This was such a fun and light read I devoured in less than a day. This was my first Joya Ryan and will not be my last.

Laura returns to her hometown after her recent divorce in hopes of running her mother's beloved flower shop, which has been neglected since her mother's death. When Laura returns home she finds that her father has expanded the business to include construction and is being run by Jake. Laura and Jake both have a vested interest in the business when Laura's father proposes a competition between the two.

This book was good. The characters had a lot of determination especially Laura. I loved the connection between the two. Great read.

This was a fun, playful read. I really enjoyed Laura as the main character and liked that Jake was the "nerd turned hunk" that she fell for. Their playful banter was fun and I'm glad they worked out their issues (especially when it came to the store) to get their happy ending.

I give it 7 of 10 stars. I liked the story, I think it has so much potential. But there are 3 main reasons why I don't think it's a 5 stars book.
First of all, because there are huge differences amongst chapters. The first one is SO huge that I found it kind of hard to catch the story. On the other hand, the last chapters felt too short. *sad face*
Second, I think the characters have so much inner world. This wouldnt be a "bad" thing if it didn't make dfficult to follow the story (like in the beginning when Laura was talking with Hanna on the phone while also thinking about her past).
And third, it was a little bit confussing with the "warehouse and shop" together or separted. Why did Laura wanted the whole thing when she didn't know how to run the warehouse? It would have been clearer if they talked about what they wanted, so he would have gotten the warehouse and she the flower shop since the beginning.
The author repetas a lot "once upon a time". I know this may sound silly, but for me, this was how tales, fairytales, started. It felt kind of "weird" to read it in the middle of a paragraph or at the end of a sentence.
From the title, it seemed like the main male character was a bad boy, but it was totally the opposite: stable, responsible, mature and ready to have his own family.
About Hanna, I felt like she could have appeared more. I liked when she and Laura had girl talks or when she borrowed her clothes and I totally missed her more at the end. She could have given Laura some advice or we could have known if she got the bar.
About Walt, I'll just say it in 3 words: I. Hate. Walt. What kind of father only talks with his daughter once in a whole month after she moved back? What kind of father denies advice to his daughter and doesn't show up to their meeting? And what kind of father doesn't tell his daughter that he sold their home, is planning to get a new one or that he started a relationship with someone? He seemed like he only cared what people thought because he talked more to people about her coming back than what he actually talked to her finally. Also, what kind of father doesn't support their kids while they're going through a hard divorce? It was kind of weird that he didn't go to visit her to California (even to her wedding?)
About Erica, I liked the relationship she had with her brother but it felt kind of strange with that she knew so much about Laura but they didn't properly meet. I missed a scene where the 2 girls met and got to know each other.
About Gabe, I also missed an scene where they would have talked after their date. And did he notice that Laura and Jake where filtring during the date? I also would have loved to read the interview with Cal, it'd have been amazing if he'd have made things difficult for her (like asking for prices, references...) to make it harder for her to get the job.
In my opinion, it would also be amazing if someone from California, Laura's past, would have showed up. Like her lawyer or even her ex-husband trying to get her back or the car. Talking about the husband, I didn't understand their relationship because at the beginning it seemed like it was almost an abussive relationship but she later said that it was all her fault. Why did he then take eveything from her during the divorce? She always talked sassy and filtry to Jake but it said she had to "re-build" her selfesteem.
Abou the sexy parts, *wink wink* I liked them, in general. It didn't seem very real that Jake ALWAYS had a condom in his pants, like, why did he even had one in his working pants if he was always working amongst men? Weird. Also the "getting-naked" part was something so rushed or fast that I didn't notice when she took her pants off. And they doing it where they could get caught... That was good, but... In the street, the flower shop, the warehouse? Someone could have watched them.
I didn't understand the part where Laura was packing but later Jake had all her stuff in his home, like what? She only packed her clothes? Or did he decorate like she had decorated the camper?
I would also have loved that Jake would have "known" or noticed that Laura had that job in California, like he would have gotten mad at her for planning to run away... Again. And then they'd have been mad at each other... But in love.
Also, Jake said they were struggling for the 5 grand Laura took from the bank but then they hire a woman for the shop?
I liked the end but it was a little bit confussing the part where Jake decorated and Laura was in the rain in front of the shop. He said he loved her but she didn't said she loved him back? And proposed, got the same flowers she had at her childhood home and the paint but she didn't reacted like SO excited.
To sum up, I think the story had much more potential. 199 pages was actually pretty short for this kind of story and I was left wanting more. The main characters have a good development (inner and their relationships with each other) but I missed that the supporting characters didn't appear more.

I have liked a few Joya Ryan books in the past and I liked the sound of this new book, so I didn't hesitate to request a copy. Again, this wasn't all that for me and I wound up being very frustrated at how much time was wasted on sex scenes. I'm all for sexy times in books, but I want to see equal attention being given to actually building up the relationship between the couple too. I didn't think that we saw enough of that here. It's a bummer because Jake and Laura had an incredible hate-to-love dynamic going on and I feel like if more time had been spent fleshing out their relationship, this book could have been really really great. I wasn't all that fond of the main characters here either, unfortunately. I found Laura to be a little self-centered at times and I really did hate how she went ahead and made spending decisions without consulting Jake. Jake was decent enough, but again, not fully fleshed out, but he had the potential to be a good character. Overall, Playing With Trouble was a miss for me. There is something as TOO MUCH sexy times in a romance novel.

When Laura comes home after a divorce she plans on stepping right in to the family business. She doesn't expect to find her Father not there.
Jake has been running Laura's family business for years as her Father is setting to retire.
Her Father tells them that Jake will continue to run the back while she can run the flower shop which has to be built back up again, and the best person will win the rights own it.
This causes some sexual tension as well as some angst between the two of them.
It is a great story that brings you the reality of life that nothing comes easy, and as usual Joya leaves it with our imaginations at the end. Something I love

** I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I'm always a sucker for the broken hearts finding their mend in a contemporary romance but in this one, we have some chatting to do about Laura and Jacob.

Laura Baughman decided after her divorce to regroup and head back home to Oregon. She hadn't been there since after graduation but more importantly, has been haunted and guilt stricken for not being there for her mother's death. Her mother meant everything to her which coming back home has her facing unresolved feelings and emotions. After everything that had gone wrong, the one thing that she was looking forward to was taking over her mother's flower shop but was surprised to find it no longer was business.

Well, it had been 10 years that passed and her dad had left out a few things. Their family business that was once shared with her mother no longer existed but a new chapter started with someone who had become the son he never had, Jacob Locke. He partnered together to start a business that brought more success than he could've ever imagined. The problem is, Laura has come back to claim what is rightfully hers but where does that leave Jacob? Well, to solve this problem, her dad gives them both thirty days to prove who could handle it all and that person will get everything.

Now, let's dive into Laura and Jacob. I have a few things to say about them. Now they both have issues, which always makes these types of books either great or predictable. Their backstory had me wanting so much more than what I got but it was redeemed in the end.

Laura, is the kind of gal that makes bad choices in men, as a result each situation takes away a part of her that's make her unable to trust them. She is the type who tries to push on to make dreams and goals but comes in contact with those guys who step on it and make her feel like she isn't good enough. This becomes dangerous because she is protecting her heart and doesn't' want to get too close because she is afraid it is going to be broken. Jake, is a good guy but because he has been broken by women looking to leave for bigger and better, he has a way of sabotaging his relationships and not even know it. He just goes about it the wrong way.

In theory, these two are perfect together but the way their relationship evolved made me a little frustrated. I wanted to see more of them breaking down their walls to get to there they did in the end. I would've hung onto every word. I would've sung it's praises more rather than accept it's predictability. For me personally, I loved each of the characters and what they brought to the story but I wish the plot could have been developed more in terms of them coming together emotionally. That aspect of the them I feel cheated because I felt bombarded with the steamy scenes that for me weren't necessary compared to what I got from them in terms of the type of evolving relationship that they had. They could've been greater than what they were. Now, if that was the intention of the plot to build that tension and disconnect to get to the end, than that's another story and I'll accept it.

Overall, it was a nice story that drew me in and it's always good to get those broken hearts that have a chance for fate to bring them together. I wish more could've been explored and less on some of the other stuff. All in all, a fun, light book that I think you'll enjoy.

Can you really go back home again? After 10 years and a divorce Laura returns home to Yachats, Oregon to reconnect with her father and to help him run her mother's small flower shop. Imagine her shock when she discovers that she has to work alongside Jacob, her former geeky high school friend, who now sports a rock-hard body and a combative attitude. This is a classic enemies to lovers storyline that includes hot tempers, hot bodies and really hot and crazy sexual escapades while Laura and Jacob vie for control of her family business. Their contemptuous relationship is highly entertaining and watching them stumble over each other's surging hormones kept me grinning throughout their rocky romance as this pair discovers that opposites really do attract. Great storytelling with plenty of interesting characters and small town charm makes this book by Joya Ryan romantically appealing. I read a complimentary copy provided by NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

This romance novel had a slow start, which could have been appreciated if the author was using the time to build a relationship between the lead characters. Instead, I was totally bored in the beginning, and only mildly bored in the middle, and couldn't wait for it to be over by the end. Yeah it has its cute moments, but reading romance novels should never feel like a chore. Period.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC of "Playing With Trouble" by Joya Ryan. The genre of this novel is romantic fiction. Laura Baughman returns to her hometown after being away 10 years to take over the family Flower Shop. Returning after a failed marriage, Laura is surprised to find out that her father has closed the Flower Shop and has a huge warehouse that supplies wood chips, and outdoor supplies. In addition, Laura is in shock when she finds out that her father's foreman is a former high school geek, Jake Lock. Jake Lock is now a strong responsible and "hot" man, and Laura's father depends on him to run the business.
Laura wants to start up the flower side of the business. Her father proposes that both Laura and Jake work together for a month, and he will determine who will be the boss. He is ready to retire.
Laura has made up her mind that she isn't interested in dating, and wants to concentrate on business. Jake also wants to concentrate on business, and Laura.
I find that the author has written a sexy, easy predictable read.

Laura is returning home with her confidence in tatters and nothing left but the promise of taking over her deceased mother's flower shop. But when she arrives she discovers that what was a flower shop has moved on and is now a building supplies company. Adding to her misery, her father has largely left the business in the hands of Jake who wants nothing to do with flowers because they make no profit.

As you would expect they clash immediately, what's less expected is they also round third and head for home base in what has to be a record.

Playing With Trouble is a halfway decent contemporary romance that has one problem. The sex in this book just doesn't match the story. There are pages and pages of steamy sex. I really hate to admit this but I was skipping through all that sex.

The Contemporary Romance is good. It's a great story even if it's fairly typical of the genre. The book ended well. I liked the characters and the premise. As a sweet romance I probably would have rated it 4 Stars, but as a Steamy Romance it doesn't quite work so 3 Stars.

I loved this book!!! I highly recommend this book for my students and their friends to read. A cozy, heart felt story about two people who grew to love each other. I have always loved stories that brings the main character back to their hometown. The author is new to me but i will be searching for her other books.

Loved this book so much. The characters are believable and lovable, the town is a place i want to go to and the background people i want to be my friends. The story line was quite steamy in a few places and it had me wishing i was the female character i can tell you. My only criticism is that the book is too short, i want more, i wanted to get to know the people better and watch the two main characters fuss around each other more and i definitely wanted to read more about her book group friends and her dads girlfriend, hopefully this wont be the only book we hear from this group of people as the book was well written and left me feeling bereft when it ended, its the first i have read from this Author and i would definitely read more from them in the future, i will be checking to see if they have other books straight after writing this.
Thank you to the Author, netgalley and publishers for allowing me to have an ARC for me to review.

This was my first book by this author and I really liked it. It was nice contemporary romance with good story and great characters. I would recommend it to anyone who loves god romance!

This book was okay at best. It didn't really have any substance to it

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Laura a divorcee returns to her home town after an unhappy marriage which she entered into as a young girl, escaping from life after the death of her mother. Determined to rebuild the family business and keep away from any involvement with men, she meets a former classmate Jake, previously the class nerd and now exceptionally hot, who is involved in the business. Forced to work together their relationship evolves. The chemistry between them off the scale, the sex scenes are hot (although the quantity of these scenes doesn't add to the book, in my opinion) and the "love-hate"tug of war interesting.
Taking the book for what it is - a hot romance with a fairly good but predictable storyline- it's a quick and easy read. 3.5***

The story line was great, just a little too slow for me. About two-thirds of the way through it finally picked up.

this was an ok read