I didn't like this story. The adults acted more like middle schoolers. How can you take a man seriously who is pulling pranks because he likes you? The whole thing was juvenile.

I just finished this book, it was utterly perfect. I loved it so much. It was so sweet and honest. As a girl who wanted nothing more than be different then who she was growing up. I connected so much. This was utter perfection

I have a live/hate relationship with romance books, However, this is one I lived! It wasn’t all simpering nonsense and kept me well entertained. Great for fans of themes of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town country/farm charm, pranksters, and clean romance.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I could not get into this audiobook as it did not hold my attention for any length of time.

Unfortunately, this book just was not for me. The enemies to lovers romance was very Hallmark-esq, which was fine, but we also had this undercurrent relationship with the fiance that was just too much for me. The fiance and his family were too unlikeable from the beginning to really make you care about that relationship so it just dragged it on for too long and introduced this weirdly intense “beauty is pain” storyline that should be noted for those with body dysmorphia issues.

This book just missed the mark for me. It was good but not amazing I couldn't get into SF much say I hoped

& BOOK REVIEW I
That Fine Line - @authorcindysteel
"With my fiancé in California, I was back home for three months to plan my wedding. I had colors to pick, cows to milk, and a wedding dress to squeeze into.
Which was why I didn't need anybody messing with me.
Especially not the guy who had dedicated his whole life to making mine a joke. The guy who filled my high school locker with frogs and my hot car with cans of tuna. I mean...I always got him back. But not this summer. Things were different now. I was engaged. I had grown up. I would NOT fall victim to Cade's pranks, teasing, or his manly charms.
If only my dad hadn't hired the moron to cowboy for him this summer.
Now my childhood enemy is living on our ranch and seems to think we have a score to settle.
And all bets are off.!
I loved this book so much! The pranks were *chefs kiss*. The chemistry, undeniable. Cade is what country boy lovers dreams are made of!
You'll love this if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Small town country/farm vibes
- PRANK WARS (Come on! )
- Clean romance
- Bingeable reads!

This is the first novel in Pride & Pranks Series, a Romantic Comedy. This was my first Cindy Steel's book, and won't be my last. Kelsey and Cade's enemies to lovers story is sweet, cute, clean, and heartwarming. Stefanie Kay did an excellent job with the narration. Looking forward to listening to Double or Nothing, the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, a Dreamscape Media Audio production, for an honest review.

DNF @ 10%

Well. This was a surprise, because the first two books I've read of Cindy's were 5-star favorites of mine. This one, however, I have some issues with. There's a lot of weight talk in this book. In the prologue, the heroine's teacher is described as quite large with "meaty fingers". The heroine is forced into trying to drop from a size 6 to a size 4 in order to appease her fiancé and future mother-in-law (they want her to wear a wedding dress that must be a size 4), and remarks about how you're worth less if you're not thin have been made. She's a size 6 and hopes nobody notices her hips. Excuse me? Also, she remains engaged to her fiancé who is in California while she's home in Idaho planning the wedding and feeling conflicting feelings of hate and intrigue with her childhood frenemy for 3 months (and oh my gosh, can no adults ever get over their high school experience? This heroine is so immature if she can't let go of these pranks.). There's definitely going to be some emotional cheating going on, based on the reviews I've read. Apparently it takes a long time for her to break it off with him, and that's yucky to me. Too many red flags for me at this point, so I will not be reading further.

Audio notes: The narrator is over-the-top annoying and her voice is frequently very dramatic. If I hadn't quit because of the content, I would have ended up quitting in another 5-10% if her voice continued to grate on me so much.

This is a cute romcom and fun to listen to, really enjoyed Stefanie Kay's narration. This is a fun enemies-to-lovers story with a little love triangle thrown in. I was rooting for Kelsey and Cade right from the beginning, you just knew there was something there. I could not stand Kelsey's fiancee, but the reader is not supposed to like him. (He's seriously the worst.) Other than the fiancee (and his family), I enjoyed all the characters; this is a fun read.

Kelsey and Cade were enemies growing up, playing constant pranks on each other since the 2nd grade. Now, Kelsey is home after graduating college, spending one last summer working on her parents’ farm and planning her wedding to her college sweetheart before joining him in California. Kelsey is dismayed to find Cade working on her parents’ farm, too, and the two soon return to their pranking ways. Will Kelsey revert to her high school self or stay the person she grew to be in college?

The main characters are 22, but this felt like a YA book based on the characters’ behavior, actions, and thoughts. Some of the banter was cute between Kelsey and Cade, but the book would have been better if the fiancé had been cut loose much earlier in the story. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

First, let me say that I have loved every single one of Cindy Steel's books that I have read. I have read them all. I love them all.

I normally, prefer audiobooks with both a male and female narrator, but this one was well done with a female narrator reading the entire book. She was easy to listen to and portrayed each character well.
The book is a delightfully humorous read and the audiobook was equally as nice to listen to.

As always, Cindy's characters are relatable with real life problems, raw emotions, and great character arcs. I love the pranks, the tension, the obvoious affection on Cade's part, all of Kelsey's journal entries, the chemistry and the banter!

I recommend both versions to anyone who enjoys romcom filled with banter, humor, flirting and swoony kisses!

This was a fun book to listen to. I really liked that I was able to listen to the audiobook in the car and around the house with my kids around and not worry about anything inappropriate for little ears to hear. (I listen to a broad range of heat levels so it's usually earbuds in for me haha! 😉)
I was rooting for Cade the whole time and like that they finally got their happy ending. I'm not sure if this was more woman's fiction or chick lit than romance since it was slower paced and focused mainly on the female lead and her journey--the Hero had a lot less screen time than I normally prefer--but it was still fun to listen to.
The epilogue was perfect and there were definitely some heart pounding moments that I loved.

This was a fun listen! I am picky about my audiobook talent, but this narrator was easy on the ears and added to the book rather than detracted from it. Kudos on that front! Stephanie Kay is now a voice talent I will look for, so I can listen to her again.

The subject matter of this book was sweet. A nice, little escape - and good, clean fun.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cindy Steel and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook - in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much! I couldn't stop reading it. The characters were well developed and it gave me swoony feelings
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own

Synopsis:
Kelsey returns to her hometown Idaho to spend quiet time with her family and work at the ranch for the summer before getting married. But life had different plans for her. Her childhood enemy Cade was hired by her dad to work and live on the farm as well.

Thoughts:
This is just a fun enemies to lovers prank war romance novel to indulge! Cindy Steel has proven to me once again she is such a great author. The evolution of pranks are hilarious. The banter between Kelsey and Cade provides just the right amount of tension and delight. I absolutely adored the two mains. They made me smile and grin so many times as the story progressed and I really had a great time reading the “hate” grow less and less and slowly falling in love. That was so well done!

I have been very pleased with Cindy’s books and look forward to whatever else she creates. If you’re looking for a sweet, clean romcom, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley for the audio! It got me through doing loads of laundry! The narration was the perfect way to experience this book.

This romcom started with a bang - I tell you! The prologue itself had me laughing in guffaw at the memory or Kelsey's second year in primary school. Now back in her hometown, Kelsey is going back to her home roots while preparing for her wedding day, but separated for the summer from her fiancé. Whatever could happen!!

Pranksters at the heart had me laughing out loud as the banter and pranks flew left, right and center! This was such a feel good story, between laughter and watching the main character come back to her roots and remember who she is deep inside.

QOTD: Does it snow where you live? Has the snow arrived yet?

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for my audiobook!

I’ve never loved the last line of any book, usually I’m fine with it, contented, satisfied, but not this book. I loved it. Cade and Kelsey, my goodness, the chemistry is explosive between them. I loved all the little pranks, the details of life on a farm, the flirting, this book had me wanting more. Maybe I’m weird, but I’ve always wanted that farm life and I was frustrated at Kelsey for wanting to give it up. I read to step into the life of someone else and I loved following Kelsey’s journey. I picked up this book in the morning and finished it while putting my kids down for bed, I have no self control when it comes to a good book. I’m more of a historical romance kind of girl, I have been let down in the past by contemporary, and now I’m wondering what else I’ve missed out on! This is my first book by Cindy Steel and it will not be my last. Thank you for such an enjoyable weekend read, it’s going down as my favorite contemporary romance and recommendation to all of my friends for this genre.
Oh. Also. That epilogue is totally my favorite. It’s the little extra cherry on top 🥰🥰

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Cindy Steel for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored this book! A wonderful enemies to lovers novel which keeps you interested from the very beginning. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud on more than one occasion while reading the witty banter between Kelsey and Cade. I was rooting for them from the very beginning! I also appreciate Cindy's ability to capture the real-life issues of body-shaming and pressure from loved ones. I loved that she showed everyone that standing up for yourself and putting your foot down to say no is perfectly okay. Even if it means walking away from something that you thought you wanted.

A cute and fun enemies-to-lovers story with a serious message. Kelsey returns to her family's farm in Idaho for the summer to work for her dad and plan her wedding. Overshadowing what should be a special time with family and friends is her #1 high school prank enemy, Cade, who is now ever present. Add to it Kelsey's effort to shed those last few pounds to get into a wedding dress to please her affluent big city boyfriend and you have a good story about the struggle to pleasure others while being true to yourself.

The book is entertaining and fun, but it's underlying message told through body shaming and trying to meet other people's expectations of you is what makes this book so good.

I checked on other book's by Cindy Steel and discovered she wrote a prequel to this book, A Christmas Spark. It looks like this may turn into a series. If you like closed-door romances with themes to support and encourage women to pursue their own desires, you will enjoy That Fine Line. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Kay who did a great job.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC. My opinions are my own.

#thatfineline
#cindysteele
#dreamscapeaudio
#netgalley
#enemiestolovers
#idaho