She’s proudly single. He’s a free spirit.
But when they’re forced to play roommates, will sparks fly?After practically raising her four younger siblings, Rica Palma can’t wait to live her life to the fullest. So, when she wakes up in a hot friend’s bed and can’t remember the night before, she wonders if she’s ready to handle the freedom. But as her teenage sister returns desperate for a place … handle the freedom. But as her teenage sister returns desperate for a place to live, Rica feels her life plan and her freedom slipping further away.
Parker Thorpe’s hard-hitting articles leave the journalist with emotional scars. So, he tries to calm his nerves on his houseboat despite his simmering crush on the beautiful Brazilian, Rica. But his quest for R&R goes sideways when he learns he’s the single father to a two-month-old baby.
After a tragic accident leaves Parker and the infant homeless, Rica’s sister ignores the awkwardness and invites them to move in. As the two loners become a blended family, close quarters can’t help but lead to something more.
Can Rica and Parker open their hearts and let love conquer all?
Love in Chaos is the third standalone novel in a sweet contemporary romance series. If you like heartwarming chemistry, family drama, and well-drawn characters, then buy this sweet contemporary romance today!
Author’s Note – If this were a movie, it would be rated PG to PG-13.
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Love in Chaos by Beth Gildersleeve is an intriguing story of a woman, Rica, who had thoughtless parents and so raised her siblings herself, who has now decided that love is not for her. She wants a quiet, simple life…alone. Until, once more, her parents intervene, sending her youngest sister to live with her for her senior year. Oh, yes, then her group of friends, and her sister, decide that their friend, Parker, and his two-month old should move in with her for a while because his boat/home burned to the water/ground while her was retrieving this baby (that he knew nothing about) from the baby’s aunt. Is that complicate enough?
This is a fabulous book about personal growth. Rica changes over the months her house is full without even realizing it. It was fun to watch. Abby and Parker and Charlie grow and change and affect each other until the new family that forms can hardly be recognized from the old. There are lots of twists and turns and failures to communicate making all these characters and this book such a provocative read and define what it is to be a family. It is not to be missed. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of Love in Chaos. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
Love in Chaos by Beth Gildersleeve is a sweet story that proves what Robert Burns said that “the best laid plans of mice and men oft time go awry.” Rica has a plan that does not include falling in love, marriage and children. She wants order and quiet. When her sister needs to move in with her, Rica is not happy. When her sister, Abby, offers their apartment to Parker, whose houseboat was destroyed by an arson set fire, Rica’s whole world turns into chaos.
This is a wonderful story full of great characters in addition to a well developed plot. I found myself involved in the lives of Rica and Parker and sometimes I wanted to smack Rica and sometimes I wanted to yell at her! I received this book as a gift and I always review every book that I read. I highly recommend this sweet, emotional story.
Parker did an amazing job having an infant that he knew nothing about thrust upon him when he was living his single life on a boat and traveling as a journalist. Yes, he didn’t always pick up and clean up after himself, but considering Charlotte wasn’t sleeping through the night and he had to work two jobs to make ends meet, I thought he held it together pretty well. It does take a village to raise a child and Parker’s life would have been a lot harder without Rica and all their friends. I get that Rica raised her younger siblings and because of that has no desire to be a mom, but she seemed to be in a state of constant mood swings in this book after her sister Abby, Parker and Charlotte, moved in with her. She would tell him she would take care of Charlotte so he could work or go on a job interview and later she would be resentful for having to take care of Charlotte. You could feel the attraction between Parker and Rica throughout the book, but Rica kept fighting it. Parker rightfully had to put Charlotte and her needs first. There were a lot of funny moments in this romance, but I felt like Rica could have been a lot more understanding than she was.
Love in Chaos is the first book I have read by Beth Gildersleeve. It is book 3 in the Haven series but it can definitely be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed Rica and Palmer’s story. Rica was looking forward to a calm and quiet life after helping raise her younger siblings. Palmer thrives on adventure as a reporter. He finds out he fathered a baby girl from a one night stand and he is her surviving parent. Rica’s sister, Abby, is moving in to finish high school. When Palmer’s houseboat burns, Abby offers them a place to stay. Calm and quiet? I don’t think so! A delightful, page turning story!
How appropriate the title, Love in Chaos is for this next book in the Haven series. This one focuses on Rica Palma and Parker Thorpe who have been dancing around their feelings for each other for awhile.
Rica is a strong willed, stubborn character who basically had to raise her four younger siblings while her parents kept moving around and focusing on their careers. As a result she is very independent, enjoys quiet and order, and is not interested in raising children.
In this story her life is totally unraveling because her sister, Abby is moving in with her as her parents are moving away. Add to that Abby invites Parker and his two month old daughter, Charlotte to move in as well when his boat burns up while he is bringing his daughter home for the first time.
Parker did not know he had a daughter from a one night stand with a friend. The little girl’s mother has just died and Parker finds out he is Charlotte’s father. After he moves in with Rica and Abby the fun or chaos begins. I loved the banter between these two characters as well as the banter between their friends called the Posse and the Swans.
I enjoyed the book and could not wait to see if Rica and Parker could overcome the chaos to find true love. I am so glad the author included an epilogue to the story. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
The saga of the posse and the swans continues this time with Rica and Parker. Both had other life plans, both found out plans don’t always turn out the way you want them too. Rica doesn’t want marriage (at least for a while) and definitely no kids after helping to raise her younger siblings because her parents put her in charge of them. Parker is a reporter and goes where the stories are. That lifestyle stops when he finds out he has a baby from a one night stand with a friend who recently died. Now Parker has the responsibility of a child to raise. After Parker’s houseboat burns mysteriously, he has to accept Rica’s (reluctant) invitation to room with her. Rica ends up with a houseful because she also has her high school aged sister under her roof because, as usual, her parents have left her to take care of Abby because they are moving to Seattle.
All Rica wanted to do was live alone and have some peace and quiet in her life. Now she has two roommates and a baby. Peace? Quiet? Not any more. There has always been an attraction between Parker and Rica, but Rica refused to act on it. Well, until she is under the same roof and sees Parker everyday. Don’t miss the next story in the Haven Saga. Wonderful, believable characters you would want to be friends with yourself. Realistic plot. Great story and definitely recommended.
Love in Chaos is a sweet, heartwarming romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters – the secondary ones as well as the main ones. This group of friends really supported one another. The plot drew me in and kept me engaged. I was very sorry to reach the end. If you enjoy clean romance with great characters and a good plot, do not miss this book!
Love in Chaos #3 –This must be my favorite book of the series so far. Well written, entertaining and interesting, just like the rest of the series, this book keeps the reader immersed in the folks of Haven. It is so hard to write a review on a favorite series without wanting to do spoilers and a book report, so excuse this review going over the same things I said in the other two. All the gang is there and Rica and Parker are the couple, maybe not so much couple but couple plus. There’s still humor and good dialog. It’s nice to visit Haven again. 5*
Love Rehired #1 – Love Rehired – This is my first book by this author and I found it OK. There’s a lot of redundancy which made the story drawn out and boring. It happens; she goes over in her head; she tells her gang; and then there’s his POV. I could have skipped every other chapter and not missed anything. I kept putting the book down and finding other things to do.
The various characters are likable, predictable and actually do well. It is well written and well edited (Internet is upper case) and has touches of humor. If the author can keep from repeating herself so much, she should have some good stories to tell in the future. Thanks so much the editing, it’s appreciated. I contacted Ms. Glidersleeve to review her book. 3*
Love in Bloom #2 – This is continues from where Love Rehired ended. It’s Miller and Wren’s turn at romance. The old gang is back as support and major backup and there’s new and not so nice other characters. Well written, entertaining and interesting, along with humor that keeps the reader glued to the pages. Miller and Wren try a short term romance, but as things always work out what you want isn’t what you get or maybe you do. One makes a sacrifice for the other and one finds out things about herself. A perfect sequel to Love Rehired. Needs minor editing, but nothing distracting. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 4*
Kiss or Kill Under the Northern Lights Volume 2 – A collection of short stories by seven authors. Except for Beth, the other authors are new to me. There’s an overview of the story, which I appreciate since I didn’t know Kiss or Kill was composed of seven stories. I couldn’t finish all the stories before I placed my review. 4*
Stacey Bryant, Reach for the Stars – Heartwarming and fun! My first read by this author and I loved it. It’s the perfect Christmas story, even though there’s months in the story’s time line, not just the season. I loved the characters, their dialogues and the storyline. 5*
Denise Devine, Run from the Night – Not a bad story; has some good suspense and good neighbors. The characters are likable and the story was well done. 4*
Beth Gildersleeve, Bitty Love – Not a bad story but I can’t believe she holds on to a grudge that’s twelve years old; high school drama. Grow up and deal with the present and make it work. 4*
Maddie LeSage, Writer’s Block
Rose Marie Meuwissen, A Kiss Under the Northern Lights
Kathleen Nordstrom, Starry Nights
Angie Speed, Guilty Beginnings
Kiss or Kill Under the Northern Lights Volume 2 End.