DNF @ 30%

Thank you so much to SMP Romance and Netgalley for providing an e-arc and ALC of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I am unbelievable sad to be DNFing this book. It was one of my most anticipated fall releases (I mean have you seen this cover?!) but sadly this one just did not work for me.

I want to start with what I did like first though. I LOVED our heroine. I thought that her personal journey was beautifully handled and I liked watching her be both strong and broken at times. As much as we'd all like to think that healing is a linear upward trend, I think that Vanessa's ups and downs were a much more accurate depiction of PTSD and abuse.

But the friendships!! The friendship between the 3 female characters nearly kept me reading this story. I loved them all so much. Their friendship was ride or die and watching them support each other through some really difficult stuff, no holds barred, is what everyone deserves out of their friends.

And I thought the concept of the plot was fun and made a great meet cute.

However, I was 30% into a 270ish page book and we still hadn't actually gotten to the plot. We were still in the setup stage and my focus was starting to wane.

But in the end it was the actual writing style that made me decide to put this down. This book is SO descriptive and wordy. Every single detail is described in excruciating detail - I literally know where in the hero's kitchen his utensils are stored. And in the end, I just couldn't keep pushing through for such a slow moving plot.

4.5, rounded up

Vanessa is still trying to get back to her life following her messy divorce and has made some great, spunky friends along the way. Enter the sexy sheriff from another town who has come to convince Vanessa to help him save his younger sister from enduring the same fate with her ex-husband that Vanessa recently escaped.

This story is chock-full of sexual tension, quirky friendships, character growth, fun spice, small town charm, and drama. What more do you need?

The spice was so well written, I swooned. The friendship dynamics made me envious - I love fun, supportive female friendships. The author also set us up for a series of stand-alone romances with character crossover and I simply can't wait to get my grubby little hands on her next book. This was excellent.

The audiobook narration was excellent, keeping the reader engaged. As someone who loves typically prefers for dual POV to also have dual narration, the narrator did an amazing job at portraying both perspectives without the story feeling disjointed.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Denise Wallace, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by OrangeSky Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

3.5 stars.

This was a unique read for the plot and also for the age of the main characters. I really enjoyed the diversity this book has to offer. It is not often that I get to read about a Korean male as a main character. I found myself wanting to know more about the characters culture. There were some aspects of it discussed but didn't have the depth I was craving.

The spice and angst is hot and sexy! I never knew I had a thing for a police officer until this book. This is a great read for anyone but especially for someone in their 40s.

Liked but didn't love. This was a life and love after divorce romance featuring a diverse cast of characters. There's so great steamy scenes (man knows how to please his lady!) but the overall plot/story wasn't super compelling. Just an okay read for me but I do LOVE the cover and it was well narrated by Denise Wallace. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my review!

I enjoyed listening to Denise Wallace's narration of this book! I loved watching Vanessa rebuild herself after her divorce to her emotionally abusive and cheating ex-husband of 20 years. She is healing and setting her boundaries, which is so refreshing to read. I also really loved the Savvy, Sexy, and Single club friendship of grown women who are embarking on their next chapters of their lives. And, my god, Michael was such a dreamy hero who was committed to the people who mattered most to him.
For me - what kept it from being a 5 star read was that the third-act breakup was very frustrating to read and then it wrapped up so quickly at the end, I didn’t feel like there was much resolve. However, this was a very fun, sexy book and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC & OrangeSky Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved loved loved this book (audio). I liked the representation and the multicultural characters, the plot, and the small town trope. This is a novel of true supportive feiwndships, a second chance at love after divorce.

Vanessa Jared is a for forty something year old divorcé, who’s struggled through an abusive marriage. Enter a handsome small town Sheriff who needs her help to save his little sister from marrying Vanessa’s ex. Sparks fly, but can Vanessa look past this handsome man’s good intentioned micro managing traits or will she run?

This is an excellent book for those who love strong female characters and sunshiny men, supportive friends and small town tropes.

Highly recommended.

Vanessa & Carl go through a divorce which leaves Vanessa somewhat lost & struggling to get her life back on track after the break up. (I think that the author did a great job writing Carl’s character because I hated him!) Vanessa gets a random visit from a beautiful man, Michael Park, who needs her help with a pretty odd request of helping him with his sister who is newly engaged to Vanessa’s ex-husband!

I loved how Vanessa came to find her circle of sisterhood because it shows that you can find new people/friends at any stage in your life & they can become your people that you lean on for support. I felt they were great women that Vanessa was able to lean on for encouragement & support during a difficult time in her life.

Overall I thought LaQuette did a great job with merging some of my fave tropes; forced proximity/insta-love into a strong romance! I also really enjoyed the fact that she wrote Vanessa as a Black woman who falls in love with a Korean-American, that’s not something I have seen often! Loved that the main plot of the story was centered around Vanessa & Jared even though Jared was trying to save his sister from her situation. Great story!

Let's hear it for romance in your 40s!! Vanessa is in her 40s and recently divorced. Through a support group, she meets new friends and they form the Savvy, Sexy and Singles Club. I loved the friendship they formed. These were grown, strong women supporting one another. When Michael shows up on Vanessa's door looking for help with his sister and her fiancé, Vanessa is wary. When she learns that the fiancé is Vanessa's abusive ex-husband, she can't resist Michael's request for help.

This is definitely a classic tropey romance. There is insta-love, a bachelor auction, a small town where the hero is the sheriff and the heroine is stranded for the week in said small town with no room in the hotels so of course she has to stay with the hero. All of this leads to a fun, enjoyable read. While I'm admittedly not a massive fan of insta-love, this one is so well written it was tough not to like. I really liked Vanessa and Michael and thought that the author handled their journeys well. While the confrontation with Michael's sister and Vanessa's ex-husband was definitely part of the story, it played such a small role that the romance really was at the forefront the whole time. These two had major chemistry and scenes that could make you blush.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a steamy banter-filled romance with a small town feel. I had not read anything by LaQuette before but hope to read more in the future. The audio book was very well done. The narrator does a tremendous job with voice and pacing and enhances the experience of the story for sure. I would highly recommend the audio version of this as it really helps bring the characters to life.

I was so excited to jump into this book because the cover blew me away! The epitome of panic seeing such attractive characters at first glance. Diving right into this book was easy and right away I had no issues following the story line of our two main characters. While they each go through their own hardships, I loved to beauty that was the two of them overcoming that and exploring their romance. I think the writing was clever, funny, and the two of them have SO MUCH CHEMISTRY that I was pacing and shouting at them just to see how perfect they can be together.

Overall, this was such a sweet book and one that I loved reading as my last official summer read!

Contemporary (steamy!) romance featuring two 40-somethings, both of whom are working through some stuff.

Vanessa is two years out from her divorce from an abusive, controlling marriage when a good-looking sheriff shows up on her doorstep. Except Michael's not there for a date: He wants Vanessa to help him keep his little sister from marrying her ex.

The highlight of this romance for me was how sexy it was! I also loved the circumstances that led to Vanessa and Michael spending more time together. I would have appreciated a bit more character development and maybe just more story in general.

The audio narration by Denise Wallace was well done and easy to follow, even sped up. (I traded between the audio and a print arc.) I don't think I've listened to other books narrated by Wallace before, but I would again.

Vanessa recovering from an abusive relationship and learning how to regain control of her life and self was a refreshing take on a romance novel that was done quite well by LaQuette. However, I did feel like the premise of getting Vanessa to convince Michael's sister not to marry her ex was a little unnecessary/farfetched, but I tried my best to suspended reality for the sake of the story.

I was thrilled to see an interracial relationship, as it's a rarity in romance books. I am a product of an interracial relationship and I'm in one as well, though the latter is hard for others to tell, so the representation was appreciated. I wish there would have been at least one situation showing some of the harsh realities that come with being in this type of relationship.

Vanessa's friends were funny - I was screaming tuxedo right along with them ;)

I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because there were things I couldn't get past (for example, c*** is an abhorrent word but was used twice in a romantic scene which immediately took me out of it). I felt like we could have had more examples/flashbacks of how Vanessa's ex-husband treated her during their long marriage; 20+ years of emotional abuse felt oversimplified.

Denise Wallace did a good job narrating all of the characters. However, I disliked how Michael's sister was voiced in a high-pitched childlike/whiny voice even though she's a grown woman. It was so distracting!

Thank you to Orange Sky for providing me with an ALC.

Wonderful surprise.

I will start with the fact that this cover is the most beautiful cover I have ever seen! Just love it.

It was my first book by this author and I must say that I am very positively surprised. The whole story was more than a romance. LaQuette beautifully told the story of two people who are living the moment but are very realistic about life. I loved that she showed true strong female character and a man who is a control freak but can admit when he made a mistake.

The sexy scenes are very hot. LaQuette knows how to make it exciting!

Overall the book is very interesting, I wouldn't recommend to listen to it in public unless you want to walk around with a constant blush on you face <devil emoji>

You definitely should give a try to the story because it does focus on so much more than romance, like: interracial relationships, divorce, friendship, family.

I really really wanted to love this book but it ended up just being average for me. I felt like the relationship was more lust than actual chemestry between the characters. Vanessa had a good amount of depth to her character but Michael felt really flat. Honestly, I was more entertained by Vanessa's two best friends than anything else in the story. It does deal with some more serious topics like emotional abuse, trauma, and toxic relationships so check TW before reading. I think the romance was just rushed so I never had a chance to actually feel like I was reading a romance it felt more like a contemporary fiction/womens fiction with a side plot of romance.

Even though I read the book, this audio did it justice!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved it! here is my regular review for the book:

This book is everything I love about romance novels, even though Vanessa’s circumstances were horrible, I loved the built up to the love they have for each other. These characters knew what they wanted, they were very transparent and direct in every way. I knew once they got together it will be explosive and it was.

Vanessa is recently divorced, to a very manipulative man, and in a divorcee meeting she meets 2 other women and together they created their own little crew., and the rest is history. While she’s healing from her past Michael comes knowing on her door, wanted her help, her ex is marrying his sister and he knows he’s not a good guy and he needs her help to convince her not to marry the man. This turns her whole life around.
But I love hoe everything worked out in this book, the secrets being revealed, her friends are awesome, Michael is just DREAMY, everything was awesome, I wont call this an Enemies to lovers type pf trope, since they were not enemies, but this romance was such an easy and just STEAMY romance, I couldn’t get enough.

Am I the only one who thought this gave us a "HOW STELLA GOT HER GROVE BACK" Vibes? or was just me?

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I love about romance novels.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Orange Sky for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This story had a lot of promise and for a spicy romance I found it delivered on that front. The characters are realistic and moderately developed. The stakes are realistic and the quality of the writing was great.

It’s hits the main romantic beats and the two main characters Michael and Vanessa are likable. I was cheering for their romance. It also dealt with heavier subject matter regarding the emotional abuse Vanessa suffered in her marriage which definitely added something extra to the plot. The premise of the story also had real potential however the major conflict (Michael’s sister marrying Vanessa’s ex-husband) seemed to take a backseat to the romance. It was the catalyst to get the main couple together, but that was really it.

I would have liked a lot more interaction between Cindy and Vanessa considering that female empowerment and women supporting other women was a theme throughout the book. The story could have dug deeper into Vanessa overcoming the emotional scars from her past. It would have added to her character to show her overcoming it and then using that new found strength to help Cindy. It would have also created an extra layer to her relationship with Michael. Hesitation to open up to someone and trust again would have added a little something extra.

It also could have gone in the other direction and been more rom-com with the characters teaming up to get some revenge and some hijinks could have ensued. Since it didn’t go in either direction, it felt like the most interesting part of the plot wasn’t given much attention. If you are looking for a light romance with some spice, this would tick the boxes though.

4-4.5⭐️
- I enjoyed their relationship
- I felt like the main conflict plot with the sister and ex husband was kinda rushed/choppy and felt slightly shoehorned in there (it isn’t as big of an issue if you want something off vibes)
- I really love how this sets up for a possible series and I enjoy the level of detail to the side characters and the relationships between all characters
- he is irritating at times but it is addressed later on as this does HEAVILY talk about trauma and healing from it

*Full review to come*

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

Thank you netgalley, orangesky Audio, St. Martin's Griffin and LaQuette.
I know i love a book while reading pause to pre-order it

Was giving when stella got her grove back vibes loved the representation loved the steam the love the connection. Loved that she was a strong af powerful woman and him he was scrumptious!!

This book definitely had the drama aspect and it's very dramatic so if you like that, then this book is for you. However, this book just made me realize that I am the opposite and I want little to no drama at all in my romance. I was either angry and disgusted at Vanessa's ex-husband or am constantly fearful that something bad might happen to her. And I don't know if this was just me, but the romance, especially the chemistry, between Vanessa and Michael was kind of not there? For me, the drama took over the romance in here and it was definitely not for me. The only thing I can say that I loved in this book (aside from the gorgeous cover) is the friendship between Vanessa and her two best friends (I forgot to take note of their names for this review because I was so focus on just getting this audiobook over it). I am actually really interested with their stories if the author will write theirs, as well.

A story with diversity, good friends, romance and comedy. A plus with an older couple.
Vanessa Jared a beautiful black womand and a recent divorcee and is barely holding it together. Her divorce and treatment of by her husband left her a bit insecure. During a meeting with a support group, she meets two women who end up being her lifeline. They become the best girl squad. The friendship and support of each other are large part of the story. These ladies have each other’s back and will not hesitate to give each other the hard truths.

Michael is Korean American and sheriff of a small town. He is a great person, hard working and caring. There a things in his past that make him cause him to be a bit of a control freak,
When Michael’s sister gets engaged to Vanessa’s ex, he needs her help to convince his sister that he is not the one for her.
The attraction is instant. When Vanessa gets stuck in his small town. It becomes difficult to stay away from each other. As they get closer, they both have to deal with their pasts and insecurities to get their HEA.
Good story, great epilogue. Hopefully more to come with other characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, OrangeSky Audio, and LaQuette for the opportunity to review an audio ARC of "Vanessa Jared's Got a Man."

Vanessa Jared is a divorcee in her 40s navigating life after the split between her and her slimy ex-husband. With the help of her friends (the Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club), she's ready to start fresh and get back out in the world. But two years after her divorce, an attractive sheriff from a small town shows up to tell her that her ex-husband is marrying the sheriff's sister, and he needs Vanessa's help to stop this. On the way to getting back her family heirloom wedding ring and saving this young woman from her ex, she falls in love when she least expects it.

I was fully expecting this book to be a cute and enjoyable romcom. I was not expecting it to be so SPICY and SEXY. I absolutely devoured this book and adored every minute of it. The characters are complex and phenomenal - they feel so real and are SO funny, I loved them. The storyline is also really unique - I haven't found many books about middle-aged women or love after divorce, and that should really change.

Let's get back to the spice for a second - LaQuette writes some of the sexiest scenes I've read in a long time. Especially when it comes to adult romance novels, I always appreciate when there's a little something spicy instead of just a grand kiss or "fade to black" - and oh my gosh, does this author DELIVER. 10/10 spicy peppers from me!

I would highly recommend this book to fellow romcom lovers - especially if you're looking for something to spice up your reading a bit. I would also recommend the audiobook - the narrator was phenomenal which is always a treat when listening to a book.