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The up-and-coming matchmaking agency Kinnections is the hottest thing to hit Verily, New York—just like Kennedy Ashe, social director for the service she owns with her two best girlfriends. A coach, consultant, and cheerleader rolled into one super-sizzling package, Kennedy creates dream dates, encourages singles to shine, and never refuses a challenge—not even her new client, Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, rocket scientist and nerd extraordinaire. Kennedy vows to transform this hot mess in a lab coat with a disastrous relationship track record into the most wanted man on the Verily dating scene. If only she could turn the wand on herself. . . . Though she radiates confidence and sex appeal, Kennedy harbors deep-seated insecurities from her tormented past. When she realizes she and Nate are cut from the same cloth and might be perfect together, can Kennedy learn to let her heart lead the way? Or will her fears sentence her to the sidelines as Nate finds love—with someone else?
Searching for Perfect
He raced out of his lab, late again, his mind a bit foggy from an intense brainstorming session in the pursuit of a groundbreaking physics formula to transform advanced propulsion. He eased his Tesla through crowds of city traffic and tried not to panic. This event could be the turning point in his life, and he refused to miss it. What if his future wife was there right now, meeting some other man because he was stuck at work? Again.
Ned clamped down on his impatience and moved another few inches. He was tired of his social life revolving around his lab partner, Wayne, and his brother, Connor. Ever since he left NASA to dedicate his time to getting the private sector into space travel, his days had melded together in a long line of formulas and research. The weekly golf trips with his friends fell apart. His dating life, slow to begin with, ground to a big fat zero. Three months ago, he had celebrated his thirty-second birthday and realized he had no one to invite over. A small cake appeared in the lab and after Wayne hummed a few bars of Happy Birthday, they got back to work.
Pathetic.
That’s when he made his decision to change.
Ned pulled into the city limits welcoming visitors to Verily and perused the street for a space. The brightly lit shops lining the sidewalk overlooked the Hudson River and gave off a quaint charm that embraced visitors, bringing them into the fold of the welcoming area. His brother had laughed when he told him about the upcoming speed-dating mixer, but Connor didn’t believe in settling down with one woman. Years of watching his brother date endlessly with no commitment in sight depressed him. The whole catch-and-release repetition just seemed . . . empty.
Ned craved a real connection with a woman, someone he could share his life with. He had no interest in bar hopping or bed hopping. Marriage equaled all the things he lacked: comfort, sex, and companionship. Once Ned made decisions, he dedicated all of his time and energy into the steps needed to reach his goal, and this newest idea was no exception. After six weeks of intense research, he was ready.
He pulled into a space and turned off the ignition. Grabbing a pack of breath mints from the glove compartment, he popped one in his mouth, and wiped his hands down his khaki pants. Crap. He’d forgotten to change out of his white coat, and the coffee stain from this morning was prominently placed on his chest. He spit on his finger and tried to scrub the fabric, but the brown splotch only worsened. Could he take the coat off entirely? He yanked one shoulder down and spotted the wrinkled cotton shirt crushed underneath. Nah, leave it on. The hell with it. He didn’t want a woman who only cared about clothes or appearances anyway.
He pushed his glasses up his nose and peered into the driver’s side mirror. The healthy brown glow he’d hoped to sport had gone horribly wrong. Damn bronzer. Golf season hadn’t started yet, and his white skin had thrown him into a panic this morning. He knew women liked the beachy look, so he bought the self-tanner at lunch and applied it at work. He’d followed the instructions perfectly, but instead of a sun-kissed glow, he got carrot orange. Ned rubbed at his face frantically and tried to move the color around. It wasn’t that bad. Wayne had just glanced over at Nate after lunch, and when pressed, said he looked fine. Of course, he’d been wrapped up in the velocity testing, so maybe he hadn’t really studied him.
Holding back a groan, he got out of the car and headed toward the restaurant called Cosmos. At least the mixer wasn’t in a bar. He hurried his pace, tripped over the uneven sidewalk, and finally found his destination. The warm air hit him full force, with the delicious scents of garlic, tomato, and fresh bread. The restaurant was decorated in tasteful Tuscan colors, and soft lighting dimly illuminated various tables in the main room. Timers sat on each table, and people mingled with drinks and appetizers in hand.
