This is the perfect romance for anyone looking for older adult character (41M and 46F). Foodies who enjoy the creative side of The Bear (tv) and tiktok-binge on DIY recipes will love it.

Set on an island off of the coast of Washington, the pace has the same lolling and peaceful feeling that you would get if you moved to a small, lush town. Willa moves into the house she inherited as she moves on from her husband's death two years ago. She feels resolved to picking up the reins again, but she has a lot to do to reclaim her career as a cookbook ghostwriter. Hudson has lived on this island his entire life. He stayed after high school. He stayed when he became a young dad. And he stayed after his divorce. Now, his kids are grown but Hudson fights the urge to shake things up. Until he meets Willa. For the first time in twenty years, he feels compelled to pursue a relationship.

It was lovely reading about people who know themselves better with time, but find that life is always evolving, no matter your age. Willa's new project is writing for a tiktok sexy home chef (think: licking spoons and slapping bread dough). Her back-up plan is to fix up and sell the house she inherited to cover the mortgage. Hudson gladly puts his new contractor license to good use but he's less excited that his hard work could help her leave the island. There's a lot of flirting (on Hudson's part) and blushing (on Willa's part) with enough farm animal anecdotes to keep you laughing. It's more angst than spice (only one explicit scene) so my only gripe is that I felt left in the lurch at the end. I wish there was a bigger celebration to wrap it up, something worthy of their close knit community.

This was my second Cathy Yardley book, and I again really enjoyed it. It was exactly the comfort read I needed, and I loved seeing two 40-something main characters. The mmc is a single dad with adult children, and I thought he was an amazing dad. He takes amazing care of others, including the fmc, which were some of my favourite scenes, but I also loved seeing him realize he gets to do things for himself as well.

Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley is a delightful rom-com that's perfect for romance lovers. The story follows Willa, a cookbook ghostwriter starting over in the Pacific Northwest, and Hudson, her charming handyman neighbor. Their chemistry is off the charts, leading to a series of flirty favors and heartfelt moments.

This book is witty, engaging, and an absolute page-turner. Yardley's writing makes it easy to read and follow, with well-developed characters and a charming small-town setting. Hudson and Willa's slow-burn romance is touching and believable, full of support and mutual respect.

The happily ever after ending is satisfying, even if it felt a bit abrupt. Overall, Do Me a Favor is a must-read for anyone who enjoys sweet, romantic stories with great characters and world-building. Highly recommended!

Grieving the loss of her husband and struggling to revive her career as a cookbook ghostwriter, Willa seeks a fresh start in the Pacific Northwest. Handyman Hudson, her charming neighbor, lives on a farm with his family and their menagerie of animals. As Willa and Hudson navigate a growing attraction and the wounds of their pasts, they must decide if they have a future together.

Despite its sometimes serious themes, this book mostly has a lighthearted feel. I love that Willa and Hudson are in their forties and still chasing their dreams. They’re smart and likable and a wonderful couple I couldn’t help rooting for.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Cathy Yardley is the quintessential romance writer for characters over 40. She utterly destroys me with her take on mid life love.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This book holds a special place in my heart. I read it in audio, ebook, and paperback formats, ensuring I could enjoy it in the car, at night without a reading light, and outside during the summer. I couldn't put it down.

The story revolves around Willa, a widowed cookbook writer who moves to an island in the Pacific NW to start fresh. Her love interest, Hudson, is the island handyman with two adult children. Both Willa and Hudson have been putting themselves last for years. The addition of an escape artist dog named Noodle and a comedic goat adds a delightful touch of humor to the narrative.

I particularly appreciated the mature main characters. Reading about people my age made their motivations and challenges more relatable.

A sign of a great book is how it influences your everyday life. My family should thank Cathy Yardley for including so many recipes in the book. I was constantly inspired to try new dishes, which elevated our meals and brought joy to my cooking. If anyone finds a honey and ice cream recipe, I'd love to try it—this book made me so hungry!

If you're looking for your next read, I highly recommend "Do Me A Favor" by Cathy Yardley. It's available now.

✨ Happy Pub Day to Do Me A Favor by Cathy Yardley! ✨

I have loved every single romance I’ve read by Cathy Yardley and Do Me a Favor is no different! It balances swoon worthy romance with emotional healing while also being humorous and lighthearted. It’s full of family, small town community, goofy animal chaos, swoony romance, and the beauty of starting over and chasing your dreams.

🏡 Small Town
🫶 Family
📖 Ghostwriter
🛠️ Handyman
🧳 Moving On
💖 Romance
🐐 Goofy Goats
🐶 Adorable Dog
🧼 Fresh Start
🥘 Foodie
🪚 House Projects
❤️‍🩹 Healing

Do Me a Favor is such a sweet read that encapsulates the emotional rollercoaster of starting over, the importance of family & community and the journey of finding yourself while finding love. 10/10 recommend! 💖

Thank you Montlake for the advanced copy! 📚

A sweet and sort of spicy book about two older adults finding love after heartbreak and life get in the way. Overall, I enjoyed this story, especially the food descriptions. It's not my favorite romance I've ever read, but I still looked forward to reading it. There were a couple lines from Hudson perspective that took me out of the moment a few times; at times he seemed much less mature than I'd have expected from a 40 year old man - but, that could just be a me problem :)

Yardley writes character-based romance. She likes older protagonists who’ve seen something of life and reached an impasse, a crossreads, or reckoning. Working through their issues is integrated into the romance narrative. Do Me A Favor embodies her concept perfectly.

However, though we recognize the above in it, I didn’t enjoy the gamer world of the last Yardley romance, Role Playing, enough to see it through to the end but not fully satisfying. Do Me A Favor‘s case, though it might be labelled more conventional, was more to my taste and I enjoyed it more than Role Playing. The publisher’s blurb offers the premise and some detail:

Willa Lieu-Endicott moved from California to the Pacific Northwest to start over. Since her husband’s death, she’s been struggling to get back her old career as a cookbook ghostwriter. Unfortunately, her latest project—ghostwriting for a viral cooking sensation known more for his washboard abs than his meals—has her stuck.

Until she meets her new neighbor.

Hudson Clark, the handyman next door, lives on a farm with his parents and two adult children. He’s the opposite of everything she’s ever known. His happily chaotic life includes biker barbecues, an escape artist dog, and adorably menacing goats. He’s also got a sinfully sexy smile and a rumbling bass voice that makes her shiver. He inspires her.

From their first meeting, the two fall into an escalating cycle of favors, paybacks…and attraction, even though Willa’s trying to keep her distance.

They both have their own pasts to deal with. Now, they just have to figure out if they have a future.

The blurb suggests Hudson’s life is “chaotic,” but it isn’t. He works hard, is an established businessman; his parents run the farm. His daughter, Kimber, is done with college and making a solid financial addition to the farm by creating goat milk cheese, among other items. His son, Jeremy, though initially in Seattle with his girlfriend, is soon home, broken up and a little lost, but not chaotic. Okay, the dog Noodle is scattered as he wanders away and ends up with Willa, precipitating a great midnight meet-cute, but even Noodle is tamed when Hudson adds a doggie-door to Willa’s kitchen. Minor quibbles more to do with the blurb than the romance.

If you’re not a fan of the internal monologue, this romance isn’t for you. I liked it a lot, but much of the narrative is taken up with Hudson and Willa working out their internal obstacles to having a relationship and figuring out meaningful work. Given they’re in their forties, this makes senses. But if you’re looking for action, yeah, no. Hudson works on his years without a relationship, as he brought up the twins. Willa, on the other hand, has been widowed for two; her husband, suffering from Type 1 diabetes, lived life large and left too soon. Much of the responsibility, financial and otherwise, fell to her. At 46, she’s come to the point where she has to work out what she wants to do, what work, what home to make, where to live. She inherited her aunt’s island home and managed to get a ghostwriting contract, but she is low on confidence and income. I enjoyed how Willa and Hudson had to work out meaningful work for themselves as one of the conditions to making a commitment.

As a result of this work idea, I liked Yardley’s addition of a “cross-class” element to the romance. This comes from Hudson and I thought it was particularly well-developed. Hudson makes a solid living and his parents’ farm and now 23-year-old twins are well taken care of and on their way to caring for themselves, especially his go-get-’em daughter. Because his wife left the family when the twins were babies, Hudson committed to staying on the island, living with his parents, and working to help the islanders and still make a living. In his estimation, he lacks sophistication and worldliness because he compares himself to Willa, not because Willa makes him feel small. Willa is, given how her husband chose to live, sophisticated by Hudson standards. She lived in San Francisco, met famous chefs, and ran fancy restaurants.

Because so much contemporary romance is about decent people doing the best they can, Willa gently leads Hudson to a place where he can be less about “giving up for others” and more about making choices for himself. Willa understands how Hudson is always a care-giver, but I thought it was terrific how Yardley made a point of having Willa push Hudson to do something for himself, not give up for her. She shows him how they can still be together despite this. As important as it is for Hudson to make a career dream come true, it’s as important for Willa to learn to accept help. Help, not sacrifice, though.

More often than not, I come to the end of a romance novel and don’t think too hard about whether this couple can realistically “make it”. I assume they do, taking it on “genre” faith. But it’s easy to imagine Willa and Hudson lovingly being together forever. They’re compatible and kind and obviously care so much for one another because it’s easy to see, given they’re lives outside of being together, how well they care for others. This is a wonderful theme for a romance and Yardley nails it. Miss Austen would agree and deem Do Me A Favor “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Cathy Yardley’s Do Me A Favor is published by Montlake and releases today, July 23rd. I received an e-galley from Montlake, via Netgalley. The above is my honest and AI-free opinion.

Yardley’s writing was chef’s kiss—pun intended. This was so sweet, charming, and funny. Our MCs Hudson & Willa were lovely. Hudson’s respect and eye for vintage beauty (woodwork, old homes, mantle clocks and of course Willa) really made me love him. I just couldn’t help but think “yes Willa!” When she so eloquently explained her key and lock analogy. I also particularly enjoyed the sections where Willa describes Hudson as a Timothy Oliphant type with an ASMR deep voice and Hudson admires Willa’s high arches. Basically, I loved it all and the side characters just made this read all the more endearing! What’s more, I smiled often at the enthusiasm depicted by the narrators as it definitely brought the characters to life. Overall, this story was a reminder that it’s never too late to go after your dreams in life and love.

Thank you, Partner @LiteraryMediaTours @catheyyardley @brillianceaudio and @NetGalley for my early copies.

I’ve been a Cathy Yardley fan for a long time (since she released under Smartypants Romance), and I’m so glad I kept picking up her titles. It’s hard to pick a fave book because I love each in a different way, but Do Me a Favor is something special. This might be the one…

I wasn’t completely sure based on the blurb how it would go or how much I’d like it, but from the moment the dog forces a middle of a stormy night meet-cute between new to the small island town Willa, and long-term resident Hudson, I was hooked! She’s inherited a relative’s home and moved in after her divorce, going back to ghost writing cook books and her latest assignment is… well, not going great. Hudson is a single dad with older kids, living on a farm of sorts, with his folks, and is a handyman around the island town. The pair form an unusual friendship and relationship of favors, which is just pretty special.

The story is unique and beautiful and if you’ve read Yardley’s books before, you’ll know she’s a talented author and storyteller. The characters are deep and dynamic, and I really loved their friendship which developed over time into the something more how it did - perfectly paced and I never felt like it was off, as so many books do lately.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an advance copy. I enjoyed so much, and I know all other romance readers will enjoy it as well! Such a great representative (mixed culture relationship) book. This is my honest opinion.

I'm already at that point where reading romances where the age of the protagonists is above 30 is something sought after.

And when I got this ARC I didn't know that detail, but I'm delighted. Here we find that their ages are in their 40s.

We have Willa who is looking for her direction in life after the death of her husband and she is looking for a way to quit the job she had as a ghost writer of cookbooks (you know I hadn't thought that all those food and dessert books that celebrities publish are actually written by others) and when she moves to have a new beginning she meets Hudson.

Hudson the new neighbor, who has two grown children doesn't know how to start dating again since he hasn't carried out such an endeavor for decades.

This charming romance seasoned romance between two complicated people simmered together, it was a great adventure, watching them rediscover each other and coming to terms with these new sensations and experiences was great.

In case you had any doubts, read it for sure you will have a great time.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful story, I loved it!

Second chances, small-town romance, a dog, goats, adorable characters, slow burn. I had so much fun with this and ended up with a warm and happy feeling!

My first book from this author and it won’t be my last.

I loved reading Role Playing! So I was too excited to jump into Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley.
I absolutely adored this book. This was amazing and I loved it! The characters were great and I was honestly in love with both of them.
Another engaging romance that swept me off my feet!

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Special thanks to the author for providing me with a digital ARC of this book via Montlake on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

TL;DR: Do Me A Favor was a sweet, wholesome and sexy romance featuring older protagonists who just needed a bit of a push to love themselves first. This was a really enjoyable romance to devour (and I didn’t put it down until I finished it)! It gave me great comfort to read and I would recommend it to those who love a soft love story that balances the romance and character growth beautifully, plus a HEA for characters who couldn’t be more deserving of one.

I love Yardley’s writing. I’ll probably say this a million times in my review but there’s such a comforting and cosy quality to her words that makes it so nice to sink into her stories. 

I think what’s also done so well is the balance of the romance and the character’s journeys. Hudson and Willa had events happen in their lives that took them down paths that were different to what they initially planned. Hudson was left to raise his twins “alone” on a farm but got the support of a wonderful small island community and his adorable and doting parents. Willa had plans to take the culinary world by storm but ended up marrying young to an older man with chronic illness who lived a fast-paced, if not reckless, lifestyle. **Just a quick note here to say that, I’ve seen some reviews where people have commented specifically on the rep of Willa’s husband’s illness (Type 1 diabetes) specifically saying that the rep was not good. I cannot speak on this as it’s not my experience but if this is something that could concern you, I’d advise checking those reviews out beforehand.**

Both our MCs are caretakers who put other’s needs before their own and I think this will be relatable for a lot of readers. They had plenty of growing to do—well, it was more like growth in coming to terms with where they are in life and figuring out where they want to go from here as they no longer have the same responsibilities as their younger selves. They’re both in their 40s and contrary to what society says, life does not begin to end at this age. 😂 I honestly love that Yardley’s romances have older protagonists (42M, 46F) and how she creates these realistic down-to-earth characters who are so relatable in their life situations and struggles. Again, there’s a very comforting quality to Yardley’s writing that always makes reading her books feel a little like coming home or receiving a warm hug and I love it so much!

Hudson put his dreams on hold to raise his kids and while he wouldn’t change that for the world, even after they were grown, he continued to shove aside his aspirations to maintain the equilibrium they'd achieved. Although he’s happy living his small-town successful handyman life, he’s been made to feel like he’s not enough and like he should be ashamed of who he is and what he does. I wanted to Godzilla stomp all over those naysayers who made this sweet, loving, cinnamon roll of a man doubt himself when he's so talented and wonderful. I loved his relationship with his kids and parents—it’s so wholesome and heartwarming. The meddling done by his daughter and mother was funny and made these people feel even more real!

On the other hand, following the devastating loss of her husband, Willa has to rebuild her life and make bank to survive. She wouldn’t trade the years she had with her husband, despite it not having been ideal in many ways, but now she needs to relearn to live for herself and to put her needs first. She also wants to remember what it's like to feel sexy in her skin again and I loved the journey she goes on to rediscover her passion, sexiness and joy. I kind of wish we got some of the recipes she worked on in this book and I enjoyed seeing her reconnect with the friends she thought would no longer be there after years of silence.

The romance that grew between Hudson and Willa was so sweet and genuine! Although they have an instant attraction their romance isn’t a hot and fast burn but rather a slow and steady build. It's so satisfying to see Willa learn to open up her heart again and find joy in her body and sexuality, and Hudson was the perfect partner for her. I adored him! He’s a charmer and a sweetheart and I couldn’t get enough of his acts of service and devotion to Willa, but also his love for his kids and family and how naturally they all came together to make this hybrid loving family. There’s so much affection in his actions and we love a man who can walk the talk!

Overall, this was such a great, cosy, heartwarming, feel-good romance. I'm a fan of Yardley's writing, characters and stories. They're full of heart and emotion and I can't wait to read more by this author in the future! 😍

4.5/5

I really enjoyed this one! This was a small town mature/later in life adult romance (both in their 40s) between Willa, a widow and cookbook ghostwriter, and Hudson, a divorcee and small town handyman/contractor. Between the cute meet cute (features a dog!) and just how great Hudson is with Willa, I really ate this one up! Hudson was truly one of the sweetest, most thoughtful, considerate fictional human beings. I really loved how he treated Willa and all the small things he’d do for her. There was more than just romance in this book too—lots of little life lessons and I thought the character growth with Willa was great as well.

I feel like I haven’t read many more mature in age romances since I’m in my 20s myself, but I really enjoyed this one!

Upped to 4.5, I adore Cathy Yardley and appreciate her specific genre of older generation couples (though 40+'s shouldn't be considered by any means) In a way, she does paint a beautiful tapestry of characters who in their own unique ways may not know what they're looking for but are seeking their second chance not with each other but in life which is how I pictured the two main characters in this novel. The immediate physical chemistry was certainly there, the stakes of each character as well was leveled and worked for the small town (in this case island) scenario. I was definitely engaged with the story though found myself wondering if there were things that could have been summarized rather than drawn. There were often times where the FMC's flusteration was a bit much but overall she does come into her own once out of the mud of her own mind and what'd shed endured.

A slow-burn, second chance at love and life romance, Do Me A Favor had me absolutely glued to the page! Willa is a food scientist-turned-cookbook ghostwriter trying to figure out life after her husband passed away. Hudson is a handyman and a single dad of (adult) twins who always tends to put others first. Could they find what they've always needed in each other? I adore a romance with 40+ year old characters, and Cathy Yardley writes them so well! Willa and Hudson were so supportive of each other and their chemistry was SO good. Family, support, and love are big themes in this romance, and the small town island life was a dream of a location. Five stars was so easy to give to Do Me a Favor! I highly recommend this one.

Do Me a Favor is a wonderful small town romance. Willa has moved to a small island in the Pacific Northwest to find her footing again after becoming a widow, where she meets Hudson a single dad also in his forties. The pace, dialogue, and side characters made the story such a pleasure to read. This is a quiet romance, filled with tenderness and tough conversations. A slow burn that builds to a wonderful HEA!

Do Me A Favor is the first book that I have read by this author but won’t be the last. I enjoyed the writing style and appreciated the fact that the main characters were older. I really connected with Willa and could feel her emotions as she tried to make a new life for herself after her husband’s death. After moving to a new place and taking on more that she could handle she finds herself getting closer to her new neighbor, Hudson. I absolutely loved Hudson and how he helped Willa and was there for her. This was a beautiful story and out love, loss, grief and finding love again later in life. I am looking forward to reading more by this author!