Honeymoon Phase by: Amy Daws

Honeymoon Phase (Mountain Men Matchmaker #3)
Author: Amy Daws
Published: November 2025
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Format: ARC eBook
Pages: 432
Rating: 5/5
Summary:

Fact or fiction: becoming a lumberjack and marrying your best friend so she can inherit her family business is a great idea.

When Addison “Roe” Monroe tells me she’s going on a husband hunt at the local lumberjack competition so she can inherit her father’s lumberyard, I think she has finally lost her mind.

But my stubborn friend, who would rather drive a forklift than get her nails done, refused my first marriage offer. And since I can’t stomach watching Roe hitch her wagon to some hulking ax wielder who might be a serial killer, I decide that desperate times require desperate measures.

Call me Lumberjack Luke.

I’ll do whatever it takes to get her to accept my proposal because she’s more than just a friend. And the way she looks back at me? I think she knows it.

On the surface, I’m offering a marriage of convenience to protect her. But the truth is…I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend.

Marrying her and moving her up to Fletcher Mountain might mean I’ve lost my mind too, but so be it.

Because the only thing I would regret more, is never trying.

And that’s a fact.

Review:

First, I'd like to thank Amy for sending me an ARC copy to review! I've been anxiously waiting for Luke's book, especially knowing it was going to be a friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance! Like checking all my boxes here, I knew I was gonna love it!

Right from the beginning, I was HOOKED! I swear anything Amy writes, I know she'll always get me out of my reading slumps (and then back into them because her books always hit the spot) with all the angsty, spicy and heavy hitting moments!

Personally, I would read this series from the beginning to get the best reading experience. Not only do you get to see more of Luke and his personality, but you also get a better picture of what will come from his own story.

As you dive into their story, you can see how much Luke is in love with his best friend Addison. The pining is strong from the start and he's willing to do anything to get her to marry him in order for her to keep the family business. While she is very much a stubborn woman, it only takes a mild - almost death causing stunt - to get her to agree. Moving Addison up on Fletcher Mountain brought a whole new wave for Luke and the other Fletcher brothers, as well as their spouses. The banter is always top notch, and I found myself laughing a lot during this book, while simultaneously in tears when Amy hits you right where it hurts in the feels.

This was definitely a heavier book than the previous two as it deals with grief for both characters. I won't dive into it too much, but Amy really left it all bare for the readers with this one. There were many times I could feel my heart in my stomach, my throat tight and tears brimming my eyes. She knows how to really make you feel it all, and boy did I ever! While their marriage might be fake, their very real feelings towards one another really show. And as much as Addison might not want to admit her own true feelings, it's clear as day for anyone watching this couple that they're in love. The path it took for them to get their HEA was a roller coaster to say the least, but it really pulled the heartstrings to see them navigate it together!

Of course when things are getting good, you know drama is about to show it's face and Amy Daws didn't hold back. I don't want to spoil it, but let me tell you Addison didn't hold back when it came to this turning point, and I gotta admit, I was rooting for her the entire time! There may have been some cheers to my kindle while reading...

And the steam. Holy, get yourself ready for things to heat up on Fletcher Mountain!

One thing I really want to mention is the family/found family aspect. Clearly Addison doesn't have the sort of family that Luke has, and as always, they welcome the newcomer with open arms without hesitation. Watching Addison slowly come out of her shell around these women was amazing! There were definitely times that I could relate to her character, and it was refreshing to see her finally get the kind of family she should've had all along. Not to mention her growth as a character too. While she may be hard headed towards Luke and the other crew members who work for her, when it comes to her dad... she definitely lacks. So watching her finally stick up for herself, even if it brings other emotions she doesn't want to show, it was amazing to read!

Overall, I LOVED Honeymoon Phase!! It was truly an emotional roller coaster that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I laughed, I cried, I yearned alongside Luke, and fell in love again with Fletcher Mountain! I could NOT put it down!The pining, the angst, the pushing one another to get them to admit their feelings, gosh it was fantastic! The heavier moments when talking about their grief, I feel like a lot of people can relate to it, and while they were tough to read at times (purely because it also hits close to home) it was written so beautifully to showcase how everyone deals with grief differently. Definitely my favorite book of the series so far, which is hard to do when they've all been great!

That's all for my review, I hope you enjoyed! Be sure to grab your copy today!!

So until the next time, keep reading!

Your Graduated Bookworm!! :)