I’m Luna Josling, owner of Sweet Water’s most popular clothing boutique and known as an all-around shy artist. And after I catch my long-term boyfriend cheating on me in a totally humiliating way, I’m more than ready to escape my small town for a while.
Who better to do that with than my best friend, Brad Washbrook? The only catch? I have to pretend to be his fiancé for two weeks while he attends a retreat for a prospective company partnership. It should be easy, right?
Wrong. Brad has always been amazing to me, but now that I’m single, I’m noticing him in entirely new ways. Like when we dance, his hands roam over me in a possessive way that makes my skin spark. And when we’re forced to share a bed, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if I spanned the distance between us and finally find out what it’s like to kiss him. But he’s been my friend forever, and we’ve never crossed those lines before.
The longer we pretend to be engaged, the harder it is to deny the very real feelings growing between us. And after one sizzling kiss, I know I’m a goner. He’s everything I never knew I needed, and soon I can’t tell what’s real and what’s fake, but it all feels way too good to question.
Just when I think Brad and I are on the same page, my ex shows up and threatens to ruin everything. And if I can’t set things right, I’ll lose the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
*This is a steamy contemporary romance set in the Carolina Reapers' territory of Sweet Water*
Samantha Whiskey is a wife, mom, lover of her dogs and romance novels. No stranger to hockey, hot alpha males, and a high dose of awkwardness, she tucks herself away to write books her PTA will never know about.
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Another winner from my favorite. SW just knows how to create mature, multi dimensional characters with real backstories, and real emotional journeys. Everyone is smart and capable. Everyone has a real depth of emotion. The plots aren’t overly complicated but feel true to life and the characters navigate these plots with what feels like very accurate concerns and emotions.
And look, as a member of corporate america myself, I know that a two week long corporate retreat for an entire company with spouses is not realistic or feasible. But the magic here is that not for one second did I think about that. It FELT realistic and totally feasible. That’s the SW magic. And largely it doesn’t matter, because that’s just the backdrop to the dance these friends to lovers are performing.
I read it in a day but I wish it had taken me longer.
This book makes me want too move to Sweet Water. Omg Luna and Brad, yes please. The chemistry and there connection was off the charts. This book had me glued and the characters I can’t get enough of them. I can’t wait too read Zoe’s story next.
I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book
Not a detailed review, just thoughts I had while reading this: - It's hard to imagine Brad as Luna's best friend when his teasing is so overwhelmingly flirtatious from the get-go. If this is him “trying to hide his feelings”, he sure as heck is doing it wrong lol. Brad is anything but subtle. - Wait a minute, in the name of this fake fiancé ruse they went as far as to “practice” a kiss but never once thought they should maybe get their “love story” sorted out and synced up before attending the retreat?? I mean, they didn't think people would ask them how they met, or how long they dated etc?! It's a little silly that they didn't prep answers for those kinda generic small talk topics. - I love that Brad asked for consent. He was respectful and made sure Luna knew she had an out if she wanted it. He asked almost every step of the way. Love me a man who asks for consent. - Damn I was really curious abt the morning after scene. I would have liked to see what happened to their friendship the morning after they had crossed the line with sex, but we instead skipped forward two days later. Bummer. - Hmmm not a fan of the dom/sub trope and the ass spanking. No thanks. I went into this quite blind, after only knowing that it has a curvy FMC, so was not aware of the other tropes in it. That's really not my kink, so I've taken 1 star away specifically for that reason. - Just how isolated and locked away was Luna when she was with her asshole ex Dennis that she seemed to have based her entire timid personality off of that one relationship? I mean, sure Dennis is a piece of shit and did damage her badly in the love and sexual aspects, but outside of that Luna was still so insecure as if she didn't also have other forms of support like her girlfriends etc! It just seems like she was locked away with just Dennis with no outside contact with the world or something, for her to have become this damaged and insecure. A tiny bit unrealistic for me. - Brad is very obviously a man written by a woman lol. I can appreciate that. Very supportive, very sweet cinnamon roll, which is just the type I love. - Quite a short read, less than 200 pages. Quick enjoyment for the weekend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Samantha writes various genres from billionaires to sports romances, and suspense to paranormal. Her latest venture is her small-town Sweet Water series which is pure feel-good romance with little angst.
Luna Josling inherited family wealth, and you would never know it from her kind soul and easy-going personality. She’s a gifted clothing designer who was stuck in a rut with the wrong man for way too long. He gaslighted her, didn’t support her dreams, and basically used her for his advantage. But there has been a man by her side basically her whole life, and he is everything the perfect book boyfriend should be.
Brad Washbrook couldn’t be any more loveable and charming if you dreamed him up yourself. This author knows how to amplify the swoon factor in all her books, and Brad never wanted to rock the boat with his bestie, but has been in love with her for years. Always putting her happiness first, he has his opening when she breaks up with what’s his name, and when he takes it, man do the fireworks explode!
Sweet and Rich is a tale of he falls first, friends-to-lovers, as well as pretend-to-be-mine. He needs to up his game to impress a potential new client, and Luna is all in for the adventure. While this book is pretty predictable, you can’t help but smile when reading it and route for these two. It takes her awhile to catch on, but once she does, she realizes all she had been missing–in and out of the bedroom!
Love this little town and all of the characters. This book is a standalone so jump right in if you’re in the mood for an easy read with all the feels.
It’s official, I’m packing my bags and moving to Sweet Water. “Sweet & Rich” is flirty, steamy, and sweet friends to lovers romance that checked all the boxes of a great story to get lost in.
Luna lives in Sweet Water where she owns her boutique and has been with her boyfriend for the last five years. Until one night she catches him cheating. Determined to move on, she accepts the chance to escape with her best friend, Brad Washbrook, for two weeks for a work retreat. But she has to play the part as his fake fiance. Brad has always had a crush on her but has never made the move for something more. But as the two spend time together in a fake relationship, the lines start to get blurred.
Once this hit my kindle, I devoured it in one sitting. I connected with Luna right away and loved her from the beginning. She’s strong, independent, and knows what she wants. Despite her boyfriend shaking her confidence, she finds it again by spending time with Brad. Brad is absolutely swoon worthy. The best friend a girl could ask for, he treated Luna with so much respect as a friend and then as a lover. I loved their chemistry and I could feel it as I read. The sweet touches and dirty words just intensified their feelings and brought out the best in them. We get a couple scenes with the Reapers and their women which made me so happy. There’s a possible teaser for the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it.
Brad Washbrook has watched his best friend be treated poorly by her boyfriend for some time now and he's had to just idly stand by and bite his tongue, hoping eventually she will see his true colors. Then one night she calls, tells him the words that he has been waiting for, the boyfriend is now gone... and that's when he jumps into action. He needs a fake fiancé and she is the one he wants to pretend with, and maybe more!
The moment these two wandered onto the page I found myself enamored by them, they drew me in and wouldn't let go. I had intended on just reading a few chapters before bed, but wound up reading well into the wee hours of the morning. (It was well worth the loss of sleep by the way!) These two have been the best of friends for years, never really thinking about taking it any farther than that, then one little "fake" kiss changes everything.
I loved what these two brought to the pages, their sweet and steamy friends to lovers story made me smile and swoon the whole way through! I also enjoyed glimpses of friends from previous stories and how Ms. Whiskey tide them into this story, it was fun to reunite with them. I haven't read the first title in the series, but will definitely be remedying that really soon! Highly recommend you take a chance on this one, these characters will steal your heart at first meet!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
This was another quick read in the Sweet Water series. It was a mash up of fake dating, small town romance, childhood best friends to lovers, and forced proximity by way of only one bed. It was fun and relatively light with plenty of steam.
Luna and Brad had known each other their whole lives. After getting out of an emotionally abusive relationship, Luna agrees to be Brad’s fake fiancé so he can get his foot in the door with a company he’s trying to invest in. But during the two week retreat, both Brad and Luna find that they don’t have to fake anything. They’d been harboring feelings for each other for a long time and they were finally getting the chance to act on them.
I loved how Brad encouraged Luna. When he discovered the depth of the abuse her ex had caused, he did everything in his power to help Luna become confident again, in both their relationship and her career. I loved the way their relationship turned from friendship to lovers. Even though it happened quickly in the book, I felt like the progression was perfect for them.
This has been a great series of short reads that brought together some of the secondary characters left over from the Carolina Reapers. I love that the Reapers get cameos and I love the small town feel and the close relationships of the residents of Sweet Water.
