Gosh, I just really love enemies to lovers. The tension. The chemistry. The slow thaw. The oh-crap-maybe-I-don't-hate-this-person-after-all-maybe-I-love-them. This anthology delivers it all like an enemies-to-lovers present with a pretty little bow on top!

Almost all of the stories really worked for me in this second volume of enemies to lovers from Violet Gaze Press. Overall the collection was not as diverse as the first volume and I didn't love every story, but there were some real gems!

Snowstruck by Ellie Devine - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A burned out movie star and the pap he just can't shake get snowed in together in the middle of nowhere and discover there's way more to the other than they ever imagined. I loved how antagonistic they were towards each other at the beginning and how that dynamic changed as they both became more comfortable with each other. Plus trope bonus - one bed!

Choking on Flowers by Imogen Markwell-Tweed - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay so this was absolutely adorable. Elle is florist who just wants to arrange beautiful bouquets, discover who has been sending her tiny love letters via her cat Flow, and avoid Jasper, the rude tattooist next door who unfortunately also happens to be her landlord. Jasper doesn't want to avoid Elle - he thinks they're friends. Sure they bicker, but that's just their thing! Except apparently it isn't. And apparently he wants it to be even more. Now he just has to discover a way to let her know that he's the one who's been sending her those notes.

Too Hot by Wendy Dalrymple - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a fun rival-food-truck-owners to lovers story! Mariella has worked her ass off to become the Tater Tot Queen, so you can imagine her irritation when she sees a new food truck pop up offering loaded fries (just a lazy tater tot, really) with similar recipes to hers! Damien didn't expect his loaded fry food truck to be such a cause for tension - everyone else on the food truck scene was so nice and welcoming. Too bad the person he wanted to be friendly with the most can't seem to stand him.

Sweet Heat by Bria James - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After a betrayal of the worst kind ten years ago, Allegra Montague left a fiancé at the alter and her old life behind. She picked up the pieces and built a new life for herself, one where she didn't need her family's money or the love she thought she'd had. When Jude Manford, aforementioned fiancé, walks back into her life, there's still chemistry they can't deny. But can they overcome the hurt of their past? This one was emotional and soft - a reconciliation ten years in the making!

Not So Neighborly by Moira Scott - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A sunshiny, retired divorcee and his grumpy widowed neighbor fake a relationship that becomes all too real in Not So Neighborly. I loved Sam! He was just so...good. He dances with puppies! He loves to laugh! He's super into his prickly neighbor! Beth has her reasons for not wanting to get into another relationship, but she's not as grumpy as she wants people to think. Sometimes she dances with puppies too (not that she'd let anyone see). Her and Sam are so fun together and I loved that both MCs were over 50!

A Brief Romance by Noel Stevens - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When criminal defense solicitor Saffie Edgecomb is forced to work with hotshot barrister Hugh Beaufort - a man she absolutely cannot stand - her patience is tested. But as she gets to know Hugh she realizes that it's not just her patience that's at risk - maybe she's at risk of losing her heart too. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Saffie and Hugh and how her perception of him changes over time. Also Hugh is just a hot nerdy treat with an anxious heart of gold. Oh my.

Tipsy On You by Anna Volkin - ⭐⭐⭐
This one didn't really work for me as well - I enjoyed the sparring between Diana and Silviu and there was a VERY funny scene with a lightsaber, but I just didn't connect with either character. I was also a little irritated that this wasn't a complete novella, but a teaser for a full length story. Also Silviu smokes regularly and Diana smokes with him and that was just the biggest turn off for me. YMMV.

His Roommate’s Girl by Sarah Nicolle - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tyson doesn't do relationships - in fact, he doesn't even do second dates. When he finds Adrienne, a girl he hooked up with then left without saying a word, in his apartment he's shocked to say the least. But she's with his roommate. And it's...upsetting? The more Adrienne is around Tyson, the more he realizes what an absolute idiot he was. He wants Adrienne, but she's not his and she'd never give him the time of day again anyway. But at least he still gets to have her in his life. Until he might not and he realizes just what he's willing to fight for. Truth be told Tyson is an idiot but he's growing and learning and trying to do better so we love him, his roommate is gross, and Adrienne just gets caught up in between.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.