The Wrong Date on Easter: Friend's Brother Overheard and Grovel Romance

by Audrey Halliwell

Shane Archer is everything I shouldn't want. He is wealthy, ruthless, and entirely too protective. He is also my best friend's older brother. Oh, and he brought his girlfriend to dinner.

For years, I survived the Archer family holidays by keeping my feelings completely hidden. But this Easter is different. Shane's status-obsessed, high-society girlfriend decides my teaching salary and paint-stained hands make me the perfect target.

I expected to quietly endure the insults. I didn't expect Shane to finally snap. That is, until I hear something that breaks my heart.



Best Friend’s Older Brother

Grumpy x Sunshine with Angst

Overheard Trope

Possessive / Protective Hero

Touch Her and I’ll Kill You Vibes

Holiday Romance

The Grand Grovel

Other Woman Drama

....all in a compact OTT Short.

Genres: Novella, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Second Chance Romance

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Audrey Halliwell writes messy, twisty, can’t-look-away romance.

The kind where the other woman has secrets, the ex-fiancé still lingers, and the plot twists slap you like a betrayal at brunch. If you’ve ever screamed at your Kindle, rewritten endings in your head, or fallen in love with a character who absolutely should’ve known better, you’re in the right place.

Audrey blames her obsession with dramatic romance on her mother—she was watching soap operas in elementary school and devouring V.C. Andrews and Gossip Girl by middle school. Armed with a college degree and an unapologetic love for emotional chaos, Audrey writes stories where women stumble through heartbreak, betrayal, and obsession before reclaiming their power.

Her heroines might be messy, but they always find their glow-up.

When she’s not plotting angsty love triangles or crafting emotionally ruined men with great hair, you’ll find her designing something on Canva or rereading her favorite tropes like it’s self-care.

Reviews

[LaBlue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a boring pointless plot. The MMC feels he’s too intense and controlling for the FMC so he dates anyone else just to stay away from her, while NOT actually staying away from her.

So stupid.

Then we find out that while he spent an entire year with the obnoxious OW he never slept with her. What!?! First of all, why would the OW stay with anyone who isn’t touching her? What excuse did he give to get out of being intimate with her? This author’s stories are so short they give next to no actual information on how this could work for the OW or even for the stupid MMC. He either had to tell her he is saving himself for marriage or for religious reasons OR he outright told her he wasn’t interested in that with her for it to be off the table, which then leads back to why would anyone invest a year of their life in a dead end relationship or get emotionally attached to a future with someone who doesn’t want you??

As for the FMC being called a broke teacher over and over for the purpose of driving an angst impression in this story, it was so contrived and phony feeling that I absolutely felt nothing but annoyance for this entire immature situation.

This story is just plain dumb. I wish I hadn’t wasted my money and time on it. The story ends at the 75% mark. Then a preview is given of her next book for the last 25%. I wish I hadn’t read it because now I can’t wait for that book, and considering that every book I’ve read by this author so far, has been disappointing I’m annoyed I got hooked on it. Grrr. I hope the next book is actually entertaining especially as the blurb is about an altar confrontation. I love those extreme situation moments. It’s about the OTT drama for me.

Either way I will never read this book again. Good luck.

[Jill Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the series is much better. If this book were a color, it would be beige. It was fine. Just ok.

[Raven Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Premise

It was a good premise, but I thought it was executed poorly. Even for a short it felt like main points/reasoning were a bit weak. She left because she overheard one thing (that was clearly out of character for him based on the rest of their interactions), and she broke down and fled. The OTT was their but I wanted for it to feel warranted and get swept away in it.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waaaay to silly and over the top for me. YMMV.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, short read!

too short to invest in any of the characters

[Jess]

This is a case of: I keep getting hooked by snippets so I read the book.


I’ve tried reading a few books by this author. I like the writing style and the dual point of view. I also like that they are short novellas. But that’s also one of the reasons why I struggle with them. It’s because they seem to be missing a lot of additional context that would otherwise provide angst to a book.

This whole story takes place over about 2 hours on Easter.

In this story, we’ve got Dove and Shane. Dove is 24 and has been in love with Shane for several years. Shane is constantly dating other women and he is 30. All this time he is apparently in love with Dove, but has rejected her advances. He thinks he’s too dark for Dove. Now again, there wasn’t any good example or context given that would lead me to believe that he is dark. Note. Bar fight does not count as being dark.

To be honest, both characters came off as a very immature. I’m not sure why the book is described as having grovel, there’s no grovel. Unless you count Shane jumping on doves car and then sinking to your knees immediately after she opens the car door. Then Dove instantly getting with him.
Shane was also very obviously into Dove and while the girlfriend was unlikable, I found his behavior to be inappropriate. Though he did not sleep with his current girlfriend, even though they’ve been dating a year, I imagine he did sleep with all the previous women he was constantly dating.

One year later on Sunday he proposed. HEA

[Shannon Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 3.5

Main trope: This is a best friend’s brother story.

Additional tropes:
✅Other woman drama (see spoilers below)
✅Overheard

Detailed spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below. There is a warning right before the spoiler and trigger section so you have the choice to proceed or stop reading.

Summary: Shane and Dove have known each other for what feels like forever since Dove is Shane’s sister’s best friend. His name is admired in society and she’s an art teacher. Despite their class difference, his family has always treated her like their own, hoping Shane and Dove would end up together.

Shane doesn’t believe he’s good enough for Dove so he has fought his feelings and dated other people, which brings us to this wonderful Easter dinner with the family and his girlfriend Emily, and of course Dove. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and Emily takes advantage of every opportunity to make a snide comment or jab at Dove, which she handles with grace.

Stepping away for a second, Dove stumbles upon Shane and Emily talking and overhears Shane make a rude comment about her and deny any feelings he has, lying to himself and Emily. Dove confronts him on the spot then leaves, and he knows in that moment he’s done hiding his feelings for her. He ends things with Emily before running to try and find Dove so he can finally be honest and admit his love.

⚠️SPOILERS/SPICE/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️

✋
✋
✋

*Even though this is very short, it provides a decent amount of drama and angst courtesy of Emily, who is a real gem. Now technically Emily wasn’t the other woman, but since their relationship was a sham, admitted by the MMC to the FMC, it’s giving that vibe. Anyway, she wasted no time starting in on Dove and didn’t let up once everyone was sitting at the table and even got in one last jab at the end, so yeah, she was something else.

Final thoughts: This was a quick and angsty read with a nice amount of drama considering how short it is. This author uses lots of descriptives so just a heads up. I’ve gotten used to it but it does make things feel dragged out at times. Despite this, I definitely recommend this if the description above is something you might like.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not even the full 80 pages…

This short story ended at approximately 65% and the rest was an excerpt from another of her books.

The story was sort of interesting but it wasn’t anything special. The MMC is just a wimpy coward who won’t face the fact that he loves the FMC. So he has a sort of fake girlfriend who is an awful human being.

It all works out but as I said, there’s nothing special about the story.
KU read and part of the OTT Shorts series.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I really loved this OOT read. Shane is in love with Dove, his sisters best friend. He is doing everyything in his power to stay away from her including dating someone else.
This is a quick read with plenty of drama.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars I'm too much of a cynic for this story. The h is best friend's with the H's younger sister. She has loved him for years but he has kept her at arm's length, rebuffing her New Years kiss and always being in a relationship. His current girlfriend of one year, is possessive and mean making cutting comments to and about the school teacher h. The dinner scene felt confusing. At one point the h is moving a piece of asparagus around her plate but then goes to help her friend finish preparing food for dinner. The entire story is one Easter dinner scene. There is an overheard scene that results in a confrontation. Hard to imagine that an H with character would be in a relationship with such a shallow person for one year. He calls himself dark but there doesn't seem to be a reason for his view. Choose this book based on what works for you.

[Christelle Ruiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bother’s best friends who is afraid of his feelings for her so he humiliates her with his current GF.
There wasn’t much to it. Such a short story, but disappointing with its content.

[Carole Copeland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sure

Short, felt like there was supposed to be a story behind the story. He has a darkness inside him but the author has him come with a great family, a nice job. There's no hidden... anything, to suggest why he'd be dark. A characteristic that didn't fit. What she overheard wasn't earth shattering, it would seem she would have kinda already figured that out long before since he wasn't interested. Or seemingly not interested. Just a short story. Could have been better, could have been worse.

[SI · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 54 %

Insufferable characters all around.

I know we’re all supposed to hate the OW cos she’s superficial and mean but I’d be a biatch too if my boyfriend was obviously fawning and defending another girl in front of me. Serving her food etc before me?? Hell nooooo.

And tbf the “overheard” drama was mid too. I would say she’s nothing to my girlfriend if she’s pissed about some other chick too.

Mid

[VoraciousReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, this book didn’t make much sense. The H, Shane, felt super guilty because he had been using his girlfriend, Emily, for a YEAR to keep the h, Dove, at a distance. So, he made a huge public scene, in front of his entire family, “unable to mask the revulsion anymore”, telling Emily to “get out” of his parents’ house and out of his life. 🙄

[Mollypop · Rating 1 out of 5]

yikes.

Over the top silly nonsense.
Like something I would have read on Wattpad when I was 12.

*spoilers, because I absolutely love reviewers who do this for me. Stop reading now if you hate it*

H is obsessed with the h, in a very OTT, creepy way that’s super obvious to everyone. However, he keeps pushing her away because he thinks he’s too dark for her. Which is true in that he super violently beat up a man who spoke to her in a bar, and also is pretty much her stalker. But it’s cool because she ✨likes✨ it.
She’s having Easter lunch with his family, instead of her own for reasons that arent explained except that she seems to do everything with his sister. And he brings along his girlfriend. The woman he’s been stringing along for over a year to cover up the fact that he not so secretly pines for someone else. She is, of course, awful. Zeros in on the h and immediately begins putting her down. Because she’s a teacher and that’s gross. H shuts it down.
They all play a silly game involving marshmallow peeps. I didn’t get it but I’m not playing so it’s fine. He never plays games but he does it for her, much to his girlfriend’s annoyance, and then lets her win.
They all gather at the table, even though dinners not ready, and Evil Girlfriend is mean again. More obvious flirting happens. H is a dick to evil girlfriend. Evil girlfriend doesn’t back down. h leaves room with bestie to check on dinner, which she is apparently cooking even though she doesn’t live there and showed up late with no food and I assumed some sort of staff was involved but I digress.
She has to pee so instead of going to the bathroom she goes to the parlor to get her bag and she overhears Evil Girlfriend talking shit again, and H shutting it down by telling her she has nothing to worry about because h is a “child” (she’s 24), she “means nothing to him” (the kind of thing you reasonably say to a jealous gf, no?) and that he’s not interested in h, as he is dating Evil. All in all pretty tame, but alas. h is in tears at this ultimate betrayal. How dare he tell his girlfriend of a year that he’s not obsessively in love with another woman! She enters the room to inform him that she is not a child and that he is cruel and disrespectful, etc. and then -like the super mature, grown ass adult that she is- she flees the house in tears. Without going to the bathroom. So her bestie sees her fleeing the scene and comes after her, critiques her brothers actions, offers to ditch the dinner she’s making to go get some greasy burgers but h says no, stay with your family, I want to wallow alone. Bestie goes back in the house accidentally slamming the door into H’s nose, and seeing as it took him this long to come after her, I approve of the bloody justice. She won’t let him go after h. He breaks up with Evil in front of his entire family. #awkward. Cut to h, who is sitting at the end of the driveway in her car that has broken down. Evil drives by and makes sure to take a few parting shots. Cue some childish, I mean super mature grown adult, angst. Her car starts and she has to go back up the driveway to turn around for some reason and this is when H comes running out in the pouring rain, by the way it’s pouring rain, and bangs on her window begging her to let him explain. She refuses. Temporarily. He tells her he’s loved her all along and he’s never ever slept with his girlfriend of a year, and he was just scared he was too old (six year age gap) and too dark (possessive) for her. And she’s like youre not dark, you’re just ✨lonely✨. 🤔.
Then there’s an epilogue a year later.


The good news is it was only 80 pages and I read it so you don’t have to.

[BiblioDarling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wrong Date on Easter
Friend's Brother Overheard and Grovel Romance
OTT Shorts
Audrey Halliwell

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Tropes:
💕MF Romance
💕Millionaire Heir
💕Sister's Best Friend
💕Best Friend's Brother
💕Childhood Crush
💕Second Chance
💕Grovel to HEA
💕Overheard
💕Novella
💕OW Drama
**********************************************************************
Spice: 🔥🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
Quote:
"Protecting her from what? From being happy? Dude, that's savage."

Summary:
FMC is MMCs sister's best friend. They had a moment years ago. However, the MMC feels as if he is protecting the FMC by staying away from her. Everything changes on Easter. The MMC shows up with his girlfriend. The FMC overhears the MMC speaking negatively about her to the OW.
Eventual HEA

Review:
Quick and full of life. That is how I would describe this short story. We are taken on a quick journey of betrayal, grovel and HEA. You feel the humiliation. You feel the love that is being denied. You even fell the envy/jealousy of the OW. This is a great read for a lunch break.

Grovel to HEA Romance Authors Recommendations:
Groveltohea (Wattpad Author)
Maya Alden
Natasha Anders
Cate C Wells
Christine Michelle

I RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS AN ARC HOWEVER MY REVIEW IS BASED ON MY OPINION OF THE BOOK ITSELF AND NOT INFLUENCED BY THE AUTHOR, ETC.

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[Amanda B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a fun story to read for two reasons. The first is that Shane’s reasons for staying away from Dove seem so manufactured that it really doesn’t lend much tension to the story. He is going to such huge lengths push her away, but all of his resistance crumbles the second he realizes that he hurt her feelings and his family thinks he’s a dick. Those two parts don’t go together. The second and biggest reason, though, is that this story is absolutely awful when you see it from Emily’s perspective. Shane starts dating her as part of what he himself calls a “sham”, just to keep distance from Dove. In other words, he completely deceives her about their relationship with zero respect for her feelings or her time. Then he brings her to Easter dinner knowing that the woman he really loves will be there (in fact, I get the impression that he brings her to Easter dinner BECAUSE the woman he really loves will be there). She has to endure all of his soulful looks and him basically acting like he is in love with another woman right in front of her, because he is in fact in love with another woman. Granted, her reaction is not great, but this has to have been a nasty shock for her, particularly when she realizes that Shane’s entire family is shipping him hard with Dove and she is “the other woman” from the first second. Then, when she confronts him about it, he lies to her face by telling her, despite all evidence to the contrary, that he has no feelings for Dove. There is a moment in there where Shane seems to have the tiniest iota of conscience by realizing that this situation isn’t fair to Emily and she’s probably acting like a bitch in reaction to the situation he has created for her, but then he undoes any good from that moment by DUMPING HER IN FRONT OF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AND LITERALLY KICKING HER OUT OF HIS HOUSE. Emily isn’t the villain of this story, Shane is. Seriously, he couldn’t have pulled her over discretely to break things off and apologize for being an absolute piece of shit to her? Both Emily and Dove deserve better than this shit stain.

[Mariana Ponce · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Este libro cuenta la historia de Dove y Shane, está narrado por los dos. Dove es la mejor amiga de Cordia, hermana de Shane, por lo que se conocen desde hace mucho tiempo, el mismo que ella ha estado enamorada de él.
En la fiesta de Cordia, Dove hace el intento de besarlo y él la aparta, 2 meses después, empieza a salir con Emily.
Aquí es donde empieza el libro, Dove llegó a casa de Cordia para una reunión y Emily, la novia superficial de Shane, la insulta continuamente de manera disimulada. Al principio Shane la defiende y sus amigas le dicen que siente algo por ella, pero después de su rechazo, Dove sabe que él no la quiere como mujer, les dice que es como otra hermanita para él.
Sale de la sala con ella y cuando regresa escucha como Shane dice que solo es la amiga de sus hermanas y básicamente que no le importa, lo que Dove escucha, le rompe el corazón, los confronta y aunque ve dolor en los ojos de Shane, se va. Shane dice que siempre la quiso pero la apartó porque sentía que no la merecía, que él no era suficiente para ella, así que ahora que sabe que la lastimó, termina a Emily y corre tras Dove. Le dice que Emily era su escudo, que nunca se acostó con ella y que la ama(A Dove) ella le dice que también, se besan.
En el epílogo, un año después el le pide matrimonio y fin.
Una historia muy cortita, por lo mismo Shane no se arrastró nada y eso me dió coraje. Por un momento pensé que ella se haría del rogar pero no, lo aceptó de inmediato, lo que me molestó porque ella duró años viendolo con otras mujeres antes de hacer un movimiento y después de que lo hace, la rechaza y se hace novio de otra, en serio? Todo para que diga que la estaba protegiendo jajajajaja. Sorry, Shane no la merecía y Dove es la reina de las migajeras, me recordó a Tita de la Garza jajajajaja.

[Carole Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing palate cleanser of a seemingly insta-love novella and one I enjoyed. There are themes of OW drama and it abounded with emotional angst, but it ended in a peaceful and harmonious way. This is the fourth book in the author’s OTT Shorts and while there is a lack of spice in the story, this doesn’t detract from the ensuing feel-good warmth as the tale reaches its conclusion.

Dove has been in love with her best friend’s older brother for years now and has tried to show her interest, but has been shutdown by him. Whilst attending a family Easter dinner with her best friend she is constantly badgered by the negative comments and snipes made by his current girlfriend and then accidentally overhears Shane speaking very dismissively about her. In a burst of pride, she confronts Shane and leaves.

Shane has been crazy about Dove for a while now but feels he is too dark and too old to give her the lightness she deserves in her life. So he blows hot and cold with his attitude towards her, though he champions her throughout the meal and to his girlfriend. But when his own dismissive thoughts are overheard, he quickly realises that he has shot himself in the foot and that he couldn’t live without Dove in his life.
This story powers through their confrontation and brings it home with redemption for them both.

From soulful and teary moments and hurtful drama to loving values, I have thoroughly enjoyed the hours of respite this reading has gifted me.
I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the arc and provide my voluntary review.

[Lynn_G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dove is a teacher who’s been besotted for ages with her best friend’s wealthy and intimidating older brother. Despite having ruthlessly defended her honor in the past, he’s never shown interest in her as anything other than his younger sister’s friend. However when she shows up for Easter dinner at the family home, she finds him to be attentive, solicitous, and kind, despite his current girlfriend’s penchant for lobbing insults at Dove for her profession and socioeconomic status. When Dove overhears a private conversation between her crush and his date, she confronts him, then storms off only to find her beater of a car won’t start.

Shane has always wanted Dove, but initially she was far too young, then his objection was that she was far too good a person for a volatile person such as himself. Pushed too far by his cruel date, he says things he doesn’t mean and Dove is deeply hurt. It will take some serious groveling to make things right between them.

This was short (less than 80 pages), and the MCs barely share a kiss, so if you’re hoping for spice, it’s not here. The MMC’s date/girlfriend is a cartoonish sort, shrewish, insecure, and over the top awful, which is a very tired trope. It certainly colored my impression of the story, and as such I rate it about 3.25 stars rounded way up to 4.

I received an advance reader copy from booksirens, and I’m sharing my honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wrong Date on Easter is a super quick read that delivers a satisfying romance in a novella format.

SPOILERS:

Dove is best friends with Cordia Archer and close with the Archer family. She is also secretly in love with Cordia's older brother, Shane. At the same time Shane has been secretly fighting his attraction to Dove, believing that she is too good for his darkness, and instead tries to keep her at arms length by doing things like dating other women instead of confronting the situation.

Everything comes to a head during Easter dinner with the Archer family when Shane's latest girlfriend, Emily, is truly awful to Dove. The Archer family is wealthy and Dove is more working class with a career as a teacher. Emily takes every opportunity to get a dig in at Dove. And does Shane let her get away with it? Not at all. He actually does really well at defending Dove, even though it goes against his current girlfriend, until one moment where he is alone with Emily and Dove overhears him say something that hurts her immensely.

How will Shane manage to grovel and save the situation with Dove? Read and find out!

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Best Friend's Brother, Secret Crush, Overheard, OWD

I received this book as an ARC but I have read all of Audrey Halliwell's OTT Shorts and enjoyed them. I would have borrowed this from KU if I did not receive the ARC.

[Nikki ღ Navareus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is a sweet little romance. A little boring but sweet none the less. The overheard part was pretty much the Hero telling his girlfriend about his sister's BFF who was crushing on him,

"She's a child and she doesn't mean anything to me."

That's it. That's the entire overheard bad thing. It was a lie, of course, and it was resolved instantaneously. The Hero immediately dumps his shallow girlfriend, and chases after the sister's BFF when she runs off in tears. She instantly forgives him and the story was over right after that. So, if you are looking for a heartbreak story with a real devastating "overheard" theme, this story is definitely going to disappoint. The story isn't bad though. It's fine, just don't expect angst or feelings, or anything else exciting to happen. And be prepared for the story to be incredibly short, and the story is completed at the 75% mark of the book, leaving the rest to be a promo for another story.

[Kiley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Wrong Date on Easter, Book 4 of the oTT Shorts series, was about 30-year-old Shane Archer and 24-year-old Dove Mercer, a second-grade teacher.

Shane and Dove had known each other for most of their lives, with Dove being the BFF to his two sisters. They've loved each other for years, with neither of them admitting it openly. When Shane's family hosted an Easter dinner, not only was Dove invited, but so was Shane's girlfriend, Emily, whom he had casually dated for over a year. When Dove overheard a conversation between the couple, it broke her heart, and she left, thinking to never return.

This was a short, but kinda sweet story filled with angst, drama, and a mini emotional rollercoaster that could have been better if it had been longer. The conflict felt almost contrived, and the redemption was too quick.

There was no time for character building or growth, nor was there really any time for the book's plot and storyline to play out to its fullest because it wasn't given the space for it. While both main characters were mature, the book's length didn't give them time to become fully developed. Without room for a backstory other than what could be considered a "fly-by", the whole storyline fell flat on its face.

I gave this story a two-star rating because, in all honesty, it didn't earn anything higher.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute novella with a strong family theme. My favorite part of the book was Shane's family. I loved how supportive they were of Dove, both as a person and as a potential partner for Shane. Dove was sweet and loyal, if a bit desperate for Shane's attention. There were some very enjoyable scenes demonstrating Shane's protectiveness, but some of his behavior toward Dove was inexcusable. And while Shane did grovel, it wasn't as intense as I would've hoped.

