A personal and realistic portrayal of being a caregiver and how one overcomes stress by learning to ask for help. I enjoyed reading and highly recommend this series. There's romance in there but this isn't a light read and does discuss some heavy issues.


******************I received an ARC for my honest option************************

I love that there are so many great hidden messages throughout this book! Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair is such a sweet and steamy love story between Levi and Beckett. Beckett is a strong, independent female who not only cares for her family, runs her own business and is there whenever is needed, she is also tasked with planning her best friend’s wedding. Throw in a hott stuff (intentionally misspelled, read the book and you’ll understand) bar owner/sailor and things become very interesting! The witty banter and steamy chemistry between Levi and Beckett is so tangible that you get so wrapped up in the characters! I haven’t read the first book in this series, but Marina does a great job at filling in enough that you can definitely read this on it’s own. I wish there would’ve been an epilogue to finish up the rest of their story but I’m assuming that may happen in the next book. Which means now I will be waiting in anticipation for the next one.....Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and a chance to read and review this early!

Hopeless Romantic is a flirty and fun romance full of real life twists and turns. Beck is a local do it all girl who was forced to grow up and care for her dad and brother when her mom walked out. Her autistic brother is just as much of a hand full as her musically inclined father. In order to be available at a drop of the hat, she finds work training service animals and picking up any side job she can find.

Levi also finds himself handling all the family affairs when his father passes leaving a family business to run. His sister also tragically passes and he noe helps raise his niece. These two love birds initially fight the budding romance. Love has a way of finding its way into both of their hearts.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Beck has a wild life and Levi is there to put the pieces together. I do wish this storyline advanced a bit quicker and gave us more romance than it did. There was so much extra context that didn't add to the building of Beck and Levis relationship.

Overall, this was a 3 out of 5 for me. Cute, clean, and a quick read! Thanks to net galley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Beckett has her hands full with taking care of her father, autistic brother and running Consider it done, a personal concierge service. She doesn’t have time for dating anyone, and that includes the sexy bar owner, Levi.
Sixteen years ago, Levi was ready to sail into the sunset, but family obligations kept him in town. Now he has a second chance to fulfill his dream but a certain woman keeps showing up at his bar and dreams.
I really enjoyed the way Levi and Becks story develops. It has a slow burn feel to it that was totally worth the wait. Their banter is fun and their understanding of each other adorable. Overall an enjoyable read with some amazing characters, strong storyline and some swoon worthy tender moments.

Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair another love story. Boy meets girl boy and girl fall in love only girl has many family problems. Even with her problems Beckett finds a way to care for her family, run a business or businesses and try to have a life. What I really liked about this book is Ms Adair writes of Beckettes family issues which aren't your typical family issues. She writes how Beckett deals with her autistic brother Thomas and a dad who is also on the spectrum. Not many books show us how and what a care giver has to go through to care for special need family members and Ms. Adair does. Beckett shows us what she has to do to handle her family issues which is not an easy task . Then we meet Levi who tries to get Beckett to see that she does deserve to have a life of her own and still take care of her family.
Hopeless Romantic is a story of family, love and knowing that everyone deserves to be happy. I read this book in one day because i became hooked and needed to finish it. I loved the characters needed to see what would become of Beckett and Levi. Will Thomas and his father be able to get along and let Beckett have a life. I only wish I had read the first book to get to really know the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a quick read. I look forward to Ms. Adair's furture books.

This one was so good it kept me up late for a couple nights. This series is about the love lives of 3 men who all share the role of father to the same girl. Levi is the uncle who raised Paisley from diapers and even though he seems like the cool, hot bartender, he is actually stressed out trying to run his business and take care of his family. His match has even more obstacles to a relationship than he does, what with an autistic brother and father at home to take care of all by herself. Both of them just seem to take on more and more responsibilities, but they eventually find their way together.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beckett and Levi are busy caring for their extended families. Do they have time to explore a relationship? Perhaps, but will it be destroyed because of miscommunication, pride, and stubbornness? I think many will be able to relate to the stresses both main characters carry in the novel. Being responsible is a heavy burden and often there isn’t anyone to alleviate the stress. Hopeless Romantic will light a spark in every reader that has struggled in a relationship, walked away, and then decided one more try is worth the risk. The cover is cheerful an inviting.

I have read the first book in this series this summer so I was very happy to see I was approved for the sequel. I really liked Levi’s character in the first book so I was sure I would like it.

Levi is the most eligible bachelor of Rome (Rhode Island, not Italy), he has his own restaurant and is an uncle to now almost grown up teenage girl. Beckett on the other hand is a very busy girl, with her brother and dad she takes care of as well as million other stuff, and being in a serious relationship is the last thing on her mind. However when Levi’s and Beckett’s lives collide and they have to plan a wedding together, they can’t keep their hands to themselves.

This seemed like quite a cute story at first and I usually really love haters to lovers book but everything seemed to go to fast in this one. It felt like their relationship went from 0 to a 100 and I’m more of a slow burner fan.

I feel like I was more invested in side plots than the main one. For example, I love how Beckett’s brother suffers from Autism and her dad from Aspergers which isn’t usually that talked about, especially in contemporary romance. I love how the author portrayed everyday struggles of people with ASD and upon reading this, I definitely want to learn more about it.

I also liked reading about Levi’s struggles being an uncle to a girl whose mother recently passed. Her ‘dad’ are now Paisley’s keepers and it’s quite for them to see her grow up.

That being said, the romance was not for me. I wasn’t invested in it at all and I found it mild and a bit boring.

In the end, I really hated Levi’s character. How should you help a girl who already has so much work literally every day? Give her another job of being in charge of your restaurant when you can’t. And then when someone robs you it’s her fault because she had so much work. Levi might be a hottie but he’s a toxic one for sure. It’s a no from me.

And of course in the end everything turned out to be rainbows and flowers and it was so rushed. The last 30% of the book is what ruined it for me.

So in the end, this was an okay book but I had so many issues regarding two main characters. That’s why I can’t rate it more than 3 stars.

I know when I pick up a book by Marina Adair that I am in for a giant smile. Hopeless Romantic did not disappoint. I smiled, I sighed, I laughed, and I cried a little. Marina doesn't disappoint on delivering the witty back and forth banter that I crave. Their banter made this book. I loved how their relationship developed and grew. No insta-love for this girl! She pulled all the stops with the push and pull of their relationship. That slow burn was so worth it!

I loved Levi - sexy alpha strong Levi. I've been waiting for his story since he was introduced in Romantically Challenged. This is book #2 in the When in Rome series, however, you do not need to read in order. I suggest you do so you don't miss out on Annie and Emmitt's story as you will get spoilers about that book in here. However, you won't be lost reading Levi and Beckett's story. I also loved Beckett's character so much. Without giving too much away, Beckett's character was spunky and full of sass. She was strong but because she was forced to be strong. She was handed some cards that a lot of people would falter against. I loved her perverseness!

#avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #bookworm #bookaddict #alphamale #angst #chicklit #friendstolovers #greatwriting #hot #read #romance #series #sexualtension #steamy #sweet #witty

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

I didn't realize that this was the 2nd book in a series, but Ms. Adair did a great job making this read almost like a stand alone. I was able to understand Levi's family dynamic enough to make me want to get the first book!

As I met Levi, I learned he has his hands full running a restaurant, rebuilding a boat and slowly letting go of the niece he helped raise. He has very little time for relationships. He just wants to sail in to the sunset.

As I met Beckett, I see a loving daughter and caregiver to her autistic brother, an animal loving trainer of support animals and an all around entrepreneur of her town. She certainly doesn't have time for a relationship.

I loved the story. I'm a sucker for animals and the autism spectrum. I have an autistic nephew, and the authors depiction of Timmy was spot on and I fell head over heals for him. Becketts storyline really hit a soft spot in me.

The love that both Beckett and Levi had for their family was surely going to rub off on to their relationship. It made for a great storyline for sure. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Adair.

You know when the heroine of the book (Beckett) walks into a bar (owned by Levi) with a chicken (live) in the first few pages you are in for an interesting read.

Beckett trains service animals, she's a personal concierge and helps take care of her autistic brother (who is the reason Beckett started training service animals). Levi is a bar owner who is planning a sailing trip around the southern tip of the Americas that he has been putting off since his father died and his sister had an unexpected pregnancy 16 years ago.

Beckett takes care of everyone else rarely leaving anything for her. Levi is helping take care of his niece after his sister's death.

This book was at times amusing, sweet and frustrating. I enjoyed it and will definitely try to read the book before this one and look for any future related books.
#HopelessRomantic #NetGalley

Anything Marina Adair writes is bound to be amazing and Hopeless Romantic won’t disappoint. It’s a great story that you can read again and again!

Chapter 1 hooked me completely. Gregory Pecker and friends were entertaining as well as engaging. The author's inclusion of the effects of autism on individuals and their families was eye opening. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series . My only complaint was the ending was rushed so I hope the next book will resolve my need for more information.

Adair is a master of storytelling. The scenes were so coordinated, hilarious, sweet, butterflies in stomach kind. I sincerely adored this book. Having loved Romeantically challenged, I was really excited to read this. Gosh! I wasn't disappointed. The story focuses on Levi and Beckett who are entangled in their family dynamics with absolutely no space and time to think about themselves.
Both Becket and Levi have a trait in common and that's love for their families. I admired how family oriented they both were. Having a lot of responsibilities on their plates, they never really had the time to think about themselves. The understanding between them is simply adorable. I liked the way, Levi respected Beckett and understood how she needed to take time for herself before being involved with him. This also made him realise about taking time for himself. I like how they both gradually started their relationship, the development was dynamic, there's nothing better than a slow burn romance.
Basically, I loved the lead couple. Their banter was cute from the start, Levi and Beckett are one of those couple who had already crushed on each other on first sight several years ago but prefered to keep their feelings in denial and secret. But it's clearly visisble how much they are fond of each other's presence, their conversations were utterly cute, they influenced each other a lot. A perfect match! This slow burn romance is definitely one of my favourite. Overall, this was really an amazing romance novel. This gave me giggles and a soothing feeling of contentment. Definitely Recommend it. I really hope the Author releases a third book, I want to know more about the side character's lives.

Four Stars for Hopeless Romantic. This was my first book by the author and I know I’ll be looking for more of her books.

Hopeless Romantic is a slow-burn romance. Complex characters that you can’t help but root for. Family means everything to these characters. But they are going to have to be able to give up a little control to be able to work things out. This story was entertaining. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

This book was simply lovely. The two main characters, Beckett and Levi, are two people who have given up a lot to help out their families in this small seaside town. Beckett had had to step up when her mother left the family and she started to be the main caregiver for her younger autistic brother and for her father who is also on the spectrum. She didn’t get to go to college and she has put together some part-time delivery jobs so that she’s available to help out when her brother has fits or her father forgets to feed his son. Levi owns a local bar and restaurant. He had to step up when his father died and his sister became a single mother. He dreams of going off on his own, but he stayed behind to take care of his family.

Levi is very attracted to Beck and admires her sense of responsibility. Slowly they begin to fall for each other and realize that there is room in their lives for someone else. You’ll find yourselves really pulling for Beckett and admiring her choices in life. And Levi is a dreamboat.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see there would be a followup to Romeantically Challenged and it did not disappoint.

I would recommend if you're looking for

-m/f frenemies to lovers
-close proximity
-small town romance
-opposites attract
-plenty of emotional support animals
-don't come a knockin if the boat is a rockin
-slow burn

I love the premise of this series, three men united in their love and raising one little girl. This book concentrates on Levi, our cinnamon roll of an uncle who has spent his life sacrificing for his family. I love his scenes as an uncle, but his scenes with Beckett when he realizes how special she is, and his inner romantic comes out, or he's just sweet to her brother, were just swoon.

But the real rockstar of this book is Beckett. Living with two neurodiverse family members, she has also sacrificed a lot for her family, and her family life juxtaposed with Levi was a really interesting twist in the book. Beckett has a lot of roles in her life, and her advocacy for special needs and helping others was wonderful to read. The book did not have her sacrifice her independence in order to find love, instead it was about both of our MCs carving out what they wanted out of life and finding it in the other.

My only complaint was the book wrapped up rather quickly, I would have loved an epilogue or a longer scene dealing with that final twist. Especially Beckett's story line with her family was dealt with well, but I wish it had been addressed more at the end. While clearly a lead up to Gray's well deserved third book I would have loved to have seen a bit of Beckett and Levi's HEA.

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3

Trigger: grief, parental abandonment

This is book 2 in the When in Rome series. Beckett Hayes is the caretaker of her autistic brother. And her eccentric musician father. She knows how important it is to get a little help. So she’s started a concierge type of service. Doing off jobs for people. Levi Rhodes runs his family’s bar and restaurant. He put his plans to sail the globe on hold when his father passed away, and his sister became pregnant. But now he’s ready to finally take the trip. When Beckett walks into his bar, he knows she different. And he wants to explore the sparks that they have. But Beckett has to much on her plate to date.
I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with Rome, Rhode Island, and it’s characters in the first book, Emmitt and Annie’s story. And loved seeing Levi find his happy ever after. The writing was beautiful, and the characters were relatable. Both putting their family’s needs first. I definitely recommend this book.

Beckett Hayes and Levi Rhodes are no strangers to responsibility. Both have their hands full with family obligations and neither has any time in their life for relationships let alone love, but when the two are thrown together to help plan the respective best friends’ wedding relationship and love are where they are headed.

Levi’s goal has been to set off on his sailing trip, but he’s always ended up having to put it on hold to deal with family issues. He’s finally to the point where that trip is close enough to touch, but Beckett is completely throwing his plans off schedule and Levi isn’t as broken up about it as one would think.

When it comes to family obligation and responsibilities, Beckett pretty much hold the record. Not only does she care for her autistic younger brother, but she also keeps an eye on her father who is also considered on the spectrum but is highly functional. Between her father, brother and her jobs that saying she’s stretched very thin is an understatement.

This is book two (somehow, I missed book one) of the “When in Rome” series. It was very heavy on previous characters’ and their situations and not having read the first book it was sometimes hard to follow along and I found myself distracted with what possibly happened in book one. I’m definitely going to go back and read the first book which I’m sure will give me a better appreciation for this book. However, I still found that I liked this book. The characters were very likeable, and I think the pace of the story was pretty good. There was definitely chemistry between Beckett and Levi and found myself constantly routing for them. I’m thinking once I go back and read book one, I’ll have more to say about this book.