#BookReview “Grumpy Valentine” by DL White

Grumpy Valentine

5/5 Stars

~~~~~

This quick read delivered all the feels with a side of self-awareness and a double helping of snark and humor!

Turn-about is fair play and this time the woman’s the grump, and the MMC is ALL sunshine and smiles.

Tech developer Opal Richardson has been burned personally and professionally by love so do not even bring the subject up. Sterling Carter is happy to be back in his hometown of Atlanta after the chaos of corporate New York. He’s weeks away from launching his own PR firm and a relationship isn’t on his radar.

Yet, there’s just something about the abrasive Opal.

And Opal could focus on completing her industry-changing app if Sterling weren’t sex-on-legs… and a genuinely decent man.

It takes Opal’s go-big-or-go-home BFF, Asia, to kick things into high gear, and I’m so glad she did! While her machinations eventually leads to Opal and Sterling spending time alone, it also opens the door to true friendship and a connection that surprises them both.

The open communication in Grumpy Valentine is a key element and makes it a memorable read. Sometimes romance novels get bogged down in the running away and avoidance of lead characters. Seeing friends, adult children/parents, siblings, and lovers have honest, positive conversations the way adults do irl was welcome and refreshing!

Sterling’s a fun character. Not syrupy sweet, just genuine and matter-of-fact. No game… okay, not much, and no guile. The relationship he has with his older brother reminds me of my own brothers. Spot on! Opal is a strong, focused, intelligent young woman, but I didn’t think she and I were going to make it to the end of the story as friends. However, after two key conversations and some self-introspection, she stepped up like the boss chick I believed her to be.

Strong plot and great writing make this a must-read!

Enjoy!

About the Book

She’s a tech developer with walls higher than her ambitions; he’s a PR pro who keeps finding ways around them. Atlanta’s tech scene is about to get a lot more interesting.

The last thing developer Opal Richardson needs while launching a groundbreaking tech platform is a distraction. Especially not Sterling Carter, whose co-working space sits right across the courtyard from hers. He’s sexy, charming..and keeps showing up with an uncanny ability to climb right over her carefully constructed walls.

Sterling Carter’s recent return to Atlanta was supposed to be about launching his PR firm, not falling for the tall, stunning, sharp-tongued woman who challenges him from day one. Despite their instant chemistry, Opal’s painful past makes her hesitant to mix business with pleasure.

When a severe storm traps them together, their connection becomes impossible to ignore, sparking a passionate encounter that could either heal her wounds or break her heart completely.

Set in Atlanta’s bustling tech scene, GRUMPY VALENTINE is a steamy workplace romance where love moves at startup speed.

Grumpy Valentine

Author’s Website Amazon

~~~~~

© Felicia Denise 2025

#BookReview “Tinkering with Love (Rock Falls Book 1)” by Aliyah Burke

5/5 Stars!

In Tinkering with Love we meet retired pro-hockey play Tully Faulkner and recent west coast transplant, Dawson Shay. Tully’s returned to Rock Falls, Vermont to care for his sick mother, and Dawson left a toxic mother… and a cheating ex, for a fresh start and the opportunity to build her own motorcycle restoration business.

During a mountain team-building work retreat held by their employers, Tully and Dawson are instantly attracted to each other, until she learns the hunky hometown hero’s name then she hates him and is on a mission to make him look bad in front of their coworkers.

The week-long retreat is filled with biting remarks, hilarious banter, and heated glances by the couple, fanned and encouraged by their coworkers, Rock Falls residents… and Tully’s two lifelong best friends, Linc and Mitchell.

Tully is a fun character who’s used to being liked by everyone. Spending much of her childhood in foster care because of her mother’s addictions, Dawson is darker and more cynical. Reconnecting with her mother in early adulthood doesn’t give Dawson the love and support she craves because of her constant criticisms of Dawson’s plus-size figure and personal choices. Tully has his work cut out for him to find out why Dawson continues to push him away, and ultimately walks away.

Loved the support network Dawson found in the women… and men of Rock Falls. She’s learned to lean on, and listen to friends who consider her family.

Favorite characters? Torvald Harrellsson and Faust! One of these two may or may not be a goat!

Great read with a heart-melting ending!

Enjoy!

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

About the Book

Dawson Shay could never be accused of being a bubbly ray of sunshine. Like, not ever. But her outlook on life has only gotten worse since she moved across the country for her dream job rebuilding motorcycles…only to lose the job to someone else. Now her run of bad luck includes a wilderness retreat with the entire company—including the asshat who stole her job. Fortunately, Tully Faulkner’s bearded, tattooed hotness is pretty much the perfect distraction.

Except, Tully isn’t just Mr. Hometown Hero, he’s also said asshat who stole her job. And if he thinks he can win her over with his ability to charm the pants off everybody else, he’s got another thing coming. But Dawson can’t avoid him forever… or the seriously hot sparks between them. Somewhere between the breathtaking northern lights and teaming up to win their company’s scavenger hunt, Dawson starts to think that Tully’s magic touch might be just what she’s been missing.

But even sexy gearheads have their secrets. And Dawson’s about to discover that falling for the too-perfect-to-be-true Tully might just backfire on her completely…

Tinkering with Love (Rock Falls Book 1)

Kindle Unlimited