I have a soft spot for romances that feature older heroines. Vanessa is someone that I can root for. The romance is cute, and I love seeing Asian men as leading men.

I wanted to like this book, I mean — look at that cover! — but this didn’t work for me.

Vanessa Jared is still recovering from emotional abuse after divorcing her cheating husband. She’s got her fellow divorced girlfriends to support her, and is a successful businesswoman. But even two years later she’s feeling stuck. When Sheriff Michael Park asks for Vanessa’s help to stop her ex-husband from marrying Michael’s sister, she’s ready to immediately say no. Until she sees her ex’s wedding announcement and her grandmother’s ring on his new fiancéé’s finger. Vanessa’s goal is to spend exactly one weekend fulfilling Michael’s request. Too bad a major storm and car trouble keep her in the small town longer than she wants, and staying with the hot sheriff who she’s falling for.

I listened to the audio book to Chapter 10 and then switched to the e-book because the audio wasn’t working for me at all. I felt zero chemistry between Michael and Vanessa, and although they’re in insta-lust from the moment she falls into his arms, the delivery of Michael’s dialogue was flat and didn’t show his personality at all, especially when he’s thinking lustful thoughts. And some of what the characters were saying sounded unnatural - almost too proper for a group of friends that have known each other for a while. I liked the premise and wanted Vanessa to get her revenge and her man, but I wanted more natural banter and chemistry between the leads.

I am so happy I was finally able to get out of my slump and read this book. This was not my first book from this author, and it definitely won't be my last. Based on the title, the first thing that popped in my head was the song by Chantae Moore, Chantae's got a man. And can we acknowledge such a great story with main characters dating in their 40's. The author is such a wonderful storyteller, and I did not want to put this book down. And although they try to fight their attraction to each other, it doesn't work. This multicultural read featuring a black woman and Korean man was just written so beautifully. And the chemistry between them was explosive to me. . I have several other books from this author, and I can't wait until I finally get caught up so I can get to those stories.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

I like small town romance, and this one fit the category. The characters are flawed, yet likeable. I do believe the execution of the storyline lacked a bit. The pacing felt off for me. However, I will read this author again.

I started reading this book thinking it was going to be about a woman rediscovering herself after being in an abusive marriage for 20 years, but then the story kept shifting and growing deeper, and it ended up also being about friendship, recovery, growth, and small-town romance with a super hot sheriff.

Vanessa Jared is in her 40s and in a bid to let go of some anger she takes herself to a divorce support group. The group ends up being a bust, but she meets two other women who are destined to become her life-long friends.

Two years later a man shows up on her doorstep begging for her help in convincing his sister not to marry her abusive ex-husband. While Vanessa doesn't want anything to do with her ex she agrees to help. When she gets to the small town, destiny seems set on keeping her there so she can get to know the sheriff a little...ok a LOT better.

The characters in this book were wonderful and I could easily read more about Vanessa and her friend group, so I'm (not so) secretly hoping this turns into a series. The story was delightful, and steamy, and certainly had enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages with abandon.

I really enjoyed Vanessa Jared's got a man. I thought it was great seeing people in their forties finding love. Seeing Vanessa who is still recovering from an emotionally abusive ex husband grow and find friends, a life and love again was really encouraging. I also enjoyed seeing Michael's growth from struggling to manage/control people. I liked the fact they went to help protect Michael's little sister who was only going to be taken advantage and controlled by Vanessa's ex. Also, how horrible do you have to be steal your ex wife's engagement ring that belonged to her family member who she lost. But, it was so great to see these two interesting people fall in love over the course of this book. I really enjoyed all the scenes of them getting to know each other. Hopefully, we will get to see more from this friend group.

This book was a lot deeper than I expected, especially diving thoroughly into the divorce aspect of the story, which isn't what I was exactly expecting. I did expect it to be a plot point, but not so majorly involved in the storyline. I have found myself really enjoying books that feature MCs close to my age - as a woman in my mid-thirties, I find that books seem to focus on either teens, or early adulthood (18-25) and I love reading about someone closer to my age who has gone through similar struggles - maybe not in the relationship department, but in life stories in general. The story didn't go how I expected, but I think that made me like it even more.

3.5 stars.

An entertaining romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The blurb had me excited to see a very exciting story with a bit of drama and romance flair. The story read like an early 2000 romance novel, and I felt a bit of nostalgia.

However, this book left me very underwhelmed. The story wasn’t engaging for me on both the actual plot and the romance piece. It wasn’t horrible, so I was able to finish it, but I literally couldn’t tell you anything that was engaging or memorable about the story. I wanted more throughout the entire read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: Vanessa Jared's Got a Man
Series: Standalone
# in series: 1 (Sequels possible)
Author: LaQuette
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Interracial romance, Fake Dating, Older MCs (40s), Divorced FMC, Small town
Rep: Black Author. Black FMC. Korean American MMC.
Pages: 272
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Audiobook Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: This cover did not disappoint with the amount of tension between these characters. I am not a girl that likes to wait so I was just fine that they moved at a really fast pace, going from meeting to attraction, to hooking up, to feelings. The MMC lives in a small town where everyone is kind but in each others business all the time and I think that was something the FMC really needed in her life was that feeling of community. I hope that more books will be released in the series because I need to know what happens with the side characters.

CW/TW: FMC's former husband was mentally abusive, he is now trying to take advantage of the MMC's younger sister, Mentions of sudden death of both parents

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy of this title. All thoughts are my own.

actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

this truly is one of my favorite lighter contemporary romances i've read. vanessa and michael had so much chemistry and I love seeing the representation of characters in their 40s having a romance and even a divorcee.

the setup for how michael and vanessa met is so funny and cute but it also led to discussions of trauma and abuse which I thought was handled really well. Iialso loved how the cultures of both the characters were incorporated specifically, michael's.

i also LOVED the side characters in this specifically vanessa's friends because you can genuinely tell how much they cared about vanessa but they also were super funny and pushed vanessa out of her comfort zone when needed. michael also had a close friend that was memorable as well.

i really enjoyed laquette's writing and steam. the way she wrote their relationship had it jumping off the page and I had such an amazing time reading this book! i truly couldn't put it down

thank you to st. martin’s press, laquette, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, 40 something year old MC, multicultural couple (black and korean), small town, spicy 🔥

Vanessa Jared is a 40-something divorcee. In her post-divorce slump she met some woman and formed The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club. On the two year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancee wearing her grandmother's ring, which he clearly stole from her. So now she has to get it back.

Wow. I loved this book. The diversity, the couple, and the friendships were all perfection. The character development is so well done. I love the emphasis on her growing after her ex's emotional abuse. He's a major asshole. Vanessa and Michael's tension and sex scenes were 🔥. The cover is gorgeous too. I will read all of her books. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️

Enjoyed this one alot. Having Michael be Korean-American was an interesting touch. This was a slow burn in the beginning but once it picked up I struggled to put it down. Final 4.5/5

This story is really enjoyable. I love the fact these characters are "older" (in their 40s) and the friend group in this book is awesome. The premise is interesting - I really enjoyed the storyline - though I did find a few parts predictable. Overall, the story flowed well. Also, the cover is gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to read and review!

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love that 3 women meet and bond together over their divorces. Their friendship was an element that I loved in this story. I also thought that the growth and development of each main character was well done.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Vanessa Jared took her emotionally abusive ex to the cleaners and never looked back. Sure, her self-confidence is in tatters, but she has two fellow divorcees who have her back. Her quiet life is interrupted when Michael Park turns up on her doorstep. His little sister is engaged to Vanessa's ex and Michael needs Vanessa's help to expose him before the wedding.

I loved that the leads were a little older and are racially diverse. I definitely disliked Michael's overprotective streak as Vanessa was still recovering from being under her ex's thumb, but what (perhaps irrationally) annoyed me was the coincidences around Michael being sheriff of the same small town where Vanessa's friends grew up, actually they went to high school together and ran in similar circles, actually he has two friends who have always struck sparks off her two friends... It felt contrived and distracted from what was actually quite a cute story about two closed off people opening up to each other.

Overall this was a sexy and fun read that mostly hit the spot. It's a great debut and I think the author has far to go!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I liked this book it was cute, had great plot but I was not feeling it when it came to the MCs. Their chemistry could’ve been better to be honest.

I like the age of the character and the overall idea. I was not feeling the chemistry/dialogue between the characters in this one as much as I would have liked to.

Grown folks acting like grown up and falling in love in an honest and mature way.

I’m so excited for this series!

First of all, the spice was hot!

One thing I was excited about was the book didn't so much as focus on Vanessa's divorce but instead on her growth as an individual, which showed how she was learning to love herself after a marriage filled with emotional abuse. It was a really good thing to see.

But when the sheriff steps into her space, everything changes — for both of them. They both are attracted to each other but find it hard to come to terms with it until they are forced to act on it.

The tension, the pacing, and the chemistry, everything was top-notch. I will definitely be looking out for book 2.