If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be “bland”. It started off rather dull and just didn’t improve. I’m not saying I hated this book but I also didn’t really enjoy it and there were some…issues. This is the first book of Roan Parrish’s that I’ve read. I tried reading Riven (which has a little Easter Egg mention in this book), and just couldn’t get into it. So, I wasn’t sure I’d care for this one anyway, but I decided to give it a shot. From my running notes with elaboration:

There is an inconsistent speech and dialog pattern to each of the main characters. I noticed this almost immediately, particularly with Zachary. He is also, apparently, one of those annoying people who will make the automatic assumption that an “odd” name is a nickname and correct for what he thinks their “proper” name is (In this case, Bram is Abraham, which it is not –it’s Bramble, which…okay, I’m not even going to go there). In his defense, Zachary does know immediately that this was kind of an asshole move, but…I was still annoyed as a person who has this done to them regularly.

On page 22, I note that there is already a lot of “vaguebook”-ese here. Rather than just laying things out, its all being hidden for…later? It doesn’t add drama, it just ends up being annoying.

Bram makes a joke in reference to the virgin survivor horror trope, but it isn’t clear that it is a joke?
This was also around the time when I started questioning whether Zachary is neurodivergent. Like, that doesn’t need to spelled out, but that was the vibe I was getting, and I feel like if he WAS that was a conversation that they should have had in trying to understand one another.

I have the note: “Decapitation works for all monsters, actually”. You’re severing the spinal cord. It’s not like a vampire can just re-attach its head. Please go watch some Buffy or something.

I literally gasped out loud and said “WHAT THE FUCK” to Zachary dumping the paint on the dragon. Is he a CHILD with no impulse control? It made absolutely NO SENSE to me that he would do that, even if he was mad, because…he is a very controlled person in ALL of his actions. The ONLY thing it did was make Bram seem naïve, taking it as a “prank”. I wanted to pat him on the head and explain to him what a prank is. (And I have no patience for pranks; I think they are a stupid waste of time and if they people who pulled them spent nearly as much time and brainpower on real issues, we could cure cancer). So, the prank war: dumb, dumb, dumb.

The Glitter Bomb in the mailbox also made me mad. It’s a federal crime to compromise a mailbox. Period. This was not a “fun joke”. It was criminal.

Chapter 12 contained what had to be the absolute dumbest sex scene I have ever read in all my years of romance reading (…which, we won’t talk about how long that’s been, but a majority of my life). They didn’t even get partly naked. To me, it struck me as them being uncontrolled teenagers. What part of ejaculating in your pants is hot? Mutually. Yuck. But, I guess, they do their own laundry so…if that’s what floats their boat.

Bram’s level of scare tolerance is ridiculous. Everything about his reactions (…and frankly, most of the contents of this book) are so campy. Not in a good way. A lot of stereotyping. Rye also brings up their little queer group connection a few times, which…okay, valid. Queers are great at finding other queers and there is only one instance of potential homophobia in this book, when Zachary feels like a kid is staring at them on a hay ride. Either homophobia exists in this community or it doesn’t and that felt like a really unnecessary addition to that scene.

I also got a bit perturbed about the cat shelters. I loved the idea, but you CANNOT put blankets and towels in them. In severe weather, a cat could freeze to the fabric. The only thing you should use in shelters for outdoor/stray/feral cats is straw. Some feral cats probably wouldn’t even *use* something with a blanket or fabric mat. It’s unnatural to them. So, this was a missed research opportunity to impart some factual knowledge to a reader. It didn’t need to be preachy, but I can see someone reading this book and going, “Oh, they did this fun thing...” and not diving down that rabbit hole themselves.

The last note I have is a note about Zachary paying rent. I could be wrong, as I didn’t want to go back and try to find it, but doesn’t it say somewhere that he owns his house? Given its odd architectural design (…which is never mentioned again after Bram’s initial observance) I would think that purchase would have been a priority over renting? But again…I could be wrong and have just misread. Given the extreme boredom in between the bouts of just pure wrongness, I’m sure things slipped through.

I am also very put out that there is no conclusion around the disappearance of Zachary’s sister. Sure, people don’t always get closure to those situations. It’s a sad fact of life. But…this isn’t real life, nothing about this book is realistic, and frankly: I needed to know if she was alive or dead and whether or not having closure would have improved his relationship with his parents.

