Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

Hope Harbor #2

by Brittanee Nicole

Sparks fly as the leaves fall this autumn…From the superstar romance author of The Boston Bolts hockey series comes a swoony friends-to-lovers fake dating delight.

These old flames are ready to catch fire.

For Penny Darling, love is best enjoyed between the pages of a book. After a very public failed engagement, she’d rather cozy up by the fire with a book boyfriend than a real one any day. And as the owner of Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore, she has her pick.

Then Jake “Monty” Montgomery returns home. Her high school best friend, now a struggling author with inked forearms and wicked green eyes. And he needs her help.

His proposal is She’ll teach him to write the perfect book boyfriend and he’ll pose as her real boyfriend, keeping Hope Harbor’s busybodies—and their obsession with Penny’s love life—at bay.

But when their lessons begin, the line between fiction and reality grows dangerously thin. As pretend kisses in the apple orchard turn into searing ones beneath the autumn moon, Penny begins to wonder if Monty could really love her, or if she’s destined for another broken heart.

Genres: Romance, Autumn, Friends To Lovers, Fake Dating, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2026

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favourite read of this year, I loved it so much!! I already had high expectations, because I really enjoyed the first book, but this was even better!! The cozy fall vibes, the relationship, the chaotic small town and the way I related to Penny, it all made this book into an unforgettable journey.

Penny and Monty were close friends in high school and drifted apart, but now he's back in town and staying for a while. He needs to write his new book and has to make it amazing, she's trying to heal from a terrible relationship and hates that the whole town is trying to set her up with someone, so they decide to fake date and help each other. Everyone will leave her alone and she'll show Monty how to be the perfect book boyfriend so he can write romance into his novel better, a perfect solution. But, spending time together, kissing and practicing has them crossing the invisible line rather quickly...

I absolutely adored Penny, we are so similar which made me enjoy this book even more, as I never felt so seen as I did reading about her. She was incredible and loyal and she deserves the world. I loved seeing her be cherished and worshipped, Monty truly saw her and made sure he showed up.
Monty was such a perfect book boyfriend, the way he did everything for her, how he made sure she knows how perfect she is and who doesn't love a man with slutty glasses and tattoos!! He had his issues, but he always did the right thing.

Honesty, their relationship might be one of my favourites ever. I need a Monty in my life!!
The comfort they felt with each other, the way they understood one other and how integrated they were in each other's life before and now, it was simply amazing. The yearning, the t-shirt, the book club, the fake dating, the meeting, the lessons, the sweet pumpkin, the tension, the date, the dirty talking, the picnic, the maple tree and the bonfire, the library, the list, the devotion, the boom box and all the little things he did for her, it made for an incredible story. I just love their love. The spice was so good too, I wasn't expecting that, I really enjoyed it!! 

This weird little town is honestly the best part. I love the town group chat, the Liberty Ladies and their meddling, the book club and all the town hall meetings. I could read the stories of everyone in town and still want more!! I enjoyed seeing Tally and Walker again and Daisy was an adorable edition. Seeing the bond Tally and Penny have and how Billie got her place with them and Rosie was so special. Also, vovo and her matchmaking skills were unmatched.

I seriously can't wait for the next book, I hope it's Billie's and then Rosie's, I'm really curious about her and Fletcher!!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me with an ARC.*

[cat (catching up slowly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“After having craved those copper eyes for so long searching for their color in every cup of coffee, every sunrise, in the dancing flames of a fire, and the evening sunset. How did I think I could do anything but claim her as mine?”


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴏᴄᴛᴏʙᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs” x ᴀʟᴛ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ
0:14 ─♥──────── 2:27


When I tell you I ate this up… I mean it. Fully consumed. No crumbs left. 👏🏼 I went in with ridiculously high expectations (which is always a gamble🫣) especially because my first book by this author Darling Daffodils Farm ended up being an all-time favorite… and somehow this one didn’t just meet those expectations, it blew past them.

This story feels like coming home to something you didn’t realize you’d been missing.

Penny is just… everything. She loves so deeply, so selflessly, always showing up for everyone around her without hesitation. And there’s something so devastating about her character because you know how much she deserves in return (and hearing how she was treated in her last relationship makes me want to scream). Watching her navigate her fears, her past hurt, and still continue to love the way she does? I adored her. I rooted for her so hard.

And Monty. *screams in delightttt*

Monty, who has wanted her apparently since he was SEVENTEEN??? AHHHH And when they’re thrown back together?? When fake dating enters the picture?? It’s like striking a match over something that was already soaked in gasoline.

The setup was so good. Every moment, every “pretend” interaction had this underlying tension of this is not pretend, not even a little bit. And the way they slowly start crossing that invisible line??? I was LOSING IT. Especially because Penny is over here trying to guard her heart, convincing herself she’s alone in what she’s feeling…

Meanwhile Monty is internally writing poetry about her existence.

“Penelope Darling’s eyes are pure perfection and the color of a shimmering copper penny.”

LIKE??? HELLO??? 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼

And when things start to unravel (in the best, most emotionally chaotic way) and he finally starts saying what he’s been holding in???

“Stop thinking you’re too much for me when you are absolutely everything I want.”

“Trust me when I say there isn’t an inch of you that I’m not desperate to worship.”

YUMMM YUMMM YUMMMM 🤭😝

I was not prepared for the spice level in this book AT ALL 😭 The mouth on Monty should be criminal that’s all I’m gonna say.

I will say there were a couple things that I slightly didn’t like. For one, there was no need for Monty to call her by her nickname SO MUCH. 😭 also I’m not sure why Daisy the cow was mentioned so much… But those things weren’t enough to drop a star imo.

Also I can’t not mention the town because the chaos??? unmatched. The meddling, the group chat (forever iconic 😂), the way everyone is just deeply invested in everything… it adds this warmth and humor that balances out the emotional weight so perfectly. And Penny and Tally’s relationship?? I loved it. It felt so genuine and grounding.

But the thing that really stayed with me is the way Monty loves her. Not just loudly, but consistently.

“My story begins and ends with you. Because you, Penny Darling, are my heart. You’re the love of my life, my best friend.”

“Penny is my past, present, and every second of my future.”

*faints* I’m unwell.

This isn’t just friends-to-lovers. This is inevitable love. The kind that refuses to fade no matter how much time passes. And when it finally comes together?? It’s explosive in the best way. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough.

And now I’m just sitting here, already desperate for the next book. Rosie? Billie? I don’t even care. Just give it to me immediately because I need more of this town and their people

things to know about the book ↓

🧡 friends to lovers
🧡 second chance
🧡 fake dating
🧡 small town chaos
🧡 meddling townspeople
🧡 group chat shenanigans
🧡 writer x bookstore owner
🧡 body positivity rep
🧡 found family energy
🧡 dual POV

spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes

The biggest thank you to NetGalley, Putnam & Brittanee Nicole for allowing me to read this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you're interested in reading my review for the previous book in this series! ↓ ↓
Darling Daffodils Farm Review
─────────

・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

I’ve been waiting for Penny and Monty 👀
I loved Tally and Walkers story so much… so to say my hopes are high is an understatement. Can’t wait to get into this!! Hope Harbor here I come 🧡💛

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second book in the series!!!

Spicy alert!!!! 🥵🥵🥵

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a confession to make :D I may or may not have screamed when I got approved for this book , because I loved book 1.

And I think I liked it even more than the first.

We get friends to lovers plus fake dating and it worked really well for me. Penny and Monty have history, they were close, drifted apart and now they’re finding their way back to each other.

Monty was such a fun character. An excellent fake boyfriend, always there, always helpful… and with a very unexpected dirty mind. I wouldn’t really call him a failed writer, more like someone who lost inspiration or maybe picked the wrong genre.

Penny was great too. I really loved her journey, especially how she slowly regained her confidence and allowed herself to open up again. I liked that she didn’t hold back from trying new things and just went for it.

The small town vibes are still as charming as in the first book, with all the quirky characters that make Hope Harbor feel alive. And honestly, I already can’t wait for the next one.

⭐ 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.

https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is in the running for my favorite book of the year. The yearning that starts from the first sentence is palpable. The love story evolution is believable and pure. And the spice is insane! Aka a spicy romance trifecta.

Penny has a great life. She owns the bookstore in her hometown, her sister is back home and found love, and they’re finding their way after their dad’s passing. But, everything’s just a little bit off. She no longer has a fiancé, her bookstore is struggling, and she’s just floating through life without knowing herself and what she wants. When her best friend Monty comes back to town, that safe haven from childhood could just be her safe haven to finding herself— and love.

Monty has writer’s block, so he escapes New York and comes back home for new surroundings. Those surroundings include his best friend and the woman he can describe in writer’s detail and who convinced him to pursue his career. When he sees her again, there’s no going back— especially if a chance to fake date her means a chance to finally act on those longstanding feelings he’s buried.

Every single word of this story was perfect. I’m obsessed and BEGGING for the next book in the series already.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍂Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore🍂

Very cute, very cozy, and such a perfect fall read. Seriously, grab a blanket, make a cup of tea, and settle in because this is the kind of book that feels made for a rainy day.

🍁 What to Expect
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating
• Small town
• Bookstore owner FMC
• Author MMC
• Second chance
• Cozy fall
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 4.5 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has IT ALL!! Friends to lovers 🩷 Fake Dating 🩵 AND Small Town Romance!! Swoon someone catch me because I’m gonna faint from how cute this book is!

This book would be absolutely perfect to read cozied up under a comfy blanket with a cup of tea in the fall! The vibes are just so sweet and the whole town is so so cute!!

Monty and Penny’s relationship was just so touching! I loved seeing them fall for each other but not wanting to admit it! Monty wrote the book on yearning and I’m gonna need every copy!! ALSO!! Do not be fooled by the cute cover!! This book is very spicy 🌶️ !! It also made me cry like a lot at multiple points while reading so be ready for that!!

Overall, this book is fantastic and I love it and I can’t wait for it to come out so I can get my hands on it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[The Rampant Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Putnam for the gifted e-copy.

“You can’t use my book boyfriends against me!”

Vibes: it’s always been you meets fall

Penny’s life sounds great to me: bookstore owner, sister, small town life, pumpkin spice fiend, and a super hot best friend who is pretty obsessed with her. He’s tattooed, has slutty glasses, and uses Portuguese endearments.

Tropes:
Small Town
Fake Dating
Old Friends to Lovers
Family
Author &
Bookstore Owner

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found my first five star fall read of the year, and yes, it is only August. No, I will not be taking questions. 😂🍂 This book had EVERYTHING I want from a fall romance. The autumn descriptions, the apple orchard, the cozy bookstore, the fall events, the adorable small town atmosphere… the vibes were immaculate. Hope Harbor is already ridiculously cute, but Hope Harbor in the fall? Even better. I was ready to move in immediately.

And Penny? Penny is me and I am Penny. A cutesy bookstore owner, Bookstagrammer, lover of fall books, obsessed with autumn, and happiest surrounded by books? Brittanee Nicole apparently went into my personality settings and wrote a heroine specifically for me. 😂 I absolutely adored her, and I loved that the book gave so much attention to her friendships with her sister and their friends. The female friendships were such a fun part of the story.

Then there’s Monty, who was a fantastic hero. Their chemistry was so good, and the friends to lovers/fake dating setup gave us plenty of swoony and spicy moments. I especially loved watching Monty work through the baggage from his parents’ divorce and the way it had left him jaded about love. His emotional journey added some nice depth beneath all the cozy romance and fall fun.

And can we talk about the Hope Harbor residents and their town wide group chat?! The meddling was elite. I loved how much personality the town had and how the side characters made Hope Harbor feel like a place I actually wanted to visit. This was only my third book by Brittanee Nicole, and I am officially delighted to discover she has a giant backlist because apparently I have some serious binge reading to do while I wait for the next Hope Harbor book.

I already loved the first book, but I liked this one even more. It charmed the absolute hell out of me. The setting, the fall atmosphere, the bookstore, the friendships, the banter, the chemistry, the spice, the swoon… it all worked. If this is what my fall reading season looks like, I am VERY ready.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:

* immaculate autumn vibes and cozy small towns
* bookish heroines who own bookstores and live for fall reading
* spicy friends to lovers fake dating with serious chemistry
* meddling small town residents and unhinged group chats

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could live in Hope Harbor, I would be there in a heartbeat! This is the perfect book for those cozy fall vibes and about to be my entire personality because I am a fall girlie! And then add in the fact that Monty has tattoos and wears glasses…cue the swooning!! I absolutely loved Penny & Monty! Their friendship is so easy going and it’s clear how comfortable they are around each other. But when they decide to fake date, I was done for! Will forever be a favorite trope of mine and I was obsessed with seeing their story play out!

This audiobook is performed in duet by Megan Wicks & James Cassidy and let me just say, it is PERFECTION! If you’re debating on whether or not you should listen to this one, do yourself a favor and just get the audio!

What to expect:
-author x bookstore owner
-friends to lovers
-fake dating
-small town
-fall vibes
-spicy lessons
-he wears glasses
-it’s always been you
-mutual pining

[Jess (lucky.bookclub) Hilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is basically a cozy little fantasy life wrapped up in a small-town romance, and I was so here for it. Bookstore owner, tight-knit girl gang, best-friends-to-lovers, author boyfriend who is low-key obsessed with you? Yeah, this book knew exactly what it was doing and I happily went along for the ride. 📚✨

Penny is one of those characters who just loves people, and it shows in everything she does. Her friendships were such a highlight for me, and I loved how much care and support existed in every corner of this story. And Monty… the way he shows up for her, encourages her, and slowly finds his way back not just to her but to the town and a life that actually fits him? So good. Their history made everything feel grounded, but the way they chose each other now is what really made it land.

There were a couple little quirks that didn’t totally work for me, but honestly, the vibes won. This was sweet, swoony, cozy, and full of that “I wish this was my life for a minute” energy. Four stars and a half stars. 💛

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

[Lauren Votrain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book by Brittanee that didn’t have me kicking my feet or genuinely laughing out loud! The things she can do with a group chat 🤣

But also the story of these two, was just beautiful. I love when authors take the best of friends and turn into an epic story, because that’s how relationships should be. That person should be your very best friend.

Their chemistry was on point, the way they loved each other’s families just because they were friends before. - Brittanee always writes an incredible girl group lol i’m hoping we get another two books and I’m hoping I know who they will be lol but I can’t wait to see where else they takes us 💕

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the fall vibes 🍁

I love this little town miss Brittanee Nicole has created. Hope Harbor is chalked full of great characters.

Penny & Monty
The friends to lovers trope…
But make it a fake dating situation
Return home.
She’s a romance bookstore owner and he’s a writer
Cue all the book talk, tropes, yearning, lessons

There’s witty banter.
There’s a town group chat.
There’s all the fall activities.
There’s emotional depth.

There’s this scene using….
And one where he…..
🔥🔥🔥

It’s always been you vibes.

Netgalley arc review ✨

[Chelsea Mansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore eARC Review 🍂🤎

BRB I’m packing my bags and moving to Hope Harbor.

I honestly don’t think I could have loved this book more than I did. This book had me laughing, kicking my feet, swooning, literally ALL THE THINGS.

Monty & Penny are a new favorite couple. Friends to lovers and fake dating perfection. The friends to lovers trope has to be done in a certain way for me to love it and let me tell you, the way she wrote this one… I’m obsessed.

The cozy fall vibes, found family and the hilarious town meetings just added to the amazingness that is Hope Harbor.

This is the perfect fall romance, but don’t let the cover and the vibes fool you- Monty and his slutty glasses knows just what Penny needs. 😮‍💨

What to expect:
Fake dating
Spicy lessons
Small town
Cozy vibes
Hilarious town meetings
Romance bookstore owner x struggling author

Thank you so much Brittanee & Putnam for the arc!

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monty + Penny

-small town romance
-friends to lovers
-fake dating
-struggling author x romance bookstore owner
-let’s make a deal
-fall vibes

oh this was an absolutely PERFECT friends to lovers romance!! the tension could literally be CUT WITH A KNIFE!! chefs kiss!! 🤌😘

[Mama Needs to Read Romance]

Too rich for my blood.

While cozy and fall feels abound, so does the F* word, and at 158 uses, it feels a bit much for me. The spice is too spicy for me too. 🤷🏻

Content Warnings: breath play (?) -- he's grabbing her around the throat during sex, degradation kink

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the gifted audiobook, PRHaudio! This story was narrated in duet by James Cassidy and Megan Wicks and it was absolutely a delightful listen!

“You are more than worthy of me, Jake Montgomery.”
“No, Xuxuzinho, I’m not,” he whispers reverently into my ear as he strokes my back. “But that’s okay. It just means I’ll have to practice some more.”

Dear Brittanée,

GURLLLLL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID WITH THAT MASK SCENE. James Cassidy’s voice through the voice modulator? IT GAVE ME CHILLS. That whole scene was so unexpected and SO appreciated! ❤️‍🔥🥵

“Call me your fake boyfriend again, I dare you.”

As someone who absolutely loved the audiobook/story of Darling Daffodils Farm, I have been so ready to devour this second book. This story managed to have all the same level of emotion as book 1 and then went above and beyond on some great chemistry, mutual yearning and SPICE.

“Please, Xuxuzinho, let me feed you.”

Monty is so down bad for this woman, it’s out of this world. I want to find myself a man that ponders the exact shade of my eyes for months! ❤️‍🔥 I loved him so much. He’s a writer that no longer believes in love because of his trauma, but Penny Darling gave him a run for his money! He’s a man that knows how to get his 5,000 words in so he gets his ‘reward’. 🤭

“Because Penny is my past, present, and every second of my future.”

Penny was everything. Her bookstore was wonderful and I loved all of the banter she had with Monty and also the whole town. Brittanée/Megan Wicks did a phenomenal job giving Penny so much character and depth!

“I kiss her like I wanted to all those years ago, like I wanted to at the brewery. I kiss her like a man who needs her lips to breathe and, if I’m honest with myself, tonight I just might. I kiss her like she might be the love of my life even though I’ll never be selfish enough to tell her.”

This town is full of wild characters and I love each and every single one of them! I am so ready for MORE books in this series.

If you are ready to be in full fall romance mode with a delicious dose of pumpkin AND spice, definitely snag this audiobook!

YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE TO HEAR JAMES CASSIDY CALL HER, Xuxuzinho! 🫠❤️‍🔥

Tropes:
🫶🏼 Friends to Lovers
✨ ‘Fake’ Dating
❤️‍🔥 Man Obsessed
📝 Author x Bookstore Owner
🤭 She’s His Muse
💬 Small Meddling Town
🍂 Fall Vibes
📙 He Reads Her Favorite Books
🤤 He Cooks for Her
💋 He Makes Her Spicy Fantasies REAL
🎃 Secret Pet Name

[Racheal Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Being with her now feels like settling in beside the fire, wrapped in my favorite blanket. It’s soft in all the right places and it feels like home"

If you’re a fan of friends to lovers and fake dating then this is THE book for you! I feel in love with the town of Hope Harbor # 1 Darling Daffodils Farm. That is when we meet Penny and get a mention or two of Monty! In book # 2 Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore we see the old high school besties come together to help each other out. And wowza do the sparks fly! I mean…who doesn’t love a sweet & spicy, curvy bookstore owner with freckles and an obsession with Fall AND a hot writer with dark hair, tattoos, and slutty glasses! The yearning, the tension, the unbelievably hot one liners! They had me positively giddy! I promise you will be falling in love just like I did! To top it off we get the quirky side characters who will keep you giggling and the small town charm that will have you wishing you could jump right in and become a part of the family! I highly recommend this book along with anything else Brittanée Nicole writes!

