This was my first Juliana Smith book, and it certainly will not be my last. I loved this book way more than I thought I would, it surpassed my expectations and I was hooked from the start. Of all the second chance romance books i've read, this stands out as a favorite. The story flows so well, it created such a heartwarming and beautiful experience. I absolutely loved watching them fall in love all over again. Liam with his swoonworthy and gentleman charm complemented Marigold who was so artistic, beautiful, strong and independent. You could feel the passion between them, and it added so much depth to the story. I love how they not only got a second chance at love but also at finding themselves. Liam and Marigold are made for eachother. I highly highly recommend this book and I can't wait to explore her other books.
second chance
highschool sweethearts
parent trap
rom com
forced proximity
Thank you NetGalley and Juliana for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book and couldn't get enough of Marigold and Liam, They had married young and had twin boys, they divorced when the boys were 4? (I think) and now 6 years later is where we're at in the story. They find themselves tricked into helping out with a school event, and on the same stall. Which means they're seeing a lot more of each other and having to work together.

I was rooting for them from the very beginning,

This is a second chance romance and it just hit the spot for me!

Can i just add that Liam is bloody funny lol

Give it shot I highly recommend!

This beauty of a romance released yesterday and I am here for all of it’s second chance, Parent Trap vibes goodness!

Marigold and Liam are divorced co-parents of 10 year old twin boys, Miles and Dallas. They have wonderful family around them, support and other friendships, they are just not together as a couple and do not spend much time together …. Until they are thrown into the deep end working on a school project.

I love how the author includes the reality of parenthood, the chaotic times, the feeling of losing one’s self identity and the fact that marriage is hard work. Liam is a pure delight, doesn’t deter from his responsibilities and makes it clear in his actions he wants this relationship to have a second chance. Marigold is much more reserved, until she isn’t and I loved seeing her true self shine through again.
There are twin hijinks, fun family dynamics and a romance that slowly develops through forced proximity and memories of a different time. Oh my gosh, these two have all the memories and a highlight for me was reliving Marigold and Liam’s young love!

Rock and a Hard Place is my first read by Juliana Smith and I’ll definitely be reading more. I really enjoyed the whole book! Recommended for romance readers, this is second chance romance at its best.
This book contains kissing scenes only. 4.5 stars

Marigold and Liam are so cute! It is very much parent-trap styled. While they don't get with anyone else during their separation, it takes us readers a really long time to time out why they split up in the first place. I wish we had more information on why it happened in the first place. Besides that, its a really cute story!

Divorced couple, Liam and Marigold, co-parent easily: They put their twin boys first, share custody easily, don’t fight about money, nor poke their noses in the other’s business. But apparently the twins have had it and they’ve “parent trapped” Liam and Marigold to work together on a school event.

As the story continues you (and the twins) learn about why the couple divorced. It’ll have you all in your feels because you can easily see each character’s perspective and desires so easily. Leaving you wanting to conspire with the twins.

I loved this story and the glimpse at other characters. Another indie hit for Juliana Smith

"Rock and a Hard Place" by Juliana Smith is a heartwarming tale of love and second chances. Marigold and Liam, a divorced couple, find themselves thrown together for a school project involving their sons. Despite their rocky history, sparks fly as they navigate co-parenting and rediscover their feelings for each other.

Smith's characters are easy to relate to, and their interactions are filled with humor and warmth. Marigold and Liam's journey toward reconciliation feels genuine and engaging, with themes of forgiveness and communication woven throughout.

The book's pacing is well-handled, with each chapter delivering just the right mix of tension and resolution. Smith's writing style is accessible and immersive, making it easy for readers to become absorbed in the story.

"Rock and a Hard Place" is a feel-good read that leaves a lasting impression. It's a perfect choice for fans of romantic comedies or anyone looking for a heartwarming escape. With its sweet romance and happy ending, this book is sure to leave readers smiling.

In conclusion, "Rock and a Hard Place" earns its 4-star rating with its endearing characters, engaging plot, and uplifting message. It's a delightful story that proves love can conquer all, even when faced with challenges and mistakes from the past.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the chance to ARC read!

The way that this book was literally You’re Losing Me coded, but with a happy ending brings me so much life. I am so in love with this book.

A huge thank you to @author.juliana.smith for sending me an ARC to read and review. 🥹🫶🏻 I adored this book so much & I am so thankful I got to read it!

Rock and a Hard Place follows a divorced couple, Liam & Marigold, and the struggles of co-parenting when clearly there’s still feelings involved. Especially from Liam - let’s be real. This man never lost his feelings for Goldie, he’s been in love with her forever.

This is classic parent trap and these kids were amazing. The fact that everyone around them was totally clued into what was going on had me cracking up.

I love second chance romance so much, guys. It’s my kryptonite and I love when it’s done right. I hate when you don’t get a good feeling for how their relationship was before the breakup. It’s a good second chance when the author makes you feel the pain of the breakup, and makes you fall back in love alongside them.

I truly adored this book more than anything I’ve read in a while. I was in quite the slump due to another book for almost two weeks and I think this one pulled me out of it! 💗😭

You’ll like this book if you like
💗 Second chance
💗 Single mom x single dad / divorced couple
💗 Forced proximity
💗 House renovations
💗 Parent Trap

5⭐️ | Closed door romance ✨

I am absolutely blown away by this book. I loved Liam and Marigold so much. I had all the feelings pouring out and just felt so connected to the characters. This one was so relatable for me as a mom and wife even. So beautifully written!

I have enjoyed everything Juliana Smith has written, but this one was something extra special! Any mom who feels or has felt “in the trenches” of motherhood would be touched reading this book! I loved that they both needed to see each others perspective. They both made mistakes….marriage is a two way street and it’s gotta be learned from and grown through. The “parent trap” touch was so adorable. I’m not always a fan of the slow burn, but it was absolutely right for this book! 🥹

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book!

When I found out Juliana Smith was an Alabama girl, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of her books and i was so pumped to get an ARC of this one.

Y’all I have a new favorite microtrope-second chance romance when the couple is divorced. This is my second book with this trope that I’ve read this year and both of them are top reads for the year. There’s just something about it that I absolutely love.

I could not get enough of this book. Liam! Ugh what a book boyfriend. I loved him and was rooting for him SO HARD! I loved how he was a flirt and how he was still looking out for Marigold even after their divorce. And Marigold is someone I would want to be mom friends with for sure!

Speaking of-Juliana does a phenomenal job of portraying the struggles of motherhood. I felt so seen reading this book. I could totally identify with Marigold and a lot of her parenting mentality. But I also felt for Liam too because I know how he felt is common for so many dads.

The Wells family is my new favorite family and I wish I could be an honorary member. Liam’s and Marigold’s twins were adorable and fun. This whole book made my heart ache so much but also gave me so much happiness.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend picking this one up. Best believe I’ll be back tracking and catching up on this series before Adam’s story comes out!

This is a closed door romance with mild innuendo and no language.

Oh I loved this so much! This may be my favorite second chance romance. I don’t always enjoy them, but this was so heartwarming and fun.

Liam and Marigold were truly meant to be together. Life was hard early on and maybe they didn’t handle things well, but the way they came back together was beautiful!

Their meddling twin boys were so adorable & the way his family still adored her and treated her like family made my heart happy! The Wells family have become favorites of mine with each of these books & I just love how supportive and wonderful they always are with each other.

Liam and Marigold grew up over the time they were apart, but they never stopped loving each other or doing what they felt was the best thing for their boys. I loved how willing Liam was to be better and bring his family back together.

Thank you to Juliana, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the arc!

ARC REVIEW

My Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐
My Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️

Read if you like:
🧡Second Chance Romance
🧡Forced Proximity
🧡Single Mom/Single Dad
🧡Small Town
🧡The Parent Trap Inspired
🧡Motherhood Struggles Rep.
🧡Closed-Door Romance

Rock and a Hard Place is the third book in the Wells Family series and can be read as a standalone.

Liam and Marigold have been divorced for about seven years and are co-parents to their two boys, Dallas and Miles. Liam and Marigold avoid contact, don't maintain any friendship, and only communicate about their sons. As fate would have it, they find themselves working together on a game/booth for their children's school fundraiser. They both want to show up for their sons, so they must put their differences aside and work together. As they spend more and more time together, they navigate their feelings for each other and the possibility of giving their love another chance.

Rock and a Hard Place is a phenomenal book. I felt so many emotions while reading this amazing story. I cried, laughed, and swooned. This is the perfect second-chance romance book; Juliana did this trope right. I loved every moment of Liam and Marigold's love story. Their story is believable and very relatable, and I was completely invested in their relationship. It felt so raw and honest. They both were hurt in their relationship but still cared deeply for each other. Marigold is creative and loves hard. Liam stole my heart and I loved how he vowed to do anything for Marigold and the boys. I adore the entire Wells family!

This book is perfect. I wish I could reread it for the first time. Marriage is hard. Motherhood is hard. Parenting is hard. Relationships are hard. Juliana did a fantastic job with these topics. The writing is perfect, and the story flows well. This heartwarming, beautiful, parent trap-esque story is guaranteed to be a favorite for years to come. I can't wait to read more by Juliana Smith!

Thank you, Juliana Smith, Victory Editing, and NetGalley, for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved this book so much!! It reminded of the parent trap.
Liam and Marigold were high school sweethearts who ended up married with twin boys. Although they loved eachother very much, they decided it was best to go their separate ways because they thought it was what the other wanted.
Six years later they find themselves working on a school project for their twins against their will.
I loved the twins so much! I loved how they casually said things to their parents to make the other jealous and for them to do something. I loved how they are polar opposites but think the same thing.
I loved seeing how Liam and Marigold relationship developed, and how they learned to love eachother again and their love language. I loved that they talked about their feelings and how to navigate them being together again.
I liked how both main characters didn't have other relationships or hook ups.
It was always been them for one another!
Even though I loved this book I thought the last chapters dragged a little bit and were repetitive.
But overall I really enjoyed this book, super excited for what comes next!

This arc was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

-second chance
-single mom x single dad
-parent trap
-small town
-forced proximity

i really enjoyed this book! it was so incredibly sweet and so realistic and relatable. the book was really well written and easy to read.

marigold is such a strong and independent woman and i loved how there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her twins. her thoughts and emotions felt so relatable and realistic which made me love her even more.

liam was so supportive and patient and i adored how deeply he cared. just like mari there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his boys, i loved the relationship the three of them had! even though he and marigold split ages ago he was still so sure she was it for him and he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind once it became relevant.

the further i got into the book the more i loved both of them. because the book is pretty slow paced it made me experience all the steps that came before they became a couple again, and i really enjoyed that. all the steps felt paced realistic and it everything felt so natural that i actually didn’t mind the fact that it took them so long to realise their feelings. a slow paced book really is a hit or miss for me, but juliana smith really knows what she’s doing. i’d definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes any of the tropes mentioned above!

This book was so good
i would recommend this book
This was a second chance romance between an ex wife and ex-husband.
book releases on February 24
Thank you to NetGallery for allowing me to read this arc

“What makes you so sure you could fall in love with me again?”
“What makes you so sure I ever stopped?”

📚 single parents
📚second chance romance
📚 parent trap
📚 dual POV

“After all, I was a devoted and loving father looking for time with my sons. Seeing her was just a bonus”

🌶️🌶️🌶️

|Thoughts|
The way he has never fallen out of love with his ex wife, was just the sweetest.

“This women. I wanted her. I needed her. I was desperate to keep her here with me, and I was ready to do anything to make that happen”

A interesting look at what can happen in a marriage when a loving couple get their world turned upside down by their children.

Their forced proximity as they are preparing for their son’s carnival were some of the highlights for me.

In a lot of ways he was finally waking up to himself and those little romantic gestures just made me all giddy.

“Dance with me”
“No that’s weird”
“No one else is here”
“The kitchen, parking lots, in the snow, in the rain. We could add ice cream shops to the list now too. We always loved a good slow dance.”

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Title: Rock and a Hard Place (Wells Family #3)
Author: Juliana Smith
Length: 314
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: February 24, 2024
Genre: RomCom, ChickLit, Contemporary Romance
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice Level: closed door
Summary:
Divorced couple Marigold and Liam find themselves reluctantly working together on a school project for their sons. As they attempt to rekindle a friendship, old sparks resurface, leading them to question whether their relationship can thrive once more.

Thoughts:
Ugh. I just love this series and the Wells family 🥹. This is the 3rd in the series and could be read as a standalone, but definitely make sure you read them all at some point. They’re all so adorable. I’m so happy I finally got to read about Liam and Marigold getting their second chance! It’s been a long time coming! Such a wonderful, feel-good story from Juliana once again.

Read if you love:
Dual POV
Closed door but great chemistry
Forced proximity
Second chance romance
No third act breakup
The Parent Trap

Special thanks to the @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was a cute second chance romance! Miles and Dallas kept stealing the scenes they were in with their (not so) secret plan to reunite their parents. I've been waiting to read about Marigold and Liam that this book was a treat! They were adorable and have been in love for so long. This book is a great sweet romance for readers to enjoy.

I loved this book so so much! I highly recommend this book for a second chance romance with the best parent trap vibes!

4.5 stars!

My new fav book from Juliana Smith, hands down!! This was so so good. I have no words to properly explain how much I loved it.
Such a heartwarming and beautiful second chance romance. I loved every minute of it.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned!! I absolutely loved the characters and their story.
Watching Marigold and Liam falling in love again was perfect. I absolutely love them. And then Dallas and Miles? Adorable!!!
I won’t stop recommending this book if you are looking for a cute romance book

read this book if you love:
- second chance romance
- forced proximity
- parent trap inspired
- single mom/single dad

Thank you Juliana Smith for the ARC for this book