From New York Times best selling author, Kelly Elliott, comes a new series her WANTED fans will adore. Filled with love, hope, and second chances, LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, is book one in the Southern Brides series. Each book in this series will be stand alone books.
Love at first sight.
That’s what it was when Rip Myers came up to me in kindergarten. From that point on, we were inseparable best friends.
When I work up the courage to tell Rip I love him, I am met with rejection. He tells me he treasures our friendship too much. That statement might as well be a knife to my heart.
I want to hold out hope that he’ll change his mind.
Instead, he moves on.
The only choice I have is to pretend that doesn’t slay me.
So, I say yes…to the man I love. But he isn’t the man I’ve been in love with nearly my entire life.
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.
Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.
I was bored. Went to half way thru. But couldn’t do it anymore. Both dumb. Hero is so not for me. I need one that goes after what he wants. This one was too scared.
I don't know who got on my nerves more, hero or heroine...ugh... As this is the friends to lovers we have the basic plotline of them loving each other but in secret, being chicken shit to do anything about it...yeah it has everything that I hate about that trope.. we love each other but can't be with each other, but no one can be with you ..but only for the boy he can go out with others but don't worry you are still his main girl...just friend... and then imagine surprise one of them admits feelings- in this case girl..and the boy is shell shocked, surprised, silent, she runs away...he tries to make it better...quits after three months..they start dating other people... year pass in this case four.. she gets engaged .. he wants to win her back...yadda yadda yadda...wedding, baby..the end....
I did this as audio...
overall.... 1,5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
“What did I do?� “Nothing. That’s the problem, Rip.�
Exactly! Blah blah blah. I couldn’t take it. The H was a wuss and the h was a hypocrite stringing along Easton. Both are dumb. I was bored. Didn’t get to the halfway mark and had to DnF!!!
Chloe Parker and her animal best friend, Patches, will always hold a special place in my heart because Kelly Elliott introduced readers to these two in Lost Love, book one of her Cowboys & Angels series, my favorite of hers, and Chloe and Patches always brought a smile to my face throughout each scene they were in, stealing hearts and causing chaos.
So when I found out that the first book in Elliott’s newest series, Southern Bride, would be about Chloe and Rip Myers, another character readers met in Cowboys & Angels, I couldn’t wait to see how these two would finally acknowledge that their best friend status since they were in kindergarten turned into something so much more then either of them were willing to admit out loud for fear of ruining a friendship that had become essential to both of them.
As you can imagine, trying to get Chloe and Rip on the same page after Chloe shared her true feelings with him and Rip was a coward and lied about how he felt about her was not an easy journey or something that could be easily fixed; in fact, Rip’s rejection seemingly forced both of their hands and prevented them from experiencing every important first together, breaking their hearts and reshaping the future that they thought they would have together.
As expected, the fact that Chloe and Rip gave up on each other a bit too easily frustrated me as someone on the outside privy to both characters� perspectives. Like their family and friends, it was abundantly clear just how much Chloe and Rip loved each other, beyond the friendship status, but feelings can be overwhelming and frightening, so the fact that neither of them handled things well wasn’t surprising, but as a hopeless romantic, I just wanted them to get it right from the start!
But there are no redos in life…there’s not a way to turn back time and change their reactions, so if Chloe and Rip want a chance at forever, they need to let go of the past, let go of the hurt, and fight for what they’ve always wanted - each other.
Even when Chloe and Rip struggled to find their way back to each other, I knew that Elliott would help them figure it out, and when that happens, it’s full steam ahead, which I thought was perfect for these two based on how long they’ve known each other and what they always knew they would be one day, making Love at First Sight not just an expression but a fact, which is exactly what everyone who knows Chloe and Rip wanted them to have and is why their story was the prefect start to Elliott’s Southern Brides� series.
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
Here's the thing. I really did not like how cowardly Rip was....for so many years. I did not like this plot much at all. Then it got perfect....like second half of book was epilogue. I was waiting for "something" to happen. Nothing did.
If you like gushing sweet you'll love this country pair.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I will always you this book. It is very romantic a bit sad. And wonderfully written. I love Kelly's books. Rip was the perfect gentleman. He had his moments but all in due time.It was great to see patches.
So this book sucked. It's the second generation from the cowboys and angels series with it being their kid's stories. Look Kelly Elliott is problematic for a lot of readers I've seen. You're not going to find any feminism or strong FMC or MMC for that matter. So if those thing's bother you, you shouldn't waste your time here. I read them because they're predictable and for some reason I can not look away so don't shame me. 😂 Most of the time I need my alpha red flag asshole heroes which other's also have a problem with. You seriously can't satisfy everyone. This book was disappointing because of how whiney both characters were. I got irritated real fast. And because I didn't even like Chloe really I wasn't too invested. Rip was a pussy. Not even going to sugarcoat it. Not to mention an idiot. Of course in RL I would not be attracted to a male like this. This book was just weak from beginning to end unfortunately. Overall it was just ok. Most of the time it's hard to do second generation books, and I also believe in slowing down the process. Some authors push out books super fast to make readers happy and it doesn't always work.
It's okay. I'm not really a fan of this troupe, best friends, afraid to be lovers in case they loose their best friend status. I felt frustrated with the story. The Hero needed a spine, he kept refusing to tell her, even when he really should have. Both get involved with others, while at same college. Heroine is engaged to someone else when they visit back home. No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine. Thoughts and conversations about exes. Some comparisons made. HEA.
Süsse Friends to lovers & second chance Lovestory, aber mir fehlte bei Chloe und Rip Persönlichkeit und es war auch einfach too much in der zweiten Hälfte. Was Rip alles für sie getan hat und was alles in den 2 Monaten passiert ist war mir dann wirklich too much. Ich versteh, dass die Zwei einiges nachzuholen hatten, aber es war mir zu kitschig. Ich fand‘s gut, dass die Sache mit Easton relativ schnell erledigt war und das Chloe ehrlich zu sich selbst und allen anderen war. Die Lovestory war so wirklich süss. Aber es fühlte sich an, als wär diese Liebe aus Kindheitstagen das Einzige zwischen den Beiden und als wäre das alles was sie als Personen ausmacht. Ich denke, mir hätte es besser gefallen, wenn etwas mehr Zeit zwischen allem gewesen wäre. Man die Zwei auch als selbstständige Menschen gesehen hätte und nicht nur als Teil von dieser Beziehung die alle erwartet haben. Was ich auch gut fand war, dass da kein Drama mehr kam in der zweiten Hälfte. Das war im Prinzip nur noch eine kitschige -teilweise übertriebene - Liebesgeschichte.
5 Star Review Love At First Sight (Southern Bride #1) by Kelly Elliott
Where do I start? Firstly when I heard that that Kelly Elliott had a brand new series I was anxious to dive right in. Having read her Cowboys and Angels series and learning that Chloe from that series was the heroine I was so excited.
The Parkers are one of my top book families ever and I couldn’t wait to read At First Sight. Chloe Parker has loved Rip Meyers from the time they met in kindergarten.
Years later her heart is broken when she lays her heart on the line and he rejects her. Determined, she moves on but a part of her heart and soul will always belong to Rip.
I have always loved the character of Chloe and I just New that the man who captured and kept her heart would need to be special. Rip is certainly the perfect man for her. I want a Rip in my life, he made me swoon and fall in love.
Chloe and Rip’s story was everything I hoped and wanted and so much more. It was emotional, angsty, funny and highly entertaining. Full of hope, love and family, it is a second chance at love story that ticked all the boxes for me.
I loved the banter between The Parker and their scenes together made for some snort worthy moments whilst reading.
This was one of those books I wanted to take slowly to savour the story and yet I found myself riveted to the book and kept on reading, just one more chapter. A fabulous start to the Southern Bride series and I am excited to see where Ms Elliott goes with this series.
i'm in the minority here, but i did not like this book. i had such a hard time finishing this book. the first half has so much unnecessary angst; it had such a buildup that went nowhere. The second half was all of a sudden a cheesy romance about all the sweet and perfect things between them. but i just couldnt connect with the characters and the switch to boyfriend girlfriend happened so out of nowhere without the hero really showing her he loved her. The Hero is a huge coward and dull as hell, and heroine was a pushover for me. The whole story become too over the top
Friends to lovers. Hero rejects heroine in high school and has sex with another girl. Heroine moves on and gets engaged to om. Hero wants her because he always loved her. DNF at 25%
Chloe and Rip have known each other since they were very young and have been in love with each other since they can remember. The only thing is that neither of them have ever admitted how they feel. They are best friends and admitting that they want more could potentially ruin that friendship - not something either of them want to risk losing.
At the end of high school they are getting ready to graduate and head off to college, maybe now is the time to finally come clean and see where things go. Chloe is the only one brave enough to speak up and Rip’s response leaves her devastated. The dreams she had of a future with him are shattered.
Several years later, Chloe has moved on with her dating life, just finished college and is faced with some big decisions about her future. Before she does that she returns home to her family farm to spend time with her family. Seeing Rip again feels like someone is pounding on her chest. He is even more handsome than he was as a teenager and she can’t help wishing that things turned out differently for them.
Rip knows he needs to find the courage to tell Chloe how he really feels or he will lose her forever. It’s time for this cowboy to man up and show Chloe that she was always meant to be his.
