Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst – Reviews and Giveaway

 

Searching For Always
Searching For series – Book #4
by Jennifer ProbstRelease Date: June 30, 2015

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Description:
She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.

 

Review:
This is another winner! SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS is the 4^th novel in the Searching For series by Jennifer Probst and it is the conclusion of our group of women who run Kinnections, a matchmaking agency in Verily, NY. I will no longer fear book covers with a happy bridal couple! They contain some great contemporary romance novels! Arilyn comes face to face with the cop who irritated her so much in Gen and Wolfe’s story. One word to describe Arilyn and Stone’s relationship: Combustible!

Arilyn Meadows is our very Zen like counselor and yoga teacher at the agency. She fosters abandoned dogs, meditates daily and teaches anger management classes. Stone Petty is our local policeman, who curses, is surly and has a bit of a temper. Well, a bad temper which lands him in Arilyn’s anger management class! She comes off as a little too perfect and he comes off as a jerk. I don’t know how it happens, but page by page I came to adore both of them! Now, that is writing talent! Arilyn has just dumped her Yoga teacher slash boyfriend who she found in a compromising position and she has some repressed anger that she is only too happy to unleash on Stone! He can take it and gives it right back at her! Stone is everything that Arilyn doesn’t want in a man, or so she thinks! He is a smoker, he eats meat, he has a bad boy attitude and he is very masculine! Opposites really do attract and as they get to know the other person behind the facade, they might have more in common than they think!

All of our favorite women from past novels make an appearance to help our couple see what is right in front of them, their soul mate! We also get to meet Poppy, the grandfather who helped raise Arilyn and is he a delight! It seems he doesn’t really like the nursing home and he escapes on a regular basis. He befriends our terror of a neighbor from previous books, Mrs. Blackfire and we learn her story. One of my favorite scenes is when Arilyn makes vegetarian lasagna for the group and let’s just say, it doesn’t go over well!

Our couple has some obstacles to overcome, but they are hilarious and hot together. We get to read the details of one of the weddings and the hilarious girls’ night out party, complete with a stripper. Did our women set up Stone for the job? Somehow, Stone gets a foster dog too, a little rat of a dog named Pinky! I laughed out loud during some of the action and learned that our Zen like yoga teacher really has fire in her and nicely complements our favorite local police officer! Their relationship is steamy hot! The writing will draw you in from page one, I could quote whole passages, but I will let you enjoy them on your own! I highly recommend this series and I’m off to read the earlier novels. Lucky me!

 

Searching for Beautiful
Searching For series – book #3
by Jennifer Probst
Release Date: May 26, 2015

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Description:
Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin…and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.

Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

 

Review:
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I’m talking about SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Probst. To be honest, I usually run from the romantic novels with the happy bride and groom on the cover. This is my first novel by this author and it will not be my last. It can be read as a stand along novel, but now I have to go back to read about other characters, so it’s up to the reader. Gen is our runaway bride who is about to marry her “dream man” when her gut tells her to “RUN”. She listens and escapes through the church window into the arms of her best friend, Wolfe.

Wolfe and Gen have been best friends since she was twenty. They went through school together and have a great bond. Wolfe is a former underwear model and Gen is an up and coming surgeon. Wolfe doesn’t question her escape, he just whisks Gen away to a safe place, Vera Wang dress and all! He gives her the space she needs and learns that her fiancé hasn’t been the nicest guy. David, the jilted fiancé, has been controlling Gen throughout their relationship, making her feel bad about herself, demeaning her sexually. He was emotionally abusing her and planting the seeds in her family and coworkers minds that Gen “had issues”. Gen has got a great group of girlfriends and they add some much needed support. I didn’t know any of these characters before this novel, but I would want them by my side! They are hilarious and fiercely loyal!

Wolfe and Gen soon find their feelings are more than platonic, but we see glimpses of Wolfe’s dark past and he “doesn’t do relationships”. Soon they can’t deny their attraction to each other and the pages turn scorching! David, the spurned fiancé tries to win back Gen and he is a master manipulator. The police are called several times due to threats and vandalism. I’m sorry this is just a basic summary, but the writing is so captivating, it’s something you need to experience for yourself! Gen is so darn cute. She doesn’t want to be the Disney Princess that needs rescuing! The novel is full of great one liners and “product placement”. The author has many references to TV programs and movies. I happen to agree with the assessment of all of the shows, so I loved it. The burning question behind this story is: Will Wolfe be able to trust Gen with his past and his heart and turn this relationship into true love?  I swooned over the ending and how Wolfe’s adopted family helped him heal. You will LOVE this novel. I can’t wait for Arilyn’s novel and I am going to backtrack and read Jennifer Probst’s whole back list! I need to learn more about this group of women and their lucky men!

Reviewed by Jules

Copies provided by Publisher

Jennifer Probst’s publisher and The Reading Cafe are offering a paper copy of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS to ONE (1) commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from June 29-July 3, 2015