The Dating Dare: A Novel

Jayci Lee

Aug 2021 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

Buzzfeed's 2021 Romance Novels You Need To Read This Summer

With witty characters and heartrending romance, Jayci Lee, author of A Sweet Mess, returns with The Dating Dare—where two people might just find out how hard it is to resist falling in love with the right person.

No serious relationships. This is the one rule Tara Park made for herself and it has been working swimmingly, thank you very much. The occasional fling is fine, especially since she’s busy with Weldon Brewery. But when Seth Kim, temptation personified and her best friend’s new brother-in-law walks into her life, Tara might be willing to bend her golden rule...but only for four dates—the four dates she agreed to after a few good rounds of beer and a game of truth or dare. It’ll be fun. No biggie.

Seth Kim can’t believe Tara agreed to his dating dare. He’s leaving for a new job in Paris in a month and a no-strings attached fling seemed like a nice little distraction for both... But their secret dates, while sweet and sexy, always hit roadblocks straight out of a romantic comedy. Thankfully, their non-dates and chance meetings are smoother, frequent, and heated. However, the more Seth sees of Tara, the less willing he is to let her go—and what was supposed to be a fun little game turns into something that neither of them are ready for.

But sometimes, the best things in life are the ones we never see coming.

Ratings and reviews

The Dating Dare is the second book in Jayci Lee's A Sweet Mess series. I did not read the first book in the series, so this was my first book by Ms. Lee. The blurb caught my attention and it seemed as though it would be something I'd really enjoy. Tara is not one who looks for serious relationships. She's more the hook-up kind of girl. Seth is a fashion photographer who is known as a playboy, so serious is not in his vocabulary either. The attraction between Tara and Seth is undeniable from the start. Tara is the best friend of Aubrey, who is getting married, to Landon, who is Seth's brother. When the two find themselves at the wedding having had too much to drink, they end up playing a game of truth or dare, which ends with them deciding to go on four dates before Seth leaves for Paris. The other piece, they can't fall in love with one another. While I really hoped I would love this book, there was just something I didn't connect with. You're not going to connect with every single book you read and I struggled with this one. I would give Ms. Lee another chance in the future for sure.

This was such a cute, fun read! Perfect for the summer and an afternoon with some down time and the desire to dive into something that will allow you to escape into a sweet but steamy. Tara and Seth were both super cute. With a promise to not fall for each other, of course you know what’s going to happen. But I was fine with that. Sometimes the predictable is like coming home. It’s a comfort all on its own. Their dates were a combination of everything, ramping both the humor and emotions up the further into their relationship they grew. While this had a lot of fun, it also had an extreme amount of steam when this couple finally took that step. And holy prickly pears! There is some serious tease going on before they ever reach that point. Overall, a great read with secondary characters that helped to support the hero and heroine. I did not read the first book. While I think it would have added to my enjoyment with this one, I never felt lost without it.

The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee is the second book in Jayci Lee’s A Sweet Mess series. It’s just so cute, funny, and adorable. It’s a quick read and has a satisfying end. Tara Park works in a brewery with her brothers and is not interested in relationships. When she goes to her best friend, Audrey’s wedding, she can’t help but notice the best man, Audrey’s new brother-in-law, Seth. After the wedding, and a few drinks, Tara and Seth engage in a friendly game of truth or dare, and Seth proposes a dating dare. Seth has only one month before he leaves for Paris for an exciting photography job, but before he leaves, they have to go on four dates, with the stipulation that neither of them can fall in love. A no-strings relationship sounds simple enough, and with an expiration date on their dating, Tara believes this is the perfect time for a little bit of fun. This book is just so cute. Both Tara and Seth are easy to like, and I just rooted for them both throughout the book. I found their motivations to be believable, and angst-worthy. Their progression into falling in love was also believable, and fun to read. This book is set in a cozy small town, and I love small-town romances, lots of small-town quirky characters to enjoy here. Although this is the second book in a series, it is easily a stand-alone book. It’s fast-paced and is a lovely book to read on a weekend. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the author

JAYCI LEE writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance every free second she can scavenge and is semi-retired from her fifteen-year career as a defense litigator. She loves food, wine, and travelling, and incidentally so do her characters, in books like The Dating Dare and A Sweet Mess. Jayci lives in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys with boundless energy, and a fluffy rescue whose cuteness is a major distraction.