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All's Fair in Love and Blood
They are both out for blood, but could it end in love?
Scarlett Armstrong and Kane Hudson have a tangled past involving not only their families but their own failed love affair. Now, eight years later, to make things more complicated, they’re both in the running to become the next CEO of Scarlett’s family’s business, Armstrong Labs, a privately held blood plasma company. It all comes down to who presents the best business plan to the board of directors.
For Scarlett, it’s a matter of continuing her family’s legacy and hoping that her father will be proud of her once and for all. After all, she’s spent her entire life pushing her own dreams aside preparing for this role. And perhaps she would like a little sweet revenge against the man who stole her heart and never gave it back. Kane, on the other hand, is determined to reach his goal of becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company before his forty-fifth birthday and proving to Scarlett she’s meant to follow her own dreams.
But things don’t go according to plan for either Scarlett or Kane when they realize that perhaps they’re fighting for the wrong thing. With love and blood on the line, which one will come out on top?
Scarlett Armstrong and Kane Hudson have a tangled past involving not only their families but their own failed love affair. Now, eight years later, to make things more complicated, they’re both in the running to become the next CEO of Scarlett’s family’s business, Armstrong Labs, a privately held blood plasma company. It all comes down to who presents the best business plan to the board of directors.
For Scarlett, it’s a matter of continuing her family’s legacy and hoping that her father will be proud of her once and for all. After all, she’s spent her entire life pushing her own dreams aside preparing for this role. And perhaps she would like a little sweet revenge against the man who stole her heart and never gave it back. Kane, on the other hand, is determined to reach his goal of becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company before his forty-fifth birthday and proving to Scarlett she’s meant to follow her own dreams.
But things don’t go according to plan for either Scarlett or Kane when they realize that perhaps they’re fighting for the wrong thing. With love and blood on the line, which one will come out on top?
347 pages, ebook
First published January 26, 2021
501 people are currently reading
822 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Peel
63 books1,359 followersJennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-two years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 25, 2023
5+ Stars!
Y'all, I feel like this book should come with warnings. Lots and lots of warnings. Out of the goodness of my heart, I'll provide you with some of the warnings someone should have given me before I started this book.
*WARNING*
1. You may or may not need tissues before you dive into this book.
2. You may or may not want to have a tub of cookie dough waiting for you in your fridge so you can eat your feelings. (True story.)
3. You may or may not need to wrap your kindle in bubble wrap incase you decide you need to throw it across the room.
4. You may or may not be blown away with the emotional rollercoaster you're about to embark on.
5. You may or may not want to read this book at the same time as one of your bestest book buddies because you are probably going to need some emotional support along the way.
6. You may or may not have the mother of all book hangovers once you finish this book.
This book, right here, has ruined all other books for me for the unforeseeable future. I'm going to need to reread lots and lots of old favorites in order to give any new books a fighting chance of me loving them. Not sorry authors! I'm doing this for your own good! 😂
If you couldn't already guess, I absolutely LOVE this book! From the moment I picked it up, there was no putting it down! I skipped meals, stayed up way too late reading and pretty much ignored the world around me. No one existed except my new best friends, Scarlett and Kane. Oh how I adored these two!
Scarlett was such an amazing heroine! Y'all, I had real tears, both sad and happy ones, falling down my face for her. It didn't matter what life threw at her or that it was constantly knocking her down. She got right back up and kept pushing forward. She had every right in the world to be angry and bitter but she always, always took the higher road, even if she didn't want too. She has got to be the most selfless heroine ever and she makes me want to be a better person.
Kane was such a phenomenal hero! I think we all need a Kane in our lives. From the very beginning, and I mean VERY beginning, he was Team Scarlett. This man loves her fiercely, protects her with every fiber of his being, helps her to not only see herself but love herself, is willing to sacrifice his own happiness to make sure she is as happy as she can possibly be. He is the best of the best. It's no wonder they are perfect for each other!
And can we PLEASE take a moment to talk about the sizzling chemistry that was flying off the pages from the start?! It was hot, hot, hot! Oh holy Hannah! That first kiss! *dreamy sigh* Talk about a million butterflies and turning into a big ol' pile of goo. WOWZERS! This book has the BEST kissing scenes!
I am in awe of Ms. Peel's talent! I swear, it feels like every time I think I've found my new favorite book of hers, she turns to her next couple and says: "Hold my Dr. Pepper. I'm about to prove her wrong... again!" I will forever be grateful to one of my best bookish friends for introducing me to her books. I cannot WAIT to see what she has in store for us next!
As for my casting, I think we all need to take a moment to admire these two. I. Am. In. LOVE! *dreamy sigh* Aren't they perfect?!
Content: Mild language. Sizzling kisses. Clean!
Y'all, I feel like this book should come with warnings. Lots and lots of warnings. Out of the goodness of my heart, I'll provide you with some of the warnings someone should have given me before I started this book.
*WARNING*
1. You may or may not need tissues before you dive into this book.
2. You may or may not want to have a tub of cookie dough waiting for you in your fridge so you can eat your feelings. (True story.)
3. You may or may not need to wrap your kindle in bubble wrap incase you decide you need to throw it across the room.
4. You may or may not be blown away with the emotional rollercoaster you're about to embark on.
5. You may or may not want to read this book at the same time as one of your bestest book buddies because you are probably going to need some emotional support along the way.
6. You may or may not have the mother of all book hangovers once you finish this book.
This book, right here, has ruined all other books for me for the unforeseeable future. I'm going to need to reread lots and lots of old favorites in order to give any new books a fighting chance of me loving them. Not sorry authors! I'm doing this for your own good! 😂
If you couldn't already guess, I absolutely LOVE this book! From the moment I picked it up, there was no putting it down! I skipped meals, stayed up way too late reading and pretty much ignored the world around me. No one existed except my new best friends, Scarlett and Kane. Oh how I adored these two!
Scarlett was such an amazing heroine! Y'all, I had real tears, both sad and happy ones, falling down my face for her. It didn't matter what life threw at her or that it was constantly knocking her down. She got right back up and kept pushing forward. She had every right in the world to be angry and bitter but she always, always took the higher road, even if she didn't want too. She has got to be the most selfless heroine ever and she makes me want to be a better person.
Kane was such a phenomenal hero! I think we all need a Kane in our lives. From the very beginning, and I mean VERY beginning, he was Team Scarlett. This man loves her fiercely, protects her with every fiber of his being, helps her to not only see herself but love herself, is willing to sacrifice his own happiness to make sure she is as happy as she can possibly be. He is the best of the best. It's no wonder they are perfect for each other!
And can we PLEASE take a moment to talk about the sizzling chemistry that was flying off the pages from the start?! It was hot, hot, hot! Oh holy Hannah! That first kiss! *dreamy sigh* Talk about a million butterflies and turning into a big ol' pile of goo. WOWZERS! This book has the BEST kissing scenes!
I am in awe of Ms. Peel's talent! I swear, it feels like every time I think I've found my new favorite book of hers, she turns to her next couple and says: "Hold my Dr. Pepper. I'm about to prove her wrong... again!" I will forever be grateful to one of my best bookish friends for introducing me to her books. I cannot WAIT to see what she has in store for us next!
As for my casting, I think we all need to take a moment to admire these two. I. Am. In. LOVE! *dreamy sigh* Aren't they perfect?!
Content: Mild language. Sizzling kisses. Clean!
January 28, 2021
(said in my best sing-songy voice) I've got a new book boyfriend! I've got a new book boyfriend!
Yes, it's true and you will too once you read this book. Kane. K.A.N.E. KANE! Oh my goodness, this one is going to be hard to get over. I have a Kane hangover. And a book hangover. Maybe an everything hangover? I really want to go back and read this book again right now but I almost don't dare. It just wouldn't be fair to other books. Or my family.
Kane. Why do I love him? Let me count the ways. Although, to be fair, there was a point in this book that I was very, very upset with him. Very upset. I got over it though. I think what I loved most about Kane was that he really saw Scarlett. From the very beginning, he saw her. Kane is driven, smart and determined. He has charisma and charm oozing from his pores. He doesn't back down or shy away from Scarlett's moments. He pushes her to recognize her dreams and work hard but to also enjoy herself along the way. Kane is yummy. And, except for the time I was upset with him, I adored him. Well, okay. I still adored him even when I was upset. It happens.
Yes, I loved Scarlett too. I loved her loyalty to her dad. I loved how she loved and I loved how smart she was. She was fantastic.
I think it goes without saying at this point but just for the sake of actually saying it, I loved this book. It captured my emotions and my heart. I was entertained and I always love to be entertained when I read. Here's an example of something that made me laugh:
"Eva had even Spanxed my thighs. Which was too bad, as they would have been clapping for me as I walked down the aisle and I could have used the encouragement." hahahaha
This book will be counted as one of my favorites by this author. It was exactly what I needed to read and hit all my sweet spots. Love.
Content: kissing, mild swearing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. I bought my own copy today!
Yes, it's true and you will too once you read this book. Kane. K.A.N.E. KANE! Oh my goodness, this one is going to be hard to get over. I have a Kane hangover. And a book hangover. Maybe an everything hangover? I really want to go back and read this book again right now but I almost don't dare. It just wouldn't be fair to other books. Or my family.
Kane. Why do I love him? Let me count the ways. Although, to be fair, there was a point in this book that I was very, very upset with him. Very upset. I got over it though. I think what I loved most about Kane was that he really saw Scarlett. From the very beginning, he saw her. Kane is driven, smart and determined. He has charisma and charm oozing from his pores. He doesn't back down or shy away from Scarlett's moments. He pushes her to recognize her dreams and work hard but to also enjoy herself along the way. Kane is yummy. And, except for the time I was upset with him, I adored him. Well, okay. I still adored him even when I was upset. It happens.
Yes, I loved Scarlett too. I loved her loyalty to her dad. I loved how she loved and I loved how smart she was. She was fantastic.
I think it goes without saying at this point but just for the sake of actually saying it, I loved this book. It captured my emotions and my heart. I was entertained and I always love to be entertained when I read. Here's an example of something that made me laugh:
"Eva had even Spanxed my thighs. Which was too bad, as they would have been clapping for me as I walked down the aisle and I could have used the encouragement." hahahaha
This book will be counted as one of my favorites by this author. It was exactly what I needed to read and hit all my sweet spots. Love.
Content: kissing, mild swearing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. I bought my own copy today!
January 28, 2021
I'm intoxicated on the swoon!
Wowza! Peel has a talent of bringing her characters to life, but this one takes the cake. Reading All's Fair in Love and Blood was like devouring an entire delicious and rich German chocolate cake (with all that glorious frosting) in one sitting. I was blown away by this love story and had all the heart eyes for Kane. And I mean ALL the heart eyes. That man was pure sugary sweet perfection.
This book is divided into two parts and each was completely necessary to paint the full, beautiful picture of Kane's and Scarlett's tale. I loved how each chapter was named, as they gave the reader a hint of what was to come, and because of those hints, I could NOT put it down. Life is all about timing, experiences, and things coming together when they're meant to, and not only does Peel write an amazing story that showcases those spots in life, but she delivers it with humor and lots of breathtaking swoon.
The romantic, work, and familial relationships are complex, which drew me right in. Kane is the most supportive and charming character and Scarlett is the most persistent, driven, and giving woman. Their scorching chemistry was an addictive love potion that kept me anticipating more. Give me an impressive plot with fantastic characters and some mad swoon and I'm all in! Peel is in trouble because this one is going to be hard to beat.
Content: mild+ romance; mild+ language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Wowza! Peel has a talent of bringing her characters to life, but this one takes the cake. Reading All's Fair in Love and Blood was like devouring an entire delicious and rich German chocolate cake (with all that glorious frosting) in one sitting. I was blown away by this love story and had all the heart eyes for Kane. And I mean ALL the heart eyes. That man was pure sugary sweet perfection.
This book is divided into two parts and each was completely necessary to paint the full, beautiful picture of Kane's and Scarlett's tale. I loved how each chapter was named, as they gave the reader a hint of what was to come, and because of those hints, I could NOT put it down. Life is all about timing, experiences, and things coming together when they're meant to, and not only does Peel write an amazing story that showcases those spots in life, but she delivers it with humor and lots of breathtaking swoon.
The romantic, work, and familial relationships are complex, which drew me right in. Kane is the most supportive and charming character and Scarlett is the most persistent, driven, and giving woman. Their scorching chemistry was an addictive love potion that kept me anticipating more. Give me an impressive plot with fantastic characters and some mad swoon and I'm all in! Peel is in trouble because this one is going to be hard to beat.
Content: mild+ romance; mild+ language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
June 14, 2022
3.5 stars
TROPE: friends to lovers to enemies to lovers >> age gap >> second chance
WHAT TO EXPECT: some laugh out loud, innocent heroine, flirty cute banter, sweet and cute, closed-door romance
• Review •
I found the heroine’s level of innocence was a bit bizarre for her age and time. Also, everyone around her treated her like she was 13 when it came to dating. Doesn’t everyone know that she has already gone to college??? And…! More importantly, was a legal adult, for goodness sake!
I also wish I could see some flaws in Kane, to make him more real. He was just too good to be true. I don’t even think Prince Charming could compete with that 😆
However, the main characters had great chemistry together. I did enjoyed their flirty banter. And even though this was too sweet to almost give you cavities way, I did end up liking the romance in the end. 😜
TROPE: friends to lovers to enemies to lovers >> age gap >> second chance
WHAT TO EXPECT: some laugh out loud, innocent heroine, flirty cute banter, sweet and cute, closed-door romance
• Review •
I found the heroine’s level of innocence was a bit bizarre for her age and time. Also, everyone around her treated her like she was 13 when it came to dating. Doesn’t everyone know that she has already gone to college??? And…! More importantly, was a legal adult, for goodness sake!
I also wish I could see some flaws in Kane, to make him more real. He was just too good to be true. I don’t even think Prince Charming could compete with that 😆
However, the main characters had great chemistry together. I did enjoyed their flirty banter. And even though this was too sweet to almost give you cavities way, I did end up liking the romance in the end. 😜
January 29, 2021
This is a talented author who sticks to certain tropes I loathe -- h who is unawakened and pines while H dates "supermodels." She comes across as immature and naive, and all the hype in the world can't stop him from coming across as mega-smarmy a lot of the time.
I will always like Paige's Turn a lot, but I think I won't be reading anything from this author again. These sexual experience differentials and the idea that the heroine needs the hero to finally find herself, experience sexual attraction, and increase her self-esteem...nope.
I will always like Paige's Turn a lot, but I think I won't be reading anything from this author again. These sexual experience differentials and the idea that the heroine needs the hero to finally find herself, experience sexual attraction, and increase her self-esteem...nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2021
i had high expectations for this book and i was so sure that i was going to love it because i saw so may good reviews. the title and the summary suggested that it's an enemies-to-lovers book but does this book fit the trope? aside from the title, absolutely not. i'm definitely in the minority here because i found this book a very frustrating read for me. i actually lost count on how many times i rolled my eyes when reading this and there were very little things that i liked but so many things that i disliked.
let's start with the good things: i liked the complexity of Scarlett's relationship with her father. i thought it was interesting to read and it was interesting to see how they became closer as the book progressed. another thing i liked was the ending i thought it was cute. but that's about it.
as for the bad things... let's start with Scarlett, shall we? she is so. freaking. infuriating!!!! she's the epitome of the 'pick-me' girl. she constantly talked about how she's awkward and plain and naive, and she's quirky for the sake of being quirky - there's nothing cute about it. i don't think i've ever been disappointed in a female character as much as i was with her. she's pathetic especially when it came to Kane, it's very embarrassing to read. i genuinely thought she was gonna be better when we started venturing into the "after" part of the book, but she became even more infuriating. she kept talking about how Kane had changed her and made her become better, but for all her talks, she was more or less the same person. she still couldn't accept compliments without wanting to cry and oh my god, she teared up a lot, how is that possible?!. and she couldn't move on from Kane. she's so weak for him and i hated it with every fibre of my being because it made no sense. she had no growth despite claiming that she had grown. conclusion is, there's absolutely nothing to like about Scarlett. nothing.
and then there's Kane. i'm guessing he's supposed to come across as this sweet, honourable guy who would do anything for the girl he loved, but he just came across excessive to me. everything he did felt too much and just like Scarlett, i found him to be pathetic. the only thing i liked about him is that he's smart and he's very passionate about his job. other than that, meh.
moving on to the romance aspect of the book, Scarlett and Kane's relationship felt very inauthentic to me. i cringed a lot while reading. i hated the whole "he's the only one who could understand me" aspect in this book. i felt like that could be written better. Kane was sweet to Scarlett, yes, but it was too much. his grand gesture was cute, i guess, but everything else he did creeped me out. i wanna say these two should be with other people but they're both infuriating so i supposed they did deserve to be together.
all in all, definitely would not recommend this. unless you like a weak female character then this one's for you.
let's start with the good things: i liked the complexity of Scarlett's relationship with her father. i thought it was interesting to read and it was interesting to see how they became closer as the book progressed. another thing i liked was the ending i thought it was cute. but that's about it.
as for the bad things... let's start with Scarlett, shall we? she is so. freaking. infuriating!!!! she's the epitome of the 'pick-me' girl. she constantly talked about how she's awkward and plain and naive, and she's quirky for the sake of being quirky - there's nothing cute about it. i don't think i've ever been disappointed in a female character as much as i was with her. she's pathetic especially when it came to Kane, it's very embarrassing to read. i genuinely thought she was gonna be better when we started venturing into the "after" part of the book, but she became even more infuriating. she kept talking about how Kane had changed her and made her become better, but for all her talks, she was more or less the same person. she still couldn't accept compliments without wanting to cry and oh my god, she teared up a lot, how is that possible?!. and she couldn't move on from Kane. she's so weak for him and i hated it with every fibre of my being because it made no sense. she had no growth despite claiming that she had grown. conclusion is, there's absolutely nothing to like about Scarlett. nothing.
and then there's Kane. i'm guessing he's supposed to come across as this sweet, honourable guy who would do anything for the girl he loved, but he just came across excessive to me. everything he did felt too much and just like Scarlett, i found him to be pathetic. the only thing i liked about him is that he's smart and he's very passionate about his job. other than that, meh.
moving on to the romance aspect of the book, Scarlett and Kane's relationship felt very inauthentic to me. i cringed a lot while reading. i hated the whole "he's the only one who could understand me" aspect in this book. i felt like that could be written better. Kane was sweet to Scarlett, yes, but it was too much. his grand gesture was cute, i guess, but everything else he did creeped me out. i wanna say these two should be with other people but they're both infuriating so i supposed they did deserve to be together.
all in all, definitely would not recommend this. unless you like a weak female character then this one's for you.
March 6, 2022
I’m guessing maybe this author just isn’t for me. I haven’t been a fan of her Hero’s, at all. Kane just seems so freaking full of himself. And I am so so so over characters not communicating. Like, that’s not healthy. Period. Kane treats Scarlett like a child for the first half of the book (she’s 22, young, but not a child. I mean, she’s already graduated college and is going to med school!!) and then within the space of a paragraph we fast forward 8 years. Literally glossed over any character development Scarlett could have had. And here comes Kane, deciding that he’s gonna insert himself in her life again whether she wants him there or not. And he’s going to throw in his absolutely flimsy excuse for treating her the way he did.
Let’s not forget that he pretty much gave this girl the brush off (bc of his super flimsy excuse and decision to treat her like a child) and then continued to spend Christmas with her and her dad, as he brought home girlfriend after girlfriend to shove in her face. Classy, Kane, classy.
Kane: blah blah blah, I didn’t post any pictures of other girls on my Facebook because I didn’t want to hurt you.
Oh hey, pompous jerk.
Ohhhh yeah… and let’s not forget the time he was flirting with his secretary in the break room only to see Scarlett and to immediately back up and pretend he was being all professional. You know, this was when he was supposedly trying to win Scarlett back.
If you haven’t been able to tell by now, I just really disliked Kane 😂😂
But then there’s Scarlett, also, who really was white annoying. And had absolutely zero character growth the whole dang book. Girl, you dated this guy for two months, he unceremoniously dumps you, and then you spend the next 8 years pining for him? Come on, grow a back bone and get a life!!
Let’s not forget that he pretty much gave this girl the brush off (bc of his super flimsy excuse and decision to treat her like a child) and then continued to spend Christmas with her and her dad, as he brought home girlfriend after girlfriend to shove in her face. Classy, Kane, classy.
Kane: blah blah blah, I didn’t post any pictures of other girls on my Facebook because I didn’t want to hurt you.
Oh hey, pompous jerk.
Ohhhh yeah… and let’s not forget the time he was flirting with his secretary in the break room only to see Scarlett and to immediately back up and pretend he was being all professional. You know, this was when he was supposedly trying to win Scarlett back.
If you haven’t been able to tell by now, I just really disliked Kane 😂😂
But then there’s Scarlett, also, who really was white annoying. And had absolutely zero character growth the whole dang book. Girl, you dated this guy for two months, he unceremoniously dumps you, and then you spend the next 8 years pining for him? Come on, grow a back bone and get a life!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2022
This book gets more than 5 stars on the swoon factor alone, then add in all the yummy parts and this easily gets 10 stars. To be honest the ebook had been sitting in my TBR pile for almost a year because I can't say no to an ARC. When I found out the audiobook was available and the narrator was Stephanie Kay, who I loved from a previous Jennifer Peel book, I immediately borrowed it from my library through the Hoopla app. I put aside all the books calling for my attention and started listening to this right away. I listened all day--working on the computer, doing housework, driving around...and into the night. I couldn't put it down!!
Scarlett is great! The only issue I had with her was she should've told her father she wanted to be a forensic pathologist a lot sooner than she did. I understood she wanted to make her father proud but there's no way I'd have gone to school that long for a job I truly didn't want. I loved how smart she was, her positive attitude and how she loved food. I loved her relationship with Naomi and when she finally got her dad to talk about her mom...let's just say if I was a crier I'd have needed some tissues.
Onto Kane. Oh. My. Goodness. You've heard of bias wreckers? That's definitely Kane. If you have a book boyfriend, Kane will definitely wreck that. He's handsome, smart, smooth, funny, charming beyond belief and SO supportive of Scarlett. The man is perfect! Well, except for those chapters where I wanted to Gibbs slap him upside the head numerous times for doing something stupid. I loved how he helped Scarlett see herself as he and others saw her.
Other things I loved--Scarlett and Kane's meeting at the wedding reception. I'll probably think about it every time I eat wedding cake (IYKYK). The scorching chemistry between Scarlett and Kane. Holy smokes!! Scarlett's names for her stepmothers LOL. That amazing first kiss!! The bookhanger from this one was totally worth it. Another great book from the awesome Jennifer Peel.
I love Stephanie Kay as the narrator. She's fantastic and I don't think anyone else could've gotten Scarlett the way she did.
Scarlett is great! The only issue I had with her was she should've told her father she wanted to be a forensic pathologist a lot sooner than she did. I understood she wanted to make her father proud but there's no way I'd have gone to school that long for a job I truly didn't want. I loved how smart she was, her positive attitude and how she loved food. I loved her relationship with Naomi and when she finally got her dad to talk about her mom...let's just say if I was a crier I'd have needed some tissues.
Onto Kane. Oh. My. Goodness. You've heard of bias wreckers? That's definitely Kane. If you have a book boyfriend, Kane will definitely wreck that. He's handsome, smart, smooth, funny, charming beyond belief and SO supportive of Scarlett. The man is perfect! Well, except for those chapters where I wanted to Gibbs slap him upside the head numerous times for doing something stupid. I loved how he helped Scarlett see herself as he and others saw her.
Other things I loved--Scarlett and Kane's meeting at the wedding reception. I'll probably think about it every time I eat wedding cake (IYKYK). The scorching chemistry between Scarlett and Kane. Holy smokes!! Scarlett's names for her stepmothers LOL. That amazing first kiss!! The bookhanger from this one was totally worth it. Another great book from the awesome Jennifer Peel.
I love Stephanie Kay as the narrator. She's fantastic and I don't think anyone else could've gotten Scarlett the way she did.
January 28, 2021
Can’t put it down!
