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Dating by Design #3
Narcissistic Tendencies
Psychologist Kate Morgan loves her job evaluating clients for the matchmaking service Binary Search. That is, until the one and only Nicholas Wells becomes a client and the new face of the company. Now Kate must take on a new role as his relationship manager to "fix" the actor-turned-writer-and-producer--not to mention egotistical, possibly narcissistic celebrity--and save Binary Search's reputation.
Once upon a time this would have been a dream come true, but older, wiser, and live-within-her-rules Kate knows more than she would like to about narcissists. Annulment is an ugly word and one she can't or won't forget. But is Nick the man he says he is on paper or is he the man she sees before her eyes? An adoring father with a generous heart who's willing to smooth out some of his rough edges for the right woman, making her think who's fixing who?
Can this Hollywood playboy and reluctant matchmaker make the ultimate connection?
Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2022
293 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Peel
63 books1,379 followersJennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-two years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 25, 2018
Update: 99 cents e-book 9/25/18: https://amzn.to/2N31o1c
Yup. Once again, a late night finish since I can't seem to put down a Jennifer Peel book once I've started. All the characters are so vivid, and the first person perspective really puts the reader in the mind of Kate. I loved her voice and way of looking at things, from a psychologist's point of view. She understands her own flaws and hangups, and struggles to trust and risk a deeper relationship with others. The dynamics between her and Nick are fascinating and realistic, and she is very much aware of his appeal and the way it overshadows the narcissistic personality he described on his questionnaire. It was fun to watch her discover his true nature and him deal with her doubts and resistance. I loved the motherly type bond she forms with his daughter Skye, as it shows her nurturing and loving side, and the genuine way she embraces those she decides to let in. The chemistry between Kate and Nick is pretty strong from the beginning, but it's when they begin to understand each other and deepen their friendship that the hesitancy drops and sparks fly. I loved the way I was able to connect with the characters in this book, even when it was told from one point of view. Tears came to my eyes at a couple points in the story which is a big indication that I'm fully immersed. Loved this book and highly recommend!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Yup. Once again, a late night finish since I can't seem to put down a Jennifer Peel book once I've started. All the characters are so vivid, and the first person perspective really puts the reader in the mind of Kate. I loved her voice and way of looking at things, from a psychologist's point of view. She understands her own flaws and hangups, and struggles to trust and risk a deeper relationship with others. The dynamics between her and Nick are fascinating and realistic, and she is very much aware of his appeal and the way it overshadows the narcissistic personality he described on his questionnaire. It was fun to watch her discover his true nature and him deal with her doubts and resistance. I loved the motherly type bond she forms with his daughter Skye, as it shows her nurturing and loving side, and the genuine way she embraces those she decides to let in. The chemistry between Kate and Nick is pretty strong from the beginning, but it's when they begin to understand each other and deepen their friendship that the hesitancy drops and sparks fly. I loved the way I was able to connect with the characters in this book, even when it was told from one point of view. Tears came to my eyes at a couple points in the story which is a big indication that I'm fully immersed. Loved this book and highly recommend!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
July 3, 2021
Serendipity - the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Magical - beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.
Kate Morgan will never forget her serendipitous moment with her childhood crush, Nicholas Wells. That magical moment would bring her through some of the toughest times in her life. A moment that will always be hers and hers alone. She never thought that their paths would cross a second time. But working as the Psychologist for Binary Search has brought her face to face with the man again.
When Kate meets with Nick, she sees all kinds of red flags. He's not what Binary Search needs but it's a done deal. He's the new face of the company. Now she will need to become his Personal Relationship Manager and make sure he doesn't do anything that will bring the company she works for down.
While spending time with Nick, his daughter, Skye and his dad, Jack, Kate finds herself extremely confused. Not only does he seem to be one person on paper and another person in real life, but she realizes that connection she felt with him all those years ago is still there. And that just cannot happen. Nick breaks all her rules and she refuses to let herself get hurt a second time.
There's no denying the chemistry between the two of them. She's doing her best to stop all his efforts but Nick's not making it easy. She finds herself opening up to him and letting him in. On top of that, she's developing a friendship with Skye that has her wishing for things of the past.
But just as Kate starts to let her guard down and really let Nick in, she's blindsided. How could she have let this happen again? There were rules in place to stop her from falling in love with someone like Nick. But the heart wants what the heart wants. Now she has to decide if she's going to let him go, pick up her broken pieces and move on with her life. Or if she's going to let all her walls fall, grab on tight to what's in front of her and fight for their happily ever after.
Oh. My. Gosh! You guys! All I can say is WOW! What a roller coaster ride that was! The feels were definitely real my friends! Kate and Nick are definitely favorites of mine. I found myself routing for them from the beginning. I know some people will probably say they found themselves really disliking Nick, but I didn't. There was just something about him. I knew there was more than meets the eye and I couldn't wait to figure out what. I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing the walls come down on both sides. These two really were perfect for each other.
I have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book was watching Kate and Skye's relationship develop. They both had lost a lot in their lives and their hearts were broken. As they got to know each other and spend time together, they were able to help each other heal and fill a void that was missing in both of their lives. Their bond was special and beautiful.
