4.5 Stars
This book was so good! I loved the characters and the chemistry they had. I loved Shacking Up and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Hooking Up.

It’s funny how things work, Lex and Amie ended up heading to the same exotic location. They’re chemistry was off the charts! What was suppose to be a fling turned into something so much more. They couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. I will leave it at that because I don’t want to give any of the story away.

If you haven’t read Shacking Up yet I would recommend reading it first. You will understand and love the characters so much more. I couldn’t put this book down and loved every minute of it. Helena Hunting is quickly becoming a go to author for me.

Maybe it’s because I believe that no wedding ever goes off without a hitch (Lord knows mine didn’t) or maybe I just have a sick sense of humor or maybe it is both, but I love a romance where something big happens at a wedding and in the case of Hooking Up, author Helena Hunting delivers a big blow out (and yes that is a hint) that has lasting repercussions for many. Here’s the thing, I know there will be a lot of people who will rant about this book because the heroine gets involved with someone else while she is technically still married, but to them I say her “husband” (and I do use that in the loosest since of the word) was a douchecanoe (and that is now an official word in the dictionary and everything) and she deserved her happiness. I loved every hilarious, entertaining, sexy, wonderful moment in this book, but I also loved the tender and sweet ones because a life together is never easy especially when you fall for your husband’s cousin on what was supposed to be your honeymoon.

Amalie (Amie) has a history of hooking up with the wrong kind of men, but she never expected the worst of them to be the man she married just minutes before. When he won’t leave her alone she does the only thing she knows to do, head out on her honeymoon by herself and find someone to make her forget her lying, cheating soon to be ex-husband. She just doesn’t expect it to be her soon to be ex-husband’s cousin and the brother of her best friend’s boyfriend.

After his date to his cousin’s wedding causes a sandal big enough to break up the marriage, Lexington agrees with his father’s plan of getting him out of the country to work on some revamping ideas for some of their resorts who are underperforming. He never expected to see Amalie being detained at the security check point or to find out they are on the same plane headed for paradise. Knowing she needs time to process everything that’s happened, Lex refuses to barge into her life even though he’s wanted her since before she was with his cousin, but when he finds her trolling the bar looking for someone to help her forget all bets are off.

These two had some history which made them getting together that much sweeter. Before Amie got engaged, Lex and Amie had met and while Lex respected her decision for dating and marrying his cousin he didn’t like it mainly because he knew his cousin was not a nice guy, but also because from the start he felt something for Amie. Lex showed a lot of restraint over and over in this story, first by only laying one punch on his cousin when he wanted to pummel him and two for not taking advantage of Amie even when he wanted her so much. I enjoyed their flirting and teasing banter, I loved that even when they agreed they were only an island fling they both knew it was much more, and most of all I appreciated the respect and trust they had for one another something that was hard for Amie given the circumstances. There were a lot of funny moments in this book, many that made me laugh out loud, but it wasn’t all fun, these two faced an uphill battle given she was married to his cousin, a cousin he had a long and not so pleasant history with, but the moments they were together no matter what they were doing it was so easy to feel the love between them.

Helena Hunting never disappoints in the laughs department but she also manages to write stories that are not only swoon worthy, but ones I could easily see being made into a movie. Hooking Up was the perfect blend of fun, sun, sexiness, and sweetness.

3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

I think I wanted to like this one more than I actually did, mostly because I know people who loved it.  But in the end I try to look at how sucked in I am by a book, and if I don't find myself clamoring for any spare minutes to read, then it's not likely a "loved it" book.  I will note that I have not read Shacking Up yet, and while this book is not listed as being part of a series, it does appear to be an unofficial series (in that our hero and heroine were likely introduced in Shacking Up, and the hero and heroine of Shacking Up appear quite a lot in this book).  So do with that information as you will.

