Look the Part

Reviews are hard for me to write. I’m just not that good with words or putting thoughts down. I’m always worried it won’t be enough to get across to other readers that they need this book. So I’ll just start with that – you need to read this book. A reader can’t go wrong with a story written by Jewel E Ann. I may have said that in other reviews for her work, but it’s absolutely true. Her characters are real, the story comes off the page and when you’re done, you just want more. Flint Hopkins is a sarcastic jerk and miserable. A devastating accident has left him bitter, a widow and a single father to Harrison. Who, by the way, is an awesome kid. Flint controls every aspect of his life and believes he is unworthy of happiness. Then Ellen Rodgers enters his life and tilts it off its axis. She’s everything he is not – vibrant, happy, quirky, living life. Their interactions are hilarious and sexy. The up and down battle, the push and pull of the relationship, the chemistry and undeniable attraction can all be felt through the story. Every character, whether main or secondary, is fleshed out to fit perfectly. The story just flows naturally. It’s a wonderful mix of love, family, regret, guilt, forgiveness and second chances. I found myself smiling, teary-eyed and then smiling again with a full heart. Look the Part is a beautiful story and well worth the read.

“Sometimes, the world ends and forgets to take you with it.”

“Look The Part” KILLED me and it has taken me two days to write this review so I could get over the emotional hangover / migraine headache I got from reading it. That’s a good thing BTW. From the minute I started this beautiful story I did not want to put it down. I didn’t think my boss would understand that “I’m reading this really great book and don’t want to put it down so I’m going to be out of work for the day”, I actually woke up two mornings in a row with a sniffling nose and red rimmed eyes.

This is Flint’s story who we first met in the book “ONE’. I was honestly bummed that “Kong” didn’t get his story told first but I’m here to tell you that the series is written exactly as it is meant to be. Flint is a much more complex guy than I ever imagined and I’m so glad to have met him in the manner with which I did.

The banter and “lust/hate” relationship that Flint and Ellen have is one filled with laughter and tears and heart break and so much more. The way these characters were written took my breath away. I also appreciated the tenderness with which the author wrote Flint’s son and Elle’s father. They could have each been so cliché but they were written with an understanding and delicateness that felt so real.

I recommend this book one hundred times and this can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

WOW!!!! So many feels with this book!! Beautiful story!!

Flint had it all until he made a mistake so big that he feels he must make penance for the rest of his days. He puts one foot in front of the other every day, but only for his son, the only remaining piece of the wife he loved and lost.

“Sometimes the world ends and forgets to take you with it.”

The day he meets his new tenant, Ellen, for his vacant building space, Flint feels an attraction to her but has no idea that the sexy redhead is about to throw his world into a tailspin. He doesn’t feel he deserves even a moment of happiness but Ellen is getting under his skin and he can’t get her out of his mind.

“You’re the first breath of oxygen that’s touched my lungs in ten years.”

Ellen is a newly divorced music therapist. She’s just moved to the area for a new job and a chance to start over. She feels the sparks fly with Flint but he is a bit uptight and closed off with her. Ellen meets Flint’s son, Harrison, at the office one day and through music, the two bond quickly. She’d like to do some bonding with Flint, if only he would open his heart to her.

“I want to be his greatest strength-and his greatest weakness. I want to be where he hides his lies and finds his truth.”

Will Flint and Ellen get a second chance at love and find their happily ever after?

LOOK THE PART by Jewel E. Ann is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, erotic romance story line focusing on thirty five year old high-powered attorney and single father Flint Hopkins, and thirty two year old music therapist Ellen Rodgers.

Told from dual first person points of view (Ellen and Flint) LOOK THE PART follows the antagonistic relationship between attorney Flint Hopkins, and music therapist Ellen Rodgers- a woman who pushes all of Flint’s buttons when he discovers that his new office tenant is a music therapist whose clients play a little too loud for his own peace of mind. Intending to evict his new tenant Flint finds himself falling for the woman who has captured his twelve –year old son’s heart. For weeks Flint and Elle will go head to head in a battle of wills and palpable sexual attraction until Elle is called home for a family emergency. What ensues is the push and pull of a building relationship between a man whose demons continue to knock at the door, and one woman whose own history of love is marred by the memories of pain and broken love.
Flint Hopkins is a single father to his autistic twelve-year old son Harrison-a high functioning autistic young man with Asperger’s syndrome, whose high level intelligence tends to interfere in normal everyday life. Harrison struggles with the world but finding a kindred spirit in Elle Rodgers’ and her family of rats, Harrison begins to show promise in his musical abilities but his father’s continuous need to push Elle away begin to interfere in their daily lives. Flint Hopkins is a man with a past that haunts his very existence; survivor’s remorse and a sense of guilt that eats away at his ability to love until Ellen Rodgers enters his life.

Ellen Rodgers is a spunky, sassy female lead who finds herself falling for a man broken by the past; a man who believes he is unworthy of love; and a man whose grief and guilt eat away one memory at a time.

The relationship between Elle and Flint is one of immediate attraction that is tempered by Flint’s inability to accept Ellie and all that she is. Elle is a tactile kind of person who likes to touch and be touched but Flint is a man whose walls do not allow for the closeness he once desired. Broken and battered, Flint goes through the motions until Elle enters his life. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Elle’s father Jonathan Anderson-a retired tailor; Elle’s friend and hospital co-worker / Flint’s neighbour Dr. Abigail Hamilton: Flint’s son Harrison Hopkins; his parents Gene and Camilla; and Flint’s all-knowing and long-suffering PA Amanda.

LOOK THE PART has a little bit of everything: romance, love, heartbreak, loss, emotional pain, passion and a happily ever after. The premise is inviting, wondrous and inspiring; the romance is captivating, emotional and energetic; the characters are spirited, playful, courageous and real. Jewel E Ann has an amazing talent telling stories that will resonate long after the book is closed.

There’s a reason why Jewel E. Ann is one of my go to authors cause she never disappoints. I’m pretty sure that I always get a unique and highly emotional story. I was introduced to Flint Hopkins in the book called One and was instantly mesmerized by him. Look The Part can easily be read as a standalone.

Flint Hopkins and Ellen Rodgers carry this book beautifully. They crawled into my heart the moment they appeared in Look The Part. Their interactions and chemistry are incredible. Talk about characters that jump off the pages cause these two do. They’re are so much fun and likable. They both carry the weight of a tragic past and together they find solace in each other. Flint is struggling with his own worth and what he thinks he deserves. His guilt is heartbreaking. He starts his own path to redemption thanks to the extraordinary and spunky Ellen. Her past is also sad but is such a positive person and tries the best she can to move on and her meeting with Flint changes everything. Her bantering with Flint is definitely a highlight of mine. Omg! So much heart and soul in every interaction between them. They both awaken something in one another. The need, want and lust for more in their lives.

The secondary characters are just as important as Flint and Ellen. Flint’s son Harrison, Ellen and Flint’s parents. I loved them so much. They’re so important for the story, for Flint and Ellen’s relationship. Ellen and her father Jon definitely made me tear up and so did Flint and his relationship with his autistic son Harrison. The change not only Ellen and Flint goes through but also Harrison, thanks to Ellen, are extraordinary and flawlessly executed.

Look The Part is another smash from Jewel E. Ann. She can do nothing wrong. Her character development is phenomenal. There’s so much heart and soul in this story and the characters. I’m surprised how hard this story hit me. So beautiful, emotional and fun. Look The Part is another favorite of mine from the talented Jewel E. Ann.

5 BadAssDirtyHummingStars

6 AMAZING STARS!

Look the Part starts off with a huge bang, in the form of a heartbreaking tragedy that sets the tone of the story, in this emotional read. It’s going on my Top Read list and I’m almost one-hundred percent certain it will be my #1 book of the year. Those of you who are movie buffs might recognize the quote from Steel Magnolias “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion” and it describes this amazing story ‘to a T’.

Fair warning: you’ll need a box of tissues handy while reading this angsty, beautiful story. It’s filled with laugh out really loud moments, so beware! The levity, thankfully, lightened the story a little so as not drown us in unbearable sorrow. I loved this story and I wish I could convince each and every one of you to take a risk, with your tender hearts, and read it. The most honest praise I can give this story is that I felt an emotional connection with the main characters; they had such incredible fortitude and they left me awestruck. The secondary characters were just as important and added so much to the story; I loved each and every one of them. I felt as if in mourning at the end of it, and despite the incredible epilogue, I was truly sorry to say goodbye to everyone.

Flint Hopkins is a successful attorney raising his son, Harrison, after losing his wife. He’s been consumed by terrible guilt for the last ten years and doesn’t have a life outside of taking care of his son. Harrison has Asperger’s Syndrome and Flint’s a hands on parent. He changed Harrison’s diet and tested him for allergens, all things Flint swears has helped him be a well-adjusted, fairly “normal” twelve-year-old.

Flint owns the building his office is located in and when he has a vacancy above his office he rents it to Ellen “Elle” Rodgers, a music therapist. Flint thought the attractive redhead was a little strange, she kept humming when discussing the terms of the rental, but her references checked out. As soon as she moves in he realizes the loud sounds he finds disturbing are coming from her office and decides this is not going to work for him. When he tells her he’s evicting her, giving her two-weeks notice to move out, Elle is not pleased at all. His secretary, Amanda, is also surprised at his reaction.

“She’s a music therapist, Flint. Please tell me you assumed music would be involved? Otherwise, I’m embarrassed for you.”

Bang…Bang…Bang…Bang…Bang…Bang

“This isn’t going to work.”

“But seriously…you have to tell me what you thought a music therapist does.”

“Comfy sofas and relaxing music played through noise-cancelling headphones.”

She smirks “You should have done an internet search. Lots of videos showing exactly what happens at a music therapist’s office. I’m a little surprised this one slid by you.”

Elle is upset the stern looking Flint is evicting her, and decides she should fight the eviction, or just ignore it. He can’t be serious, can he? After meeting Harrison, this unlikely pair forms a bond over music, something Flint can’t ignore. Although he’s serious about her moving out he begins to spend more time with Elle, and they grow closer and closer together, until they can’t deny the attraction.

“And you’re the first breath of oxygen that’s touched my lungs in ten years,” he whispers in my ear.

This story! I just finished it and I’m going to reread it, just to savor the words, again. There’s a HUGE surprise in the story and I hope no one spills the beans so you can enjoy it as much as I did! Every single character in this book is amazing **sigh**

4.5*

“She smells like the forbidden and tastes like my newest addiction.”

Look the Part is another winner from Jewel E Ann. Equal parts endearing, funny, and heart-wrenching, this is a book that captivated me from beginning to end. Flint, Ellen, and Harrison stole my heart and I gladly let them have it. Is it a wonder that Ms. Ann is an all-time favorite author when she writes books like this??? Books full of depth and feelings, with characters that will completely charm you. Every time I read one of her books I’m transported into the world she creates and I never want to leave.

While this was, for the most part, a fun, sweet, and sexy story, it was also a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and forgiveness for both Flint and Ellen. They each had issues from their pasts that were influencing their choices and decisions, and it took finding each other for them to finally break free from the things that were weighing them down.

There’s so much more I’d like to say about this book, passages I highlighted that I’d love to share, but really, I want everyone to experience Flint and Ellen’s story for themselves.