Not as Planned

The Ladies Who Brunch, Book 4

By: Harlow James

Narrated by: Connor Crais, CJ BLoom

“So you’re single?”

“Are you seriously hitting on me right now while I have breastmilk all over my shirt?”

When Grant Thomas, the handsome stranger standing in front of me in line at the coffee shop, stripped his uniform shirt off and handed it to me, I could have sworn I was on an episode of Punked. Not only was the man Gabe Kapler’s doppelganger, but he was also a pilot and good with babies, which my six month-old daughter could attest to as she settled in his arms while I changed into his shirt, contemplating all of my life choices at that moment.

Being a single mom is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but that was the decision I made when I chose to have a child via sperm donor since I was tired of waiting on Mr. Right.

But suddenly, Mr. I’m-Too-Sexy-for-my-Shirt appears in my life—not only once, but twice—and has me wondering where the hell he’s been and why I didn’t meet him sooner?

Grant demonstrates time and again that he’s invested in me and my daughter, shows up for me when I need him the most, and makes my toes curl in a way I didn’t know was possible.

He’s perfect. Our relationship is perfect.
Until it’s not.

When the inkling that I’m missing something comes to fruition, there’s only one question I need to answer…

Will my heart end up broken like every time before, leaving me destined to be alone?

Or could our path to find one another prove that not everything happens as planned?

©2023 Harlow James (P)2024 Harlow James

Grant & Noelle

Is there anything sexier than a man who would offer you the shirt off his back?! Grant and Noelle’s story definitely had a unique start. A handsome man in uniform showing off his gentlemanly ways and don’t get me started on his sweet interactions with Scarlett. Noelle always seemed to be the quietest of the brunch ladies, but the love of a good man helps her find her voice. It was entertaining listening to CJ Bloom and Connor Crais bring this series to a close.

I really love this series

Oh how I have loved this series! Noelle's story is such a beautiful one. Finally taking things into her own control she is making plans for her life without waiting for Mr perfect to be in the picture. She may be finding parenthood is tougher than expected bit she is such a strong woman she is making things work better than she realizes.
A meet cute usually held for the movies enters in Grant. Though there is definitely more to him than he seems to let on he is ready to make sure to show Noelle exactly how special she really is.
I loved the growth and development both of them had through this story. As I said it was such a beautiful story to read. I love these Ladies Who Brunch and all the ways they stand up and support each other through all that life brings.

No swoonier man has ever been written!

Book Title: Not as Planned
Ladies Who Brunch book 4
By: Harlow James
Narrated by: Connor Crais and CJ Bloom

Dual narration
Pilot
Single mom
Infertility
Found family

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

📚Story Summary and Review📚
Noelle Parker: “lover of romance, believer of soul mates”, planner, and “type A” to a tee. Tired of waiting for her Mr. Right Noelle takes matters into her own hands and makes herself the mom she always wanted to be via sperm donor. Tired, overwhelmed, and covered in leaked breast milk, Noelle meets the swooniest and most chivalrous man on the planet. A dead ringer for Gabe Kepler, he leaves her nothing short of speechless.

I devoured this story and it easily moved into first place of the series for me. There were so many laughs! Noelle goes on a rant about her ex’s that will have you rolling. The funniest part is that Harlow said they’re all true stories from readers! 😂🫣

Not As Planned wholly and accurately reflects the trials and tribulations of motherhoods. The good, bad, ugly, and smelly….And the MOM GUILT!

@harlowjamesauthor writes the most relatable and real life characters. I cannot express my gratitude enough that Not as Planned captures just a glimpse of the internalized emotion and struggle surrounding infertility.

Having experienced a not so straight forward journey myself, the emotion and connection I felt for these two fictional characters was off the charts! These two could easily be our friends, family, or neighbors and it was truly a beautiful reminder that we never really know what others are going through, and there’s no right way to make a family.

🎧❤️Audiobook Review❤️🎧
In the world of narration, @carleyrobinson and @connorcrais are remarkable talents who consistently mesmerize me with their captivating performances. Their seamless delivery, rich character portrayals, and impeccable pacing make every listening experience unforgettable. It's simply another job well done, they consistently deliver nothing but excellence.

Special thanks to: @homecookedbooks and Harlow James for this ALC. It was my pleasure.

**These are my own honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.

Love everything about this story

"We don't leave impressions on this planet by what we do, but by our relationships with others. " Grant

Noelle has always played it safe, but when she meets a sexy pilot who saves her day at a coffee shop, all bets are off.

Grant gives her the shirt off his back, literally, and then another chance encounter has them both thinking they shouldn't let this opportunity go and see where it takes them

I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series, but I have to say, this one has my heart. I love that Grant truly sees Noelle, and he gives her experiences she's never had. He's pure swoon.

