Doubletalk

Busy Bean #6

by Teralyn Mitchell

Basketball has always been his one love, until now . . .

Zeke Armstrong never imagined he’d be back in Vermont, but here he is, living in Colebury and trying to rehab an injury that could mean an early retirement from pro basketball. Running into his former classmate, Mallory Barrett, shouldn’t be a distraction. It shouldn’t mean anything, so why is he accidentally on purpose showing up at the coffee shop where the beautiful writer spends her time?

Mallory Barrett has met a guy. Well, she hasn’t met him yet, except for on the dating app she almost refused to download. “Coby” sparks her interest and gets her jokes--and gives the romance-novel heroes she loves so much a full-court run for their money. When their first date doesn’t work out, she decides to give him another shot . . . just as a man she despises reenters her life. While her interest in the mystery man on the app grows, she clashes constantly with Zeke in real life. She can’t forgive him for humiliating her in high school, yet she can’t deny she’s drawn to him now.

She’s somehow gone from confirmed bachelorette to the tie-breaker between two men. Meanwhile Zeke has a secret--one that will cost him the game if Mallory finds out . . .

Genres: Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Audiobook, Basketball, Fiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2021

About the author

Teralyn Mitchell is a new author to the contemporary romance scene who loves creating unique, multi-dimensional characters who face everyday issues that her readers can relate to. She writes the kind of books she likes to read whether they are about twenty-somethings living in the city or princesses and princes trying to find their way in the world.

She moved back to her hometown in the south a few years and is currently living in a full house, bursting with love, laughter, and chaos. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, watching sports or reruns of her favorite sitcoms.

Visit her at: https://teralynnmitchell.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

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Reviews

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmmmmmmm

This is probably all a me thing but I just … the thing is, I’m not a fan of overly dramatic books and by dramatic, I mean OTT eyerolling twitchy drama. This story carried a whole bunch of that and I just … can’t. However, that’s a total judgement call so you might not be like me.

If I’m being honest, this had the potential to be a great read for me. I love friends to more and second chance romances like nobody’s business. The childhood friend trope is one of my favorites because it comes with an inherent base of knowledge by the leads of each other that allows the growth of the romance to be swoony and full of heart. I just don’t understand or maybe don’t get the reveal conflict the author added and honestly, these guys are mid to high 20s in age buuuuuuuuut not really.

Imma stop now because I sincerely think this is a me thing and my own preferences but what are you gonna … I’m a blogger and these are my thoughts. Do with them what you will.

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory is an author suffering with a writer block, Zeke is a basketball player back in Vermont for physical therapy. They knew each other since they were kids but they don't speak to each other since they had a fall out years before. After a cold encounter at the Busy Bean they can't stop to think of each other. Could they put their past at rest and be civil? Or their friendship is irretrievably lost?

I enjoyed this story but I felt it a bit dragged out.
Mallory is too stubborn at times and she got on my nerves but I can understand how she is still hurt and she hasn't moved on from het past. I loved Zeke, he is intent on gaining Mallory's trust and friendship back and he is not scared to beg her for forgiveness. I was glad to see them to grow chapter after chapter because when they are together they are so cute and sweet you can't stop rooting for their happiness.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost did not pick up Doubletalk due to lukewarm feeling for other books in the series. Good thing, I picked it up and started reading it. And I have to say, I like Doubletalk. Miss Mitchell done a good job combining sweet romance with a background of childhood friend.

Both Zeke and Mallory is just so perfect for each other. The plot does not involved too much of twist nor dramatic secenes. Just sweet, comfy and not boring pace. I like the sweetness. I really do. Sorry that I have to repeat the word sweet in my review.
Because it's just SWEET.

4 stars

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory + Zeke

They were best friends as kids, but now she hates him. She's hated him for 15 years now.
But now he's back in town and he's kinda still interested in being her friend - or more.
And with his secret dating app alter ego, she's all interested - but she doesn't know it's him.

