Dina Jacobs is a single librarian who has never fit in due to her off-the-charts intelligence, frizzy hair and rounder-than-socially-acceptable figure. She left her past behind until she receives an invitation to her ten-year high school reunion, and all her insecurities return. Adam Mandel is a single corporate attorney who just missed his third deadline at his father’s law firm, the law firm … where he is up for junior partner. With his reputation on the line, Adam needs all the help he can get to convince his father that he deserves the promotion.When Dina and Adam run into each other on a deserted road, Dina thinks Mr. Flashypants can’t possibly be interested in someone like her. Adam thinks Dina is just the person to help him improve his reputation. Lies and insecurities force them to take a look at themselves. Can they trust each other to look beyond the surface?
more
I knew as soon as I met Dina, one of the main characters of Jennifer Wilck’s Learning to Love, that I was going to love her. She’s a librarian and when she is introduced she’s carrying a large stack of books. She’s also quirky, incredibly smart, and a little nerdy. I felt a connection with her immediately. Her counterpart, Adam, is, at first glance, her complete opposite. He’s shallow, condescending, and a playboy. As this is a romance, the two are thrown together, get to know each other, and start to see past their first impressions of one another. They both have battles they are fighting in their own lives and they begin to see they make a pretty good team in fighting those battles. Wilck’s writing is warm, funny, and eminently readable and her characters are complex and relatable. This book has all the plot points that make for a good romance, and while it is the third book in a series it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
Adam and Dina meet when he helps her fix a flat. She’s the complete opposite of the women he usually goes out with. Adam acts two faced when he’s in public like he’s trying to be someone else and he’s ashamed to be with someone like Dina. He had a lot of hurt to overcome with his mother leaving him and being reprimanded for things beyond his control at father’s law firm, but it didn’t give him the right to treat Dina like that. She was definitely much smarter and nicer than him. Adam does redeem himself in the end, but he had to overcome pushing her away many times and lying.
The third book in the Serendipity series is well written and a story I will be reading again at a later time. Dina and Adam’s story is one that flowed smoothly from page to page, Adam has a lot to overcome before they can be together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Adam and Dina both stand out of the norm. She being an intellectual that is above and beyond most men and thus men do not gravitate towards the likes of her. Adam is a lawyer in his fathers firm but doesn’t quite make the grade a standout. When Dina’s care gets a flat Adam stops to assist causing all of Dina’s insecurities to resurface. When they meet again a deal is struck but will fate step in and change the outcome? This is an appealing story that draws you in with the duplicity of our characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dina is a whip-smart librarian who loves nothing more than spending an evening at home with a good book. When she gets a flat tire, an overly confident man tries to help her. Mr. Flashypants, as she calls him, doesn’t go away and in fact pops up when she least expects it. The more she’s around him, she higher her insecurities ramp up. Is he just pretending to date her to please his father or could this relationship be something more?
Adam works for his father’s law firm but after legal documents disappear and he becomes a piranha, his life falls apart. What he wants in life and what he is living are far apart. The only bright spot is the pretty librarian who occupies his thoughts far too often. She’s his exact opposite but maybe her blunt honesty is exactly what he needs. Can he see past the physical and open himself to love? Or will his childhood scars keep him from learning to love?
This is my first Jennifer Wilck book and I loved every minute of it. Her descriptive narration makes the characters and the scenery come alive. You feel for both Dina and Adam. Their slow-burning romance is worth all the angst and misunderstandings. It’s realistic while still tugging at the heartstrings.
My favorite parts had to be the faith-filled moments where she describes Dina’s love for Temple and her Jewish faith. I’m not Jewish but my spirit conjoined with Dina’s during those scenes. Beautiful without being overbearing.
If you’re a fan of realistic romances with all the feels, you’ll fall in love with Learning to Love. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.
Favorite Character/Quote: Dina. I connected with her right away. She’s bookish, honest and not model-thin. The more I read, the more I loved her. Every emotion she experienced, I went through as well. By the end of the book, I was sure I wanted her and I to be best friends.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
Wow! Amazing characters that you will fall in love with and root for their happiness!
This book is a happy, feel-good, enjoyable, entertaining read!
This book is about Dina Jacobs, a frizzy-haired, out-of-place, socially awkward, super intelligent, librarian. Dina receives an invite to her 10-year high school reunion and is in crisis mode trying to find a date and decide if she should even go back to the one place she felt evermore like an outcast.
This book is about Adam Mandel, a smart, good-looking, corporate attorney, with a somewhat fake, cocky, player-ish attitude. Adam is up for a big promotion to be a junior partner at the firm – his dad’s law firm, but he keeps missing deadlines and slacking off.
However, when Dina gets a flat tire and Adam stops to help, this chance encounter could be the perfect solution for each other’s problems! Dina needs a date for her high school reunion event and Adam needs a serious girlfriend to show his dad he’s grown up and is ready for more responsibility.
As both need something from each other it becomes more of an arrangement at first – but could these two actually fall in love and this pretend relationship turn into the real thing?! No spoilers here!! But you definitely will want to read this book and find out!!
This book keeps you totally engaged from page one through the very last page! I truly had a hard time putting this book down!
I really liked the main characters, Dina and Adam!! They were likable, relatable, and genuine. Both characters had some serious low self-esteem issues and personal insecurities. They both dealt with them differently and tried to keep them hidden from the world. However, when they were together – they were able to just be themselves… And that’s why they were so perfect together – because they were being their honest, true selves – and trusting each other with that openness.
I think a lot of readers will able to relate to Dina as many of us battle with personal insecurities and it’s often something we try to keep hidden from others. Plus, I’m sure readers will also be cheering Dina on – from when she shows up the means girls at the reunion to the cute, real feelings developing moments with Adam!! You can’t help but root for this adorable couple!!
I think the author did a fantastic job on her character development as these characters were so real and personal on many levels.
I really enjoyed reading this book and totally had a smile on most of the time I was reading it!
This book has a great storyline that flows, terrific writing style with detailed scenes, well-developed characters, is steady paced, and keeps you completely entertained through the last page.
This book is the third book in the Serendipity Book Series. I had not read either of the books in this series before reading this book. I did not get lost or confused, so this book can be read as a standalone. However, there are many references to the previous book and the characters seem to overlap. However, since I liked this book, I would suggest getting in from the beginning and starting with book one, so you don’t miss anything.
For me, this book absolutely worked!!! It hit everything I look for and need when I am reading and reviewing a book!!!
All in all, I would absolutely recommend this book, and this author as I was truly impressed with the quality of writing, intriguing storyline, and excellent character development! I will definitely be continuing to follow this author and check out her upcoming books!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
I liked this story even though it took me a bit to warm up to Adam. His past experiences shaped him, but I felt that he hung on too long to those feelings. I loved the instant heat between Dina and Adam, and how things worked out for them.
I received an ARC of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.