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Perfectly Adequate
Fans of The Kiss Quotient will love Perfectly Adequate , a heartfelt and hilarious journey along the “human” spectrum from USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Jewel E. Ann. Dorothy Mayhem is a nursing student, patient transporter, reckless driver, and emu owner. She knows she isn’t like other girls. Neurotypical people are nothing if not predictable, though, and that’s why she has made a hobby of studying their behavior through books and TV. It helps her fit in with her peers when she can emulate them. But nothing can prepare her for Dr. Elijah Hawkins. He’s a single dad. A brilliant pediatric oncologist. Widely agreed to be the sexiest doctor at the hospital. And entirely unpredictable. Though getting to know the man behind the chiseled features and top-notch reputation would be her pleasure, Dorothy misunderstands one attempt after another to ask her out. Instead of dates with Elijah, she finds herself on a series of playdates with his son. Roman is cute, sweet, and brings her unexpectedly closer to his father every day. Dorothy Mayhem is about to find out that the only thing more unpredictable than a child—is love.
416 pages, paperback
First published September 25, 2019
857 people are currently reading
5799 people want to read
About the author
Jewel E. Ann
55 books10.6k followersJewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she's not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.
Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.
Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 967 reviews
October 19, 2019
ahhh i feel so bad for being in the minority here, but i just didn't like this one.
don't get me wrong, this was really cute and sweet in the beginning but after Eli's (H) accident, it all went downhill from there.
i really don't mind OW/ex drama but only if the H makes me believe that he's in love with ONLY the h and he proves to us readers that she is not second best.
sadly, that's not the case here.
i've been loving single-parent romance lately and that's because kids in books are so freaking cute and i just love the domestic feel to it. here though, i didn't even get this feeling.
what i liked:
- Dorothy (h) in the beginning. she was so funny, loves cheese more than anything, eats a lot, and loves binge-watching on Netflix. what's not to love?
- Romeo (H's son) and his Dorfee. these two were so cute, i wanted more scenes between them.
- the first half.
yeah... that’s it.
what i disliked (SPOILERS):
❥ H's inner monologue about his wife—oops, i mean his EX wife, Julie, but apparently H doesn't know they divorced or something because he keeps calling her "my wife" but ANYWAYS—comparing her with h literally right after or before something romantic happens between him and h:
this feels more like a backhand comment rather than making it seem like h is supposed to be more attractive than his EX.
wow. this was sooo definitely what i wanted to read right before H and h have sex for the first time.
yes, H was thinking about his EX before doing it with the h.
how romantic.
this was told by our H here right after he was "touching" h and she asked him to wash his hands.
how... how is this relevant to the fact h just wants him to wash his hands? is there supposed to be a comparison here?
and for the love of god, why in the world is he thinking about this after sharing an intimate moment with the h? because this is just super irrelevant.
anyways, there’s more of this,
K. very lovely to see that he is still thinking about his history with EX wife right after he shared another intimate moment with h.
all these “comparisons” were just so painful to read because they were just... EWW. i don’t wanna know about all these intimate moments he shared with his EX.
how could i possibly believe that h is the only one he’s in love with when he always has to say something about his EX before or after h and him are intimate.
he doesn't think about h, he compares his relationship between h and EX. i mean, it's fine if it's done once or a couple of times but it was really excessive here.
❥ H talking MORE about his and his EX wife's sex life:
this was H reminiscing his and his EX's last sex before she left him by the way. apparently it was the "best sex of their marriage".
we're 83% of the story when he said this. i don't even know why he said this to be honest. i don't wanna know about this because ignorance is bliss.
but anyways, all this reminiscing about his love life with H is just so... tacky? like, there was no point to this AT. ALL.
all it does is diminish the supposed "love" that the H has for h but where is the love here when all he keeps thinking about is his EX?
❥H's lack of grovelling.
i know he's the one who "chooses" the h... but did he really? i mean, actions speak louder than words right? all he did was tell her that he chooses her and that she should choose him but where's the action? where's the part where he actually fights for the h? because i didn't see any here.
❥H STILL loving his wife:
He's been with his ex for at least 20 years. they're each other's first everything. i understand how hard it is to let go of your first love but damn...
good to know, sir.
again, Dorothy who? can someone remind me pls.
oh she's the h? wow, never would've known.
then, he says this to the h when he's supposedly begging her to be with him:
this H needs to go to Grovelling 101 or something because i'm pretty sure there's a rule out there that says don't talk about loving another woman while confessing feelings to h.
this is 79% of the story. he still loves his EX right down to his soul while claiming he chooses h over his EX... this clearly shows he doesn't choose her.
and my belief towards H loving h and her not being second best just went POOF. G-O-N-E, GONE . nada.
not that there was any belief in the first place.
thanks H for letting us know the 100th time.
he says this right after he found out h was pregnant with his child and is finally letting go of his wife, i mean, EX WIFE, sorry.
❥ that lovely scene around 87%. yes, it happened this late in the book. im not gonna show the whole thing but here's a little snippet of the OW scene:
good to know his EX still arouses him. by this point, he's already accepting that h wouldn't choose him (h becomes a martyr and pushes him and his EX to be together).
sooo... where's the scene where H fights for h? because this is him giving up.
by the way, him and his EX never had sex because their son interrupted them but if there weren't any interruption, they would've done it.
but the fact he even thought about having sex with his EX at 87% of the story? it 100% shows he’s not fighting for the h and not choosing her at all.
this is just weeks after he had unprotected sex with h (when their child was conceived) by the way.
❥ not feeling the romance and the MCs love for one another.
it actually threw me off when H says i love you to h for the first time because none of his actions or inner monologue SHOW that he loves her. in fact, it just shows that he's in lust with her. he was honestly just horny for her and sometimes, their interactions feel more friendly than anything.
so when he said "i love you", i was like, wait what? when? where? why? how?
❥ let’s not get started on H’s EX moving next door in the epilogue. i honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they start a polyamorous relationship.
overall thoughts:
during the breakup, i didn't feel the intense pain or longing from both MCs. H tells us he's in pain and doesn't wanna be with his EX but his actions doesn't really show that.
and h? yeah, i didn't really feel her pain either. i get she was being a martyr and selfless but, idk. it just felt so easy for her to let him go.
if h didn’t get pregnant, H would’ve still been with his wife, dammit i mean EX WIFE, sorry.
he was about to spend a whole weekend connecting with his EX right before she tells him h is pregnant.
i felt more passionate love between H and his EX wife rather than the supposed h and that’s just sad.
anyways, im just really disappointed because i was looking forward to this but after reading this? it just makes me wanna reread my favorite H still hung up on ex book: Before Jamaica Lane, hands down, this book has the best grovelling i've ever read.
and if y'all are looking for something similar to this where H was married to his ex-wife for a long time and they have kids together, i recommend Complicated by Kristen Ashley because the H actually fights for the h there and she definitely wasn't second best.
don't get me wrong, this was really cute and sweet in the beginning but after Eli's (H) accident, it all went downhill from there.
i really don't mind OW/ex drama but only if the H makes me believe that he's in love with ONLY the h and he proves to us readers that she is not second best.
sadly, that's not the case here.
i've been loving single-parent romance lately and that's because kids in books are so freaking cute and i just love the domestic feel to it. here though, i didn't even get this feeling.
what i liked:
- Dorothy (h) in the beginning. she was so funny, loves cheese more than anything, eats a lot, and loves binge-watching on Netflix. what's not to love?
- Romeo (H's son) and his Dorfee. these two were so cute, i wanted more scenes between them.
- the first half.
yeah... that’s it.
what i disliked (SPOILERS):
❥ H's inner monologue about his wife—oops, i mean his EX wife, Julie, but apparently H doesn't know they divorced or something because he keeps calling her "my wife" but ANYWAYS—comparing her with h literally right after or before something romantic happens between him and h:
Dorothy Mayhem has incredible legs. Not legs for miles like a runway model. Nope. I'm done with those legs, especially since they walked away from me.
this feels more like a backhand comment rather than making it seem like h is supposed to be more attractive than his EX.
When I had sex with Julie for the first time, it started with a kiss that progressed into heavy foreplay that led to my hand sliding down the front of her panties, finding a little nub, and wondering if it was her clit. She stroked me on the outside of my gym shorts so much that it pulled them down a few inches in front. We were a hot mess of teenaged hormones...
She came in my hand before I put my cock in her, and I came two seconds after said cock entered her.
wow. this was sooo definitely what i wanted to read right before H and h have sex for the first time.
yes, H was thinking about his EX before doing it with the h.
how romantic.
When Julie was evidently experimenting with her new personality, the one she tested a few times with me (unbeknownst to me), she sat naked in bed, back against the headboard, legs spread wide, and she masturbated in front of me. Then she stuck her wet fingers into my mouth and told me to taste her. But never did she suggest either one of us go wash our hands.
this was told by our H here right after he was "touching" h and she asked him to wash his hands.
how... how is this relevant to the fact h just wants him to wash his hands? is there supposed to be a comparison here?
and for the love of god, why in the world is he thinking about this after sharing an intimate moment with the h? because this is just super irrelevant.
anyways, there’s more of this,
Well. That was a first. Even the times I had angry sex with Julie, it wasn't all that angry. More like make-up sex with a bit of attitude.
K. very lovely to see that he is still thinking about his history with EX wife right after he shared another intimate moment with h.
all these “comparisons” were just so painful to read because they were just... EWW. i don’t wanna know about all these intimate moments he shared with his EX.
how could i possibly believe that h is the only one he’s in love with when he always has to say something about his EX before or after h and him are intimate.
he doesn't think about h, he compares his relationship between h and EX. i mean, it's fine if it's done once or a couple of times but it was really excessive here.
❥ H talking MORE about his and his EX wife's sex life:
One night we were making love with so much intensity I felt like a damn virgin, falling in love with this woman all over again. It felt pivotal. Something so out of our ordinary that I knew things would be different.
this was H reminiscing his and his EX's last sex before she left him by the way. apparently it was the "best sex of their marriage".
I used to drive seventy-five... eighty miles per hour with Julie's head in my lap, her mouth on me. Sometimes I had to pull over behind an old building or along an empty trailhead because we just couldn't wait... because we needed each other in every way possible.
The feeling of needing Julie has consumed my entire adult life.
we're 83% of the story when he said this. i don't even know why he said this to be honest. i don't wanna know about this because ignorance is bliss.
but anyways, all this reminiscing about his love life with H is just so... tacky? like, there was no point to this AT. ALL.
all it does is diminish the supposed "love" that the H has for h but where is the love here when all he keeps thinking about is his EX?
❥H's lack of grovelling.
i know he's the one who "chooses" the h... but did he really? i mean, actions speak louder than words right? all he did was tell her that he chooses her and that she should choose him but where's the action? where's the part where he actually fights for the h? because i didn't see any here.
❥H STILL loving his wife:
There's no switch to turn off my love for her, all those years of marriage, college, careers, a child... I wonder if I'll ever find a switch, or if I'll simply have to find a brighter life.
