2.5⭐️/5 (rounded up to 3)

I would recommend this book if you enjoy:
- Teacher x Doctor trope
- Found family
- Slow burn
- Dislike-to-lovers
- Short but sweet romances
- On page non-explicit spicy scenes

This book starts off with the FMC Tanith after spraining her ankle trying to take a picture of birds going at it, a few days before she has to teach sex-ed to biology class. Her friend Stacey was with her so they called Dr Luke Caldwell, Stacey's boyfriend Reece's younger brother, who Tanith doesn't particularly like but reluctantly lets him bring her to get it looked at the small practice he shares with one of his long time friends.

I haven't read the first book in this series that follows Stacey, a high school chemistry teacher and Reece, a former football player turned coach. I think that this book is written, assuming you read the previous despite referencing it because I didn't feel hugely connected to the world or the characters throughout.

I enjoyed the vibes of the story but there wasn't much depth overall as there wasn't an overarching plot going on except the two MC's ridding themselves of people they no longer wanted to associate with.

The group of friends seem like a cool bunch and them being teachers of various subjects was a nice element.

Apart from the vibes and the romance that was written nicely, I didn't feel much while reading it so I probably wouldn't read it again. I'd recommend it though if someone was looking for a short but sweet teacher x doctor romance with found family.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing and eARC copy of this story.

The synopsis peaked my interest but I thought I was going to read some funny lighthearted rom-com… Well, I absolutely did not expect to find a romance with tons of emotional depth, heavy topics and addicting characters.

I quickly realized that this was going to be good and I wasn’t wrong because I couldn’t stop reading. Tanith and Luke were such incredible main characters. I really liked their personalities and the communication they had with one another. Their own individual struggles were so heartwrenching to read about and the turns always took me by surprise. I really liked how vulnerable they were able to be together and how they grew from that.

The plot not being just the romance played in favor of the story. It was a very good way to show the characters as more complex people and to complete their character arcs. The pacing of the story was quit but not too quick to give me whiplash. The rest of the cast was sooo heartwarming it made me long for a group of friends like that. And the villains were very villan-y but still maintaining an essence of reality to them.

The only thing that annoy about the story was the writing, it was good but it could’ve been improved with a little bit more editing. There were some weirdly constructed phrases that made me reread the paragraphs multiple times. I can pass a fantasy novel being confusing but I think it’s something that shouldn’t happen in a romance story. Also, some pieces of information were repeated several times, which got repetitive real fast. I think she could’ve made some things less obvious and everything would’ve been fine. It wasn’t something that made me stop reading, I still really enjoyed the book, but it knocked down the rating for me.

I will still be reading the previous book on the series and I’ll keep an eye out for the author’s future works.

Passion Under the Microscope was a short, sweet romance. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed the story, but there wasn't much deeper to the story than the surface level plot and some background subplots. If the book was any longer, there would have been the chance for a deeper look into the characters and their backgrounds, but for the length of the book, I felt there was a good balance between plot and character development. I found the couple, Tanith and Luke, did get together a little quickly, and there wasn't too much change between the two of them to justify this relationship. I thought the plot was interesting enough, but I would have loved to see Tanith and Luke bond over science a bit more. They both acknowledge they enjoy the subject and have related jobs but it would have been nice to see them geek out together over the same thing. Overall, I thought this was a good read, but I can't see it being a book that sticks with me.

"Passion Under the Microscope" is a captivating romance novel that delves into the complexities of love, science, and personal growth. At its core lies the story of Tanith Kerrigan, a single biology teacher who has sworn off men, and Dr. Luke Caldwell, a single sports medicine doctor who is secretly crushing on her. The novel begins with Tanith's unfortunate sprained ankle, which inadvertently brings her into contact with Dr. Caldwell. Despite her initial resistance, Tanith finds herself drawn to Luke's magnetic personality and his unwavering support. As they spend more time together, boundaries blur, and the dance of attraction becomes undeniable. Luke, on the other hand, has been quietly pining for Tanith for months. He seizes the opportunity to assist her with her injury, hoping to slowly win her heart. However, a sudden crisis at his practice threatens to derail his plans. As Tanith and Luke navigate the realm of possibilities, they encounter obstacles that challenge their beliefs and force them to confront their true desires. Tanith must confront her past and the reasons why she fears intimacy, while Luke must grapple with his own aspirations and the need for a fulfilling life. "Passion Under the Microscope" is a well-crafted novel that explores the intricacies of human relationships. It delves into themes of personal transformation, overcoming obstacles, and the power of love to heal old wounds. Miles' characters are relatable and their journeys are both poignant and inspiring. Through the lens of science and romance, the novel examines the human need for connection and the transformative nature of relationships. It is a testament to the power of love to inspire personal growth and the pursuit of both scientific and romantic possibilities.

Passion Under the Microscope is the second book in the Smart is Seriously Sexy series. The book is centered around Tanith a biology teacher and Luke a sports medicine doctor who meet thru their friend group/Luke's brother. This small town romance is perfect for Ali Hazelwood fans. It's a solid read that has more then just fluffy romance. As a self proclaimed medical nerd, I love this new genre of smart, nerdy romance novels.

Stars: 3.75/5
Spice: 3/5

Thank you to the publishers, Christina Miles, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an
honest review.

this wasn’t my favourite read, but it was definitely enjoyable in moments and an easy read! i don’t usually find my self reading books on the shorter side but, if you are looking for a short and sweet book this could be the one to pick up.

This book had loads of potential with all the plot points it had. The author spent a tom of time on the couple’s beginning. But the readers didn’t get many answers to how their relationship progressed. Other than the forced proximity they shared. That was the most we got to see of them as a set.

The author did not focus much time on the couple together after their proximity was gone. She spent way too much time on them as individuals. I feel as if I barely got to know the characters as a couple. It felt almost as if we were following characters who happened to share a romance. Not the romance being the focus and the characters' life the side point.

But on the other hand, there were some pretty heavy themes that each of the MCs had to navigate. These themes were fairly well written and I felt encapsulated how it would feel to go through those events. But my complaints about those themes; are that even though they were focused on. It still seemed as if it was slightly blurry.

Over all the book felt extremely rushed but also somehow slow. It could've used at least a hundred more pages to tie everything together. I was extremely disappointed with all the ways the author could've gone and the fact she chose this one. It had so much potential to be a good book.

This book was a cute romance read. Luke is a very sweet and charming male lead. Both Tanith and Luke have some personal things to work through, but I liked seeing them support each other through things.

The book description describes Luke as being interested in Tanith for 6 months, and Tanith embracing singledom for 6 months, so I had gone into reading this book expecting there to be more history/past interactions between them than there actually was.

Aside from that, I enjoyed the book.

I received a copy of this for my honest review.

Our FMCs weekend plans of painting her house are ruined when she sprains her ankle. Not wanting to go to a doctor, her best friend calls our MMC, who is her boyfriend's brother to come examine her. Little doe she knows he has had a crush on her for the past few months. He's in town because he is supposed to be helping his brother with his house, but instead takes his shot to offer to paint for her while she recuperates. They both have a reputation of serial dating, but seem to be giving off vibes they didn't want to. As they spend more time together they learn about what's caused these relationship behaviors and what's causing them strife now. But it's never easy to date in a small town when everyone is watching you.

TW - this book contains topics of toxic parents, and inappropriate work relationships.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was such a fun read! I love books that have an academic setting so this one was right up my alley. Christine Miles is an author that is new to me and I have not read the first book in this series, but this book was great as a standalone read and I will definitely be going back and reading the first one since I enjoyed this one. Christine has a writing style that was easy to digest but gave a lot of great detail and I was able to visualize the story so easily.

I love the “intertwined” side characters and I hope that some of them will be getting their own stories in the future. The main characters (Tanith and Luke) and their banter kept me laughing throughout the entire book, sometimes truly out loud.

I would compare this book to some of Ali Hazelwood’s STEMinist novellas in plot and writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes these types of books, as it stands well next to them.

Do you know what I love? A book with no third act break up! That in itself makes any book just automatically better.

There were parts of this book I wished were a little bit drawn out more. Or maybe Tanith talking to her friends more. I did enjoy that her support system was trying to help, even if she didn't seem interested.

I always love teachers getting a good ending.

Passion Under the Microscope by Christina Miles
Smart is Seriously Sexy series #2. Romantic comedy. Can be read as a stand-alone but the couple from the first book are secondary characters in this story. STEM.
Tanith Kerrigan is a high school biology teacher. When she tries to get a photo of a two birds, in a naughty moment for some levity in her next class, she trips instead and ends up with a sprained ankle. A friend calls Dr Luke Caldwell to help and he and Tanith are finally talking. He’s been interested in Tanith for months, but she didn’t seem to reciprocate. Now he’s helping to paint her house and their time together has them opening up and sharing pieces of their lives.

“Laughter is the best medicine” is a famous line that is used in this story. I agree with this wholeheartedly. And I personally love laughter in my reading and especially in a romance. Lots of grins and smiles and laughter in this story from both the hero and heroine. Luke is a self professed “quipster” and it’s kind of adorable. There is added depth as they get to know each other and daily life intrudes but their established banter and openness remains.
Love, laughter and swooning characters. What’s not to love?
4.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Passion Under the Microscope is the second installment in the Smart is Seriously Sexy series. The girls of Brigid's Vista are back and this book focuses on Tanith Kerrigan story.

🔬 Science Teacher Heroine
🏈 Former Jock Hero
☀️🌧 Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
💖 Slow Burn Romance
🏘 Small Town Charm

Tanith is a high school biology teacher, who has casually dated men in the past without getting attached. But when someone makes a comment about her resembling her mother, Tanith has decided to swear off men. Which is fine, until she breaks her ankle and Dr. Luke Caldwell, carries her to get an x-ray. Yes, carry! He goes from being one of her best friends' boyfriends' brother to someone she can count on, which challenges the walls she has up. While she is dealing with a sprained ankle, the end of the semester and Luke's presence, her mother decides to show up and upend the life she created for herself in this small town.

"A beautiful, smart, alluring lover of science who always kept beer in her fridge? All of that equaled two words- dream girl. Or more specifically, dream woman."

Luke hasn't had a serious relationship in years, since his high school girlfriend broke his heart and his practice in Denver is all that he focuses on. He, also, casually dates without getting attached, but doesn't like the image his brother paints of him being a playboy. After taking Tanith to get her x-ray, he offers to paint her living room, since she will not be able to. As they start spending more and more time together, Tanith is starting to open up to him and he likes it. But Luke's life is also about to change, when his medical practices is threatened, along with everything he worked for. Can this new relationship last and become something more?

I really enjoyed reading Tanith's and Luke's story. They are the perfect reverse grumpy x sunshine pair! I enjoyed the ping pong ball game so much. It was such a fun way for them to get to know each other, without any pressure. I liked how Luke was always there for Tanith, showing her that he wasn’t like anyone from her past.

Tanith is a sassy high school biology teacher. After a series of low-stakes, casual relationships, she has sworn off men. She doesn't even bat an eye when Reece Caldwell's younger brother, Luke, shows some interest in her. Luke happens to be a sports medicine doctor and helps Tanith after a sprained ankle. But she still won't budge. Unless......

I love this series. I really enjoyed Off-the-Charts Chemistry which was the first book in the series. I couldn't wait to pick up the newest installment. I like Christine's writing style and her stories. The characters are so relatable and lovable. When book 3 comes out, I'll be first in line.

I read the first 100 pages of this book, and unfortunately, I had to DNF it... because I personally just was not interested in the romance between the main characters. I think this would be good for those who love the romance genre and just want a light-hearted read without caring about the writing style or the lack of chemistry between the characters.

Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!

This was a cute, fun romance. I would highly recommend if you enjoy romance with STEM.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

LOVED this book, really great read. It was one of those ones where you don't want to put it down. Highly recommend for an enjoyable read.

Science teacher Tanith is sort of done with men. after a lifetime of watching her narcissistic mother go through husbands like butter .Hot doctor Luke is sort of done with life in the big city and finding his time in small town Brigid's Vista more and more alluring. When Tanith sprains her ankle trying to get a picture of the state bird getting it on with another bird, she has to interact with Luke when her friend calls him for help.
Luke has had a bit of a liking for Tanith but she wouldn't give him the time of day so this is his opportunity to make a move.
I really liked the path that these two took to their HEA. She has to deal with her demons (and one in particular -her mother) and he has a potential career killer happening back in the city. Luke's brother in BV isn't exactly welcoming him to town and he's torn. between his current life and possible future with the prickly Tanith.
I loved the interfering friends on both sides. This was a fun, enjoyable read. I'm going to go back and find the first book because I liked this one so much!

This was a fun book! It gave off Ali Hazelwood vibes, so if you like her, pick this one up! There were parts that felt a little slow for me, but other than that, I loved the characters, the banter that they shared. There is a first book to the series which I did not read, but i don't feel like I was missing any information. I do have that book added to my TBR, so maybe once I read it I will feel differently;) My only complaint about this book-Luke said "the lady" what felt like a million times. Sorry-now you know and there is no way you won't notice it! LOL! Overall a fun, cute read that I really enjoyed! Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

~ thank you, netgalley, for the e-arc ~

•

This is really a promising novel. However, this is giving me, or rather I'm reminded of my experience when I read The Love Hypothesis.

I would say the writing didn't do it for me. That's it.