Just like the two main characters beginning their love story at odds with each other, Mimika Cooney's MIND READER: Closed Door Romance (Sensibility Romance Series Book 1) doesn’t quite put its best foot forward at the start. Beyond the blurb being placed as a prologue, however, the novel does improve considerably.
From ice star to profiler to a consultant with million-dollar retainers, Cleo has built an impressive resume. Yet she all too often still finds herself needing to prove her worth, both professionally and romantically. Dillon is just as driven, but has the flaws to match someone compelled to make glasses capable of reading and responding to the emotions of those around him. Both characters are fleshed out, with big dreams and personalities. Yet the connection between them seems more like a switch being flipped than something materializing on the page that the reader can experience.
Cooney’s writing style in MIND READER is interesting and evocative, often full of quips that happen in both dialogue and narration. One line from Cleo to her sister stands out in particular: “‘Dating’s like Russian roulette with more lip gloss. And I’m out of emotional ammo.’” Other lines don't quite land, due to either proximity or repetition. Both “or calculation dressed in charm” and “or calculus wrapped in charm” occur within a few paragraphs of each other.
There are a few continuity errors, too. Some of Cleo’s backstory keeps being a surprise to Dillon, despite her either speaking of or thinking of those traits and skills as marketable multiple times. He would presumably have seen her resume before hiring her. In addition, she has a flashback to something happening with family earlier in the novel that's treated like a big reveal later on.
Punctuation is sometimes an issue as well. It's not prevalent, but there's enough throughout the book to be noticeable: spaces on the wrong side of periods, missing pauses in the middle of dialogue, and absent or doubled quotation marks.
MIND READER might be a little rough around the edges, but it's still a charming romantic read with likable and realistic love interests.
Mimika Cooney's MIND READER: Closed Door Romance (Sensibility Romance Series Book 1) pairs two high-achieving individuals in a closed-door romance that leaves more than just spice off the page. Though some hallmarks of a romance feel thinner than expected here, closed door or otherwise, the two love interests and their ambitions make for a worthwhile read.
~ Mary Richards for IndieReader