Seven Year Itch, book 2 in the Mountain Men Matchmaker series, is “a steamy small town rivals-to-lovers romance filled with witty banter and unlikely romance at a destination wedding.”

I enjoyed Nine Month Contract so much and have, not so patiently, been awaiting the release of the next book in the series. I can safely say that Seven Year Itch lived up to the hype and was worth the wait. It was just as swoony, spicy, and laugh-out-loud funny as Nine Month Contract.

This interconnected series is about the Fletcher brothers who live on Fletcher Mountain. Each book is centered on a different brother’s story. Because this one picks up pretty much where the first one left off, I suggest reading them in order to get the full immersive experience.

Seven Year Itch is centered around Calder Fletcher, a grumpy, tattooed mountain man and Dakota, a strong, sassy, post-divorcee looking to regain her confidence. The witty banter between these two is top notch, the tension is super high, and the heat level is even higher.

I love that the rest of the family, including the quirky animals, continues to play an important role in the story. They are a hilarious, chaotic, quirky, hot mess of a family but are close knit and supportive. I am a sucker for a found family trope and this series is most definitely a perfect representation especially as the family continues to grow.

The audio book was the icing on the cake making a top notch immersive experience. The narrators, Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton, are the perfect duo to narrate this series. The delivered a flawless, off the charts, dual performance from start to finish.

Let the countdown begin for book 3, Honeymoon Phase, which will be releasing late November.

Thank you @htpbooks @readmirabooks @htpbooks_audio @htp_hive @amydaws, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Dakota and Calder can't stand each other for longer than five minutes. Unfortunately, when they travel to Mexico for a wedding, they are forced to share a room. Suddenly the insults stop flying, and the sparks start!

✨enemies to lovers
✨forced proximity
✨kink exploration
✨small town romance
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️

"But as I stand before him, enjoying how beautiful he makes me feel, I realize that I feel beautiful without his eyes as well. I have felt more comfortable in my skin the past week than I have in years."

this was so fun! it had a bit of a Salacious Players Club vibes, but also had all the charm of a small town romance! i also think the meddling family aspect was very entertaining, especially Everly. I really liked seeing Dakota become confident in herself & what she wants. I did knock off half a star because of some aspects of the third-act breakup, but overall a fun read!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley & Amy Daws for an ARC!!! 🫶🏼

the most perfect, entertaining romance for my tropical summer vacay! Calder & Dakota takes teach me/spicy lessons to another level and I LOVEDDD. obsessed with Amy’s writing and this series! 😍

t r o p e s :
enemies to lovers
curvy, divorcee FMC
bearded mountain man
teach me & spicy lessons
tropical vacay proximity
sexy club visits
so much banter & spice!

This spicy rom com features Calder Cat daddy and Dakota, stubborn business owner with enough spunk to put him in his place. I read Wyatt’s story, and found Amy’s writing charming, sweet, and enjoyable. Fortunately , I can say the same sentiment is true here! Although the plot is a simple enemies to lovers— but always loved each other, we find a story about female growth and empowerment. Accepting your body as it ages and changes, reinvigorating self worth and love, and humor of a family that doesn’t stay out of your business.

This book is surprisingly VERY spicy. In my opinion, for someone who doesn’t read much spice. At times , it felt like it could take from the plot, but soon recovered with a heart felt moment. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for Luke’s friends to lovers arranged marriage!!

Tropes ❤️
-enemies to lovers
-found family
-one bed
-second chance at love
-spice to “explore”

MVP of the story is milkshake! you can read this book as a standalone, or you can enjoy it even more if having read the other stories!

P.s.s. After Luke, can we get our favorite medelling niece , Everly?

Thank you Amy Dawes, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📖

Calder has a cat that he takes on walks?? Automatic 5 stars for sure!

This is a true enemies to tolerate each other with benefits to I’m obsessed with you. I thought this book was lots of fun with lots of spice and the best meddling side characters! Dakota and Calder really hate each other and are forced to stay to share a suite at his brother’s destination wedding. I loved seeing them become friends, the setting, and how Dakota learns to love herself after her divorce and gain her confidence back.

This is book 2 in the Mountain Men Makeover series, and I’ll definitely go back and read book 1 now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an arc!

