Wonderful book! Can Aspen get the Most Wanted bachelor in town to help her find inspiration for her new book? Small town setting? Check. Fake relationship? Check. HEA? Check. This book took me on a wild ride and I loved every minute of Aspen and Bricks journey.

Unfortunately, this book did not work out for me. Thank you so much for the review copy. The premise sounded interesting but the more I read the more this arrangement didn’t make sense. The heroine wanted him not to phone it and kept asking if it was because she was paying him and but she is paying him so it was a bery big oxymoron to me.

I loved every second of this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Jennifer Probst for my ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for books about authors or other people who love books, so having Aspen's job be an author is an automatic draw for me and compelled me to read this book in the first place, but what kept me reading was the beautiful characters, swoon-worthy romance, and unexpected plot development.

I love that while this book is mainly a romance, both Aspen and Brick have very interesting plots and personal struggles outside of the relationship. Their goals are what drive them to create the deal in the first place, but I love that the goals continue to be a driving force throughout the story. I found it made both of them very relatable and more interesting as the romance was only an element of their story.

This book is so much fun and I highly encourage others to pick it up!

Aspen is an author who has struggled after her inial book was a bestseller. The problem is that book was birthed after Aspen’s heart was broken by a toxic relationship. After two less than stellar books, Aspen believes the only was to get her writing mojo back is to have her heart broken again. So she heads to the Outer Banks to spend the summer with her sister. There she meets the towns #1 heartbreaker, Brick. But Brick politely turns her advances down. Since he needs funds to save his grandfather’s tour guide company, he agrees to Aspen’s. Razz plans to to date for the summer, get her to fall in love with him, and then break her heart. He’ll get the funds he needs and she’ll get the heartbreak she needs to fuel another bestseller. What could possibly go wrong? Brick isn’t the man the town makes him out to be and he falls in love for real. So does Aspen. During the book, I kept wanting to give her advice. I’m so glad the book turned out like I want and can’t wait to read about Sierra and Kane next.

I have read many books from this author, and she is one of my favorites when I am searching for an HEA.

I have to admit that the beginning of the story took some time to gain momentum, but there was a point where the characters were developing, and you did not want to put the book down.

Aspen is a bestselling author who is experiencing writer's block. Her debut novel was an instant hit, but it was because the story was about her own heartbreak. while she survived the heartache, her next two novels did not do well, and the pressure was on to produce a hit. She decided to visit her sister to see if a change of scenery could give her inspiration. She learned through rumors that the gorgeous man who keeps to himself was the muse she needed to complete her novel.

Brick is running a business that he inherited from his grandfather. It is in bad shape, and he needs a miracle to avoid losing everything. He encounters Aspen while drinking alone at a bar and while she is attractive, he does not want to engage. She reappears and makes him a deal. She will pay him to be her love interest with the agreement that he will break her heart. She is transparent with her motives and because he is desperate, he agrees.

The two decide to take it slow so they can create get to know one another and while each understands what the end game is, they are starting to have feelings for each other. Aspen is getting under Brick's skin, and he is falling for her. But Aspen is determined to produce her novel and the story takes an unexpected turn. Without giving up any spoilers, I can share that this story had the "feels" and the supporting characters were a lot of fun. There is a second story to follow and given the introduction to the characters, I cannot wait to experience more with this series.

This is a story about a writer with its pressure to produce multiple best sellers. Although previously a best selling writer, Aspen Lourdes has hit a slump. To move forward, she moves to her sister’s beach home and devises a plan to recreate the conditions that enabled her to write the previous best seller. Predictively it backfires. During the course of the summer she learns about herself, relationships, and how to truly love. I really enjoyed Brick. He seemed genuinely charming. I found it hard to get into this book and the main character, but once I did it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the preview read in exchange for an honest review.

I hate when I have to be honest about a book I vehemently disliked, so for that reason I won't be posting this anywhere else online apart from NetGalley.

The premise of this book sounded so fun and promising but I sadly had to DNF at 20%. It was unbearably cringey and not in a sweet Hallmark-y way but in a gross/ slightly disturbing way. The FMC was basically harassing the MCM. The dialogue was painful to read. Any attempt at humor fell completely flat. The characters (all of them) were very unlikeable. I really tried to like this but it was getting worse and worse so I had to stop.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Full of emotion and unexpected turns, this unorthodox romance novel includes some typical tropes and runs roughshod over others. I enjoyed the meta narrative, the beautiful setting, and the surprising plot points.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Get Red PR and NetGalley for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This was fairly boring for me for almost the first third of the story where not much happened. I seriously considered having to DNF it but it picked up when Brick came into the picture. I really liked his character. Aspen, not so much. She got on my nerves pretty quickly and it didn't let up. Her "woe is me" attitude was annoying and I couldn't understand the insta-love from Brick. The "let's bash Brick club" was cringe worthy. What the heck was that about?? I could have done without that plot line altogether. But, I did like the small town community feel and the side characters, and especially the part about the sea turtles!

Thank you NetGalley for the early read. Aspen is having writer's block and having trouble producing another book that will be as successful as her first. She goes to visit her sister to look for writing inspiration. Enter Brick. He's local heartthrob and known as a player who has left many women brokenhearted. Aspen works out a business proposition: create a fake summer romance and dump her and she will give him money for his failing business. The premise seemed like it had a lot of potential, but there was a lot of repetition and the dialogue was just off to me. I also felt like he overreacted towards the end of the book (which was surprising since he didn't love the way all of the women in town gossiped about him and had a club named after him).

2.5 Stars (I'm rounding up to 3)

Book of the Month 3.5/5

Comfy beach read? Check.
Beautiful love interest? Check.
- Who has a past and isn’t perfect but is working on being better? Now we get interesting.
Wild horses and sea turtles? Check.

Personally I wasn’t as much of a fan of the FMC, who was a little too narrow minded in her focus on her goal, but it was an enjoyable, easy read. Perfect for people looking for a literal beach read while they’re on vacation and looking for a little summer romance.

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

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst
5 stars
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5

I feel like I had fallen into another book rut. I was in the swing of parenthood and watching television shows when the kiddos went to bed. Nothing seemed to capture my attention. That changed when I picked up Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst. I always wanted to read this author but hadn’t had the time yet. I’m so glad I did. I absolutely loved this book.

I LOVED that Aspen was an author. I felt like I was getting a tiny peak into the world of being an author, which I hope someday to do. I know this is a book of fiction but I’m sure Jennifer had to pull from experience, right?! Aspen was quirky. She was sassy when she needed to be. I could relate to her in some aspect since she’s used to being a loner.

Brick Babel. Phew, what a book boyfriend type of name. Good job, Jennifer! It couldn’t have been more perfect. I loved his back story, his attitude, and his dirty mouth. So, I imagined Glen Powell as Brick Babel <3 He’s my new crush though.

Jennifer did a great job at creating chemistry between Brick and Aspen. The back-and-forth banter that kept me blushing and turning the pages. She worked us up to the slow burn and kept the sexual tension pulsing throughout the book. Brick and Aspen were on fire, and I was here for it.

The Book of the Month kept me awake way past my bedtime. I wanted more and more with these characters. Jennifer did a great job at wetting our appetite for Sierra and Kane’s story as well. I can’t wait to read the next book. I completely imagined Austin Butler as Kane though!

Tropes:
• Grumpy Sunshine
• Fake Relationship
• Slow Burn
• Sexual Tension
• Beach Town Romance

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A very predictable romcom but with a suuuuper odd premise. I mean how is entering a relationship expecting heartbreak for the premise of a book, with a money transaction.... sensible? Nonetheless, entertaining to read while vacationing in the obx!

Aspen hit it big as a debut author, but her following 2 novels did not meet her expectations or wow her readers. With a looming deadline and high expectations for a sequel, she leaves New York City to stay on the Outer Banks with her sister for the summer while she knocks out her writing task.

While she hopes for a summer fling to provide some writing inspiration, she finds Brick Babel in town - the local heartthrob who apparently has a reputation for breaking the hearts of every lady in town. Her resistance in weak and they reach a deal to provider her some romantic inspiration in her writing.

I was really interested in this book but I fear I couldn't really get into it. I wasn't really seeing the connection or chemistry between Aspen and Brick (why was is his name Brick).

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the ARC!

I really wanted to like this but it was very repetitive in the beginning (I feel like there was more description about the MC’s first book than the actual MMC) and the whole ‘contract’ thing sounded more devious than it was marketed to be (she basically pays him to have a relationship with her)? The sex scenes were good but also more than actual relationship scenes.

Aspen needs another bestseller - her last success only happened because her heart was broken and she had to get it all out on the page. Her fans want a sequel to that story but Aspen's life has been 'meh' and she just can't seem to access the emotional depth required to write.

She just needs someone to break her heart again.

Brick is a hot, grumpy guy who Aspen meets when taking some time off visiting her sister's small town. He has a reputation as a heart-breaker but he doesn't seem interested in getting close to Aspen to help her. Until they negotiate - she'll help resuscitate his family tour business and he'll provide her with enough heartbreak to write her book.

There's emotional depth in this story. The characters are complex and very relatable. The only issue I had was with the concept which I just couldn't get straight in my head. I don't want to ruin the plot but I just could not figure out what Aspen was trying to achieve with Brick in the end. The third act break-up just didn't make sense to me and then there was a bit right at the end where I was like 'wha?'

I did like the chemistry between these two. It was great to get Brick's POV and I loved watching him fall for Aspen. The other characters in the book were fantastic. I am really looking forward to reading Sierra and Kane's story. And Dug - I need more of Dug.

The pace is great and the steamy scenes were written well. A solid romantic read if you don't question the character's decisions too much.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this concept and plot. It felt very different and creative. I felt the dialogue was a little clunky or unbelievable in some places but overall I really enjoyed the love story, The side characters were a blast and I’m already curious and anxious to see them in the sequel!

I was gifted this book as an arc reader from NetGalley. From reading the synopsis of this book, I was really interested in the story but it ended up falling flat for me! It follows Aspen who goes to her sister’s small town to get her creative juices flowing to write her new book and Brick who is the most hated man in town (with the women). I found both characters to be a bit unbearable at times. Brick just gave typical jock energy and Aspen was in her own way too much. The conflict at the end which shouldn’t have really been a conflict in my eyes just made the characters harder to root for!

A story about an woman author who wrote a best seller. After her next books flop she decides to go to her sisters and met a man who she makes a deal with. She offers to help him rebuild his business. They fall in love and she thinks the only way she can write another best seller is to have her heart broken by him. Unfortunately she didn't know it was going to be so hard. She writes the book but decides not to publish it but goes back to make amends with the man who was in love with her.