puppy, revenge, and romance. Thank you again for the opportunity to receive the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2022
Only for Revenge is the romance I didn’t know I needed in my life, but I’m so glad it’s there! After being blindsided by his divorce, Ryan isn’t interested in getting back out in the dating game. When Delilah shows up on his porch with a plan for revenge against their exes that includes them fake dating while living together, Ryan is on board. As they get to know each other, they slowly start letting their guards down and each are totally afraid of their blossoming feelings. When their secrets and pasts start catching up to them, it could spell disaster for their relationship.
This story is such an easy read with its lovable and relatable characters and straightforward storyline. Its a romance story with a side of hot spice and not just driven by the spice, which is highly refreshing in the romance genre anymore. It’s so easy to fall in love with these characters; Ryan being a total sweetheart and Delilah being a fun, free spirit.
This story is such an easy read with its lovable and relatable characters and straightforward storyline. Its a romance story with a side of hot spice and not just driven by the spice, which is highly refreshing in the romance genre anymore. It’s so easy to fall in love with these characters; Ryan being a total sweetheart and Delilah being a fun, free spirit.
December 24, 2022
*Thank you to the author who provided me with an ARC copy*
Similar to other books by O’Connor, this book wastes no time with niceties and gets right into the thick of it! This book is a quick, fun and easy read. We get to know the characters and quickly fall in love with them. We learn more about their pasts and understand the nature of their love. I really enjoy O’Connor’s distinct writing style with the dual POV. O’Connor captures the emotion of each character to a tee! There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of spice… just the perfect amount, as the book focuses more on the plot instead of the steaminess. I also appreciated the curvy-girl-with-an-appetite representation. In the end, we aren’t left hanging - the last few chapters and epilogue give full closure to this cute and unexpected love story. Given that I had an ARC copy, there were some discrepancies that I’m sure will be addressed, but overall, it was a great read!
Similar to other books by O’Connor, this book wastes no time with niceties and gets right into the thick of it! This book is a quick, fun and easy read. We get to know the characters and quickly fall in love with them. We learn more about their pasts and understand the nature of their love. I really enjoy O’Connor’s distinct writing style with the dual POV. O’Connor captures the emotion of each character to a tee! There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of spice… just the perfect amount, as the book focuses more on the plot instead of the steaminess. I also appreciated the curvy-girl-with-an-appetite representation. In the end, we aren’t left hanging - the last few chapters and epilogue give full closure to this cute and unexpected love story. Given that I had an ARC copy, there were some discrepancies that I’m sure will be addressed, but overall, it was a great read!
December 19, 2022
What an amazing read! Such a page turner! Delilah and Ryan both were married to two people who cheated on them with none other than the other’s spouses. Crazy! Delilah also had left town due to a video she knew her ex put out there but couldn’t prove it. It was put out there for the whole town to see. She’s now come back to town and opens a dance studio. This has significant meaning-you will find out why. What better way to get revenge than not only a fake relationship but an engagement with Ryan. What could possibly go wrong or right? Ryan and Delilah were both burnt pretty badly not long ago. Neither really looking for love. The more time they spend together, their chemistry seems to spark more. They get along so well. How will this all end? Will Delilah and Ryan fall in love? Will this little arrangement actually bring these two together for real? Wait til you find out!
December 29, 2022
Delilah is an unapologetically beautiful women. Even though she was wronged and her reputation ruined she still comes back to the town where it all took place. But she comes back a renewed sense of self and a plan.
Her plan…to fake date Ryan and eventually be fake engaged. The plan seems crazy but Ryan agrees. He had been hurt before and keeps his heart guarded. Fake dating should be fine; they won’t fall in love?
What happens when they both find themself falling hard for each other? Will their fake relationship become real? Can they learn to trust and love again?
Delilah and Ryan were likable characters. They make a cute couple. This dual POV is a fun and enjoyable read. It gave me cozy fall vibes but a great read for any time of the year.
Thank you Shannon for the ARC copy and opportunity to review.
Her plan…to fake date Ryan and eventually be fake engaged. The plan seems crazy but Ryan agrees. He had been hurt before and keeps his heart guarded. Fake dating should be fine; they won’t fall in love?
What happens when they both find themself falling hard for each other? Will their fake relationship become real? Can they learn to trust and love again?
Delilah and Ryan were likable characters. They make a cute couple. This dual POV is a fun and enjoyable read. It gave me cozy fall vibes but a great read for any time of the year.
Thank you Shannon for the ARC copy and opportunity to review.
