Review: The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I plan on watching the movie this weekend.
Olive is a PhD candidate who needs to convince her best friend Anh is it okay to date her ex (I use this term loosly; they went out a few times). So, that's fake a relationship! That someone is Adam, who is a professor, grumpy, hot, (and big).
I liked the STEM representation. I thought this had good banter.
I didn't care much for the professor/student relationship (I like fake dating, but not the student-teacher trope). It's also noted the Olive is demi sexual, but rather than acknowledge, except, and realize that is okay and she is who she is; it's instead presentated as "weird" and "not normal." I would have liked to see more of a discussion related to this.
For two highly intelligent people, there was also a lot of "miscommunications". I found this so frustrating and these things keep this from being rated higher. I do think the 3 is generous. And did I mention Adam is big?

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Review: In the Middle of Somewhere

In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up.
Daniel is the first in his family to go to college. He also happens to be heavily tattooed, with a tough guy persona, and gay. Needless to say, his family has absolutely not been supportive of him growing up, to the point of being neglectful and emotionally abusive.
Rex is tall, shy, and lonely. He never knew his dad and growing up with a single mom, they were also moving, so he never put roots down or made friends. He mother is now deceased. His first love was murdered (that's how he came to MI, Jamie was from there).
Daniel and Rex meet when Daniel accidentally hits a dog. He is in town for a job interview at the local community college. They reconnect later once Daniel is living there as a newly minted prof.
I did enjoy this story of 2 broken people who find a connection in each other. They bring light to each's individual darkness. I did like that there was not a big "misunderstanding." Rather, they slowly learn how to communicate with each other. It's not always the best or most effective, but they do (eventually) learn from their mistakes.
I also liked the secondary characters; Daniel's best friend Ginger who did all his tattoos, Leo; a teenager they befriend in their small town, and Will; Rex's ex turned friend. Daniel also gets a surprise in regards to Colin, one of his brothers that tortmented him (probably the most).
What keeps this from being a 4 star read is it does get repetitive and rambles on at times. Daniel also reads as younger to me, but I think that could be reflective of his horrible childhood and not feeling love.

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Review: Partners in Crime

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mira is looking for a husband. Naveen is someone she first matched with, but she was worried about getting too close and hurt. So she ditched him. A handful of year later they meet again. Her aunt has died and he is the lawyer representing her will. Shocker!
The current Mira is a little but more mature and willing to admit when she was wrong, She still has fears related to her past. Her dad was a con-man, hustler. Her sister appears to be the same (or at least similar). Naveen is also more mature and has done some work on himself (went to rehab for alcoholism).
This was both romance, mystery, and action. Some individuals from Mira's past may not be really dead. Fun. I also appreciated the glimpse of Mira and Naveen a year later (and again 7 months later).

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Review: Woof at the Door

Woof at the Door by Laura Morrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grace is an animal behaviorist who can also sense their thoughts/emotions.  She's always had the psychic ability and has learned how to manage it to her advantage.  She trained as a vet, but her ability made it impossible for her to practice.  She's in demand and has helped animals and their caretakers.  

She gets involved in a murder when she is called to assist with the victim's dog Jax.  Jax witnessed his owner's murder and has trauma related to that.  Jax also has to be quarantined for a period of time before he can be adopted and as a vet, Grace is able to do that.

I really liked this.  Grace and her ability.  She's has a very small circle of people (her sister and best friend) who knows about her ability and don't judge her for it.  They love her just as she is.  By the end her circle is a little larger and she is more open about "hey this is what I can do, deal with it."  (My quotes).  There may be a romance with a certain someone too; that knows what she can do and didn't handle it well when she told him, but has since realized he fucked up.  I did think the mystery, the who done it was rushed at the end.   

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Review: Epic

Epic by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a nice, short peak ar Jamie and Wes's life (now married). Told in alternating points of view, Jamie gets to have a little goal keeping fun. And Wes is happy for him. A new job is also in the offering. So Epic!

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Review: Her Best Kept Secret

Her Best Kept Secret by Naima Simone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nore is an event planner and is damn good at what she does.  She owns her own business.  Joaquin is a retired motorcycle racer turned business owner.  He makes his own motorcycles.  They meet at his birthday party (her company was hired to put on) and sparks fly.  They have a one night stand after his party.  

Things only get complicated when his company wants to hire her again for a huge launch they are planning for their all electric motorcycle.  It turns out Joaquin is Nore's ex-finace's estranged 1/2 brother.  They both re-connect and have a shared past in their not-so-great childhoods.  

I liked the pacing and characters (except for James and his mother; they are both assholes). 

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  comtemporary (would also work for one-night stand)

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Review: Go Luck Yourself

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Someone is stealing Christmas's joy. A single shamrock is left. Kris is Coal's (first book, eldest son and now Santa) younger brother. He is tasked with finding out who the thief is.
Lochlan is the crown prince of St Patrick's Day. His uncle is the King who took the crown leading everyone to believe that Loch was immature and unfit to rule. In all fairness, his parents had just died and he was a teenager (I missed how long ago it was, but in this book he was 22? 23?). Anyway, he doesn't have the best reputation as a result of that.
This starts out as enemies to lovers. Kris tinsles the study room Lochlan is in at college. He had a reservation for the room and Locklan refused to leave (he also didn't know who he was). He is a bit horrified when he realizes who is was. Anyway, his cover is to help Loch with his image while really looking for the thief.
This was a fun read, it is light at times, serious at times. The characters do read young (Kris is a year younger than Loch) in part because of certain expectations each felt they had to meet ignoring what they really wanted to do. So, they don't really know what they want. Kris also deals with low self esteem due to mother's abandonment.

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: Free space

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