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Carraway Falls #2
Plot Twist
I know it’s a bad idea to fall into bed with my newfound roommate, I do.
But when your best friend all but forces you together with a sexy tattooed, chef what’s a girl to do? Sure he’s a bit grumpy, but I can try to look past that. Especially when he picks up one of my raunchy romance novels and actually ends up liking it.
Now, we’re somehow in a pseudo friends with benefits situation and I’m not sure how this all plays out.
We’ve set boundaries, made rules in order to keep feelings out of everything which is key. After a dry spell to end all dry spells, I’m just trying to enjoy some casual sex. I’m just not sure how things will unfold when the benefits of our situation shift into something we never bargained for.
What is it that they always say? Rules are meant to be broken?
But when your best friend all but forces you together with a sexy tattooed, chef what’s a girl to do? Sure he’s a bit grumpy, but I can try to look past that. Especially when he picks up one of my raunchy romance novels and actually ends up liking it.
Now, we’re somehow in a pseudo friends with benefits situation and I’m not sure how this all plays out.
We’ve set boundaries, made rules in order to keep feelings out of everything which is key. After a dry spell to end all dry spells, I’m just trying to enjoy some casual sex. I’m just not sure how things will unfold when the benefits of our situation shift into something we never bargained for.
What is it that they always say? Rules are meant to be broken?
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2021
12 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Jean Marie
14 books182 followersJean Marie has been falling in love with characters in books for as long as she can remember. From an early age, she escaped into the worlds created by others. And now she's finally creating some herself, complete with sexy heroes and relatable heroines.
When she's not reading, she's drinking some tea, probably watching a truly tragic medical drama, or reading. Her debut series takes place in the fictional small town in Vermont and features famous garlic knots, some serious steam, and a whole lot of heart.
When she's not reading, she's drinking some tea, probably watching a truly tragic medical drama, or reading. Her debut series takes place in the fictional small town in Vermont and features famous garlic knots, some serious steam, and a whole lot of heart.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 26, 2021
This book is EVERYTHING! Elise could be any of us at any point in our lives. She is relatable and written beautifully. Nate is conflicted, set in his ways, talented in the kitchen, and a grump. A poorly timed pipe break, and romance book that leads to a friendship, has a well-defined life going sideways.
As Elise and Nate navigate feelings, get beyond old hurts, and an epic plot twist to their HEA. I am anxious to get back to Carraway Falls soon.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
As Elise and Nate navigate feelings, get beyond old hurts, and an epic plot twist to their HEA. I am anxious to get back to Carraway Falls soon.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
August 26, 2021
The main characters of Nate and Elise are great.
* Nate, the grumpy closed-off hot chef, has left his successful career in LA for the small town of Carraway Falls. He keeps his reasons for moving to Carraway close to the vest and builds walls to keep others at bay.
* Though Nate wants to focus on his work, our sweet sunshine Elise has other plans. Elise is that a bright ray of sunshine, but she is not overly sweet or annoying as sometimes these characters can get. She is what I would consider a trope of a "small town, friends with everyone, and knows everyone" person, which works well against our gruff Nate.
* They are brought together by some unforeseen incident, and when these two have to live with each other, well, let's just say some fun times are to be at hand.
* But like all good romance books, some drama is to be hand, and some miscommunications; but have faith, my dear friends, because just like life, "love will find a way." (Little Jurassic Park joke for you all. Okay, sorry my wine is kicking in).
Other things I love about this book:
* Multiple POV book, where we get chapters from both Nate and Elise, helps move the story along and allows us the reader to get into the mind of both characters and understand where each is coming from.
* Elise body issue. It's not over the top, but just enough to make her feel real and relatable to the reader.
* The bringing of book culture into the book. With Nate being the newbie with reading romance books and all the different subcultures, Elise has to explain cliffhangers and combat the rage we all feel.
* The internal dialog that we see from both Nate and Elise. Jean really uses the right amount of it, not over the top, and also not one-sided. At time reading these lines were the ones that made me laugh out loud.
