What do you think?
Rate this book
On Hold #1
Our Options Have Changed
Having it all is a fantasy, right?
Chloe Browne knows all about fantasy. Fantasy is her job.
And she’s very, very good at what she does.
As director of design for the O Spa chain, a sophisticated women’s club that is trending its way into being the Next Big Thing, Chloe’s ready to take on the world.
One baby at a time.
Her home study’s done, and she’s about to adopt, a thirty-something single mother by choice. Who needs to put her life on hold for the right guy when the right baby is waiting for her?
Besides, talk about fantasy.
The right guy?
Pfft. Right.
And then in walks Nick Grafton, with those commanding sapphire eyes and wavy blonde hair and a sophisticated mouth that only smiles for her.
He’s perfect.
But the last thing Nick wants is to start fresh with a new baby as his college-age kids fly the coop. A single father for more than fifteen years after his wife walked out on her family, Nick finally tastes freedom.
But he likes the taste of Chloe more.
* * *
Our Options Have Changed is a standalone contemporary romance, the first in the On Hold series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Elisa Reed.
**BONUS ALL-NEW NOVELLA** from Julia Kent's New York Times bestselling Shopping series! Read Shopping for a Billionaire's Honeymoon. This 100-page bonus comes at the end of Our Options Have Changed. When Shannon can't get workaholic Declan to give her the sexy honeymoon time she wants, she takes matters into her own hands -- with hilariously disastrous (or disastrously hilarious?) results.
Chloe Browne knows all about fantasy. Fantasy is her job.
And she’s very, very good at what she does.
As director of design for the O Spa chain, a sophisticated women’s club that is trending its way into being the Next Big Thing, Chloe’s ready to take on the world.
One baby at a time.
Her home study’s done, and she’s about to adopt, a thirty-something single mother by choice. Who needs to put her life on hold for the right guy when the right baby is waiting for her?
Besides, talk about fantasy.
The right guy?
Pfft. Right.
And then in walks Nick Grafton, with those commanding sapphire eyes and wavy blonde hair and a sophisticated mouth that only smiles for her.
He’s perfect.
But the last thing Nick wants is to start fresh with a new baby as his college-age kids fly the coop. A single father for more than fifteen years after his wife walked out on her family, Nick finally tastes freedom.
But he likes the taste of Chloe more.
* * *
Our Options Have Changed is a standalone contemporary romance, the first in the On Hold series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Elisa Reed.
**BONUS ALL-NEW NOVELLA** from Julia Kent's New York Times bestselling Shopping series! Read Shopping for a Billionaire's Honeymoon. This 100-page bonus comes at the end of Our Options Have Changed. When Shannon can't get workaholic Declan to give her the sexy honeymoon time she wants, she takes matters into her own hands -- with hilariously disastrous (or disastrously hilarious?) results.
388 pages, ebook
First published October 5, 2016
1278 people are currently reading
2625 people want to read
About the author
Julia Kent
122 books7,973 followersSign up for my newsletter at: https://jkentauthor.com/newsletter/
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 5 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.
From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire in a rom com).
She also writes romantic suspense as Meli Raine, sexy shifter romances as DJ Jennings, billionaire shifters as half of the author team Diana Seere, and co-authors with Elisa Reed.
She lives in New England with her husband and three children in a household where she is the only person with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.
She loves to hear from her readers by:
Email at jkentauthor@gmail.com
Twitter @jkentauthor
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor
Instagram @jkentauthor
Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com
FORTHCOMING:
Love You Again (Love You, Maine, #2), July 19, 2022
Ten First Kisses (anthology with my story, Shopping for a Booty Call), August 12, 2022
Love You More (Love You, Maine, #3), October 11, 2022
Love You Now (Love You, Maine, #4), January 3, 2023
Author photo credit: Felix Rust http://www.felixrust.com
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 5 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.
From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire in a rom com).
She also writes romantic suspense as Meli Raine, sexy shifter romances as DJ Jennings, billionaire shifters as half of the author team Diana Seere, and co-authors with Elisa Reed.
She lives in New England with her husband and three children in a household where she is the only person with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.
She loves to hear from her readers by:
Email at jkentauthor@gmail.com
Twitter @jkentauthor
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor
Instagram @jkentauthor
Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com
FORTHCOMING:
Love You Again (Love You, Maine, #2), July 19, 2022
Ten First Kisses (anthology with my story, Shopping for a Booty Call), August 12, 2022
Love You More (Love You, Maine, #3), October 11, 2022
Love You Now (Love You, Maine, #4), January 3, 2023
Author photo credit: Felix Rust http://www.felixrust.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
January 5, 2019
Did I give anyone the impression this was too long? Well, that's certainly true.
Also, it's about a woman adopting a newborn, meeting a man who is recently an empty nester (and also the older brother of her high school boyfriend)....I didn't realize what I was in for. I think a couple things were well done, if forgettable, about this book and it was breezy and sweet. Some of the plotlines were utterly unnecessary (like Nick's brother)
However, it was also a pretty decent depiction of parenting a newborn, which is decidedly unsexy even though I am a stupid sucker for men holding newborns. Basically, all I wanted when I had my first baby was a side piece. And by side piece, I mean a live-in nanny or other woman I could 100% guilt free dump my baby on. Or, better yet, could make my dinner. I felt utterly and 100% used up and touched out in those days. And I love the first year. But it's in no way glamorous-and this book did show that, I suppose. But I also didn't want anyone else demanding anything else of my body often times in the first year. It's a physically demanding, emotionally draining haze.
So I think Nick's fucking crazy. Cause I'm in the midst of my child-rearing, and I only have to blink to think back to the times we'd get together w/ good friends just so one of us could make the others dinner, shower, or empty a dishwasher. Just be of service (5 young kids in total between the 4 of us). We didn't get to spend that time with our friends, we just did it to get stuff done.
So, it works for us in this household; it is sexy to see someone care for a little person. I just didn't really want to read a book about it. It's a cute story. It just doesn't do it for me. And I like storylines with kids in them! (Side note, I did enjoy Nick's kids. They were quite funny)
Also, it's about a woman adopting a newborn, meeting a man who is recently an empty nester (and also the older brother of her high school boyfriend)....I didn't realize what I was in for. I think a couple things were well done, if forgettable, about this book and it was breezy and sweet. Some of the plotlines were utterly unnecessary (like Nick's brother)
However, it was also a pretty decent depiction of parenting a newborn, which is decidedly unsexy even though I am a stupid sucker for men holding newborns. Basically, all I wanted when I had my first baby was a side piece. And by side piece, I mean a live-in nanny or other woman I could 100% guilt free dump my baby on. Or, better yet, could make my dinner. I felt utterly and 100% used up and touched out in those days. And I love the first year. But it's in no way glamorous-and this book did show that, I suppose. But I also didn't want anyone else demanding anything else of my body often times in the first year. It's a physically demanding, emotionally draining haze.
So I think Nick's fucking crazy. Cause I'm in the midst of my child-rearing, and I only have to blink to think back to the times we'd get together w/ good friends just so one of us could make the others dinner, shower, or empty a dishwasher. Just be of service (5 young kids in total between the 4 of us). We didn't get to spend that time with our friends, we just did it to get stuff done.
So, it works for us in this household; it is sexy to see someone care for a little person. I just didn't really want to read a book about it. It's a cute story. It just doesn't do it for me. And I like storylines with kids in them! (Side note, I did enjoy Nick's kids. They were quite funny)
never-want-to-read
October 12, 2016SKIPPING FOR THE SAKE OF MY SANITY!
It's bad enough the sleeping with brothers but when you add the fact that she was underage.
Done! Can't do that.
Underage sex is not only wrong to me, it's actually illegal.
It's bad enough the sleeping with brothers but when you add the fact that she was underage.
Done! Can't do that.
Underage sex is not only wrong to me, it's actually illegal.
October 7, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
The only option that you need to have is to go read Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed. This book was engaging, sexy, sophisticated, and a fresh breath of modern romance!!! What I especially loved about this story was the heroine. If you have been following my reviews, you are all aware that I love a strong, sassy heroine that can hold her own and Chloe Brown was the shining star in this book.
Chloe Brown is a modern day woman who knew that she always wanted to be a mom and so she see’s adoption as her answer. So when she meets her Prince Charming, single dad Nick Grafton plans might have to change. You see Nick has college aged kids that have left the nest and so this dad already played his part as mom and dad when his ex-wife left him fifteen years ago. Nick is ready to be “free” and enjoy his life with Chloe. As much as they love each other, will Nick be able to be a dad again to a newborn knowing that Chloe wants to adopt? Or will Chloe’s plan for adoption change?
I absolutely adored Our Options Have Changed. This book was engaging and had a lively cast of characters so there was never a dull moment with this story. So if you are looking for a romance that was fun, sexy, and swoonworthy then this book might be for you or in this case, the only option.
Julia Kent
The only option that you need to have is to go read Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed. This book was engaging, sexy, sophisticated, and a fresh breath of modern romance!!! What I especially loved about this story was the heroine. If you have been following my reviews, you are all aware that I love a strong, sassy heroine that can hold her own and Chloe Brown was the shining star in this book.
Chloe Brown is a modern day woman who knew that she always wanted to be a mom and so she see’s adoption as her answer. So when she meets her Prince Charming, single dad Nick Grafton plans might have to change. You see Nick has college aged kids that have left the nest and so this dad already played his part as mom and dad when his ex-wife left him fifteen years ago. Nick is ready to be “free” and enjoy his life with Chloe. As much as they love each other, will Nick be able to be a dad again to a newborn knowing that Chloe wants to adopt? Or will Chloe’s plan for adoption change?
I absolutely adored Our Options Have Changed. This book was engaging and had a lively cast of characters so there was never a dull moment with this story. So if you are looking for a romance that was fun, sexy, and swoonworthy then this book might be for you or in this case, the only option.
Julia Kent
October 7, 2016
5 "So worth the wait stars!"
Our Options Have Changed is a full-length standalone contemporary romance, the first in the On Hold series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Elisa Reed.
It is a loose spinoff from Julia Kent’s Shopping for a Billionaire series, with cameo appearances from favorite characters.
Release Date: October 5, 2016
This is a smart, well-written story with intelligent, colorful, successful characters.
I really enjoyed the lead female's character.
Chloe Browne's character was almost perfect.
She's a successful, confident, smart, sexy business women. She knows what she wants, and she works hard in order to get it. Her only flaw was her decision to stay with "Joe Blow" for so long, which in the end had her scrambling to find her "true north" again.
Nick Grafton has single-handedly raised three children to adulthood. He too is a successful businessman and he sees his freedom within reach, that is until he meets Cloe which makes him re-asses and realize what he's been missing in his life.
... and the wait was so worth it.
When I finished this story, it left me wanting MORE.
MORE Chloe.
MORE Nick.
And, to find out what happens next.
I CANNOT WAIT to read the next book in this series!
**BONUS ALL-NEW NOVELLA** from Julia Kent's New York Times bestselling Shopping series! Read Shopping for a Billionaire's Honeymoon. This 100-page bonus comes at the end of Our Options Have Changed. When Shannon can't get workaholic Declan to give her the sexy honeymoon time she wants, she takes matters into her own hands -- with hilariously disastrous (or disastrously hilarious?) results.
Buy links:
Nook: http://bit.ly/2b24Ol8
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2b5n785
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bjzV9C
Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/2bnRU3d
Amazon Australia: http://amzn.to/2aWxoGe
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bnRf1K
iBooks: http://apple.co/2b0fHR6
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2bM9FbW
"A copy of this book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review "
October 8, 2016
LOVED this book! My only complaint is that I REALLY wanted an epilogue! I hope Nick and Chloe make an appearance in the next book in this series. I can't wait to read more by this author!
Read
February 5, 2019I really thought I would love this book. I like the authors and the blurb sounds great but 30% in and I just couldn't do it any more. I didn't like the characters and I couldn't connect with the story. I was going to finish it but for what point? A 3 star rating at best or a week of annoying the family complaining.
So I won't rate it. Hopefully it works for you
So I won't rate it. Hopefully it works for you
September 4, 2019
I got an ARC of this book thanks to the sign up I discovered because of the recommendation from Penny Reid and my oh my... oh how grateful I am for her suggestion :) I am soooo in love with this book :) I think the last time I laughed so hard while reading was actually during one of Penny's book :) this story was absolutely stunning... one of the easiest 5 stars I ever gave :) not to mention that it was written in such a phenomenal way that I actually kept forgetting that TWO separate people wrote it :) which I think is one of the best compliments for co-authors I can give :) so be prepared for a glowing review full of excitement, because you all need to read it :)
So about that main couple... ;) Nick and Chloe were both so wonderful :) he was around 40 and Chloe a few years younger and that means that the majority of the time they acted like actual adults ;) which is not as often as one might want to see it in books ;) don't get me wrong, there were plenty of hilarious and unexpected turns of events along the way, but their attitudes were amazing throughout them all :) at the beginning, they are in two different points in their lives... Nick sent his last kid off to college and Chloe is on the brink of adopting a baby... but they can't deny that elusive "something more" between them after they met... and what an impression she made on him... ;) but I will leave that hilarious scene for you to discover during reading ;) I am in such a tough spot right now... because I really don't want to tell you too many details, so you'll go almost blindly into the book, ust the way I read it, without any expectations whatsoever... because then the awesomeness of the characters and the plot and... just... everything will be so much better :) but I do need to tell you something... ;) ok, so how about this? I loved that they seemed to be so different, and yet the more time they spent together, we could see the more things they actually have in common... or other sides of them... ;) not to mention that theirs is a very unique situation... ;) I feel like I'm a little bit all over the place with this review but I am still in awe and a bit of shock by how much I adored this book and how many times it took me by surprise... ;) and I think now I'm projecting all those feelings onto you ;) hopefully you'll be able to follow my thoughts :) I believe in you :)
Besides Chloe and Nick we have of course quite a lot secondary characters in this story :) there's Henry and Jemma, an already maried couple and great friends of Chloe... we have Amelie, Elodie and Jean-Marc a very... how shall I put it best... entertaining kids of Nick ;) and sooooo much more :) this diverse and huge cast of characters is another one of amazing qualities of this book that makes it a perfect read :) trust me, not ALL of them are good, but all of them play an important part in the overall plot :) some of those characters even got already their own books, but don't worry... this wonderful story works perfectly well as a standalone :) but it will make you fall in love with all those people and it definitely will make you curious enough to read all other books... ;)
I absolutely loved this book... seriously, I cannot think of one bad thing to say about it :) the writing style was phenomenal, I loved it from the very first chapter and it only got better and better along the way... :) the first half was simply hilarious... I don't remember when was the last time I laughed so hard... seriously.. .when I was reading it on the bus I almost fell off my seat ;) #TrueStory :) the second half was definitely more emotional, but still plenty funny as well... *sighs happily* I just loved this book so much :) I could write and write and then write some more about how amazing it wa, but I truly hope that at this point you guys trust me when I say that it's one of those must-read books that will make your day much better than it was before :) it's one of those stories that will put the biggest smile on your face ;) it definitely worked that way with me :)
I haven't done the quotes thing in quite some time, but this book had soooo many amazing gems that I just needed to share a few of them with you :) so here they are ;)
Some of Chloe's thoughts ;)
"A *C*? I'm that kid who never earned a C in her life. Failure starts with C. Okay, so technically it starts with F, and right now, another word that starts with F is coming out of my mouth as I read this secret shopper evaluation that is longer than my college senior honors thesis."
And some more from Chloe... I can relate to that ;)
"I was born without abdominal muscles. This has never been confirmed by any medical professional, but it's the only possible reason why I have executed tens of thousands of curl-ups in my lifetime with no visible result. None.
Jemma is lying on the mat next to mine, cradling a two-pound weight on her chest. She's not even pretending to move. If we pulled the mats outdoors on the roof deck, people would think we were tanning.
Hmm, not a bad idea. At least we would be accomplishing something."
Remember when I said that Chloe made quite an impression when she met Nick? well... this is part of that scene :)
"My secret power isn't secret anymore... two buttons of my shirtdress have come open. Black mesh corset on full display, one pink nipple fully visible. I pull my dress together. I wish I could pull myself together. My face is bright red, and red is not in the O corporate color palette.
'This is not the presentation I had in mind,' I blurt out. 'Normally, when I set out to give clients something they've never seen before, it's not quite like this.'"
Part of a conversation between Nick and Elodie :)
"She just sighs. Most of her tenth grade year involved nothing but sighs. I am fluent in Sigh. This one means *Shut Up*. Now that I think about it, they pretty much all mean *Shut Up*.
'How's Brandon?' I ask.
Elodie has been half-chasing, half-ignoring Brandon for the past six months. I pretend to rifle through my day's mail, giving her covert glances. If you look a young adult straight on while asking a question designed to elicit more than a *Shut Up* sigh, you will never get actual information out of them. You have to be an information ninja. Eye contact shuts down the speech center."
XOXO
A
So about that main couple... ;) Nick and Chloe were both so wonderful :) he was around 40 and Chloe a few years younger and that means that the majority of the time they acted like actual adults ;) which is not as often as one might want to see it in books ;) don't get me wrong, there were plenty of hilarious and unexpected turns of events along the way, but their attitudes were amazing throughout them all :) at the beginning, they are in two different points in their lives... Nick sent his last kid off to college and Chloe is on the brink of adopting a baby... but they can't deny that elusive "something more" between them after they met... and what an impression she made on him... ;) but I will leave that hilarious scene for you to discover during reading ;) I am in such a tough spot right now... because I really don't want to tell you too many details, so you'll go almost blindly into the book, ust the way I read it, without any expectations whatsoever... because then the awesomeness of the characters and the plot and... just... everything will be so much better :) but I do need to tell you something... ;) ok, so how about this? I loved that they seemed to be so different, and yet the more time they spent together, we could see the more things they actually have in common... or other sides of them... ;) not to mention that theirs is a very unique situation... ;) I feel like I'm a little bit all over the place with this review but I am still in awe and a bit of shock by how much I adored this book and how many times it took me by surprise... ;) and I think now I'm projecting all those feelings onto you ;) hopefully you'll be able to follow my thoughts :) I believe in you :)
Besides Chloe and Nick we have of course quite a lot secondary characters in this story :) there's Henry and Jemma, an already maried couple and great friends of Chloe... we have Amelie, Elodie and Jean-Marc a very... how shall I put it best... entertaining kids of Nick ;) and sooooo much more :) this diverse and huge cast of characters is another one of amazing qualities of this book that makes it a perfect read :) trust me, not ALL of them are good, but all of them play an important part in the overall plot :) some of those characters even got already their own books, but don't worry... this wonderful story works perfectly well as a standalone :) but it will make you fall in love with all those people and it definitely will make you curious enough to read all other books... ;)
I absolutely loved this book... seriously, I cannot think of one bad thing to say about it :) the writing style was phenomenal, I loved it from the very first chapter and it only got better and better along the way... :) the first half was simply hilarious... I don't remember when was the last time I laughed so hard... seriously.. .when I was reading it on the bus I almost fell off my seat ;) #TrueStory :) the second half was definitely more emotional, but still plenty funny as well... *sighs happily* I just loved this book so much :) I could write and write and then write some more about how amazing it wa, but I truly hope that at this point you guys trust me when I say that it's one of those must-read books that will make your day much better than it was before :) it's one of those stories that will put the biggest smile on your face ;) it definitely worked that way with me :)
I haven't done the quotes thing in quite some time, but this book had soooo many amazing gems that I just needed to share a few of them with you :) so here they are ;)
Some of Chloe's thoughts ;)
"A *C*? I'm that kid who never earned a C in her life. Failure starts with C. Okay, so technically it starts with F, and right now, another word that starts with F is coming out of my mouth as I read this secret shopper evaluation that is longer than my college senior honors thesis."
And some more from Chloe... I can relate to that ;)
"I was born without abdominal muscles. This has never been confirmed by any medical professional, but it's the only possible reason why I have executed tens of thousands of curl-ups in my lifetime with no visible result. None.
Jemma is lying on the mat next to mine, cradling a two-pound weight on her chest. She's not even pretending to move. If we pulled the mats outdoors on the roof deck, people would think we were tanning.
Hmm, not a bad idea. At least we would be accomplishing something."
Remember when I said that Chloe made quite an impression when she met Nick? well... this is part of that scene :)
"My secret power isn't secret anymore... two buttons of my shirtdress have come open. Black mesh corset on full display, one pink nipple fully visible. I pull my dress together. I wish I could pull myself together. My face is bright red, and red is not in the O corporate color palette.
'This is not the presentation I had in mind,' I blurt out. 'Normally, when I set out to give clients something they've never seen before, it's not quite like this.'"
Part of a conversation between Nick and Elodie :)
"She just sighs. Most of her tenth grade year involved nothing but sighs. I am fluent in Sigh. This one means *Shut Up*. Now that I think about it, they pretty much all mean *Shut Up*.
'How's Brandon?' I ask.
Elodie has been half-chasing, half-ignoring Brandon for the past six months. I pretend to rifle through my day's mail, giving her covert glances. If you look a young adult straight on while asking a question designed to elicit more than a *Shut Up* sigh, you will never get actual information out of them. You have to be an information ninja. Eye contact shuts down the speech center."
XOXO
A
October 6, 2016
So I really really really enjoyed this amazing story of Nick and Chloe. It was fun, full of feels and intrigued me from start to end.
I loved that he was a family guy- a single father of three amazing kids. She was a successful career woman on the verge of becoming a single mother. They meet- and there's so much love and chemistry since then. I loved his interaction with the kids, the kids themselves. I loved her best friends, her experiences after becoming an adoptive mother. And how they both find each other and experience true freedom. Truly a great read.
Pet peeve (??)
Safe read
4.5/5
I loved that he was a family guy- a single father of three amazing kids. She was a successful career woman on the verge of becoming a single mother. They meet- and there's so much love and chemistry since then. I loved his interaction with the kids, the kids themselves. I loved her best friends, her experiences after becoming an adoptive mother. And how they both find each other and experience true freedom. Truly a great read.
Pet peeve (??)
Safe read
4.5/5
January 21, 2022
0 stars
Apparently, the authors think that it's okay to be a mistress of a married man for 3 years and then they try to convince you that Chloe, the heroine mistress, deserves a HEA.
I'd say they're either high, deranged or have the morals of an alley cat.
Or all of the above.
Apparently, the authors think that it's okay to be a mistress of a married man for 3 years and then they try to convince you that Chloe, the heroine mistress, deserves a HEA.
I'd say they're either high, deranged or have the morals of an alley cat.
Or all of the above.
in-collection-already
April 21, 202004/21/20 currently free in Spring Romance: NINE Happily Ever Afters
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08796BVLT
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08796BVLT
August 27, 2023
Buy it. Read it. Do it NOW. Our Options Have Changed is sweet, funny, sexy, poignant, and all too real. I've never experienced any of the situations described in the book to the same level of embarrassment or hilarity, but I have been in and witnessed some of them and that helped to pull me even farther into the story. I loved watching Chloe and Nick fall for each other, and each others family and friends. I laughed so hard experiencing their everyday lives that my sides still hurt. I'm hoping we haven't heard the last of this zany crew and that, like the Shopping regulars, the extended family of the O Spa will drop in for cameo appearances in other works.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
September 22, 2016
The morning after with Chloe and Nick are sure interesting, "I stand up. And almost fall down from my tingling leg. Nick stirs, and stretches. He opens one eye and smiles sleepily. “Hurry back,” is all he says." Nick can sure have some interesting conversations with his children, “the hand is a welcome distraction from talking about Chloe, strap-ons, dog bongs, and my sex life.” Never thought I’d utter the words dog bongs and my sex life in the same sentence." I really enjoyed this book, I found it engaging and entertaining.
October 3, 2016
I was given an ARC for an honest review. Julia and Elisa have captured the zany qualities of the Shopping for the Billionaire books with this new series surrounding the famous "O" Spa mentioned in the SFTB books. Chloe and Nick's story will keep you riveted from beginning to end. Does he want to start over? Does she want to trust again? This book is funny, sexy, and emotional. It will make you laugh and once again wonder where they get this stuff but it DOES make you think. I know I saw some of myself in this book too...something they are really good at doing.
August 14, 2020
This book is funny funny funny and sweet sweet sweet 😍🥺
Want to read
December 31, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (12/31/2021)! 🎁
October 5, 2016
I love how Chloe and Nick are just so explosive together from word one yet at such different places in regards to family. The Concept of O spa is so fun and exciting that it makes me hope with all my heart that it may really exist somewhere. (I really want to visit)
Her bio clock is ticking and he is done raising his kids (I can relate). They have some fun, wacky and great times trying to figure out ex issues, career and baby together. This was just such a great story about life and those little things that make it all the more fun to live. Was great visiting with some of my favorite people form the Shopping series. Looking forward to Julia's next story to share.
Her bio clock is ticking and he is done raising his kids (I can relate). They have some fun, wacky and great times trying to figure out ex issues, career and baby together. This was just such a great story about life and those little things that make it all the more fun to live. Was great visiting with some of my favorite people form the Shopping series. Looking forward to Julia's next story to share.
December 5, 2018
First of all, Chloe's been carrying on an affair with a married man for three years. This is normally a trigger issue for me, but it gets dealt with pretty early on. I let it slide.
The writing is pretty good, the dialogue and characters good, too. The premise is clever, but ...
But then I hate it when authors put their female characters in uncomfortable situations or make them accident prone/clumsy. These authors take it a step further and have the heroine literally flash her co-workers with a nip slip during a very important meeting.
One of the meeting attendees is not only incredibly hot, but also - it turns out - Nick, the older brother of the boy she dated and lost her virginity to in high school. (And of course, the ex loves to talk about it and make everyone uncomfortable.) Their chemistry is off the charts, but she's about to adopt a baby and he's finally got his three children out of the house so he can "be free of responsibility".
For all his talk about loving his children, and having willingly made sacrifices in order to be a single father (his ex left him when the twins were 5 and the youngest 3) he seems to resent the heck out of them. As a single parent, I find this attitude unsettling. He's supposedly the grounded parent, the one who stuck around when their mother left. But I almost got the feeling that he might have left if the ex hadn't bolted first. It's hard to reconcile the "good parentt vs. bad parent" when the good parent can't wait to be rid of the kids.
The authors also seem to have issues with time. A week will pass for one character, and then from another's POV it's been a few days during that same period. Somehow this means that even though they spent something like 12 hours together, they miss each other when they're separated by circumstance.
My other issues were around the writing of the newborn. At two weeks of age, a baby cannot be held on a hip. They can't hold their own heads up at that point. They can't focus on people and objects, or in any other way act like they're months old instead of days.
And her mother is so ridiculously self-absorbed it's painful. If your child calls you struggling for help, you don't visit her and make her do more work. I truly hated her mother at times. And no one, not once, tells the mother off for her bad behaviour. Everyone just makes excuses for the narcissism.
And then his ex wife shows up (of course) wanting him back. So he doesn't tell Chloe (of course) and treats her like a booty call when the ex makes him mad. (They don't call it anger sex because he's not angry at Chloe. But he is angry with the ex, so it's damn close.) Of course, the baby wakes up immediately after and he's out of there like a shot because he wants his "freedom". How he can claim to care about her deeply, admire her, have this magical connection with her and yet still treat her like garbage is beyond me.
I think this book could have been something really special if it hadn't been for the "slapstick comedy" bits. Those were unnecessary and frankly reflected poorly on the character of Chloe. Women can be strong and overcome adversity without looking like a hobo after bringing a baby into their lives. (And seriously. I know having a newborn is rough, but not every new mom completely falls apart, stops washing, and can no longer dress themselves.) Her best friends - whom she named her daughter after - are supposed to be there for her. Surely they would have stopped by in the first few weeks and allowed her to have a shower, no?
That's what this book was! Saying one then, and then writing the opposite. Nick loves his children more than anything, but wants to be rid of them. Chloe has best friends who are always there for her, but she doesn't ask them for help with the new baby.
I definitely will NOT be reading the next book.
The writing is pretty good, the dialogue and characters good, too. The premise is clever, but ...
But then I hate it when authors put their female characters in uncomfortable situations or make them accident prone/clumsy. These authors take it a step further and have the heroine literally flash her co-workers with a nip slip during a very important meeting.
One of the meeting attendees is not only incredibly hot, but also - it turns out - Nick, the older brother of the boy she dated and lost her virginity to in high school. (And of course, the ex loves to talk about it and make everyone uncomfortable.) Their chemistry is off the charts, but she's about to adopt a baby and he's finally got his three children out of the house so he can "be free of responsibility".