It’s been ages since I read a story from Kelly Elliott and I was in the mood for her writing this past weekend so this new release was my reading fix. To be honest I stopped reading her books for a while because they all followed a similar trope but sometimes that is exactly what I am in the mood for and Love At First Sight was exactly as I expected it would be.
I just love small town romances and Kelly Elliot does an amazing job. Best friends to lovers is always a little cat nip of mine, especially when they grew up together as kids. So sweet, and that is just what this story was. I love all the characters in this story, the town and the relationships. The characters showed growth and maturity through some tough mistakes that they had to go through to find their way back home..to each other. So much love.
What an AMAZING start to this new series by Kelly Elliott!! I loved every word of this book. I was so excited to read this story and I couldn’t put it down.
When I first met Chloe as a spunky 5 year old in Lost Love (Book 1 of the Angels & Cowboys Series) I instantly fell in love with her and when she set her sights on Rip (Jonathon’s younger brother) I just knew they needed a story!! I was so happy to find out Kelly wrote their journey. It was everything I was hoping for and more.
This book was an emotional, angsty and heartwarming friends to lovers story. Chloe and Rip’s story had it’s ups and downs but I couldn’t help but root for their HEA. This book was like coming home�.I loved that we got to be back with a favorite family of mine…The Parkers.
As I said Love At First Sight is the first book in Kelly’s Southern Bride Series and I think it is off to a great start. I can’t wait to find out what the other books in this series are about.
This is a standalone novel and is told in dual POV. You do NOT have to read the Angels & Cowboys series first before enjoying this story, but I would highly recommend reading that series to get the full effect of Chloe and Rip. You get the start of their backstory in that series. Now don’t get me wrong if you don’t or haven’t read that series first, Kelly does an excellent job filling in the gaps and the backstory of Chloe and Rip. Trust me though, you want to meet Chloe as a 5 year old�.she was so funny and her love for Patches the goat carries into this story.
In this story we follow Chloe and Rip from childhood to adulthood. As I said before Chloe has been carrying a torch for Rip since she was 5 years old. Now that she is an adult she has decided to tell Rip of her true feelings, but when she is met with rejection…she decides that their friendship is too important and moves on, letting her true dream fall. So now at the end of her college career and planning to move back home and take over her family ranching business, she is surprised when her boyfriend pops the question. Even more surprising she says yes. What will happen when she goes home and confronts Rip?? Is she truly over her one true love?? Can Rip and Chloe ever get their HEA?? Read this book to find out.
As I said earlier, I loved being back with the Parker’s. This family is so close knit, it made me want to join their family. They will have you laughing, crying, but overall feeling the love they have for each other.
I would 100% recommend this series to everyone romance reader out there. This book brought me back to my Wanted Series days and the love I had for that group of characters. I thought Rip was just as swoony as Gunner, once he got out of his own head. Trust me you WANT to read this book!!! Definitely a favorite of mine for 2019!!!
I loved this book so hard! Full review to come. . . . OH MY HEAVENS! Kelly slayed me with this book! I couldn't read it fast enough and yet I never wanted it to be over! It gave me ALL THE FEELS and I adored seeing grown up Rip and Chloe. This book held me captivated and I was lost in Chloe and Rip's world. My heart hurt for her at times. I loved the strength of Chloe's family and the way in which their friends and family didn't try to push either of them, but were there for them. This was such a beautiful book! Please don't miss it!
Typical annoying story, where the H and h love each other a lot (*Cough*) but they are in relationships / sex with other people ... While they are dying of jealousy for each other. And as always, the reason they are not together is silly and ridiculous.
Típica historia MOLESTA, donde H y h se aman muchoooo (*Tos*) pero andan en relaciones/sexo con otras personas... Mientras se mueren de celos el uno por el otro. Y como siempre, el motivo por el que no están juntos es tonto y ridículo.
Love at First Sight is a friends to lovers romance that gave me so many feels.
Rip and Chloe have been best friends since kindergarten. When Chloe’s a teenager she realizes she has romantic feelings for Rip, she tells him how she feels when they’re just starting college. Rip tells her he doesn’t feel the same, and their relationship becomes strained and isn’t the same after that.
Years go by, and Chloe gets engaged to another man, and thus makes Rip realize he has made the biggest mistake of his life by not being honest with Chloe and how he really feels for her.
Chloe and Rip’s journey is emotional. There’s obstacles to overcome for them to get to that place they seek. There was no question that these two would find their way and make it work. Their romance was heart-tugging, but it also had me swooning.
There’s just something about small town romances that get me every time. And Love at First Sight hit me with everything I love about them.
This book was EVERYTHING..... from the stunning cover to the beautiful words this book was PERFECTION! Kelly never fails to pour her heart out into these amazing characters and captivating stories and Love at First Sight was no exception! Chloe and Rip's book was one that I have been looking forward to and one I was so enraptured with I couldn't put it down. Rip and Chloe meant everything to each other but when you fall in love with your bestfriend is it worth the risk of losing that friendship? The bond these two have is that once in a lifetime bond and a love that will have you swooning page after page. Prepare to fall in love with this EPIC story!
Kelly has written such a sweet, romantic story with Love at First Sight. I absolutely loved Rip and Chloe’s story. These two have been best friends since they were kids, in love with each other, but with some obstacles along the way. Once they come together they are perfection. This is a story that will warm your heart and make you believe in true love.
Rip was perfect- he was so romantic and loving to Chloe. He was sincere and made me believe that there are perfect guys out there. Chloe was a great female character. I liked that she finally got her own story and it ended with happiness.
Love at First Sight is well written and will make you smile and happy.
Pretty sweet childhood best friends-to-lovers story. I was frustrated as hell the first half cause it was obvious she didn’t want that. I was considering dropping it because it was literally super unnecessary. This really didn’t have a conflict other than the stupid mistake at the beginning. I really loved Rip on the first page. The few chapters about their moments in high school were super cute. But then they both fell short for me. They were too scared and I just wanted to slap them. The last half was all good and just a looong HEA ending. Rip was super super romantic though. Overall I enjoyed this, it was amazing but it was nice and made me smile (just the second half)!
“Sometimes you have to cut the strings to make room for what truly belongs to your heart.�
“Every time you looked into my eyes, I felt it deep within my soul.�
Love At First Sight is the first book in an exciting new series from author Kelly Elliott that delivers all the feels and will leave you breathless.
Love At First Sight follows the story of Rip and Chloe. From the moment I picked up this book, I was giddy with excitement. I was instantly hooked and could not wait to see what Chloe’s story would bring to the table. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed at all. As someone who is a total sucker for friends to lovers romances, this one checked off all of my marks and completely exceeded my exceptions.
Chloe and Rip had a friendship that was built to stand the test of time. Over the years, there were so many times where they got close to becoming more, but let fear dictate their actions. Everyone and I mean everyone, knew these two belonged together and I couldn’t wait for these two to open their eyes and take the leap�.
Love At First Sight has the ultimate push and pull. It has those will they/won’t they moments that just leave you breathless. Yes, Rip and Chloe had their frustrating moments…moments where you just wanted to yell at them and make them open their eyes. But, their journey to happily ever after was so worth it. Sure there were a couple bumps in the road along the way, but every romance has its obstacles. And I just loved watching these two try to figure things out…to finally fight for what’s important and never give up.
The love between Chloe and Rip was epic and unforgettable. Their story is exactly what I want from a romance novel. It’s filled with tension and love. It’s light on the drama, yet more than delivers on the angst. The story tugs at your heart and leaves you begging for more. And that just makes the steamy and swoon-worthy moments all that more worth it.
Love At First Sight is a fantastic start to the Southern Bride Series and I for one, can not wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. Kelly Elliott, you have blown me away, and I can’t wait for more!
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
Esta historia es tan bonita y tan bien escrita que me leí el libro en un día .no podía parar,lo juro. Deseando leer el siguiente.Ojalá y no demore la traducción😍😘
"I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you in kindergarten." *swoons*
Kelly just keep your books coming woman. No seriously DON'T EVER STOP!!!!
After the Cowboys & Angels series finished I was so sad because I loved all the characters so much. But I knew this little gem was coming out so I just had to wait patiently.
I loved Chloe in all of the other books. So when Kelly said that she was getting her own book I was like 'Yes I'm so excited and can't wait for her story'
Chloe & Rip meet in kindergarten. They become the best of friends. But as they get older their feelings start to change towards eachother. Rip's afraid that if he tells her how he feels etc and then they get together it'll ruin their friendship. They've always loved eachother... everybody knows it too.
I seriously wanted to bang their heads together at certain points and just tell them to just shhhh and get together lol. But I love the angst.
And Patches I love that damn Goat lol.
I cried happy and sad tears, swooned oooh so much and laughed alot because of those Parker men haha.
The road to happily ever after is littered with past regrets. Elliott takes off the blinders of first love and exposes a heart's most painful secret. Love at First Sight begins in innocence and matures into heartache. Chloe and Rip are the best of friends, until a pained revelation sets their lives on different courses. Will destiny guide them back to each other? Or have the emotions of the past become a breach that can never be healed? Love at First Sight is a lesson in learning what love is. Elliott dissects the heart with a realism that is tragic, truthful and inspiring. The combination of Elliott, Chloe and Rip packs a one, two punch to the head, heart and soul.