Taco Bout Love

The Donovans #1

by Lily Kate

My name is Lucas Donovan, and I’m a sucker for a great taco.

No, that’s not an innuendo, though I do like my women like I like my tacos: extra spicy. So when a brand new food truck rolls into our sleepy little town of Fantasie, Maine, I know I’m in trouble. I just don’t know how much trouble.

Things go downhill fast when I meet Chloe Brown, the sizzling hot and super sassy owner of Taco Bout Love who is as extra as guac. Then out of the blue, Chloe plops her huge purple eyesore of a truck in my designated parking spot. I’m sorely tempted to have her truck towed, and her right along with it.

Unfortunately, Chloe’s as fierce as a ghost pepper, and she’s not going down without a fight. Before I know it, the only thing I’m certain of is that this woman drives me crazy… in the best way possible. What’s more is that I’m beginning to think I just might miss her when she’s gone.

Suddenly, I can’t seem to keep my hands off Chloe Brown… or her tacos.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Food

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2023

About the author

Lily Kate works a pretttttty boring day job and writes books filled with heat, heart, and humor by night. When she’s not writing books, you may find her watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving, eating whipped cream from the can, or hanging out with her family.

Reviews

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ Taco bout lovely! This book was a gentle hug on a rainy day.

Admittedly, the relationship between Chloe and Lucas - the FMC and MMC of the story - was a bit rushed, but I’ve never been an insta-love hater, and I’m not going to start today.

Premise:
Chloe makes it to Fantasie, a lovely little town in Maine, aboard a barely functioning truck, a million pounds of baggage and a dream of starting over new… with desert tacos! As a New York City chef, she had a life that had left her scarred and scared to trust again. Cue Lucas Donovan: sexy, tall, dark, handsome, and only lawyer in all of Fantasie… who happens to have a very convenient empty reserved parking spot when Chloe’s truck finally gives in and pretty much decides to die right there and then.

Review:
This book was so good! Like a warm, cozy drink under a blanket when your day’s been godawful – and yes, I know I keep making metaphors about the weather, but I’m trying to convey a feeling here! Lucas was a wonderful MMC, a mix of gentle, careful and possessive that I know people are going to love. Chloe was great too, strong yet vulnerable and honest, but I think the Lucas stood out to me more. This book's Dual POV small town romance with forced proximity that brings so much fluff, but also so many steamy moments - and it all make this an overall great read.

There are a couple of things that didn’t work for me personally, like the three-week time-jump or the pretty sudden emotional realization at the end… I felt like there were many feelings, but very little exploration or actual time together of the MCs on page. Everything was told instead of shown, and that is a problem for me. Also, not a problem about the story, but about the cover: the FMC’s hair is bleach blonde, almost white, as described by Lucas in the book. I hate it when covers are not accurate to the books they’re representing!

Still, I would definitely recommend this book to all small town romance fans!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
🌶️🌶️ / 5

Thank you so much to Net Galley for providing this wonderful eARC!
Trigger Warnings about infertility, miscarriage, physical assault, abusive relationships, divorce, guns, kidnapping, wounds and blood.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a series. I cannot wait for the next novel!

This was a super fun and cute read. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope. Especially when the guy has a big heart and Lucas Donovan probably has one of the biggest hearts of all. I'm just not so sure how I feel about the drama at the end. It didn't match the flow of the rest of the novel. I still enjoyed the novel nevertheless.

***I would like to thank NetGalley, Lily Kate (the author), and LK Publishing for graciously sending me a copy of the novel to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**

[Bookish Thais💌 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and most of all the author for providing me with an ARC of this cute and funny Rom-Com! This book will be published on the 14th of February 2023

This book starts off when Chloe, a young woman ends up in a very small but loving town called Fantasie with her wonderful purple truck which she hopes she can turn into a taco truck soon! When she parks her truck in a reserved parking spot and refuses to remove it until the next few days, Lucas Donavan threatens to tow her truck. When ignoring him starts to be impossible since not only is she staying at his mother's inn but half of the town's population are his relatives, they are automatically pushed together. Her plans for the future are foggy but staying in Fantasie and settling down are definitely not on her list.