Can I just say that I find it really silly to request that the hero's name not be mentioned in the review?  I mean, what's the likelihood that's actually going to work?  If it's not a series, then what would it matter if people knew his name?  Aha!  Caught you.  :P  I shall call him Hottie Hook-up, but honestly, others have already mentioned his name, so it seems a pointless exercise.

This book started off really good actually.  I LOVED the prologue, loved the way Hottie Hook-up and Amalie first meet, and thus am heartbroken when stupid Armstrong gets his claws in there.  And for the first half of the book, I actually was pulled in by the chemistry between Amalie and Hottie and the humour, even if I had other qualms.  But as the book went on, my qualms remained (and got worse) and I became concerned with the lack of development of an emotional relationship between Amie and Hottie.  Honestly, I became frustrated with their relationship in general.  I guess I just didn't like how it all played out in the end, and I wanted things that weren't happening.  And then the ending left me ridiculously confused.  Like, the last chapter before the epilogue, I thought they were sort of breaking up...ish.  And then I turn the page and it's the epilogue.  And then I get a glossed over recap of what's been happening, and how things developed and were "resolved", and basically I was soooooo unsatisfied.  And that's when my rating changed from rounding up to rounding down.  Perhaps it's even just a solid 3 star at this point, but I still enjoyed Hottie, so he earns the half a star.

So what were my qualms?  Uh, am I the only one that basically felt that Armstrong was really mentally/emotionally abusive?  Telling her what to wear, how she should appear in public, basically planning her whole life around him.  I mean, there's bad guys and then there's Armstrong.  He was too evil.  Why?  Because he should be getting psychiatric help, and no one seems to want to do that.  You can have him be a dick and have that relationship dissolve without making him out to be what is essentially a sociopath.  And because I felt that he was abusive, while I applaud Amie for sticking to her guns and getting out of the relationship (showing strength at each turn that he screwed with her), she was still IN an abusive relationship for what sounds like at least a year, and so she probably could have used some counselling.  Or someone who understood that.  I don't know.  I was really disturbed, and I just felt like the matter wasn't treated with the gravity it deserved.  Either it needed to be toned down, or it needed to be addressed.  At least in my opinion.

And in a similar vein, I never really felt I saw Amie's growth.  I'm not sure she did grow.  We're told she did, but I didn't see it or feel it.  I also really don't know all that much about her.  I mean, she's sassy, she has a healthy sexual appetite and a sense of adventure (which again, just goes to show how abusive Armstrong was), and apparently she has some aptitude for makeup.  But what else was there?  Did I miss it?  She wasn't really my favourite.  She does a lot of running, a bit of using of Hottie, and by the end she's still kind of uncertain and insecure.

Hottie was a more likeable character for me.  I was still fairly unimpressed with his history with Armstrong, and his inability to do something about Armstrong (well, for his whole family's inability to just draw a line in the sand with that sociopath...like, really, they're still going to invite him to functions?  No).  Basically Armstrong brought out the worst in Hottie.  And quite frankly, I wasn't always impressed with the way his own desire for Amie would result in him pushing her past her comfort zone with basically no regard for her mental well-being.  At least he actually showed growth in those things though.  BUT, when you remove those two aspects, Hottie was actually super sweet, dirty, sarcastic, thoughtful, hardworking, and we actually got to see his personality a bit more.  He saved a lot of this book.

As for their relationship, well it was very sex-focused.  We were told they had lots of moments where they just talked and basically dated, but we, the readers, didn't actually get to see any of that happening.  And so I don't quite understand what they love about each other.  They definitely love the sex.  But isn't that just lust then?

So yeah.  Bummer.  I was really hoping to love this one.  I'll still give Shacking Up a try, as it seems that a few other reviewers who didn't see the emotions in this one enjoyed that one more.  This book excels at the sex scenes, and the dirty humour (though I tend to cringe with certain terms, like taco), so I can definitely recommend it on those aspects.  But if you NEED a bit more emotional connection, personally it just didn't work for me.

I didn’t think it was possible for Helena Hunting to write a Mills brother that could rival the sexiness of Bancroft, but she did. And so much more!

