Regan O'Riley is a shy software developer who believes she'll never find a woman who can appreciate her self-admitted geekiness. Mel Raines is a lonely cop haunted by a painful past. She has spent years avoiding intimacy with anyone in her life, and she has no intention of changing. Mel and Regan have a chance meeting in, of all places, a straight bar, and both are surprised at the instant chemistry that springs up between them. But their new connection is put to the test when tragedy strikes Mel's life, forcing her to reconsider her career and her path for the future. When Regan suggests an impromptu road trip to the American Southwest, Mel is eager to grab hold of a temporary escape from reality. But in close company, these two will be tested in ways they never expected. What will happen as they re-examine their choices and their definitions of family? Can Regan and Mel manage to get past obstacles that seem insurmountable?
Born in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Meghan O’Brien relocated to Northern California in 2005. As a transplant, she enjoys the moderate weather and gorgeous scenery of the Bay Area. Meghan lives with her wife, their son, three cats, three dogs, two snakes and several tarantulas. Yes, it can be just as chaotic as it sounds.
Meghan’s day job is as a software developer, but her real passion is writing. From her humble beginnings creating numerous “books� out of construction paper and crayons as soon as she learned to write, to her several published novels and various anthology contributions, writing is what makes her feel most complete. (from the author's website)
4 1/2 stars. I Loved this! I believe this is the third book I have read by O'Brien, and by far my favorite. Was this an exciting book? No, but a few parts sprinkled in had excitement. Is this book too long? Yeah, a little bit. It could be cut down a few pages. But so what! I loved it anyway! This was a book about a romantic relationship from start to HEA. It was so nice to read a book that wasn't about two characters meet, but don't really like each other even as sparks fly. It wasn't about Characters getting together then the floor falls apart because of a miscommunication, lie, etc.. Then as readers we have to see how long it will take to fix the stupid miscommunication. No, this was a story about two very likable characters falling in love, and helping each other deal with painful pasts as their connection grew stronger. This is what I want to read about when I pick up a F/F romance. Don't pass this one up!
That's it folks! It's all over for me. There will never be a more perfect WLW/LesFic romance for me, ever!
I truly adored this book and the sensitive, honest characters of Regan and Mel. I've always said communication is sexy, and the contents of this novel proves it entirely, for me. We see a relationship progress with such utter realness and openness, that I will embarrass myself here by admitting it's exactly what I've always wanted in a relationship.
The vulnerability of each character and their issues, and them both deciding not to screw up their potential relationship by deliberately lowering their guard and choosing sincerity in the hopes of something more than they've ever had, truly made me swoon!
Mel is such a troubled yet endearing soul. Tortured by her fathers past abuse and mothers death when she was a child. Constantly trying to prove herself. But also never letting anyone in to be close to her, for fear of abandonment and hurt. To see her open herself up to Regan and expose all those vulnerabilities and for it to be met with enthusiastic support and acceptance from Regan, with her complete and utter understanding and equally beautiful communication and affection in return was so heartening.
Also in return Mel supports and adores Regan in all her nerdy/geeky ways, and encourages her more introverted and shy personality. Regan reminded me a lot of myself in highschool, very shy, trying to stay low and out of the firing line of others, just keeping focused on computers and books, films and gaming, to try and relate and feel 'normal'. Her loneliness and self-consciousness was relatable, and real. Also the fact that in the right settings, with the right people she would allow herself to let go of her inhibitions, and for only those special few people to really see her, fully. For Mel to recognize that, and appreciate that side of her, was also beautiful.
The entire thing just melted my heart so much. These two are perfect together, not because they are perfect people - but because they chose truth and (gasp) talking to get to a place deeper in eachothers hearts. THIS, to me, is a true love story.
Excellent narrator. I've read this book countless times - first when she first posted it online, then when she published it. I believe this was her first novel. Quality wise it may not be as well written as some of my other 5 star books - but I enjoy it every time I re-read it. So for that it deserves 5 stars. I just love Mel & Regan and the relationship journey they take.
Socially awkward, computer genius, gamer h meets her match in a serial half-night stands, artistic, ego booster h.
Will she call or should I call first, is it too soon to call, I really like her but I do not want to look desperate and screw up what could be the greatest love story ever - sounds familiar? Happens to most of us, several times even. The hs are pretty lucky, the eventful night at the straight bar and after Melanie finally finds her guts to call Regan, it sets up a story that defies some expectations and ignites all sorts of emotions.
Computer geek and road trip - the reasons why I read this story. I enjoy Regan's characterization more than Melanie's and even though she struggles in public, she's the confident one in the relationship. Her faith and support towards Melanie, wins her two hearts, Melanie's and mine.
The hs' backstories are something you will not wish to happen to your worst enemies, so get ready to tear up a lil.
Ms.O'Brien pulls out the big guns during the roadtrip, it causes some problems for the hs but the best thing about Melanie and Regan, they talk! The hurdles strengthen their relationship as they deal with their horrible past together, even their sex scenes are upgraded (ladies, the toy is in the house) Successful roadtrip? Most definitely :)
Why not 5? Their lack of confidence is justifiable but still tiresome. For those who experience the same hardships as Melanie and Regan or any other, you should not face them alone. Help is everywhere, even on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
Who doesn't love a geek in an atari ringer shirt? this will be among my favorites for the characters alone. i LOVE that, instead of all the perfect, beautiful women in skirts with lots of money and wine drinking, this book gave me characters i could relate to. Like the redhead computer geek in glasses and ringer t-shirts that was tormented in high school, but throughout the book is described as beautiful in deep and believable ways. it gives us all hope. and then of course the hot grey-eyed (do people really have grey eyes?) motorcycle riding cop. someone with coolness we all wish we had. you start out thinking reagan the geek is hopelessly shy and socially weak, but by the end of the book, you realize that the superficial coolness of Mel is hiding much more vulnerability. In any case, i loved these two characters, and found many situations and dialog that i could completely relate to.
It's just shy of 5 stars for me,(but close enough to round up), because despite the plot and characters, by the end it was sickeningly sweet which i couldn't really completely buy into. this was a fast paced hook-up, they fell in love right away, and didn't stray from that theme for an instant. So on the positive side, you don't have to wait until the end for the 'hook-up', it happens plenty throughout the book. ;) So it's not a book so much about 'falling' in love and angst, it's about the journey these two women in love take to tie up some lose ends in their lives, and put some demons to rest. They are on a journey to put an end to the 'infinite loop' both of their lives seem to have gotten stuck in. (i loved the explanation of that in the book too)
only minor editing flaws that weren't significant enough to detract from the story. i highly recommend this book, and it's one that can be read more than once.
I liked this a lot. Can the heart of the reader beat as hard as the protagonists when there is about to happen something? This happened to me when Regan got cornered by three teenage boys in Dave and Busters and she is about to face her social anxiety. I must say, I could relate to Regan's character very much. The fear of the geek to bore people with deep philosophical thoughts, the inability for meaningless small talk and the difficulty to open up to strangers in contrast to the ability for frank openness with a select group of friends. On the other hand as a counterpart, but actually as part of a perfect symmetry Mel, who seems perfectly social but keeps other people at arm's length for fear of getting hurt. This is the constellation we have in this book and it makes an interesting read. Throughout the whole book, both characters are in a seesawing motion of insecurity and overcoming insecurity. When Mel feels inadequate it is quickly resolved by Regan's sincere and unreserved way to act. When Regan feels imperfect Mel shows an inner strength and devotion that belies her fears. Even though one might argue that Mel overcomes her fears much too quickly, it seems believable if we take into account that another person can act as a catalyst and that when one has broken through some invisible barrier the dam is broken and everything moves very quickly almost rushing along in an unstoppable motion. I especially liked about the book that we do not have the typical "too afraid to talk to each other and resolve problems" pattern. What can we learn from this? Friendship is a big part of love. Trust and openness are an integral part of friendship. The fear of being hurt causes more pain than the hurt itself.
I've had this on my TBR stack for a while and now I've finished I'm not sure why I let it sit there so long. I LOVED this book. Both characters are great, their back stories have genuine depth and there is no breakup angst in this book at all, which made it refreshing and unusual.
The book is really well balanced, covering life tragedies - both current and past - with both insight and empathy. Mel and Regan fall in love with each other - opening up a new world neither had previously considered.
Regan is a geek, who has some of the typical introvert tendencies you'd probably associate with a character of this type and I really appreciated how O'Brien doesn't turn this into a "fault", instead using this trait to provide some really nice, as well as comedic moments in the story. Mel is a cop with a buried sensitive side. For me seeing her become aware of this and open herself up to a chosen family of both Regan and her work partner was my favourite part of the book.
I'm definitely going to want to read this one again and I'd recommend it to any wlw romance fan.
I thought this was okay. The author herself admits this book is less polished since it's her first. The main lead, Mel, is an interesting character at first but her issues get resolved way too easily...that's the cynic in me, I guess...so this makes for a syrupy romance with a handful of erotica thrown in. Most of this occurs on a road trip after a life changing event. It was refreshing to see the other lead, Regan, as a completely unconventional love interest...geeky, curvy, glasses, socially awkward...I'm a sucker for imperfect (aka more real to life) protagonists. If you're in the mood for a somewhat darker toned yet feel good romance that is on the "everything falls into place perfectly" side, this will do.
Good, but this was one of her first published novels and it shows. Her later books are much more polished and well written. For a first novel though it's pretty great and you can already see her signature blend of erotica and soulful romance developing.
The obvious self insertion (Regan O'Reilly > Meghan O'Brien) pulled me out of the story a bit, but it was more amusing than irritating.
Doh! No brainer - just loved it - a really good story that carried me all the way. If doing a thesis might creak around the edges but as a sit down and read story - can't be beaten. Even on a reread! Class.
2nd read on 4 May 2024: Updating my rating from 3 Stars to 4.25 Stars. This was very sweet. I couldn't remember why I gave it 3 Stars on my first read but glad that I gave it another go.
The characters were well developed, easy to relate to and very likeable. You fall in love with them as they work through their journey to accept their imperfections and discover their perfection for each other.
4.25 stars This story is primarily about two women onÌýan emotional journey. Regan O'Reilly meets gorgeous cop Mel Raines at a straight bar and is immediately smitten with her. While the attraction is mutual, Mel is used to picking up women for sex, not dating. So she is shocked to find that when Regan says she isn't interested in a one night stand and wants more from someone, she is willing to consider it. After a tragedy at work, Mel turns to Regan for comfort and they decide to embark on a 10 day road trip to get away and see the country. That journey helps them both work through old demons and open their eyes to new possibilities. This was my first time reading Infinite Loop and I didn't know until after I listenedÌýto it that it was Meghan O'Brien's first published book. I should have had a clue. Her protagonistÌýis Regan O'Reilly (uh.... yeah) and she's a computer geek who writes programs and loves video games. And has red hair. Anyone who knows anything about Meghan knows that those things are all her. She did say in an interview that she had taken a road trip with a previous girlfriend and that thisÌýwas her most personal book,Ìýso at least some of it was based on her experience. As a long-time fan of her work, it was definitely different from others thatÌýfollow. Those that think of O'Brien's books might associate her work with erotica - or at the minimum, sex-heavy books. While this eventually does have (hot) sex, it's a slow burn and takes them a while to get there. As I was listening to this, I thought it really could have been two books. It was a 13 hour listen and once or twice I thought, "This could end nicely here" and then it would keep going. And what would follow was good, but it mayÌýhave worked even better as a two book release. Overall I enjoyed it and found the narration by Eva Christensen to work quite well. She was an unfamiliar voice and in general, I think she faithfullyÌýpulled off the characters. Their childhood experiences were especially moving and were quite well written. This was definitely an impressive debut by O'Brien and I'm happy knowing she has enjoyed such a prolific career.
I've read Meghan O'Brien wrote the steamiest, kinkiest sex scene in her books. I also have read she wrote something like Endgame that goes deep into your heart. Infinite Loop is definitely the latter. I've been on and off reading these days, but this book really makes me smile!
I Iove this book and I love the audiobook. It's one of my "make you feel good stories". It celebrates the belief that you can have a great relationship when you start communicating and opening up. It's sweet and sexy and absolutely loveable.
This is a love story from start to finish. The connection between Mel and Regan is what makes good romance novels great.
Regan is my ideal girl and if I didn’t know better I’d think Meghan O’Brien had just described my wife’s personality� It’s actually rather uncanny. Regan is Shy, Geeky, honest and by O’Brien’s description Gorgeous. Regan’s collection of t-shirts made me love her all the more, especially her Atari one� I have actually just Googled to see if I can buy one online!
Mel has been through a lot and basically can’t understand why Regan want to be with her throughout the book. It actually very endearing how much she wants to be best person she can be so she can be deserving of Regan’s affections. Mel’s vulnerability comes through firstly when her Partner is shot and then during a rather hot sex scene with Regan. In both these scenes i felt a deeper connection to Mel and had a better understanding of her insecurities.
At first I was a little unsure about both characters going on this impromptu road trip but as I continued to read I realised that the trip was actually a journey of the heart and to heal from the past and start a fresh together. Both Regan and Mel where estranged from their families and had self doubt due to old wounds with their parents. Together they confronted issues, worked through old wounds and it made them stronger as a couple. The sex scenes (not to sound like a broken record) where erotic and sensual, everything I’ve come to expect from Meghan O’Brien.
You’d never know this was a debut novel. 4 Stars.
Infinite Loop by Meghan O’Brien is one of my absolute favorite books. I actually bought this book about six months ago, and as I was reading it again ( for the third time) I realized I had never reviewed it. That was a serious lapse that had to be rectified. The story is about two people who are beautiful inside and out, but who have demons from their pasts that are still affecting them to this day. The story is about them meeting, coming together as a couple and growing closer as they learn to love, help, and trust each other. It is the perfect example of a feel good romance. I love this story (as you can tell from my reading the book over and over). It is just such a lovely romance. There are some steamy sex scenes throughout the novel. Meghan O’Brien is an expert at writing steamy sex scenes, but these are more than just sex. They are love scenes and you can feel it as you read the story. Infinite Loop has my highest recommendation and is worth at least five stars. Make sure you read this one.
It's one of the best books I've read so far, it may be a little long but it's so worth it. Maybe we could have had a longer epilogue but it was still great. The story is about Regan and Mel and how their relationship evolves with love, communication and trust. We see them navigating through hard times and closed minded family member. Regan and Mel help each other through the situations they face with honesty and encouragement and it's refreshing from other books where communication lacks between the MCs. I loved how supportive the side characters were especially Hansen, Mike (even if we could have seen more of him), Carla and Hansen's little girl Katie. If you don't mind a story with no drama and unconditional love this book is for you.
When Mel’s partner gets shot in front of her, she turns to her new friend Regan, who welcomes her with open arms and suggests an old fashioned American road trip to help Mel sort out what she wants out of life.
Doesn’t that sound like a horrible idea? These two are barely dating and decide to take off together on a very long road trip while dealing with some rather impressive insecurities and baggage. It really should be a bad idea. And it should really bother me that they get together so quickly, as that usually drives me batty in other books. Somehow, the relationship in this book comes across as sweet instead of clingy, and O’Brien does such a good job of letting us in, that you really do want this couple to work.
Nice but not her best. Clearly first novel, and working through some issues and wish fulfilment. Interesting plot line, the digressions into geek talk were really funny and added some levity to the proceedings, particularly in comparison to the hard drinking and unreformed father figure. Sex was hot, and I will re-read at some point.
Sweet and Steamy Romance by Meghan O'Brien. I'm not much for the Insta-Love romance but O'Brien does a good job traversing the two characters backgrounds and growth as a couple.
This is a soft 4-stars for a fun story. Not a lot of depth here, but it is an entertaining quick lust-to-love story. Very little angst between the MCs, though both have family issues. A few secondary characters that keep these two honest. Just a nice, heart-warming story. With several hot and wet sex scenes.
This is Meghan O'Brien's first novel and given that one of her main character's is named Regan O'Riley she may be projecting a lot of herself into the character. The scary thing is she may be capturing a little bit of me. Regan and I share some of the same attributes with both of us being computer geeks. We even both named our cats Pixel - though I beat her too it.
Anyway, this is a fairly lighthearted read. Regan and Melanie meet, fall in love, and systematically manage to exorcise all the demons from their lives. If it's drama you want, this won't really satisfy, but if you can be content with a girl meets girl, girl falls in love with girl kind of story, you'll enjoy it.
If nothing else, it's nice to see the geeks portrayed so favorably.
Obviously the voice actress can make or break a listening experience. In this case, Eva Christensen did an amazing job. Of course her source material was brilliant to start with, I really felt she got the emotion and nuance down very well. Especially with Regan.
As far as the book itself goes, it was an amazing ride for Regan and Mel. A cleansing and emotionally satisfying journey really. I'd have to put it on the top of my favorite O'Brien's books.
If you’re after a simple romance, Infinite Loop is pretty good. I totally fell in love with Regan, she’s sensitive, shy, geeky, ginger, and she’s a programmer (we need more programmers in fiction :) ). I loved the way she was portrayed, but also the development of both characters throughout the story. Mel from untrusting and detached, and Regan from shy and self-deprecating. They're complete opposites, but emotionally perfect for each other, and in other ways too... if Mel was lucky, she’d turn out to be one of those shy girls who were amazing in bed
This started off promising: a shy nerdy programmer meets a confident player and they like each other beyond just a one-night stand and decide to go on a road trip after some unpleasant circumstances. Unfortunately, there is literally no conflict beyond one point with the cop's family issues and even that is dealt with in two conversations. The rest of this book is erotica and sappy back and forth conversations and the nerdy programmer being in some sort of vaguely threatening situation involving a jerk guy or two every single time the cop leaves her alone in public. Disappointing, honestly.