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Sterling Springs #2
Something Spontaneous
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 01:36:47
3 copies available
U.S. only
Josie Hare left her hometown a decade ago with a broken heart and no plans to ever return. She doesn’t do strings and loves going wherever she wants, whenever she wants, financing her nomad life as a faceless cam girl.
When Josie’s van breaks down and the only mechanic for miles is in Sterling Springs, she will have more to confront than just an expensive repair bill—her ex.
Sly Sterling is a man of few words and even fewer indulgences. When he isn’t running his family’s garage, he’s keeping to himself in his small town and waiting on his favorite content creator’s next post.
Committed to giving Josie the closure she deserves, Sly will do anything, even if it means letting her go—again—because it’s the only way to love her.
They were each other’s first, but will they do SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS and be each other’s last?
Something Spontaneous is a spicy second chance romance filled with banter, undeniable chemistry, small town forced proximity, and a guaranteed happily ever after. When Josie ends up back in her hometown and the only mechanic for miles is the boy who broke her heart… they were each other’s first, but will they take this second chance to be each other’s last?
Perfect for readers who love:
Dual POV
Small Town
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Banter
Found Family
Please check content warnings as some material might be sensitive to readers.
Also available on audio, with narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke
When Josie’s van breaks down and the only mechanic for miles is in Sterling Springs, she will have more to confront than just an expensive repair bill—her ex.
Sly Sterling is a man of few words and even fewer indulgences. When he isn’t running his family’s garage, he’s keeping to himself in his small town and waiting on his favorite content creator’s next post.
Committed to giving Josie the closure she deserves, Sly will do anything, even if it means letting her go—again—because it’s the only way to love her.
They were each other’s first, but will they do SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS and be each other’s last?
Something Spontaneous is a spicy second chance romance filled with banter, undeniable chemistry, small town forced proximity, and a guaranteed happily ever after. When Josie ends up back in her hometown and the only mechanic for miles is the boy who broke her heart… they were each other’s first, but will they take this second chance to be each other’s last?
Perfect for readers who love:
Dual POV
Small Town
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Banter
Found Family
Please check content warnings as some material might be sensitive to readers.
Also available on audio, with narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke
Paperback
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
Dakota Forest
6 books291 followersI’m an avid skier and traveler from Ohio. When I’m not writing, you can find me enjoying time outside, ideally in the mountains with my partner and our fur babies. The joy of getting in a car and driving across the country to explore is unmatched, and also a great time to check off the romance novels from my never ending TBR… and who doesn’t love that?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
October 27, 2026
Fantastic smut, okay plot... let me get into this...
Now, second-chance romances have always held a particular appeal for me, but only when the story sidesteps the usual pitfalls: betrayal, generic OM/OW drama, conveniently forgettable new partners, and flimsy justifications for why these two people suddenly become each other's whole world. Luckily, Something Spontaneous made it rather clear that it was aiming for something more genuine. Somewhat refreshing, I might say, because lately I felt like every romance book suggested people could no longer be alone, jumping from one relationship or situationship to the next to have someone. Josie and Sly’s story, however, promised to grapple with what it means to circle back after years apart, and I was keen to see how their shared past would ripple through everything that followed. That's my jam!
I liked the setup, including Josie’s career as an adult content creator and the hilarious fact that Sly has unknowingly stayed connected to her through Bunny. It added an extra layer of awkwardness to their reunion that I found genuinely entertaining. Their initial interactions, the lingering attraction, the unresolved feelings, and the tension building between them were probably some of my favourite parts of the book. I also appreciated that Josie’s job wasn’t treated as something she needed to apologise for or eventually abandon to deserve a relationship. So the first 50% was really fun to listen to.
Sterling Springs itself was a cute setting, though I often wished it felt livelier. Except for a few key people, that town felt oddly empty, and the diner, dive bar, motel, and so on never quite gave it the sense of a place with its own pulse. It seemed to have only about 7 residents. For some reason, I think this shaped how I saw Josie’s complicated relationship with her hometown. Her fear of being judged and her hesitation to return are very clear and suggest years of unresolved pain, yet she has surprisingly few (if you don’t count Sly’s family, only three important) encounters that make her face any of it (positively or negatively). I wanted to see her handle those awkward reunions, face the people and memories she's avoided for so long, and maybe find out if her fears still match the reality of the place she left behind. Don’t get me wrong, we get bits of this, but for it to take up so much space in her mind, the actual meetings felt too small to fill so much of her memory. Some of this happened, but briefly or on the surface, so much of that conflict stays inside her, which also feels like a missed chance to give the town more personality and make its effect on Josie’s life clearer.
My biggest issue, though, was how little time we spent with the two events that essentially form the emotional backbone of this entire story:
Now, when it comes to intimacy, Dakota Forest writes sex scenes with undeniable skill and heat. The chemistry between Josie and Sly leaps off the page, and the story never shies away from their physical connection. I devoured that. But I wish the balance was different. More than once, I would have traded a steamy scene (or even another cameo from Octavius) for a closer look into the characters’ hearts: an unfinished conversation finally brought to light, or even just passionate scenes where they want but can't get intimate...I wanted to see what might unfold if the story let its characters be vulnerable in ways that went beyond the physical.
All that said, and I know this sounds more negative than I intended, I genuinely liked these characters. Sly easily became my favourite. I found myself rooting for him even when I questioned some of his choices. The disability representation was handled thoughtfully—sometimes a bit lightly, but intertwined naturally into his character and daily life. His father was a true standout, his sister was a delight, and the female friendships and found-family elements added much-needed feel-good moments (though I must say, the Sterling brothers' relationship felt a bit distant).
And I obviously have to talk about the audiobook, because Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke deserve a lot of credit for how much I enjoyed it. I’m fairly certain Samantha Brentmoor could narrate just about any female character and make me like her. She was fantastic as Josie, and Jason Clarke, who is already one of my favourite narrators, was equally wonderful as Sly. Did he occasionally make a twenty-seven-year-old sound a fair bit older? Absolutely. Did I mind? Not particularly. It actually worked quite well with Sly’s slightly grumpy personality. Their performances brought so much life to these characters, and I genuinely think the audiobook made the whole experience better for me.
So even with my reservations, especially about how the story handles its emotional heart, I can’t deny that I laughed, rooted for these characters, and truly enjoyed the ride.
*Thank you to the author and MLA for the ALC. Receiving a complimentary copy did not influence my rating or review in any way. I was not paid, nor will I ever be paid, to review books.
Now, second-chance romances have always held a particular appeal for me, but only when the story sidesteps the usual pitfalls: betrayal, generic OM/OW drama, conveniently forgettable new partners, and flimsy justifications for why these two people suddenly become each other's whole world. Luckily, Something Spontaneous made it rather clear that it was aiming for something more genuine. Somewhat refreshing, I might say, because lately I felt like every romance book suggested people could no longer be alone, jumping from one relationship or situationship to the next to have someone. Josie and Sly’s story, however, promised to grapple with what it means to circle back after years apart, and I was keen to see how their shared past would ripple through everything that followed. That's my jam!
I liked the setup, including Josie’s career as an adult content creator and the hilarious fact that Sly has unknowingly stayed connected to her through Bunny. It added an extra layer of awkwardness to their reunion that I found genuinely entertaining. Their initial interactions, the lingering attraction, the unresolved feelings, and the tension building between them were probably some of my favourite parts of the book. I also appreciated that Josie’s job wasn’t treated as something she needed to apologise for or eventually abandon to deserve a relationship. So the first 50% was really fun to listen to.
Sterling Springs itself was a cute setting, though I often wished it felt livelier. Except for a few key people, that town felt oddly empty, and the diner, dive bar, motel, and so on never quite gave it the sense of a place with its own pulse. It seemed to have only about 7 residents. For some reason, I think this shaped how I saw Josie’s complicated relationship with her hometown. Her fear of being judged and her hesitation to return are very clear and suggest years of unresolved pain, yet she has surprisingly few (if you don’t count Sly’s family, only three important) encounters that make her face any of it (positively or negatively). I wanted to see her handle those awkward reunions, face the people and memories she's avoided for so long, and maybe find out if her fears still match the reality of the place she left behind. Don’t get me wrong, we get bits of this, but for it to take up so much space in her mind, the actual meetings felt too small to fill so much of her memory. Some of this happened, but briefly or on the surface, so much of that conflict stays inside her, which also feels like a missed chance to give the town more personality and make its effect on Josie’s life clearer.
My biggest issue, though, was how little time we spent with the two events that essentially form the emotional backbone of this entire story:
Now, when it comes to intimacy, Dakota Forest writes sex scenes with undeniable skill and heat. The chemistry between Josie and Sly leaps off the page, and the story never shies away from their physical connection. I devoured that. But I wish the balance was different. More than once, I would have traded a steamy scene (or even another cameo from Octavius) for a closer look into the characters’ hearts: an unfinished conversation finally brought to light, or even just passionate scenes where they want but can't get intimate...I wanted to see what might unfold if the story let its characters be vulnerable in ways that went beyond the physical.
All that said, and I know this sounds more negative than I intended, I genuinely liked these characters. Sly easily became my favourite. I found myself rooting for him even when I questioned some of his choices. The disability representation was handled thoughtfully—sometimes a bit lightly, but intertwined naturally into his character and daily life. His father was a true standout, his sister was a delight, and the female friendships and found-family elements added much-needed feel-good moments (though I must say, the Sterling brothers' relationship felt a bit distant).
And I obviously have to talk about the audiobook, because Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke deserve a lot of credit for how much I enjoyed it. I’m fairly certain Samantha Brentmoor could narrate just about any female character and make me like her. She was fantastic as Josie, and Jason Clarke, who is already one of my favourite narrators, was equally wonderful as Sly. Did he occasionally make a twenty-seven-year-old sound a fair bit older? Absolutely. Did I mind? Not particularly. It actually worked quite well with Sly’s slightly grumpy personality. Their performances brought so much life to these characters, and I genuinely think the audiobook made the whole experience better for me.
So even with my reservations, especially about how the story handles its emotional heart, I can’t deny that I laughed, rooted for these characters, and truly enjoyed the ride.
*Thank you to the author and MLA for the ALC. Receiving a complimentary copy did not influence my rating or review in any way. I was not paid, nor will I ever be paid, to review books.
October 21, 2026
4 stars.
"Something Spontaneous" by Dakota Forest is a small-town, forced-proximity, second-chance romance that is really, really spicy. Josie (FMC) left Sterling Springs years ago to travel the West Coast in her van. She does premium spicy content to pay for her lifestyle. She has no intention of returning home, but her van had other plans. Sly/Sylvester (MMC) is a mechanic who runs his family's garage in Sterling Springs and is the boy who broke Josie's heart a decade ago. He has subscribed to Josie's content for quite some time and is mildly obsessed with her while not even realizing it was her since she doesn't show her face. First of all, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke do a spectacular job with their dual narration of this book. They are the pinnacle, the cream of the crop, in my opinion, and they breathe such life and vivacity into these characters. Samantha is excellent as the sassy, take-no-$h1t Josie, and Jason is perfection as the reserved but dedicated Sly. Now, onto the rest. I liked this book, and I am very much enjoying this series! Josie and Sly have some terrific banter that teeters along an "enemies to lovers" line. Sometimes, they can get mean with each other because their feelings have been hurt due to their long-winded history, but overall, their banter is witty, if a touch catty. Second chance romances are not usually my jam, but I think the "we parted because I thought it would benefit you if we did" is better than most other second chances, and that's what happens here. Josie has spent years running from settling down, from laying down roots, always on the move, always with her eye on the next city, the next video, the next best thing. Sly is stuck in the same place he's always been, working at the family car garage, grumpily moving through life in Sterling Springs; not a day has gone by where he didn't miss Josie. Even when she comes back into his life, or rather, their town, it's not an instant reconnection. She makes him work for it, and she should, he broke her heart! But they are clearly end-game, and everyone who sees them knows it (well....*almost* everyone). The question is, can they get out of their own heads, can they get out of their own way, can they communicate effectively so they can be together again? Can they grow *together* where, in the past, they grew apart? To me, the answer is yes; I think they both display great character growth both separately and together. There is *a lot* of spice between Sly and Josie, and while these scenes are well-written and very, *very* hot, I think they can often overshadow the actual plot at times. I do love how Sly never, ever judges Josie for her chosen profession, that he relishes her adventurous spirit and boldness. My other small gripe is that I wish we had gotten some flashbacks of what actually went down between Josie and Sly before she left, the reasons why, their feelings leading up to and right after, etc. They tell us what happened in the present, but I think a dual timeline here would have behooved us as readers for a fuller, more complex picture. I do think this was a little long, but not in an annoying "hurry the heck up" way, just in an observational "oh, I am surprised this has two hours left to go" way. Other than that, I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. I love Dakota's writing, and I am very much enjoying the couples, secondary characters, busybodies, and inner workings of Sterling Springs!
Thank you to Dakota Forest and Luna Literary for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Something Spontaneous" by Dakota Forest is a small-town, forced-proximity, second-chance romance that is really, really spicy. Josie (FMC) left Sterling Springs years ago to travel the West Coast in her van. She does premium spicy content to pay for her lifestyle. She has no intention of returning home, but her van had other plans. Sly/Sylvester (MMC) is a mechanic who runs his family's garage in Sterling Springs and is the boy who broke Josie's heart a decade ago. He has subscribed to Josie's content for quite some time and is mildly obsessed with her while not even realizing it was her since she doesn't show her face. First of all, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke do a spectacular job with their dual narration of this book. They are the pinnacle, the cream of the crop, in my opinion, and they breathe such life and vivacity into these characters. Samantha is excellent as the sassy, take-no-$h1t Josie, and Jason is perfection as the reserved but dedicated Sly. Now, onto the rest. I liked this book, and I am very much enjoying this series! Josie and Sly have some terrific banter that teeters along an "enemies to lovers" line. Sometimes, they can get mean with each other because their feelings have been hurt due to their long-winded history, but overall, their banter is witty, if a touch catty. Second chance romances are not usually my jam, but I think the "we parted because I thought it would benefit you if we did" is better than most other second chances, and that's what happens here. Josie has spent years running from settling down, from laying down roots, always on the move, always with her eye on the next city, the next video, the next best thing. Sly is stuck in the same place he's always been, working at the family car garage, grumpily moving through life in Sterling Springs; not a day has gone by where he didn't miss Josie. Even when she comes back into his life, or rather, their town, it's not an instant reconnection. She makes him work for it, and she should, he broke her heart! But they are clearly end-game, and everyone who sees them knows it (well....*almost* everyone). The question is, can they get out of their own heads, can they get out of their own way, can they communicate effectively so they can be together again? Can they grow *together* where, in the past, they grew apart? To me, the answer is yes; I think they both display great character growth both separately and together. There is *a lot* of spice between Sly and Josie, and while these scenes are well-written and very, *very* hot, I think they can often overshadow the actual plot at times. I do love how Sly never, ever judges Josie for her chosen profession, that he relishes her adventurous spirit and boldness. My other small gripe is that I wish we had gotten some flashbacks of what actually went down between Josie and Sly before she left, the reasons why, their feelings leading up to and right after, etc. They tell us what happened in the present, but I think a dual timeline here would have behooved us as readers for a fuller, more complex picture. I do think this was a little long, but not in an annoying "hurry the heck up" way, just in an observational "oh, I am surprised this has two hours left to go" way. Other than that, I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. I love Dakota's writing, and I am very much enjoying the couples, secondary characters, busybodies, and inner workings of Sterling Springs!
Thank you to Dakota Forest and Luna Literary for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
able to read early thanks to Dakota and got to do an immersive read with the beta ALC and lemme tell you
PERFECTION. so spicy and sweet and full of fun and heart felt moments that had me routing for Sly and Josie.
Samantha Brentmoore and Jason Clarke did a wonderful job narrating the story. they are a killer duo and did so well. 🥵
PERFECTION. so spicy and sweet and full of fun and heart felt moments that had me routing for Sly and Josie.
Samantha Brentmoore and Jason Clarke did a wonderful job narrating the story. they are a killer duo and did so well. 🥵
May 24, 2026
AUDIOBOOK VERSION (OCTOBER 2026)
5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
It’s always such a special moment to be able to read (much more, listen!) to the final product of a book for which you did a beta read… and Something Spontaneous is one of these times! Since the first book of their’s that I read, Dakota has been a favorite author of mine. But this is truly something special! Josie and Sly are what dreams are made of for me in a romance novel: childhood friends to lovers, second chance, feisty FMC and a couple of lil’ horn dogs. Their shared history in this story, plus the setting of their home town, really ratcheted up the stakes and tension for these two. I absolutely adored it! Their story isn’t without strife and all that yearnin’ and burnin’ I love, and the explosion we get of their relationship was so satisfactory. Plus we get visits from previous couples from Dakota’s books, which I couldn’t stop smiling about. This story is so stinking GOOD, y’all!!
