This book has it all. Best friends to lovers, second chance, small-town swoon and a hot hot marriage deal. Holden is so amazingly sexy. Gray sweatpants. That's all I have to say. Sophie is so sassy and doesn't see her own beauty. I love them together. I can't wait for more of these characters and was so happy to get a glimps of some Dogwood characters. Couldn't put it down.

Like You Love Me by A. Locke, published by Montlake is the first book in the Honey Creek Series.
LYLM is a story you can fall in insta-love with and tells Holden and Sophie's story, a story that gave me all the feels.
A story that I fell pretty quick in love with. A witty and fun read, seriousness mixed with rom/comness and wrapped up in a beautiful story.
A great read, 5 stars. I recommend the book and the series and can't wait what's coming next.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Montlake.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Two childhood best friends end up marrying not for love but for other reasons. She needs to save her B & B business while he needed to prove he is a stable person to his new employer. So he comes up with this plan of marriage to help each other out.

Soon they will realize that they want forever in this fake marriage. Will they be able to admit their feelings and have a forever future? Small town romance at it is finest.

„Promise me you’ll never leave.”


Pure small-town goodness! Adriana Locke mixed the best that can be found in this category and created a swoony, funny and heartfelt story that charmed me completely. Friends to lovers, marriage of convenience and second chances are just the base of this amazing book, in reality it’s so much more! Like You Love Me is a perfect feel-good romance that will bring a bit of sweetness to your life!


I adore Sophie. She’s feisty and sassy, a little bit wild and very much entertaining.
Holden Mckenzie is sexy, sweet, thoughtful and funny.

Their chemistry is sizzling and the banter is hilarious. I loved the development of their relantionship and how naturally their feelings evolved. Sophie and Holden are the perfect mix of sexiness, steam and fun!


And characteristically for a small-town romance, the rest of the Honey Creek community must be mentioned! This story has many amazing supporting characters that only add to the charm. As befits this trope, you can expect here great friendships, meddling, gossips and so much more!


If you’re looking for a heartwarming read with all the feels, this one is definitely for you! Like You Love Me is a great introduction to the Honey Creek series and I can’t wait to read more books set in this charming small-town!

Will they let their past scars come between them ...

I know the author is well renowned in Romanceland, yet as I am mostly a historical romance reader, this explains that.

So when I saw this book, it was the perfect opportunity to correct what I was missing.
I did not know what to expect outside the blurb,
And as a HR lover, a marriage of convenience is a trope I love.

And while the romance part is quite cute, what I very much loved was the dynamic between the siblings, they are fun and love each other without limitations.
Holden and Sophie quickly rekindle their childhood easy friendship, to leave their initial chemistry free rein. But as they believe it with an already settled end date, how can they ask for more when they made a deal with a goal for each one.
Sophie like many needed to leave only to realize that her roots were what made her herself. She now knows from where she comes from and what she wants, if only she was not restrained by material needs.
Holden never reached any of his father’s demands, and now in between two jobs, he is a bit lost, not really knowing what he wants for him or to please his father. What truly are his own dreams...
Their romance is fast paced as in a matter of hours they go from childhood friends to betrothed and married, all for each one’s gain. Well it looks like this on the paper. Until quickly the edges get blurred when they let free reign to their initial attraction.
Yet will chemistry and a deep friendship asking for more be enough when whispers from success call ...
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen mild lovemaking scenes.

Adriana Locke, does it again the queen of small town romances once again delivers in doing just that. This book had some major southern romance vibes. The heroine was a fierce southern belle not at all typical but that's what makes her likable.The hero is swoon worthy as well in a non traditional southern gentleman way.
This is a unique take on a marriage of conveniences will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

I just loved this book! Friends to lovers is my favorite romance trope, and this had so much more to it. I don't really have the time or desire to reread books anymore, but as soon as I finished this one, I immeaditly wanted to start it over. I loved that it was nothing outlandish, not overly angsty. It made me smile a lot, like I said, friends to lovers is my favorite. It also does a good job of setting up the series with the rest of Sophie's family. Adriana Locke has quickly become a go to author for me

I’m a big fan of this author and am always excited for new releases. Friends to lovers, small town romances are some of my favorite reads. This author also never disappoints with any of her stories. Holden and Sophie’s story is one of those reads that is heart felt and makes you smile while reading. While a bit predictable it is still a great read with a lot of feeling and characters you will love. I know a lot of readers will love this story so make sure it’s on your reading list. You do not want to miss out.

A VET, A B&B, AND A LITTLE LOVING

Small town romance.
Second chances.
Friends fo lovers.
Fake marriage
Good natured banter and humour.
A dotty grandfather
Some family friction
A bed and breakfast
And a ferret that ate one too many gummy bears.

This is like a speed dating advert for Like You Love Me by Adriana Locke. The main characters Sophie and Holden have known each other since they were kids, ever since Holden vowed to marry Sophie after a Wiffle Ball game when they were kids ... He loved her so much another time he dangled spit in her face. Fast forward and they both need each other’s help - she needs financial help to pay her taxes, he needs ... a wife. It’s not white what Sophie had in mind, but she likes Holden (ALOT) and this seems to be a win-win right?

Out February 16, Like You Love Me is a heartwarming read about a couple a whole town could see were destined to be together. It’s just taken the couple a little while to work it out for themselves.

This is such a fun, sweet small town romance and made me really excited to see where Locke takes the next installment. She built the perfect small town for her story to be set in with all of her characters bringing something unique to the town.

Sophie is down on her luck and needs to find money to save her bed and breakfast passed down from her grandmother while Holden needs a wife to prove stability for a job. They enter into a proposed marriage to benefit each other and vow to keep their emotions out of it, but sometimes life has other plans. They have great chemistry together and I loved watching them fall for each other. Growing up together there is familiarity between them and it helps further that bond with them. When decisions have to be made about the future their love is put to the test and they have to decide how their future will look.

Adriana Locke brings all the cute, swoony and sweet feelings in this second- chance and small town romance, Like You Love Me. Butterflies in stomach. Smile on my face. This story was the definition of feel good romance.

Holden and Sophie became summer best friends when he used to spend the vacation in Honey Creek, the small town where his grandfather has a running veterinary clinic. They didn't get the chance to become more as Holden became busy with his career. Now he has come back to the town after some professional and personal setbacks. They reconnect and old camaraderie is back. Now a strange situation has arisen. Holden needs to show that he is committed to marriage to bag his lifelong dream job. And Sophie needs financial help desperately to save her family bed&breakfast. Deal is deal. But they didn't consider the emotions.

It's a very simple story narrated beautifully. Holden spent his life trying to live up to his father's expectations. And he is weary of human connection. Sophie, for the first time, made him feel open and relaxed and wholesome happy. She has been betrayed and hurt in past relationships. But Holden pushed away her scepticism and insecurity. And made her feel truly loved and cherished even though it all started with a fake marriage. I love them individually and then together. They both are exceptional people with so much positivity. Their relationship is based on a solid friendship. On trust, respect and care. They did have different futures in their head and it was a great internal battle but they soon realised love is the greatest asset. Swoon and sighs all over! The colourful characters of Honey Creek accompanied me in this journey and I am so excited for their stories.


Adriana Locke captured the simple, relaxing and very intimate qualities of small town romance in Like You Love Me perfectly. This is that kind of adorable story where I can lose myself within the pages and leave behind all my worries and stress. And then come out on the other side with a refreshed mind.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

3.25/5 stars!

When events happened that were out of his control, the hero decided to help his grandfather's veterinarian practice as he assesses his life. The heroine has financial woes after her ex took off with more than his share of the money. A marriage of convenience comes up to solve the couple's individual troubles, as well as forcing forward the feelings they have for each other.

I liked the small-town vibes of the story, and how the couple were friends before they became lovers. I also think that particular events in the story foreshadows more books in the future featuring other characters, especially the heroine's siblings. There were some details that could be added to make the story flow more smoothly; more details were also needed for characters to give a better image of their personalities. However, those are my preferences and did not detract from the whole story.

Overall the book is a nice friends-to-lovers story featuring likable characters and small-town vibes.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange of an honest review.**

Adriana Locke is the queen of small-town romances and Like You Love Me did not disappoint! I love the charm of the small-town setting. I love that you can walk into any business and they know who you are and they ask about your day or that you have an arrangement where you can pay for services with pie. While reading Like You Love, I could close my eyes and be transported there. That is due to Ms. Locke's writing style. Another thing she does well is she writes characters you can't help, but love and that is not just the main characters, it includes the side characters as well!

Holden and Sophie just clicked. They had such an ease to their friendship. It was a good foundation for making their pretend marriage work. I loved how fun and playful they were! It was fun watching Sophie and Holden grow as individuals and as a couple. Can't wait to see what is coming next in the Honey Creek series!

Small town romances have that sense of community and family that no other trope can do as well and this book had that feeling in spades. I loved the detail in the town and going so far to recreate memories of the town in Sophie and Holden's childhood memories. This made this book even more special than I expected.

Sophie and Holden were adorable and I loved the foundation their relationship was built on because long lasting friendships are the best foundation but rediscovering that friendship makes for a good book and great stories! They both had history and issues they had to work out and I enjoyed reading their story and seeing if they overcame their issues. I loved Holden's dream job story line, I felt it brought so much love and heart to the story as each character gave their advice on what to do when you feel conflicted between love and the rest of life. Each supporting character had such a detailed backstory it felt as if I had been reading their story way longer than this one book!

This book was written beautifully and I hope we get to see Liv and Jobe's stories soon because I need more of Sophie, Jobe, and Liv's sibling interactions!!

As sweet as a Ring Pop!

Holden is all kinds of charming! There's no way Sophie could resist his "let's solve each other's problems" proposal and I adored every bit of it!

This is a delightful romance between Holden and Sophie, who spent every summer together throughout their childhoods but then haven't seen each other for the past decade. I love the way the entire town supported them, and there was no "fake marriage" drama lingering in the background.

The romance is intense and steamy, but the meat of the story is Holden's struggle to find what he really wants to do with his life, not just with his career. I really enjoyed the vibrant small town setting, the cheeky and insightful characters, and the focus on the day to day philosophies that highlight everything that makes life worth living.

The entire book was such a joy to read from start to finish. I highly recommend it for all romance readers. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I loved this story and the characters, I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down, it was simply amazing!

I really enjoyed this sweet small town romance! It's soft and gentle, perfect for when you want something low angst, swoony, and warm to lift you up and make you believe in true love.

I loved the friends to lovers relationship, they were so charming together, with the kind of banter and comfort that only comes from a twenty year friendship. It felt mildly insta-love within the confines of the book, but not really if you consider their shared history.

No one writes small town romance like Adriana. It felt like I was transported to this small southern town, full of adorable businesses and quirky townspeople. I can't wait to read more about this world, hopefully about the other Bates siblings!

Quietly adorable, laidback, and a sweet, feel good read, this was just what I needed. It's more understated than a lot of this author's work, leaning into its charming, heartfelt feel, but the story is exactly the kind that I like in a small town romance. These two are childhood friends who lost track of each other until recently, and their very adult selves might just fit perfectly - whether that works for their current plans or not. They're both genuinely good people who openly care for each other, and the angst is kept at a minimum. It's got a touch of sexiness and only a little steam, instead focusing on the emotional connection and the small town lifestyle. I enjoyed it the whole way through, and while this wasn't a standout read for me, it was a sweet dose of low angst goodness.

The story follows Sophie and Holden, two people who flirted with making the shift from friends to lovers during their youth, but never seized the opportunity. When Holden returns to town following the end of his engagement and the loss of his job, he's feeling adrift. And Sophie has her own issues - her bed and breakfast is undergoing renovations, and the debt her ex left her with is coming due. A marriage of convenience seems like the solution to both of their problems, but neither one expects it to come with its own complications. Sophie and Holden's marriage might be temporary, but the feelings they're developing are starting to feel very permanent.

This is definitely a different vibe from the author, and I enjoyed the laidback feel. I've read several of her small town romances in the past, and this is probably the sweetest, easiest one. It's low angst and high feels, bringing the sweetness and the quiet, slow burn. There's actually very little in terms of heat, though there's one SEXY scene and obvious chemistry throughout. I loved how these two transitioned from friends to lovers, and I loved that there was no major angst. It felt natural and authentic, which is a definite plus. We're also introduced to Sophie's siblings, and I'm intrigued by their stories. The small town feel was really working for me, so we'll see where this series goes next. I received an early copy via NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this marriage of convenience romance.

Like You love Me is a wonderful heart warming read. You will fall in love with Holden and Sophie over and over again throughout this one. I have a feeling that Honey Creek is going to be a very addicting series. You get the sweet, the sexy and you get the sass too when it comes to Holden and Sophie. I love how Sophie handles Holden and his grandpa. When it comes to Holden you don't know whether you want to smack him to knock sense into him or just to love him as is. Sophie you get why she is the way she is. You will love her for standing her ground. She is sweet and lends a helping hand when needed. You that childhood bond between Holden and Sophie the minute they are reunited. I really couldn't get enough of this one. Like You Love Me is such a breathe of fresh air. You need to one click this one and meet the lovely town of Honey Creek today.

Oh my goodness! I absolutely adored Holden and Sophie! You will not want to put their story down. It's the perfect small town feel good friends to lovers story/marriage of convenience story.

Childhood friends Holden and Sophie haven't seen each for several years until Holden returns to Honey Creek to help his Pap, the town vet out, it's just a passing visit for Holden though as he is waiting on a call that he hopes will map out his future.

After her Grandma passes Sophie took over the running of Honey Creek B&B, Honey Creek is home for Sophie it's where her Sister and Brother live, it's the only place she has ever wanted to live but the B&B is struggling she needs an injection of cash quickly if she is going to save it.

Holden needs to impress his potential new employers, they are all about family which of course leads him to say he's married! So who does he turn to but his childhood bff, I mean they only need to convince his potential new boss and then they can go their separate ways. Sounds like a good plan, right?

Another amazing story from one of my favourite authors! It was perfection!