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Knitting in the City #3
Love Hacked
There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.
Love Hacked is book #3 in the Knitting in the City series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group.
Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.
Love Hacked is book #3 in the Knitting in the City series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2014
About the author
Penny Reid
90 books21.8k followersSign up for the newsletter of awesome: www.pennyreid.ninja/newsletter
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
FOLLOW PENNY:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyreidwriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/reidromance
Instagram:www.instagram.com/reidromance
Just Released:
October 20, 2022: Folk Around and Find Out, Good Folk: Modern Folktales, Book 2
Upcoming Releases:
December 13, 2022: Drama King, Three Kings Series, Book 2
Currently Working On:
2023: Pride and Dad Jokes, Ideal Man, Book 1
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
FOLLOW PENNY:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyreidwriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/reidromance
Instagram:www.instagram.com/reidromance
Just Released:
October 20, 2022: Folk Around and Find Out, Good Folk: Modern Folktales, Book 2
Upcoming Releases:
December 13, 2022: Drama King, Three Kings Series, Book 2
Currently Working On:
2023: Pride and Dad Jokes, Ideal Man, Book 1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,338 reviews
April 11, 2023
5 Stars!
I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES! This is, quite possibly my favorite of the bunch (aside from that Greg and Fiona novella- which is Penny’s best work IMO). Alex and Sandra were everything! I couldn’t get enough of them.
Sandra is a psychiatrist. She goes on a lot of dates, and all of those dates end early with the guy spilling his guts while Sandra listens and gives him a shoulder to cry on. Amongst all these dates, Sandra meets Alex who happens to be her handsome, younger waiter at the Indian restaurant she frequents. There is a spark between Alex and Sandra and it’s so much different than anything she’s ever felt. Alex is different. He’s not open, he doesn’t want to talk about his past or feelings. He just wants to be with Sandra…sigh.
Sandra is a spectacular, one of a kind heroine. I knew from the other books I would adore her story. There is just no way I couldn’t. I loved her feistiness, her willingness to help any and everyone, and the fact that she made men cry ;) Alex was quite the match for her. He’s smart, secretive, and so in love with Sandra, it made my heart so full! I just flipping loved this couple!
This book is extra smart, extra funny, and extra special to me. It was the perfect book. Just enough sweet and sexy, but definitely had Penny’s signature stamp on it. This is one of Penny’s best books in my opinion, and if you haven’t read it yet- GET ON IT! Don’t let it sit on your TBR for years like I did!
“There is boring. There is sensational. There is mediocre. There is lazy. There is good. There is evil. People do implausible things all the time, and they run the gamut of moderately weird to truly extraordinary. But there is no normal. The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things.”
I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES! This is, quite possibly my favorite of the bunch (aside from that Greg and Fiona novella- which is Penny’s best work IMO). Alex and Sandra were everything! I couldn’t get enough of them.
Sandra is a psychiatrist. She goes on a lot of dates, and all of those dates end early with the guy spilling his guts while Sandra listens and gives him a shoulder to cry on. Amongst all these dates, Sandra meets Alex who happens to be her handsome, younger waiter at the Indian restaurant she frequents. There is a spark between Alex and Sandra and it’s so much different than anything she’s ever felt. Alex is different. He’s not open, he doesn’t want to talk about his past or feelings. He just wants to be with Sandra…sigh.
Sandra is a spectacular, one of a kind heroine. I knew from the other books I would adore her story. There is just no way I couldn’t. I loved her feistiness, her willingness to help any and everyone, and the fact that she made men cry ;) Alex was quite the match for her. He’s smart, secretive, and so in love with Sandra, it made my heart so full! I just flipping loved this couple!
This book is extra smart, extra funny, and extra special to me. It was the perfect book. Just enough sweet and sexy, but definitely had Penny’s signature stamp on it. This is one of Penny’s best books in my opinion, and if you haven’t read it yet- GET ON IT! Don’t let it sit on your TBR for years like I did!
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July 29, 2020
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October 11, 2019
3.75 - 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this.
Penny Reid always has some fun humor and quirky characters coupled with sweet, lighthearted romance...and this book was no different.
Sometimes the characters felt a little too campy...and I could have gone for a little more relationship development, but I think this might just be me holding Reid to a higher standard. Right or wrong.
Otherwise, all in all a really enjoyable read. I should probably go back and read book two of this series (I've apparently read book one, although I remember nothing about it). The knitting group seems like a fun and quirky crowd though.
I really enjoyed this.
Penny Reid always has some fun humor and quirky characters coupled with sweet, lighthearted romance...and this book was no different.
Sometimes the characters felt a little too campy...and I could have gone for a little more relationship development, but I think this might just be me holding Reid to a higher standard. Right or wrong.
Otherwise, all in all a really enjoyable read. I should probably go back and read book two of this series (I've apparently read book one, although I remember nothing about it). The knitting group seems like a fun and quirky crowd though.
October 1, 2019
ThirdFourth time reading Love Hacked and it's as rib-cracking as it was the first. Sandra and Alex are, by far, my favourite "Knitting in The City" couple.
May 24, 2018
THROWBACK THURSDAY!
5 stars!
“There is boring. There is sensational. There is mediocre. There is lazy. There is good. There is evil. People do implausible things all the time, and they run the gamut of moderately weird to truly extraordinary. But there is no normal. The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things.”
So, I kind of adored this book. I'm really kicking myself now for having put off reading it, and I have no clue why I did. Love Hacked is my favorite of the Knitting series and unexpectedly blew me away!!!
This is the story of Sandra and Alex. Sandra has gone on a number of unsuccessful dates over the past three years, with most of her dates ending up sobbing based on the personal issues unearthed. Lots of her dates take place at an Indian restaurant where the sexy Alex works as a waiter. After her most recent date fails, Alex sits down and takes his place, yet remains a complete mystery to Sandra. The two have an obvious connection, but Sandra has her doubts about Alex and how he's so quiet about himself. Despite this, the two find themselves thrown together more often than not and tentatively forge a relationship.
“When I was younger, I wanted plenty of things, plenty of people, until I realized there was no point in wanting. Since then, I’ve never had something I wanted, not really. Not ’til you.”
I loved the back and forth between Alex and Sandra. The two were so different and yet seemed so perfect together. Alex is an extremely intelligent individual and he wouldn't fall for a dumb girl or a fake one. I loved Sandra in this book and her low bullshit meter. She fought hard for him, believed in him and didn't judge him too harshly. In return Alex did his best to take care of Sandra despite his trust issues and more.
I also loved the intelligent sense of humor in this book. Lots of Star Wars references that made me smile. Much of the banter had me cracking up as well. Alex and Sandra had a great push and pull relationship but neither went too far. I also was impressed with the age difference, personally at 26 I would have a hard time dating a 21 year old guy, so I can kind of identify with Sandra's struggle with the 6-7 year age difference between them, but ultimately age didn't matter. It really was the case of loving someone for who they are despite differences.
So again, like I already said, I loved this book. Loved the characters, story, angst and more and I highly recommend!
“You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”
5 stars!
“There is boring. There is sensational. There is mediocre. There is lazy. There is good. There is evil. People do implausible things all the time, and they run the gamut of moderately weird to truly extraordinary. But there is no normal. The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things.”
So, I kind of adored this book. I'm really kicking myself now for having put off reading it, and I have no clue why I did. Love Hacked is my favorite of the Knitting series and unexpectedly blew me away!!!
This is the story of Sandra and Alex. Sandra has gone on a number of unsuccessful dates over the past three years, with most of her dates ending up sobbing based on the personal issues unearthed. Lots of her dates take place at an Indian restaurant where the sexy Alex works as a waiter. After her most recent date fails, Alex sits down and takes his place, yet remains a complete mystery to Sandra. The two have an obvious connection, but Sandra has her doubts about Alex and how he's so quiet about himself. Despite this, the two find themselves thrown together more often than not and tentatively forge a relationship.
“When I was younger, I wanted plenty of things, plenty of people, until I realized there was no point in wanting. Since then, I’ve never had something I wanted, not really. Not ’til you.”
I loved the back and forth between Alex and Sandra. The two were so different and yet seemed so perfect together. Alex is an extremely intelligent individual and he wouldn't fall for a dumb girl or a fake one. I loved Sandra in this book and her low bullshit meter. She fought hard for him, believed in him and didn't judge him too harshly. In return Alex did his best to take care of Sandra despite his trust issues and more.
I also loved the intelligent sense of humor in this book. Lots of Star Wars references that made me smile. Much of the banter had me cracking up as well. Alex and Sandra had a great push and pull relationship but neither went too far. I also was impressed with the age difference, personally at 26 I would have a hard time dating a 21 year old guy, so I can kind of identify with Sandra's struggle with the 6-7 year age difference between them, but ultimately age didn't matter. It really was the case of loving someone for who they are despite differences.
So again, like I already said, I loved this book. Loved the characters, story, angst and more and I highly recommend!
“You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”
November 8, 2022
5 Snarky, Inventive, Transformative, ZINGING Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free-My First Penny Reid Experience
Ok, I admit it. I am a sucker for smartbooks. No, I am not talking about the encyclopedia, full of analysis books. I am also not talking about books that are full of how smart they present themselves to be with SAT vocabulary; with pages and pages of words that could be reduced to 3 and say the same thing equally as well.
No, I am talking about books that have unique, snappy characters…People who immediately draw you in with what is happening in their heads. They feel things deeply; express their thoughts and feeling so I can understand why they do what they do. If they have a sharp wit, and many friends to share said sharp wit, all the better. Add a real story, of course, a swoon-worthy man…. and I am all in.
Loved Hacked is all of the above and more. I say more because it brings up some very interesting questions about us as people and how we can separate who we are with our careers with how we may need to be with our loved ones.
Sandra is a Pediatric Psychiatrist. She has been through all of the mistakes in love; had her heartbroken and is on the quest for the guy… the one to have a real life with. At 28, she has been searching through a system of first dates for 2 years. Her looks are lovely, her personality a little quirky and self-deprecating; everything should be all systems go. She seems to be shopping in the same pool of respectable, professional career-driven men getting the same results… at first fun banter… then the men all seem to key into her reminding them of someone in their past, a friend, ex, or even their mother… and then the men start to pour out their trauma to her… she sits, listens in her professional manner, gives them a pat or hug depending on how affected they are and hands them off with a card for a fellow shrink to help them on their journey. Many stay friends.
All this takes place at Sandra’s favorite Indian restaurant as their Butter Chicken is beyond compare and the vision of Alex, her waiter over these years, is equally as stunning. In fact, if Sandra had to choose between the two… I really don’t think she could. Alex seems to be younger than Sandra, yet has a worldliness about him. Physically, he is something to behold… penetrating eyes, lanky body, and grace. When he talks with her, it is as if he sees into her soul.
It is during one of these Friday night dates when Sandra’s horoscope seems to come to pass… as it told her “be watchful you will meet the catalyst of your future” the other day. She thought it meant the fella she was sitting with… but he too did whatever other Friday night dates did… he cried and left with the shrink’s card. No, what was about to be the change in her life was Alex coming and sitting at her table, drinking the wine, and actually having a conversation with her.
Earth-shattering!