For all his talk about loving his children, and having willingly made sacrifices in order to be a single father (his ex left him when the twins were 5 and the youngest 3) he seems to resent the heck out of them. As a single parent, I find this attitude unsettling. He's supposedly the grounded parent, the one who stuck around when their mother left. But I almost got the feeling that he might have left if the ex hadn't bolted first. It's hard to reconcile the "good parentt vs. bad parent" when the good parent can't wait to be rid of the kids.
The authors also seem to have issues with time. A week will pass for one character, and then from another's POV it's been a few days during that same period. Somehow this means that even though they spent something like 12 hours together, they miss each other when they're separated by circumstance.
My other issues were around the writing of the newborn. At two weeks of age, a baby cannot be held on a hip. They can't hold their own heads up at that point. They can't focus on people and objects, or in any other way act like they're months old instead of days.
And her mother is so ridiculously self-absorbed it's painful. If your child calls you struggling for help, you don't visit her and make her do more work. I truly hated her mother at times. And no one, not once, tells the mother off for her bad behaviour. Everyone just makes excuses for the narcissism.
And then his ex wife shows up (of course) wanting him back. So he doesn't tell Chloe (of course) and treats her like a booty call when the ex makes him mad. (They don't call it anger sex because he's not angry at Chloe. But he is angry with the ex, so it's damn close.) Of course, the baby wakes up immediately after and he's out of there like a shot because he wants his "freedom". How he can claim to care about her deeply, admire her, have this magical connection with her and yet still treat her like garbage is beyond me.
I think this book could have been something really special if it hadn't been for the "slapstick comedy" bits. Those were unnecessary and frankly reflected poorly on the character of Chloe. Women can be strong and overcome adversity without looking like a hobo after bringing a baby into their lives. (And seriously. I know having a newborn is rough, but not every new mom completely falls apart, stops washing, and can no longer dress themselves.) Her best friends - whom she named her daughter after - are supposed to be there for her. Surely they would have stopped by in the first few weeks and allowed her to have a shower, no?
That's what this book was! Saying one then, and then writing the opposite. Nick loves his children more than anything, but wants to be rid of them. Chloe has best friends who are always there for her, but she doesn't ask them for help with the new baby.
I definitely will NOT be reading the next book.
October 13, 2016
*****5 Sweet Holliday Stars*****
Whenever I am feeling down and need a good pick-me-up read, my go to author will always be Julia Kent! Her Shopping For a Billionaire and Her Billionaire's Series will always be at the top of my all time favorite reads. Elisa Reed is Our Options Have Changed co-author and this collaboration was brilliant! They wrote this tale seamlessly and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Now for the review!
We meet Chloe, a design director for a high-end chain of spas, O Spa. In the theme of Shopping For a Billionaire, Chloe is presented with a mystery shopper's evaluation of the O Spa and she is not happy with the results! In true Julia Kent humor, the story is full of her quirky humor:
Being the subject of a mystery shop evaluation is like standing naked in front of your future in-laws with your credit report taped all over your body and lie-detector tests from all your exes being read over an intercom. In the middle of church.
Nick is a high level executive for Anterdec, a company that will be holding the purse strings for Chloe's dream of a traveling spa called gO Spa. There is instant attraction between them.
Chloe is on the verge of adopting a baby as a single parent. Nick is living the life of a empty-nester, his 3 grown children are in college. They begin a steamy, fledgling relationship.
There are many dynamic secondary characters including Nick's twin daughters, Elodie and Amelie, his brother, Charlie, and Henry and Jemma, friends of Chloe. But I really fell in love with the story with the appearance of Holliday, the sweet little one that Chloe is set to adopt from her 16 year old homeless mother.
She needs me. I need her. And that’s when it happens. I fall in love.
Where does that leave Nick? He feels left out as he is the last to be informed that Chloe has brought the baby home. He finally breaks down and sets up a date with Chloe to meet Holliday. Charlie has his thoughts though!
“Condoms?”
“Charlie,” I growl. “What? I was about to ask if you’d choked the chicken in advance so you don’t jump the gun when you finally do the two-backed nasty, but I thought that was little too personal.”
Sound intriguing? The last part of the story will blow you away! There are laugh out loud moments, funny quotes, outrageous behavior, devious ex's, a few tears, and a happy ending.
Julia Kent is a very talented writer and I believe that Elisa Reed will rise along with her.
*****I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book*****
Whenever I am feeling down and need a good pick-me-up read, my go to author will always be Julia Kent! Her Shopping For a Billionaire and Her Billionaire's Series will always be at the top of my all time favorite reads. Elisa Reed is Our Options Have Changed co-author and this collaboration was brilliant! They wrote this tale seamlessly and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Now for the review!
We meet Chloe, a design director for a high-end chain of spas, O Spa. In the theme of Shopping For a Billionaire, Chloe is presented with a mystery shopper's evaluation of the O Spa and she is not happy with the results! In true Julia Kent humor, the story is full of her quirky humor:
Being the subject of a mystery shop evaluation is like standing naked in front of your future in-laws with your credit report taped all over your body and lie-detector tests from all your exes being read over an intercom. In the middle of church.
Nick is a high level executive for Anterdec, a company that will be holding the purse strings for Chloe's dream of a traveling spa called gO Spa. There is instant attraction between them.
Chloe is on the verge of adopting a baby as a single parent. Nick is living the life of a empty-nester, his 3 grown children are in college. They begin a steamy, fledgling relationship.
There are many dynamic secondary characters including Nick's twin daughters, Elodie and Amelie, his brother, Charlie, and Henry and Jemma, friends of Chloe. But I really fell in love with the story with the appearance of Holliday, the sweet little one that Chloe is set to adopt from her 16 year old homeless mother.
She needs me. I need her. And that’s when it happens. I fall in love.
Where does that leave Nick? He feels left out as he is the last to be informed that Chloe has brought the baby home. He finally breaks down and sets up a date with Chloe to meet Holliday. Charlie has his thoughts though!
“Condoms?”
“Charlie,” I growl. “What? I was about to ask if you’d choked the chicken in advance so you don’t jump the gun when you finally do the two-backed nasty, but I thought that was little too personal.”
Sound intriguing? The last part of the story will blow you away! There are laugh out loud moments, funny quotes, outrageous behavior, devious ex's, a few tears, and a happy ending.
Julia Kent is a very talented writer and I believe that Elisa Reed will rise along with her.
*****I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book*****
January 9, 2017
4.5 “Practically perfect” Stars
Wow! I need to thank author Penny Reid for her pimping email about Julia Kent’s work. Because of the coolness of all of us, I received an ARC for Our Options Have Changed. Now, the first thing you must know is that I’m still kicking myself in the ass for not picking up this amazing book earlier. I had it sitting in my kindle for three months. THREE MONTHS!!!!!!
Safe to say I found the story incredibly good, with a fresh storyline, fantastic characters with crazy chemistry, fun, light, sweet…. I can go on but I do realize I’m bordering on fangirling right now.
Chloe has the job of her dreams and something she’s extremely good at. Her love life could be better, but well… it could be worse too. Now that she is on the verge of adopting the baby girl of her dreams and becoming a mother, a man is not really that important anymore. That is until she meets Nick, a new work colleague.
Nick is everything she’s ever wanted in a man and more, and Nick, in turn, can’t believe Chloe is real. Their chemistry and connection are instantaneous but neither of them feel like risking their jobs. Luckily, they can only fight the attraction so long, and soon they’re embarking on an exciting and promising relationship. Then Chloe’s baby comes along one month before schedule and her whole world gets tipped upside down.
Nick already did the diaper thing with his own three children. A single father for most of their lives, he is finally ready to enjoy the freedom of college age kids out of the house. While Chloe is the woman of his dreams, after a failed marriage and single-fatherhood he is not sure he’d like to start from scratch again.
I loved that this was a multilayered story, both Nick and Chloe had issues to resolve before they could dream of an HEA. Nick was kind, funny, sexy as all get out and a fabulous father. His mushy insides made him one of my favorite male leads of this year. Chloe was a take charge kind of woman who knew what she wanted and went for it. Yes, she had some weaknesses, but who doesn’t? That only made her more relatable to me. The way she waited for her little girl and how she felt about her melted my heart.
Well written, with an excellent pace, some scorching hot shenanigans and one of the loveliest romances ever, Our Options Have Changed was a wonderful story about family, friends, love and personal growth. I’ll be forever grateful to Penny Reid for shoving this book in my face and not letting me miss one of the best reads of 2016.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
Wow! I need to thank author Penny Reid for her pimping email about Julia Kent’s work. Because of the coolness of all of us, I received an ARC for Our Options Have Changed. Now, the first thing you must know is that I’m still kicking myself in the ass for not picking up this amazing book earlier. I had it sitting in my kindle for three months. THREE MONTHS!!!!!!
Safe to say I found the story incredibly good, with a fresh storyline, fantastic characters with crazy chemistry, fun, light, sweet…. I can go on but I do realize I’m bordering on fangirling right now.
“When the world has only one camera lens and it’s your eyes, any other perspective feels like an invasion.”
Chloe has the job of her dreams and something she’s extremely good at. Her love life could be better, but well… it could be worse too. Now that she is on the verge of adopting the baby girl of her dreams and becoming a mother, a man is not really that important anymore. That is until she meets Nick, a new work colleague.
Nick is everything she’s ever wanted in a man and more, and Nick, in turn, can’t believe Chloe is real. Their chemistry and connection are instantaneous but neither of them feel like risking their jobs. Luckily, they can only fight the attraction so long, and soon they’re embarking on an exciting and promising relationship. Then Chloe’s baby comes along one month before schedule and her whole world gets tipped upside down.
Nick already did the diaper thing with his own three children. A single father for most of their lives, he is finally ready to enjoy the freedom of college age kids out of the house. While Chloe is the woman of his dreams, after a failed marriage and single-fatherhood he is not sure he’d like to start from scratch again.
I loved that this was a multilayered story, both Nick and Chloe had issues to resolve before they could dream of an HEA. Nick was kind, funny, sexy as all get out and a fabulous father. His mushy insides made him one of my favorite male leads of this year. Chloe was a take charge kind of woman who knew what she wanted and went for it. Yes, she had some weaknesses, but who doesn’t? That only made her more relatable to me. The way she waited for her little girl and how she felt about her melted my heart.
Well written, with an excellent pace, some scorching hot shenanigans and one of the loveliest romances ever, Our Options Have Changed was a wonderful story about family, friends, love and personal growth. I’ll be forever grateful to Penny Reid for shoving this book in my face and not letting me miss one of the best reads of 2016.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
October 7, 2016
Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed
This was a great, fun romance from Julia Kent, who I have read previously, and Elisa Reed who I have not. It follows the story of Chloe, an extremely successful businesswoman: director of design for a world-class spa chain who is looking to adopt a baby and the slightly older business associate Nick who is finally at the empty-ish nest phase of his life.
Overall, this was a fun read with plenty of humorous moments throughout. These were interspersed with some serious dilemmas and undertones particularly where difficult decisions have to be made. I enjoyed the natural progression of the relationship and I think Nick's kids added some sweetness to the book! The last 15% or so had me smiling and nodding in agreement as I remembered the first time I left my kids to go to work and so Chloe certainly had my sympathy there. I really admired her for knowing what she wanted and not being afraid to find and grab onto it with both hands. I really liked Focus Man too! He was very sweet and sexy and all those lovely things. I loved that he was able to differentiate what he thought he wanted and what his heart really wanted.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! I wonder who it'll be about: does anyone know?!
*arc received in exchange for honest review.
**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.
This was a great, fun romance from Julia Kent, who I have read previously, and Elisa Reed who I have not. It follows the story of Chloe, an extremely successful businesswoman: director of design for a world-class spa chain who is looking to adopt a baby and the slightly older business associate Nick who is finally at the empty-ish nest phase of his life.
Overall, this was a fun read with plenty of humorous moments throughout. These were interspersed with some serious dilemmas and undertones particularly where difficult decisions have to be made. I enjoyed the natural progression of the relationship and I think Nick's kids added some sweetness to the book! The last 15% or so had me smiling and nodding in agreement as I remembered the first time I left my kids to go to work and so Chloe certainly had my sympathy there. I really admired her for knowing what she wanted and not being afraid to find and grab onto it with both hands. I really liked Focus Man too! He was very sweet and sexy and all those lovely things. I loved that he was able to differentiate what he thought he wanted and what his heart really wanted.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! I wonder who it'll be about: does anyone know?!
*arc received in exchange for honest review.
**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.
July 30, 2018
A second chance at love and romance
Chloe has been waiting patiently for the birth of the baby she’s adopting. In the mean time her love life just fell apart. For three years Joe has been her friend and lover, yes he’s still married but in the process of getting a divorce. After he cancelled going to her place after work, Chloe decides to surprise him with dinner at his office. Only to find him with another woman. Cheating on his wife with her and then cheating on her with another woman, yep she probably deserves this. She’s taking a break from men.
A month later at a corporate meeting for the company she runs, she meets the most gorgeous tall man with beautiful blue eyes. As she’s presenting her new ideas to the owners, Nick is mesmerized with the beautiful woman running the meeting. Not only is Chloe beautiful, but she has charisma and some serious sex appeal. Making a move on her is constantly on his mind, but he’s a bit rusty. He’s been divorced for many years and raising his three children when his ex left them all to find herself.
After going out with Chloe, Nick knows this is not a one time thing. He can’t stop thinking about her, however, Chloe just adopted a baby girl. He’s just finishing raising his kids, can he do this all over again.
Another great book by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed.
Chloe has been waiting patiently for the birth of the baby she’s adopting. In the mean time her love life just fell apart. For three years Joe has been her friend and lover, yes he’s still married but in the process of getting a divorce. After he cancelled going to her place after work, Chloe decides to surprise him with dinner at his office. Only to find him with another woman. Cheating on his wife with her and then cheating on her with another woman, yep she probably deserves this. She’s taking a break from men.
A month later at a corporate meeting for the company she runs, she meets the most gorgeous tall man with beautiful blue eyes. As she’s presenting her new ideas to the owners, Nick is mesmerized with the beautiful woman running the meeting. Not only is Chloe beautiful, but she has charisma and some serious sex appeal. Making a move on her is constantly on his mind, but he’s a bit rusty. He’s been divorced for many years and raising his three children when his ex left them all to find herself.
After going out with Chloe, Nick knows this is not a one time thing. He can’t stop thinking about her, however, Chloe just adopted a baby girl. He’s just finishing raising his kids, can he do this all over again.
Another great book by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed.
October 17, 2018
This was kind of all over the place. Like most of Julia Kent's books, the slapstick component was over the top and felt forced in many spots (no professional woman carries a vibrator in her purse to a business meeting, no matter how 'funny' the ensuing (and inevitable) spilling of the contents of that purse all over the hot guy's office would be... which is to say, not very funny at all).
But there were aspects of this book that were incredibly sweet. Nick, the male protagonist, was an interesting character, and the scenes where he were excellent and powerful. And while I was bracing myself for an age-gap story, based on the blurb, there isn't a relevant gap in their ages at all (6 years, when they're mid-30s and early 40s), the friction comes from their different life stages, not from any power imbalance. I wasn't completely sold on the insta-love feel, but it wasn't a terrible read.
But there were aspects of this book that were incredibly sweet. Nick, the male protagonist, was an interesting character, and the scenes where he were excellent and powerful. And while I was bracing myself for an age-gap story, based on the blurb, there isn't a relevant gap in their ages at all (6 years, when they're mid-30s and early 40s), the friction comes from their different life stages, not from any power imbalance. I wasn't completely sold on the insta-love feel, but it wasn't a terrible read.
October 10, 2016
Our Options Have Changed is a sweet, albeit different, love story about a woman (Chloe) in her 30s who is adopting a baby. Nick, a divorced father in his early 40s, is just sending the last of his grown children out of the nest. He and Chloe fall in love but can he commit to raising a baby when he has finished raising his family?
From the blurb when it described Nick as an "empty nester" I was thinking more in the 50+ range. I certainly wasnt thinking early 40s. He was a very lovable character. A true nice guy in every sense of the word. Sweet, charming and very sexy. I really didnt feel like I could relate to Chloe, especially based on the relationship she had prior to Nick. The story had a nice, upbeat and fast flow to it and was easy to read through in just a few sittings.
From the blurb when it described Nick as an "empty nester" I was thinking more in the 50+ range. I certainly wasnt thinking early 40s. He was a very lovable character. A true nice guy in every sense of the word. Sweet, charming and very sexy. I really didnt feel like I could relate to Chloe, especially based on the relationship she had prior to Nick. The story had a nice, upbeat and fast flow to it and was easy to read through in just a few sittings.
November 30, 2016
Our Options Have Changed, by Julia Kent and Elisa Reed, is the first in their On Hold contemporary romances. It is a standalone that has cameo appearances from Julia Kent's Shopping for a Billionaire series. I really like the SFAB series and I enjoyed this new series. Thirty-something, Chole Browne, is the director of design for the O Spa chain. She decides to adopt a baby. Then along comes Nick Grafton who is a divorced father of 3 college aged kids. Did they meet at the wrong time? You'll enjoy finding out what happens. The characters are easy to visualize and there is lots of humor. I'll definitely be reading, Thank You For Holding, the second book in the series, when it comes out in 2017!
April 10, 2019
This is an excellent read! Witty, warm, sexy and so well written, it caught me up and kept my nose to the page right to the end. Nick and Chloe come right off the page as strong, compassionate, intelligent adults who I would love to share a few drinks with...while carefully ogling Nick of course! I always expect, and get, great witty banter from Julia Kent, but Elisa Reed is new to me. A great pooling of talents!
With a wonderful additional cast, Our Options Have Changed is a richly drawn book, populated by great characters, even the meany is a pleasure..I would love scratching her eyes out 😊.
A truly satisfying, 5 star read! 💖
With a wonderful additional cast, Our Options Have Changed is a richly drawn book, populated by great characters, even the meany is a pleasure..I would love scratching her eyes out 😊.
A truly satisfying, 5 star read! 💖
February 20, 2019
I struggle giving this 2 stars meaning it could be 2.5 stars...possibly? The story is cute but it lacks a little depth. Chloe Browne is a thirty something year old successful design director at the O Spa. Her love life has not had the same success so she has bypasses the dream of a perfect man and is on the brink of entering single parenthood via adoption. Then like a true romance, the perfect man by the name of Nick Grafton, enters. The catch? Nick is a single dad, now empty nester who is looking forward to his freedom.
The Negatives:
❌ Nick fell for Chloe ultra fast. I am one who prefers a slow burn but if I cannot have a slow burn then I want to be able to pinpoint where the characters started to fall for each other. But I couldn't here. It felt too rushed for the length of the novel. There was one date and then BAM!
❌ The side characters: Nick's twin daughters and Nick's brother who just so happens to be Chloe's high school boyfriend, were obnoxious. Chloe's mom was too but I find her rather amusing.
❌ I admit I had a hard time finishing it.
The Positives:
❤ I love how Chloe know what she wants in life both professionally and personally and goes for it. I love her unstoppable demeanor. Most of all I love that she wants to be a mom and does it through adoption.
❤ The O Spa: What a clever concept. Do these businesses exist?
❤ Chloe's friends were so supportive of her goal to be a mom.
❤ The writers nailed what it is like to be a mom with a newborn. You don't know what day it is half the time. You are so sleep deprived and you are doing everything you can to cater to the baby while being afraid you are doing something wrong. Chloe, once she becomes a mother, is portrayed as all of that.
Recommendation:
I don't know. The story was cute but it lacked depth. There is a second book in the series but I'm going to pass on it. If you want a lite read with comedy, romance and a HEA, go for it. But if you want depth or simply just....more, don't.
The Negatives:
❌ Nick fell for Chloe ultra fast. I am one who prefers a slow burn but if I cannot have a slow burn then I want to be able to pinpoint where the characters started to fall for each other. But I couldn't here. It felt too rushed for the length of the novel. There was one date and then BAM!
❌ The side characters: Nick's twin daughters and Nick's brother who just so happens to be Chloe's high school boyfriend, were obnoxious. Chloe's mom was too but I find her rather amusing.
❌ I admit I had a hard time finishing it.
The Positives:
❤ I love how Chloe know what she wants in life both professionally and personally and goes for it. I love her unstoppable demeanor. Most of all I love that she wants to be a mom and does it through adoption.
❤ The O Spa: What a clever concept. Do these businesses exist?
❤ Chloe's friends were so supportive of her goal to be a mom.
❤ The writers nailed what it is like to be a mom with a newborn. You don't know what day it is half the time. You are so sleep deprived and you are doing everything you can to cater to the baby while being afraid you are doing something wrong. Chloe, once she becomes a mother, is portrayed as all of that.
Recommendation:
I don't know. The story was cute but it lacked depth. There is a second book in the series but I'm going to pass on it. If you want a lite read with comedy, romance and a HEA, go for it. But if you want depth or simply just....more, don't.
February 6, 2019
Chloe Browne is a perfectionist. She doesn’t seem to have much control over her professional or personal life lately. Nick Grafton is all about the numbers. That is until someone crosses his path and derails that.
