A dating app that hides your identity is great—until you realize who’s on the other side.
In the margarita-fueled wake of his thirtieth birthday party, small town veterinarian Matty Brodigan takes the plunge into Blinding Love, an app where pictures aren’t allowed and users are paired based on personality tests. How is he to know that the woman he matches with is his best friend’s little sister?
Goldie Dash is finally getting her life she’s in her own place and has a burgeoning career as a journalist. She’s probably never going to shake her crush on her sister’s best friend Matty Brodigan, but that’s okay, because she just matched with someone on Blinding Love.
Hidden behind fake names, Goldie and Matty fall for each other. It’s only when they agree to meet at a masquerade ball that Goldie realizes what’s happened, and when she finally reveals the truth to Matty, the shocked pair decide to keep their relationship under wraps while they figure out what to do.
But secrets only last so long, and soon they face a play it safe and walk away, or risk it all for the love they never knew they had?
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS Best friend’s little sisterDating appHidden identitiesHe’s (kind of) a cowboyMeddling neighbors and friendsSO. MUCH. Banter and shenanigansAdorable dogsDual POVGrab this second book in the Lucky in Love Duology!
This was such a delightful, quick read! The hidden identities twist had me grinning the entire time, and Matty and Goldie’s chemistry is everything you want in a rom-com—sweet, swoony, and full of banter. 🥰 Goldie’s crush on her sister’s best friend combined with Matty’s cluelessness made their journey so fun to follow, especially with the added drama of the dating app and masquerade reveal.
Also, can we talk about the adorable dogs and meddling neighbors? They were the perfect touch to this small-town romance. If you’re into laugh-out-loud moments, secret identities, and heart-melting HEAs, you’ll adore this one. Such a cute read! ❤️
I genuinely enjoyed this read tbh , it was so spicy , so cute , and the banter?? I absolutely LOVED the banter tbh. I love a good secret Pining and secret crush , it's one of my fave tropes ! . I'm excited to read the first book (I think there's a first book ) and ready for Oxs story (hopefully we get a story ) and Anthony's too tbh. Overall this book was quick , fun , cute and funny 😌🫶🏾
New book, new author🤭. I appreciate Valerie and Happily Booked Pr for accepting me to be part of her team for this cutie!
Goldie was in search for love. Only one notification from an app will change her life, at the same time as one of her closest friends. Who? Her sister's best friend, Matty.
They both signed up for a love matching app, which brought them together. But they had no idea who the other person was, their identities had to be secret! So, they fell in love without knowing who they were, besides the fact that they were already having a crush for each other in real life.
This story was pretty fun, having many cute moments and some really steamy. I liked how kind, sweet and geeky Matty was and how well he fitted with Goldie. This was a great example of opposites attract, but this part brought some doubt in Matty, who didn't considered himself good enough for explosive Goldie. Will he be brave enough to fight for his love?
A super nice and relaxing story. I had fun reading it and following the secret romance of these two. The secondary characters were super fun too!
This is book 2 and having read this before book 1, I was fine but I absolutely encourage you to read book 1, Dining For Love first! Both books are fantastic and you get Willa and Reid’s story in book 1.
For his 30th birthday Matty signs up for a dating app, Blinding Love. There’s no options for pictures and it’s personality based.
Goldie is vivacious and has had a crush on Matty forever. He is her sister, Willa’s best friend. So when she figures out the dating app paired her with Matty, Goldie is a bit shocked.
Both used fake names for their profile and neither saw a picture but when Goldie saw her masked date at the masquerade ball, she instantly knew it was her crush.
Will the secret be kept for long in this small town? Can Matty get over falling for his best friends little sister! Read to find out!
This was such a good read, I finished it and immediately went backwards to book 1, for the Lucky in Love duology. Goldie and Matty had great banter, the couple chemistry was amazing and both Midnight and Killer (and the rest of the furry cast) are just adorable.
Perfect small town, what will happen romcom to get you pumped for the upcoming month of love!
Thank you to the author, Valerie Pepper, publisher Stafford Lane Publishing LLC and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily
I just knew I was going to devour this one, once I found out who the main characters were. I absolutely loved the MMC & FMC in book one and I could feel the tension between the two. So, of course this one was full of it.
I really liked how they "first" started talking to each other as my hubby and I met off of a dating app.
Of course this book had amazing small town vibes, with the hilarious side characters, and I actually found myself enjoying the two main characters from book one more in this one! 😅
You get: • Spicy Rom Com • Small Town • Best Friend's Sister • Childhood Friends To Lovers • Blind Dating App • Vet MMC • Secret Crushes
I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.
Title: Dashing for Love by Valerie Pepper Series: Standalone Book 2 of Lucky in Love Release Date: Jan. 31st
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Favorite Tropes: Best friend’s sister/Sister’s best friend, Dual POV, Small Town, Friends to Lovers, Cowboy, Animal Loving / Veterinary MMC
Tagline: When a dating app pings, two friends using pseudonyms find a chance for love in their small town.
You’ve been matched! Goldie has had a crush on her sister’s best friend, Matty, for years, but she’d never pursue him for her sake. Matty, seeing how happy his friends are in a relationship, bites the bullet and downloads the dating app Blinding Love. But what happens when fate strikes and Goldie & Matty match under pseudonyms? Will Goldie finally convince Matty to see her as more or will their love for her sister destroy any chances of their relationship flourishing?
Thoughts: This is a super cute, fast-paced read that will have you dancing on clouds. It’s truly super cute!
On his 30th birthday, Matty Brodigan takes the plunge and signs up for Blinding Love, a dating app that doesn’t let you see the face of the person you’re talking to until you’ve communicated a certain amount of messages over a certain period of time. Only, he doesn’t realize that the person that he’s matched with is his best friend’s little sister, Goldie Dash. Goldie had always had a crush on Matty, but she tries to put that crush aside when she’s matched with someone on Blinding Love. She didn’t know who it was until the Masquerade Ball. When she finally reveals herself to Matty, he’s so unsure of how to proceed and Goldie’s heart is broken. Can Matty figure it out in time to heal what he broke?
This is such a sweet and spicy rom com! I really enjoyed the mixed media in the book too, having the text messages and the messages sent over the dating app interspersed with the prose. Goldie is an easy to love character while it’s easy to get slightly annoyed at Matty and want to shake him and say “wake up!”
The banter between the two prior to their identities being revealed was written very well. It had me grinning from ear to ear. But it also really let their personalities shine and let the reader get to who they really were as when they were in group settings, their personalities didn’t really shine through. The chemistry between Goldie and Matty was also on point in all of those spicy scenes!
All of the side characters were also really great, especially the dogs and the meddling neighbor! Even though this is book 2, I hadn’t read the first book. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything as we get to know that the meddling neighbor was also in the first book, and what her role is in the books. If I were single, I’d want to stay in that lucky cottage as well!
Yes I’m sick right now but man did I NEED this romcom energy it was so incredibly cute! The relationship dynamics with Matty, Goldie and their whole friend group….Ox may have stolen my heart not gonna lie!
But seriously though, it’s hard to be a girl with a guy best friend, even harder to be the baby sister to a girl with a hot guy best friend that you’ve been pining for silently for years.
Without giving too much away it’s a pretty quick read, just over 200 pages, easy to follow with great banter, side characters and interesting relationship dynamics interwoven throughout the story. I am not one for dating apps those really became a thing after I got married but I know of them and the idea of a “blind” dating app is a great idea honestly. Great way to meet and get to know people. Love the masquerade ball scene that whole night really! This book does have so,e spice to it that leans into role play so if that’s not your thing you’ve been warned.
Overall for this book as it was a fun romantic spicy little rom com definitely 5 ⭐️ and I’d say a sold 3🌶️ look forward to more from this author! I have a sneaking suspicion /hope that if there is a follow up book that we get to see Ox fall!
Dashing For Love by Valerie Pepper is the second book in her Lucky In Love Duology. It can be read as a standalone, but I would totally read both books. They are interconnected and just all-around good books, in my opinion. Dashing for Love focuses on Goldie Dash, Willa's little sister, and Matty Brodigan, Willa's best friend and local veterinarian. I absolutely loved these characters and all the side characters. Valarie writes such good book boyfriends, and Matt was one of the sweetest she has written. The side characters, especially Agatha, were perfection. I absolutely devoured this book. I cannot say enough good things about it. It made me equally laugh and swoon, and the spice was spicy! I have loved everything I have read by Valerie, and this one was no exception. I cannot wait for more from her! She has definitely become an insta-read author for me!!
💛 Sisters Best Friend 💛 Veterinarian MMC 💛 Epic Banter 💛 Spicy RomCom 💛 Hidden Identities 💛 Dating App 💛 Secret Crush 💛 The Text Messages
This isn’t getting off to a great start. I mean, the dude’s name is Chad. No offense to the Chads of the world, but I have yet to meet a good one.
“Is that yours?” I ask, unable to contain the glee in my voice. “Yep,” he answers. “His name is Killer.” I whack him on the arm. “Stop it. You can’t be that cute.” He rubs his arm and his eyes freaking twinkle. “You think I’m cute, Goldie?” I roll my eyes and turn away, hoping he doesn’t see the blush that blooms at his teasing.
I’m the blond, the airhead, the opposite of Willa. You know.” He frowns. “No. I don’t know.” I release a frustrated sigh. “Forget it.” “Goldie—” I shake my head. “Seriously, drop it. I don’t even know why I’m all up in my head about it. It’s fine.” I force a smile and a laugh. “I promise.” He doesn’t look convinced. “No. You are perfect. You are unafraid to be you. And that’s…that’s worth being proud of. Anyone who has ever made you feel like you’re anything other than phenomenal is an asshole.” I suck in a breath. What?
“Goldie Dash,” he murmurs, reaching his hand up to cradle my face. Thank God I’m sitting, because the man would have just brought me to my knees. “I’m glad it was you.” And now I’m dead, because he has killed me with the swooniest of swoony phrases.
Thank you, Valerie Pepper and Happily Books, for an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Matty and Goldie have been friends forever. Matty is Goldie��s sisters best friend so they have grown up together. Goldie has always had a crush on Matty but she thinks it’s time to get over it. Matty is the local veterinarian that like animals more than people. Goldie is part-time waitress and full-time reporter when a match happens on Blinding Love App with username James is it possible Goldie can get over Matty?
Matty matches with username Dawn and she seems interesting and easy to get along with. Wouldn’t you know it Dawn and James are actually Matty and Goldie?
This is a cute blind date love story between Matty and Goldie! They are adorable and cute together! This is definitely a rom-com small-town romance that is very uplifting and just makes you go “awww” so many times. also there are cute furry sidekicks plus one hedgehog! I absolutely had lots of fun reading this and it’s honestly a good sweet love story in time for Valentines Day!
Goldie was kind of annoying in the first book. She just was so bubbly & positive, you know? She is the complete of her sister, Willa, who is/was a true grump!!! But seeing life from Goldies POV is truly enlightening.
I liked that Goldie was still just as bubbly & positive as I thought she was. She has such a fun outlook on life. She enjoys the people that she surrounds herself with & she seems to just make her own happiness. She has made significant improvements to the local newspaper with her writing talent & ambition to do more than "gossip" like JJ did.
Matt is the best best friend out there. I loved him in Willa's story, and I love him so much more now. Hearing about how his own parents treated him nearly angers me. The way that he navigated through his feelings and insecurities was gut wrenchingly beautiful. I'm glad that the Dash girls have his best interest at heart.
The chemistry between Goldie & Matt was off the charts. Their banter through the dating app was exciting. Their masked encounter was sizzling. Their video chat was steamy. Their time together IRL just solidifies the fact that they are meant to be.
I liked the way that this story was written to be like two sides of a coin. It was fun how the men and the women didn't converse to put this love puzzle together. If Reid & Willa had confided in each other - the secret relationship wouldn't have been a secret for long. I loved that so many people were invested and also in the dark. It was so fun.
The pets!!! That dang Agatha. She is such a hoot. Darcy & Anthony have to be next
Dashing For Love was such a cute rom-com between Goldie and Matty. We meet them both in book one, Goldie is Willa's sister and Matty is Willa's best friend. Goldie has always had a crush on Matt and he thought she was beautiful and such but being his best friend's little sister, he's stayed away. When they meet on a dating app that doesn't allow pictures or real names, their chemistry is instant. After a few weeks, they meet at a masquerade ball to keep their identities a secret for now, but Goldie realizes who he is. She doesn't tell him right away and they finally meet in person a bit later. Both are surprised at who they've been talking to but their chemistry and banter lead them to try to make a go at it. What will happen when Willa finds out? Will Matty's anxiety that he's not good enough keep them from truly finding love and happiness together?
Love, love, love! Valerie Pepper has become one of, if not my favorite, romance author! Dashing For Love is a funny, best friend’s little sister romance and I couldn’t get enough. The banter was amazing, the chemistry was sizzling, and the pets were adorable.
Goldie has always had a crush on her sister’s best friend Matt. So when she joins a blind date app she’s doesn’t expect to get matched with….you guessed it, Matt (but she doesn’t know that it’s him). The blind date/mystery man aspect of the story was executed fantastically and led to some *spicy* scenes.
Having read book 2 first, you definitely can read them out of order (but why would you). I’m definitely going to go back and read book 1 ASAP!
Thank you to Valerie for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review!
When your secret masked cowboy ends up being your life long crush, do you go for it or do you end it before they can. Thankfully Matty and Goldie have a HEA, as they should. This is such a cure and fun read and I love the ease at which this reads. Not going to lie I don’t blame Goldie one bit I would totally fall for a hot cowboy-ish vet too. I love that they have a solid friendship that allows their relationship to grow from once they finally give in to it anyways. This has all the feel good vibes and Valerie Pepper did a wonderful job of leaving you feeling good and bubbly happy after reading. So saddle up with this one and visit lucky for a spell.
4 star read !!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️best friends sister ❤️dating app ❤️hidden identity ❤️semi-cowboy romance (u will understand ) ❤️meddling friends and neighbors
Goldie and matty were so cute in this story!!! 💕💕💕 they both join a dating app that hides your identity until you get to know each other a little bit more. Then, you can slowly send pictures that don't include your face... sounds fun right?? The problem is that matty gets matched with goldie. Who is his best friend's little sister!! Their banter back and forth is so cute 😍 There are some sexxayyy spicy 🌶🌶🌶 scenes too. Overall a quick, easy, fun read !!! Thank u to happily booked for allowing me thr opportunity to read this !!
Okay, but seriously—this book was EVERYTHING! I ate it up and loved every single second. The steam? Perfection. The chemistry? Off the charts. And Matty? Whew—a hot, small-town vet who wears a cowboy hat, adores animals, and loves with his whole heart? I melted. Goldie was the sweetest, and I adored how she followed her heart, even when things got messy. Their connection had me grinning, swooning, and fanning myself all at once. Secret identities, best-friend’s-little-sister tension, and all the romance goodness—I couldn’t get enough!
I don't know how it's possible that every new Valerie Pepper book becomes my newest favorite, but this one really skyrocketed into first place! Matty is an absolute dream--a sweet, nerdy romance reader who loves animals? Yes please! I loved both him and Goldie in the first book, but watching them come into their own and fight for their happy ending was exactly what I needed! And I fell even more in love with Willa and Reid (and Ox!) along the way. Fabulous read, highly recommend this one!
It's such a cute read. Getting in a dating app is always nerve-wracking. Find a match is even more. But when the right person comes your way, not even an app can tell that. These 2 had fun talking and getting to know each other through the app. The problem or the dilemma came when they had to meet in person. But I loved the story, such a wonderful read and fun to watch them through the pages♡
This was my first Valerie Pepper book and I was not disappointed. I will be going back to read the first book of the series as from the enjoyment of this book and the great insights into the other characters Reid and Willa from the first book, I’m sure I will enjoy it as much as this one.
My first thoughts go to Matty. Oh my god, what a guy. He was a good man, kind and caring and the best of best friends to Willa. He also had a wicked sense of humour and the whole pretending to be a cowboy was hilarious, he was actually a cowboy without noticing. Goldie was sweet and cute but also sassy. She knew what she wanted and she went for it, with a little push.
The banter between their alter egos James and Dawn was brilliant, they really hit it off despite not knowing who the other really was. The video spice scene was unique, not come across that before. It was pretty hot, as was the masquerade ball, the kissing in the dark was steamy and daring.
I felt they could have come clean much sooner than they did, and Matty’s reluctance to openly admit their relationship did annoy me a little bit but I’m glad there was a happy ever after. I wish we’d gotten an additional epilogue though, given that Reid and Willa stole the scene.
From the first page I was hooked. Goldie was a fun character to follow and then the switch to Matty was perfect. I loved all the friends included in the story. The group texts are just hilarious. Everything about this story made it a quick and really enjoyable read.
This book was so much fun to read!! I was able to basically complete it in one sitting (minus toddler’s snack breaks). I laughed so much at the banter between these two! Goldie and Matty were so different from anything I’ve read lately and I think that’s why I was able to get sucked in so quickly.
This book was the perfect rom-com, friends to lovers, small town romance. Goldie’s secret love for her sister’s best friend and Matt’s cluelessness to Goldie made the read so enjoyable and kept those pages turning. But let’s talk about that spice! 😍 Hot and heavy with a little bit of banter?! I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
Matty & Goldie are so freaking cute! I love Matty’s animals names. Killer the chihuahua and Kitty the german shepherd. Matty’s relationship with Willa is so sweet and it was so nice to read how close he is with Reid now too. The concept of the app, Blinding Love, is really cool and very thought out & I love how it played a role in them “meeting”. Agatha is a hoot, taking credit for both Willa & Goldie’s happiness.
