No Time for Surprises

No Brides Club #6

by Karen McCullough

When six friends make a pact not to let love get in the way of their careers, the No Brides Club is born. But could meeting the right man at the wrong time cause them to break their vows to each other?

Julie Harrison had the perfect job and a stellar reputation as one of the city’s top, new programmers…until suddenly she didn’t. Despite her innocence, her company blamed her for leaking secret project details to a competitor. Worse yet, her fiance took their side.

Dan Foster would once do anything to get closer to his goal of becoming company CEO. Unfortunately, that meant siding with the higher ups instead of his spurned fiancee. Now he’d give anything to rewind time and get Julie back into his arms.

When a surprise acquisition forces them to work side-by-side once more, old feelings of love and longing, but also betrayal resurface, too.

Dan wants her back. Julie isn’t ready to blindly trust the ex who let her down in such a big way. Can he make up for his past mistakes and convince her to take a second chance at their future together?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2019

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the No Brides Club series. The series revolves around women who prioritize their jobs above all and that includes relationships. These women have high ranking jobs and that's all they need. For now at least that's how Jill Harrison sees it. She's the city's top programmer and her thoughts on love? Well who needs it! She's been burned in love, her fiancee and everyone else blames her for top secret company leaks. Thrown back into a work relationship 3 years after the company fiasco with her ex ,can she be civil towards him? Memories of their past relationship bubble to the surface for both making it hard to just concentrate on work. Is there any possibility for a second chance love here? Fun series that I really enjoyed reading. Each book is a stand alone you could read in order or not.
Published February 8th 2019
I received a complimentary copy. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/17/2019)! 🎁

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!

I'd actually been looking forward to the final book in this series for a bit now, and I was eager to see where it would take me. At the end of it, I find that I've enjoyed the ride mostly, but am vaguely disappointed as to how things were left in this story.

This was very much a second chance romance, and I liked how Dan was trying to make amends for his role in Julie's past. I felt that Julie was a little too harsh and un-trusting, but I could see why she would be. It was a realistic stance for her to take, even though watching her work toward that felt like watching a glacier move.

I liked that we got resolution about what happened to her all those years ago, but I didn't like that the business side of their future was left up in the air. There were some other elements of the plot that felt as though they were glossed over in favor of ending the book within a certain amount of pages, and it did detract from the book slightly.

At this point, I think I might read more by this author, but I'm not in any hurry to do so.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was supposed to be on her side. But even he thought she'd done it. Now he is back in her life. And willing to believe it wasn't her. But is she willing to forgive him?
Seeing him and having to work with him again is not a nice surprise for Julie. But maybe life/love/God has some more beautiful surprises for her...
The first part of the book was mostly about work and developing apps. But along the way they spend more free time together. Doing this they both love - and me, too - so that was really nice to read.
I had never before read anything by this author. This was a very pleasant surprise!
I received a copy and chose to review it.

[Jes Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting look into the cutthroat world of web/app developers and the way it can bring people- or tear them apart. Or, in this case, bring them together, tear them apart, and then bring them back together again.

[K B · Rating 3 out of 5]

6
3 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Surprises (The No Brides Club Book 6): Julie and Daniel by Karen McCullough and this review was given freely.
A novel with promise. Suspenseful and drama packed this second chance at love story for the last of the original six No Brides Club members mixes a corporate take over with computer hacking and vivid scenes of New York's greenscapes and museums.
When Cummings & Worth merges with Spieler Financials the company that ruined her career, contractor computer programmer Julie Harrison has to decide what to do with the attraction she still feels for her ex- fiance Daniel Foster.
May be read as a stand alone but best if read in sequence.

7
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Goodbyes (The No Brides Club Book 7):Brooke and Austin by Christina Butrum and this review was given freely.
Featuring Manhattan, New York pediatric oncology nurse Brooke, this sequel introduces an entire new group of members to the No Brides Club lead by wedding planner Emilia.
After three years, an urgent text from her ex, firefighter Austin Jensen, has Brooke Collins rushing home to Lawson Heights,Iowa when mother has a massive stroke.
May be read as a stand alone but best if read in sequence.

8
5 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Romance (The No Brides Club Book 8):Emilia and Chase by Raine English and this review was given freely.
A short an ironic, chaotic and poignant second chance at love story interwoven with Kinsley's "Murphy's Law" wedding.
Ten years after her almost wedding, New York wedding planner and twin, Emilia Sullivan is reunited with the man who disappeared the night of their elopement,her new caterer Chase Christianson.
May be read as a stand alone but best if read in sequence.

