Review: None of the clichés I’ve grown to expect and all of the romance I was hoping for
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2014
Isabel Jenkins is a genius, but that doesn’t mean her life is perfect.  Sure, she’s already graduated medical school and completed her internship, even though she’s only eighteen, but when she faces her first major failure, not getting the residency she had her heart set on, she’s adrift.  All the smarts in the world don’t make up for her lack of socialization, and inability to relate to her patients.  Now determined to recapture the opportunity to be a “normal” young adult, she returns to college, for the first time attending with students her own age.  And that’s where we meet Marshall, the Resident Advisor who knows all about the child prodigy.Judging Covers...While not a bad cover, it just didn’t do it for me.  It doesn’t scream “socially inept genius meets hunky RA” or capture the wonderfully sweet romance that develops between Marshall and Isabel.  Not that I have any better ideas.  I just think it makes the book look like just another young romance when it’s soooo much more.divThe Verdict...Izzy’s romance with Marshall is delightfully awkward, and Marshall is refreshingly sweet.  Rather than insta-love, a fun friendship builds, with Marshall determined to show Izzy how to loosen up and for once in her life have a good time without worrying about her next big goal.What really makes the story, though, is that Marshall isn’t set on changing who Izzy is at heart.  Instead, he simply shows her how to live and patiently waits as she follows.  And behind his gorgeous mug is a kind, caring man of depth who finds himself letting his own guard down.Third Degree is nothing I thought it would be, with none of the clichés I’ve grown to expect and all of the romance I was hoping for.  While the story doesn’t lack drama, it’s drama done right, a rarity lately in the world of New Adult books.  There’s growing up, letting go, falling in love, and discovering each other.  Izzy’s super-intelligence makes for an interesting narration and a heroine who, even if I couldn’t completely relate, fell in love with.  And Marshall… He’s gonna be number one on my wishlist to Santa this year.***FicCentral received this book from AToMR Tours for free in exchange for an honest review. Even so, we're far too opinionated to let a freebie influence our thoughts or the contents of the reviews we post here.