The Bookbabe Review's ......... Until I Saw Your Smile by J.J. Murray

J.J. Murrray is back at it again with this tale of love and this time at all happens in a little coffee shop in Brooklyn. Matthew McConnell is a recovering corporate laywer who is trying to get back into the dating   scene; after being left by his girlfriend Joy. From the moment that I read this you start to feel a little bad for Matt. Joy has left him for a foreign exchange teacher and has taken almost everything in his apartment. Including the food in the fridge, the towels in the bathroom and his crappy microwave. All this leads him to call up a former coworker for his first date from hell. After being scared off by a certain womans condom collection he wanders into Smith's Sweet Treats & Coffee; and in enters Angela its pretty owner who instantly feels the need to chat Matt up. She gets a kick out of his bad date stories. As the story goes on Matt continues to have bad dates; one with a recently released felon, a Christian woman lusting after her pastor and a woman that feels the need to bring her bestfriend on the date. After each date from hell he goes back to Angela's coffee shop and devours her houseblend coffee and treats. Its not until he goes on his final date from hell that he begins to really see Angela. He is deteremined to breakthrough her defenses and boy oh boy does that take a lot of work. Angela has a lot of reasons to mistrust him. Mainly she thinks he is a player but also she is hiding a pretty big secret that makes opening up to someone really hard. As things move on Angela slowly falls in love too and opens up to Matt. They become not only partners in business but eventually in life.

What I Loved about this book:

Angela and Matt's relationship was extremely realistic, funny and loving. Murray told this story almost completely from Matt's prespective. You get to see him fall in love slowly and want to build something lasting with Angela. Matt makes sure to follow her lead; and by doing so he gains her trust and love in return. Also, for a romantic comedy (of sorts) J.J. Murray doesn't over do it with sex. He adds just enough at the right time, and its sweet and loving and beautiful. Also, Murray touches on some really heavy issues in this book. Which I can't reveal because that would lead to a huge spoiler (and I don't want to ruin this book for anyone). 

Favorite Quotes: 

 1) "Who lies about dropping six grand on a dress with a first, middle and last name? For six grand, it had better have a social security number and give you a tax break for living in your closet"

2) Matthew to Warrick: "I look forward to meeting you face to face, or are you to much of a coward? You like hiding in alleys and preying on defenseless women. Really, Warrick. Calling you a pussy would be a compliment."

I give this book 5 Stars and would gladly recommend it to anyone that enjoys a class boy meets girl romance.

Hey ya'll I finished a book and here is my opinion....

I must say I was a little surprised with the conclusion of this series. I loved The Strain (Book #1) and The Fall (Book #2) however this book left me wanting more. I was a little thrown by the fallen angel story line; and I really expected something every different. I didn't really see where it fit in. It almost seemed like the authors where just trying to find a neat and tidy way to wrap up the story line. Also, this book did not have the same "pace" as the others. This book was a little harder for me to get through and much easier for me to walk away from. I will say that I was happy in the wrap up of the story line for each character. Things seemed fitting and final and honestly we did not have to worry about any real lose ends. I was a little upset about the ending of Eph and Zack's story line. Mainly because I did not expect it to end in death. I hoped that they would have had a happier; if not heavily flawed ending. I expected to see them walk of into the sunset with the hopes of mending their relationship; however, I do understand the death ending. In a weird; very messed up way there was really could be no other way forward for these to characters. I will also say that Del Toro and Hogan still added to the complexity of each character. They gave you a reason to root for everyone; including the Master. I would definitely read another book by these two again.