Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
Hello friends! I hope November is treating you well, and if it’s not, I hope you can escape into a good book for some relaxation! I have what I hope is your next read, Honeymoon Phase by Amy Daws, which is book 3 in the Mountain Man Matchmaker series. I got my audiobook copy from NetGalley to review, and I have to tell you, this series just keeps getting better. Even though each book focuses on a different couple, I decided to catch up on books 1 and 2 before diving in to the latest story, and it made the world of Fletcher Mountain even richer. But you can absolutely jump in with this one and have a great time as well!
In this story, we finally get Luke’s romance, he’s the last of the Fletcher brothers, and if you remember from book 2, he brought his best friend Addison along to a wedding in Mexico. Well, finally, it’s Luke and Addison’s turn! Addison (Addy for short) needs to get married and live with her husband for one year to inherit her family’s lumberyard after her dad’s retirement. As the current lumberyard manager, she isn’t looking for love. She just needs a solid partner who’s gone most of the day, who will be willing to walk away in a year with what they brought into the marriage. Enter a conveniently-timed lumberjack competition, and Luke, who’s been quietly wanting more with Addy for ages. He writes her a letter volunteering to marry her, and she laughs it off. But with a little matchmaking help from Everly and the Fletcher men, suddenly Luke is front and center at the competition, determined to prove to Addison just how serious he is.
The dynamic between Luke and Addison was so real and heartwarming. Luke will literally do anything for Addy, and their friendship-to-more journey was filled with sweet moments, laugh-out-loud banter, a few stitches, and the kind of pining that makes you root for them right from the start. There were times when you wanted to shake Addy and yell, “Get out of your own way!” but that only made her growth more satisfying. It’s a charming friends-to-lovers story with a healthy dose of mountain town mischief, family teamwork, plenty of lumberjack shenanigans, and just the right amount of spice.
Now for what made this a nearly perfect read: The only thing keeping this from a full five stars was a moment or two where I wanted Addison to recognize what was right in front of her a bit sooner. Still, I was smiling, swooning, and completely sold on this gruff mountain man’s devotion. Amy Daws really knows how to blend humor, heart, and heat!
A special shoutout to the audiobook’s duet narration from Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon. If you love great narration as much as I do, you’re in for a treat. Teddy brings the mountain man charm to life, and Erin’s portrayal of Addison carries all her wit, stubbornness, and vulnerability. I totally recommend picking this up in Audiobook format.
So my friends, If you love a small-town romance, friends-to-lovers drama, and a story you can get cozy with this winter, add Honeymoon Phase to your TBR. It’s available now. Grab a slice of your favorite sourdough, pour some hot cider, and enjoy this heartfelt, funny romance. Happy listening and happy reading, friends!