REVIEW: Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton

Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton: Ben Crawford and Olivia Knight have been enemies since high school when his mom and her dad ran off together leaving a trail of gossip for the citizens of Shell Grove. They both had taken their anger and frustration over the situation out on each other.

Olivia had hoped to never see Ben again. He had made her time in high school unbearable with his cocky attitude. Now he was staying at her family’s bed and breakfast, The Paradise Cove Bed & Breakfast, and she had to see him every day. She had never gotten over the hurt and embarrassment from her father’s desertion of her and her mother when he ran away with Ben’s mother. For years he had tried to explain but she never gave him the chance. She loves the B&B and wants to purchase from him and her aunt, but he won’t sell to her until he has a chance to talk to her.

After graduating high school, Ben left town as fast as he could to escape his abusive father. Now he has returned to Shell Grove as the new sheriff after serving in the Marines. He liked living in a small town and felt by returning to Shell Grove he could right some of the wrongs he had done as a teenager. He and Olivia had always traded insults and barbs, but he always admired her. She always stood up for herself and gave as good as she got. He wasn’t familiar with the feelings of protectiveness and possessiveness he felt for her all of a sudden, but he always felt like she was his. Seeing her always grounded him and he finally acknowledged he had returned to Shell Grove for her. But his secret could ruin their happiness when it came out.

I loved Ben and Olivia’s cute “reunion” scene. It was a perfect scenario to set up the transition of their relationship and feelings of being enemies to the attraction between them. The chemistry between them was off the charts from the beginning and just got hotter. Although their sarcasm and witty banter was fun, I loved seeing them find their way through all the hurt from the past and become friends and then fall in love.

This was a book that kept me laughing and one that will stand out in my mind several months from now. I highly recommend this book and I plan to go back and read the first book in the series. It sounds like it is just as funny and entertaining as this one was.

Book Info:

Traci| 4.5 Stars | HJ Top Pick | No |
Publication: August 1, 2022 | Amazon Digital Services LLC | Shell Grove Book 2

There’s a new sheriff in town…
And he’s her worst nightmare.

Reason #1: Ben Crawford is Olivia Knight’s long-time arch rival. They’ve been sworn enemies ever since she wore overalls to school one day, and he asked her in homeroom where she parked her cow. Now that he’s back, it doesn’t appear much has changed. He’s still arrogant. He’s still trouble. And this time, he’s got a badge and handcuffs. Which will make murdering him and disposing of his body much more challenging for her.

Reason #2: Sheriff Ben has done a lot of growing up during his time away from Shell Grove. He went and got himself some muscles and tattoos, and has the nerve to wear that sheriff’s uniform absurdly well. For some reason, that’s all she can seem to focus on whenever they cross paths. All the nice changes he’s made, instead of how vehemently she’s vowed to hate his guts for all eternity.

Reason #3: The complicated connection that has forever entwined their lives doesn’t have a pleasant backstory. As adults, they should be able to forget what happened when they were teenagers and move on. But in a small town where everyone has long memories, there are reminders everywhere of the nasty events that destroyed both of their families years ago. And she’s not sure their growing feelings for each other are enough to forgive the sins of the past and carve out a future…together.

Ben has a secret. A big one. The longer he’s in Shell Grove and surrounded by people who know his sordid history, the more likely that secret is going to come out. But if it does, Olivia will never speak to him again. Which will not do. Because he’s finally realized that Olivia is the reason why he came back to town in the first place. And if he doesn’t want to lose her forever, he needs to correct the mistakes he made a long time ago and prove he’s not the NEMESIS she’s always thought him to be.