When Weston Thomas moves into the mansion he has just inherited from his father, he is shocked to learn that he will be sharing the estate with his father's ghostwriter and seven rescue dogs. Paige is equally surprised since she was under the impression that she was inheriting the estate as long as she lived there for a year. Neither Weston nor Paige are looking for a long-term relationship, so they agree to treat the unusual situation like a business arrangement. How long will that last? This is the second book in the author's Sierra Web series, but it reads well as a stand-alone story. I was pleased to read a recent novel from a favorite romance author I discovered many years ago. It was also a treat to read an adult book featuring rescue dogs because I have read so many such stories to my animal-obsessed granddaughter. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy to read and review.

This is book 2 in the Sierra's Web series. I enjoy Tara Quinn's books. They are happy and can be read in several hours. Westin and Paige must live together for 1 year taking care of 7 rescue dogs in order to inherit a house.The book is stand alone with new characters in a familiar setting. This is from Harlequin so you know it's romance and happy ending. The books spotlights rescue animals and the need for caring foster care.

While I finished this one I didn't really like the book. As I have discovered with this one that even though I do like the trope forced roommates there was something about the plot with this one that felt forced.

I'm still unsure what my overall feeling of this book is...... It's certainly not what I expected. But there are parts of it that are quite lovely and poignant.

If you're looking for a typical Romance between two people forced to live together, I think you're gonna be disappointed. I found every instance of the author's attempts at sexual tension or attraction or chemistry to be uncomfortable and offbeat and sometimes a little creepy. (Many of my Kindle notes are just weirdly-phrased lines highlighted with the note "Gross" or "???") The sex and Romance aspect of this novel feels like it's written by someone who hasn't ever actually read a Romance novel. But the writing in general —as a fiction novel about a relationship of sorts developing between two very different people who need each other (logistically, contractually, but also emotionally) is done really well.

"The dogs and I... we're grieving together."
What isn't revealed in the description is that Reluctant Roommates is very sad actually. (Please make sure to read the content warnings at the end of this review!) There's a lot of grief held between these characters —they've both lived with decades of grief nestled in their bones, never quite brought to the surface, arranging their lives specifically to move on from it as swiftly as possible, obviously not succeeding— and a lot of emotion on page. The dogs that feature in this story (it's like seven of them and counting) are rescue dogs who have been abused or abandoned. Weston and Paige honour Weston's father by continuing the work of loving them and rehabilitating them that he felt was so important.

I generally do not read books that feature animals because it gets too sad, too vulnerable, too much at risk for devastation (I can't even watch a movie about happy animals, because I know that there will be a brief moment of sadness to move the plot along) but the way the dogs brought these two characters together was something really special.

The pacing is also not as you'd expect, especially if you're used to Romance novels!! Halfway through, they are still meeting with lawyers to figure out what the agreement that his father set in place actually is. It's very.... I'm not sure. But if you'd like to see two people learn that it's okay to be more vulnerable with someone than they have been in ages, and help each other grieve for the parents they could have had, and look after dogs in the process... It's worth giving this one a go. (If you're not generally a reader of Romance, or of this forced-proximity, legally-bound trope, I think it's even more worth trying because you likely won't be thrown off at the beats where I was.)

Content warnings: We meet Weston right after the sudden death (by heart attack) of his dad, so the grief is raw and kind of ever-present; the rehabilitation of abused and abandoned dogs features prominently; a carjacker killed Paige's parents when she was a child and she's still dealing with the grief and trauma, but also when she mentions it it's very sudden and quite jarring; creepy phrasing about and during sex.

Another fake relationship novel by Tara Taylor Quinn, Reluctant Roomates focuses on Weston Thomas, who believes he has inherited his father's estate. When he arrives to move in, he discovers Paige Martinson, his father's biographer is already living there, along with eight dogs that need taking care of. When his father's will is read, he discovers he and Paige must live in the house together for a year so they can learn more about themselves. But will they learn to get along?

A delightful, fun summer read! Thanks to the author,BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Tara Taylor Quinn and BooksGoSocial for the copy of Reluctant Roommates. This is my personal review.
This is the series Sierra’s Web. I have not read the first in this series but after reading this one I know I am going to get the first one to read.
I enjoy a romance that is different from others I have read and this one was just that for me.
I want a romance that makes me smile and feel good as I read it. Weston and Paige are so likable and the dogs in the story make it even better.
This is a book that I will buy as a gift for my romance loving friends.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Weston learns that he has to live in his father's house with Paige. for a year or his estate is given to the dogs. The more time he spends with Paige, the more he likes her. I liked this book.

It was a 3 star read for me. It was good enough to keep reading it but would I read again in the future?Most likely won’t.

Reluctant Roommates continues the Sierra’s Web series with an intense story that is quite unlike any other that I’ve read recently. I cannot recall a couple so intensely determined to never, not ever get emotionally involved with each other (or anyone else for that matter)… or such a strong love to hate / enemy to lover story. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Weston and Paige – absolutely loved the pups/dogs – yet I don’t think I’m even going to try to describe their relationship, at the beginning at least. It’s complicated. And unique.

Both Paige and Weston are wounded souls, in far different ways that we won’t discover the complete details of until well into their story. Weston has a skewed memory of his father and has built himself into the exact opposite in every way possible. That his memories are not quite as clear as he believed will become obvious in time. Paige has suffered a tremendous tragedy in her past, one that has shaped who she is today… but maybe not who she can become tomorrow. Yet, in spite of knowing these things (as the reader), it was impossible to not feel the sizzling attraction between them and be somewhat surprised at their non-emotional response to that “constantly in the background” reaction. I think, in the end, that Reluctant Roommates proves that there are millions of ways that humans react to events in their lives, all unique, and some not often seen in romantic stories… at least, in my opinion. I would have called them cold, analytical… if it weren’t for the passion that was obviously just below the surface, and that each was denying it not only to each other but to themselves. I don’t use the word “fascinating” often, yet their relationship from start to finish was indeed fascinating in delivery, and in the ultimate outcome for them.

I loved the interaction with and the focus on the rescue dogs. They are described as emotionally as the humans in this story. In fact, I would have adopted them all in a heartbeat.

In all, I enjoyed Reluctant Roommates. I felt it is a well-written story that pulls the reader into a different style of a romantic couple, one with issues and complexities that we don’t often encounter. And it takes the series a bit further with some interaction with people we’ll, perhaps, one day get to know much better. I enjoyed myself here and look forward to the next story to come in this series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*

I want to read it for the dogs and I loved them, all of them. The romance is sweet and I rooted for the characters.
Compelling, entertaining, and well plotted. The characters are realistic and relatable.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a Women's Fiction/Chick-Lit/Romance, and this is the second book in the Sierra's Web series. I have not read the first book in this series, and I feel this book can be read as a standalone without any problems. I really love the characters in this book so much, and I love this hate to love thing the characters have going on. I love the dogs so much in this book. I also love the storyline/plot in this book. This book is more driven by the storyline/plot more than the characters. I really loved the ending of this book. This book pulled me into the storyline for the beginning, and it was a short read with so much put into it. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Special Edition) or author (Tara Taylor Quinn) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is scheduled to be released on April 26-2022.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

I'm not familiar with the Special Edition category line but this was an easy read with lots of cute dogs. The foster dogs are all facing different struggles but there's nothing graphic mentioned in their backstories and all the dogs are OK in the story! I remember more about the canines than the humans--the plot is a pretty straightforward "eccentric will forces strangers to live together." The heroine has a troubled backstory that does describe some violence, so take care there. The hero...is rich and doesn't like commitment? It has slipped my mind. Finally, the "Sierra's Web" conceit of the series seems a little forced and doesn't seem necessary, but I wonder if it would make more sense having read the first book.

Overall this is an easy and forgettable read, but I'd recommend reading if you like the idea of forced proximity while fostering special needs dogs!

What a beautiful romance story. I enjoyed the fake relationship and how so opposite they are but somehow they still fit well together. Loved the interaction and could feel the chemistry between them.
Beautiful romance book