Did not rate bc it was not for me - I don't rate books that are either a DNF or just don't match my reading preferences once I'm able to actually see the excerpt

“I think, maybe, that I’m probably in love with you. And if you don’t want me, that’s going to hurt like fucking hell, but I had to tell you anyway, because my fucking pride doesn’t matter.” – Mike Gibson

OK, be honest, who doesn’t like reading romance about geeky/nerdy leads? I for one enjoy such stories very much!

The geeky lead in question in this book is Lauren Kane, a scientist who is developing a powerful yet very helpful drug. The product, however, can become lethal when produced a certain way, and that’s exactly what Lauren fears when her unfinished results go missing. Mike Gibson, a former undercover cop who’s the maintenance guy at her campus, is willing to help her – though he, too, cannot shake the suspicion that Lauren is not entirely innocent. Those two will have to work together and try to control the attraction they feel for each other if they wish to stop the drug from killing masses.

I obviously had fun reading this book. There was a fine balance between the action and the romance, each one pushing the other and the story forward. Extremely well-put dialogues, each line really representing each character truthfully.

Speaking of characters, I simply loved them! Especially Mike’s brothers! Dylan was such a sweetheart, and it was obvious from the first moment that someone was trying to frame him! I didn’t realize who the real culprit was until it was too late, but man it had me freaking out for Lauren’s sake!

Evan was amazing, too. Actually, scratch that! Evan was awesome! I loved him! I don’t care how stuck-up they all thought him to be, I personally believe there’s a tiger lurking beneath that pristine, nerdy labcoat! He was as ready to jump into action for the sake of his brothers as any of them, but he was also rational about it, and didn’t lose faith in their innocence (for both Dylan and Mike). It hurt me seeing him thinking himself as a weakling and a coward. I really want to see a book about him!

Lauren was what cost this book the 5th cupcake, to be honest. Sure, she was sweet when it came to animals, and funny in her geeky ways, but she always jumped to conclusions in a way that didn’t match her supposedly high IQ. For example, her life would have been so much easier if she had just asked her mother why she quit her career, instead of assuming.

And I know she wanted to be independent, but that didn’t mean she could take her issues out on Mike for wanting to help her. Especially since she herself claimed to like it – in the same sentence she yelled at him that the problem was exactly the fact she liked it! Ummm, what on Earth…? I mean, whiplash much, girl? And then she was disappointed that he respected her choice and boudaries and didn’t try to ‘wrestle’ her independence demons into submission! Again, what…?

Still, I found this book an enjoyable, fast-paced read. One that I highly recommend, no matter the circumstances.

“I’m probably—no, definitely—in love with you, too. In case you weren’t sure.” – Lauren Kane

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***