Title: Shacking Up
Author: Helena Hunting
Series: Shacking Up #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

This was one of those instances that I bought a book that looked interesting and got excited to read it. Only to find out that it was the fourth in the series, so then, of course, I had to buy the first three. And you know what? I’m not disappointed with this mistake at all. As the FIRST in this series, this was such an amazing story. It was fun, clever and cute. A tale that I most definitely enjoyed and will most likely read again in the future. One of those wonderful, easy reads that lets you go off on an adventure, without being so intense that you actually have to concentrate.

Ruby is a wonderfully off-kilter, loveable and sweet heroine. I love that although she comes from money, she is determined to make her own path in life. One that makes her happy and gives her her own sense of fulfillment. She is a wonderfully driven and content character who, although she is slowly and steadily falling for Bane, manages to still do it with her independence intact. I particularly love that when she realises her feelings, rather than continuing to “shack up” with Bane, she chooses to find her own place. That streak of independence is so damn admirable, and made me love the character that much more.

Bane (Bancroft) is kind of the perfect partner for Ruby – he’s also a little bit out of the “norm”, and so immediately accepting of Ruby’s decisions in life. In fact, he chooses to admire her for her wish towards independence. And, when he realises that some of his actions make her feel like her independence is being impinged upon, he takes a step back and lets her try and make her own way. Even his response to Ruby’s job as a burlesque dancer is driven by his hurt at being lied to rather than her actual job. I’ll be intrigued as to how Bane and Ruby’s relationship shows up in Hooking Up. Particularly since some of Bane’s forced cohort seem like absolute, complete and total wankas.

I love that Bane and Ruby originally find their common ground in Bane’s ferret. Any cute, show stealing pet is going to be a winner for me. And the way that she is able to drive some of the dialogue as the two get to know each other is really sweet. Actually, this whole enforced roommates romance is made all that much sweeter in the fact that Ruby and Bane, although they have the insta-attraction, spend time actually getting to know one another. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some wonderful, witty and steamy banter from the very beginning, but they still actually spend that time conversing before taking that final plunge.

There is a very obvious set up for Hooking Up in this in that Ruby’s best friend is obviously going to have her own story. I mean, the jerk fiancé? Puh-lease! And then there’s Bane’s brothers who are also getting a few parts of their backstory set up. It makes me want to dive right into the next tale in this series! Although, I do say that for almost every good book that I read…

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Image source: Kobo