Cover Image: Expiry Dating

Expiry Dating

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Enjoyed this one. Haven't read the first one (this is the second) but wasn't lost. The first book was Lily and Jake's, the second has Alice, who is Lily's sister and Brady, who is a Marine friend of Jake's. Good story overall, although the angst of Alice got a bit tiresome at times. Other than that a good romance and healing of broken people. Would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main characters were Alice and Brady.

Alice is not happy with her boyfriend. He has done something and she really mad a him. Plus her best friend did something to. She decides to up and move back to her sister home town. She finds a job and all is going good for her until she meets a guy. This guy shakes her up.

Brady was in the military but something happened and now he out of the military. He decided to move back to the family's home. While coming to terms with being out of the military he meets a woman. She is different than most woman that he see. And she doesn't want anything to do with him.

This was a fun story to read. It had action and drama throughout. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

Was this review helpful?

This is a good book. The two main characters are Alice and Brady. Alice has moved to Brady’s hometown. Alice’s sister lives there and Alice is close to her. She meets Brady and there is an attraction. They start dating but telling no one. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

Was this review helpful?

this book was so heartwarming and cute! this book features a very entertaining, feisty heroine and a loving yet hilarious mmc!

i really liked the banter that the characters had and i also liked how relatable they were. i loved watching all the characters develop throughout the book. in this book the hero was chasing the heroine which i loved to see!

however, i’ve never been a fan of the miscommunication trope and unfortunately that was the case in this book. i honestly felt like the conflict between them was very unnecessary and i didn’t see the point in adding it at all. i also wish that they’d kept up their banter after they got together.

definitely pick this book up this book if you love small town romances and hilarious banter.

Was this review helpful?

Cute and saucy romance with a cute and saucy heroine. The hero was a little too alpha with an affected drawl and annoying nicknames for his crush, but he served the purpose! Good job with the veteran /therapy aspect. Loved loved loved the male friendships. Best part was the sisterhood - can’t beat being able to depend on your sister.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this romantic comedy. The characters did take a little to grow on me, and there just wasn't enough backstory established to say why they didn't like each other. At least the sniping at each other shifted to banter pretty quickly. The only other thing that bugged me was that I spent half the book wondering if Alice was from London, Canada or London, England. There was no dialogue hints to suggest she was from England, not a single British slang or phrase, and that really threw me off. That being said, this couple was quite cute and it was nice seeing their relationship develop and them dealing with their past issues. Overall, a nice romance. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

4 1/2 stars for keeping me interested. Alice had self-doubts that had her distrustful of men. Brady was dealing with his war injuries. These two were like enemies to start with, but there was quite the connection between them. Alice was sweet and caring, but afraid of being deserted. Brady was quite the tease, liked to stir up trouble, but not comfortable in his skin. I enjoyed when they finally gave in to their feelings. There were some funny moments, sad moments, and lots of love and support surrounding them. I highly recommend this story and look forward to the next in the series.

I received a copy of this story through Xpresso Tours, and this is my unsolicited review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this story. Alice has moved into a cabin on her sisters property after leaving her cheating ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately everywhere she turns she seems to bump into her brother in-laws best friend Brady. The two of them are like oil and water and every encounter is another fight for the two of them. These two have to find a way to be around each other one way or the other. Very enjoyable and hope to read more stories from this author.

Was this review helpful?

This is a book two in series but supposedly can be read as stand a lone.
This is about Alice and Brady. Alice leaves her ex, her job and moves from England to Bluestone ( which took me most of the book to figure out where that was) all I knew was out of England.
I liked the characters and banter though again I had no idea why they seemed to have this animosity.
I love a small town romance but we didn’t get any real description. And I love a man in uniform but again we didn’t get much of Brady’s job more of his ex military career.
Having said that the story is cute and fun to read. I will be going back for Lily’s story snd waiting for Ivy and Ace!
So if you like
Enemies-To-Lovers
⁃Small Town romance
⁃Combat related PTSD, ex military men, men in uniform and strong female leads this is worth the read!

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable read with two people trying to adapt to new circumstances after difficult situations, “Expiry Dating”, by Isobel Reed (Inkspell Publishing), features a recently discharged veteran and an expatriate heroine confronted with issues of her own.
The attraction between Brady and Alice develops quickly, especially for the hero, a small-town deputy and former Marine dealing with an injury and guilt problems.
Brady is protective, a bit too possessive for my taste, and very sweet for the heroine. Besides the physical injury he’s dealing with PTSD.
Alice is strong, feisty and independent.
I liked the fact she was the one wanting a casual relationship while he was already head over heels for her and ready for a serious commitment.
I also liked the honesty between them and how they talk about their issues.
I found Brady exasperating in the beginning, I thought he was a too insistent; and calling Alice “sweetness” was annoying.
I’m not sure “time and patience” would be enough or appropriate to heal Brady’s psychological issues.
I’m curious about Ace’s story.

