This was a really cute Autumnal vibe book, which follows Kelsey and her struggle with keeping a bar open after her husband passes away. As well as this, we see the exploration and romantic developments between her and her best friend, Davis. He's a local TV star with a twin brother, who wants to step up to the mark and help Kelsey out while he's working out his own feelings for her.

As I said, this was a cute book. But there wasn't anything in it that made me go - "oh wow!". I didn't feel much about Davis, because we only got to scrape the surface on his character so I didn't find myself invested in him winning the girl. As well as this, I feel like Kelsey didn't really have her priorities right? She seemed to prioritise the bar over her own children and didn't ever want to ask for help despite the fact that the bar closing was imminent. I wish she had a big more oomph to her personality, she was just a bit "meh", so I would have liked to see her being a bit more badass!

Overall though, I did enjoy this and got through it really quickly. It was a nice, easy read which didn't challenge my attention span so I would totally be open to reading more like this and from this author. Big thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced reader copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

After losing her partner and the father of her kids, Kelsey has been having a rough time. The bar her partner ran is in financial trouble and she can't get any help from the bank. Her best friend Davis could help. Now a semi-celebrity thanks to a renovating reality show with his twin brother, Davis is looking for an escape from his TV contract, and becoming a partner in Kelsey's bar could help him do that. He and Kelsey have been friends for so long, however, that he knows she'd never take his help without some trickery. The trouble is, Davis' feelings for Kelsey have changed lately too. He's been seeing her in a different light, and can't stop thinking about her in a way that's deeper than their friendship, and he's starting to think Kelsey might feel the same way. There are lots of will-they-won't-they? tension in this book and both Kelsey and Davis are fun characters with flaws dealing with expectations, family pressures, and new feelings neither of them expected. They're the kind of characters you want to follow to the last page to see how things work out for them, which makes Tricked In October an all-around fun read, especially for fans of best-friends-to-lovers tropes.

A seasonal read that's sure to get you in the autumn mood. There's so much to enjoy in this story full of autumn events like fall festivals, corn mazes, and pumpkin beer along with a steamy best friends to lovers romance. I really love how the author gives both character's perspective so you get how each is thinking and feeling. I found myself looking forward to getting back to reading this book and I enjoyed it a lot. While it is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to Netgalley and City Owl Press for this DRC.

Tricked in October is a cute friends to lovers romance. Kelsey lost her husband a year ago and has her hands full trying to run O'Henrys - the bar & grille they owned. She also has three young children and a mom with a serious drinking problem. Kelsey is so behind in payments that she might lose O'Henrys.

Kelsey's long-time best friend is Davis. Davis and his twin brother have recently become local celebrities on their home improvement show. Davis hates the attention (unlike his twin) and struggles with the show's popularity. Davis is a fixer - of old houses and people. He wants to help Kelsey, but knows that last thing she wants is someone to fix everything for her. And to complicate matters, Davis is having more than friends feelings for Kelsey. The last thing he wants is to lose her friendship so he tries to dismiss these new feelings.

Kelsey is just trying to keep her head above water and now she is looking at Davis different. Another complication that could cost her best friend is not what she needs when she is trying to save her business,

There seems to be no way for any of them to get what they want... Join Starla DeKruyf as she takes you to the town of Pine Ridge and introduce you to Kelsey, Davis and their friends to find out what happens!

Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Recent widow of three children, Kelsey O’Henry has a lot on her plate. On top of the possibility of losing her bar and restaurant, her mother’s alcoholism continues to take a toll on her, and she may be developing feelings for her best friend?!

TRICKED IN OCTOBER by Starla DeKruyf is the second book in the Pineridge series (can be read as a standalone!) and is my first read by this author.

It will come as no surprise that I was drawn to this book by that cute-as-heck cover! BUT that’s about where my love for this book ends… this one is flaunted as a ‘best-friends-to-lovers’ romance, but I felt no sense of friendship AT ALL. It felt more like, ‘I sat next to this guy in 4th grade once, and now we sometimes run into each other in our small town…and then we banged.’

There were also several instances of MCs losing loved ones in freak accidents, which just felt like an exceptionally bizarre way to create a plot point. Speaking of main characters, our leading lady, Kelsey, was both annoying and a teenager??? I honestly get so irritated when characters who are meant to be in their late twenties/early thirties are as emotionally mature as a high-schooler.

I don’t know, y’all. This one felt messy and under-developed, and just completely missed the mark for me… THAT COVER THOUGH!

Thanks to NetGalley and City Owl Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This one is out now!

Such a unique book, I loved the plot and oh my god the characters we're so amazing!! I definitely will be recommending it!!

Firstly thank you for letting me have early access.
I very much enjoyed finding out about kelsey and Davis, though I would of loved to read more about them.
It was such a lovely autumnal story like you'd expect with the name and cover.
I hope there will be a follow up book of their lifes together

Really loved this read just as much as I expected, if not more! The cover is super cute and fitting. This is such a sweet friends-to-lovers romance with great autumn vibes and a little bit of spice. I couldn’t put it down and finished it within 2 days.

I’m not one that generally can “picture” what I’m reading, but I felt like I really had an image in my head of Kelsey and Davis, and BOY are they cute!

I did feel like the blurb about “a mistaken identity leads to a Halloween hookup” was a bit misleading when I read the story.

Miscommunication tropes in romance can be hit or miss, but I really enjoyed some of the small miscommunication / insecurity tropes throughout this read when they were navigating their new relationship, because they felt really believable and relatable!

The ending was the perfect way to wrap this book up and I immediately purchased Eight Days of Christmas, and can’t wait to read it! Something about Starla’s writing really had me hooked. I feel like the atmosphere was done really well (without being overdone), so I’m really looking forward to a winter read, and more by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

I could tell by the cover that I was going to love this book - it’s fall, there’s a golden retriever, what more did I need?

This story is so sweet and fun - and this was the first friends to lovers for me in a long time where I wasn’t annoyed that the friends weren’t lovers fast enough! The pace of their love, and really throughout the whole novel, was perfect. The right blend between will they won’t they, just enough angst and longing in the inevitable third act break up, and a HEA to tie the story up nicely.

I loved the way Starla wrote the characters - Kelsey and Davis each have such a depth to them and they felt like fully developed people rather than a silly rom com character. Kelsey’s struggles and grief were highly relatable and realistic and it was so easy to root for her. Davis is hilarious and charming and a dog dad - I immediately was on his side. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait to read more stories in Pineridge!

Kelsey is the owner of O’Henrys Bar and has been running it since her husband passed away, all while raising their three children. Things haven’t been going well at the Bar, but she decides to throw the Halloween couples costume party anyway. Davis, has been her best friend forever. He and his twin brother star in a home renovation tv show. He wants to do everything he can to help Kelsey out so that she can save the bar.

Guys, this book! I read it in a day and couldn’t put it down. Perfect Fall, Halloween read! I absolutely loved it, and it may just be my new favorite friends to lovers book. Davis, ohh Davis 😍. HE. IS. THE. BEST. Kelsey is also amazing. She is so strong and I love her spirit. I loved the depth and emotion mixed in with swoon and humor. You need this one!

an autumnal chick lit best friends to lovers romance. a Short and sweet read, however I think if the book was longer it would have been more enjoyable as there would have been more details

Kelsey is desperate to save her bar - after all, it is her kids legacy after her husband died in an accident. But with bills piling up and repairs to be done, things aren’t looking too good. Davis, her best friend of over ten years, is a great help, even if she’d never ask for it. When the lines blur between friendship and more, they each have to think about what’s more important - their friendship, or the new sparks flying between them.

I will just say, it is always a smidge disappointing when you finally hit the plot point from the summary when you’re 75% done a book. I like a little more surprise, so this felt like things were dragging on a little as I waited for it to happen.

This was pretty cute, and I enjoyed the tension between Kelsey and Davis before they give in. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, but this one wasn’t all that I’d hoped it would be.

The HGTV show angle was kinda cute, but also felt a bit disconnected from the story, especially given how introverted Davis is. The things you do for family, am I right?

I really liked the ending and how all the chips fall - that was really well done and I’m glad to have stuck through for the end. I think it could have been a little shorter and had the same impact, but overall, I still enjoyed my reading experience.

This is book two in the Pineridge Series. (Can be read as standalones)

Tricked in October by Starla DeKruyf is the perfect Friends-to-Lovers story!

Did I just hop onto my Kindle Store to buy DeKruyf's debut Eight Days of Christmas (Pineridge Book 1)?
Yes! Yes I did!
Because TiO was just too much fun!
The small town cosy vibes was stellar. The slow burn romance was absolutely delightful.
The characters of Kelsey and Davis especially Kelsey hit me hard. Dealing with real life issues made me love her that much more. I truly enjoyed reading the story about the lovable characters that Starla DeKruyf created.
An enjoyable read to snuggle up on the couch with and get lost inside a a truly nice book!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

City Owl Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

I wanted this book so bad and I'm not disappointed! Everything is SO GOOD! The characters? Perfect! The mood? So good! The romance? The perfect best-friends to lovers, super cute anf funny! And Halloween? Omg my favorite time of the year and it's in this book! Loved the atmosphere, the story, the morals, everything! And I ship them so much!

(3.5⭐️’s)
Could have MINOR SPOILERS so be warned 🚩

Tricked in October is a cute, fun loving romance with a touch of the Hallmark vibes, but only a touch, since it’s way hotter then any hallmark movie I’ve ever seen.

THE H (Davis): He’s total swoon worthy. I just wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and cuddle with him by a fire.

THE h (Kelsey): She’s a strong, independent woman but also a stubborn mess. I loved her character but she was trying to take on way to much and I was waiting for her breaking point. Thankfully she handled it with ease and IMO made the right decision in the end.

SIDE CHARACTERS: They were all pretty cool but I loved Izzy the most. I will say I’m a little nervous about Garrett. If he gets a story then he better clean up his act because the way he acted in this book was a no-go for me. I understand that he went through something traumatic but thats no excuse to be doing what he’s doing. Hopefully he’ll end up with a strong woman who will put him in his place but also help him heal and find love again.

FAVORITE QUOTE: h mother is talking to the H. “Darlin’, don’t thank me yet. That one makes up her own mind. I didn’t raise no doormat.”

ENDING: HFN

TRIGGERS: Death of loved ones (all off page and with very little detail) and Alcoholism (h mother-on page)

MY RATING: The reason I rated this 3.5 stars is because the ending felt rushed and we didn’t get to see the H and h as a real couple. I think if there was an epilogue then this wouldn’t have been a problem for me. Also, I felt like the issue between the h and her mother was left up in the air with no real closure. It was such a huge step for the h to stop babying her mother that i’m curious how her mother took the decision the h made in the end. Plus I want to know why her mother lied and if the h ever confronted her about it.

OVERALL: I really enjoyed this book and if it wasn’t for needing sleep, I would have read it straight through. It read nicely and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything since I haven’t read the first book “Eight Days of Christmas” which is Izzy and Leo’s story. With this being my first time reading this authors work, I can honestly say it wont be the last. Now I’m going to wait patiently for the next book. And it may not sound like it (because of my rant above) but I’m hoping it’ll be Garretts turn. I wan’t to see him find the right person and finally get his HEA.

Happy Reading🖤

I received an ARC from NetGalley but this review is all me.

I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
For lovers of tropes like friends to lovers. There's only one bed, a small town, slow-burn but steamy situations. This is for you.

Kelsey is lost her husband Ricky in an unexpected accident a year ago. She sees herself struggling between taking care of their kid’s way too small to lose their father and O’Henry’s Bar, her husband's pride and joy, a bar passed out from his family to theirs, while that's on she's not having a life at all... The reality kicks in when bills are piling on and Kelsey does not know what more to do, to keep her business going.
The famous twins the “ Renovation Dudes” from HGTV Davis the quiet and shy guy that would do anything to just not have the attention that comes with the notoriety of having a show on tv and Garrett the opposite loving the perks of fame and the spotlight.
This was hands down the perfect read for fall, it grabbed me from the start, I enjoyed the main character Kelsey, a very hard-working mother, everything sounded so relatable and realistic, in the most simple way. the writing was beautiful and descriptive without being exhaustive. It made me tear up early in the book. The way the world-building was portrayed, was so easy to imagine the places described, there's more than one focus in the story, therefore we don't see a focus only on the main character, the plot was good I enjoyed the slow-burn romance. The romantic and sexy scenes were written perfectly.
I'm so glad I was able to review this book, I'm in love, the cover it's the cutest thing I'm definitely buying a copy, I can see myself rereading this adorable romance.

Kelsey O'Henry is searching for a needle in a haystack. How will she save O'Henry's bar? After the sudden passing of her husband, Kelsey took over the family bar. Now she is tasked with juggling grief, a small business, lots of bills, 3 young children, and an alcoholic mother. What a doozy!

Davis Vance is the more secluded twin who longs for days of normalcy before any relationships were lost and HGTV contracts were signed. Before Garrett and Davis became the "Renovation Dudes". Davis likes to keep things simple, so what is he to do when he starts to feel… differently toward his best friend?

Good read overall! As someone who is part of a family business, the stress was real as I read about Kelsey struggling to make ends meet. I found the alcoholic parent parts made it clear that Kelsey is frustrated with the situation but has also grown used to it. Some portions are heartbreaking and real. I do wish we got to dive into each character's backstories a bit but they were each unique in their own way nonetheless. If you are up for it, this book was a nice way to end the month and stay in the fall spirit.

This book is such a cute fall love story.

Kelsey lost her husband, the father of her children. She was left to take over his family bar. But it was falling behind on bills and payments. She was going to loose the bar no matter how hard she tried to save it.

Her best friend Davis became more than a bestfriend. They fell in love. They were perfect for eachother.

Kelsey was stubborn as could be, but Davis called her on it every time.

Kelsey finally let the bar go. She wanted something new with her life. She became an assistant brew master. Davis became a partner at the tapps where Kelsey was working.

Everything worked out happily for both Kelsey and Davis.

This book was well written and very cute. I really enjoyed it.

What a perfect fall/October read! I had a lot of fun with this! I adored this friends to lovers story and Davis being on HGTV? perfect. Thats a favorite of mine so I loved that detail. It was fun to read their story and how they fell in love. I noticed this was a book 2 of a character series, and picked up the 1st story right after!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Tricked in October by Starla Dekruyf was released today and features a widowed Mom of 3 trying to run her deceased husband’s bar with the occasional help of her best friend, Davis. Having a male best friend is always a nice thing, and it certainly is a plus for Kelsey, who needs a male presence to help her and be a reliable source of support after the death of her husband. But Davis is also the star of an HGTV show and can't run Kelsey’s bar. Kelsey is burning her candle at both ends, and it becomes apparent that she can’t keep her business, raise her babies, and tend bar. But is giving up the bar the answer for her, and does Davis mean more to her than she wants to admit? All questions are answered in this light romance novel. #romcom #friendsToMore? #TrickedinOctober #widow #bestfriends #barlife #overwhelmed @starlawrites #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #readersofinstagram @netgalley @cityowlbooks
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, City Owl Press and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

#bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader