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Bad Valentine #3
Hidden Hearts
Bad Valentine Book 3.
Accident-prone Ethan has a dating history that reads like a disaster movie script. Strong and silent Kel can’t seem to master the necessary small-talk on a proper date. When they both get signed up anonymously for a Valentines’s night event—"for those with an adventurous spirit but an open diary”—they never imagined they’d be matched. They never imagined the romantic sparks would fly. To be honest, they never imagined they’d survive the week.
A catalogue of disasters dogs the footsteps of their blossoming romance, including a coffee date with food allergies as an added extra, an intimate dinner that strays too close for comfort to chopped chillies, and a sensual massage with hot wax candles that threatens to alert the local fire brigade.
But if they can hold tight to their sweet, surprising, yet single-minded attraction – they might just survive this Valentine’s Day with something very special to look forward to.
*******
This is a totally standalone romantic comedy of 17.5k words in the BAD VALENTINE series. These are lighthearted Valentine's Day shorts by four different authors, each story written with the same opening line: "Nothing good ever came of a Valentine." Check the series page for details of the other stories by Jordan Castillo Price, Dev Bentham and Jesi Lea Ryan.
Accident-prone Ethan has a dating history that reads like a disaster movie script. Strong and silent Kel can’t seem to master the necessary small-talk on a proper date. When they both get signed up anonymously for a Valentines’s night event—"for those with an adventurous spirit but an open diary”—they never imagined they’d be matched. They never imagined the romantic sparks would fly. To be honest, they never imagined they’d survive the week.
A catalogue of disasters dogs the footsteps of their blossoming romance, including a coffee date with food allergies as an added extra, an intimate dinner that strays too close for comfort to chopped chillies, and a sensual massage with hot wax candles that threatens to alert the local fire brigade.
But if they can hold tight to their sweet, surprising, yet single-minded attraction – they might just survive this Valentine’s Day with something very special to look forward to.
*******
This is a totally standalone romantic comedy of 17.5k words in the BAD VALENTINE series. These are lighthearted Valentine's Day shorts by four different authors, each story written with the same opening line: "Nothing good ever came of a Valentine." Check the series page for details of the other stories by Jordan Castillo Price, Dev Bentham and Jesi Lea Ryan.
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2019
18 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Clare London
148 books434 followersClare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 22, 2020
4.5 Stars
I am addicted to Clare London's sweet and humorous short stories. This one features two adorable MCs who, despite their differences, are a perfect fit! I cheered for the small, talkative, accident prone Ethan and the big, taciturn, gentle Kel. They work hard for their HEA!!
A true comfort read!
I am addicted to Clare London's sweet and humorous short stories. This one features two adorable MCs who, despite their differences, are a perfect fit! I cheered for the small, talkative, accident prone Ethan and the big, taciturn, gentle Kel. They work hard for their HEA!!
A true comfort read!
Read
January 29, 2019Ethan gives new meaning to the phrase “walking disaster” in this hilarious rom com. And even at the point where the I think, “Oh, that plan can’t possibly end well….” Clare London goes there. And then she makes it even more cringe-worthy than I’d imagined. The mishaps of Ethan and Kel left me in stitches, then rewarded me with a hard-won HEA.
February 19, 2019
4 🧡💚💙💜
This was both sweet and disastrously funny. Well, you know, typical Clare London production 😉
I want to say nobody in real life is ever as clumsy as Ethan but as they say, truth is stranger than fiction so I’m sure there’s an Ethan out there. I just hope he’s as lucky as Ethan here, to find a patient a man like Kel 😊
I wish I read this on V Day. Would have definitely added to the mood of the day 😆
This was both sweet and disastrously funny. Well, you know, typical Clare London production 😉
I want to say nobody in real life is ever as clumsy as Ethan but as they say, truth is stranger than fiction so I’m sure there’s an Ethan out there. I just hope he’s as lucky as Ethan here, to find a patient a man like Kel 😊
I wish I read this on V Day. Would have definitely added to the mood of the day 😆
February 3, 2019
3.5 Stars. I love hero's like Ethan with no filter, a big heart and accident prone. Kel is great too as he just adores Ethan.
A really kind romance and so funny. Great secondary cast and a fun read.
A really kind romance and so funny. Great secondary cast and a fun read.
February 4, 2019
3.5 stars
Cute story with charming mc's.
Cute story with charming mc's.
October 6, 2025
All I can say is, this was adorable and made me laugh out loud more than once. Ethan’s bad luck, clumsiness, disaster prone life, whatever you want to call it, just make you want to give him a hug. He’s not had luck in love due to it, so his roommate, Pips, gets him a ticket to a Valentine’s matchmaking party in order to spend the night with his very loud lover. They match you with someone, tell you what color to wear so you can identify each other, you talk and meet and if it’s a no-go, after an hour you can switch. What can go wrong, right? Especially when it turns out Pips did Ethan’s profile and lied.
Ethan’s match is Kel. He lives with his brother, sister-in-law and their daughter, Tilly. Kel doesn’t talk much but is wrapped around Tilly’s finger. His brother, Ned, gets him the ticket because Valentine’s Day is their anniversary and he wants to spend a night alone with his wife. Kel reluctantly agrees because what can go wrong, right? Even if Ned did Kel’s profile and lied.
Ethan has little self esteem and knows he isn’t lucky. An orgy? “He’d probably fart on the futon, get lost in the dark, and stumble out the exit by mistake.” Bad enough the restaurant where the matchmaking party is being held is the same place Ethan ate something bad on a date and had diarrhea. Oh, Ethan.
What we get is the very funny courtship of Ethan and Kel. Neither one is the type the other usually went for but they decide to give it a try. Kel, in his borrowed blue shirt two sizes too small and his red scarf borrowed from Tilly (making sure the Hello Kitty tag is hidden), is immediately attracted to Ethan’s smile. They come clean about the lies on the profiles but they like each other. First kiss? “It was a little clumsy at first – Ethan turned his head at the wrong time so Kel’s nose poked him in the eye, then Ethan stood on Kel’s foot.”
We get some serious mishaps and I’m not going to lie, the pepper incident? Been there, done that, burned like that. The apology for that was wonderful and dangerous. This book was just such a great time and I smiled through the whole thing! It is 68 pages of Valentine happiness.
Ethan’s match is Kel. He lives with his brother, sister-in-law and their daughter, Tilly. Kel doesn’t talk much but is wrapped around Tilly’s finger. His brother, Ned, gets him the ticket because Valentine’s Day is their anniversary and he wants to spend a night alone with his wife. Kel reluctantly agrees because what can go wrong, right? Even if Ned did Kel’s profile and lied.
Ethan has little self esteem and knows he isn’t lucky. An orgy? “He’d probably fart on the futon, get lost in the dark, and stumble out the exit by mistake.” Bad enough the restaurant where the matchmaking party is being held is the same place Ethan ate something bad on a date and had diarrhea. Oh, Ethan.
What we get is the very funny courtship of Ethan and Kel. Neither one is the type the other usually went for but they decide to give it a try. Kel, in his borrowed blue shirt two sizes too small and his red scarf borrowed from Tilly (making sure the Hello Kitty tag is hidden), is immediately attracted to Ethan’s smile. They come clean about the lies on the profiles but they like each other. First kiss? “It was a little clumsy at first – Ethan turned his head at the wrong time so Kel’s nose poked him in the eye, then Ethan stood on Kel’s foot.”
We get some serious mishaps and I’m not going to lie, the pepper incident? Been there, done that, burned like that. The apology for that was wonderful and dangerous. This book was just such a great time and I smiled through the whole thing! It is 68 pages of Valentine happiness.
February 3, 2019
Ethan with his aptitude for destruction and big, sexy hunk Kel are so adorable together. Just loved their story of mishap and heat between the sheets!
January 19, 2019
What a charmer! London is a great writer, and she has the ability to create characters who are not perfect at all... but just might be perfect for each other. This is definitely a feel-good Valentine romance.
January 26, 2019
“For a while, it felt as if their heart beats seemed to synch.”
Ethan and Kel are both sweet, accepting, open, and funny. I laughed throughout the story.
“I needed someone who’d help me relax, to break loose from this cycle of disaster and nervousness. Who’d accept and like me as I am, a chatty, clumsy lightweight.” -Ethan
Poor Ethan is as clumsy as they get. And Kel has tons of patience.
All because Ethan and Kels friends and family wanted them to date, they were signed up on sort of a speed dating app for Valentines Day. Though each date lasted an hour, the two men talked for longer than their allotted time. Not with out accidents though.
I love Kel for being a good sport about Ethan’s clumsiness and how Ethan kept trying to make it up to him. The two men are perfect for each other.
Ethan and Kel are both sweet, accepting, open, and funny. I laughed throughout the story.
“I needed someone who’d help me relax, to break loose from this cycle of disaster and nervousness. Who’d accept and like me as I am, a chatty, clumsy lightweight.” -Ethan
Poor Ethan is as clumsy as they get. And Kel has tons of patience.
All because Ethan and Kels friends and family wanted them to date, they were signed up on sort of a speed dating app for Valentines Day. Though each date lasted an hour, the two men talked for longer than their allotted time. Not with out accidents though.
I love Kel for being a good sport about Ethan’s clumsiness and how Ethan kept trying to make it up to him. The two men are perfect for each other.
