First I have to say this is an AMAZING read. I could not put it down. The characters were off the charts amazing, instantly connectable and were complex and made you just feel for them. I also have to commend the author for such a different story premise, I had not read any book quite like this one so it was like a breath of fresh air when it comes to contemporary romances. There is a little something for everyone, you have drama, comedy, love and of course some very steamy scenes. I just could not put this book down. It is a fast fun read that I think all romance fans should pick up. A five star book! Will not disappoint.

I confess I debated whether I would read this book or not. To be honest, I’ve gone a bit away from reading both of these authors (their solo books) the past few months. But ultimately the fact that I tend to enjoy what they write together made me cave. And I’m happy I did. HATE NOTES was the perfect blend of sweet and fun that I knew these two authors could deliver.

It’s a unique take on an office romance in how they came to work together. Maybe a little over the top, but fun nonetheless. One drunken night puts Charlotte in the path of possibly the man of her dreams. All thanks to a returned wedding dress and a blue note. Starting off not liking each other much but having to deal with working together, they quickly develop a friendship and that was probably my favorite part of the book. It’s really sweet how they become friends and the way they connect with each other. They pushed each other to be better and live life to the fullest. It was sweet and fun to watch.

As always, it has the trademark chemistry that I expect from this author collaboration. But it also packs a bit of an emotional punch. I thought I wouldn’t cry but then the epilogue got to me.

Overall, this was a great solid read from this duo and I’m happy I got to read it! Now looking forward to what they put out next.

Favorite Quotes:

“I think it’s better to spend years treasuring a memory that might hurt sometimes than to never make one at all.”

“You want to mold my cock? Do you have enough clay?”

Fantastic second chance Romance. This storyline rocks with an emotional tug at your heartstrings. Complex characters with great back stories; the romance built slowly and was well developed. Premise was a great one for the story. 5 star love.

Sandy's 5 Blush Up All Night Review
Charlotte is a dreamer.  She believes in happily ever after and unicorns and rainbows.  Okay maybe not unicorns and rainbows but this girl is zany!  Which explains why when she caught her fiancé cheating on her she immediately dumped him.  Just one little problem….she worked for his family’s company and is now in dire financial straits.  She doesn’t have the engagement ring, but she still has her wedding dress. That should get her a few dollars at a consignment store.  Except….that she falls in love with another wedding dress already there and with the most romantic blue note that was sewn inside.  AND because she is a dreamer, she ends up doing an even swap and taking the other dress home. Yep! She leaves just as broke as she walked in.

Reed is smart and ruthless when it comes to business. He's condescending and has no temperament for silliness of any kind.  He runs the family high real estate company with an iron hand.  He was engaged to his soul mate, or so he thought, but after some goings on the wedding is off.  The cause, the secret and the repercussions have cast a long shadow on him as a man.

In this day and age where people internet stalk each other, Charlotte immediately gets on the computer to get a look at the author of the note. Reed Eastwood and welllllll isn't he an eye full of gorgeous. They meet but you'll never guess how. No. I'm not telling you!

Reed thinks she's bat shit crazy. Let me tell you they are hysterical! I giggled and laughed and then giggled some more. Though he soon find that this woman has substance. A fuck it (Not bucket) list of things she is wanting to do starts the ice cracking. That she seems to be the ying to his yang is no bueno in his eyes.  His reasons are valid - not like he's her brother's bestie or that usual formulaic thing. This is where my heart started to hurt.

Every author has a formula and this duo of Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward gives us a good read every single time. Hate Notes cranks it up a few notches! A sexy, funny, beautiful story of unexpected love, second chances and the certainty that the heart does not understand nor accept no. I FLOVED IT!

Louisa's 4 Blush Review
Fate, kismet, destiny or serendipity...these are the words that come to mind while reading Hate Notes.

A little different from the likes of Vi & Penelope but in a good way.  This is a heartfelt story of two who are so different yet so alike.

Charlotte is adorable, she's fun, flirty, sexy in her own way (almost oblivious of her appeal) and says what she means and means what she says and she just blurts it out. I loved this about her, she isn't sneaky or pretentious...she's just herself and our boy Reed just doesn't know how to handle it and this makes for some delicious banter and some serious angst.  Reed was best explained by Charlotte herself

"...Such an asshole. A gorgeous, arrogant asshole who looked just as good going as he did coming."

Reed was often an asshole, but there was definitely a soft side to Reed that just melted my heart.  It was just hiding under that super strong, washboard ab exterior.

"There was no part of me that truly disliked this woman. I only disliked the fact that she reminded me of the things I was trying to forget...Charlotte reminded me of a time in my life when I was happy."

Reed's grandmother is THE BEST, she's a bit clever in her motives but has such a great heart.  Offering both Reed and Charlotte guidance in their lives so they could live their best lives.

This book was a quick, emotional at times, read that kept my attention and had me binge reading <----not unlike most of my Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward books.   And Vi & Penelope's epilogue in this book just an unmitigated ending that I needed and desired so thank you so much for that!

Kerry's 4 Blush Review
Hate Notes is full of fun. It's a twist of fate. It's fast-paced and well-written. Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward are always a treat that I look forward to, but the collaboration between these two authors this time is unique. And it’s flawless.

Charlotte is having a pity party one night that is full of alcohol... what's the worst that could happen? She’s a sassy  heroine. Reed is rich, opinionated, and swoon worthy. I enjoyed the banter and laugh out loud moments. It was a great change of pace.  A definite page turner. The characters intertwined each other into their lives. The sexual tension was hot! Love and friendship...you know when you just click. Hate Notes is even a bit emotional. Kudos to these two authors. They always amaze me with their stories.

Looking for a well-rounded romance that will have you everywhere from laughing to crying? Then Hate Notes by power author duo, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward is the book you’ve been looking for. I’ve read many books by these two authors and I can honestly say I’m never disappointed. They have this amazing ability to blend so many emotions into the story and I’m always left wanting more!

Hate Notes would probably be considered a hate to Love romance but it’s so much more than that. I have to admit when I first read the blurb I was a little concerned – “Thanks to a twist of fate, he’s my new boss.” I’ve read romance novels before that attempt this “surprise he’s my boss” story-line and I find it always feels a little…fake? But the joke was on me this time because somehow Keeland and Ward pulled it off pretty well! The story-line flowed naturally and I love the journey main characters, Charlotte and Reed go on.

Charlotte and Reed have such amazing chemistry and every moment between them was just magnetic, I never wanted to put this book down. The only issue I really had with the book was how Reed handled his feelings for Charlotte at times. I completely understand the reason he pushes her away but I find the “if I can’t have her, no one else can” mentality a little cliché. However, Charlotte’s character completely made up for it. I found her absolutely hilarious and quirky. I can’t even count the number of times I had a stupid smile on my face while reading this book. I really liked some of the secondary characters, in particular, Reeds brother Max (I wouldn’t complain one bit if he got a story!)

Overall, this book was really enjoyable. If you’re looking for a romance with a little bit of everything then this is definitely the book for you!

Have you already read Hate Notes? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

2.5 stars
Call me crazy, but I didn't care for this book. I usually like Vi Keeland &Penelope Ward book, but this one was just off. I didn't like the plot. I thought it was odd all around. It just didn't flow for me.

4.5 Stars

Charlotte’s a bit down on her luck and life has her trading in her unused wedding dress when she stumbles upon a fanciful wedding dress with a little blue note tucked inside. The blue note is romantic and heartfelt, and Charlotte is so moved she tracks the author, Reed Eastwood, but she finds he’s nothing like what she imagined. More like a complete jerk.

In a surprising turn of events Charlotte ends up working at his office, so of course the sparks fly! I do enjoy antagonistic romances, but I don’t like it if they get really mean. Sort of hard to forgive if things get too ugly, but that wasn't the case here. When Charlotte and Reed meet, they started off on the wrong foot, but they get to know the person underneath when forced to work together. Can I just say I love Iris?! She was a sweet, crafty old lady!

