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Pine Gulch Ever After #2
Buckle Up, Buttercup
Bluebell
I’m famous for my to-do list and at the very top of it is trying not to lust after Hadrian Alkazar—hometown heartthrob, star skyball player, and my older brother Jasper’s best friend. Jasper made it clear many years ago that the hunky gargoyle is completely off limits, and that was fine and dandy when Hadrian didn’t live in Pine Gulch.But now he does, and it’s nearly impossible not to notice that he ticks all the boxes on my perfect boyfriend Kind. Nerdy. Seven feet of stacked muscles with a killer wit and a filthy mouth. So I do what any sensible girl would do - buy a business who hates me and throw myself desperately into figuring out how to make that work. If I keep myself on the edge of burnout, I won’t have time to notice Hadrian pushing his way deeper into my life.
The big gargoyle seems determined to make things difficult by buying me gifts when he’s away, feeding me when I’m too busy to feed myself, and helping on days the store is testing my willpower. I’d be a fool not to fall hard and fast for a male like that.
My shop might collapse around me. My brother might lose his mind. But the closer Hadrian and I get, the more I start to wonder if risking all of that might be worth it. Because the one thing I know for sure is that on my daily to-do list, I want Hadrian to be at the very top.
Buckle Up, Buttercup is book two in the small town cowboy monster romcom series Pine Gulch Ever After. It's a brother's best friend, friends to lovers romance between a type A, list-making heroine and the filthy-talking pierced gargoyle she's known her whole life. Get ready for bucketloads of longing looks and always a happily ever after.
I’m famous for my to-do list and at the very top of it is trying not to lust after Hadrian Alkazar—hometown heartthrob, star skyball player, and my older brother Jasper’s best friend. Jasper made it clear many years ago that the hunky gargoyle is completely off limits, and that was fine and dandy when Hadrian didn’t live in Pine Gulch.But now he does, and it’s nearly impossible not to notice that he ticks all the boxes on my perfect boyfriend Kind. Nerdy. Seven feet of stacked muscles with a killer wit and a filthy mouth. So I do what any sensible girl would do - buy a business who hates me and throw myself desperately into figuring out how to make that work. If I keep myself on the edge of burnout, I won’t have time to notice Hadrian pushing his way deeper into my life.
The big gargoyle seems determined to make things difficult by buying me gifts when he’s away, feeding me when I’m too busy to feed myself, and helping on days the store is testing my willpower. I’d be a fool not to fall hard and fast for a male like that.
My shop might collapse around me. My brother might lose his mind. But the closer Hadrian and I get, the more I start to wonder if risking all of that might be worth it. Because the one thing I know for sure is that on my daily to-do list, I want Hadrian to be at the very top.
Buckle Up, Buttercup is book two in the small town cowboy monster romcom series Pine Gulch Ever After. It's a brother's best friend, friends to lovers romance between a type A, list-making heroine and the filthy-talking pierced gargoyle she's known her whole life. Get ready for bucketloads of longing looks and always a happily ever after.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Hazel Mack
15 books477 followersHazel Mack writes small town cozy but scorching monster romance. High heat but lots of sweet is the name of the game. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Mr. Mack, Baby Mack and a dog named Andy. Hazel Mack is the sticky sweet alter ego of dark(ish) romance author Anna Fury.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 20, 2026
Every time I read a new Hazel Mack book, I feel like it’s just a cozy, funny time!
These are always yummy monster small-town romances with a little bit of a romcom element and I love that everything feels so found family and cohesive.
I think my favorite part are the sentient buildings! That will never get old🤣🥹
Bluebell was an amazing fmc. I related to her a lot with the never-ending to-do list and having to stay occupied or else you felt like you were not doing enough. Picking up the pieces of your family and constantly taking on more challenges was something that a lot of people can easily relate to and I love that about Hazel‘s characters.
And Hadrian. I mean, what’s not to like about him?! he has wings. He has a tail. He’s dominant and possessive. AND he’s also sweet, kind, and caring without fault. OH any as a ripped body because he play sports. Say less. We love to see it 🥵
There were a couple fun surprises in this story and it made it all the better! I definitely enjoyed it and finished it and almost one sitting (totally fell asleep at 2am devouring this)!
Overall
4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Thank you so much to Hazel and team for this advanced copy! I can’t wait for the third book 🩷
These are always yummy monster small-town romances with a little bit of a romcom element and I love that everything feels so found family and cohesive.
I think my favorite part are the sentient buildings! That will never get old🤣🥹
Bluebell was an amazing fmc. I related to her a lot with the never-ending to-do list and having to stay occupied or else you felt like you were not doing enough. Picking up the pieces of your family and constantly taking on more challenges was something that a lot of people can easily relate to and I love that about Hazel‘s characters.
And Hadrian. I mean, what’s not to like about him?! he has wings. He has a tail. He’s dominant and possessive. AND he’s also sweet, kind, and caring without fault. OH any as a ripped body because he play sports. Say less. We love to see it 🥵
There were a couple fun surprises in this story and it made it all the better! I definitely enjoyed it and finished it and almost one sitting (totally fell asleep at 2am devouring this)!
Overall
4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Thank you so much to Hazel and team for this advanced copy! I can’t wait for the third book 🩷
May 28, 2026
3.5⭐️ 3🌶️ i for sure liked this better than book 1! sometimes you just need some gargoyle smut, ya know?
i really enjoyed the friends to lovers, will-they-won't-they, mildly forbidden love tropes in here. but i did NOT love how childish the other Tucker siblings were. I understand that monsters & witches have longer lifespans but come ONNNNN those brothers were still in their 30's and consistently acted like middle to high school aged dipshits... i just could not handle their antics for the majority of the book. I was also irked by Blue's inability to tell them no. I get she's a workaholic and wants to throw her hat in every ring to help get stuff done, but there just comes a point where you gotta put your foot down babe! *i* would've had shoe meet floor a lottttt sooner than she did.
some other random things i wanted to mention were: (A) how weird i found it that Blue not only went skinny dipping with her siblings but also that they tackled her in the water while they were all naked??? idk it was weird to me. and (B) how i really wasn't a fan of the whole "big boy" nickname... idk i just cringed so hard every time it was said lol. i can get behind "mate" because it's literally a monster romance and they have a real tangible mating bond or whatever... but big boy was just ick bahahahahaha
anyways, i was fully aware going into this that it would be a silly goofy monster smut filled time so i'm not judging too harshly. and more importantly, i will in fact be reading the last book when it comes out later this year because i just know i'm going to love Oz's love story!
i really enjoyed the friends to lovers, will-they-won't-they, mildly forbidden love tropes in here. but i did NOT love how childish the other Tucker siblings were. I understand that monsters & witches have longer lifespans but come ONNNNN those brothers were still in their 30's and consistently acted like middle to high school aged dipshits... i just could not handle their antics for the majority of the book. I was also irked by Blue's inability to tell them no. I get she's a workaholic and wants to throw her hat in every ring to help get stuff done, but there just comes a point where you gotta put your foot down babe! *i* would've had shoe meet floor a lottttt sooner than she did.
some other random things i wanted to mention were: (A) how weird i found it that Blue not only went skinny dipping with her siblings but also that they tackled her in the water while they were all naked??? idk it was weird to me. and (B) how i really wasn't a fan of the whole "big boy" nickname... idk i just cringed so hard every time it was said lol. i can get behind "mate" because it's literally a monster romance and they have a real tangible mating bond or whatever... but big boy was just ick bahahahahaha
anyways, i was fully aware going into this that it would be a silly goofy monster smut filled time so i'm not judging too harshly. and more importantly, i will in fact be reading the last book when it comes out later this year because i just know i'm going to love Oz's love story!
May 21, 2026
ARC review
Ok, I chaos read this book. It’s part of a well-established monster romance world but my first book by them and I probably missed a lot of nuance because of my chaotic tendencies… and I LOVED it! Will I now go on to read Hazel Mack’s entire backlist? 100% yes.
* human witch x gargoyle
* monster romance
* small town
* brother’s best friend
* fated mates
* he has a tail and he knows how to use it. Multiple times. Delicious
* also, he’s pierced
I don’t believe in recapping a blurb, so here’s my thoughts. This story had it all - complex lore, history and politics but still so cozy, absolutely perfect spice featuring so many personal favorites it’s like the author opened my brain box for ideas, family drama on BOTH sides of the relationship and deep emotional and community foundations that have me coming back for more. It’s fast paced and delightful. You need to read it now.
Thanks so much to the author for the review copy!
Ok, I chaos read this book. It’s part of a well-established monster romance world but my first book by them and I probably missed a lot of nuance because of my chaotic tendencies… and I LOVED it! Will I now go on to read Hazel Mack’s entire backlist? 100% yes.
* human witch x gargoyle
* monster romance
* small town
* brother’s best friend
* fated mates
* he has a tail and he knows how to use it. Multiple times. Delicious
* also, he’s pierced
I don’t believe in recapping a blurb, so here’s my thoughts. This story had it all - complex lore, history and politics but still so cozy, absolutely perfect spice featuring so many personal favorites it’s like the author opened my brain box for ideas, family drama on BOTH sides of the relationship and deep emotional and community foundations that have me coming back for more. It’s fast paced and delightful. You need to read it now.
Thanks so much to the author for the review copy!
May 25, 2026
The heat: yes
The cute: it's pretty cute
The fact that a man baby who can't stop talking about his sister's tits as a thirty four year old man is what slows down their romance? Fuck no. Who the hell goes skinny dipping in their thirties with their adult brothers ..??
The cute: it's pretty cute
The fact that a man baby who can't stop talking about his sister's tits as a thirty four year old man is what slows down their romance? Fuck no. Who the hell goes skinny dipping in their thirties with their adult brothers ..??
May 25, 2026
This was my first Hazel Mack read, and it won't be my last!
What a fun cozy spicy monster romance! Pine Gulch is the location for this second book in the interconnected standalone series with:
💙 A sassy Magical Town with sentient buildings
💙Wild West cowboy monsters
💙Brothers best friend forbidden vibes
💙All the yearning
💙A tattooed which with a to-do list a mile long
💙A pierced gargoyle with a dirty mouth
We have a gargoyle x witch and all the fun found family that is the Pine Gulch cowboy monster series.
I'll admit to grating my teeth a little with the word "mate" being used way too many times in reference to each other during conversation and sexy talk...but overall this was a fun enjoyable romp!
Thank you to Hazel Mack for the Advanced Reader Copy!
What a fun cozy spicy monster romance! Pine Gulch is the location for this second book in the interconnected standalone series with:
💙 A sassy Magical Town with sentient buildings
💙Wild West cowboy monsters
💙Brothers best friend forbidden vibes
💙All the yearning
💙A tattooed which with a to-do list a mile long
💙A pierced gargoyle with a dirty mouth
We have a gargoyle x witch and all the fun found family that is the Pine Gulch cowboy monster series.
I'll admit to grating my teeth a little with the word "mate" being used way too many times in reference to each other during conversation and sexy talk...but overall this was a fun enjoyable romp!
Thank you to Hazel Mack for the Advanced Reader Copy!
May 31, 2026
Any Hazel Mack monster book is a must read for me and I absolutely loved Bluebell’s story! Gargoyles are my personal favorite monster from the series and I loved how reminiscent this book felt to the first Ever book with having a human/gargoyle pair (also all the cameos!!!)
Like the Ever series, each book has me falling deeper in love with PG and the characters there and I’m officially SOLD on cowboy monster romances 😍
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!!
Like the Ever series, each book has me falling deeper in love with PG and the characters there and I’m officially SOLD on cowboy monster romances 😍
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!!
June 16, 2026
This was cute, and I liked it significantly more than book 1. Her brother though was the definition of awful, and I still don't entirely feel happy with how that storyline wrapped up. I am excited for oz's story next though!
May 22, 2026
I didn't care for the brother drama when all these characters are full grown adults in their 30's.
July 16, 2026
2.5⭐️ Ehhh this was fine but I had a couple issues. First, why was the FMC’s name Bluebell when all her brothers had J names (Jasper, Jack, and Jace)? It’s petty but it bothered me. Second, when she went skinny dipping with a big group of adults in their 30s, including her brothers…major ick
June 9, 2026
Bluebell has her life carefully organized around lists, responsibilities, and trying very hard not to think about Hadrian Alkazar, her brother’s best friend and the town’s beloved gargoyle athlete. That becomes significantly more difficult when Hadrian moves back to Pine Gulch and starts inserting himself into her ever-chaotic life. Between helping with her trying business, sending gifts, and generally being impossible to ignore, Hadrian steadily works his way past Bluebell’s carefully maintained defenses. As their friendship begins shifting into something more, Bluebell is forced to decide whether it’s worth letting someone help her for once.
This was the perfect cozy monster romance palate cleanser. The tone is warm, funny, and heartfelt, but it still gives the characters meaningful problems and emotional stakes to work through. Bluebell was very easy to root for, and I liked watching her slowly learn how to assert her own needs. Hadrian is exactly the kind of love interest this story needs: sweet, dependable, filthy-mouthed in private, and completely gone for her from the start. The chemistry between them is excellent, and yes, the spice level is very high. The dirty talk in particular? Good lord.
I also really enjoyed the family dynamics and the way the brother’s-best-friend setup was handled here. There’s a development around the middle of the story that I initially wasn’t sure about, but the author won me over surprisingly quickly. I also continue to love how interconnected this author’s books feel. References to previous couples and events make the world feel lived-in without alienating new readers, and this still works perfectly well as a standalone. This was exactly the kind of cute, comforting chaos I needed. Many thanks to the author for this ARC. This is my honest review.
5/5 Had me blushing like I was eighteen again.
This was the perfect cozy monster romance palate cleanser. The tone is warm, funny, and heartfelt, but it still gives the characters meaningful problems and emotional stakes to work through. Bluebell was very easy to root for, and I liked watching her slowly learn how to assert her own needs. Hadrian is exactly the kind of love interest this story needs: sweet, dependable, filthy-mouthed in private, and completely gone for her from the start. The chemistry between them is excellent, and yes, the spice level is very high. The dirty talk in particular? Good lord.
I also really enjoyed the family dynamics and the way the brother’s-best-friend setup was handled here. There’s a development around the middle of the story that I initially wasn’t sure about, but the author won me over surprisingly quickly. I also continue to love how interconnected this author’s books feel. References to previous couples and events make the world feel lived-in without alienating new readers, and this still works perfectly well as a standalone. This was exactly the kind of cute, comforting chaos I needed. Many thanks to the author for this ARC. This is my honest review.
5/5 Had me blushing like I was eighteen again.
May 26, 2026
Not sure how I made it through this book. The MMC using the pet name “little one” for his 8yo sister and the FMC is such a huge ick. How did that even get through editing? 🤢
Poorly written, with the author mixing up names of characters eg “Bluebell” astonished at something Bluebell said.
None of the conversation was realistic - the words were awkward and stilted, and it made all the dialogue sound the same. (No wonder the author mixed up characters more than once).
Are we also seriously supposed to believe that these people are in their 30s? It reads like a bad college romance.
I was ridiculously surprised by how many 5 star reviews this novel had.
I don’t normally leave low reviews but this was horrendous.
This is my first and last H. Mack read.
Poorly written, with the author mixing up names of characters eg “Bluebell” astonished at something Bluebell said.
None of the conversation was realistic - the words were awkward and stilted, and it made all the dialogue sound the same. (No wonder the author mixed up characters more than once).
Are we also seriously supposed to believe that these people are in their 30s? It reads like a bad college romance.
I was ridiculously surprised by how many 5 star reviews this novel had.
I don’t normally leave low reviews but this was horrendous.
This is my first and last H. Mack read.
May 21, 2026
Cute Romance with a GARGOYLE as the love interest! Cute small town romance! I love the relationship development and how it progressed. First time reading Hazel Mack and I enjoyed her writing. The romance was sweet and spicy enough for a good time!
May 24, 2026
Sweet monster romance. The fact that an immature man child was the reason they kept delaying their romance irritated me the whole book.
August 1, 2026
This was pleasantly spicier than I thought it would be, and I loved how darned sweet and protective Hadrian was ❤️🔥
July 26, 2026
No. Nope. I’m officially done with this author. I wanted to one and done her after the first book in this series, but I was tricked into reading book two because I cannot say no to mutual pining.
The relationship? Actually quite sweet. But again, like book one, the sex was zero to 100 in an instant. And for the fatal blow for me, this author did a spontaneous anal without any prep or lube after being VERY intense about the fact that this dude’s peen is 10 inches long and as big around as a soda can. She made sure that the first P in V experience happened after two consecutive orgasms and was super slow, but then suddenly it’s booty time and Bluebell just spreads her cheeks and sinks down? NOPE. Bye. I’m out. That’s insane and I cannot get past it.
The relationship? Actually quite sweet. But again, like book one, the sex was zero to 100 in an instant. And for the fatal blow for me, this author did a spontaneous anal without any prep or lube after being VERY intense about the fact that this dude’s peen is 10 inches long and as big around as a soda can. She made sure that the first P in V experience happened after two consecutive orgasms and was super slow, but then suddenly it’s booty time and Bluebell just spreads her cheeks and sinks down? NOPE. Bye. I’m out. That’s insane and I cannot get past it.
June 1, 2026
"We are not complicated. Things around us are complicated, but what's between you and me is as natural as breathing."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
• Brother's Best Friend
• Gargoyle x Witch
• All The Pining
• Banter Galore
• Sassy Sentient Buildings
• Wild West Small Town
• He Takes Care of Her
• Found Family
It will come as absolutely zero shock to everyone that this is another Hazel Mack book that has me obsessed! The Haven Ever After series is one of my absolute favourites and the Pine Gulch Ever After series is shaping up to be on par. I adore the blend of cowboy and monster romance that Hazel has created, how this gives the same nostalgic feel of the Haven Ever After series but is still refreshing and unique. Packed full of yearning, banter and a best friends brother dynamic that makes everything so very complicated alongside heart warming found family, this monster romance packs a punch and is definitely perfect if you like your books with a balance of spice and cosy.
We get to explore more of Pine Gulch and the surrounding havens within this book as Hadrian travels as a star sky all player. I loved meeting more of the Gulch's residents and sassy sentient buildings. It is such a joy to read as Hazel continues to expand upon the world created within the Haven Ever After series. Each place we explore feels so carefully created to paint the perfect picture in your mind, the detail is ever present without overwhelming the story. This book flowed in the most beautiful way, one moment moving purposefully to the next, with emotionally powerful moments interspersed with a beauitful love story.
The brothers best friend dynamic in this story is *chefs kiss*, how this interplays with the attraction between Hadrian and Bluebell is amazing! I was just praying the entire book that they would get out of their own way and declare their feelings for one another. We get to explore both Hadrian's fun and jovial side with his possessive gargoyle nature, providing his character with dimension. He is a softie at heart and has so much love to give and it is such a joy to read as he gives this over to Bluebell. Bluebell is trying to support the weight of the world on her shoulders, always willing to help those around her but not looking after herself. These two over the course of the book we see as these two become what eachother desperately needs, taking a risk on their long strong constructed friendship to chase their connection.
I already cannot wait for more books in this series, I'm excited to meet more characters and visit more locations!
Thank you so much to Hazel for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Hazel Mack
Series: Pine Gulch Ever After
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Pages: 299
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
• Brother's Best Friend
• Gargoyle x Witch
• All The Pining
• Banter Galore
• Sassy Sentient Buildings
• Wild West Small Town
• He Takes Care of Her
• Found Family
It will come as absolutely zero shock to everyone that this is another Hazel Mack book that has me obsessed! The Haven Ever After series is one of my absolute favourites and the Pine Gulch Ever After series is shaping up to be on par. I adore the blend of cowboy and monster romance that Hazel has created, how this gives the same nostalgic feel of the Haven Ever After series but is still refreshing and unique. Packed full of yearning, banter and a best friends brother dynamic that makes everything so very complicated alongside heart warming found family, this monster romance packs a punch and is definitely perfect if you like your books with a balance of spice and cosy.
We get to explore more of Pine Gulch and the surrounding havens within this book as Hadrian travels as a star sky all player. I loved meeting more of the Gulch's residents and sassy sentient buildings. It is such a joy to read as Hazel continues to expand upon the world created within the Haven Ever After series. Each place we explore feels so carefully created to paint the perfect picture in your mind, the detail is ever present without overwhelming the story. This book flowed in the most beautiful way, one moment moving purposefully to the next, with emotionally powerful moments interspersed with a beauitful love story.
The brothers best friend dynamic in this story is *chefs kiss*, how this interplays with the attraction between Hadrian and Bluebell is amazing! I was just praying the entire book that they would get out of their own way and declare their feelings for one another. We get to explore both Hadrian's fun and jovial side with his possessive gargoyle nature, providing his character with dimension. He is a softie at heart and has so much love to give and it is such a joy to read as he gives this over to Bluebell. Bluebell is trying to support the weight of the world on her shoulders, always willing to help those around her but not looking after herself. These two over the course of the book we see as these two become what eachother desperately needs, taking a risk on their long strong constructed friendship to chase their connection.
I already cannot wait for more books in this series, I'm excited to meet more characters and visit more locations!
Thank you so much to Hazel for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Hazel Mack
Series: Pine Gulch Ever After
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Pages: 299
May 19, 2026
Thank you, Hazel Mack for sending me an ARC of Buckle Up, Buttercup! This was a particularly exciting ARC for me as I previously read All my Hexes and Live Love Lasso and absolutely adored them. I didn’t actually think the Pine Gulch Ever After series could get any better, but here we are!
❀。• *₊°。 ❀° ♡ ❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。♡
♡ If you have seen my previous reviews for this series you will know how much I love the setting of Pine Gulch. There is so much magic and wonder piled into this small town that I just love. Hazel has created the cosiest town, the buildings are alive and will sass you if they think you deserve it, all the residents are like family and the sights and landscape are jaw-droppingly beautiful. I will forever be sad that this place doesn’t exist because I would be packing my bag so fast and heading to PG, and no one would be able to stop me. The Pine Gulch Ever After series are all standalone, interconnected books. I don’t think you have to read the previous books to love Buckle Up, Buttercup, but it really enhanced the story for me. In a way we are so familiar with PG at this point, we feel like we are residents ourselves. This point of view gives you all the warm and fuzzy feelings that extend into this book. I would recommend this series wholeheartedly!
