by JEWEL E ANN
Dr. Elijah Hawkins needs … something.
After his wife jumps headfirst into a midlife crisis, he’s left with his young son, Roman, and a lot of unanswered questions.
That something turns out to be a someone—Dorothy Mayhem, nursing student, patient transporter, reckless driver, and emu owner.
Dorothy studies humans, the neurotypical kind, through books and television. Then she emulates their behavioral patterns to fit in with her peers.
But nothing can prepare her for Dr. Elijah Hawkins.
Single dad.
Brilliant pediatric oncologist.
And the sexiest doctor at the hospital.
When his failed attempts at asking her out turn into a string of playdates with his son, Dorothy finds herself unexpectedly enamored with the boy and his father.
And that’s a problem, a huge one, because Elijah’s ex-wife is a famous plastic surgeon—and Dorothy’s idol.
Perfectly Adequate is a beautiful, hilarious, and heart-felt journey along the “human” spectrum.
"Your happiness is a reflection of you and only you."
Purity. This is the kind of book you have to go into with an open mind and an understanding of the love that's playing out. It won't be simple-minded or single-layered, and it won't be normal - and I'm not saying that in any way, shape, or form being disrespectful. This was hilarious, but pure. The heroine was definitely not the normal subject of a romance book and Jewel handled that with reality, and she never disappoints. She can undoubtedly write a quirky heroine with so much depth and reality to her, and she seems to do it with ease. Add to that, she forever writes a perfect Hero and I love that they aren't ever the same guy. She does an amazing job not only giving me a unique storyline, but she gives me original and not recycled. She gives me real and honest, not fabricated. She gives me love with different voices, and she gave me Dorothy and Eli.
"I don't mind being me. No one else can do it better."
Dorothy, her world, her life, is matter of fact - that's her world and that's how it is if you want to live in it. No apologies accepted, because she won't apologize for who she is or how she views the world, but knowing that's her truth - that's the best part. I loved how her ‘personality’ didn’t affect Eli's thoughts, but I liked more that he embraced it all with a smile more than anything else. If people miss the deeper cues of *who* Dorothy is, they’re going to miss the perfection that is this love.
"I want to discover her, not study her."
With Dorothy, I knew there was a more personal infusion of knowledge. Jewel's words portrayed an intimate knowledge and understanding of the nuances of a young lady like Dorothy, and I feel like she brought out the emotions allowing slow growth with feelings inspiring her characters beyond the 'moment.' I love the way she tells me a story. Sure, you can ‘technically’ tell a story, but I want to feel the words emotionally, and if they aren’t delivered passionately, the emotion doesn’t come through. Jewel bleeds passion. She bleeds emotion. She creates magic.
"The spectrum is human. It's not autism."
I've only read two stories with a main character with Asperger's, and both times I have been able to relate and smile and understand. I was able to see my son in some of the actions, so I think that's why this book was so relatable for me. I asked where her inspiration came from and she said it was a real friend, so I liked that she had some truth to her character and reality to back it up. I feel like we get the best parts of JEA with her books because they are full of heart. Every book has a hook. It’s organic. It’s fluid and it moves, regardless of any preconceived notions, and she will always set you straight OR change your mind. Perspective - it's amazing the way she delivers it.
"You weren't supposed to be a choice. Not you."
Learning a new lover and how they work/do things can be difficult sometimes, but when the realities are so different - it adds a new element of discovery and I really enjoyed that part. Even though the truth is ugly sometimes, this book - the way Jewel told their story, it was from the heart with so much depth and understanding. I’m worried that this will be misunderstood by some readers trying to ‘find’ Jewel because they won’t read her words but they’ll just read the story without the emotion that I know Jewel E Ann saturates every book with. Not because of the writing. Not because of the angst or pain we all know she can bring. But for the simple fact that it’s not ordinary and some people may not truly connect and may leave before the story is complete. I’m begging you, as I do every time I read one of her stories, to please stick with it. Understand that love is realized in many different ways. Love is expressed and felt and grown and nurtured in so many different ways. This story, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dorothy’s world and Elijah’s truth. I couldn’t stop giggling at their relationship and how it actually worked because of the charm and love, even given a circumstance that didn't feel navigable. I don’t have the in-depth personal experiences that Elijah does, but I will tell you that he has to be an amazing man. Admirable is the wrong word, because that insinuates he’s doing something out of the kindness of his heart and not from the depths of his soul.
I already know that I have to go into every single JEA book with an open mind, trust in her storytelling abilities, and listen with an open heart. She’s never once not made me think about the deeper story within. I love that she tackles subjects that aren’t talked about often. I also love that she puts her twist and spin on them while making the story a reality and the outcome fathomable. This story was less angsty and more emotional for me, which was a nice change of pace with her books. Every time I read a JEA book, I feel like I become a more firm believer in the heart doing what the heart wants. I love where her mind goes in her stories - where she takes them, how she tells them. Because she twists me up every time; she makes me think about things from a different perspective and I absolutely love it. She marries edge with emotion, producing a remarkable read. It was.....perfectly adequate.
"And it's amazing how a single breath can take a life, give a life, and sometimes...save a life. She is my breath of life."
~BEE
~BEE
~MEET JEWEL E ANN~
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~
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