You've Got Love and Lobsters

Shipbuilt Shenanigans #1

by Jilli Waters

I return to my small hometown, determined to save my family's restaurant. The Shake N Tail has seen better days, but it's been the Deeb family restaurant for three generations. The old lobster shack has history, and I won't let it go down without a fight. Just when things are starting to look up, trouble walks in.Piercing dark eyes and strong arms kind of trouble. Ben Carlisle. The man looks like he just stepped out of an L.L. Bean centerfold, complete with scruffy strong jawline, broad shoulders, and hands that could span a moose’s antlers. In an instant, my heart beats to a rhythm it hasn’t ever known. While Ben might be a tall drink of Maine-crafted beer, I soon learn that he's my brand-new enemy. Ben's corporate run seafood franchise threatens to put my family's struggling diner out of business. Ben's seafood restaurant is everything I can't stand, and goes against everything I hold dear, right down to its gleaming square footage. Nevermind flannel shirts and hiking boots never made me feel so hot and bothered. Every time I bump into my new rival, I can't fight the way my skin tingles against his touch, or the image in my mind of his large, strong hands caressing my body. He's charismatic, handsome, kind, and his presence makes me want to do things that should never be done with one’s enemy. There’s a lot more at stake than just business, but can I afford to let my heart take the lead?You’ve Got Love and Lobsters is a steamy, small-town, enemies-to-lovers, swoonworthy romance, with a guaranteed HEA. It is the first in the standalone Shipbuilt Shenanigans series. It’s filled with snark, epic Maine scenery, and lots of butter.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

I write swoony, sweet & spicy small-town romances full of sassy heroines and the hunks that fall for them.

Find my newsletter at: http://www.jilliwaters.com
Free novella at: https://BookHip.com/HPHQNVT

Reviews

[Jennifer 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SO CUTE. The setting was in a small town in Maine. This book was diverse and fun to read. I was entertained the entire time. Layla, an independent woman who stands her grounds and speaks what’s on her mind, does not hold back when she finds out a new man is in town. And he’s in town to destroy what she’s working so hard on keeping. The shack. Her family’s lobster shack.

When Layla is forced to come home after her father and brother had a horrific accident. Layla is left to care for the shack and her father. While living out the dream for her brother who passed in the car accident. Layla is struggling to make ends meet. With a piling mounts of medical bills and keeping up with the restaurant. Layla feels lonely, stressed, discouraged but she keeps going. For her dad. Layla has a huge heart and it doesn’t seem like she can catch a break. After leaving her life behind in Boston, she doesn’t really have a life there anymore. Her life is in Maine now. There’s nothing she can go back to. And so, she continues to work hard to keep the shack open. No matter what. Until a really cute boy walks in, Ben and she’s in scrambles trying to formulate words. But…. Ben is the reason there is a competing restaurant being built and will take the shack straight to closing. She hates him; how dare he? And to come to her shack eat her food, have the audacity to take notes and ask for the secret ingredients? She lets Ben have it. And Ben… oh Ben. How I wish you grew some balls earlier on 🥹😂 Ben boo hoo. Sack up and get your girl. Gaaah loved this sweet story. 4/5 for me just because I felt Ben lacked some manly-ness. 🙂😭

[Leah Hortin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot had potential.
Setting was cute.
Writing was just ok. A lot was repetitive.
The romance arc didn't work for me. Too hot and heavy too fast without emotional connection, and very low spice.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the first book in the Shipbuilt Shenanigans series. I really enjoyed Ben and Layla's story. Layla is drowning in debt and grief. The accident that killed her brother also hurt her father badly racking up debt and keeping him from working. She never wanted to be back in her hometown working at her family's lobster shack but she's trying to be her fathers rock and keep everything running. Ben is in town to open his family's fifth seafood restaurant. He's burnt out and in desperate need of a break. He feels a pull toward Layla but there's the fact that his new restaurant will most likely put Layla's out of business.

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

[M Hurford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Small Town Romance
The storyline took place in such a picturesque northeast coastal town that I definitely wanted to visit especially during their festivals. The protagonists, Layla and Ben, were perfectly written for each other and how they faced and figured out their competitive businesses and their love life. Just the right amount of conflict was introduced with the right characters interfering, supporting, and providing color to the story.
I’m definitely recommending this book for your reading pleasure and satisfaction. PEACE.

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

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

You've Got Love and Lobsters, the first novel in her Shipbuilt Shenanigans series, is the first book I have read by Jilli Waters - and it most certainly will not be the last. A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers small town romance, Ben and Layla's story is a well-woven yarn that makes you want to pick up and move to Shipbuilt, Maine. A fabulous cast of supporting characters and the three-dimensional authenticity of our two leads draw you in until you wish you could be adopted into a fictional family. Well written and at heart a steamy romance, You've Got Love and Lobsters in an absolute must-read.

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

[Joanne Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny yet thoughtfully lovely

Jill waters wrote a very charming story about two lobster restaurant owners who are very opposites. One is financially struggling and the other is a big money big restaurant owner who comes to this small town hoping to get the summer tourists and this is a fun yet tension building time when these two opposites clash over customers! A very fun read

[Hope Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chemestry between the characters is intense at first glance. But when Layla finds out that Benjamin is the competition that is going to ruin her families business, well sparts fly in another way. I enjoyed reading this. The Characters were well put together and made you want to root for them.

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

[Rachel Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enemies to lovers story. He is in town to open the latest in the chain of his seafood restaurants, with the risk of putting her family run lobster shack out of business. I liked how it was told from both points of view. The setting sounded great and somewhere I would like to visit!.

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

[Barbara]

The first book in the Shipbuilt Shenanigans series, by a new Author to me, this is her debut book. Ben Carlisle and Layla's story of enemies-to-lovers, is well written with a fun storyline that I enjoyed reading. I want to read the next book. Cute cover. I received a copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jilli Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm clearly biased, but I love this book. Layla and Ben come from opposite ends of the restaurant arena, and for Layla it's not a game--it's her livelihood.

Ben is everything I want in a hero: smart, kind, and sexy. He's caught trying to meet expectations and live with his own conscience.

Enemies to heated lovers. Yummy food. Great setting.

[Bette Stanek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one had potential. It really did. It fell flat. The plot was good, the writing was OK, and the setting was quaint. The characters were flat, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them (even though the author made sure to tell me all about it). The story seemed to go in bits and spurts, it didn’t flow at all. It just didn’t work for me.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars~

This was an average romance book for me. I loved the small town setting and the summer-y vibes. However I felt like the romance started a bit too quickly and I didn’t really feel an emotional connection between the characters. Overall it was pretty cute, but I think in my head this couple doesn’t have the potential to stay together long-term

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful enemies-to-lovers story that pulls us into the lives of Layla and Ben. The story keeps us turning the pages with connection, denial, tough decisions and steam.

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

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review. When the rival restaurant comes to shipbuilt maine Layla deeb trying to keep Everything going after the accident . I love how these characters fight for what they believe in. Cute.

[Kandiemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are wonderful and the storyline is enjoyable. I'd recommend reading this book.

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

[Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing, blushing, and craving lobster rolls all at once! The banter between the heroine and Ben is perfection sharp, witty, and so full of chemistry you can feel it spark off the page. Small-town romance done right!

[Cherie Maggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

This is the first book I have read by this author and it was vert enjoyable. Enjoyed the story and forbidden love

[Kandra Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Not terrible but not excellent either. Kinda cute.

[Caroline Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many starred reviews by 0 follower 0 friend bot accounts with no profile pictures, and AI-like generated reviews. Yikes 💀