♡ Bluebell is a character we have met before, and I am ecstatic that this book centred around her and her childhood best friend Hadrian. We caught the tiniest glimpse of them in Live Love Lasso, and just from those minor interactions, I was completely hooked. Bluebell is someone who has her life planned out from the minute she wakes up, to the moment she goes to bed (if she even has the chance to sleep at all). She is the youngest sibling, with 3 older brothers to contend with. Despite being the youngest, she embodies the traits of the eldest daughter that so many of us are familiar with. Her brothers constantly rely on her to do their jobs, on top of all the work she already has to do. One thing I will say is that the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about Bluebell’s older brothers is: weaponised incompetence. Do I think they are doing it maliciously? No. However, it still sucked. As the eldest daughter of two brothers, I was right there with her. I think a lot of us can recognise ourselves in Bluebell and that is testament to Hazel’s ability to make relatable characters. There was heaviness in my heart when I saw her stretch herself too thin for others. It was empowering and satisfying to see her learn to rely on others and stand up for herself!
♡ Hadrian gives every other book boyfriend I have ever known, a run for their money. He was the classic childhood sweetheart that you cannot help but fall head-over-heels for. He is charming and, to top it all off, a very successful Skyball player, as if he couldn’t get any better. His and Bluebell’s relationship felt believable from the offset, and despite the fact these two were clearly pining for each other for years, it had slow burn elements. They circled each other for a while in this book, with stolen glances and accidental touches that had me dizzy. I could feel their yearning for each other weaved throughout the pages and decades of their friendship. Whilst we didn’t have any flashbacks of their childhoods, there were references and callbacks that painted a great picture. I go crazy for a protective boyfriend, which is exactly who Hadrian is. He sees Bluebell wearing herself out, trying to do everything for everyone, and makes it his priority to help her. He never wants to change her, because he loves her for who she is, but he wants to alleviate her stress and teach her that it’s ok to say no and put yourself first.
♡ There are recurring characters in this book, which made me so excited. I will always have the best time when I step into the world of PG and spend time with all its amazing inhabitants. I am so desperate to see Oz find love and I really hope that we will get to see him fall in love soon! If you like paranormal romances, cowboy/ western settings and cosy small towns (steeped in magic), you will enjoy your stay in Pine Gulch as much as I have! This series will become a part of you, and you will be forever wishing you could jump into a portal and escape to PG and never look back.
❀。• *₊°。 ❀° ♡ ❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。♡
♡ If you have seen my previous reviews for this series you will know how much I love the setting of Pine Gulch. There is so much magic and wonder piled into this small town that I just love. Hazel has created the cosiest town, the buildings are alive and will sass you if they think you deserve it, all the residents are like family and the sights and landscape are jaw-droppingly beautiful. I will forever be sad that this place doesn’t exist because I would be packing my bag so fast and heading to PG, and no one would be able to stop me. The Pine Gulch Ever After series are all standalone, interconnected books. I don’t think you have to read the previous books to love Buckle Up, Buttercup, but it really enhanced the story for me. In a way we are so familiar with PG at this point, we feel like we are residents ourselves. This point of view gives you all the warm and fuzzy feelings that extend into this book. I would recommend this series wholeheartedly!
♡ Bluebell is a character we have met before, and I am ecstatic that this book centred around her and her childhood best friend Hadrian. We caught the tiniest glimpse of them in Live Love Lasso, and just from those minor interactions, I was completely hooked. Bluebell is someone who has her life planned out from the minute she wakes up, to the moment she goes to bed (if she even has the chance to sleep at all). She is the youngest sibling, with 3 older brothers to contend with. Despite being the youngest, she embodies the traits of the eldest daughter that so many of us are familiar with. Her brothers constantly rely on her to do their jobs, on top of all the work she already has to do. One thing I will say is that the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about Bluebell’s older brothers is: weaponised incompetence. Do I think they are doing it maliciously? No. However, it still sucked. As the eldest daughter of two brothers, I was right there with her. I think a lot of us can recognise ourselves in Bluebell and that is testament to Hazel’s ability to make relatable characters. There was heaviness in my heart when I saw her stretch herself too thin for others. It was empowering and satisfying to see her learn to rely on others and stand up for herself!
♡ Hadrian gives every other book boyfriend I have ever known, a run for their money. He was the classic childhood sweetheart that you cannot help but fall head-over-heels for. He is charming and, to top it all off, a very successful Skyball player, as if he couldn’t get any better. His and Bluebell’s relationship felt believable from the offset, and despite the fact these two were clearly pining for each other for years, it had slow burn elements. They circled each other for a while in this book, with stolen glances and accidental touches that had me dizzy. I could feel their yearning for each other weaved throughout the pages and decades of their friendship. Whilst we didn’t have any flashbacks of their childhoods, there were references and callbacks that painted a great picture. I go crazy for a protective boyfriend, which is exactly who Hadrian is. He sees Bluebell wearing herself out, trying to do everything for everyone, and makes it his priority to help her. He never wants to change her, because he loves her for who she is, but he wants to alleviate her stress and teach her that it’s ok to say no and put yourself first.
♡ There are recurring characters in this book, which made me so excited. I will always have the best time when I step into the world of PG and spend time with all its amazing inhabitants. I am so desperate to see Oz find love and I really hope that we will get to see him fall in love soon! If you like paranormal romances, cowboy/ western settings and cosy small towns (steeped in magic), you will enjoy your stay in Pine Gulch as much as I have! This series will become a part of you, and you will be forever wishing you could jump into a portal and escape to PG and never look back.
May 21, 2026
“’Need a nickname,’ he demands. ‘And I need it now, baby. Try something, anything, to see if it fits.’”
What to Expect
🖤 Gargoyle Athlete MMC
😈 Brother’s Best Friend
💘 Friends to Lovers
🥵 YEARNING
🏠 A sentient building with ATTITUDE
Welcome back to Pine Gulch, better known as PG if you want to sound like a local. It’s time for Lemon’s type-A new bestie, Bluebell, to get her happily ever after, and while I’m not normally a friends-to-lovers fan, this one completely won me over.
Bluebell is peak type-A energy, with endless to-do lists because she’s a people pleaser and basically acts like the eldest sibling in her family for how much she takes on. I really related to her need to do everything herself so it gets done right. Watching her hide her very obvious feelings for Hadrian killed me, and the yearning was so good. Her relationship with Hal felt inevitable, but seeing her finally stand up to her brother was easily one of the best parts of her growth.
Hadrian takes yearning to another level, and I loved him. We met him before, so I was already hoping for more of him, and I got it. He’s sweet, caring, and perfect book boyfriend material. He’s also well-endowed and pierced to high heaven. Like the other gargoyle men we’ve met, he just wants to make Blue’s life easier, and if that means helping her tackle her lists, he’s on board. We love a supportive man.
Why do half of our loving monsters have questionable parents?!?!
The spice was spicing, and I appreciated it so much. Hadrian wants to please his mate in every way, and the table scene followed by the truck scene nearly took me out. Also, the way he tells her to come to him and she actually does? Obsessed. We really need their mode of transportation because just a drive to the station and boom—new city.
It wouldn’t be a Pine Gulch book without the house playing a role, and Bodice seems to be getting our two lovebirds together, even if she goes about it the wrong way at one point. Poor thing was abandoned (ish), and then her new owner didn’t really know how to communicate with her the way she was used to.
As always, I eagerly await the next installment.
What to Expect
🖤 Gargoyle Athlete MMC
😈 Brother’s Best Friend
💘 Friends to Lovers
🥵 YEARNING
🏠 A sentient building with ATTITUDE
Welcome back to Pine Gulch, better known as PG if you want to sound like a local. It’s time for Lemon’s type-A new bestie, Bluebell, to get her happily ever after, and while I’m not normally a friends-to-lovers fan, this one completely won me over.
Bluebell is peak type-A energy, with endless to-do lists because she’s a people pleaser and basically acts like the eldest sibling in her family for how much she takes on. I really related to her need to do everything herself so it gets done right. Watching her hide her very obvious feelings for Hadrian killed me, and the yearning was so good. Her relationship with Hal felt inevitable, but seeing her finally stand up to her brother was easily one of the best parts of her growth.
Hadrian takes yearning to another level, and I loved him. We met him before, so I was already hoping for more of him, and I got it. He’s sweet, caring, and perfect book boyfriend material. He’s also well-endowed and pierced to high heaven. Like the other gargoyle men we’ve met, he just wants to make Blue’s life easier, and if that means helping her tackle her lists, he’s on board. We love a supportive man.
Why do half of our loving monsters have questionable parents?!?!
The spice was spicing, and I appreciated it so much. Hadrian wants to please his mate in every way, and the table scene followed by the truck scene nearly took me out. Also, the way he tells her to come to him and she actually does? Obsessed. We really need their mode of transportation because just a drive to the station and boom—new city.
It wouldn’t be a Pine Gulch book without the house playing a role, and Bodice seems to be getting our two lovebirds together, even if she goes about it the wrong way at one point. Poor thing was abandoned (ish), and then her new owner didn’t really know how to communicate with her the way she was used to.
As always, I eagerly await the next installment.
July 23, 2026
They’re supposed to be childhood friends and it STILL managed to feel insta-lovey. There is also no way you can convince me that Hadrian and Jasper are best friends. There is no chemistry there at all.
This book was filled with 30 year-olds acting 18 years old, and 9 year-olds acting 15 years old. The dialogue was maddening at times.
Also, there was no need for the building to be mad. They would’ve got together anyway.
No need to introduce a surprise family member.
They would’ve got together anyway.
No need for Jasper to be that invested in his sister’s love life.
They would’ve got together anyway.
No need for skinny dipping with your 30 year-old brothers.
THEY WOULD’VE GOT TOGETHER ANYWAY.
There was absolutely nothing running the plot whatsoever, not even vibes, and that was so incredibly disappointing.
I was excited for this book initially as well, considering many leftover plot points from the first book: Varek, the buildings, a new Keeper. We just decided not to address any of it here.
Jasper absolutely did not redeem himself whatsoever with his excuses at the end either. It started feeling incredibly weird when he was adamant about Bluebell and Hadrian basically being brother and sister. Didn’t take long for the country themed Haven to devolve into some Sweet Home Alabama.
Tangent: what is with the Varek hate? Everyone in PG acts as though he’s so evil for wanting to build a cozy neighborhood but wouldn’t that be great for young, new prospective families and stimulate the surrounding economy? What is this xenophobic exclusivity of only wanting “misfits” in PG? (Don’t even get me started on how disingenuous our MCs felt when a small child is thrust upon them. It’s a total inconvenience, everyone knows it, but suddenly they love her so much, she’s family etc etc. Bffr you’re annoyed you can’t fuck in private anymore.) With the Varek hate, most of PG is so narrow-minded and Bluebell is such a hypocrite: her family literally owns a real estate business with them as the predatory landlords but when Varek wants to come in and build more affordable housing? That’s a big no-no.
This book was filled with 30 year-olds acting 18 years old, and 9 year-olds acting 15 years old. The dialogue was maddening at times.
Also, there was no need for the building to be mad. They would’ve got together anyway.
No need to introduce a surprise family member.
They would’ve got together anyway.
No need for Jasper to be that invested in his sister’s love life.
They would’ve got together anyway.
No need for skinny dipping with your 30 year-old brothers.
THEY WOULD’VE GOT TOGETHER ANYWAY.
There was absolutely nothing running the plot whatsoever, not even vibes, and that was so incredibly disappointing.
I was excited for this book initially as well, considering many leftover plot points from the first book: Varek, the buildings, a new Keeper. We just decided not to address any of it here.
Jasper absolutely did not redeem himself whatsoever with his excuses at the end either. It started feeling incredibly weird when he was adamant about Bluebell and Hadrian basically being brother and sister. Didn’t take long for the country themed Haven to devolve into some Sweet Home Alabama.
Tangent: what is with the Varek hate? Everyone in PG acts as though he’s so evil for wanting to build a cozy neighborhood but wouldn’t that be great for young, new prospective families and stimulate the surrounding economy? What is this xenophobic exclusivity of only wanting “misfits” in PG? (Don’t even get me started on how disingenuous our MCs felt when a small child is thrust upon them. It’s a total inconvenience, everyone knows it, but suddenly they love her so much, she’s family etc etc. Bffr you’re annoyed you can’t fuck in private anymore.) With the Varek hate, most of PG is so narrow-minded and Bluebell is such a hypocrite: her family literally owns a real estate business with them as the predatory landlords but when Varek wants to come in and build more affordable housing? That’s a big no-no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2026
Okay, my gargoyle monster romance lovers… beware?! 🥵
Back in Pine Gulch feels like slipping into the coziest chaos… the sentient buildings? Still one of my favorite quirks that never gets old.
Vibes? Pure small-time monster with western flair, found family goodness, and small-town shenanigans. A spicy-sweet storytelling… it’s fun, it’s flirty, it’s a little spicy!
💙 “You touched me. You unleashed me… I’m not stopping all night, little healer.”
And Hadrian? Listen. Seven feet of gargoyle, filthy mouth, softest actions, and just the right amount of possessive swoon. Bluebell is out here trying to stick to her to-do list and absolutely failing in the best way possible.
💙 “Just because something is challenging doesn’t mean it’s not worth pursuing, Bluebell… Don’t run from me, little witch, and I will honor that bravery by doing the same.”
The only drawback for me was the way the family and friends handled the relationship. While I know the brother’s best friend trope often comes with tension, the constant interference from the brother and family became frustrating at times and made it difficult to fully enjoy their romance. I would have loved to see a bit more support for the relationship rather than repeated attempts to keep them apart. I also felt that the repeated focus on her physical appearance, particularly comments about her body, became a little excessive for my personal taste.
Buckle up, Buttercup… because this one is all longing looks, bad decisions, slow burn tension, and brother’s best friend chaos!
💫 Buckle Up, Buttercup (Pine Gulch Ever After, 2) by Hazel Mack (@hazelmackauthor)
Monster Small-Town RomCom | Brother’s Best Friend | Gargolye x Witch | 300 pp | ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
💫 Favorite Quote:
“I will always love you until the gods take me from this earth. And even then, among the stars, I’ll still love you.”
__________________________________________________
🌟 Thank you, Hazel Mack, for the eARC! This review is honest, and my own thoughts are left voluntarily.
Back in Pine Gulch feels like slipping into the coziest chaos… the sentient buildings? Still one of my favorite quirks that never gets old.
Vibes? Pure small-time monster with western flair, found family goodness, and small-town shenanigans. A spicy-sweet storytelling… it’s fun, it’s flirty, it’s a little spicy!
💙 “You touched me. You unleashed me… I’m not stopping all night, little healer.”
And Hadrian? Listen. Seven feet of gargoyle, filthy mouth, softest actions, and just the right amount of possessive swoon. Bluebell is out here trying to stick to her to-do list and absolutely failing in the best way possible.
💙 “Just because something is challenging doesn’t mean it’s not worth pursuing, Bluebell… Don’t run from me, little witch, and I will honor that bravery by doing the same.”
The only drawback for me was the way the family and friends handled the relationship. While I know the brother’s best friend trope often comes with tension, the constant interference from the brother and family became frustrating at times and made it difficult to fully enjoy their romance. I would have loved to see a bit more support for the relationship rather than repeated attempts to keep them apart. I also felt that the repeated focus on her physical appearance, particularly comments about her body, became a little excessive for my personal taste.
Buckle up, Buttercup… because this one is all longing looks, bad decisions, slow burn tension, and brother’s best friend chaos!
💫 Buckle Up, Buttercup (Pine Gulch Ever After, 2) by Hazel Mack (@hazelmackauthor)
Monster Small-Town RomCom | Brother’s Best Friend | Gargolye x Witch | 300 pp | ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
💫 Favorite Quote:
“I will always love you until the gods take me from this earth. And even then, among the stars, I’ll still love you.”
__________________________________________________
🌟 Thank you, Hazel Mack, for the eARC! This review is honest, and my own thoughts are left voluntarily.
May 22, 2026
"I blame the sweatpants. It’s stupid for him to wear them. I’m just a simple woman, and I can only be expected to behave so much."
We all get it.
But what we don't get is a sentient, cozy wild west-ish town of our own filled with hot pierced monsters wearing those sweatpants. And that's a damn shame.
Lucky for FMC witch Bluebell, she does get that. Her lifelong bestie Hadrian, a gargoyle who plays skyball, is the male in question in that quote. And in my dreams 🫣😅
Bluebell was so relatable. She takes care of everything for everyone because she would rather be nonstop busy than have to fix the inevitable issues that result from people messing things up. But she is burning out fast.
Hadrian, who's parents basically dropped him off to live with her family for the most part, knows her better than anyone. And while I don't normally enjoy friends to lovers, he's also her brother's bestie, so there's some excellent tension a la forbidden romance, and plenty of twists to add much more to this story than initially meets the eye.
I also love that we get to see more of book 1s MCs Furyon and Lemon, and Oz (one of my fave characters for life).
Buckle up for a cozy, spicy 3.5 🌶️) monster romance with a few surprises up its sleeve and:
- all of his toys are shaped like human 🐱 because he's been down bad for her forever
- he's VERY pierced, very big, and a dirty talker
- she's the only black witch (healing) and only girl in the family
- she takes on too much to help her family, friends and town
- they're secretly pining after each other and have to hide it firm everyone
Thanks to Hazel Mack and team for my copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
We all get it.
But what we don't get is a sentient, cozy wild west-ish town of our own filled with hot pierced monsters wearing those sweatpants. And that's a damn shame.
Lucky for FMC witch Bluebell, she does get that. Her lifelong bestie Hadrian, a gargoyle who plays skyball, is the male in question in that quote. And in my dreams 🫣😅
Bluebell was so relatable. She takes care of everything for everyone because she would rather be nonstop busy than have to fix the inevitable issues that result from people messing things up. But she is burning out fast.
Hadrian, who's parents basically dropped him off to live with her family for the most part, knows her better than anyone. And while I don't normally enjoy friends to lovers, he's also her brother's bestie, so there's some excellent tension a la forbidden romance, and plenty of twists to add much more to this story than initially meets the eye.
I also love that we get to see more of book 1s MCs Furyon and Lemon, and Oz (one of my fave characters for life).
Buckle up for a cozy, spicy 3.5 🌶️) monster romance with a few surprises up its sleeve and:
- all of his toys are shaped like human 🐱 because he's been down bad for her forever
- he's VERY pierced, very big, and a dirty talker
- she's the only black witch (healing) and only girl in the family
- she takes on too much to help her family, friends and town
- they're secretly pining after each other and have to hide it firm everyone
Thanks to Hazel Mack and team for my copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
June 7, 2026
There's just something in a Hazel Mack book that makes them unputdownable?! This 'brother's best friend'/marriage pact/small town second trip to Pine Gulch is no exception.
Bluebell is a witch who cannot stay still working ALL the jobs, doing all the projects, giving 'oldest child energy' despite being the youngest. The pressure others put on her while they ignore how many plates she is juggling is both wildly frustrating, but very relatable if are or know a 'people pleaser'.
Hadrian is a hunky homebody and Skyball top tier hunky athlete! He's big, he's brawny, he is a caretaker to the extreme and just....very dreamy.
They've known each other since they were kids, Hadrian is pretty much a member of Bluebell's family, and they've got a married when we're 30 pact! A classic trope. The thing that made the pact feel a little weird to me, is in a world where lifespans are much longer? 30 seems very young!
There was some will they/won't they, 'oh but your my brother's best friend/best friends sister' inner monologue that got a wee bit repetitive in the first third that took me out a little bit, but once we hit the real meat of the their relationship development, and the other plot bits I was locked in! It was sweet, it was spicy af, it was unexpected in parts and just an all around good time.
I love the found family vibes and the unique characterizations of the town itself with it's magic infused buildings. The Bodice building in this story is snarky, a little vicious in the beginning, but in the end plays a key role in our mcs growth (both personally and relationship wise)
Buckle up, Buttercup is book 2 in the Pine Gulch series and can be read standalone. Buuut imo I do think reading book 1 gives you a better grasp on the world building.
*advanced reader. thoughts and opinions my own*
Bluebell is a witch who cannot stay still working ALL the jobs, doing all the projects, giving 'oldest child energy' despite being the youngest. The pressure others put on her while they ignore how many plates she is juggling is both wildly frustrating, but very relatable if are or know a 'people pleaser'.
Hadrian is a hunky homebody and Skyball top tier hunky athlete! He's big, he's brawny, he is a caretaker to the extreme and just....very dreamy.
They've known each other since they were kids, Hadrian is pretty much a member of Bluebell's family, and they've got a married when we're 30 pact! A classic trope. The thing that made the pact feel a little weird to me, is in a world where lifespans are much longer? 30 seems very young!
There was some will they/won't they, 'oh but your my brother's best friend/best friends sister' inner monologue that got a wee bit repetitive in the first third that took me out a little bit, but once we hit the real meat of the their relationship development, and the other plot bits I was locked in! It was sweet, it was spicy af, it was unexpected in parts and just an all around good time.
I love the found family vibes and the unique characterizations of the town itself with it's magic infused buildings. The Bodice building in this story is snarky, a little vicious in the beginning, but in the end plays a key role in our mcs growth (both personally and relationship wise)
Buckle up, Buttercup is book 2 in the Pine Gulch series and can be read standalone. Buuut imo I do think reading book 1 gives you a better grasp on the world building.
*advanced reader. thoughts and opinions my own*
June 29, 2026
I had so much fun with this book! Hazel Mack has completely won me over with the Pine Gulch world, and I am officially obsessed with the gargoyle lore. The idea that a gargoyle's heart doesn't beat until they're bonded to their mate is such a unique twist on fated mates, and I absolutely adore it.
Bluebell and Hadrian have basically been secretly in love with each other since they were kids, which made their romance feel extra sweet. We don't often get that kind of lifelong pining in fated mate stories, and I loved watching all those years of longing finally pay off. Hadrian is exactly the kind of book boyfriend I can't resist. His biggest instinct isn't just to protect or claim Bluebell, it's to make her life easier. Helping her tackle her never-ending to-do list, making sure she actually eats, and constantly looking for ways to ease her stress? Swoon.
Bluebell's brother, on the other hand, spent most of the book getting on my last nerve. I understood his whole "best friend dating my sister" protective thing to a point, but treating her like an unpaid employee really ground my gears.
