It Seemed Like A Good Idea
(Darling Springs, #1)
by Lauren Blakely
Released – 3 March 2026
Available now!
Amazon | Paperback | Audiobook
Blurb
Grumpy meets sunshine in this charming and hilarious forbidden small town romantic comedy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely! Where there’s only one bed in the room…
I really don’t need a bodyguard―I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee’s sake! But I’m getting one anyway since my identical twin sister just booked the movie role of a lifetime and it’s being shot in my hometown. And guess who my new broody, tattooed protector is? None other than the guy I had a one-night stand with last month.
Correction: he’s the guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who ran out on me before the bang without so much as goodbye. And of course he arrives in my tiny hometown where the film is shooting right in the nick of time to save me from the paparazzi at the market. The coffee shop. The dress shop too. I’m trying hard to stay mad after the third time the sexy jerk rescues me.
To top it all off, he’s staying in the cottage at my farm. With me. And there’s only one bed.
Maybe just one night would relieve all this tension? But one night turns into another, and then into sharing hearts and secrets that are best locked up. Especially since he’s leaving and I’m staying, and there’s no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon.
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Review
5 “best kind of secret” stars!
It Seemed Like a Good Idea is the first book in the Darling Springs series and a new favorite. It’s a fresh, fun take on so many of my favorite tropes, including forbidden romance, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine. Ripley and Banks are so much fun, I couln’t help but fall in love with them.
One evening, Ripley meets Banks at a bar and they hit it off immediately. They plan to meet in her room after drinks, but what should be an unforgetable one-night-stand ends up a miss when Banks doesn’t show up. It irks her and hurts her but she lets it go and moves on. Much to her surprise and anger, Banks ends up coming to her family’s Lavender Farm when her twin sister Haven, an actress, thinks a bodyguard for Ripley is needed while they film her movie and Banks happens to be her bodyguard. Ripley and Banks are thrust together, and even though Ripley tries her best to leave Banks in the dust, he’s having none of it and is determined to keep her safe.
These two are wonderful. I loved them individually as we got to know what makes them tick but together they are amazing. Thier banter is fantastic, and they had so much chemistry the first night they met, it is no surpise that they are simply sizzling now. These two fight their attraction for different reasons but the fact that Banks is her bodyguard, he cannot afford to mix business with pleasure for the sake of his security business. Ripley is still hurt that he stood her up but not all is as seems and once they clear the air, it jump starts the electricity pulsing between them. Being forced together heightens the sexual tension until these two combust. And I loved evey bit of it.
The sexy times are smoking hot but its the connection Ripley and Banks share while getting to know each other and understanding each others pasts that really made me love them. They support each other and are there for each other even when they hit some challenges. There is a little bit of drama that is understandable and believable but it doesn’t last long and its not just for the sake of drama. It works with the storyline and makes things more real.
I loved the secondary characters and cannot wait for more! From Haven to Banks’s partner, Dean, to all of the Darling Springs community, this a a great group of people and am excited to see what happens in Darling Springs next!
I’ll note that I also listened to the audiobook while reading along. It has duet narration which my favorite type and it was wonderfully done. The narrators really brought the books to life. I felt their emotion and tension when they were together, and thoroghly enjoyed hearing their banter. I highly recommend the audiobook
*ARC/ALC generously provided by the author*
Excerpt
Ripley
He’s touching me in some kind of slo-mo seduction. His fingers move to my jawline, the pads grazing along my face, then coming to a stop at my chin where he holds me. Roams his thumb right under my lower lip. Breathes out hard, full of wanting.
I am done.
“Just kiss me,” I whisper, already begging.
His lips curve up in the pleased grin of a man who holds the cards. “Patience,” he says, voice deep and in charge.
“I’m not feeling very patient,” I murmur.
“Good,” he says, a lion toying with his prey.
Pounce on me.
Darling Springs
About the Author
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
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