Charlotte was bright, quirky and full of life, even when she had every right to be down in the dumps, she was positive and saw the silver lining. She was everything Reed didn’t know he needed. Reed on the surface was serious and could be a bit broody, but his actions showed his big loving heart!

I loved Hate Notes! It was zany and fun it places and started off as I expected: as an antagonistic relationship turning in to romance, but it had an unexpected emotional twist. One that made it a deeper, more meaningful read than I had counted on.

A copy was kindly provided by Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put it down. Hate Notes is the current release from Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward; like always they deliver a good romance that makes my heart beat faster with hope and joy.

Hate Notes is the story of Charlotte and Reed. Charlotte finds a note in a used wedding dress that touches her heart and makes her want to learn more about the author. When she finds the note, she is down about her own canceled wedding and wants to get rid of the dress she planned to wear. It is exciting to think about another romantic, at least that's what she thought until she actually meets the author, her new boss, in person. They don’t start off on the right foot.

As his employee, the two exchange notes of their own, but they aren’t romantic, they are full of hate. Reed is angry and has walls around him a mile high. He doesn’t want to let anyone touch his heart again. That is the complete opposite of Charlotte. She wants to move forward and learn from her past so she can experience a brighter future.

These two are great together even in the beginning when they aren't too crazy about each other. As the characters develop they both learn from the other. They agree to be less aggressive and quickly see romantic potential. There is a lot of sexual tension that continues to build and makes the reader keep turning the pages.

I am a fan of this writing team. I know what to expect from them, and that is okay. They always come along when I need a lift and a feel-good story. Charlotte, Reed, and grandmom put a smile on my face, an occasional tear in my eye, and joy in my heart. Hate Notes is a book to remember and enjoy.

Holy crap do I love a good Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward book! This dynamic duo create magic together!

When I first read the synopsis for <i>Hate Notes</i>, I knew this was going to be book that I would be able to just devour! It has a very intriguing premise of the heroine finding a ‘blue note’ in a wedding dress at a resale shop that just automatically pulled me in.

I absolutely fell in love with Charlotte, our heroine. She’s spunky and quirky and just full of life. Honestly? I want to be her when I grow up. She is a persona to inspire to. There is not one negative trait about her. She take everything thrown at her and turns lemons into lemonade. She doesn’t let anything stop her from continuing to push forward.

I thought it might take a while to warm up to our hero, Reed, but really didn’t. I think having his voice helped with that so that you see him being hot and cold with Charlotte from his point-of-view. I think the character is written to come off pretty harsh when reading the scenes between him and Charlotte but I couldn’t help but to keep rooting for him.

This book took ripped a lot of emotions out of me. I would be laughing hysterically in one chapter, biting my nails in anxiety in the next followed by being on the edge of tears.

Overall – this is an amazing read. I highly recommend you one clicking and giving it a chance. Even if you have never read these authors before – you will not be disappointed!

What an addictive read! I started Hate Notes thinking I'd just try a tiny bit but before I knew it I was finished. Oops. No regrets I binged it but I am sad it had to end. Hate Notes is a heart-twisting story with a lovely message.

The tone was very playful and tentative for the first half of Hate Notes. When Charlotte and Reed were together the air sparked. As a total sucker for banter and (sexual) tension this book had it in abundance. My heart twisted every time they played the will-they-won't-they game. It was a torturous wait but delicious to the max.

The story shifts to a more serious tone later on. I was very impressed with how natural this transition was. Gone were the flirty animosity replaced with genuine feelings. Things were fun while they lasted but reality was a splash of cold water where we learn some hard truths. I 100% felt for Charlotte and Reed's struggles.

I admire Charlotte's no holdback attitude. She was not shy about what she wanted, especially when it came to Reed. He, on the other hand, was a complicated closed-off person. But he had very good reasons to keep his distance. I don't blame Reed for any of his hesitations but I was relieved to see Charlotte fight for him. She worked hard to get him to open up. Her Fuck-It List idea really helped them grow closer. Love it!

Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward sure can write a pulse-pounding romance! Hate Notes was my first book from both authors and I definitely need more. In particular there's a certain younger brother I'd love a story from ;) Please?

