ŷ

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Searching For #3

Searching for Beautiful

Rate this book
Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin...and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.

Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2015

296 people are currently reading
4,893 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Probst

115books10.2kfollowers
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Her family keeps her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. Her passions include horse racing, Scrabble, rescue dogs, Italian food, and wine—not necessarily in that order.

She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases at . Sign up of her newsletter at for a free book.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,168 (41%)
4 stars
2,022 (38%)
3 stars
882 (16%)
2 stars
140 (2%)
1 star
45 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 522 reviews
June 12, 2015
WOLFE's book...need I say more?

So, I was a bad girl and didn't read the first two books in this series but I HAD to read this book. I've been wanting more of him ever since reading about him in Sawyer's book, The Marriage Merger.

And I actually felt pretty good about not feeling like I was missing out on things. It helped to read the blurbs and get to know the four friends and about their matchmaking business, Kinnections. We get healthy doses of both Kate and Kennedy from books one and two respectively. (Book four will be for the remaining friend, Arilyn.)

However, Genevieve or Gen, is working to become a surgeon and not as involved in the matchmaking business. She is involved with the chief doctor and they're about to get married...or not. That's where Wolfe comes into the picture, well, back into the picture.

Wolfe and Gen have been best friends for years but lately Gen has been avoiding him since her doctor fiancé wasn't very fond of him. That's all changed as the two quickly reignited their friendship and so much more!

description

Wolfe is everything I thought he would be and so much more. You knew he had a horrible past but it was still hard to read about. I was happy that he had made some progress but it was wonderful how things evolved. And his fear of spiders? Priceless.

My two favorite things were Wolfe and Sawyer's relationship and getting to spend time with Mama Conte again. She definitely brings a lot to the stories.

I was happy with the way things ended and it's made me really interested in reading Arilyn's story especially with Officer "Brute".
description
The Good Stuff:

Dual Pov's? Yes.

Steam Factor? (Scale 1 - 5) 4...Wolfe doesn't need any help but he has a certain extra bit of equipment! ;)

Angst? (Scale 1 - 5) 3...with Wolfe's past and a bit of drama for Gen.

Next book? Ariyal's book, Searching for Always, coming out June 30th.
description

description

Favorite quotes:

� “Ever stop a book halfway if you don’t like it?�

She shuddered with horror. “Are you kidding? If I start it, I finish it. I don’t know how people sleep not knowing the ending.�

� "Have I told you how much I adore your communication skills?"

� "Beautiful. I'm searching for something beautiful out there."


� BR w/Melissa!


(Prior to Review)
WOLFE!!!

description
Profile Image for Rachel  L.
2,076 reviews2,480 followers
July 26, 2015
4 stars!

“Beautiful. I’m searching for something beautiful out there.�

For those of you who have read the Marriage to a Billionaire series, it's pretty much one of the ultimate guilty pleasure series. The first 3 books were pure escapism and the 4th brought a little more to the table. In the 4th book we are introduced to Wolfe, a troubled and tormented young teen who defies authority and pushes people away. By the end of the 4th book, he has found parents in Sawyer and Julietta and moves to New York to pursue his career.

Throughout the Searching For... series, we hear about the friendship of Wolfe and Gen through other characters. In the first two books through side plot we discover Gen has met and is dating a doctor, her boss and is slowly pushing Wolfe away the more serious she becomes with her new man.

We begin Searching for Beautiful on the day of Gen's wedding. A little voice in the back of her mind tells her to run, and she does. Gen climbs out a window and lands on her best friend Wolfe who had arrived late to the wedding. Together they run away from the wedding and Wolfe brings her to a summer cabin.

From here the line between best friends and attraction become blurry, but Wolfe's past and Gen's ex-fiance may come between the two.

“Sometimes the hardest, bravest thing in the world is to let someone love you.�



“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.�

This was probably my favorite book by Jennifer Probst so far. Her series is a great escape series, one that in real like would be kind of ridiculous but is fun to read. Wolfe is her best character, he's complex, kind, closed off and loyal. I'm so glad that the author included flash backs to what he went through as a child so we understood his hardships from his point of view.

“If you love someone, you need to be honest. Brave. Tell them straight out and blow up the fucking rules. Because I’m starting to believe there shouldn’t be any rules when you love someone.�

I loved the development of Gen and Wolfe, two people who started out as friends, who trust each other, who love and respect each other for who they are. The two of them being together was so obvious to everyone but them you just kind of want to slap them in the face with reality.

Reading about Gen and her fiance scared the living shit out of me. He's the man who is verbally abusive but twists it around in such a way that no one would believe you. This type of person is terrifying to me. My criticism of his character and his role would be that the author built up so much to his horrid ways and it never had a climax, he just sort of faded away.

This was also a huge book, almost 500 pages!!!! It honestly felt like 2 different books in one. Slice it halfway through and you have a first book and its sequel.

My one major, major criticism. There were parts of this book that reminded me of Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young. Obviously the books have differences, I'm not saying it's all the same. BUT, there was a scene near the end that was so eerily similar to BJL that I almost wanted to compare the dialogue line by line.

So despite the above, I really did enjoy this book. Wolfe's book was done well and I love that man. I recommend reading the Marriage to a Millionaire series and the first two books in this series first to understand the dynamics between all of the characters, but technically you can read as a standalone (but I do not recommend doing that).

“I’ll always love you as a friend. But it’s more now. I love you as a man. My lover. As my partner.�
Profile Image for Grecia Robles.
1,654 reviews451 followers
June 24, 2018
Este es junto con el primer libro son mis favoritos HE SUFRIDO, AMADO, RABIADO Y SUSPIRADO con esta historia.

Ya sabía de antemano que no iba a ser como las otras anteriores que eran más cómicas no, este libro es más emocional además que cuando veías interactuar a los protas en los otros los envolvía un halo de melancolía y tristeza.😢

La historia de Gen y Wolfe ha sido dura pero a la vez ha sido ha sido bien bonita y sentimental y sumándole que ellos han sido best Friends por muchos años les da un toque más especial, siempre han tenido ese amor platónico que saben que no puede traspasar más de la amistad pero hay sentimientos que se van colando sin que ellos lo quieran.💑



El inicio de la historia ha sido bastante intenso, ya que Gen ha huido de su boda en el último momento y le pide ayuda a Wolfe que es su mejor amigo, ha dejado plantado al hombre ideal según su familia y la sociedad, recto, atractivo, estable, y sobre todo que ha triunfado profesionalmente pero atrás de esa fachada es un hombre detestable que robado toda la esencia de Gen convirtiéndola en una cáscara, lo odié😠😬😡👊 es un hombre abusivo y controlador que poco a poco sin darse cuenta le ha quitado voz y voto.



Y la historia de Wolfe fue súper broken heart,😭💔 fue muy predecible desde el principio sobre todo por los flashback pero no le quito que fue dolorosa, pobrecito de mi Wolfe � ay mi cora ➡�



Es mi protagonista favorito, LO AMO,❤💕💜� tiene esa oscuridad pero también es lindo, dulce, divertido, sexy as hell,🔥 tatuado con piercings en los lugares correctos, por ahí abajito, antes los piercings genitales me parecían de los más dolorosos pero Wolfe le ha dado un nuevo significado 😈



La relación de Gen y Wolfe me encantó 💕y evolucionó de la manera más lógica donde dos personas se quieren y se sienten atraídas tienen química y su tensión sexual es palpable y algo que en lo personal me gustó fue como pasaron de Friends a fuck Friends, yo sé que está súper trillado pero me gusta.



La declaración de amor no fue tan especial y bonita pero se las paso yo creo que si hubiera sido épica le doy más calificación pero aun así me gustó porque era lo que ella necesitaba de él.
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,468 reviews994 followers
November 8, 2021
I do like the idea of escaping this life with ur best friend. Like Gen and Wolfie done in this book. Being secluded and just talking. Makes me want to take a long holiday.

Searching for Beautiful is long. In my opinion too long. Although the idea of spending time with BFF is appealing, some of the conversation bored me. Miss Probst surely can make the story 3 hours shorter.

Overall this is an OK read. I am not hating it nor liking it either.

3 stars
Profile Image for Alejandra.
278 reviews51 followers
September 7, 2018
Aunque haya habido algún detalle que me ha chirriado, no puedo más que darle las 5� porque me he enamorado mucho de este libro y de la pareja �

Reseña completa en Mi rinconín de lectura
Profile Image for Bj.
1,219 reviews257 followers
June 5, 2015
5 "Why Not?" Stars! I couldn't stop reading this captivating best friends turned lovers romance. Fans of love stories that involve emotional healing--in this case on both the hero's and heroine's part--will not want to miss Searching For Beautiful. This story tore me apart and gave me courage to renew my hope in love all at different points. The thought that people with past demons would settle for something less than true happiness, due to their own insecurities and past misfortunes, and that others would prey on such weaknesses, is heart wrenching. Gen's and Wolfe's story will make you angry and want to fight for these poor souls, all the while giving you faith that every person, no matter how damaged, has their own unique soulmate who can heal and provide them with true happiness. If you are "searching for" a "beautiful" love story, then look no further!

As this is the third book in the Searching For Series, I feel that it is important to note that this story can nonetheless be read as a standalone. In that regard, I will point out that while there is definitely some overlap of the secondary characters who were involved in the prior books, the love story between the primary couple in Searching for Beautiful is fully contained in this book.

Genevieve MacKenzie, a medical resident, is about to experience what's supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life--her wedding day--and yet all she feels is great anxiety. Her fiance, who is also the Chief Surgeon at her hospital, and thereby also her boss, should be the perfect man for her HEA. Somehow, however, what used to be a dream come true has become quite the nightmare the closer they get to their big day. Manipulative and controlling, Dr. David Riscetti seems more concerned about turning her into his trophy wife than in truly making her happy.

Gen seizes the opportunity and chooses to go with her gut when she attempts to flee the inevitable disaster by climbing out the church window rather than walking down the aisle. Little could she have expected that the one man who would catch her fall would be none other than her one-time former best friend, Wolfe. Having become somewhat alienated from Wolfe since her engagement to David, Gen is surprised to find just how at ease she quickly becomes when Wolfe enables her escape and actually takes it upon himself to bring some joy back into Gen's life in this time of need. Imagine their surprise when after a short respite together they both realize that their feelings for one another have evolved making their once strictly platonic relationship a near certain impossibility. But, could they ever risk losing their most important relationship, their unique friendship, just to indulge their more base needs? Moreover, Gen is not the only one with past tragedies. Given their mutually damaged pasts--and failure to provide full disclosure--could they ever hope to find a HEA when all their secrets are out in the open?

What an intriguing story. Although of late I have read a lot of best friends to lovers stories, I was pleased to find that the art of this beautiful romance lies in the poignant way that Jennifer Probst tells this story. Ms. Probst draws you in and maintains your attention to the very end. Now I can't wait for the release of the next volume in the Searching For Series, Waiting for Always, which is scheduled to be release at the end of this month (June 2015).

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,103 reviews1,395 followers
June 1, 2015
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review

[image error]

Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst can be summed up as breathtakingly beautiful!! If you must know I am a big Jennifer Probst fan and loved the first two books of the Searching For series. And when I found out that Wolfe and Genevieve were going to get a book, I may have squealed in joy since I am a big friends to lovers aficionado.



Well there is nothing like opening up a book with a runaway bride to get you hooked and have you devouring it in one sitting. The book starts with Geneieve McKenzie jumping out a church window on her wedding day. This is not the case of cold feet or wedding jitters but a woman realizing that she doesn't want to marry David. For years, she tried to be the perfect girlfriend and would have him control all aspects of her life and for the first time, Gen finally saw that this wasn't the life she envisioned. And luckily for Gen, her best friend Wolfe was there to catch her when she decided to run.

Wolfe is what every woman craves and wants in a best friend and a boyfriend. Seriously, I love love loved Wolfe. (*sighing and swooning*) Wolfe was there to whisk Gen away to his family cabin so she can regroup and have time alone to escape her wedding nuptial disaster. He was the perfect friend and support system for Gen. He allowed Gen to realize that she was indeed beautiful inside and out. With Wolfe by her side, Gen slowly was able to rediscover the strength, confidence, and independence that David stole from her. Slowly, Gen and Wolfe began to develop strong feelings for one another but never wanting to cross that invisible line that would ruin their friendship. But that line of friendship got blurred when one passionate kissed sparked new desires and feelings of love. That one kiss was all it took for for Gen and Wolfe to awaken their hearts. Gen knew she fell out of love with her fiance and so she had to run and now knowing that the man, she has been searching and longing for has been standing by her side all along...will she finally be running towards him?

All I can say if you are a fan of friends to lovers and slow burn romance, then I would highly recommend you to read this book. There is not a thing I would change about this book because Ms. Probst allows her readers to feel every range of emotions in this book. The chemistry between Wolfe and Gen were so tangible and palpable. In all honesty, I think Searching for Beautiful is my favorite book of the series so far. The writing was phenomenal and as for the story-line, it was beautifully well-crafted. This book had all the elements I loved from humor, banter, sexiness, passion, raw emotions, and lovable characters. So what can I say but go read this book as Jennifer Probst has once again bewitched and spellbinded me with this book!!!

P.S.
Jennifer~Can I have Wolfe? He is totally book husband material!!! <3

[image error]

Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages:
Profile Image for Viri.
1,296 reviews457 followers
April 16, 2018
Duré 3 días en leer este libro cuando usualmente me los leo en 1 día. Realmente el comienzo fue un poco pesado... no sentí la agilidad de los libros anteriores ni la chispa y diversión que había en ellos. Además al ser en inglés la verdad si me daba flojerita jajaja para que negarlo. 🤷

Pero luego comprendí el por qué.

Este libro es mucho más emocional y sentimental que los otros. Tiene un halo de oscuridad que se respira desde el principio. Los fragmentos flash back del pasado tenían a mi pobre corazón latiendo a mil por hora sumida en una sensación de tristeza tremenda. Y es que sí... lo que sucede es muy duro y sí, es súper cliché. Pero a mi me llegó al cora.
description

Y quizás no sean mis protagonistas preferidos, quizás no sea la mejor declaración de amor que he leído... pero todo lo que implicaba para ese personaje fue IMPRESIONANTE.

El ultimo 10% del libro le ha subido 1 estrellota porque soy así de facilona. Y me pueden mucho los heroes torturados y con pasado oscuro.
Profile Image for Holly.
401 reviews150 followers
May 12, 2015
This was my first book in Jennifer's Searching For Series (I've read her Marriage series); however, I WILL be backtracking to read the first two books. You don't need to read them in order to read this one, but I want to read Kate and Kennedy's respective stories. And I will not be missing Arilyn's book, something tells me that one is going to be full of the best possible tension! Anyhoo...getting back to Gen and Wolfe *sigh* I love Wolfe. I fell for Wolfe on page 10. Too soon? I don't think so. I really can't say a bad thing about him as far as book BF's go; he's the whole package wrapped up with a bow. Yes, he's got issues from his past that still haunt him, but he's an incredible package I'd gladly take. Genevieve was my surprise, while she got herself out of a not so good situation, there were moments where I truly thought she was going to cave and revert to her old ways. But, she surprised me! I can't express how proud I was of her throughout this entire book; she was strong, independent, and resilient. She had no trouble putting others in their place when needed. My only disappointment was that one character did NOT develop a painful, flesh-eating disease for which there was no cure, or adequate pain management like I had hoped lol. Searching for Beautiful was exactly that- Beautiful. It was a beautiful story of two friends perfect for each other. Their jokes, banter, the affection and love they had for one another had me yelling at my book hoping they'd see in them what I saw. Jennifer made me laugh and cry, and Wolfe made me fan myself, which in my book is always the tell-tale indicator of a great read.
Profile Image for Kimberly Carrington-Fox.
824 reviews194 followers
June 22, 2018
Entre 4-4'5 estrellitas está la cosa.
Este libro me ha gustado muchísimo más que los anteriores de la serie. No se parece en nada a estos, eso sí, y creo que por eso lo he disfrutado mucho más (es que la fórmula de los otros dos, mñe XD). Pierde por el camino los momentos vergüenzajenescos y las situaciones desternillantes de esos pero gana una historia muchísimo más completa, profunda y sentimental, con momentos dolorosos y otros muy muy bonitos (pero #MoñasFree XD).
Es de las pocas veces en las que he leído un friends to lovers y realmente me lo he creído. Los dos personajes son estupendísimos y realmente tienen una amistad maravillosa. Sí, con una conexión especial y esas cosas que en Romancelandia son necesarias, pero una grandísima amistad que ves en los libros anteriores y también en este. Por coherencia (algo que el libro tiene y bastante) no se ponen a darle al tema en el cuarto capítulo pero no os preocupéis que ya le darán y os arderán hasta las pestañas de vuestra foto del pasaporte, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
Me ha dolido mucho leer los flashbacks de Wolfe pero casi lo he pasado peor con las circunstancias que rodean a Gen. Y aquí voy a soltar un spoiler que no es que sea importante pero que, por si acaso, voy a ocultar ya que yo creo que es mejor no saberlo.

Y tras este pequeño desahogo os digo que si no le doy las cinco estrellas es porque algunos temas no me ha terminado de convencer cómo los remata y porque alguna cosa me ha chirriado un poco (cosas mías, claro está) pero por lo demás he disfrutado muchísimo con la historia de Wolfe y de Gen.
Por una vez un libro que estaba deseando leer no me decepciona! Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!
Vivan Wolfe y su serpiente!!
Profile Image for Fiza.
355 reviews74 followers
June 5, 2015
“You haven't asked why.�

Bride Genevieve gets a case of cold feet at the very last minute. She's panicking and with her gut telling her to run, she does just that. Ditching her poor groom at the altar.

“Don't need to.�

“Don't you want to know?�


Her best friend, Wolfe, sees her less than graceful attempt and wastes no time to aid her in her escape plan. But what started out as just a quest to help Gen en maybe revive their friendship, turned into something much deeper. Something neither of them are really ready for.

“Hell, yes. You're my best friend and I had no idea you were struggling. But you're not ready. When you want to talk, I'll be here.�

Just like with the rest of the series I really enjoyed myself while reading this book. It's funny and romantic without losing that serious and emotional edge. And the characters are so relatable. I do have to say that while you can read it as a standalone, you're going to be lost character wise if you haven't read the previous books. As a lot of characters from the previous books make a reappearance.

Gen is the good girl with such a bubbly personality and she always follows up on the decisions she makes. Even when the odds aren't in her favor or when things aren't going as she has expected. I can't believe how much her fiancee attempted to change her, good thing she decides to choose herself. But at the same time she's doubting herself, for what she considers, taking the coward's way out. That's just not in her nature.



It doesn’t help that everyone thinks David is the perfect fiancee. He’s loved by almost everyone. Almost. Wolfe knows something is off about him, but can’t put his finger on it. But he does see the man who alienated his friend from him. A man who installed such fear into her that she decides to run. That is enough for Wolfe to dislike David.

Such protectiveness. If that doesn’t make you fall head over heels for Wolfe, maybe his charm and personality will (trust me, he’s nothing like David). Not to forget the tats and piercings. Wolfe has been through so much, and yet he’s still standing. Better yet, he completely turned his life around.

I just enjoyed reading about these two so much. The way they interact with each other, have fun and know when to say the right thing to get the other out of their funk. And finally I found a male character who fears spiders just as much as I do. Ugh, Wolfe, I feel your troubles dude.



The only thing that feels unfinished is the whole situation with David…and the ones who are starstruck on him. How will they treat Gen from now on and is David truly out of the picture…I have my doubts�

Anyway I’m more excited about the upcoming book in the series than to be stuck on David. Arilyn’s story is next. I read the sneak peak at the end and I can’t wait! I want to know the release date.


Profile Image for Paige  Bookdragon.
938 reviews640 followers
June 9, 2015
"Beautiful. I’m searching for something beautiful out there.�
-Wolfe Wells

Don't you just love it when your favorite hero gets a happily ever after?

I love Wolfe ever since I read about him in the other series. He was definitely one of the most intriguing character and despite the "fuck-off" vibe that he was showing, we all know he is a big softy to those people he cared about.

Searching for Beautiful is one of the most highly anticipated book. To be honest, after reading Searching for Someday, I just forgot all about the series. Not because it's not good, but because I didn't find it memorable.

But this. This book is definitely memorable.

"Umm,babe?Are you pulling a runaway-bride thing?Or did you just want to confirm the fire exit worked?"
Profile Image for Srishti.
430 reviews10 followers
May 28, 2015
Wolfe!!!! Yay!!!
I was excited when I found out Wolfe will get a story of his own in another series after reading about him in THE MARRIAGE MERGER.
I have been super curious after reading about Genevieve and David in the previous book ( Searching for Someday and Searching for Perfect). I have been thinking that David might be abusive or maybe too dominant for her. Or she is realizing that David is just not the ONE. Finally I'll get to learn about Wolfe's past.

Also we might get to see Izzy. (I remember her in The Marriage Bargain, she was a lot like Genevieve...but something changed her)
Profile Image for Lacey (laceybooklovers).
2,141 reviews12k followers
July 20, 2017
description

Originally posted at

Oh, this book was something special. I adore this series, but this newest one, Searching for Beautiful, easily became my new favorite of the series. I’m a sucker for books with the friends-to-lovers trope and it had been a while since I read one that I wholeheartedly loved, but Searching for Beautiful was absolute perfection! I’m honestly surprised by how much I loved and adored this book. I went into this thinking I’d give this a solid four hearts like I did for the first two books, but the more I read, the more I grew to love Wolfe and Gen and their incredibly heartwarming romance. Searching for Beautiful surpassed my expectations and gave me something so much more, so much better than I ever expected. It’s a beautiful (hehe) friends-to-lovers romance and a touching story of two lost souls discovering the strength within themselves.

A shiver crept down her spine. She looked down at the flawless three-carat diamond ring that shimmered around her finger. A symbol of ownership. Once she committed herself, it would truly be forever. He’d never let her go.
Run.


Genevieve MacKenzie has the perfect life � or does she? She has a job she loves and a perfect man she’s about to marry� so why does she feel terrified on the day of her wedding? Trusting her gut instincts no to make the biggest mistake of her life, Gen escapes from her wedding day with the help of her best friend, Wolfe. Together, the sequester themselves in a cabin so that Gen can take a break and put back the broken pieces of her life. She slowly comes to terms with the fact that she was about to marry a man who was corroding her heart and soul, and she’s ever thankful that she had her best friend by her side to help her get through it.

Funny, from the moment they met, they’d been fated to be friends. Their heart-to-heart conversation set the stage for the future, with none of that crappy sexual tension or flirting. Just a good buddy of the opposite sex who meant the world to her. Kate was her best friend feminine equal, and Wolfe her male.


Wolfe and Gen have been best friends since they met when she was twenty (she’s twenty-six now) � they have such a heartwarming friendship that full of banter, love, and support. But recently, when David started demanding that Gen stop spending time with Wolfe, their friendship was put on hold for a little while. So when they’re at the cabin, Gen and Wolfe are reminded of how much they value and treasure their friendship. That is, until they kiss, and the sexual tension and chemistry skyrockets between them.

Something fierce and primal shook through her. Electricity pulsed between them, and suddenly Gen wanted his mouth over hers, all lips and tongue and teeth, until he possessed and claimed every part of her. She ached to open her thighs and take him deep. Dig her nails into his skin. Mark him. Surrender. Fuck. What was happening to her? Her heart hammered. “Wolfe.�


I’d been so, so looking forward to Gen and Wolfe’s story ever since reading Searching for Perfect because, hello, friends-to-lovers romance! And Jennifer Probst didn’t disappoint � I was able to feel the loving, tender friendship between Wolfe and Gen (they make me smile SO MUCH) as well as the growing romance (and HOT chemistry) between them. Gen was a great heroine with fantastic depth and surprising strength to her character. I loved and admired her, brokenness and all. And oh my word, Wolfe is one sexy, delicious man. Despite his scarred, painful past, he’s risen up to become a famous model and multi-millionaire. I seriously loved this man and his deep, fierce devotion to Gen. And did I mention how HOT Gen and Wolfe are together!? Seriously, you’ll need a fan for this book, because when Wolfe wants something (and he wants Gen BAD), he’ll get it with a single-minded determinedness.

“I dreamed of this for so damn long, but the reality of you is so much better.�


Searching for Beautiful was one of those books that slowly creep up on you until all of a sudden, you’re completely and wholeheartedly in love with it. It’s a gorgeously written, moving romance with incredible characters you grow to adore. And I have to give props to the author � some parts of this book brought tears to my eyes, which almost never happens because I rarely cry for books! Seriously � read. this. book! It’s beautiful, sexy, heart-wrenching � you don’t want to miss it! If you’re a fan of the series, you’re going to love Gen and Wolfe (like I did)!

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Amazon Ebook:
Amazon Paperback:

Liked this review? for more!
Profile Image for Angy Potter - Collector of Book Boyfriends.
638 reviews134 followers
July 23, 2015


I LOVED Searching for Beautiful!!! This book has everything I love in a book/audiobook: One sexy protective alpha male, one strong female and one romantic and very interesting plot!
Wolfe and Gen's friendship was very important for them... And at the end was what made it easier for them to have their HEA
My poor Wolfe :( I wanted to hug him and comfort him for ever! I'm so happy he had his adoptive family and Gen. They were perfect for him
What I loved the most about this book: Gen's tenacity! When she was sure of what she wanted, she was so clear to Wolfe about it and didn't gave in when Wolfe was being a coward (because he was a coward UGH) and despite her heartbroken, she kept her head high! Until he came back to her! I LOVE GEN!
Gen’s family UGH! OK, at the end i did like them, but i wanted to slap them all for being so blind!
About the narration: Madeleine Maby is amazing! Her performances are always perfect! The voices and inflexions are very accurate for every character! That's why she's one of my favorite ones!!
Thanks to Jennifer for this amazing book! <3
Profile Image for The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog.
737 reviews206 followers
May 31, 2015
Review-Jo

Facebook:
TSU:
Blog:

It's official, I have found my favourite man from this series so far!!! I had a good feeling about Wolfe when I first met him in "Searching for Perfect" and now, after reading "Searching for Beautiful", I am well and truly in love with him. My initial instincts were correct. He really was a damn fine man!! Lol!

In this third book in the series, not only did I get to know the sexy Wolfe but I also discovered more about the lovely Genevieve (or Gen, as most people called her). The story began with Gen ready to walk down the aisle to get hitched. However, she had a gut feeling that she was about to marry the wrong guy and so at the very last minute, decided to run from the church straight into her best friend's arms. And that best friend was Wolfe.
She didn't just fit into him, she completely consumed his space, stealing his breath and cells and heart.

I loved Gen and Wolfe's characters and I enjoyed getting to know everything about them. Gen was a fun loving girl who had been stuck in the wrong relationship with entirely the wrong man. Now, she was back to take control of her life and have some fun with the support of Wolfe by her side. Wolfe was the type of man that it was easy to fall for. He was caring, generous and also showed a little bit of an alpha side to him, especially when he was around Gen. Not everything was great for Wolfe though, the man had a past that had left him irrevocably damaged. To avoid spoiling the story I don't want to go into too much detail but be prepared for your heart to ache for him. This was another reason why I fell for him in a big way.
She was clean. He was dirty. She was better off without him.

