Winner of the 2023 National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy!
Tori Ross, author of Rocks, is back with a steamy, small-town romance!
Savannah Smart comes back to her hometown, Evergreen Hills, to take over as the head librarian over the local library's youth literacy program. She's determined to finish her degree in library science and enjoy a quiet life as a town librarian. Her mother, however, has other plans for Savannah. When a local bar advertises a cuffing season speed dating event, Savannah's mom signs them both up and convinces her daughter to give it a try.
Wilder Lynx is determined to remain single forever. He also has a new partner every year for cuffing season and even makes his partner sign a deal saying that their relationship ends after Valentine's Day.
As the couple begins their cuffing season and their feelings for each other grow, they quickly realize they may be in over their heads. Can Savannah break the contract she signed and tell Wilder she wants him to stick around, or can Wilder put his pride aside long enough to void the contract?
Wow this is an unusual story that pulls you in and have me not wanting to put in down.
Savannah is a shy librarian who has to deal with her mother, Heather, that interfers in her life. When Heather offers her a deal in exchange for paying for the rest of her college, Savannah is willing to give the 5 moths of Cuffing Season a go.
Wilder prefers to live in the outdoors and spends most of the years in a tent, When the weather turns, Wilder finds a woman to spend the time with, and he has a contract.
Savannah meets Wilder at a Cuffing Season speed dating contract. They might not have a lot in common, but the more they spend time together the chemistry and connection begins to slowly burn the pages.
This is a wonderfully written story, that was unexpected, had me laughing, and captivated me with each turn of the page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this story. Savannah Smart returns home to take on a librarian position. Her mom offers to pay for her masters degree....if she participates in "cuffing season." (Now, I had never heard of this term prior to this novel. And I have to say, there was something a bit off putting with the term...to me. It didn't "fit" with the tone of the story.") The fact that the main characters meet and move in with each other with 48 hours was a crazy thing.
BUT overall...the story was an endearing one, and I can completely see this becoming a screenplay and romcom either on the big screen or tv. When you can read something and see it playing out on screen, that's a good book. :)
Thank you to the author, publisher & Goodreads for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
i debated on whether i wanted to give the book 2 or 3 stars cause while i did like it, the writing for wilder's chapters was painful to read at times. i understand that the early chapters were supposed to convey the cringe fuckboy behavior but it was hard to read.
I could not stop singing “It’s cuffing season, and all the girls be needing, I need a big boy” etc. when picking up this book. And I was excited for a cosy holiday read with some one bed forced proximity spice.
That soundtrack came to an abrupt and shocked silence.
Savannah makes a deal with her mother to participate in a cuffing season relationship to get money for her degree. (So that is fake dating through the colder months and various holidays.) Wilder needs a place to sleep as he is between houses, between steady jobs, and between being a participating member of society (yes I am not an objective review writer).
I was very much put off by the harsh rude unkind belittling flippant language in his POV chapters. Her chapters were fine and actually got me interested in the story.
Then they move in together (???? girl run, why give up your space, he is not worth it) within 1 or 2 days of meeting, with him providing a convenient contract (he has clearly done this for years) AND THEN he… violates her shower pouf and rubs it all over front and back and does NOT CLEAN IT and just hangs it back and is this supposed to be sexy??
Ew ew ew not for me.
EW.
To quote that Tiktok sound- “He is not the love of your life. He is literally just a guy! Hit him with your car!”
ALSO: he hates books and pumpkin spice, that should have been enough reason for me already to stop reading.
DNF at 23%.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Savannah Smart has returned to the small town of Evergreen hills to finish her degree and work at the local library. She doesn't have the time or the energy to date, but when her irrepressibly adventurous mother offers to pay the rest of her college fees in return for accompanying her to a dating event, she agrees, not expecting to meet the devastatingly attractive Wilder Lynx.
Savannah needs a date to get her mother off her back, and Wilder wants one for companionship and a roof over his head during the winter months. He has a contract for 'Cuffing Season' which starts in the fall and ends at 12 noon on February 15th. Unbeknownst to Savannah, he's been doing this for years and it suits him. Wilder doesn't do long-term and he certainly doesn't do commitment - his painful childhood taught him everything he knows about where love gets you.
But as the winter months pass, Savannah and Wilder grow dangerously close. Can they break their contract and risk their hearts? Or is it safer to stick by the rules, no matter the cost?
I'd never heard of Cuffing Season when I started this fabulous story and it was a fantastic idea to base a relationship of convenience trope around. I loved Savannah and her mum, and Wilder was a bad boy hero with a past that I was rooting for to let go of his demons and trust in Savannah and real love. If you're after a steamy, small-town romantic comedy to tide you through any season then go read The Cuffing Season Contract now!
Okay so, going into this book I had never heard, nor did I know what a cuffing season was, and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it - but I've read and loved Ross' romances before and thought - yeah, let's give it a go and I'm so glad I did. Our main characters are Savannah and Wilder who meet at a cuffing season speed dating event. I mean, I know I've been married for a long time now but is that for real a thing or is it kinda like mail order brides in that it's probably a thing, but nobody really admits it?!? IDK - but whatever, these two meet and the chemistry is definitely there, and both agree to the contract terms, but the chemistry turns into real feelings and begs to know if these two will be able to walk away when the contract is up. Full of steam and laughs I couldn't help enjoying this read and these characters - I mean look at the scenarios that have them joining this event to begin with... Well written with smooth flowing storyline that was captivating and overall fun and steamy. I can't wait for more from Ross!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The premise is ridiculous. Every year, the past five years, our "hero" has latched onto a woman every fall so he can have a place to live, eat and whatever else for the winter. (The rest of the year, he lives in a tent, "camping.") He is vulgar and arrogant. His chapters are obviously written by a woman 1) trying to capture the mindset of the grossest teenage boy she ever knew, 2) and who has no idea how a mature adult man thinks, behaves or acts. The main female character has an actual paying job, her own place and clear educational and professional goals; she is content, but she's pressured by her mother (of all people !) and best friend to abandon her principles, "let loose" and hook up with a man she barely knows—something she’s never done before. Two days after meeting him, she invites this stranger to move in with her because "it’s cuffing season." I mean, wtf? The writing is awkward and the story is just uncomfortable and downright icky.
Wilder and Savannah meet at a speed dating event that will hopefully match people for cuffing season(the autumn/winter months). They both have different reasons for going there and they find each other and enter into a mutually beneficial relationship. Will they be able to walk away when cuffing season is over?
I found this story a very good slow burn romance. I love the spice in this book. It's well-written for the main characters. Wilder and Savannah are each complex, driven characters who don't have much in common, but they learn that maybe they might be more alike than they think. It's a sweet story and I liked it!
This is a great story to read for those who like forced-proximity, slow-burn, and a nice love story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wilder is a free spirit. He likes living outside but when winter is coming, he needs a place to stay, so he uses the cuffing season speed dating event to get a house, food and a woman, just for four months and then free again. Savannah makes a deal with her mother: if she goes with her to the cuffing season speed dating event, she will stop meddling with her love life or the lack of it and she will pay for her degree. The paying for her degree gets her to agree. They have nothing in common, but they find a place where both of them are happy. At the beginning, I thought Wilder was a cheeky one, but after a while, I changed my mind. He was able to do things for Savannah that nobody else had done. A man who vacuums and cleans the toilet is a man to keep. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The premise wasn’t terrible, which honestly makes this book more frustrating than if it had been bad across the board. It really had so much potential. Unfortunately, the writing was aggressively mid and the MCs were some of the worst I’ve read.
The FMC is the standard issue people-pleasing, overly nice librarian archetype (give me a break), while the MMC is one of the most irritating, misogynistic fuckboys I’ve read in a while. His chapters genuinely made me hate men (more than normal).
I pushed through solely because I was clinging to the hope that the story would subvert expectations and not reward this man with a happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, it did exactly what you’d expect. If you enjoy watching a terrible man get everything he wants with zero growth, this book might be for you. It was not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Savannah and Wilder meet at a Cuffing Season Speed Dating event. Both have their own reasons for being there, and both are fine with a contract that states that the relationship will be over on February 15. But what about when feelings start to develop? I’d never heard of a ‘cuffing season’ before, and I’ll admit, it’s unique concept! Wilder has to be the sweetest-filthiest-cockiest hero I’ve ever read - I should hate him, but I just can’t, he’s too honest and upfront and sweet in his filth! And his insistence on proper consent - swoon worthy! Savannah is absolutely awesome in her awkwardness and her willingness to unbend. The ending is absolutely perfect - sigh… What an absolutely wonderful story.
The cuffing Season contract is an easy to read, steamy small town romance novel by Tori Ross. The novel follows Savannah, a shy Librarian, who has to deal with her mum, who interfers in her life. Wilder, lives in a tent, but has to find some where else to live when the weather turns. Savannah meets Wilder at a cuffing Season speed dating event. There isn't a connection at first but the more time they spend together, they start to have feelings for each other. I absolutely adored this steamy slow burn romance. It was easy to follow and had a brilliant cast of characters. I highly recommend it. ❤️ Thank you to the author, Tori Ross and @hiddentreasuresromancebookbox for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
I don't normally review DNFs, but this book was so bad I had to. Wilder is a disgusting, misogynistic, man child. The way he treats women is deplorable. And you expect me to believe that the fmc (who's name I can't remember because her personality is so weak that all I did was get pissed at Wilder) would allow this homeless man to move in with her for MONTHS after less than 2 days??? AND I'm supposed to believe that this is a romance when Wilder is all, if you won't fuck me I'll have to go out and get laid because men have "needs"??? I'm pretty sure this was written by a man pretending to be a woman. That is the only reason I can think for someone to write a character so gross and expect us to like him.
