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Rough Edges
A single parents romance
In the charming city of Meadows Creek, basketball is about to rewrite the stories of two single parents. Teenagers Daniel and Marcus become unlikely matchmakers as their friendship blossoms on the court, igniting a slow-burning connection for their parents, Laura and Bennett.
Peeling back layers of grief, loss, and desire, Laura and Bennett navigate a path to a shared future. But as prejudice threatens to extinguish the sparks of attraction, they must confront their own biases, opening their hearts to a future filled with hope, healing, and an everlasting love.
Join Laura and Bennett on a journey filled where laughter, tears, and hope lead to an unexpected and passionate connection.
Get ready for a love story with a slam dunk!
For more about the tropes and TW in "Rough Edges," check Elsa Jacobs Author's website.
In the charming city of Meadows Creek, basketball is about to rewrite the stories of two single parents. Teenagers Daniel and Marcus become unlikely matchmakers as their friendship blossoms on the court, igniting a slow-burning connection for their parents, Laura and Bennett.
Peeling back layers of grief, loss, and desire, Laura and Bennett navigate a path to a shared future. But as prejudice threatens to extinguish the sparks of attraction, they must confront their own biases, opening their hearts to a future filled with hope, healing, and an everlasting love.
Join Laura and Bennett on a journey filled where laughter, tears, and hope lead to an unexpected and passionate connection.
Get ready for a love story with a slam dunk!
For more about the tropes and TW in "Rough Edges," check Elsa Jacobs Author's website.
- GenresSports
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2024
9 people are currently reading
1785 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 5, 2024
Rough Edges was a great read.
The book cover was definitely deceiving lol. The story is about two single parents who are widows and how they both cross paths because their sons are best friends and on the basketball team. Eventually, they’re always together and the attraction grows between the parents (Bennett and Laura).
Laura lost her husband and is a single parent to her teenage son Daniel. Daniel is very overprotective of his mom and didn’t like any of the guys she dated, but really wanted her to date Bennett. The issue was Bennett wasn’t her type, or was he? You’ll have to read to find out.
Bennett lost his wife to cancer and been raising his son Marcus alone, moving to their small town of Meadow Creeks for a new start.
It was a really sweet read. I loved that Elsa shared a lot of background history and wrote characters who weren’t perfect, but very complex. Laura had a hard time completing letting men in because of wanting to protect her son. Bennett had a hard time finding a woman that was to his wife’s standards. But through the complexity of grief and moving on, they found each other. ❤️
It wasn’t super spicy maybe a 3 🌶️ because the dirty talk was HOT. YESSSSS DADDY BENNETT. When it did get spicy, it got SPICY SPICY.
By the way, Elsa’s way of really writing beautiful quotes is amazing.
“In the sickened of the night, I realized that recognizing a mismatch was an important as finding the right fit”.
“ And if I let myself fall for him, I would fall into a love that shattered boundaries”.
These two quotes really warmed my heart and made me love the story so much. If you want a great second chance romance that will have you in your feels, bothered with the spice and ends in a HEA, this is for you! ❤️📚
April 25, 2024
As a single parent myself, I ate this romance up. Both Laura and Bennett experienced a lot of emotions throughout and they were written so well and in a relatable way. I loved how their kids came together to play matchmaker and gave their parents a second shot at love ❤️
March 20, 2024
Rough Edges was a really good read, I haven’t read many single parent romances but if they are like this I will definitely start reading more.
I love how Elsa made this story realistic meaning the feelings, emotions and struggles. The story really shares the loss of a loved one, how they survived, gradually moving on and finding love again and the struggles that come along with it.
I also enjoy that even though Laura and Bennett are the main characters it also includes their sons Daniel and Marcus involvement and I loved they had a part in creating the story.
Elsa did a great job in writing this and creating the characters
I had the great pleasure of receiving a free Advance Review Copy for Rough Edges through BookSirens. My review is my own personal opinion and voluntary.
I love how Elsa made this story realistic meaning the feelings, emotions and struggles. The story really shares the loss of a loved one, how they survived, gradually moving on and finding love again and the struggles that come along with it.
I also enjoy that even though Laura and Bennett are the main characters it also includes their sons Daniel and Marcus involvement and I loved they had a part in creating the story.
Elsa did a great job in writing this and creating the characters
I had the great pleasure of receiving a free Advance Review Copy for Rough Edges through BookSirens. My review is my own personal opinion and voluntary.
March 11, 2024
Rough Edges is a sweet, engaging, single parents second chance romance from Elsa Jacobs.
