All's Fair in Love and Business

by Jennifer Peel

They are both out for blood, but could it end in love?

Scarlett Armstrong and Kane Hudson have a tangled past involving not only their families but their own failed love affair. Now, eight years later, to make things more complicated, they’re both in the running to become the next CEO of Scarlett’s family’s business, Armstrong Labs, a privately held blood plasma company. It all comes down to who presents the best business plan to the board of directors.

For Scarlett, it’s a matter of continuing her family’s legacy and hoping that her father will be proud of her once and for all. After all, she’s spent her entire life pushing her own dreams aside preparing for this role. And perhaps she would like a little sweet revenge against the man who stole her heart and never gave it back. Kane, on the other hand, is determined to reach his goal of becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company before his forty-fifth birthday and proving to Scarlett she’s meant to follow her own dreams.

But things don’t go according to plan for either Scarlett or Kane when they realize that perhaps they’re fighting for the wrong thing. With love and blood on the line, which one will come out on top?

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Second Chance

Audiobook

Published May 24, 2022

About the author

Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-two years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I participated in a summer reading challenge and one spot was to re-read a favorite. I grabbed this on audio and was treated to a whole new experience!

Wowza! Peel has a talent of bringing her characters to life, but this one takes the cake. Reading All's Fair in Love and Business was like devouring an entire delicious and rich German chocolate cake (with all that glorious frosting) in one sitting. I was blown away by this love story and had all the heart eyes for Kane. And I mean ALL the heart eyes. That man was pure sugary sweet perfection.

This book is divided into two parts and each was completely necessary to paint the full, beautiful picture of Kane's and Scarlett's tale. I loved how each chapter was named, as they gave the reader a hint of what was to come, and because of those hints, I could NOT put it down. Life is all about timing, experiences, and things coming together when they're meant to, and not only does Peel write an amazing story that showcases those spots in life, but she delivers it with humor and lots of breathtaking swoon.

The romantic, work, and familial relationships are complex, which drew me right in. Kane is the most supportive and charming character and Scarlett is the most persistent, driven, and giving woman. Their scorching chemistry was an addictive love potion that kept me anticipating more. Give me an impressive plot with fantastic characters and some mad swoon and I'm all in! Peel is in trouble because this one is going to be hard to beat.

Content: mild+ romance; mild+ language

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first Jennifer Peel book for me. This was a sweet romance, Hallmark worthy. The h is Scarlet Armstrong a shy awkward but beautiful young lady, 22 and working for her father at Armstrong Labs. The H is 29 yr old Kane Hudson full of confidence and oods sex appeal. Woman practically drool when looking at him. Flash forward 8 years after Scarlet had been rejected by Kane and she finished med school and her residency. Now they were both vying for CEO of Armstrong Labs.
Review I liked: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading a favorite

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shaylin Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had its moments, but it kinda dragged a bit for me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kane gave me the ick pretty quickly. Good with zippers? For real? Gross.

[MichelleRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with the themes of having experience before you know what you want and the idea of being too young to get in a serious relationship in your 20's. Otherwise I enjoyed it.

[Amy Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ariell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another second-chance romance. A good trope. Not always my favorite. Well-written though. I enjoy a good Jennifer Peel book.

[Vanessa Navarre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow burn and build. And almost painstakingly long monologues. You want to scream at the FMC to stand up for herself just ONCE. I don’t feel like the payoff was as grand as it could have been.

[Shelby Beecher · Rating 1 out of 5]

The whole premise of the book just bugged me. The main guy is just a little too icky at the beginning and seriously he destroyed her and wasted 8 years. Don’t recommend this book

[Tammy Niederhauser · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another swoony contemporary romance from Jennifer Peel, Kane and Scarlett had definite chemistry! I am a huge fan of second chance romance and Jennifer Peel writes some of the swooniest while keeping things in the clean/sweet genre. This book was no exception. I was hoping Scarlett would give Kane a chance when she returns years later to take a position at her father's company. I liked the workplace romance vibes and bits of enemies to lovers sprinkled in too.
This is a closed door romance.

[Reading Earful · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've greatly enjoyed other Jennifer Peel books, so this was disappointing. As a 40 something woman, my life's dreams have changed several times over the years. I didn't like that this kept the MC focused on the same dream she had since she was 22. Some questionable actions by her dad, love interest and others made me uncomfortable with this one.

[Nyra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Jennifer Peel and Narrator Stefanie Kay knock another one out of the park with this feel good Rom-Com sure to make you laugh along with the characters. No matter if you are a shy behind the scenes kind of person or a woman that loves to hear a man with a sweet southern drawl call her darlin- you can find something about the main character to relate to in some way.

[Megan Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing I can’t say about this book is that it’s unique. This book is essentially copied and pasted from her book Professional Boundaries.
That being said, I did enjoy many of the characters and I read most of it in one sitting. It was perfectly mediocre. Good brain popcorn

[Cindy]

This makes me laugh even as I'm writing it, but there was just too much kissing description. I understand that when an author has decided to write clean romance that they have to figure out ways to increase the heat, but there were just too many descriptions of, well, tongues, for me. 👅

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great little romance! I love the characters, and Kane is a dream! Loved everything about it! The 2nd chance at love, the characters, the way that Kane was always wanting to make Scarlett's dreams a reality!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced second chance romance with lots of wit and angst.

Content warning—tongue kisses, talking about sex and anatomy, innuendo

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was over too soon. I loved the characters and how the author portrayed each one. There was a good balance of romance in the story.

[HatGirl8]

12/12/2023

[Nickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book was really slow and hard to get through. The story was interesting.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy romance.

[Mika]

DNF at 32%

FMC is inexperienced (only kissed one other person) and insecure. I can’t read another word where she complains that she’s not a supermodel.