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Bad Habit Book Club #1
Nun Too Soon
Helen is just your normal, everyday librarian who writes romance novels on the side… except she also happens to be a former nun, new to life outside the order and to the dating scene. Helen isn’t just a virgin in her 30s– she’s never had a boyfriend, never kissed anyone, never even so much as held someone’s hand. Becoming a nun was always her path, until it wasn’t anymore, and trying to forge a new path in life has been…tricky.What isn’t tricky? Her unrequited crush on the handsome library patron that Helen and her friends have affectionately nicknamed ‘The Red Unicorn’ -- a man who loves to read, looks great in glasses, and has red hair, aka Helen’s dream man. But the idea of dating is still intimidating, so Helen prefers to daydream about Thad from afar, turning him into her perfect romance novel hero.Thad is far from perfect, not like the smart, sexy librarian he’s been surveilling. Thad is a bounty hunter who’s determined to find Helen’s brother, Dean, and he’s certain Helen is the key to tracking Dean down. Thad never plans to approach Helen or insert himself into her life–until it becomes clear he’s not the only one looking for Dean. The other people after him are bad news, and Helen’s going to get caught in the crossfire if Thad doesn’t intervene.As Thad and Helen work together to find Dean, they actually get to know each other, soon realizing that the perfect, ideal versions they have of each other couldn’t be more wrong…but that who they are together might actually be just right.'Nun Too Soon' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #1 in the Bad Habit Book Club series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
316 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2024
About the author
Lissa Sharpe
7 books47 followersLissa Sharpe is a mom, a wife, a teacher, a PhD, and an award-winning writer. She has written plays, screenplays, teleplays, short stories, songs, and now for the very first time, a romance novel. When she isn't having mental arguments with her characters, she is hanging out in the American South with her husband, son, and golden lab.
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Want to Read
April 18, 2024
I'm so excited to let you all know that 'Nun Too Soon' by Lissa Sharpe is ALIVE and available in Kindle Unlimited. I can't wait for you all to read this forced proximity romantic comedy!
★★ Read in Kindle Unlimited★★
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4bF0MM6
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CVK269WV
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CVK269WV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CVK269WV
★ ★ BLURB ★ ★
Helen is just your normal, everyday librarian who writes romance novels on the side… except she also happens to be a former nun, new to life outside the order and to the dating scene. Helen isn’t just a virgin in her 30s– she’s never had a boyfriend, never kissed anyone, never even so much as held someone’s hand. Becoming a nun was always her path, until it wasn’t anymore, and trying to forge a new path in life has been…tricky.
What isn’t tricky? Her unrequited crush on the handsome library patron that Helen and her friends have affectionately nicknamed ‘The Red Unicorn’ -- a man who loves to read, looks great in glasses, and has red hair, aka Helen’s dream man. But the idea of dating is still intimidating, so Helen prefers to daydream about Thad from afar, turning him into her perfect romance novel hero.
Thad is far from perfect, not like the smart, sexy librarian he’s been surveilling. Thad is a bounty hunter who’s determined to find Helen’s brother, Dean, and he’s certain Helen is the key to tracking Dean down. Thad never plans to approach Helen or insert himself into her life–until it becomes clear he’s not the only one looking for Dean. The other people after him are bad news, and Helen’s going to get caught in the crossfire if Thad doesn’t intervene.
As Thad and Helen work together to find Dean, they actually get to know each other, soon realizing that the perfect, ideal versions they have of each other couldn’t be more wrong…but that who they are together might actually be just right.
'Nun Too Soon' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #1 in the Bad Habit Book Club series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Want to Read
April 18, 2024★★ NOW IN KINDLE UNLIMITED! ★★
AHHHH! 'Nun Too Soon' by Lissa Sharpe is LIVE and available in #KindleUnlimited. Go forth and read this epic forced proximity romantic comedy ❤
★★ Read in Kindle Unlimited★★
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4bF0MM6
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CVK269WV
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CVK269WV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CVK269WV
★ ★ BLURB ★ ★
Helen is just your normal, everyday librarian who writes romance novels on the side… except she also happens to be a former nun, new to life outside the order and to the dating scene. Helen isn’t just a virgin in her 30s– she’s never had a boyfriend, never kissed anyone, never even so much as held someone’s hand. Becoming a nun was always her path, until it wasn’t anymore, and trying to forge a new path in life has been…tricky.
What isn’t tricky? Her unrequited crush on the handsome library patron that Helen and her friends have affectionately nicknamed ‘The Red Unicorn’ -- a man who loves to read, looks great in glasses, and has red hair, aka Helen’s dream man. But the idea of dating is still intimidating, so Helen prefers to daydream about Thad from afar, turning him into her perfect romance novel hero.
Thad is far from perfect, not like the smart, sexy librarian he’s been surveilling. Thad is a bounty hunter who’s determined to find Helen’s brother, Dean, and he’s certain Helen is the key to tracking Dean down. Thad never plans to approach Helen or insert himself into her life–until it becomes clear he’s not the only one looking for Dean. The other people after him are bad news, and Helen’s going to get caught in the crossfire if Thad doesn’t intervene.
As Thad and Helen work together to find Dean, they actually get to know each other, soon realizing that the perfect, ideal versions they have of each other couldn’t be more wrong…but that who they are together might actually be just right.
'Nun Too Soon' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #1 in the Bad Habit Book Club series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
April 19, 2024
I know I say this all the time, but I enjoyed this one. The premise was so original. I can't remember if I've ever read a book about an ex-nun before.
Helen is a librarian, an ex-nun who writes romance on the side. Who's new to the outside life and who's never had a relationship before. Never mind been kissed!
There's a new patron of the library, whom Helen has named 'The Red Unicorn.' He's perfect in Helen's eyes and has all she wants. The problem is? Helen has caught Thad's eye, too. Because he's a bounty hunter after Helen's brother.
Whew, ya'll when Helen finds out Thads a bounty hunter... and that he's not the only one after her brother! Thads backstory made me laugh so much. I won't spoil it because it's funny as heck.
This book is interesting because it shines light on... well, I guess Helen fits in as a late bloomer in a way. She didn't hit all the romantic milestones when she was younger. And it's awkward as heck to be older and going through things that people experience much younger.
This one was a lot of fun! AND the Knitting in the City cameos!!!!!
Helen is a librarian, an ex-nun who writes romance on the side. Who's new to the outside life and who's never had a relationship before. Never mind been kissed!
There's a new patron of the library, whom Helen has named 'The Red Unicorn.' He's perfect in Helen's eyes and has all she wants. The problem is? Helen has caught Thad's eye, too. Because he's a bounty hunter after Helen's brother.
Whew, ya'll when Helen finds out Thads a bounty hunter... and that he's not the only one after her brother! Thads backstory made me laugh so much. I won't spoil it because it's funny as heck.
This book is interesting because it shines light on... well, I guess Helen fits in as a late bloomer in a way. She didn't hit all the romantic milestones when she was younger. And it's awkward as heck to be older and going through things that people experience much younger.
This one was a lot of fun! AND the Knitting in the City cameos!!!!!
May 7, 2024
I loved the idea behind this and I remember when Penny Reid was asking for ideas for the title for this book. Even at over 300 pages this was a quick read! Probably because it had me turning pages to find out what was going on with Helen’s brother. Not to mention what a different character from most romance, a former nun! Of course the fact that she was a librarian and writing a smutty romance made me connect with her a bit too, lol. (Not that I’m a nun or ever have been, even if my sex life feels like it lately).
At first I was wondering why we didn’t get Thad’s POV for a few chapters, but then it all falls into place when we learn that Thad is a bounty hunter and only hanging around Helen to try to get to her brother Dean. Of course he connects with her more than he knows he should or thinks he will. So Helen of course thinks he will be perfect to help her check off some of those boxes for things that “normal” people do in the real world now that she’s no longer in a convent. Thad knows that he shouldn’t do those things with her, also he just is so sure she’s a woman and so like every other woman in his life up to this point, he knows he probably can’t trust her.
Both have things to learn, and of course both do over the course of the story through all the adventures and situations they deal with. I like the way the author handles the ending though. As you know I’m normally not a fan of those third act breakups, but the author does it so that it made sense for the story. And she made it so that the make up, getting back together was real, and while not perfectly smooth, also not unrealistically easy.
I’m looking forward to the next two I assume will be in the series with Helen’s fellow former nun friends. Although one of those friends is going to have to do some stuff to change my mind about her, because I don’t know how much I like her right now.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
At first I was wondering why we didn’t get Thad’s POV for a few chapters, but then it all falls into place when we learn that Thad is a bounty hunter and only hanging around Helen to try to get to her brother Dean. Of course he connects with her more than he knows he should or thinks he will. So Helen of course thinks he will be perfect to help her check off some of those boxes for things that “normal” people do in the real world now that she’s no longer in a convent. Thad knows that he shouldn’t do those things with her, also he just is so sure she’s a woman and so like every other woman in his life up to this point, he knows he probably can’t trust her.
Both have things to learn, and of course both do over the course of the story through all the adventures and situations they deal with. I like the way the author handles the ending though. As you know I’m normally not a fan of those third act breakups, but the author does it so that it made sense for the story. And she made it so that the make up, getting back together was real, and while not perfectly smooth, also not unrealistically easy.
I’m looking forward to the next two I assume will be in the series with Helen’s fellow former nun friends. Although one of those friends is going to have to do some stuff to change my mind about her, because I don’t know how much I like her right now.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
April 22, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down!! Totally addicted to it.
"The air between us is charged with an intense electric current, making everything sharper and brighter."
Helen Flanagan, 31, former nun, virgin, librarian, prefers to wear oversized clothes that cover her from the neck down, blushes easily and has no idea that she's a walking thirst trap.
"I don't know how or why she has this power over me, but it feels like I lose control of myself whenever I'm with her, like everything is weighted and meaningful in a way I don't totally understand."
Thaddeus Hughes, roughly the same age, former reality TV star, bounty hunter, loner, unprofessionally attracted to his target, but needs to get close in order to hunt down her rogue brother.
"You're playing with fire, Helen. If you want something from me, you can't trick me into doing it. You have to be the one to say it."
These two had tension for days, certain levels of mistrust due to their own personal hangups and disappointments, and chemistry that thrilled the pants off me! I 'heart' them so much. I loved how Thad just found everything about Helen so adorable. I liked the sensitivity he showed towards her, even though sometimes it annoyed her. Helen was awkward, direct and so blinking cute! I cheered her on as she grew from naive little kitten - tired of people making decisions for her or taking advantage of her to - into a roaring lioness - a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't shy about it. This story was wonderful, heartfelt, so sexy and funny!
Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
"The air between us is charged with an intense electric current, making everything sharper and brighter."
Helen Flanagan, 31, former nun, virgin, librarian, prefers to wear oversized clothes that cover her from the neck down, blushes easily and has no idea that she's a walking thirst trap.
"I don't know how or why she has this power over me, but it feels like I lose control of myself whenever I'm with her, like everything is weighted and meaningful in a way I don't totally understand."
Thaddeus Hughes, roughly the same age, former reality TV star, bounty hunter, loner, unprofessionally attracted to his target, but needs to get close in order to hunt down her rogue brother.
"You're playing with fire, Helen. If you want something from me, you can't trick me into doing it. You have to be the one to say it."
These two had tension for days, certain levels of mistrust due to their own personal hangups and disappointments, and chemistry that thrilled the pants off me! I 'heart' them so much. I loved how Thad just found everything about Helen so adorable. I liked the sensitivity he showed towards her, even though sometimes it annoyed her. Helen was awkward, direct and so blinking cute! I cheered her on as she grew from naive little kitten - tired of people making decisions for her or taking advantage of her to - into a roaring lioness - a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't shy about it. This story was wonderful, heartfelt, so sexy and funny!
Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
August 3, 2024
This one was a mixed bag. On one hand: it has some of my favorite characteristics in a contemporary romance. It's set in Chicago, the main character-- Helen-- is a librarian, and the story takes an empathetic look on what it's like to be a late bloomer. Very heartfelt and relatable to me, personally!
But it also has some of the things that annoy me most in contemporaries. There's this really forced millennial quirkiness. It often characters and situations are being squeezed and bended so they can fit into popular romance conventions. (The "grumpy/sunshine" dynamic, romantic roadtrip, a lampshaded version of "only one bed", etc.) And perhaps most frustratingly of all, the mystery plot is never written super well. It's resolved in this very anticlimactic way where we don't even check back on Helen's brother. Because the book itself never really cared too much about it!!
I dunno. This author is talented I am going to be reading more of hers. But this is just such a lopsided book for me. :(
But it also has some of the things that annoy me most in contemporaries. There's this really forced millennial quirkiness. It often characters and situations are being squeezed and bended so they can fit into popular romance conventions. (The "grumpy/sunshine" dynamic, romantic roadtrip, a lampshaded version of "only one bed", etc.) And perhaps most frustratingly of all, the mystery plot is never written super well. It's resolved in this very anticlimactic way where we don't even check back on Helen's brother. Because the book itself never really cared too much about it!!
I dunno. This author is talented I am going to be reading more of hers. But this is just such a lopsided book for me. :(
July 18, 2024
MF Romantic Comedy
Forced Proximity
Action Adventure
Virgin FMC (Former Nun)
Slow Burn Spice
This book was a mixed bag for me. I went in pretty blind, barely read the synopsis because the whole former nun bit seemed pretty interesting. The good: The book is very well written and the pace and flow are great. No issues there. Its funny too! Like, I giggled a lot with some of the stuff that happened between the two MCs.
Helen is a former nun that now works at a library and writes romance on the side. Problem is, she has no experience with men at all, so she bases the little bits that she know off of one of the customers of the library she has dubbed the 'Red Unicorn'. Thad (the Red Unicorn) is in the library a lot! Not for reason's you would think. He is actually a bounty hunter, trying to locate Helen's brother. This brings the two together and they set off on an adventure.
So, I enjoyed the book, for the most part. It just wound up doing two things that I really dislike in books, so it became a book I liked OK, but didn't LOVE. Massive amounts of miscommunication, or just no communication at all. Boy likes girl, but doesn't think girl likes him so he plays it off. Girl likes boy, but doesn't think he likes her, so she plays it off. This happens for a LONG time. And then, something I call a Relationship Martyr- Basically someone killing a relationship because they feel they will bring the other down, or they are not good enough. I think having both those two things together took away from the story (for me), and therefore, its a book I liked. Not loved. I still say give it a go though, because those are ME things :)
Forced Proximity
Action Adventure
Virgin FMC (Former Nun)
Slow Burn Spice
This book was a mixed bag for me. I went in pretty blind, barely read the synopsis because the whole former nun bit seemed pretty interesting. The good: The book is very well written and the pace and flow are great. No issues there. Its funny too! Like, I giggled a lot with some of the stuff that happened between the two MCs.
Helen is a former nun that now works at a library and writes romance on the side. Problem is, she has no experience with men at all, so she bases the little bits that she know off of one of the customers of the library she has dubbed the 'Red Unicorn'. Thad (the Red Unicorn) is in the library a lot! Not for reason's you would think. He is actually a bounty hunter, trying to locate Helen's brother. This brings the two together and they set off on an adventure.
So, I enjoyed the book, for the most part. It just wound up doing two things that I really dislike in books, so it became a book I liked OK, but didn't LOVE. Massive amounts of miscommunication, or just no communication at all. Boy likes girl, but doesn't think girl likes him so he plays it off. Girl likes boy, but doesn't think he likes her, so she plays it off. This happens for a LONG time. And then, something I call a Relationship Martyr- Basically someone killing a relationship because they feel they will bring the other down, or they are not good enough. I think having both those two things together took away from the story (for me), and therefore, its a book I liked. Not loved. I still say give it a go though, because those are ME things :)
April 21, 2024
I became really invested in Helen and Thad's story. At the beginning I found it a bit slow but once it picked up the pace it was sooo good. Helen is such a good person, inside and out, and I felt like cheering her along when she took monumental steps towards the life she wanted. Thad I loved but wanted to smack him at the same time lol. I mean she is the inexperienced one and he was fumbling along with her. The story is sweet and endearing and has plenty of feels.
April 24, 2024
The premise of "Nun Too Soon" had me chuckling from the start, and I had a blast reading it.
April 19, 2024
One of the best books of this year ,had me hooked all the way through …
Read
April 24, 2024DNF
The story didn’t grab me at all. For a second, I thought it would be the opposite. But alas, neither character impressed me.
The story didn’t grab me at all. For a second, I thought it would be the opposite. But alas, neither character impressed me.
April 26, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Smartypants Romance, all opinions are my own.
This was a bit of a slow start for me, but things really started to pick up around the 50% mark. I felt this was a tad on the long side, especially in the beginning as we are meeting all of the characters and establishing the plot. The second half of the book picks up the pace as our former nun Helen teams up with bounty hunter Thad to find her brother. They get pulled into a much more complicated situation, and things heat up both on the mission and in the romance department.
This book had a really unique concept, and I'm anxious to see where the rest of the series is headed as the other two characters are intriguing. Former nuns form a support group as they enter the life outside the convent. Helen's friends Nina and Matilda are awesome and I look forward to getting to know them more in the future. Helen, has settled in as a librarian and she is working on a romance novel. She is seeing a therapist, to work through her feelings and how to navigate new experiences. Enter Thad, former reality TV start and real life bounty hunter. He poses as a library patron for a case he is working on, but there is real tension and attraction between them when he finally reveals his intentions. Helen's brother Dean has always gotten into mischief, but this time he has gotten in way over his head. They go on quite the adventure to find Dean, and their attraction grows Helen agrees to help Thad find him, and they set out on a road trip. Helen really starts to come into her own and experience things that were forbidden and deemed sinful when she was a nun. Thad also has some stuff he needs to work through based on past relationships. Their character development was done very well, and I really appreciated how the author approached sensitive situations and the topic of personal choice.
Overall, I thought this was really fun. I enjoyed getting to know Thad and Helen and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
This was a bit of a slow start for me, but things really started to pick up around the 50% mark. I felt this was a tad on the long side, especially in the beginning as we are meeting all of the characters and establishing the plot. The second half of the book picks up the pace as our former nun Helen teams up with bounty hunter Thad to find her brother. They get pulled into a much more complicated situation, and things heat up both on the mission and in the romance department.
This book had a really unique concept, and I'm anxious to see where the rest of the series is headed as the other two characters are intriguing. Former nuns form a support group as they enter the life outside the convent. Helen's friends Nina and Matilda are awesome and I look forward to getting to know them more in the future. Helen, has settled in as a librarian and she is working on a romance novel. She is seeing a therapist, to work through her feelings and how to navigate new experiences. Enter Thad, former reality TV start and real life bounty hunter. He poses as a library patron for a case he is working on, but there is real tension and attraction between them when he finally reveals his intentions. Helen's brother Dean has always gotten into mischief, but this time he has gotten in way over his head. They go on quite the adventure to find Dean, and their attraction grows Helen agrees to help Thad find him, and they set out on a road trip. Helen really starts to come into her own and experience things that were forbidden and deemed sinful when she was a nun. Thad also has some stuff he needs to work through based on past relationships. Their character development was done very well, and I really appreciated how the author approached sensitive situations and the topic of personal choice.
Overall, I thought this was really fun. I enjoyed getting to know Thad and Helen and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
May 13, 2025
There's a lot of potential here but the story could use some cleaning up and filtering. There are a lot of "big ticket" events. Too many. To the point where it felt like jumping the shark by the time I got to 66% and it didn't stop there. There are just too many over-the-top gimmicky events. A few select ones would have been great, contributed to the comedic tone, and would have been silly but not eye roll worthy. I liked a lot more of the story than I didn't and I'm ready to dive into book 2, hoping to see this author's skills grow throughout the series because the potential is high.
May 17, 2024
This one kept me laughing the whole time. Definitely has some spice, but lots of humor and a fast paced read. Great kick off for the next launch into the PennyVerse.
February 11, 2025
This is all kind of problematic bad, DNF at 40%
August 28, 2025
Despite the cringe title and cover, this was actually pretty good.
March 9, 2024
I absolutely loved this story! It was original, interesting, and so fun to read. My only dislike was that… gap. If y’all read this, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It was too angsty for me.
March 31, 2024
Helen is adjusting to life after walking away from being a nun. She is ready to find love.
Thad is a bounty hunter searching for Helen’s brother Dean. Who would have thought he would find a whole lot more. What a fun start to this series!
Thad is a bounty hunter searching for Helen’s brother Dean. Who would have thought he would find a whole lot more. What a fun start to this series!
April 19, 2024
We're back in Chicago with a former nun and the bounty hunter on the trail of her brother. Which sounds complicated, but Helen's a forgiving sort, so the fact Thad is looking for her brother doesn't faze her nearly as much as how much she's attracted to Thad. Seeing how Thad really does want to do what he thinks is best for her brother, the fact he misled her with the books and the pretend reading (which is just a CRIME in my book, thankyouverymuch) is just a drop in the bucket to Helen.
That attraction, though. HOO-BOY.
Yeah, Helen likes a lot of things about Thad. Coming to terms with her wants and desires outside the church? That's kind of the thing that trips her up. When you've been told you're one thing your entire life, it's hard to change gears and realize you can be your version of you when you hardly know what your version is. That might sound complicated, but Helen has some figuring out to do and I am here for it. (Also, the mental picture of Dan and Quinn not knowing what to do with themselves when they see her thanks to the aforementioned previous sister-hood is one I'm going to hold close because HA.)
On Thad's end, he's a genuinely good guy, but he's wary. Given the family issues and general dynamic he has to deal with there, it's no surprise that he saw Helen in a very different light before he got to know her. His wariness made him suspicious of her actions when, in truth, Helen is pretty much an open book. Once he realized that, THINGS HAPPENED.
A little subterfuge, a road trip, a few dangerous moments, a party bus full of friendly co-eds, a man who doesn't know what to do with the open, honest Helen, and a former nun trying to find herself in a big way. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
That attraction, though. HOO-BOY.
Yeah, Helen likes a lot of things about Thad. Coming to terms with her wants and desires outside the church? That's kind of the thing that trips her up. When you've been told you're one thing your entire life, it's hard to change gears and realize you can be your version of you when you hardly know what your version is. That might sound complicated, but Helen has some figuring out to do and I am here for it. (Also, the mental picture of Dan and Quinn not knowing what to do with themselves when they see her thanks to the aforementioned previous sister-hood is one I'm going to hold close because HA.)
On Thad's end, he's a genuinely good guy, but he's wary. Given the family issues and general dynamic he has to deal with there, it's no surprise that he saw Helen in a very different light before he got to know her. His wariness made him suspicious of her actions when, in truth, Helen is pretty much an open book. Once he realized that, THINGS HAPPENED.
A little subterfuge, a road trip, a few dangerous moments, a party bus full of friendly co-eds, a man who doesn't know what to do with the open, honest Helen, and a former nun trying to find herself in a big way. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
May 21, 2024
Lissa Sharpe is a new-to-me author, and I liked her writing style quite a bit. It was engaging, fun, and well paced with a touch of humor.
Helen and Thad were interesting characters. They are from very different backgrounds, and when they interact they are both different from what the other expected. I liked the bit of mystery as they worked together to find her brother and how it brought them together. The more time they spent together the stronger the connection between them was and the more they opened up to one another.
This was an interesting story to kick off the series and I am curious to see where it goes next.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
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Bookstagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C56vi5vymVL/
Helen and Thad were interesting characters. They are from very different backgrounds, and when they interact they are both different from what the other expected. I liked the bit of mystery as they worked together to find her brother and how it brought them together. The more time they spent together the stronger the connection between them was and the more they opened up to one another.
This was an interesting story to kick off the series and I am curious to see where it goes next.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
.
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Bookstagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C56vi5vymVL/
March 18, 2024
I so liked this addition to the Smartypants romance world. I haven’t read Lissa Sharpe before, but just like all the other authors I was introduced to through SPR, I am now a fan. I enjoyed Helen and liked her so much, she would have been my friend for sure. And Thad was the last person I would’ve picked for her, but they sure worked. They may have been opposites but they brought out the best in each other. I will definitely read more Lissa Sharpe.
July 25, 2024
What a book! This one pulled me in from the first work and kept me engaged until the last word. There are so many laughs, sweet/tender moments, smoldering passion and two amazing characters that will steal your heart.
This is my first bounty hunter book and i loved it! Thad comes across as a reserved, quiet and polite man. Once you get to know him…you find out how protective, swoony and amazing he is. Sometimes he struggles with getting his feelings out there but once he does, he does it magnificently.
Helen cracked me up…she is so funny, kind, naive but she wants to spread her horizons. She is such a genuine and kind person …but deep down she wants to change people’s perception of her…and we can thank Thad for that!
I love the road-trip adventure these two go on and how they slowly built trust with one another. They have to deal with some danger, suspense but most of all their feelings.
There is the perfect amount of romance, suspense and adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
I am so excited for this new series in the Smartypants Romance and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Updated 7/25/24 Joy Nash and Ryan Lee Dunlap deliver a phenomenal performance. Joy’s voice is one of my favorites and she brings absolute joy to the characters. Ryan’s voice is so strong and delightful bringing excellent emotion to the characters. They both give each do the characters perfect personality, voice and emotion. An amazing listen!
This is my first bounty hunter book and i loved it! Thad comes across as a reserved, quiet and polite man. Once you get to know him…you find out how protective, swoony and amazing he is. Sometimes he struggles with getting his feelings out there but once he does, he does it magnificently.
Helen cracked me up…she is so funny, kind, naive but she wants to spread her horizons. She is such a genuine and kind person …but deep down she wants to change people’s perception of her…and we can thank Thad for that!
I love the road-trip adventure these two go on and how they slowly built trust with one another. They have to deal with some danger, suspense but most of all their feelings.
There is the perfect amount of romance, suspense and adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
I am so excited for this new series in the Smartypants Romance and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Updated 7/25/24 Joy Nash and Ryan Lee Dunlap deliver a phenomenal performance. Joy’s voice is one of my favorites and she brings absolute joy to the characters. Ryan’s voice is so strong and delightful bringing excellent emotion to the characters. They both give each do the characters perfect personality, voice and emotion. An amazing listen!
March 7, 2024
I received an ARC from SmartyPants Romance today.
I loved this sweet and heartfelt love story. These two characters definitely deserved their HEA. And from that ending I do hope we get more from this new series.
I loved this sweet and heartfelt love story. These two characters definitely deserved their HEA. And from that ending I do hope we get more from this new series.
March 16, 2024
Helen est bibliothécaire à Chicago, elle mène une vie tranquille plutôt banale, mais celle-ci va changer lorsque Thad débarque. D’abord client de la bibliothèque, il lui révèle rapidement qu’il est en réalité un chasseur de prime à la recherche de son frère. Celui-ci est dans le pétrin et d’autres personnes moins scrupuleuses pourraient se servir d’elle pour le retrouver.
Helen est déçue que son crush sur sa Red Unicorn (Thad est roux) soit basé sur un mensonge mais décide de l’aider dans ses recherches à la condition qu’elle vienne avec lui. Leur proximité forcée va déboucher sur une alchimie muy caliente 🔥.
Ce que Thad ne sait pas (de suite) c’est qu’Helen est une nonne réformée. Dans la vie civile depuis quelques années, Helen n’a donc pas encore eu de relations amoureuses. Et l’un de ses grands challenges de vie est de connaître l’amour (au sens propre comme au figuré).
Vue ce pitch de départ, j’avais quand même un peu peur que ça soit un peu beaucoup une romance catho avec de la morale chrétienne par-ci par-là à toutes les sauces. Bon heureusement c’est pas le cas. Helen évoque plus certain aspects de son éducation dont elle a encore du mal à se détacher en lien avec ses problématique d’aujourd’hui : la te connexion avec sa féminité, la perception de son corps, son pouvoir de séduction sur Thad ^^. Et ce qui est plutôt cool, c’est qu’Helen va se donner des challenges à elle-même sans forcément prendre Thad en compte dans ses paramètres 😁.
Thad de son côté va avoir beaucoup de chemin à faire car il ne part pas avec des bons points au début : toute sa famille est dans le business de la chasse à la prime et celle-ci a même fait l’objet d’une tv réalité. Il a une vision des gens hyper stéréotypée, pour lui personne n’est jamais totalement honnête, et tout le monde a un double discours et veut le berner ou obtenir quelque chose de lui. Et pour les femmes c’est encore pire, il balance quand même pas mal de remarques sexistes… il n’imagine pas qu’Helen n’a aucune arrière pensée pour le doubler quand elle insiste pour l’aider à retrouver son frère. Comme il va bien tomber de haut 😆
Heureusement pour les lecteurs, Thad et Helen sortent un peu des clichés de leur archétypes de personnages et nous donne à lire une romance roadtrip sympatique.
*************
Helen is a librarian in Chicago, she leads a quiet, rather ordinary life, but this will change when Thad arrives. First a customer of the library, he quickly reveals that he is in reality a bounty hunter looking for her brother. He is in trouble and other less scrupulous people could use her to find him.
Helen is disappointed that her crush on her Red Unicorn (Thad is a redhead) is based on a lie but decides to help him in his research on the condition that she comes with him. Their forced proximity will lead to a muy caliente alchemy.
What Thad doesn't know (right away) is that Helen is a reformed nun. In civilian life for several years, Helen has not yet had romantic relationships. And one of her great life challenges is to know love (literally and figuratively).
Given this initial pitch, I was still a little afraid that it would be a bit much of a Catholic romance with Christian morality here and there in every way. Well fortunately that’s not the case. Helen talks about certain aspects of her education from which she still has difficulty detaching herself in relation to her current issues : the connection with her femininity, the perception of her body, her power of seduction on Thad ^^. And what’s pretty cool is that Helen will give herself challenges without necessarily taking Thad into account in her parameters.
Thad for his part will have a long way to go because he doesn't start with good points : his whole family is in the bounty hunting business and it was even the subject of a TV show. He has a hyper-stereotypical view of people, for him no one is ever completely honest, and everyone has double talk and wants to fool him or get something from him. And for women it's even worse, he still makes a lot of sexist remarks... he can't imagine that Helen has no ulterior motive for double-crossing him when she insists on helping him find her brother. How deep he’s going to fall.
Fortunately for readers, Thad and Helen break away from the clichés of their character archetypes and give us a nice roadtrip romance to read.
- Read as an ARC -
Helen est déçue que son crush sur sa Red Unicorn (Thad est roux) soit basé sur un mensonge mais décide de l’aider dans ses recherches à la condition qu’elle vienne avec lui. Leur proximité forcée va déboucher sur une alchimie muy caliente 🔥.
Ce que Thad ne sait pas (de suite) c’est qu’Helen est une nonne réformée. Dans la vie civile depuis quelques années, Helen n’a donc pas encore eu de relations amoureuses. Et l’un de ses grands challenges de vie est de connaître l’amour (au sens propre comme au figuré).
Vue ce pitch de départ, j’avais quand même un peu peur que ça soit un peu beaucoup une romance catho avec de la morale chrétienne par-ci par-là à toutes les sauces. Bon heureusement c’est pas le cas. Helen évoque plus certain aspects de son éducation dont elle a encore du mal à se détacher en lien avec ses problématique d’aujourd’hui : la te connexion avec sa féminité, la perception de son corps, son pouvoir de séduction sur Thad ^^. Et ce qui est plutôt cool, c’est qu’Helen va se donner des challenges à elle-même sans forcément prendre Thad en compte dans ses paramètres 😁.
Thad de son côté va avoir beaucoup de chemin à faire car il ne part pas avec des bons points au début : toute sa famille est dans le business de la chasse à la prime et celle-ci a même fait l’objet d’une tv réalité. Il a une vision des gens hyper stéréotypée, pour lui personne n’est jamais totalement honnête, et tout le monde a un double discours et veut le berner ou obtenir quelque chose de lui. Et pour les femmes c’est encore pire, il balance quand même pas mal de remarques sexistes… il n’imagine pas qu’Helen n’a aucune arrière pensée pour le doubler quand elle insiste pour l’aider à retrouver son frère. Comme il va bien tomber de haut 😆
Heureusement pour les lecteurs, Thad et Helen sortent un peu des clichés de leur archétypes de personnages et nous donne à lire une romance roadtrip sympatique.
*************
Helen is a librarian in Chicago, she leads a quiet, rather ordinary life, but this will change when Thad arrives. First a customer of the library, he quickly reveals that he is in reality a bounty hunter looking for her brother. He is in trouble and other less scrupulous people could use her to find him.
Helen is disappointed that her crush on her Red Unicorn (Thad is a redhead) is based on a lie but decides to help him in his research on the condition that she comes with him. Their forced proximity will lead to a muy caliente alchemy.
What Thad doesn't know (right away) is that Helen is a reformed nun. In civilian life for several years, Helen has not yet had romantic relationships. And one of her great life challenges is to know love (literally and figuratively).
Given this initial pitch, I was still a little afraid that it would be a bit much of a Catholic romance with Christian morality here and there in every way. Well fortunately that’s not the case. Helen talks about certain aspects of her education from which she still has difficulty detaching herself in relation to her current issues : the connection with her femininity, the perception of her body, her power of seduction on Thad ^^. And what’s pretty cool is that Helen will give herself challenges without necessarily taking Thad into account in her parameters.
Thad for his part will have a long way to go because he doesn't start with good points : his whole family is in the bounty hunting business and it was even the subject of a TV show. He has a hyper-stereotypical view of people, for him no one is ever completely honest, and everyone has double talk and wants to fool him or get something from him. And for women it's even worse, he still makes a lot of sexist remarks... he can't imagine that Helen has no ulterior motive for double-crossing him when she insists on helping him find her brother. How deep he’s going to fall.
Fortunately for readers, Thad and Helen break away from the clichés of their character archetypes and give us a nice roadtrip romance to read.
- Read as an ARC -
May 14, 2024
Ehhh... So, I was really interested in this title. Religiously celibate adults exploring relationships! Complex relationships to the meaning of sexuality and identity! The potential for really interesting, deep character development! Smartypants is usually a good bet!
Alas.
I wanted something nuanced and really revealing of what would be in the mind of someone who had chosen to join then leave a religious order, remained religious after leaving, and was making decisions post-institutional life about sexuality and independence, etc. Instead, this book is just a rom com, where "just" means "fairly flat characters that don't demand that much of you" ("...except a suspension of disbelief just a scritch too far for me.")
While there were a few points of world building that showed the author had done some research (a dispensation from the Vatican to leave the order, the difference between novitiates and sisters and nuns, etc.), by and large I DNF at 40% convinced she hadn't read any biographies of people leaving the religious life, or really knew any Christians who were at any point in their lives committed to celibacy as a spiritual practice. (Such as I, for instance.) And it would have been SO INTERESTING if so, and I would have read the whole book in that case. Instead, the club of former nuns all seem to have opinions about sexuality that feels formed by a culture not in contact with the Church, and this seemed unlikely and uninteresting. I mean, of course "not all former celibate religious" and all that, and yet...
The scene that made me put down the book was someone who had previously been introduced as super observant of all the details around him as a habit of mind and a requirement of his job wandered into a mall store (while tailing someone!!) without realizing what kind of store it was and then clumsily knocking down displays. Blah. I don't want a bumbling comedy, I want a smart comedy! Poor me.
Maybe I should go back to reading non-fiction theology of sexuality (I see you there, Debra Hirsch!) and stick to romance books that don't engage religiousity at all because I just can't with this. Sexuality is SO interesting and so is spirituality!! Come on, Romancelandia, I want more nuanced characters who are actually religious, or who have a relationship to celibacy that is shaped partly or largely by religious convictions. I'd like to read those! (And, queue my usual rant about being unable to find any romance books published in the "Christian" genre with good character development and smart authors, blah blah blah, feel free to correct my misapprehensions.)
Alas.
I wanted something nuanced and really revealing of what would be in the mind of someone who had chosen to join then leave a religious order, remained religious after leaving, and was making decisions post-institutional life about sexuality and independence, etc. Instead, this book is just a rom com, where "just" means "fairly flat characters that don't demand that much of you" ("...except a suspension of disbelief just a scritch too far for me.")
While there were a few points of world building that showed the author had done some research (a dispensation from the Vatican to leave the order, the difference between novitiates and sisters and nuns, etc.), by and large I DNF at 40% convinced she hadn't read any biographies of people leaving the religious life, or really knew any Christians who were at any point in their lives committed to celibacy as a spiritual practice. (Such as I, for instance.) And it would have been SO INTERESTING if so, and I would have read the whole book in that case. Instead, the club of former nuns all seem to have opinions about sexuality that feels formed by a culture not in contact with the Church, and this seemed unlikely and uninteresting. I mean, of course "not all former celibate religious" and all that, and yet...
The scene that made me put down the book was someone who had previously been introduced as super observant of all the details around him as a habit of mind and a requirement of his job wandered into a mall store (while tailing someone!!) without realizing what kind of store it was and then clumsily knocking down displays. Blah. I don't want a bumbling comedy, I want a smart comedy! Poor me.
Maybe I should go back to reading non-fiction theology of sexuality (I see you there, Debra Hirsch!) and stick to romance books that don't engage religiousity at all because I just can't with this. Sexuality is SO interesting and so is spirituality!! Come on, Romancelandia, I want more nuanced characters who are actually religious, or who have a relationship to celibacy that is shaped partly or largely by religious convictions. I'd like to read those! (And, queue my usual rant about being unable to find any romance books published in the "Christian" genre with good character development and smart authors, blah blah blah, feel free to correct my misapprehensions.)
April 17, 2024
***4 Stars***
The title was the hook and I’m always down with checking out a new to me/debut author, so I figured why not and I have to say that it was an overall enjoyable read for me that has me interested in seeing where the characters lives we got to meet will go in the future.
As for Helen and Thad. I loved Helen. She’s shy and sweet and yet she is determined to step outside the whole “good girl” label and figure out just who she wants to be now that she’s taken the habit off and I loved watching her grow into her own skin. Thad…here’s the thing. I liked him. His backstory was interesting and I understood why he did the things he did and felt the way he did, but the urge to Gibbs smack him was strong. So to say that I got whiplash from their journey is an understatement because the push/pull was STRONG, and I’ll admit that there were moments where I was like ~ why bother? But I also wanted to see Helen get her HEA and Thad to take his head out of his booty…which I did get in the end, so I’m happy with how it all worked out for them.
As I said, this was an enjoyable read. There were times where the pace was a bit slow for me, but I figure part of it was due to this being a first in series, so there is a lot of set up and getting to know the various characters. And speaking of the characters, I do like how this series fits in to Pennyverse ~ won’t say more, you’ll just have to read to find out ~ but I’m quite interested in getting to know Nina and Matilda more. I’m fascinated by both, so now to wait patiently for their books to come out.
~ Copy provided by SmartyPants Romance & voluntarily reviewed ~
The title was the hook and I’m always down with checking out a new to me/debut author, so I figured why not and I have to say that it was an overall enjoyable read for me that has me interested in seeing where the characters lives we got to meet will go in the future.
As for Helen and Thad. I loved Helen. She’s shy and sweet and yet she is determined to step outside the whole “good girl” label and figure out just who she wants to be now that she’s taken the habit off and I loved watching her grow into her own skin. Thad…here’s the thing. I liked him. His backstory was interesting and I understood why he did the things he did and felt the way he did, but the urge to Gibbs smack him was strong. So to say that I got whiplash from their journey is an understatement because the push/pull was STRONG, and I’ll admit that there were moments where I was like ~ why bother? But I also wanted to see Helen get her HEA and Thad to take his head out of his booty…which I did get in the end, so I’m happy with how it all worked out for them.
As I said, this was an enjoyable read. There were times where the pace was a bit slow for me, but I figure part of it was due to this being a first in series, so there is a lot of set up and getting to know the various characters. And speaking of the characters, I do like how this series fits in to Pennyverse ~ won’t say more, you’ll just have to read to find out ~ but I’m quite interested in getting to know Nina and Matilda more. I’m fascinated by both, so now to wait patiently for their books to come out.
~ Copy provided by SmartyPants Romance & voluntarily reviewed ~
May 3, 2024
Favorite Quotes:
Matilda is the friend I know with one hundred percent certainty would help me bury a dead body— but she is also the friend who would critique me on bungling up the murder and buying the wrong kind of shovel.
...the thought of sweating through my dress finally forces me into taking off my coat. Surprisingly, there is no spontaneous sex riot at the sight of me in a formfitting outfit. I relax a little, reasoning to myself that the dress is a bigger deal to me than it is to anyone else.
It probably isn’t a good sign, having one’s sort-of therapist gape in open-mouthed surprise. Considering all the things psychologists likely hear on a daily basis, it has to be something pretty shocking to get a reaction like that. Dr. Sandra recovers quickly, but still, the gape has happened... her voice calm and professional, though I notice she is blinking more than usual.
I feel like in the last hour, I’ve gone from never having had sugar to eating an entire birthday cake by myself. It feels almost surreal, like it couldn’t have actually happened to me.
My Review:
I reveled in this cleverly amusing tale, it was expertly paced, well-polished, keenly insightful, and packed with sparkling wit and sly humor. Could it truly be the author’s first novel? If so, she has hit a home run during her first time at bat. I am eagerly awaiting her next missive.
Matilda is the friend I know with one hundred percent certainty would help me bury a dead body— but she is also the friend who would critique me on bungling up the murder and buying the wrong kind of shovel.
...the thought of sweating through my dress finally forces me into taking off my coat. Surprisingly, there is no spontaneous sex riot at the sight of me in a formfitting outfit. I relax a little, reasoning to myself that the dress is a bigger deal to me than it is to anyone else.
It probably isn’t a good sign, having one’s sort-of therapist gape in open-mouthed surprise. Considering all the things psychologists likely hear on a daily basis, it has to be something pretty shocking to get a reaction like that. Dr. Sandra recovers quickly, but still, the gape has happened... her voice calm and professional, though I notice she is blinking more than usual.
I feel like in the last hour, I’ve gone from never having had sugar to eating an entire birthday cake by myself. It feels almost surreal, like it couldn’t have actually happened to me.
My Review:
I reveled in this cleverly amusing tale, it was expertly paced, well-polished, keenly insightful, and packed with sparkling wit and sly humor. Could it truly be the author’s first novel? If so, she has hit a home run during her first time at bat. I am eagerly awaiting her next missive.
April 29, 2024
Overall Grade: A-/B+
Tropes: forced proximity; romantic suspense: former nun, librarian, virgin FMC; bounty hunter MMC
Lissa Sharpe’s Nun Too Soon, book 1 of the new Bad Habit Book Club series under the Smartypants Romance universe, was a delightful read. I was worried that the former nun, virgin librarian FMC, Helen, would be too virginal. However, Sharpe has crafted her in such a way that she’s compelling. She’s a moonlighting romance writer who simply wants to experience all that $ex entails; she’s not intentionally forgoing it based on her past occupation. Instead, it’s just an inconvenience. Sharpe is smart in adding an MMC with all the experience but a reticence for relationships. This creates romantic tension between Thad, Sharpe’s MMC, and Helen, driving the story forward.
Honestly, I couldn’t put Nun Too Soon down. As the second release of the Spring season, I was excited to read this new-to-me author, but also a story that grabbed my attention. I’m excited for the stories in this new series because there is such great potential with characters who are former nuns and priests finding love after that experience. It’s creative and a win for the Smartypants Romance world.
Tropes: forced proximity; romantic suspense: former nun, librarian, virgin FMC; bounty hunter MMC
Lissa Sharpe’s Nun Too Soon, book 1 of the new Bad Habit Book Club series under the Smartypants Romance universe, was a delightful read. I was worried that the former nun, virgin librarian FMC, Helen, would be too virginal. However, Sharpe has crafted her in such a way that she’s compelling. She’s a moonlighting romance writer who simply wants to experience all that $ex entails; she’s not intentionally forgoing it based on her past occupation. Instead, it’s just an inconvenience. Sharpe is smart in adding an MMC with all the experience but a reticence for relationships. This creates romantic tension between Thad, Sharpe’s MMC, and Helen, driving the story forward.
Honestly, I couldn’t put Nun Too Soon down. As the second release of the Spring season, I was excited to read this new-to-me author, but also a story that grabbed my attention. I’m excited for the stories in this new series because there is such great potential with characters who are former nuns and priests finding love after that experience. It’s creative and a win for the Smartypants Romance world.
May 9, 2024
I really like this! I went in without having read the synopsis, which means I had no idea that Thad was a bounty hunter, so naturally I didn't see any of that coming. The book was a bit of wild ride, with a friend group made of former nuns, a writing group to critique sex scenes in the heroine's romance, a truly terrible coworker at the library, a brother on the run, and a road trip that includes a biker gang, a sorority, and an attempted kidnapping. And the thread woven through all of it was not just the romance between Helen and Thad (which I liked very much) but Helen's journey to embrace the sexual side of herself that she had been repressing her whole life. I love a romance that dissects the relationship between sex and Catholicism, and this was a more rom-com perspective on it.
Helen has a complicated view of her own body, but Thad doesn't. He likes everything he sees, and we love to see it. I love any version of sex lessons, and Helen wanting to explore the relationship milestones that she missed because her parents promised her to God as a child was a fun journey. And don't even get me started on Thad post-third act breakup. I didn't see it coming, and that made it even more sweet and impactful for me.
I am definitely looking forward to more in the series.
Helen has a complicated view of her own body, but Thad doesn't. He likes everything he sees, and we love to see it. I love any version of sex lessons, and Helen wanting to explore the relationship milestones that she missed because her parents promised her to God as a child was a fun journey. And don't even get me started on Thad post-third act breakup. I didn't see it coming, and that made it even more sweet and impactful for me.
I am definitely looking forward to more in the series.
April 24, 2024
Helen is an ex-sister, she is 31 years old and hasn’t experienced love, romance or intimacy with a man. However she does have a crush on a patron that frequents the library she works at, a man she has dubbed The Red Unicorn.
Thad, aka The Red Unicorn has his own reasons for visiting the library. As a bounty hunter he is heavily invested in finding someone close to Helen and thinks he can use Helen as a way to find his target. But he doesn’t factor in the feelings or attraction that start to grow between himself and Helen.
I loved the unique premise of this story and the connection between the Chicago men of Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City. Helen and Thad both followed a journey of personal growth and discovering their self worth and what matters most. There is some drama and hijinks, travel and forced proximity and mild open door scenes. I enjoyed reading Helen and Thad’s story and look forward to what comes next in book 2 of the Bad Habit Book Club series. Nun Too Soon is out now and available through Kindle Unlimited.
Thanks to the author and Smartypants Romance for the early copy I received, this is my honest review.
Thad, aka The Red Unicorn has his own reasons for visiting the library. As a bounty hunter he is heavily invested in finding someone close to Helen and thinks he can use Helen as a way to find his target. But he doesn’t factor in the feelings or attraction that start to grow between himself and Helen.
I loved the unique premise of this story and the connection between the Chicago men of Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City. Helen and Thad both followed a journey of personal growth and discovering their self worth and what matters most. There is some drama and hijinks, travel and forced proximity and mild open door scenes. I enjoyed reading Helen and Thad’s story and look forward to what comes next in book 2 of the Bad Habit Book Club series. Nun Too Soon is out now and available through Kindle Unlimited.
Thanks to the author and Smartypants Romance for the early copy I received, this is my honest review.
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