Lovin' los libros

Searching For Someday (Searching For #1)
   by: Jennifer Probst

Publication Date: Nov. 26, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 384 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the 3rd Jennifer Probst book I’ve read and I have to say- it’s one of my new favorites! I love that she incorporates magical realism into her novels because it adds a little extra flair that really works for her storylines. This book gave me ALL the feels and I enjoyed watching Slade and Kate’s relationship progress into something more than either one could have ever imagined.

Kate is such a sweet, yet strong protagonist. She is career driven, has a good head on her shoulders, and genuinely believes in her business. She is the owner of Kinnections, a matchmaking agency in the small town of Verily.  Yet, Kinnections is a different type of agency- it really believes in the matchmaking process and the idea that there are two people out there meant to be with one another. While Kate handles most of the managerial aspects of the agency, she also has the touch. The touch has been passed down through generations, where she can touch two people and determine whether or not they are soulmates. She doesn’t let her gift manipulate her business, but she does casually use it to find out if two people are compatible. Her mother says denying the touch will lead to negative consequences.

Kate is a romantic- she believes in love and forever and wants to find someone to be with for the rest of her life. She only has her sweet dog, Robert, to keep her company and she finds herself lonely at times. After a string of bad dates, Kate is determined to just say the hell with dating. Her friends that co-run the agency, Kennedy and Arilyn, won’t let her give up so easily though. Kate has worked really hard to be a confident woman, having learned how to control her stutter. However, she still gets nervous and my heart went out to her when she would feel flustered or intimidated. She is such a gentle, loving soul and we see that in her undying devotion to her paraplegic dog, Robert. He was hurt to the point of death, but she refused to let him go. She saw a kindred spirit in that dog, and knew that he needed someone to love and protect him. Let’s put it this way- the epilogue will have you in tears!

Slade Montgomery storms into Kate’s life and ultimately turns it upside down. When we first meet him, he is a cynical divorce lawyer who is not happy about his fragile younger sister joining Kinnections. Having lost their parents, Slade feels Jane is his responsibility and he won’t let men hurt her like they have in the past. He is hell bent on exposing Kinnections as fraudulent and ends up joining as a client to prove that it doesn’t work. Slade has been burned in the past by love and now doesn’t believe in it. I hated how jaded and cynical he was, and he has encased his heart in a wall of armor. He never imagined beautiful, sweet Kate would be the one to chip away at it bit by bit. He is relentless in his pursuit of her and I loved their back and forth banter. After an earth shattering kiss, he can’t help but want and desire her. Yet, she is determined to set him up and find him a match, to prove their agency works. However, the lines really begin to blur, as she can’t get him out of her mind either. She knows dating him would be wrong, but she is distraught upon thinking of him with these perfect dates.  I really felt for Kate, as Slade is completely the opposite of what she is looking for. Yet, sometimes love will find you when you least expect it and you have to choose whether you will embrace it or run from it.

I ended up loving Slade. Beyond the cynic, he is a good hearted man, who doesn’t liberally let people in. He cares for his sister very much, and we watch his armor start to melt upon interacting with Kate and then later Robert. Working as a divorce lawyer, he sees the injustice and the damage a marriage can do to a person, and he really zones in on the mess that can result from a failed marriage and opposing spouses.

Kate and Slade do a lot of embracing as well as running in this book, as both have their own hangups and issues to overcome.  However, as Kate’s mother said, denying the touch will lead to grave consequences. Continuing to deny her electrically charged connection with Slade could lead to much worse things…

I really liked Kate’s friends. They make a good team and really value each other’s friendship. Kate’s best friend Gen was also great (She is Alexa from The Marriage Bargain’s younger sister!) and I am anxious to see how her storyline will play out, as I think there’s much more to her relationship than meets the eye. And I am also very curious about her twin sister, Izzy, who we see briefly and is a bit of a hot mess.

It was also awesome to see some of the characters from the Marriage to a Billionaire series make a cameo too, as this is the spinoff series.  However, it is to be noted that this can be read as a stand-alone.

Overall, this was just the love story I needed to fill my heart to the point where I thought it would burst with emotion. You will fall in love with Kate and Slade (and doggie Robert too!) and the sweet story behind it all. Definitely a must read!