* Spicy scenes, oh girl! This book, the best. The book's first half is a great slow burn, close proximity tension burning that makes you yell at the book every time they could do something but don't. Then in chapter 16, oh lord, chapter 16 is the best. After that, we get great moments of Nate and Elise building a friendship, spicy scenes, and some great fade to black, and I am here for them all.
Alight, I know this was a long review, but I am telling you, go now and read this book. Even if you have not read book one in the series (like I did), I didn't find that an issue.
* Nate, the grumpy closed-off hot chef, has left his successful career in LA for the small town of Carraway Falls. He keeps his reasons for moving to Carraway close to the vest and builds walls to keep others at bay.
* Though Nate wants to focus on his work, our sweet sunshine Elise has other plans. Elise is that a bright ray of sunshine, but she is not overly sweet or annoying as sometimes these characters can get. She is what I would consider a trope of a "small town, friends with everyone, and knows everyone" person, which works well against our gruff Nate.
* They are brought together by some unforeseen incident, and when these two have to live with each other, well, let's just say some fun times are to be at hand.
* But like all good romance books, some drama is to be hand, and some miscommunications; but have faith, my dear friends, because just like life, "love will find a way." (Little Jurassic Park joke for you all. Okay, sorry my wine is kicking in).
Other things I love about this book:
* Multiple POV book, where we get chapters from both Nate and Elise, helps move the story along and allows us the reader to get into the mind of both characters and understand where each is coming from.
* Elise body issue. It's not over the top, but just enough to make her feel real and relatable to the reader.
* The bringing of book culture into the book. With Nate being the newbie with reading romance books and all the different subcultures, Elise has to explain cliffhangers and combat the rage we all feel.
* The internal dialog that we see from both Nate and Elise. Jean really uses the right amount of it, not over the top, and also not one-sided. At time reading these lines were the ones that made me laugh out loud.
* Spicy scenes, oh girl! This book, the best. The book's first half is a great slow burn, close proximity tension burning that makes you yell at the book every time they could do something but don't. Then in chapter 16, oh lord, chapter 16 is the best. After that, we get great moments of Nate and Elise building a friendship, spicy scenes, and some great fade to black, and I am here for them all.
Alight, I know this was a long review, but I am telling you, go now and read this book. Even if you have not read book one in the series (like I did), I didn't find that an issue.
August 29, 2021
Oh, this book was everything!!! I wish I could give it more than five stars!! I will read everything that Jean Marie writes because her books are getting better and better!
Elise is a beautifully written character. She is finally away from her parents and living on her own. She loves to read and is currently the library assistant. Nate is the chef at her best friends restaurant. He is grumpy and closed off after what happened to him in LA. He does not want to be friends with anyone. But when his rental house gets flooded the only place he can stay is with Elise. Elise is like a ray of sunshine to Nate. She makes him talk and get out of his shell. She is showing him that good people still exist in this world, Elise is want Nate needs to bring him out of his grump shell. The attraction between the two of them is INSANE! So they decide to do something about it, sex with no strings. But can you really keep emotions out of it??
I just loved this book! Elise gets Nate hooked on romance books and when she starts explaining all the different troupes made me think about the times I have had to explain it to my husband. It was hilarious reading about Nate loving these romance books. The inner dialogue with each character was exceptional. They are both struggling with insecurities and trying to work through them. They are exactly what each other need.
I just love Carraway Falls and I can not wait for the next story! And the twist at the end....please tell me we are going to read more about that!?!
Elise is a beautifully written character. She is finally away from her parents and living on her own. She loves to read and is currently the library assistant. Nate is the chef at her best friends restaurant. He is grumpy and closed off after what happened to him in LA. He does not want to be friends with anyone. But when his rental house gets flooded the only place he can stay is with Elise. Elise is like a ray of sunshine to Nate. She makes him talk and get out of his shell. She is showing him that good people still exist in this world, Elise is want Nate needs to bring him out of his grump shell. The attraction between the two of them is INSANE! So they decide to do something about it, sex with no strings. But can you really keep emotions out of it??
I just loved this book! Elise gets Nate hooked on romance books and when she starts explaining all the different troupes made me think about the times I have had to explain it to my husband. It was hilarious reading about Nate loving these romance books. The inner dialogue with each character was exceptional. They are both struggling with insecurities and trying to work through them. They are exactly what each other need.
I just love Carraway Falls and I can not wait for the next story! And the twist at the end....please tell me we are going to read more about that!?!
August 28, 2021
This was one of my favorite forced roommates romance stories! Elise is a smart, kind librarian with a special love for romance and a few hangups over her body image. She is completely relatable and truly feels like she could be me. Nate is the broody, set in his ways, never smiles, tattooed, sexy chef. The author does an amazing job of bringing Elise out of her shell to gain a little more confidence and slowly bringing Nate back to life and back to the fun, caring guy he once was. I love the involvement of romance novels and in such a fun and creative way. I also enjoyed that Nate turns out to be a little different than just your typical tattooed tough guy with a heart of gold, the author did a fantastic job of putting a little extra into his character and giving him more depth. This story is fun, witty, steamy, and just a little different than your average forced proximity romance which made it perfect!!!
August 23, 2021
I loved going back to Carraway Falls for part two of this series. I really enjoyed the heroine having relatable concerns such as body image struggles and anxiety. She was so relatable that I at time felt like I was looking in the mirror.
I love it when a guy is set in his ways about how the rest of his life is going to progress and then the perfect for him woman rolls into his life and throws that said belief right out the dang window. Elise etches her way into Nate's heart with her shy demenour and Nate brings out Elise's wild side with his calm, challenging encouragement.
The twist at the very end of the story had me literally saying "wtf" out loud. I love a good romance that can throw me for a loop too. Job well done, Jean!
If you are looking for a great friends with benefits/close proximity story, this is the one.
I love it when a guy is set in his ways about how the rest of his life is going to progress and then the perfect for him woman rolls into his life and throws that said belief right out the dang window. Elise etches her way into Nate's heart with her shy demenour and Nate brings out Elise's wild side with his calm, challenging encouragement.
The twist at the very end of the story had me literally saying "wtf" out loud. I love a good romance that can throw me for a loop too. Job well done, Jean!
If you are looking for a great friends with benefits/close proximity story, this is the one.
August 22, 2021
A grumpy hot alpha chef Nate meets sweet kind Elise end up being roommates and the hotness ensues as they become friends.
Nate and Elise help each other break down their walls. Elise shows Nate the joys of reading romance books and Nate helps Elise from her dry spell bringing those books to life.
This book is HEA and not a cliffhanger, but is true to the book title. I hope future books can follow up with Elise’s relationship with her parents. I 100% recommend a hot sweatpants wearing alpha that can cook and likes reading romance books.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nate and Elise help each other break down their walls. Elise shows Nate the joys of reading romance books and Nate helps Elise from her dry spell bringing those books to life.
This book is HEA and not a cliffhanger, but is true to the book title. I hope future books can follow up with Elise’s relationship with her parents. I 100% recommend a hot sweatpants wearing alpha that can cook and likes reading romance books.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2021
Nate is the grumpiest, burliest, surliest chef around. He's all bluster and gruffness, and Elise is a ray of sunshine that he never thought he wanted. The plot is devious, delicious, hot and steamy, with a twist I didn’t see coming and I loved every single word. This book hooked me from the get go. I fell in love with these characters and what a story! It was just perfect. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
August 20, 2021
I give this book a full 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
But here's why...
I loved reading this from the beginning it kept me hooked. I loved the tension and the parallels from this book to real life. I could even relate this to my own life. This is a sweet romance with medium steam😍
But here's why...
I loved reading this from the beginning it kept me hooked. I loved the tension and the parallels from this book to real life. I could even relate this to my own life. This is a sweet romance with medium steam😍
Read
September 1, 2021Boring. Halfway and nothing. Enemies to Freinds.
March 23, 2022
This was a fun roommates romance, and a perfect book to end the summer with! Elise is relatable, with a hangup about her body image, a fun (yet introverted) personality, and a plethora of books on her shelves. Nate isn’t a typical love interest, who is moody to start because of life experiences, but relaxes as their relationship develops. Both characters were like able and had a natural chemistry as they got to know each other better.
I look forward to reading in the next book how things develop with the ending “Plot Twist”!
I look forward to reading in the next book how things develop with the ending “Plot Twist”!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews