Wednesday 10 June 2015

Review - Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst


Title: Searching for Beautiful
Series: Searching For #3
Author: Jennifer Probst
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: May 26, 2015




The highly anticipated third novel in the Searching For series from Jennifer Probst, “one of the most exciting breakout novelists” (USA TODAY), featuring a runaway bride and the man who wants to be more than just her best friend…

Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin…and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.

Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

ADD TO GOODREADS






WOLFE! Argh, I really wanted this story; from the first mention of Gen and Wolfe in this series, I loved the idea of a friends-to-lovers story for them and damn, if it wasn't everything I hoped for!! 

She's the runaway bride... Engaged to be married to her successful, handsome boss, David, Genevieve Mackenzie should be beyond happy. But she's not. 

One fateful decision to crawl out of a window on her wedding day takes the normally controlled Gen down a scary, new path, and the help and protection of Wolfe, her best friend, is exactly what she needs...until unexpected feelings start to develop. 

He's always been a platonic friend, but now everything is changing. Will they find something beautiful where they've never before looked? 

I love, love, LOVED this book! I was really looking forward to this story -- I could barely resist cracking it open the moment I finished Searching for Perfect -- and I am pleased to report it absolutely lived up to my expectations. 

Searching for Beautiful, while funny and delightfully dirty in places, is not as light-hearted as the previous books in this series. Wolfe has a dark past, and Ms. Probst did an excellent job of balancing his darkness, Gen's broken relationship and the happy-go-lucky charm that permeates this series. There's an undercurrent of pain in this book, and I felt it right alongside the characters. But I also felt the happy. 

Wolfe...well, he definitely makes me happy. He's charming, protective, jealous, and altogether bad-ass, except for his adorable phobia and tendency towards blushing, that is. Oh, and did I mention he's hella sexy too? Because he is! 

The slow burn development of his relationship with Gen, the neediness, the knight in shining armor moments, the confessions and revelations, the hot-as-hell sex and the heartbreak were all perfectly on point here. It's hands down my favorite book (so far) in the Searching For series, but I'll have to wait until Arilyn's story to know for sure. It's set-up in a typically playful, amusing way throughout this book, so I can't wait to see what Ms. Probst has in store for the hippy therapist.
~ Review by Beth





ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE SEARCHING FOR SERIES



#1 SEARCHING FOR SOMEDAY
Why did I wait so long I start this series, y'all? Someone has to take responsibility for this!! Whatever. I've started now, and I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon! Searching for Someday was a great read -- sexy, steamy, and sweet. 

Kate has a gift...or maybe it's a curse. With her touch, she can sense soul mates. Using that touch, and with the help of her friends, Kate has launched a successful match-making business, Kinnections...

Enter Slade. He's not just skeptical, he thinks it's a complete scam and he's determined to prove it. He challenges Kate to prove him wrong and find him a woman. 

But what happens when the woman she wants to give him is herself? 

I loved reading this book. It's nothing crazy, over-the-top or groundbreaking but it is flirty and fun. Charming in the way a book that takes a slightly silly, magical concept and spins an adorable and hot love story can be. 

The writing in Searching for Someday was excellent. Descriptive but not overwhelming. Balanced -- never too sugary, never too out there, always just the right amount of spark and sass. Jennifer Probst took an idea many can (and probably have) scoffed at and made me a believer. 

Side note: One of my very favorite things in this book was Robert. Now, I'm not going to get into details but his story did send a big, fat tear down my face. I guess I'm a bit of sucker like that. I just loved this element to the story and wanted to share that... Moving on! 

I'd like a Slade of my own, even if his concerns and beliefs were a touch repetitive at times. He was hot, talented in the sack (yessss!), and a big ol' softie at heart. Oh, and I'd like to be a client and friend of Kate and the Kinnections crew. Failing that, I guess I'll take book two for a whirl instead.
~ Review by Beth





#2 SEARCHING FOR PERFECT


This charming and very sexy series continues with the super fun Searching for Perfect, and if you're searching for the perfect weekend read, you might just find it in this book!! 

Kennedy Ashe is the social director and Queen of Makeovers at Kinnections, the match-making agency she runs with her two best friends. When she meets book brilliant, socially awkward, nerdy aerospace engineer, Nate Dunkle, she recognizes him for what he is...the ultimate challenge. 

Kennedy is prepared to be the Professor Henry Higgins to Nate's Eliza Doolittle, but she's not prepared for the feelings she develops for the dorky scientist. Hiding her past, her pain and her problems behind a perfect exterior, Kennedy knows she can never be what Nate is looking for...the perfect wife. 

This series is fast becoming one of my favorites. It's light, fast and has proven to be very enjoyable. It has humor, a little edge, and a really fun premise -- a group of matchmaking friends, making their own matches...with a few misdirections and missteps along the way. Searching for Perfect was definitely a blast to read. I snickered. I giggled. I swooned. I melted. And, I probably shouldn't admit this, I even snorted once. 

Yes, there are some elements that were a touch silly or awkward. The dog collar scene was eye-roll worthy and yet, strangely satisfying, and Nate's prowess and interestingly intellectual dirty talk was both kinda hot and slightly stiff, but worked for the character. And the golf element...well, as someone well-versed in the sport, I'll admit that I was a touch skeptical of Kennedy and her game, but Ms. Probst made me a believer because I wanted to be one. I wanted the best for Kennedy and Nate. 

I truly felt for these out-of-place people. They both have pasts that left them wounded and, in Nate's case, poorly placed to approach women. But they were so likable, and the type of characters you want to see get a HEA, that no matter how often they say or do something that makes you think, 'um, really?!', you're still all about it. 

I'm really excited for the next book in this series. I think the next time I am searching for something to read, I'll end up Searching for Beautiful.
~ Review by Beth







Jennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children's book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, "A Life Worth Living" chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at http://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.


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