The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: June 6th 2019 by Corvus (first published May 7th 2019)

Series: The Kiss Quotient #2

To review

Contemporary romance

I do think I enjoyed this book even more than the previous one! I do love when that happens. When the books just grow stronger. Which means I can't wait for the next one. Ohh Quan's book, thrilling!

We met Khai in a previous book for a moment, but I would say that this one works perfectly as a stand alone. You do not need to have read it to understand this new one.

Khai has aspergers. And his mum goes to Vietnam to find him a wife *headdesk, mum!* But she means well and se wants him to be happy. And he just kind of goes along with it when his mum tells him look here, you have 3 months with her, marry her or do not marry her.

I loved Khai. Just loved him.

Esme worked cleaning toilets when she met Khai's mum, who saw something in her. And gave her a chance to win his love. She took the chance and ran with it.

Obviously there are hurdles to overcome. He does not do emotions, he does not want to be touched. Things should be as they are. While Esme is forward, sweet and cheerful. And they are exactly perfect for each other.

But this is so much more than two people finding love. She finds her own path, which is more important. She wants to make something of herself, to create a better life for her daughter.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt light and I read it in no time at all.

Sweet, with passion on the side. Fun, with drama thrown in. And most of all, delightful.

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love. 

The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang

Paperback, 1st UK Main edition, 336 pages

Published July 5th 2018 by Corvus (first published May 30th 2018)

Contemporary romance

For review

My thoughts:

I knew I wanted this book when I heard what it was about. Stella is an ecometrician (no I have not heard that before) and has aspbergers. And she then hires an escort...yes, I wanted it then.

Stella is driven and loves her work. But her mother wants grandchildren, and then there is this coworker who is a real d*ck to be honest. But who has time for men! And kisses are yucky. Hey I hear you, touching people is icky! I relate. I like her, even if the road she decides to take is a bit strange.

Michael is an escort and at first I do wonder about his choices. Why does he do it? It takes awhile to find out, but then I do get it. It's an ends to a mean. And he is so sweet with her even if he does not know what to make of her and her proposition. 

Ok so it is obvious what the book will about then. Him learning her to be close *wink wink*. She starts to fall and he feels the same, but drama! He has issues too.

It was a sweet book. I really did not know what to expect considering, but yes it is sweet and they just fit together so perfectly. They are meant to be, even if it takes awhile for them to get that.

Conclusion:

I enjoyed it. It was sweet, passionate, funny and the perfect summer read.
 And it would make this amaaazing movie! They have to make one!!

Blurb:

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...