When three best friends impulsively buy a lottery ticket, their shared winnings lead to luck in love in this romance trilogy debut. A university research scientist, Kit Averin is practical to a fault. Even after she and her friends Zoe and Greer win the lottery, Kit doesn’t want the windfall to change her life in any way except one: she’s finally buying her first real home. Now, between work and … home. Now, between work and her new fixer-upper house, she has more than enough to keep her busy. But then an unsettlingly handsome and determined corporate recruiter shows up in her lab—and manages to work his way into her heart.
Ben Tucker is surprised to find that the scientist he wants for Beaumont Materials is a beautiful, sharp-witted young woman. Talking her into a big-money position with his firm is harder than he expects, but he’s willing to put in the time, especially when sticking around for the summer gives him a chance to reconnect with his dad. What begins as a chilly rebuff soon heats up into an attraction neither Kit nor Ben can deny. Suddenly finding themselves lucky in love might just be priceless . . .
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I simply loved this book!
The story is about Kit and Ben. Ben is a corporate recruiter and – while he is home helping his recovering dad – he tries to recruit Kit for his company. But Kit is not interested, as she has finally bought her dream house, has a job she feels happy with and would never leave her best friends. The best friends she just won the lottery with 6 months ago. Ben and Kit are attracted to each other and start a relationship. Edit: this is not a fade-to-black. It has some steamy sex-scenes, but not drawn-out or too explicit.
I liked both Ben and Kit and the secondary characters. They all felt so real and I thought the salvage yard was an interesting premise. Kit had a rough childhood which accounted for her choices but Ben had his issues as well. I loved the way it all played out so beautifully.
The mentioned lottery does not play a very big role, it is merely the catalyst for the stories of the 3 friends. Zoe and Greer are next and I can’t wait for their stories. I also liked Kit’s brother Alex and Ben’s best friend Jasper so maybe… (2017)
A fabulous, smart romance with a scientist heroine and home restoration beta hero you can’t help but root for. I cannot wait to read the next in the series!
Review I kept hearing about this book and how it had really good representation of a scientist heroine. I’m so glad I picked it up.
Kit is a material scientist, who is happy with where she is, especially as a lottery win allows her to do the thing that she’s always wanted to do and put down roots.
Ben has been sent to recruit Kit to a large private organisation. If she accepts, she would have to move.
I loved that both characters had issues and that the conflict between them was tied so deeply to those issues. I also liked the relatively slow burn of their relationship. Ben is a nice guy hero (I LOVE a nice guy hero!). Kit was firm in her convictions. I how they both had to compromise to get to a place where they could be together.
Another winner (no pun intended) from Clayborn. As a huge fan of Love At First, I’m working my way through the rest of her backlist, and this delivered on her trademark combination of realistic challenges and steamy romantic chemistry, resolved with satisfying, hard-won conclusions.
This runs long and very detailed. Very indepth study of how he has developed into who he is and how she has developed. More psych study than romance. While 3 win the lottery, this story only focuses on Kit, the metals scientist. I did get bogged down a few times, but I did read the whole thing. It was good, just too long. Note to those who don’t like long descriptive sex .. you can skip pages.
Typical fairy tale romance.
I snap up every single thing I can find written by This author
Once again, Kate Clayborn’s writing takes me to my happy place. Her books are so effortless and endearing. I want to be friends with Kit, Zoe, and Greer! And Ben. He is the perfect romance hero while still being “real.” I smiled through a rainy afternoon with Kit and Ben, and the rest of a wonderfully crafted cast of characters. Such a perfect read. And who knew metallurgical engineering and salvage yards could be so sexy! Grab this book, y’all. Do not wait for a rainy day!
Beginner’s Luck is one of the best romantic novels I have read in recent years, and I read many books in this genre every year. Having three female friends discover they have a winning lottery ticket is a clever way to begin stories of these women. The main characters in this novel of Kit Averin and Ben Tucker are fully developed and believable. Their lives are easy to relate to: their jobs, their friends, and the past experiences they have had, and that have shaped them into the adults they have become are easy to understand. The conflicts they have with becoming who they want to be, and how they want to navigate life are relatable as well. I so enjoyed this story, and was thrilled to discover that it is part of a trilogy. Once I finished this book I was anxious to continue on with the other ‘lucky’ friends.
Earlier this year I read Kate Clayborn’s #LoveLettering and was absolutely charmed. I decided to check out her Chance of a Lifetime series and I am so glad I did. Beginner’s Luck was so sweet and funny and surprisingly emotional. I devoured it in one day.
4.5 Stars!
In a nutshell, I loved this story. I loved the characters. All of them. I loved how they were written and carefully developed. It’s thorough. Not a stone unturned. Zoe and Ben’s relationship developed at a natural pace, the dialogue was authentic, and the characters issues were realistic and not loaded or manipulating. It’s hard for me to explain, but it wasn’t the type of swoon-inducing story that usually garners my highest rating, but it was compelling and driven by the realistic romance of two very lovely people. Zoe and Ben were perfectly flawed and perfectly suited. I simply loved being immersed in their lives along with those they were closest to and/or encountered along the way. Beginner’s Luck was also laden with the kind of detailed writing that I crave. Never unnecessary and always used intelligently to show the empathy, loyalty, and mind set of both Kit and Ben. I truly, truly enjoyed this story, but I most especially loved the writing. Not a wasted word or moment to be found.
A well-written book with a strong conflict that had me worrying whether the nerdy Kit and the reformed Ben could find their way to each other.
This gem of a romance (adult) was recommended to me by Jami Gold, and I absolutely love when contemporary romance has awesome world building. In this case, I felt immersed in the world of science (she’s a materials engineer), but it never felt over my head or stuffy. The characters were amazingly well-drawn–and talk about a satisfying character arc. I was heartbroken at the almost-end before they got their happily ever after. I’ll definitely be getting book 2 after I enjoy this hangover for a bit <3
Beginner’s luck by Kate Clayborn
Story starts out with three women and they’re going over their day from hell at work while drinking and on the way out buy a lottery ticket.
They win and their lives change. Kate is a biologist and nobody understands her work even the man, Ben who’s there offering corporate financing if she’ll join his team. He has no clue as to what she even does but she likes the looks of him. She had wanted a home and bought a house with her winnings.
Zoey and Greer are her friends, like family. Story also follows Ben who’s in the middle of getting his father discharged from the hospital and fixing up his house so he can stay in it as he ages and needs aids.
Enjoyed both characters as it’s a learning experience: her with her house that needs a lot of repairs and him helping and living with his dad.
His dad works at the salvage yard and he has many things Kate can use at her new house.
Heated scenes enhance this story.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Part of a series, but can be read by itself. Likeable characters. Good story line. Predictable, but good for a light read!
I liked the characters and their interactions. Kate Clayborn did a good job of building interest in a series; I want to read the next book. There was humor and quirkiness and many sides of each person. The women’s friendship is as important as the romance.
Can’t wait for sequels!
It was okay… Nothing horribly wrong but not enthralling either. It just felt a bit flat and for this being the kick off of a series this is unfortunate.
It is also loaded with detail that is not needed. I personally hate when writers do this to their readers. With a more dynamic plot I could have enjoyed this book.
This pulled me in right away. I loved Kit and her friends, the dynamic in the town, lab, and her own home. Ben was very real. I understood his limitations and motivations. Their conflict made sense, I never once rolled my eyes. And that moment when he hadn’t asked the right question yet blew me away. I look forward to any following books.
Excellent.