MY RATING: 4/5 STARS

I received a copy from Thomas Allen & Sons in exchange for a honest review and to take part of this blog tour.

I have to seriously thank the company for allowing me to take part of this blog tour because 'Hate Notes' was the one book that pulled me out of this weird book slump I was suffering through back in October/September. Hate Notes is an office romance that I never knew I needed until I actually read it. Why did I ever stop reading these gems? They're so fun.

Hate Notes follows the story of Charlotte, a woman who has found out the hard way that her fiance has been cheating on her with the office secretary. Not the best start to a happy marriage. When she decides to sell her wedding dress in an effort to rid the impurities in her life, she stumbles upon a unique and beautiful feathered dress in the handmade section of the upscale second-hand store. Deciding to take actions against what she would normally do, Charlotte tries on the dress, awed by how beautiful it is and especially the blue not sewed into it on the inside. The note left her breathless. Super romantic stuff that makes her super curious about who this Reed guy was. She buys the dress and goes home to get drunk, only to wake up and realize after a drunken google search, she has applied to view one of Reed's properties he's in charge of selling. They meet. Reed is so different from the romantic man she's pictured in her head and she goes on hating him from every page afterwards or at least, put up with him. A cute grandmother encounter later, Charlotte finds herself to have a new job and Reed to have a new assistant courtesy of his grandmother.

I guess I never read enough Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward books to realize that their novels are not always steamy and raunchy from the get-go. Hate Notes followed a softer approach to romance, allowing readers to see their relationship blossom instead of having this cosmic explosion and expect us to believe love happens so quickly. However, on the other hand, it can get quite frustrating to not see Charlotte and Reed finally get together. There's a mysterious reason as to why Reed keeps pulling away from Charlotte that makes readers really curious as to what it is. The secret twist was something different from what I see in romance novels. We have characters going through really terrible things that make us evaluate our lives and wonder if we could do the same if we were in their position.

However, I found the story to kind of loosely tie up towards the end, leaving me to have little to no interest to how it ended. Charlotte has been searching for her mother for a long time but when this situation was resolved it seemed too perfect to align with Reed's story. I had to take off a star because this book didn't really have any hate notes per se. It also just didn't feel like a five star read to me in the end for my own personal reasons.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Pick this book up for a hot office romance! Especially if you like soft-hearted heroes who treat their family right

Dear Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland:

Only the two of you could create craft a heartfelt, whirlwind romance that rivals any cherished fairytale.

If readers believe in love, second chances, and ever dreamed of creating and conquering a bucket list of life experiences, they are going to love this unputdownable book. Charlotte is a bit of a dreamer. She's also strong, sensitive, quirky and relatable on so many levels. Reed. Wow, he’s beautiful, cocky and a bit prickly. Charlotte is determined to peel back the acidic like layers that surround his heart and get to know the man behind that letter.

“The dress was my spirit animal, and I felt like the note could have been written for me by my imaginary perfect fiancé. I didn’t want to guess the story behind this one. I wanted to live it, create my own story for this dress.”

The end of this book had me laughing and crying at the same time. Reed and Charlotte complete each other. Just like Vi and Penelope compliment each other’s writing so beautifully. Another perfect romance book to add to my best of 2018 list. Vi and Penelope make it impossible to not fall in love with their characters and their co-authored books.

Love,
Cheri @ Kindle Crack

Hate Notes was so much more than what I envisioned when read the blurb and even looked at the cover. Charlotte and Reed worldwind had me laughing in the very beginning to the point of tears. The play on words did me in. I swear I called my best friend to read so many parts to her and even sent a screenshot. Vi and Penelope were genius on composing some scenes but there was one that had me crying for 45 minutes non-stop. My mind went to a dark place. A dream that will gut me in reality. With that said this book is a perfect "feel".

I know you may be confused but know the literary journey and personal journey this book will take you is fun, healing, and a growing mechanism. Charlotte is my soul sister and Reed is my scenario soulmate. I am as well the queen of worst case outlooks and feed off it too. I enjoyed the connection and the light on depression that I have been keeping hidden. Thanks for the laughs and cry.

I love the collaborative works of Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Individually, both authors are fantastic, but there is something undeniably special about their co-written books. Their words blend together seamlessly, effortlessly transitioning between their writing styles and meshing into addictively unputdownable stories. Every. Single. Time. This pairing is brilliant, and I can’t get enough of them.

Hate Notes is the latest from Keeland and Ward, and I absolutely loved it. A mash-up of enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes, the storyline was fresh and original. The underlying theme threading everything together in this story was fate. A couple destined to be together; pure luck playing a key role in their first meeting; and a divine intervention–via a meddling grandmother—bringing them together in the workplace. Keeland and Ward penned a uniquely creative love story here with a hero who stole my heart despite how prickly he sometimes could be and a heroine who was whip-smart and funny. This couple bickered and bantered their way through a good portion of the book, and those interactions were just as fantastic as the slow-burn build-up of their romance.

Hate Notes was a heartwarming, hard-fought love story that I devoured in a day. Endearing characters, an engaging, emotional storyline that made me laugh and swoon, this was a completely engrossing page-turner that I simply did not want to put down. Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward gets five smooches from me!

Hate Notes starts off with Charlotte Darling getting rid of her wedding dress after discovering her fiancé had been less than faithful. At the vintage clothing shop, she discovers a gorgeous feather gown with a blue note tucked inside written by a Reed Eastwood. Always curious and still a romantic at heart, Charlotte takes it upon herself to find the man who wrote that note.

Once found, Charlotte and Reed don’t exactly hit off at first. Actually the experience reduces her to tears shed in the bathroom. But sometimes things happen for a reason and coincidentally, Charlotte lands a job working for Reed’s company. The two have an interesting dynamic and they often butt heads. But underneath the dislike and attitude, romance might be brewing just below the surface.

I loved Charlotte and Reed! They had an undeniable attraction to each other. Charlotte is so free-spirted and can find the bright side to almost any situation. She can see and admit her feelings for Reed; whereas Reed is a realist and has a more serious side. Not to mention he is also arrogant and often infuriating. He may feel something for Charlotte, but he will do everything in his power to fight that attraction.

Told from both Charlotte and Reed’s POV’s, I enjoyed getting to know both of these characters well. They each have strong characteristics, but the more they got to know each other, the more they grew; which I loved seeing.

Hate Notes was exactly what I expected from these two authors. An entertaining and unique romance with a storyline that was easy to get caught up in. I never felt like it was too long or dragging. My only complaint was that I did not want this story to end!

I first discovered Vi Keeland when I read her book Bossman two years ago. Ever since then, the rest is history as they say. She continues to write books solo, but she also partners up with Penelope Ward to writing even more amazing books. I love their writing style. And the unique characters they bring to life through their stories/romances. If you are a lover of contemporary romance, then you will definitely want to take a look at Hate Notes.


RATING: 3½ out of 5.

Just know my fingers are frantically typing in the air right now hahahah omg died!

New favorite book by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Hate Notes is laugh out loud funny with a storyline that will pull on your heartstrings. You're guaranteed to fall in love with the characters.

Reed's, well....REED. He's cynical, brody but plays it safe. Charlotte's easy going, an optimist, who lives life to the fullest. Their chemistry, or lack of, had me falling out throughout the story. I got emotional and cried towards the end. The authors couldn't have written a more perfect epilogue.

For the most part, I didn’t enjoy Hate Notes. I didn’t like how Reed treated Charlotte. Although I did come to understand why everything happened the way it did, I can’t say that I would ever do a re-read on this one.

I was a bit undecided with my feelings on Hate Notes. I almost pushed it aside with a DNF because I was unhappy with how Reed was treating Charlotte for most of the story but I kept reading because I needed to know what his deal was.

Reed was very antagonistic to Charlotte. He berated her for her glass-is-half-full attitude on life and he got angry with her every time he realized he admired her. He was attracted to her but refused to succumb to her charms. Yet he would lose his mind when other men flirted or gave any indication they wanted Charlotte if he didn’t.

I was confused why Charlotte’s feelings toward Reed kept growing when he was treating her so awfully. It was almost abusive as he would be nice to her and then almost in the same sentence snap with anger because he was starting to like her. It seemed off that a woman like Charlotte, who was trying to reclaim her life, shouldn’t have stood for his treatment let alone keep going back for more.

Both Charlotte and Reed were supposed to be married (to other people) but the ceremonues didn’t happen. We know that Charlotte’s fiancé cheated on her and she walked away. We anticipated a similar story with Reed.

We also learn the Charlotte lost her sense of self during her time with her ex. She put her wants and dreams aside to be the perfect wife that he wanted. She no longer sculpted or did anything she normally would enjoy. So Charlotte wrote a Fuck-it list vs a. Bucket list of things she always wanted to try. We also find out that Reed too stopped doing things he enjoyed after his engagement broke up. Again, we anticipate hearing as similar story to Charlotte.

Charlotte inspires Reed to write his own list of things and then she wants to become list buddies to inspire and help each other try to achieve their goals.

I am glad I finished the story as I have to admit Reed’s reason for not giving in shocked me and I sympathized and appreciate what he was attempting to do in keeping Charlotte at arms length. It wasn’t the usual “turns out she only loved my money” shocker.

I applaud the authors for taking us places that most authors don’t in fear of losing the audience. It was not Reed’s issue that alienated me, but his treatment of Charlotte.

While I sympathize with Reed and understand his attempt to keep Charlotte at a distance, I really can’t get past his hot and cold–almost to the point of abusive–attitude toward Charlotte. At first he thought Charlotte was a little unstable and then he craved her joyous outlook on life, even after her own part hurt. Yet every time he thinks well at her, he attacks her and belittles her because he is angry. He was angry that he couldn’t have what he wanted. He protecting her by kicking at her. Keeping her at a distance is one thing; belittling her because you are angry is just not acceptable.

Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward delivered a fantastic enemies to lovers/work place romance with Hate Notes. This book was fun, sexy, and heartwarming. Both Reed and Charlotte were endearing and the twist was not something I saw coming.

The way Charlotte meets Reed... it's interesting to say the least. While going to sell her unused wedding gown, she finds a gown she absolutely falls in love with. As the store will only give her in-store credit, she trades her gown for this one. Inside the gown, she finds a hand written blue note stitched in. From the groom. She has no idea what happened with this bride and groom, but with some drunk internet stalking, she has an idea.

Reed Eastwood is in real estate. The big kind, selling expensive property. He meets Charlotte while showing a property. Their meeting is not a pleasant one. Reed is a jerk to Charlotte but with the circumstances, one can't blame him. Charlotte feels pretty low and the only way she can go is up. When she gets a job offer, she is ecstatic. Then she finds out it's working with/for Reed.

Charlotte and Reed have a lot of chemistry. That is apparent from the start. Charlotte is sweet and Reed finds her amusing, with her 'bucket list' and all. I loved their scenes together. Most of them kept a huge smile on my face. I wanted to know what Reed was hiding and I hoped these two who bickered and bantered could make it work. My heart was hurting towards the end, and there was even a point I was in tears, but my goodness did I love the way this book ended. It was the perfect ending.

This love story was different from the typical one. I loved the unique spin on the enemies to lovers/work romance. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It made me swoon, made me laugh, and made me cry. It was a wonderful romance.

I have no words, such a beautiful story.I had happy tears in my eyes in the end, this story touched me in so many ways.Hate Notes is a heartwarming,sweet,emotional and romantic.One of the best books I read this year, Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland completely drew me into Reed and Charlotte's story as well as their lives.

Reed and Charlotte's journey felt so real, everything they went through.The romance was one of the best parts in the story , I loved the build up.My heart was aching for both of them, I just wanted to see them happy!

This story is so much more than a simple romance.I laughed,I cried and I melt with Reed and Charlotte.They deserved to be together.

Full review to come on the blog tour with Thomas Allen Ltd but I LOVED this book. I'm a big fan of Vi Keeland s writing already and paired with Penelope Ward was a nice surprise. There's so much heart and love in Reed and Charlotte's story!! I was honestly sad when the book ended.