Review & Giveaway: Business Casual by B.K. Borison

Business Casual (Lovelight Farms #4) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: July 16th  2024 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 37min

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Benjamin D. Walker

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Nova Porter and Charlie Milford don’t have time for a relationship, but a one-night stand with someone you’ve been flirting with for months isn’t something either can resist! However, Nova doesn’t realize Charlie is staying for the month to help farm-sit while Stella and Luca are on their honeymoon. It’s impossible to restrict their attraction to one-night only.

 

I adored both Charlie and Nova! He was sweet, silly, and so caring! Nova was also caring, striving to get her business off the ground, not only for herself, but to prove to Beckett (her older brother) his sacrifices weren’t in vain. I loved their flirty banter, texts and sexy encounters!

 

Business Casual was like a Hallmark Movie with spice! Lots of well-done spice! So thankful there was no third act breakup!

 

B.K. Borison’s writing is beautiful, vividly bringing every gorgeous detail to life: the setting of Idlewild and Lovelight Farms, trees, flowers, the bakeshop; I wanted to visit and soak up all the beauty! It sounds so picturesque!

I alternately listened to and read an e-copy of Business Casual and recommend either version. Pippa Jayne has a lush, dreamy voice, and Benjamin D. Walker's voice brought out Charlie's personality perfectly. I enjoyed how they alternately performed the back-and-forth text messages, too! 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Two opposites decide to test their chemistry with one steamy night together. But will once be enough?

Nova Porter isn’t looking for love, and she certainly has no explanation for her attraction to buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker Charlie Milford. Maybe it’s his charm? Or maybe it’s his determination to help her fledgling business however he can. Either way, she’s distracted every time he’s around. With her new tattoo studio set to open in her hometown of Inglewild, she doesn’t have time for frivolous flirtations. 

In an effort to get Charlie out of her system once and for all, Nova offers a proposition. One night. No strings. They’ll kick their uncomfortable attraction to the curb and return to their respective responsibilities. But their explosive night together scatters their expectations like fallen leaves. And with Charlie in town as the temporary head of Lovelight Farms, Nova can’t quite avoid him. 

And Charlie? Well, Charlie knows a good investment when he sees one. He’s hoping he can convince Nova he’s worth some of her time.

I'm giving away a copy of the first book in the Lovelight series: Lovelight Farms to one lucky reader! The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win! Good luck!

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Review: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison

 

Mixed Signals (Lovelight #3) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: August 1st 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10 hrs 16 mins

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Julio Maxwell

Source: Publisher & Library lend (audio)

Rating: ★★★★¼

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Layla has had to watch as her two good friends, Stella and Beckett have found love, and while she’s happy for them, she’d like her chance to find someone special, someone who will cherish her. However, her dating history has left a lot to be desired! Things are about to change when she runs into Caleb Alvarez after a date-gone-bad and he takes her home.

Caleb’s dating history has also been less than stellar, so he suggests they date each other. He’s been crushing on Layla from afar, but somehow his suggestion is taken as an experiment in dating rather than the truth that Caleb has always wanted a chance with Layla.

I’ve really enjoyed all three Lovelight romances, but Mixed Signals is my favorite to date in the series! There was just something so lovely about this couple and the drama was minimal. Layla and Caleb’s chemistry was palpable. Theirs dates fun and hilarious!

As with the first two books, B.K. Borison’s writing was beautiful and gave the story a dreamy quality! I felt like I absorbed every sight, sound, and scent! I was happy to catch up with Stella and Luca and Beckett and Evie. I love how they were so ready to jump in and help or slash a tire (a task Stella was all too eager for, lol) if needed! I’m so in love with Beckett’s utter failure to resist adopting any animal in need!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy. Pippa Jayne’s voice is soft and rich, perfect for this series! Julio Maxwell was wonderful as Caleb. I listened at 1.75x normal speed. A definite recommend!

4.25 Stars

Book Description:

A small-town baker learns to raise her expectations for love with some help from a handsome local teacher in this sunny romantic comedy.

Layla Dupree has given up on love. She’s waded through all the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently, owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite Layla’s best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution. After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple one month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his romantic game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red-hot, and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s mocha fudge brownies.

Review: In the Weeds by B.K. Borison

 

In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: July 4th 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10 hrs 46 mins

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Dean Anderson

Source: Publisher & Library lend (audio)

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Evelyn St. James has come to a crossroads in her life. Her job as a social media influencer started out as sharing beautiful things in life, but it’s grown out of control into something that doesn’t bring her joy anymore. She’s never home and feels unmoored. At her best friend’s suggestion, she reflects back to the last time she found “her happy” and that was in the quaint town of Inglewild. Coincidentally, the same place where her two-night stand, Beckett Porter, resides. Evie decides to go back to Idlewild to unplug and reevaluate her life there.

Beckett and Evie spent two lusty nights in Maine, but she left without a goodbye or any contact info. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He had no idea she was a famous influencer until she showed up at the farm as part of a social medial campaign/contest Stella had enrolled in (back in book one, Lovelight Farms). Evie left then, too, without a goodbye so he’s resolved to forget about her and move on until she shows up again.

In the Weeds was a slow burn romance full of longing, and a little angsty at times. I wished they communicated more. It would’ve avoided needless hurt, but it all worked out.  I did love the chemistry between Beckett and Evie, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, falling a little more with every day that Evie stayed. So much to love besides their romance too! Otis the duck, the adorable kittens and just everything about the farm!                                                                                                                                          

B.K. Borison’s writing is magical and gave the story a dreamy quality at times. Every touch, glance, and sense came through so I could feel the characters the attraction sparking between them, the longing, heady and intense. When traveling to a beautiful place I try to absorb every sight, sound and scent. Taking it all in, appreciating it and I felt Inglewild come to life in that way through her gorgeous writing!

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to an audio version. Pippa Jayne’s voice is so lovely, and I enjoyed Dane Anderson’s performance as well. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4 Stars

Book Description:

A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy.

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck. 

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on.

But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Review: Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

 

Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: November 10th 2021/June 6th 2023 Paperback by Berkley Books

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lovelight Farms was such a dreamy and sweet romance! Best-friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and from the first few pages you know Stella and Luka are meant to be! The yearning on Stella’s part for Luka made me ache for her, but she didn’t want to push and then lose her best friend. How they didn’t clue in earlier was beyond me, but Stella’s situation with the farm was the perfect nudge for these two.

Stella had her work cut out for her, keeping the farm afloat. There were issues that pointed to sabotage and was a bit of a mystery.

I loved the Christmas tree farm setting! I could picture smelling the pine, sipping on some hot chocolate while strolling down the tree aisles! Lovelight Farms was just like a Hallmark movie romance but with some sizzle!  A definite recommend!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

 

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.