Having family that's Canadian I thought that I would read one of their books. I do not know if we are in fact related but it sounds like we might be. Cherry Red is considered a romantic love story and my genre is definitely mysteries and thrillers. However, I really enjoyed this short story about two people who were not suppose to be in love, but in fact fell into love with everyone knowing that the outcome was to be love, but that they didn't have a clue. This is a change from the noir books that I read, and is a breath of fresh air in my reading. I was surprised in how easy it was to follow and yet you always had the hope that they would end up together. Darlene came through.

Carly is laser focused on business. When she’s not working at Cherry Red her ice cream hut she’s busy creating new flavours. She’s helping out as a bartender when she first meets Noah. The attraction is instant but Carly doesn’t have time for a boyfriend. Plus she mistakes him for a stripper. Then she finds out it’s worse than that he’s a firefighter.

Noah steps in to be her fake boyfriend since she has to go to her ex’s engagement do. And the more time they spend together the more they fall for each other. But Carly is nothing if not stubborn and she fights against the attraction.

“I still don’t understand why you have to break up.”

None of us do Josie, none of us do.

“We fit so well… Like we belong together.”
“Because you do. Why won’t you follow your heart?”

A question I’ve been asking myself, repeatedly.

This is such a sweet adorable (and clean) read. Yes Carly’s stubbornness is annoying at times. But it’s a light feel good romance.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publishers and NetGalley.

Carly lives for her small ice cream business so when a friend asks to bartend for her party she see an opportunity to promote her shop, she takes it which is where we meet Noah who she mistakes as one of the stripping firefighters. Only thing is that Carly's ex is getting married and she needs a plus one but is she willing to give her heart up again? I felt that their connection was real and I love how supportive Noah is.

This was a great story. I really enjoyed it. It was on the shorter end which was nice and I liked the overall story. It was well written, fast-paced, and the characters were good.

I really enjoyed this book. The two main characters are Carly and Noah. Carly own an ice cream shop and Noah is a firefighter. Carly needs a fake boyfriend for an engagement party for her ex boyfriend. Noah says he will be her fake boyfriend. For this pretend date they have to get information on each other. So they meet for lunch go on motorcycle rides. They go to the engagement party and Carly breaks up with Noah. They can’t stand to be apart. They declare their love for one another.