Goodreads: Main Street Dealmaker (Holidays in Havenbrook #1)
Published: 28 October 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

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There’s no doubt these opposites attract, but there’s no way there could be any kind of a future for a wedding planner and a divorce attorney…right?

All Sadie Rollins wants for Christmas is a break. Three years ago, she stumbled into her dream job as a wedding planner, but she’s been so bogged down with the minutiae of inn ownership that she can’t even enjoy it. She and her twin sister might have been bequeathed the Starlight Haven Inn, but the bed and breakfast didn’t come with much more than extra-long hours and piles of debt.

Cole Donovan was looking for a fresh start when he moved to Havenbrook following the worst kind of betrayal. Instead, his reputation as a cutthroat divorce attorney preceded him–and tainted his introduction to the only woman he’s had eyes for since his own divorce. Too bad she can’t stand him.

When Sadie’s cousin offers her an opportunity to have the inn featured in the country’s leading wedding magazine in exchange for a bit of modeling, she jumps at the chance for some exposure. All she has to do is wear a wedding dress and pretend to be smitten with a stranger for a couple hours. The only trouble is the fake groom is no stranger, and as much as she loathes Cole, her body hasn’t gotten the message. Neither, it seems, has his…

TL;DR: This short romance has absolutely convinced me that I need to read more of Brighton Walsh’s books and lucky for me, I have the second in this series already lined up on my Kindle. I really enjoyed this opposites-attract small-town holiday romance and if you’re looking for the perfect holiday read to add to your list, this is the one! Sadie and Cole were such a great couple and they had sizzling chemistry and banter that added to the fire of their sexual attraction!

This made me wish that I lived somewhere cold and where the holiday spirit is high because the festive vibes are strong in this one and it made me want to do all the holiday things (baking, decorating, shopping, eating/drinking)! Havenbrook is the kind of small-town where Hallmark movies are made so it wasn’t difficult to picture this quaint and idyllic town in my head while I was reading. Like in most small-town stories, gossip travels fast and we have the requisite well-intentioned and delightfully scheming elderly community members who love to play matchmaker and get up to no good—Edna gave me some good laughs!

Sadie and Cole were so good together! They couldn’t be more opposite with Sadie being a romantic who lives for that Happy Ever After and loves helping couples get their perfect day. She’s the kind of woman that gets shit done, even when time and again the people in her life let her down, and I loved her understanding and positive can-do attitude. In contrast, Cole is a jaded divorce lawyer who is known for being ruthless and getting his clients whatever they want, regardless of how unfair or brutal it is to the other party. That said, there is actually a good guy underneath his job description! His own HEA didn’t work out and that’s left him more than a little cynical but a tense attraction has developed between him and Sadie over the years. Their chemistry and the sexual tension was H-O-T! 🥵 Things get *really* steamy once they act on their attraction for each other and what was meant to be a one-night stand ends up being much, much more. Their banter is a little antagonistic, which makes sense as they’ve been nemeses for years, but it definitely added to the steaminess of the romance and made the teasing a lot of fun! What I also liked was that this was low angst and there was no unnecessary drama or conflict.

Overall, this was a really easy to read and fun holiday romance that is perfect as a quick break between books or if (like me) you’re looking for something to help pull you out of a funky reading mood! I can’t wait to read more from this series and spend more time in Havenbrook 😍

Have you read Main Street Dealmaker or is it on your TBR?

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