I loved parts of this book. I thought the chemistry between Finn and Mallory/Philly was awesome. Mallory is super unhappy with her body and while I don't tend to read romances where the heroine disparages how she looks, hers felt really relatable, as someone who's been given a number to lose by a doctor.
But, there were a few lines that took me out of it. One particularly in the epilogue that felt so mean coming from someone who has been on a weight-loss journey.
Overall, it was a fun contemporary read, the sexy scenes were sexy, the romance believable. I don't know if I'll necessarily read another in the series, but I might.
3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed the story, I really did. But the heroine's obsession with her weight nearly turned me off of the story. Can we please have characters that embrace their weight?

I received an arc of this book and I really wanted to like it. That story was one I enjoyed. It was a great romance and I felt the chemistry between the two main characters, but I cannot recommend this book.I am the founder of Fat Girls in Fiction. My whole purpose on that site is to uplift positive fat representation and this book was not it. It really ran the gamut of bad representation tropes. 
Firstly, this is a story about weight loss. The main character is learning to love herself because she is doing a good job losing weight. I am never going to be here for stories that focus on finding love and learning to love yourself through weightloss.
Also, I don't mind a book where the main character has some struggles with self esteem because on fatness. We live in a fatphobic world, it is an issue all fat people deal with from time to time, but in this book it was constant
.And then there is the fact that the word fat was used a weapon over and over. The main character would call herself fat and the love interest would act like it was the worst thing she could say about herself. He refused to let her use the word. That is part of the problem, because when you put so much shame in the word the body it describes. Also the way they talk about food and weightloss in this book like a morality issue. I felt like it was telling me fat people only have worth if they are working not to be fat. Fat people do not owe you weightloss. I do not like that.
I also don't like the fact that she was doing this because a doctor told her she was morbidly obese. Those words have been weaponized against fat people by the medical community and are realy hard for fat people to read. They also don't have meaning. It is bases on the BMI scale and the BMI scale is total B.S. And if you are someone who has experienced fat phobia, as many people living in fat bodies have, that whole thing is really hard to read.
I also didn't like that way she talked about thin women. At one point she talked about sitting on someone and beating them. The term skinny b*tch was used. I am clearly all about lifting up fat women. That is what I have based my whole platform on, but I am not about putting down other body types. Not here for that either.
Also they mentions casually really triggering things for fat people. Bullying that hits really close to some fat people and was devastating and it felt like it was used in an unsafe way. Mentions things like having someone talking about an earthquake when you walk by, her parent's thinking she was making up her boyfriend, having people stop you in the store and ask if you are cooking for 2 or plan on eating that all yourself, drunk guys at bars saying terrible things and expecting her to respond well because she's fat and they are throwing her a bone. These are things that really happen to people. I think it ok to write about them in a story, but I do think we need to be careful. These things hold a lot of pain for the people who have experienced them and should be handled with care.
And then the epilogue had to get in one last zinger, the hero of the story's ex had been trying to get him back the whole time and was being an awful person. I have no problem with that. But what I do have a problem with is that fact that they talked about how the MC was happy that she was the one who gained weight while the MC continued to lose weight. I did not see the character growth I need after reading so much self hatred and body hatred
.I think authors and publishers need to be careful when telling and publihing stories like this. Fatphobia is still so socially accepted and very very harmful. Stories like this make it so it is hard to heal. It reminds you of your worst days and your worst thoughts. If they are not told carefully with enough push back they can really set people back on their journey. For those reasons I would not recommend this book to my readers at Fat Girls in Fiction because I do not feel like it is a safe book for fat people to read.

I didn’t finish this and am not going to pick it back up. It was fatphobic and awful. I don’t know that I even made it through the first chapter. Please stop.

Beautiful Distraction is the second book in the McCullough Mountain series. These can be read a stand alone books, but since they are interconnected I recommend you read them as a series.
This is a topic that faces so many woman today, body image issues. Part of it is society and part of it is that people really can be this awful towards others. There is truth written here and being overweight can be everything the author says. You can be healthy and still obese. Don't judge others as you have no idea what they've gone through.
This is Finns story. He has been with his on again of again girlfriend Erin since high school, we already didn't like her from the brief blurb in the first book, prepare to really dislike her now. He meets Mallory by chance and they hit it off, but she's got hang-ups, lots of them, most in her head but really those are the hardest to overcome. She's moved from the city to reinvent herself. She never expected to fall for a mountain man. And really she spends a lot of time not communicating her issues, which is frustrating, but it happens. However, once they realize that laughing together shows they truly like spending time with each other the blinders come off. Find someone who makes you laugh and all the rest sort itself. Just stay away from toxic exes.

This book was a bit of a let down for me. Finn is most girl's fantasy of a sexy, sweet, caring hero. Mallory is a real woman with curves and a personality. But the descriptions given by the characters of each other created such a gulf of opposites that I really had trouble getting into their story. At times Mallory was really hard to like and her constant struggle with her self esteem grating. I understand her struggle but no one in real life or fiction likes to hear about it nonstop. As friends they were completely believable, but as a couple is was hard to picture.

Such a cute, feel-good romance! I love just how Finn supports Mallory through all of her internal struggles, it's some hard stuff to deal with! Overall well-written and a great read.

This is the second book in the McCullough Family series and focuses on Finn and Mallory. Finn is the son who is most active in the family lumber business and Mallory is the new secretary at the high school. Finn is in an on again/off again relationship with his high school girl friend and Mallory moved to Center County to get a new start. I loved Finn and Mallory's relationship, especially how he tries to get her to stop focusing on her weight. He sees the positives in her. The McCullough family is terrific. I just wish we could have caught up with Colin and Samantha from the first book.

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

Beautiful Distraction is the small town romance between Mallory and Finn. It’s the 2nd book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone (I haven’t read the first one and there wasn’t an issue).

It really started out good. While some people have said in their reviews that the way Mallory harps on her weight and has such low self-esteem was annoying and kind of ruined the book for them, I liked it. It is a big part of how some (if not a lot) of people considered morbidly obese feel. While I like having overweight heroines love their bodies and be confident, I also like getting representation of the opposite.

Unfortunately, the book took a sharp downward spiral about halfway in. It started when Mallory really started to lust after Finn with it saying that it took all her might not to swoon or rape him. Seriously? Not jump him…rape him. Disgusting. How and why did this make it past editing? I almost stopped reading and I had to take some deep breaths before I could continue. But it really colored my feelings for the book.

Not something as bad as the previous issue, but an irritation nonetheless—when Finn says that he likes that she cooks for him and that it’s hard to find a woman willing to take up that role. Granted, he says that it isn’t a requirement but then he goes right on to add that he likes it. Why oh why was that necessary? Finn being old fashioned was a terrible excuse.

Final thing that killed me was how Finn couldn’t believe he got her off without penetration. Umm what? To be fair, he got her off by nipple play only but you do not need penetration to have an orgasm. It does nothing but make me think he doesn’t know much about exactly how to please a woman and that made me laugh and not in a good way.

This was my first book by the author and it will likely be my last.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Harlequin Bailey Brown Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Beautiful Distraction is the second in the McCullough series and focuses on Finnegan and Mallory. Finnegan feels lost as he tries to find his place in his family and their community; he also feels trapped in an unsatisfying on-again/off-again pattern with his ex-girlfriend. Mallory is moving into the community in an attempt to jump-start her new healthier lifestyle with the plans of returning home to Philadelphia healthier (and skinnier).

I appreciated that both Finn and Mallory saw positive attributes in each other that they struggled to see in themselves - it was such a true depiction of how we are usually our own worst critics. In particular, I could identify with a lot of Mallory's self-destructive thoughts, and as her internal strength grew , it was nice to see positive changes in thoughts and behaviors that go beyond the exterior.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

Mallory is fat, always has been. She has reached a point in her life where her circle of friends are all settling down, getting married, and starting families, and she was just told by her doctor that she was morbidly obese. In light of these events, she has decided on a change of scene. She has packed up her life and is leaving Philadelphia to head to the mountains in Pennsylvania to begin a new life. She is entirely focused on self-improvement: she has started running, is eating better than ever before, and is focused on losing weight and gaining health. Until she runs into (literally… she runs smack into him) the most handsome lumberjack she’s ever seen.

Finn McCullough is the most handsome man she’s ever seen, and they’re fast friends. As Mallory works on loving herself, Finn finds that he’s also learning to love her. Getting out of a decade-long relationship, Finn finds love, energy, and light in Mallory. Their quick friendship wastes no time blossoming into a romance, which quickly turns into a marriage proposal and a surprise pregnancy. And when I say quickly, I mean quickly. In a matter of months after they meet, Finn gets down on one knee right before Mallory tells him that she’s pretty sure she’s having his baby.

My first issue with this book is with the protagonist. Yes, she is fat. Yes, she is working on losing weight. But her size is mentioned on nearly every page. I was hoping for an empowered plus-sized protagonist, and instead I got “fat woman feels need to change self despite handsome man loving her as she is”. Second, the pregnancy ending feels unnecessary and like a cop-out way to finish the book. The last 25 pages go hurdling toward the finish line in a disappointingly predictable way. If I’m going to be okay with such a lackluster plot, the smut should be worth it! The initial tension was enticing, but overall, I was kind of let down.

This title was a Beautiful Distraction as I read it in one sitting, no matter what other things I had on my list for the weekend. A great read, relatable characters, and I can't wait to see more by this author!

Best friends turned romantic partners set in a small town with the gorgeous male coming from a huge family with everyone in everyone’s business, BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION has all the requisite details. Oh, and the female lead has body issues and struggles with her weight at every turn in the tale, something her best friend turned boyfriend and his wonderful family do not share; they think she is just right and beautiful. While the weight issues seem overplayed at times, honestly, no more so than other romance novels where the heroine has challenges such as being too brainy or too urban or too … whatever; the obstacle to true love that must be conquered in service to the plot. This is a sweet yet adult romance with just enough tartness to please everyone. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was a quick and easy read, I fell right into the story and couldn't put it down, It had some of my favourite tropes, City girl moving to a small town, Friends to lovers, Big burly country man, and a plus size main character. I loved how they clicked, how Finn was always reassuring her and protecting her, and definitely had the patience of a saint. I loved the he big family that of course is going to result in lots of books.

I also really liked how they became friends first and then the relationship developed.

The one thing that might've been a little triggering is the way Mallory kept harping on and on about her weight, as a plus size person myself, it is hard to read that someone who is described as smaller than myself, talking that way about being fat. You can't help but wonder if this is some of the authors feelings seeping through. It made me extremely uncomfortable, and I have to admit I started skipping over her rants.
This was truly a great read, and if it wasn't for this one part that really grated my nerves it would've been a four star read.

*Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a copy for an honest review*

3.5 stars
This is the second book I read written by this author. ‘Almost priest’ the first in this series, was just perfect. Unfortunately, I was not so engaged in this one.
When Finnegan McCullough catches a woman trespassing on his family’s Mountain, he’s captivated by blue eyes and thick thighs. Mallory Fenton might have just moved to their small town, but she won’t be a stranger for long. Funny and sexy as hell, this beautiful distraction quickly becomes Finn’s greatest obsession. Mallory ran to Center County to escape her past and reinvent herself. Befriending a chiseled, flannel-covered lumberjack was never part of the plan. Sexy men rarely notice her. And, after years of being the ‘fat girl’, she can’t figure out what a gorgeous man like Finn might want from her.
Mallory has mayor issues about her body and her weight. It made me really mad —and sad— all the body shame she received from others but specially from herself. She can´t believe that someone so handsome as Finn can have true feelings for her despite she is not thin. She goes on and on about it and it just frustrated me. I’ve been fat almost all my life and could definitely understand Mallory demons (especially when we meet her parents) but sometimes it felt whiny.
I liked Finn. He is a bit immature but can see the beauty in everything. Maybe a bit mama’s boy too but that family is so cute that’s almost impossible not love them. There are a couple of steamy moments that were great. I’ll definitely read Kelly’s story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story follows curvy Mallory who is concerned about her weight and Finn who is a very handsome and sexy lumberjack. He comes across her unknowingly trespassing on his family’s land and so their friendship begins. As he starts to feel more she refuses to believe that he is serious and could possibly think of her as more than a friend. Mallory has some serious insecurities about her weight and how she looks. She is pretty obsessed about losing weight and what the scales say. Very much a will they won’t they romance with Finn’s ex Erin causing trouble for them. Reading how Mallory starts to accept herself for who she is and becoming more comfortable in her own skin seemed a bit rushed towards the end of the book. I did enjoy this though and found it an easy read that flowed well.

As a curvy woman my self nothing makes me happier than reading a book like this that focus on the main character being curvy and beautiful and a hot man lusting after her. ! I liked the book, the romance , the writing.

To say I love the McCullough family and this book is putting it mildly! 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 is the second book in the series and is Finn and Mallory’s story.

He’s the sexy lumberjack who is loyal to his family. She’s the curvaceous woman looking for her happy place. Together they are magic. This was the best kind of read in one sitting romance. I loved everything about it and adored both main characters. I can’t get enough of Lydia Michaels special kind of book magic!

I’m giving 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

Curvy woman with such a reliable characteristics. Her insecurities are my own at times but there’s always that hope that a hot guy will love you as you are and as a whole and not for your body only. The romance story is beautiful and entertaining while it touches quite a few hard topics. But it’s really good and interesting to see how the author delves into it and found it refreshing and intriguing at the same time.