I waited so long for this book to come out, and it was worth the wait! It was hysterical, quirky, and the best kind of enemies to lovers you can read! I felt the disdain between these two, and like they say there's a fine line between love and hate. that's exactly this book! Loved it!

SEVEN YEAR ITCH (REVIEW): The Book I Was Dying For

Seven Year Itch
by Amy Daws

MY Synopsis: Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws is the second book in her Mountain Men series. The book can easily be read as a standalone, but as I love the series, I would read book one first. This time we're following Mountain Man Calder, the middle brother, the brother who lacks purpose in life, brother whose girlfriend is his cat. He gets paired up with his enemy Dakota during his brother's destination wedding after there is an issue with the room. But that's not really what unites these two. They run into each other at a sex club prior to the wedding. Dakota, Calder's sister-in-law's best friend, is recently divorced and trying to find herself again sexually. Together these two start up an enemies with benefits situation so she can fully explore her new sex life. But their list is ticking, and what will happen when the two of checked every item off the list? Dakota cannot get burned again and Calder doesn't think he's good enough. Can these enemies-to-lovers figure it out before one of them gets hurt? If they don't watch out for Calder's matchmaker niece Everly, they'll have another thing coming for them! Everly is the real intro to this story with Last On The List, but her parent's story isn't needed to understand this book. So if you're interested in this now I'd read Nine Month Contract then Seven Year Itch. After you have fallen in love go back and read Last On The List. Trust me, you'll be swooning the whole time.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.0/5.0)
- This series is kinda like if you take Meghan Quinn and Claire Kingsley then twist them into one person!
- Amy Daws genuinely writes some of the BEST women. I loved getting to see Trista and Cozy again, then since Dakota was already friends with them we got a lot of screen time for these mountain women. And the children were great too. You can't hate Everly, Ethan, or even baby Stevie.
- These mountain men and their families are my biggest selling point of the series. I mean what other series do you know where three brothers agree to live on the mountain just them together. Since Trista and Wyatt already changed that agreement in Book 1, that's not a worry for Book 2, which I really liked as it showed all the characters adapting after their trauma which led to the pact.
- This book makes you feel like Dakota and Calder have been set up for a REALLY long time. Their history goes at least eight years back in the series. Then references to another Amy Daws book it goes back the 2022 release, Last On The List.
- A big plot point of the book is a sex club where the MCs meet and go several times. I think it's a little odd not to put such a polarizing thing into the book description when the whole plot of the book happens because of it.
- Actually this isn't a very accurate description as a hole. The wingman emphasis makes it seem like more than a singular scene. In reality their relationship is agreement was the idea of the FMC experimenting sexually with the MMC.
- A bit too much trendy slang. Social media terms that were a bit cringe to read.

SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/3)
- Do I need to say more than sex club? There is a lot of different kinks here and both characters regular mention finding their kink. They go twice, beginning, middle, end— it's in the whole book.
- Experimenting bucket list.
- Consistently good chemistry.
- You can tell they both really loved each other all along.

ACCESS: Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC. I didn't expect to get approved and it made me so happy to see I was able to access the book I had been waiting over a year for! Thank you so much.

CLOSING COMMENT:
- It doesn't hit as hard as the first but I still loved this book so much! Amy Daws is such a great writer, creating hilarious moments, making lovable characters, and synthesizing such a memorable universe. I need Luke's book ASAP, get on it Everly!

*Find me on socials @rhiannonreads24.7*

You’re telling me THIS is how I’m introduced to Teddy Hamilton?! Ugh, Teddy and Erin Mallon were elite in this duet narration of Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws 🥵

I am SO happy to be back on Fletcher Mountain 🏔️

If you loved Nine Month Contract with its witty banter, grumpy MMC’s, overbearing family, and its rural mountain town vibes, then you need to pick this up and complete the series!

Don’t mind me, just still swooning over Calder 🤭 I can’t decide which Fletcher brother I like more.. but there’s something about a rugged and tatted mountain man that does me in - add on that he’s a cat daddy, and I am SOLD.

And Dakota? She’s our fresh divorcee that’s looking to spice up her life. Her work ethic really drew me to her character and her being a hard ass just made her character even more fun. Plus, she can handle her own when faced with a grumpy mountain man that’s on his knees for her.. literally.

They say there’s a fine line between love and hate, and let’s just say, after seven years of tension, someone is bound to break, especially when you’re forced to share a room together.

If you’re into an enemies to lovers romance, cat daddy MMC and an even blacker cat FMC, then you need this on your TBR 🫶🏼

Thank you, NetGalley and The Hive, for the chance to read and review before its debut 🐈‍⬛ 🌴

3.5 stars
I will admit this was a bit cringey in certain parts. I was super excited to read Calders story but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book.
Calder and Dakota were both so stubborn and that made the tension/ banter good but it felt too overly lustful at times.
I also wish we got more flashbacks from the infamous house renovation that was mentioned probably a million times. We get maybe two or three which wasn’t enough for me.

I did really like Dakota! She was a strong woman who was just trying to get her life back and learn to love herself again which is super important.

I look forward to the next book in the series! I can’t wait to see what Everly will be up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!

This is the second book in the mountain man series.

Dakota is reeling from her divorce after being married to wrong man for the past seven years. She tags along as requested by her bestie Cozy to Trista and Wyatt’s wedding. She is stuck sharing a hut with Calder for a week.
Calder doesn’t want love or a relationship. The dating apps are what he is looking for a good time. Then he is stuck with Dakota for one night and has other plans.

This is book will give you Calder’s love story with none other than Dakota. This unlikely pair is the classic enemies to lovers. Throughout this story we see both characters work through their insecurities from their previous relationships. There were times during book I wanted laughed and also wanted to scream which made it so good. I couldn’t put it down but in the same respect I didn’t want it to end.

Goodreads review
3.75 Seven Year Itch" by Amy Daws is a spicy, enemies-to-lovers romance packed with fun tropes, humor, and some unexpectedly sweet character growth. It’s the second in the series, but you can read it as a standalone—though I’d recommend reading the first to avoid any spoilers.

This book brings a lot to the table:
🔥 The classic “teach me” setup
🔥 One bed
🔥 Wingman twist
🔥 Dual POV (yay!)
🔥 Some surprisingly kinky moments
🔥 And that dating app scene—hilarious! Calder’s profile had me cracking up.

Dakota is trying to rebuild her confidence after a divorce, so she asks Calder (the grumpy MMC) to be her wingman—and from there, sparks fly. Their banter is sharp, the tension is real, and while the romance has some steamy highs, there’s also solid character growth as both Dakota and Calder evolve individually and together.

Overall, this was a fun and spicy read with some genuinely funny moments. It didn’t completely blow me away, but I had a great time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC!

The second installment mountain men matchmaker brings us to brother Calder seriously single and happy that way runs into Dakota his sister in laws best friend at a sex club. Newly divorced Dakota is trying to branch out and is mortified to run into someone she knows. Oh did I mention they hate each other. Then saddled together on a trip to Mexico for his brothers destination wedding in which trouble ensues. Grumpy/Grumpy Enemies to lovers genre this book was predictable but whimsical none the less Thanks to HTP for the arc.

Amy Daws has done it again. The Fletcher bros were a favorite read of mine with the Nine Month Contract. Our sexy mountain brother is Calder (cat daddy) and hes single and ready to mingle. One of my favorite things about this book is how i was giggling like a school girl for the whole book, the banter is top notch and the fact that they start off hating each other is classic, one of my favorite tropes. This book has me simping for small town, burly mountain men who act all tough but are big ol softies. The spice was spicying and the story is so cute and cozy, i cant wait to do the audible of this. 5/5 for me. Thank yoy to NetGalley for allowing me to arc this book, it was a must read for me this year.

posted on goodreads but am unable to paste link

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

This book was incredibly sweet. I loved the relationship between Dakota and Calder. Seeing hints of their relationship throughout the years was an interesting dynamic. This book is the second in the Mountain Man Series, but can be read as a stand-alone!

This is a perfect book for anyone just wanting a light-hearted romance. There's a good chunk of spice, too! I am excited to do a re-read when it comes out next month!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC and ALC of Seven Year Itch via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.

THIS WAS *JUST AS FUN* as Nine Year Contract. You know what I love about Amy Daws? She writes funny (sometimes hilarious) scenes mixed into absolutely real and heartbreaking life. This story had so much of that! Calder is the mountain man in this book, and he's THEE CAT DADDY. Dakota is someone who has been in Calder's life for over seven years, a recent divorcee with a douche canoe for an ex-husband. These two... and Calder's meddling matchmaking family... end up on quite the adventure for (spoiler alert) book 1's characters' wedding in Mexico!

Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon were FANTASTIC on audio. I was cackling, I was *ahem* inspired... I ate this audiobook RIGHT UP.

Read if you love:
- Tattooed mountain men
- Cat Daddy MMC x Black Cat FMC
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Vacation rom-com
- Enemies with benefits
- Discovery + a bucket list *iykyk*
- Love after divorce
- Small business owners
- Colorado
- Meddling, matchmaking family members

Solid. Really fun. I liked book one more, but I think that was a me thing :)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc! #SevenYearItch #NetGalley

I love these fast reads. I wouldn't say that I really felt like it was a true enemies to lovers it was more like annoyances to lovers for me! The banter between the main characters is witty and funny... I liked the dual point of views it's one of my favorite ways to read. Lots of spice but fun because some of it was in his point of view and some of it was in her point of view that was a little different and I enjoyed it... Not very pl ot heavy, didn't love the sex club stuff all that much, I like to relate to a story line and that was just not my "kink" 🤣🤣 IYKYK......

Choice of some spice scene wording will set off triggers for some.... I like the theme of reclaiming yourself after a trauma that felt authentic when I was in Dakota's head. I like that they both had their minor issues within themselves, it wasn't the case that one is perfect and one is annoyingly self sabotaging...... Overall a cute spicy story, I would read this author again!

Oh my gosh, I LOVED THIS BOOK. Calder is literally the man every single woman needs/wants/should have. It was perfect, spice was perfect, story line was perfect. This story follows newly divorcee, Dakota and her journey to find herself again after an emotionally abusive relationship and Calder Fletcher, Cat Daddy-Mountain Man, that is healing from his own hidden trauma and struggles. They help one another while hilariously arguing the entire way. I never knew how effective a PowerPoint could be after reading this!
Of course enemies to lovers is a favorited trope of romance readers, but this story had so much more. Dakota was a strong as hell FMC. The dynamic between her and Calder was such an awesome ride. I loved watching her gain her self worth and confidence, and helped guide her the entire way by building her up in the sweetest most honest way.
Also, can I rave on the mid size representation in this? So many books leave out us midsize girlies, we deserve some mention too! I'm recommending this to every one and anyone that needs a pick me up on self confidence and self worth. F the patriarchy.

Thank you soo much for the opportunity to arc read this! I'm looking forward to Luke's story!!. Long live Milkshake.

Seven Year Itch is a fantastic follow up to book 1 in the series! In this book Caulder and Dakota start off as enemies until they start hooking up. Dakota, recently divorced, wants more sexual experience and Caulder is in the right place at the right time. Their chemistry is super spicy and it isn't long before they start catching feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed the squabbling, banter, family interactions and sexy times. Holy heck did Amy bring the spice with this one! It may be her spiciest one yet! It's also worth mentioning that Caulder is a cat daddy!

Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon are back to narrate in duet and slay as always! Teddy says a line in chapter 22 that had me needing a cold shower. Job well done!

Thank you Amy Daws and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Spicy, fun romp, with great mid-size rep.

I do love these mountain men - Nine Month Contract was a silly good time and this was no different.

What’s to love…
- spectacular mid-size rep, it felt real, relatable and it was wonderful to see her journey
- Spice was fabulous.
- A+ tension
- 10/10 banter
- cat-dad + furniture building mountain man MMC
- playboy turned total simp for the FMC
- divorced mid-30s FMC

What’s not to love…
- these are fun & sexy, but if you’re looking for a ton of emotional depth this probably isn’t the right read for you.

Audio Narration: Absolutely loved the male narrator he was great. The female narrator was not it, the extension at the end of every sentence made this a difficult listen for me. I also felt her voices for other characters were entirely too similar to her own and it was had to determine who was who, at times. This is one I would recommend reading via print. I think the female narrator really detracts from the reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed the first book of this series and looked forward to this one. I unfortunately DNFed this one at 30%. I was expecting a Small Town romance, but the club at the very beginning threw me a little. I wasn’t expecting that to be part of the story.
I love the Enemies to Lovers trope, but he seemed a little too possessive of her in the club too fast. I also couldn’t connect with either of the characters and just found myself getting bored with the story.