Gen and Wolfe had been the best of friends for some time but in this story, the couple's friendship was beginning to change into something more. Gen and Wolfe were secretly lusting after each other. Both began to have sexy fantasies about taking their relationship to the next level. I loved Gen and Wolfe together. There was an electrical chemistry running between the pair that made me desperate to see what would happen if they were to act on their desires. I was ready for sparks to fly!
Sure, they'd always had a connection, but the tiny simmer had exploded into a wildfire, and he didn't know what to do. What changed? And why did he suddenly want so much more?
Sadly, things were not that easy for this couple. With neither one of them wanting to sacrifice their friendship they were both reluctant to sleep together, fearing that they would ruin everything between them. The problem was that the more time went on, the harder it was for Gen and Wolfe to resist their urges. I was certain that they were fighting a losing battle. Now at this point in the story, I found myself becoming a little bit impatient. I felt that the author was making me wait for something big to happen and I started to lose interest in the story. It felt like I was waiting forever! Thankfully, as I reached the last hour of reading, I found that everything got a lot more exciting and I was instantly hooked. The was my favourite part of the story and was well worth the wait because those sparks sure did fly. Gen and Wolfe were on fire!
"I dreamed of this for so damn long, but the reality of you is so much better."
I really enjoyed Wolfe and Gen's story. They made one sizzling pair. Now, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, which is Arilyn's story. Although this story can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in series order. That way, you will be familiar with all of the characters and avoid any spoilers. I have loved getting to know all of the characters from the series, and having the chance to catch up with them again in each book. I love to know how each couple's relationships are getting on, it brings a huge smile to my face to know that they have found their happy ever afters.
They'd entwined tight into each other's souls, so close they were no longer individuals but burned together as one.

"Searching For Beautiful" gets ❤️❤️❤️❤️ from me!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,475 reviews81 followers
February 17, 2016
SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL Left Me Searching for Reality


Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.


February 17, 2016 SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL Left Me Searching for Reality
SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL Left Me Searching for Reality 2

by fangswandsfairy � Book Review Fiction � Tags: abuse, Doctors, hotels, mental illness, Runaway Bride, stalkers
Searching for Beautiful

Searching_For_Beautiful_Cover

(Book #3 of Searching For )
By Jennifer Probst
Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books | 496 pages | ISBN 9781476780108 | May 2015

Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.









seriously?Icon

manipulative boyfriend icon

contemporary romance icon

Steamy Romance Icon

LITERARY PICKERS Challenge ICON


The highly anticipated third novel in the Searching For series from Jennifer Probst, “one of the most exciting breakout novelists� (USA TODAY), featuring a runaway bride and the man who wants to be more than just her best friend�

Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin…and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.
Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?



My Take Oblong

This book was way overdue on my list of things to to read. But here I am, clearing it off the list!

To be honest, I had high hopes for this book because the series is popular and has great covers. The story starts off with a runaway bride scenario. That wasn’t bad, and the character has legitimate reasons for running from the wedding, and even for doing it in a manner that causes everyone lots of stress and anger.

What was irksome was the backstory and situation on the male love interest, Wolfe: it was completely unbelievable. He is a tattooed, ex-supermodel, turned millionaire hotelier. And he has spare time! No. Just no.
I feel for his childhood, but the waif picked up off the streets by the rich guy and adopted. Seriously?
And, then, his I-had-such-a-horrible-past and I-wear-these-leather-cuffs (and no one can imagine why?) so I am unworthy, incapable of romantic love. Therapy was apparently unhelpful � so, get another therapist! He was poor too, but he believes he can make money.
The character and his situation are so unreal and unbelievable.

There are other aspects of the series, such as the friends who operate a dating service where one has a paranormal gift (I read a holiday story from this series and didn’t realize they were from the same series until this popped up). So, one character has a paranormal gift, the touch, and another friend in this dating service is involved in a completely dysfunctional relationship but advises Genevieve.

There is an interesting twist in the stalker-ex-fiance aspect.

On the whole the book felt contrived and glib; the parts that felt ridiculous to me obscured anything positive. I know other people liked it and all I can say is that like and dislike are subjective. This is just my opinion, my strong opinion.
Profile Image for Julie .
4,208 reviews38.1k followers
Read
May 18, 2015
Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst is a 2015 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and the S&S XOXperts- The Official Street Team for XOXO After Dark.

Many of you will recognize Wolfe from a previous series, so having him featured in his own story is exciting. ( This book can be read as a stand alone- so don't worry if you aren't caught up with the other series)

When I picked the book up, I thought I knew what I as getting into. Friends to lovers has always been one of my favorite romance tropes, and with the premise of a runaway bride in the mix I was thinking of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Well, this story is nothing like that...

If you have read Jennifer Probst novels in the past you might find this one a little bit surprising. There are some uncomfortable topics addressed in the book and one should be prepared for a darker tone with this novel.

Wolfe has come from a very difficult background but was given a second chance in life by some really awesome people. He and Gen have always clicked, been great friends, but nothing more. But, Wolfe has always sensed something off about Gen's future husband, David, so, when Gen listens to that voice in her head telling her to RUN! - Wolfe doesn't ask questions, he simply whisks her away from her wedding and the alleged charmed life with David she was about to embark on.

Wolfe and Gen spend several days together having the time of their lives, but sooner or later Gen must return home and face David and her family. Thus begins a massive tug of war between Gen and David, with Wolfe in the middle. But, Gen is stronger than she knows and if there was ever a time to follow her heart, it is now. But, will outside forces and Wolfe's past prevent them from having their HEA?

This is a very different friends to lovers story, one I wasn't really expecting , but one that left me feeling very impressed.

I loved Wolfe, but his story is very difficult to read about. I think his outlook on life and the progress he has made proves that even if you don't get the best start in life, you can change how your future unfolds. Granted, Wolfe was given a chance many aren't lucky enough to get, but it was still up to him to make the best of that second chance, which he does - and it really pays off for him. In fact, Wolfe is the best hero I have encountered in awhile.

Gen makes a lot of progress in this book too, but she certainly made me nervous a time or two. I was terrified she would crumble under David manipulations and pressure from her family. At times I felt she should have taken a harder line in defending herself, but all in all, she did what she felt was right at the time. Gen is a great character with an open heart and mind, which complimented Wolfe perfectly.

I was disappointed in some of the secondary characters who advised Wolfe, and was proud of others who were supported Gen, when others didn't.

This story is not only one of romance and sensuality, although there is plenty of both, and ladies -Wolfe is all you dreamed he would be and then some, but this story is also packed with depth and meaning making the journey with Gen and Wolfe all the more special.

4.5 stars
Profile Image for A_Ryan.
677 reviews195 followers
December 27, 2015
A good read, but not the best in the series.

This story begins with a runaway bride and the bad-ass best friend who helps her run away and rebuild her life, only to discover that it might be the only way to save his future.

Best Bit: I loved the spark and chemistry between Arilyn and Petty (the featured couple in the next book) and can't wait for their story.

Worst bit: I always get slightly turned off by ridiculous names used in this genre. I have a rule that the names should not make me cringe when I say them to my husband or my guy friends. Unfortunately, this one has a few of them: Wolfe (no last name), Stone, Slade, Officer Devine, and even the loveable Mrs Darkfire. In the words of Mrs Darkfire:

" That’s a ridiculous name. You’re a human being, not an animal. Whatever happened to James or William? Something normal. Not good enough for you?"

Also, Wolfe is meant to be tough, ruthless, bad ass... but he never ACTUALLY acts like he is. He has a tat, and piercings, but that's about as "intimidating" as he gets in this book.

And one final gripe about a literary device used here: the two main characters talk to their own "inner voices". I find this REALLY quite weird. What do I mean? Well, let's say a character is in denial about their true feelings, the inner dialogue might be as follows:

"You love him," my inner voice yells.
I do not!
"Then why can't you stop thinking about him?"
Shut up. And I go to make breakfast to block my inner voice out.

To me that just seems like a lazy way to write about someone's inner turmoil and self denial. To me, and this is entirely based on personal preference, it just sounds ridiculous!

Funniest bit: The rowing trip: After Gen runs out on her wedding, Wolfe takes her to the family's cabin to give her time to think and figure out what she wants. The next day he decides to take her out for a day of fishing and relaxing on the water. Gen was expecting a luxurious boat to take her away from it all, where she could stretch out and get a bit of a suntan started. What she got was a stolen, beat-up, barely afloat, two-person row boat in weed infested waters with a bad smell. He he he.

Most complex obstacle/villain: Abuse, in all it's forms: physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, substance abuse, child abuse, bullying in the workplace, even in the neighborhood! There was A LOT to take in, and both Gen and Wolfe seemed to be fighting for their own escape and tranquility.

Recommendation : A good read but quite dark in some places. It felt like the author was trying to pull on every heart string possible and it was a little exhausting. But this is just me... some survival stories are just too "heavy" and I find myself wondering why I'd want to read about this stuff when, like Gen, I just want to escape. Not my cup of tea, but I can see fans of tortured heroes devouring this one.

3 " it's a good read" stars.
Profile Image for Ann  Mat.
939 reviews37 followers
June 4, 2015
“Sometimes the hardest, bravest thing in the world is to let someone love you.�



I know that this book would have a flare of drama due to their past encounters at the previous books. I thought that this book will be about Anya but I understand the upcoming "wedding". I didn't expect that Gen is the sister of Alexa from The Marriage Bargain. It thrilled me to meet Mama Conte again.
Profile Image for Annelies.
41 reviews32 followers
June 5, 2016
Dit boek was ook weer super leuk, maar ik val in herhaling hihi. Dus laat ik het hierbij.
Profile Image for María Alejandra.
1,196 reviews52 followers
August 14, 2017
Le doy un tres porque no me ha gustado tanto como lo esperaba. Y eso que la historia se las trae, no es insta-love, son mejores amigos que siempre han sentido algo especial pero que gracias a lo que le pasa a Gen, pasan más tiempo solos y se dan cuenta que empiezan a sentir algo más. Y le tenía tantas ganas por Wolfe, porque vaya que me encantan los tauados-con piercings-con traumas, pero que son un amor. Tanto quería esta historia que salté el segundo y me fui directa al tercero de la serie en inglés. Pero no creo que sea culpa del libro, debe ser el bajón infernal que tengo que me ha hecho empezar y descartar un montón de libros estos días. Me lo releeré cuando todo pase y veremos!
Profile Image for Jooke.
1,273 reviews13 followers
September 21, 2020
2.5*

Loved the main characters and how their past and family influenced their insecurities. But for me it felt a bit too drawn out
Profile Image for Margo.
2,099 reviews114 followers
October 29, 2020
I have enjoyed several things from this author, (although occasionally she indulges in the experienced H/virginal h thing and a few other problematic tropes). However, this H embarrassed me on behalf of her readership. Former supermodel millionaire with a troubled past? Ugh. Come on.
Profile Image for Crystal.
89 reviews3 followers
May 4, 2015
Jennifer Probst delivers a heartwarming and humorous story wrapped in what could be considered a warning of sorts. She reminds us through Genevieve MacKenzie that despite what we may believe, a love that requires us to change is not love at all.

Alone in the minutes before her wedding, Gen begins to hear her not-so-familiar inner voice, one that she had silenced in the years leading up to that moment, telling her to RUN. Unable to shake the feeling that going through with the marriage would be in her worst interest, Gen takes flight and shimmies her way through the small church window. As fate would have it, her best friend - only known as Wolfe - is procrastinating outside the church. When he sees the fluff of white drop down near him, he knows that something is off. Rather than wait for her to change her mind, he romantically scoops Gen up in his arms and makes his way to his car. Lost in the blur of chaos, Gen doesn't see the romance of the actions - she only sees that her best friend was late to her wedding. Why else would he have parked so far away?

For those of you that have read Jennifer's past stories, you'll know that we met Wolfe in The Marriage Merger. We were reintroduced to him in Searching for Perfect, where we see that Sawyer's mentoring was the best thing to ever happen to him, as he's now a successful and wealthy adult - with a hidden heart of gold. He doesn't allow many inside his walls.

The weekend that ensues after Gen's narrow escape from wedded hell is both endearing and comical. We see the damage done by Gen's emotionally abusive ex-fiance, and we see Wolfe's anger at the loss of his best friend's self-esteem. He spends the weekend reminding Gen that fun is not something reserved only for youth and naivety, but something that should be a regular part of life.

Upon returning to the mess left behind by the runaway bride, Gen makes attempts to reassure her family and friends of her mental well-being. As it turns out, this is not such an easy task, and never before have I felt such a prominent hatred for a secondary character.

But as it might seem, the story is not only about Gen's healing, but also about Wolfe's. We learn so much more about his past, and what has helped him recover from those events. Sawyer and Julietta, as well as a number of other members from the Conte clan, make their presence known in heart warming ways.

Wolfe Wells and Genevieve MacKenzie took hold of my heart, and had me rooting for each of them individually within the first chapters, but had me utterly engrossed in their romantic resolution by the end. I wanted nothing more for them to be whole as a couple, and on their own. Jennifer's words had me running the gamut of emotions, experiencing everything from happy tears to ghetto anger to falling off my chair laughter. As a loyal fan, I think it's fair to say that this is her best work yet.
Profile Image for Aly.
2,837 reviews87 followers
April 30, 2019
Genevieve MacKenzie is getting married in 5 minutes, but why is she having a panic attack and running away?

Her best friend Wolfe is smoking outside, trying to put on a poker face for the ceremony when he see her escape through a window.

Driving the runaway bride to his adoptive father's cabin on the lake, they'll spend a few days together, where he'll drag her to all sort of activities that doesn't seem that much fun to her at first, to take her mind off what's waiting for her when she'll go back.

Gen and Wolfe has been best friends for five years and it has never been ambiguous between them. But their natural chemistry is about to evolve into something stronger but also more complicated. Many obstacles await them before they can claim their HEA. Her previous relationship lead her to believe she can't trust her instinct and she doesn't recognize herself anymore when she looks into the mirror. And Wolfe might be a former model and down-to-earth millionaire now but he never forgot his twsited past and still hold deep and dark secrets.

Searching For Beautiful was not an easy book to read for me (and reread in this case) because our MC have to passed many ugly and infuriating things before they can get to the beauty part. I think it's best to be in the mood for drama, angst and tragedies to really enjoy the reading. It's not the kind of things I like to read about, but when it's written by a skilled author, I can see the value. Wolfe refuse to screw his friendship with Gen so the romance comes in later in the story but this book is as much about finding yourself again and healing from the past anyway. It's not just a love story, it's a personal journey too.

We met Wolfe before, when he was younger, in the Marriage to a Billionaire series and after everything he went thru, I was more than happy to see him get the beautiful he was due. What is cool is that we also see previous characters from both series. My favorite scene was the touching moment between the hero and his adoptive parents. It's also in this book that we're introduced to the next hero, Officer Stone Petty, who makes a pretty strong impression, and I can tell you that his book live up to the hype!

"Because last night meant something more to me. You shared a gift by telling me the truth. But it's more than that. I look into your eyes and see a man I want with my whole heart."
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews487 followers
May 24, 2015
WOLFE! Argh, I really wanted this story; from the first mention of Gen and Wolfe in this series, I loved the idea of a friends-to-lovers story for them and damn, if it wasn't everything I hoped for!!

She's the runaway bride... Engaged to be married to her successful, handsome boss, David, Genevieve Mackenzie should be beyond happy. But she's not.

One fateful decision to crawl out of a window on her wedding day takes the normally controlled Gen down a scary, new path, and the help and protection of Wolfe, her best friend, is exactly what she needs...until unexpected feelings start to develop.

He's always been a platonic friend, but now everything is changing. Will they find something beautiful where they've never before looked?

I love, love, LOVED this book! I was really looking forward to this story -- I could barely resist cracking it open the moment I finished Searching For Perfect -- and I am pleased to report it absolutely lived up to my expectations.

Searching For Beautiful, while funny and delightfully dirty in places, is not as light-hearted as the previous books in this series. Wolfe has a dark past, and Ms. Probst did an excellent job of balancing his darkness, Gen's broken relationship and the happy-go-lucky charm that permeates this series. There's an undercurrent of pain in this book, and I felt it right alongside the characters. But I also felt the happy.

Wolfe...well, he definitely makes me happy. He's charming, protective, jealous, and altogether bad-ass, except for his adorable phobia and tendency towards blushing, that is. Oh, and did I mention he's hella sexy too? Because he is!

The slow burn development of his relationship with Gen, the neediness, the knight in shining armor moments, the confessions and revelations, the hot-as-hell sex and the heartbreak were all perfectly on point here. It's hands down my favorite book (so far) in the Searching For series, but I'll have to wait until Arilyn's story to know for sure. It's set-up in a typically playful, amusing way throughout this book, so I can't wait to see what Ms. Probst has in store for the hippy therapist. ~ Beth, 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 522 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.