Can a summer fling become the love of a lifetime? Perpetual good girl Caterina Longo is dependable to a fault. At 33, she’s never called in sick. Never had a one-night stand. Never taken a chance in her entire life. When she walks in on a cheating ex and sees everything wrong with her life, she takes off on a solo vacation, busting out of her comfort zone and into the arms of a guy she never saw … guy she never saw coming.
Joe Hunter has no room for distractions. Making his restaurant a success and proving his worth to his family—and himself—is his sole focus. At least it is until a beautiful stranger, in search of fried food and a shoulder, wanders in one night.
Is two weeks of unexpected, life-altering passion all they’re meant to share? What happens when vacation ends and real life takes over?
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No Vacancy by Stephanie Rose is a steamy, contemporary, vacation romance told in first person, dual POV.
When Caterina Longo catches her boyfriend cheating, she leaves a few days early for the weekend girls’ trip she has planned with her best friends. A few days alone to process and regroup will do her good. She doesn’t expect to meet anyone, but when Caterina wanders into The Beach Pub and meets the sexy owner, Joe Hunter, all bets are off. Their mutual attraction is intense, things heat up between them very quickly, and it seems like their connection is much more than merely physical. But is that even possible?
Do Caterina and Joe have something real and potentially lasting? Or is this just a summer fling? Will they find a way to make things work when vacation time is over? Or will they simply part ways and savor the memories?
I really enjoyed Caterina and Joe’s story. I liked them both as characters and found it easy to be invested in them and root for them throughout their struggles. Their chemistry was magnetic, tangible, and scorching hot! An incredibly sexy, romantic, and entertaining read.
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. ***
No Vacancy is a steamy, insta-attraction type of romance. The chemistry between Joe and Catarina was immediate and never slowed down throughout their whirlwind romance. Life, however, got in the way and they were both challenged making a long distance relationship work. The key was, no matter how hard things became, never to give up on the love they had. It may have been unexpected, but it was so worth it.
No Vacancy is such a sweet romance. I loved Joe and Caterina. Stephanie Rose delivers a perfect romance with characters who have an incredible connection and chemistry. I loved their struggle, I loved how they made it work and at the end of this book of wonderful characters, I felt good and wanted more of them.
Caterina is broken-hearted by her cheating ex. She meets Joe- who is a hardworking and really only makes time for his restaurant. Their instant connection makes sense. They question it throughout the book but give into their feelings. As they try and find a way to make distance work in their busy lives… they need to find a way to be together.
Stephanie Rose gives readers another great book with characters we love! No Vacancy is a great read!
This is by far the sexiest book that Miss Rose has written ever! boy it had me fanning myself! besides their amazing and hot chemistry, No vacancy ran deeper and be prepared to get hit with a series of feels, you won’t see coming! you won’t be able to put this book down! that’s for sure.
This was my first book from Stephanie Rose. I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story of Joe and Caterina pulls you in from the start and never lets go. You follow these fated lovers as they meet, fall in love and overcome the obstacles of merging two lives into one shared one.
I loved how well the characters were developed, both the main characters and supporting characters. Stephanie does a great job building a realistic picture of her characters, including their flaws and challenges, and making you root for their HEA. I felt like I could show up in Ocean Cove, stroll into The Beach Pub and see Joe and Cat chatting at the bar. I’m looking to book my next vacation there now!
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for more from this very talented author.
Stephanie Rose is a new to me author and I must say, I am so glad I found her books!
This book grabbed me from the very first chapter. I love the way that Joe knows what he wants and goes for it. And I love his mouth! Cat fights the attraction at first but when it’s love, you have to give in to it!
I will definitely be reading more books by this author!
“You were everything I didn’t know I was looking for. And I don’t think I can let you go.” From No Vacancy by Stephanie Rose
If you love romance and men who deserve the title of hero, then read No Vacancy. Catarina Longo, of New York, heads out on vacation ahead of her friends for some alone time after being betrayed by the man she thought loved her. It is there she meets Joe Hunter, the very busy owner of a New Jersey beach bar/restaurant.
Even though she is on the heels of a very recent break up, she is drawn to him and they have an instant physical and emotional connection. I do believe in love at first site, and this book will make a believer out of you too! The writing was beautiful and the character development was everything I could hope for in a romance.
I loved how enamored they both were, and how they took a chance on love even though all the odds were against them. These two soul mates trusted their feelings, even though they lived hours apart and both had demanding careers.
They admired each other and got along so well, and I loved that there was little angst. I loved how they were honest with each other from the beginning, and how they compromised, reevaluated what is important, and made their own happily ever after. This book has all the warm fuzzy feels, plus loads of steamy hot sexy times, proving that love is worth the risk!
I also really enjoyed Joe’s interactions with his parents, Samantha and Lucas who have their own book, Always You, and with his sister and brother in-law, Owen, from Finding Me. No Vacancy is a standalone with great supporting characters including all of Catarina’s girlfriends. Can’t wait for more!
Caterina is taking a vacation before her vacation begins. I guess you can say she is leaving for vacation early. She would never have done something like this if she hadn’t gotten home a little earlier then normal and walked in on her boyfriend being blowed. Yep, poor girl.
She goes to get a bite to eat at a recommend place where she meets handsome Joe. *Insert dreamy eyes* it’s practically live at first sight for him and confusion to her for her instant attraction to him.
One things leads to another…
This story was pretty good. I enjoyed it very much, but the ending isn’t how I wanted it. I’m not gonna elaborate. It is a HEA – you’ll see what I mean. But because of this and how invested in the story I was/am – I’m giving this one 4.5 stars.
And now I’m forced to patiently wait for Dominic’s story. *sigh*
Yes, I really recommend you read this one. It can be read all on its own.
This was another solid offering from this author! Cat got the wake up call she needed the day she came home early and found her fiance in a compromising position with another woman. She decides to leave for a scheduled vacation early and she meets Joe, the owner of a local bar and grill. Cat and Joe get together that first night thinking it would be just a fling. Neither one of them could let the other go. This book was such a pleasure to read! Can’t wait to see what the rest of the gang has to bring.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book! Well done
Steam, swoons, sizzling chemistry, and romance for days!
Ladies and gentlemen, *this* was romance. No Vacancy is the kind of book that you want to get lost and swept away in. Joe and Cat have the kind of love I want to daydream about and that makes reading romance such a great escape. These two were fantastic characters on their own and perfection together. There wasn’t a second that I didn’t root for them. Also, can we get a round of applause for the deliciousness that is Joseph Kellan Hunter! HOLY WOW! His swoon-worthiness is so high he went directly into my book boyfriend hall of fame!
Stephanie Rose has not only delivered a substantial insta-love story that feels whole, is utterly consuming, and wildly romantic, she’s also mastered the art of creating stories and characters that feel tangible, real, and completely relatable. In short, she made magic!
Oh my lord!!!! No Vacancy is such a heartwarming and gorgeous romance that made me feel so good and full of warmth and love for these characters. It’s low on angst and so goddamn romantic. I couldn’t ask for more. The steam is off the charts thanks to Joe and his filthy mouth. He’s such a good man and it was amazing to see him with his parents, Samantha and Lucas who has their own book Always You, and with his brother in law Owen, from Finding Me. No Vacancy can easily be read as a standalone but for me who’s read the other books it was a special treat.
The Second Chances series is all about the family bond and friendships and here it was good to see the Hunter family supporting Joe when his relationship with Catarina got rocky.
Catarina and Joe hook up on the same night they first met. I was a little nervous about this premise. My first thought was they moved too fast and it’s too insta lust. Thankfully the author lets these two characters flourish. Their friendship evolve organically and grow into something deeper and stronger. Their courtship is a wonderful dance filled with conversations and romantic dates. They share an incredible and delicious chemistry wishing I could take Catarina’s place instead 😉
The relationship has profound effect on both of them resulting in them reevaluating their life and what they want for the future. Both Catarina and Joe have some great friends especially Joe’s colleague Dominic gives him a nudge when it’s needed. I’m so excited to know that he will get a book.
