Cute, Hallmark-style plot (if Hallmark would ever admit that gay people exist). I enjoyed all of the characters and their backstories. The conflict was minimal and the happy ending was predictable, but that's why we read these books. Another solid story from Georgia Beers!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Cori is a small-town woman through and through. She runs a loc business, showcases local artists, and would never want to live anywhere else. Elizabeth is a woman who left as soon as she could, with dreams of being a big city professional. When Elizabeth comes back home after being laid off, she convinces Cori to pretend to be her girlfriend to save face in front of an ex. But with their very real chemistry, could there be more between them?

This is the Christmasy fake-dating romance that I have been wishing for. The characters are flawed but likeable, with a palpable connection. Georgia Beers never fails to write stories that lift you up, and this is a perfect holiday read.

I definitely recommend this one. It had me ready to curl up somewhere cosy to enjoy a hot chocolate (or wine if that was on offer).

This book was cute, but ultimately a bit disappointing. There were too many moments of obvious miscommunication, some of the drama points were just unnecessary, and the spice felt stilted at best.

I’m rooting for Liz & Cori, but I do feel that the writing itself could have used further development and the plot could have been simplified in terms of dramatics and filled out more with their relationship or other moments. Overall, a solid 3.25 stars.

[Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.]

Georgia Beers is great. I love all her books. Elizabeth and Corie are well written characters. Loved the story

Playing With Matches is a small town romance, a favorite trope often used by the author, Georgia Beers. This novel also includes a fake romance, which is another popular trope for many readers.
I’ve always loved Ms. Beers’ small town settings. Crimson Valley, a small tourist town nestled in the Adirondacks is another place I now want to visit…or maybe live.

This story has a slow start, and the fake romance didn’t really help that. I had trouble seeing the connection between Cori and Liz until about halfway through the novel. The second half of the story is much better. There’s quite a lot going on in Cori and Liz’s lives with family and business problems, as well as the transition from a fake to a possible real romance between the two. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the earlier half.

I must give the author credit for a brilliant beginning. They say that a writer should always begin their stories with a bang, and Ms. Beers does exactly that. Let’s just say that if I were Liz, I’d have just set fire to the car and walked home. Read the book if you want to know what I’m talking about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for giving me the chance to read and review this novel.

playing with matches was a delightful, fun and heartwarming holiday romance that was perfect to read this time of year. i had such a great time reading about liz and cori's love story, but what made it even better was that they each had their own things going on outside of their romantic relationship, making them well-rounded and interesting main characters. their individual storylines worked perfectly to further their relationship, without feeling overwhelming or overcomplicated. my only issue (which is fairly minor in the grand scheme of things) is that i wish cori had a moment of realization/acknowledgment that while her mom may not be her birth mother, she is still her mom. i understand that cori needed the time to process what she learned, but it felt like that was a loose end left untied. despite that, i still absolutely loved this book and spent the whole time kicking my feet, blushing and giggling as i read about liz and cori falling in love.

2.5/5 stars

I unfortunately couldn’t connect to this book. I usually love Georgia Beers and have read heaps of her books at this point so I was a bit disappointed that this book was just not for me. I think Beers is a great writer, she always introduces us to well-rounded and developed characters and this book was no different. Apart Liz and Cori were both really interesting and loveable characters that we really got to know in this book.

I don’t know why this book didn’t click for me since it had some of my favourite tropes. I love fake dating and small town settings so I was really hoping to love this one. I think it felt like there was a lot going on in the story which made it feel a bit disconnected. The author introduced a couple of key tropes like fake dating but didn’t really fully commit to it, the trope felt like another side aspect of the book. There was so much family stuff going in for each character, it felt like the romance really got lost in the story. I do enjoy books that have lots of storylines in addition to the romance, but because the romance didn’t feel super strong, it’s like the book lacked the heart of the story that brought all the storylines together.

Obviously I am still a big fan of Georgia Beers and am looking forward to reading more from her, this book just didn’t feel like one of her strongest.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books NetGalley and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting of this book! I'm usually not the biggest fan of small town settings, i find them too cookie cutter, but this mixed with the writing style worked for me. I expected the fake dating to start way sooner than it did but the book still had a plot that you could get invested in before it got to that point. I liked their initial chemistry but it definitely wasn't enough to keep me invested in their relationship towards the end because i felt like their chemistry didn't grow past that initial level. It was still as comforting as a hallmark christmas movie you'd put on in the background to keep you company, which is to say it was a pretty cute, comfortable read.

Georgia Beers is a prolific sapphic HEA talent. I always take pleasure in her light romances. No big angst/villainy in this one, which was especially nice since the fake dating trope can get out of hand with complications that lack any real perspective. Rounded up to 4 stars. Enjoyable read.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Another fun and quick read by Georgia Beers. The fake relationship
trope is fun and love the small town angle. Thanks Netgalley for the early access.

This is a nice and cozy read for a Christmas afternoon.

Liz Brennan is returning home just in time for Christmas with the perfect excuse: help her sister and mother run the B&B for the holiday season. Truth be told, Liz has been laid off from her job and feels like her life is crumbling down to pieces. As she arrives in town, Liz runs into Cori Stratton, an old classmate who seems to live a calm and collected life managing a local shop. However, when Liz's ex-school sweetheart shows up at the B&B to celebrate his wedding, Liz's eagerness to prove that she is not a failure and she too has found her soulmate leads her to drag Cori into a fake relationship.

The premise was good and I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the book and the development of the characters as the story went on. I always prefer books that include a dual POV, so I can get to know how the characters feel about every little thing that happens. Regardless, I felt like the storyline about Cori and her family fell short. But overall, this is a solid 3.5 read for me!

I am a huge fan of Georgia Beers, and was super excited when Playing with Matches was released. Sadly, I felt that this book was one of her rare misses. For me, it just didn’t have the typical Beers chemistry and the plot was rather slow and predictable.

The book starts off great, with a very funny and adorable meet-cute between Cori and Liz. I loved the banter and the fact that the spider kept getting bigger in Liz’s retellings! I could feel the start of a spark in that very first meeting, but unfortunately the chemistry never really developed beyond that. If anything, I felt they were better friends than lovers by the end of the book, and even though it was a typical happy ending I still found myself disappointed.

Regardless, Beers is still an auto-read author for me. I understand that not every book is going to be a home run, especially for such a prodigious writer. Even with her books that aren’t my favorite, the writing is still good and when she hits, she hits big! 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Really Cute!

Cori’s handmade candles and little shop are her world, but the landlord is trying to sell the building. When Liz, daughter of Cori’s landlord returns home to help at the family B&B after losing her big city job, she doesn’t recognise Cori from school until their paths cross again. It just so happens Liz’s ex boyfriend is staying at the B&B for his wedding, and Liz finds herself begging Cori to play along as her girlfriend so he won’t know how messed up her life has become.

I loved every minute of this, even the one at the very beginning that frightened the life out of me almost as extremely as it did Liz! The story had everything a great ‘fake’ romance needs, and was packed with dramatic scenes and moments. Even though Liz hadn’t recognised Cori at first, I loved the connection they had as soon as the penny dropped. They were really good for one another, and after everything and with all that was stressing her out in her own life, it was a testament to how kind and sweet Cori was by how she just went along with Liz’s plan.

It was so cute how they were completely clueless to how attracted to one another they were, which caused a conflict all of its own involving Liz’s sister. Liz had that slightly clueless air about her, but it wasn’t that she wasn’t aware of other, it was just that she’d been so focused on her career and dreams that to have them shattered had taken all her attention. But there were times where she was unconsciously caring for people, especially Cori, and she’d do the nicest things. I was always smiling when they were spending time together.

As an aside, I also loved the moments with Cori’s cat, what a character! A really great story that I can’t recommend enough, and am super excited to read again and again, even if the first chapter terrifies me!

When Elizabeth first left hoping she would only have to return on family holidays. She envisioned her working a high paying job in marketing. Liz saw herself living the life she dreamed of but sometimes life didn’t seem to care and now she finds herself visiting her family with no idea when she’d be able to start over again. Being home at this time worked to her advantage. Her mother and sister owned and operated a very popular B&B so she should have no problem finding something to fill her days. THe family owned B&B w was booked and they were even hosting a wedding for a couple so while she thought about the future she’d stay busy.
Cori was a small-time girl and loved it. She owned a little store selling everything from tourist keepsakes and she was also selling the art work provided by local artists. She went to school with Liz and had no problem remembering her but it seems Liz has no memories of Cori. Now she spent her time making the candles that were best sellers in her little shop ‘Whimsy’.
When the two meet up again Cori realized she still had a crush on Liz. All Liz knew for sure was her desire to spend as much time as possible with Cori.
Another winner for Ms Beers who if I’m being honest has never presented a book that I wouldn’t love. Great characters, both main and supporting, along with a very entertaining journey for Liz and Cori.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

The most hallmarkish, cozy and cute sapphic story I have ever read
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Yes, this type of story is a necessity where the heroine returns to her home town after losing her job and meets an attractive woman who rescues her from an embarrassing situation.
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Only to find out that they went to school together and that he is the only person who doesn't make her feel lost in the world.
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For the other protagonist of the story it is reuniting with her high school crush, the most popular girl in the class, the one who graduated with honors and left never to return, always unattainable.
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But when she meets someone from the past and panics, she is there to help her, being a good friend and posing like her fake girlfriend.
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Cute, soft and full of scenes of romance is a beautiful story for those who need something cozy and full of hope
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Thanks to Georgia Beers and bold stroke books for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

"Playing with Matches" has the charm of a Hallmark movie. The narrative follows Elizabeth as she returns home to assist with the family business post a layoff, intertwining her life with that of Cori, a small-town girl who never left their hometown. Despite the incorporation of a fake relationship plot line, its execution lacks the intricacy I anticipated. It simply exists without much depth. The storyline unfolds with a mix of personal drama, heartwarming family dynamics, and a sweet romance. Overall a sweet quick read. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ Thankyou net galley for the ARC of this gorgeous read!! I absolutely love a small town romance, as someone from one it really fuels my delusion. I was hooked from the first page of this book and just had to know more about Cori and Liz, both together and separate. The fake dating trope while they’re falling for eachother always hits for me and Georgia wrote it so well, the perfect amount of slow burn and yearning for me. The subplots of each characters own personal and family issues was so interesting to me especially Coris personal struggles with finding out her family history. The intimacy in this story was just so lovely, not just the sexual scenes but almost every interaction between the two had such a pleasant layer of comfort around each other and as a reader. Liz doing the movie theatre at home is going to go down as one of my favourite scenes of any book Ive read it was so tender and gorgeous and I could really feel Coris responses through the page. Add in crafts, pets and the holidays and it makes for the perfect read!

A cute, sweet, heart-warming romance--exactly what I have come to expect from Georgia Beers. Cori and Liz went to high school together but didn't know each other. But a chance encounter in their hometown reunites them. After some fake dating shenanigans they find real feelings.

If you like small town romance with a side of holidays season this book is for you!

Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers

This is a fake relationship story. So, if that's not your cup of tea, you should probably stop reading my review.

Whew, still here, okay, let's proceed.
Cori is her own person. She enjoys her solitude, and she's the exact opposite of her loud, boisterous family. It's a winner she had the energy to run her shop, Whimsy. But the creativity comes through clearly.

Liz is coming home to help with the family bed and breakfast, feeling lost and not sure of her purpose. She's thrown for a loop when one of the big events she's there to help with is her exes' wedding. Insert awkward fake relationship here. But as we know, chemistry can not be faked, and Liz and Cori have it.

Can a one-time crush from high school make a go for happiness together?

A well written sapphic romance. It was just like watching a Hallmark movie. A easy fun read. 4.5 stars

Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.