He's been with his ex for at least 20 years. they're each other's first everything. i understand how hard it is to let go of your first love but damn...
No matter how much I hate her, I still love her.
good to know, sir.
Roman makes me laugh... But it's bittersweet because every time he does something cute or funny, I want to call Julie's name and tell her to come watch him or listen to him repeat it. But Julie isn't here. We are no longer a family unit. And that always steals a tiny piece of joy from the moment.
again, Dorothy who? can someone remind me pls.
oh she's the h? wow, never would've known.
then, he says this to the h when he's supposedly begging her to be with him:
"Fine. Literally until the moment I stepped onto that elevator with you, I've wanted my life back. I've wanted Julie to wake up and realize what a terrible mistake she made. And maybe that makes me pathetic, but I don't care. I don't regret loving someone so deeply. I don't regret having a child with her. And I don't regret thinking that fifteen years of marriage and a child is worth fighting for until you know without a doubt that there's absolutely no hope."
this H needs to go to Grovelling 101 or something because i'm pretty sure there's a rule out there that says don't talk about loving another woman while confessing feelings to h.
Julie will ask if I still love her.
And I will say yes.
In spite of everything—the blindsided abandonment, losing my marriage, losing time with Roman, the jagged words—I love Julie Hathaway. For over twenty years, I honestly felt I was put on Earth to love her. It's just that simple...
I spent the year after our divorce hating her to the bone, but somehow still loving her right down to my soul.
this is 79% of the story. he still loves his EX right down to his soul while claiming he chooses h over his EX... this clearly shows he doesn't choose her.
and my belief towards H loving h and her not being second best just went POOF. G-O-N-E, GONE . nada.
not that there was any belief in the first place.
"... Because I do... I love you with a part of myself that will always belong only to you."
thanks H for letting us know the 100th time.
he says this right after he found out h was pregnant with his child and is finally letting go of his wife, i mean, EX WIFE, sorry.
❥ that lovely scene around 87%. yes, it happened this late in the book. im not gonna show the whole thing but here's a little snippet of the OW scene:
Julie's fingers trace my erection along the outside of my shorts. I'm clearly turned on, and that's good for us. I just really don't know if it's Julie or memories of Dorothy.
good to know his EX still arouses him. by this point, he's already accepting that h wouldn't choose him (h becomes a martyr and pushes him and his EX to be together).
sooo... where's the scene where H fights for h? because this is him giving up.
by the way, him and his EX never had sex because their son interrupted them but if there weren't any interruption, they would've done it.
but the fact he even thought about having sex with his EX at 87% of the story? it 100% shows he’s not fighting for the h and not choosing her at all.
this is just weeks after he had unprotected sex with h (when their child was conceived) by the way.
❥ not feeling the romance and the MCs love for one another.
it actually threw me off when H says i love you to h for the first time because none of his actions or inner monologue SHOW that he loves her. in fact, it just shows that he's in lust with her. he was honestly just horny for her and sometimes, their interactions feel more friendly than anything.
so when he said "i love you", i was like, wait what? when? where? why? how?
❥ let’s not get started on H’s EX moving next door in the epilogue. i honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they start a polyamorous relationship.
overall thoughts:
during the breakup, i didn't feel the intense pain or longing from both MCs. H tells us he's in pain and doesn't wanna be with his EX but his actions doesn't really show that.
and h? yeah, i didn't really feel her pain either. i get she was being a martyr and selfless but, idk. it just felt so easy for her to let him go.
if h didn’t get pregnant, H would’ve still been with his wife, dammit i mean EX WIFE, sorry.
he was about to spend a whole weekend connecting with his EX right before she tells him h is pregnant.
i felt more passionate love between H and his EX wife rather than the supposed h and that’s just sad.
anyways, im just really disappointed because i was looking forward to this but after reading this? it just makes me wanna reread my favorite H still hung up on ex book: Before Jamaica Lane, hands down, this book has the best grovelling i've ever read.
and if y'all are looking for something similar to this where H was married to his ex-wife for a long time and they have kids together, i recommend Complicated by Kristen Ashley because the H actually fights for the h there and she definitely wasn't second best.
August 31, 2025
4 stars
Perfectly Adequate is a wonderfully refreshing read. I had so much fun reading it! It was a heartwarming romance that left a huge smile on my face. It was original, and truly a gem of a book.
Elijah Hawkins is a doctor and a single dad after his wife (and a fellow doctor) decided to call it quits a year ago. Dating has been the last thing on his mind, but then he meets patient transporter, Dorothy Mayhem. Dorothy who is blunt, honest, and wears different shoes daily to match her undershirt. Dorothy is completely unexpected, but he can’t get enough of seeing her. The problem is, she may not know they’re actually dating…
Dorothy is on the spectrum, and though she’s high functioning, she needs things spelled out sometimes. I loved watching her and Eli date and fall for each other. Their pizza date was one of my favorite things. Honestly, Dorothy won my heart at this moment, because… relatable!
I loved Dorothy and Eli together. They both brought out the best in one another. And seeing Dorothy with Eli’s son was one of the best parts of the book. I loved the bond those two shared.
Honestly, the first 75% of this book was pure gold for me. There wasn’t one thing about it I didn’t love. Then after the accident, things got complicated. And there were things I didn’t love, personally. The end more than made up for it, though. Even though I wasn’t happy about the choices one of the characters made, I was ecstatic with the way it all turned out.
Dorothy Mayhem has to be one of the best characters I’ve ever read about. I adored everything about her. She was honest, always 100% who she was, and had the best heart. And I loved her with Roman so much, I couldn’t stand it. She is one of those characters that make you want to be the best version of yourself.
I also loved Eli. There were points towards the end I wanted to slap him silly, but I also tried to put myself in his shoes. I’m 33 and have been married for 12 years and with the same person for 16. If my husband became a Julie after we had a child, I’m not sure how I would have reacted. As much as I didn’t love some of that, I understood it and I really felt for his character.
Overall, I just loved the heck out of this book. If you are a fan of single-dad romances, work place romances, or just a romance reader in general, you need this book in your life. You need Dorothy Mayhem in your life. This book was a breath of fresh air and I loved it!!
“The spectrum is human. It’s not autism.”
Perfectly Adequate is a wonderfully refreshing read. I had so much fun reading it! It was a heartwarming romance that left a huge smile on my face. It was original, and truly a gem of a book.
Elijah Hawkins is a doctor and a single dad after his wife (and a fellow doctor) decided to call it quits a year ago. Dating has been the last thing on his mind, but then he meets patient transporter, Dorothy Mayhem. Dorothy who is blunt, honest, and wears different shoes daily to match her undershirt. Dorothy is completely unexpected, but he can’t get enough of seeing her. The problem is, she may not know they’re actually dating…
Dorothy is on the spectrum, and though she’s high functioning, she needs things spelled out sometimes. I loved watching her and Eli date and fall for each other. Their pizza date was one of my favorite things. Honestly, Dorothy won my heart at this moment, because… relatable!
He ordered a large! Nothing chaps me more than people who want to split small and medium pizzas. Leftovers are life. Not that I can’t easily take down half a large pizza. My affection for Dr. Hawkins triples in that moment.
I loved Dorothy and Eli together. They both brought out the best in one another. And seeing Dorothy with Eli’s son was one of the best parts of the book. I loved the bond those two shared.
Honestly, the first 75% of this book was pure gold for me. There wasn’t one thing about it I didn’t love. Then after the accident, things got complicated. And there were things I didn’t love, personally. The end more than made up for it, though. Even though I wasn’t happy about the choices one of the characters made, I was ecstatic with the way it all turned out.
Dorothy Mayhem has to be one of the best characters I’ve ever read about. I adored everything about her. She was honest, always 100% who she was, and had the best heart. And I loved her with Roman so much, I couldn’t stand it. She is one of those characters that make you want to be the best version of yourself.
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
I also loved Eli. There were points towards the end I wanted to slap him silly, but I also tried to put myself in his shoes. I’m 33 and have been married for 12 years and with the same person for 16. If my husband became a Julie after we had a child, I’m not sure how I would have reacted. As much as I didn’t love some of that, I understood it and I really felt for his character.
Overall, I just loved the heck out of this book. If you are a fan of single-dad romances, work place romances, or just a romance reader in general, you need this book in your life. You need Dorothy Mayhem in your life. This book was a breath of fresh air and I loved it!!
It’s funny how a year can change your world. And it’s amazing how a single breath can take a life, give a life, and sometimes … save a life. She is my breath of life.
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September 25, 2019
PERFECTLY ADEQUATE: Is a full length, contemporary romance novel by Jewel E. Ann. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.'
God where to even start with this review!! This story was so unexpected, unique in every way, sweet, adorable, with such heartwarming and funny moments thrown our way all made for such a fun carefree read..
Dr. Elijah Hawkins has been divorced for a year mourning the life he once had and till this day he's still left in the dark as to why it all ended, one minute life was great the next it wasn't. His ex wife quickly sought out a new life, without him by her side.
Dorothy Mayhem, is the hospitals patient transporter with the all present eye catching shoes. From the first moment Elijah first set eyes on her he left with a big smile on his face, she was completely unexpected.
Dorothy is plagued with ASD which makes it extremely difficult for her to gauge social cues making interacting with others challenging which sets her a part from everyone else.
I truly loved Dorothy, she was awkward, quirky, completely off base with some of her interactions but god did I love her, she's like no other character I have ever encountered.
So when the hottest Doctor in the hospital takes an interest in her she's in a frenzy not completely believing that he would be that into her, which make for many a giggle to escape.
October 6, 2019
4.25 stars
"I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
Such a cute fun adorable book, also refreshing after my last dark read. This book has the ingredients for a sweet romance, a quirky heroine, a nice swoon worthy hero, a cute little kid, and a great supporting family.
Dr. Elijah Hawkins has been divorced for a year after his wife left him without giving him a specific reason. He thought she was his forever, but now he knows he needs to move on. Then he meets Dorothy mayhem, the quirky patient transporter who turned his world upside down.
"Mayhem synonyms: chaos, havoc, madness, trouble, disorder, pandemonium.
Yep. All of those fit Dorothy.”
I might have enjoyed the first half of the book more, It was filled with cute laughing out loud moments. With the second half I was kinda frustrated with the decisions that both characters made. But still it was an enjoyable read. We don’t get to see an insecure male hero with an emotional baggage so often in books. And Dorothy was perfect! I also loved little Romeo so much and how supporting both their families were. I’ve wanted to read a book by this author for so long and I’m glad I finally did.
Song recommendation:
Not a bad thing by Justin Timberlake
Nice to meet ya by Niall Horan
"I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
Such a cute fun adorable book, also refreshing after my last dark read. This book has the ingredients for a sweet romance, a quirky heroine, a nice swoon worthy hero, a cute little kid, and a great supporting family.
Dr. Elijah Hawkins has been divorced for a year after his wife left him without giving him a specific reason. He thought she was his forever, but now he knows he needs to move on. Then he meets Dorothy mayhem, the quirky patient transporter who turned his world upside down.
