Review: Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst

Received from InkSlingerPR

Title: Searching for Always
Series: Searching For #4
Author: Jennifer Probst
Publisher: Gallery Books/Pocket Books
Publication Date: 30 June 2015
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.

REVIEW

I was absolutely desperate for Arilyn story following how ingeniously Jennifer Probst laid the foundation in Searching for Beautiful.

On the surface it would appear Arilyn and Stone are complete opposites, nothing in common apart from the uncanny ability to irritate the other. No matter the circumstances they just can’t escape the way in which they each get under the others skin. Initially, putting it down to a clash of personalities and lifestyle but quickly realising it is in fact PASSION Their interactions are hilarious to the outside observer; can I just quote Stone and his belief that Arilyn’s anger management class is in fact ‘psycho zen detention’ LOL.

Arilyn is an amazing character, but we haven’t really got to know her independently from Kate and Kennedy in the series so far. While she may appear, for want of a better description, a goody two-shoes. There is so much more to Arilyn, the narrative slowly peels back the layers of both Arilyn and Stone. It is easy to identify with Arilyn, trying to look for the positive in people but having her foundation and worldview completely shaken by someone close to them being selfish and lying.

Searching for Always dramatically depicts how life requires balance, how you aren’t able to control everything around you and emotions are messy darn things. Arilyn and Stone have a yin/yang thing going on – she is the calm to his storm and vice-versa. Bringing the necessary balance to the other.

I love the use of karma within this series; especially the way in which it gives you what you need as opposed to what you think you need.

Both Arilyn and Stone have experienced more than their fair share of emotional trauma at a young age. Finding very different ways of coping with their issues. I adore how Arilyn was able to channel her negativity into something so positive.

Who would have thought a chihuahua called Pinky with a sparkly pink collar would make such a difference to Stone’s life

The friendships and support system in place within the series is truly wonderful to follow. The Searching For series shows that everyone has a reason for the way they are, both good and bad, you should always give someone the benefit of the doubt even when the Tree of Spite is involved I loved seeing the characters from the previous books and how their individual stories have progressed – SWOON

Searching for Always reinforces the soul-mate ideal – proving there is someone for everyone, giving hope to all us single folk