Cuffing season is upon us and when Savannah is propositioned by her won month to go to a cuffing season event, she did not realise how this would change the course of her future.
Wilder is used to the Batchelor lifestyle. Moving from place to place and only settling down for the five winter months of the year during cuffing season. What he does my expect is for 2023 to make him rethink his lifestyle altogether.
I just loved this book. It is a witty and fun read with lots of steam, so grab a cool drink, get comfy and enjoy!
I read this book voluntarily for an honest review.
I didn't have massive high hopes for this. I thought it would be a cozy, sweet, winter romance. It tried, but I just couldn't get into it. Wilder was so so misogynistic in the beginning of this book. Disgustingly so in my opinion. I didn't feel any sparks or chemistry between Savannah or Wilder, and I think part of that is how the novel was formatted. I just felt like we didn't get any time to really learn about these characters and get a sense of what their relationship was like, so for all of these sweet romantic moments, there was just a disconnect. I don't really have anything else for it.
This was definitely an endearing read. The storyline is very hallmark romance movie like. Two people come together in a cuffing season contract for different reasons. Neither expect to fall in love. However both do, without realizing the other is also in love. They continue with the contract all the while debating if they should or not.
The cast of characters were fun. The spice level is 4/5. However, I sort of feel like the third act break up was really unnecessary and that trope is overdone. I feel like the author could have had them come back together in a more creative way.
But it’s a romance novel and it works. Overall, enjoyable and fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Savannah has returned to her hometown to take over as head librarian over a youth literacy program and is determined to get her Library Science degree. On the other hand, her mother has other ideas for her and signs her up for the Cuffing season speed dating event and it starts her path with Wilder a young man that is determined to stay singe and has the woman selected to sign a contract. This intriguing story had me all caught up in Wilder and Savannah as their relationship blooms and takes turns neither expects. Will they give up the terms on the contract for a chance to have happiness together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved Wilder and Savannah’s story! This was such a delightful read and the characters had amazing chemistry. Savannah’s mom, Heather, signs them both up for a cuffing season speed dating and convinces her to give it a chance by offering to pay her college tuition at the end. Wilder, who is determined to stay single, spends this time of the year with a different woman every year. Even had them sign a contract. But what happens when both Wilder and Savannah feelings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Omgosh. I love Wilder and Savannah so much. Their story was a fun read but it was also meaningful because they learned so much about themselves during their time together. It was an amazing story. I wish there was more. Maybe Gus can find him a woman to settle down with. Lol.
This book was so cute! I loved the entire story! Heather, Savannah’s mom is a riot and Gus, who is Wilder’s best friend was a hoot! This story was well written and there HEA was the best.I think both Heather and Gus should get their own books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First of all I had never heard of the Cuffing season. That caught my eye right away. This book was based on deceit from the get go. They were both deceiving themselves when they kept saying they didn't want a relationship that they weren't looking for love. It just gets better each chapter. I enjoyed it very much.
The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Savannah and Wilder. The story keeps us turning the pages with a fake relationship, desire, denial and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was just okay. No real plot and not a ton of character development for a book that was primarily focused on the characters. Definitely heavy on the spice. I'd say this book is average and not a must read.
I’m 75 and I’ve never heard of cuffing before, but it seems like a good idea to have a date for all your holiday parties. There’s a lot of sex in this book and I may have learned a few things. It’s an easy read and I would recommend.
Something about this book just did it for me. I loved it. Just the right amount of spice, never felt forced or egregious. Fun story, great characters. Well paced. Yes.
What a great story! I have never heard of Cuffing Season before. I don’t know if I’m just old or out of touch, or what but I was intrigued. For me, letting a stranger move in with me is a no-go, contract or not but someone to cuddle with during the cold, winter months might be nice… you know, if I wasn’t married with kids, and all that. LOL! I loved the characters. Wilder was perfect boyfriend material. He was sweet, attentive, did chores, and he was patient. Savannah went way out of her comfort zone by accepting Wilder into her home. I loved that she took a chance on him and, though cautious, warmed up to him pretty quickly. I have nothing critical to say about this book, at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from Tori.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the two main characters and their relationship development. Although I didn't need to know what Wilder was thinking in the beginning. That made it kinda hard to like him. And when we are at the point of not liking characters I have to mention that I disliked her mother and her friend. They were both annoying.