"Mayhem synonyms: chaos, havoc, madness, trouble, disorder, pandemonium.
Yep. All of those fit Dorothy.”
I might have enjoyed the first half of the book more, It was filled with cute laughing out loud moments. With the second half I was kinda frustrated with the decisions that both characters made. But still it was an enjoyable read. We don’t get to see an insecure male hero with an emotional baggage so often in books. And Dorothy was perfect! I also loved little Romeo so much and how supporting both their families were. I’ve wanted to read a book by this author for so long and I’m glad I finally did.
Song recommendation:
Not a bad thing by Justin Timberlake
Nice to meet ya by Niall Horan
September 29, 2019
*****FIVE+++++++++++ STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Everything about her paralyzes me. Only my eyes can move, and they can’t decide where to land. She is fucking beautiful.
Dorothy doesn’t attract me with her attempts to mimic neurotypical people. She captures little pieces of my heart with her whispered honesty. I feel it, just in a different way.
OUTSTANDING!! That’s my one word to describe Jewel E. Ann’s latest book, ”Perfectly Adequate”. Never for one second did I doubt that I wouldn’t fall absolutely head over heels in love with this story. Jewel is by far one of the most gifted authors out there today and one of the sweetest as well. I ADORE her!
So, the first thing I loved about this book was the cover. It’s cute and quirky. Secondly, the heroine, Dorothy, has ASD – Asperger’s. I love romances where one of the main characters deal with struggles that most of us don’t have to manage to get through life with. The love that forms between the Hero and Heroine is deeper and that much more meaningful. It satisfies my romantic sappy heart!
Dr. Eli Hawkins is considered a god amongst the female staff in the hospital where he is a pediatric oncologist. His wife of 15 years decided that she was no longer happy with the life they built together and filed for divorce soon after their son’s second birthday. It’s been a year and he’s still having a hard time moving on until he runs into Dorothy Mayhem, the beautiful patient transporter with striking blue eyes. Eli is almost instantly smitten and Dorothy has always considered him to be one of the hottest doctors at the hospital, but she also has a huge girl crush on his ex who also happens to be a doctor at the same hospital.
I now have another Hero created by Jewel that has stolen my heart. Eli is one of a kind. Dorothy’s ASD does not turn him off in the least. He tries to educate himself on the subject so that he can navigate a relationship with her and while at times Dorothy's stubbornness was frustrating, down to her core, she truly is a beautiful soul. Dorothy doesn’t have the ability to read situations that involve emotions. She tends to miss cues and it may come off as insensitive but Eli learns it’s not something she does intentionally. Dorothy can be driven by the desire to satisfy her own needs, but ultimately there isn’t anything she wouldn’t sacrifice to ensure Eli and Roman’s happiness. She believes her differences will be a burden to Eli that he will one day come to resent her for.
Can Eli convince her that she’s the perfect woman for him and that there isn't anyone else who will bring happiness into his life?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5++++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with these amazing characters!! ”PERFECTLY ADEQUATE” is available NOW!!
AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2lZxdRm
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Everything about her paralyzes me. Only my eyes can move, and they can’t decide where to land. She is fucking beautiful.
Dorothy doesn’t attract me with her attempts to mimic neurotypical people. She captures little pieces of my heart with her whispered honesty. I feel it, just in a different way.
OUTSTANDING!! That’s my one word to describe Jewel E. Ann’s latest book, ”Perfectly Adequate”. Never for one second did I doubt that I wouldn’t fall absolutely head over heels in love with this story. Jewel is by far one of the most gifted authors out there today and one of the sweetest as well. I ADORE her!
So, the first thing I loved about this book was the cover. It’s cute and quirky. Secondly, the heroine, Dorothy, has ASD – Asperger’s. I love romances where one of the main characters deal with struggles that most of us don’t have to manage to get through life with. The love that forms between the Hero and Heroine is deeper and that much more meaningful. It satisfies my romantic sappy heart!
Dr. Eli Hawkins is considered a god amongst the female staff in the hospital where he is a pediatric oncologist. His wife of 15 years decided that she was no longer happy with the life they built together and filed for divorce soon after their son’s second birthday. It’s been a year and he’s still having a hard time moving on until he runs into Dorothy Mayhem, the beautiful patient transporter with striking blue eyes. Eli is almost instantly smitten and Dorothy has always considered him to be one of the hottest doctors at the hospital, but she also has a huge girl crush on his ex who also happens to be a doctor at the same hospital.
I now have another Hero created by Jewel that has stolen my heart. Eli is one of a kind. Dorothy’s ASD does not turn him off in the least. He tries to educate himself on the subject so that he can navigate a relationship with her and while at times Dorothy's stubbornness was frustrating, down to her core, she truly is a beautiful soul. Dorothy doesn’t have the ability to read situations that involve emotions. She tends to miss cues and it may come off as insensitive but Eli learns it’s not something she does intentionally. Dorothy can be driven by the desire to satisfy her own needs, but ultimately there isn’t anything she wouldn’t sacrifice to ensure Eli and Roman’s happiness. She believes her differences will be a burden to Eli that he will one day come to resent her for.
Can Eli convince her that she’s the perfect woman for him and that there isn't anyone else who will bring happiness into his life?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5++++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with these amazing characters!! ”PERFECTLY ADEQUATE” is available NOW!!
AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YJ7LFTR/
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2lZxdRm
September 29, 2019
3.5 stars
Perfectly Adequate had everything that makes a great romance. A quirky heroine, a sweet hero, and a cute kid.
Dorothy was a uniquely different heroine. And I come out and admit, that quirky characters are my weakness. But it seems to be a trend at the moment, more and more authors explore characters with mental illness. In this case Dorothy is on the spectrum, and definitely displayed many characteristics that come with such a diagnose.
She was quirky, extremely blunt and straightforward, missing social cues and the ability to pick up humor and sarcasm to a point. Luckily, Eli, her love interest, was enchanted by her demeanor, and welcomed with open arms the way she breathed fresh live into his rather dull existence.
Eli, was Eli. Sweet, affable, a great dad, but also struggling with picking up his life after his wife of 13 years left him out of the blue. This was something he dealt with throughout the entire story, and probably another reason why my rating is the way it is. I could have done without the Ex.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed the first half of the book, although sometimes Dorothy did make me cringe, and Eli was a bit too agreeable for my taste. But somewhere during the second half, the story became predictable, repeatable, and unfortunately nothing special.
I believe that any fan of sweet romances with quirky characters will enjoy this story. The writing was as always excellent, the dialogues witty, smart and on point.
Perfectly Adequate had everything that makes a great romance. A quirky heroine, a sweet hero, and a cute kid.
Dorothy was a uniquely different heroine. And I come out and admit, that quirky characters are my weakness. But it seems to be a trend at the moment, more and more authors explore characters with mental illness. In this case Dorothy is on the spectrum, and definitely displayed many characteristics that come with such a diagnose.
She was quirky, extremely blunt and straightforward, missing social cues and the ability to pick up humor and sarcasm to a point. Luckily, Eli, her love interest, was enchanted by her demeanor, and welcomed with open arms the way she breathed fresh live into his rather dull existence.
Eli, was Eli. Sweet, affable, a great dad, but also struggling with picking up his life after his wife of 13 years left him out of the blue. This was something he dealt with throughout the entire story, and probably another reason why my rating is the way it is. I could have done without the Ex.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed the first half of the book, although sometimes Dorothy did make me cringe, and Eli was a bit too agreeable for my taste. But somewhere during the second half, the story became predictable, repeatable, and unfortunately nothing special.
I believe that any fan of sweet romances with quirky characters will enjoy this story. The writing was as always excellent, the dialogues witty, smart and on point.
September 30, 2019
Absolutely fantastic!!! ❤❤❤
-------------
Wohooo I'm so excited for this book. :D
Expected publication: September 29th 2019
Cover Revealed:
BLURB:
Dr. Elijah Hawkins needs … something.
After his wife jumps headfirst into a midlife crisis, he’s left with his young son, Roman, and a lot of unanswered questions.
That something turns out to be a someone—Dorothy Mayhem, nursing student, patient transporter, reckless driver, and emu owner.
Dorothy studies humans, the neurotypical kind, through books and television. Then she emulates their behavioral patterns to fit in with her peers.
But nothing can prepare her for Dr. Elijah Hawkins.
Single dad.
Brilliant pediatric oncologist.
And the sexiest doctor at the hospital.
When his failed attempts at asking her out turn into a string of playdates with his son, Dorothy finds herself unexpectedly enamored with the boy and his father.
And that’s a problem, a huge one, because Elijah’s ex-wife is a famous plastic surgeon—and Dorothy’s idol.
Perfectly Adequate is a beautiful, hilarious, and heart-felt journey along the “human” spectrum.
-------------
Wohooo I'm so excited for this book. :D
Expected publication: September 29th 2019
Cover Revealed:
BLURB:
Dr. Elijah Hawkins needs … something.
After his wife jumps headfirst into a midlife crisis, he’s left with his young son, Roman, and a lot of unanswered questions.
That something turns out to be a someone—Dorothy Mayhem, nursing student, patient transporter, reckless driver, and emu owner.
Dorothy studies humans, the neurotypical kind, through books and television. Then she emulates their behavioral patterns to fit in with her peers.
But nothing can prepare her for Dr. Elijah Hawkins.
Single dad.
Brilliant pediatric oncologist.
And the sexiest doctor at the hospital.
When his failed attempts at asking her out turn into a string of playdates with his son, Dorothy finds herself unexpectedly enamored with the boy and his father.
And that’s a problem, a huge one, because Elijah’s ex-wife is a famous plastic surgeon—and Dorothy’s idol.
Perfectly Adequate is a beautiful, hilarious, and heart-felt journey along the “human” spectrum.
June 12, 2022
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
09/30/2019
Started this today with my friend Anna as a buddy read and it is going swimmingly!!!! (my first ever)
10/02/2109
I was so excited for this release.....and I will admit to having had really high expectations for this book.....which essentially appears to be a romantic comedy from one of my most favorite authors.
So now for a little reality check:
I read this in one day...... at the 50% mark I was positively beaming, it was so much fun. It was such a wonderful story with refreshing characters. Lighthearted, tender and warm. I was lapping it up.....wondering if maybe I should order a paperback copy from Amazon.......Dorothy and Eli together...yes, yes, yes!!!....Dorothy with Eli's son Roman...well that was beyond adorable....
In fact I would have to say that Dorothy Mayhem is probably one of the best heroines or characters that I have ever read about. Essentially, what's not to like - she was always 100% honest and uniquely herself- no fakeness here, she was so completely generous of heart and giving to others....Oh, yes I LOVED HER........
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.” –Dorothy Mayhem.
I love this woman. She makes me crazy. All of my senses culminate in her presence. I am the best version of myself with her. I just … love this woman. Eli talking about Dorothy.
So we are in 5 Stars and more territory....and I am in Heaven.....Perfectly Adequate...my ass!!!!
In fact the first 70-75% of this book was sheer magic. Rom-com gold!!!! No complaints whatsoever!!!!
