REVIEW :: 5 Stars for Neanderthal marries Human by Penny Reid

Neanderthal Marries Human by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #1.5
Also in this series: Neanderthal Seeks Human, Beauty and The Mustache, Ninja at First Sight, Friends without Benefits
Published by Caped Publishing
on June 14th 2014
Pages: 410
Genres: Contemporary


Goodreads

There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit.

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions. But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane.

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses?

Regardless, one thing is for certain, Quinn Sullivan will have to learn to expect the Spanish Inquisition (i.e. the unexpected) if he plans to have and keep Janie Morris as his wife.

This book is not a standalone. It is the sequel to ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human,’ it is book #1.5 in the ‘Knitting in the City’ series, and it is a full length, 100k word novel.

Again, you must read ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human’ first before reading this book.

This book is written in first person, alternating POV (Janie Morris AND Quinn Sullivan; but more Janie than Quinn)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

5 Smart, Sexy, Charming Stars!

WARNING:  LENGTHY REVIEW AHEAD

It is no secret that I am a fan of Penny Reid and her writing.  I know I have said it before, but it bears repeating; Penny writes smart books about and for smart women!  She doesn’t succumb to using useless drama to fill the pages of her novels.  Her character’s are REAL (despite what my daughter might think) and deal with real life situations.

This addition to the Knitting Series was smart, funny and charming.  But, it is also sexy!  And when I say sexy, I mean sexy without feeling like you need to bleach your eyes after reading it.  She has an uncanny way of adding steam without really saying too much.

My breathing was understandably heavy when I gasped, “Quinn.”

He answered my gasp with a growl, kissing then biting my neck, his fingers still hooked in my panties. “Take these off.”

“Wait, wait, wait -“

“Take them off or I’ll rip them off.”

The last thing that happened before I was pulled under, beyond caring or shame, and engaging in a scandalously explicit semi-public display of affection, was my underwear being torn in two by the very happy, very domineering, and very soon to be my husband, Quinn Sullivan.

I know right?! HOT, STEAMY AND SEXY writing that encourages you to use your imagination!  I don’t dislike erotic scenes in books, but sometimes less is more, and Reid knows when to apply this strategy.

This series reminds me of another author whose many books I have read and enjoyed, Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  I love getting lost in a book and becoming a chuckling, swooning, tearful mess.  I mentioned  my daughter earlier.  While reading this book she texted me from her bedroom (go ahead and do the mom eye-roll at that, I did) here is our conversation:

Yea, I was laughing.  But how could I not?  The situations that Janie and her friends found themselves in were hysterical.  Well, every moment they were together was funny actually, but the Spa (BAHAHA!  I learned some new things about the “lady garden”) and Vegas – I’m laughing as I type this!  I am so jealous of their friendship.  Each is so loyal and caring.  Whether you knit or not you want to become a part of this group!

A continuation of Neanderthal Seeks Human, Reid doesn’t skip a beat.  We are immediately thrust into the story of Janie and Quinn as they are in London where Quinn is finalizing the transfer of some private clients.  Those clients were hinted about in NSH and we learn exactly who they are and what is going on.  And, why they are a cause of guilt for Quinn. Also, he still holds a lot of guilt for the role he played in his brother’s death and these two weigh heavily on him.

“I told you, you make me want to be a good guy.”
“Quinn…”
“I’m trying to be a good guy.”

We are given Quinn’s POV and I devoured it.  He, *sigh, is such a complex character with all his brooding and sexiness.  He is the perfect match for Janie.  And he wants her.  Now.  When he proposes to Janie after only five months of being together, he knows he’s going to send her into a panic ridden, robot thinking tailspin.  So, he plans the perfect, most beautiful – secluded, proposal.  Of course, nothing with Janie is typical and well, let’s just say the proposal was “gripping”.

Janie knew in her heart that she loved him, but the idea of marrying so soon when the only experiences they had with each other were good, caused her to panic. She felt like they needed to experience and learn to deal with bad times before they were married.  She decides a big wedding is best as the planning of it would surely cause stress and test their relationship.  I laughed so much during this scene that I had tears in my eyes.

“…we’re having a big wedding so we can be miserable together before we’re happy together.”

I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, that this whole book was humorous. Because it wasn’t. It was so touching and heartfelt that I had tears from sadness, joy and happiness as well.  It was insightful too, which solidified my suspicion that Penny Reid is a genius.  Her comparison of a tattoo and marriage was so spot on, I read it multiple times.  I think I have it memorized!  For the sake of brevity (HA!) I will leave that for you to discover.

And please, do discover this series.  I recommend it to anyone and everyone who has ever been in love, had friends you cherish and family and tradition you just can’t live without!

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