I really enjoyed this book, and found the characters to be fun and sweet. The sex scenes were hot although way more than I expected but this is a friends with benefits situation so it makes sense. I do wish we had learned more about Jessica because she had an interesting back story but we aren't told much. Also, I liked seeing the characters from 7/10 Split but did not like how aggressively angry Vin's sister was regarding her relationship with Jessica. Felt very contrived. Overall, if you want something quick, and sexy to read, this is it.

Okay first, THIS COVER!!! Absolutely love it! This is book 2 in the Peach Blossom series. I did not realize that this book was part of a series until I was done reading. I do not feel like I missed out on anything by not reading book 1, but now I am intrigued to go back and read book 1. Now, this book was a great read! I was hooked from the beginning. The chemistry that these characters have bounces off the page. Once the characters begin a sexual relationship, they cannot keep their hands off of each other (A LOT of sex scenes).

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the E-ARC, it in no way influences my review.

Trigger Warnings(TW)
Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, Death of parent

** I would be mindful of the trigger warnings before reading.

#BookishMujer #LatinasWhoRead #KarmenLee #TheRelationshipMechanic #NetGalley #ARCreview

4.25/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Very spicy and very sapphic! I loved it! I enjoyed Jessica and Vini’s story for many reasons but their connection was unmistakable! That chemistry was intense and I could not get over how perfect they were for each other. Friend with bennies never looks so good!

Jessica’s past looks dark behind her but she didn’t let that change her. I liked how flirty she was and the was she pulled Vini. I was an absolute puddle over it! She was funny and open but her growth really made me happy to see.

Vini was the strong little sister who couldn’t help but fall for Jessica. Who could blame her?! I like how she went for what she wanted and how patient she was with Jessica.

The family drama is this one didn’t hit as much for me because I haven’t read the other book in the series but I think that reader who enjoy strong family ties and protective family members will really resonate with that aspect of the story.

I would recommend this book to contemporary romance readers and lovers of small town romance! Thank you to the publisher and the author for a copy of this story for review!

I attempt to read every Karmen Lee. I want to love them so bad, but for whatever reason I cannot get into them. I think the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired.

This was such a fun read the characters were so different and I loved getting to see how they grew and learned about themselves throughout the story. The narration was well done and kept me entertained.

This is a quick, fun love story between a small town mechanic and the flaky celebrity who rolls into town. Lee builds a compelling romance, with a strong net of supporting characters to round out the plot and help Jess and Vini's lives feel more full and fleshed out. If you want that tight, zoomed in look at a romance, this will definitely scratch that itch; otherwise, there's not a ton of substance here, but it's good fluff.

I liked this one a lot more than The 7-10 Split. I loved the characters, their relationship felt very real, and I really appreciated their growth in being able to communicate their feelings over the course of the book.

As much as I liked this book, and for the most part liked the dynamics between Vini and Jessica, I really truly hated Ava and Grace in this book. They were so mean to Vini and Jessica. Grace was not really a good or supportive friend, and Ava was so cruel to Vini - her own sister!! I think these two had so much potential, but all the factors keeping them apart were too much. I just wanted them to be happy! But they got there eventually, and did heat up some sheets in the process. Vini and Jess did have chemistry, but sometimes it felt more "tell" than "show". I really like Karmen Lee's writing and I'm curious to see what happens in Dani's story and also if Jess's brother is going to get his own HEA somewhere?

My first book by Ms. Lee and it won't be my last! Oh my goodness this book gave me all the feels of a small town and I freaking love it. Even though I'm bisexual, I could connect with both characters a lot! Such a good ass book!

I have really tried to like and finish this book, I wanted to love it, but I felt no connection to the story or the characters. I stopped and picked it up a few times to give it a fair chance, but I was not interested - even 50% into the book.

The daughter of an actress heading to a small town to escape a recent scandal and a cute mechanic hit it off and have a fling in this fun, spicy romance. Jessica has sworn off flings for the duration of her stay in Peach Blossom, Georgia. But she throws out that plan pretty much instantaneously after meeting the town's cute mechanic when her rental car breaks down. Vinnie's instant attraction to Jessica makes falling in bed with her easy, but when she starts to feel more the easy fun they've been having becomes a lot more complicated. Jessica still isn't sure what to do with the feelings she has for Vinnie. With an end date fast approaching on her time in Peach Blossom, will they be able to figure out what they want--and what they're willing to sacrifice--for the chance at something more?

Sweet, spicy, and sapphic--just the way I like it!

