IN A JAM

by Kate Canterbary
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 20th 2022
Source: ARC received for review
Star Quotient: ★★★★
Kiss Factor: ✷✷✷✷
Amazon

Kate Canterbary and grouchy heroes are a match made in heaven. That’s just a fact of life, at this point. I’m mildly obsessed with how different her grumpy heroes are, but at the same time they are all equally lovable. Noah (or Daddy Bread Baker) gives my favorite Kate Canterbary hero, Sebastian Stremmel, a run for his money. This man is so bothered, yet so fine, that even his grumpiness is uncomfortably attractive. MELT YOUR PANTIES kind of attractive.

The art of a good grumpy hero is that he has a cranky–pants personality, but then his inner thoughts and private actions all give away what a hopeless simp he truly is. There’s absolutely no other way to make a mumbling cantankerous man attractive and thankfully, Kate NAILS IT with Noah. Please. He’s always taking care of Shay, and finding ways to make sure she’s never unhappy, and it just makes me want to WAIL. And curl up into a fetal position. Why romance heroes? WHY MUST YOU TORMENT ME SO? To make it worse, he is a FERAL BEAST in bed. He knows just how to treat a romantic/sexual partner with reverence. LIFE IS ACTUALLY UNFAIR. *continues to wail* 🐋

My girl, Shay, absolutely deserved every second of his attention. She’s been burned by her previous relationship – the book opens up with her being left at the altar – and she’s just tired of people leaving her. Sadly, you get the impression that she’s never completely felt appreciated until Noah. Gosh, it’s so satisfying to see her find the kind of partner who worships her for who she is. And Shay has the biggest heart so I couldn’t even be jealous of her. She finds the family that everyone deserves when she returns to the small town of Friendship after a winding journey.

In a Jam presents a modern-day marriage-of-convenience. Now, I’m one of those annoying readers who doesn’t necessarily thinks marriage-of-conveniences work in modern settings. While I still don’t think it was necessary in this book, I understand that it was a plot device needed to bring Noah and Shay closer to each other. What this book really excels at is building the chemistry slowly and steadily between the two. Noah is pining for Shay the minute he lays eyes on him (they have shared history). However, it takes Shay a bit longer given she’s nurturing a bruised heart. It’s worth the while though so just be patient! Their romance is one of my favorites of the year and I’m sure most readers of this blog will delight in their banter, their subtle ways of showing they care for each other, and the scorching bedroom scenes.

I can’t talk about In a Jam without mentioning the scene-stealer that is Gennie. She is Noah’s ward and has to be one hilarious and precocious kid. That girl has zero filter and says some of the wackiest things, but she brings laughter and joy to the book. She’s also been through a lot of upheavals, and she finds peace and her family with Noah and Shay. It’s just very cute how she immediately bonds with Shay and wants to impress her.

In a Jam was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it’s safe to say this book lived up to my own hype. I hope you’ll give this charming small-town marriage-of-convenience romance a try and join me in flailing over Noah and Shay’s love story! 🙂

Content notes: Child abandonment, fat shaming (in past), death of parent, on-page sex

Relationship disclosure: None

What’s your favorite contemporary marriage-of-convenience romance?