Super special thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this charming, romantic, and spicy book! I can’t wait for book #3

[Momo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Hope Harbour. This is quickly becoming my favourite small town series 🙊 I had the honour of reading the book before release and I am obsessed.

This gave absolute autumn Gilmore girls vibes, but imagine Rory got with Jess and she runs her own bookshop in town. I just love reading about other book lovers and this book made me feel cosy so 😭 this is a perfect autumn read!

Brittanee done friends to lovers so well here. As it’s often a trope I don’t enjoy as much, here it was so well done. An author with slutty glasses and tattoos is not a mc I realised I needed in my life till now. Penny and Jake were just so cute together, they made my heart squeeze. And the spice, oh boy, I loved her list of things she wants to do and him fulfilling it 😏

Do yourself a favour and start the first book now so you can enjoy this in autumn. If you love Elsie silver and those type of small town books this is for you.

[ells · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this! I was obsessed with Monty and Penny from the start and I loved how it was obvious from the start that they’d always had a thing for each other. The spice in this was spicyyyy but I’ll never complain about that. I loved Monty and how respectful he always was towards Penny but I just loved how sweet he was. I love Penny but I was screaming at her in my head at times. There were so many funny moments and I just loved this book! The perfect autumn read!

*thank you NetGalley & Random House UK, Cornerstore for providing me with an arc*

[Katie Gullo · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

Yum yum yum yum yum. I’ll take one in every color, please!

Penny and Monty are SO SWEET. and Monty’s parents need like a novella or something bc I bet his dad is FREAKY.

Brittanée never does me wrong, and I can’t wait for the next book!

[Peyton Kinavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨First, thank you to the author and Goodreads for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book! ✨

I absolutely loved this one. Monty and Penny’s relationship felt genuine, and their chemistry developed naturally throughout the story. They were both likable characters with lots of personality!

One of my favorite parts was getting to spend more time with the Liberty Ladies and the town group chat — it added so much charm and personality to the story! I was also so happy to see Tally and Walker make multiple appearances. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll love the second book!

This was a cozy read that perfectly captured a small-town autumn atmosphere. Plus, it had a good balance between romance and humor!

I actually enjoyed this even more than Hope Harbor #1, and it has me excited to continue reading more by the author! 😀

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of friends to lovers but this was the perfect mix of yearning and chemistry! This had the perfect fall vibes and it made me wish I lived in Hope Harbor.
Penny and Monty are childhood best friends that have slowly drifted apart. They’ve each been pining for the either but they don’t want to ruin the friendship they’ve built. Monty has moved back home to Hope Harbor after his most recent book did not perform well. Penny is tired of being someone that everyone looks at and pities after ending a long term relationship. They strike up a plan to fake date to help each other out. Penny will show Monty what it means to be a book boyfriend and Monty will keep the town off Penny’s back. It’s a full proof plan until lines are quickly blurred.
I absolutely loved Penny and Monty. Since they’ve been friends forever, the banter was hilarious! The town is quirky and all the side characters had me laughing so hard. Not to mention, once Penny and Monty gave into their feelings, the chemistry was off the charts hot!!! I can’t wait to see what’s next for this cute little town!

Thank you Brittanee and Putnam for the arc!