I enjoyed the character development in the story; two single parents, both widows, having to overcome their fears of losing another partner and having to take that leap again with another person.
The build up of sexual tension between Laura and Bennet got me excited and fueled the story. They kept pushing the other away, stating they were strictly friends but then feelings started to develop and they started wondering what would happen if they gave into their sons matchmaking, which was where the story took a good turn and started to grow and develop into the single parents romance I was anticipating.
I loved the brother-type friendship between their sons. It was endearing how they were always uplifting one another and were glued to each other’s side. It was funny at the beginning when Laura and Bennet have barely met and their sons were already playing matchmaker and pushing them towards the other.
There were a few emotional moments between Laura and Marcus, Ben’s son, that made my heart swell when he sought motherly advice and comfort from her.
The spice level was balanced, not full of spice but enough “daddy” moments to keep you satisfied and a little bothered.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Book Sirens and the author.
I enjoyed the character development in the story; two single parents, both widows, having to overcome their fears of losing another partner and having to take that leap again with another person.
The build up of sexual tension between Laura and Bennet got me excited and fueled the story. They kept pushing the other away, stating they were strictly friends but then feelings started to develop and they started wondering what would happen if they gave into their sons matchmaking, which was where the story took a good turn and started to grow and develop into the single parents romance I was anticipating.
I loved the brother-type friendship between their sons. It was endearing how they were always uplifting one another and were glued to each other’s side. It was funny at the beginning when Laura and Bennet have barely met and their sons were already playing matchmaker and pushing them towards the other.
There were a few emotional moments between Laura and Marcus, Ben’s son, that made my heart swell when he sought motherly advice and comfort from her.
The spice level was balanced, not full of spice but enough “daddy” moments to keep you satisfied and a little bothered.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Book Sirens and the author.
April 2, 2024
Laura is a widow, having raised her teenage son Daniel solo after losing their husband and father eleven years prior to meeting Bennett and his son Marcus. Bennett is a widower whose wife lost her battle with cancer about five years prior to he and his son Marcus moving to Laura’s hometown. The boys develop a brotherly friendship while playing basketball together, and strike on the idea to try to matchmake their surviving parents.
Laura is particularly hesitant to jump into a relationship with Ben due to having been burned by past love interests. Ben’s also different from the doctors and other professionals she’d set her sights on: tattooed and rugged, he’s nonetheless a terrific father and a leader in his trade.
I really loved this book overall. The manner in which the MCs and their sons accept one another despite their differences was appreciated.
The slow burn was necessary imho due to them having lost so much and so much being at stake especially with regard to the boys.
I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy from the author and booksirens, and I’m honored to share my honest review.
Laura is particularly hesitant to jump into a relationship with Ben due to having been burned by past love interests. Ben’s also different from the doctors and other professionals she’d set her sights on: tattooed and rugged, he’s nonetheless a terrific father and a leader in his trade.
I really loved this book overall. The manner in which the MCs and their sons accept one another despite their differences was appreciated.
The slow burn was necessary imho due to them having lost so much and so much being at stake especially with regard to the boys.
I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy from the author and booksirens, and I’m honored to share my honest review.
February 10, 2024
✨ Arc review ✨
Book received for free thru booksirens for review. All opinions are my own 🫶🏻
I love single parent romances and I especially love it when the children are involved in bringing the couple together.
This book is about Bennett and Laura who both lost their spouse and are now single parents. Their sons play together on the basketball team and grow a strong friendship. The boys really want the parents to date and tries hard to play matchmakers. Not all plans go how they want but after a while walls are torn down and feelings arise.
Bennett is a real DADDY! Oh my. He might not be the polished and sophisticated man Laura wants, but he is what she needs. The man commands her in the bedtime. The spice in the book is just chefs kiss 😘
Tropes
Single parents
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Love after loss
Spice ( dirty talk and daddy)
Slow burn 🔥
I would highly recommend this book!
Book received for free thru booksirens for review. All opinions are my own 🫶🏻
I love single parent romances and I especially love it when the children are involved in bringing the couple together.
This book is about Bennett and Laura who both lost their spouse and are now single parents. Their sons play together on the basketball team and grow a strong friendship. The boys really want the parents to date and tries hard to play matchmakers. Not all plans go how they want but after a while walls are torn down and feelings arise.
Bennett is a real DADDY! Oh my. He might not be the polished and sophisticated man Laura wants, but he is what she needs. The man commands her in the bedtime. The spice in the book is just chefs kiss 😘
Tropes
Single parents
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Love after loss
Spice ( dirty talk and daddy)
Slow burn 🔥
I would highly recommend this book!
