I received a copy of this via Netgalley.

This is a sweet friends to lovers romance. I enjoyed all of the characters except our main character Jules. Because I could not quite get on board with her personality at all, it ruined the romance a bit for me. There were some great moments and I felt like she had a lot of development throughout the book, but overall, her way of thinking about men in general was very negative.

I really liked Tyler and how he dealt with his difficult childhood. He was a great guy. I also liked the friendship between Tyler and Drake. Drake seemed like a great friend and brother. I especially liked the way Jules had friends and family that surrounded her and helped her with her daughter Belle. (less)

I will start with this beautiful line from the book “Love is certainly never safe, but it’s absolutely worth it”
I started reading the book without any expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. The subtle love story between Jules and Tyler is so beautiful. Jules is fierce, confident and due to her bad experience with past relationship doesn’t want to commit ever but the problem is Tyler is in love with Jules from a long time now, which Jules is oblivious off. Jules is often rude to him but Tyler is all set to win her heart and Tyler is also practically family. Their banter is so cute. You can predict that maybe there’s a lingering liking that Jules has for Tyler but cannot express it, as she feels she cannot love anybody anymore. The small town charm reminded me of Gilmore Girls. The characters are all so lovable except the ex-husband 🤨. Tracyewens did a great job with the main characters and I could almost visualize every scene that I was reading. The only thing I would say is that the book could have been crisper, at places sometimes it became mundane and dragged a little but other than that it’s a great romantic novel ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

My Verdict: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you @netgalley, @tracyewens and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange of an honest review.

Really glad I had the opportunity to read such an amazing sweet book. The book really pulls you in and makes you feel the emotions of the characters. I was not familiar with the previous books, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment.

I honestly fell in love with the main characters right from the beginning! The world building was pretty up to par and I was never bored or uninterested with what the characters were doing. But, I must say at times the plot was a little slow which was a bit of a disappointment. I still enjoyed the book though, and the ending was definitely satisfactory. Over all I would recommend this book!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

3.5* I have mixed feelings about this book. While I enjoyed it and thought it was well written, it didn’t suck me in or capture me the way I hope a contemporary romance does. I want to be swept up by the characters and their chemistry, and I had a hard time connecting to Jules or Tyler or to their relationship. We know Tyler has been in love with Jules for some time, but this wasn’t explored enough in my opinion for me to feel invested. And while I myself am sarcastic and a cynic, I thought Jules cynicism and sarcasm was taken a bit too far, and while she’s been through a lot she has a disregard for the feelings of others.

I did love how the author weaved in “a book within a book” by having Jules read Dani Brown - that was a sweet touch. Overall I thought this was well written and enjoyable but not a romance I would be vigorously recommending to others.

Jules is a cynical divorced single mom and Tyler is a CEO bachelor, they've known each other since their childhoods and have had unfortunate paths. How are they together, though? Lovely, just lovely. There's always some banter between them and the usual small-town girl and city-boy from that very same town that culminates in an interestingly heartwarming interactions between the two. This was a quick-read with some heavy topics dealt with in such a delicate manner that it does not steer away from the main romance between these characters, served in a slow-burn friends-to-lovers. Two independent characters learning to grow together, with impeccable chemistry. I mean, Jules as a main character is very relatable. The fact that she takes cues from a Romance novel whilst being a protagonist OF a romance novel? Like, haven't we all?

I love how the novel shows both Jules and Tyler develop and mature. Jules comes out of her shell more and is trying to have a more active place in her community instead of isolating herself, and Tyler has to deal with some past demons and catch the attentions of Jules. What a read! Highly recommend.

This was a really solid romance! I loved the themes it explored on both sides of the relationship, following a friends to lovers trope (definitely a slow-burn) with dual viewpoints (which I always appreciate!). There were definitely feminist/powerful single mom vibes, dealings with childhood trauma/alcoholism/neglect and how that affects your relationships throughout life, and found family!

My only critique is that it could be a little cheesy at times (but I mean, it’s a romance, cheesy is okay sometimes!) and you get frustrated with the main character and their decisions. But I feel like that is necessary for the plot and character development.

Overall I read this in 2 days and it kept me engaged! Also, the MC’s daughter Bella is just adorable & an amazing reflection of her mom’s influence.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Catch: A Love Story by Tracy Owens is part of a series, however, the first book I read and did not find myself lost. Here we have the story of Jules and Tyler and it is a second chance at love romance. Jules is divorced and has a daughter. She no longer believes in love or that she can ever trust another man. Her focus is work and her daughter. She and Tyler have been friends for a long time, but Tyler has a secret. He has been secretly in love with Jules. Their story is truly a friends to lovers one where they share good banter and a slow burn romance. This is an author I will definitely add to my reading!

Happy reading!

CATCH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Surprising cute and who doesn’t love a good second chance at love? Makes me want to go back to the start of the series and see what I’ve been missing.

I have to be honest here, but the only reason I wanted to read this book is because I love the cover so much. I don't even think I read the synopsis which is unusual for me. Sure I love covers of books, but that is not usually the only thing I look at when choosing a book to read. So when the ARC popped up for me I sat down and thought I would read a bit and see how it goes. Only I stayed up way too late finishing this wonderful read! I am usually careful to not read at night unless I know I can finish a book before my bedtime, but I did that thing where I lied to myself and said just one more chapter before I watch some TV or something to wind down for the night. And next thing I knew I had finished the book and looked at my watch and wondered how it got to be so late. To me that is the mark of a really amazing read. One where you are so into the world and the story the author created you don't even notice the time passing. Oh, it was great.

This is the first book from this author I have read, but I definitely need to go read the rest of the books in this series! It didn't feel like I was missing anything not knowing the characters beforehand, but I am excited to read more of the stories now!

This is the story of Jules and Tyler. Jules who never wants to be in love again as she saw what can happen when it doesn't work out, and Tyler who is Jules' brother's best friend and has been in love with Jules for years now. Jules is super prickly, but you get it. Yes, there were a few scenes where she was really rude, one in particular you knew how it was going to work out in the end, but I still wanted her to find her magic again. To figure out that you can love again and it can be wonderful. I still wanted everything for her.

And Tyler? Oh, he was a sweetheart. Based on his home life he tries to control and manage everything. He even tries to manage his feelings for Jules because he knows they will freak her out and he doesn't want to lose her or her daughter Bella. They are everything to him so his plan is to manage and be happy with what he has. Only that of course doesn't work out the way he plans and oh, I loved him so much. He is so wonderful with everyone, especially Jules and Bella. I loved reading this story and watching everything play out. These two are perfect for each other and oh, it made me feel all the feels. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I would give this book a 3.5-star rating, so I rounded up to 4. It was exactly what I expected and wanted it to be: a quick, fun romance read featuring a bickering-friendship-to-lovers story. I docked a star and a half for two reasons:
◾ Bella's age - It may just be because I know 11-year-olds, but Bella read to me more like an 8 or 9-year-old. She's sweet and smart, but she's not 11.
◾ the number of time Jules and Tyler go back and forth - After the third time, I was almost rooting for Tyler to walk away.

Other than that, this was a quality romance novel, even without having read the rest of the companion novels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


This is about Jules, a divorced mother whose ex cheated on her with the neighbor. The love interest is Tyler and he’s her brothers best friend. Tyler was the best part of the book. Jules was irritating to read about as she was oblivious to the love Tyler had for her. It was so obvious but she had tsunami high walls up. Overall it was a straightforward love story and I did enjoy it.

I loved this friends to lovers book. It was so warm and cozy. The cozy set up, amazing lovely characters basically made this book so much enjoyable. I loved it. It was a slow burn but Tyler is😍😍

Even though I haven't read another book in the series, it didn't deter me. And it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

I can't wait to read more from this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tracy Ewens for providing an eARC for review.

“She wasn’t ready to love Tyler Pace, but like so many things in her life, he’d shown up already loving her anyway.”

The scars from Jules Bartlett’s divorce several years ago run deep and her family knows it. She and her daughter have built a life after returning to her hometown where Jules spends her mornings captaining her family’s fishing boats. There’s nothing she loves more than Bella and being out on the water and does not feel that there is space in her life for romance. Little does she know that her brother’s best friend, Tyler Pace has loved for years and is determined to manage it like he does everything else. He is a fixer, always there for Jules, Bella, and their family but refuses to make a move. He hides his love for her under sharp banter and intentional distancing, balancing his life as a successful businessman with trying to help his father overcome alcoholism. When Jules’ ex invites her to his wedding, Jules and Tyler are put in a position where they must reexamine their relationship.

CATCH is a cozy romance set in a small time with a cast of lovely characters. The family dynamic was warm and playful, and each character felt like they could really be up the coast enjoying Sugar Saturdays, school plays, and book club. All too often, the kids in romance are glossed over but Bella is a complete character and an utter delight to read. Tyler’s care for Jules and Bella is apparent right from the start, and I got a bit frustrated with Jules at times because her ire towards him felt unwarranted. Her acerbic tone is more about herself than Tyler and results in a fair bit of banter because he is always quick with a comeback.

Fairytales and sea references are running motifs throughout the story that occasionally feel heavy-handed yet also feel appropriate because they represent two of the most important aspects of Jules’s life. This slow burn narrative features some of my favorite small-town worldbuilding, and I plan to visit the previous installment in this series of standalone romances to get more time in Bodega Bay (and perhaps discover new locations with the other books as well).

If you’re in the mood for a romance that’s not quite enemies-to-lovers or second chance but that contains notes of each trope, Catch is a sweet option perfect for summer reading!

Catch: A Love Story is the THIRTEENTH book in Ewen’s Love Story series, but it can be read as a stand alone without any issue. I actually didn’t realize this was a part of a series when I requested it or even when I read the first few chapters, honestly. It was only when I went to mark it as “currently reading” that I realized, and thank heavens for that because I will definitely be catching up on the other Branch siblings' love lives.

This romance feels raw and real and grown up. I love an uber cheesy romance as much as the next guy, but I don’t love the childish way a lot of them tend to portray their characters - sort of delusional and thinking they’re slightly better than others while simultaneously putting others down.

Catch focuses on Jules, a divorcee whose main focus is making sure her daughter is loved and safe. If she’s a little bitter because her ex-husband cheated on her seven years ago, she tries not to let on. (She’s not successful, but she tries). Tyler, her brother’s best friend/business partner, and a guy she’s known for years and who’s basically a part of her family, is in love with her although he tries not to show it. (He’s not successful, but he tries). Tyler is a fixer - a manager of all things: businesses, feelings, his dad. He knows that he can’t let Jules know how he feels because it result in him losing Jules and Bella, Jules’ daughter and certified glitter princess.

Alas, the crab boat ride to love never does flow smooth, and emotions have a tendency to not be managed.

5 stars. Super cute and real and please read it.

When I first went into this book and realized it was part of a series, I was a little worried I would be lost. However, once I started reading (and looked into Goodreads about the other books) I realized it is companion series! It was so easy jumping into the world of Bodega Bay and the Branch family.
Jules is a single mother who had a world shattering divorce from her daughter's father six years ago. Jules is the captain of two fishing boats. She is strong and tall woman who is adamant about being independent, even if some think of her as bitter or grumpy.
Her family and the dynamics between her parents, brother, and friends is what makes this book so fun! But it is the romance aspect that draws you in.
Tyler is Jules' brother's best friend and has been a part of the Branch family since childhood. His childhood was not the best, but he has worked hard to make his way to the top while keeping his sincerity and humbleness. His own family and personal situations could not be easily managed or "fixed", so it is a personality trait of his to fix things, to fix people.
Tyler loves Jules, and everyone knows it. Except Jules.
She is a character who has shut herself from love because she thinks another heartbreak can not only destroy her, but everything she has tried to maintain since picking herself and her daughter up six years ago.

This story was fun and I felt for Tyler and Jules the whole way through. The dialogue is what kept me reading! I loved the family dynamics and the sarcastic banter between Tyler and Jules. This is a romance, but spice is kept PG, but the butterflies are still there. Overall, it was a great read and I can't wait to go back and read some more of this series so I can get to know the other character more!


"Adults need magic too. They need to risk when necessary and laugh and play."

I was completely taken by surprise while reading Catch! I thought that I would be a bit lost not having read anything else in the series, but this totally works as a standalone.

Jules Bartlett is a tough, take-no-shit captain of Branch Fishing boats where she takes tourists out to go fishing and where she catches crabs for her parents’ B&B. After being divorced for six years, Jules comes to terms (somewhat) of simply raising her daughter Bella alone without a man to help her. Her brother’s best friend, Tyler Pace, has been secretly in love with her for years. He’s rich and went out to the “big city” to make a career for himself but comes back to Bodega Bay more and more to fix things up (and to spend more time with a certain someone). Since Jules and Tyler grew up together, their romance comes with all the years of hardship that the two have had to deal with.

I enjoyed this book! I really thought that I wouldn’t since the beginning is kind of slow, but after a certain point I couldn’t put it down. I thought it was super fun, and even though it was a bit cliché, I still was on the edge of my seat waiting for something to happen between Jules and Tyler. Overall great book and I would recommend!

Jules is such a badass character and I loved every bit of her. I also of course loved Bella for being such a witty kid. I think what made me a bit mad when reading this was how quick things changed at the end?? I don't want to spoil anything, but that part lost me a bit. But, I think it's still worth it to see some great characters and have a cute romance!

Well, this was an unexpectedly amazing slow-burn romance. Catch is about Jules and Tyler. Jules is a divorcee with a young daughter, while Tyler is her brother's best friend. The catch is, Tyler has been secretly in love with Jules for a few years. Is Jules ready to open her heart again?

Let's first talk about these two fantastic protagonists. Jules is a strong-willed fishing boat captain with a sharp tongue and a fierce love for her daughter. Her character development was so relatable, as we see her struggle throughout the book with her feelings for Tyler and her fear of committing to someone again. Meanwhile, Tyler is Mr Fix It - trying to fix his alcoholic father and anything else he can with the money he worked very hard for. Underneath the suit exterior though, Tyler is a total sweetheart and his love for Jules' daughter, Bella will undoubtedly melt your heart.

Now, let's talk about all the other things I loved about this book:
- Great character development
- Grumpy her/sunshine him
- Perfect chemistry and banter between Tyler and Jules.
- Dual perspectives (we know we love to see it in a romance).
- Bella, the cutest and most insightful kid.
- Good pacing and plot - I never felt like the book lagged.
- The fact Jules was reading Dani Brown throughout the book and talked about Dani like she was a wing-woman. It was awesome 👏🏻.

FYI, Catch features minimal steam and a few swear words. This is also just one love story in a long list of novels written by Tracy Ewens. From experience, you don't need to read the others prior to the Catch, but I, for one, will definitely be going back to read more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tracy Ewens for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Jules is an independent woman determined to make her own path without "needing" help from a man... including her brother's best friend from childhood, Tyler. Jules's family loved Tyler during a particularly difficult time in his adolescent years and they have all remained close since that time. Tyler is fighting demons from his past trying to reconcile who he was with who he is now. Jules is also fighting her own demons while trying to remember who she once was so she can figure out who she wants to be. It's a slow burn romance with predictable twists and turns, but it was overall an enjoyable book with well developed characters and the tension of unrequited love.

I loved Tyler and his confidence in who he was and his ability to unashamedly go after what he wants. He was part alpha male while also still being a total softy. A mix of strong and sweet, soft and hard. Jules.... she's a difficult character for me. I didn't love her to be honest. She was a bit too brash and foul-mouthed for my taste. She seemed to always want to prove that she was the "tough one" and chose to go about it by using her sarcasm and biting remarks, vulgar language. There were times she bordered on cruel, in my opinion, and I just wanted to shake her! Bella was a sweet child, but as someone who actually has an 11 year old, I had a hard time accepting Bella's character for being so naive. Not knowing how to pronounce age appropriate words, unsure of basic relationship dynamics, even constantly playing silly princess games - these were things that bothered me because I didn't think they were typical of an 11/12 year old but a much younger age.

Catch: A Love Story is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tracy Ewens for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
Highs:
Tyler- the love interest was an interesting character to get to know. I enjoyed following his journey into recognizing co-dependent behavior and then course correcting. We got enough of his back story to understand him, but not pity him. I respected the character more as he established personal boundaries.

The story line- What is there not to love about life long friends finding love with each other.

Lows:
Jules- there’s a thin line from hurting woman to genuinely nasty person. I really did not like her, she was self-righteous and arrogant in her ignorance. It is difficult to like a completely self-involved character as they condemn other characters for being self-involved.

I enjoyed the interplay between mothers and daughters. Those interactions were sweet and helped to lessen my general dislike of Jules.

Overall, the book is a sweet romance that builds slowly, but not to the point that it’s dragging. I give it 3 stars.