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Cupid, Texas #1
Love at First Sight
Welcome to Cupid, Texas, where every wish for love comes true…
In her sexy new series of romance novels, New York Times bestselling romance author Lori Wilde, introduces a town where the residents are more than likely to fall in love at first sight.
Passion has been notably lacking in the life of sensible Natalie McCleary. But when ex–Navy SEAL Dade Vega roars into Cupid on his motorcycle, and she stumbles on him stark naked and soaking wet, she suddenly understands what it means to be struck by love. Dade feels it too.
Will he stick around and give them both a happy ending or will this footloose loner move on and leave her heartbroken?
Love at First Sight, told with the humor and spice fans have come to expect from Lori Wilde’s delightful romances, including A Cowboy for Christmas and The Cowboy and the Princess.
In her sexy new series of romance novels, New York Times bestselling romance author Lori Wilde, introduces a town where the residents are more than likely to fall in love at first sight.
Passion has been notably lacking in the life of sensible Natalie McCleary. But when ex–Navy SEAL Dade Vega roars into Cupid on his motorcycle, and she stumbles on him stark naked and soaking wet, she suddenly understands what it means to be struck by love. Dade feels it too.
Will he stick around and give them both a happy ending or will this footloose loner move on and leave her heartbroken?
Love at First Sight, told with the humor and spice fans have come to expect from Lori Wilde’s delightful romances, including A Cowboy for Christmas and The Cowboy and the Princess.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
362 people are currently reading
1842 people want to read
About the author
Lori Wilde
397 books2,262 followersLori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
August 9, 2014
WOOT! Kindle and Nook Freebie - great story - Love at First Sight: A Cupid, Texas Novel
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-...
Love at First Sight is the first book in Lori Wilde’s new Cupid, Texas series. It’s a fun story that kept me turning the pages, loving every moment of “Cupid” working his magic in this small Texas town.
From the Cover:Lori Wilde is a name I’ve seen around Goodreads, but surprisingly, not often, and I say “surprisingly” because if her other books are anything like this one, I’m not sure why more people aren’t reading her stories!
From the author of the Twilight, Texas books comes the first in a dazzling new Cupid, Texas series. Lori Wilde welcomes us to Cupid, where every wish for love comes true...
Natalie McCleary couldn't believe her eyes-a lean-muscled, darkly tanned, nearly-naked man stood in her path…and then it hit her: love. Everyone always told her it'd hit like a thunderbolt, and she never believed them. But now she knew: practical, sensible Natalie was head over heels in love-with a stranger.
But ex-Navy SEAL Dade Vega wasn't about to be a stranger for long. He'd ridden into Cupid on his motorcycle, vowing to keep a promise he'd made to a military buddy. But a single glimpse at Natalie-soaking wet and unexpectedly tempting-changed his life forever.
But how can he offer her is love, when he can't even promise to stay in one place for longer than a week?
Cupid, Texas is a quaint, quirky town filled with quaint, quirky people. It’s a close knit community of friends and family, and would be such a fun place to live.
I enjoyed getting to know Natalie and Dade. Natalie opens the story with the tragic loss of her parents in a plane crash when she was just a child. Sad as it is, it gives us a poignant glimpse into what made Nat the woman she was, and how she got the strength to become the woman she now is. Dade had a difficult, heartbreaking childhood as well, and it made it difficult for him to trust Nat and open himself by telling her the truth. But all his hurt, his brutal past, just made Natalie – and myself – love him all the more.
I need to mention this because I know a lot of people, myself included, LOVE cowboy stories, but despite the cover image, this isn't one.
The bottom line: While there were times when things seemed to drag a bit, but all-in-all, this is such a sweet story! Passionate, sexy, exciting, fun… Lori Wilde has created a truly great world in Cupid, Texas, and I can’t wait to visit again, soon.
3.5 stars
My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of Love at First Sight in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2019
I was so excited to see that Lori Wilde had another series coming out. So as soon as it went on pre-order I clicked that button so fast, it'd make your head spin. After all: I loved all of her other books, so this one was going to great, too. Right? Well not really. The first part of the book, just sort of dragged along. At least for me it did. There were also so many people being introduced, of which only 2-3 of them had any real bearing on the story line itself.
The last few chapters of this book was the most exciting for me, but even it lost stream for me half way through solving the whole mystery aspect of the story.
Oh...and another thing I thought was sort of boring, was all the internal dialogue going on between Dade and Natalie, especially in the beginning. I really, really wanted to love this book, really I did. But as hard as I tried it just didn't happen. The mystery part of this story had so much potential, but in the end it sort of fell short for me. I know this book was suppose to be all about love at first sight, one so strong that it would grow into this wonderful romance. But even that didn't feel quite right to me. Then again maybe I'm just being too picky. I'll keep this in my library and try to read it a second time, to see if it clicks a little better the second time around. Who know...maybe it will, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
The last few chapters of this book was the most exciting for me, but even it lost stream for me half way through solving the whole mystery aspect of the story.
Oh...and another thing I thought was sort of boring, was all the internal dialogue going on between Dade and Natalie, especially in the beginning. I really, really wanted to love this book, really I did. But as hard as I tried it just didn't happen. The mystery part of this story had so much potential, but in the end it sort of fell short for me. I know this book was suppose to be all about love at first sight, one so strong that it would grow into this wonderful romance. But even that didn't feel quite right to me. Then again maybe I'm just being too picky. I'll keep this in my library and try to read it a second time, to see if it clicks a little better the second time around. Who know...maybe it will, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
October 23, 2013
This book was just the worst book for me. The narrator grated on my nerves. The two Main Characters stayed in the "Too stupid to live" zone. The inner dialog, repetitive inner dialog, idiotic inner dialog. This went on for more than 1/2 the book. I wanted to throw my iPod to make it stop. Yes, I was stupid enough to finish it.
I am giving this book my first ever Sticky Poo Award
I am giving this book my first ever Sticky Poo Award
May 8, 2013
"I trust you, Dade. With my heart, my soul, my body, every part of me."
When Natalie was younger, flying in a plan with her sister and her parents, they crashed and she watched her mother die in a most horrible way, and with her leg crushed she dragged her sister to safety. Natalie now thirty years old now, has never forgotten the one moment that changed her life. The limp in her leg has prevented her from doing some things she has always dreamed of, and its one of the main reasons she is still a virgin and has yet to find true love. She has heard about finding that one special person all of her life, but she wonders if she will ever find it for herself. Then one day her life changes when she see's a half naked man working on his motorcycle and she knows she has found love...finally. Dade, is a ex SEAL and has come to Cupid, Texas for one purpose, to find his closest friend and fellow SEAL comrade, Red. What he doesn't expect to encounter is a radiant woman who is like a breath of fresh air and makes him believe in love and trust and certain values he has never believed in until now. His life has changed forever now that he has found a woman he can give his heart to and he plans on keeping her by his side for the rest of his life.
Oh how can I count the words of how much I loved thee!!! I ADORED this book. I was given this ARC through Avon and Edelweiss and can I say....why haven't I read this author before??? Lately though I have been not in the mood for a contemporary at all, but I thought I needed to give this one a shot, especially since I love any western style whether its historical or contemporary. When I read the blurb at first, I had my reservations--for one reason the theme of "love at first sight". I am not a full believer that Love at first sight is real or happens really, boy did I have it all wrong. This story made me believe in it, there was so much powerful and evoking emotions put through this story that became so real in such a way that it endeared me completely. The story begins with us seeing a little bit of a background on both characters, which helped quite a bit, and then it starts with these two seeing each other for the first time. I swear, and this was at the beginning of the book, I felt like it was 90 degree weather, (its Utah here, and its been raining and pouring lol ) the chemistry was instantaneous and firework explosive. I felt tingles and shivers and the more this couple interacts, they become almost explosive. The sub characters were charming and just added a fun element to the story. There were quite a few scenes that I just loved, however I secretly loved the banana pie scene, definitely knocked me over with delight, and I just wanted to swoon. (if you want to know what that entails...you need to read it to find out...I promise you WONT regret any of it!!) I do want to point out that this wasn't only a love story, there was a suspenseful and mystery element to it, that only increased my fascination with the book. I found the characters lively and charming, the story sweet and poignant, and the sexual side very sensual at times, but not too much to overshadow the love story, which I found to be utterly captivating!!! A story to charm your pants off!!! READ IT, you won't regret it!!!
Originally posted on my blog at http://addictofromance.blogspot.com/
When Natalie was younger, flying in a plan with her sister and her parents, they crashed and she watched her mother die in a most horrible way, and with her leg crushed she dragged her sister to safety. Natalie now thirty years old now, has never forgotten the one moment that changed her life. The limp in her leg has prevented her from doing some things she has always dreamed of, and its one of the main reasons she is still a virgin and has yet to find true love. She has heard about finding that one special person all of her life, but she wonders if she will ever find it for herself. Then one day her life changes when she see's a half naked man working on his motorcycle and she knows she has found love...finally. Dade, is a ex SEAL and has come to Cupid, Texas for one purpose, to find his closest friend and fellow SEAL comrade, Red. What he doesn't expect to encounter is a radiant woman who is like a breath of fresh air and makes him believe in love and trust and certain values he has never believed in until now. His life has changed forever now that he has found a woman he can give his heart to and he plans on keeping her by his side for the rest of his life.
Oh how can I count the words of how much I loved thee!!! I ADORED this book. I was given this ARC through Avon and Edelweiss and can I say....why haven't I read this author before??? Lately though I have been not in the mood for a contemporary at all, but I thought I needed to give this one a shot, especially since I love any western style whether its historical or contemporary. When I read the blurb at first, I had my reservations--for one reason the theme of "love at first sight". I am not a full believer that Love at first sight is real or happens really, boy did I have it all wrong. This story made me believe in it, there was so much powerful and evoking emotions put through this story that became so real in such a way that it endeared me completely. The story begins with us seeing a little bit of a background on both characters, which helped quite a bit, and then it starts with these two seeing each other for the first time. I swear, and this was at the beginning of the book, I felt like it was 90 degree weather, (its Utah here, and its been raining and pouring lol ) the chemistry was instantaneous and firework explosive. I felt tingles and shivers and the more this couple interacts, they become almost explosive. The sub characters were charming and just added a fun element to the story. There were quite a few scenes that I just loved, however I secretly loved the banana pie scene, definitely knocked me over with delight, and I just wanted to swoon. (if you want to know what that entails...you need to read it to find out...I promise you WONT regret any of it!!) I do want to point out that this wasn't only a love story, there was a suspenseful and mystery element to it, that only increased my fascination with the book. I found the characters lively and charming, the story sweet and poignant, and the sexual side very sensual at times, but not too much to overshadow the love story, which I found to be utterly captivating!!! A story to charm your pants off!!! READ IT, you won't regret it!!!
Originally posted on my blog at http://addictofromance.blogspot.com/
March 21, 2013
*****I recieved this arc from Edelweiss for my honest review*****
We start off in the town of Cupid in the mind of character Natalie McCleary. Natalie has had a hard life, being witness to her parents deaths, sustaining an injury that has left her with a life long limp and having the burden of her sister's upbringing on her shoulders, has left her as a serious person who very rarely lets her hair down. She has also been brought up in the down of Cupid, a kooky little town, steeped in history, which very much celebrates romance and love. Being 29 and having no prospects has left Natalie perplexed as to how to move forward, and having to answer love letters as part of a town tradition has made her feel clueless. How can you answer questions about love, when you have never experienced it?
