A charming, spicy, fake-dating romance that left me wanting more of Apple Ridge and its wonderfully quirky residents!

First, I LOVE the concept of offering both sweet and spicy versions of the same romance novel! What a fun way to appeal to more readers! I was lucky enough to receive the spicy ALC, and while I may have sped through a few steamy scenes because my son was in the car with me (mom life 😂), I definitely caught the vibes!

Bianca and Giovanni were childhood friends who find themselves reunited when Giovanni needs somewhere to hide out and take care of his Nona. Thanks to his friendship with Bianca’s brother, her apple orchard becomes his temporary refuge. Of course, hiding doesn’t go quite as planned, and before long, we’ve got fake dating turning into real feelings!

My favorite moments were at the nursing home! Those ladies swooning over the shirtless chef had me smiling, and I absolutely loved the rivalry between Giovanni and the mayor. 😂

Where I wanted a little more was in the emotional depth. The resentment, appreciation, and growing feelings between Bianca and Giovanni sometimes felt surface-level. I could sense the chemistry was there, but I wanted it to SHINE through the writing!

That said, I really enjoyed my time in Apple Ridge! The supporting characters were so intriguing that I found myself wishing for an entire series centered around this town. I wanted to get to know everyone better! And apparently, a few familiar faces already have stories in the Hideaway Harbor series, so I may have some catching up to do!

The narration was superb! Sean Masters has an incredible voice and brought plenty of charm to Giovanni. Heather Firth was my standout, though. I absolutely loved her interpretation of Bianca and the personality she brought to the character. Together, they made this a delightful listen!

📖 Falling for Mr. October
✍️ Angela Casella
🎙️ Sean Masters & Heather Firth
🎁 The Smuthood & Hambright PR
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