No Reservations (A Romantic Comedy)
  • Reads 51,760
  • Votes 4,332
  • Parts 33
  • Time 3h 57m
  • Reads 51,760
  • Votes 4,332
  • Parts 33
  • Time 3h 57m
Complete, First published Aug 23, 2022
Mature
"Here's the thing though . . ." He trails off thoughtfully and then he looks straight at me. His eyes are steely and that makes me realise the fundamental difference between the young Ryan and this Ryan. He's hardened now. The sweet boy I once knew is probably still in there somewhere but life eventually got to him and he had to toughen up.

"I need someone I can rely on. I don't want to take a person on who just decides it's too much hassle a few days or weeks in and just . . . Ghosts me." He finishes. There's a definite challenge there. He's not just talking about the job. 

He's getting a dig in there about the way I disappeared out of his life. As well as implying I'm generally unreliable . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iona Stewart is pretty sure she's having a premature midlife crisis. Recently made redundant, permanently unlucky in love, and back living with her parents, she's desperate for a change of scenery. 

So when an opportunity comes up to work in a hotel in the Highlands, it seems like fate has stepped in. 

The problem? 

Her new boss is Ryan Thorne. 

Her former friend. Her first crush. And the boy who broke her heart nearly 17 years ago.

She had no intention of ever seeing him again after that night. And it seems he isn't that keen on having *her* around either. 

Be prepared for nineties flashbacks, many awkward encounters, and *hopefully* a happy ever after . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~
❤️Second Place in the Chick-Lit category in The Pink Cloud Awards❤️

❤️Second Place in the Chick-Lit category in The Hibiscus Awards❤️

❤️Winner of Best Opening in Chick Lit in the Berry Pancake awards❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Complete companion novella entitled "No Reservations: Ryan's Version" is now available*
All Rights Reserved
Sign up to add No Reservations (A Romantic Comedy) to your library and receive updates
or
Content Guidelines
You may also like
We Never Broke Up (A Second Chance Romance) by Averyaaaaaa
28 parts Complete Mature
"So... what about us?" he asked, and I looked at him, a bit bewildered. "What?" I inquired. "You and me... what are we, Sera? You know how you affect me. You make me feel like I'm losing my mind, and I feel incomplete when you're not around. I yearn for your touch, your scent, and everything about you drives me wild," he admitted, his words close to my face. I let out a shaky breath as I felt a warmth spread through my body. "Thad, I think you're getting something wrong," I began, but he interrupted me. "No, you're the one refusing to admit that you're feeling the same way I am," he insisted, causing me to fall silent. He was right, I couldn't deny the feelings i had for him. They had always been there, but they had intensified with his return. ●●●●●●□□□●●□□□●●● In their final year of high school, Thaddeus and Sera epitomized the dream teen couple, envied by all. However, a fateful argument altered their course. Thaddeus lost his memory of Sera in a tragic accident that night, and the stringent stance of his mother kept them apart. Heartbroken, Sera reluctantly left her hometown. Fast forward eight years, Sera, now a skilled chef, found herself unexpectedly intersecting with Thaddeus, who had transformed into a bustling CEO of his father's company Whitlick and Co. As they reentered each other's lives, Thaddeus discovered an irresistible pull towards Sera, while she, fearing she'd only bring trouble, attempted to keep a safe distance. What happens when a girl is trying to stay away from a guy due to his obsession with her and for his safety in order for him not to remember her while he keeps chasing her around trying to find out why he can't seem to stay put and calm if he doesn't see her? 🤭🧐 Let's find out!! ~40,000 word count _All images are from Pinterest. Credit to the owners. 30/11/23 --- #1 on Contemporary lit.
Touching Shadows by BronT86
41 parts Complete Mature
At 24 years old, Audrey is slowly achieving her dreams. A teacher, working in a challenging, rough-around-the-edges high school, every day is different. Even if it means that occasionally the sports shed burns down, or the police have to make an almost weekly appearance. Her best friend is also a teacher, the life of the party, and the best person to debrief over a glass of wine or three with. She had a handsome and hardworking boyfriend, and a cute little place to call her own. Always ready to play by the rules, Audrey is reliable and respectable, if not a bit boring. But when her life starts to go off the rails, she has some scary decisions to make. She opts to do something completely out of her comfort zone, and just see where it leads her. And to who... A love story about second chances. ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ "How dare you! I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole!" How was he getting under my skin so easily? "That's a pity. I have a ten foot pole I was so keen to show you. I bet I could change your mind." He was enjoying this way too much, and I wasn't going to hang around and let him taunt me any longer. I turned and started packing my things, silently fuming that he was getting off on making me angry. I felt him moving behind me as I worked, and suddenly he was behind me, whispering in my ear. "It would be so easy to unbutton these silly little shorts of yours... and just bend you over the table right now." My body stiffened and stood straight up, my cheeks now the colour of cherries. I stood still, barely breathing, as he traced a finger down my spine. Then it stopped. I heard him back away. And then the library door jolted shut, leaving me in silence again.
The Summer Before by LAArms21
57 parts Complete Mature
Tessa's love life is full of clichés. She fell for the boy next door, her brother's best friend, and her childhood crush. They all just happen to be the same guy- Levi Daniels. Tessa and Levi seem to be stuck in an endless loop of right person, wrong time scenarios where one of them is single when the other isn't. One summer, that finally changes. Both Tessa and Levi are single, and the spark that's always been there seems to burn brighter than ever before as the two join their friends for another summer of fun at their coveted lake house. Things couldn't be better. Their star-crossed love seems to finally be morphing into a fairy tale, but is one night really all it takes for them to find their happily ever after? You know what they say... If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. ~ Levi did the one thing he wasn't supposed to do. He fell for his best friend's sister- someone he would never be free of if anything bad ever happened. There was something about Tessa Rhodes that kept him coming back. She was his kryptonite, and no matter how hard he tried, he could never quite bury his feelings for her. Then came the summer that changed everything. Levi finally decided to let his inhibitions go. Even if it didn't work out, he had to see what would happen. He told Tessa everything, baring his feelings, and leaving the ball in her court. One night would change their relationship forever, and an infuriating discovery the next morning would threaten to ruin them for good. ~ What happened in the course of those few hours that took these lovebirds from happily ever after to heartbreak hotel? Find out in The Summer Before.
VOWS THAT BIND US ✔️ by velvetydays
39 parts Complete Mature
