Can't Fight This Feeling

Indigo Royal Resort #1

by Claire Hastings

They're best friends, big dreamers, and harboring secret crushes on each other...

As loyal as he is handsome, Kyle Egan only wants three things from life: to run his own boat charter company, to help take care of his mom, and to find a way to tell his best friend Drea how he truly feels about her.

Easy going with an infectious laugh, Drea Miller knows she has a good gig working for her uncles and spending time with her best friend Kyle. But she's still restless and full of big dreams for the family business and her heart.

When the truth washes ashore, Kyle and Drea try to navigate their feelings for one another among the endless waves of life. As they face a future neither thought possible, will they decide their love is worth fighting for?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Workplace Romance, Contemporary Romance

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2020

About the author

Claire Hastings is a walking, talking awkward moment. She loves Diet Coke, gummi bears, the beach, and books (obvs). When not reading she can usually be found hanging with friends at a soccer match or grabbing food (although she probably still has a book in her purse). She and her husband Drew live in Atlanta with their fur-child Denali.

She can be found here:

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Reviews

[Ashley Reading Stewardess · Rating 5 out of 5]

From readingstewardess.wordpress.com: There were many times throughout this book when I found myself laughing out loud so hard that I almost fell off the couch and caused both my dog and my Mom to look at me out of concern that I had lost my mind.

Claire has managed to craft together a wonderfully human story of friends becoming lovers without going over the top or making anything too extravagant or over the top.
Read more: https://readingstewardess.wordpress.c...

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Fight This Feeling is the debut novel from Claire Hastings and I CAN NOT WAIT to see what is coming up next for her. This book completely sucked me in to the tropical paradise resort that is full of love and family.

Drea had an unconventional life growing up. She lost her parents tragically when she was 6 months old, but was raised by her three overprotective uncles in the Caribbean resort. Kyle works for the resort as one the boat captains and is also Drea’s best friend. I loved the easy going feeling of their friendship, but they both had INSANE amounts of chemistry. Kyle is super sweet and seriously the perfect boyfriend. He is so caring of not only Drea, but his mother.

The secondary characters in this story were fantastic and I loved every single on of them from Drea’s three uncles and her aunt to her best friend, Leona and Kyle’s best friend, Dalton. They all added so much to this story in a different way.

Can’t Fight This Feeling is such a fun and sweet friends to lovers romance that will transport you to paradise. A MUST READ and the perfect escape.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle & Drea met 5-years ago when Kyle took a job at the Indigo Royal Resort in the Virgin Islands where Drea was raised by her 3 uncles who own the resort. Ever since, they’ve been best friends and coworkers, enjoying tours, bonfires and late nights together.

Drea has spent her whole life on the island and is bound to fall into her family’s legacy one day, but she has big dreams for Indigo Royal and not all of her ideas are well-received.

Kyle has responsibilities back home in Florida and has big dreams to own his own boat charter company one day. But he also can’t imagine himself leaving behind Drea, his best friend & the woman he’s secretly in love with.

What Kyle doesn’t know is Drea’s always been secretly attracted to him as well. And when sparks start to fly, neither of them can fight the feelings forming between them.

Can’t Fight This Feeling by Claire Hastings is book 1 in the Indigo Royal Resort series. I had no idea this was Claire’s debut novel and wow am I blown away! I found myself fully immersed in every aspect of this story and although it was third person POV (which isn’t my fav), it was written so well. This was full of steam, drama, summertime shenanigans. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a great beachy, summer read! 4.5/5 stars.

[Kate R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t Fight This Feeling is a debut from a new author, Claire Hastings. It’s a steamy friends to lovers romance set at a resort on St. Thomas. Kyle and Drea have been best friends for 5 years, but both are hiding feelings for each other. These two were well rounded characters, who were easy to like. Drea has 3 uncles that all run the resort both Kyle and her work at. They were a wonderful addition to the story, with great character development. The descriptions and details of the island life was very well done. It made you feel like you were there. It’s a perfect book for a little escape from reality. The storyline was good, but did drag in parts and their relationship moved a little too fast for my liking. But, I think this was a very solid debut from a new author and I look forward to what she puts out in the future.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessica Alcazar]

From Claire Hastings comes a fresh, fun, and unputdownable romance where having a crush on your best friend isn't the biggest secret at the Indigo Royal!

Don’t miss the first title in the Indigo Royal Resort series, CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING, releasing on May 4th!

Pre-order your copy TODAY!
Amazon US | Amazon UK
Amazon CA | Amazon AU

[Breanna Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drea Miller loves her life living at Indigo Resort, her overbearing and lovable uncles, and Kyle Egan. She’s tired of just being the best friend but is scared to make a move.

Kyle Egan has wanted Drea Miller from the time he first got hired by her Uncle Grayson. But fear of losing his job has him tongue tied.

What happens when the two finally give in is swoony, steamy, with dashes of humor, wisdom and tears. Add in hilarious side characters and epic groveling and Can’t Fight this Feeling is more than Almost Paradise...it’s Paradise City!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its resort hotel setting and ocean excursions, this had a perfect summertime feel!

Raised by her three uncles on their family-owned resort, twenty-six year old Drea has her life practically planned out for herself. Despite her secured upbringing, she often wonders if there’s something out there she could call her own.

On top of that, with a five year friendship behind them, Drea desperately wants something more with her best friend, Kyle. The hidden feelings are mutual, but as an employee of her uncles, Kyle can’t afford to risk his job.

This was really cute! Sometimes I’m wary of hidden, mutual feelings between friends because it often involves miscommunication that could be solved with one, simple conversation. The miscommunication is dealt with early on in this one, though! I absolutely adored Drea and Kyle.

As father figures, the relationship Drea shared with her three uncles was wonderful. With vastly different personalities, and constantly being on point with the banter and wagers, they were a hilarious group!

And I just have to mention Dalton, Kyle’s best friend. I’d love to have a book featuring him. He embraced his ladies’ man persona and I couldn’t help but smile every time he opened his mischievous, witty mouth.

[Radd Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

<><> Story Overview <><>

^^ ~ Drea’s family owns the Indigo Royal resort in St Thomas and Kyle has worked for them for five years. He captains the boats for various excursions and spends most of his time with Drea.

Drea and Kyle are best friends and have been hiding their feelings from each other. Kyle is unwilling to share his feelings because he doesn’t want to lose his job.


<><> Characters <><>
Hero: Kyle Eagan
~ Age: 27
Heroine: Andrea (aka Drea) Miller
~ Age: 26


<><> A Few Thoughts <><>

^^ ~ I very much struggled with this book. The writing felt flat and Kyle and Drea seemed immature. They were each attracted to each other but wouldn’t say anything and that got old. Their jealousy, when it wasn’t even warranted, made this feel very high school-ish.

Unfortunately I got irritated and bored very quickly and I started skipping pages at 16%. That wasn’t a good sign for me.

Characters: both annoyed me. Kyle constantly calling Drea “sweetness” felt forced and got on my nerves. And Drea was twenty six but didn’t stand up for herself, so she came off as weak.

Family: I liked Drea’s relationship with her uncles. There was honest love there. Kyle also came from a loving home, so no dysfunctional family issues here.

Story: as mentioned above, I got bored. Nothing much happened and because both characters somewhat annoyed me I just wasn’t invested in them. The “break up” was predictable and I didn’t feel either character had much growth. As all the drama unfolded at the end of the book, one of the uncles and Kyle really to ticked me off with their actions. They made amends with the characters in the book, but I didn’t really get over their behavior.

<><> The Basics <><>
- Content Warning: none
- Setting: St Thomas
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: best friends to lovers
- Hero likable? meh
- heroine likable? meh
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 26%
- First time they sleep together: 36%
- Safe sex? Initially condoms were used. Later, no condoms.
- First time they say I Love You: 78%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- Chemistry? blah
- OW/OM drama? Not in reality, although they each got jealous of other people (for no real reason)
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? a few days
- Did I skip pages? yes, quite a bit
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? No
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? HFN
- Epilogue? four months later
- Recommend? No

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite friends to lovers books

This book made me laugh, cry, and soon all at once.