What I Loved About This Story:
✨A second chance is always going to make me melt
✨ These two are filthy (respectful & complimentary) AND I’M OBSESSED WITH IT
✨ Add Josie to my rolodex of Dakota Forest FMC’s with which I am completely enamored
What I Loved About This Audiobook:
✨Jason Clarke is literal perfection. His growly Sly PLUS his Josie voice… dear lord. He is a magician!
✨I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an audiobook where Samantha Brentmoor has done any wrong
I received both an Advanced Listener Copy and an ARC of this book via Dakota, but my review is all my own.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
BETA READ (APRIL 2026)
Beta read! Full review to come after my ARC read! These two are something else 😈🐙
5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
It’s always such a special moment to be able to read (much more, listen!) to the final product of a book for which you did a beta read… and Something Spontaneous is one of these times! Since the first book of their’s that I read, Dakota has been a favorite author of mine. But this is truly something special! Josie and Sly are what dreams are made of for me in a romance novel: childhood friends to lovers, second chance, feisty FMC and a couple of lil’ horn dogs. Their shared history in this story, plus the setting of their home town, really ratcheted up the stakes and tension for these two. I absolutely adored it! Their story isn’t without strife and all that yearnin’ and burnin’ I love, and the explosion we get of their relationship was so satisfactory. Plus we get visits from previous couples from Dakota’s books, which I couldn’t stop smiling about. This story is so stinking GOOD, y’all!!
What I Loved About This Story:
✨A second chance is always going to make me melt
✨ These two are filthy (respectful & complimentary) AND I’M OBSESSED WITH IT
✨ Add Josie to my rolodex of Dakota Forest FMC’s with which I am completely enamored
What I Loved About This Audiobook:
✨Jason Clarke is literal perfection. His growly Sly PLUS his Josie voice… dear lord. He is a magician!
✨I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an audiobook where Samantha Brentmoor has done any wrong
I received both an Advanced Listener Copy and an ARC of this book via Dakota, but my review is all my own.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
BETA READ (APRIL 2026)
Beta read! Full review to come after my ARC read! These two are something else 😈🐙
May 20, 2026
Beta read. You're gonna love it.
October 14, 2026
Well, this blew my expectations out of the water! It's so hot, yet so touching and heartfelt, I didn't know what to do with myself, haha.
Josie and Sly were high school sweethearts. Each other's first loves. But Josie has always been a free spirit, wanting a life full of adventure away from their tiny town of Sterling Springs, and Sly had planned to go with her. But after her parents do some shady stuff that makes staying in town impossible, Sly decides, in his infinite wisdom, to end things with Josie so she can be free to travel and live the life she's always wanted. Meanwhile, he stays behind out of obligation to help run his family's business.
Fast-forward 10 years, and Josie is now a highly successful cam girl who's still living life on the road in her van. But when her van starts having mechanical issues, the tow truck driver takes it to the closest garage, which, of course, is Sly Sterling's repair shop. The two are suddenly back in each other's lives and having a hard time fighting off feelings they've never truly gotten over.
If you love second-chance romance, it's always been you, dislike-to-lovers, toys as teammates, a man down bad and pining after the one who got away, spicy spice, female friendships, and found family, this one is for you!
I am always a sucker for a second-chance romance, and this one did NOT disappoint. I love Josie, I love Sly, I love them together, and I loved the push and pull as they tried to figure out how to handle being back in each other's orbit. Dakota did an excellent job of mixing spice, humor, fun, and heartfelt, emotional moments that really stuck with me. I loved watching both Josie and Sly heal from their past and figure out what they really wanted, and I honestly just had the BEST time with this book.
Audiobook Review
Now, I cannot post this review without talking about the audiobook. Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor are a dynamic duo, and this book is a shining example of why. Those two are true actors, and when you put them in the same audiobook, it's pure magic.
You can absolutely tell that both of them are actors, because not once does it feel like someone is simply reading a book to you. Their performances pull you in and make you feel like you're part of the story, witnessing everything from the front row. Whenever they narrate a book, I feel a much stronger connection to the story and characters, and this time was no different.
So yeah, BRAVO, Dakota. BRAVO, Samantha. BRAVO, Jason. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did, but here I am, and now I'm gonna go shout from the rooftops about why everyone needs to read this book!
Josie and Sly were high school sweethearts. Each other's first loves. But Josie has always been a free spirit, wanting a life full of adventure away from their tiny town of Sterling Springs, and Sly had planned to go with her. But after her parents do some shady stuff that makes staying in town impossible, Sly decides, in his infinite wisdom, to end things with Josie so she can be free to travel and live the life she's always wanted. Meanwhile, he stays behind out of obligation to help run his family's business.
Fast-forward 10 years, and Josie is now a highly successful cam girl who's still living life on the road in her van. But when her van starts having mechanical issues, the tow truck driver takes it to the closest garage, which, of course, is Sly Sterling's repair shop. The two are suddenly back in each other's lives and having a hard time fighting off feelings they've never truly gotten over.
If you love second-chance romance, it's always been you, dislike-to-lovers, toys as teammates, a man down bad and pining after the one who got away, spicy spice, female friendships, and found family, this one is for you!
I am always a sucker for a second-chance romance, and this one did NOT disappoint. I love Josie, I love Sly, I love them together, and I loved the push and pull as they tried to figure out how to handle being back in each other's orbit. Dakota did an excellent job of mixing spice, humor, fun, and heartfelt, emotional moments that really stuck with me. I loved watching both Josie and Sly heal from their past and figure out what they really wanted, and I honestly just had the BEST time with this book.
Audiobook Review
Now, I cannot post this review without talking about the audiobook. Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor are a dynamic duo, and this book is a shining example of why. Those two are true actors, and when you put them in the same audiobook, it's pure magic.
You can absolutely tell that both of them are actors, because not once does it feel like someone is simply reading a book to you. Their performances pull you in and make you feel like you're part of the story, witnessing everything from the front row. Whenever they narrate a book, I feel a much stronger connection to the story and characters, and this time was no different.
So yeah, BRAVO, Dakota. BRAVO, Samantha. BRAVO, Jason. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did, but here I am, and now I'm gonna go shout from the rooftops about why everyone needs to read this book!
October 22, 2026
Thanks to Luna Literary and the author for the ARC/ALC.
Such a fun and different story! I really loved this second chance romance. The small-town vibes, found family, and the grumpy MMC who has been completely gone for her all along were everything. Her van life was such a fun touch, and the spice was GOOD. I also loved his sister and dad because they were so fun! It’s a super entertaining, quick read, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were great, too. Definitely recommend this one!
Such a fun and different story! I really loved this second chance romance. The small-town vibes, found family, and the grumpy MMC who has been completely gone for her all along were everything. Her van life was such a fun touch, and the spice was GOOD. I also loved his sister and dad because they were so fun! It’s a super entertaining, quick read, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were great, too. Definitely recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Josie’s living the van life, filming adult content on the road, until her transmission dies in the ONE place she swore she'd never go back to: Sterling Springs. 🚐💥
And the only mechanic in town? Her ex. 😬 Sly let her go years ago and has regretted it every day since. Now she's back, the yearning is UNREAL, and he has no idea he's been subscribed to her page for years. 🙈
I'm a sucker for a second chance romance and this one lived up to the hype!! Their instant hatred was really just unresolved issues, and I knew I'd love Sly from his little cameos in the last book. 🥹
Sly never left Sterling Springs. He's the town fix-it man, working in the shop with his dad on cars that hit the same pothole 97 times. He never gave up on the girl he pushed away, and he's got a secret obsession with a cam girl he regularly requests personalized content from. 👀
When these two reunite it's oil and water… in the best way. And when Sly meets Josie's coworker Octavius, who he is VERY familiar with, all bets are off. 🔥
🎧 The audiobook, narrated by Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke, was amazing!
things to know
Dual narration, dual pov, cam girl x mechanic, second chance, forced proximity, toys are teammates, small town, he counts orgasm, “good boy”, disability rep
And the only mechanic in town? Her ex. 😬 Sly let her go years ago and has regretted it every day since. Now she's back, the yearning is UNREAL, and he has no idea he's been subscribed to her page for years. 🙈
I'm a sucker for a second chance romance and this one lived up to the hype!! Their instant hatred was really just unresolved issues, and I knew I'd love Sly from his little cameos in the last book. 🥹
Sly never left Sterling Springs. He's the town fix-it man, working in the shop with his dad on cars that hit the same pothole 97 times. He never gave up on the girl he pushed away, and he's got a secret obsession with a cam girl he regularly requests personalized content from. 👀
When these two reunite it's oil and water… in the best way. And when Sly meets Josie's coworker Octavius, who he is VERY familiar with, all bets are off. 🔥
🎧 The audiobook, narrated by Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke, was amazing!
things to know
Dual narration, dual pov, cam girl x mechanic, second chance, forced proximity, toys are teammates, small town, he counts orgasm, “good boy”, disability rep
October 23, 2026
ARC/ALC REVIEW
I just finished last night even though I should have been ready by Tuesday because I'm special like this and of course, I listened to book 1 before I started this one! LOL
I'll be back tomorrow, but for now, I LOVED BOTH STORIES SO MUCH!
I'm baaaaaaack :)
The most fun thing that happened for me by binging these two stories is that while one was sweet and cozy the other was tangy and spicy and they were both exactly what they needed to be for the characters and their individual stories. That made my romance loving heart so happy because now I have a new-to-me author who has become an always-to-me author. *heart eyes*
Let’s focus on Something Spontaneous right now. While I had the opportunity to read & listen to early copies of this story, I confess that I listened for a majority of the story. Scratch that LOL I listened to all of it! How could I not with such an incredible team of Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke coming together to perform Josie & Sly! I was lost in their performance from the get and when you add the outstanding writing then I was just a goner! If it wasn’t for the “I have to sleep” life restriction, I could honestly have just listened to this all the way thru in one sit. Their performance was smooth and authentic and truly made me feel like I was inside the story as part of the world. I’ve always had difficulty explaining what that means or how it happens but it’s basically a feeling you get from the characters mainly that you would like to be their friend and in their world. When it happens, it is epic!
The story of Josie & Sly had so many positive attributes that I don’t even know how to pick what’s the most important to discuss because they all feel like they are. I will say that character growth as individuals and as a couple was expertly portrayed and genuinely felt natural and realistic to all of the circumstances in the story. This isn’t one of those “spontaneous” second chance stories. It’s a story that takes its time and really delves into growing and moving forward as adults from a place where they basically weren’t. They were young , not too too young, in the past, and the mistakes that were made were natural to who they were but that isn’t the case today so hurdles have to be jumped, situations have to be reassessed and a bond needs to “re-form” to reach the ❤️sweet spot❤️.
I’m not gonna lie and say that all the spice didn’t get a little bit “a lot” at times, but overall, it did fit their story especially because of Josie. You’ll have to read the story to figure out why. I found that both Josie & Sly were gigantic green flags and really brought out the best in each other. I was incredibly pleased with their story, and I rooted for them from the beginning!
I just finished last night even though I should have been ready by Tuesday because I'm special like this and of course, I listened to book 1 before I started this one! LOL
I'll be back tomorrow, but for now, I LOVED BOTH STORIES SO MUCH!
I'm baaaaaaack :)
The most fun thing that happened for me by binging these two stories is that while one was sweet and cozy the other was tangy and spicy and they were both exactly what they needed to be for the characters and their individual stories. That made my romance loving heart so happy because now I have a new-to-me author who has become an always-to-me author. *heart eyes*
Let’s focus on Something Spontaneous right now. While I had the opportunity to read & listen to early copies of this story, I confess that I listened for a majority of the story. Scratch that LOL I listened to all of it! How could I not with such an incredible team of Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke coming together to perform Josie & Sly! I was lost in their performance from the get and when you add the outstanding writing then I was just a goner! If it wasn’t for the “I have to sleep” life restriction, I could honestly have just listened to this all the way thru in one sit. Their performance was smooth and authentic and truly made me feel like I was inside the story as part of the world. I’ve always had difficulty explaining what that means or how it happens but it’s basically a feeling you get from the characters mainly that you would like to be their friend and in their world. When it happens, it is epic!
The story of Josie & Sly had so many positive attributes that I don’t even know how to pick what’s the most important to discuss because they all feel like they are. I will say that character growth as individuals and as a couple was expertly portrayed and genuinely felt natural and realistic to all of the circumstances in the story. This isn’t one of those “spontaneous” second chance stories. It’s a story that takes its time and really delves into growing and moving forward as adults from a place where they basically weren’t. They were young , not too too young, in the past, and the mistakes that were made were natural to who they were but that isn’t the case today so hurdles have to be jumped, situations have to be reassessed and a bond needs to “re-form” to reach the ❤️sweet spot❤️.
I’m not gonna lie and say that all the spice didn’t get a little bit “a lot” at times, but overall, it did fit their story especially because of Josie. You’ll have to read the story to figure out why. I found that both Josie & Sly were gigantic green flags and really brought out the best in each other. I was incredibly pleased with their story, and I rooted for them from the beginning!
Review of advance copy
Something Spontaneous had me hooked from the start!! Small town, second chance romance, forced proximity, first loves AND a grumpy mechanic?! SIGN ME THE FUCK UP!! 🥵🔥
JOSIE AND SLY!! OMG THESE TWO!! 😭❤️
Josie Hare left Sterling Springs ten years ago with a broken heart and absolutely no intention of ever coming back!! She’s independent, sassy, living life on her own terms and making money as a faceless cam girl!! I LOVED HER!! 😍
But then her van breaks down and WHO is the only mechanic around?! HER EX!! 😂😭 Talk about the universe having a wicked sense of humour!!
AND SLY STERLING!! 🥵🥵
A quiet, grumpy, hardworking mechanic who keeps to himself and just happens to be obsessed with his favourite content creator?! SIR!! 😂🔥 The irony of it all had me absolutely DYING!!
The chemistry between Josie and Sly was OFF THE CHARTS!! 🔥 The banter, the tension, the history, the longing and all those feelings that never really went away!! I was eating up EVERY SINGLE SECOND!!
And can we talk about a man who loves a woman enough to let her go if that’s what she needs?! 😭🥹 Sly wanting to give Josie the closure she deserves, even if it means losing her all over again, absolutely MELTED ME!!
I love a possessive man as much as the next girl, but a man who genuinely wants his woman to be happy, even if it breaks his own heart?! THAT RIGHT THERE!! ❤️😭
The fact that they were each other’s firsts and might just get the chance to be each other’s lasts?! STOP IT!! MY HEART!! 🥹😍
And the SPICE?! 🥵🔥 HELLOOO!! The tension between these two was absolutely delicious!! Add in the small-town atmosphere, forced proximity, found family and all that unresolved history, and I was a complete GONER!!
absolutely swoon-worthy, spicy, second-chance
Dakota Forest delivered everything I love in a romance!! A grumpy mechanic, a fiercely independent heroine, hilarious banter, emotional moments, sizzling chemistry and a second chance at the kind of love that never really goes away!! 🥹❤️
SLY AND JOSIE HAVE MY WHOLE HEART!! 😍🥰
I couldn’t get enough of these two and honestly didn’t want their story to end!! GIVE ME MORE STERLING SPRINGS!! ❤️🔥
JOSIE AND SLY!! OMG THESE TWO!! 😭❤️
Josie Hare left Sterling Springs ten years ago with a broken heart and absolutely no intention of ever coming back!! She’s independent, sassy, living life on her own terms and making money as a faceless cam girl!! I LOVED HER!! 😍
But then her van breaks down and WHO is the only mechanic around?! HER EX!! 😂😭 Talk about the universe having a wicked sense of humour!!
AND SLY STERLING!! 🥵🥵
A quiet, grumpy, hardworking mechanic who keeps to himself and just happens to be obsessed with his favourite content creator?! SIR!! 😂🔥 The irony of it all had me absolutely DYING!!
The chemistry between Josie and Sly was OFF THE CHARTS!! 🔥 The banter, the tension, the history, the longing and all those feelings that never really went away!! I was eating up EVERY SINGLE SECOND!!
And can we talk about a man who loves a woman enough to let her go if that’s what she needs?! 😭🥹 Sly wanting to give Josie the closure she deserves, even if it means losing her all over again, absolutely MELTED ME!!
I love a possessive man as much as the next girl, but a man who genuinely wants his woman to be happy, even if it breaks his own heart?! THAT RIGHT THERE!! ❤️😭
The fact that they were each other’s firsts and might just get the chance to be each other’s lasts?! STOP IT!! MY HEART!! 🥹😍
And the SPICE?! 🥵🔥 HELLOOO!! The tension between these two was absolutely delicious!! Add in the small-town atmosphere, forced proximity, found family and all that unresolved history, and I was a complete GONER!!
absolutely swoon-worthy, spicy, second-chance
Dakota Forest delivered everything I love in a romance!! A grumpy mechanic, a fiercely independent heroine, hilarious banter, emotional moments, sizzling chemistry and a second chance at the kind of love that never really goes away!! 🥹❤️
SLY AND JOSIE HAVE MY WHOLE HEART!! 😍🥰
I couldn’t get enough of these two and honestly didn’t want their story to end!! GIVE ME MORE STERLING SPRINGS!! ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC/ALC review
“I never stopped loving you, Bunny.”
