This was a strong sequel in the Manhattan Bossholes series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the previous book. I was hooked from the first page and thought the romance going on worked. Joanne Ryan has a strong writing style and was glad I read this and wanted more.

I loved this book. Cora is spunky and principled while still being deeply attracted to Aiden, which is so fun to read. Aiden is weirdly confident and unsure, which totally works. I also love a slow burn and the supporting characters are so fun and engaging.

Cora, a skilled bartender and social media influencer known as the Masked Mixer, is thriving in her craft, creating innovative cocktails and winning contests. At a mixology event, her world is shaken when Aiden Callihan, the man who broke her heart in high school, unexpectedly shows up. To make matters worse, Aiden doesn’t even recognize her.

Now a successful liquor entrepreneur, Aiden is looking to launch a line of handcrafted mocktails and believes Cora is the perfect collaborator. Despite her initial rejection and visible disdain, a formal job offer from Aiden’s company forces Cora to reconsider for the sake of her dream to open her own bar and elevate her social media brand.

Their collaboration begins with sharp banter and unresolved tension, but as they work together, buried feelings resurface. Cora and Aiden are drawn back into the familiarity of their past, grappling with lingering heartbreak and the possibility of a second chance.

With lively dialogue, emotional depth, and a cast of delightful characters, this heartwarming story explores themes of forgiveness, ambition, and love, leaving readers eager for the next chapter in the series.

Yay! After Perfect (mis) match, we move from perfume to cocktails. Aidan and Cora are high school Sweethearts. But after Aidan broke her heart, she has made a name for herself as the masked mixer. But she is in need for money and Aidan needs a new head of cocktails for the release of a new line of drinks. It’s a second chance romance, with Aidan being a less bosshole than Vincent. But he is still oblivious to everything around him.

A cute and cozy read and I can’t wait to read on about Nana Dee’s Lost Boys. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This book was great. Leslie North did a great job,
Making you feel like you were part of the story.
Aidens and Cora's story line hooks you from the beginning. Slow burn and then it gets spicy lol.
Shed a few tears. All in all I recommend this book

This was really fun! The comebacks and fights early on in the book were so good! And it just got better from there! And those spicy scenes were perfect!! Just so good!! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

This was definitely a hot read, was hanging on every word ! Going to need to check out others by Leslie North

I loved this title! North is one of my favorite writers. This one did not disappoint. The chemistry was spot on, the characters were likeable and The story moved fast. A win for the holiday season!

Oh this was a lot of fun! The tension between Cora and Aiden was brillant! Sweet moments in a forced promixety and the spice was great.

Leslie North might be a new favorite romance author!

Dobbelt post on IG the jan 9. 2025
Perfect (mis)match & On the Rocks - I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in " Manhattan Bossholes" 😊

3.5★ It was such a rollercoaster ride of emotions, banters, romance and found family. Cora already had my heart from the first page in itself. Her character arc was everything. I was intrigued by Aiden’s infamous short temper from the first book, so experiencing it firsthand was a delight. A beautifully written second chance romance.
Leslie had me addicted to this series. Can’t wait for future books.

Thank You NetGalley and Publishers for the review copy of this book.

#netgalley #ontherocks

I love this book! It took me a couple chapters to get fully hooked, but once I was in I literally could not put it down! I was unsure of the relationship between Cora and Aiden because I’m not always a fan of returning to a crappy ex, but I think the way the author provides a valid solution was great! I always find myself wishing the 350-400 page romance books were a little shorter, and though I didn’t want the story to end and I wanted MORE Nana Dee, I loved this!

On the Rocks is book two in the Manhattan Bossholes series by Leslie North.
This was a super cute story.
I enjoyed the writing and thought the characters were fun.
This was a delightful read that held my attention from beginning to end.
I can’t wait to read book three Designed for Disaster.

Entertaining
I enjoyed the story. It had some unique elements. The banter was fun. There is a wonderful friend group in this series. I will be watching for future books.

I struggled with this. The opening was rough and whiny with an immature female heroine we're supposed to root for but the writing felt like a cheap caricature of a petty, sour-graped shrew and it had bad dialogue between her and our male lead. It's hard to care and stay engaged. So, I flipped to other book distractions but felt the need to return to this book because I usually find Leslie North Bosshole romances to be easy and ok reads. This was not it. 1.5 stars at the max.

Just as the first book in the series, I really liked the initial parts of this one. Aiden & Cora definitely had chemistry and the way Cora always knocked Aiden's ego down a notch was entertaining to see. But after the 70% mark, things went downhill for me. <spoiler> First off, I didn't understand how Cora was so hung up over Aiden when he was just a highschool ex, while her actual ex of fifteen years was back (albeit he was an as*hole). Aiden was very immature and the way he basically said that him getting angry was an instance only when something happened with Cora was pathetic. He had the same reasoning while in highschool, which showed that he did not evolve much. I expected him to grovel more but after an underwhelming speech, Cora immediately took him back, which was so disappointing. </spoiler> A lot of things could've been executed better and in case of this series, the beginning is very engaging but towards the end, everything goes downhill. If only the last half was written better, I would've liked this book.

<i> I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review</i>

A pleasant, light read. It was fast-paced and relaxing. I loved it. I would happily recommend it to others.

THIS WAS SOOOOOO GOOD. i have to say that i enjoyed it so much more than the first book in this series- aiden was significantly less of an asshole than vincent was and i just vibed with cora's character more than anyone else who's appeared in the series so far. it was actually easier for me to understand aiden and his feelings so i warmed up to him pretty quickly, however the general lack of communication between them set me off so bad. 😭😭😭 i was literally shouting for them to just talk to each other.

as much as i enjoyed it... i have to say that it feels like a repeat of the first book. like almost identical. they hate each other at first, then the girl works at the guys company, they slowly hate each other less, something bad happens and they break up, and then there's a big grand gesture resulting in them getting back together and getting married. it just lacked originality. like yes, there's differences obviously because it's two different couples and blah blah blah, but it's just the way that the story unfolds that feels literally the same.

i really really really did enjoy this so i'm overlooking the same everything for now, but i would hate for the third book to end up going in the same direction. i am so looking forward to getting the next books arc copy, i actually cannot wait. :)

On the Rocks is a second-chance romance that hooked me from the very first page and kept me immersed until the end! The chemistry between Cora and Aiden is electric and their journey from painful past to hopeful future is nothing short of brilliant.

Cora is a strong and independent woman who’s worked hard to carve out a life for herself as a mixologist and dreams of opening her own speakeasy. When she’s reluctantly offered a chance to work with Aiden, the man who broke her heart in high school without so much as an explanation, the tension between them is palpable. She’s understandably wary of getting close to him again and the emotional baggage that lingers between them feels real and raw. Aiden is a driven and successful businessman, but he’s never forgotten Cora and he’s determined to earn back her trust. His growth throughout the book is brilliant as he transforms from the self-centered high school boy who left her behind to a man willing to fight for their second chance.

The romance is beautifully slow-burning, with moments of fiery passion, sharp banter, and emotion that kept me hooked. The tension between them feels real and as they work through their differences, it’s impossible not to root for them.

What makes On the Rocks stand out is its heart. It’s a story about love, forgiveness, and learning from past mistakes. Aiden’s journey of growth feels authentic and satisfying, and the resolution between him and Cora is well-earned. The stakes are high, and I loved seeing how they both fought for their happiness and their future together.

If you’re looking for a romance with a well-developed plot and characters who grow and evolve throughout the story, On the Rocks is perfect. I couldn’t put it down and will definitely be coming back for more of Leslie’s work. This book is everything you want in a second-chance romance, and more!

Cora and Aiden, high school sweethearts that had a hard break up and then reconnect years later.
Aiden is high in his field "the cocktail king" and Cora has a cult following as the "masked mixer" and their chemistry is amazing.
I love the way their relationship develops and the relationship between them and the other characters.
This is not my first book by this author and I particularly enjoy that she develops her females character strength. The males make mistakes , as people do, but Cora tells him that she knows her own sense of self worth and he needs to better.
I feel this is such an important thing that everybody should believe, know your own self worth and don't let other people sell you short.
More please.

The most darling story, exciting characters and adorable setting. Loved the book. It is a fun read and I didn’t want it to end.