Thanks NetGalley and Owl City Press for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I was intrigued by the cover and the blurb and wonder how the story goes because it smells like autumn!. turns out this book has been lovely and warm with a slow-burn romance between friends to lover slash slight second chance romance love story . and honestly, all their trying to suppress their feelings and attractions to each other games makes me nuts! But it's worth to read how they try to be true with their feelings and be vulnerable with each other. It has dual POV which great things to get inside the MCs heads and figures out their move and can't help but feels some sympathy for their problems. However, I maybe got slightly annoyed but Kelsey stubborness trait, although her determination to keep the bar alive was endearing and I get what kind of sentiment she get from the bar that caused it. I understand Davis's insecurity too after become the lesser attractive twin and misidentified by almost everyone. I love the Vance Twins bonding with their own Renovation TV Shows are so adorable! Though I wish to see more story of Kelsey being a mother to her 4 children and how Davis spends times with them--because it's only mentioned slightly and it feels more like a closed-door romance.

Overall, this book is perfect read for autumn seasons, and those who loves strong female MC and /hot/golden-retriever type male MC!

Overall this is a cute book. It seems rare to find a rom-com novel set in the fall - I really enjoyed that. There are spots in the story arch where it could have used further elaboration , but I still enjoyed the book.

Tricked in October is the second book in the Pineridge series. It follows Kelsey, a very stubborn and proud widowed mom with three kids and the owner of one of the most successful businesses in Pineridge, the O'Henry's.

Despite that, Kelsey founds herself drowning in debts and payments she can't afford. Losing the bar seems to be the outcome and on the way, she's also going to lose her connection to the life dream of her dead husband.

Davis, her best guy friend for 10 years, is a carpenter that has a TV show with his twin brother. Despite being a celebrity, Davis is an introvert that doesn't appreciate the attention toward him and prefers spending his days canoeing with his golden retriever, Copper.

Even though Kelsey and Davis claim they are just friends, they always cared for each other. And eventually, with Kelsey's husband and Davis' fiancee out of the picture, the attraction between them can't be denied.

I enjoyed reading this book and it ended up being a great fall read. Kelsey and Davis' relationship is cute and brings some coziness to the heart. The plot of the book is very accurate: single mom with three kids to raise, tons of bills to cover, and too stubborn to ask for help. Davis is the typical good guy who doesn't have a clue about the effect he has on women, specifically Kelsey.

My only issue with the book is mostly related to the character development, which I find very poor but also the timeline of the book. The beginning is slow but the end is somewhat fast and abrupt. It is also very very predictable and cliche. But who loves a cliche novel? 😍

I encourage you to pick up this book, if anything because is from a new author that deserves our support to kickstart her career. But once you got Tricked in October, keep in mind that it is a very light read, perfect for a fall afternoon and for the days you crave a book that doesn't require a lot of thought. The book highlights very briefly themes like motherhood, loss, loneliness, and alcoholism, but it doesn't explore the themes in dept.

You should read Tricked in October if you like the following aspects:
•dual POV
•friends to lovers romance
•small town romance
•second chance romance
•celebrity romance
•open door romance
•spice level: 🌶
•the cinnamon roll hero
•a cute and light fall read
•books with adorable dogs (go, Cooper!)

This is a sweet slow-burn romance that is a standalone second installment in a holiday-based series. While I'm not so much of a sweet and slow fan, I loved the premise, loved the cover, and I think people looking for a cute small-town romance will find a lot to like in this!

I enjoyed reading this one. It's perfect for this time of year.

Simple fall feels and Halloween vibes with romance.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute fun read with likeable characters. It was nice to see a Halloween book since we normally see Christmas books for seasonal reads.

Cute, easy, fun romance. I thought the characters were witty and I enjoyed the banter. Was perfect for fall! Just what I needed after a heavier thriller.

Era iniziato carino, come qualsiasi romance spicy da adulti con figli al seguito, ma verso metà mi sono scontrata con l'infantilità dei due protagonisti: non è mia intenzione giudicare come una donna si riprende dal lutto del marito con 3 figli piccoli da crescere da sola e un business da salvare, ma davvero a 30anni lei e compare si devono comportare come 15enni ormonali? Ma poi i personaggi son proprio piatti, zero sviluppo e un finale completamente anticlimatico.
Due stelle solo per Cooper, il cane della copertina.

I really enjoyed this book. Can we talk about the amazing cover though?! I’m obsessed! So basically this book is about Kelsey, she’s a widower and a mother of 3. She owns a bar but things start to go downhill for her business. Kelsey is friends with Davis and they go from small town friends to lovers. Such a perfect book for fall and so romantic. I absolutely loved this trope! Kelsey was hard headed throughout the book but it’s because she wants to be independent and do it all on her own. It was a lighthearted easy read and I would recommend!

This was a cute romance book set in the fall. From the beginning of the book, the storyline was predictable and didn’t really leave you wanting to know what happened. It kind of reminded me of a hallmark movie but in book form. I think if you like that style then this is the perfect fall romance for you!

"ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕋𝔹ℝ 𝕡𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣."

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐊𝐫𝐮𝐲𝐟

📚REVIEW📚

Kelsey O'Henry widowed, mother of three, is trying to keep her bar afloat and taking care of her alcoholic mother. When things start to look increasingly downhill for her, she knows she needs to find a way to save her bar. Kelsey is stubborn, independent, and she is not about to ask for help especially from Davis Vance the renovation twin and her best bestfriend. Will Chelsea finally open herself up to new love or is she willing to lose it all.

This small town friends to lovers trope gave me all the feels and all the fall feels, I loved Kelsey's hard headed character although it felt like she just couldn't get a break. Enjoyed the close knit community especially the gossiping Nellie's. This was a lighthearted fun read.

4/5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing and the author Starla DeKruyf for this ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

I’ve judged this book just because of the cover , ‘cause it’s AMAZIIIING!

Usually I don’t read synopses ( not a big fan ) , so, I didn ‘t knew what was the book about . ( obviasly romance, but anything in specific )

It was actually a nice surprise about two best friends who slowly fall in love .

Normally this kind of trope annoys me, but in this case i liked it a lot.

It’s sweet and cute and everything i needed to read wright now.

Kelsey and Davis will be in my memory for a long time!

Thanks NetGalley for giving me the oportunity to read this great book :D

Such a quirky fun read! It was typical troupe but done is such a good way! It was the perfect fall read. I fell in love with the main characters instantly!

2 *stars*
That book cover - that was the reason to request this book.

Unfortunately the cover is all I liked from this book. Gorgeous, gorgeous cover.
Seriously every chapter needs to be for the same topic? So freaking repetitive from the main characters to repeat themselves on and on and on again. I got that from the first chapter Kelsey doesn't want to ask help from anybody and Dave likes Kelsey but scared of losing their friendship.
And don't even let me start to brag about Kelsey's priorities. She is really putting some kind of bar alive just so she can have her dead husband closer over their children. Why there is even children included, this book would have been better without them in it. oohhh boy and her mama (I really hate when Kelsey is saying that name), an alcoholic, who she puts before her children and every time babysits her. Come on, grow up. You have plenty of issues to solve and this shouldnt've been the one.

I really wanted more small town vibes, more than just 1 visit to pumpkin patch. If the main action happens in October then please give me the vibes for it.
Sometimes I got the feeling that the 2 main characters are undeveloped in some way. There was something missing from them and it's weird that the feelings are coming so unexpectedly for them and just only now.

Thank You for the experience! I discovered more my likes and dislikes in books. I don't really like when there is children or alcoholism involved.

Big thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this ARC copy.
My review will be posted on instagram by 06.11.2022.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

Unfortunately, after multiple attempts to continue to read this book, I choose to DNF to this book about 40% through. I was excited to pick this book up due to the cover, summary, and general autumn vibes, but I was not a fan of how relatively slow the story was for me. I tried to push through and see if the story picked up, but I felt like I was dragging my feet through the mud to get to the end.

I was not a fan of any of the characters introduced so far, except for the potential love interest Davis. I contemplated pushing through just for him and his brother, but I was not sure if it was worth continuing.

I think there is an audience for this book, and hope that people who are interested in the plot will give it a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The things that drew me most to this book we're the title, cover, setting (Halloween) and friends-to-lovers trope.

Kelsey is a single mother with three kids. Ever since her husband passed away she has been struggling with keeping a balance between being a parent and running O'Henry's Bar and Grill. Her mom being an alcoholic doesn't help...

Trigger warning: mention of loved one's passing.

I loved the nice, easy to follow writing style; dual POV; short chapters; realistic (first) intimate moment and small character development of Kelsey towards her mother.
Unfortunately, I did find the book repetitive, rushed, unrealistic at times and did not like the main characters. Most characters fell a bit flat for me and one of my least favorite terms (cock-blocked) was used. Kelsey is extremely stubborn and Davis overthinks things too much which causes a lot of unnecessary problems. Around one third into the book, it is said that Davis has a secret - but this secret is never revealed...

I think this book would be great for readers who enjoy an atmospheric, quick, friends-to-lovers romance.

I saw this one in a post from the author on here, and thought... why not? I mean, yes, my reading schedule is booked, and yes, I didn't really need to add something else to it unplanned, but it sounded too good to miss, and really.... we're readers and bloggers so that rush of another title to read, share, and enjoy is our drug! 😉

Loved this one from the start. If you're a contemporary romance fan that enjoys the friends to lovers trope, don't miss this. The chaos we initially walk into is laughable, but plausible, and allows for a meet cute of sorts right off the bat. They may have known each other for forever, but they've never had their time. Now, well let's just say life seems to be throwing everything in their path to give them a chance to be together... and so long as stubborn pride doesn't get in the way, it may just be their moment.

Oh and those moments! Favorite scene... well there were loads, but one of them... THE FERRIS WHEEL! 😍 I can't say more about that, don't want to ruin anything, but watch for it. You'll see what I mean.

Off to spread the word on this one, and if you so feel inclined, help an author out and get this book front and center where it belongs! 😀

Dual point of view friends stop lovers romance book. Set in autumn , a small town story with a lot of drama. I enjoyed how this main character Kelsey was a hard working single mother. Kelsey grieves her late husband along in with Davis a sweet loving brother. He is such a great friend to Kelsey you are rooting for them from the start. The slow burn romance had me up all night reading. Will be trying this authors Christmas book as well!

“Even though her clothes were soaked through, and her skin was cold down to her bones, when Davis finally pressed his wet lips against her own, it was like he set a fire there.”
-
trope: best friends to lovers, small town romance
pov: 3rd person pov
-
rating: 4,25/5
-
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. Kelsey and Davis had a great relationship from the beginning through the end of the book. They were really cute. At some point I was scared that the miscommunication trope was going to pop up but thank god it didn't. I kind of disliked the repetition of the death of a partner and the rushed ending. But Kelsey and Davis were very cute.
-
tw: death (not mcs), grief
-
genre: Adult Romance

Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for this ARC! I really enjoyed the small town fall romance of this book. Friends to lovers is my favorite trope and I think it was done very well. I didn’t like the female main character, her actions made it hard to believe she was suppose to an adult mother. The ending also felt rushed to me, but overall it was a sweet story.

This was my first read by Starla DeKruyf, but I’d be interested in reading more.