Reviews

Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst

jaimejustreadsromance's review

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4.0

This book started out a little slow for me and, honestly, I can't say that I really liked Arilyn all that much. It's probably just because I love bacon and being lazy too much or just that she seemed a little too uptight. She was so uptight and set in her ways that I wondered if she would ever be able to loosen up enough to let Stone in. I understand her reasoning for being such a health nut and being set on making the world a better place though, so in the end, she was easier to like.

Not that a Stone wasn't uptight and set in his own ways, because he was. His macho, grumpy attitude wasn't exactly inviting and friendly, but it was somehow more endearing. He also had his reasons for being such a curmudgeon and it's kind of heartbreaking.

Together they brought out the best in each other and that's where the story got good. That rat fink dog Pinky was the real catalyst to their HEA though and that was probably my favorite part.

This wasn't my favorite book of the Searching series but it's still worth reading for the simple fact that it's Jennifer Probst who wrote it. Plus if you're like me, you need to see a series to its completion to know how each important character gets their HEA.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

cupcakegirly's review

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3.0

Story: Feisty, fun and full of swoon. Arilyn and Stone's story has plenty of bark and bite (pun intended) with some steamy times thrown in for good balance, and kept me thoroughly entertained. Theirs makes a great addition to the SEARCHING series!

Audio: This is the same narrator who did SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL, but for some reason, her voice grated on my nerves this time around. I ended up switching to the paperback version in order to finish it.

jaimereadsromance's review

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4.0

This book started out a little slow for me and, honestly, I can't say that I really liked Arilyn all that much. It's probably just because I love bacon and being lazy too much or just that she seemed a little too uptight. She was so uptight and set in her ways that I wondered if she would ever be able to loosen up enough to let Stone in. I understand her reasoning for being such a health nut and being set on making the world a better place though, so in the end, she was easier to like.

Not that a Stone wasn't uptight and set in his own ways, because he was. His macho, grumpy attitude wasn't exactly inviting and friendly, but it was somehow more endearing. He also had his reasons for being such a curmudgeon and it's kind of heartbreaking.

Together they brought out the best in each other and that's where the story got good. That rat fink dog Pinky was the real catalyst to their HEA though and that was probably my favorite part.

This wasn't my favorite book of the Searching series but it's still worth reading for the simple fact that it's Jennifer Probst who wrote it. Plus if you're like me, you need to see a series to its completion to know how each important character gets their HEA.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

rachelreadsravenously's review

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DNF

Normally this author's book are a fun guilty pleasure read for me, but the banter between the 2 MC's was super annoying to me. I made it about 80 pages in before quitting.

I may just be in the wrong mood for this book, nothing wrong with it I'm just not feeling it at this time.

pmdayto's review

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3.0

Loved Arilyn and Stone! Loved the story. Hated it when the book ended and no part where Kate felt the touch between the two. :(

myownbookshelves's review

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4.0

When opposites attract, there will be sparks
So, you think you have your life all figured out. You have your routine, inner peace and know your path. Then someone crashes the party and turns it all on its head. Arilyn finds herself in this predicament the moment Stone walks into her anger management class.

I love a female lead who has got it together. Everyone has their insecurities, and Arilyn isn’t lacking for none. But, they are minimal so if you like stronger females this is a character you can cheer onward. The hero has the most to overcome. He thinks he has his life all put into perfect boxes, but our heroine shows him another side of himself that if he wants, he can be. Oh, and the steam scenes – wow! When Arilyn decides she wants it raw, Ms. Probst gives her some wild nights and mornings in bed.

“You taste so good, …Like sugar cookies. I want to spread you out, taste you, eat you until you come apart.” (fans self)

If you love Jennifer Probst novels, this one will definitely be a winner for your reading shelves. If you never read her, although part of the Searching for series, this book can stand alone. So far of the Verily gang, this is my favorite.

kimmylovestoread's review

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4.0

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good love/hate relationships and these two had a fantastic one. I knew while reading the previous book in the series that this story would be good, but it was more than that. It was AMAZING. Arilyn and Stone two loved to fight and more than once I found myself thinking "When they finally have sex, it is going to be AWESOME."

Arilyn and Stone met in the previous book and it was "hate at first sight" for both of them. Stone knew just the right buttons to push to make her angry and he likes to push them as often as possible. But thanks to a house call gone wrong at work, things get interesting when Stone has to attend Arilyn's anger management class. He thinks her methods are ridiculous and can't help but give her a hard time. Arilyn prides herself on being a calm, centered, and reasonable person, but Stone is the one person who can get her all riled up (in more ways than one) in no time at all.