═════════════════



Well ... I didn't finish this.
I wanted to ...because I didn't hate hate it. I don't know what it was. I just couldn't keep on reading. The writing, the people, the silly dating app trope, the constant teaching us about authors and basketball, their ages! They're 28 - not 19 like I first thought and like they behave! I just couldn't go on.
But then I had a bit of free time between books and I thought - okay - let's try this one more time. I hate not finishing books. And I still didn't love it. I really liked Zeke, but he was basically the only good part of the book. I just couldn't handle the ridiculous dating app 'secret' trope that will lead to a ridiculous fight and break up! And their ages and all the other people in there - family, friends - people from the author's other books - I don't care for that at all. I finished it but I fast-forwarded a lot.

It wasn't our day book - you were not bad, it was probably just my mood. Sorry.

DOUBLETALK was a cute kinda second-chance author + baller love story.


💜 💜

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Coming Clean Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This series has been an enjoyable experience for me. The concept of having books revolve around a specific location and characters has always been my jam. With Doubletalk, the Busy Bean is the hub and where our main couple meets up again after years.

Zeke Armstrong and Mallory Barrett have past history and it is not a good one. Zeke was buddies with Mallory's past boyfriend and he was a total jerk to her. He caused Mallory to have a painful memory she refuses to let go of and she still holds a grudge again the ex and Zeke.

Zeke is back in their hometown due to a sports injury. He has been playing professionally for years and needs to recoup so he is staying with his cousin and seeing his old friend, Mallory's ex. It is when both of these fellas are in the Busy Bean, Mallory's writing hangout, they collide.

Zeke, always liking Mallory but never acting on it due to his friend being her ex, reaches out to say hello. Mallory wants NOTHING to do with either of the men and lets them know it. Zeke is a little frustrated because he really would like to be her friend, or maybe even more.

While these actions happen, there is something else in the mix. Both Mallory and Zeke are on a dating website with profiles using different names...why, maybe for protection...Either way, they both end up having this website attraction for all the right reasons; they chat, they have fun talking to each other, and finally, Zeke takes the plunge and wants to meet.

You guessed it...Mallory is sitting right where Zeke is supposed to meet his terrific, chatty, smart internet connection.

Now this book was solid, had lots to offer, and worked within the Busy Bean environment. My only issue is when we have this type of thing hanging in the balance. It has recently become a troupe in many books due to all the types of things happening in Real Life. I get it and it can be a strong way to work a plot.

This story works within this troupe and in the process, both main characters work on the past hurt feelings and come through the other end.

Sweetheart (Busy Bean #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cowboy (Busy Bean #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cakewalk (Busy Bean #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Friendzoned (Busy Bean #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Studfinder (Busy Bean #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Doubletalk (Busy Bean #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sidetracked (Busy Bean #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fireproof (Busy Bean #8)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Footnote (Busy Bean #9)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Afterglow (Busy Bean #10)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading~~~~~~
April 29, 2021
Since When Is Vermont The Place...
The Place Where Romance Is Hot And Heavy...
Could It Be A Romance Writer...
A Past Classmate...
And The Busy Bean Causing All This Heat...

Mallory Barrett, Romance Author...
Loves Working On Her Writing At The Busy Bean...
She Also Sometimes, Ok Always...
Uses That Dating App To Chat...
With A Guy Who May Be The One...

Zeke Armstrong Is Mallory's Past Classmate...
He Is Here In Vermont Getting Therapy Due...
To His Basketball Career Threatening Injury...

Seeing Zeke Does Not Thrill Her...
They Had Bad Blood In High School...
And Mallory Doesn't Want To Let It Go...

But...Busy Bean Is Working Its Magic...

Because As Hot And Swoony...
Mallory's App Man Is...
Zeke Keeps Making Mallory...
Second Guess Her Feelings...

It Is Going To Be A Problem...
Because How Is She Going...
To Deal With All This Romantic...

Doubletalk (Busy Bean #6)-September 13, 2021



For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although hero and heroine were supposed to be around 30, their emotional maturity was somewhere around high school age. The drama and games became tedious - not my cup of tea. Read about half and then skimmed to end to read highlights and conclusions.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too repetitive for my liking

[Claudia Fosca Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doubletalk is the sixth book in the Busy Bean Series, set in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. It is a standalone, so it can definitely be read by itself.

I liked Doubletalk. It’s a childhood friends to enemies to lovers story with a hint of You’ve got Mail secret identity dating app in the mix.

I liked Mallory and Zeke. Mallory is a young author struggling with writer’s block. She’s determined to write a story that’s been resisting her for years and hanging out at the Busy Bean while she’s at it. It’s there where she runs into Zeke for the first time in years. He’s a professional basketball player trying to recover from two almost career ending injuries in Vermont. They used to be best friends as kids, but their friendship ended abruptly when they were thirteen years old, and Mallory never forgave him.

Now Zeke is determined to repair their friendship and even get her to date him, but Mallory isn’t willing to risk it. At the same time, they’re both using a dating app (and using aliases) and happen to connect. So while they’re communicating virtually, they’re not getting along in person.

I liked the writing and the progression of Mallory and Zeke’s relationship, their banter and Mallory’s best friend’s shenanigans. It’s easy to read and it flows. I’m not a fan of Zeke’s duplicity with the app, but it wasn’t that big deal in the end. I liked the fact that both of them learned from their mistakes, and were able to grow as people.

[Arielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am SUPER bummed to say this book was a case of ~it's not you, it's me~. You see, when I went to request the final books in both the Busy Bean and the Speakeasy series, I became so nostalgic thinking about how we were finally coming to a close in The World of True North, that I requested ALL of the final books without reading their summaries. Honestly, most of the time that has worked out in my favor because then you go into them not knowing what to expect and every little thing is a wonderful surprise. This one though had be wishing I would have checked first.

The trope in this book that I personally am not a fan of is where the two find each other on a dating app with fake names and click instantly. One of them finds out who the other person is in real life but keeps that secret until it's too late and the whole thing momentarily blows up in their faces. I did like that this one had an added layer of complexity due to the fact that Mallory and Zeke had actually known each other since they were little kids but had a falling out in high school and haven't talked since then. Mallory is one to not forgive easily so it made things even more hard when she DOES finally forgive Zeke only to eventually find out that he had been keeping this secret. It was actually a little funny because in my last review for Safeguard I talked about how I can't handle that kind of drama anymore and then I started this and went, oops. lol IT'S FINE

Mallory and Zeke did have good chemistry, I enjoyed their characters as a whole, and I liked the writing so I'm sure most other people who read this will love!

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book exchange for my honest opinion!♥

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Laetitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory Barrett and Zeke Armstrong grew up together in Burlington, Vermont. They were best friends from the time they were three until middle school. Zeke made new friends and left Mallory behind. In high school things got worst between them and after an embarrassing incident, Mallory swore to never be friends with Zeke ever again. Fast forward 15 years later, Mallory now lives in Colebury and is now an author and Zeke plays in the NBA. While sitting at the Busy Bean Café writing her latest novel, Mallory sees Zeke come into the shop for some coffee and pastries. Zeke was happy to see his old friend but Mallory wasn't having any of it. Mallory knew how to hold a grudge and what Zeke did to her was messed up but that was her way to keep herself from getting hurt again. Mallory lives with her best friend Stacey and they did everything together, I liked Stacey but it felt as if she never listened to Mallory. Zeke was back in Vermont to rehab an injury he sustained while playing and to also get a much needed break. While in Colebury, he was staying with his cousin Malik, who was Stacey's boss. Every time Zeke would try to talk or engage Mallory in any way she would either ignore him or make jabs at him. Zeke felt bad about the way he let his friendship with Mallory go and was trying to make amends. Both Zeke and Mallory were on an app for hooking up and they so happened to match and decided to meet up but Zeke realized that the woman he was talking to was Mallory and left without meeting her. Even though Mallory was justified in her anger towards Zeke, after a while it became old and she finally decided to give him a chance. It was nice that they reconnected, but it felt like their relationship went from zero to one hundred in two seconds. Once Zeke apologized to her and explained things she let her crush for him take over and they started dating. But they were still talking on the app as other people which was a disaster waiting to happen. The book was OK, there was too much talk of other authors and basketball but I get that it was what Zeke and Mallory were interested in and what they did. I felt like the book was too long for the story that was written, some of the extra stuff could've been left out. This was an enemy to lovers/second chance romance, Mallory and Zeke did make a cute couple, they've been friends most of their lives and getting together was right for them.

[Annia Lennox (DaydreamingThroughBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends-to-enemies kind of-to lovers. There’s predictable moments, but I really enjoyed this. I read it in one day and easily got sucked in.

Rory and Zeke were childhood friends, but they had a falling out in middle school. Rory still lives in Vermont. Zeke is a professional basketball player. He returns to Vermont to rehab some injuries. They run into each other and slowly reconnect. Zeke definitely wants a relationship or at least friendship, but Rory is still angry from the earlier stuff.

Rory will probably bother some readers. She’s a harsher personality and she’s a big grudge holder. I didn’t mind, but I’ve been known to hold a grudge so I get it. She’s also fairly self-aware about that. She does grow and learn, too.

Zeke was a very nice guy and he tried to make up for mistakes he made as a kid. I would’ve liked him to be a bit more developed. We got little glimpses of his familial relationships, but that was really it.

My biggest issue was around the “big secret”. I knew from the beginning what the big conflict would be. I hate the not talking to each other thing. It wasn’t the knowing it part that bothered me but what the actual conflict was.

There were some small pacing or plotting things that felt off. Or sometimes I thought there was a continuity error. Maybe it was me. It didn’t impact my enjoyment too much anyways.

Ms. Mitchell, please tell me Stacey will get her HEA. I’ll definitely look into more books by Mitchell when I have space in my TBR. Her style was easy to read and connect with.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second one in a row of this series that I feel like I should have liked better. I think part of it is that not much action happened at the Busy Bean, where in others, the MC had been an employee. Both Zeke and Rory drove me nuts at different times. Zeke because his secret of being Kobe wasn't not going to come out well, Rory for how she cut people out if one bad thing happened. And sure some of what happened was really bad, like the guy she dated in school who had the bet. What Zeke did was bad as a kid, but he was a kid. I can see her cutting him out then, but why no see things differently as an adult. It seemed like it was only after talking to her cousin about their rift, that she could look at things in a different way. With that being said, I was glad how this one ended, glad that Zeke and Rory are building something good and have a new start all around.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Doubletalk
Read By: Ebook and Audio
Author: Teralyn Mitchell
Narrator: Loen Nixon and Marie Brehon
Genre: Romance
Main Characters: Zeke and Mallory
Recommend: yes
Spice: 🌶️️ 🌶️️
Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:

The old friends who went to school together and now are love interest story. Did I like it? It was ok. It was a little dramatic for me, but other then that it had great chemistry, and was a cruise read.

“I wanted you to fuck me hard and fast, Z.” He kissed my back before snapping his hips faster. His hands were probably leaving bruises with how tight he was holding me, but I didn’t mind. I relaxed more as he fucked me fast and deep. I moaned his name, telling him how good it felt to have him inside of me.”

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex-childhood friends run into each other again in a chance of fate, but Zeke takes things one step further with an online profile...

Fall in love with Zeke and Mallory as they sort out past and future feelings.

Teralyn Mitchell scored yet again with this amazing story! Follow along as Mallory sorts out her feelings from the past as she uncovers secrets that she was never meant to learn.

[The_Book_Queen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have DNFed. This book was not for me at all.

