Zeta Rodgers Needs to Relax* by Elanna Moon is an engaging blend of romance and emotional depth that truly stands out. Zeta, a freelance programmer with a unique medical condition, is a character who immediately resonates. Her journey from a carefully controlled life to one filled with unexpected challenges is heartwarming and relatable. On the other hand, Ashford Cross is the epitome of a man moulded by pressure, living a life far removed from the relaxed, spontaneous world Zeta has created.

Their initial encounter is charged with chemistry, and the twists that follow—significantly, Zeta’s unexpected pregnancy—add complexity to the story. The dynamic between Zeta and Ash is compelling, particularly when they discover each other’s true identities in the workplace. The tension between their professional and personal lives keeps the narrative gripping, and the development of their relationship is both tender and realistic.

Elanna Moon expertly navigates themes of stress, disability, and unexpected parenthood while crafting a genuine and earned romance. The story balances the heavier moments with light-hearted and steamy interactions, making it a delightful and memorable read.

Zeta, a freelance programmer, crosses paths with Ash during a night out drinking with friends. Seeking a break from the vibrant scene, they find solace in a quiet corner and begin to form a bond after Zeta introduces Ash to her love for video games. What starts as a connection in the midst of the evening evolves into a one-night stand and they unfortunately lose contact with one another after Ash has to rush out due to a health scare with his father.

Ash is the son of a successful construction company CEO. He has been molded from a very young age to take over the reins from his father and follow in his footsteps despite this being the exact opposite of what he wants to do. When an unexpected event throws him into the role early, he has a chance encounter of meeting the woman he had to walk away from a few months earlier. Only to find out she is pregnant with his child.

I had a few issues with the writing. The descriptions often felt excessive; details about what the characters were wearing were unnecessary and detracted from the story. Rather than focusing on insignificant details, it would have been more effective to use that space to provide background on both the main and supporting characters. For example, in the first chapter many side characters are introduced in conversation but I found myself confused about who they were and their relationship to the main character. The author seemed to prioritize superficial details over crucial information about the characters and their connections.

Surprise pregnancy books are really not my vibe but I went into this book open minded. In my opinion, there could have been a more convincing reason for her to forget to get a damn plan B from the pharmacy other than what was written. Because while she was temporarily indisposed & in a hotel, I felt that there was plenty of time for her to take care of her business. But the pregnancy seemed to be something she wanted anyways so this is something I was able to move past.

There were noticeable inconsistencies in Ash's character development. At the beginning, he is portrayed as a grumpy, work-focused individual, but this persona seems to vanish once he meets Zeta. He quickly shifts into a more submissive role, losing much of his original edge. Additionally, a significant and potentially emotional part of Ash's character arc occurs off the page, which is quite disappointing and feels like a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling.

The pacing of their relationship felt uneven and disjointed. Zeta's demeanor felt hot & cold at times, creating a fluctuating dynamic that was hard to follow. While there were a few charming dates scattered throughout the book, the romance itself failed to truly come alive or captivate me as a reader.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Though intimacy scenes aren’t my thing (being ace), and I don’t think they need to be multiple pages long (like is that a lot or is it just that I’m ace lolll) I really enjoyed all the other parts of this story!

It was a super sweet romance, and I loved the disability (brain damage) rep!

I highly recommend checking this out, if you’re looking for a sweet romance, full of heart and green flags!

Zeta Rodgers Needs to Relax by Elanna Moon is an engagingly sweet surprise pregnancy story with disability representation. Out with friends, Zeta Rogers steps away for some fresh air and runs into a handsome man named Ash. They fall into easy conversation and their personalities are cutely compatible. Their chemistry is undeniable and instantaneous, but they part without exchanging contact information. Separately, they suffer time consuming and unfortunate events and when the air clears, Ash realizes that he would like nothing more than to pursue his feelings for Zeta and Zeta realizes that she is pregnant! Will this beleaguered pair be able to reconnect and overcome the obstacles in their path? Ash is the ultimate "cinnamon roll" hero; I absolutely loved how he shows his care and devotion to Zeta. Zeta is quirky and kind with strength and resolve. Both characters demonstrated growth and development as their story unfolded. Ms. Moon has created awesome characters, and I would gladly revisit them again. Sequel, anyone?

I loved this book. It was so much fun to read and I loved the main characters. They were so much fun to read and follow throughout this book. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good romance. Zeta and Ashford are so adorable and I loved reading about them. Moon has such a wonderful writing style that takes you right into the book and holds your hand as you get to walk through her world and meet the characters.

This was a really cute book, that I'm really glad I picked up! That being said, there were a few things that didn't work for me, so let's get into both elements!

This sounded like a really interesting book that combined the accidental pregnancy trope with a sort of second chance romance, and that idea sounded like it could be done really well! And this book definitely delivered on those tropes. You get to watch Zeta spend this one great night with Ash, and then find out a few months later that she's pregnant. When a chance encounter leads the two of them to find each other again after that night, I really loved how Ash was so excited at the idea that this child of theirs could help be the thing that brought them together in a long term way.

However, while watching the relationship evolve between these two was a lot of fun, honestly, there were two things that kept me a little detatched. The first thing was the pacing. There were some odd time jumps between scenes, and while eventually I figured out that more time had passed than I expected, the evolution of the characters or the relationship never quite developed in the time span that passed the way I expected. I also found that the relationship development wasn't very linear, in the sense that while they were always phsycially comfortable with one another, that growth of a deeper emotional connection dragged on a bit more than I'd have liked. There also were some inconsistencies with Ash's character that had me questioning what it was about Zeta that seemingly changed the way he acted, to the point where his personality seemed completely different at certain points in the book.

So while this book isn't a favorite, because of the elements listed above, I do still think it was cute and charming. I liked Ash's devotion to Zeta. I liked seeing Zeta stand her ground and want to see this relationship develop before commiting to anything serious. I loved how both of them were so excited for their child and how the pregnancy was highlighted. I also really appreciated how Zeta's condition was a focal part of the story, while not being used for shock value at any point. There really were some great aspects to this book that made me keep reading, and for those reasons, I gave this book 3.5 stars.

Thank you #NetGalley for this advanced copy. I absolutely enjoyed this book! I was immediately invested in Zeta and Ash and their relationship. I loved their conversation on the deck and really liked how the author took her time with them getting to know each other. Throughout the story, ai felt happy, nervous, excited and frustrated with them every step of the way. Their relationship was sweet and romantic. Their misunderstandings from lack of communication seemed authentic in that they really didn’t know each other very well. My one criticism is that the ending felt a tad rushed but overall was happy with the HEA ending. Looking forward to reading more from the talented writer. Highly recommend!