by Alisha Rai Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: August 6, 2019 by Avon
Format: eARC
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Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.
Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules:
- Nude pics are by invitation only
- If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice
- Protect your heart
Only there aren't any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night... and disappears.
Rhi thought she'd buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won't fumble their second chance, but she's wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Before beginning I want to give a trigger warning for representation of an abusive relationship in here, which is mentioned throughout the novel multiple times.
I love Alisha Rai, and I love her most recent release. This book hooked me from the start, with what is probably one of the best first lines in a book (not telling you what it is, that way you can pick up the book and find out on your own). I didn’t know too much about this book going in besides the fact that it was about a dating app creator (who made a cameo in the Forbidden Hearts series). I loved getting to know Rhiannon more, and see what it was like for her to be a female in a male dominated field.
“Working for other employers, she’d always had to be on guard against displaying her femininity for fear they would think she wasn’t tough.”
Like the rest of Rai’s books, once I started The Right Swipe, I couldn’t put it down until I was done. After a few chapters I was totally engrossed and obsessed with the story and the characters. Not only was Rhiannon a tough executive and creator and so great to read about, but Samson was so sweet and the perfect love interest. Both characters have a lot going on in their lives, but being with each other brings out the best in them, and gives them a safe space to be themselves and be vulnerable.
“He didn’t want to go on another date with another woman from Matchmaker. He wanted to see Rhi. In bed, in her car, on a rooftop. She was his Green Eggs and Ham, he’d take her anywhere.”
Not only was the romance fun (which I wish there was more of), I love that there was so much discussion on CTE and the #metoo movement. Samson is an ex pro football player who quit because of the dangers of CTE and because of family members who died from the disease. Throughout the book Samson struggles with the deaths of family members, and wanting to bring more attention to the disease. Rhiannon experienced being blacklisted in the technology community because of a former male employer. Throughout the novel she struggles with being vulnerable because of what happened to her in the past. We are also able to see what Rhiannon struggles with being around people who’ve heard rumors about her and judge her.
Overall Alisha Rai’s newest release is an easy to read novel with so much meaning throughout. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series! There was so much in this book, and I highly recommend it.
If you’ve read The Right Swipe, what did you think of it?
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Lovely review you have there. I have been on the fence but your review has me convinced I need to read this one here.
Thank you! It was such a great book, I hope you enjoy it as well!