The overall conclusion: I certainly didn’t love this book, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, but it wasn’t a complete and total waste of time. The dialog in general was just…hard to read at times. I am mildly curious about the other books in the series (particularly, I feel like Rye could be a very likable character, but I’d probably end up disappointed), so I’m not sure that I would actually pick up the others unless I really needed something to read and it was readily available to me.

This is a sweet, lighthearted romance, the fourth in a series about Garnet Run, Wyoming, with endearing characters who win you over. The story is built on a Halloween house decorating contest. Bram is new to the neighborhood, seeking a fresh start after a painful breakup. Zack is his prickly, uptight neighbor who wears suits to work at home and avoids people due to past trauma. The decorating contest brings them together.

The premise might sound frivolous, but Parrish’s characters are well-crafted and convincing. Their backstories provide enough pain and darkness that I found myself cheering them along as their romance develops. I even teared up at a couple of points. It’s satisfying to see Bram and Zack move into their true selves. They have a gentle, loving relationship that is totally convincing. Of course, there’s a roadblock, but it’s nothing too serious and it doesn’t last very long. The small town Wyoming setting is cute and idyllic, with a bevy of interesting side characters creating a supportive queer community. Bram’s family adds a warm, comic element as well.

One thing I admired was the way Parrish normalizes personality traits that suggest Zack is on the autism spectrum (although that’s never made explicit). He’s accepted rather than seen as odd or weird. It’s just who Zack is. Another character’s fear of crowds is treated the same way. This is who he is and the others respect and accept it.

I recommend this as a good, warmhearted gay romance. Perfect escapism. Nothing’s too serious but it has enough heft to make things interesting. I look forward to exploring more of the books in this series.

This is book four in the Garnet Run series. I have really enjoyed all the books in this series. I was so excited to get this story.
This book is filled with some really great characters. They are quirky and both with a heart of gold. Zachary loves horror movies and has zero social skills. Bram enjoys whittling, is recovering from a broken heart. This was a bit of awkwardness between them that at times diluted the chemistry between them.

I really loved all the Halloween vibes in this book. The story was a quick read. There is a light hearted love to this story. I think my only hang up was the way the couple interacted with each other on page.
This is not my favorite of the series but it was a fun read to get me in the mood for autumn.

If Hallmark made a MM Halloween movie, it would be this one. Perfect for pumpkin spice season, along with some sugar cookies and a cozy blanket.

Bram moves to Garnet Run to escape a bad breakup and ends up moving to Casper Road, a street with a love of Halloween. But no one loves it as much as Zachary, Bram’s neighbour.

Zachary is a buttoned-up architect who likes things neat, tidy and straight to the point. But then carefree, easy-going Bram moves in, shakes things up and makes him question what’s important.

I enjoyed both the characters. I liked that they had unexpected depths. Big & strong Bram is a tender soul and easily scared. Zachary is stoic and straightlaced but has a hidden prankster side and a love for all things horror.

Together they are lovely and pretty sweet. If you are looking for a light-hearted, small town, romance you’ll enjoy this.

This was a bit hard to get into but overall a cute read! It’s got the grumpy sunshine trope plus some prank wars. 3.5 out of 5!

Last Christmas my attention was captured by the book The Lights on Knockbridge Lane, the first gay Harlequin Special Edition and I loved it. When I saw the next book in the series, The Rivals of Casper Road, on NetGalley, I scooped it up with my auto-approval and was not disappointed. Whereas the previous book was focused on Christmas, this is set during fall/Halloween and I adore that time of year.

The setting of Garnet Run is adorable to begin with, but then there's a whole street that participates in a big Halloween decorating contest? Awesome! Zachary is an architect who lives his life on a strict schedule and who has won the contest several years in a row. When a new neighbor across the street, Bram, hears about the contest and decides to get involved it spurs a good natured prank war between the two... and some romance.

I really enjoyed this story. Bram's been burned by his past relationship, but he has such an amazing family behind him supporting him in whatever he decides to do. Which is exactly what Zachary needs, coming from a sad childhood and some even sadder self-esteem issues. They fit each other like pieces of a puzzle and made a great couple.

It was great to see the characters of the previous book, as well as some new characters - including an older woman who lives in a quite interesting house (acrylic walls!) with mysterious rock piles in the yard. There was also the ongoing plot of the cat rescue; Bram and Zachary team up to build some winter shelters for the cats. Anyway, I'll be happy if this series continue, quite frankly Harlequin could use the diversity in its line up and then some.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own and were not influenced by the free copy.

Roan Parrish is a talented and brilliant author and I'm grateful to Netgalley for the chance ot read The Rivals of Casper Road.
If you're in the mood for a fantastic gay romance that knocks your socks off, smile hard, and remember that there is some amazing romance out there waiting for you, this book is it.

Thank you, Harlequin Special Edition, for allowing me to read The Rivals of Casper Road early!

It wasn't really what I was expecting and that disappointed me profoundly, sadly.

What a delightful read! I loved Bram and Zachary together, and I'm so glad the author took the opportunity to check back in with previous Garnet Run protagonists. (I particularly loved that we got so much of Adam, Wes, and especially Gus, who is as charming as ever.) The final chapter was as romantic as could be! I hope there are many more books to come from Garnet Run -- I'll be recommending this for purchase at the library, and it would make a great book club pick for some future October!

Many thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review!

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Zachary is very insecure and quite oblivious and Bram is ray of sunshine with trust issues. This pair was so sweet that my heart was really happy! A Halloween contest in a street called Casper Road in the little town we already love, Garnet Run. We have cameos from the characters of the previous books and we have a great romance that starts as a prank war.
As usual the writing style is easy to follow, and it was a plot that made it hard to put the book down. It was interesting, romantic, and very emotional. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Roan Parrish stories!

The thing with this series, is there was definitely a final change when it switched to Harlequin. “Better Than People” is one of my all time favorite MM romances, and “Best Laid Plans” continued that trajectory. And while I loved “The Lights On Knockbridge Lane”, the shift to holiday themed stories was one I wasn’t expecting for this series. Don’t ge the wrong, I still very much enjoyed LOKL, and still enjoyed this, but it wasn’t where I thought the series was going. That said, I am madly in love with Zachary Glass. Holiday theme aside, Roan has a way of writing characters that are so endearing it hurts, and Zachary is no exception. His confidence struggle is so relatable, and Bram is able to really pull him out of his shell with the prank war which was so cute and fun. The romance is another lovely entry into Roan’s collection of lost men finding each other, and I didn’t mind the Halloween setting as much as I thought I would. The decoration competition added a little whimsy to this story and made it just the right amount of cheesy.

When Brahm moves from Olympia Washington to Garnet run Wyoming he is heartbroken his best friend and boyfriend proved they weren’t the best nor great at being a boyfriend when they cheated behind his back. This is how he found himself living on Casper Road across from Zack glass his taciturn, but adorable neighbor who happens to be the six time Halloween champion. Although Zack is a bit standoffish Brahm has never met a stranger and so when he find out Zakk loves horror movies he carved A vampire from a tree stump thinking Zack would love it. Zack however takes Umbridge to this and thinks he is trying to win the contest, but Brahm Who is usually guileless takes up the challenge. He won’t even think about how cute Jackie is when he’s angry nor will Zach think about his big broad lumberjack shoulders this book was so good and funny! I truly and thoroughly enjoyed this book a little innocent competition never heard anyone right? I loved it and love how he got Zack to come out of his comfort zone did I say I loved it! I received this book from NetGalleyShelf and the publisher but I am leaving this review totally voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Rivals of Casper Road by Roan Parrish is the charming and unlikely love story between Casper Road’s newest resident, Bram Larkspur, and the slightly timid Halloween decorating champion, Zachary Glass. As competition for best decorations commences, the two initiate a lighthearted prank war. But it only takes one kiss to turn rivals into allies and lovers. ⠀
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With The Rivals of Casper Road, Roan Parrish brings to a close the rather successful Garnet Run series. While not as strong as the previous three, it manages to come across as familiar and satisfying. Plus, we get to reunite with some of our favorite characters from the small Wyoming town. While a bit superficial when it comes to emotions and passion, the story still holds its own and is heartwarming and entertaining. The sizzle of the romantic scenes could stand to be dialed up a degree or two, but nevertheless I highly recommend the book as well worth your time. ⠀