February 2, 2019
Oh my, this rom com is typical Clare London. It's funny, and irreverent. The characters are endearingly imperfect. Thrown into an awkward situation, things only get more awkward as each encounter goes disastrously wrong until you're rooting for the lads to finally get together.
February 4, 2019
“In a world where we’re encouraged to be someone we’re not – it’s incredibly important to find someone who loves you for who you are. And that starts with getting real with who you are.” ~ Debra Fileta
Ethan, of ‘Bad Valentine’ by Clare London, is talked into going to a meet and greet on Valentine’s Day by his friend and roommate, Pibs. Pibs is tired of seeing him mope around; he wants Ethan to go out, but Ethan has a million reasons why that’s not a good idea. Every date he has had, ended in disaster because Ethan is an “accident just waiting to happen”. Through no fault of his own, Ethan simply has terrible luck. Things just happen to him, like, dropping a knife on the floor and the tip almost cutting off his toe, accidentally drinking hazelnut coffee, when he is allergic to nuts and swells up like a balloon. When Ethan enters the restaurant, he is a bundle of nerves.
He locates the table at which he is to meet his date. He takes one look at Kel, the man he is to meet, and his knees go weak. Kel is big and brawny, with muscles and tattoos everywhere, one of Ethan’s fantasies come to life.Kel has to admit that Ethan is not the type of guy he is usually attracted to either. In fact, looking at Ethan’s tall, slim body, he is afraid he’d break him! Even though it appears that they have nothing in common, they do find qualities that they admire in the other, ones that they have not found in anyone else. Their date is timed at an hour, then they can either stay or move on. When the hour is up, Ethan stands up to leave, but Kel interrupts him, asking him to stay.
Clare’s exquisite humor never fails to warm my heart and plays a large part in the story. As clumsy as Ethan is, he’s a good guy who would make someone a good partner, but it would have to be some who loved him flaws and all. Surprisingly, Kel’s social skills are up to par; so many people dismiss him as undesirable. But with each other, they can just be themselves. Thanks, Clare, for the endearing, funny, and touching love story, reminding me that there is someone for everyone.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Ethan, of ‘Bad Valentine’ by Clare London, is talked into going to a meet and greet on Valentine’s Day by his friend and roommate, Pibs. Pibs is tired of seeing him mope around; he wants Ethan to go out, but Ethan has a million reasons why that’s not a good idea. Every date he has had, ended in disaster because Ethan is an “accident just waiting to happen”. Through no fault of his own, Ethan simply has terrible luck. Things just happen to him, like, dropping a knife on the floor and the tip almost cutting off his toe, accidentally drinking hazelnut coffee, when he is allergic to nuts and swells up like a balloon. When Ethan enters the restaurant, he is a bundle of nerves.
He locates the table at which he is to meet his date. He takes one look at Kel, the man he is to meet, and his knees go weak. Kel is big and brawny, with muscles and tattoos everywhere, one of Ethan’s fantasies come to life.Kel has to admit that Ethan is not the type of guy he is usually attracted to either. In fact, looking at Ethan’s tall, slim body, he is afraid he’d break him! Even though it appears that they have nothing in common, they do find qualities that they admire in the other, ones that they have not found in anyone else. Their date is timed at an hour, then they can either stay or move on. When the hour is up, Ethan stands up to leave, but Kel interrupts him, asking him to stay.
Clare’s exquisite humor never fails to warm my heart and plays a large part in the story. As clumsy as Ethan is, he’s a good guy who would make someone a good partner, but it would have to be some who loved him flaws and all. Surprisingly, Kel’s social skills are up to par; so many people dismiss him as undesirable. But with each other, they can just be themselves. Thanks, Clare, for the endearing, funny, and touching love story, reminding me that there is someone for everyone.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 2, 2021
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/02/14/...
Rating: 4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away
Rating: 4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away
January 29, 2019
Opposites attract, but sometimes falling in love endangers every single thing around them….
Ethan and Kell do not expect anything from the blind date they have been forced into by well meaning relatives (in Kell’s case) and a very nosy flatmate (that would be Ethan). Against all odds, they immediately feel attracted to each other, even though they are far from the other one’s kind of man. But when Ethan’s tendency to all kind of accidents threatens to bring them apart, Kell has to convince him that some things are worth the risk….
Another delightful, not typical example of a different Valentine’s story. I loved both main characters, and the slow but undeniable attraction you can feel from the very beginning. One of the things I like most is some humour in my romance, and here I found myself laughing aloud at some of the very disgraceful misshapenings around Ethan, who seems to be uncanny tendency to all sort of misfortunes.
Highly recommendable.
I received an ARC for an honest review
Ethan and Kell do not expect anything from the blind date they have been forced into by well meaning relatives (in Kell’s case) and a very nosy flatmate (that would be Ethan). Against all odds, they immediately feel attracted to each other, even though they are far from the other one’s kind of man. But when Ethan’s tendency to all kind of accidents threatens to bring them apart, Kell has to convince him that some things are worth the risk….
