Finding Love WHEN THE STARS ALIGN–A Review
Hi there! Today I'm sharing a review for WHEN THE STARS ALIGN, a contemporary New Adult romance from Jeanette Grey. I picked this one up, needing a good romance between, wait for it, scientists! Yep. I'm a total nerd, and I want nerds to fall in love. I was aching for these two to make it work. And, they did.
Their passion burned hotter than the stars . . .
For Josephine "Jo" Kramer, nothing has ever been easy. When she earns a summer internship in Puerto Rico, working at one of the world's preeminent scientific facilities, she'll let nothing distract her. Not her own insecurities, not the arrogant scientists, and definitely not her tall, chiseled research partner, Adam.
For Adam McCay, physics is simple-it's women who are complicated. Especially brilliant, beautiful ones like Jo. From the moment they meet, he can feel the heat smoldering deep beneath her icy exterior. And Adam knows just what it will take to make Jo melt . . .
Under the endless stars of a tropical sky, Jo and Adam indulge their every desire. But as their internship comes to an end, their perfect island paradise is threatened. Was their time together a summer fling? Or is their passion hot enough to last the long winter nights?
4.5 Stars for this contemporary New Adult romance.
Jo is a mess of a woman, a junior in college studying astronomy. She's just begun a ten-week internship at the Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, and she's not happy to be assigned a female mentor–because she's always been pawned off on the "lesser" scientists, and Jo's serious about making it in astronomy.
Thing is, Jo's had it rough. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father was aloof, distracted or grieving. He's a bit of a nightmare, actually, even saying that he'd wished for a son. His inability to be anything resembling a caring father has hurt Jo deeply. She's sheltered herself in men's clothes, and refashioned herself as asexually as possible–hiding in her own studies, and having a giant chip on her shoulder about men in science. (I can relate. Me = female scientist)
Adam is a man in the middle–of a breakup. His long-time girlfriend, Shannon, has asked for a "break" hoping that will ease the transition. This is hard for Adam who has a secure life, and loving relationships. He wants to be able to share the wonders of his internship, and Puerto Rico, and he his calls and messages to Shannon are intermittently returned and received in a luke-warm fashion.
Imaging this gal, with facial piercings and a full back tat…
Adam has plans to return to the States for a scientific meeting, and meet up with Shannon in person, but she's dragging her feet on her plans. And, completely separate to this thing with Jo. She intrigues Adam in a way that he never anticipated. She's pierced and tattooed and filled to the brim with "Back Off!" and it draws more attention than he wants to give.
Their mentors are research partners, so Jo and Adam spend time together, lonely nights repositioning the scope's sight. It leads to conversation, and the simmering attraction that neither can explain or deny.
Jo has always set herself apart, never opening herself for someone to hurt, and Adam's so generous with his feelings, and his friendship. It could be more, except for Shannon. Which, honestly, is only the idea of Shannon–and of a man who does the right thing, at the right time, always.
Adam is truly a lovely guy, and even Jo recognizes that he's someone worth her fragile heart taking a chance on. I loved the slow burn here, and how these two are the complete package, together. Jo is prickly. She's not used to making herself vulnerable, but Adam's a very patient guy. He's sure Jo is a woman worth working to know. And love. Because love does bloom in the jungles of Puerto Rico, in the numbers and calculations that Jo tries to bury herself within.
I particularly liked how Jo took her time to come to terms with the big changes in herself, and her desires. I liked how driven she was, and how she examined herself at every turn. How thoughtful that she was regarding her life choices, and how she was willing to take steps to find happiness. She had to get over her fears, and her long-ingrained feelings of abandonment and worthlessness. This is not an immediate transition–and it didn't happen immediately. It felt very organic, and realistic. As did the fledgling relationship Adam and Jo built.
Of course, there are only a handful of weeks left in their internship, and they both attend colleges in different cities. A long-distance relationship isn't really what either of them wants, but is it possible?
This book has a positive resolution, with an HEA. There are some steamy sexytimes, as well. I loved that this was a story about two excellent people. They are not self-serving or jealous, or addicted to anything. They just want a good connection–even if Jo doesn't want to admit it.
Plus, SCIENTISTS finding love!!!
Interested? You can find WHEN THE STARS ALIGN on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Google Play, and Kobo.
RITA® finalist author Jeanette Grey started out with degrees in physics and painting, which she dutifully applied to stunted careers in teaching, technical support, and advertising. When none of that panned out, she started writing.
Never content to do just one thing, she is published in new adult, as well as contemporary, futuristic, and male/male romance. Her short fiction has appeared in two consecutive annual editions of Best Erotic Romance, and her novella, Take What You Want, was named one of Library Journal's best books of the year.
In her spare time, Jeanette enjoys making pottery, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and her pet frog. She lives, loves, and writes in upstate New York.
She is a member of the Professional Authors Network of Romance Writers of America, as well as a member of Capital Region Romance Writers. She is represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency.
You can contact her via Twitter or FaceBook or by emailing jeanettelgreyATgmailDOTcom
October 6, 2015 Veronica Rundell	Contemporary Romance, Jeanette Grey, New Adult Romance, WHEN THE STARS ALIGN
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