Nov, 09, 2020 : #1 in romance May, 14, 2021 : #1in respect May, 14, 2021 : #4 in lovestory "Don't try and act all nice to me. I know girls like you. I don't know what spell you casted on my parents but I won't ever fall for it. And get one thing straight & clear, I don't want anyone to know about this marriage. We will act like a couple only infront of my parents. Don't expect anything more from me and neither do you knock at my door unless it's important." He spoke menacingly and turned to leave but the moment those words left his mouth, I felt as if someone dumped freezing water over my head. If he hates me so much, then why did he marry me and what does he mean by.. "What do you mean by 'girls like me' ?" I asked. He turned around and walked even closer, all my confidence began to fade. He leaned in, I could feel his breath on my ears. His closeness was doing things to me I have never felt before. I was on the verge of losing my senses, until he spoke.. "An innocent acting, desperate brat." His words pierced my heart, moreover his tone, his words reminded me of people I have been fighting all my life. ZACH KNIGHT FUTURE HIER OF THE KNIGHT'S CORPORATION. HOTSHOT BILLIONAIRE, A LOVING SON WORKAHOLIC, SLIGHTLY ARROGANT. CONFIDENT & ENTHUSIASTIC. CURRENTLY IN A RELATIONSHIP !! AVA ANDERSON CO-OWNER OF THE RAE CORPORATION BEAUTIFUL, LOVING, CARING, INNOCENT, CONFIDENT, ALSO WORKAHOLIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC NEVER BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ZACH IS FORCED TO MARRY AN OBLIVIOUS AVA. MOREOVER, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE REALISES THAT THERE IS MORE TO HER THAN SHE SHOWS. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO FIND LOVE OR FALL APART ? READ TO KNOW !!
Half of My Heart ✔️ by koolkenz
68 parts Complete Mature
how far would you go . . . for someone you love? ♔ Levi steps forward, placing himself between me and Jack. Like he's protecting me from him. But I don't need protecting, certainly not from Jack. "Who do you think you are, dude?" Levi spits, getting in Jack's face. "Look, Scarlett was just helping me out with a proj-" "I'm not your dude," Jack bites, and I want to tear my hair out of my head. This is going downhill very fast. Jack turns to me. "Scar, we need to talk," he says lowly. Then loud enough for Levi to hear, "So can you please get this kid to leave." "Hey, you don't get to come in here and start ordering her around," Levi says harshly. "You don't control her." "And you think that you do?" Jack spits. ♔ When Scarlett moved off to college, she hoped to start anew and find her way in this world alone. Two problems. One: her older brother goes to the same college, and it seems like he's everywhere, keeping her from doing everything she hoped to do as a college freshman. Two: her brother's devastatingly handsome best friend also seems hell-bent on ruining her college experience . . . but in a different way. Their paths keep crossing, and Scarlett is reminded of the powerful attraction that they've both ignored for far too long. Not to mention, a new face begins to occupy everyday Scarlett's thoughts. When Scarlett is paired with an allusive, darkly handsome stranger for a film project, her world begins to open in ways she never thought possible. But as his mystery unravels into dark secrets, she wonders if she's falling a bit too hard. Before long, Scarlett is forced to realize that balancing the hearts of two boys at once just might result in the breaking of her own.
The Stranger in my room by TanishaPayal
75 parts Complete Mature
Jennifer Brown, a simple and innocent girl in the 2nd year of her college life,wants a simple life with less drama. She wasn't a kid with silver spoon. Her mother was a single mother and her father left her mother after getting her pregnant. Although having a not so good past she wished to give a satisfactory future to her mother. But destiny planned something unexpected for her which wasn't included in her plans. When her path crossed with the bad boy of the campus her life changed drastically. She no longer remained the unnoticed one. Ryan Wilson, a typical bad boy and a spoiled brat and centre of attraction everywhere he goes. Something unexpected happened when these two totally different personalities met due to fate. Ryan started hating Jennifer because she made him remember someone as a result of which he started bullying her. But meanwhile something very strange happened with Jennifer, an anonymous person barged her apartment one night and took her first kiss. Eventually she fell in love with her anonymous lover. But who was that anonymous person? Was it someone from her past? Or was it Ryan? But if it was Ryan then why did he bullied her in college? If he actually hated her then why did he kissed her? ~~ I was about to shout when my someone covered my mouth with very soft li- Soft lips! Yeah! Someone kissed my lips. My first kiss. With an stranger. I put my hands on his chest to push him but he was so strong for that. I tried to kick him in balls but he blocked my legs from his legs. He pinned me to the wall blocking me from moving and gently cupped both my cheeks in his hands and deepened the kiss. I was utterly shocked and scared. I couldn't see him because of the darkness. After a while I find myself slipping to his kiss. I was losing myself to his kiss. I was no longer resisting him whereas my hands were on his shoulders now and eyes were closed. And I don't know when I lost my senses and started to kiss that stranger. Who is this stranger?
The CEO's Safe Haven [REWRITING!] by maknae_yasminn
5 parts Ongoing Mature
"You're not serious right?" He gave me a bored look, turning around to face me completely. He brought his face a little closer and parted his lips to reply, "Sweetheart I've been serious the moment you fell into my arms," --- Noah King had it all. He was well-known, handsome, influential, and the CEO of his company; King Enterprise. He knew he had everything yet deep down, he knew that he was missing something. Noah's close friends also picked up on this 'missing something' and made it a mission to change it for good. Before anyone knew what was happening, sparks fly when Lily Cole becomes a new employee at King Enterprise. Despite working at the company for a short period of time, she's heard the famous name of 'Noah King' but never seems to know his face. All Lily wanted to do was work without flaws yet clearly that wasn't in her job description. Now what happens when these two individuals meet over someone who planned it all? Someone who desperately wanted their paths to cross? Someone who wanted more than just the repeat of work, work and work? One simple flaw turned into something major; making their presence become the greatest thing yet. Little did they both know that despite the screams, taunts and the endless bicker... it was fate that brought them closer than ever before. Read the journey of Lily and Noah and see what happens. Will love blossom between them or will they continue to have elephants in the room? There's only one way to find out! By reading of course!! -- Rough Drafts Began From: May 2018 Official Published Start Date: 25th Oct 2018 Official Published End Date: 28th Feb 2020 -- 1M Reads: 21st Oct 2020
Addicted by BD_Connoll
73 parts Complete Mature
"You have no idea how badly I want to make love to you," he responds with a shake of his head. "I love you so much," he continues and my heart melts. "I love you," I whisper back. "Okay, I'm going to make love to you now, Angel. It will hurt a little, so let me know if it hurts too much," he says and leans down to kiss me. "I'll be gentle," he tells me. Keeping his eyes locked on mine he shifts his hips forward slightly and enters inside of me. My mouth widens as he enters, and I feel a slight pinch. He was right, it does hurt, but it's not terrible. "Christ! You're the sun!" he calls out. I watch his face crumble. He buries his face in my neck and then he's above me again, his hands on my cheeks again. ... For 20 year old Alison Scott, love was never something she deemed herself worthy of. Not until he came along. With his tousled brown hair, lean muscular body and smile that ignited everything south of her body; he was unbearably attractive and intimidating to Alison. She thought he could never be interested in someone like her, until he was. Was living in the same household together with someone you want and need such a great idea? As they embark on this journey together, Alison discovers her own desires as well as all the secrets Isaac keeps. You will become addicted to Addicted. Warning: 'Addicted' contains graphic depiction of violence, sexuality, strong language, mature themes, and drug references. Reader Discretion is advised. BOOK 1: ADDICTED BOOK 2: CRAVED (in the making)
Connections | ✔️ by CxTannir
54 parts Complete Mature
[COMPLETE] Soz this may be cringe, it was written very long ago A seemingly ordinary, working college girl meets a cool, undeniably sexy boy with millions of followers at his feet. How will their completely different lives allow, or prevent them from getting what they want? Expect some drama, flirty lines, steamy scenes, funny best friends, and perhaps, an overall epic love connection. ~ Carter came around the corner as his eyes darkened with a predatory gaze. Oh no. He took a step forward, minimalizing the distance with every dominating stride, as I froze in my spot. My breath hitched as his arms finally encircled my waist and his eyes locked with mine. In one swift motion, he flipped my body so my back was pressed against his chest and hands gripped the curve of my hips. "What game are you trying to play at Valerie?" he spoke in a husky voice. Goosebumps danced along my skin as his hot breath fanned against the shell of my ear and his fingertips lit a trail of blazing heat along the length of my arm. Mentally shaking myself from the trance of that which is Carter Bryson, I tilted my head towards him and whispered; "One where you'll lose." Quickly escaping his hold on me before the tension became unbearable, I spun on my heel to face him and slowly backed away towards the exit. "Good luck though." I added mischievously. With a smirk and a devilish glint in his eyes that could even give hell a run for its money, he replied; "I'm not a player though, baby. I'm the gamemaker." ~ ❗️Mature content. Reader discretion advised. Started 29/09/18. Finished 16/12/18. This book is not to be copied or reproduced in any way.
Mine, all Mine (Book 1) (Mature 18+) by UntameableBeauty
22 parts Complete Mature
Seven years ago, Tristan Knight walked away from the love of his life, Serenity Harris, without a word or a backwards glance. No goodbye. No Dear John letter. No words of apologies or excuses. She'd woken up one morning to an empty bed, her body sore; her hair wild and unkempt from their tempestuous love-making the night before. That night had been the first time Tristan told her he loved her. Their courtship had started fast. It took four hours for him to get her into bed and take her virginity and one night for her to fall head over heels in love with him. The year leading up to their final night together had been full of twists and turns, ups and downs. But she'd thought they had finally gotten to a place where they full understood and valued one another. So what happened? Why did he leave? And why had he come back today of all days? Her wedding day. To his former best friend and band mate, Nyle Wentworth. Nyle has been there for Serenity ever since Tristan left her heart in irrepairable pieces. Nyle loved her back to life and in spite of her love for Tristan, she found herself drawn to him. Now they're about to get married. Nyle won Serenity fair and square and he doesn't feel bad about actively pursuing her, falling in love with her, marrying her, or spending the rest of his life with her. He and Tristan were friends but that's all in the past. And that's where he intends to keep it. All Serenity wants to do is to marry Nyle, be happy, and go on with her life but the reappearance of the love of her life is making that more than difficult. Tristan is back, he wants what's his, and he doesn't care who he has to destroy or kill to have it. Now that Tristan's back, Serenity finds herself torn between what her heart wants and who her head knows is the better choice. **For mature audiences only (18+)