Narcissistic Tendencies is a perfect ending to an amazing series! I loved seeing the characters in the previous books playing a role in this book. We are able to see what they've been up to since we left them. It was icing on the cake for me as I got to see all of their happily ever afters continue on. I'm not going to lie... I'm kinda sad to see this series come to an end! But it's definitely one that I will be reading over and over again! If you haven't read these books yet then I highly recommend you add them to your TBR list!
I have been a Ms. Peel fan from the very first book of hers I read and I don't see that changing anytime soon! She is a very talented author! I look forward to seeing where she takes us next!
And let's just take a moment and stare at these two. I may be a bit bias but I think they are perfect! What do you think?!
Magical - beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.
Kate Morgan will never forget her serendipitous moment with her childhood crush, Nicholas Wells. That magical moment would bring her through some of the toughest times in her life. A moment that will always be hers and hers alone. She never thought that their paths would cross a second time. But working as the Psychologist for Binary Search has brought her face to face with the man again.
When Kate meets with Nick, she sees all kinds of red flags. He's not what Binary Search needs but it's a done deal. He's the new face of the company. Now she will need to become his Personal Relationship Manager and make sure he doesn't do anything that will bring the company she works for down.
While spending time with Nick, his daughter, Skye and his dad, Jack, Kate finds herself extremely confused. Not only does he seem to be one person on paper and another person in real life, but she realizes that connection she felt with him all those years ago is still there. And that just cannot happen. Nick breaks all her rules and she refuses to let herself get hurt a second time.
There's no denying the chemistry between the two of them. She's doing her best to stop all his efforts but Nick's not making it easy. She finds herself opening up to him and letting him in. On top of that, she's developing a friendship with Skye that has her wishing for things of the past.
But just as Kate starts to let her guard down and really let Nick in, she's blindsided. How could she have let this happen again? There were rules in place to stop her from falling in love with someone like Nick. But the heart wants what the heart wants. Now she has to decide if she's going to let him go, pick up her broken pieces and move on with her life. Or if she's going to let all her walls fall, grab on tight to what's in front of her and fight for their happily ever after.
Oh. My. Gosh! You guys! All I can say is WOW! What a roller coaster ride that was! The feels were definitely real my friends! Kate and Nick are definitely favorites of mine. I found myself routing for them from the beginning. I know some people will probably say they found themselves really disliking Nick, but I didn't. There was just something about him. I knew there was more than meets the eye and I couldn't wait to figure out what. I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing the walls come down on both sides. These two really were perfect for each other.
I have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book was watching Kate and Skye's relationship develop. They both had lost a lot in their lives and their hearts were broken. As they got to know each other and spend time together, they were able to help each other heal and fill a void that was missing in both of their lives. Their bond was special and beautiful.
Narcissistic Tendencies is a perfect ending to an amazing series! I loved seeing the characters in the previous books playing a role in this book. We are able to see what they've been up to since we left them. It was icing on the cake for me as I got to see all of their happily ever afters continue on. I'm not going to lie... I'm kinda sad to see this series come to an end! But it's definitely one that I will be reading over and over again! If you haven't read these books yet then I highly recommend you add them to your TBR list!
I have been a Ms. Peel fan from the very first book of hers I read and I don't see that changing anytime soon! She is a very talented author! I look forward to seeing where she takes us next!
And let's just take a moment and stare at these two. I may be a bit bias but I think they are perfect! What do you think?!
June 20, 2018
I swear I think I am a Jennifer Peel book addict. I sit around craving her books and then a new one drops in my inbox and I'm on my way to a serious high. I devour each book and then I'm always, ALWAYS, left with a major book hangover. This book was no different. It honestly took me so long to get over this book and move on. I wanted to wallow and read it again.
The tension and build up in this book had my ovaries singing out in desperate frustration. Waiting for that first kiss was sweet torture but was it worth it? Oh, yumma yes! Nick makes fanning yourself a necessity. Honestly.
Kate was great too and I love the way she loved Nick's daughter. Kate's heart is big. But honestly? It was the Nick show for me. My ovaries are still chanting out Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. . .
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
I swear I think I am a Jennifer Peel book addict. I sit around craving her books and then a new one drops in my inbox and I'm on my way to a serious high. I devour each book and then I'm always, ALWAYS, left with a major book hangover. This book was no different. It honestly took me so long to get over this book and move on. I wanted to wallow and read it again.
The tension and build up in this book had my ovaries singing out in desperate frustration. Waiting for that first kiss was sweet torture but was it worth it? Oh, yumma yes! Nick makes fanning yourself a necessity. Honestly.
Kate was great too and I love the way she loved Nick's daughter. Kate's heart is big. But honestly? It was the Nick show for me. My ovaries are still chanting out Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. . .
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The tension and build up in this book had my ovaries singing out in desperate frustration. Waiting for that first kiss was sweet torture but was it worth it? Oh, yumma yes! Nick makes fanning yourself a necessity. Honestly.
Kate was great too and I love the way she loved Nick's daughter. Kate's heart is big. But honestly? It was the Nick show for me. My ovaries are still chanting out Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. . .
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
I swear I think I am a Jennifer Peel book addict. I sit around craving her books and then a new one drops in my inbox and I'm on my way to a serious high. I devour each book and then I'm always, ALWAYS, left with a major book hangover. This book was no different. It honestly took me so long to get over this book and move on. I wanted to wallow and read it again.
The tension and build up in this book had my ovaries singing out in desperate frustration. Waiting for that first kiss was sweet torture but was it worth it? Oh, yumma yes! Nick makes fanning yourself a necessity. Honestly.
Kate was great too and I love the way she loved Nick's daughter. Kate's heart is big. But honestly? It was the Nick show for me. My ovaries are still chanting out Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. . .
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 16, 2018
Jennifer did it again! Each time I read a new book of hers I think "Oh this one is my favorite!"
Reading this book trumped everything else on my to-do list. I flew through the pages and could not put this down until I finished it! Another fabulous, unforgettable story from one of my favorite authors.
Reading this book trumped everything else on my to-do list. I flew through the pages and could not put this down until I finished it! Another fabulous, unforgettable story from one of my favorite authors.
June 23, 2018
I love a good celebrity novel and this one is a total hit! Reading a Jennifer Peel novel is dangerous. Not only is it impossible to put the book down, but I become so immersed in the story that I feel the burning-fires-of passion kind of butterflies!
Kate is a cynic and she has a very good reason to be that way. I loved the way the story gradually revealed her reasons and showed a personal growth that wasn't easy to go through. But a beautiful beginning emerges from the smoldering chemistry that cautiously develops.
As much as I loved Kate, Nick and his daughter completely stole the show. Kate's connection with her tugs on the heartstrings and fulfills a need, while her hesitant attachment with Nick knocks you off your feet. Seriously...read at your own risk.
Content: mild+ romance (bigamy, some innuendo, kissing); mild language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for them.*
Kate is a cynic and she has a very good reason to be that way. I loved the way the story gradually revealed her reasons and showed a personal growth that wasn't easy to go through. But a beautiful beginning emerges from the smoldering chemistry that cautiously develops.
As much as I loved Kate, Nick and his daughter completely stole the show. Kate's connection with her tugs on the heartstrings and fulfills a need, while her hesitant attachment with Nick knocks you off your feet. Seriously...read at your own risk.
Content: mild+ romance (bigamy, some innuendo, kissing); mild language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for them.*
August 2, 2018
I honestly don't think there is anything Jennifer Peel writes that does not BLOW MY READING MIND. The characterizations are always well fleshed out complex fascinating studies of human nature with clean, but steamy sparks of chemistry coming off the pages between the romance's hero and heroine. I love romances with smart psychologists as the heroine (nothing like self analysis and analysis of your possible partner). Kapow! Add a famous Hollywood star of the screen as the hero and you have an enthralling read!
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean. Kisses only. Pregnant characters and innuendo how it happened.
Source: Amazon Prime Reading loan.
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean. Kisses only. Pregnant characters and innuendo how it happened.
Source: Amazon Prime Reading loan.
July 22, 2018
I've really enjoyed the Dating by Design series. A fun setting and cast of characters. I hope we'll get more books in this series, maybe one from the POV of a client of Binary Search...that could be a lot of fun! This was a fun installment in the series. I liked the overall plot and characters.
Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U
Content: Clean, kisses, mild language, no violence or religious content
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U
Content: Clean, kisses, mild language, no violence or religious content
Source: Kindle Unlimited
August 25, 2022
I begged and pleaded the author for an advanced copy of this book. She very kindly allowed it, feeding my obsession with her work. As I read it, I kept harassing her with comments - going from annoyed, to hating the main love interest, to finally loving him. Jennifer Peel does an amazing job of pulling the reader in with humour, engaging characters, swoony romance, and a fast-paced storyline that includes several twists and turns. Sigh. I love her work.
Seeing familiar characters from past stories in the series and having them play more than just a passing line or two in the story really added to the interest, in my opinion. Having more than one couple get their happily ever after was even more satisfying. Readers should read the stories in order to understand the series. While some of the characters are new, most are the backbone of the storytelling and without the backstory, it would be difficult to enjoy it to the full extent. There is no cliffhanger in any of the stories but they do need to be read in order.
This series is excellent and I hope there will be more. I loved it and will certainly be reading it again and again. I highly recommend it.
Seeing familiar characters from past stories in the series and having them play more than just a passing line or two in the story really added to the interest, in my opinion. Having more than one couple get their happily ever after was even more satisfying. Readers should read the stories in order to understand the series. While some of the characters are new, most are the backbone of the storytelling and without the backstory, it would be difficult to enjoy it to the full extent. There is no cliffhanger in any of the stories but they do need to be read in order.
This series is excellent and I hope there will be more. I loved it and will certainly be reading it again and again. I highly recommend it.
July 1, 2018
4 1/2 stars. Really cute!
August 14, 2018
Fun! When I need something cute and flirty, Jennifer Peel always comes through for me
June 26, 2018
Romance
I just finished this book and I'm in a puddle. This was oh so good. You know how sometimes, you just scan over words, or even paragraphs to get to the good part? Not in this book. I read every single word. I couldn't get enough. In fact, I worked out on a treadmill and walked more than I thought I did because I was so engrossed in this story. There was angst, humor, mystery, and romance and it kept me turning the pages.