These two were so much fun to watch. Arilyn wanted to see the best in everyone and help anyone any way she could and Stone just wanted the anger management classes to be over so he could go back to work. These two were headed for a major make out session and it finally happens after he helps Arilyn out with a puppy rescue mission.
“I have a proposition,” he drawled. “One kiss. Let’s prove to each other we’d be a disaster together.”

“I don’t need a kiss to confirm you’d be a nightmare to deal with,” she shot back. “You’re an ex-smoker, workaholic, anger ridden, meat eater, cynic.”

His fingers moved to caress her cheek, the line of her jaw, up to her temple. Little brushes of tenderness, contradicting the raw strength and power in those hands and body. Ready to crush her but choosing gentleness. The lust rolled over her in waves, and she fought back with all her power.

“And you’re a tree hugging, naïve, post world hippie with a god complex,” he retorted. “Vegetarian, to boot. Plus a hardened criminal.”

Arilyn growled under her breath and dug her nails into his shoulders with fierceness. “You know nothing about me, Officer! I am not naïve.”

“Stone. Now shut up.”

His mouth took hers.

She planned to fight back and give him everything she got.

And she did, but not in the way she planned.

The moment those blistering hot, soft lips met hers, she lost it. Swamped by the delicious scent and taste and feel of him, she arched upward and opened her mouth for more. He muttered something dark and dirty, and slid his tongue past her parted lips and beyond.

Then he showed her who was boss.

Oh, he kissed her with all the hard passion and lust she always dreamed about but never inspired. With her past lovers, she got tender, slow lovemaking, and poetic words murmured in her ear. Moves were coordinated like a beautiful song, and though she was satisfied, and emotionally full, there was an ache deep in her body that never felt completely fulfilled.

She’d thought something was wrong with her and happily ignored that part of herself.

Until now.

Stone Petty owned her. Possessed her. His tongue took what he wanted and demanded it all, with each silky thrust and complete deflowering of her mouth. His reached around and sunk his fingers into her hair, tugging her head back to expose her throat and keep her helpless beneath him. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest, his erection notched between her open thighs, and he ravished her body and soul, leaving nothing behind but an aching, horrible want for more.
But of course there is more to the story than this opposites attract relationship. Stone is in Arilyn's anger management class for a reason. He grew up with an abusive father and when he was on the NYPD, a domestic violence call gong wrong resulted in him being transferred to Verily. Unfortunately history repeats itself when he gets called to yet another domestic violence call that is a little too close for comfort and Stone snaps. Stone never really came to terms with his childhood and now that is once again spilling over into this career.

Then there is Arilyn, who is the way she is for a reason. Her mother died from cancer and then her father took his own life shortly after. She made a conscious decision to be the opposite of everything her parents' were. She thinks that is the best way to live her life and she has made it work, even if she had to bury the real Arilyn a little. At some point Stone realizes that Arilyn's methods are working and he embraces it. He also helps Arilyn come out of her repressed self and helps her have a little fun.

I LOVED this book. Jennifer Probst is an excellent writer and she manages to make the book funny, sweet, sexy and full of sexual tension, but at the same time deal with some serious issues. I was dying for Arilyn and Stone to make things work so I just couldn't put the book down. It is a wonderful addition to the series. I still have to go back and read the first two books in this series and I will definitely be doing that.

paulieg's review

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4.0

The damaged but wickedly sarcastic hero, Officer Stone Petty, is the best part of this opposites-attract charmer set in a small upstate New York town. This book worked well as a standalone, but the many extended cameos of characters from previous books in the series--plus I believe another large group from a spin-off series??--were distracting and slowed momentum. I never quite reconciled all of the heroine's disparate personality traits (and wished her grandfather didn't talk like a dude at a kegger), but the story quickly won me over and I was rooting for the leads to realize that they were made for each other. Utterly enjoyable--plus, features rescue dogs!!!

bandherbooks's review

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3.0

Not my favorite in the Searching For series, but still a delightful read on a super hot summer day. We finally find out more about Arilyn and her cheating, horrible Yogi Teacher lover who she has finally ditched for good, and we get to see her meet and fall in love with brooding, anger management student Officer Stone Petty. Lots of simmering sexual tension, and a lovely ending.
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