Seven Year Itch is the 2nd book in the Mountain Men Matchmaker series. This book is about Calder and Dakota and is told from both of their points of view.

Calder and Dakota have a past that has them as enemies. When he sees her at a special club he picks her up and tries to carry her out. She says she doesn't know him and their banter keeps going. Now he's off to his brother's destination wedding and Dakota is also in attendance. When something happens they have to share a single area including a bed.

They do not do well together, but also have an attraction to each other. When he offers to help her with something she's been struggling with they start to have feelings. However, some things come to light and it could break them up for good. Dakota has been through some things in her past relationship and is having trouble getting past how her ex treated her. Calder has had some rough things in the past and refused to ever be in a relationship after it.

I loved seeing their banter, and both of the characters grow. We got to see what happened in both of their pasts, and how they helped each other through it.

Some things I loved was the mentions of Boulder. Moving away from Colorado earlier this year, I loved seeing places I've been. Also that Calder carried his cat in a baby carrier. I've carried one of my spoiled cats in a carrier as well on some of our walks. I can not wait to read the next book in the series!

I was accidently approved for this audiobook a few minutes before it was removed from NetGalley. However, I was able to download it through CloudLibrary. I did DNF at 25% - this book was not for me. I found the internal monologue of both the MMC and the FMC to be frustrating and immature, so unfortunately I will not be continuing.

This book was a blast! The enemies-to-lovers vibes were great, and I enjoyed every bit of the intense interactions between the two MCs. This story follows newly divorced Dakota and proud cat daddy Calder. These two fought like cats and dogs, building up that tension that I enjoy.

Calder and Dakota had so much chemistry that they didn’t know what to do with, other than bicker and push each other’s buttons. I enjoyed their heated exchanges which led to some deliciously spicy moments.

Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon delivered wonderful performances making the audiobook an incredible experience. Teddy always delivers on the characters he portrays, and his portrayal of grumpy Calder was excellent. Erin delivered on Dakota’s strong personality which just oozed the animosity she held toward Calder.

Seven Year Itch was a spicy, small-town romance full of humor, angst, and great ambience. I loved the two settings depicted in the book. The two MCs had great character development and I loved seeing them bring out the best in each other despite all the hiccups along the way.

Not a review! not a review! I was accepted to view it after it was archived, so I could not save it or even view it.

I really loved the narrators for this novel, they really brought the banter and story to life and made it enjoyable to listen to.
While I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope, I tend to forgive it because it’s how real life works most of the time 😩
Dakota and Calder have been working on that enemies to lovers tropes for SEVEN years! At some points it felt a bit childish and I almost forgot that these were grown people and not teenagers. But the banter between them was pretty good and I liked that they helped bring each other out of their shells in the end.

this is a very cute romance. the writing was good had me invested i finished it in one day. the audio book was really good!

I’m genuinely torn on how I feel about Seven Year Itch, the second book in Amy Daws’ Mountain Men Matchmaker series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment and was excited to dive back into this quirky, small-town world. However, this follow-up left me conflicted.

There were definitely moments that were incredibly sweet and endearing - Daws has a talent for heartfelt scenes that tug at your emotions. But there were also parts that felt so over-the-top and cringeworthy, making it hard to fully connect with the story. It created a sort of emotional whiplash that left me unsure whether I liked the book overall.

The narration is a mixed bag for me as well. Teddy Hamilton was, as always, phenomenal. His performance brought warmth and charm to the MMC. Erin Mallon, on the other hand, was more of a struggle. While she handles dialogue well, her narration outside of conversations has a certain tone and cadence - specifically the way her voice dips at the end of nearly every sentence - that reminded me more of a true crime documentary than a romance novel. It became distracting after a while. ("Little did he know, he was sleeping next to a serial k___!!")

One of the biggest hurdles for me was the kink element in the romance. While the story remains consensual and respectful throughout (which I absolutely appreciate), the kink-centric scenes just didn’t work for me personally. I prefer my romance with a bit more sweetness and a little less edge (some spice is totally fine, though), so this aspect felt like a mismatch with my tastes.

That said, if you’re a fan of spicier romance that leans into kink - especially the more niche or controversial kinds - this might be a hit for you. It’s certainly not lacking in heat, and the chemistry between the main characters is undeniable.

Overall, Seven Year Itch was a mixed experience for me - parts I loved, parts I could have done without. I’ll likely continue the series, but I’m hoping for a tone more aligned with the first book in future installments.

I'm settling on a middle of the road rating. 2.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Amy Daws for granting me access to this ALC.

4.5 Stars

Loved! This is a grumpy sunshine story that will make you laugh out loud. This is my first book I’ve read by Amy Daws and it will not be my last. I ate it up! Even though this book was pretty much centered around sex it was so much more than that. I don’t love a lot of spice in books but this one….this one was perfection.

I listened to the audiobook and I loved Teddy Hamilton as always. Give me all the duet narrated books.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This was SO beyond adorable!!! This whole series is so much fun!! I loved Calder and Dakota's relationship! My favorite part of this series is the focus on body positivity! I love how realistic these books are - and I personally see myself in the characters Amy writes!!

I knew I would like this one, I just didn't know how much I would like it - so good!
Enemies to lovers banter + lessons in spice = Hottt🔥

Narration:
I recognized both narrators from previous audiobooks and they're both faves of mine, they did not disappoint! They played so well off of each other and really inhabited their characters. his was a great listen!

Description:
Calder is perfectly content living with his cat in his cabin next door to his 2 brothers.
He's a no strings kind of guy ever since that disaster of a relationship that almost destroyed the close bond he has with his brothers. He couldn't care less about the reputation that garners, except for when it comes to Dakota, his sister in law's best friend, the bane of his existence. Calder knows he'll have to suck it up and play nice with Dakota at his brother's destination wedding, but the last thing he expects is getting stuck sharing a room.

Ever since her divorce, Dakota knows she lacks the self confidence she used to have. Her snark game with Calder is strong though, after what he did 7 years ago it just comes naturally to her. Which is why she shocks even herself when she proposes he help restore her confidence- in the bedroom. He's a no strings guy so there wouldn't be any expectations, and she can't stand him so there's nothing to worry about in the feelings dept... right?

Review:
This novel is a culmination of everything you could want in a romance read. The banter was top notch, the spicy scenes red hot, and the relationships meaningful. I'm beginning to realize how much the close knit bonds of a family can enhance a novel. I loved Calder's relationships with his brothers and their kids. It's like a giant hug around the main storyline encasing you throughout the entire novel. I loved the depth brought to both Calder and Dakota. They each had what to work through personally with their pasts and somehow they were each exactly what the other needed to help them do that. I love this series and can't wait for the next brother's story!

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Some elements of it were so cringy that I’m not sure I can look past it, but other parts were really good. I did really enjoy that Dakota and Calder both really grew into themselves together. I also loved that Calder wanted to help build Dakota up in all of the ways she needed.

The narration was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC

ALC Mini Review!

Seven Year Itch By Amy Daws

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ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ • ✨✨✨✨

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ℝ𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟
🌸 Enemies to Lovers
🎀 Small Town Romance / Vacation Romances
🌸 Quirky Animals
🎀 Meddling family

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Sometimes I feel the need for a palette cleanser to get me out of a reading slump and Amy Daws tends to always be my go too. I thoroughly enjoyed book one in the Mountain Men Matchmaker series so I knew I had to read book two.

I was allowed the opportunity to ALC the audiobook. It’s a stunning duet narration. Teddy Hamilton didn’t disappoint as always he brings the characters to life just as you imagine the voices in your head. I wasn’t as pleased with Erin Mallon at times it seemed like the breathy musings were more forced and less realistic but overall enjoyed her parts as well.

The story continues with yet another brother needing some help in the romance department and as always it comes in the most unconventional way. Buckle up it’s another wild ride! 😏

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𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕣𝕓

Alone and Looking to Bone! Loudmouthed
Mountain Man Seeks Fiery Woman to Grow Old With.

I might look like a tall, tattooed, bearded neanderthal...but like an onion, I have layers. Swipe right if you like a proud cat daddy who catches feelings after direct eye contact. All I wanted was a casual plus-one to my brother’s destination wedding, but those idiots on my family tree hacked my dating profile and sabotaged my quest for the perfect weekend fling. Now I’m stuck on a tropical vacation with only my hand to keep me company. Until I’m forced to share a room with the bane of my existence: my sister-in-law’s best friend. Dakota has hated me for the past seven years. I wasn’t losing much sleep over her screaming rants because she was some other guy’s problem. Or she was, until she got divorced. Being stuck in paradise with a woman who loathes your very existence doesn’t sound hot, but after an unexpected moment in our shared palapa, she starts screaming at me in a different way.

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#NoirReads #bookishpost #bookishfeature #bookstagrammer #booksta #bookstagram #arcreader #reader #booklover #fyp

I was granted this title, but then the book was never provided because the publisher pulled it from NetGalley.

DNF at 35%.
I’ve discovered Amy Dawes books aren’t for me. I always love the premise, the covers are SO cute, but the stories just miss for me. I have a hard time with books that include sex clubs, which this book does right at the beginning, which is a personal limit for me. Also, while I found some of the internal monologues to be open & shame-free, many of the actions of the MMC read as shameful and vaguely sexist. I think this book is perfect for people who like strong, domineering men, but that’s not really my taste.

I did like Dakota, I found her fun and refreshing, I just didn’t like Calder enough to keep reading their romance. The best part of the book for me was the cats!!!! I will give any book a try that features cats 💃

I also really liked the audio narration and production here! While the story didn’t click for me, and the book itself is probably only 2 stars for me at best, the duet narration and well-done production bumps this audiobook up another star.

This was a kinky little romcom. Was it predictable?Yes, but in all the best ways. It was cute and cozy compared to what I normally read, a nice little vacation. The hate/love was on fire with this couple. I loved the exploration of kink. And you can’t go wrong with Teddy Hamilton……

Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws was just what I needed!
I absolutely loved this book. It had a good pacing, it was really cute, and the chemistry and sweet romance parts were truly beautiful.
I thought the story was so fun and sweet.

Seven Year Itch is a funny, sexy story taking place in Boulder and the area around it. It centers Dakota — a recently divorced woman who is recovering from losing her sense of self and fighting to keep her livelihood through her divorce — and Calder a mountain man with major commitment issues and painful self-talk.

These two have been enemies for years based on interactions they had through really hard times in their history that left them assuming the worst of others. But after a run-in at a most unexpected venue, they undergo this exploration of sex and connection together with the condition that it’s temporary and no one will catch feelings (which ALWAYS works out).

I liked their banter and found their stories to be unique whilst maintaining relatability!! I really liked it. It was my first Amy Daws book but now I really want to go back and read book one!!

Audiobook wise - I love a Teddy Hamilton performance. He’s wildly talented in every role and this is no different. I’ve heard an Erin Mallon performance one other time and she was exceptional as well! They really brought this story to life and it was an excellent production.

Amy Daws never disappoints me, and this book is no exception! I love this series, the characters have such great chemistry and banter!

I was supposed to write a review but apparently it got accidentally approved & I don’t want it to affect my good reads score because it in fact does.

I was able to get the arc of this book, so I just forwarded through this audio to the parts that were my favorite. I absolutely adored everything. To have listened to this first, rather than listen would have been amazing! Really brought the characters to life