January 5, 2023
What a fun story this was to read. What started out as fake dating between Ryan and Delilah, who’s exes cheating on them with each other, blossomed into real love and a real relationship. I loved reading about their plan to exact their revenge but as the story progressed their feelings grew and they were the ones who ended up together while their exes went their separate ways. All the characters are so likeable and the story was fun and unique. Delilah was a great character to relate to as she is basically a free spirit and is a strong woman who is not afraid to go after something she truly wants and Ryan is just the sweetest man who can make any woman feel loved and appreciated. I have loved all of Ms O’Connor’s work and I loved this book. A wonderful addition to this series.
I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 5, 2023
Ryan's wife cheated on him with Delilah's husband causing divorces. A year later the cheating spouses announce their engagement; setting forth a fake relationship between Ryan and Delilah as revenge against their exes.
I enjoyed everything about this Rom-Com! The story is modern and cute. Some of the modern ellements that I loved were the MF character's social media presence and the supporting character as a young single mom working in a tattoo parlor. The small town the story is set in is a typical small town filled with gossip and judgement. I loved the pairing of a semi nerdy and softer Ryan with an outgoing hard outer shell Delilah! Their opposites attract chemistry made their entire story.
I recommend this book to Rom-Com readers who like fake relationship and small town quick reads!
I enjoyed everything about this Rom-Com! The story is modern and cute. Some of the modern ellements that I loved were the MF character's social media presence and the supporting character as a young single mom working in a tattoo parlor. The small town the story is set in is a typical small town filled with gossip and judgement. I loved the pairing of a semi nerdy and softer Ryan with an outgoing hard outer shell Delilah! Their opposites attract chemistry made their entire story.
I recommend this book to Rom-Com readers who like fake relationship and small town quick reads!
December 16, 2022
I got sent this book as an ARC. The book has a lot of promise but was not executed very well. It is very fast paced which at times can be good and help move a story along but in this case it lacked so many details and you missed a lot of moments between the two main characters that could have really highlighted how they were feeling about each other and the connection that was developing between them.
There were also a lot of sentence structure issues. (Example a sentence starting off in the past tense but ending somewhat present tense which didn’t make sense) as well as other grammatical errors.
I will say the story was cute and could definitely be an extremely good book but the author needs to add more depth/details and slow it down a bit.
There were also a lot of sentence structure issues. (Example a sentence starting off in the past tense but ending somewhat present tense which didn’t make sense) as well as other grammatical errors.
I will say the story was cute and could definitely be an extremely good book but the author needs to add more depth/details and slow it down a bit.
December 16, 2022
This one was a good one, I enjoyed the storyline! I like a good revenge book.
It had a good amount of spice throughout the book, which is always a plus for the books I read. It got right down to the point from the first page, it was fast paced but that's ok sometimes. It was a bit more of a romance you wouldn't think would happen more than a revenge story but it was still a good one. Of course the characters fall in love, it's the story that gets you. It all starts out where you're just trying to get your life back on track but life has plans for you that you didn't know you needed. A romance that you'd never even think would happen but turns out to be the best thing in your life. I can't wait for book 3, so excited for Reagan's story!
It had a good amount of spice throughout the book, which is always a plus for the books I read. It got right down to the point from the first page, it was fast paced but that's ok sometimes. It was a bit more of a romance you wouldn't think would happen more than a revenge story but it was still a good one. Of course the characters fall in love, it's the story that gets you. It all starts out where you're just trying to get your life back on track but life has plans for you that you didn't know you needed. A romance that you'd never even think would happen but turns out to be the best thing in your life. I can't wait for book 3, so excited for Reagan's story!
December 21, 2022
I read this quick, it wasn’t a short book but I just couldn’t put it down. Only the Revenge is such a sweet story and I was lucky to get an arc copy ahead of Release Day which is scheduled for the 5th January.
Delilah has one thing on her mind and it’s to not let her soon to be ex husband get his hands on her money which he’ll get half if they divorce before getting it settled. Her ‘husband’ has gone off with the couple friends wife. There’s just the matter of getting jim to move on so queue ex husband of new girlfriend, Ryan.
She has a plan and luckily for her, he’s on board. What she doesn’t expect is the outcome, actually neither does he.
A sweet story with just the right amount of s** making this a great read and I couldn’t put it down until I’d read it all!!
Delilah has one thing on her mind and it’s to not let her soon to be ex husband get his hands on her money which he’ll get half if they divorce before getting it settled. Her ‘husband’ has gone off with the couple friends wife. There’s just the matter of getting jim to move on so queue ex husband of new girlfriend, Ryan.
She has a plan and luckily for her, he’s on board. What she doesn’t expect is the outcome, actually neither does he.
A sweet story with just the right amount of s** making this a great read and I couldn’t put it down until I’d read it all!!
January 1, 2023
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I liked Delilah’s confidence with her figure and felt the genuine chemistry between her and Ryan. I disliked the leaked sex tape by Jackson. I think something else should have happened to create the desire for revenge on Delilah’s side, but I liked how Ryan won her back by posting his own video and being vulnerable. I enjoyed the surprise pregnancy at the end (but didn’t remember any mention of twins running in Ryan’s family) and liked how he included their daughters in the proposal, but I would’ve liked them to have gotten engaged sooner, rather than 4 years later. I also would have liked to see Ryan and Delilah dancing together since Delilah commented on how good of a natural dancer Ryan was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
for all the wrong reasons
Delilah and Ryan´s plot to fake a relationship in order to prevent financial harm and to get back at their cheating exes is understandable. I was so happy for them when they fell for each other since they are such wonderful characters who really deserve happiness and I was sad and infuriated when schemes and misunderstandings threatened to destroy their love. Fortunately Ryan had the courage to fight for their relationship, putting himself into Delilah´s shoes and not shying away from publicly making a fool of himself to make her trust him and win her back – talk about a grand gesture, it´s the romantic move we all wish for...
I received this book as a review copy.
Delilah and Ryan´s plot to fake a relationship in order to prevent financial harm and to get back at their cheating exes is understandable. I was so happy for them when they fell for each other since they are such wonderful characters who really deserve happiness and I was sad and infuriated when schemes and misunderstandings threatened to destroy their love. Fortunately Ryan had the courage to fight for their relationship, putting himself into Delilah´s shoes and not shying away from publicly making a fool of himself to make her trust him and win her back – talk about a grand gesture, it´s the romantic move we all wish for...
I received this book as a review copy.
January 5, 2023
❁ BBW
❁ Fake Dating
❁ Cinnamon Roll MMC
Delilah’s husband and Ryan’s wife had an affair with each other. When Delilah hears they are engaged she decides to come back to town and ask Ryan to be her fake fiancé in order to get Revenge.
Ryan is honestly one of the sweetest characters, especially with his niece. I absolutely loved how confident Delilah was of her body and that she was a dancer despite her size. Delilah does have quite a bit of trust issues due to her ex-husband and I loved how understanding Ryan was about it. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. I loved how during their fake relationship they became friends than lovers. It was nice to read about them enjoying the simple things in life together.
❁ Fake Dating
❁ Cinnamon Roll MMC
Delilah’s husband and Ryan’s wife had an affair with each other. When Delilah hears they are engaged she decides to come back to town and ask Ryan to be her fake fiancé in order to get Revenge.
Ryan is honestly one of the sweetest characters, especially with his niece. I absolutely loved how confident Delilah was of her body and that she was a dancer despite her size. Delilah does have quite a bit of trust issues due to her ex-husband and I loved how understanding Ryan was about it. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. I loved how during their fake relationship they became friends than lovers. It was nice to read about them enjoying the simple things in life together.
January 5, 2023
Captivating!! It truly is.
Smut readers, you’ll love this! Romance readers, you’ll definitely LOVE this!
I read this when I was with my boyfriend and WOW THE FEELS!!! This is the first book of Shannon O’Connor’s that I read. I didn’t read the first but it’s on my TBR. This can definitely be read without the first one, I feel. Considering I don’t know what’s in the first one, I can’t say much. But, what I can say is she is an amazing author and knows how to captivate an audience!
I loved the romance between Delilah and Ryan. It killed me to see them “real breakup”. So I was very invested to finish the book because of this! I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future! Highly recommend!
Smut readers, you’ll love this! Romance readers, you’ll definitely LOVE this!
I read this when I was with my boyfriend and WOW THE FEELS!!! This is the first book of Shannon O’Connor’s that I read. I didn’t read the first but it’s on my TBR. This can definitely be read without the first one, I feel. Considering I don’t know what’s in the first one, I can’t say much. But, what I can say is she is an amazing author and knows how to captivate an audience!
I loved the romance between Delilah and Ryan. It killed me to see them “real breakup”. So I was very invested to finish the book because of this! I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future! Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
Delilah is a strong woman and Ryan is a sweet man. They hadn't seen each other for years, until Delilah ended up knocking on his door, bringing him her plan of revenge for their exes. What follows is a fake relationship with a lot of spice and romance and I was cheering for them to make their fake relationship a real relationship.
I loved this book! Shannon O'Connor has a way of writing quick reads with a whole lot of substance. The characters are well developed and the story had a good flow and it kept my interest from the first page.
I received this book as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it!
I loved this book! Shannon O'Connor has a way of writing quick reads with a whole lot of substance. The characters are well developed and the story had a good flow and it kept my interest from the first page.
I received this book as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it!
December 18, 2022
I got this book as an ARC from the author for an honest review.
This is a cozy read! The romance was not a slow burn and there was very cute moments such as Ryan cooking for Delilah all the time, him trying Taco Bell for the first time, and of course his dog named Pancake.
If you're in the mood for a fluffy and spicy romance, then this book is perfect for that!
The only criticism I have is the ending, but I won't spoil it for you. Delilah jumped to a conclusion she shouldn't have and really overreacted but was understandable considering what had happened in the past. But these two main characters are adorable together!
This is a cozy read! The romance was not a slow burn and there was very cute moments such as Ryan cooking for Delilah all the time, him trying Taco Bell for the first time, and of course his dog named Pancake.
If you're in the mood for a fluffy and spicy romance, then this book is perfect for that!
The only criticism I have is the ending, but I won't spoil it for you. Delilah jumped to a conclusion she shouldn't have and really overreacted but was understandable considering what had happened in the past. But these two main characters are adorable together!
March 14, 2024
This book caught my eye because of the beautiful fall foliage on the cover. Since Autumn is my favorite season I wanted to give it a go. As imagined most parts of the books are set during fall including Halloween & Thanksgiving. The books gives nice fall vibes.
I also really liked that the main character Delilah was a curvy woman without it being the main plot. Both Delilah & Ryan were by likeable as well as relatable.
The Story was nice, a cute & light read that I enjoyed a lot. There are also quite a few sex scenes in the book but none of them are awkward.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I also really liked that the main character Delilah was a curvy woman without it being the main plot. Both Delilah & Ryan were by likeable as well as relatable.
The Story was nice, a cute & light read that I enjoyed a lot. There are also quite a few sex scenes in the book but none of them are awkward.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 25, 2022
Shan once again wrote a wonderful story that I couldn't put down! I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope so I was already so excited to read this one but it was even better than I hoped. I'm especially enjoying the spice going up a notch in these most recent books. While there were some pieces that felt a little scattered at times, everything wrapped up so nicely in the end. And as always I absolutely adore the way Shan ties her books together. Hopefully we'll get to see another peak at this sweet couple in the next one!
December 30, 2022
I love a good petty revenge plot. And, faking a relationship is a petty revenge plot. Pettiness for the win!
However, the bedroom scene didn't flow with the rest of the book. I'm someone who enjoys a spicy scene or two, but there was something missing. And I didn't really connect to the characters on an emotional level. But, who doesn't love a puppy am I right? Pancake was the best.
I think they could have communicated better and it would have been nice for Celeste and Jackson to really get their comeuppance.
Justice for Delilah!
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
However, the bedroom scene didn't flow with the rest of the book. I'm someone who enjoys a spicy scene or two, but there was something missing. And I didn't really connect to the characters on an emotional level. But, who doesn't love a puppy am I right? Pancake was the best.
I think they could have communicated better and it would have been nice for Celeste and Jackson to really get their comeuppance.
Justice for Delilah!
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2023
I started this book late at night and I could not put it down. This is a book I didn’t know I needed! The story gets right into action. I got a good understanding of all the characters early on which I really liked because I was able to spend my time enjoying the story rather than piece together who was who. I absolutely love the conversations between characters. There was not a single “dull” moment in their chat. I loved reading their story. Perfect amount of smut and plot. I really liked the writing style too, it was a nice easy read. I will definitely be reading more of Shannons books!
January 3, 2023
Excellent read
Loved the chemistry between Delilah and Ryan, and appreciated fact that Delilah wasn’t your average book woman size wise. She has meat on her bones- like a real woman.
Delilah wants to stop her soon-to-be ex-husband, Jackson from getting her family fortune.
And Ryan believes that Celeste, his ex-wife, is too good for Jackson.
So they team up to try to put an end to the drama.
But they end up creating their own drama/mess.
Will they each get what they want or will fate have it’s way?
Loved the chemistry between Delilah and Ryan, and appreciated fact that Delilah wasn’t your average book woman size wise. She has meat on her bones- like a real woman.
Delilah wants to stop her soon-to-be ex-husband, Jackson from getting her family fortune.
And Ryan believes that Celeste, his ex-wife, is too good for Jackson.
So they team up to try to put an end to the drama.
But they end up creating their own drama/mess.
Will they each get what they want or will fate have it’s way?
January 5, 2023
I was so happy to receive an ARC for this cute story!
So to start the plot and premise is super cute. I love the idea of the revenge plot and of course you can’t go wrong with a plus size FMC!
However it was very hard for me to fall in love with these characters like I would’ve wanted because it was lacking depth. I felt like the story was a tad rushed and humored so it was just hard to relate and really become engrossed in it. There were a few inconsistencies as well in the story.
That being said I love a good small town romance and it was a cute read!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 🌶️/5
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