Monday, June 15, 2015

The Best Medicine by Elizabeth Hayley ~ Review & Giveaway

Source:  Received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The first novel in a sparkling and sexy new contemporary romance series about four best friends looking for love in all the right places—and the one woman who discovers that it takes more than an impeccable bedside manner to make dreams come true…

Lauren Hastings is finally ready to enter the real world. At twenty-six, she’s about to get her master’s in psychology, and she’s well on her way to beginning the career of her dreams—until she suffers public humiliation and has to endure something she thought she’d never have to deal with again: a part-time job.

A gig at Trinity Hospital isn’t exactly Lauren’s definition of a good time, but Dr. Scott Jacobs quickly changes her mind. He’s straight-up gorgeous, and he always gets what he wants. And that includes Lauren. It’s an ideal arrangement for both of them. No strings. Just fun—at least at first.

But feelings quickly begin to run deeper than either Lauren or Scott is willing to admit, causing issues neither of them want to confront. After all, who wants to risk the perfect relationship on something as terrifying, as messy, and as unpredictable as love?


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23398885-the-best-medicine

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451475526http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-medicine-elizabeth-hayley/1120624818



Review...


I thought I'd like this book.  All signs pointed that direction.  The cover, the blurb, the romance.  Yes, it looks like my kind of book.

But the first 40 pages were a no go for me.  I didn't like Lauren a lot.  And, while I liked Scott more, it wasn't a lot more.  I hesitated.  Do I really want to finish this?  After all, I'm a pretty character driven reader.  And I really didn't like Lauren.  She was mouthy and rude, proud of her ballbuster nickname.  The good news was that Scott could handle her.  And I did enjoy their banter.  So I kept reading.

SO GLAD I KEPT READING.  Here's the thing, the first 40 or so pages these characters feel like they are trying to impress the world.  Trying too hard.  Trying to be strong and bold characters that make a statement.  Then they settle down into getting to knew each other and I ended up liking them.

Lauren has some pain in her past.  Her brother and a past fling still haunt her.  She's good at reading people and speaks before she thinks on a regular basis.  But when she starts being real, she feels like a friend.  One that you need to protect sometimes but who is definitely in charge of protecting you all the time.  And I liked her.

Scott's pain is different but very real.  He doesn't do relationships for a powerful reason.  That reason is one he just doesn't examine anymore.  And I love his brother.  His big brother who helps him see how things really are and insist that he re-examine.  Once Scott decides to re-examine, he figures things out.  And it's only fair that he does, he gives his patience that kind of compassion - he deserves the same.

Together these two are combustible.  While Lauren is bossy outside the bedroom, she lets Scott be in charge in the bedroom.  And that boy is the boss...hehe.  Inside joke there.  I did enjoy their heated moments together.

And then there are the friends waiting in the wings for their own story.  I wonder if Sam will get his.  He needs one too.  Just sayin'.  Looks like Scott's brother, Tim, and Quinn, Lauren's friend, are next.  I read the teaser in the back of this book and it looks good.  I really like both of these characters and can see them together.  Looking forward to it.

If you love your women mouthy and your men confident, then this is the book for you.  But really, give this one at least 75 pages before you judge.  It's so good after that.






Giveaway...


US only
My review copy


a Rafflecopter giveaway

9 comments:

  1. So good to see you kept reading and the book got better for you. Great review Val!

    Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace

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  2. I love it when first impressions are wrong. I just finished a book that took me 3 tries to finish, because the first 100 pages were somewhat difficult to read, but it turned out to be a really good book. This sounds similar and I would love to read it!

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  3. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy this story and eventually the main characters won you over :) It's always wonderful when a story has great secondary characters, and you want more of them! Lovely Review Val :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  4. I know in about the 2nd or 3rd chapter if I want to keep reading until the end.

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  5. I'll usually read 3 or 4 chapters although there have been a few in which I didn't/couldn't make it even that far.

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  6. I usually read 100 pages and if I am not intersected by then I give up. Thanks for the chance.

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  7. I almost always finish a book. It has to be really bad for me not to finish it. Then again I usually put a lot of thought into before starting it. If it has gotten a bunch of DNF reviews I won't even attempt it.

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  8. Thank you for the oportunity. the first 50 to 100 pages

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  9. Love the cover and now I want to read it

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