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Cupid's Charm
Olivia Parker is out of options. She’s broke, homeless, and way too old to move in with her parents. Desperate, she takes the first job she’s offered, and lands in the middle of her worst nightmare. There’s nothing she despises more than the romantic hype of Valentine’s Day and her new hometown is romance central.
Max Reed’s got a wonderful family, and a great job as head of the local RCMP detachment. There’s only one thing missing; the woman of his dreams. When a new tenant moves into his building, he discovers that Olivia Parker might just fit the bill nicely. Too bad she’s the Scrooge of romance.
With small town life and Valentine’s events relentlessly pushing them together, it’s going to take everything Olivia has to protect herself from Max’s determined efforts to win her heart.
Max Reed’s got a wonderful family, and a great job as head of the local RCMP detachment. There’s only one thing missing; the woman of his dreams. When a new tenant moves into his building, he discovers that Olivia Parker might just fit the bill nicely. Too bad she’s the Scrooge of romance.
With small town life and Valentine’s events relentlessly pushing them together, it’s going to take everything Olivia has to protect herself from Max’s determined efforts to win her heart.
310 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2021
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Katie O'Connor
46 books137 followersKatie O’Connor lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She married her high school sweetheart and is living her happily ever after. She is the mother of two grown daughters and is extremely proud of her five grandchildren.
Katie’s career path has been long and twisted, with most of her life devoted to her family. She’s been a waitress, chambermaid, cashier, store manager, as well as a lab and x-ray technician. She is an avid quilter and crafter. She finds inspiration and relaxation in the wilds of Alberta.
She’s dabbled in writing since high school because something drives her to create stories. She swears it’s impossible for her NOT to write. Unsatisfied with one genre, Katie writes contemporary romance, fantasy/paranormal romance and erotica. Recently, she’s crafted her first cozy mystery with the intention of publishing a cozy mystery series.
She believes in all things magical; including dragons, fairies, UFOs, ghosts, and house pixies. But most of all she believes in love, romance and hope.
Katie’s career path has been long and twisted, with most of her life devoted to her family. She’s been a waitress, chambermaid, cashier, store manager, as well as a lab and x-ray technician. She is an avid quilter and crafter. She finds inspiration and relaxation in the wilds of Alberta.
She’s dabbled in writing since high school because something drives her to create stories. She swears it’s impossible for her NOT to write. Unsatisfied with one genre, Katie writes contemporary romance, fantasy/paranormal romance and erotica. Recently, she’s crafted her first cozy mystery with the intention of publishing a cozy mystery series.
She believes in all things magical; including dragons, fairies, UFOs, ghosts, and house pixies. But most of all she believes in love, romance and hope.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2021
What a delightful read! This is the perfect story for Valentines Day. The storyline is delightful; the characters quirky and cute; totally adorable plot situations; and a simply marvelous HEA! You definitely want to add this one to your TBR list today. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and absolutely loved it!) ❤️❤️
February 8, 2023
NEW YEAR, NEW TOWN, NEW LIFE
The story is a clean contemporary romance that will bring Olivia ‘Liv’ Parker to the town of Rapture as the new vet assistant. Liv is the first of twelve children and comes from a loving home--yet she felt lost in her large family’s exuberance. She wants quiet and has no plans for marriage or family.
RCMP Max Reed is smitten with Olivia from the moment he sees her while out searching for his missing dog. When he gets back to the town of Rapture, he will see her again at the diner. Olivia is his newest tenant, set up by her employer, Dr. Hardisty.
The story’s plot will have Liv arriving in Rapture, the town where she has been hired as the newest vet assistant since the last one she worked for retired. Liv did not realize that the town of Rapture is all about Valentine’s Day—including decorations, parades, and events. The last thing Liv is looking for is love and a relationship.
I enjoyed the story and characters. Many of the people in town are related and have lived here for generations. For them, Rapture and its celebrations are to be embraced, not ignored. That will lead to Liv learning she will become part of the town, helping out, and making plenty of friends. The more Max tries to win Liv over, the more she bucks his advances. When it comes to marriage and children, they are complete opposites. While he wants lots of children, she isn’t even sure she wants marriage, much less children.
“You’re not seeing it right. The more love you give, the more you get. You can’t use it up. Not giving it out is a waste. If you don’t give it away, it’ll wither and die, along with your heart and soul.” –Max
“I believe in giving my full attention to my dates. Your life and your opinions are important. As for treating you nicely, you’re a guest. I learned a thing or two from my father, and both grandfathers. Treat a woman like gold and she’ll treat you like a king. I want my marriage, any relationship, to be about giving and caring. It’s a two-way street. Give and take.”
Liv: I’m only here because I got a free ticket from Kierra for helping out with the children’s party. I didn’t want to offend her by refusing.
Max: Admirable. But I think, if you give the Valentine’s Dance a chance, you might even enjoy yourself. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love.
Liv: No thank you. I am not looking for love.
Max: You sure are set against romance. Honestly, your stance baffles me.
“Here's to relationships. The good, the bad, and the confusing.” –Liv
“Sometimes she wondered if she were truly angry with him, or with herself for wanting what he offered. Love, romance, affection, attention. Individually, they all sounded great.”
“One last word of advice. Not everyone wants a ginormous family the way you do. Don’t let your fantasy family scare her away. Compromise is a thing. A big thing. Prioritize your needs. What’s more important, Olive for life, or a million rugrats? If she’s the right one, her dream should be just as important as yours. You choose.” –Hikaru
I mostly liked the characters and their interactions. I did get irritated with Liv and her self-absorbed pity party of one about wanting to be alone and away from her family. At times, she seems very self-centered because she lost that one-on-one with her parents after her siblings came along. Even her mother didn’t know that until Liv explained it. I think Liv is so set on avoiding marriage which will lead to children, that she closes herself off. She wants Max but not at the expense of having to share him with children. While Max also comes from a large family with lots of extended relatives, he embraces them, rather than feels like they are impeding his life. It is all about perspective. Will Liv and Max find a middle ground and a chance for a lifetime of happiness?
I don’t know if this will be part of a series, but I really hope so—I want to see more about Penny—and even Hikaru. They each need a story where they find happiness in a relationship.
The story is a clean contemporary romance that will bring Olivia ‘Liv’ Parker to the town of Rapture as the new vet assistant. Liv is the first of twelve children and comes from a loving home--yet she felt lost in her large family’s exuberance. She wants quiet and has no plans for marriage or family.
RCMP Max Reed is smitten with Olivia from the moment he sees her while out searching for his missing dog. When he gets back to the town of Rapture, he will see her again at the diner. Olivia is his newest tenant, set up by her employer, Dr. Hardisty.
The story’s plot will have Liv arriving in Rapture, the town where she has been hired as the newest vet assistant since the last one she worked for retired. Liv did not realize that the town of Rapture is all about Valentine’s Day—including decorations, parades, and events. The last thing Liv is looking for is love and a relationship.
I enjoyed the story and characters. Many of the people in town are related and have lived here for generations. For them, Rapture and its celebrations are to be embraced, not ignored. That will lead to Liv learning she will become part of the town, helping out, and making plenty of friends. The more Max tries to win Liv over, the more she bucks his advances. When it comes to marriage and children, they are complete opposites. While he wants lots of children, she isn’t even sure she wants marriage, much less children.
“You’re not seeing it right. The more love you give, the more you get. You can’t use it up. Not giving it out is a waste. If you don’t give it away, it’ll wither and die, along with your heart and soul.” –Max
“I believe in giving my full attention to my dates. Your life and your opinions are important. As for treating you nicely, you’re a guest. I learned a thing or two from my father, and both grandfathers. Treat a woman like gold and she’ll treat you like a king. I want my marriage, any relationship, to be about giving and caring. It’s a two-way street. Give and take.”
Liv: I’m only here because I got a free ticket from Kierra for helping out with the children’s party. I didn’t want to offend her by refusing.
Max: Admirable. But I think, if you give the Valentine’s Dance a chance, you might even enjoy yourself. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love.
Liv: No thank you. I am not looking for love.
Max: You sure are set against romance. Honestly, your stance baffles me.
“Here's to relationships. The good, the bad, and the confusing.” –Liv
“Sometimes she wondered if she were truly angry with him, or with herself for wanting what he offered. Love, romance, affection, attention. Individually, they all sounded great.”
“One last word of advice. Not everyone wants a ginormous family the way you do. Don’t let your fantasy family scare her away. Compromise is a thing. A big thing. Prioritize your needs. What’s more important, Olive for life, or a million rugrats? If she’s the right one, her dream should be just as important as yours. You choose.” –Hikaru
I mostly liked the characters and their interactions. I did get irritated with Liv and her self-absorbed pity party of one about wanting to be alone and away from her family. At times, she seems very self-centered because she lost that one-on-one with her parents after her siblings came along. Even her mother didn’t know that until Liv explained it. I think Liv is so set on avoiding marriage which will lead to children, that she closes herself off. She wants Max but not at the expense of having to share him with children. While Max also comes from a large family with lots of extended relatives, he embraces them, rather than feels like they are impeding his life. It is all about perspective. Will Liv and Max find a middle ground and a chance for a lifetime of happiness?
I don’t know if this will be part of a series, but I really hope so—I want to see more about Penny—and even Hikaru. They each need a story where they find happiness in a relationship.
January 29, 2021
“I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.”
I liked reading this book, but is was nothing special. I did like the development of the relationship of Olivia and Max. They have al lot in common and have some differences. They have enough in common to relate to each other, but are different enough to have some struggles. I could not understand some of the choices that Olivia made and found her a bit selfish. Max on the other hand was a bit too perfect and too romantic for my taste. If you like Valentine's Day and romantic male characters then you will certainly like this book.
The story is perfect for this time of the year because it evolves around Valentine's Day. When Olivia moves to Rapture she doesn't know that Valentine's Day is a important day for this town. They celebrate the weeks around Valentine's Day in a Big way (Parade, market, etc). Olivia doesn't like Valentine's Day and is definitely not looking for love. When she meets her landlord Max she finds it difficult for not to fall in love with him.
I liked reading this book, but is was nothing special. I did like the development of the relationship of Olivia and Max. They have al lot in common and have some differences. They have enough in common to relate to each other, but are different enough to have some struggles. I could not understand some of the choices that Olivia made and found her a bit selfish. Max on the other hand was a bit too perfect and too romantic for my taste. If you like Valentine's Day and romantic male characters then you will certainly like this book.
The story is perfect for this time of the year because it evolves around Valentine's Day. When Olivia moves to Rapture she doesn't know that Valentine's Day is a important day for this town. They celebrate the weeks around Valentine's Day in a Big way (Parade, market, etc). Olivia doesn't like Valentine's Day and is definitely not looking for love. When she meets her landlord Max she finds it difficult for not to fall in love with him.
February 2, 2021
This story is cute and sweet and everything I enjoy about love at first sight. I adored Max, and Rex is a pretty awesome cookie too. Max is the stuff that perfect book boyfriends are made of. In fact, the argument could be made that he’s just the tiniest bit too perfect. Olivia left me scratching my head a lot of the time. Her militant anti-romance stance and the reasons behind it baffled me. I know it’s an issue in my own understanding, but I just didn’t get how the two things are related. And her change of heart struck me as being a little rushed. However, I loved the small-town feel and getting to know all the quirky residents of Rapture. There’s a few of them that I badly want to know more about and learn what comes next in their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
February 9, 2021
This story isn't horrible, but I wouldn't say I really like it. I'm invested enough that I wanted to finish it. its VERY slow and angsty and repetitive....and somewhat contradictory too. They haven't gotten too much into Liv's back story and why she is so jaded, maybe it just is because she isn't used to being pursued or the center of attention because of her big family. But I would think it would have to be more than that and it's honestly getting sort of annoying. I mean, Liv seems great and it's nice that she moved and found a nice gig and place to settle, and good friends along the way. The story turned out how I figured but they took a long time to get there and the. The last chapter just wrapped it all up and was very rushed. Again, not horrible, but I’m disappointed.
January 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this cute small-town romance. Olivia aka liv accepts the only job she is offered in Rapture, not realizing the town is obsessed with Valentine's Day. Liv doesn't believe in romance, doesn't really care about all the big hype about the holiday or Cupid. Liv sure isn't expecting the cute guy to be her landlord. Max is drawn to his new tenant and is determined to win her over and make her believe in romance. Live is determined not to fall for the charm of her landlord/neighbor who proves each day he is what she never knew she wanted. This is a cute story about finding true love and taking a leap of faith, it’s about embracing your destiny. I loved how carrying, sweet, patient and in-tune Max is with what Olivia needs.
January 25, 2021
I am voluntarily reviewing after receiving a free copy. I liked that it was set in Alberta, Canada. Max falls for Olivia right away when he sees her but it is a struggle to get Olivia to accept it. Olivia is anti-romance and wants to deny her feelings. When Max pushes, she pulls back further. It takes Max being in an accident and a honest talk with her mother before Olivia can accept that she loves Max. It is Olivia who proposes and Max accepts with the gift of the dragonfly pendant she had admired at the Valentine's Fair. It was a slow build romance. The strange part of the story was Rex's escapes and the surprise when they found out how.
January 27, 2021
Olivia (Liv) moves to Rapture for a job...what she didn't expect was their over-the-top love of all things romance and especially Valentine's Day. She is against romance having always felt lost in her crazy-big family growing up. But can she resist the charms of RCMP Max? Landlord extraordinaire. Plenty of quirky things to this town and fun characters. As some of the other reviewers mentioned, Olivia's continued resistance to how she truly felt got a little old towards the end. Overall I enjoyed the story.
January 28, 2021
I've never read anything by this author before. I liked the characters and the town. I did feel like the main female character was a little ridiculous with her fear and hatred of falling in love but it was a sweet romance. Loved the dog too. I received this as a free book to review.
January 31, 2021
A good read for the valentine season, oozing romance, love and everything valentine's. Good characters, ups, downs, a nice place to live, fears and falling in love makes this a good sweet story. I am voluntarily leaving this review after receiving an ARC.
February 19, 2021
This was an awesome romance. Very cute, realistic. The main character got on my nerves a little, but, I've actually known people like her. There are a few mistakes in the book, but not enough to stop reading it. It would make a great hallmark movie!
January 29, 2021
Can Valentine’s craziness in Rapture convince Olivia that real love exist? Max, his charmer landlord, will fight for her and for their chance at happily ever after. Sweet and funny.
July 10, 2021
I loved this sweet romance! The characters were engaging and the town so sweet and quirky. Here's a link to my full review.
https://psrc2021.blogspot.com/2021/07...
https://psrc2021.blogspot.com/2021/07...
July 11, 2021
Max & Olivia had an entertaining, quirky read. Plus a new author for me. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews