Funny, heartwarming, spicy…this book was everything it promised to be.
I knew right from the start that I’d love Calder, and his dynamic and relationship with Dakota had me OBSESSED.
Amy Daws is truly nailing this series!

Amy Daws delivers another emotionally charged romance in Seven Year Itch, the second installment in the Mountain Men Matchmaker series. This book takes readers on a journey filled with fiery chemistry, sharp banter, and a slow-burn romance that unfolds against the backdrop of a tropical wedding and a small-town mountain retreat.

The story follows Dakota and the loudmouthed mountain man who has been her nemesis for years. Their forced proximity at a destination wedding sets the stage for tension, but what starts as irritation soon morphs into something deeper. Dakota’s post-divorce journey of self-discovery intertwines with their evolving relationship, making for a compelling emotional arc.

Daws excels at crafting characters with layers—Dakota is strong-willed yet vulnerable, while her counterpart is rugged but surprisingly tender beneath his gruff exterior. Their dynamic is electric, with moments of humor, frustration, and undeniable attraction. The meddling family adds an extra layer of charm, ensuring that the romance isn’t just about the couple but also about the community around them.

While the novel delivers on its promise of steam and humor, some readers may find the pacing uneven, particularly in the transition from animosity to romance. However, the emotional payoff is worth the journey, making Seven Year Itch a satisfying read for fans of enemies-to-lovers and small-town romance.

If you love romances that blend humor, heat, and heartfelt moments, this book is a must-read. Daws’ signature wit and emotional depth shine through, making this a delightful addition to her growing collection of love stories. I loved the bonus pages where we get glimpses of Max’s story.

This was another fun book from Fletcher Mountain! I loved 9 month contract so I couldn't wait to read this one. Normally I don't care for enemies to lovers, and honestly, because of that, I had a harder time getting into this one than I normally do from this author, but I know it was because of the trope. Once it got going, I loved it. It was fun and funny, and super hot. I loved seeing the sensitive side of Caulder. I loved how it all unfolded, the past to the present. I loved that they weren't afraid to joke and poke fun and everything in between. Now I anxiously await the next book!

I adore Amy and her stories and the ability to get lost in them and laugh. I'm so glad she is getting more widely seen because she deceivers it and with such relatable characters in her stories.

Calder Fletcher loves his life and he loves his family. He really doesn't like change...enter one Karen-y pain in the butt, named Dakota. She ends up being his plus one at his brother's destination wedding. It certainly wasn't his plan, nor was it hers, but it does begin their journey together that actually began almost seven years ago.

Dakota was actually a woman that almost ruined the joy of home improvement seven years ago, but she also happens to be the best friend of his soon to be sister-in-law. Enter Calder's oldest niece who is a meddling meddler, but she also loves love. She believes that Dakota and Calder belong together and finagles these two into sharing a room while at this wedding and somehow her magic seems to work. 😉 At least for the wedding. 🥴 When they get back home, Dakota asks Calder for help to get her mojo back and be her wing-person, the trouble is...Calder wants all her mojo for himself.

It took a bit for me to warm up to this couple, definitely more Dakota than Calder, but once I truly thought about how hurt this woman was, the shame and rage she felt over her broken marriage, I then understood why she was so darn bitter. Her lashing out came from a painful place and luckily Calder enjoyed the taste of the salt she sprinkled. 😉 When these two sparked, they really lit an inferno that was super hot.🔥

I also loved the Fletcher family, who were intensely funny and made me want to read the first book and highly look forward to the next book as well.🤩

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the advance review copy and all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws

3.5 Stars!

Seven Year Itch turned out to be more fun, more spicy, and more heartfelt than book one—and honestly? I did like it better than Nine Month Contract. Calder, a one-night-stand man and tatted cat dad, and Dakota, freshly divorced and DONE with men’s nonsense, have been enemies for years. But, when a sex club not-so-meet-cute and a one bed mishap at a tropical wedding force them into close quarters, things start heating up in more ways than one.

Similar to the first book the banter is sharp and the chemistry is on fire. Dakota’s journey to reclaim her confidence is genuinely empowering, and I loved seeing her stand her ground and slowly open herself up again. Calder’s transformation into a one woman man made me like him way more than I expected. It is definitely a little over-the-top at times. Some of the slang at the beginning makes no sense (especially because it doesn't continue throughout the book) and the whole sex-club setup felt a tad cringe here and there, but even with that, I had a fun time reading this.

A perfect addition to the Mountain Men Matchmaker series! There’s something about Amy’s comedic approach to a romance that gets me every time. Please read the blurb for this book because it is both hilarious and encapsulates the essence of the book very well. Calder and Dakota are the perfect amount of ‘enemies’ to be considered a romance enemies to lovers in my eyes, but I know that some people will stand ten toes down on the fact that enemies to lovers is not possible in a rom com.

This was truly the first ‘sex club’ themed book that I thoroughly enjoyed. That may be because the majority of the book did not take place at the club, but it was still integral to the plot of the book. I nearly DIED when they were at the resort and he told her she was in control. I LOST IT. She was so shocked and that, I feel like, was the turning point in her starting to trust him. I adore when there is the microtrope of the MMC helping the FMC regain her confidence after a fuckwad of a husband/boyfriend. *chefs kiss*

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, but this one has definitely taken top slot now!

I cannot wait for the next book (and for Everly to eventually get her story!!)

Also, as always, the narrators were PHENOMENAL. Teddy Hamilton never misses. If you disagree, name a time and place. 👊

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC.
This was my first Amy Daws book and i absolutely adored it. I didn’t realize it was a second book in a series but I had no issues following the plot.
The banter was so fun to read and it hooked me right from the start. I was laughing from the beginning something i needed very much!
Will definitely be reading more of her books!

Love the banter between the main characters and their transition from enemies to lovers. Lots of great microtropes - sex bucket list, forced proximity, grumpy v. sunshine, meddling family, one bed, small town, and vacation hook up-let's get it out of our systems.
A great addition to the series, and I can't wait for the next installment.

I jumped into Seven Year Itch without realizing it was the second book in a series—and while I was able to follow along just fine, I do think I missed out on some emotional depth that likely came from reading the first book. That said, I still really enjoyed this one!

Amy Daws has a knack for witty, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and the humor hit right from the start. The banter was sharp, the characters were vibrant, and the chemistry kept things fun and engaging throughout. Even without the full backstory, I found myself rooting for the characters and invested in where their relationship was headed.

It’s the kind of rom-com that’s equal parts heart and humor, and it left me curious to go back and read book one.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the second book in The Mountain Men series, and this time it’s all about Calder—the middle brother—his iconic cat, Milkshake, and his longtime enemy, Dakota. Amy really knows how to write a solid enemies-to-lovers story. The banter? On point. The spice? Absolutely there and so well done.

I really liked how both Calder and Dakota were fleshed out and had actual character growth—it wasn’t just surface-level drama. And seriously, Amy writes a great spicy scene.

If you're into enemies-to-lovers, strong and confident main characters (on both sides), and that cozy small-town vibe, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.

Thank you Amy Daws and NetGalley for this ARC!

Seven Year Inch Book Review 🦇

Do you prefer enemies to lovers or small town romances?❓

During his brother's destination wedding, Calder is forced to room with the bane of his existance, Dakota, who hasn't let him forget he ruined her wedding and home seven years ago. After they cross paths in an unexpected place, Calder decides to help a freshly divorced Dakota regain her self-confidence--through an enemies with benefits arrangement. What happens when Calder, shamelessly known for his playboy reputation, and Dakota, known for her independent nature, realize there's more heat to their banter than they initially realized. 🦇

If you loved forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a WHOLE lotta heat, this is the one for you. I adored the focus on Dakota repossessing hre confidence and identity. Gimme all the confident, sassy, curvy FMCs (and sexy, grumpy, tattooed, cat-loving men). 🏔

Recommended for fans of Meghan Quinn and Claire Kingsley. 🦇

The Vibes ✨
Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Small Town Romance
One Bed
Forced Proximity
Smut
Cat Daddy MMC / Black Cat FMC
(Not-So-Witty) Banter
2nd in a Series
Curvy FMC / Body Positivity
Self-Worth / Self-Love
Tropical Vacation
Dual POV

Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #SevenYearInch 🦇

Quotes 💬
“It’s about not letting yourself be numbered by anyone when you’re fucking infinite.”

“But maybe insecurity can be a strength too. Maybe not feeling confident in yourself is what keeps you hungry. It keeps you evolving and changing and trying new things. Self-doubt encourages self-reflection, and when you really start to look at yourself, maybe you see something that can push you in a new and exciting direction . . . like tie-dye classes.”

I usually love Amy Daws' books but this one wasn't the best, in my opinion. I was still struggling to get into it halfway through and felt like the ending was rushed. Great characters and plot, just not the greatest execution.

I love Amy Dawson and these books are no different. No one does romance like her. I loved the characters, and the plot was very interesting and kept my attention!

I’ve been an Amy Daws fan for a very long time. Her Harris Brothers series is my favorite.
Overall, I enjoyed the Seven Year Itch. The banter was excellent and the spice was delicious! The character growth was done really well.
I did find several typos and the mention of a name toward the end that I didn’t recall seeing earlier in the book. The end felt rushed and too easily resolved, but was still sweet.

This was such a good and cute book. The tension and the feelings were all there! Enemies to lovers js always good. The characters were so good and I loved them. I did enjoy that they changed throughout the book. The side characters were also hilarious.

I loved Calder & Dakota’s story just as much as I loved Trista & Wyatt’s.

Unique in its own way, Dakota is newly divorced & just trying to find herself again. What better way to do that, than a fun time with Calder Fletcher.

Calder is all too happy to help Dakota reach the confidence he knows she has under all that hurt her ex caused. The notorious bad boy with no serious bone in his body, he makes for the perfect no strings attached fun.

Both Dakota & Wilder show major growth by gaining confidence and sticking up for themselves. Dakota - by gaining the sexual & personal confidence that Calder reminders her over & over until she fully believes it. And Calder - by standing up for what he wants to do, rather than what he thinks everyone expects him to do.

Another great story by Amy Daws, full of humor, wit, and all the feels!

Tried to get into this one but found the writing to be supremely cringey… also just didn’t like either charactee

Tjank you Harlequin trade and Netgalley for the arc in return for my honest review.

I loved Calder and Dakota's story. I med and fel for Calder in book 1 but you read gey more to him in tjis one . His meddling family cracked me up. But it was great to get back to the brothers. I lived book 1 and I loved book 2.

I’m not going to lie it took me a bit to really get into this book but once i hit the 40%-50% mark I was hooked and finished it within a day!! It was funny and had all the banter that I love about enemies to lovers and it was a “enemies-with-benefits” which was *chefs kiss*!! I also loved the self-love components and how she learned it was all about finding the right person to show you that you are perfect which just added to the whole thing. The middle-child syndrome is real and I am so glad they showcased that in this book and how Calder was finally able to stand up for himself and what he wanted to do instead of continuing to be overlooked by his brothers. All in all this was a great book and I can’t wait for Luke and Addison’s story soon!