Another delightful, not typical example of a different Valentine’s story. I loved both main characters, and the slow but undeniable attraction you can feel from the very beginning. One of the things I like most is some humour in my romance, and here I found myself laughing aloud at some of the very disgraceful misshapenings around Ethan, who seems to be uncanny tendency to all sort of misfortunes.
Highly recommendable.
I received an ARC for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2019
This one was completely adorable.
2 completely different guys with sort of the same situation. Meddling family and friends who secretively sign them up on a dating app for Valentine's day.
Neither is the others type, yet they oddly hit it off.
Ethan believes he's cursed and prone to accidents. Kel takes it all in stride. His calm demeanor actually helps Ethan in instances, like knocking over his water or burning off Kel's facial hair.
The story is short, sweet and endearing.
These two are opposites in all things, and it couldn't be more perfect :)
2 completely different guys with sort of the same situation. Meddling family and friends who secretively sign them up on a dating app for Valentine's day.
Neither is the others type, yet they oddly hit it off.
Ethan believes he's cursed and prone to accidents. Kel takes it all in stride. His calm demeanor actually helps Ethan in instances, like knocking over his water or burning off Kel's facial hair.
The story is short, sweet and endearing.
These two are opposites in all things, and it couldn't be more perfect :)
February 8, 2019
Very cute! Great klutzy moments here, and I love the meet-cute!
February 23, 2019
This was a really nice, cute read. I don't know if I could have taken it being much longer, due to the secondhand embarrassment felt from each blunder... so I'd have to say the length was perfect.
April 3, 2019
3 estrellas.
Este es un libro muy dulce, con personajes que me cayeron bien desde el principio, y disfruté mucho leer la historia de amor llena de tropiezos entre ellos.
Este es un libro muy dulce, con personajes que me cayeron bien desde el principio, y disfruté mucho leer la historia de amor llena de tropiezos entre ellos.
February 8, 2022
3.5*
This was a really cute read! Ethan was adorable and Kel was so sweet with him. I really enjoyed this quick, opposites attract little love story!
This was a really cute read! Ethan was adorable and Kel was so sweet with him. I really enjoyed this quick, opposites attract little love story!
February 1, 2019
Oh gosh, I loved this story. Ethan isn’t who Kel would have usually gone for but they connected immediately on their blind date. Kel is everything Ethan has dreamed about but never thought he could have.
I liked how this was a bit opposites attract but they connected so beautifully. I loved how Kel didn’t even blink at Ethan’s clumsiness and wouldn’t let it scare him away. And the best part an epilogue, it always wraps a story up nicely to me.
I received an ARC of this book and am giving an honest review.
I liked how this was a bit opposites attract but they connected so beautifully. I loved how Kel didn’t even blink at Ethan’s clumsiness and wouldn’t let it scare him away. And the best part an epilogue, it always wraps a story up nicely to me.
I received an ARC of this book and am giving an honest review.
February 1, 2019
Ahhh - The Joy of a Dating Website
This short contemporary romance is a fun, yet sentimental, read. As part of a four-story series entitled “Bad Valentine,” it begins , as do the other three, with “Nothing good ever came of a Valentine” as the first sentence.
As that opening sentence is spoken, we find our first protagonist, Ethan, fussing with his roommate. It seems that the roommate has clandestinely signed Ethan up for a Valentine’s Day mixer/speed dating experience for that evening at one of the local clubs. The roommate has even filled out the online profile - no pictures allowed - with information that doesn’t really match Ethan’s reality. It seems that Ethan has interests in International Finance (false, even though he is an accountant), Gourmet Cooking (false, he’ll eat anything, anytime, anywhere), and F1 Motorsports (absolutely false as he doesn’t know a carburator from a car port).
At the same time Ethan is finding out about his evening’s fate, across town, Kel is finding out that his brother and sister-in-law have decreed the same fate for him. They have likewise filled out his profile with the same interests that match Ethan’s. However, Kel is not in International Finance either unless you count owning his own garage and working on foreign cars. Neither is he a Gourmet Cook, unless you count fixing up frequent meals for his family with whom he shares a house. However, the part about F1 Motorsports is true - in spades.
So, off to the Hidden Hearts bash they go. Ethan - a slender slip of a fellow with a gorgeous smile - is an absolute klutz with at least three left feet and five hands, has a penchant for chattering that knows few filters, will eat anything not nailed down, and is a sucker for tattoos. And Kel - a bear of a man who completely understands clumsiness - is a sucker for a genuine smile, is a laconic man who prefers to listen rather than speak, and is a cook who loves to see people really enjoy their food. Not to mention, Kel is a man who is covered from neck to ankles in tattoos. So, of course, based on the profiles, they get “matched.”
After reading these few paragraphs, you might think that the plotline is simply another rehash of the old “opposites attract” theme. And, on the surface, that seems to fit with the story’s promotional blurb that tells you that, before all is done, there will be the effects of food allergies, mishandled chili peppers and blazing hot candle wax for their relationship to contend with.
Even with your imagination running rampant, you still may not be able to picture just how hilarious these scenes turn out to be until you actually read them. But then, afterwards, when the laughter subsides, the actual seriousness of each situation takes hold and you realize how badly it could have really turned out if Ms London had written about “opposites” instead of about “two halves” meshing together to make a whole.
I have not read any works by Ms London previous to this short story, but her style and her skill have me planning to read other works by her. I received an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for a timely review. That action has, in no way, influenced my opinion of the story.
This short contemporary romance is a fun, yet sentimental, read. As part of a four-story series entitled “Bad Valentine,” it begins , as do the other three, with “Nothing good ever came of a Valentine” as the first sentence.
As that opening sentence is spoken, we find our first protagonist, Ethan, fussing with his roommate. It seems that the roommate has clandestinely signed Ethan up for a Valentine’s Day mixer/speed dating experience for that evening at one of the local clubs. The roommate has even filled out the online profile - no pictures allowed - with information that doesn’t really match Ethan’s reality. It seems that Ethan has interests in International Finance (false, even though he is an accountant), Gourmet Cooking (false, he’ll eat anything, anytime, anywhere), and F1 Motorsports (absolutely false as he doesn’t know a carburator from a car port).
At the same time Ethan is finding out about his evening’s fate, across town, Kel is finding out that his brother and sister-in-law have decreed the same fate for him. They have likewise filled out his profile with the same interests that match Ethan’s. However, Kel is not in International Finance either unless you count owning his own garage and working on foreign cars. Neither is he a Gourmet Cook, unless you count fixing up frequent meals for his family with whom he shares a house. However, the part about F1 Motorsports is true - in spades.
So, off to the Hidden Hearts bash they go. Ethan - a slender slip of a fellow with a gorgeous smile - is an absolute klutz with at least three left feet and five hands, has a penchant for chattering that knows few filters, will eat anything not nailed down, and is a sucker for tattoos. And Kel - a bear of a man who completely understands clumsiness - is a sucker for a genuine smile, is a laconic man who prefers to listen rather than speak, and is a cook who loves to see people really enjoy their food. Not to mention, Kel is a man who is covered from neck to ankles in tattoos. So, of course, based on the profiles, they get “matched.”
After reading these few paragraphs, you might think that the plotline is simply another rehash of the old “opposites attract” theme. And, on the surface, that seems to fit with the story’s promotional blurb that tells you that, before all is done, there will be the effects of food allergies, mishandled chili peppers and blazing hot candle wax for their relationship to contend with.
Even with your imagination running rampant, you still may not be able to picture just how hilarious these scenes turn out to be until you actually read them. But then, afterwards, when the laughter subsides, the actual seriousness of each situation takes hold and you realize how badly it could have really turned out if Ms London had written about “opposites” instead of about “two halves” meshing together to make a whole.
I have not read any works by Ms London previous to this short story, but her style and her skill have me planning to read other works by her. I received an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for a timely review. That action has, in no way, influenced my opinion of the story.
April 14, 2019
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a happy, romantic occasion – but this story, in line with the series theme of ‘Bad Valentine’, stars Ethan, an accountant for whom disaster on dates is the rule, and Valentine’s Day is marred by a curse. And as events unfold on this latest holiday, I had to agree with him as one disaster after another occurs. Luckily Kel, the blind date Ethan’s best friend has arranged for him, doesn’t seem to mind in the least – Kel is calm and relaxed and determined not to let Ethan get away from him. Watching these two men figure out if and how they might fit together was a delight!
Ethan is a about as disaster-prone as they come, and even though I felt sorry for all his mishaps, some of them also made me laugh. They were just so improbable – but Clare London did a great job making them sound like exactly what did happen to Ethan. Trouble magnet is putting it lightly! Underneath all his fears and lack of self-confidence is a really sweet guy, and even though Ethan thinks of himself as the stereotypically boring accountant, he is anything but. He has just been waiting for the right man to explore his more adventurous side!
Kel is Ethan’s exact opposite in so many ways: he is calm, quiet, and a car mechanic who is very good at his job. He isn’t easily flustered – but while Ethan’s clumsiness doesn’t frighten him in the least (despite a few very close calls), Kel does think h isn’t educated or interesting enough to hold Ethan’s attention. Nothing could be further from the truth, but it takes both men a while to understand and believe that they really are as ideal for each other as it seems.