Alex sits as comfortably as can be… eating and drinking the wine… the place is now empty and he is talking to her. Sandra has to formulate the words to his questions as he is not being very nice. He goes through his theories of who she is and why she has brought these men to the restaurant… he has correctly deduced she is a shrink but is shocked to learn these are first dates. While having this conversation, he has been repeatedly filling Sandra’s wine glass resulting in a very tipsy Sandra.
Things come to a head when he says he doesn’t understand why she does all of this as she is attractive… she in her state shares that she hasn't been kissed in over two years, is closer to 3, and doesn’t intentionally wish these men to cry. She gets up… unsteady… goes to the bathroom and upon returning walks directly into Alex, who is blocking her way…
He mentions 3 years is a long time to go without a kiss while holding her close…Sandra decides to graze her lips across his… does once, and then again… Alex then takes over. This is a man who knows how to kiss… he sets off Zings throughout Sandra… making her experience what it really feels like to have that overwhelming stupid brain want…
As they pull away… they have the most telling conversation… because Alex asks Sandra a basic question- she shakes her head no but tells the truth with her mouth doing again what Alex has seen over and over again… Sandra can shut down how she is thinking and feeling about things in order to hear the other person’s story without giving herself away. Alex focuses on this and stops all of the action they were having… Sandra goes home not really understanding what took place… Alex is closed off.
This book is wonderful.
We follow the two of these people getting to know each other in spite of the boundaries each uses. Alex has deep, serious ideas about life; what it has dealt him; how he needs to live as freely as he can. Sandra has her own ways and some she doesn't really wish to address… defense mechanisms that have been used for years. Alex pushes her and she does the same with him.
The real obstacle for these two is something not oblivious right away… Can Sandra be there for Alex and just be… rather than be the Sandra she is used to being; the listener, than the fixer… that is the critical question I felt in this book.
I came to Loved Hacked (Knitting in the City #3) by Penny Reid totally blind. I did not know of the series or Ms. Reid. The characters from the past books are here; the repartee is fast, hysterical, and smart. Words are created and used perfectly. I want to be part of their knitting group and I don’t knit. The storyline is really current… and funny enough Real Life magazines have been doing articles about the topic used as the focal point.
The chemistry between Sandra and Alex is off the charts and ZINGING is all over the place so this is a true yummy romance.
I will be looking for more from Ms. Reid and will probably work my way backward through this series. Now if I learn how to knit one and purl two… it will be an added bonus.
Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City #1.5)
Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2)
Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City, #4; Winston Brothers, #0.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dating-ish (Knitting in the City, #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Arc was received in exchange for an honest review
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * * Spoiler Free-My First Penny Reid Experience
Ok, I admit it. I am a sucker for smartbooks. No, I am not talking about the encyclopedia, full of analysis books. I am also not talking about books that are full of how smart they present themselves to be with SAT vocabulary; with pages and pages of words that could be reduced to 3 and say the same thing equally as well.
No, I am talking about books that have unique, snappy characters…People who immediately draw you in with what is happening in their heads. They feel things deeply; express their thoughts and feeling so I can understand why they do what they do. If they have a sharp wit, and many friends to share said sharp wit, all the better. Add a real story, of course, a swoon-worthy man…. and I am all in.
Loved Hacked is all of the above and more. I say more because it brings up some very interesting questions about us as people and how we can separate who we are with our careers with how we may need to be with our loved ones.
Sandra is a Pediatric Psychiatrist. She has been through all of the mistakes in love; had her heartbroken and is on the quest for the guy… the one to have a real life with. At 28, she has been searching through a system of first dates for 2 years. Her looks are lovely, her personality a little quirky and self-deprecating; everything should be all systems go. She seems to be shopping in the same pool of respectable, professional career-driven men getting the same results… at first fun banter… then the men all seem to key into her reminding them of someone in their past, a friend, ex, or even their mother… and then the men start to pour out their trauma to her… she sits, listens in her professional manner, gives them a pat or hug depending on how affected they are and hands them off with a card for a fellow shrink to help them on their journey. Many stay friends.
All this takes place at Sandra’s favorite Indian restaurant as their Butter Chicken is beyond compare and the vision of Alex, her waiter over these years, is equally as stunning. In fact, if Sandra had to choose between the two… I really don’t think she could. Alex seems to be younger than Sandra, yet has a worldliness about him. Physically, he is something to behold… penetrating eyes, lanky body, and grace. When he talks with her, it is as if he sees into her soul.
It is during one of these Friday night dates when Sandra’s horoscope seems to come to pass… as it told her “be watchful you will meet the catalyst of your future” the other day. She thought it meant the fella she was sitting with… but he too did whatever other Friday night dates did… he cried and left with the shrink’s card. No, what was about to be the change in her life was Alex coming and sitting at her table, drinking the wine, and actually having a conversation with her.
Earth-shattering!
Alex sits as comfortably as can be… eating and drinking the wine… the place is now empty and he is talking to her. Sandra has to formulate the words to his questions as he is not being very nice. He goes through his theories of who she is and why she has brought these men to the restaurant… he has correctly deduced she is a shrink but is shocked to learn these are first dates. While having this conversation, he has been repeatedly filling Sandra’s wine glass resulting in a very tipsy Sandra.
Things come to a head when he says he doesn’t understand why she does all of this as she is attractive… she in her state shares that she hasn't been kissed in over two years, is closer to 3, and doesn’t intentionally wish these men to cry. She gets up… unsteady… goes to the bathroom and upon returning walks directly into Alex, who is blocking her way…
He mentions 3 years is a long time to go without a kiss while holding her close…Sandra decides to graze her lips across his… does once, and then again… Alex then takes over. This is a man who knows how to kiss… he sets off Zings throughout Sandra… making her experience what it really feels like to have that overwhelming stupid brain want…
As they pull away… they have the most telling conversation… because Alex asks Sandra a basic question- she shakes her head no but tells the truth with her mouth doing again what Alex has seen over and over again… Sandra can shut down how she is thinking and feeling about things in order to hear the other person’s story without giving herself away. Alex focuses on this and stops all of the action they were having… Sandra goes home not really understanding what took place… Alex is closed off.
This book is wonderful.
We follow the two of these people getting to know each other in spite of the boundaries each uses. Alex has deep, serious ideas about life; what it has dealt him; how he needs to live as freely as he can. Sandra has her own ways and some she doesn't really wish to address… defense mechanisms that have been used for years. Alex pushes her and she does the same with him.
The real obstacle for these two is something not oblivious right away… Can Sandra be there for Alex and just be… rather than be the Sandra she is used to being; the listener, than the fixer… that is the critical question I felt in this book.
I came to Loved Hacked (Knitting in the City #3) by Penny Reid totally blind. I did not know of the series or Ms. Reid. The characters from the past books are here; the repartee is fast, hysterical, and smart. Words are created and used perfectly. I want to be part of their knitting group and I don’t knit. The storyline is really current… and funny enough Real Life magazines have been doing articles about the topic used as the focal point.
The chemistry between Sandra and Alex is off the charts and ZINGING is all over the place so this is a true yummy romance.
I will be looking for more from Ms. Reid and will probably work my way backward through this series. Now if I learn how to knit one and purl two… it will be an added bonus.
Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City #1.5) Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City, #4; Winston Brothers, #0.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Dating-ish (Knitting in the City, #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Arc was received in exchange for an honest review
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 10, 2016
5 Zing-my-Fig Stars!!
Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance is the third book off of Penny Reid's successful Knitting in City Series. Love Hacked is Sandra's reluctant romance with the mysterious Alex. And while I enjoyed reading the first two, this book is my favorite thus far.
The Story
Sandra is a successful psychotherapist who is unlucky in love. She's been dating for two years, trying to find the one. Instead, all she succeeded in doing was making her dates cry.
Enter Alex, "The Waiter..."
Alex is both gorgeous and mysterious. Sandra had been crushing on him for as long as he's been serving her on her dates. The catch is Alex is way younger than her and so not the type of guy she sees herself committing to. But love has other ideas.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, Love Hacked is definitely my favorite thus far. It has everything that I needed and wanted in my romance novel. To say that this book hit all right spot for me would be an understatement. Everything just worked.
The laugh out loud moments...(So many of them.)
Sandra's penchant for psychoanalyzing her dates...
Alex's back story...(Sad...)
All the girls from the knitting group...
Nicoletta...(Oh yes, Nicoletta!!)
All the elements just came together for me and it made for one hell of an enjoyable ride from beginning to end!
Yeah,I already know Penny can write funny like nobody's business but she surprised me in this book. She actually made me cry. Okay. Maybe not the ugly sobbing one but kind of like this...
I just adored this book. I loved Sandra. I am a tad bit hard when it comes to heroine but Sandra was such a great character. She is my favorite heroine in this series bar none. She's funny, witty and her struggles were relatable. And of course, there's Alex. Alex...*sigh* There is nothing sexier than a man of intellect. And the way he loves Sandra is just...perfect! Swoooon!!
This book definitely deserves to be on my favorite shelf. A definite keeper.
Favorite Quotes
So the final verdict??
An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review!
Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance is the third book off of Penny Reid's successful Knitting in City Series. Love Hacked is Sandra's reluctant romance with the mysterious Alex. And while I enjoyed reading the first two, this book is my favorite thus far.
The Story
Sandra is a successful psychotherapist who is unlucky in love. She's been dating for two years, trying to find the one. Instead, all she succeeded in doing was making her dates cry.
Enter Alex, "The Waiter..."
Alex the waiter was on my Spank Naughty list in third place, right after Henry Cavill the actor, then Henry Cavill as Superman. He was proof that God existed and that God loved straight women.
Alex is both gorgeous and mysterious. Sandra had been crushing on him for as long as he's been serving her on her dates. The catch is Alex is way younger than her and so not the type of guy she sees herself committing to. But love has other ideas.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, Love Hacked is definitely my favorite thus far. It has everything that I needed and wanted in my romance novel. To say that this book hit all right spot for me would be an understatement. Everything just worked.
The laugh out loud moments...(So many of them.)
Sandra's penchant for psychoanalyzing her dates...
Alex's back story...(Sad...)
All the girls from the knitting group...
Nicoletta...(Oh yes, Nicoletta!!)
All the elements just came together for me and it made for one hell of an enjoyable ride from beginning to end!
“This is just your penis having the feels for my vagina. So your penis is making prank calls! And every time I pick up. Every single time your penis makes the prank call my vagina answers the phone. And then, you hang up. Or your penis claims wrong number or misdial or no hablo Ingles. It’s infuriating and it’s called genital call me maybe.”
Yeah,I already know Penny can write funny like nobody's business but she surprised me in this book. She actually made me cry. Okay. Maybe not the ugly sobbing one but kind of like this...
I just adored this book. I loved Sandra. I am a tad bit hard when it comes to heroine but Sandra was such a great character. She is my favorite heroine in this series bar none. She's funny, witty and her struggles were relatable. And of course, there's Alex. Alex...*sigh* There is nothing sexier than a man of intellect. And the way he loves Sandra is just...perfect! Swoooon!!
“I dream of your voice, daydream about it. I spend a good part of my day thinking up ways to make you laugh, counting the hours before I can hold you—just hold you—feel you breathe, your heart beat. I’ve memorized your walk, I look forward to your butchering of the German language, I look forward to your every occasion t-shirts. I want to tell everyone about you, how brilliant you are, how generous and kind and amazing and I will keep you safe.”
This book definitely deserves to be on my favorite shelf. A definite keeper.
Favorite Quotes
So the final verdict??
An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review!
January 4, 2016
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
So over Christmas I took advantage of the extra time to catch up on this series, I read the whole thing out of order and what with book 5 coming out very shortly, I thought I should finally read both Friends without Benefits, and then this one, Love Hacked.
What the HECK! This was my favourite out of all 4, I bloody loved it. Why didn't anyone tell me how good it was??
Sandra is a shrink, she has been dating for years, without success. She goes to the same restaurant every other Friday, and ends up counselling her date instead of being woo-ed. As you can imagine, these men never end up becoming more than a friend, in fact, Sandra has lots of male friends, but never any boyfriends.
Alex has been a waiter at the Indian restaurant she takes her dates to for two years, and although she finds him very sexy, he is much younger than her so she just treats him as the very lovely eye candy he is. Also, for reasons unknown, he seems to treat her with some kind of disdain. That is until one night, when he takes the bull by the horns and decides to find out what her thing is with making grown men cry.
I absolutely loved these two together, I cannot describe how perfect their paring was. She was a quirky, independent and very funny woman, and he, well he was a mysterious stranger who blew hot and cold. I never knew what he was thinking or what he was up to, and then all of a sudden he would come out with the most swoony thing, I bloody adored him.
This was a very intelligently written story, it was funny, it was adorable and it was pretty sexy at times. I just thought the whole story was so unique, I have never read anything remotely similar and although it has Penny Reid's signature style, it has a very different feel to the rest of this series so far.
I just LOVED it, I can't say any more. Pure brilliance.
Love Hacked is the third book in a series of standalone contemporary romances, focusing on a ladies knitting group. Told in the female POV.
So over Christmas I took advantage of the extra time to catch up on this series, I read the whole thing out of order and what with book 5 coming out very shortly, I thought I should finally read both Friends without Benefits, and then this one, Love Hacked.
What the HECK! This was my favourite out of all 4, I bloody loved it. Why didn't anyone tell me how good it was??
Sandra is a shrink, she has been dating for years, without success. She goes to the same restaurant every other Friday, and ends up counselling her date instead of being woo-ed. As you can imagine, these men never end up becoming more than a friend, in fact, Sandra has lots of male friends, but never any boyfriends.
Alex has been a waiter at the Indian restaurant she takes her dates to for two years, and although she finds him very sexy, he is much younger than her so she just treats him as the very lovely eye candy he is. Also, for reasons unknown, he seems to treat her with some kind of disdain. That is until one night, when he takes the bull by the horns and decides to find out what her thing is with making grown men cry.
"You're a shrink," he said
He might as well accused me of being a traitor or a murderer or a Kardashian.
I absolutely loved these two together, I cannot describe how perfect their paring was. She was a quirky, independent and very funny woman, and he, well he was a mysterious stranger who blew hot and cold. I never knew what he was thinking or what he was up to, and then all of a sudden he would come out with the most swoony thing, I bloody adored him.
"Remember that I've been watching you for over two years. You are the most exquisitely beautiful woman I've ever seen. And I'll never say that you're pretty, because that word is pathetically inadequate."
This was a very intelligently written story, it was funny, it was adorable and it was pretty sexy at times. I just thought the whole story was so unique, I have never read anything remotely similar and although it has Penny Reid's signature style, it has a very different feel to the rest of this series so far.
"The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things."
I just LOVED it, I can't say any more. Pure brilliance.
Love Hacked is the third book in a series of standalone contemporary romances, focusing on a ladies knitting group. Told in the female POV.
March 21, 2014
3.75 stars
I can’t really say too much in my review as there is a lot of stuff going on in it that you are better off just coming across as you read it.
I remember telling my then boyrfriend who is now my husband that I had read Ulysses. He was studying for a Doctorate in English Literature at the time and I said it to impress him. He was impressed – he married me! It wasn’t until years later that it came out that I have never read the book!
Loved meeting all the friends again.
A good solid read – a very enjoyable series.
As usual he was looking at me with thoughtful, deep-set indigo eyes behind black horned-rimmed glasses.
I want you more than the easiness and comfort of numbness …
I can’t really say too much in my review as there is a lot of stuff going on in it that you are better off just coming across as you read it.
His favorite book – a collect of short stories – was The Dubliners , written by James Joyce.
I remember telling my then boyrfriend who is now my husband that I had read Ulysses. He was studying for a Doctorate in English Literature at the time and I said it to impress him. He was impressed – he married me! It wasn’t until years later that it came out that I have never read the book!
Loved meeting all the friends again.
The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things
A good solid read – a very enjoyable series.
May 7, 2022
This was THE CUTEST Penny Reid book featuring psychiatrist Sandra, who has the misfortune of having her dates always turn out to be men who want her to play doctor rather than see her as a real woman. She winds up falling for Alex, a hot younger guy, and their romance was chock full of chemistry and steamy hot. My favorite in the series to date!
Alex has a tortured past which I won’t reveal too much about because half the fun in this one is the way Penny Reid doles bits out in little doses… I for one was left guessing wrong at every turn and it made for fun surprises! But he was a super steamy hero, and their scenes together were really great. I love the way they were able to heal each other and had such incredible chemistry.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Alex has a tortured past which I won’t reveal too much about because half the fun in this one is the way Penny Reid doles bits out in little doses… I for one was left guessing wrong at every turn and it made for fun surprises! But he was a super steamy hero, and their scenes together were really great. I love the way they were able to heal each other and had such incredible chemistry.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
April 16, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“My name is Alex and I’ll be serving you tonight.”
Penny Reid has become a go-to gal for me when I’m in the mood for a light romance. I have read more than a handful of her stories and have not disliked any of them, which is pretty much a miracle if you know me at all. I’m living proof that you don’t have to read her stuff in order either. I pick up what I call “The Bearded Brothers” in whatever order they come to me and I had only read #6 in this series before requesting this #3. I will say I’m not a knitter so the knitting club (as well as some of its members) aren’t necessarily my cuppa. The good thing is you can just skip the characters you don’t want to hear more about like I did and go right for the one that made you want to take your pants off : )
Our leading lady this time around is Sandra – shrink by day, dating failure by night. For the past two years she’s been taking potential Mr. Rights to a restaurant near her house where she gets dolled up, orders the butter chicken and . . . . then proceeds to make them cry like tiny little bitches. Alex is a waiter at said restaurant who has watched these near-weekly failures with more than simple curiosity. Sandra and I share the same feelings when it comes to Alex . . . . .
“He gives me zings in my things.”
Now let’s cease with the talky and get to giffing to ‘splain why this worked for me.
1. Not only was our female lead a doctor who actually had her shit together, but she was also significantly older than the leading male which made me go . . . .
2. The leading MALE was a virgin!!!! You know what that was like? It was like seeing this . . . . .
3. I was also familiar with him from Book #6 and his storyline was most definitely a delightful blast from my past . . . .
4. Not to mention he was described as looking like both this Henry Cavill . . . .
As well as this one . . . .
Sidenote: Normally I like to picture this Henry Cavill being that I’m a pervert who reads motorcycle porn like it’s a part-time job . . . . .
5. Back to our leading lady. Her claim to fame was a collection of oddball t-shirts. To say I could relate might be an understatement . . . .
6. Reid doesn’t give up the goods instantly, but you do get tosome a lot of this . . . .
Starting right around the mid-point.
To sum it up, Reid delivers what I order: an actual plot, well developed characters (including friends – not just the two leads), females who aren’t pushovers, males who might be a little alpha – but who don’t behave like cavemen, just the right number of pages and a bonus in the form of some LOL-able funny for good measure . . . .
“I like how you say my name. I can’t wait to hear you scream it.”
Wait, did he mean scream it as in yeah-baby-more-of-that-sexy-stuff, or scream it as in please-stop-murdering-me?
ESPECIALLY when it came to the realistic reaction to a ginormous wang . . . .
“No. Do not want. Please un-supersize my order.”
This time around she even offered up a trip down memory lane in the soundtrack that my family is hoping will get out of my head so I stop singing and gyrating all over the house . . . .
“My name is Alex and I’ll be serving you tonight.”
Penny Reid has become a go-to gal for me when I’m in the mood for a light romance. I have read more than a handful of her stories and have not disliked any of them, which is pretty much a miracle if you know me at all. I’m living proof that you don’t have to read her stuff in order either. I pick up what I call “The Bearded Brothers” in whatever order they come to me and I had only read #6 in this series before requesting this #3. I will say I’m not a knitter so the knitting club (as well as some of its members) aren’t necessarily my cuppa. The good thing is you can just skip the characters you don’t want to hear more about like I did and go right for the one that made you want to take your pants off : )
Our leading lady this time around is Sandra – shrink by day, dating failure by night. For the past two years she’s been taking potential Mr. Rights to a restaurant near her house where she gets dolled up, orders the butter chicken and . . . . then proceeds to make them cry like tiny little bitches. Alex is a waiter at said restaurant who has watched these near-weekly failures with more than simple curiosity. Sandra and I share the same feelings when it comes to Alex . . . . .
“He gives me zings in my things.”
Now let’s cease with the talky and get to giffing to ‘splain why this worked for me.
1. Not only was our female lead a doctor who actually had her shit together, but she was also significantly older than the leading male which made me go . . . .
2. The leading MALE was a virgin!!!! You know what that was like? It was like seeing this . . . . .
3. I was also familiar with him from Book #6 and his storyline was most definitely a delightful blast from my past . . . .
4. Not to mention he was described as looking like both this Henry Cavill . . . .
As well as this one . . . .
Sidenote: Normally I like to picture this Henry Cavill being that I’m a pervert who reads motorcycle porn like it’s a part-time job . . . . .
5. Back to our leading lady. Her claim to fame was a collection of oddball t-shirts. To say I could relate might be an understatement . . . .
6. Reid doesn’t give up the goods instantly, but you do get to
Starting right around the mid-point.
To sum it up, Reid delivers what I order: an actual plot, well developed characters (including friends – not just the two leads), females who aren’t pushovers, males who might be a little alpha – but who don’t behave like cavemen, just the right number of pages and a bonus in the form of some LOL-able funny for good measure . . . .
“I like how you say my name. I can’t wait to hear you scream it.”
Wait, did he mean scream it as in yeah-baby-more-of-that-sexy-stuff, or scream it as in please-stop-murdering-me?
ESPECIALLY when it came to the realistic reaction to a ginormous wang . . . .
“No. Do not want. Please un-supersize my order.”
This time around she even offered up a trip down memory lane in the soundtrack that my family is hoping will get out of my head so I stop singing and gyrating all over the house . . . .
February 6, 2018
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
LOVE HACKED is the third installment in the Knitting in the City series and so far my most favorite. It is amazing how creative Penny Reid's stories are, they always have a special something that only this author can pull off. It's this combination of science, quirkiness, loveliness and wonderful characters in her stories that pull me in and move me every time.
Love Hacked is about Alex and Sandra. Sandra is a psychiatrist whose dates always end up with the men crying. Being on the outside, watching that whenever she meets her date at a restaurant I'd be pretty confused. This is where Alex, the waiter of the said restaurant, finds himself. After two years of watching Sandra and seeing her date yet again cry during their meal he talks to her. Sandra is completely smitten with Alex, despite his aloofness she feels that he is special. As they get to know each other, Alex sheds his natural distrust of people in minuscule doses. But to base a relationship on attraction and the little she knows about him...? Can that be enough?
I loved Alex. He was THE BEST. He was nerdy (yum), had Henry Cavill-good-looks (yum) and wicked smart (ZING!). But his best feature...he was deeply and irrevocably in love with Sandra, so deep that you know that there is no recovery from it. It almost felt desperate, that if she turned her back on him he would never recover. Alex's trust issues came from a past raised in foster homes and him being too intelligent and smart for his own good. He knew things we all probably never even suspect. For Sandra getting answers from Alex was like pulling teeth. He really didn't give a lot of himself, mainly because he was scared she would leave. My heart broke a little for his frustration with himself and the world.
“You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”
Sandra's natural tendency to help people has landed her a harem of good friends. The men she meets for first dates always tell her their life stories and, frankly, she's tired of it. She watched her girlfriends Elizabeth and Janie fall in love and wants nothing more than what they have. When she meets Alex she senses the broken boy in him and her innate urge to help kicks in. But it's not what Alex wants, he doesn't want Sandra the therapist but the woman, who he thinks is the most exquisitely beautiful woman in the world. SWOON! I loved how protective he was of Sandra, how mature beyond his young age.
Their banter was hilarious - at some point Elizabeth got sexually frustrated and the snark came out to play.
“This is just your penis having the feels for my vagina. Your penis is making prank calls! and every single time your penis makes a prank call, my vagina answers the phone. And then you hang up. Or your penis claims wrong number or misdial or no hablo Ingles. It's infuriating, and it's called genital call me maybe.”
Of all of the KITC girls I love Sandra best so far. She is such a levelheaded, lovely, sweet, endearing heroine. She has so much love to give and I'm so happy that she was paired with somebody who is deserving of that. She is easy-going, smart, kind. It was hard for her sometimes to shrug off the psychiatrist in her but Alex always called her out on it. Alex and Sandra were perfectly matched. They stole my heart with their sweet connection.
I looked at him, lost in him, found in him. He was my remarkable, extraordinary, unbelievable Alex. Despite what he thought, he wasn’t broken. His missing pieces provided a home for my heart. And I knew—no matter what the future held—that life was good.
What you don't get to see often enough is a older heroine/younger hero pairing. I loved that Ms. Reid used it for these two, it was perfectly balanced with Alex' maturity and his need for love. To be able to lean on somebody without them being motherly.
This book is a dream for all nerdy Star Wars fangirls as there are a lot of references sprinkled throughout the story. In the end I wanted to high five Alex for the coup he pulled - what a smart thing to do. I applaud Penny Reid for explaining Bitcoins, which have always been a mystery to me, in a way I actually understood the whole concept. Now, The Beauty and the Moustache is up...Dan and Kat, I'm on to you. Soon you'll be mine!
November 26, 2017
my second read and nothing has changed. I am as much in love with these two as I was after reading it first time.
this book was hilarious! Thank You Jaya, for making me read this series. :D
this book was hilarious! Thank You Jaya, for making me read this series. :D
September 14, 2020
I'm begging authors to stop abusing foreign languages if they are not 100% sure it's correct.
WARNING: my commentary how the german language is butchered in literature is longer than the actual review about the book. Sorry for that. 🤷🏽♀️
PART 1: ✧ STORY-TIME ✧
Sandra (h) uses "Shitzterhozen" as a curse word and I wanted to know WHY? When I was reading, I didn't know what this word was suppose to mean. I just thought she made some word up, these characters are weird and Janie uses really random words to swear so why not Sandra.
Until I turned the last page and saw Penny's note:
Excuse MEeEe??? THAT WAS GERMAN? 😭✋ WHAT THE HELL? 😭✋ WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF IT? 😭✋ AM I DUMB? 😭✋ AM I A DISGRACE TO THE GERMAN LANGUAGE CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE WORD? 😭✋ HELP! 😭✋
Alright, after my mental breakdown was over, I looked up that supposedly German word in two different dictionary. No result. I googled the word. No result, except it was found in the book "Love Hacked" by Penny Reid. But you know who I trust more than Google and dictionaries combined? My fellow German peeps, if they say that word exist and is widely used, who am I to say that they're wrong. Therefore another very important experiment was conducted:
Me: Is Shitzterhozen a german word?
German Dictonary 1: Why the random question? 😅
German Dictonary 1: But no never heard of it.
Me: Have you ever heard of Shitzterhozen? 😭
Me: Is that a German word I don't know?
German Dictonary 2: Never heard of Shitzterhozen 😂 is that suppose to be a german word? 😂
Me: Does Shitzterhosen mean anything to you?
German Dictonary 3: No idea what you're talking about. How did you come up with this? 🙈
Me: There is this book where the author thinks she knows german words, but in fact she does not.
Me: *sends screenshot of said author's translation*
German Dictonary 3: 🤮🤮🤮
German Dictonary 3: Maybe it's swiss german? You know how weirdly they talk 🥴
Me: LMAO 😂
Me: Please don't tell that to their face or they're going to beat us up.
German Dictonary 3: It's not my fault that the truth hurts.
Me: YOO one very important question. It will decide life and death. How do you feel about shitzterhosen being used as a curse word?
German Dictonary 4: What?
Me: Just answer the question!!
German Dictonary 4: What is that suppose to mean anyway
Me: Apparently Shitpants but in German
German Dictonary 4: Ohhh I understand, the American who thinks, all we eat is Bratwurst and Sauerkraut strikes AGAIN [referencing to Mariana Zapata and the book Kulti]
Me: 😂😂😂😂😂 I CAN'T BREATH
First of all, I want to thank eveyone who took part in this experiment (unknowingly). You may not have solved world peace, but you came really close ✨ May you live a good life, a life free of shitzterhozen or whatever.
So, did this affect my rating because this took a lot of space in my review? Actually not really. If you've been following my reviews, you may have seen that I like to point out random things about a book. While it does annoy me a little that Penny Reid didn't do her research correctly with that one word, she uses other German words throughout this book and they were fine. Also as I mentioned, I didn't even realized that Shitzerhozen was suppose to be German so I just ignored it until I reached the last page.
PART 2: ✧ REVIEW✧
That's how this book starts. I knew this I would either love this book or hate it cause a beginning like this can only be a hit or miss. Thankfully I LOVED this book. Not even Chuck the honeydew could destroy my enjoyment.
↳ ✧ The Plot ✧
Sandra (h) is a psychiatrist who hasn't been really lucky with her dates. Every date she went on ends early and the men end up crying and spilling his problems. Alex (H) is the young waiter in the restaurant Sandra always uses to meet up with her dates finally starts to talk to Sandra after her latest disaster. Sandra and Alex share an connection and Sandra is intrigued by Alex, he is the first guy who refuses to open up to her.
↳ ✧ What I Loved ✧
I love the characters. Sandra and Alex are easy to love. Sandra as a side character in the previous books was already great and I already loved her then and so happy that I can say that I love her even more now.
How can you not love Sandra? She's an intellectual queen. I have no other choice than to stan ✧. Sandra's brand of humor was on point and worked for me. I love her sassiness.
Alex 🥺🥺🥺 he is baby. He was such an enigma throughout the story. Hard to read. Doesn't open up. Doesn't talk much. Has an aversion to technology. But what all men in this series have in common is that they are trash for the heroine from the start. There is no question how they feel about the heroine. Sandra was on his radar for a while, but she was kinda intimidating him with how she constantly made men cry. Alex only wanted to spend time with Sandra and nothing else and I think that's beautiful.
Sandra and Alex are an odd couple. Not only is Sandra like 7 years older than Alex (28 years to his 21 years), she is a psychiatrist while he is a waiter. It seems like these two live two different lifes, but they make it work. *spoiler* shout out that Alex is a virgin.. Can we appreciate a book where the h is more experience the H? Yes, thank you.
Anyway despite their difference, Sandra and Alex made an adorable couple. I love their banter and how they complement each other.
Love Hacked was a great combination of sweet and entertaining. I loved both the MCs, the scenes with the Knitting gang were great and it was a fun read.
And lastly, I'm leaving with y'all with some truth:
P.S. I still love you guys, but fictional characters just hit differently. #sorrynotsorry 😌
**
#1 Neandertal Seeks Human – 4 stars
#1.5 Neandertal Marries Human – 3.5 stars
#2 Friends Without Benefits – 3 stars
#3 Love Hacked – 4 stars
#4 Beauty and the Mustache – 3 stars
#4.75 Ninja at First Sight – 4.5 stars
#5 Happily Ever Ninja – 3.75 stars
#6 Dating-ish – 3.5 stars
#7 Marriage of Inconvenience – 3.5 stars
-------------- average rating for the whole series: 3.3 stars
WARNING: my commentary how the german language is butchered in literature is longer than the actual review about the book. Sorry for that. 🤷🏽♀️
PART 1: ✧ STORY-TIME ✧
Sandra (h) uses "Shitzterhozen" as a curse word and I wanted to know WHY? When I was reading, I didn't know what this word was suppose to mean. I just thought she made some word up, these characters are weird and Janie uses really random words to swear so why not Sandra.
"What the shitzterhozen was he waiting for?"
"You just almost gave me literal shitzterhozen."
"Life was not good. In fact, it was shitzterhozen–hozen full of shitzter."
Until I turned the last page and saw Penny's note:
Excuse MEeEe??? THAT WAS GERMAN? 😭✋ WHAT THE HELL? 😭✋ WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF IT? 😭✋ AM I DUMB? 😭✋ AM I A DISGRACE TO THE GERMAN LANGUAGE CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE WORD? 😭✋ HELP! 😭✋
Alright, after my mental breakdown was over, I looked up that supposedly German word in two different dictionary. No result. I googled the word. No result, except it was found in the book "Love Hacked" by Penny Reid. But you know who I trust more than Google and dictionaries combined? My fellow German peeps, if they say that word exist and is widely used, who am I to say that they're wrong. Therefore another very important experiment was conducted:
Me: Is Shitzterhozen a german word?
German Dictonary 1: Why the random question? 😅
German Dictonary 1: But no never heard of it.
Me: Have you ever heard of Shitzterhozen? 😭
Me: Is that a German word I don't know?
German Dictonary 2: Never heard of Shitzterhozen 😂 is that suppose to be a german word? 😂
Me: Does Shitzterhosen mean anything to you?
German Dictonary 3: No idea what you're talking about. How did you come up with this? 🙈
Me: There is this book where the author thinks she knows german words, but in fact she does not.
Me: *sends screenshot of said author's translation*
German Dictonary 3: 🤮🤮🤮
German Dictonary 3: Maybe it's swiss german? You know how weirdly they talk 🥴
Me: LMAO 😂
Me: Please don't tell that to their face or they're going to beat us up.
German Dictonary 3: It's not my fault that the truth hurts.
Me: YOO one very important question. It will decide life and death. How do you feel about shitzterhosen being used as a curse word?
German Dictonary 4: What?
Me: Just answer the question!!
German Dictonary 4: What is that suppose to mean anyway
Me: Apparently Shitpants but in German
German Dictonary 4: Ohhh I understand, the American who thinks, all we eat is Bratwurst and Sauerkraut strikes AGAIN [referencing to Mariana Zapata and the book Kulti]
Me: 😂😂😂😂😂 I CAN'T BREATH
First of all, I want to thank eveyone who took part in this experiment (unknowingly). You may not have solved world peace, but you came really close ✨ May you live a good life, a life free of shitzterhozen or whatever.
So, did this affect my rating because this took a lot of space in my review? Actually not really. If you've been following my reviews, you may have seen that I like to point out random things about a book. While it does annoy me a little that Penny Reid didn't do her research correctly with that one word, she uses other German words throughout this book and they were fine. Also as I mentioned, I didn't even realized that Shitzerhozen was suppose to be German so I just ignored it until I reached the last page.
PART 2: ✧ REVIEW✧
He was bald in a way that mde me think of both melons and sex. Tan suit, green tie, white shirt–Chuck was a honeydew.
That's how this book starts. I knew this I would either love this book or hate it cause a beginning like this can only be a hit or miss. Thankfully I LOVED this book. Not even Chuck the honeydew could destroy my enjoyment.
↳ ✧ The Plot ✧
Sandra (h) is a psychiatrist who hasn't been really lucky with her dates. Every date she went on ends early and the men end up crying and spilling his problems. Alex (H) is the young waiter in the restaurant Sandra always uses to meet up with her dates finally starts to talk to Sandra after her latest disaster. Sandra and Alex share an connection and Sandra is intrigued by Alex, he is the first guy who refuses to open up to her.
↳ ✧ What I Loved ✧
I love the characters. Sandra and Alex are easy to love. Sandra as a side character in the previous books was already great and I already loved her then and so happy that I can say that I love her even more now.
His smile curved into a frown. "Agent Dumas."
"Well, pleasure to meet you, Agent Dumb Ass."
Sometimes I applied mascara before crying just to heighten the experience
How can you not love Sandra? She's an intellectual queen. I have no other choice than to stan ✧. Sandra's brand of humor was on point and worked for me. I love her sassiness.
"You've shown me joy where before I swa only despair. You've taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I'll work every day of my life to deserve you."
Alex 🥺🥺🥺 he is baby. He was such an enigma throughout the story. Hard to read. Doesn't open up. Doesn't talk much. Has an aversion to technology. But what all men in this series have in common is that they are trash for the heroine from the start. There is no question how they feel about the heroine. Sandra was on his radar for a while, but she was kinda intimidating him with how she constantly made men cry. Alex only wanted to spend time with Sandra and nothing else and I think that's beautiful.
Sure, he was strange, but then so was I. Maybe we could be strange together.
Sandra and Alex are an odd couple. Not only is Sandra like 7 years older than Alex (28 years to his 21 years), she is a psychiatrist while he is a waiter. It seems like these two live two different lifes, but they make it work. *spoiler* shout out that Alex is a virgin.. Can we appreciate a book where the h is more experience the H? Yes, thank you.
Anyway despite their difference, Sandra and Alex made an adorable couple. I love their banter and how they complement each other.
Love Hacked was a great combination of sweet and entertaining. I loved both the MCs, the scenes with the Knitting gang were great and it was a fun read.
And lastly, I'm leaving with y'all with some truth:
Fictional characters are superior to real people because real people are equal parts pitiful and predictable.
P.S. I still love you guys, but fictional characters just hit differently. #sorrynotsorry 😌
**
#1 Neandertal Seeks Human – 4 stars
#1.5 Neandertal Marries Human – 3.5 stars
#2 Friends Without Benefits – 3 stars
#3 Love Hacked – 4 stars
#4 Beauty and the Mustache – 3 stars
#4.75 Ninja at First Sight – 4.5 stars
#5 Happily Ever Ninja – 3.75 stars
#6 Dating-ish – 3.5 stars
#7 Marriage of Inconvenience – 3.5 stars
-------------- average rating for the whole series: 3.3 stars
September 16, 2022
All hail Penny Reid, the breaker of reading slump spells. I can't remember the last time I gulped down a book in one day and utter the statement, "I just couldn't put it down"; Love Hacked was a refreshing and wholly engrossing read.
Sandra, a psychiatrist couldn't move past first dates because everyone she meets unburden themselves on her and end up crying by the end of the date. She'd maintained the same location for all her dates in the last two years. She soon learned that the young waiter, Alex, who looked like he was in his early twenties, has growing feelings for her, but Alex had a dark past, and a relationship with him sounds too risky. Also, he is not like the guys she usually dates. Hoping for just a tiny taste of the complexity named Alex, she opened a can of soup she couldn't close.
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters, the setting, and the fluidity from scene to scene were excellent. Loved it! Loved it! 5 Stars.
Sandra, a psychiatrist couldn't move past first dates because everyone she meets unburden themselves on her and end up crying by the end of the date. She'd maintained the same location for all her dates in the last two years. She soon learned that the young waiter, Alex, who looked like he was in his early twenties, has growing feelings for her, but Alex had a dark past, and a relationship with him sounds too risky. Also, he is not like the guys she usually dates. Hoping for just a tiny taste of the complexity named Alex, she opened a can of soup she couldn't close.
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters, the setting, and the fluidity from scene to scene were excellent. Loved it! Loved it! 5 Stars.
February 14, 2015
5 STARS
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“My name is Alex, and I’ll be serving you tonight…”
This was just an absolutely delightful book. A funny and very touching story. I loved each and every word. As the third book in the Knitting in the City series, it features the lovely Dr. Sandra Fielding, the group’s beautiful and witty child psychiatrist, who up until now has had no luck what-so-ever in love.
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Yes, men fall for her all the time, but lately more in the way of tripping-on-their-way-out-of-the-restaurant-because-they-can’t-see-through-their-tears kind of falling; and Sandra’s had just about as much as she can take.
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“You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”
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And so has Alex Greene, the young waiter who has been casually observing these so-called dates for the last two and a half years. But how involved is he willing to get? Apparently more so than he had ever imagined. You see, Alex has had a bit of a crush on said beautiful woman, or maybe you would call it more of an obsession. But there is just something off about her…
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“You make men cry.”
And as it seems, our dark and broody waiter has also captured the eye of the quirky, man-eating redhead, but more in a…
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…kind of way. But Alex has a dark past, one he’s not willing to share with anyone, much less a psychiatrist. His past has taught him to trust no one. But something is compelling him to act… and he is helpless to resist.
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…never underestimate the power of the red dress.
I can’t tell you how much fun this book was to read. Sandra, has to be one of my favorite female characters in the series. It was delightful to read the story through her POV. She is very funny, no non-sense, and witty as hell. But at the same time very sweet and almost maternal to those she cares about. She is nerd to the core, and wears is like a badge of honor.
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“For all my bravado, when I fell, I fell hard. I fell fast. I fell stupid. I invested too much too soon. My capacity for giving was matched only by their capacity for taking.”
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And then there is Alex, the mercurial, barely legal, and hotter than f**k boy genius. And may I say that this guy just oozed sensuality.
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I liked the way his voice sounded at that moment maybe more than I liked oxygen.
From his voice to his insistent hands and mouth… even the way he walks is sexy. And then, the things he says… SWOONCITY. Sandra didn’t stand a chance in hell. I am over-the-moon for this guy!
I nodded and tried to appear nonchalant even though his words sent a lava cascade from my throat to my pelvis.
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Now, the whole bit about the bitcoins was a bit of a stretch (ha! that sounded cheesy!), but it all weaved in perfectly with the story, and with the series. I can definitely see a theme building here, and I was utterly delighted to see it all come together for them in the end.
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“It is a universally acknowledged, inalienable truth that a knitter faced with the unadorned neck, head, and hands of a person she cares for feels an overwhelming compulsion to smother that person in fancy hand-knits.”
Penny Reid has such a delightful writing style, and I believe she must put a bit of herself into each of her characters, as they’re so incredibly likable. My only regret is that I can’t join in to the knitting group myself! If they’d let me, I’d even come in a wookie costume.
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“There is boring. There is sensational. There is mediocre. There is lazy. There is good. There is evil. People do implausible things all the time, and they run the gamut of moderately weird to truly extraordinary. But there is no normal. The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things.”
I guess I’ll just have to get my fix reading further into the series. I am definitely looking forward to moving ahead. Now, more than ever. If you’re looking for a fun, and fabulously written romance series, I highly recommend anything that Penny Reid writes.
“I didn't tell her, because I didn't think it would help, but all people are lost, to varying degrees. I suspected that it’s only when we love others—through purpose, friendship, romance, or any combination thereof—that we become found.”
“My name is Alex, and I’ll be serving you tonight…”
This was just an absolutely delightful book. A funny and very touching story. I loved each and every word. As the third book in the Knitting in the City series, it features the lovely Dr. Sandra Fielding, the group’s beautiful and witty child psychiatrist, who up until now has had no luck what-so-ever in love.
Yes, men fall for her all the time, but lately more in the way of tripping-on-their-way-out-of-the-restaurant-because-they-can’t-see-through-their-tears kind of falling; and Sandra’s had just about as much as she can take.
“You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”
And so has Alex Greene, the young waiter who has been casually observing these so-called dates for the last two and a half years. But how involved is he willing to get? Apparently more so than he had ever imagined. You see, Alex has had a bit of a crush on said beautiful woman, or maybe you would call it more of an obsession. But there is just something off about her…
“You make men cry.”
And as it seems, our dark and broody waiter has also captured the eye of the quirky, man-eating redhead, but more in a…
…kind of way. But Alex has a dark past, one he’s not willing to share with anyone, much less a psychiatrist. His past has taught him to trust no one. But something is compelling him to act… and he is helpless to resist.
…never underestimate the power of the red dress.
I can’t tell you how much fun this book was to read. Sandra, has to be one of my favorite female characters in the series. It was delightful to read the story through her POV. She is very funny, no non-sense, and witty as hell. But at the same time very sweet and almost maternal to those she cares about. She is nerd to the core, and wears is like a badge of honor.
“For all my bravado, when I fell, I fell hard. I fell fast. I fell stupid. I invested too much too soon. My capacity for giving was matched only by their capacity for taking.”
And then there is Alex, the mercurial, barely legal, and hotter than f**k boy genius. And may I say that this guy just oozed sensuality.
I liked the way his voice sounded at that moment maybe more than I liked oxygen.
From his voice to his insistent hands and mouth… even the way he walks is sexy. And then, the things he says… SWOONCITY. Sandra didn’t stand a chance in hell. I am over-the-moon for this guy!
I nodded and tried to appear nonchalant even though his words sent a lava cascade from my throat to my pelvis.
Now, the whole bit about the bitcoins was a bit of a stretch (ha! that sounded cheesy!), but it all weaved in perfectly with the story, and with the series. I can definitely see a theme building here, and I was utterly delighted to see it all come together for them in the end.
“It is a universally acknowledged, inalienable truth that a knitter faced with the unadorned neck, head, and hands of a person she cares for feels an overwhelming compulsion to smother that person in fancy hand-knits.”
Penny Reid has such a delightful writing style, and I believe she must put a bit of herself into each of her characters, as they’re so incredibly likable. My only regret is that I can’t join in to the knitting group myself! If they’d let me, I’d even come in a wookie costume.
“There is boring. There is sensational. There is mediocre. There is lazy. There is good. There is evil. People do implausible things all the time, and they run the gamut of moderately weird to truly extraordinary. But there is no normal. The world is an unbelievable place full of unbelievable people doing unbelievable things.”
I guess I’ll just have to get my fix reading further into the series. I am definitely looking forward to moving ahead. Now, more than ever. If you’re looking for a fun, and fabulously written romance series, I highly recommend anything that Penny Reid writes.
“I didn't tell her, because I didn't think it would help, but all people are lost, to varying degrees. I suspected that it’s only when we love others—through purpose, friendship, romance, or any combination thereof—that we become found.”
September 20, 2016
4.5 stars
THE HERO IS YOUNGER THAN THE HEROINE! I was already sold at this point. But damn, this book was amazing. Told you I would enjoy other books in this series more than the first book. The heroine is phenomenal, funny, smart, realistic, passionate... How can you not love someone who isn't here to get bossed around?
She's also incredibly relatable, at least to me, even though she's 9 years older than me.
Of course, Alex is just as fascinating and incredible. I loved these two together and I enjoyed reading their banters so much. Together, they become better, braver and ready to destroy all the obstacles coming their way. They also have the sexiest of the sexy times.
TO ANOTHER AMAZING PENNY REID BOOK!
THE HERO IS YOUNGER THAN THE HEROINE! I was already sold at this point. But damn, this book was amazing. Told you I would enjoy other books in this series more than the first book. The heroine is phenomenal, funny, smart, realistic, passionate... How can you not love someone who isn't here to get bossed around?
"Say you're mine."
"You're mine."
She's also incredibly relatable, at least to me, even though she's 9 years older than me.
"I assume you were trapped under a heavy object?"
"Yes. My brain."
Of course, Alex is just as fascinating and incredible. I loved these two together and I enjoyed reading their banters so much. Together, they become better, braver and ready to destroy all the obstacles coming their way. They also have the sexiest of the sexy times.
TO ANOTHER AMAZING PENNY REID BOOK!
February 17, 2014
4.5 STARS OR 9/10!!!
This series is fabulous. FABULOUS!! I wish I could stealthily join these women knitting away and make them a part of my family. This is the third book in the Knitting In The City series and I loved it!
This time around we got Sandra's story. She's the psychiatrist with the ability to turn all her dates into blubbering idiots that rely on her expertise to absolve their problems. They all follow the same pattern: she appears familiar to them, then slowly they shed light on their issues claiming Sandra is sooo easy to talk to. By the end of the date, they are a mess, crying and thanking her for her time....sigh. CAN A GIRL GET A BREAK?
In the form of ALEX GREENE she can...double sigh!!
Sandra takes all her first dates to the same Indian restaurant. At least while meandering through yet another disappointing man, she gets butter chicken...and a hot waiter! Alex has been waiting on Sandra for years. But that's all about to change, because Alex is tired of watching and not taking. Ha!
This is going to be difficult to write a proper review because almost anything I say can spoil this awesome book. Alex has secrets, big, big secrets. But not in the way you're probably thinking. His secrets are of the intellectual kind and there is nothing like a hot and sexy geek. Isn't there a saying...If you're good with numbers then you're good in bed?.....No, that's probably just me after reading this! ;-))
But Alex and Sandra ignite. The sexual tension is off the charts. She has so many questions, questions he's not willing to answer. Who is he? What's he hiding? Why could Sandra be in danger? The plot was original and completely different with very funny and witty dialogue. I actually learned a few things and it gave me a new appreciation for algorithms. WHAT?? Ya, just read the book.
I loved Alex and his mysterious secrecy. He was so intense, so raw in his actions. The need to be with Sandra was so palpable, but to truly be together was a risk and Alex didn't want to end up as another dating statistic. Sandra, the usually calm and pragmatic friend and confidant was falling so fast and so beautifully for Alex. This was new territory and she was going to have to rely on accepting him without the desire to fix him. They were opposites on the surface but truly each other's yin and yang.
All the wonderful characters from the previous books are back. Elizabeth and Nico--YUM--Janie and Quinn, Kat, Marie and Fiona. They are great friends and supporters. They never judged, and there were situations they easily could have. Tons of surprises here, I couldn't put it down!
There's a scene where Sandra tells Alex how she feels and I got teary eyed. It was so sweet and tender. So heartfelt and honest, gah! She also comments on how sexy Alex chews when he eats, and I thought, YES!! So true! Some men chew and swallow sexy while others are barnyard animals! And Alex. The man said the most incredible things so full of sincerity and desire. Loved the ending, Loved them together.
If you haven't read this series you should give it a try, it's funny, romantic, sweet and well written. The inner dialogue in Sandra's head was quirky and had me laughing out loud, just like with the other heroines in previous books. I'm really looking forward to Ashely's story, which is the next book. Loved this so much, thank you Penny for letting me read this!!
***Arc provided by the wonderful Penny Reid for review ***
This series is fabulous. FABULOUS!! I wish I could stealthily join these women knitting away and make them a part of my family. This is the third book in the Knitting In The City series and I loved it!
This time around we got Sandra's story. She's the psychiatrist with the ability to turn all her dates into blubbering idiots that rely on her expertise to absolve their problems. They all follow the same pattern: she appears familiar to them, then slowly they shed light on their issues claiming Sandra is sooo easy to talk to. By the end of the date, they are a mess, crying and thanking her for her time....sigh. CAN A GIRL GET A BREAK?
In the form of ALEX GREENE she can...double sigh!!
Sandra takes all her first dates to the same Indian restaurant. At least while meandering through yet another disappointing man, she gets butter chicken...and a hot waiter! Alex has been waiting on Sandra for years. But that's all about to change, because Alex is tired of watching and not taking. Ha!
This is going to be difficult to write a proper review because almost anything I say can spoil this awesome book. Alex has secrets, big, big secrets. But not in the way you're probably thinking. His secrets are of the intellectual kind and there is nothing like a hot and sexy geek. Isn't there a saying...If you're good with numbers then you're good in bed?.....No, that's probably just me after reading this! ;-))
But Alex and Sandra ignite. The sexual tension is off the charts. She has so many questions, questions he's not willing to answer. Who is he? What's he hiding? Why could Sandra be in danger? The plot was original and completely different with very funny and witty dialogue. I actually learned a few things and it gave me a new appreciation for algorithms. WHAT?? Ya, just read the book.
I loved Alex and his mysterious secrecy. He was so intense, so raw in his actions. The need to be with Sandra was so palpable, but to truly be together was a risk and Alex didn't want to end up as another dating statistic. Sandra, the usually calm and pragmatic friend and confidant was falling so fast and so beautifully for Alex. This was new territory and she was going to have to rely on accepting him without the desire to fix him. They were opposites on the surface but truly each other's yin and yang.
All the wonderful characters from the previous books are back. Elizabeth and Nico--YUM--Janie and Quinn, Kat, Marie and Fiona. They are great friends and supporters. They never judged, and there were situations they easily could have. Tons of surprises here, I couldn't put it down!
There's a scene where Sandra tells Alex how she feels and I got teary eyed. It was so sweet and tender. So heartfelt and honest, gah! She also comments on how sexy Alex chews when he eats, and I thought, YES!! So true! Some men chew and swallow sexy while others are barnyard animals! And Alex. The man said the most incredible things so full of sincerity and desire. Loved the ending, Loved them together.
If you haven't read this series you should give it a try, it's funny, romantic, sweet and well written. The inner dialogue in Sandra's head was quirky and had me laughing out loud, just like with the other heroines in previous books. I'm really looking forward to Ashely's story, which is the next book. Loved this so much, thank you Penny for letting me read this!!
***Arc provided by the wonderful Penny Reid for review ***
October 12, 2019
Why did I wait so long?
Would you believe that I hesitated to start Love Hacked because of the hero being younger than the heroine? I could kick myself...now.
AGE REALLY DOESN'T MATTER!!
Love is more than a number. Should we ignore a connection just because he is younger than her? If you're physically attracted to a much older person, then good for you. Whatever floats your boat.
I'm 42 and that is way too old to realise that I had no idea. I feel old-fashioned and ridiculously narrow-minded for waiting so long to realise it, but the good news is I've come good.
I thoroughly enjoyed Love Hacked and will definitely be going on in the series.
Would you believe that I hesitated to start Love Hacked because of the hero being younger than the heroine? I could kick myself...now.
AGE REALLY DOESN'T MATTER!!
Love is more than a number. Should we ignore a connection just because he is younger than her? If you're physically attracted to a much older person, then good for you. Whatever floats your boat.
I'm 42 and that is way too old to realise that I had no idea. I feel old-fashioned and ridiculously narrow-minded for waiting so long to realise it, but the good news is I've come good.
I thoroughly enjoyed Love Hacked and will definitely be going on in the series.
May 5, 2014
4,5 Hacked Stars.
Sandra is a therapist that has a disastrous dating life: all their dates end up in a free session, with the guys crying and thanking her for her help. Yep, it’s that bad.
The only good thing about this dates is the sexy waiter of the restaurant she always choose: Alex.
Alex also has noticed Sandra and eventually their past ended up crossing. They have a deal: three months. And that’s it.
Obviously, those three months soon become something more.
But Alex’s life is far from what it seems to be and Sandra quickly realizes he’s a man full of secrets, with a completely different life that no one knows about.
So when their pasts, their present and his secrets all collide, will Sandra run from the collision that she’s been avoiding all her life?
Rating: 4,5 Stars.
Storyline: Unpredictable, with some real good twist and romantic. I loved this book and I loved the age gap between the Mc’s. It’s not often we have the woman older than the hero.
Writing Style: Dual POV. Funny (as always), sweet, romantic and emotional. (Yes, I confess I had some teary eyes at some moments.). Penny Reid basically was awesome, yet, once again.
Character Development: Alex was great. I loved how he was a little broken but with a golden heart and sexy as all sin. And points for being kind of a sexy geek, I mean, how can we not love those? Sandra was also good. She was not annoying (much) which is always a plus with heroines.
I loved seeing more of the previous MC’s. I always loved to see how the lives of the other couples we read about are going.
Steam: Some heated moments.
HEA:
Sandra is a therapist that has a disastrous dating life: all their dates end up in a free session, with the guys crying and thanking her for her help. Yep, it’s that bad.
The only good thing about this dates is the sexy waiter of the restaurant she always choose: Alex.
Alex also has noticed Sandra and eventually their past ended up crossing. They have a deal: three months. And that’s it.
Obviously, those three months soon become something more.
But Alex’s life is far from what it seems to be and Sandra quickly realizes he’s a man full of secrets, with a completely different life that no one knows about.
So when their pasts, their present and his secrets all collide, will Sandra run from the collision that she’s been avoiding all her life?
Rating: 4,5 Stars.
Storyline: Unpredictable, with some real good twist and romantic. I loved this book and I loved the age gap between the Mc’s. It’s not often we have the woman older than the hero.
Writing Style: Dual POV. Funny (as always), sweet, romantic and emotional. (Yes, I confess I had some teary eyes at some moments.). Penny Reid basically was awesome, yet, once again.
Character Development: Alex was great. I loved how he was a little broken but with a golden heart and sexy as all sin. And points for being kind of a sexy geek, I mean, how can we not love those? Sandra was also good. She was not annoying (much) which is always a plus with heroines.
I loved seeing more of the previous MC’s. I always loved to see how the lives of the other couples we read about are going.
Steam: Some heated moments.
HEA:
September 12, 2020
My Rating: 2.75★ (only because of the friend group, Nico, Quinn, and dan)
I admit that it wasn't the best, I probably wouldn't have liked it if it was any other book. I am disappointed but in no way this I retreat reading this because IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!
So, I had expectations... I always do when it comes to Penny Reid. I have come to fall in love with these characters. And Sandra has always been so charismatic and funny. But alas I did not love this book. I loved the characters and that is almost always true for any book I have read so far from Penny Reid but I just didn't attach to this. keeping this review short, lets get into the veryidiotic informative review.
There was nothing wrong with the writing or maybe even the plot but I just had a hard time wrapping my mind around certain things. Don't get me wrong I loved Alex and Sandra together—I did. But Alex was kind of a stalker.
He is such a badass character and I mean it. I am writing this review after reading the next two books and considering how much of a badass he is in those books, it is safe to say that he is in fact—a BADASS. But here in this book, he was creepy as hell. Now, this isn't necessarily a spoiler but I'll alert you anyway...OKAY NO, THIS ISNT A SPOILER...you can read. So, getting back on point, Alex is indeed younger than Sandra and he is also creepy. Now, I don't have anything against younger boys being into older women—there is no problem. But there is a problem in my head... I was totally wrong in the head while reading this book. I kept imagining him as a 16-year-old boy trying to seduce a 30-year-old. And also, that image just made me wanna laugh so bad when he tried and dirty talk or dominate Sandra in the middle of them making out or having sex. My imagination was just on drugs at the time of reading this. I know Alex is probably too old for his age (mentally) but WHY DID I KEEP IMAGING HIM AS A 16-YEAR-OLD! And hence I kind of felt aloof and weird while reading this. The plot, in general, wasn't much appealing.
No offense though. I loved Alex—I mean how could I not? He was a sexy waiter who wore glasses and was mysterious and was a . He was beyond sexy, believe me, but I just imagined him as a teenager while they were intimate, and when they weren't intimate he was a normal adult in my mind.
So you can imagine how uncomfortable I was while reading the book because of me imaging him as a child. I mean this book can be totally the ONE for you but I just didn't really care.
*yeah well, I am too tired to write a proper review..this will do it, for now, I don't even know if I made some sense .*
“Nothing was worse than a handsome guy who became an ignorant toad when he spoke.”
I admit that it wasn't the best, I probably wouldn't have liked it if it was any other book. I am disappointed but in no way this I retreat reading this because IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!
So, I had expectations... I always do when it comes to Penny Reid. I have come to fall in love with these characters. And Sandra has always been so charismatic and funny. But alas I did not love this book. I loved the characters and that is almost always true for any book I have read so far from Penny Reid but I just didn't attach to this. keeping this review short, lets get into the very
There was nothing wrong with the writing or maybe even the plot but I just had a hard time wrapping my mind around certain things. Don't get me wrong I loved Alex and Sandra together—I did. But Alex was kind of a stalker.
He is such a badass character and I mean it. I am writing this review after reading the next two books and considering how much of a badass he is in those books, it is safe to say that he is in fact—a BADASS. But here in this book, he was creepy as hell. Now, this isn't necessarily a spoiler but I'll alert you anyway...OKAY NO, THIS ISNT A SPOILER...you can read. So, getting back on point, Alex is indeed younger than Sandra and he is also creepy. Now, I don't have anything against younger boys being into older women—there is no problem. But there is a problem in my head... I was totally wrong in the head while reading this book. I kept imagining him as a 16-year-old boy trying to seduce a 30-year-old. And also, that image just made me wanna laugh so bad when he tried and dirty talk or dominate Sandra in the middle of them making out or having sex. My imagination was just on drugs at the time of reading this. I know Alex is probably too old for his age (mentally) but WHY DID I KEEP IMAGING HIM AS A 16-YEAR-OLD! And hence I kind of felt aloof and weird while reading this. The plot, in general, wasn't much appealing.
“My previous outlook could be summed up as follows: Life is shit. Math makes sense. Fictional characters are superior to real people because real people are equal parts pitiful and predictable.”
No offense though. I loved Alex—I mean how could I not? He was a sexy waiter who wore glasses and was mysterious and was a . He was beyond sexy, believe me, but I just imagined him as a teenager while they were intimate, and when they weren't intimate he was a normal adult in my mind.
So you can imagine how uncomfortable I was while reading the book because of me imaging him as a child. I mean this book can be totally the ONE for you but I just didn't really care.
*yeah well, I am too tired to write a proper review..this will do it, for now, I don't even know if I made some sense .*
August 3, 2016
Penny Reid has done it again. She has managed to write another book that gave me an enormous amount of the warm fuzzy feelings. She certainly added an extra ZING to this story. It is probably my favorite of them all.
Love Hacked is Sandra’s story. Sandra has that natural beauty. She is smart, witty, pretty and sexy. She wants to be happy and in love. She wants to meet that forever kind of guy.
Currently Sandra is having no luck in the man category. For the last couple of years she has attempted to make that love connection. Unfortunately finding her “dance partner” for life is not an easy task. Sandra is a psychiatrist and what starts out as your average date ends in complete failure. All the men tend to pour their hearts out to Sandra about past issues and relationships seeking her advice but sadly they end with the guy in tears and in the need for more help with their “issues”.
But one night, something changes. Someone steps out from the shadows and into her life. This someone is Alex Greene. Alex has been watching and waiting for his moment with Sandra and he is about to take what he wants.
Alex is handsome, unbelievably smart, sexy and a bit mysterious. His past holds secrets. Secrets that have made it hard for him to have a simple life.
When Alex and Sandra come together the sexual tension is off the charts! More than that, their hearts collide in a way that is so pure. Alex is desperate to have some sort of normal relationship. But it isn’t that easy. With his secrets there are so many questions. Sandra wants to take a chance with Alex but his inability to share his past with her is hard for her to understand. But Alex has his reasons and he will do whatever he can to keep hold of her heart.
Sandra and Alex’s story has great. I loved their connection. It was intense yet tender. It was simple yet jumbled with so many different emotions. Both of them finding themselves in uncharted territories; trying to figure out what to do next. I also enjoyed the mystery of Alex and who he was and what his secrets were. I loved watching Sandra learn how to love without needing to change things or fix anything within Alex.
And the icing on the “cake” is we get the characters for the other books back too. Janie, Quinn, Elizabeth, Nico, Kat, Marie and Fiona all add a little something to this book. There funny moments and some serious moments with all of them.
Now there were a lot of wonderful moments in this book between Alex and Sandra. So many sweet things both of them either said to each other or did to each other. They both really melted my heart. But my favorite moment is below. :)
If you haven’t read any of Penny's books, I highly recommend you give her Knitting in the City series a try.
They are fantastic. You will adore the characters, find them funny, find them sexy and their stories will warm your heart. Penny Reid’s writing is unique and captivating. I LOVED THEM ALL!!
February 7, 2017
Bold, witty, sexy, and irreverent, Sandra has always been my favorite lady in the knitting circle. Well, she might be tied with Janie. Love Hacked is the third book in the Knitting in the City series, and this time it’s Sandra’s turn to find romance.
For all her joking about sex in the previous books, it turns out that Sandra is very unlucky in love. Her lady parts are severely neglected. She’s a child psychiatrist who, by nature, is very intuitive and easy to talk to. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to get beyond a first date with men since they all end up in tears as they confess their issues to her. Alex, an intense, enigmatic and devastatingly handsome young waiter, is the one man who doesn’t want to be counseled. He just might be the one to end her sexual drought.
Sandra’s usual humor is on full display, and she’s as endearing as ever. It’s Alex I had difficulty appreciating. There are major trust issues between them. He’s extremely temperamental, socially awkward, antagonistic at times, and very secretive. He reveals nothing about himself—not even his favorite movies and certainly not his past. While I came to understand the reasons behind his odd behavior, I couldn’t help wondering at times why someone as smart and awesome as Sandra would be willing to put up with it. She can’t get a read on him, but he’s quite perceptive when it comes to her.
Eventually, Alex’s passion for Sandra won me over. He clearly adores her and I enjoyed their chemistry. The dramatic and sweet climax is a real highlight, and having the usual gang of suspects back is highly entertaining. Despite some frustrations, this unique story is delightful.
Recommended for fans of:
Romantic comedy
Spies
Cryptography
Sassy heroines
For all her joking about sex in the previous books, it turns out that Sandra is very unlucky in love. Her lady parts are severely neglected. She’s a child psychiatrist who, by nature, is very intuitive and easy to talk to. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to get beyond a first date with men since they all end up in tears as they confess their issues to her. Alex, an intense, enigmatic and devastatingly handsome young waiter, is the one man who doesn’t want to be counseled. He just might be the one to end her sexual drought.
Sandra’s usual humor is on full display, and she’s as endearing as ever. It’s Alex I had difficulty appreciating. There are major trust issues between them. He’s extremely temperamental, socially awkward, antagonistic at times, and very secretive. He reveals nothing about himself—not even his favorite movies and certainly not his past. While I came to understand the reasons behind his odd behavior, I couldn’t help wondering at times why someone as smart and awesome as Sandra would be willing to put up with it. She can’t get a read on him, but he’s quite perceptive when it comes to her.
Eventually, Alex’s passion for Sandra won me over. He clearly adores her and I enjoyed their chemistry. The dramatic and sweet climax is a real highlight, and having the usual gang of suspects back is highly entertaining. Despite some frustrations, this unique story is delightful.
Recommended for fans of:
Romantic comedy
Spies
Cryptography
Sassy heroines
March 10, 2014
******6+++ Crazy-Wonderful Stars*****
For me the best feeling in the world is to read a book such as this one , that leaves me hearing and feeling like fireworks are exploding inside my heart. I'm truly amazed by how this author has managed to get even better with each book. Penny Reid's writing style is so distinctive that even though all these characters are from the same group of friends, they are all so unique and in my case is hard to say which I've loved more, I absolutely adore this entire series, because I can tell that the purpose of this books are to make people feel happy and in love...
Sandra is a child psychologist, she's sexy, pervy and with a radiant personality, everybody loves her , but unfortunately for her in the past few years no matter what she does, says or wears, she can't get a man. She's been on countless dates but instead of getting a passionate goodnight kiss she always ends up with a crying man at the end of the meal follow by a friendship, when all she really wants is passion and romance. One night after yet another date gone wrong, the gorgeous waiter with the outrageously sexy voice who's been serving her for years, shocks Sandra's panties by sitting with her for dinner and after a weird and sexy conversation, he gives her the most amazing kiss she's ever had. Alex is sexy, intelligent and extremely odd, he doesn't trust anything or anybody. He has been watching Sandra making men cry on her dates for the past two years, and by now he's not only intrigued but completely taken by the sexy redhead who's about to turn his world upside down.
