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Unexpected Dates #1
Her Surprise Vacation Date
I was supposed to go on vacation with my best friend… not my best friend’s little brother.
It was going to be a fun girls-only trip to Solvang, CA… before it turned into me dressing up like the Michelin Man, getting a call from my bestie telling me that she’s too sick to come, and losing my luggage.
Now I’m at the airport waiting for my best friend’s little brother to pick me up. After all the unexpected twists and turns of this morning, you’d think nothing would surprise me, that is until nothing turns out to be a six-foot-tall hazel-eyed man with a beautiful smile.
Wow.
Shane Morgan’s grown up a lot since I last saw him in high school. A hunky EMT now, he’s still sweet and funny, but also a lot bolder and charming… to the point where I wonder if he might be flirting with me. But that can’t be possible, right? He’s just an old friend. An old friend who makes my knees go weak when he leans à la While You Were Sleeping and has me regretting ever going on a dating sabbatical.
Ugh.
How am I ever going to survive my surprise vacation date without falling for my best friend’s brother?
It was going to be a fun girls-only trip to Solvang, CA… before it turned into me dressing up like the Michelin Man, getting a call from my bestie telling me that she’s too sick to come, and losing my luggage.
Now I’m at the airport waiting for my best friend’s little brother to pick me up. After all the unexpected twists and turns of this morning, you’d think nothing would surprise me, that is until nothing turns out to be a six-foot-tall hazel-eyed man with a beautiful smile.
Wow.
Shane Morgan’s grown up a lot since I last saw him in high school. A hunky EMT now, he’s still sweet and funny, but also a lot bolder and charming… to the point where I wonder if he might be flirting with me. But that can’t be possible, right? He’s just an old friend. An old friend who makes my knees go weak when he leans à la While You Were Sleeping and has me regretting ever going on a dating sabbatical.
Ugh.
How am I ever going to survive my surprise vacation date without falling for my best friend’s brother?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2024
40 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Liwen Y. Ho
96 books336 followersUSA Today bestselling author Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and chef by day (AKA a stay at home mom) and a writer by night. Her strength is in creating character-driven, deep POV romance infused with faith, humor, and happy ever afters.
In her pre-author life, she received a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. She loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children (AKA munchkins).
Sign up for Liwen's newsletter for news about her upcoming releases, book giveaways and more at http://liwenho.com/free-book!
In her pre-author life, she received a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. She loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children (AKA munchkins).
Sign up for Liwen's newsletter for news about her upcoming releases, book giveaways and more at http://liwenho.com/free-book!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 12, 2024
This was a light, faith-based contemporary romcom. This is a new author for me. I’ll start with what I enjoyed.
What I liked about the narrative:
- The story had good situational humor, evoking genuine laughter at times.
- It felt akin to a charming Hallmark tale, but pleasantly exceeded my expectations with its endearing romance and just the right amount of kissing.
- Shane, the male lead, was portrayed with depth and authenticity, making his character truly relatable.
- The sibling relationship resonated with me, adding a heartwarming layer to the narrative. (Although, the sister’s silliness about dating/pda was a tad over the top. More on that later.)
- Shane's insightful musings on dating and respect struck a chord, offering a refreshing perspective on romance.
Areas where the story faltered:
- Despite its brevity, the narrative felt overstuffed at times, with new characters introduced without sufficient context.
- The portrayal of the female lead, Amelia, seemed incongruent with her age, often veering towards youthful clichés that felt out of place for a woman in her thirties.
- Amelia's occasional immaturity in her actions and words detracted from the story's credibility, failing to reflect the maturity expected of her age. She said phrases that I probably said when I was in college about dating and my faith in the Lord…. I ended up skimming when she would go into preaching mode because it irked me.
- While the 'one bed' trope held promise, its execution fell short, lacking the tension and depth needed to fully engage the reader.
- The chemistry between the main couple lacked the tension and spark that could have elevated their dynamic. In a word, it was rushed and left me at times wondering if even the author believed they were moving too quickly. If the attraction/questioning phase had lasted longer, I think she wouldn’t have needed to spend so much time telling us why they should work (like…multiple times.)
Overall, it served as an enjoyable beach read with characters that required minimal commitment. Note that I received an advanced copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked about the narrative:
- The story had good situational humor, evoking genuine laughter at times.
- It felt akin to a charming Hallmark tale, but pleasantly exceeded my expectations with its endearing romance and just the right amount of kissing.
- Shane, the male lead, was portrayed with depth and authenticity, making his character truly relatable.
- The sibling relationship resonated with me, adding a heartwarming layer to the narrative. (Although, the sister’s silliness about dating/pda was a tad over the top. More on that later.)
- Shane's insightful musings on dating and respect struck a chord, offering a refreshing perspective on romance.
Areas where the story faltered:
- Despite its brevity, the narrative felt overstuffed at times, with new characters introduced without sufficient context.
- The portrayal of the female lead, Amelia, seemed incongruent with her age, often veering towards youthful clichés that felt out of place for a woman in her thirties.
- Amelia's occasional immaturity in her actions and words detracted from the story's credibility, failing to reflect the maturity expected of her age. She said phrases that I probably said when I was in college about dating and my faith in the Lord…. I ended up skimming when she would go into preaching mode because it irked me.
- While the 'one bed' trope held promise, its execution fell short, lacking the tension and depth needed to fully engage the reader.
- The chemistry between the main couple lacked the tension and spark that could have elevated their dynamic. In a word, it was rushed and left me at times wondering if even the author believed they were moving too quickly. If the attraction/questioning phase had lasted longer, I think she wouldn’t have needed to spend so much time telling us why they should work (like…multiple times.)
