I decided not to finish this book because I didn't feel a strong connection to the story or characters. I will not be rating it or writing a full review, but I appreciate the opportunity.

This is an enemies to lovers type story, which I loooove! Bree is smart and trying get her final year in the doctoral program done with, Spencer is hardworking and has no love for Bree and family but are forced together. It starts out with so much tension you could feel it coming off the pages. There was no love lost between Bree and Spencer and to boot Spencer was put off by how much he was attracted to someone he 'hated'. But they must try to set their differences aside to work for the good of the committee. The plot was, overall good, I did find that it kinda fell flat for me towards the end though/ This is a great read on a Sunday curled up in your comfy chair type book.

I’ve really enjoyed Kris Fletcher’s Calypso Falls series, including Romancing the Rivals. Bree and Spencer were frenemies in high school when they find themselves on the same committee supporting their town of Calypso Falls. Spencer doesn’t feel animosity for Bree anymore and is attracted to her, but he does have a vendetta against her father. Bree’s not a big fan of her father’s; therefore, the issue is not too much of a roadblock.

Bree and Spencer slowly evolve and become closer and discover they are attracted to each other. There is a tenderness to their transition from enemies to lovers that makes this a sweet romance. Bree’s sisters are an endearing part of the story, and this is overall a highly enjoyable romance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Kris Fletcher, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

ROMANCING THE RIVAL is the second book in Kris Fletcher's Calypso Falls series, which is centered around the lives of the Elias sisters. Each book follows a different sibling's story, so they can be read as standalones and in any order, but as always, it's better to read these kinds of books in the order the author writes them.

This second installment in the Calypso Falls series follows the life and romance of Bree Elias, a pragmatic academic and the oldest of the Elias siblings, and Spencer James (aka Spence), Bree's rival. In her final year of her doctoral program, Bree is close to having everything she's worked so hard for, but just before it's within her grasp, she's thrown a curve ball. Bree and Spencer are lifelong enemies, dating back to high school, and now, they're forced to work together on a work committee. What starts as a bitter rival becomes a problematic attraction.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I liked the characters and rooted for them to make amends for their past wrongdoings. I loved the underlying themes, like forgiveness, regret, and even prejudice. This is a great example of the hate-to-love trope that's so popular in romance literature right now. This romance novel is definitely on the sweeter side, so readers who dislike erotic romance can still enjoy this one. 3.5 stars.

Spence knows when to take a hint, and give some action, “and other— oh, God— horizontal surfaces.” Which was the last complete sentence she managed for the rest of the evening." Thhis was an okay read, some parts were better than others and some just seemed to drag on forever.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the characters and I even liked the story. However it is book 3 in a series and I totally a little lost at times. Alot of information from other books were tossed out there. I am not really sure it stands alone but if you don't mind being a little lost, then it is a nicely written and interesting story.

This is a really good Hate to Love storyline. However it is pure hate, there is no love in it at all. Spence and Bree's families are mortal enemies. At one time their families were close but there is a lot of bad blood between their families dating back to their parents. The two attended high school but also in college some stuff happened that caused even more animosity between Spence and Bree.

Aside from the hate thing, this story is at the heart abot family and learning to forgive the past and moving on. Spence is very caught in his past and so is Bree and when they get put on a town comittee together well they have to learn to move past it.