This is the third book in the series. I recommend reading them all in order to get the full effect. I really do hope there is more to come.
This is a clean romance with a few curse words. I also enjoyed the subtle message of abstinence and respect of life for unborn babies.
I just finished this book and I'm in a puddle. This was oh so good. You know how sometimes, you just scan over words, or even paragraphs to get to the good part? Not in this book. I read every single word. I couldn't get enough. In fact, I worked out on a treadmill and walked more than I thought I did because I was so engrossed in this story. There was angst, humor, mystery, and romance and it kept me turning the pages.
This is the third book in the series. I recommend reading them all in order to get the full effect. I really do hope there is more to come.
This is a clean romance with a few curse words. I also enjoyed the subtle message of abstinence and respect of life for unborn babies.
July 30, 2020
Curse you Jennifer Peel! It is like you don't want my house to get cleaned! Nothing got done while I was reading this. And I don't even care! It was SO good! Now I need to re read the other books in the series!
June 21, 2018
Another great read from Jennifer Peel
July 17, 2018
Clear Your Schedule For This Book!
I can’t ever say enough good things about Jennifer Peel’s books!
When psychologist, Kate, meets Hollywood star, Nicholas Wells, as a client for an online dating company she works for, he does not make a good first impression. She’s concerned that he is a narcissist, and will end up damaging their image. The more she gets to know Nick, the more she realizes that he is not the man he led her to believe on his questionnaire.
Nick was charming, funny, and knew exactly how to draw Kate in. The chemistry between these two poured right off the page, while still keeping the book clean. I have already been back rereading sections of this book: parts that were romantic, parts that were funny, and parts that were achingly sweet.
Nick’s family was amazing as well. I would have married him for his father and his daughter, Skye, alone. His father was a hoot, and Skye was sweet and so open with Kate. I loved seeing Kate’s relationship with Nick’s family grow, even though their romance had its bumps along the way.
This is a book you will not want to put down! It is also one that you will want to reread again and again!
I can’t ever say enough good things about Jennifer Peel’s books!
When psychologist, Kate, meets Hollywood star, Nicholas Wells, as a client for an online dating company she works for, he does not make a good first impression. She’s concerned that he is a narcissist, and will end up damaging their image. The more she gets to know Nick, the more she realizes that he is not the man he led her to believe on his questionnaire.
Nick was charming, funny, and knew exactly how to draw Kate in. The chemistry between these two poured right off the page, while still keeping the book clean. I have already been back rereading sections of this book: parts that were romantic, parts that were funny, and parts that were achingly sweet.
Nick’s family was amazing as well. I would have married him for his father and his daughter, Skye, alone. His father was a hoot, and Skye was sweet and so open with Kate. I loved seeing Kate’s relationship with Nick’s family grow, even though their romance had its bumps along the way.
This is a book you will not want to put down! It is also one that you will want to reread again and again!
June 21, 2018
Kate Morgan has a secret: She was once married to a narcissistic bigamist. The illegal marriage was annulled and she was devastated to realize that she had fallen for such an awful man. She now has 20 rules in place that keep her from making another mistake like that one. Because she was once married to a narcissistic man, she is able to recognize a lot of those qualities in famous actor Nicholas Wells when he comes to their matchmaking company to be matched.
Nick breaks almost every one of Kate's rules. He turns her life upside down in almost every imaginable way. And yet, with his 15-year-old daughter Skylar, he completely works his way into her heart.
This has been a great series! Because they all work together at Binary Search we get to see characters from previous books play a part in Nick and Kate's story, too. Another well loved character gets her match in this book, too - that was a fun surprise!
Every time I get to the end of one of Jennifer Peel's series, I start thinking: "Isn't there someone else's story she can write in this series?" I always have a hard time ending one of her series, even though I know I'm going to love her next series, too! On that note, if you haven't read The Sidelined Wife yet, I highly recommend it - I can't wait for the next book in that series to come out!
Content: Clean
Source: Advanced Reader Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
Nick breaks almost every one of Kate's rules. He turns her life upside down in almost every imaginable way. And yet, with his 15-year-old daughter Skylar, he completely works his way into her heart.
This has been a great series! Because they all work together at Binary Search we get to see characters from previous books play a part in Nick and Kate's story, too. Another well loved character gets her match in this book, too - that was a fun surprise!
Every time I get to the end of one of Jennifer Peel's series, I start thinking: "Isn't there someone else's story she can write in this series?" I always have a hard time ending one of her series, even though I know I'm going to love her next series, too! On that note, if you haven't read The Sidelined Wife yet, I highly recommend it - I can't wait for the next book in that series to come out!
Content: Clean
Source: Advanced Reader Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
June 27, 2018
FIVE STARS!!!!
What a great book this was! Seriously, I tried to pace myself with it and soak up every toe-curling moment, but it's so hard to do when first reading a book by Jennifer Peel.
Nick is egotistical and considered a narcissist, yet there is so much more than meets the eye. And I mean literally. He is definitely the epitome of a swoon-worthy hero (my ovaries are still over here doing the cha cha), but the way he acts and the things he does only add to his attractiveness.
Kate was wonderful. I absolutely loved reading from her perspective and understanding her background. She is smart and caring, and yet afraid to make a mistake and therefore lives by rules she created to keep her safe. Watching her try to figure Nick out, while trying not to fall for him at the same time, was such a joy.
There were many comedic moments that had me bursting into laughter, and also tender moments that had me sighing with content. Another incredible romance by the gifted and talented Jennifer Peel!!!
What a great book this was! Seriously, I tried to pace myself with it and soak up every toe-curling moment, but it's so hard to do when first reading a book by Jennifer Peel.
Nick is egotistical and considered a narcissist, yet there is so much more than meets the eye. And I mean literally. He is definitely the epitome of a swoon-worthy hero (my ovaries are still over here doing the cha cha), but the way he acts and the things he does only add to his attractiveness.
Kate was wonderful. I absolutely loved reading from her perspective and understanding her background. She is smart and caring, and yet afraid to make a mistake and therefore lives by rules she created to keep her safe. Watching her try to figure Nick out, while trying not to fall for him at the same time, was such a joy.
There were many comedic moments that had me bursting into laughter, and also tender moments that had me sighing with content. Another incredible romance by the gifted and talented Jennifer Peel!!!
November 3, 2018
Love this author’s writing style but Kate’s character drove me nuts! Every bad stereotype for therapists inhabits this character. She analyzes and gives out professional advice to everyone but doesn’t adhere to any of it herself. She is extremely judgmental and really hard to like as a character. I never could understand what Nicholas sees in her. We are never given any reason on his end and it sure doesn’t come out in her sterling personality! I did like the interaction between her and his daughter, Skye, though. So there is that. :)
July 27, 2018
4+ Stars
This one was a little slow for me at the start but not long after I was hooked. Yessss, so much so I stayed up late to finish it - book consumed in one sitting! Happy sighs and a good ending; worth the read!
This one was a little slow for me at the start but not long after I was hooked. Yessss, so much so I stayed up late to finish it - book consumed in one sitting! Happy sighs and a good ending; worth the read!
October 21, 2018
I like this series, but the covers bug me. They are each so unrelated to the story.
Clean romance.
Clean romance.
June 30, 2018
I just love this Author’s stories!!! Really looking forward to the upcoming books in her series & crossing my fingers we’ll get Skye & Liam’s book in the near future!!!
June 21, 2018
Another sweet romance
As a big Jennifer Peel fan, I was highly satisfied by the latest Dating by Design book. Kate and Nick are great characters to get to know. Kate's initial impression is that famous actor Nick's written profile doesn't match his real personality: his apparent narcissism doesn't match his strong family bonds as son and father. Kate herself, an intelligent, self-aware psychologist, also has contradictory tendencies: an overwhelming desire for a family and children of her own, and a detachment from others that makes relationships hard to create.
I loved watching these two get to know each other, facing real fears and insecurities that come with being hurt before, but taking a chance on finding love again.
As a big Jennifer Peel fan, I was highly satisfied by the latest Dating by Design book. Kate and Nick are great characters to get to know. Kate's initial impression is that famous actor Nick's written profile doesn't match his real personality: his apparent narcissism doesn't match his strong family bonds as son and father. Kate herself, an intelligent, self-aware psychologist, also has contradictory tendencies: an overwhelming desire for a family and children of her own, and a detachment from others that makes relationships hard to create.
I loved watching these two get to know each other, facing real fears and insecurities that come with being hurt before, but taking a chance on finding love again.
June 26, 2018
Another fun one from Jennifer Peel This is the 3rd book in the Dating by Design series. Each of the books have been so awesome…and witty. This one pairs up Kate, Binary’s Dating Service’s resident psychologist, with Nick Wells, an over-the-top handsome, egotistical movie star. When Nick signs up for Binary’s matchmaking services, Kate questions whether that is wise. The man seems like a total narcissist to her. And she should know since she’s dealt with one up close and personal before. Her boss asks her to be his Relationship Manager, which she is loathe to do. But her job is on the line. So Kate tries to do her best. But when her heart betrays her by always liking the man, the lines between professional and friendly get very muddy. She doesn’t know quite what to think of the man. On the one hand, he’s obviously a narcissist. But then he’ll do something to confuse her.
I really loved this one. The characters are awesome. It was a fun character arc to see Nick grow into someone I could like. I was with Kate in the beginning and thought he was an A-class jerk. But he grew on me, and by the end I really liked him. The side characters are hilarious as well. You have the Nanettes from the other 2 books and then Nick’s teenage daughter. Seeing Zander and Meg in this one (from book 2) was gratifying also. And the ending of this was phenomenal. So good!!!
I really loved this one. The characters are awesome. It was a fun character arc to see Nick grow into someone I could like. I was with Kate in the beginning and thought he was an A-class jerk. But he grew on me, and by the end I really liked him. The side characters are hilarious as well. You have the Nanettes from the other 2 books and then Nick’s teenage daughter. Seeing Zander and Meg in this one (from book 2) was gratifying also. And the ending of this was phenomenal. So good!!!
August 5, 2018
This was a good book, it just wasn’t for me. I feel like there was so much miscommunication between the characters and confusion. It is a VERY slow building love story and I guess that’s just not what I’m used to. I felt like I waited forever for them to finally get together.
Kate has been burned, she is very hesitant to trust men, she meets Nick (famous actor) and immediately does not want anything to do with him even though she was his biggest fan years ago. She is supposed to be his relationship manager at the matchmaking company he was using. Due to his profile she is convinced he is a narcissist and feels like they shouldn’t be helping him. What she doesn’t understand is why he is insisting on spending all his time with her and not his dates. She is forever skeptical of him throughout the book.
I will say that the last 10% of the book was very sweet and I liked it.
Kate has been burned, she is very hesitant to trust men, she meets Nick (famous actor) and immediately does not want anything to do with him even though she was his biggest fan years ago. She is supposed to be his relationship manager at the matchmaking company he was using. Due to his profile she is convinced he is a narcissist and feels like they shouldn’t be helping him. What she doesn’t understand is why he is insisting on spending all his time with her and not his dates. She is forever skeptical of him throughout the book.
I will say that the last 10% of the book was very sweet and I liked it.
June 22, 2018
No kissing until 82 percent into the book but the wait is worth it. Narcissistic Tendencies is book 3 in the Dating by Design series. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from previous books. Like the previous books this one kept me laughing at times.
July 5, 2018
Does not disappoint!
Jennifer Peel never disappoints! I loved Nick and Kate story. Narcissistic tendencies was hard to put down, I was hooked for the start!
Jennifer Peel never disappoints! I loved Nick and Kate story. Narcissistic tendencies was hard to put down, I was hooked for the start!
September 18, 2018
I've rated most books by this author as 5 stars. This was a good story but a bit slow and wordy. I skipped over a lot of long paragraphs and perused quite a few times.
January 25, 2023
Making Rules and Breaking Hearts?
Narcissistic Tendencies by Jennifer Peel cleverly examines the role of rules--making them and breaking them--in romance, especially when the rule-maker has done it to avoid the terrible experience that turned her off romance in the first place.
Kate, resident psychologist at Binary Search--Atlanta's premier matchmaking service--has sworn off falling for men in high-divorce professions like police officers, as well as men who care only about themselves, present themselves falsely, enchant his girlfriend and her family, and drop them when he has no further use for them. The second set of traits describes her ex-"husband ", Douglas, a classic narcissist who seemed--and was--too good to be true. When Kate miscarried, he told her it was over, that he was already married, and that she and her parents meant nothing to him. Not wanting to go through that kind of pain again, Kate developed a list of rules and abides by those rules to the present.
Successful TV actor Nicholas Wells signs up for the service, and Kate's friend Kenadie, owner of Binary Search, jumps at the opportunity to promote her business using her famous client. He makes the principals of the company sign a non-disclosure agreement, and since Kate has already signed it, Kenadie persuades her to be his relationship manager, a role that involves a "client date" to evaluate the client's behavior on an actual date, not just on paper or in an interview, before matching the client with three potential love interests. Because of his schedule, Kate has a very short time in which to match him, and once his commercial airs, she also must evaluate many more potential clients--most of whom want to date Nick. Some are downright loony, like the woman who showed Kate her Nick tattoo on a private body part and proudly announced that she had a shrine to him in her bedroom. Truth be told, Kate had a poster of Nick in her own bedroom during her college fangirl phase. She also wrote "Kate Wells" on her notebooks, a high school act for a college student, but got over it by the time she met Douglas. Or did she?
Nick annoys Kate with his rudeness--no hello, goodbye, or thank you. He also refuses to ask any of his three matches on a second date, and he violates client date conventions by taking Kate to his father's restaurant and introducing her to his widowed father and Skylar, his fifteen-year-old daughter by his first wife, a supermodel who was so unhappy with motherhood she left Nick and Skye when the little girl was six. Nick is devoted to his daughter, and Kate bonds with her quickly due to her sweetness and friendliness. Skye calls Kate her dad's "girlfriend", a title the increasingly smitten Kate doesn't refuse.
Nick takes Kate and Skye back to his L.A. home in Laguna Beach, where Skye and her best California friend run around Universal Studios and Nick takes Kate on a private tour, where he kisses her. Skilled from lots of practice on-set, he blows Kate away! Soon they are spending every Skye-free moment together.
Nick has been working on a screenplay and is nearly ready to pitch the movie to a major studio. His partner arrives and, while congratulating Kate on inspiring Nick, lets slip that he only pretended to need a dating service to obtain information for his screenplay, which features a " broken psychologist " as its main character. Furious at both Nick and herself, Kate leaves, only to be caught at the door of her Uber ride by Nick, who berates her for running away from anything that could be good in her life.
Back in Atlanta, a tearful talk with her mother gives Kate evidence that he's not the monster Douglas was--he helped her father repair a DIY disaster at their house and took time to help the widows and children of police officers killed in the line of duty. He even referred one of those widows to Binary Search, and she spoke well of his unselfish efforts in her behalf. Kate becomes convinced that Nice Nick is the real deal and Nasty Nick was a character he created as his dating service persona. She's still hurting, though.
Kate spills her humiliation to Kenadie and Meg, a former co-worker whose romance was told in Statistically Improbable, the previous book in Peel's Dating by Design series. They agree that Kate should step down as Nick's relationship manager and let the mania decrease to a manageable level. Then Kate goes back to her office and finds a note from Nick. He writes that he never thought of her as broken and includes a copy of his screenplay for her to read. It's different from Kate's life and portrays the psychologist as drawn into a murder investigation. The title: Narcisstic Tendencies.
The fifth star was lost when Kate stupidly compared Nick to Douglas. Otherwise, it's worth reading and I recommend it.
Narcissistic Tendencies by Jennifer Peel cleverly examines the role of rules--making them and breaking them--in romance, especially when the rule-maker has done it to avoid the terrible experience that turned her off romance in the first place.
Kate, resident psychologist at Binary Search--Atlanta's premier matchmaking service--has sworn off falling for men in high-divorce professions like police officers, as well as men who care only about themselves, present themselves falsely, enchant his girlfriend and her family, and drop them when he has no further use for them. The second set of traits describes her ex-"husband ", Douglas, a classic narcissist who seemed--and was--too good to be true. When Kate miscarried, he told her it was over, that he was already married, and that she and her parents meant nothing to him. Not wanting to go through that kind of pain again, Kate developed a list of rules and abides by those rules to the present.
Successful TV actor Nicholas Wells signs up for the service, and Kate's friend Kenadie, owner of Binary Search, jumps at the opportunity to promote her business using her famous client. He makes the principals of the company sign a non-disclosure agreement, and since Kate has already signed it, Kenadie persuades her to be his relationship manager, a role that involves a "client date" to evaluate the client's behavior on an actual date, not just on paper or in an interview, before matching the client with three potential love interests. Because of his schedule, Kate has a very short time in which to match him, and once his commercial airs, she also must evaluate many more potential clients--most of whom want to date Nick. Some are downright loony, like the woman who showed Kate her Nick tattoo on a private body part and proudly announced that she had a shrine to him in her bedroom. Truth be told, Kate had a poster of Nick in her own bedroom during her college fangirl phase. She also wrote "Kate Wells" on her notebooks, a high school act for a college student, but got over it by the time she met Douglas. Or did she?
Nick annoys Kate with his rudeness--no hello, goodbye, or thank you. He also refuses to ask any of his three matches on a second date, and he violates client date conventions by taking Kate to his father's restaurant and introducing her to his widowed father and Skylar, his fifteen-year-old daughter by his first wife, a supermodel who was so unhappy with motherhood she left Nick and Skye when the little girl was six. Nick is devoted to his daughter, and Kate bonds with her quickly due to her sweetness and friendliness. Skye calls Kate her dad's "girlfriend", a title the increasingly smitten Kate doesn't refuse.
Nick takes Kate and Skye back to his L.A. home in Laguna Beach, where Skye and her best California friend run around Universal Studios and Nick takes Kate on a private tour, where he kisses her. Skilled from lots of practice on-set, he blows Kate away! Soon they are spending every Skye-free moment together.
Nick has been working on a screenplay and is nearly ready to pitch the movie to a major studio. His partner arrives and, while congratulating Kate on inspiring Nick, lets slip that he only pretended to need a dating service to obtain information for his screenplay, which features a " broken psychologist " as its main character. Furious at both Nick and herself, Kate leaves, only to be caught at the door of her Uber ride by Nick, who berates her for running away from anything that could be good in her life.
Back in Atlanta, a tearful talk with her mother gives Kate evidence that he's not the monster Douglas was--he helped her father repair a DIY disaster at their house and took time to help the widows and children of police officers killed in the line of duty. He even referred one of those widows to Binary Search, and she spoke well of his unselfish efforts in her behalf. Kate becomes convinced that Nice Nick is the real deal and Nasty Nick was a character he created as his dating service persona. She's still hurting, though.
Kate spills her humiliation to Kenadie and Meg, a former co-worker whose romance was told in Statistically Improbable, the previous book in Peel's Dating by Design series. They agree that Kate should step down as Nick's relationship manager and let the mania decrease to a manageable level. Then Kate goes back to her office and finds a note from Nick. He writes that he never thought of her as broken and includes a copy of his screenplay for her to read. It's different from Kate's life and portrays the psychologist as drawn into a murder investigation. The title: Narcisstic Tendencies.
The fifth star was lost when Kate stupidly compared Nick to Douglas. Otherwise, it's worth reading and I recommend it.
May 12, 2021
If you’re a fan of Jennifer Peels ‘Not So Wicked’ series, you’re going to love this one too. This was such a fantastic story, it had all the feels. Humour, swoony kisses, romantic letters, a heartbreaking history, and of course that spine tingling chemistry.
The synopsis covered the story pretty well, so I won’t spoil anything for you. It had some hilarious moments that had my husband looking over at me questioningly as I would randomly burst out laughing at some of the moments in this story. Just wait until you reach a little over halfway through, you’ll know what I mean when you reach it and you’ll die. Lol.
I love how real Jennifer Peels novels are. They are just regular people looking for something special (even if he is famous). Sometimes that means getting hurt along the way, but when you meet the right person, even if it takes a while, that hurt can start to fade away. And that usually means that her characters have a messy or painful past. Could be a bad marriage, or they’re single parents, or the many other unfortunate things that life can throw people. But it’s real, and it gives everyone a little getaway from their own life and reminds us all that everyone has their baggage but they can also have their happy ending if they’re willing to put in a little effort.
You need to read this book, you will not be disappointed. I loved it so much, I could sing it praises for days.
I haven’t read the first to books in the series yet. I couldn’t help but pick this one up immediately after reading the synopsis. I did feel a little lost at some points, like I was missing the history of her friends stories, which were the first couple of books. So I would recommend reading them first if you want the whole scope of the story before diving in.
Content
Romance: clean. Some swoony kisses.
Violence: none. Some talk of a serial killer for a script but not descriptive.
Language: none.
The synopsis covered the story pretty well, so I won’t spoil anything for you. It had some hilarious moments that had my husband looking over at me questioningly as I would randomly burst out laughing at some of the moments in this story. Just wait until you reach a little over halfway through, you’ll know what I mean when you reach it and you’ll die. Lol.
I love how real Jennifer Peels novels are. They are just regular people looking for something special (even if he is famous). Sometimes that means getting hurt along the way, but when you meet the right person, even if it takes a while, that hurt can start to fade away. And that usually means that her characters have a messy or painful past. Could be a bad marriage, or they’re single parents, or the many other unfortunate things that life can throw people. But it’s real, and it gives everyone a little getaway from their own life and reminds us all that everyone has their baggage but they can also have their happy ending if they’re willing to put in a little effort.
You need to read this book, you will not be disappointed. I loved it so much, I could sing it praises for days.
I haven’t read the first to books in the series yet. I couldn’t help but pick this one up immediately after reading the synopsis. I did feel a little lost at some points, like I was missing the history of her friends stories, which were the first couple of books. So I would recommend reading them first if you want the whole scope of the story before diving in.
Content
Romance: clean. Some swoony kisses.
Violence: none. Some talk of a serial killer for a script but not descriptive.
Language: none.
November 11, 2022
I don't know why it took me so long to rescue this book from my TBR pile because I'd already read the first two books in the Dating by Design series: His Personal Relationship Manager and Statistically Improbable.
Jennifer Peel quickly became one of my favorite clean contemporary authors. Her books are clean but definitely not boring. The characters have dimension and make me feel so many emotions, then there are those sizzling, swoony kisses!! Kate isn't looking for love but of course she can't help but be attracted to Nick once she realizes his true personality doesn't match what's on his questionaire. Then there's his daughter Skye, who Kate forms a bond with fairly quickly. It took Nick quite awhile to get past the walls Kate had built up from her failed marriage. She didn't have confidence in her choices since she'd been fooled before.
The author does a wonderful job of reminding us who the other characters are in the story, Kenadie and Jason & Meg and Zander, are and how they fit in the series, so if you haven't read the previous books you should be fine. It had been 4 years since I'd read the other books and I didn't have a problem.
Jennifer Peel quickly became one of my favorite clean contemporary authors. Her books are clean but definitely not boring. The characters have dimension and make me feel so many emotions, then there are those sizzling, swoony kisses!! Kate isn't looking for love but of course she can't help but be attracted to Nick once she realizes his true personality doesn't match what's on his questionaire. Then there's his daughter Skye, who Kate forms a bond with fairly quickly. It took Nick quite awhile to get past the walls Kate had built up from her failed marriage. She didn't have confidence in her choices since she'd been fooled before.
The author does a wonderful job of reminding us who the other characters are in the story, Kenadie and Jason & Meg and Zander, are and how they fit in the series, so if you haven't read the previous books you should be fine. It had been 4 years since I'd read the other books and I didn't have a problem.
July 24, 2018
I've generally enjoyed this series and so was committed to reading this next one. It was interesting to see someone talk about narcissism within the context of relationships and dating. And it seemed obvious from early on that our protagonist wasn't completely unbiased in this regard, perhaps with good reason, but nonetheless, not quite objective.
"...avoid making hard-and-fast rules about relationships--that can cause its share of problems too." Did I just say that? Crap. That's what I was trained to say. So what if it is true for everyone else but me?
Kate has a list of rules, a list of deal-breakers and Nick seems to break every one.
"I'm just trying to prevent any past events." I didn't have to spell out which one.
"And, I would say, any future relationships."
"Probably," I admitted, refusing to look at him.
And the final conflict? The one that always happens in romance novels and splits up our couple just before they find their happily ever after? Sigh. This one just showed how little trust Kate still had. So many of these books hinge on characters' trust...well, that's relationships!
"...avoid making hard-and-fast rules about relationships--that can cause its share of problems too." Did I just say that? Crap. That's what I was trained to say. So what if it is true for everyone else but me?
Kate has a list of rules, a list of deal-breakers and Nick seems to break every one.
"I'm just trying to prevent any past events." I didn't have to spell out which one.
"And, I would say, any future relationships."
"Probably," I admitted, refusing to look at him.
And the final conflict? The one that always happens in romance novels and splits up our couple just before they find their happily ever after? Sigh. This one just showed how little trust Kate still had. So many of these books hinge on characters' trust...well, that's relationships!
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