A fun, hot read, full of family and romance. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read’. It was a great summer read!

Thanks to harlequin trade publishing and NetGalley for this arc.

I was super excited about this book as I loved the first book in the series.

I loved Calder. His tinder bio is absolutely hilarious and hello, cat daddy?!?!? Yes please!

It was overall a great book.

I love a good enemies to lovers. These 2 are determined to drive each other crazy. I love snappy banter and tension. This book has both.

All Calder Fletcher wants is a causal date to take to his older brother Wyatt and soon to be sister-in-law Trista’s destination wedding, but his family won’t stop meddling with his dating apps. What’s a guy to do who comes off as this bearded, tattooed, bad@$$, but really is a softie in flannel?

Dakota Schaefer has just gone through a messy divorce, where her now-ex tried to take half of her T-Shirt Shop business that she started right after college by herself. She’s ready to get her groove back but needs to find herself first. The last thing she expected (or needed) was to run into her best friend Cozy’s (Last on the List) brother-in-law at Lexicon. Dakota is NOT a fan of Calder’s, and the feeling is mutual.

When Dakota gets talked into joining the Fletcher’s in Mexico for the wedding and to celebrate her divorce, she doesn’t imagine that she’d get stuck sharing a room with Calder. But that’s what happens. Calder’s not any happier than she is, but at least he’s trying to make the best of it. By the end of their time there, snark turns into spark and they can’t keep their hands off one another.

What was going to be a one night stand turns into friends(ish) with benefits back on Fletcher Mountain. Dakota wants to prove to her ex, but also to herself, that she’s not boring. Calder agrees to be her ‘teacher’ and puts together a suggestive list to help free herself from her shell.

Calder and Dakota are magic together. Their banter is witty, cutting and flirtatious. There’s a thin line between love and hate, and it looks like it was crossed. But the question is will either one of them fess up their feelings or will their list be the end of them?

Amy Daws has done it again! So many genres to love… enemies to lovers, forced proximity, small town romance. This book hits all the right notes, is extremely smexy and hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what she (and Everly) has in store for Luke, the youngest Fletcher brother.

Calder and Dakota are good together. I loved their banter and enemies to lovers vibe. The insults they sling are great. I liked the way their relationship changed as the book progressed. It was nice seeing them fall. I liked the storyline a lot and the characters are great. Overall it was a good book.

Amy Daws is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. The opening of this book, the MMCs tinder profile, had me laughing so hard that I immediately had to read it out loud to my husband. I loved this book, but I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers romance. I mean, who doesn't love a hot cat daddy. The FMC is recently divorced, so super jaded. This was an amazing read!

ARC Review

3.5 Stars
Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws
Publication date: 17th June 2025

Thoughts
I was hesitant going into this one as the first book was not my favorite, but I am happy to say that I enjoyed this one much more! It was a very fun, easy, and light read while also addressing some of the harder topics, such as getting out of a recent divorce really well. The FMC was very strong willed and independent, paired with a golden retriever MMC was just...mm chef's kiss. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend!

Tropes
▪︎ Enemies to lovers
▪︎ Small town romance
▪︎ Only one bed
▪︎ Forced Proximity

Plot Summary
Grumpy mountain man Calder is forced to share a room in Mexico with his brother's wife's best friend, who have been enemies ever since he ruined her house renovation 7 years ago. Dakota is a recent divorcee who is just trying to find her old self again, and she knows it is not with the most infuriating of the Fletcher brothers. However, an extended weekend in Mexico for a wedding where they are forced to share a room leads to an enemies-with-benefits relationship that might just end with too many feelings.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing|Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed getting Calder’s backstory, he had me laughing more than once! The enemies-to-lovers banter in this book was top-tier and definitely one of the funniest parts. I wasn’t totally sold on the whole cat obsession though it pulled a bit from his masculinity for me. That said, I loved seeing Dakota rediscover herself after a tough marriage, especially as the spice level turned up. And Everly completely stole my heart, what she does for her uncles is so touching and hilarious. If you're looking for a lighthearted, funny romance with heart and heat, this is a fun one to pick up!

3.5 stars

Amy Daws hits that perfect romcom nerve: equal parts heat and hilarity. Seven Year Itch is a vacation-fueled enemies-to-lovers story that doesn’t skimp on emotional depth beneath the bickering and banter. Bodie is a gruff, tattooed menace with a golden retriever heart, and Dakota’s post-divorce journey is equal parts empowering and deliciously chaotic. I laughed, I blushed, I dog-eared half the book.

this loudmouth mountain man had me blushing 😤❤️

This book was so much fun. We’ve got enemies to lovers, forced proximity, a destination wedding, and a grumpy, tatted-up mountain man who’s actually just a big softie underneath all that bark. Literally started off wild with a hacked dating profile and only got more chaotic from there.

I was living for the bickering between Dakota and our beardy boy like yes, scream at him! But then suddenly it’s like… oh okay, you’re screaming with him now 😏 the tension was hot, the banter was top tier, and the shift from hate to something way deeper felt really satisfying. I liked that the characters had history and actual emotional baggage, but it didn’t drag the story down. It still had that breezy vacation romance vibe mixed with small town charm once they got back home.

Dakota is that girl fierce, funny, and not putting up with any BS. And the MMC?? A whole redwood tree of a man, but emotionally available? That’s my kind of fantasy.

If you’re into beachside brawls turning into beachside hookups, fake dates that turn real, and watching two people get out of their own damn way long enough to fall in love, this one’s worth the read.

Thank you so much to Amy Daws and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the eARC of Seven Year Itch. I was so excited to get an early copy of this. I've been a reader of Amys for a few years now and I remember reading the start of this series as it an Indie Publish before Harlequin Published them. I'm so glad they did and so many people have found Amy's books through this. I highly highly recommend this one and her others. This is the 2 book in the Mountain Men series, so definitely read Nine Month Contract first! I absolutely loved reading about Calder and Dakotas story. This is a enemies to lovers, small town/vacation romance that you definitely do not want to miss! This is very well written and will hook you from the very first chapter! Everly is back and meddling more than ever. I cannot wait for Luke's Story and hopefully an Everly Story!

Seven Year Itch is the second book in Amy Daws's Mountain Men Matchmaker series, and boy did I love this book! It's witty, spicy, funny, emotional, and a whole lot of fun. In book two, we return to Fletcher Mountain for Calder and Dakota's enemies-to-lovers story and it's a doozy! I laughed, I cried, and I swooned.

Calder Fletcher. <swoon> What a fun character he is! Flirty, funny, sexy, goofy, strong, hard-working, family-oriented, and did I mention smoking hot? Whew! This man is perfect! And while I can't stand cats.....this cat daddy could make me a convert! Dakota is a strong, independent, successful, hard-working, beautiful divorcee who despises Calder. They have a contentious history that makes this enemies-to-lovers story an absolute inferno. Calder and Dakota run into each other out one night <snicker> and things take off from there. They butt heads at every turn and despite their hate for one another, the sparks are undeniable. I won't give any of it away, but let's just say they embark on a super hot, epically funny secret sexsperiment that will keep you laughing, swooning, and getting hot and bothered. These two have insane chemistry and I loved watching their love bloom. Things are NOT smooth sailing for Calder and Dakota and their ups and downs will keep you completely enthralled. Their witty banter is absolutely epic! Eventually they do find their happy ending but boy does it take a lot to get there!

Daws wrote the perfect story for this fabulous couple. I was engaged from start to finish and couldn't stop reading. I was left with a smile on my face and a spring in my step as I finished the last page. Do not miss this story!!! 4.5 star

Oh and PS....I am giddy for Luke's story next!!! Bring it on Ms. Daws, Bring. It. On!!!

Everly is back to her matchmaking ways in the second installment of the Mountain Men Matchmaker series by Amy Daws. Everly loves her uncles and wants them all to find love. After her successful matchmaking with her Uncle Wyatt, she's now turned her sights on her Uncle Calder. Calder and her mom's best friend, Dakota, have hated each other for years but there is a thin line between love and hate. When the family is all together at a destination wedding, Everly arranges for Calder and Dakota to conveniently have to share a room. They will either fall in love or kill each other.

Calder and Dakota's enemies to lovers story was a delight. Acknowledgement of miscommunication and some growth led to a sweet story. Amy Daws writes excellent banter. I loved the couple's bickering and banter. The Fletcher family has been great to get to know. They have had their share of loss and conflict but have stayed close despite all of it. I'm excited for the final installment and Luke's story. My question is...will we get Everly's story?

Seven Year Itch is Dakota and Calder’s enemies to lovers story and it’s book two in the Mountain Men Matchmaker Series. It’s a well written, captivating story that intrigued me from the moment to read the blurb to devouring this entertaining read.
All Calder wanted was a casual date for his brother’s tropical vacation wedding but his family had to interfere and hack his dating profile and now he’s stuck with the only woman he just can’t get along with.
Dakota has hated Calder from the moment they met seven years ago but she was always someone other guys problem until now………
Being stuck in paradise with a woman who hates you has suddenly taken on a whole different meaning.
This is a funny, witty read with characters I fell hard and fast for. It’s entertaining and I loved everything it , I swooned, I smiled and I giggled as I cheered this couple on.

What a time!!!! Calder is a cat daddy up on Fletcher Mountain and Dakota is a friend of the fam who keeps popping up. She pops up then he pops up and things get interesting. I felt like this book gave so much that all you could do was sit back and see what happens!

Everly is once again the unsung hero of the Fletcher fam and I will just leave it at that. I am absolutely obsessed with the cameos and pop ins that Amy Daws gives in her books and I was here for it during this one!

