Emilia Taylor hates me, which is absolutely fine by me, because I don’t particularly care much for her either.
Maybe I took things too far, but I decided she was the enemy a long time ago, and she gave me no reason to think differently.
At least not until recently.
And when she sets her mind to prove me wrong, she goes all in.
I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong—because it sure as hell doesn’t happen very often.
But being vulnerable with a woman who I was convinced was out for my family was a big pill to swallow.
So, I’d rather send her a fancy gift and call this vendetta done.
However, she is anything but predictable.
She doesn’t want a fancy gift from a man who she’s declared a broody, heartless billionaire.
Her words not mine.
And it’s not like you can send flowers to a woman who owns a floral shop.
She wants a sincere apology instead but that may be more than I can give.
She’s sunshine and rainbows, and I’m… well not.
But when the first tear rolls down her cheek, I swear something inside me cracks.
Turns out, my cold jaded heart still works.
Apparently, it beats for the one woman I never saw coming.
(ARC Review)
Laura Pavlov has done it again—Crazy In Love is a small-town romance that hit me right in the heart. As the fourth book in the Rosewood River series, it has everything I’ve come to expect from this world: sharp banter, girl gang moments, and a couple whose journey feels emotional, raw, and ultimately so satisfying.
Emilia and Bridger are the definition of enemies-to-lovers. He’s convinced she’s secretly writing the town’s gossip column, and his very public accusations almost destroy her flower shop. Even after Emilia goes as far as taking a lie detector test to prove her innocence, Bridger refuses to back down or apologize. Their dynamic is tense, sharp, and full of sparks from the very beginning—exactly the kind of slow-burn fuel I love in a romance.
“Well, if it isn’t the broody billionaire bastard Bridger.”
Everything shifts on a snowy night when Emilia loses control of her car and slams into Bridger’s truck. Rather than being angry, Bridger consoles her, and after discovering she is hurt, he gives her the gentle care she needs. For the first time, their walls start to crumble, and the truth behind their hostility begins to surface. What follows is an emotional unraveling, of grief, guilt, and wounds that run deeper than either of them has ever admitted. Watching them move from anger to understanding felt both tender and powerful, the kind of payoff that leaves you fulfilled and waiting with baited breath for more.
“Do you want to renovate my black, jaded heart, Emilia?”
Emilia is sunshine wrapped in resilience. Despite the deep scars left by her parents’ emotional and mental abuse, she pours her heart into her work and friendships, refusing to let her past define her. The cruelty from her mother in particular left me reeling. I can’t imagine someone who is supposed to love you unconditionally tearing down their own daughter the way she did. It was gut-wrenching to read, and at times made me physically ill on Emilia’s behalf. But the fact that she rose above that daily, showed me how determined and feisty she truly was. She was full of grit and sass, the perfect combination.
Bridger, though, is a very complicated man, emotionally layered and quietly heartbreaking. His mother died giving birth to him, and he’s carried that guilt his entire life, convinced he needs to somehow fix the pain he thinks he caused. Deep down, he doesn’t feel like the world is better off with him in it, a thought he’s never shared with anyone. That absolutely broke my heart. No one should ever feel that way, and it made me root for his healing even more.
“I know you don’t think you’re worthy of love, but you couldn’t be more wrong, Bridger. You brought love into our lives when there was only darkness. You were the light that saved me.”
What I loved most was how Pavlov handled his growth. Bridger’s self-improvement wasn’t rushed or brushed over. It was slow, deliberate, and completely believable. His chemistry with Emilia brought both fire and tenderness to the page, while the light-hearted moments between them balanced the heavy emotions, keeping things from getting too dark. Watching him soften, take accountability, and open himself to love was simply beautiful.
“I had an irrational fear of losing you. Of loving you and losing you. Because it’s happened in my past.”
And then there’s their chemistry. Bridger has a filthy mouth, and with all that years-long tension simmering between them, it’s no surprise that when things finally exploded in the bedroom…they exploded. The spice felt perfectly in line with their dynamic—raw, fiery, and every bit as intense as their emotional journey. Pavlov balanced it all with ease: the passion never overshadowed their growth, but instead amplified it, showing just how much these two were meant to be.
“I want you to ride my face.”
“What? No, I could suffocate you.”
“Wouldn’t you like that?” A sexy smile spread across his face.
“Not before I finish,” I said, my voice wobbly, but he chuckled.
This is enemies-to-lovers done right. Pavlov doesn’t just give us banter and sparks—she digs into the messy, complicated emotions that make love hard, but worth fighting for. Add in the girl gang energy, small-town charm, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that had me grinning, and this book is a total winner.
If you’ve been following the Rosewood River series, you’ll adore this installment. And if you’re new? It’s a fantastic place to jump in. Either way, Crazy In Love is a romance that will leave you smiling, swooning, and maybe even tearing up along the way.
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Thank you to Laura Pavlov and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!