Review: Pity Please by Whitney Dineen

If you’re in the mood for a romcom and love second chance romances, dive into this slow burn with laugh out loud moments in the 7th book of the amazing Pity series by Whitney Dineen, Pity Please. 

Allie Rogers’s life just doesn’t fall apart, it implodes. After thinking she was going to get her happily ever after and move out of Elk Lake, life took a hard detour. If it wasn’t enough finding out her fiance cheated on her, add being pregnant with quadruplets. Not with Allie but clearly the consolation prize of karma arrived for him. Instead of heading down the path to the broken hearted, Allie picks herself up and heads home to rebuild her life. Even though this isn’t what she had in the cards for herself, her journey is one half of what makes this book worth the read. 

Then there’s the other half, Noah Riley. After building a successful career outside of Elk Lake coaching a winning basketball team, one day everything changed and it was ripped right from underneath him. Trying to run away from his problems by laying low back in Elk Lake, he was determined to make this a temporary stop until things worked out. He had everything figured out until he encountered a certain derailment to his plans or shall I say person, Allie Rogers.Never expecting to run into his sister’s childhood best friend, who knew the unexpected would hold the key to what he never thought he was looking for.

What I love about this second chance trope for their story is how Allie was the typical best friend who had the crush on her older brother, who definitely never noticed her. Well, not in that way. Now as adults, their paths crossed, having the chance for her to finally be seen by him. Not that it had any influence on their blossoming relationship but it’s nice to see them given that second chance where their paths could cross again. It came down to the right person but the wrong time. Their chemistry is organic with the perfect amount of tension, longing and the subtle emotional pull that will keep you wanting to read more. 

The small town setting sits well with these characters of the series. Each one so far, it just was part of the backdrop but for these two, I loved how they both defined the meaning of the cliche, home is where the heart is. As they both navigated through their setbacks, coming back home forced them to deal with who they thought they were going to be compared to where their lives were developing into. 

This wasn’t just your typical second chance love trope, it was about when life doesn’t follow what you planned out and redefining what true happiness really is. It’s about starting over and reinventing yourself. If you love that best friend brother trope, genuine blooming love and the unexpected second amazing chance at love, then you will love their story. You won’t just be rooting for the both of them but the journey that led them to find their true happily ever after. 

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Review: Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen leads off in the new small town romance series where love falls in Maple Falls.

We are introduced to Ashlyn. She is definitely the type of heroine you can't help but root for all the way. She finds herself unexpectedly having to step into her father's shoes as Mayor of the town while trying not to fall for the captain of the new hockey team. Unsure between helping her dad and doing what she wants to do with her life, getting involved with someone here is something that is not in the cards.

Setting the bar high for our expectations of this being the town where hockey players fall in love, Jaime is handsome, charming and the perfect person to root for. After recently getting his heart broken publicly, this new opportunity reuniting with his former coach to escape into this new small town should be the new start he desperately needs.

The chemistry between these two, a craved slow burn, blended with the fake dating trope keeps you paced to want those pages to keep getting flipped. The beauty of their friendship evolving along with their vulnerability of taking a second chance, gives us a well deserved hea that was worth every moment.

Beyond their story, we are are introduced to a wonderful town that comes alive from the people who make it special. While we journey through these two healing from their hearts being broken, we are surrounded by emotional, feel good or just simply moments that make you smile sprinkled with lol moments to fill the time.

This was a charming romcom that will sweep you off your feet. If you love fake dating and friends to lovers, then you should add this one to your reading list.

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Review: Pity Play by Whitney Dineen

As much as this series has been fun to read and I’ve wholeheartedly loved each book so far, Pity Play is definitely my favorite. It took a second, diving into the book to realize when I saw the character names, an instant love for what was to come and it never disappointed. With the its small town charm and romantic tension, you will fall in love with this Luke and Lorelai just the same.

Lorelai Riley has been in love with Luke Phillips since they were kids. As the friend to her older brother Noah, the last thing on his mind back then was his younger sister. Fast forward to life as an adult, with a family accident that brings him back to Elk Lake, what other place would his best friend recommend to stay? With that life long crush of hers, Luke needs a place to stay and guess who has a spare room? Could this be the moment she has always wished for?

Without taking away from the swoon craving journey that you will be on, Pity Play delivers a slow burn romance full of all the charm of that small town romance. It’s unspoken glances, close proximity tension and gives some unforgettable smooches that change the trajectory of fantasy to reality. Despite Luke returning to Elk Lake to deal with some personal obstacles and adamant on returning to his life in Chicago, then with one kiss, fate had another plan to remind never to judge a book by its cover.

There’s so much to love about this book. You’ll not only fall in love with the both of them but be endeared by the charm of Elk Lake. For those who have followed the series, you will feel right at home. The highlights for me are the laugh out loud moments that make you smile. The heart warming moments balancing out with the flirty ones give you just enough steam to savor the moments.

Despite this being part of the series, it can be read as a standalone. If you’re new to the series, start from the beginning to get to know everyone. If you’ve followed along then I know you will love this one. Make sure to look out for the next book in the series, Pity Play which will follow Noah and Allie.

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Review: Pity Parade by Whitney Dineen

The Pity Parade, the latest book in the Pity series by Whitney Dineen, follows Trina Blackwell. If you’ve been following the series, then you know Trina is a tv show host for a matchmaker show that brought Tim and Paige together in the last book.

For those new to the series, Trina has been a matchmaker on a hit tv show for awhile but most importantly for everyone but herself. Almost lucky, she met a guy at a charity event that had great potential but to her disappointment, he didn’t want a relationship.

Due to the circumstances that led to her show being canceled, she was given an ultimatum for redemption by putting herself out there to be the center of attention of a new upcoming show for eligible men to potentially date her. The idea has her running for the hills. Trying to find a way to get out of this situation, she comes up with a plan to find a guy but little did she know that someone from her past would come back showing the hand of fate that would give them the second chance they both needed.

I honestly couldn’t stand Trina before but found myself keeping an open mind going into this book. Getting to know her and her journey kept me engaged and wanted to see what was to come with her potential love interest. This had some really fun moments, heartwarming reflections and she became someone to root for. It was wonderful seeing familiar faces that added to the charm and the importance of friendship and love that made the book wonderful.

The series will conclude this fall with the upcoming, Pity Present. There aren’t any details yet but from what I read, we can assume from the ending someone else will get their hea in this sweet town, Elk Lake. Another wonderful book in this series and I can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next.

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Review: Pity Pact by Whitney Dineen

Returning to the Pity Series, Pity Pact is the third book featuring Paige Holland. I was really curious from the last book when things didn't work out between Missy and Tim. Would the chemistry between Paige and him go anywhere? Well, as I anticipated how her journey would go, it was so worth the wait. Paige was fun, sassy and made this quite the page turner. The banter between her and Tim had me laughing out loud the whole book.

For those who don't know, Paige Holland is a teacher in their local town. After making a pact between her and best friend Missy, if love didn't find them, they would take their chances on a dating realty show. Since Missy found her love, Paige followed through and things quickly had her thinking this was the biggest mistake.

Things got complicated when Tim was asked to be a participant. Despite her being friends, there had been this unexplored what if. Tim wanting to stay far away from reality dating shows, saw an opportunity to make his ex jealous, didn't realize that he'd find himself facing unexplored feelings of his own towards Paige. Will these two find their way to their destined hea?

Even though I enjoyed reading the first two books, this one really got me hooked. Considering what happened in this book, I have some strong feelings with what happened and are opened to seeing Trina get her hea. She don't deserve it but I will be open minded. This was definitely a slow burn romance that when it happened was worth all the agony. These characters were meant to be with each other. These were two broken hearts that mended each other.

Overall, this is now my favorite of the series. We'll, have to find out what happens to Trina in the concluding book, Pity Parade.

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Review: Pity Party by Whitney Dineen

As we return to the wonderful small town of Elk Lake in the second book of the Pity series, Pity Party by Whitney Dineen, we dive into the life of Melissa Corner. A small bridal shop owner trying to navigate life and maintain her optimism against the pressures of meeting someone and the influences of her mother and the all surrounding soon to be brides that remind her of how out of reach that seems to be. With her track record of potential relationships not working out, her optimism seems dim until a spunky twelve year old crosses her path with her gorgeous dad that ignites a little spark.

After some unfortunate events that affected his daughter’s life, they decide to make a new start and get settled into the town that captured their interest from their previous summer. Offering the new start they both anticipated, Sammy Riordan decides to explore the town and meets an unexpected friend whom she instantly hits it off with. As their day closes with anticipation to share the wonderful news with her dad, Jamie Riordan, comes to the bridal shop and gets a surprise of his own. Not expecting her first friend to be Melissa, despite their initial sparks, he leaves an unfavorable impression that has her forgetting his initial swoon.

His daughter on the other hand, leaving such a great impression on Melissa, was surprised when she got the ok to work in the shop. As time goes on, and Jamie and Melissa get to know each other, they find a growing attraction that seems hard to resist but gets suppressed under their friendship label. With both of them having broken pasts, unwilling or unable to take a chance, they find themselves at a crossroads that forces them to face their undeniable connection or lose out on what could’ve been everything they ever wanted.

I’ve never wanted two people to run to each other as much as Melissa and Jamie. Likable and relatable, they both bring some heartache from their pasts but seeing them finding their way made this such an engaging read. There is so much to love about this book. Besides, their own story being unfolded, what a special experience was the bond that developed between Melissa and Sammy. Her not having a mother in her life, Melissa coming in at her most impressionable age, giving her that motherly and older sister vibe brought some special moments in the book. Like the preceding book, I love the female friendships involving the characters. Their fun banter and supportive relationships want you to be part of the group. What I loved about Jamie is that you rarely get the pov from a single dad who has experienced what he has. Raising his daughter as both parents with unconditional love at the beginning of those teenage years brought some special moments.

Their story told itself in the pace and time it was meant to be. I will admit being impatient wanting them to be sooner but they had to go through and experience some things that made it worth sticking around for in the end.

Another wonderful book in the series. If you have been following the series, then you can wait impatiently with me for the third book, Pity Pact. That book will center around Paige. The release date is set for early next year.

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