✨ "I don't know how or why, but somewhere between all our fighting, I've fallen hard for him." ✨
TRIGGER WARNING: workplace harassment, terminal illness (alzheimer's)
SOME SPOILER-FREE THOUGHTS: I don't think I've ever read such a sweet enemies to lovers story before. Every chapter had my little heart dancing because Cassie and Bear are just so cute together, even when they're at odds. The plot kept on unfolding unexpectedly and I found myself unsure of how it was going to end (which, I absolutely love!) for pretty much the entire book. Truly is a "can't put it down" book and I probably would have finished it in a day if my schedule had allowed me to!
Author: brittany larsen
Finished: may 13, 2024
Reading Method: e-book (Kindle Unlimited)
Star Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
What To Expect:
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Closed Door Romance
✨ Small Town
✨ Hockey
✨ Reverse Age Gap
✨ Found Family
✨ Squirrels
✨ Cats
✨ Squirrel and Cat Shenanigans
SPOILERS IN
3...
2...
1...
✨ "I don't want to scare her away, but I also don't want her to leave. Not now that I know what it is to have her in my arms." ✨
Let me start off by saying I am so happy this book's cover is purple because it is exactly what I needed to read at this moment and I'm still on my purple book birthday challenge! Thank you Brittany Larsen for predicting the future!
This was such a cute story that felt like a whole new approach to enemies to lovers in the best way possible! The sweet center of both characters made it impossible to ever see them as enemies, despite their constant battling over the "Auto Sh" property. Where most enemies to lovers turns anger to passion, our enemies were born out of an accident and a misunderstanding. Neither of them have a heart worth of anything less than love and their passion just fits so well together. I was kicking my feet during most of their encounters.
And let's talk about those encounters, please, because I did not expect so many animals to be involved in the shop hi-jinx and I was laughing the entire time! From the mice to the cats to the squirrels (all with Molly the dog so adorably around as well!) it was a barnyard and I was living for the hilarity.
And each of those animal incidents led to an extremely touching (or steamy!) moment between our two main characters. Like I said before, Cassie and Bear are both too genuine to have ever truly hated each other. Every situation that fed their dislike stemmed from a misunderstanding, with the foundation of a heartfelt intention, more or less.
The deeper conflicts for both characters had me screaming the entire time, "talk to each other!" They clearly both needed someone to rely on with Cassie dealing with her harassment complaint back at the LAPD and Bear dealing with the day-by-day loss of his mom. They were both holding on to something they were afraid of losing, which was half the reason for their fighting over the land in the first place. It was heartbreaking to see subtle moments affect each of them so deeply (like Bear telling Cassie to smile more when he was just trying to say he loved her smile or Cassie continuously referring to the pond as unimportant because she didn't understand the meaning behind it to Bear) when I, as the reader, knew they just needed to share their feelings with the other person.
I do wish we had a little more time with the final outcome of what the shop would become, as the entire book was building up to the decision and it felt a little rushed with Bear realizing the pond was unsafe after Cassie's accident. It was the perfect reason to come to that conclusion, but after he fought so hard for a place for his girls to practice over the entire story, I felt like we could have spent a little more time with Cassie and Bear figuring out what could be done to build a space for them. Hopefully we get another visit to Paradise with Britta and Dexter and get more info there!
Overall, this is a great book for readers who love enemies to lovers, don't mind a closed door romances that mostly leans into flirty and kissy vibes (swoony not spicy, imo), and adore small town charm. I hadn't read the previous books in the Love in Paradise Valley series, so can say it definitely works as a standalone, but if you prefer to read in order, you can check them out in order below...all on Kindle Unlimited!
✨ Evie and Adam's story: The Grumpy Side of Paradise
✨ Georgia and Zach's story: (Not So) Famous in Paradise
✨ Hope and Seb's story: Christmas in Paradise
✨ Cassie and Bear's story: Enemies in Paradise
And in honor of Heidi and Bear's love for his mother, I encourage everyone who reads this review to please donate to the Alzheimer's Association—it's an incredible organization working to put an end to Alzheimer's and all other dementia which more than 55 million people around the world are living with, not including the caretakers and family members who are affected daily as well. 💟
All My Love,
Jane-Anne
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