Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.
Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.
Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it’s her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas…devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?
Release Date: Aug 23, 2022
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $10.99
Hazelwood inspires internal rage and super slow burn with this full-length standalone.
I won’t deny this book made me feel things on a visceral level. But not feel-good things, more like I-wanna-throw-things. Hazelwood definitely takes on the real world a bit in this scientist STEM-driven romance.
We have heroine, Bee Königswasser, STEM scientist and lover of Marie Curie, who is given the opportunity as the lead on a NASA neuroengineering project. She’s been waiting for this chance her entire career only catch is her boss is her mortal enemy from college, Levi Ward.
Bee and Ward are like oil and water. She’s always thought of him as the worst ever since he refused to work with her as co-lead on a college project. So this new chance with NASA seems bound to fail before it starts. Except Levi has some secrets of his own, and when everything points to Levi sabotaging her, she decides she isn’t going down without a fight.
The struggles Bee faces made my blood boil. I was ready to go to battle for her and defeat all the bros in her way. Turns out Levi is in her corner, but the road to friendship and possibly more is paved with plenty of twists and turns. Levi’s a tough one to crack and all his reasonings behind what he does and why were so enjoyable to read as they were revealed.
From plot to characterization, I had tons of feelings and found myself unable to put this one down. Devoured in a day and stayed up way past my bedtime. Bee and Levi make a great opposites-attract couple, along with a fabulous slow-burn build that culminates beautifully. I wasn’t disappointed.
For readers who love Sally Thorne, this book will definitely appeal.
~ Landra
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