Melanie Jacobson

Very romantic. Very clean but definitely sexy. Very well-written. Small town girl becomes rocket scientist, moves back to small town to take care of dad through cancer, and manages to fall into impossible love with a high school coach who cannot leave the small town. Does rocket scientist give up her career for love? I’m not telling, but I can say it’s an excellent holiday, feel-good read that manages to be realistic. I’d read more novels even though they are in one of my least liked genres, romance, because the author did a darned good job.… (altro)

I absolutely loved this book! Melanie Jacobson really knocked it out of the park in this second book in the Sweater Weather Series. I fell in love with this heartwarming, slow burn, sweet romance between a hunky, single dad sheriff & his sworn enemy. And can I just say how much I loved all the book references and that Harvest Hollow’s library played such a pivotal role in Jolie, our prickly, sworn off love heroine’s life?

Both Jolie & Lucas had challenging childhoods including poverty. Lucas struggled in school & Jolie was there to tutor him. Despite his challenges, after high school, he turned his life around and became the town’s sheriff.

With only a drunk father to care for her, Jolie often went hungry & was bullied by the wealthier girls. She excelled in school though & received a college scholarship where she majored in finance & became wildly successful.

Bent on revenge, Jolie returns to Harvest Hollow to purchase & remodel the bar that ruined her life. She’s back to prove a point, but also wants to make a difference & hopefully prevent others from experiencing what she did as a child. When she meets Lucas again, her walls immediately go up. But, when she sees how much he’s changed & how he cares for his niece, she can’t help falling for the handsome sheriff. She also wants to help 10 year old Brooklyn who reminds her of herself.

When the same mean girl who bullied her in school accuses her of a strange crime, it’s up to Jo & Lucas to solve the mystery and clear her name before it ruins her business. Though she’s sworn off dating, the more time she spends with Lucas, the harder it is not to give love a 2nd chance.

I loved seeing Jolie grow throughout the story. She really finds herself in Harvest Hollow. I loved Lucas & “Jo’s” romance. Lucas is so patient & sweet. I loved how he changed outfits depending on the role he was playing. He really listens to Jolie and built their relationship on friendship. I also loved how Jo was so aware of Brooklyn’s needs and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their relationship.

🍁 Other things I loved:
Trivia night
Little House on the Prairie/Scooby Doo references
Creepy doll mystery
Spin the bottle/7 minutes in heaven
The librarian/library
Found family
Traffic stops
Harvest Hollow Library Scholarship

Another amazing book in the Sweater Weather series! There’s humor, romance, mystery & so many heartfelt moments. You’ll definitely want to add this to your TBR list. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily provided.… (altro)

Thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the “Betting on” series! The whole premise was so much fun. I loved the My Fair Lady like transformation, the STEM representation, Ruby’s uncanny ability to help her friends find true love, Ava’s pining for her best friend’s brother, and the heartfelt romance Melanie Jacobson is known for.

Ava is reaching her 27th birthday, the same age her father was when he died unexpectedly from a genetic heart condition. She’s determined to find a screening test to save others from her heartbreaking loss. As a result, she spends every free minute in the lab. When her boss tells her she needs to cut down on her lab time, her friend Ruby steps in with a bet. She wants to find Ava the perfect match to help her find some balance in her life. Unfortunately, Ava’s been secretly pining for Ruby’s handsome older brother Joey.

Being consumed with her lab work has made Ava’s dating and fashion sense go by the wayside, and Ruby’s determined to give her a makeover along with plenty of blind dates. Joey just happens to be an expert at marketing and Ruby enlists his help in coaching Ava. He’s also trying to land a contract with a makeup company and ropes Ava into helping him by undergoing an Eliza Doolittle like transformation, enhancing her already gorgeous looks. Little does he realize his coaching will help him see Ava in a whole new way. Her unrequited crush on him might just become a reality.

I loved Ava and Joey! How they get together is so much fun and I have to hand it to Ruby, she knows her stuff. I loved the way Joey would “just happen” to show up on her dates. I loved his persistence once he realized his feelings. Their first real kiss was a scorcher! I loved the Sunday dinners with the families, the parrot with his mild potty words, and the flashbacks to when Ava was in high school. It’s a sweet, clean, charming romance that will have you hurriedly flipping those pages.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author, but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

CW: mild innuendo, a few very mild swear words and crude words… (altro)

4 1/2 stars!

Loved this new romcom by Melanie Jacobson! Betting on the Boy Next Door is a funny, sweet, rock n’ roll romcom with witty dialogue, heartfelt romance, and lovable characters you want to cheer for. It’s a fun, he-fell-first, fake dating, hidden identity, next door neighbors romance that completely pulled me in.

Sami is a rest home nurse by day and the secret rock n’ roll lead singer for Pixie Luna by night. When a new guy moves in next door, Sami’s roommate Ruby makes a bet she can’t refuse. Sami’s sure she’ll be able to resist the charms of the handsome attorney who’s from one of Austin’s prestigious families. After all, her ex boyfriend who broke her heart was also from a prestigious family and reinforced her mother’s teachings that she can’t rely on a man. So, despite the obvious attraction between them, Sami does her best to resist.

Josh wants his family to believe he’s changed. In the past, he resented his parents’ planning his life, down to choosing his college classes and expecting him to join his father’s law firm. Despite his previous feelings though, he’s found he likes being an attorney, and has worked hard to prove he can do the job. When his parents and their old friends try to push him into a relationship, he turns to his beautiful, intriguing, next door neighbor to pretend be his fake girlfriend in exchange for much needed cash for her up and coming band. But, when Josh wishes their relationship was anything but fake, will he convince Sami he’s not like her ex?

This darling comedy had me laughing, smiling, and swooning. Sami and Josh have undeniable chemistry. Their magnetic attraction is palpable and holy cow, there are some amazing, smoldering kisses between them. I loved their banter and the restaurant scene where Sami goes toe to toe with the would be girlfriend.

Josh falls first, but he’s pretty irresistible and his grand gesture has a way of winning Sami’s heart. Sami makes her own grand gesture proving she really understands Josh and loves him right back. The rock n’ roll scene was fun especially when the frat boys come to support. I only wished I could have heard Sami’s songs. The side characters were endearing, especially Grampa Jim, Grandma Letty, and Sami’s roommates. I’m excited for the next book in the series!

It’s a fun, clean, romantic romcom I definitely recommend. Content: a few mild swear words, mild innuendo, kissing make outs only, mentions of alcohol and drug use portrayed in a negative light. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author but also purchased a copy from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.… (altro)