If you like lots of humor with your romance, if you believe that blind dates can – occasionally – lead to an amazing relationship, and if you’re looking for a read that proves that a “bad valentine” can turn into a “brilliant valentine”, then you will probably like this novella as much as I do. It’s hilarious, super cute, and has the perfect ending!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
Ethan is a about as disaster-prone as they come, and even though I felt sorry for all his mishaps, some of them also made me laugh. They were just so improbable – but Clare London did a great job making them sound like exactly what did happen to Ethan. Trouble magnet is putting it lightly! Underneath all his fears and lack of self-confidence is a really sweet guy, and even though Ethan thinks of himself as the stereotypically boring accountant, he is anything but. He has just been waiting for the right man to explore his more adventurous side!
Kel is Ethan’s exact opposite in so many ways: he is calm, quiet, and a car mechanic who is very good at his job. He isn’t easily flustered – but while Ethan’s clumsiness doesn’t frighten him in the least (despite a few very close calls), Kel does think h isn’t educated or interesting enough to hold Ethan’s attention. Nothing could be further from the truth, but it takes both men a while to understand and believe that they really are as ideal for each other as it seems.
If you like lots of humor with your romance, if you believe that blind dates can – occasionally – lead to an amazing relationship, and if you’re looking for a read that proves that a “bad valentine” can turn into a “brilliant valentine”, then you will probably like this novella as much as I do. It’s hilarious, super cute, and has the perfect ending!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
January 24, 2019
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ethan and Kel are a textbook example of the idea that opposites attract: Ethan is talkative to the point of babbling when he's nervous and Kel is the strong, silent type—seemingly less because he's naturally stoic and more because he doesn't feel like his life is interesting enough to talk about. They're physical opposites, too, with Ethan on the slim and pretty side and Kel being tall, broad and heavily tattooed. While this is a trope that I'm not particularly fond of, especially when it's taken to extremes, I liked the way it was used here; Ethan's eager chattiness draws out the quiet Kel, and Kel's kind patience de-escalates the disaster-waiting-to-happen that is Ethan. I can also completely get behind the overall message that you don't have to be perfect to be deserving of love, which is something I think needs to be stressed a lot more in popular media. (And bonus points for at least implying that smaller guys like to top sometimes, too.)
Caveat: I have a terrible embarrassment squick; it's so huge it can be seen from space, I kid you not. I cannot watch sitcoms, and I shy away from most comedy in general unless it's been vetted for me by someone I trust. I thought I would be okay with a light, romcom Valentine's Day story, but I was wrong. Hidden Hearts was waaaay too broad and slapstick for me, full of embarrassing humor that made me cringe. That said, I promised to review it and it wouldn't be fair of me to bail, but it also wouldn't be fair of me to penalize the book for my own very personal reaction to its style of humor, so I've made an effort to set that aside when writing my review and assigning a star rating.
February 2, 2019
Ethan doesn't have plans for Valentine's Day but his roommate and best friend, Pip, informs him he signed him up for a a Valentine's Day event for singles (kind of a speed dating kind of event). Ethan's reluctant to go since he's not had a very good dating history and is very prone to clumsiness.
Kel is single and likes to stick to hookups unfortunately (or fortunately?) for him his brother and sister-in-law decide to take matters into their own hand and signed him up for a singles Valentine's Day event.
Ethan and Kel are assigned together and much to eithers surprise they hit it off. But Ethan's misfortune/bad luck might just be the factor that stops their relationship before it starts.
It was a cute read and I really wished it had been longer because it felt a bit rushed towards the last chapter. While I liked that readers get to see where Ethan, Kel and Pip are a year later in their lives I would have actually liked to witness Ethan and Kel's milestones and growth leading up to the new year. I really liked the characters their support of each other, them to step out of their comfort zones and taking a change on each other even when things weren't always fun and dandy.
I did feel bad for Ethan and his guilt/self blaming due to his clumsiness. I'm very glad Kel stuck it out with him.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Kel is single and likes to stick to hookups unfortunately (or fortunately?) for him his brother and sister-in-law decide to take matters into their own hand and signed him up for a singles Valentine's Day event.
Ethan and Kel are assigned together and much to eithers surprise they hit it off. But Ethan's misfortune/bad luck might just be the factor that stops their relationship before it starts.
It was a cute read and I really wished it had been longer because it felt a bit rushed towards the last chapter. While I liked that readers get to see where Ethan, Kel and Pip are a year later in their lives I would have actually liked to witness Ethan and Kel's milestones and growth leading up to the new year. I really liked the characters their support of each other, them to step out of their comfort zones and taking a change on each other even when things weren't always fun and dandy.
I did feel bad for Ethan and his guilt/self blaming due to his clumsiness. I'm very glad Kel stuck it out with him.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2019
I was gifted my copy of all four part of the Bad Valentine collection, that I write a review was not required.
Ethan is set up by his flat mate, and Kel, by his brother. Neither man is the other's usual taste but sparks do fly. One disaster after ensues, and can they actually keep seeing each other??
Okay, so, don't tell anyone, please! I'm sat here at work, reading these shorts in this collection, and I am loving them! This one made me laugh out loud so much, had I any customers, I might have scared them! I LOVED this one!
Ethan and Kel are polar opposites. Ethan can't engage his brain before his mouth and tends to talk the hind legs off the donkey. Kel, on the other hand, does NOT do small talk. He loves that Ethan can talk enough for them both. I loved that, while not saying anything, or even acknowledging the fact, Kel manages to save all the little things that Ethan knocks off. He just does it! Ethan notices it too.
Oh, I loved this pair! They both have a say, too, which I was so very pleased about!
Each date has a mishap: an allergic reaction, chilli burn, knocked over candles. But they do get their moment, eventually.
Loved the little epilogue! My favourite one of the four!
I've enjoyed these little shorts, so thank you to all four authors for my copies.
5 brilliant stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Ethan is set up by his flat mate, and Kel, by his brother. Neither man is the other's usual taste but sparks do fly. One disaster after ensues, and can they actually keep seeing each other??
Okay, so, don't tell anyone, please! I'm sat here at work, reading these shorts in this collection, and I am loving them! This one made me laugh out loud so much, had I any customers, I might have scared them! I LOVED this one!
Ethan and Kel are polar opposites. Ethan can't engage his brain before his mouth and tends to talk the hind legs off the donkey. Kel, on the other hand, does NOT do small talk. He loves that Ethan can talk enough for them both. I loved that, while not saying anything, or even acknowledging the fact, Kel manages to save all the little things that Ethan knocks off. He just does it! Ethan notices it too.
Oh, I loved this pair! They both have a say, too, which I was so very pleased about!
Each date has a mishap: an allergic reaction, chilli burn, knocked over candles. But they do get their moment, eventually.
Loved the little epilogue! My favourite one of the four!
I've enjoyed these little shorts, so thank you to all four authors for my copies.
5 brilliant stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
February 4, 2019
i read this book as part of an arc program. This si the story of Ethan and Kel. Ethan is an accountant and has a history of bad dates. On Valentine's Day, his roommate set him up to go to a speed dating/ mixer where he will meet a man he is matched with. Ethan doesn't really want to go, but agrees. Kel lived with his sister and her family and finds out his sister signed him up for the same event. Kel agrees to go, but thinks he can leave after an hour. Kel and Ethan are matched and they are opposite from the type of guys they usually go out with. They sit to talk and Ethan starts to get to know Kel. Kel is quiet and owns a garage and usually only has rough and quick hook ups. Kel is attracted to Ethan and the more they talk, the more their attraction to each other grows. They agree to meet again and every time they go on a date, disaster happens. I really loved this story. I laughed at how bad their dates got. I loved how they both didn't give up and wanted to be together. I love how Kel just took everything in stride and didn't make Ethan feel bad about the mishaps. Good one.
January 21, 2019
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest review.
Ethan is a one man wrecking crew. He doesn’t mean to be. He just seems to always trip, or break something, or tear something, or, well you get the idea. If it is embarrassing it happens to Ethan, especially when he tries to date. When his roommate sets him up with a Valentine’s date, he is sure it can only end badly. Then he sees his “date”. The mismatch with a huge, tattooed, mechanic can only lead to further disasters. Right?
Clare London infuses this story with a great deal of humor. Ethan is so endearing. Reading the dating scenes had me giggling to myself and cringing at the same time. They reminded me of watching a baby walk for the first time. You are excited for the experience but worried about the fall. The interactions between Ethan and Kel are both hysterical and sweet. This book was a lot of fun and full of joy
Ethan is a one man wrecking crew. He doesn’t mean to be. He just seems to always trip, or break something, or tear something, or, well you get the idea. If it is embarrassing it happens to Ethan, especially when he tries to date. When his roommate sets him up with a Valentine’s date, he is sure it can only end badly. Then he sees his “date”. The mismatch with a huge, tattooed, mechanic can only lead to further disasters. Right?
Clare London infuses this story with a great deal of humor. Ethan is so endearing. Reading the dating scenes had me giggling to myself and cringing at the same time. They reminded me of watching a baby walk for the first time. You are excited for the experience but worried about the fall. The interactions between Ethan and Kel are both hysterical and sweet. This book was a lot of fun and full of joy
February 1, 2019
“Nothing good ever came of a Valentine.”
That’s the opening sentence of all four works in the Bad Valentine series, including this short novella, in which Ethan and Kel meet after both men are signed up for a Valentine’s night event for singles by their family and friends.
