8 Things Not to Do This Spring

Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family), Book 4

By: River Ford

Narrated by: Kelly Pruner

An accidental marriage, small-town, work-place romance

Carly: I had eight solid goals to get over Dr. Marcus Vaughn—the super-smart, ridiculously handsome surgeon I've been crushing on. And why would I want that?

I don’t, but he has a strict no-dating coworkers policy.

My lack of luck in love gets worse. He hijacks my list for his own, follows me to Vegas, and a prank by our coworkers involving too much alcohol turns into a marriage. Oops!

For a split second, I wonder if this is the chance I’ve been waiting for. Unfortunately, Marcus is determined to end the marriage and set us back in the friend zone.

Is it running away if I spend the next month at home in Sugar Creek, nursing my wounds? Of course not. I consider it a reset—with eight new goals.

Mr. Perfect and all his maddening, selfless, always putting others first ways isn't supposed to follow me.

Marcus: I accidentally married my only friend, Carly, during one drunken night in Vegas. That’s right—doctor by day, accidental husband by night. Carly Fletcher is… everything. She’s funny, stubborn, beautiful, and as frustratingly hard-headed as she is irresistible.

So why am I pushing for an annulment? Simple: between my career, my family’s needs, and a strict no-romance policy, I can’t possibly add more to my plate, especially not with Carly.

But when she runs home to a small town in Vermont, I can’t get her out of my head. I need to see if we have a shot at something real, even if it means facing her entire family and dealing with the well-meaning—and meddling—citizens of Sugar Creek. And if Carly gives me another chance, I’ll do everything I can to keep her by my side this time.

It turns out that maybe I don’t have it all under control… and I’m okay with that.

©2024 Charity Bradford (P)2025 Charity Bradford

A charming accidental-marriage romcom

8 Things Not to Do This Spring is such a fun, feel-good read and a great addition to the Seasons of Sugar Creek series. The accidental Vegas marriage trope paired with a forbidden workplace crush made for a really entertaining setup, and the story delivered plenty of humor, warmth, and swoony moments.

Carly is relatable and easy to root for, and her “very reasonable” list to get over Marcus made me smile, especially when everything goes hilariously off the rails. Marcus is the classic reserved, rule-following hero, and watching him slowly unravel as his feelings get harder to deny was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their friends-to-lovers dynamic felt natural and genuinely sweet.

I listened to the audiobook, and Kelly Pruner did a fantastic job with the narration. She brought the characters to life and nailed both the comedic timing and the emotional moments, which made the story even more enjoyable.

This is a clean, small-town romcom with no cheating, no love triangles, and a satisfying happily-ever-after, exactly what I love when I want something light but heartfelt. While it can be read as a standalone, the familiar Sugar Creek setting adds extra charm if you’ve read the others.

Overall, this was a delightful, cozy romance that left me smiling. I’m really enjoying this series, and River Ford is quickly becoming one of my top authors, her writing style just works for me. Definitely a solid four-star read!

A to- do list to share

A nice, sweet romance. Interracial. Taboo coworker romance. Friends to more romance. Accidental marriage. I loved following their story.

I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. The narration was just perfect. Kelly Pruner brought cute personality to Carly and her male voice for Marcus was very believable and good. I give her 5 stars plus.

A Sweet, Entertaining Addition to Sugar Creek

I really enjoyed 8 Things Not to Do This Spring. This accidental marriage, small-town, workplace romance was entertaining, charming, and exactly what I was hoping for from the next installment in the series. Carly and Marcus’ story pulled me in quickly and kept me smiling throughout.

The relationship development felt natural and engaging, with just the right mix of humor, tension, and heartfelt moments. I loved how the story balanced the romance with the familiar Sugar Creek setting, making it feel cozy and welcoming while still offering something fresh.

Kelly Pruner’s narration was excellent and a perfect fit for this story. Her delivery captured both the lighter moments and the emotional depth, making this an easy and enjoyable listen. Overall, this was a wonderful addition to the Seasons of Sugar Creek series, and I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

sweet

Love the dynamics between Carly and Marcus! A sweet romance filled with the angst of a new budding love and all the feels that come with it. I actually had not realized this was part of a series while I was listening. It could completely be a stand alone. I love when you don't feel like your missing something by not starting with book number 1. I'm looking forward to the other books in this series to see what happens with the other characters.

A List of Goals

I was entertained by this story. I haven't read any of the other books in the series; however, this book featured one of the siblings' romances and was easily appreciated as a standalone story. This book centered around a fake relationship trope which has always been a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the characters. I appreciated the humor. I was pleased that the tale was both romantic and sweet. I thought Kelly Pruner's narration was great, and her performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions about this audiobook.