It was a nice read but the self-depreciation got boring after a while and her friends if you can call them that were just as bad.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Definitely Not Dating is the second in a series - the book centers around Everleigh and Matt. Ever is part of a group of 4 friends who won an inn and is refurbishing it, and along the way meeting new people and becoming part of a small town.

I did not read the first one and so was a little lost on the back stories of the characters and their interactions. Ever and Matt are super sweet., almost too good to be true and their story is also adorable. There is a little mystery thrown in which honestly could have been more part of the story since it was interesting.

Definitely will be checking out the first and the rest of the series, hoping for a standalone Nora/James story

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. It wasn't my favorite romance book, but I also didn't hate it. I didn't really feel anything for the main characters. They just fell short for me. Their romance was good. I love the whole denial of feelings but totally obvious about their feelings with some physical touch thing. The plot though was not my favorite. The whole who burned down the house plot just felt thrown in there for the sake of having something other than romance happening. Overall I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth is the second book in the Love Lottery series. I have not read the first book in the series, but the prologue gives a good run down of how the new inn owners got where they are, so newcomers to the series and author will not feel lost or left behind.

Everleigh Girard always dates the wrong men at the worst times. The last debacle cost her a job and an apartment. But thanks to a crazy lottery win, she and her friends have a fresh start restoring a historic inn. Determined to make it a success, Everleigh swears off the dangers of dating entirely. Except, the town’s police chief is distractingly hot. So how much trouble could friends with benefits really cause? Police chief Matt Halliday always puts protecting his town first. He’s blindsided when his house mysteriously burns down, and grateful his friends rent him a room at their inn while they finish renovations. It’s a great deal. Mostly. It’s hard to resist the very beautiful Everleigh. Love is permanently off the table for him—but lust is definitely on. After their first red-hot kiss, keeping it casual is impossible. Can Everleigh teach Matt to trust again—especially when he’s keeping a secret that may put him and his new friends at risk?

Definitely Not Dating is a romance that balances humor, heat, and heart very well. Ever is dealing with confidence issues and rarely trusts her own judgement- something that many of us can relate to on some level. She needs to prove to herself that she can do the right things, make the right choices, and help the inn succeed. Matt is still focused on not getting hurt again, while trying to figure out who burned down his house. The best relationships form when no one is looking, and sometimes when you are actively trying to deny the exist. That is definitely the case here. I loved that Matt and Ever were open and honest (mostly) with each other from the very start- and the level of sass and fun that was a part of almost every interaction really made me smile as I read the story. I love when characters are real, flawed and dealing with real life issues that readers can relate to, or can at least see as possible. The feeling of found family and supportive friends is also something I love to see in romance novels- the main couple have other people and responsibilities in their lives, and this book did a good job of showing a nice balance with that, and how romantic relationships can find a happy balance with friend groups and even the most demanding jobs as long as communication and caring are at the heart of it all.

Definitely Not Dating is a contemporary romance with plenty of character growth, heat, and feels.

Unfortunately, this book was definitely not as good as I had hoped. Sure, it had some familiar elements I always go for, hence, being intrigued enough by the synopsis and having read the first book to give it a try. However, this budding relationship feel flat with me from the get go. I never really thought they had a well established emotional connection. They were just two very pretty people who found one another attractive. I guess you could throw in Matt felt pity for her, as well, which I'll get right to, folks.

Everleigh was forever pitying herself. She played the role of a self apologetic woman who was very insecure regarding her past, present, and assumed predestined, future, dismal decision making skills regarding life and especially love. She certainly didn't need enemies pointing out her flaws, because she had that covered herself. Her shining light was her determination to prove herself wrong. It didn't help her so called loyal, caring, now inn owning posse of friends labeled and often treated her with the same mindset. That got old and annoyed me to no end. For supposedly being her besties and having her back, I felt they were always looking down their superior noses at her to a certain extent.