Drop everything and read this book! Seriously, you won’t want to put it down - I know I didn’t. Who needs sleep anyway, lol. This is such a great story, with a protagonist who learns to love and be loved while coming into her own.
Kane is definitely my new book boyfriend! He is so aware of Scarlett and her needs and goodness does he make my toes curl. You might need some ice to cool down after the swoony kisses Kane delivers.
I loved Scarlett. She has so many insecurities and doubts about herself- I could easily relate to her. Throughout the book she learns to find and love herself- loved that theme.
There may or may not have been one too many weddings, lol. I really enjoyed the different family relationships interwoven throughout as well- especially the father/daughter relationship. It builds and grows, never perfect but perfectly imperfect.
Another favorite part of this book is the setup- The Before, The After, etc with titles/themes to each chapter made it so much more fun to read and wonder what would happen next.
This book gave me all the feels- I chuckled at the ridiculous situations Scarlett got herself into (cake crumbs in her bra) and sobbed as she had her heart broken and tried to build a non-existent relationship with her father. I couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop, and finished with the desire to pick it right back up and read it all over again!
Drop everything and read this book! Seriously, you won’t want to put it down - I know I didn’t. Who needs sleep anyway, lol. This is such a great story, with a protagonist who learns to love and be loved while coming into her own.
Kane is definitely my new book boyfriend! He is so aware of Scarlett and her needs and goodness does he make my toes curl. You might need some ice to cool down after the swoony kisses Kane delivers.
I loved Scarlett. She has so many insecurities and doubts about herself- I could easily relate to her. Throughout the book she learns to find and love herself- loved that theme.
There may or may not have been one too many weddings, lol. I really enjoyed the different family relationships interwoven throughout as well- especially the father/daughter relationship. It builds and grows, never perfect but perfectly imperfect.
Another favorite part of this book is the setup- The Before, The After, etc with titles/themes to each chapter made it so much more fun to read and wonder what would happen next.
This book gave me all the feels- I chuckled at the ridiculous situations Scarlett got herself into (cake crumbs in her bra) and sobbed as she had her heart broken and tried to build a non-existent relationship with her father. I couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop, and finished with the desire to pick it right back up and read it all over again!
January 28, 2021
Kane meets Scarlett when his mom (Eva) marries her father, Auggie. I loved Kane from the beginning; he was so confident and knew what he wanted. I love that he saw Scarlett even when she didn't see herself, and he loved her so completely. I'm not really a "swooner," but I will admit to possibly maybe (okay, totally) swooning over Kane.
I loved Scarlett a lot more in the second half of the book when she was more confident - in a lot of ways I really identified with Scarlett and some of her insecurities reminded me a lot of my own when I was younger. But when she steps into her confidence... Watch out world! I loved Naomi's steady influence (she was step-mom #1) in Scarlett's life. And Auggie was such an interesting character - the way he collected wives and stepchildren was kinda mind-blowing to me!
This book was a solid 5! I read a review copy, but will definitely be buying my own copy because I will be re-reading this one!
I loved Scarlett a lot more in the second half of the book when she was more confident - in a lot of ways I really identified with Scarlett and some of her insecurities reminded me a lot of my own when I was younger. But when she steps into her confidence... Watch out world! I loved Naomi's steady influence (she was step-mom #1) in Scarlett's life. And Auggie was such an interesting character - the way he collected wives and stepchildren was kinda mind-blowing to me!
This book was a solid 5! I read a review copy, but will definitely be buying my own copy because I will be re-reading this one!
April 13, 2021
DNF- 75%
I really despise the bumbling, clueless female who is taught so much about herself by the amazing guy. It irritated me that he loves her SO much but has a string of supermodel girlfriends in the 8yr period between, and even flirts with his hot secretary, then “put [the main character] in my place” when she makes a comment about them. He seemed kind of smarmy to me, not swoony. I was so irritated that I gave up.
I really despise the bumbling, clueless female who is taught so much about herself by the amazing guy. It irritated me that he loves her SO much but has a string of supermodel girlfriends in the 8yr period between, and even flirts with his hot secretary, then “put [the main character] in my place” when she makes a comment about them. He seemed kind of smarmy to me, not swoony. I was so irritated that I gave up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2021
I laughed out loud, cried in sadness, and fumed with frustration but I absolutely adore these two. Seeing Scarlett's insecurities made her loyalty even more rewarding. She is focused and brave, even though she can't see those qualities in herself. Can we take a minute to dissect KANE? He was so good at building Scarlett up which was really precious. He is such a sweet and supportive hero with the best intentions wrongly executed. I love Naomi and Auggie's full circle relationship with Scarlett and each other. Another 5 star read filled with comedy, sadness, forgiveness and redemption.
February 9, 2021
Is it blood or will it be love 💘
Holy moly, Kane and Scarlett? Wow, even their names are exciting! Kane is the most awesome book boyfriend and Scarlett is the funniest, and so quirky but totally unaware of how beautiful she is. Kane let's her be herself and loves her just the way she is until he doesn't. Eight years later her dad's company is up for grabs and Scarlett is out for blood and revenge, Kane just wants her to be true to herself and oh yeah, he wants Scarlett and her dad's company. These two are amazing swoony, sexy, and heartfelt. This is a clean but romantic book, I loved it.This book had me sucked in like a tornado. Do yourself a favor and read this one, Miss Peel has done it again, be prepared to lose sleep and have a book hangover of the best kind!
Holy moly, Kane and Scarlett? Wow, even their names are exciting! Kane is the most awesome book boyfriend and Scarlett is the funniest, and so quirky but totally unaware of how beautiful she is. Kane let's her be herself and loves her just the way she is until he doesn't. Eight years later her dad's company is up for grabs and Scarlett is out for blood and revenge, Kane just wants her to be true to herself and oh yeah, he wants Scarlett and her dad's company. These two are amazing swoony, sexy, and heartfelt. This is a clean but romantic book, I loved it.This book had me sucked in like a tornado. Do yourself a favor and read this one, Miss Peel has done it again, be prepared to lose sleep and have a book hangover of the best kind!
February 2, 2021
Let’s get my issues with it out of the way, shall we?! There were parts of this book where you would have pages(pages people), of inner dialogue or descriptions.
