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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Harlan and Katie met several years ago at Jones & Jillian's wedding. They had BIG sparks, but her business was just taking off and she was moving from San Francisco to LA right after the wedding.
7 years later, Katie's back in SF and Harlan's got a 6 year old daughter with an excellent relationship with the baby mama and her husband. He still loves baking pies, and he still wants Katie. His career in the NFL is winding down, although he hasn't quite decided what he wants to do when the season ends this year.
They find each other again right after Katie's wedding fails to happen (you've got to read it to believe it) and they have another night together. They admit how attracted they are to each other - above and beyond the sexual chemistry they've got going on. They set up a "first date" but before they can go out, Katie's Yoga company is hired to not just train the Renegade players, but to do one on ones with Harlan. So, they are forced apart AGAIN.
There's a lot going on here with Katie not wanting to repeat the abhorrent behaviors her mother had displayed all her life, and Harlan and Katie being strong and resisting the nearly irresistible pull to one another. They're just good people not being able to be together due to workplace restrictions. I get it, but I also don't get it because you spend SO much of your life at work, it is practically impossible to not meet someone you might like romantically there.
I loved them together, and I loved their strength of character. I also loved the HEA - it's why I read, after all. Low angst, even with all the lip biting resistance.
7 years later, Katie's back in SF and Harlan's got a 6 year old daughter with an excellent relationship with the baby mama and her husband. He still loves baking pies, and he still wants Katie. His career in the NFL is winding down, although he hasn't quite decided what he wants to do when the season ends this year.
They find each other again right after Katie's wedding fails to happen (you've got to read it to believe it) and they have another night together. They admit how attracted they are to each other - above and beyond the sexual chemistry they've got going on. They set up a "first date" but before they can go out, Katie's Yoga company is hired to not just train the Renegade players, but to do one on ones with Harlan. So, they are forced apart AGAIN.
There's a lot going on here with Katie not wanting to repeat the abhorrent behaviors her mother had displayed all her life, and Harlan and Katie being strong and resisting the nearly irresistible pull to one another. They're just good people not being able to be together due to workplace restrictions. I get it, but I also don't get it because you spend SO much of your life at work, it is practically impossible to not meet someone you might like romantically there.
I loved them together, and I loved their strength of character. I also loved the HEA - it's why I read, after all. Low angst, even with all the lip biting resistance.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was okay. The poor timing to get together was a little corny. Every time they finally set up a date something life changing happens….silly.
But the characters were loveable
I enjoyed that this book didn't have the GIANT DRAMA of others. There was a conflict for the main characters to work through, but it didn't end up with a big misunderstanding and lying and that type of conflict. It had an easy feel to it because of this and I enjoyed the pacing.
I CANNOT WAIT for the next book though as it's a best friends to lovers one.
I CANNOT WAIT for the next book though as it's a best friends to lovers one.
Timing is everything, and it seems to snub Harlan and Katie. They met years ago and had an instant fiery connection. But timing wasn't on their side when Harlan wanted to see Katie again, she had to turn him down as she was moving away for her job. Now years later, they meet again but their timing is off again. Harlan is a successful athlete and single dad to his adorable little girl. When he sees Katie again, she has just left her cheating fiancé on their wedding day. They still have their same spark but remain friends until Katie is ready for more. When they finally decide to move forward, Katie's yoga business is hired by Harlan's team. Now they must down dog together but remain platonic. Will they ever get their timing right and find their HEA? This was such a delightfully fun and steamy romance. I love Harlan and Katie along with their flirty, witty banter, their hot passion is hot and explosive chemistry! Their relationship was hard fought, but totally worth the time and frustration so they could make a stronger, forever family together. I absolutely loved this sweet, swoony, and smoldering romance!
3.5⭐️ rounded to 4. The half star is for the stellar audio narration by Zachary Webber and Erin Mallon. I appreciated this story was just right person, wrong time with no dumb angst and no stupid third act break up.
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**
A WILD CARD KISS is the first book in a the new series Happy Endings.
Harlan and Katie hit it off at a wedding making plans to go on a date the following Tuesday but when the timing is off they become each others one that got away. Seven years later they have another chance meeting, the night of Katie's would be wedding. Sparks fly and we spend the rest of the book watching these two have horrible timing and lots of chemistry.
I loved the slow angst filled flow of this book. I made the sweet parts all that sweeter!
I can't wait for the rest of the series! I am so invested in these characters already.
A WILD CARD KISS is the first book in a the new series Happy Endings.
Harlan and Katie hit it off at a wedding making plans to go on a date the following Tuesday but when the timing is off they become each others one that got away. Seven years later they have another chance meeting, the night of Katie's would be wedding. Sparks fly and we spend the rest of the book watching these two have horrible timing and lots of chemistry.
I loved the slow angst filled flow of this book. I made the sweet parts all that sweeter!
I can't wait for the rest of the series! I am so invested in these characters already.
Note: An ARC was provided by the author.
Harlan and Katie's story initially begins in the free prequel novella, A Wild Card Night, but that's included in the full-length novel, so no worries if you haven't read that yet. If you have, you can totally skip it and jump right in to A Wild Card Kiss. It's difficult not to be charmed by the story that plays out between Harlan and Katie, and I appreciated that these two didn't spend the over seven years they hadn't seen each other, pining away and being all woeful. They lived good lives while apart, and I liked that they used both their hearts and their heads when making decisions after they'd reunited. I loved the supporting characters, although Katie's mother, and I use the term loosely, could give Joan Crawford a run for her money. The bits and pieces from a couple of those support characters has me eager for their upcoming books as well. A Wild Card Kiss was a 4.5-starred start to the long weekend.
Harlan and Katie's story initially begins in the free prequel novella, A Wild Card Night, but that's included in the full-length novel, so no worries if you haven't read that yet. If you have, you can totally skip it and jump right in to A Wild Card Kiss. It's difficult not to be charmed by the story that plays out between Harlan and Katie, and I appreciated that these two didn't spend the over seven years they hadn't seen each other, pining away and being all woeful. They lived good lives while apart, and I liked that they used both their hearts and their heads when making decisions after they'd reunited. I loved the supporting characters, although Katie's mother, and I use the term loosely, could give Joan Crawford a run for her money. The bits and pieces from a couple of those support characters has me eager for their upcoming books as well. A Wild Card Kiss was a 4.5-starred start to the long weekend.
Harlan - football star, single dad, the one who got away 7 years ago.
Katie - business owner, yoga queen, the other one that got away 7 years ago.
When Katie gets the surprise of her life on the day of her wedding, she heads to find a drink… and in the process, re-finds Harlan, who will do everything he can to make her feel better. While he succeeds in doing so, Katie knows she’s not in a place to have a relationship at that moment. He tells her to return with the clothes he lends her when she’s ready.
When Katie gets her head together, she finds herself always thinking of Harlan, and decides to wade into the dating pool again, she sees him again. They are instant chemistry once again. Just when they think they’re in the clear, his football team hires her to do some yoga training with the team. There are no fraternization policy in his contract, so they are, once again having to wait to be able to truly explore their connection. It seems like the universe is against them… but the more they work together in her role with the team, the more they get to know one another, and they more their connection grows. What will they do with this??? Katie is not a “rule-breaker” and doesn’t want to sneak around and ruin the deal she and her sister’s company has with the team…. Are they doomed?
I love these fun to read, great characters, wonderful story books that Lauren Blakely writes! I will read every single one! Thank you for using your talent for good!
Katie - business owner, yoga queen, the other one that got away 7 years ago.
When Katie gets the surprise of her life on the day of her wedding, she heads to find a drink… and in the process, re-finds Harlan, who will do everything he can to make her feel better. While he succeeds in doing so, Katie knows she’s not in a place to have a relationship at that moment. He tells her to return with the clothes he lends her when she’s ready.
When Katie gets her head together, she finds herself always thinking of Harlan, and decides to wade into the dating pool again, she sees him again. They are instant chemistry once again. Just when they think they’re in the clear, his football team hires her to do some yoga training with the team. There are no fraternization policy in his contract, so they are, once again having to wait to be able to truly explore their connection. It seems like the universe is against them… but the more they work together in her role with the team, the more they get to know one another, and they more their connection grows. What will they do with this??? Katie is not a “rule-breaker” and doesn’t want to sneak around and ruin the deal she and her sister’s company has with the team…. Are they doomed?
I love these fun to read, great characters, wonderful story books that Lauren Blakely writes! I will read every single one! Thank you for using your talent for good!
Story of Harlem and Katie
This is one of my favourite books of Lauren Blakely.
The chemistry and emotion in this book was so endearing, loved seeing Harlem and Katie’s relationship blossom and I totally agree with Katie, devoted dads are hot!
Can’t wait to keep reading Lauren’s books, loving all of them.
This is one of my favourite books of Lauren Blakely.
The chemistry and emotion in this book was so endearing, loved seeing Harlem and Katie’s relationship blossom and I totally agree with Katie, devoted dads are hot!
Can’t wait to keep reading Lauren’s books, loving all of them.