Forty and Fighting Dirty

Heart's Cove Hotties #12

by Lilian Monroe

I thought leaving Heart's Cove for a fresh start in Lovers Peak, Colorado would be the hardest thing I'd do after my divorce. New town, new job, new school for my boys—what could go wrong?

Everything, apparently.

Starting with my new boss, Rhett Baldwin, who cut in front of me at his coffee shop on day one. Then we both "won" the same house in the town raffle, because apparently my luck comes with a catch: him.

Now I'm stuck renovating a money pit with a man who bought me winter tires but won't admit he cares. Who secretly feeds a stray cat while insisting he hates it. Who pays for half the town's medical emergencies while hiding behind a reputation that's part truth, part armor.

My sister Georgia keeps asking if I'm okay. My ex-husband thinks I've lost my mind. And my boys? They've already fallen for the grumpy billionaire who built them Hot Wheels beds and teaches them how to demolish drywall.

Me? I promised myself I'd never let another man have power over my job, my home, or my heart.

But Rhett Baldwin doesn't play by the rules. And neither, it turns out, do I.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Small Town Romance, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2025

About the author

Lilian Monroe lives in a luxurious jungle treehouse surrounded by lush greenery, with an army of scantily-clad men with rippling abdominal muscles ready to attend to her every need.

No, wait. That's not true.

Lilian Monroe spends her days dangling her feet into her pool, while a scantily-clad pool boy with rippling abdominal muscles feeds her chocolate-covered strawberries and massages her back.

Okay, okay. You got me. That's not true, either. Let's try again.

Lilian Monroe lives at home with her two children, three dogs, and twelve chickens. Her husband likes to work shirtless in the back yard. His sweaty, gleaming abdominal muscles ripple with every movement and he—

I'm sorry. I have to stop. Fine, I'll admit it. That one isn't true either.

How about this: Lilian Monroe loves thinking about men with rippling abdominal muscles serving her hand and foot, and she wants you to think about them too! She is an avid reader, writer, and lover of all things romance.

She loves everything from bad boys to billionaires. Her books are packed with sizzling-hot heat, action, suspense, and everything from second chances to single dads. She hates cheating and loves a good happily ever after (and rippling abs).

Reviews

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forty and Fighting Dirty is a fun, fiery romance between two people who can't stand each other, but also can't stay away.

Piper, is a newly divorced single mom looking for a fresh start for herself and her two boys. She feels like she finally has a win when she secures a beautiful old house in a town lottery. However, that excitement is ruined when she learns she has to share the prize with her new boss, Rhett Baldwin.

Rhett is a wealthy, arrogant man, the "golden boy" of the small town, but he has a painful history he keeps hidden. Piper and Rhett become instant enemies, battling over the house prize and constantly clashing at work.

I loved the first meeting between these two, it just set them up for how the relationship was going to pan out - loved it!

The conflict between them quickly fuels a steamy "enemies-to-lovers" romance. I love the tension and witty arguments between them.

Both Piper and Rhett are dealing with deep emotional baggage and trust issues from their pasts. This story shows them both find the strength to heal and trust again. I really enjoyed how both of them had almost opposite issues, that they managed to work through. The misunderstandings was so frustrating, but in a great way.

If you like your romance to be mature, sassy, and full of heart and heat, this book is highly recommended.

[Jessica Fowler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Communication is just a lot of letters jumbled together for these characters

These main characters are a perfectly matched set. I mean, a set of red flags. A set of misplaced anger and vengeance and whining and manipulation tactics. But a perfectly matched set. Obviously I dislike both of them greatly for the vast majority of the book. They each have random tiny moments of being decent but right to the end they are still red flags flying from every peak.

The story itself is a mess of absurdity, aggression as far as the eye can see, and completely lacking depth and detail outside of the contentious main character interactions. She's an interior designer but doesn't have any concept of planning a project from start to finish instead of picking paint colors before checking the foundation? The house is riddled with rot and somehow it's completely renovated and redecorated in less than 5 weeks? Without a team of trades working nonstop? And without any mention of the graft involved beyond one day of removing drywall and wall paper?
I get it, the story is a supposed romance, focused on the relationship not the renovation. The relationship is all just fighting and then boom "whoopsies, I love you but was scared of getting hurt so I decided to be offensive instead. Wait, that was your thought too? Aww we should totally be together."
The whole story is just loose threads floating out in space, getting tangled up by the rage of two characters who can't just freaking use their words nicely.

[Laura Moncrief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!! This author shows how mental/emotional abuse by parents or by a spouse/girlfriend can really affect people. Being told you are worthless or not good enough… enough times where you believe it… Is a horrible thing!!! No one should have to deal with that!!! This author shows just how hard it is to trust once you have gone through that. I love that Piper is strong enough to go on even after her divorce. She is a great mom to her two boys!! I love the push-pull relationship she has with Rhett. She challenges him in ways others can’t. Highly Recommend!!!

[Ela La1978 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhett and Piper’s story is definitely one for the keeps. Who would guess the bickering and bantering could leas to more. But its not as easy, the past keeps coming back and it needs more than a little help to get to the future.

[AW · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy your romance with a little sass and steam then this one is for you.

Rhett is the golden boy of his small town, loved by all but carrying with him a painful history. Enter Piper, a newly divorced mom to two boys, who's just trying to put her life together when she lands a job working for Rhett. Sparks ignite, tempers flare, and what starts off as a good old-fashioned enemies-to-lovers situation in a heartbeat turns into something more.

I loved that both the leads are in their 40s, mature, complex, and honest to a fault. The politics at the workplace is delicious, the small-town setting is cute, and the emotional arc is fantastic. Piper, in particular, was so likable as she's strong, vulnerable, and determined to create a new life for herself.

Lilian Monroe provides a thoroughly well-written, emotionally rewarding romance with top-notch character development and a great balance of heat and heart.

Huge thanks to Pelican Cross Promotion and Lilian Monroe for the ARC!

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letting go of the hurt
This was a really enjoyable enemy to lovers story that had me captivated and excited to keep reading.
Both characters from the start certainly rubbed each other up the wrong way with nearly all of their encounters ending with them constantly bickering.
Follow Rhett and Piper as they navigate working together and later fixing up a house together.
With plenty of arguments and lots of time spent together they find their attraction to each other building.
Eventually realising that they may actually like and respect each other.
Can they both get past their previous emotional baggage and allow their feelings to grow or do they carry on the way they have been?
Loved the storyline and characters and the time spent in Lovers Peak, Colorado.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper and Rhett spent so much energy in their relationship painting the other with the qualities of their exes. Both were struggling with trust and being themselves when they’d had their trust broken so badly in the name of love.

I enjoyed reading this early copy of a story showcasing Piper’s strength and Rhett’s grumpy vulnerability. The story has a bit of a contrived premise, but felt very real when it came to breaking emotional bonds they held them back from happiness.

[Mona Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lottery ticket for the win

Piper and Rhett are both scared to trust for very different reasons, and from their very first meeting they definitely butt heads. When they find out they will be working together? Things get even more interesting. Will they be able to put aside all their anger or will everything just blow up in their faces.
This is a great read, with a HEA that i really liked

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, slow burn, feel good romance with some angst. I wasn't a fan of some of the internal narration, as it was drawn out sometimes. This story has two cute little boys, a snarky cat, a small town fall/winter setting, and a handful of steamy scenes.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The banter between Rhett and Piper throughout this book was top notch. Author Lilian did a great job building the tension between the characters while delivering witty comebacks, hidden smiles and left the reader wanting more.

This small town, enemies to lovers rom-com didn’t disappoint and as my first book by this author I’ll definitely be looking up more. Don’t sleep on this quick read!

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Full RTC
—
This book keeps showing up with one liners that make me laugh out loud, not sure if it’s a mistake to pick up book 12 in the series without reading the rest but I guess I’ll find out

[K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF/ Power Dynamics Matter. It's a bully romance

I don't hate all office romances. The dynamic can work for me if the more powerful person bows first. This book did not work for me in any capacity because of the way the author wrote the hero. He is completely aware of the power dynamics in their relationship and he still bullies her at every turn. I don't care that his ex-wife was mean to him. I don't care. He sees that she is a desperate woman caring for children and still outside of extreme circumstances bullies her. I did not sign up for a bully romance. How dare he actually act like he needed that house. How dare he try to make it a situation where he's remembering his ex-wife. He is Rich. He doesn't need a house. Power dynamics matter. If he had bowed out of that house thing immediately when he realized it was her then they could have worked. But the fact that he still was trying to take her through a legal battle until something happened is despicable. He is a villain. I wanted to fight him physically. Power dynamics matter. Maybe he redeemed himself but It was too much.

[Astrid Rudloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily review an ARC.
This book is part of a series of standalones.
I love the writing style, the realistic characters and the adorable setting.
The protagonists are very emotional and hung up on the past and have a very short fuse. But this leads to lots of banter and funny moments.
This book is about friendship, trust and healing and I recommend it.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Forty and Fighting Dirty’ has two people, Rhett and Piper, who both wear scars from past mental abuse. They’ve both built walls of protection that are thick and high. Even after the initial blowup-of-a-meet-cute, fate ensures Rhett and Piper are thrown in each other’s paths often. Maybe often enough that they can start trusting each other …

Author Lillian Monroe knows how to write a love story that keeps me glued to the pages. So, SO good!

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Rhett
FMC:
✨Piper
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Dirty Little Midlife
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉small mountain town romance
👉later-in-life romance
👉he falls first
👉billionaire boss x single mom employee
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
Burn Speed:
✨medium - ish
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think sometimes the stories of overcoming adversity to find happiness are the most satisfying. I liked the background of both Rhett and Piper. From dysfunctional family and bad relationships to divorce and trying to be successful a stable home – trust is central to both of their struggles. With sparks flying right from the beginning between this couple, I enjoyed their heated conflict and had to smile at the direction things took. And I must agree, sometimes animals just “know”if you are a good person.

I received an ARC and voluntarily am sharing my honest review.

[Piper Brintnall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. Ummm. I don’t know how I feel about this book. I liked it but Rhett is a complicated character. I kind of really didn’t like him in the beginning. He’s kind of a douche. I agree with Piper on the line cutting. I don’t care that you’re the owner of the coffee shop. You don’t do that to customers as the owner.

Ultimately what drives Rhett’s character is his lack of therapy. Dude. You need therapy. Badly. This man is in his 40s but is stuck on a mental age of 13. He is so stuck in his past and letting past people dictate his behavior. I kind of don’t believe that he would have really had that epiphany at the end and had such clarity about his behavior.

And Piper. You need therapy, too. Your ex did such a number on you that some (or a lot) of therapy would help.

I liked this book. It definitely ran the gamut of ratings in my head as I read. But it’s a solid book that kept my attention.

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my..... I waited patiently for Piper's story, and it was so worth it!
I absolutely loved Rhett and Piper's book. It kept me up past my bedtime because I wanted to finish it!
They are so alike in many ways and have been hurt by people who they thought loved them....
Trying to start all over again in a new town is never easy, but Piper was determined to do her best for her boys however she could!
Wonderful storyline with superb characters and absolutely loved the HEA.
I received an ARC copy of the book, and I'm willingly leaving an honest review.

[Lynzee · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're starting a new life. You're making a name for yourself. You're tired of everything being an uphill battle. You need to make roots. To keep your children safe. To get all those who doubted you to respect you. This project is so important, and I just won a house. But ugh, who's this disrespectful, full of themselves, manipulative..kind, perceptive, boss, employee, lover?

Forty and Fighting Dirty: A Little Midlife Novel by Lillian Monroe brings us into the small-town, witty workplace enemies-to-lovers relationship that is Piper and Rhett. Both of them are people left with scars from marriages gone wrong. Now these two must navigate the mistrust and stubbornness of each other to reach what could be their own stable, happily ever after.

One thing early on showed me exactly how Piper and Rhett's relationship was going to turn out. And that was Rhett's relationship with a cat. Now you know what they say, there's nothing stronger than a bond between a cat and a man that never wanted it in the first place. It starts off as actively hostile and confrontational, to over time allows for more allowance and open affection before giving it a name.

Piper is our freshly divorced single mom trying to settle down with a stable job, all to provide a good life for her kids. Her willingness to go to bat for them is wonderful. I loved her mama bear mode and caring side. She is sassy and determined to stand up for herself and her convictions. She isn't afraid to stand up to higher authority and potential shaming from the town to get her point across. She is both strong and vulnerable because of her past experiences, which she starts to work through when she meets Rhett.

Rhett is a man who likes to think less of himself. He acts like he's a puppet master who only does nice things for the sake of reputation. Closer introspection tells us how wildly wrong he is. If he were truly like that, he wouldn't have kept the cat. He wouldn't question if the initial hostility towards Piper was the right thing. He wouldn't buy items or help with a home renovation just to see someone else smile. His past may be complicated, ridden with strife, but he's become a good man despite that; he just needs to see it. That's where Piper comes in.

Rhett and Piper together made for such an engaging duo to follow, with their equally fiery personalities. The two get into a bizarre confrontation from the get-go.
They butt heads over something extremely mundane, but it helps showcase Piper's sense of morality and Rhett's attachment to the status quo he surrounds himself in.

The two slowly poke holes into the heavily guarded walls they've built from their prior relationships. With Piper showing Rhett the life he lives may not just be an illusion of kindness but a reality he embodies himself. And Rhett shows Piper that even when differences appear to be heavy, maybe it won't always be unbalanced, and safety can be found. The journey to finding themselves as equals is so enjoyable. They fit together in a way that made them feel like two sides of the same coin. The back and forth between them had a natural ebb and flow to it that made it very easy to root for them to get together.

And when they do, you can feel all the emotions and longing come out in every drip. You can feel the missed years and the craving for companionship. The words to describe their intimacy are less lust-driven and more sensual and hungry for love. He worships her in every encounter and takes his time to make her come apart. I appreciated getting to see the scenes from both their perspectives and how it showed how equally excited and invested they were in making things work.

The consistent focus on the main duo kept the story clean and concise in many places, but likewise, it highlighted a few issues. The four being pacing, repetitiveness, miscommunication, and lack of trust.

The pacing of the novel changed at various points. At the beginning, we were covering more day-to-day interactions. As the novel continued, I noticed a staggering amount of time skips. Given the limited page count, skipping around certain days was bound to happen, but it felt as if we were skipping moments that could have added more depth to the story. And in exchange, it felt like other parts had a tendency to drag.

We didn't get a lot of time to focus on the ski lodge project. There were cut-ins within the time skips to give us an idea of how it was going. It was introduced as an integral project early on. The importance felt downsized after the house renovation was introduced. It started serving more as a foreshadowed deus ex machina at the end to quickly tie up a recurring issue that Rhett and Piper just couldn't seem to compromise on.

The novel states multiple times how important Piper's sons are to her. This is shown throughout the story. Rhett even says he cares for these children and starts envisioning a future with Piper practically raising them as his own.

But I realized the story doesn't show many bonding scenes between Rhett and the boys. In many instances, they're left with babysitters, or interactions between Rhett and Piper occur when they're at school. We get some little moments here and there, like during the hospital scene and during one of the Fixer Upper scenes. Many potential scenarios are glossed over due to the hyper focus and time skips featuring the couple more often. The story neglects to build needed connections that felt so important, given how Piper keeps her boys at the forefront of every decision made. That includes the decision to move to Lover's Peak in the first place.

On the other side of the spectrum, the conflict of when the couple would make their relationship official began dragging on. I kept wondering why it was taking so long. There were plenty of opportunities for it to occur and wrap up the story in a tidy bow. The reason became apparent when the miscommunication scene happened.

The time and placement of the miscommunication scene in two chapters make it hard to feel the impact. It almost appears to be placed there to extend the "will they, won't they" drama to the end of the novel. Rhett attempts a power flex on Piper, highlighting that power imbalance she's feared the whole time. Rhett and Piper default to the same distrustful mindset from the beginning. Piper makes an escape plan. But then Rhett does what he's been considering for the majority of the book, and Piper accepts. An entire core conflict gets resolved in a matter of two chapters. The only problem is that those chapters are at the end of the book, right before the epilogue.

The lack of time to further explore the conflict and the fallout makes the resolution feel forced. The lack of trust between them has been very obvious since the beginning. And it's understandable as to why. They've both been hurt and used by people who didn't even try to understand them and used them to their own benefit. I understand why this scene is so necessary. Piper needs that final confrontation in order to prove to herself that she is no longer a doormat to others' whims. She may be self-sacrificial in how she puts her children before herself. But she does not need to be so in a way that rips out parts of her to please someone who would never do the same. She needs someone with whom she can be an equal. She fears Rhett is the same kind of person she left. Rhett needs proof she's not just another manipulator who's using him for all his worth until a better model comes along. Proof of their devotion is needed.

But the rushed feeling of these chapters almost cheapens the prior development and understanding from the earlier ones. The relationship becomes more like a honeymoon phase that was always on thin ice. Piper is ready to run, and Rhett is too willing to use his power against her, both at the drop of a hat. This is both a contradiction and set setback of prior convictions. Especially when the majority of the book is hammering in the opposite.

It was so insistent on itself so much it became a cycle of constantly restating the same things. They said they're able to see through each other, that they're actually good people, and they're drawn to instead of the initial negative portrayals they assumed at first. Their actions could have been left to speak for themselves. Because of it, at times, it even started to feel as if the characters were trying to convince themselves more than they actually believed it at times. And the speed run of the resolution makes me wonder if there will be more issues akin to this one in the future. Did Rhett do enough to really quell the prior issues in their past? And how far does an I'm sorry take this and don't leave go?

Ultimately, these issues could have been averted if the book had more room to breathe. The premise of the novel is amazing, and I love Rhett and Piper. They feel human and have a fiery spark to them. An increased page count would only help showcase their growing trust in each other. It would offer further proof that Rhett and Piper complement each other in all aspects of their lives, including in conflict resolution, making them stronger than ever.

The sassiness, strength, and big hearts of our protagonists made me feel extremely invested in their story. It had me continually invested, wondering when they would realize they were what each other needed. The ending gives us a taste of something romantic and idyllic with the promise that the characters will live that way for the rest of their days. Thank you to Lilian Monroe for bringing us characters with such a fun, amazing spark. If you want to see how these dynamic workplace enemies become emotionally invested lovers, I'd recommend checking it out.

Until Next Time,
Lynzee

[Bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wellll I got pulled into this one by Instagram lol

Honestly I don’t even know how to word this besides saying the pacing was soooooo off.

At the start there are several chapters for the same day and then times where there is one chapter and then we skip to something later even at one point the start of the one page going in to weeks later in the next paragraph? I don’t know the timeline was all over the place and the pacing so was just off for me.

The miscommunication was painful to read because I felt like I was reading the same thing twice many times because the characters were so similar. While that may have you being like “oh that’s just cause they are perfect for each other” I still think the internal dialogue could have had variations.

I truly wanted to love this book because I enjoy small town romances even the forbidden romance along with both MCs being grown. All of these things were truly winning for me but the pacing just took away from a lot of that for me unfortunately to make this an amazing book.

[RomanceLand65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fantastic read. everything i read romance for. I love that this book was about the over 40 crowd. the characters were amazing the book flowed so well. it's just one of those reads that sticks with you.

[Iman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really problematic hero with too many red flags, even at the end.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did NOT like this book. Like at all. Rhett is a horrible human being. I don’t care that he has some childhood trauma then some adult trauma. Sort that shit out. Dont take it out on a struggling single mom who clearly suffers from her own trauma from a failed marriage. He doesn’t just lash out. He goes for the jugular. No bueno. Not to mention the constant internal monologues that led to a lot of skimming. Readers want character dialogue and a lot of it! Not waxing poetic ad nauseum. 1.5*there is no upside to this story* stars!!!!!👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[Anna]

Dnf at 60%. I didn’t care about either mc. Their fights weren’t funny, just mean and embarrassing.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper Darling, a divorced single mum thinks her luck has finally changed when she wins a gorgeous old house in the town lottery. The only problem? Her new boss, the "perfect" billionaire Rhett Baldwin, was somehow announced as a winner, too. He thinks she'll back down. She's got nothing to lose and is ready for a fight.
• Enemies to Lovers
• Billionaire Hero
• Single Mom Heroine
• Small Town Romance
• Forced Proximity (He's the boss)
***
When I say I have waited for this book, I MEAN it. I first read the Hearts Cove Hotties series in 2023, which gave us (amongst others) Piper’s sister’s story and teased us with one of the hottest scenes in this book. At the time I emailed the author begging to know when she would be writing Piper’s story. Well, I’ve finally got it!

