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The Portland Rebels #1
The Duality Principle
Sometimes A + B = O. Yes. Oh, yes. Just like that.
Gabriella Evans's life exists in terms of logic and definitions. She's holed up in Portland, Maine, for the summer to work on her PhD thesis, but something is screwing up her the rumble of a motorcycle every time the embodiment of her rough-and-tumble fantasies rides down her street.
When her best friend talks her into a blind date, she finds herself out with the opposite of her fantasy. He's polite and well-mannered, yet something behind his crisply tailored shirt doesn't add up—a rebellious gleam in his eye that piques her curiosity.
Orphaned at fifteen, Connor Starks has finally put the years of failing grades, breaking laws and breaking hearts behind him. The only holdover? His penchant for getting down and dirty in public places. But Gabriella makes him want to prove he's become a better man.
Nothing intrigues Gabriella more than a problem she can't solve. But the...
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2014
17 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Grace Allen
18 books242 followersRebecca Grace Allen writes hot, heartbreaking, happily-ever-afters. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through jobs in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she's returned to my first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 3, 2014
4.5 stars
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review
Gabby is a brilliant M.I.T. student spending the summer in her grandmother's house, the last summer it turns out as her parents have decided to sell it after the grandmother's death. Gabby was close to her grandmother as she accepted Gabby for who she was and wasn't forever disappointed in her choices the way her parents always seem to be, so she is greatly saddened by this decision. As Gabby walks about the town, she occasionally crosses paths with a leather wearing bike riding rebel. He not only catches Gabby's eye but causes her skin to heat up and send a spark down her spine. Gabby may be a geek on the outside but she craves the sex life of a happily satisfied dirty girl. After a string of dating guys who look at her like she is a freak for wanting more in the bedroom, she swears off wasting time on men who aren't able to give her what she wants. Her friend Jamie however swears she has the perfect guy for her and Gabby reluctantly goes on a blind date, showing up on this blind date is Connor who is a currently reforming bad boy extraordinaire. He was a rebel rouser due to his lousy childhood but has spent the last couple years going to school and working to clean up his act. He has seen Gabby around town and is intrigued by her but battles not feeling good enough. When these two meet for coffee and strawberry shortcake, passions, feelings, and emotions swirl creating a summer where Gabby and Connor may just find themselves while they get lost in each other.
This is a New Adult story and I loved it, there was not a whiff of slut shaming or overly angry aggressive dudes coming out of the woodwork. The main characters are around 24 years old and for the most part are true to that. Gabby has been frustrated in the past because she was scared and unsure about articulating what she wanted, rather it be in life or the bedroom but now has garnered enough confidence to stick up for what she wants, even if her voice is a tad bit shaky. Connor is trying to escape the reputation he had as a teenager and come into his own. They exhibit wonderfully what it is like to be in your early mid-twenties and struggle to not only find who you want to be but becoming that person. The tie in with the title of the book representing the math formula (I consistently received Cs in math so not even going to try and fully explain it) Gabby is working on for her thesis and how it pertains to duality is brilliant; it mirrors how Gabby and Connor perceive each other, not realizing that someone can be one thing while also being another. Connor only sees Gabby as a smart successful woman on a pedestal who shouldn't be wasting her time with a loser like him and tries to smother his sexual and at times dominate nature. Gabby thinks Connor is just another guy who is turned off by her more adventurous sexual desires as he backs away from her every time things heat up. Its miscommunication brought on by fear of rejection of their true selves.
This is a novella so it is more along the lines of short and in this case, hotly sweet. The sexual tension between these two as they go on their dates is sizzling and you'll be just about as disappointed as Gabby when Connor backs off. It was after they surrendered to all that sexual tension that the story started to feel rushed; the last 30% or so was hurried and lacked the emotions which made the beginning and middle so remarkable. There are a couple threads left dangling, Connor was going to sell his bike but I guess he doesn't have to now?, which left the story feeling somewhat incomplete. The surrounding characters of Connor and Jamie's friends and Connor's grandparents were nicely regulated to the background but given enough life to add to the story and make me curious about just how good of friends Jamie and Dean are. I sailed through this story as Gabby and Connor made me smile like a school girl at her crush; it's a read in one sitting kind of book.
The bottom line is there are a couple cheesy moments and the ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be but this is still a must read. Gabby and Connor's journey to accepting themselves and coming together is not to be missed. As a debut book this is especially strong and I will definitely be on the lookout for future books from this author. The Duality Principle is a highly enjoyable, engaging, and hot read, don't miss out on it!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review
Gabby is a brilliant M.I.T. student spending the summer in her grandmother's house, the last summer it turns out as her parents have decided to sell it after the grandmother's death. Gabby was close to her grandmother as she accepted Gabby for who she was and wasn't forever disappointed in her choices the way her parents always seem to be, so she is greatly saddened by this decision. As Gabby walks about the town, she occasionally crosses paths with a leather wearing bike riding rebel. He not only catches Gabby's eye but causes her skin to heat up and send a spark down her spine. Gabby may be a geek on the outside but she craves the sex life of a happily satisfied dirty girl. After a string of dating guys who look at her like she is a freak for wanting more in the bedroom, she swears off wasting time on men who aren't able to give her what she wants. Her friend Jamie however swears she has the perfect guy for her and Gabby reluctantly goes on a blind date, showing up on this blind date is Connor who is a currently reforming bad boy extraordinaire. He was a rebel rouser due to his lousy childhood but has spent the last couple years going to school and working to clean up his act. He has seen Gabby around town and is intrigued by her but battles not feeling good enough. When these two meet for coffee and strawberry shortcake, passions, feelings, and emotions swirl creating a summer where Gabby and Connor may just find themselves while they get lost in each other.
This is a New Adult story and I loved it, there was not a whiff of slut shaming or overly angry aggressive dudes coming out of the woodwork. The main characters are around 24 years old and for the most part are true to that. Gabby has been frustrated in the past because she was scared and unsure about articulating what she wanted, rather it be in life or the bedroom but now has garnered enough confidence to stick up for what she wants, even if her voice is a tad bit shaky. Connor is trying to escape the reputation he had as a teenager and come into his own. They exhibit wonderfully what it is like to be in your early mid-twenties and struggle to not only find who you want to be but becoming that person. The tie in with the title of the book representing the math formula (I consistently received Cs in math so not even going to try and fully explain it) Gabby is working on for her thesis and how it pertains to duality is brilliant; it mirrors how Gabby and Connor perceive each other, not realizing that someone can be one thing while also being another. Connor only sees Gabby as a smart successful woman on a pedestal who shouldn't be wasting her time with a loser like him and tries to smother his sexual and at times dominate nature. Gabby thinks Connor is just another guy who is turned off by her more adventurous sexual desires as he backs away from her every time things heat up. Its miscommunication brought on by fear of rejection of their true selves.
This is a novella so it is more along the lines of short and in this case, hotly sweet. The sexual tension between these two as they go on their dates is sizzling and you'll be just about as disappointed as Gabby when Connor backs off. It was after they surrendered to all that sexual tension that the story started to feel rushed; the last 30% or so was hurried and lacked the emotions which made the beginning and middle so remarkable. There are a couple threads left dangling, Connor was going to sell his bike but I guess he doesn't have to now?, which left the story feeling somewhat incomplete. The surrounding characters of Connor and Jamie's friends and Connor's grandparents were nicely regulated to the background but given enough life to add to the story and make me curious about just how good of friends Jamie and Dean are. I sailed through this story as Gabby and Connor made me smile like a school girl at her crush; it's a read in one sitting kind of book.
The bottom line is there are a couple cheesy moments and the ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be but this is still a must read. Gabby and Connor's journey to accepting themselves and coming together is not to be missed. As a debut book this is especially strong and I will definitely be on the lookout for future books from this author. The Duality Principle is a highly enjoyable, engaging, and hot read, don't miss out on it!
November 25, 2015
This book has lots of elements I like. A smart heroine who is nerdy. Love it. However, the opening didn't sit well with me. I just didn't like the tone. I didn't care for the voice of the heroine.
I admire the fact that the writer is working with the idea of empowering her heroine to get her sexual needs met. However, this pursuit felt strained to me-- unorganic to the character. Perhaps it was opening with those needs instead of the needs being intergrated into the development of the character as I got to know her.
I never settled into this book because of that slightly off feeling. It is a okay read but didn't work for me.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
I will try to next book by this writer.
I admire the fact that the writer is working with the idea of empowering her heroine to get her sexual needs met. However, this pursuit felt strained to me-- unorganic to the character. Perhaps it was opening with those needs instead of the needs being intergrated into the development of the character as I got to know her.
I never settled into this book because of that slightly off feeling. It is a okay read but didn't work for me.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
I will try to next book by this writer.
July 13, 2015
This book was hot, sweet, and fast paced. I read it all in one go. I loved the premise behind the book. Smart is totally the new sexy. Gabby was hot and so was Connor. They both are brilliant and it was interesting watching the two of them get to know each other while trying to figure out how to get what they wanted.
I really found it interesting how they were both struggling to verbalize what they were looking for in prospective partners. The back and forth between Gabby and Connor fighting their desires was entertaining, but I was just as Sexually frustrated as they were about not dealing with it. The tension build up was great, but then I was ready for some release! I understood why Connor was fighting between what his head said he should do and what his soul wanted. However I felt like it was wrong he had to change who he was to be with the person he wanted to. It was really enlightening because how many of us have tried to change for someone else?
While this story wasn't very long, I felt like it was complete. There were no loose ends and no corners cut. I hope to see more of Grace and Connor in future books in this series. I would also love to read a book about Jamie or Dean, maybe even the two of them together. They're Gabby and Connor's friends. Rebecca Allen Grace has done a great job at including Gabby and Connor's profession. I loved the examples Gabby was using while trying to form a basis for rejecting the duality principle. If you're looking for something new adult to read that has smart, sexy characters with erotic undertones, this book is totally for you!
I really found it interesting how they were both struggling to verbalize what they were looking for in prospective partners. The back and forth between Gabby and Connor fighting their desires was entertaining, but I was just as Sexually frustrated as they were about not dealing with it. The tension build up was great, but then I was ready for some release! I understood why Connor was fighting between what his head said he should do and what his soul wanted. However I felt like it was wrong he had to change who he was to be with the person he wanted to. It was really enlightening because how many of us have tried to change for someone else?
While this story wasn't very long, I felt like it was complete. There were no loose ends and no corners cut. I hope to see more of Grace and Connor in future books in this series. I would also love to read a book about Jamie or Dean, maybe even the two of them together. They're Gabby and Connor's friends. Rebecca Allen Grace has done a great job at including Gabby and Connor's profession. I loved the examples Gabby was using while trying to form a basis for rejecting the duality principle. If you're looking for something new adult to read that has smart, sexy characters with erotic undertones, this book is totally for you!
November 19, 2014
Where to start? I liked this book. It was short and cute and since I’ve been reading all violence and MC books this month, it was quite a buffer.
The Duality Principle is set in Portland, Maine, where Gabriella Evans is on vacation, staying at her deceased grandmother’s house. She’s a brilliant mathematician from M.I.T. and a complete rebel. She’s tired of having to live up a prim and proper life thanks to her parents’ expectations of her. So now that she’s away from them for the time being, she wants a vacation filled with hot, uninhibited, wild, public sex.
And her fantasies all surround this biker, who has caught her eye. She’s seen him around town, a lot, and she knows he notices her too. She just doesn’t understand why he doesn’t introduce himself.
Meanwhile, her neighbor and best friend Jamie, sets her up on a blind date with Connor Starks, bad-boy-turned-good and all Gabriella’s thoughts about the biker go flying outta the window. Mostly.
There was definitely some chemistry between the two of them from day one. They were hesitant with each other, understandably, since it was the first time they’d seen each other, but I especially like Gabriella’s inner monologue throughout the early stages of their relationship. The entire book is in a dual POV so that’s good, but personally, Gabriella was the character I really liked “listening” to. She had a spine and refused to give in to drama even when they had a misunderstanding.
Although, in all honesty, Connor wasn’t all that bad. And Jesus, the guy had a dirty, downright filthy mouth while they were schmexin’ so that was real fun to read J And while I like my share of bad guys, Connor so badly wanted to be good for Gabriella—and for all the right reasons, not just to get lucky—I really appreciated this guy.
There was a bit excessive drama in the book. It was standard in any NA book but even then, Miss Grace handled it well, giving not too much attention to the drama itself but the resolution of it and the character’s growth because of it. A really, really good novella, as far as debuts go, and really cute if you’re looking for fluffy, spanking love :D
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal
The Duality Principle is set in Portland, Maine, where Gabriella Evans is on vacation, staying at her deceased grandmother’s house. She’s a brilliant mathematician from M.I.T. and a complete rebel. She’s tired of having to live up a prim and proper life thanks to her parents’ expectations of her. So now that she’s away from them for the time being, she wants a vacation filled with hot, uninhibited, wild, public sex.
And her fantasies all surround this biker, who has caught her eye. She’s seen him around town, a lot, and she knows he notices her too. She just doesn’t understand why he doesn’t introduce himself.
Meanwhile, her neighbor and best friend Jamie, sets her up on a blind date with Connor Starks, bad-boy-turned-good and all Gabriella’s thoughts about the biker go flying outta the window. Mostly.
There was definitely some chemistry between the two of them from day one. They were hesitant with each other, understandably, since it was the first time they’d seen each other, but I especially like Gabriella’s inner monologue throughout the early stages of their relationship. The entire book is in a dual POV so that’s good, but personally, Gabriella was the character I really liked “listening” to. She had a spine and refused to give in to drama even when they had a misunderstanding.
Although, in all honesty, Connor wasn’t all that bad. And Jesus, the guy had a dirty, downright filthy mouth while they were schmexin’ so that was real fun to read J And while I like my share of bad guys, Connor so badly wanted to be good for Gabriella—and for all the right reasons, not just to get lucky—I really appreciated this guy.
There was a bit excessive drama in the book. It was standard in any NA book but even then, Miss Grace handled it well, giving not too much attention to the drama itself but the resolution of it and the character’s growth because of it. A really, really good novella, as far as debuts go, and really cute if you’re looking for fluffy, spanking love :D
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal
November 12, 2014
My Review:
This is a fun little story. Gabriella is a nerd and the guys she meets are complete duds. They don't understand her or her need to get a bit dirty when it comes to sex. They just don't expect or want that from this MIT student. She has a nerd exterior but the heart and libido of a bad girl.
Connor has the opposite problem. He's trying to shed his bad boy persona that's only brought him trouble. Now he's a computer programmer and is trying to make that who he is all the time so he can meet the right kind of girl.
Connor and Gabriella have a mutual friend who sees they are perfect for one another and sets them up on a blind date. But the issue is...both people are fighting both sides of their personas which constantly send mixed signal. Both are frustrated, aroused, and confused. Neither one tells the other exactly what they are feeling or want and it just ends up with both of them hurt and upset with this relationship that has moments of perfection until it all falls apart...every single date.
This is a fun book. I'll admit that I didn't get the idea of Gabby's thesis because it just doesn't work, but I enjoyed watching her and Connor fumble around. The scenes where they connect are seriously hot. And that final scene where everything finally comes together is literally scorching. It's a short book and if you enjoy books with nerd themes, like I do, you probably will enjoy this one, too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a fun little story. Gabriella is a nerd and the guys she meets are complete duds. They don't understand her or her need to get a bit dirty when it comes to sex. They just don't expect or want that from this MIT student. She has a nerd exterior but the heart and libido of a bad girl.
Connor has the opposite problem. He's trying to shed his bad boy persona that's only brought him trouble. Now he's a computer programmer and is trying to make that who he is all the time so he can meet the right kind of girl.
Connor and Gabriella have a mutual friend who sees they are perfect for one another and sets them up on a blind date. But the issue is...both people are fighting both sides of their personas which constantly send mixed signal. Both are frustrated, aroused, and confused. Neither one tells the other exactly what they are feeling or want and it just ends up with both of them hurt and upset with this relationship that has moments of perfection until it all falls apart...every single date.
This is a fun book. I'll admit that I didn't get the idea of Gabby's thesis because it just doesn't work, but I enjoyed watching her and Connor fumble around. The scenes where they connect are seriously hot. And that final scene where everything finally comes together is literally scorching. It's a short book and if you enjoy books with nerd themes, like I do, you probably will enjoy this one, too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
November 27, 2014
What a fun story! A true Tell Me A Story kind of story.
Love when I am completely entertained from start to finish, no over the top drama or antics, just a good read.
Fantastic debut and am looking forward to more from this author!!
Stop by Books and Fandom for full review & author's blog tour
February 12, 2015
It is really great to see how mathematical theory gave an idea for a romance novel. I found that very fresh and original, but even more amazing is how the author incorporated the duality principle theory in the story.
Because of this, but not only this, “The Duality Principle” is a very enjoyable story...
Full review available on Night Owl Reviews
Because of this, but not only this, “The Duality Principle” is a very enjoyable story...
Full review available on Night Owl Reviews
October 26, 2014
Really enjoyed this one, y'all.
Full review to come. :)
Full review to come. :)
March 27, 2015
I have somehow forgotten how I stumbled across this book, but I bet there is a good story behind it. The Duality Principle by Rebecca Grace Allen is a contemporary romance that is based on quite the “brainy” principle of duality. The heroine Gabriella Evans is doing her PhD in disproving the duality principle which states that “if a theorem is true, it remains true if each object and operation is replaced by its dual.” Gabriella is not just super intelligent, she is also someone who is tired of hiding her true nature from the men she had accepted into her life up till now. The fact that every single one of them had left her feeling like she is doing something wrong by wanting more from the physical aspect of their relationships had left its scar on her.
Gabriella comes to Portland, Maine to not only sort her thoughts out and work on her thesis, but to say goodbye to the home that had been her grandmother’s, a home that holds sentimental value to her and she is having a hard time letting go of. Her relationships with her parents is a tension filled one at best, and Gabriella comes seeking the solitude which she has always found at her grandmother’s place. When her best friend suggests that she go on a blind date with a friend of hers, Gabriella goes along with it, not thinking that anything much would come out of it. However, when Connor Starks shows up, there is something about him that makes her want to know more, that makes her senses go on red alert, and makes her want to climb, lick, kiss and suck every single inch of him. The fact that Connor seems to present two very contrasting sides of his character to her confuses her more and makes her want to unravel what it is that Connor is “hiding”.
Connor is the bad boy who has worked hard to walk the right path. The fact that Gabriella interests him on a level that no other woman has ever interested him before makes Connor fidgety about the fact that being true to his seductive nature could spell out trouble for him where his long term plans with Gabriella are concerned. But then again, the best laid plans always have a tendency of going awry, and time and yet again, Connor finds himself literally being driven crazy by the desire that makes him feel absolutely primal with wanting when it comes to Gabriella.
What made this book a fun read is the scorching hot sexual tension that sizzles through the pages, practically making me melt, on the spot. Connor is someone who turns up the heat, just like that, and there is nothing anyone can do but go along for the ride. The fact that Connor is the one who holds back, trying to do what is right as per his twisted logic when it comes to Gabriella is what lends the story the interesting tangent of angst that made this worth reading.
While most romance writers tend to shy away from writing brainy heroines of Gabriel’s nature, I found Gabriel to be an interesting mix. The duality that lives within her character, that is constantly at war with one another until Connor comes along and proves to her that he is man enough to handle both was quite compelling. The fact that I learned of a completely new-to-me nerd fact was the icing on the cake when it came to this book.
Recommended for those who love stories featuring sexy as sin, reformed bad boys who just can’t help but be bad with the right woman!
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Gabriella comes to Portland, Maine to not only sort her thoughts out and work on her thesis, but to say goodbye to the home that had been her grandmother’s, a home that holds sentimental value to her and she is having a hard time letting go of. Her relationships with her parents is a tension filled one at best, and Gabriella comes seeking the solitude which she has always found at her grandmother’s place. When her best friend suggests that she go on a blind date with a friend of hers, Gabriella goes along with it, not thinking that anything much would come out of it. However, when Connor Starks shows up, there is something about him that makes her want to know more, that makes her senses go on red alert, and makes her want to climb, lick, kiss and suck every single inch of him. The fact that Connor seems to present two very contrasting sides of his character to her confuses her more and makes her want to unravel what it is that Connor is “hiding”.
Connor is the bad boy who has worked hard to walk the right path. The fact that Gabriella interests him on a level that no other woman has ever interested him before makes Connor fidgety about the fact that being true to his seductive nature could spell out trouble for him where his long term plans with Gabriella are concerned. But then again, the best laid plans always have a tendency of going awry, and time and yet again, Connor finds himself literally being driven crazy by the desire that makes him feel absolutely primal with wanting when it comes to Gabriella.
What made this book a fun read is the scorching hot sexual tension that sizzles through the pages, practically making me melt, on the spot. Connor is someone who turns up the heat, just like that, and there is nothing anyone can do but go along for the ride. The fact that Connor is the one who holds back, trying to do what is right as per his twisted logic when it comes to Gabriella is what lends the story the interesting tangent of angst that made this worth reading.
While most romance writers tend to shy away from writing brainy heroines of Gabriel’s nature, I found Gabriel to be an interesting mix. The duality that lives within her character, that is constantly at war with one another until Connor comes along and proves to her that he is man enough to handle both was quite compelling. The fact that I learned of a completely new-to-me nerd fact was the icing on the cake when it came to this book.
Recommended for those who love stories featuring sexy as sin, reformed bad boys who just can’t help but be bad with the right woman!
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
November 13, 2014
Leigh‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
3.5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I’m not sure if I just read a kinky love letter to New England or sat through an advanced mathematical theory class…
Staying at her grandmother’s house in Maine for the summer while working on her PhD thesis, Gabby has spent her time pondering how to disprove a mathematical certainty, lusting after the mysterious motorcycle guy that keeps driving by, and lamenting the fact that she will never find a guy that wants to explore a more kinky sex life with her. On a blind date, she meets Connor Starks and is immediately drawn to the quirky and handsome guy that looks like a cross between a geek and a rebel. Trying to hide his somewhat rowdy past, Connor is determined to be the good guy that he feels Gabby wants. But neither of these people are as innocent as they look.
My first impression of The Duality Principle was that, despite the hot sex, the romance was slightly juvenile. I’m not used to a hero that still lives as home and has friends that act as if they never left high school. Nevertheless, it was still a sweet love story, watching Gabby and Connor discover in one another exactly the kind of person they were seeking.
I did feel that the idea of the “duality principle” was overdone. The author would start getting into explanations of this theory and I would find myself skim over these parts. I understood how she was trying to tie the title theory regarding how, if you replace an element of an equation with its opposite it would still be the same, to the relationship between her characters. How they were both nerdy on the outside but truly rebels at heart. But once would have been enough. I felt that this theory kept getting pushed on the reader and referenced so as to beat it to death. Once I started skimming the math theory parts, I was able to enjoy the remainder of the story.
Had I realized from the start that this was in the New Adult genre, it probably would have changed my expectations of the book. I don’t read much NA so I don’t have an accurate measure against which to judge The Duality Principle. But on its own merits, it was an upbeat, sexy and quick read which I did enjoy.
3.5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I’m not sure if I just read a kinky love letter to New England or sat through an advanced mathematical theory class…
Staying at her grandmother’s house in Maine for the summer while working on her PhD thesis, Gabby has spent her time pondering how to disprove a mathematical certainty, lusting after the mysterious motorcycle guy that keeps driving by, and lamenting the fact that she will never find a guy that wants to explore a more kinky sex life with her. On a blind date, she meets Connor Starks and is immediately drawn to the quirky and handsome guy that looks like a cross between a geek and a rebel. Trying to hide his somewhat rowdy past, Connor is determined to be the good guy that he feels Gabby wants. But neither of these people are as innocent as they look.
My first impression of The Duality Principle was that, despite the hot sex, the romance was slightly juvenile. I’m not used to a hero that still lives as home and has friends that act as if they never left high school. Nevertheless, it was still a sweet love story, watching Gabby and Connor discover in one another exactly the kind of person they were seeking.
I did feel that the idea of the “duality principle” was overdone. The author would start getting into explanations of this theory and I would find myself skim over these parts. I understood how she was trying to tie the title theory regarding how, if you replace an element of an equation with its opposite it would still be the same, to the relationship between her characters. How they were both nerdy on the outside but truly rebels at heart. But once would have been enough. I felt that this theory kept getting pushed on the reader and referenced so as to beat it to death. Once I started skimming the math theory parts, I was able to enjoy the remainder of the story.
Had I realized from the start that this was in the New Adult genre, it probably would have changed my expectations of the book. I don’t read much NA so I don’t have an accurate measure against which to judge The Duality Principle. But on its own merits, it was an upbeat, sexy and quick read which I did enjoy.
November 4, 2014
SHORT, HOT, PROFOUND.
Be yourself.
It's something that people say over and over again, and yet only a few dares to follow.
Gabby and Connor are two characters who can't help but hide their real selves for different reasons. All around Gabby, people have certain expectations of her that when she doesn't conform to it, she gets hurt by their actions or words. On the other hand, Connor had a wild streak before that earned him such a bad rep with everyone in town. This story is them finding the balance between what people want them to be and who they really are.
Frankly speaking, I was opposed to what Gabby was disproving from the start. I always, always think that people can do as many things as they can. She was so darn set on disproving it while her own thoughts betray her. I still like her though because in the end, she did what we women should do. We should just be honest with what we want. Men aren't really the fortune tellers we think they are. :) Sometimes they need a big push and Gabby is successful at that.
I liked how Connor behaved around Gabby. I like how he tries really hard to be what he thinks Gabby would like. It's a show of courage when a man changes his ways for a woman. Little did he know that he need not change at all. :)
The story is pretty straightforward. I wanted to go to the bottom of it already, but the author made me wait, which is not such a bad thing, really. It's the anticipation that makes it even better! :)
HOTNESS FACTOR: 87% and above! ^_^
All in all, this is a short, hot read that will probably apply to many people. It's an authorly reminder that people should just be themselves. It's just added stress when we try to hide. Don't you agree?
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Be yourself.
It's something that people say over and over again, and yet only a few dares to follow.
Gabby and Connor are two characters who can't help but hide their real selves for different reasons. All around Gabby, people have certain expectations of her that when she doesn't conform to it, she gets hurt by their actions or words. On the other hand, Connor had a wild streak before that earned him such a bad rep with everyone in town. This story is them finding the balance between what people want them to be and who they really are.
Frankly speaking, I was opposed to what Gabby was disproving from the start. I always, always think that people can do as many things as they can. She was so darn set on disproving it while her own thoughts betray her. I still like her though because in the end, she did what we women should do. We should just be honest with what we want. Men aren't really the fortune tellers we think they are. :) Sometimes they need a big push and Gabby is successful at that.
I liked how Connor behaved around Gabby. I like how he tries really hard to be what he thinks Gabby would like. It's a show of courage when a man changes his ways for a woman. Little did he know that he need not change at all. :)
The story is pretty straightforward. I wanted to go to the bottom of it already, but the author made me wait, which is not such a bad thing, really. It's the anticipation that makes it even better! :)
HOTNESS FACTOR: 87% and above! ^_^
All in all, this is a short, hot read that will probably apply to many people. It's an authorly reminder that people should just be themselves. It's just added stress when we try to hide. Don't you agree?
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2015
I've been a huge fan of Rebecca Grace Allen's for years, and when she asked me if I'd like an eARC of her debut, the words HECK, YEAH left my mouth so fast they left skid marks. I did not promise a good review in exchange for the book, only an honest one. Fortunately, I can give both.
The Duality Principle is set in Portland, Maine--a city I never had any desire to visit until I read this book. Ms. Allen paints a lovely picture of this seaside town and does so without going overboard. Just enough detail is given to let the reader feel a part of the scene without bogging down the story.
Our heroine, Gabriella, is a girl I'd like to hang out and drink margaritas with. Except for the whole Ivy-League-math-degree thing, we're very much alike, Gabby and I. I'm all about the characters, and she clicked with me from the get-go.
Connor is my wet dream man come to life, in a manner of speaking. He's the perfect mix of good guy and bad boy wrapped in one gorgeous package, with a sprinkle of angst. (No lie, one of the notes I made on my Nook was simply UNF.) He was polite without being all Eddie Haskell-like, and flirty? Oh my stars, the boy gives good banter (and I do love me some banter).
And holy dirty, the sex scenes. My Nook almost went up in flames (and me with it).
In short, Ms. Allen handed me everything I look for in a book.
I tried to keep an eye out for punctuation mistakes, etc. since this is an ARC, but either there aren't any or the story was so engaging, I didn't notice. There was one word choice that I wouldn't have gone with, and a popped P that I could have done without, but other than that my only complaint is that the book is far too short.
The Duality Principle is set in Portland, Maine--a city I never had any desire to visit until I read this book. Ms. Allen paints a lovely picture of this seaside town and does so without going overboard. Just enough detail is given to let the reader feel a part of the scene without bogging down the story.
Our heroine, Gabriella, is a girl I'd like to hang out and drink margaritas with. Except for the whole Ivy-League-math-degree thing, we're very much alike, Gabby and I. I'm all about the characters, and she clicked with me from the get-go.
Connor is my wet dream man come to life, in a manner of speaking. He's the perfect mix of good guy and bad boy wrapped in one gorgeous package, with a sprinkle of angst. (No lie, one of the notes I made on my Nook was simply UNF.) He was polite without being all Eddie Haskell-like, and flirty? Oh my stars, the boy gives good banter (and I do love me some banter).
And holy dirty, the sex scenes. My Nook almost went up in flames (and me with it).
In short, Ms. Allen handed me everything I look for in a book.
I tried to keep an eye out for punctuation mistakes, etc. since this is an ARC, but either there aren't any or the story was so engaging, I didn't notice. There was one word choice that I wouldn't have gone with, and a popped P that I could have done without, but other than that my only complaint is that the book is far too short.
November 11, 2014
With The Duality Principle her debut novel, Rebecca Grace Allen nailed it.
This story is about a geek who desperately wants to be a little naughty and bad, and about a bad boy who desperately wants to be a good, tame geek.
Gabriella (Gabby) and Connor definitely area match made in heaven, only it takes them a little time to realize it. During that time she sure have a blast, though. Damn, I forgot how dirty RGA’s writing is sometimes.
While Gabby is pretty much the same – a brilliant student, sexy with a little rebel streak in her – throughout the story, Connor is more complex. He’s grown up with poor role models as parents, and after losing them he got himself in all sorts of trouble. Constantly.
But meeting Gabby, he wants to be better, good. It’s the first time he actually wants a relationship that’s longer than a single date, and he sees himself as unfit for her.
What I loved about this story – except for the dirty talking, the dirty sex and the great writing – is how Connor’s character grows with the plot. He has help from his grandparents and Gabby, but he eventually gets himself together and starts seeing himself as better.
This isn’t a story where the protagonists’ journey makes you ache and emotional, but eff me if I didn’t shed a tear there at the very end. It was just so freakin’ sweet.
This story is about a geek who desperately wants to be a little naughty and bad, and about a bad boy who desperately wants to be a good, tame geek.
Gabriella (Gabby) and Connor definitely area match made in heaven, only it takes them a little time to realize it. During that time she sure have a blast, though. Damn, I forgot how dirty RGA’s writing is sometimes.
While Gabby is pretty much the same – a brilliant student, sexy with a little rebel streak in her – throughout the story, Connor is more complex. He’s grown up with poor role models as parents, and after losing them he got himself in all sorts of trouble. Constantly.
But meeting Gabby, he wants to be better, good. It’s the first time he actually wants a relationship that’s longer than a single date, and he sees himself as unfit for her.
What I loved about this story – except for the dirty talking, the dirty sex and the great writing – is how Connor’s character grows with the plot. He has help from his grandparents and Gabby, but he eventually gets himself together and starts seeing himself as better.
This isn’t a story where the protagonists’ journey makes you ache and emotional, but eff me if I didn’t shed a tear there at the very end. It was just so freakin’ sweet.
January 20, 2016
A sweet ride. I enjoyed this book. It was so simple and yet so full of terms and some sexy geeks. It was good combination.
Connor was sexy, hot and stubborn. He was just in his own head so much, thinking for Gabby and changing himself, which was no good. But I still loved how sweet he was, and how he was willing to try for her.
“She makes me want to be different too.”
“So be different.”~
I wanted this book to be longer. I wanted to live more with the characters and enjoy friendships/relationships between the characters.
“A rose represents promises and hope, but its beauty is bonded with thorns. It embodies pain and loss. Combined together, they are in perfect harmony, equal parts beautiful and strong.”~
Gabby. Our talking-to-herself, sexy maths geek. Yup, I envy a character for being smart in maths. I need that.
She was straighforward, funny and confident. I loved Gabby.
“Since I met you, nothing has made sense,” she told him. “Nothing has been logical, ordered or defined. But at the same time, everything has made perfect sense. You can’t get more duality than that.” Her grin grew wide. “Maybe I should write a paper on how blind dates really can go well, despite the statistics.”~
This book doesn't wow you. Its no shock. Its normal, yet sweet, cute and lovely. Sit back, read it and enjoy the ride.
Connor was sexy, hot and stubborn. He was just in his own head so much, thinking for Gabby and changing himself, which was no good. But I still loved how sweet he was, and how he was willing to try for her.
“She makes me want to be different too.”
“So be different.”~
I wanted this book to be longer. I wanted to live more with the characters and enjoy friendships/relationships between the characters.
“A rose represents promises and hope, but its beauty is bonded with thorns. It embodies pain and loss. Combined together, they are in perfect harmony, equal parts beautiful and strong.”~
Gabby. Our talking-to-herself, sexy maths geek. Yup, I envy a character for being smart in maths. I need that.
She was straighforward, funny and confident. I loved Gabby.
“Since I met you, nothing has made sense,” she told him. “Nothing has been logical, ordered or defined. But at the same time, everything has made perfect sense. You can’t get more duality than that.” Her grin grew wide. “Maybe I should write a paper on how blind dates really can go well, despite the statistics.”~
This book doesn't wow you. Its no shock. Its normal, yet sweet, cute and lovely. Sit back, read it and enjoy the ride.
December 3, 2014
One of my favourite things this year in books is that Smart and Geeky is the new "Sexy" and The Duality Principle by Rebecca Grace Allen is another book to back that up. In this book we meet Gabby Evans who is studying her PhD in Applied Mathematics with the theory of The Duality Principle, which states that no one single entity can represent two things e.g you can only be good not bad etc. After her grandmother died and things became rocky at home, Gabby needed time away and heads to her Grandmother's old house in Portland. Her best friend Jamie has set her up on a blind date, with an old school buddy of hers and after all her failed attempts at dating she has the idea that this is going to be another geeky disaster. Turns out though that Connor Starks is more than meets the eye as he is by day a Computer Programmer but it seems that he has that spunk side that Gabby has been searching for. So begins a fun romantic New Adult story with references to Geek and Maths Equations as well as some "sexy moments". Can Connor prove Gabby's theory about The Duality Principle wrong or will he re-affirm what she already hypothesizes ?
Find out in this fun read that everyone should read "The Duality Principle" by Rebecca Grace Allen and remember readers "Smart is the new Sexy".
Find out in this fun read that everyone should read "The Duality Principle" by Rebecca Grace Allen and remember readers "Smart is the new Sexy".
November 21, 2014
See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.
My Thoughts:
I just knew that upon picking up this story, I would be caught up in a whirlwind romance. It wasn't unfounded either--I definitely got drawn into their story immediately, and found it very hard to tear myself away from it once I started.
Gabriella and Connor are hard to resist--and an absolutely perfect blend of naughty and nice. There's a mix of wanting to be good and wanting to be bad that has these two with a little bit of back and forth, yet can't wait to see each other again... and again... and again. Add in those kisses and their getting-to-know-you moments and you have a nice little recipe for a great romantic tale!
The Duality Principle is a brilliant play of romance. It's honest and real and has the kind of depth you long for in a novella. It's not super long, but it's long enough for you to get attached to the characters and get swept up in the romance. Rebecca Grace Allen is an author to keep your eye on, that's for sure. Can't wait to see what else is up her sleeve!
My Rating: Very Good
My Thoughts:
I just knew that upon picking up this story, I would be caught up in a whirlwind romance. It wasn't unfounded either--I definitely got drawn into their story immediately, and found it very hard to tear myself away from it once I started.
Gabriella and Connor are hard to resist--and an absolutely perfect blend of naughty and nice. There's a mix of wanting to be good and wanting to be bad that has these two with a little bit of back and forth, yet can't wait to see each other again... and again... and again. Add in those kisses and their getting-to-know-you moments and you have a nice little recipe for a great romantic tale!
The Duality Principle is a brilliant play of romance. It's honest and real and has the kind of depth you long for in a novella. It's not super long, but it's long enough for you to get attached to the characters and get swept up in the romance. Rebecca Grace Allen is an author to keep your eye on, that's for sure. Can't wait to see what else is up her sleeve!
My Rating: Very Good
September 16, 2014
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. The characters were so perfect for each other and the ending was believable and not too cheesy--important requirements for me when considering whether I like a romance.
Connor is the town bad boy and Gabby is an uber smart woman on her way to earning a doctorate. But neither is what they seem on the surface. When they get together, they have to work at stripping away one another's masks, and they end up caring enough and being attracted enough to do so. And they do it in some very hot ways. :)
Great dialogue, good pacing...the only thing that didn't really work for me was the way that the duality principle was both explained and applied at the start. It gets better about halfway through the book, but at the beginning, the application isn't quite correct and the definition stated is a bit vague and clunky. It might not bother everyone, but I like math.
But in the end, it didn't bug me that much. The story was awesome without it, anyway, and I liked the book. A great debut!
I enjoyed this book. The characters were so perfect for each other and the ending was believable and not too cheesy--important requirements for me when considering whether I like a romance.
Connor is the town bad boy and Gabby is an uber smart woman on her way to earning a doctorate. But neither is what they seem on the surface. When they get together, they have to work at stripping away one another's masks, and they end up caring enough and being attracted enough to do so. And they do it in some very hot ways. :)
Great dialogue, good pacing...the only thing that didn't really work for me was the way that the duality principle was both explained and applied at the start. It gets better about halfway through the book, but at the beginning, the application isn't quite correct and the definition stated is a bit vague and clunky. It might not bother everyone, but I like math.
But in the end, it didn't bug me that much. The story was awesome without it, anyway, and I liked the book. A great debut!
January 18, 2015
As a former graduate student, I’m particularly sympathetic to books with leading men/ladies in grad school. So when my dear friend Cosmo read/reviewed The Duality Principle (TDP), Rebecca Grace Allen’s debut novel(la), featuring a spunky, sexy Ph.D. candidate, I knew I’d have to give it a read. As luck would have it, I won a copy of TDP in a contest that Rebecca hosted on her website. I’m certainly not one to eschew fate, so I dove into reading right away. As I suspected, I adored The Duality Principle! Rebecca writes with such wit and humor...and her characters totally embody those exact attributes. This might be a novella, but Rebecca gives us a full story with strong character development and robust narrative, which never fails to keep the reader engaged.
***Read the full review at We So Nerdy!
***Read the full review at We So Nerdy!
November 17, 2014
I loved "The Duality Principle" because it sucked me in from the first pages. Who hasn't been told that you can't be yourself because if you are then you're not good enough or no one will like you? The story of nerdy girl Gabby and ex bad boy turned IT geek Connor go through this exact thing. Both are too afraid to be themselves with the other because they believe that their true natures will scare the other off. Will they work through it and reveal themselves or end up losing in the end?
This was a very fun and sexy read and I highly recommend it if you need a break from the ugly cries and paranormal stories.
18+ due to sexual situations
This was a very fun and sexy read and I highly recommend it if you need a break from the ugly cries and paranormal stories.
18+ due to sexual situations
August 22, 2014
Is The Duality Principal good?
March 7, 2015
A really different book.Enjoyed reading it.
July 31, 2018
Oh I loved this book. I was just in the mood for it. Gabriele is a budding mathematician studying at MIT. After her grandmother dies she goes to spend a summer in the house that always reminds her of carefree summer holidays and gives her the peace to write her thesis on duality: a running theme throughout the book.
Tired of her projected good girl path, Gabriele yearns for the passionate, spontaneous kind of love that has never come her way. She knows her sexual adventurousness is at odds with her logical nature but can’t help herself daydreaming about the biker she sees zooming through the neighbourhood on a regular basis.
Neighbour and childhood friend Jamie sets Gabby up on a blind date with long time friend Conner, knowing that he is the biker that Gabby stares at.
Conner meanwhile is trying to tamp down his wild side. How can he win a refined girl like Gabby unless he represses his dominant down and dirty side?
You can probably guess the rest.
I loved this story. It was pretty short but it was just my kind of tale. I loved that Gabriele was deep down so sexually daring. I loved that Conner struggled with his desires. I loved that the overall message was positive. You should embrace your sexuality. Refreshing after so much slut-shaming in other NA reads of late.
I loved how the two complimented each other. The anticipation of them realising they were in fact exactly what each other yearned for created a delicious push/pull.
