First off, let me preface this by stating that I am a huge fan of the Jenkins Family Series, by Sharon C. Cooper. I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for Martina Jenkins—better known as MJ’s story – for a while. She’s brazen, hilarious and speaks her mind… nothing like me by the way.
I digress.
Anywhoooo, Cooper nails hooking the reader in the opening scene. The heroine, MJ, a master carpenter, has a history with the hero, U.S. Senator Paul Hendricks. They’d dated a year before but she broke it off. MJ initially used their opposing political views that directly conflicted with her job as a carpenter within the trade union, but of course that’s not the only reason.
Paul, Paul, Paul. I was fully prepared to dislike the man simply because he’s a Republican. #BlameDonaldTrump and #TheRepublicanPrimary
But somehow, Cooper channeled Harry Potter and cast a “no-judgement” spell over me because I ended up loving Paul.
And who wouldn’t? Brotha man had to endure the Twelve Labors of Hercules to get MJ to give him the time of day. She was not having it AT ALL!
But despite MJ’s initial resistance and unresolved family issues, Paul forges on and piece by piece, breaks down her well-constructed walls.
The Gray Scale:
There are a lot of misunderstandings at the beginning but their chemistry cannot be denied. Opposites truly do attract for MJ and Paul. If I were the heroine in the book, Paul would definitely get a 4 out of 4.
The Soundtrack:
I’m a weirdo and when I’m reading a particularly good scene I’ll think of music that would pair well with the story. Here are a few songs that popped into my head.
“Before I let You Go” Blackstreet
“You’ve ruined me” Nora Jones
“Let Me Love You” Mario
“Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” Mint Condition
If you’re a fan of hard-working people who deserve a chance at true love, this book, no this series, is a must read.
You can purchase Negotiating for Love on Amazon (e-reader), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, ARe, iTunes and paperback via Amazon and Createspace!