The Plot

✔Small Town Romance
✔Forced Proximity
✔Found Family
✔Enemies to Lovers
✔He Fell First
✔Opposites Attract
✔City Girl x Small Town Boy
✔Grumpy x Sunshine

This book was very light and quick to get through and I enjoyed that. I loved the entire concept of the taco truck and I really enjoyed how the DeMaggio family just kept multiplying every chapter. The found family trope in this book was adorable and I liked how Chloe found friendship and was accepted by a whole time even when doubting herself.

The Characters
Chloe
I really enjoyed Chloe's character. She was funny and very sassy but overall she was really nice to everyone in the town so I felt very connected to her character and overall she had been through so much before going to Fantasie and I liked that she was independent in that way and wanted to continue being an independent woman in a town where she knew no one.


Lucas
I'm going to be completely honest!!! I did not like Lucas in the first few parts of the book. He kept looking at her with ya know ya know in his head but then I felt like he warmed up to an actual idea of being with her. Him being described as a "family guy" was really nice in this book and how he kept going with his father's legacy. I love how he acted like a grouch with the other characters but was trying to cover up his true feeling of kindness and I found that really cute.

I definitely want a book for Josie and Finn and I would absolutely love to read their book because every time they were in the same chapter together, I was eating up their bickering every. Single. Time.


My mind when she got a concussion:


When they're opposites in every single way, even their taco tastes:


Anyways that's it lovelies xxx

[Catarina Águas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC from netgalley:

I loved this book so much. Chloe had been in a bad place and was trying to turn her life around. The town of Fantasie acepted her almost instantly ans that was so beautiful, she really needed that support. I loved Lucas, he was a really good guy that loved her so much, and he didn't expect anything in return for that love and that is just amazing. He never pressured her and was there for her, no matter what, he was her biggest cheerleader and I love when men are like that because that's the way it's supposed to be. They were so perfect together, they really complemented each other, there isn't another word for it. I can't wait for Finn and Josie's book

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging rom-com about love, family, community and tacos. My first impression of Lucas was that he seemed very stalkerish. It was his love for Chloe that eventually made me love him. Luca's desire to fall in love with her was insta-lovey, and the fact that they had fallen in love within a few weeks was surprising. As a character, Chloe was annoying because she couldn't decide what she wanted to do. Why settle somewhere to start a business only to want to leave?

I did enjoy the small town vibe. I loved the side character Josie and would love to see a book about her. It was interesting to see the small town drama at the end, but it was unnecessary since there were no break-ups and reconciliations in the third act. I would have enjoyed it. While the book was about food, Chloe did not begin her food truck until the end, which I found disappointing.

Thank you Netgalley and LK Publishing for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your favorite food? Are you a fan of tacos?

Taco Bout Love
A spicy romantic comedy
by Lily Kate

From the first chapter, I was hooked on this romantic, heartwarming story set in the small town of Fantasie. There is a lot of love between the characters and I laughed out loud at all of them. The adventures of Lucas, Chloe, and the gang are pure delight. It contains some spicy scenes, so be aware if you are sensitive. Those who enjoy an engaging love story should definitely read this book.

Taco Bout Love is available on February 14th, just in time for Valentine's Day gift giving. (4.5/5)

Thank you NetGalley and LK Publishing for sharing this hilarious romance with me. I look forward to reading more from Lily Kate. Her writing is adorable!

#TacoBoutLove #LilyKate #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your favorite food? Are you a fan of tacos?

Taco Bout Love
A spicy romantic comedy
by Lily Kate

From the first chapter, I was hooked on this romantic, heartwarming story set in the small town of Fantasie. There is a lot of love between the characters and I laughed out loud at all of them. The adventures of Lucas, Chloe, and the gang are pure delight. It contains some spicy scenes, so be aware if you are sensitive. Those who enjoy an engaging love story should definitely read this book.

Taco Bout Love is available on February 14th, just in time for Valentine's Day gift giving. (4.5/5)

Thank you NetGalley and LK Publishing for sharing this hilarious romance with me. I look forward to reading more from Lily Kate. Her writing is adorable!

#TacoBoutLove #LilyKate #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b

[Farah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe is wanting a new start. New town, new food truck business, she just wants to put the past behind her. Lucas has been living in the same town forever. When Chloe rolls in, he just knows his life is going to change. But things aren't easy. And Chloe is determined she is just passing through...