I am absolutely in love with Lexington Mills. I was thoroughly intrigued by him in Shacking Up, even though we really didn’t get to see him much. And he’s all the good things I envisioned him being. Sweet, charming, funny, sexy - those are just some of the words you can describe Lex. But he’s actually more complex than what I anticipated, and that was a wonderful surprise. One that made me adore him even more.

Amalie has had better days, and I had a lot of sympathy for her character. I really felt her conflicting emotions with her. But despite her recent bad luck, her true personality shines through, and it’s one I think you’ll enjoy. She’s funny, sassy, unfiltered, and sexy - all sides of her that Lex seems to bring out.

This story will give you all the feels. I definitely hope this isn’t the last we hear from the Mills brothers.

Amalie "Amie" and (I am not telling you here) have amazing chemistry. This matters in any romance, but due to who he is, and the details of the plot, it is REALLY important for this title.

The book is a push and pull as she tries to deal with her attraction to her man with no name and deal with the things that have happened to her recently.

Egads, this is a tough review to write without spoilers. This book is hilarious, there are some situations that are cringe worthy with embarrassment, but are handled with the humor and heart that readers have come to expect from Helena Hunting.

the balance of the comedy and humor with the romance and the chemistry was excellent, and their first sexual encounter is scorching, both because of who they both are, the situation they find themselves in, and the writing that has built up the chemistry so perfectly.

Writing more and avoiding spoilers is going to be a problem, so I am going to stop with the statement that the book is definitely a great read and I recommend it.

This was so incredibly entertaining! I adored Amie's relationship with the hero. It was so sweet and flirty and way hot! Things were complicated for these two, it was passionate, crazy fun with a few of ups and downs but I hung on every word and loved it all!

I loved watching Amie's battle, it was like watching her emerge from her shell and really be her feisty, playful self. I loved her perseverance and strength. It was such a hard situation she was in and I could feel her pain. The hero was so incredibly sweet, kind, caring, and so off the charts sexy. On more than one occasion the man made me melt! They had off the charts chemistry and a serious pull to one another even though there’s a bit of a conflict for them to be together. I loved watching them work it out. Those growing feelings they were fighting, dealing with complications and the building passion and love.

Hooking Up was so witty and engaging and I felt so pulled in. I loved the humor, it had me grinning and laughing out loud. I loved the playfulness and flirting as well. There's a good bit of tension and angst mixed in as well with everything Amie has to deal with. I have to say, I love a well written bad guy, but her estranged husband totally stressed me out. My anxiety level with this guy was off the charts.

I thought the pace was excellent. I was filled with so much anticipation to find out the back stories and I just hung on every word waiting to find out. Excellent details and descriptions. Amazing build. Loved seeing more of Bane and Ruby from Shacking Up and how they played into the story, it was a great addition.

I had so much fun reading this, it was entertaining craziness. There was a perfect balance of everything I love: the funny, the flirt, the heat, the drama, the building love, a few heart wrenching moments and fantastic characters! This story checked all my boxes. I laughed, yelled at my kindle, and totally rooted for these two. I loved it all!

