Finding Mr. Right Next Door

I love Sarah Ballance and when I have the opportunity, I snap her books up! I love the best friends living to close trope and this book has that. After growing up together from age 5, the two shared most everything. Now as adults, neighbors and co-workers, they share just about everything else, including a dog. She does his laundry and cleans, in return he cooks. Her reputation in the kitchen isn't exactly stellar. After an attempt at cooking sets her kitchen on fire, the sensible thing is for her to live with him during the kitchen reno. So we begin the story of Matt and Lexi. Living in close quarters probably wasn't the brightest idea Matt has ever had, it just pushed his feelings for Lexi to the forefront and ditto for Lexi. Throughout the story the two fought the feelings. Add in Matt's firebrand Grandma Elsie, who was a total hoot and I loved her and the relationship she had with Lexi. But I ran into several problems with the two main characters along with their co-workers. I had a tough time warming up to Matt and Lexi. Lexi not as much as Matt, but seriously his remarks toward Lexi and at times instigating their mutual friends to what seemed at times to humiliate Lexi over her lack of kitchen skills was a little much and didn't make me like them-at all. I mean at all. Lexi decides to try dating, Matt grills the guy. Matt the serial dater. He was just hard to like, which kind of messed up the whole relationship for me. Had Matt been a little different it would have made me love the book so much more. But that's just me and I am certain there are many who will love the book all the same. Grandma Elsie wins the prize in this one. Great writing, great flow. 3.5 stars from this girl

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I loved it so much that I also purchased a copy. This book is the second one of the series but you don't have to read the first one to fully understand and enjoy this one. This was written in my favorite dual POV format. Getting that glimpse into the character's thoughts really help me to connect and understand their actions in the scenes. Matt Freeman and Lexi Dean are best friends since their childhood when he came to live with his grandmother (Elsie) after his parents' death. Lexi's parents helped to care for Matt as Elsie was in severe pain from arthritis. Now Matt and Lexi live next door to each other. Firefighter Matt cooks for Lexi, who is a disaster in the kitchen while Lexi does Matt's laundry. It is the perfect exchange for these friends especially when Matt comes to deliver Lexi's breakfast to see her poor attempt to put out a kitchen fire. Lexi goes to live with Matt while her kitchen gets a remodel. Watching how these two navigate from BFF to something more was a delightfully charming read. There were some really great scenes (especially with Elsie and her comebacks!!!!) I laughed out loud more than once. It is romcom at it's best. This is a sexy read so just a word of warning if you are not into that.

This is a sweet story about two best friends since childhood nowadays living next door and sharing a dog, a yard and a job. Matt Freeman is known as a playboy, and Lexi Dean as a disaster in the kitchen. When she ends up burning it down Matt offers her his place until the repairs are done. What neither expected or wanted were the sparks that had been laying dormant until the moment that proximity ignites them. Confusing them and also neither wanting to rock the boat