Valentine's Day always brings a lot of great romance releases. Taco Bout Love is one that I really enjoyed. Food and romcom's are my favourite mix! With a small town setting, great family and friends as supporting characters and the grumpy/sunshine trope in full force, this one was super cute.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Eram Hussain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe came to Fantasie with broken heart and dream of a taco truck. She's trying to find herself and be the independent, self assured person she feels like she might actually be inside. What she tries to figure out through the book is how to balance independence with having a loving support system. What she didn't expect is to have a whole town work towards making her dream come true, because she is now one of them.
Lucas is the small town's Mr. Responsible who helps anyone with anything including pro bono legal services when he deems it necessary. He's the oldest brother and cousin of one of the main extended families in town and makes sure everyone in his family is taken care of while managing the family Law Firm as its CEO.

[☾ Leila ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5 🔥2
This book is a grumpy/sunshine, small-town romance in which the FMC opens a dessert taco truck…. Is it much more than that, I’m not so sure. This is very insta-love, particularly from Lucas. Whereas, Chloe, can’t make up her mind about anything, while her actions simultaneously suggest that she has? Doesn’t know about staying in town (is starting a business in town), isn’t sure about Lucas (is living with Lucas).

Now, I was a chef for many years, so the whole chef part of Chloe felt unrealistic to me... The idea that the small town had changed her, so she finally got a different wardrobe from her black dress and heels from New York. I know I can find you some bad-ass line cooks from NYC who wear heels and dresses, but I also know that they own and wear other shoes because they work in kitchens!! Also, you won’t convince me that a dessert taco truck in a tiny town with no tourist population is a sustainable business model. I don’t think this facet would bother everyone as much, but it definitely took me out of the story’s believability a bit
This book was cheesy, and sweet. I want a bit more depth from the characters and a stronger plotline running through it. Lucas is all in, he’s down bad very quickly and he’s quite possessive. Just a lil cringe how fast their love story all happens.
I started to feel that this book dragged, mostly because it was pretty clear early along what the story would be. While it’s all fun and quite enjoyable, not a huge amount is happening. A good portion of this book is just about a woman who won’t admit to herself that she’s going to commit to anything. There isn’t a strong build towards a central plot point (even if the conflict is foreshadowed), it had a climax and a resolution, etc., but it happens quickly and hasn’t really got much to do with the characters. The main story centres around comfy, cute love. I can see it being a comforting read though.
There is definitely some spice in the middle, but that kinda fades at the end.
If you enjoy a fluffy small-town romance with quirky side characters, you will likely still have a good time with this one ☺️

TW:
Domestic abuse (side characters)
Infertility

I received this book as an ARC, so thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review ☺️

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy/sunshine has become one of my favorite romance tropes, and Taco Bout Love brings us two of the best to fit that bill, Lucas and Chloe! I really enjoyed this book—a perfect combination of endearing and steamy! I love that, even though he was grumpy and brooding, Lucas was also thoughtful and caring about his family, his community, and Chloe! And even though Chloe was sunshine-y and charming, she was also uncertain about her future and holding on to a lot of pain from her past. The two of them together are combustible, but they’re also careful and respectful of each other. The town and people of Fantasie, Maine are also endearing, and I look forward to spending more time with them!

[Literary Inspired · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this ARC especially after reading the description. Everything from the cover, to the synopsis, to the tropes, promised this to be an instant favourite of mine. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Right from the get go, Lucas is cringy with his instant hard-ons each and every time he is around Chloe, like get a grip man, it is getting embarrassing! His instant infatuation was incredibly annoying and meant that there was no room for a relationship to organically form; after only having had 2 or 3 brief conversations with her, he says something like, "there's only one girl I want and she's adamant on leaving." but the annoying part was that the first meeting was her not even speaking to him because he insulted her truck, the second conversation was him walking her to the bar where again, they barely spoke and the third conversation was him acting like a tool trying to interrupt her coffee date with his Golden Retriever brother, Noah. Like, how on earth had he established that's the only girl for him or that she was dead set on leaving? He didn't know anything about her or her story.

Then, the next plot flaw was that from the get go, the writing tried to reveal everything all at once. Within 25% of the book, it was clear that this was going to be a series, and that the next story will likely be about Josie and Finn. Personally, I prefer when this is hinted at throughout the book without it being so obvious. Like, rather intrigue me by weaving little bits throughout the first book that makes me demand a follow up - instead, this felt like, "you're getting a follow up book, whether you care for these characters or not."

While I get the small town vibe and characters were a big part of the story, too many characters are introduced at once so it's hard to build a relationship or fondness with them before they all start to merge into one because there is little to no character development before the next character is introduced.

But this was sort of the writing style from the get go - the author keeps none of her cards to herself, making for incredibly predictable and boring writing. Another example of this is how soon it is established thay Lucas does probono work - this would have been an amazing plot point, later in the book, if the author stuck with painting him as the broody, grump who seems like an ass but is really a cinnamon bun that you're forced to love because he actually does have a heart.

The writing was repetitive and clunky; within one chapter the lead, Chloe, compares her nipples to radio antennas just for the strange quilting lady to make the exact same comparison a heartbeat later. How do two very different characters, different age groups, different backgrounds draw the same comparison?

And lastly, Chloe Brown is one of the FMCs in the Talia Hibbert Brown Sisters series. Given that both these books are in the same genre and both have cartoon covers, it was hard not to always think of Talia's main character each time Chloe's name is shared; even though they're incredibly different. I think given that both books will share the same audience, it would've been better to have a different last name to allow for fandoms and fan arts to form.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute delightful entertaining small town romance by Lily Kate! Taco Bout Love took us to the cozy and a bit crazy town called Fantasie that adopted sassy and just a bit broken Chloe Brown the very moment she stepped in the town. Enter the town's savior and resident grump lawyer Lucas Donovan and his bittersweet attitude. And we have a perfect recipe for a slow burn grumpy-sunshine love story!

Chloe came to Fantasie with broken heart and eyes full of unfulfilled dreams. What she didn't expect is to have a whole town work towards making them true..because she is one of them. Chloe is someone many of us can relate to. Her ex has taken her confidence and light away. She tried to be with him even when he was not appreciating her and her work in their restaurant but she finally had it enough and left everything back. Now this Taco truck is her future. I love how sassy and sweet she is and the vulnerability made her relatable. Lucas was actually sweeter than what I expected him to be from the first chapter. It was an insta lust or love for him. He falls first for Chloe. But he Is a bit closed off with emotions and it took a while before he could convince Chloe that he won't break her heart. The pace was a bit odd. It switched gears pretty fast when Lucas was determined to make Chloe fall in love and from there..it became a bit one dimensional. It was spicy too and I enjoyed the well balanced banter and steam. I feel there will be more stories from Fantasie..specially the Dimaggio clan!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good and funny book that contains steamy scenes, self growth, wity comments and small town romance.

For me this was a really quick read and now I am hoping to come back to Fantasie to meet the main characters again in one way or another.

I really liked the main characters and some of the "side" characters we get to meet in this cute small town rom-com.
One of the "side" characters that I really liked was Mrs Donovan, mother of the male main character Lucas Donovan. I felt like Mrs Donovan was a very likeable person whom treats newcomers like family, says what she wants to say, wise and she also seems to have a big heart.

The language was not to hard to understand for those who doesn't have English as their mother tongue and the writing was really good. It made me feel how life in a small town could be like to live in with citizens that are curious, noisy but also helpful and kindly to newcomers.

If you are looking for a quick feel good with a little bit of spice in it then this could be the book you are looking for especially if you like books that takes place in small towns.

[Lauren - · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think the title is cheesey? It totally is, and I loved that the characters even reference the dad-joke level of the name. It's actually Chloe Brown's new business idea: a taco truck, cheesey name and all.
She drives into a small town in Maine looking for a fresh start in her truck she needs to refurbish to start her new business after leaving Manhattan and the restaurant that she helped build from the ground up. She's trying to find herself and be the independent, self assured person she feels like she might actually be inside. What she tries to figure out through the book is how to balance independence with having a loving support system.
The other POV is Lucas, the small town's Mr. Responsible who helps anyone with anything including pro bono legal services when he deems it necessary. He's the oldest brother and cousin of one of the main extended families in town and makes sure everyone in his family is taken care of while managing the family Law Firm as its CEO. He's so used to taking care of the community around him that it takes him a moment to realize that Chloe is the dream he wants for himself after starting off on the wrong foot.
It's a fun, spicy, sexy RomCom that made me swoon.
*CW* there are a lot of discussions and allusions to domestic violence, so be aware of that.
#TacoBoutLoveLilyKate
Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, and Lily Kate for the ARC!

[Elisha Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed my trip to Fantasie. Lucas and Chloe's story was fun. She was looking for a fresh start, and he wasn't looking for anything. When her truck broke down in his parking lot, he got a lot more than he bargained for. She stumbled upon a town full of fun characters. A whole lot of stories are just ripe for the picking in Fantasie. I look forward to reading more from this town. I found a lot more on Amazon from this author. I look forward to reading through her backlist.

[Jamie Engel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has Taco in the title so of course I had to read this one and see what it was all about. It is a dual POV which I absolutely love.

Taco Bout Love is based in a small town called Fantasie, where all your dreams come true.
Chloe Brown is looking to get as far away from NYC as possible and start fresh. She planned to only pass through Fantasie, but her newly acquired vehicle had other plans. While stuck in Fantasie, Chloe meets a lot of the residents, which includes grumpy Lucas Donovan. Mishaps happen and Chloe and Lucas end up learning about each other and becoming closer.

This book was very satisfying. It has that charming small town vibe, where everyone knows everyone. The families involved made me crack up with their banter, it reminded me of my own. The only issue I had was the ending, it wasn’t my favorite and I felt like that conflict was just kind of thrown in there. Other than that I really enjoyed Lily Kate’s writing and would read another one of her books.

I definitely recommend this one if you like small town romances, grumpy-sunshine, rom-coms, enemies to lovers trope. Please also check trigger warnings as there are some discussions in this book that could be triggering.

Thank you to LK Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall: 4
Spice: 1

[mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, let’s Taco Bout Love. This book was a 4/5 star read for me. Taco Bout Love is based in a small town called Fantasie, where all your dreams come true. Chloe Brown, our protagonist, only planned to stay for maybe a few weeks but did not plan to fall in love with the town grump Lucas Donovan.

Lucas is an absolute softie when it comes to people he loves and cares about. On the outside, he may look like a complete grump, but he’s really not. Chloe Brown is an outgoing, bubbly girl who would stand up for anything she thinks is wrong and will do what’s right. Lucas Donovan is so spicy oh my god.

This book was a 4/5 star read for me because I felt like the beginning of the book was kind of rushed. However, for Lucas, it was like love at first sight. From beginning to end, the tension between the two was astronomical. It was a kind of enemies to lovers to friends kind of trope, but also grump x sunshine which was adorable. Definitely, a meet ugly, which made me giggle a little with how much Lucas had already had the hots for Chloe the moment he saw her. Definitely, an easy read, if you wanna get out of a reading slump.

Definitely go and preorder this book! I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me this ARC.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I really liked both Chloe and Lucas, I generally do really like books that have dual perspectives which this one did have.

This book is about Chloe, who moved fr0m New York to Fantasie, Maine after getting out of a bad relationship. Chloe then meets Lucas Donovan who is a lawyer In Fantasie and they instantly don't like one another. This book follows both Chloe and Lucas getting to know one another.

I absolutely loved all of the characters in the book and the small-town vibe it gave off. I found myself laughing multiple times and smiling like a mad woman as this book really does have such a cutesy and sweet feeling to it.

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book and I really hope to see more from this little town and its characters, it would be amazing to read the stories of the other characters I loved so much.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really more of a 3.5 for me, but rounded up.

Slow burn.
Small-town romance.
Dual POV.
Spicy (but not very).
Quirky characters.

The town of fantasy and its citizens are quirky and adorable. Very Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) vibes. I look forward to getting to know more about them in future books. Lucas grated on me in the beginning, but I liked him more and more with each new bit of info we learned.

Now for the things I didn’t love… The book dragged on a bit in the middle and I felt a little bored. The Hannah/Carl stuff felt a tad out of left field. I wish had have gotten a little more about Josie and Finn.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this cute romance.

Tw- domestic abuse, infertility, pregnancy loss, kidnapping, gun violence


* I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and Lily Kate for an advanced reader copy of Taco Bout Love.

What a super cute romance book. Good story and good spice without it being too much.

I’m still not sure why the dessert taco truck is called taco bout love.. but I guess that’s not a sticking point.

I still have questions about the ending but I’m hoping for more books with answers to those questions!

Overall, a quick but cute read with just the right amount of spicy 🌶️

[Sarah Medeiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this ARC! I thorough enjoyed this book!

One of my favorite styles of books is having the male and female protagonist as narrators. I love multiple points of view.

Chloe and Lucas are such great characters and I love the small town vibe where everyone knows and looks out for each other.

I’ll already be looking for the next story about Fantasie’s residents!

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars for this found family, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, small town, spicy rom-com!

"Taco Bout Love" by Lily Kate is a cute, fun read with a good amount of spice and banter, but it's not a *great* book. While I did enjoy it, it lacks that certain "oomph" that could have made it an all-timer. The main characters, Chloe Brown and Lucas Donovan, couldn't be more different. Chloe is from big bad New York City, and Lucas has lived his entire life in the small town of Fantasie, where everyone knows everyone and everyone is in each other's business. On her way out of the city and looking to start her life over somewhere new, Chloe's car has just broken down in Fantasie, and Lucas is immediately attracted to her, even though she has taken his parking spot with her annoying, loud, gaudy truck. Forced to stay in town while her vehicle is repaired, Chloe slowly starts to take a liking to the town, its quirky residents, and especially to Lucas Donovan. What starts off as a slow-burning frenemies situation eventually turns into a full-blown powder keg romance between the grumpy Lucas and the sunshiny Chloe.

Chloe is a little bit of a dingbat. She's one of those FMCs that is continually hurting herself and constantly needs to be saved by the MMC (in more ways than one. I liked the dynamic between her and Lucas, but I think their relationship gets started way too quickly. A lot of readers will likely gravitate toward Lucas's general demeanor (a grumpy but protective and possessively growling MMC who won't let anyone near "his girl"), though I am "eh" about that kind of thing. The spice starts out really steamy, but it sort of peters out towards the middle to end of the book. In fact, all of the writing does. It opens strong but fades quickly (including a couple of plot holes). Speaking of spice, can I please just say... I absolutely hate it when romance authors refer to the female anatomy as "folds" or a "channel"? Technically, these terms *do* apply, but they are SO RIDICULOUSLY UNSEXY that it takes me right out of the story! Ugh! I also didn't love the third act. I think it takes far too long for Chloe to open her dessert taco truck, Taco Bout Love. The third-act kerfuffle feels like it comes out of nowhere if I'm honest. It seems like Fantasie is extraordinarily accepting of Chloe from the get-go as they treat her as one of their own from hour one...in real life, do you think it'd be the same type of situation? Probably not, but I guess that's why this is a work of fiction. I will say, I did love the other residents of Fantasie, and I cannot wait for more books about them and their interesting dynamics and relationships.

TW: domestic violence, infertility, miscarriage, kidnapping.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lily Kate, and LK Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one day. Overall, I enjoyed the story of Lucas and Chloe. It's a dual, first person point of view, and it added to the story. I loved the town of Fantasie, Maine. It had all of the charm and fun of a small town, and it was filled with a cast of characters that you can't help but love!

Chloe is looking for a fresh start as she gets out of a toxic relationship in New York, and she finds it in Fantasie, Maine. She runs into Lucas Donovan, who is the only lawyer in town. He might be sexy, but he is also a grump, initially. As they get to know each other more, Chloe begins to see that deep down inside Lucas is a cinnamon roll! He would do anything for anyone in his family, and he shows up for those that he loves.

This book had some steam to it, and it added to the romance of the story. It also had a slow burn, which really fit with the characters.

One thing that I didn't like was the part in the story about Hannah and Carl. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and I don't think that it was necessary to the plot of the story.

Overall, if you like a steamy, slow burn, small town romance with an enemies to lovers and forced proximity angle, this is the story for you! Buy this book as a Valentine's Day present to yourself when it comes out on February 14.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book.

[gunjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHHH this was so cute I mean the small town’s name literally says fantasie how cute does it get?

The overly friendly start was kind of cryptic and sus, but it soon turned into the best thing ever, like the town is one big-ass wholesome family (touched my shriveled metropolitan heart)

Chloe Brown has such a drop-dead personality! She’s sassy and banters like a pro.
Lucas Donovan on the other hand, described as “hunky” and “giant oaf” is a real softie <3

“Now stop changing the topic and talk to me about food.”

-Relatable and exactly what I was looking for- the cutest foodie rom-com.

Josie and Finn were so adorable. Like, please, they stole the show. Best side characters ever!

Now, Grandmother DiMaggio, the one person from whom the whole clan is scared shitless, oh my god, why would you rob me of that delight?!

I can go on and on about all the parts that I found hilarious and gave off homely vibes but, my only complaint was his “sword” during the spicy scenes… no why?

Excited for Josie and Finn's book to come out soon!
4 solid shining stars!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book.

****please check trigger warnings****


Taco Bout Love tells us the story of Lucas and Chloe with a dual first person pov, so we are able to enter the story through both of them.

The story takes place in Fantasie, Maine where Chloe is new.
She decides to open a taco truck there but gets in trouble when she parks in Lucas parking spot.
Since that incident, neither of them has been able to let go of each other.

Honestly, I liked this book but didn't love it.
I felt the romance was too fast-paced and that some of the characters were not developed.
I really enjoyed the town vibe and all the characters who lived there, especially Josie and her flowers.
I was disappointed when Chloe only got her truck at the end of the book, but loved the epilogue :)
Overall, this book was a cozy and fun journey, and if you like small town romances I do recommend it.


Published date: February 14th 2023

#TacoBoutLoveLilyKate #NetGalley

[Lisa Ok · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me in a readers group and I made sure I grabbed it on release day. I’m really happy I read it.

But, it needs to be know that there is a few triggers I haven’t quite seen addressed.

domestic violence - you don’t read the violence but are aware of the situation and the realities

infertility - mention of infertility and miscarriage

Overall, I really enjoyed Taco Bout Love. I loved the little town of Fantasie and I wish I could find myself there and fall in love with the town. Each secondary character had their own little quirks that had me excited to meet more and more people from the town.

I’m definitely going to be reading the next books in this series when they come out!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
TW: domestic violence and infertility

[GamEssa_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly love all tropes but I have been really into Grumpy/Sunshine & Enemies to lovers. So this one absolutely hit the nail and gave me a little bit of both but mainly grumpy/sunshine vibes! Not to mention the small town setting!

Chloe had to leave her life in New York in order to rediscover her independence and finally get to live a dream just for herself starting in Fantasie. She definitely didn’t expect to find love in both the town and a grumpy hunk, Lucas! (Do people even use hunk anymore?)

I loved the dual narrative where we could see both sides of this growing relationship. Getting the behind the scenes of their thoughts and fears. I also loved the strong female friendship that was built between Chloe and Josie!

[Emily ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a lovely read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Chloe was a strong, determined and feisty female main character. Her journey and development through the book was fun and lovely to read. Lucas was very hot and a gorgeous male main character. I thoroughly enjoyed his journey too and their relationship was very cute! I loved the tension!!
The dual perspective was engaging and enticing - I found it tricky to put down! The plot was also very sweet. However, I have a few cons. The first being, that I felt the storyline moved too quickly - it only seemed like the whole plot happen in a month or two! for me, it was too quick and I would have preferred more of a slow burn (yes there was, but maybe a tad more!) . Despite, liking Chloe, at times she was rather annoying and I found it tricky to tune her out when being a tad insufferable - yet I liked her character overall and felt the two mc’s were a perfect match and a lovely book overall! I would recommend to a fellow rom-com lover! Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Rayne Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

4% in I knew Fantasie was a place I never wanted to step in. While I can appreciate the quirky, small town vibes. Taco bout love missed the mark on all the things we love about small town romances.

I just don’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters, Chloe and Lucas. I do love a good taco 🌮 though.

I wanted to love this. I had high hopes. But it missed the mark for me.