Gin and Bear It

by Audrey Vaughn

The only thing standing between me and inheriting my family’s historic hotel is marrying my best friend’s brother. Yeah, the guy who humiliated me in front of everyone.

My family’s historic hotel means everything to me, so I’m desperate to inherit it. So desperate that I’ll marry my best friend’s brother, Ash, just so my cousin won’t inherit it instead and sell it to the highest bidder.

He has his own reasons for this sham of a marriage, and none of them are romantic. Too bad we have to convince everyone it’s real love for me to actually get my inheritance.

I don’t think Ash has a single romantic bone in his body. At least at first.

But then he steadies me when I’m anxious, we bond over trashy movies, and I catch him baby talking my cat.

And physically? He doesn’t have the right to be that good with his hands. He isn’t the jerk who humiliated me. He’s a caring guy under all his tattoos.

The more we fake it, the more I see how his chaos syncs well with mine. And he doesn’t think I’m “too much”. If anything, he only wants more of me.

I don’t want to fall in love with my husband, but I just might.

Genres: Marriage Of Convenience, Romance

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2026

Reviews

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was average. I liked the concept but along the way it lost its luster.
Jada is so sweet I love her, Ash not so much. The ending feels rushed in a way.
I'm actually surprised their families didn't find out about them being in a fake marriage. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟 | 2.5🌶️

A misunderstood bad boy, a sunshine girl, and a marriage of convenience? This was basically designed to get me invested.

Ash and Jada had an easy spark from the beginning, and I liked watching their fake marriage slowly turn into something more genuine. The emotional side of their relationship worked best for me, especially the way they made each other feel accepted without trying to change one another.

Ash’s struggles with being the family black sheep gave him more depth, while Jada’s ADHD and past relationship experiences added another meaningful layer to her character. I especially appreciated seeing Jada’s ADHD portrayed through the ways she manages her everyday life rather than making it her entire personality. Their chemistry, banter, and softer moments were definitely highlights, and I liked how their relationship gave both of them space to feel like they were finally enough.

That said, I wanted a little more from some of the romantic and plot developments. Their relationship was sweet and enjoyable, but a few emotional beats moved quickly, while some of the surrounding conflicts felt like they could have been explored further.

Overall, this was a cozy, character-driven romance with enough chemistry and emotional payoff to keep me reading.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Audrey Vaughn and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Moraa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

it was good but had too much filler

RTC

[DomsLitCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

I have ALWAYS been a sucker for the misunderstood bad boy + sunshine/good girl combo, and Gin & Bear It gave me what I wanted and then some.

If you’ve been following the Stryker family series, you already know Ash and Jada but this book finally gave us the chance to really get inside their heads.

Ash is the rebellious black sheep of the Stryker family who chose music over the family business, while Jada is his older brother’s best friend. And because apparently inheriting money requires ✨marriage✨, these two decide to marry each other to claim their inheritances.

Simple. Logical. Completely free of feelings.

LOL. Sure, Jan. (:: insert meme here ::)

What I loved most about their relationship was watching it evolve. Yes, there was definitely attraction from the beginning, but their connection became so much deeper than either of them expected. We get the progression from:

✨ “I’m only doing this for the inheritance.”
✨ “Okay… you’re actually not as annoying as I thought.”
✨ “Wait.”
✨ “WHY DO I HAVE FEELINGS?”

Ash has spent so much of his life feeling like a disappointment. As the family black sheep, he constantly feels like he can’t do anything right and struggles with feeling accepted and lovable. But Jada? She saw him. Like REALLY saw him. And instead of asking him to change, she reminded him that simply showing up as his authentic self was enough.

And then we have Jada, who has ADHD and has spent time feeling like she was “too much” because of the way her ex treated her. She just needed someone who could see her, accept her, and love her exactly as she is…without judgment and without trying to make her smaller. Ash gave her that.

I loved that their relationship wasn’t about fixing one another, but creating a space where they could both feel safe enough to be themselves.

Also… respectfully… if a secret Stryker brother suddenly appears out of nowhere so this series can continue, I will simply accept it without asking any questions. GIVE ME MORE AUDREY!

Thank you Audrey and Love Notes PR for advanced reader copy of Gin & Bear It (publishing September 8, 2026).

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

I was holding out for Ash & Jada’s book because there was so much that built up in the prior 3 books. However, it’s with a heavy heart that I say it didn’t exactly do it for me. So whilst it was an enjoyable read I think it was lacking in the romance department.

It seemed like they learnt how to cohabit but then as the book progressed it still didn’t give genuine loveee, if that makes sense. In the epilogue Ash mentioned he wanted Jada just as much five years later, like when he got married, but the last time I checked he was scared of commitment so I was confused.

I don’t want to nitpick because I have enjoyed the series as a whole; and the two opportunities I’ve had to be an ARC reader I really valued because I love supporting new authors. I’m not sure how I discovered Audrey Vaughn, but I am definitely happy to have read and experienced the ‘Stryker Family Series’.

If you want a well rounded, light and easy read with minimal spice definitely give this book a go.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Jada and Ash, I just loved them. Who doesn't love a broody bad boy musician? When both Jada and Ash need to get married for their inheritances, they decide to help each other out. Soon they realize their relationship isn't so fake. Jada calms Ash down and helps him relax. Ash doesn't get annoyed with her neurospicy tendencies. Their chemistry and banter was so good.

[Nonagesimus Reads [Em] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! Once I started reading, I could not stop. I thought Jada and Ash went together so well. It’s cool to also see the intricate details of the world and the friendships. Also, the cats! Ahh. The adhd rep was soooo good. Genuinely I can’t believe this is the first time I’m reading this author because she’s so good! So fantastic! I can’t wait to read more! Thank you to the author and love notes pr for the arc!

[Jas Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes
Fake relationship
Marriage of convenience
Best friend’s brother
🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoy reading fake relationship tropes because it’s fun to see the main characters eventually fall for each other🙂‍↔️

It’s always funny reading about the main character that is against relationships and ends up being the one to fall the hardest 🤭

Audrey did a great job highlighting some of the aspects of dealing with ADHD. Jada lives with ADHD and shares how she’s able to manage it to be able to accomplish her goals.

There’s some drama between Ash and some of his bandmates that I was hoping was going to lead to a big showdown.

I enjoyed reading Ash’s character development, especially when it came to him and Jada’s relationship.

I love that both of the main characters’ families have SOOO many pets 🐕🐈

There were a few spicy scenes that made blush 😚

This was a quick read for me, but I do wish a few scenes in the book were expanded upon.

Overall, this was a cute and fun read!

Thank you to Love Notes PR and Audrey for selecting me to read an ARC copy of Gin and Bear It!

[K Huskić · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the books in this series, but this one fell a little flat for me. I'm not really sure why.
I do love the mutually beneficial fake dating/fake relationship trope, and these characters both needed the relationship for the sake of their inheritances, but the story just didn't keep my interest, unfortunately.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author I enjoyed it but it wasn’t my favorite. There were a few things I wish were different. I wish their families found out about the fake marriage. I wish there was a little more spice. I did love the kitties 🐈‍⬛

[Sarah M'P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was fun, had me laughing in tears at some points, and got me hooked from the start. I’ll try to put my notes in bullet points on what I enjoyed and what left me with questions or wasn’t explored. Also, there are a lot of pets!

Pros:
- Jada and Ash (Ashley): love both characters and very different from each other, which made me more interested in how they are going to connect.
- The family design on both sides is very intriguing that made me want to learn more about them and led to both Ash and Jada growing up to be the way they are and the choices they made in their life.
- I like the concept of opposites attract, which I picked up from the early chapters.
- Ash and his brothers had me laughing with the comments they would say. If I remember one of the quotes that had me crying in tears of laughter: “…Dad would probably drop-kick him back into the casket.” 😂
- Seeing how Jada and Ash have respect for each other. Ash repeating Jada’s rules at her home and not trying to impose.
- Jada is not written as a strong or weak woman. She is written as a normal, relatable person who is driven, sweet, soft hearted but also knows her worth.
- Ash, the misunderstood bad boy. He is observant, creative, quiet, but very cheeky and caring.
- The relationship dynamic was about acceptance of who they are, and that they are enough.

Questions unanswered/ unexplored areas
- After getting the hotel, Jada starts to become flat in terms of purpose. There was Danika, but no drama from that area other than the PI; but the PI disappears and becomes forgotten, only to be remembered near the end of the book. Would have loved to see Ashley and Jada attempt to find out who, whilst not showing their hand.
- I wanted and expected Jada’s best friends and family to almost find out that Ash and Jada are in a fake marriage. I was expecting some silly manoeuvre, Jada’s brother and Grace (from the hotel) to help in situations to get Jada out of things, but it was calm.
- Ash and his issue with his dad was never explored. It broke me when we learned Ash felt his dad never loved him or cared for him. I wanted to explore this and see how he learn about himself, and Jada learns about the situation. Ash mentioned how he wanted his dad to say he is proud of him when Jada’s dad said to Ash he is proud of his daughter. Omg we were robbed of this emotional damage moment!
- same thing with his brother JD. I wanted to see these two brothers trying to build a brotherhood that was robbed from them.
- not getting to see how Jada and Ash were in high school. We got snippets, which was good but not enough to understand why Ash was being a hole to her. (Maybe it’s just me)
- best friend never tested: Jada didn’t have experience with any issues of lying to her best friends. It was just left alone and not explored. Would have loved to see her struggle with keeping this big lie.
- The villains… not really, but people who could ruin Jada’s journey were just completely forgotten until near the end of the book. I wanted to understand more about how Troy hurt Jada, how she didn’t see the signs and how Jada starts to learn that she was not crazy when he treated her badly. How bad? It was explained, but only briefly. I wanted her to open up and have that talk with Ash and him learning the mistreatment she got from past ex etc.
- not experiencing Ash speaking to Jim, his cousin, to get drinks sold at the hotel. Also could have given more opening for Ash to speak to JD.

Cons?
- it started to feel rushed after their first intimacy. We get told that after that, they kept having hookups. I was like ‘wait a damn minute…” and it was brushed off. I wanted to experience them figuring out if it’s just a one-off or possible moments of this happening again.
- Ash not having a proper one-on-one time to talk to Jada’s dad. He only had a short, quick chat at the movie night. I wanted to see him connect with Jada’s dad more since he doesn’t have a good connection with his own dad.

I think this is just me rambling. Even though I've written more about unexplored areas, it just means I wanted more in that area.

[Kioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to preface that I've been in this series since the beginning and I adore Vaughn's writing style.

The setting of Jepsen eases the reader back into their favorite small town with the warmth of hallmark holiday film but a depth they rarely reach. Each couple has had their coming to God moment when it comes to falling in love but Ash(ley), the youngest Striker brother and Jada, Waylon's best friend since forever, couldn't be more diametrically opposed.

Jada believes in true love, has dreamed of romance while Ash has either had an allergy or phobia of relationships. It never helped that Jada had a Usher and Alicia Keys "My Boo" crush on him and he played in her face about her first kiss. A mishap at a wedding where he didn't even remember who she was only that she was a baddie pretty much put homie in the negative as far as her emotional attraction to him.

Vaughn was good and messy, though with bringing them together. Grandparents, a tale of the well-meaning and the petty, have both MCs eating crow to get their inheritance and save things that matter to them most. For Jada, it's her grandparents' hotel and Ash, his music. Vaughn does a cool nod to the greenbook in this with how the hotel's historic legacy is etched out and throughout the book, I played around with who I thought she might be basing Ash's band on. But I digress, this is getting rambly, because like Jada, I have ADHD and if Imma do anything Imma take the nearest exit into a tangent.

Seriously though, I love how unique story Vaughn took with the couple. Without spoiling really anything, all the brothers are VERY DIFFERENT. None of the books have a copy and paste formula to their style and everyone is so distinctive as a character. The Striker brothers and their parents are so well written, anytime they get together for a meal it feel cinematic reading it. Seeing how their story unfolded didn't feel trite, it felt exciting to see an old trope get a program update to feel refreshingly realistic. Not everyone was rooting for them. There were plenty of times they weren't rooting for themselves but watching how it all played out was thrilling because I honestly didn't know what the author was going to do.

Practical parts of the review:

Yes it can be read as a standalone but to really experience the fullness of the character development start at the beginning with sips about to go down.

Pets are very big players in these stories. Personally enjoyed having the cats around this time, even as one of mine supervises me as I write this. Butterfly-eating and alopecia-butt-having dogs are plenty of fun, but the perspective was new and refreshing.

The audiobooks are SOOOO good. I got each book in the series to listen to during my commutes and chores and it was easy to follow along. No fancy maps or fictional language I had to know; just swooning and blushing as I listened through the erotic parts.

Which brings me to the spice levels. Vaughn had em like a box of chocolates, I seriously didn't know what I was going to get. It feels like I was going up or down depending on the brother. Let's just say Ash parties like a rock star with Jada.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC but I'm being deadass with you in the review. I love this series and own all the previous ones. I never know how or when I'll be disappointed in a series but I'm still happy.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚.༄ Thank you to the author Audrey Vaughn and Love Notes PR for the provided eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💌 ꒷·˚ ༘

4 ⭐️

This was a fun book! It was quite easy to read and I loved the tropes in this one. 👀 Though I have to say: the brother’s best friend one didn’t really come through for me. Yes, he was mentioned, but not in the way I was expecting, seeing Waylon was Jada’s best friend for aaages.

I’m a sucker for a good fake dating/marriage of convenience trope and this book hit almost all of my marks! I also loved the inheritance clause that was thrown in, even though it was funny having it on both ends. 😆

Jada, our FMC, was lovely. She’s a romantic at heart and we get that vibe from the first chapter. Her ADHD messes with her brain quite a lot and I liked, how the author wrote carefully about such a sensitive topic. We also got to know the black culture a bit better through Jada’s eyes, which was really interesting! I wasn’t expecting a history lesson, but still somehow got one (and loved it). 🤭

Ash, the MMC of this story, was kind of hit or miss for me. I didn’t really like him in the beginning of the story, then I liked him until about 90% in and then I was like: are you for real right now? Is the problem in the room with us or is it just you? 🥴 But don’t worry, I still liked him, because he didn’t f*ck it up like I thought he would! He doesn’t believe in love and the more we got to know him, the more I understood why he was so adamant that true love doesn’t exist and is pointless.

I enjoyed their banter throughout the whole book and loved how Jada didn’t immediately take Ash up on his offer of fake marriage, so they both get their inheritance. I also liked watching them fall for each other, but I have to admit that it kind of felt rushed at some points, especially the ending. At one point he was scared of commitment and at the next they were in love and a real couple. Uhm..hello? There were a few time skips that left me wondering what exactly happened in between then and now and I wish we could’ve gotten more into their feelings for each other. Instead they just were in love at some point, which was also cute, don’t get me wrong! Just felt a bit weird at some points and more like insatiable lust instead of real love. 🫶🏼 I did enjoy their spicy scenes, though, they were fun!

Also: the cats were fun and I CRACKED UP at the way CC came to the pair (and Pip being unable to meow is just the cherry on top). 🤣

I was also quite surprised that their families never found out about their arrangement. Usually, with these kind of tropes, they’re always found out, so this was a nice change I really enjoyed! 💌

I would recommend this book, but don’t expect a sweet love story. Read it for the banter and the tropes instead and you’ll have the best time!

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓:
💍​ Black FMC working in her family hotel (and fighting for the inheritance of said hotel)
🎸​ Musician MMC
💍​ Marriage of convenience
🎸​ Fake dating
💍​ Dislike to lovers
🎸​ Small town
💍​ Nerdy girl x misunderstood bad boy
🎸​ Best friend’s brother

🌶️​ rating: 3/5 - this was funnnn 🤭

[Chai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Love Notes PR and Audrey Vaughn for this ARC!
First I just wanna say that I really liked Vaughn's way of writing. The book was very enjoyable and I am kicking myself that I didn't finish this ARC sooner. But, sadly, I was still suffering from reading burnout so - while I was kicking myself for not reading this book before the deadline - I could not push myself to read this as quickly as I wanted to. But, honestly, the burnout was lowkey a blessing in regard to this book because when I started to really get into the story, the burnout felt like it was melting away from my mind. Like I felt like a phoenix erupting from the ashes. It was amazing! I was so giddy and excited that I could really get into this book with both feet!

WARNING! WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

This book was predictable in the sense of a lot of contemporary romance books with marriage of convenience as a trope. Surely they're bound to fall in love and actually want the marriage to be real. And that is exactly what happened with Jada and Ash! But did I care? No because I was giggling and kicking my feet as I got engrossed in their blooming love as they slowly began to confront their feeling for each other after years of not seeing each other! This way such a delight to read!

At first I thought that Jada was gonna annoy me from the way that she let her first kiss with Ash haunt her; but then I grew empathy for her as I remember that she was a teen and her first kiss with her crush, Ash, burned to the ground the next freaking day because he called himself wanting to look cool in front of his friends by pretending that the kiss never happened. That would shake up anyone's world and cause them some trauma. So I quickly dumped that negativity and just evil eyed Ash. But that didn't last long because I am a sucker for wounded men who have an insufferable parent(s). His dad was such an asshole and it AGGRAVATED me! What is so hard about loving each child equally? Especially the children YOU made! I will never understand parents like that.

On a more positive note, the relationship Jada and Ash grew to have was wonderful to witness. The ending where he pulled her into a gazebo to ask her if she'll stay married to him? A fantastic full-circle moment! I know Jada was kinda sad about missing out on her dream proposal and wedding, so it was extremely heartwarming that Ash did such a romantic gesture. And he really thought he wasn't worthy of love. I wanna smack his ex!

This book was really good. Amazing even! I loved the representation; I will always eat that up as a Black woman myself. And thank you Vaughn for writing about Black women in such a tasteful and tender manner. And, of course, I love when cats or simply pets in general, are added into a book. As a cat lover and mama myself, I really adore such additions.

AND NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!! THANK YOU LORD!! I despise third act breakups. They simply annoy me and 98% of the time they only ruin the flow of the story. But THANKFULLY there was no such breakup in sight and I am so grateful!

[Mandy BunBun · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Impressions: Jada, a savvy but undeniably sweet small business owner discovers an antiqued clause in her grandparents will that threatens her ownership of the family hotel, must form a pact with Ash, the swaggering and self-assured musician whe once crushed her young heart. Ash desperately needs Jada as much as she needs him as legal and creative woes loom.

Pacing: The bulk of the book takes place over about 6 months, and the passage of time feels authentic.

Character development: Jada is a smart, clever, and ambitious business owner who wants to see her family's hotel thrive. Her tender heart has been poorly treated in the past, and as result, she keeps up thick emotional walls where men are concerned. Ash is a charismatic, deeply emotional, and talented songwriter who learns he's been duped by two of his band mates. Legal woes and questions about his future dreams leave him unsteady and unsure.
To resolve Jada's inheritance and Ash's legal issues, they agree to a marriage of convenience despite the past hurt feelings between them. Over the course of the book, Jada reevaluate her beliefs on what an "happily ever after love" looks like, and allows herself joy and vulnerability with Ash. While Ash starts to shed his cynicism, giving himself space and permission to be the son, brother, husband, and artist he's meant to be.

World Building: Jepsen, Tennessee is small town with big personalities and an even bigger history. The author paints the location as the perfect vacation spot for families and lovers alike, filled with memorable nosy neighbors, and a town rooted in music history. Jepsen feels small, cozy, but also bustling with life and love.

Romance: The romance between Jada and Ash is slow, kind, and built on genuine respect and friendship. Despite past hurts, Jada and Ash truly understand each other, and are willing to fight for a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Spice: The spice is intense, but loving. It aids the building romance between Jada and Ash, but it's also a release for their long-held mutual attraction.

Errors and Consistency: This was a super clean draft. The history nerd in me has so many questions about the town, which I assume is fictional and based on real locations near Nashville.

Overall experience: I ATE THIS BOOK UP! Audrey Vaughn captured a rich vignette of small town living with a real world feel. There are millions of small-town, second chance, marriage of convenience romances. However, the author sets herself apart with zinging one-liners, memorable characters, and a obvious love for animals. Pipsqueak and CC feel like real domestic cats, Ms. Beulah is every ancient dog that seems to have always existed, and the list goes on. I sincerely hope readers have the privilege to return to Jepsen, TN, as it is obvious the town has many more secrets and romances to unlock.

⭐️ 5
🌶 3.5

And all the goodest girls and boys are living their best lives.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The Stryker Family series is back and Audrey Vaughn has finally given her readers a story long awaited for. Gin and Bear It is a wonderful story about two people finding their paths in life, despite it going against family wishes and expectations. Now, I have never been a huge fan of having to be married to gain an inheritance, but when this trope is presented by authors that I have loved in the past, I will always give it a chance. Audrey did not disappoint as our two MCs may start off as using each other to get what they want, but in the end they realize they need each other.

Ash is a music loving artist and in choosing music over the family business. In doing so, his relationship isn't great with his family, but he refuses to be something he isn’t. It is evident early on that he views himself as incapable of doing anything right and may not be good enough for anyone to love him for him. My heart went out to him multiple times during the read. He does a lot of growing throughout the book, mainly in beginning to believe that him being just him is enough. Due to his “marriage” with Jada, he was able to begin to see a lot of what he believed about himself was false.

Jada is just the opposite of Ash. Where he feels like he isn’t enough, she feels as though she is too much. Due to her ADHD, she processes things differently and her ex fed her a lot of lies that she let get to her. When keeping a family hotel out of her cousin’s hands requires her to be married, she asks her brother’s best friend, Ash. When he agrees, they both believe feelings are the last thing that will happen between them. But the more Ash shows up for Jada, never making her feel anything but amazing, those feelings begin to take root.

This story is an amazing read that has our two MCs showing up for each other to create a safe place for their true selves to shine rather than trying to fix what people saw wrong with them. The connection between them is sweet and genuine and I loved the pace that Audrey had it grow. Audrey has so much in store for readers in her latest release besides a wonderful romance. The cultural insights, family drama, and accepting yourself are all present and perfectly showcased. I highly recommend this book!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🥃Marriage of Convenience
💛Hate to Love
🥃Best Friend’s Brother
💛Enemies to Lovers
🥃Tattooed MMC
💛Nerdy FMC
🥃ADHD Rep
💛Childhood Trauma

[Dimitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gin and Bear It🍹
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Audrey Vaughn for trusting me with this ARC!🫶🏻
He humiliated me back in high school,yet he is my only way if I want to inherit my family's historic hotel.& he is my brother's best friend.

Gin and Bear it is a lovely romance story,that for me ticked all the boxes in the list.
One of my favorite tropes to read,that now days have gone almost extinct,is the inheritance one,so when Vaughn also paired it with a glimpse of saving the hotel situation,I was like this book was written FOR ME!Getting back into the story,I completely fell in love with how everything slowly took shape,& of course,you know me,it was a one sitting read for me.I literally got lost between words,streets and... mocktails.
Jada,the main girl was a cutie pie,and a hopeless romantic from page 1 to the epilogue,and if you ask me this what made me love her so much.Do not get me wrong I LOVE my girl bosses,but when I once in a while,read about girls like this one,I feel that I go back to Disney,and the way that I see it,I think even that view of life hides a delicate power inside.Also,through Jada the reader gets to see a beautiful representation of black culture,and that many stuff that seems so given to most of people,may still be a struggle to darker skinned communities.This was portrayed not through harsh examples or racism,but by means of some tasks that are almost insignificant (like getting a tattoo),& of course do not worry Ash shorted EVERYTHING out about our sunshine.
Speaking about Ash,let's say I have mixed feelings.For the first 50% of the book I was between liking him and not every other page,but when he did have a little bit more page time,learnt about his past,his family hardships and how misunderstood he once was,I started to get fond of him,until 90% and then at 99% I liked him again.
OKAY I DO NOT KNOW,LET A GIRL BE CONFUSED🫪
BUT
he does the job for my Jada,so who am I to judge?His wife?
Long story short,Gin and Bear is a beautiful romance that will keep your interest intact and your heart in need of cats,while it is perfect for those last hot September days at the beach!🏖️
4 ⭐

[Doroty · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆 📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gin and Bear It was such a fun, easy-to-read romance, and I think what worked best for me was how much of the story was really about Ash and Jada learning to see themselves differently through each other.

Ash initially comes across as the typical broody, rebellious musician, but there is much more underneath that image. Being the family black sheep has left him carrying a lot of insecurity, especially the feeling that no matter what he does, he will never quite be enough. I really enjoyed watching Jada challenge that belief without trying to 'fix' him. She simply gave him a space where he could be himself, and that ended up being exactly what he needed.

Jada was just as interesting in her own way. She is a hopeless romantic, but her past relationship has made her question whether being herself is sometimes simply 'too much.' I especially appreciated how her ADHD was portrayed as part of her everyday life rather than her entire identity. Her relationship with Ash never felt like one person correcting the other; instead, they gradually learned how to make room for each other.

Their marriage of convenience was, of course, a great setup for all the banter, attraction, and inevitable 'this was supposed to be fake' feelings. I loved their chemistry and the softer moments between them, although I occasionally wished the emotional progression had been given more room to breathe. Some of the transitions into deeper feelings felt a little quick, and I would have loved to see a few conflicts explored further.

Still, I really enjoyed the family dynamics, the small-town atmosphere, the cats, and the way the story brought its characters' backgrounds and experiences into the romance. It made the book feel like more than just another marriage-of-convenience story.

Overall, this was a sweet and entertaining read with characters who genuinely grew through their relationship.

Thank you to LoveNotes PR for sending me an ARC copy.

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[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gin and Bear It by Audrey Vaughn
⭐⭐⭐¼ (3.25/5)

Marriage of convenience and enemies-ish to lovers? SAY LESS. Two of my absolute favorite tropes in one enjoyable package.

Jada and Ash (short for Ashley—VERY SOUTHERN, and I love it) have been in each other's orbit since they were children, thanks to Jada being best friends with Ash's younger brother. Jada has always had a crush on Ash, but after two pretty decent-sized screw-ups on his part, she's over him... mostly. When they both need a spouse to claim their inheritances (something was definitely in the water their grandparents were drinking), they quickly realize their best bet is each other. They have no trouble faking the chemistry between them, but can they convince everyone they're actually in love?

I really liked Jada. She is going through it a little, still mourning the loss of her grandparents while running the family hotel, but she maintains her optimism and belief that she will find true love one day—maybe even with her husband. I especially loved how her ADHD is portrayed. Yes, to the outside world she may appear messy, but Jada has her systems in place and has developed management strategies that make her life a pretty well-oiled machine. It's rare to find a character with ADHD who has it together, and I love that for her.

Ash is everything a girl could ask for: a hot, reformed bad-boy musician (!!) who slots right into Jada's life without upsetting her rhythm. While the wounds of his past have made him reject the idea that forever love exists, that just gives him a great jumping-off point for growth as he begins to fall for Jada.

Their journey to admitting their feelings is a SLOW burn (think Mariana Zapata slow), but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of heat and some spicy moments between them, because there most definitely are. It's the emotional side that takes its sweet time, which made it that much more satisfying when they were finally ready to declare their love for each other.

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for providing an ARC.

[Anjosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gin and Bear It by Audrey Vaughn is a heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly emotional romance that gave me so much more than I expected from a marriage-of-convenience story. As Part 4 in the Stryker Family series, the Stryker brothers strike again! After Wes, Waylon, and JD, it was finally Ash's turn, and this family continues to show just how supportive a man can be in a relationship. Each brother has brought something special to their love story, and Ash was no exception.
Jada and Ash's relationship begins with a fake marriage born out of necessity, but watching their connection slowly grow into something real was simply wonderful. I especially loved the sensitivity with which Vaughn handled Jada's anxiety. Her struggles felt like a genuine part of who she was rather than something that existed solely to move the plot along, and the way Ash supported and steadied her was incredibly touching.
Ash's journey was equally compelling. Beneath his tattoos, chaos, and reputation was someone carrying the trauma of rejection. Watching him push through those experiences, confront his fears, and allow himself to be vulnerable made his character so easy to root for.
One of my absolute favorite parts of this story, though, was the mending of family relationships. The emotional growth and healing throughout the book added so much depth to the romance and made the story feel even more satisfying.

With fake dating, a marriage of convenience, a cat or two, and plenty of unexpected feelings, Gin and Bear It is funny, emotional, and full of heart. Jada and Ash's journey from pretending to be in love to realizing they may have found exactly what they needed in each other was simply wonderful. The Stryker brothers continue to set the bar high, and Ash definitely did not disappoint!

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Audrey and Love Notes PR for my ARC copy of Gin and Bear It!

💘 Bad Boy x Good girl (Is Ash really a bad boy, though?)
💘 Best friend’s brother
💘 Marriage of Convenience/Fake Relationship
💘 One bed

Gin and Bear It drops us off in Jepsen one last time for Ash and Jada’s story. And it absolutely delivers an adorable, low tension romance.

A double inheritance bombshell sets the scene. After losing both of her grandparents, Jada learns of an added clause in their will that leaves their family owned hotel to whichever grandchild has a degree and a marriage. Nearly simultaneously, Ash learns that he must get married and complete a year working at his family business to gain his own inheritance from his grandfather. Obviously, this leads them to the only logical decision- marrying each other.

I loved their story. The fact that he was her first kiss and not-so-secret crush from childhood and it all somehow came full circle. Reconnecting allowed them to move on from the past, correct misconceptions and see each other in a new light. Their growth, both individually and together, wasn’t about changing themselves but becoming more secure in who they are. I do wish that the conflict was more developed. I felt the night in Calabasas could’ve benefited from more detail and other conflicts could’ve been allowed to marinate a bit more. However, if super low stakes of your thing you won’t mind. I also would’ve liked more resolution with their father and what Ash ended up doing career wise. The ending felt a bit rushed.

I loved the Stryker Brothers series and wouldn’t mind one last ride. They got a cousin that needs a wife?

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loooooove a marriage of convenience trope, and I eat it up even more when they hate each other to start. I know how it's gonna go, I know how it's gonna end, but as long as I have fun on the ride there it's a slam dunk to me. Gin & Bear It was no exception to that!

I really loved Ash. The sterotypical misunderstood bad boy who just wants to write music and live a relaxed life. He was the black sheep of his family and due to that was always thrown to the side in it. I really enjoyed him as a character. I felt that he didn't have much growth, but more just kept repeating the same things at the beginning, they had the lawyer meeting and then he just immediately switched up. I didn't see a ton of actual growth, but I didn't hate that.

Watching Ash & Jada's realtionship grow was really enjoyable as well. This set up usually has a lot of hate at the beginning, but these two truly had an immediately spark and connection. THE DRIVE THRU SCENE hawwwttttt.

This was my first book by Audrey Vaughn and I really feel in love with the writing style and the characters in this! It made me immediately want to go back and read the rest of the series (which I will absolutely be doing). The writing was engaging, it had a really good flow that kept me entertained from start to finish.

I would definitely recommend this one & the author in general.

The Vibes:
-Best Friends Brother
-Marriage of Convenience
-Broody Grumpy Energy / Sunshiney
-Hate to Love (Enemy ISH to Lovers)

[Simone G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

There’s just something about a fake dating/relationship trope that’s going to do it for me every time! Add in the tension and best friends brother? Needless to say I had a good time.

Ash is the black sheep of the family. Misunderstood and always felt like an outsider. He already has history with the FMC Jada who has been crushing on him since high school. Which gives some added tension when they decide to fake a marriage for their inheritance.

Ash was a little lackluster for me. I felt like there could’ve been more there to make him more likable and well rounded. I just didn’t feel like he really learned anything or made real progress throughout the story. The pacing worked for me right up until the end. I felt like it was a bit rushed. This leaned very heavily into tropes but it worked for the most part. I just think another 50 or so pages would’ve helped flesh out the ending and maybe given time for more character development for Ash.

I loved meeting so many of the characters. It helped me establish relationships that I missed as this was my first novel in the series. But I didn’t feel that I was lacking any key knowledge that took away from my enjoyment of this particular one in the series.

Even though I felt like Ash left a little more to be desired, Jada was so charming. I loved the neuro divergent rep. I loved Pip and CC. It definitely made me want to go back and read the rest of the series and continue to follow.

Thanks to Love Notes PR and Audrey Vaughn for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in tears as I write this review because this book was just so damn beautiful. From the start I felt so connected to Ash as someone whose parents had been out of love as for as long as I can remember. For a long time marriage seemed like a sham and not a “forever” thing because of the way I grew up and I felt so seen in Ash. Yet I was always jealous of hopeless romantics like Jada, who grew up around parents deeply in love and believed in the notion of marriage. While in they couldn’t be more different their opinions of love, they make an amazing couple. I love a marriage of convenience but paired with the one bed trope it’s a match made in heaven. There are so many cute domestic moments, like him cooking for her, feeding her cats and doing her hair. And also being understanding of her ADHD, her anxieties and just supporting her through it. Ash is the dream man and I could not be more jealous. He’s also a damn bass guitarist which I firmly believe is the sexiest position in a band. And he writes music, with her as his muse I was swooning the whole time. This book is a whole lotta love and a whole lotta family, and it’s beautiful. It’s a lot about love being in the little things, having someone in your corner, and true love blooming in the seemingly the most impossible of places. One of the cutest romcoms I’ve read, I give it a 4.5/5

[MN Book Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable!

Jada just wants what should be hers, if her ex didn't manipulate her grandma into thinking they were heading toward marriage. Instead, there's now a clause in her grandma's Will that states she must be married to her true love in order to inherit the hotel she's been running for years alongside them. Enter Ash, a musician on a break who finds himself in a similar situation. His grandfather just passed away, and in order for him to inherit his piece of the company, he has to stay in their small town for a year, work at the company, and be married. They can work together on this, but Jada knows her cousin may contest the Will if they don't show they're true. So what happens when Ash gets a deal that could get his creative juices flowing again, but it means leaving Jada?

Jada and Ash get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.

I love how they were already connected, but also didn't know much about each other at all. So much so that no one really believed that they could be together, but somehow they worked together so well. I found it funny that it was a cat that brought them closer together, and I was happy that they adopted that cat to join their family too. I do wonder how the cats did with their children in the future, as it seemed like both cats were very needy and babies take up a lot of time. One thing I wish we would have seen in the future look was what Ash ended up doing. Did he stay with the family company, or did he go back to writing songs either for himself or another band? Either way, he was happy, but just a curiosity.

I received an advance review copy from Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[angelica pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gin and Bear it is the last book, in a 4 book series. This story is about the 2nd oldest brother, Ash and one of his younger brother’s best friend, Jada. Automatically hitting on one of my favorite tropes , sibling’s best friend. However, this one comes with a plot twist….a marriage of convenience!

Both Jada and Ash need to marry to gain their inheritance from their grandparents. For Jada, it’s her grandparents hotel for Ash its access to money to fight a legal battle. The only probably, Jada doesn’t like Ash, not since he embarrassed her in high school and didn’t recognize her at his brother’s wedding.

However, desperate times calls for desperate measures. Married for a year , no feelings involved, what could possibly happen during that time? The answer …is a lot.

Especially when you start to realize your fake spouse is your peace, calms the nervousness in you. Helps you relax and want to do better. I don’t want to spoil it, you need to read it for yourself.

Gin and Bear it is a slow burn romance between the bad boy of the Stryker family and a sweet hotelier. There is no 3rd act break up in this story, no cheating and a HEA. I loved this book and the other three in the series. Read it and the others and fall in love with the Stryker Brothers and the women who love them.

[Dols Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last but not Least…

This is the last book in the Stryker brothers series. I want to start by saying I discovered this author by accident. It’s been a minute so I don’t recall our origin story. Anyhoo, I’ve been here from the beginning of the brothers’ journey with “Sips About to Go Down”. I patiently (👀) waited for each story to come out and was not disappointed.

Now on to Gin…I enjoyed the book. It was a pleasant read. On one hand, Ash & Jada made sense bc of their history or rather proximity to each other. I can’t quite put my finger on why i didn’t love love them. For one I was not crazy about the way almost every one was kinda down on Ash, especially Stryker Sr.👀.

It was a frenemies to lovers kind of a read. Mild on the enemies portion bc while Jada’s reason made sense-ish in the beginning, she dragged it a bit IMHO!

Ash despite being a “bad boy” was a little too indecisive and emo for a bit. While I enjoy that dynamic, I could have done with less of it. He’s brothers all had the emo gene as well but the alpha was more predominant which I prefer.

All in all I enjoyed this book. Would recommend it for sure. It’s a nice ending to the saga. Nothing too dramatic.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Aida_between_lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review"

This book was seriously cute, easy to read, and just so much fun. I needed something lighter to get me out of my reading mood, and this story was exactly what I needed.

I absolutely love a fake marriage trope, and this one came with an extra twist—inheritance drama. And when I say drama, I mean BIG drama. I was glued to every page, constantly wanting to know what would happen next. Honestly, I was completely locked in from the very first chapter.

I also loved the relationship development. They were childhood friends, then crushes, then somehow enemies, and eventually lovers. The whole journey was such a fun ride, and after that first chapter, I was already sitting there like, okay, now make them kiss immediately. 😂

The only thing I felt was missing was something between the final chapter and the epilogue. I wanted a little glimpse of what happened in the years between—just a chapter or even a short look at their lives. Thankfully, the epilogue eventually gave me what I needed, but it still wrecked me.

I literally screamed at my tablet because I wanted one more chapter. That's how invested I was.

Overall, this was exactly the kind of fun, light, addictive romance I needed, and I'm very happy I picked it up.

Thanks you LoveNotesPR for ARC COPY ♥️♥️

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 5 out of 5]

obsessed with this marriage of convenience!!!

Gin and Bear It, Audrey Vaughn’s latest book, was such an incredible continuation of the Stryker Family books! Jada and Ash’s marriage of convenience was full of heated moments, delicious attempts at faking their dynamic, and, of course, true love. Add in a couple of adorable and matching cats, and you have the perfect combination for a romance book!

I LOVE a marriage of convenience trope! It was so fun to see how Jada and Ash came into their marriage with such different perspectives about romance and love, yet their time together brought them to a common place. A forced proximity moment between these two was a total *chef’s kiss* and deserves all the praise!

Audrey Vaughn’s love stories have been a favorite of mine since I started ARC reading on this account. Jada and Ash’s love story was unique while also including all the family members I’ve already known and come to love. Books like Gin and Bear It truly are why I fell in love with romance books in the first place!!!

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Laurie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review for another sweet read from Audrey Vaughn!
The artistic prodigal son as well as the ethereal girl next door find theirselves begrudgingly back in Jepsen, in the same predicament and with no way out. We get to see more of Jepsen’s beautiful history and how the town has been another subtle magnet of their story. Underneath the intricate tattoos of the family’s black sheep, lies a misunderstood kind soul who “finally met” the one who always spoke the rhythm his heart beats to. Now Jada is a woman after my own heart!! Passionate, beautiful, hopeful-romantic, self-assured and relentless in pursuit of her dreams. The mental health and ADHD representation in this one was great! Refreshing, encouraging, and realistically written, as well as Ash’s responses / intentionality to her and her needs. If there’s one thing a Stryker brother is going to do, it’s love and cherish a Black woman down! Ash & Jada complement each other so well, it’s infuriating it’s taken this long for them to get together, even if it was under false pretenses. Only thing is can he be trusted after years of the standoffish bad boy persona?

As this is the end of the Stryker brother series, I wish we got even more of them, however it did the trick and you’re still in for a sweet treat !! 🐈‍⬛✨