Unexpectedly Yours

by C. Chilove

Forbidden love and the rivalry of two families might tear down the traditions of the South’s elite Black families as one summer continues to change everything for three friends--for readers of Kimberla Lawson Roby. Carrah Andrews spent her life trying to please her parents and siblings, putting her own hopes aside to work as a chemist at Noir, her family’s cosmetics company. Her dream was to be an author, not spend her days developing beauty serums. Everything changes when Carrah enters a writing contest and lands a book deal. Except she can’t ever tell her parents 1) they’d be devastated she wants to  leave Noir, and 2) she just hired their biggest rival as her entertainment attorney. 

            Christopher Chenault is stunned to see Carrah in his law office. He’s not supposed to cross enemy lines, but he can’t bring himself to turn her away and crush her dream, not after seeing how talented of a writer she is. After all, the families’ enmity doesn’t have to be theirs…especially as more time spent together leads to undeniable attraction.  But when long-held secrets come to light, Carrah and Chris are going to have to decide if they’ll stand by their heritage or embrace who they want to be and the love they have only just discovered.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

C. Chilove is a southern girl residing in the beautiful Sunshine State. When she's not writing, she's cheering on her little ballerina, being protected by her daring ninja, cooking yummy dishes for her hubby, or exploring flea markets and antique stores for hidden treasures.

Reviews

[Darriona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little cheesy at times, but overall very cute and fun lol!

Thanks Forever and NetGalley for the arc!

[Cydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpectedly Yours was an easy, breezy read centered on two Black elite families who are business rivals, and two of the adult children who fall in love. At times I found Carrah to be childish and completely terrible at communicating. I also found her to be highly intelligent and wanted to see her accomplish her goal of detaching from the family business in order to pursue her own passions. Unfortunately this part of her story is cut short and left open-ended in a way that was not only unsatisfactory, it made her passions seem like they existed solely to move the plot along, and not because she was actually passionate about pursuing them.

I liked Chris for most of the novel. However, there was a sharp change in direction where he became very cold and dare I say mean around the halfway point, and it continued through the end. He went from being a grouch about Carrah needing him to being very supportive and happy to help to being closed off and frustrated with Carrah when she wasn't able to clearly state what he meant to her in the midst of the various family and societal circle dramas. On the topic of drama, I felt like the family rivalry was the most interesting aspect of this story, but it also became eclipsed by Carrah and Chris' pining and developing love story, so when the drama reenters the scene in the third act of the novel it felt drawn out and contrived. I wish the storyline with Miles had been given more development because while it's not the center of the story, it is incredibly important, and it's not treated that way.

The spice is very, very light and the scene is brief, so that is a plus for those who don't like super spicy romance novels.

C. Chilove is a skilled storyteller, but Unexpectedly Yours is painfully overwritten in some parts, which made the narrative drag quite a bit. Overall I enjoyed my time with this story and these characters, and the things I disliked did not completely eclipse what I loved.

Thank you Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

3.5 ⭐️s
1 🌶️

[BlackBookVibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5: I need more authors to write about the black social elite! I enjoyed the look into their world. It's not all glitz and glamour when your kids are made to married through back in deals and merged families.

[Taylor Jenks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Forever Pub and C. Chilove for the ARC!

This was a cute and easy read. I love a good enemies to lovers and this was perfect! The family rivalry between the characters made for so much growth. I loved the main characters and seeing them slowly interact with each other. There were kind of a lot of side characters and family members to keep track of which got a bit confusing.

[Rachel Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Love an enemies to lovers with rival families. The family dynamics are frustrating but help move the plot. Not sure why the rating is so low. This book was very, very good.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

[Tori B]

DNF @ 39%

[Bel lvndrgms3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrah and Chris hail from two rival elite black families, both of which own the two most dominant cosmetics companies. Their families used to be close, however a few generations back things changed abruptly leading to the present day rivalry. Both Carrah and Chris love their families and appreciate their legacies, but they also want different futures for themselves. It comes to a turning point when the unthinkable happens - Carrah secretly approaches Chris under false pretenses for his help. This sets in motion a series of events that will change everything.

I had no idea I’d be getting into a good soap opera! This romance has a couple other subplots going on which make the story so compelling. The family dynamics (especially the parents) can be so exasperating it makes you wonder if they forgot they’re in the 21st century and not the 19th. But I suppose that’s what old money does to folks. I like Carrah and Chris together, and that their tenuous connection leads to much more between them. They have that 🔥!

Highlights:
🌟 Enemies-to-lovers, old money families & rivalry
🌟 Family secrets
🌟 Romance, slow burn, open door
🌟 STEM-smart, headstrong FMC

Be aware of: family illness but recovered (mother), infidelity (an ex)

I enjoyed reading this and my introduction to a new-to-me author. I’m looking forward to more from C. Chilove!

Thank you @readforeverpub for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 is out now!

[Aleia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want rich Black people drama, stop reading this review and go get this right, right now.

This book reminded me so much of the books I read in high school hidden behind a textbook when I should have been paying attention in class. This makes absolute sense because Kimberla Lawson Roby (an author I definitely chose over Calculus) is called out in the blurb.

So Carrah and Chris are from rival family makeup empires based in New Orleans but summering in a remote-ish town of bourgeois in Florida. Sidebar, choosing to summer in Florida denotes a special kind of hell and foreshadows the type of crazy these families are capable of.

There are so many twist and turns but it starts with Carrah wanting out of the family business to pursue her dream of writing romance. Only she can’t tell any of her family because they are relying on her chemistry genius to create the next big thing and catch up to their rivals, the Chenault’s (Chris is a Chenault). So she finangles her way onto the calendar of Chris-the-lawyer to negotiate the publishing contract that she landed without an agent on a contest.

At first, he says no, then things happen and the decide to work together … in secret because this is a romance. Which means only more romance things are to happen. Things like their friends being surprised they aren’t tearing each other’s heads off (Chris & Carrah share a friend group but over the years they friends have had to choose who they invite, or don’t invite to an event), Chris inviting Carrah to the remote cottage he never invites her to, and Christ confronting Carrah’s ex when he’s being a supreme douche (so anytime he’s breathing).

Did I mention there’s a serious plotline where Carrah’s parents are trying to get her to marry her douche-y ex to save the family business? Even though the business is probably failing because her jealous older siblings have never listened to her suggestions.

Unexpectedly Yours is full of so many twists and turns, enjoy the ride!

Thank you to Forever for this ARC copy!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
C. Chilove is a new author to me, but I had heard of her in connection to other Black romance authors I’ve read, and Unexpectedly Yours sounded promising. This book overall delivers on the juicy family drama and forbidden romance I anticipated.
Carrah is a relatable, well-drawn heroine, being caught between her family’s expectations and what she truly wants. Being from a wealthy Black family who made their name with their cosmetics company, she’s expected to join the family business, but she’s on the precipice of seeing out her writing dreams, having just won a writing contest, which guarantees a book deal.
Chris, meanwhile, is an entertainment lawyer, but his family also happens to run a cosmetics company who are Carrah’s family’s biggest rivals. This made for an intriguing set-up, with Carrah and Chris already being connected, and having a lot standing in the way of even their professional relationship. And as they spend more time together navigating these professional aspects, their chemistry grows, and the stakes opposing their relationship rise along with it. One aspect that made me a little nervous was the explicit lack of any contraceptive use in the sex scene, as that could potentially signal a surprise pregnancy, but fortunately it did not. This was accompanied by a brief mention of their respective STD statuses, although the usage of the word “clean” in reference to testing negative for them bothered me. While not a massive part of the plot in the grand scheme of things, it’s become a hot-button issue in some segments of the romance community, so this bit really stuck out.
Relatively minor criticisms aside, I enjoyed this overall, and am open to reading more in a similar vein from Chilove in the future. I recommend this to readers interested in a fairly steamy contemporary romance with a generous helping of family drama.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars) This is the second in the Shores of Dora series. The books focus on Mount Dora, Florida where wealthy and elite black families retreat for the summer. I enjoyed the first book, A Lakeside Reunion (April 2023). The main characters from the first book are part of the same friend group and make appearances in this book. But this story can be read as a stand alone.

Carrah Andrews is a chemist who works in her family cosmetics company called Noir. There is much pressure on her to get the latest beauty serum to market. And her family is also pressing her to marry a man who has already cheated on her. She seeks out Chris Chenault’s legal skills when she gets an offer to publish a book that she wrote as a passion project. Chris’s family runs a rival and more successful cosmetics company. Chris currently works in entertainment law but his father expects him to come run the company some day. Chris and Carrah have grown up knowing there was a feud between the families. Even though they share mutual friends, the rivalry is a part of their lives and interactions.

You could read a similar story about white families set in the Hampton’s. The idea of debutante balls, and coming out parties is entertaining. I really liked Carrah, but she is being manipulated by her family. No one in her supporting her from the fallout of decisions made by others. Chris played standoffish a bit too long for my liking. I came around to him but didn’t find his character as swoon worthy as the MC’s in the first novel.

While I enjoyed the story and will look for the next one in the series, I didn’t love the ending. A few too many things were left up in the air, causing me to lower my score. This book is appropriately labeled as general fiction/romance as a good part of the story is spent on family dynamics. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for the digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.

[Shameka Erby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrah and Chris are born enemies, two children from feuding families, both of which have a prominent and well-known place in the makeup and skincare market for Black women. Two families from the old guard, with old beef that was passed down to their children. And now Carrah needs Chris to help her realize a new dream... to help her escape, like he did. But is their family beef and their past animosity too much to get over?

Okay, so reading books about Black upper class families always throws me for a loop because 1) it's nowhere near my experience, and 2) it's fraught with so many different pressures than middle/ working class families don't even consider. But I like getting into worlds where we exist differently, and this was no exception. C. Chilove writes this breezy, beautiful summer romance, full of upper crust, Blackity Black folks, and it was so good. I loved the dynamic of Carrah and Chris. Their push and pull was very entertaining. I felt for Carrah--probably because I'm as stubborn and resistant to help as she is, and I get the family obligation that drove her. Chris was a man of principle, but also of vulnerability, and I liked that about him. Both of them were bullheaded and quick to lash out, but could humble themselves and course correct when it was needed. The scandal behind the feud was no less juicy than I thought it would be and I thought it lent good heft to the emotional weight of this story. The supporting cast sometimes felt like too many people, and too many opinions, but it evened out.

I will say that as emotionally intelligent as Chris might have been, I thought he owed Carrah more grace and patience than he gave her. Shirking family obligation and leaving them flailing financially would be hard for anyone, but that journey will always be a little harder for women than it is for men because of how we're socialized, especially when we're stuck being caregivers, which Carrah was. I wish Chris's journey and his growth as a character had acknowledged some of that.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

C. Chilove’s Unexpectedly Yours is a captivating tale of forbidden romance and the power of love to transcend deep-seated family rivalries. With its compelling blend of drama, passion, and long-held secrets, the story delivers an emotional rollercoaster that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

At its core, this novel explores the complex dynamics of two feuding families, where even the younger generation has grown up entrenched in rivalry. Yet, as adults, they find themselves at a crossroads, where personal desires and familial expectations collide. The romance between two members of these families is both tender and tumultuous, offering the perfect mix of longing, tension, and emotional depth. Their journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about navigating their forbidden connection.