Perfect Storm by JeniRaeD
42 parts Complete Mature
Enemies to lovers- Boss/employee- Bickering and Bantering- Billionaire romance Second chance romance HEA romance novel If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. When I saw a job opportunity to work at a resort a few hours north of the cities, including a place to stay, rent-free, I jumped on it. But, unfortunately, what I didn't know was that the one who owned the resort was a man I owed a huge chunk of money to. All because of an accident I still believe he caused. Ian Lockwood isn't like any other guy I've ever met. The man's devastatingly handsome, gorgeous to be exact, and his green eyes are so damn intoxicating and intense that they wretchedly became windows to my soul. But he had one ugly attitude that turned me off. Calling Ian a jerk is an understatement. He's a straight-up asshole. Every time we're around each other, he does and says whatever he can to get my blood to boil. And he enjoys every minute of it. The problem I have with him is that he's an enemy. Yet whenever I'm near him, the irresistible fragrance that pours off him enhances my desires, and the area between my thighs intensively pulsates. And if my attraction to the asshole increases, I'm afraid he'll catch on to those feelings and take advantage of it by using me to pay off my debt. Even though Ian gets under my skin, I find myself falling for him the more bickering and bantering we do every time we're around each other. And if I can't get these uncontrollable desires of being with Ian under control, I'm afraid Ian and I will find ourselves underneath the sheets. That is if I don't see myself knocking him out of his misery before then.
The Reluctant Roadtripper (A Romantic Comedy) by Pollyf79
33 parts Complete Mature
I can only see half of his face, reflected in the mirror at the front of the bus, and part of that is obscured by the peak of the black company-branded cap he's wearing. But I can see enough to glean that there's a strong jaw covered in scruff. A wide mouth that looks like it would be prone to smiling. He's wearing glasses with trendy light tortoiseshell frames, and I can't quite discern the colour of his eyes from my position . . . but some weird intuition is telling me that they'll be hazel, and I wonder when my brain is going to catch up. Because I *know* him, don't I? I'm almost certain of it. And he seems to know me, too. Or at least he thinks he does. The way he's glancing over at me lets me in on that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mirren Shepherd has *many* pet peeves. Top of the list, though? Staycations . . . And surprises. So when her girls' trip abroad is cancelled at the last minute and she finds herself roped into a minibus tour of Northern Scotland instead, she isn't remotely happy. And when she finds out who their guide is . . . It's yet another reason for her to dislike surprises. Because Owen Sullivan wasn't so much the one who got away . . . He was the one who just didn't return. And, after she finally got over him, she never expected to see him again. Mirren would prefer to leave the past in the past, but Owen is determined to try to right his wrongs. Can she trust him? Can she trust *herself*? Maybe, just maybe, this surprise - and staycation - won't be as bad as Mirren thinks . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love never dies - Klaus Michaelson by 1mixedlady20
65 parts Complete
I could hear her heart race and her breath get heavy. When she looked up at me, I saw tears run down her red cheeks. She flipped over onto her back and crawl away from me. I stood over her and I laughed at her helpless state. "I know a thousand ways to hurt you without spilling a drop of your blood. So, you either come quietly or in pain. Your choice?" I heard her cry and watched her tears stain her face. I almost wish Nik was here to see her cry in fear, it is so entertaining. Suddenly, I felt something pierce through my chest. My eyes widened. I gasped out in pain. My hands went to my heart. I inhaled some air quickly. I felt myself grow weak like I was falling to the ground. I was surprised that I was on the floor. I looked down at my hands. They had turned gray. I felt lifeless. The veins in my body rose to the top of my skin while the gray covered everything. The last thought I had before the end was one name. Nik? _________________________________________________________ Dawn Gilbert has just lost her parents. While her sister, Elena gets a new boyfriend and her brother, turns to drugs, she sticks to what she knows best. Her art and best friend, Tyler. But when weird stuff starts happening with her art and Elena's boyfriend turns out to be a vampire, their world gets turned upside down. She now has to handle witches, doppelgangers, vampires, werewolves, and familiar faces that keep popping up in art. She has this feeling that there is something more going on in her, but she just doesn't know what.
You may also like
Slide 1 of 20
We Never Broke Up (A Second Chance Romance) cover
Touching Shadows cover
The Summer Before cover
Discovering Mack cover
VOWS THAT BIND US ✔️ cover
Half of My Heart ✔️ cover
The Stranger in my room cover
No Reservations: Ryan's Version (A Romantic Comedy) cover
The CEO's Safe Haven [REWRITING!] cover
Addicted cover
Connections | ✔️ cover
Mine, all Mine (Book 1) (Mature 18+) cover
Every Little Thing cover
Two Weeks to Fall in Love cover
Happy Hour (A Romantic Comedy) cover
Perfect Storm cover
Skye and the City (A Romantic Comedy) cover
The Show Must Go On cover
The Reluctant Roadtripper (A Romantic Comedy) cover
Love never dies - Klaus Michaelson cover

We Never Broke Up (A Second Chance Romance)

28 parts Complete Mature

"So... what about us?" he asked, and I looked at him, a bit bewildered. "What?" I inquired. "You and me... what are we, Sera? You know how you affect me. You make me feel like I'm losing my mind, and I feel incomplete when you're not around. I yearn for your touch, your scent, and everything about you drives me wild," he admitted, his words close to my face. I let out a shaky breath as I felt a warmth spread through my body. "Thad, I think you're getting something wrong," I began, but he interrupted me. "No, you're the one refusing to admit that you're feeling the same way I am," he insisted, causing me to fall silent. He was right, I couldn't deny the feelings i had for him. They had always been there, but they had intensified with his return. ●●●●●●□□□●●□□□●●● In their final year of high school, Thaddeus and Sera epitomized the dream teen couple, envied by all. However, a fateful argument altered their course. Thaddeus lost his memory of Sera in a tragic accident that night, and the stringent stance of his mother kept them apart. Heartbroken, Sera reluctantly left her hometown. Fast forward eight years, Sera, now a skilled chef, found herself unexpectedly intersecting with Thaddeus, who had transformed into a bustling CEO of his father's company Whitlick and Co. As they reentered each other's lives, Thaddeus discovered an irresistible pull towards Sera, while she, fearing she'd only bring trouble, attempted to keep a safe distance. What happens when a girl is trying to stay away from a guy due to his obsession with her and for his safety in order for him not to remember her while he keeps chasing her around trying to find out why he can't seem to stay put and calm if he doesn't see her? 🤭🧐 Let's find out!! ~40,000 word count _All images are from Pinterest. Credit to the owners. 30/11/23 --- #1 on Contemporary lit.