A huge thank you to NetGalley for this great read - it is impossible not to love this book from start to finish! I'm hard pressed to find a book in which I love ALL of the characters, but each member of the Hawthorne family, Lila, Jack, even Lila's grandparents were all such well-written characters, and the chemistry between Lila and Perry truly jumped off the page. Plus the setting - as a lover of fall, I could picture pretty leaves, apple picking, harvest festivals, cute animals - there's something so romantic about the farm and the love that exists there - with Olivia working with Perry (it's clear she's so important to the operation), to Lila and Perry starting as coworkers there to kissing in each corner of the farm (can we talk about how powerful that apple tasting scene was?!), Lennox opening the restaurant...it's just safe to say that I loved everything about this one, and reading the epilogue got me so excited to read a future story about Brody! Pick up this book fast!

This story starts off great!
That pig had me hooked!!!
Ha ha ha!!!

I thought this was a sweet story featuring a single mom, her sweet five year old and a ‘grumpy’ man. Although I didn’t feel he was very grumpy. To me he was just awkward, but sincere.
What’s starts off as boss and employee quickly becomes more once they meet and he realizes his employee isn’t a grandmotherly type. I, overall, enjoyed this one!

Started strong. I liked the characters and switching perspectives. But there are just too many cheesy lines and points where the writing is too simple for me to truly enjoy.

This was so cute! I absolutely loved the first book in the series and was so excited to read this next one! Growing up an only child, I definitely related to Lila and Kate being overwhelmed by so much family! I love the Hawthornes and can’t wait for the next one. My favorite scene was definitely the father son breakfast. It was so real and also hilarious!

Read this if you like:
LOTS of apple and pig puns
Closed door romance
Single parent trope
Dual pov

Grumpy sunshine
single mom
small town romance

This book was applesolutely AMAZING.

Lyla and Perry meet through an employment site where Perry's family has encouraged him to hire an assistant. Lyla having recently moved back home after the complicated death of her husband is not looking for love, the number one little man in her life is her son Jack and she intended to keep it that way until she met Perry.

The sparks fly with these two, even though they try to stop it and there is so much development between the two of them that its hard not to get wrapped up in their story.

Honestly, I loved pretty much everything about this book and I cannot wait to be able to purchase.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for 'How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss' by Jenny Proctor.

Perry was my favourite Hawthorne from the get go so I was excited to hear that the next book in the series would be him. 'How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss' feels like a warm hug. Lila is a beautiful protagonist and you can truly enjoy her story and her love for her son, Jack. I'm usually not a "young mum trope" fan but all of my opinions flew out the window the moment Jenny Proctor wrote this book. Jenny could write a shopping list and only include something like bananas and I would be happy.

Am I excited for the next book in the series? Yes. I will be sitting on the edge of my seat until I read it.

*A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy.

Overall this book was a quick and easy read. The plot was engaging and the story flowed easily. The banter between Perry and Lila was very funny, and had me laughing out loud. Their angsty pining was also was cute. The sude characters added a lot of humor to the book as well.

However, there was one thing that I felt could have been better, and that was Perry and Jack's (Lila's son) relationship. I wish the writer had written more scenes with their interactions, and hadn't left it for the very end, where it felt very abrupt and sudden. The fact that both the main characters were anxious over Jack's reactions while not actually providing an opportunity for him to spend time with Perry just felt off.

I would recommend this book to anybody who likes romantic-comedys with very little steam.

"How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss" is the second book in the "Hawthorne Brothers" series by Jenny Proctor. Having never read any books by Proctor, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, this book was a delightful, fun, and quick read! Perry is the young, grumpy boss who is trying to recover from a nasty divorce. Lila is a single mom who is hired as his new assistant. What starts as Lila using her trademark humor to get Perry to smile again turns in to a cute, sweet romance that is not nearly as salacious as the title might suggest. I enjoyed the sweet chemistry the two of them shared, and the entire Hawthorne family is one that any reader would want to be a part of. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

*4.5 stars*
I loved this book! It was an easy and quick read, I flew through it in just a few hours. I loved how picturesque Stonebrook Farm sounded, really adored the big family dynamic of the Hawthornes and how they all welcomed Lila (and Jack) into the family with such care and ease. The banter between Perry and Lila was hilarious with all of the apple-puns, lots of laugh out loud moments in this book. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a lighthearted, romcom story.

Can’t wait to follow the Hawthorne brothers in the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jenny Proctor for an ARC copy of this book to review!

Loved this book!! Loved the setting, characters, story and every little detail. This book will pull you in and not let you leave. Well done to the author! I am going to read her other books now. Highly recommend for a feel good love story.

Second in the Hawthorne brothers series and a great tale of getting over your ex, moving on to new beginnings. Perry and Lila both have had relationships in the past. Learning from each other and the gorgeous, genuine Jack who really wants a stairdad 😃.

Thanks NetGalley and Publisher for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I like how this book was written, it's so easy to read and delve into. The story is engaging and I literally finish this in one read. This book has been both heartwarming and funny. Although the main characters both having a traumatic past in relationship, I like the way they trying to heal from that trauma by being themselves and treat each other better. Ooh! and I'm really digging the single parent trope, the small-town, and big family/siblings dynamic! I love how insanely good Lila is at parenting and Perry's attempt to be a good father figure as he gets to know jack.

This was the first book I read from the author and it has been very pleasant, quick, and fun read to me. I can't get to read the rest of the Hawthorne Brothers' stories.

Overall rate: 3,5/5

Lila is Perry's virtual PA - until they meet in person and he wants her there in person. Things are complicated as her son Jack wants a father - will it be Perry?
Looking forward to the rest of this series!

This is the first book I've read by Jenny Proctor and I loved it! It's a fun read that keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from Four Petal Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this sweet story about a single mom of a young son who boldly told his Mom's boss that he wanted a stair-dad! How embarrassing that would have been, but she seems to just roll with it and ended up with her boss anyway.
The grumpy guys aren't always the mean ones that they seem to be, usually they end up being the big softy and this was proven true in this story.
I'm going to check out the author's other books as I enjoyed this one so much.

This is the 2nd book in the how to kiss your... Series and honestly the more I read about the Hawthorne brothers the more I love them. The world is so well developed and I'm excited for the next one- how to kiss your be enemy

Perry's schedule is a mess and he needs an assistant. Lila is his new virtual assistant and all is going well until they meet.

This book has all the best tropes. Workplace, one bed, grumpy sunshine!

If you are looking for a book to make you smile this is the book for you! I eat these books up in an evening without stopping!

Thanks to netgalley for the arc

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

WE NEED MORE SINGLE-PARENT ROMANCES LIKE THIS.
I love a good romance or romantic comedy as much as the next bookish fiend, but I did not realize before reading this book how rare it is to find a story about a single parent finding love again - or even how hard it is to balance while protecting your child. Which I LOVE.

As Proctor explained in this story - don't single parents deserve their happily ever after too!?

Lila is a single, widowed, mother of the most adorable 5-year-old boy named Jack. Working as a virtual assistant she finds herself as the assistant to non-other than a Hawthorne.... a Hotty Hawthorne.
Lila, like any other, finds herself deeply attracted to her new boss and tries to melt his frosty shell with witty apple puns and good-natured conversation. Lo and behold when a flat tire brings Lila to Perry's aid (in person!) Lila and Perry find themselves navigating new and unplanned waters.

This cute romantic comedy has an adorable kid, loving families and broken families, body positivity (LOVE LOVE LOVE), a slow-burn romance that quickly spices, and an overall cute story.
The best part, this is book two in the Hawthorne brother series, but it reads as a standalone! I didn't even know there were more books before or after until I was nearly done, and it did not diminish the story in any way.

★ Arc Review ★

Genre: Contemporary romance
Tropes: Boss/Employee, Single mom
Standalone: Yes
Series: Hawthorne Brothers #2
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 4 ⭐

》》The Plot《《

This was a fluffy and excellent read. The whole plot was so good. Everything was well executed. I was so excited to read this book and when I finally read it, I was so satisfied.

》》Characters and Relationships《《

“Perry Hawthorne , your office door is wide open.” I chuckle. “What’s going to happen? No one is going to fire me, and the only person who can fire you is me.”

Their relationship was perfect. I loved their interactions with his family. His family was freaking amazing.

I felt his insecurities so real. They were really executed so well. Their romance was cute. Everything was perfect. Especially I loved that scene with his jealous ex.

“Lila, I love you.” He takes a step forward. “I’m so sorry I put you through all this. That I freaked out. You were right about what you said. About me wanting to do it perfectly. But then I realized the thought of walking away from you— and from Jack— it hurt too much. Somehow that kid has worked his way into my heart almost as much as you have.”

》》Conclusion《《

“Lila,” he says again. It is NOT fair when he pulls out bossy Perry.

I freaking loved this scene 😂

Overall it was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend if you want to read something light hearted and fluffy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Read if you love:
🍏single parent
🍏workplace romance
🍏he’s kinda grumpy but really a softy
🍏body positivity
🍏apple puns
🍏found family
🍏swoony kisses
🍏apple orchard setting
🍏hilarious text threads

“I keep waiting for this to feel old. But holding Lila, kissing her, it still feels like a revelatory experience. There is always something more to learn about her. To love about her.”

Y’all this book was so sweet! First of all, I loved the apple farm setting. Jenny really made it come alive to the point where I felt like I could smell and taste the apples. Also, there is an apple tasting scene. Ahem, yeah…don’t miss out on that! 😏

I absolutely (you don’t know how hard it is not to turn that into an apple pun) loved Lila. After learning her backstory and seeing the strong, independent mother she’s become, how could you not? And that Perry recognized that in her right away and appreciated it solidified him as the perfect man for her. They had such great chemistry and I’m so glad they didn’t shy away from their feelings for each other.

Perry meshed well with Lila’s son Jack in the best way - changing a tire and the tie scene?? Be still my heart. But I also appreciated that Perry questioned and freaked out about possibly becoming Jack’s stairdad. For me, it really humanized the whole story and made Perry the perfect book boyfriend.

Some other things I loved were Perry’s family and his text thread with his brothers! The way Perry stood up for Lila at his high school reunion and didn’t let his ex-wife overshadow the story was perfection! I also like how Lila and Jack instantly became part of Perry’s family. Also…Buttercup, Hotty Hawthorne and “Don’t hide from me.” — but you’ll have to read the book to understand what those mean. And last but not least, the bonus epilogue!! I cannot wait for Lennox!

Thank you to Four Petal Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

All the puns in this book🤣😂 They’re APPLE-solutely AWE-some💕

I love Perry's family & can't wait to read more books of this series. They are all so caring and always there for each other🤩

This book tell us a beautiful story of loving oneself and others exactly as they are and what matters the most Is not that people should be perfect, ut that they should be themselves & nothing else.

*Thank you NetGalley for the review copy*