Overall, it served as an enjoyable beach read with characters that required minimal commitment. Note that I received an advanced copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
4.5* Cute & fun read.
August 2, 2024
OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
I have a never-ending list of new-to-me authors to try…the list continues to grow rapidly since joining Bookstagram and I just sort of wait for a certain feeling or sign as to who to pick up next. Well, this time finding out that Liwen’s new book was set in Solvang, CA was a HUGE sign that now was the time to give her writing a try. Solvang is an incredible little town that I have visited ever since I was a baby. It will forever hold a special place in my heart so this story was a must for me.
For starters, I want to mention that this isn’t only a clean and closed door romance, but it’s marketed as a Christian RomCom as well. Elements of faith and Biblical principles are sprinkled throughout which is quite refreshing.
Hope is getting ready to fly to CA for a girls-only trip to Solvang in celebration of her best friend’s 30th birthday. At the last minute she finds out that her friend is terribly ill and won’t be able to attend. It’s too late for Hope to turn around and cancel or make alternate plans, but her friend has already “saved the day” by sending her younger brother, Shane, to pick Hope up from the airport. Shane and Hope wind up taking this little Solvang trip together. A far cry from what was originally planned, but they wind up having an amazing time. Turns out Shane has had a crush on Hope for decades.
There are a lot of laugh out loud moments and so many bookish references that bookstagrammers especially are just going to eat up and love. 174 pages of sweetness that I devoured in one day.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
I have a never-ending list of new-to-me authors to try…the list continues to grow rapidly since joining Bookstagram and I just sort of wait for a certain feeling or sign as to who to pick up next. Well, this time finding out that Liwen’s new book was set in Solvang, CA was a HUGE sign that now was the time to give her writing a try. Solvang is an incredible little town that I have visited ever since I was a baby. It will forever hold a special place in my heart so this story was a must for me.
For starters, I want to mention that this isn’t only a clean and closed door romance, but it’s marketed as a Christian RomCom as well. Elements of faith and Biblical principles are sprinkled throughout which is quite refreshing.
Hope is getting ready to fly to CA for a girls-only trip to Solvang in celebration of her best friend’s 30th birthday. At the last minute she finds out that her friend is terribly ill and won’t be able to attend. It’s too late for Hope to turn around and cancel or make alternate plans, but her friend has already “saved the day” by sending her younger brother, Shane, to pick Hope up from the airport. Shane and Hope wind up taking this little Solvang trip together. A far cry from what was originally planned, but they wind up having an amazing time. Turns out Shane has had a crush on Hope for decades.
There are a lot of laugh out loud moments and so many bookish references that bookstagrammers especially are just going to eat up and love. 174 pages of sweetness that I devoured in one day.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
June 6, 2024
This was a very cute and funny story! Hope is supposed to go on vacation with her best friend but when her best friend gets sick she sends her brother Shane as a replacement. Shane has liked Hope ever since they were young and he is happy to see her again. I thought they were really cute together. Both characters are quite funny. Shane keeps doing “the lean” on Hope to try to gain her attention and it’s hilarious. I wasn’t a fan of the only one bed trope and their kisses were a tad much for me but that’s more my personal preference. I also thought the first half was better than the second half. Overall though I enjoyed it and I liked the light Christian elements throughout.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
June 6, 2024
Friends to more
This genre is not the usual one for me, but I found this one entertaining. I was smiling and laughing with Shane and Hope during their banter and then rooting for them to take the next step, to make this a real relationship. Friendship and faith are a good foundation to build on and they had both. As friends that can build each other up and their faith encouraged them to trust God through it all.
It was a quick and easy read. The writing style and plot flowed well together. I received a complimentary copy and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.
This genre is not the usual one for me, but I found this one entertaining. I was smiling and laughing with Shane and Hope during their banter and then rooting for them to take the next step, to make this a real relationship. Friendship and faith are a good foundation to build on and they had both. As friends that can build each other up and their faith encouraged them to trust God through it all.
It was a quick and easy read. The writing style and plot flowed well together. I received a complimentary copy and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.
June 30, 2024
Her Surprise Vacation Date is an awesome fun-rom com read in a new series with the book club members as the main characters. This rom-com read is of Hope, a teacher, who uses double negatives, travel mishaps that include missing luggage, and a road trip with her best friend's younger brother for the first few days. I enjoyed the main character falling for the best friend's sibling trope. If you enjoy puns, all things bookish related, and a clean read with a faith thread, pick up Her Surprise Vacation Date as your next read.
September 3, 2024
An easy, fun romcom with bookish vibes.
June 7, 2024
An adorable Vacation romcom! Perfect, if you are looking for a quick Summer read!
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
June 25, 2024
Hope cracked me up so much! Especially at the beginning of this one. I sure wouldn't want to have to go through what happened to her at the airport. But it sure made for a fun opening of the book and setting up for the humor and sweet love story that followed! I honestly giggled so much over Hope's antics. Hahahaha!
And then I loved the fun surprise that she got when her best friend Amelia ends up sick and sends her brother Shane to pick her up from the airport and go on their trip for the first couple of days. Hope's reaction was great! She was just a bit smitten! *smirks* And I'll admit that I would have been as well. *shrugs*
I loved this sweet rom-com! I didn't want it to end. I was very satisfied with the whole story, the friendships, the wit and humor that had me giggling and most definitely the sweet romance! *Swoooooon!!!!*
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
And then I loved the fun surprise that she got when her best friend Amelia ends up sick and sends her brother Shane to pick her up from the airport and go on their trip for the first couple of days. Hope's reaction was great! She was just a bit smitten! *smirks* And I'll admit that I would have been as well. *shrugs*
I loved this sweet rom-com! I didn't want it to end. I was very satisfied with the whole story, the friendships, the wit and humor that had me giggling and most definitely the sweet romance! *Swoooooon!!!!*
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
June 25, 2024
5/5
Genre: Clean Romance/ Christian Romance
Read it if you like
🧳Dual POV
🧳 Happily Ever After
🧳Siblings
🧳 Best Friend’s brother
🧳He Falls First
🧳Christian Values
🧳Vacation mishaps (read then you know)
🧳 While you were sleeping leaning
Favourite Moments
🧳At the airport
🧳 Shopping for Amelia’s gift.