9
2 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Detours (The No Brides Club Book 9): Ava and Nick by Jean C. Gordon and this review was given freely.
A novel with promise and a poignant story of neglect and the real meaning of family. One year after book 5, Kate's little sister Ava Lewis finds herself no longer engaged, back in college for pre-law and coincidently in the same New York apartment building as visiting Philadelphia financial consultant Nick Jansen who receives a sudden visit from his energetic five year old twin "niece and nephew".
May be read as a stand alone but best if read after book 5 but refers to Brooke as still in New York as in the beginning of book 7.

10
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Lattes (The No Brides Club Book 10): Vivian and by Becky Muth and this review was given freely.
A complexed love at first sight story with a down to earth a realistic and fun filled Christian family mixed in with some conflict, the eclectic work life of a millenial, the theme of broken relationships and Broadway. Multiple tragedies result in teacher Vivian Hart being homeless, jobless, single house and sitting for her child's book author, New York matchmaking Aunt Sophie's cat and attracted to the dynamic struggling actor and man of multiple part time jobs Sawyer Nash.
May be read as a stand alone but refers to Brooke still in New York as in the beginning of book 7.

11
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Trouble (The No Brides Club Book 11): Marnie and Mal by Monique McDonell and this review was given freely.
A delightful fast paced billionaire, attraction at first sight, love finally realized romance connecting back to book 4 containing down to earth characters, and strong, successful, caring characters who desire loving and close families of their own despite their less than "TV family" upbringings.
When new No Bride's Club member TV producer Marnie Bate needs a ruse to protector her from her critical mother at her sister's engagement party, Marnie picks the only male friend she knows, Her partner Georgie's husband Liam's business partner, advertising executive and billionaire Malcolm " Mal" Cooper's.

12
3 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel No Time for Regrets (The No Brides Club Book 12) by Karen McCullough and this review was given freely.
A finding love and healing when not looking romance. This novel includes a slice of New York life involving unsafe low rent housing,Julie's former paralegal cousin,college student and Beckley's Cafe waitress Samantha "Sam" Dennis and widowed attorney Matthew R. Sentori.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Time for Surprises: The No Brides Club Book 6 is written by Karen McCullough. This book deals with computer espionage and second chances. The book grabs your attention and wants to be read in one sitting. Luckily this book is short enough and quick enough to read so you can read it in one sitting. It is an excellent book and is one that should be read and enjoyed.
Julie Harrison is a computer programmer and developer. She has her own company that she works under, J. Varner Software. She contracts out to work on computer apps for other companies. She does the developing and testing for that company. She was lucky enough to be hired by Frank Worth at Cummings and Worth. After an unfortunate incident with another company, she was lucky that Frank Worth took a chance in hiring her with no references. She was lucky that he took a chance with her. She has proven to be loyal and trustworthy while working for him. Now Frank has decided to retire and sell his company. How will this affect her?
Charles Quigley of Spieler had bought Cummings and Worth mainly for their apps. He was very upset to find that Julie was working for them and was n charge of the apps. She had been working for him when some code was stolen and she was blamed for it. She claimed her innocence; but no proof could be found either way. Charles quickly stated that she would not work for him to which she replied that the second phase of J. Varner’s contract was soon to be presented. However, since they had not paid for it, she could sell it to anyone. However, she would comply with her contract and supply the finished project. After that, it would be up to J. Varner whether or not she contracted to finish the other segments. Charles Quigley and his niece, Kris Thomas, were enraged at her working there; but as Dan Foster pointed out, it would be cheaper to have her finish the project than try to find someone else qualified to do it. Dan was risking his job by promoting her; but he felt it was the right thing to do. He was not happy to have her working her either as he had been engaged to her three years ago and wasn’t sure that she hadn’t given the codes away.
Julie agrees to stay under certain conditions: Maureen and Sam, her colleagues would stay and work with her, She would finish this one part and then renegotiate about doing any more work for them, She would be left alone to work with no interruptions by the towns people, and finally that she would communicate only with Dan Foster. She agreed to work with Dan if he would try to find out who framed her three years ago. Could this work?

[Stella Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Time For Surprises!

This is the sixth and last book in the No Brides Club. Of course, now 5 of the 6 friends have found their HEA leaving just Julie (they really should have renamed their group by now!). This is a second chance story for Julie and Dan. In the past, Julie left a firm after being wrongfully accused of leaking intellectual property. Dan was her fiancé at the time, but he didn’t know what to do with the accusations, and by doing nothing, he wasn’t the supportive partner Julie was expecting and needing. Now, three years later, she’s back as a contractor and she is once again working with her ex-fiancé, Dan. Their journey back to love and their own HEA is not an easy one with the issues of trust and newly found relationships getting in the way.

I enjoyed all the books in this series, and I found this one followed the “script” of the others. I was hoping that this one would tie the previous couples lives up in a type of epilogue for the series. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this book, but I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t learn how the others are doing, and that the 6 women didn’t rename their club and start a new club together.

I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of Sweet Promise Press and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julie finds herself working again for Spieler after Spieler buys C&W where she was contracting to build apps. Three years ago Spieler let her go for supposedly leaking an app to a competitor. They're not happy to see Julie and she isn't happy to see them.
There was another casualty three years ago - Julie and Dan Foster's engagement. He didn't believe she was innocent.
Now is the time to work things out, but Julie has to let go of the past, learn to trust and realize that she wasn't perfect back then either.
It's a nicely crafted story. I knew where the leak from three years ago was going to have come from, but it was interesting that it wasn't deliberate.
This is a six book series written by different authors. This book had Julie meeting with the No Brides Club twice but there isn't much information about the other women, which makes it easy to read this book as a standalone novel.

[Valri Western · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just didn't really connect with these characters. Dan and Julie were pleasant enough but there was simply something about them that didn't draw me to them enough to make we want to care about their relationship. I was disappointed that the No Brides Club wasn't featured more, this being the last book in the series. It was almost nonexistent! It seemed to me that since the whole series was about the No Brides Club, it would be featured more but each book was less and less about the club! By this book, it was hardly even mentioned! But, back to Dan and Julie....I felt that the story centered too much about Julie's work in software coding and, to be honest, was on the boring side to me. It seemed the all that technical stuff could have been paraphrased and then moved on. It felt more like a technical book than a romance. I enjoyed the series overall, just not this book so much.

[Dana Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Time for Surprises
Sweet Promise Press


Julie was engaged to Dan but when she lost her job because the company accused her of selling off her program to others she breaks off her engagement to Dan.

Three years later she’s working with a company creating apps. The company is purchased by the company she worked for three years back but they don’t know she is the creator.

When she sees Dan is still with the company she feels the hurt. But also has other feelings as well.
I enjoyed reading this book.

My disclaimer...
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Any book or novels I leave reviews on are not dependent on the book/novel review author’s opinion. No one influenced my voluntary review for any of the books or novels I read, they are my own opinions

[Rhojalia Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this whole series and there is not a lemon in the bunch. Sometimes when you are reading a series by different authors at least one doesn't measure up to the rest. Not so with this series. They have all been great stories. No Time for Surprises follows Dan and Julie as they have to work together again after a terrible breakup that really hurt her. It is not an easy journey for either of them, but they are stuck with it. This is a clean read and has a HEA. I highly recommend that you check out this book especially and also the other in this series. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of this book, and I totally enjoyed it and will recommend it to my friends.

[Nancy Garbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have all experienced some level of heartbreak and some of us have experienced various forms of betrayal. In No Time For Surprises Julie received both three years ago from her then co-worker and fiancée Dan. Now, three years later, Julie is stuck in a merger that puts her back working with Dan. What can possibly wipe away or undo three years of hurt, despair and depression?

The author addresses the issues with great wisdom and heart. As an extra, I also enjoyed the wonderful descriptions of New York scenery. I received a free advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. I highly recommend this final book of a wonderful series.

[Juliana Ignácio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in the series and it's another great story.
Julie Harrison is a programmer with a perfect job and a great reputation, but when she is falsely accused of betrayal by her company, what she least expected was that her fiancé, Dan Foster, stayed on their side, since he had aspirations to become CEO of the company.
Three years later, Julie and Dan are forced to work together. Dan wants Julie back, but Julie isn't sure about trusting him again.
Dan will be able to prove to Julie that he has made a mistake in the past and really wants her back?
I loved the story and the characters and highly recommend the reading.

[Tracey Tranter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all the books in this series. I don’t think I can pick a favourite. They have all been great which is not normally the case when there is more than one author creating a book as part of a series.

All the books can be read as a standalone, however, I believe you get more out of them reading them in order.

No Time for Surprises is well written, clean and easy to read with a happy ever after. The story is also about learning to trust again after your heart has been broken and your livelihood destroyed by others.

Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say goodbye to the No Brides Club - and disappointed that they didn't have a renaming ceremony! This was probably my least favorite of the series, with, I felt, unlikely resolutions and sleuthing discoveries about the incident over which Julie lost her previous job. The strongest character, I felt, was Barbara, Julie's assistant, who had way too little page time.

All in all, I found this to be a pleasant time-passer, rather than a must-read.

I received an advance copy of this book.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me sad. With it I know that I’ve reached the last of the No Brides Club. I have enjoyed all the books and I think this will rank as one of my favorites. The circumstances are so real and the reactions are true to life. Karen McCullough has made Jake’s original reaction 3 years prior realistic and human, so are Julie’s response to his. Life has a certain karma to it and this book uses that all the way thru. I won’t spoil any surprises but I totally cheered at times. Thank you for a great ending to the series.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen McCullough certainly finished this series in a great way. I truly appreciate her easy writing style that beautifully scripted the feelings of betrayal Julie, an all star IT programmer, felt when her fiance Dan, rushed to judgment and chose his company over her three years ago. Both protagonists were likeable characters and I cheered for Dan all the way as he worked so hard to earn Julie's forgiveness because the love and sparks were always there. This was a very enjoyable story that I heartily recommend as well as the entire No Brides Club series!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this final book of the series might be my favourite. It is a second chance romance. Julie and Dan were engaged and breaking up was not what either of them wanted but Dan didn't believe her when she said she didn't do what the company accused her of. Three years later and work throws these two back together, can Julie let go of the past to see that Dan still loves her, can Dan convince her that he is sorry? Their story keeps you guessing, but like all the books in the series there is a HEA.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Time for Surprises concluded the No Brides Club series in a great way. The mystery and past romance between Julie and Dan was very intriguing. I could not put the book down. The chemistry between Julie and Dan was just perfect and so was the conclusion to the No Brides Club . I guess they will have to come up with a new name for the club now. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read and I thought a good conclusion to this series. Julie and Dan's book was a second chance romance. With a history filled with emotional turmoil, drama and feelings of betrayal, these two have a lot to work through. The story was interesting, the couple has good chemistry and the addition of some intrigue and mystery helps hold your interest well. Quite entertaining. This is my hones, voluntary review

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this last story in the No Brides Club series standalones. It is a second chance romance about Julie and Dan. They have grown wiser since they broke off the engagement. But can Julie trust again? It is a believable story that inspires good feelings. If you enjoyed the other books you will want to read this one. If you haven't read any of these books then you can start with this one or get the first one. You won't be disappointed.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Time for Surprises was a delightfully tense story. Julie's life imploded when she was accused of leaking secret project details to a competitor. Worse, her fiance believed the evidence against her. Julie slowly rebuilt her reputation. When suddenly forced to work with her former fiance and company, Julie has grave concerns. Dan wants her back, but can Julie trust him? This is a clean romance with some intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading No Time for Surprises. It's a clean romance with a bit of a mystery too. The main characters, Julie and Dan, are very likable and easy to relate to. It was easy to get caught up in their emotions. There were issues with trust and forgiveness--not for cheating. The answer to the mystery is emotionally satisfying. I wanted an HEA for them and got it. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this romance.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series. Hoping they have follow-ups on each story, or at least one final follow-up showing them all now happily married!! Read the books to see how each one goes from no time for romance to happy in a relationship.

This one is very on trend and now with the computer app business! Love how it all played out! Very well written.

I received an ebook and I'm voluntarily giving my review.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story and series ending. Julie and Dan have a past that ended badly. They have to work together but can she forgive him and give him a second chance? This book was full of forgiveness, second chances, and new beginnings. Loved how they both looked beyond their own hurt and really communicated this time. I will say when the true source of the leak was found out I thought more should have been done to make amends. Really sweet story.

[Jan Tomalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Time for Surprises by Karen McCollough is the first book I have read by this author. However, it is book 6 of The No Brides Club series and I have read them all! I am sorry to see this series come to an end. This story of Julie and Dan was another page turner. It had a little of everything: hardship, dispair, accusations, animosity, heartbreak, mystery and romance. It also had a wonderful happily ever after. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie's story is a delightful tale of overcoming the past and finding peace in the present. When her former fiance returns to her life in an unexpected way, can Julie prove her innocence and/or forgive Dan? Also, can Dan forgive Julie's past betrayal or will he find that he made the wrong choice? This book has some great mystery and intrigue as well as a beautiful tale of friendship and maybe even love.

[Gina Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan & Julie

Such a sweet story of true love finding its way back to each other along with the trust that had been broken. This is the sixth and final book in the series, that I’m finding to be very heartwarming, it reminds me of the old harlequin novels, that were clean and sweet, no sex, no swearing, no cheating. This is the first book by this author for me, but I’ll be sure to read more.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill was one of the six who made a pack, career over love. She had been in love and accused of leaking information. Founding her own company and doing special jobs with her knowledge. The company she has been working with is sold. The new was the one that accused her. They didn’t see her name on the payrolls and didn’t realize she was contracted . How this will end with a company and Dan makes a good story.