Ned froze.
He fought the urge to turn around and walk back out, but he wasn’t a failure, and he didn’t intend to start now. He’d studied for this. It was his moment.
“May I help you?”
He looked down, and a young girl holding a clipboard smiled up at him. “Yes. Ned Dunkle. I signed up.”
“Of course.” She crossed his name off and gave him a ticket. “Welcome to our speed-dating mixer at Kinnections. You have just enough time to get a drink at the bar. Here’s your number. You’ll be starting with table nine. Five minutes maximum at each table, and here’s a sheet with all the participants. If you like someone, note down the name, and at the end of the mixer, we’ll introduce the people who are interested in each other.”
“Great.” He took the ticket into his sweaty hand and fought his way to the bar. Laughter and easy conversation drifted around him, along with the musky scent of perfume and something stronger. Was that him? He ducked his head and did a quick sniff. Oh yeah, way too much cologne. He’d liked the scent at home, but now he felt lost in the piney, woodsy tones it promised on the label. Oh, well. No one would notice.
He scanned his surroundings and got into game mode. That’s when he saw her.
Perfection.
The woman moved across the room, practically shimmering with energy and poise. Stopping now and then to chat with different people, she claimed the attention of male and female participants alike. Her whiskey gold eyes dominated her face, and thick, wavy hair tumbled past her shoulders in a deep caramel color. Her hot pink suit matched her nails. But his attention kept getting dragged to her shoes. Four-inch heels, open toe, pink with silver rhinestones. The silver-cuffed toe ring only emphasized her bubblegum-colored toenails.
She clearly was the type of woman who got any man she desired, owned her sexuality, and called the shots. Her husky laugh vibrated in his ears, dove into his gut, and squeezed. It was a sound full of life and the potential for fun. A wave of longing hit him, and he tamped down a laugh. Yeah, right. Not in this lifetime. Still, if she were involved in the speed-dating event, he’d be able to meet and talk to her for five minutes. That alone would make the whole evening worthwhile.
Not that he wanted a woman who was just beautiful. He learned that lesson well and didn’t need a repeat. Not in this lifetime.
A buzzer sounded, and everyone ran to their tables.
Showtime.
He headed toward number nine and settled down with a glass of house wine he didn’t like but was easy for the bartender to make. His normal drink usually took too much time to explain. A petite blonde slid into the seat, glanced up, and did a tiny recoil. He tried not to rub his face and make the orange more noticeable.
The timer chirped.
“Hi, I’m Naomi.”
He took a deep breath. “Hi, Naomi. My name is Ned.”
“Hi, Ned. So, what do you do?”
“Umm, I’m an aerospace engineer.”
“Oh, like planes? Do you own a plane?”
He shook his head. “No, rockets.”
Her eyes widened in excitement. “You own a real rocket ship?”
“No, no. I work on rocket ships. Well, I work on prototypes. Research stuff. I don’t own one.”
“Oh.” She looked disappointed. “I like to fly places. How about a jet? Do you own one of those?”
He tried to focus, but the conversation was heading into twilight zone territory and a full minute hadn’t even gone by. “Uh, I’m sorry, I don’t. I have a car.”
She lit up. “I love hot cars. Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Hummers. Did you see that movie The Fast and the Furious? They had some really hot cars.”
“No, I missed out on that film.”
“Do you smell that?” She crinkled her nose and glanced around. “Is that cologne?”
“I guess some guy put on too much.”
“Ick, I hate when that happens.”
“Me, too.”
Unfortunately, she refocused on the original bizarre conversation. “A man’s car tells a lot about him. People cite that horoscope junk all the time, but they don’t realize that the choice of vehicle really defines a person.”
“I don’t think I realized how important it was.”
“What type of car do you drive, Ned?”
“A Tesla. It won the award for the safest car in America and has zero emissions. The cutting edge of efficiency and cost savings.”
She sighed. “I drive a Mitsubishi convertible Eclipse in cherry red. I don’t think I can date or respect a man who drives an economy vehicle. We just won’t have the compatible energy needed in a relationship, especially in the bedroom.” She gave him a sunny smile. “Nice to meet you, though.”
Ding.
Already a little shaken, Ned rose and made his way to the next table. A tall brunette with glasses studied him carefully and waited for the timer to begin. “I’m Sandra. I’m an elementary school teacher, divorced, no children, and live by myself.”
Ned relaxed when she paused. This, he could handle. An intelligent, direct conversation to discover if there was any chemistry or connection. “Hi, I’m Ned. I work as an engineer and I’ve never been married.”
“Do you have issues?”
He laughed, enjoying her sense of humor, and then realized she was frowning at him and dead serious. “Oh. Probably. Doesn’t everyone have issues?”
“I don’t. You have a stain on your shirt.”
He swiped at it and blocked it with his arm. “Sorry. I was rushing out of the lab and running late.”
She pointed a finger at him. “You’re a workaholic.”
He shifted in his chair. “I do work a lot, but I’m looking to change that. Do you—do you enjoy your job?”
“Not really. The Common Core stuff wrecked everything, the sixth graders are hormonal and impossible to control, and they want to take away most of our benefits.”
“I’m sorry. Are you thinking of switching careers?”
“In this economy?” She looked at him as if his lab coat had suddenly caught fire. “No way. I have to deal with it, so I made a schedule to keep conflict to a minimum. Get pregnant in eighteen months so I can extend my leave to a full year. Have the second child exactly fourteen months later, so they’re close in age. But I don’t want to deal with any workaholics. My father was one, and my parents ended up divorced. Have you always been selfish?”
“Huh? No, if I had a family, I wouldn’t work as much. Let me ask you—”
“Sorry, I’m not taking a risk with you. I think our time is up.”
Ding.
At table eleven, he knocked over his partner’s cocktail and stained her pretty red dress. At table twelve, he met a catalog model who dismissed him immediately and gave him a lecture on the perils of skin cancer from sunbathing. He drained his bad wine, but there was no time to get another because those five minutes dragged on endlessly and melded into another session more horrifying than the last.
Finally, at table fifteen, he scored.
Debra had a sweet smile, long red hair, and a milky white complexion. He introduced himself. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ned. Meeting people is so hard nowadays, we’re reduced to embarrassing ways to find one another.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly. “Yes, I agree. Though I’m surprised you would have any problems.”
She laughed and ducked her head. “Thanks. So, instead of asking a bunch of inane questions for five minutes, I composed a few fun ways to see what personality types we are.”
“Very creative.” He’d read about this in Cosmopolitan magazine and completed dozens of surveys regarding the type of man women truly craved. His skin tingled with excitement. “Ask away.”
“Wonderful!” She drew out a stack of index cards and shot him a playful expression. “Question one, what type of first date would you take me on to impress me?”
Yes. He knew this one cold. He tried to keep the triumph out of his face. “I’d take you to the New York Public Library in Manhattan and find out what type of books you like to read. Then have a picnic in the park afterward.”
Disappointment gleamed in her brown eyes. “Oh. A library is free, Ned. And a picnic is cheap. No limo? Broadway play? How about the revolving restaurant on top of the Marriott Marquis? Are you afraid to spend money on a woman?”
What was she talking about? Cosmo always said a man needed to be romantic. Unique. Money didn’t impress; thoughtfulness and originality did. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. How about your next question?”
She perked back up and slid to her next note card. “If you were to compliment one part of me, what would that be?”
This one he knew! Marie Claire talked about it constantly. “Your smile,” he said.
Her lower lip kicked out. “Are you kidding me? Do I work out at the gym twenty-four-seven so you can comment on my teeth?”
His ears roaring, he blinked in sheer confusion. This could not be happening. The last time he took Connor’s advice and commented on a woman’s body, he’d gotten a drink thrown in his face. “I didn’t think women liked when men did that.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s ridiculous, we live for it.”
Ned made a mental note to go back to bodily compliments. “Do I get one more shot?”
“Last one. This is the most important. If we got in a fight, how would you apologize?”
Finally. There was no way to get this one wrong. “I’d tell you straight out I was sorry and that I’d work on fixing what I can so we don’t have the same issue in the future.” Hello, Self magazine. Communication and stating a verbal apology was a number one priority with women.
Debra stuffed her cards into her purse and gave him a look. “Why the hell would I care if you’re sorry? Actions speak louder than words. I want jewelry. Sorry, Ned, you’re just not for me.”
Ding.
By the time he hit table twenty, he was aggravated, tired, thirsty, and disillusioned. Most cared about his appearance, money, or man toys, and all he wanted to do was get serious and leave all the junk behind. Despite weeks of reading women’s magazines, he’d flunked every five-minute session.
Finally, he reached the last date. The woman seemed nice enough, but he’d been here before. No more. This time, he was running the date his way.
“Hi, I’m Bernadette.”
He leaned forward, placed his elbows on the table, and narrowed his gaze. “Hi, I’m Ned. When will you be ready to be married and have kids?”
The woman jerked back. She seemed shocked, but he bet she was just pretending. He hadn’t met a female without an agenda this whole night. “Umm, I’m not sure. I want to be in love with the right person. Then marriage and kids can come later.”
Hmm, good answer. Ned raised the stakes. “How long? A month? Two? You’re already past thirty, and statistics show once your eggs reach thirty-five, your fertility starts declining, and chances of a healthy baby decrease by forty percent.”
Was that a moan? He was only citing statistics straight from Glamour or Self. He forgot which one. Her lower lip trembled but he had her full attention. “I’m only twenty-nine,” the woman whispered.
“Right on the precipice. I would rethink your plan if you want to birth at least two children. You do want children, right?”
Another small moan. “Yes, I’ve always dreamed of having children.”
Finally. A woman who knew what she wanted. He relaxed. “Me, too. I think we have similar philosophies. It’s been a tough night, but I’m glad we finally met. I think I’m supposed to wait till the end, but since this worked out so well, how about dinner Friday night?”
Ding.
The woman pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. She blinked rapidly. Were those tears? What was going on?
He opened his mouth to question her, but a vision in hot pink swarmed into his line of sight.
Dream woman.
She was even more stunning close up. Her lips held just a touch of glossy moisture, and his nostrils kicked in at the scent of sandalwood and cinnamon. She laid a hand on Bernadette’s arm and whispered something in her ear. Bernadette nodded, swiped at her eyes, and stood up. Dream woman patted her back, pointed her in the other direction, and watched her walk away.
“Hey, we were setting up a date.”
Dream woman swung around and met his gaze head on.
He stilled. Those golden eyes sucked him in deep and held on tight. He struggled for breath, entranced by the white-hot heat and fury beating from her in waves. Deliberately, she placed her palms flat on the table and leaned in.
“I want to talk to you.”
His spirits perked up. “Great. Did the clock start?”
“Forget the clock. I need to finish up a few things and then I’d like to have a chat. I’ll meet you at the diner next door in ten minutes.”
No way. She was interested in him? Odd, she looked a bit intense for having just asked him out, but he’d go anywhere with her. Maybe this horrific night would turn out alright. “Don’t I need to fill out my request sheet first?”
Was it possible she looked even more furious? Her expression fascinated him, all sharp angles and soft skin. Funny, if you took away each of her features, it seemed as if her face was too big for her body, but when put together, she had movie-star looks. Like Julia Roberts. A long, gazelle-like structure, highly cut cheekbones, thick brows, huge eyes. “I’m sure that sheet won’t be needed. I’ll see you at the diner.”
She pulled back, swiveled on her four-inch pink heels, and disappeared into the crowd.
Ned dumped the sheet. Other than Bernadette, the event had been a bust. But his date with Dream Woman was everything he’d hoped for. Who needed long term if he could enjoy her for one perfect night? He’d have just enough time to pop another breath mint and rub a tissue over his orange face to see if he could lighten it up.
Ned headed toward the diner.