🧳 Their encouragement through bible verses.
🧳 Them meeting the ostrich moments. (can’t spoil it)
🧳 Him naming her with characters of her favourite books. (can’t spoil it)
🧳 moments with Amelia.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🧳 He falls first
🧳 He’s there for her all the time
🧳He is a sweet brother to Amelia
🧳 He is a hopeless romantic
🧳 He knows what she likes and also what books are her favourite.
Synopsis:
Hope and Amelia had been planning a vacation to SolVang for the longest time and it is to celebrate Amelia's 30th birthday. And both of them are really excited for this vacation.
However, on that day of their vacation, Amelia had diarhea and she couldn't go and Hope was a little dissapointed but worried for Amelia.
When she touched down and went to get her luggage, she met a nice man who offer to help her. It turns out that the man is not as nice as he seems but someone came to the rescue and she was surprised to see him after so long. Wonder who is he? Read Her Surprise Vacation Date to find out!
Review:
Heart fluttering and sweet love story between Hope and Shane. Love love this story so much. And Shane is just making me blushed as I read haha... He really loves Hope very much and do whatever he can to win her heart and I love that they both encouraged each other with bible verses. Their flirting and teasing moments are just adorable. And also their shopping spree for Amelia is so sweet as well. They had some investigation going on too. (can't spoil much you will have to find out) and some sweet While You Were Sleeping leaning moments hahaha...and of course romantic moments. The ostrich that they meet was hilarious and Shane even used it as a joke. (can’t spoil it you will find out) hehe… Love the bickering between the siblings too. This book made me smile, swoon, and laugh.
What I learn:
It’s important to pray before being in a relationship with someone have mutual feelings for you. The most important thing is to trust God and put God first in the relationship. He will guide you both through whatever comes your way.
Can’t wait to read the next story for this series.
You can purchase Liwen Y.Ho books from Amazon and it’s available in KU .
Thanks @authorliwenho for the ARC.
You can pre-order this book in Amazon now.
Genre: Clean Romance/ Christian Romance
Read it if you like
🧳Dual POV
🧳 Happily Ever After
🧳Siblings
🧳 Best Friend’s brother
🧳He Falls First
🧳Christian Values
🧳Vacation mishaps (read then you know)
🧳 While you were sleeping leaning
Favourite Moments
🧳At the airport
🧳 Shopping for Amelia’s gift.
🧳 Their encouragement through bible verses.
🧳 Them meeting the ostrich moments. (can’t spoil it)
🧳 Him naming her with characters of her favourite books. (can’t spoil it)
🧳 moments with Amelia.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🧳 He falls first
🧳 He’s there for her all the time
🧳He is a sweet brother to Amelia
🧳 He is a hopeless romantic
🧳 He knows what she likes and also what books are her favourite.
Synopsis:
Hope and Amelia had been planning a vacation to SolVang for the longest time and it is to celebrate Amelia's 30th birthday. And both of them are really excited for this vacation.
However, on that day of their vacation, Amelia had diarhea and she couldn't go and Hope was a little dissapointed but worried for Amelia.
When she touched down and went to get her luggage, she met a nice man who offer to help her. It turns out that the man is not as nice as he seems but someone came to the rescue and she was surprised to see him after so long. Wonder who is he? Read Her Surprise Vacation Date to find out!
Review:
Heart fluttering and sweet love story between Hope and Shane. Love love this story so much. And Shane is just making me blushed as I read haha... He really loves Hope very much and do whatever he can to win her heart and I love that they both encouraged each other with bible verses. Their flirting and teasing moments are just adorable. And also their shopping spree for Amelia is so sweet as well. They had some investigation going on too. (can't spoil much you will have to find out) and some sweet While You Were Sleeping leaning moments hahaha...and of course romantic moments. The ostrich that they meet was hilarious and Shane even used it as a joke. (can’t spoil it you will find out) hehe… Love the bickering between the siblings too. This book made me smile, swoon, and laugh.
What I learn:
It’s important to pray before being in a relationship with someone have mutual feelings for you. The most important thing is to trust God and put God first in the relationship. He will guide you both through whatever comes your way.
Can’t wait to read the next story for this series.
You can purchase Liwen Y.Ho books from Amazon and it’s available in KU .
Thanks @authorliwenho for the ARC.
You can pre-order this book in Amazon now.
June 24, 2024
4,5 stars rounded to 5
This was a really sweet fast paced rom com which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Already the first chapter had me laughing and I knew I would like Hope as a character. Shane was no different and they were just so sweet together.
This book was short but still really funny with a sweet love story and full of faith.
I was already with my husband when I became a Christian, so relating to Christians who are single and looking for a partner, dealing with the modern ways of dating is sometimes a bit difficult for me.
I somehow thought Hopes’ approach with the dating sabbatical and also how she saw dating/finding a husband was a bit… immature? … lacking in faith when it comes to trusting that Gods’ timing is perfect and planning it yourself is just prone to failure..? I don’t know, but it confused me sometimes.
On the other hand it was a bit sudden how quickly Shane decided to pursue her for real after not seeing her for so many years and also how they labeled themselves girlfriend/boyfriend was a bit fast for me. (To be honest, I like my romances a bit angsty and do love a good slow burn. This is not what you get here, but I definitely enjoyed it anyways, it’s just not my personal favorite kind of romance.)
