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Coming Home #1
No Place Like Home
The easiest—and hardest—decision she’ll ever make starts with a kiss.
Coming Home, Book 1
In high school, Bianca Charleston was a nobody. An overweight wallflower, so invisible that Cole, the boy she had a crush on, never even knew she existed.
Things have changed, and she’s finally ready to show off her new bombshell look. Sort of. Maybe. After a one-sided pep talk with her cat, she takes a deep breath and flies home to help out with the annual hospital carnival. Cole is there, too—and he still has no idea who she is.
FBI field officer Cole Johnson doesn’t have an easy job, and his nights are usually booked solid. Then in walks Charlie, a blonde with killer…everything. Suddenly he’s mentally clearing his schedule for a rare night out.
While Charlie doesn’t do one-night stands, somehow after-dinner dessert is served up against the wall of her hotel room. But happiness will have to navigate an emotional minefield of preconceived notions—and a couple of not-so-secret stumbling blocks.
Contains a former ugly duckling, and a big-hearted FBI agent who knows how to get his money’s worth at a kissing booth. Plus, a little black dress that comes off a whole lot easier than Dorothy’s ruby slippers.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Kacey
44 books240 followersI am a wife and a mother and a business owner alongside my husband of almost 11 years.
We live in east Texas along with our son and our dog and 2 cats!
We've got a 5 acre plot of land that we've lived in since 2000 and absolutely love it. OK the 800° summers can be a little harsh but the land is beautiful and you just can't beat Texans. We know our neighbors and like them...most of them...and where else can you see a hive of tractors parked on main street and it's actually considered normal.
I've been writing romance since 2008 when I wrote my first novel in 3 months. And it was a 100,000+ word count. Apparently I had a lot to say. I've written four novels to date, several short stories, magazine and newsletter articles and am working on a 7 book series right now. I write contemporary erotic romance. Mostly hetero, some same sex, menage "oh yeah" but all of it HOT!
What started it all was a dream. I think a lot of authors say that and I think if more people would write their dreams down and turn them into stories the world would be a much more interesting place. Two dreams compose two of the biggest scenes of Final Promise. One where Simon is chasing Karley through the park into the locker room, and the other when she has to confront him in the conference room. It's been almost 4 years since I had that dream and I SWEAR I can close my eyes and still see the tears streaking down her face looking out the window. My husband always tells me that I have sci fi dreams and on most nights that is so true. I could fill pages and pages of paranormal scenes with them but those dreams were HOT with a capital Damn!!
Whatever precipitated those dreams I am so thankful for. I LOVE Writing! It is something so incredibly fulfilling to put your thoughts and dreams down on paper and have someone else read it and say, "WOW!" But it's something else entirely to have a writer read your work and say, "Holy WOW!"
Now if I could just find where I misplaced my editor...
We live in east Texas along with our son and our dog and 2 cats!
We've got a 5 acre plot of land that we've lived in since 2000 and absolutely love it. OK the 800° summers can be a little harsh but the land is beautiful and you just can't beat Texans. We know our neighbors and like them...most of them...and where else can you see a hive of tractors parked on main street and it's actually considered normal.
I've been writing romance since 2008 when I wrote my first novel in 3 months. And it was a 100,000+ word count. Apparently I had a lot to say. I've written four novels to date, several short stories, magazine and newsletter articles and am working on a 7 book series right now. I write contemporary erotic romance. Mostly hetero, some same sex, menage "oh yeah" but all of it HOT!
What started it all was a dream. I think a lot of authors say that and I think if more people would write their dreams down and turn them into stories the world would be a much more interesting place. Two dreams compose two of the biggest scenes of Final Promise. One where Simon is chasing Karley through the park into the locker room, and the other when she has to confront him in the conference room. It's been almost 4 years since I had that dream and I SWEAR I can close my eyes and still see the tears streaking down her face looking out the window. My husband always tells me that I have sci fi dreams and on most nights that is so true. I could fill pages and pages of paranormal scenes with them but those dreams were HOT with a capital Damn!!
Whatever precipitated those dreams I am so thankful for. I LOVE Writing! It is something so incredibly fulfilling to put your thoughts and dreams down on paper and have someone else read it and say, "WOW!" But it's something else entirely to have a writer read your work and say, "Holy WOW!"
Now if I could just find where I misplaced my editor...
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 14, 2016
I was really excited to read this one and it was difficult to wait this close to its publishing date but I made it! And I really wish that I had no self control because this was a good one and I'm a bit irritated with myself that I held out.
I'm not usually a big fan of those romance novels where there is this insta-lust (as some people call it) or love at first sight. I don't know why that is. Maybe it's because it took me meeting the man who would become my husband twice before I was just totally sure that I would spend the rest of my life
Anyway ... the characters were great. I absolutely loved Charlie from the very first page. She's blunt and it's quite refreshing to see that from a female lead in a book. And by blunt, I mean she basically has verbal diarrhea. If it came to her mind, it was coming out of that mouth. It felt a bit reminiscent of myself actually. I tend to fly off at the mouth and I don't think people appreciate it as much as they should, so I'm going to fully support Charlie and her affliction. It made her endearing, actually. And then when Cole found it amusing ... it made her inadvertent sassiness that much better. The Cole character was one that I wish I could have more of. I just wanted every single page to have him in it and every single word to be about him. I found myself insatiable for his character. But ... I did find him a tee-niney bit too perfect. I won't go through his list of accomplishments and wax poetic about him but once you pick this one up, you'll get it. It's not a bad thing ... I don't think that the author created him this way so that he could be put up on a pedestal or anything and I'm sure that there are some guys out there that are just THAT perfect but I usually prefer to read about a guy who is a little more gritty, with a little more of a past and maybe just a tad bit more flawed.
The story (while short ... VERY short) was enjoyable and I'll be honest, I wish that it was longer. I could have read about these two characters for at least another 150 pages. Then again ... maybe their love story wouldn't work as a longer book because this shorty one was pretty successful and it made me decide to put Jennifer Kacey on my list of TO-READ authors that I'll keep checking on for new work. Definitely one I'll read again and I'm excited to see what the next book in the series has to offer and I have a feeling that it will be just as good as this one.
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *
Check out more of my reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!
February 19, 2016
3.5 Stars, 3 Flames
Bianca Charleston aka Charlie was the wallflower in high school who redefines herself and finally loves who she is. However, she isn't ready to show off her new looks in her home town just yet. Her bff, Kia, convinces her to help at the carnival her hospital hosts in order to raise money. Enter Coltrane Johnson, Charlie's secret crush, for over 10 years. He may not remember her from high school but sparks fly when he lays his eyes on her for "the first time".
This was definitely a fluff piece that can be read in just a few hours. It has a steady pace which makes it easy to get in too. Some parts were a bit to cheesy but in whole I did enjoy it. It is every geek's high school dream to improve themselves so much their former classmates don't recognize them and get their high school crush. The movie references and total geekdom was awesome and made the cover make sense.
There wasn't much character development as the book happened after they essentially "grew up" but there were flashbacks that didn't make you feel left out. Despite the cheesy factor, one thing that I didn't like was Charlie's total acceptance of everything Cole did. In certain cases he went behind her back and she was fine with it. With that said I enjoyed this contemporary romance and will be looking forward to book 2. I hope it is Kia's story because I think she was my favorite.
I was gifted a copy of this book from the JeepDiva in exchange for an honest review. The opinions and ratings are my own and I was in no way compensated for it.
Bianca Charleston aka Charlie was the wallflower in high school who redefines herself and finally loves who she is. However, she isn't ready to show off her new looks in her home town just yet. Her bff, Kia, convinces her to help at the carnival her hospital hosts in order to raise money. Enter Coltrane Johnson, Charlie's secret crush, for over 10 years. He may not remember her from high school but sparks fly when he lays his eyes on her for "the first time".
