Fall in love with this laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy series about friendship, dating pacts, and finding your last first date.

Seven friends. Two outrageous promises. One unforgettable journey toward happily ever afters.

Set in beautiful Auckland, New Zealand, the Flirting with Forever series follows a close-knit group of women who make a pact to marry the next guy they date. What starts as a tipsy dare soon becomes a path to love—with a few detours through disastrous first dates, unexpected sparks, and the cozy warmth of the beloved Cozy Cottage Café.

Heartfelt, hilarious, and full of swoon, these stories celebrate hope, second chances, and the magic of finding forever when (and where!) you least expect it.

Welcome back to Flirting with Forever, where every first date might just be the last.

 

ONE LAST FIRST DATE

I’ve made a pact with my friends to marry the next guy I date. What could possibly go wrong?

After too many failed romances and one close brush with joining a convent (kidding… mostly), I’m ready to believe in love again. That’s why I said yes to the One Last First Date pact with my best friends: the next man I go out with? He’s The One.

Enter Parker Hamilton. Smart, handsome, thoughtful—and a doctor, no less. I’ve vetted him like a pro, and everything checks out. He’s perfect on paper… and soon, perfect in person too.

Then there’s Will Jordan. My annoying, effortlessly charming coworker who seems to be everywhere I turn—taking credit for my ideas, flashing that irresistible grin, and showing up in my daydreams even though he absolutely shouldn’t.

Will’s not part of the plan. Parker is.

But the more I get to know Will, the harder it is to ignore the way he makes me laugh, challenges me, and sees me in a way no one else does.

Now I have to figure out if I’m following the plan… or following my heart.

 

 

TWO LAST FIRST DATES

Swearing off love was easy. Then two men and one dating pact complicated everything.

After one too many heartbreaks (and one stolen-shoes incident I’m still not over), I made a pact with my friends: the next guy I date, I marry.

Cute in theory. Terrifying in practice.

Especially when Marcus Hann strolls into the Cozy Cottage Café looking like every swoony book boyfriend rolled into one. Handsome, charming, and so into me it’s almost suspicious. Obviously, he’s my Last First Date. I mean, fate, right?

Except my well-meaning friends already picked someone for me. Josh Bentley, the pun-loving coffee guy who wears T-shirts that should be illegal and insists on making me laugh at 7 a.m.

Josh is funny, sweet, easy to talk to. And dangerously close to becoming my best friend.

But this is my one shot to get it right. Marcus looks like everything I want. Josh? He’s just Josh.

So why does my heart keep showing up for the wrong guy?

 

THREE LAST FIRST DATES

She can’t get past a second date… so she agrees to marry the next guy she meets.

Me and relationships? Not a great combination. I rarely even make it to a second date.

But with thirty looming and my best friends all finding their happily-ever-afters, I start to wonder… what if I’m wrong?

One night—possibly after one glass of Chardonnay too many—we make a pact: the next man we date, we marry.

Crazy? Maybe. But I’m done being the girl who runs from love. So I take the leap.

Three dates. One day. What could possibly go wrong?

That’s when I meet Nash Campbell. A kind-hearted construction worker with an easy smile and quiet confidence that sneaks up on you. He’s thoughtful. Funny. And the more time we spend together, the more I start imagining a future I never wanted—until now.

Then someone from my past reappears. The one person I never expected to see again.

Now my heart is torn between the man I’m falling for… and the one I never truly let go of.

 

FOUR LAST FIRST DATES

I’m the last woman standing in our “Last First Date” pact, and Cupid clearly didn’t get the memo.

It’s official: I’m the last single girl standing.

All my friends in the Last First Date pact have found their loves. Me? Let’s just say Lady Luck must be in a mood because, despite trying everything right down to speed dating four guys in one night, Cupid’s arrow has evaded me.

Don’t get me wrong: I love my life. My friends are amazing, I’ve got my dream job running the Cozy Cottage Café, and I love where I live, Auckland, New Zealand, the City of Sails.

And then there’s Ryan Jones.

Ryan Confusing-with-a-capital-C Jones.

He may seem like the perfect combination of Prince Charming meets Thor without the hammer (clearly) but talk about sending mixed messages. Is he into me? Is he not? It’s a daily guessing game, and one that’s begun to mess with my head.

You see I’ve been in love, and I lost that love. Tragically. It took me a long time to get over and one thing I can tell you for sure, at 30, I never saw myself on the wrong end of an unrequited love situation.

Still, that’s exactly where I find myself.

That is until Ryan rescues me one night from a sleazebag’s advances like the Norse God he is.

And then he sweeps me up in a kiss, turning my world on its head.

But does Cupid have us in his sights? Or will Hot Mess Thor and my tragic past be our undoing?

 

Buy Box Set of Books 5-7 here.

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Praise for the Flirting with Forever Box Set:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I SO loved all the books in the Cozy Cottage Café series (actually got hooked from book one and stalked Kate’s author page for each new book release after that). We get to know Cassie, Marissa, and Paige as they embark on their individual journeys toward love. I felt like I knew these women as if they were my own besties by the end of each book! There are several LOL moments and definitely book boyfriends who’ll make your heart flutter.” – Joslyn Westbrook, author 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This is an adorable series! I finish each book glad that the characters find their happy ever after, but sad that the story has to end, kind of like I’m leaving behind a good friend. But then there’s another book to dive into, and I’m happy again!” – Holly Kerr, author 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If you’ve never read a Kate O’Keefe novel and you’re a fan of romantic comedies, here’s what you need to know: the Cozy Cottage Café Series is one delicious serving of ooey gooey, heart-warming storytelling after another. Friends united by a love for the treats at their favorite bakery and their unlucky attempts at finding love make a pact to marry the next man they date. This simple thread unwinds in multiple directions within each book as we get to know unique and uniquely strong women who need to forge their individual paths toward their happily-ever-afters. Their stories are as compelling as the men they meet. These books are really easy to read and equally satisfying. Count on a lot of laughs, even more contented sighs, and a lingering desire to sample each and every one of the cakes from the Cozy Cottage Café.” – Diane Michaels, author of Ellen the Harpist

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”Kate O’Keeffe almost single-handedly resurrected my love of chick-lit with this series. Cassie’s story in Book 1 had me hooked from the first page, and I fell in love with her and the yummy Will Jordan (who just so happens to look like one of my other favourite male leads, Poldark). Books 2 and 3 focus on Cassie’s best friends, Paige and Marissa, who also go through the journey of finding “the one” by choosing the next guy they date. Kate has a way of bringing the Cozy Cottage Cafe to life and making you wish the love interests in these books were real people! Highly recommend.” – Kirsty McManus, author of 1996

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I thoroughly enjoyed following these women, who start to feel like old friends, on their journeys. Some of my favorite book boyfriends are here as well. A cozy, warm, wonderful set of books that will leave you wanting more — and maybe wanting a little cake as well.”  – Laurie Baxter, author

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I LOVE this series! Each heroine is so different and utterly compelling. They are all strong, determined women with funny and endearing foibles and quirks – and they are so much fun to root for! The heroes are eclectic and wonderful as well – some maddening or suave or down-to-earth or jocular or swoony or irresistible or with an inescapable charm that sneaks up and won’t let go. Every page of every book is a delight, entertaining with laugh-out-loud descriptions and dialogue. And how these books captivate with sigh-inducing, toe-curling moments of romance! I highly recommend this box set for any lover of RomCom! And talk about the perfect gift!!!!!” – Geralyn Corcillo, bestselling author 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Can’t say how much I love Kate O’Keeffe and her books, they get me involved and make me feel apart of their lives. I didn’t want them to end.”  – Amazon reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If you love a good old fashioned romcom that is light-hearted but has moving moments, then these are the books for you. This author has become one of my all time favourites.” – Amazon reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Heartwarming escapism at its best!” – Amazon reviewer