Way too much of that but not a huge problem because I would just skim those. Loved the beginning of the book and then there’s an eight year gap. Where issue number two comes in. To not give to much away, eight years is a long time and the way the characters one in particular acted it was like months went by. I just couldn’t by into that. To be in love with someone for eight years and do nothing about it? Sad. And it didn’t make the reunion sweeter to me.
Now, what did I love? So much! The beginning of the book from the wedding to their time along the shores of a lake was so beautiful! Scarlet was so so likable and Kane was sweeter then a Georgia peach and hotter then a Atlanta summer day! I loved their first kiss and all the moments that made me sigh. I loved the fact that Scarlet and her Dad’s relationship was able to heal. I loved that love conquered all!
So glad I read this one late into the night!
Way too much of that but not a huge problem because I would just skim those. Loved the beginning of the book and then there’s an eight year gap. Where issue number two comes in. To not give to much away, eight years is a long time and the way the characters one in particular acted it was like months went by. I just couldn’t by into that. To be in love with someone for eight years and do nothing about it? Sad. And it didn’t make the reunion sweeter to me.
Now, what did I love? So much! The beginning of the book from the wedding to their time along the shores of a lake was so beautiful! Scarlet was so so likable and Kane was sweeter then a Georgia peach and hotter then a Atlanta summer day! I loved their first kiss and all the moments that made me sigh. I loved the fact that Scarlet and her Dad’s relationship was able to heal. I loved that love conquered all!
So glad I read this one late into the night!
February 3, 2021
I'm in love. I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!
This is a book where you just need to plan to read all day because you won't get anything else done once you pick it up! I told myself 3 times, "I'm going to stop and eat lunch now." When I finally did drag myself to the kitchen, eating was a sloppy affair, because I was looking at my book instead of my plate!
Kane and Scarlett start with an awkward beginning. Her dad just married his mom, and cake crumbs have fallen down the front of her dress. Oh, Scarlett! I loved her sense of humor. She's awkward, insecure, and oh so clever. Kane is more debonair, but so sweet. He laughs with Scarlett, not at her, and challenges her to see her strengths.
I love Jennifer Peel's books because her characters are so well written. They feel like real people, and I want to be their friends! I cry, I laugh, I feel all of the feels. Read it! You'll thank me!
This is a book where you just need to plan to read all day because you won't get anything else done once you pick it up! I told myself 3 times, "I'm going to stop and eat lunch now." When I finally did drag myself to the kitchen, eating was a sloppy affair, because I was looking at my book instead of my plate!
Kane and Scarlett start with an awkward beginning. Her dad just married his mom, and cake crumbs have fallen down the front of her dress. Oh, Scarlett! I loved her sense of humor. She's awkward, insecure, and oh so clever. Kane is more debonair, but so sweet. He laughs with Scarlett, not at her, and challenges her to see her strengths.
I love Jennifer Peel's books because her characters are so well written. They feel like real people, and I want to be their friends! I cry, I laugh, I feel all of the feels. Read it! You'll thank me!
June 22, 2022
This book has been moved super high up on my list of go to read agains!!! I loved it when I read it last year and I loved it even more as I enjoyed it a second time, this time through listening to the audiobook.
Oh my heavens and my heart!!! All the stars and heart eyes for Scarlett and Kane!!! My emotions were all over the place with this one. Which always happens for me when I read books by Jennifer Peel. I love her writing style and the characters she creates and shares with us readers.
I finished listening to the book and wanted to go back to the beginning and listen to it again. I just can't get enough of these two! They're adorable and spunky and perfect for each other. But they have some bumps in the road to get over. Some made by others and some by themselves. But from the get go, I couldn't help but adore Kane and his goodness towards Scarlett. For really, truly seeing her and helping her to gain confidence in herself and seeing herself! Everyone needs someone like Kane to cheer them on and to let us know that we are of worth and loved!
I had several moments when I was busting up laughing out loud. Hee Hee! If I wasn't alone while listening, I probably would have had some very concerned looks sent my way. Good thing I didn't listen late at night while my hubby was sleeping next to me. I probably would have woken him up...ok, not probably, I totally would have woken him up.
With all the laughter, witty banter, spunk, etc., there's plenty of the opposite emotions. I had my fair share of sadness and feeling Scarlett's heartbreak and hurt and wishing for love and family and so much more. I couldn't help it! Jennifer Peel must be a major people watcher because she conveys emotions and relationships and connections so well. But with all the opposite of happy emotions, I loved it all and I loved the ending. The journey through this story for these two is well worth reading and enjoying! Read it or listen to it!!! Definitely worth it!
Content: There are some innuendos throughout the book. Not squeaky clean but nothing explicit. There is kissing, sweet kisses and the characters do make out.
Happy Reading!!!
Oh my heavens and my heart!!! All the stars and heart eyes for Scarlett and Kane!!! My emotions were all over the place with this one. Which always happens for me when I read books by Jennifer Peel. I love her writing style and the characters she creates and shares with us readers.
I finished listening to the book and wanted to go back to the beginning and listen to it again. I just can't get enough of these two! They're adorable and spunky and perfect for each other. But they have some bumps in the road to get over. Some made by others and some by themselves. But from the get go, I couldn't help but adore Kane and his goodness towards Scarlett. For really, truly seeing her and helping her to gain confidence in herself and seeing herself! Everyone needs someone like Kane to cheer them on and to let us know that we are of worth and loved!
I had several moments when I was busting up laughing out loud. Hee Hee! If I wasn't alone while listening, I probably would have had some very concerned looks sent my way. Good thing I didn't listen late at night while my hubby was sleeping next to me. I probably would have woken him up...ok, not probably, I totally would have woken him up.
With all the laughter, witty banter, spunk, etc., there's plenty of the opposite emotions. I had my fair share of sadness and feeling Scarlett's heartbreak and hurt and wishing for love and family and so much more. I couldn't help it! Jennifer Peel must be a major people watcher because she conveys emotions and relationships and connections so well. But with all the opposite of happy emotions, I loved it all and I loved the ending. The journey through this story for these two is well worth reading and enjoying! Read it or listen to it!!! Definitely worth it!