For readers seeking an immersive escape into heartwarming narratives, this book offers a captivating journey through the complexities of friendships evolving into profound love. Prepare to be swept away by a tale brimming with emotional depth, where the delicate dance between friends-turned-lovers unfolds against the backdrop of a charming, close-knit small town. The story expertly weaves a tapestry of steamy tension, palpable chemistry, and the tantalizing thrill of navigating the ambiguous terrain where facades crumble and genuine desires emerge. Specifically, readers will be drawn into a scenario where the lines between a staged engagement and authentic romantic feelings blur, creating a compelling and unpredictable dynamic. If you crave a story that explores the nuances of connection, the allure of small-town life, and the irresistible pull of forbidden attraction, this book promises an unforgettable reading experience.
First off, Samantha is always a one click author. I don't even have to read the blurb.
Second, her characters are fantastic. The h3ll she puts them thru is totally worth the read. And, when they get their HEA! Yeah, it's like ice cream on a hot July day. Sigh!
Luna and Brad have been best friends forever. Brad is always asking Luna for her help for a deal that he is always working towards and she always has to say no, since she has a boyfriend, until, she catches said BF being a cheating weasel. Now, she is free and clear and has no problem being the eye candy for Brad because, after all that crap, she needs a vacation with plenty of dessert.
I just loved this book. Thank you, thank you for a low angst, crazy high heat kind of read. I just loved Luna and Brad.
Boutique owner Luna Josling would do anything for her best friend Brad Washbrook especially if it would get her out of town after finding out that her boyfriend of five years has been sleeping around on her. So she agreed to play the doting girlfriend for Brad while he went on a retreat to hopefully make his next investment.
Brad Washbrook had been best friends with Luna since they were kids but now she was single maybe he would finally take his shot even though it would probably ruin their friendship if she turned him down. But he wanted to take a chance with Luna!
Can I live in Sweet Water and have friends like Luna, Brad and all the people that live there?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have always been a major fan of Brad and Luna getting together and I loved every second of there story. I adored how Samantha got them together! After a crazy break up, these two head off to a retreat as a fake engaged couple and then there is one bed. Eekkkk I’m head over heels in love and swooning hard. I hate how Dennis degraded her but I enjoyed how Brad built her back up. While nothing they did was insanely wild, the spice was definitely three cause of their chemistry alone.
It was amazing to see some of our favorite Reapers and the girls again. I can’t wait for Zoe’s book next with her mystery masked man. I have a theory though. And then we have Lyla and Ridge who you know are going to make my kindle too hot to handle with that enemies to lovers vibes they’ve got happening.
I think the thing I love most about Samantha Whiskey’s writing is that the women are so real. They have normal issues that have rocked their world and their men are so sweet and giving and just want to prove to them that their past is their past for a reason. These two are no exception. Luna has essentially been verbally abused for years from her ex and made to believe she is less than. But Brad doesn’t see her like that, never has. They have been best friends their entire life and she has been rocking his world for about the same timeline. When Brad has to go away for 10 days to a retreat to pitch to a business he invites Luna along as his date, twist she needs to play his fiancée. Yup, there is only one bed…what could go “wrong”? (Deliciously right)!
Brad Washbrook is Luna’s best friend for years now, but he wants her to be more. Luna Josling has just broken up with her boyfriend of five years, just finding out what he’s really like. She owns a boutique and makes clothes. Brad needs Luna to go to a retreat with him to land a big client for a couple of weeks. She finally says yes after all the times she has said no. Their story is one you would dream about. Fake engagement to real in the most awesome way. It’s fast moving but thorough in the writing. I couldn’t get enough of these characters and all the emotions that went all with it; steamy, love, action and above all, honesty. Kudos Samantha Whiskey for a wonderful story!
If you enjoy friends to lovers trope-this is your book! Brad and Luna have been best friends since childhood. After a bad breakup, Luna helps Brad out by pretending to be his fiancé at a work retreat. Things start platonically, but soon it all starts to feel real. I could feel the emotions of the characters on each page. The level of love and trust in their friendship was so endearing. Another great story by the author!
I received an ARC of Sweet and Rich . I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this story! Brad and Luna have been BFFs for years. After she breaks up with her boyfriend, she heads to a two week retreat to help Brad, an investor, secure a new investment. They decide to do a practice kiss before they go, and the passion hits them both, and their hidden attraction for each other comes roaring to life.
I loved this story not only because of the romance, but because Luna was an amazing character who went through huge growth in this story to realizing how awesome she was, which was something all her friends knew already!
I love this new series set in Sweet Water! The town is so charming I would love to visit it.
Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes and this one is done very well. Luna and Brad have great chemistry and the more time they spend together the more they fall for each other. This book had great relationship development and a bonus was that this was also a friends to lovers book.
I absolutely loved Luna and Brad! They have been friends forever, though Brad has always wanted more but Luna had been in a long term relationship up until now when her ex cheated on her. So Luna turns to her BFF Brad who has always been there for her and now he needs a favour so of course she helps him out as his fake fiancee........ but there is really nothing fake about them! The sparks fly and I loved seeing their friendship turn into so much more! Another winner from this author.
I love this book so much!!! I read everything Samantha Whiskey writes! This book was another hit. Luna just ended a relationship with ex boyfriend who has dismissed through out the years. Brad needs help winning over new potential client. They agree to be fake fiancées. But Brad is super cinnamon roll guy and he gives Luna the self confidence she needs! Now I can wait for Zoe’s book! Thank you for the arc!
This friends to lovers story is filled with heat, passion, friendships, heartbreak and so much more. Brad and Luna have chemistry that is off the charts but neither of them realizing that their friendship should have been so much more all along. When Luna has to be his fake fiancé it opens up doors and opportunities for these two that they never thought possible. A story that is filled with equal amounts of sweet and passion. Another fantastic story in the Sweet Water series.
This book is its' title. The sweetest best friends to Lovers story I have read in a while. Luna and Brad have been friends for years, but it take luna breaking up with her boyfriend and going on holiday with Brad for them both to realise their love is an in love with each other. This story is a fun light read with some great real life red flags thrown in. I love Samantha whiskey and can not wait for more.
Samantha has done it again. This story is about knowing your own value.. and to not let anyone say you are less. Brad and Luna best of friends most of their life. Luna was in a relationship but finds out he has been cheating on her and her best Friend Brad helps her see her value and how much he really loves her. I can’t wait to read about Zoe and her masked man .. 🔥🔥💗💗
For fans of best friends to lovers romance this is a definite must once click. Luna and Brad relationship changed when he needed her to be his fake fiancée for a business meeting. As they find themselves getting more emotional involved will they be able to move in the direction of forever! One click to find out in this cute addition to the series that doesn’t disappoint.
I honestly don’t even have the words to describe how much I loved this book. I devoured it. Brad and Luna are so damned magical together and the picture perfect example of both the friends to lovers and fake relationship trope. I cannot get enough of this series and can’t wait for the next.
Meanwhile, I’m secretly hoping we get a Ridge and Lyla book soon because the FIRE BETWEEN THOSE TWO. Ooof.
This a sweet story about good friends becoming lovers and finally realizing after some not so great relationships that the right one for them has been right in front of them all along. I loved this story and I will be sure to catch the next book from this author. 😄 Thank You
Another great story. I love anytime I get another glimpse of the Reapers. I’ve been waiting to see what this friendship was going and I was not disappointed. Are there really a-holes like Dennis out there?! He should have his man card revoked.
Friends to lovers. Fake dating. And showing her what she has been missing. Brad has loved his best friend forever and when she has a break up he takes his chance. I loved the dynamic of the couple and how they seemed to be perfect for each other. The book was a fast paced and had me binging it to see what happened.
This is a sweet story of best friends clicking on all levels of a loving relationship. The perfect balance between deep understanding and admiration for each other and combustible carnal heat. I also like the lead-in to book #3 with best friend Zoe. Who could the masked man be?
Sweet & Rich is another quick read in the Sweet Water series. Brad and Luna have be best friends for years and after Luna caught her boyfriend cheating on her decided to take Brad up on his offer to be his fake fiancé for 2 weeks. This is a best friends to lovers romance that will have you hooked.
Luna and Brad have been friends forever, but when Brad asks Luna to be his pretend fiancee for a business weekend everything changes. I was on pins and needles hoping nothing messed up their romance! I loved these two characters and couldn’t wait for them to get their happily ever after.
Loved it loved it loved it. In general I am a big fan of the author so if you like her books in general you will love this one as well. Just enough spice, heat and empowerment. Both main protagonists are super likeable