I don't expect too much depth from short stories, but I thought this book was still a bit overly shallow. Shane's reasons for staying away from Dove were slightly cliche and nonsensical. Furthermore, though the physical attraction was obvious, I didn't feel much of an emotional connection between Shane and Dove. However, the ending was lovely, and I left the story with a smile.

Overall, I recommend this romance to those who want a short bit of fluff and sweetness without much emotional complexity. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Tiffanys_Reading_Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this right after What August Heard, and honestly the storylines felt very similar.

The MMC is in love with the FMC, but he believes he has too much anger and darkness in him to be good enough for her. Instead of dealing with those feelings, he dates a selfish, horrible woman while secretly loving the FMC the entire time.

The part that hurt the most was when the FMC overhears him telling his girlfriend that she means nothing to him. Even knowing why he said it, it was still heartbreaking because she has no way of knowing what he is really feeling. She hears the words and does the only thing most people would do, she runs.

I like these emotional misunderstanding stories when they are done well, and this one definitely pulled at my emotions. I spent a lot of the book frustrated with the MMC because so much pain could have been avoided if he had just been honest about his feelings.

[For The Love Of Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet story about Shane and Dove (btw. I really like their names🙂).

Our hero Shane is in a year long relationship with Emily, but is in loved, for a long time, with Dove (the h). Whether we like Emily or not, that is an emotional cheating.

There is an light overheard betrayal, but is fast resolved.

I liked both main characters, and liked hero's family very much.

The only thing I didn't understand is why he didn't want to be with Dove, because his reason is that he was protecting her!?! From what he was protecting her, from life with him, or maybe something else? He was not in mafia, he was an CEO of his father company, and his family loves the heroine.

Overal, Shane and Dove's love story was believable, and I recommend this story to all romance book lovers.

I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erica Marselas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loooove authors that can master short stories and Aubrey is one those masters. I ate up the wrong date for Easter on my lunch break and it was just the perfect "bite size" romance. Shane didn't think he was right for Dove and so he gets a gf to i guess more of less push away those feelings he doesn't think he doesnt deserve. Tho, its clear to everyone else. And of course our Hero says something dumb after a fun game of Peep Wars, which I'm going to have to install into my own Easter celebrations now. Thanks dear author for the fun idea. Anyway, I don't want to give anything away, let's just say, its a perfect treat for Easter.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and short read about Shane, Emily, his so-called girlfriend, and Dove the woman he loves but does not feel he can express those feelings for reasons. They are all together at his parents for Easter and he keeps coming to Dove's defense from Emily, who is condescending and rude to Dove. Dove is unsure why Shane is protecting her because he runs hot and cold when he interacts with her. At the end of the evening, exactly who does Shane end up with?!?

This book is for you if you like the following tropes:
Overheard
BF's Older Brother
Possessive / Protective Hero
Touch Her and I’ll Kill You Vibes
Holiday Romance
Other Woman Drama

[k .e.h · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

I absolutely loooove authors that can master short stories and Aubrey is one those masters. I ate up the wrong date for Easter on my lunch break and it was just the perfect "bite size" romance. Shane didn't think he was right for Dove and so he gets a gf to i guess more of less push away those feelings he doesn't think he doesnt deserve. Tho, its clear to everyone else. And of course our Hero says something dumb after a fun game of Peep Wars, which I'm going to have to install into my own Easter celebrations now. Thanks dear author for the fun idea. Anyway, I don't want to give anything away, let's just say, its a perfect treat for Easter.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shane and Dove

Have you ever read a story and the MMC is a DH (the rude version, not the ‘Dear Husband’), and you just want them to go away?
Just me?
Because Shane set off every trigger and alarm for me…
The trope of ‘I want you, but I’ll hook up with everyone but you’ is my most disliked (and that’s understating it) trope. Ever.
His casual cruelty to someone who just wants to love him set me off, and every single little thing reminded me how he is just TDSTL…

No grovel, just angst, a MMC who whines like a B in the rain and an MFC who needs to develop a spine.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.