Read if you love:
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨fake dating
✨small town
✨cozy, fall vibes
✨spicy lessons

[Megan Tolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!
5⭐️3.5🌶️
Brittanèe sure turned up the heat in this sequel to 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑠 𝐹𝑎𝑟𝑚! Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes (if done right, like Penny mentioned) and our MCs relationship sure delivered! Add in fake dating (my absolute favorite trope) and you've got yourself this banger of a book two! Wish we could've seen Penny’s list though🤭

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on August 11th called, Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore. This is about Penny, she hasn't had the best luck when it comes to romance so she decides maybe it's best if she sticks to the romance in her books at her bookstore instead of finding real romance. Her best friend Monty has been gone the last 10 years but decides to move back home after his latest book release was a flop, hoping for some inspiration. These two best friends pick right up as if no time has passed, yet they both notice how much the other has changed over the years and both find themselves attracted to each other. And then Monty finds out the meddling but well-intentioned townspeople have been trying to find Penny someone to date despite her refusals. So Monty tells Penny that they should fake date to get everyone to leave her alone and in exchange she can help him as he tries to write a romance book. They want to help each other out so they decide to do it, not knowing what they're about to get themselves into. Because you can't fake date your best friend that you've been secretly crushing on since high school, without real feelings getting involved.
I couldn't put this book down! This is such a sweet, cozy, fall read that's perfect for a book lover because she's a bookstore owner and he's an author. I loved everything about this wonderful best friends to lovers, fake dating, second chance, small town romance! My gosh, these two were such fantastic characters! I loved Penny and Monty so much, I read this in one evening because I truly couldn't put this down, and I absolutely didn't want it to end! I can't say enough good things about this book and this series, I love them so much and I need more stories in Hope Harbor right now!!!
(And for my book review pic I wanted to recreate the scene of Penny and Monty having a picnic in the apple orchard after apple picking together.)
🧡📚

Thank you to Brittanée Nicole, Putnam, and Netgalley for this ARC of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore, in exchange for an honest review.

[Courtney|the.bookcourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and Britannee Nicole for the e-arc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own!

Penny Darling has given up on love, after all her book boyfriends are way better than the real thing anyways. But when her childhood best friend Monty comes back into town and offers a deal: fake dating to help with his book while keeping the town gossips off her back, Penny is eager to accept. But soon these pretend kisses start to feel a whole lot more real than either were expecting. Is it love or another heartbreak for two?

First off, I have not read a book that had me so beyond flabbergasted at how much I related to a main character in a hot minute but woweeee this one hit close! Obsessed with reading, fall, and all things pumpkin? Check. Long term relationship ended mainly due to a-hole behaviour of not appreciating the others interests and general personality? Haha no comment.
Obsessed with Penny but even more obsessed with Monty because holy that man was down bad from the start. I mean the poster??? The tattoos??? THE NICKNAME!?! Yall I love me some fake dating and tension buildup but these two were BLIND! Like cmon it was so obvious they were smitten with each other.
Either way, this was such a sweet story. Loved how Monty was able to realize that love isn’t this terrible thing and how he was able to write his story within seconds of being back in the same town as Penny. Talk about a muse!
And all the small town love and connection where everybody knows everybody, ugh that found family is top tier always.
Just a solid read all around, perfect for fall, and perfect for us waiting for that perfect book boyfriend. Ours is out there somewhere…I hope!

[Minty Margins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.25 for me!

Thank you so much to Brittanée Nicole and Putnam Books for the eARC via NetGalley! First time reading a book by Brittanée and I had a great time! I’m a huge fan of small town romances, bookish FMCs, bookish MMCs, fake dating and a number of tropes we see in this book!

Our MMC Monty is an author, who has lost hope in love existing after watching his parents drift apart. He’s also in the middle of a massive writer’s block and really needs to produce something worthwhile for his publisher. He reconnects with our FMC, Penny as he moves back home to regroup. This is where the shenanigans begin 😃.

Meddlesome townspeople keep trying to set Penny up and she’s really tired of it. Monty moving back home is actually perfect timing though because they not only rekindle their friendship, they also use this to enter a little fake dating scenario. Keeps the townspeople away and then Monty can learn about writing better chemistry in his books! The thing is, Monty & Penny already have some great chemistry together so the line between faking dating and real dating gets blurry pretty fast 😆.

I am a huge fan of a he falls first situation and a man who not only has tattoos, but those sl🫦tty little glasses —not to mention the mouth on him. I also just loved Penny as a character! I feel like I could live in her bookstore. I really enjoyed how flustered she got whenever she and Monty were acting out their little list looool. The list was hot.

I can’t wait to read the other books in this series either because I quite like the hints and foreshadowing sprinkled throughout!

[cakecoffeeandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so looking forward to this book since reading Darling Daffodils farm and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
You could easily read this as a stand alone- there’s a quick recap/ reminder of what happened in the previous book to get you up to speed though I’d definitely recommend them both!

Book lover Penny owns Bonfire and Bliss books (and the story behind its name is beautiful) which mixes her 2 favourite things- romance books and fall. The fall vibes throughout this story are really strong which I enjoyed as it’s set during that time of year too. When her best friend author Monty returns to Hope Harbor they strike a deal- a fake relationship to get the well meaning but meddling town residents off Penny’s back, and in return she will help him write the perfect book boyfriend for his next book. It’s clear from the start there have always been real feelings between them and there’s nothing fake about the arrangement.
I loved the chemistry between Penny and Monty, and the little bits of their history we got felt like a nice balance- it was very much set in the present so we could see their relationship develop. The town itself is a great character as are the other residents and I really hope we get some more books in this series as there are a few other potential couples I already have my eye on!

Huge thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC- definitely one to add to your fall TBR!

[Dawn Cornelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

The teasing of Monty & Penny in the first book has me excited for this one, but it fell short for me.

Penny owns a bookstore in Hope Harbor while Monty is an author in NYC. He left town at 18 and hasn’t looked back because his parents got divorced. He returns home because of writers block after his last book flops.

Penny & Monty were friends since childhood who both had crushes on each other which I love this trope. However these two felt forced with the fake dating aspect thrown in after she rambles about her love life which isn’t really a reason to suggest fake dating.

Anytime Monty said something positive about Penny she would act shocked someone could like a curvy girl. It got repetitive and overused.

His nickname for her was super sweet and loved the story behind it. They definitely had the sweet moments that hit the mark.

The physical chemistry felt rushed and forced at times. She all the sudden wanted to try all these new things when she was weirded out by him kissing her in public for “fake dating” a chapter earlier.

My biggest issue was Monty acting like a child at 28 with his parents divorce. He’s loved Penny since high school but hasn’t once asked with parent why they really divorced and just ghost Penny for 10 years because of it.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 & 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖🎧: Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore (Hope Harbor, Book 2)
🎙️: James Cassidy, Megan Wicks

When Monty returns to Hope Harbor in search of inspiration, can Penny help him write the perfect book boyfriend while he helps her discover what she wants in a real life boyfriend?

Tropes:
🎙️Dual POV/duet narration
📚Romance book store owner
✍🏻Author who gave up on the idea of love
🏘️Small town romance
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨Friends to lovers
🤝Fake dating & spicy lessons
🍂Fall vibes
🌶️Open door

Penny is passionate about books but lacks confidence in herself, especially after her engagement ended. Monty is the ultimate catnip with his sl*tty glasses, tattoos, and smart mouth. But he doesn’t believe in love anymore and Penny needs to learn how to love herself. Between spicy lessons and perceived unrequited feelings, can these fake dating friends rewrite their own love story?

The narrators deliver layered and intimate portrayals of this bookish heroine and jaded author as they rekindle their friendship and navigate the sparks between them. I felt the ache of their longing and undeniable passion. These two had me grinning, laughing, and melting from the electrifying tension. I loved it when he calls her “Xuxuzinho” and hearing it spoken added another level of swoon!

This installment delivers a dazzling small town friends to lovers romance. From sharing stories over bonfires to chasing their dreams, their friendship was filled with so many heartwarming memories. The way the author balances the emotional facets, romance, and small town hilarity is nothing short of masterful.

You also won’t want to miss the unhinged town chat, spicy book club, and the best cozy autumn vibes of Hope Harbor in Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore!

So thankful to @PRHAudio for the #free audio listening copy and to Putnam Books, and NetGalley for the review copies! This is my honest and voluntary review.