Content: There are some innuendos throughout the book. Not squeaky clean but nothing explicit. There is kissing, sweet kisses and the characters do make out.
Happy Reading!!!
July 28, 2021
Spoilers:
If you are after a heroine who is weak and let 2 men control her, this book is for you.
All along the book, the heroine is a doormat and even at the end, she thinks she has changed. From beginning to the end, she cries, runs, hides but never stands up to any of the other protagonists. She gives so much power to all of them. She is a very naive heroine. Additionally, her father and the hero are using her from beginning to the end, all in the name of love. I find this is a very appalling behaviour and yet she forgives them because she wants so much their approval. They take what they need from her and dump or toy her as they want. If would have been interesting if the author has made her fiance a strong opponent to Kane but she didn't. Even him left her. It would have been interesting after 8 years, that she matures and stands up to all of them. I found the story infuriating and disappointing.
If you are after a heroine who is weak and let 2 men control her, this book is for you.
All along the book, the heroine is a doormat and even at the end, she thinks she has changed. From beginning to the end, she cries, runs, hides but never stands up to any of the other protagonists. She gives so much power to all of them. She is a very naive heroine. Additionally, her father and the hero are using her from beginning to the end, all in the name of love. I find this is a very appalling behaviour and yet she forgives them because she wants so much their approval. They take what they need from her and dump or toy her as they want. If would have been interesting if the author has made her fiance a strong opponent to Kane but she didn't. Even him left her. It would have been interesting after 8 years, that she matures and stands up to all of them. I found the story infuriating and disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
I’ve always enjoyed this Author’s stories but this one just didn’t fully do it for me. The first half of the book or “The Before” was headed towards 5 stars for me..entertaining and romantic with some feels. But the second half, or “The After”, I just couldn’t connect with it. It’s not a bad book, I recommend everyone reading it for themselves. I’m just not a big fan of weaker women who need the men to guide them. But I definitely look forward to reading future books! I ended up giving this one 3 stars.
January 31, 2021
Loved this one. That isn’t surprising since I love all of Peel’s books. This book features Scarlett and Kane. As a naïve 22-year-old, Scarlett meets Kane when his mother becomes her father’s 7th wife. Scarlett’s skill in awkward situations brings the two together, and then they work together at her father’s plasma company on top of that. Kane quickly became one of my favorite book heroes as he helped Scarlett learn to love herself and get comfortable in her own skin. Scarlett is super adorable. I loved her and all the side characters as well—Naomi, Auggie, and the other minor-minor ones thrown in.
Scarlett’s and Kane’s love story stretches over a lot of years and is super complicated. But it is a story of growth, of forgiveness, or being true to your self and not trying to live for others and not going after your own dreams. I couldn’t put this one down once I started. I read it in a about a day and a half. Every thread of this story was perfect and I could not get enough of it. It’s one that warmed my heart and was extremely fulfilling. Well done again, Jennifer Peel!
Scarlett’s and Kane’s love story stretches over a lot of years and is super complicated. But it is a story of growth, of forgiveness, or being true to your self and not trying to live for others and not going after your own dreams. I couldn’t put this one down once I started. I read it in a about a day and a half. Every thread of this story was perfect and I could not get enough of it. It’s one that warmed my heart and was extremely fulfilling. Well done again, Jennifer Peel!
January 27, 2021
Fun Romcom
I love Jennifer Peel for her thoughtful and relatable characters and her clean, sweet romance. This one was another great book.
I love Jennifer Peel for her thoughtful and relatable characters and her clean, sweet romance. This one was another great book.
April 6, 2021
This book was frustrating for me because there were parts that were good and interesting, but also parts that were just so bizarre and out of place they almost ruined it.
The first half of the book set in the past ("the before") it was hard to read due to the fact that Scarlett was in such obvious need of therapy. The way she criticized her body (the continuous mentioning of her thighs clapping together) was exceptionally hard to read because it was just so constant and unnecessary. I also didn't like how everyone seemed to know and talk about the fact that she was so "innocent"...it was odd
in "the after", set 8 years later, the thing that absolutely blew my mind was the part where they said that every girl should feel comfortable talking about their sex life with their father. I'm sorry: WHAT? absolutely not. I almost stopped reading then, but I managed to finish it out.
I certainly appreciated the fact that Kane saw Scarlett for who she was and cared about her enough to learn what she loved and what would make her happiest (though, yes, the i broke up with you because i care about you trope is always frustrating) but at best this book was just okay.
The first half of the book set in the past ("the before") it was hard to read due to the fact that Scarlett was in such obvious need of therapy. The way she criticized her body (the continuous mentioning of her thighs clapping together) was exceptionally hard to read because it was just so constant and unnecessary. I also didn't like how everyone seemed to know and talk about the fact that she was so "innocent"...it was odd
in "the after", set 8 years later, the thing that absolutely blew my mind was the part where they said that every girl should feel comfortable talking about their sex life with their father. I'm sorry: WHAT? absolutely not. I almost stopped reading then, but I managed to finish it out.
I certainly appreciated the fact that Kane saw Scarlett for who she was and cared about her enough to learn what she loved and what would make her happiest (though, yes, the i broke up with you because i care about you trope is always frustrating) but at best this book was just okay.
March 2, 2021
I didn’t originally pick this book up to read because, from the title, I thought Ms. Peel had decided to write a vampire book! The story however, is delightedly a light-hearted, contemporary romance. I did have a HUGE problem with the eight year lapse being brushed over so lightly. And Scarlett’s quick capitulation into dating Kane again after he dumped her and never, not once, talked to her or explained why in EIGHT YEARS! Yet, within a couple of weeks she is agreeing to spending time with him again? Uh, no.
Still, the overall story was all kinds of great if one needs a yummy escape.
Still, the overall story was all kinds of great if one needs a yummy escape.
July 30, 2022
Good story. Very much like a previous story of hers about falling in love with her stepbrother and also many other similarities with Professional Boundaries.
April 4, 2022
All's Fair in Love and Blood was an okay read for me. Although I always love the writing style of this author, this book didn't hold the same charm as the other books I've read by her. Additionally, in terms of clean romantic content, I'm not sure if I would pick up any of her future books. Here's a breakdown of my thoughts while reading.
1. Scarlett - I felt like Scarlett was a very reactive heroine and a lot of her personal growth, regarding her self-esteem and following her dreams, was reliant on Kane and his actions. I think there's a big difference between being inspired by a person to change for the better and allowing a person's actions/view of you/relationship with you to change your perception of yourself and the choices you make. Unfortunately, Scarlett was more defined by the latter. While this is mildly addressed towards the end of the book, it didn't really convince me that Scarlett was capable of independent personal growth and I was still left questioning the authenticity of it overall. Aside from that, I sympathized with Scarlett's emotional abandonment from her father and was curious about how her relationship with him would evolve. I also adored her relationship with Naomi, and their mother-daughter dynamic was really sweet.
2. Kane - In the first part of this book, I absolutely loved Kane. His character was sweet, attentive, kind, and gentle. However, in the second half of the book, when Kane's trying to win Scarlett back, I thought his initial approach was really off-putting. I think there's a distinct difference between fighting for love and maneuvering to get your way. To clarify, I think he should have given Scarlett space instead of acting like they had never broken up. As a result, my interest in him and the romance declined somewhat after that.
3. The romance - I liked the first half of this book, more than the second. I thought the falling in love phase for Scarlett and Kane was enjoyable - although I did question if Scarlett should be dating Kane because of her self-esteem issues. In the second half of the book, aside from Kane's actions, my biggest issue was the back-forth regarding Scarlett's feelings towards Kane. While I understood her hesitancy and her feelings, her processing did wear a bit and perhaps dragged on a bit longer than necessary. Also, there was a lot of heavy kissing and make-out sessions in this book - more than I personally liked and more than I'm used to reading from this author. There's also a considerable amount of conversations about sex, though there was no on-page intimacy between the hero and the heroine. I have to admit, even though they always kept their clothes on, it still kinda felt like they were going to have sex a couple of times - that's how heavy it was or felt to me.
All in all, All's Fair in Love and Blood just wasn't for me.
1. Scarlett - I felt like Scarlett was a very reactive heroine and a lot of her personal growth, regarding her self-esteem and following her dreams, was reliant on Kane and his actions. I think there's a big difference between being inspired by a person to change for the better and allowing a person's actions/view of you/relationship with you to change your perception of yourself and the choices you make. Unfortunately, Scarlett was more defined by the latter. While this is mildly addressed towards the end of the book, it didn't really convince me that Scarlett was capable of independent personal growth and I was still left questioning the authenticity of it overall. Aside from that, I sympathized with Scarlett's emotional abandonment from her father and was curious about how her relationship with him would evolve. I also adored her relationship with Naomi, and their mother-daughter dynamic was really sweet.
2. Kane - In the first part of this book, I absolutely loved Kane. His character was sweet, attentive, kind, and gentle. However, in the second half of the book, when Kane's trying to win Scarlett back, I thought his initial approach was really off-putting. I think there's a distinct difference between fighting for love and maneuvering to get your way. To clarify, I think he should have given Scarlett space instead of acting like they had never broken up. As a result, my interest in him and the romance declined somewhat after that.
3. The romance - I liked the first half of this book, more than the second. I thought the falling in love phase for Scarlett and Kane was enjoyable - although I did question if Scarlett should be dating Kane because of her self-esteem issues. In the second half of the book, aside from Kane's actions, my biggest issue was the back-forth regarding Scarlett's feelings towards Kane. While I understood her hesitancy and her feelings, her processing did wear a bit and perhaps dragged on a bit longer than necessary. Also, there was a lot of heavy kissing and make-out sessions in this book - more than I personally liked and more than I'm used to reading from this author. There's also a considerable amount of conversations about sex, though there was no on-page intimacy between the hero and the heroine. I have to admit, even though they always kept their clothes on, it still kinda felt like they were going to have sex a couple of times - that's how heavy it was or felt to me.
All in all, All's Fair in Love and Blood just wasn't for me.
June 24, 2021
Quite an unexpected treat – and one I enjoyed from the first word until the last (including the extended Epilogue).
The chemistry was simply irresistible between Scarlett, a bungling, naïve and very intelligent twenty-two year old young woman and the older man, Kane, who was everything times two of what you expect in an exceptional hero. Their story was sexy (but clean), and an all-around delight to read with some great lines of dialogue and enough angsty moments to keep it intriguing.
Quick and fun to read and just how I wanted to spend my afternoon.
March 29, 2024
This was a fine romance, I guess. Although this is a clean romance novel, it borders on steamy - it's really, really close to steamy. The only difference is that there are no explicit scenes, just a lot of "he's so hot" and stuff like that.
Romance: Clean-ish (see above). No explicit scenes. No f- or s-bombs, though there are both the d-word and h*ll.
Romance: Clean-ish (see above). No explicit scenes. No f- or s-bombs, though there are both the d-word and h*ll.
June 4, 2022
Somehow I expected a vampire story. I know, my own fault.
Anyway, it was good, but there were moments when I thought the characters were purposefully obtuse just to drag the story on.
Also, the woman on the cover does not represent the MC properly. In the first half of the book the MC is plus size.
Anyway, it was good, but there were moments when I thought the characters were purposefully obtuse just to drag the story on.
Also, the woman on the cover does not represent the MC properly. In the first half of the book the MC is plus size.
February 14, 2025
4.5 stars, but only because it felt like it dragged on a little bit. Everything else was great!
October 29, 2021
Enjoyable romance with characters that have some substance. Loved all the happy feels. 😊
September 25, 2025
Happy Ever After
This book has many ups and downs that worried me. I was concerned that I wouldn't like the ending, but my faith in Jennifer Peel and her writing helped me push through to the end. I was not disappointed.
Jennifer Peel has the gift of storytelling. I enjoyed my time immersed in the novel she created. I recommend you read this book and fall in love with the characters like I did.
I give it 4.5 stars.
This book has many ups and downs that worried me. I was concerned that I wouldn't like the ending, but my faith in Jennifer Peel and her writing helped me push through to the end. I was not disappointed.
Jennifer Peel has the gift of storytelling. I enjoyed my time immersed in the novel she created. I recommend you read this book and fall in love with the characters like I did.
I give it 4.5 stars.
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