Chilove weaves family secrets into the narrative with skill, adding layers of intrigue and drama that heighten the stakes. These revelations not only threaten the budding romance but also challenge the characters’ perceptions of their families and their place within them. The way these secrets unravel is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers pondering the impact of generational conflict and hidden truths.

The writing is engaging and evocative, bringing the characters and their struggles to life. Chilove creates vivid, relatable protagonists whose growth feels authentic, making it easy to root for their love despite the odds stacked against them.

Verdict:

Unexpectedly Yours is a beautifully written story of love, rivalry, and the courage to break free from the past. With its forbidden romance, family drama, and well-crafted characters, C. Chilove delivers a deeply satisfying read. Fans of emotionally charged romances with a touch of intrigue will find much to love in this compelling novel.

[Sasha toobusyreadin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded to 3!

Thank you Forever for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was actually very excited by the premise of this book. The setting, the plot, and the characters showed a lot of promise, but unfortunately it just didn’t deliver for me.

While the enemies/rivals to lovers had so much potential, the execution really lacked in my opinion. There was a lot of repetitive BS that frankly did nothing for the story and the romance was such a slow burn. I don’t think they even really began to even like each see each other romantically until 50% into the book and they don’t engage in anything for what felt like a long time after, despite the obvious chemistry (I do think this was done well).

There are also way too many minor side characters from both MCs families to their friend group, and I honestly didn’t care for any of them (MAYBE the two little brothers). Everyone, including the MCs, came off as superficial and I would literally get whiplash from how their conversations started and ended. I actually didn’t understand why any of these people were friends short of their family ties and proximity.

Because the first half was so slow, the ending felt completely rushed and we didn’t get to actually see any character growth come to fruition which I also found so frustrating.

Overall, a story with so much potential that unfortunately just did not live up to it for me.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for a juicy cocktail of forbidden love, high-stakes family drama, and swoon-worthy tension, all set against the backdrop of the South’s elite Black families.

Unexpectedly Yours dives deep into the tangled web of rivalry, ambition, and love that defies tradition.

Carrah Andrews dreams of becoming an author, but her family’s legacy at Noir, their cosmetics empire, keeps her tied to a lab instead of her laptop.

When a writing contest earns her a book deal, she secretly hires Christopher Chenault—her family’s biggest rival—as her entertainment lawyer. Naturally, sparks fly. 🪄🔥

Chris and Carrah’s love story is packed with:
💼 Enemies to Lovers
💋 Secret Meetings & Forbidden Kisses
🏡 Southern Family Rivalry at Its Juiciest
📖 Dreams vs. Duty
🌪️ Plot Twists You Won’t See Coming

Chilove masterfully balances swoon-worthy romance with high-stakes drama.

The chemistry between Carrah and Chris? Chef’s kiss.

The family secrets? They’ll have you flipping pages faster than Carrah sneaking out to meet Chris.

From Carrah’s struggle to follow her dreams to Chris’s internal conflict of loyalty vs. love, this story delivers all the feels.

If you love forbidden romance, family feuds, and a good ol’ Southern scandal, Unexpectedly Yours will leave you hooked. Just be ready for a ride filled with passion, heartbreak, and a dash of hope.💕

[Turtleberry Turtleberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrah and Chris weren’t supposed to like each other. Their families were rivals and hated each other and they both took that rivalry seriously. They had spent their entire lives travelling in the same circles but avoiding each other.

Then Carrah needs Chris’s help with a publishing contract, something totally out of her usual wheelhouse as a chemist at her family’s cosmetic company. He rebuffs her at first, but then he realizes how nice she has been to his younger brother, despite their family beef, and he decides to help her out.

Their relationship quickly grows from attorney-client to a friendship and then finally a romance. They keep things a secret because of the family issues but soon Chris doesn’t want to keep it a secret anymore. He has loyalty to his family but he has fallen in love with Carrah. She is still very scared and very trapped in the idea that she needs to help her family and the business, at the expense of her feelings and her dreams.

