I thought this book was ok. It is a grumpy / sunshine trope and a behind closed doors romance. Both main characters have their own past trauma they are working through. He has just retired from the army and is now trying to put down roots and reconnect with his family. She is still in her perky, I’m totally happy about everything denial bubble after losing her husband. He moves in next door and upon her coming to welcome him to the neighborhood they realize they have previously met at a friend’s wedding a few months past and did not hit it off. They start a friendship of sorts that turns into a romantic connection. The guise of which was to help her get practice with men to start dating again. It felt immature and flimsy to use that as a shield when they start to develop real feelings. There is also a very problematic theme of his mother fat shaming her daughter to only eat salad and says she won't find someone if she keeps gaining weight. I thought after the first comment it would be a joke, but no. Her sentiment is repeated further on in the book and no one steps in to stop that or comment on it being fat shaming. Big no-no. This novel wasn't my favorite and honestly, I just wanted to finish it. The characters themselves were not bad and his family's bond seems fun to explore but I just didn't enjoy it. Maybe if you’ve read the series from the beginning and have a connection with the characters from that world building, you’d feel differently. I won’t be continuing.
**honest arc review from Netgalley

4.25⭐

This is book 2 in The Donovans series ~ not sure why it says book 3. Yes a standalone, but more enjoyable if you've already met the crazy Donovan clan in Dare Me.

Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, neighbors to lovers, veteran, teacher, small town, closed door romance, no steamage

Liam & Tessa
Liam spent over a decade in the military and has just purchased his first house next door to the overly cheery Tessa. They don't have anything in common, but become friends with benefits. It's not long before they catch feelings, but could they really make something work when they are so opposite?

Liam is the oldest with 4 siblings and is used to be in control with a 'my way or the highway' attitude. I'm not too sure I liked Tessa's past relationship or how Liam puts his nose in it, but all works out like we knew it would.
Tessa was both outgoing and somewhat shy. She really pulled the grump right out of Liam and turned him into a sweet fella. Oh man with his grand gesture ~ I wish I could've seen the YouTube video for that.

Overall, a delightful read. I'm looking forward to the next book following Ryleigh, I just hope her mom isn't as hard on her as she was in this one.

Liam Donovan hates holidays and Christmas so when he finds out that his neighbour has gone overboard with her decorations, he storms in to confront her. It turns out that his neighbour is Samantha Chase, the world's cheeriest, most upbeat woman whom he met six months ago, at a wedding. Tessa cannot believe that Liam is her neighbour and does her best to avoid him. Yet as they get to know each other, first impressions are soon cast aside.
This is a story, full of emotion. Liam and Samantha both have a past, that they have to bring to the forefront and confront if they are to have a lasting relationship. The Donovan family add to the drama, but in such a great and boisterous manner. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone book. A sweet read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my second book by Samantha Chase, and I really enjoyed it.

Liam is the uptight, ex-marine, and Tessa is the upbeat school music teacher. They are complete opposites, and now they're neighbours. But you know what they say, opposites attract.

The ridiculous things that would set these two off had me laughing at times, and the overall dynamic between these two was a great match. There was also a good mix of steamy and heartbreaking moments. Overall, it was a great read. I am looking forward to this authors next book in 2023.

Thank you, Chasing Romance and NetGalley, for this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! I have read the other 2 books in the series and even though you don’t have to read the others, there’s no reason you shouldn’t! Liam is such a great character who is like an old curmudgeon who can’t help falling for the girl next door. Little did he know that the woman he met at his friend’s wedding would end up being the same one that lived next door with the obnoxious holiday decorations.

Warning - this book might even make you laugh!

Such a good story. Liam was a bit of a grouch to most people and he really didn't appreciate Tessa's over the top happiness and decorating of her yard. They had words and she thought he was a jerk. He eventually apologizes but then is mean to her again. It takes awhile but they finally start meeting in the middle. There were lots of misunderstandings and hurt feelings but the two characters were who they were. The both needed to figure out how to move forward toggether. I loved the story and the characters. Liam's siblings were having a hard time adjusting to him being home from the service and he was having a hard time not being bossy.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.]

• Tempt me was a cute novel, yet it didn't hit the right spot for me. In my opinion it wasn't caused by the plot, which was pretty interesting, but by the characters. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy reading about Tessa and Liam. None of them felt "real" to me, and most of the time I was annoyed by their actions.

• I also felt like the grumpy-sunshine dynamic was slightly exaggerated. The author didn't have to mention that Tessa is super happy, and Liam is the grumpy one in every chapter. Their personalities were already prominent enough...

• But... Tessa's love for decorating and holidays <3 In that aspect, we are very similar!

• Honestly, I wasn't really in the mood for romance while reading this novel, so maybe that affected my low rating.

Note: I received an advanced digital copy of Tempt Me, receipt of which did not influence my review.

Liam and Tessa are an opposites attract, enemies to lovers, grumpy / sunshine, neighbor couple that really started out rough. I didn’t love Liam’s know-it-all vibe in the first half. Similarly, Tessa was a bit over the top with her sunny disposition at all costs and unrealistic expectations of public school funding for a holiday concert. 😂 They work out well together, though, smoothing out the others rough (or OTT) edges with understanding and love. Oh, and lots of sex.

This is book two in the Donnelly series, featuring a family of seven in NC. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next books in the series. There’s a LOT of family dynamics and resentment simmering - it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in later novels.

I really dislike how their Mom treats the daughters of the family. One example- bringing a salad with dressing on the side bc “your jeans look snug” while all the brothers get burgers? (If she asked for a salad, fine. But this is all because mom said Ryleigh won’t find a date if she gains weight?! RAGE)

Grumpy ex-navy seal meets sunshiny kindergarten teacher, can the sparks between them turn into a full-fledged conflagration?
I really wanted to like this story. The Donovan family is wonderful in their noisy meddling way. I felt for Liam who left to join the marines at 18 being the eldest of 5 siblings and returns to find the status quo has completely changed and his family truly doesn't need him in the same way. Used to command and control, it seems that nothing is under his control anymore. 
His next-door sunshiny neighbor really seems to bring out the worst in him but before long she's starting to infect him. He's over at her house for cookies, even taking the dog out and the kisses and sex are outstanding. But she's living in the past. Having her married her lifelong friend to support him though his end-of-life disease she seems unable to move forward. Aided and abetted by his wonderful family Liam makes a plan to win over his fair lady who falls right into his arms. 
What's not to like in this romance but I just found it too slow and almost boring. Where was the zing? the excitement? Regardless it's a nice story and I'm looking forward to reading more about the Donovan's.

Tempt me by Samantha Chase is a solid romance that is built on the famous grumpy sunshine trope. Liam Sullivan is an ex-marine who has moved to be closer to his crazy Donovan family members. He moves in next door to sunshine and daisies in the form of Tessa Sullivan.

At the beginning I found their banter and arguing to be adorable. Samantha Chase does a great job of painting these two as true polar opposites who shouldn’t have any reason to end up together.

I found it to be relieving for the main male character, Liam, to not be an entirely unrealistic, perfect god of a man. In fact, I enjoyed that she depicted him as a bit of an emotional bulldozer, interjecting his opinion whether it was warranted or not. It was nice to see his character grow from his sometimes blunt, asshole nature into a kind, thoughtful man. You could easily observe how Tessa’s influence on him had a positive impact on his personality and communication style.

I liked Tessa’s character but was less enthralled in her obsession with living in the past. As someone who has dealt with intense grief, I found that typically people aren’t upbeat, happy, and cheery after losing the someone they love. More often they are depressed, angry, in denial, and sad they can’t talk to their loved one anymore. It takes a while to reach the moving on stage and living life to the fullest in honor of your loved one stage of grief. Believe me, I got there but I wasn’t openly cheery or happy all the time, I decided to start living for myself and that was it. I do recognize though that everyone grieves differently and people often try to live in the moment after losing a loved one. She annoyed me at times but for some reason that feels like it was Samantha Chase’s purpose for her character. Some people are like Tessa and that’s ok. As someone who tends to be more like Liam, a realist, I could relate more to his character than hers, which was a first for me.

The overall storyline was well paced and thought through. I wish the spice was a bit more explicit. It felt very YA at times and NA at other times. To each their own but I typically like more descriptive spicy scenes. The romance in the book was well done, intimate moments between the two were believable and gave me that sweet dopamine rush I come to associate with most romance novels. There were definitely moments I was swooning from Liam’s words and actions. Overall, Id rate this book a 3.5/5. It was an easily digestible read thats perfect for a trip to the beach, a long car ride, or when you’re craving those warm and fuzzy feelings from reading romance.

Thank you to publishers, Samantha Chase and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. This is a 100% honest review of Tempt Me by Samantha Chase.

Samantha Chase' books are always a good option of reading! This one is no exception. Romantic, funny, light and compelling like most of her titles, the author remains as one of the authors that keep up in my comfort book list. I loved Tessa and Liam's journey and I am looking foward to chek it out the other Donovans stories.

“Tempt Me “ is a novella by Samantha Chase. It is about a girl named Tessa, who is grieving the loss of he best friend while still finding the good in everyday; and Liam a grouchy ex marine who is not a fan of Tessa’s perkiness.

I really enjoyed the banter between these two. It has some of my favorite tropes : 1.) grumpy/sunshine 2.) enemies to lovers

Rating :
☃️☃️☃️☃️
Fade to Black

Favorite quote :

“Sweetheart, if you think I’m ever going to say no to getting you naked and soapy, you’re crazy,” he said with a grin. “Lead the way.”

An entertaining story. Humour, heat and a big family drama. I liked our characters, though some of the conflict was a little over the top. An enjoyable story either way. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

What a great book about how opposites attract and how it addressed how hard it can be to face the past and talk about feelings. I loved the characters and really felt for them when there were miscommunications and they were second guessing each other. Tessa Sullivan is the totally opposite to new neighbour Liam Donovan and it turns out that they actually met before and didn’t get on at all! There were some sensitive topics covered and trigger warning that one of them is grief. I thought what mainly shone through was the support of family, connections and how very important it is to communicate and support each other. Thank you to Valentine PR & Literary Management and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review

Oooh… a broody, grumpy former Marine, Liam who is part of the Donovan big, loud, and in-your-business family is my jam! What’s not to love? Liam, who has returned to Laurel Bay after leaving the military, is trying to find his place in his family and life. As the oldest brother of the five Donovan siblings, he no longer fits as the all-knowing, in-charge, and take-care-of-it-all brother. Since his siblings are now adults, they have lives of their own, and really don’t need his irritable, ogre-like self, and he certainly doesn’t need the over cheerful, over bubbly neighbor Tessa.

Tessa loves to smile, laugh, and sing. She enjoys being happy and making others happy too. As a music teacher at the local elementary school, she is a favorite teacher in the school and in the town; everyone loves her. She is, however, stuck in her grief for her late husband and best friend, and will deny it to whomever brings it up to her; especially, her neighbor Liam.

Temp Me is an enemies to lovers, small town, large family, grumpy-sunshine, and holiday romance that had me from the beginning with so much emotion! I cried, laughed, and felt my heart grow as Liam and Tessa learned about themselves and each other. I love the way Samantha Chase brings Liam and Tessa together after their disastrous first, second, and maybe third meeting. Although I wanted to duct tape Liam’s mouth and shake Tessa from her delusions, I loved seeing them get caught up in each other. Liam is an honorable, kind, and loving man underneath the broody exterior. Just the way he takes care of Tessa’s tiny dog is so sweet. Watching the grumpy ones fall and try and figure out not only what’s happening, but how to fix the messes they make is so much fun and Tempt Me gave me all that and much more.

This is the second book in the Donovan’s series and is a stand-alone, no cliffhanger, HEA. You don’t have to read the first book, but once you get to know Will and Arianna in Tempt Me, if you haven’t read Dare Me (Book 1), you’ll want to go back and read their story! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series of this loud, loving, and over the top family. I received an arc for this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

A classic case of grumpy/sunshine neighbors that find out they have more in common than they think. The most recent installment in the Donovans series by Samantha Chase shows Liam and Tessa starring as enemies (over blow-up lawn decorations) turned lovers (to ease back into the dating scene) turned HEA.

Liam has finally returned home after a decade away serving in the military. He returns home to find that his baby siblings are all grown up and don’t need him quite the same way anymore. Unfortunately, sliding right back into his previous role as big brother/third parent isn’t going the way he thought it would and it has left him a bit grumpy. So of course, the universe intervenes and plops his grumpy self next door to the perennially cheerful and over the top Tessa.

Tessa spent her early adulthood being as happy and strong as possible for people in her life going through major traumas. Unfortunately, she has never been able to shed that need to bring light and happy to those around her. Enter her inflatable lawn decorations to make every holiday that much brighter for her neighborhood. It’s just what Liam doesn’t need (or does he).

From the start, I found both of these characters unlikeable, though for different reasons and I loved watching them get redeemed throughout the novel. (Disclaimer: I actually love finding characters that I don’t like and getting to watch them change my mind. It’s one of my favorite things because it makes them more human and real so I can pretend they aren’t just fiction) In Liam’s case, he was just a downer. I can empathize with his desire to be alone but at the start it felt like he was trying to drag everyone else down with him. Tessa was almost too happy (is that a thing) at the beginning. In real life, I think I would have been like Liam and found it annoying or too much. I am a realist and while I appreciate optimism, she was soooo over the top you could sense the fake. When we finally learn why she is like that, it all starts to make sense. I thought Liam was a bit harsh on her but I loved that she was able to lighten him up a bit while he was able to open her eyes to the reality of her present and get her to stop living in the past. They showed tremendous growth throughout the novel and as is the case with opposites, found themselves attracted despite all their differences.

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶 (more romance than heat 😊)

Quick Summary: An opposites attract romance

My Review: Tempt Me by Samantha Chase was such a sweet read. It was like a grumpy Gus meets a cheerful cheerleader kind of romance. It was totally an opposites attract love story.

About the Characters:
Tessa and Liam - > No one ever would have expected Tessa and Liam to get together. They were so different from each other. When they initially met, they certainly did not strike sparks off each other...or did they? Could the ridiculousness of their practice plan actually draw them closer together?

Will and Arianna - > It was so good to see the HEA continuation of this couple's relationship. I loved that we got a glimpse into their forever after.

Jamie - > I love this character! I think there is more to him than meets the eye. I don't think he is exactly what his family thinks he is. There were a few dropped hints about his story that made me incredibly curious about what's next for him. First, what is up with the daughter of the Donavan family's friends? Second, what is going on with the crazy, psycho woman and her spy? Is she going to spell trouble for Jamie and any potential mate he's interested in? Third, who is this blonde woman who keeps coming into the bar? What is that about? (Ms. Chase, you have my attention. Thank you!)

Patrick - > I really like him. I feel like he's a diamond in the rough. It's hard living in the shadow of another person; I get it. Although he did come across as a bit immature in the fight scene, I know that was part of his insecurities. At the core of it all, he's trying to find himself. Maybe he's having trouble seeing his worth. I cannot wait to meet his lady love. I know she'll see him as someone special, and in the process, maybe he will get to finally see what's always been there.

Ryleigh and Ryker - > I knew it!!! I am about to hunt down their story. I cannot wait to see how their romance comes together in Save Me.

Did I miss anyone?

My Final Say: The Donovans are a down-to-earth, in-your-business family with heart. They love deeply, laugh heartily, and forgive easily. Readers will love learning about them and about the Laurel Bay community.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
Status: Slow burn with an ever increasing flame
Level: ⚡

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to this work in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have been voluntarily offered.

Six months ago, Liam Donovan met the world's cheeriest, most upbeat woman at a wedding, and now she is his neighbor.
Tessa Sullivan believes in always looking at the bright side, singing, decorating for the holiday, and all this just irritates her neighbor. As neighbors becoming friends make sense and as they start getting to know each other becoming more seems just inevitable.
I loved Tessa and Liam’s romance. Being in a relationship is something new for both of them, and I really enjoyed watching them navigate. This was a fun small town, Grumpy/Sunshine romance, a perfect addition to the series.

I enjoyed this sweet enemies to lovers romance. Tessa and Liam are both going through difficult changes in their lives and it was good to see how they were able to work through them and grow as individuals and as a couple. I would have liked more tie-back to when they first met as that was not explored a lot, but overall, a quick and spicy read for a cold winter evening!

Aww, this is a cute small-town frenemies-to-lovers romance that'll check off many of the trope's boxes if not necessarily all of them. Part of a series (but my first), it works fine as a standalone, though it does a fine job teasing the next (and perhaps the next next) in the series. With that in mind, I suspect that the previous novel did the same for this one--supposedly, Tessa and Liam meet when they are paired as part of a wedding party and did not make good impressions on each other. I wish at least part of that had been added as a prologue for this one. Instead, we're just told about it in a few mentions throughout the book. ("You were a jerk!" and "You were annoyingly cheery!") As such, I felt a little cheated at the beginning of this one.

The author does a good job allowing both Tessa and Liam to be right and wrong in their assumptions and behavior; just when I'm ready to be thoroughly annoyed with one of them, they have a mini come-to-Jesus moment, and you can see progress being made.

Secondary characters are terrific, especially Liam's parents and siblings, though his mom's constant jibes to his sister about her weight made me think less of the matriarch when I suspect we're supposed to think otherwise. I appreciate imperfections in otherwise perfect characters, but snide comments about appearance are just...yick. I'm holding out hope that the author added this bit to set up some conflict for a future book in the series.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!