Blog Tour Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Searching for Beautiful – Jennifer Probst

Joelle’s Thoughts

Although Searching for Beautiful is #3 in Probst’s series, it is the first her books that I have read. I have seen from other review sites that devoted readers were excited that Wolfe was finally getting his own story. I can understand why. He is a likeable character—a lot of bad boy, but also a lot of heart. Wolfe’s character also elicits a lot of sympathy, one can’t help feeling sorry for him and what he went through as a child.

Probst does a commendable job developing all of the characters in this story. Even having never read #1 & #2 in this series, I felt like I “knew” Genevieve and her circle of friends. I also liked that Gen & Wolfe had a difficult time developing a relationship that worked for them. Their struggle was realistically portrayed, which I appreciate in a romance novel. There have to be some realistic elements in the story for me.

I know that fans of Probst will enjoy this book. While I wasn’t as attached to the characters as many other readers may be, it was good. Number 4 in this series should be interesting. I am curious to see what officer Petty’s story will be as I enjoyed the tension between him and Arilyn in this book!

FEMALE FRIENDSHIP POWER IN ROMANCE

When I wrote my marriage to a billionaire romance series, besides the delicious trope of marriage of convenience, I realized I was truly writing about the power of family. In all forms, from the dinner table in Bergamo, Italy, to tight relationship of sisters supporting each other, to the best bromances I could create, family was the center subject beating through the pages.

With the Searching for Series, I realized I was shifting to another topic I feel passionate about.

Female friendship.

The friends I hold dear have been with me since junior high. One is from elementary. We have a tight knit bond that has never been broken, and like family, my friends know who I am. They see past the veneer of civilization and society and call me out on my bullshit. They demand truth, make me howl in laughter, and challenge me to be better.

Without these type knit friendships, I would not be the same person. I loved the idea of exploring a strong friendship of three woman who met in college and decide to open up a matchmaking agency after a drunken night of cocktails.

Yes. This has happened to me before, but never lived past the flicker of dawn!

Each heroine is connected to the other in some way, which makes the series stronger. Of course each book can be read alone, but together, as always, it’s even stronger and more real.

With Searching for Beautiful, Genevieve’s friendship with Kate give her the strength she needs to quit being a surgeon and discover what she really wants in life. After running out on her wedding day, her entire life is in shreds and she needs to rebuild.

When pure disaster strikes, your true friends are sometimes the only ones who can understand exactly what you need to live again.

Female power beats through each of these books, because it has made a big difference in my life.

I hope you enjoy the tales and honor your own friendship tales as you read the Searching for series!

“GEN, GET UP.”

“Ugh, what’s that smell?”

“I think it’s her. I told you we should’ve busted in yesterday.”

“I know. I couldn’t find my spare key. Why won’t she wake up? What if she overdosed?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, there’s no wine or pill bottles. But the empty ice cream cartons and candy wrappers means she’s on a sugar crash. Gen, sweetie, open your eyes.”

The voices swirled together in a beautiful musical harmony. Her eyelids felt heavy and she had a bad feeling that if she opened them she’d remember something terrible. She tried to ignore them, but the

nice voices came with hands that were poking her and trying to turn her over. Gen growled. “Go away. I’m tired.”

Her body was shaken harder than a James Bond martini. “Wake up, I mean it. You’re freaking us out.”

She opened one eye. Three female faces peered down at her. “How come you’re not at work?” Gen mumbled.

“It’s Sunday,” Kate said. “We’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday. Thought you were with Wolfe, but he’s at some kind of convention thing so he told us to break in. How long have you been in bed?”

Huh. When did her life splinter into tiny pieces so she had no job, no possessions, and no future? Oh yeah, Thursday. “Few days.”

Kennedy pulled back. “Woman, you need to brush your teeth.”

“Tomorrow.” She tried to roll back over but they forced her to sit up, climbing on top of the bed so they all surrounded her.

“Did something happen with David or the hospital?” Arilyn asked.

Gen realized they didn’t know. After her exit, she’d gone directly to the grocery store and bought everything that looked like it would kill her. Saturated fats and sugar galore. Trying to avoid a big pity party on

top of her wedding fiasco, she’d texted everyone that she’d be working nonstop and would catch up later. Knowing Wolfe would be checking on her anyway, she’d told him she was staying at Kate’s and she’d contact him next week. Then she’d gone to bed and stayed there.

“Honey, what happened? Wolfe was frantic. You lied and said you were with me,” Kate said.

“Didn’t want him to worry. He’s been baby-sitting me and it’s getting embarrassing. I’ll be fine.”

Kennedy lifted two empty bags of Funions. “If you ate these you’re not fine.”

Gen took a breath. “I quit the hospital. My residency is over. I had a huge fiasco with David and he threatened to make my life hell, and I realized I can’t continue there.”

Kate stood up and smoothed back her hair. “Okay, I’m going to go kill him now. Remember you’re my witnesses, so I was never there.”

Gen grabbed her hand. “I know you’re serious, so sit back down. I need you here, not in jail.”

Kennedy fumed. “He can’t get away with that. You need to report him.”

She lifted her hands. “Guys, he’s covered his tracks well. In fact, he planted seeds of depression and anxiety. Wrote up a report for HR. He runs the unit, and I’m just the silly runaway bride. I’m not going back, and I don’t want to get involved in a lawsuit or investigation I’ll lose. It’ll actually be worse for me.”

“I’m sorry, Gen. But I am going to kill him for you.”

She smiled at Kate. “I know you would. You’re such a good friend.”

“Let’s avoid talk of murder, please, and figure this out,” Arilyn piped up. “Can we hook you up with a tape recorder where you can get him to confess his evil plans on record?”

They stared at her. For such a sweet, gentle soul, Arilyn had a vicious streak that always fascinated Gen. “Good idea,” Ken jumped in. “Nate can help us set it up.”

Gen laughed. Only her friends could introduce humor into every situation.

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Website:  www.jenniferprobst.com

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