Review - - The Two of Us

The Two of Us

by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Odd Couple * LORI FOSTER
Ford Caruso agrees to an unusual favor—playing the part of new boyfriend for his adamantly single, irresistibly sexy neighbor Skye Fairchild, whose clueless ex refuses to accept his fate. But as Skye starts dropping by to use Ford’s pool, and even plan dates, the charade begins to feel satisfyingly real, complete with choosing rescue dogs together—a giant mutt and a fierce little chihuahua who adore each other. From one odd couple to another, some things are destined . . .

Force of Nature * MAISEY YATES
Rescuing animals is in Lydia Clay’s blood, so when a mournful old cattle dog named Hank shows up at the shelter, she knows exactly where to take him: to cattle rancher Remington Lane, her brother’s hot, and usually grumpy, best friend. Hank belonged to Remy’s estranged father, which is one strike against him, but when Lydia offers to help the man ease into dog ownership, he can’t say no. And as he and Lydia work together, it looks like an old dog can actually teach this brooding cattleman some heart-warming new tricks . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Put a dog on the cover of a book and it's the first one I pick up. Put two rescue dogs on the cover and I'm moving it to the top of my tbr. Pair it with two long-time favorite authors and I'm all in. In The Two of Us, Lori Foster and Maisey Yates bring readers two heartwarming contemporary romance stories of couples finding their way to one another, aided by the unconditional love of dogs. 

"The Odd Couple" by Foster features one of my favorite tropes: fake dating between a relationship-averse man and a woman who has been given good reason not to trust men. I really enjoyed these two and the issues they both needed to work through. There's a terrific friend group (Foster does those so well), some complicated family dynamics, a big ole mutt who looks scary but has a marshmallow heart (and stole mine), and a happy ending for both two and four-legged characters. Plus, I hope, the potential for a future story between Skye's twin sister and Ford's best friend.

When I'm looking for emotional depth, complicated family relationships, and hard-won happy endings, Maisey Yates is an author to whom I frequently turn. In "Force of Nature," Yates brings all of those facets to the page along with another favorite trope: best friend's little sister. Add in the fact that Remy's abusive family had him living with Lydia's family through high school and you have a now-grown man who has two reasons to keep his hands off the woman who is capturing more of his heart each day. Lydia and Remy absolutely stole my heart. I love how he embraces her individuality and loves her for it, not in spite of it. I love how she refuses to give up on him, how insistent she is on showing him - by bringing Hank into his life - the road to healing. These characters - and their journey - are so well developed. I was completely invested in them and their road to a happy ending. Also, the scene between Remy and Lydia's mother near the end of the book had me sobbing...in a good way. 

If you're looking for heartwarming stories of love, healing, friendship, family, and the unconditional love of a rescue dog in your life, grab a copy of The Two of Us. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - The Honeymoon Cottage

The Honeymoon Cottage

by Lori Foster

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Reviewed by Hellie

When it comes to creating the perfect happily-ever-after, Yardley Belanger is a bona fide miracle worker. From bridal bouquets to matching cowboy boots, the quirky wedding planner’s country-chic affairs have caused quite a stir in the small town of Cemetery. But when it comes to her own love life? She’s clueless. 

Completely clueless. 

Perhaps it’s for the best. The thirty-one-year-old has poured her heart and soul into her business and doesn’t have time for anything—or anyone—else. And that’s something not even the gorgeous older brother of her newest client can change…right? 

All Travis Long wanted was to give his little sister, Sheena, the wedding of her dreams. Ever since the tragic death of their parents, he’s done everything he can to make her feel loved and give her everything she needs. Still…a country wedding? In a place called Cemetery? But Yardley seems to know exactly what to do and how to do it—and Travis finds himself falling for her a little more each day. 

Soon Yardley and Travis find themselves being nudged together by well-meaning locals who want to see the town’s favorite wedding planner get her own happy ending.

 

Hellie’s Heeds 

I think this may be my first Lori Foster book but it definitely won’t be my last. Honestly I’m rather shocked; my book diet is almost exclusively romance and bad boys (which Lori excels in), but when I looked at her book list, nothing looked familiar that I might have read. Clearly Lori has a knack for small town settings with quirky characters that remind me of my small town (283), and Cemetery, which has a whopping 827 residents, takes the cake in quirky.  

Yardley is a kind sympathetic heroine who looks after everyone around her–and after herself least. Her heart and soul belong to her career as a wedding planner and to her town where she works to make the small businesses there thrive as much as her own. Townsfolk adore her. There’s a businessman in town who had a bit of a crush on her–but she never noticed. She’s Cinderella without the helpful mice. She’s so busy looking after her mother and aunt–who you’d get the impression they were a bit doddering since she’s looking after them so much–she doesn’t have time for a life. Ah, here is our conflict. These relatives are both actually under 55. There’s nothing doddering about them. Yardley, the poor soul, is trying to earn their approval, even after all this time, and the Disney villainesque mother and aunt are as malcontent as Maleficent and Ursula on steroids.  

Meanwhile she is working with a new client for her wedding, that is being paid for by the bride’s brother. Travis is beautiful, but a bit off putting. He wants to provide the very best wedding for his sister–and he’s just not sure a town like Cemetery can provide the kind of wedding his sister deserves. But soon he is charmed by Yardley (as everyone is) and soon Yardley is planning a wedding that she hopes will give her the kind of business she needs to win town council approval…poor Yardley, always seeking approval.  

What Yardley is most savvy and brilliant at is managing difficult people. After all, she’s lived with the Disney Malcontents her entire life and thrived despite them. So with each new challenge Yardley faces, whether in adopting a stray dog or convincing the president of the town council to allow people to name their businesses without having to use the town “Cemetery” in the title, Yardley grows even more confident and charming. Travis adores her, and his treatment of her, treating her with generosity and sweetness, is a testament to “Yes, this is what we all deserve. Find a man who treats you like this.” Travis is a hero worth swooning for. 

If I had any complaints, it would be that the Disney Malcontents did not suffer any real changes of heart or behavior. I suppose Lori’s lesson here is that you can’t change difficult people. You can only change how you react to them or how you allow them to be in your life. So perhaps fiction is more truth than reality because that is a hard lesson for most of us to learn. Still…if one of them had fallen off a pier into a pig sty, I wouldn’t have lost any sleep over it. Maybe next time. That said, I have to say: my favorite transformation was the town council president, Betty. There’s a wonderful lesson in her character as well: never be too old to adapt…so Lori did throw us readers a bone with one major transformation.  

Do add this to your summer reading list. It’s light, it’s full of heart, and you will laugh, which makes it a perfect summer reading book.

  

Review -- Back in Black

Back in Black
By Lori Foster
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 2, 2010

Blunt, brash and brutally honest, Drew Black is nobody's fool.  With his business acumen and "man's man" attitude, he has built the SBC into the premier MMA (mixed martial arts) organization in the country. The best fighters and most beautiful women are his for the taking. Drew is at the top of his game, a man in charge of his destiny...or so he thinks.

PR expert, Gillian Noode is the best at what she does. When the owners of the SBC hire her to smooth the rough edges of their President she is confident of her ability to get the job done. But that's before she meets Drew Black, witnesses his overt sexuality and crude behavior first-hand and, unbelievably, finds herself attracted to the man!  Has she bitten off more than she can chew or is she the one woman with the ability to tame the beast?

Drew knows he doesn't have to submit to Gillian's coaching.  He's rich enough, and confident enough, to walk away from the SBC and start over somewhere else,  But Gillian intrigues him, it's obvious that the attraction is mutual, and Drew's not above using that to turn the situation to his advantage.

"Yeah, I like sex as  much as the next guy.  If you gave it a chance, you might like it, too."

"I like it fine!"

Now he did chuckle.  "Well, that's good, because here's our deal."  He released the necklace to slide his hand around her nape.  "You tell me the first image-improving gig you want me to do , and I'll give it my best shot."

She stared at his mouth and replied in a whisper.  "Perfect.  I have a appearance set up for you with -"

"After I get to kiss you."  He brushed his thumb on the side of her throat.  "No tongues or anything.  Yet.  I'll just kiss you...here."

"You...what?"  She strained away from him, not so much to escape, but to stare up into his face with utter disbelief.  

As if explaining it, he said, "I want to kiss you.  Just here, on your throat."  Again, he brushed his thumb over her racing pulse.  "Three seconds.  I'll let you count, okay?  After that, you tell me what it is you want me to do - for the image, I mean, not sexually.  Today it's only a kiss.  No more.  I insist."

I loved Drew!  Yes, he's arrogant and has an overwhelming fondness for four letter words but he's much more than the outer trappings, as Gillian discovers.  Though he tries to keep it quiet, he gives back to the community in many ways and is fiercely loyal to his fighters and friends.  He loves sex, consensual sex, a lot, but also has a profound respect for women.  When he finally loses his heart to that one special woman, she'll never have to question his love or his loyalty.  He'll never lose that rough edge but, the more time Gillian spends with him the more she wonders if she doesn't prefer the tiger he is to the pussycat she was hired to turn him into.

A secondary romance between aspiring fighter, Brett Bullman and inexperienced, somewhat naive Audrey Porter brings a heartwarming sweetness to the story.  But Audrey is the leader of WAVS (Women Against Violent Sports) and when Drew begins to receive threats, Audrey and her group are the leading suspects, jeopardizing her relationship with Brett.  When those threats escalate to actual attacks, for Brett, Audrey, Gillian and Drew, it's not just their relationships that are at risk but their very lives.

Back in Black has everything I love in a contemporary romance:  A sexy, alpha hero; a smart, sassy heroine, fast-paced action; sizzling hot love scenes; likeable secondary characters who add to, rather than detract from, the story and a happy ending.  The banter between Drew and Gillian is smart and snappy and the love scenes are smokin'!  These are two intelligent, confident people who know what they want and make one heck of a great team.  I highly recommend this book!