This was a good enemies to lovers story. It took a minute for me to get into it but once I did, I was totally invested in their love story. I hope there are more books in this series because I really wished this one had an epilogue.

[AudiobooksMostly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Unexpectedly Yours by C. Chilove!

Carrah and Christopher are from families with competing businesses. They have both had mutual friends for years but minimally interacted with the other. Both have to live with pressure from their respective families to advance and contribute to the family business. However, Christopher has pursued a career as an entertainment lawyer and Carrah, has secretly been working toward her dream of becoming a writer. When Carrah finds herself on the verge of landing a book deal, she suddenly finds herself turning to Christopher to help her.

I loved the premise of this book!!! I was immediately drawn into this story and didn’t want to put it down. I love a good enemies to lovers & forbidden romance story and this one kept me hooked. The two main characters are written with such wonderful chemistry. I love how naturally these two were brought together by the premise of the story and I enjoyed their romance as they got to know each other more and wrestled with their growing attraction.

Definitely for any readers who love forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, and slow burns!!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Chris and Carrah. Each born to families of rival cosmetic companies, they were never meant to be friends, let alone business partners… or more. After winning a literary contest that results in a publishing deal, Carrah is faced with a choice– continue to prioritize the family business or pursue her dreams. This leads her to Chris, the enemy, who is also a successful entertainment attorney with experience negotiating book deals. From there, they form a professional partnership that progresses as they navigate the rivalry between their families and their connection with each other.

I enjoyed this book! I was really emotionally invested in Chris and Carrah as their story progressed and was so hopeful they’d end up together– who doesn’t love enemies to lovers! It was a cute story, and a definite page turner. I would absolutely recommend it to others!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise Schenk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrah Andrews is employed as a chemist at her family's cosmetics company. She has always prioritized her family and friends, putting her own aspirations aside. When her mother becomes sick, Carrah dedicates herself to her mother's recovery and rekindles her love for writing. Upon receiving a book contract offer, she seeks a contract-savvy lawyer and approaches Christopher Chenault, whose family runs a competing cosmetics business.

Under her pseudonym, Carrah schedules a meeting with Christopher. His initial reaction is one of displeasure, as their families' rivalry has kept them from being friends, despite a long-standing acquaintance. Moved by her manuscript and personal journey, Christopher agrees to assist her. Their mutual friendships make encounters frequent and unavoidable.

As they work together, Chris and Carrah realize their mutual attraction, facing a difficult choice: whether their budding relationship is worth the risk of family discord.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrah has spent her entire life attempting to please her family and working at their beauty business. She finally decides to put herself first and enters a writing contest. It seems like her dreams may be coming true when she wins the contest and a book deal. She reaches out to Christopher the son of her family's biggest competioin. He has also moved away from his family's business by becoming an entertainment lawyer. Their road to working together starts out rocky but it soon becomes obvious that bigger feelings are involved.

I enjoyed this book. Carrah and Christoper had great chemistry. I also enjoyed each of them on their own and liked the amount of character growth they had. The family issues did get a little frustrating. Overall this was a good and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️


Los Chennault y los Andrews son como el agua y el aceite, por alguna razón se volvieron enemigos y a cada generación les enseñan que no deben confraternizar.


Carrah es la hija mayor de los Andrew, todos le ponen demasiadas responsabilidades y no la dejan ser lo que ella quiere.

Chris es el hijo mayor de los Chennault y como se volvió abogado en lugar de tomar el mando de la empresa familiar, su padre está muy enojado.



Disfrute la historia, pero no se le dió cierre a todos los temas.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Try as I might, Unexpectedly Yours didn't impress me at all. There were too many characters to keep track of. And with so many characters, the primary ones weren't developed enough. All of the characters were indistinguishable from one another. And the generic cast just diluted the whole narrative.

Though I do enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, I don't think that the cosmetic/fragrance angle was the best backdrop for this story.

