Audiobook Review: Shacking Up by Helena Hunting

Author: Helena Hunting

Narrator: Jacob Morgan & Rose Dioro

Title: Shacking Up

Series: Shacking Up #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Published: May 30, 2017

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Ruby Scott is months behind on rent and can’t seem to land a steady job. She has one chance to turn things around with a big audition. But instead of getting her big break, she gets sick as a dog and completely bombs it in the most humiliating fashion. All thanks to a mysterious, gorgeous guy who kissed—and then coughed on—her at a party the night before.

Luckily, her best friend might have found the perfect opportunity; a job staying at the lavish penthouse apartment of hotel magnate Bancroft Mills while he’s out of town, taking care of his exotic pets. But when the newly-evicted Ruby arrives to meet her new employer, it turns out Bane is the same guy who got her sick. Seeing his role in Ruby’s dilemma, Bane offers her a permanent job as his live-in pet sitter until she can get back on her feet.

Review:

I read the short story that takes place after this one...and it was okay. I decided to give book 1 a try esp since it was available at my library. 

Here we follow Ruby and Bane. Ruby cannot catch a break. She is months behind on her rent and she can't find a steady job. She has a huge audition that can turn it all around but she blows it when she completely bombs because she was sick as a dog. All thanks to the hunk who mistakenly kissed her and then coughed on her. Luckily her best friend found her a great opportunity to house and pet sit while the owner is out of town for work for 5 weeks. When Ruby meets this owner...it is the same guy who got her sick...Bane. Feeling terrible he offers the job and a place to live until she can get back on her feet. 

I am so glad I backtracked and read this. The short story after this was just okay but it didn't do any justice to these fun characters.

Yes, Ruby and Bane were fun. I loved watching them get to know each other via phone and video chat. They talk...flirt....it was fun. Once he comes home things change and we finally get some smexy stuff, but it was nice seeing a slow burn between these two. 

There is some drama near the end...mainly miscommunication and badly timed events and voicemails. Easily resolved so they could get back together. Very sweet. 

The narrators were fun. We had two. One for Ruby's POV and one for Bane's. I do wish Bane had more time. I feel like he only had like 3 or 4 chapters. 

In the end, though, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved watching Ruby and Bane fall for each other. It was a slow burn but for SURE worth it by the end. I wanted more chapters with Bane's POV, but other than that zero issues. 4 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):
- #49 for Audiobook challenge

Audiobook Review: Getting Down by Helena Hunting

Author: Helena Hunting

Narrator: Muffy Newton

Title: Getting Down

Series: Shacking Up #1.5

Genre: Novella, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, & short story

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 3, 2018

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Ruby Scott's favorite holiday is here, all she needs is a moderately good excuse to throw a party. With the help of her best friend Amalie--and Amalie's fiance's budget--the two of them throw a Halloween-inspired fundraiser. But no event goes off without a couple hitches...

Review:

Another one I found when looking for some Halloween romances. I didn't realize this was part of a series until I was nearly done reading this. Oh well. 

Here we have Ruby and Amalie. Halloween is Ruby's favorite holiday and when given a moderately good excuse to throw a party....she will. With her the help of her best friend and her best friend's fiancé's budget....the two of them will throw a Halloween-inspired fundraiser that will always be remembered. 

Yeaaa I didn't realize this was 1.5 in a series until halfway through. It does okay as a standalone. Some references, but the author does a good job catching you up on how Ruby met her boo and how Amalie got wrapped up with that other dude. 

Poor Amalie...her fiancé stinks. He is too prim and proper. I wish I could say at least he is nice and treats Amalie okay...but he is controlling and tries to damper her spirit and make her wear turtlenecks. Okay not precisely turtlenecks...but god forbid she wears short shorts. He is a poop and I can't wait for her to shake him off and find someone who she really can be herself with. I believe that will be book 2. 

There are a lot of smexy scenes here...bordering on TOO much. I do want to backtrack and read book 1 but I do worry about book 1 a bit. I'm hoping that this was just the honeymoon phase of sorts and just filler. We'll see though because I did enjoy the little bit of story and the characters but hopefully with book 1 being longer that we get more plot. 

But yes, this was sweet and fun. It has me excited for book 1 and book 2. I am a LITTLE nervous though because this was jammed pack full of smex scenes to the point when it was getting a little exhausting for me. There is a fine line. Like I said...I hope it was just because this was a novella and Ruby and her boo are still freshly in love. 

The narrator was good. Different voices for all the girls. The guys did seem to be very similar that it was hard to tell the difference. 

In the end, a fun novella for Halloween. Lots of smex though...maybe a bit too much...but I did adore our characters and the story we had was fun. 3 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):
- #46 for Audiobook challenge