Dade Vega is on a mission to find his foster brother, the only family he has. His last known whereabouts was in Cupid, in the very boarding house that Natalie runs. An early life full of abuse has left Dade very suspicious of people and also believing he is will never have a place to belong,or somebody to love.
Each of these characters were totally unprepared for what would happen when they met each other.
I liked this story, I am a sucker for a kooky town and Cupid was definitely a kooky little town. The tradition of the "Dear Cupid" letters was a cute touch and the ancestors of the original Dear Cupid letter writer, Natalie's relatives, were a lively bunch of interfering biddies and I liked them alot. All confident with there belief in love, all willing to dish out advice.
The Mystery of Red's (Dades foster brother) disappearance was a mystery right up to the end. I really had no idea what had happened to him, however I did have my suspicions of a certain person being involved.The romance between Natalie and Dade was a love at first sight story, although Dade did fight it, even though he did feel it. Both characters have some serious self esteem issues but, when things did get moving it was sweet and loving, maybe a bit too sweet for me, but I am sure others will love it. It was well written and well paced.
A good start to a new series.
We start off in the town of Cupid in the mind of character Natalie McCleary. Natalie has had a hard life, being witness to her parents deaths, sustaining an injury that has left her with a life long limp and having the burden of her sister's upbringing on her shoulders, has left her as a serious person who very rarely lets her hair down. She has also been brought up in the down of Cupid, a kooky little town, steeped in history, which very much celebrates romance and love. Being 29 and having no prospects has left Natalie perplexed as to how to move forward, and having to answer love letters as part of a town tradition has made her feel clueless. How can you answer questions about love, when you have never experienced it?
Dade Vega is on a mission to find his foster brother, the only family he has. His last known whereabouts was in Cupid, in the very boarding house that Natalie runs. An early life full of abuse has left Dade very suspicious of people and also believing he is will never have a place to belong,or somebody to love.
Each of these characters were totally unprepared for what would happen when they met each other.
I liked this story, I am a sucker for a kooky town and Cupid was definitely a kooky little town. The tradition of the "Dear Cupid" letters was a cute touch and the ancestors of the original Dear Cupid letter writer, Natalie's relatives, were a lively bunch of interfering biddies and I liked them alot. All confident with there belief in love, all willing to dish out advice.
The Mystery of Red's (Dades foster brother) disappearance was a mystery right up to the end. I really had no idea what had happened to him, however I did have my suspicions of a certain person being involved.The romance between Natalie and Dade was a love at first sight story, although Dade did fight it, even though he did feel it. Both characters have some serious self esteem issues but, when things did get moving it was sweet and loving, maybe a bit too sweet for me, but I am sure others will love it. It was well written and well paced.
A good start to a new series.
July 21, 2013
Review posted on Got Fiction? Books
I liked this story, but I’m not really a big fan of the small-town romances. It was a slow moving story, a good romance, but there was a small mystery/suspense plot and it just seemed too contrived to be realistic. What I mean is that Dade Vega, former NAVY SEAL has come to Cupid, TX to find out why his buddy/foster brother Red sent an emergency coded text to Dade before he disappeared.
Red had been a long-term boarder at Natalie McCleary’s B&B for a couple of years, and he’d sometimes go on walkabout, but he always came back within a couple of days. This time he didn’t. But it seems Natalie is the only one who’s worried about him.
Dade doesn’t tell Natalie, or anyone, who he really is, hoping to ferret info out of the townspeople. But this is where I had a problem with the story. He never acted like a SEAL. Ever. It's in your blood, your demeanor. You can't have a hero be SEAL as you would "oh I used to work as a plumber." It's not just a job. It's a way of life.
That being said, I liked the hero just fine, but I feel like the author just thought Oh he'll be a SEAL but has very little idea of how they behave. Here’s where the contrived missing SEAL plot fell apart for me. It was only used as an excuse to bring Dade into Cupid, and then into Red’s old room and job. That was the extent of it.
The romance between Natalie and Dade was sweet, and pretty slow, but not in a bad way. I think if you are looking for a sweet, slow-build, small-town romance, then this one is for you.
Also really quickly, the cover is misleading. The hero is not a cowboy at all. He’s a SEAL/biker. It’s not a big deal, but just don’t go in expecting a cowboy romance.
***ARC courtesy of AVON Books and Avon Addicts
I liked this story, but I’m not really a big fan of the small-town romances. It was a slow moving story, a good romance, but there was a small mystery/suspense plot and it just seemed too contrived to be realistic. What I mean is that Dade Vega, former NAVY SEAL has come to Cupid, TX to find out why his buddy/foster brother Red sent an emergency coded text to Dade before he disappeared.
Red had been a long-term boarder at Natalie McCleary’s B&B for a couple of years, and he’d sometimes go on walkabout, but he always came back within a couple of days. This time he didn’t. But it seems Natalie is the only one who’s worried about him.
Dade doesn’t tell Natalie, or anyone, who he really is, hoping to ferret info out of the townspeople. But this is where I had a problem with the story. He never acted like a SEAL. Ever. It's in your blood, your demeanor. You can't have a hero be SEAL as you would "oh I used to work as a plumber." It's not just a job. It's a way of life.
That being said, I liked the hero just fine, but I feel like the author just thought Oh he'll be a SEAL but has very little idea of how they behave. Here’s where the contrived missing SEAL plot fell apart for me. It was only used as an excuse to bring Dade into Cupid, and then into Red’s old room and job. That was the extent of it.
The romance between Natalie and Dade was sweet, and pretty slow, but not in a bad way. I think if you are looking for a sweet, slow-build, small-town romance, then this one is for you.
Also really quickly, the cover is misleading. The hero is not a cowboy at all. He’s a SEAL/biker. It’s not a big deal, but just don’t go in expecting a cowboy romance.
***ARC courtesy of AVON Books and Avon Addicts
November 30, 2025
In Cupid, Texas, the McCleary family is renowned for their love at first site stories. Natalie McCleary is the next daughter in a long line of woman to carry on the “love at first site” tradition. At 29, Natalie has given up on the thought of true love or even a chance to lose her virginity...until the day she spied Dade Vega fixing his motorcycle on her way home. Confused by the shocking attraction, Natalie must traverse uncharted territory...discovering love.
Ex-Navy Seal, Dade Vega has traveled to the town of Cupid after receiving a SOS text from his foster brother and only family Red. After rushing to Cupid, Dade find Red has been missing since the night of his text message. Dade also quickly discovers the woman that ignited all his emotions just by looking at him fixing his motorcycle is Red’s landlady, Natalie. Natalie seems quite concerned about the missing war veteran, but Dade's jaded past has taught him to trust no one but Red. Can an injured and emotionally scarred soul deserve the sweetness that is Natalie McCleary?
Unavoidable magnetism, foul play, heated fantasies that lead to even more heated sexual encounters are the focal point of this intriguing first story in the Cupid Series. I found this book to be easy, enjoyable and a quick read. Lori Wilde wove a creative tale including a wonderful twist on Cupid’s folk lore that will be a fascinating premise on which to base the continuation of this series. As erotic romance, Love at First Sight hits the mark...it is vividly descriptive, extremely steamy and has a wonderfully wounded hero and heroine we can route for.
This ARC copy of Love at First Sight was given to me by HapperCollins - Avon Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on May 28, 2013.
Ex-Navy Seal, Dade Vega has traveled to the town of Cupid after receiving a SOS text from his foster brother and only family Red. After rushing to Cupid, Dade find Red has been missing since the night of his text message. Dade also quickly discovers the woman that ignited all his emotions just by looking at him fixing his motorcycle is Red’s landlady, Natalie. Natalie seems quite concerned about the missing war veteran, but Dade's jaded past has taught him to trust no one but Red. Can an injured and emotionally scarred soul deserve the sweetness that is Natalie McCleary?
Unavoidable magnetism, foul play, heated fantasies that lead to even more heated sexual encounters are the focal point of this intriguing first story in the Cupid Series. I found this book to be easy, enjoyable and a quick read. Lori Wilde wove a creative tale including a wonderful twist on Cupid’s folk lore that will be a fascinating premise on which to base the continuation of this series. As erotic romance, Love at First Sight hits the mark...it is vividly descriptive, extremely steamy and has a wonderfully wounded hero and heroine we can route for.
This ARC copy of Love at First Sight was given to me by HapperCollins - Avon Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on May 28, 2013.
July 8, 2013
Really fun book. Natalie has lived in Cupid all her life, but has never fallen in love. Everyone talks about the thunderbolt feeling of love at first sight, but she's beginning to lose hope that it will ever happen to her. Then she sees Dade, shirtless and working on his motorcycle and she's a believer. Dade has come to Cupid looking for his friend, Red, who has gone missing. He's not looking to get involved with a woman, especially one as sweet and innocent as Natalie.
I really liked both Natalie and Dade. Both have things in their pasts that have shaped who they are now. Natalie lost her parents when she was a child in an accident that injured her badly. Now she spends her time taking care of everyone else. She also keeps tight control over her life, preferring to live by rules that will keep her from suffering that kind of loss again. Her encounter with Dade has opened her up to things she has never felt before and she isn't sure she likes it. She recognizes that he is The One but she starts out by fighting it. There is way too much loss of control in the way she feels to make it comfortable for her. But she also can't stay away and finds that there is a connection that she just can't fight. I really liked the way that she seemed to see right through to his heart from the beginning, able to get him to talk about things he's never talked about before. I also loved the way that Dade was able to get Natalie doing things she'd never done before and actually having fun. His care for her was something she'd never had before - she was always the one caring for other people. This gave her the courage and confidence she needed at the end to rescue herself and Dade.
Dade was very much a loner. He had had a terrible childhood, losing his mom to a drug overdose and being taken away from his dealer father. He met Red when he went into foster care and they became friends and allies. Later they joined the navy together and served on the same SEAL team. When he got a message from Red that he was in trouble, he came to see what was up, only to discover that Red had disappeared. Dade is a man who doesn't trust anyone, so he doesn't tell anyone why he has come to Cupid, hoping to figure it out on his own. He doesn't expect to get floored by the sight of Natalie. There is something about her that gets under his skin right away and he finds himself wanting more from her than he's ever wanted from anyone. He also realizes that she is one person who he instinctively trusts and he enlists her help in trying to find Red. I loved seeing Dade's total bewilderment at his feelings for Natalie. He is sure that he is far too damaged to be any good for her, and can't believe that she accepts him fully just as he is. I loved the way that rough and gruff Dade is so gentle and patient with Natalie. His sweetness with her is so unexpected that it really cemented her feelings for him. I really enjoyed his final surrender.
Besides the main characters of Dade and Natalie I loved the people of Cupid. Each one has its own quirks and adds to the fabric of the town. I'm really looking forward to getting to know more of them.
