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For Keeps
By day, Allie Flynn runs her ad agency with singular determination. By night, she retreats to her empty apartment, longing for another hallway encounter with Cooper, the absurdly hot guy in 3B.
Software entrepreneur Cooper Hale doesn’t have time to stock his fridge but he’ll sure as hell stop to smell the roses—he takes every eyeful he can get of criminally sexy Allie from downstairs.
During a neighborly dinner, Cooper decides to finally make a move on Allie, setting off sparks in the kitchen that ignite a wildfire in the bedroom. Allie’s grateful the twenty-eight-year-old hunk has the guts to seduce a woman twelve years his senior, but she’s stunned when he suggests they get tangled in the sheets again and again.
Casual becomes complicated as Cooper grapples with powerful feelings for Allie and she worries that he will eventually want someone younger. When he pulls a jealous stunt, she sees the inevitable end, but she’s about to learn that love, not age, changes the game when you’re playing for keeps.
Software entrepreneur Cooper Hale doesn’t have time to stock his fridge but he’ll sure as hell stop to smell the roses—he takes every eyeful he can get of criminally sexy Allie from downstairs.
During a neighborly dinner, Cooper decides to finally make a move on Allie, setting off sparks in the kitchen that ignite a wildfire in the bedroom. Allie’s grateful the twenty-eight-year-old hunk has the guts to seduce a woman twelve years his senior, but she’s stunned when he suggests they get tangled in the sheets again and again.
Casual becomes complicated as Cooper grapples with powerful feelings for Allie and she worries that he will eventually want someone younger. When he pulls a jealous stunt, she sees the inevitable end, but she’s about to learn that love, not age, changes the game when you’re playing for keeps.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2012
255 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Karen Booth
316 books503 followersKaren Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. She writes steamy contemporary romance and women's fiction. When she isn't creating fictional hunky men and the women who test them, she's listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 5, 2022
May-December Romance
This kinda of romance is sweet yet complicated if both will make it. So much double standard if the guy is younger, but if the woman is younger society tends to look the other way. I like that Cooper is determined and he is confident of what he feels, mature for his age and loyal. Allie on the other hand is a typical ldy who worries yet deserves the happiness she can have with this guy even if he is 12 years younger. The mind and emotion meet plus they have lots of chemistry in and outside of the bedroom. Goodreads!
This kinda of romance is sweet yet complicated if both will make it. So much double standard if the guy is younger, but if the woman is younger society tends to look the other way. I like that Cooper is determined and he is confident of what he feels, mature for his age and loyal. Allie on the other hand is a typical ldy who worries yet deserves the happiness she can have with this guy even if he is 12 years younger. The mind and emotion meet plus they have lots of chemistry in and outside of the bedroom. Goodreads!
January 9, 2016
A lovely short steamy read! I loved how Cooper was dead set on pursuing Allie and continously made her feel wanted, especially as she felt so insecure. Im a total sucker for domestic scenes in book and this had plenty of them. A real change from the billionaire mobster books I end up reading occasionally. Both characters felt quite developed despite it being so short
Safety Gang:
Safety Gang:
September 26, 2017
This book took me by surprise. I thought it wouldn't have much depth to it. However it did develop the characters pretty well. It didn't spend a large amount of time on their jobs which is just fine.
I also was surprised that the younger man was really pursuing the older woman and not just for a let's do the neighbors sort of thing. At times I didn't like the referrals to the ages so much however it did show their insecurities.
There is quite a bit of thoughts going on in their heads which the author shared with the reader. I laughed very loud at those moments.
All in all I would tell my friends that if they want a summer read this would be a good one.
I on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited plan and the audio was free also. The free audios come and go but as of Sept. 2017 it is free with your Unlimited plan.
I also was surprised that the younger man was really pursuing the older woman and not just for a let's do the neighbors sort of thing. At times I didn't like the referrals to the ages so much however it did show their insecurities.
There is quite a bit of thoughts going on in their heads which the author shared with the reader. I laughed very loud at those moments.
All in all I would tell my friends that if they want a summer read this would be a good one.
I on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited plan and the audio was free also. The free audios come and go but as of Sept. 2017 it is free with your Unlimited plan.
June 22, 2023
Very short. Lots of internal reflection & sex
I feel like I don't really know either character or the foundation of their friendship. I feel like this could have been a much better story if the author had fleshed it out into a full length novel and delved into the social obstacles of an older woman/younger man romantic relationship. His brother took it in stride, but what about his parents? Their social circles and colleagues? Her parents? Random strangers? It all just felt like an outline of a story with a lot of sex.
I feel like I don't really know either character or the foundation of their friendship. I feel like this could have been a much better story if the author had fleshed it out into a full length novel and delved into the social obstacles of an older woman/younger man romantic relationship. His brother took it in stride, but what about his parents? Their social circles and colleagues? Her parents? Random strangers? It all just felt like an outline of a story with a lot of sex.
July 29, 2024
I loved the outcome of this story, but I found Allie a very difficult character to sympathize with. Cooper was simply adorable. He knew what he wanted and, while he had an endearingly clueless way of going about it, he pursued his goal with a pretty single-minded determination. On the other hand, Allie seemed determined to cut off her nose to spite her face. Not wanting to be the one left behind again, she became the one to do the leaving, instead. I was so glad to see her face some harsh truths about her behavior so that she could embrace the amazing opportunity in front of her.
April 4, 2024
Trusting Feelings ♥️➕💋💙
I like older women/younger men books (40/28) when the guy is mature. This is the case for Allie and Cooper. They are neighbors who become more.
I like how supportive he is, and how she eventually comes to terms with how they fit. There’s not an epilogue, which would have made it better. It has an HFN feel to the ending, but it seems as if the will make it work.
I like older women/younger men books (40/28) when the guy is mature. This is the case for Allie and Cooper. They are neighbors who become more.
I like how supportive he is, and how she eventually comes to terms with how they fit. There’s not an epilogue, which would have made it better. It has an HFN feel to the ending, but it seems as if the will make it work.
August 20, 2024
The Kiss Principle was a cute, reverse age gap, contemporary romance. It was a sweet, quick read, unfortunately there was nothing spectacular about the story or characters. I definitely liked the MMC better than the FMC. She was bothered by the age gap from the beginning, but honestly he came across much more level headed and mature than she did. There was good chemistry, but the spice still felt fairly tame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2020
This story started out so well, but I gotta admit that the mc's kind of lost my interest quickly.
December 1, 2020
A quick romance between older and younger couple. Very sexy too.
August 16, 2021
Age gap romance. He's younger and her neighbor.
November 6, 2023
Short and smutty
Not a lot of character development. Also not a lot of conflict. Lots of sex scenes for a 13 chapter book. Pretty quick read.
Not a lot of character development. Also not a lot of conflict. Lots of sex scenes for a 13 chapter book. Pretty quick read.
June 14, 2024
Alright!!!!
This book was an okay short qyick story.... Not really much of a plot, more sex scene then an actual storyline.... It annoyed me that she couldn't get over the age different threw most of the book, that was their main problem threw this whole book....
This book was an okay short qyick story.... Not really much of a plot, more sex scene then an actual storyline.... It annoyed me that she couldn't get over the age different threw most of the book, that was their main problem threw this whole book....
January 24, 2013
Originally posted http://thebooktart.com/review/queen-o...
I have been intrigued by older woman, younger man relationships since I read my first romance with that dynamic when I was a teen. (It was Jude Deveraux’s The Invitation) When I read the synopsis for Karen Booth’s For Keeps I knew I had to try it… I’m just sorry I waited so long. I read it a few weekends ago on a plane ride and I couldn’t put it down until the final page. I loved the tenderness and the heat. ;)
For Keeps is a story of two lonely people finding each other. The fact that there is a twelve year gap between their ages is an element of the story. But it is not the primary focus. I appreciated that. I loved meeting Allie and Cooper and seeing the sparks fly between them. And watching them deal with the challenges of opening up to another person and dealing with their jobs and families and yes, the age gap. I liked how that wasn’t a joke and it was not their biggest hurdle to making the relationship work.
Allie is a smart, successful career woman running her own add agency. I liked her confidence and honesty. Cooper is her upstairs neighbor and though she’s attracted to “…Mr. Tall, Hot and Too Young for Me…” She doesn’t plan on pursuing him. She sees him as an extremely smart, driven man and someone so NOT interested in her. She couldn’t be more wrong. Cooper is drawn to her. He thinks she’s gorgeous, clever and spunky. He fantasizes about her age and experience. He admires everything about her and thinks she’s too put together to be interested in him.
When they act on the sparks between them their chemistry sizzles. The heat in this story is a delicious combination of sweet and spicy. Really HOT at times and then very tender. *sigh* I liked that I could see how Cooper felt about Allie and where his heart was. I loved that once he decided what they were to each other he was all in. I loved that he wanted to protect her but he acknowledged that she was capable of fighting her own battles. I could see where Allie was coming from and I related to her struggles to open up and trust Cooper and let down her walls and let him see all of her.
Here are a few of my fav lines
♦ “…I want to be with you. You’re the only person I want to talk to at the end of the day. You’re the only person I want to spend my weekends with. The question is what do you want? Because none of that matters unless you’re happy.”
♦ Someone could have told him he had to leave that instant for the most important meeting of his life and it would have made no difference. Allie was the most pressing matter at hand.
♦ Her relationship with Cooper was all about stripping those things away. It was a scary idea to leave herself, her heart, so exposed. But there was something liberating about it as well. She could be Allie, leave her faults on display and it didn’t matter. He still loved her. He still cared for her.
♦ All I want to do is tell him. All I want to do is walk upstairs and knock on his door and have him ask me where I was all this time. All I want is his arms around me all night long. All I want is Cooper.
I wanted Allie and Cooper to succeed against all the obstacles in their path. I thought the writing was beautiful and at times almost poetic. I loved the layers to the characters and getting inside their heads and hearts.
If you are in the mood for a quick contemporary romance on the steamy side, I recommend you pick up For Keeps and fall in love like I did. I was captivated by the characters and the emotional depth to the story. I loved it!
((hugs))) Kat
The Queen of Tarts
♦ ebook provided for review for my honest opinion.
I have been intrigued by older woman, younger man relationships since I read my first romance with that dynamic when I was a teen. (It was Jude Deveraux’s The Invitation) When I read the synopsis for Karen Booth’s For Keeps I knew I had to try it… I’m just sorry I waited so long. I read it a few weekends ago on a plane ride and I couldn’t put it down until the final page. I loved the tenderness and the heat. ;)
For Keeps is a story of two lonely people finding each other. The fact that there is a twelve year gap between their ages is an element of the story. But it is not the primary focus. I appreciated that. I loved meeting Allie and Cooper and seeing the sparks fly between them. And watching them deal with the challenges of opening up to another person and dealing with their jobs and families and yes, the age gap. I liked how that wasn’t a joke and it was not their biggest hurdle to making the relationship work.
Allie is a smart, successful career woman running her own add agency. I liked her confidence and honesty. Cooper is her upstairs neighbor and though she’s attracted to “…Mr. Tall, Hot and Too Young for Me…” She doesn’t plan on pursuing him. She sees him as an extremely smart, driven man and someone so NOT interested in her. She couldn’t be more wrong. Cooper is drawn to her. He thinks she’s gorgeous, clever and spunky. He fantasizes about her age and experience. He admires everything about her and thinks she’s too put together to be interested in him.
When they act on the sparks between them their chemistry sizzles. The heat in this story is a delicious combination of sweet and spicy. Really HOT at times and then very tender. *sigh* I liked that I could see how Cooper felt about Allie and where his heart was. I loved that once he decided what they were to each other he was all in. I loved that he wanted to protect her but he acknowledged that she was capable of fighting her own battles. I could see where Allie was coming from and I related to her struggles to open up and trust Cooper and let down her walls and let him see all of her.
Here are a few of my fav lines
♦ “…I want to be with you. You’re the only person I want to talk to at the end of the day. You’re the only person I want to spend my weekends with. The question is what do you want? Because none of that matters unless you’re happy.”
♦ Someone could have told him he had to leave that instant for the most important meeting of his life and it would have made no difference. Allie was the most pressing matter at hand.
♦ Her relationship with Cooper was all about stripping those things away. It was a scary idea to leave herself, her heart, so exposed. But there was something liberating about it as well. She could be Allie, leave her faults on display and it didn’t matter. He still loved her. He still cared for her.
♦ All I want to do is tell him. All I want to do is walk upstairs and knock on his door and have him ask me where I was all this time. All I want is his arms around me all night long. All I want is Cooper.
I wanted Allie and Cooper to succeed against all the obstacles in their path. I thought the writing was beautiful and at times almost poetic. I loved the layers to the characters and getting inside their heads and hearts.
If you are in the mood for a quick contemporary romance on the steamy side, I recommend you pick up For Keeps and fall in love like I did. I was captivated by the characters and the emotional depth to the story. I loved it!
((hugs))) Kat
The Queen of Tarts
♦ ebook provided for review for my honest opinion.
December 8, 2024
Karen Booth gives us a heartwarming, steamy romance with the perfect balance of humor and heat. If you’re into tension and chemistry that jumps off the page, grab this one, a glass of gin, and enjoy the ride. 🍸✨
June 17, 2015
I loved this book. Perfect for a quick summer read. What I like most is that Allie is a little older, and Cooper is a little younger - and while the book is plenty steamy (I am certain it fogged up Cooper's glasses more than once!), the plot is written so that it allowed for Allie to really struggle with the age difference a bit, and I like that. The romance is written so smartly, with far more intelligence and candor that many other erotic romance authors allow their books. I also really enjoyed reading Cooper's attempts to chase Allie. It wasn't just sex scene after sex scene with plot between; this book was written with a real story in mind, and Karen allows her characters to steer that story wherever they need to go. There's just enough sweet to balance the heat. I've read many of Karen's books and she continues to impress. Grab this one and enjoy!
April 20, 2016
I've been slowly making my way through Karen Booths backlist after falling head-over-heels for her books Bring Me Back and Back Forever. I kept passing over The KISS Principle because it has one of my least favorite tropes - the older woman/younger man. However, Ms Booth quickly won me over with a caring, mature hero, an interesting storyline, well developed characters and lots of hot sexy times. I especially loved the banter between Cooper and his brother while they're at the restaurant *snort*!!!! I would have loved an epilogue to see what's happening with Cooper and Allie a few years down the road! This fun and sexy short story is the perfect palate cleanser between longer reads!!
October 17, 2012
I enjoyed this cute, fun, highly readable story of an older woman and younger man--it was a "cougar" story, but it had a sweet girl/boy-next-door feel that was totally not predatory. The characters were likable, although I thought the hero was more complex than the heroine. And I'm always a big fan of cooking/food in romance--I wouldn't call this a foodie romance but it had some fun kitchen scenes.
June 22, 2017
Karen Booth’s writing really has captured my attention lately and The KISS Principle just cemented her as one of my favourite, auto one-click authors. Overall, I loved it and highly recommend it. Cooper and Allie were so good together; confident and sexy, sweet and sensual, perfectly matched - See more at: Scandalicious Book Reviews
January 24, 2021
This story was pretty good and had a lot of depth for a short story. The sexy times were not overwhelming to the story and I did feel a connection between the two MCs. The constant repetitive complaining by the h about the age difference was overwhelming and could have been cut in half. It would have been a solid 4 Stars for me with if the age angst was reduced and the drama point towards the end made more sense.
November 9, 2012
This sexy read features a strong, independent female lead and a scrumptious younger guy. Both characters are lovely to read. I especially like Cooper’s inner monologue. It’s adorable. The plot is carefully constructed and flows well. All the loose ends are wrapped up in the end for a sweet happily ever after!
January 2, 2016
Great story!
Really loved the characters Allie and Cooper. Allie is a strong independent successful woman and Cooper is the hot young neighbor but super smart and successful as well so they were both kind of a power couple which I loved. The story was great and very romantic.
I would recommend to my friends.
Really loved the characters Allie and Cooper. Allie is a strong independent successful woman and Cooper is the hot young neighbor but super smart and successful as well so they were both kind of a power couple which I loved. The story was great and very romantic.
I would recommend to my friends.
April 25, 2016
You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss...
This was simply a feel good romance, with a little angst, a little heat, and a sweet HEA. A beautiful, successful women and a younger, hottie boy next door (literally) and a comfortable friendship that turns into so much more.
This was simply a feel good romance, with a little angst, a little heat, and a sweet HEA. A beautiful, successful women and a younger, hottie boy next door (literally) and a comfortable friendship that turns into so much more.
November 12, 2012
Holy hot crepes, Batman! I really liked this book. Aside from the Chicago setting, I adored Cooper. I mean really adored him. I'd go get one like him for myself, but the hubby would object. Fun read!
October 2, 2012
Cute, quick read. Who doesn't love a cougar story!
November 18, 2012
there is not a great amount of depth to this story, but it is still a nice love story.
February 12, 2013
Gotta love the older woman story line...escapism at its best!!
December 27, 2015
Sweet
Neighbors with host for each other and neither knows. She's older by 12 years.
Quick hit story with an HEA
Neighbors with host for each other and neither knows. She's older by 12 years.
Quick hit story with an HEA
will-never-read
December 30, 2015Older h, younger H
December 23, 2021
One of the best older woman/younger man stories I've read. Loved the interaction between the leads. Cooper shows more maturity than most men his age and finds a way to win his lady love.
Read
February 13, 2022Quick romantic read.
A solid 4.5 stars!
I loved Allie and Cooper! This is a sexy and romantic novella. A perfect read when you want a quick, satisfying romance.
A solid 4.5 stars!
I loved Allie and Cooper! This is a sexy and romantic novella. A perfect read when you want a quick, satisfying romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews