Gold Rush

Finch Family #2

by Jenny Bunting

Reid

I’m the calm and collected Finch son, until I’m near Whitney.

My college nemesis, and the woman who can rile me with a single word.

Now, she’s in my town and I don’t know how to feel; fighting with her only makes me want her more.

I’m ready to be the kind of romance hero she writes about. But she won’t let me and I have no idea why.

Whitney


I’ve hated Reid Finch since college, ever since he critiqued my words.

Now Goldheart is the only place I can find my inspiration and unfortunately, he’s everywhere.

I can’t tell if our banter is arguing or flirting. He thinks he wants me, but he can’t.

I could fall in love with him. But I’ve made a choice and I can’t give him the family he wants.

Gold Rush is a full-length standalone enemies-to-lovers, small town contemporary romance.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Ex-author who reads anything but the genre she wrote.

Uses Goodreads to track reading and connect with readers.

Strange men who decide to use Goodreads as a dating site...don't.

Reviews

[Jenny Bunting]

Gold Rush is live today!

I’m so proud of this story. Not only are Reid and Whitney HOT together, this book is my first (and not my last) book about the childfree experience.

Whitney decided she didn’t want children and she never wavers, never falters. She draws boundaries and finds true love in the process.

It’s also a love letter to writing, being a romance author, and finding your voice.

If you read on Amazon or through their Kindle Unlimited program, I would be forever grateful if you picked it up. This book took everything out of me, in the best way.

Grab it here: https://mybook.to/GoldRushJB

[Andrea Wimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing Jenny Bunting writes that I don't like, I've never rated any of her books with less than five stars. Still, I think she deserves more. This book? My goodness. I don't even have words to say how much I loved it. Reid and Whitney's story was funny (laugh out loud funny), heartfelt, romantic AF, sexy and more emotional than I thought it was going to be.

The romance was to die for, the sexual tension and sexy scenes were what every steamy romance reader wants to see in a book and the resolution to their conflict brought tears to my eyes. It was such a hopeful and inspiring story that touched my heart, not only because it was swoony AF, but also because it was filled with understanding, acceptance and the real beauty of a happy ever after that they wanted to build for themselves without the molds that society has made a norm. It touched my heart in many ways and I loved every second of it.

First I need to say I loved the enemies to lovers dynamic. This trope isn't my cup of tea, but Jenny wrote the rivalry in such a way that I was able to connect with both characters perfectly and understand both sides. But I loved the fact that the same thing that made them rivals was the very same that ended up bringing them together. It was perfection.

My beautiful Whitney was a true badass. I loved her passion and her drive. The fact that she was a romance author was the most amazing thing. Jenny brought in so many great things about the writing and reading community through her and it made me smile with all the references. I loved how even despite the effect that Reid's feedback had in her all those years ago, she didn't hesitate to help Reid in his writing journey when he needed it. She inspired him, encouraged him and helped him to get the words back and it was the sweetest freaking thing ever. I also loved how determined she was about not having kids and wasn't ashamed of telling anyone about her decision. I felt so inspired by her passion and by how sure she was about what she wanted for her life. Despite her insecurities and fears, she loved herself enough not to settle for what others wanted and didn't want to sacrifice herself for the happiness of others. I loved how she slowly let Reid into her life and how she let his love melt all of the walls she'd built around her heart because of the pain of her past. She healed and grew so much throughout the story and the happy ending she got was exactly the one she deserved.

" Whenever I'm with Whitney, I feel like the man I always knew I could be. Writing again, with her, has brought me back to life. Finally pursuing a dream that lay dormant for so long, writing my own books and shooting my shoot, it has changed my life."

My sweet Reid. I loved him so much. He was such a great guy, sweet, understanding, accepting and protective. I loved how much he loved his family, his job and the fact that he actually admired Whitney's talent. I swooned hard by how he wanted to learn from her and got to truly compliment her work because he loved her writing. He was humble to accept her feedback and advice, despite the "hate" he thought he felt at the beginning (As a aspiring author who has been blocked for a year myself, it felt so refreshing to see him writing again) He fell so hard and I fell for him right after. He was willing to sacrifice whatever he needed in order to be with her. I was really impressed and made me so happy to see that instead of making a sacrifice, Whitney actually helped him discover what he really wanted in life.