Hidden Hearts is an opposites attract romance, with Kel being the strong, silent type and Ethan an accident-prone chatterbox. It’s Ethan’s disastrous dating mishaps that give the story its charm; they made me both laugh and wince. (Hopefully they aren’t based on real-life incidents, especially the chili pepper one, because—ouch!) No matter how badly things go for Ethan and Kel, though, this is of course a romance, and it all works out happily in the end.
If you are looking for a quick, cute Valentine’s Day-themed rom com to read, this should go on your list.
A copy of this book was provided by the author for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
That’s the opening sentence of all four works in the Bad Valentine series, including this short novella, in which Ethan and Kel meet after both men are signed up for a Valentine’s night event for singles by their family and friends.
Hidden Hearts is an opposites attract romance, with Kel being the strong, silent type and Ethan an accident-prone chatterbox. It’s Ethan’s disastrous dating mishaps that give the story its charm; they made me both laugh and wince. (Hopefully they aren’t based on real-life incidents, especially the chili pepper one, because—ouch!) No matter how badly things go for Ethan and Kel, though, this is of course a romance, and it all works out happily in the end.
If you are looking for a quick, cute Valentine’s Day-themed rom com to read, this should go on your list.
A copy of this book was provided by the author for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
February 14, 2025
Lovely 💜
It’s not often I give a short story five stars but when it comes to Clare London, queen of the short stories it just feels right. It is so difficult to write a short story but capture the reader, make them invest in the characters, laugh and feel emotional but I felt all of these,
Ethan and Kel are perfect for each other. They couldn’t be more different but those differences made for a very special relationship.
Meeting at a Valentine night blind date each of them set up by well meaning but interfering friends and family, neither wanting to go, the attraction was instant and the chemistry quickly flowed.
Of course Ethan was his usual clumsy self and Kel his usual man of few words self but they both saw past that and I loved Kel for the way he took every one of Ethan’s accidents in his stride and as Ethan’s anxiety calmed so to did his clumsiness.
Really enjoyable and I recommend you read it.
It’s not often I give a short story five stars but when it comes to Clare London, queen of the short stories it just feels right. It is so difficult to write a short story but capture the reader, make them invest in the characters, laugh and feel emotional but I felt all of these,
Ethan and Kel are perfect for each other. They couldn’t be more different but those differences made for a very special relationship.
Meeting at a Valentine night blind date each of them set up by well meaning but interfering friends and family, neither wanting to go, the attraction was instant and the chemistry quickly flowed.
Of course Ethan was his usual clumsy self and Kel his usual man of few words self but they both saw past that and I loved Kel for the way he took every one of Ethan’s accidents in his stride and as Ethan’s anxiety calmed so to did his clumsiness.
Really enjoyable and I recommend you read it.
February 4, 2019
This story had me grinning ear to ear from the beginning, right until the end; and yes I did want more. However, for a short story it really did pack a lot more in than you would have thought. I was worried that the “accidents” would be manufactured in a way to make it work, but they were added in so subtly that I didn’t see them coming. Ethan was a delight in that he had given up on love, and based on his history I could see why. Kel was adorable too, and despite the exterior you could tell what a softy he really was underneath.
This story, for me, about going for what you don’t know or expect. These guys both had a history of going for what they think they should do, as opposed to what they really wanted. When they let go of themselves and went for it, something special happened. This was a very heart warming, page turning story with enough spice and sizzle, if you know what I mean!
This story, for me, about going for what you don’t know or expect. These guys both had a history of going for what they think they should do, as opposed to what they really wanted. When they let go of themselves and went for it, something special happened. This was a very heart warming, page turning story with enough spice and sizzle, if you know what I mean!
February 4, 2019
This is a feel good sweet story about two opposites who are perfect for each other. The stories of poor Ethan and Kel’s dates made me smile, and were very amusing, although poor Ethan didn’t think so. He’s certainly very accident prone and that added to his appeal. Kel was perfect for him with his unflappable responses to all the chaos going on around them.
I also loved the supporting cast who round out the story. Pips deserves a mention of his own, and I was happy that he got his own HEA. Kel’s family are wonderfully supportive and came across as very real—I love stories with a family feeling as well as the romance.
I’d recommend Hidden Hearts to readers looking for a sweet, but not sappy, romantic read with likeable characters, a great supporting cast, and two guys who are perfectly matched if they can survive their first few dates.
I also loved the supporting cast who round out the story. Pips deserves a mention of his own, and I was happy that he got his own HEA. Kel’s family are wonderfully supportive and came across as very real—I love stories with a family feeling as well as the romance.
I’d recommend Hidden Hearts to readers looking for a sweet, but not sappy, romantic read with likeable characters, a great supporting cast, and two guys who are perfectly matched if they can survive their first few dates.
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