I really liked this book! The plot was quite unique, but the characters were a little typical at times. Despite all that, I ended up loving the relationship between Adam and Eden(hehe! love the names!) and was rooting for them!

Eden was a biochemist and worked in a sex drug lab - Atrubus Labs. Her brother Micah was a musician. He had a metal band called Theater Of The Absurd. Eden went to the club to hear Micah play an acoustic night- Micah loved playing the smaller room, bantering with the crowd , hearing people sing along with familiar choruses. Then a guy came up to the merchandise table that Eden was at and talked for a couple of minutes and then he asked if she would like a drink and Eden accepted. They sat together at the bar. Adam told Eden he was a musician. Then Micah called Eden up to sing backup vocal and Adam learned Eden was Micah’s sister. Then after Micah was done he told Eden he was going to Adam’s place and told she could go to. Eden ended up sleeping with Adam that night. Adam then played his guitar and Eden harmonized with him and then Adam said they should record together. Eden then wanted Adam again, the attraction she felt for him was overpowering. Her feelings for Adam went deeper then the straight forward physical attraction, she felt like she had known Adam forever. When Eden went back to the club to get her phone Tobin told her she should sing more with Micah or even by herself. Adam and Eden seen each other a couple more times. Adam invited Micah and his band to tour with his in Europe. Adam also cut a song with Eden and they put it on Youtube and it was well received. Adam actually took Eden out to dinner in public as this would make the gossip magazines wonder if she was just a musician he was making music with or if they were actually seeing each other.
I absolutely loved this book and I didn’t want to put it down. I loved it from the first page until the ast page. A wonderful romance. I felt bad when Adam was so hurt and walked away from eden then she left even after he called to her. I was so happy when she got the nerve to go to Spain. I loved Eden and Adam together. I also love the pace and flow of this book. As well as the plot. I could find nothing to criticize about this book and that made me very happy. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend.

I've enjoyed this debut novel, Mary Ann Marlow wrote a nice and interesting story, it was good to relax for a few hours.

I've liked how our heroine,Eden,finally grows up,she understands that sometimes to follow your heart is more important than an economic stability.

I can't wait to read the second book in the series...give me more rock stars please *^*

Fun, quirky debut novel! I loved that Eden is a biochemist - not the usual heroine in a romance, even in one like this. This falls squarely in the (superficial) opposites attract genre given that Adam is a rock star. While it's light and fluffy on the surface, there are actually interesting questions of what causes us to fall in love. Would you use the perfume if it really works and is available. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC_ this made for a lovely afternoon read on a rainy day but it's also perfect for the beach or the plane or just about anywhere else.

This was a fun read, but I really had a hard time keeping interest. This seemed like the same old same old in chick lit. From the description I was looking forward to fun and laughs. Good for a first book.

Some Kind of Magic gives new meaning to a chemical reaction delivering us the story of Eden the biochemist and Adam the rockstar.

This story wasn't your typical rockstar romance which made it all the more fun. I really liked the characters and how they were written so relatable. Eden drew my attention from the start, she was such a fun character, smart too. I really enjoyed the aspect of her life changing all with the spritz of a spray.

This book was full of wit, steam, and a winning connection between two people who nobody would have put together in a normal situation, proving that love often finds us when, where, and with whom we least expect it.

I enjoyed Some kind of Magic a lot and found it hard to believe that it was a debut novel. It was engaging, laugh out loud funny while also totally pulling me into the story and rooting for the characters.

I look forward to reading more from Mary Ann Marlowe in the future.

I loved this fun, adventurous story! I'm not really a fan of rock star books but this one hit all the right spots for me. I laughed out loud and enjoyed the adventure. I can't wait to read more books by this author!

This was a charming romance that I think will appeal to new adult readers. The characters were realistic, and the story was different from the usual romantic fare, which I appreciated. I enjoyed the development of the relationship; the dialogue was good and the sex scenes were quite hot, but not over the top. The main character's mother drove me crazy--why did the main character put up with that?? Anyway, it was a great debut; I will look for more from this author.

3 "Chemistry and Rock n' Roll" Stars

ARC via NetGalley

Thank you, Kensington!

I'd been dying to get my hands on this books for months. So I'm more than sad to say that I didn't love it half as much as I thought I would.

I’ll be completely honest here and say that my biggest issue with the book falls into the subjective area: I couldn’t connect with the main character at all. The good news is, you might feel completely different about her and, therefore, the story.

The premise is really great (and so is the cover, by the way. Look at all that pretty together!!). Here we have a biochemist MC (yay for girls in science!!), who’s really ambitious and wants to further her career, which is always great because GIRL POWER!

One of her coworkers is working on some experimental “perfume” that enhances pheromones, which could be interpreted as a “desire drug” or a weapon to help with seduction. The whole thing is a mystery for a while, because, you know, it’s an experiment. Anyway… Eden is wearing that perfume (without knowing what it does, let’s be clear) when she meets Adam. Yes, Eden and Adam *giggles*

And that’s where some of my problems with the character start.

See, Eden has a bunch of criteria to even consider a guy datable. That’s fine, right? So many people do that, whether they realize it or not. But the way Eden talked about hers, the way she acted around guys that she initially thought didn’t check all the boxes on her list made me cringe. Big time. She came across as someone full of prejudice and not likable at all. At one point there, after having read 16% per cent of the book, I couldn’t take it anymore. I just came to the conclusion that she was really, really unlikable. That was also when I started to feel super sad, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the romance. How could I when I didn’t think Eden deserve Adam at all?

Adam was a nice, down-to-Earth guy who happened to be a rock star. He didn’t act like one, and half the time he didn’t look like one, hence why Eden didn’t even want to spend the night with him. She thought he wasn’t even in his league, she actually said that at some point, so why would she give him a chance at all? She ended up doing it (or him) just to find out he was Adam Copeland, the rock star. I should’ve been happy for her, but all I kept feeling was that she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to get him.

And she didn’t even get that much better after she learned the truth about him. There’s this scene when she goes out with him and he walks her to his car. A simple car, and she has the guts to say she’s disappointed that he isn’t taking her out in a limo, her “fantasy date ride”.

I mean, girl. No. Just no.

In all honesty, I could’ve (maybe) gotten behind her long check list for a date if I had gotten a really tragic or traumatic back story to back it up. I mean something strong that explained why she felt like she needed those very specific qualities in a guy to even consider him for a relationship. It needed to come a lot earlier than it did, because when we got an explanation it was (a) too late, I already didn’t like her, and (b) too weak, because it didn’t make me feel for her enough to change my feelings.

Then things just escalated from there for me. Maybe it was because I already didn’t like her from the beginning, but everything Eden did ended up annoying me. She came across way too jealous for someone in a relationship with a rock star, way too insecure, and way too conniving.

I mean, we get to the heart of the premise: the seduction perfume, and Eden’s action come across all wrong for me. While she initially didn’t know what the perfume could do, she learned about the risks later and still chose to use it because she was afraid Adam would lose interest in her. Sure I get how a woman who isn’t famous and rich might feel insecure around a rock star, but then to go ahead and risk making the whole connection fake so she could hold on to dating a famous guy a little longer? Okay, that’s a bit nasty. She wasn’t only with him because he was famous and rich. They did have chemistry and some sexy times together, but she didn’t even know much about him. 78% in, and Eden is saying exactly that, “We didn’t know anything about each other”. And I’m like, yeah, girl, at this point in the story, you really should. Otherwise, doesn’t it all come down to sexual attraction that might or might not have been caused by a chemical substance you wore around him intentionally?

Look, there were many good elements to the story. Adam was a really great character. The chemistry thing was interesting and kept me curious and wondering the entire time. I wanted to know if it worked or not. Despite my problems with Eden, she had good chemistry with Adam, and they got a happy ending that was pretty good and will certainly please romance fans.

I'm still giving it a mostly positive rating, because of those other good elements and also because it made me feel. Evoking emotion, be it good or bad, isn't something easy. It takes talent.

Unfortunately, I can't rate it higher because I couldn’t enjoy this story as much as I had hoped, or as other people might, because Eden got under my skin right in the beginning, and I could never shake her away after that. Judging from all the good reviews on Goodreads, I might’ve been the only one, so you might want to give this book with its interesting premise and cute cover a chance and see for yourself.

I always hate to give negative reviews to newbie authors, but I was really let down by Some Kind of Magic.

From the cover and description, I was expecting a fun chick-lit, contemporary romance cross-over. Some easy escapism and witty writing. From the glowing reviews, I was expecting something different from what we usual see. Alas, this book was same old, same old.

I'll start with the female MC. I'm SO sick and tired of insecure, judge-y, low self esteem female MCs. Though Eden is in a science field and appears to be reasonably attractive, she comes across as the self-doubting girls that we often see in romance. You know the ones; the ones that are so insecure that they don't even realize what a special, beautiful snowflake they are until a boy comes and shows them. Ugh. She also has a laundry list of requirements in a man, and she comes across as really judgmental.

There are also the elements of "if you dress a certain way or act a certain way, you are 'less than'" in this story. Here, we get the same messages hammered in that I see time and time again in new adult romances. Eden wears no make-up and low key clothes, unlike the girls with heavy makeup and dyed hair, who are described as looking more like a "transvestite than a girl." First of all, "transvestite" is a dated, offensive term, and any MC who is judge-y enough to think like that doesn't rank highly in my book. I'm tired of girls having to look pretty but not TOO pretty, or wear just the "right" amount of make-up or certain clothes. It is a subtle way of shaming other women, and I don't like it one bit.

I'm not a huge fan of rock star romances, as a rule, but I've read and loved many in the past. This time, the rock star element felt forced and unrealistic. How could Adam Copeland, the male MC, not be able to go out in public in New York but be able to tour around New Jersey with no issues? Also, I didn't like that Eden's science career seemed like just a stopover to do what she really wanted to do but somehow repressed.

I was expecting some big hook from the perfume with pheromones angle, but I found it to be underdeveloped. I would have rather that entire facet of the story be left out, and this just be a contemporary romance with a non-celebrity and a rock star. I was also expecting some humor, based on the cover and blurb, but this book was more serious than I was anticipating.

This book is very low steam for romance, but a little higher than what many chick-lit readers might expect. The sex is mentioned in round-about terms, but it isn't fade-to-black.

I was expecting something out of the ordinary, but this book was very typical for the genre: jealousy, insecurity, wishy-washy-ness, lack of communication... it all was there. I wasn't a fan, but I'll give it a few bonus points for taking place in my neighborhood, though how the characters could be from Edison and not go once for Indian food was mind-boggling...

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Eden is a biochemist lab assistant, who is saving money to get her PhD. On the weekends, she is her brother’s number one fan- he is a rising grunge singer. So much so that she often ditches her friends to help him sell merchandise or harmonize on stage with him. One such a night a cute grungy looking guy hits on her, little does she know it is Adam Copeland- this year’s hottest star. Too bad a few hours earlier one of the doctors at her company used her on a test subject, one where the vial of perfume was supposed to cause insta-lust. When it didn’t work that meant that is was a dud and Eden got to keep it. She liked the scent and had no clue what the perfume was supposed to do. Atlas, when she finds out she has her answer- Adam liked her because of science. Adam isn’t too sold on the old science excuse though.

Eden is cute. She is a scientist who totally flaunts her brains. She isn’t afraid to be smart and wears it like a badge of honor. The only think I didn’t like about her was how much she hated her job. She seriously hated the 9 to 5 aspect of it. Yet she craved the stability of it. Which is the 9 to 5 aspect of it. Now you see why I didn’t like this part of her personality. They conflicted way too much.

Adam is sweet. He understands that his job comes with very little privacy. He tries to shelter Eden from that but that goes horribly wrong. He is protective of his friends and mentors her brother. He is even adorable with his fans. Yet, when conflict came about he was very quick to push Eden away. This was a bit of a let down, I expected more from him.

Some Kind of Magic is a cute fast read. I was looking for an easy escape that was completely uncomplicated. I got that with this one. Can’t help but wonder if Stacy or Micah will get their own book.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “Somewhere between merchandise and paradise.”

Other People
Micah- Eden’s brother
Adrianna- Adam’s fake fiancé
Stacy- Eden’s bestie

What do you do when the gorgeous rock star you're dating might only be with you because of a perfume that's effectively a love potion? Biochemist Eden Sinclair is faced with with a difficult predicament in Mary Ann Marlowe's debut novel, Some Kind of Magic.

Single Eden's life is generally going well. She's a scientist. She' has a successful and lovely musician for a brother. An apartment and prospects. The downsides? She's not exactly doing the work she dreamed of, and her mother's constantly on a mission to set her up with unsuitable men. Eden isn't too lucky in love, but that soon changes when her lab colleague hands her a vial of perfume.

Eden doesn't know it, but the perfume is designed to enhance pheromones. And after attending one of Micah's gigs, starts to hit it off with a cute musician.

Little does Eden know, he's none other than Adam Copeland, internationally famous guitarist with millions of worldwide fans. When Eden finally realises that the cute guy she slept with is a rock star, tension rises. Especially when she also finds out that the perfume she's wearing is designed to have a bit of an effect on men...

Is Adam attracted to her because of the perfume, or is it due to a different kind of chemistry?

Admittedly I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. I'd fallen for the blurb (and its gorgeous cover!), intrigued by the perfume premise which sadly seemed to be overshadowed by the 'good girl falls for the rock star' element of the book. I expected a bit more of a twist as I tend to look for more in novels than just a love story, and this one was, sadly, quite predictable. I also found it very hard to like Eden, who came across as snobby and a bit childish at times, especially with her reluctance to date men based on their occupations (doesn't want to date a dentist or gynecologist because, you know, ew. Even though she's a fully grown woman. And a scientist.) I wasn't sure if I was meant to find this fussiness endearing, but it was just grating.

Even though I love Mary Ann Marlowe's writing style, I just didn't really fall for this book. However, that's probably just due to personal preference. If you're a fan of romance novels, this might be a good read for you; it's light, with some funny moments and some great characters, such as Micah and Adam. I was just expecting a little bit more.

The blurb of this book picqued my interest. It sounded good and really got me excited to read it. I liked the premise of the book-the fact that an ordinary woman could attract the attention of a rock star and how would it all go. But there was something about the story that I couldn’t mesh with. It was a little anti-climatic and the female character of Eden, I couldn’t really deal with. Adam was great and I really liked how he demonstrated his feelings for Eden. Honestly, I felt a little bored reading this story-it didn’t really grabbed me as I had hoped. I just didn’t get that major “wow” factor. Overall, it was a quick and light read with promising factors.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Eden Sinclair, a biochemist working for a lab that is basically trying to make an airborne Viagara. Unknown to Eden, whose job is just to run the tests for levels of different hormones in mouse blood. So when the head scientist tells Eden she can take home a vial of perfume, she doesn't think anything of it. Eden decides to wear the perfume to her brother, Micah's, concert that night, where she meets Adam. Adam seems a little grungy at first and not really her type, and Eden can't help but think he looks like a homeless musician. Turns out he's a famous rock-star though, and he starts wooing her in a whirlwind romance that includes a trip to Europe for his international tour dates. When Eden finds out what the perfume's chemical purpose is though, can she trust her feelings in Adam are genuine? And can she trust him enough to tell him the truth?
Overall I liked this book. It was a sweet read with some interesting new aspects. I liked the scientific aspect a lot, it was definitely something different and was nice to learn a little more about. And it was a sweet romance, although the characters both felt like they were super insecure to me. Adam and Eden both brought their own distinct and intense baggage to the relationship and while they worked through it in the end it was hard at certain points to see how it would end up ok. And some of the plot points seems too easy to me. I mean I know its fiction so a rock star falling in love with you is within the realm of possibility but still it just felt a little too easy to me. Overall though this was a sweet romance and I thought it was a good read and I would recommend it.

"I'd never know for sure who much that damn perfume had factored into his feelings for me. And he'd never know for sure how little his fame factored into my feelings for him."

FINAL DECISION: This is an enjoyable if a bit predictable story. I liked Eden's quirky if conservative nature that is changed when she meets the rock star and begins to allow herself to want more.

THE STORY: Eden Sinclair is a biochemist. One night she wears the latest work from her office out to watch her musician brother. She ends up meeting Adam Copeland and in a move unlike herself, ends up having really hot sex with the slightly grungy musician. Eden doesn't realize that Adam is an international rock god wanted by women all over the world. When she finds out she also discovers that her work "perfume" is actually a pheromone designed to attract men. Now Eden is afraid losing Adam but she doesn't know if he wants her or the perfume enhanced version of herself.

OPINION: The positives of this book is how normal the relationship between Eden and Adam is. Adam might be a rock star, but he also is messy and wants a normal dating relationship with Eden. Eden doesn't treat Adam with awe, and Adam responds to that.

They both have insecurities in their relationship. Eden is conflicted about the perfume. She worries that the attraction on Adam's part is rooted in that pheromone spray. As the book begins, she can't imagine that she is attractive enough to draw someone like Adam to her. Throughout the book, that instinctive fear that she is not good enough threatens their relationship. I very much enjoyed the growth in Eden as she begins to stretch herself, reach for dreams that she feared trying for. Adam is insecure as well because he always has the fear that his fame rather than his own self is what attracts Eden to him. This is especially true because even if Eden doesn't care about his fame, those surrounding her are always effected by it.

The negative in this book for me is that things happen too slowly and didn't hold my interest in the middle of the book. There were some chapters that I had to push myself through. I thought the pacing could have picked up and would have made the book more compelling.

This is only a small negative because in the end, I enjoyed the book as a one time read. I look forward to what this author will write next.

WORTH MENTIONING: This is the author's debut novel.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SOME KIND OF MAGIC is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This novel is the classic case of right thing at the right time. It's sexy at the right times. Romantic at the right times. Smart, witty, clever, serious, funny, sad, hopeful, honest, all at the right times, and the story gripped me from start to finish. The progression of the story felt natural and realistic, even when the premise is centered on the idea of a 'love potion' bringing Adam and Eden together. I enjoyed the touch of music and original lyrics, and I was excited to see there will be a second book featuring Micah, Eden's brother. A very satisfying and fun book!

Some Kind Of Magic by Mary Ann Marlowe is an exciting romance novel. Eden, the scientist, and Adam, the rock star, are attracted to each other. Is it the chemical perfume (love potion) or is it real. Read this fun book to find out. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. This is Ms. Marlowe's first book, and I am looking forward to her next book.

I received the ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.