A little salty, a little sweet and a little spicy. Loved the newest one by Jayci Lee!

Tara and Seth have the same friend circle. They've known each other for awhile, but haven't really interacted. When they meet at a mutual wedding, sparks fly. But with Seth leaving for a new job in a month there is zero chance of them delving into anything long-term. Instead, they make a dare. Tara must go on four dates with Seth in his remaining time left in the U.S. Will she be able to resist his charms?

These two characters are very authentic and easy to love. Right off the bat you'll root for their story. It is fun to watch them discover that they have so much in common, and yell at them to pull down their walls so they can just see it for themselves!

Thank you netgalley and publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved the characters and the story so much.

➳ <i>Rate: 3 / 5 stars</i>

New to me author and I just was disappointed because it was fade to black 😭 If I had only known… lmao.

The story was cute. The plot was fun and these two had hella chemistry hence why I was so disappointed when it turned out it was fade to black. The smut scenes would have been explosive if only there were some 🤣

But to y’all that don’t mind not having smut in your romance, or books in general, give it a chance! I’m curious to go read the first book because I really liked them as second characters and it sounds like they had a nice story!

I loved reading this sweet romance about Tara & Seth. I had read A Sweet Mess & was glad to dive back into this town & the people. I highly recommend reading this book if your into great romcoms. It won't disappoint. I hope Jayci Lee will write for more of the characters in the book.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I was really excited to jump in, the premise sounded fun and a bit unique. I will say, I felt like I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I liked that it wasn’t an insta-love romance…but it also left me very frustrated. The characters basically had a hard time communicating their feelings to each other through the entire book. I felt like some of their thoughts were a bit childish? And Tara’s whole situation. She was 28 and she had two 30 year old twin brothers, and they all lived at home with their parents still? I did like that Tara was a brew master. Having a female heroine in a predominantly male driven world was pretty cool.

Bottom Line: This one passed the time fine, I wouldn’t not recommend it. But I also wouldn’t be in a hurry to read it either.

**I received a copy of The Dating Dare from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

I absolutely loved this book!
I loved Tara and her personality. I really enjoyed reading how she deals with her past struggles and how she overcame them.
Seth is hilarious and adorable. I kept cracking up on his goofiness and fun attitude. It was also really cute reading the dates they go on.
I really liked how its set in a small town without having the small town vibes.
I also liked how Tara’s job is unique to most characters in books. She works at a brewery and it was interesting learning all about it.
Definitely recommend reading this!

The Dating Dare follows Tara and Seth, two friends who decide on a no-strings attach, secret fling after a game of Truth or Dare. I loved the chemistry and steam between Tara and Seth and their witty banter was perfect. I had a difficult time connecting with Tara, though. There was no real change or character development. It also took a while to see the chemistry. Early in book it felt forced.

This is the third or fourth title I have picked up from this author. Sadly, I just felt meh about it. I wanted to like it. I liked both of these characters in the first book in the series. I just felt like the whole thing fell flat once they took center stage. Still not a bad romance, but just an average one with characters that are 2D.
So sad.

Tara Park doesn’t do serious relationships. Neither does she hop into bed with virtual strangers. Especially when that particular stranger is her best friend’s new brother-in-law. Seth is temptation personified. His unreasonably handsome looks and charming personality makes him easy on the eyes and good for her ego.

When a friendly game of Truth or Dare leads to an uncomplicated four-date arrangement with Seth, Tara can’t say she minds. However, Seth is leaving for a new job in Paris in a month and a no-strings attached fling seemed like a nice little distraction for both…

A light hearted, sweet read that certainly entertained me throughout. I didn’t realize it was a second book in the series so I might have to go back and read the first one!

Tara isn't interested in settling down, but also doesn't want just any old fling. Her best friend just got married, and as part of a Truth or Dare game with her friend's brother-in-law, Tara feels like she can break the usual rules. The brother-in-law, Seth, is dangerously arresting and disarmingly charming, and now Tara has been dared to go on four dates with him. Low stakes with a handsome, seemingly nice guy? Why not? Seth is leaving the country for a new job in a month anyway, so Tara feels free to be herself. That self is exactly what piques Seth's interest, but both Seth and Tara will have to get out of their own way to find a way into each other's heart.