The Rivals of Casper Road is a light, mostly fluffy read that's perfect for a cozy autumn day (or for when it's the middle of summer and you wish it was autumn!). It's full of Halloween decorating, friendly rivalry and pranks, outings in the idyllic town of Garnet Run, and reuniting with well-loved characters from the other books in the series. While I did enjoy reading it, I thought it lacked the depth I've come to expect from the author. Both Bram and Zachary have been through some pretty intense experiences, and even as they deal with the aftermath of what happened, it felt like the narrative didn't dig much deeper than the superficial. I felt the same about the more steamy scenes between them, like they were kept short and didn't delve into all the feels. Overall, I was left wanting more. It's still a sweet romance with Roan Parrish's classic love of the holidays and unique characters (I love you, Bramble Larkspur!). I also liked getting a peek into how things are going for the other queer characters in the Garnet Run world. If you want autumnal vibes and an opposites attract, next door neighbors story, take a stroll down Casper Road with Bram and Zachary.

I did enjoy this. I thought it was cute and it does usually follow a pattern with this story and the authors other novels in the series. Since switching publishers, the novels do seem a bit different but I plan on reading them solely because of the author. Also spooky, cozy vibes are perfect!

The fourth book in a series of gentle, pleasant romances. Not, in my opinion, one of Parrish's best. I could feel my attention slipping in the back half of the book, and the characters felt a bit flat to me. YMMV.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for this eARC!

Another holiday entry into Roan Parrish's Garnet Run series, this time Halloween. I liked this, but it wasn't my favorite of Roan's books. There just wasn't quite enough fall coziness for this holiday and I don't think the characterizations were quite as rich as her past books. I also felt like a few of the plotlines were a little thin or left dangling.

However, I loved Bram (short for Bramble), such a cinnamon roll, but also expertly wields a chainsaw and other wooodworking tools. Turns out, this is very compelling to me. I also loved the details about his family. And his dog Hemlock. Honestly, bumping up to 4 stars just for him, he's perfect.

Will I still be returning to Garnet Run if Roan sets another book there? OF COURSE, but I wished this one had dialed up the cozy factor (I'm looking for the cabin in <i>In the Middle of Somewhere</i>, always).

This was a sweet and short book. This was part of a series which I didn’t know. I don’t think you would need to read the prior books but it may be helpful. Bram and Zachary were two different souls in need of love and compassion. They were adorable and perfect for each other. It was a cute story but may not be memorable in a few months time,

I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 rounded down

I really love this author, but I've not had the best luck with this newest series of hers, and I have to say that this latest one was similarly lackluster.

This book and the last one in particular feel like a bit of a departure from the rest of the series with a specific focus on holidays--in this case Halloween--which seems in line with the transfer of this series from Carina to Harlequin. Not sure what it says that I think these two books in particular are weaker than the first two, particularly when I didn't love the first two as much as I generally love Roan's books.

I'm fairly neutral on Halloween and don't particularly feel the need for books/content surrounding the holiday, and though I appreciated the more unique twist on a "holiday" trope, I did find myself wanting a bit more generic ~fall vibes~ content. There's a haunted hay ride moment, but since I'm not particularly obsessed with the Halloween holiday, I'd have preferred if there had at least been more of an autumnal atmosphere throughout the book--leaves changing and cozy sweaters and cups of cider etc--and that was oddly lacking for a book centered around an autumnal-set holiday. Basically, there was an odd lack of atmosphere in this book, which seemed to particularly need it.

As with the last book, this one features a quirky character and the man with a heart of gold who loves him. Zachary loves horror movies and has no social skills. Bram enjoys whittling, is recovering from a broken heart, and has no discernible source of substantial enough income to live as comfortably as he seems to. The characters were sweet enough, but I just... didn't feel any chemistry at all. The smut almost felt awkward to me because I just didn't feel any desire to read about these two having sex. The whole thing just felt very wholesome and bland and honestly kind of boring. Even the writing quality felt different from what I've come to expect from this author--if I'd read this blind, I honestly would not have believed this had been written by Roan. There was nothing offensive here, but there's absolutely no spark, either. I'm desperately hoping this is the last in the series and that Roan moves on to something else, because it's just really not working with me and seems to be getting worse. :/