Flirting With Alaska by Belle Calhoune was such a sweet read! It’s the second book in the Moose Falls, Alaska series, and honestly, I’m loving this little town and its charming characters. The romance is so heartwarming, and there’s a surprise twist that totally caught me off guard—in the best way. If you haven’t checked out Moose Falls yet, you’re missing out. I can’t wait to read more from this series!

this book follows sophia a single mom meets caleb a famous reality tv star who has moved back to alaska to help take care of his sick grandmother and learn the family business. with sophias four year old daughter her main focus has been providing for her but, given an opportunity she can't turn down she is forced to work with caleb. this was a super cute cozy romance. based off of some reviews i was a little hesitant- i liked the first book but, i think i liked this one more.

I always enjoy this author’s books and Flirting With Alaska was no exception. Well written, believable characters and a beautiful setting. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Thanks to Forever for the advanced copy of Flirting With Alaska by Belle Callhoune! This is book two in the Moose Falls, Alaska series and I'm so happy to be back in this sweet town.

Caleb and his two brothers are back in their hometown of Moose Falls helping their grandmother run Yukon Cider. When his grandmother introduces him to Sophia, a single mom & photographer, they aren't quick to fall for each other at first, but will Caleb be able to win her over?

This is a sweet romance and you don't need to have read the first book in the series (about Caleb's brother Xavier). I liked how Sophia was reluctant at first but Caleb showed her that he wasn't the guy on the reality TV show and he really cares for her. The babysitting scene was funny.

I am looking forward to book three about Landon!

A feisty grandma, a single mom who has already been burned by love and a handsome actor just trying to find his place in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book and cannot wait for more in the series!

Caleb Stone is in town with his two brothers learning to run his grandmother's business. He had dreams of Hollywood and being an actor.
Single mom Sophia Brand is a photographer and meets Caleb at his brother's engagement party.
Both parties are drawn to each other, but really don't want to get together. After working together on a campaign for the business they can't seem to stay away from each other.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will definitely be looking out for this author! The pace was great and I was hooked from just a few pages in!

Flirting with Alaska is a single mom meets perpetual flirt romance. Sophia is a busy single mother and photographer who has no time for a fling, even if she was interested in one! When she’s hired to do the marketing for a popular Alaskan company she finds herself working alongside incredibly handsome and flirtatious Caleb. Caleb isn’t looking to get tied down to Alaska, but finds himself drawn to Sophia against all odds. The two will have to put aside preconceived notions if they are going to make things work!

This is the second in a series with frequent references to the couple from the first book but it does work as a standalone. The characters were like-able and nice. There was a little drama thrown in at the end but I t was an all around pleasant read.


Read dates: 11/18/2024- 11/20/2024
Goodreads review: 11/20/2024
Instagram review: 11/21/2024
Blog review: 12/10/2024

DNF at 26%. Maybe I quit too early and missed out on a sweet story, but I had zero investment in the main characters at this point in the book. The characters were one dimensional and the details of their lives were just repeated over and over. I gave up, but I’ll give it 2 stars because the backdrop of Alaska seemed lovely.

I have not read any books by this author before. Absolutely loved her style of writing and how she described the characters. The story of three brothers deciding on a family owned cider business and the love stories involved. Grandma Hattie was the best. Loved the developing story of Caleb and Sophia.

Thanks to Forever central publishing, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed this novel, and found it to be a great winter read. I had not read any of Belle’s previous novels however am very willing to go back and read some, and to read future releases by her. I really enjoy her writing style, and found it very relatable.

This is the second book in the Moose Falls, Alaska series. I really enjoyed the first book and have been looking forward to the second book coming out. It can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend starting with book one. Flirting With Alaska was cute, but didn’t quite live up to my expectations. A lot of the dialogue felt silted and awkward to me.

The prologue was awkward and didn’t feel like the thoughts of an eight year old boy. I felt like it set a weird tone for the rest of the book. Caleb just wasn’t my favorite MMC, especially when compared to his brother Xavier. I did enjoy Sophia and thought her and Caleb were cute together. My favorite character is Hattie. She really makes the series for me.

Overall, an okay romance. I think my opinion was swayed by other books by Belle Calhoune that I absolutely loved and this one just wasn’t the same for me. I still look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Enjoyed catching up with brothers Caleb, Landon and Xavier in this second story of the Alaska series by Belle Calhoun. Although part of a series this can be read as a standalone book.

The author brings the characters and small-town life in Alaska justice once again. This is a story of a single mom and the middle brother, an actor who was crucified by the media in his first television show. He is the opposite of her ex, caring, helpful, considerate, and dashing my handsome. He's as good on the outside as he is on the inside, but can a relationship survive ? You'll laugh and cry at the ups and downs of this relationship, cheering them on as they traverse life after love.

