One Fine Date

Do-Over Date #8

by Susan Hatler

A sweet and humorous tale to make you smile and inspire you to believe that taking chances can lead to the happy ending you’ve always wanted.

When a small-town craft shop owner is commissioned to paint a mural in the city, she somehow gets swept into pretending to be the girlfriend of a young and ambitious CFO.

Adrian Maxwell is determined to acquire the best art in the world and has no clue his plans are about to be thwarted by small-town Kari Smith, whose honest heart and love of a paintbrush and canvas is about to make his dreams come true.

From a New York Times bestselling author, enjoy this fish-out-of-water tale about new experiences leading to treasured friendships and an opposites-attract romance that turns into true love in ONE FINE DATE.

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

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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Website: susanhatler.com
Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian and Kari were a prime example of opposites attract but they were meant to be. Things didn’t go smoothly but they had their HEA in the end. I enjoyed her conversations with her sister and with Courtney. I would definitely recommend this book. I have enjoyed this series.

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

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Kari and Adrian's story. Not only was it a fun romantic comedy, Kari and Adrian both learned some great life lessons.

If you enjoy clean rom-com, Susan Hatler's books are must-reads.

[Ann Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'One Fine Date' by Susan Hatler is the eighth book in her Do-Over Date series and tells the story of Kari Smith, a small town artist, and Adrian Maxwell, CFO of Maxwell House. Kari has been commissioned to paint a mural for Maxwell House in Sacramento and is a bit nervous. She meets Adrian when she spills paint on him and luckily he laughs. He then invites Kari to a party at the Harrington manison to look at a piece of art that was just found. She said okay since it was work related and not a date. Adrian says it is a date. But he did have an ulterior motive bringing Kari and neglected to tell her. When she finds out she gives him a piece of her mind and leaves the party. She can not wait to finish the mural and get back home. And she had thought Adrian was charming and attractive. Unbeknownst to Kari Adrian was very attracted to her and didn't plan on just letting her go.

Ms. Hatler has written an engaging addition to her series. The interactions between Kari and Adrian are funny and sweet. This story has great characters and a well written plot. The dialogue is witty and quick. I enjoyed this book and am recommending it to anyone who likes a romance with some laughs.

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

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari Smith is in Sacramento painting a mural at a building. The CEO, Martina, had hired her. Her brother, Adrian Maxwell, the CFO, changed the mural. Kari and Adrian don’t meet under the best circumstances. Kari is from Blue Moon Bay and is out of her comfort zone. Adrian needs Kari’s help with an art sculpture. Things don’t exactly go as Adrian had hoped. Kari is attracted to Adrian but doesn’t care for his ambitions. Kari brought fun to Adrian and Martina. They helped Kari become more comfortable outside her small town. This was a sweet read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

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

[Kimberly Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book by Susan Hatler. Kari's sister talked her into taking a commission in Sacramento. When she got there the CFO of the company had changed the art she was doing. Adrian was a businessman and was the one who changed what Kari was supposed to do because it didn't make sense financially. As they got closer he learned how to follow his heart. Would the small town artist and big town businessman be able to work out the logistics of being together?
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari is a passionate artist in Blue Moon Bay, but her sister convinces her to step outside of her comfort zone and accept a commission in Sacramento. Things go hilariously wrong for a while, but she can't help but be attracted to her total opposite, Adrian. More craziness happens, and there a is definite connection forming between them. But she loves her small town, and he works in the family business in Sacramento. How can they get past that? A very sweet and funny romcom

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari Smith, a small town artist shop owner, is out of her comfort zone when her sister pushed her into doing a painting commission in Sacramento for The Maxwell House. I enjoyed this story from beginning to the end as you watched her passion for art shine through. I enjoyed the interaction between Kari and Adrian Maxwell that had me laughing as well as seeing others see what Adrian saw from her from the very start.

[Chicken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I enjoyed this story. I love reading Susan’s books and I can’t wait to read the next one. The characters were a lot of fun to read about. At first, I didn’t like the hero but he had a lot of character growth as the story went on. It’s a cute, romantic story and I’m reading for Martina’s book to come out.

I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to find yourself in a situation where you feel completely out of place and there's just where small-town artist Kari lands when she is asked to go to the city to paint. I always try and place myself in the character's position and wonder how I would handle things and Kari is a fun protagonist.

I loved how she met Adrian. It's very telling how a person reacts in a shocking and disastrous situation and I just adored him. Although these two are opposites and from completely different worlds, they mesh together in a surprising fake relationship.

The banter, misunderstandings, and chemistry were a great way to spend my time. So many smiles and swoons!

Hatler stories are so enjoyable because they're so sweet, fun, refreshing, and carefree, yet they have some heart and charm. This is an adorable inclusion to the Do-Over Date series (which don't need to be read in order).

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another in Susan Hatler's Do-Over Date series. Fish-out-of-water, opposites attract, and fake relationship stories are fun and this is a combination of those. Kari Smith is an artist from a small town but lets her sister convince her to take a job in Sacramento, where just as Kari predicted, things go awry.

Poor Kari and Adrian had the worst first meet, when she accidently spilled paint all over his expensive suit and then made things worse. Those two couldn't have been more opposite but were still attracted to each other. I liked how Kari helped Adrian lighten up and she helped Martina show her true self. Meanwhile they both helped Kari feel more comfortable in the city. This is a fun, quick, sweet romance.

I received a complimentary copy from Hatco Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

One Fine Date is a cute, quick romantic read. I was looking for just that after reading a heavy book... and it's February- the month of romance;). Overall, I enjoyed this book and it's theme of finding what makes you happy in life and who you are. This is the story of Adrian (a typical serious business guy) and Kari (a flighty artist girl). As you guessed, the two oppsites drawn together unexpectedly. Each teaches and inspires the other to dig deeper into themeslves and how they are living their lives. Though I enjoyed their interactions, I never found myself connected to the characters and their story like I do in other books. If you're looking for a quick, light romance, for say vacation, this fits the bill!

[Lisa Benison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, Funny, Opposites Attract, Loved It!

This book had a bit of everything and I could not put it down! While Kari is an accomplished artist and glassblower the minute she meets Adrian she becomes a klutzy mess. And while he is normally an "uptight suit" he is adorably tolerant of her messes. Without repeating the plot, they were wonderful together and both went through personal growth in the story. The supporting characters were also fabulous - especially his sister Martina - and I can't wait for her story which is coming up next.

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

[T.I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I enjoyed it from the front to the end. This story had great characters with some romance, a lot of laughs, and a HEA ending. I am never disappointed reading any of this authors books and I'm looking forward to her next one. Enjoy.

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

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully entertaining romance of Kari and Adrian. Full of fun, misunderstanding and lots of chemistry between a small-town talented artist and the big city CFO, I enjoyed every minute. This is a great addition to the series. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, fun, and entertaining opposites attract romance

One Fine Date is the eighth book in the Do-Over Date series and is the story of Kari Smith and Adrian Maxwell. This is a sweet and very enjoyable story about a small town young woman and a big city man who meet at a party when she is hired to paint a mural for his business. Kari is passionate about art and is a very talented painter. He is the CEO of his family's company but has no real concept about art. When they meet their are sparks but there is also a lot more connection between them. Along the way their are laughs, emotion, sweetness and some drama.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a sweet & enjoyable romance.
Kari & Adrian, had already knew
what they wanted in life.
She had her art & shop.
He only cared about work
& the family business.
After an accidental meeting,
Kari & Adrian, were intrigued.
Will opposites work?
A Must Read!

[Michele Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari is a small town girl who was hired to paint a mural in a large business in a big city. Adrian is the very confidently CEO of the family business and doesn’t quite understand art, Kari only understands art and is uncomfortable in her own skin. The two meet when she spills paint on him and he has cut back the project. There is an instant attraction between the two of them and somehow they end up on a fake date on a boat. The comedy of errors is so good! The fact that they realize they are from completely different worlds and falling for each other is fun to read.

This is another great shorter story by this author and again, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is part of a series, but I think it’s fine to read alone.

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

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun addition to the series.
Kari is out of her element in the big city to do a big commissioned project but the first day she finds out the main part of vision has been rejected. To make matters worse she spills a can of paint on the CFO of the company. Many fun events occur during her stay.

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

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and humorous tale to make you smile and inspire you to believe that taking chances can lead to the happy ending you’ve always wanted.

An engaging, romantic story that puts a smile on your face and sweeps you up in the story line. You love getting to know the characters as they're well developed, easy to relate to and you love watching the romance develop between them. Susan gives you moments where you can't help but laugh out loud and will definitely have a smile on your face.

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

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable sweet romance. I loved the heavy art emphasis and their adventures. It was a fun read.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Erralee Hendrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari gets the chance to paint a wonderful work of art in an office building and when she meets Adrian; she accidentally covers him in paint. Kari is pretty upset with Adrian for not appreciating her art and has to find a way to her Adrian to appreciate art even though he helps sell art. I really did enjoy this story and found the characters interesting. There was a nice flow with a nice mix of funny and romantic keeping my interest all through the story. This story stands well on its own and is a fun readm.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this story! There is so much humor and entertainment with Kari and Adrian’s interaction throughout the book. This is just a fun read where I laughed throughout the book! Also, the romance between Kari and Adrian is emotional, heartwarming and touching. This is my favorite book in the series! Loved it.

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

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about a big CFO and a crafty gal.
She has one conversation he doesn't agree with, and things get a little weird.
The only thing is, she's pretending to be his girlfriend now.
Can't get worse, right?

Love a good Susan Hatler novel!

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari is an small town artist hired to do a mural and Adrian is CFO of his familys large business. They do not start off the best but sparks soon develop. The characters are terrific, with great banter and backstories. The storyline is full of drama, hijinks, funny situations, misconceptions and steam. Loved their chemistry and the determination they each have. Great ending.

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

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute lighthearted engaging story that was an enjoyable read with "very likable" characters that I volunteer to read and review via Booksprout. I adore Susan Hatler's books and this one is another wonderful novelette. This story is about Kari Smith who has been commissioned to paint a mural in Sacramento and Adrian Maxwell the CFO of the Maxwell House an art auction house. Their interactions and romance story were well written till the end. ARC

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari's sister pushes her to step out of her comfort zone, when she does things don't go as planned. When Kari spills paint on Adrian instead of being made, it makes him more interested. This is a sweet romance that has fun character that pull at your heart.

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

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, it's a fast-paced well-written quick to read instalove romance. Fun and steamy, the characters have a wonderful connection. Really enjoyed their story.

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small-town Kari was pushed into going to New York to paint a mural by her sister, who wanted her to get out of her comfort zone. And when an accidental meeting with the company's workaholic CFO ends with him asking her on a date/business meeting, it's clear that her comfort zone is nowhere in sight! Circumstances subsequently force them to feign a dating relationship, but both know it can't go anywhere because she's permanently rooted in her small town and he loves the city. If only fake didn't feel so real at times...

Look, I'll be honest - the initial scene bugged me. Adrian's completely out of character response to Kari at or even before first sight seemed completely unrealistic. However, once I moved past that, I enjoyed the story, and the ending was great. A perfect escape from reality - a clean, well written story with some good humour an encouraging underlying message, light but more than just fluff. A fun read.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the eighth installment of Ms. Hatler's Do-Over Date series. If you are reading this series for the first time, you are in for a treat! This series is absolutely amazing and I always have such fun when I read one of her books. This one was no different! Kari is an artist in the small town of Blue Moon Bay and she is comfortable there. Her sister convinces her to expand a little and take a commission in Sacramento. She agrees and meets Adrian, who is the CFO of the company she is working for. He has changed things, not to her liking, and their meeting doesn't go well. Despite being total opposites they were perfect and so adorable together. I also enjoyed seeing them both grow a little by the end. They were both relatable and endearing characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. This is a sweet, feel-good, entertaining romance that I very much enjoyed. But then again, I haven't read anything yet by Ms. Hatler that I haven't totally loved! I would definitely recommend!

I received a complimentary advanced reader's copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small-town, Kari Smith, has been commissioned to paint a mural in the city. She is out of her comfort zone and becomes very nervous, which makes for some interesting things to happen. She is invited to a party by the CFO, Adrian Maxwell, and she agrees to go. As she tries to find a place to hide, she enters a room with an amazing painting. The man who painted it enters and ask what she sees. As she loses herself in the painting, he makes a decision of what he wants to be done with the painting.
It is the journey of a small-town girl, and the things that happen when she tries the life of a city girl. There are lots of moments that happen that make this book interesting, sometimes comical, and the many things that happen along the way. Being a small-town girl myself, I enjoyed reading the book.
I received an ARC from Hatco Publishing through NetGalley.