Exes Don't by Leah Dobrinska: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

A fast-paced and fun sports and spy romantic comedy…let the games begin!

Rose Kasper has a secret. A big one. She’s a spy. Okay…not exactly. She works as an undercover security specialist. For a decade, she’s used dry humor, deflection, and self-deprecation to keep herself distanced from her sisters and friends in order to hide her double life. But when a man she dated for the job years ago—the same man she foolishly let herself get close to—is in danger, she must place herself in his playing field yet again. Whether he likes it or not.

Anton Bates has a full life juggling his roles as star quarterback of the Green Bay River Foxes and Prince of Penwick, a small island nation off the coast of Norway. He’s slow to trust, having been used for his position—both of them—on more than one occasion. So when Rose Kasper, a woman whom he loved and lost, sweeps back into his life, he wants nothing to do with her. Or does he?

Anton audibles and decides to use his unexpected reunion with Rose as an opportunity to prove to her that the two of them together are a touchdown. Rose knows she doesn’t deserve Anton—not with all the lies and deceit. But his gameplan is working, and she starts to believe that if she's honest with him, maybe things between them can be different this time. But when the truth comes out and Anton’s life is at risk, their second chance looks like it’ll end in a loss.

Because exes don’t fall in love…do they?

(Exes Don't is the third book in the Fall In Love series, which follows three sisters as they find love after moving across the country to the small town of Cashmere Cove, Wisconsin. This is a closed door romcom with plenty of sizzling chemistry and romantic tension, but no spice. Exes Don't is a standalone book, but it's best enjoyed after reading Friends Don't and Enemies Don’t.)

The Author

Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Fall In Love romcom series, the Larkspur Library Mysteries, an award-winning cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the Mapleton novels, a series of standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison where she was awarded the Dean’s Prize and served as a Writing Fellow. She has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories.

A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she's not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting the local library, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website.

Book Review

Exes Don't is the third book in the Fall in Love series. While I think you'll have a better understanding of the family dynamic in Rose's family if you have read the previous books, this could probably still be enjoyed as a standalone as well. That said, this series is a favorite of mine and one I'd definitely recommend as a whole. 

Simply put... I'm completely obsessed with this book. Just when I think this series cannot possibly get any better--- it goes and does just that! A secret spy and a pro football playing prince!? Yeah, there was a whole lot going on in this story and on paper, it doesn't seem like it SHOULD all work together... but Leah Dobrinska absolutely pulled it all together in a story that I absolutely could not put down! The chemistry between Rose and Anton was absolutely flying off the pages--- I loved them together. The glimpses back at their history had me fully invested in seeing them get their second chance at a happily ever after. Anton's teammates added a great sense of found family to the story as well, and I really loved their relationship too. (Seriously, I would love to see these guys get stories in the future as well!) The hint of danger kept the story exciting... and while I can't give anything away, I'll just say I loved the unexpected turns that their story took! It was just SO well done, and I enjoyed every moment. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series!

Exes Don't is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3ZReE2m