The Best Worst First Date Ever by Holly Kerr
Series: Charlotte Dodd #2
Published by Three Birds Press on October 23, 2017
Genres: Chick Lit
Pages: 254

The adventures of Charlotte Dodd continue with The Best Worst First Date Ever.

Tenley Scott is a single mother and owner of Soup du Jour. She’s full of nervous excitement for her date with Colin, the handsome Brit who’s been hanging around the café.

She’s expecting casual conversation over drinks. Maybe dinner. Possibly a second date.

Not crazed ex-girlfriends, armed thugs, car crashes and a kidnapping. Worst date ever.

And then Tenley finds out about NIAA, the Canadian secret spy organization. Hello, Charlotte Dodd.

In a move out of a sci-fi movie, Charlotte’s missing memories are implanted into Tenley’s mind, giving Tenley top secret information about the Agency, dangerous spy missions and Charlotte’s love, Hamilton Short. Now it’s a race to keep Tenley out of the hands of those who want the information and to find a way to get Charlotte out of her head.

It’s been a while since Tenley’s been on a date, but this date turns out worse – and better- than she ever expected!

Author Holly Kerr has created a fabulous new genre “Women’s Adventure Chick Lit”. Yes, there’s some foodie elements, and some kissing and good-looking guys but what makes this an over-the top- exciting new read is the non-stop action, intrigue and adventure. And the stars of this thriller are strong, purposeful, beautiful… women!

Since her divorce, Tenley has been living a careful life and is an involved and nurturing mother of her young daughter. She also has her own café business and that’s the extent of her world. Tenley’s friends, her daughter and even her ex-husband organize an intervention to get her to lead a bolder life. Turns out they succeeded!

One weekend, Tenley agrees to a first date with Colin Firth, an Englishman who seems shy, nervous and friendly. The date begins with awkward conversation and a drink at a pub. And that’s the best part of this first date. The rest of the weekend brings non-stop action thriller spy missions for Tenley! Really!

“This is definitely the worst date I’ve ever been on. I’ve been assaulted, crashed a car, and kidnapped at gun point.”

Tenley has been chosen to receive the memories of another woman spy, Charlotte Dodd, aka “Canada’s favorite spy”. I applaud the author for this creative plot twist. Charlotte’s story was covered in an earlier book in this series, which I have not read. This didn’t stop me from being captivated by the story. I look forward to reading more books about Tenley- will any of the men she met turn into something special? Will she continue in the spy business?

In addition to the good character development, solid action writing and thriller plot, I also enjoyed the quotes that started each chapter, such as “Don’t be a woman who needs a man. Be a woman a man needs.” Grab this best book about the worst date!