Publishing Date: July 16, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 448
Contemporary Romance
The Premise from the Publisher: "Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list. Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him. As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world" (SMP).
My Review: If you know me, then you'll know that one of my favorite male heroes ever in romance is Helena Hunting's Lex from Hooking Up. It was the first book I ever read from Helena and from there began my love affair with her writing! She writes such down-to-earth, hilarious, and relateable characters. I was so excited that she decided to write more in the Shacking Up series because Griffin is the last Mills brother for us readers to meet, and that also means I get to see snippets of the other couples that I've met and loved (ok, let's be serious, I wanted more Lex any way I could get him). This follows Griffin who has recently been broken up with by his fiancee who travels to Vegas for work (he's a hotel mogul). While there he is sent to a sex-shop to get some gag gifts for a bachelor party. There he meets Cosy, the sales person, and he's immediately drawn to her. They had a really adorable meet cute, and I knew I liked her from the very beginning. She's very sassy, but also very vulnerable. From there, they decide on a no-strings attached relationship, but that never goes as planned does it? While I love Helena's writing and I did love both characters a lot, there were moments when I felt the drama was too much to handle in the book. I felt like this couple could not catch a break at all. I will say it does remind me again too that age is just a number, and it's more about how you feel that is important. However, despite the drama, you also really see the importance of family come through with the Mills family, and I loved seeing them all together again. You also get to meet Lincoln, who is Armstrong's brother, and the male lead of the next book in the series, Handle with Care (which comes out next month!!). If you are a Helena Hunting fan, you'll def enjoy this read. It's fun, laugh-out-loud funny, and sexy!
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars
Available for purchase at:
US Macmillan, Chapters/Indigo, Kobo Books, Amazon, and Book Depository
Special Excerpt of the Book!
We’re a couple of minutes away from my apartment, which also means we’re almost at the end of our date. End-of-date protocol often means a goodnight kiss.
And I’ve eaten onions. Lots of them. What the hell was I thinking? I feel around in my shorts pocket, hoping I have a random stick of gum. I find a tiny square packet and pull it out, along with an old tissue. I shove that back in my pocket and sigh with relief as I carefully open the Listerine Pocketpak. There’s one strip left. I pop it in my mouth, wishing I had water since my mouth is dry and I’m suddenly super nervous.
Griffin pulls up in front of my apartment building. I swallow a bunch of times, trying to get the strip to dissolve on my tongue and glance out the tinted window, seeing it from his perspective. I don’t live in a bad part of town, but I sure as hell wouldn’t leave this car sitting out here for any length of time unless I wanted it keyed or stripped down.
Griffin shifts into park and turns to me, one hand resting on the back of my seat near the headrest. “I had a great time, Cosy.”
“Me too, thanks for dinner.” I tried to fork over my share, but he was quick on the credit card draw.
“It was my pleasure.” He leans in the tiniest bit, a nonverbal cue that he’s going in for a kiss.
I mirror the movement, giving him the go ahead. My stomach flutters in anticipation. I exhale slowly through my nose. Even though the Listerine strip should be doing its job to mask the onions, I don’t want to ruin the moment by breathing that in his face.
His fingertips skim my jaw, and I close my eyes. And then his lips brush my cheek. I wait for them to move a couple of inches to the right, but after what feels like a lot of seconds—and is probably only a few—I crack a lid.
Griffin is still close, a wry smile on his lips and a smolder in his eyes.
“Seriously, that’s it? A kiss on the cheek?”
His smile widens, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. He’s nothing like the guys I usually end up on dates with. College boys don’t take things slow. If I were out with one of the guys from school, I’d be sitting in a beat-up Civic with some stupid music playing, and he’d be all over me with his tongue halfway down my throat, copping a feel.
“I thought all the onions you ate were the equivalent to garlic for vampires.” Griffin fingers my hair near my shoulder. I’d really like him to finger something else. Wait. I mean I’d like to feel his hands on me. Not in my pants. Okay, maybe I’d like them in my pants, but not after date number one.
“I wasn’t thinking, and I really like onions. A lot. In hindsight, it’s not a great date food. I feel kinda dumb. And I guess at first I wasn’t so sure about you. How was I supposed to know you’d actually be kind of normalish?”
“Normalish?”
“Well, you drink club soda on purpose, so you can’t be all there.” I tap his temple.
Griffin circles my wrist with his fingers and drops his head, lips brushing over my knuckle. “We can’t all be perfect, now, can we?”
“I suppose not, and perfect is boring.”
“That it is.” He hums against my skin, and I feel it through my entire body. “I would like to try that kiss again, if you’re still interested.”
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by St. Martin's Press for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own.
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