If you love enemies to annoyance to lovers to annoyance to enemies to lovers like I do, this book is perfect!
I couldn’t get enough of their banter / fussing and the tension was so so good. They had the best chemistry I was absolutely here for it all.

Thank you so much HTP and Amy Daws for this arc I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got the NetGalley approval 💗💗💗

4/5 ⭐️
3/5🌶️

Amy Daws hilarious funny in her newest romance book featuring the return of Clade and Dakota, Cozy’s bestie from previous novel, Last on the List!

Enemies to lovers with all the banter! Forced proximity, second chance romance and delicious kinky spice to tie it all up, thank you I’ll have some more!

Never yuck someone’s yum!

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced readers copy!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. This was such a fun read. I am a SUCKER for an enemies to lovers and this did not disappoint!

I really liked this first book but this one was even better for me. Calder and Dakota both had so much to unpack and work through and their issues felt real compared to many books of a similar style. I think they worked really well together and I’m happy they were able to grow individually and together. I felt they had a connection that was off the charts and it made their little arguments that much more entertaining.

Calder is such a middle child, I actually wanted to shake him! My middle sister acts very similar so it was like I’m gonna hurt you but also no one thinks that of you I swear! And he’s a cat daddy?! He has my heart for real!

Dakota was refreshing, she wasn’t “woe is me” which would have been super easy for that character to fall into. She knew her issues and insecurities but wanted more, she wasn’t going to wait around which is great. I can’t stand a FMC who just whines and waits, I need a boss who’s gonna complain but also do the damn thing.

These two are amazing and Calder is my new crush. Just ignore me as a day dream about this cat dad for the foreseeable future

I have been *impatiently* waiting for the next book in the Mountain Man Matchmaker series, and Amy Daws did not disappoint! I cried from laughing multiple times, but the book doesn’t skimp on the romance, plot or steam either! I’m not sure how she’s going to top Calder, I’m pretty sure he’s my favorite. I’m not even a cat person, but I’ll take that cat daddy any day!

One of my most anticipated books of 2025 landed in my lap and I devoured it the way Calder & Dakota kept devouring each other in Seven Year Itch. This book is all the spicy action all the time so if you are looking for a sizzling hot read, look no more! Also all the books in this series are paperbacks with adorable sprayed edges and you absolutely need to check them out!

Three tall, tattooed, bearded brothers living on a mountain! With a meddling matchmaker niece, intent on finding them their love match. I loved the first book, Nine Month Contract, even though it was about surrogate pregnancy something that’s not necessarily on the list of my favorite tropes. But Flatcher family is hilarious and imperfect and full of love and I love reading about them! This is the second in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Calder has 0 interest in a relationship. He’s a strictly no strings attached guy. Dakota is his sister-in-law’s bestie he has quite a history with. They can’t stand to be around each other but those pesky sparks combined with circumstances might force them into an arrangement neither one expected. Oh and Calder has an adorable kitty called Milkshake and I couldn’t get enough of her!

I read this one in a day! Escapism at its best. Lots of spice but also lots of growth and self discovery for both characters and for their relationship. Now my biggest problem is that book 3, Honeymoon Phase does not come out until November and I want it NOW! 🫣

A huge thank you to HTP for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I love a good romance, And give me a bit of an age gap, even if it's not huge, and I'm hooked. Make it enemies to lovers, and you've drawn me in even more! Plus, a series set around brothers who hole up on a mountain to live in peace is a great back drop for lots of fun things to happen! While you do see characters from the previous book, this could be read as a stand alone. Though it will spoil the couple that you meet in the first book and what happens for them. So I suggest reading these in order.
Calder Fletcher keeps his walls up and his relationships at a distance. His been burned before and doesn't want to be burned again. So when he needs a plus one to his brother's destination wedding, he's reluctant to ask anyone. He just wants to be at peace. Of course his niece is a meddler and purposefully creates situations where he must be in the presence of Dakota, a woman he's sworn as his enemy after their encounter seven years ago.
Dakota is a recent divorcee who is just trying to get back in the saddle. She wants to take back her life and feel good about herself and her business. She has no intention of getting involved in a relationship, especially with a Fletcher brother. But she also can't deny her attraction to Calder. It was always there, even when she was getting married seven years ago.
I really enjoyed the forced proximity theme of the first half of this book. It was fun watching Dakota and Calder dance around each other. Daws did a nice job with building their relationship slowly at first until they came together with a bang.
But what happens in paradise stays in paradise, or does it? Dakota and Calder are obviously attracted to one another but neither wants to open their hearts. I love that Calder wants to help Dakota become her best self, even if that leaves him with a broken heart in the end.
It was great to see the re-appearance of the characters from book one. Dakota is a character from a previous series Daws wrote, the best friend of the oldest Fletcher brother's wife. I have not read the previous connected series, and I don't think you need to (though it will spoil the oldest brother's relationship, but not their story as I have no idea how things came to be in that book).
Overall, this was fun. I liked it more than the first book. I'm looking forward to the next book and Luke's story!