But I did love how certain and open Shane was and that he said he wanted to court Hope with the goal of marriage instead of just casual dating.
I really appreciated that! Like I said, I don’t really know how it is for single Christians nowadays and I can only imagine how difficult it must be sometimes. But it also sometimes seems Christian are approaching dating the same way non believers do (in books and in real life) and that doesn’t sit right with me.
So seeing a character whose faith impacted how he dealt with real life choices was great and Shane and Hope were just adorable together.
So if you’re looking for a faith filled romance with laugh out loud moments, this is definitely one I’ll recommend!
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
This was a really sweet fast paced rom com which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Already the first chapter had me laughing and I knew I would like Hope as a character. Shane was no different and they were just so sweet together.
This book was short but still really funny with a sweet love story and full of faith.
I was already with my husband when I became a Christian, so relating to Christians who are single and looking for a partner, dealing with the modern ways of dating is sometimes a bit difficult for me.
I somehow thought Hopes’ approach with the dating sabbatical and also how she saw dating/finding a husband was a bit… immature? … lacking in faith when it comes to trusting that Gods’ timing is perfect and planning it yourself is just prone to failure..? I don’t know, but it confused me sometimes.
On the other hand it was a bit sudden how quickly Shane decided to pursue her for real after not seeing her for so many years and also how they labeled themselves girlfriend/boyfriend was a bit fast for me. (To be honest, I like my romances a bit angsty and do love a good slow burn. This is not what you get here, but I definitely enjoyed it anyways, it’s just not my personal favorite kind of romance.)
But I did love how certain and open Shane was and that he said he wanted to court Hope with the goal of marriage instead of just casual dating.
I really appreciated that! Like I said, I don’t really know how it is for single Christians nowadays and I can only imagine how difficult it must be sometimes. But it also sometimes seems Christian are approaching dating the same way non believers do (in books and in real life) and that doesn’t sit right with me.
So seeing a character whose faith impacted how he dealt with real life choices was great and Shane and Hope were just adorable together.
So if you’re looking for a faith filled romance with laugh out loud moments, this is definitely one I’ll recommend!
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
July 27, 2024
Everything that could go wrong does go wrong for poor Hope, but things begin to look up when her vacation partner is her old crush, Shane. A premise like this started out so promising but sadly this is where the charm ended for me, and the sheer annoyance began.
For me, this novel was almost unreadable, and I almost DNF’s multiple times throughout, but this was a novel that I really, really wanted to like. Sadly, once Shane and Hope met up that was the beginning of the end for me.
All the pop culture references and comparisons to romantic troupes that Hope makes were cute in the beginning, but I felt like they became overkill and more annoying the more I read. I get it, Hope is living her fangirl literary dream, but I didn't feel the authenticity and it made me like Hope less and less.
Don’t even get me started on Shane, the ultimate simp. It’s sweet that he admires Hope as much as he does but I could’ve done without the borderline worship of her and their constant comparison to how perfect they both are.
Speaking of the speed...their relationship went way, way too fast and honestly, I didn’t feel the chemistry at all. They don’t know one another as adults and while Hope barely acts like an adult and seems more like an immature teenager that still doesn’t give a pass to the speed at which their relationship progresses. I think if they would’ve been given time to let their relationship organically grow then maybe I would’ve liked them better.
While the beginning held a lot of promise it quickly fizzled and reading to the end felt like a chore instead of a pleasure. I really like this author, but this novel did not do it for me.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
For me, this novel was almost unreadable, and I almost DNF’s multiple times throughout, but this was a novel that I really, really wanted to like. Sadly, once Shane and Hope met up that was the beginning of the end for me.
All the pop culture references and comparisons to romantic troupes that Hope makes were cute in the beginning, but I felt like they became overkill and more annoying the more I read. I get it, Hope is living her fangirl literary dream, but I didn't feel the authenticity and it made me like Hope less and less.
Don’t even get me started on Shane, the ultimate simp. It’s sweet that he admires Hope as much as he does but I could’ve done without the borderline worship of her and their constant comparison to how perfect they both are.
Speaking of the speed...their relationship went way, way too fast and honestly, I didn’t feel the chemistry at all. They don’t know one another as adults and while Hope barely acts like an adult and seems more like an immature teenager that still doesn’t give a pass to the speed at which their relationship progresses. I think if they would’ve been given time to let their relationship organically grow then maybe I would’ve liked them better.
While the beginning held a lot of promise it quickly fizzled and reading to the end felt like a chore instead of a pleasure. I really like this author, but this novel did not do it for me.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
July 17, 2024
What was supposed to be a girls' trip dramatically falls apart. Hope is going to meet her friend, Amelia, where they will vacation together. Amelia calls her at the last minute, after she has checked in at the airport, where she made a complete fool of herself, to tell her that she is very sick and cannot make it. But never fear she has a solution. She is sending her little brother, Shane, to meet Hope and vacation with her until Amelia can get well enough to travel. All memories of Shane revolve around a little brother who took great joy in jumping out of the closet scaring Hope and Amelia half to death. She is not looking forward to this trip, but she is already on the way.
When Hope arrives at the airport looking for gangly, pimple-faced little boy, she instead finds a muscular man who is definitely no longer a boy. Can this get any more awkward? This is her best friend's little brother for goodness sake. She cannot be drooling over him.
The remainder of the story is a series of fun memories for Hope and Shane as they renew their acquaintance with one another. Hope has vowed that she is on a dating hiatus, but Shane is making it very hard to hold to this vow. There were so many funny scenes from Hope looking like the Michelin Man in order to lighten her suitcase to her losing said suitcase. One would never imagine that visiting ostriches could be so romantic, as well as comedic. A trip to a humongous sock store will provide many moments to enjoy as well. I found myself laughing out loud so many times while thoroughly enjoying this sweet romantic comedy with an emphasis on faith.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Hope arrives at the airport looking for gangly, pimple-faced little boy, she instead finds a muscular man who is definitely no longer a boy. Can this get any more awkward? This is her best friend's little brother for goodness sake. She cannot be drooling over him.
The remainder of the story is a series of fun memories for Hope and Shane as they renew their acquaintance with one another. Hope has vowed that she is on a dating hiatus, but Shane is making it very hard to hold to this vow. There were so many funny scenes from Hope looking like the Michelin Man in order to lighten her suitcase to her losing said suitcase. One would never imagine that visiting ostriches could be so romantic, as well as comedic. A trip to a humongous sock store will provide many moments to enjoy as well. I found myself laughing out loud so many times while thoroughly enjoying this sweet romantic comedy with an emphasis on faith.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 5, 2024
All. The. Feels!!
OK, I don't know what kind of magic happened to Liwen's writing skills in her last two books, but I'm not complaining. Not at all. She's gotten so good that this is the second book I've wanted to review as "unputdownable" and leave it at that (but don't worry, I won't). This is the problem with starting books late in the day (or is it night? 😉) meaning that it forces you to put down the book and go to sleep since you need to be a responsible/functional adult the next day, lol. But it was so good I wouldn't have minded reading it in one sitting.
Shane and Hope were so adorable and cute!! I loved the fact that he's her best friend's little brother *and * had had a crush on her when they were in high school. I loved how he was so intentional in his pursuit of her and not miss out on this second chance. As for Hope, man, talk about going on an adventure! From the first chapter, there was always something going on (good or bad) but it kept me rooting for her. So, throw these two together and you have a vacation to remember, with plenty of swoony moments, leaning (yes, that leaning #iykyk), and kisses that are worth the wait. 🔥💗 Oh, and the humor? Lol, I loved all the puns and banter thrown in there! Speaking of, this book has the best siblings' banter (Amelia + Shane's) I've seen in a while.
Overall, a great start to this author's second romcom series! You'll laugh, swoon, be encouraged by the Truth and wisdom nuggets thrown here and there, and you'll end up waiting (im)patiently for the next one in the series. ~ 5 stars!
OK, I don't know what kind of magic happened to Liwen's writing skills in her last two books, but I'm not complaining. Not at all. She's gotten so good that this is the second book I've wanted to review as "unputdownable" and leave it at that (but don't worry, I won't). This is the problem with starting books late in the day (or is it night? 😉) meaning that it forces you to put down the book and go to sleep since you need to be a responsible/functional adult the next day, lol. But it was so good I wouldn't have minded reading it in one sitting.
Shane and Hope were so adorable and cute!! I loved the fact that he's her best friend's little brother *and * had had a crush on her when they were in high school. I loved how he was so intentional in his pursuit of her and not miss out on this second chance. As for Hope, man, talk about going on an adventure! From the first chapter, there was always something going on (good or bad) but it kept me rooting for her. So, throw these two together and you have a vacation to remember, with plenty of swoony moments, leaning (yes, that leaning #iykyk), and kisses that are worth the wait. 🔥💗 Oh, and the humor? Lol, I loved all the puns and banter thrown in there! Speaking of, this book has the best siblings' banter (Amelia + Shane's) I've seen in a while.
Overall, a great start to this author's second romcom series! You'll laugh, swoon, be encouraged by the Truth and wisdom nuggets thrown here and there, and you'll end up waiting (im)patiently for the next one in the series. ~ 5 stars!
June 24, 2024
I found that while the book was initially fun, flirty, and witty, the lengthy narrative seemed to get in the way of the story, with too many words used to describe a thought, word, or action. It seemed to be rambling at times.
Hope, the lead female, is often distracted, acts more like a teenager than a woman in her thirties and is overly dramatic which became tiresome to me. She seemed stuck in a fantasy world of fiction, comparing life to fictional book genres she's read.
Shane is honest, realistic and caring as he shares his long-held feelings for Hope. Unfortunately, there just didn't seem to be any chemistry or any spark between the two of them. Their "romance" seemed flat.
Each chapter was introduced by a cute comment or quote, but at times they seemed corny, like, "I hope you know CPR, 'cause you take my breath away." Several reader acronyms were used in this story, without a definition for what they stood for (& I'm still wondering!). While I have enjoyed other books by this author, I truly did not care for "Her Surprise Vacation Date", and I would not read it again. I wanted to like this clean romantic comedy more, but the story was exhausting to me, and I found myself not wanting to finish it (though I did read the book to the end).
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this book.
Hope, the lead female, is often distracted, acts more like a teenager than a woman in her thirties and is overly dramatic which became tiresome to me. She seemed stuck in a fantasy world of fiction, comparing life to fictional book genres she's read.
Shane is honest, realistic and caring as he shares his long-held feelings for Hope. Unfortunately, there just didn't seem to be any chemistry or any spark between the two of them. Their "romance" seemed flat.
Each chapter was introduced by a cute comment or quote, but at times they seemed corny, like, "I hope you know CPR, 'cause you take my breath away." Several reader acronyms were used in this story, without a definition for what they stood for (& I'm still wondering!). While I have enjoyed other books by this author, I truly did not care for "Her Surprise Vacation Date", and I would not read it again. I wanted to like this clean romantic comedy more, but the story was exhausting to me, and I found myself not wanting to finish it (though I did read the book to the end).
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this book.
June 8, 2024
Liwen Ho does such a wonderful job with rom-coms and this story is no exception. She finds such improbable, but still possible, situations that I laughed all the way through this book. Shane is the younger brother of Hope's best friend. He had a crush on "the older woman" through much of their growing up years. When they meet again as adults, they are both surprised to learn how much they have in common and how well they complement each other. They each have their hang up and take a little time getting around the age difference aspect as well as dealing with the best friend's brother thing, but it makes the characters real and relatable.
While I'm not usually a fan of trading points of view from character to character with each chapter, this book did an excellent job of not letting that get in the way of the movement of the story line as so many do. The best part of the book was the cute, wise, and hilarious quotes that began each chapter. Thank you to whomever had the job of digging those out and sharing them. If you are looking for a fairly quick read that will keep you laughing, this is definitely your next book.
While I'm not usually a fan of trading points of view from character to character with each chapter, this book did an excellent job of not letting that get in the way of the movement of the story line as so many do. The best part of the book was the cute, wise, and hilarious quotes that began each chapter. Thank you to whomever had the job of digging those out and sharing them. If you are looking for a fairly quick read that will keep you laughing, this is definitely your next book.
June 16, 2024
I think this was a pretty cute contemporary romance. It contained multiple tropes like, best friend's brother, one bed, forced proximity, second chance etc.... But what I think was most fun about the tropes is that it talked about some of the tropes in relationship to what was happening to them in their own story. So the story kind of teases itself.
The relationship did move a little fast for my tastes. But at least they didn't get married right off. They spent time courting before even getting engaged. They were cute together. I liked the main characters but Hope really was not a street smart person. I cringed during the whole baggage claim debacle. Handy that she was forced to wear so many of her clothes on the flight.
This is Christian lit and it did have quite a few scripture and other religious theme mentions but I didn't feel like I was being preached to. I'd say it was maybe a medium level.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC from the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
The relationship did move a little fast for my tastes. But at least they didn't get married right off. They spent time courting before even getting engaged. They were cute together. I liked the main characters but Hope really was not a street smart person. I cringed during the whole baggage claim debacle. Handy that she was forced to wear so many of her clothes on the flight.
This is Christian lit and it did have quite a few scripture and other religious theme mentions but I didn't feel like I was being preached to. I'd say it was maybe a medium level.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC from the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
June 20, 2024
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and it didn’t disappoint! Hope is going on vacation with her best friend, Amelia, until she isn’t. It turns out that Amelia is sick, so Amelia has asked her younger brother, Shane, to go in her place. The story is filled with humor! The airport scenes in the beginning of the book are hilarious, as is the fact that Hope doesn’t recognize Shane when he picks her up. As they spend time together, Shane finds Hope invigorating and makes him feel things he hasn’t felt before. However, Hope is on a dating sabbatical and is afraid of commitment due to failed relationships in the past. However, the attraction is real, and Shane feels confident in the Lord’s plan for his love life, so he continues his pursuit. Once Hope realizes Shane truly likes her, and this relationship could work, they go from “travel associates” to a “travel date”. How will Amelia take the news? Read this entertaining story to find out if they get their happy ending! I received a free copy of this book from the author and my review is my own voluntary opinion.
June 21, 2024
It was supposed to be a celebration of Amelia's birthday - until she got a nasty bug. Not wanting to leave Hope to holiday on her own, Amelia sends her younger brother along in her place. And Shane has grown up - a lot! - from when he used to tease the pair of best friends as a kid. Hope and Shane hit it off immediately, but can 'vacation buddies' transition into something more?
A book of good clean fun. I enjoyed getting to know both Hope and Shane, and throwing Amelia into the mix once they'd got to a certain point definitely added an interestingly different note (siblings!). I love reading, but Hope's obsession with romance (in book and film) and tropes is far beyond anything I'd dream of - which was interesting. And I appreciated the way that Shane played along. All in all, they went well together and made for a nice 'holiday read'. Nothing too deep, but with plenty of humour and good for a break.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
A book of good clean fun. I enjoyed getting to know both Hope and Shane, and throwing Amelia into the mix once they'd got to a certain point definitely added an interestingly different note (siblings!). I love reading, but Hope's obsession with romance (in book and film) and tropes is far beyond anything I'd dream of - which was interesting. And I appreciated the way that Shane played along. All in all, they went well together and made for a nice 'holiday read'. Nothing too deep, but with plenty of humour and good for a break.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
June 25, 2024
I love books that I can just pick up and start reading and not want to put down. Books that are full of humor, life, and love. Liwen Y. Ho is an author who writes these kinds of books. Whenever I pick up one of her books to read, I know I’ll enjoy it and have a fun escape while reading it.
In this story, the main character has one thing after another happen to her and all she wanted to do was get away for a fun vacation with her best friend. But it didn’t quite end up that way.
Some many crazy things happened that if I were her, I would have given up. But true to her name, Hope never gave up and the vacation had more surprises than she could ever have imagined.
Liwen Y. Ho is one of my go-to-authors when I want to read a lite, fun, clean, romantic book. However, her books are also full of sweet life lessons that a reader can apply to their life.
Her writing is smooth and very enjoyable.
I received a copy of this wonderful book from the publisher to read in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book to read.
In this story, the main character has one thing after another happen to her and all she wanted to do was get away for a fun vacation with her best friend. But it didn’t quite end up that way.
Some many crazy things happened that if I were her, I would have given up. But true to her name, Hope never gave up and the vacation had more surprises than she could ever have imagined.
Liwen Y. Ho is one of my go-to-authors when I want to read a lite, fun, clean, romantic book. However, her books are also full of sweet life lessons that a reader can apply to their life.
Her writing is smooth and very enjoyable.
I received a copy of this wonderful book from the publisher to read in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book to read.
June 28, 2024
I love clean books and this rom-com definitely fit the bill. I liked the author’s sense of humor and the undertones of Christianity. This was a fun Hallmark-ish type book that was entertaining to read and I’m glad I did. The parts I didn’t love: I hated how she always called him Shaney. That drove me bonkers and felt juvenile. (I guess it fits since it was her childhood nickname for him.) It was fine when they were first together, but needed to drop after a while. I also didn’t love how quickly he talked about marriage. Sure he had a crush on her, but didn’t even know her as an adult and yet visualized her as this perfect woman who he was going to marry. She also went from “what, you like me?” to “yep, let’s get married” way too quickly. Didn’t love that. But - I did love the characters. Hope was fun and I loved how she dealt with the bad things that happened to her - putting on all the clothes, finding the woman who bought her bag, etc. I was sad she didn’t get her gift back - but let’s be honest, who travels with 30 candles anyways?! Fun (and expensive) gift idea though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
3.5 stars
It was a great coincidence that this book came out the same day our family left for a long road trip and I was able to read it on the drive. I love Liwen Ho's gift for writing banter and fun dialogue. This book has plenty of that. I thought it was a sweet, fun read.
But Shane declared his feelings far too early. It took a lot of the fun out of the dialogue between him and Hope because then their conversations began to revolve around whether or not they should date. I would have preferred a slower pace to their romance, where they could get to know each other (as adults) better.
My Danish grandparents visited Solvang as often as they could, so I was also excited to see that place represented. I hope to go there someday myself. But as someone who makes her own æbleskiver, I'm having a hard time imagining æbleskiver the size of tennis balls, when they're usually the size of gold balls. What is that bakery doing?! (BTW, the singular is "æbleskive," while the plural is "æbleskiver.")
It was a great coincidence that this book came out the same day our family left for a long road trip and I was able to read it on the drive. I love Liwen Ho's gift for writing banter and fun dialogue. This book has plenty of that. I thought it was a sweet, fun read.
But Shane declared his feelings far too early. It took a lot of the fun out of the dialogue between him and Hope because then their conversations began to revolve around whether or not they should date. I would have preferred a slower pace to their romance, where they could get to know each other (as adults) better.
My Danish grandparents visited Solvang as often as they could, so I was also excited to see that place represented. I hope to go there someday myself. But as someone who makes her own æbleskiver, I'm having a hard time imagining æbleskiver the size of tennis balls, when they're usually the size of gold balls. What is that bakery doing?! (BTW, the singular is "æbleskive," while the plural is "æbleskiver.")
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
This book has such a cute story and fun characters. I’m a sucker for the second chance romance trope. Shane and Hope are so cute together and I love that there’s no third act breakup. That being said, I think the story just moved a little too quickly for me. The relationship progressed faster than I’m used to (still perfectly clean of course), but a little unbelievably fast. That being said, I loved the story and it was a very easy, quick read. Shane is a perfect gentleman and such a cinnamon roll.
— Lots of Christian themes in the story. I enjoy that, but if you don’t, it’s something to be aware of.
— Every chapter starts with a quote of some sort. Some of them are super cute, some are a little corny. But they’re a fun intro to the contents of the chapter and matched well I thought.
— This is the first in a new series from Ho. I’m excited to read the next books as they come out and maybe see a guest appearance from Hope and Shane again, since I do love them as characters.
I received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
— Lots of Christian themes in the story. I enjoy that, but if you don’t, it’s something to be aware of.
— Every chapter starts with a quote of some sort. Some of them are super cute, some are a little corny. But they’re a fun intro to the contents of the chapter and matched well I thought.
— This is the first in a new series from Ho. I’m excited to read the next books as they come out and maybe see a guest appearance from Hope and Shane again, since I do love them as characters.
I received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
June 10, 2024
When long-time friends, Hope and Amelia, plan a vacation little did they know what was in store for them. However, Amelia becomes suddenly ill and unable to go so she sends her kid brother in her place. What a surprise for Hope as Shane is certainly no longer the bratty brother who enjoyed playing pranks on her as a kid. Instead he has grown into a handsome, thoughtful, and kind gentleman; however, the one thing he hasn't outgrown is his childhood crush on his sister's best friend. Hope's feelings begin to change, but how will this affect her friendship with Amelia? Can Hope and Shane survive what appears will be a long distance relationship, and if so, how? How can he convince Hope that his love is the real thing? This is an absolutely fantastic and clean story which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book; the opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I received an ARC of this book; the opinions expressed are strictly my own.
June 11, 2024
This was a great read!! Shane is Hope's best friend's younger brother. Hope has known him as long as she's known Amelia. Amelia and Hope have planned a vacation get away to celebrate Amelia's thirtieth birthday, and Hope is on her way when Amelia gets sick. Amelia decides to send Shane as a her replacement until she gets better. Shane's had a crush on Hope since they met. He's hoping this could lead to a second chance with her. I love that Shane and Hope are both very open about their faith in God, and that Shane proves he could be the spiritual head of a home. Now, the only "problem" they face is how Amelia is going to react to their new status. Will she be for them or against them?? If you love Rom Com's, you're going to love this! And, if you're like me and don't really care for them much, you're still going to love this book!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
June 19, 2024
SO enjoyed this story. Enjoyed the Christianity throughout, but mainly Shane's faith in God and knowing that God wanted him happy, thus putting Hope in his life through Ame's illness.
Shane is a great guy, looking for the right girl when he helps his sister, Ames, out and fills in for her vacation spot with Ame's long time best friend, Hope. Hope has known Shane for a long time, but they haven't seen each other in a long time, so when she sees him she doesn't recognize him. They are both taken back by their attractions to the other and it was a sweet, fun ride seeing their love grow. Love the Ostrich town's date and learning more about these unique creatures.
Enjoyed the town of Solvang. Would like to visit it some day, but too far away. Also, the sayings, quips, quotes, puns, etc on the top of each new chapter were also a fun, nice touch and enjoyed that a lot.
I received an early copy for free, ARC, for my honest, free and voluntary review.
Shane is a great guy, looking for the right girl when he helps his sister, Ames, out and fills in for her vacation spot with Ame's long time best friend, Hope. Hope has known Shane for a long time, but they haven't seen each other in a long time, so when she sees him she doesn't recognize him. They are both taken back by their attractions to the other and it was a sweet, fun ride seeing their love grow. Love the Ostrich town's date and learning more about these unique creatures.
Enjoyed the town of Solvang. Would like to visit it some day, but too far away. Also, the sayings, quips, quotes, puns, etc on the top of each new chapter were also a fun, nice touch and enjoyed that a lot.
I received an early copy for free, ARC, for my honest, free and voluntary review.
June 27, 2024
This was a sweet read! Her Surprise Vacation Date is the first book in Liwen Y Ho’s new series, Unexpected Dates.
Hope and Shane were cute together. They had history since Hope was Shane’s sister’s best friend. Their interactions were cute and I really liked how head over heels Shane was for Hope. Hope had to grow on me a bit but I grew to understand her by the end of the book.
The romance was sweet and it was fun to read about Shane and Hope interacting. I liked how Shane helped balance Hope and encouraged her.
Her Surprise Vacation Date is a clean Christian contemporary romance. I enjoyed the characters and the bookstagram easter eggs. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy inspirational romances and want a quick read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Hope and Shane were cute together. They had history since Hope was Shane’s sister’s best friend. Their interactions were cute and I really liked how head over heels Shane was for Hope. Hope had to grow on me a bit but I grew to understand her by the end of the book.
The romance was sweet and it was fun to read about Shane and Hope interacting. I liked how Shane helped balance Hope and encouraged her.
Her Surprise Vacation Date is a clean Christian contemporary romance. I enjoyed the characters and the bookstagram easter eggs. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy inspirational romances and want a quick read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
June 17, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.75/5
This was a cute story! I loved the cute quotes before each chapter and the faith based themes. I also enjoyed the humor and found myself giggling at Hope’s antics. However, I would almost describe this as more sweet than rom com; the novel seemed more focused on the development of Shane and Hope’s relationship than laugh out loud moments, so I definitely expected more of that. What would have pushed this into a four star read would be if the vacation theme stood out a bit more. If a title has the word “vacation” in it, I have certain exceptions. I wanted to feel the atmosphere of Solvang and experience more of the attractions of the town with Hope and Shane instead of it being mentioned in passing. My favorite scenes were the one at the Ostrich farm (which gives us a glimpse of the attractions in Solvang), and the final scene that gives us the HEA (No spoilers). All in all, I would recommend this book for a quick, enjoyable, faith based read.
This was a cute story! I loved the cute quotes before each chapter and the faith based themes. I also enjoyed the humor and found myself giggling at Hope’s antics. However, I would almost describe this as more sweet than rom com; the novel seemed more focused on the development of Shane and Hope’s relationship than laugh out loud moments, so I definitely expected more of that. What would have pushed this into a four star read would be if the vacation theme stood out a bit more. If a title has the word “vacation” in it, I have certain exceptions. I wanted to feel the atmosphere of Solvang and experience more of the attractions of the town with Hope and Shane instead of it being mentioned in passing. My favorite scenes were the one at the Ostrich farm (which gives us a glimpse of the attractions in Solvang), and the final scene that gives us the HEA (No spoilers). All in all, I would recommend this book for a quick, enjoyable, faith based read.
June 17, 2024
What an absolute gem!
The only mistake I made is starting to read this story in the evening…I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading into the wee hours trying very hard not to chuckle and wake up my husband.
It was hilarious – amazing writing and plot development!
“A chuckle bubbles out of me, followed by another, then another. I feel like a can of soda that’s been shaken and opened, allowing all its contents to spill over. Relief replaces my self-pity, and I’m left feeling thankful. Even though this vacation didn’t start out the way I’d planned, God’s been gracious to turn things around. Shane’s sense of humor is like a dose of sunshine that I have the privilege of basking in.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
The only mistake I made is starting to read this story in the evening…I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading into the wee hours trying very hard not to chuckle and wake up my husband.
It was hilarious – amazing writing and plot development!
“A chuckle bubbles out of me, followed by another, then another. I feel like a can of soda that’s been shaken and opened, allowing all its contents to spill over. Relief replaces my self-pity, and I’m left feeling thankful. Even though this vacation didn’t start out the way I’d planned, God’s been gracious to turn things around. Shane’s sense of humor is like a dose of sunshine that I have the privilege of basking in.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
June 22, 2024
'Her Surprise Vacation Date' was delightful. Its amusing plot was filled with over-the-weight limit in luggage, hilarity, a bestie's illness, a handsome stand-in for the bestie, stolen luggage, spirituality, a confession, on the hunt for the missing luggage, a booming day with the ostriches, running into a former student and his dad, another confession, a sweet kiss, on the hunt for the missing luggage again, meeting with the bestie, moving forward, love, and amusing quotes which introduced and mostly foreshadowed each chapter.
Moreover, Hope and Shane, the protagonists, were made for each other and oozed chemistry. I kept rooting for them. Also, I liked the author's vivid descriptions and word choices which created a lively or upbeat tone. Overall, I liked the entertaining narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
Moreover, Hope and Shane, the protagonists, were made for each other and oozed chemistry. I kept rooting for them. Also, I liked the author's vivid descriptions and word choices which created a lively or upbeat tone. Overall, I liked the entertaining narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
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