Then Eli has an accident and things changed......and I was no longer happy with the direction that the book took after that.....several things occurred that I really wasn't okay with....... there was also a lot of unnecessary angst and drama that not only spoiled my FEEL GOOD reading experience but also lessened the beauty of this book IMO.
And even though everything worked out okay in the end......I wanted to put a large "spoiled" sticker over those last 4-5 chapters.......hence the downgrade to 4 stars!!!!!
Jewel E Ann does do angst wonderfully but I really think that in this case she should have solely run with the rom-com as something special was lost along the way by adding so much unnecessary drama .
Anna (my buddy read) didn't fair as well with this book as I did and I am including a link to her review here. Note: it does contain spoilers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
09/30/2019
Started this today with my friend Anna as a buddy read and it is going swimmingly!!!! (my first ever)
10/02/2109
I was so excited for this release.....and I will admit to having had really high expectations for this book.....which essentially appears to be a romantic comedy from one of my most favorite authors.
So now for a little reality check:
I read this in one day...... at the 50% mark I was positively beaming, it was so much fun. It was such a wonderful story with refreshing characters. Lighthearted, tender and warm. I was lapping it up.....wondering if maybe I should order a paperback copy from Amazon.......Dorothy and Eli together...yes, yes, yes!!!....Dorothy with Eli's son Roman...well that was beyond adorable....
In fact I would have to say that Dorothy Mayhem is probably one of the best heroines or characters that I have ever read about. Essentially, what's not to like - she was always 100% honest and uniquely herself- no fakeness here, she was so completely generous of heart and giving to others....Oh, yes I LOVED HER........
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.” –Dorothy Mayhem.
I love this woman. She makes me crazy. All of my senses culminate in her presence. I am the best version of myself with her. I just … love this woman. Eli talking about Dorothy.
So we are in 5 Stars and more territory....and I am in Heaven.....Perfectly Adequate...my ass!!!!
In fact the first 70-75% of this book was sheer magic. Rom-com gold!!!! No complaints whatsoever!!!!
Then Eli has an accident and things changed......and I was no longer happy with the direction that the book took after that.....several things occurred that I really wasn't okay with....... there was also a lot of unnecessary angst and drama that not only spoiled my FEEL GOOD reading experience but also lessened the beauty of this book IMO.
And even though everything worked out okay in the end......I wanted to put a large "spoiled" sticker over those last 4-5 chapters.......hence the downgrade to 4 stars!!!!!
Jewel E Ann does do angst wonderfully but I really think that in this case she should have solely run with the rom-com as something special was lost along the way by adding so much unnecessary drama .
Anna (my buddy read) didn't fair as well with this book as I did and I am including a link to her review here. Note: it does contain spoilers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 2, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ll take good genes as a compliment.” “Why? You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
I like his brand of sarcasm, which says a lot since, in general, I don’t like sarcasm. It’s like the smallest letters on the eye chart. I have to focus pretty hard to read them, and even then, there is a little guessing involved. They use those really tiny letters just to make sure no human feels perfect.
He ordered a large! Nothing chaps me more than people who want to split small and medium pizzas. Leftovers are life. Not that I can’t easily take down half a large pizza.
French kissing isn’t usually my thing. Too much saliva. But he’s not salivating like a dog, or suffering from a painful case of dry mouth, so the kiss is acceptable. Such a Goldilocks moment. Dr. Elijah Hawkins is my just right.
I’m not mad. Just surprised. You told me last month that sex was overrated, messy, and mentally exhausting. Now you’re thinking of asking a man’s ex-wife about his sexual preferences.
My Review:
This well-crafted book was perfectly balanced in tone and a delight to experience. While quickly and fully immersed in this tale, not only did I encounter wickedly clever wit and well-honed humor that kept me smirking, giggle-snorting, and frequently laughing aloud; I also found achingly perceptive insights that tickled my gray matter as well as my funny bone. Dorothy was a fascinating and artfully written character who took quirky and eccentric to a whole new level.
This is my fifth Jewel E. Ann book and I have loved them all beyond capacity. It is safe to say I am a totally smitten kitten as my burgeoning TBR includes every book on her Goodreads listing.
“I’ll take good genes as a compliment.” “Why? You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
I like his brand of sarcasm, which says a lot since, in general, I don’t like sarcasm. It’s like the smallest letters on the eye chart. I have to focus pretty hard to read them, and even then, there is a little guessing involved. They use those really tiny letters just to make sure no human feels perfect.
He ordered a large! Nothing chaps me more than people who want to split small and medium pizzas. Leftovers are life. Not that I can’t easily take down half a large pizza.
French kissing isn’t usually my thing. Too much saliva. But he’s not salivating like a dog, or suffering from a painful case of dry mouth, so the kiss is acceptable. Such a Goldilocks moment. Dr. Elijah Hawkins is my just right.
I’m not mad. Just surprised. You told me last month that sex was overrated, messy, and mentally exhausting. Now you’re thinking of asking a man’s ex-wife about his sexual preferences.
My Review:
This well-crafted book was perfectly balanced in tone and a delight to experience. While quickly and fully immersed in this tale, not only did I encounter wickedly clever wit and well-honed humor that kept me smirking, giggle-snorting, and frequently laughing aloud; I also found achingly perceptive insights that tickled my gray matter as well as my funny bone. Dorothy was a fascinating and artfully written character who took quirky and eccentric to a whole new level.
This is my fifth Jewel E. Ann book and I have loved them all beyond capacity. It is safe to say I am a totally smitten kitten as my burgeoning TBR includes every book on her Goodreads listing.
September 27, 2019
I had a blast reading this book. It absolutely wasn't what I expected, which was half the fun. That said...there were also a few cringe-worthy scenes, which is why I can't go with the full 5 stars. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sweet and fun read, with some emotional moments woven in...
Dr. Elijah Hawkins is in a bit of a rut so to say. He is still smarting from the fact that his high school sweetheart, wife and mother of his young son has left him a year ago, to start a whole new life without him. He always thought they had the same hopes and dreams, and so her leaving him came as quite a surprise and a smack in the fact.
Maybe he just needs to grab life by the balls and start a new life as well....and why not start with the wonderful "patient transporter" of the hospital where he works... Dorothy Mayhem, I mean her name alone should do the trick
Dorothy is definitely intrigued by Dr. Hawkins and all the rumors that fly around about him. Having ADS (Aspergers) makes it hard for her to be very socially engaging. She has a difficult time reading people, and so their interactions are not at all what Elijah expects them to be...which he (and I) finds kind of refreshing.
I loved seeing the world through Dorothy's eyes, though there were also moments when I had a hard time with the decisions she made. Then again, I also had a hard time with some of the decisions Elijah made.
It was so much fun seeing Elijah do his best to win Dorothy over... Dorothy definitely was in awe of Dr. Elijah...just not as much as she was of his ex-wife
Highly recommended if you are looking for a good time ;)
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
November 27, 2019
4.5 okay stars
A romantic comedy from this author is like all my wishes coming true!
A romantic comedy from this author is like all my wishes coming true!
September 27, 2019
With Perfectly Adequate, Jewel E. Ann takes a timeout from her signature heartbreaking and mind-blowing stories to deliver a lighter romance. Notice that I said lighter because Jewel doesn’t do straight-up rom coms. This is a comedy with a bittersweet edge – a dramedy, if you will.
I am a sucker for two character types: oddball heroines and single parents. This story has both. I fell hard for Dr. Elijah Hawkins and the aptly named Dorothy Mayhem. Their opposites attract love affair is awkward and charming.
Eli is a devoted single father, a level-headed man who loves fiercely but is hurting and insecure following a contentious divorce. His palpable pain broke my heart, but I love the complexity of his relationship with his ex-wife. The story is wonderfully painted in grays, so don’t expect his ex to be a one-dimensional caricature villain. Little Roman! Every moment shared with his adorable toddler son is another opportunity to swoon.
Dorothy is a delightful bundle of quirks, of which her emus and color coordinated sneaker collection are only a small part. She is unpredictable, honest to a fault, and highly inappropriate at times. Having Aspergers results in her missing social cues that others take for granted, and I appreciated having a real sense of her frustration. Dorothy’s relationship with Eli’s son is a big highlight.
I did find some aspects to be predictable and I had issues with the plot toward the end. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this refreshing story.
Recommended for fans of:
Single father romances
Quirky heroines
Dramedies
Emus
Wonder Woman
blockquote>*I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read.*
I am a sucker for two character types: oddball heroines and single parents. This story has both. I fell hard for Dr. Elijah Hawkins and the aptly named Dorothy Mayhem. Their opposites attract love affair is awkward and charming.
Eli is a devoted single father, a level-headed man who loves fiercely but is hurting and insecure following a contentious divorce. His palpable pain broke my heart, but I love the complexity of his relationship with his ex-wife. The story is wonderfully painted in grays, so don’t expect his ex to be a one-dimensional caricature villain. Little Roman! Every moment shared with his adorable toddler son is another opportunity to swoon.
Dorothy is a delightful bundle of quirks, of which her emus and color coordinated sneaker collection are only a small part. She is unpredictable, honest to a fault, and highly inappropriate at times. Having Aspergers results in her missing social cues that others take for granted, and I appreciated having a real sense of her frustration. Dorothy’s relationship with Eli’s son is a big highlight.
I did find some aspects to be predictable and I had issues with the plot toward the end. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this refreshing story.
Recommended for fans of:
Single father romances
Quirky heroines
Dramedies
Emus
Wonder Woman
blockquote>*I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read.*
September 30, 2019
When I read the beginning of this book I should have been warned, because at the start the hero is reminiscing about his perfect ex-wife and the brilliant love they had shared, their sex life etc. They had been together since they were 16 when bam the wife wanted out. Alas I didn't heed the warning and carried on. Please be warned there will be a lot of spoilers in this so move away if you don't want to be spoiled.
September 24, 2019
Dorothy Mayhem! What a character and what a woman. She’s been diagnosed with ASD and it affects her socially, how she views her surroundings and interact with people. She has no filter whatsoever and that definitely made me giggle numerous times because of her honest outbursts whether it was during sex or because she couldn’t tell a lie. There’s no doubt that Dorothy is a good and sweet human being. She sees the best in people and values the small things in life.
Elijah is swept off his feet when he sees and talks to Dorothy in her color coordinated clothes and her red Nikes. Intrigued and captivated by her and he’s totally inexperienced when it comes to asking a woman on a date.
Dorothy and Elijah is amazing and so much fun. He doesn’t look at Dorothy as a person with ASD no he looks at her as Dorothy. The most kindhearted and best woman on the planet. She has her routines and structure which can be difficult for some to accept and grow accustomed to but for Elijah it’s a fresh breath of air. For him it’s all about Dorothy.
Elijah has a son Roman who Dorothy hits it off with immediately and it doesn’t hurt that she has two emus and a dog.
Perfectly Adequate is a cute and hilarious romantic comedy. Once again Jewel E. Ann accomplishes writing a special story with well developed characters who have so much heart. She handles ASD with care and her portrayal of Dorothy is honest and heartfelt. Perfectly Adequate is a gorgeous treasure.
4 Mayhem Stars
*I received an ARC*
Elijah is swept off his feet when he sees and talks to Dorothy in her color coordinated clothes and her red Nikes. Intrigued and captivated by her and he’s totally inexperienced when it comes to asking a woman on a date.
Dorothy and Elijah is amazing and so much fun. He doesn’t look at Dorothy as a person with ASD no he looks at her as Dorothy. The most kindhearted and best woman on the planet. She has her routines and structure which can be difficult for some to accept and grow accustomed to but for Elijah it’s a fresh breath of air. For him it’s all about Dorothy.
Elijah has a son Roman who Dorothy hits it off with immediately and it doesn’t hurt that she has two emus and a dog.
Perfectly Adequate is a cute and hilarious romantic comedy. Once again Jewel E. Ann accomplishes writing a special story with well developed characters who have so much heart. She handles ASD with care and her portrayal of Dorothy is honest and heartfelt. Perfectly Adequate is a gorgeous treasure.
4 Mayhem Stars
*I received an ARC*
September 26, 2019
Doctor Elijah Hawkins is a pediatric oncologist and has been divorced for a year, but still aching for the life he lost - especially because he has no idea why his marriage suddenly ended after 15 happy years. 💔
Dorothy Mayhem is a nursing student and works at Elijah's Hospital as a patient transporter. Although the hospital is a pretty gray place, she likes to wear eye-catching shoes - which is exactly what happened, because Elijah couldn't ignore them… and her either! 😍👠
📚 "𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒚." 📚
Dorothy is diagnosed with ASD, so she doesn't see the world like everyone else – it's difficult for her to act in social situations because of her blunt reactions... She says everything she thinks - and means everything that comes out of her mouth. 😬
She's maybe weird - but so special and selfless that you just can't help but fall in love with her!!! 💙👑
📚 "𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒔: 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔, 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒄, 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒖𝒎.
𝒀𝒆𝒑. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒕 𝑫𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒚." 📚
Dorothy is a breath of fresh air in Elijah's gloomy life and he wants to know her... But when Dorothy realizes that the hottest doctor in the hospital wants her, she can't believe it - why should he be interested in her? 😱
And what would happen when Elijah could have all that he lost? Will he return to what he knows or take a risk with something new…?
📚 “𝑰𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚.” 📚
I really enjoyed this book, it was very sweet and moving... 👌 but there were some things I didn't like- I've read books with ASD heroes in the past, but compared to them, this book had parts that didn't work for me - and maybe the problem is just me or because the heroine was a woman this time, but the main one was the sex scenes, they made me uncomfortable for some reason. 😬
This book is a great example that life is not just black or white. 😍
One of the things I love most about Jewel's books is that she doesn't write about stereotypical characters - and this book is just that... sweet, romantic, funny and touching. The dialogues were witty, the characters were well developed and the writing was awesome. 💙
So if you want to read something different... I recommend this book. 💕
And if you read... I'd love to know what you thought of the erotic scenes! 😉
*** 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕟 𝔸ℝℂ 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ***
February 9, 2022
Doctor Eli. A year ago he was a 37 year old, very happily married man. With a two year old son. Working his dream job at the hospital. He still is most of those things. But he's not married anymore. His wife left him. Just like that. From one happy second to the not-so-happy next. They're now sharing custody for little Roman and they're still working at the same hospital. But that's it.
Enter Dorothy. She's in her last year at Nursing school and she's working several odd jobs at the hospital. And she's kind of super attracted to the sexy single doc. But she's also ... different. People think she's weird. But Eli thinks she's fascinating. Refreshingly honest and adorable.
But he's not ready for anything new, right???
But even if he was, he doesn't have a single clue how to go about asking Dorothy out. Especially when she misunderstands his every weird attempt! LOL!
Plus Eli's ex is not yet really out of the picture ....
What will happen with Dorothy & Eli?
Will there be a HEA???
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
══════════════════
ADORABLE!!!!
I just loved this book!
You immediately fall in love with Dorothy and Eli and little Roman!
But Dorothy is not an easy person to get close to. She has Aspergers and with that come a lot of little and bigger issues. The one that makes the most problems for her: her social awkwardness. She says what she thinks and she doesn't understand most jokes or innuendos. She has no filter!
She really likes Eli and he seems to like her back. But then there's his ex wife - and Dorothy loves and respects Docter Hathaway!
Eli is fascinated by Dorothy. He feels like a highschool kid falling in love and lust for the first time! But Dorothy is not making it easy. Well, she's very easy in some aspects, but she's so very complicated in others. But Eli knows she's worth everything.
It's so super adorable for the reader to watch them fumble their way to that happily ever after!
Even though we don't know if there will be a happy end for a long while, because there's still the ex wife. And up until a year ago Eli had the perfect little family with Julie and Roman.
I adored every little second of this story!
I NEED to see this on Netflix asap!
PERFECTLY ADEQUATE was so much more than just adequate!
I ADORED THIS BOOK!!
It was funny, sweet, charming, moving, fresh, adorable.
A heartwarmingly and beautifully (im)perfect love story!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Doctor Eli - this one is MINE!☺
♡
♡
October 1, 2019
REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"Your happiness is a reflection of you and only you."
Purity. This is the kind of book you have to go into with an open mind and an understanding of the love that's playing out. It won't be simple-minded or single-layered, and it won't be normal - and I'm not saying that in any way, shape, or form being disrespectful. This was hilarious, but pure. The heroine was definitely not the normal subject of a romance book and Jewel handled that with reality, and she never disappoints. She can undoubtedly write a quirky heroine with so much depth and reality to her, and she seems to do it with ease. Add to that, she forever writes a perfect Hero and I love that they aren't ever the same guy. She does an amazing job not only giving me a unique storyline, but she gives me original and not recycled. She gives me real and honest, not fabricated. She gives me love with different voices, and she gave me Dorothy and Eli.
"I don't mind being me. No one else can do it better."
Dorothy, her world, her life, is matter of fact - that's her world and that's how it is if you want to live in it. No apologies accepted, because she won't apologize for who she is or how she views the world, but knowing that's her truth - that's the best part. I loved how her ‘personality’ didn’t affect Eli's thoughts, but I liked more that he embraced it all with a smile more than anything else. If people miss the deeper cues of *who* Dorothy is, they’re going to miss the perfection that is this love.
"I want to discover her, not study her."
With Dorothy, I knew there was a more personal infusion of knowledge. Jewel's words portrayed an intimate knowledge and understanding of the nuances of a young lady like Dorothy, and I feel like she brought out the emotions allowing slow growth with feelings inspiring her characters beyond the 'moment.' I love the way she tells me a story. Sure, you can ‘technically’ tell a story, but I want to feel the words emotionally, and if they aren’t delivered passionately, the emotion doesn’t come through. Jewel bleeds passion. She bleeds emotion. She creates magic.
"The spectrum is human. It's not autism."
I've only read two stories with a main character with Asperger's, and both times I have been able to relate and smile and understand. I was able to see my son in some of the actions, so I think that's why this book was so relatable for me. I asked where her inspiration came from and she said it was a real friend, so I liked that she had some truth to her character and reality to back it up. I feel like we get the best parts of JEA with her books because they are full of heart. Every book has a hook. It’s organic. It’s fluid and it moves, regardless of any preconceived notions, and she will always set you straight OR change your mind. Perspective - it's amazing the way she delivers it.
"You weren't supposed to be a choice. Not you."
Learning a new lover and how they work/do things can be difficult sometimes, but when the realities are so different - it adds a new element of discovery and I really enjoyed that part. Even though the truth is ugly sometimes, this book - the way Jewel told their story, it was from the heart with so much depth and understanding. I’m worried that this will be misunderstood by some readers trying to ‘find’ Jewel because they won’t read her words but they’ll just read the story without the emotion that I know Jewel E Ann saturates every book with. Not because of the writing. Not because of the angst or pain we all know she can bring. But for the simple fact that it’s not ordinary and some people may not truly connect and may leave before the story is complete. I’m begging you, as I do every time I read one of her stories, to please stick with it. Understand that love is realized in many different ways. Love is expressed and felt and grown and nurtured in so many different ways. This story, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dorothy’s world and Elijah’s truth. I couldn’t stop giggling at their relationship and how it actually worked because of the charm and love, even given a circumstance that didn't feel navigable. I don’t have the in-depth personal experiences that Elijah does, but I will tell you that he has to be an amazing man. Admirable is the wrong word, because that insinuates he’s doing something out of the kindness of his heart and not from the depths of his soul.
I already know that I have to go into every single JEA book with an open mind, trust in her storytelling abilities, and listen with an open heart. She’s never once not made me think about the deeper story within. I love that she tackles subjects that aren’t talked about often. I also love that she puts her twist and spin on them while making the story a reality and the outcome fathomable. This story was less angsty and more emotional for me, which was a nice change of pace with her books. Every time I read a JEA book, I feel like I become a more firm believer in the heart doing what the heart wants. I love where her mind goes in her stories - where she takes them, how she tells them. Because she twists me up every time; she makes me think about things from a different perspective and I absolutely love it. She marries edge with emotion, producing a remarkable read. It was.....perfectly adequate.
"And it's amazing how a single breath can take a life, give a life, and sometimes...save a life. She is my breath of life."
~BEE
PURCHASE AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2oJ4rVT
Affiliate Link/Kindle Unlimited
ENTER HER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ECOPY: http://bit.ly/2mom1Oa
"Your happiness is a reflection of you and only you."
Purity. This is the kind of book you have to go into with an open mind and an understanding of the love that's playing out. It won't be simple-minded or single-layered, and it won't be normal - and I'm not saying that in any way, shape, or form being disrespectful. This was hilarious, but pure. The heroine was definitely not the normal subject of a romance book and Jewel handled that with reality, and she never disappoints. She can undoubtedly write a quirky heroine with so much depth and reality to her, and she seems to do it with ease. Add to that, she forever writes a perfect Hero and I love that they aren't ever the same guy. She does an amazing job not only giving me a unique storyline, but she gives me original and not recycled. She gives me real and honest, not fabricated. She gives me love with different voices, and she gave me Dorothy and Eli.
"I don't mind being me. No one else can do it better."
Dorothy, her world, her life, is matter of fact - that's her world and that's how it is if you want to live in it. No apologies accepted, because she won't apologize for who she is or how she views the world, but knowing that's her truth - that's the best part. I loved how her ‘personality’ didn’t affect Eli's thoughts, but I liked more that he embraced it all with a smile more than anything else. If people miss the deeper cues of *who* Dorothy is, they’re going to miss the perfection that is this love.
"I want to discover her, not study her."
With Dorothy, I knew there was a more personal infusion of knowledge. Jewel's words portrayed an intimate knowledge and understanding of the nuances of a young lady like Dorothy, and I feel like she brought out the emotions allowing slow growth with feelings inspiring her characters beyond the 'moment.' I love the way she tells me a story. Sure, you can ‘technically’ tell a story, but I want to feel the words emotionally, and if they aren’t delivered passionately, the emotion doesn’t come through. Jewel bleeds passion. She bleeds emotion. She creates magic.
"The spectrum is human. It's not autism."
I've only read two stories with a main character with Asperger's, and both times I have been able to relate and smile and understand. I was able to see my son in some of the actions, so I think that's why this book was so relatable for me. I asked where her inspiration came from and she said it was a real friend, so I liked that she had some truth to her character and reality to back it up. I feel like we get the best parts of JEA with her books because they are full of heart. Every book has a hook. It’s organic. It’s fluid and it moves, regardless of any preconceived notions, and she will always set you straight OR change your mind. Perspective - it's amazing the way she delivers it.
"You weren't supposed to be a choice. Not you."
Learning a new lover and how they work/do things can be difficult sometimes, but when the realities are so different - it adds a new element of discovery and I really enjoyed that part. Even though the truth is ugly sometimes, this book - the way Jewel told their story, it was from the heart with so much depth and understanding. I’m worried that this will be misunderstood by some readers trying to ‘find’ Jewel because they won’t read her words but they’ll just read the story without the emotion that I know Jewel E Ann saturates every book with. Not because of the writing. Not because of the angst or pain we all know she can bring. But for the simple fact that it’s not ordinary and some people may not truly connect and may leave before the story is complete. I’m begging you, as I do every time I read one of her stories, to please stick with it. Understand that love is realized in many different ways. Love is expressed and felt and grown and nurtured in so many different ways. This story, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dorothy’s world and Elijah’s truth. I couldn’t stop giggling at their relationship and how it actually worked because of the charm and love, even given a circumstance that didn't feel navigable. I don’t have the in-depth personal experiences that Elijah does, but I will tell you that he has to be an amazing man. Admirable is the wrong word, because that insinuates he’s doing something out of the kindness of his heart and not from the depths of his soul.
I already know that I have to go into every single JEA book with an open mind, trust in her storytelling abilities, and listen with an open heart. She’s never once not made me think about the deeper story within. I love that she tackles subjects that aren’t talked about often. I also love that she puts her twist and spin on them while making the story a reality and the outcome fathomable. This story was less angsty and more emotional for me, which was a nice change of pace with her books. Every time I read a JEA book, I feel like I become a more firm believer in the heart doing what the heart wants. I love where her mind goes in her stories - where she takes them, how she tells them. Because she twists me up every time; she makes me think about things from a different perspective and I absolutely love it. She marries edge with emotion, producing a remarkable read. It was.....perfectly adequate.
"And it's amazing how a single breath can take a life, give a life, and sometimes...save a life. She is my breath of life."
~BEE
PURCHASE AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2oJ4rVT
Affiliate Link/Kindle Unlimited
ENTER HER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ECOPY: http://bit.ly/2mom1Oa
September 28, 2019
Perfectly perfect! This book is extraordinarily unique, unpredictable, and unexpected. I absolutely adore the heroine and all her selfless, perfect flaws. Every book JEA writes is different and unforgettable in its own right. This is no exception. The humor is wildly fun. The romance is compelling and damn hot. And the plot is unlike anything you've ever read. I highly recommend!
September 24, 2019
I have been a fan of Jewel E Ann for a long time and she has always managed to not only surprise me with her storytelling, but make me fall head over heels in love with the characters. She never stays inside of the normal box and with every word, she gives us something different. With every plot twist, every laugh out loud moment, every dramatic confrontation, this author has managed to bring her stories to life with her own signature style and that is what keeps us coming back for more.
Dr. Elijah Hawkins has had a rough year. Going through a divorce from his first love felt like his world was slowly falling apart and there was no way to stop it. How do you move on from the one person who was your better half? A simple encounter with the quirky and no filter patient transporter changes the course of his life and one moment, solidified his future.
Dorothy Mayhem is very unique. She has her own way of doing things and having a routine is a must. Being a medical transporter and going to school at the same time, life is not slowing down for this thirty year old anytime soon. But everything is about to get a lot more complicated and interesting when she catches the eye of the most talked about and well respected doctor in the hospital. Can a quirky girl and a handsome doctor change each other lives and find love with each other?
I will admit that I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I started this story and I loved that. These characters were had their own quirks and they did things that felt right to them. I did not agree with the way certain things played out and I wanted to shake some of them, but they did what they felt was best at the time and I cant be too upset over that.
If you’re a fan of this author’s work, then I think you’re going to love this one as well.
September 29, 2019
<3 4 STARS <3
This was an adorable,funny and sweet read.There were a lot of moments I have a smile in my face!It was fast paced and I enjoy it!
“Mayhem synonyms: chaos, havoc, madness, trouble, disorder, pandemonium.
Yep. All of those fit Dorothy.”
Dorothy is the best, I loved her so much!She was funny and awkward! Dorothy and Elijah give you all the feels!I loved every moment these two spent together!
If you are looking for a fun and heartwarming read this is perfect!
This was an adorable,funny and sweet read.There were a lot of moments I have a smile in my face!It was fast paced and I enjoy it!
“Mayhem synonyms: chaos, havoc, madness, trouble, disorder, pandemonium.
Yep. All of those fit Dorothy.”
Dorothy is the best, I loved her so much!She was funny and awkward! Dorothy and Elijah give you all the feels!I loved every moment these two spent together!
If you are looking for a fun and heartwarming read this is perfect!
December 23, 2019
4 Stars
**Please let me know if I got anything wrong in this review...and take it with a grain of salt! I thought I wrote this, but found out that I hadn't after I finished another (long) book and I might've missed some specifics because of the delay!**
Overall Opinion: It's no secret that I have a son on the autism spectrum and I absolutely love stories with characters like him in the starring roles! Jewel E Ann does it amazingly! The autism spectrum is so far and wide, but I think she's done really well writing characters from the higher functioning end that used to be classified as Asperger's Syndrome (and I personally believe should still be a thing). That's where my son is, and I felt like I was laughing along with the h's quirks as if I was reading about my son! I know that can sound weird when we're talking about romance and sexual stuff, but obviously I disassociated during those times 🙈 Kudos to Ms. Ann for writing about the out of the neurotypical box characters of the world -- you have cemented a life-long fan!!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Dorothy and Eli's story. Eli has been divorced for a while from his high school sweetheart and his mother is giving him a hard time about getting back in the dating game. He is surprised to find that he is drawn to a younger, quirky patient transfer employee at the hospital he works at. After many failed attempts, he struggles to find the right way to ask her out. The more time they spend together, the more they come to care about one another. There is some ex drama, some laugh-out-loud funny scenes, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Dorothy and Eli's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Eli. I liked him, but I also struggled with him at times.
h (heroine) rating: 5 stars. Dorothy. I love my Aspies! I know saying that is totally not PC, but I don't care! I love her quirks and I think Ms. Ann writes this character so beautifully!
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. It felt a little clinical and awkward at times, which is to be expected in a way, but just FYI -- I didn't find the scenes all that hot.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had alright closure, but I am super greedy so I wanted more! I will still call this a HEA ending even though there is a missing component for me
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
**Please let me know if I got anything wrong in this review...and take it with a grain of salt! I thought I wrote this, but found out that I hadn't after I finished another (long) book and I might've missed some specifics because of the delay!**
Overall Opinion: It's no secret that I have a son on the autism spectrum and I absolutely love stories with characters like him in the starring roles! Jewel E Ann does it amazingly! The autism spectrum is so far and wide, but I think she's done really well writing characters from the higher functioning end that used to be classified as Asperger's Syndrome (and I personally believe should still be a thing). That's where my son is, and I felt like I was laughing along with the h's quirks as if I was reading about my son! I know that can sound weird when we're talking about romance and sexual stuff, but obviously I disassociated during those times 🙈 Kudos to Ms. Ann for writing about the out of the neurotypical box characters of the world -- you have cemented a life-long fan!!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Dorothy and Eli's story. Eli has been divorced for a while from his high school sweetheart and his mother is giving him a hard time about getting back in the dating game. He is surprised to find that he is drawn to a younger, quirky patient transfer employee at the hospital he works at. After many failed attempts, he struggles to find the right way to ask her out. The more time they spend together, the more they come to care about one another. There is some ex drama, some laugh-out-loud funny scenes, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Dorothy and Eli's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Eli. I liked him, but I also struggled with him at times.
h (heroine) rating: 5 stars. Dorothy. I love my Aspies! I know saying that is totally not PC, but I don't care! I love her quirks and I think Ms. Ann writes this character so beautifully!
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. It felt a little clinical and awkward at times, which is to be expected in a way, but just FYI -- I didn't find the scenes all that hot.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had alright closure, but I am super greedy so I wanted more! I will still call this a HEA ending even though there is a missing component for me
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
September 30, 2019
5 "Okay" STARS!
A book that made my heart soar, Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann is a standalone contemporary romance filled with lots of love and moments deeply rooted in emotion.
Elijah Hawkins is a single father, a sexy doctor, and... divorced. He's struggling with how his marriage ended after being with his ex-wife Julia for 22 years. The night he meets Dorothy Mayhem, a transporter at the hospital his life is forever changed.
Dorothy Mayhem is a rather quirky woman. She's a bit of a odd ball. At first I was frustrated as I didn't understand her, but with time I began to truly appreciate her and love her as soon I realized how selfless and wonderful she is. Gah, there is no one like her!
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
Eli and Dorothy aren't your typical romance couple. Eli struggled with Dorothy's facets. He couldn't comprehend how he went from a relationship where he felt loved and wanted to another where his new love interest acts indifferent and distant. Regardless, Eli never gave up on Dorothy and worked to gain access into her mind and heart.
“Dorothy …” He scratches his chin. “You are … unexpected. Like balloons, flowers, and winning lottery tickets.”
The best moments had to be between Dorothy and Roman. They had play dates and she even introduces him to her two pet emus, Wilbur and Orville, and her dog Gemma. Just too cute!
Perfectly Adequate was sweet with a bit of drama involved. The beauty of Jewel is she takes real topics and gives them life throughout her stories. She isn't afraid to step out of the box and write characters that are unique because she gets that these characters matter too. This book is bound to captivate your heart... It did mine 💙.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Social Butterfly PR. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
“The spectrum is human."
A book that made my heart soar, Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann is a standalone contemporary romance filled with lots of love and moments deeply rooted in emotion.
Elijah Hawkins is a single father, a sexy doctor, and... divorced. He's struggling with how his marriage ended after being with his ex-wife Julia for 22 years. The night he meets Dorothy Mayhem, a transporter at the hospital his life is forever changed.
Dorothy Mayhem is a rather quirky woman. She's a bit of a odd ball. At first I was frustrated as I didn't understand her, but with time I began to truly appreciate her and love her as soon I realized how selfless and wonderful she is. Gah, there is no one like her!
“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”
Eli and Dorothy aren't your typical romance couple. Eli struggled with Dorothy's facets. He couldn't comprehend how he went from a relationship where he felt loved and wanted to another where his new love interest acts indifferent and distant. Regardless, Eli never gave up on Dorothy and worked to gain access into her mind and heart.
“Dorothy …” He scratches his chin. “You are … unexpected. Like balloons, flowers, and winning lottery tickets.”
The best moments had to be between Dorothy and Roman. They had play dates and she even introduces him to her two pet emus, Wilbur and Orville, and her dog Gemma. Just too cute!
Perfectly Adequate was sweet with a bit of drama involved. The beauty of Jewel is she takes real topics and gives them life throughout her stories. She isn't afraid to step out of the box and write characters that are unique because she gets that these characters matter too. This book is bound to captivate your heart... It did mine 💙.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Social Butterfly PR. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
September 29, 2019
Dorothy mayhem yes we get it. That’s her name. Like you need to calm down with it. Lol
Why the ex wife in the book is that for angst? Cause it ruined the book. She was in it all the way till the end and epilogue,Like she moves in next door. Lmao. Well no marriage to poor Dorothy but an unplanned pregnancy. Here is why no marriage cause of that Mayhem last name 🥴why loose that name. Seriously
Why the ex wife in the book is that for angst? Cause it ruined the book. She was in it all the way till the end and epilogue,Like she moves in next door. Lmao. Well no marriage to poor Dorothy but an unplanned pregnancy. Here is why no marriage cause of that Mayhem last name 🥴why loose that name. Seriously
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2019
This was my first Jewel E. Ann book and I loved it. I thought Perfectly Adequate was so charming, so heart warming, so full of feels and laughs and swoon! A really sweet read!
September 27, 2019
4,5 stars
“Thank you,” she whispers. “For what?” “For letting me be me. Letting me be enough.”
I buddy read that one with Angela from Reading Frenzy Book Blog and I had a blast exchanging comments with her about this!
It’s been my fifth book by Jewel E Ann because I am late to the bandwagon but I realized that Jewel is a versatile author. She can make you read about a dark and moving book like Jersey Six (one of my favorites for 2019) or about a romcom like Perfectly Adequate!
So let’s talk about Perfectly Adequate!
First meet Dr. Elijah Hawkins, pediatric oncologist and divorced father for one year now.
He is lost without Julie, his ex-wife. She left him abruptly and he never understood why. He is still hurt and dreams to get her back. As the synopsis says Elija needs… something.
On one of his Friday lunch with his mom, who happens to be a shrink, she tells him he should date again.
But getting back in the saddle is not easy! Not only because Eli is adorably clumsy as far as dating goes but also because he focuses on someone special: Dorothy Mayhem.
And let’s just say that never a character’s name has been better chosen because she will leave his life in mayhem! Elijah is puzzled, bedazzled, charmed and needing a few days to learn how to communicate with her. Misunderstanding and miscommunication happened first before he could get the hang of it!
Elijah had always done everything that was expected from him and went the traditional way. But when his wife Julie left he just felt …empty. So maybe it’s time to change tactics and go for some spontaneity and levity. That’s why probably Dorthy was so good to him!
“I just know that my incessant need for things in my life to make sense has gotten me nowhere. No clarity. No family unit. No wife. No hope that it’s all just a bad dream. So I change directions and let instinct guide me.”
Elijah might be clumsy at dating but he took Dorothy’s weirdness like a champ! One of the things I loved so much about him was his buoyancy as far as Dorothy was concerned. He looked like a happy pup while babbling about her qualities to his mom! And I loved that he accepted all of her, without wanting to change who she was.
Let’s get back to the Dorothy topic!
I laughed SO HARD at Dorothy’s brutal honesty! She is “Aspie” or Asperger, brilliant but with no mouth filter and incapable of lying which of course gives very interesting and funny situations! Dorothy is impossible not to love.
She is weird but so kind and selfless. Wanting to help others kids or poor people. Taking care of emus and setting them an Instagram account (it reminded me of Atticus, Sawyer Bennett’s dog). Housing her parents. Studying everything to understand it before experimenting like the art of kissing for example.
Being different is no picnic!
But she is brave and soldiers on. She always tries to do her best, analyzing everything in her journals. Dorothy is one of the best humans!
One of the many interesting aspects of this book was Dorothy’s infatuation with Eli’s ex wife: Julie of “Boss Bitch”.
Julie Hathaway or Boss Bitch who left Elijah one day, without any warning because :
Yet we’ll learn later on in the book that things were more complicated for Julie.
I loved that Jewel made it impossible to hate Julie.
And Jewel E Ann gave me one of the most raw, real and heartbreaking scenes when Julie explained the real reason. So many churning emotions and quandaries.
I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say that I could never hate Julie, even if she left Eli and when Jewel delivered what would be a little gem of a scene with Julie’s explanations I was just AWED! Because I could understand and empathize. It was honest to a fault and something we often experience at least once in our life but not to Julie’s extent luckily. It rang so true that again I wonder if Jewel experienced it!
The only aspect “bothering” me was Eli’s kind of insta-love. I won’t say more about it but I guess it is part of who Eli is and how unconditionally he loves!
To sum it up: this is a romcom that is more than a romcom as it’s filled to the brim with laughter, emotions and lots of wisdom! I dare you not to like it!
PS Jewel you’d better sell that wonder woman outfit as I need it for my next slumber party!
Have you read Jewel's books? Do you want to now?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
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Twitter: @BewareOffReader
“Thank you,” she whispers. “For what?” “For letting me be me. Letting me be enough.”
I buddy read that one with Angela from Reading Frenzy Book Blog and I had a blast exchanging comments with her about this!
It’s been my fifth book by Jewel E Ann because I am late to the bandwagon but I realized that Jewel is a versatile author. She can make you read about a dark and moving book like Jersey Six (one of my favorites for 2019) or about a romcom like Perfectly Adequate!
So let’s talk about Perfectly Adequate!
First meet Dr. Elijah Hawkins, pediatric oncologist and divorced father for one year now.
He is lost without Julie, his ex-wife. She left him abruptly and he never understood why. He is still hurt and dreams to get her back. As the synopsis says Elija needs… something.
On one of his Friday lunch with his mom, who happens to be a shrink, she tells him he should date again.
But getting back in the saddle is not easy! Not only because Eli is adorably clumsy as far as dating goes but also because he focuses on someone special: Dorothy Mayhem.
And let’s just say that never a character’s name has been better chosen because she will leave his life in mayhem! Elijah is puzzled, bedazzled, charmed and needing a few days to learn how to communicate with her. Misunderstanding and miscommunication happened first before he could get the hang of it!
“My brain hurts more than my burnt ass. Warren and Dorothy. Dorothy and emus. Willa is Willow. Willow wants to hump my leg.”
Elijah had always done everything that was expected from him and went the traditional way. But when his wife Julie left he just felt …empty. So maybe it’s time to change tactics and go for some spontaneity and levity. That’s why probably Dorthy was so good to him!
“I just know that my incessant need for things in my life to make sense has gotten me nowhere. No clarity. No family unit. No wife. No hope that it’s all just a bad dream. So I change directions and let instinct guide me.”
Elijah might be clumsy at dating but he took Dorothy’s weirdness like a champ! One of the things I loved so much about him was his buoyancy as far as Dorothy was concerned. He looked like a happy pup while babbling about her qualities to his mom! And I loved that he accepted all of her, without wanting to change who she was.
Let’s get back to the Dorothy topic!
I laughed SO HARD at Dorothy’s brutal honesty! She is “Aspie” or Asperger, brilliant but with no mouth filter and incapable of lying which of course gives very interesting and funny situations! Dorothy is impossible not to love.
She is weird but so kind and selfless. Wanting to help others kids or poor people. Taking care of emus and setting them an Instagram account (it reminded me of Atticus, Sawyer Bennett’s dog). Housing her parents. Studying everything to understand it before experimenting like the art of kissing for example.
Being different is no picnic!
“Being an Aspie isn’t always hot chocolate and marshmallows with rainbow sprinkles. No. Oftentimes it’s showing up to a Star Wars themed party dressed as Mr. Spock, greeting everyone with the Vulcan salute.”
But she is brave and soldiers on. She always tries to do her best, analyzing everything in her journals. Dorothy is one of the best humans!
One of the many interesting aspects of this book was Dorothy’s infatuation with Eli’s ex wife: Julie of “Boss Bitch”.
Julie Hathaway or Boss Bitch who left Elijah one day, without any warning because :
“But I don’t want to be with someone who knows every single part of me. I want to be exciting and new. I want to have a man look at me with curiosity and wonder. I want to keep a part of me for myself. An unsolvable mystery, not a forgone conclusion.”
Yet we’ll learn later on in the book that things were more complicated for Julie.
I loved that Jewel made it impossible to hate Julie.
And Jewel E Ann gave me one of the most raw, real and heartbreaking scenes when Julie explained the real reason. So many churning emotions and quandaries.
I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say that I could never hate Julie, even if she left Eli and when Jewel delivered what would be a little gem of a scene with Julie’s explanations I was just AWED! Because I could understand and empathize. It was honest to a fault and something we often experience at least once in our life but not to Julie’s extent luckily. It rang so true that again I wonder if Jewel experienced it!
The only aspect “bothering” me was Eli’s kind of insta-love. I won’t say more about it but I guess it is part of who Eli is and how unconditionally he loves!
To sum it up: this is a romcom that is more than a romcom as it’s filled to the brim with laughter, emotions and lots of wisdom! I dare you not to like it!
PS Jewel you’d better sell that wonder woman outfit as I need it for my next slumber party!
Have you read Jewel's books? Do you want to now?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
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October 3, 2019
First thing you need to know about this book is that your face will get a work out, I laughed out loud SO much and kept reading bits out loud to my husband as I inhaled this story on a lazy Sunday. Yup, all day I sat and did nothing but read this fabulous story.
Twelve months ago Elijah Hawkins was happily married to his high school sweetheart and living in bliss with their gorgeous wee son, Roman. He is an oncologist and his wife also works at the same hospital as a renowned plastic surgeon. The shared all of their firsts with each other and he thought they would be together forever. That all changed when his wife told him she wanted out of their marriage.
One year later and he has some semblance of a normal life again. He hates that Julie’s decision to end things means that he only gets to see his son part time. He has spent the past 12 months hoping she will change her mind. The divorce has now been finalized and she has moved on. He knows he needs to as well but between work and spending time with Roman and the huge knock to his confidence, it isn’t as easy to jump back into the dating scene. In fact, he has never even done that before. He has no idea where to start.
Elijah is known among the hospital staff as Dr Hottie Hawkins and if he wasn’t so oblivious to his popularity he might notice all the flirtatious attempts to garner his attention. However, one morning he does look up and notice someone. Dorothy Mayhem. The quirky girl who matches her shoes with her undershirt each day. She is a medical student by day and a hospital patient transporter part time. The first thing he notices is her shoes and then once he speaks to her, her confidence. He also thinks she is pretty adorable.
