Early Book Review: 28 Dates (Crazy Love) by Stacy Lynn

28 Dates is the third book in the Crazy Love series by Stacy Lynn. It is currently scheduled for release on June 11 2019. Each of the books in this series can be read on its own, but returning characters make reading the books together even better. 

 

Caitlin Pappas is a lifelong commitment-phobe. The closest thing she’s had to a relationship in the last few years was a friends-with-benefits thing that fizzled out because the guy wanted more. So when she and her best friend design a new app that promises to find “the one”, Caitlin is the perfect guinea pig. Little does she know that she may have already met her match. Jonas Reeves has tried his best to move on after Caitlin didn’t want take things to the next level. Now they really are just friends, without benefits. Caitlin’s even a regular at his bar, The Dirty Martini. But when he learns that Caitlin plans to beta-test a new dating app on his home turf, Jonas senses a golden opportunity to win her heart. Even if he has to slide into her DMs to do it. 

28 Dates is a romance with lots of heart, and emotion but less heat than I have come to expect. This is not a bad thing, it works perfectly with this story. If there had been more heat I think it would have destroyed some of the character and story building that made the tension and story itself so poignant. Caitlin has little faith in love, after having a less than stellar history with family and support. However, great friends have lowered some of her walls- and lingering feelings for Jonas confuse and worry her. Jonas is confidant that real love exists, and he wants a future with Caitlin enough to risk everything. I love the conversations they have, and how hard they work to keep the other around even when they think friendship is all they will ever have. I really loved the secondary characters and how everything comes together for our couple, in spite of themselves. This was a feel good love story that often had me smiling as I read.

The only thing that bothered me has nothing to do with the writing, but with the cover. Caitlin's red hair is mentioned many, many times in the story- but the cover model clearly is not a redhead. I know the author does not always have say in the cover image, but I would hope that someone along the way would check character descriptions against cover images. Just saying.

28 Dates is another novel with heart from Lynn. I love the writing style and depth of character. I think all fans of the author will be thrilled with this offering, and be waiting for what ever she does next.