For one night of my life, I dared to do something reckless. My birthday. A bar. Karaoke. And a man so hot he could melt the sun. Sparks flew. Lust took over. For one night of my life, I felt alive. Then I was back to my “boring” life. Career-driven. Goal-oriented. Always planning ahead. But nothing could have prepared me for the positive pregnancy test. We weren’t that reckless. There goes my … that reckless.
There goes my “boring” life. And what happens when I tell the father?
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I absolutely loved this book. Jade and Max meet unconventionally, but when they come together, you can’t help but fall in love with them.
Both driven by their work, Jade and Max aren’t looking for romance. But, when they’re thrown together in an unconventional way, there’s no denying their chemistry.
Jade is a strong yet vulnerable heroine. She knows what she wants and although her life takes a turn, she doesn’t let it derail her. Instead, she adapts and takes a good look at what she truly wants out of life. I absolutely loved her. I also adored her friend, Amy. She, along with Brad, one of Max’s identical triplet brothers (yes, you read that right) set everything in motion.
Then there is Max… a swoony, gym owner who finds himself in a predicament he never imagined. What I love about Max, is his calmness (even if he isn’t). He never faltered when it came to his commitments. His strength and determination shine through in everything he does.
The side-characters are a blast and bring out different sides to Jade and Max. This is a fun book that will keep you flipping the pages and believing that if you have the right person by your side, nothing is impossible.
I hope you enjoy Max and Jade’s story as much as I did. Congrats, A.M. Madden on another five-star book.
Not According to Plan is Jade & Max story filled with fun, sizzle and insta-attraction .Who would of thought that a karaoke bar night out could change your life! This couples one night hook up has now resulted in the rest of their days not going according to plan . A surprise pregnancy has now left them so many decisions and choices. This couple has me so frustrated . I wanted to grab the and just talk some sense into them but eventually I just simply fell for them ! It was a quite and entertaining ride with Jade and Max.
~~Michele McMullen
A.M. Madden writes a lighthearted story about a one night stand that turns into an unexpected pregnancy. This is a fun and emotional story about two people who try to figure how to deal with the idea of becoming parents. Even though everything is a tangled mess, the two main characters, Max and Jade find it impossible to fight their strong attraction to each other. I liked Max and Jade; they work well together and have a lot of chemistry flowing between them.
Jade is a hardworking attorney. In fact, she is so dedicated, she has no social life. Her main goal is to become a partner in her law firm. However, her perspective on life slowly changes after she learns she is pregnant.
Max is a great guy and he falls hard for Jade. Max’s life is complicated and it is entertaining as he tries to juggle everything going on. I especially loved all his entertaining encounters with his two triplet brothers. They love to give each other a hard time, but also have each other’s backs when needed.This is a well written story with realistic and likable characters and entertaining secondary characters, as well.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Not According To Plan!
I love this book! It seriously had my ovaries screaming lol.
I love the chemistry between Jade and Max. Definitely the best book couple. #relatonshipgoals.
This was my first time reading a book by the author A.M. Madden. Her writing was amazing, I didn’t want to put the book down I was very Invested and hooked from the first page.
In my own opinion I didn’t really like the whole baby from another woman thing. I would have liked to have something different be the problem between Jade and Max. But it doesn’t sway my opinion about the book. It’s a five star in my book! I would really like it if the author wrote a story about Brad and Amy. Now that would be a hilarious book!
Jade and Max’s relationship began in a very unique way – fate, with a little help from Max’s brother and Jade’s best friend pushed the two together in a karoake singing contest. Jade was out to celebrate her birthday. Max was helping his brother in the bar. What happens later is nothing short of magical! When life throws you a curve ball, do roll with the punches or throw in the towel? Jade is pregnant and she was hoping to make junior partner in her law firm. Max was about to expand his business to Miami! There has been something special between these two during that one amazing night together but can it be enough to bring them together, co-parent, and still accomplish their dreams. I promise A.M. Madden will have you laughing crying, dreaming and loving right along with Max and Jade and let’s not forget their meddling families and friends!
Not According to Plan by A.M. Madden a five-star read that goes according to a good plan. I liked this book and I gave it five-stars but I don’t think it deserved them all the time, I gave it five as it had a good story (one some will find fanciful but my brother lived through meaning I now have two very strapping good looking nephews) and good characters, most of whom you would like in your life, but it lacked in a couple of places, but not enough that I didn’t enjoy the whole thing. Its cute and a bit naughty and overall a lot of fun, the main characters face challenges but the secondary characters bring some light-hearted joviality to the story. I haven’t picked up this author before, but I will be picking up their work again.
* First time reading author
Not According to Plan is an interesting book. I read this book cover to cover and still, that is the best word for it. A.M takes you to a different romance level with this book. It is not a typical story of two people meeting and falling in love. This is a story about a complicated set of people that get pregnant after a one night stand then have to decide if they want to be more than parents to this child.
So going into this book do not expect a love story right off the bat. Max and Jade have a lot to get through to find their love story. But if you are willing to go through a strange story this is the book for you.
I love AM Madden’s books and this was another great read. I laughed and cried. A definite page turner. Loved the characters and the story was original, and comical.
A fun and steamy read about Max and Jade and their one night stand that doesn’t go according to plan. A good read!!
Full review appeared at Reader’s Edyn on 04/25/20
Jade is a career-driven, workaholic. One of a few women brought into the law office and vying for the junior partner position, she doesn’t have time for any fun. All she does is eat (when she remembers), sleep (once she collapses from exhaustion), and right back to work – a glaringly opposing lifestyle to that of her best friend, Amy, an erotic romance author. If their careers are a complete contrast, their personal lives are even more so. Jade may not need an angel on her shoulder because she keeps herself on track just fine, but she does need the devil in the form of Amy, coaxing her outside of her confining box once in a while. Knowing her responsibility in their friendship, keeping Jade from becoming too straight-laced, Amy dares her to do something crazy for her birthday. After much deliberation, she finally capitulates and has the best sex in her life with Max. But it’s right back to the buttoned-up workaholic … until she realizes she’s pregnant. Max is more than supportive, but he’s got a lot going on as well. He promises to be there for her, but with everything she is trying to accomplish and all of Max’s irons in the fire, Jade is less than confident that there isn’t a distaster waiting up ahead. And even with the odds stacked against them, she begins to hope they could have a future together. With her job losing a lot of it’s luster recently and Max filling her head with possibility, could this workaholic have another option? Because enjoying her baby, Max, and taking a break while she figures out if this is the direction she still wants to head in seems more like an unattainable dream.
Max is completely thrown when Jade tells him about the baby. He’s not precisely upset. Excited, in fact. He’s wanted Jade since the first time he saw her at his gym, but was unable to uncover her identity. Thinking he’d never see her again, then acting on his brother’s ridiculous scheme to pair him up with her at Kismet Karaoke, now he’s having a baby with her. But he’s also got a baby coming with his best friend. In another state. At the other end of the country. Stupid recalled condoms. He had absolutely no idea. Plus, he’s opening a new gym and the grand opening is right around Jade’s due date. He knows they have a special connection; that once in a lifetime thing everyone searches for. The circumstances are definitely less than desirable for their fledgling relationship, but Max is determined to make things work with Jade. He’s been given a chance with her and he will not waste it. He’s also got to work around the fact that her family isn’t exactly being supportive and that’s without the knowledge of all the alarming details of his life. How will they react when they find out about his other baby? But Max can’t overly stress about that. He’s got to focus on Jade, his babies, and his new gym – and pray for a miracle that everything comes together while he desperately tries to juggle it all.
I have to admit that initially when I realized that Max was expecting two babies with two different women within a few months of one another, I wasn’t sure I’d hang in there with the book. It all seemed a bit too much. Max really does have a ton going on in his life and I myself began to envision a train wreck of the worst sort headed directly for this couple. But then I began to get to know Max and Jade a bit more and while I was a bit annoyed by the fact that he created this situation in which he had to split his time up so carefully, I found myself cheering this couple on. Jade has been in a power struggle at work since probably the first day she arrived. The chauvinistic partners of the firm do not value her – only the time she frees up for them by pulling such a heavy load. She’s only a woman, after all. And they are the names of the business. Ugh. I disliked them from the beginning. Basically, she needs a change but isn’t going to allow herself that thought, let alone realize how necessary such a step is, so she forges on in seeking junior partner. Amy, as carefree and worry-free as she seems, is intelligent enough to see what Jade won’t and forces her to let loose once in a while. This baby presses on Jade, causing her to refocus her attention on some of those niggling thoughts in the back of her brain that she has so far been able to lock away. Max is in very much a similar situation. Not as far as being a workaholic in a sexist job, but in splitting his time in so many directions, desperately trying to be everything to everyone. He’s always been that way. So having two babies with two women is something he thinks he can simply force to bend to his will. Maybe not so simply though because babies never act according to plan. Working in his favor is the fact that Tracey (baby mama 1) has found who seems to be the love of her life. They were only ever going to be friends and their baby was an accidental consequence of one single drunken night. Tracey and Max always knew how things would play out with them and the baby, so there is no love triangle here creating a hot mess. Tracey and her boyfriend, Tristan, actually seem like decent human beings. Basically, there are a lot of factors that come into play in this sudden reality for our main characters and a lot of self-reflection must take place. Regardless of whether they are able to come together and make their relationship work, they have a responsibility to their baby to figure out their own lives so that they can provide the best life possible for this tiny life they created.
If you follow my reviews, you know that I have a new-found appreciation for the toggling POV approach within books. Such is the case for this book. But rather than an added bonus for this book, I would call it a necessary addition. With two individuals that lead such different lives and are now bringing a baby into the world, the switch between Max and Jade’s personal thoughts, turmoil, and actions had to happen. I can’t even begin to picture how difficult the story would have been to follow if everything was presented in third person POV. One super fun aspect was the fact that Max is one of a set. A set of three. Three identical triplets. Lordy! They may all look alike, but they couldn’t be more different in personality. Despite their dissimilarities, their sibling rivalry and brotherly love was a joy to experience. I’m sure I wasn’t the first to wonder how the triplet factor might influence each of the pregnancies, nor will I divulge the outcome. The family dynamic for Jade is completely different from Max’s and even though things are quite a bit more serious in her life, there was still a bit of levity provided in small things such as their names: Jade, her sister is Sapphire, and her mother is Ruby. I, myself can completely relate to Jade’s predicament as far as her family’s reaction to her pregnancy news. Let’s just say there were several similarities between Jade and myself in that respect. And my own personal shout out is to Max’s obsession with curling! Yes! I feel the exact way that Max does. It is my favorite winter Olympic sport, second only to ice skating. Ms. Madden either harbors like feelings or knows someone who does. Either way, my face lit up when I came across that fun addition to the story. Sure, there is quite a bit of heavy within these pages, but Ms. Madden does a fantastic job of balancing the serious with the lighthearted. Max is just about as perfect as a guy can get – imperfectly perfect would be a better description. I admire his determination to take care of his responsibilities while trying not to fail at any of it – even knowing that at some point something would have to give.
