It’s Not a Date

by Heather Blackmore

Falling in love is the hardest business of all.

Entrepreneur and innovator Kadrienne Davenport gets results. A demanding executive and stickler for punctuality, Kade throws herself into work to avoid hurting anyone, convinced she only causes pain to those she loves.

When Jennifer Spencer meets an incognito Kade at a conference, sparks fly. But when Kade unexpectedly becomes her boss, Jen’s problems multiply. The company she founded is going broke, her grandmother’s dementia is worsening, and her attraction to Kade—her difficult, brilliant, charismatic mentor—is growing.

Kade’s desire to keep things professional between them is in Jen’s best interest. Yet what’s in Kade’s best interest…is Jen.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Femme Femme

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

Heather Blackmore works in finance for SF Bay Area technology startups. In a seemingly counterintuitive move, she got her MSA and CPA with the goal of one day being able to work part-time so she could write. The right and left sides of her brain have been at war ever since.

It's Not a Date is her latest romance. Heather was a debut author finalist for the Goldie and Rainbow awards and contemporary lesbian fiction finalist for the Rainbow awards for Like Jazz.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Netgalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review'

All in all, Ms.Blackmore i think tries her best to capture the essence and the complex/complication and also the possibility of a loving relationship few 'everyday' working women with insight,empathy,shrewdness and humor deals with in the workplace on a constant..etc There are some really hot steamy sex scenes which leads me to explain about each of these strong female characters: one is savvy,flawed and very stubborn while the other is flirtatious,passionate,nerdy and has good family values but both has brains,good chemistry and mesh together plus they form this lovely bond, as each learns from the other that there are those things in life we/one keep,those we/one need to let go-but its not always easy to know the difference. This book/storyline also deals equally with issues of emotional and spiritual encouragement and the practical,everyday pitfalls that can prove disastrous for seniors with health problems at their facilities too. It proves that sometimes one has to escape reality(luxury lifestyle) to find out what life is really all about.(average lifestyle) And that's just what Kade eventually chose to do,she face reality and accepted that she can be 'Love' good storytelling and enjoyable supporting cast...recommended read

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars. This was a good read. I can easily say this is my favorite book by Blackmore. The writing was really well done in places and the chemistry between the two mains was off the charts. I think romance fans will enjoy this read.

The two main characters are Jennifer and Kade. Jenn is a hard worker but very positive, carefree, and loving. Kade is a multimillionaire that has been raised to respect time and schedules. Work is what is most important to her and dating is not even in the picture. The chemistry when these two meet is almost tangible, is there any way possible for two such opposites to make it work together?

A few other reviews have already mentioned this, but this book has a great beginning and ending. When the two characters first meet the attraction is instant, but something deeper happens too. The ending was one of those romantic HEA endings you could almost swoon for. I was impressed how Blackmore wrote both and it just made the book even more special.

This book does have a lot of business talk. Jenn is starting a new company and one of Kade’s jobs is to get new companies off the ground. I didn’t find it boring at all. I’m the kind of person that will watch Shark Tank on occasion. If you can understand that show, this book will not be an issue.

The romance is really well done. The realistic feelings, the dialogue, the chemistry and steamy sex scenes were all great. This is one of the better opposites attract stories because the two characters really balance each other out.

The only real issue I had, I felt the book could have used a few less pages. There were a few times, especially with the character Kade, that there was too much inner dialogue. Kade had a lot of issues to get through, I get it and I think it was done realistically. The problem was it slowed down the flow a little. I found myself yelling “get your stuff together and get moving on.” A few of those inner monologues just became too repetitive. I think if the book was just tightened up a little, maybe 10-20 pages less, it would have been 4 stars plus.

Overall this was an enjoyable romance. I hope Blackmore can keep putting out stories like this. I really connected with her writing in this book. I think romance fans will be happy with this one.

An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s Not a Date” is an entertaining romance with interesting characters, a good story, and really terrific narration.

This is the third book I’ve listened to narrated by Lori Prince and I really enjoy her voice and storytelling. With 25 books currently on audible that leaves me happy that there are lots more lesfic audiobooks to listen to her narrate, with hopefully lots more yet to come!

“It’s Not a Date” presents several characters, and does an especially good job helping us get to know the MCs in particular. MC Jennifer (Jen) is my current favorite for “fictional lesbian I’d most like to meet IRL”. She’s gorgeous, spunky, smart, empathetic, kind and fiercely loyal to her employees, loving to family and works hard to build a successful company that can help people….not just make her and her investors rich. Oh, she’s also fantastic in bed (and in the shower, and….;) ), and is a patient lover. Yeah….perhaps too flawless to expect any RL meeting anytime soon!

MC Kade is more complex. While Jen sees her as kind, compassionate and sexy…in addition to super smart and successful, Kade is a tortured soul, and doesn’t see herself as someone deserving of being loved. Kade can’t help but be attracted to Jen, and fights her interest, considering herself outmatched by the dynamic younger woman.

The banter between Kade and Jen throughout the book is delightful, as is their ongoing mutual attraction. Their insta-attraction and slow growth romance is wonderfully done. Kade’s amazing assistant Holly is hilarious as she constantly intervenes to put Kade and Jen together despite Kade’s best efforts to remain distant. I’d actually really enjoy a sequel featuring Holly! Perhaps she too is a lesbian…she’s not currently dating anyone!

There’s lots of time spent with secondary characters in the book, two of whom are very important in Kade’s growth and in the growth of the relationship between Kade and Jen. Kade’s had virtually no relationship with her jackass of a father….until….

Jen’s grandmother has dementia, and putting family first while being CEO of a startup is a no-no to venture capital (VC) investors.

It’s interesting how the author portrays venture capitalists. She works in finance with technology startups in Silicon Valley….so we should consider her as a credible author when writing of VCs. Hmmm…I’m not going to bore you with my personal experiences, but please accept that I have some professional experience with VCs as well, which made the story particularly interesting to me, and I want to make just a couple comments on this aspect of “It’s Not a Date”.

It’s no surprise to anyone, of course, for the book to portray working at a startup funded by angel money or VC money as grueling. Blackmore frequently mentions 60 hour workweeks, which I would have considered joyfully light. I agree with Blackmore saying that the CEO is expected to put the company first above all other priorities, and that women are held to even higher expectations than placed on men. For all the trouble that Jen could have avoided by communicating some personal family issues to Kade and to Roger, I can absolutely believe why she would be terrified to do so. Jen’s story of a pregnant CEO being forced out just before maternity leave….uh huh. Plus, Jen observed early on that Kade herself is a poster woman for unrealistic expectations being put on women: works long hours and has no personal life whatsoever at age 32. Of course Jen would be reluctant to let Kade know that she puts family first. The “angst” moments that derive from Jen not sharing her reason is not artificial…it’s very believable, and as her personal and professional lives are falling off a cliff…it’s so tragically real it’s painful. Yes, I can believe Roger’s Term Sheet stipulation because of one meeting. His poor tender sensitive soul certainly would have been angered by Jen not genuflecting as he graced her with his presence.

Now…other parts…perhaps Blackmore has found some truly amazing VCs to work with, and perhaps she’s simply taking literary license to write a feel-good work of fiction. But, I have to say that portraying VCs as kind, nurturing people who live to mentor each other and executives at their portfolio companies, without any mention of egos, mean-spiritedness, outright greed and even contempt for the founders that start and build the companies that make VCs wealthy had me looking around for rainbows, butterflies and unicorns. Oh well, it’s lesfic…and so perhaps VC-fic was appropriate.

I had planned to subtract a star or twelve because of the too-happy VC world portrayal, but as I write this review, I realize I enjoyed the book focusing on the relationship dynamics of Kade, Jen, their families and coworkers. Everything interweaved so well, and the book would have been less enjoyable with anymore VC meanness than was already included. This was a feel-good story about what COULD happen when nice, smart, ambitious people work together and love together. I’ve convinced myself as I think over the book that “It’s Not a Date” deserves a strong recommendation, and I should re-listen to it myself, so 5* it is! Get the audiobook!

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserving of love.

This romance contains a power lesbian so just take my money now. I fell for Kade right away even though she's persistent with her "I dont deserve to be loved" mantra. She deserves to be loved, probably more than anyone else in this story because aside from her self-loathing, she's an amazing character. As an entrepreneur, she's smart and at the top of her game and as a friend and love interest, she's kind, sweet, generous, considerate and so damn lovable - the same traits she sees in her love interest, Jen, but isn't able to see in herself.

There's a spark between Kade and Jen who meet as strangers but end up sharing a day together at an out-of-state conference but they don't stay in contact until a year later when Kade ends up being a board member in Jen's start-up, which places her as Jen's boss. The project that Jen's company works on is related to healthcare and this ties in nicely with Jen's domestic situation with her grandmother, which is used by the author to open the subject of working women and priorities, a subject that Jen appears to be sensitive about. Muddied with this is a disconnect in Kade and Jen's management styles and things ends up with a bit of disagreement and conflict there. But they are really good together romantically and I simply love the banter. While Kade refuses to commit to Jen even though they make sense together, there's a lot of sexual tension between them because Jen is somewhat forward when it comes to seduction and I love the chemistry.

This story has another character worth mentioning. That's Holly - Kade's friend and assistant - who is one of those characters who manages to say and do the right thing all the time and is pivotal in bringing Jen and Kade together.

This story is right up my alley, so it's really hard for me to give this less than a five star rating. It's also a bonus that it's Lori Prince who narrates this.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked about 30% of this book. The first 20 percent in Hawaii and maybe 10% here or there when they actually talked to each other. There was another third of the book I could tolerate and the rest was just skim past the BS. Not a fan. At all. Even skimming it towards the end was a burden.

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested a few ARCs from NetGalley this round, three from authors I had not read before, the first I only got three chapters into before abandoning it, so my hopes for this were not particularly high. Thankfully I was happily surprised.

I had assumed given the description that this would be one of those ‘couple who’ve never met before have a hot sexy romp and then have to spend the rest of the book overcoming it because one of them works for the other’ books. And while there is some basis of that here, it’s not at all in the way I anticipated, but I don’t want to say why for fear of spoiling it.

What I will say is that I loved both MCs, Kade was refreshing, because rather than the ice cold bitch/corporate shark I was expecting, she is instead a wounded but very sweet woman who doesn’t understand (or can’t comprehend) her own worth. Jen is written a bit like a paragon of virtue, and only seems to show any real flaw at the end, which is mostly just to drive the bit of drama required and still isn’t all that bad, all things considered.

Holly is really the only other character that’s fleshed out at all, and she is also near perfect, but I did love her relationship with Kade (and her ability to anticipate Kade’s needs was amusing). Jen’s grandmother and Kade’s father also play roles, and I identified with the struggles of both characters in relation to their family dramas, and thought the way those storylines were handled was realistic.

There’s not terribly much drama here and the romance and friendship between Kade and Jen is sweet and honestly charming in places. I loved that I believed that these two women honestly cared for each other and supported each other, even when the other didn’t always know it was happening.

I give this 4.5 stars, I haven’t given it 5 only because I thought Jen and Holly were a bit too perfect, and that there was a rather glaring conflict of interest and no real reason why Kade couldn’t mentor Jen without being on the board, so the fact that they went ahead anyway seemed a bit unrealistic, but I liked them together so much I didn’t really care. The ending wrapped everything in a nice big bow, which was also a little too overly HEA for me, but it’s a minor quibble.

Overall though, I’m happy to have found a new author and will certainly be going back and trying Heather’s earlier books.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book's title and blurb were a bit misleading for me, I expected a lighter read. 'It's not a date' takes entrepreneur Kade Davenport on a deep soul searching journey looking for self redemption. Kade is a woman of great contradictions: professionally successful, widely recognised in her field, but personally inmature and insecure as a child. In a rare work-free day, Kade meets lovely Jen, a startup entrepreneur with a heart as big as her work ethic. Sparks fly but when they are both back home, eventually Kade finds herself as Jen's boss. Will Kade be able to help Jen professionally and at the same time let Jen into her life?

The author works in finance for technology startup companies so she knows what she's writing about. The plot touches the problems of gender inequality in the workplace in addition to the challenges of elderly care, dementia and conflicted relationships. Her characters are multilayered in their virtues and flaws. The main characters' chemistry is believable and the intimate scenes are well written. Her depiction of Jen's grandmother, suffering an early stage of dementia is accurate and sometimes heartbreaking. UK readers might get distracted by a secondary character's name, "Jeremy Corbin" too similar to the current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. I'm not sure if the name choice was intentional.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that touches some difficult issues with tact. 4 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review

The opening chapters are fantastic. A chance meeting of two women, some travel mishaps and a free day in Maui before a conference. Jen and Kade’s attraction for each other is palpable and the chemistry sizzling. The dialogue is witty and engaging. The beginning was so tantalising that it’s probably one of the best starts to a novel that I’ve read in a long time.

And a lucky thing too, that it was such a good start, because it was the glimpse of Kade in the first three chapters that kept me from growling at the book in frustration. As it turns out, even though one of my favourite character types is the all-business, aloof, ice-queen, there is a very fine line before she tips over into something I don’t like: the rigid, OCD, self-pitying martyr. Jen, on the other hand, is the antithesis and her likeability kept me going.

There are so many topics that are touched on in the development of Kade and Jen’s relationship like toxic parents, care for the elderly and women in the workplace and it made for interesting reading over and above the romance. I would have like much more engagement with Holly because she seemed like a really interesting character but she was more on the periphery. In the end it was both a heart-wrenching and wonderful read.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I completely agree with Ted's review. Basically I liked the first +/-50% and the last +/-15%

I really liked the interaction between Jen and Kade as they have great chemistry together. Even the secondary characters were fun to read about, especially Holly who is hilarious. However as soon as the narrative turned to the world of venture capital I started snoozing... I mean skimming. Not a bad read but it wasn't exactly a page turner either.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely read. Sweet romance between the 2 MCs, Kade and Jen. I liked how Kade’s character evolved overtime. She seemed like an ice queen but underneath it all she’s one caring woman who just thought that she doesn’t deserved to be loved. It’s nice to read a book which points out/highlighted the challenges and inequality that women faced especially in the corporate world today and hopefully this gap/disparity can be narrowed sooner rather than later.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story repetitive and a little bit boring.

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book by Heather Blackmore is a love story set in the fast-paced world of venture capitalism. There is no doubt the Blackmore has a business background. Her wealth of knowledge sets up a romance that crosses into professional boundaries.

Kade Davenport is a young entrepreneur that has had a lot of success at a very early age. Into her thirties, she has sold multiple companies for a wealth beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. For all of Kade’s success, she is a loner who for the most part is closed off to the rest of the world. She’s known for her business acumen and rigid ways but few people know anything else about Kade Davenport.

Kade meets Jennifer Spencer in the Maui airport. Jennifer is the CEO of a small start-up company that pairs caregivers for hire with families that have elderly loved ones. These two hit it off immediately and decide to spend one perfect day together in paradise. Funny thing is one year later, Kade finds herself on the board of Jenn’s company and these two have to find a way to work together and fight their attraction.

Overall, I thought this book had a great premise and the story was interesting and fun. 3 stars

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Blackmore. I enjoyed them both. Blackmore’s finance/business jargon may slow down readers in the beginning, but keep going… it gets so much better. This was a good weekend read. I enjoyed the interactions between Kade and Jen, but struggled when it was just something business related. The author’s interest and my own are obviously not the same.. but that is okay. The romance was good, the writing is solid, and by the end I was happy with the book. Worth picking up.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun office romance.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen and Kade meet at a conference in Maui and they share a magical day together. A year later, back in the real world, Kade unexpectedly is put in charge of overseeing Jen's company. Jen is fighting hard to get her startup off the ground, but she doesn't expect the Kade sized speed-bump life throws her way. Kade doesn't always see eye to eye with the way Jen does her business. Jen struggles to gain control of her work life, all the while falling head over heels for Kade in her personal life. Kade doesn't have time to date, but she finds herself unable to resist her attraction and general desire to be around Jen all the time.

This was a really sweet book. I think the first half may have been closer to 4 stars but the second half was easily a five star book. I finished the book with a huge smile on my face. The ending was one of the most romantic things ever. A total showstopper! As the book went on the characters really evolved into these unique and dimensional individuals. Kade especially, she evolved from this closed off person to someone with deep emotions and intricacies that really let me get involved in the story and invested in her character. I really enjoyed the side-story with Kade and her father. I think it brought so much to Kade's character and to her motivations. She was really fascinating in the end, and I actually found Jen's character the weaker of the two. Holly was just lovely and Jen's grandmother was a dear.

The chemistry between Jen and Kade was off the charts. It was this tangible thing from the first second they met. The chemistry turned into this perfect romance that stole my heart!

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mekeia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing bad about this book... but there was nothing particularly awesome, either. I loved blackmore's "like jazz" - and while the characters in this were passable, I didn't feel any major affinity towards either of them. In fact, I liked the secondary characters, namely Holly, the most. I wish the book had been about her. She seemed like a character I wanted to get to know more than any of the main characters.

Like I said, nothing awesome, but good enough to read without invoking any sort of emotional attachment.

3 stars

[Pippa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kade Davenport is an entrepreneur and innovator. Now working in venture capital, she is a demanding executive who raises funds for innovative new businesses. A workaholic who is rigid about timetables and punctuality, she refuses to be open to relationships, certain that she can only cause pain to anyone she loves.

Jennifer Spencer is the CEO of a start-up building an app for connecting carers with people needing care at home. It’s a great idea, but getting the funds to keep her young business afloat is tricky. She really needs venture capital. It sounds like a boon for her business when Kade takes up a position on the board to guide Jen though the dangerous waters surrounding a new business, but how will they cope with their growing attraction to one another?

Blackmore has worked in the heady world of finance, and it shows. She has managed to write scenes about the management of a business in the world of start-ups without flooding it with too much information. She also makes salient points about power, which is apparent in the dynamic, without it overwhelming the romance. This takes some clever writing, and I presume, some clever editing.

Kade is almost completely shut down from any emotional connection, and yet craves the freedom that Jen offers. Jen is impressed by the depth of Kade’s skills in the business arena, and loves to see how far she can push Kade’s need for control. It is an interesting dynamic, and one that could have been very one-sided had Jen not been such a strong character. I really liked Jen’s playfulness too, which really lightened the tone of the book, and contributed to the verbal sparring between characters.

There was a good sense of background and how that impacted on the two main protagonists, informing their behaviour within the scenes. The two bit players, one for each of the main characters, were fun and their roles could have been expanded in a longer book.

I really liked this book and look forward to reading others by Blackmore.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Danni Mladenovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the world of venture capitalism either you're a shark or you get eaten by ones. Jen Spencer knows it, but will she be able to multitask while struggling with serious personal problems with grandmother's health issues, and her company demanding her time and devotion?
Everyone in the business knows who's Kadrienne Davenport. Jen is also familiar with that name, but when she meets Kade incognito, sparks fly and she is immensely attracted to that woman. But, what happens when that woman turns out to be precisely THE Kadrienne Davenport, and moreover, your new boss, who's stickler for the rules and practicality?
Is it possible for Jen to keep her emotions in cheek, after Kade said loud and clear that she doesn't do relationships? In spite of that, Jen finds herself falling deeper and deeper for Kade... is there a hope or is it a lost cause?
This is a very nice book, for those who want some romance with angst. There are plenty unresolved issues and huge load of guilt Kade is dealing with, and that follows throughout the book. It keeps the plot interesting and delays the happy ending. 3.5 stars

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment Kade and Jen met I had a smile on my face due the chemistry and the back and forth flirting. Kade may have been rich but her down to earth caring once it's pointed out to her made her endearing. Dementia was also relatable since my Grandma suffers from this as well and everything that Jen was doing I was taught as well. I was glad to see Kade gave in to spend time with her dad and to the the dynamic change between them. It's not about expecting anything from them but for you to be able to move on from life hurts.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a solidly fun romance. i think i'm rounding up just a bit, this is like a 3.8ish or thereabouts. ie: really good, but maybe not one that will pop into my re-read/listen comfort reads.

the beginning of this book, and the end of it were really good, some of the finance/economic/office/sillicon valley talk reaaaaaally lost me, bc i absolutely do not give a shit abt that (though the companies they were trying to start/talk about are great ideas!) so a little bit of that dragged for me in the middle where that was more plot relevant. however, this is very much a romance and not a book abt tech companies lol, so it wasn't a huge thing. i absolutley fell in love with jen from the get go. she is so warm and likeable and sure of herself (while still being vulnerable and admitting her faults in a great way) and GOSH that scene in the mirror where she made kade look at herself i just!!!! it was the sweetest most intimate romantic thing and everyone deserves a partner that would think to do that. i liked kade too, i understood her, but she occasionally frusturated me. watching her growth throughout the novel was lovely and her friendship/basically sister relationship with holly was perfection. lori prince was (as i basically always say) amazing, and i loved her voice for jen. def rec! i liked this one a little bit better than the other i've listened to by this author, but i rec them both!

[Det. Nidhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me this was a 3.5 stars rating rounded off to 4.
let me explain.

So this was the first book I've read by this author. it wasn't that bad, considering the fact that I'm a wee bit of a judgemental prick about things new to me.

But the story actually clicked with me. It was a slow burn and not a slow burn. Um it's complicated.😂😂 You'll have to read the book to understand what I mean. This was one of those rare books with angst that made sense to me. The faults in the characters had a valid explanation, and I like it!

I may have a wee bit of a crush on Jennifer. I can sympathize with Kade. no wonder she was hopeless around her. There aren't that many characters and that's the best part. I hate too many characters. I can't keep track!

I'm a science peep. So I don't really understand the world of venture capitalism, and this book had way too much stuff about that Industry. At one point it grated on my nerves as I wasn't really understanding what was happening. The description seemed to be extremely thorough but there's no point as I wasnt really interested in it. But this is a personal opinion. People into commerce might like it xD.

Anywho, this is a great book for a romance lover.
PS Arc received from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
I'll have to save up to buy this coz college got me broke xD

[JF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this on audible and looked forward to my long commute in the morning . I Couldn’t wait to to get in the car and listen to the next chapter .

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read! I loved the interactions between Kade and Jen where you could feel the chemistry between the two. You can't help but love Jen and how level headed she was when the two argued or when Kade pushed her away. I also enjoyed Kade as a character as the stoic but caring businesswomen, she was so hard on herself. The two balanced each other really well and I loved following their story.

Not much more to say about the book, I loved the sweet romance and recommend the read.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just what I needed little drama but a lot of self doubt, sabotage and guilt but that's what made me love Kade more by moments I wanted to shake her but all throughout I eventually wanted to give her a hug more than anything I can say Kade is one of the character with the best development I've ever read. Jen is also great with a lot of patience and understanding for the situation at hand. Let's not forget Holly, damn I want a woman like that in my life for sure, funny, adorable and loving she was a great push for Kade to take conscience of what she needed to do.
I would have loved a longer epilogue but it was still perfect.

[Lucky Luc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and Ms. Blackmore’s writing style. She did a great job showing growth in Kade from a rigid, fearful, yet strangely strong and intriguing woman to a warm, dynamic, and vulnerable woman who finally believes she is worthy of love. Jen’s straight forward, fiery and compassionate personality served as the exact counter balance that Kade needed to begin living a full life. I agree with the reviews about the book being about 20 pages too long, which is why I gave it a 4 out of 5 instead of 5 out of 5. The narrator also did a great job with making each character unique and believable. She was adept at the right mix of Kade’s strength and vulnerability and did a great job of highlighting the steady optimism permeating from Jen that allowed her to break through Kade’s wall. Oh and the chemistry and sex scenes between these MCs - off the charts. I definitely recommend this read.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was swept up in the read from the first page. Two strong and capable women who know how to get the job done. Kadrienne Davenport, what a well written business woman. Jennifer Spencer, what a well written and likeable person and entrepreneur. Thought the interaction and chemistry between them was so charming and real. Romance at it's finest.

Read provided by NetGalley via Bold Strikes Books.

[Tinything · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like how this book started, how Jen and Kade first met and how They attracted to each other immediately. Both main characters are lovable. I really like them both, but i like Jen more. I like her personality, her easy going and care free nature and how she care about people arround her. Kade, on the hand, probably because of her father, she kinda has OCD in time and schedule.
I like how the romance done in this book. Both main characters really suit each other well. And i like how Kade came to understand and willing to take the risk to be happy and move forward with Jen. Well not really all by herself, with a little push from Holly and Jen and learned from her father situation, if you know what i mean. 😅 if not nvm.

All in all, i like this book and enjoyed it alot. But i’m not sure if i’m going to put it in my favorite list. Oh and i like the cover picture :)

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn’t connect to this book... the writing was well done, the characters were interesting but I just didn’t really connect to it....In my opinion there were many unnecessary business details which made it a bit dry at times. The beginning was good but as soon as they got back it kind of lost it for me.

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only word to describe this book is: beautiful.

Read full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Kathy - Books & Munches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's start with the thing I start with most times: the writing. Again, it was fluently written. This is one of those romance novels that read like a train and that's exactly how I like them to be! Switching between Jen and Kade you get both sides of the story, you're invested in both characters and you're continuously curious about the other's train of thought.

Of the two, Kade intrigued me the most. She comes across as a hard business-woman at first but you can easily spot the cracks and see that there's so much more beneath that. Pretty early on you just notice how she's still dealing with an emotional trauma that's having a huge impact on her current life. Not to mention her OCD-like behavior when it comes to certain things.

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

I looooved the tension and chemistry that was all over the place whenever Jen and Kade were together. I honestly got so lost in this story that it rubbed off on me and I was rooting so badly for those two.
And that's not even mentioning all the steamy scenes Heather Blackmore gave me. Those were very hot indeed! Like, waving at my face and trying not to squirm in my seat when reading in public hot, you know?

Another thing I definitely liked in It's Not a Date is the mention of certain topics. Apart from women in the business world, there's also mention of a couple of other things. The difficulty of finding quality home-care being one of them. Also the revalidation after a medical issue occurred got a beautiful spot in this story. It's a brilliant way to tackle subjects that aren't talked about often.

I mentioned Kade earlier, but didn't talk about Jen.. Because she kind of belongs in the meh-part of my review unfortunately. Which I always keep for last..
At first I also got this image of her being a very straight-forward, tempting woman but sometimes she gets this very insecure side to then be very confident again? It felt like she wasn't an honest character. Not fleshed out enough. As if her character changed whenever the author needed something else? It's hard to explain but it just didn't feel right.

People who were important to each other occasionally hurt each other, but the joy of being together easily outweighed the inevitable rough patches.

All in all It's Not a Date is definitely a fun, steamy read that got me ridiculously invested ridiculously fast. I loved it! 

4,5 / 5!

Kathy

Quotes used in this review originate from an unfinished copy and may differ from the finished one.