Making Up
by Helena Hunting
Published by Swerve on July 16th, 2019
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Series: Shaking Up - Book Four
Format: eARC
Source: Kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Summary from Goodreads:
A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.
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.
Review
Making Up is a sexy and sweet romance. The perfect summer read.Cosy Felton, a twenty-two year old college student working part-time at an adult store in Las Vegas, is a free spirit all about new experiences and adventures. However, everything flies out the window when the hottest guy she's ever laid eyes on walks into her store looking for gag gifts for a friend's bachelor party, much to his discomfort.
Griffin Mills resides in New York, partaking in his family owned business in the hotel industry. Now single, after going through a recent break up, he arrives in Las Vegas in part for business but also to see the gorgeous woman he can't quite get his mind off of. Unable to deny their instant attraction, they decide to see how things go with a date, unable to predict where it will lead them.
Making Up, book four in the Shaking Up series, is a fantastic new romantic comedy by Helena Hunting. Packed with humour, drama, laugh out loud moments, signature banter, and a passionate romance, this book begs to be read and enjoyed throughly.
From beginning to end, this book was so wondrously crafted with an entertaining story, charismatic characters, explosive chemistry, and a whirlwind romance that will give you all the feels. There were some substantial conflicts that impacted the characters, that truthfully felt authentic to this story, and though this puts a sort of speed bump in Cosy and Griffin's relationship for a time being it does not prevent a HEA from occurring. Cosy and Griffin's relationship had me grinning ear to ear multiple times throughout the book - they are just that darn cute!
With that being said, I believe at this point it is absurdly clear that I absolutely adored Cosy and Griffin's characters and relationship with one another. Cosy had such a refreshing personality and, though young in age, she was exactly what Griffin needed. Someone vibrant, open, fun, indifferent to what others thought about her, confident, and overall a sunny person. She was a heroine I could definitely see myself rallying behind (and partying with). Griffin's personality had a uniqueness to it, he was possessive, caring, and vulnerable at times. It made his character well rounded and that much more enjoyable to read. They're a couple that just seemingly clicked well together.
Overall, this is an easy recommendation to make for anyone who loves light, entertaining, sweet, and delightfully sassy romance books. A truly great 5 star read!
Rating
★★★★★
About the AuthorHelena Hunting is the author of The USA Today and NYT bestselling PUCKED Series. She lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes everything from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy .
Excerpt
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.”
Copyright © 2019 by Helena Hunting and reprinted by permission of Wednesday Books.