No Vacancy is all romance and no drama. My needs and wishes was definitely fulfilled.
5 Dirty Joe Stars
Cat and Joe were so hot together. There chemistry was off the charts. Joe is trying to prove his worth to his family and Cat is going through a bit of a rough time. Together these two create magic. Joe was hot and so swoon worthy. Cat is the type of heroine I love. Stephanie, always draws me in with her words, and No Vacancy wasnt different. I could not stop reading this book and never wanted it to end. Amazing Job!
Last year, I binged all of the books by this author so I had fresh memories of a younger Joe but WOW did he grow up to be the dirtiest boy ever!!!
Not only is Joe a dirty talker, he’s a true romantic and an all around great guy. I had high expectations for the lady who was going to be entering into one of my favorite families and Caterina checks all the boxes!! She might play it safe most of the time but her ability to stand up for herself made me cheer her on (sometimes out loud, in public- so that’s not embarrassing or anything). They were only meant to be a summer fling but I knew from the very first time they met that they were too perfect for each other to not last.
I loved the check ins with Joe’s family (OT is still all the swoon). I loved that these two made my heart warm up and sigh contentedly. This book deserves way more than five stars!!!
Such a beautiful love story!
Cat is in a tough place, coming off a failed relationship that causes her to re-evaluate her work/life balance. She gets a jump on her planned vacation with friends, and meets Joe, the local business owner who could be The One, if she was in a place to offer anything more than a one-night-stand.
Joe’s instant and undeniable devotion to Cat was mystifying to him, but oh-so-swoon-worthy to read. This author does an amazing job of detailing the intensity of their chemistry and attraction, and balancing that with the need to be reasonable and sensible about the inherent complications of a long-distance relationship.
More than just a love story, however, this book delves deep into both Cat’s and Joe’s histories and the choices that have brought them career success but may yet be inhibiting their social and relationship goals. It’s a very personal look, filled with lots of humor and more than a little steam. Poignant at times and heartwarming throughout, it’s the kind of book that stays in your heart and is worth reading more than once. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Stephanie Rose is an author whose work I will read without peeking at the blurb. And that is exactly what I did with No Vacancy. Oh man- this book was full of charm, whimsy and heart. It made me yearn for long summer days at the beach.
I adored Caterina. Her drive. Her tender heart. Her relationship with her mom. While I didn’t like what sent her running to the shore, I’m glad she took a stand for herself. Took the chance to get away. And found Joe. Holy swoonville with a mozzarella stick on top! That man, and he is all man, didn’t know what hit him the first time he saw Caterina. The connection and chemistry was instantaneous. Undeniable. Pulsing. Explosive. And the mouth on Joe…whew HOT!
But time was working against them from the start. She was only there for the week. His whole life was there… Even with the distance and life happening around them, they still found time to try and make it work. Emotions were high and hearts were on the line and it was all Joe could do to remind Caterina of what they had promised.
As someone who grew up spending summers at the beach, I was there with the sights and smells (and food). As someone who did a long distance relationship I felt it.That longing and need. No Vacancy is the type of book I love to get lost in. Give me strong, relatable characters. Give me wonderful friendships. Make me want to live in a beach town. Stephanie Rose did that with Joe and Caterina. Their story proves that when love is on the line, there is always a way to make it work and zeppole’s never hurt!
When I knew this was an insta-love story, I expected a short book with just the meeting, the connection and the HEA.
But how wrong I was, yes, it was an insta connection between Joe and Cat, but both of them being planners and responsibles it gets a little complicated to follow this feeling they can’t explain.
“You have me in a way no one else ever has. You should know that by now.”
It was pleasant to read good arguments about what could and could not work for them and both trying to do everything to make this work.