This story follows Josie. She left Sterling Springs years ago with a broken heart and no intention of going back. She built herself a life traveling wherever she wants while living out of her van. However, when her van breaks down she ends up back in her hometown. She than comes face to face with the one person she never got over, Sly! He was her first love and also the man who broke her heart. Sly has stayed in Sterling Springs to live a quiet predictable life while working at his family’s garage. He never really stopped loving Josie and having her suddenly back in town brings all those old feelings rushing back. What starts as an unexpected reunion turns into a second chance.
This was a fun second chance read. I loved how the history of Josie and Sly was so strong. It managed to have a certain tension between those two at all times.
I enjoyed reading about Josie her independence. It was very much appreciated to see her take matters into her own hand and do whatever she wanted to do. Sly on the other hand is much more reserved. I loved how he went above and beyond to hide his disability from Josie. It brought a couple of funny situations forth in the story. I did however loved it even more when he finally gathered his courage and tell her already.
It is no secret that I enjoy a good small town setting. This story was no exception on that front. There was plenty of family interaction, old history, friendships and that cozy Sterling Springs atmosphere that made the book feel like more than just the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching these two find their way back to each other. There was spicy, emotions, funny banter and the HEA we hoped for.
Audio book - 5 Stars
I loved loved loved the audiobook of Something Spontaneous! Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were such a great combination for Josie and Sly.
Samantha really captured Josie’s personality, the independence, attitude, vulnerability but also all the emotions she tries so hard to keep buried. Jason was perfect as Sly. Especially with his deeper, calmer voice and the way he brought out Sly’s protective and more emotional side.
It is no secret that I think that their voices work together well in a book. This book is no exception. The chemistry between the two main characters felt so natural. I loved it.
“I never stopped loving you, Bunny.”
This story follows Josie. She left Sterling Springs years ago with a broken heart and no intention of going back. She built herself a life traveling wherever she wants while living out of her van. However, when her van breaks down she ends up back in her hometown. She than comes face to face with the one person she never got over, Sly! He was her first love and also the man who broke her heart. Sly has stayed in Sterling Springs to live a quiet predictable life while working at his family’s garage. He never really stopped loving Josie and having her suddenly back in town brings all those old feelings rushing back. What starts as an unexpected reunion turns into a second chance.
This was a fun second chance read. I loved how the history of Josie and Sly was so strong. It managed to have a certain tension between those two at all times.
I enjoyed reading about Josie her independence. It was very much appreciated to see her take matters into her own hand and do whatever she wanted to do. Sly on the other hand is much more reserved. I loved how he went above and beyond to hide his disability from Josie. It brought a couple of funny situations forth in the story. I did however loved it even more when he finally gathered his courage and tell her already.
It is no secret that I enjoy a good small town setting. This story was no exception on that front. There was plenty of family interaction, old history, friendships and that cozy Sterling Springs atmosphere that made the book feel like more than just the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching these two find their way back to each other. There was spicy, emotions, funny banter and the HEA we hoped for.
Audio book - 5 Stars
I loved loved loved the audiobook of Something Spontaneous! Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were such a great combination for Josie and Sly.
Samantha really captured Josie’s personality, the independence, attitude, vulnerability but also all the emotions she tries so hard to keep buried. Jason was perfect as Sly. Especially with his deeper, calmer voice and the way he brought out Sly’s protective and more emotional side.
It is no secret that I think that their voices work together well in a book. This book is no exception. The chemistry between the two main characters felt so natural. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks, @dforestwrites and @mustloveaudio for the ALC.
Josie Hare is a free-spirited girl who lives in a van driving around the country and who makes a pretty good living (black card kinda living) as a cam girl - a job that not only pays the bills but that also makes her feel empowered.
When her van breaks, the only mechanic around is located in the town she swore she'd never set foot again: Sterling Springs, the town where she grew up and was shunned her when her parents went to jail for fraud.
To make things worse, the mechanic is Sly Sterling, her first and only love, who broke her heart into a million pieces.
Sterling can't believe Josie is back in his life again, albeit by chance and in a very temporary way. He knows he hurt her in an unforgivable way but his family decides to meddle.
As the days pass waiting for parts for the van, they face the past, including a traumatic event that changed Sly's life forever and Josie has no idea about.
The audiobook is narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke in dual style and I love when that happens because it gives them a chance to flex those incredible acting chops. Samantha shines as the sassy but deep down still a little insecure Josie and Jason is amazing as the broody mechanic. The two together is always magic!
What you get: small town shenanigans, van life, a cam girl who makes a mechanic's blood boil in many ways, a meddling dad, mending ten years of resentments, garage steamy times that require car repairs (!), finding out the cam girl you subscribe to is actually the love of your life, 'Octavious' the tentacled toy, besties who show up and lots (and I mean LOTS) of spicy times on your way to an HEA.
Representation: MMC is a below the knee amputee.
Content notes (including but not limited to): living with a disability (amputation), mentions of incarcerated parents, no contact with parents, bullying (in the past with ramifications in the present)
badass heroine blue collar cam girl childhood friends forced proximity found family idiots to lovers It's always been you mechanic sassy heroine second chance romance small town teenage sweethearts
Josie Hare is a free-spirited girl who lives in a van driving around the country and who makes a pretty good living (black card kinda living) as a cam girl - a job that not only pays the bills but that also makes her feel empowered.
When her van breaks, the only mechanic around is located in the town she swore she'd never set foot again: Sterling Springs, the town where she grew up and was shunned her when her parents went to jail for fraud.
To make things worse, the mechanic is Sly Sterling, her first and only love, who broke her heart into a million pieces.
Sterling can't believe Josie is back in his life again, albeit by chance and in a very temporary way. He knows he hurt her in an unforgivable way but his family decides to meddle.
As the days pass waiting for parts for the van, they face the past, including a traumatic event that changed Sly's life forever and Josie has no idea about.
The audiobook is narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke in dual style and I love when that happens because it gives them a chance to flex those incredible acting chops. Samantha shines as the sassy but deep down still a little insecure Josie and Jason is amazing as the broody mechanic. The two together is always magic!
What you get: small town shenanigans, van life, a cam girl who makes a mechanic's blood boil in many ways, a meddling dad, mending ten years of resentments, garage steamy times that require car repairs (!), finding out the cam girl you subscribe to is actually the love of your life, 'Octavious' the tentacled toy, besties who show up and lots (and I mean LOTS) of spicy times on your way to an HEA.
Representation: MMC is a below the knee amputee.
Content notes (including but not limited to): living with a disability (amputation), mentions of incarcerated parents, no contact with parents, bullying (in the past with ramifications in the present)
badass heroine blue collar cam girl childhood friends forced proximity found family idiots to lovers It's always been you mechanic sassy heroine second chance romance small town teenage sweethearts
Review of advance copy received from Author
She's a (faceless) cam girl, he's a big big fan. Turns out they are also exes! And she's back in their small hometown with a broken down van and of course - he is the only mechanic in town (well him and his dad, but you know there is nothing like a fictional meddling parent!).
It took exactly long enough for high school sweethearts Josie and Sly to realise their new connection to deliver some very delicious tension (it's been a decade, tatts have been added etc. so him not recognising her body felt believable). And then the tension kept going with some very very fun play. Phew, this was smoking hot. It also delivered a really sweet romance filled with how can we make this work when he feels tied to his family business and she has a wandering soul, the whole first time gone bad, and his newer loss-of-limb. So many secrets and past hurts, but this worked out in a way that felt real and true to the characters and tho it was about 100 pages too long, overall this was a great read and I would recommend to fans of contemporary romance.
I read via audiobook and really enjoyed the dual narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. Both have extensive credits to their name and there's a good chance you've listened to them before!
A second-chance small-town romance with fun shaped toys is my new fav microtrope! Book one is out now and I'm looking forward to picking it up. This was my first read by Dakota Forest and won't be my last!
Thank you to the author for an ALC, all opinions are my own.
It took exactly long enough for high school sweethearts Josie and Sly to realise their new connection to deliver some very delicious tension (it's been a decade, tatts have been added etc. so him not recognising her body felt believable). And then the tension kept going with some very very fun play. Phew, this was smoking hot. It also delivered a really sweet romance filled with how can we make this work when he feels tied to his family business and she has a wandering soul, the whole first time gone bad, and his newer loss-of-limb. So many secrets and past hurts, but this worked out in a way that felt real and true to the characters and tho it was about 100 pages too long, overall this was a great read and I would recommend to fans of contemporary romance.
I read via audiobook and really enjoyed the dual narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. Both have extensive credits to their name and there's a good chance you've listened to them before!
A second-chance small-town romance with fun shaped toys is my new fav microtrope! Book one is out now and I'm looking forward to picking it up. This was my first read by Dakota Forest and won't be my last!
Thank you to the author for an ALC, all opinions are my own.
October 27, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
3 🔥
Small Town Romance
Second Chance
Cam Girl & Mechanic
Toys are Teammates
Forced Proximity
Disability Rep
Found Family
Fantastic on Audio! 🎧
This was absolutely fantastic! I loved it so much!! This was my first from this author, and definitely won’t be the last. This is book two of the Sterling Springs series, but can be read as a complete standalone. Josie left her hometown a decade ago, heartbroken and with no plans to return. She has always been a little on the wild side, so traveling the world, in her camper van has been a dream come true. She has also been working as a cam girl, which helps to financially support her. When Josie’s van breaks down, there isn’t much choice in mechanic shops. She finds herself back in her hometown, in front of the boy, now man, that broke her heart. Josie became a town piranha before she left, because of the choices of her parents. But, Sly was her childhood sweetheart and soulmate. That was until he pushed her away and told her that what they had meant nothing to him. Sly has never regretted a decision more. Fate has lead Josie home, and he is determined to get a second chance with the girl of his dreams. He just has to convince her that they were always meant to be. The audiobook was absolutely fantastic! Performed by two of my favorites, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. I couldn’t have picked better narrators to voice these characters! Highly recommended the audio! I now need to go read Dakota’s backlist!
Thank you Dakota Forest & Must Love Audio for the ALC!
3 🔥
Small Town Romance
Second Chance
Cam Girl & Mechanic
Toys are Teammates
Forced Proximity
Disability Rep
Found Family
Fantastic on Audio! 🎧
This was absolutely fantastic! I loved it so much!! This was my first from this author, and definitely won’t be the last. This is book two of the Sterling Springs series, but can be read as a complete standalone. Josie left her hometown a decade ago, heartbroken and with no plans to return. She has always been a little on the wild side, so traveling the world, in her camper van has been a dream come true. She has also been working as a cam girl, which helps to financially support her. When Josie’s van breaks down, there isn’t much choice in mechanic shops. She finds herself back in her hometown, in front of the boy, now man, that broke her heart. Josie became a town piranha before she left, because of the choices of her parents. But, Sly was her childhood sweetheart and soulmate. That was until he pushed her away and told her that what they had meant nothing to him. Sly has never regretted a decision more. Fate has lead Josie home, and he is determined to get a second chance with the girl of his dreams. He just has to convince her that they were always meant to be. The audiobook was absolutely fantastic! Performed by two of my favorites, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. I couldn’t have picked better narrators to voice these characters! Highly recommended the audio! I now need to go read Dakota’s backlist!
Thank you Dakota Forest & Must Love Audio for the ALC!
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Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, well, welllllll! Was this one of the best surprises of my year?! Hell yeah! It's going on my top reads list for sure! I have had Dakota Forest on my TBR for a while now, & I am kicking myself for not jumping on her books sooner!! I'll be correcting that ASAP!
Audio: Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor?! What else could you ask for!! They are two of my favorites & did a phenomenal job bringing life to Josie & Sly! SO SO GOOD! They had me hooked and I listened to the entire thing in less than 12 hours! Dual narration, zero complaints! Absolutely loved it & I know you will too!
Story: Gah, I really don't even know where to start because I loved this one so much! The second chance, the banter, the chemistry, the girl friends, the angst, the healing, ugh it was just so so good & I loved every second of it! Josie & Sly were second chance romance perfection! I love the "hate" they had for each other, the angsty way they bantered, the friendship they grew again, when they realized those feelings never really went away, THE SPICE (dear LAWD, they are filthy & I ate it up!), the swoony things Sly would lay on her, good grief I just loved everything about this one!
I could probably say so much more, but I really don't want to give too much away & want you to experience them for yourself! They are worth it, I promise!
**Thank you to Luna Literary & Must Love Audio for the ARC & ALC opportunities!**
Audio: Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor?! What else could you ask for!! They are two of my favorites & did a phenomenal job bringing life to Josie & Sly! SO SO GOOD! They had me hooked and I listened to the entire thing in less than 12 hours! Dual narration, zero complaints! Absolutely loved it & I know you will too!
Story: Gah, I really don't even know where to start because I loved this one so much! The second chance, the banter, the chemistry, the girl friends, the angst, the healing, ugh it was just so so good & I loved every second of it! Josie & Sly were second chance romance perfection! I love the "hate" they had for each other, the angsty way they bantered, the friendship they grew again, when they realized those feelings never really went away, THE SPICE (dear LAWD, they are filthy & I ate it up!), the swoony things Sly would lay on her, good grief I just loved everything about this one!
I could probably say so much more, but I really don't want to give too much away & want you to experience them for yourself! They are worth it, I promise!
**Thank you to Luna Literary & Must Love Audio for the ARC & ALC opportunities!**
October 23, 2026
Read this if you love…small town. Toys are teammates. Dual POV. Second chance. Forced proximity. Found family. Cam girl. Van life. Grace’s bestie.
I found Dakota’s books from ARC reading Fresh tracks (5 starsss) and since that book I’ve been so excited to see what she’d write next! And of course I signed up to be part of the content team 🫶🏻
The Sterling springs series is so good!! I always have so much fun coming back to this place, it feels like home :,) I love how some of the past characters keep making appearances too. Book two was a special one which some *chefs kiss* tropes and some unique spicy ones! 🐙
From the first sentence to the last sentence I was hooked line and sinker. I read 50% of this in one sitting. I was gifted an eARC and the audiobook and this combination…phewwww. I love tandem reading and even better when it’s dual narration! THE START OF CHAPTER NINE WAS SO GOOD + CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - just wanted to shout that in my review ;) OnlyVans is a genius name 😂 I really liked how Josie embraced being a cam girl and didn’t do it just for the money or for it be a last resort, she did it because she loved it
I loved how the disability rep and how it affected the character in this was written and how reassuring but to the point Josie was. They bring out the best in each other, and I love seeing that in a book
Is it weird that I kinda want Octavius to have his own novella??
I found Dakota’s books from ARC reading Fresh tracks (5 starsss) and since that book I’ve been so excited to see what she’d write next! And of course I signed up to be part of the content team 🫶🏻
The Sterling springs series is so good!! I always have so much fun coming back to this place, it feels like home :,) I love how some of the past characters keep making appearances too. Book two was a special one which some *chefs kiss* tropes and some unique spicy ones! 🐙
From the first sentence to the last sentence I was hooked line and sinker. I read 50% of this in one sitting. I was gifted an eARC and the audiobook and this combination…phewwww. I love tandem reading and even better when it’s dual narration! THE START OF CHAPTER NINE WAS SO GOOD + CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - just wanted to shout that in my review ;) OnlyVans is a genius name 😂 I really liked how Josie embraced being a cam girl and didn’t do it just for the money or for it be a last resort, she did it because she loved it
I loved how the disability rep and how it affected the character in this was written and how reassuring but to the point Josie was. They bring out the best in each other, and I love seeing that in a book
Is it weird that I kinda want Octavius to have his own novella??
October 26, 2026
Something Spontaneous by Dakota Forest is book two in the Sterling Springs series and my first read by this author!!
This was a second chance, small town romance centered around Josie and Sly. Josie is a cam girl living her best van life. She loves traveling on the open roads and working as an adult content creator. That is until her transmission breaks down, which leads her back to the small town of Sterling Springs she left behind ten years ago. The cherry on top is, the town's grumpy mechanic happens to be her ex, the one who broke her heart 😮💨.
Sly has regretted letting Josie go all those years ago. They were just kids back then. But now Sly is given this chance to try to win the girl that got away back. Soon, he discovers that his favorite cam girl, Black Sheep Bunni is Josie!!
The yearning and the tension was everything! The banter and all the spicy scenes were chef's kiss delicious. Let's just say there are toys involved, one in particular named Octavius 🤭.
The audiobook is narrated by two of my favorites, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. These two made this story!! I cackled with Mr. Sterling's (Sly's meddling dad) antics and felt all the emotions they brought to these characters!!
Something Spontaneous was so much fun and I loved discovering all these characters. I can't wait to read more of Dakota's books!
Thank you Must Love Audio for the ALC copy ✨.
This was a second chance, small town romance centered around Josie and Sly. Josie is a cam girl living her best van life. She loves traveling on the open roads and working as an adult content creator. That is until her transmission breaks down, which leads her back to the small town of Sterling Springs she left behind ten years ago. The cherry on top is, the town's grumpy mechanic happens to be her ex, the one who broke her heart 😮💨.
Sly has regretted letting Josie go all those years ago. They were just kids back then. But now Sly is given this chance to try to win the girl that got away back. Soon, he discovers that his favorite cam girl, Black Sheep Bunni is Josie!!
The yearning and the tension was everything! The banter and all the spicy scenes were chef's kiss delicious. Let's just say there are toys involved, one in particular named Octavius 🤭.
The audiobook is narrated by two of my favorites, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. These two made this story!! I cackled with Mr. Sterling's (Sly's meddling dad) antics and felt all the emotions they brought to these characters!!
Something Spontaneous was so much fun and I loved discovering all these characters. I can't wait to read more of Dakota's books!
Thank you Must Love Audio for the ALC copy ✨.
October 8, 2026
Something Spontaneous is a steamy, smalltown, second chance romance with adult content creator FMC Josie & a mechanic MMC Sly.
Josie makes a living by filming adult content while she lives a life as a nomad in her camper van. When her transmission gives out on her, she ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be. Back in her hometown Sterling Springs. & who is the only mechanic in town? Her EXBOYFRIEND OBVS. Sly let her go years ago, and has regretted it every day since. 10 years later she’s back and the YEARNING is unreal. OH & he unknowingly has been subscribed and watches his ex get off online for years. 😅😅😅
There’s a bit of tension but the banter between them is probably my favourite part. And the spice is 😮💨😮💨😮💨. Sly’s got a mouth on him, that’s for sure. 😅
I love getting to see moments with Grace and TJ from Fresh Tracks. Sly’s dad is hilarious. & Meredith is a bish.
4.5 star read because I wish more happened with Josie and her parents. & because Daddy kink makes me cringe. 😅 but either way it was still a fun read!
Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke narration is top tier, as usual. Thank you Luna Literary & Dakota Forest for the ALC/ARC!!
Josie makes a living by filming adult content while she lives a life as a nomad in her camper van. When her transmission gives out on her, she ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be. Back in her hometown Sterling Springs. & who is the only mechanic in town? Her EXBOYFRIEND OBVS. Sly let her go years ago, and has regretted it every day since. 10 years later she’s back and the YEARNING is unreal. OH & he unknowingly has been subscribed and watches his ex get off online for years. 😅😅😅
There’s a bit of tension but the banter between them is probably my favourite part. And the spice is 😮💨😮💨😮💨. Sly’s got a mouth on him, that’s for sure. 😅
I love getting to see moments with Grace and TJ from Fresh Tracks. Sly’s dad is hilarious. & Meredith is a bish.
4.5 star read because I wish more happened with Josie and her parents. & because Daddy kink makes me cringe. 😅 but either way it was still a fun read!
Samantha Brentmoor & Jason Clarke narration is top tier, as usual. Thank you Luna Literary & Dakota Forest for the ALC/ARC!!
October 10, 2026
“No, Bunny. That's the number of days I've spent regretting the worst mistake of my life. That's the number of days I've spent lying to myself-trying to tell myself that I don't still love you-that 1 never stopped loving you.”
The way this book starts is fucking fantastic!! It hooked me in right from the start!!
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and boy did this live up to the hype. Their instant hatred for one another that was just unresolved issues!! I knew I was going to love Sly from his little cameos in the previous book!
The reason why Sly lets Josie go is so heartbreaking and I love that even though at times they don’t communicate, when they do it’s so touching.
This book is sooooo good and I am so appreciative to Luna Literary for giving my the opportunity to read and listen to this book early (even though it’s been on my wishful TBR ever since I’ve seen Dakota’s posts online; if you need any convincing please check out her NSFW images of this book cause they’ve had me waiting for this book release!)
The way this book starts is fucking fantastic!! It hooked me in right from the start!!
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and boy did this live up to the hype. Their instant hatred for one another that was just unresolved issues!! I knew I was going to love Sly from his little cameos in the previous book!
The reason why Sly lets Josie go is so heartbreaking and I love that even though at times they don’t communicate, when they do it’s so touching.
This book is sooooo good and I am so appreciative to Luna Literary for giving my the opportunity to read and listen to this book early (even though it’s been on my wishful TBR ever since I’ve seen Dakota’s posts online; if you need any convincing please check out her NSFW images of this book cause they’ve had me waiting for this book release!)
October 20, 2026
Something Spontaneous was one of my most anticipated stories this year and I am so excited to share that Josie & Sly lived up to every expectation and dream I had for them.
Their banter, their hot AF passion, and their beautiful second chance was everything I dreamed for them and I loved them so much! I loved Josie's adventurous spirit and how she paved her own way and was living a beautiful life. When fate puts her right back in her hometown and she's forced back into Sly's orbit, neither one of them stood a chance. With some fun meddling family members, and a lot of passion, Josie & Sly got their perfect HEA.
This audio narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke was absolutely stellar. I adore these two narrators together and I thought they hit it out of the park on this story with the emotions, the fun banter, the sweet story, and a very passionate reunion.
TROPES:
Small Town
Cam Girl x Mechanic
Forced Proximity
Its Always Been You
Second Chance
Thank you to Dakota Forest & Luna Literary for the ARC/ALC.
Their banter, their hot AF passion, and their beautiful second chance was everything I dreamed for them and I loved them so much! I loved Josie's adventurous spirit and how she paved her own way and was living a beautiful life. When fate puts her right back in her hometown and she's forced back into Sly's orbit, neither one of them stood a chance. With some fun meddling family members, and a lot of passion, Josie & Sly got their perfect HEA.
This audio narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke was absolutely stellar. I adore these two narrators together and I thought they hit it out of the park on this story with the emotions, the fun banter, the sweet story, and a very passionate reunion.
TROPES:
Small Town
Cam Girl x Mechanic
Forced Proximity
Its Always Been You
Second Chance
Thank you to Dakota Forest & Luna Literary for the ARC/ALC.
October 18, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this one! Josie and Sly had me feeling ALL the things. There’s something about a second-chance romance where two people have history, heartbreak, and unfinished business that gets me every time, and these two did not disappoint!
Sly may be a man of few words, but the way he loves Josie had my heart. 🥹 Watching them navigate their past and find their way back to each other was everything I wanted. The chemistry, banter, spice, and found family made this such a fun and emotional read, and I loved seeing Josie find her way back to the place and person she once left behind.
And the AUDIOBOOK? Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were absolute perfection together! 🎧🔥 They brought so much to these characters and made an already great story even better.
If you love second-chance romance, a grumpy mechanic, small-town vibes, and spice with a whole lot of heart, add this one to your TBR!
Sly may be a man of few words, but the way he loves Josie had my heart. 🥹 Watching them navigate their past and find their way back to each other was everything I wanted. The chemistry, banter, spice, and found family made this such a fun and emotional read, and I loved seeing Josie find her way back to the place and person she once left behind.
And the AUDIOBOOK? Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were absolute perfection together! 🎧🔥 They brought so much to these characters and made an already great story even better.
If you love second-chance romance, a grumpy mechanic, small-town vibes, and spice with a whole lot of heart, add this one to your TBR!
October 9, 2026
ALC Review
4.25/5 ⭐️
Something Spontaneous is one of the hottest books I’ve ever read. This romance was fun, emotional, full of tension and yearning, and the spice…literally had me melting and with my jaw on the floor. The chemistry between Josie and Sly was out of this world, and the narration of Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke took it to a whole new level. They are so extremely talented and the perfect duo for this book (actually the perfect duo always). The audiobook production was also fantastic. Can’t wait for everyone to get the chance to listen to this one when it releases on October 20!
What you can expect:
- Cam girl x Mechanic
- Second Chance
- Forced Proximity
- Toys are Teammates
- Small Town
- Disability Rep
- Dual narration
Thank you so much to Dakota Forest and Must Love Audio for the alc!
4.25/5 ⭐️
Something Spontaneous is one of the hottest books I’ve ever read. This romance was fun, emotional, full of tension and yearning, and the spice…literally had me melting and with my jaw on the floor. The chemistry between Josie and Sly was out of this world, and the narration of Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke took it to a whole new level. They are so extremely talented and the perfect duo for this book (actually the perfect duo always). The audiobook production was also fantastic. Can’t wait for everyone to get the chance to listen to this one when it releases on October 20!
