“All-consuming, deep, seductive, so damn emotional—this book is everything I expect from Jewel E. Ann. ~ Pam Godwin, New York Times bestselling authorFlint Hopkins finds the perfect tenant to rent the space above his Minneapolis-based law office.All the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted on Ellen’s application. Her references are good. And she’s easy on the eyes.Until … eyes.
Until …
Flint discovers Ellen Rodgers, Board-Certified Music Therapist, plays music. Bongos, guitars, singing—not Beethoven administered through noise-cancelling headphones.
The cut-throat attorney serves up an eviction notice to the bubbly, constantly-humming redhead who’s too sexy for her own good. But luck is on Ellen’s side when Flint’s autistic son, Harrison, takes an instant liking to her. A single dad can’t compete with guitars—and rats. Yes, she has pet rats.
This woman …
She’s annoyingly happy with a constant need to touch him—adjust his tie, button his shirt, invade his space, and mess with his mind.
Still …
She must go.
Their lust-hate relationship escalates into something beautiful and tragic. This sexy, romantic-comedy explores the things we want, the things we need, and the impossible decisions parents and children make to survive.
more
I can’t say enough how much I adored this book. The writing is crisp and flawless, and the characters are so relatable I couldn’t help but fall in love. If you are looking for a refreshing read that is as emotional as it is witty and swoony, this is the book! One of the best books I’ve read all year.
All-consuming, deep, seductive, so damn emotional–this book is everything I expect from Jewel E. Ann. I lived and breathed every second of the pain, desperation, love, and happiness these characters go through. I walked in their shoes, fought their fights, cried, sighed, shouted, and rejoiced with them. That’s the power of Jewel’s writing. She puts you in it and makes you feel. This book is magical and embodies everything I love about reading romance.
5 Bright Stars!!!
I smiled, cried, laughed, sobbed, giggled, swooned and loved the entire journey. Flint is a hero that devastated me with his guilt and his way of loving, I fell in love with him. Ellen is a great heroine, love her. All the fathers in the story are amazing. Harrison …. so beautiful. And then are the rats. It’s a story about guilt, forgiveness and second chances. Love this book.
“I love this life”
JEWEL E. Ann…Look The Part got me out of my book hangover from a previous read!!! Like I tried 4 books and they just didn’t fix my sickness!! Thank you..THANK YOU girlie…
Your Writing is definitely my drug of choice!! *SIGHS*
“I love this life”
I love all things rat babies… I love all things cookies…I love all things about broody landlord’s!!
“I love this life”
I love books that have angsty men that finally fall for the girl.
I freaking LOVED this book y’all if you can’t tell and please don’t be like me and let this book stay on your TBR any longer… Grab it now and read it… It’ll make your life happy… put a smile on your face and definitely will get you out of a book hangover!!
“I love this life”
Oh and you will understand all the above when you read this 5 Amazing Stars book!!!
Thank you Jewel E Ann for writing and I’m so happy I finally found your books!!! xoxo
My first five star book of the year. Ellen and Flint have stolen my heart and given me such a book hangover. I just wanted to continue to read about their happily ever after because they desperately deserved it. Elle coming from her abusive ex-husband and Flint trying to raise his son after killing his wife in an accident, their dark past deserved forgiveness and happiness. Highly recommended.
To me, this is perfect contemporary romance. I couldn’t have enjoyed Look the Part more. Cover to cover, this book was so enjoyable. My favorite read so far this year.
I had heard so many rave reviews from friends about this book and author that I knew I had to check it out. This is my first book by Jewel E. Ann and I was incredibly impressed with how beautiful and honest her words were. I was stunned after reading the prologue, and knew that I was in for a very emotional ride.
These characters were all so relatable. They are broken and grieving, going through the motions of life, but not really living. Even though I knew it was fiction, there were times that I felt them and their emotions as if they were real people. Life is complicated and messy and can change in an instant. My heart broke for both Flint and Ellen for their tragic pasts and as they stumbled trying to fight for a second chance at life. Their chemistry was amazing and I loved the banter between them. They’re both stubborn and pushed and challenged the other. Yes, this sometimes led to heated standoffs, but it was honest and I respected them more for it. I appreciated that the author also didn’t gloss over the very real considerations these two had to face as working professionals, a single parent, and as caregivers.
Deceased spouses are always a little iffy for me and honestly, it kept me from connecting with Flint initially. It’s not that I wanted him to atone forever for the role he played, but more that I didn’t fully believe the depth of his feelings until further into the book. I also found Ellen to be too forward/touchy feely at first and it wasn’t until the details of her past slowly came to light that I was able to understand her mannerisms and actions. Some things seemed a bit much, like could ALL this really happen to 2 people (individually and together), but at the same time, it allowed our characters to show true growth through the book. In addition to Flint and Ellen, I absolutely loved Harrison, Amanda, and Flint’s parents and Ellen’s father. They were so supportive and brought a lot of levity to some of the more serious moments. The book felt a little long at times, but I think that was because it hung heavy on my heart. The epilogue could not have been more perfect and brought everything so beautifully together. Jewel E. Ann has an incredible way with words and I highlighted many, many passages in Look the Part. I look forward to reading more of her books!
Look the Part
Jewel E Ann
Reviews on goodreads. Amazon. The book addicts.
Jewels book when life happened was my absolute favorite book of 2017… I loved it .. and I really thought it was going to be my favorite for awhile. I thought to myself “self there is no way she could write another book as good as it “. Well I was wrong I absolutely fell in love with Look the Part!!
Jewel has a way of writing that draws you into the story and makes you never want to put it down.. that was definitely the case with this book ! And Harry reminds me so much of my little person. And it’s makes me want a rat !!
I loved it Jewel!! Another one of my fave!! And I’m sure a best seller !!!
Jewel E. Ann is a sure bet in giving us unforgettable characters. Tragic, broken ones that can penetrate your deepest emotions, like Flint Hopkins. Strong survivors like Ellen Rodgers. Inevitable melt-your-heart ones like Harrison Hopkins.
Everyone can find the “happily-ever-after” in his or her own imperfect world.
Bold and colourful characters that are well written (loved the boy, Harry), fun story with humour, not too much angst, witty contemporary romance – a light read for a rainy Sunday or when you want to recharge your batteries.
5-I want this life-Stars
I’ve gone and done it. I popped my Jewel E. Ann Cherry!!! After this emotional journey, I feel the need to look up her other books and get to reading them! Written perfectly, pulling out every emotion available, I could not stop reading it.
Flint Hopkins is a damaged man. After one night of celebrating his birthday turned out to change his life forever, he lives for one thing and one thing only… His son Harrison.
Ellen Rodgers is starting a new life. She’s moved to a new town, started a new job and is moving on from her failed marriage. She is a music therapist for the local hospital and is all set up in her newly leased office to start seeing patients.
When the highly successful lawyer starts hearing bongos, guitars, tambourines added to the ‘wheels on the bus go round and round’ he blows his top. Immediately sets out to terminate the newly signed lease for the tenant upstairs.
The music therapist is doing her job. Not her fault that the ‘sex in a suit’ didn’t understand what her job truly was. She’s going to fight this to the end.
Absolutely loved the banter between Flint and Ellen. Both very headstrong people who have a hard time being convinced to change their way of thinking. But with that being said, they fit together perfectly!
Add in the no holds barred son, Harrison. Who truly speaks what’s on his mind and repeats truthfully things he has heard in conversations meant to not leave the house. I think 7 is a good number…to bad its also considered a D in school, equaling a 70%.
Fantastic book that deals with addiction and autism in a way that will make you want to go out and adopt a couple rats so that you can have your own rat pack!!!
#BookBistroBlogApproved
4.5
“‘ , ‘ . ‘ . ‘ .”
: adult contemporary, single dad, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, funny banter
First time reading anything by the author and I absolutely love it! Ngl, the book has been on my tbr for over a year and I wanted to give it a try several times, but now that I read it, I regret not picking it before
Look the part tells us the story of two broken souls, Flint and Ellen, who meet when Ellen rents one of Flint’s offices. Since they meet, there is undeniable chemistry between them, and when Harrison, Flint’s kid, gets involved with Ellen and her music things get more complicated.
I adore Ellen and her quirkiness!! I mean c’mon who in the world pets rats and hums at ABSOLUTELY everything? Yeah, only Ellen And her relationship with Harrison is the cutest thing ever. He is on the autism spectrum, so ofc his life ain’t easy, but his dialogues are the best!!! Istg, his scenes had me laughing so loud every time
As for Flint, he is the man we all want. He is an awesome father and son, but mostly the best partner any girl could ask for! At first he tried to avoid his feelings for Ellen, yet once he made sure of his feelings, he went for his girl and did anything to make his relationship with her to work.
Their tension, banter and stories made me feel all the emotions, to the point I cried (yes, there is a scene in particular where everything goes apart, but thank god they worked things out).
All I can say is that the author’s words are magic, she knows what she writes about and poured her heart out which made me feel all the emotions the characters felt. Bravo!!!
If you are searching for a very well written enemies to lovers, second chance romance, then this is the book for you.
I loved how broken the MCs were and how they managed to heal each other.
Flint is a great guy but Ellen totally stole the show for me. She is strong, courageous, knows what she wants and is not scared to say it.
The writing is so good. The story had me hooked from the first page. And the banter was just delicious.
I highly recommend it.
Gah, this book! I love Flint Hopkins so much!
5 MILLION TRILLION RAT PACK STARS
Oh my GOD!!!!! This was one of the most perfect books I’ve ever read and I find myself saying that often about this authors books. I don’t care that this wasn’t published this year this is one of my favorite reads this year.
Broken Flint meets ball buster Ellen and sparks totally fly!!
Harrison made this book for me. He was the perfect kid character and speaking of secondary characters!! The ones in here were superb!! Amanda…the banter between her and Flint was so hysterical!!
The instant bond between Harrison and Elle was a sight to behold. It was moving and fun and the transformation he makes through the epilogue has me smiling my head off!!!!
As much as this book focused on some serious content it was just equally as funny. Jewel has the power to bring in the comedic relief when needed. The little funnies, the declarations of love and salvation had me all in my feels!!
This was a book about guilt, forgiveness, verbal and emotional abuse, learning disabilities, making mistakes and fighting them and finding love. It was such a beautiful read that I could honestly read it all over again right now.
Angst
Cheating None
Sexy Time
Epilogue
Plot
Loved this!!
Beautiful book, this story is deep, full of emotions, forgiveness and healing. I’m left speechless by this book and I can’t get enough of Flint, Elle and Harrison. I’m amazed by the way this story flows and the author connects all the pieces together. This story is memorable, my second book by this author and I’m hooked.
Wow… This is romance on a whole other level. The comedy was beyond funny, the drama was uber-dramatic, the issues were varied and complicated and intense. If there was anything wrong with this story I didn’t notice because I was so wrapped up in it.
Some reviewers said Ellen was annoying. Not to me she wasn’t. I loved this character. I see Elle as an inherently happy person who had been through some hard times but rose like a Phoenix from the ashes. She had her music to prop her up and help her to pick up the pieces of her broken soul. But she had been denied human touch for so long that she was starving for it. In some ways the Elle character felt mystical. She knew the healing power of music and touch, so her unconscious humming and touching was symbolic of the restorative power within herself and her potential to heal Flint.
Flint’s broken spirit was nearly unrepairable and he was so wracked with guilt that he didn’t feel he deserved to be any other way. He was a man with huge demons tasked with raising a mildly autistic son who he loved, but at the same time choosing to see it as his burden to bear, like a punishment. Watching Flint go back day after day to face this challenge felt like metaphorical self-flagellation. Don’t get me wrong, he was a really good father providing patience and nurturing as well as firmness and structure where needed. He never blamed or disrespected his son, but he lived a monotonous, regimented life giving up his own for that of his child. Like a monk.
Flint liked to wrap up his feelings in neat little packages—”You’re fired”, “You’re evicted”, “I killed my wife”, etc. Packed into these little sentences is all the conflict, frustrations, self-hatred and repressed feelings that he can’t put into words. Elle frustrated the hell out of him, suddenly entering his life with her music and her noise, her humming and her touching. She enjoyed ruffling his feathers and he wanted her out, but his son Harry took to playing music with Elle and proved to be immensely talented, so “evicting” Elle from his life was going to be difficult. And thus the relationship unfolds.
The first half of this story was the funniest thing I’ve ever read. I laughed my way through virtually the entire thing. Then it takes a turn for the serious with angst that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. In this 381 page book I never once felt like it was too long or that I wanted it to be over with.
There are many issues in this story that weave it into a complicated tale, but most of all this is a story of self-sacrifice and how some problems can be fixed if you just resolve to move Heaven and Earth. This is my first Jewel E. Ann novel and she is such a good writer I look forward to reading more of her books. I give it 5+++ stars and 100% recommend if you want comedy, tragedy and romance, written with excellent dialogue, pacing, development and subject matter. It really raises the bar for the romance genre.
Flint’s story! It’s bittersweet but it’s mostly a lot of fun to read! The best connection is with Flint and Ellen from the beginning it’s so entertaining that you forget there’s sad parts to this story but don’t worry! All the parts from beginning to end are part of the journey.
I’m over the moon with these characters and their journey!
Flint and Ellen so special, I’m reluctant to say too much about them and ruin the experience of meeting them without expectations or judging their baggage.
AND then there’s Harrison. Oh my gosh, I just want to hug this twelve-year-old even though he probably wouldn’t appreciate it.
Rats, you say? Oh yes, so many rats. You’ll fall for them too.
“And you’re the first breath of oxygen that’s touched my lungs in ten years.”
Is HYDROTHERAPY a real thing?
“Those who love you the most , will cherish what you cherish. They’ll nurture what makes you – you.”
It’s a love story, yet so much more. You’ll laugh, cry, swoon and everything in between right to the end.
Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest. Click that baby! You won’t regret it.