An Unexpected Love Story

Falling into Happily Ever After

by Ellie Hall

Catherine played it safe with book boyfriends—until Kellan, her nemesis, writes himself into her story.

Let’s not talk about how I was let go from my job and had to take a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. We definitely won't discuss their newest client and how he was the former love of my life. However, it’s fair to mention that Kellan Connelly is now my fiercest adversary.

I’ve spent the last decade playing it safe with book boyfriends—avoiding frustratingly attractive and three-dimensional guys like him.

When my roommate finds the Boyfriend Book, a silly relic leftover from my teens, it prompts a dare; go on five dates and pick one to be my Valentine. I can't say no, especially if it means proving to myself and Kellan that I’ve moved on.

Despite braving the dating jungle, none of the guys comes close to being my one true love. Except Kellan. He’s infuriating, confusing, catnip…and it turns out he has a secret.

With a love letter and a plane ticket in hand, can I leave my baggage behind and decide between love, hate, and the lies I told to protect my fragile heart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Rom Com, Chick Lit, Fiction, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance

207 pages, ebook

Published January 15, 2021

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

♥

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

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Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

♥

The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

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The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

♥

Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

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Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

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Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

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Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

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The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

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The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

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Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

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On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q:
inside me, there’s a little light, a mini star burning within. I just haven’t figured out how to let it shine, and these days I feel dim. (c)
Q:
Someday I will find a real-life book boyfriend, pulled from the pages of fiction. I hope.
Love works in contrasts, in paradox. There’s someone for all of us who won’t break our hearts, but the trouble is finding him among the billions of people on the planet. (c)
Q:
It had been raining for days, really putting a damper on the event. Everyone was grouchy and muddy. Then all of the sudden the sun beamed out from behind the thick clouds. This may sound crazy, but it was like the rays shone directly at me and an idea struck. (c)

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough to keep me turning pages, but frustrating nonetheless. You can only keep the mystery going so long before it becomes monotonous and overdone. Both happened here.

[Lana (Bibliomedico) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well , the cover is really cute and the blurb sounds interesting ...
But ,
the book was kinda meh ! " Yeah I'm going to use the " Meh " word 🤣 " ...
It wasn't bad , at the same time , it was boring ! I didn't enjoy it ...

It wasn't for me ....

[Dab · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 78% — I just can’t. I still don’t know what actually went down between them, but I don’t care.

The writing is clunky and detached, so it’s hard to follow the story.

She’s sorta starting to forgive him for whatever he did, but now she hates him again because of some dumb, fabricated reason that I’ve already forgotten. If there’s a third-act breakup coming, I’m out.

I’ve read worse, so it’s not a one-star, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

All through the book I was like ok, this isn’t too bad. However by the end of the book I felt like I was banging my head against a wall. Can we just start out with the whole incident that is between them. Seriously we aren’t stupid or naive so why try and conceal it through the whole book? I get wanting to keep a little mystery about what happened between Kellan and Catherine but the author took it to the extreme. I don’t even think they mentioned he left her instead of eloping until the book was practically over. Talk about trying to drag out suspense (that wasn’t even suspenseful). The whole premise is she’s supposed to date 5 guys before valentines and then choose a valentine. The dates where rushed and sometimes hardly talked about at all. After reading the whole book I can’t even really tell you what it was about except war. You heard me right, war. The comparison of them being in battle because of past wrongs became cringe worthy. And it just got worse from there. They make up and she wakes up feeling all her anger has finally left her and she’s light and happy. Butterflies and rainbows type stuff. Then oh no she reads his book and it’s their story and how dare he humiliate her and waaa, waaa, waaa poor me. Right there the book dropped to 2 stars and didn’t get back up. Then he writes her a note and had a heart to heart with her dad and all of a sudden I love him, I forgive him, sunshine and rainbows again. This girl..... Not to mention she tries to make their getting back together all about girl power????? WTH She says modern and empowered women can want a man. Agreed but when in the heck was she either of those? She was a whiny, pouty child who never moved on. She didn’t date not because she didn’t want to or was empowered being on her own. No she didn’t want to chance it. She wanted to stay safely hidden away in her room reading romance books. Plus she calls herself “a girl going after her guy taking a risk”. What risk?!!!!! He wrote her a heartfelt letter, he’s done nothing but lay his heart out for her. How is following him, after he asks her to a risk? I was so not impressed with Cat or this book.

[wandering. bibliophile_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This was such a cute and swoon worthy story. Seriously if you're up for a fun,heart warming,full of emotions love story this is it. I loved this so much oh my good. I don't usually read second chance and this one nailed it in every way. Also throw in the best friend's brother trope, romantic declarations, bookboyfriends, giving love another chance, and last but not the least always meant to be vibes- this book had it all. I just feel so happy and hopeful right now after reading this book. I really needed this book right now. It's like sunshine in the form of a book. I love love LOVED it.

Catherine has said goodbye to love, she is happy with her bookboyfriends, she cannot go through heartbreak again, that's until she comes face to face with Kellan in the streets of new york city, the boy who took a piece of her heart and never gave it back. As past and present collides, Catherine cannot deny that it is Kellan who still owns her heart and he will go to every length to win her back, to fix what went wrong and move forward together, but will Catherine be able to trust him again?

This book is written with heart and it is hilarious and the characters are so real. I loved Catherine, she was struggling with her career,kind of stuck inbetween jobs and at times her insecurities got better of her. Her emotions and inner monologues felt so real. I loved seeing her slowly open up her heart, talk it out with Kellan and fight for her relationship.
Kellan is straight up bookboyfriend material. And boy this character had many layers and I lived for them. His character arc was quite surprising and I lived for it. This man went all out to win back his lady love.

I cannot stop gushing about this book ok so I'll stop now. 2 words- READ IT.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was really cute!

[Stephanie]

DNF @ 10%. I was browsing Kindle Unlimited and thought this could be cute, but two chapters in and it was way too sappy for me.

[Casandra Reid · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was such a painful book to read. I only finished it because I can’t stand to leave a story unfinished but I almost couldn’t do it with this one. The writing dragged on. I rolled my eyes too many times at the characters. The only positive thing about this book was I got it for free.

[Krystal - nerdy_book_lover_1987 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute read. A little slow paced for my liking but otherwise a nice story.

[Suzie Waltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoy a good romcom, and An Unexpected Love Story by Ellie Hall had the potential to be just that.

It was a cute read with a cautious heroine, a determined hero, and plenty of drama before the expected HEA. I do wish the dates had more substance to them, make Kellan fear for their relationship now and again. And I just wanted to tell Catherine to get over it and look at the man Kellan is now.

That said, I loved Kellan’s perseverance and consideration when it came to Catherine. I also loved Hazel and hope she gets her story.

Overall, an sweet read to keep you occupied for one afternoon that will warm the hearts of those seeking out a nice, light romance.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[buket · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didn't expect to love this book so much!!! i feel like Cat can be my book twin she's very much like me 😭
i'm SO in love with Kellan it's not even funny

✓ best friend's brother
✓ childhood friends to lovers
✓ supportive bff
✓ amazing heroine
✓ PERFECT writer hero who writes entire book series for HEROINE

Let’s discuss Mr. Darcy and how he melted his frosty exterior for Miss Bennet. How Noah Calhoun from The Notebook makes me swoon. Severus Snape, always. Gilbert Blythe and his unwavering patience and adoration for Anne Shirley. Yes, please.
.
.
These are my book boyfriends.

SAME GIRL

The last time I saw that dimple was...years ago. Actually, four years, nine months, and seven weeks ago.
One thing is for sure, I am a fool. A fool for Catherine, but also a fool. Or rather, was a fool. A boy, afraid, overwhelmed.

MY HEART

“‘Three words, eight letters, say it and I’m yours,’”

gossip girl lover in me fangirling hard


It was fascinating and reminded me of you, which reminded me of home. I realized, Catherine, you are my home.

I loved you fifteen years ago, ten years ago, five, and yesterday. And I will love you tomorrow. You have my heart, the whole thing, the rest of me too, if you want. I want.

okay bye. ✨

[Kimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am on a kick of reading Romcoms lately and I am loving the sense of humor I get out of them!
An Unexpected Love Story by Ellie Hall was my most recent foray into the genre and I was left with a sense of laughter, tensions, and boy next door vibes. Catherine was a sweet character, a bit hardheaded/ stubborn, but a likeable and relatable character none the less. I think my favorite character though was Kellan. He just radiated. I loved his sweet nature and fierce devotion to going after what he wanted. A great combination, and one I think you will like too!
Overall, I did enjoy this story, it had some slow parts and times where I wanted to shake Catherine for holding one to her anger (probably because that is the opposite of who I am). But I liked the general storyline and enjoyed reading it. 3.5 rounded to 4 Stars.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Lisa Garber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea, poor execution

The book was choppy and jumped around a lot. For example, after she says she’s forgiven him completely and has felt the weight of unforgiveness lifted from her shoulders, suddenly 4 pages later she’s wondering if she can ever forgive him…. (What?!)
Then scenes that should be critical are skipped, I.e. hooray he finally got her on a date! Next thing you know he’s back in his apartment with no comment on how this date went? Weird. Hard to get into because of the choppiness and inconsistency.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You can’t be in the lonely hearts club forever.”

We pass one of my favorite bookstores and instead of looking at my reflection in the glass like Hazel, I look beyond-at the stories and the pages filled with romances that reliably end with a happily ever after.

I’m happy to be snowed in with cookies, books, and my laptop.

“Love is the simplest and most complicated thing about being human.

“Hearing you talk about novels is-” A swonny sigh escapes. “You’re a real-life book boyfriend.”

“I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather write the story of us with.”

“Love is comfort. Love is understanding. Love is forgiveness. Love is home. And when you love someone, no matter what happens between you, love can become something else, something more. Nothing can keep us apart.”

Kellen was remarkably sweet and caring man. Catherine was loyal and realistic. She didn’t swoon immediately and put up a good fight. I knew what had happened between Kellen and Catherine before Kellen left for the Marines. Kellen owned up to making mistakes and he did a fantastic job making up for them. The chemistry and kissing scenes was beautifully written. I was hoping for more. More what? I’m not sure. I just felt like I was missing something. But it was still a great book. 3.5 stars.

[Susanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't stick with this one, and DNF'd at 22%


For starters, the characters all felt the same. They spoke the same way, they said the same things, they even thought similarly. None of them were all that real or believable. The MMC didn't come across remotely military, and the FMC behaved more like a shy 21yo than someone 7ish years older.

There was too much miscommunication and unnecessary conflict, when you know from the beginning and from being in each MCs head, that they still love each other. I know it's a light, sweet romcom, but it felt very low stakes and immature. Everything could have been resolved during the first conversation if they'd just *talked.*

And how does a modern, late-twenties female romance reader who worked for a publishing place and even writes a little, *not* know what OTP and "shipping" are??

And it's totally not important, but it's "Dwayne" Johnson, not "Duane." :P

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this novel. Kellan was super sweet. I loved how he was a genuinely a great person. You could see that he made mistakes but really spent time making up for them. Catherine was super fun. I loved how she was loyal and acted very realistically. She didn’t swoon immediately she put up a fight but fell in love.

The chemistry and kissing scenes were awesome. I loved how you knew the two characters were meant for each other. They complemented each other. I also loved the secret. It’s so cute and nothing I ever expected.

In summary, really cute romance. Highly recommend.

[Ilknur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read for me. I feel like there was so much room in this story. Everything happened so fast, many things/problems were just mentioned, whereas they could have been delved into more, I did care for the characters, but the main aspect here was their live story. You gotta give it credit for what it is.

[aviva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
.
After reading countless thrillers and mysteries, I need something different and when I receive this second chance rom l-com story, I was here here for it.
.
I’m all about the second chance trope so I was cheering hard for Catherine and Kellan. This is a story also about forgiveness and daring to love again.
.
This is a cute story and the characters are so relatable, especially Catherine who struggles with low self esteem. I really love Kellan who tries so hard to right his mistakes and make things right. He was my favorite person form the story. I really wished there was more information about the 5 dates , but overall I did enjoyed the development of Catherine and Kellan throughout the story.
.
If you love clean romance, with emphasis on starting over, then this story is for you!

[Rawanaat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahh man, I really thought this book had potential, the synopsis seemed cute and interesting enough but how could it go downhill so fast? I think maybe that was the problem, you read the description of a book and you have certain expectations but then what you read does not accurately portray what you expected, no, not even in a good way.

Plot
• Okay this thing was supposed to be about a girl going on 5 dates before valentines to get out of her funk, it should’ve been fun, cute, lighthearted… something! But the story completely derailed from its origin, she did indeed go on those dates, they were described in passing, one of them ending with a “twist” that wasn’t even warranted. I don’t know, more effort should’ve been put into this, I didn’t expect this part to be wrapped up before the halfway mark, it completely put me off.
• The other main topic was this second chance at love between the main characters, aka it was literally the only dominating topic, they don’t want you to forget that incident, that life-altering, sad, monumental incident that happened years ago that literally shaped them somehow, this incident which is kept as such a mystery and talked vaguely about in the hope it increases the suspense but only made me more frustrated with the plot basically they were supposed to elope and get married when they were in highschool when her bestfriend died.... yup I know what a big secret. Like you would think after everything building up, we would reach the climax and … no wait what climax? This thing barely peaked towards the end; I couldn’t finish it fast enough.

Characters
• Catharine: I have never seen a more depressing character. She has no drive, no presence. Usually, these stories are accompanied by a sense of purpose in terms of her job, life, it’s not always about the romance but Cat here was just… useless. She hated her job but apparently didn’t struggle to live, she shared an amazing apartment with her friend, her workplace was mentioned like twice and that’s it. This girl literally just existed to tell us how much she love-hates Kellan.
• Kellan: lover boy who has no character beyond being centered around Cat. Anything and everything he did is about her. His past, present and future is about her one way or the other. I don’t get it, making him this lovesick did not increase his appeal or make him sound romantic, but boy did he spew poetry every time he opened his mouth— it got to a cringe-worthy level.

Chemistry
• Non-existent.
• I don't understand why they’re “in love” they share a history, quite an extensive history. But just because two people grew up together doesn’t mean they need to be a couple. Also, I still didn’t get why they couldn’t be together in the first place during school– maybe I missed it or misinterpreted it – but were they forbidden by someone to date? Fear of rejection? Were they in love with someone else? They were somehow throwing obstacles around to explain why they couldn’t be together back then, and I can only say that if they didn’t put the effort in the heat of the moment then I don’t get why they need to bother now.


Sigh…. I’m done ranting…. I just had to, this was too much...

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The cover is truly adorable. I would definitely reach for it without even reading the back blurb, because it just looks fun.
Of course, I did read the back blurb because that was actually what was presented to me first, and it sounded equally as cute as the cover. ;)
"Catherine played it safe with book boyfriends - until Kellan, her nemesis, writes himself into her story." Who doesn't have one or two book crushes?
I enjoyed getting into the story, and wanted to fully relate to Catherine, especially with her being a book lover like myself, but as the story continued, I didn't exactly 'click' with her, unfortunately.
The story had a cute premise, but parts of it felt rushed, and Kellan turned out to be not quite the nemesis as I thought he would be - which wasn't bad, he was a great character, and I think definitely the one that stood out the most in the story. But from all the build-up, I guess I expected them not to get along for a long time. Catherine battled her fears about him a lot, which felt a bit like yo-yo-ing, but I can still understand that.
I just felt like it was lacking a bit of climax or much depth. But I realize that my mood while I was reading could've been a contributing factor, and I'm sure this could be someone else's favorite book.
It's light-hearted, and clean, good for when you might need a fluffy romance to brighten your day. :)
I'm glad I got the chance to read it, and it still ranks up there as a favorite cover.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[thereshegoeswithanotherbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡We made it to Wednesday ♡
And it's
BOOK REVIEW TIME
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First off huge thanks to @justreadtours and @elliehallauthor for my complementary copy and the swag that came with this beautiful book Just because it was gifted doesn't effect my opinions all opinions are my own . Thanks for having me on tour today's my stop ✋
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BOOK DETAILS
Author @elliehallauthor
Paperback , ‎240 pages
Published January 13th 2021
ISBN139798594565470
GENRES: Romanctic Comedy , Contemporary Romance.
Trigger Warnings ⚠️ Failed marriage/Elopement , Broken Heart
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Synopsis #anunexpectedlovestory
Catherine + Kellan = forNEVER, or so I thought.Let’s not talk about how I was let go from my job and had to take a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. We definitely won't discuss their newest client and how he was the former love of my life. However, it’s fair to mention that Kellan Connelly is now my fiercest adversary.I’ve spent the last decade playing it safe with book boyfriends—avoiding frustratingly attractive and three-dimensional guys like him
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MY THOUGHTS: This is the first book I've read written by this author. First time I've heard of her and to be honest , after reading this book. I CANNOT wait to read more of her books. Cat was an interesting character. The history between her and Kellan was a roller-coaster ride. The narration is poetic and beautiful with humor throughout the novel. A feel good Rom Com. It's a sweet second chance love story. I will definitely be getting the second book. Besides some cringy moments I overall enjoyed this and would definitely recommend you to get this to add to your last minute Summer reading list.
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[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely charming read! Catherine and Kellan were friends, once upon a time; and each hoped that they'd end up with each other. But...things happened. Kellan left & joined the Marines. Cat went to college. Catherine decides that all the literary boyfriends are MUCH better than those IRL. And that Kellan is a villain.