I really enjoyed this one! Yes, it was a bit cheesy, but who doesn't like cheese every once in a while? The story involves some characters from A Sweet Mess, though you don't need to read it to enjoy this story. The setup for the dates was really nice, because it helped both Seth and Tara to let their guard down a bit. At the same time, their first impression of each other isn't the best, and I found it refreshing that the setup for the dates as part of the dare helped them look past first impressions and start getting to really know each other. One of my favorite things was how the story explored the idea of how our past informs our present, and how the pain we carry and conceal can affect our relationships with other people no matter how good our poker faces might be.

I liked the banter between Seth and Tara, and I felt like their chemistry and their desire and need to be with each other as time went on was palpable. You could feel what they were feeling, which speaks to the strength of the character development. The Dating Dare is a cheesy and sweet follow-on from A Sweet Mess that works well as a standalone, and I recommend it to readers who want a nice romantic read with low stakes and a big heart. I don't just recommend it, I dare you to read it!

It was an interesting proposition. Seth had four weeks before he was to move to Paris and he was attracted to Tara. So, he suggested they go on four dates with no strings attached. Not one to look for serious relationships, Tara agreed. Things didn't go exactly as planned.. The author brings to readers two well defined characters who have been badly hurt. Life altering hurt. They had both resolved to never let it happen again, but when their time together becomes more than casual, they have important decisions to make.
The characters are endearing and their dialogue is often witty. Even though the narrative is often funny there are serious matters interwoven throughout. It becomes apparent that the characters pasts weigh heavily on their present lives. After just a few weeks, their desires for the future are different. Can common ground be found?
This is a beautifully told romantic story. It is packed with emotion, wit and heart. It is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I thought it was along the lines of a fairytale. Four dates from a dare and to not fall in love with each other in a month. Only 3 of the 4 dates actually happened where Korean Americans Tara Park and Seth Kim flirt it out heavily towards love. Both are relationship shy based on past partners and have issues with their self worth on certain levels after emotionally abusive relationships. I definitely liked Tara's take no prisoners spirit and owning her sexuality. I liked the two and how their interactions played out, but fell flat for me was the depth of love in less than a month.

A light, easy, feel good romance with witty banter & steam! ⁣
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Sometimes you just need a quick, feel good read in the midst of a busy and stressful week. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 was exactly what I needed to listen to last week. It allowed me to just decompress and feel transported to a sappy, happy place while listening. Tara and Seth were so cute together - great banter and good chemistry plus some steamy moments. ⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 definitely falls into the insta-love category but I didn’t mind that at all. Like watching my beloved Hallmark movies - I love knowing exactly what I am going to get going in. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just need a simple and guaranteed HEA story in my life. The romance here starts off as a dare to go on 4 dates over the course of a few weeks and not fall in love (𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩/ 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘬), as a result of a late night drinking game. I thought the dates were cute and highlighted the chemistry between Tara and Seth as a couple. ⁣
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This is my idea of escapism reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, if you’re looking for a fun, light romcom definitely check out 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞!⁣ It’s book 2 of Lee’s A Sweet Mess series but I read it as a standalone without any issues at all. I didn’t feel like I was missing a thing not having read book 1.

Thank you NetGalley, author Jayci Lee, and St. Martin's Griffin publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Ever since I read the book "A Sweet Mess" by this author last year, I have been eagerly anticipating her next release. So of course when NetGalley had arc copies of this book, I immediately requested a copy and was granted one! This book was such a delight! Another great romantic comedy about two people deciding to date each other on a dare!
What do you get when a woman is the one that does not do serious relationships, but is willing to date a man on a dare?
The beginning of the book was a little long and dragged out the character development as well as the pacing of the story. The story really started to take off for me during the middle of the story. I am not usually a fan of instant chemistry, but between Seth and Tara I was sold on it. I loved how much Tara was willing to go out with Seth on four official dates with all sorts of rules and yet they had all kinds of "non-dates" that were much more steamy and handsy than their actuals dates, which, thankfully, author Jayci Lee has a wonderful ability to give the readers just enough to let the imagination run wild as the scenes fade-into-black. I for one am not always wanting full descriptions of the love making scenes. It can sometimes cause the reader to be pulled out of the story if the scenes are poorly written, but hey that is my opinion. I loved how close the family ties were. Some of the best moments within this story was not always with the main couple, but with the family. The plot was fairly predictable, but it is in the execution that made all the difference in making the journey to the well known destination fun and enjoyable. The characters were well developed and likeable. Tara's reasons for avoiding serious relationships was believable as well as Seth's reasons for giving up his dreams of pursuing an art career. I loved reading about their journeys of letting go of their past baggage and finding the courage to pursue their love, which included each other. This book also included great details about the food and outings they had on their dates. The details had me reaching for something to eat at various times! The ending had all the staples of a romance, which included the drama, the grand gesture that leads to the confession of feelings and of course the ending kiss!!!! Overall, this was another enjoyable read by author Jayci Lee and I am highly anticipating her next new release. I would recommend this book for those who are looking for a wonderful weekend cozy read!

I was initially very excited to read The Dating Dare. I had read nothing but great reviews about it. So, when it came time for me to read it, I dove right in. I finished the book with a strong dislike for Tara, pity for Seth, and an overall sense of “meh”

The Dating Dare is the 2nd book in the A Sweet Mess series. I would strongly suggest reading A Sweet Mess (book 1) before you read The Dating Dare. I had a hard time following different relationships (not romantic, friends), and I believe it would have helped if I had read A Sweet Mess first.

The plot for The Dating Dare was exciting and had a solid start. I like romances that have unconventional beginnings, and Tara and Seth’s most certainly did. But, towards the middle of the book, I started to lose interest which is sad because I enjoyed how it started.

As I mentioned above, I was not too fond of Tara. While I felt terrible for her (her backstory is sad), it gave her no excuse to treat Seth the way she did. She manipulated him on so many levels. After a while, just reading her interactions with him gave me a bad taste in my mouth. She did redeem herself a tiny bit by the end of the book (her whole confession was sweet), but I still didn’t like her.

I felt bad for Seth. He had a bad relationship and kept away from women, relationship-wise, for a long time (I am sure he did the nasty with rando people). So, he fell hard for Tara. Everything he did for her was sweet. She didn’t go to her prom; he recreated it. He played dragon with random kids in a park to be near her. I was halfway in love with him myself. So, I was frustrated when he kept accepting her apologies and dismissing her bad behavior. I wanted to shake him and say, “Drop her!!” But, of course, since this is a fictional book, you know how the story ends.

The romance angle of the book was sweet during the first half of the book. I sighed with every romantic thing that Seth did for Tara. But, by the end of the book, the romance had soured on me. Tara’s lousy behavior and Seth’s passiveness just killed that vibe for me.

The sex scenes were OK. Tara and Seth had sizzling chemistry that led to some hot kissing scenes. But once they had sex, the chemistry disappeared. It was mainly due to my dislike of Tara, but I couldn’t get into the sex scenes.

The end of The Dating Dare was predictable. I had guessed what Tara was going to do, and I knew what Seth’s response would be. If I had liked Tara more, I would have found joy at their HEA. But I didn’t. All I could feel was “meh.” I will read more of Jayci Lee’s books, though. I refuse to let one book color my opinion of an author.

I would recommend The Dating Dare for anyone over the age of 21. There are sexual situations (including nongraphic sex) and mild language.

4 Stars!
Tara Park is a 28 yr. old woman from a small town in Southern California called Weldon. She comes from a big, close Korean family that lives and works together. They own a brewery and she loves her job and her life which includes being single. She doesn't do serious relationships and enjoys her freedom. Then she's pursued by her best friend's new brother-in-law. Seth Kim is a talented fashion photographer with a reputation as a player. He's devastatingly handsome and she's helplessly drawn to him. When a game of truth or dare leads to a four date arrangement she's suddenly in over her head. She will never be able to resist this sexy beautiful man, but decides to quit overthinking things. He's only in town temporarily, so their time is limited. She could give in to their attraction, have some no strings uncomplicated fun without expectations, and still keep her heart safe. The problem is she underestimated the effect he could have on her, and soon he was getting under her skin and breaking all her rules.

Seth Kim has a successful career, and is moving to Paris in a month to follow his dreams. He's worked hard for this opportunity and is excited to start the next chapter in his life. Then he's thrown a curveball when he finds himself captivated by the maid of honor at his brother's wedding. Tara is absolutely stunning, and he enjoys flirting with her. As they spend time together she makes him feel alive. He wants to explore what's between them, but since he will be leaving soon they have an expiration date. Will they say goodbye or take a chance on love?

The Dating Dare (A Sweet Mess, #2) by Jayci Lee is a heartwarming friends to lovers romance full of humor, chemistry, and self discovery. It is filled with moments that are sweet, steamy and emotional. It can definitely be read as a standalone. This was my first book by this author, and I look forward to reading more by her. I especially now want to go back and read the first book in this series, A Sweet Mess to get Aubrey & Landon's story. This book also had some great secondary characters I wouldn't mind getting a story for.

I received a digital ARC via Netgalley from the publisher though all thoughts are my own.

This was such an adorable story about two people who started out dating as a dare and along the way, realize that it might not be just for fun.

I loved this book from beginning to end which was full of humor, some steamy scenes, lots of romance, one mishap and full of surprises that kept my attention as I wanted to know what would happen to Seth and Tara.

Seth and Tara each have their own pasts that have seemed to set the stage for choosing not to get close to anyone in a romantic sense while also trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Some of their romantic moments actually brought me to tears and I was rooting for these two to get together because they both very much deserve happiness!

I highly recommend checking out this book and I'm hoping there will be more books in this series!

Trigger warnings: conversations about emotional abuse and bullying, skiing accident

Thank you, Sara LaCotti from St. Martin’s Griffin Press for an ARC of Jayci Lee’s A Dating Dare. This novel is a dream. The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee had me hooked from the very first page, and the connection between Seth and Tara blew me away. I love the bickering, the reactions of Tara and Seth’s below the surface heat, the way they can bounce things off one another and throw it right back at one another. Not to mention something so small (to Tara) in this dare that she is ever so ready to prove Seth ever so wrong.
Thank you once again Jayci Lee and Sara LaCotti for letting me read this fun, sexy, and romantic read. Cannot wait for more reads to come out from Jayci Lee.

I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in a series so I'm glad it could be read as a standalone as I did not read the 1st book. Although I know how the first book ends, I may go back and read it too.

Tara and Seth have off the charts chemistry and I was sure this was going to be an insta-love story. I was wrong. It was more of a slow burn friends to lovers romance. Both Tara and Seth had been so burned by love, or what they thought was love, in the past that neither is looking for a relationship.

The characters were relatable and I enjoyed the close family relationships and friendships throughout the book. The ending was predictable, as is true of most romances, but it was enjoyable. I found it to be a lighthearted, quick, and fun read. It's a perfect beach/pool read or just for a relaxing afternoon.

3.5 stars =I liked The Dating Dare for the most part, I liked the idea of truth or dare giving the pair an excuse to spend time together. And I liked the picnic date and the nondates that get the two more involved than they intend. What worked less well for me is that I am not fond of the secret dating trope and since the pair's friends and families are connected and the 'relationship' has an expiration date the couple agree to keep their dates on the down low. The other thing that works less well for me is the 'sworn off ever falling in love' trope - it just means that you know there is going to be some hurtful rejection at some point before the HEA. These two things meant that I liked , not loved, this. But I am still happy to have had the opportunity to read the ARC which was author Lee's pandemic project and happily ever afters are definitely needed now more than ever.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley, this is available now.