It took me a while to see where the authors were taking things. We get to see a lot from Chloe’s point of view first. It shows how much she has going on in her life. Once Nick entered the picture is when things seem to click into place. The story really picks up when I start to laugh. A lot of that is at Nick’s expense. He has a couple of daughters that seem just a little too curious but that just made me laugh more. Once my laughter switch got turned on is when things changed.
I started to enjoy the rest of the story. This is one case of “good things come to those who wait”. But you will have to be patient. Some people give up on a book too early and this would be one of those cases. The story just had to build up steam – it had to set you up for the two people you will want to get to know better. Getting a good laugh or chuckle right up until the end is never a bad thing either. It left me interested in seeing where this series is going.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
It took me a while to see where the authors were taking things. We get to see a lot from Chloe’s point of view first. It shows how much she has going on in her life. Once Nick entered the picture is when things seem to click into place. The story really picks up when I start to laugh. A lot of that is at Nick’s expense. He has a couple of daughters that seem just a little too curious but that just made me laugh more. Once my laughter switch got turned on is when things changed.
I started to enjoy the rest of the story. This is one case of “good things come to those who wait”. But you will have to be patient. Some people give up on a book too early and this would be one of those cases. The story just had to build up steam – it had to set you up for the two people you will want to get to know better. Getting a good laugh or chuckle right up until the end is never a bad thing either. It left me interested in seeing where this series is going.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
February 6, 2019
A sweet, funny and sexy feel-good story
My first book by Elisa Reed, I only recently read and enjoyed one of the latest Shopping for a Billionaire books by Julia Kent (this is billed as a loose spinoff from that series), so I’ve been keeping my eyes open for more of her books. Since I’m so new to that series, I was pretty oblivious to any characters crossing over into this book, so it didn’t factor into my enjoyment of this story.
Nick and Chloe were great characters; I loved the contrast of the setup here with Chloe set to become a mother for the first time while Nick was newly an empty-nester. And omg, Nick with his (college-age) kids was hilarious: “When you become nostalgic for Justin Bieber, it’s bad.“ Literally, I was cry-laughing. Also having worked in the corporate world, some of those references were so dead on they had me laughing and wincing at the same time.
Plenty of great secondary characters as well, not only Nick’s kids but also other family members and co-workers, plus a character or two in the love-to-hate category. This was a relatively light, fast-moving story that still managed to hit me in the feels.
A sweet, funny and sexy feel-good story not only about the stages of parenting but about loving and making choices. 5 stars
B2B Kelly
My first book by Elisa Reed, I only recently read and enjoyed one of the latest Shopping for a Billionaire books by Julia Kent (this is billed as a loose spinoff from that series), so I’ve been keeping my eyes open for more of her books. Since I’m so new to that series, I was pretty oblivious to any characters crossing over into this book, so it didn’t factor into my enjoyment of this story.
Nick and Chloe were great characters; I loved the contrast of the setup here with Chloe set to become a mother for the first time while Nick was newly an empty-nester. And omg, Nick with his (college-age) kids was hilarious: “When you become nostalgic for Justin Bieber, it’s bad.“ Literally, I was cry-laughing. Also having worked in the corporate world, some of those references were so dead on they had me laughing and wincing at the same time.
Plenty of great secondary characters as well, not only Nick’s kids but also other family members and co-workers, plus a character or two in the love-to-hate category. This was a relatively light, fast-moving story that still managed to hit me in the feels.
A sweet, funny and sexy feel-good story not only about the stages of parenting but about loving and making choices. 5 stars
B2B Kelly
October 11, 2016
Our Options Have Changed is such a heart warming story involving two people who have lived their lives differently and who want different things but experience a chemistry that ties them to each other. This was such a funny and sexy read.
This is the story of Chloe Browne and Nick Grafton.
Chloe is a take charge woman. She's successful in the company she works for, she's confident and she's strong. My kind of heroine. She is also single and has been dying for a child of her own for some time.
Nick is a single dad (and has been for 15 years). When he and Chloe meet, his kids have just finally fled the nest and he's experiencing what it is to not be a dad all the time. From the time the kids arrived and his wife left him, he's always ever known one role, and that's to be their father, so when they finally reach that age where they (there's 3 of them btw) are ready to move out and go to college, he's ready to embrace the life of a man again, without the title of being a father hanging over him. He wants his freedom, and as the last of his children finally start to be independent, he can practically taste it.
That is, until he meets Chloe Browne. You see, Chloe has been waiting for her adoption application to push through. She's been dying to have a baby to call her own for so long now, that's all she's praying for. When they meet, he had just let his children fly while she's just about to open her arms to a newborn. See the dilemma?
Despite their strong chemistry, will these two learn to open their arms to new options? Will Nick turn his back on their connection to be able to taste his freedom once again? Or will Chloe change her mind about the adoption?
This story was such an engaging story to read. I was laughing so hard at certain parts, it was great. All the characters were such a joy to read and to be able to be a part of, I thoroughly enjoyed them. Even the ex-wife Simone was funny at times, or, I laughed at her expense anyway. Either way, every character fit perfectly. I especially love Nick's grown children. They were a breath of fresh air.
If you are looking for a fun, heart-warming, entertaining and engaging read, then I definitely recommend this one.
This is the story of Chloe Browne and Nick Grafton.
Chloe is a take charge woman. She's successful in the company she works for, she's confident and she's strong. My kind of heroine. She is also single and has been dying for a child of her own for some time.
Nick is a single dad (and has been for 15 years). When he and Chloe meet, his kids have just finally fled the nest and he's experiencing what it is to not be a dad all the time. From the time the kids arrived and his wife left him, he's always ever known one role, and that's to be their father, so when they finally reach that age where they (there's 3 of them btw) are ready to move out and go to college, he's ready to embrace the life of a man again, without the title of being a father hanging over him. He wants his freedom, and as the last of his children finally start to be independent, he can practically taste it.
That is, until he meets Chloe Browne. You see, Chloe has been waiting for her adoption application to push through. She's been dying to have a baby to call her own for so long now, that's all she's praying for. When they meet, he had just let his children fly while she's just about to open her arms to a newborn. See the dilemma?
Despite their strong chemistry, will these two learn to open their arms to new options? Will Nick turn his back on their connection to be able to taste his freedom once again? Or will Chloe change her mind about the adoption?
This story was such an engaging story to read. I was laughing so hard at certain parts, it was great. All the characters were such a joy to read and to be able to be a part of, I thoroughly enjoyed them. Even the ex-wife Simone was funny at times, or, I laughed at her expense anyway. Either way, every character fit perfectly. I especially love Nick's grown children. They were a breath of fresh air.
If you are looking for a fun, heart-warming, entertaining and engaging read, then I definitely recommend this one.
February 6, 2019
This story is a great mix of laugh out loud funny, adorable man-holding baby moments, sweet, sexy, and those all out crazy times with a new baby - especially the first baby. There is some serious in the book, but more than anything, it's a lighthearted romance with a lot of laughs. The only drawback for me is that it is quite long given the lack of drama and how quickly this pair recognizes their attraction. That aside, I love the characters and their various quirks. Nick's kids are a hoot, and I don't know about anyone else, but as a parent of grown children, it seems like the older they get, the more they want to be all up in my business, so I can certainly relate to Nick's frustration with them and their busybody ways. All in all, Nick and Chloe's story is a good start to what promises to be a fun and entertaining series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews