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reads_with_gigi97's review against another edition
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
4.0
mimireadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
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*
*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*
cnapierkowski's review against another edition
5.0
This was just plain delightful! Harlan and Katie are magical together.
smartin's review against another edition
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
5.0
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.
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.
jsromancebookblog's review against another edition
5.0
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.
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.
kem0514's review against another edition
4.0
Lauren Blakely has a way with her words and writing stories that draw you in so quickly. Her characters are always someone you would want to be friends with. This is the story of Harlan and Katie who have an unfortunate story of the right person at the wrong time over and over again.
They first meet at a wedding they are both attending as their friends plus one. They are instantly attracted to each other and make the best of their time at the wedding. They exchanged numbers and made plans to meet up again soon. Then a job opportunity takes her away before they ever get to have their date.
Seven years later, they happen to meet again. This time Katie is in a wedding dress after leaving her groom back at the ceremony kissing her mother! After all these years, they still have the same emotional and physical connection they did back then. Due to Katie’s wedding day disaster, she isn’t ready for a relationship. By the time she is ready, she is then hired to teach yoga for Harlan’s football team.
Katie and Harlan had such a deep connection despite the fact that they really never had a chance to date. Their scenes were so very sexy, Katie was a person who enjoyed sex and knew what she wanted. Harlan’s daughter was so adorable but would have liked to see her develop a relationship with Katie but I guess the circumstances for Katie and Harlan’s relationship didn’t allow for that. I appreciate Lauren writing a story where the hero has a positive relationship with his baby mama. Not all of them need to be horrible creatures!
They first meet at a wedding they are both attending as their friends plus one. They are instantly attracted to each other and make the best of their time at the wedding. They exchanged numbers and made plans to meet up again soon. Then a job opportunity takes her away before they ever get to have their date.
Seven years later, they happen to meet again. This time Katie is in a wedding dress after leaving her groom back at the ceremony kissing her mother! After all these years, they still have the same emotional and physical connection they did back then. Due to Katie’s wedding day disaster, she isn’t ready for a relationship. By the time she is ready, she is then hired to teach yoga for Harlan’s football team.
Katie and Harlan had such a deep connection despite the fact that they really never had a chance to date. Their scenes were so very sexy, Katie was a person who enjoyed sex and knew what she wanted. Harlan’s daughter was so adorable but would have liked to see her develop a relationship with Katie but I guess the circumstances for Katie and Harlan’s relationship didn’t allow for that. I appreciate Lauren writing a story where the hero has a positive relationship with his baby mama. Not all of them need to be horrible creatures!
stephkeepsreading's review against another edition
2.0
Its such a bland book. The climax was meh. Thank God it didn’t take me long to finish it.
sasha2599's review against another edition
5.0
Katie and Harlan were so great together. Harlan was quite swoon-worthy- he's a single dad professional athlete who's just an all-around fantastic guy. Sassy and driven yoga instructor Katie was such a great match for him. I love that author Blakely has created a world with such charming characters and her books always have scorching chemistry and fantastic dialog. I purchased the audiobook and enjoyed performances by Erin Mallon and Zachary Webber- they are two of my favorite narrators and always do such a great job. As with most Blakely audiobooks, some fun extras are included at the end.