I loved their chemistry and how perfect they were for each other. They had so much in common, despite having different experiences and journeys. They broke my heart in different occasions but every single moment of doubt or hesitation was so beautifully written and so well fitted in the story that it all made sense. It made their journey such a sweet ride. I really loved how Jenny wrote the child free aspect of their relationship, their decision felt so natural and freeing. It touched my heart to see them so in tuned with each other and the supportive, understanding and true partnership they developed, even if it took a little bit for them to find it out themselves. It made the happy ending so heartwarming and wholesome.

"A romance author deserves a happily ever after. If you're in, I'm in."

I need to talk about how funny this book was. I swear I could recognize one of Jenny's books without knowing it's her just by the jokes and he humor. I always recommend Jenny's books to exemplify what a true Romcom is. She nails the comedy inside the romance plot perfectly. She's the only author that can make me go from "aaaw" to spit my drink with a loud chuckle in a matter of seconds and believe me when I tell you this book made me laugh out loud from the very first paragraph. Not kidding. It was the perfect blend of friend/sibling banter, witty dialogue, the most unusual situations and the funniest small town dynamic.

All of Jenny's characters are so fun to read. I loved seeing Cam and Annie again and all the Finch clan being their amazing selves. It's really one of my favorite fictional families. I fell more in love with them in this book and I can't wait to see who's next (ehem... ehem... I think I catch a clue or two or was it my imagination?).

I am so in love with this story, these characters and everything Jenny Bunting writes. I've been obsessed with her books since I read her first series and I've seen her growing more and more as a writer with each passing book. I'll never get tired of recommending her books and I can't wait to have this beauty in my shelf right next to the rest of her books.

My dears, if you love a good laugh out loud romantic comedy with all the feels, the steam and the heart... do yourself a favor and read any of Jenny's books, especially this one. It will make your heart beat faster and you'll swoon for days.

A million thanks to Jenny Bunting for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Always here to cheer for you and your amazing characters.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Whitney & Reid were so good together. Whitney is recently divorced because her husband decided he wanted kids even though she had always been clear on her choice to be childfree. So she goes to Goldheart to stay with Annie for a while for a fresh start & a breather. She instantly falls in love with the place. She is a romance author & is able to find inspiration to write. She then runs into Reid, who she knew back in college & it turns out they were sort of rivals in their writing class. This is such a good enemies to lovers bc like the last book it’s SO CLEAR that they both want the other so badly even when they were trying so hard to fight it.

I thought Whitney was so funny, her inner monologue made me laugh out loud multiple times. Reid was always so willing to do whatever it takes for anyone. He quit his job to help out his family, he stayed in a relationship he knew wasn’t working for her kid. & while he felt like he was giving too much, it didn’t matter once he met Whitney, he knew he wanted her & that’s all that mattered to him.

I’ve never read a book that was so clear on being child free & I loved every second. It shows how committed to this life that Whitney is, she is unwilling to waver on her choices & she is unapologetic about it. It shows that people don’t have to have kids to live happily ever after & they aren’t missing out on anything.
I am SO excited to read more about this family! Jackson is a real mystery I cannot wait to get into! All of the hints about him in these two books have me really intrigued.
I received this ARC exchange for an honest review!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

•Enemies to lovers
•Lots of small town charm & nosiness
•Heroine is child-free by choice & is a kickass author
•Hero has a big, tight-knit family who own a brewery together
•Sweet & steamy

Gold Rush is book 2 in the Finch Family series. I really loved book 1, Fool’s Gold and the whole Finch family, so I knew I’d enjoy Gold Rush. Jenny didn’t disappoint and this was such a fun & lighthearted read, but with undertones of more serious topics. I could tell this came from deep within Jenny’s heart & I think it made the story that much more special. Reid & Whitney had great chemistry and I loved that they both had a passion for writing. If you enjoy small town romance, pick this one up!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the author for my review copy!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I said it once, and I’ll say it again - Jenny Bunting’s writing is pure gold! I was so fortunate to receive an eARC of Gold Rush, the highly anticipated second installment in the Finch Family series. While this could be read as a stand-alone, I absolutely recommend reading the first book, Fool’s Gold, not because you have to, but because it’s a super delightful read. Now, back to Gold Rush - gah, I loved this book! It covers some amazing tropes such as enemies to lovers and small town romance, and includes Jenny’s signature blend of humor and top notch spice! I adored the chemistry between the two MCs, Whitney and Reid. There was so much sizzling enemies to lovers tension and the transition to lovers was absolute perfection. I also loved Whitney’s authenticity and her commitment to being childfree. Whilst I do enjoy single-parent romances, I think it’s really refreshing to have childfree romance being represented as well. As someone who is childfree, I really related to Whitney’s character and the struggle she endured in response to her decision. I also found Reid to be such a sweet and swoony cinnamon roll hero. He complimented Whitney perfectly and my little heart was leaping for joy when they finally got they HEA. Thank you so much to Jenny for selecting me to receive an eARC. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

[Amanda (Romance Reviewed) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ARC Review) 5 stars

This was a sweet and sexy semi-enemies to lovers story between a beer brewing hero and a romance novelist heroine. They were college rivals, but now that Whitney has moved to Reid’s hometown in order to work on her next book, the two find maybe they don’t hate each other so much after all.

I was really excited for this one because the heroine is child free, which is not something I’ve ever seen in a romance before. Sure, sometimes kids aren’t mentioned but this was about a heroine who is specifically, by choice, child free and the effects it has on her life and relationships.

As someone who is childfree myself, I went into this fully expecting to relate to Whitney, when I am, in fact, a Reid. I really related to this hero a lot! I too am a bit of a perfectionist pushover but I loved watching that little cinnamon roll eventually stand up for what he wanted.

It’s also a much needed inside look into how society treats childfree women (or, more specifically for me, how women treat other women. I’ve never had a random man ask me when I’m going to have kids).

A unique plot, plenty of steam, funny banter? Yes please, what’s not to love? I would like Jackson’s story right now please.

[Amanda Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

An enemies to lovers story that will make you cheering for these characters as they embrace their happily ever after. From start to finish, Reid and Whitney come a long way to becoming who they are as a couple but also overcoming obstacles in their own life. With the love of friends and family, Reid and Whitney discover a love that is perfect for them and are willing to do what it takes to fight for it and show the other how much love they can experience together.

The theme of being childless is heavy throughout this book but the way it was written was great. The thoughts and feelings of others shouldn’t be forced on those they love. Seeing Whitney stay true to her values was an added delight and I hope as others read this book they experience the same feeling.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book!! Whitney is the heroine I didn't realize I needed to read about until I read her story. As someone who has chosen not to have children I can relate so much to Whitney (and even Reid). I loved the relationship she and Reid have. Plus she loves craft beer and he's a brewer (extra plus). I love reading romance novels but they usually end with the heroine and hero being together & having children, even some that end with one or both not being able to have children they seemingly always adopt or use some other method to have kids - while refreshing to see families are made differently I don't think I've read a romance novel that ended in happily ever after that didn't involve children. Thank you for writing this story.

[Naomi Adeniji · Rating 5 out of 5]

now this was perfection

[HappyKT · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A successful author freshly divorced moves to a small town where her college nemesis is from.

Whitney is a successful romance author who made a lifelong friend with one of her fans, Annie. When Whitney's personal life falls apart she moves to Goldrush to get a fresh start near Annie. Unfortunately, her friend's best friend and future brother in law is Reid Finch, the guy she hated in college.

Reid Finch is the Finch everyone kind of forgets about. He is kind, quiet, and safe. When his family brewery needed help, he left his career as a teacher to become a brewer. The women he had dated all left him feeling like he wasn't what they needed. When his bachelor brother finds love with Reid's best friend, Reid is left wondering if that will ever happen to him. When he sees his college writing class nemesis in his hometown he can't help but notice how perfect for him she is.

It's been twelve years since they hated each other. Both now look back on the situation with some needed clarity and maturity resulting in a truce. Whitney is going to be staying in town for a while and she is best friends with his best friend, so she and Reid agree to try get along. The chemistry and shared attraction builds between the two. For Reid, he likes everything about Whitney and wishes he had been kind to her all those years ago. If she would let him, he would love to love her. For Whitney, she has a large amount of rejection trauma she carries with her. Her mother and ex both gave up on her feeding abandonment insecurities. Whitney's decisions as an adult have great weight on how she is intentionally choosing to live her life trying to break generational traumas her own way. Whitney isn't sure she will ever be in relationship ever again, but she would choose Reid if she could keep him.

Dual POV, Haters to Lovers with a hint of forbidden romance. Spicy.

High angst level alert. So much angst that it feels slightly heavy and overwhelming as a reader. Reid is sweet and charming and just wants to adore Whitney. Whitney has obviously been through some traumatic things that shaped her into who she is. Her patterns of self sabotage (cringe) and unhealthy behaviors cause more heartbreak. In this story, Whitney is her own antagonist. Many issues could be solved with healthy communication and therapy, which she does, but it takes most of the book for her to get there.
Spoiler: the big point of contention is Whitney does not want to have children. Her path getting to that decision is an unhealthy one and a direct result of generational traumas. By trying to control what she can control, she makes the decision to permanently not have kids. Then when Reid wants to be in relationship she pushes him away thinking he could never come to the same decision as she. The author portrays this decision as upsetting and controversial and source of conflict. The path getting to acceptance by both MCs is long and drawn out. I'm thankful the author had one character as a positive example and that Whitney eventually takes steps to heal herself. I have decided the 3.5 stars rating not because of the conflict but because of how the characters handle it. Most of the book is spent with the characters unhappy. I found myself not even wanting to read the bonus epilogue because these two hurt to read. There is a resolution for a nice HEA and epilogue.

To enjoy this story please read Cameron and Annie's story first.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute enemies-to-lovers romance with strong commentary on what makes us complete, Gold Rush by Jenny Bunting was definitely more than just a steamy romance. The second book in the Finch Family series, Gold Rush follows Reid and Whitney as they go from college rivals to so much more.

Reid is a people-pleaser: he's put his dreams of becoming a published author on hold in order to dedicate his time to helping his family's brewery succeed. He thought that was enough. Until Whitney comes to Goldheart. The one person who can rile Reid up, Whitney went from being a stellar student in their college writing class to being a hugely successful indie author. Reid isn't jealous; he just doesn't like Whitney. But with Whitney staying in town in order to finish her latest novel, everything Reid thought he felt for Whitney goes out the window. With their feelings more undeniable every day, Reid and Whitney will have a lot to work through before they can find their happily-ever-after.

I loved the eventual romance between Whitney and Reid. It was spicy, it was fulfilling, it had every bump along the way yet still managed to persevere. But what I loved even more than Reid and Whitney together was their individual stories. Reid had this fantastic storyline that I don't normally see for the male main character: he'd found himself a caretaker of his previous girlfriend's son, thrust into a surrogate fatherhood role before he was willing or ready for such a position. Taking on such a role clearly affected how Reid saw his life unfolding, as well as how others saw him, including his own family. Seeing Reid grow from those expectations into who he actually wanted to be was a highlight of this story for me.

Another highlight, possibly at the top of my list of favorite things from this book, is the absolute real discussions surrounding Whitney, the choice to be childfree, and the pressures society puts on women who make that choice. As someone who has made the same choices as Whitney, I was so happy to see a women in a romance who represented me. As much as I love that more and more romances don't require a couple to have a baby before they can get to that HEA, it's still very rare to see a woman in romance who has specifically made the decision to be childfree, despite all the things her family, friends, and complete strangers have to say about it. For me, Whitney is one of the most relatable characters I've read in quite a while.

Overall, I thought Reid and Whitney's story was well-written and had many conversations and commentary that are so important for people to be having. I loved the banter between the two, but the heart of the story was really what was happening beneath the jabs and insults. While I can't say the two main characters grew as people throughout the story, they certainly learned to express and accept their true selves. Gold Rush was a beautiful tale of getting past perceived grievances, enforcing your own boundaries, and finding love and acceptance within a found family. If you want a poignant and unique romance that deals with some very real issues, look no further than Gold Rush by Jenny Bunting.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Gold Rush (The Finch Family Book 2)
Author: Jenny Bunting
Hero/Heroine: Reid & Whitney
Trope: Enemies to Lovers/Small Town Romance

TW/CW: Parental abandonment, mention of generational trauma from societal pressure to be a parent

THE GOOD 😀

Just when I thought I couldn’t love characters more than Cameron and Annie, along come Reid and Whitney. So steadfast in their hostility toward one another, it came as a shock to them when they began seeing the other in a different light.
Staying in Goldheart with her best friend Annie after her divorce is finalised, Whitney finds herself drawn to the small, close knit town and its quirky residents. When she runs into Reid, her college enemy, for the first time, sparks fly, and it’s pretty bloody epic. Every time they’re in the same room swapping barbed insults, you can literally feel the sexual tension building between them, and I was here for it.
I absolutely adored Reid and Whitney’s characters; both so complex yet vulnerable, in each they found common ground and a kinship like no other. After experiencing a less than ideal childhood, Whitney made the choice to be child free, and I applauded her for this. In a society that piles so much pressure on women to have children, Whitney tread her own path and made no apologies for her decision. Add Reid and his unwavering loyalty and passion into the mix, and they made for an incredible pairing. At times my heart broke for Reid as he only wanted to do right by those he loved, and seeing him fight for Whitney and prove his devotion to her gave me all the feels. And when these pair finally gave into their feelings? Woah momma, as they say it’s always the quiet ones you need to watch!
Yet another impressive book from Jenny Bunting; from the small town setting to the quirky and loveable characters, Gold Rush was an epic addition to The Finch Family series. I cannot wait to read Jackson’s book, he has definitely got a story to tell.

THE BAD ☹️

That I have to be patient and wait for the next book.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: A humorous and heat filled enemies to lovers story
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[That Brazilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold Rush by Jenny Bunting

For more reviews, follow That Brazilian Reader on Instagram.



Ok, I guess this book cured my depression. Gold Rush was so wholeheartedly funny and, at the same time, thoughtful with so many difficult subjects. This book became one of my top books of the year so far.

Reid and Whitney are nemesis since college. They studied together in a creative writing class and they kept bantering and fighting, until it suddenly ended when Reid refused to give her feedback on one of her texts. Fastforward... Whitney is now a very successful author with more than twenty published books, a divorce on her back and no place to live. She goes to Goldheart to heal and get reacquainted with her muse... And then she sees Reid Finch. Again.

Reid is me. GOD, REID IS ME! He's a people pleaser that doesn't care about his own wishes because he's too busy making everyone around him happy. And also... He can't write. He blocks his own muse by wanting to do everything perfect on the first try... Exactly like me. He a very nice guy with everyone, but seems lost in what he's doing. He's tried teaching, writing his book and now he's working on the family's brewery, but nothing seems to actually click.

They are amazing. Really. As a person who wants to be a mother, it was difficult to me to relate or understand Whitney's decision of not becoming a mother. However at the end of the book I could not only relate to her, but also understand without prejudice WHY she decided to not have kids. Motherhood isn't for everyone and who doesn't want to have children shouldn't be judged for their decision.

And the book is SO funny! Jenny has the best lines and scenes. Reid's struggles to be able to do as he pleases and Whitney's constant defence mode towards him are super well written. The karaoke scene lives rent free in my mind! I laughed so hard I scared the dogs!

Reading this book is an awesome experience. I think everyone should read it if they want a cute enemies to lovers with HEA and have a couple of laughs.

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I want to be your hero. I want to show you the love you write about and that it can happen in regular, everyday life. A romance author deserves a happily ever after."

Gold Rush is the second book in the Finch Family series. This time we focus on Cam's brother, Reid and Annie's best friend, Whitney. The pair actually met back in college during a writing class, where Reid critiqued Whitney's writing and she never forgot about it. Today, Reid has been writing his debut for years and works at the family brewery, while Whitney is a prolific romance writer. The pair meet again when Whitney moves in with Annie following her divorce. While they start off as enemies, things quickly heat up. But is Reid the guy Whitney has been looking for?

Here's what I enjoyed about Gold Rush:
- The unique and refreshing focus on being childfree by choice. It's a topic seldom featured in romance novels, even though it's not a rare status. Whitney's struggle between wanting Reid and not wanting to pressure him into accepting her childfree status was so honest and vulnerable. The dual points of view also helped show readers how Reid processed the situation. This vulnerability was also reflected in Whitney's estranged relationships with her parents.
- The character depth and development were fantastic. Whitney and Reid were both great and complex characters with hot chemistry! I swooned over their writing sessions and Reid's whole dirty cinnamon roll persona 😏. "I can be a squishy teddy bear who wields raw sexual energy." Yes, please!
- Speaking of hot, Jenny is not one to shy away from a steamy scene or two 🥵.
- The Finch family. I'm not-so-secretly excited for the other two siblings to get their stories. I also wouldn't be mad if future books featured a Bad Biddies appearance or two.

I definitely recommend this series to fellow steamy, small-town romance fans. It was filled with fun, heartwarming and emotive moments.

Thanks so much to Jenny Bunting for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Hailey Brzoska · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛏⛏⛏⛏/5

Can you tell those are mining tools, ‘cause they’re supposed to be? 😅

Anyways, I adored everything about this book. The family dynamics were just perfection. Even though they’re were all these characters and things going on, I never once felt like I got anything confused or didn’t understand. In fact, there were so many random bombs dropped about Jackson, I’m gonna need his book next, k thanks 👀

In Gold Rush, we dig deep into the story of Whitney and Reid. They both met in college and while attracted to each other, they were enemies. And years later, they run into one another yet again when Whitney needs a break from Reno and her past and decides to move into town with the Finch Family, and she knows full well that Reid is still there…

The banter between these two in the beginning of the story is absolutely phenomenal. I had to put the pages down for a second (every few seconds!) to legit laugh out loud at some of their comments and I was hooked on their dynamic so quickly!

But then things heat up and become dynamite (especially the scene at the gold mine, see what I did there?). And those scenes were honestly just as fun and exciting as their banter. And can we talk about the story coming full circle from the instance at the market to the Christmas gifts? Reid is 😍

But the important thing about this book is the stigma that comes along with being a female and making the decision in life to not have kids. So many women in our society feel this way and yet we’re constantly pressured into being a mother and having kids. I loved how this was expressed in the book, and everything that comes along with that type of lifestyle and criticism from society, because it really showcases the real life view that some people experience in their lives.

Thank you @jennybuntingbooks for this incredible story, and for putting some of yourself into Whitney. 🖤

[Erica (_speedereader_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney & Reid ❤️‍🔥

A dark romance author & a brewmaster play a game of giant Jenga… and that’s the beginning of a beautiful love story.

Whitney & Reid were college rivals due to insecurity & jealousy. When Whitney temporarily moves to Reid’s hometown of Goldheart after her divorce and to cure her writer’s block, they pick up right where they left off: arguing, slinging insults & glares, and fighting their attraction for one another.

Reid has created a space in the background of his life and it isn’t until Whitney arrives that he wants to start showing up - for himself, for her, and for his family. The biggest conflict in this story is that Whitney is childfree by choice and is hesitant to accept that she is enough for Reid to live on her own.

When Whitney and Reid start writing together, and after trying hard to deny that they can become friends who turn into lovers, their chemistry lights a fire on the pages of this story. There is a bowling alley kiss, a mine make out, and a very steamy shed scene - sound enticing?

The Finch family is heavily involved in this story, which makes it even more fun to read. Jenny throws some hints at her next story, which means even more Finch fun!

While this book can be read as a standalone, you’ll want to read Fool’s Gold first so that you can fall in love with the fictional town of Goldheart, the members of the Finch Family, and learn a litttttle bit about the Bad Biddies ahead of time.

Gold Rush is a beautiful ode to the complex decision of being childfree. Not everyone understands that some people don’t see themselves as parents - for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with being a selfish human. Sometimes it’s an easy decision to make and sometimes it’s not even a decision you know you’re making, until someone comes into your life to make you care enough to decide.

Jenny wrote yet another book that is funny, smart, sweet, sexy, and a story I read in one sitting. You won’t regret spending a few hours with Reid & Whitney!

[Karina Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Jenny did such a good job in creating relatable characters. I was rooting for Whitney and Reid the entire time. I like that it’s a dual POV so we understand them better, especially because when they first met they did not get along. It was refreshing to see a confident heroine who is unapologetic about what she likes and doesn’t like, such as in intimacy and the decision to be childfree. I admire her a lot because she had a difficult childhood but used that to motivate her and she became a successful writer. I appreciate that we learn what helps Whitney write and that she ends up helping Reid in his own writing process.

Reid is such a sweet guy. He acknowledges he is a people pleaser and that he does not like being in the spotlight, which I related to a lot. He did not treat Whitney differently based on her decision of not wanting children. He loves her for who she is and having children is not a condition of his love. Both help each other change for the better. Whitney helps Reid be more confident and feel inspired to write while Reid helps Whitney face her monsters rather than run away.

I loved being part of the Finch family world and I hope we get more books on other characters. You will enjoy this book if you like enemies-to-lovers, lots of steam and chemistry, funny moments, and characters that help each other grow.

[Alexis Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold Rush is book 2 in the Finch Family series written by @jennybuntingbooks. I enjoyed the first book but this book - was great!

"...𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜. 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝙸 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎."
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𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
Jenny wrote such a unique heroine with Whitney and it was a refreshing change of pace. Whitney is powerful, she's fierce, and she doesn't want to be a mother.
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Reid is special. He's caring, he's fatherly, he's brilliant.
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I really enjoyed how Reid and Whitney's story comes full circle. Both met in college and hated each other. Their writing class created a rivalry between the two that hasn't changed, even years later. Now Whitney is living in Reid's small town and they are forced to be in the same circle since both a best friend's with the same girl.
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This book centers around a family brewery, focuses on family - both traditional and dysfunctional, personal healing and acceptance, as well as, friendship.
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𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨
Enemies-to-Lovers
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𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💻Beer Olympics
💻Craft Beers
💻Karaoke
💻Sexual Tension
💻Books with Author Characters
💻Banter
💻Lighthearted Reads w/ Serious Topics
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𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Trudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reid and Whitney

This book and some really laugh out loud funny moments as well as some steamy moments.

They meet while in college, they're both studying to become writers and he critiques her book really harshly. She hasn't forgiven him and they just cannot see eye to eye, def enemies to lovers trope.

They meet again when she has writers block and moves to his hometown as thisbis where her friend also lives. After them going back and forth with hating each other he decides to call a truce and they move their relationship to another level. There's lots of push and pull on her part because she is dealing with lots of abandonment issues- her mom, ex husband, dad, so many. He is really patient, ten toes down solid type of guy who just wants to love her. I couldn't get much into tje push pull because it wasn't fair to Reid. In addition, he was not an alpha at all which was one of the reasons I decided to explore this book. I had not read a book with a male MC who is not an alpha take charge type of guy. This was very interesting to me.

In the end they get their HEA, after much back and forth from her.

[Colleen Sutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say this one didn't do it for me. Whitney started put likeable enough, and while I wanted to connect with her since I too am child free, she came off conceited and arrogant the longer the book went on. Her statement that she couldn't have male friends because they all "wanted to fuck her" completely turned me off to any connection or sympathy for her. She also appeared immature and childish with her game playing in act one.

And Reid...I don't know. He was written as supposedly gorgeous and somewhat of a heartbreaker in how he was supposed to look but I just kept invisioning this awkward, gangly teenager with no spine. And the fact that he kept saying "ill give up kids for you" just proved he didn't get it. Also, realizing something that huge from one conversation does not happen.

All in all it was okay, definitely not as good as the first book. I found myself reading as fast as I could to get through it. It also feels like a copy of The Bootleg Springs series by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley but less depth and character development. I'll probably read the other 2 just to have some closure.

[Lindsey Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold Rush • Jenny Bunting ⭐️ - 4.5 stars
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I love being back in Goldheart and seeing the Finches! I flew through this book!

I love Whitney and Reid together! The make such a great pair. Whitney is smart, funny and determined. Reid is sweet, understanding and is always putting others needs first. Once they got past their college rivalry it was nice to see them deepen their bond over something they are both passionate about.
I really liked how Whitney gave us an authors perspective on the pressures they face from readers.

This is the first book that I have read were any characters have expressed to be child free. I loved that Whitney stuck to her guns and was not wavering on this decision she had made for herself. I applaud her and the decision that she made.

Really excited for Jackson’s story and hoping its with Shiloh! 🤞

Of course thank you to @jennybunting for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lila Dawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a stranger to Jennys work and as soon as I saw this was an enemies to lovers with a child free HEA then I was excited to dive in and let me tell you it didn't disappoint.

I loved their reason for disliking each other, it felt real and I could totally imagine myself as Whitney hating Reid for his comments, also I know Jenny named her writer alter ego after me 🤣🤣 kidding!

I loved Whitneys independence, strength, success and Reids willingness to become the man she needed.

As someone who has decided not to have children there are a lot of feelings that come with that decision and this book hit me right in those feelings.
I got goosebumps at one point, it was like Jenny had gone into my mind and found my biggest fear about it then read it out loud to me and I would love to read more books with couples happy not to have children.

This book was funny, steamy, swoony and very heartwarming. My biggest problem was the lack of trash pandas 🤣🤣

[kaylyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s so hard to find a small town romance with a child free couple! i loved that the heroine, whitney, knew what she wanted for her life and future and that she was secure in her decision. the issues and problems she faced with it and the concern from reid and his friends and family were so realistic and common for child free women. it was so refreshing to read a romance that discussed those issues and dealt with it in a loving way! their romance was so sweet! i loved that whitney was a self-published romance writer and looked for tropes and scenes in her own love life because that would literally be a dream to find a man like reid who actually read romance books and made them come to life! reid was literally the perfect man. he was thoughtful and playful. he truly took his job as a book boyfriend seriously. and the GIFTS HE GOT HER FOR CHRISMTAS? i literally teared up. loved this so much!

[nadsnletters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney and Reid are both authors!!

Whitney is appreciated and I understand her.😭 if you had a plan to be a child free, you are valid!!! I guess you should read this book!! Whitney felt pressured because of the society and perception to bear a child. I don't know if this would be a spoiler but it's amazing how Jenny Bunting wrote this!! It's also a fact that it will be misundertood at first.

Reid is so cute joke hahahaha. But he's a brewery shop owner. Loves to do a research and read a history.

There's also a bookclub in this story where grannies are talking about reviews of the book they read 😂

DUAL POV so you can read the thoughts of Reid and Whitney!!

It's a rare moment on me to read a story where the hero and heroine are both authors that's why I've got interested<3

Whitney is a dark romance author while Reid is a historical or fantasy author I thinkk?...

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's only one reason you should read this book, it's this one:
It's ok to not want to have children!

Loved the enemies to lovers book Jenny wrote and just love the fact Whitney stands by her point of not wanting to have children.
The story is beautifully written.

After getting out of a relationship Whitney travels to a town where she meets Reid, someone she knows from her past.
I loved it! Won't spoil anything, but can't wait for the next book in this series!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[arianareadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steamy, Enemies-to-Lovers Goodness!

This book is special because it shares a different type of family that we don’t often get to see in the romance genre — a child free one! Whitney’s firmness and unwavering position on her decision is an inspiration for people everywhere bucking the societal norm of having children simply because that’s what you do. Reading Reid’s own child free journey was very eye opening and gave a fresh perspective. I loved the steam in this book and the banter absolutely cracked me up! Really looking forward to Jackson’s book. 4.5 stars!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was honestly such a refreshing and different take on what a HEA is! Whitney and Reid were such amazing characters and loved them so much! The growth they both went through personally and together was fantastic! And even though I am a mom myself, BY CHOICE, I have a lot of friends who choose to be childfree and it's so nice to see a romance novel portray this and that you can still be happy and have a family without having children. I liked seeing my girlfriends in this story! This book also made me so excited to get Jackson's story this month!
template by: @whatjenn_reads

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!! Another wonderful book by Jenny Bunting! Full of steam and laughs and even some tears. This childfree by choice trope is not one I’m used to but I absolutely loved it! I’ve loved Whitney since her appearance in Fool’s Gold. The whole Finch family makes my heart happy! I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for the next one in the series!

[Ana Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

The books that feature a heroine that doesn't want books is rare, and this one is a gem. I really enjoyed being back in the cute small town. I liked the enemies to lovers aspect, I laughed a lot with their banter. And when he switches to compliments, since she seems to get more agitated by that, I couldn't hold my laugh in. It's a great read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child free woman I had to read the epilogue to make sure it wasn’t a book I would DNF first. I absolutely loved that there was no “her changing her mind” when she met the right guy and that there was older women who supported her decision while helping him figure out his feelings. Since the book mentions author reviews so much I figured I would thank the author for doing such a good job portraying child free couples!