Mixed Signals: an unmissable sweet and spicy small-town romance! (Lovelight, 3)

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The characterization is perfect, the attraction and chemistry are palpable, and the lovemaking scenes show how much the couple cares for each other. The communication was a lot better than I would have expected for this fake dating premise. They’d make sure the other knew their feelings instead of keep playing along like it meant nothing for them. The small things that were left to say felt realistic and added the right amount of angst. Luca and Stella have been friends for a decade. Stella is in love with Luca and doesn’t want to lose what she has with him in case he doesn't feel like she does. The loss of her mother almost destroyed her and she can't count on her father. She only sees him once a year for a Thanksgiving dinner that is done way before the date just so he doesn't have to explain a child he had outside his marriage to anyone else. Layla owns the bakeshop in Lovelight farms, and Caleb is a teacher. He has harbored a growing crush on her for a WHILE, and finally a chance meeting at a bar far outside their small town's city limits she starts to see him differently. A confession of serial bad dating has Caleb offering to be her practice man, and in return she can give him some pointers. She needs to know how much she deserves, and he wants to know what he's doing wrong.

We all know where this is headed! Again, it's about the journey and this was a sweet one! Layla and Caleb are both great characters. They are likeable and I was rooting for them the entire time! The novel is even more impressive considering this is a debut novel. The narrator was excellent which made the listen very enjoyable. Stella's best friend of ten years is a good fit. Luka Peters and Stella would never want anything to hurt their best friend-ness but they can make this fake thing work. Of course the town thinks it's about time, they've known the pair were in love for the last ten years. And Luka's mom, grandmother, and aunts think it's the real thing, too. But for now Stella and Luka will fake it and deal with the fake breakup fallout later.

Success!

But there's one ingredient they haven't considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla's double fudge mocha brownies. Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals? A small-town baker learns to raise her expectations for love with some help from a handsome local teacher in this sunny romantic comedy. Stella and Luka Peters have been best friends for years. He agrees to be her fake boyfriend to help her win the contest. The rest, as they say, is history.

I also related to Layla. I felt it was so special, being able to see a bit of yourself in both MCs. Although I didn’t love her as much as I loved Caleb, although she was the one who needed the support and made the final problem a bit more dramatic than I’d like to, I understood why she was so afraid of being with Caleb. I would also be afraid of falling in love with someone as precious as him. I refuse to date anyone in this small town because what if it turns bad and I have to see them every day? no thanks" I want to watch you come undone,” I tell her, my voice a rough scratch. I look up and make sure I’m holding her eyes. “Because I want to be the one to do it.” Layla is slowly losing hope in finding the ideal match for her. When Caleb asks her to help him improve his dating skills by giving her amazing dates, she decides it is the perfect way to recharge her energies. What she doesn’t expect is how much she wished they weren’t fake.Layla Dupree and Caleb Alvarez are town acquaintances, Caleb visits Layla’s bakery for his butter croissants and coffee and that there is their relationship … until. Until Caleb saves Layla from her date that ditched her wearing his Hawaiian shirt and his smile and Layla starts to see a new side to Caleb Alvarez. She didn’t realize at the time that running a tree farm can also come with lots of things besides hard work. I do like the pretending. Too much, probably. It's the end of the pretending that'll be the problem. The part that comes after. I can't stop thinking about it, despite Luka's plan to just continue."