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Challenge #1
A Valentine Challenge
Book 1 of the contemporary romance Challenge series, set in Nigeria. Three friends. Three challenges. Are they willing to risk everything for love?
Ex-soldier Michael Ede’s spent his time building his life exactly the way he wants it. Life is good. Or so he thinks. So when his friends set him a challenge to exorcise the memory of a woman from his past, he expects it to be a walk in the park.
Socialite Kasie Bosa is spitting fire at men. Her long-term boyfriend has asked for a break via text message of all things. How dare he? She’s told him to go take a dive into the River Niger. And not so politely too. So the next man who dares to cross her path is at risk of getting shredded with her spa manicured nails.
Bad news for Michael who has chosen her as the object of his challenge. But neither of them can deny the sizzling chemistry between them nor control their responses, it seems. It’s the season of love. Can either of them escape unscathed?
ebook
First published January 29, 2012
106 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Kiru Taye
63 books340 followersAs a lover of romance novels, Kiru wanted to read stories about Africans falling in love. When she couldn’t find those books, she decided to write the stories she wanted to read.
Kiru writes sensual stories featuring African characters whether on the continent or in the Diaspora. When she's not writing you can find her either immersed in a good book or catching up with friends and family. She currently lives in the South of England with her husband and three children.
Kiru is a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa. In 2011, her debut romance novella, His Treasure, won the Book of the Year at the Love Romances Café Awards. She is the 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Awards and 2017 Author of the Year at the Ufere Awards.
Kiru writes sensual stories featuring African characters whether on the continent or in the Diaspora. When she's not writing you can find her either immersed in a good book or catching up with friends and family. She currently lives in the South of England with her husband and three children.
Kiru is a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa. In 2011, her debut romance novella, His Treasure, won the Book of the Year at the Love Romances Café Awards. She is the 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Awards and 2017 Author of the Year at the Ufere Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 30, 2012
This is a heart warming story about a self made millionare who had loved and found true dissappointment in love. He accepts a challenge to seduce Kasie as an ordinary man. Knowing her type he based his opinion of her on his previous bad experinece. He already sees her as a daddy's princes. People tend to bend to her just because of her father not her and when Michael teaches her a lesson, she is appalled but his behaviour doesn't match that of a chauffeur. But neither of them can deny the instant attraction they feel for each other and thier desire takes them to heights they never experienced before. The disaster strikes when Kasie learns who Michael really is and that he did all this for a bet. However, their love is stronger and sees them through.
February 7, 2020
This book could have been so much better if it was not a quarter of a book and written like the author was running from something. The main characters are very interesting, but the book is so rushed that you don’t even get to know them properly, even they don’t get to know each other properly. First day they meet they are rude to each other. Second day is their first date and they sleep together. Then they see each other after a month, with no communication in between, and after few minutes of this meeting, they declare their undying love and get engaged.
But like I said, the book has so much potential. Both main characters and secondary characters are all very interesting. I wish we were given more to get to know them, all of them, even the bitchy sister of the FMC. The plot is good, it would have made a very interesting read, if only everything was expanded on a little bit. I loved the location; I just wish we could have been told a little bit more about both cities. It’s like the author assumed the readers know Lagos and Enugu. The writing is good, all that is missing are words that could have made this a proper book and not a summary of events. These storyline and these characters deserved a full book.
But I guess if one is looking for a quick read with a bit of angst that doesn’t go into too much detail and has no cliffhangers, this book would do.
But like I said, the book has so much potential. Both main characters and secondary characters are all very interesting. I wish we were given more to get to know them, all of them, even the bitchy sister of the FMC. The plot is good, it would have made a very interesting read, if only everything was expanded on a little bit. I loved the location; I just wish we could have been told a little bit more about both cities. It’s like the author assumed the readers know Lagos and Enugu. The writing is good, all that is missing are words that could have made this a proper book and not a summary of events. These storyline and these characters deserved a full book.
But I guess if one is looking for a quick read with a bit of angst that doesn’t go into too much detail and has no cliffhangers, this book would do.
February 24, 2012
Thought it was a fantastic, romantic novel. Storyline was crisp and the book was engaging from start to finish!
March 4, 2014
My Secret Book Spot had 2 Reviewers choose to read this book and so we decided to average their rating and let you read them both! Then you can decide how you'd respond to the Challenge!!!
5 out of 5 stars!!
A Valentine Challenge is set in Enugu, Nigeria and follows the course of a challenge set for millionaire Michael Ede by his two best friends and business partners. After seeing the beautiful, successful, wealthy, and seemingly untouchable Kasie Bosa sashay through the bar they own, Peter and Paul place a bet that Michael could not woo her and make her fall madly in love with him in barely a week's time. The stakes? Should Michael complete the challenge, his partners would relinquish ownership to a home and a prized vehicle. But should he fail, he would lose his pride and joy- his airplane.
