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Roughing It

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Blakely
I’m a city girl through and through—or at least I play one on social media. When a comment from an Internet troll hits too close to home, I decide to show everyone what I’m made of. If this foray into the wilderness boosts my brand and gets me away from the oppressive loneliness of my life, well, even better. My guide is grumpy. Brash. A total assh…jerk. And the best-looking man I’ve ever seen.

It’s thirty days. With one bed and one sexy country boy. No problem, right?

Hudson
I’m all about the outdoors—give me nature over people any day of the week. My focus is on my family business and my brothers. I don’t have time for anything else, especially not a frivolous, spoiled social media princess who doesn’t belong in my woods. But the promise of growing Peak Adventures is too good to pass up, and that’s how I find myself stuck in a one-room cabin with the most infuriating—and beautiful—woman I’ve ever met.

It’s thirty days. With one bed and one gorgeous city girl. What’s the worst that could happen?

422 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2024

18 people are currently reading
327 people want to read

About the author

Albany Archer

3 books90 followers
Albany Archer is the alter ego of an avid reader (turned attempted writer) of sweet and spicy romance. She loves anything with a happily ever after, regardless of the sub-genre. Banter, hair washing, and feisty female characters who know who and what they want are her love language. Her biggest hope is that you walk away with some sort of joy after reading her work.

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5 stars
115 (44%)
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114 (44%)
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20 (7%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
Profile Image for Megan Coggins.
663 reviews144 followers
October 10, 2024
One bed trope on crack 🔥

Hudson is my type of man.
I love an outdoorsman. Blue collar guy. 🪓
God this man was grumpy but filthyyyyy.

Blakely. My least favorite type of girl, social media influencer… yet the author somehow made me slowly love her.
I loved her mindset evolution.

30 days in a remote cabin together. But yet not repetitive feeling.

Small town
Opposites attract
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Banter 🔥🔥🔥
The banter in this book was great.
I also really enjoyed this authors writing style.

“Overall, if I rate my city girl on her skills, she’s getting a D-minus. And yeah, I’m curving up for sleeping with the teacher.”
🤣🤣🤣

Arc review ✨
Profile Image for Sandy (Sandy.Reads).
876 reviews471 followers
October 9, 2024
4/5

This book took the one be trope to a whole new level.
The 🌶️ was 🥵 and definitely had me blushing throughout the book.

I truly loved the plot.

Both characters, Blakely and Hudson, were stuck in ruts in their respective lives and needed a kick in the butt to get out of them. They end up in a cabin together where Blakely is supposed to show city girl Blakely how to survive in the woods. Of course their chemistry is off the charts, but they also push each other emotionally.

They face many obstacles along the way but both come out on the other side a better versions of themselves. 🥰

If you love a rugged man who can take control in the “text” and also look hot while chopping wood. This book is right up your alley.
Profile Image for Diana.
326 reviews48 followers
October 11, 2024
4 ⭐️
3.5🌶️

Oh my!!! You have one bed, a hot outdoorsman, and 30 days in a charming cabin!? Yes, please!🥵🔥

Roughing It is about Blakely, a social media influencer, and Hudson, a blue collar outdoorsman. They couldn't be more opposite. They come from different worlds. But, as the saying goes, opposites attract, and they certainly do! 🔥

This book was very well done. Albany Archer wrote these characters with plenty of depth and their connection was powerful. I adored the nicknames they had for each other as well. Blakely had several, but my favorite was "Spitfire," and Hudson was "Bear."

I loved reading how they found their way and grew into better versions of themselves. Hudson's support for Blakely throughout the story was amazing. The banter was both sassy and funny. And don't forget about the spice! 😮‍💨The author wrote an excellent blend of sweet and spicy.

What to Expect:
🛏️ One Bed
🫂 Forced Proximity
☯️ Opposites Attract
🏘️ Small Town
❤️‍🔥 Grumpy x Sass-shine
👩‍❤️‍👨 Open Door
🏡 Found Family
♥️ He Falls Harder

Overall, I enjoyed this read and the pace of the story. This was my first Albany Archer book. I am looking forward to reading more of her work!

Thank you to @lunaliterary.management and Albany Archer for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Christina.
566 reviews18 followers
August 25, 2024
Roughing It is Hallmark but make it extra spicy and add a dash of childhood trauma, and I was all the way there for it. Blakely is a social media influencer who is tired of being surrounded by people yet feeling all alone. She hopes to gain some perspective by spending a month in the wilderness, roughing it with the help of drool-worthy outdoorsman Hudson, who quickly learns the bratty princess is so much more than she appears.

The banter and chemistry between these two was fabulous. The love story is adorable and then the spice is… just yes. The spice is yes 🤣 Grumpy survival guide isn’t usually my type, but I’d take Hudson any day.

Underneath it all, this is a story of learning to love yourself so you can let others love you too. Hudson helps Blakely see that she doesn’t need to wear her social media persona like armor because she’s perfect when she’s her true self.
Profile Image for Lou_lovesreading.
408 reviews12 followers
September 27, 2024
Absolutely LOVED IT
Blakey is a sweetheart, I loved her and felt her struggles through the page - my heart went out to her for everything she went through and everything she was going through until Hudson aka Bear comes in and everything changes for both of them.
This book will make you laugh, cry and honestly be desperate to see what happens next to them both.
Thank you to Albany and Luna Literary for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Madison.
47 reviews
October 10, 2024
YES! I’m obsessed with this couple and book! It legit hit all of my fav tropes! One bed, grumpy/sassy, he falls first and HARDER, dirty talk and small town! Neither one backed down from each other and I ATE it up!!! City girl and mountain man 30 days allllll aloneeeee wink wink! Albany ATE DOWN BABY!
Profile Image for Franzi.
997 reviews52 followers
November 2, 2024
I had fun with this one! The relationship was the epitome of grumpy x sunshine but there was some real emotional depth behind that. The wilderness scenes were funny but a bit too unrealistic for me at times (never ever would having sex in a tent during a rainstorm be "fun") and there was a bit too much push-and-pull for me, hence the three stars, but still, a very cute relationship and great characters.

I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest book.
Profile Image for Coffeecupsandpaperbacks.
101 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2024
* 4.5 stars - ARC Review *

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me of a Hallmark movie, but in the best possible way. Light, fun and kind of ridiculous in places, I was fully swept up in the story from the get-go.

Influencer Blakely Bradshaw is looking for an escape from her aesthetically perfect but empty and lonely life in Austin. She books a 30 day wilderness retreat in Trail Creek, New Mexico to prove to everyone (and herself) that she is capable of more than she portrays on social media. Hudson Brooks's is a grumpy outdoorsman whose life revolves around his family business, Peak Adventures. He reluctantly agrees to guide Blakely and teach her everything he knows about surviving in the wilderness.

Like in her previous book, Keep This Between Us, the author did a fantastic job of creating the cozy, safe, small town setting of Trail Creek. The autumn/fall setting also made it really atmospheric. This book is a standalone, but does feature a few characters from Keep This Between Us, which was a nice touch.

Blakely and Hudson are total opposites and it was fun watching their relationship develop throughout the book. The banter between them was sooooo good and the spice was great.

You should definitely read this book if you are a fan of any of the following tropes:
*opposites attract
*forced proximity
*small town
*one bed
*grumpy/sassshine

Thank you so much to the author for my ARC!
Profile Image for Kayt.
36 reviews
October 17, 2024
Roughing It
5✨ 3🌶️

TROPES:
• Opposites Attract
• One Bed
• Annoyed to Lovers
• Grumpy x Sass-shine
• Banter
• Dual POV

What would you do if you were a big city social media influencer who found themselves spending 30 days in the wilderness with a grumpy mountain man and there’s only one bed? This story is just that and so much more. Roughing it follows social media influencer Blakley Bradshaw as she begins her quest to bring herself out of the pit of loneliness she’s found herself in with the negativity online only pulling her further under. Blakely makes a choice to prove to herself and those online there’s more to her than meets the eye. Thus, leading her on a 30 day adventure with Hudson, a gruff outdoorsmen and owner of Peak Adventures. Over the next 30 days, Hudson puts Blakely to the test to find her inner confidence and helps her battle some of her past demons that came back to haunt her.

“Spitfire” and “Bear” have to be new favorite book couple.Their story growth and the banter between these two is *chef’s kiss and the spice was spicin’. If spicy scenes are not your thing the author has provided readers a d*cktionary to help skim these sections. That being said this book was adorable and will make you feel all the feelings I promise you that. This read is definitely in my top 5 of books I’ve read this year.

Thank you Albany & Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for monika_is_booked.
360 reviews13 followers
September 27, 2024
Blakely Bradshaw needs a change. Working hard as a social media influencer, she feels more and more lonely every day. When a comment hits her hard, she decides to prove everyone what she's really made of. Thirty days in a small cabin in the woods with a grumpy, but handsome outdoorsman, who'll teach her everything she needs to know about surviving in the wilderness. What could possibly go wrong?
H€// to the yes!! Albany did it again!! I. LOVE. THIS. GORGEOUS. STORY!! Insta-attraction between a sassy AF city girl and a grumpy bear of an outdoorsman? Now THAT'S a bear I'll definitely choose 😁. Their dynamic is FANTASTIC (sorry, not sorry for yelling so much!!)! I had so much fun with these two!! There are so many laugh-out-loud, as well as tender moments between Blakely and Hudson. The sp!ce is amazing!! And I would have read another 400 pages with delight. Thank you SO MUCH for writing their story, Albany! All the love and stars and whatnots for you, Blakely and Hudson 💕

If you like your FMCs sassy, your MMCs grumpy, amazing banter and 🌶️, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, fun and feelings, put "Roughing It" on your TBR!! 🥰
Profile Image for turningleighpages.
107 reviews30 followers
October 3, 2024
If you're looking for a man of few words, who knows how to tie a knot and isn't afraid to get down and dirty in the wilderness, then look no further. Meet Hudson Brooks, the hottest small town man, who ends up stuck with social media influencer Blakey Bradshaw, for 30 days, in the woods, WITH ONLY ONE BED.

☑️ Opposites Attract
☑️ One Bed
☑️ Annoyed to Lovers
☑️ Grumpy x Sass-shine
☑️ A very, open door if you know what I mean
☑️ Releases Oct 10!

@authoralbanyarcher absolutely nailed this - I can't stand influencers/influencer culture and she wrote Blakey so perfectly annoying, that at one point I yelled at my kindle "what an idiot!" Cough, cook the berries cough. When Blakely sheds her "BB" persona and opens herself up to learning and love, you can see why Hudson has such patience and perseverance with her.

4/5 for my first Albany read. Thanks for the ARC @authoralbanyarcher and @lunaliterary.management ✨
Profile Image for Georgia Dalianis.
133 reviews
October 10, 2024
(ARC) Wow, this book was great! 😍 I enjoyed every part of it! I really appreciated the way the book was written and set up where we follow Hudson and Blakely for 30 days. The book actually starts at day 29 and then we go back to the beginning and see how the characters got to where they are.

The tropes were right up my alley and I felt so calm reading about the peaceful outdoor/cabin life.

I liked the characters a lot. I always fall for a rough, grumpy MMC 😅
There was a lot of great spice! I’m not sure if the spice/plot ratio was a teeny bit too heavy on the spice for me because though I felt like there was a lot of scenes, I still enjoyed them all 😂

Tropes and stuff:
📱One bed
🐻Annoyed to lovers
🌲Grumpy x Sassshine
🪓Opposites attract
⛰️Beautiful setting in the mountains
🌶️Lots of spice!
686 reviews8 followers
September 27, 2024
Thank you for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

This book was so enjoyable. Hudson and blakeley were amazing main characters. The development of their relationship was beautifully written. The way these two gradually got to know each other and overcome the tension between them was just perfect. Blakeley's personal growth was a joy to read. Hudson was such a determined character who enabled Blakeley to be her real self.

This book is definitely for those who love tension between the main characters and a female main character who discovers who she really is with the backing of a hardworking, determined male character and readers who love books that remind them of lifetime or hallmark movies.
Profile Image for Kristi.
438 reviews
September 29, 2024
This was adorable.

This was a book where opposites attract and they attract hard. It was fun and the banter between these two was a great time.

These two had the best banter and fought their attraction. It was the cutest book and I ate this one up.

Being out in the wilderness and facing her fears while he is facing his fears of trusting another lady love. It was a great time.

I recommend this one.
Profile Image for Megan Jones.
6 reviews
October 4, 2024
Absolutely loved every minute of this book! The banter, The Tension, The spice were everything! This book made me laugh and kept me on the edge of my seat! Highly recommend reading this book! I hope there is another book written in trail creek!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book for my honest review!
Profile Image for Charley.
398 reviews7 followers
October 11, 2024
5 ⭐️

Oh this book was soo good! Absolutely delightful! The banter was sassy, the cabin in the woods made me want to plan a camping trip tomorrow, and the spice was a blazing fire.

Roughing It had some of my favorite tropes: grumpy-sunshine, one-bed, and forced proximity. Blakely was such a strong FMC who took absolutely no shit from anyone, but was also a little broken inside. Hudson Brooks was the ultimate caretaker, despite his reluctance to be, and under his gruffness had a heart of gold. They were the most unlikely pair, but they worked perfectly. I was giggling at their banter and blushing at their sexcapades, and the entire time I was worrying along with them about what would happen at the end of their 30-day experiment.

Also, Albany is clearly a true girls’ girl, because she wrote an MMC who had a *feast* almost every day, not just on Thanksgiving. Seriously, this man spent more time *downtown* than Blakely when she lived in the city. Hashtag blessed.

Now I’m really hoping Bo and Gray get their own books next! They need to be humbled after all the times they made fun of Hudson for being a goner.

Thanks to the author, Albany Archer, Luna Literary Management, and Flying Pig PR, for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Leslie King.
48 reviews14 followers
October 11, 2024
I want me a mans like that and nickname him Bear🥹!! I fell in love with Hudson right away at the beginning. Every girl deserves to be treated the way he treated his Spitfire😉🙌🏽!! I could not put the book down and was head over heels in love with these two!!!🤍🤍🌲
Profile Image for Laura-Elise Bishop.
Author 5 books18 followers
May 23, 2025
If you like enemies to lovers, AND forced proximity then this is the one for you! Blakeley is the strong yet vulnerable heroine and Hudson her grumpy yet reliable hero. Expect stunning scenery, plenty of laughs, tears and serious spice!
Profile Image for BookEE.
85 reviews7 followers
September 27, 2024
What an incredibly unique plot ! It was a refreshing adventure to go on and felt so realistic with today’s times of professional online influencers . The way he melted and she had personal growth ! So incredibly sweet and fun . The spice was spicin and came through as genuine and realistic . It was such a fun read and kept me on my toes .
Profile Image for Jody Diakow.
75 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2024
Big city social influencer meets small town grumpy outdoorsman. Sparks fly from the get-go as Blakely and Hudson commit to 30 days together on a cabin as he teaches her outdoor survival and she escapes from the pressures of being an online personality. He sees the true Blakely and encourages her to drop the mask, while she sees the man living someone else's expectations of him, to see that he can let go and just live a little.

I loved both of these characters from the start, as well as Hudson's brothers and Blakely's manager. Albany Archer weaves the supporting cast in perfectly as the 30 days progresses. Not usually a fan of instalove/instalust, but this book makes it all work out in a highly entertaining and laugh-out-loud way.


Tropes:
Insta-lust
One-bed
Forced proximity
Dual POV
Grumpy-sunshine

Note: I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Robyn.
147 reviews14 followers
October 15, 2024
Blakely Bradshaw and Hudson Brooks are perfect for each other. She's feisty, stubborn, and full of sass, whilst he's gruff, grumpy, and head over heels in love with his influencer city princess. Don't worry, she's right there with him on that journey.

Honestly, when I read Keep This Between Us, I thought I found one of my favourite book boyfriends, but Albany has given us yet another man to swoon over. I love an outdoorsman, personally. I like to be in nature and curling up on a cabin porch, so the setting for this beauty was right up my alley. Add in some found family, a one bed situation, and i was ready to fall head over heels from the get-go!
Profile Image for Ashley | ashley.reads._.
67 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2024
I had the opportunity to ARC read Roughing It and I. AM. OBSESSED. If you love a one bed trope, this is the book for you! This is one bed on a whole other level and I am here for it.

Roughing It follows Blakely Shaw: social media influencer from a big city who is on a mission to prove to her followers (and herself) that she is capable of so much more than the persona she portrays online. 30 days in the wilderness learning how to rough it. With a mega hot outdoorsman. What could go wrong?

Blakely is stuck shacking it up with Hudson Brooks: a grumpy, broody outdoorsman who founded & co-owns Peak Adventures with his two brothers. In exchange for exposure and promotion for their company, Hudson agrees to guide Blakely on her 30 day adventure and teach her everything she needs to know about surviving in the wilderness.

Blakely and Hudson are total opposites, so seeing their attraction and connection grow throughout the book was so fun. My God, THE BANTER. I was giggling like a little girl reading the banter in this book, it was SO good. And the spice?? ANOTHER LEVEL. PHEW.

With Blakely set to return to her home at the end of 30 days, and Hudson dead set on staying in Trail Creek, can their sudden connection be enough?

Albany hits so many top tier tropes in this book including:
one bed
opposite attract
enemies/annoyed to lovers
grumpy x sunshine (with a little sass!)
open door
found family

This was such a genuinely fun read and I devoured it. It was so well written and just a great all around book.

5/5
Profile Image for Steph Mo.
84 reviews7 followers
October 3, 2024
ARC read

This was my first book by Albany Archer.
To be honest I wasn’t sure I could like Blakely at first.
Hudson, I was sold from the start. I love a grumpy small town must protect everyone guy.
These two couldn’t be more different. And more perfect together. Taking the big city girl back to the small town after she ran from her roots . That’s when I knew I liked her. Finding out about her past made her more vulnerable.

I highly recommend checking this book out for sure .
Happy reading.
Profile Image for Samantha Brinn.
Author 10 books183 followers
October 8, 2024
One bed, but make it for a month, and give me allllll the spice and swoon, a grumpy outdoorsman, a social media star, and banter for days.

This is Roughing It in a nutshell, and I absolute ate it up. Never has there ever been a more delightful forced proximity book, ever. I loved every single word of it. Imagine if Hallmark made a movie of two complete opposites forced to live together for a month, but threw in SO MUCH SPICE (like, so much, the spice is SPICING), and added a layer of two people falling into the most incredible insta-love imaginable, while discovering their true selves. Hudson and Blakely are exactly this and I am so here for it.

I adore how Hudson sees Blakely as the spoiled social media princess, but quickly realizes she is so much more than that. And because of his gentle (and not so gentle) support, he helps her to see that she can be exactly who she is, without the filters and the social media voice and her public armor she's worn for so long. That who she is at her core is exactly enough. Hudson loves her the way that everyone wants to be loved - fully and completely with no masks and no pretenses - and she loves him the exact same way.

Fans of Albany's first book will be absolutely delighted by the Davis Construction cameos, and Trail Creek is exactly as amazing as I remembered it being. This whole world that Albany is building is my favorite place, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,645 reviews339 followers
November 9, 2024
As someone who’s always dreamed of living life as an adventure, I couldn’t resist the pull of *Roughing It*, a romance with a dash of outdoor survival and a whole lot of unexpected chemistry. Albany Archer’s story delivers a delightful blend of opposites attract, humor, and heart that had me hooked from the first page. And trust me, it wasn’t just the charm of a city girl paired with a rugged country boy that kept me glued to this book—it was the way the author masterfully crafted a world that felt both wild and familiar.

Let’s talk about Blakely, our city girl protagonist. She’s the kind of person who, on social media, looks like she’s living the perfect life—smooth hair, flawless makeup, and enviable vacations. But the reality is different. When a troll’s comment hits her hard, Blakely decides to trade her high heels for hiking boots, all in the name of proving something—not just to her followers, but to herself. So, she heads off into the wilderness for 30 days, with the goal of boosting her brand and escaping the loneliness that’s become all too real.

Enter Hudson, the grumpy, no-nonsense outdoor guide who’s focused on one thing: his family business. The last thing he wants is to babysit a spoiled social media influencer who doesn’t belong in the wilds of nature. But Hudson’s strong will and even stronger attraction to Blakely leave him torn. The forced proximity and constant banter between these two had me laughing and swooning in equal measure.

*Roughing It* is the kind of book that will make you want to curl up with a hot cup of cocoa (or a glass of wine, no judgment) while you let Blakely and Hudson’s story unfold. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their journey from mutual annoyance to undeniable attraction is a slow burn you’ll love to watch. What I loved most was how the author didn’t just focus on the romance but also gave us a deeper look into both characters’ vulnerabilities. The result is a heartfelt, feel-good read that proves there’s more to love than just physical attraction.

Now, I have to admit, *Roughing It* didn’t just make me laugh or swoon—it also made me reflect on my own life. I’m not one to take risks in the way Blakely does, but there’s something about stepping out of your comfort zone, facing the unknown, and opening your heart that really struck me. *Roughing It* also gave me Hallmark movie vibes and served as a reminder that sometimes the greatest adventure is finding love in the most unexpected places.

If you're looking for a book with a touch of humor, plenty of steamy chemistry, and a lot of heart, *Roughing It* is the perfect pick. I have no doubt Hudson has earned himself a spot on my list of book boyfriends (right next to my forever favorite, Edward Cullen). Plus, that cover? *Swoon*. This book is a total cover crush.

*Roughing It* will leave you laughing, swooning, and maybe even reconsidering your next vacation plans. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
Profile Image for Loverulesall_books.
226 reviews6 followers
October 10, 2024
Rating: 5⭐
Spice: 3.5🌶️

If this is the level of writing we can expect from Albany, count me in for all her future releases!! I absolutely adored this book, centering around: acceptance, friendship, found family, and finding true love in the most unexpected place! 💖

City girl and social media influencer, Blakely may seem to have it all to her adoring fans (minus one cheating ex), but real life couldn't be more different. When an internet troll calls her out that she couldn't possibly survive the wilderness, she decides to prove them wrong by 'roughing it' for a month. She has nothing to lose, right? Challenge: accepted ☑️

Hudson works as the guide for Peak Adventures - outdoorsman and wilderness expert. He is tasked with showing Blakley the ropes for the next month, also in hopes of mutually benefiting Peak Adventures by putting them on the map. Once the month is up, he can go back to his life, and so can Blakely. What's the worse that could happen, right? Not to mention, there's only one bed in the cabin! 🤭

Blakely and Hudson... I just love them so much in this book and it's no lie when I say I became emotionally invested in them. Instalust/love, forced proximity, one bed are just a few of the tropes in this book and Albany's take on them was top notch!
Their gradual character development was such a joy to read as the story unravelled. Hudson was just 🫠🫠... He certainly put the capital G in the word grumpy, when it came to Blakely, that man could not deny her anything! Constantly breaking rule after rule of his just to keep a smile on her face 😂

Blakely's journey and how far she's come honestly tugged at my heartstrings. I adored how Hudson was super protective, loving and understanding of Blakely, who in turn blossomed into the person she truly wanted to be. It was clear that Blakely found her home in Hudson, someone who made her belong, accepted all of her and still chose to love her unconditionally (those acts of service though! 🤌🏻) Hudson too had his own doubts and insecurities, but with Blakely's love, he found the strength to push through and fight for who and what he wanted... Seeing them both get their HEA was so, so sweet and my heart is so full for them! ❤️‍🔥

This is definitely not one to sleep on and l seriously can't wait to see what Albany brings us in the near future with Trail Creek! 🩷

Special thanks to Albany for gifting me with an eARC, in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻
Profile Image for Karianne.
386 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2024
5⭐/4🌶️

Wowowowow. Okay first thank you to Luna Literacy and Albany Archer for this ARC. It blew me away. This review is spoiler free!

Starting from the top, the "dicktionary" was so freaking smart and honestly cute. Normally i like checking out things like this on social media before i dive into a book, so to have it be *in* the book was a great idea. I've not seen anyone do that before and its cool as hell. Basically the author made a list of each chapter that has a spicy scene, with a short description of what happens in case anyone wants to skip over those parts, has a trigger, OR wants to go right to them 😛

As for the story, we have our classic grumpy sunshine/one bed trope going on and its everything you can ever want. There's Blakely, the social media angel whos just a little addicted to her phone and getting likes. Then Hudson, a reserved mountain man, passionate for his family, who wants nothing to do with the internet in general. They come together to help Blakely learn survival skills as a part of a new social media thing for her channels, and its a whole adventure and a half.

Its basically instalust, with a you drive me insane and i want to feed you to the bears outside kind of vibe. Their whole love story is just so so so sweet. They were doomed from the start haha. Im a sucker for the one bed trope, and even though she was a brat and they fought constantly, i LOVED how sweet he was for her when it came to her socials and the things she made him do 🥰

Their love burned so hot, the passion was delicious, and their story was just so sweet. The mental health aspects of Blakely going through what id consider her identity crisis was touching and well written. Social media these days plays such a role in everyone's lives, i think the way the author used those

Alsoooooo one of my fav nsfw tropes is , which i discovered i enjoyed through butcher & blackbird 😉 and might i say i think it doesn't get enough appreciation!! But goodness, it was certainly present here! The epilogue?? 🥵 I cant explain why i like it, not that it matters, but it was just so well placed within this story, and you could just feel the intimacy of the two of them within those moments.

Over all an incredible book, 5/5 would recommend, and i love you love Blakely and Hudson as much as i did!!
Profile Image for Wandering Seal.
452 reviews8 followers
October 13, 2024
4.5 stars

Looking for a grumpy/sunshine story set in a cabin in the mountains? A cabin with only one bed??? But good WiFi because this is the modern world?

I've been wanting to return to Trail Creek for so long! I loved Keep This Between Us, and this story here has all that same charm. I love that small town mountain location. Most of this book takes place away from Trail Creek, but the goodness of the town is important and seeps through. Some of the characters have little appearances as well, although I don't think you'll miss anything if you've not read it first.

Like KTBU, the focus on consent in Roughing It is just perfect and so, so hot. Our MMC asks up top if our FMC is into what he's offering and I was surprised at how refreshing I found it! I really don't think that gets asked enough. There's a focus on enthusiastic consent throughout the story, both in their… time together and in other aspects of their lives - the FMC is a social media influencer, unused to the idea that others may have an expectation of privacy, and she also struggles with the idea that things happen to her outwith her ability to control. I was worried in what direction the story was going considering those points, and I was happy with how everything resolved.

Now, I'm going to be completely honest here - there were times where I was not loving our FMC Blakely. This is a me thing - she's a brat who acts bratty for what feels to me to be no good reason, and rarely apologises for it. I know other people don't take issue with this characterisation, but its just not my favourite. If I were MMC Hudson there is straight up no way I'd have tolerated some of her behaviour, no matter how smitten with her I was. I get that it's a me thing, but I was holding out for a big apology that never came about. I did love the journey she went on as a character, and I appreciated that she learned from her mistakes and got better as she went along. I just wished she'd reflected and said sorry a bit more.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It touched on some real soft spots for me, and I now want to go camping in the mountains and learn how to tie knots!

I read an advance copy of this book, my thoughts are very much my own.
Profile Image for bookedwithcodie.
35 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2024
What in the wilderness?! I’m inflated with dopamine by Hudson and Blakelys love. This book is hands down my favorite open door romance I’ve ever read. Seriously.

Blakey, the FMC, is a social media influencer who lives a fake life to escape from her awful past. She finally made something of herself but it’s missing everything. True friends, happiness, and love. She decided she needs a break from the draining lifestyle and does a wilderness retreat in a one room cabin for a month with a man she doesn’t know but hey at least he’s easy on the eyes. She is to post and do lives during this time while he teaches her how to live and survive in the wild. Her character development throughout the month causes her to shake loose of the fake side of her that her followers see. She finally shows who she truly is and it’s all because of Hudson. She learns to love all of herself and to let others too.

Now let’s talk about Hudson, the MMC. He’s a grumpy blue collar outdoorsman. He has a certain outlook on city life and wants nothing to do with it because of his ex fiance leaving him because he wanted to stay in his small town that’s filled with the people he loves and a job he loves. He meets Blakely and slowly that grumpy man gives in to whatever she wants.


Throughout the book you experience the BEST banter and character development. And you def get some of the most well written spicy scenes. Even though it is a lengthy book (512 pages), you will fly through this because the story is captivating and you won’t want to put it down.

Read if you LOVE:
🥀 same bed trope
🥀 forced proximity
🥀 role play 🥵
🥀 small town romance
🥀 grumpy / sunshine
🥀 childhood trauma

I’d like to thank Albany Archer and Luna Literary for giving me this ARC. My opinions are my own. I truly meant it when I said this is my favorite open door romance book!
Profile Image for Makenna Lakey.
92 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2024
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

My first book by Albany Archer and I LOVED it!! I have been waiting to read this book for so long that it was like a fever dream while reading it🩷. I laughed, giggled, kicked my feet in glee, and cried so of course it was an automatic 5⭐️ read!!

Blakley “Spitfire” Bradshaw is an influence living a lonely life in Dallas who is lost and trying to find something different and find herself. Hudson “Bear” Brooks runs Peakside Adventure in a small town and agrees to take Blakley on an outdoor adventure for 30 days with 1 small cabin and 1 bed. Will they be able to keep their hands to themselves and deny the attraction for 30 days or will they give in? You will just have to wait and read about this love story because you will not be disappointed!

Blakley has a past she is running from and puts on a persona to become Blakley for the camera but as soon as it’s off she lets it drop and Hudson cannot deny that he is interested and wants to know more. Husdon has a past with city girls running from his small town and promised himself he would never fall for another city girl, especially this one.

Hudson 👏🏻 Brooks 👏🏻 was PERFECTION 👏🏻. The mouth on this man 👏🏻 him breaking all of his rules for Blakley👏🏻. Hudson was a caretaker to his core while also being grumpy but he couldn’t deny taking care of Blakley when she was hurt😍. His relationship with his brothers and their group chat was top tier and I need all three of these men in my life. Blakley wanted to prove herself to both herself and Hudson and she did the best she could and even took care of him😍.

If you are looking for a spicy romance with one bed, opposites attract, annoyed to lovers, and grumpy x sass-shine then this book is for you!!

Please Check TW before you read!

Thank you Albany Archer and @lunaliterary.management for the opportunity to read this ARC🩷!
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