She’s a little spicy 🌶️ but such a great read. It’s a quick read with lots of text messages scattered throughout and keeps your attention from start to finish.
Thank you to Valerie Pepper & Happily Booked PR for the ARC of Dashing for Love!
I love me some best friend sister best friend romance books. These two characters were made for each other. I love everything about it was cute and funny I couldn’t put it down.
Read this book in one sitting! It’s cute and funny, with tons of personality and spice. A quick and easy read- perfect if you’re looking for a cute happily ever after in between dark, cliffhanger fantasy books 😉
This book is #2 in a series, which I didn’t realize until I started reading. There were some minor references to the first book, which would have made more sense if I did some research prior to just diving in… but it didn’t get in the way of the story overall.
This book was a warm ray of sunshine in a cold January in New England.☀️💕
I loathe 3rd act breakups. Unless they are done correctly. I freaking loved this story. I loved the nickname. I loved the masquerade. I loved the anonymity of it all. The spice was nice. So happy I was able to ARC read this one. Definitely recommend. Very well written. I read it in one sitting.
🐾 small town romance 💛 best friend’s little sister 🐾 he’s (kind of) a cowboy 💛 dating app/hidden identities
i’ve been patiently waiting for goldie’s book since dining for love came out! i love the dating app trope and secret identities. i loved reading more about willa & reid + midnight. i loved the masquerade ball! i cannot wait for more in this series by the author! i hope there’s a book about ox or anthony!
Tropes; 🎀Dual POV 🌷Small Town Romance 🎀Dating App 🌷Best Friend's Little Sister 🎀Friends to Lovers 🌷Secret Crush/Pining 🎀PTSD Representation 🌷Hidden Identity 🎀Cowboy Vibes MMC 🌷Meddling Friend Group 🎀Adorable Pet 🌷No Cliff-hanger 🎀HEA
The story throws you in with Goldie on a date with Chad - already, she's got an ick from his name. And her date has an unhealthy obsession with his bird. BIRD. That was so random, weird and funny simultaneously but I relate with her so hard. I was like, same girl - it's a no from me, too. She leaves with no intention of going on a second one. It doesn't help that she hasn't had any luck on her dating app either.
But one day that all changes when she matches with someone, who turns out to be none other than Matty - her older sister's best friend. (Plus, she's been having a crush on him since forever, but she doesn't know it's him and vice versa!) They match with each other on a blind dating app and hit it off pretty well; their banter is off the charts, so charming and cute, it keeps you on your toes and wanting more of their interaction. I was giggling throughout and their chemistry is so good! It has some spice too, oh my gosh! The way I inhaled it. So hot.
When he discovers that it's his best friend's little sister, will he follow his heart? His trauma troubles him, pulling him into a downward spiral. There's emotions, comedy, meddling friends, a cute dog, some delicious spice and serious moments, and more, but everything comes together in such a way that is heartwarming. No cliff-hanger and a happy ending. And Kitty and Killer are so frickin' CUTE.
What a cute little rom-com! I'm genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it because I don't really read light romances much, but I'm glad I gave this one a chance. It's my first small town romance by Valerie Pepper and I must say, it's a great one. The characters are believable and fun, loveable and hilarious, the plot-line flows without a hitch and is a page-turner for me and the pace is just perfect.
"Dashing for love" is the second book of the "Lucky for Love" series - now this is my fault, I didn't even know until I did some research on Goodreads, however, it is a standalone, so no worries. Such a sweet book!
Thank you to Valerie Pepper & Happily Booked PR for the opportunity ARC to review! It was a fabulous experience! Releases January 31st!
Out of Fives; 🌷Cover: ✨✨✨ 🎀Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 🌷Passion: 💋💋💋💋💋 🎀Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🌷Emotions: 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲 🎀Humour: 🤭🤭🤭🤭 🌷Goldie FMC: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 🎀Matty MMC: 💙💙💙💙💙 🌷Character Development: 👍👍👍👍👍 🎀World Building: 🌍🌏🌍🌍🌏 🌷Plotline: ⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️ 🎀Pacing: ⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳ 🌷Book Received: eARC/Kindle. 🎀Pages: 260. 🌷Chapters: 39, including Epilogue. 🎀Series: Lucky in Love. 🌷Genre: Fiction, romance. 🎀Would I Recommend: Yes! 🌷Overall Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