When in Rome, Book 3
From the publisher:
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.
Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He’s the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.
Jack is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited about—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.
With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, he agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?“Feuding second-grade teachers learn they make a great team in this cute rivals-to-lovers romance, the third in Adams’s When in Rome series. This charms.”—Publishers Weekly
Adams hits it out of the park yet again with this feisty romance. Emily loves teaching second grade, especially since her nemesis, Jack, has moved away with his fiancée. After losing her parents when she was 8 years old, Emily can relate to family turmoil. She’s super organized and loves her students, and she always wants to be available for whatever they need.
Jack left his fiancée and got his teaching job back. He buys the only available property in this small town, a wreck of a house that turns out to be next door to Emily. They met freshman year in college when he bumped into her, spilling coffee all over her. She was in a bad place to begin with, reeling after her four-year high school relationship imploded. She takes out her anger on Jack, and they continue feuding all through college and then again when he lands a teaching job in the same school as Emily. Jack’s not sure why he feels so drawn to her when she has been so harsh to him, but he is determined to get her to soften her stance.
Emily is incensed that Jack has moved next door, and she persuades the towns people to not help him in any way. His contractor walks off the job, and the cashier in the supermarket gives him the stink eye, as do most of the residents. But Jack is a charmer, a trait he cultivated after growing up with his narcissist of a father, a best-selling mystery writer for over twenty years. Jack has watched his father be verbally abusive to his mother for years. He tries to help, but she won’t leave him.
Jack and Emily both have secrets. Emily has written a historical romance novel, her first, and is contemplating whether to burn it or submit it somewhere. Jack is actually a best-selling author, but he writes under a pseudonym. The only people who know his real identity are his agent and his publisher, and he wants to keep it that way.
As Emily and Jack start spending time together, she realizes he is not the villain she has made him out to be. Jack realizes that he has unrequited feelings for Emily, and is determined to worm his way into her heart. There are a lot of laughs along the way, and eventually, Emily realizes she is in love with Jack, and he is in love with her. But there are several bumps along the way before the happy ending. I loved these characters and their story, and the resolution rang true. Another excellent read from Adams!
1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL by Sarah Adams. Dell (January 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593723692. 384p.
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 