I really enjoyed this small town romance. How she rediscovered herself after her divorce and was able to find love again.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vanessa is a divorcee trying her best to pull herself together afterwards. She forms a club where they can encourage one another to start a new point in their life where they focus on themselves. But, on the two year anniversary of her divorce , a man shows up at her doorstep wanting her to help him convince his little sister from marrying her ex. Vanessa wants no part in this until she realizes that he stole her grandmother's ring from her. Now, she’s determined to get it back.

I was so excited to read a romance with an older main character. I was thrilled at the possibility of themes that this could have, but unfortunately this one really fell flat for me.

The romance was so hard for me to get invested in. Vanessa and Michael’s relationship really felt solely based in lust. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I was really hoping to feel a turn around where they connected a little more and that physical connection turned into more of an emotional connection and I just never really got that.

While the main plot felt like it was introduced pretty early on, it didn’t really take place until that 75% mark or so. Even then, the whole thing happened and then was over just as fast with no revisiting of what happened. What I thought was going to be such a big moment was another one that ended up falling flat for me.

The middle of the book felt like very little going on. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t getting to know the characters more. I wasn’t really connecting with their relationship or rooting for them. It felt like filler to me. Just a small series of events that felt unimportant.

I was so thrilled to read this book. I thought a 40 year old lead was going to be special and wonderful, and it was in the since of it wasn’t a big deal at all, but this whole story from the characters, the plot and the romance, fell flat for me making it clear this wasn’t the book for me.

The dialogue in this book was painful to read. Stilted and awkward. It didn’t feel natural at all. Even character’s internal dialogue was occasionally hard to read. That said, I did like the plot and characters in their late 30s.

Vanessa was in a horrible, emotionally abusive marriage to Karl for years. Vanessa helped Karl build financial success in his company and then ensured a big paycheck for herself, and walked away with millions when she decided to finally leave him. In a marriage support group Vanessa meets two women who she immediately clicks with and becomes best friends with. On the two year anniversary of her friendship a really sexy sheriff shows up at Vanessa’s front door. The sheriff tells Vanessa that her awful ex Karl is engaged to his sister, and he needs her help to get his sister away from Karl. While Vanessa wants nothing to do with her ex, once she sees a photo of the sheriffs sister wearing her ring (which belonged to her grandmother) Vanessa is furious. The ring has been missing and now Vanessa knows for sure Karl stole it. Vanessa agrees to work with the Sheriff if he agrees to get her ring back. What Vanessa didn’t plan for was a possible love connection along the way.
This book was really cute and I would definitely read more from this author. I am not usually a romance fan, but I loved how this book wasn’t cheesy and unrealistic.
Thank you St Martin Press #smpinfluencer for this ARC

This was such a fun romance. Three open door sex scenes, all from the man’s point of view which I actually thought was a great change of pace. Told from both Vanessa and Michael’s point of view, I loved how both characters had good reasons not to be together but did it anyway. Another big bonus of this book, both main characters were older and had baggage that I find fascinating when characters talk through and work around.

High steam and banter levels make this a must read for anyone looking for a fun read.

I will start by saying this cover is AMAZING... like take note authors. The story was also quite good. I loved the steam and could defiantly feel the chemistry between the characters. I also really love a story about love after divorce, it feels more real for older characters. I would defiantly recommend this nook to friends!

I have a soft spot for romances that feature older heroines. Vanessa is someone that I can root for. The romance is cute, and I love seeing Asian men as leading men.

I wanted to like this book, I mean — look at that cover! — but this didn’t work for me.

Vanessa Jared is still recovering from emotional abuse after divorcing her cheating husband. She’s got her fellow divorced girlfriends to support her, and is a successful businesswoman. But even two years later she’s feeling stuck. When Sheriff Michael Park asks for Vanessa’s help to stop her ex-husband from marrying Michael’s sister, she’s ready to immediately say no. Until she sees her ex’s wedding announcement and her grandmother’s ring on his new fiancéé’s finger. Vanessa’s goal is to spend exactly one weekend fulfilling Michael’s request. Too bad a major storm and car trouble keep her in the small town longer than she wants, and staying with the hot sheriff who she’s falling for.

I listened to the audio book to Chapter 10 and then switched to the e-book because the audio wasn’t working for me at all. I felt zero chemistry between Michael and Vanessa, and although they’re in insta-lust from the moment she falls into his arms, the delivery of Michael’s dialogue was flat and didn’t show his personality at all, especially when he’s thinking lustful thoughts. And some of what the characters were saying sounded unnatural - almost too proper for a group of friends that have known each other for a while. I liked the premise and wanted Vanessa to get her revenge and her man, but I wanted more natural banter and chemistry between the leads.

I am so happy I was finally able to get out of my slump and read this book. This was not my first book from this author, and it definitely won't be my last. Based on the title, the first thing that popped in my head was the song by Chantae Moore, Chantae's got a man. And can we acknowledge such a great story with main characters dating in their 40's. The author is such a wonderful storyteller, and I did not want to put this book down. And although they try to fight their attraction to each other, it doesn't work. This multicultural read featuring a black woman and Korean man was just written so beautifully. And the chemistry between them was explosive to me. . I have several other books from this author, and I can't wait until I finally get caught up so I can get to those stories.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

I like small town romance, and this one fit the category. The characters are flawed, yet likeable. I do believe the execution of the storyline lacked a bit. The pacing felt off for me. However, I will read this author again.

