Dating Do-Over

Finding Forever #1

by Cate Callison, Sally Rose

Two friends. One disastrous date. Is it too late for a do-over?

Emily Phillips is an aspiring artist, but she’s barely had time to put brush to canvas since inheriting the pottery painting shop in scenic Gold Creek.

Emily’s long hours and hard work are finally paying off. She’s turned the shop from a sleepy pottery studio into a thriving party destination. When she’s not hosting birthday parties for the kiddie crowd, her shop is filled with the squeals, laughter and love stories that accompany bridal showers. As much as she enjoys making each soon-to-be bride’s party special, the gatherings are a constant reminder that Emily’s own happily ever after is nowhere in sight.

When an offer to buy her shop arrives unexpectedly, Emily decides it’s time to give up on dreams of love, and take a chance on the dream she’d all but forgotten.

Ben Nichols, an outdoor adventure guide, hasn’t taken his eyes off Emily since the day they met. Unfortunately, a disastrous date two years ago plunged him deep into the friend zone. When he learns about Emily’s plan to sell her shop and study art in Paris, Ben realizes he’s not ready to say goodbye—and that his feelings go much deeper than friendship.

With time running out before Emily packs her bags, can Ben win a second-chance date and convince Emily that everything she’s dreamed about is in Gold Creek—with him?

Dating Do-Over was previously published under the title Dreaming of Forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Amazon, Clean Romance

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2015

Reviews

[Jen_C]

3.75 stars.

Cute, clean story. Would have enjoyed it more if it spent less time on side character conversations/descriptions and more on the main couple.

[Kathy]

This is a super short story. Despite its lack of length I was satisfied and found myself smiling through this one. Perfect read for when you just have a short amount of time and want to get through a happily ever after story.

Note: Previously published as "Sweet Somethings".

Content: Clean
Source: Kindle Freebie

[Patty James]

Yesterday I was between books and planning an afternoon seaside escape from a chaotic house remodel project. I decided what I needed was a short romance story that was fun and light for a perfect reality break. Cate Callison’s "Sweet Somethings" fit the bill… From start to finish I was totally captivated and rooting for Emily and Ben through their missed opportunities for romance. I loved Cate’s spot-on character descriptions and how natural Ben and Emily’s relationship started. At first, I was drawn to Sweet Somethings because Callison’s book is set in California’s beautiful Gold Country, (I lived there once and I guess felt the need to escape to a simpler time:) and also the main character’s similar dream of mine (running away to Paris to live), but what I loved most about my book choice was when I finished I felt refreshed and lighthearted, just like the ocean breezes that were sweeping over me. I can’t wait for Callison’s next full length novel which will be published soon, I hear… a good excuse to carve out more beach time!

[Sandra Lopez]

After taking a magazine quiz, Emily realized she was “riding in the backseat of her life.” She was supposed to be a painter in Paris, not running a pottery shop in Gold Creek, where she fell for a two-timing, cheating bastard.

Realizing her move to Paris was really happening put Ben in an awkward spot. Did he miss his chance with her? Since their disaster first date in the mountains, he’d been festering in the friend zone, waiting for a do-over.

Ben is Mr. Fix it. He’s funny and charming, any girl would be lucky to have a friend like him.

Misunderstanding and interruptions get in the way for their second chance.

Overall, this was witty and enjoyable, but it was kind of long, and I wish it would’ve been quicker.

[Victoria]

This was a sweet read which had happy parts, sad parts and lots of potential for extended stories. It was a little slow and unsure for me in parts to start with, but it soon found its pace into a story about two people who want to be together but find that their careers and dreams might keep them apart. I wish that they had communicated better because when they did they were so good together. It was lovely to read and see their relationship grow and blossom. This is a new author for me and I hope to read more of her work, hopefully featuring the characters from this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia]

Interesting

They start off as business & apartment neighbor's. He runs a outdoor guide business and she runs a pottery painting business. They are both single now and the first time they out was a disaster. He wants to try again, but she is thinking about Paris to study art. What can Ben do to change the status quo from friends to more. I loved the whole story and having to make tough decisions to be with the one you love.

[MoonGarden]

Sweet Second Chances

Friends to more is one of my favorite book tropes. I just love it when characters have a strong foundation of friendship before they become romantically involved.

This one is a super sweet second chance, friends to more book. These two really know each other and care for one another. Luckily Ben made a move before it was too late.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steve Bender]

I got this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review. It was a nice read about the perfect man and a wonderful talented girl who suffered from a lack of confidence. This is the first book of three about Emily and Ben. It is fine as a stand alone romance of friends to lovers. Good read.

[Melissa B]

A disastrous date two years ago left them in the friend zone, but now Emily wants to leave the town will Ben fight for her now?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary Stockwell]

Sweet and romantic

This is a sweet and romantic short story. It has a good plot and is not filled with a lot of useless descriptives.

[Anoush]

Her problem: recent breakup, stalled dreams of traveling, thinks he just wants to be friends due to disastrous date 2 years earlier

His problem: embarrassed about first date, kept his distance after she hooked up with the now-ex-boyfriend

And they both end up stuck in the friend zone and can't seem to find a way out. The setting of this book is fun--a sort of small tourist-feeling town, around Emily's pottery painting shop.

[Heather]

I just found this short story today. It was a great read!! I love the small town and can totally picture the characters with all the great descriptions from the author. Totally enjoyed it and looking forward to the next story!

[Donna Campbell]

A great story that was clean, fun and a great story to spend a day with. I would definitely read additional books in the series.

[Sarah]

Short, sweet (no explicit scenes) friends-turned-lovers romance.

[Michelle Hoffman]

Dreaming of Forever

Ben and Emily live right next door to each other in a small town setting. It's been a platonic setting since they tried dating. Now they are going to try again.