Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

B.K. Borison has OFFICIALLY become an auto buy author for me! If you haven't already, you must pickup book 1 (and 2 and 3) of the Lovelight series. These interconnecting, small-town romance books are grin inducing, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

In Mixed Signals, we follow Lovelight Farms co-owner - Layla - and former town deputy, Caleb. We had only seen small glimpses of Caleb in our previous two stories and I absolutely loved getting to know more about him. He is the definition of a cinnamon roll.

Could you read this one as a standalone? Yes.
Should you? No. I'm serious. This series is so good. And seeing little glimpses of our previous main characters will make you insanely happy if you've read books 1 and 2 first.

All I can say is that I can't wait for Charlie and Nova's story!!!

Mixed Signals is OUT NOW in print, on Kindle Unlimited, and newly available as an audiobook. If it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Dreamscape Media for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

★★★★☆

PSA: This book has one of the sweetest first kisses I have ever read. And the tension? *chefs kiss*

Caleb and Stella are the sweetest and this whole book made me incredibly happy. The interaction? Perfect. The Dates? Adorable. The community + found family? Love it.

My only complaint is that I don't think practice dating is the trope for me. I spent most of this book frustrated that they were just dating and refusing to acknowledge it. However, I don't think it's poorly done - I think it's just not the trope for me.

Also, the Beckett + animal cameos were absolutely fantastic and I desperately want another Beckett book where he just adopts animals and tries to convince everyone to love them as much as he does.

Overall, I love this series and I cannot wait for the fourth.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

"I told you that you deserve good things. And I think I could be one of those good things for you. I'm pretty sure of it, actually."

After one too many bad dates, Layla Dupree has given up on finding love. Layla is constantly dating the wrong guys, you know, the ones that are rude to you on dates, ghost you, and leave you with the check. Caleb is there right in the nick of time, saving her from that last awful date.

Caleb Alvarez has had the biggest crush on Layla for so long. So after admitting that he has had his fair share of shit dating luck, he comes up with the *perfect* plan. A month of dating, with no strings, no pressure for feelings and lots of dates. Caleb will show Layla what it's like to actually be treated well, and be taken on good dates. After each date, Layla will rate Caleb's dating skills to help him after feeling like he's always been "too much" in past relationships. This set up is simple enough in theory. But feelings always find their way in, and the chemistry between them definitely causes some mixed signals.

This book is all the gooey sweetness from Layla's Bakehouse, and tender moments that are Caleb and I absolutely loved every single bit of it. *swooning sighing,smiling* This is one of the bestsunshine x sunshine books there is. From buying custom cakes for no reason other than to see her, to being a bakery regular, Caleb only has eyes for Layla and wants nothing more than to romance her and show her the love she deserves. Between chaotic dates and sweet day to day moments between them, these two are figuring out that maybe this is exactly who and what they've been looking for this whole time.

I absolutely love love loved them. I was smiling, squealing, blushing, and sobbing my way through this. They are everything good and kind, and I wanted nothing more than for them to find their happiness with each other. Caleb is my favorite golden retriever romantic hero, and Layla is the kind, hard working heroine every romance strives to have.

Borison is an expert at immersing you in her books. I was once again swept away by Inglewild and everyone who lives there. We even got bits of Stella, Luka, Evelyn and Beckett!! My Lovelight Farms chickens. They are always there for each other, offering unconditional support and love for one another. This little group has my whole heart and every one of these books are new comfort reads for me. Borison's writing is like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket, maybe with a pastry and a fuzzy kitten by your side as well.

Getting to listen to one of my favorite books this year was an absolute delight. Pippa and Julio do a fantastic job of bring life to these characters I love so much. Getting to hear this story come to life did not disappoint.

Thank you Netgalley, B.K. Borison, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

↠ 5 million stars and butter croissants

This book was pure joy! This entire series is pure joy and I have loved getting to know the characters over the course of three books, especially with Caleb, as we’ve watched him grow from the local cop that’s known for helping old ladies to the lead of this book! Caleb and Layla are really cute together and their chemistry in this book was perfect! I love when the main couple tries to fool themselves into thinking that they aren’t in love, only good friends. Yeah right! I was already invested in their relationship before this book because I had seen glimpses in the other two books, but this book went beyond with their adorableness and chemistry!
The writing was also really good. I will read anything that B.K. Borison writes!
I also thought the narrators were perfect for the story, especially Caleb’s. They made the characters seem more real.

