Cluck Buddies by Theresa Leigh
Cluck Buddies: A Friends With Benefits Romance by Theresa Leigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Steamy and fun Romantic Comedy
What you need to know about “Cluck Buddies”:
✔ Cluck buddies to friends to more Romance
✔ Dual Point of View
✔ Small Town Romance
✔ Wesley Maxwell
✔ Jane Kontas
✔ Romantic Comedy
✔ Backyard Chicken Book Club #1
✔ Can be read as Complete Standalone
Wesley and Jane have an arrangement: once a month, if they are both single, they meet up and have some “benefits”. They’ve had this arrangement for seven years, since college. Even so, they don’t really know each other very well. They’ve left the “friends” part out of their deal. Wesley, as much as he’s good in bed, doesn’t know how to be an adult.
“His bedroom game may be on point, but the man does not have his priorities in order.” – Jane
Jane is the longest commitment Wes has ever had, if you can call it that. Although they don’t even know what the other does for work.
This lack of knowledge starts to bother Wes a little bit.
All of Jane’s friends think that Jane and Wes are in love. Jane steadfastly denies this as her friends laugh (and make bets).
I absolutely loved Jane’s friends and the Backyard Chicken Book Club. It’s a great mix of characters who laugh and support one another (and drink).
Jane likes Wes but she thinks that he doesn’t want to be in a relationship so he’s off the table in her eyes. But they are each realizing that they are more themselves with each other than anyone else.
“He’s comfortable that way. He lets me be…whatever it is I need to be.” – Jane
“If something is wrong, Jane will flat out tell me…She makes me feel good.” – Wes
It was wonderful to read Wes and Jane’s unconventional romance blossom and see these two become friends and then embrace their love of one another.
Cluck Buddies made me laugh out loud! Jane and Wes have an unusual romance that will surprise you. Theresa Leigh has written a heartwarming, steamy, fun romance that will make you smile. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
WRITING STYLE: 4/5
PLOT: 4/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 4/5
PACING: 4/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4/5
ROMANCE: 4/5
HEAT: 4/5
I received an e-ARC of this book, my opinions are 100% my own.
View all my reviews
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Wesley
When I was ten years old, I accidentally slammed my dick in a drawer, and learned two very valuable lessons.
Lesson number one was pretty obvious. Be careful where you stick your dick.
Lesson number two was more subtle, but just as important. No matter how careful you are, sticking your dick somewhere always ends up causing you pain.
The kind of pain varies, of course. Sometimes it’s emotional pain, like getting dumped by Holly Marcus two days before junior prom.
Sometimes it’s physical pain, like getting kicked in the shins by an enraged sorority girl because I didn’t bring her a cruller on National Donut day.
But watching water slosh all over my brand-new bathroom tiles – before I’d had a chance to grout – was a brand-new and completely novel kind of pain.
I have to hand it to Melody, she isn’t boring. She’s nuttier than a squirrel’s wet dream, yes. But not boring.
In fact, coming home from the grocery store to find her in my newly installed bathtub was probably the most exciting thing that has happened to me in weeks.
“Melody,” I choke. “Uh, how did you get in here?”
I back out of the bathroom and gently shut the door behind me. Then dial 911.
“911, what’s your emergency?” The operator answers.
I clear my throat. “Hi, yes. My name is Wesley Maxwell. I live at 51 Riley St., and there is a woman in my bathtub.”
“And?” The operator sounds perplexed as to why a woman taking a bath is an emergency. I have to admit I can understand the confusion. It’s not normally something I would object to either. In these sorts of situations though, it really does depend on the woman taking a bath. And the means with which she enters the house she bathes in.
“And,” I answer. “I’d like her not to be.”
“Sir, does she have a weapon?”
“She’s naked,” I sigh, exasperated. “So, I’m guessing no, not unless she’s concealing it in a very uncomfortable place.”
I’m on my front lawn, waiting for the police to remove the woman from my bathtub when I hear a voice behind me. “Uh, it looks like you’re busy?” Jane asks.
We watch as Melody serenely allows herself to be lowered into the back of a patrol car. “I honestly have no idea what is happening,” I admit.
“Maybe start with who that is,” Jane prompts.
“That’s Melody.”
“Girlfriend?”
“Barely. But if she was, she’s definitely an ex now.” I briefly summarize the last hour. “A routine case of breaking and bathing. I guess. So,” I look down at Jane, remembering our rule. “That means I’m definitely single now. How about you? Did you break up with your pretty-boy?”
She rolls her eyes. “Would you stop calling him that? And yes, Obviously. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“True. You are. So, you want to come in?”
Jane looks at the departing police cars making ruts in my lawn. “Are you sure? This, uh, doesn’t seem like the best time. I can come back next month.”
“Nah. don’t worry about it.” Next month she might have a boyfriend again. Jane was the kind of girl that didn’t stay single very long. This might be my last chance for a while, and I’m not going to let a minor thing like felony breaking and entering ruin it. “It’s fine with me if it’s fine with you,” I tell her. “Come on in.” I think for a moment. “Just… keep your shoes on. It might be a bit wet.”
She rolls her eyes again. “Is that an invitation for me to say something else is a bit wet too? Because I’m not going to, Wes. I’m better than that and so are you.”
“No, I mean, it really is wet in here.” I open the front door to reveal the Melody-damage. “But now that you mention it… you and my floor are going to have that in common really soon.”
About Theresa Leigh
For the love of romance!
Theresa Leigh is a romance author, of course. She also has way too many houseplants and fancies herself a mountain climber after climbing exactly one mountain. She lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York State (not the city) (this distinction is important to her) with her twin sons and her twin orange cat babies.
I know you will love Cluck Buddies by Theresa Leigh! Check out my list for more romances to put on your TBR!