Dating's one thing, but what’s love got to do with it?
Nothing. At least not for Ann Lynx. She’s fifty-three for goodness sake. She’s had love. All she’s in the market for these days is some fun companionship—no strings attached.
Right? Wrong.
Thanks to her pain-in-the-rear-end best friend, Georgia, she’s now back on the dating scene. Add Georgia’s matchmaking daughter Mariah to the mix and Ann is officially in a world of trouble—or dates—to be more accurate.
All that would be kind of doable, but her handyman’s sexy too-young-for-her son is making her feel like a silly young girl. She should definitely stick to the handsome, successful, and older men that Mariah keeps throwing in her path, but she can’t seem to banish the sexy Cal from her thoughts anymore than from her broken pantry.
The retired military man is very good at fixing things, and at kissing her senseless. Who’s going to fix her though if Cal ends up breaking her heart?
What’s love got to do with it? Maybe everything.
***
ABOUT THE PERFECT DATE SERIES
The essence of all romantic comedy is that falling in love and navigating an unexpected romance is never easy or simple. Instead, it’s messy and emotional, and if you’re lucky, it’s also sexy and fun.
Some relationship professionals, like my character of Dr. Mariah Bates in this series, sincerely want to help people find their perfect love match. For the various heroines I’ve created, many of whom are older, Mariah’s going to need all the help she can get. Or maybe she just needs to step out of the way. You can be the judge.
NOTE ABOUT THE HEAT LEVEL: Not being a fan of the word “clean” when applied to romance, I will instead say the heat level in this new series is in the 1-2 range, rather than 3-4 like some of my others. The focus is on sensuality and I’ve packed a lot into these stories.
I am an active dreamer and find writing to be the best way to use my creativity. Needing to satisfy both sides of my brain, I have become a cross-genre author of contemporary, romantic comedy, fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romances.
I feel blessed that my books appear on bestseller lists for humor, romantic comedy, space opera, and more. I crave laughter from all my readers and focus my attention on making that happen as often as possible.
I love to hear from anyone who has read my books. Each reader is a hero or heroine to me. I am inspired by you.
Loved this book. It is so great to read about men and women over forty who fall in love, have sex lives, and experience the ups and downs of romance. Truly refreshing.
Cal and Ann had great chemistry from their very first meeting. You didn't have to wait for them to work up to it. It is The kind of feeling you want to experience no matter what your age.
The book has lots of humorous moments. Moments between Cal and Ann, Ann's kids, Ann and her friend Georgia, and between Brent and Georgia. It is just plain funny. It also discusses some issues specific to people of a certain age, which you won't get in some other romance books.
A sensual romance with good dose of humor that will continually make you smile.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy.
Romance is not dead... I repeat, Romance is not dead. Donna revived it.
The chase, the doubt, the tears, and the love. I got it all and the tears were not just from the characters in the book. I felt every emotion showcased either it was love, hurt, or doubt. I was sucked into a second chance that was never meant to be. I cheered on the connection of Ann and Cal even when doubt took up most of their minds. Love played its part and Cupid arrow hit its mark.
I am invested in this series because it brought back the romance with determination and stubbornness, grown folks problems and dreams. It has brought back hope of the HEA when all your kids are grown and married.
I love this series of The Perfect Date by Donna McDonald. The men are hot and nice; an irresistible combination. The women are intelligent, comfortable in their own skins and again nice to boot making them memorable. All are mature, having important life experiences under their belts so that the decisions that they make are logical. Never Say Never (The Perfect Date Book 2) is Ann’s story. She has been talked into using Dr. Mariah Bates (Never Is A Very Long Time) dating service so I knew that this story would be a hoot! It certainly is that but so romantic too. I will admit that I wasn’t sure when I read it would be older woman and younger man. Visions of Mrs. Robinson came to my mind. It is nothing like that! Ann is in her 50’s and Cal is 10 years younger. It is really not a dating service story but an amazing one. I love the direction that Donna McDonald is going in with the romance and relationship taking the starring role in this series. A complimentary ARC was provided by the author/publisher.
