Wonderful series, but then I also really like the author's Sugar, Ga series too. Strangely the last book that I read, also had a main character that is "on the spectrum". This one has one character that is autistic, another has Asperger's and the story explores how the other family members are affected by it. My next door neighbor has a child (now a young adult) with severe Autism and we have seen up close how hard these conditions are on the family members, ripping apart marriages, but also inculcating a sense of kindness, patience and empathy with the siblings. My neighbor has had to take the county school board to court many times to get her child the education that he needs. (She has won, every time).

Beckett Hayes may be a hopeless romantic, but when her mother deserted the family, leaving Beckett and her brother Thomas in the car, while she went into the grocery store and then ran,
she left 16 year old Beckett in charge, to juggle all those responsibilities that she couldn't or wouldn't. Beckett found the only way she could handle it all was, to create her own business as a jobber. But there is just so much she can juggle without running herself ragged.

We met Levi in the previous book. He also has put his life on hold for years, He and his father had planned a sailing trip, but then his father died and his mother and sister needed him to run the family business. Then his sister Michelle got pregnant, and she needed to help raise her daughter ....

Levi and Beckett are perfect for each other, if they could learn to every now and then, put their needs first. Read how they learn to do that.

I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Levi and Beckett had a love-hate relationship. They didn't really hate each other but knew if they got close they're gonna get emotionally attached. Beck often came to Levi's restaurant with her animals even though they're not allowed there as Beck trained animals for helping therapies. Levi learned about Beck's autistic dad and brother. Levi wanted to get close to her but couldn't. Then Annie wanted her bestfriend, Beck to plan her wedding which she agreed and Levi offered to help too as he's the venue owner. Beck and Levi started spending time with each other a lot. Levi finally convinced beck to give them a chance. They started dating, well secretly. Then things happened which led Levi to break up with Beck but he realized his mistake the next day. So, both Levi and Beck apologized to each other and admitted their feelings.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this cute romantic novel. I found it very slow in the beginning. It is about a caretaker and her trials and tribulations. And when it finally got interesting, the author rushed trough the ending.

Loved the first book and couldn't wait to read this one. This is Levi's & Beckett's story. They are both over extended with all they are trying to do and overwhelmed with obligations but neither are very good at asking for help or putting themselves first. They have been attracted to each other for awhile, but haven't acted on it. Their friends ask them to plan their wedding which gets them to start spending time together. As they work on this they get to know each other and act on those feelings. Of course at some point everything hits the fan and they have to come to terms that they need to put themselves first some of the time.

Hopeless Romantic
By Marina Adair

Marina Adairs delivers a lovely romantic read that is perfectly balanced between two main characters whose love life had always been put in the backburner - always sacrificing themselves for their families. I absolutely enjoyed this beautiful story that tugged at my heart strings. Beckett and Levi are just so perfect for each other and I loved their characters, their families and their quest for finding love - finally for these selfless people. Completely relatable as a nurse and caregiver when family obligations always takes priority. Amazing read I enjoyed in the When in Rome series.

I really enjoyed RomeAntically Challenged, so I jumped at the chance to pick up the next book in the series. The author does a great job combining romance with tough issues handled well and relatable characters that you want to root for. I hope the series continues.

Great book! I didn't know it is part of a series. Will definitely pick up the other book. I love the story and the writing style.

This is number 2 in a series, which I did not know when I began this. I susupect that it would be better to read this after the first one, but I think it is fine as a stand alone. It has a hero and heroine who are both at a time in their lives where they have given their all for their families and it is time they make their own lives and love lives a priority, especially as they have some serious chemistry! It is a good romance and worth the read.

Hopeless Romantic is literally the best romance read I have read this year! First off I love that a portion of royalties to benefit The Organization for Autism Research that alone should speak volumes. As the second book in the When in Rome series by Marina Adair I just knew it was going to be awesome! I love how she still kept it sensitive and sweet! The small town romances always get me and this one really warmed my heart I loved Beckett and her sassy self. Levi and Beckett's story is a MUST READ!

Part of a series but most of info is given out.

I was not feeling this. I love Beckett. She has a lot going on but she is a great person. I felt like i was dropped in the middle of a story and left in a middle of a story. Levi was kind of a D#*k.

Not to fond of it. Not badly written.

When we first meet Beckett Hayes in Hopeless Romantic, the second book in the When in Rome series by Marina Adair, she is rushing around from job to job. Beckett is the full-time caregiver for her brother and her dad, who are both on the Autism spectrum. She has been taking care of them for so many years, that she has had to put her needs after theirs. She has decided that the only way to be available is to form her own concierge business, Consider It Done. One of the services she offers is meal delivery from local restaurants. Owning her own business also gives her the opportunity to follow her passion of training service animals.

One of those restaurants is the Crow’s Nest, which is owned and operated by Levi Rhodes. Levi gave up his dream of sailing down the coast when his father passed away and his sister had a surprise pregnancy. He put his life on hold to help care for his niece and run the family business, but now that his niece is a teenager, can Levi find the time to complete his lifelong dream?

Although Beckett and Levi are at odds over more than just a meal delivery service, they will have to learn to work together to get the Crow’s Nest stable so Levi can take his trip. Beckett and Levi are both strong-willed people who are fighting for their needs and wants and a future that will have to adapt in order for them to reach their full potential. Can they overcome the barriers of family obligations and stresses to really open their hearts for love? A love that could be a once in a lifetime?

Release Date: January 26th 2021

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Beckett is Rome Rhode Island’s first personal concierge. She’s even trying to expand to include take out delivery from the crows nest. However owner Levi has other plans. These plans include Beckett but not a lot else that she typically brings with her, such as Gregory Pecker the emotional support chicken. Her frenzied and forgetful father and her sweet struggling brother who has ASD. The more time Levi spends with Beckett the more he is absolutely entranced. She gives so much and expects so little. But Beckett’s life is chaos and unpredictable so she’s had guys think they’re in it for the long haul only to bail at the first turn. Levi just might be different...


I love this book. After two meh books and a dry bio I was thrilled to have a book I could sink into and look forward to. It’s so delightfully romantic and fun. The characters are wonderful and vivid. I love how Levi approach’s Beckett and how she responds. It’s a hopeless romantic book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations. #hopelessromantic #marinaadairauthor

I loved the story. MY one complaint though is that the story ends very abruptly. I kept looking for more of the story...trying to turn the page to just find out that it was already at 100%.

Levi and Beckett each have family demands on them.

Levi takes care of his family,. his mom without being a momma's boy, his niece - as an early dad figure, his best friend from school as a brother, and lastly his brother in law. Each of the men have been a father figure to Paisley as she grew up (resembles three men and a baby). Everyone is mourning the death of Michelle (mom to Paisley) in their own way. Aiden (the bio dad to Paisley) recently found is true love with Annie in the previous book. Gray still feels like he owes the family Michelle's memory (he struggles move on to another relationship). Levi feels that he has to keep everyone together - to put his needs last since the death of his dad and sister. He dreams of being able to sail the open seas alone - but feels that he is needed too much to put his needs first.

Beckett feels that she is alone able to manage her father and brother. (both are in the autism spectrum). Beckett has hidden her true troubles -she seen as being irresponsible by the town due to she seems to float from one job to the next. What most don't know is that she feels that she needs to be available to care for her younger brother and their father. Her mom walked out on the family due to she could not adapt to the constant demands of a husband on the spectrum and their young son being higher on the spectrum. Beckett learned from a young age the she was the go-between for the two men in her life.

Both the main characters spread themselves thin with all their family, and business needs/requests. The each are attracted the other -but due to their previous relationships are afraid to commit to the other. Aiden and Annie appear to have hatched a plan to get their two best friends together. They have asked Beckett and Levi to plan their wedding.

Hopeless Romantic has a fun plot, and - even better - great characters! It's a cute and quick read, which is just what I needed.

I love Levi!! People see him as the bad boy, but deep down he is a total sweetheart that cares deeply. He just doesn't let people get close enough to know everything that he is carrying under that charming smile.

Beckett is so busy taking care of her family, that she doesn't have time for love or romance, just a quickie here and there. And other than a very few close friends, she doesn't let anyone get close enough to her to know what's going on in and happening in her life.

Levi slowly starts to chip away at the barriers Beckett has around her heart and she slips into his mind and heart seamlessly. But can he handle all the responsibilities that she comes with?

This is a beautifully written story depicting life with Autism, as well as other family challenges.

I really felt for both Beckett and Levi in the beginning because they were each trying so hard to take care of and protect their families. Beckett was challenged at an early age when her mother abandoned the family. It was up to Beckett to take care of her autistic brother and her father, who has Asperger's. She tries to care for her family while starting up a business except she finds out that she just can't handle it all. Unfortunately, Beckett doesn't learn to say no and keeps adding to her responsibilities until this creates conflict with the man she is in love with.

Levi is somewhat in the same situation as he tries to help his family after the death of his father and sister. Levi puts his dreams of a sailing trip on hold in order to keep the family business going while also making sure his niece and mother are looked after.

While I admire how they met each challenge even when they felt insurmountable, I felt that some of those challenges were brought on themselves. When they began to spend more time together to help plan Beckett's best friend's wedding and Levi hiring Beckett to help with his bar/restaurant business operations, it was just one more added stress to their already crazy lives. The incident with Beckett's father and brother was heart breaking., however, the ending seemed rushed and left the reader with some unanswered questions.

Overall I liked the .book and look forward to reading the first book based on reading this one.

I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley via Kensington and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

Levi Rhodes ALWAYS puts others first. Levi had dreams of sailing and still does, but that dream died with the unplanned pregnancy of his sister. His sister later married, but then died in an accident leaving behind a grieving spouse and daughter. With the sudden death of his father, his dream is again put on hold as his grieving mom needs help with their multiple businesses. But it’s been a year and he has a “countdown to sail” clock in the bar. He just has a few loose ends to tie up before he feels as though he can leave his mom and niece. First up...driving lessons, then his best friend’s wedding. That is, until a quirky Beckett walks into his bar...

Beckett Hayes is the main caregiver to her autistic brother and father who has Asperger’s. While her dad is a highly accomplished musician, he’s not a reliable parent. Beckett would do anything for her family, including giving up her dreams. While Beckett’s true passion is to train animals to provide emotional support, she runs a concierge company full time. She has a huge heart and wants to help EVERYONE, but sometimes disappoints when there’s a family emergency. When Annie, her best friend, asks her to plan her dream wedding she reluctantly accepts. She does NOT want to disappoint Annie, so she enlists the help of Levi-her HUGE crush.

This is one of the best Marina Adair novels I’ve read! I FELT as though I was “in” the story. I do not have special needs children, but was a teacher and know how extremely sensitive and patient you have to be. I loved how supportive Levi was and how good he was with Beckett’s brother (Tommy). I thought the rooster was hilarious and I pictured Hei Hei every time Beck brought him into the bar-mostly to just irritate Levi. I loved that Beckett wasn’t all put together and glamorous, but Levi still wanted her anyway. The driving lessons, Levi’s mom, the animals....HILARIOUS! I also enjoyed how “real” the story was. It wasn’t all happy, happy, happy. There were struggles and grieving. I highly recommend this novel and can’t wait to revisit Rome. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

After thoroughly enjoying the first book in Marina Adair’s When in Rome series, I was very much looking forward to reading book two. Sadly, Hopeless Romantic left me feeling mostly hopeless and less than romantic.

Beckett Hayes’s mother disappeared when she was a teenager, leaving her to parent an autistic younger brother, as well as take care of her father who has Asperger’s. Because one family crisis seems to happen after another (making it hard to keep a normal job), she started a concierge service - Consider It Done - which keeps her busy at all hours of the day. She also trains emotional support animals in what little free time she has. As much as she’d like to have someone special in her life, she can hardly escape the demands of her life for an evening, let alone find someone who's understanding about her commitments.

Levi Rhodes’s life has taken a couple of detours. First when his father died unexpectedly and ended their dream to take a six month sailing trip, then when his sister had an unplanned pregnancy and the father wasn't around. With two family businesses to run, a needy mother, and a niece to help raise, there’s not much time for anyone else, let alone following his own dreams.

Beckett and Levi have a lot in common. Both have lives completely consumed by their families. Both want more from life. So you’d think they’d be perfect together and understand the demands they each faced…

This book took me two weeks to read, which is never a good sign. Marina Adair is an excellent writer, with compelling characters and witty dialog. But the pacing in this story was glacially slow and the overwhelming feeling I had for both the hero and heroine was pity. Poor Beckett just couldn’t catch a break, Liam seemed to be mourning the life he didn’t have, and both were smothered by the weight of family obligations. What little humor that existed - provided by an emotional support chicken named Gregory Pecker and Beckett and Levi’s banter - wasn’t enough to hold my interest for even a whole chapter most nights.

Things picked up around 65 percent when Beckett and Levi actually started to date, and Levi was able to be the support Beckett desperately needs. Then - with 5 percent of the book remaining - the hero behaves like an ass (because of course we need some drama between the couple). But that wasn’t a problem for me. What was the problem is that the conflict happens, Beckett blames herself (even though she did nothing wrong), and the book ends without the hero making a grand gesture...or even an adequate apology. And that made me verrah verrah cranky.

Add in a bunch of loose ends from several of the many storylines going in the book, and I finished Hopeless Romantic with more questions than I got answered. This book spent too much time developing the separate stories of the hero and heroine and not enough time building the relationship between the couple. I like a good, long book but this one was too long...or rather, was too long spent on not enough of the good stuff.

If there’s a third book in this series - and I'm really hoping there is because Gray needs a happliy ever after - I’ll read it. But I’m really, really hoping it’s more like the first book and not at all like the second.

* thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

What keeps a dock floating above water? Pier pressure.
& Beckett & Levi sure are feeling a lot of it, with work and family, they never seem to get any time for themselves.

I was SO excited to head back to Rome, Rhode Island for book 2, and hear Levi’s story after the 3 Men & a Baby vibes in the first book. Levi’s world is completely changed when Beckett walks into his bar and rocks his boat.

Beckett doesn’t believe that happily ever afters are for her, instead focusing on the happiness of nearly everyone around her. From taking care of her brother to being the parent to her own father, she has sacrificed much of her time to taking care of them & not enough time for herself.

"That's what love did, stripped away all life's baggage and BS until all that was left was family - vulnerable and pure, embracing each other's imperfections without hesitation or judgment."

I loved how the author made both of our main characters so family-focused, and how important to Beckett the care of her special needs family was.

This small-town romance gives us a little bit of everything we need - fun animal sidekicks, opposites attract relationship with two people who must learn to stop giving all of themselves to others in order to find time to love each other. A slow burn with the perfect amount of steam, you’re sure to fall for this charming romance.

I am anxiously waiting for what I hope will be book 3 about Grayson, and returning to these likable characters that always have such great stories surrounded by love and family!

Thank you Netgalley & Kensington Books for the eARC to read and review in exchange for my personal review!

Hopeless Romantic was my first read by Marina Adair and I can't wait to read more of her work. This story had many elements and all of them worked and were executed successfully. Levi and Beckett were flawed yet likeable and well-rounded characters. Although their romance was slow in coming, their chemistry was always there and the slow build to the romance just added to the anticipation of it happening. But most of all, I enjoyed the fact that the story had the right amount of heat, humor and drama thrown into the mix to keep me interested throughout. The secondary characters were an added plus, which led to me one-clicking to get my hands on RomeAntically Challenged, book one in the When in Rome Series.

All in all, a fantastic read.