Last Call: Bridges and Bitters, Book 4

Bridges and Bitters #4

by Lainey Davis, Ehlen Valentine (Narrator), Dorje Swallow (Narrator)

We struck a deal. All business. Now he's changing the rules.

It was just supposed to be a marriage on paper. Koa needed a path to citizenship and I needed the money to open Bridges and Bitters.

All I've ever wanted is to take care of my sisters and run my own bar, my way. What did I care if I had a technical husband? A husband with too many dimples and more charm than he should have…

So when he rolled into town after five years to deal with some paperwork, he's turned everything upside-down.

Sure, Koa is charismatic and fun, but he's also a nomad. I don't have time for vacations and I don't know how to play games.

I'm not sure how I ended up hitched to a smoking hot rugby coach without a plan, but I need to sort this all out. Fast.

If I can't figure out a way to slice through all this red tape, it could mean last call for Bridges and Bitters.

Last Call is a sizzling marriage of convenience romance, the fourth stand-alone installment of the Bridges and Bitters series. If you love found family, witty banter, and heat that will curl your toes, you'll devour these sexy romantic comedies.

Genres: Romance, Found Family, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

First published June 29, 2023

Reviews

[RateTheRomance · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 20%

Sadly, this book (by a new-to-me-author) just didn't work for me. It's a marriage of convenience trope and yet the author totally skips over hallmark scenes of that trope.

The reader gets no scene of the proposal of this arrangement AND no actual courthouse marriage scene. Did they kiss in front of the judge? Shake hands? Was there chemistry?

We don't know why the hero is traveling directly after their quicky wedding. Or why the heroine wants to open a bar when she hates her job at the one she works at.

This entire story felt skipped over. I stopped reading around 20% because I knew almost nothing about the main characters and they had no chemistry since the had had almost no scenes together.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally!! The story of Esther Storm owner of Bridges and Bitters. This is the fourth in the delightful, short novel (less than 250 pages), Bridges and Bitters series. Esther is extra beloved as she and her bar appear in two other previous series by the author Lainey Davis. Esther is always the care taker. She almost single handedly raises each of her four sisters giving them a good start on life. She the last is still living with her. Esther is also part of the FOOF (fresh out of..) friend group whose romances are the basis of this series.

The back story is that one day while working at another bar Esther meets Koa. He is Maori and from New Zealand but has lived the last ten years in the USA. He is just finishing college when his parents die unexpectedly. More surprising they never finished paperwork to allow him to stay in the country when he finishes school. In exchange for money to start her dream bar she agrees to a marriage of convenience so that he can stay in the country. No one knows until the muscled rugby player and coach show up at the bar five years later. It is time for in person interviews to prove the marriage is real.

The sisters and FOOFs immediately fall for his charms. He is helpful and endearing. He is also accepted into the FOOF Dudes, the boyfriends of the girl group. It is harder for Esther who has always been the responsible one to open herself up to rely on someone else. This is a light and fun with sexy times too. I love the family and friends cheer on the couple to their HEA. Thank you to Lainey Davis for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (4.5 Stars)

[Dino Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: a few open-door spicy scenes
TWs: open relationship, fire (no casualties), ICE/deportation
standalone: book 4 in Bridges and Bitters series - can be read as a standalone
final thoughts: everything you could want in a marriage of convenience novel! Tons of tension and not wanting to fall for your now-spouse, plenty of chemistry with an instalust feel, perfect opposites-attract match


read this book if you love

💓 slowburn
👮 blue collar FMC (bar owner)
😬 angst
💖 marriage of convenience
💞 strangers-to-married-to-lovers
🏡 small town
👮 blue collar MMC (rugby coach)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
🏉 sports romance (rugby)

[MJ Barrette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had to be my favorite of the series so far, and I was a little nervous that it was Esther. I loved Esther and Koa, because I've been an Esther at times, and I understand how hard it is to accept help from others, especially when you've been in survivor mode for such a long time. The way that Piper had always said that "Esther is always moving when shes at work, and I wanna emulate that" is very telling as to how Esther is as a person. Loyal to a fault, and has been at the helm for so long.
Koa, man, what a dream boat. I also enjoyed how it was kind of a second chance romance as well as a marriage of convenience. Because usually the books are about how they stay married a few months later. But I appreciated that they already had a history and despite it supposedly being a farce from the get go, that they still cared for each other even if they didn't really realize they did.
One of the things that I love about this series is the FOOF group, and I'm sure I share the sentiment that I want one of my own where I live. Just the women raising women up. And just having great friends and resources for when shit gets sticky and life lifes. I also really appreciate Lainey Davis keeping things short and sweet. Reading this series to get to this book has been an absolute delight, and I love that she keeps it to ~200 pages, and doesn't use a lot of word fluff to get the point across. Her characters are well rounded, real, and relateable. Even if they're the CEO of a company that is bananas. 100% recommend the series and this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lainey Davis for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

[♡Cel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the MCs dynamic and chemistry, it felt very realistic and was fun to read.

My main gripe with the book is that it’s not insta, because there’s a time gap and gradual realization of compatibility between K & E but the breakneck speed of the book sure made it feel like it was insta.

Beautiful back door pilot to a new series! Will reread when I need something quick!

[bella rhys (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! Sad we’re at the end of the series, but a great ending nonetheless!

Last Call is book #4 and the end of the Bridges and Bitters series, but each can be read as a standalone. And we finally get Esther’s story!

At the beginning of the book, we meet Esther Storm working in a bar. She doesn’t like her job and has dreams of opening her own bar. Whilst working, she meets Māori, Koa. He is easy-going and carefree but has had a bit of a tough time the last few years due to the passing of his parents. He recently found out that due to his parents’ busy schedules when they were alive, they never finished filing their papers to apply for a green card, and he is now at risk of deportation. Whilst speaking to Esther, they decide to help each other out; he comes from money and he decides to invest and help her open her bar in exchange for married, to help him get a green card.

The book picks up 5 years later. ICE needs proof of their marriage being real (think the interview from the movie The Proposal) and Koa comes back into Esther’s life where they reconnect and have to spend more physical time together (they previously wrote each other letters to keep up the rouse).

This book, like the previous ones, was such fun (as well as had heart) and I enjoyed it. I especially loved Esther. She was such a strong heroine and I enjoyed the relationship she had with her sisters, as well as her best friends. She had such a big heart and did not hesitate to help out those she loved. Koa was easy-going on the surface but suffered heartbreak in his past (his parents’ passing). He had a lot to work through with his feelings of not belonging anywhere. I loved the growth we saw in both as they confided in each other and found comfort in each other. I was really rooting for them to have their happy ending. Finally, as with all the previous books in this series, I loved seeing the strong female support and the friendships between Esther and her girls. I really loved them all rallying around Esther (including Koa) when her bar caught on fire. There is a strong theme of found family and sisterhood in this book and I loved it!

This book (and the series in general) is fantastic. It provides everything you could want in a marriage of convenience romance story. Plenty of chemistry, and tons of tension (and not wanting to fall for your now-spouse). If this all sounds fun, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!

Narrated by Ehlen Valentine and Dorje Swallow, I love what they both brought to the narration. Dorje Swallow was excellent in his portrayal of Koa; fun and easy-going, with the right amount of cockiness. Ehlen Valentine was just as wonderful in her portrayal of Esther; she nailed the badass, but kind-hearted vibe of Esther. I really enjoyed my listening experience!

Thanks to the author, Lainey Davis, for providing me with an advanced audio review copy of this book. All opinions provided in this review are entirely my own.

[Whitney Honadick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and in this series. That being said, I didn’t feel lost catching up with the recurring characters and they were all super necessary to the story.

This story is of Esther, Owner of Bridges & Bitters and Koa, a nomadic Rugby Coach. The two meet five years before the start of Bridges & Bitters and quickly agree to a marriage of convenience, where Koa will work towards US citizenship and Esther will get the money she needs to open the bar she dreams of. 5 years later with minimal contact, Koa is back and it’s time to follow through on their agreement. The two quickly remember the chemistry felt upon their first meeting and what allowed them to feel so comfortable with each other in the first place. Of course, both have spent years away from each other and while Esther is the literal and figurative “Big Sister” she worries that she can’t take care of another person. Meanwhile Koa has no one to take care of and wants to help Esther realize she doesn’t have to take care of everyone. I’m a huge fan of the Marriage of Convenience that leads to found family and that’s exactly what this book is. The unconditional support that comes from Esther’s friends is truly incredible especially when Esther had reached her tipping point. It’s a beautiful lesson in letting go, and making sure you surround yourself with those you can trust:

The story spans a fair amount of time and gives more of a medium burn. The spice is an excellent mixture of steamy & sweet and ohh so lovely.

I’m definitely looking forward to checking out the previous Bridges & Bitters books!

Thank you NetGalley and Lainey Davis
for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, Last Call is the fourth and final book in author Lainey Davis’s Bridges and Bitters series. Happily, it’s just as amazing as the first three books (and Davis is writing a new series!). Sam and AJ, Chloe and Teddy, Piper and Cash – all head over heels in love and enjoying that HEA they deserve. Esther is the final core FOOF lady to still be unattached. But wait, is she actually unattached? What do we know about Esther and her past? Turns out to be not much. She’s the founder and owner of the warm, cozy, very successful Bridges and Bitters bar, she’s got four younger sisters that she mostly raised and who she still hovers over and worries about, she’s generous to a fault, always there for the FOOFs, single and seems to love it.

So who’s this (handsome, hunky) guy Koa who shows up out of the blue and seems to have some prior relationship with her? It soon becomes clear that Esther has secrets she has never shared. Like that Koa is her husband. And they had a deal five years ago: a marriage of convenience in exchange for the money needed for Esther to start her bar. Why is he here? Well, Immigration has finally decided they have time to interview the close, happily married couple and decide if Koa gets to stay in the US or if he’ll be deported. Close? Nope, unless a handful of postcards and emails across the years counts. Happily married? Well, I guess so, because if you’re not in each other’s lives there’s nothing to fight about, right?

Esther has always had to maintain tight control, to compensate for the father that wasn’t there and the mother that was never reliable. She doesn’t have an inch of room to accommodate anything or anyone else. And emotionally? No, thanks, she’s seen first-hand how that never works out. Koa was uprooted from his home in New Zealand when a young child, lost his parents just as he was graduating from high school and has never felt at home anywhere, never felt a part of anything, close to anyone. He’s got plenty of money, but no focus, no long-term goals. He floats around playing and coaching rugby.

We see right away, though, that their relationship is not really as no-strings, no involvement as they insist. Esther opened herself up to him in emails and saved all of his postcards. He’s thought of her often, knows about her family and her life from those emails and feels strangely settled and comfortable with her. For Esther, although kicking and screaming there is a magnetic pull towards him. So what follows is an adorable, sweet, frustrating, scorching hot back and forth, bickering and accepting, resisting and giving in, and learning what’s important, who’s important and how to work as a team. It’s delightful. Esther has a soft side we never imagined. Koa is strong and capable – and cuddly. The FOOFs interfere as much as always, and Esther’s sisters are maddening but loving and present as family should be.

Thanks to the author for providing an advance listening copy of Last Call. Narrator Ehlen Valentine was as competent, perfect and amazing as in the previous three books; she makes Esther bossy and snarky and vulnerable. I missed Alastair Haynesbridge as the male narrator since he was so outstanding in the first three books, but Dorje Swallow knocks it out of the park as Koa: gives us the full range of emotion – strong, uncertain, lost, hopeful, loving – with an accent that gives you shivers. I loved this book, loved this series, and recommend it without hesitation, and cannot wait to explore more of author Davis’s work. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be not the marriage of convenience I'm used to. And I didn't hate it.
We were Quick off the mark with the whole marriage of convenience. By the second chapter, Esther and Koa had already tied the not. It felt like a massive part of what I love most about the marriage of convenience trope was missing, especially as we then found out Koa had started travelling for work. So we didn't get that banter we all love.

By the next chapter, we had jumped 5 years, and again ,I felt like I had missed a massive chunk of the story. I had to re read the first few chapters just to make sure I didn't miss anything. I mean, I would have loved to have read about their 'one night stand' , but it was mentioned in passing only.

OK, onto our characters. Koa is a kiwi. And I loved his cheekiness. He wasn't afraid to tell Esther just how much he was attracted to her, and it was just perfect. I loved how he was plagued with not feeling like he had a home of feeling anchored anywhere while simultaneously being an anchor to Esther. He was laid back and a go with the flow nomad who let Esther know she could relax and really didnt have to do all the things.You could tell the Lainey had done her research well in terms of pacific Island colloquialisms.  She seamlessly included cute little bits throughout the story, and it really fleshed out Koa's character.

Now, Esther. She was a force. The epitome of a big sister. She loved her sisters with a ferocity that consumed her. You really fell in love with her give no fucks attitude and her capacity to take care of all those around her. She was the classic 'looks like she could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll'. It was beautiful to see how she slowly let her walls be invaded by not only Koa but also her friendship group and her sisters. Seeing her loosen the reigns and allow herself to be looked after for once was just a *chefs kiss*

The diversity of the characters was fantastic also. We had a kiwi/ māori MMC and a curvy pansexual FMC. Their diversity wasn't a plot device or something that was constantly brought up but used as a descriptive tool, as it should be.

All in all, this book took me by surprise. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. It definitely snuck up on me.

[Emsbookishvibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esther is the damaged FMC that has a rough pass. She grew up raising for her four siblings since her mom was none existent. She then becomes this person who demands only the best from herself and the others around her. Koa is your typical big teddy bear. His parents passed away prior to completing his citizenship paperwork.His is facing deportation and is running out of options.

Koa doesnt know where to turn as he is running out of options and decides to go to a bar. There he meets Ester, an opinionated bartender. They get to talking, Koa is more so flirting while Ester is trying to get him to leave. She then decides to tell him her life story and her dreams of one day opening her own bar. He explains how he is facing leaving the country, and so they both decided to enter a marriage for convince.

All of a sudden you pick up five years late and everything is as if nothing has changed. Koa is still "pining" after Ester, and Ester is still her typical self.

******

My problem with this book is how unrealistic it is, not to mention how different ethnicities are constantly mentioned about in this book. Don't get me wrong I love a mixed romance, but it doesn't need to be mentioned every other chapters. This book tried to come off as an insta love, at least for Koa that is and it just didn't make sense since there was a 5 year jump.

I also couldn't stand the way Ester treated Koa. I get that she had a rough pass and is used to people leaving, but don't take it out on someone you were leading on. Then when they were on their "honeymoon" she was anywhere but in the present. In my opinion Koa had every right to get annoyed that Ester was on her phone, heck I would be to. Then when it gets bad, Ester again only thinks for herself and also gets Koa deported since she couldn't sit in the interview.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind the book and it was a fast read.. but I didn't love it. The whole time I was reading I kept feeling like it was missing something. It also didn't really keep me guessing, all of the plot twists were far fetched. The spicy scenes were super cringy, also as if they were trying to hard.. I gave it three starts.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

I enjoyed Lainey Davis's "Last Call" at first, but the longer it goes on, it feels a bit too repetitive to justify its very short page count. I read this book in a relatively short amount of time because it reads fast, but it simultaneously feels way too long?? How is that possible??? I have no idea???? While I typically love the "marriage of convenience" trope in contemporary romances, I found the storyline in this book to be overly predictable with no real drama/twists/turns to keep me invested in the story. I felt a cavernous disconnect between Koa and Esther from the very beginning of the story. I assume it's because there's no real lead-up to Koa and Esther's marriage, the ceremony is not shown in any way, and most of the minutiae is handled off-page, so readers cannot get invested in their romance until the time-jump five years later. There's no pining, no chemistry, no adoration apart from some emails written back and forth on the page. To be honest, I got tired of the characters and the situations here pretty quickly. This is a shock to me because I thought Esther was going to be one of my favorite female characters this year being that she's a strong, self-sufficient woman. Instead, I found her irritating because she refuses to ask for help from anyone. I get that; it's what I have done myself for decades of my life, but even I know when it's time to throw in the towel and ask for assistance! On top of this, she treats Koa like absolute DIRT despite that he has enmeshed himself in her life on every front. I also got so annoyed with Koa when he was obsessed with her phone going off. WTF? Controlling much? I liked Koa's Aotearoa representation, and some of Esther and Koa's banter is good, but it wasn't enough to detract from the glaring missteps.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lainey Davis, and Xpresso Book Tours for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[⋆˚࿔ jenna ˚⋆ ⸆⸉ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️

“I was adrift for a long time, Esther, and I wasn’t expecting you, but you’ve given me roots. And now… Now I can grow where I’m planted, Esther Storm. Like a fern.”

I hate that I didn’t love this. Especially since this was originally an arc I requested. I had hope for this but it just didn’t live up to those expectations.

I feel like we missed a bunch of scenes. I was continually lost within the story and it would skip from one thing to another with little explanation and sometimes I couldn’t really keep what was happening together. It also felt like the author was just telling me things and not showing for portions of this book. “This happened, then that happened. He said this, etc.” and that took me completely out of the story.

There was also no build up. They meet, one of them asks the other to marry them for a mutually beneficial agreement, and then they don’t talk for five years, if I’m remembering correctly, in person? It was all confusing and didn’t seem at all realistic. And I get that it is fiction, but it didn’t make sense at all to me which is what you want.

The characters also didn’t have chemistry to me. I didn’t see them as a couple and they were a bit boring to me. I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t read the other books in the series, but I didn’t love either of them really. And that could be my bad but for a stand-alone interconnected romance like this it should still be readable on its own. The only interesting character aspect that I found was Koa being a Kiwi, and that’s probably only because I’m also a Kiwi so it connected me to him more. That’s also not a common feature of books I’ve read so I did like that small detail but not much else.

It was short and quick though, I will give it that. I just didn’t vibe with this book or the writing style of this author in the slightest.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! This whole series has been amazing but I've been especially looking forward to Esther's book AND it turns out she's been married this whole time! That sneaky minx. And not to just any ole man...no she's got her self a giant of a man. A kiwi man. Jealous.
This was a lovely story that reminds us why we fell in love with the women of FOOF in the first place. It's about friends who come around you but also about love when you weren't expecting it. Esther has raised her sisters and has always relied only on herself. Even with a strong friend group she never looks for outside support. Koa was dragged to another country when he was 13 and hasn't been back since. He feels like an outsider in the U.S. but feels he'll also be a stranger back in New Zealand. As a nomad rugby coach whose parents passed away, he has no one. Until he comes back to Pittsburgh to find his wife for their immigration interview 5 years after they struck up a deal.
This book is a really fun marriage of convenience story with some heat and a few times when you want to shake some sense into the characters.
If you love a strong male lead who calls her "wife" or says "my wife" a lot...You're going to love Koa.
Lainey Davis never disappoints and this was no exception. I'm going to miss these characters but hopefully we'll see some glimpses of them in the Storm sisters' series that was hinted at at the end of the book.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther and Koa met back before she owned Bridges and Bitters and just worked in another bar and Koa was just finishing college. Koa is from New Zealand and wasn't a citizen. When his parents unexpectedly die, his paperwork remains unfinished, so once he finishes school, he would have to go back. Esther's dream was to open up her own bar, so the two ended up striking a deal. Koa would provide her money to start her dream, and she would agree to a marriage of convenience with him so he could stay in the country and he would work towards his citizenship. Then they both lived their separate lives. Until now, five years later, Koa is back in town, and they have to participate in in-person interviews to prove their marriage is real. The two always had the chemistry from the start of their relationship, but Esther is the responsible one, and Koa is more of a nomad, no way they could work. But with him back in town, it gets harder and harder for Esther to resist his charms. With the help of her friends and loved ones, Esther, always being the grounded and responsible one, realizes she has found the person she can open up to and depend on.
A fun and cute story! The characters were lovely and I was immediately endeared to them. The story was well-written and I enjoyed following Esther and Koa and their journey to HEA. Glad I had the opportunity to read this!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Call
Bridges & Bitters 4
by Lainey Davis
Narrated by Ehlen Valentine, Dorje Swallow

Well Esther certainly is full of surprises. The one with the bar, the one who seems the most matter of fact, straight forward and settled turns out to be just the opposite! She has been harboring a secret husband! That's right, Koa came into her life when she needed money to buy the bar and he needed a wife to stay in the country. Now it's five years later and immigration is knocking. Will she be able to give him what he needs? This is such a fun story, I couldn't stop listening. The woman who makes the crazy, delicious drinks is all over the place as she tries to deal with the feelings she has for her husband! And he is right there with her. I love this one, as the girls all come to her aid, try to give her the best advice and help her through it all. Koa, what a guy! My heart was aching for him! Lainey Davis has outdone herself with this one and brought is all home with the FOOF girls. Loved it!

Ehlen Valentine finishes out the series with her fabulous voices. I love how she remains consistent with all the women from book to book, making it easy to know who is talking. She nails the attitude Esther has and the emotions she deals with. Dorje Swallow is new to me, but he certainly brought all the charm that Koa has! He makes this man irresistible and add the comedic timing to make the book fun. Loved this collaboration and the entire series!

[Mimi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-five year old Esther Storm works as a bar tender at The Cage in Pittsburg while helping take care of her four younger sisters. Koa Stewart, originally from New Zealand but brought to the US many years ago, has graduated from college, sold his parents’ house after they died, and while financially secure, is facing a serious problem with an expired visa. So when he meets Esther at the bar, he does what any out of luck foreigner would do - he proposes that in exchange for marrying him, he will front the down payment for her own bar.

Five years later, after having traveled around the states coaching rugby, Koa returns to find Esther working at her successful bar, Bridges and Bitters, telling her that they have to meet with the immigration folks to finalize his American citizenship. The rest of the story is filled with humor, family squabbles, hesitations, FOOF antics, new friends, catastrophe, and electric sexual chemistry. Lainey Davis has once again swung for the fence in this delightful addition to the Bridges and Bitters series. I especially love Koa’s Māori character and Esther’s fierce defense of family and friends. Who knew that creating personalized cocktails could be such fun or that the struggle to find HEA could be so magical?

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This can be read as a standalone but is so much better if you read the other three books first because of all the interactions between characters. The heroine has been responsible for herself and her four sisters since she was around ten-years-old. One day when she is slinging drinks at a dive bar our hero walks in and while they are talking he offers to make her dream of owning her own bar a reality if she will marry him so that he can get his green card. His parents neglected to get one for him before they died and now he is about to be deported. So the great bargain is struck-she gets her bar, he gets to stay and they don't see each other for five years. What happens when he blows back into town--all sorts of fun things. There are the sisters, the friends, the friends' significant others and immigration plus a road trip. This is a nice ending to the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Maz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage of convenience is one of my favourite Tropes. I really enjoyed this book, which is part of the series Bridges and Bitters. And you know that means the FOOF ladies are back. Love them ladies and they're so fun.

This was about Esther and Kao. Esther has had a hard life and is literally raising her sisters. Kao is lonely with his parents dead. He has the money but no visa, as his parents forgot to sort that out.
Esther needs money to open her own bar and he needs a wife to stay.
The story follows how they live their own life and when things start to change for both of them.
There are lots of ups and down emotionally to the road to HEA. I really liked Kao and was also sad as he really didn't belong anywhere until he started to feel things. Both of their chemistry was hard to deny which lead to beautiful bedroom scenes.
Great RomCom, found family, humour, drama, feels and spice.

[Anushree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel so bad writing this as I had requested this book before its release and gotten a copy from Net Galley. Thank you to the author and the publisher for granting me this opportunity.

I didn't like this book and stopped reading at Chapter Five.

One of the many reasons I didn't like the book was pivotal scenes were straight up skipped. There was no conversation of them agreeing to a marriage of convenience or the actual marriage or the one night stand or him skipping town or the author letting us know that the FL is pansexual? The sisters were briefly touched upon and so were the friends in the FOOF.

Koa went about his work and then randomly turned up again?
I had to go back and reread the pages thinking I skipped some by mistake....also the time leap with no warning?

I felt very unsettled while reading and quit.

I wish we had gotten the important scenes in detail - not mentioned in mere passing.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first marriage of convenience book I’ve ever read, and I think it was a good one to start off with! I didn’t, though, expect the marriage to happen so fast. It’s probably because I’m not used to this trope that I wasn’t expecting it.

I really enjoyed how fast Koa seemed to mesh into Ester’s life and how he immediately wanted to be there for and take care of her. He was a sweetie. I’m a sucker for reverse grumpy x sunshine and Lainey did it well!

The only criticism I have is that the time jump came out of nowhere; I wasn’t expecting it at all. It made things feel a bit rushed at first. It took me a bit to get used to it, but once I did I had a great time reading!

It was a nice, short read, and I’m definitely going to read the rest of the Bridges and Bitters books! 3.5 ⭐️s

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🏉🍺
I'm always up for any romance with a Marriage of Convenience trope, and this didn't disappoint. One of the things I liked best about this book is the presence of a Maori character, my first experience.
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I really liked the MCs, they were brave, and I understood their struggles in trying to let go of the trauma their parents left them. Especially Esther, I admire how she made life better for her sisters. This was also the first time I'll read about a character named Esther, the name is quite popular here in Nigeria.
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I liked the supporting characters, too, the Storm Sisters and the FOOFs. They were amazing!
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All in all, the romance was cute, simple, and easy for me to finish.

[Laura Black Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prickly difficult control-freaky Esther and easy going Māori Koa. This is a slight change of pace for Lainey Davis and it’s so good. It’s as much about found family and the sisterhood as it is the love story of Esther and Koa. This is the best of writing by women for women - It’s so affirmative. The characters are authentic and consistent and Koa gently untangles Esther at the same pace as the reader learns to understand her. His lost family is key to how he ended up there and the reader isn’t bothered by his absent years as we focus on the now. It’s poignant, steamy, clever and a little bit fun. Lainey did a great job with having Koa sound like a New Zealander, (“pet”) although I’d have loved a “yeah, nah” sprinkled in 🇳🇿😉

Thank you Lainey Davis for the ARC - this is a wonderful read and I thoroughly recommend!

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars — this is a very quick read, and unfortunately I think the author sacrificed some critical scenes for the sake of length!

Esther & Koa have a marriage of convenience — he gets to solve his immigration issues and she gets the capital she needs to start her dream bar. We get just the quickest glimpse of their meeting and wedding until we are transported to present day, five years later. The two have only communicated through emails and have lived completely separate lives, but they need to convince ICE their marriage is legitimate so Koa can apply for his green card.

This book was sweet & spicy, but I felt like I missed some key elements not having read the other books (didn’t realize it was the fourth in a series) and based on the relationship development the author chose not to include. Good but could have been great!

[Linda V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Last Call is book #4 and, unfortunately, the end of the Bridges and Bitters series. This was a great story, but fell just a little flat for me. Esther Storm is a force of nature...a protector, a provider, a bar owner, and a best friend in FOOF (Fresh Out Of F^cks). Koa is her husband from a marriage of convenience 5 years ago. He needed a green card (from NZ), she needed seed money to start her bar. Both are broken by their pasts, but find they can confide in each other as strangers. This series is fantastic and you'll love each story as they tear you apart and then glue you back together.

The narration was good even with a change in the male narrator. Dorje Swallow may be new to me, but he delivered on Koa's character...a little cocky and a lot of protective! Ehlen Valentine was just as fabulous as the past three books. 5/5 stars for this new duo.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick cute read! I enjoyed reading about Koa and Esther’s story when he returns five years after they have a marriage of convenience. I really liked Koa as a male lead, he was so kind and genuinely helpful. Esther grew as the story went on which was good, I was glad to see her make progress in not needing to be the problem solver for everyone in and everything in her life.

I think both of these characters brought balance to each other and that was great!

The spice in this book was a nice addition as well. This will be a great summer beach read that you can knock out in a few hours!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author Lainey Davis for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[JoJoRe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther has been the thoughtful friendly bar owner in everyone’s lives for several books now, the voice of reason for several FOOF ladies helping them find their true potential. Last Call is Esther’s story, her very well deserved HEA!!

It’s funny how Esther has been around for so long but we didn’t know much about her, her background, her hopes and dreams. Koa has been her best kept secret, but no more. It was great to see Esther and Koa develop from two independent, I need no one people, to growing together and needing each other to face the future. Together they are a nether version of themselves and make everyone else around them better too.

I’m sad to see the series end but it could not have been more perfect.

[Nichol Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a really sports-heavy book. pleasantly, I found that the story felt really balanced. Koa and Esther's story is so emotional! but it is in the best way possible. It was heartwarming to watch the two discover so much about themselves and why they need each other. I loved the inclusion of details from the New Zealand culture. (I may be mixing my countries/cultures here) Throughout the whole book, I was picturing Koa looking like Dwain Johnson.
I am so excited to see (via the author's note) that they will be writing books for all of the Storm sisters! I can't wait for that. Now I'm off to read the rest of the books in the Bridges and Bitters series!

[Slick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but this is my least favorite of the series. In all of the previous books Esther has been this boss babe but we didn't know anything about her other than she owned her bar Bridges & Bitters and she was a workaholic. We finally get Esther's backstory and it's a good one, BUT I really had a lot of issues with her character in this book because she was so unyeilding, so controlling over everything in her life and honestly I got that to a point but it was almost to the part of obsessive. Koa, I felt his character was a bit underdeveloped and I never felt like I got to know them. And despite being told they had all this heat between them, I didn't feel it. Overall this book was kind of lackluster and chaotic and to be honest a disappointment.

[Nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally time to get Esther's story; and what a STORY!

Starting out as a marriage of convenience - money to start a business in exchange for the right to stay in the US and citizenship, Esther and Koa don't spend much time together as he is travelling the country as a rugby coach. Returning to Pittsburgh they realise that this was probably more than a business transaction!

Thank you to Lainey Davis for including me as one of your early readers! I've thoroughly enjoyed following the strong, clever and amazing women in this series. Hope the Kickstarter campaign goes beyond expectations.

[Daniele Cunha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize there were other books related to this one, so I jumped in blind! This was a quick story that follows Esther and Koa. They enter into a marriage of convenience because Koa is set to leave the country on an expired visa. Esther is a bad a** who is looking to start her own business and Koa gets into her life at just the right time.

I wished there was more backstory on their discussion about their agreement to get into a marriage, it felt a little rushed. I enjoyed following their story and seeing Esther find happiness was great. She works incredibly hard and takes care of her siblings.

Overall the spice was great, I just felt the story was rushed.