This book was so stinking cute! It was definitely a slow burn but it was worth it! This is the second book in the series but you don't have to read them in order. Joel and Olivia are complete opposites, Joel is a macho tattoo artist and Olivia is a single mom. They have a not-so-meet-cute outside a sweet shop and continue on a weird friendship that turns into a romance. There were some parts of the story that didn't make complete sense to me (mainly Joel's family Labor Day party and the ending when Olivia goes to the hospital...like why???) The MVP of the book was definitely Olivia's daughter! She is witty and there were some great moments where she calls her mom out for doing this that she has gotten in trouble for. Overall, a quick read.

Thanks NetGalley!

I loved this!
It was so hot and so cute, just utter perfection.
I love a tattoo artist hero and it was done perfectly.
Grumpy x sunshine aspect was just chef’s kiss.
It was a well done romance novel that had everything i wanted and some more.
Can’t recommend enough!

Joel (Aka Joey) is in a bit of a downward slump after a business prospect for his tattoo shop goes down the drain until his anger gets the best of him and he decides to confront the woman who wrecked his dreams. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you see it) a case of mistaken identity has him battling it out (only with witty phrases I promise) with Olivia, sister in law of the dream crusher. Both Joel and Olivia have a bit of a crusty side due to early in life losses, although both have tried to rectify their respective situations differently. Olivia, according to Joel is the embodiment of no-fun, stick-in-the-mud and he, according to Olivia is the “gangsta ink, meathead poser,” but the sparks start flying from the start. And they soon keep bumping into each other, which only fuels the fire. The word duels between these two are epic as both are a bit afraid to crack the steel coated armor protecting themselves, but the heat, even just the initial dream sequences, is super hot. Add in a whole cast of hilarious extras, yes I’m talking about you Grandma V and Abby the cutie pie, and you’re soon racing to the finish line as you try to find out more about these two. This is a steamy, yet funny romance that has me wanting to read book one to find out more about this cast of characters. 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed an arc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Absolutely adored this book!

I loved the relationship between Joel and Olivia, knowing first hand that type of relationship where you're either relentlessly teasing one another or ready to find the nearest surface to have your way with one another.

Abby was simply the sweetest, the supporting cast was fantastic (especially Granny), and I loved the erotic bakery!

I enjoyed reading this book, it is filled with action and adventure, the interaction between the characters is wonderful. I can't wait for more from this author.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I really liked this book!

Olivia Reid is a single mom who has been burned in the past by failed relationships. She’s reluctant to put herself out there and find love because she wants to protect herself and her daughter, Abby.

Joel Morris is a hunky tattoo artist who has his own hangups in regards to relationships. He thinks he has nothing to offer a woman because of his background.

The two meet when Joel mistakes Olivia for the owner of the Sticky Treats bakery. Sticky Treats has just moved into a building that Joel had been coveting for his own tattoo business. Except Joel was outbid in the process of trying to secure the location. So he decides to confront who he thinks is the bakery owner, resulting in an awkward, but sweet meeting. It’s instant attraction between our two characters:

Our story goes from enemies-to-friends-to lovers. It has a smattering of “Let’s bang it out of our system”. There’s a whole lot of slow burn and yearning between the two. I love the respect that Joel shows towards Olivia. He not the alpha-male trying to rescue the damsel in distress, but rather stands beside her offering support. And the affection Joel shows towards Abby is so sweet.

Since this is a sequel, we get to see some characters from the previous book - Nolan, Erin, and everyone’s favorite, Granny V.

My only (hopefully mild) critique of the book is some wording. It’s not exactly clear where the story takes place, which is fine. But I did notice some British phrases/terms throughout the book. Cheque vs check, vest vs tank top. It threw me a bit, wondering if this book takes place in Europe or North America.

Overall, a low angst, cute story with lots of spice. 5/5 stars.

This was a fun read! I love the single parent trope and this one did not disappoint. I need to go and read the first in this series now!