Mixed Signals (Lovelight #3) — Books, Beauty, & Buys

By: B.K. Borison
Published Year: 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 335

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Layla Dupree has given up on love.

She’s waded through all of the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite her best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution.

After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: One month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his dating game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating, without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s double fudge mocha brownies.

Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals?

Mixed Signals is a sweet and steamy small-town romance. Our story features a bashful man who can rock a Hawaiian shirt, a hopeful and dreamy bakery owner, enough sweets to give you a cavity, and your favorite Inglewild residents. Mixed Signals is a standalone romance and the third book in the Lovelight series, a collection of interconnected novels.

First Impression

I’ve been wanting to read Layla’s story since the first novel. I was super excited to read the next instalment in the Lovelight Farms world. I adore all of the covers in this series. You can read my review of the first book here, and the second book here.

What I thought

Chef’s kiss.

Layla has been experiencing nothing but bad dates. On her most recent disaster, she runs into Lovelight Farms Deputy (who has made appearances in previous books) Caleb. He suggests they date each other as an experiment since he hasn’t had much luck dating either, but the truth is he has a huge crush on Layla. She decides to take a chance and break her no dating in town rule for one month.

Layla and Caleb were so perfect. I adored them together. Layla had her insecurities, but Caleb was honestly my perfect man. He was a nice guy and so understanding. I adored his family relationships and how when Layla would have her moment he was a solid presence to help calm her down. I also felt like a little bit of that banter was back that I loved so much in the first book.

Of course, we get appearances from the previous two Lovelight Farms couples. I liked Layla’s overall storyline to. She runs the bakery, but she went to school for something completely different. She struggles with feeling like she’s enough or like her bakery is enough. I liked seeing her growth.

I also liked that even though Caleb was painted as a nice guy and pushover, he was quietly confident. And his crush on Layla was so cute. It was obvious that he was kind of stumbling around her. He is also Latino and I loved how his culture played into the story. I do think this might have been the spiciest of the three, but it never felt forced or out of place.