[ARC REVIEW] “Sizzle” by Carrie Aarons

The newest book in Carrie Aarons’ Ashton Family series is here — and it’s time for Liam and Gabrielle’s love story!

What is Sizzle by Carrie Aarons about?

Everyone knows that if there was an award for biggest small town grump, Liam Ashton would win for Hope Crest, Pennsylvania no questions asked.

The reclusive, brooding farmer might be part of the family business and do anything for those closest to him, but his bark keeps almost everyone else away. Perhaps that’s what happens when you fall in love at first sight but aren’t allowed to be with the soulmate you didn’t realize you were looking for.

When the forbidden woman of his dreams blows back into town, he might finally get a shot to convince her they’re destined to be together. Only, her denials and refusals won’t let him get anywhere near her.

Gabrielle Murphy swore she’d never return to the town where she took her first teaching job. She’d done the right thing, once upon a time, and there is no room to question what if.

But when the only woman who ever understood her passes and leaves her to clean up the pieces, she can’t exactly say no. Get in, fulfill her grandmother’s wishes, and get out. That’s the plan. Until Liam confronts her and they give in to the unmatched inferno that’s been blazing between them forever.

Even though there is nothing standing in the way of a happily ever after this time, Gabrielle still can’t let this surly version of the Liam she once knew love her completely.

Until a surprise binds them to each other for the foreseeable future, and they have to forgive enough to move forward. But just as the ice around their hearts starts to thaw, darker outside forces threaten to ruin their chance before it’s even taken.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review:

“Sizzle” is another sweet addition to the Ashton Family series! After first meeting Liam and Gabrielle in the first book of the series, “Bittersweet,” I was excited to find out that the two of them were going to get their own love story. From the moment we first met Liam, it was obvious that he was kind of a loner or outsider compared to the rest of his family — not in the sense that they were alienating him, but in that it was just his personality and vibe.

The third book in Carrie’s Callahan Family series, “Check Swing,” was also a surprise pregnancy romance, so I was kind of surprised (no pun intended) when the third book in this family series also used that same trope.

Even though this book has the forbidden aspect of teacher/student, it’s former teacher/student and there’s only a three year age gap, so don’t let that dissuade you from reading it if it’s normally not your thing! The story has a lot of angst and drama, not to mention emotions, but that’s what makes Carrie’s books so fun and engaging to read.

We get to see Liam and Gabrielle go through a lot of growth, both individually and together. It’s easy to root for the two of them, and it was nice to read a forbidden romance that had the aspects of the teacher/student forbiddenness, but without the huge age gap that those types of stories usually do.

Overall, I really love how across the series, it’s so clear how close their family is. Even though some of their dynamics are complicated at times, getting to see the characters from previous (and future) books pop up and getting a sense for their stories to come (or how they’ve ended up since the previous books) are one of my favorite things. The next book is Evan and August’s book (titled “Hearty”), which is releasing on April 26, and I’m excited to see where their story goes next!

The book is available to read for free now on Kindle Unlimited! Special thanks to Carrie for providing me with an ARC to review!

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