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Juniper Ridge #3
Show Down
Listening Length 7 hours and 28 minutes
They called me America’s smartest entrepreneur. So how was I dumb enough to let my dream girl get away?
Blame ego, blame my need to prove I could build a business all on my own. Hell, blame my parents—God love ‘em—for thinking I’d have problems prospering with a hammer instead of a law degree.
Turns out I’m doing just fine with a chain of luxury resorts bearing my name, but it’s a cold comfort when the woman I love hates my guts. Can’t say she’s wrong, considering how things ended.
I set out to win Lauren back, scoring a spot on her family’s reality show social experiment, or whatever it’s called when someone buys an old cult compound to build a tiny town. Works for me, since I’m a builder who loves a challenge.
But getting Lauren to forgive me proves way more than challenging. Between a botched baking class, sexy bumper car battles, and a bizarrely hostile fish, it’s clear she’s in no hurry to pick up where we left off.
Good thing I’m no quitter, especially when it comes to her.
They called me America’s smartest entrepreneur. So how was I dumb enough to let my dream girl get away?
Blame ego, blame my need to prove I could build a business all on my own. Hell, blame my parents—God love ‘em—for thinking I’d have problems prospering with a hammer instead of a law degree.
Turns out I’m doing just fine with a chain of luxury resorts bearing my name, but it’s a cold comfort when the woman I love hates my guts. Can’t say she’s wrong, considering how things ended.
I set out to win Lauren back, scoring a spot on her family’s reality show social experiment, or whatever it’s called when someone buys an old cult compound to build a tiny town. Works for me, since I’m a builder who loves a challenge.
But getting Lauren to forgive me proves way more than challenging. Between a botched baking class, sexy bumper car battles, and a bizarrely hostile fish, it’s clear she’s in no hurry to pick up where we left off.
Good thing I’m no quitter, especially when it comes to her.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 24, 2021
53 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Tawna Fenske
74 books1,617 followersWhen Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 21, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
You’d have thought I’d confessed to killing kittens while wearing white after Labor Day.
If it makes you feel better, my mother asked me last week when I’m scheduling a baby. Like I might pick one up at the grocery store on my way to spin class.
Clean hankies, holding the door, getting nailed in a closet full of Purina? It’s the stuff every woman dreams of.
My Review:
I will never tire of the smooth wordcraft used in the creation of Tawna Fenske’s deftly written and irreverently amusing characters as well as their delightfully sizzling and romantic entanglements. I enjoyed this couple although I wasn’t sure I was going to, as they weren't all that likable or relatable to me at first blush. But I could relate to their humbling experiences and the insights of their inner narratives as they found their way back to each other for a second chance at mitigating the regrets of the humiliating public drama that punctuated their first go-round. Every installment of this series has been easy to fall into, cleverly entertaining, perceptively observant, and enticingly salacious. I have learned to preemptively keeps fans on high and cool drinks close for hydration.
You’d have thought I’d confessed to killing kittens while wearing white after Labor Day.
If it makes you feel better, my mother asked me last week when I’m scheduling a baby. Like I might pick one up at the grocery store on my way to spin class.
Clean hankies, holding the door, getting nailed in a closet full of Purina? It’s the stuff every woman dreams of.
My Review:
I will never tire of the smooth wordcraft used in the creation of Tawna Fenske’s deftly written and irreverently amusing characters as well as their delightfully sizzling and romantic entanglements. I enjoyed this couple although I wasn’t sure I was going to, as they weren't all that likable or relatable to me at first blush. But I could relate to their humbling experiences and the insights of their inner narratives as they found their way back to each other for a second chance at mitigating the regrets of the humiliating public drama that punctuated their first go-round. Every installment of this series has been easy to fall into, cleverly entertaining, perceptively observant, and enticingly salacious. I have learned to preemptively keeps fans on high and cool drinks close for hydration.
September 25, 2021
I absolutely DEVOURED this book (audio edition...Benjamin Charles' voice is do die for dreamy). I'm a sucker for second chance romance, especially when it involves strong, independent sheroes and heroes who weren't assholes the first time around. Loren is absolutely relatable, fierce, and loves her family. She's reluctant and a little wounded and seeing her and Nick dance around each other again, pulled together by something greater than themselves was just a wonderful ride. As all Tawna's books, this one is full of heart and heat and so much laughter. All the thumbs up. Do yourself a favor and go grab it immediately!
March 9, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4
July 21, 2021
I'd been waiting for this book to come out for ages and it didn't disappoint. A second chance romance set in the Juniper Ridge world created by this author, Show Down was a sweet, easy read without too much angst and a satisfying happily every after between producer Lauren, one of the Judson clan, and Nick, a successful builder. Quick note: if you haven't read the previous two books in this series, this one holds up fine on its own as a stand alone. Set in a small community specially created for a reality TV show, if you want more background on the setting and the characters you'll obviously want to start from the beginning, but it certainly isn't necessary.
Nick and Lauren were head over heels for each other, dating for year, when Nick dropped the bombshell that he was moving...at a party and without telling Lauren first (he had reasons, but I still kind of wanted to punch him in the junk). The worst part? Lauren thought he was about to propose and in one of those terribly awkward scenes where you know what's going to happen, and it does, but you still want to die a little on the inside as you squirm your way through a cringe-worthy embarrassing moment that you're dragged through with the character, she yells out that she will marry him. The problem? There was never any intention of a proposal on the near horizon. Mortified, Lauren ends the relationship, pretty much ripping out her own heart. Skip ahead two years: Nick's building business is on top of the world and Lauren is successfully producing Juniper Ridge's own reality show on their carefully curated small community on a former cult property with her family. Nick's business has the tender to extend and develop the establishment, bringing him deliberately back into contact with Lauren. He's determined to prove how much he has tried to change and how much he needs Lauren in his life. But old habits sometimes refuse to go away and the couple need to push past stubbornness, pride and poor communication to have any chance of a future.
To be honest, I expected a bit more angst with the initial break up and consequent getting back together. While the book certainly highlighted past mistakes, it didn't dwell too heavily on them for the most part with Nick and Lauren willing to make a go of it much earlier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, former sins certainly cropped up here and there, but it was resolved pretty easily as both Nick and Lauren knew they had to work past it for their relationship to be successful. This was also assisted by the fact that the two main characters seemed to have the self control of a flea when it came to each other, with nowhere near as much animosity present between the two as I had expected. I liked that the author didn't drag this out too much and had Nick operating on the front foot to from the very beginning as he was determined to get Lauren back.
I would have liked for Lauren to stick to her guns for a bit longer, but this is just personal preference and it certainly didn't taint my liking of the story - as I said, it wasn't a bad thing, just unexpected. As a result, the focus was definitely the rebuilding of Nick and Lauren's relationship and trying to meet each other half way. There was a teeny bit of drama towards the end that seemed to be made into a bigger deal than it probably needed to be in my books, but I get why it was there. I found it a bit strange that with Nick seemingly so into Lauren, even after two years, that he hadn't made any effort to stop or repair the initial break up and fought to keep their relationship going. Maybe this was skipped with the jump in time, but two years is a long period to be without the love of your life when you know they're it for you. It smacked a little of 'now it's convenient in my life for a relationship, I'll focus on you and try to get you back'. To be fair, though, that's probably just me wanting details about everything, but it was a bit of an omission for me (nothing groundbreaking that killed the story, though). Maybe a bit more about the actual breakup and the remorse/feelings that came with it? Without spoiling anything, Nick also had quite the hang up about his mother's expectations for him and after this was brought up pretty frequently, it seemed to just dissolve as a non-issue.
Nick, who's Black, is created and written by a white, female author and I thought it was good form that she wrote a disclaimer regarding this while acknowledging and promoting #ownvoices. As for Nick, I loved him. While he seemed a little clueless about some things, the author had him trying so hard to repair his relationship with Lauren that he couldn't help but be endearing. Lauren was also a strong character and the usual suspects, aka the family and their partners, crop up frequently, some more than others. There's also a cameo by one of the Ponderosa crew which was a nice touch. The reader is treated to the quick confessionals at the start of each chapters again (I love these!) as the story is told from both Nick and Lauren's point of view.
As this book is set in a reality TV world created by this author, I found that the story line didn't emphasis Juniper Ridge, its origins and its features/characters too heavily as this has been done in greater detail in other books in the series. As a fan of these stories, I liked this as it allowed just enough detail for familiar themes of the series to be built upon while focussing on the rekindling of a relationship between Nick and Lauren. Instead, since this is a second chance novel, there were flashbacks and a good amount of innuendos and reference to their past shared history together.
I'm really enjoying this series. It puts a unique twist on a series built around a familial connection and I'm always guaranteed a feel good story with a happy ending. I love how Nick was committed from the beginning to a fresh start with Lauren, throwing himself out there and holding nothing back. I'm a sucker for a second chance novel and this was a cute read. There's a epilogue at the end that wraps up the story and sets the reader up for Cooper and Amy which I can't wait for.
Nick and Lauren were head over heels for each other, dating for year, when Nick dropped the bombshell that he was moving...at a party and without telling Lauren first (he had reasons, but I still kind of wanted to punch him in the junk). The worst part? Lauren thought he was about to propose and in one of those terribly awkward scenes where you know what's going to happen, and it does, but you still want to die a little on the inside as you squirm your way through a cringe-worthy embarrassing moment that you're dragged through with the character, she yells out that she will marry him. The problem? There was never any intention of a proposal on the near horizon. Mortified, Lauren ends the relationship, pretty much ripping out her own heart. Skip ahead two years: Nick's building business is on top of the world and Lauren is successfully producing Juniper Ridge's own reality show on their carefully curated small community on a former cult property with her family. Nick's business has the tender to extend and develop the establishment, bringing him deliberately back into contact with Lauren. He's determined to prove how much he has tried to change and how much he needs Lauren in his life. But old habits sometimes refuse to go away and the couple need to push past stubbornness, pride and poor communication to have any chance of a future.
To be honest, I expected a bit more angst with the initial break up and consequent getting back together. While the book certainly highlighted past mistakes, it didn't dwell too heavily on them for the most part with Nick and Lauren willing to make a go of it much earlier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, former sins certainly cropped up here and there, but it was resolved pretty easily as both Nick and Lauren knew they had to work past it for their relationship to be successful. This was also assisted by the fact that the two main characters seemed to have the self control of a flea when it came to each other, with nowhere near as much animosity present between the two as I had expected. I liked that the author didn't drag this out too much and had Nick operating on the front foot to from the very beginning as he was determined to get Lauren back.
I would have liked for Lauren to stick to her guns for a bit longer, but this is just personal preference and it certainly didn't taint my liking of the story - as I said, it wasn't a bad thing, just unexpected. As a result, the focus was definitely the rebuilding of Nick and Lauren's relationship and trying to meet each other half way. There was a teeny bit of drama towards the end that seemed to be made into a bigger deal than it probably needed to be in my books, but I get why it was there. I found it a bit strange that with Nick seemingly so into Lauren, even after two years, that he hadn't made any effort to stop or repair the initial break up and fought to keep their relationship going. Maybe this was skipped with the jump in time, but two years is a long period to be without the love of your life when you know they're it for you. It smacked a little of 'now it's convenient in my life for a relationship, I'll focus on you and try to get you back'. To be fair, though, that's probably just me wanting details about everything, but it was a bit of an omission for me (nothing groundbreaking that killed the story, though). Maybe a bit more about the actual breakup and the remorse/feelings that came with it? Without spoiling anything, Nick also had quite the hang up about his mother's expectations for him and after this was brought up pretty frequently, it seemed to just dissolve as a non-issue.
Nick, who's Black, is created and written by a white, female author and I thought it was good form that she wrote a disclaimer regarding this while acknowledging and promoting #ownvoices. As for Nick, I loved him. While he seemed a little clueless about some things, the author had him trying so hard to repair his relationship with Lauren that he couldn't help but be endearing. Lauren was also a strong character and the usual suspects, aka the family and their partners, crop up frequently, some more than others. There's also a cameo by one of the Ponderosa crew which was a nice touch. The reader is treated to the quick confessionals at the start of each chapters again (I love these!) as the story is told from both Nick and Lauren's point of view.
As this book is set in a reality TV world created by this author, I found that the story line didn't emphasis Juniper Ridge, its origins and its features/characters too heavily as this has been done in greater detail in other books in the series. As a fan of these stories, I liked this as it allowed just enough detail for familiar themes of the series to be built upon while focussing on the rekindling of a relationship between Nick and Lauren. Instead, since this is a second chance novel, there were flashbacks and a good amount of innuendos and reference to their past shared history together.
I'm really enjoying this series. It puts a unique twist on a series built around a familial connection and I'm always guaranteed a feel good story with a happy ending. I love how Nick was committed from the beginning to a fresh start with Lauren, throwing himself out there and holding nothing back. I'm a sucker for a second chance novel and this was a cute read. There's a epilogue at the end that wraps up the story and sets the reader up for Cooper and Amy which I can't wait for.
September 28, 2021
*** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ***
Welcome back to Juniper Ridge, where second chances and fresh starts are the reality show town’s motto. I absolutely loved Show Down! After getting hints of Nick and Lauren’s relationship drama in Let it Show, I couldn’t wait to read their story.
Nick and Lauren’s initial breakup was all due to miscommunication. You knew they were meant to be from the moment they met. Their chemistry was off the charts! I loved all their witty, sexy banter and how they never missed a beat even after not seeing each other for 2+ years. It was like their relationship picked up where it left off. I did expect a lot more angst from their first breakup and more playing hard to get. But I liked that Nick’s determination to get Lauren back was not dragged out, which led to them giving in fairly quickly, which led to them realizing they still needed to fix their initial issues. Their journey in finding their back to each was so beautiful, sweet and sexy. I enjoyed the way the story flowed overall.
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter bring Nick and Lauren’s love story to life. Their dual narration was captivating. Benjamin Charles is a new to me narrator and I thought his deep suave voice was perfect for Nick. He captured Nick’s determination, confidence and passionate personality beautifully. Stella Hunter is incredible as always! Her performance as Lauren adds a little something to Lauren’s independent, sassy, loving character. These two narrators were a brilliant duo.
Tawna did a wonderful job with her characters making them all lovable and charming. I thought it was great that Tawna wrote a disclaimer acknowledging and promoting #ownvoices at the beginning, since the hero, Nick, is a black character. He was so swoony and like every guy, clueless when it come to what women want, ha. At the end, he wooed Lauren and got their HEA. Looking forward to more in this series.
Welcome back to Juniper Ridge, where second chances and fresh starts are the reality show town’s motto. I absolutely loved Show Down! After getting hints of Nick and Lauren’s relationship drama in Let it Show, I couldn’t wait to read their story.
Nick and Lauren’s initial breakup was all due to miscommunication. You knew they were meant to be from the moment they met. Their chemistry was off the charts! I loved all their witty, sexy banter and how they never missed a beat even after not seeing each other for 2+ years. It was like their relationship picked up where it left off. I did expect a lot more angst from their first breakup and more playing hard to get. But I liked that Nick’s determination to get Lauren back was not dragged out, which led to them giving in fairly quickly, which led to them realizing they still needed to fix their initial issues. Their journey in finding their back to each was so beautiful, sweet and sexy. I enjoyed the way the story flowed overall.
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter bring Nick and Lauren’s love story to life. Their dual narration was captivating. Benjamin Charles is a new to me narrator and I thought his deep suave voice was perfect for Nick. He captured Nick’s determination, confidence and passionate personality beautifully. Stella Hunter is incredible as always! Her performance as Lauren adds a little something to Lauren’s independent, sassy, loving character. These two narrators were a brilliant duo.
Tawna did a wonderful job with her characters making them all lovable and charming. I thought it was great that Tawna wrote a disclaimer acknowledging and promoting #ownvoices at the beginning, since the hero, Nick, is a black character. He was so swoony and like every guy, clueless when it come to what women want, ha. At the end, he wooed Lauren and got their HEA. Looking forward to more in this series.
August 27, 2021
Lauren and Nick, Nick and Lauren....we’ve seen over the last few books that there is something that happened between these two and now we get the chance to find out what. You know it ends with a HEA and an epilogue!
Lauren was embarrassed when their relationship ended and wants to move on but has never truly been able too. She knows Nick has been hired to work on the new cabins so she is bound to run into him eventually she just never expected to fall for him again 😉 (read the book and you’ll totally get this)!
Nick has always loved Lauren. Even after their breakup he never stopped loving her. Now that he will be working so closely with her again, he vows to get his second chance.
Despite talking about their past, I felt that Lauren gave in too quickly to getting back together. They both give off the impression they never stopped caring or loving the other person so there is that belief that their second chance will happen the whole time. It just felt a little rushed in the middle to getting them back together. Other than that I do appreciate the disclosure at the beginning of race being a slight involvement. In my opinion, the note wasn’t needed but I can appreciate and understand why it’s there.
Lauren was embarrassed when their relationship ended and wants to move on but has never truly been able too. She knows Nick has been hired to work on the new cabins so she is bound to run into him eventually she just never expected to fall for him again 😉 (read the book and you’ll totally get this)!
Nick has always loved Lauren. Even after their breakup he never stopped loving her. Now that he will be working so closely with her again, he vows to get his second chance.
Despite talking about their past, I felt that Lauren gave in too quickly to getting back together. They both give off the impression they never stopped caring or loving the other person so there is that belief that their second chance will happen the whole time. It just felt a little rushed in the middle to getting them back together. Other than that I do appreciate the disclosure at the beginning of race being a slight involvement. In my opinion, the note wasn’t needed but I can appreciate and understand why it’s there.
September 24, 2021
People had different reactions when they first saw Spider. Most people looked at him and saw a weird haircut, tattoos, and a big, bulky man and was afraid. Others looked at him and saw a handsome man that they would like to get to know. I was glad to see that he was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. I hated what he went through as a child. No one should have to go what he went through. It was funny how he first met Frankie and what she did. But, Frankie was very attracted to him. They were more alike than either realized as Frankie had a bad childhood, but her brother Maverick and her cousins were always there to help Frankie become a strong, independent woman. Little Owen that was autistic and their friends son was so lovable. He seemed to always bring the best out in people. I loved watching Frankie and Spider get to know one another. I enjoyed the book and encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
September 29, 2021
**Audiobook Review**
I was so excited to head back to Juniper Ridge! Nick and Lauren's story was a sweet, steamy, and hilarious second chance romance. I love all of the Judson siblings, but have been highly anticipating Lauren's story in Show Down, and it didn't disappoint!
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter narrate this audio, and are a fantastic pairing to give life to Nick and Lauren. Benjamin Charles is a new to me narrator, and oh man is he swoony! I loved his performance of Nick showcasing all his passionate, hopeful, and loyal personality. Stella Hunter brings the perfect touch of sass and determination to Lauren's character. Both narrators captivated and hooked me from the start with their performances.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! In this book you get a hot, alpha carpenter proving he deserves a second chance at love, a reluctant, fierce, independent woman, steamy time, cute animals, a feisty fish, a bumper car ride filled with all the sexual innuendos, glimpses of all the Judson siblings, and HEA perfection. I am looking forward to more from Tawna Fenske!
I was so excited to head back to Juniper Ridge! Nick and Lauren's story was a sweet, steamy, and hilarious second chance romance. I love all of the Judson siblings, but have been highly anticipating Lauren's story in Show Down, and it didn't disappoint!
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter narrate this audio, and are a fantastic pairing to give life to Nick and Lauren. Benjamin Charles is a new to me narrator, and oh man is he swoony! I loved his performance of Nick showcasing all his passionate, hopeful, and loyal personality. Stella Hunter brings the perfect touch of sass and determination to Lauren's character. Both narrators captivated and hooked me from the start with their performances.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! In this book you get a hot, alpha carpenter proving he deserves a second chance at love, a reluctant, fierce, independent woman, steamy time, cute animals, a feisty fish, a bumper car ride filled with all the sexual innuendos, glimpses of all the Judson siblings, and HEA perfection. I am looking forward to more from Tawna Fenske!
October 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot more than the second in the series. Show Down was more reminiscent of Show Time (Juniper Ridge #1), which I was really hoping for. This instalment of the Juniper Ridge series took us back to more of a focus on the TV show and production - which is what I found missing in Juniper Ridge #2. The miscommunication trope is not always my favourite but it was done well in this book.
June 13, 2025
I am very much enjoying this series, I don't know that this book was my favorite so far but I really like Lauren and Nick's story. The actors did a great job, 10 out of 10 recommend this series to any Rom-Com reader.
September 23, 2021
When I was given the opportunity to listen to book 3 in the Juniper Ridge series, I knew I would be in for a treat. I still haven't read the first book, but I read book 2 and fell in love with this "commune town"/reality tv show that is set in a small town in Oregon.
Show Down is book 3 and it's all about the second chance romance between Nick and Lauren. We begin the story in the past to see what transpired between the two for them to break from one another. And boy, it isn't pretty. Lauren was completely humiliated in front of many family and friends. Fast forward 2 years and we see Nick back in her neck of the woods. What will happen between these two now? Will they forgive and forget? Play nice or Avoid one another??
This story is told from Nick's and Lauren's POV and we definitely needed to hear from both of them to understand where they were coming from and to see growth from the characters. I can tell you that I totally commiserated with Lauren and it probably would've taken me awhile to even warm up to Nick again. But they obviously have a past and still have a lot of love for one another that never faded.
I enjoyed being back in this world and revisiting the past characters. Getting to know Nick and his family as well as Lauren and their story. Unfortunately, I wasn't totally invested in them as a couple. I was TOLD they had a past and they just fell right back into things a bit too quickly for me. I didn't really get to FEEL them get to know one another and fall back in love. But I DID get to see growth with the characters and them realizing their mistakes they made in the past and how they could change to be better in the future.
With that said, I liked the story, but didn't love it. What I did love was the performances from the audio narrators. Having listened to the past two books, I really feel like I am getting to see the real Juniper Ridge and its inhabitants. Benjamin Charles did a great job capturing Nick and Stella Hunter totally became Lauren. They brought those characters alive and made me enjoy the story that much more.
Overall, this book wasn't my favorite of the series and I didn't fully connect with Lauren and Nick as a couple, but I needed their story to appreciate another piece of Juniper Ridge and the Judson family. I also liked that Tawna Fenske took a chance and included an interracial couple. This made their story more real and relatable. And Juniper Ridge really needed some diversity. This story was needed and I will still be looking forward to more books in this series.
Show Down is book 3 and it's all about the second chance romance between Nick and Lauren. We begin the story in the past to see what transpired between the two for them to break from one another. And boy, it isn't pretty. Lauren was completely humiliated in front of many family and friends. Fast forward 2 years and we see Nick back in her neck of the woods. What will happen between these two now? Will they forgive and forget? Play nice or Avoid one another??
This story is told from Nick's and Lauren's POV and we definitely needed to hear from both of them to understand where they were coming from and to see growth from the characters. I can tell you that I totally commiserated with Lauren and it probably would've taken me awhile to even warm up to Nick again. But they obviously have a past and still have a lot of love for one another that never faded.
I enjoyed being back in this world and revisiting the past characters. Getting to know Nick and his family as well as Lauren and their story. Unfortunately, I wasn't totally invested in them as a couple. I was TOLD they had a past and they just fell right back into things a bit too quickly for me. I didn't really get to FEEL them get to know one another and fall back in love. But I DID get to see growth with the characters and them realizing their mistakes they made in the past and how they could change to be better in the future.
With that said, I liked the story, but didn't love it. What I did love was the performances from the audio narrators. Having listened to the past two books, I really feel like I am getting to see the real Juniper Ridge and its inhabitants. Benjamin Charles did a great job capturing Nick and Stella Hunter totally became Lauren. They brought those characters alive and made me enjoy the story that much more.
Overall, this book wasn't my favorite of the series and I didn't fully connect with Lauren and Nick as a couple, but I needed their story to appreciate another piece of Juniper Ridge and the Judson family. I also liked that Tawna Fenske took a chance and included an interracial couple. This made their story more real and relatable. And Juniper Ridge really needed some diversity. This story was needed and I will still be looking forward to more books in this series.
September 12, 2021
I was excited to go back to Juniper Ridge and was very curious about the story of Lauren & Nick. We were given hints that it did not end well with them in the previous Juniper Ridge Book. Show Down is the perfect title to this book!
The first chapter gives you the reason why their relationship ended badly. She thought she was getting engaged and he was just making an announcement about a new business adventure which took him out of state. She was humiliated in front of her entire family and friends that instead of engaged she broke-up with him.
Now 2yrs later Nick returns.
I was not a fan of Nick at first. I felt he was arrogant and couldn’t understand why Lauren broke it off 2 yrs ago. Lauren Judson has been working hard along with her siblings taping their reality show “Fresh Start at Juniper Ridge”. She finds out that Nick will be in Juniper Ridge to build more cabins, so she’s prepared for “the show down” and will protect her heart & stay as friends or so she thought.
I really enjoyed reading about the Judson siblings and the residents of Juniper Ridge. We have some hilarious moments with a “yellow” fish with an attitude Lauren adopted that she named Sharkira.
The re-building of Lauren and Nicks relationship starts cautiously but eventually heats up!
But communication continues to be an issue especially with Nick. Especially when he observe something but instead of talking to Lauren, he decide to take matters into his own hands. Then Lauren has to take care of the crisis since it is work related.
Nick finally realizes if he’s going to win Lauren back, he has to make a romantic effort. I love Second Chance stories and all the characters in Juniper Ridge. Another great rom-com by Tawna.
The first chapter gives you the reason why their relationship ended badly. She thought she was getting engaged and he was just making an announcement about a new business adventure which took him out of state. She was humiliated in front of her entire family and friends that instead of engaged she broke-up with him.
Now 2yrs later Nick returns.
I was not a fan of Nick at first. I felt he was arrogant and couldn’t understand why Lauren broke it off 2 yrs ago. Lauren Judson has been working hard along with her siblings taping their reality show “Fresh Start at Juniper Ridge”. She finds out that Nick will be in Juniper Ridge to build more cabins, so she’s prepared for “the show down” and will protect her heart & stay as friends or so she thought.
I really enjoyed reading about the Judson siblings and the residents of Juniper Ridge. We have some hilarious moments with a “yellow” fish with an attitude Lauren adopted that she named Sharkira.
The re-building of Lauren and Nicks relationship starts cautiously but eventually heats up!
But communication continues to be an issue especially with Nick. Especially when he observe something but instead of talking to Lauren, he decide to take matters into his own hands. Then Lauren has to take care of the crisis since it is work related.
Nick finally realizes if he’s going to win Lauren back, he has to make a romantic effort. I love Second Chance stories and all the characters in Juniper Ridge. Another great rom-com by Tawna.
September 23, 2021
As much as I loved the Ponderosa Resort series, I’m digging the gang at Juniper Ridge even more. Lauren was the character that grabbed my attention from the start, because she’s such a bada$$, as well the self-appointment family caretaker. So it’s interesting to see her both angry and vulnerable when her ex comes to join the community. The relationship that ended rather publicly and embarrassingly.
Nick’s not a bad guy, he’s just kind of clueless. He definitely didn’t see the end coming, or how big a role his own blinders played in that ending. But he can’t deny that the attraction and love are still there when he sees Lauren again. Lauren hasn’t forgotten those feelings, either, but she’s trying to ignore them. Because, she’s “fine, just fine”…her mantra these days.
But these two are fun, and funny. I do wish Lauren had resisted him just a bit more, because frankly the man is still a bit clueless. To be fair, though, communication might not be all that clear coming from her, either.
Ms. Fenske's trademark humor runs rampant throughout the book, but it’s never forced or written just to get the laugh. It’s subtle and sly, the way any book that calls itself a romcom should be. Whether it’s a smile, a chuckle or a full belly laugh, I know it’s included to drive the story along. She ought to be teaching a master class in writing romance humor, because so many that I’ve read lately are lacking the innate ability that she infuses into her plots and characters.
Speaking of characters, I love the ones in this series! Each book introduces the reader to at least one new person…or, ya know, animal…but still weaves existing favorites onto the canvas. Even as I’m sad that Lauren and Nick’s book is done, I’m excited to see who gets their HEA next!
Nick’s not a bad guy, he’s just kind of clueless. He definitely didn’t see the end coming, or how big a role his own blinders played in that ending. But he can’t deny that the attraction and love are still there when he sees Lauren again. Lauren hasn’t forgotten those feelings, either, but she’s trying to ignore them. Because, she’s “fine, just fine”…her mantra these days.
But these two are fun, and funny. I do wish Lauren had resisted him just a bit more, because frankly the man is still a bit clueless. To be fair, though, communication might not be all that clear coming from her, either.
Ms. Fenske's trademark humor runs rampant throughout the book, but it’s never forced or written just to get the laugh. It’s subtle and sly, the way any book that calls itself a romcom should be. Whether it’s a smile, a chuckle or a full belly laugh, I know it’s included to drive the story along. She ought to be teaching a master class in writing romance humor, because so many that I’ve read lately are lacking the innate ability that she infuses into her plots and characters.
Speaking of characters, I love the ones in this series! Each book introduces the reader to at least one new person…or, ya know, animal…but still weaves existing favorites onto the canvas. Even as I’m sad that Lauren and Nick’s book is done, I’m excited to see who gets their HEA next!
May 26, 2024
**Audiobook Review**
Juniper Ridge is such a fun series and I love being able to go back. “Show Down” is a sweet, flirty and emotional second chance romance for two people who deserved to find each other again.
After a big misunderstanding on where their relationship was going next, Lauren and Nick broke up and haven’t seen each other in years. Lauren left Hollywood to work on Juniper Ridge with her siblings and Nick built his resort empire one construction site at a time. Now he’s joined Juniper Ridge and is set on winning Lauren back. Lauren is still hurt from the past and is hesitant to let Nick back in. But thanks to the magic that is Juniper Ridge, Nick has all the opportunities to prove he’s serious about them being together again.
Lauren and Nick’s story was so much fun to listen to and I really enjoyed their story. Lauren was hurt by how things went down with Nick years ago and I admired that she just didn’t immediately forget what had happened. She made her feelings known and I loved that about her. Nick captured my attention from the beginning and despite not being at the best at communicating when they were first together, he’s a great guy. And all those years apart, he grew into a great man and was better at communicating what he was feeling. He worked hard to prove to Lauren that he had changed and wasn’t shy about showing it. The connection and chemistry they had was still very much there and it reignited as they spent time together. And I love that they were an interracial couple.
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter were great as Nick and Lauren. Benjamin is a new to me narrator and I loved his smooth and husky voice for Nick. Stella was wonderful per the norm. She brought all of Lauren’s emotions out perfectly.
Juniper Ridge is such a fun series and I love being able to go back. “Show Down” is a sweet, flirty and emotional second chance romance for two people who deserved to find each other again.
After a big misunderstanding on where their relationship was going next, Lauren and Nick broke up and haven’t seen each other in years. Lauren left Hollywood to work on Juniper Ridge with her siblings and Nick built his resort empire one construction site at a time. Now he’s joined Juniper Ridge and is set on winning Lauren back. Lauren is still hurt from the past and is hesitant to let Nick back in. But thanks to the magic that is Juniper Ridge, Nick has all the opportunities to prove he’s serious about them being together again.
Lauren and Nick’s story was so much fun to listen to and I really enjoyed their story. Lauren was hurt by how things went down with Nick years ago and I admired that she just didn’t immediately forget what had happened. She made her feelings known and I loved that about her. Nick captured my attention from the beginning and despite not being at the best at communicating when they were first together, he’s a great guy. And all those years apart, he grew into a great man and was better at communicating what he was feeling. He worked hard to prove to Lauren that he had changed and wasn’t shy about showing it. The connection and chemistry they had was still very much there and it reignited as they spent time together. And I love that they were an interracial couple.
Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter were great as Nick and Lauren. Benjamin is a new to me narrator and I loved his smooth and husky voice for Nick. Stella was wonderful per the norm. She brought all of Lauren’s emotions out perfectly.
July 29, 2021
Lauren and Nick have a history. Their history includes love, passion, hurt, misunderstanding, and embarrassment. Lauren and Nick have a future, but it is a future they must work a little to get. Their story is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
The author does an excellent job showing the reader the love that Nick and Lauren used to have, while also allowing the reader to feel the hurt and embarrassment of their breakup. I appreciated that Nick and Lauren have inside jokes and ways of communicating that they developed before that allow them to still know each other now. I love how they both have some issues with their parents yet are close with their siblings. I appreciated the family dynamics at play. Set in the world of a reality TV show/social experiment, there are many funny secondary characters and events that arise that made me laugh.
Nick and Lauren have chemistry and passion between them as well as feelings that never really went away. I love that they get a second chance at their HEA. I was especially thankful to the author for giving us a story that demonstrated perfectly how people grow over time. I love that though they were always in love, that they were not where they each needed to be to be together before. I love that they were both able to grow in a way that when the right time did come, they fit together perfectly. This was a sweet and spicy book that warmed my heart and sets us up for the next books in the series. I can’t wait.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book.
The author does an excellent job showing the reader the love that Nick and Lauren used to have, while also allowing the reader to feel the hurt and embarrassment of their breakup. I appreciated that Nick and Lauren have inside jokes and ways of communicating that they developed before that allow them to still know each other now. I love how they both have some issues with their parents yet are close with their siblings. I appreciated the family dynamics at play. Set in the world of a reality TV show/social experiment, there are many funny secondary characters and events that arise that made me laugh.
Nick and Lauren have chemistry and passion between them as well as feelings that never really went away. I love that they get a second chance at their HEA. I was especially thankful to the author for giving us a story that demonstrated perfectly how people grow over time. I love that though they were always in love, that they were not where they each needed to be to be together before. I love that they were both able to grow in a way that when the right time did come, they fit together perfectly. This was a sweet and spicy book that warmed my heart and sets us up for the next books in the series. I can’t wait.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book.
September 24, 2021
You’d have thought I’d confessed to killing kittens while wearing white after Labor Day.
After a horrible misunderstanding, Nick and Lauren's futures went in different directions. Nick gets the opportunity to be part of the reality show that Lauren produces and jumps at the chance to be around her again. Lauren has never really forgiven Nick for the embarrassing way their relationship ended. Nick is determined to prove to Lauren that he messed up and to give them a second chance.
I was excited to return to Juniper Ridge after listening to the first two books. Nick and Lauren had some obvious tension between them given their past misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I failed to feel the romantic connection between them and the humour from the first two books was not as present. I enjoyed connecting with the previous couples and look forward to what is next.
Audio... Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter managed to bring the characters and story to life.
3.5 Maple Leafs... Show Down (Juniper Ridge 3) is a second chance, romantic comedy that is told in the first-person dual point-of-view of Nick and Lauren.
*advanced copy requested and honestly reviewed on behalf of Canadian Girl Book Blog*
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After a horrible misunderstanding, Nick and Lauren's futures went in different directions. Nick gets the opportunity to be part of the reality show that Lauren produces and jumps at the chance to be around her again. Lauren has never really forgiven Nick for the embarrassing way their relationship ended. Nick is determined to prove to Lauren that he messed up and to give them a second chance.
I was excited to return to Juniper Ridge after listening to the first two books. Nick and Lauren had some obvious tension between them given their past misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I failed to feel the romantic connection between them and the humour from the first two books was not as present. I enjoyed connecting with the previous couples and look forward to what is next.
Audio... Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter managed to bring the characters and story to life.
3.5 Maple Leafs... Show Down (Juniper Ridge 3) is a second chance, romantic comedy that is told in the first-person dual point-of-view of Nick and Lauren.
*advanced copy requested and honestly reviewed on behalf of Canadian Girl Book Blog*
Follow Me ... Facebook … Instagram … Twitter … TikTok ... Blog
September 30, 2021
I absolutely loved everything about this book! Lauren and Nick were deep in love... years ago. As Nick was on the precipice of starting a new venture, building and construction, Lauren was under the impression they were about to make a huge leap together. In her excitement to accept his proposal, she forgets to wait for him to actually make it! This leads to utter humiliation and their break up. When Nick is brought on to do set construction for the show, Lauren has to figure out if she's willing to go back there. They were good, until they weren't. Is it worth taking another look?
Tawna Fenske is a rom-com GENIUS! I absolutely love everything she writes. The Juniper Ridge series are able to be read as stand alones, but also-- it helps know the characters more if you follow the back stories. Because I had read another Juniper Ridge book, I was aware of Lauren's reticence towards anything relating to her ex-Nick. If I hadn't read any of the previous stories, it would still make sense though.
Lauren and Nick are the couple everything thinks about from high school: The built guy with the gorgeous girl. And yet Tawna gives them depth and interest. They make the same mistakes a lot of us do, but they are much funnier about it.
I can tell the effort Tawna put into writing a COC. It's clear she took steps for sensitivity and accuracy: as a white female author, it would have been very easy to simply stick to stereotypes and kept writing. However, the details and nuances show she cared about getting it RIGHT.
Tawna Fenske is a rom-com GENIUS! I absolutely love everything she writes. The Juniper Ridge series are able to be read as stand alones, but also-- it helps know the characters more if you follow the back stories. Because I had read another Juniper Ridge book, I was aware of Lauren's reticence towards anything relating to her ex-Nick. If I hadn't read any of the previous stories, it would still make sense though.
Lauren and Nick are the couple everything thinks about from high school: The built guy with the gorgeous girl. And yet Tawna gives them depth and interest. They make the same mistakes a lot of us do, but they are much funnier about it.
I can tell the effort Tawna put into writing a COC. It's clear she took steps for sensitivity and accuracy: as a white female author, it would have been very easy to simply stick to stereotypes and kept writing. However, the details and nuances show she cared about getting it RIGHT.
August 23, 2021
Full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of Tawna Fenske! I was sad when the Ponderosa Resort series concluded, but the Juniper Ridge series, which takes place within a social experiment/reality show at Juniper Ridge, is quickly becoming my new favorite. While yes, each book is a stand-alone, you’d be missing out if you didn’t read every book in the Juniper Ridge series and get to know the Judson siblings.
Show Down is the third book in the series and is a second-chance romance that centers on show producer Lauren and her ex-boyfriend Nick. Nick is a very successful resort contractor who is hired to build new cabins on the Juniper Ridge compound. He and Lauren haven’t seen each other in two years, but it’s clear from the beginning that the spark is still there and, oh yes, sparks will fly. But as with all of Tawna’s books, this one includes so much more than romance. There is humor, steamy scenes, snappy realistic dialogue, and excellent multi-dimensional supporting characters including the Judson siblings, Juniper Ridge residents and other community members. And yes, crazy animals! I eagerly awaited this book, and I wasn’t disappointed, except that I read it too quickly and now I’m counting the days until the fourth in the series, Show of Honor, is released! I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Show Down is the third book in the series and is a second-chance romance that centers on show producer Lauren and her ex-boyfriend Nick. Nick is a very successful resort contractor who is hired to build new cabins on the Juniper Ridge compound. He and Lauren haven’t seen each other in two years, but it’s clear from the beginning that the spark is still there and, oh yes, sparks will fly. But as with all of Tawna’s books, this one includes so much more than romance. There is humor, steamy scenes, snappy realistic dialogue, and excellent multi-dimensional supporting characters including the Judson siblings, Juniper Ridge residents and other community members. And yes, crazy animals! I eagerly awaited this book, and I wasn’t disappointed, except that I read it too quickly and now I’m counting the days until the fourth in the series, Show of Honor, is released! I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2021
Another great installment in the Juniper Ridge Series. Considering how the story started and what happened between Lauren and Nick, I was intrigued by them both being in the same place and wondered what would happen between them, if anything. I did like that they were cordial to each other when they encountered each other but you know that sparks were still flying between them, and it wasn’t long before they were ‘with’ each other again. The story was great, and I really enjoyed his sister and brother-in-law and I love that Lauren and Alexis (Lexi) have their romance novel paperback swap. I also liked finding out a little about the history of Oregon, that was eye-opening to me. My least favorite part of this story was Cash Beckett, sorry, not a fan. Maybe I’ll grow to like him. I thought the way the story ended for Lauren and Nick was great and especially with the news from Lexi and Abe, excited about that. There was part of one of the confessionals that I really connected with, “Isn’t it great to know you don’t have to get it right the first time or even the second or third? What counts is that you keep moving in the right direction. That your heart’s in a good place”. I’m really looking forward to Show of Honor as well as seeing what happens in an upcoming story with Cooper and Amy.
September 25, 2021
I have loved both of the Juniper Ridge books so far, and this one definitely did not disappoint. Lauren Judson, the smart and tough producer of the Judson clan, was completely blindsided by her longtime love Nick Armbrust. I'll leave the details out, so you can be surprised along with Lauren while you read, but oof. I wanted to kick Nick in the junk too. Fast forward a few years, and the two former lovers' paths cross again at Juniper Ridge. Lauren still isn't quite over the hurt, and Nick still isn't quite over Lauren. Their rekindled potential romance is fueled by Fenske's trademark wit, laugh out loud humor, and plenty of chemistry. I think I say this every time, but Nick and Lauren's story might be my new favorite. Juniper Ridge is always full of fun drama, small mysteries and lots of hilarity. Show Down definitely stands along, but you can't miss in reading the first two books in the series (Or the Ponderosa Resort series, set in the same universe).
I also appreciated that Fenske acknowledged the fact that she was a white woman writing a black man's perspective. I think she did it well, and loved her support of other BIPOC authors also. She has introduced me to several of my new favorite BIPOC authors.
I also appreciated that Fenske acknowledged the fact that she was a white woman writing a black man's perspective. I think she did it well, and loved her support of other BIPOC authors also. She has introduced me to several of my new favorite BIPOC authors.
August 25, 2021
"We should stop." I lick my lips and watch his eyes drop to my mouth. "Right?"
"Depends." He searches my face, trying to get a read on me. "You offering to kiss it better?"
I should slug him some more. I should get in my car and ram him again. I should get out of here before I do something dumb. That's the last thought I have before I cup the back of his head and drag his mouth to mine.
Lauren isn't usually an idiot. But here she is again. Falling for Nick Armbrust - AGAIN. After a very humiliating, and public, misunderstanding, Lauren really does not want to go down this road with Nick. Spending so much time together now is not allowing her to think clearly. The reasons she fell in love with Nick are right there at the surface.
Nick never stopped loving Lauren. He just wasn't ready for the forever part when they were dating before. Now? Now it seems like he couldn't imagine saying goodbye to her.
Lauren and Nick have unresolved feelings and unresolved communication issues. Neither of those things are just going away. The question is, can they work on it?
Great story and great series!
"Depends." He searches my face, trying to get a read on me. "You offering to kiss it better?"
I should slug him some more. I should get in my car and ram him again. I should get out of here before I do something dumb. That's the last thought I have before I cup the back of his head and drag his mouth to mine.
Lauren isn't usually an idiot. But here she is again. Falling for Nick Armbrust - AGAIN. After a very humiliating, and public, misunderstanding, Lauren really does not want to go down this road with Nick. Spending so much time together now is not allowing her to think clearly. The reasons she fell in love with Nick are right there at the surface.
Nick never stopped loving Lauren. He just wasn't ready for the forever part when they were dating before. Now? Now it seems like he couldn't imagine saying goodbye to her.
Lauren and Nick have unresolved feelings and unresolved communication issues. Neither of those things are just going away. The question is, can they work on it?
Great story and great series!
November 9, 2021
Finally Nick and Lauren - it was worth the wait
This is a sweet, spicy, sexy second chance story that will give you all the feels. Nick is the owner of a number of successful luxury resorts. Lauren is a producer from a famous Hollywood family. They dated previously and it ended two years before in an embarrassingly spectacular way. Lauren and her five famous siblings have started a reality type show building a community at a former cult compound where the community members live and work while being filmed. Nick is brought to the community to build more new cabins for the community since he built the original cabins for the cult. Despite the messy breakup and the passage of time, there are still deep feelings between the two. The journey to their HEA is loud and messy and a bit drama filled but so good. This book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, strong friendships, laughs, messy families, sexy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, and so much love. You’ll feel all the things reading this story - laughing, crying, gasping, and swooning. I am loving this series and am excited to read about the next Judson sibling.
This is a sweet, spicy, sexy second chance story that will give you all the feels. Nick is the owner of a number of successful luxury resorts. Lauren is a producer from a famous Hollywood family. They dated previously and it ended two years before in an embarrassingly spectacular way. Lauren and her five famous siblings have started a reality type show building a community at a former cult compound where the community members live and work while being filmed. Nick is brought to the community to build more new cabins for the community since he built the original cabins for the cult. Despite the messy breakup and the passage of time, there are still deep feelings between the two. The journey to their HEA is loud and messy and a bit drama filled but so good. This book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, strong friendships, laughs, messy families, sexy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, and so much love. You’ll feel all the things reading this story - laughing, crying, gasping, and swooning. I am loving this series and am excited to read about the next Judson sibling.
November 30, 2021
This book is another great installment of the Juniper Ridge series. At first, I wasn’t sure about this book and was not enjoying it as much as I expected to. However, after reading it a bit I figured out that part of the reason for that is that I’ve struggled before with relating to and interacting with people who are like Nick. Once I understood that a little more, it made it much easier for me to accept some of the disconnects that were going on between the characters. What made this book such an excellent read though was the author’s thoughtfulness in taking on the writing of his character and doing such a superb job of making it realistic, and relatable. The very best part though was how much I believed in the willingness of the hero and heroine to put the effort into making the types of changes to truly make their relationship work. That above all is what truly cemented this book as one of my favorite reads for this year. I’ve read it twice now and enjoyed it even more the second time through. I would definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys a good second chance romance story!
September 24, 2021
Lauren Judson has been dreading the reappearance of her ex Nick after a spectacularly embarrassing two years ago. But he built the original cabins at Juniper Ridge, and they need to keep the same feel for any new construction.
From Nicks arrival at Juniper Ridge, there is no denying the chemistry and attraction that still exists between the two. But Lauren is determined to keep Nick at arms length, to protect her heart this time around.
There is no denying the chemistry between Nick and Lauren, and Nick wants a second chance with the woman he loves. As the two become reacquainted, both of them begin to realize that the people they were when they were together before were completely different people. They have learned and grown, and have the chance to build something even bigger than before.
Show Down was a great addition to the Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedies. And I can't wait for more!
And for you audio listeners out there - Narrators Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter were fantastic as Nick and Lauren. I love dual narration, and Show Down nailed it.
From Nicks arrival at Juniper Ridge, there is no denying the chemistry and attraction that still exists between the two. But Lauren is determined to keep Nick at arms length, to protect her heart this time around.
There is no denying the chemistry between Nick and Lauren, and Nick wants a second chance with the woman he loves. As the two become reacquainted, both of them begin to realize that the people they were when they were together before were completely different people. They have learned and grown, and have the chance to build something even bigger than before.
Show Down was a great addition to the Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedies. And I can't wait for more!
And for you audio listeners out there - Narrators Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter were fantastic as Nick and Lauren. I love dual narration, and Show Down nailed it.
August 29, 2021
A LOL romantic comedy…CHECK!
A slow-burn, second chance romance…CHECK!
A book full of misunderstandings…CHECK!
Show Down is the third book in the Juniper Ridge series by author Tawna Fenske. Any time you pick up a book from this author, you are guaranteed lots of laughs, a fun storyline, and wonderful characters!
Nick Armbrust is a business-minded resort builder. Lauren Judson is in the Juniper Ridge “family” and Nick’s ex, thanks to an extremely public moment of humiliation. I love the base storyline and the oblivious characters in this one. The bumper cars, the pet adoption event, the Confessionals, the banter throughout this reality show romance will keep you turning the pages and laughing while staying hopeful for a second chance reconciliation! A great, lighter read with a few little twists, lots of animals, and second chances. 4.5 stars.
A slow-burn, second chance romance…CHECK!
A book full of misunderstandings…CHECK!
Show Down is the third book in the Juniper Ridge series by author Tawna Fenske. Any time you pick up a book from this author, you are guaranteed lots of laughs, a fun storyline, and wonderful characters!
Nick Armbrust is a business-minded resort builder. Lauren Judson is in the Juniper Ridge “family” and Nick’s ex, thanks to an extremely public moment of humiliation. I love the base storyline and the oblivious characters in this one. The bumper cars, the pet adoption event, the Confessionals, the banter throughout this reality show romance will keep you turning the pages and laughing while staying hopeful for a second chance reconciliation! A great, lighter read with a few little twists, lots of animals, and second chances. 4.5 stars.
September 24, 2021
I first heard about Tawna Fenske in August of 2015 when her book "About That Fling" was featured as a "Kindle First." I have fallen in love with the way that she tells a story. Her characters are fun, and even ones you may not like at first tend to grow on you. Since then, I have read anything that I have found by Tawna.
When I first found out that Tawna’s next book was going to star a Black main character, I didn’t know what to expect. While I was grateful that she was doing it, I honestly tried to keep my expectations low. I needed not do that at all!
As a Black woman, I was pleased that the Black characters in the book were written well. You can tell that Tawna went the extra mile to make sure of this. I also really liked the story line. It didn’t have as much shock value as “Let It Show,” but it was still a great book. I can’t wait to read what’s next.
When I first found out that Tawna’s next book was going to star a Black main character, I didn’t know what to expect. While I was grateful that she was doing it, I honestly tried to keep my expectations low. I needed not do that at all!
As a Black woman, I was pleased that the Black characters in the book were written well. You can tell that Tawna went the extra mile to make sure of this. I also really liked the story line. It didn’t have as much shock value as “Let It Show,” but it was still a great book. I can’t wait to read what’s next.
September 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this one! As always with a Tawna Fenske book, there was humor but it's not just the humor that makes the story. It's the deeper conflict and character backstory. I wanted to like Nick, at first, but I just didn't the author began spilling his secrets and his motivations. They things all came together. Nick is a little bit clueless esp. in the beginning but like every well-written book, the author gave him a great growth curve. He finally "got" Lauren. I ended up really liking him. I read this book on kindle and then was fortunate enough to be able to listen in audio. I thought both audio narrators did a phenomenal job. This book held my interest from beginning to end and that's not as easy as you think it might be. Huge thank you to the author and her team for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 19, 2022
Show Down is a fabulous second chance read. This is Laurens book in the Juniper Ridge series. You really do not have to read in series order but you can just to get to know the Judson family just a little more. Lauren is the producer and works hard to get the show running smoothly. The community is growing, and Nick is the builder in charge. Sparks start to pick up the more projects Nick is put on with Lauren over seeing everything. This is a second chance romance that will have you smiling and giggling all the way through even with those little mishaps along the way. They have to be my favorite couple yet. I cannot wait to read the next few books in this series soon. It has become such a cute fun read so far. Go one click and binge this series now and see what really happens in Juniper Ridge.
September 7, 2021
I always enjoy a trip back to Juniper Ridge and this second chance romance did not disappoint. Lauren and Nick were in a relationship that ended when signs were misread, even though they loved each other they didn’t seem to have the same future in sight. Fast forward a couple years and Nick is back in Lauren’s world when he is hired as a contractor for her family’s reality community tv show. Nick realizes that he never stopped loving Lauren and he tries to show her this. Lauren never stopped loving Nick but she doesn’t trust that they want the same things but she can’t deny her attraction and agrees to a no strings relationship with him. Nick will take what he can get but he is in it for a future not just right now. I did love that they both grew from their past relationship and take what they learned to make their current relationship work. I loved the relationship that Lauren has with her sisters and how she turned to them to talk about what she wanted with Nick. When a new issue comes between Lauren and Nick and it looks like past is starting to repeat itself you just hope they have learned from the past and their love is strong enough to keep them together this time.
This is a great series and I can’t wait for more visits to Juniper Ridge.
This is a great series and I can’t wait for more visits to Juniper Ridge.
October 23, 2021
sweet story
Pretty good. From the previous books Lauren was kind of eh, too prickly, but I enjoyed her in this story. Nick is her love who she broke up with because of assumptions. To me her own fault. But he’s back as a contractor for the community, now he’s hoping to start over. And of course she is still into him.
I love how the siblings are coming together and you get more insight on how they grew up. I’m still not a huge Lauren fan but Nick is too cute, and I liked the innuendo between them.
The pet situation in this story is too funny similar to the parrot in Mari’s story.
BTW they had a inside term that initiated sexy times when they were together in the past. It’s not really sexy and every time it came up made me think of saying “candy man” lol no bueno.
Pretty good. From the previous books Lauren was kind of eh, too prickly, but I enjoyed her in this story. Nick is her love who she broke up with because of assumptions. To me her own fault. But he’s back as a contractor for the community, now he’s hoping to start over. And of course she is still into him.
I love how the siblings are coming together and you get more insight on how they grew up. I’m still not a huge Lauren fan but Nick is too cute, and I liked the innuendo between them.
The pet situation in this story is too funny similar to the parrot in Mari’s story.
BTW they had a inside term that initiated sexy times when they were together in the past. It’s not really sexy and every time it came up made me think of saying “candy man” lol no bueno.
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