love this book it's quirky and fun. At the start of it, the way she meets Kurt made me laugh at Carlie's inability to speak to men due to the past. I did get annoyed at thins with the words not being full and having to fill it in myself and this happens in most chapters, unfortunately.

I did enjoy the love triangle between the three main characters. I did find the pace odd at times and the book took a while to get going.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

It seems like the author wants to become the love triangle writer, and I won’t complain. I think there’s not enough of that. And the author sure likes to give the trope unexpected twists. Since I don’t want to give away the main twist, I’ll try to remain vague.

Carlie is the main character in the story, and we get only her point of view. That makes the love triangle more interesting because we choose who to root for only through her eyes, and we don’t get to know the male characters’ inner thoughts. Or real motivations. And as you’ll see, those motivations are really important.

I’d complain that, although she’s in the middle of a work related event, the only thing she thinks about is her love life. We don’t see much of the professional Carlie. Her relationship with her family could have been more developped too, as she starts the book with some grievance and hang ups.

But the love triangle is clearly at the center of this story, and the author takes her time to develop Carlie’s relationship with each man–flirty Kurt and seductive Alex. And, of course, the rivalry between them. Plus the people around them chiming in. Nothing is really at it seems to her at first, but the dynamic between the three of them was entertaining.

And then, the plot shifts and becomes a bit darker. Betrayal, blackmail, kidnapping… That part of the plot wasn’t quite tight enough, the danger never really taken seriously, and with lighter cute moments in the middle of it. BUT it was still interesting, and changed the whole dynamic between Carlie and her two suitors. The tiny bit of action by the end wasn’t too bad either.

Another interesting love triangle from this author. I can’t wait for her next book!

Quickie

- Series: The Eller #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #love triangle #suspense
- Triggers: attempted assault, violence
- Main couple: Carlie Eller & (Kurt Hunter or Alex Williams)
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + the little suspense touch was nice
- – maybe the love declaration was a bit too fast

This romance took me by surprise. Our down-on-her-luck-in-love protagonist is away in the Windy City for a marketing conference when she meets two handsome men. Neither is what they seem to be at the initial outset, which leads to some awkwardness going forward. I got a bit of suspense with my romance in this book, which was welcome, making it more of a tense read than I expected. I haven't read the first one in this series but I;m tempted to go back and check it out.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and GenZ Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had mixed feelings about this book. The first half was great. Fast paced, engaging and kept me reading. I liked the characters and I liked how the author delved into Carlie's Anxiety, but the second half really dragged on for way longer than it should have. I found myself bored and just ready for the inevitable climax of the story and then once it did get to that point the end was so rushed that I really found myself longing for at least an epilogue, which there was none.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I just wish the second half hadn't been so long.

This book was very entertaining and dramatic, while also touching on important subjects such as anxiety and insecurity. Generally, I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, but I wanted to give this book a go and discover something new, and this book certainly delivered on that, bringing in a new way of portraying love triangles while also being on the darker romance side.

Thank you to NetGalley and GenZ Publishing for the earc in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars for an okay read.

Not a big fan of Love triangles but since the suspense part intrigued me, I requested for this book. However, while reading I felt more confused than curious.

Carlie was written well while the other two MCs could have had a bit more depth.

The climax though felt a bit dramatic, seemed to fit the story. ​The ending also felt a bit abrupt - without giving the 'ah finally' / 'happy for them' feel (it is a HEA though).

Overall an ok read.

Part of a series but can be read as a standalone

2.5 stars

This is a contemporary romance from the perspective of Carlie, who arrives for a week-long conference and just wants it done and over with, hoping to socialize as little as possible. However, that does not seem possible. She is drawn right away to a mysterious dark man she sees at the bar, who seems to be drawn to her as well. Nevertheless, he is not the only one who seems to want to spend more time with Carlie. Things take a horrible turn in which Carlie will not be the only one hurt and things go from a love triangle to a dynamic duo.
I had an ok time reading this story. I liked Carlie as a character, she was very relatable. Both love interests, I did not care for at all. One left a bad impression and they flipped roles halfway through the book, but neither grew on me and I just could not overlook some of their actions. So, the whole romance and getting together I did not enjoy. The writing flowed nicely. I liked the story line but because of my dislike for both male characters and a couple plot points, I gave this 2.5 stars and rounded up. This story was not really for me, but I would still recommend it for others who like love triangles, insta love and moral grey characters.
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I’m unable to complete this book because of multiple errors in the copy I received. I will go back once it’s published and try to give a complete review then.

I really enjoyed this book. Carlie is so likeable and the storyline between Alex and Kurt is engaging and suspenseful. I found the supporting characters to be really strong too. The story is a little predictable, but I found it no less enjoyable. Highly recommend!

Hidden Agenda, Kathryn Halberg, The Eller Series #2
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Love triangle
Rating: 3.5 stars

Hidden Agenda is the second novel in The Eller Series by author, Kathryn Halberg. The first book, Animal Attraction is not required reading prior and this one can be read as standalone. I hadn’t read the first book and didn’t have any trouble following.
The story follows Carlie Eller who is recovering from heartbreak when she attends a conference and finds herself attracted to two very different but equally sexy and charming men. One of the men isn’t who he appears to be and has a hidden agenda. Can Carlie figure out who with her heart, reputation and maybe even her life on the line.

This book is an entertaining and easy to read contemporary romance. The main character is headstrong, independent and you feel for her situation and want to see her get her happily ever after. It was a bit of a different take on the usual love triangle scenario and touched on some darker and deeper themes of violence, abuse and grief following a breakup.

I found that the pace of the book was a little slow at the beginning but it picked up around the mid-point. The romance scenes are quite steamy but I didn’t find them too graphic. This is definitely an adult story though.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book.

Trigger Warning for : abuse, toxic relationship, threats and general violence, trauma and panic attacks
"... when you find the one, when it's real love, the timeline doesn't matter so much"
"Perfect? No, no, no. Perfect is not real; it's not a relationship. A relationship is ugly. It can beautiful, but it's full of fireworks."
I got into reading this book expecting to read a fluffy but spicy romance ... I wasn't disappointed on that front but it turned out to be so much more.
This book dealt with a lot of drama when it comes to relationships especially when it comes to break ups after a long time. Suddenly your perspective changes and you feel light-headed ...
You start wandering what is waiting for you now and the vision is everything but clear in front fo your eyes.
I feel like the author perfectly pictured that as well as how it looks like to be lost after feeling comfortable for so long.
The synopsis of this book introduced the presence of a love triangle ... again so much more than that. In more than one point and more than one way there is a woman trying to figure out what she wants and how she can move on and make something good out of her life.
I loved going through this journey with her... even through the highs and lows of it!
I could see myself making her own choices and it was illuminating knowing that I wouldn't have been the only one to make some mistakes.
I fell for someone I'm not going to name but he definitely made my day better with his gentleness, wit, tease and passion and fragilities.
I'm really glad I had the chance to read this story.
P.S. The spice was really good too in case you're wondering!
"I think we eventually find the right person, but we have to be willing to make the difficult choices"
"I am whole. I am present. I am grounded"

Hidden Agenda is a modern take on a love triangle. Carlie is the daughter of a media mogul, who meets Kurt in the way to a media conference. He’s full of himself and clearly interested in Carlie. At the conference Carlie meets Adam, an intense, more studious, academic author whom she is instantly attracted to. She’s there for a week and prepares to live it up, having had a disastrous end of her last relationship 10 months previous. Which suitor will she choose .. or need she choose at all?

Love triangles are not amongst my favourite by virtue of the actual dynamics. I find it difficult to get my head around the concurrent feelings the character (in this case Carlie) would have for both suitors in terms of the intensity, attraction etc. In this book Carlie seems to make a choice then second-guesses and goes with the other as a default which made this less attractive to read about. This was despite lots of reinforcement from the author about all the reasons why this was a good choice - it just didn’t leave me totally convinced in terms of the level of genuine feeling she had.

Carlie seemed fine have a great personal support network of friends and family - some aspects of her personality and demeanours just didn’t seem to gel with her professional presentation., and i felt there as some dumbing down of her as the book progressed. The suspense/mystery and risk presented by one of the suitors seemed a little disjointed and came from nowhere - and I wondered if some more signs for Carlie or others to have picked up in might have made the transition more palatable.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I’m still thinking about it. 3.5 stars