An interesting book. Some of the motivations behind the character’s actions were interesting/novel for me.
I felt this romance was a little too cutesy for my taste, and the start was confusing. I think this is book 2 in the series - perhaps Book 1 laid the foundation for the opening chapters. I almost discontinued reading the story, but there were so many positive reviews, I persisted - I’m glad I did.
Yes, there was a pretty good dose of humour in the story. It felt a little forced. Perhaps the forced feeling resulted from the characters’ personalities being contrived to be a little offbeat.
I enjoyed a bunch of the latter part of the story, once the characters were established.
Just cause you are in your 50's that doesn't mean romance is over for you. The books reminds you that love can find you no matter your age. I loved that Ann found romance all on accident while she was trying to help a friends daughter. This was an awesome read. I started it and couldn't put it down till I was finished
If you are looking for a very funny romance then Never Say Never is a great one to read. Ann Lynx has been a widow for almost ten year and has not dated since the death of her husband. Her pushy, grumpy and outrageous friend talks her into doing a make-over and then making a video for her daughter's dating service.
The joke is on Ann when she falls for an ex-military younger guy the day of the make-over; but a deal is a deal and she gave her word she would try the dating service for two weeks. Then it all blew up and she started digging holes in her backyard again. The dialogue is hysterical and the story fun from start to finish.
I want to thank Donna McDonald, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of Never Say Never that I won in the Giveaway.
Never Say Never is book 2 of The Perfect Date Series. I can’t even begin to describe how much fun these stories are but let’s say that the heroines and heroes are a bit older than the twenty-somethings of most stories. For me, I can appreciate their snarky senses of humor and the knowledge that comes with having lived a wee bit longer and experienced either a great love or a good deal of life – more so than someone who may be just out of school or just too young to have been around the block a few times. NSN is about Ann Lynx: as the author writes (the character saying), she is fifty-three, for goodness sake. Cracked me up on the book description page! Ann gets roped into dating, something she hasn’t done since she became a widow, mostly to help out her best friend’s daughter (who owns a matchmaking service; we met her and read her story in book 1. Not necessary to read but you are missing out!) We are also introduced to Cal, Ann’s handyman’s son, who is a bit younger than Ann but…very sexy. Cal is not a client of the dating service but the chemistry between him and Ann is scorching. This book is funny, it is touching, it is sensual, it will bring you to your knees; but then it takes you right over the edge of hilarious again and you won’t know whether you are crying because you are laughing or at some of the things that will touch your heart. Highly recommend this series and book. You won’t be sorry.
I received a kindle copy of this book through a giveaway and am giving an honest review of the item in return.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The premise sounded absolutely adorable and I just have a soft spot for contemporary romances, meet-cutes, all of the cutesy romantic setups.
First off, there were too many characters. Now, it could have been my fault for not reading the first in the series but I had no idea who half of these women were nor was I really given enough background to really want to GET to know them. I had a love-hate relationship with Georgia and that background romance and was kind of thrown by just HOW cantankerous that friend of Ann's seemed. It seems the first book was Mariah's story; I'm wondering if I would have liked this book more if I had read that one.
Cal seemed like a good enough male interest but the romance felt like it moved super fast and then he was breaking her heart just as soon and honestly, I stopped liking him just for being the way he was toward the end at the event. I didn't mind Ann's character but I also kept getting confused because there were a few times throughout the book that Ann's name was spelled Anne and then I had to wonder if that was another new character..? Plus the POV kept changing at the strangest time and only for a paragraph or two here and there which continued to irk me.
This book just didn't do it for me but it seems many other readers enjoyed it so it could just have been me. Take my review as you will but if it sounds like something that falls under your interests, give it a shot.
If you want a romance that goes beyond the 20-somethings you find in many books today with an older (not OLD) hero and heroine, Donna Mcdonald is the author to seek out. Just because we're older, doesn't mean we're obsolete. Never Say Never is one of the best examples of that sentiment.
Never Say Never is sweet, witty, romantic, and let's not forget sexy. Ann is a 50-something widow, while Cal is a 40-something retired military vet seeking his next move in life. Neither are looking for love when they meet. The attraction is fast and hard, but also unnerving for Ann. Does she want a new romantic relationship and can the younger Cal really be the one? Of course he can, but not without some obstacles along the way. Cal and Ann were wonderful characters and completely believable. Although shorter in length, the book tackled the issues involving a younger man/older woman, as well as widowhood and retirement. I also loved the tie-in to McDonald's holiday novella's, Saving Santa and Kissing Kendra. Kissing Kendra was one of my favorite books from this year, so far.
I enjoy this fairly untapped genre within romance and appreciate the care Donna McDonald takes in developing her characters. They may be older, but they have so much life to live and love to give! (I voluntarily read an advanced copy of Never Say Never)
This is the second book in the Perfect Date Series and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first. Mariah is back to help people find their perfect match. This time it's her mother, Georgia, and Georgia's friend, Ann, she's trying to set up. This is mostly Ann's story but we do get a glimpse into Georgia and who she'll be getting set up with.
Ann is widowed and in her early 50s. It's been a long time since she's gone on a date. Call is divorced and in his early 40s. It's been a long time for him as well. Will these two be able to make it work? Will Ann get past the age difference? Will Cal realize he is enough for Ann? I recommend reading this to find out. I can't wait for Georgia's story in book three. *I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review.*
As we get older, we perhaps become jaded with the male/ female relationship thing. Especially if you have had a marriage that worked, and you no longer had your former partner in your life. How do you move on?? How long do you morn a relationship? ? Even when things don't end the the way they should, because of deceit or bad behavior, it is often difficult to think of putting yourself "out there", going through the whole dating saga, sometimes just doesn't seem justified, if all you end up with is heartache. Then on the other hand, sometimes you meet someone, and you just know that they are the person for you. All this and more is represented in this story. Hopefully, you will enjoy it as much as I did. I voluntarily submitted this review after reading an advanced copy of this book.
Ann is only doing this for a friend. She really doesn't expect to find her perfect match with a dating service, no matter how smart the doctor is. What she really didn't expect was to find love in her pantry with the broken shelves. This is a great story of romance for a couple who is not fresh out of college. I really enjoy the way McDonald crafts her characters with real attributes and emotion. She writes great dialogue and story lines that are a bit unexpected. The heat level on this series is turned down to low, but the romance still simmers.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complementary copy of this book.
I received Never Say Never in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
Never Say Never was a cute, fast paced romance revolving around Ann and Cal. Ann is a 53 year old widow who is helping her friends daughter out with her dating business by being a test model. Cal is a 43 year old retired veteran working with his dad's handy man company while trying to figure out what comes next for him. Ann and Cal meet and there is instantly a connection, they have to overcome their age difference, Ann's other dates, and Cal's ego, but eventually find their way to happily ever after in the end.
I would definitely recommend this read to any romance fan. It is fun, cute and an easy romance read!
What a great book! I am enjoying this series. It is refreshing to see older women who have been "out of the dating loop" for awhile find love again. In Never Say Never we find Ann meeting her handy mans son Cal. Cal is retired military and is 10 years younger then Ann he is helping his dad. The two of them feel a chemistry right away. Ann has recently offered to help her friend Georgia with her dating service by becoming a member. It seems that more men are looking for older women so Ann offers to help. She goes on a few dates but she finds that her heart belongs to Cal. They run into a few bumps along the way but we see a future!
I loved reading Another Romantic Comedy With Attitude by the phenomenally talented Donna McDonald. I voluntarily reviewed a copy. Ann Lynx goes along with her best friend, Georgia, to a dating agency owned by Georgia's daughter. Ann gets all dolled up, does her video, and has lots of men interested in dating her but none of them are as attractive as her younger handyman, Cal. Cal lets Ann know he wants to get to know her, but Ann doesn't want to succumb to his charms. Read the highly recommended second book in the fabulously written series full of romance, humor, and attitude. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Digging holes are better than dating?! Say...what? After her husband dies she digs holes much to the worry of her children. They finally push her to get on with life but....is dating better than digging in her garden? She is not so sure but she signs up anyway. In the meantime she meets this guy and decisions yet again...does she want to be rich (all the men on the dating site are rich) or does she want to be a cougar (is ten years such a huge gap) Decisions, decisions....again digging holes. Ann, is this really helping?? Another great add to the series...Ms McDonald, you did it again!
A quick read, thank goodness. I like romances with older MCs; this one has a woman in her early fifties who is 10 years older than the man. This one was a case of instalove though. There wasn't much development in the romance and a lot of the book involved secondary characters (who get their own book in the series). The thing is, the writing wasn't very sophisticated and it was quite monotonous. I felt it only got interesting in the second to last chapter when the characters spoke about their emotions.
Really enjoyed this one. Donna may have kept it "fade to black", but this book has some seriously steamy kisses. I was amazed as how complete and complex the story was in a shorter book. I love these characters. Waiting for the next one! I really hope for a lot more Georgia! I think she may have met her match. Loved Ann and Cal and I was happy to "see" Megan again. I hope we get to visit Mariah and her "perfect match" again in the next book. Happy Reading. . .
Sigh! Humour, feisty characters and falling in love. It was great reading a story of a woman my age who finds love again - who actually decided to live again and go out with men. She had no expectations and just wanted to enjoy herself. Ann was doing a favour for her best friend and agreed to join the dating scene through a service.
Great read that ended far to soon. Thanks Donna for making your creations realistic.
I received an ARC for this book, and devoured it!!!....wonderful love story, feels believable, and true. A love story told with humor and fun. I literally laughed out loud while reading this, and sniffed a few tears too. Not your standard cougar story, and made me happy with a HEA. Light on the smexy times, but it didn't need it. Now, I need to go a buy the rest of the series. Can be read alone, and does have a satisfying HEA.
Gave it 4 because I wanted a lengthier book. It was a quick enjoyable book with bumps along the way to keep my interest. The older characters I like the most because I relate better. Throw in the age gap adds to the reality of more relationships that are happening now. I will continue reading books by Donna McDonald because they are light hearted with just right amount of lust.
This is Never Say Never, book 2 of Donna McDonald’s The Perfect Date series. It’s where we meet Georgias friend Ann and watch her go on a trip of self discovery. She hasn’t been involved with a man since she became a widow. She doesn’t take it well when she feels something for a younger man. Watch them fight it as hard as they can until……well. Go read it and find out! Love this series so much!!
I am usually a big fan of this author but, this series isn't grabbing me in any way. Two books in, I find the characters lackluster and under developed, the romance is lacking and the conflict plots contrived. I don't plan on continuing the series.
OMG!! I am hooked on this new series by Donna McDonald. I love revisiting old characters and meeting new ones. Love the sense of humor, romance, friends, family, and love. Can't wait till the next book. :) Juli
This is the second book of Ms McDonald I’ve read and I love them both. The story and the characters are just so lovable and funny. I hope to read more from this series as well as the others she wrote. Good job Ms Donna!
She thinks there is no such thing as a second chance at love!!! Dating....maybe. After all, she is a widow and in her 50's Hoo boy....she is in for a surprise! Well written story line that does appeal to the older {my} generation
It's been too long since I've hate read something like, The Summer I Turned Pretty. This one certainly fit the bill.
It's called Never Say Never. More like, Never say "man grunt", ever again, please and thank you. And the book was even less sexy than that phrase implies.