Reviews

Searching for Perfect by Jennifer Probst

ka2168's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

bookswritingandmore's review against another edition

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5.0

I have quickly fallen in love with this series by Jennifer Probst. This is the story of Kennedy who is one of the owners at Kinnections, the matchmaking agency she shares with her two best friends. Kennedy doesn't need a man, she is beautiful, fit and intelligent and being with one man is just not on the top of her to do list. Then she meets Nate. This guy is a mess. He is always messy and unkempt. He has no idea how to talk to a women and he is brass and unsophisticated. The complete opposite of Kennedy.
Then the two work on his physical and emotional appearance in order to find him a wife. In spending so much time together, and once Kennedy sees how much improvements Nate has made all in the name of love, she is confused. Does she want Nate for herself?
The writing of this series is so funny, enduring and a great light heartened read. I just love the writing style of Jennifer Probst and how each of these girls all fight some inner self confidence issues. It is easy to relate to them and find yourself in the story.
I am definatly excited for the next book i get to read by Jennifer Probst and can't wait to pick up more of her books!

alittlebird's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

2.75

patriciadanisova's review against another edition

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5.0

Najprv som si nebola istá Nedom/Natom. V mojej hlave vyzeral ako Aldrich Killian z Iron Mana 3 na začiatku, ale potom som sa nebjako prebojovala k predstave sexy nerda.
To bolo jediné, čo mi kazilo zážitok. Inak Jennifer zase dokázala, že je TOP!



















jen286's review against another edition

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4.0

This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland

Searching for Perfect was such a cute read! Ken and Nate were adorable together! Oh I loved these two. Especially Nate. He was a lot of fun.

Ken works for a matchmaking firm and is running a speed dating night. She loves her job, loves matching people and helping them find connections. Only something goes amiss this time and she will not have that.

Nate shows up for speed dating looking for a wife. Only it doesn't go so well. His appearance is unkempt (for example he has a stains on his shirt) and he always says what he thinks. But not in a tactful way. He doesn't understand that anything is wrong with the way he is. He is looking for a wife, not some relationship that will go nowhere or a one night stand. He has focused on his job as an aerospace engineer for so long and now he is ready for his personal life to be better. He lives with his brother who tells him how to get women, and it might work for the brother, but the things he says definitely don't work for Nate. He puts people off with his unapologetic way of saying what he thinks. He doesn't know how to talk "normally" to girl and he can come across as a right jerk when he is really trying to find a connection. When he upsets one of the girls Ken, whom Nate had previously seen and thought was the most beautiful woman ever, pulls him aside and asks to meet him at the place across the street. She is all ready to set him straight and tell him his jerk ways are not appreciated...but she finds that he is being sincere. He doesn't know what he is doing wrong. It was really cute. She decides to take him on as a client, to give him a makeover and teach him the ways to find someone he is compatible with. Someone he will be happy with.

Along the way they both fall for the other of course. Nate liked Ken immediately and I loved him! The more time he spends with Ken the more he falls for her. Not only is she beautiful, but she is kind and smart and sweet and fun and everything. But Ken doesn't want to want Nate. She doesn't want to be falling for him. She shouldn't be. He is a client. It doesn't matter that her coworkers, her friends, don't mind and can see what is happening. When she realizes she has really fallen for him she tries to save him from herself. She is a mess! She has some issues and hangups still and normally I wouldn't enjoy this kind of storyline so much, but this one was so much fun I don't know how you couldn't love it! She tries to keep a lot of parts of herself hidden away, the fact that she is super smart and interested in aerospace engineering for example. That she understands what Nate is talking about when he talks about his job and asks questions and such. Only Nate could see right through her. He could see behind her shields and see who she really was. She has reasons for her insecurities, I totally understand, but Nate was so sweet with her. They are so good for each other and perfect together. I really enjoyed this story. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to read more from this author.

tessanne's review against another edition

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1.0

I was super excited to read this book, having seen and heard it recommended in multiple places. And when I started reading, it seemed like a great premise. But dear lord. What a hot mess of a book.

First I’ll say something nice: I really liked Ned/Nate. He was endearing, did his research, and was going after what he wanted. Very admirable.

The problems are as follows, and this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Ned did alll this research and knew what to say and do during the initial speed date. And it’s okay that he started second guessing himself, but then he took it all too far, relying instead on his brother’s advice?! Including after he was told how he screwed up and that he should basically stick with what his research taught him. That made no sense.

Sure, he wasn’t a virgin, but he was actually... a sex god? And seemingly largely due to his research??

The makeover. I’m sure he could have used some cleaning up, but Kennedy changed basically everything about him, appearance-wise. It was pretty mean and humiliating. Let’s not even talk about the fucking dog collar.

How did Nate get to be such a caveman? Like, there seemed to be consent issues here.

And why did Kennedy have to be such a natural at golf??

Nate made so many attempts to get Kennedy to see what they had together that I wish he’d moved on and actually found someone who loved him. Kennedy only decided she loved him because of... magic?! Not because of him AT ALL.

I’m so mad I read this book.

jaimejustreadsromance's review against another edition

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5.0

Move over all you alpha billionaires, bikers, bad boys and rockers, there's a new man in town and he wears glasses, a pocket protector and a lab coat. But don't let that wrapping fool you, there's an alpha man just waiting underneath to be set free.

That's right folks Jennifer Probst has perfected the Alpha Nerd!

Ladies, let me introduce you to Nathan Ellison Raymond Dunkle. Yep that's right his name is actually NERD. He's messy, and he's naive. He's awkward and he often puts his foot in his mouth. He is also brilliant and he studies women's magazines in order to better relate to them. He's not just interested in landing a couple of easy one night stands, he's ready for a wife and a family, but the road to meeting them has not been easy. So he enlists the help of the matchmaking services of Kinnections where he is immediately attracted to Kennedy.

Kennedy has a secret shame that keeps her from staying in long-term relationships and has her hiding from the girl she used to be. She sees a challenge when she meets Ned, quickly making him go by the name Nate instead. As she embarks on the journey to make Nate over, both physically and socially, she can't help but start to notice that beneath all that awkward lies a sweet heart of a man who just needs some guidance.

Meanwhile, Nate isn't afraid to show, and tell, Kennedy on a regular basis that he is attracted to her and would like to maybe try dating her instead of using the matchmaking service. Kennedy doesn't think that anyone should have to endure her heartbreaking past, so she constantly turns him down.

Then one fateful night Nate steps in as her knight in shining armor and Kennedy opts to let him help her try to forget about her past, that night and everything in between.

"I'm not a saint, Ken. I've wanted you for a damn long time, but you don't have to promise me sex to get what you want. I'll hold you and kiss you and keep you safe, and you can go home in the morning. Don't offer me something out of guilt."

And oh how good he is at making her forget. I swear to god this sex scene is probably the most educational and HOT scene I've read in a long time. The way Nate describes everything as he does it is strangely and inexplicably erotic. I have already re-read this scene at least 10 times since I finished the book. I think pretty much the whole thing is highlighted on my Kindle. Plus, it helps that Nate just happens to be super, well....um....

"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."

Um...hold on. I need a minute before I continue.
Ok, but seriously, how hot is that?!?

The next day Kennedy freaks out and Nate chooses to not push her into anything before she is ready. She continues to fight the attraction and all of the feelings she has for him by pushing him into other dates and reminding him that she's no good for him.
Will he give up or will he fight for her? Will she give in or did she just push away her soul mate?

You need to read this to find out and trust me when I say that you won't be disappointed. Go, read. You know you want to.

*I received a copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Searching for Perfect, book 2 of Jennifer Probst’s Searching for series, details the romance between Kennedy Ashe and Nate Dunkle. Nate is a rocket scientist who seeks the advice of Kennedy’s matchmaking agency, Kinnections. As the social director it is her job to turn the nerd extraordinaire into a suave social acceptable date, but doesn’t count on becoming attracted to her client.

Kennedy is well versed in makeovers, as Jennifer Probst does a good job of illustrating. Kennedy is really portrayed as a product of her environment, although her obsession to not be the girl she was growing up could sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Nate is an all around good guy, albeit a bit awkward, which is seen in everything that he does. I really liked his interactions with Kennedy, and how he was able to show her something despite the fact that she was supposed to be the one that gave him constant advice. The one person that drove me crazy was someone in Nate’s inner circle who is so annoying you don’t know why Nate listens to him. Searching for Perfect gave a heartwarming story of two people who seem to have it together but need each other to get over their own vulnerability.

Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books

nicole_reads_romance's review against another edition

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2.0

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Ken was a fantastic supporting character, so I eagerly jumped right into her story after finishing Searching for Someday. And then got bombarded with a slew of clichés...

Why can't dorky guys be dorky and still attractive? Why can't a guy wear glasses and still be hot? Why does a guy need abs and killer arms and legs to be a catch? (which I just don't buy that he can get from golfing twice a week...) Why must all fabulous hair artists be fabulously gay?

So the story itself was good, the insecurities and the emotional journey were fine. But the slew of clichés and required full make-over just caught me up and I pretty much skimmed over the second-half to get to the HEA.

caity1987's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a book about the fact that the heart wants what the heart wants... It always seems to happen at work and no matter what things always seem to happen when the heart get's involved. It shows that you should always go for it but not always because things can get very hairy if it really goes south.