This was definitely a fluff piece that can be read in just a few hours. It has a steady pace which makes it easy to get in too. Some parts were a bit to cheesy but in whole I did enjoy it. It is every geek's high school dream to improve themselves so much their former classmates don't recognize them and get their high school crush. The movie references and total geekdom was awesome and made the cover make sense.
There wasn't much character development as the book happened after they essentially "grew up" but there were flashbacks that didn't make you feel left out. Despite the cheesy factor, one thing that I didn't like was Charlie's total acceptance of everything Cole did. In certain cases he went behind her back and she was fine with it. With that said I enjoyed this contemporary romance and will be looking forward to book 2. I hope it is Kia's story because I think she was my favorite.
I was gifted a copy of this book from the JeepDiva in exchange for an honest review. The opinions and ratings are my own and I was in no way compensated for it.
February 13, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
3 Stars
No Place Like Home is the perfect antidote to a boring afternoon, a few hours of mindless entertainment. This short novella consists of 'Charlie', an insecure teacher, going home to visit during the hospital's carnival, where she encounters the one who got away- Cole.
I will admit, I struggled to continue reading in the first 10%, but knowing the book would take no more than an hour, an hour and a half to read tops, I soldiered forth because it was a review book. I felt Charlie and Kia's phone conversation, which took about 10% of the book to wade through, while informational in the setup of the novella, was shallow and vapid, and juvenile in context for two professional, educated women. I don't know if this was to inject a light, humorous air into the storyline, but as a serious person, I found this difficult to read, to be honest- like two teenage girls, not grown women. Most readers will no doubt find this scene to be banterific (I made that word up). I will give props to the author because it did set the novella up well.
But once I decided to not take the story seriously and read it as it was intended, I was able to read on. In a nutshell, No Place Like Home is a quick romance, not too deep or developed. It's meant to entertain for a few hours. In so few pages, a reader must expect everything to move at warp-speed, from insta-lust to insta-love, to an HEA by book's end.
This type of storytelling is not to my tastes, because I need something a bit more serious and long-lasting, but romance lovers who want instant gratification in a quick read will no doubt be begging for more from this author and this particular series. However, it wasn't my cup of tea.
3 Stars
No Place Like Home is the perfect antidote to a boring afternoon, a few hours of mindless entertainment. This short novella consists of 'Charlie', an insecure teacher, going home to visit during the hospital's carnival, where she encounters the one who got away- Cole.
I will admit, I struggled to continue reading in the first 10%, but knowing the book would take no more than an hour, an hour and a half to read tops, I soldiered forth because it was a review book. I felt Charlie and Kia's phone conversation, which took about 10% of the book to wade through, while informational in the setup of the novella, was shallow and vapid, and juvenile in context for two professional, educated women. I don't know if this was to inject a light, humorous air into the storyline, but as a serious person, I found this difficult to read, to be honest- like two teenage girls, not grown women. Most readers will no doubt find this scene to be banterific (I made that word up). I will give props to the author because it did set the novella up well.
But once I decided to not take the story seriously and read it as it was intended, I was able to read on. In a nutshell, No Place Like Home is a quick romance, not too deep or developed. It's meant to entertain for a few hours. In so few pages, a reader must expect everything to move at warp-speed, from insta-lust to insta-love, to an HEA by book's end.
This type of storytelling is not to my tastes, because I need something a bit more serious and long-lasting, but romance lovers who want instant gratification in a quick read will no doubt be begging for more from this author and this particular series. However, it wasn't my cup of tea.
March 4, 2016
This is a short, very easy, very quick read in which the ugly duckling becomes the hottest swan ever and has an insta-lust relationship with her high school crush. It’s complete fluff and wish-fulfillment stuff, which is no bad thing.
Except everything in this book is pretty shallow – no one seems to care about the person Charlie is or was, or what she went through in order to change. The only thing that matters is that she’s super hot now, so clearly she’s an awesome person.
The character development is pretty light too and the interactions between Charlie and her best friend are very much still stuck in high school. As for Cole, he has rather a lot of stuff on his plate and he seems a decent guy, but again he knows nothing about Charlie, doesn’t even remember her from school, yet it’s love. Admittedly the scenes surrounding the Wizard of Oz geekery are adorable, but the emotions were a bit shallow for me.
On the whole this would have been an okay read. Except for the last chapter, in which Charlie bemoans her fate in living so far away, dots are connected in a very convenient fashion, and it turns out that her cat has been declawed – before she rescued him – and this is stated like it’s a good thing! Nope, nope, nope. I am not here for that, nor is my country where thankfully it’s illegal under prevention of cruelty laws.
So, if you’re looking for something short and don’t mind if it’s shallow, then this will fit the bill. Personality I need a little more from my romance – and a little less cruelty to cats.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Except everything in this book is pretty shallow – no one seems to care about the person Charlie is or was, or what she went through in order to change. The only thing that matters is that she’s super hot now, so clearly she’s an awesome person.
The character development is pretty light too and the interactions between Charlie and her best friend are very much still stuck in high school. As for Cole, he has rather a lot of stuff on his plate and he seems a decent guy, but again he knows nothing about Charlie, doesn’t even remember her from school, yet it’s love. Admittedly the scenes surrounding the Wizard of Oz geekery are adorable, but the emotions were a bit shallow for me.
On the whole this would have been an okay read. Except for the last chapter, in which Charlie bemoans her fate in living so far away, dots are connected in a very convenient fashion, and it turns out that her cat has been declawed – before she rescued him – and this is stated like it’s a good thing! Nope, nope, nope. I am not here for that, nor is my country where thankfully it’s illegal under prevention of cruelty laws.
So, if you’re looking for something short and don’t mind if it’s shallow, then this will fit the bill. Personality I need a little more from my romance – and a little less cruelty to cats.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
February 29, 2016
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Bianca was the ugly ducking in High School who 10 years later has become a swan. She returns to her home town to visit her best friend and runs into Cole, her teenage crush. Cole however has no idea who she is and doesn't remember her.
This is a really fun romance. Bianca and Cole fall for each other with lightening speed but I didn't mind a bit. I was swept up in the excitement of their whirlwind romance and watching their secrets come out. I loved seeing them in love. If you like happy with your romance No Place like Home worth reading.
Bianca was the ugly ducking in High School who 10 years later has become a swan. She returns to her home town to visit her best friend and runs into Cole, her teenage crush. Cole however has no idea who she is and doesn't remember her.
This is a really fun romance. Bianca and Cole fall for each other with lightening speed but I didn't mind a bit. I was swept up in the excitement of their whirlwind romance and watching their secrets come out. I loved seeing them in love. If you like happy with your romance No Place like Home worth reading.
February 29, 2016
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review through Wicked Reads.
This book wasn't my typical choice because I don't usually enjoy the "transformation" type of theme, but it turned out better than expected. While it wasn't exactly second chance romance how I'd usually think of it as, it was a second chance for a new, more confident person to show her crush.
I thought this one was short, sweet, and adorable. Perfect for a quick, not too heavy read.
Wicked Reads Review Team
This book wasn't my typical choice because I don't usually enjoy the "transformation" type of theme, but it turned out better than expected. While it wasn't exactly second chance romance how I'd usually think of it as, it was a second chance for a new, more confident person to show her crush.
I thought this one was short, sweet, and adorable. Perfect for a quick, not too heavy read.
Wicked Reads Review Team
March 5, 2018
Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
I love it when someone who wasn't the coolest in high school gets to go back to their home time and show them how awesome they really are. Charlie had the biggest crush on Cole when they were in high school. As the wallflower, chubby freshman, his too-cool-for-school senior self was her dream. Now, she's lost some weight, but her confidence is still not quite there. Her best friend convinces her to come home for the carnival and throws her directly in Cole's path. Sparks start flying and before you know it, boom, insta-love. I tried really hard to not get so distracted by the insta-love, but it was hard. I know that they knew each other in high school...but not really. And a long weekend together? Really? I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I have my doubts.
I did appreciate seeing just how far Mia and Cole were willing to go to get Charlie to come home, though. All in all, an okay, quick read that kept me invested.