They both have enlightening moments with their fathers that help shape them into the adults they are. Another 5 star read from Belle Calhoun. It will be hard waiting till Fall 2025 for the next installment.

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Net Galley and the publisher , all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Belle Calhoune for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

3.5 stars, rounded down.

This is the second book in a series about the Stone brothers, who come back to Moose Falls after a 20-year absence to run the family business. Their grandmother, Hattie (who I loved) is terminally ill and wants the heirs of her hard cider company to work there for one year before deciding if they want to sell, or continue to run it.

Until this deal with his grandmother and brothers, Caleb was in Hollywood, trying to make it as an actor. His recent stint on Love Him or Leave Him has him labeled as a cheating bad boy, and that image has followed him since the show ended.

Sophia, a single mother of the adorable Lily, is an avid watcher of reality TV, so she knows Caleb's reputation when he rolls into town. But as they get to know each other, she can't understand why this sweet, generous, loving man was scapegoated into such an evil character.

I didn't read the first book in the series prior to reading this one, but it works as a standalone.

I liked the premise of the story and the development of the characters. I also really enjoyed the MCs' relationships with their family members, especially Caleb and Hattie, and Sophia and her dad, Skip. For the next book, I'm curious to learn more about Landon because he was a bit of a mystery in this book!

Unfortunately, Flirting With Alaska was a miss for me. While I liked Caleb and Sophia, I felt like the writing style was a bit stilted and redundant. The author repeated herself frequently, which added length but no substance. I did appreciate that the characters were POC. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book set in Alaska that wasn’t 100% white. I also loved Hattie! She was a hoot!

I received a copy of Flirting With Alaska from NetGalley. I am voluntarily reviewing this book.

The need to protect yourself can also shut out joy.

This book picks up near where the first one ended. The three Stone brothers are celebrating the engagement of their older brother Xavier to True in their own inimitable way. Then middle brother Caleb spots Sophia. Boom. Instant attraction. What he doesn't realize at the time is that it's mutual but, well, it's also complicated. Sophia, photographer for the event, has been hurt before and has a four year old daughter that is "the love of her life" and Sophia isn't looking for romance. Actually, Caleb isn't really looking either, his Hollywood dream is still supreme, but, well, he's attracted. He follows Sophia to the attic when she goes there to retrieve an old camera Hattie, who brought the Stone brothers home in response to a plea given her oncoming death, has given her. Caleb is used to being able to charm women almost effortlessly but it isn't working on Sophia. I won't give away what changes that, well, at least allows her to warm up to his ways, but it might be classified as a meet cute, albeit rather itchy one for Caleb.

A closed door romance, actually almost chaste, this is a sweet one. You ultimately know they'll come together in the end but the fun is in watching them overcome the obstacles before the finish line. While the book works as a standalone, if you have the chance, reading the first book will give you more insight into the situation the independent find themselves. As an Alaskan, I'm always up for an Alaska based read, so while this one didn't knock off my socks, it was still a pleasant, light read that I enjoyed. The characters were likable and some relationships carried over from the first book show advancement, too, including the parental characters. Sophia is cautious, putting her daughter first, and also has to deal with 4-year old Lily's father, who seems to take two steps backwards for every step forward he makes in that relationship. Bottom line, though, he does love his daughter, so I cut him some slack. The relationship between Caleb and Sophia is relatively open and honest although Sophia's innate need to protect both herself and her daughter from further hurt keeps her from throwing caution to the wind and just accepting the relationship Caleb seems to offer. He has his own regrets, of course, and it was nice to see him bonding with family. Hattie....I cannot say enough about her. Her strength is what seems to hold everything together and it's delightful to see her happy in her remaining years. Other characters flit in and out but these are the core of the story. The ending is cute and romantic, too.

Bottom line, while I questioned a few things as an Alaskan myself, the book overall holds together and the characters were likable. I think in real life I'd avoid spending much time with the boisterous Stone brothers together but that doesn't make them any the less likable. If you like sweet, closed door romances, you'll probably like this one and you're almost sure to love Hattie. Thanks #Forever - #GrandCentralPublishing for allowing me to share some of the Stone Brothers Alaska, even if I still haven't sorted out the area where Moose Pass must be located.

1.5 Stars rounded up.

If you like super sweet romances, this book will knock your socks off. But when I say super sweet, I really mean saccharin sweet. Perhaps even cloyingly sweet. Everyone was just so perfect; the relationships were perfect, and even the Grandmother's dying was done perfectly and sweetly! Except for one scene at the beginning of the book, the rest of the book was filled with stilted characters, unreal interactions, forced dialogue, and pure perfection.

The author was very vague about many parts that were important and would have contributed a great deal to the story.

I don't mind telling you that I only made it to the 70% mark before I gave up on this.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Forever/Hachette Book Group, the author, and NetGalley.

Flirting With Alaska is a continuation of the Moose Falls series. You do need to read the first book, Falling For Alaska, prior to this for the back story and set up. At a high level, three brothers move back to Moose Falls after leaving as children to reconnect with their grandma and conditionally work at her company Yukon Cider. Flirting With Alaska is following the middle brother, Caleb’s, story. After becoming the villain on a reality romance show, Caleb is trying to figure out what’s next while working at Yukon Cider. He meets Sophia, a single mom photographer, hired at Yukon to handle shooting ads. This follows their story. This is a cute, chaste series that is a quick and easy read.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A flashback prologue establishes Caleb Stone’s sibling rivalry with his two brothers, his love for his grandmother Hattie, his angst over his parents divorce, the fish out of water feeling as an Alaskan transplanted to Arizona, his desire to be popular and his love for the ladies… at eight years old, in an inner monologue that is not the voice of an eight-year old.

Flash forward some number of years later to Caleb’s brother Xavier’s engagement party. Aspiring actor Caleb, recently booted off a reality dating show, and Landon, are teasing Xavier and his bride to be about getting married. In short order, we learn Hattie is terminally ill, the future her Yukon Cider business is up in the air as the brothers need to come to agreement about their inheritance, and Caleb has the hots for the curvy single mom photographer hired to help at the event. Photographer Sophie, a reality television junkie, saw Caleb’s disastrous stint on Love Him or Leave Him, thinks she got his number, and would prefer to leave him, and communicates this with the cut direct. As she did, a month ago, the last time he flirted with her.

Unfortunately, dude cannot take NO for an answer and Caleb follows Sophie when she is sent up to the attic to get an antique camera Hattie’s been saving for her. They get locked in, disclose backstories and childhood traumas in the ten minutes they’re alone together… and then Caleb is attacked by an infestation of carpenter ants. Itchy and welted, he just has to get out his clothes…which is when his mother and brothers show up to rescue them.

While it’s true carpenter ants will bite if threatened, and do spray an acid that intensifies the discomfort, this seemed a bit over the top—it’s not clear where the fictional town of Moose Falls Alaska is located, but carpenter ants are not native to southeast Alaska. Apart from questionable fact-checking, and tired old trope of pursue the girl until you wear her down and she says yes, I found the characters disingenuous and unlikeable. The writing relied on telling not showing; employs passive voice over active; and relies on adverbs instead of strong verbs. This is poorly written or poorly edited. It felt like the second book in a series, trying to catch the reader up to speed from page one, with no skill or patience for weaving in details to allude back to previous events or set the stage for a third book in the series (three brothers, gotta be another installment coming…).

A quibble: the teaser after the cover has an excerpt from a chapter about 14% of the way through the book, but doesn’t name the protagonist.

I stopped Flirting With Alaska at 16% and did not finish.

For a much more charming take on love in Alaska, try the Moose Springs series by Sarah Morgenthaler, which features strong setting, unique characters, and lots of humor.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #FlirtingWithAlaska via #NetGalley courtesy of #Forever.

If you are looking for a fluffy, hallmark-style Alaskan romance, you may have just found the right book for you!

Unfortunately for me, this was not the book I was expecting to read, and feel I am probably not the target audience. We start the book with inst-attraction between both Caleb (the reality star "player") and Sophia, the local photographer and single mom while at an engagement party for Xavier, Caleb's brother. You get the strong sense of family on both sides; Sophia has a great relationship with her father and sister, and she has an adorable daughter she loves! Caleb's dedication to his grandmother, brothers, and his parents is very evident as well. This seemed like it will be a very sweet, fluffy/cozy sort of romance, adorable meetings, resisting of feelings. If you're still hooked, then this book is worth the read for you.


In my honest review, I had to DNF around chapter 6.


Id like to separate my opinions from the positives I found of this book, so Ill try to provide a visual divide.


I found the writing style campy/cheesy; Im all for a romance cliche, hit the trope checklist style, but this one felt a bit over the top. The inst-infatuation was way too fast for me for how often they both remember the reasons they shouldnt be together; I felt distracted with how many side characters and their love stories and histories; I think Hattie was supposed to be endearing but I felt we focused more on her situations then Caleb or Sophia. I also found repetition on verbiage/phrases distracting; on multiple occasions of characters having thoughts repeat within a page or two.