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Mary Ann Nielsen lives by her one-strike-and-you’re-out dating policy, but she’s always open to meeting the right guy. When she accidentally rear-ends handsome Trevor Brooks on her way to a charity auction to buy back her beloved grandmother’s long lost bracelet, she figures this unconventional meeting could at least turn into a hot date. Wrong. Trevor is annoyingly responsible and more concerned with insurance reports than responding to her flirting so he earns three strikes right off the bat.

Flustered from the car accident and being rejected by gorgeous Trevor, Mary Ann mistakenly bids on the wrong auction item and loses out on reclaiming her grandmother’s bracelet. Instead, she wins four dates on a reality TV show with none other than stuffy Trevor Brooks. Now she’s broke and the only way to get the money to buy back her special family heirloom is to win the grand prize money from the televised couples competition by convincing the audience that she and Trevor are in love.

While dating Trevor on the show, Mary Ann discovers the reliable analyst is fun and kind-hearted. In fact, the more she finds out about him the more she starts to fall for him. Could giving Trevor a second chance mean winning not just the TV show and her grandmother’s bracelet but the love that Mary Ann has always dreamed of?

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2015

134 people are currently reading
553 people want to read

About the author

Susan Hatler

87 books966 followers
SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

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Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

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5 stars
237 (40%)
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190 (32%)
3 stars
112 (18%)
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41 (6%)
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11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
Profile Image for C.P. Cabaniss.
Author 11 books138 followers
October 4, 2015
*I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a really fun, fast read. It was a nice addition to the series. I believe this is the final installment. If it is in fact the final story in this series, I would have liked to see more appearances by previous characters, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story.

What I enjoy about this series is that the main characters tend to be career driven women who also want to find love. That isn't any different here. Mary Ann is very driven in her life. She has a steady job, but also likes to be impulsive. The main story follows her as she tries to buy back a bracelet once owned by her grandmother. She just runs into a few problems along the way.

The romance in this story was really cute. Trevor is kind and considerate, despite Mary Ann's initial impression. The two get to know each other while filming a reality dating show and their real and pretend dates are adorable. He tells her about his past and his drive to do good deeds and she tells him about her fears of failure and why her grandmothers bracelet is so important. I just wish we had more Trevor in the story. At some times it felt like he wasn't very involved.

All of the side characters were really interesting and it was nice to see a few familiar characters as well as references to others. Mary Ann had some issues with her sister Ginger (another familiar face) and it was nice to see them start to figure out how they misunderstand each other. Mary Ann's work life was full of frustrating people and watching how that played out was both satisfying and kind of disappointing. I just wish there had been more involved there. Not much, but a little bit.

The ending, as usual, was sweet and not excessively overdone. This was really fun and I think anyone who enjoys sweet, clean love stories would really enjoy the read.
Profile Image for Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁.
574 reviews342 followers
June 16, 2017
****4 STARS****

This was a wonderful book! It's cute, funny, and light.

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Mary Ann saw her grandmother's bracelet going for auction in a pamphlet. This bracelet meant a lot to her. Her mother had to sell it years ago because they needed the cash. Now that it resurfaced, she just had to get it back.

Unfortunately, she bid on the wrong item and won a date with Trevor. This date was not an ordinary date. This date was going to be part of a romantic game show. The winning couple will win $50,000. Mary Ann plans on winning the competition to buy back the bracelet.

Trevor is sexy, humble, and the perfect gentleman. He has a heart of gold and is a big philanthropist. You can see where the story is going.

There were some very cute comments that made me laugh. I needed a moment after reading some dark books, and this was the perfect break.

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Profile Image for Aimee .
3,068 reviews300 followers
May 14, 2015
Good news! Bad news! Good news!

Good news: A new book, Mary Ann's story, in this Better Date Than Never series!

Bad news: I think this is the last book in this series! :(

Good news: Another series is starting soon! Every Little Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 1) It looks good and I can't wait to read it!

I have loved, loved, loved this series. These books are so flirty and fun and the covers are a fantastic representation of what is inside. I am always in the mood for one of these books. The stories are short but oh, so satisfying. They fill up my romantic heart and leave it with a breathless sigh of happiness.

This is Mary Ann's story. Mary Ann is impulsive and enjoys life but she has a deeply sentimental side as well. She is on her way to an auction to bid on her grandmother's long lost bracelet when she gets into a bit of an accident. Through a series of miscommunications, Mary finds herself with a date instead of a bracelet and her date is no other than the stiff, unyielding guy she hit on her way to the auction. Talk about bad luck. Or is it?

I think this story is one of my favorites. Yup, favorite. I said it. Each book in this series can stand alone- you don't have to read them in order. There is some character cross over though so reading from the beginning is fun because then you see old friends later. Either way, it's going to be good.

This is a sweet, clean romance with some kissing.
Profile Image for Christina.
423 reviews31 followers
May 25, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I give Date and Dash 4 mochas with biscottis on top! Mary Ann mistakenly bids on an item at a charity auction thinking she'd get her Grammy's bracelet back, but in return she won four dates with a bachelor on the TV show Romance Revealed. To make matters worse, the bachelor is none other than the tall, dark, handsome guy whose car she had rear-ended on the way there! Once the prize money of fifty thousand dollars is out in the open (enough to buy her Grammy's bracelet from the winner), what's she to do but fake it till she makes it?

I loved the sparks that flew between Mary Ann and Trevor from the moment they met. I liked where the story was going and it was so much fun! I adored the characters. Mary Ann was impulsive and she was on a mission to get her Grammy's bracelet back, even at a whopping 22 grand! Trevor changes her outlook and I really liked their flirty and natural interactions. I also liked the workplace drama. It really got me riled up! It also tied together nicely in the end when Mary Ann stood up for herself and learnt that braveness came from within and not from her Grammy's sentimental bracelet. Date to Dash was a wonderful addition to the Better Late than Never series. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Lady Heather .
1,311 reviews773 followers
May 29, 2015


A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

4 Stars!

You know when you pick up a book and you don't know quite what to expect based on the cover and the synopsis? Well that's what happened when I first picked up this little beauty.
Right from the beginning, the author had me hooked and I was engaged right till the very end.


Mary Ann and Trevor were wonderful characters, and 'their' story is worth reading.
The writing and story-line were really good, and I finished this book satisfied that I read a "good" story.

This is the first book I've read by Susan Hatler, and I hope to read more of her work.
Profile Image for Michaela | Reading in the Heartland.
3,628 reviews63 followers
January 23, 2020
Wow. Just wow. Hatler outdid herself with this storyline. Pure gold. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was stunned at the end to learn of a connection to a different series.
I read the first half of this series but haven’t read the last few, so I didn’t recognize any of the characters - though I assume we’ve met a few before. However, that didn’t put a damper on this book at all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,530 reviews19 followers
October 26, 2021
I loved this story. The first person point of view is a deal breaker, but I very much loved Mary Ann's mentality. She had a lot of good stuff to say. This was another good read, from this author that hasn't disappointed me yet.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Noella.
542 reviews7 followers
May 26, 2015
When Mary Ann see's her grandmother's bracelet (after parting with it many years ago) in a charity auction brochure, she hurries to the auction to bid for it. On the way she runs into someone's car and is held up by a handsome but frustrating man. Her friend helps her bid but by the time she arrives at the auction, she finds out she mistakenly bid and won a bunch of dates with a bachelor (who's none other than Mr Handsome) and they are to appear on a reality TV show as a couple.

Mary Ann was such a spunky character though she lost confidence when her heart went on the line! This story was fun to read especially the challenges Mary Ann and Mr Handsome had to partake in the reality show whilst keeping up their image as a genuine couple to the public, for the chance to win the 50 grand prize money. Mary Ann plans to go after the money to buy back her grandmother's bracelet but she doesn't count on her heart being taken by Trevor in the process. This was another sweet and enjoyable story in Susan's Better Date than Never Book series.

Note: I received a copy via NetGalley to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,724 reviews168 followers
May 22, 2015
Review: Date and Dash by Susan Hatler  
 
My Review
 
Date and Dash (Better Date than Never Book 10) by Susan HatlerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Susan Hatler has created another hilariously entertaining addition to her Better Date Than Never Series. I have not yet read the entire series but am halfway there. Date and Dash continues Ms. Hatler's legacy of neurotically obsessive serial daters trying to find and hold on to that special someone. A comedic treasure. Received a copy of Date and Dash for an honest review.(www.goodreads.com/review/list/2555691...)
 
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Date-Dash-Bette...
 
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/date-...
 
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
 
Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
 
Profile Image for Alisa.
793 reviews44 followers
September 17, 2015
We have gotten to know Mary Ann through previous books so her "one strike" and you're out dating rule is familiar. In this book we find out why she has the rule.

When she accidentally rear ends Trevor Brooks he seems to be immune to her flirting. He quickly racks up multiple strikes and she is glad she will never have to see him again. Until she realizes that she has accidentally bid on him at the charity auction they were both on their way to when she rear-ended him. They are now on a TV show where they have to have multiple dates and convince everyone they are in love so they can win the cash prize -- so she can buy what she was originally supposed to bid on at the auction. Spending more time with Trevor allows them to get to know each other better and it doesn't take Mary Ann very long to start erasing those strikes...

Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
Profile Image for Glenda Parker.
Author 14 books21 followers
September 17, 2018
My review today is on the Clean Romance, Date and Dash. This is the tenth book in the Better Date than Never Series. I have loved this series. I really enjoy Susan's books. This one is no exception. It's a great read. This book is well written, humorous, and totally delightful. I know you are going to love it.

Mary Ann Nielsen is having a rough time at work. Her bosses nephew is now working with them. Her boss asked how he was doing and she didn't tell her the truth but what she thought she would want to hear. Right after that he stole the recognition of her latest idea. Mary Ann wasn't sure how to handle that. She went seeking comfort from her sister, Ginger (her folks loved Gilligans Island) Ginger wasn't home but she found a brochure for the fund raiser auction. Her grandmother's bracelet was one of the item for sale. She had to have that bracelet. It had always made her calm and gave her strength. She rushes off to get to the aution when she is in a fender bender. She calls her friend to buy it for her. Her friend purchases the wrong item; a bachelor on a dating Reality TV Show. The man she had run into. He already had several strikes against him, she would never date him. She talked to the woman who bought the bracelet and she told her she wouldn't sell it to her for under twenty thousand. Now she would have to do the show.

Trever Brooks is on the way to the auction. He wants to win to give the money to a homeless shelter. His '65' Mustang is hit by a crazy woman. He refused to leave until they have a police report. The woman is very upset with him. When he arrives at the auction he find the woman who hit him is the woman who bought him for five thousand dollars. She is so flighty can they win the competition?

A delightful tale of overcoming challenges and difficulties. How can two opposite souls work together and win a romantic competition?
Profile Image for Ann Marie.
701 reviews2 followers
October 24, 2021
' Date and Dash' by Susan Hatler is the tenth book in her Better Date than Never series and tells the story of Mary Ann Nielsen and Trevor Brooks. Mary Ann was on her way to a charity auction when she gets into a car accident with Trevor. She thinks he is cute and wonders if maybe this might lead to a date but he was all business about gathering the necessary insurance information. Mary Ann was going to the auction to bid on her grandmother's bracelet that had been donated. Trevor wasn't interested in hearing her story on why she was rushing and not paying attention when she was driving.

Mary Ann finally gets to the auction and in her fluster accidentally bids on the wrong item. She won four dates on a TV reality show with Trevor, her accident buddy. She realizes that she needs to win the dating competition in order to get the monetary prize so she can buy back her grandmother's bracelet. Now she just has to convince Trevor to go along with her endeavor.

Ms. Hatler has written an engaging and charming addition to her series. The interactions between Mary Ann and Trevor are funny and steamy. I liked how Mary Ann never gave up and Trevor was so compassionate. Great book with fab characters and an entertaining plot. High recommend. Ms. Hatler never disappoints.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,675 reviews25 followers
September 18, 2020
Finally it is Mary Ann's story and after seeing what she was like in her sister Gingers book Up to Date I couldn't wait to really get to know her and I was not disappointed. Mary Ann is not frivolous with money nor does she ditch guys she is dating quickly due to no reason and you real feel for her you slowly learn about growing up so Trevor is the perfect match for her whether either of the realise it at the time. There are plenty of laughs,awkward moments, love, heartbreak as we get to know them both more and she the sparks start to fly oh and yeah a dating competition I would love to participate in lol!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Julie.
961 reviews10 followers
January 5, 2020
Great love story! Susan Hatler did it again. Trevor and MaryAnn enter a contest to win $20,000 prize money. The only catch is you have to show you falling in love with each other. Can MaryAnn stop from falling for Trevor when she’s already given him three strikes? Or will they learn more about each other and can’t help gal in love. I couldn’t put the book down I wanted to know what was next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5,665 reviews62 followers
October 28, 2021
Mary Ann and sister Ginger (Gilligans Island jokes here) are total opposites. Ginger is outgoing and in your face while Mary Ann hides and just goes along with things, like not standing up for herself when someone else takes credit for her work. Karma hits home when the same guy she rear-ended in her car is the one she is teamed up with for a dating show. Good news is they are having fun and enjoy learning about each other.
The characters and the storyline are well written, with plenty of feelings and emotions. Hilarious parts here and there to keep it light hearted. Loved the chemistry they share and how the ending cinched it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michele Richardson.
645 reviews4 followers
November 5, 2021
Mary Ann and Trevor’s story was so much fun right from the start! With an impulsive soul and a strict low risk soul combining what could go wrong? Mary Ann is the impulsive one and ends up on a dating show with Trevor as her “boyfriend”. Trevor cross ever I, dots every T and double checks, there is no room for error. So when Mary Ann wins him at the auction they missed because of an accident, the antics begin. She learns so much about herself as he does himself; will they find out they are a perfect fit?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
954 reviews
September 11, 2020
The best accident of her life!
Due to the rear-end that she did, overwelmed by it, Mary Ann make a huuuge mistake - bid (thru a friend) on a wrong item at the auction.
But this will prove to be the best mistake of her life!
Becouse, even if she already meet Trevor, she already give him 3 strikes. And she has the “one strike and you are out” policy about dating.....
The mistake of bidding to date him, create the opportunity to knew each other, and to fall in love

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
354 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2020
This is another fun story, in this series, that is great for a lazy afternoonReading session. Mary Ann and Trevor are a great couple. Mary Ann is a bit flighty and Trevor uptight but opposites attract. Things don’t go smoothly for the couple but all works out in the end I would recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sharon S.
954 reviews6 followers
October 9, 2021
Mary Ann has a “one-strike-and-you’re-out dating policy.” She is the assistant community director at the apartment complex by Sacramento’s university campus.
Trevor has agreed to help at a charity auction in town but ends up being in a fender bender with Mary Ann on the way there.
An accidental bid at the auction creates an amusing situation.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
632 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2023
I loved the story! I loved MaryAnn (muffin) and Trevor (Hot Stuff) and I loved their nicknames! How they grew into their love! This wasn’t a complicated story just one filled with love! I read this as an ARC and it didn’t influence my review! If you love romance you will surely love this! Add it to TBR stack!
1,097 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2019
Clean romance
One of my favorite authors has done it again. This time she has written a short story that has all of her usual romance (but not a repeat in anyway) and is very funny. The main character’s name is Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island (TV show). If you are too young to understand, ask your mother. Loved this book.
327 reviews
October 25, 2021
Date and Dash is truly a fun romantic story that you will enjoy reading. This story is well written with likable characters. I love the relationship and interactions between Mary Ann and Trevor and their accidental chance at love. Mary Ann accidentally bids on Trevor for four dates on a reality TV show instead of her grandmother’s bracelet.Their relationship is intense, fun, emotional and one not to miss reading. Date and Dash is absolutely a wonderful romantic heartwarming story and you will have a difficult time putting it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog).
7,751 reviews170 followers
January 30, 2020
This was fun and flirty with car accidents and confusion and then being thrust into a reality show. It was fun to read and see the different sides of Trevor that Mary Ann couldn't resist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
417 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2020
Another lovely read from Susan Hatler. Delightful short book filled with interesting characters, humorous situations and, of course, romance. Liked the reality TV show premise and enjoyed the interactions between Mary Ann and Trevor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cali Jewel.
5,248 reviews39 followers
September 18, 2020
Really enjoyed this fun, action packed and sexy journey filled with witty and engaging charters, memorable dialog, heart racing twists and undeniable passion. Was a great read from beginning to end and so fun to read.
Profile Image for Andrea Wenger.
Author 4 books36 followers
October 23, 2021
Rushing to a charity auction to buy back her grandmother's bracelet, Mary Ann rear-ends handsome Trevor's classic Mustang. Upset by the delay, she calls a friend to bid on the lot number for her. But when she finally gets to the venue, she discovers that her friend has bid on the wrong item: an entry into a dating TV show. With Trevor as her partner.

Now the only way she can afford to buy back the bracelet is to win the dating contest. Can uptight Trevor and free-spirit Mary Ann convince viewers it's true love?

This is a cute, heartfelt story. Mary Ann is impulsive and a people pleaser, and she's forced to come to terms with what really matters. Trevor is her opposite, and she helps him learn how to relax and put the past behind him.

Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Claudete Takahashi.
2,543 reviews37 followers
November 2, 2021
Date and Dash is a fun reading story, with relatable characters and situations. As in all Susan Hatler's books, the reader has a guaranteed happily ever after ending and many laughable passages which are just great after a busy day's work. One thing we also have to learn is to give second chances to people and things in our lives as it so happens in this story. Really entertaining!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,616 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2021
Marry Ann and Trevor's story was really great. I absolutely loved this book. I laughed a lot, enjoyed the chemistry and banter they had, loved how they treated each other, and had a really good ending. This story was a reminder not to judge a book by it's cover. We all need to take a closer look to truly see what was right in front of us. I hope you like this book as much as I did. Enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,752 reviews11 followers
September 14, 2020
This was such a sweet read and fun too. You’ll love reading about Mary Anns mistakes and what gets her into a dating the same guy she had a accident with, Trevor. The banter was exciting to read between the the characters. This was my favorite read!

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