Strong characters add power to this romance novel. Rhi knows what she wants from a relationship and her career. When Samson walks into both she thinks she has all the answers, but she has to learn to trust herself and more than her inner circle to get what she wants. I enjoyed the story and characters. Not sure I could relate to either lead, I think I liked the side characters more.

A great romance about a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur coming into her power both professionally and personally.

Sadly my first Alisha Rai book might be my last. The promise of a cute story was lost with an unlikeable heroine and overall unengaging story. I will not be sharing on my blog.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy!

I read this early copy mainly because of the Dragons & Tea Book Club. The love interests and the main plot were well-written and kept me hooked until the end. However, I found the sexual content was just not for me.

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars. Full review to come soon.

3.5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

Where to start, where to start....
Rhiannon (Rhi) and Samson hooked up thanks to a dating app, had a wonderful time, and wished that they could see each other again but come to find out one of the parties felt ghosted. Rhi and Samson meet again during a work event and both feel uncomfortable about seeing each other again. This now starts a series of events that place the two of them back into each other's orbit. Rhi came off as this overly strong character that I felt NO vulnerability from. She harped on how she was wronged by an ex without giving a full explanation for the issues until the end and the issue felt like another social issues that didn't need to be added. Samson was dealing with the backlash from his career decisions, grief, and family dynamics. I appreciated the issues that were tackled within this story but I felt that they were too much and not focused.

This specific video review will be included in the August 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Alisha Rai does women's fiction? The book is focused on two main characters involved with online dating apps, but it feels much more like a tech start up story with romantic elements than a true romance. While it's good to see women in tech leadership, I went in with different expectations and came out a little disappointed.

LOVED this book. It was smart, empowering, ethnically diverse, cute premise, flawed-by-likable main characters. Basically it had everything that makes a fun read. I had never read this author before, but this book made me want to check out her other books.

I loved this one! I flew through it, eagerly devouring Rhi & Samson’s story. While this one gets STEAMY and the chemistry is hot, there’s definitely a lot of focus on the non-romantic plot, including Rhi’s time in the tech world and how her past has shaped her. This is the 3rd tech-related rom-com I’ve read in the past month, but it felt fresh & unique. While Rhi wasn’t perfect (who is?!), she’s a bad-ass female protagonist and I was rooting for her the whole time. I very much enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to read what Alisha writes next!

I found book to have real life scenarios about today’s dating world. Honest and heart warming. Showed family values, while also allowing characters to have relationships. Fist pump to women for stepping forward about sexual harassment. I rooted for Rhi to follow her heart,

I stayed up way too late at night to finish this book. I had the usual, "one more chapter" mantra in my head, but the book was just too good to put down. I will definitely being reading more of Alisha Rai's books in the future. The Right Swipe is about Rhiannon Hunter, creator and owner of the dating app Crush. She is interested in buying a dot com competitor, so she crashes their party, only discover their new spokesman is non other than Samson Lima, retired football player and the man who ghosted her after one passionate night together. Samson is shocked when he sees Rhiannon, (who he knows as Claire,) in the crowd and looks to reconnect with her, but she will not make it easy. Rhiannon has trust issues due to a past relationship, but Samson is patient, but when she assumes the worst about Samson, she walks away. The chemistry between Rhiannon and Samson is HOT and despite some missteps, I was rooting for them to find common ground the entire book. Although this is a romance and and HEA is always guaranteed in a romance novel, I was a little nervous at the end, wondering if they ever would get together. Not only were Rhiannon and Samson strong, amazing characters, their friends and family were also wonderful. I loved Rhiannon's relationship with both her mother and brother, and wanted more exploration of their dynamic. I look forward to future books in the Modern Love series, so many options (and a few I am hoping will be.) I am recommending this book to everyone I know who enjoys romance novels.

The Right Swipe has all the right stuff, plus the distinction of being totally unique. There is so much going on in this book to hold one's interest! First, the right stuff - Alisha Rai obviously spent a lot of time building authentic characters who are sometimes quirky while still relatable. For example, Rhiannon (and her need to wear hoodies) can be REALLY hard to like, but as we get to know her we see that experience has made her cautious, driven, and guarded.

Samson (who in my mind looks like Tony Gonzalez!), has many layers that make him such a magnetic, appealing person. He has integrity, loyalty, and admirable principles. We, the readers, can see that Rhiannon and Samson are perfect together, and observing them discover that truth was a real joy. The supporting characters, like Dean, Harris, Katrina, and Aunt Belle are equally interesting and round out what is already a great story.

Lastly, Alisha Rai has my respect for crafting a story where the characters are socially and racially diverse, and does so in a way that is subtle but meaningful. There wasn't any preaching in this book. No matter your racial or social background, these characters are people we can all relate to. Humanizing our differences, and creating a story about common ground, is admirable and uplifting.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ARC. This is my honest review.*

I enjoyed The Right Swipe. The pacing of the novel was excellent. I hate books where the characters fall in bed right away. Even though their relationship was based on a hookup I appreciated the way that the author built up the chemistry between Simon and Rhi. The supporting characters were robust and I hope to see follow up books featuring Lakshmi, Tina, Noah, and Trevor.

As someone who found love online, the plot of this story hooked me right away. I thought the push and pull people find with modern dating via apps was very accurate. The MC's though were so different that whatever romance was supposed to be present was overshadowed by their blinding character differences. I dont think I would swipe right on this one.

This book was refreshing and fun! It's not a "fluffy" romance, this book is filled with SMART characters who are professional and intelligent. The "steamy" scenes aren't smutty, and the characters even enjoyed being together just as much as sex. This author - and this series - is definitely something to keep on my radar. Highly recommended!

Dang it, Alisha Rai! She gets me every time. THE RIGHT SWIPE hit all the right notes; starting with one of my new favorite heroes, and ending with a beautifully complex, yet fast-paced romance novel. The story follows Rhiannon, a guarded dating app CEO and kick-butt girl boss, and Samson, my new book boyfriend, errr, I mean, former NFL star, rival dating app spokesperson, and Rhi’s one time, one-night stand.

I knew from meeting Rhi in Ms. Rai’s previous series that she would be a tough cookie, and she was. She is a dominant personality and needed someone patient and understanding enough to keep coming back. She found that in my new dream man, Samson. He really made the book for me. He was in no way a doormat, but he was a gentle and self-aware beta hero dealing with his own life problems.

What I unexpectedly enjoyed most was Ms. Rai’s ability to craft two individual story arcs, one for Samson and Rhi, and intertwine them just enough to make me keep turning the pages. Both Samson and Rhi had to grow separately to be truly prepared for a long-term romantic relationship by the end of the book. The story was set in a rich and vibrant world but wasn’t bogged down by the details and smaller storylines within the larger arc.

While I loved the individual story timelines, I wish Samson and Rhi had a little more “together” page time at the end and most pivotal scenes in the book. The last 20% of the book felt a little too much like Rhiannon’s story, and not Samson and Rhiannon’s romance. Samson was also SO kind and giving to Rhi throughout the course of the book, I would have liked to have seen a little more reciprocal kindness from Rhi, even if it was her own particular brand of kindness. I think the story would have really benefited from an epilogue. It would have given me just a bit more closure at the end.

Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series. Ms. Rai weaved current events and a modern flair into a complicated romance path between two people damaged by past hurts. Also, where can I find a Samson… no, really??

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

This book had many things going for it: a solid premise, good writing, original story, relevance to modern issues, diverse characters. I appreciated all these things, but I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters or the story at any point in the book. I think my biggest stumbling point was that I didn't like Rhi very much. I understood why she would feel cautious and weary, but this seemed to lead to a righteousness about being unfair to Samson that didn't sit well with me. Then there was Samson. He was perfect. Too perfect. He was so careful, he seemed to be following a script on how a guy must react and behave, He was so understanding of Rhi's issues that he didn't seem to have any deep feelings of his own. Yes, you're a good guy, and yes, you're allowed to protest when you are treated unjustly. All this translated into a lukewarm chemistry that made me feel neutral about the characters as a couple and at a solid three for the book itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rhiannon Hunter is a successful business woman who is also leading the charge on revolutionizing the app dating scene with her company Crush. After ending her previous relationship with the man who also happened to be her boss at the time, Rhiannon was harassed out of her job. It wasn't easy to get started - what with the false rumors her ex spread about her - but once she created Crush, Rhiannon vowed to triumph over her oppressor with success. To say the least, trust doesn't come easy for Rhiannon. That's why every now and then she'll employ the use of her own app for a hookup. That is, until the last guy ghosted on her.

Samson Lima's name is a legacy not only did both his uncle and father play professional football, but Samson did as well. That is, until he walked off the field in frustration over the way the league was handling head injuries - or how they were not handling them. After having his team and fans turn on him, Samson put his focus on caring for his uncle who was beginning to show signs of brain injury from all his years in the game. Now, back in the spotlight, Samson has been tapped as the new face of Matchmaker the original online dating company. Besides a hookup a few months ago, Samson has been out of the dating scene for quite some time.

When Samson and Rhiannon run into each other at the launch party for Matchmaker's new campaign, Samson immediately wants another chance with Rhiannon, and Rhiannon wants to buy Matchmaker. Rhiannon isn't used to giving people second chances, but maybe all is take is the right person.

This is my first book by Alisha Rai. While I know of and am somewhat familiar with her previous series (of which apparently Rhiannon make an appearance) I am apparently late to the party. But I really enjoyed The Right Swipe so you can bet I'll be picking up more of her books soon.

I really loved the perspective we, the readers, get on the side of survivors of harassment. Probably one of the first thoughts that people have upon hearing someone come forward with accusations is "why wait so long, why now?". I think that Alisha Rai really gives us a good answer for that. Although no one ever owes someone an answer, I think it's important for people to understand where someone who has been through trauma is coming from, and we see it clearly in what Rhiannon has experienced with her ex, and how that trauma informs the way she handles herself in the present. How it's kept her from trusting, it's kept her from business opportunities, it's kept her - in part - from living fully. But the decision to speak out is a singular decision and should never be forced upon someone.

In a roundabout way, we see how Samson has struggled with his decision to speak out when he walked off the field in protestation of the NHL not taking brain injuries seriously. It definitely impacted his career, but probably more notably, it impacted his name, his legacy which is heartbreaking. But it is one of the potential risks when you speak out about something you believe in. Little does Samson know that his actions have done more good than bad.

My favorite part of The Right Swipe was the fact that never once were Rhiannon's feelings or actions made to seem wrong or incorrect the way women are all-too-often made to feel on a daily basis. Too emotional, too "crazy", too irrational. Instead of getting upset with Rhiannon when her past informs on her actions in the present, Samson remains patient and calm with her. Seeing things from her side which also, sometimes, letting her know why she may be incorrect with her thinking. I loved that there's never any fingers pointed as who's right and who's wrong.

It's a sweet love story about giving second chances and standing up for yourself and others. There were so many great secondary characters I cannot wait to see who gets their own book next!

I have yet another romance recommendation for you guys! Can y’all tell I’m a little bit obsessed with them lately?! I’m not sure if it’s this time of year, but I’m loving all things light and fun right now and while this has plenty of lightness it also had some serious depth as well.

I want to start by saying that if you’ve been looking for a diverse romance read, look no further. The representation here is wonderful, it’s chock full of bad ass, boss bitch women of color who are of all shapes and sizes and I’m am so here for that! There was an underlying feeling of feminism and straight up girl power here that I absolutely loved, Rhi herself had her shit together, despite her struggles in the romance department, and I love nothing more than a strong, female protagonist. Samson was a fabulous hero, he was an actual gentleman and his baggage was minor and adorably endearing, nothing problematic with either of them. Their chemistry was also smoking hot and this one definitely had some spicy sex scenes 🔥 🔥 🔥

Romance fans won’t wanna miss this one and I’m so excited it’s the first in a new series because I need a book about Katrina ASAP!!

The Right Swipe in three w

The Right Swipe is a fantastically fun, sexy, uplifting story of finding love in the modern age. Alisha Rai knocks it out of the park with her first Modern Love book, balancing flirty fantasy with deeply emotional, very real world issues.

Rhi is my favorite kind of heroine. She’s intelligent, strong, successful in her career, and has a huge heart. She’s worked hard to make her dating app one of the most successful in the country and to make her company the best and most diverse. This is no easy feat for a black woman in a white male-dominated field. Rhi’s had to work ten times harder than her rivals and I was cheering for her professional success. I loved Crush – heck, I want to work there. I was also rooting for Rhi to find love with Samson. But she has been badly burned personally and professionally by someone she trusted and because of this she has built walls to protect herself. It’s not easy for Samson to get her to give him a second chance after he ghosted her (for reasons which make sense) but Samson is pretty impossible to resist. The former linebacker is a total swoon-worthy sweetheart. Kind, sexy, handsome, and not always smooth – how could I not be charmed? He’s a good man to the core, one willing to walk away from a stellar career in defense of a friend, a man who drops everything to care for a loved one…he’s the picture perfect example of a hero without being cardboard perfect. Samson and Rhi have fantastic chemistry. They made me smile, sigh, and cheer for them every step of the way. Though they plan on keeping things strictly physical, it’s clear to all that they’re a perfect match in bed and out. And as a side note, if anyone thinks explicit consent can’t be sexy, they absolutely need to read this book.

The Right Swipe dazzles with the chemistry between its leads and a diverse, wonderfully endearing supporting cast, all of whom I would love to read about more. But this bright and charming tale also features very real issues. Rhi faces both overt and subtle sexism and racism in the workplace. She has also been traumatized by a predator in more ways than one and this book addresses sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement. Samson’s storyline shines a light on CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in the NFL in a very heartbreaking way. Ms. Rai treats these subjects with the honesty and respect they deserve, weaving them into the story in an organic way and adding depth to the story and its characters.

The Right Swipe is a modern romance in every sense of the word. I absolutely adored the characters, banter, romance, the gentle good humor, and the edge of realism woven into the fantasy. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next Modern Love book!

The Right Swipe is probably one of the best contemporary romances I have ever read. I did not devour it in one sitting (and honestly ONS/second-chance romances are not my favorite trope), but it is meticulously crafted and very well written. One of the things I liked the most about it the way Rai took an industry go-to (and almost cliche) in having an ex-football playing hero and used him to have a real and nuanced conversation about CTE and the problems football players face. This book is a masterclass in how you can write a contemporary romance with important social themes (workplace harassment, CTE), a diverse cast of characters, and explicit consent.

I did not realize that this ties into the Forbidden Hearts series until it became super obvious at the end, so this definitely works as a standalone, but having read them will provide a teeny bit more context to Rhiannon's backstory.

Review was written in exchange for a free arc from the publisher via NetGalley. (posted to Goodreads)