Sleepover is the first book by Serena Bell that I have read. The use of alternate point of view narration provides insight into the main characters thoughts and feelings and sets the tone for this fast-paced, sensuous second chance story.
The weekend after her divorce was finalized, Elle Dunning went out with her girlfriends to celebrate. Elle was coming to grips with the fact that husband left her for his high school girlfriend and decided to hook up with a guy she met at the bar. Imagine her surprise when she recognizes her new neighbor, Sawyer Paulsen, as Mr. Hookup!
The sexual chemistry between Elle and Sawyer is off the charts. Both have suffered loss- Elle’s divorce and Sawyer’s wife’s death. I loved that their sons got along so well and the families shared game nights. The secondary characters of Brooks, Trevor, Hattie and Capria added a lot of humor to the story. I liked that Elle and Sawyer supported each other. Elle pitched in and helped with Jonah’s birthday party. Sawyer was interested in Elle’s writing career and encouraged her to finish her book. Loved the scene when Sawyer and Elle’s ex-husband, Trevor, meet- it was so funny to read Trevor trying to outshine Sawyer.
Serena Bell has written a wonderful second chance romance with all the feels. She does a fabulous job balancing the couple’s attraction, Elle’s writing career, Sawyer’s acceptance of his wife’s death and realization that it’s ok to move on. Sawyer’s last entry in the journal made me tear up. . he understands what love is.
Sleepover is a charming, feel good romance with characters that will tug at your heartstrings. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this story, it's sort of a second change at love for both Sawyer and Elle, both learning to move on after traumatic experiences with their respective spouses. It does help that their sons have gotten to be friends, since that forces the adults to spend time together and learn more about each other.

This is a great book. Lots of emotion, sweet, funny, sad and sexy. Great characters--the adults and the kids. I can't wait to read the next book.

Widower for two years, Sawyer Paulson, is still in love with his wife, Lucy. But with physical urges, he does have impersonal, "This is a one-time thing. I don't do repeats" sex. Elle Dunning, is recently divorced from a man who had lied to her their entire marriage, still in love wth his high school girl friend. Her friends talk her into going to a bar for a pick up, to prove to herself that she is still desirable. The two collide at Mauve, and have hot sex in the alley behind the bar, never expecting to see each other again. But fate steps in, and Sawyer and his 8 year old son, Jason, end up renting the house next door to Elle and her 8 year old son, Madden. The boys instantly become best friends, even hinting that they would like to be brothers. It takes Sawyer's brother Brooke to point out to Sawyer, that he is a loner, who has never liked a lot of people, but he really likes Elle. Elle has promised herself that she would never fall for a man who loves someone else. Can Sawyer convince Elle that history is not repeating itself?

The story is engaging from the start, the characters well developed and appealing and the narrative written in a light tone, with witty dialogue. I would have given this book 5 stars, except for the inclusion of a unnecessary chapter. The scene is ambiguous, confusing and adds nothing to the story except perhaps show the author's "liberal" credentials.

I received a free, advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

I started this book a little apprehensive because this author was completely unknown to me, and I couldn’t be more delighted with this story! Strong about feelings, self-acceptance, self-love, two precious little boys who define what friendship is, and two devoted parents who needed to move past losses in their lives.

Elle has been divorced for a year and is still dealing with the feelings of inadequacy her ex-husband gave her. Her husband left her for his high school girlfriend, with whom he had kept in touch during all her marriage. Feeling like she had been second choice all those years wrecked her and it’s just now that she’s getting her mojo back.

Enter Sawyer, talk, dark, and handsome, and soooo dreamy, who just moved next door with his eight y/o son, Jonah. Sawyer’s wife died two years ago and he’s still devoted to her memory, clings to the love he had for her and has decided not to fall in love again, ever. He only has one-night stands, with no chance for a repeat. Imagine the shock when his next-door neighbor brings him welcome cookies and turns to be the best one-night stand he ever had, the only he still thinks about, the only one he would have wanted a repeat on!

Elle’s eight year old son, Madden, instantly links with Jason and they become best buddies instantly. With so much of the kids going back and forth between their houses, sleepovers, pizza nights, it forces Elle and Sawyer to keep in contact. Eventually their attraction moves them into a fling that has the potential to get more serious. And here is where things get iffy. Elle is still dealing with her issues after the divorce, where she was made to feel like second best all during her marriage. Sawyer hasn’t yet moved on after his wife’s death. Yet, whenever they spend time together, there’s a feeling of rightness and happiness, but when they’re apart, they’re full of doubts.

The book was very entertaining, it had a lot of family times, funny times, cute moments with the boys and the necessary sexy times between Elle and Sawyer. The plot moved forward very nicely with a great pace that never lagged. Sometimes Sawyer got a little stubborn on his stance and I wanted to slap him silly. It was a sweet love story with not a lot of angst. It’s the type of book you want to read when you want sweet in your life.

I am a big fan of Serena Bell’s books. I’ve enjoyed every single one that I’ve read. Her characters : have life experience: they often have kids, have gone through a divorce, have lost their spouse. These things are not all that common. Her books have actual conflicts, not stupid misunderstandings, which I see far too often, and is just lazy writing, in my opinion!

In Sleepover, Elle is recently divorced. Sawyer is a widower. They each have a 9-year-old son. When Sawyer moves in next door to Elle, they discover that they’ve met before, and ooooo is that a good start to a book. I love a couple with a complicated history.

Sleepover is the third book in a series, which includes Do Over and Head Over Heels, but can be read as a stand-alone.

Sleepover by Serena Bell follows two single parents that had a one night stand. They thought they'd never see each other again and that's what they both wanted so when Sawyer moves in next door to Elle and their boys become best friends, things get interesting because well, they both are starting to want a repeat of that one naughty night.

<strong>Rowena</strong>: This was my first book by Serena Bell and though I was a bit annoyed about finding out there are other books linked to the characters in this book (making it a series), I still rather enjoyed this single parent romance. I really liked both Sawyer and Elle, loved their boys and how straightforward their romance was.

Sawyer's journal of letters to his late wife really hit me with all the feels and I liked that Elle was understanding where all of that was concerned. I really liked how grown up their romance was. What about you? What did you think?

<strong>Holly</strong>: I really don't like how these authors aren't listing connecting books as series. It's annoying. I might have liked to read the earlier books first. But like you, I thought this was an enjoyable romance. I love the single parent romances and I thought Bell did a good job with this one.

Sawyer's Lucy journal got me in the feels, too. There's a scene toward the end that made me tear up. I liked their grown-up romance, too. I liked how they dealt with their kids. The boys became fast friends and they both encouraged that, and tried to include them in their plans. They had a great family dynamic.

I did get a little frustrated by all the sexting. They definitely had good sexual chemistry, and the sexual tension was thick. I think I could have done with a little less sexting and little more personal connection between them.

<strong>Rowena</strong>: It was all straightforward and such an easy romance to fall into that I had this book read in just a few hours.

I know what scene you're talking about and yes, I totally teared up too. I thought that was sweet but sad too.

I didn't mind the sexting, I thought it was cute...and I loved that he couldn't help himself. He couldn't keep to his own rules where Elle was concerned and I loved that he couldn't get enough of her. I also really liked that Elle tried to keep her cool but she wasn't fooling anyone. She had it bad for Sawyer so it was good that he had it bad for her too.

Are you planning on reading Brooks book? What about going back and reading the other books? This was a fun romp that was perfect for what I was in the mood for so I give this one a 4 out of 5. You?

<strong>Holly</strong>: I was bothered a bit by some quirks of the writing (such as the author's constant use of parenthesis to include asides in the narrative), but aside from the sexting, overall I enjoyed the book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Bell soon. I do plan to go back and read the first two and I'm definitely interested in Brooks' book.

This was an easy, sweet read. It definitely hit the spot. 3.5 out of 5

<strong>Holly's Grade: 3.5 out of 5
Rowena's Grade: 4 out of 5</strong>

I have enjoyed ever book by Bell that I have read and this was no exception. She typically writes emotional and incredibly sexy romances. As a side note, Bell was part of a group of authors, along with Care McKenna, Charlotte Stein, Amy Jo Cousins and several others, that ran a site called Wonk-O-Mance and I really, really miss that site.

Back to this book. General premise is that both main characters are single parents and live next door to each other. To complicate things even further ( I say this with love) the H/H previously hooked up at a bar. Sawyer is pretty firm in his desire to only see a woman once. So of course when he moves next door to Elle, he doesn’t know what to do with that attraction. I don’t want to spoil it, but Sawyer does end up breaking this rule.

Sawyer is a widower and his journey to finding love again was bumpy, but felt realistic. I was very invested in their love story. I really wanted them to get their HEA. This book is also pretty high on the sexy scale.This book does touch on grief and loss due to Sawyer’s wife having passed away, so if that is a thing for you, this book may not be for you.

Grade- B+

This book is sooooooo good!! I'm loving these interconnected books that Serena Bell is writing. The characters are fantastic and I'm definitely invested in all of them getting their HEA.

I loved the concept of this book. Sexy single-dad widower. Divorced single-mom who was really burned by her ex. The one-night stand who ends up being your next door neighbor and your son's BFF. This book was funny, heartwarming, and had a decent amount of angst. Once I started I couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to see which character gets their story next!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

This was just an amazing, sweet romance. Sawyer has an eight year old boy, Jonah, who he is raising by himself because his wife passed away two years ago. Elle is raising her eight year old son, Madden, by herself because her ex husband cheated on her after ten years together. Sawyer moves in next door and and immediately his son befriends his neighbor’s son. Elle was excited to meet her new neighbor after watching three cute guys move boxes all afternoon. So she baked cookies and took them over to find out her new neighbor was the only one night stand she ever had, Sawyer. Both of them are stunned and very uncomfortable. But they can not avoid each other because the kids are inseparable. And all these interactions between Sawyer and Elle turn into much, much more. They are sweet and yes, hot together, very hot. I love that they both are trying to get over their very sad pasts and they help each other do just that. I love these truly romantic books Ms. Bell writes. My heart just melts when I read her romances

Elle is a recently divorced single mom, her husband having cheated on her. Sawyer is a widower with a son the same age. When he moved in next door to her, they were both shocked to see each other. They had a one night stand a while back with no intentions of getting involved in a relationship. The boys hit it off right away, while Elle and Sawyer do not have the same connection. They both need to face their own past before even thinking about a relationship with anyone. The characters are delightful and have very interesting histories. I enjoyed this book very much!

Has also been reviewed under the name IrishEyes430 on B&N and Kobo

Sleepover by Serena Bell was a fun, sexy and sweet read. A single dad and a divorced mom who have been hurt and know loss. But for their children, they move forward. After losing his wife, Sawyer is determined to avoid pain. His son is his number one priority. Elle has had a tough year. Her ex-husband left her for another woman. Sawyer now only does one-night stands and Elle allowed herself only one night.

Now they are neighbors and their sons are becoming the best of friends. So Elle and Sawyer find themselves at the mercy of their kids. But as they spend time together, they get to know each other. I loved their honesty and the slow burn of friendship to more between them.

Sleepover by Serena Bell was a fun read with a great characters. It was such a fun and sweet read. A nice, light read about second chances and new beginnings!

While not truly a series, I've thoroughly enjoyed these books the author has set in the same world (somewhat interconnected, but totally read as standalones): Do Over, Head over Heels and now Sleepover. Of the three, Sleepover has been my favorite.

Bell has written some great single parent stories, but something about Sawyer and Elle just resonated with me (for the record, I'm not currently, and hopefully will not be, a single parent). Sawyer is a sexy and swoony single dad which is always super appealing to read about - I mean, let's face it… There's something super sexy about a good dad, right? And while Elle was dealt a crappy hand with her ex, she's making a good life for her and her son. It's always refreshing to read about a strong woman who might have been knocked down but isn't kept down for long.

There's definitely some angst, especially with regards to Sawyer dealing with the death of his wife, but it's nothing crazy - just enough to really bring on all the feels. I don't really consider myself an overly emotional reader, but I will admit to getting choked up a few times while reading. Call me petty and vindictive, but my only "criticism" is that I wish that we got to see Elle sticking it to her schmuck of an ex a bit more than we did. If anyone deserves to be cut down a peg or two, it's him.

Generally speaking, I'm pretty stingy with my 5 star ratings, but I really felt Sleepover deserved one.

*I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Elle Dunning is just coming off a divorce after she found her husband, Trevor, in bed with his ex-high school school sweetheart, Helen. Elle had always felt that Trevor was still in love with her, and it turns out she was right. Now, all she wants is to provide a happy life for her 8 year old son, Madden. Elle's best friends convince her that to get her mojo back she needs to find a one night stand so she goes to a bar in search of a guy.

Sawyer Paulson is instantly attracted to the hot blonde at the bar. So much so that they get hot and heavy outside of the bar! His normal hookups since his wife had died hadn't affected him as this one did. Imagine his surprise when he is moving into a new house with his 8 year old son, Jonah and who lives next door to him, but Elle!

Madden and Jonah instantly hit it off, thus causing Elle and Sawyer to spend more time together. Though both of them are grieving the end of the marriages, they begin to bond and realize the attraction is still there. Elle wants to explore things with Sawyer, but she does not want to compete for his affection with another woman, his deceased wife....she did that once and will not make that same mistake. Sawyer is torn between wanting Elle and still loving his deceased wife. Together these two need to take a huge leap of faith, let some walls crumble down, and finally get to a happy ending.

I just loved this story. Both of these characters were hurt from events from their past and were hesitant to move forward, but once they made that leap, everything fell into place.

sawyer paulson had it all, the love of a lifetime, a family he adored, friends he could count on. when his wife dies, his world is shattered even though he needs to stay strong for his young son. as sleepover opens, the one thing he knows is that nothing is certain in life, but he won't risk another relationship. because he's not sure he can stand risking his heart only to have it broken again.

elle dunning is learning to deal with life post-divorce. she married young and for the wrong reasons, but can't regret that she has her son. when new neighbors move in, the last person she expects to see is the guy she hooked up with on a post-divorce night out. but avoiding him is impossible, not when it becomes clear that their young sons are instant best friends.

elle isn't actually opposed to the idea of being with sawyer, but she can see that he is not okay with their proximity. that he's not quite ready for someone else to be in his life romantically. but the attraction between them sparks wildly. and it's impossible not to give in. even though they try.

this story was so deeply emotional and moving, love after loss is one of my favorite themes because it's both super angsty and full of hope. there's something so uplifting about characters finding love when they never expected to come across it again. and it's more vulnerable and fragile and heartwarming because they know it's so precious, that life offers no guarantees about forever.

**sleepover will publish on november 13, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/random house publishing group (loveswept) in exchange for my honest review.

*I received an ARC of this book free from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.*

Sawyer is a widower and single dad who isn't interested in anything except one night stands. He doesn't want to get emotions involved. And never even thought twice about another woman besides his wife until Elle.

Elle is a single mom who doesn't have the best luck with men. Her one and only one night stand was so hot they didn't even make it out of the alley behind the bar. She likes to remember it, but not in a million years did she expect him to move in next door. Or to remember her.

Their son's quickly become best friends, leaving Sawyer and Elle kind of stuck being around each other. And their spark is too difficult to hide, leaving the only option to let it ignite.

Sleepover is sweet and comical with a little sizzle added in.

The beginning has too much non-essential detail about how they met that I found myself speed reading through those parts. However, the rest of the book definitely held my full attention. From the little rendezvous' to the text messages...one can only hope for that kind of attention in a relationship.

I really enjoyed this book. I really loved the characters. What happens when a one night stand moves next door? Things are a little awkward between Sawyer and Elle because as much as they deny it the flare of attraction still burns between them. They have a ton of chemistry that burns up the pages. One of my favorite parts of the book is how fast of friends Elle and Sawyer's boys become. That filled my heart right up. This book also had me laughing a lot while reading it. This book had the heart, heat, and humor I love in a romance. It's a great book with two characters who are trying their new normal and if willing to risk their hearts on love.

Wow! Just wow. The only reason this book was read over two days and not in one is because I forced myself to put it down and go to sleep. I didn’t want to, but knew I needed some shut-eye. The emotions in this story are so raw and they run the gamut from grief and sadness to joy and love.

The chemistry between Sawyer and Elle is unbelievable. They have a very (extremely) brief history that is given in a few flashback type scenes. This story really starts from when they unwittingly meet again. From there, their interactions become increasingly erotic but are still only foreplay. It got to where I thought my Kindle would catch on fire before they sealed the deal! What’s amazing is how the author crafted these moments with so much chemistry and electricity, but also with style and importance. She used the chemistry to build on the relationship, even when Elle and Sawyer weren’t in the same room. Which ended up being quite touching and always giving me a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

It’s always a precarious thing to write about a widow or widower finding love again. Especially when the deceased spouse was a good person. Serena Bell navigated Sawyer’s feelings about his deceased wife and his blossoming feelings for Elle in such a real way. And Elle’s knowledge of Sawyer’s feelings for his wife and her own feelings of what that means for her are so emotional and heartrending.

Seriously, in the beginning of this book I couldn’t stop laughing. These characters and their friends are witty and fun and hilarious. Plus, there are some really wonderful scenes with Jonah and Madden, Sawyer’s and Elle’s sons, both at home and at school that are touching and sweet. Through all the laughter, the tears eventually came. Just like in real life, there is a balance of both. This story is really a beautiful thing.

One last note. Goodreads has this book listed as a *standalone. I ended up checking the author’s website about this since there are some crossover characters from Do Over and Head Over Heels and these three books are listed as part of a series she calls Sexy Dads…which is very fitting. I personally think any of these books can be read as a standalone, but I’ve really enjoyed them all so strongly recommend you read them all. You won’t regret it.

This is a fun, light hearted fast paced and steamy romance.Sawyer is a widower and a father of an 8 year old boy. Sawyer is having a hard time moving on from the grief of losing his wife who he will always love. Elle is divorced from a man who cheated on her and she is also a mother.Now she is afraid to trust a man again.

I liked the way these two met, their connection was instant and so explosive.They have a great chemistry.

I truly enjoyed this journey, if you are looking for a quick read this is great.

Sawyer Paulson and Elle Dunning are both looking for just a hook-up. It was just a one and done. Now Elle is getting a new neighbor who has a little boy the same age as her son. These boys are the cutest. Only the parents are trying to figure out how to act around each other. The hook-up keeps getting in the way. They are having fun as a foursome. Can they make this work or will they walk away? It seems the boys are smarter than the parents. Loved this book!