“‘It’s okay to want different things,’ she says. ‘People change. You’re allowed to change. Doing less doesn’t make you less.’ Seasons change and so do we.”

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck. 
 
So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon.
 
But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy: Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. Or does it?

In The Weeds is book two in the Lovelight Farms series and, in this instance, I feel as if this book would have been a bit more enjoyable had I read the first book prior. I could follow the story, sure. And I love Beckett and Evelyn together! I mean who doesn’t love a burly tattooed man with a soft side?! But I was definitely missing some of that chemistry that I’m sure built up in the first book. I can’t wait to go back and read Lovelight Farms now. I can imagine the chemistry between Beckett and Evie is off the charts!

Thank you to @netgalley, @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and @authorbkborison for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not a single person in the world can convince me that Beckett is not autistic. I don't know if it was intended by the author or if it's a happy accident but the only thing that would have made this book better is having that autistic rep labeled.

My only real complaint for the first book in this series is that it was so painfully white able-bodied cishet conventionally attractive etc and this book fixes some of that. We still have a very attractive successful couple working their shit out and being stupid about things, but at least we have both a POC character and a autistic coded character. There's also a queer couple within the secondary characters that's mentioned this time so that was nice. Do I think there could still be more diversity? Yes.

On to the actual book. This one follows Beckett who is the farming manager whatever thing for lovelight farms and he has a two-night stand with a woman named Evelyn on a work trip and when she leaves without a note he never expected to see her again. Then she shows up a couple months later to do a social media spotlight for lovelight farms. She stays does the spotlight and leaves again. The two of them cannot stop thinking about each other despite being nowhere near each other.

Evelyn is a social media influencer who has really got caught up in the obligations and commitments and has lost what brought her joy about her job in the first place. So in an effort to find her happy she goes back to the place where she was happy last, obviously it's lovelight farms with Beckett.

The two establish a routine but kind of dance around each other until they find a rhythm that works but the future is still unpredictable for both of them.

Part of me kind of hates so much I love this book because straight books are just not really my thing but damn, there is just something about the writing and the characters that absolutely draw you in.

I do want to highlight some of the reasons why I am claiming Beckett as an autistic character.

He has earmuffs that his family got him to help with noise sensitivity. He sticks to a strict routine every single day. He has two very specific special interests one being farming and agriculture and the other being astrology. He does better with animals than people and adopted a family of cats and also maybe perhaps a duckling. He has social anxiety and struggles with crowds and groups of people and conversations. He does his grocery shopping 5 minutes to close so that there's no one in the store and they stock his favorite comfort foods. This man has safe foods okay. I cannot emphasize just how neurospicy this man is 😂

Anyway, I made a comment on one of the author's social media posts asking about whether or not she intended Beckett to be autistic and I'm waiting to see if she'll see it or respond.

I didn't think it would be possible to like a book in the series more than I loved the first. But BK Borison DID IT! Beckett and Evie are GOALS! The banter, the history, the chemistry! Seriously love the story between these two! I will be reading these for ever so I can continue to visit Lovelight Farms and these lovely love stories!

What you can expect to find in In the Weeds
-one night stand
-second chance
-roomies
-forced proximity
-small town romance
-social anxiety rep

After reading Lovelight Farms, I knew that I had to start on Beckett's book asap. At the end of Lovelight Farms we realize that grumpy, grumbly farmer Beckett had a one time hook-up with social media influencer Evelyn St. James. They didn't exchange any personal information and left it at that. So what happens when Evelyn is suddenly back in Beckett's life months later and also his temporary roommate? Will they be able to get to know one another and rekindle their romance?

If you love a soft/cinnamon roll hero then Beckett is it for you! I loved how much he cared about Evie even though he wasn't sure exactly how she felt about him. And the flashback scenes to their one night stand were spiiiiicy.

While In the Weeds was definitely more character driven, I still really enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Several months ago, I got my introduction to B.K. Borison's book while reading Lovelight. The book is phenomenal, and I couldn't wait to read In the Weeds and am so glad I did.
Grumpy meets Sunshine in In the Weeds. Beckett Porter is in charge of Lovelight Farms, you could call him Mr. Grumpy. Evelyn St. James is a social influencer; traveling is just another day on the job. She doesn't particularly enjoy it anymore; the likes and comments online just don't give her the excitement it used to. I absolutely loved the dynamics between Beckett and Evelyn. She's quite a distraction to him after meeting. He's had a few flings, not really caring if they come or go. When Evelyn hits the scene, this changes his perspective tremendously. He wants her in his life but with her leaving and returning several times, can he trust her to stay put? One of the most sensual books I've read in quite a while. Can he convince her true "happy place" is with him on the farm? This series is my happy place for sure, I just love it. I'm looking forward to reding the next in the series, Mixed Signals. That'll be up soon for me. Can't wait to see what else she'll come out with.

Pub date 4 July 2023.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

“Seasons change and so do we.” -B.K. Borison🖤

Full of wildflower fields, starry nights, warm afternoons, small-town vibes, and quiet moments of courage and love—In the Weeds is a sweet story about opposites who take the unexpected leap on a second chance at romance and happiness.

Social media influencer, Evie, is struggling to find her spark of joy after a sudden run-in with her past fling—a grumpy but devastatingly handsome farmer from small-town Maryland. So in a rush of spontaneity, she decides to chase after the last dose of happiness she found in the fields of Beckett’s farm. But when these two are forced to reside together after months spent avoiding the other, will they find happiness in each other? Or will their differences push them apart?

Again, Borison SWEPT me away and into the fields of Lovelight Farms with this tender-hearted, adorable story. I loved how we saw the setting, vocabulary, and themes bloom from winter into spring and the chance at new beginnings.

I adored seeing our cast of characters back again and learning more about Beckett and Evie, how brave and strong they are as individuals, and quite adorable as a team. Beckett and his grumpiness were a complete compliment to Evie and her bright, sunshine-like personality. They challenged and forced each other out of their comfort zones while providing much-needed support. (Also, the family of kittens AND the duckling Beckett saved?! Be still my heart!!)

The themes of growing and embracing change and finding your piece of happiness every day really stuck with me. I appreciated seeing characters struggle with relatable emotions we all feel at one time or another—feeling lost, uncertain about the decisions in your life, and unsure whether to start in a new direction. My heart fell with these sweet little cinnamon roll characters, and I can’t wait to see where this series is going to go next!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

In the Weeds is the second book in B.K. Borison’s Lovelight romance series and it is a sweet and steamy delight! The first book in the series, Lovelight Farms, was one of my favorite holiday reads this past Christmas. I just adored the small town setting, the family-owned Christmas tree farm, and all of the quirky townsfolk, so I couldn’t wait to return to this world and visit Lovelight Farms during a season other than Christmas.

In the Weeds follows Evie and Beckett. Evie is a popular, no nonsense social media influencer, while Beckett is a grumpy tattooed farmer. Don’t let his grumpy exterior fool you though because on the inside Beckett is the gooiest of cinnamon rolls and a kitten rescuer, to boot. We meet Evie and Beckett briefly in the first book and it’s clear there is major chemistry and also something unresolved between them. It turns out that the two of them had a steamy one night stand that was so good, they extended it to a several night stand.

Beckett has been pining for Evie ever since, which is adorable by the way, and when Evie unexpectedly shows up at Lovelight Farms, he’s really hoping there’s a second chance in the cards for them. Evie is there for other reasons though. She has become burnt out and unhappy with her career and is looking for a reset. She wants to “find her happy” and the last place she remembers being truly happy was when she visited the tiny town of Inglewild and Lovelight Farms.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Evie and Beckett together and found myself rooting for them to make the most of the second chance they’ve been given. Their scenes together are a mix of fun, sweet, and positively swoony moments and I was fully invested in every page of their slow burn journey.

In the Weeds is the perfect follow-up to Lovelight Farms. It was everything I hoped it would be and more! Highly recommended for fans of second chance and/or grumpy sunshine/opposites attract romances, small town vibes and close knit family vibes.

This book is just as lighthearted as the first book, Lovelight Farms! I loved Beckett and was so happy to see that he was the leading man for this book. The portrayal of Beckett's noise sensitivity/social anxiety was really relatable and nice to see represented in a book like this. Watching Evelyn and Beckett's relationship form from a hot and heavy weekend neither can forget to something more concrete was wonderful. Even though I think better communication would have solved most of their problems it still made sense that after Evelyn had walked away from him twice that Beckett would be waiting for her to do it again. Overall this was a great lighthearted read.

In the Weeds is a captivating and passionate story of second chances in love that truly lives up to its promise. This sweet and steamy romance novel took me on a thrilling journey, leaving me spellbound from start to finish.

In the Weeds is the second book in the Lovelight series by B.K. Borison and while there are minor spoilers for the first book, these are companion novels and don’t necessarily need to be read in order. I had such a lovely time revisiting the lovely town of Inglewild where Lovelight Farms, the enchanting Christmas tree farm resides. We meet our protagonist Evelyn in book one when she visits the farm as an influencer coming to highlight small businesses on her social media accounts. While she’s there we find out that she and Beckett, the quiet, grumpy farmer had a one night stand in Maine and in In the Weeds, we see their romance come to fruition. Evelyn is feeling burnt out by social media and like she’s losing touch with why she began her account in the first place. She decides to take a break from everything and travel to the last place she felt happiness, which just so happens to be Lovelight Farms. I loved this book so much! I had middling feelings about the first book but knowing who the couple would be in book two, I decided to continue the series and I cannot even tell you how happy I am that I kept going. It was so comforting to return to the town of Inglewild and to reconnect with all of the nosy community members. I particularly love their phone tree and how it has mostly transformed into an outlet for gossip. I also loved getting know Beckett and his family a lot better, as well as cameos from Stella, Luca, and Layla (who book three is going to follow!). I had such an amazing time reading this book that it was impossible not to have a smile on my face the whole way through. I only wish Lovelight Farms were real because I would 100% plan a trip there!

In the Weeds takes us back to Lovelight Farms and the sweetest town of Inglewood - only this time we get Evelyn and Bennett’s story. From the one incredible weekend in Maine when they first met, to the surprise of being reunited when Evelyn came to the farm for her social media contest, not knowing it’s where Bennett worked, to her coming back in search of happiness, we get it all. Timing never seems to be on their side, and their worlds are so different, but could this be the time they figure it all out?

This book brought back all the joy and charm of Lovelight Farms. I loved seeing all the quirky townspeople return and especially loved all the glimpses of Stella and Luka from book one. As for Evelyn and Bennett - I was so happy to see them get another chance together. They are the definition of opposites attract - a social media influencer and farmer, and I loved them together! Despite his gruff exterior, Bennett is such a gentle soul and I adored getting to know him better and really see his softer side throughout this book. I was rooting for the two of them from the beginning and loved seeing their story play out.

I can’t wait to come back to Lovelight Farms for book 3!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

3.75 stars
I enjoyed this book. I absolutely adored Beckett–and Evelyn, but especially Beckett–in Lovelight Farms, so I was so excited to read their love story. I had a hard time connecting in the beginning, but I think that’s a me thing. I have a really hard time connecting with a romance when the main tether between the characters, and the driving force behind the romance is sexual chemistry and/or tension alone, and for the first chunk of this book, that was the case. I felt like I needed more from the emotions between the two of them, and I didn’t get that until halfway. I also wish we saw more of the duck. For the amount of discussion over him, I really thought he would play some on-page role, and I was disappointed when he was only in one scene.
That said, though I didn’t connect with the characters as a couple, I was connected to them as individuals. I liked watching their personal growth and reading from their perspectives, but since this was a romance, my enjoyment took a dip when I was unable to connect with the actual romance aspects. The end picked up, but then we had the third act miscommunication trope and it was pretty poorly executed. I felt that way about the third act miscommunication trope in Lovelight Farms as well, but that one was resolved within a couple pages and this one just drug on and on.
I did enjoy the ending, after that point, and I enjoyed all the personal growth Evelyn experienced in finding her happy and in her career, and Beckett’s growth in standing up for himself and putting his own needs first.

I'd really enjoyed Lovelight Farms and even though Beckett and Evie were secondary charcacters in that book, I liked them so much. I was anxious to read their book. In the Weeds gave me all the answers in a delightful way.

Evie and Beckett are so attracted to each other but after an amazing weekend, she leaves without sharing contact info. Beckett goes on about his life on the christmas tree farm. What a surprise when she comes to the farm for a contest she is having. They dance around each other. Then when she realizes her life isn't fitting right, she only thinks of one place to unwind, the farm. She shows up and is soon involved in so many ways. Beckett instists she stay with him and though it takes a while, these two can't stay away from each other. Beckett is an enigma. Not a fan of people and easily overwhelmed, he's amazing with those close to him. He's hot and sexy and just a wonderful guy.

I enjoyed watching these two come together, Evie finding her way and defining her life, Beckett's cats, and just everything about them.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley and the author for the ARC.

velyn St. James has lost her "happy." As a full-time social media "influencer" (as that's what she has unexpectedly become over the years), she travels the country telling stories and shining a light on small businesses that are trying to make it. At least, that's what it started out as. Now, she's not so sure. Something changed along the way, and she's lost what used to bring her happiness. The last time she remembers being happy was at Lovelight Farms ... and with Beckett.

Beckett met Evelyn over the course of a whirlwind few days at a farmer's conference. They had hit it off immediately, but it was never meant to last. Evelyn left to get back to her busy life, and Beckett went back to work at Lovelight Farms determined to forget about her.

So when Evelyn chooses to take a break from social media and reevaluate her life - to slow down and find her "happy" again - Lovelight Farms is where she goes to find it. Back to the only place that gave her some peace. And back to the man that she can't seem to shake.

What I really loved:
- The first book of this series is really fun, and the second book definitely continues to deliver! I love that it picked up with two characters whose relationship was left in an "it's complicated" status by the end of the first book.
- The characters are loveable and characters we can root for; the story brings back lots of staple people from the small town, and their interactions are always fun, sweet, and funny.
- This second in the series definitely had more chili pepper moments than the first book! There was plenty of tension, a bit of miscommunication to keep us on our toes, and plenty of moments of spice.
- This book continued to give me the same feelings that the Well Met series (by Jen DeLuca) did. The storyline is entirely different and unique but it left me with all the warm fuzzy feelings that a cute and a little bit spicy romance novel leaves you with. While the first book always seems to be the best, the second is still definitely worth picking up if you want a fast and easy romance.

What I didn’t love:
- I don't know that there was anything that I felt like I really didn't love from this story and the characters. It didn't quite have the pizazz of the first book - I think the novelty of the first book and the premise always sets the second one up for big shoes to fill, BUT the second one was still just as easy to devour!

Overall:
I really enjoyed this one and definitely plan on continuing reading on with the series! I'm most surprised that I still hadn't heard of this romance series before, but it one I've now shared with everyone I know. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

Thank you to both Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early review copy!

Evelyn St. James and Beckett Porter have a fling -- and then she appears on his farm as part of a contest. He did not realize she was a well known social media influencer. There are romantic sparks - but will that be enough for a romance?

I wanted to read this novel and the rest of the Lovelight series because of the charming small town setting and the farm setting as well. This was a fun and appealing book (it would work as a standalone, although it is part of the series). Fans of small town romance will enjoy it.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

I loved this book a whole lot! Like, I had already gone into it with high hopes given how much I liked Lovelight Farms, but this book by far and away exceeded my expectations. I loved spending more time with Beckett and Evie, and being back in Inglewood again. And while this book does have the miscommunication trope and that normally isn’t one of my favorite things, I actually felt so deeply for both our main characters that it didn’t wind up bothering me here. I just really liked this story and got so emotionally invested in the highs and the lows, and I’m so happy I finally continued on with the series.

4.5 Stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was not familiar with this author before picking up this book. But I have to say the story was one of the most sensual love stories I’ve read in a long time.

The author is more like an artist with a paintbrush as she describes, in intricate detail, the connection between two people, both physical and spiritual. It was both beautiful and different. I truly could not get enough of this book.

The story has a familiar theme that we’ve seen in other stories. But the other novels have chosen to depict it in a romcom platform where this is so completely different.

The intensity and the involvement of the main characters made this intense and emotional. It was sexy and sensual. The visualization of each minute detail, such as his tattoos, makes you want to run your fingers right along with her up and down those vines.

This author is a magician. She captured my attention from the very first page, and I have to say, I was a little heartbroken that she followed similar formulas as other authors, especially towards the very end. Tears were rolling. You already had the buy-in, so that made me sad that it was necessary to add the drama.

I was a little angry at some typical scenarios, rudeness and casual disregard Evelyn tends to show, and the lightweight plot. But overall, I’m a sucker for the sensual romance.

If you’re looking for a stunning romance that is hot and steamy, but on a completely different level, you’ve got to read this book.

This is the second book in the Lovelight series, and I was really excited to read it because it’s about Beckett and Evie, whose connection was hinted at in the first book, and you could feel the chemistry between them. Before the start of Lovelight Farms, the pair had a one-night stand, fully expecting to never see each other again, but it’s pretty clear there are some unresolved emotions between them. I was so curious about how these seemingly opposite people got together and what happened to them.

Evie is a social media influencer who badly needs a break from the rigor of her job. She thinks about the last place she felt happy and peaceful and decides to return there, which is how she ends up at Lovelight Farms and with Beckett. I so related to her burnout. That’s exactly how I felt when I left my teaching career. Evie has such a great journey as she takes a good look at her life and figures out what is missing. She begins to think more about her happiness and what she really wants instead of being defined completely by her job.

And Beckett… sigh. He’s a dreamboat. A grumpy, tattooed kitten dad, Beckett is such a swoon-worthy cinnamon roll. He’s so gentle and quiet and kind. And the way he feels about Evie is super swoon-worthy. Every time he asked her if she found her happy today, my heart melted a little bit more. I just loved watching Beckett and Evie fall in love. They have amazing banter and chemistry, and there’s so much humor, thoughtfulness, and intimacy in their relationship. It’s really special.

I adore that we also get to see Stella and Luke, the main characters from the first book in the series. I adored their friends-to-lovers romance as much as I enjoyed this one, and it’s always great to see how characters from previous books in a series are faring. Beckett and Evie’s families and the people of Inglewild are also fantastic secondary characters, and I enjoyed the messages about family and friendship. And I’d love to be a member of the community phone tree, which is used more for socializing and gossiping than for emergencies. lol

Special thanks to Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

In the Weeds is a delightful small town, grumpy sunshine romance that hit all the right notes for me. I enjoyed BK Borison’s second Lovelight Farms book even more than the first one, and can’t wait to read more.

4.5/5 stars

Quiet farmer Beckett and influencer Evelyn had a sizzling two-night stand in Maine, and never expected to see each other again. But both are stunned when Evelyn shows up in Inglewild to showcase Beckett’s Lovelight Farms a few months later. At that point, the two quietly dance around each other but don’t act on their continuing attraction. Months later, as Evelyn struggles with her growing social media platform, she decides to take a break to “find her happy” and return to Inglewild. She ends up staying with Beckett, for romance reasons of course, and the two attempt to figure out their burgeoning relationship while Evelyn decides what she wants to do next in her career. Can these opposite personalities make their romance work?

I adore a good grumpy sunshine story, and In the Weeds is a great example. While Evelyn and Beckett struggle to communicate at times, their chemistry and the way they balance each other out is never in question. I also liked that it was a dual POV, so the reader can see all feelings Beckett keeps on his head. Throw in some mutual pining, small town meddling, and a few kittens and a baby duckling, and you have a charming book that I didn’t want to end.

In the Weeds is a fantastic small town, opposites attract romance. I liked it even more than Lovelight Farms, and having a dual point of view made it easier to connect with both main characters. I can’t wait to see what BK Borison has in store next for the residents of Inglewild!

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