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Love Kinection
Love, romance, hearts, flowers, cupid…. Rubbish.
Abby Fine still hasn’t gotten over the pain of a year-old betrayal and plans to spend this Valentine’s Day drowning her sorrows with a ménage of men named Ben, Jerry, and Riesling.
Her plans are diverted when she drops and breaks her new iPhone and gives in to a momentary hormone surge, agreeing to let office hottie and tech god Tom Walker squirm his way into her condo to fix it.
Tom shows up with his Xbox, spicy Chinese food, and a habit of stealing kisses every time she lets her guard down.
Can a weekend of laughter, video games, and movies change Abby’s opinion of stupid Cupid?
Abby Fine still hasn’t gotten over the pain of a year-old betrayal and plans to spend this Valentine’s Day drowning her sorrows with a ménage of men named Ben, Jerry, and Riesling.
Her plans are diverted when she drops and breaks her new iPhone and gives in to a momentary hormone surge, agreeing to let office hottie and tech god Tom Walker squirm his way into her condo to fix it.
Tom shows up with his Xbox, spicy Chinese food, and a habit of stealing kisses every time she lets her guard down.
Can a weekend of laughter, video games, and movies change Abby’s opinion of stupid Cupid?
86 pages, ebook
First published July 28, 2012
5 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer James
14 books218 followersJennifer James is a multi-published erotic romance author who lives in the Midwest on the shore of Lake Erie.
She once landed on her head in a creek while sled riding. Not to be outdone by her older brother, she continued to play and had to walk home with frozen twigs and leaves in her hair.
She loves spiked cocoa in the winter, Dirty Palmers in the summer, and has a raunchy sense of humor.
Published with Unbuttoned Press, Decadent Publishing, and Etopia Press.
To stay up-to-date on my latest releases and participate in exclusive giveaways, join my newsletter mailing list at http://www.authorjenniferjames.com/?p...
She once landed on her head in a creek while sled riding. Not to be outdone by her older brother, she continued to play and had to walk home with frozen twigs and leaves in her hair.
She loves spiked cocoa in the winter, Dirty Palmers in the summer, and has a raunchy sense of humor.
Published with Unbuttoned Press, Decadent Publishing, and Etopia Press.
To stay up-to-date on my latest releases and participate in exclusive giveaways, join my newsletter mailing list at http://www.authorjenniferjames.com/?p...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 3, 2015
Novella - 3.5 stars!
Sexy geek hero and heroine afraid of love. Sweet, fun and cool. Big Bang Theory meets hunky alpha romance hero. If it had been a freebie I would have given it 4.5 stars!
Sexy geek hero and heroine afraid of love. Sweet, fun and cool. Big Bang Theory meets hunky alpha romance hero. If it had been a freebie I would have given it 4.5 stars!
July 29, 2012
I Iike so many things about this book, including but not limited to geek humor, a tall, dark & sexy man who isn't overplayed, a cheating ex who gets his just desserts, a heroine who is likable and imperfect, and an ending that doesn't follow the typical fight-and-make-up protocol, that it's hard to decide what I find MOST charming about it.
The myriad of nerdy references in Love Kinection span nearly every facet of geekery you can imagine... Dr. Who, Star Wars, Joss Whedon, Battlestar Galactica, The Princess Bride, Jensen Ackles & campy horror, D&D, Xbox, Atari, and the list goes on! You can't throw a stick at this story without hitting some sort of pop culture quip. In fact, its *almost* too much. In order to get ALL the references, you would need to be a nerdy supergeek, King of the Nubbies (normal "trendy" geeks that are so much a part of the "mobile" generation); I don't think I know anyone who has such an encyclopedic interest in all things scifi and cult classic that they'd be able to catch every Easter egg (and I'm a proud, card-carrying geek chic!). Even so, it's entertaining and incredibly, delightfully quotable (seriously, I was highlighting quotes on every other page at least, some pages multiple quotes!), a smart read for people not afraid to let their geek flag fly high and proud.
Tom is one of those sexy men who is "alpha" but not controlling, muscled but not ripped, smart but not vain. His character is smooth and instantly likeable. Abby is a firecracker who has been badly betrayed and resultingly now embraces a low self-image. She's quirky and direct and isn't afraid to admit when she doesn't know something.
Ms. James's debut story is sassy, sweet, modern, and more fun than a dinner table full of hobbit-sized dwarves. This is an author ready to burst onto the romantisphere; keep your eye on this one, folks, cuz she's got the chops to be the next big bad... in a good way! /grin
Second star to the right and straight on til morning, Ms. James; your journey has just begun and I can't wait to hitch a ride along with all the wacky, unique voices in your head. Engage!
@~~~~~ Like this review? Rate it up on Amazon here! <3 ~~~~~@
The myriad of nerdy references in Love Kinection span nearly every facet of geekery you can imagine... Dr. Who, Star Wars, Joss Whedon, Battlestar Galactica, The Princess Bride, Jensen Ackles & campy horror, D&D, Xbox, Atari, and the list goes on! You can't throw a stick at this story without hitting some sort of pop culture quip. In fact, its *almost* too much. In order to get ALL the references, you would need to be a nerdy supergeek, King of the Nubbies (normal "trendy" geeks that are so much a part of the "mobile" generation); I don't think I know anyone who has such an encyclopedic interest in all things scifi and cult classic that they'd be able to catch every Easter egg (and I'm a proud, card-carrying geek chic!). Even so, it's entertaining and incredibly, delightfully quotable (seriously, I was highlighting quotes on every other page at least, some pages multiple quotes!), a smart read for people not afraid to let their geek flag fly high and proud.
Tom is one of those sexy men who is "alpha" but not controlling, muscled but not ripped, smart but not vain. His character is smooth and instantly likeable. Abby is a firecracker who has been badly betrayed and resultingly now embraces a low self-image. She's quirky and direct and isn't afraid to admit when she doesn't know something.
Ms. James's debut story is sassy, sweet, modern, and more fun than a dinner table full of hobbit-sized dwarves. This is an author ready to burst onto the romantisphere; keep your eye on this one, folks, cuz she's got the chops to be the next big bad... in a good way! /grin
Second star to the right and straight on til morning, Ms. James; your journey has just begun and I can't wait to hitch a ride along with all the wacky, unique voices in your head. Engage!
@~~~~~ Like this review? Rate it up on Amazon here! <3 ~~~~~@
July 30, 2012
My favorite part about this book is probably the argument between Abby and Tom over who’s the bigger nerd. When JJ was writing this story, she put a FB call out to all her nerdy friends to give her a bunch of references. While cool, I feared it might turn into reference soup and go a little overboard. Oh how could I have had so little faith? She’s managed to pack all kinds of nerd candy in there with a flavor for every geek without it feeling like trying too hard. It was a lot of fun, and oh so satisfying as a Joss Whedon geek myself!
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is so strong, and the connection they develop so authentic, I found myself feeling like I was in the story with them. Tom’s got a lot of walls to break down in Abby before he’s really got a shot, and he’s just patient and tender enough to do it. Abby, despite being hurt so badly by a cheating man and spiteful sister, catches on to the notion that she shouldn’t fear Tom fast enough to be able to work out her issues before her inner bitch drives him away. Better yet, she gets a chance to prove how far she’s come, bonding them for sure.
Compelling characters, witty banter, and sizzling sexual tension make Love Kinection a smash hit for anyone’s hopeless romantic inner geek. I had high expectations, and this book lived up to them all. Go pick this one up for a sassy summer read!
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is so strong, and the connection they develop so authentic, I found myself feeling like I was in the story with them. Tom’s got a lot of walls to break down in Abby before he’s really got a shot, and he’s just patient and tender enough to do it. Abby, despite being hurt so badly by a cheating man and spiteful sister, catches on to the notion that she shouldn’t fear Tom fast enough to be able to work out her issues before her inner bitch drives him away. Better yet, she gets a chance to prove how far she’s come, bonding them for sure.
Compelling characters, witty banter, and sizzling sexual tension make Love Kinection a smash hit for anyone’s hopeless romantic inner geek. I had high expectations, and this book lived up to them all. Go pick this one up for a sassy summer read!
August 3, 2012
My one complaint? That it wasn't longer.
Jennifer has created a fun, spicy and deep story in 80 little pages. Abby is deeply wounded, and Tom is just right to help her heal her pains and soften her scars.
What starts out as a begrudging 'date' turns into a fun evening of horrible movies, video games and laughter between two die-hard geeks battling it out to see who is truly the biggest nerd.
The connection between the main characters is spot on, hot, and deeply personal. I envy Jennifer's ability to get so deep into their psyche in so few words.
The resolution of the past, and the intrusion of the past, add just enough conflict to keep you intrigued. With a man that has award winning patience (seriously, give the guy a damn medal) - and a woman that is eager to try that patience...the steam sizzled even before they hit the sheets.
Of course I haven't even touched on the nerd-gasm that is folded into every page. Touching on geekery from Princess Bride to Doctor Who to Star Wars, Jennifer hides little gems throughout the entire book - even when you aren't expecting it.
If you want a quick read, a fun romp, and some super sexy geek fun pick this piece up immediately. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Jennifer has created a fun, spicy and deep story in 80 little pages. Abby is deeply wounded, and Tom is just right to help her heal her pains and soften her scars.
What starts out as a begrudging 'date' turns into a fun evening of horrible movies, video games and laughter between two die-hard geeks battling it out to see who is truly the biggest nerd.
The connection between the main characters is spot on, hot, and deeply personal. I envy Jennifer's ability to get so deep into their psyche in so few words.
The resolution of the past, and the intrusion of the past, add just enough conflict to keep you intrigued. With a man that has award winning patience (seriously, give the guy a damn medal) - and a woman that is eager to try that patience...the steam sizzled even before they hit the sheets.
Of course I haven't even touched on the nerd-gasm that is folded into every page. Touching on geekery from Princess Bride to Doctor Who to Star Wars, Jennifer hides little gems throughout the entire book - even when you aren't expecting it.
If you want a quick read, a fun romp, and some super sexy geek fun pick this piece up immediately. I promise you won't be disappointed.
August 5, 2012
LK is one of those books that just make you giggle. I loved curling up on my couch and reading about Abby and Tom doing normal things--but in a big way. :) If you're looking for a fun, light, contemporary romance, Love Kinection is your next big read. Loved it.
October 17, 2012
Great novella, very original, loved that H is a nerd but still very sexy, loved the snappy dialog, and will read from this author again.
CONTENT/SCENES: few/hot
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/witty
LENGTH: 90 pages
CONTENT/SCENES: few/hot
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/witty
LENGTH: 90 pages
September 17, 2012
A cute little Geek romp. Fans of Buffy, Princess Bride, and Doctor Who will enjoy this romance that explores the dating habits of two geeks in love.
December 17, 2017
This short romance novel was brimming with geeky pop-culture references! Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Walking Dead, and Doctor Who - just to name a few. The first date between the main characters was Chinese food, a movie, and video games that lasted until 3:00AM. It was very low-key which I liked a lot. I was on board until the rape joke made me jump ship. (There is a tickle fight referred to as “bellybutton rape.”)
Eeeeuuugh. Sometimes I can be pretty unforgiving. One star.
Eeeeuuugh. Sometimes I can be pretty unforgiving. One star.
August 15, 2012
I am a dork and I am proud of it so I was very intrigued when I saw this book on goodreads last weekend. I loved the characters, the little bit of humor the author snuck in and all the dorky video game and movie references:)
I absolutely love when I pick up a book and it exceeds every expectation I had. This is Jennifer Jame’s first novel so I had no idea what to expect but she did a great job at balancing drama, humor and steam!
Abby has been burned by a man and I mean burned! Who leaves their fiance at the church on their wedding day for their younger sister? Umm, a big jerk that is who! She is still a bit sad a year later but she also has some spunk and a little bit of a sarcastic nature. She doesn’t see herself as a catch and has quit doing her hair and wearing sexy outfits because, well, she doesn’t really want anything to do with men. Thank you to women and their jealousy and the iPhone that shattered; this particular woman needed a man!
Tom is sexy, confident and a real go getter which he has to be since Abby really doesn’t want to be gotten! He doesn’t back down and seems to know exactly what Abby needs. I loved how he used stolen kisses and nice boy charm to bring her out of her shell.
These two were truly meant for each other with their dork memorabilia decorated spare bedrooms and all! Seriously, what kind of couple fights over who is the bigger dork? I really thought this book was going to come off as silly but the chemistry was no laughing matter. I wanted more, more, more when it was done which is a sign of a great book!
This book would be perfect for a beach read or a lazy Sunday afternoon when you can’t decide what kind of romance you want; it has as great mixture of everything and was really well written!
Here is an example of the humor I enjoyed…
“And for your information, I have a date tonight.” (Abby)
“Oh, really? Who with?” Her tone said she didn’t believe me.
Mischief overtook me. “Ben, Jerry, and Riesling. Yep, we’re gonna have a crazy orgy.”
And here is an example of Tom’s sweet sugary side…
“Every woman is a princess to someone. Or she should be, anyway.”<\i>
Oh, Tom, you always have the right things to say!!!!
I absolutely love when I pick up a book and it exceeds every expectation I had. This is Jennifer Jame’s first novel so I had no idea what to expect but she did a great job at balancing drama, humor and steam!
Abby has been burned by a man and I mean burned! Who leaves their fiance at the church on their wedding day for their younger sister? Umm, a big jerk that is who! She is still a bit sad a year later but she also has some spunk and a little bit of a sarcastic nature. She doesn’t see herself as a catch and has quit doing her hair and wearing sexy outfits because, well, she doesn’t really want anything to do with men. Thank you to women and their jealousy and the iPhone that shattered; this particular woman needed a man!
Tom is sexy, confident and a real go getter which he has to be since Abby really doesn’t want to be gotten! He doesn’t back down and seems to know exactly what Abby needs. I loved how he used stolen kisses and nice boy charm to bring her out of her shell.
These two were truly meant for each other with their dork memorabilia decorated spare bedrooms and all! Seriously, what kind of couple fights over who is the bigger dork? I really thought this book was going to come off as silly but the chemistry was no laughing matter. I wanted more, more, more when it was done which is a sign of a great book!
This book would be perfect for a beach read or a lazy Sunday afternoon when you can’t decide what kind of romance you want; it has as great mixture of everything and was really well written!
Here is an example of the humor I enjoyed…
“And for your information, I have a date tonight.” (Abby)
“Oh, really? Who with?” Her tone said she didn’t believe me.
Mischief overtook me. “Ben, Jerry, and Riesling. Yep, we’re gonna have a crazy orgy.”
And here is an example of Tom’s sweet sugary side…
“Every woman is a princess to someone. Or she should be, anyway.”<\i>
Oh, Tom, you always have the right things to say!!!!
October 3, 2012
This a cute novella featuring a heroine with the most sarcastic wit. I personally felt the sarcasm was the best part and it made me laugh often.
Abby is a woman who has been hurt...and I mean in a bad way. Her fiance ran away with the last person he should have ran away with...and on her wedding day...which happens to be Valentine's Day. Naturally, she doesn't care for Valentine's Day now and when the "big" day comes around and she gets a real unhappy text message, Tom comes to the rescue.
Everything happens for a reason...If her fiance hadn't left, if she hadn't got that text...
Anyway, Tom has apparently had his eye on her for a long time. A broken cell phone becomes a date with takeout food and Xbox and who's the bigger geek contests and eventually, sex.
Full review on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2012/...
Abby is a woman who has been hurt...and I mean in a bad way. Her fiance ran away with the last person he should have ran away with...and on her wedding day...which happens to be Valentine's Day. Naturally, she doesn't care for Valentine's Day now and when the "big" day comes around and she gets a real unhappy text message, Tom comes to the rescue.
Everything happens for a reason...If her fiance hadn't left, if she hadn't got that text...
Anyway, Tom has apparently had his eye on her for a long time. A broken cell phone becomes a date with takeout food and Xbox and who's the bigger geek contests and eventually, sex.
Full review on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2012/...
July 20, 2013
I loved this romance between a cynical SFI nerd heroine and a hunky gamer nerd hero who knows what he wants. I really like romances where the couple dates. Dating is fun and the dates of this couple are great. There are lots of geeky reference here to keep a reader happy and Tom is wonderful. The heroine is smart and funny and the revenge scene on the ex is a beauty. Engaging, well written, sexy! Read it!
August 19, 2012
A cute read. I kinda liked the nerdy vibe.
September 19, 2012
Very cute book, i'd read more of Ms James books if she had them. Fun little read, it hit all of my nerd spots!
November 18, 2017
Okay....where is the rest of it? We are missing 90% of it. We need more in order to make it into a somewhat well rounded book. So many unanswered questions. I really didn’t care for Tom because he was so pushy. This entire book was just about proving they were geeks. All of the conversations, which was very little, were about tv shows and movies. I got this book because of the mention of Doctor Who. I loved the idea of two geeks falling in love but it came off as trying too hard to show their geekiness. We never get to see them fall in love either.
Here is how it’s goes:
Abby is upset because of her sister and ex fiancé and breaks her phone.
Tom pushes his way into having two at home dates with Abby. They have sex.
Abby has confrontation with ex fiancé.
Tom says she is his girlfriend and that she doesn’t get a say.
Author skips one year and they are nauseatingly in love and getting their HEA.
That’s it. There was nothing deeper than that.
The author may have been trying to be more descriptive but it came off as thinking the readers were stupid. Every little thing doesn’t have to be told. Like saying he was driving, was going to turn into the parking lot and when he did the tire hopped the curb. Then he pulled into a space, put it in park, turned the ignition off, took the keys out and then proceeded to get out of the car.
If hopping the curb damaged the car it would have been relevant. If it made Abby hit her head it would be relevant. None of that happened though so there was no purpose in saying it.
Here is how it’s goes:
Abby is upset because of her sister and ex fiancé and breaks her phone.
Tom pushes his way into having two at home dates with Abby. They have sex.
Abby has confrontation with ex fiancé.
Tom says she is his girlfriend and that she doesn’t get a say.
Author skips one year and they are nauseatingly in love and getting their HEA.
That’s it. There was nothing deeper than that.
The author may have been trying to be more descriptive but it came off as thinking the readers were stupid. Every little thing doesn’t have to be told. Like saying he was driving, was going to turn into the parking lot and when he did the tire hopped the curb. Then he pulled into a space, put it in park, turned the ignition off, took the keys out and then proceeded to get out of the car.
If hopping the curb damaged the car it would have been relevant. If it made Abby hit her head it would be relevant. None of that happened though so there was no purpose in saying it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2018
It was an okay book. It was a short read. I wish she had punched her sister as well. Anyway, I am glad she got her happy ending and that her sister somewhat got what she deserved although I wish she would have gotten a worse kind of karma. :)
June 16, 2019
Fun and and feel good read. Love it!
November 29, 2020
Funny and quirky
February 5, 2015
For a girl whose first book was called “The Scariest Forest Ever,” the jump to romance may seem to be a far one. But a love of happy endings and the stories she kept making up in her head for strangers on the street lead to an unhealthy amount of time spent behind the keyboard typing away and giggling mischievously over sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and healthy sprinklings of geek humor. With time split between a day job staring at teeth, two little girls, college courses, workaholic husband, and too many voices in her head, Jennifer James still finds time to sneak off and devour all the books she can find – even if it means hiding in the closet to read them. She insists on her jokes being dirty, drinks spiked, and tattoos placed in intriguing, muscular places you can only find when the clothes come off. Her first published novella is Love Kinection.
Love Kinection is the story of Abby Fine overcoming her distaste for love, romance, Valentine's Day, etc. To be fair, she has had it rough. She was supposed to marry Charlie on Valentine's Day, but she was left at the altar because her fiancé ran off with her sister. The story begins a year later, with Abby receiving a text from her sister. She and Charlie are getting married in Las Vegas. Understandably disturbed by the news, Abby drops her phone and it breaks. Fortunately, Tom Walker, whom Abby describes as "IT department hottie," offers to fix it for her that evening and bring dinner. Abby doesn't realize that she's actually agreed to a Valentine's Day date until she gets home. Furthermore, Tom doesn't merely bring dinner, but also an Xbox, so she's caught playing video games, eating dinner and ice cream, and actually having fun. That is, until Charlie shows up a few days later, begging for forgiveness....
What makes James's fiction so intriguing is the fact that her characters are not the typical erotica fare. Granted, Abby has some self-image issues that get annoying at times, especially when faced with blindingly obvious evidence to the contrary. However, Abby also seems to dabble in geek culture, from her TARDIS mug at work to her horror movie collection. Tom, of course, is enthralled by this, and their bonding over Dr. Who debates makes for a much more believable romance. Furthermore, Abby's openness to Tom's teasing allows for playful banter that heightens the tension between the two, so that when they finally do have sex, it's much more of an erotic release for the audience.
Abby is also a fairly independent heroine. Self-consciousness about her weight aside, she is self-reliant and intelligent. When she finds herself in situations that seem begging for the knight in shining armor, i.e. Tom, to rescue her, she refuses this obvious path and instead solves them for herself. This autonomy makes for a much more compelling read because the reader understands that Abby is willing to go it alone if necessary, so when she chooses a lover, it's not to be rescued/healed/saved/insert your favorite erotica trope here. Abby chooses a lover because of a deeper passion and willingness to open to them, which makes the ending of the novella all that much sweeter.
According to James's homepage, this is her first novella. A second one is quickly on the way, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Love Kinection proves James to be an able writer, certainly. She has a mastery of plot, character and emotion that makes for an enjoyable read. However, is her mastery of ordinary people with ordinary lives, including all the quirks, hobbies and secrets which those lives contain that places James in another level of writer altogether. According to her website, Love Kinection is her first of many books. I eagerly urge fans of erotic fiction to get their hands on this book and thrill at this new voice in erotic fiction.
Love Kinection is the story of Abby Fine overcoming her distaste for love, romance, Valentine's Day, etc. To be fair, she has had it rough. She was supposed to marry Charlie on Valentine's Day, but she was left at the altar because her fiancé ran off with her sister. The story begins a year later, with Abby receiving a text from her sister. She and Charlie are getting married in Las Vegas. Understandably disturbed by the news, Abby drops her phone and it breaks. Fortunately, Tom Walker, whom Abby describes as "IT department hottie," offers to fix it for her that evening and bring dinner. Abby doesn't realize that she's actually agreed to a Valentine's Day date until she gets home. Furthermore, Tom doesn't merely bring dinner, but also an Xbox, so she's caught playing video games, eating dinner and ice cream, and actually having fun. That is, until Charlie shows up a few days later, begging for forgiveness....
What makes James's fiction so intriguing is the fact that her characters are not the typical erotica fare. Granted, Abby has some self-image issues that get annoying at times, especially when faced with blindingly obvious evidence to the contrary. However, Abby also seems to dabble in geek culture, from her TARDIS mug at work to her horror movie collection. Tom, of course, is enthralled by this, and their bonding over Dr. Who debates makes for a much more believable romance. Furthermore, Abby's openness to Tom's teasing allows for playful banter that heightens the tension between the two, so that when they finally do have sex, it's much more of an erotic release for the audience.
Abby is also a fairly independent heroine. Self-consciousness about her weight aside, she is self-reliant and intelligent. When she finds herself in situations that seem begging for the knight in shining armor, i.e. Tom, to rescue her, she refuses this obvious path and instead solves them for herself. This autonomy makes for a much more compelling read because the reader understands that Abby is willing to go it alone if necessary, so when she chooses a lover, it's not to be rescued/healed/saved/insert your favorite erotica trope here. Abby chooses a lover because of a deeper passion and willingness to open to them, which makes the ending of the novella all that much sweeter.
According to James's homepage, this is her first novella. A second one is quickly on the way, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Love Kinection proves James to be an able writer, certainly. She has a mastery of plot, character and emotion that makes for an enjoyable read. However, is her mastery of ordinary people with ordinary lives, including all the quirks, hobbies and secrets which those lives contain that places James in another level of writer altogether. According to her website, Love Kinection is her first of many books. I eagerly urge fans of erotic fiction to get their hands on this book and thrill at this new voice in erotic fiction.
April 16, 2013
I don’t think I’ve ever had the occasion to bring this up, but I really really really really really like romance novels. Like, I walked into Half-Price Books one day and came out with a giant box of fifty books that cost me five dollars. Naturally, some of them were disappointments and the vast majority of them were regency, medieval, or otherwise historical novels, which, like any genre, gets a bit old when it’s all you read. The tropes aren’t fun anymore, the language gets tired, it’s just boring. I felt that way about the romance novel for about five months now and then there was this book, Love Kinection, and yes, the alternative spelling is on purpose.
Jennifer James taps into one of America’s most underutilized romantic resources: nerds. The two main characters, Abby and Tom, are nerds who meet at work, after Abby spends her morning tearing down cardboard cutouts of Cupid and dropping her phone because her sister is marrying her ex-fiance in Vegas exactly a year after he left her at the altar. Abby’s cubicle is covered in Nerdy Stuff, from her TARDIS mug to a plush towel with 42 printed on it. She likes Star Wars and Monty Python and Princess Bride, hates working out sometimes, drinks a lot of wine, and loves to cook. Although I love Tom, and trust me when I say that I really love Tom, Abby is the person who puts this book on her back and carries. She is a stark contrast to what you would normally find in romance novels, the helpless and innocent virgin who needs a big alpha male to save her. Abby needs Tom, but isn’t him that can save her from her past and the pain it causes her. She, ultimately, is in charge of her own destiny, and that makes all the difference.
Love Kinection is a lovely little book that doesn’t try to be anything more than what it obviously is. It isn’t high literature, it isn’t trying to send its reader some high handed message from the mouth of God. It’s fun and light-hearted and meant to be gobbled down like a bag of half-price post-Valentine’s chocolates. There’s nerdiness and video games and leftover Chinese and bitchy sisters and more than one awesome sexy scene, and all of the pieces lead to a very satisfying whole. Love Kinection may not be trying to change the world, but it does get across the message its male lead tells Abby: all women deserve to be princesses. Whether your princess model of choice is Leia, Peach, or Zelda, whether you are a damsel in distress or a woman ready to grab a battle axe and save a prince, we deserve to be treated with respect and we deserve to heard and to be in control of our own lives.
That’s a message I can get behind.
Long may we reign.
Jennifer James taps into one of America’s most underutilized romantic resources: nerds. The two main characters, Abby and Tom, are nerds who meet at work, after Abby spends her morning tearing down cardboard cutouts of Cupid and dropping her phone because her sister is marrying her ex-fiance in Vegas exactly a year after he left her at the altar. Abby’s cubicle is covered in Nerdy Stuff, from her TARDIS mug to a plush towel with 42 printed on it. She likes Star Wars and Monty Python and Princess Bride, hates working out sometimes, drinks a lot of wine, and loves to cook. Although I love Tom, and trust me when I say that I really love Tom, Abby is the person who puts this book on her back and carries. She is a stark contrast to what you would normally find in romance novels, the helpless and innocent virgin who needs a big alpha male to save her. Abby needs Tom, but isn’t him that can save her from her past and the pain it causes her. She, ultimately, is in charge of her own destiny, and that makes all the difference.
Love Kinection is a lovely little book that doesn’t try to be anything more than what it obviously is. It isn’t high literature, it isn’t trying to send its reader some high handed message from the mouth of God. It’s fun and light-hearted and meant to be gobbled down like a bag of half-price post-Valentine’s chocolates. There’s nerdiness and video games and leftover Chinese and bitchy sisters and more than one awesome sexy scene, and all of the pieces lead to a very satisfying whole. Love Kinection may not be trying to change the world, but it does get across the message its male lead tells Abby: all women deserve to be princesses. Whether your princess model of choice is Leia, Peach, or Zelda, whether you are a damsel in distress or a woman ready to grab a battle axe and save a prince, we deserve to be treated with respect and we deserve to heard and to be in control of our own lives.
That’s a message I can get behind.
Long may we reign.
December 30, 2016
This was cute and short. A little annoying at points but not so infuriating as to render it unreadable. I loved all the "nerd" references (fellow Whovians, I'd recommend just for that). The ending was satisfying too.
August 12, 2012
One year ago Abby’s life changed, and she didn’t think at the time that it was for the better. She was left at the altar. Charlie had run off with another woman. But not just any woman… But the almighty “they”, “they” always say good things come to those who wait. And Abby is about to find out.
Valentine’s Day, one year later. Depression is knocking on the door. And now Abby has broken her new phone. Darnit! Luckily the office IT hottie, Tom, notices and offers to fix it. In fact, he wants to come over that very night, and with food.
Jennifer James has made me an instant fan with this story. Inside the pages you find heartbreak and heart ache, healing, friendship, flirting, and oh so much more. Even in her depression, Abby is a smart aleck. This is a trait that I love in just about anyone. Sure, the pain hurts, but if you can keep your smart aleck attitude about you, well, you know you have a chance to survive.
Tom… well, Tom is a terrific guy. He’s sweet and kind, and unexpectedly romantic. And something else, he’s a bit of a nerd. But hey, so is Abby so that is great! Tom sounds just like the perfect guy, in my opinion.
For being relatively short at around 80 pages, give or take, this story packs quite a punch. I think that if this is the kind of writing that Jennifer James writes, then she has a long career ahead of her. This is the kind of romance that gives jilted women , hell, any women, hope that their match is out there. The emotions were true and heartfelt, the pulse rates were heated and racing. The drama was fabulous. And the stolen kisses, well girls, that’s what Valentine’s Day is about, isn’t it?
Valentine’s Day, one year later. Depression is knocking on the door. And now Abby has broken her new phone. Darnit! Luckily the office IT hottie, Tom, notices and offers to fix it. In fact, he wants to come over that very night, and with food.
Jennifer James has made me an instant fan with this story. Inside the pages you find heartbreak and heart ache, healing, friendship, flirting, and oh so much more. Even in her depression, Abby is a smart aleck. This is a trait that I love in just about anyone. Sure, the pain hurts, but if you can keep your smart aleck attitude about you, well, you know you have a chance to survive.
Tom… well, Tom is a terrific guy. He’s sweet and kind, and unexpectedly romantic. And something else, he’s a bit of a nerd. But hey, so is Abby so that is great! Tom sounds just like the perfect guy, in my opinion.
For being relatively short at around 80 pages, give or take, this story packs quite a punch. I think that if this is the kind of writing that Jennifer James writes, then she has a long career ahead of her. This is the kind of romance that gives jilted women , hell, any women, hope that their match is out there. The emotions were true and heartfelt, the pulse rates were heated and racing. The drama was fabulous. And the stolen kisses, well girls, that’s what Valentine’s Day is about, isn’t it?
June 27, 2015
Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is a novella at only 79 pages and a very quick read but it wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought it would be. There was a lot of references to geeks, gaming, movies, TV shows and their characters that I had to know something about in order to understand the lingo and the innuendos. Valentine’s Day also had a starring role since it was that time of year and it’s a holiday that holds bad mojo and memories for Abby but Tom was trying to turn it around for her. Abby and Tom had immediate chemistry once they had interactions although apparently he wanted to know her better for the full five years they worked together. Tom finally eased his way into Abby’s life and it was one of the best things that could have happened to her since he understood her better than she knew herself.
There was family that I could do without especially her younger sister, a few friends and coworkers, some romance and love, laughter, tears, heartache and fun and a lot of quirkiness. Even though the story was short there was nice closure and an actual storyline.
I have not read books by James’ before but would give her other contemporary romances a try and hope for a little more length and depth.
Favorite Quote: “Every woman is a princess to someone. Or she should be, anyway.” He dipped one of his rolls in the soup and took another bite. “I love these things.”
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is a novella at only 79 pages and a very quick read but it wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought it would be. There was a lot of references to geeks, gaming, movies, TV shows and their characters that I had to know something about in order to understand the lingo and the innuendos. Valentine’s Day also had a starring role since it was that time of year and it’s a holiday that holds bad mojo and memories for Abby but Tom was trying to turn it around for her. Abby and Tom had immediate chemistry once they had interactions although apparently he wanted to know her better for the full five years they worked together. Tom finally eased his way into Abby’s life and it was one of the best things that could have happened to her since he understood her better than she knew herself.
There was family that I could do without especially her younger sister, a few friends and coworkers, some romance and love, laughter, tears, heartache and fun and a lot of quirkiness. Even though the story was short there was nice closure and an actual storyline.
I have not read books by James’ before but would give her other contemporary romances a try and hope for a little more length and depth.
Favorite Quote: “Every woman is a princess to someone. Or she should be, anyway.” He dipped one of his rolls in the soup and took another bite. “I love these things.”
March 26, 2016
My favorite part about this book is probably the argument between Abby and Tom over who 19s the bigger nerd. When JJ was writing this story, she put a FB call out to all her nerdy friends to give her a bunch of references. While cool, I feared it might turn into reference soup and go a little overboard. Oh how could I have had so little faith? She 19s managed to pack all kinds of nerd candy in there with a flavor for every geek without it feeling like trying too hard. It was a lot of fun, and oh so satisfying as a Joss Whedon geek myself!
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is so strong, and the connection they develop so authentic, I found myself feeling like I was in the story with them. Tom 19s got a lot of walls to break down in Abby before he 19s really got a shot, and he 19s just patient and tender enough to do it. Abby, despite being hurt so badly by a cheating man and spiteful sister, catches on to the notion that she shouldn 19t fear Tom fast enough to be able to work out her issues before her inner bitch drives him away. Better yet, she gets a chance to prove how far she 19s come, bonding them for sure.
Compelling characters, witty banter, and sizzling sexual tension make Love Kinection a smash hit for anyone 19s hopeless romantic inner geek. I had high expectations, and this book lived up to them all. Go pick this one up for a sassy summer read!
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is so strong, and the connection they develop so authentic, I found myself feeling like I was in the story with them. Tom 19s got a lot of walls to break down in Abby before he 19s really got a shot, and he 19s just patient and tender enough to do it. Abby, despite being hurt so badly by a cheating man and spiteful sister, catches on to the notion that she shouldn 19t fear Tom fast enough to be able to work out her issues before her inner bitch drives him away. Better yet, she gets a chance to prove how far she 19s come, bonding them for sure.
Compelling characters, witty banter, and sizzling sexual tension make Love Kinection a smash hit for anyone 19s hopeless romantic inner geek. I had high expectations, and this book lived up to them all. Go pick this one up for a sassy summer read!
February 24, 2013
Keep in mind that this is an adult book, and there are explicit details!
Another sexy book that put a goofy grin on my face. This is a funny, short read which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Abby Fine hates Valentine's Day. Last year she was left standing at the altar when her fiance ran off with her sister. She is still a bit sad about it.
When her sister sent her a message about her upcoming marriage, Abby has broken her new phone. Luckily the office IT hottie, Tom, offers to fix it.
In fact, he wants to come over that night, and bring some food.
What starts out as an unwished date, turns into a fun evening of movies, video games and laughter and talk between two geeks.
Love the dorky and geeky characters of Tom and Abby. Abby is deeply wounded, and Tom is just right to help her heal her pains and soften her scars. These two were truly meant for each other with their dork stuff! I loved the connection, loved the sweet, sexy flirting.
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is strong, and the connection they develop so real.
The story was short but plot was perfectly good. I wanted more when it was done. I had a great time reading this book.
"What are you doing here? What time is it? Do you always pound on people’s doors that way? Geez. And I’m not naked for you. I’m naked for me."
Another sexy book that put a goofy grin on my face. This is a funny, short read which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Abby Fine hates Valentine's Day. Last year she was left standing at the altar when her fiance ran off with her sister. She is still a bit sad about it.
When her sister sent her a message about her upcoming marriage, Abby has broken her new phone. Luckily the office IT hottie, Tom, offers to fix it.
In fact, he wants to come over that night, and bring some food.
What starts out as an unwished date, turns into a fun evening of movies, video games and laughter and talk between two geeks.
Love the dorky and geeky characters of Tom and Abby. Abby is deeply wounded, and Tom is just right to help her heal her pains and soften her scars. These two were truly meant for each other with their dork stuff! I loved the connection, loved the sweet, sexy flirting.
The romance side is sweet, but incredibly sexy too. Their chemistry is strong, and the connection they develop so real.
The story was short but plot was perfectly good. I wanted more when it was done. I had a great time reading this book.
June 1, 2014
Let me tell you now that those 3 stars are solely for the geeks and the cuteness.
(With the references, it would honestly only be a 2)
(Remove the geeky, the cuteness and the references, it would be a 1 star or .5)
With all the beautiful referencing out of the way, my spazz-tastic love has gone down a few notches and I got to actually look at the goddamn book.
Their little romance, no matter how much I liked it, went by far too fast, too easy and too simple. It was really short, which never really is an issue for me unless the author doesn't make the book seem rushed or too fast paced that you don't get to hold on to the characters etc. And that was what happened in this book. Would have been better if there was more development in their relationship, at least until all the kissing and the professing of love and blah. It lacked the build up that was needed to make a relationship believable.
But I enjoyed it. I'm just not sure if I enjoyed it because of the references or for the actual story/couple. Oh well.
(With the references, it would honestly only be a 2)
(Remove the geeky, the cuteness and the references, it would be a 1 star or .5)
With all the beautiful referencing out of the way, my spazz-tastic love has gone down a few notches and I got to actually look at the goddamn book.
Their little romance, no matter how much I liked it, went by far too fast, too easy and too simple. It was really short, which never really is an issue for me unless the author doesn't make the book seem rushed or too fast paced that you don't get to hold on to the characters etc. And that was what happened in this book. Would have been better if there was more development in their relationship, at least until all the kissing and the professing of love and blah. It lacked the build up that was needed to make a relationship believable.
But I enjoyed it. I'm just not sure if I enjoyed it because of the references or for the actual story/couple. Oh well.
September 28, 2012
La storia non è particolarmente lunga e la James ce la racconta dal punto di vista di Abbi in un crescendo di fiducia e attrazione. È un racconto interessante che si completa in poche ore e che in qualche modo, pur non essendo particolarmente innovativo impedisce al lettore di staccarsi. Lo ammetto io sono un’appassionata di storie del genere dove i protagonisti si conoscono da tempo ma non riescono a concretizzare se non quando capita loro un’occasione di incontro.
Il libro è un’affascinante storia d’amore che non si consuma in un momento ma che ha bisogno di tempo, cura e costanza per nascere e svilupparsi. Una lettura piacevole, che non vi impegnerà a lungo e che vi regalerà un sorriso lungo la via, perché un libro non deve essere per forza serio per farsi notare e per essere letto, basta che dia qualcosa al lettore, di qualunque genere esso sia.
Recensione completa sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
Il libro è un’affascinante storia d’amore che non si consuma in un momento ma che ha bisogno di tempo, cura e costanza per nascere e svilupparsi. Una lettura piacevole, che non vi impegnerà a lungo e che vi regalerà un sorriso lungo la via, perché un libro non deve essere per forza serio per farsi notare e per essere letto, basta che dia qualcosa al lettore, di qualunque genere esso sia.
Recensione completa sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
August 18, 2012
I'm not typically a fan of contemporary romance; I like a little more distance from the world I know when I look for an escapist read. This one, though, appealed to all my fan-girl tendencies. James' writing is tight, her pacing is quick and light, and I could fully identify with the broken-hearted betrayal that allows a girl to think she's put her heart in a lock-box, never to be retrieved.
Just for the world where uber-geeks can find each other, I give this a double thumbs-up. I loved the ending. For anyone who likes a tightly written novella with modern touches and romance, I can highly recommend this one. This is an explicit romance that doesn't forget that the reason we want the characters to fall into each others' arms is because of the intellectual connection they forge to support the physical sparks.
Just for the world where uber-geeks can find each other, I give this a double thumbs-up. I loved the ending. For anyone who likes a tightly written novella with modern touches and romance, I can highly recommend this one. This is an explicit romance that doesn't forget that the reason we want the characters to fall into each others' arms is because of the intellectual connection they forge to support the physical sparks.
March 3, 2013
I loved this book! Ms. James had a way of writing about a heroine who was heartbroken and bitter and was definitely flawed in her own eyes, but this is what made her such a lovable character. And then there is Tom, the tech geek from her work who isn't like any of the guys I've worked with in tech departments. He's a geek on the inside but looks more like the jock on the outside. I love that both characters were geeks in their own right just like all of us are in real life. This book was a short, quick read and I loved every page. The quirky humor and banter had me hooked from the first page. This will be an author I will auto buy if all her stories are this fun and light-hearted romance.
Fun, witty, romantic read!!!
Fun, witty, romantic read!!!
May 31, 2013
Fantastic! This was a great read, funny, sexy, nerdy. Loved every page! I don't typically read strict romance, but this was a fantastic read from beginning to end. I knew I was going to love it when the main character, Abby, made a reference to her makeup looking like Brandon Lee's character in The Crow. One of my all time favorite movies... Anyway, this was a great story about finding love again after being heartbroken and stomped upon. Sexy, heart-stopping, nerdy, full of laughter love - the best kind. And it made me smile, which is sometimes difficult to do.
August 8, 2012
Loved this super cute read -- Think Bridget Jones turned American with a sister from hell, and an appetite for geeky hotties and awesome movies! Loved the movie/gaming references throughout (surprised i knew all of them to be honest, never thought of myself as a geek LOL). Any woman on team Dean (Supernatural)gets a thumbs up from me ;)I found this to be a light, quick read that filled me with giggles and the warm fuzzies I usually get from watching a fun rom com.
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