This book did NOT deliver what it promised. This book depended on so many clichés to move the story forward but all it did for me was bore me to tears.

Another thing about the book is that the author wanted to tell everyone's story but it felt rushed and incomplete so I did not feel for any of the characters. Also practically telling us what the characters were feeling instead of describing it to use just left this book on the surface layer.

For example, early on in the book, they mention twice that his brother drinks and then they had this huge emotional intervention that felt forced into the story. We barely got to know his brother or his family to really feel the emotion that it was supposed to portray. Instead, I felt nothing for anyone in the story.

I feel bad about not liking this book what the author tried to put too much information in the book that we never got to fully experience them and it just seemed to have flashed by.

A Sure Thing is the first book in The Donnigans series by Marie Harte. This series is an adult contemporary romance series. I enjoyed A Sure Thing. I thought it was a sexy read. I believe that the series is going to follow each of the Donnigan brothers, with them each getting their own story. This is a series setup that really works well for me because I get to see some character overlap in the books, but I don't have to read them all or even in order to be able to enjoy the stories. I think it might be my favorite way to read contemporary romance.

In A Sure Thing we meet our main characters, Ava and Landon. I loved Ava. I was really rooting for her while reading. It took me much longer to warm up to Landon. I found him to be very abrasive and kind of rude. He did redeem himself more as the story went on and I got to see how funny and protective he could be. He does really care about Ava. In the end, I liked the two of them together, but Ava was still my favorite of the pair. What I loved most of all about Ava is that she really made Landon work for her. She played hard to get with the best of them!

Marie also did a great job in giving us glimpses into the other family members. It was a nice teaser to get to know them all before we see their stories. It made me more excited to see what their happily ever after's look like. If you are a fan of cute romances, A Sure Thing was a nice read.

Since started the read the McCauley Brothers books, I've been curious about the Donnigans. Especially with Hope working for Cam. Though I enjoyed it and liked that Ava was the "touchy, feely" therapist who worked with Beth and James when they were having issues, I still would have liked more interaction with the McCauley clan. Landon mentions the long standing rivalry between the families of who is doing better, but this wasn't used or played up on in this book.

It was cute in parts. But again, not as funny as the McCauley Brothers series.

I am interested in reading about Mac and his wife Maggie in The Works. Of course, that's the only book I don't have in all the series that interconnect. I'm also looking forward to reading about Sam in The Body Works series.

I really like military romance books and this one did not disappoint. I liked how the relationship wasn't a insta love it kind of was a slower burn. At first Ava didn't want anything to do with Landon, but all along you could see their chemistry and it was soo adorable. I liked Landon's family as well, they were so supportive and very loving family. I can't wait to read about the rest of the family in the other books to come.

The time has come for the Donnigans to have their very own tales of love and woe. This series spins off another favorite Marie Harte series I’m caught up in, and I was sad to discover that the order of them is interwoven, so though they are certainly independent stories, reading them in the proper release order can make a difference to those of us that have a small OCD problem about reading series out of order (and of course assuming you are reading both series). Landon and Ava spark off one another from the very beginning, their anger, sarcasm and passion are all interconnected and make them a truly fiery couple from the get-go. Ava is the kind of professional woman that thinks her intellect is where she needs the focus of her mate to come from, completely disregarding the role that chemistry plays in as well as the importance of the heart getting its way, but once she begins to understand the importance of that true connection she has to trust in the change that comes over her. Desire drives Ava as much as anyone else when Landon is around and though she fights it, the draw to Landon is irresistible and will lead her down a crazy path. Landon has always lived by his gut, which kept him alive in dangerous situations in the military, but he doesn't really understand his draw to the snippy, somewhat snotty and totally sexy Ava, but he’s not one to deny the draw she presents. As they circle one another and come to terms with the attraction and emotions that develop, Ava and Landon are obviously made for one another and experiencing them learning the true value and purpose of love was fun and exciting. While I am certainly a fan of any of Marie’s work I find myself becoming invested in the men and women of this small town and all the interlocking relationships and family connections. If you like sexy alpha men with hearts of gold and sassy and sexy women then you will enjoy this series, as well as the Bad Boy Mechanics series, and I can promise that you won’t regret a moment of getting to know this folks. I am looking forward to the next story in this family and seeing Landon’s brothers find their mates and their very own HEAs.

Loved this! The writing is great, and I loved the humor and heart in this story! The family dynamic between The Donnigans is fun and wonderful! I also loved the banter between the main characters, Landon and Ava, they definitely have chemistry and heat! Loved their connection and intensity of emotion they feel! Ava has some idea for who she thinks her "perfect" man is, and she keeps thinking Landon isn't it, but Landon is a force, and is out to prove to Ava that he's her "perfect" guy. There's lots of passion in the bedroom and out of it, and all of the characters are wonderful! I'm super excited to read the rest of The Donnigan's books!!

A great book! I loved both Landon and Ava, and can't wait to read more stories about the family!

This story was very sweet and sexy. We have a former marine Landon and a prissy on the outside spoiled miss in Ava. They complimented each other so well and we were able to really see them getting to know each other and break them out of their shells so to speak, not to mention the sexy times! Landon was such a possessive, protective alpha I just swooned when he would get all commanding.

Every time I read a contemporary romance by Marie Harte I simply want to run out and tellpurestdelightaward everyone to read it and see for yourself why I love her work so much. She makes me laugh, she makes me tear up, she makes me cheer and she makes me want to grab my husband and drag him to the bedroom, a whole lot like real life. Simply put, she is an amazingly gifted author who writes characters most people can relate to, characters you want to be friends with, and characters who while not perfect find the perfect one for them. A Sure Thing is the first book in her new The Donnigans series, but characters from her wildly popular The McCauley Brothers and characters from her Bad Boy Body Shop do appear in it, but you don’t have to read those series to be completely immersed in this one. Intense chemistry, crazy courtship and just flat out fun; I LOVED A Sure Thing by Marie Harte.
Landon Donnigan loved being in the Marine Corp and would have retired a Marine if a bullet hadn’t put an end to his career. Landon was made for the Marines and leadership and even in civilian life he controls everything and everyone around him until he meets Ava Rosenthal a clinical psychologist who doesn’t find his overbearing tendencies all that charming or so she pretends.
The verbal sparring, the heated exchanges, the intense connection and the way that Landon gives Ava control over if and when things will happen between them all made this story entertaining, fun and so very, very hot.
I could go on and on about this book and the way their relationship plays out, but instead I’m just going to ask you to check this book and author out. If you love contemporary romance, you will not be disappointed in A Sure Thing!

Loved The MacCauley Brothers? Then you won't want to miss the Donnigan brothers. Ms. Harte kicks off another fantastic erotic series with alpha males with ties to two other series. This first one starts out so good. It features Landon Donnigan. He is a career military man whose job is cut short with a medical discharge. This doesn't stop him from being a marine. Once a marine, always a marine!

Landon is slowly adjusting to civilian life. He tags along with his brother to a fitness center to work out. When he is there, he notices a cute woman who is working out inefficiently. Landon can't help himself from fixing Ava's posture. Ava is put off by this aggressive meat head. He isn't her type and he is also bossy. The last thing she wants is a muscle bound pushy male telling her what to do. She does not expect him to ask her out even after she's turned him down. How she ends up on a date with him is still confusing her.

Ms. Harte does a fabulous job of showing how the characters appear from another person's perspective. Ava possesses a certain idea of what she thinks she is like, and that does not exactly match how Landon perceives her. The vice versa is true. This seemingly opposite attracts love story turns out to be a sweet complementary relationship between the two. Ava and Landon are made for each other. Once Ava finally stops lying to herself, the story really takes off.

Regarding the sex, do we really need to talk about it? This is Ms. Harte. If this is the first Ms. Harte book you are reading, then be prepared for smoking hawt sex. Landon likes to talk dirty and it is deliciously erotic. He knows what he likes and he can read a female's response very well. Ms. Harte excels at writing erotic. Her sex scenes alone are worth reading the book. What is impressive about her stories is that it contains it all - humour, character development, good plot line and fantastic sex. The chemistry between Landon and Ava would make a Geiger counter go off. This erotic romance is a must read and recommended to all reader who enjoy alpha males and the women who love them.

Unfortunately, this one is a DNF around 50%. I liked the hero and heroine, but their relationship just isn't happening quickly enough for my liking. There's a lot of subplot involving the hero's family--I suppose that's to set up the following books in the series--but I thought it was a distraction from the main couple. The sex scenes are super hot but I need more substance, sooner rather than later.

I might try to restart this at a later date, but for now it just isn't holding my attention.

A Sure Thing is the first book in the Donnigans series by Marie Harte. It is set in the same area as the McCauley Brothers and Bad Boys Body Shop series. Those that have read all the series will get a little bit more from the read, but it is not necessary to have that background to fully enjoy the read.

The Marine Corps was everything Landon Donnigan ever wanted in life, until a bullet sent him home with a medical discharge. Teaching a self-defense class at the gym is old-hat for a marine, but when he meets sexy Ava Rosenthal, his combat skills are useless for protecting his heart. Ava can take care of herself and likes quiet, bookish men-not muscular warriors who think women need to be coddled. But Landon is more than he seems, and when they come together, the results are explosive.

A Sure Thing is another read from Harte that offers characters with realistic problems and traumas, and the family issues that are just as varied as we find in the real world. Ava is not looking to date anyone that she cannot defend herself against, emotionally or physically. Landon is one of those men, and his arrogant yet sweet pursuit is unexpected for both of them. I like that both characters go into everything with their eyes open, and despite the bumps alone the way tend to talk things out rather than letting misconceptions lie. I really like that they push each other to overcome their issues and take steps in the right direction- but not necessarily pushing each other in ways to benefit themselves. I enjoy the community, and the realistic nature of the relationships- and problems involved. While some of the harder, more traumatic moments, were not fun to read the story and characters were so real and the resolution so satisfying that it just left me eager to see what was in store for the other characters in future books.

A Sure Thing is a quick but emotional read. It fits into the larger picture of the world and families Harte has built in her books. Emotional connections, dealing with traumas, and facing our own anxieties make for heartfelt and realistic stories that stick with the reader long after the book is over.

Did not finish this one - could not get into the story - I didn't like the heroine

3.5 Stars

This story was alright but I never really connected to the Ava and Landon as a couple. I liked there characters well enough but didn't feel their connection to each other as much as I would have liked to.
I enjoyed the secondary characters as well but maybe they were too much of the story? Perhaps in an attempt to set the stage for the new series, too much time was spent on the entire group of characters and not enough time on the romance between Ava and Landon. I'm hoping that this means the rest of the series will flow a little more smoothly because everyone is established enough now. We shall see.

*I received an ARC from
NetGalley for voluntary review