When enemies fall into temptation, love brings out the most delicious flavor of all.
Marigold Lavender lights up every room she enters. Then she’s left to turn out the lights and head home alone. Soft on the inside and a go-getter on the outside, Marigold just wants to make sure everyone else is okay before worrying about herself. When an awful big-city food critic trashes her sister Aster’s new restaurant, Marigold pauses her search for her own happily-ever-after to go to war with the woman, who happens to be just as delectable as she is sour.
Alexis Wakefield’s brutal honesty is what makes her successful. Her readers trust her judgment, and a few sharp strokes from her keyboard can make or break a new restaurant. When, on a whim, she reviews a small-town eatery getting lots of buzz, the owner’s sister sabotages everything, leaving her professional world in jeopardy. Marigold Lavender has gone too far and must pay for the damage she's caused.
Her new job as an on-air reporter in sunny San Diego is a big break for Skyler Ruiz. No more covering small-town softball games or vegetable growing competitions. She’ll be working at the same station as her TV mega-crush and longtime idol, anchorwoman Caroline McNamara, and that doesn’t hurt either.
Unfortunately, people don’t always live up to expectations.
Skyler’s hopes of impressing Caroline are dashed when she discovers Caroline has little time for newbie reporters and is downright unwelcoming. But when Caroline drops her guard, Skyler is left with her head happily spinning, her heart wide open, and oh-so ready to explore a romance she never saw coming.
So, of course, the network pits them against each other.
It’s only when Skyler is ready to sacrifice everything she’s ever dreamed of for Caroline does she begin to suspect love is nothing but fake news.
As winemaker at Tangle Valley Vineyard, Madison LeGrange relies on science and logic to make the best vintage possible. It’s also how she manages her life. But with her career in its prime, her accountant thinks it’s time she diversifies her income. Not a problem because her favorite café, the Bacon and Biscuit, is up for sale. What she didn’t plan on was the time she’d spend with Clementine, who has her feeling anything but logical.
Clementine Monroe loves her job managing the Bacon and Biscuit Café. In fact, after escaping a difficult past, it’s all she has. When Clementine is offered the opportunity to step out from behind the counter and buy the place, her longtime dream is about to come true. That is until it’s snatched out from under her by the very same girl she crushed on in high school. Old habits are hard to break, but Clementine has no plans to forgive Madison anytime soon.
Lauren Prescott had dreamed of being an actress since she was cast as Wendy in her middle school production of Peter Pan. Yes, her nightgown snagged and brought the set tumbling down, but she was hooked. After years of unsuccessful auditions, performing just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, Lauren established herself as a successful stage manager at the esteemed McAllister Theater. Unfortunately, the resident director has cast celebrity Carly Daniel: headstrong, entitled, and always late. So why is their chemistry turning her the hell on?
After partying her way through her twenties and ruining a successful film career, Carly Daniel has to take whatever she can get. If schlepping it onstage will raise her star again, she’ll listen to her pesky agent. Added bonus: the uptight stage manager is a sexy distraction.
When Carly’s costar is sidelined, Lauren must decide whether renewing a long-forgotten dream will jeopardize what she has percolating with Carly. Is the limelight big enough for two?
Gia Malone wants one thing and one thing only: to be the best surfer in the world. Her biggest obstacle is the annoyingly perky Elle Britton. Not only is Elle number one in the rankings, she’s also a fan favorite. But there’s a lot about Elle that Gia never noticed, like her surprising sense of humor and picture-perfect mouth.
Elle Britton is tired. After tournaments, fan meet-ups, and nonstop media requests, all she wants in the world is a little peace and quiet. But with Gia Malone closing in on her ranking, she has to surf her best. When the media picks up the story of their neck and neck status, Elle finds herself forced further into the spotlight, this time alongside Gia, the knockout with the killer shred and sexy smile.
It’s not long before there’s no denying the chemistry on and off the beach. But only one can win…
Advance praise from Publishers Weekly: "The stakes are high and emotions run hot....Brayden sets up a flirtatious tit-for-tat that’s honest, relatable, and passionate. The women’s fears are real, but the loving support from the supporting cast helps them find their way to a happy future."
Anastasia Mikhelson is the rising star of the New York City Ballet. She’s sacrificed creature comforts, a social life, as well as her own physical well-being for perfection in dance. Even her reputation as The Ice Queen doesn’t faze her. Though Ana’s at the peak of her career, competition from a new and noteworthy dancer puts all she’s worked for in jeopardy.
While Natalie Frederico has shown herself to be a prodigy when it comes to ballet, she much prefers modern dance and living on her own terms. Life is too short for anything else. However, when the opportunity to dance with the New York City Ballet is thrust upon her, it’s not like she could say no. Dealing with the company’s uptight lead is another story, however. When the two are forced to work side-by-side, sparks begin to fly onstage and off.
Publishers Weekly says: "Readers will relate to the realism of the romance...This ably plotted, moving offering will earn its place deep in readers’ hearts."
Mallory Spencer is in charge. As the face of Soho Savvy, the advertising firm she owns with her three best friends, it's important that she's poised, polished, and put together. However, as she watches her friends couple up and settle down, she wonders about her own happily ever after. One thing's for sure. It's not going to happen with that blue-eyed bartender from Showplace. It's irritatingly clear they couldn't be more wrong for each other...or have more chemistry.
Hope Sanders wants nothing more than to keep her head down and craft a better life for herself running everyone's favorite nightspot. That means ignoring the groupies that flock to the bar to stare at her all night. However, an uptight brunette has snagged Hope's attention and she knows a challenge when she sees it.
Marigold is a heart-warming, wholesome story – the perfect pick-me-up.
By Netgalley.com on Oct 22, 2023 09:10
When it comes to sapphic romance, Melissa Brayden is a true icon. Her 26 books play a big part in our growing canon...Marigold Lavender is sunshine personified. She brightens her family, her community, bringing warmth and kindness to everything that she does...when a restaurant critic savages her baby sister’s restaurant – named Marilyn’s after their late mum – MG goes scorched earth, leading a boycott of the paper.
Cosmopolitan food critic Alexis Wakefield travels across the country to visit restaurants. She’s an expert in her field, knowing all about what food should be – and what it shouldn’t. Alexis has built a very successful brand from her snarky takes on substandard dishes… until MG’s viral campaign gets her cancelled. Alexis returns to Homer’s Bluff to do some soul searching. Though she initially scoffs at rural America, Alexis ends up falling for the authenticity of the town – and one of its inhabitants. Every time they meet, sparks fly between MG and Alexis. And hatred turns into a different kind of passion.
Marigold has a lovely atmosphere. It manages to be both sweet and sexy...Brayden does an excellent job of depicting how social media rewards conflict and cruelty through this character – Alexis gained a huge following through being savage in her reviews, and she has fully leant into this persona. Yet, unlike a great many cancelled, Alexis puts real thought into her behaviour. She accepts accountability for her actions and grows as a person. Which makes her arc very compelling...And while at first glance it might look like Alexis is the one that needs to change, MG’s growth arc is just as impressive. It takes immense courage for her to live in reality as much as fantasy. MG and Alexis complement one another perfectly...I have to admit, there’s one thing I struggled with through the novel. MG has a sister called Aster. And Alexis has a sister called Aspen. The similarity in these side characters’ names and roles meant I struggled to keep them straight in my head, which got confusing at points. But otherwise I haven’t a single criticism to make.
Until picking up this book, I had no idea that a romance novel without graphic sex scenes could be so hot. But the subtle poetry of Brayden’s words adds a powerful emotional resonance to the love between her characters. Marigold is a heart-warming, wholesome story – the perfect pick-me-up.
Lou Morgan via NetGalley
y nice feel-good read.
By Netgalley.com on Oct 22, 2023 09:10
It was a surprise when I saw this book because I didn’t know there was going to be a follow up of The Last Lavender Sister book, although this book is a standalone, I suggest you read this first as it provides you a great context to the Lavender’s family and the hometown of Homer’s Bluff.
I enjoyed Marigold’s story very much, as usual with Melissa Brayden you get some witty characters which usually shine when starting as enemies. I love food and there was a lot of food in this book, but I never knew someone could eat so much pie in one day! Very nice feel-good read.
Judit Carballo via NetGalley
This was a pleasant and easy read.
By Netgalley.com on Oct 22, 2023 08:10
Marigold Lavender is a ray of sunshine to everyone she knows, family, friends, neighbors. She’s always there for everyone who needs something, but at night, she goes home alone. It’s not exactly easy dating as a lesbian in a small town. When an attractive big-city food critic comes through to review her sister’s restaurant, Marigold is take aback at how attractive she is, but when her review tears the restaurant apart, Marigold goes on the defensive. Her rant goers viral and reviewer Alexis Wakefield gets cancelled. When Alexis returns to the scene of the crime to sort herself out, the chemistry between her and Marigold is electric, even if they hate each other.
This was a pleasant and easy read. I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, and that journey and into figuring out long-distance kept me interested. The supporting characters fleshed out the story even more, and I loved Marigold’s family. Overall, it was super cute and is great for a break between heavier works (or as an escape from life stress).
Leslie Shaip via NetGalley
I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy small town sapphic enemies-to-lovers romances.
By Netgalley.com on Oct 18, 2023 09:10
Sunshine: Marigold Lavender is soft and lovable and always takes care of the people she loves. Grump: Alexis Wakefield is a foodie critic and influencer who is known for her snarky, brutally honest reviews.
When Alexis comes into Marigold's small town USA and leaves her little sister's restaurant a scathing review, Marigold calls her out on her toxicity, and the internet goes wild. It does NOT end well for Alexis.
Alexis comes back to small town USA, of all places, to escape from her life that is falling apart, and keeps running into Marigold. I love the setup with this enemies to lovers. The darting banter between the two is delicious, and neither of them can help being drawn to the other.
Deliciously spicy, I really enjoyed watching these two fight each other and their feelings, and eventually give in. They are the sweetest. I also really enjoyed the secondary cast of family and friends, and felt they added a lot to the story. For the whole book, I wondered how they would end up with a HEA, so I was surprised and super satisfied with the way things turned out in this well written gem!
I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy small town sapphic enemies-to-lovers romances.
Kerrie Vanderlugt via NetGalley
...another great book by Melissa Brayden in the Lavender sisters series.
By Netgalley.com on Oct 18, 2023 09:10
Marigold was another great book by Melissa Brayden in the Lavender sisters series. A few of the major themes of this book included an enemies to friends trope, cancel culture when food reviewer Alexis Wakefield gets cancelled by Marigold and society in general, and the support of family, especially when times get tough.
The heated relationship between Marigold and Alexis starts to take a nice transition when Alexis returns to Homer’s Bluff, Kansas, to serve her penance, so to speak. After they begin to know and understand each other better, their heated relationship reaches a new dimension with searing kisses.