This was a cute read! I loved the instant chemistry between Vini and Jessica & they wasted no time setting up a casual fling agreement for the month that Jessica was in town. I was here for the hot and passionate moments that they shared! 🤌🏼 I enjoyed Vini’s family (sometimes Ava, she was annoying until she wasn’t lol). I feel like we got to know Vini & I just needed more of Jessica. I loved the women in automotive services representation and Vini doing the damn thing as a shop owner. The pining and physical chemistry was SPOT ON and I was eating it up!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This had all the right ingredients; a sweet small-town romance, black lesbian leads, and some fun moments, but it just didn’t go deep enough. The relationships felt underdeveloped, the characters lacked real dimension, and too much was glossed over. There’s a lot of telling instead of showing, and some key moments that could’ve added depth just… didn’t happen. The romance also leaned hard into insta-lust, with multiple repetitive scenes but not much emotional buildup.

That said, the interconnectedness of the series has potential, and I’m hoping the third book delivers more. I’m not writing off Karmen Lee yet, but I’ll need more than surface-level charm next time.

Karmen Lee is autobuy author for me. I love the way you can see how much she cares about her characters. I know this is a weird thing to say in a review but somehow it matters and I felt it in this story. I want more of these two and I hope there is another book in this series.

I see the potential in this book, but I did not finish it. Something about it didn’t grab me and I really wanted to love it because I love representation and being Black & Queer, I don’t see romances as much. I think this book is just not for me or I wasn’t in the right headspace to read it.

3.5/5 Stars

Note: this is a sequel to "The 7-10 Split", but there are no major plot spoilers below. However, if you want the full effect of this book, I would recommend reading the in publication order.

The good:
- I loved the growth both Vini and Jessica have. They did have clear expectations at the beginning of the book, but the growth of expectations felt natural.
- Aiden was a great side character and I'd love to see his own book at some point!
- You see Ava and Dani and Grace again from the first book, and it was nice to see how their stories intertwined with Vini's and Jessica's. I am excited for Dani's book later this year!

The loss of 1.5 stars:
- There are just some glaring typos in this book (Vini is once spelled at Vino) and usually I don't take off for that, but it was so distracting, I couldn't bring myself to give it a 4 stars.
- Because it was so spice heavy, it slowed down the pace for me personally, the spicy scenes were not bad, but it just slowed the reading experience and i felt myself getting distracted easily.

Overall, if you liked "The 7-10 Split", I'd say keep going with the series!

Jessica’s car breaks down on the way to Peach Blossom to hide from the press and what she gets is a panty dropping mechanic who she hopes can give her more than just one ride.

I just love this cover and I knew I wanted to read it before I registered who wrote it and that it’s the second book of a series I like. The chemistry between Jessica and Vini just leaps off the cover. You immediately think, “I need to be a part of that (wink)” (chuckle).

I am so glad to be back in Peach Blossom. I really loved Vini in the first book, so I’m ecstatic to read their story in The Relationship Mechanic.

Once again, Karmen Lee gives us a sweet and low-stress romance. This is not to say that there isn’t drama, with family always comes drama, but from the Williams family it’s all good. I think the core of family love is what makes the series. This is a family that loves hard and it shows. These are women you want in your corner and getting your back because they have you. I just love reading stories with this basis (probably because I didn’t have it).

Steam. Oh yes, Lee gives us steam between Jessica and Vini. I am all there for it. I like when you go in hoping for no strings and a safe heart and then the person surprises you. This is Vini. Vini quietly goes about her business creating something wonderful in her life. She’s strong and smart. Then hello, I want to see her in her overalls (chuckle). I really connected with Vini. Then again, I had the basis of her in the first book and started crushing then when she was a secondary character.

Friendship is explored in this story. What do we tell? What is our’s to tell? What happens when lines start to blur and why, oh why, do we need to pick a side. Can we change our viewpoint of someone that we have known our whole lives because we only see the past and not the now. The author does a fabulous job of taking us on this change of circumstance.

I just adore The Relationship Mechanic. If you are looking for a small-town, meet cute, friends-with-benefits romance or even if you’re not looking for these tropes, this romance will give you a great ride.

We are back and Peach Blossom but this time for the focus on baby sis Vini ! I quickly learned that I love a small town romance so I knew I’d enjoy this!

Vini is really my fave. She is sassy but underneath it all just so sweet.
Jessica is miss hot mess express that literally came crashing in Vini’s life. Individually they were so interesting but their romance was surface level. I didn’t get much besides some steamy spice (which I did love) and a few little cutesy moments. I think their admiration for each other shined when their friends/family spoke up about their connection.

I liked this story much more than the 7-10 split but I hate to say Ava was insufferable here. I wanted to jump in the family arguments myself because Ava girl get a life lol

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC! Excited to see who else falls in love in down in Peach Blossom

I must say that from the beginning when Jessica and Vini meets I became a fan because of the sparks these two had whenever they were around each other was electric. Then we get more in depth with each other’s family. Definitely my favorite book of the series so far and I can’t wait for Dani story 🤗.

A very steamy read, but wasn't a huge fan of the friends with benefits angle of a story. I love a small town romance though.