RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥

When you meet someone under intentional pretenses -- like pretending to be your twin -- and you become attracted to them, how do you exactly come clean and still get your HEA?

Jesse recently found his identical twin Scott, but unlike him, Scott is on the verge of losing his farm. When Jesse offers to help him to save the property, he pretends to be Scott when meeting up with the oil rep hoping to purchase the property.

What he didn't bank on: the oil rep is a woman, a gorgeous woman who he finds attractive. A woman who is really determined to spend time with "Scott" to discuss her proposal. Can Jesse fulfill his twin brother's goal without falling for the woman who has bulldozed through his life?

So you get two people who are fish-out-of-water on this small-town farm and are trying to make what they want to happen on behalf of their family. What could possibly go wrong? I did wonder how Ruth Cardello could untangle this mess, and she does it wonderfully with Jesse and Crystal's instant attraction. There is a strong element of romantic comedy as these two city slickers navigate around the farm under the close supervision of Scott's farmhand LJ.

I enjoyed the character growth, especially with Jesse. Their connection is based on insta-lust, so for those who don't think that's their jam, you have been warned. The upside is that it produces a nice sizzle that culminates in wonderful spicy scenes.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Ruth Cardello, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

A wonderful story that was both full of mystery and joyfulness, that included many heartwarming moments and quite a few raunchy ones. The story focused on a few different tangents, exploring the different relationships and personal challenges of the two main characters, including getting to know each other. I enjoy the writing style where we get chapters from multiple points of view, as we can see things from both sides and get to know exactly what's going on. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to the NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC, all opinions are my own. It was a sweet romance. A well written story.

Strictly Business
The Switch, 1
by Ruth Cardello

Jesse and Scott are identical twins split up at birth and lead very different lives . Scott is a farmer who also rehomes abandoned and misfit animals, Jesse is a cutting edge businessman. They switch places when an oil company keeps making offers to buy Scott’s farm and each pretends to be the other until it goes south when they fall for women in the other’s life.

Fabulous characters that are humorous , eccentric and grumpy and the animals adorable.

Ruth Cardello spins a fabulous story with a few twists along the way that draws you in from the first page. 4.5/5

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Lots of drama and secrets in this book so you are not sure who is being honest and who has a hidden agenda as Jesse tries to figure out what is going on at his twin brother's farm. A twin brother that he just found out about and had no idea he was a twin growing up.

Throw in Crystal doing a favor for her uncle and giving Scott (really Jesse) papers to look over with an offer for his farm. Little by little the truth starts to come out and yet Jesse can't fully trust Crystal is as wholesome and honest as she seems.

They do get their HEA but Scott kind of has messed things up when he pretends to be Jesse so next book Scott is Jesse and will see if he can figure a way out of the situation that he got into. The best part of the book was the farm animals as they were all so very different and yet lovable!

I encountered Ruth Cardello for the first time with He Said Never. And since I highly enjoyed it, I had high hopes for Strictly Business. Unfortunately, the story was a bit slow. The concept is funny: two twin brothers, who switch places and life.

The truth is, that the story was a bit longwinded. Jesse (the twin imitating to be Scott) and Crystal don’t trust each other. And this is the issue throughout the whole story. Even after several time and some incidents, we keep circling back to the trust issues.

And until the point that I put the book aside and started on another one. After a few more, I had enough courage to read on. Fortunately Ruth created a nice final plot twist, so I was happy to finish the story. But in all, no more than three stars from me. And a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Jesse is convinced that the oil company trying to buy his brother’s farm is trying to perpetrate a ruthless swindle. And he’s the hard-nosed businessman, not his soft-hearted twin brother. So he takes his brother’s place for the negotiations.
The negotiator sent by the oil company doesn’t seem ruthless at all. Crystal’s beautiful, but seems unware of the impact her looks have on others. She’s capable, but not the calm, tough as nails person he expected her employer to bring to the fight.
He’s clueless about what it takes to run a rescue farm, or why the oil company is so keen to buy the property. And his twin is being extremely cagey about what he’s actually working on. When he discovers that the Crystal owns a hot shot lab, is actually a genius, and cannot be allowed anywhere near whatever it is that his twin is working on, he is even more intrigued and frustrated.
He just happens to be intrigued and frustrated by the gorgeous woman who’s supposed to be his enemy. After an unforgettable night, he can’t stop thinking about her. But their whole relationship is based on his deception.
This was a steamy, insta-love, enemies-to-lovers story with just the right dash of industrial espionage and scheming.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first part in a planned two part series. Based upon twins Jesse and Scott who were separated at birth and both went to live completely different lives before they found each other again. This story is based around Jesse who swaps lives with Scott to go and live on his farm. I was happy to read this story by Ruth Cardello on @netgalley so many thanks to them. This was a feel good romance novel where from quite early on it was easy to see where this story was going. I still enjoyed the story with a number of "steamy" scenes throughout the novel. It was a quick read for me and flew through this book. Looking forward to reading part two- Scott's story when it get's released.

I love Ruth Cardello’s books. I have read several of her series and she always manages to lure me in with her stories and characters. This sounds like the beginning of a new series and so I enjoyed meeting these new characters. Twins who have changed roles, and a beautiful chemist who is also a flavorist, along with other family members and neighbors. Jesse is the twin who changes places with his newly found brother, Scott. Crystal is the chemist and sparks fly. There is immediate sparks, but not a whole lot of trust, and that is the basis of this story. Learning to let go of the past, and learning to trust, not only between Jesse and Chrystal but with other family members too. I really enjoyed this series and can’t wait for book 2.

Fun twist on the "twins switch" storyline with a romance an city vs country. An entertaining and original romance.

**3.5 Stars**

I am honestly not really sure what to say about this one. There were some things I really liked, like the quirky animals at the farm and when Jesse would talk to and pet an anxious cow while she ate, and the idea of stepping outside of your everyday life and finding something you didn't even know that you needed. I liked Crystal and Jesse together and how they were seemingly opposites but complemented each other well, though I am not a big fan of insta love/lust romances and this definitely falls in that category.

I think the story was overall well written, but there was a lot going on, and it maybe took away from the overall enjoyment of the story. The story line was creative and unique but not something I would normally be into. The book also ends not necessarily on a cliffhanger per se, but definitely with pretty major unanswered questions which makes it seem like this is more of a duet possibly as opposed to a standalone. While I am curious about those questions, I am not sure if I would actually read the next book or not.

I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

This is an amusing story. There is a lot of frustration and angst, identical twins who swap places so that businessman Jessie can solve his farmer brother Scott’s business problem. While both are pretending to be their twin they meet the loves of their lives, which could be disastrous as the switch means they have to keep lying to the women they are attracted to. Add to that a miniature cow with anxiety issues and a duck who requires a bionic leg … chaos ensues!

There are quite a few characters in this story, and it becomes clear that if most of them could work together they have the skills necessary to solve the problems tucked away on the farm, but most of these people don’t trust each other, or talk to each other, and that is a massive hurdle that has to be addressed. Meanwhile, the relationship between Jessie and Crystal, a very successful flavorist, gradually improves when they agree to always be honest with each other, which hadn’t happened up to that point. Once they become romantically involved it changes both their lives, neither of them have had a committed relationship before, they have been too busy building their businesses.

It is an interesting story, easy to read and well-told, and worth reading.

Well worth reading

Great little fun read. The twin dynamic made it interesting and this is a great easy holiday read to break up the crime reading spree I seem to fall on. This isn't your typical real life romance novel (people don't fall in love at first sight) but the characters are very entertaining and I enjoyed the read. I hope to read more from this author

Double trouble! And not just from the twins! Jesse, as Scott, falls for Crystal, the flavorist. I loved the suspense elements and the ending has me wanting more!

This was a cute and interesting start to the series! It's a twin. switching places story where Jesse is a city slicker who switches places with his new-to-him twin, Scott, to protect him during a business deal. His clear plan is thrown for a loop when his dealings are with Crystal, an oil baron's niece who he just so happens to be very attracted to.

There's a lot of secrets to be uncovered in this book and the chemistry between the leads was palpable from the start - a solid read.

I enjoyed Crystal and Jesse's story. I loved that even though there are a lot of things that are against them having a relationship and a huge secret they have to keep from each other, they still want to make things work. I couldn't get over just how sweet and romantic Jesse is once he gets over his animosity and wariness towards Crystal. And the mystery and twists and turns kept me captivated in the story. I can't wait for Scott's story next.

Jesse was separated from his twin brother Sam at birth and the completely different lives they have led have always led to very different personalities. While Jesse is focused on being a successful businessman who has little time for anything else Sam has put all his efforts into keeping his farm viable and will do anything for anyone. When his farm is being threatened Jesse pretends to be him so that he can ensure Sam can keep his farm and then they will both go back to their regular lives.

Crystal doesn’t have a lot of family, but her uncle has always been there for her so when he requests that she approach a farm owner and convince him to sell she can’t say no. What she hadn’t expected was to be attracted to the man or the secrets that stand between them.

This is a story about love and family that includes humorous interactions, a few surprises and two characters who draw you in.

I had high hopes for this one but it just ended up being meh for me.

What I liked: the dual POV worked for this story and I enjoyed the plot. The sex scenes were well done as well. I thought concept of twins switching places and the enemy-ish concept of the MC’s was intriguing.

What I did t like: I felt like the story jumped in with no preamble and left me feeling disconnected from the characters. The insta-love just didn’t work for me with these characters. I also felt the ending was rushed and the resolution was a bit anti-climatic.

Overall, it was quick, decent read, but not necessarily one I’d recommend. Still undecided if I’ll take a chance on the second book, but I’m interested enough in the Scott’s perspective to give it a try.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC.

Strickly Business is a Parent Trap with men instead of girls. Adults instead of children and the fight is to keep a brothers business going but instead falls for the woman he never saw coming.

The story is what readers expect from Ruth Cardello with her witty banter, charming characters, strong men and women who love them for their faults. The author has the ability to create everything from the secondary characters, animals and even the town into characters in her book. Bringing to life her latest creation.

The story has it flaws with the main lead characters lusting after each other pulling away from the main story in the synopsis. At times the story stalls due to the endless lusting until they sleep together.

This will be the perfect beach read to escape from the crazy everything. Is it the best to the beginning of a series? Almost. Less lusting and a little more story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of Strictly Business by Ruth Cardello
3 1\2 stars out of 5

Strictly Business is part romance, part suspense and part chemistry book. It had a nice mix of intrigue and interest with the characters and their jobs as well as the side characters within the story. I think it might be part of a series but I didnt feel like I was missing too much if it was; although it did leave on setting up another book. I liked the story, it was definitely some Insta-love and I dont entirely understand the character of Jesse, i think a little more understanding who he is and what he does would have helped me like it more. It was an enjoyable book, a quick read and I would definitely pick up the next.