Review: Love Not at First Sight by Sarah Ready

Title:	Love Not at First Sight
Author:	Sarah Ready
Series:	Soul Mates in Romeo (Book 2)
Pages:	172
Category / Genre(s):	Contemporary
Trope(s):	Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity
Point of View:	First Person, Present Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h)
Location:	USA
HEA:	✔️
Release Date:	20th July, 2021

A fantastic romcom adventure

I adored the first book in this series, Chasing Romeo, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book about Veronica, Chloe from the first book’s best friend. Each book stands completely alone but you’ll definitely want to check out Chasing Romeo at some point as it’s an absolute hoot! And this book is just as much of a delight!

Psychic octogenarian, Aunt Erma, has never been wrong with her love predictions but Veronica refuses to believe that odious billionaire playboy, Frederick Knight, is her soulmate. She’s more of a free spirit, nature loving, kick-ass kind of gal as opposed to his high-living, highfalutin lifestyle. I liked her immensely – it was hard not to. She was a strong woman who owned her personality and knew what she did and didn’t want out of life. But the fact she was able and willing to grow was really wonderful.

Sam, too, was a great character. He was coming back to himself after 5 years of getting over a betrayal by living up to the stereotypical playboy lifestyle. But at heart he was always a bit of a computer nerd. He was also empathetic and super sweet when it came to Veronica. I do question how a bona fide introvert would be able to live an extrovert lifestyle for 5 whole years – I’m exhausted at even the mere thought – but it didn’t put me off him.

“…[Sarah Ready] does smart, funny and sexy so damn well.”

Despite their relatively short time together, Veronica and Sam’s love felt real and honest but definitely heightened by their situation in the cave. I loved their connection and loved that the pair fell for each other despite never having seen what the other looked like. And all the “I see you” stuff – that gave me all the true romance vibes.

I know from Chasing Romeo that Sarah Ready is an excellent writer but this book just confirmed that for me. She does smart, funny and sexy so damn well. She also writes incredibly realistically. I got a wee bit anxious when she was describing the cave scenes which just shows how talented she is. (It’s not too scary / claustrophobia inducing, so fear not!)

I would now definitely class myself as a fan of Sarah Ready, her stories and her writing and I can’t wait to read more in this series. And I might just have to do backlist buy and binge of Sarah Ready very soon. But this book was a delight from start to finish. There was action, adventure, jeopardy, sex and romance. If that’s not the perfect blend for a romcom then I don’t know what is. 5 stars for this one and definitely recommended.

Author Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.

Before writing romance full-time Sarah had lots of fun teaching at an Ivy League. Then she realized she could have even more fun writing romance. Her favorite things after writing are adventuring and travel. You’ll frequently find her using her degree at a dino dig site, crawling into a cave, snorkeling, or on horseback riding through the jungle – all fodder for her next book. She’s lived in Scotland, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and NYC. She currently lives in the Caribbean with her water-obsessed pup and her awesome family.

You can visit her online at www.sarahready.com

Excerpt

“It’s funny,” Veronica says.
“What’s that?”
“I was thinking about pick-up lines. The ones where the guy says, ‘I feel like I’ve known you forever,’ or ‘no one understands me but you,’ or ‘I wanted you from the first day I knew you.’ You know those lines?”
“Yeah. I do.” I’d just been thinking them.
“I never thought I’d ever feel that way. That I’d know exactly what they’re saying.” She drops her head back to my shoulder. “Do you know what I mean?” she asks.
I feel her heart beat softly against my chest and the length of her along my body. She feels as if she belongs there, like we’ve lain like this a thousand nights before and we’ll keep doing it far into the future. She fits me.
“I know exactly what you mean,” I say.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think we’ve known each other years instead of a day.
She nods and her fingers splay over my chest. “Funny thing, I was in the woods this morning because my best friend’s aunt, she’s psychic, predicted my soul mate. She’s never wrong and she predicted the man I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with.”
A sharp pain hits me in the chest. I shift Veronica in my arms. “You were going to meet him?”
“Heck no. I was running. The guy’s a sleaze. The worst sort of creep. You have no idea.”
“I hate him,” I say jokingly. But I do. I’m insanely jealous of a guy I’ve never met. Her supposed soul mate.
“You’re nothing like him. He uses women like they’re disposable. He’s conceited. Arrogant. I’d rather sit in this cave for a decade than be with him.”
“That bad?”
“Trust me. This guy is the epitome of a jerk player. There’s no way I’d ever be with him.”
I smile. I’m starting to feel better. Clearly, there’s no need to be jealous. Besides… “You realize psychics are scientifically improbable? So, you really don’t need to worry.”
She laughs into my chest. “Bless your heart. Miss Erma, the soul mate seer, has a record of success thicker than the Bible. She’s been at this for decades and she’s never been wrong.”
Dang it. I’m back to being jealous of the jerk.
“Except, the joke’s on Erma because it’s likely we won’t get out of here. So, no soul mate for me.”
I don’t like that. “Hey. You’re the one who said survival is eighty percent mental. No more of that talk. I’ll get you out of here.” Even if it means delivering her to the conceited, egotistical player.
“I’ll get you out of here,” she says. I smile, because her confidence is back.
“Don’t worry,” she says. “I won’t be with him. Not ever. I promise.”
“Yeah?” I ask. I’m not sure why the answer means so much. Except, when she braces her hands on the ground and moves her mouth over mine I realize I actually do know why.
“Promise,” she says. “I’d rather be right here with you than with him.”
I don’t like her mentioning him, because her breath hitches and her voice catches. So I lean up and kiss the sound of him from her lips and replace him with me.

Soul Mates in Romeo Series: