Tag: catching feelings

Book Review: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1) by Kate Watson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Biks Creative
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage…license.

Sean

When my ex cheated and begged me to take her back, I made a rash, too-public vow: the next woman I kiss will be my wife. It seemed like a good idea at the time—anything to stop being everyone’s second choice. The ultimate fallback guy.

Then the Kayla Carville walks into my bar, all bold and stunning. When she hears my ex tearing me apart, she kisses me to shut her up. And when she learns about my stupid promise, she offers me a way to save face: we’ll claim we’re engaged.

The thing is, this isn’t about some stupid vow anymore. It’s about finding the courage to stop being the backup goalie and finally go for what I really want.

If I can.

Kayla

My ex is the worst, so my dad bought me a baseball team.

Classic billionaire-dad move.

Now I’m living in a small Southern town that hates me, trying to convince everyone I’m an absolute delight, not some generic “Boss Babe.”

They’re not buying it.

Except for Sean O’Shannan, the hot hometown hockey hero and bar owner who gave me the courage to break up with my fiancé months ago. He’s the kind of guy who remembers my smoothie order, saves a seat for me at the church potluck…and proposes when he discovers I don’t meet the team’s “ownership residency requirement.”

Saying yes is easy.

The hard part?

Not falling for my husband.

THIS WAS SWEET.

Y’all know I am a big fan of marriage of convenience. If I see that as a potential part of the book I AM SO THERE. I thought this was a really sweet way to bring Sean and Kayla together. It was a simple situation between them. I do think it led to lacking in some sort of push/pull. They were super smitten from the get-go and while they absolutely led to some great moments I think I needed more of a slow burn in that department.

I adored all of the hockey and baseball content. As a big sports girlie having both MC’s connected to sports in some way was awesome. And I loved how Kayla supported (and lovingly pushed) Sean to pursue his dreams and reminded him of how much he mattered.

I could always do with less ex related drama but it’s alright. If you’re needing a soft closed door romance, Kate Watson is slowly becoming an easy go-to author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Planes, Reins, and Automobiles (Catching Feelings #2) by Kate Watson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 342 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 14th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s sunshine. He’s frostbite. They’ve got 1,600 miles to go before Christmas—and he’s about to discover his new enemy might be his anonymous online soulmate.

Oliver Fletcher has one goal, and he’s not happy about it: get home for his brother’s wedding. After extreme weather cancels every flight, his only option is to share the last (and smallest) rental car with the last (and most infuriating) woman he could ever want to be stuck with.

Poppy Lewis is everything Oliver isn’t—joyful, optimistic, and prone to random acts of kindness. She finds the perpetually cynical ex-athlete totally maddening. Their only truce is found online, where Oliver (GreenArrow11) trades secrets with his anonymous confidante (GracieLou).

But Poppy IS GracieLou. And as the cross-country journey forces them together through storms, car troubles, and not enough hotel rooms, Poppy discovers her new enemy might be her anonymous online soulmate. But when her career as a sentencing advocate collides with Oliver’s family tragedy, the truth she’s been hiding could destroy everything.

Oliver demands justice; Poppy champions compassion. As their disastrous road trip pushes them closer, Oliver must confront the truth: the woman who drives him crazy might be the only one who can stitch his broken heart back together.

It’ll take planes, reins, and automobiles to get them back home to their families. But once the secrets are exposed, will they ever want to see each other again? Or never want to be apart?

Planes, Reins, and Automobiles is a forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers romance with grumpy-sunshine vibes, secret identity reveals, and sizzling slow-burn tension. This standalone closed door romance is brimming with delicious chemistry and witty banter without explicit scenes or language—perfect for readers who love You’ve Got Mail and road trip romances.

HOLIDAY CHAOS.

I’ve been enjoying this series from Kate Watson and loved reading another holiday themed romance from her repertoire. I’ve loved Oliver’s character and have been waiting to see his romantic story line at the front. I was worried from the beginning how the secret identity would play out but I think it was thoughtful and worked out well here.

Going in I knew there would be many travel related shenanigans. Absolutely made me anxious but I think Watson did a great job in execution of the chaos. It didn’t feel cheap and I started to love the adventure they were on. The sassy banter and softer moments of care mixed with alllll of the forced proximity.

This book is slightly heavier than a “rom-com.” I don’t think it weighed down the story but it was a different edge than I had initially anticipated.

I had a few small things about why I went with a four star but this is what I get for not writing my review quick enough and I have forgotten the standout ones. I’m still looking forward to Kate Watson’s next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: minor
  • Content warnings: a sibling with a TBI, loss of a parent, a parent who’s incarcerated, emotional manipulation and abuse

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph