In Walked Trouble is the story of bartenders Remi and Maya competing for a cash bonus at work that they both desperately need. For Remi this money represents the stability of finally buying a home of her own after a life of unpredictability and disappointment. For Maya it means the ability to finish her education, become a nurse, and help sick people like her sister. The two immediately dislike each other, and its not like their forced proximity and working together will change that……..right?

This was another enjoyable novel by Dana Hawkins. A classic slow burn, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, Sapphic romance, set in the same universe as their last novel, Not In The Plan. Reading the previous novel was not at all required, but enriched the experience of this one if you did. This was a witty read that was fun while also touching on some deeper and more emotional topics and themes. The characters were great, and the plot was simple and straightforward in a good way. Picking a star rating on this one was hard, and I wish we could do partial stars. In the end I had to round down to 4; there wasn’t anything wrong with this novel, but it just didn’t have the impact I think of with a 5-star novel.

As always, possible minor spoilers below:

The Great Parts:
-The drink-special-chapter-titles are back from the last novel, and I still love them. Such a simple little thing but I am HERE for it! Each chapter heading is the name of a custom drink that foreshadows the content of the following chapter in a fun way without overt spoilers. Its almost like each chapter starts on a cliffhanger and you are enticed to read on to find out what happens.
-The writing is great, very witty, and overall well done. Particularly crossing the chapter ending/beginnings, I found myself really appreciating the writing. Reading this novel so close to reading Not In The Plan I think I can recognize that the author’s writing has gotten better between novels (not that it wasn’t good in the last one!) and that is neat to notice.
-The characters were very well done. As this was also the case in the authors last novel, I am seeing a pattern here of excellent characters. Their backstories were well developed and acted to clearly inform their actions in the present.
-The relationship development was so incredibly well done. Intimacy developed through a long and vulnerable night of conversation? YES! There isn’t anything wrong with the “standard approach” of having characters fall into bed as relationship development, but I appreciated this so much more. The MC’s relationship grows through communication and emotional vulnerability and supporting each other in times of need. The entire upward path of their relationship was excellent.
-There were a few moments of great foreshadowing that stuck in my mind and made me want answers. It was an effective narrative tool that was well done and kept me plowing through the novel.

The Parts I Didn’t Like As Much:
-The 3rd act breakup, always controversial. I will say that it made sense for the characters and was handled reasonably well overall. The inciting incident however was simple weak, or at least poorly described and developed. Mixed feelings for me all-round on this one. It was certainly the weakest part of the novel.
-The ending was a little rushed. I found this to be the same with the authors last novel as well. While I suppose the ending was “complete” I think it would have benefited from taking a little more time on the events of the last chapters as well as showing the reader a few more scenes of what happens with the characters next. This is a common complaint from me though, so you can take it with a grain of salt. To be clear: the ending was fine I just wish there was more, it did NOT ruin the novel or anything like that (which can happen).

Such a beautiful lesbian enemies to lovers romance. The buildup was perfect. The romance was incredible and felt so real. The ending was great and I wanted more Maya and Remi.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

In Walked Trouble is the story of Remi and Maya, two bartenders for Nueve’s, who over the summer are in competition to win a cash bonus for being the top bar employee.

Remi has been working at Nueve’s for four years. A favorite of the regulars and incredibly skilled behind the bar, Remi thinks she’s a shoe-in to become it’s next Head Bartender. She’s known to have a big heart, but is also described a guarded with a big temper.

Maya knows the owner of Nueve’s, who helped set her up with a summer job before she heads back to pursue her Master’s in nursing. Though less experienced in bartending, Maya demonstrates how quickly she can pick up the skills required and charm everyone around her… everyone except Remi.

When the owner of Nueve’s announces there will be a cash bonus for the top bar employee over the summer, Remi and Maya are both in it to win it. For Remi, this would be an opportunity to add to her savings in order to buy her own house - a sanctuary for both her and her friend Ben. For Maya, this is an opportunity to afford the last of her schooling before her degree, fulfilling her dream of spending time at the same university her dad attended while starting down the road to help others like her sister. To say the relationship between Remi and Maya is contentious to start is a bit of an understatement, and when Maya’s mother has a work emergency, Remi and Maya are forced together for a night to watch Maya’s little sister. It’s during this time that their animosity towards each other begins to cool, in fact, their attraction for each other begins to heat up. Will these two talented co-workers be able to overcome perceived differences and work towards trust and partnership?

I am so glad that I was able to provide an ARC review of this book, because I LOVED it! So many tummy flutters, such a wonderful development of character and plot. Generally I like my romance books with a bit more spice (this was primarily closed door romance), but the genuine love between the characters (including platonic love!) jumped off the page and made reading this a real joy. I thoroughly recommend; this was an easy 5 stars! 💚

Tropes in this story:
✨ Workplace Rivals to Lovers
✨ Secret Romance
✨ Close Proximity
✨ LGBTQ+ love

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley, but my review is all my own.

This was the second book by this author. Set in Seattle, it's about a woman wanting to make her family proud and believes the only way to do that is to own her own place and get the lead bartender position. Love is the last thing on her mind. In walks the women that shakes all her plans up. What starts as a enemies at works starts a beautiful friendship. This relationship develops faster in this book than the first book, so the story seemed rushed. There was a third act breakup but in the end they get the HEA.

The second book in the "Singles in Seattle Series" is about drinks, cocktails, long drinks and sexy bartenders! Competing bartenders to be exact.
Remi is aloof, cold and fiesty. Especially to Maya, because Maya is the competitor that Remi didn't expect.
She thought she'd waltz into the bar Nueve's, which she sees as her turf, and get a promotion.
Instead, she gets competition that she doesn't need at all and why does this competitor have to look so hot?
Maya needs money!
Gabriela's offer comes at just the right time and she's definitely not going to let an ice-cold, albeit extremely hot Remi, tell her what she can or can't do!
It's an intreresting mix of characters and a slow-burn romance with lots of little fires that simmer slowly at first.
Remi and Maya have wonderful chemistry, but they made me wait a long time and the whole time I wanted to scream, "Just kiss her!" Phew, when it finally happens!
But it is also filled with pain from the past, insecurity, loss and longing for love and family!
Beautiful second book!
Thanks to Dana Hawkins and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you so much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

In Walked Trouble follows Remi, a bartender who hopes she's been promoted, and Maya, a nursing student working a bar in her hometown Seattle for the summer. It describes both the life at the bar and Maya and Remi's growing attraction despite their competition for a bonus at the end of the summer.

I really enjoyed the characters of the story, especially Gabriella, the owner of the bar, and Maya's little sister Harper. It was also cool to read a book about bartenders after having been one for a couple months (definitely well written)! I enjoyed the bar scenes as well as the scenes at Maya's house so much.

This book is marketed as an enemies to lovers romance and while there is some rivalry at the start, both characters are into each other from page one. They also said "I love you" very very quickly, which made it too insta-love for my taste. The conflict at the end also felt a bit manufactured and would have made more sense if Remi's internal struggles around family were made a bit clearer to the reader and not just in Remi's head once or twice.

But overall this was a very cute romance that was easy to read and enjoyable. 3.5 stars.

it was hard to get into for me. but i liked it. it was fine. i really liked that each chapter had some drink.

Remi James expected, when she got called into work early, to hear she had finally gotten a promotion.

Nope.

Instead her boss has brought in a co-bartender she will now have to work with. AND compete with for a bonus she desperately needs.

Maya has come back to Seattle to finish her Nursing degree, but she's short on cash for tuition. So, like Remi, she needs that bonus.

(Minor gripe: I sort of wish we got the boss' pov, because Gabriella LOOKS like a asshole, but it's hard to say since we just have two staff povs. And the later bit... yeah, she REALLY ends up looking like a flaming asshole. No spoilers, but WOW. I know it's not a main plot bit, but yeah that bugged me. I dunno if i would rewrite, but it landed pretty badly.)

Decent slow burn.... frankly not as good as her first book. It's PRETTY GOOD, but definately not great.

I am seriously in love with Dana Hawkins and her books! She creates a world where love is accepted with all its forms. Her characters struggle with all of the usual romance story issues of course, but it’s nice to see stories where the usual hate is missing. Hopefully one day this fictional world can become reality!
Thanks to NetGalley, storm publishing and the author for this advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.