I love the parent trap and this cover is so cute so I decided to apply to read this arc immediately. I love Liam and Marigold and their dynamics with their twin boys! The twins are so cute and I am so happy their devious little plans in getting Liam and Marigold back together worked out! I am a little disappointed though with how they finally hashed out everything that went wrong in their marriage after 7 years... But still I love Liam and Marigold, they are both sweet hearts.

Thank you netgalley and Juliana for allowing me to read this arc, I will always be honest in my reviews!

4.5 star read!

I honestly did not think I would like this book as much as I did but I absolutely loved it!
Normally I am not a fan of books where main characters are divorced because I always think that they divorced for a reason why would they get back together but this book made me rethink all of it. Juliana Smith made me understand why Marigold and Liam could didn't work the first time but could be back together now.

This book contained so may cute tropes including:
- Second chance romance
- Parent trap
- Adorable twin boys

I would highly recommend this to any romance reader!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing an arc of Rock and a Hard Place

Thank you to NetGalley, Julianna Smith and Victory Editing for the review copy.

Marigold and Liam have been divorced for seven years, when they mysteriously get signed for a project together at their twin sons school. Liam has never stopped pushing Marigold’s buttons, but if can he push the right ones he might be able to reignite their past friendship. But be careful of how fast a spark can turn into a flame.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was so excited for the opportunity to read this one after meeting and loving Liam and Marigold. I wouldn’t normally go for a second chance romance but this one could convince even me. I loved these two characters so much, they’re a product of misunderstandings during the pressures of young parenthood to twins, but to me they feel meant to be. Overall, a fantastic third addition to this series and definitely my new favourite.

This is Book 3 of the Wells Family Series!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

In Rock and a Hard Place by Juliana Smith, readers are treated to a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that explores the complexities of second chances and co-parenting. Marigold Wells and Liam Wells find themselves thrown together in an unexpected situation when they are assigned to a project for their son's school. Despite their history of divorce and animosity, they must navigate their newfound proximity and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.

Marigold and Liam's dynamic is filled with tension, humor, and undeniable chemistry. Smith expertly captures the nuances of their relationship, from their playful banter to their deeper emotional connection. As they work together on the project, they are forced to confront the reasons behind their divorce and reconsider whether they can overcome their past and rebuild their relationship.

The plot unfolds in a charming and engaging manner, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and heartwarming scenes. Smith infuses the story with warmth and humor, making it a joy to read from start to finish. The supporting cast of characters adds depth and dimension to the narrative, providing additional layers of humor and emotion.

While Rock and a Hard Place follows some familiar tropes of the romantic comedy genre, such as second chances and co-parenting, Smith brings a fresh and contemporary perspective to the story. The dialogue is sharp and witty, the pacing is brisk, and the plot twists keep readers guessing until the very end.

Rock and a Hard Place is a delightful and uplifting read that will leave readers with a smile on their faces. With its charming characters, witty dialogue, and heartwarming romance, this novel is sure to captivate fans of romantic comedies.

A beautifully messy and sweet dual POV second chance romance between two divorced parents of twin boys who find a way to make their way back to one another with a little 'Parent trap' magic. I loved getting more of the Wells' siblings and Liam and Marigold's story. I really enjoyed this unique take on a second chance/marriage in trouble love story.

The two MCs both still loved one another but had to find a way to heal past hurts and take a leap on trying again - no easy feat with children involved. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Madison Wright or Melissa Grace. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

I LOVED this book!! I’m not usually the biggest fan of second chance romance, but this was wonderful. Liam and Marigold were so sweet, and I loved seeing their relationship grow while also reflecting on their past. I seriously happy cried my eyes out at the end. Love love love and can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Juliana Smith for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book - it had me hooked from the start!

I was a little skeptical about a divorced couple book and how it would be written but Juliana did an amazing job of making it feel real and raw. This book has it all; divorce, meddling twins pulling a parent trap trick, meddling family, a family dynamic that is so genuine and real it makes you hopeful for them all.

I love the dual POV and this was a romantic second chance romance read. Solid 4.5 for me.

I haven't read the other Wells Family books but quickly added them to my TBR.

Definitely purchasing this one when it comes out as a my "trophy"

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I will admit that second chance romance is not always my preferred trope BUT I love this author so I gave it a shot & it was so worth it. At times I felt like there was a little bit toooo much of building the tension but isn't that what a romance author is supposed to do?! Overall loving watching these two rediscover their feelings for each other and the meddling twins were such an added bonus. As someone from Philly, I loved that they were talking about Hershey park which was a fun additional plus for me!!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read & review this story, my review will be posted to my instagram (@manymerrybooks) on pub day!

My goodness! There are not enough great things to say about this book! I didn't realize it was part of a series but was still able to happily follow along. The characters were wonderful. Watching the relationship between Marigold and Liam transform throughout the story was truly beautiful! I loved how this book touches on the difficulties of marriage and parenthood in such a real and authentic way.

The Wells' family is the large family that I have always dreamed of. Loving and there for each other no matter what! I can't wait to go back and read the other books in the series!

The perfect example of second chance romance!

3.5 stars
This is a super sweet, second chance romance with a parent trap twist. Two divorcees are forced to work together again to help out at their child’s school. As they work together it brings back old feelings and regrets. The spice is low, but the emotions are high.
This book does involve divorce and children, if that’s not your thing, this isn’t the book for you!

Juliana Smith perfectly combines, sweet, sad, heartwarming, and hopeful in Rock and a Hard Place. A non-traditional love story with a Parent Trap twist, Rock and a Hard Place captures you from the start and doesn't let go. Smith creates a whole world of loveable characters that have your heart invested immediately. As much as readers enjoy a fairytale romance, real life is rarely that easy - and this book is a perfect representation of that. Adult relationships are hard and messy and real, and Liam and Marigold are the perfect couple to root for. Rock and a hard place is innocent, emotional, and so, so sweet.

If you know anything about me, you would know that I am a SUCKER for a second chance romance, specifically the marriage in peril subtrope. While these two are divorced, I felt like this was marriage in peril adjacent and I ate it up.

The love that Liam had for Marigold was so amazing and he was so sweet. I generally think that this trope really highlights how marriage doesn't fix everyone's problems and that there is still so much work to be done after the happily ever after. This book explored that in such a cool way. It showcased how a husband's need to provide for his family can blind him to what is happening right in front of him.

Loved the twin boys and their scheming throughout the entire book. They were cracking me up the entire time. Overall I really enjoyed this story and am so glad I picked it up!

this was so cute ☹️ the maturity of both Marigold and Liam was highly refreshing to read about, and the kids were perfect. For one, they acted their age (which is nice to see in novels with children involved), and they were so set on getting their parents back together (hello parent trap) it was adorable. This was such a cute read, family ties always get me <3

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Juliana Smith does it once again! Her writing only gets better and her stories only get sweeter. This book was so endearing and sweet and such a great reminder that even though marriage can be hard, working towards happiness is possible. Liam and Marigold's close bond was so evident throughout the story and their absolute devotion for their sons is so adorable. I found myself just swooning at their chemistry and I could not get enough of their adorable parenting moments. The little things mattered so much in this book and the way these two characters knew each other like the back of their hand was so sweet.
These two were so clearly meant for each other and following their journey back to each other was just so sweet and I found myself really enjoying this book and loving these characters so quickly. I loved the first two books in this series but this can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone! I could go on and on about this book but I won't spoil it. Just know that if you love second chance romance and The Parent Trap then you will LOVE this book.

Second chance romance at its finest.

Marigold and Liam have been divorced for seven years when they someone how end up forced together to create a stall for their ten year old twins’ school. Liam isn’t quite sure why they divorced, only that she’s still the most beautiful woman he’s ever met. Marigold however, is determined to keep her distance…something that gets harder and harder as they work together, and he begins to realise maybe they shouldn’t be apart.

This was a lovely, sweet and humorous continuation of the Wells Family series, and there was a lot to love. The chemistry between the two was on point, and the way the relationship with their twins was portrayed was adorable.

A great read!

Now that's how you do a second chance romance!

I didn't have many expectations going into this book, I was just hoping for a good, lighthearted read. But oh boy, it was so much better! I even got teary eyed a bunch of times.

Reading previous two books from the series, I have to say it's the best one by far. Juliana's writing is definitely improving.

Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Just the sweetest romance. I’ve loved this whole series on the Wells family but this is definitely my favorite. I’ve been cheering for Marigold and Liam’s second chance since book 1. Divorce stories scare me usually because they often go to cheating or people just being really mean, so I’m not rooting for them. I could understand how things had gone wrong the first time and still respected both of them.
One of my favorite things about Juliana’s stories is how the romance has tension and feels real but the spice isn’t in your face. I feel like many books just throw in sex scenes now to show the couple is compatible. To show the level of chemistry between Liam and Marigold without having to explicitly demonstrate takes another level of skill.
I will be eagerly awaiting book 4. Juliana Smith is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.25 🌟

Characters: 3
Connection to the book/Enjoyment: 2
Setting: 3
Plot/Overall Story: 2
Writing: 3

Every point= 0.25 stars, max per category 4 points

I have loved all the books I’ve read by this author but for some reason I struggled to connect and enjoy this story. I wanted to so bad but I just never felt it- I think had the reasons for the divorce been put towards the beginning of the story instead of 75% in, I might have felt differently. Also, my personal opinions on acceptable reasons for divorce definitely influenced my opinion on this book. This just wasn’t the book for me, but I will pick up more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title!

honestly, I don’t even know how to put how great this book was into words. I loved the relationship between marigold and Liam and just seeing them reminisce on their past and utilize that to rekindle their love and just remember why they originally got married in the first place. Juliana just did an incredible job with this story and I think every single trope was done to perfection! I am so ready for the next one

One word to describe how this book made me feel: OBSESSED! The Parent Trap trope, the second chance romance (that is handled in SUCH a unique way that it doesn't feel like it drags on like some second chance romances do BUT still has the suspense element of "what happened?"), and the SIZZLING chemistry! How could this NOT become my favorite Wells Family book!
While the Wells Family books are set in PA, Juliana Smith still gives these stories a southern small town charm which is EXACTLY what you want! It's so homey and comfy and makes you want to go visit the locations so badly!
These two characters, Liam and Marigold, just seem to BELONG with each other and there are SO many cute little things that happen. I cannot really expand on them because the reveal of them in the story make you want to CRY!
I cannot wait to see the next Wells Family book and after reading the excerpt at the end of this book, I am SO excited! Thank you so much for an e-ARC of this AMAZING book! 🥹💖