Title: Elements of Chemistry: Capture
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

This was such a beautiful ending to this trilogy. FINALLY, there is an ending without a horrible cliff-hanger. And Abe is introduced JUST enough for me to be curious about the happenings in Motion. I love that while this fast forwards from the happenings in Heat, there are still snapshots of the time that has passed. Basically, I just loved this whole story and the way that Kaitlyn and Martin’s story ends.

I had a few hopes that I mentioned in my Heat review. Hopes that Kaitlyn would stand up for herself and come into her own. That Martin would get over his assholery and be a better man… and they all came true. Which is honestly obvious from the very start. But I did love how a series of miscommunications drew out that final moment of reconnection. It meant that this was pretty much a cover to cover read for me.

Kaitlyn is such a gorgeous, loveable woman right through this series. Although I love how in this book she starts to figure out how to be the woman she wants. She renegotiated her relationship with her parents, particularly her mother. Figures out how to support herself in her chosen career, and just generally becomes a badass woman. It’s a little cliche that she is getting crushed on by multiple men, but it still emphasises her growing I to her own.

Mostly though it’s the way that Martin changes that made me incredibly happy. He doesn’t necessarily fundamentally change, but he does soften at the edges a bit. And, mostly, he gets so much better at listening to Kaitlyn and her desires. He makes room for someone else in his single mindedness. Which, of course, completely melted my heart. THIS is why I love Penny Reid so much.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Elements of Chemistry: Attraction
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

I wasn’t sure how I’d like this story, since it starts with a girl hiding in a closet, overhearing a drugging and exploitation plot. And then you meet Martin, and it doesn’t necessarily get easier to spend some literary time with him. Although, because it’s Penny Reid, once Martin makes his appearance, you are unequivocally pulled in. I might still be a bit iffy on him after reading this novel, but I’m also completely pulled in – I NEED to find out just WHY he is such a royal dick.

Kaitlyn is a fantastic counterpoint to Martin. She’s incredibly sweet and reserved. And although not comfortable with the “Bunsen burner in her pants” (what a great description), she does seem quite comfortable with herself. That doesn’t mean there is an iota of self-confidence there, but there is comfort and like of oneself.

There is a warning with this story that it does end on a cliff-hanger, so I was expecting that. But the cliff-hanger that it ended on? Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. Or the emotional intensity. I should have expected that from one of my favourite authors. Let’s be honest here. It makes it incredibly difficult not to pick up the next boom immediately. I lasted less than 24 hours before diving into Heat…

I must admit, Sam is an absolutely amazing beat friend. She makes sure Kaitlyn is safe and cared for. She looks out for her and stands up for her. She is the kind of best friend that I think every woman deserves. She’s also willing to set aside her own prejudices so that Kaitlyn is able to experience her own life without a strong, independent, female best friend to cramp her style. The support but willingness to have someone make their own mistakes is just gorgeous.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Elements of Chemistry: Heat
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

Like Attraction, this novel had a pretty untended cliff-hanger. Unlike Attraction, it was kind of horrible. And heartbreaking. And I actually felt my heart break a little bit. I mean I know that Martin and Kaitlyn are going to end up together eventually because… well, romance novel. But it still hurt to read this, and there’s that bit you think is the sad, cliff-hanger ending… and then it just gets worse.

I’m not going to lie, Martin’s background is kind of tragic, and it does hurt your heart. But that really doesn’t excuse his assholery behaviour. And some of his behaviour is seriously not okay. I’m seriously hoping that in Capture all of his mistakes make him realise that maybe he needs to pull back on his damn attitude. Having said that, I still completely loved him. He’s that bad boy trope that you can’t help but love.

To be fair, Kaitlyn’s family isn’t all that great either. At least there’s love there, but it is somewhat neglectful. I don’t love how the inability to communicate causes the horrible badness that ends this story either. But, there’s already moments of Kaitlyn figuring out who she is, so hopefully that continues in Capture. Actually, I probably look forward to Kaitlyn coming into her own more than I look forward to her and Martin finding their way back to each other.

As much as the breakup in this story sucks, I’m 100% behind Kaitlyn’s decision. It’s hard to imagine the heartbreak that she goes through, but Martin breaks so many unwritten relationship rules, it’s hard not to understand why she does it.

Image source: Amazon