Was this review helpful?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expiry Dating is the second book in the Bluestone series by Isobel Reed. Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this contemporary, small-town romance! Brady and Alice’s journey is full of fire, grit, and spunk! These enemies-to-lovers set the page on fire with their instant connection. Brady Mitchell is settling into a new life outside the marines. Brady is different now, and he is trying to positively face a future that is scary and unknown while battling injuries, both mental and physical. Alice left England to live with her sister and new brother-in-law at his ranch. Alice’s longtime boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. Sufficient to say Alice has major trust issues! Can Alice soothe Brady’s tormented soul, and can Brandy restore Alice’s faith in love?

I loved the characters, the storyline, and the backdrop of this book! Brady and Alice caught my attention on the first page. Brady and Alice’s romantic journey had me breathless and in tears one moment and laughing and smiling the next. This rollercoaster of romance thoroughly entertained me the entire time. This was an attention-getting page-turner, and the book kept my rapt attention.

I was utterly impressed with the creativity and organic emotions of this book. I am going back to read Alice’s sister’s story in the first book. Brady and Alice are on my favorite couples list! I cannot wait for Ace’s story! This romance gave me all the feels, and I happily turned each page. Isobel Reed has created an emotional, heartfelt romance, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

It was my first time reading a book by Isobel Reed and I really enjoyed it. This was the second installment in the Bluestone Series, but can be-read as a standalone.

Expiry Dating was a quick rom-com novella. Firstly, I appreciated that we were given a dual POV which is quite rare in novellas. I loved having the male main characters perspective. Enemies-to-lovers has quickly become one of my favourite tropes! Give me all the banter please. The main characters are two people navigating their present lives while being bounded to pain from the past. I loved that the hero chases the heroine, which isn’t all that common. However, I could do without Brady’s chosen term of endearment, “sweetness”.

I, for one, will be ensuring I read the rest of this series. I can’t wait to see how Ace and Ivy’s love story plays out!

⁃Enemies-To-Lovers
⁃Small Town
⁃Combat related PTSD

Thank you, Net Galley, Inkspell Publishing and Isobel Reed for an advanced readers copy of “Expiry Dating” in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book, it was amazing. Alice had been hurt by the men in her life and didn't want to trust another one with her heart. She was resistent to Brady's interest in her and trying to make what they had less than what actually was. Brady was so sweet, he wanted her and wasn't afraid to show it. He was patient with her and tried to show her that they could have a relationship together and he wouldn't hurt her. And it's plain to see that she loves him too, she's just scared to get hurt which is totally understandable. They were just perfect together, I loved them.

Was this review helpful?

I'm not sure why I didn't connect with this one. It could've been the cringy pet names. It could've been the excessive drama in the romance. Nothing about Expiry Dating drove me insane, but I didn't really enjoy any of it either. It was fine I guess

Was this review helpful?

While the story is a beautiful love story, it was predictable and could have ended a lot sooner than it actually did. If you're l9oking for a sappy love story with little to no twists then this is your book.

I did love how the book addressed combat related ptsd and it touched on the actual reality of the condition and those it affects. This is why the book got 3 stars instead of 1.

Spice Level - 1-2 out of 10

Was this review helpful?

This was a quick, enemies-to-lovers story that I only mildly enjoyed. There didn’t seem to be any atmosphere; no description of the town, the farm or even Alice‘s guest cottage. I also didn’t understand the animosity between Alice and Brady. What predicated their dislike? I found Brady’s endearment of “sweetness” annoying. (But I do have a pet peeve about endearments starting with the letter ‘s’. It reminds me too much of Gollum in Lord of the Rings as he fawned over his Precious.) I did enjoy the fact that Brady was the one interested in deepening the relationship. Loved the cover although there was very little about Brady’s job in this book. It didn’t even seem like he went to work! This was a closed door romance.

Was this review helpful?

YASSSS enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and please I want more arguing! I read the first book and then this one, but they are stand alone. I need the third installment right away!!!! The characters grew in so many ways, and it was done so well.

Was this review helpful?

The first book in this series I’ve read. I enjoyed it. I especially liked the main characters. I liked the way they clicked. A nice, relaxing read

Was this review helpful?

I received an advanced reader's copy of Expiry Dating (Bluestone Series: Book Two) by Isobel Reed from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I thought this book was really good! The story between Brady, the deputy who was once a marine, and Alice, who is from England but moved to be with close to her sister, was brilliant.

I loved that it was Alice that wasn’t wanting the relationship instead Brady. It was sweet seeing him “chase” her. However, Alice has her walls up and she has them up for good reason. Her life hasn’t always been perfect. But, Brady on the other has never fallen this hard for a women.

Their relationship is one that makes you smile! Definitely don’t sit on this book!

One thing I will mention that I didn’t care too much for was the almost “narration” voice. There was too much going on. The voices of the characters, their thoughts and then the narration. But, other than that I loved the book!

I would love to see what happened with Ace and Ivy!

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book but not my last by Isobel Reed. Expiry Dating was a laugh out loud Rom Com with likeable relatable characters Brady and Alice must move on from their past hurts to find happiness you will find that you will cry laugh and feel their anger, love and passion for one another as they navigate through their lives and learn to trust again. I look forward to reading Ace's story. I received a ARC copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review

Was this review helpful?