“Complete with hot sex scenes, snarky double-entendres, slapstick humor, and quirky girlfriends, this comedic romp through modern-day dating checks all the romance boxes.” -Kirkus Reviews Willa Frank has one simple rule: never go on a date with anyone more than twice. Now that her business is providing the stability she’s always needed, she can’t afford distractions. Her two-date rule will … two-date rule will protect her just fine…until she meets smokejumper Grady Billman.
After one date–one amazing, unforgettable date–Grady isn’t ready to call it quits, despite his own no-attachments policy, and he’s found a sneaky way around both their rules.
Throwing gutter balls with pitchers of beer? Not a real date. Everyone knows bowling doesn’t count.
Watching a band play at a local show? They just happen to have the same great taste in music. Definitely not a date.
Hiking? Nope. How can exercise be considered a date?
With every “non-date” Grady suggests, his reasoning gets more ridiculous, and Willa must admit she’s having fun playing along. But when their time together costs Willa two critical clients, it’s clear she needs to focus on the only thing that matters–her future. And really, he should do the same.
But what is she supposed to do with a future that looks gray without Grady in it?
Each book in the Where There’s Smoke series is STANDALONE:
* The Two-Date Rule
* Just a Little Bet
* The Best Kept Secret
more
This book had me from the very first chapter. I loved the meet cute between the couple and have read it a couple of times. It is very fun, and enjoy it every time. I was instantly drawn into the interaction between Willa and Grady. The idea of the couple meeting completely coincidentally, and the misunderstanding makes for truly entertaining humor too.
As the story progresses, I truly appreciated both the reluctance, and excuses found by both of the characters to continue seeing each other. The Two Date Rule served as a great guideline for the heroine but her reserve for allowing anyone past that point is a deeper topic. The hero also has some of his own challenges, and the way that the author, Tawna Fenske blends the two together demonstrates a great tale for the baggage that we each carry with us, and some of the ways we let our preconceptions, backgrounds and life history to impact our relationships.
This is a fun and easy read, but I really liked that the subject matter delves a bit deeper than the surface. Both of the characters have some truly legitimate challenges in their personal history. This is the stuff of real life for readers, and this author does it very well. I greatly appreciate the way that Tawna blends the difficult topics into her stories, so that there is a bit more substance that they are working on during the course of their story. Sometimes I like a lighter read, but often I enjoy having a bit more substance to the story line. This is one of those books.
As always Tawna has created a fabulous blend of characters, situations, humor, and moments to pull a bit on the heartstrings. I’m guessing you will learn a few more things about smokejumpers along the way, and if you have ideas of catching one for yourself you may want to find a good sewing kit to keep around just in case!
I was provided with an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Willa meets the hunk of a lifetime while her friends are enjoying strippers. She assumes he is one of them. Instead he has a solid job, and a sexy body, and moves she has never before seen.
Grady cannot believe he bargained a date with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen over a trip to the bathroom for three women. He only knows he cannot wait to see her again. He is rethinking all of his own ideas about dating after meeting Willa.
Such a sexy and fun story! Just what I have come to enjoy from this author. These characters made me laugh. That is always welcome in a romance book. I found this one had a lot of surprises and the best one you must read this book for.
***This early copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers in exchange for an honest review.
While Willa and Grady’s story was both funny and serious, it wasn’t what I would call a romantic comedy like Fenske’s Ponderosa Resort books. But it certainly didn’t take away from the solid and engaging romance between smokejumper Grady and small business owner Willa. I had a harder time connecting with Willa, because although I understood how her upbringing affected her personality, she was wound a bit tight.
I loved their meet-cute, the texting exchanges between the two and how they rationalized that each of their “dates” weren’t exactly dates…even though most people would count them as dates! My biggest issue was the conflict that tore them apart. Based upon Willa’s hyper-vigilance in all things business related, I just didn’t buy it. I understand why the author used this method to create conflict, but it didn’t ring true to me.
Regardless, I fully enjoyed the first book in what looks to be a great new series from a favorite, must-read author.
This was so good, guys.
In this new series, we have Willa and Grady; they meet at a strip club and after a misunderstanding, they start dating. Which would be all awesome and stuff, except Willa only dates guys for two dates… too bad Grady was awesome, lol.
I loved these two, Willa was great, caring, patient and went through so much, my heart ached for her so hard. I simply wanted to hug her and solve her issues, lol. Her friends were awesome and hopefully we’ll hear more from them in future books.
So glad Grady came into the picture, he was funny, brave and generous as hell. He also had issues from his past, he just only bury them and didn’t think of them.
I loved these two together, they complemented each other perfectly. I loved Willa taught Grady that plans are possible; and he taught her that you can’t control everything, and that’s ok!
Such a fun start of this series, I can’t wait to read more of this! <3
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy for which I’m giving my honest opinion*
I enjoyed reading how Willa and Grady fall for each other. Their first meeting had me chuckling. These two help each other work through some issues each of them are facing and give the other one the courage to face their past and their furture. This story is cute and fun. It is and enjoyable light hearted read for me.
This is book 1 in a new series and it is off to a good start. The story is emotional on so many levels. Fear of commitment. Fear of failure. Fear of poverty. Fear that there might not be a tomorrow. Both Willa and Grady have these fears and so many more. Willa is a planner. Her life is scheduled and organized for fear of ending up like her father with nothing; no stability, no job, and at times no home. Grady, on the other hand, lives for the here and now for fear something might happen on a jump and he won’t be here tomorrow.
The fears are real and both need to come to terms with why they have these fears and what can they do about them.
Growing up in a single parent home and being an only child, I related to Willa. You grow up fast, learning to be the parent at times. You learn how to budget very quickly and how to make the most of the money you have. You learn to do activities with little to no cost. And when you want a splurge, you learn to save for it. You learn to put money away, because you just don’t know what might happen in the future. It becomes a way of life and it is hard to break those habits. Just ask my husband. Even now, we coupon shop and save our coins. I did not experience most of the challenges that Willa did, but it reminded me of growing up.
The start of Tawna Fenske’s new series is an adorable romcom that nonetheless has serious undertones, something this author does very well. Grady is a “live for today” smokejumper from a large family who is comfortable with chaos and knows he should be planning for the future, but doesn’t want to think about that right now. Willa is a “perpetual planner”. She has some fairly serious abandonment/anxiety issues after experiencing poverty and occasional homelessness with her feckless, alcoholic father. As a result she has real problems with spontaneity and is scared that if she doesn’t work all the time and always have new web design jobs lined up, she’ll fail and be broke.
Willa doesn’t want to be distracted from her career goals so she has a 2 date rule to keep from getting involved too deeply with any guy. Grady meanwhile is instantly smitten and won’t take no for an answer, so whenever he asks to spend time with Willa, he insists it’s not a date so that she won’t cut him off. This leads to some fun situations and really cute banter between them. You could definitely feel the sparks and were rooting for them both throughout the book.
Willa is a woman who feels deeply. My heart broke a little for her as she tried so hard to create stability after coming from a background of chaos. Grady was totally a good guy, never hesitating to run toward danger if he saw someone in need, 100 % caretaker alpha, absolutely bonkers over Willa from the moment he saw her, and trying hard to win more time with her while also trying not to trigger her anxiety over dating. These two were just adorable together and their romance gave me a warm, happy feeling.
This book was really great! I loved how it started with ‘Smokey the Bare’ and how both Willa and Grady pushed the definitions of Willa’s second date rule. I enjoyed meeting Willa’s friends, Grady’s teammates, as well as his family and of course we can’t forget about Willa’s amazing pets; Stevie, Earmuff, Wheelbarrow (Barrow), and Carl. This story was definitely hard to read in some places and I definitely felt for Willa and her past, but I liked how she got her closure, was able to help her dad and she and Grady both compromised on things big and small. I loved the behind the scenes where Grady works as a smokejumper and the ‘largest sewing circle on the West Coast’ and also the guys catching up on The Bachelor. So many amazing parts to this story. My favorite line in this story is, ‘And allow yourself to be happy. Don’t fight it; don’t decide that you don’t deserve it. You do. You deserve the world, baby girl.” This will definitely be a book I’ll read again and again. Definitely looking forward to reading more from this author and this series!
I enjoyed reading this so much and it being my first book by this author, I didn’t have any expectations. The story is sweet and sexy but also fun. I was smiling and laughing at Grady and his sneaky ways of getting more “dates” and not calling them that. He brought out the fun that Willa needed in her life.
This book starts with a hilarious case of mistaken identity. I loved the first interaction between Willa and Grady.
Willa and Grady’s story is a lot of hilarious but with their backgrounds, also a lot of angst. No-strings should have been easy for two people who avoid commitment like it’s s some kind of disease but of course that’s not the way their story goes.
This is an awesome start to this new series and I can’t wait for the next one!!
4+ Stars!
This author is easily able to change the tone of her storytelling when switching from women’s fiction, her Entangled-published rom-coms, and her indie-published small town rom-coms. While Fenske’s women’s fiction/romance are some of my favorites, I have had great success with her Entangled releases. The Two-Date Rule was another wonderful entry from this line that showcased the author’s quick wit, banter, and realistic poignancy. Initially, I felt like the actual two-date rule by the heroine was going to be a contrived plot device, but as the story progressed and more of Willa’s past was revealed, her strict, self-mandated rules began to make sense. The way that both the H/h lived their adult lives through a child’s filter of what they witnessed growing up, was very realistic. Both characters had to confront those skewed perspectives in order to see a future with each other. I enjoyed this conflict and how they reconciled. With light wit and a highly developed story, this author continues to remain a favorite.
One thing I love about Tawna’s books is how she makes the characters so relatable. Both the main characters in Two-Date Rule have issues that hold them back and yet they both learn to work through them in order to be together and just be stronger people, in general. As usual with Tawna’s books I was laughing out loud multiple times and couldn’t help but love the characters. There were times when I wanted to smack Willa upside the head but then again I would do that to my best friend in this same situation, so once again, very relatable! Tawna is so good with the playful banter and witty remarks for her characters, yet she makes sure each character is still unique. I can’t ever put Tawna’s books down and was glad I got the opportunity to give my review, thanks to the publisher’s advanced reader copy.
4.25 stars
“The Two-Date Rule” by Tawna Fenske centers around Willa Frank, a driven woman who mistakes smokejumper Grady Billman for a stripper. Willa’s stipulation that she only allows herself to date a man twice prompts Grady to be very creative in planning “outings” that aren’t dates. Unfortunately, he may not be able to get Willa to join him in his casual approach to life, so the second date may never become a major concern.
This adult contemporary romance is the first book in the ‘Smokejumper’ series and is a perfect pick-me-up for a gloomy day. The chemistry and cute repartee between the main characters is fun and heartwarming, and the gradual revelations about their respective backgrounds keep one invested in the story. I love Willa’s collection of handicapped pets and what that says about her, and I enjoyed Grady’s ability to adjust to whatever is being thrown at him, including a desperate request for the use of a bathroom. There are delightful comedic elements that are counterbalanced by the serious issues that keep Willa off-kilter, and even though I thought the demands that result in the major conflict were ridiculous, I could see how they would threaten everything Willa has worked for.
I was in kind of a blah mood when I started this story, but it immediately caught my attention and brightened my day. I love that Grady looked at the relationship in this fashion: “This was how it was, getting to know her, like a treasure hunt of sorts.” This is a fun and touching romantic comedy and I look forward to reading other stories in the series by this talented author.
A copy of this title was provided for review
A fun and emotional roller coaster. Willa and Grady are complete opposites except for their immense physical attraction. Willa is always planning her financial future because of the hard life she had growing up. She is determined to succeed and have the life she was denied asa child. Grady likes to live in the moment because his job is risky and he doesn’t know if he will live to see another day. It takes a lot of determination and some honest talk with both their parents before they realize that if you love someone you will work your hardest to find a compromise and stay together forever.
Willa and Grady appear as a classic opposites attract on the surface, but as Fenske digs deeper you realize they are both fighting similar insecurities. Grady’s creativity in planning non-dates will keep you reading long after you should be turning out the lights. But at least you will dream laughing.
An attraction of opposites. Willa is a workaholic due to her impoverished childhood and plans constantly whilst smokejumper Grady knows that his job is dangerous and therefore lives for the moment. Willa needs to be in control of her life and finances and to that end doesn’t want a relationship that might interfere with her work ethics. However Grady tempts her to break her own rules. I loved this story and how the two characters complemented each other, making each (eventually) a better person.
It was nice for me to identify with the heroine – Willa’s spending habits are so much like my own!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a great start to a new series. I really loved Grady and Willa. And their meet cute was perfect- perfectly hilarious and embarrassing for Willa. Both Grady and Willa did not want a serious relationship- home because of his job and her because of her childhood. They were complete opposites but were perfect for each other, they each needed what the other brought to the relationship.
Willa had two great friends in, Kayla and Aislin, and they made her have a life outside of work. I also enjoyed Grady’s family and his fellow smokejumpers, mainly Tony.
I was so happy that Willa was able to get answers regarding her childhood and that it helped her realize how good Grady was for her. And that Grady was able to start to look forward to a future with someone when he never did before. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series.
The Two Date Rule is a fantastic cute fun read and the perfect start the Smokejumper series. Willa is spunky and I have how she has no filter. She doesn’t do relationships. As you get to know her you will see why she is the way she is. Then there is Grady and their whole meet cute moment that will make you laugh out loud. I love Grady so much. He is persistent and knows what he wants. You will love how he finds ways around Willa’s silly two date rule. I love the banter and the chemistry between Willa and Grady. There are plenty of those laugh out loud moments that you will love as long as those heart squeezing ones too. I loved this book so much and I didn’t want to put it down at all. I can’t wait for more Smokejumper books to come.
THE TWO-DATE RULE is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult SMOKEJUMPER erotic, romance series. This is Smokejumper Grady Billman, and thirty-one year old, website designer Willa Frank’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Grady and Willa) THE TWO-DATE RULE follows the building relationship between Smokejumper Grady Billman, and website designer Willa Frank. A night out with friends at a strip club finds Willa Frank face to face with a man she believes is part of the evening’s entertainment. A promise of dinner at a high-end restaurant finds our heroine struggling with wasteful expenses and enacts her two-date rule to get out before it is too late but all does not go according to plan when Willa and Grady’s series of non-date, dates finds our couple falling in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Grady and Willa, and the potential fall-out as Willa struggles Grady’s lack of preparedness for the future, and her inability to let go of the past.
Willa Frank does not do relationships having watched the failure of her parent’s marriage destroy her father, turning him into a struggling alcoholic. The two-date rule allows our heroine to walk away without any pressure but all is not well in Willa’s well-ordered world. Constantly worried about money and expenses, Willa battles between head and heart every time Grady wants to be spontaneous or take her out to dinner. Grady Billman comes from a very large family where most of his brothers are also Smokejumpers. Having watched his mother struggle without his father’s absence Grady reconsiders his future, and his future with the woman with whom he will fall in love.
The relationship between Grady and Willa is one of immediate attraction but Willa is determined to stick to her two-date rule, even though Grady makes sure that every time they are together, it isn’t considered one of their two dates, ever.When Grady forces Willa to take a weekend for herself, Willa discovers that stepping out of her comfort zone threatens her emotional stability. Willa’s worry aka obsession about money threatens her relationship with the man with whom she will fall in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Willa’s best friends Kayla and Aislin; Grady’s fellow Smokejumpers Tony Warren, Ryan and Jimmy; Willa’s father; Grady’s parents and his nine brothers and sisters.
THE TWO-DATE RULE is a story of family, dysfunction, struggle and acceptance. The premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is seductive.
A Tawna Fenske book is so much fun to read. The Two-Date Rule is no exception. I loved all the fun dialogue and cracked up at hero Grady Billman’s unique ways to keep seeing heroine Willa Frank without calling the times they spent together dates. This author has a great sense of humor and I really enjoyed reading this book.