Years later they meet on the street in Manhattan. "Catherine, Cat!" A huge hug from Kellan doesn't undo his betrayal...even though he's even more gorgeous than she remembers.

And so it starts. Catherine's roommate proposes a Valentine's Day boy challenge for Cat. Will that, and Catherine's hurt heart, prevent Kellan from ever having a chance with her?

This is just a darling book, and I delighted in reading it! Author Ellis Hall tells a fun and fast-paced modern-day love story. Its narrative switches from Kellan's POV to Cat's, chapter by chapter. So you get to see (read) everything each one is thinking. They are both appealing and interesting...but can they get over their history to build a future? You'll have to read An Unexpected Love Story to find out! But I happily recommend this sweet, clean romance. You'll be rooting for them both (and for Hazel, Cat's roommate, who'll star in the next book in the series!).

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a story within a story (because there's an author character) about finding your OTP (one true pairing) or your HEA (happily ever after). It's not all hearts and roses either. I didn't think it would happen and at times the characters didn't think it would happen either. Yes, it's a sweet rom-com, but it has nice depth to it that I couldn't just breeze through this novel. But I also wanted to find out the ending, so I couldn't put it down! An Unexpected Love Story is a complete novel, yet hints at future stories! I can't wait!

Time Period: Modern (aka today)
Location: New York, New York, USA

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. Definitely one of those perfect books that allows you to escape for a while into a romantic scene like you are inside the movies. This was my first time reading a book by this author and it certainly won't be my last.

I loved the character of Catherine. I mean we were like her once upon a time. In love with our bookish boyfriends praying for that guy to become a reality. The difference for Cat is that she has met that guy. In fact they were best friends until something happens and he leaves. Kellan returns to make ammends because Cat is the woman he has been in love with for a long time. He is so sweet and his persistence to get Cat was completely swoony!

I love how her roommate Hazel becomes Kellan champion and unbeknownst to him helps both Cat and Kellan get together by making up this Valentine's Day challenge to get Catherine out there and realize what she truly wants in a man is standing right in front of him all she has to do is forgive him.

Despite my love for Catherine she drove me a bit batty when she just wouldn't let go of her anger towards Kellan completely and truly forgive him. She goes back and forth and it's frustrating to experience this along with her. But in the end it all worked out and for the better.

Ellie Hall definitely has won me over as a reader and I will be reading more from her! I really enjoy her style of writing. She gives both narratives and switches back and forth between them. I want to find out what happens to Hazel in the next book! This is definitely a clean and wholesome read. There is no faith element that I encountered in the story. It was enjoyable and somewhat quick read. If you want to be swept away in a romantic comedy then I recommend you grab this one!

I received a copy of this book through Just Read. I was not required to post a positive review. All view expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, here's the thing... while I certainly haven't always felt that way, in recent years I have found that novels written in first person are generally not going to be my favorite. There are some that I do really enjoy, but in general, those are the exception. So when I start to read a story written in first person, it definitely takes me a bit to get into the right frame of mind to really enjoy it. This certainly has nothing to do with the story or the quality of the writing, just a personal preference! That said, it does affect my getting into the story as much as I would like to.

Still, despite that I did find An Unexpected Love Story to be a cute RomCom. There were a few times where I must admit that I wasn't sure how I felt about Catherine's character as she came across as perhaps a bit whiny... but then perhaps we can all be that way when we're feeling sorry for ourselves! There were other times when I really enjoyed her funny inner dialogue and talk of book boyfriends so it all evened out in the end. The concept was fun, and while the whole five dates didn't take up as much of the story as anticipated, I enjoyed the idea nonetheless.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable second chance romance story. If you enjoy a fun, clean romance, this is certainly one worth checking out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story about second chances that had some sweet romantic moments and plenty of angst! We're not quite sure of the whole background and we get bits and pieces as the story develops of what happened between Kellan and Catherine over a decade ago. This is a clean read, not really a Christian story as there are maybe a couple comments about Jesus and prayer in passing. The main focus is on forgiveness as Catherine is dealing with some major hurts from their past and struggling to overcome them. I felt like the issues between them are talked about a little too much and just when you think they've finally resolved them, it starts again. I wished for a little more to the dating dare. There's a couple surprises but nothing too unexpected. You might like this story, especially if you like second chance romance.

I received a kindle copy of this book free from JustRead Tours. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

[Mariléne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unexpected Love Story by Ellie Hall is a story that takes you in from the very first minute and doesn't let you go until the last minute. This story revolves around Catherine. It was really fun to read about her love of books and that she only wants book boyfriends. Catherine reminds me a bit of myself. Also, Kellan was a very nice character. The book really took you in from the beginning to the end. Ellie Hall did it again!

If you like sweet romantic comedy, then this book is really for you.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. Please keep in mind that all opinions are my own.

[Kim - Inside the Wong Mind · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Unexpected Love Story
by Ellie Hall
Book 1 in the Falling into Happily Ever After RomCom
Rating: 4/5

Fun, hilarious and full of heart, An Unexpected Love Story is just what you need this summer! Who doesn't enjoy a nice lighthearted romcom that doesn't skirt the serious stuff. I don't believe I've ever read anything from the author before but I loved the premise of the story, so I had to grab a copy. After reading an ARC, I purchased my own copy (the book is also available on KU).

When her past crush/first love comes back into her life, Catherine doesn't know what to do. Her new roommate/best friend dares her to date the first five guys she lays eyes on (the next day) and pick her favorite for a Valentine's Day date. Discussing her OTP (One True Pairing), Catherine knows the answer has always been Kellan, her childhood best friend's brother, but their past is complicated and full of heartache. Catherine decides to follow Hazel's dare in order to get out of spending time with Kellan. Going on dates and writing about them on her Boyfriend Blog, Catherine finds herself opening up more and trying desperately to find some closure. Can Kellan convince Catherine that he's changed and won't leave again? Can Catherine learn to trust and forgive?

I thoroughly enjoyed this romcom and will definitely be reading more from the author. The writing is witty and clever when it needs to be but also deals with real emotional issues in an organic way. I also enjoyed the other characters and will definitely be reading what comes next for Hazel. I found Kellan's maturity refreshing and well-developed. There's a couple mentions of God but I wouldn't call this Christian fiction. It's more along the lines of sweet romance/romcom.

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean, romcoms with feisty heroines, dashing heroes and a clever best friend.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

[Lisa's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing better than a sweet and charming Romantic Comedy. This love story has many twists and turns as these adults try to come to grips with their teenage love story. Because of the traumatic events that happened at the same time as their blooming romance, immature decisions caused a decade of pain for them both.

Catherine and Kellan have bumped into each other in New York City and she’s not glad to see him. But, she also can’t stop thinking about him. She and her best friend/roommate have just settled into a beautiful new apartment and the friend has plans for Catherine. Since she has become so bitter at how her romance with Kellan ended, she has turned against love. Catherine’s friend, Hazel, has plans to stop this attitude. There are many hilarious moments.

The book is beautifully written, the characters are deep, and we feel all their joy and pain. The humor is just enough, and I won’t give away the ending. Will this couple stop torturing themselves and get together already?
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.