The uncles were great. Kyle and Drea were a wonderful couple, but i really wanted to smack Kyle on more than one occasion. I am glad they got their HEA.

I hope both Dalton and Lee get their own books.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drea has been raised by her 3 bachelor uncles at their high end resort on St. Thomas. Kyle has worked for them for the last 5 years and has been her best friend. Both have secretly been crushing on the other but were afraid to admit it. What happens when they admit their feelings?

This was my first Claire Hastings book and I am hooked. Can't Fight This Feeling is a story that will bring you a range of emotions. You will laugh and get angry at this sweet friends to lovers story. I LOVED the uncles and friends in addition to Kyle and Drea. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

[Amanda Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drea has had a very unique upbringing. After an tragic accident, she ends up being raised by her three uncles who own a resort in the Virgin Islands. As an adult, she now works there, but has dreams of more.
Kyle has been working at the resort for five years and Drea has become one of his very best friends. He’s always wanted more with her, but also has other goals he’d like to reach before he can pursue her in that way.
This has all the swoony feels you look for in a friends to lovers romance. As many doubts as they had throughout the story, Kyle and Drea were the sweetest! This story brought out all the emotions - and I could feel them like I was experiencing it myself!
This was an amazing debut novel!! I’m so excited for the rest of the series!

[Michelle Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want this book to end! I kept peaking at the % of read complete and started to feel sad that I knew their “story” was coming to an end in my kindle.

Drea and Kyle have the perfect friends to lovers story.

Claire was a master of hooking me in emotionally to their story and investing my heart in theirs.

I can’t wait to read book two of this series.

[Natalie - FerryGoodBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book by an author that you didn’t enjoy, but still wanted more from them?

There is nothing I enjoy more than a friends-to-more romance trope and when my BFF told me about this one I knew I had to read it right away. This was my first book by this author and for me it was a bit of a disappointment.

The writing was flat for me, and what really made this story hard to read was the choice of dialogue for the characters. I am all for terms of endearment. I love when characters use them in everyday dialogue to express their infatuation with each other, but when I was reading the dialogue for this story every other word out of Kyle's mouth was “sweetness” it drove me up a wall. It got to the point where I felt he was using the term in inappropriate moments and the dialogue around it was becoming cheesy.

I had a hard time understanding the relationship between Drea and Kyle because, though they were best friends, they never could communicate properly. They had known each other for years and were considered each other's best friend but they couldn’t see past each other's feelings which led to a lot of miscommunication. The drama between them got a bit repetitive. They seemed to be having internal struggles about each other but refused to address them. I also couldn’t understand how Drea’s uncles refused to acknowledge her potential. They refused to see her as a capable, intelligent woman but rather as a child.

There were moments where the writing style really pulled on me. I loved the tension between Drea and Kyle. There were moments of missed opportunities that made my heart race. The steamy scenes were done really well. The author was able to show more of just a physical connection. There were a lot of emotions written into those scenes and I appreciated that.

I enjoyed the first half of the story, but as it progressed the feelings I felt didn’t carry through for the second half. I know I’m an outlier with this book and while it missed the mark for me, I am curious about the rest of the series especially the potential in the next book in the series.

[Angela's Book Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.5 Stars ***

Can't Fight This Feeling (Indigo Royal Resort #1), Claire Hastings's debut novel, is a contemporary, friends to lovers, workplace romance told in the third person.

Drea Miller loves living and working at the Indigo Royal Resort where she was raised by her three uncles. She dreams of adding a spa to the resort someday. She's also been harboring feelings for her best friend and coworker, Kyle.

Kyle Egan loves his job as the resort's charter boat captain. He's able to send his mom money and still save towards his dream of owning his own boat and charter business. Kyle has secretly wanted Drea for five years, but her uncles are his bosses which makes her off limits. When he sees a guest hit on Drea, Kyle's ready to get out of the friend zone.

What will happen as Drea and Kyle explore their feelings? What will happen when her uncles find out? Is Kyle's job in jeopardy? Will he be forced to choose between love and his dreams? Read the book to find out.

I loved Drea and Kyle's story! As characters, they were both relatable and likable. I found it easy to engage with the story and root for them the whole way. The supporting characters were fantastic as well - Drea's uncles, "Aunt" Simone, Dalton, and Leona. The Indigo Royal Resort is also a character with a vivid presence. It feels like a real place, and I'd love to vacation there. The story was sweet, funny, sexy, emotional, and very steamy. An awesome debut! I can't wait to read the next book, Caught Up In You.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful friendship that slowly turns into more – this is what we have in this debut novel. Kyle and Drea have met 5 years ago and since then they have been inseparable. Each harbors more than friendship feelings for the other, but both are afraid to ruin something beautiful.

There are a lot of things I liked in “Can’t Fight This Feeling”. Of course, the first is the romance and the struggle our main characters face when deciding to take the next step. Kyle always acts as protector for Drea and he quickly reacts when she is approached by other men. Drea is hesitant in the beginning, which makes the story more realistic. The fact that she is the owners’ niece is also complicating things. Kyle need the job to provide for his mom and he does not want to complicate things, with him and Drea working together. I see him more mature in this respect and that just makes me like him more.

Two more items are worth mentioning: Drea has been raised by her uncles. Their personalities complemented each other and even now see her as their little girl – yes, they are probably too overprotected and I admit that the odds of all 3 being bachelors is kind of a big coincidence. But I still like the premise and I still like the uncles a lot. We have great descriptions of the places and even parties. It really felt like a vacation.

Regardless of how much I enjoyed Kyle and Drea’s story, I do have an issue with the writing I loved it for the most part, but in some areas it was a bit repeated (for example when Drea talks to her best friend and relates an encounter with Kyle) and sometimes there were small complications of the plot that seemed not needed. These are the only reasons why I’m decreasing one star from my final rating.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had everything and I adored it. I thought I wanted a slow burn romance here, but turns out, getting right into the meat of the story was even better.

First off, I want to say that the secondary characters were my favorite part of this book. Claire Hastings could not have written better, funnier, more lovable characters in Drea’s uncles (amazing dialogue, btw) or Dalton if she had tried. **Can we take a moment and swoon over Dalton? 😍** I loved all of her uncles, but especially Miller. The way he raised Drea as his own, calling her “baby girl” even when she was 26 years old, just filled my heart with love.

Secondly, I loved that this was written from the dual POV of Kyle and Drea. I loved getting into both of their heads and knowing what they were thinking. I found myself getting annoyed with the immaturity of their decisions sometimes, especially with Kyle, BUT then he would turn around, apologize for being a JA, and do better the next time. So I couldn’t stay mad at him for long.

The writing was so fluid and descriptive that I can honestly picture this resort on the island in my head and I want to visit it! 🏝

There were so many small moments between all the characters that were perfection that some may not think are significant. But those moments are why I just adored this book. And I almost squealed at the “she’s your lobster” reference 🦞

I absolutely cannot wait for Dalton’s book to be released and I already have Leona’s story queued up on my kindle 😊

[Katie Taddei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a cute story. Most of the romance that I read has an element of dislike between the two main characters so this was refreshing to have that pleasant personal relationship from the start. It's such a relatable story (minus being in the Virgin Islands - but wouldn't we all love to be there!) that its easy to feel yourself in the characters. Leona and Dalton provide some great laughs and side commentary throughout the book, and the 3 lovable uncles feel like they could be your own family.

Can't wait to see what happens at the Indigo Royal Resort in the rest of the series!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't Fight This Feeling (Indigo Royal Resort #1) by: Claire Hastings  
 
 
A fresh voice has hit the scene determined to make her presence known. Can't Fight This Feeling, feels like lightning in a bottle. The impact is swift, powerful and beautiful to watch. Hastings puts hearts on notice with a captivating voice and a flirty sense of humor. Kyle and Drea are an irresistible breath of fresh air that makes the senses tingle and the heart rejoice.

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my heart loved this! The setting is beautiful and I found myself dreaming I was there as well. Kyle and Drea have an amazing friendship and their chemistry was just off the charts. I couldn't put this down.

[Ebonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I wish Indigo Royal Resort was a real place - because I legitimately want to go. Claire did such a fantastic job with the setting of this picturesque resort that I felt like I was actually there while I was reading. I love all the characters, too; the uniqueness of their relationships, the way their lives all interconnect to run this amazing resort.

And then there's Drea and Kyle, the heat so strong between them that it practically combusts before they finally admit their feelings. I enjoyed reading their story, anxiously watched them tango around each other, and cheered when they finally started to take their feelings for one another seriously. The two of them face a lot - both together and apart - but it just makes their characters stronger, in several different ways. This story has lots of layers, gets emotional at some points, and gets frustrating at other points - but those all combine to make a great story. I'm ready to go back to Indigo Royal Resort and see what happens next!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book. Wonderful read!

[S.P. Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I loved this sweet story with plenty of angst. Loved the family dynamics and the strength of the different relationships.

[J.E. Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good things do come to those who wait. Drea and Kyle had to maneuver her uncles, which were not always supportive. But, eventually, how could they not find love in the US Virgin Islands?
I like how the story unfolds. You can see and feel how deeply those two have already fallen for one another but just not acted on it. And they even needed a couple of nudges to finally do what they should have sooner.
The book was straightforward to read and kept me moving along. Just as every author should do, they brought the emotion, there is laughter and tears along the way, but in the end, it is all worth it.

[Lindsay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book by Claire Hastings, I cant wait for more in this series! Wonderfully written and you will root so hard for Kyle and Drea. Good love story with some very steamy moments, definitely a great read!

[Lisa Dryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love friends to lovers stories and this is another to add to my collection.

Claire is a new author and I will be reading more of her books definitely.

Can't fight this feeling is a fresh new read that hooks you in from the start. It has passion, love and a lot of laughter.

Drea and Kyle ae amazing and their feelings jump right out of the page, you want them together as much as you want your next breath so much so I couldn't put it down and read the whole book in one sitting.

I did not want this book to end and I cannot wait for the next one.

Highly recommended 5* book and an author with a lot of talent.

[Mica Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! The characters, the setting, the writing!!! I can already tell this will be a book I read multiple times. Can we please make Indigo Royal Resort a real place? Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Susan Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tourists choose the Indigo Royal Resort for its all-inclusive amenities. Located in the Virgin Islands, the high- end resort offers snorkeling, catamaran excursions and miles of private beaches. The luxurious setting and the friends to lovers romance drew me into Claire Hastings’ novel Can’t Fight This Feeling immediately.
Andrea Miller and Kyle Eagan are employees of the resort; not guests. Drea enjoys working at the indigo Royal; her family’s resort and has been a little bit in love with Kyle for years. She would love to add a spa to the resort but, doesn’t think her uncles would take her suggestion seriously. Kyle dreams of owning his own boat and his own company. He’s finding it hard to avoid his feelings for Drea as he’s been crushing on her since the day they met! I loved that Drea and Kyle had a solid relationship at the beginning of the story and that both of them wanted more than friendship. Loved that Dalton pushed the couple together
The author chose to use the third person voice in the story. I enjoyed this viewpoint as it enabled the reader to relate to the two main characters because each character voiced their thoughts, feeling and actions. Claire Hasting’s descriptive writing style lends perfectly to this story—as a reader I felt that I was on vacation. Loved the poignant scene when Drea and Kyle visit the church where Drea’s parents were married. Drea opens up to Kyle and he tells her: “I want all of you, Drea ,that includes the tears.”
Claire Hasting’s debut novel has interesting characters, a storyline filled with secrets and a sensuous romance. Loved that the secondary characters were well developed and I am looking forward to Dalton’s adventure. Secrets are revealed when the couple returns home from their weekend getaway…and these secrets impact all of the characters. The story’s conclusion is fabulous- and just perfect for this couple.
Of you are looking for a tropical island getaway—escape with Claire Hastings Can’t Fight This Feeling! Put an umbrella in your drink and settle in for a fabulous read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book sitting in my Kindle library, waiting to be read, for so long now that I’ve forgotten why I downloaded it in the first place; shame on me. However, I did get to it, eventually, and it didn’t disappoint. For starters, it’s set on St Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, a place which I have wanted to visit for some time now; as this is impossible during the time of pandemic through which we’re currently living, at least I was able to visit through this book.

Location aside, it’s rather a sweet little romance. Yes, I’ve read plenty of those, and had I been asked would have said that I didn’t need another; but there was something touchingly attractive about this story. Orphaned Andrea, raised by her uncles, is in love with Kyle, who works at the hotel and is in love with her too; but neither of them realises the other’s secret until part-way through the book, when they finally get together. There’s some heavy stuff, family secrets which have to be aired, family approval needed for the match of the rich girl with the poor employee; but it’s not too heavy, so no massive anguish required on the part of the reader, despite the question mark over how it’s going to end; which I’m not about to disclose.

It’s not a difficult read, ideal when you’re working out on the treadmill, which is what I was doing when I began the book to find Drea doing the same. Sweet and inoffensive romance (if you skip through the sex scenes; easily done if they’re not your thing, and you lose nothing of the overall story by so doing). I can’t find a reason not to give it five, stars, really.

[bibliophile.43 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌊-Can’t Fight This Feeling by Claire Hastings
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🌊- * 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*
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🌊-𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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🌊-𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 : Can’t stop this feeling was a really enjoyable read for me, I was a bit skeptical at first to be honest because I’m not a fan
of Friends-to-Lovers because most of the books in this trope just make it all about the misunderstanding between the characters which I find kind of boring and unnecessary… but with this book it was everything I did not expect! I think because of this book I may give this trope another chance.
Can’t Stop This Feeling, made me want to go and have a swim in the ocean so bad, it made me dream about the summer and all these beach days we took for granted…
Anyways, this story was so cute and so fun to read the characters were not annoying and I somehow enjoyed the first time in a while a book written in the third person which is kind of a first, because if you know me, you know that I hate reading in the third person because I feel disconnected to them, but surprisingly I did not feel that way at all while reading CFTF, which is saying a lot!
And can we talk about these steamy scenes?! They were really well written because sometimes I feel like when they describe these scenes either it’s not enough (in my opinion) or it’s too much, and with this book it was just perfect!
Overall I really recommend reading this book especially if you love the bestfriends-to-lovers trope and even if you don’t like it (like me) you may be surprised by this read

[Mal ✨ | Tales Of A Bookbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't Fight This Feeling is a super cute friends-to-lovers romance from debut author Claire Hastings!

Friends to lovers is one romance trope that I never really liked much till a few years back.After reading some solid books with this trope during the last year, I've pushed myself to read more romance books which have a similar premise and I'm really liking it!

This book follows Kyle and Drea, a pair of best friends who work together and are secretly crushing on each other without knowing that the other likes them back! These kinda friends-to-lovers stories are my favorite! We've also got an amazing set of secondary characters with my favorites being Drea's uncles! They were totally awesome!

It was fun watching the push-pull between Drea and Kyle, and I was waiting for them to get together! And when they finally do, it's even more amazing! The setting and the writing was equally good!

There's nothing much that sets this one apart from the other contemporary romance books in this genre, but I think it was pretty good for a debut novel with amazing characters! With everything that's been happening around the world, this book was a perfect read for me to escape into!


*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drea loves the life she’s grown up living at Indigo Resort. Orphaned when she was just a baby, she’s been raised by her 3 adoring “uncles” – brothers to each other who were close friends of her parents. She also really loves resort charter captain Kyle, but she’s stuck in the friend zone with him it seems, despite how much she’d like to change that.

Kyle has wanted Drea from when he first met her and was hired by her Uncle Grayson. He is saving money to fund his own dreams of independence and to help his ill mother, so he has to be careful to protect his job – and he’s seriously afraid of being fired if Drea’s uncles find out about his feelings for their niece. That fear of losing his job starts to come into conflict with his increasing fear of losing Drea to another man before he ever gets to tell her how he feels about her.

When everything comes together for these two, it’s fun, romantic, and steamy, but of course it’s not smooth sailing. There’s powerful family drama, some very funny scenes, and interesting secondary characters. I thought the pacing of the book was a little uneven, but overall it was entertaining.