Falling for the Fling: A Small Town Second Chance Romance

Bliss River, Book 1

By: Lili Valente

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Lili Valente

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Show of hands, ladies - who has time for the one who got away? 

Not me. I’m a busy woman. It’s wedding season in Bliss River and my catering business is slammed. 

The last thing I need is a blast from the past, sweeping into my perfectly ordered life, talking sweet and acting even sweeter, making me think about kissing so often I start to wonder if there’s something wrong with me. 

Spoiler alert: There is. 

It’s been waaaay too long since I’ve made room for kissing on my To Do list. 

Easy fix: I’ll play doctor with Mason Stewart until I get my ex out of my system. It shouldn’t take long. I give him seven days - seven dates - and then we’ll go our separate ways and I’ll finally move on. 

The only problem? Turns out Mason is even dreamier, sexier, more intense and magnetic than he used to be, and the only place I want to move is into his bed. Full time. 

Maybe a second chance is exactly what the doctor ordered? Or do I need a second opinion?  

Includes the sweet and sexy bonus novella Friends With Bang-i-fits, narrated by Lili Valente and Jason Clarke! 

Dating Dr. Dreamy was previously published as Betting on You. It has been extensively revised and expanded for this new edition.

©2020 Lili Valente (P)2020 Lili Valente

I love Lili and Jason together! Swoon!

Dating Dr. Dreamy is the first book in the Bliss River series by the talented Lili Valente. A new series by one of my favorite authors? Yes, please! This is a second chance romance with fun and sexiness! It's been four years since Mason left a broken hearted Lark. He just left without a word and now he's home and wants her back. It took Lark a long time to get over him and she's not giving in. She can't put herself through that again. She's built a life for herself and it doesn't include letting Mason back into her heart. Mason isn't going away. He isn't giving up. He's still in love with Lark and he's going to prove to her that he's changed and she can trust him. Will Lark give Mason a second chance? Will she be able to let go of all the hurt and move forward with the only man she ever loved? I loved this story! I love a second chance romance, they just warm my heart. It's all about forgiveness and healing! Mason and Lark are just made for each other and once they realize they want to try again, it's a beautiful thing to witness! I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Audio: I love Lili and Jason together! Their voices just make me swoon and make me happy. The sexy and sultriness of Lili's voice is always a pleasure to listen to! Jason, was great as always!

Dreamy Narration

Can you really have complaints about a book with Jason Clarke and Lili Valente narrating? The answer is no. You cannot. Absolutely love their voices.

This was a great concept for a book. I love second chances, and this was a little different take on it. I love how both of their characters grew and developed throughout. I love the world-building. I can't wait to head back to Bliss River in book 2!!!

Absolutely recommend this title!

Second chance love

An emotional ride to a second chance. I loved how these characters still have the love and spark they had as young adults but how Lark will make Mason work to get a second chance with her heart.

Bliss River Georgia is small town and everyone knows everything about their neighbors so when Lark got her heart ripped out years ago the whole town knew about it and now that the heart breaker is back in town and trying to get her forgiveness they all know that as well. There's lots of time to make up for but Mason is willing to do what it takes to win Lark back.

Second chances at love are so emotional. They have the baggage to weed through from the original hurt and everything that has happened in between. This is a great story that lets them get to the other side and find the love they once lost.

Lili Valente and Jason Clarke were perfect as Lark and Mason. Loved their voices and their timing was perfect.

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

A dreamy second-chance romance! 4.5 stars!

Goodness but how I adored Lark and Mason, and that's saying something considering I was wholly prepared to totally NOT like the latter, not after the way he left the former and had made little to no effort to reach out or make amends in the four years they were not together. Alas, Mason won me over within the first few pages he made his presence known. There was just something about him that made me believe he was sincere and remorseful. That doesn't mean, though, that I wanted Lark to give in right away. Good for her for staying strong and making Mason earn back her trust (because hello, she obviously still loved the guy). The last couple of chapters did feel a wee bit rushed, and I didn't really see the need to have a chapter from Aria's viewpoint, but Dating Dr. Dreamy made my heart happy.

Now, as far as the audiobook is concerned, well, what can I say other than Lili Valente and Jason Clarke are a narrating pair that have proven time and again that they're partnership is a successful one for them and a highly satisfying one for listeners like me. Stories don't necessarily translate well when done in audio, but with Valente and Clarke taking Valente's writing and bringing it to life, I really don't have anything to complain about. All I need to do is sit back, listen, and fall in love with this story all over again. Not all that difficult with this writing and narration. The Dating Dr. Dreamy audiobook gets 4.5 stars, and has me counting the days till we get to listen to the second one!

Unbalanced Grovel and Dckish Sisters

I generally look forward to Lili’s books - she’s a great writer. And this book was written well I suppose, up until the inevitable event that breaks them up. Early on you have these healthy and positive mental health allusions - Mason sought counseling for help, and it helped him, and that’s so rare for men to seek help. But then you get to 75% through the book and all I can think is that I don’t see how she can redeem herself.

Without spoilers, let’s just say that in the same hour Lark is both swearing her devotion to him and their life together, and then telling him they’re done forever because of something from 4 years ago. From before he sought help to get better. From before his attempt to come back to her. I can understand her being angry but she blew overreaction out of the water.

And then there’s Aria. She got zero flack for the BS she pulled - and it makes me so angry I don’t even want to read the next book. Again, without spoilers, Aria could have given the box to Mason without snooping. Or to Lark, and let Lark decide what to do. She’s supposed to be the older sister but she acted like a jealous 12 year old. I just had no respect left for her character at all.

I’m listening to the end of this book right now and I just feel disappointed. Mason deserves better IMO. Especially with everything he overcame and how much he has grown.

Narration was perfect; the story just... lacked.

Author vs Narrator

I usually enjoy Lili Valente’s writing but just meh on this one. The “dramatic” argument and break up over a lease...really? Also didn’t care for Lili’s narration of the story but Jason Clarke was outstanding, of course. It is a light hearted read which may explain the soft reason to end a relationship after rekindling old flames. I would suggest this story if you’re in the mood for something like that.

Deceiving

The length of the book is deceiving. Too short for the cost. Was pleased with book and narration overall

Loved loved loved

Loved this so much. Great second chance romance between Mason and Lark. Mason left 4 years ago without a word after proposing to Lark. Lark was able to take that hurt and channeled that into starting her own business. She was doing good until she saw him again at her friend’s wedding and the hurt and feelings came back. He wanted another chance, but Lark worked so hard to be free from the hurt. She is successful and not willing to go back and have her heart broken again. Or will she? Will Mason be able to convince her that he is still in love with her? Can she get over the hurt and open her heart back up to her one true love? Second chance romances have always been a favorite trope of mine because I love watching people find love again with the one person they were meant to be with. This story was no exception. Loved Lili and Jason as Mason and Lark. They really brought the characters to life and I was all for it. I had a smile the entire time I was listening to the story. Great listen and I highly recommend it

A beautiful second chance at love

Mason and Lark were high school sweethearts. They were in love and planning to get married, except Mason leaves town the night he proposes to Lark. It’s been four years since he left, and Mason is back to win back the only woman he’s ever loved. Lark, who is now a successful caterer with her sisters, wants nothing to do with Mason.

Lark tries to avoid Mason, but he’s determined to show her he’s a changed man, and is now the man she deserves. But Mason’s got some ghosts of his own he needs to lay to rest. The road back to Lark is paved with a bunch of crap.

This was a beautiful and sweet second chance at love. I loved Mason’s kind heart. Lark’s sisters were so supportive, and ready to lend a helping hand to help Lark figure things out.

Jason Clarke and Lili Valente do a great job narrating this first. This was a great start to a new series, and I can’t wait for the next one.

Swoon

Is there anything better than a second chance romance set in a small town with lovable characters? I don’t think so. And Lili Valente certainly knows how to put it all together in a romantic and humorous way.
I think I knew from the start that Mason and Lark would rekindle their romance but watching them get to that point was simply delightful. I love a good romance without too much drama or angst and this book delivered 100%.