The setup for this book was quite clearly introduced in the previous installment : Pity Pact. I liked the second book in the series ( the first I picked up) because of the style of writing and I enjoyed meeting the people in the town.

By this book, however, I was already acquainted with everyone and did not feel like I needed extra time with them. The central couple and their issues were done well and I liked the banter and the missteps along the way. It just didn’t have the spark I felt the previous time.

The lady who has matched several people over the years now needs a partner and soon. She decides to get some help and the scheme itself is a little chaotic. The town and its denizens live in close proximity to each other and spend a lot of time together, which provides the small-town atmosphere that is a draw in books like this.

The writing is good and one can empathize with the characters.I would recommend this series to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Wow, another terrific addition to the Pity series! This had all the romance, wit, and, charm, and wonderful characters that I've come to expect from Ms Dineen's books. It was perfectly balanced with humor and also a lot of heart. While it's a light and fun romcom at heart, there are still some serious themes that make you stop and think a bit, which I like to see, even in light fluffy stories. Trina has been through a lot in her love life, which has made her a bit jaded when it comes to finding love. But find love she must, if she wants to keep her job. She is being pushed by the network to star in a show where she is the o e looking for love. She has no choice but to comply. Heath and Trina met a year ago when she bid on him in a charity auction. They had a great time together, but Heath was still morning his wife, and wasn't ready for a relationship. He's back in town now and forced to watch Trina date other guys in an attempt to find love. There is still a strong pull between them, and as Trina goes on date after date, Heath realizes he feels things for her he hasn't felt since his wife died.
Heath and Trina had such a great dynamic and the chemistry between them was undeniable. Both were such relatable and realistic characters, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. These two were made for each other and I absolutely loved watching them fall in love and find their way to each other. Loved this so much, can't wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I'm impressed with the author's creativity. I felt there were some interesting elements here that I didn't see coming. If you like cozy, heartwarming, family/friend-oriented, lighthearted fun, Dineen's done a great job creating Elk Lake, WI as THE destination to find your romantic HEA.

The latest installment in Dineen's Pity series did not disappoint. This rom-com centers around Trina who is the well known host of a matchmaking reality show. When her show gets cancelled, her producer decides to create a new matchmaking show that centers around Trina finding love. Trina is not on board and decides she must find a real boyfriend to avoid her own reality TV nightmare. A laugh out loud that offers a sweet and romantic view of figuring out the right relationship.

Elk Lake is definitely my favorite imaginary small town of all literature !

Finishing Pity Pact, I was expecting something different for Trina (you can check my review if interested). Am I sad ? Nop, Whitney Dineen offered us still two super cute, playful and lovable characters.

Heath is so much more than the super rich entrepreneur with an amazing body up for grabs at charities.

I wasn't expecting so much depth in a romance : losing the love of your life is destroying, and it can take time to be ready for another sentimental adventure (if ever).
Most of the time in novels, a widow(er) get swept away by a new love just a few months after losing her husband/his wife, and accepts it.
Maybe it does happen for some, but for me reality is different, and looks much more to what happens here : Heath has to heal and decide that time has come, that it isn't the betrayal he imagined for so long.

I really loved this story, even if I frowned twice (I'm not going to spoil it for you, you'll certainly agree with me once you'll read this great, great novel by one of my favorite authors <3

Thank you Netgalley and Whitney Dineen for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

More Dusty Rooms Than Usual. This is one of those romcoms where guys are going to encounter more dusty rooms than usual, and women may outright cry more than usual. Because Dineen does one character in particular so unbelievably well, we truly *feel* this character's motivations - and hesitations.

Which, perhaps, makes up for what for at least some readers will be a cancellable offense for Dineen, who has this character make a joke that... well, there are many out there today who won't find the joke funny and yes, will probably/ likely call for her cancellation over it. Me, apparently I'm going to Hell right there with Dineen, because I thought it was one of the more hilarious moments of the book, and there was enough contrition later (indeed, bordering on preachiness, which is perhaps a step *too* far) that it *should* mollify most critics of it.

Overall though, another solid entry in this series that technically *can* be read as a standalone, though significant events play out in the book immediately before this one in this series that directly impact the story here, and are referenced frequently in this story. But for those who don't mind mild spoilers of other books, eh, this one could truly work standalone.

Truly a fun, shortish (at under 300 pages) romcom, perfect for a breezy summer afternoon relaxing... just watch out for the dust. Very much recommended.

Cancelled. Trina’s matchmaking show has been cancelled because she refused to let the producers embarrass the cast. When her producer threatens to sue her if she doesn’t star in the next iteration of their match making reality show, she takes matters into her own hands.
Heath, a renowned property developer, needs a break from his all work and no play life. Taking the summer to revisit one of his favorite childhood locations, he unwittingly ends up as Trina’s neighbor.
With their recent history, Trina has no interest in developing a friendship with Heath. Sparks fly as these two keep running into each other. Hilarity ensues. Boundary lines are ignored. Come along as these two continually crash into each other.
This sweet closed door romcom nails the enemies to lovers trope. It will having you both snickering and tearing up as you watching the push and pull of Heath and Trina.

Favorite quotes:

“Heath points at me like his hand is a gun. “She pushed me.”
“He was about to trip over a rock,” I tell them. “I didn’t want him to fall.”

“Move over, Hugh Grant; Heath’s the perfect romcom hero and he’s real. But he’s also not interested in a committed relationship.”

“Live every day, my darling. Love every day. And know you are the best man. You make the world a better place just by being in it.”

Pity Parade is the fourth book in Whitney Dineen’s Pity romantic comedy series, following Pity Date, Pity Party, and Pity Pact. Pity Parade will be better understood and enjoyed if read after Pity Pact. This is a clean second-chance romance that doesn’t contain any sex or profanities.

Katrina “Trina” Rockwell was introduced in Pity Pact as the host of Midwestern Matchmakers, a reality dating show. She was unhappy with the way that the producers were creating drama on the show, and when she stuck to her guns, the show was canceled. Now she has made a deal with her sleazy executive producer to do a new show. She travels back to Elk Lake, Wisconsin to find love before being forced to re-visit her exes on the show.

Trina encounters Heath Fox, a billionaire real estate developer that she won a date with at a diabetes fundraiser months earlier. After a nice evening and a passionate kiss, he made it clear that he didn’t want a relationship with her. Now it’s awkward because he’s her neighbor for the summer. Heath ends up interfering with Trina’s dates, with hilarious results. The reader waits for Trina and Heath to get over their emotional baggage and realize that they belong together.

I enjoyed the continuation of the Pity storylines and seeing the characters’ relationships develop more. While both Trina and Heath have plenty of emotional baggage that must be dealt with, the comedic scenes keep the story from being angsty. As with Pity Pact, the behind-the-scenes look at a reality show is fascinating. The author has such a descriptive way of writing that makes the reader feel like they are watching a movie. I’m looking forward to reading the next two books in the series, Pity Present and Pity Play.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fun romance, closed door, low drama/angst. I got sucked in pretty quickly but it slowed down a little midway, then picked back up near the end. Overall I’d recommend it for a nice romcom with likable characters.

Trina’s producer demands she become the bachelorette on a new reality show, but her dating history is a train wreck. Her only hope to save her job and avoid public humiliation is to pull off a whirlwind wedding. Can she possibly navigate the minefield to find her match before cameras start rolling?

This is a light and fun rom com with some deeply heartfelt moments. Heath has suffered a terrible loss and struggles to come back from it. Trina gives him the support he needs to heal.

CW: This book is not trans friendly. The author is conscientious about inclusiveness in this series but could benefit from an LGBTQ+ sensitivity reader.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Pity Parade is such a delightful and heartwarming book! It is the fourth novel in the Pity series, however it can be read as a standalone.

After a disagreement with her executive producer, Trina Rockwell, the host of the TV show Midwestern Matchmaker, has a difficult decision to make. She is the reason the show has been canceled and when Tom Meranda presents her with the opportunity to be matched and salvage her career, she is very hesitant to accept. Tom is far from the ideal work mate, but it's either that or find love. Trina takes her chances on finding love and sets out to Elk Lake, Wisconsin. She comes up with a plan, one which will involve her exes. Hopefully this will work! Authentic or not, her being in a relationship will surely ruin Tom's plans.

When Trina arrives at Elk Lake, she is shocked when she bumps into Heath Fox, a real-estate developer she bid on (and won) at a fundraiser a while ago. Back then, he made it very clear that he did not want a relationship, and now he is Trina's neighbor for the summer. Of course, things are bound to get awkward!

I absolutely loved Trina and Heath! Both characters have baggage. They are both traumatized from past experiences, and this trauma clearly hinders them from moving forward in life. There are many funny moments in this book (like Heath getting in Trina's way and sabotaging every potential date), and there are several saddening moments in this book. Trina and Heath both need to dive deep and peel back some layers in order to become the best versions of themselves.

This is a wonderful read that will have you feeling many emotions, sometimes all at once. It is an emotional rollercoaster for sure, but it was so worth it!

Thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours,  and Whitney Dineen for such a heartwarming read!