Review: The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole

Title: The Scientist

Author: Kristen B. Cole
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
When an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting?

When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off to the West Coast to endure a life of sunny skies and an inexplicable obsession with quinoa. Her new life in California comes complete with old friends, a potentially disastrous career change, and a gorgeous but reticent new neighbor, Dr. Alexsander “Lex” Strovinski, whose PhD might actually be in scowling with a minor in silent treatments.

As a world-renowned neurobiologist, Lex has dedicated his life to the single-minded pursuit of scientific breakthroughs, avoiding distractions at all costs. But now, a relentlessly chirpy new neighbor with an emerald green gaze seems intent on sabotaging his focus.

As Hadley and Lex find themselves repeatedly thrown together, what begins as one-sided banter eventually gives way to a profound heart-to-heart connection. But when Hadley’s loved one takes a turn for the worse and Lex is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity overseas, will their newfound connection unravel? Or will they discover that when it comes to opposites attracting, some bonds can never be broken?

Review:

In Kristen B. Cole’s ‘The Scientist,’ science and music create an unexpected harmony that will captivate readers from page one. This contemporary romance follows Hadley Oliver, a talented music composer and Stanford University teacher, whose life intersects with Dr. Alexsander (Lex) Strovinski, a brilliant Alzheimer’s researcher and fellow Stanford instructor. The author delivers a masterfully crafted story that shows us that love doesn’t always follow a predictable formula, especially when career aspirations and matters of the heart collide.

Cole’s greatest triumph lies in creating characters who are brilliantly flawed yet utterly endearing. Lex’s dedication to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s drives him with an intensity that sometimes blinds him to life’s other melodies, while Hadley’s passionate artistic nature helps her create beautiful music but sometimes clashes with the structured world of academia. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s their individual struggles and personal growth that makes them feel like real people you’d meet in the halls of Stanford. The author doesn’t shy away from showing their imperfections - instead, she lets them stumble, learn, and find strength in their vulnerabilities, making their journey together all the more authentic and all encompassing.

Cole masterfully weaves together the structured world of Alzheimer's research with the creative pulse of musical composition, creating a rhythm that keeps pages turning. When a research opportunity in Sweden threatens to separate our leads, the author doesn't take the easy way out. Instead, she crafts a gut-wrenching exploration of what happens when personal dreams and professional aspirations collide with matters of the heart. The pacing hits every beat perfectly, building tension through both professional challenges and personal revelations, while never losing sight of the central romance.

Cole's writing style shines with both technical precision and emotional depth. She navigates the complexities of scientific research and musical theory with confidence, making both accessible without dumbing down either field. Her writing flows seamlessly between the analytical mindset of the research lab and the passionate world of musical composition, creating the perfect harmony between head and heart. What truly sets this book apart is Cole's ability to make readers feel every moment of joy, heartache, and uncertainty. Whether describing the frustrations of failed experiments or the soaring heights of musical inspiration, her words resonate with authentic emotion and careful attention to detail. I'm not going to lie, I cried during this book. I don't do that often, but when I do... *insert chef's kiss here*

The Scientist' is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with substance and sophistication. It's perfect for readers who appreciate STEM themes, music lovers, and those who believe that sometimes the most beautiful love stories grow from life's biggest challenges. This five-star read proves that when it comes to love, even the most carefully planned experiments can yield unexpected results.

This book is gearing up to be the best book of the year! I know it’s been there best of January.

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I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review, and here it is. Enjoy! 😊

Audiobook Review: Her Billionaire Man: Tension by Olivia Summer

Title: Her Billionaire Man: Tension

Author: Olivia Summer
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

My life has always been such a clownish mess. Still, nothing beats old Mrs. Janey leaving her silly parrot a vast percentage of her establishment, worth billions. Now the bird, Boosh, is a billionaire! Hilarious, right? For goodness, flipping, sake! Who does that?

 

Want to know my part in this story? I'm to be Boosh's guardian, because how else does a parrot get to be assured of its newfound wealth without a human in the picture? Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered but not flattered that Mrs. Janey saw me fit enough to be part of this absurd scheme.

 

Do you know what's crazier, though? Getting Mrs. Janey's grandson, Craig Vans, out of the way. Before I tell you about the man's overwhelming god-like looks, I will give you a glimpse of why he's so upset in the first place. Craig has always had his way, including the multiple chains of companies in his name. He was more prosperous than anyone in New York, so why wouldn't he step down as the CEO and leave just this one establishment to the poor birdy Boosh?

 

The glaring answer was that Craig Vans was so full of himself ... well, the truth is that he had every right to be. The first day I met him, I wanted to forget my panties on his face. Want to know more? Read on.

Review:

I'm going to be honest, I'm not quite sure what to think of this book. I want to love it, I really do, but I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story that was going on long before the story even started. I craved for a little more interaction than was given. I get the hate banging and everything, but... I just felt there could have been a little more meat to the book. And then the cliffhanger? I don't mind a cliffhanger normally, but in a book this short it was just unexpected.