These two characters admitted to their attraction almost immediately but their relationship will prove to become very complicated and the sexual chemistry will burn them deep but very, very slow.
All the characters from previous books are back, the knitting parties get even naughtier and more fun. More than the romantic aspect in this books I'm always moved by the meaningful friendship these women have, they are always there for each other, no matter what they need, they are sisters of the thread and when any of them is in trouble they are all right there, ready with the wine, the phallic foods and the love.
Penny Reid is not only awesome but she's incredibly smart and every time you read one of her you will learn a world of new things, which in the end will leave you feeling smarter and giddy, I simply can't get enough of her books.
My Love Hacked Playlist :
* Someday Soon by KT Tunstall
*Count On Me by Bruno Mars
*Fidelity by Regina Spektor
*Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
For me the best feeling in the world is to read a book such as this one , that leaves me hearing and feeling like fireworks are exploding inside my heart. I'm truly amazed by how this author has managed to get even better with each book. Penny Reid's writing style is so distinctive that even though all these characters are from the same group of friends, they are all so unique and in my case is hard to say which I've loved more, I absolutely adore this entire series, because I can tell that the purpose of this books are to make people feel happy and in love...
Sandra is a child psychologist, she's sexy, pervy and with a radiant personality, everybody loves her , but unfortunately for her in the past few years no matter what she does, says or wears, she can't get a man. She's been on countless dates but instead of getting a passionate goodnight kiss she always ends up with a crying man at the end of the meal follow by a friendship, when all she really wants is passion and romance. One night after yet another date gone wrong, the gorgeous waiter with the outrageously sexy voice who's been serving her for years, shocks Sandra's panties by sitting with her for dinner and after a weird and sexy conversation, he gives her the most amazing kiss she's ever had. Alex is sexy, intelligent and extremely odd, he doesn't trust anything or anybody. He has been watching Sandra making men cry on her dates for the past two years, and by now he's not only intrigued but completely taken by the sexy redhead who's about to turn his world upside down.
These two characters admitted to their attraction almost immediately but their relationship will prove to become very complicated and the sexual chemistry will burn them deep but very, very slow.
All the characters from previous books are back, the knitting parties get even naughtier and more fun. More than the romantic aspect in this books I'm always moved by the meaningful friendship these women have, they are always there for each other, no matter what they need, they are sisters of the thread and when any of them is in trouble they are all right there, ready with the wine, the phallic foods and the love.
Penny Reid is not only awesome but she's incredibly smart and every time you read one of her you will learn a world of new things, which in the end will leave you feeling smarter and giddy, I simply can't get enough of her books.
My Love Hacked Playlist :
* Someday Soon by KT Tunstall
*Count On Me by Bruno Mars
*Fidelity by Regina Spektor
*Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
June 4, 2015
Lots of fun with a little serious thrown in toward the end. Reid is the queen of unconventional. This one was also a lot steamier than her first two, and all the better for it. Not over the top, but just enough to add some intimacy.
September 16, 2019
This was a most intriguing story from Penny Reid; it's full of mystery and fun. Alex is the most curious hero, a waiter who is clearly something more but that's the big mystery. What or who is Alex? I've liked Sandra from the knitting crew but not really had the measure of her character properly until now. Sandra was a smart, witty lady, often found being sarcastic or self deprecating. I really liked her. Her lack of love life was hilarious and she was the woman who made men weep then get therapy.
The direction of this storyline was unexpected, unusual and had me reaching for the Internet to do some research. That's not to say that background isn't explained adequately, I just found myself curious as to the reality of the story context and it's grounded in fact. Penny Reid bring her signature wit and intelligence to this series but I found this book a little hotter than previous books in the series. this was a slow burn connection with all the heat boiling to a frenzy; such a delight to listen to.
I drank in the connection between Alex and Sandra. I swallowed my frustration with Alex at times. I revelled in what could be. Most of all, I sat back and enjoyed almost every minute of this book.
This was a re-read by audio and second time round, it was a dream. The audio was a single pov, single narration audio and Devra Woodward did a fantastic job in general but also with male dialogue. She captured the snark and humour so well and brought these characters alive.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog here.
The direction of this storyline was unexpected, unusual and had me reaching for the Internet to do some research. That's not to say that background isn't explained adequately, I just found myself curious as to the reality of the story context and it's grounded in fact. Penny Reid bring her signature wit and intelligence to this series but I found this book a little hotter than previous books in the series. this was a slow burn connection with all the heat boiling to a frenzy; such a delight to listen to.
I drank in the connection between Alex and Sandra. I swallowed my frustration with Alex at times. I revelled in what could be. Most of all, I sat back and enjoyed almost every minute of this book.
This was a re-read by audio and second time round, it was a dream. The audio was a single pov, single narration audio and Devra Woodward did a fantastic job in general but also with male dialogue. She captured the snark and humour so well and brought these characters alive.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog here.
March 18, 2014
Leaving aside that this book is not nearly as funny or charming or clever or quirky as it thinks that it is, it never recovered from the fact that the heroine is a licensed and practicing twenty-eight year old child psychiatrist who refers to herself as a cougar for dating a twenty-one year old and has seemingly been practicing for at least two years. I just...no. That is not okay.
I thought I'd end up wanting to write something more scathing, but I just don't have the energy. This book is bad. Very bad.
I thought I'd end up wanting to write something more scathing, but I just don't have the energy. This book is bad. Very bad.
July 27, 2019
PHENOMENAL BOOK!!!! I just put all of this author's book on my next to-read shelf from KU. I'll start with Book 1 after this. How did I not know about Penny Reid???!!!
Now, here's a nit pick before I begin: it says that this is a "smart romance" on Amazon for book 1. That's kinda arrogant. They removed the label for subsequent books. I get that they (being publisher/ author) are trying to target the right reader group - i.e., the "smart" readers. Because the book IS very smart, and why I like it so much. But at the same time, it's basically saying - those of you who have low IQ and only looking for a fluff romance with elementary-level vocabulary and knowledge level, need not bother with this book.
And while I get that it helps to narrow your audience, even tho I'm part of that target audience, it pisses me off on behalf of the "non-smart romance" readers. So my advice to the publisher/ author is to REMOVE THE DAMN LABEL! And target readers some other way. I mean, the cover itself is already "smart" in that there's no naked men and women on it, etc. So...
Anyway, that's my rant about that.
On to the book itself:
The BIGGEST BESTEST part:
Alex...
Truly, this hero is to die for. I want him. He's my IDEAL mate. Let me count the ways:
* Genius IQ
* Virgin but still gave orgasms his first time at the Rodeo because--
* He has a giant penis
* Possessive, generous, kind, loyal to a fault, honorable, and lastly (truly this is the LEAST of his attributes)--
* Gorgeous, tall, with the body of an Olympic swimmer! Oh and my fave combo--
* Dark hair with blue eyes. "Cobalt blue" to be exact
What's not to love?????
Then, there's our epic heroine. I won't wax totally rhapsodic about her. She's also extremely smart, kind, funny, and despite being in her head a lot, has the courage to follow her heart.
Then there's the very SMART plot line. About bitcoins and hacking and NSA and seduction... oh my!
Loved it. Loved ALMOST every word. I did roll my eyes at some of the "smart" bits. Felt like author tried a little too hard and sprained a brain cell or two.
Did still catch the error of usage of lay vs. lie. Ha! So the author/ editor isn't 100% "smart"!
Anywho... that's all I got.
On to the next Penny Reid book!!
Now, here's a nit pick before I begin: it says that this is a "smart romance" on Amazon for book 1. That's kinda arrogant. They removed the label for subsequent books. I get that they (being publisher/ author) are trying to target the right reader group - i.e., the "smart" readers. Because the book IS very smart, and why I like it so much. But at the same time, it's basically saying - those of you who have low IQ and only looking for a fluff romance with elementary-level vocabulary and knowledge level, need not bother with this book.
And while I get that it helps to narrow your audience, even tho I'm part of that target audience, it pisses me off on behalf of the "non-smart romance" readers. So my advice to the publisher/ author is to REMOVE THE DAMN LABEL! And target readers some other way. I mean, the cover itself is already "smart" in that there's no naked men and women on it, etc. So...
Anyway, that's my rant about that.
On to the book itself:
The BIGGEST BESTEST part:
Alex...
Truly, this hero is to die for. I want him. He's my IDEAL mate. Let me count the ways:
* Genius IQ
* Virgin but still gave orgasms his first time at the Rodeo because--
* He has a giant penis
* Possessive, generous, kind, loyal to a fault, honorable, and lastly (truly this is the LEAST of his attributes)--
* Gorgeous, tall, with the body of an Olympic swimmer! Oh and my fave combo--
* Dark hair with blue eyes. "Cobalt blue" to be exact
What's not to love?????
Then, there's our epic heroine. I won't wax totally rhapsodic about her. She's also extremely smart, kind, funny, and despite being in her head a lot, has the courage to follow her heart.
Then there's the very SMART plot line. About bitcoins and hacking and NSA and seduction... oh my!
Loved it. Loved ALMOST every word. I did roll my eyes at some of the "smart" bits. Felt like author tried a little too hard and sprained a brain cell or two.
Did still catch the error of usage of lay vs. lie. Ha! So the author/ editor isn't 100% "smart"!
Anywho... that's all I got.
On to the next Penny Reid book!!
August 6, 2017
Get it here:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
I've read most of this series within the past two weeks because I just can't get enough of these characters. This tight knit group of ladies (pun intended) has my curiosity piqued more than most characters. I love how different they all are, yet how well they seem to fit together. And getting to see them individually fall in love is something special that I just can't miss. In Love Hacked we finally see Sandra, the therapist of the group, meet her match in a man she can't break down. Used to being able to read her dates like her patients, Alex is completely different from her usual type. Which ends up being the perfect match for her.
Alex was unwilling to change his secretive ways, yet he was always unwilling to stay away from the Sexy Therapist, even with his eversion to Psychology. I loved that they didn't seem like the match-made in heaven, and yet once they got together they actually turned out to be an even better match.
Overall this is a definite recommend from me, and I can't wait to continue with more from this series.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
I've read most of this series within the past two weeks because I just can't get enough of these characters. This tight knit group of ladies (pun intended) has my curiosity piqued more than most characters. I love how different they all are, yet how well they seem to fit together. And getting to see them individually fall in love is something special that I just can't miss. In Love Hacked we finally see Sandra, the therapist of the group, meet her match in a man she can't break down. Used to being able to read her dates like her patients, Alex is completely different from her usual type. Which ends up being the perfect match for her.
Alex was unwilling to change his secretive ways, yet he was always unwilling to stay away from the Sexy Therapist, even with his eversion to Psychology. I loved that they didn't seem like the match-made in heaven, and yet once they got together they actually turned out to be an even better match.
Overall this is a definite recommend from me, and I can't wait to continue with more from this series.
January 21, 2015
Penny Reid writes books that honestly are kind of perfect. She manages to write a book that is entertaining and funny that somehow makes you feel smarter.
Best wedding in a romance ever.
Entertaining from page one till the very last page.
I loved this book.
Best wedding in a romance ever.
Entertaining from page one till the very last page.
I loved this book.
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