Review: Absolute Lovers by S.J. Hooks (Absolute #2)

June 18, 2015

Note: This ARC was provided by Full Fathom Five via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Professor Stephen Worthington may have his student, Julia Wilde, back in his bed but he wants more than being sexual partners—he wants to win her heart and be able to call her his girlfriend. His very much in love with her but he’s not sure Julia feels the same way, especially since she’s been pretty much a free spirit when it comes to bed mates and she’s made it clear that she’s not really looking for any sort of commitment. Will Stephen be able to turn the tables and finally teach Julia something new—that love is, indeed, a beautiful thing and that what they have is the forever kind of love?

Absolute Lovers is the sequel to one of my favorite reads this year, Absolute Beginners, and author S.J. Hooks continued Stephen Worthington and Julia Wilde’s romance with the same amount of love and levity that you’ve come to expect if you were wise enough to read book one. There’s still a bit of awkwardness that surrounds Stephen, but he’s gained far more confidence, all thanks to Julia. She’s shown him that he isn’t the epic failure he thinks he is in the bedroom. This time around, it’s his turn to teach her a thing or two and it involves matters of the heart. These two are funny and sweet and even with complications such as their ten-year age difference and the fact that he’s her professor and she’s his student, you want them to overcome them all in order to get to their much deserved happily-ever-after.

Just when I think the story has nowhere else to go in the middle of the book, it surprised me with an unexpected tidbit that throws a wrench in Stephen and Julia’s relationship. The manner in which both lead characters handled it wasn’t as angsty as I’ve come to expect from similar situations in other books that I’ve read. Stephen’s family and his and Julia’s circle of friends were part of a great supporting cast of characters and each one was memorable without necessarily having to be scene-stealers. The main story and all the side stories get wrapped up in this second book, so readers aren’t left hanging. If you enjoyed Absolute Beginners, you’ll certainly want to get your hands on Absolute Lovers because this was an absolutely lovely ending to a steamy and sexy but still silly and sweet book duet. This gets five stars! ♥

Release Date: 24 June 2015

Date Read: 14 June 2015

Learn more about S.J. Hooks here.

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