Review: Dating for Keeps

Dating for Keeps by Coleen Kwan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lily Baker is the original odd-ball. Bullied at school, then home-schooled, pet bearded dragon, interested in crocheting, eclectic clothing tastes (think a top made of men's ties and clashing patterns/ colours), and a tendency to say whatever comes into her head when she gets nervous. She's always wanted a sterotypical hallmark movie life: husband, kids, dog, white picket fence and has been pushed into using a dating app by a co-worker and is on her way to meet her date when her car is hit by a truck door opening unexpectedly in the car park. The guy who owns the truck, Caleb Willmett, is a contractor who visited her father's business a few weeks back looking to see if he wanted to enter into a partnership. Caleb is everything she isn't, extremely good looking, confident, known as a player, and no interest in ever settling down (and male, obvs).

When Lily's date goes all wrong Caleb is there to witness it, but rather than mock her he's kind and sympathetic. So she comes up with a kooky plan, Caleb should give her dating advice and in return she will put in a good word for him with her father.

Inevitably as Caleb and Lily spend more time together they feel an attraction, but with diametrically opposed views on marriage it can't go any further, can it? Then a drunken pity-party leads Lily to make up a boyfriend to take to her college reunion ...

I only wish I understood what each of the Entangled imprints mean't - then I would know what to expect. This is a very sweet romance. Nothing more than steamy kisses and a hand on a bare knee and as a consequence it has a slightly unrealistic feel. Also, and this shows how truly shallow I am, I found Lily's clothing choices to be so weird that I couldn't get over it. A grown woman who dresses like an eccentric child - just odd.

I am a fan of Colleen Kwan's novels but this one missed the mark for me - mainly because I'm not a fan of sweet, clean romances and my ambivalence towards Lily rather than an issue with the novel itself.

Recommended for fans of sweet romances.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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