Ok I'm going to out myself and admit I've never read a book by this author before . Yes I know many of my friends will be surprised as her name is frequently recommended but yep until this I was a Ms Hunting virgin! I spotted the cover ( total yum !) and thought it was high time I discovered what all the fuss was about.
I'm not sure if this is part of a series but certainly characters are mentioned which made me think that perhaps there are stories already out there that feature them. What I can say is I had absolutely no trouble understanding exactly what was going on and heavens what an awful sleaze ball Armstrong is ! Amie might have been swept off her feet initially by him but she comes back to Earth with a bang when at their wedding Armstrong dallies with one of the guests and the total turd accidentally broadcasts everything over the public address system! Amie needs to get away and decides to go on their arranged honeymoon alone but quickly realises that Lex, the hunk that is Armstrongs cousin is going to the same place! Lex was the one who met Amie first but kind of got usurped by Armstrong but he's never stopped fantasising about her . Now she's there and ripe for the picking and seems more than ready to get plucked ! Still Lex is a gentleman and doesn't want to take advantage but as it turns out Amie really is determined to spend what should be her honeymoon doing the horizontal mamba !
So the couple are very passionate and both want to play which is something sadly lacking in the relationship Amie shared with skanky Armstrong. He's created a role for Amie that really doesn't suit her and she's very determined to break out of that mould and she's a woman who knows what she wants! Expect naughty toys and frequent encounters with Lex who really is such fun and totally adorable. I liked that Amie quickly realised that she was perhaps more in love with love than with Armstrong . If you like the what happens in , stays in trope then you will spot the obvious pitfall here as this couple really do suit each other so much but of course with family entanglements it's not going to be easy or is it ?
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

***I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review***
The cast from Shacking Up is back in yet another snarky and hilarious sure-to-be-bestseller from Helena Hunting.

Amelie finds herself in a horrible predicament on the night of her wedding, which sends her fleeing for the islands to get away from life. Lex has disappointed her in the past, but when she finds herself on the same island as him, it becomes hard to resist the temptation that exists.

Hooking Up was so many things—scorching, funny, and addicting, to name a few. The sex in this book is wickedly hot. Hunting’s trademark humor shines through the pages, and I immediately fell in love with the cast of characters. It was fun to see appearances from Ruby and Bane too!

I loved the plot of this story. Crappy things happen, but Amelie is strong and she does what’s best for her. She’s kept her true self hidden away for so long, it was awesome to see her come out of her shell and blossom into the woman she’s meant to be.

And Lex. Oh my, my, my. This man … I struggle to find the words. He’s definitely earned a spot on my Top Book Boyfriends of 2017 list, based solely off the way he wants to protect and defend Amelie. And his bedroom skills aren’t half bad either, ladies.

This book was so much fun to read! I was laughing out loud at moments, wanting to cry at others, and loving every minute of the story. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a hot and fun read that will steam up their fall for sure!

Five stars to this novel!

Oh Bloody Hell, One minute I’m laughing the next I’m all over the place. This book truly is a rollercoaster of a ride and a reason as to why I enjoy Helena’s writing so much !

Hooking up is the second in the series but can be read as a stand-alone.

We met Amelia (Amie) at her wedding reception of all places and everything has gone so very wrong due to a crappy husband ! Amie decides to take matters into her own hands and venture in her Honeymoon alone

Enter Lex ! At the hotel resort ! Oh what a man I adore Helena’s way of capturing the main hero ! And how she makes them all sex on legs ! perfect

Instant attraction leads to play and heat to ...... well you will just have to read what happens in this hook up yourself to find out

4.5 Stars

Donna
4TLOReading

This book was smart, sexy, funny and different from anything I've read lately. The hero is any woman's dream come true and just what Amie needed at the right time. Poor Amie goes through so much to get her happily ever after but it's worth the tough parts. There are some truly despicable people in this book but they all get what they deserve in the end. Definitely give this sexy romance a read.

Lexington Mills was hot and even though he didn't get the girl at first, he certainly won her over in the end.

The start to this book totally hooked me and I was unable to stop from that point on.

Amalie gets the embarrassment of the year when her husband decides to get it on with someone else on her wedding day. It was broadcasted throughout the reception what he was doing behind closed doors and it wasn't with her because she was front and center listening to the whole ordeal.

When Amalie decides that she wants to die, she runs to her suite and jumps on the first man she see's who happens to be none other than, her husband's cousin. Lexington had the girl first but lost her pretty quickly to his conniving cousin. Lex and his cousin Armstrong hate each other and have always tried to one-up each other until Lex gets tired of him and let's him get his way, even the girl he wanted.

When Amalie runs off to her honeymoon destination to get away from the mess, she runs into Lex and they decide to hook up while on this vacation. And boy do they HOOK UP! The sex was freaking off the charts in this book, but then again, all of Helena's books have amazing sex involved.

Amalie and Lex decide to leave their rendezvous back in Bora Bora, but once they get back home, it's hard to let it go. They both have strong feelings for each other and even though Amalie technically is still married, they just can't seem to keep away from each other, no matter how hard they try.

This book was addictive!!

5 STARS!!

Hooking Up is is stand alone but I really recommend that you read Shacking Up first because some of the characters from that one show up in Hooking Up.

I read this book in one day because I just couldn't put it down at all. I love this sexy, hot and funny at times story. I love the 2 main characters together. Such chemistry going on in this book.

I am giving Hooking Up by Helena Hunting a 5 out of 5.

Hooking Up by Helena Hunting is the next book by this incredible talented author. Hooking Up can easily be read as a standalone.
Amelia Whitfield is freshly married- like 12hrs freshly- and is about to be humiliated beyond imagination.
To escape more drama she goes on her honeymoon- alone.
There she meets Lexington. Her husbands cousin. He likes her, like really, really likes her and wants to make it all better. Fate has a way to bring these twon together, again and again.
They have a crazy strong connection and can't stay away from each other.

This story has it all—tension, angst, suspense and heartbreak. I've smiled, laughed, cried and was angry at some point. It is not often I feel so connected to the characters, but Helena Hunting has accomplished just that. I love the story, the characters and the words. I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I didn't wanted the book to end but I couldn't not know nwhat happens to the characters.
I highly recommend Hooking Up and give 5 stars. Thank you so much, Helena Hunting !

When Amalie Whitfield’s husband humiliates her on their wedding day, she grabs her suitcases and heads out on her honeymoon. Solo. Or so she thought. What are the chances that the bad boy she walked away from in the past is also heading to the same location? And this time...he’s not letting her walk away without a fight.

Our story opens to Amalie at her wedding reception, wondering where her groom has disappeared to. She soon discovers his whereabouts when the room’s PA system suddenly turns on and everyone hears her husband having sexual relations with someone besides her.

'Someone other than me is blowing my husband at my own wedding.'

Disgusted, humiliated, and angry, Amalie heads to the bridal suite to hide and plot her husband’s slow painful death only to discover the groom’s cousin, Lexington, has been hiding out there to escape his date. Her pride stinging, she propositions him only to have him turn her down. Two rejections in one day smarts so Amalie runs to her best friend and makes plans to annul her marriage while escaping to a small resort for some much needed R&R.

'Once I annul this farce of a marriage I’ll become a spinster. I should probably go ahead and adopt six or seven cats.'

Amalie can't contain her surprise when she discovers her seatmate is none other than ‘Sexy Lexy’ himself. He too is headed to overseas but for business. His family owns a chain of upscale hotels and he has been making a concentrated effort to become more involved in the business.

Though Amalie and Lex know nothing can become of them they can’t resist the chemistry that blazes between them and decide to indulge themselves. At least until their time on the island is over. But as the old saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

'I’m so sick of polite sex. I want someone to pull my hair. I want my ass smacked. I want fuzzy handcuffs and maybe some wild restraints…'

Helena Hunting’s Hooking Up follows on the heels of her bestselling Shacking Up. Overflowing with Hunting’s trademark outrageous humor and madcap scenarios, fans get a brief recap while reintroducing our hero and heroine and moving forward with the ongoing storyline. Amalie (Amie) is Ruby’s best friend and Lexington (Lex) is Bane’s older brother. They first met at a party and clicked instantly. Lex’s cousin, Armstrong, also meets Amie at the same event but warns her away from Lex, claiming he is a player and has a left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Amie has issues with bad boys and bad decisions so she opts for whom she feels is the safer bet and leaves with Armstrong

“I just wanted to make the right choice for once.”

Hunting dips deep into her emotional well and pulls out a romance that is bittersweet in its reveal. The humor can’t hide the pain that Amie feels and it flows off the pages in waves as you absorb everything that has happened. I loved meeting the real Amie. She is a fantastic heroine who has been dealt a bad hand. Creative, sexually mature, and a genuinely good person, her parents have never let her forget one mistake involving a bad boyfriend and a Mexican jail cell. A mistake that she struggled to overcome by becoming the perfect daughter and eventually landing the perfect husband.

“No relationship is perfect. [...] I thought I could make it work and it didn’t even last a night.”

A natural born protector, Lex steps up and does all he can to help Amie recover. He spends time with her helping to rebuild her self-esteem after Armstrong shredded it. Their chemistry blazes white hot but there is more to the attraction. They are two peas in a pod and watching them together is both sweet and funny.

“I think I cracked the nail.” She brings her knee to her chest so she can get a better look, giving me, once again, an excellent view of her panties.

“Amalie.” I close my eyes. Fuck. My dick is pretty goddamn desperate to get out of my pants right now and into what’s under that pale pink satin and lace.

“Oh yeah, the nail is definitely cracked. Ooooh. It’s pretty gross. Why’re your eyes closed? Are you afraid of blood?”

I motion to her with one lid half-open. “Your panties.”

“You're afraid of my panties?”

Lex doesn't want to be Amie’s rebound. He wants more but chooses to do what is best for her. Hunting not only focuses on the physical aspects of their relationship but softly develops the romance alongside. She takes it slow, allowing them to become friends while exploiting the sexual tension to max levels. Dual points of view allow readers an intimate view into their thoughts and feelings towards one another. Both of them have legitimate concerns about their future. Neither of them wants to lose the friendship they have built yet the attraction between them is impossible to ignore.

“I know what I want, and I know exactly how I feel about you. As soon as you figure it out, we can figure it out together.”

Helena Hunting continues to solidify her place in romantic comedies. I wholeheartedly recommend her stories to everyone who enjoys their romances hot, funny, and pure unadulterated fun.

I liked this one a lot... especially the dynamics between Lex and Bane. I haven't read Bane and Ruby's story yet, but I'm going to have to check that one out ASAP. I love a story that is set on the beach, and this one didn't disappoint. Also, it is one hot story! Enjoyed it from beginning to end!

Genre: Romance - Comedy
Stand Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: I not sure if it's part of a series, per se but Hooking Up features characters introduced in Shacking Up and we get to see more of Ruby and Bane (from Shacking Up) in this one. No need to read Shacking Up first but having read it makes Hooking Up more fun b/c you already know some of the personalities.
POV: Amelie and Lexington
Steam Level: Hot
4/5

If you're looking for a romantic comedy that's laugh out loud funny then Hooking Up is the book for you. Amelie or Anarchy Annie is unleashed into the world after her husband is caught cheating at their wedding with Lexington's date. To complicate matters, Lex and Armstrong have a long-standing rivalry which could make it appear as if Lex sabotaged the groom/wedding. Both need to get away from the fallout. Hilarity ensues with Annie's brother offering three options to get out of the marriage, the wrong bag checked at the airport, and socks - yes socks.

I enjoy romantic comedies that are funny, emotional and poignant. I enjoy bad boys who are sweet and heroines who are sassy, mouthy, and can hold their own. Hooking Up combines all of these characteristics with many more. Once I started it, I could not put it down. I hope to see more of these characters in the future.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was excited and wondered about Amalie after the Halloween novella and Shacking Up. You have a fair idea who the guy might be really. I didn't like Armstrong to start with so I'm pretty happy to see he isn't. There is do unknown about mystery guy, we have had glimpses of him yes. Amalie maybe a reformed wild child I like this side of her that was true to herself more. Hooking Up has a forbidden appeal and irresistible story that you just want more of.

We know that Amalie is about to marry Armstrong. But wait, not so fast after a crazy and embarrassing turn of events there is no wedding. It's a mess basically and you have to feel for Amie. Armstrong's true colors show he is just awful. The wedding disaster makes Amalie flustered, throwing herself at Lexington, Bane's brother, in all the ruckus. Being the awesome guy he is a comfort and does things right even if he becomes a casualty. I really liked him he's a great combo of easygoing and gentleman. Even before Lex and Amelie had a connection that was interrupted, they definitely have something.

What happens next on her trip though is a uncoventional situation, many changes happen.Thing is despite it all it's not so favorable for a new attraction that formed. What a complicated situation really. It's one of those pretty undeniable still. So many goods things possible. Of course if anything there weren't any hurdles and it wouldn't be simple to go through as expected. It was better than I hoped for the follow up story, Amalie came into her own here.

I love how Helena Hunting injects humor at the right moments balancing things out with serious and funny. Keeping it all entertaining all the way. The writing is engaging and keeps you invested, a page turner for sure. I like how she built this relationship from book one too, though this can be stand alone I think it's much better after reading the first book to get a better sense of things. The characters are just great and likable. This was such a delightful read, it was sweet, sexy, funny and romantic. Plus second chances at love topping it off. I'm looking forward to a possible next book from a side character!

I absolutely loved this book! It was sweet, sassy and hysterical. It was such a breath of fresh air from books out there today and I can't wait to read more from Helena in the future!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the SMP team for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is an incredibly entertaining romantic comedy. For Amalie, being jilted at the altar would have been bad – but being cheated on at her own reception is much worse. In a flash, the docile society bride we came to dislike in the first book becomes Anarchy Amie – a woman who flies solo on her honeymoon with a suitcase full of sex toys.

Amalie’s broken heart doesn’t last long and fate quickly throws her together with the handsome Lexington (Bane’s brother from the first book – and her cheating husband’s first cousin).

There is a whole lot of sex in this story. Amalie has a bag full of toys and she is making up for a whole lot of unsatisfying sex with her ex. I did find myself skimming the sex by the midpoint of the book – but there are a few delightfully imaginative scenes.

I much preferred this story to the first in the series. Amalie is a more independent character than Ruby and while she is just as privileged, she works and she is self-supporting. She is also funny and fierce, and she confronts her wedding day humiliation with grace, champagne, and a pair of garden shears.

Despite really enjoying this book, I hate it when homophobic language is used to insult men. It’s disappointing from an author I usually respect and I’m sure she could have had her characters use other terms to describe Amalie’s cheating husband. I can certainly think of a few vivid descriptions!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Amalie is trying to be the embodiment of what she believes Armstrong wants. But when she's jilted on her wedding day, in a very public manner, she uses her friend Ruby to help get her out of the horrible situation.

Lexington is a character that I have enjoyed in the previous books. He also is a lovely main character in this story. He sees how Amalie is handling being jilted and offers her a shoulder to cry on and anything else she needs.

There are several hilarious scenes in this book that had me laughing out loud. But there was also a hint of seriousness too, which just added to the development and depth of the story.

I really enjoyed watching this relationship develop. It was a great story and I really enjoyed the characters. Their ability to banter, but be serious and loving just added to their charm.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This book follows on from Shacking Up, and the short story in the Halloween anthology Eye Candy. I enjoyed both of them and am delighted to say that this is another great story. It could be read as a standalone, but Shacking Up is so much fun that I do recommend it to you.

We have met Amalie (Amie to her real friends) in Ruby's story, as they are best friends. We find out that she is engaged to Ruby's boyfriend's cousin, Armstrong, and that Ruby is not happy with the changes Amie is making to make him happy. In this story we find out how they first meet, and then skip forward to the wedding. So we know what an idiot he is in advance, and can only be delighted at his fall from grace.

Whilst parts of the story are not new, there are some great twists and turns which ramp up the drama, without being too extreme. I did laugh at some of the crazy, and was totally invested in Amie and her future with Lexington – especially after the story in Eye Candy.

I love this gang of people and their crazy lives. I do hope that we get more from them in the future.