I thought the duality concept was unique and the lack of assholey alpha refreshing. Conner had a lot of vulnerability to him. He was the opposite of Gabby. Alpha badass on the outside, geek on the inside. I loved how he loved her references to Transformers.
This is a pretty easy low angst read with no huge depth as it’s just do short. Just what I needed. I loved it.
Tired of her projected good girl path, Gabriele yearns for the passionate, spontaneous kind of love that has never come her way. She knows her sexual adventurousness is at odds with her logical nature but can’t help herself daydreaming about the biker she sees zooming through the neighbourhood on a regular basis.
Neighbour and childhood friend Jamie sets Gabby up on a blind date with long time friend Conner, knowing that he is the biker that Gabby stares at.
Conner meanwhile is trying to tamp down his wild side. How can he win a refined girl like Gabby unless he represses his dominant down and dirty side?
You can probably guess the rest.
I loved this story. It was pretty short but it was just my kind of tale. I loved that Gabriele was deep down so sexually daring. I loved that Conner struggled with his desires. I loved that the overall message was positive. You should embrace your sexuality. Refreshing after so much slut-shaming in other NA reads of late.
I loved how the two complimented each other. The anticipation of them realising they were in fact exactly what each other yearned for created a delicious push/pull.
I thought the duality concept was unique and the lack of assholey alpha refreshing. Conner had a lot of vulnerability to him. He was the opposite of Gabby. Alpha badass on the outside, geek on the inside. I loved how he loved her references to Transformers.
This is a pretty easy low angst read with no huge depth as it’s just do short. Just what I needed. I loved it.
August 24, 2017
The setup: Summer, Portland, Maine, a seaside town. Gabriella is a math major who hides some of her naughtier desires (namely, outdoor sex and spanking) under her geeky exterior. Connor is a cute motorcycle rider who's determined to be straitlaced after the rebelliousness of his younger days. When Gabriella and Connor are set up on a blind date, she likes him and is intrigued by the glimpses of something edgier. They continue to see each other, but Gabby is bored with her sex life and wants hot outdoor sex, damn it! Connor, who likes hot outdoor sex, but who really, really likes Gabby, wants to be a better person and be respectful and have indoor sex and all that. At some point, something's gotta give.
This is short, cute, and sexy. I think making something legitimately cute and legitimately sexy at the same time can sometimes be a fine line, but this book does a fantastic job. I love these two characters and I love how sweet and considerate Connor is when all Gabby wants is to get down and dirty. A very fun read!
This is short, cute, and sexy. I think making something legitimately cute and legitimately sexy at the same time can sometimes be a fine line, but this book does a fantastic job. I love these two characters and I love how sweet and considerate Connor is when all Gabby wants is to get down and dirty. A very fun read!
June 28, 2021
Lol this female reader. I’ve listened to others she’s done. That NY accent. The first couple of chapters she made the hero sound like a cross between a Brit and an Aussie. He’s a Mainer. Sigh. The male reader was decent. It’s a hard accent to do next to Boston - which was the heroine. Except she’s going to MIT so shouldn’t have sounded so “southie” lol.
Apart from the audio, the story was decent. Pretty basic with a math twist. Love how she changes the entire direction of her PhD thesis at the end of august and expects it to be done by Thanksgiving. Sure.
This was part of an 18 hour hoopla borrow so off to the next installment.
Apart from the audio, the story was decent. Pretty basic with a math twist. Love how she changes the entire direction of her PhD thesis at the end of august and expects it to be done by Thanksgiving. Sure.
This was part of an 18 hour hoopla borrow so off to the next installment.
January 14, 2017
Behind the nerdy glasses Rebecca Grace Allen (Gabby) has a wild side just screaming to come out. Connor is a reformed bad boy playing the nerd card. They meet on a blind date and Gabby's first thought is that he is just another nerdy guy but she finds that Connor has layers and a wild past that she would like to experience a bit more. She is on summer break from college and staying in her grandmother's house (who died several months ago) - will she stay longer or will her parents sell the house? This was an interesting story.
November 20, 2018
It was fine. I think I'd have liked it more if I wasn't bored with the whole angsty "BUT WHO AM I?" thing young adults go through. I'm much more interested in stories that explore people who know who they are but struggle to figure out how to interact with the rest of the world.
April 20, 2020
Fascinating, found the book hard to put down.
February 3, 2017
The Duality Principle is a fun, quick, and engaging read with some the sweetest and sizzling moments that will touch your heart. I really love a heroine that's not just sexy but also smart. She's a woman that knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. And add a hero that's a bad boy who wants to be a better man for the girl of his dreams and you've got yourself a passionate love story.
There are some intriguing and provocative scenes that will get your blood pumping and the drama will keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed getting to know these two characters and watching them work through their issues and falling in love.
If you are looking for a little something that's witty, fast, and seductive than I recommend The Duality Principle and the Portland Rebels series.
There are some intriguing and provocative scenes that will get your blood pumping and the drama will keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed getting to know these two characters and watching them work through their issues and falling in love.
If you are looking for a little something that's witty, fast, and seductive than I recommend The Duality Principle and the Portland Rebels series.
November 28, 2014
In The Duality Principle by Rebecca Grace Allen, Gabriella Evans 'Gabby' is a mathematician on holiday in Maine, spending her last summer at her grandmother's house before her parents sell it. There, she is enthralled by a mysterious biker, whose face she never sees but cannot stop thinking of or fantasizing about. "Her rider always rode fast and he was always alone."
There also, her friend Jamie sets her up on a blind date. Despite a statistical thirty percent chance of success, Gabby agrees to go to keep her friend quiet. Her date is Connor Starks. Following a bit of a strange blind date, Gabby and Connor decide to meet again.
The plot is simple, Gabby seeks to prove, in her thesis, that duality does not exist; nothing can be two things at the same time; nothing can be black and white at the same time. She believes that duality is not in her nature, whereas duality is in all of us, especially Gabby. In an attempt to disprove duality, Gabby tries to disprove her own dual nature.
Since the first chapter in the novel, we see that Gabriella, who despite being a straight A student, has whims to break free from her life and the mould an intelligent mathematician is placed within. "She didn't want sweet, intelligent and safe. She wanted more."
The characters of Gabby and Connor are different and alike at the same time. Gabby is smart, logical and successful but she has a wild side that past boyfriends have shied away from, viewing her as a freak. Connor, on the other hand, was a rebellious bad boy, who had broken both hearts and the law. But trying to become a gentleman now is a task made harder by Gabby, who prefers the bad boy over the classy guy. Meanwhile, Connor has two struggling sides, which often appear at the same time or minutes apart; one minute he is very flirtatious, the next he is serious and apologetic.
However, it is Jamie's character that appears in a different light at the end of the novel. It is Jamie that makes this novel come to life to begin with.
Despite the raw emotions in the novel, one sometimes feels that Gabby is more into sex than anything else. One realises she has been deprived but this rampant desire lessens the value of both her character and her womanhood for the reader. It is this desire that also worries Connor.
I particularly liked the use of mathematical imagery in the novel; it was highly fitting for Gabby's character: "The truth was that she couldn't figure Connor out, and nothing irritated her more than a problem she couldn’t solve."
Also, "Connor was a complicated proof she needed to take her time with."
The theory of disproving duality is a bit hard to understand and whenever it came up in the novel, sometimes I felt like I got it and at other times I felt completely lost like I was reading Chinese – not one of my languages.
This is probably the only negative comment I have about the entire book. I did not like rereading parts and still feeling like I wasn't making any heads or tails of them; a bit like Gabriella in this respect.
On the other hand, I liked how instead of throwing day-to-day complications for the characters, the author kept bringing up the past and previous experiences in her scenes. The past plays a strong role in both characters' lives and affects their behaviour in the present. The past is the main obstacle in the novel.
Overall, The Duality Principle is an enjoyable and quick read with beautiful narration and imagery throughout.
"A rose represents promises and hope, but its beauty is bonded with thorns. It embodies pain and loss. Combined together, they are in perfect harmony, equal parts beautiful and strong."
Note: This book contains adult scenes and is not fit for anyone under 18.
Note: I received a free copy via Xpress Blog Tours and my Tour date is 28 November 2014
February 19, 2015
Gabriella is spending the summer in Portland away from her maths PhD. While she's fantasizing about bad boys on bikes, she's being set up on blind dates with sweet nerdy boys who wear their cell phones attached to their belt loops. Connor is just that nerd. He's working hard to be the good boy, especially because he thinks that's who Gabby wants, but to do that he's hiding both his past and his desire to get down and dirty with Gabby in any number of public places.
Gabby is a geeky good girl, who just wants to find someone who understands being good doesn't mean she can't be bad too. She struggles with relationships because all her partners seem to think she's a freak in the sack (she's not actually that kinky, she just enjoys a bit of dirty talk, light spanking and semi-public sexy times...). Occasionally I found her lack of communication a little infuriating, but I liked that she finally stands up for herself in the end.
Connor is a geek, but he's also a bad boy. Now he's trying to be good. He thinks he isn't good enough for someone like Gabby, so he's trying to be sweet and restrained, not realizing it's his unrestrained side that she's after. I really love Connor, his sweet geeky, unsure side as much as his commanding, dirty talking side. He's the whole package in muscled computer programmer gift wrapping.
I always love nerdy pairings in romance. While still not entirely common, I'm glad geeks in love is becoming an accepted pairing in the genre. With their computer coding, maths love and transformer references, Connor and Gabby are just adorable, and adorably sexy. Yum. More sexy nerds please!
This romance has a strong miscommunication storyline, which I know annoys some people, but it worked for me in this one. We pretty much know Gabby and Connor are perfect for each other from the start, but it takes them a while to work it out. Gabby wants a guy who can understand her sexual desires, rather than being disgusted by them, but when Connor keeps pulling away from their trysts, she assumes he's like all the other boring-sweet boys she's dated before. If only they both explained on that first blind date that they both like it bad, then... well, there wouldn't be much of a story. And what a shame that would be.
The sex scenes are steamy deliciousness, with just enough delayed gratification to get us there. It's a short read, with a definite focus on sexy times over the emotional development of Gabby and Connor, and I did feel a little like we don't have quite enough build up to Connor and Gabby's relationship. Their feelings develop a little too deeply too quickly - Connor wants to change just for Gabby when, by that point, I didn't really feel like he knows her that well at all. It didn't take long, however, for me to be sold on their emotional connection and mutual understanding. And, honestly, their hot hot hot sexy times chemistry was enough to make me fall head over heels for this pair anyway.
Beyond their relationship, Gabby and Connor are developed as characters well, especially given the length of the story. There are a couple of sweet moments with Connor's grandparents, which added depth to his character, and I liked that we get to meet Gabby's parents towards the end.
The thing I loved most about this book was that no matter how much Connor wants to change for Gabby, and how much Gabby wants to change for others, in the end it's their attempts at changing that are the hurdle to their happiness. I get the appeal of the whole girl-makes-boy-want-to-be-better storyline, but I liked this you're-already-pretty-fucking-great storyline a whole lot more.
This is a fantastic debut from Rebecca Grace Allen. The Duality Principle is a short, sexy, fun erotic romance that has placed Rebecca Grace Allen firmly on my watch list!
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More reviews at: http://www.readingromance.com
Gabby is a geeky good girl, who just wants to find someone who understands being good doesn't mean she can't be bad too. She struggles with relationships because all her partners seem to think she's a freak in the sack (she's not actually that kinky, she just enjoys a bit of dirty talk, light spanking and semi-public sexy times...). Occasionally I found her lack of communication a little infuriating, but I liked that she finally stands up for herself in the end.
Connor is a geek, but he's also a bad boy. Now he's trying to be good. He thinks he isn't good enough for someone like Gabby, so he's trying to be sweet and restrained, not realizing it's his unrestrained side that she's after. I really love Connor, his sweet geeky, unsure side as much as his commanding, dirty talking side. He's the whole package in muscled computer programmer gift wrapping.
I always love nerdy pairings in romance. While still not entirely common, I'm glad geeks in love is becoming an accepted pairing in the genre. With their computer coding, maths love and transformer references, Connor and Gabby are just adorable, and adorably sexy. Yum. More sexy nerds please!
This romance has a strong miscommunication storyline, which I know annoys some people, but it worked for me in this one. We pretty much know Gabby and Connor are perfect for each other from the start, but it takes them a while to work it out. Gabby wants a guy who can understand her sexual desires, rather than being disgusted by them, but when Connor keeps pulling away from their trysts, she assumes he's like all the other boring-sweet boys she's dated before. If only they both explained on that first blind date that they both like it bad, then... well, there wouldn't be much of a story. And what a shame that would be.
The sex scenes are steamy deliciousness, with just enough delayed gratification to get us there. It's a short read, with a definite focus on sexy times over the emotional development of Gabby and Connor, and I did feel a little like we don't have quite enough build up to Connor and Gabby's relationship. Their feelings develop a little too deeply too quickly - Connor wants to change just for Gabby when, by that point, I didn't really feel like he knows her that well at all. It didn't take long, however, for me to be sold on their emotional connection and mutual understanding. And, honestly, their hot hot hot sexy times chemistry was enough to make me fall head over heels for this pair anyway.
Beyond their relationship, Gabby and Connor are developed as characters well, especially given the length of the story. There are a couple of sweet moments with Connor's grandparents, which added depth to his character, and I liked that we get to meet Gabby's parents towards the end.
The thing I loved most about this book was that no matter how much Connor wants to change for Gabby, and how much Gabby wants to change for others, in the end it's their attempts at changing that are the hurdle to their happiness. I get the appeal of the whole girl-makes-boy-want-to-be-better storyline, but I liked this you're-already-pretty-fucking-great storyline a whole lot more.
This is a fantastic debut from Rebecca Grace Allen. The Duality Principle is a short, sexy, fun erotic romance that has placed Rebecca Grace Allen firmly on my watch list!
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