Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?
Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder…until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.
When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?
Release Date: Jul 15, 2025
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $10.99
A solid standalone.
Martin continues to evolve her craft and, as always, provides a lovely slate of characters that I could get lost in. By the end of this story, I wanted to be Emerson’s bestie and hang out with her and her friends. Not to mention the Colorado setting made me want to pick up and head out for a vacation. Though, that’s not all I enjoyed about this story.
Plot-wise, there is plenty of external and internal conflict. Character development for Emerson and her problematic beau, Lucas, creates the backbone. Though the MLM with Petunia Lemon and the uphill battle Emerson faces as she finds herself immersed in this potential selling scam are just as juicy. At first, I wasn’t sure how Emerson and Lucas would end up conflicting, especially when they had off-the-charts chemistry from the moment they met. After their electric start, they both discover that they are at odds due to Emerson’s recent signing up for Petunia Lemon, which Lucas hates with a passion, as the business ruined his marriage. From there, it’s a collection of run-ins that turn Emerson’s world on its head.
What keeps this from a five star for me? Well, originally, this felt like a two-person POV story, but in fact, we only live in Emerson’s head. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Emerson’s voice, and she has a wicked internal thought process, but I would have really loved to get things from Lucas for a bit of the story. Secondly, while pitched as a rom-com, and though there are a few funny moments, this is more contemporary romance to me than anything. I wasn’t laughing out loud as much as I enjoyed the ride.
From Emerson and Lucas falling for each other, to Emerson finally growing enough to stand up for herself as well as learning to ask for help, the story did come full circle, and I found myself caught up in the journey. I was also gleefully enjoying that the antagonists got their just desserts. For readers who enjoy Alisha Rai’s Modern Love Series.
~ Landra
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