From New York Times Bestselling Author Katy Regnery comes a sexy new series set in Alaska! A single Dad. A personal ad. What could possibly go wrong?When Seattle journalist, Amanda McKendrick, pitches a new story about the increase of bear attacks in Sitka, her newspaper sends her north for two weeks. While there, she answers the personal ad of single dad, Luke Kingston, looking for a little … looking for a little no-strings-attached fun to pass the time.
But the sweet, widowered father of three–who just happens to be a smokin’ hot state trooper–turns out to be a lot more than Amanda bargained for. As the days go by, she wonders if it’ll be possible to return to Seattle without leaving her heart behind.
*****
An Odds-Are-Good Standalone Romance
Single In Sitka
Nome-O Seeks Juliet
A Fairbanks Affair
My Valdez Valentine (Mar 2020)
Kodiak Lumberjack (May 2020)
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When Amanda sees the ad in the Odds Are Good for a single dad in Sitka, she begins imagining a good looking, devoted dad and quickly finds herself attached to a work project that has her stationed in Sitka researching bears for a stretch of time. Since she’ll be there anyway, she figures it won’t hurt to answer the personal ad — at least she can have some fun while in Alaska.
Luke isn’t sure how to start dating again, nor is he certain he is ready to take that step. His sister, however, is prepared to give him just the push she is confident he needs. Taking a chance to meet one of the women who has answered his ad finds him sitting across from Amanda, a woman he met earlier in entirely different circumstances. Now he can sense something he didn’t allow himself to think about when they met – the possibility of some fun as he learns how to date again.
I loved the way these two challenged each other. What was supposed to be a no-strings fling quickly turns to more as Amanda ingratiates herself with Luke’s kids and family. She makes Luke face what exactly he is feeling towards moving into a life without his late wife, and how he feels about Amanda specifically.
This is not a completely smooth transition though. As cute as Luke’s kids are, and as helpful as his oldest is, they are still kids who are grieving the loss of their mother and the first woman who looks like may be trying to take her place is a hard connection to make, especially for the older kids. I loved the way Amanda held her own, but still let the kids own their feelings and work through things in their own time. Luke, too, still has some healing to do even as he thinks he is ready to move on.
This was a sweet, single dad story with elements that made it feel realistic and down to earth. The characters face the challenges a grieving family would, as well as a long distance relationship. Part of me felt like the ending was wrapped up faster than I would have liked in a bit of a high handed way, but in the end I loved where the characters ended up. I look forward to more from this series based on singles ads placed in an Alaskan paper marketed to the continental 48. It should be interesting to see how the other outlined situations play out as mainlanders make their way into the far northern state.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last. I loved the story of Amanda and Luke. There was so much good stuff here – witty dialogue, characters with depth, and an engaging storyline. Luke is a widower with three young children living in Sitka, Alaska. His sister, believing it’s time for him to start dating again, places an ad in the publication that circulates in the lower 48. Amanda is a reporter in Seattle. On a deadline for a story idea and having just read Luke’s online ad, she pitches a story on the plight of bears in Alaska. Once the story is approved, she is off to Alaska hoping for a fling to get over her recent breakup while writing her story. There is instant chemistry between Amanda and Luke but there are many things to navigate on the journey to their HEA. This is not a fluff romance, there is emotional depth to the characters and their journey. This is written in such a believable and relatable way that you’ll feel all the things – laughing, crying, gasping, and swooning. This book has a little bit of everything – sweet moments, strong friendships, laughs, messy families, sexy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, and so much love. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
‘First book by this author. Couldn’t put it down. Loved the chemistry and was just an awesome book. Can’t wait to read more from her.
This was such a sweet story of love and second chances. It was both heart wrenching and heartfelt. The characters were wonderful and so loveable. Really great story.
This is one of those books where you want to pull out your fuzzy blanket, grab a cup of hot chocolate and curl up on your couch to become immersed in the sweet small town read.
I enjoyed this book immensely and it just left a feel good feeling in my chest the whole while I was reading it.
Amanda is a journalist for the Seattle Sentinel and loves her city and her place in it but she’s suffering from a broken heart. When her partner and best friend sets it up that she’s heading to Sitka, Alaska for a story she thinks it’s the perfect time for Amanda to put herself out there for some no strings attached adult fun and who better than single dad Luke to fill this role.
Widower and single dad Luke doesn’t need to be set up on a date but his sister Bonnie thought it was a good idea to put an ad in The Odds are Good magazine to find someone for him. He thinks he’s just fine on his own until he realizes that maybe his 3 kids need a mother/female figure in their lives besides their aunt Bonnie. He finally gives in to a date but that’s just to satisfy his adult needs because when he’s ready someday he’ll find the next one who’ll be the one to fulfill his needs but also become a family with his children.
This was such a sweet, feel good read. I loved the anticipation of waiting for that first kiss, the first stirrings of lust and most importantly the first feelings of love and when they finally decide they can’t live without each other.
I’m going to give a final rating of 4.5 stars because I found the ending to be a bit rushed and I definitely could have had a bit more Luke and Amanda in my life.
I loved this book. Amanda is a journalist in Seattle who was dumped six months ago by her cheating boyfriend of five years. She ends up on a job assignment for two weeks in Sitka Alaska and her best friend signs her up on a date with a single dad from an Alaska singles site. Luke Kingston is a 34 year old father of three kids. He was widowed two years ago when his wife was killed in a car accident. His sister signed him up for the website because she wants him to find love again. When they meet, there is an instant attraction and they agree to a “rebound” fling. Problem is, what starts as lust becomes much more. They have to get past a lot of obstacles to get to their happy ending, but all of the angst is worth it.
cute read
I just adored this book. Such a great read full of love, wanting, sex, and desire. The story of a widowed father of 3 and a single woman meeting and falling in love was such a sweet read with no cliffhanger. If you are into sweet romance novels, you won’t be disappointed with this one.
This book was a change of pace from what I’ve been reading lately. I loved how truly nice these characters were and how hard it was for either of them to come up with a perfect solution but ultimately did. It hits some hard topics but it’s beautifully written and handles them perfectly. I loved the characters, loved this gentle romance.
This was a pretty interesting concept. It had the opportunity to be a little hokey, but it really wasn’t. Single father from Alaska meets a single girl from the city. They decide to have a short-term fling, and of course, they develop feelings for each other. You expect an easy resolution, but it’s more complicated than it first appears and I was very glad of that.
The only thing I didn’t like was that each of the characters made assumptions about how the other was feeling, which of course led to misunderstandings, when if they’d just TALKED to each other, it all could have been avoided. This author is not the only one to resort to this kind of a cop out, though; it’s very common but I hate it every time I see it.
I love everything about this book. Amanda & Luke are absolutely perfect together. Every minute that they are together I couldn’t get enough and of course I couldn’t put my kindle down. Truly an amazing read with amazing characters that I won’t forget.
Sometimes all we need is someone to help us find the good in ourselves. We know it’s there, but we end up getting so buried by life, we forget to live.
A city girl and a woodsy man. Two adults finding a way to make life and love work. This story was funny, sexy and the characters were just great. The chemistry was amazing, the relationship was mature and drama free! Who doesn’t love that?
I binged read Katy a while ago, becoming a major fan. She has not disappointed yet!
I absolutely adored this story!
A hot, single dad, along with his kids, stole my heart in this cute, super sexy, and sometimes emotional read.
Faced with many obstacles, Luke and Amanda are determined to figure out a way to make their long-distance relationship work.
Ms. Regnery did a fabulous job at showing me and making me feel everything while flipping the pages. I cannot wait for the other books in this series!
What can I say about this book? It was a fun, adventurous and romantic story that will pull on your heartstrings. It’s not the first time I’ve read a book by this author and I’ve seriously enjoyed this one and I love a good single dad story as it’s one of my favorite genres to read. A top pick for 2019!
Amanda seems to have the worst luck lately and is looking for a change but doesn’t really know how to move forward after just getting out a long relationship. When she has the opportunity to go to Sitka to write a new piece for the newspaper she works for, she’ll take the chance with both hands. Maybe this break is what she desperately needs and who knows what will happen…
Luke’s sister has put an ad in the paper to get him back into the dating scene but he doesn’t really feel anything for it. But when he meets Amanda, maybe his luck is finally changing as she’s only in Sitka for a few weeks. Although nothing is going as planned, both find it easy to be with one another. Even though Luke is a single dad of three kids, there’s just something that’s slowly changing. Will they find what they are both looking for? And maybe, just maybe, they’ll find what they need with each other?…
SINGLE IN SITKA is a standalone romance & Book #1 in Katy Regnery’s new series: ODDS-ARE-GOOD. After reading the first book, I will look forward to reading more of the books coming out in the series. All standalone!
Amanda McKendrick is a journalist for the Seattle Sentinal Newspaper. She loved her job, but lately was distracted. Her boyfriend of five years, Bryce, had walked out of her apartment two months ago, leaving behind a break-up note and a stack of bills. She had thought he was “The One!” At thirty-two she found herself alone with her biological clock ticking. That is why she was sitting at her work desk, but instead of concentrating on work, all of her attention was focused on an article in The Odds Are Good magazine. She was especially looking and dreaming at one Single’s Ad:
SINGLE IN SITKA
Single dad. Widower. State trooper. 36. Three great kids. Between them & work, it feels like I barely have time for anything else, but I miss being with someone. Anyway, I’m NOT looking to meet fifty anonymous women. Just one who is special. Could that be you? Hope to hear from you soon.
Luke
While Amanda is daydreaming about Luke, she actually misses her deadline for her presentation of her next big article for the paper. Luckily, she remembers the headline just above Luke’s ad: “Bear Attacks on the Rise in Sitka.” So she pitches the story. To her amazement and shock everyone goes crazy for the idea. Complete with a planned event to raise money to save the bears. She finds herself headed to Alaska for two weeks to get to the bottom of the bear issue. Even if she is being sent to help save the bears, she secretly hopes to meet Luke and maybe have a fling.
This is a sweet and wonderful romance story. There is lots of ups and downs and wondering how we will get to that HEA ending. At the end of the book, we get a glimpse of the next book: NOME-O SEEKS JULIET. I will close my review by saying, that if Katy ever wants to give up writing books, she could always take up helping lonely single people write ads.
Katy Regnery has brought out a great story filled with humour and steam mixed with emotion and love. Once you start you will be unable to put this one down until you have finished. For a true romantic like me this is the one for you.
Great start to this new series and I can’t wait to see what Katy brings us next.
OMG! This was SUCH a gorgeous story!
“I can’t deny the way I feel around her – like the whole world is more exciting, more colorful and fun.”
Luke Kingston has been a widower for two years and has three kids. He’s gotten to the point that he will always miss his wife but he’s also lonely and in need of companionship. Unbeknownst to him, his sister has placed a lonely hearts ad on his behalf. The attraction he feels when he meets Amanda is the most powerful he’s ever experienced.
“Invisible filaments of electricity snap and crackle between us, and even though I can’t see them, I feel them.”
Amanda McKendrick has been burnt in love. She’s ready to move on and she can’t stop thinking about the lonely hearts ad that she’s seen. Through circumstance, she finds herself in Sitka, Alaska. On the face of it, she’s there to cover a story about bears. In reality, she’s there to meet Luke.
“This oneness, this fullness, this intimacy…it’s almost too much to share with some I barely know.”
Gah! I have so much love for this beautiful story. Luke and Amanda were so natural and wonderful together. They had sizzling chemistry and a real connection. This novel was scorching hot!! I adored how well they clicked. Their first sexual encounter was so sexy but also kinda cute and endearing. They’re both so hot for each but also tentative. They had obstacles to overcome – not least the geographical distance between – but I adored how well everything came together at the end. Loved this story so much!
Smitten! I was absolutely SMITTEN with this story! Manda and Luke’s romance began with a personal ad and while all it seemed like was a temporary fling while she was in Sitka, it was pretty clear from the get-go that the feelings that they had developed over a short period of time were worth exploring. Now, relationships in general aren’t easy one hundred percent of the time, but when two people happen to live hundreds of miles apart, it becomes exponentially more complicated. Add in the fact that Luke has three kids, and well, that equates more feelings to take into consideration. I loved that while the burgeoning emotions between Luke and Manda came easily, everything else required some additional figuring out. These two needed to figure out if they really wanted to put in the effort or not and reminded me of Theodore Roosevelt’s quote: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” Gah! Single in Sitka was a swoon-worthy five-plus-starred read.
I’m a sucker for a dingle dad romance so I couldn’t pass this one up. I really enjoyed this book. It had me laughing at parts. I loved the friendship between Amanda and Leigh. That’s what friendship is all about. Amanda and Luke have great chemistry and connection. Luke is testing the waters of dating after losing his wife and Amanda is getting over a bad relationship. It’s supposed to be light fun and no strings, but they instantly connect and soon all too real feelings form. Distance becomes a factor. Do they have what it takes to find a compromise? Or will they let something great slip through their fingers?
I have been a fan of this author since her Summerhaven series. She has a most artful way of describing locations, while weaving an intriguing tale of romance into life. I was excited to try this new book, a first in a new series.
The plot starts out as part fling, part both needing to move on and start over. It moves into the very real ideas of compromise and family blending. I enjoyed all the aspects of this book, as they were both relatable and just the right touch of fanciful fiction.
Amanda is a journalist just waiting for the right story, and a bit of new adventure to jump start the next part of her life. Luke is a widower, complacent in his current situation. I liked Amanda’s spunk and friendships, her drive to do something new, and her girl-next-door vibe. Luke is a staid and honest man, a father, and in need of a bit of a shakeup. I liked their story arc, and the conclusion.
I knew to expect sizzling chemistry from Ms. Regnery. This did not disappoint. Luke may be a father of three, but he’s a fit Alaskan trooper. And Amanda may not have made the best first impression, but the sparks were there. Those sparks burned bright when the combusted into the sexy scenes expertly crafted. Which led to crazy shenanigans of a relationship.
Once again I was drawn into the story, and the locations of this book. The Summerhaven series had me wanting to visit the East, while this had me longing to return to new places in Seattle, and a first visit to Alaska. All of the reality of Luke and Amanda’s situations, whether it was work, personal, or relationship were crafted with just the right combination of real life spun with romance novel fiction fantasy.
This was a good solid book. Maybe not my favorite book by this author, but certainly a great read. Enough that I’d be very interested in reading any future books in the series.
Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5 Characters = 4/5 Heat = 4/5 Writing Style = 4/5 Overall Rating = 4/5