I liked it so much that I would have loved to read it in one sitting, but real life got in the way. I thought this book was very cute. There is plenty of chemistry and I loveteh characters. This book had everything I like in a romance novel. I didn't read the first book of the series and am planning to read it soon.

Very cute romance that is kicked off by a game of truth or dare- Seth dares Tara to go on four dates with him before he moves to Paris in a month, but what starts off casual naturally gets more complicated as they end up falling for each other. Honestly, the beginning (with the dare and their initial banter) made me think the book was going to be way too cheesy and tough to get through but I thought it got SO much better and more authentic after the first chapter or two, so hang in there past the initial setup if you pick it up!

This one is out August 3rd- would make a nice poolside read towards the end of summer. Thank you to Net Galley, St Martin’s, and the author for the early read!

I read the previous book so I was excited to get my hands on this one as I was interested in how Tara's story unfolds. I don't think it is necessary to have read the previous story, but it will definitely give you background knowledge on Tara. This book does however give you great flashbacks that will make you understand the characters better. If you are interested in an easy feel-good romance then this book is right up your alley! The story is engaging and the characters likeable.
The premise is definitely not super original but the author was able to present it in a refreshing way.

I received an ARC from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

<b>3.5-Stars</b>

Looking for a feel-good small-town summer romance? Then The Dating Dare will be right up your alley. Not only is Jayci Lee a new author for me, but I also found her storytelling surprisingly refreshing. And although the dating premise is far from new, this fun read’s plot is original, and the protagonists incredibly likeable. Imagine four cute meetups in the likeliest or not of places, et voilà, you have the settings!

Seth Kim and Tara Park being on the same wavelength regarding serious relationships stands out in the book’s first half. I liked that they wanted to keep things casual, but I was eager to see if they’d be able to break down emotional walls in their delightful rendezvous.

For one thing, Seth and Tara are safeguarding their hearts. And for another, time is running out. The countdown take on the story is cleverly thought-out, and I especially liked it when they started questioning their feelings. I loved the way Lee kept giving snippets of their backstories because if there hadn’t been baggage to deal with, the story wouldn’t have had the same punch. As I’m a foodie at heart, the mouthwatering scenes were a real plus, too.

I’m not that keen on third-person narrative, but the author cracked it with flirty banter, and the internal dialogue’s pacing was just right. However, a few new characters seemed to pop up out of the blue, puzzling me. Also, what I considered to be an important detail was mentioned a little too late for my liking. Maybe if I’d read Sweet Mess first, that would have helped.

All in all, I enjoyed Seth and Tara’s easy-to-read story, and I’ll definitely be checking out book one in the series.

ARC kindly received from St. Martin’s Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tara Park and Seth Kim meet up, again, at the wedding of Tara’s best friend and Seth’s brother. There are lots of sparks between these two and they agree to one month of dating, or non-dating – they don’t want to let anyone know that they ARE dating. Sounds confusing but the story is great, better than I can retell it. Tara, who’s missing her BFF (the bride) now that she’s married, and Seth, who is close to his brother (the groom) have plenty of sparks when they are together, even if they are standing in a coffee shop. Both of them have horrid dating/relationship experiences but how badly could an arrangement between them go wrong? Let’s say it is hilarious, touching, loving and fun – until it becomes real. Tara and Seth never saw an HEA coming! Tara made me a wee bit cranky and Seth won me over earlier in the book. They have a simmering sexuality and hotness that is just bubbling under the surface, whenever they meet. Very sexy story, lots of push and pull – maybe a wee bit too much angst for me but they were adorable together…when they finally realized how good they are together. It’s how they work thru being relationship gun shy, on a road to an HEA, that will really grab you.

This was such a cute and fast read. The characters were a lot of fun and I loved the brewery and small town setting. There were a few times where the dialogue got a bit corny, but I still really enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley and St Martins for my copy.

Tis the season for fun rom com’s and Jayci definitely delivered with The Dating Dare. Tara and Seth’s enemies to lovers story is frustrating and heartwarming as the path the love isn’t always a smooth ride.

Tara and Seth have been burned by love in the past and have no interest in falling in love again. Sharing what happened in their past relationships have been kept under wraps. Never to be shared outside of the safety of their best friends.

Tara is happily running Weldon Brewery with her family and Seth is moving to Paris to pursue a career in fashion photography. Both are seemingly content keeping their hearts under lock and key.
After a game of Truth or Dare, and too much beer, the dating dare is born.

Can they handle four dates together and not fall in love before he leaves? Will the chains around their hearts melt away or become a permanent fixture?

Very cute romance book! Perfect enemy to lovers. Which tend to be my favorite. The characters were a little difficult to connect with but overall a good but typical rom-com.. a good quick read to lighten the mood is always great.

On premise this book should be my right up my alley but I could not get a third of the way into it. I couldn't connect to the main character. This is by no ways the fault of the book or the author.

I loved the cuteness of the story. Tara and Seth are very likable. What was a negative for me was the quickness of the sex. I would have liked for them to do all the dates first and build up to it. It just seemed too easy for me. Enjoyed their varied interests and learning some about them. Tara and her family were hilarious together. The romance was very sweet and I liked how they each supported each other.

This is a very cute book! I enjoyed the dynamic between Seth and Tara and the whole idea that the dare was to not fall in love with each other. Also, I love how the other characters played into their story without it seeming too crowded. It was an easy and enjoyable read for me!
I had a little trouble connecting with the characters and I wish there was a little bit more banter between Seth and Tara, but I really enjoyed how they were protective of each other and really seemed to care about one another, which is always great in a romance book!
I think that the dialogue was a little rough at times and could have been a little more realistic, but as the story progressed, it didn’t bother me as much.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you are looking for a fun read!

I loved how The Dating Dare started as a continuation of A Sweet Mess. I’m so glad that this one focused on Tara and Seth since they seemed like interesting characters in A Sweet Mess.
I adored everything about the first few chapters of this read - Tara and Seth seemed witty, charming, sarcastic, and strong-willed. They had great chemistry and banter that was fun and flirty. But as I continued reading, I lost all of that and almost felt like I was reading from Aubrey and Landon again. Tara seemed so tough and fierce in the first few chapters but I felt that started getting a little immature and, frankly, annoying. I also hated that Seth was being labeled repeatedly as a playboy but there was nothing to his character that suggested that other than the fact that he didn’t have any long-term girlfriends.
I enjoyed this read and there were some cute moments, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as A Sweet Mess.
Overall, it cute and easy read

The Dating Dare is such a fun summer read. The story revolves around a maid of honor and the best man of a wedding. The Dating Dare is a trick to get her to go out with him. It's funny, endearing, and a bit unique. It is written in third person, but it is not hard to follow. The story is smooth and I will keep your attention.

The Dating Dare is an incredibly hot rom- com. Tara and Seth are two love weary people desperate not to fall in love. Unfortunately Cupid has other ideas. Their whirlwind month of dates and not dates kept the pages flipping. This book is pure guilty pleasure and a perfect distraction from the humdrum of regular life.

The Dating Dare is the second book in Jayci Lee's Sweet Mess series. It follows Tara, a small town brewer, having a romance with her best friend's new brother-in-law. At first it seems like the perfect, short relationship that they are both craving. Tara has trouble with love due to previous relationships. Seth has to leave for Paris in a month. They agree to go on four dates before he leaves, with rules of course. The most important being, They cannot fall in love. As they get to know one another and go on these dates, the rule ends up not being as simple as it seemed.

This was such a cute, small town romance. Though I have not read the first book in the series, I truly connected with most of the characters introduced, and loved the small town vibes. So for anyone wondering, this can be read as a stand-alone. I loved Tara as a character. She is confident and self-assured, but also learns to be vulnerable throughout the course of the book. I was not as convinced by Seth as a character, but I thought the two worked well together.

However, as you can tell by my three-star review, this was not the perfect romance for me. Overall, I found it kind of average. As an avid romance reader, not a lot felt new in this story. I also had so problems with the story. Within the first two chapters, there was one of my least favorite romance tropes. Seth ends up taking Tara back to his hotel room after she gets incoherently drunk at her brewery, and he has no way to get her home. She ends up getting sick on her dress while at the hotel. Seth then takes it upon himself to undress her before putting her to bed. This is something that I see too much in romance. I am not sure why so many people find it enjoyable to write or read about. It was almost used to build sexual tension, but the fact that she is out-of-her-mind drunk, and unable to consent to him undressing her really rubs me the wrong way. Even if he respectfully did not ogle her, it is still creepy and not okay. Frankly if that was me, and I woke up to find that I had been undressed without my knowledge, I would never speak to the person responsible again.

Something else that I personally did not enjoy were the drawn-out descriptions of food. I love tasty desserts as much as the next person, but when like five different desserts are described in great detail all in one chapter, I think it is a little unnecessary and not enjoyable to read. And let's be honest, does anyone actually moan while eating like so many books describe? I swear if I ever caught someone making orgasmic moans while eating a brownie I would run the other way.

The final thing that I want to note is the weird parallel between the apparent sexual-tension between the two, and fade to black intimate scenes. At times, especially the beginning, it seems like their sexual attraction is the only thing connecting them. Then when it comes to finally getting "down and dirty", and we get almost nothing. I am not someone who needs intimate scenes to be in romance, but when it seems like all their banter and spark is leading up to the moment and I get to read none of it, I feel a little misled.

Overall, while this may not be the perfect book for me, I know a lot of people will love it. Pick it up as a stand-alone, or read the series if it interests you!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860357-the-dating-dare" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Dating Dare (A Sweet Mess, #2)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599754688l/54860357._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860357-the-dating-dare">The Dating Dare</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19450142.Jayci_Lee">Jayci Lee</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3984115387">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
When Tara Park and Seth Kim meet at a wedding, there is an instant attraction between them. They try to ignore it- both of them are carrying baggage from previous relationships and know that anything between them is a bag idea. However after a drunken night together and a game of Truth or Dare, Tara and Seth come up with the idea of spending five dates together before Seth moves away to Paris.<br />Their dates will remain a secret between the two of them and when it's over, they both move on with their lives. <br />But as time goes on, their dates do not go as plan and they soon start developing feelings for each other.<br />This storyline was super cliche but I loved it regardless. Tara and Seth are too cute together and I was rooted for them since the first very page.<br />If you enjoy romance novels, definitely give this one a go. I enjoyed this book immensely and hope to read more.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/16694271-shanice-singh">View all my reviews</a>

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

I was honestly really excited to read this book. To begin off with I’d like to say no hate to the author. I could be biased because I am a huge fantasy reader and I tend to fade off from contemporary romance. To begin with I REALLY REALLY like the idea of story, enticing and would definitely get someone to read it. The issue is it turned out the main female charcater was korean? Apparently so but I couldn’t tell until 3 chapters later. She seemed like such a white western cowgirl that I was so shocked. I’m also not a big fan of the guy being young than the female. Now it’s only a year young lol but I tend to be picky. I felt that the romance was also fast paced. Evreything was happening to quickly that I felt overwhelmed and that the charcater were underdeveloped.

What I did like about the book was how it got into things right away when you read it, it wasn’t a slow start and was an easy fun read with a topic that reminded me of those New York romance movies that you would see Mathew mccanhgey film in. Overall it wasn’t my fave read, if your looking something just for fun and to get you out of your slump this is it, if your looking for more I advise something else:)

3.75 stars rounded up; this book was fluffy and sweet and even though it didn't really reinvent the wheel in terms of romcoms, it was still a good time. Seth and Tara definitely had chemistry and were both likeable. The premise was great; I really enjoy romcoms with a bet/dare/structured outings type of element. I love when books feature family so prominently and appreciated the casual representation in books.

I have two complaints. One, the miscommunication bothered me so much. I know miscommunication is a staple feature in romcoms but it was SO prevalent and instead of building angst (which I'm normally here for), it was just frustrating. Two, while I appreciated the heavier themes and the acknowledgment of the baggage they brought into the relationship, I'm not a fan of using love as a substitute for therapy which was definitely the case here.

I didn't read the first book in this series but like with most romance series, didn't feel like I missed any real context. Even though it's not a new favorite, I'd be willing to give more books by Jayci Li a shot!

2.5 Stars

Tara is not looking for a serious relationship, ever. She doesn't do love and is happy with her very casual hook-ups every once in a while. Seth is known as a playboy. He's a successful fashion photographer and it's constantly seen with a new fling.

When Seth's brother (Landon) marries Tara's best friend (Aubrey) they both end up drunk after the party and playing a game of Truth or Dare. That's when the Dating Dare starts, they must go on four dates and not fall in love with each other.

The premise is outlandish but cute. This was a light rom-com, but, from the very first chapter, the dialogue seemed so awkward. It was extremely difficult to connect to the characters.

The plot was very cheesy and predictable. And although I enjoy a low angst read from time to time, there was barely any conflict, and it got a bit old reading how they were both fascinated with each other but ignoring their feelings over and over again.

One positive was Tara's job as a master brewer. It's not every day that you read about a heroine that works brewing beer, and that was refreshing.

Unfortunately, although the premise is entertaining, The Dating Dare didn't deliver, and its fanfic style writing made the plot feel contrived.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for approving me for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for romance books, especially the ones you know the general sequence of events, friends or frenemies to lovers, there's a miscommunication and yet the characters find a way to resolve it and things are on the track for happily ever after. The Dating Dare rose to that occasion and delivered. This was an easy book to read, even if it was a little predictable and slow. If there had been less of the "smaller" details (ones that didn't add much to the overall story or move the plot along) I feel I would have enjoyed the book more. It felt a little drawn out at times and I found myself skimming. Fans of Jayci Lee and those that enjoyed her first book should not miss out on the second installment.
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This was the second book in a series but I was able to read it as a stand alone. It was easy to tell there were a few overlapping characters and their appearance in this book wasn't confusing or hard to follow. I don't think I missed out on anything from not having read the first book, that impacted my review/rating for the second book.