Read and Review #31 - Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (Penny Reid)

Title: Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (Knitting in the City #1)

Author: Penny Reid

Publication date: 14 March 2013

Publisher: Caped Publishing

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Synopsis:

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 

1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 

2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 

3) She doesn't know how to knit. 

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse.

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:
By the mighty power of Thor!

I can relate to Janie badly because I love reading about random trivias and spewing them in awkward situations. I've been reading a bunch of books where the characters have "weird" habits but I really like Janie's weirdness the most. Maybe not so much weird than awkward. Janie is definitely awkward.

There's McDreamy and McSteamy. And then there's Quinn Sullivan a.k.a Sir Handsome McHotpants. I'm not one for silly nicknames but I don't know why I can tolerate this one. I even liked it!

When I started reading this book, I was terribly happy to read about the possibility of falling in love with a security guard. I mean, how often do you read about falling in love with someone whose occupation is not in the generic group of high-powered, influencal jobs (CEOs, lawyers, businessmen, musicians)? But my dream was soon crushed when I found out that Quinn was actually a CEO, CIO, CFO and COO. Oh yes, he's all that. 

Although I don't know how he did that AND manage have a social life at the same time without. And then I remember that this is not real and no one can possibly be all that and not go crazy. 

I don't find many office romances that doesn't immediately lead to hot sex and constant lusting over the boss. Although, I am still in search of an excellent romance book between co-workers who are not in a boss-employee relationship. That being said, this is still a really good book for those who likes office romances.

Putting that aside, the background of the story is quite mediocre. Jon's half-assed attempt to keep Janie by his side, Jem's involved with a gang (probably a drug lord) and then there's the thing with Quinn's parents that Janie eventually figured out but never told anyone (even us, the readers).

I wasn't disappointed when it comes to the smart part of this book. I would sometimes re-read the trivias that Janie referred to in almost every chapter of the book. However, the knitting part really threw me off because there's not much knitting done throughout the book. Janie didn't even knit!

It's a good book with intelligence and fluff. Not so much drama but then again, not so much drama. It's funny, light and smart albeit the lack in enthusiasm poured into the back story. Definitely continuing with the rest of the series.

Read and Review #28 - Unravel Me (Tori St. Claire)

Title: Unravel Me

Author: Tori St. Claire

Publication date: 24 February 2014
Publisher: Entangled Publishing — Brazen

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Synopsis:

Letting go might be the key that unlocks her pleasure…

Attorney Cassie Blaire has spent most of her life living by rules. Rules that keep her life sensible, and on the right path. But five years after losing her husband, Cassie is saying sayonara to “sensible.” And it starts now—with indulging a need she’s long denied.

When he arrives in Colorado, all Brad Steele wants is a scotch before he has to play nice in the first face-to-face meeting with his co-counsel in an ugly divorce case. But instead, he finds her—a lush, inviting stranger whose dark eyes invite him to sin...and thirst turns into a raw, undeniable hunger.

Now Cassie is initiated into a world that has nothing to do with being sensible, and everything to do with sensuality. Under Brad’s guiding touch, she’s receiving an education in desire—one that breaks all of the old rules, and explores tantalizing new ones. And once she learns that her naughty one-nighter is her arrogant co-counsel, all of her objections will be sustained...

My rating:
2 / 5

My review:
"ARC generously provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion"

The first few chapters of the book is great. Until I get to the rest of the book. 

I'm all in for people who meet and part after a one night stand. A very hot one night stand. Cassie and Brad's encounter was refreshing and a good opening to the story in my opinion. Strangers meet, have sex then leave. No name, no info, no expectations. I didn't expect anything and that's why it was great. And then came the post one night stand.

It left a bad taste in my mouth because after reading the chapters after, it's like reading about two completely different people. Who is this woman claiming to want to break out of submission? Who is this man trying to be a dominant wannabe? It's hard to process their relationship because while I get that the author wants them to be two different people by day and night, it just didn't work out. 

I gave it a 2 rating out of 5 because of the first few chapters. If only it stopped there.

Read and Review #24 - Attachments (Rainbow Rowell)

Title: Attachments

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publication date: 14 April 2011

Publisher: Dutton Adult

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Synopsis:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you ... "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives. 

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. 

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. 

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:

I don't know why I love this story because the idea of someone else reading my private messages to a friend is disturbing. But they brought it unto themselves, Jennifer and Beth. They knew any personal emails will be filtered and monitored to ensure that they do not break the company's Internet policy. But do they care?

And Lincoln O'Neill was the guy hired to do just that. Go through filtered emails and send warnings to employees who are violating company's policy. You'd think it's a cool job, reading about gossips and secret affairs and stuff?

Lincoln's job is pretty boring actually and he gets paid decently to do almost nothing every day. The highlight of his day? Reading emails between Jennifer and Beth. They had already broke a few of the policy but he didn't have it in him to send them any warning emails. Plus, their emails were just too juicy and provided him the entertainment to get through work.

Basically, half of the book consisted of email exchanges. It's like listening to that two strangers talking in a cafe whom you always run into that one day of the week. You don't hang out with them, but you know their story as if you've known them for years. Rest assured, I don't hang out at cafes listening to strangers having conversations.

Anyways, the plot is pretty subdued. Lincoln's life is mundane. And I don't get to know more about Beth and Jennifer outside their emails to each other. But the story kept me interested. Beth and Jennifer's emails are hilarious. I wouldn't want to stop reading if I could because of their wits and snappy comebacks. Lincoln, on the other hand is pretty boring. It's not bad because really, why have an amazing, perfect hero? Have you read any of Rainbow Rowell's work? Her heroes are imperfect.

What deducted one star from my rating is the ending. It felt rushed and unreal to me. There was not enough interaction between Beth and Lincoln to feel that sort of comfort around each other so soon after she found out about him. I get that she has a crush on him, stalked him and even admired him but I don't know, it feels a little middle school for me. 

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"I don't know," he said. "Do you believe in love before that?"

Cheesy as hell but I love that part the most. I like this book for the witty interaction, imperfect yet lovable characters and the appropriate pacing for this style of writing. Sure it has a slow pacing but it's not that lengthy that it makes you want to kill yourself for reading it in the first place. You won't even realize you're almost at the end.