I started reading this book thinking it was going to be about a woman rediscovering herself after being in an abusive marriage for 20 years, but then the story kept shifting and growing deeper, and it ended up also being about friendship, recovery, growth, and small-town romance with a super hot sheriff.

Vanessa Jared is in her 40s and in a bid to let go of some anger she takes herself to a divorce support group. The group ends up being a bust, but she meets two other women who are destined to become her life-long friends.

Two years later a man shows up on her doorstep begging for her help in convincing his sister not to marry her abusive ex-husband. While Vanessa doesn't want anything to do with her ex she agrees to help. When she gets to the small town, destiny seems set on keeping her there so she can get to know the sheriff a little...ok a LOT better.

The characters in this book were wonderful and I could easily read more about Vanessa and her friend group, so I'm (not so) secretly hoping this turns into a series. The story was delightful, and steamy, and certainly had enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages with abandon.

I really enjoyed Vanessa Jared's got a man. I thought it was great seeing people in their forties finding love. Seeing Vanessa who is still recovering from an emotionally abusive ex husband grow and find friends, a life and love again was really encouraging. I also enjoyed seeing Michael's growth from struggling to manage/control people. I liked the fact they went to help protect Michael's little sister who was only going to be taken advantage and controlled by Vanessa's ex. Also, how horrible do you have to be steal your ex wife's engagement ring that belonged to her family member who she lost. But, it was so great to see these two interesting people fall in love over the course of this book. I really enjoyed all the scenes of them getting to know each other. Hopefully, we will get to see more from this friend group.

This book was a lot deeper than I expected, especially diving thoroughly into the divorce aspect of the story, which isn't what I was exactly expecting. I did expect it to be a plot point, but not so majorly involved in the storyline. I have found myself really enjoying books that feature MCs close to my age - as a woman in my mid-thirties, I find that books seem to focus on either teens, or early adulthood (18-25) and I love reading about someone closer to my age who has gone through similar struggles - maybe not in the relationship department, but in life stories in general. The story didn't go how I expected, but I think that made me like it even more.

3.5 stars.

An entertaining romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The blurb had me excited to see a very exciting story with a bit of drama and romance flair. The story read like an early 2000 romance novel, and I felt a bit of nostalgia.

However, this book left me very underwhelmed. The story wasn’t engaging for me on both the actual plot and the romance piece. It wasn’t horrible, so I was able to finish it, but I literally couldn’t tell you anything that was engaging or memorable about the story. I wanted more throughout the entire read.

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

Title: Vanessa Jared's Got a Man
Series: Standalone
# in series: 1 (Sequels possible)
Author: LaQuette
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Interracial romance, Fake Dating, Older MCs (40s), Divorced FMC, Small town
Rep: Black Author. Black FMC. Korean American MMC.
Pages: 272
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Audiobook Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: This cover did not disappoint with the amount of tension between these characters. I am not a girl that likes to wait so I was just fine that they moved at a really fast pace, going from meeting to attraction, to hooking up, to feelings. The MMC lives in a small town where everyone is kind but in each others business all the time and I think that was something the FMC really needed in her life was that feeling of community. I hope that more books will be released in the series because I need to know what happens with the side characters.

CW/TW: FMC's former husband was mentally abusive, he is now trying to take advantage of the MMC's younger sister, Mentions of sudden death of both parents

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy of this title. All thoughts are my own.

actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

this truly is one of my favorite lighter contemporary romances i've read. vanessa and michael had so much chemistry and I love seeing the representation of characters in their 40s having a romance and even a divorcee.

the setup for how michael and vanessa met is so funny and cute but it also led to discussions of trauma and abuse which I thought was handled really well. Iialso loved how the cultures of both the characters were incorporated specifically, michael's.

i also LOVED the side characters in this specifically vanessa's friends because you can genuinely tell how much they cared about vanessa but they also were super funny and pushed vanessa out of her comfort zone when needed. michael also had a close friend that was memorable as well.

i really enjoyed laquette's writing and steam. the way she wrote their relationship had it jumping off the page and I had such an amazing time reading this book! i truly couldn't put it down

thank you to st. martin’s press, laquette, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, 40 something year old MC, multicultural couple (black and korean), small town, spicy 🔥

Vanessa Jared is a 40-something divorcee. In her post-divorce slump she met some woman and formed The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club. On the two year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancee wearing her grandmother's ring, which he clearly stole from her. So now she has to get it back.

Wow. I loved this book. The diversity, the couple, and the friendships were all perfection. The character development is so well done. I love the emphasis on her growing after her ex's emotional abuse. He's a major asshole. Vanessa and Michael's tension and sex scenes were 🔥. The cover is gorgeous too. I will read all of her books. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️

Enjoyed this one alot. Having Michael be Korean-American was an interesting touch. This was a slow burn in the beginning but once it picked up I struggled to put it down. Final 4.5/5

This story is really enjoyable. I love the fact these characters are "older" (in their 40s) and the friend group in this book is awesome. The premise is interesting - I really enjoyed the storyline - though I did find a few parts predictable. Overall, the story flowed well. Also, the cover is gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to read and review!