In any event, I didn't care for the novel and DNF'd at 33% A one star (I didn't like it) for me.

I received a DRC from Forever (GCP) through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Heather C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the enemies to lovers story for Unexpectedly Yours could have been fun and exciting but unfortunately it fell flat for.

At first I was excited for the bickering and the banter but it just felt more and more childish and I had a hard time imagining them as extremely successful professionals versus high school enemies to lovers. Therefore it was hard for me to connect to the main couple.

I truly believe that this is a situation that the book just isn’t for me but many others will really like it. I say if the blurb catching your attention, go for it!

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read and provide my honest thoughts.

[Codi Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly Yours had so much potential, but it left me wanting more. The premise was compelling—a forbidden romance between members of two rival Southern Black Elite families—and the gorgeous cover immediately drew me in. However, the execution fell a bit flat for me.

The story follows Carrah, a brilliant chemist working at her family's cosmetics company, Noir, while secretly pursuing her passion for writing. Landing a major book deal allows her to leave her high-stress family job, but she struggles with guilt and fear of disappointing her family. Enter Chris, her secret entertainment lawyer, and a childhood acquaintance she always avoided because of their families’ long-standing feud. Chris’s family owns the rival cosmetics company, making their budding romance even more forbidden as they navigate a web of family secrets and societal expectations.

While I enjoyed the setup and the complex family dynamics, the pacing felt uneven. Much of the drama—especially the reveal of the families’ history—was crammed into the final pages. An epilogue or more exploration of the aftermath would have provided better closure.

Also, a bit more spice in the romance would have elevated the emotional stakes and kept me more engaged. Despite these issues, the book's themes and characters held my interest, and I appreciated the unique setting and cultural depth.

This book gets 3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4) from me. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Check out my full video review here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8NyaECf/

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and C. Chilove for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a forbidden love, childhood/youth enemies to adult lovers story. I particularly liked the New Orleans history and culture that was integrated into the story by these old guard families and would love to read more stories with this background and influence.

This story would be a really good fit for someone that needs to see their leads push outside of the boundaries their families have set for them.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two families have formed an ugly, fraught relationship over the years. The son and daughter of their opposing families have found a deep connection that never should have been. The ups and downs of their budding relationship are all centered around the family hatred. Will the family bondage of the family loosen enough to allow them to survive as a couple?
An emotional tale like Romeo and Juliet in a modern setting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that showed us a glimpse into the workings of two Black-owned cosmetics companies!
Secrets and harsh pasts keep Chris and Carrah circling in their social circles, but maintaining their distance. Carrah dreams of a writing career but doesn’t want to leave her family without her STEM knowledge. Enter Chris, someone who may be able to help her!
Can two rivals work together, on a separate project, and keep their feelings out of the way? Read this and see!

[Queen B]

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with this one, I just couldn't get into it. Carrah was immature and childish at times, and both her and Chris acted ridiculously unprofessional. And I found I just wasn't that invested in all the rich people problems. Even at about 55-60%, there was no real inklings of romance and no one's personality had improved enough for me to stick with it.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is quirky and corny for sure.
The characters, Carrah and Chris, made the book for me. Their families…..I did not overly like at all! Too much hatred from all.
All in all, a cute read.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpectedly Yours... full of drama and also very cheesy. I enjoyed certain parts of the story, but there were a few overlapping storylines that I thought were a bit distracting from the other pieces of the story. The ending was very bland and left a lot unresolved. Not very steamy or romantic. Kind of a disappointing book.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the Mount Dora series. It was an easy breezy read - which was a nice contrast to one of my other current reads (Alexander Hamilton - definitively NOT an easy breezy read!).

Solid 3.5 star read, but I enjoyed the 1st one more so since that was a 4 star, I'll round down to 3 for this one.

This book fulfilled the 2025 PopSugar prompt #16 - A book set in or around a body of water.