Forty and fighting dirty is a delicious homage to Pride and Prejudice and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Piper Darling has left behind her wealthy, powerful, useless and selfish ex-husband after a hard fought divorce. She’s finally gotten the dream job and moved to the gorgeous mountain ski resort of Lover’s Peak.

But the problem? Her hotter than sin, seemingly saintly but secretly dark and twisty boss, Rhett. I’m a sucker for a grumpy, bossy man with a secret heart of gold.

Piper and Rhett couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. Piper is determined not to be pushed around by another powerful man and sees straight through Rhett’s carefully created public persona. Rhett is in desperate need of Piper to make his business a success, but he cannot cope with how easily she sees him. The only option? War. Clearly.

When they both end up as winners of the dream house – that might not be so dreamy – Piper and Rhett are thrown together, repeatedly. Its sheer perfection as sparks fly.

I’ve loved Lilian Monroe’s feel good romances and this was no exception. Humour that has you laughing out loud, spicy moments that have you fanning your face, frustrating human moments that have you wanting to bang people’s heads together or shove them in the get-along shirt and of course, kicking your feet with glee.

Be prepared for sassy ginger cats, a hulking man who is good with his hands, a middle aged woman who is no longer interested in taking anyone elses cr*p and an adventure in a blissful snowy mountain ski town.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Romantic, funny, and ooooh it hits the spot!

[RB · Rating 3 out of 5]

The things I loved:

-the romance between the leads (when we finally got to it)
-that the leads were adults
-that the story was mostly plausible
-the spice was nice (but could have used more)

Things I didn't like:

-the overdone conflict
-the conflict that lasted too far into the story
-the third act ex husband popping up

I have read quite a few of Lilian Monroe books. I gravitate to them mostly because the characters are older, typically in their 40s, and sometimes older. It's so, so difficult to find mature romance that isn't in a frickin East Coast beach town, or "clean," (no $ex) or so ageist that the characters talk incessantly like they're 1,000 years old (when they're in their 30s!). So it's often exciting when a new book is coming out.

But this author has some tells that are hard to swallow. She often follows a template right down to page numbers where specific events occur. This makes stories feel automated or plug and play. There's a formula, and then there's templates. I prefer a formula.

She also focuses heavily on some real cruelty that IRL would likely result in violence, and sometimes does in her stories. Sometimes a lead or their ex will be straight up vicious. It's extreme and often disturbing. I don't expect the characters to behave like its a Hallmark story, but there's a great amount of real estate between there and that vicious, almost violent elements.

In this book, both leads were waaaay over the top in how they publicly attacked each other. Repeatedly. If I owned a business and had two customers going at each other as these did, I'd be dialing 911.

And while I understood both leads were damaged, there was a ton of overexplaining that damage, mostly in the form of internal dialogue. That must have happened 20+ times, maybe more. It was overdone to the extreme and was unnecessary. I found myself super frustrated.by it and skipping ahead because I no longer cared.

I suppose this is the start to a new series since the last one kinda played out. I'm hoping the next book is better.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forty and Fighting Dirty is book twelve of the Heart's Cove Hotties Series. 

There was a lot of frustration at Rhett. He shows the town what a good guy he is, and by the end you will agree, but he also has a bit of an entitlement about him. He cuts in line at a coffee shop and this angers Piper. If I was in her shoes, I would've done the exact same thing. There is no reason to butt in line and I would've told him to get to the back as well. Now this is just the beginning of their tumultuous relationship. They got off on the wrong foot and it takes quite a long time to get back on the right one. They just liked to butt heads with each other. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these two go at each other and constantly trying to best the other, even if at time it was frustrating. It was a very enjoyable read. 

However, both of these characters have past relationships which have made them cautious and wary about certain things. As time goes on and they build a bit of a friendship and something more, we see their insecurities come more to the forefront. One wrong action leads to a lot of misinterpretation about things. We see them both have to navigate through what they are feeling and do what they think is best for themselves, even if it is a poor decision. 

I thoroughly loved this story. I had never read a story by this author and she had such a way of bringing this characters to life. I will definitely have to read more from Lilian Monroe. 

[Nonna 2K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Your Cute Meet Cute

For anyone looking for a very quick and easy read, this fits the requirements. The two main characters, Piper Darling and Rhett Baldwin, have a slight confrontation when they first meet. Both of them form preconceived notions about the other based on their own past history.

Piper is new to town, recently went through a draining divorce, and is the mother of two young boys. Rhett is a town favorite, which makes Piper develop even more negative views of him. It doesn’t help that he turns out to be her new boss or that they co-win a house in the town raffle.

To say they antagonize each other is an understatement, but again, most of that is due to their past histories, which they hold onto tightly. After some time passes, they start seeing past those preconceived notions to the real people underneath. They learn to work together and that slowly develops into something more.

There is no third act breakup on the way to their HEA, but there is a slight bit of miscommunication. I would consider this a slow burn since it was just past 60% when they first kissed. I don’t mind slow burns, especially when you can see a relationship developing with the characters.

The only part that bothered me was the amount of times the author mentioned Piper’s struggles while with her husband and how she was made to feel less than. It seemed to be used as a filler at times, especially when I had already read about it. It happened less with Rhett’s past, but there were again a few mentions. I understand that those past relationships were important to each character’s thought processes, but they almost made me stop reading the book.

This wasn’t my favorite Lillian Monroe book, but that is my take. I liked the characters and the new town. I will read more if this becomes a series about Lovers Peak.

[Dawn Greaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhett is living a financially stable life and putting his energy into his next big project. Piper, recently divorced and raising her boys, decides it’s time for a fresh start. She moves to take on a new challenge—designing a ski resort. What she doesn’t expect is to discover that Rhett is her new boss! Their first encounters are anything but smooth, but the tension and chemistry between them are undeniable. The back-and-forth banter kept me smiling and completely invested in their story.

I loved the emotions this book brought out in me—from laughter to heartfelt moments that tugged at my heartstrings. The story was engaging and flowed beautifully, with vivid descriptions that made the setting come alive. The secondary characters were just as wonderful, adding layers and warmth to the overall story.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m genuinely impressed with her writing style. It’s smooth, emotional, and easy to connect with. The pacing was perfect, and the romance developed naturally. Overall, it’s a delightful, feel-good read that brought some happiness to my day and left me smiling long after the last page.

[Kimberly Holmgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Piper and Rhett. Piper is trying to rebuild her life. After a divorce, she moved her boys to another town to take a job and stand on her own two feet. Rhett is towns unofficial good guy even though he doesn’t think so. His past has left him feeling like he’s undeserving of peoples respect and appreciation. He runs one of the biggest businesses in town. He helps out everyone, but he doesn’t want the praise. He meets Piper one morning in a coffee shop and they don’t leave good impressions on each other. Imagine their surprise when Piper shows up as Rhett’s designer that very same morning. These two butt heads and fight but also find themselves attracted to one another. Piper is determined to be independent and provide stability for her kids. When she wins a house, she thinks she’s done just that, except Rhett is also announced as a winner. Piper is furious. Rhett is angry at her reaction. People have taken from Rhett his whole life, and he’s determined to not let Piper do the same. But, he also finds himself wanting to help her. It’s sweet and amazing when these two finally decide to put the past behind them and work together. The future has never seemed better for them both.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read

This was a cute read! Not what I was expecting but that’s because there were ads for different books used to advertise this one when you clicked in the link this book pulled up. I was surprised to not find any of those scenes in the book but that didn’t affect this rating.

You have two people in a midlife experience trying to go about it the only way they know how- faking it until you make it. The characters definitely have to heal from their past relationships to be able to start a new one and that was shown throughout the story.

When a miscommunication trope is brought up I like when the character has to grovel for forgiveness and that didn’t really happen, especially when he was so rude letting his past relationships affect his current. There was character growth but the second he felt uncomfy and didn’t let her explain he became a total jerk and I hated that. And then he comes back all “I’m sorry” and she’s instantly “you’re good…”

Overall the story was cute and interesting. There were just some parts that I wish we could have had more to further the story.