Title: Hooking Up
Author: Helena Hunting
Series: Shacking Up #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Amalie and Lexington are yet another fantastic couple from Helena Hunting. I love that they actually get a Meet Cute before the events of this book. And, in the fun little novella Getting Down, you can already feel the tension and attraction between the two. It very, very quickly builds in this novel, but you already kind of feel it before you even open the first page. The fact that they also have to face a whole lot more drama and horribleness than Ruby and Bane in Shacking Up just makes it incredibly difficult to put this book down.

Amalie’s husband / ex, the horrible man that instigates all of the crap in this is actually freaking terrifying. I mean, horrible and manipulative exes are a pretty common story point. But the way he is so damn entitled, knowingly abusive and borderline stalkerish. That is seriously scary. That, and that he actively admits to grooming her with his emotional abuse. And that the only reason he ever showed an interest in Amalie is to one-up Lexington. I mean, seriously, there is no end to the horribleness that is this man. And the discomfort I got from reading about him.

This might start out as a bit of a holiday romance, but it is immediately clear that this couple is going to be in it for the long haul. I kind of hate that everyone jumps to some kind of horrible conclusions about Lexington’s motives. Yet, it’s Lexington is happy to be involved with Amalie in whatever way works for her, with no pressure or expectations placed upon her. The constant comparisons that can be made between Lexington’s treatment of her and the ex-who-shall-not-be-named helps to drive home the difference in a healthy relationship and a seriously unhealthy one.

I’m glad that although there are obviously some scars that Amalie carries from her wedding gone bad, but it was such a short stint that it’s not so horrifying. Both members of the couple are able to start to move on from the past pretty quickly, making this a fairly easy read still. Don’t get me wrong, it is definitely filled with a whole lot more heart hurting drama than Shacking Up, but definitely not as much as some of the other angsty books on my shelves.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Getting Down
Author: Helena Hunting
Series: Shacking Up #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2018

This is a fun novella and a nice follow-on from Shacking Up. It gives more insight into how Ruby and Bane are continuing to negotiate their relationship and find their happily ever after. Plus, it is a great way to revisit not just Bane and Ruby, but also Amie and how her relationship is going. All through a Halloween party and the insanity that is trying to organise a massive event.

Getting Down also provides a nice way to lead into Hooking Up. Not only does it highlight the challenges that Amie is already facing in her relationship, it also shows some of the connection she feels for Lex. The way that Amie and Ruby’s future mother-in-laws are constantly contrasted and their treatment of the girls just further drives home all of the difficulties that Amie is about to face.

Like Shacking Up, this was a fund, easy and light novella. One that adds to the series by providing closure and a foreshadowing of what is to come. Definitely a fun read, and one that I will revisit in the future.

Image source: MacMillan

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…

Image source: Kobo