What you can expect:
- Cam girl x Mechanic
- Second Chance
- Forced Proximity
- Toys are Teammates
- Small Town
- Disability Rep
- Dual narration
Thank you so much to Dakota Forest and Must Love Audio for the alc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review ✨
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Josie and Sly, their banter, and, of course, the spice! 🔥
I loved how grumpy and quiet Sly was. He was always doing the right thing for the people he loved, never putting his own happiness first. 🥹
Josie was so confident in herself and her content creation, but my poor girl struggled so much with her fear of abandonment. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. 🥺💗
This story had me laughing out loud, especially because of the things Eddie Sterling would say. I absolutely adored that man, and I really hope we get to see more of him in the other books in the series! 😂❤️
Overall, this was such a fun and spicy read with great banter, lovable characters, and just the right amount of emotional moments to make me care about their story. Definitely a good time!
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Josie and Sly, their banter, and, of course, the spice! 🔥
I loved how grumpy and quiet Sly was. He was always doing the right thing for the people he loved, never putting his own happiness first. 🥹
Josie was so confident in herself and her content creation, but my poor girl struggled so much with her fear of abandonment. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. 🥺💗
This story had me laughing out loud, especially because of the things Eddie Sterling would say. I absolutely adored that man, and I really hope we get to see more of him in the other books in the series! 😂❤️
Overall, this was such a fun and spicy read with great banter, lovable characters, and just the right amount of emotional moments to make me care about their story. Definitely a good time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this so much! It was such a sex positive and hot book. Some of the scenes in this book were so good!! Two important words for this book: tentacle dildo!!! if you read the book you would understand and absolutely die in the best way
I love a second chance romance, and I felt like this was the perfect way to do a second chance romance. Sly didn’t really burn any bridges when he broke up with Josie necessarily and it wasn’t because she or he did anything wrong. He thought he was doing something good for her and letting her be free. Even though he was wrong and they were both still so in love with each other. The pining and the tension was so good from the very beginning with the two of them. I loved it so much and I loved how protective, comforting, and supportive Sly was towards Josie.
Now I want to read more from Dakota Forest because I genuinely enjoyed this so much
I love a second chance romance, and I felt like this was the perfect way to do a second chance romance. Sly didn’t really burn any bridges when he broke up with Josie necessarily and it wasn’t because she or he did anything wrong. He thought he was doing something good for her and letting her be free. Even though he was wrong and they were both still so in love with each other. The pining and the tension was so good from the very beginning with the two of them. I loved it so much and I loved how protective, comforting, and supportive Sly was towards Josie.
Now I want to read more from Dakota Forest because I genuinely enjoyed this so much
Review of advance copy received from Author
Yes, bunny! Something Spontaneous by Dakota Forest was a sweet and spicy small town romance that did all the delectable things to my heart. I couldn’t get enough of Josie and Sly’s tension-filled, second chance vibes that had me desperately needing for these two to overcome their pasts and find their own HEA. This is my first book from Dakota, and won’t be my last!
Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke perform this audiobook in dual narration, and these two are always steamy magic together. Samantha’s soft, sultry tone perfectly captured Josie’s doubts and desires as returned home to Sterling Springs and faced her past. Jason’s deep, growly timbre embraced Sly’s grumpy turned man obsessed demeanor that I couldn’t get enough of. The “it’s-always-been-you” chemistry these two created between Josie and Sly was explosive, and made me blush.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! If you are a fan of a small town romance with a hot sassy cam girl, a hunky broody mechanic, black bear intruders, traveling van life, second chances, a meddling dad, ten years apart, truths about the past, reality show love, he subscribes to her page, petty revenge kisses, car hood steamy times, toy spice, intimate conversations, catching up with friends, hospital scares, love declarations, and a HEA that will drive away with your heart, then you will love Josie and Sly’s story. I am looking forward to more from Dakota Forest.
Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke perform this audiobook in dual narration, and these two are always steamy magic together. Samantha’s soft, sultry tone perfectly captured Josie’s doubts and desires as returned home to Sterling Springs and faced her past. Jason’s deep, growly timbre embraced Sly’s grumpy turned man obsessed demeanor that I couldn’t get enough of. The “it’s-always-been-you” chemistry these two created between Josie and Sly was explosive, and made me blush.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! If you are a fan of a small town romance with a hot sassy cam girl, a hunky broody mechanic, black bear intruders, traveling van life, second chances, a meddling dad, ten years apart, truths about the past, reality show love, he subscribes to her page, petty revenge kisses, car hood steamy times, toy spice, intimate conversations, catching up with friends, hospital scares, love declarations, and a HEA that will drive away with your heart, then you will love Josie and Sly’s story. I am looking forward to more from Dakota Forest.
October 24, 2026
ALC Review: Thank you to Dakota Forest and Luna Literacy Management for sending me an advanced copy of Something Spontaneous to read and review
Something Spontaneous has all the tropes I like: second chance, daddy kink, blue collar MMC. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Sly and Josie. I kept waiting to find out why she left and what led to their break up, and it all kind of seemed to move slowly.
I loved Sly’s dad! He was hilarious. I really liked that him and Sly’s sister were meddling trying to get Sly and Josie back together.
The audiobook is dual narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. They were fantastic!
Something Spontaneous has all the tropes I like: second chance, daddy kink, blue collar MMC. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Sly and Josie. I kept waiting to find out why she left and what led to their break up, and it all kind of seemed to move slowly.
I loved Sly’s dad! He was hilarious. I really liked that him and Sly’s sister were meddling trying to get Sly and Josie back together.
The audiobook is dual narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. They were fantastic!
October 27, 2026
Thank you to Luna Literacy for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
A fun, spicy romance that kept me entertained!
One thing I really appreciated about Something Spontaneous was that, despite miscommunication being referenced as the reason the two main characters broke up in the past, it thankfully wasn’t a trope that took over the story. We love to see it!
The spicy scenes were also refreshingly original (that first garage scene… HELLO! 🥵), and I really enjoyed the family dynamics, which added another layer to the story and made it all the more enjoyable.
My only real criticism is that some moments felt a little repetitive, which stopped this from being a five-star read for me.
A fun, spicy romance that kept me entertained!
One thing I really appreciated about Something Spontaneous was that, despite miscommunication being referenced as the reason the two main characters broke up in the past, it thankfully wasn’t a trope that took over the story. We love to see it!
The spicy scenes were also refreshingly original (that first garage scene… HELLO! 🥵), and I really enjoyed the family dynamics, which added another layer to the story and made it all the more enjoyable.
My only real criticism is that some moments felt a little repetitive, which stopped this from being a five-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ooo this one is spicy. The story starts with heat and a teammate named Octavius. There is so much good banter in this book too. The way Josie and Sly interact goes through the range of emotions. I liked seeing them reconnect. It wasn’t an instant reconnection but it progressed over time. It was also cool to kind of catch up with Gracie and TJ from Fresh Tracks. Always neat when an author does that. Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke were really good with the dual narration on the audiobook. They both are good no matter the narration style.
October 20, 2026
This was deliciously spicy. Paired with the heartwarming goodness of this second chance romance....I loved this book.
Josie's character is boldly adorable.
Sly is possibly the most supportive MMC I've ever read.
These two WORK. I absolutely love them. I love their story. I love the second chanceness of it all. And Iove how the ending was so satisfying, but did not go in the direction that I thought it would.
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
Josie's character is boldly adorable.
Sly is possibly the most supportive MMC I've ever read.
These two WORK. I absolutely love them. I love their story. I love the second chanceness of it all. And Iove how the ending was so satisfying, but did not go in the direction that I thought it would.
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
October 12, 2026
Big shout out to Dakota Forest and Luna Literary for a copy of the ARC and ALC.
I was so excited to read this book after seeing it promoted on IG and it's absolutely worth the hype. This is book 2 of an interconnected stand alone, I'd recommend reading the first book(because that's amazing too) but if you wanted to jump in right away with book 2 you wouldn't be lost.
For a book that includes tentacle dildos this was surprisingly really sweet and deeper than one would have thought.
I appreciated the growth that each main character experienced and I loved each person was checked for their asinine behavior and they demonstrated that they could change within the story. (I hate when people say they're going to change and it lasts for a chapter .)
Samantha Brentmoore and Jason Clarke were amazing narrators and really enhanced the story.
I was so excited to read this book after seeing it promoted on IG and it's absolutely worth the hype. This is book 2 of an interconnected stand alone, I'd recommend reading the first book(because that's amazing too) but if you wanted to jump in right away with book 2 you wouldn't be lost.
For a book that includes tentacle dildos this was surprisingly really sweet and deeper than one would have thought.
I appreciated the growth that each main character experienced and I loved each person was checked for their asinine behavior and they demonstrated that they could change within the story. (I hate when people say they're going to change and it lasts for a chapter .)
Samantha Brentmoore and Jason Clarke were amazing narrators and really enhanced the story.
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