Between all the drama, the lying about an online persona he was still using to talk to her through until 86%, not to mention the "joke" of him pushing her to say yes to anal and after her repeatedly saying no, him finally huffing out a "fiiiiiiine" . . . . yeah, needless to say I hated this one.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doubletalk is a sassy story with a sweetness of heart that packs an irresistible punch. My first Teralyn Mitchell story and I think I'm in love. Mallory and Zeke are a work in progress that refuses to be put on hold. Mitchell creates it personalities that leap off the page and into your heart.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written well enough, nothing outstanding. But, the storyline was too predictable and the female MC was too immature for someone of her age, in my opinion. So, the story just couldn't hold my attention.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loathe the shop around the corner thing, where one character knows the identity of the other and doesn't own up to it.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audiobook*

[Destanee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Crystal Stafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 6 in the Busy Bean, World of Ture North. Mallory and Zeke are completely new characters so you can for sure read this as a standalone. This was my first read by Teralyn Mitchell and while I definitely think her writing has promise, I thought this story was too long for the storyline and too heavy on the past hurt and anger for me to really love it.

When I first started reading I thought I was really going to enjoy this book. I loved Mallory's attitude and I adored her friendship with Stacy. I loved that she is a romance author and that she just likes her quite life in Vermont. She doesn't need to be flashy to be cool. I always love the Busy Bean atmosphere and the crew there and that was a given plus going in. I also really really loved Zeke. I thought he was a caring and talented man who had a lot of heart. He is a Pro Basketball player and he is recovering from an injury and trying to get his career on track. I liked learning some basketball lingo and was glad it wasn't overloaded with sports talk because I don't usually enjoy the sports romance trope. I thought the prospect of Mallory and Zeke meeting unknowingly on the dating app was cute and I enjoyed the build of their relationship. They had some really sweet dates that brought that good feeling that romances always do. I thought Zeke did some very sweet things for Mallory and I really want to give the guy an award for patience because he road the stubborn and thick headed train Mallory was conducting until he made his way back into her heart. I thought the ending was solid and definitely enjoyed them as a couple. They had great chemistry and in the bedroom they lit up the pages.

Now those are all my likes and I wish those were enough for me to say YES to this story. Sadly they were not. I had a ton of issues with the "big secret" as to why Mallory hates Zeke and won't gave him the time of day. In my eyes it was a weak issue for all the build up. She can hold a grudge like it's nobody's business and I was so frustrated with her attitude that I was actually routing for Zeke to take a step back and let her stew until she got with the program. I understand her hate for Daniel, her other childhood friend and high school ex, he was definitely a boy in a mans body and a bully. I understand Mallory was hurt and embarrassed and even bullied for an extended period of time by Daniel in high school, but I thought she just truly needed to let it go and show these guys that she is an adult and has moved on and made something of herself. Instead, all she did was convince me that she hadn't really grown up. And it wasn't just Zeke and Daniel she had issues with, she even went extended periods of time not speaking to family because of the "hurt" they caused her. And I do not feel at all that Zeke should be punished for the fact that he slightly let Mallory down by not being as good a friend to her when they were CHILDREN! Everyone makes mistakes and at almost 30 years old you should be able to separate the past and present. I felt like most of this story was drawn out because of this grudge Mallory held and it just left a bitter taste in my mouth. It took away from the romance and the good feelings I mentioned before. I loved Stacy and was really routing for her happy ending and was pretty bummed by the events that took place regarding her. Why start something and make her happy and then not see it through? Maybe she'll get her own book to make up for it!

I was really on the border with this story and my rating. Honestly, for me this is a 3.5 but I did not enjoy it enough to rate a 4 and I feel bad about that. I liked a lot about this book but disliked more. And I base my ratings on weather or not I would read the book again I can't say that I would. But I think the writing was good and I would definitely read more of Teralyn!

[Vonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weak 3-star-rating. I am DNF-ing at page 56, right at Chapter 8.

This is a new-to-me author, so I feel awful about bailing before the story picks up pace, but there are too many red flags flying in my face as I read. This does not bode well for me continuing, nor wasting my time trying to force myself not to be upset by this book.

First thing is...I am getting 1) exhausted by Rom-Com books trying to write Writers Writing Romance romances... 2) bored by tedious, weak-sauce explanation of how "hard" it is for this particular writer to get out of her fog as she seems to beg every single NON-writer in her life to "write for her". Sounds like she has published enough books to make a dent but... also sounds like she wants a New York Times BestSeller that remains on the charts for 100wk, or something. 3) And upset by a writer who feels...distant from what it feels like being a writer and/or having whatever they feel is "success" and richness...eh, maybe happiness, from writing for a career. This means not having to go out and have a 2nd or even a 3rd job in order to pay rent and utilities.

I wished I believed this MC loved books, characters, storytelling and writing, but she seems to be IN SEARCH OF... a Holy Grail. She will never find it without being satisfied and happy where she already is.

For a mid-Adult novel... 28-30-ish, everyone feels like they are still in high school. And the fabricated drama from high school still manages to permeate the heroine's head and heart.

While I do not mind the Rom-Com switcheroo...like You Got Mail. Zeke, as "Cody" [online] rejecting and then ghosting was done dirty. Let's be mature ADULTS...and confront the miscommunications. And...I just walked away from Chapter 7 where Stacie, the heroine's roommate "pretended" to be her ONLINE...and struck up a NEW conversation with "Cody" [Zeke]?!?!?!?!?! when Mallory DOES NOT want a thing to do with Zeke... nor "Cody" any longer...

This type of force-fed melodrama feels... immature. And I am not going to put myself through the rest of this novel attempting to validate the messiness of COERCING Mallory into being in Zeke/Cody's life when HE was the one who did the misstep and never showed to their coffee date at the Busy Bean...

This novel could’ve been great, but this beginning was a huge pile of unwarranted messiness... from Mallory's weird chip-on-shoulder over old high school drama she cannot let go of... but yet CAN let go of "some" as she roomed with Stacie in college and apparently Stacie was a straight-up MEAN GIRL to Mallory... GO FIGURE! Picking and choosing whom and what you "let go" of and chill out about. Then this dumb way Stacie jumps onto Mallory's social media to "pretend" to be her and restarted a conversation with "Cody"/Zeke again... was beyond the pale...

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back into the Busy Bean series for the final stretch of books. Doubletalk follows Zeke and Mallory and boy was this story something. First off, right from the beginning you knew it would only be a matter of time until something blew up between them to threaten their relationship. It was just a matter of when and how. So Zeke and Mallory's story is along the lines of the one that got away and second chances. They grew up together and were best friends. But with the highs and lows that is high school, they friendship ceased due to a lot of hurt and let downs. They went on different paths but never forgot the other. So when Zeke returns to Vermont, he is both wary and happy to see Mallory again. He knows he messed up and all those feelings he had for her come rushing back. But will she give him the time of day? Mallory wasn't a fan of high school and follows the stubborn rule of never letting someone hurt her again. She knows how to hold a grudge. And with the horrible incident in high school, how can anyone blame her? But Zeke comes back into her life and despite the fact that she gives him the cold shoulder whenever he is around, he is slowly breaking her defenses.

Now, the complicated part. Both Zeke and Mallory sign up for a dating app and don't use their real names before either realize the other is in town. Fate brings them together and they just click over this online messages. Perhaps something can happen between "Coby" and "Tasha". They agree to meet and when Zeke passes the Busy Bean and realizes Mallory is Tasha, he bolts. He knows if he goes in there, she won't give him the time of day. He wants to win her heart as Zeke. And as they get close to one another again. they both still reach out through the app when Mallory needs to talk and let her guard down and when Zeke is desperate for Mallory to let him in. So now you can see why the story has you on the edge of your seat as you wait for everything to blow up. However! That didn't mean the story wasn't good. It was good! Mallory has no filter and speaks her mind. Her friendship with her best friend, Stacey is hilarious. And you can't help but love Zeke and root for him to win Mallory back. These were great and interesting characters and the plot kept twisting and turning, taking you in unexpected directions. A great addition to this series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carmen Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am loving this whole True North World thing. Sarina Bowen is an absolute genius who creates amazing stories, and this has just added to her awesomeness. So, I have been avidly scouring all of these sign ups reading the blurbs and reading the books as soon as I get my grabby hands on them. And this one had me super excited. It is by a new to me, author; and its main character is a professional basketball player. It was right up my alley.

And then I started reading it and I just never clicked with it. I couldn’t get into the story, and I didn’t connect with either character. In fact both characters annoyed me more than I liked them, but most of the time I was just apathetic towards them. Now this is possibly a me issue and other people will love the book and the characters, and I probably just didn’t connect because I struggled to read the book. And for me sometimes that’s just something that happens and has nothing to do with the book I’m reading.

For me my first issue was Mallory. She is 28 years old and I just felt like she was holding onto juvenile grudges and was always playing the victim. And while I got why she wasn’t prepared to forgive Zeke for the actions he had made while they were children, she just kept on about how everyone had let her down and she had trust issues. But it felt like everything was catastrophised and she was the innocent princess sitting in her tower being spat on.

Zeke went all out to win over Mallory and gain her forgiveness and I liked that he was so invested in their relationship. But his words didn’t back up his actions. And his claims of her being the one that got away and having her tattooed on various parts of his body didn't mesh with the fact he hadn’t seen her in ten years and then he bumped into her by chance. After they had been estranged for 5 years before their physical separation.

Then we had a secondary relationship going on off to the side that didn’t really feel like it added much to the story. The sex scenes were hot and the writing was easy to read. It just wasn’t the book for me at the moment.

[Reading to Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

Doubletalk is book six in the Busy Bean series but can be read as a complete standalone. Mallory is a writer, but struggling with a little writer's block at the moment. She has joined a new dating app but isn't really looking to meet anyone until one guy actually seems to find her corny pick up lines funny and they hit it off.

Zeke is a professional basketball player but is back in Vermont after an injury while he tries to work on getting stronger so he can return to the pros. While there, he runs into his childhood friend who he always had a thing for. Too bad things ended pretty badly with them and they haven't talked in a really long time.

This is a tough review for me to write if I am being honest. This was my first book by this author so I didn't really know what to expect but I always like trying out new authors, especially in this series. I really liked Zeke, especially from the beginning. It was clear how much he liked Mallory and how much he wanted her in his life, and because she didn't want to give him the time of day, I can see why he chose to go the route he did, but it was definitely questionable. I liked Mallory and her friendship with Stacey...they were hilarious together; one of my favorite things about the book. I felt like she expected too much at times of people in not allowing others to make any mistakes or offer second chances. I think if she could have been a little more mature and at least be open to communicate with Zeke a little more in the beginning, a lot of drama could have been avoided. I am generally not one for games or drama, so that part of the book didn't appeal to me, but I did like Mallory and Zeke together once they worked things out.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

We’re once again back in the World of True North and at the Busy Bean cafe!

Zeke Armstrong and Mallory Barrett have a history and it’s not a good one! In the past, Zeke was friends with Mallory’s ex boyfriend and was a huge jerk to her and caused a painful memory that Mallory struggles to let go of. They actually used to be best friends when they were kids until this happened!

Mallory is a writer and is currently struggling with writers blog. She joined a dating app but isn’t really looking hard to. Meet anyone until one guy on the app seems to find her corny pick up lines funny, and they hit it off and keep talking.

Zeke is a professional basketball player who moved away from Vermont but is now back because of an injury and to work on getting stronger so he can get back to playing the sport he loves. While being back he runs into his childhood friend, Mallory who still holds a grudge about something that happened when they were teenagers.

I could really tell how much Zeke liked Mallory and how much he wanted to make amends and get back in her life, however she wouldn’t give him the time of day.

While Zeke is trying to get back into Mallory’s life, they are both on the dating website and have profiles using fake names. They both end up having an attraction towards each other on the website and continue to talk. Zeke is the one who initially wants to meet up.

This is where things blow up and the drama ensues!

I didn’t love this book. I felt like the characters weren’t acting their age was were still acting like teenagers. I just didn’t feel this book as much as I was hoping.

*ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review*

[Vera Blaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory and Zeke were best friends from the moment they met as toddlers. Everything changed in middle school when Zeke chose his teammates over his best friend, which led to much animosity on Mallory’s part. Fifteen years later, she’s settled in Colebury as a romance writer with her best friend Stacey. Running into Zeke was the last thing Mallory ever wanted or expected. Zeke found this to be an opportunity to right the wrongs he’s done to Rory. But Rory is good at holding grudges. She’s connected with someone on a dating app and feels she could give him a shot. Little does she know that the person she’s been chatting with is someone she knows very well. It’s Zeke. When he discovers who she is, he ghosts her. Not because he doesn’t like her, but because he knows her grudges run long and he hasn’t had the opportunity to show him a different side. I liked Zeke’s character much more than I did Rory’s. She was a little too over the top for me with her grudges and stubbornness. It gave Rory an air of being on the younger side. While the whole alter ego aspect put a different perspective into the story and let Rory and Zeke be themselves, I already knew their break up would result from the Zeke’s deception. Since it is a romance, the HEA was inevitable.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

[Baelfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished 6/27/2025
3.5 rounded down to 3.

Writer FMC. Basketball player MMC. High school drama feeding into their reconnecting almost 10 years later and all that HS drama was definitely traumatizing for a 15 year old. Love that he's always liked her. The hidden identity was cute in the beginning then it got all icky throughout with their guiltz of both hiding it and falling for "another person".

First time author for me!

Interconnected to book 3 Gigi/Holden, book 7 Charli. Also interconnected to True North series (Sarina Bowen) and World of True North: Speakeasy Taproom series (multiple authors), Vino and Veritas (multiple authors) and Moo U (multiple authors).

Audiobook narrators: Morae Brehon, Leon Nixon
Dual POV, First Person
Tropes: Ex childhood best friends to lovers, Hidden Identity, Forced Proximity, Sports- Basketball, Small Town
Notable Microtropes: they followed each other's careers the whole time
Spice: 3.5/5
Spicy Chapters: 19, 22, 26, 33, 34

Listened at 1.70x speed.
My 2nd Morae Brehon narration. She has a great sassy delivery but sometimes her sentences don't feel completed. Love her delivery during high emotional moments as well. However, she doesnt have a lot of different range of character voices and her man voice is pretty funny.
First time listening to Leon Nixon. He was great for the MMC but did not really jave a range of voices for different characters. I would get lost sometimes in his POV conversations.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man. You know when a character is keeping a secret and you can just feel the inevitable slide toward when everything is revealed and there's whole lot of pain coming for the one the secret is being kept from? Yeaaaaaah. Zeke might have started out with good intentions with what he did (I'm honestly torn on it because I understand why he did it, but secrets have a way of blowing up in the worst way, right?), but he let things go on way too long (I get his reasoning, but YIKES!) and OUCH.

As for Mallory, she has a hard time letting go of old hurts from the past. Not that I blame her, really. What was done to her was not cool and just maybe might have jumped to a conclusion or two once all was said and done. It takes a lot for her to reach the point where she was willing to consider that people might have changed. Then Zeke and his secrets messed her up all over again.

A small town, a big secret, an author struggling with her current story, an athlete who's only planning on being around short term, and a couple who have more than a few issues to unravel before they can do that relationship thing.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Nikki Davenport · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book, but that's because it did such a good job painting a picture of new adulthood. Not my favorite time. Ms. Mitchell captures the uncertainty and rigid thinking of being so young and inexperienced. So much so that (before I realized it was a New Adult novel), I was frustrated with the childish behaviors like flipping people off, rolling eyes, and still being angsty over high school and childhood drama. I kept thinking, “Sheesh, how old are these people?” I was annoyed at them for acting like kids until I realized how young they were. Then the behaviors I found immature made perfect sense. I wouldn’t expect new adults to have everything together as far as their confidence, independence, etc. So I was willing to give everyone in the story more grace. Doubletalk was very close to how I remember love and life being at that just-out-of-college phase. Well done with that worldbuilding. If New Adult is your jam, then you’ll like this.

Ms. Mitchell explored some deep themes–the ongoing conflict Zeke has about not living up to family expectations, coming clean about the dating app, and how hard it is to have those tough adult conversations. Zeke’s groveling was sweet and I enjoyed reading and learning about Vermont.