I love it when someone who wasn't the coolest in high school gets to go back to their home time and show them how awesome they really are. Charlie had the biggest crush on Cole when they were in high school. As the wallflower, chubby freshman, his too-cool-for-school senior self was her dream. Now, she's lost some weight, but her confidence is still not quite there. Her best friend convinces her to come home for the carnival and throws her directly in Cole's path. Sparks start flying and before you know it, boom, insta-love. I tried really hard to not get so distracted by the insta-love, but it was hard. I know that they knew each other in high school...but not really. And a long weekend together? Really? I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I have my doubts.
I did appreciate seeing just how far Mia and Cole were willing to go to get Charlie to come home, though. All in all, an okay, quick read that kept me invested.
December 18, 2017
This is a short, slight, conflict-free book. Much of the banter between h/H and h and her bestie could do with hell of a lot of editing. Story is thus: Ugly duckling turns to a swan. We are introduced to the h post transformation. We learn nothing about what prompted transformation or what she had to go through to achieve it. Terribly unidimensional and since everybody is nice, it's a meh book.
January 18, 2019
Short and sassy. Charlie is a no-nonsense, what you see is what you get kinda girl that entertains from page 1. Cole is the perfect foil in that he finds it amusing and quirky. Match made in heaven though with a few false starts.
March 4, 2016
No Place Like Home, Jennifer Kacey
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance
I loved the description of this – I’m a sucker for the turnaround type novel, where people grow up into those they’d never imagined even in their dreams. I was bullied at school for being a small, shapeless, dark skinned glasses wearer. gave a lot of scope for taunts there....so I loved how Charlie has transformed and yet still inside she’s that bullied schoolchild. Kids can be cruel even if they don’t mean to be and it stays with those affected.
Sadly though I loved the way Charlie returned to her childhood town and gobsmacked the man she’d crushed on from afar, this story just didn’t work for me. Its well written, but a bit short for me, something I missed, and that brevity only allows for a quick skim of events and problems. What I struggled with was everyone was so nice, its was like a pastiche of a perfect life. No gossips, no jealousies, no nasty situations, everything just fell into place perfectly, and for me I need the drama and angst that comes from when situations go wrong. I just felt this was so sweet, so gentle and everyone so perfect in motives and actions, that it made me feel the way I do after eating something really sweet – you know – how it makes your teeth ache even though there was nothing nasty about it.
If you love a sweet, happy now and ever after read, a romance that's gentle and unswerving, then this will be a terrific, perfect read for you. Sadly I need a bit more nasty to balance all that love and kindness....Its an example of how we all need different things from our reading.
Stars: Two and a half, there were a few parts I enjoyed but overall its not one for me even though its perfect for others.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance
I loved the description of this – I’m a sucker for the turnaround type novel, where people grow up into those they’d never imagined even in their dreams. I was bullied at school for being a small, shapeless, dark skinned glasses wearer. gave a lot of scope for taunts there....so I loved how Charlie has transformed and yet still inside she’s that bullied schoolchild. Kids can be cruel even if they don’t mean to be and it stays with those affected.
Sadly though I loved the way Charlie returned to her childhood town and gobsmacked the man she’d crushed on from afar, this story just didn’t work for me. Its well written, but a bit short for me, something I missed, and that brevity only allows for a quick skim of events and problems. What I struggled with was everyone was so nice, its was like a pastiche of a perfect life. No gossips, no jealousies, no nasty situations, everything just fell into place perfectly, and for me I need the drama and angst that comes from when situations go wrong. I just felt this was so sweet, so gentle and everyone so perfect in motives and actions, that it made me feel the way I do after eating something really sweet – you know – how it makes your teeth ache even though there was nothing nasty about it.
If you love a sweet, happy now and ever after read, a romance that's gentle and unswerving, then this will be a terrific, perfect read for you. Sadly I need a bit more nasty to balance all that love and kindness....Its an example of how we all need different things from our reading.
Stars: Two and a half, there were a few parts I enjoyed but overall its not one for me even though its perfect for others.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
January 26, 2016
No Place Like Home is the first book in the Coming Home series.
No Place Like Home is about a woman named Bianca Charleston (a.k.a. Charlie) who was considered a nobody in high school. After things have changed, Charlie flies home to help with the annual hospital carnival. Only when she arrives she encounters Cole Johnson, her high school crush that never noticed her. Cole Johnson, now FBI field agent, can't ignore the attraction he has for this blonde bombshell. Will they have their HEA or will their emotional minefield blow them past reality.
The cover and blurb drew me towards this novel and seem to have me captivated. The two main characters, Charlie and Cole seemed to instantly connect and have this relationship that seems in many ways "more" than just a one night stand. However, their relationship appeared more unrealistic than anything. From meeting, having a first date, to saying that what is going on between them is "more" than just that one night.
Some of the things that I did enjoy would have to be the Wizard of Oz references. They were both enjoyable and a cute addition to the novel. Overall, this novel is a good start to this new series.
I would recommend No Place Like Home if you like short HEA romance novels.
ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Samhain Publishing, Ltd. via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://amalialock.blogspot.ca
No Place Like Home is about a woman named Bianca Charleston (a.k.a. Charlie) who was considered a nobody in high school. After things have changed, Charlie flies home to help with the annual hospital carnival. Only when she arrives she encounters Cole Johnson, her high school crush that never noticed her. Cole Johnson, now FBI field agent, can't ignore the attraction he has for this blonde bombshell. Will they have their HEA or will their emotional minefield blow them past reality.
The cover and blurb drew me towards this novel and seem to have me captivated. The two main characters, Charlie and Cole seemed to instantly connect and have this relationship that seems in many ways "more" than just a one night stand. However, their relationship appeared more unrealistic than anything. From meeting, having a first date, to saying that what is going on between them is "more" than just that one night.
Some of the things that I did enjoy would have to be the Wizard of Oz references. They were both enjoyable and a cute addition to the novel. Overall, this novel is a good start to this new series.
I would recommend No Place Like Home if you like short HEA romance novels.
ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Samhain Publishing, Ltd. via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://amalialock.blogspot.ca
August 28, 2016
This was a very nice novella that will make you have a warm fuzzy feeling throughout your body.
Bianca Charleston was the fat kid in her high school. The one no one noticed, the wallflower.
Now things have changed, she's changed and Bianca has transformed herself into a bombshell. But even with her new transformation, Bianca has not been back to her hometown.
That is until her best friend begs her to come back home to help with the town's annual hospital carnival. It does not hurt that she would be working close with her high school crush, Cole Johnson.
Cole is a busy F.B.I agent who barely has time for himself at the send of the day. So when Bianca walked into his life, he found himself finding holes in his schedule in order to make time for her.
This book is quite unique. It has no conflict in the book. None at all, yet this book was very enjoyable.
Bianca and Cole clicked from the moment they met. The only problem is, Bianca vividly remembers Cole from High School, but Cole has no idea who she was. This was not played up in the book, the author made it seem trivial and not that much of a problem. This aspect of the book could have been played out to create a little conflict, but since this is a novella, I think the author wanted it this way.
This is the first novella in a while that felt like a complete story. Even with the lack of conflict, the story progressed smoothly and everything fell neatly into place. I'm looking forward to book two.
Bianca Charleston was the fat kid in her high school. The one no one noticed, the wallflower.
Now things have changed, she's changed and Bianca has transformed herself into a bombshell. But even with her new transformation, Bianca has not been back to her hometown.
That is until her best friend begs her to come back home to help with the town's annual hospital carnival. It does not hurt that she would be working close with her high school crush, Cole Johnson.
Cole is a busy F.B.I agent who barely has time for himself at the send of the day. So when Bianca walked into his life, he found himself finding holes in his schedule in order to make time for her.
This book is quite unique. It has no conflict in the book. None at all, yet this book was very enjoyable.
Bianca and Cole clicked from the moment they met. The only problem is, Bianca vividly remembers Cole from High School, but Cole has no idea who she was. This was not played up in the book, the author made it seem trivial and not that much of a problem. This aspect of the book could have been played out to create a little conflict, but since this is a novella, I think the author wanted it this way.
This is the first novella in a while that felt like a complete story. Even with the lack of conflict, the story progressed smoothly and everything fell neatly into place. I'm looking forward to book two.
March 2, 2016
If there were a rainbow and guy like Cole at the end of it, I would have gone home a long time ago. I loved how super sexy Charlie was and didn’t even know it. She totally left behind all of the of high school baggage and blossomed into a great person. Charlie kept her great friendship with Kia and it’s the only reason she is going back home.
Home… the place where you start, is also where you leave your high school crush Cole. It turns out that Cole had a much similar growing experience. Now where he is hot and hard, he also has a soft and warm heart of gold. Cole didn’t even know who Charlie was in high school. I appreciated the bit of reality in that he didn’t suddenly recall who she was or state that he had also crushed on her in high school. Cole got to know and love Charlie for the women she was today.
I loved the interactions with Cole & Charlie and their dates. I did think that Cole was a little fast on his expectation of having Charlie stay the first night. But when you’ve found the one and you don’t want to let your dream go, you do tend to move fast. There were pleasant surprises and beautiful romantic moments throughout the book, enough to tell Glenda “keep the shoes, I’m staying in Oz.”
Home… the place where you start, is also where you leave your high school crush Cole. It turns out that Cole had a much similar growing experience. Now where he is hot and hard, he also has a soft and warm heart of gold. Cole didn’t even know who Charlie was in high school. I appreciated the bit of reality in that he didn’t suddenly recall who she was or state that he had also crushed on her in high school. Cole got to know and love Charlie for the women she was today.
I loved the interactions with Cole & Charlie and their dates. I did think that Cole was a little fast on his expectation of having Charlie stay the first night. But when you’ve found the one and you don’t want to let your dream go, you do tend to move fast. There were pleasant surprises and beautiful romantic moments throughout the book, enough to tell Glenda “keep the shoes, I’m staying in Oz.”
March 12, 2016
I received an ARC of 'No Place Like Home' from Jennifer Kacey, in exchange for an honest review.
Being my second book from Jennifer Kacey & of a different genre than the first (which I loved), I went into 'No Place Like Home' excited. 'No Place Like Home' is book 1 in Jennifer's new series "Coming Home".
Finally becoming the person who she's always wanted to be Charlie, still finds it astonishing when a man even looks her way. No longer being the wall flower she was during High School, her best friend convinces her to travel home during the summer holidays to attend the hospital's annual fete, also to help out on the day. Finding herself home after so many years with no-one recognising her is freeing. Her first day home has Charlie delivering information about the fete to people helping out on the day, entering the the local FBI offices & coming face to face with her high school crush Coltrane Johnson, but he can't seem to remember her...
Whilst the story was short, I felt myself lost within it, I could have kept reading about Cole & Charlie. I can't wait to read what comes next in the series.
Being my second book from Jennifer Kacey & of a different genre than the first (which I loved), I went into 'No Place Like Home' excited. 'No Place Like Home' is book 1 in Jennifer's new series "Coming Home".
Finally becoming the person who she's always wanted to be Charlie, still finds it astonishing when a man even looks her way. No longer being the wall flower she was during High School, her best friend convinces her to travel home during the summer holidays to attend the hospital's annual fete, also to help out on the day. Finding herself home after so many years with no-one recognising her is freeing. Her first day home has Charlie delivering information about the fete to people helping out on the day, entering the the local FBI offices & coming face to face with her high school crush Coltrane Johnson, but he can't seem to remember her...
Whilst the story was short, I felt myself lost within it, I could have kept reading about Cole & Charlie. I can't wait to read what comes next in the series.
March 30, 2016
I had a hard time finding the story in this one, to be honest. No Place Like Home felt like the resolution after all the conflict has happened. I liked the characters well enough, but I wonder if that was because I was not given enough to not like them. The storyline of Charlie being the outcast and Cole being the jock in high school had potential, and is what interested me at first. But not much was done with that, either. It was a happy ending, at least. I was disappointed, though, that there was not really anything to the story that takes us on a journey where a happy ending is something to celebrate.
Veronica
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance and More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Veronica
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance and More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
March 10, 2016
Review Posted at HarlequinJunkie.com
Growing up Bianca ‘Charlie’ Charleston was the girl most likely to win the title of ‘becoming a real wallflower’. However, since then, she’s totally changed and could now snag the attention of any man if she tried. When her friend asks her to return to her hometown to help with the hospital charity event, she’s reluctant –at first. Until she realizes just how good it would feel to finally make everyone see how she’s turned her life around from the shy girl she used to be into the beautiful woman she’s become. Especially Cole Johnson, the boy she had a crush on. Read More
March 9, 2016
No Place Like Home is a sweet, light-hearted story of new beginnings. Charlie has grown from the overweight wallflower she was in high school. She has dropped the weight and made a life for herself. When her best friend convinces her to come back home to help with a charity fund raiser despite the fact that the kids that bullied her in high school will be there all grown up, including Cole, the guy she had a crush on she is scared out of her mind. But when nobody recognizes her she is tickled pink. When Cole asks her out she is over the moon. But more than Charlie has changed since high school.
I like that the author doesn’t discount Charlie’s feelings nor does she make it like Cole knew her way back when. This is a fun read and I look forward to more in this series.
I like that the author doesn’t discount Charlie’s feelings nor does she make it like Cole knew her way back when. This is a fun read and I look forward to more in this series.
February 22, 2016
Jennifer Kacey delivers a steamy romance with her first book in the coming home series. I was able to read this book in about an hour and if it were beach weather it would have been the perfect beach read. It was a fun story of Charlie coming home for the annual fundraiser and she is nothing like she was in high school. Don't we all dream of being a bombshell returning home for an event and seeing everyone from High School? Well, at least, the wallflowers and unpopular girls do. This story fulfills those girls dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Kacey's writing. I do see how the other reviews had issues with the first piece of the book about the phone call, but I enjoyed the call and the set up for the rest of the book.
March 3, 2016
No place Like Home - A lovely easy read romance with a Magical Twist.
Bianca (Charlie) returns to her home town to help a friend out with a school carnival. Bringing her straight back into Cole's life, her high school crush. Back then she was a shy, awkward feeling wallflower.
Now she turns heads all over town as she and her new found curves return to have a little fun.
Cole is knocked off his feet, when a gorgeous woman stands in his office. In less than day Charlie has him in a spin. The fun weekend fling soon becomes something stronger.
But Cole has another lady in his life, he continues to juggle between life and work as he tries to find time to date. Hoping somewhere over the rainbow he can find his own pot of gold.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bianca (Charlie) returns to her home town to help a friend out with a school carnival. Bringing her straight back into Cole's life, her high school crush. Back then she was a shy, awkward feeling wallflower.
Now she turns heads all over town as she and her new found curves return to have a little fun.
Cole is knocked off his feet, when a gorgeous woman stands in his office. In less than day Charlie has him in a spin. The fun weekend fling soon becomes something stronger.
But Cole has another lady in his life, he continues to juggle between life and work as he tries to find time to date. Hoping somewhere over the rainbow he can find his own pot of gold.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2016
The thing about No Place Like Home is that it was too short and underdeveloped which led to me not caring about the characters. I mean it was okay but fairly basic. I would recommend it if you like short straightforward romance. Many thanks to Netgalley and Samhain Publishing for the ARC.
March 8, 2016
Quick and cute, with very little to the story other than the main characters and their "support staff". A best friend and a plus one are really all this story needs, however. The chemistry was good and the characters likeable.
February 27, 2016
If you like protective and caring alphas then you definitely need to read Cole and Bianca's (Charlie) story. The first in a new series I loved it!
Want to read
March 8, 2016recommended by Jayne.
January 6, 2016
Really cute quick read...loved the Oz references.
March 9, 2016
Maybe 2.5. This was just okay for me. I loved the premise but felt like it fell short.
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