Book ~ "Practice Makes Perfect" (2023) Sarah Adams

From Goodreads ~ Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match - someone who nicely compliments her happy quiet life running her flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. Unfortunately she worries her goal might be too far out of reach when she overhears her date saying she is "so unbelievably boring." Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice ... and Annie has the perfect person in mind to become her tutor: Will Griffin.

Will - the flirtatious, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard - is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement grows for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker. He has one personal objective during his time in town: stay away from Annie Walker. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will soon finds himself not only breaking his rule but tasked with far more than simply providing security.

Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie but he can't bring himself to say no to her request so he officially agrees to teach her how to be the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky, and find the love of her life - even if he doesn't believe in love himself. Between faking a relationship so the meddling town doesn't catch on to what's really happening on their practice dates and tutoring lessons that convince Annie to add passion to her list of must-haves in a mate, it doesn't take long for the lines of their friendship to blur.

Anna owns a flower shop in the small town of Rome, KY. Her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Amelia, is a famous pop singer. With the wedding coming up, there is sure to be lots of unwanted activity so Will, Amelia's usual bodyguard, spends the month leading up to the wedding in Rome protecting Amelia when she needs it.

Anna confesses to Amelia that she would like to find a man, get married and start a family but she doesn't have a lot of dating experience. Will has a lot of off time and Amelia knows he is bored in the small town so asks him to be Anna's dating coach. There is an immediate attraction between Anna and Will but Will, who grew up in a dysfunctional home, has no plans to settle down which conflicts with what Anna's ultimate goal is.

This story was okay ... it was cheesy and light, not something I usually read (where a couple falls in love within a week). I found it unbelievable that Anna, who was nearly 30, was that immature and innocent and I doubt Will, who was older and more experienced, would talk and think the way he did ... they seemed like teenagers. And imagine a small town starting a petition whether they should be together or not! Not a surprise that is has a happy ending. It's written in first person perspective from Anna and Will's points of view (the chapters are labeled). It's the second in the When in Rome series (I read the first one a couple weeks ago) ... it works as a stand alone as there is enough information provided from the first one. As a head's up, there is mild swearing (which Anna keeps track of in a book!?) and adult activity.

Book ~ "When in Rome" (2022) Sarah Adams

From Goodreads ~ Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her "princess of pop" image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, "Roman Holiday", she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome ... Rome, Kentucky, that is.

When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn't have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He's too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room - but only until her car is fixed - then she's on her own.

Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose - she's Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can't help but get close to her. Soon she'll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she's been missing, and she'll help him open his heart to more.

Amelia can't resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.

Amelia, aka Rae Rose, is the "princess of pop" ... always on tour, recording albums, doing PR and more. She hasn't had a break in a long time and has had enough. Sad and lonely, she watches Roman Holiday and gets inspired by Audrey Hepburn to run away to Rome. The closest Rome to her, though, is Rome, KY, so she jumps in her beater of a car and takes off. Just as she arrives in Rome, her car breaks down ... it turns out in Noah's front yard. He begrudgingly invites her to spend the night in his spare room and when she discovers the next day that her room at the B&B is no longer available, Noah lets her stay in his house until her car can be fixed.

Rome is the perfect spot for Amelia as it's small and friendly. Though everyone knows who she is, no one makes a big fuss because she is a celebrity. What they do make a fuss about it that she's staying with Noah and the busybody town is hopeful he can find love again after a break-up a couple years ago by a big city woman. Noah and Amelia can't deny their attraction but know it doesn't make sense to pursue anything since she will be off touring for the  next nine months and the last thing Noah wants is to have his heart broken again.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it was cute and light, not something I usually read (where a couple falls in love within a week), but it was just what I needed as I've been reading bios and more heavier books lately. Not a surprise but it does have a happy ending. It's written in first person perspective from Amelia and Noah's points of view (the chapters are labeled). It's the first in the When in Rome series and I look forward to reading the next one (it apparently focuses on one of Noah's sisters). As a head's up, there is swearing.