BOOK REVIEW: THE KISS QUOTIENT BY HELEN HOANG

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan—from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic..

MY THOUGHTS

This book has been on my TBR for a while so I am glad that I was finally able to complete it. I liked the story line of the book. It was great seeing the world through Stella's eyes and learning about the struggles that young women with autism face with respect to love and just life in general. Michael's character was quite interesting, I think it took me towards the end to really understand the things he was facing dealing with his family and the huge responsibility of his family on his shoulders.

The sexual passion in this book was something else let's just say the scenes had my attention. I also liked that there was an element of humour in some parts of the story making it a lighter read. If I were to criticize one thing it would be in the middle of the story there was a point where I felt that it was taking long to get to the point a bit. Overall though this was a nice romantic story and I look forward to the other books.

BLOG TOUR: A NURSE TO CLAIM HIS HEART @XpressoTours

 

A Nurse to Claim His Heart
Juliette Hyland
(Neonatal Nurses, #1)
Publication date: March 29th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Will a fake relationship turn into a forever romance? Find out in Juliette Hyland’s latest Harlequin Medical Romance, the first story in the Neonatal Nurses duet!

A picture is worth a thousand words…What about a viral video?

When Dr. Benedict saves an infant on the Washington Metro, the treatment he performs with nurse Penny becomes the talk of the town—and social media! Not least because the world thinks they’re a couple… While a real relationship is a no-go zone for divorced Benedict, prolonging their “faux-mance” is the perfect way to raise vital hospital funds. But the longer their ruse goes on, the more real it feels!

From Harlequin Medical: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

HERE IS AN EXCERPT

“His smile sent thrills chasing through her. “That is an excellent line, Benedict.”

“Not a line.” He stepped a little closer. “You are adorable, gorgeous and one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the benefit of knowing.”

“If this was a romantic comedy, this is the part of the movie where I jump into your arms and kiss you.” Penny raised a brow and leaned a little closer, waiting to see if he’d pull back. When he didn’t, Penny decided to let her inhibitions down. What good was pretend-dating Dr. Benedict Denbar if she didn’t at least get to see how the man kissed?

“Kiss me.” The soft demand left her lips, and if she’d been uncertain, the slow smile spreading across Benedict’s lips would have cemented the need in her belly. God, the man was hot.

His lips were soft as they grazed hers. He pulled her closer, the heat of his body echoing through her. She moved without thinking as she wrapped her hands around the nape of his neck. The world slowed as she relished the feel of his body next to hers.

When he deepened the kiss, her soul exploded. If she was ever given the option to pause time, this was the moment she’d choose to run on a loop.

“Penny.”

Her name on his lips reached through her senses as she pulled back. “Wow.”

“Wow, indeed,” Benedict echoed. ”

Author Bio:

Juliette Hyland believes in caffeine, hot drinks and happily ever afters! She lives in Ohio, USA, with her prince charming, who has patiently listened to many rants regarding characters failing to follow the outline. When not working on fun and flirty happily ever afters, Juliette can be found spending time with her beautiful daughters, giant dogs or sewing uneven stitches with her sewing machine.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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BOOK REVIEW: NINETEEN MINUTES BY JODI PICOULT

 

Synopsis 

In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five....In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.

Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens -- until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy. For them, the lines between truth and fiction, right and wrong, insider and outsider have been obscured forever. Josie Cormier, the teenage daughter of the judge sitting on the case, could be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. And as the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show, destroying the closest of friendships and families.

Nineteen Minutes is New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult's most raw, honest, and important novel yet. Told with the straightforward style for which she has become known, it asks simple questions that have no easy answers: Can your own child become a mystery to you? What does it mean to be different in our society? Is it ever okay for a victim to strike back? And who -- if anyone -- has the right to judge someone else?

My Thoughts

Wow. This one took me a while to get through but I finally completed it.

This is only my second time reading a Jodi Picoult book having previously read My Sister's Keeper during the pandemic. I enjoyed this one more though because of the topic of bullying and the fact that it can indeed lead to trauma like what Peter the main character was going through. Peter represented what many kids go through on a daily basis. As an educator I make it my duty to really disallow bullying of any kind. I liked how this work of fiction by Picoult creatively dealt with the effects of bullying so that a greater appreciation of it's impact could be gained by readers.

What was interesting also was Josie's character. I felt that Josie and Peter both were kindred spirits. While she wanted to fit in with the cool kids like Peter, she often felt insecure and out of place. This book really gave us many characters and relationships to analyze as well. For me Lacy and Alex, the two mothers and their dealing with their children spoke to the fact that many parents really have no idea what their teenagers are like.

The ending though I did not really like too much but overall this was indeed a good book.

BOOK REVIEW: TURNING A BLIND EYE BY TE'WRITES

 

Synopsis

What happens when one member of the family decides that the family secret isn’t worth keeping?

Based on a true story, this riveting tale exposes the shared secrets that many families would rather take to the grave.

Chantel’s world was turned upside-down when she discovered the abuse of her brother Roy at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, J.R. Outrage and panic left Chantel’s head spinning. How could someone do something so disgusting and violating?

Even after numerous attempts to end the abuse, Chantel was silenced by her family. It was clear to Chantel that they were not being protected by those who are supposed to love them the most.

The questions lingers with Chantel for years to come: Why is J.R’s protection continuously held above the love and care of innocent children?

Chantel was expecting that this tortuous situation was in the past. She had hopes that Roy could heal despite of the abusive presence still in their lives. Healing, however, isn’t in the cards yet for this family as all three of Roy’s children—

Chantel’s nieces and nephew—have experienced the same horrors as their father before them. Chantel will not be silent and allow the family to keep J.R.’s sordid secrets.

Turning A Blind Eye introduces a heroine whose fierce ambition has her stop at nothing to expose her family’s secret. It is Chantel’s mission to reveal the truth and break the generational curse.

MY THOUGHTS 

"It's easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone," Mahatma Gandhi

This book was not easy to read by any means but my goodness I was glad I did. I became very emotional throughout this book and yet I could not put it down.

This story gives a spin on child sexual abuse that I think people take for granted. Many families just like this one hide sexual abuse for fear of bringing shame upon the family by people knowing or for fear of being judged by the public. The story made me think about the many children who are presently going through situations such as this that are afraid to speak out.

This book is something that every parent should read, especially single mothers. As a mother, you cannot afford to be careless with your children, boy or girl and they should feel comfortable enough to come to you knowing that you are there to protect them. Te'Writes did not hold back in her story whatsoever.

I really am glad I read this and you should too.

*Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse.....