5 Stars!
Contemporary Romance
Release: April 29, 2014
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The up-and-coming matchmaking agency Kinnections is the hottest thing to hit Verily, New York—just like Kennedy Ashe, social director for the service she owns with her two best girlfriends. A coach, consultant, and cheerleader rolled into one super-sizzling package, Kennedy creates dream dates, encourages singles to shine, and never refuses a challenge—not even Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, rocket scientist, nerd extraordinaire, and Kennedy’s newest client.
Kennedy vows to work her magic and transform this hot mess in a lab coat with a disastrous relationship track record into the most wanted man on the Verily dating scene. If only she could turn the wand on herself . . .
Though she radiates confidence and sex appeal, Kennedy harbors deep-seated insecurities from a tormented past and lifelong struggle with weight issues. When she realizes she and Nate are cut from the same cloth and might be perfect together, can Kennedy learn to let her heart lead the way? Or will her fears sentence her to the sidelines as Nate finds love—with someone else?
MY REVIEW:
I have to say, I am officially addicted to Ms. Probst’s new series. This is hot, engaging, funny, and very relatable. I love the tie-in she’s also done to her previous series as well; it gives it a nice connection. And let me just say this one had me laughing so much, and out loud so many times, I lost count.
Nate is a hoot, and I love the author’s reference to his given name and how it spells NERD. LOL The fact that he was one, too, was even better. And what is nicer than watching a bud blossom into something sinfully sexy.
Kennedy was also engaging and fun to read about. She had it all together except for her dealings with Nate, but in the end, it was truly nice to watch these two work out their issues.
If you want a book that will have you doubling over in laughter, while at the same time giving you all of the factors readers want: hotness, engaging, and fabulous characters, pick this up today!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LovinLosLibros
Posted Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I am such a huge fan of this series. After reading and loving the first book Searching For Someday, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. I knew it would be an emotional one, as it is told in the first book that Kennedy has always struggled with her weight. I loved Searching For Perfect because it just has such a good message and it really leaves you feeling hopeful that you can overcome the darkness that keeps you from living life to the fullest.
Pacing: Extremely well-paced. The relationship between Kennedy and Nate is not rushed and I felt Probst handled it very realistically. I also felt Probst did a great job connecting some of the previous plot lines from the first book to this one.
Storyline: As I mentioned above, we met Kennedy in the first novel and I really loved her. Where Kate was more timid and shy, Kennedy is really outgoing and fun-loving. She is funny and I loved watching her interact with Nate. Nate is a train wreck. He is looking for love and marriage, but doesn't quite know how to go about it. He attends a speed dating session where everything that could go wrong, does. Kennedy zones in on him and knows she has to do something. She loves helping people and she sees Nate and knows she can help turn his life around. The problem? Nate is fascinated by Kennedy. He sees her at the mixer and desperately wishes someone like her would notice a guy like him, but knows there's no way that would ever happen. Nate's undergoing transformation is hilarious to witness. He was raised by his older brother, Connor, who is pretty jaded and cynical about love and has offered his 'advice' to Nate. Between Connor's advice and his speed dating experience, he has NO idea how to talk to a woman. Kennedy and Kinnections step in and plan to find Nate his HEA.... unknowing that he may have already found her.
I love how Probst gives us a little bit more each time about Kate's friend, Gen and the Mackenzie family. I am curious as to what is going on there, as she is engaged to be married and does not seem like a happy bride at ALL. We once again get to see the other characters from the Billionaire series very briefly and that made me smile.
Characters: As I said, Nate is a hot mess. He is blunt, direct, and says what's on his mind. Obviously, that can have its good and bad effects. He is an aerospace engineer and works long hours and hasn't had time for relationships. However, he wants that to change and find someone to spend his life with. He has done his research on what women want and like, but between his brother's misguided advice and other things he picks up on, he just doesn't have the social skills to woo a woman. His directness is what gets to Kennedy though. He isn't afraid to dig deeper with her and the way he innocently does it, is actually endearing even when you want to be pissed off. He is attracted to Kennedy from the get-go, but feels he could never capture a woman like her. Yet, the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes his feelings for her aren't going away, but only getting stronger.