The narration was okay, but nothing to write home about. I'm not sure if the narrator was from a non-US based country but some of the pronunciations were a little "off". There were times when I wondered if the narrator was actually AI. 

via GIPHY

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 I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review. I'd like to thank StoryOrigin and the author for this opportunity.

Review: Trading Tinsel by Rosie P. Burke

Title: Trading Tinsel

Author: Rosie P. Burke
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Just seven minutes younger than her twin sister, Evelyn “Eve” Carter, has always felt like the “shadow sister.” She’s fun when her sister is functional, more go with the flow than the structured nature of her womb-mate. Even looking exactly alike, she somehow still managed to come second to the first guy she really crushed on, Nick Atterton. Her sister’s high school boyfriend. Her sister’s near-fiancé. Fleeing halfway across the country to attend college in Miami, FL, Evie hopes to distance herself from that beacon of perfection and the daily soul crushing feeling of inadequacy.

Nick Atterton has loved the game of hockey since he was six years old. The next closest thing to that pure, unfiltered adoration was his high school girlfriend. But when he can’t commit to forever, they end things. Just in time for his trade to Miami.

A quick trip home for Christmas ends up rerouted when Nick and Evie find their flight emergency landed in Nashville due to an unexpected ice storm. One room, a bottle of tequila, and 24 hours. Will tinsel and trinkets be the only thing exchanged this holiday season? Or will they be permanently added to the naughty list?

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The Dropped Puck Series is a 6 book hockey romance series following the Chicago Sharks as they fight through a season of ups and downs. A collection of stand alones, each book can be read on their own, but I do recommend following the order in which the books are published as the characters do make follow up appearances in the subsequent stories.

Review:

Hockey, hockey, hockey... I just can't get enough.

Having read books 1 & 2 of this series I was all on board with being able to read this author's 3rd up for the Chicago Sharks alumni Nick Atterton. 

What happens when you're in love with your sister's ex boyfriend? You back off, right? Well, not if you're Eve the youngest (by 7 minutes) twin who's always been the screw up. But what if she just can't stop feeling for Nick what she's felt for so many years? Everything's fine, until Emerson (her better than good "older" sister) finds out. Will their love be strong enough to weather her sister's wrath? The only way to find out is to read the book, because I'm not telling you. 

I love the dynamic the team has with Eve. They know right from the start that she's good for Nick, but will he listen? Or will he get in his own way?

Be prepared for a STEAMY book with pure yumminess swirled right in.


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I'd like to thank the author and StoryOrigin for the opportunity to give an honest review of this book in exchange for a free audiobook copy.

Review: A Magical Christmas on the Isle of Skye by Jodie Homer

Title: A Magical Christmas on the Isle of Skye 

Author: Jodie Homer
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
It takes a village to fall in love. Set in Scotland, on the Isle of Skye, we meet Harry and Emilia, who have always been best friends, well, until they complicated everything by sleeping together. Drunk and alone on New Year’s Eve, Emilia phones up the TV’s psychic and spills out all of her sorrows. When her friends propose to stay in a cabin in the middle of nowhere for Christmas, Emilia jumps at the chance, but the atmosphere quickly dampens when Harry announces his girlfriend will be joining them. What will happen to Harry and Emilia’s relationship when they discover the island is full of old myths and a time loop they just can’t escape from?

Review:

Groundhog's Day, eat your heart out.

What happens when best friends take it to the next level? That's the question of the day. But what happens when it doesn't work out the way they'd hoped it would? You end up with a cute little Christmas story that puts you in mind of the movie Groundhog's Day. 

Harry and Emilia are such loveable characters that it's such as shame to see them struggle in this book. But complications abound when a time loop sucks them up into a hilarious series of unfortunate events. Will they be able to fix the time loop, or will they be stuck there for all time?

I will warn you, the narration has one character in which you'd rather rip your ears out than listen to her talk. But I'm not sure if it's the narrator herself, or if it's the character that I just couldn't stand (for that voice only... the rest of the voices were great.)

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I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to StoryOrigin and the author for this opportunity.

Review: Starry Night Kisses by D.L. Darby

Title: Starry Night Kisses

Author: D.L. Darby
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Making an instant connection with a guy she barely knows wasn't exactly on Evelyn Montgomery's bingo card for this year. She was ready to live out the rest of her days as a dog lady—just her and her beagle, Bagel.

However, on New Year's Eve, Eric Adams burst into Evie's world faster than a shooting star, making it clear that even though they're strangers, he wants to brighten her world--and he's not taking no for an answer.

Evie and Eric have so much in common that it's easy for her to get lost in his ocean-blue gaze and good-natured personality, forgetting that she isn't sure she's ready for a relationship after the events at Sutton Lake two Christmases ago.

When he asks if she'd like to go on a camping trip—the first time they'll be alone together overnight—she agrees, and Eric ensures the weekend is one Evie will never forget. From romantic kisses beneath the stars to an evening filled with passionate moments featuring intimate s’mores, Evie learns things about herself that she never knew.

Despite their chemistry, Eric’s hectic schedule has Evie questioning whether they can make it work. Not to mention, she has a secret that could change Eric’s mind about wanting a future with her.

But once Eric reveals a secret of his own, Evie must decide whether it’s enough to scare her off…even if he does give the best starry night kisses.

Review:

I may never look at camping 🏕️ the same way again.

We follow along with Evelyn's journey to find true and lasting love (since I think she was jipped out of love in the first book of this series). Will she be able to find it with mild-mannered Eric? Can he give to her and be the man she needs or is she doomed to live the same fate she had in her marriage?

Who would have thought that mild-mannered Eric would be so... well... yummy! I mean, really? You want to do what with me in the woods? Not only is he an alpha, but he's the biggest teddy bear there is. The author made Eric into what every woman wants, the complete package.

I was glad to see the author followed through with Evelyn and Eric's story because it's delightful and full of heart. I was rooting for them for the entire book, which is hard to do sometimes.

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I was given an ARC copy of this book and am providing my honest review to you after having read it.

Review: Peppermint Wishes by D.L. Darby

Title: Peppermint Wishes

Author: D.L. Darby
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

No one should be alone for Christmas. At least, that’s what Evelyn Montgomery‘s parents always told her. So when she finds herself very alone for the festive holiday, she decides to book a weekend at Sutton Lake.

It’s there, in a whirlwind of fate, that she meets Jonathan, her gorgeous, albeit grumpy, neighbor across the lake, who also happens to be spending Christmas alone.

After sharing the weekend together, they part ways, but when she leaves, Evelyn realizes maybe parting ways isn’t what she wants at all.

Returning to Sutton Lake to find him, she discovers that not everything about that Christmas weekend was as it seemed. Jonathan is nowhere to be found, and no one from the town remembers her from her visit just one week ago.

Doubting herself, Evelyn wonders if she made it all up.

Was her trip to Sutton Lake just a dream?

And if it was, maybe that means Jonathan was just a figment of her peppermint wishes.

Review:

What a sled ride this book was—literally. 

When Evelyn tries to escape from life for just the Christmas weekend before she heads out on her self proclaimed eat, pray, love adventure. One of the first scenes in this book is of the female main character's mishap while trying to get wood for the fireplace and boy oh boy, did I laugh out loud. But who to our wondering eyes should appear... Jonathan. Evelyn brings Jonathan out of his shell and helps him see things can be different after his loss. They both feel alive. 

But what happens when the weekend ends? Well, that I can't tell you without making sure this doesn't show spoilers. But just let me tell you that there may just be things that remind you of the movie The Lake House. Are you ready? Because I sure as heck wasn't. I didn't like the 92% mark; it made me sad, but the last 8% gives me hope for book two in this series.

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I'd like to thank the author for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Healing the Billionaire by Brooke Burton

Title: Healing the Billionaire

Author: Brooke Burton
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Billionaire Matt Vaughn’s heart was shattered by his cheating ex as he stood waiting for her at the altar. It wasn’t until he got in touch with Boston’s premier breakup specialist, Andrea Wilson Sanders, that he was able to put it back together again. But when his ex tries to worm her way back into his life, begging him for a second chance, he knows there’s only one way to make sure she stays gone for good: convincing her he’s moved on. But with his high profile, he can’t find a girlfriend the typical way. He needs discretion. He needs a friend to set him up.

He needs Andrea to play matchmaker.

Thanks to Andrea’s coaching, Iowa farm girl Lilyana Harris not only got over her breakup with her high school sweetheart, but she also got her dream job as a horticulturist at Boston Botanical. But despite trying to put herself out there, she hasn’t had a lot of luck dating in the big city. So when Andrea asks her to participate in a matchmaking event, she decides to take a chance...and winds up sharing the hottest kiss she's ever experienced. Blindfolded. With a man she's never met.

Matt realizes straight away Lilyana is the person he’s needed all along. Not only does her sunny, outgoing disposition challenge his apprehensive and self-conscious demeanor, but she's the first girlfriend he's ever had who could care less about his money and wants him entirely for who he is. However, when his ex reappears with a shocking surprise, he’s faced with a choice: refuse to help her and let her destroy everything he loves, or give in to her demands and lose the only woman he’s ever truly loved.

Review:

I want to give this book 5 🌟, but I fear I can only give it 4 of them. 

I loved, from the very start, Matt and Lilyana's chemistry. From their very first blindfolded kiss, they knew they were "it" for each other. There would be no one else... 

There were so many times when I hoped that something would go "wrong" for the couple so that they could rally and show the world that they would not be living without one another. But each time something tested the couple, Matt showed what an upstanding guy he was and how nothing would make him waiver, or Lilyana dealt with the issue with poise and grace. But what about a third act breakup? (If you're looking for one, this is not the book for you.)

I loved how the author shows how a loving family can really make the difference in someone's life. She showed that money is no indicator of how well a family functions. She shows that even someone from a humble background can learn a thing or two about humility from the very rich. 

I was given an ARC copy of this book to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own.