Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt 📝

What a beautiful book and end to the Spunes, OR series. I have adored every single one of Tarah's books. While this has a trope (but not really a trope, maybe topic is a better word) that I would generally stay away from, I knew Tarah would write a beautiful story and cover it delicately. You can tell when reading this book how personal it was and how much care was put into the book. The epilogue is one of my favorite epilogues I've ever read and made me cry both times I read the book (yes, I've already read this twice).

Bea is handling her grief from losing her best friend Merritt. While Bea has always imagined herself a mother, the opportunity presents itself a bit sooner than she expected after her best friend leave her eggs in her will. With a time limit on the fertility window of the eggs, Bea makes the decision to move forward with the IVF process. This leaves her renting out her home for extra money and as a result living with Silas. None other than the man she used to be close friends with, along with a little more, before losing touch. Silas is working through his own challenges after an accident while he was on the job as a firefighter. The close proximity allows Bea and Silas to reconnect and develop a deep love for each other while also figuring out how they can help each other progress their healing.

I really liked how the dual timeline helped give us a glimpse of the past not just of the relationship between Bea and Silas, but also the friendship between Merritt and Bea. The book covers a very delicate topic and one I definitely have not read before, so getting to see the moment in the past adds a lot. Bea and Silas are both former sunshine people who are working towards feeling like themselves again while also embracing the new stage in life they are in as changed people. It was really sweet to see all the small moments and actions they both took to bring the other comfort. I am not a crier in books but this one got me a few times.

😊 friends to lovers 🏡 roommates 🤰 very intentional pregnancy ⏰ dual timeline 🐈 includes a cat 👏🏼 no third act breakup

dual POV 5/5 stars ⭐️ 2/5 spice level 🌶️

beta read!

🤍 age gap (he's older, 10 years) 🤭 single dad and nanny 🎤 rockstar 👥 close proximity

• some more I don't wanna spoil 🤭

Not That Kind Of Proposal by Victoria Lavine 🏡

Victoria Lavine solidified herself as a favorite author of mine with this book. I loved the characters and the story here so much. It was hard for me to put this book down because I was living for every look, touch, and accidental confession between Gracie and Jude. This is a book where it's hard for me to pinpoint specific tropes, the story is so unique and full of elements that I love in a romance book.

Gracie has put all her focus on being a wedding planner at Larkwood estate after getting her heart broken years ago. Because if she isn't going to get her happily ever after, she is going to help others get theirs. Unexpectedly, her boss and owner of the estate passes away and leaves the estate to the grandson, Jude. So when Gracie finally meets Jude and feels an instant connection to then learn that he plans to sell the estate, she's determined to make him change his mind. So Gracie sets out to plan one last wedding at Larkwood and include Jude on all the steps. Oh and the wedding she's planning happens to be her ex that broke her heart years ago. The wedding planner and the divorce lawyer, complete opposites except maybe they're not. Through all the wedding planning festivities Gracie and Jude get to know each other more and it becomes hard to ignore that spark between them that's been present since their first meeting.

I really liked getting to know more about Gracie and Jude's characters. They're a bit messy and each dealing with their own form of grief. While this is dual POV, most of the book is set in Gracie's POV and I really liked that. Jude is someone who takes a really long time to open up to someone and the way the book was written really illustrated that. The secrets Jude was keeping along with waiting to see whether Larkwood would end up being sold or not had me not wanting to put the book down.

I have to mention the caretaking kink that Jude has. It was so much fun to read and flowed throughout the book rather just in certain moment swhich I appreciated. 🤭

✨ strangers to lovers 😠 slight dislike to lovers 🧲 opposites attract 🐈‍⬛ includes a cat

dual POV 5/5 stars ⭐️ 3/5 spice level 🌶️

Such a fun romance for the dog lovers! Lots of dogs included in the story without them overpowering in any way. The focus is very much still on the main characters and their romance. I liked how the book mixed in some more unique situations and character quirks without feeling cheesy or forced. An adorable meet cute and solid chemistry between the characters makes this a book that's easy to pick up and binge.

😊 strangers to lovers 🐾 includes lots of dogs ✨ workplace 🏡 small town 🌤️ grumpy (him) / sunshine (her)

dual POV 4/5 stars ⭐️ 2/5 spice level 🌶️