The spice was creative but still highlighted their connection. But, let's just say there are comparisons to soda cans, multiple piercings, inch-counting, and one very memorable family dinner.
If you're looking for a monster romance that's equal parts sweet, funny, and spicy, I definitely recommend picking this one up. The small-town charm, lovable characters, and unique gargoyle lore make Pine Gulch such a fun place to visit, and this book only made me more invested in the series. Now I just need Oz's book ASAP.
Bluebell and Hadrian have basically been secretly in love with each other since they were kids, which made their romance feel extra sweet. We don't often get that kind of lifelong pining in fated mate stories, and I loved watching all those years of longing finally pay off. Hadrian is exactly the kind of book boyfriend I can't resist. His biggest instinct isn't just to protect or claim Bluebell, it's to make her life easier. Helping her tackle her never-ending to-do list, making sure she actually eats, and constantly looking for ways to ease her stress? Swoon.
Bluebell's brother, on the other hand, spent most of the book getting on my last nerve. I understood his whole "best friend dating my sister" protective thing to a point, but treating her like an unpaid employee really ground my gears.
The spice was creative but still highlighted their connection. But, let's just say there are comparisons to soda cans, multiple piercings, inch-counting, and one very memorable family dinner.
If you're looking for a monster romance that's equal parts sweet, funny, and spicy, I definitely recommend picking this one up. The small-town charm, lovable characters, and unique gargoyle lore make Pine Gulch such a fun place to visit, and this book only made me more invested in the series. Now I just need Oz's book ASAP.
May 20, 2026
*ARC review*
I absolutely loved being back in the Pine Gulch universe! I just devoured this book! I just loved the characters and the story!
I really loved Bluebell because she is just so relatable. Her need for lists, her struggle to say no especially to family, and her inability to stay still. I really get that because I can be the same way. I also really love her relationships between her friends Lemon and Oz. And of course I was giggling and kicking my feet in happiness with the banter between her and Hadrian. Her budding realization of her feelings for Hadrian just had me grinning.
And of course there's Hadrian. Just so swoon-worthy, the things he does and the things he SAYS. Like so blush worthy. You can just feel the love and affection he has for Bluebell, even when they were just friends. This was just seriously a friends to lovers done so well. AND the spice????!!! Oh I was having a great time! Cause what do you mean he has piercings there???!!! Just so deliciously spicy.
And while Bluebell and Hadrian are working through their budding feelings for each other, outside situations seem to make things difficult. From surprises for Hadrian to over protective brothers from Bluebell. But I just really loved how the whole story developed because at the core of the story, it's really about friendship and connection.
I definitely cannot wait for more from this universe. I love how the author sprinkled in characters from the first book in a true interconnected standalone series! Definitely a must read monster romance!
I absolutely loved being back in the Pine Gulch universe! I just devoured this book! I just loved the characters and the story!
I really loved Bluebell because she is just so relatable. Her need for lists, her struggle to say no especially to family, and her inability to stay still. I really get that because I can be the same way. I also really love her relationships between her friends Lemon and Oz. And of course I was giggling and kicking my feet in happiness with the banter between her and Hadrian. Her budding realization of her feelings for Hadrian just had me grinning.
And of course there's Hadrian. Just so swoon-worthy, the things he does and the things he SAYS. Like so blush worthy. You can just feel the love and affection he has for Bluebell, even when they were just friends. This was just seriously a friends to lovers done so well. AND the spice????!!! Oh I was having a great time! Cause what do you mean he has piercings there???!!! Just so deliciously spicy.
And while Bluebell and Hadrian are working through their budding feelings for each other, outside situations seem to make things difficult. From surprises for Hadrian to over protective brothers from Bluebell. But I just really loved how the whole story developed because at the core of the story, it's really about friendship and connection.
I definitely cannot wait for more from this universe. I love how the author sprinkled in characters from the first book in a true interconnected standalone series! Definitely a must read monster romance!
May 31, 2026
Thank you so much to Hazel Mack fot the ARC, on to the review!
We're back in PG and this time we gettin friends to lovers, he's a big ol' gargoyle. I definitely liked this second book better than the first in the series. Buttercup and Hadrian were more the kind of relationship I enjoy. I've got a massive soft spot for friends to lovers.
Buttercup and Hadrian together was just so good. Their banter that came from being friends for so long, those nursed to hell and back crushes?! AHHHHHHHHHH! And the way Hazel kept teasing the point when these friends would actually "to lovers" was torture. But still so good.
BUT Buttercups brothers?! My god, if I hadn't been told they were in their 30s, I would think they were in middle school with the way they acted very often. Especially Jasper...dude it's on sight if I ever catch you. The way he would just pile anything he didn't want to do on Bluebell because he knew she wouldn't say no...what a jerk. And I wish there had been more of an explanation of WHY she'd never say no, past "she has issues letting go of control". It seemed like there was going to be a whole situaiton behind why but nothing ever came. I would have like to see more confrontation from Bluebell towards Jasper at the end, seriously Hadrian got close to what I think Jasper deserved.
And you know I was happy to get back to our cute little sentient town. I love PG and I thought it was so cute that Bluebell's magic was specific to taking care of and mending for buildings.
Now, let's find the perfect cutie for Oz!
We're back in PG and this time we gettin friends to lovers, he's a big ol' gargoyle. I definitely liked this second book better than the first in the series. Buttercup and Hadrian were more the kind of relationship I enjoy. I've got a massive soft spot for friends to lovers.
Buttercup and Hadrian together was just so good. Their banter that came from being friends for so long, those nursed to hell and back crushes?! AHHHHHHHHHH! And the way Hazel kept teasing the point when these friends would actually "to lovers" was torture. But still so good.
BUT Buttercups brothers?! My god, if I hadn't been told they were in their 30s, I would think they were in middle school with the way they acted very often. Especially Jasper...dude it's on sight if I ever catch you. The way he would just pile anything he didn't want to do on Bluebell because he knew she wouldn't say no...what a jerk. And I wish there had been more of an explanation of WHY she'd never say no, past "she has issues letting go of control". It seemed like there was going to be a whole situaiton behind why but nothing ever came. I would have like to see more confrontation from Bluebell towards Jasper at the end, seriously Hadrian got close to what I think Jasper deserved.
And you know I was happy to get back to our cute little sentient town. I love PG and I thought it was so cute that Bluebell's magic was specific to taking care of and mending for buildings.
Now, let's find the perfect cutie for Oz!
June 15, 2026
I went into Buckle Up, Buttercup really excited, and I think maybe part of my experience is on me, I wasn’t fully in a cozy read mindset. I kept waiting for something big to happen… and then had to remind myself that cozy fantasy doesn’t always work like that.
The book honestly started off so strong. The tension? Immaculate. The forbidden aspect of the brother’s best friend trope? Even better. Hadrian being this massive, filthy-talking gargoyle with a soft side absolutely worked for me at first. But once they actually got together, everything started to feel rushed. The slow burn I was expecting kind of fizzled out too quickly, and I wanted more build-up instead of jumping straight into full-on romance.
Also… the pet names. I’m sorry, but they got to be a lot. Like, teeth-clenchingly sweet to the point where it pulled me out of the story more than once.
The Petra storyline threw me too. When she showed up as Hadrian’s long-lost sister, I was fully convinced there was going to be some kind of twist, like she was secretly evil or manipulating them, but nope. And again, that’s on me for forgetting this is a cozy fantasy where things tend to stay a little softer and more wholesome.
As for the spice… I wanted more. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t hit as hard as I was hoping. That said, I will absolutely give credit where it’s due, the tail? Always a nice touch 😉
Overall, this was a fun, easy read with a strong start and lovable characters, but it didn’t fully deliver on the tension or depth I was hoping for. Still enjoyable, just not quite what I expected.
The book honestly started off so strong. The tension? Immaculate. The forbidden aspect of the brother’s best friend trope? Even better. Hadrian being this massive, filthy-talking gargoyle with a soft side absolutely worked for me at first. But once they actually got together, everything started to feel rushed. The slow burn I was expecting kind of fizzled out too quickly, and I wanted more build-up instead of jumping straight into full-on romance.
Also… the pet names. I’m sorry, but they got to be a lot. Like, teeth-clenchingly sweet to the point where it pulled me out of the story more than once.
The Petra storyline threw me too. When she showed up as Hadrian’s long-lost sister, I was fully convinced there was going to be some kind of twist, like she was secretly evil or manipulating them, but nope. And again, that’s on me for forgetting this is a cozy fantasy where things tend to stay a little softer and more wholesome.
As for the spice… I wanted more. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t hit as hard as I was hoping. That said, I will absolutely give credit where it’s due, the tail? Always a nice touch 😉
Overall, this was a fun, easy read with a strong start and lovable characters, but it didn’t fully deliver on the tension or depth I was hoping for. Still enjoyable, just not quite what I expected.
July 16, 2026
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I'm so glad that I enjoyed this more than the first book in this new series. This was a fun, sexy AF, and slightly angsty forbidden (brother's best friend) friends-to-lovers romance. Bluebell and Hadrian were easy characters to root for and I enjoyed seeing them work out their changing relationship dynamics. Bluebell definitely deserved someone who worshipped her and who enjoyed taking care of her, and I'm glad that it was Hadrian who stepped up to the role.
I don't think I've ever seen a character run herself as ragged as Bluebell—the girl didn't know how to stop or when to say enough, which was also a key challenge for her character. I really wanted to see her stop letting herself be used as a doormat by other people—everyone was stepping all over her, especially her brothers, and it kind of infuriated me. I'm glad that she managed to slow down a bit by the end and be more firm, but it helped so much that Hadrian was in her corner. I thought that they had great chemistry—the steam was steaming, lol—and the banter was great too!
What I really didn't love was Bluebell's brothers. They were awful and the epitome of entitled, childish men who really deserved a kick in the ass. Even the "nice" youngest brother who didn't take as much advantage of Bluebell couldn't stand up for her enough to draw the line and make the other brothers realize they were being absolute douche canoes. The apologies at the end also felt a little wompwomp because how on earth do you treat someone like that for years and think it's ok?! 💀
I'm so glad that I enjoyed this more than the first book in this new series. This was a fun, sexy AF, and slightly angsty forbidden (brother's best friend) friends-to-lovers romance. Bluebell and Hadrian were easy characters to root for and I enjoyed seeing them work out their changing relationship dynamics. Bluebell definitely deserved someone who worshipped her and who enjoyed taking care of her, and I'm glad that it was Hadrian who stepped up to the role.
I don't think I've ever seen a character run herself as ragged as Bluebell—the girl didn't know how to stop or when to say enough, which was also a key challenge for her character. I really wanted to see her stop letting herself be used as a doormat by other people—everyone was stepping all over her, especially her brothers, and it kind of infuriated me. I'm glad that she managed to slow down a bit by the end and be more firm, but it helped so much that Hadrian was in her corner. I thought that they had great chemistry—the steam was steaming, lol—and the banter was great too!
What I really didn't love was Bluebell's brothers. They were awful and the epitome of entitled, childish men who really deserved a kick in the ass. Even the "nice" youngest brother who didn't take as much advantage of Bluebell couldn't stand up for her enough to draw the line and make the other brothers realize they were being absolute douche canoes. The apologies at the end also felt a little wompwomp because how on earth do you treat someone like that for years and think it's ok?! 💀
May 26, 2026
I get that it’s a brother’s best friend to lovers troupe, but Bluebell cared waaaay to much about what her immature brothers thought. It’s weird that the brothers (all in their 30s btw) are written as immature teenagers. They don’t help out with the business, they get drunk, they make fun of their sister constantly there isn’t a redeeming quality between them. It’s so bad, I can’t figure out why Hadrian is even friends with them. Do humans live longer in the haven system? Because being 35 and still getting drunk on a regular basis, hooking up with random girls and living with your parents is kind of insane…especially when your family owns several rental properties.
Rant over: now back to the couple at hand. Hadrian and Bluebell are cute, but this was a very slow burn…there’s some weird hallway masturbation and an even odder situation where she goes skinny dipping with her BROTHERS (?!) and a building that hates her (probably because she’s taking every job in the town). I couldn’t figure Bluebell out…why did she have so many jobs? She makes lists…but what’s her ultimate goal? Needed way more time with her and her friends (Lemon and Oz) but that was nearly impossible since she spends every waking moment working.
All in all, the characters are written as though they are in high school (one of the brothers is studying for a test for most of the book) and I didn’t find it that enjoyable. I didn’t even mention the surprise childcare halfway through.
Rant over: now back to the couple at hand. Hadrian and Bluebell are cute, but this was a very slow burn…there’s some weird hallway masturbation and an even odder situation where she goes skinny dipping with her BROTHERS (?!) and a building that hates her (probably because she’s taking every job in the town). I couldn’t figure Bluebell out…why did she have so many jobs? She makes lists…but what’s her ultimate goal? Needed way more time with her and her friends (Lemon and Oz) but that was nearly impossible since she spends every waking moment working.
All in all, the characters are written as though they are in high school (one of the brothers is studying for a test for most of the book) and I didn’t find it that enjoyable. I didn’t even mention the surprise childcare halfway through.
July 9, 2026
This follows Bluebell and Hadrian, best friends since they were children with Hadrian being essentially raised by her parents with his absent parents, who have never crossed the friend zone line until Hadrian moves back home and now that line is starting to blur.
I adored this book. I don’t read friends to lovers romances very often, and I love being able to read a nice healthy friends to lovers relationship. These two already has such a true close friendship, and to see it grow into more, and in a healthy way, was wonderful to read. It was also different from what I normally read, much more lighthearted, and cozy.
The banter between the two of them is exquisite. And then when the lines kind of blur, the lines involving their feelings, things just got really heated, and their banter became more steamy. Seeing Hadrian be so dominant, I mean, can someone say swoon???? Their steamy smexy moments together were top notch.
I also loved revisiting Pine Gulch, and the characters that live there, such as Lemon, and Oz. I love the friendship Bluebell has with the two of them. A very healthy friendship built upon good communication and support. Their interactions with each other were just hilarious.
I just adore the series, and the romances and friendships we get to experience in these. I very much look forward to the next book!
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I adored this book. I don’t read friends to lovers romances very often, and I love being able to read a nice healthy friends to lovers relationship. These two already has such a true close friendship, and to see it grow into more, and in a healthy way, was wonderful to read. It was also different from what I normally read, much more lighthearted, and cozy.
The banter between the two of them is exquisite. And then when the lines kind of blur, the lines involving their feelings, things just got really heated, and their banter became more steamy. Seeing Hadrian be so dominant, I mean, can someone say swoon???? Their steamy smexy moments together were top notch.
I also loved revisiting Pine Gulch, and the characters that live there, such as Lemon, and Oz. I love the friendship Bluebell has with the two of them. A very healthy friendship built upon good communication and support. Their interactions with each other were just hilarious.
I just adore the series, and the romances and friendships we get to experience in these. I very much look forward to the next book!
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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