Author: Mackenzie Lucas
Genre/Age: Romance/Adult
Series: Soul Mate Tree (Book Five)
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Format: ebook via The Romance Reviews
Rating: ✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Widower Mark Cage needs help getting a date with a cute kindergarten teacher, only the last person on earth he’d ask is Athena Sullivan, Essence’s resident dating guru. Yet, Mark doesn’t have much of an option when his teenage daughter forces his hand and purchases a matchmaking package for him with the sexy relationship coach.
Sparks fly as Athena polishes Mark’s manners and helps him become dating savvy. Unfortunately, Mark begins to realize too late that the woman he thought he wanted is not the one he needs.
And, with the aid of The Soul Mate Tree, that his destined true love is closer than he’d imagined, if only he will open himself up to love a second time.
The one you want might not be the one you need.
When Mark spots a sweet and innocent-looking woman in his friend's spa, he can't help but want to break his dating fast and ask her out. Even though his friends think she's a terrible match for him, he sets out to prove them wrong. He isn't looking for love again anyway, just someone to keep him company when his teen daughter leaves for college.
But when Mark is forced to enlist the help of a relationship coach that he despises, he hates the idea. Even worse is the attraction he feels for the woman. Athena is everything that Mark doesn't want. Yet, the more time they spend together, the more he wonders if he might have misjudged Athena all along. And maybe there is some truth to this mysterious soul mate tree...
So far, I've read and enjoyed two books in this series. Each is written by a different author but there is an ongoing theme here where every story includes the same soul mate tree, responsible for bringing our couples together. This one was a little different in that the actual tree communicated with Mark. And this is single POV whereas I know at least the one other book isn't.
I enjoyed this story. There was a lot to like. Mark was a funny character, even when he wasn't trying to be. He often created hilarious moments because of his brash humor and unapologetic grumpiness. Athena had a smart mouth on her as well. I liked watching the pair of them bicker and banter. Especially when they were supposed to be finding Mark a date yet couldn't keep their hands off each other. Fun times.
The romance sizzles here too. Every love scene was hot and satisfying. The chemistry between our couple is undeniable, even from the first few scenes they share. There is just something that drew them together and even without the soul mate tree element, I would have believed this couple were meant to be.
But there were times that I did find Mark's grumpy personality to be a bit over the top. He's like that with everyone though, so at least his character was consistent. I think it was fun to watch him being forced out of his comfort zone and into the fire, so to speak. And by the end, I had warmed up to the cranky guy. Athena helped to balance him out. A little.
In closing...
I'm curious to see what other stories are in this series and will be reviewing another in the next few weeks. Four suns!
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