I really liked both Natalie and Dade. Both have things in their pasts that have shaped who they are now. Natalie lost her parents when she was a child in an accident that injured her badly. Now she spends her time taking care of everyone else. She also keeps tight control over her life, preferring to live by rules that will keep her from suffering that kind of loss again. Her encounter with Dade has opened her up to things she has never felt before and she isn't sure she likes it. She recognizes that he is The One but she starts out by fighting it. There is way too much loss of control in the way she feels to make it comfortable for her. But she also can't stay away and finds that there is a connection that she just can't fight. I really liked the way that she seemed to see right through to his heart from the beginning, able to get him to talk about things he's never talked about before. I also loved the way that Dade was able to get Natalie doing things she'd never done before and actually having fun. His care for her was something she'd never had before - she was always the one caring for other people. This gave her the courage and confidence she needed at the end to rescue herself and Dade.
Dade was very much a loner. He had had a terrible childhood, losing his mom to a drug overdose and being taken away from his dealer father. He met Red when he went into foster care and they became friends and allies. Later they joined the navy together and served on the same SEAL team. When he got a message from Red that he was in trouble, he came to see what was up, only to discover that Red had disappeared. Dade is a man who doesn't trust anyone, so he doesn't tell anyone why he has come to Cupid, hoping to figure it out on his own. He doesn't expect to get floored by the sight of Natalie. There is something about her that gets under his skin right away and he finds himself wanting more from her than he's ever wanted from anyone. He also realizes that she is one person who he instinctively trusts and he enlists her help in trying to find Red. I loved seeing Dade's total bewilderment at his feelings for Natalie. He is sure that he is far too damaged to be any good for her, and can't believe that she accepts him fully just as he is. I loved the way that rough and gruff Dade is so gentle and patient with Natalie. His sweetness with her is so unexpected that it really cemented her feelings for him. I really enjoyed his final surrender.
Besides the main characters of Dade and Natalie I loved the people of Cupid. Each one has its own quirks and adds to the fabric of the town. I'm really looking forward to getting to know more of them.
March 27, 2013
Having finished this book, I am of two beliefs: 1) I don't believe in true insta-love and 2) contemporary Western romances are not for me.
The idea that two people can at first glance, instantly fall in love and know the other is the One for them was a little hard for me to swallow in this book. Some books have made me a believer in the possiblity of love after an instant glance of attraction, but this book didn't convince me that within one moment's glance, these two people were forever in love and bound to each other.
This book also narrowed down a problem that I had been having with contemporary western set romances: the tone. The opening chapter sets the tone of the novel in a little area with small town charm and thinking; the way it's described was like a cowboy historical romance. Yet within the next chapter a motorcycle roars into town and the language goes from reserved to hard core. The juxtaposition of old world thoughts and modern actions did not come together very well at all for me. The tone of this story was something I struggled with through the entire book as well.
It wasn't a terrible read; I didn't hate it but I didn't come away filled with emotions of joy or excitment. Again, it goes back to the unbelievablity of insta-love and the mixted tone. I'm sure fans of other Wilde titles will enjoy this one as well.
*review copy provided by publisher for honest review
The idea that two people can at first glance, instantly fall in love and know the other is the One for them was a little hard for me to swallow in this book. Some books have made me a believer in the possiblity of love after an instant glance of attraction, but this book didn't convince me that within one moment's glance, these two people were forever in love and bound to each other.
This book also narrowed down a problem that I had been having with contemporary western set romances: the tone. The opening chapter sets the tone of the novel in a little area with small town charm and thinking; the way it's described was like a cowboy historical romance. Yet within the next chapter a motorcycle roars into town and the language goes from reserved to hard core. The juxtaposition of old world thoughts and modern actions did not come together very well at all for me. The tone of this story was something I struggled with through the entire book as well.
It wasn't a terrible read; I didn't hate it but I didn't come away filled with emotions of joy or excitment. Again, it goes back to the unbelievablity of insta-love and the mixted tone. I'm sure fans of other Wilde titles will enjoy this one as well.
*review copy provided by publisher for honest review
May 21, 2013
Like LOTS of mental lusting and purple prose? Then you'll like this more than I did.
June 8, 2013
This will definitely not be my only visit to Cupid, Texas!
Natalie has always believed in love at first sight, but so far it hasn't happened for her. She is beginning to doubt everything she's ever believed it, when she sees him...
"Just one look and all the mysteries of the universe were answered. Every nerve ending in her body tingled to life as if she'd been asleep for a hundred years and was awakening for the first time. It's him!...At last."
Dade came to Cupid to search for his foster brother Red, who has gone missing. The last thing he's looking for or expects to encounter is this vision of a woman who captures his attention like none have. He has no intention of settling down and Natalie is firmly entrenched in Cupid and Cupid's history.
Dade manages to rent the room Red had rented before going missing...right in Natalie's B & B. Now that 'it' has finally happened for her, Natalie is terrified! She is used to having complete control in her life, and what she feels for Dade leaves her feeling completely the opposite! Suddenly she doesn't want to feel this way, but "No man had ever ignited her the way he did with nothing more than a sultry look." For his part, despite the reasons he is in Cupid in the first place, Dade is feeling the same way about Natalie. But he fights it too, not only has he not told her who he really is, he honestly feels he is not worthy of her.
But what's meant to be is meant to be, even if only for the time Dade will be in Cupid. Natalie and Dade become closer, spending more time together. It's not just the physical attraction, both feel they just know the other person to the depths of their beings. Dade still has no inclination to stick around though, he just wants to find Red and once again move on. At the same time he finds himself trusting Natalie like he's trusted no one besides Red and soon she is drawn into the mystery of Red's disappearance.
As they grow closer to each other and try to find Red, danger is closer than they both know and someone does not want them snooping around. Can they find Red in time or is it already too late? What will happen next? Will Natalie survive the heartbreak when Dade leaves? Or can they both open their minds to know what their hearts already know?
Dade and Natalie were such great characters in Love at First Sight. Lori writes so well I felt like I knew them and was right there with them. Both of them have scars from the past...different scars but hurts just the same that are holding them back in their lives. They'll need to acknowledge this to themselves and each other if they want to have a future together. Natalie is so used to taking care of everyone else, controlling everything that someone wanting to take care of her is such a novel concept she doesn't know what to do about it! For Natalie, being in control means keeping the bad away, making sure everyone is happy. Dade is an ex-Navy SEAL (and he sounds hot!). He had a horrible child hood, the one good thing coming out of it was Red. He's been to terrible places and had to do horrible things in his eyes that make him not good enough for Natalie. Hopefully he can trust her enough to open up to her.
All the secondary characters in Cupid added a lot of great flavor to Love At First Sight! From Natalie's sister to her great-aunt, they saw more than Natalie wanted them to sometimes and cared for her as much as she cared for them. And they were very free with the advice! Lori managed to make me smile, sigh, and tear up at times in Love At First Sight, keeping me entranced in Natalie and Dade's story. She is a great writer, the story flowed smoothly, effortlessly, and clearly.
I loved the setting of Cupid, between the quaint town and the caves to the Marfa Lights I could picture everything so well! I loved this book because Natalie and Dade were people that were true to life whether or not you believe in love at first sight...and I loved their story.
I highly recommend this book to any romance reader looking for a lot of romance, some mystery and two great people who deserve happiness.
Natalie has always believed in love at first sight, but so far it hasn't happened for her. She is beginning to doubt everything she's ever believed it, when she sees him...
"Just one look and all the mysteries of the universe were answered. Every nerve ending in her body tingled to life as if she'd been asleep for a hundred years and was awakening for the first time. It's him!...At last."
Dade came to Cupid to search for his foster brother Red, who has gone missing. The last thing he's looking for or expects to encounter is this vision of a woman who captures his attention like none have. He has no intention of settling down and Natalie is firmly entrenched in Cupid and Cupid's history.
Dade manages to rent the room Red had rented before going missing...right in Natalie's B & B. Now that 'it' has finally happened for her, Natalie is terrified! She is used to having complete control in her life, and what she feels for Dade leaves her feeling completely the opposite! Suddenly she doesn't want to feel this way, but "No man had ever ignited her the way he did with nothing more than a sultry look." For his part, despite the reasons he is in Cupid in the first place, Dade is feeling the same way about Natalie. But he fights it too, not only has he not told her who he really is, he honestly feels he is not worthy of her.
But what's meant to be is meant to be, even if only for the time Dade will be in Cupid. Natalie and Dade become closer, spending more time together. It's not just the physical attraction, both feel they just know the other person to the depths of their beings. Dade still has no inclination to stick around though, he just wants to find Red and once again move on. At the same time he finds himself trusting Natalie like he's trusted no one besides Red and soon she is drawn into the mystery of Red's disappearance.
As they grow closer to each other and try to find Red, danger is closer than they both know and someone does not want them snooping around. Can they find Red in time or is it already too late? What will happen next? Will Natalie survive the heartbreak when Dade leaves? Or can they both open their minds to know what their hearts already know?
Dade and Natalie were such great characters in Love at First Sight. Lori writes so well I felt like I knew them and was right there with them. Both of them have scars from the past...different scars but hurts just the same that are holding them back in their lives. They'll need to acknowledge this to themselves and each other if they want to have a future together. Natalie is so used to taking care of everyone else, controlling everything that someone wanting to take care of her is such a novel concept she doesn't know what to do about it! For Natalie, being in control means keeping the bad away, making sure everyone is happy. Dade is an ex-Navy SEAL (and he sounds hot!). He had a horrible child hood, the one good thing coming out of it was Red. He's been to terrible places and had to do horrible things in his eyes that make him not good enough for Natalie. Hopefully he can trust her enough to open up to her.
All the secondary characters in Cupid added a lot of great flavor to Love At First Sight! From Natalie's sister to her great-aunt, they saw more than Natalie wanted them to sometimes and cared for her as much as she cared for them. And they were very free with the advice! Lori managed to make me smile, sigh, and tear up at times in Love At First Sight, keeping me entranced in Natalie and Dade's story. She is a great writer, the story flowed smoothly, effortlessly, and clearly.
I loved the setting of Cupid, between the quaint town and the caves to the Marfa Lights I could picture everything so well! I loved this book because Natalie and Dade were people that were true to life whether or not you believe in love at first sight...and I loved their story.
I highly recommend this book to any romance reader looking for a lot of romance, some mystery and two great people who deserve happiness.
July 5, 2013
I realize in a way I’m not being fair to Ms. Wilde when I review her books now. I’ve read only her Texas series books, with The Cowboy Takes a Bride in the Jubilee, Texas series being my favorite. So each book I read now I compare to that one. No other has beat out Joe Daniels as he sits, drinking and exchanging barbs with Mariah Callahan, in a gold-plated horse trough. I just can’t help tossing every hero, along with his situation, up next to Joe, as much as I try not to. So where does ex-SEAL Dade Vega rate in this first book of a new series?
Not as low as another who didn’t measure up, but he still doesn’t come that close to Joe. But with that in mind, I do like Dade. He has issues that a good woman can take care of, if he’d only take a chance. He comes from a horrible background, tried to get back on track by joining the military, which helped tremendously, but then that feeling of betrayal and disloyalty reared its ugly head and he’s been adrift ever since. Dade’s one and only friend, Red, also an ex-SEAL, is in trouble and Dade has come to Cupid, Texas to locate the man and figure out what’s wrong.
Parked in a roadside parking lot working on his motorcycle, he spies a lovely vision happily moving along on her bicycle. When their eyes meet, BAM! Something lodges itself deep inside and Dade has no idea what has hit him. However, Natalie McCleary knows exactly what hit her straight in the heart, but she tries to deny it just as much as she wants to talk herself into it. See, Cupid has that name for a reason. In a cavern just outside of town is a large stalagmite in the shape of Cupid with his bow and arrow. Growing up in this town, where a long line of ancestors have also lived, Natalie always believed in love at first sight, even as a child. But then her world fell apart when her parents died and her dreams went by the wayside. She now runs Cupid Rest B&B, looks after her younger sister the best she can, carefully limps her way through life due to a terrible accident, buys shoes she loves and can never wear, and no longer believes in Cupid’s arrows.
Even as she gets to know Dade, who is now staying in Red’s old room at the B&B and keeping his identity close to the vest, Natalie still resists the powerful pull to the man. And he resists the same pull to Natalie. In fact, they both resist a little too long for me. Natalie even goes so far to think sleeping with a tourist, a stranger, would solve the problem of wanting Dade. Dade’s a stranger too, so just go with the flow, hun. Thank heavens she shot that idea out of her head nearly as soon as it appeared. Dade only wants to find his friend and get the hell out Dodge, away from the temptation of this quaint town and its nice and friendly residents – and away from Natalie. But then he decides to trust Natalie with the truth; he needs help in locating Red.
And this is where the book really takes off for me. Their love scene is quite nice. So nice that I didn’t even realize it goes on for a number of pages, I was having that much fun with them. Then the mystery of Red’s disappearance begins to unravel, picking up the pace and making the story more interesting. Both Dade and Natalie have to come to grips with their issues during this time, of course, not sure if they’re going to survive the nastiness that has invaded Cupid.
All in all, this is an enjoyable book. The secondary characters are fun, just like small-town American folks really are. There’s a couple of things some readers will have suspend belief on, which I suggest. We’re talking Cupid here, so take it in the spirit for which it’s intended. As happy as I am for Dade when he finds a true home, I still love my Joe Daniels. It’s going to take a much more larger-than-life hero to topple him from my pedestal.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Not as low as another who didn’t measure up, but he still doesn’t come that close to Joe. But with that in mind, I do like Dade. He has issues that a good woman can take care of, if he’d only take a chance. He comes from a horrible background, tried to get back on track by joining the military, which helped tremendously, but then that feeling of betrayal and disloyalty reared its ugly head and he’s been adrift ever since. Dade’s one and only friend, Red, also an ex-SEAL, is in trouble and Dade has come to Cupid, Texas to locate the man and figure out what’s wrong.
Parked in a roadside parking lot working on his motorcycle, he spies a lovely vision happily moving along on her bicycle. When their eyes meet, BAM! Something lodges itself deep inside and Dade has no idea what has hit him. However, Natalie McCleary knows exactly what hit her straight in the heart, but she tries to deny it just as much as she wants to talk herself into it. See, Cupid has that name for a reason. In a cavern just outside of town is a large stalagmite in the shape of Cupid with his bow and arrow. Growing up in this town, where a long line of ancestors have also lived, Natalie always believed in love at first sight, even as a child. But then her world fell apart when her parents died and her dreams went by the wayside. She now runs Cupid Rest B&B, looks after her younger sister the best she can, carefully limps her way through life due to a terrible accident, buys shoes she loves and can never wear, and no longer believes in Cupid’s arrows.
Even as she gets to know Dade, who is now staying in Red’s old room at the B&B and keeping his identity close to the vest, Natalie still resists the powerful pull to the man. And he resists the same pull to Natalie. In fact, they both resist a little too long for me. Natalie even goes so far to think sleeping with a tourist, a stranger, would solve the problem of wanting Dade. Dade’s a stranger too, so just go with the flow, hun. Thank heavens she shot that idea out of her head nearly as soon as it appeared. Dade only wants to find his friend and get the hell out Dodge, away from the temptation of this quaint town and its nice and friendly residents – and away from Natalie. But then he decides to trust Natalie with the truth; he needs help in locating Red.
And this is where the book really takes off for me. Their love scene is quite nice. So nice that I didn’t even realize it goes on for a number of pages, I was having that much fun with them. Then the mystery of Red’s disappearance begins to unravel, picking up the pace and making the story more interesting. Both Dade and Natalie have to come to grips with their issues during this time, of course, not sure if they’re going to survive the nastiness that has invaded Cupid.
All in all, this is an enjoyable book. The secondary characters are fun, just like small-town American folks really are. There’s a couple of things some readers will have suspend belief on, which I suggest. We’re talking Cupid here, so take it in the spirit for which it’s intended. As happy as I am for Dade when he finds a true home, I still love my Joe Daniels. It’s going to take a much more larger-than-life hero to topple him from my pedestal.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
June 4, 2013
Amanda‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Love at First Sight is Lori Wilde’s first full length story in her new series Cupid, Texas and it was a delight. The setting is a small town in southwest Texas that has an interesting history of romance and love due to a Cupid shape formation in the caverns nearby. Do wishes come true? Maybe they do but this town has the faith and hope that they do and love is at the heart of it. A group of ladies have taken it upon themselves to write replies to letters left behind for Cupid and take it very seriously.
Natalie McCleary is the heart of the story in wanting to believe in love at first sight but has never been in love. Contemplating her thoughts on what to reply to one of her letters she is suddenly struck by the sight of a man who absolutely leaves her speechless and motionless. She’s never reacted that way before and it left her scared of these new thoughts and feelings. I liked Natalie very much. She cares for others and puts their needs before her own, she cares deeply for family and sees the good in people and realizes her shortcomings and fears and wants to do something about it. She takes her responsibilities seriously since her parent’s tragic death which has also left her with a limp. She’s let her limp define her and she’s scared to change.
Dade Vega, interesting name, is in town to find his friend and foster brother Red, who has gone missing from his home at the Cupid B&B. Dade doesn’t stay in one place for long but when his ex-Navy SEAL friend texted him with a mayday message, he takes it upon himself to do what he can and find him. Dade has had a hard life and doesn’t trust anyone or let anyone get close to him. He catches Natalie riding her bicycle one morning and he too was struck by something he’s never experienced. It took him awhile to realize what he was feeling and what he was going to do about it. Dade was attracted to Natalie and was patient with her and didn’t rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for. I like heroes who are strong and gentle. With Natalie’s help he’s learning to let go and look to the future with hope and not skepticism.
Together these characters were meant for each other. Natalie would tease Dade and was very playful with him. Dade was patient with Natalie they first time they made love, and then took it a step further to show her she could have it all if she opened herself to more. The scene with her shoes was beautiful. Once Dade trusted her with his identity and his search for Red they worked together and found themselves both falling for the other. The combination of a romance and a mystery story had me glued to the pages with trying to figure it out. It was an easy read and a fantastic uplifting ending. Natalie learned to believe in herself to overcome her fears. Dade realized he wanted a home and love for the first time. It was a bit sappy ending but I happen to love sappy. I look forward to the others in this series. If you haven’t read anything by Lori Wilde I hope this will be the one you pick up to read. I highly recommend it.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Love at First Sight is Lori Wilde’s first full length story in her new series Cupid, Texas and it was a delight. The setting is a small town in southwest Texas that has an interesting history of romance and love due to a Cupid shape formation in the caverns nearby. Do wishes come true? Maybe they do but this town has the faith and hope that they do and love is at the heart of it. A group of ladies have taken it upon themselves to write replies to letters left behind for Cupid and take it very seriously.
Natalie McCleary is the heart of the story in wanting to believe in love at first sight but has never been in love. Contemplating her thoughts on what to reply to one of her letters she is suddenly struck by the sight of a man who absolutely leaves her speechless and motionless. She’s never reacted that way before and it left her scared of these new thoughts and feelings. I liked Natalie very much. She cares for others and puts their needs before her own, she cares deeply for family and sees the good in people and realizes her shortcomings and fears and wants to do something about it. She takes her responsibilities seriously since her parent’s tragic death which has also left her with a limp. She’s let her limp define her and she’s scared to change.
Dade Vega, interesting name, is in town to find his friend and foster brother Red, who has gone missing from his home at the Cupid B&B. Dade doesn’t stay in one place for long but when his ex-Navy SEAL friend texted him with a mayday message, he takes it upon himself to do what he can and find him. Dade has had a hard life and doesn’t trust anyone or let anyone get close to him. He catches Natalie riding her bicycle one morning and he too was struck by something he’s never experienced. It took him awhile to realize what he was feeling and what he was going to do about it. Dade was attracted to Natalie and was patient with her and didn’t rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for. I like heroes who are strong and gentle. With Natalie’s help he’s learning to let go and look to the future with hope and not skepticism.
Together these characters were meant for each other. Natalie would tease Dade and was very playful with him. Dade was patient with Natalie they first time they made love, and then took it a step further to show her she could have it all if she opened herself to more. The scene with her shoes was beautiful. Once Dade trusted her with his identity and his search for Red they worked together and found themselves both falling for the other. The combination of a romance and a mystery story had me glued to the pages with trying to figure it out. It was an easy read and a fantastic uplifting ending. Natalie learned to believe in herself to overcome her fears. Dade realized he wanted a home and love for the first time. It was a bit sappy ending but I happen to love sappy. I look forward to the others in this series. If you haven’t read anything by Lori Wilde I hope this will be the one you pick up to read. I highly recommend it.
December 31, 2015
This started off pretty solid but the ending was just awful. So awful it took it down from a potential 3.5/4 star to 2
Heroine: I liked that the author didnt write this gorgeous perfect model of a heroine, she was actually physically flawed. On the other hand that pollyana everyone loves her and she loves them all back BS got old REALLY fast. I just wanted to shake her...like seriously how can a 29 y/o but that absurdedly naive (and get mad when called that)?
Hero:Not too bad. He didnt really stand out too much but he didnt do anything that put him on my hero shit list. I gotta say though the whole woe is me i dont deserve love crap he spewed the whole book made me want to scream. Nothing he did was ever that bad and i could see him having some issues but not like that whiny mess. He wasnt bad though (he was actually kind of sweet) but he was also boring (no alpha male protectiveness, no sweeping romantic gestures, no actual deep dark secret). Also i didnt notice it til i read another review but the whole SEAL thing really was pointless. He didnt really ever act like one or need to for that matter and as a plot device to get him to the town it was needless because he couldve just been coming back for his foster brother without the SEAL stuff
Romance: Im not normally a fan of love at first sight books but this one actually worked thanks to the towns history. Also i think the fact that the heroine was a skeptic helped sell it. Still a little mushy for my tastes but at least in this the characters did get to know each other and it didnt just rest on love at first sight
Sex scenes: ok seriously you'll use the word dick but you wont write a sex scene? Ugh i hate when they short change me with a fade out scene
Plot: Really solid until the end. The twist ill admit i didnt see coming. But thats because it was so lame that it never occurred to me thats what the author would hang a 300 page mystery plot on. From the time the author reveals the twist the story just becomes completely unbelievable. I dont wanna do spoilers but i dont think this gives anything away-for instancei dont care who you are if you go without food for nearly a week you arent going to come out perfectly healthy and muscular, you probably wont even be conscious.
Writing: other than what ive already mention not bad. there was one typo that i found and a few places of awkward writing but not too bad. I feel like the author could have dialed back a lot of the sappy stuff and fleshed out both the characters to make them less one dimensional and the mystery plotline to make it more interesting and believable.
Bottom line: it started strong but ended on a wah wah wah. Wouldnt recommend unless you like stories sappy enough to give you cavities and could care less about the mystery.
Heroine: I liked that the author didnt write this gorgeous perfect model of a heroine, she was actually physically flawed. On the other hand that pollyana everyone loves her and she loves them all back BS got old REALLY fast. I just wanted to shake her...like seriously how can a 29 y/o but that absurdedly naive (and get mad when called that)?
Hero:Not too bad. He didnt really stand out too much but he didnt do anything that put him on my hero shit list. I gotta say though the whole woe is me i dont deserve love crap he spewed the whole book made me want to scream. Nothing he did was ever that bad and i could see him having some issues but not like that whiny mess. He wasnt bad though (he was actually kind of sweet) but he was also boring (no alpha male protectiveness, no sweeping romantic gestures, no actual deep dark secret). Also i didnt notice it til i read another review but the whole SEAL thing really was pointless. He didnt really ever act like one or need to for that matter and as a plot device to get him to the town it was needless because he couldve just been coming back for his foster brother without the SEAL stuff
Romance: Im not normally a fan of love at first sight books but this one actually worked thanks to the towns history. Also i think the fact that the heroine was a skeptic helped sell it. Still a little mushy for my tastes but at least in this the characters did get to know each other and it didnt just rest on love at first sight
Sex scenes: ok seriously you'll use the word dick but you wont write a sex scene? Ugh i hate when they short change me with a fade out scene
Plot: Really solid until the end. The twist ill admit i didnt see coming. But thats because it was so lame that it never occurred to me thats what the author would hang a 300 page mystery plot on. From the time the author reveals the twist the story just becomes completely unbelievable. I dont wanna do spoilers but i dont think this gives anything away-for instancei dont care who you are if you go without food for nearly a week you arent going to come out perfectly healthy and muscular, you probably wont even be conscious.
Writing: other than what ive already mention not bad. there was one typo that i found and a few places of awkward writing but not too bad. I feel like the author could have dialed back a lot of the sappy stuff and fleshed out both the characters to make them less one dimensional and the mystery plotline to make it more interesting and believable.
Bottom line: it started strong but ended on a wah wah wah. Wouldnt recommend unless you like stories sappy enough to give you cavities and could care less about the mystery.
January 23, 2022
"Love at first sight makes absolutely no sense until you experience it, and then everything else is nonesense."
Natalie run a Bed-and-Breakfast and with a few women in town, she also answer Cupid's love advices column. She dated but never felt in love, waiting for the One but lately, she's started to believe maybe he doesn't exist. And then she meet Dade Vega in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly and suddenly she knows that there's such a thing as Love at first sight. Or could it be her hormones talking ?
A head injury in Afghanistan put an end to Dade's careeer with the Navy SEAL. He's in Cupid to search for his foster brother who sent him an SOS three days ago and disappeared. All his life, Dade learned to be wary of people so he must ask questions to the townfolks, without revealing who he is and his link with Red, not even the pretty B&B's owner where his friend was a boarder. He inexplicably feels a pull toward her and the more he learn about her tragic history and the reason behind her permanent limp, the more impress he is with the courageous woman.
I'm not even halfway thru Lori Wilde's books but Love at First Sight is one of my favorite so far. Not only the chemistry between Natalie and Dade, sexual but intellectual, was off the charts, but the details surrounding the town's history and lore was very interesting and well done. One of my favorite part is the MC verbal sparring about their view on life. There's also a touch of mystery with Red's disappearance and the search for him. The only thing I wish was different was how mean the heroine's sister was to her while Natalie was always nice, respectful and even put her dreams on hold to help raising her. I saw she have her own book in the series so I can't say I'm eager to read it but will probably give it a chance because I trust the author.
Natalie run a Bed-and-Breakfast and with a few women in town, she also answer Cupid's love advices column. She dated but never felt in love, waiting for the One but lately, she's started to believe maybe he doesn't exist. And then she meet Dade Vega in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly and suddenly she knows that there's such a thing as Love at first sight. Or could it be her hormones talking ?
A head injury in Afghanistan put an end to Dade's careeer with the Navy SEAL. He's in Cupid to search for his foster brother who sent him an SOS three days ago and disappeared. All his life, Dade learned to be wary of people so he must ask questions to the townfolks, without revealing who he is and his link with Red, not even the pretty B&B's owner where his friend was a boarder. He inexplicably feels a pull toward her and the more he learn about her tragic history and the reason behind her permanent limp, the more impress he is with the courageous woman.
I'm not even halfway thru Lori Wilde's books but Love at First Sight is one of my favorite so far. Not only the chemistry between Natalie and Dade, sexual but intellectual, was off the charts, but the details surrounding the town's history and lore was very interesting and well done. One of my favorite part is the MC verbal sparring about their view on life. There's also a touch of mystery with Red's disappearance and the search for him. The only thing I wish was different was how mean the heroine's sister was to her while Natalie was always nice, respectful and even put her dreams on hold to help raising her. I saw she have her own book in the series so I can't say I'm eager to read it but will probably give it a chance because I trust the author.
March 12, 2013
First, let me say that I won this in a giveaway here on Goodreads, and was thrilled!! I have finished the book and I loved it. Although warned about editing errors, etc. I didn't find any..or was enjoying the story so much that I simply didn't notice any.
Natalie is very practical...she's had to be, as she lost her parents at a young age and grew up quickly because of it since everyone else in her extended family seems to be the opposite. Dade, who came into town on a "mission" to find his foster brother, has some issues due to his upbringing. The first time they saw each other ... they knew...kind of. Neither of them was ready to act on that "spark" though. Natalie doesn't truly believe in "the one" and Dade thinks he isn't the kind to settle down. There were some chuckles throughout the book. I think what I enjoyed the most about the book was that I felt as if I knew the characters. I enjoyed it to the very end and I'm looking forward to the next book. I can't wait to see what happens in it.
Natalie is very practical...she's had to be, as she lost her parents at a young age and grew up quickly because of it since everyone else in her extended family seems to be the opposite. Dade, who came into town on a "mission" to find his foster brother, has some issues due to his upbringing. The first time they saw each other ... they knew...kind of. Neither of them was ready to act on that "spark" though. Natalie doesn't truly believe in "the one" and Dade thinks he isn't the kind to settle down. There were some chuckles throughout the book. I think what I enjoyed the most about the book was that I felt as if I knew the characters. I enjoyed it to the very end and I'm looking forward to the next book. I can't wait to see what happens in it.
June 6, 2013
Natalie McCleary is from the family who is famous for the writing letters to Cupid legend in this small Texas town. At 29 years old she has just about given up with falling in love and it affects her ability to answer letters left for Cupid. That is until she sees Dade Vega for the first time.
Dade has come to Cupid looking for his foster brother after receiving a text message from him. Due to his tragic past, Dade has trust issues. With meeting Natalie and getting to know her strong but sweet spirit, he may have found the one person he can trust to give his heart to.
Author Lori Wilde has become my go-to-author for small town romances that have such heart and soul in them. The way she tells these stories makes them feel very real for me. Her characters are ones you would love to be neighbors with. Along with the entertaining plot, Love at First Sight is a delightful book in what I know will be a hard to put down series.
Dade has come to Cupid looking for his foster brother after receiving a text message from him. Due to his tragic past, Dade has trust issues. With meeting Natalie and getting to know her strong but sweet spirit, he may have found the one person he can trust to give his heart to.
Author Lori Wilde has become my go-to-author for small town romances that have such heart and soul in them. The way she tells these stories makes them feel very real for me. Her characters are ones you would love to be neighbors with. Along with the entertaining plot, Love at First Sight is a delightful book in what I know will be a hard to put down series.
June 27, 2013
Loved this book, could not put it down. All the characters are likable. The one thing that popped out for me was how relatable Natalie and Dade are. When I saw these two characters finally see that love at first sight could be possible for them it was beautiful. I also liked the little mystery that was involved. I do recommend reading this book it's definitely a winner in my book. Great start to this series.
September 22, 2017
What was I thinking. The name of this book is literally "Love at First Sight". What about that doesn't scream insta-love? Stupid me plunged headfirst anyway and ugh. I guess if you're a person who can overlook or doesn't mind insta relationships this is ok. However if you're someone like me who doesn't find it believable that someone can make eye contact and know "he's the one", you're going to hate this. Trust me.
June 24, 2013
Great Great Great start to the new Cupid, TX series. Oh how I fell in love with Natalie and Dade from first sight! If you are a TRUE Romantic, you will LOVE this read!
Lori Wilde does it again!!
Lori Wilde does it again!!
August 28, 2019
I only got to pg. 75 but that was enough for me to realize this wasn't worth my time. There was not one thing I liked about the book so far, so while it wasn't atrocious as 1 star books usually are, I can't give another star because there was nothing good about it, and I have to majorly dock due to the high cheese factor that I loathe.
I added this many years ago back when I apparently liked cheesy plots. Rereading it now had me wondering where my head was at because I hate instant love and Natalie sounded super pathetic the way she thought herself in love from viewing him one time. I was only more turned off when I learned she's the owner of a bed and breakfast named a Cupid's Rest and she answers love letters under the name of Cupid. She's 29 and never been in love. Cheers to womanhood!
Clearly, I feared this was coming. Since Natalie has never been in love I assumed she was a virgin, and I was correct. Her history is that she's dated 6 men, kissed 4 of them, but slept with 0. Nice past for the woman.
The first sighting was even cheesier than I imagined. Dade had the exact same experience with her which shouldn't have happened. It was bad enough that Natalie was going to fall head over heels in love like a starry-eyed child with her knight in shining armor, but to have this motorcycle-riding veteran feel the same way was too much--and made him come off feminine.
A side character quoted a man: "A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his kind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." That was good, the only good thing about the book..
The legend of how the town of Cupid got its name was so stupid and lame--and cheesy. I knew that would be a word I would use a lot. A man slept with another man's wife and the husband caught him. He ran away and hid in a cave where he saw a stalagmite that looked like Cupid holding a bow and arrow. Major eye roll, also with a little nausea. A stalagmite shaped like Cupid...That is so unrealistic and stupid. This spoken from a person who's seen one shaped like George Washington.
There was a law where a man could be saved from hanging if he married, so these outlaws got the idea to get married when they found themselves facing the noose. The man prayed to Cupid for a woman to marry him. He was captured and stood on the gallows, looked out at all the beautiful women. Except an older spinster offered and he honored Cupid's move and married her even though she wasn't pretty. They fell in love but never had kids.
Natalie's great-grandma was a maid and fell in love with the son of the richest family in town. He was engaged to another woman, so Millie left a letter to the Cupid figure and he left his wife before the wedding. The whole town thought she bewitched him and prayed to a pagan god and the town was divided.
But when she wrote that King Edward VIII abdicated his throne because Wallis Simpson visited a friend in Cupid, Texas, I wanted to throw the book down from the sheer stupidity of it all. They had broken up because of his responsibilities. When a guest said it was hard to believe that Wallis would lower herself to visit Cupid, Natalie replied with: "Which is precisely why she did. She wanted to get away from any and everything that reminded her of Edward. When Wallis heard about Millie and John's romance, she decided to write a letter to Cupid to intervene in her love affair with the King of England." Two weeks letter Edward arrived in Cupid and proposed to her.
Oh my gosh. Make me gag. And I think you should never rewrite history and change real events, especially with this drivel.
There was a sickly sweet newly married couple staying there, and the man said he'd leave the throne for her. "Okay, these two were pushing the mushy meter to the limit." That was the height of irony to point out cheesy characters in this cheese explosion.
She cannot write as a man. Dade sounded just like Natalie. "Honeysuckle woman, that's how he thought of her now." Ew, and stupid. The second time he saw her, when she was rescuing a duck from a plastic drink pack, he thought the word "Home." He called her a "sweet little bit of honeysuckle" in his mind. Ew.
"He could have his pick of women and often did." Well of course he has this kind of past while Natalie has all the experience of a teenager! Way to go, being all sexist like that.
She has a really weird way of saying things. The writing and phrases were atrocious.
"His abdominal muscles were taut as drum skins."
"Her nipples were tight as head bolts on a factory engine, poking straight up through her wet dress."
"What the frig?"
I hate expressions like that!
Not romantic at all.
"...her heart was thumping as loud as an orchestra, a rapidly rising crescendo of saxophones, trumpets, bassoons, and trombones. If he were music, he'd be big band swing--bold, lively, and fast-paced. Looking into his eyes, she had an overwhelming urge to sing, to hop, to dance."
What the hell? Who writes this crap?
The cover shows a cowboy but this does not fit Dade's description. He was wearing old cowboy boots, but he rides a motorcycle and works for a security firm. He definitely is not wearing chaps or a cowboy hat. This is in no way a western. Just because it's in Texas doesn't mean it's a western and I was so mad to learn the cover was so misleading and an outright lie. I was in the mood for western romance and this is not. Also, I had 0 interest in his war buddy disappearing, having PTSD and not having a car, hitching rides around town and doing odd jobs around town. Dade showed up like an investigator, posing as someone needing a job, when he's really insinuating himself into the town to learn more about Red. If he wanted to do that he should just announce who he is like a normal person, say Red was his friend and he's trying to find him. Watching him probe Natalie for questions and trying to play it off was so annoying and unnatural. Be a man, be an adult, and fess up to what you're doing. It's ridiculous to think you can ask all those questions and keep your relationship with Red a secret. Ugh.
I added this many years ago back when I apparently liked cheesy plots. Rereading it now had me wondering where my head was at because I hate instant love and Natalie sounded super pathetic the way she thought herself in love from viewing him one time. I was only more turned off when I learned she's the owner of a bed and breakfast named a Cupid's Rest and she answers love letters under the name of Cupid. She's 29 and never been in love. Cheers to womanhood!
Clearly, I feared this was coming. Since Natalie has never been in love I assumed she was a virgin, and I was correct. Her history is that she's dated 6 men, kissed 4 of them, but slept with 0. Nice past for the woman.
The first sighting was even cheesier than I imagined. Dade had the exact same experience with her which shouldn't have happened. It was bad enough that Natalie was going to fall head over heels in love like a starry-eyed child with her knight in shining armor, but to have this motorcycle-riding veteran feel the same way was too much--and made him come off feminine.
A side character quoted a man: "A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his kind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." That was good, the only good thing about the book..
The legend of how the town of Cupid got its name was so stupid and lame--and cheesy. I knew that would be a word I would use a lot. A man slept with another man's wife and the husband caught him. He ran away and hid in a cave where he saw a stalagmite that looked like Cupid holding a bow and arrow. Major eye roll, also with a little nausea. A stalagmite shaped like Cupid...That is so unrealistic and stupid. This spoken from a person who's seen one shaped like George Washington.
There was a law where a man could be saved from hanging if he married, so these outlaws got the idea to get married when they found themselves facing the noose. The man prayed to Cupid for a woman to marry him. He was captured and stood on the gallows, looked out at all the beautiful women. Except an older spinster offered and he honored Cupid's move and married her even though she wasn't pretty. They fell in love but never had kids.
Natalie's great-grandma was a maid and fell in love with the son of the richest family in town. He was engaged to another woman, so Millie left a letter to the Cupid figure and he left his wife before the wedding. The whole town thought she bewitched him and prayed to a pagan god and the town was divided.
But when she wrote that King Edward VIII abdicated his throne because Wallis Simpson visited a friend in Cupid, Texas, I wanted to throw the book down from the sheer stupidity of it all. They had broken up because of his responsibilities. When a guest said it was hard to believe that Wallis would lower herself to visit Cupid, Natalie replied with: "Which is precisely why she did. She wanted to get away from any and everything that reminded her of Edward. When Wallis heard about Millie and John's romance, she decided to write a letter to Cupid to intervene in her love affair with the King of England." Two weeks letter Edward arrived in Cupid and proposed to her.
Oh my gosh. Make me gag. And I think you should never rewrite history and change real events, especially with this drivel.
There was a sickly sweet newly married couple staying there, and the man said he'd leave the throne for her. "Okay, these two were pushing the mushy meter to the limit." That was the height of irony to point out cheesy characters in this cheese explosion.
She cannot write as a man. Dade sounded just like Natalie. "Honeysuckle woman, that's how he thought of her now." Ew, and stupid. The second time he saw her, when she was rescuing a duck from a plastic drink pack, he thought the word "Home." He called her a "sweet little bit of honeysuckle" in his mind. Ew.
"He could have his pick of women and often did." Well of course he has this kind of past while Natalie has all the experience of a teenager! Way to go, being all sexist like that.
She has a really weird way of saying things. The writing and phrases were atrocious.
"His abdominal muscles were taut as drum skins."
"Her nipples were tight as head bolts on a factory engine, poking straight up through her wet dress."
"What the frig?"
I hate expressions like that!
Not romantic at all.
"...her heart was thumping as loud as an orchestra, a rapidly rising crescendo of saxophones, trumpets, bassoons, and trombones. If he were music, he'd be big band swing--bold, lively, and fast-paced. Looking into his eyes, she had an overwhelming urge to sing, to hop, to dance."
What the hell? Who writes this crap?
The cover shows a cowboy but this does not fit Dade's description. He was wearing old cowboy boots, but he rides a motorcycle and works for a security firm. He definitely is not wearing chaps or a cowboy hat. This is in no way a western. Just because it's in Texas doesn't mean it's a western and I was so mad to learn the cover was so misleading and an outright lie. I was in the mood for western romance and this is not. Also, I had 0 interest in his war buddy disappearing, having PTSD and not having a car, hitching rides around town and doing odd jobs around town. Dade showed up like an investigator, posing as someone needing a job, when he's really insinuating himself into the town to learn more about Red. If he wanted to do that he should just announce who he is like a normal person, say Red was his friend and he's trying to find him. Watching him probe Natalie for questions and trying to play it off was so annoying and unnatural. Be a man, be an adult, and fess up to what you're doing. It's ridiculous to think you can ask all those questions and keep your relationship with Red a secret. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2018
Comenzando formalmente con la serie de Cupid Texas está *Love at first sight* en donde nos introduce a la historia de Dade y Natalie. Como el título lo dice es amor a primera vista, atracción instantánea y confianza en menos de una semana.
Dade y Natalie descubren que juntos pueden vencer sus temores, creer en el amor y tener un felices para siempre.
Lo que no me gustó fue que al iniciar la novela la primera mitad tiene mucho revoltijo en la escritura y te presentan varios personajes y algunos flashback, si se fue un poquito lenta, pero ya después todo comienza a fluir (específicamente a partir de una escena donde los protagonistas comparten su primer beso).
Los dos personajes principales me gustaron, Dade es tan tierno y sensual :3
Dade y Natalie descubren que juntos pueden vencer sus temores, creer en el amor y tener un felices para siempre.
Lo que no me gustó fue que al iniciar la novela la primera mitad tiene mucho revoltijo en la escritura y te presentan varios personajes y algunos flashback, si se fue un poquito lenta, pero ya después todo comienza a fluir (específicamente a partir de una escena donde los protagonistas comparten su primer beso).
Los dos personajes principales me gustaron, Dade es tan tierno y sensual :3
September 8, 2017
After reading the series prequel I wasn't sure what to expect from book 1. I was pleasantly surprised. Natalie's back story was probably my favorite part. The interactions between the two MCs was a little cheesy and fast even for a romance. Dade was an intriguing character and I really like the name Dade Vega. Love the mystery twist and the family's tradition with cupid.
May 20, 2013
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Twin
Review Copy from the Publisher
“Love at first sight” is the first volume of this author’s new series, although one week before it is published a prequel, only available in ebook, telling the story of the heroine’s grandmother. I had never read this author before and I’ve been surprised to learn she wrote a lot of novels… It was about time I make her acquaintance and it was a pleasant surprise. The style is good, a touch of humor, a bit of suspense and endearing characters. What more could anyone want?!
The story takes place in the little town of Cupid, Texas, and we understand quickly this town is aptly named. Indeed, if tourists venture into the caves that surround the city, it is to admire a rock formation that looks suspiciously like Cupid ready to shoot one of his arrows. Tradition has it that if you deposit at his feet a letter stating n affair of the heart, the story always ends well for the couple in trouble. The whole town revolves around this tourist attraction, and our heroine is the proud owner of a B & B where she leases rooms for a few nights or more.
The first pages are quite confusing because they sometimes border on ridiculous but without reaching completion. The line is tenuous so I think it will depend completely on the state of mind in which the reader is at time T, but one must not be discouraged by Natalie’s speech, which is a little dated (it must be said), about love at first sight. And when she sees Dade for the first time she says “This is him!” The weather is nice, the birds are singing, the time seems to stop… the author blows things out of proportions! I’m expecting a syrupy story, but the hero has nothing mushy: he is an ex-Navy SEAL who comes to the aid of one of his friends from Afghanistan who’s gone AWOL for a few days after leaving a distress message. He doesn’t want anybody to know why he’s there, and although he surrounds himself by mystery, he’s about enough to ravish the heroine’s heart when she’s preserved it all her life for the Man of her Life. And I’m talking about preservation in every way (NB: the heroine is thirty year old!) LOL. Thus it keeps oscillating between Natalie’s softie side and the more obscure and more in control side of former military. So I think it’s at this moment the author grabs you… or leaves you behind. In the first case you should have a good reading moment… in the second, perhaps go on your way because I’d understand that you find the story boring or annoying ...
Especially, since it’s a first volume, the author takes a long time to introduce almost all the town residents… and there are a lot of them! One can feel she has a world already well built and well-defined because she showers us with high-precision details. So I regret that our heroes are not much together in the first third of the book, but it is a prerequisite to set the stage perfectly. Their occasional meetings are just more sparkly.
However, do not expect very naughty scenes. It’s a real “Small Town” in the purest tradition of the genre : mushy community, made of overly nice people, full of love and good intentions, and the hero, ex SEAL tormented and traumatized by his past, doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to stand so much live, he who’ve never known it. I’d have liked to get to know him and his past better: Natalie is mainly present, what a shame. I cannot say that I leave a bit hungry for more, but he deserved to be better highlighted. However there are some quite long flash-backs that allow the reader to live some key moments for the heroes (quite traumatic by the way) and gauge their true personality.
The ending brings a small final suspense that was well done from the author: I confess she knew how to surprise me and I would not have imagined a nasty trick like this one. I’ll not tell you more so as not to spoil your fun but, for me, it was quite clever.
The whole thing is thus very nice to read especially when one loves small communities’ series. Well, not much happens, but still enough that one doesn’t get bored. This book is therefore intended for all of those who enjoy good feelings or, at some point, need them. Do not hesitate. Reading feels good and one turns the last page with a real sense of satisfaction: yes, everything is all pink and rosy!
Reviewed by Twin
Review Copy from the Publisher
“Love at first sight” is the first volume of this author’s new series, although one week before it is published a prequel, only available in ebook, telling the story of the heroine’s grandmother. I had never read this author before and I’ve been surprised to learn she wrote a lot of novels… It was about time I make her acquaintance and it was a pleasant surprise. The style is good, a touch of humor, a bit of suspense and endearing characters. What more could anyone want?!
The story takes place in the little town of Cupid, Texas, and we understand quickly this town is aptly named. Indeed, if tourists venture into the caves that surround the city, it is to admire a rock formation that looks suspiciously like Cupid ready to shoot one of his arrows. Tradition has it that if you deposit at his feet a letter stating n affair of the heart, the story always ends well for the couple in trouble. The whole town revolves around this tourist attraction, and our heroine is the proud owner of a B & B where she leases rooms for a few nights or more.
The first pages are quite confusing because they sometimes border on ridiculous but without reaching completion. The line is tenuous so I think it will depend completely on the state of mind in which the reader is at time T, but one must not be discouraged by Natalie’s speech, which is a little dated (it must be said), about love at first sight. And when she sees Dade for the first time she says “This is him!” The weather is nice, the birds are singing, the time seems to stop… the author blows things out of proportions! I’m expecting a syrupy story, but the hero has nothing mushy: he is an ex-Navy SEAL who comes to the aid of one of his friends from Afghanistan who’s gone AWOL for a few days after leaving a distress message. He doesn’t want anybody to know why he’s there, and although he surrounds himself by mystery, he’s about enough to ravish the heroine’s heart when she’s preserved it all her life for the Man of her Life. And I’m talking about preservation in every way (NB: the heroine is thirty year old!) LOL. Thus it keeps oscillating between Natalie’s softie side and the more obscure and more in control side of former military. So I think it’s at this moment the author grabs you… or leaves you behind. In the first case you should have a good reading moment… in the second, perhaps go on your way because I’d understand that you find the story boring or annoying ...
Especially, since it’s a first volume, the author takes a long time to introduce almost all the town residents… and there are a lot of them! One can feel she has a world already well built and well-defined because she showers us with high-precision details. So I regret that our heroes are not much together in the first third of the book, but it is a prerequisite to set the stage perfectly. Their occasional meetings are just more sparkly.
However, do not expect very naughty scenes. It’s a real “Small Town” in the purest tradition of the genre : mushy community, made of overly nice people, full of love and good intentions, and the hero, ex SEAL tormented and traumatized by his past, doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to stand so much live, he who’ve never known it. I’d have liked to get to know him and his past better: Natalie is mainly present, what a shame. I cannot say that I leave a bit hungry for more, but he deserved to be better highlighted. However there are some quite long flash-backs that allow the reader to live some key moments for the heroes (quite traumatic by the way) and gauge their true personality.
The ending brings a small final suspense that was well done from the author: I confess she knew how to surprise me and I would not have imagined a nasty trick like this one. I’ll not tell you more so as not to spoil your fun but, for me, it was quite clever.
The whole thing is thus very nice to read especially when one loves small communities’ series. Well, not much happens, but still enough that one doesn’t get bored. This book is therefore intended for all of those who enjoy good feelings or, at some point, need them. Do not hesitate. Reading feels good and one turns the last page with a real sense of satisfaction: yes, everything is all pink and rosy!
April 23, 2013
I was so extremely excited when I won an advanced uncorrected proof of Love at First Sight by Lori Wilde from goodreads. I could not wait to start reading this book. The cover was enough to make me want to pick it up and start reading, then I read the back... Oh my goodness I just could not wait to read it. All my excitement it turns out was just. This was an awesome book. I'm a huge fan of small town series romance books as I've said before so this is my kind of book! I loved the town of Cupid and there is some really cute history behind the town.
Natalie McCleary has had some really tough things happen to her. When she was a young child she was in an air plane accident with her parents. The accident left her with major issues with her leg and took the life of her Mom and Dad. Natalie had the willpower to drag her sister & herself from the plane and was able to keep themselves together until help arrived. I so felt for this girl. She has had to endure so much heartache and pain. When she meets Dade Vega she feels what she thinks just might be Love at First Sight. If anyone deserves to find love it is Natalie but she is very unsure of her feelings so she fights it for a while. I felt an instant bond with Natalie. I know how leg pain & health issues can make you feel different and how it takes just the right guy to accept it.
Dade Vega came to town in search of his foster brother Red, whom has went missing. He has looked everywhere he can think of and finally takes Natalie into his confidence. They search high and low around Cupid and other towns for Red with no visible sign. I so admired Dade for running to town to come to the rescue of his friend. They may not be blood but these two are most certainly brothers and family in every sense that counts.
There is so unlawful activity that is going on that ends up causing some major danger to Dade & Natalie. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I'm not going to say much about this but my goodness I really did enjoy how the mystery unfolds. It shows the real strength and will of Natalie.
Watching Dade and Natalie's love story unfold was just so compelling that it made for a real page turner. These two are so perfect for each other. They both have things from their past that they need to over come and they are just the right person for each other to help with that. I do believe in love at first sight so I also enjoyed that aspect of the story.
I believe this is the first story I have had the pleasure to read by Lori Wilde I'm certain it will not be my last. I liked the flow of her work and I can't wait to find more by her. I see there is another Cupid, Texas novel that will be coming out, I would love to read it.
If you enjoy a cute small town romance story with some mystery thrown in I really do think you will enjoy this book, I know I sure did.
Natalie McCleary has had some really tough things happen to her. When she was a young child she was in an air plane accident with her parents. The accident left her with major issues with her leg and took the life of her Mom and Dad. Natalie had the willpower to drag her sister & herself from the plane and was able to keep themselves together until help arrived. I so felt for this girl. She has had to endure so much heartache and pain. When she meets Dade Vega she feels what she thinks just might be Love at First Sight. If anyone deserves to find love it is Natalie but she is very unsure of her feelings so she fights it for a while. I felt an instant bond with Natalie. I know how leg pain & health issues can make you feel different and how it takes just the right guy to accept it.
Dade Vega came to town in search of his foster brother Red, whom has went missing. He has looked everywhere he can think of and finally takes Natalie into his confidence. They search high and low around Cupid and other towns for Red with no visible sign. I so admired Dade for running to town to come to the rescue of his friend. They may not be blood but these two are most certainly brothers and family in every sense that counts.
There is so unlawful activity that is going on that ends up causing some major danger to Dade & Natalie. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I'm not going to say much about this but my goodness I really did enjoy how the mystery unfolds. It shows the real strength and will of Natalie.
Watching Dade and Natalie's love story unfold was just so compelling that it made for a real page turner. These two are so perfect for each other. They both have things from their past that they need to over come and they are just the right person for each other to help with that. I do believe in love at first sight so I also enjoyed that aspect of the story.
I believe this is the first story I have had the pleasure to read by Lori Wilde I'm certain it will not be my last. I liked the flow of her work and I can't wait to find more by her. I see there is another Cupid, Texas novel that will be coming out, I would love to read it.
If you enjoy a cute small town romance story with some mystery thrown in I really do think you will enjoy this book, I know I sure did.
August 13, 2013
"Love at First Sight" is the first book in the "Cupid, Texas", series, and my first book by author Lori Wilde. Written with heart and humor, the story line and characters will keep you involved as a reader. Natalie McCleary and her younger sister, Zoey, had been young children when they survived the plane crash which took the lives of their parents. Natalie was left with a crippled leg and the promise she made to her dying mother to always look after Zoey. Their grandparents and aunts and uncles had taken over their care, but Natalie never forgot her promise. The McCleary family had once been well-to-do, but Natalie's father had been a free-spender, leaving behind a great debt. By the time Natalie was a young woman, the family money and life insurance payouts were gone, and Natalie decided to turn the family mansion into a Bed & Breakfast. Her hard work paid off, and her business was a great success until land development in the area drew most of her customers away. Eventually she began to take in long-term boarders, leaving just a few rooms available for guests. Keeping up with the Cupid legend, for which the town was named, Natalie volunteered on a committee that answered letters from the lovelorn. At age twenty-nine, she had never had an intimate romantic relationship, and she often felt herself unqualified to offer advice to others on matters of the heart. One of her boarders, Red Daggett, was a veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and he came and went in a random manner. After one of his longer absences, a stranger comes into town on a big, bad-boy bike, and life in Cupid, Texas will never be the same. Dade Vega had received a distress-code message from his buddy and former comrade-in-arms, Red Daggett. Arriving in Cupid to come to Red's aide, Dade is unprepared for his first sight of Natalie riding past him on her bicycle, and he feels thunderstruck. Equally stunned when she lays eyes on Dade, Natalie immediately understands what all the fuss has been about--love at first sight! Dade takes over Red's job as bouncer at the local bar, and manages to finagle his way into renting Red's room from Natalie. He begins to search for Red, and tries to stay away from Natalie. His miserable childhood had left him with no one to trust but his friend, Red. Natalie was everthing he never thought he would find, and never felt he deserved. However, Cupid will have his way--his arrows never miss--and Dade and Natalie begin a sweetly passionate affair. They both have their secrets, and he is a rolling stone, while she is as settled as a stone statue. Is the love and passion between them enough to bind them together? Well-developed characters and a compelling story line make "Love at First Sight" just perfect for lovers of contemporary romance.
Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine
Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine
June 8, 2013
3.5 Stars
Love at First Sight is the first book in Lori Wilde’s third Texas series, following her Twilight Club books and her Jubilee cowboy novels. Readers who liked the Twilight, Texas stories will enjoy a visit to Cupid. There is the same focus on legend and the traditions that spring up around it, the same small-town ambience, the same tangled family connections and quirky characters.
Natalie and Dade are likeable, and they are surprisingly complex. It is easy to root for them to find their HEA together. Although their lives have been very different, they are both among the walking wounded, misfits who never quite belong to the groups that define them—her family and community for Natalie and the SEALs for Dade. A couple of scenes between them (the bar and the shoes scenes) are as poignant as they are steamy.
Despite all the things I liked about the book, there were a few things that kept it from being the book I felt it could have been. First, I would like to have seen less mental lusting and more real development of the relationship. These are two people with complicated histories, and I wanted to see more of their working out those complications. I have a low tolerance for repetitions of “He/She is so hot. I want him/her so much.” The second problem is related to the first. I’m a tough sale when it comes to love at first sight. Attraction I can buy, and I know there was supposed to be something mystical and destined about Cupid’s strike in this town, but it took me to the end before I really believed that Natalie and Dade felt more than a strong sexual attraction. Finally, I really disliked Natalie’s sister. She impressed me as a spoiled, self-centered brat, and I thought she was mean to Natalie. Some of her actions seemed more the behavior of a sixteen-year-old than a twenty-two-year-old. I look for her to be the heroine of a later book, but it will be an uphill battle for me to see her as heroine material. In summary, I recommend this one, but with some reservations.
See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2013/05...
Love at First Sight is the first book in Lori Wilde’s third Texas series, following her Twilight Club books and her Jubilee cowboy novels. Readers who liked the Twilight, Texas stories will enjoy a visit to Cupid. There is the same focus on legend and the traditions that spring up around it, the same small-town ambience, the same tangled family connections and quirky characters.
Natalie and Dade are likeable, and they are surprisingly complex. It is easy to root for them to find their HEA together. Although their lives have been very different, they are both among the walking wounded, misfits who never quite belong to the groups that define them—her family and community for Natalie and the SEALs for Dade. A couple of scenes between them (the bar and the shoes scenes) are as poignant as they are steamy.
Despite all the things I liked about the book, there were a few things that kept it from being the book I felt it could have been. First, I would like to have seen less mental lusting and more real development of the relationship. These are two people with complicated histories, and I wanted to see more of their working out those complications. I have a low tolerance for repetitions of “He/She is so hot. I want him/her so much.” The second problem is related to the first. I’m a tough sale when it comes to love at first sight. Attraction I can buy, and I know there was supposed to be something mystical and destined about Cupid’s strike in this town, but it took me to the end before I really believed that Natalie and Dade felt more than a strong sexual attraction. Finally, I really disliked Natalie’s sister. She impressed me as a spoiled, self-centered brat, and I thought she was mean to Natalie. Some of her actions seemed more the behavior of a sixteen-year-old than a twenty-two-year-old. I look for her to be the heroine of a later book, but it will be an uphill battle for me to see her as heroine material. In summary, I recommend this one, but with some reservations.
See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2013/05...
June 24, 2013
Welcome to Cupid Texas. Where the people who live in the town believe in cupid and love at first site.
Natalie McCleary has lived in Cupid all her life. She is running a B&B.
Dade Vega is in town looking for his friend who is missing and was staying at the B&B. Dade ends up renting his friends room and taking his job all the while secretly searching for him.
Natalie and Dade fine themselves throw together even when trying to avoid each other.
Once Dade admits to Natalie why he is in town they begin to try and find Red together. Both of them have to overcome old hurts and issues in order to come together.
If Natalie tells Dade about believing in love at first site will he believe her and stick around?
Will they find Red? If they do will he be alive or dead?
Will Dade stick around when/if they find Red to be with Natalie?
A Few of my favorite lines from the book:
Why are you scared? You were a frickin’ Navy SEAL. What is it about this sweet little bit of honeysuckle that’s got you wanted to run as far and as fast as you can in the opposite direction?
He was jealous of the way she’d navigated the pain, and while her body had not come out of it unscathed, she’d kept her soul pure.
His dark eyes burned. “This is just a guess since I don’t know you, but from what I can tell, you think life is a rule book. If you follow the rules and don’t step outside your comfort zone, you won’t get hurt, but because of that, you also never really live.”
Back off! She wanted to growl. He’s mine.
The first time you kiss your soul mate is like an earthquake, wiping out everything you thought you knew about yourself.
What do you want? Anything. Just name it. If I’ve got it, it’s yours. If I can get my hands on it, it’s yours. What that mountain moved? I’m on it. Want the stars brought down from the sky? Let me go get an extension ladder.
“No rushing. No Shortcuts. I’m going to make love to you all night long, until the sun comes over the horizon, You’re not going to get one minute of rest. Do you understand?”
Natalie McCleary has lived in Cupid all her life. She is running a B&B.
Dade Vega is in town looking for his friend who is missing and was staying at the B&B. Dade ends up renting his friends room and taking his job all the while secretly searching for him.
Natalie and Dade fine themselves throw together even when trying to avoid each other.
Once Dade admits to Natalie why he is in town they begin to try and find Red together. Both of them have to overcome old hurts and issues in order to come together.
If Natalie tells Dade about believing in love at first site will he believe her and stick around?
Will they find Red? If they do will he be alive or dead?
Will Dade stick around when/if they find Red to be with Natalie?
A Few of my favorite lines from the book:
Why are you scared? You were a frickin’ Navy SEAL. What is it about this sweet little bit of honeysuckle that’s got you wanted to run as far and as fast as you can in the opposite direction?
He was jealous of the way she’d navigated the pain, and while her body had not come out of it unscathed, she’d kept her soul pure.
His dark eyes burned. “This is just a guess since I don’t know you, but from what I can tell, you think life is a rule book. If you follow the rules and don’t step outside your comfort zone, you won’t get hurt, but because of that, you also never really live.”
Back off! She wanted to growl. He’s mine.
The first time you kiss your soul mate is like an earthquake, wiping out everything you thought you knew about yourself.
What do you want? Anything. Just name it. If I’ve got it, it’s yours. If I can get my hands on it, it’s yours. What that mountain moved? I’m on it. Want the stars brought down from the sky? Let me go get an extension ladder.
“No rushing. No Shortcuts. I’m going to make love to you all night long, until the sun comes over the horizon, You’re not going to get one minute of rest. Do you understand?”
May 24, 2013
Natalie McCleary is an inexperienced woman and she isn’t quite sure if she believes in love at first sight, since it has never happened to her personally. Then the ultra sexy Dade Vega (interesting name no?) shows up in town to search for a friend of his who is missing. Dade is the typical ‘bad-boy’ almost a bit trite - he is an ex-Navy SEAL, he drives a Harley, he broods very well, and comes from a horrid childhood.
Natalie owns an Inn in the town of Cupid AND even though she is inexperienced, she dispenses advice to the lovelorn.
Ms. Wilde has all of the technical aspects of this genre down pat and with this book, it is almost like she was following a recipe where if she just changed the recipe a tiny bit, perhaps the finale dish would be horrible. Unfortunately, with this book the author may have benefited a bit from a little experimentation.
For nearly ½ of the book the protagonists conduct most of their conversations with themselves –inside their heads. Both protagonist had horrible things happen to them as they were growing up which defines them as adults. They will not take themselves out of their comfort zones. And each one hides behind their “handicaps” and pretty much uses these as an excuse not to experience life to its fullest.
The mystery aspect of this novel takes backseat to all the brooding each main character does until the very end, when the mystery is solved a little too fantastically. I understand that this is primarily a romance novel, but even romance lovers want their story lines to be somewhat believable!
This was a really fast read, but it might be a little too easy to put this book down, if something else strikes your fancy.
This is not a terrible novel-the sexual heat is there, there are some interesting situations between some of the characters, the sex is hot but not dirty, the author really uses language and words to paint wonderful pictures of the protagonist’s feelings.
Natalie owns an Inn in the town of Cupid AND even though she is inexperienced, she dispenses advice to the lovelorn.
Ms. Wilde has all of the technical aspects of this genre down pat and with this book, it is almost like she was following a recipe where if she just changed the recipe a tiny bit, perhaps the finale dish would be horrible. Unfortunately, with this book the author may have benefited a bit from a little experimentation.
For nearly ½ of the book the protagonists conduct most of their conversations with themselves –inside their heads. Both protagonist had horrible things happen to them as they were growing up which defines them as adults. They will not take themselves out of their comfort zones. And each one hides behind their “handicaps” and pretty much uses these as an excuse not to experience life to its fullest.
The mystery aspect of this novel takes backseat to all the brooding each main character does until the very end, when the mystery is solved a little too fantastically. I understand that this is primarily a romance novel, but even romance lovers want their story lines to be somewhat believable!
This was a really fast read, but it might be a little too easy to put this book down, if something else strikes your fancy.
This is not a terrible novel-the sexual heat is there, there are some interesting situations between some of the characters, the sex is hot but not dirty, the author really uses language and words to paint wonderful pictures of the protagonist’s feelings.
August 10, 2014
First of all I want to say for anyone doing July book challenges and need a book that happens during the 4th of July, this is a good one. If I would have realized that I would have waited a couple of days before starting it.
I love the premise of this series being Cupid, Texas. What better place to fall in love than a place named after the god of love along with local legends of the god saving and helping people find their one true love. I also like the little saying at the beginning of each chapter from Millie.
I really how love how Dade was first introduced into the book. Who doesn't love watching a shirtless hansome man working on a bike and the first time he and Natalie eyes meet. Regardless of what wonderful physical attributes he has, he is also damaged due to his childhood and has to overcome his past before he is able to realize that he deserves to have a future. I have to admit that I did find Dade's childhood a very sad and one part disturbing. I feel there are some things no child should have to go through and is very unfortunate that many children do. I am very glad the book did not get explicit with details.
I really loved Natalie. She is such a warm and caring person. Due to an accident that happened when she was young, she has control issues and takes on too much responsibility for taking care of everyone's welfare except her own. I think she sees some similarities between her and Louisa because of her injury. She is a heroine that I both loved seeing her evolve and at times wanted to knock some sense into her when she let her insecurities or contol issues overwhelm her into not doing something. I was happy to see Zoey was there to be the voice if not reason, then fun to get Natalie to loosen up.
Dade and Natalie are each other's perfect half, it just takes them a while to realize it for themselves.
I love the premise of this series being Cupid, Texas. What better place to fall in love than a place named after the god of love along with local legends of the god saving and helping people find their one true love. I also like the little saying at the beginning of each chapter from Millie.
I really how love how Dade was first introduced into the book. Who doesn't love watching a shirtless hansome man working on a bike and the first time he and Natalie eyes meet. Regardless of what wonderful physical attributes he has, he is also damaged due to his childhood and has to overcome his past before he is able to realize that he deserves to have a future. I have to admit that I did find Dade's childhood a very sad and one part disturbing. I feel there are some things no child should have to go through and is very unfortunate that many children do. I am very glad the book did not get explicit with details.
I really loved Natalie. She is such a warm and caring person. Due to an accident that happened when she was young, she has control issues and takes on too much responsibility for taking care of everyone's welfare except her own. I think she sees some similarities between her and Louisa because of her injury. She is a heroine that I both loved seeing her evolve and at times wanted to knock some sense into her when she let her insecurities or contol issues overwhelm her into not doing something. I was happy to see Zoey was there to be the voice if not reason, then fun to get Natalie to loosen up.
Dade and Natalie are each other's perfect half, it just takes them a while to realize it for themselves.
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