Opening with too much time rehashing, practically verbatim the same conversations & event that was presented in the first book, I was immediately questioning the pacing of the story. Even a completely destructive house fire didn't heat up the plot overly much. At least from the time I stopped reading. Yep, I found myself overly bored so moved on, folks.

The next book, Wrong for Him, will feature two of these best friends in a likely cliche, forbidden romance set up. Forbidden, of course, because they are more worried about what their friends think than following their own minds and hearts, at least for awhile. Honestly, I'm surprised Teague is being paired with Amelia, because I was dang sure Norah, the chef, had caught his eye. Go figure, huh.

Anyway, here's to hoping others enjoy this romantic tale. I wish the author continued writing success with this series.

Title: Definitely Not Dating, Series: Love Lottery (Book 2), Author: Christi Barth, Pages: 284, pub date: 5/4/21, stand-alone romance but part of a series, constant self apologetic heroine, didn't feel their chemistry or connection, wasn't as good as I hoped, lost interest, Rating: 2.5 stars

Book 1 - The Accidental Fiance - Alex & Sydney (2/23/21)
Book 2 - Definitely Not Dating - Everleigh & Matt (5/4/21)
Book 3 - Wrong for Him - Amelia & Teague (9/24/21)

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any form for this review. There is no relationship or affiliation between this reviewer and the author, publisher, NetGalley, or any PR firm.)

I loved this, such a feel good happy book. Everleigh winning the Inn couldn't have come at a better time for her, new beginnings and different route in life. I love Matt the town sheriff, I feel it is very cliché that they ended up having feelings for each other but nevertheless, loved it!

Thanks Christi and Netgalley for this ARC!

I love the concept of this series so so much. It is definitely a trip into fantasyland for anyone who has ever dreamed of owning a B&B. I also adore this group of friends. The thing about this book - was I had a hard time with Everleigh. At the start of the book - and in the last one - you could see that she hadn't quite found her niche yet - or a level of comfort with herself. Everleigh had gone from bad relationship to bad relationship - drifting along while she did. She was looking to find her place with another person instead of inside herself. She definitely has some self-esteem issues. Not in the body department - but in the self-worth department. Everleigh is clearly such a kind and caring person - but doesn't see the worth in that.

Matt is the local police chief who is about as solid and steady as they come - with the exception of the relationship department. He was burned badly and has decided romance isn't for him.

He and Everleigh are a fiery combination - but they are both reluctant to start something.

Overall - I really enjoyed this - but it was a slow start for me.

I am looking forward to reading more about this crew!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions were all my own.

I'm seriously loving this series! Matt & Everleigh made a great non-couple even though they both had issues with trust, love, and relationships. The suspense element was intriguing and their chemistry was evident! Love the team's friendships & partnerships.

I have read several books by Christi Barth and have enjoyed them all! The same is true of Definitely Not Dating. Her characters are well written showcasing both their strengths and weaknesses. I like that! I don't want characters that seem too perfect. This book focuses on Matt and Everleigh. You can look forward to some chuckles.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary, honest review.

Series: Love Lottery-Book 2
Genre: Romance
Main Characters: Everleigh & Matt
Rating: 3 Stars

Everleigh and her 3 best friends won a Inn in a Christmas time lottery and they all embark on this new career together. I believe each book in the series will focus on one of the friends. Each friend brings a different skill set to the table and Everleigh believes she has little to offer and vows that this time she won't let her weakness get in the way of success. Everleigh's biggest weakness seems to be men and the lengths that she will go to make them happy, so she swears off men until this Inn is a success. This new independence from men gets tested when Police Chief Matt moves into the Inn after his house mysteriously burns down.

This is the second book in the series and though I didn't read the first in the series I had no trouble following this one. There were a few instances where they referenced events that happened in the first but nothing that required the first book be read. This was a fun, bubbly story that was a real quick read. Everleigh and Matt were great and had chemistry from their first interaction.

Everleigh's insecurities about herself and self worth were something that I believe most people can relate to so it was wonderful to see her build herself up and start believing in herself and her worth. That was a great unexpected side plot that I really enjoyed. I would have like for the mystery that Matt was investigating around his house and the fire be a bit more dramatic and a bigger part of the plot but this book was all about the romance and the mystery was only there to further that plot.

Overall it was a fun, quick read that I could easily see myself reading on the beach or on some downtime as you can always pick the plot back up quick!

Friends-with-benefits romance

Everleigh and her friends win an old inn in a lottery. With all of them down on their luck, they decide to get the inn up and running. Everleigh's downfall is men and relationships, so she decides no men until the inn is open and successful. But Everleigh wasn't prepared for Matt, the police chief. When Matt's house burns down, his friends at the inn offer him a room until the inn opens. Now all he has to do is keep his hands off the gorgeous Everleigh.

The chemistry between Everleigh and Matt is undeniable. They just can't keep their hands off each other, so they begin a friends-with-benefits relationship. Although I really liked Everleigh and Matt, I just found some of their interactions awkward. And I really wish that Everleigh would have had more faith in her own abilities. Next up is Teague and Amelia's story and I can't wait.

I received a copy courtesy of Tule Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Winning the Inn couldn’t have come at a better time for Everleigh as it allowed her to put some time and distance between her and her most recent romantic debacle. She is focused on ensuring that they make the business viable however having a sexy Sheriff as their first guest was the one thing she hadn’t prepared for.

Matt is determined to keep his relationships with woman casual as he has learnt the hard way what happens if you don’t. When a house emergency finds himself staying at the Inn he never expected that the biggest challenge would be denying the chemistry between him and Everleigh.

This is a heartwarming story about two people who help each other heal from the past so that they can have a future together.

This is the second book in this standalone series by Christie Barth. I had read and enjoyed the first book, but believe each is its own story with not a lot of referencing back. Matt is the sheriff of a small town in Maryland where 4 friends won an Inn which was in terrible shape. They have all worked hard to bring the Inn back, and Everleigh who thinks she is the one who will always screw things up is very worried about doing her part. The others trust her completely and make her their PR person. The story starts with Matt’s house burning down, and even though the Inn is not quite ready to open, one of the crew, Teague, offers him a room. This starts the beginnings of a romance, between Matt and Everleigh, but because they have both been burned by romance before, they try to deny their attraction. This made for a totally fun, heartwarming read. The setting, the four friends and their relationships, as well as Matt and Everleigh made for an enjoyable read. Can’t wait for the next book!

Good Story!

'Definitely Not Dating' is about Matt and Everleigh; when Everleigh and her friends win the lottery they gain an inn, to avoid any trouble the group make a celibacy pact. So they move, to renovate it and eventually get it running. Matt's house has recently burned down and since he is friends with one of the group members - Teagan, he can seek shelter at the inn before its opening. When Everleigh hears a noise that night, she goes down to check what's going on, that's when she finds Matt! Teagan didn't let her know what happened and that Matt was staying there. They start to get close and vow to remain friends but we all know how that goes... But Matt has a secret that he has kept from her and her friends, a secret that will put them all at risk!

I enjoyed reading this book, however, it took me a while to get into the story, it might just be me. I like that Matt supported Everleigh and that he didn't judge her for her past mistakes, and that she did the same for him!

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A sweet romance I read over a weekend at home! The second book in a series, it tells the story of Everleigh and her friends who won a old, run-down B&B in a lottery, and are planning a grand re-opening. While renovations to the inn are underway, local sheriff Matt wakes in the night to his house ablaze. With nowhere to go, he stays at the inn while he investigates the fire. Both Everleigh and Matt are unlucky in love, but can't deny their growing attraction. Agreeing to be friends with benefits seems easy, but can they resist from going all in?

I thought the book was a sweet and quick read. I hadn't read the first book, but was able to easily pick up on the characters, their relationships, and the general plot of the first book. I think the book could have been stronger if the plot of the fire were explored a bit more, but given that the book isn't adventure/thriller-romance, I don't think it took away from the book as a whole.

I would like to go read the first in the series, and I'll likely be checking out the third book!

This book is the second book in the Love Lottery series. I was lucky enough to read both books before they were published. Everleigh and her friends are restoring an inn with their lottery winnings. The police chief's house burns down and there's the mystery of who done it. This book was fun and enjoyable. I thought the author did a great job with character development, conflict and fun dialogue. The book was well written, fun and kept me entertained from the first page until the last. I loved the sizzling chemistry and a little bit of mystery. A recipe for a great book. I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Everleigh Girard has always dated the wrong men, and the last one costed her, her job and apartment. After winning a Historic Inn in the lottery with her 3 friends, she decides to stay away from dating and just concentrate on working to make the inn a success.
Except that their new guest, Police chief Matt Halliday is making sticking to her resolve difficult.
Matt Halliday has a problem, his house just went up in a fire and he needs a place to stay. Luckily his friend offers him a room at his inn. Matt and Ever have always been attracted towards each other and staying under one roof makes fighting the attraction difficult.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Matt and Ever together and how they helped each other get over their pasts. They had a very cute and sweet romance and a very Hot one at that. There was a touch of mystery that added to the read. Can’t wait for the next in the series !

Sweet, optimistic, what Framily should look like! Barth created a vivid world with well-developed characters in this follow-up to The Accidental Fiance' (Love Lottery Series), but it can be read as a stand-alone!

Matt is a true gentleman with a sexy streak a mile wide! A Chief of Police with true integrity and honor who is strong and solid through and through. But he has to overcome his past, get his life back in balance, and learn to trust his heart before he'll be truly happy.
Everleigh is the beautifully broken woman who hasn’t let love’s heartbreaks get her down. Optimistic, honest, and so open-hearted and ready for love, Ever has to overcome her own self-image (largely put there by her parents) in order to be ready for the love she’s always wanted.

I gave it 3 stars because it has a slow pace/flow. It’s absolutely fantastic and obviously, I believed it to be worth reading and reviewing, but it felt like it was almost real-time. Each day reading of them at the inn, helping in town, eating Nora’s food...just slower-paced than I’d prefer...
Pippa,
My Secret Book Spot

Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth
Publisher: Tule Publishing, American Heart
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth is the second book in the Love Lottery series. I had not read the previous book, but found that the author provided enough backstory so I could read this as standalone romance novel.

This was a wonderful story of forgiveness, self-discovery, second chance, friendship, and most of all, learning to love oneself. I loved seeing Everleigh's growth throughout the book. Her growth throughout the book was evident and allowed other character to work on their issues too. I really enjoyed the depth of this story. I also thought it was neat how crime solving was also included since I am a cozy mystery junkie! The romance was well done and steamy! I loved their chemistry and I was rooting for Everleigh and Matt the whole time!

This was a great read and I couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading the other books in the series!

I'm so grateful to Christi Barth, Tule Publishing, American Heart, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

DNF’d after reading a third of the book. I also read the last chapter to see how it ended.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but sadly I didn’t. First of all, from the synopsis of the book, you already know a lot that will happen and when I stopped reading at a third of the book, most of the synopsis hadn’t even started. The main thing that I didn’t like was the fact that this read a lot like one of those cheesy tv romance movies where everything that happens is predictable and cringey. I didn’t like the relationship development between the 2 main characters because it was already obvious what would happen but the « oh should I, no I shouldn’t » was annoying to me. Special mention to that part :

-What are you doing here Sheriff ?
-I’m a Chief.
-Chief of what ? Hotness ?

The flirting was terrible to me and there was no build up to it. I guess that may be a preference of mine.

If everything mentioned is not something that could ruin your enjoyment of a book, then you should probably give it a try but sadly this one wasn’t for me !