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Love Thy Neighbor #5
The Ticket
Ricky Barnes waited patiently for the right moment, the right woman, and the right time to make a move in life. All three converged one sunny Tuesday Morning when Consuela Carter blew through a four-way stop, going fifteen miles over the speed limit in a school zone. Luckily, school was out, but everything about Consuela drew him in.
Consuela Carter felt the chemistry immediately when Officer Handsome walked up to her driver’s side window. The traffic stop was only the start of a courtship that included thrifting, home renovation projects, and an odd road trip.
Ricky and Consuela soon realize that they shared more in common than an interest in swatches of color. The connection between them was just the ticket for a beautiful journey together in life. A journey, they looked forward to embarking upon.
Consuela Carter felt the chemistry immediately when Officer Handsome walked up to her driver’s side window. The traffic stop was only the start of a courtship that included thrifting, home renovation projects, and an odd road trip.
Ricky and Consuela soon realize that they shared more in common than an interest in swatches of color. The connection between them was just the ticket for a beautiful journey together in life. A journey, they looked forward to embarking upon.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2022
349 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Gaines
136 books351 followersOlivia is a USA Today Best Selling, Emma Award and multiple award-winning author who loves a good laugh coupled with some steam, mixed in with a man and woman finding their way past the words of "I love you." An author of contemporary romances, she writes heartwarming stories of blossoming relationships filled with heart and humor. The Technicians, The Blakemore Files, and the Modern Mail Order Brides, are one clicks for thousands of readers.
When Olivia is not writing, she enjoys quilting, playing Scrabble online against other word lovers and spending time with her family. She is an avid world traveler who writes many of the locations into her stories. Most of the time she can be found sitting quietly with pen and paper plotting more adventures in love.
Olivia lives in Hephzibah, Georgia with her husband, son, grandson and snotty evil cat, Katness Evermean.
Subscribe to her email list at http://eepurl.com/OulYf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.gaine...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviagaines
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviawrites/
When Olivia is not writing, she enjoys quilting, playing Scrabble online against other word lovers and spending time with her family. She is an avid world traveler who writes many of the locations into her stories. Most of the time she can be found sitting quietly with pen and paper plotting more adventures in love.
Olivia lives in Hephzibah, Georgia with her husband, son, grandson and snotty evil cat, Katness Evermean.
Subscribe to her email list at http://eepurl.com/OulYf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.gaine...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviagaines
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviawrites/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 2, 2022
Not the usual quality.
Hate to say this but I was disappointed with this SHORT story. Book ended at 58%. For what it was, it was entertaining but ended abruptly to me. I usually love Olivia's books but this was not up to her usual standards. I expect this kind of short story from other authors but Olivia usually delivers. This one left me flat.😐
Hate to say this but I was disappointed with this SHORT story. Book ended at 58%. For what it was, it was entertaining but ended abruptly to me. I usually love Olivia's books but this was not up to her usual standards. I expect this kind of short story from other authors but Olivia usually delivers. This one left me flat.😐
August 22, 2022
Love the cover. Love this super cute story. Consuela is the female character I love reading about - confidant, feisty, sexy, take no prisoners, capable woman. Ricky is officer handsome and he wants Consuela despite her always being late. There is great chemistry. I loved Paco! and no I'm not telling you about Paco!
October 26, 2023
I had a blast with this book. The humor was over the top but fit the bill for me. It’s a little devoid of emotion but you do still feel their connection, if that makes sense. I guess what I’m trying to say is just don’t go into it taking it seriously and you’ll enjoy it. But that ending was a little too abrupt and came at the 58% mark which made it lose a star.
July 31, 2022
Not the usual
Not the usual laugh out loud, but light a fun quick read. I could fall I love with a cop. And I could also date someone with a pet I didn't like. But overall a good read. Always love this authors work.
Not the usual laugh out loud, but light a fun quick read. I could fall I love with a cop. And I could also date someone with a pet I didn't like. But overall a good read. Always love this authors work.
July 13, 2024
The book was a good laugh at times, but then there were serious topics that were glazed over and not addressed, such as:
--MMC being sexually assaulted by a character in the book who came to his house with a pie laced with drugs that made him pass out. It's peculiar that this character, who also stalked him at work after he moved, would appear in the book, but nothing comes of it. She doesn't even show up and cause issues in FMC and MMC relationship. This could've been left out.
--Racial aspect: Out of nowhere, there was this focus on MMC being a white cop and if his family would accept FMC, but there was no build-up to this thought. It seemed like an assumption until the MMC boss mentioned that the MMC's father has a rebel flag tatted on his chest and what he thought about his Black girlfriend.
--Timeline: I think this man proposed to the FMC after two weeks and got her to agree to move in with him, rent her house out, and quit her job, and he would financially support her as she took a year off to pursue hobbies.
--Book excerpts: I felt bamboozled because I made it 58% of the way through the book and discovered that the story ended abruptly. The rest of the book was excerpts from the author's three other books!
--MMC being sexually assaulted by a character in the book who came to his house with a pie laced with drugs that made him pass out. It's peculiar that this character, who also stalked him at work after he moved, would appear in the book, but nothing comes of it. She doesn't even show up and cause issues in FMC and MMC relationship. This could've been left out.
--Racial aspect: Out of nowhere, there was this focus on MMC being a white cop and if his family would accept FMC, but there was no build-up to this thought. It seemed like an assumption until the MMC boss mentioned that the MMC's father has a rebel flag tatted on his chest and what he thought about his Black girlfriend.
--Timeline: I think this man proposed to the FMC after two weeks and got her to agree to move in with him, rent her house out, and quit her job, and he would financially support her as she took a year off to pursue hobbies.
--Book excerpts: I felt bamboozled because I made it 58% of the way through the book and discovered that the story ended abruptly. The rest of the book was excerpts from the author's three other books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
An officer and the speeding lady get their ticket!
Officer Handsome aka Office Ricky Barnes and always late Real Estate aenthusiast Consuela Carter forge a relationship around their immediate chemistry with each other and not even the myriad of tickets he issued her for speeding or meeting his whiter than white family of men and women in law enforcement could derail their budding love affair. The personality of these two complemented each other very well! This match was an excellent one for both Consuela and officer handsome! Pack on the other hand was a creepy entitled lizard that I believe got pleasure sneaking up on Officer Handsome and scaring the begeesus out of him! I liked this novella even though I thought I had read and reviewed this story before. Alas, now must be the right time to give this short but meaningful story its props. I did thoroughly enjoy Ricky and Consuela's story.
Officer Handsome aka Office Ricky Barnes and always late Real Estate aenthusiast Consuela Carter forge a relationship around their immediate chemistry with each other and not even the myriad of tickets he issued her for speeding or meeting his whiter than white family of men and women in law enforcement could derail their budding love affair. The personality of these two complemented each other very well! This match was an excellent one for both Consuela and officer handsome! Pack on the other hand was a creepy entitled lizard that I believe got pleasure sneaking up on Officer Handsome and scaring the begeesus out of him! I liked this novella even though I thought I had read and reviewed this story before. Alas, now must be the right time to give this short but meaningful story its props. I did thoroughly enjoy Ricky and Consuela's story.
August 1, 2022
Ms. Carter more more than a ticket
Officer Handsome caught her eyes and she wanted him. He was attracted to her too but he kept to his ethics as a police officer in the small town. Consuela wanted to see him again too and kept up with her bad driving habits just to see him again. He had to come up with a way to get her to go out with him and got an unpleasant surprise from a seventy-year-old woman.
When Officer Ricardo Barnes finally made it to Consuela's house, he had to deal with her scary pet Paco. It was funny how he reacted to Paco, but I think he loved and wanted Consuela in his life enough to make adjustments.
Consuela Carter's lead foot finally got the best of her forcing her to make some drastic changes in her life. Both she and Ricky were ready to make those changes together.
Officer Handsome caught her eyes and she wanted him. He was attracted to her too but he kept to his ethics as a police officer in the small town. Consuela wanted to see him again too and kept up with her bad driving habits just to see him again. He had to come up with a way to get her to go out with him and got an unpleasant surprise from a seventy-year-old woman.
When Officer Ricardo Barnes finally made it to Consuela's house, he had to deal with her scary pet Paco. It was funny how he reacted to Paco, but I think he loved and wanted Consuela in his life enough to make adjustments.
Consuela Carter's lead foot finally got the best of her forcing her to make some drastic changes in her life. Both she and Ricky were ready to make those changes together.
July 28, 2022
Great story!
I really enjoyed this short and sweet book! Yes I have met someone and had a instant connection, he became my first husband but we grew up and apart but we are still friends. I loved the chemistry between Consuela and Ricky it was fun and smoking hot. No I wouldn't date a cop, to strict and would not be a whole lot of flexibility in the relationship. I really enjoyed reading this book it was just enough. I highly recommend this book to my fellow romance readers you Ms Gaines never disappoint. Great job!
I really enjoyed this short and sweet book! Yes I have met someone and had a instant connection, he became my first husband but we grew up and apart but we are still friends. I loved the chemistry between Consuela and Ricky it was fun and smoking hot. No I wouldn't date a cop, to strict and would not be a whole lot of flexibility in the relationship. I really enjoyed reading this book it was just enough. I highly recommend this book to my fellow romance readers you Ms Gaines never disappoint. Great job!
August 1, 2023
Consuela and Ricky-- and Paco too! Lol
Consuela, Ricky, and Paco, what a trio! I smiled; and at times, I laughed out loud--usually when Paco decided to sidle up to Ricky. Lol
I liked how they both were at basically the same point in their lives career wise. Mostly, I enjoyed how each saw in the other what they needed. And neither sacrificed their integrity by allowing the other to get away with something that they knew was justified; i.e. they owned their mistakes.
Of course, for me, on a side note--Paco would have to go! Lol
Consuela, Ricky, and Paco, what a trio! I smiled; and at times, I laughed out loud--usually when Paco decided to sidle up to Ricky. Lol
I liked how they both were at basically the same point in their lives career wise. Mostly, I enjoyed how each saw in the other what they needed. And neither sacrificed their integrity by allowing the other to get away with something that they knew was justified; i.e. they owned their mistakes.
Of course, for me, on a side note--Paco would have to go! Lol
June 12, 2024
😎😎😎
Coming from a long line of military and law enforcement, I can relate to this story. It was refreshing to not see that the interracial aspects of the couple were not the issue when it came to meeting the "parents" of both sides.
There is a lot to be learned from this story when it comes to racism. People need to be allowed to be just that,,, people. Race does not/nor should be the focus of every interaction of an interracial relationship.
Life is too short for such nonsense!!!
Coming from a long line of military and law enforcement, I can relate to this story. It was refreshing to not see that the interracial aspects of the couple were not the issue when it came to meeting the "parents" of both sides.
There is a lot to be learned from this story when it comes to racism. People need to be allowed to be just that,,, people. Race does not/nor should be the focus of every interaction of an interracial relationship.
Life is too short for such nonsense!!!
August 7, 2022
No nonsense
A traffick stop that changed their lives for the better. Another winner from Ms Gaines. No games or high drama. Life as it is and the choices we make. These two made me smile through the awkward moments to the blazing truth that love is love. It is a choice and does not habe to come with high drama. Every day is an adventure and the people along for the ride can be the real gift. You laugh and smirk because it's that kind of love story.
A traffick stop that changed their lives for the better. Another winner from Ms Gaines. No games or high drama. Life as it is and the choices we make. These two made me smile through the awkward moments to the blazing truth that love is love. It is a choice and does not habe to come with high drama. Every day is an adventure and the people along for the ride can be the real gift. You laugh and smirk because it's that kind of love story.
August 12, 2022
Wish it was longer
This is a great quirky romance. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. I was a little put off about the quickness in the relationship until the end when I realized this is a short read (followed by full excerpts to at least 3 of the author's books). I liked how the hero did not allow the heroine's unique pet to be a reason to break up. However for me, there are certain unique pets that are a no no - snakes, roaches, etc.
This is a great quirky romance. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. I was a little put off about the quickness in the relationship until the end when I realized this is a short read (followed by full excerpts to at least 3 of the author's books). I liked how the hero did not allow the heroine's unique pet to be a reason to break up. However for me, there are certain unique pets that are a no no - snakes, roaches, etc.
October 20, 2022
loved it
Their love story is a rare one of instant attraction. Many of us work a job that we really don’t like in hopes of finding something better later on. But there are also many of us who really dislike our jobs and whine about it all day long. I love my job. But I dislike some of the circumstances. Therefore I find myself being late a lot of days on time and on early. We have a love-hate relationship. Lol. Once again Olivia thank you for a wonderful read.
Their love story is a rare one of instant attraction. Many of us work a job that we really don’t like in hopes of finding something better later on. But there are also many of us who really dislike our jobs and whine about it all day long. I love my job. But I dislike some of the circumstances. Therefore I find myself being late a lot of days on time and on early. We have a love-hate relationship. Lol. Once again Olivia thank you for a wonderful read.
August 9, 2022
Great read 📚
This is a sweet, funny story. The main characters meet at a traffic stop and all bets are off. Officer Ricky Barnes knows he wants Consuela Carter as soon as he gives her a citation for speeding. I loved the interplay between the and other characters are funny especially "Paco".
This is a sweet, funny story. The main characters meet at a traffic stop and all bets are off. Officer Ricky Barnes knows he wants Consuela Carter as soon as he gives her a citation for speeding. I loved the interplay between the and other characters are funny especially "Paco".
September 13, 2022
The connection
The ticket was the item that connected Ricky and Consuela together. This instant attraction to one another was special and they both wanted to see where it would take them. Great book of knowing you have met the one and doing what is necessary to see it through.
Olivia, you never disappoints and I look forward to reading more!
The ticket was the item that connected Ricky and Consuela together. This instant attraction to one another was special and they both wanted to see where it would take them. Great book of knowing you have met the one and doing what is necessary to see it through.
Olivia, you never disappoints and I look forward to reading more!
October 1, 2022
Now this story I absolutely LOVED. Consuela's and Ricky's chemistry was off the chart. I loved how neither compromised their values but they found a way to work it out. I think Paco and Ricky's reaction to him cracked me up. It was a great way to end this series. I love what I have read by this author so far. On to the next series.
July 4, 2023
Paco's Parents
Consuela and Ricky's story was so good. These two net and formed a bond thru him stopping her for speeding. I love how their friendship moved into a relationship. The families opinion didn't matter since they were a couple regardless. Paco seemed to like Ricky since he stayed at his feet. The niece was funny and I loved how she bonded with Consuela. Their future plans are made and benefits them both. Looking forward to the next book!!
Consuela and Ricky's story was so good. These two net and formed a bond thru him stopping her for speeding. I love how their friendship moved into a relationship. The families opinion didn't matter since they were a couple regardless. Paco seemed to like Ricky since he stayed at his feet. The niece was funny and I loved how she bonded with Consuela. Their future plans are made and benefits them both. Looking forward to the next book!!
July 28, 2022
Officer Handsome
I really love when unexpected releases drop. A quick quirky read from one of my favorite authors. Laughter, some steamy scenes and adult communication makes a good story.
I really love when unexpected releases drop. A quick quirky read from one of my favorite authors. Laughter, some steamy scenes and adult communication makes a good story.
July 28, 2022
Loved It!!
As usual Ms Gaines out did herself! Great storyline. Loved the characters and the laugh out loud moments. My only regret is it was too short. I wanted more. So looking forward to her next book.
As usual Ms Gaines out did herself! Great storyline. Loved the characters and the laugh out loud moments. My only regret is it was too short. I wanted more. So looking forward to her next book.
July 29, 2022
very short even for a novella
But I love this author so I’ll take it.
Loved the characters and wanted more from them. Especially Officer Handsome!
Thankfully at the end there was and excerpt from the new Blind Seed book coming in September… also good!
But I love this author so I’ll take it.
Loved the characters and wanted more from them. Especially Officer Handsome!
Thankfully at the end there was and excerpt from the new Blind Seed book coming in September… also good!
July 30, 2022
Enjoyable short read with two very likable characters and plenty of humorous banter. My two issues with it were it needed proofreading/editing and I wished it were a tad bit longer to give us more with these characters.
August 4, 2022
Crazy lizard
This story was ok Ricky was fine as can be he fell for a weird woman who had different ideas about things and life, I am just not fond of reptiles and knowing one I'd always around and at someone feet give me the hee bee geevies.
This story was ok Ricky was fine as can be he fell for a weird woman who had different ideas about things and life, I am just not fond of reptiles and knowing one I'd always around and at someone feet give me the hee bee geevies.
August 5, 2022
Hilarious!
I really liked this book! Rarely do you find a romance book with lots of laughter, but this book had both. The dialogue between Ricky and Consuela was breath taking and Ricky's reactions to Paco very funny! Thank you, Ms. Gaines for another good book!
I really liked this book! Rarely do you find a romance book with lots of laughter, but this book had both. The dialogue between Ricky and Consuela was breath taking and Ricky's reactions to Paco very funny! Thank you, Ms. Gaines for another good book!
August 6, 2022
Enjoyed reading this, the bold characters are relatable and their insta-love story is steamy, in depth although short and a delight to read as they deal with real life things and their chemistry. Love it when a man knows what he wants.
August 7, 2022
This book was such a pleasure to read. It kept me laughing and shaking my head at the two stubborn people PERFECT for each other and their families. It gave you enough information to imagine their HEA. Thank you Ms. Gaines
August 20, 2022
The book may be short but Ricky and Consuela were complex and the story was entertaining with actual funny moments. I loved the humor and sassy attitude of the main characters. My only critique is that it needs an epilogue to wrap everything up and give readers that satisfying feeling.
September 25, 2022
Excellent
Oh I loved this book Msn Gaines delivers again. Had me laughing out loud, what a great couple. I definitely agree being serially late for work in that manner is a red flag that you should change your job.
Oh I loved this book Msn Gaines delivers again. Had me laughing out loud, what a great couple. I definitely agree being serially late for work in that manner is a red flag that you should change your job.
November 1, 2022
Great story
Another great story with relatable characters full of humor, love, and family
Loved Paco the lizard
Ricky and Consuela love for each was wonderful and made the story very enjoyable
Another great story with relatable characters full of humor, love, and family
Loved Paco the lizard
Ricky and Consuela love for each was wonderful and made the story very enjoyable
July 31, 2022
I wish it was longer.
I wish it was longer but it did say short story. It was sweet and funny. I look forward to more of these kind of books from Mrs. Gaines. Happy reading 😊
I wish it was longer but it did say short story. It was sweet and funny. I look forward to more of these kind of books from Mrs. Gaines. Happy reading 😊
July 31, 2022
An ok read, would not reread though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews