3.93 AVERAGE


4.5 ⭐

I loved Harlan and Katie! This was such a great story. I love the second chance/the one that got away vibes. I liked that it was low angst - the characters acted their age which is always good. This was a great start to a new series and I cannot wait to read the next book!
funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A Wild Card Kiss is another cover to cover read for me. I really enjoyed Katie and Harlan's romance-bad timing, dates that weren't really dates, and lots of steamy flirting. From the crazy soap-opera drama at the start of the story, to the sweet family moments with Harlan's daughter, this couple shared amazing chemistry. As a reader, I love when I can tell that a couple really and truly enjoys spending time together. Mundane tasks like grocery shopping are moments where intimacy builds, making the romance even sweeter. Katie and Harlan come across as very genuine, kind people. I appreciated that neither wanted to cross a line professionally, and so they did their best to be honest about their feelings. Their romance was sweet and sultry, and worth savoring!

*Admittedly, this one was a little awkward for me to read because my daughter's name is Katie, and yep...our last name is Harlan. So awkward! Ultimately, I changed the character's names in my head to Kelly and Harris. *it had to be done*

This was just plain delightful! Harlan and Katie are magical together.
challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

 Lauren just nails all my favorite tropes. This book? Second Chance Romance and Single dad...ugh I love it.

They meet and make plans but life throws a wrench in the form of a job that moves Katie out of the state. Harlan remembers her as the one that got away but ultimately continues to live his life. Fast forward 7 years; Harlan is a single dad and Katie just found her fiancé and her mother making out at her wedding venue. What's a girl to do? Get smashed at a local bar in her wedding dress, duh. Happy of happies who should she run into? Harlan! Finally they get their chance. JK. Katie lands Harlan's football team as a yoga client so they have to table their romance...again. How will that work out though when they're not states apart and spending loads of time together? hehe

I'll give the credit, Erin Mallon is hit or miss for me as a narrator. When she does that holding the last letter of a word thing I want to break sh*t but she didn't do that in this one and I love her for it. I found her narration very enjoyable. 

Sweet and funny, A Wild Card Kiss is a delightful romance that will leave you swooning. It’s the perfect book for when you’re in the mood for a sexy sports romance that’s rife with plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

This story actually begins over seven years before in the prequel A Wild Card Night when Harlan and Katie first meet at a wedding. The timing just doesn’t line up quite right then, which proves to be an issue for the two when they meet up in the future, too. When they do see each other again, he’s the hottie professional football player that’s got a daughter, and Katie’s running a very popular and successful yoga business with her sister. They meet after Katie discovers her mother making out with her (soon-to-be ex) fiancé. She’s still in her wedding dress sitting at a bar, and Harlan catches sight of her and goes to say hello. Sparks fly yet again with these two, but unfortunately the timing is all wrong given that her future was just upended by her smarmy ex-fiancé and awful mother. Harlan and Katie decide to give it some time and see if in a few months maybe they can make another go of things, and that’s when the story really takes off.

Harlan is just completely charming. I mean, the guy bakes pies. Pies! It’s adorable! And then how he is with his daughter and of course Katie? I’m pretty sure I actually swooned a time or two while reading this book. His character comes off as cheeky but sweet, and the combination is addicting. I love how he’s so masculine and yet such a teddy bear when it counts. His character is refreshing in the sense that he’s not just the sexy athlete, and instead he’s got these different sides to him. I really enjoyed his character.

And Katie? She’s a strong woman in charge of her life. And, while she’s been thrown quite the curveball recently, she’s still this fantastically likeable character that’s able to persevere. The way she and Harlan connect is sweet, and their chemistry is definitely there.

This book is set over the course of several years, so there are jumps in the timeline, and it works for the story. The time jumps didn’t make me feel like I missed anything, which I think is important. This book is well written, and the pacing of it works. I love that Blakely didn’t draw anything out too much but still constructed a totally thought-out romance.

This is a charming book and you’re going to fall in love with these characters. It’s absolutely the sort of book that will leave you smiling.
lighthearted fast-paced

Its such a bland book. The climax was meh. Thank God it didn’t take me long to finish it.

2.8