‘If she doesn’t brutally murder me with the truth first, I find it quite possible that her honesty could unshackle me from my self-doubt.’ - Elijah
Dorothy aspires to be a plastic surgeon, just like the woman she idolizes, Dr Julie Hathaway. Elijah’s ex-wife. She lives a very routined life, each day is planned out and she dislikes surprises. She is a terrible liar - preferring to give factual answers to questions - which could also be taken as raw honesty, sometimes too honest. She is passionate about extending her medical knowledge by avidly listening to medical podcasts and reading journals. She over analyses, over thinks and journals everything that passes through her mind each day - it clears her head before she goes to sleep at night.
‘Dr Hawkins has a great smile. I can tell he’s a flosser. Tall and he flosses. Journal-worthy.’ - Dorothy
Dorothy is not very good at picking up social cues or reading between the lines, preferring the black & white to grey areas of life. Therefore when Elijah Hawkins seems to be flirting with her she is initially confused at his interest in her but once she outright asks him her thoughts are confirmed. The hottie doctor is interested. Thus begins the dating life of Elijah and Dorothy.
‘I have a lot of obsessions. If you’re lucky, you might become one of them.’ - Dorothy
When Elijah finally feels like he has found happiness again, with Dorothy, his happy bubble is popped and fate intervenes. He has a choice to make and the answer is clear to him but convincing his selfless girlfriend proves to be the hardest challenge he has faced.
I freaking loved this story so much! I didn’t even get a chance to mention Romeo (Roman) and his gorgeous interactions with Dorothy. I also left out the emus, superheroes and zip up beds. You can discover all that and more when you indulge in this wonderful reading experience.
‘I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.’ - Dorothy
Twelve months ago Elijah Hawkins was happily married to his high school sweetheart and living in bliss with their gorgeous wee son, Roman. He is an oncologist and his wife also works at the same hospital as a renowned plastic surgeon. The shared all of their firsts with each other and he thought they would be together forever. That all changed when his wife told him she wanted out of their marriage.
One year later and he has some semblance of a normal life again. He hates that Julie’s decision to end things means that he only gets to see his son part time. He has spent the past 12 months hoping she will change her mind. The divorce has now been finalized and she has moved on. He knows he needs to as well but between work and spending time with Roman and the huge knock to his confidence, it isn’t as easy to jump back into the dating scene. In fact, he has never even done that before. He has no idea where to start.
Elijah is known among the hospital staff as Dr Hottie Hawkins and if he wasn’t so oblivious to his popularity he might notice all the flirtatious attempts to garner his attention. However, one morning he does look up and notice someone. Dorothy Mayhem. The quirky girl who matches her shoes with her undershirt each day. She is a medical student by day and a hospital patient transporter part time. The first thing he notices is her shoes and then once he speaks to her, her confidence. He also thinks she is pretty adorable.
‘If she doesn’t brutally murder me with the truth first, I find it quite possible that her honesty could unshackle me from my self-doubt.’ - Elijah
Dorothy aspires to be a plastic surgeon, just like the woman she idolizes, Dr Julie Hathaway. Elijah’s ex-wife. She lives a very routined life, each day is planned out and she dislikes surprises. She is a terrible liar - preferring to give factual answers to questions - which could also be taken as raw honesty, sometimes too honest. She is passionate about extending her medical knowledge by avidly listening to medical podcasts and reading journals. She over analyses, over thinks and journals everything that passes through her mind each day - it clears her head before she goes to sleep at night.
‘Dr Hawkins has a great smile. I can tell he’s a flosser. Tall and he flosses. Journal-worthy.’ - Dorothy
Dorothy is not very good at picking up social cues or reading between the lines, preferring the black & white to grey areas of life. Therefore when Elijah Hawkins seems to be flirting with her she is initially confused at his interest in her but once she outright asks him her thoughts are confirmed. The hottie doctor is interested. Thus begins the dating life of Elijah and Dorothy.
‘I have a lot of obsessions. If you’re lucky, you might become one of them.’ - Dorothy
When Elijah finally feels like he has found happiness again, with Dorothy, his happy bubble is popped and fate intervenes. He has a choice to make and the answer is clear to him but convincing his selfless girlfriend proves to be the hardest challenge he has faced.
I freaking loved this story so much! I didn’t even get a chance to mention Romeo (Roman) and his gorgeous interactions with Dorothy. I also left out the emus, superheroes and zip up beds. You can discover all that and more when you indulge in this wonderful reading experience.
‘I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.’ - Dorothy
September 29, 2019
4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-Your happiness is a reflection of you and only you.
-"I don't mind being me. No one else can do it better."
Dr. Elijah Hawkins is an accomplished pediatric oncologist in Portland who is now a divorced single dad after his wife of fifteen years leaves him. He thought she was his forever, and now he has to start from scratch with this dating thing. After a year alone, he knows he needs to move on, but he's out of practice. Then he meets a beautiful, quirky woman named Dorothy Mayhem whose friendly smile brightens his day. She's uncensored, unexpected, and refreshingly honest. He can't stop thinking about her, and wants to get to know her better. He attempts to ask her out, but signals get crossed, and he ends up inviting her for endless playdates with his son. He's fascinated with her and formed a slight obsession. She makes him feel like a teenager again, and their undeniable chemistry feels new and promising.
Dorothy Mayhem is a patient transporter, and a nursing student who has poor social etiquette and loves spending time with her animals. She isn't prepared when she crosses paths with Dr. Hottie Hawkins, the sexy, successful doctor whose breakup has been the topic at the hospital for months. He's even more gorgeous up close, and she's a little tongue tied. Every time they speak, this man just gets her. She soon becomes infatuated with him and his adorable son. Something shifts between them as real feelings develop. Will she be his second chance at love, and the one who brings him back to life, or will his ex who also happens to be Dorothy's idol get in the way?
-Dr. Hawkins has no safe zones on his body. I can't look at him anywhere without physically reacting with a flushed face and racing heart.
Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann is a sexy, single dad, second chance romantic comedy that is laugh out loud funny and captivating! I really enjoyed this book, and love this author's writing. This story was a unique, heartwarming treat!
-Dorothy Mayhem crawled into my existence in a way that would change me forever.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2obhmQ9
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-Your happiness is a reflection of you and only you.
-"I don't mind being me. No one else can do it better."
Dr. Elijah Hawkins is an accomplished pediatric oncologist in Portland who is now a divorced single dad after his wife of fifteen years leaves him. He thought she was his forever, and now he has to start from scratch with this dating thing. After a year alone, he knows he needs to move on, but he's out of practice. Then he meets a beautiful, quirky woman named Dorothy Mayhem whose friendly smile brightens his day. She's uncensored, unexpected, and refreshingly honest. He can't stop thinking about her, and wants to get to know her better. He attempts to ask her out, but signals get crossed, and he ends up inviting her for endless playdates with his son. He's fascinated with her and formed a slight obsession. She makes him feel like a teenager again, and their undeniable chemistry feels new and promising.
Dorothy Mayhem is a patient transporter, and a nursing student who has poor social etiquette and loves spending time with her animals. She isn't prepared when she crosses paths with Dr. Hottie Hawkins, the sexy, successful doctor whose breakup has been the topic at the hospital for months. He's even more gorgeous up close, and she's a little tongue tied. Every time they speak, this man just gets her. She soon becomes infatuated with him and his adorable son. Something shifts between them as real feelings develop. Will she be his second chance at love, and the one who brings him back to life, or will his ex who also happens to be Dorothy's idol get in the way?
-Dr. Hawkins has no safe zones on his body. I can't look at him anywhere without physically reacting with a flushed face and racing heart.
Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann is a sexy, single dad, second chance romantic comedy that is laugh out loud funny and captivating! I really enjoyed this book, and love this author's writing. This story was a unique, heartwarming treat!
-Dorothy Mayhem crawled into my existence in a way that would change me forever.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2obhmQ9
July 25, 2021
4.5⭐️
Dorothy muhteşem bir karakterdi. Elijah ise, Dorothy’nin tam anlamıyla diğer yarısı; hastalığından dolayı normalden biraz fazla doğru, direkt, net olan gerçekçi Dorothy’nin duygusal tamamlayıcısıydı♥️♥️ İkisine de bayıldım. Dorothy gibi mükemmel bir karekterin kıymetini bildiği, el üstünde tuttuğu, gözünü gözünden ayırmadığı, gördüğü andan beri hep sevgiyle baktığı; ailesinin bile bazen sabrını zorladığı halde her durumda anlayışlı, sabırlı olduğu; en önemlisi de onu her zaman çok iyi anladığı için Elijah gözümde daha da mükemmelleşti😍😍 Her kitapla Jewel’ın karakterlerine ayrı ayrı aşık oluyorum sanırım😍😍
📚“I struggled to stay awake.”
I shake my head. “You mean, fall asleep.”
“No. I could sleep forever with you on me like that, much like I can with Roman. But I didn’t want to go back to sleep. I wanted to smell your hair. Absorb the warmth of your body. Feel your heart close to mine.” He offers a sad smile. “I wanted to make a memory that time can’t erase.”
I let his words swirl around in my head, finding a way to make sense of them, finding a place to keep them. But they don’t fit in my mind, so I tuck them away in my heart because that’s where they landed when he said them. “For the record…” I grab workout clothes from my closet “…loving you has been unexpectedly good.”
“Good?” He chuckles.
“Perfectly adequate.”
“Doesn’t get any better than that.”
📚“Yeah, everything is … okay.”
Eli mumbles something, but I can’t make it out. He lifts his head slowly. “Say it again.”
I let my smile show, but just a little.
“Say it again.”
“Everything is okay.” My smile crawls a bit farther up my face.
“Again …” he grins.
I press my palms to his very stubbly face and brush my lips across his lips. “Okay … everything is okay.”
“Because you love me.”.
I kiss his top lip. “Because I love you.”
“Because you choose me.”
I kiss his bottom lip. “Because I choose you.”
📚It’s funny how a year can change your world. And it’s amazing how a single breath can take a life, give a life, and sometimes … save a life.
She is my breath of life.♥️♥️
September 29, 2019
I just finished this story and I have to ask - Does Jewel E Ann EVER not write a PERFECT hero? 💙 NOPE. No she doesn't!
I fucken LOVE Eli aka Dr. Hawkins 😭💙
OKAY. *wink* (once you read this you'll get this)
So now that it's established that JEA writes perfect men.... This story! Guys!!!! This story. Wow.
This was a Very cute. Very happy. Heart-touching. Open minded story.
I enjoyed this Very much. I love a romance story that gives me food for thought or that gives me something new. Something I didn't know before. That something I know I'll be a better human for it.
I've read other stories with a heroine that's like Dorothy but they aren't because No One can be Dorothy better than Dorothy
I fucken LOVE Eli aka Dr. Hawkins 😭💙
OKAY. *wink* (once you read this you'll get this)
So now that it's established that JEA writes perfect men.... This story! Guys!!!! This story. Wow.
This was a Very cute. Very happy. Heart-touching. Open minded story.
I enjoyed this Very much. I love a romance story that gives me food for thought or that gives me something new. Something I didn't know before. That something I know I'll be a better human for it.
I've read other stories with a heroine that's like Dorothy but they aren't because No One can be Dorothy better than Dorothy
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