Isn't It Romantic?

The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents--who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno--Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. After all, her father's never been around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn't "father material" before Juno was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard...and lonely.

But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that's predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands. At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly's founder, Dr. River Pena. This is one number she can't wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Pena. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we'll pay you. Jess--who is barely making ends meet--is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the "Diamond" pairing that could make GeneticAlly a mint in stock prices, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist--and the science behind a soulmate--than she thought.

Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.

What if love was in your DNA? That's what the team at GeneticAlly believed. After submitting her sample in a moment of weakness, Jess found herself matched to none other than River, the prickly founder of the company. They not only matched, they matched at a historic 98%. Will Jess be able to see beyond River's gruff exterior and give him a chance to win her heart? 

Christina Lauren never disappoints me! As a science geek, I was immediately hooked by this premise, but all those signature CLo elements were there too. Great characters - check. Witty dialog - check. Lots of warmth and charm - check. A heartwarming romance - check. This one checked all the boxes for me. 

I have a special affection for single-mom heroines. Being a single mom myself, I find I relate to them in a special way and really understand their concerns when it comes to relationships. But there was a lot more to Jess than just being Juno's mom. She was a single mom by choice, who had a complicated relationship with her own mother. Jess was lucky enough to be blessed with phenomenal grandparents who raised her, but she still built walls around her heart for protection. That was a tough obstacle for River, but he managed to get through. 

River was rather wonderful, once you got to know him. He might have seemed like a stereo-typical scientist, but he also had experiences from his past which shaped him in a big way. His love for his sisters and his grandmother showcased his softer side, and seeing him with Juno melted my heart. 

Speaking of Juno, she was one of the characters who made this story even more wonderful. Juno was a fun little kid, who injected lots of sweetness and joy into this tale. Jess' grandparents were also a source of smiles and "aww shucks" moments for me. Then there was Fizzy, Jess' best friend. She was a hoot! Her ties to the romance industry added another layer of fun to the story, and she provided lots of humor as well. 

This romance took time to ramp up, but it was pure bliss for me once they got there. The pairing was a bit unexpected, but the chemistry was undeniable. Jess and River shared so many great moments on the road to their HEA, and I treasured them all. 

Overall: Another CLo hit for me! It was sciencey, sweet, and packed with lots of feel-good moments, which left me hoping for a sequel. 

Talk Hockey to Me
Kelly Jamieson
Series: Bears Hockey, #3
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Kelly Jamieson Inc.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

They can resist their attraction…until their hearts rocket them across the blue line.

Hunter
Timing. Hockey careers are made or broken on it, and mine has taken exceptionally broken road. I’m not a star. I’m a grinder, I work hard, and I’m finally at the point I can put the past behind me and get the fat, long-term contract I deserve.

But my agent—the man who stuck by me through every crash and burn—has had a heart attack. I need another agent now, or my one chance for the good money will slip through my fingers. Kate’s a rookie, but she loves the game like I do, so I pick up the phone. And I wonder if she remembers that one night in Cancun as vividly as I do.

Kate
Hockey. All my life I’ve lived it, breathed it, played it. Now it’s my business. As an agent, I’m tied to my phone at all hours, but nothing prepared me to hear Hunter’s voice. The last time I saw him—three years ago—there was a lot of bare skin and horny hormones involved.

I’ve handled it all in my short career—sexism, harassment, being broke, being laughed at. Resisting the attraction between us should be easy. Until it isn’t. And Hunter’s past shakes his confidence hard enough that he could make the worst decision at the worst possible time…

Right before he was due to become a free agent, Hunter's agent fell ill, and he needed to find someone he could trust - fast! The first person who came to mind was Kate. Will this woman from his past help propel him into his future or will she break him? 

This is it! The final Warrior story, and it included one of my favorite tropes - second chance romance. That's right. These two enjoyed friendship and a few benefits when they were in college. I was happy to see those important parts of their past via flashbacks, because I am trash for that sort of thing. I also loved getting to see who they were and who they became. 

As I previously mentioned, Hunter was the last of the Warriors trio we needed to meet. Each book in this series focused on one of the men involved in the deadly crash, and how it affected their lives. Hunter actually walked away physically intact, not a scratch. His wounds were mental, and now he had to deal with the fallout or risk losing things that were important to him. It's always great to see mental health incorporated into a story to normalize it, and I appreciated its inclusion. I loved seeing Hunter face his demons, and I was proud of the progress he made. 

The serious stuff was great, but so was the romance. When I was reading the flashbacks, I mourned all those missed opportunities and the bad timing they experienced. I lamented the years Hunter and Kate could have been together, because let me tell you, it was undeniable that these two belonged to one another. You could just tell that they were each other's "person". You know, that person you can be your most open and authentic self with. The one who accepts you, scars and all. 

This was a great addition to a solid series. I am not sure if this is the end for the Bears (I hope not!), but I am elated that I got to see each of these survivors get their HEA. 

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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