Overall, this is an engaging and entertaining read. Some will not be able to get past the fact that the male lead has two babies coming with two women in two different states within a matter of months. Even I was unsure if I’d be able to get past that crazy plot twist. And if you think you will get hung up on that detail, do this book a favor and just skip it. That said, I am glad that I stuck things out and even ended up relating to several aspects within both Jade and Max’s lives. I believe that many readers will be able to relate to at least some portion of either Max or Jade’s lives, which creates a bond with characters that cannot be faked. Ms. Madden also does a great job of bringing in both of Max’s brothers in just the right amount. Just enough to want to see more, and not nearly enough which left me hoping they’d get their own stories. Selfishly, their books would also likely allow me to revisit Jade and Max and I’d love to see how things were going for them down the road a bit. And let’s not forget Amy. She’s fun and quirky and reminds me of several of my friends all wrapped up in one. A story for an erotic romance author – especially given her outspoken, fun-loving personality – oh, the possibilities! When it’s all said and done, this is a story of two people who ultimately find themselves in one another, discovering everything they never knew they wanted is right in front of them. They are so caught up in the direction their lives were headed that they lost sight of who they truly were and it took this unexpected turn of events to shove them off course and allow them to recalibrate where they actually wanted to be in life. If that is not relatable, no matter the details of the circumstances, then I do not know what is. This romantic comedy took me on a memorable ride encompassing every emotion at one time or another. But beyond that, as my first experience with Ms. Madden, it made me a believer.
Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Entangled in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this fun entertaining read , it has characters I feel for and I loved the connection Max and Jade shared right from the moment they met to the final pages of this great beach read.
It was meant to be a fun night with some karaoke, it was meant to get Jade living a little what it wasn’t meant to do was produce a baby …… So what’s in store for Max and Jade will they agree to a future of co-parenting or will they want more. Is the instant attraction just attraction or is it love and has Max finally met the woman who will tame him…….
I wanted to hate this couple, I wanted to bang their heads together but what I ended up doing was loving everything about them and I was left wanting more for this dynamic two some. Not According to Plan is a fun, sweet yet steamy romance that has all the feels, at times it will drive you mad and at times it will have you swooning and sighing. Great read that left me wanting more and I hope we more from maybe Max’s brothers…..
I couldn’t put it down! Talk about lots of road blocks to navigate! A heartwarming love story with the perfect ending!
3.75 stars– NOT ACCORDING TO PLAN by A.M. Madden is a contemporary, adult, erotic romance story line focusing on twenty-seven year old, attorney Jade Easton and thirty –one year old, gym owner Max Navarro.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jade and Max) NOT ACCORDING TO PLAN follows the building relationship and romance between twenty-seven year old, attorney Jade Easton and thirty –one year old, gym owner Max Navarro. On the night of her twenty-seventh birthday, attorney Jade Easton spent a one-night stand with gym owner Max Navarro but a happily ever after wasn’t in the cards when reality rears up and slaps Jade not once, but twice in the proverbial a$$. Several weeks later Jade would discover she was pregnant but Max, as excited as he was to become a father, would not be a full-time daddy in his baby’s life. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Max and Jade; the revelation of Max’s other secret; and the potential fall-out as Max is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the woman he loves.
Jade Easton’s pregnancy lost her the junior partnership at the firm for which she works, and to add to her already spiral out of control, Max was about to open a second gym in Miami Florida, several thousand miles away from where Jade was hoping to establish her home. Months would pass as our couple started to build a life but Max’s business would separate our couple on more than one important occasion.
The relationship between Max and Jade is one of immediate attraction but neither one was looking for anything permanent. A one-night stand following an evening of karaoke, would find Jade’s future about to take an abrupt turn, and Max having to reveal that his life was about to get more complicated than anyone could have ever imagined. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Max’s brothers lawyer Brad and bar owner Nate: Max’s best friend Tracey and her boyfriend Tristan; Jade’s parents Ruby and Lawrence , her sister Sapphire and husband Greg: and Max’s mother Monica, and her husband Mitch ; and Jade’s best friend, erotic romance author Amy Delton.
NOT ACCORDING TO PLAN is a story of family, friendships, surprises and love. The premise is engaging ; the characters are energetic and charismatic; the slow-building romance is passionate but struggles in the face of their time apart.
Man, just when you think you have your life figured out, Fate steps in to remind you that you’re really not the one in charge!