February 4, 2024
My, my, my…this books cover is deceiving.
You think you’re getting a sweet widow / widower, single parent romance but as it unfolds you get quality spice along with “daddy” / “good girl” talk. 🔥🔥🔥
I really enjoyed the MMC, Bennet. His character development was high quality. The FMC, Laura was solid. Their respective sons, enjoyable.
An enjoyable read that I’d recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
You think you’re getting a sweet widow / widower, single parent romance but as it unfolds you get quality spice along with “daddy” / “good girl” talk. 🔥🔥🔥
I really enjoyed the MMC, Bennet. His character development was high quality. The FMC, Laura was solid. Their respective sons, enjoyable.
An enjoyable read that I’d recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 23, 2024
I really liked this book. It seemed very relatable and realistic. The characters were likeable and the plot was good. The author did well to convey a natural relationship progression. It didn't feel forced or uncomfortable. I found myself getting emotionally invested as I read through this book. I would love to read more books like this.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2024
Got this book as an ARC. I liked the book. It is slow at the beginning but it makes sense, it fits the circumstances because they don’t want to risk their children. Laura did annoyed sometimes because I was just like give in, but she had trust issues due to her past which made sense. And I mean at the end she couldn’t resist the single hot tattoo daddy😉 I love seeing them all together as a family, it was soooo cute. And the fact that their children were the match-makers was amazing. The spice was also 10/10. I enjoyed this book overall.
April 27, 2024
I read this book with zero expectations and found myself loving the characters. I love how the author ensures that both the main characters have distinct voices and traits. This is a great quick read that had me, asking "wait, that's it?" at the end. Really hoping there is a sequel to tell the next chapter of Laura and Bennett's journey. Just enough steam and a solid plot, I definitely suggest checking out this fun read.
April 2, 2024
A sweet, single parents romance that I really enjoyed reading. Friends, Daniel and Marcus, become matchmakers for their single parents, Laura and Bennett, who are both widowers. I love the slow burn romance, and it felt realistic. The chemistry between them is amazing and there was just the right amount of spice. I think you will really enjoy reading this and I highly recommend.
April 23, 2024
What a great single parent’s romance it had steam and fun banter. We normally have friends and family try to hook us up with someone. But what happens when it’s your kid it’s a different ball game. Laura and Bennett both have gone through some loss, they haven’t deal with pain from their loss and are struggling in their life and feeling vulnerable in what’s next in life. While they spend time together because of their son’s they slowly start to see each other in a different light. Great character and story.
February 25, 2024
Lovely story of two people who lost their spouses and are having trouble finding love again. He is ready to love again but she is afraid of losing him too. Steamy
January 16, 2025
This was a super cute single parents romance, I liked the kids trying to be matchmakers and how relatable the story was. I didn't love the fmc at first but the mmc was great, overall it was a really sweet second chance at love book.
February 1, 2024
This book was so sweet! I love single parent romances! This book was a great read! Fans and new readers alike are going to love this book!
February 4, 2024
Grateful to have had the opportunity to read this ARC, what a sweet story with ALL the spice. The meddling from the two teenage sons had me laughing through the tension as the story built. DONT let the cover and description fool you, this is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🔥 read!
February 29, 2024
I read the ARC and phew... All the feels and spice! Such a marvelous character-driven story.
June 23, 2024
Elsa Jacobs’ Rough Edges is a heartfelt contemporary romance that follows the lives of two single parents whose paths cross when their teenage sons become fast friends on the high school basketball team. Laura Fields, a dedicated nurse and single mother, has been navigating life alone since the tragic death of her husband eleven years ago. Bennett Keller, a recent widower and factory foreman, relocates from Cleveland to a small New York town to provide a fresh start for his son Marcus, who has been struggling since losing his mother five years prior. As their sons, Daniel and Marcus, play matchmaker, Laura and Bennett find themselves drawn to each other despite their initial reservations.
The charm of Rough Edges lies in the fresh twist of two teenage boys scheming to unite their parents. This engaging subplot injects a unique and delightful dynamic into the story, offering a departure from typical romantic narratives. The boys’ genuine desire to form a cohesive family unit is palpable and heartwarming; Laura fills a void in Marcus’s life, and Bennett does the same for Daniel, fostering a bond that extends beyond mere friendship between the boys. This interconnectedness leads Laura and Bennett to spend more time together, allowing their relationship to blossom naturally. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and as Laura gets to know Bennett better, her perception of him shifts, revealing the depth of their connection.
While the novel’s ending is satisfying, it left me wishing for an epilogue to glimpse the future of Laura, Bennett, and their sons. Seeing how their newly formed family continues to evolve would have been a delightful addition, enriching the story’s resolution and providing a fuller sense of closure. The early moments of tension between Laura and Bennett add an interesting layer to the narrative. Laura’s initial misjudgments based on Bennett’s tattoos and his job as a factory foreman create a compelling starting point for her character’s growth. Her evolving perception of Bennett, as she comes to appreciate his dedication as a single father, enriches the storyline and deepens their relationship. The author’s writing style adds to the book’s distinctive voice, encouraging readers to engage more deeply with the text and its underlying themes.
Rough Edges is a warm and engaging romance that beautifully captures the complexities of blending families and finding love after loss. I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy stories centered on family dynamics and personal growth. Jacobs’ novel offers a touching portrayal of second chances and the unexpected paths that lead to healing and happiness.
The charm of Rough Edges lies in the fresh twist of two teenage boys scheming to unite their parents. This engaging subplot injects a unique and delightful dynamic into the story, offering a departure from typical romantic narratives. The boys’ genuine desire to form a cohesive family unit is palpable and heartwarming; Laura fills a void in Marcus’s life, and Bennett does the same for Daniel, fostering a bond that extends beyond mere friendship between the boys. This interconnectedness leads Laura and Bennett to spend more time together, allowing their relationship to blossom naturally. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and as Laura gets to know Bennett better, her perception of him shifts, revealing the depth of their connection.
While the novel’s ending is satisfying, it left me wishing for an epilogue to glimpse the future of Laura, Bennett, and their sons. Seeing how their newly formed family continues to evolve would have been a delightful addition, enriching the story’s resolution and providing a fuller sense of closure. The early moments of tension between Laura and Bennett add an interesting layer to the narrative. Laura’s initial misjudgments based on Bennett’s tattoos and his job as a factory foreman create a compelling starting point for her character’s growth. Her evolving perception of Bennett, as she comes to appreciate his dedication as a single father, enriches the storyline and deepens their relationship. The author’s writing style adds to the book’s distinctive voice, encouraging readers to engage more deeply with the text and its underlying themes.
Rough Edges is a warm and engaging romance that beautifully captures the complexities of blending families and finding love after loss. I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy stories centered on family dynamics and personal growth. Jacobs’ novel offers a touching portrayal of second chances and the unexpected paths that lead to healing and happiness.
May 4, 2024
Rough Edges was a pretty good book. I loved the chemistry between Laura and Bennett. The spice was super hot 🥵 It took a while for me to warm up to Laura. She was super snobby and at first I couldn’t tell if she was acting in a classist or racist way. She took one look at Bennett and decided she didn’t like him, and it was literally because she didn’t like the way he looked. Not even that she wasn’t attaches to him, she didn’t like his job or that he had tattoos. That just rubbed me the wrong way. I LOVED the two boys, Daniel and Marcus. They were so sweet.
There did seem to be gaps in the story, especially the beginning. I felt confused at some points because the story kind of skipped along without connecting the dots. Like all the sudden, Laura would be super mad about something but I had no idea how she got there. The way the basketball games were talked about was SUPER weird. Soooo much talk about overcoming adversity and teamwork and obstacles… they were legit just scrimmaging against their own team 🙄 It was kind of overkill. It was also weird that all the parents and spectators were at every practice. For high school. That’s not a thing 😂 Parents also don’t have to drive their own children to away games or sign permission slips for away games when the kid is in high school. I don’t know why, but I kept getting tripped up on that.
Overall, I did like this book. You could really feel the angst and emotion between Laura and Bennett.
I received an advance review copy of Rough Edges for free from BookSirens. Thank you to BookSirens, Elsa Jacobs, and the publisher for this book. This review is entirely my own opinion, and I am leaving it voluntarily.
There did seem to be gaps in the story, especially the beginning. I felt confused at some points because the story kind of skipped along without connecting the dots. Like all the sudden, Laura would be super mad about something but I had no idea how she got there. The way the basketball games were talked about was SUPER weird. Soooo much talk about overcoming adversity and teamwork and obstacles… they were legit just scrimmaging against their own team 🙄 It was kind of overkill. It was also weird that all the parents and spectators were at every practice. For high school. That’s not a thing 😂 Parents also don’t have to drive their own children to away games or sign permission slips for away games when the kid is in high school. I don’t know why, but I kept getting tripped up on that.
Overall, I did like this book. You could really feel the angst and emotion between Laura and Bennett.
I received an advance review copy of Rough Edges for free from BookSirens. Thank you to BookSirens, Elsa Jacobs, and the publisher for this book. This review is entirely my own opinion, and I am leaving it voluntarily.
February 2, 2024
I'm very grateful for the ARC of this sweet, fun, steamy and heartfelt single parents romance!
It was such a joy to follow the story of the two teenage boys trying to set-up their parents. Their amazing, loving, caring, strong, but also broken and terrified parents who despite their losses, pain and vulnerably managed to find courage to love and to heal and to form a new family united by shared sense of belonging.
Absolutely amazing!
And Big Daddy?! Hot, hot, hot!
'Willing to take me on, Princess?'
It was such a joy to follow the story of the two teenage boys trying to set-up their parents. Their amazing, loving, caring, strong, but also broken and terrified parents who despite their losses, pain and vulnerably managed to find courage to love and to heal and to form a new family united by shared sense of belonging.
Absolutely amazing!
And Big Daddy?! Hot, hot, hot!
'Willing to take me on, Princess?'
February 6, 2024
Rough Edges is the percent blend of sugar, spice, and sometimes nice--meaning the leads, Bennett and Laura, have a lot to overcome. Both widowed, they come with a lot of emotional baggage and fears of second chances. Set against the backdrop of a shared love of their sons (who are best friends) and basketball, they slowly open their hearts to each other. Elsa Jacobs is a queen at writing realistic, relatable characters who you root for.
March 1, 2024
Arc review!
It was alright.. I felt like it was kinda corny and the grammar was awful. Definitely needs proof read. There were many times that I had to really struggle to figure out what the author was saying due to the grammar being wrong. I struggled to follow the story as it hopped around a lot and struggled to remember who the side characters were. The spice was great, and the plot was cute but not sure it was overly realistic.
It was alright.. I felt like it was kinda corny and the grammar was awful. Definitely needs proof read. There were many times that I had to really struggle to figure out what the author was saying due to the grammar being wrong. I struggled to follow the story as it hopped around a lot and struggled to remember who the side characters were. The spice was great, and the plot was cute but not sure it was overly realistic.
December 16, 2025
Meadows Creek is a tender, captivating story of love, healing, and second chances. Laura and Bennett are relatable, deeply human characters—each carrying past heartbreak yet discovering sparks that refuse to be ignored. Their connection feels natural and heartfelt, growing alongside the charming, supportive small-town setting. With sweet family moments, slow-burning romance, and emotional depth, this story beautifully explores the courage it takes to love again.
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April 22, 2024So I got an ARC of this book…and I just don’t know…
Laura the FMC just irritated and annoyed me, to the point I almost DNF’d it and in all honesty I really should’ve just put it down and forgotten about it.
Then there’s the whole “daddy” aspect that literally came out of nowhere and felt so forced and cringy…the teenage boys are the only reason I kept reading they were hilarious
Laura the FMC just irritated and annoyed me, to the point I almost DNF’d it and in all honesty I really should’ve just put it down and forgotten about it.
Then there’s the whole “daddy” aspect that literally came out of nowhere and felt so forced and cringy…the teenage boys are the only reason I kept reading they were hilarious
May 1, 2024
the sex felt too cringy, other than that it was an ok book
February 10, 2025
i didn't get to read the full book but i will once it comes out! but from what i've read so far it seems like this is going to be a slowish-burn enemies-to-lovers book which i'm quite excited for.
laura and bennet are interseting characters in thier own right, though laura can be quite frustrating at times knowing the reason behind it makes it easier to understand her and her actions but yeah overall this book (well, what i read of it was) was great and i laughed a lot while reading this, highly reccomend it!
I revicieved this book as an ARC
so I finally read it... and I was right it is a good book. However, there was only one problem that I had with this book, the fact that it was so formal to the point that it sounded AI generated aside from that it was a great read.
laura and bennet are interseting characters in thier own right, though laura can be quite frustrating at times knowing the reason behind it makes it easier to understand her and her actions but yeah overall this book (well, what i read of it was) was great and i laughed a lot while reading this, highly reccomend it!
I revicieved this book as an ARC
so I finally read it... and I was right it is a good book. However, there was only one problem that I had with this book, the fact that it was so formal to the point that it sounded AI generated aside from that it was a great read.
September 2, 2024
This was tear wrenching. It's a great lovely book though, it's about two adults who become single parents and a widow then they meet and have a friendship and then he wants more but she's scared that she will lose him to. Honestly who wouldn't be scared. it really is a great read you should read it!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews