It’s all fun and games, until someone loses their heart… catches Clay’s eye. If Clay wants to keep true love from slipping through his fingers, he’s going to have to convince Bea he isn’t the player he seems to be.
Bookstore owner, Bea Appleton, has always been perfectly happy to read about risks rather than take them. But when her twin sister is set up with the man Bea has secretly loved for years, Bea must step up to the plate or risk losing Clay forever.
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4.5 Stars
Clay Chapin seems to have the worst luck with women. When his latest girlfriend dumps him, he realizes that he wasn’t all that upset as she wasn’t the nicest person. He decides to leave his love life in the hand of nonagenarian Gladys and her “crew”. Gladys decides to put together a Bachelor Games to set Clay up with various single women in the area. Bea is Clay’s friend, and is attracted to him, but doesn’t think he would like someone like her (she has some serious low self esteem issues). They become friends and Clay starts to see her as something more. I loved both Clay and Bea, they are good people who have to work through their insecurities to get to their happily ever after. If you are a fan of this series, you will enjoy catching up with the past couples as well as other characters who will undoubtedly be couple in future books. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
I loved Clay’s and Bea story. She was so sweet and I liked that it introduced more characters in good hope. I also loved that we got to hear about old couples too.
Cade and Marigold need a break.. please Cindy fix this soon! It breaks my heart for them and want them to get a total happy ending like her sisters.
For Clay I always liked him in other books and wanted his story, I just thought he was one of those character that was appealing to read and everyone liked him. Bea was sweet and I loved her relationship with piper and her sister. I hated how she was overlooked but glad Clay didn’t. I wasn’t keen on way she felt when hidden however from reading it, it wasn’t his intention and they where both just scared of being hurt.
There was part where I thought come on get it together but in the end it was a lovely way to come together!
If you haven’t read any of the books in Cindy Kirk’s Good Hope series, you should. I personally become just as invested in the minor characters as I do in the couple whose romance is center stage. Previous books had me longing for someone special for Bea, and Clay never seemed to find a woman who appreciated this love of simple pleasures. Give Good Hope a visit. You may wish to return there again and again, just like me. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
Good Hope’s favorite matchmaker Gladys Bertholf has added a new twist to her match making services; Bachelor Games! And her first contestant is . . . . High School Principal Clay Chapin!
Gladys has promised to arrange dates for Clay after his latest girlfriend ended their relationship. Clay Chapin is a handsome, well-liked and respected member of the community but, he cannot seem to settle into a long lasting relationship. His brother, sister and mother have found love and Clay realizes that he wants to share his life with someone special.
Bea Appleton has had a crush on Clay for a while. She enjoys his visits to the Book and Cup-the bookstore that she manages. Bea attended Good Hope High School with her twin sister Brittany. Brittany and Bea are opposites; Brittany was outgoing and popular while Bea studied in the library. Cindy Kirk is spot on with the sisters dynamic and she captures the underlying currents in Bea and Britany’s relationship.
Loved that the author weaved in Marigold’s friendship with Bea into the story. Marigold shares her heartbreak over not being able to conceive with Bea. And Marigold works her magic at her salon and transforms Bea with a cut and color. The new hairstyle gives Bea some much needed self-confidence.
The redistricting of Good Hope’s business area is another hot topic in this novel. The Chapins are going to profit from the changes while small business owners like Bea and her friend Piper will be forced to close their business, move or pay higher rents.
Gladys and her assistant, Oaklee arrange several dates for Clay. Loved it when Clay was paired with the long distance runner. She ran ahead and Clay jogged with Bea instead. Loved how the couples relationship developed. Clay realizes that he has feelings for Bea but he’s unable to quit the Bachelor games. Bea’s low self- esteem and several misunderstandings add a touch of drama to this friends to lover’s romance.
Bachelor Games in Good Hope is an entertaining read filled with romance. I love the small town feel of Good Hope series, the strong sense of community and the importance of friends helping neighbors in each book. I adore Cindy Kirk’s voice—she blends family, relationships with a dose of reality in each book.
If you are a fan of friends to lovers romances—pick up Bachelor Games in Good Hope! Grab a mug of tea, your favorite corgi and settle in because Clay and Bea’s story is the perfect winter weekend read!
As always, I enjoyed my visit with my friends in Good Hope, but I found this book a bit different from the others. One thing I always like about Cindy’s books is the lack of stress they cause me because the characters are always so honest with themselves and others. The honesty tends to avoid a lot of the stress-invoked confusion and miscommunication that a lot of romance novels thrive on to create suspense. In this book, however, I experienced a lot of the stress over the misunderstandings between Bea and Clay brought on by the Bachelor Games and his dating women even though he was crazy about Bea. I understand that both Clay and Bea have a lack of confidence when it comes to relationships, and I understand that they were simply trying to prevent themselves from being hurt, but this led to their acting dishonestly with each other and pretending that they just didn’t care when, in fact, they did care – very much. I really didn’t enjoy the stress and frustration much. I just wanted to smack them into talking honestly with each other. That said, I must say I loved the happy ending (when it finally arrived), and I loved the proposal. I also love the contrast between the twins, and I thought it was particularly insightful that Brittany pointed out that the characteristics of the twins was likely a result of their parents’ labeling of the girls rather than any true differences between them. I think that says a lot about how ALL of us respond to the labels the world puts on us. I did enjoy this book, and I will give it 5 stars. Cindy is an excellent writer and I love her character development and clever manipulation of the plot. Even when I didn’t like the way the characters were acting, they were behaving in a believable manner.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Such a fun read. I’ve met some of the great people of Good Hope a while back, and keep coming back for more. I love a good series that tells a fun story, with great principal characters, and memorable friends and family – that way, I get to know the rest of them on a personal level when the series expands and develops.
Clay and Bea are so perfect for one another, it’s just such a shame that it’s taken them forever to figure it out. What starts off to be a fun friendship turns into something that’s longing, and so deeply personal for each of them. This is a great story of acquaintances, to friends, to lovers. The trials and tribulations they each go through when trying to figure out who they are, what they truly want, and what they truly need.
This is a fun and flirty read, when you’re cheering, jeering, laughing, and maybe even crying – rooting for them all the way through.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it. I only give honest reviews.
I truly love the Good Hope Series by Cindy Kirk!
Not only was “Bachelor Games in Good Hope” a wonderful romance, I absolutely love the family connection that is always shining through in Cindy’s books. Clay and Bea were perfect for each other but neither one could see what was right in front of them; nor did they have the courage to let the other know how they truly felt. For once, Gladys and her friends had a hard time with their matchmaking efforts. And it was entertaining to see how it played out. Introducing Bea’s twin sister, Brittany, was perfect, and I love the healing between them. I love reading about all of the characters in Good Hope. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.