Audiobook 🎧 Review:

Many thanks to @netgalley and Dreamscape Audio for the opportunity to have early access to this audiobook.

B.K. Borison has created yet another story from the Lovelight Farm crew. This time we get to know Layla and Caleb and learn how they found each other. It begins with Layla who is trying to find a partner in life but feeling like this will never happen. Then walks in Caleb who joins her in trying to figure out what it takes to fall in love.

This audiobook was very enjoyable. The narration is so good, particularly by Pippa Jane whose voice is alluring and comforting. Just like the other Lovelight Farm books this one is sweet and spicy. I definitely recommend this book!

This was such a good read. I think I may have found a new favorite author. I love a romance with food in it but I love romances with baking in it so much more. I also love a cinnamon roll man who knows what he wants. The angst was also top-tier. Can't wait to read more from B.K. Borison.

I will never get over the covers for this series. They are absolute perfection.

And, this is my favorite of the series so far! I loved the connection between Caleb and Layla. The real stars of this story, though, are the townspeople. They give the story such heart and humor.

The audiobook quality was wonderful! The voice actors accents were realistic and charming.

I am obsessed with this Lovelight series. I cannot WAIT for the next book to come out and give me yet another fictional couple to swoon over! B.K. Borison knows EXACTLY what kind of people will draw others into her stories, and I am 100% hooked.

Layla and Caleb’s story was a fun one to follow alongside with. As the resident baker at Lovelight Farms, Layla just can’t seem to find a guy who doesn’t totally suck. A chance encounter after a disastrous date leads Layla and Caleb to enter into an agreement - they will help each other figure out why they are both so seemingly terrible at dating.

This book was so wonderful and filled me with so much glee as I watched the two of them grow together. Also, every single description of something Layla made for food had me absolutely drooling. Just a PSA, the last chapter of the book had me absolutely squirming with happiness for Layla - I loved it.

⚠️TW: toxic relationship, misogyny, panic attacks/disorders, sexism

Thank you @netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This was a wonderful addition to the Lovelight Farms series. This could be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest reading the others in the series first because Caleb and Layla make several appearances throughout those two books and I felt like it helped build some of their personalities before ever getting to this one.

I loved that this one was dual POV and thought both narrators did a fantastic job.

Layla and Caleb clearly had chemistry from the start, and I really enjoyed the way their relationship grew into something real.

My only complaint for this one would be the dreaded third act break up. I don't usually mind them, but for this book it just didn't feel realistic to me. I am still happy with the ending though.

I would recommend this one to any fans of the previous Lovelight Farms books as well as anyone who enjoys a small town romance.

One more Lovelight book knocked out of the park, from B.K. Borison! I’m going to miss this series! There’s only three owners of the farm… but maybe she’ll write about some of the side characters from town?! I’m not ready to give up the town of Inglewild or Lovelight Farms anytime soon!!

This storyline was nothing like I expected, and it blew my mind and expectations right out of 5he water! I liked Layla’s character in the first two, but getting her full story here - I know this is my favourite of the series! Everything was just so completely unexpected. Carlos was perfectly imperfect, and absolutely adorably lovable. How did she not fall in love at first sight, or when the fake/practice dating started?!

The narrators - Pippa Jayne was new to me previously, but she also read books one and two. I feel like she’s a familiar and comforting voice now, and I really appreciate that BK Borison has kept her on for the whole series. She’s doing a brilliant job! Carlos is voiced by a Latine narrator (being a Latine character, it makes sense), Julio Maxwell. He did a good job as well. I haven’t seen his name or heard his voice before, so hopefully he’ll pop up again!

Finally getting Layla’s story was brilliant - I thought about breaking down and eyeball reading in KU but I held on and waited for the audio. I enjoyed the first two so much and Pippa Jayne is such a fantastic narrator, I knew that it would be worth the wait. I enjoy being able to read along (the KU version) while listening, but it seems there were quite a few edits between the two so it got confusing because of that so I’d have to figure out where the audio jumped to when lines were cut. I’d still recommend picking this book up on audio over kindle, simply because audio is always better, and great narrators!

I recommend this for absolutely everyone because it’s so stellar, but especially for those who’ve read the first in the series!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, and this is my honest feedback.

I love this series so much and was pumped for Layla and Caleb’s story. It didn’t disappoint and I love the fresh take that Becs took on it!

Book 3 of this small town beauty of a series. Mixed Signals tells the “sweet” story for Lovelight Farm’s Stella’s college bestie and now co-owner/worker Layla. Don’t let “sweet” fool you because this book gets steamy but it’s a slow slow burn with “fake dating” as a form of learning how-to-date. Almost every chapter makes me wish for a treat from Layla’s bakery or swoon over Caleb.

The audiobook released November 15, a few months after the book was published. Worth the wait for perfect dual narration where the narrators act out the emotions. So glad dreamscape was able to produce this for readers to pair with the ebook/physical book.

Thank you netgalley dreamscape media and thw author for this alc in exchange for honest review. I loved thia book may even be my FAVORITE of the series. I was not a fan of the FMC voice if i wasnt ao pumped to listen would have had to put it aside and come back later. Love the representation the connection AMAZING will absolutely recommend thia book / series to friends.

Comment

“Layla Dupree has given up on love.

She’s waded through all of the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite her best efforts. “

This is my third trip to Inglewild, and I’m glad I came.

All the characters from our past two visits were present and accounted for. We even got to dig into a few secondary characters, which was a delight.

While I never love Miscommunication as a plot device, I did love the Fake (or is it?) Dating, as well as He Fell First tropes.

The only thing I found missing was a final reconciliation scene with Layla’s family.

The only thing better than a HEA is a HEA with a Redemptive Arc.

7/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC.

I am RUINED for all other books now because this was so perfect. The audiobook was superb. I loved both narrators and their voices were perfect for Layla and Caleb. This series has skyrocketed up along with all my other favorites. I can't wait to read this series again and again. I LOVED IT! All the stars! I can't wait to read more by B.K. Borison, but until I get a new book I'll just have to binge read this series over and over. I already purchased them all on paperback and audiobook to enjoy over and over.

"Why are you settling for crumbs when you deserve the whole damn cake? ... It's a really lovely thought, but sometimes crumbs is all you've got."

This was a great third installment to the Lovelight series! Absolutely adorable the warm fuzzies that Layla and Caleb had between each other, especially when they, at least Layla, didn't recognize it for what it was. A fake dating, friends to lovers, spicy romcom was a great way to continue this series.

With comical laugh out loud 'fake' dates between these two, in a small town where everyone knows your business, this was a book, and series, that I highly suggest to anyone looking for a romance/romcom!
Two people growing together, learning and exploring

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape media for this audiobook arc. I been seeing The Lovelight series everywhere and am so glad to be able to listening to one of these books. I definitely get what the hype is about in this romcom, friends to lovers, “fake dating” book. I am giving it 4.5 stars (4 stars on this scale).

B.’K. Borison is a new author to me and I absolutely will read her again after listening to this. Mixed Singles was a cute, sweet, hysterical and steamy book that I makes we wished I picked up this series sooner. Story follows Layla a bakery/store owner. and Caleb a high school teacher. Caleb has a crush on Layla who is scared of getting hurt again in relationships. So Caleb get Layla to agree to date him for a month so to evaluate what he can do better but he really just wants to win over Layla. The date where funny and just cute scenes. I adored Layla and Caleb. I also enjoyed the side characters and cant wait to read the stories I haven’t got to. This was such a great read that I feel like many romcom lover would enjoy.

Loved the narrators for this one. Pippa Jayne brought Layla to life for me in this one. Would love to listen to more from her. Julio Maxwell was great in the Caleb parts. I especially enjoyed when he did Caleb’s family and in Caleb’s more emotional scenes. Very much recommend this audiobook.

I AM OBSESSED with this series! Seriously cannot get enough! And add in the fake dating!?! It's a winner and probably my favorite of the three in the series so far.

Oozing with small time charm, laugh-out-loud moments and so much fun, this is a perfect fall/winter read with all the gilmore girls vibes!

This book make us feel warm and cozy. Just want to drink a coffee and eat a croissant.
Layla is so nice but insecure. Hers dates are a disaster.
Caleb is sweet but maybe to much for some girls.
They start dating each other and fall in love, but maybe he already fell for Layla before that.
It was nice to hâte an audio version, to listen to Layla and Caleb. It’s a sweet and light live story !

This is my first book by B.K Borison and it will not be my last.

I loved this story!!! I thought Layla and Caleb were a perfect match for each other. Caleb is a little too hard on himself when it comes to reading the feelings that Layla has for him as well. They way they went about dating was off for me at first but then I was really enjoying it. I think fake dating first would have helped then but in the end, it was perfect.

I had the pleasure of listening to this ARC, narrated by Pippa Jayne and Julio Maxwell. I thought they both did a really good job! I do love audiobooks but I think this would have been even better just to read.


Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media!