Kennedy doesn't do love and marriage. She's a right now kind of girl, always protecting herself first and foremost. She dealt with severe bullying in school when she was younger and while she has faced those demons head on, they do still linger and remind her of the cruel punishment she once endured. The way Nate pushes and challenges her ends up strengthening her and he sees her for who she really is- beautiful and strong. She doesn't think she's good for him, thus the delicious game of who will cave to who fastest. There are a few scenes that absolutely shredded my heart as we really got to see Kennedy vulnerable and exposed.
I loved seeing Arilyn and Kate again and I am really looking forward to Ari's story! They are great friends to Kennedy and aren't afraid to step in when she needs a little 'friendtervention'!
Final Thoughts: I loved watching Kennedy and Nate together. They are opposites, but actually have quite a bit in common. They just work together and a piece of my heart died every time Kennedy pushed him away. Nate, while a bit of a mess, is a genuine guy and I really loved him. His and Kennedy's chemistry is off the charts and I was screaming at her to just let go of everything already and be with him! Because when you constantly push someone away, you might just lose them forever.
"You're both. Smart and beautiful. On the inside and outside. You don't have to choose one over the other anymore. You can just be exactly who you were meant to be. And I think that's damn perfect."
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I wish i wasn't so dumbfounded right now so I could explain the sheer perfection of this book. Perfect just perfect all the way around, I thought this was better than the first one and I freakin LOVED that one so I'm just blown away. Speechless
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Role reversal on makeover to get the mate.
This has been done many times in many ways. Probst set this fine nerdy male, Nate (with the longest name) Ellison Raymond Dunkle, in the position to need a makeover to get a wife for life. Kennedy Ashe, social director for Kinnections, is tasked with the job of performing a miracle. All this while battling her own demons in the form of body image and all that goes with it. Its a good thing that Nate can see beyond the facade that over time she has perfected but been unable to see herself.
Probst brought me a series that I can get into. I enjoyed the journey and look forward to more. I will most certainly pick up another book in this series, first by going back and reading book one, 'Searching for Someday'.
Thanks, NetGalley.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014
## This book was fabulous for the most part! I loved that I laughed out loud so much while reading this. The hero and heroine had tremendous chemistry which is an absolute must for me. Jennifer's writing style was the bomb as per usual. I adored all the face to face dialogue instead of chapters and chapters of inner dialogue that most authors use. I felt they really got to know each other.
**2 things I didn't like (deducted a star for each):
1) I didn't like that Nate was going to sleep with both the other women he was dating had he not been interrupted by his brother and the second time if the woman hadn't chosen to break things off that evening. Both times he was headed for the bedroom even though he insisted he was in love with the heroine. That was a major turn-off for me.
2) The amount of time it took the heroine to come around was too much. Just like Slade in the previous book. It's fine at first but after 200 pages the "I'm not good enough for you" speech gets old.
However, those 2 things will not keep me from reading this story again.
My Fair Rocket Scientist
4.5 stars. While this is a continuation of the "Kinnections" matchmaking agency
stories, it works well as a standalone.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rocket scientist, er, aerospace engineer, Ned, comes to a speed-dating mixer
sponsored by Kinnections. Geek chic he is not, and though he has recently
decided he needs to find a potential wife, and studied hard in all the popular
women's magazines, from Cosmo to Marie Claire, his efforts here are a
hilarious disaster.
After giving him a talkin'-to, Kennedy realizes there's sincerity and potential
under that bad orange spray tan, and decides to play Professor Higgins to his
Eliza. Ned, renamed Nate, goes through a number of painful and humiliating
procedures - not without protest, but also in part, because he was attracted to
Kennedy from the first, and this permits him to spend time in her company.
Kennedy fights her inclination to pair off with Nate for a number of reasons - he's
a client, and besides, she doesn't DO long-term. But their eventual coming
together... well, there's LOTS of coming, together and separately, and it's very,
very hot.
Very enjoyable read, a couple you can root for, with friends and family leaving
just enough hints of other stories to follow.
CRCharles87
Posted Fri May 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
"Searching for Perfect" was the first book in Jennifer Probst's series that I read. I am a sucker for a good romance novel and was searching for another book to add to my growing collection when I stumbled upon this book suggestion via a BN email. Jennifer Probst finds a way to create characters that I find to be very relatable to my own personality (which always makes reading more fun right?). If you are interested in a quick, decent, and captivating read that will lure you to read more from the series, check this out. :)
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Posted Sat May 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014
As always Ms. Probst delivers excellence. Heartfelt,steamy and hysterical. I love that each of these series gives the reader insight into the marriage trilogy. Beautiful and flawless weaving of characters throughout . Can't wait for her next one!
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Posted Wed May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014
.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon May 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Wow is all i can say. I love this series and these characters....please keep them coming!
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Posted Mon May 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Searching For Perfect is the modern day fairy tale of Beauty and the Geek. This story was so wonderfully written and captivated me from the first page to the last. Jennifer Probst has created yet another masterpiece in this read. I cannot recommend it enough.
I absolutely adored this story and took my time getting to the end because I knew I would be so sad when it was over. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. Kennedy is breathtakingly beautiful. She has no problem snagging any man that she wants for a night or two because she has no interest in a long term relationship. That is until project Nate comes stumbling through the door. She is so excited to take the man who's initials literally spell out the word NERD (Nathan Ellison Raymond Dunkle) and turn him into a beautiful butterfly. He is her Eliza Doolittle. Never in a million years would she have ever expected to fall for him.
Nate is an aerospace engineer who is so intelligent that he lacks proper social skills. You know the type with the pocket protector and nerdy glasses. To top it off he has taken horrible advice from his brother when it comes to women and his pick up lines are extremely chauvinistic. Kennedy seriously has her work cut out for her. Nate is smitten with her from the very beginning. He knows she is way out of his league but he can dream right? Kennedy is a master at what she does and before long Nathan has turned into a gorgeous hunk and a hot sexy man with a brain just happens to be Kennedy's kryptonite.
I have never laughed so much when reading a book. My kids were like mom what is so funny. Nate and Kennedy are hysterically funny and seriously sexy. Kennedy is extremely hard headed and is lucky that when Nate wants something he does not back down but at the end of the day you can only do so much and if it was not meant to be you have to let the person go. The question is will Kennedy come back to him or will he have moved on. She did set him up with another woman.
Jennifer does a masterful job developing these characters and the supporting cast is superb once again. Nate's brother Connor is a riot.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this lighthearted and fun romance. I gave this book 6-stars because it was immensely entertaining from start to finish. I did not want it to end. I am telling all my friends and all of you that if you take a chance on Searching For Perfect you will not be sorry. This book is in my Top 25 Romances for 2014.
Bronxgal
Posted Mon May 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I love all of Jennifer Probst's books, and this one isjust as amazing as the others. Nate was a great character, and I loved Kennedy. Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jennifer Probst is a relatively new author to me, but she's rapidly becoming one of my favorites. I really enjoyed Searching for Someday when I read it last year and her spring break novella, Beyond Me, was fantastic. I was so excited to learn she would be releasing a second novel in her Searching For series... and even more excited to get an early look at it. It was so flipping good.
Searching for Perfect had a fantastic setup and the synopsis attracted me from the start... what happens when the nerdy guy is looking for love and hires a matchmaker to help make him over and find someone for him? Well, in Searching for Perfect, the nerdy guy is hot as can be and falls for his matchmaker. His feelings aren't exactly unrequited either.
Kennedy was a strong, relatable female character. She isn't perfect and her insecurities hold her back. But as her story came out, it became clear why. She loves a good challenge and rocket scientist Nate (Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, yes NERD) just might give her more than she can handle. In more ways than one. *Snicker.*
"Umm, Nate?"
"Yeah?"
"You're very... well endowed."
He grinned. A totally masculine, seductive, "curl your toes and surrender now" kind of grin. "The more to pleasure you with, my dear."
"Or kill me"
"I'll make sure you're ready first." His eyes gleamed. "Three orgasms beforehand should do it."
As much as I liked Kennedy's character, Nate was the standout for me in this book. I have a think for smart guys. Always have. Don't get me wrong, I love a good rocker or athlete, but at the end of the day, a smart funny guy will get me every single time. Nate was both. Way underneath is buttoned-up, socially awkward and overly frank exterior, anyhow. I had the biggest crush on Nate. He was a sweetheart who was really looking for love. Oh, and the man can dirty talk. Ho-lee-crap. I didn't expect that at all.
Kennedy and Nate had a ton of chemistry, regardless of how much she was trying to fight it. She was convinced she would find love for him, but it wasn't with her. He wanted no one but her. This led to a lot of back and forth, but it was never overly angsty or dramatic. They had passion and a mutual respect for each other. They were spicy hot together and I enjoyed them, rooted for them the entire time, even if I wasn't ever fully certain they would get together.
Searching for Perfect was the perfect mix of sweet, sexy and funny. It was a quick read that I couldn't put down. I adored the characters and the plot flowed well. This is a fun series and I can't wait to see where Jennifer takes us next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Quotes come from the review copy and might differ from the final version.
Anonymous
Posted Sat May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Jennifer Probst did it again. This book made me laugh, cry and scream but I will say I don't remember laughing as much as I did with the antics of the "girls of Kinnections". They have been together since college and know everything about each other and the way they draw on each other is amazing. When Kennedy met Nate and took him on as her project it had it very funny parts while she was making him over but it also had the very heartfelt moments also when they are growing towards each other and she kept pushing him away because she thought she knew best. How Connor thought what he was doing to Nate was for the best and how he finally realized he was wrong and was man enough to go to Kennedy and admit it. I loved how she incorporated her characters from her other series into this one and I cannot wait to read the next book.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This story was amazing. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much reading a book. Nate and Kennedy's story truly made me smile and I can't wait to see who is next. This is a great book and I would recommend it to any and all:) This is the first time I have ever left a rating/review for a book and I read A LOT of book. I give it at least 5 stars:)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I loved the newest edition to the series. I couldnt stop laughing at some parts and others I just wanted to break down and cry for the characters. I loved Nate and Ken even thoigh she was getting on my nerves in some parts. I cant wait to see what Jennifer does for Arilyn and please please save Gen from David and get her and Wolfe together. I am hurting for her!
5 ?????
I loved this book! This is the 2nd book in the series and doesn't disappoint. I loved how Kennedy transformed Nate and starting falling for him but was fighting it because she was supposed to be helping him. can't wait for the next book! !
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.booknerd81
Posted Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I have read every one of Jennifer’s books and I have loved them all, but I have to say this book might be my favorite so far. I love the way Jennifer writes such complex yet real characters. These are people you can identify with even if you haven’t been faced with the same struggles that they deal with. Now let’s talk Nate, hot is just not the right word for him. He is off the charts sexy and in such a subtle sweet way that hook you right from the start. The sexy scenes are so off the charts I was afraid my e-reader was going to smoking. This is a perfect book for anyone who enjoys a beautifully written contemporary romance. I do believe it could be read as a standalone but since everything Jennifer does is magic I would strongly encourage you to read the other books in the series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sbart84
Posted Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014
The girls of Kinnections are at it again. This involves Ned the Nerd, who changes his name to Nate. Kennedy is his coach to find the perfect wife. Nate has already found the perfect girl if only he can convince Kennedy into it. This book had me laughing out loud with Nate's antics. Get a fan ready for the sex scenes,you will need some cooling off. Once again Jennifer does not disappoint the reader.
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Overview
The up-and-coming matchmaking agency Kinnections is the hottest thing to hit Verily, New York—just like Kennedy Ashe, social director for the service she owns with her two best girlfriends. A coach, consultant, and cheerleader rolled into one super-sizzling package, Kennedy creates dream dates, encourages singles to shine, and never refuses a challenge—not even her new client, Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, rocket scientist and nerd extraordinaire. Kennedy vows to transform this hot mess in a lab coat with a ...