However, there is one twist to the wager.... Michael must gain the trust and love of this wealthy beauty and he must do so while disguised as her chauffeur during her business trip. Soon, Michael has allowed his feelings for Kasie to progress much farther than he ever could have imagined. Can he still keep the woman of his dreams and tell her the truth about his own life, or will the truth interfere with their blossoming connection?
Mostly focusing on the interactions of the two main characters, Taye leaves little to be desired in this quick read. Though not nearly as raunchy as I expected, I was far from disappointed with the emotional ties that were formed throughout the course of the book. I love the third person viewpoint with insight into both characters' minds because it allows the outside view of the situation while still giving the reader that extra "something" that accompanies those sneak peeks into the minds of the characters. I definitely intend to continue reading this series!!
Honest review given in exchange for a free ebook.
Meagan
3 out of 5 stars
For a quick plane ride or an hours read between doing the house work 'A Valentine Challenge' is an easy grab and go book. Within its few pages you get good steamy romance that pulls at your heart strings. As you reach the climax you are taken there with Kasie and Micheal and you care about the choices they make. Anytime you can be transported to book world in an hour of character development you have to admire that author. Kiru Taye understands romance and sexual tension and has an intriguing turn of phrase.
"Their eyes connected, she could have sworn the air crackled with electricity. The impact of seeing him again hit her stomach, knocking the breath out of her. Just like this morning. Her steps faltered. Heat traveled up her body spreading to her face. Everything within her stilled, if she didn't move, perhaps the predator wouldn't see her."
The story is set in Nigeria with a class system that was a little hard to unravel with no explanation of its structure and values and with only a partial physical description of the two main characters you are not quite sure which class the characters are a part of until three fourths of the way into the book. But don't let that distract you from the quality of the writing. I would have liked to have read more and had more time for character development. When you want more, you know it's a good read. In my opinion Kiru Taye is well on her way to becoming someone to take notice of.
Cheryle
**A free copy was given in exchange for an honest review**
5 out of 5 stars!!
A Valentine Challenge is set in Enugu, Nigeria and follows the course of a challenge set for millionaire Michael Ede by his two best friends and business partners. After seeing the beautiful, successful, wealthy, and seemingly untouchable Kasie Bosa sashay through the bar they own, Peter and Paul place a bet that Michael could not woo her and make her fall madly in love with him in barely a week's time. The stakes? Should Michael complete the challenge, his partners would relinquish ownership to a home and a prized vehicle. But should he fail, he would lose his pride and joy- his airplane.
However, there is one twist to the wager.... Michael must gain the trust and love of this wealthy beauty and he must do so while disguised as her chauffeur during her business trip. Soon, Michael has allowed his feelings for Kasie to progress much farther than he ever could have imagined. Can he still keep the woman of his dreams and tell her the truth about his own life, or will the truth interfere with their blossoming connection?
Mostly focusing on the interactions of the two main characters, Taye leaves little to be desired in this quick read. Though not nearly as raunchy as I expected, I was far from disappointed with the emotional ties that were formed throughout the course of the book. I love the third person viewpoint with insight into both characters' minds because it allows the outside view of the situation while still giving the reader that extra "something" that accompanies those sneak peeks into the minds of the characters. I definitely intend to continue reading this series!!
Honest review given in exchange for a free ebook.
Meagan
3 out of 5 stars
For a quick plane ride or an hours read between doing the house work 'A Valentine Challenge' is an easy grab and go book. Within its few pages you get good steamy romance that pulls at your heart strings. As you reach the climax you are taken there with Kasie and Micheal and you care about the choices they make. Anytime you can be transported to book world in an hour of character development you have to admire that author. Kiru Taye understands romance and sexual tension and has an intriguing turn of phrase.
"Their eyes connected, she could have sworn the air crackled with electricity. The impact of seeing him again hit her stomach, knocking the breath out of her. Just like this morning. Her steps faltered. Heat traveled up her body spreading to her face. Everything within her stilled, if she didn't move, perhaps the predator wouldn't see her."
The story is set in Nigeria with a class system that was a little hard to unravel with no explanation of its structure and values and with only a partial physical description of the two main characters you are not quite sure which class the characters are a part of until three fourths of the way into the book. But don't let that distract you from the quality of the writing. I would have liked to have read more and had more time for character development. When you want more, you know it's a good read. In my opinion Kiru Taye is well on her way to becoming someone to take notice of.
Cheryle
**A free copy was given in exchange for an honest review**
July 26, 2012
Two strong characters collide in A Valentine Challenge. Micheal has been burned in the love department, but accepts a challenge from his friends to make Kasie Bosa fall for him. This, in an attempt to get a particular kind of woman out of his system.
Kasie is all about her work, and having been let down by her beau, she’s not in the best frame of mind. She’s bothered by Michael, who doesn’t behave like the hired help he’s supposed to represent. Michael and Kasie must overcome their prejudices to meet on common ground.
PLAYERS:
Michael Ede: a businessman who makes his own rules and doesn’t take rudeness lightly. Micheal is also a gentleman and a sweetheart.
Kasie Bosa: a woman focused on getting the job done and keeping on the straight and narrow. Her class prejudice is born of fear brought on by familial expectations.
I LIKED: the sexual tension that zings between Micheal and Kasie. Kiru Taye excels at putting into words, sensual awareness between man and woman. I also enjoyed the flow of the story, which takes place in a compressed period of time. Also loved the descriptions of Micheal. Taye certainly created a delicious character in Michael Ede.
I could have done without Michael’s treatment of Kasie in one particular scene, but it certainly helped to throw Kasie off her high horse and back in the realm of reality.
OVERALL COMMENTS: At eighty-something pages, A Valentine Challenge makes for a short, but spicy read. I finished it in one sitting and enjoyed travelling to another hemisphere. I’d love to see more of the African setting and can’t wait to pick up the other two stories in this series.
COVER NOTE: The silky fabric on the bottom half of the cover speaks to the title of the book and makes me think of chocolate. Mmmm. Fitting, I think.
Kasie is all about her work, and having been let down by her beau, she’s not in the best frame of mind. She’s bothered by Michael, who doesn’t behave like the hired help he’s supposed to represent. Michael and Kasie must overcome their prejudices to meet on common ground.
PLAYERS:
Michael Ede: a businessman who makes his own rules and doesn’t take rudeness lightly. Micheal is also a gentleman and a sweetheart.
Kasie Bosa: a woman focused on getting the job done and keeping on the straight and narrow. Her class prejudice is born of fear brought on by familial expectations.
I LIKED: the sexual tension that zings between Micheal and Kasie. Kiru Taye excels at putting into words, sensual awareness between man and woman. I also enjoyed the flow of the story, which takes place in a compressed period of time. Also loved the descriptions of Micheal. Taye certainly created a delicious character in Michael Ede.
I could have done without Michael’s treatment of Kasie in one particular scene, but it certainly helped to throw Kasie off her high horse and back in the realm of reality.
OVERALL COMMENTS: At eighty-something pages, A Valentine Challenge makes for a short, but spicy read. I finished it in one sitting and enjoyed travelling to another hemisphere. I’d love to see more of the African setting and can’t wait to pick up the other two stories in this series.
COVER NOTE: The silky fabric on the bottom half of the cover speaks to the title of the book and makes me think of chocolate. Mmmm. Fitting, I think.
June 16, 2013
I love when a person turns out to be more than who you thought they were, and this is what happened in A Valentine Challeng. Michael ended up being more than Kasie had expected. Of course subterfuge and the challenge Michael had undertaken was annoying to me initially because, well, it was wrong. But as I got to know Michael, his background, and his caring nature, I was able to forgive him.
Of course I must mention that Kasie’s initial snotty attitude towards Michael did not endear her to me, but once again she grew on me. Michael was able to handle her with his alpha male attitude, he was nobody’s stepping stone. Kasie was spunky and smart. I always enjoy this in a female heroine.
The book was hotter than I thought it would be. I didn’t know Ms. Taye's work then, so I didn’t expect it. I don’t think sweet is in her vocabulary. Spicy is her way and it works because she excels at writing those sensual scenes.
It was a wonderful novel and I highly recommend it. It will start your addiction to Kiru Taye’s books.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
Of course I must mention that Kasie’s initial snotty attitude towards Michael did not endear her to me, but once again she grew on me. Michael was able to handle her with his alpha male attitude, he was nobody’s stepping stone. Kasie was spunky and smart. I always enjoy this in a female heroine.
The book was hotter than I thought it would be. I didn’t know Ms. Taye's work then, so I didn’t expect it. I don’t think sweet is in her vocabulary. Spicy is her way and it works because she excels at writing those sensual scenes.
It was a wonderful novel and I highly recommend it. It will start your addiction to Kiru Taye’s books.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 12, 2012
This was a fun little weekend read, the kind of book you could knock out in a few hours if you have them uninterrupted. I quite liked the premise: three guys, one scarred in the past is dared to take on a difficult woman. And trust me, Michael Ede is definitely the an for the job! He definitely made this book for me. I love a man who doesn't take crap for anybody, not even a beautiful, rich and powerful woman. Kasie is a prickly little thing, so it's a good thing that Michael is a strong as he is. A meeker man would've been eaten alive. The sensuality was smokin', the chemistry was sweet and while things happen between them awfully fast I didn't mind that so much. For me it's all about escape and that's what this book was all about for me and my weekend. Definitely a keeper!
June 10, 2013
A quick hot and steamy read, perfect for the weekend!
Once I got into this book I didn't want to put it down until it was done. Kiru Taye presents well rounded characters with strong personality traits. The story of Michael and Kasie is powerful and passionate and will keep you turning the pages!
My only concern was that things tend to happen unrealistically fast between them, but other than that it was a truly enjoyable story!
*** I received a free electronic copy of this book for review by the author
Once I got into this book I didn't want to put it down until it was done. Kiru Taye presents well rounded characters with strong personality traits. The story of Michael and Kasie is powerful and passionate and will keep you turning the pages!
My only concern was that things tend to happen unrealistically fast between them, but other than that it was a truly enjoyable story!
*** I received a free electronic copy of this book for review by the author
May 9, 2012
This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it. This was a short read, and the author did a great job of putting everything relevant on the pages, and not filling the story with unnecessary information. Kasie and Michael had an interesting start, and although fast you could really feel the passion and love between them. I wish the story was longer, but for the content included it was a really good read.
January 5, 2014
I received a free digital copy from storycartel.com in exchange for a review.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the idea about the bet. The plot was quite predictable, and I felt the ending was a little too fast; but I still liked the book because the characters are well developed and the steamy sections were great.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the idea about the bet. The plot was quite predictable, and I felt the ending was a little too fast; but I still liked the book because the characters are well developed and the steamy sections were great.
February 24, 2012
A refreshing read. I like traditional romance but the characters in this are Afro-centric and extremely likeable. My only wish is that the setting didn't pop out for me. I'd like to see more of this culture. Good work, Ms. Taye!
May 22, 2012
A Short, SWEET and too the point ROMANTIC treat...the PASSION between Kasie and Michael is INSTANT and ENDEARING...DEFINITELY looking forward to reading more from Mrs. Taye...simply stated it's quite an ENJOYABLE read!
February 6, 2012
This was a wonderful love story! I loved it!
May 27, 2012
A passionate, emotional romance with lots of spice. Loved the hero - he was such a honey and very easy to fall in love with. Great read.
November 3, 2012
I just thought this was a fantastic book. Short, sweet, a little sensual but not erotic. Some tension and likeable characters.
February 25, 2014
When Michael Ede takes a bet of sorts on from his friends, one that will put him directly in the path, and possible bed, of spitfire/Ice Princess Kasie Bosa, he has no idea what he’s up against. With Kasie determined to fight against the attraction and chemistry she feels with Michael, and Michael determined to break through Kasie’s walls, and keep his beloved Cessna all the same, something is going to have to give.
As I usually state in my reviews for short stories, I enjoy a quick tale. At 62 pages in the pdf ARC, A Valentine Challenge is certainly that. Kiru Taye keeps the pace well from start to finish, and managed to portray the main characters plights, interest, and resolution perfectly for the length.
I want to call Michael a charming man, and at times he certainly could be, but I think the ghosts in his past made him a little hard, and harsh at times. What he received from the women in the past, he expects from women in the future. To me, that was a realistic portrayal of someone having been once burned and not stupid enough to let it happen a second time.
He also comes on a little strong, but I think Kasie enjoyed that maybe a little more than she wanted to admit. Let’s just say she’s the kind of girl accustomed to getting her way, and Michael wasn’t giving her an inch of room to move.
Given that the copy I received was an ARC, I overlooked the typos (think/thing tyre/tire two dashes instead of — in several places). There were a few sentences where a word was dropped, but nothing that drew my eye into the spot. However, the errors were a little distracting while reading. It was an ARC, though, so I’m hoping that a final proofread caught all of those in the final copy.
All in all, A Valentine Challenge was a good, smooth read. The heat in the story was just enough, and it wasn’t overdone, as it could have been. I’m interested in seeing the rest of this Challenge series play out.
*I received an ARC copy of A Valentine Challenge in exchange for an honest review*
As I usually state in my reviews for short stories, I enjoy a quick tale. At 62 pages in the pdf ARC, A Valentine Challenge is certainly that. Kiru Taye keeps the pace well from start to finish, and managed to portray the main characters plights, interest, and resolution perfectly for the length.
I want to call Michael a charming man, and at times he certainly could be, but I think the ghosts in his past made him a little hard, and harsh at times. What he received from the women in the past, he expects from women in the future. To me, that was a realistic portrayal of someone having been once burned and not stupid enough to let it happen a second time.
He also comes on a little strong, but I think Kasie enjoyed that maybe a little more than she wanted to admit. Let’s just say she’s the kind of girl accustomed to getting her way, and Michael wasn’t giving her an inch of room to move.
Given that the copy I received was an ARC, I overlooked the typos (think/thing tyre/tire two dashes instead of — in several places). There were a few sentences where a word was dropped, but nothing that drew my eye into the spot. However, the errors were a little distracting while reading. It was an ARC, though, so I’m hoping that a final proofread caught all of those in the final copy.
All in all, A Valentine Challenge was a good, smooth read. The heat in the story was just enough, and it wasn’t overdone, as it could have been. I’m interested in seeing the rest of this Challenge series play out.
*I received an ARC copy of A Valentine Challenge in exchange for an honest review*
May 4, 2014
"A Valentine Challenge" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a steamy romance set in Enugu, Nigeria. It begins with a wager between Michael Ede's and his well intentioned friends who want him to banish the memory of the woman who betrayed his love. The object of the challenge is the feisty daughter of one of Nigeria's kingmakers who's on a business assignment and staying at the hotel owned by Michael and his partners. Unbeknownst to Michael, Kasie Bosa has just broken up with her insipid and boring long-term boyfriend and is not about to dive into a relationship with a man who her family wouldn't approve of. As passion flares Michael may regret the wager he made as Kasie comes to value the man who stole her heart.
The plot with its exotic locale is captivating as passion blossoms and Michael and Kasie find themselves on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Short, but jammed packed with sizzling passion and steamy love scenes, the narrative is straightforward as destiny intervenes to bring two emotionally scarred people together.
The core characters are well-developed, adding intensity and strength to a fascinating short story. Michael Ede, an ex-soldier and entrepreneurial millionaire is a strong-willed tough businessman who's struggled from a humble beginning to climb the ladder of success. A man who's clever and always seems in control, Michael hides any sensitivity and gentleness under a charming, dangerous and unruffled facade. Kasie Bosa, appears to be commanding, rude and stuck up, masking her vulnerability and compassion behind rude, condescending, and offensive remarks. Both have been hurt by the insensitivity of people they loved; Michael by a woman's careless accusation that cost him a military career and Kasie by an uncaring, haughty and controlling family. Together they will not only find love but healing if they can learn to trust one another.
I liked this story and would normally rate it 3.5 but have given it a 4.0 because of the scale. I look forward to reading other books in the "Challenge Series."
The plot with its exotic locale is captivating as passion blossoms and Michael and Kasie find themselves on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Short, but jammed packed with sizzling passion and steamy love scenes, the narrative is straightforward as destiny intervenes to bring two emotionally scarred people together.
The core characters are well-developed, adding intensity and strength to a fascinating short story. Michael Ede, an ex-soldier and entrepreneurial millionaire is a strong-willed tough businessman who's struggled from a humble beginning to climb the ladder of success. A man who's clever and always seems in control, Michael hides any sensitivity and gentleness under a charming, dangerous and unruffled facade. Kasie Bosa, appears to be commanding, rude and stuck up, masking her vulnerability and compassion behind rude, condescending, and offensive remarks. Both have been hurt by the insensitivity of people they loved; Michael by a woman's careless accusation that cost him a military career and Kasie by an uncaring, haughty and controlling family. Together they will not only find love but healing if they can learn to trust one another.
I liked this story and would normally rate it 3.5 but have given it a 4.0 because of the scale. I look forward to reading other books in the "Challenge Series."
March 11, 2014
How do you melt an ice princess? Take two broken hearts, toss in a bet by his two best friends, and add a dash of true love. Sounds like a recipe for a steamy romance to me!
Micheal is a well off, self-made millionaire with businesses as far as the eye can see. He has the money, the toys, and good looks. What he doesn't have is the girl of his dreams. Having been burned in the past by a spoiled, little, rich girl, he's hesitant to jump into love without very careful consideration. His two best friends hat seeing him alone and challenge him to woo a woman from an obviously well-to-do family. The trick is to do so as a lowly chauffeur or risk losing his beloved plane. The only thing they didn't do was triple dog dare the poor fella.
Kasie has problems of her own. She and her family are on the outs. Her boyfriend broke up with her and then lied about why, adding more strain to her family bonds. She travels for her job and isn't in the slightest happy with her new driver. However, there is something about his forceful presents and his good looks that she can't ignore. Unlike the other men in her past, he stands up to her and shows her a good time without trying to impress her. Can she overlook his job as her driver? And what will she do when she finds out who he really is and about the bet?
I have to say it. I loved it! The tension balanced the story nicely. While not a long story, there's a lot going on here. Micheal's past bad experience with rich women and Kasie's crumpling family bond make both characters very easy to relate to. Both are strong-willed individuals, but on the inside, both are vulnerable. I wanted to cheer when Micheal told off her sister! The flow and pace is great. This one was a real page turner. I give Kiru Taye's A Valentine Challenge 4.5 stars!
Micheal is a well off, self-made millionaire with businesses as far as the eye can see. He has the money, the toys, and good looks. What he doesn't have is the girl of his dreams. Having been burned in the past by a spoiled, little, rich girl, he's hesitant to jump into love without very careful consideration. His two best friends hat seeing him alone and challenge him to woo a woman from an obviously well-to-do family. The trick is to do so as a lowly chauffeur or risk losing his beloved plane. The only thing they didn't do was triple dog dare the poor fella.
Kasie has problems of her own. She and her family are on the outs. Her boyfriend broke up with her and then lied about why, adding more strain to her family bonds. She travels for her job and isn't in the slightest happy with her new driver. However, there is something about his forceful presents and his good looks that she can't ignore. Unlike the other men in her past, he stands up to her and shows her a good time without trying to impress her. Can she overlook his job as her driver? And what will she do when she finds out who he really is and about the bet?
I have to say it. I loved it! The tension balanced the story nicely. While not a long story, there's a lot going on here. Micheal's past bad experience with rich women and Kasie's crumpling family bond make both characters very easy to relate to. Both are strong-willed individuals, but on the inside, both are vulnerable. I wanted to cheer when Micheal told off her sister! The flow and pace is great. This one was a real page turner. I give Kiru Taye's A Valentine Challenge 4.5 stars!
January 28, 2015
[review posted on my blog at http://beentherereadthatreviewedthebo...]
A Valentine Challenge was a short story which was cleverly written by Kiru Taye as she managed to keep everything relevant and not waste pages on unimportant material.
At the beginning, I found the story a little too slow and I struggled to dive straight into it but it didn’t take long before I found it progressed into a much stronger book.
The sexual tension between Kasie and Michael was fun to read but I did find them two very infuriating characters! Kasie seemed quite stuck up and I struggled to find her endearing although we did find out perhaps what was causing her attitude towards the class system near the middle of the book.
Michael, I didn’t really like at all and I think I would have preferred for the characters to have been more developed earlier on as it took until about two thirds in before I felt like I understood them and their motives.
One relationship I really enjoyed in A Valentine Challenge was the friendship between Kasie and Franca. I liked how it was a relatable friendship in that it wasn’t all perfect – they bickered like normal friends do but in the end, they were loyal and caring towards each other.
For the most part, A Valentine Challenge had great pacing and a really enjoyable story. The characters were intriguing despite not being my favourites. The book was never boring and I think it makes a nice, steamy choice for a couple of hours reading.
3.5/5.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2014
ARC given by netgalley for an honest review
I do so love the characters. The story start with a bet made by three best friends ; Michael, Peter and Paul. The hero, Michael Ebe is a self made man, from humble beginning now a successful businessman but with a dark spots against women especially a socialite. His BFF claimed he can't overcome his adverseness, pick socialite beauty Kasie to prove their point. If he can seduce the said ice-beauty without revealing his moneity , he will win their car and house. Let the battle begins; the next day Michael shed his business image and become Ms Kasie weekly chauffeur.
Kasie smart and independence set apart btw her and her family. After scorn her father selection of an arrange marriage 2 years prior, now family approved boyfriend breaking up with her via text massage, she just had enough of men. But the sparks elected btw her new chauffeur, put her pants in fire. The only defence? her haughtiness. Still the chemistry can't be denied, and they embark on romance that doesn't sit well with Kasie. How would her family react if she is involved with a chauffeur as she on the mending terms with them? How will Kasie reacts once she knows the truth about Michael?
It is a good story with a wonderful charaacter. Can't wait for the sequel of Michael friends next as they cynical view of HEA. Great job
I do so love the characters. The story start with a bet made by three best friends ; Michael, Peter and Paul. The hero, Michael Ebe is a self made man, from humble beginning now a successful businessman but with a dark spots against women especially a socialite. His BFF claimed he can't overcome his adverseness, pick socialite beauty Kasie to prove their point. If he can seduce the said ice-beauty without revealing his moneity , he will win their car and house. Let the battle begins; the next day Michael shed his business image and become Ms Kasie weekly chauffeur.
Kasie smart and independence set apart btw her and her family. After scorn her father selection of an arrange marriage 2 years prior, now family approved boyfriend breaking up with her via text massage, she just had enough of men. But the sparks elected btw her new chauffeur, put her pants in fire. The only defence? her haughtiness. Still the chemistry can't be denied, and they embark on romance that doesn't sit well with Kasie. How would her family react if she is involved with a chauffeur as she on the mending terms with them? How will Kasie reacts once she knows the truth about Michael?
It is a good story with a wonderful charaacter. Can't wait for the sequel of Michael friends next as they cynical view of HEA. Great job
March 6, 2014
Sweet. Sexy. Heart-warming. I love the premise of this story.
Michael says he's over an ex-girlfriend who jilted him because of their status differences when he was still young and unsuccessful but his friends don't believe him. So they set him a challenge to seduce a woman who has similar attributes to his ex. The catch is that he has to pretend to be just an ordinary guy instead of the successful business man he is. Kasie has just broken up with her boyfriend just before Valentine's Day so she's very pissed off at men in general.
When the two of them meet, sparks fly in more ways than one. Their attraction is instantaneous although both of them deny it. Michael is only in to win the bet and Kasie can't get involved with another man so soon after her ex. But as they get to know each other the walls around their hearts start to crumble.
This story is so beautifully heart-warming and pulls you right in from the start. When the black moment came I was so sad because I felt Kasie's pain. I didn't want the story to end. I wanted more of Kasie and Michael. But no worries, there are other books to this series, so I hope to read more about them in future books.
4.5 Lovebites
Michael says he's over an ex-girlfriend who jilted him because of their status differences when he was still young and unsuccessful but his friends don't believe him. So they set him a challenge to seduce a woman who has similar attributes to his ex. The catch is that he has to pretend to be just an ordinary guy instead of the successful business man he is. Kasie has just broken up with her boyfriend just before Valentine's Day so she's very pissed off at men in general.
When the two of them meet, sparks fly in more ways than one. Their attraction is instantaneous although both of them deny it. Michael is only in to win the bet and Kasie can't get involved with another man so soon after her ex. But as they get to know each other the walls around their hearts start to crumble.
This story is so beautifully heart-warming and pulls you right in from the start. When the black moment came I was so sad because I felt Kasie's pain. I didn't want the story to end. I wanted more of Kasie and Michael. But no worries, there are other books to this series, so I hope to read more about them in future books.
4.5 Lovebites
February 21, 2014
Arc received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover :- 3 stars
Sex/steaminess :- 3 stars
Story line :-4 stars
Characters :- 4 stars
Overall rating :- 3.5 stars
Personal rating :- 4 stars
Book Pairing:- M/F
Did it give me a book hangover :- No
Is this a review book or personal read :- Review read
Why I chose this book?
I had the chance to join the blog tour.
What I liked about this book.
* The writing flowed well.
* It was a nice little story that sucked you in.
* Erm Micheal Lol. Who doesn't like a hot Alpha.
What I didn't like about this book?
* I couldn't really connect with Kasie.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes
Would I recommend this book?
Yes
Cover :- 3 stars
Sex/steaminess :- 3 stars
Story line :-4 stars
Characters :- 4 stars
Overall rating :- 3.5 stars
Personal rating :- 4 stars
Book Pairing:- M/F
Did it give me a book hangover :- No
Is this a review book or personal read :- Review read
Why I chose this book?
I had the chance to join the blog tour.
What I liked about this book.
* The writing flowed well.
* It was a nice little story that sucked you in.
* Erm Micheal Lol. Who doesn't like a hot Alpha.
What I didn't like about this book?
* I couldn't really connect with Kasie.
Would I read more from this author?
Yes
Would I recommend this book?
Yes
February 26, 2014
What a great quick read. This novella from Kiru Taye is the first in the Challenge series. It sets the scene for the series quite well. I am impressed that the author managed to tell a satisfying story while not sacrificing valuable character development. The characters are strong, the story well plotted and the premise intriguing. The only drawback for me was the setting, as Nigeria and it's regional idiosyncrasies were a little hard to decipher. The pacing was good, the story compelling, the characters engaging and the series looks to be off to a good start.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review,.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review,.
October 10, 2013
This was a pretty good freebie. I liked the characters and the story. This was longer than the others I've been reading and I liked the amount of depth and perspective that defined the personalities. I wouldn't mind reading this again. There was humor, emotions, some touching moments, steaminess, and a good HEA. Great for a rainy-day, cuddle-up, relaxing read. Enjoy
February 20, 2014
I found that this story was very heartwarming and well written.
The two characters have scorching chemistry and we follow their story right to the end.
The two characters have scorching chemistry and we follow their story right to the end.
April 2, 2021
Ambitious plot but overly so
When businessman Michael sees the beautiful yet haughty Kasie stride through the lobby of his hotel, he makes a bet with two of his friends. He’s going to make the ice queen melt, and he’s going to do it while pretending to be a lowly chauffeur.
The bet is on. Will Michael succeed?
—
I have to admit the blurb of the story looks really interesting. I love a good wager into romance story. There’s so much potential for conflict especially when the object of the wager finds out about said wager. Add in a defrosting ice queen as the heroin and a alpha male being forced to be in a subordinate position as the hero and trust me that’s just absolutely like fabulous sweet candy. Even better the story is set in Nigeria, a country that you so rarely see in romance. I loved that I was so looking forward to the story being fabulous.
But there were problems. The first is that the story needed a good copy edit. There were several wrong words or missed placed or incorrect punctuation and other Technical errors that detracted from the overall story. Second there’s some serious Instalove going on here, like I felt let down by the instalove showing up here. I don’t mind instead of all the time it can be done well, but when the conflict is the defrosting ice queen falling in love for the man she believes is beneath her there needs to be some tension that it’s not gonna happen. And that tension was lost. Instead of that tension the plot got replaced with lots of family drama at a nd also Michael’s passed coming up to bite him in the butt. Any one of these would be an OK sign plot but taken with the wager the defrosting ice queen the family drama the break up of the ex-boyfriend and all sorts of other stuff that was thrown in here there was honestly just too much. The pacing was off. There’s an art to writing a novella. You have to have a solid plot and great characters but you can’t over populate the world and you can’t have too many storylines going on all at once. The writing in the pacing have to be tight and everything Has to be able to be condensed to whatever page count your shooting for in this case about 100 pages. This novella tried to pack a novel’s worth of plots into 100 pages and unfortunately it just did not work.
There is some good in here. First off again let me state I loved that this was set in Nigeria. Oh my gosh I loved it so much. Second the characters were actually really interesting. I liked them. I wanted to get to know them better. Which is why it was so frustrating when the pacing in the Insta love came in to play. I wanted them to earn their happy ending and that just did not happen. Third the banter is really good. The dialogue is engaging. The writing is solid other than the technical. There’s so much potential in the story. It’s just unrealized.
I wanted to love this. But I didn’t. There’s good here. So I give this...
Three stars
When businessman Michael sees the beautiful yet haughty Kasie stride through the lobby of his hotel, he makes a bet with two of his friends. He’s going to make the ice queen melt, and he’s going to do it while pretending to be a lowly chauffeur.
The bet is on. Will Michael succeed?
—
I have to admit the blurb of the story looks really interesting. I love a good wager into romance story. There’s so much potential for conflict especially when the object of the wager finds out about said wager. Add in a defrosting ice queen as the heroin and a alpha male being forced to be in a subordinate position as the hero and trust me that’s just absolutely like fabulous sweet candy. Even better the story is set in Nigeria, a country that you so rarely see in romance. I loved that I was so looking forward to the story being fabulous.
But there were problems. The first is that the story needed a good copy edit. There were several wrong words or missed placed or incorrect punctuation and other Technical errors that detracted from the overall story. Second there’s some serious Instalove going on here, like I felt let down by the instalove showing up here. I don’t mind instead of all the time it can be done well, but when the conflict is the defrosting ice queen falling in love for the man she believes is beneath her there needs to be some tension that it’s not gonna happen. And that tension was lost. Instead of that tension the plot got replaced with lots of family drama at a nd also Michael’s passed coming up to bite him in the butt. Any one of these would be an OK sign plot but taken with the wager the defrosting ice queen the family drama the break up of the ex-boyfriend and all sorts of other stuff that was thrown in here there was honestly just too much. The pacing was off. There’s an art to writing a novella. You have to have a solid plot and great characters but you can’t over populate the world and you can’t have too many storylines going on all at once. The writing in the pacing have to be tight and everything Has to be able to be condensed to whatever page count your shooting for in this case about 100 pages. This novella tried to pack a novel’s worth of plots into 100 pages and unfortunately it just did not work.
There is some good in here. First off again let me state I loved that this was set in Nigeria. Oh my gosh I loved it so much. Second the characters were actually really interesting. I liked them. I wanted to get to know them better. Which is why it was so frustrating when the pacing in the Insta love came in to play. I wanted them to earn their happy ending and that just did not happen. Third the banter is really good. The dialogue is engaging. The writing is solid other than the technical. There’s so much potential in the story. It’s just unrealized.
I wanted to love this. But I didn’t. There’s good here. So I give this...
Three stars
February 4, 2024
This is definitely one hot book to read. Michael agrees to a bet with two of his friends to date icy Kasie Bosa but in a disadvantaged/struggling version of himself. The idea was that Kasie would not spare him a second glance if his status was below hers.
What was supposed to be a bet turns out to be a whirlwind romance between these two love interests and their attraction was instantaneous even though they tried to hide it from one another and themselves.
This is definitely one of the quickest, easy to read romance books you want to pick up. No unnecessary long plot, it was just straight to the point. At a point, it became too straight to the point.
What was supposed to be a bet turns out to be a whirlwind romance between these two love interests and their attraction was instantaneous even though they tried to hide it from one another and themselves.
This is definitely one of the quickest, easy to read romance books you want to pick up. No unnecessary long plot, it was just straight to the point. At a point, it became too straight to the point.
September 23, 2023
This was a fairly short novella that was an entertaining read. Since it was so short the romance did feel a little rushed and I also wasn't a fan of their first day together it was a bit too confrontational for me. After that though I thought their journey to happily ever after was good and I could see myself reading more by this author.
January 28, 2019
Great
This book was great and Lawd knows the chemistry was off the charts the moment their eyes connected...I loved the overall storyline and how it paced itself with the characters until ultimately them giving in to each other... Definitely an 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read
This book was great and Lawd knows the chemistry was off the charts the moment their eyes connected...I loved the overall storyline and how it paced itself with the characters until ultimately them giving in to each other... Definitely an 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read
October 2, 2023
A Valentine Challenge, by Kiru Taye was a really intense, but likeable, short story. I was on the edge of my seat with each page turn. And though it took only a couple of hours to read, the story was complete, but I hungered for more.
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