I always enjoy listening to Connor Crais and CJ Bloom and their performances of these characters is beautiful. I felt the emotion of Grant's pain, knowing he possibly could not give Noelle a future she may want. As a mom myself, I could also feel the emotions of Noelle always questioning her choices as a mother. These two give a stellar performance.

"Happiness isn't a destination, it's a choice" Noelle

single mom x he falls first

4.5/⭐️
2/🌶️

Connor Crais and CJ Bloom absolutely killed this! I loved how they brought all the vulnerable and raw emotions to life. You could feel the characters emotions throughout this audiobook! The love and care they had for each other too 🥰

This is absolutely my favorite of the series! I am so gone for Grant and how he immediately loved Scarlet like his own. It was so adorable listening to Grant and Noelle’s first interactions. Noelle is such a strong person, and hearing the vulnerability she has as a single mother was so real. This might be one of my favorite single mom books because of that.

Grant is seriously so swoon-worthy! I was giggling so hard every time he was wanting to see scarlet and spend time with both of ‘his girls’ 🫶🏼 I loved the twists this book had too!! I was so drawn to it, I could’ve listened to more hours. But the ending and the epilogue was exactly what we needed!!

Oh, and we can’t forget the girl gang! Seriously one of my favorite friendship groups for sure! 🤍

tropes - single mom, he falls first, cinnamon roll mmc, literary agent x pilot

Great Series!

Not as planned is the fourth book in The Ladies Who Brunch Series! This is Noelle’s story. Although this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read the whole series and get to know each of these amazing women!

Noelle is a literary agent who was tired of waiting for Mr. Right and decides to have a baby via donation. Grant is a pilot with past trauma who is not sure he wants to date again due to some past health problems. Noelle and Grant have an embarrassingly cute meet cute but don’t exchange numbers! Fate steps in and they meet again!

I really enjoyed this book especially the audiobook! This isn’t your typical single mom read as Noelle chooses to have a baby without a partner. We do see her struggle but she has an amazing support system. I absolutely love her friend group! Grant and Noelle have amazing chemistry from the moment they meet. You can tell from the beginning Grant would do anything to support Noelle and her daughter! I love the relationship between Grant and Noelle’s daughter, they have a connection from the start. It was so sweet! Swoon Worthy!

The narration was absolute perfection! Connor did an amazing job handling all the emotional stuff from Grant’s past. CJ did an amazing job portraying Noelle and displaying Noelle’s emotions through her struggles as a single mom.

I loved this series! I can’t wait to read more by Harlow James!

What to expect:
Single Mom
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Best Friend Group
He Falls First
Strangers to Lovers

Grant and Noelle

Not as Planned by @harlowjamesauthor

Ladies Who Brunch Book 4

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book the first time and I loved it the second time. Getting to listen to the book has been great and I could cry without having to stop.

Connor Crais and CJ Bloom did amazing as Grant and Noelle.

If you want a single mom who has a great group of friends and stumbles upon the greatest man in a coffee shop, who is too sexy for his shirt. Then this book is for you.

I can’t wait to relive Newberry Springs through audio.

The perfect ending to one of my favorite series!

I absolutely loved The Ladies Who Brunch series in audio. This series has stolen my heart and I love all these ladies so much, but Noelle and Grants story has to be my favorite. Their journey was relatable in so many ways and touched on real life struggles that couples face every day. Harlow James did an amazing job writing such a painstaking journey for this couple. Their story will give you hope that a happily ever after is out there, even when you're close to losing faith.

Not as planned is so raw and real and Conner Crais & CJ Bloom did a phenomenal job narrating Grant and Noelle. They brought so much emotion to these characters and narrated their story beautifully.

Noelle and Grant were each so vulnerable because of what they had been through before meeting. They may have found forever with one another but it was a long road there, and the most perfect coffee shop meet cute to ever exist. I don't think either of them thought a chance encounter involving leaking breast milk would lead to happily ever after.

Through their individual struggles amidst navigating a new relationship we see this couple grow and form a genuine, honest, unconditional love. The bond that Grant formed with Scarlett is the stuff single moms dream of finding. When a man can love your child as much as he loves you, he's a keeper. Let's not forget the steamy time...Grant and Noelle's chemistry and passion was off the charts! That sweet man had a dirty mouth and I was here for it! They completed one another in every single way.

Having the other Ladies who Brunch, and their hubby's make cameos to have their girls back made this well rounded story even better! I will forever love this found family and group of friends and know I will find myself re-listening to the series. I highly recommend Not As Planned - as well as the rest of the series in audio. You will not be disappointed!

Let Grant Taylor fly into your life

🎧ALC AUDIO REVIEW🎧
NOT AS PLANNED
📚By: Harlow James
🎤Narrated by CJ Bloom & Connor Crais

Harlow James has outdone herself with the 4th book in this series. She's written literally the perfect book about being a mother, whether you're single or not & how falling in love can complete the dream you've been wishing for all your life. Every mother, new mom, woman whose pregnant needs to read this book. I think back to being a new mom & how hard it was & this book would have saved me so much time feeling the "mom guilt." Feeling like I was not a good mom because the career I had, I stopped, & now I didn't know who I was without it. Motherhood changed my identity. There were days I didn't feel like I wanted to be a mom, felt exhausted & wanted a break from my child. Feeling guilt of wanting to go to the store by myself or have dinner with my girlfriends because society told me this was my #1 responsibility. Motherhood is a part of me, not all of me. It's a role I play along with many others & that's ok. Harlow's writing of what it's like to be a new mom, her description of situations gone bad & embarrassing circumstances hits home hard & real! A book that brought me utter joy with every word I listened to & reminded me that my feelings were valid back then & I still loved my children despite feeling all of that. My kids were and still are my world.
Noelle is a single mother, a successful literary agent, who decides to have a baby on her own because she hasn't found "the one." Life hasn't gone like she outlined for herself years ago. She feels all the feels of new motherhood & her friends are right there cheering her on, giving her support & great advice.
She literally runs into Grant Thomas, a hot pilot, & he gives her the shirt off his back (his uniform shirt) because baby Scarlett has made a mess of hers. Their attraction is fast & they fall hard. Noelle is feeling overwhelmed & discouraged & Grant.....GAH, there is not a more perfect man. He is everything. He listens to her, really listens, making little mental notes along the way & I haven't fallen this hard for a fictional man ever! Truth!🙌 He helps her with Scarlett, gives her time for herself & with her girlfriends. He's perfect & she's wondering where he's been all her life. He shows up time & time again for her & her baby but Noelle has the notion that she's missing something & things finally come to a head. She's wondering if she'll end up with a broken heart again or if their paths crossed for a reason because not everything always happens as planned.
CJ Bloom is astounding as Noelle, depicting the exhaustion, anxiety, & fear of being a new mom. She's emotional, funny, dramatic, & delightful. I can't say enough about her performance. She's an enchantress.
Connor Crais....well, suffice it to say, when he would say "How are my girls?" I melted like snow on a sunny day, sinking down like soft pudding.🥵 He turns the thermostat up & you'll be sweatin' from swooniness. He's absolutely perfect as the tender, protective, thoughtful & loving Grant.
Every woman needs to read this book. It reminds you that happiness isn't a destination, it's a choice. We are mothers but that's not ALL we are. The women before we were mothers still matters. We're gonna have curve balls thrown at us, but the way we react to them is what will make the difference in how we feel about our lives. The IF and WHEN is trivial, it's the WHO that truly makes us happy! Thanks for reminding me that Harlow!💕

Thanks to @homecookedbooks for providing the copy. All thoughts are my own, honest opinions.

He falls first.... swoon

Dani's Rating: 4.75⭐️
Spice Details: Several Open Door Scenes

Summary: Though Noelle had a full life plan when she was a teenager, she has since discovered that life doesn't always go the way we want it to. So she decides to skip a few steps in her plan and become a mother. Life as a single mom was a little more challenging than she expected but Noelle was still pleased with the decision she made. One day, Noelle literally bumps into Mr. Right, Grant, a commercial pilot. Grant shows Noelle that he not only wants to be in her life, but also her daughter's as well. What happens when everything you planned is so different, yet so great?

Dani’s Thoughts: I have absolutely loved the Ladies Who Brunch series and I was really excited and intrigued to read Noelle's story. Noelle was such a fantastic character that even though she had a life plan, she learned that sometimes life throws curveballs and it matters in how we respond. I loved that she really wanted to be a mom and she made that a reality. Grant definitely gave Maddox Taylor (from Now's the Time) a run for his money in swooniest MMC in this series. From the first moment he met Noelle, he was completely captivated by mom and daughter and wanted to be a part of both of their lives. I loved that their first date was at the zoo with all 3 of them together. I loved this book so much and their relationship was so refreshing to see them communicating even through the difficult moments, even if it took a few days, because that's reality.

Connor Crais and C.J. Bloom did a great job of narrating!! They really brought Grant and Noelle to life for me with this audio. Highly suggest listening to the audio!!

Read if you love:
❤️ Strangers to Lovers
❤️‍Single Mom
❤️He Falls First
❤️Spicy
💞Dual POV