Which is exactly what happened to Jade and Max. And their little surprise bundle of joy arriving in approximately nine months. A one-night stand turned into at least eighteen years of co-parenting… or could they actually make their initial connection spark into something more. Something real. Something permanent.
Not According to Plan is a fun, sweet, sexy romance that’s also infuriating, crazy, annoying, and heartbreaking. Yeah, I know—the emotions run strong through out the whole book!
I loved the instant connection between Jade and Max. Loved how he brought her out of her shell and how she finally “lived a little” if only for one night! Loved how they really are perfect for each other.
And then I hated Jade and Max. Hated their inability to open their hearts and share their feelings. Hated their lack of communication over the big things, that their insecurities got the best of them at times.
And then I loved them again. That they finally got over themselves. And out of their own way and finally gave in to all their feelings. And that ultimately love won.
I don’t know how to feel about this one. I wished that the circumstances were not that complicated for Jade and Max to get their hea. There’s unexpected twists in it. They both really tried to make things work, sacrifices and changes need to be made. I struggled a bit with the story, trying to make sense of everything. The circumstances were just too complicated for me.
If you’re looking for an unexpected pregnancy storyline you might enjoy this one. It has a good mix of chemistry and funny times with a twist.
Let me say that according to me A.M. Madden can not write any bad books at all. Every single time I open one of her books and start reading,I just fall into it. And it’s like I’m there I’m transported right into that world. And to me that’s the best kind of book. One that you can lose yourself in. And I’ve never read a book like this one before. It was so orginal and it’s one of those that can really happen in real life. You feel all the struggles and the heartache and the joy that every character goes through. Max and Jade are like the perfect character’s and I love love that it’s from both perceptions and you know exactly what that person is thinking. I didn’t want this book to ever end. And I also want a book about Nate and Brad!!!! This should definitely be a one-click read for all of you!!! I highly recommend this book and any book by A.M. !!! -By Tina
5 Stars
Max Navarro is busy pursuing his dream of opening a second gym in Miami and doesn’t have a lot of free time. Hence why it’s been months since he was last with a woman. Agreeing to help his brother, he shows up at Brad’s Tavern to help bartend. Recognizing the beautiful girl across the room from his gym, he can’t stop staring. Jade is out with her bestie Amy to celebrate her birthday. Amy is trying to get her to hookup with someone to dust out the cobwebs, and what better way than Kismet Karaoke? With a little meddling help from his little brother, Max finds himself singing karaoke with the beauty across the room. Sparks instantly fly and what is supposed to only be a one night stand, turns into something way more.
This story has an interesting twist, that although not my favorite part of the story, didn’t diminish by loving it any less. Max and Jade make a great couple, but I have to admit Amy and Brad stole the story for me, especially Brad lol. Overall, Not According to Plan is a fun, sweet and sexy story that left me wanting more.
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
If you want your heart to burst with joy, them Not According To Plan will do just that!! A.M. Madden overpowered my heart with passion and love!! Brilliantly written!! Phenomenal story!!!
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.
In this book we meet Jade Easton and Max Navarro. In this book we meet these two characters when for her birthday Jade is dragged to a bar owned by one of Max’s brothers, Brad. She then learns that Max is one of three identical triplets. While she would be more suited it seems with one of Max’s others brothers Nate a lawyer just like herself she only has eyes for Max. Max knows now is not the time to be finding a new woman but he can’t help but fall for Jade. One night is all it takes to know the woman he once laid eyes on in his gym is a woman he is meant to be with. The problem he has is one night while celebrating his grand opening for his gym he and his best friend had a few too man drinks and now they are having a baby together. To make matters harder for him one night with Jade is all it takes to get her pregnant as well. Will these two find their HEA or will they just be two people with strong feelings for each other and a baby between them?
This is another stand out book for this author. It does have its ups and downs I really want to tell you about. Oh do I want to tell you so much more about it. However I don’t want to ruin the story for any others. I will say though this is an absolute close and lock the doors, let someone else deal with the kid, you won’t be able to put it down book. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.