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Arcadia Creek #3
Recipe for Rivals
She thought she could steer clear of romance in a town full of cowboys, but then she met the fireman.
After signing divorce papers and leaving her New York life behind, Nova Walker needs a refuge. She finds it in small town Texas with her Aunt Gigi, along with the opportunity to earn her keep working in Gigi’s diner. Since she’s going to Arcadia Creek, Nova expects the cowboys, but she doesn’t expect the extremely attractive firefighter who—living up to his fiery title—seems to butt heads with her at every turn.
With his charm and cocky attitude, Dusty Hayes—as hickish as they come in this backwater place—has a knack for pushing Nova's buttons and propelling her competitiveness into overdrive. Friendly battling with Dusty gives her a break from her insurmountable trials, but though his antics soon change from teasing to flirting, Nova can’t allow her walls to crumble. Because the last time they did, she lost everything.
And with two small kids depending on her, Nova will never allow that to happen again.
Book three in the Arcadia Creek romance series, Recipe for Rivals is a competition-based enemies-to-lovers story with a single mom, a fire fighter, and plenty of banter. This modern romance will continue the saga in Arcadia Creek, Texas and show you just how cozy it can be.
After signing divorce papers and leaving her New York life behind, Nova Walker needs a refuge. She finds it in small town Texas with her Aunt Gigi, along with the opportunity to earn her keep working in Gigi’s diner. Since she’s going to Arcadia Creek, Nova expects the cowboys, but she doesn’t expect the extremely attractive firefighter who—living up to his fiery title—seems to butt heads with her at every turn.
With his charm and cocky attitude, Dusty Hayes—as hickish as they come in this backwater place—has a knack for pushing Nova's buttons and propelling her competitiveness into overdrive. Friendly battling with Dusty gives her a break from her insurmountable trials, but though his antics soon change from teasing to flirting, Nova can’t allow her walls to crumble. Because the last time they did, she lost everything.
And with two small kids depending on her, Nova will never allow that to happen again.
Book three in the Arcadia Creek romance series, Recipe for Rivals is a competition-based enemies-to-lovers story with a single mom, a fire fighter, and plenty of banter. This modern romance will continue the saga in Arcadia Creek, Texas and show you just how cozy it can be.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2025
166 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
December 28, 2024
Did you know I have 6 kids? And a husband? I know, "where is this going Meredith? Get to the book." But I have a point. I have 7 people vying for attention every day and I am just about never impatient with them when they interrupt my reading. Except when I was reading this book. It's so good, too good to be interrupted. Be aware of that before you start. K? Good. Moving on.
Well, if Dusty isn't a dream, I don't know who is. I love all of Kasey's books. Every one. Which is impressive because she has written SO many. (To be entirely honest, there are a few I haven't read. But Scottish 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)
If you like firemen, cats, Texas, football, single parent romances, he falls first, and friendly rivalries tied together with some solid banter, read this one. Soon.
Well, if Dusty isn't a dream, I don't know who is. I love all of Kasey's books. Every one. Which is impressive because she has written SO many. (To be entirely honest, there are a few I haven't read. But Scottish 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)
If you like firemen, cats, Texas, football, single parent romances, he falls first, and friendly rivalries tied together with some solid banter, read this one. Soon.
July 15, 2025
"I was supposed to be learning something about chicken, not developing a schoolgirl crush on the hot firefighter."
Recipe for Rivals by Kasey Stockton
4.75 stars rounded up!
Recipe for Rivals is a Meet cute, friends-to-more romance, with some friendly rivalry going on throughout.
Nova comes to Arcadia Creek to escape her ex-husband after a nasty divorce, bringing her two children, Ben and Alice, with her. She arrives and gets a job at the diner her Aunt Gigi owns.
I loved watching these two grow and learn. I loved the banter and the rivalry between the firemen and policemen. And I really adored watching Nova gain confidence in herself as a person and as a mom. Dusty is so right for her. He is protective, caring, and not only falls in love with Nova, but also her two children. He is strong and a bit of a flirt, but he takes things slow and lets Nova decide how fast to take things. I adored their story and everything about it.
Favorite Parts:
Jealous Dusty
Meet cute
Kitten
Popcorn fire
Protective Dusty
Battle of the Badges
Battle about Rivalry between colleges
Diner scene
The date
Epilogue
Audio Review: I liked these narrators, especially the male narrator.
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Passionate kissing (not described in detail)
Violence/gore: physical abuse (evidence of after the fact)
Substance Use: Parent dies of overdose (mentioned as happening in the past)
Prejudices: none
Religious Themes/Content: side characters are on a mission trip for their church and a pastor is mentioned
Other: Abandonment by parent, divorce, single parenting, physical abuse (evidence is apparent on child-bruising, but it doesn’t go into detail about what happens), side character has dementia, emotional trauma from parental abandonment, toxic character: ex-husband of FMC
Recipe for Rivals by Kasey Stockton
4.75 stars rounded up!
Recipe for Rivals is a Meet cute, friends-to-more romance, with some friendly rivalry going on throughout.
Nova comes to Arcadia Creek to escape her ex-husband after a nasty divorce, bringing her two children, Ben and Alice, with her. She arrives and gets a job at the diner her Aunt Gigi owns.
I loved watching these two grow and learn. I loved the banter and the rivalry between the firemen and policemen. And I really adored watching Nova gain confidence in herself as a person and as a mom. Dusty is so right for her. He is protective, caring, and not only falls in love with Nova, but also her two children. He is strong and a bit of a flirt, but he takes things slow and lets Nova decide how fast to take things. I adored their story and everything about it.
Favorite Parts:
Jealous Dusty
Meet cute
Kitten
Popcorn fire
Protective Dusty
Battle of the Badges
Battle about Rivalry between colleges
Diner scene
The date
Epilogue
Audio Review: I liked these narrators, especially the male narrator.
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Passionate kissing (not described in detail)
Violence/gore: physical abuse (evidence of after the fact)
Substance Use: Parent dies of overdose (mentioned as happening in the past)
Prejudices: none
Religious Themes/Content: side characters are on a mission trip for their church and a pastor is mentioned
Other: Abandonment by parent, divorce, single parenting, physical abuse (evidence is apparent on child-bruising, but it doesn’t go into detail about what happens), side character has dementia, emotional trauma from parental abandonment, toxic character: ex-husband of FMC
December 28, 2024
This book was wonderful! It took me on an emotional journey and was so beautifully written. Writing a story and portraying it realistically for a divorced, single parent mom with two kids isn't an easy book to write. And not that I know what that's like, but the emotions and the struggles and challenges that Nova faced seemed very realistic. My heart ached for her several times but my heart also felt happy for her and the support system that she had. She was doing her best and trying to make sure that her children were getting the love and support and help they needed for their new normal.
Aunt Gigi was such a fun and spunky character. She's somebody I'd want in my corner any day! And Nova had a great support system and friend through her aunt. Especially when it came to protecting her from any of the single men in town. Especially Dusty!
I love this fictional town of Arcadia Creek and was so happy to return there through another book. This town is full of great characters and keeps pulling me back! I can't wait to see what the next adventure will be for us readers and this town!
Dusty and Nova were wonderful together. Their banter had me giggling. But I loved watching Dusty help Nova and let her know that she could trust him and that she and her kids were safe with him. Through all of his interactions with his fellow firefighters, his football players, his grandpa, Aunt Gigi, the police officers and many others, had me as the reader being more and more of a fan of his! And I definitely approve of him for Nova! He's just what she needs to feel loved, cared for and safe!
Content: Clean. Talk of a divorce, single parent, abandonment. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Aunt Gigi was such a fun and spunky character. She's somebody I'd want in my corner any day! And Nova had a great support system and friend through her aunt. Especially when it came to protecting her from any of the single men in town. Especially Dusty!
I love this fictional town of Arcadia Creek and was so happy to return there through another book. This town is full of great characters and keeps pulling me back! I can't wait to see what the next adventure will be for us readers and this town!
Dusty and Nova were wonderful together. Their banter had me giggling. But I loved watching Dusty help Nova and let her know that she could trust him and that she and her kids were safe with him. Through all of his interactions with his fellow firefighters, his football players, his grandpa, Aunt Gigi, the police officers and many others, had me as the reader being more and more of a fan of his! And I definitely approve of him for Nova! He's just what she needs to feel loved, cared for and safe!
Content: Clean. Talk of a divorce, single parent, abandonment. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
July 6, 2025
3.5⭐️
October 13, 2025
5 stars! 🚒.𖥔 ݁ ˖
(too lazy to write a review but this book was very good!! i loved all the characters
- - - - - - - - -
pre-read 🚒｡𖦹°‧
single mom of 2 and a fire fighter--don't mind if i do!! 😋🥰
June 27, 2025
Big heart eyes over here! Kasey did such a good job writing these characters and making the relationships relatable and believable. I'm not a single mom but I found myself understanding Nova on such a deep level. Dusty was exactly who you wanted him to be and I love a reliable and absolutely good to his core man. this book felt refreshing and just made me happy!
March 28, 2025
This book was fantastic! I listened to the audio version and it was very nicely done.
Dusty was a great main character, aside from his unfortunate choice in the university that he was a fan of. So, I had to chalk that one up to a character flaw and move on.
Dusty was such a good guy in this story. He was there for Nova and her kids in any way she needed him to be. It was also clear that he was there for others in their community, as well. The way he cared about Nova's kids and the way they connected with him was great, too.
Nova was strong and sometimes stubborn, but I liked seeing her adjust to being part of the community, finding friends and a real place to belong. Of course, the romantic connection that built between these two was wonderful!
The difficulties with Nova's ex-husband caused me some anxiety, which showed just how well the author wrote that storyline. I simply had to keep reminding myself that things would work out and that Nova and Dusty would get their happily ever after whenever I felt the anxiety creep in.
This story was so good and I enjoyed it from start to finish.
Dusty was a great main character, aside from his unfortunate choice in the university that he was a fan of. So, I had to chalk that one up to a character flaw and move on.
Dusty was such a good guy in this story. He was there for Nova and her kids in any way she needed him to be. It was also clear that he was there for others in their community, as well. The way he cared about Nova's kids and the way they connected with him was great, too.
Nova was strong and sometimes stubborn, but I liked seeing her adjust to being part of the community, finding friends and a real place to belong. Of course, the romantic connection that built between these two was wonderful!
The difficulties with Nova's ex-husband caused me some anxiety, which showed just how well the author wrote that storyline. I simply had to keep reminding myself that things would work out and that Nova and Dusty would get their happily ever after whenever I felt the anxiety creep in.
This story was so good and I enjoyed it from start to finish.
December 29, 2024
This book was beautiful. The characters were so well drawn; Nova in particular was such a great mum, putting her kids first and being really careful around guys. I loved the slow burn in this story. It was just perfect. Dusty was truly swoon worthy and there were just so many sweet moments where he showed up for Nova and her kids. This book has so much heart and I drank it in.
December 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE
contemporary romance
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: just kisses
-⚠️: crappy ex-husband, a side domestic violence situation
I absolutely loved this book!
I had no idea going in that we had a single mom situation with Nova. I loved her-- her resiliency, her dedication to her sweet kids and easing hard transitions for them, her GRIT.
Dusty wasn't my favorite in Falling in Line just because he was holding such a grudge against June so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about him. Turns out, he's wonderful! He loves his town, his support of the boys he coaches (and especially Brody) is heartwarming, and his care for his grandpa is unmatched. I loved the way he balanced caring for Nova, Ben & Alice while still allowing Nova to feel independent as well.
Their romance is a slow burn, for sure, so be ready to be patient. The whole story is wonderful though and I highly recommend it!
Favorite Quotes:
😂 Why did every young girl have incredible eyebrows these days? Be a kid. You'll be plucking for the rest of your life.
🫠 Holy stomach-melting man. I didn't know if my crush would hold off much longer if he made my daughter emit sounds of joy like that.
⭐️ "You do know there are no special gold stars for people who get it done alone, right? No one hands out awards for running yourself into the ground."
😍 “I have a recipe for happily ever after. Want to hear it?"
"Yes," she whispered, burying her
head against my chest.
"Me, you, Alice, and Ben."
🔥 “I'm a lucky man since you're even willing to give me a shot."
My eyes grew misty, my chest warm and fuzzy. Everything disappeared around us except for me and this man.
"You're not real."
"I can show you exactly how real I am." Dusty didn't hesitate. He pulled me close, his lips crashing over mine with a wave of heat that could melt Alaska.
‼️ “You can’t control anyone else's actions, and you certainly can't protect them from pain. The only thing you can do is be a safe place. You can love them with all your heart so they never have to question their worth. No matter what life throws at them at any age, they will know they are loved because of you. The rest is out of your hands."
GENRE
contemporary romance
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: just kisses
-⚠️: crappy ex-husband, a side domestic violence situation
I absolutely loved this book!
I had no idea going in that we had a single mom situation with Nova. I loved her-- her resiliency, her dedication to her sweet kids and easing hard transitions for them, her GRIT.
Dusty wasn't my favorite in Falling in Line just because he was holding such a grudge against June so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about him. Turns out, he's wonderful! He loves his town, his support of the boys he coaches (and especially Brody) is heartwarming, and his care for his grandpa is unmatched. I loved the way he balanced caring for Nova, Ben & Alice while still allowing Nova to feel independent as well.
Their romance is a slow burn, for sure, so be ready to be patient. The whole story is wonderful though and I highly recommend it!
Favorite Quotes:
😂 Why did every young girl have incredible eyebrows these days? Be a kid. You'll be plucking for the rest of your life.
🫠 Holy stomach-melting man. I didn't know if my crush would hold off much longer if he made my daughter emit sounds of joy like that.
⭐️ "You do know there are no special gold stars for people who get it done alone, right? No one hands out awards for running yourself into the ground."
😍 “I have a recipe for happily ever after. Want to hear it?"
"Yes," she whispered, burying her
head against my chest.
"Me, you, Alice, and Ben."
🔥 “I'm a lucky man since you're even willing to give me a shot."
My eyes grew misty, my chest warm and fuzzy. Everything disappeared around us except for me and this man.
"You're not real."
"I can show you exactly how real I am." Dusty didn't hesitate. He pulled me close, his lips crashing over mine with a wave of heat that could melt Alaska.
‼️ “You can’t control anyone else's actions, and you certainly can't protect them from pain. The only thing you can do is be a safe place. You can love them with all your heart so they never have to question their worth. No matter what life throws at them at any age, they will know they are loved because of you. The rest is out of your hands."
December 24, 2024
What a great addition to this series! I loved Dusty and his attitude of always being willing to help. He was so patient and caring with those around him. The perfect hero!
Nova was amazing in her resilience after her divorce and in protecting her children. I enjoyed seeing her walls come down and her growing confidence in herself.
This is a sweet, small Texas hometown romance. With lots of heartwarming moments and cute banter.
Nova was amazing in her resilience after her divorce and in protecting her children. I enjoyed seeing her walls come down and her growing confidence in herself.
This is a sweet, small Texas hometown romance. With lots of heartwarming moments and cute banter.
April 2, 2025
I adored this third book in the Arcadia Creek series! Please write more books in this series, Kasey! I don’t want it to end!
Absolutely loved Nova and Dusty! Loved their banter. Loved their rivalry. Loved their love. The way they both fall for each other so quickly is so beautiful. And I love how they build each other up and help each other see their value and worth. Dusty cares for Nova in the sweetest ways and I loved how he protects and cherishes both her and her kids. Nova is a fantastic single mom protagonist. I loved getting to know her and admired her strength, patience and incredible work ethic for her kids. Her motherhood is authentic and beautiful.
There are some heavier topics in this one including a manipulative husband, discussions of drug addiction and overdose and domestic abuse. All of these are incorporated into the story with grace and tact. Kasey does a beautiful job including difficult topics without having them overpower her story. And I loved the beautiful messages of faith and hope throughout this one.
One of my favorites I’ve read by Kasey!!
Absolutely loved Nova and Dusty! Loved their banter. Loved their rivalry. Loved their love. The way they both fall for each other so quickly is so beautiful. And I love how they build each other up and help each other see their value and worth. Dusty cares for Nova in the sweetest ways and I loved how he protects and cherishes both her and her kids. Nova is a fantastic single mom protagonist. I loved getting to know her and admired her strength, patience and incredible work ethic for her kids. Her motherhood is authentic and beautiful.
There are some heavier topics in this one including a manipulative husband, discussions of drug addiction and overdose and domestic abuse. All of these are incorporated into the story with grace and tact. Kasey does a beautiful job including difficult topics without having them overpower her story. And I loved the beautiful messages of faith and hope throughout this one.
One of my favorites I’ve read by Kasey!!
March 17, 2025
This was my favorite book in the series so far!
April 5, 2025
This clean romance had potential but ultimately I was disappointed. I don’t understand all the good reviews. I love both the main characters, the MMC was amazing. The FMC was a newly divorced mother of two who moved to a small town to live near her grandmother. Her ex husband broke her heart and is very cold to her and the children. The MMC is a fireman and coach from this small town. He is a ladies man who grew up with drug addicted parent so he was raised by his grandfather. He wanted a family/connection but was afraid of commitment. I never felt the genuine chemistry between the MC and don’t understand how the FMC was so amazing that he could see himself finally getting married. The ending of this book was an abrupt and made no sense. The author didn’t give us anything with them being in a relationship. They hated each other, went on one date, had one kiss, told the kids they are dating….. boom it’s over…… epilogue is a few years in the future and they are married. I’m so confused.
September 1, 2025
I absolutely ADORED this book! Kasey Stockton has a way of writing relationships in such a realistic and relatable way. It was a total comfort read. The tropes weren’t trying too hard, the romance was so natural, and it’s very clean while still being so extremely swoony.
Dusty is the SWEETEST and an absolute dream book boyfriend. He had so much patience and understanding with Nova’s situation, while also flirting and finding ways to hang out with her and help her.
The mom content with Nova and her kids was so accurate and relatable. Even though I’m not a single mom, I could feel her pain as she needed another hand (or strong arm) around to open jars of jam or help build a bunk bed.
Every moment in this book completely had my heart - I loved it so much and highly recommend picking it up. Kasey Stockton is an auto-buy author for me and I keep loving each of her books even more than the last.
🔥: Kisses
Dusty is the SWEETEST and an absolute dream book boyfriend. He had so much patience and understanding with Nova’s situation, while also flirting and finding ways to hang out with her and help her.
The mom content with Nova and her kids was so accurate and relatable. Even though I’m not a single mom, I could feel her pain as she needed another hand (or strong arm) around to open jars of jam or help build a bunk bed.
Every moment in this book completely had my heart - I loved it so much and highly recommend picking it up. Kasey Stockton is an auto-buy author for me and I keep loving each of her books even more than the last.
🔥: Kisses
January 3, 2025
Absolutely loved this one! Dusty is literally 🫠, love him so much! And Nova! She is nothing but kindness and grace towards her ex-husband. I adored her & Dusty together. Their rival was fun and their friendship was everything!
April 1, 2025
Cute easy read (I listened to the audiobook version). Kind of like a hallmark movie.
June 15, 2025
⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
Started: 14th June 2025
Finished 15th June 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝"
˚ ┊✦ I really enjoyed this series so much you can literally read this for the summer reads just so cosy and warm with the characters i was so happy to read that Dusty had his own pov in the book I loved him so much as a side character knowing more about him
We have Nova our main character who leaves with her family from New York leaving everyone behind apart from her children that she takes away from their father she moves into a small town Arcadia creek known place I grown to love with everyone in it! I love the fact we still see the characters from the first two books in these still seeing them grow I love that!
˚ ┊✦ Nova - it did take me a while to like nova character but I did feel bad for her that she had to flee with her children to start a new chapter with having less money in her pocket to survive on wanting the best education for her children in Arcadia creek.
┊✦ ˚ dusty - god this man I love him so much!! The way I gasped when I realised this was his own pov like YESSS!! finally he melted my heart even to say he had such a grumpy & cocky attitude but still loves to get his way found funny he is so charming when it comes to nova pushes her buttons a lot to annoy her but I guess that where the spark comes from too😏
┊✦ ˚ the one person who I hated was carter with Nora’s ex, he was the most obnoxious human being even though his kids was in another city but can’t make time to face call them? Like wtf ? Just because you have a grudge with Nora don’t take it out on the children it’s not right 😭 just seems like a toxic relationship no wonder why Nora left there start somewhere new.
I loved the build up of the romance this series is definitely a slow burn with hardly no smutt at all it’s a nice refresher to see just only the chemistry and banter side of things. The ending was just lush! I loved the way it finished with spoilers I don’t want to say but damn that just melted my heart 😭 if this is last book of the series perfect way to end it I think by far this is deffo a 5 star read just how it was a single mum pov starting a new life in a new town making new friends and environment for her children which I respect massively even with the amount of struggle she had to do along the way just so admirable! I love this series so much definitely a summer read for sure
I’d highly recommend
•̩̩͙✦𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 & 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐•̩̩͙✦
⭐️5.5
🌶3.1
❤️ 5.2
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
Finished 15th June 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝"
˚ ┊✦ I really enjoyed this series so much you can literally read this for the summer reads just so cosy and warm with the characters i was so happy to read that Dusty had his own pov in the book I loved him so much as a side character knowing more about him
We have Nova our main character who leaves with her family from New York leaving everyone behind apart from her children that she takes away from their father she moves into a small town Arcadia creek known place I grown to love with everyone in it! I love the fact we still see the characters from the first two books in these still seeing them grow I love that!
˚ ┊✦ Nova - it did take me a while to like nova character but I did feel bad for her that she had to flee with her children to start a new chapter with having less money in her pocket to survive on wanting the best education for her children in Arcadia creek.
┊✦ ˚ dusty - god this man I love him so much!! The way I gasped when I realised this was his own pov like YESSS!! finally he melted my heart even to say he had such a grumpy & cocky attitude but still loves to get his way found funny he is so charming when it comes to nova pushes her buttons a lot to annoy her but I guess that where the spark comes from too😏
┊✦ ˚ the one person who I hated was carter with Nora’s ex, he was the most obnoxious human being even though his kids was in another city but can’t make time to face call them? Like wtf ? Just because you have a grudge with Nora don’t take it out on the children it’s not right 😭 just seems like a toxic relationship no wonder why Nora left there start somewhere new.
I loved the build up of the romance this series is definitely a slow burn with hardly no smutt at all it’s a nice refresher to see just only the chemistry and banter side of things. The ending was just lush! I loved the way it finished with spoilers I don’t want to say but damn that just melted my heart 😭 if this is last book of the series perfect way to end it I think by far this is deffo a 5 star read just how it was a single mum pov starting a new life in a new town making new friends and environment for her children which I respect massively even with the amount of struggle she had to do along the way just so admirable! I love this series so much definitely a summer read for sure
I’d highly recommend
•̩̩͙✦𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 & 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐•̩̩͙✦
⭐️5.5
🌶3.1
❤️ 5.2
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
June 6, 2025
4.5⭐️ I honestly loved this. It was adorable. There was no major conflict that annoyed me. I loved Dusty. He was smitten from the moment he saw Nova in the supermarket. I also loved the addition of Ben and Alice. Their relationship with Dusty was adorable. Watching Alice warm up to Dusty throughout the book was beautiful. He fully stepped into that father role with the kids without even trying because that’s how good of a guy he is. I also love that he wasn’t just looking to date her right away. I love that the friendship and trust was built. How he wanted to help her just because that the kind of guy he is. He gave her his dining room table saying it was a spare but it was his only table in his house. Just watching their interactions at the diner in front of everyone too. I even loved the little cop vs firefighter bit throughout the whole book. This love was so pure and adorable. I really loved this! Nothing to complain about.
Some quotes:
“I wanted to take her with me to my warm house, where we could sit on the porch and look at the stars with hot cups of tea. I wanted her to be there when I got home from my shifts in the morning so we could make breakfast together and get the kids off to school. I wanted to shop for Christmas ornaments and plan a thanksgiving menu with her. I wanted to walk the aisles of Walmart slowly while the kids chose their lunchboxes at the end of the summer. I wanted an extremely domestic life, and I wanted it with her. I was already planning our happily ever after. Because despite how slowly I was willing to take things, I could see a future with Nova, Ben, and Alice.”
“I have a recipe for happily ever after, want to hear it?”
“Yes”
“Me, you, Alice, and Ben”
“What about Leia”
“I’m not finished. You’d have to mix the first four ingredients together, stick them in a house full of furniture, toss in a blue couch, some homemade cookies and sprinkle a cat on top.”
“We don’t have to define anything yet, but you know you’re probably going to marry me someday right?”
Some quotes:
“I wanted to take her with me to my warm house, where we could sit on the porch and look at the stars with hot cups of tea. I wanted her to be there when I got home from my shifts in the morning so we could make breakfast together and get the kids off to school. I wanted to shop for Christmas ornaments and plan a thanksgiving menu with her. I wanted to walk the aisles of Walmart slowly while the kids chose their lunchboxes at the end of the summer. I wanted an extremely domestic life, and I wanted it with her. I was already planning our happily ever after. Because despite how slowly I was willing to take things, I could see a future with Nova, Ben, and Alice.”
“I have a recipe for happily ever after, want to hear it?”
“Yes”
“Me, you, Alice, and Ben”
“What about Leia”
“I’m not finished. You’d have to mix the first four ingredients together, stick them in a house full of furniture, toss in a blue couch, some homemade cookies and sprinkle a cat on top.”
“We don’t have to define anything yet, but you know you’re probably going to marry me someday right?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
This book is everything.
Nova needed a place to start over after her divorce, away from NYC. She ends up in Arcadia Creek helping her aunt and trying to find a new life with her 2 young children. Dusty is a fireman, a cat lover, a good cook and the biggest tease. Dusty just wants to beat the cops at the annual cook off.
When these two meet, it’s friendship and sparks from the beginning. Dusty is kind, a good friend, loves to help Nova and adores her children. Nova lets Dusty in as a friend, but she has a long way to go before she can let her walls come down, even if her children are hooked already.
So will they end up working things out, will Nova stay in Arcadia Creek or will trouble find her again?
I love coming back to Arcadia Creek and Dusty might just be my favorite. He is the ultimate cinnamon roll, tough guy. Their meet cute with her kids and the hot wheels…The connection between Dusty, our hunky firefighter and Nova, our amazing single mom is fantastic. Nova’s kiddos were an absolute delight and I loved reading about them. Dusty’s grandpa…ugh, love their relationship! There are so many good things to say about this book. I was invested and loved how Dusty and Nova had to create a friendship first. They both had to be intentional and slow in building their connection.
Also, Dusty’s cat.
I received an ARC and all opinions are my own.
Nova needed a place to start over after her divorce, away from NYC. She ends up in Arcadia Creek helping her aunt and trying to find a new life with her 2 young children. Dusty is a fireman, a cat lover, a good cook and the biggest tease. Dusty just wants to beat the cops at the annual cook off.
When these two meet, it’s friendship and sparks from the beginning. Dusty is kind, a good friend, loves to help Nova and adores her children. Nova lets Dusty in as a friend, but she has a long way to go before she can let her walls come down, even if her children are hooked already.
So will they end up working things out, will Nova stay in Arcadia Creek or will trouble find her again?
I love coming back to Arcadia Creek and Dusty might just be my favorite. He is the ultimate cinnamon roll, tough guy. Their meet cute with her kids and the hot wheels…The connection between Dusty, our hunky firefighter and Nova, our amazing single mom is fantastic. Nova’s kiddos were an absolute delight and I loved reading about them. Dusty’s grandpa…ugh, love their relationship! There are so many good things to say about this book. I was invested and loved how Dusty and Nova had to create a friendship first. They both had to be intentional and slow in building their connection.
Also, Dusty’s cat.
I received an ARC and all opinions are my own.
January 2, 2025
Oh, Arcadia Creek, Texas, you’ve done it again! Recipe for Rivals, the third installment in this delightful series, has stolen my heart. 🩷
Dusty!! 😫 Holy smokes! 🔥 This man is everything a romance reader could dream of—a firefighter with arms as big as my head 💪 and a heart even bigger. 🫠 He’s a true gentleman through and through, and his kindness towards children is everything!
Nova is so lovely! A strong single mom navigating a new life for her and her two precious kiddos. Her journey to finding herself away from her ex is inspiring, and her love for her kids is palpable. ❤️ Co-parenting isn’t easy, especially from a distance, but Nova handles it all with the grace that her ex doesn't offer... Watching her friendship with Dusty blossom into something more was a slow burn that I didn’t want to end.
Dusty’s tenderness and respect for Nova’s children won me over completely. Their evolving relationship—rooted in friendship, trust, and love for all three of them—is adorbs. ✨ And that first *almost* kiss? Swoon. 😍
I love the themes of relationships built on trust and showing up to create a life together. Recipe for Rivals is everything I hoped it would be and more.
Dusty!! 😫 Holy smokes! 🔥 This man is everything a romance reader could dream of—a firefighter with arms as big as my head 💪 and a heart even bigger. 🫠 He’s a true gentleman through and through, and his kindness towards children is everything!
Nova is so lovely! A strong single mom navigating a new life for her and her two precious kiddos. Her journey to finding herself away from her ex is inspiring, and her love for her kids is palpable. ❤️ Co-parenting isn’t easy, especially from a distance, but Nova handles it all with the grace that her ex doesn't offer... Watching her friendship with Dusty blossom into something more was a slow burn that I didn’t want to end.
Dusty’s tenderness and respect for Nova’s children won me over completely. Their evolving relationship—rooted in friendship, trust, and love for all three of them—is adorbs. ✨ And that first *almost* kiss? Swoon. 😍
I love the themes of relationships built on trust and showing up to create a life together. Recipe for Rivals is everything I hoped it would be and more.
January 6, 2025
I love the Arcadia Creek series and am just smitten with Nova and Dusty!!
Nova moves to the small town of Arcadia, Texas after getting divorced and having nowhere else to go, with her two cute kids. Thanks to her Aunt Gigi she has a job and a place to live. However, she doesn’t anticipate meeting Dusty—who seems to know everyone and be everywhere she goes. These two are just the cutest from their first meeting in the grocery store to every chance meeting after that. Nova can’t help but fall for the charming, flirtatious Dusty!
I loved how strong and independent Nova was. She was the best mom to Ben & Alice and was so determined to stand on her own two feet. Dusty was just the sweetest seeing the needs of Nova and her kids and helping them while still allowing Nova to be independent. Ahhh!! These two are just too cute!
Nova moves to the small town of Arcadia, Texas after getting divorced and having nowhere else to go, with her two cute kids. Thanks to her Aunt Gigi she has a job and a place to live. However, she doesn’t anticipate meeting Dusty—who seems to know everyone and be everywhere she goes. These two are just the cutest from their first meeting in the grocery store to every chance meeting after that. Nova can’t help but fall for the charming, flirtatious Dusty!
I loved how strong and independent Nova was. She was the best mom to Ben & Alice and was so determined to stand on her own two feet. Dusty was just the sweetest seeing the needs of Nova and her kids and helping them while still allowing Nova to be independent. Ahhh!! These two are just too cute!
January 6, 2025
Recipe For Rivals
by: Kasey Stockton
@authorkaseystockton
~She thought she could steer clear of romance in a town full of cowboys, but then she met the fireman...
“You can’t control anyone else’s actions, and you certainly can’t protect them from pain. The only thing you can do is be a safe place. You can love them with
all your heart so they never have to question their worth. No matter what life throws at them at any age, they will know they are loved because of you. The rest is out of your hands.”
-Friends, just when I think I have found my new favorite book by Kasey Stockton, she writes another dear story and this one is no exception! Recipe for Rivals, is such a great story to start the new year out with! This dear contemporary romcom story is so well-written and has such heart! It is in fact the third book in the delightful Arcadia Creek Series. It has a fun friendly rivals element within the pages all along the way. You will thoroughly enjoy endearing and relatable characters, delightful banter, teasing, and fun humor, character growth, an emphasis on the great power of a dear community who rallies with endless support, and also second chances. I enjoyed seeing such a balance between the hard and beauty within this story for both main characters, Nova and Dusty. I thoroughly loved watching these characters grow in strength, self worth, and seeing them find joy in the journey to love was the best. This story my friends, is worth the read!🙌🏻📚❤️
“Love doesn’t divide, it grows.”
#recipeforrivals
#kaseystockton
#worththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
-Content: very minimal mention of divorce, mention of pregnancy out of wedlock (not FMC), drug addiction (not main characters) parent abandonment, kissing only. (Only once or twice)
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“Life wasn’t without its challenges, but together, Dusty and I had weathered all the storms-both literally and
figuratively.”
by: Kasey Stockton
@authorkaseystockton
~She thought she could steer clear of romance in a town full of cowboys, but then she met the fireman...
“You can’t control anyone else’s actions, and you certainly can’t protect them from pain. The only thing you can do is be a safe place. You can love them with
all your heart so they never have to question their worth. No matter what life throws at them at any age, they will know they are loved because of you. The rest is out of your hands.”
-Friends, just when I think I have found my new favorite book by Kasey Stockton, she writes another dear story and this one is no exception! Recipe for Rivals, is such a great story to start the new year out with! This dear contemporary romcom story is so well-written and has such heart! It is in fact the third book in the delightful Arcadia Creek Series. It has a fun friendly rivals element within the pages all along the way. You will thoroughly enjoy endearing and relatable characters, delightful banter, teasing, and fun humor, character growth, an emphasis on the great power of a dear community who rallies with endless support, and also second chances. I enjoyed seeing such a balance between the hard and beauty within this story for both main characters, Nova and Dusty. I thoroughly loved watching these characters grow in strength, self worth, and seeing them find joy in the journey to love was the best. This story my friends, is worth the read!🙌🏻📚❤️
“Love doesn’t divide, it grows.”
#recipeforrivals
#kaseystockton
#worththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
-Content: very minimal mention of divorce, mention of pregnancy out of wedlock (not FMC), drug addiction (not main characters) parent abandonment, kissing only. (Only once or twice)
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“Life wasn’t without its challenges, but together, Dusty and I had weathered all the storms-both literally and
figuratively.”
December 27, 2024
More like a recipe for romance! I absolutely loved how this story of Dusty and Nova turned out. Dusty is such a great character and I am so glad Gracie May remained a bubbly good person and not overly invasive.
Nova is new to Arcadia Creek. Divorced and a single mom of two, everything has changed since the divorce and the move to help her aunt with the diner. The last thing she needs is a hot, flirty fireman interested in her…but maybe she needs the supportive, kind, and strong man Dusty is willing to prove to her that he is.
READ this series! The sweet romances in this series live up to the hype. The characters are so relatable and the story is so captivating that it is easy to lose track of time while reading.
Nova is new to Arcadia Creek. Divorced and a single mom of two, everything has changed since the divorce and the move to help her aunt with the diner. The last thing she needs is a hot, flirty fireman interested in her…but maybe she needs the supportive, kind, and strong man Dusty is willing to prove to her that he is.
READ this series! The sweet romances in this series live up to the hype. The characters are so relatable and the story is so captivating that it is easy to lose track of time while reading.
January 17, 2025
“I only tease people I like.”
“Since we’re rivals, I guess that disqualifies me, huh?”
Nova is jaded after a bitter divorce and brings her two kids to small-town Texas to get back on her feet. Dusty is a charismatic and lovable firefighter full of flirtations and sunshine. A competition between public safety groups pits them against each in such a fun way that’s full of entertainment, food, and swoon.
I love this series written by Kasey Stockton. This small town is so welcoming and cozy, and my visits are always so enjoyable. These characters are written so well and complement each other in their differences, helping one another overcome challenges, especially Nova. I felt that her children and situation are pretty realistic and excellently encompass the difficulties of single parenting. Aunt Gigi is such a surprising bonus character, as are the unexpected friendships and support that develops, but of course, it’s the execution of a feel-good romance that lit the fire in my heart.
From start to finish, I was enthralled with this story and obviously with Dusty.
Content: mild romance
“Since we’re rivals, I guess that disqualifies me, huh?”
Nova is jaded after a bitter divorce and brings her two kids to small-town Texas to get back on her feet. Dusty is a charismatic and lovable firefighter full of flirtations and sunshine. A competition between public safety groups pits them against each in such a fun way that’s full of entertainment, food, and swoon.
I love this series written by Kasey Stockton. This small town is so welcoming and cozy, and my visits are always so enjoyable. These characters are written so well and complement each other in their differences, helping one another overcome challenges, especially Nova. I felt that her children and situation are pretty realistic and excellently encompass the difficulties of single parenting. Aunt Gigi is such a surprising bonus character, as are the unexpected friendships and support that develops, but of course, it’s the execution of a feel-good romance that lit the fire in my heart.
From start to finish, I was enthralled with this story and obviously with Dusty.
Content: mild romance
January 7, 2025
Book 7 of 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I have absolutely loved this series. They’re light-hearted and leave a smile on your face the whole time you’re reading. You just can’t help but be happy for the characters. I also found Nova to be incredibly relatable. While I haven’t gone through what she’s gone through, the way she was written as a mother was so well done. It was real & authentic, which was so endearing to me as a reader. This was a great conclusion to the series & I can’t wait to see what Stockton puts out next!
Format: ebook (KU)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I have absolutely loved this series. They’re light-hearted and leave a smile on your face the whole time you’re reading. You just can’t help but be happy for the characters. I also found Nova to be incredibly relatable. While I haven’t gone through what she’s gone through, the way she was written as a mother was so well done. It was real & authentic, which was so endearing to me as a reader. This was a great conclusion to the series & I can’t wait to see what Stockton puts out next!
Format: ebook (KU)
August 30, 2025
I was in the mood for a fun, cute, lighthearted romcom and this one definitely didn't disappoint! The characters were delightful and multi-faceted, and I loved how big a part Nova's kids played in the storyline! A lot of times child characters feel like just an excuse for a few cute moments that push the romance, but this book did them justice! The side characters, including Dusty's cat, were fun too, and I loved the slow burn (pun intended) romantic tension.
Overall a very cute fun end of summer read!
Overall a very cute fun end of summer read!
June 27, 2025
The book was fine but not a WOW for me. I liked the characters all right but they weren’t special by any means. I liked how they tackled the single mom finding love, absent parents, and the abuse mentioned. The small town life seemed very nice.
August 31, 2025
There’s no way this couple ends up together. They 100% date for a year and then have an amicable break up. He only likes her because she’s cute and she only likes him because he’s good with her kids.
January 4, 2025
sweet romance
I enjoyed this book. I liked the healing of a family and how the romance between Iva and Dusty progressed.
I enjoyed this book. I liked the healing of a family and how the romance between Iva and Dusty progressed.
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