Easy Tiger

Prickle Island Zoo #2

by Ali K. Mulford

He’s trying to keep his livelihood afloat. She threatens to destroy it. Will two wild hearts finally be tamed?

Hawk Lachlan will do anything to save his family’s zoo. With only a year to prove that he and his siblings can handle the responsibility, the gruff eldest brother is determined to fulfill his father’s legacy. So when the new gift shop girl keeps causing clumsy chaos, he refuses to let their attraction add to the mayhem.

Hannah Murphy is getting desperate. Needing enough cash to help her mom retire, the gossip columnist takes a mysterious job to spy on the handsome grouch who always seems to catch her in hilariously compromising snooping attempts. But when she falls into a penguin pond and comes out shirtless, she can’t deny their sizzling chemistry.

Realizing the blundering beauty has squeezed her way past his defenses, Hawk grows closer to the woman helping him stay sane. But as Hannah finds herself falling hard, she fears her big secret has already doomed her chance at happiness.

Will outrageous shenanigans lead to heartbreak or forever?

Easy Tiger is the swoon-worthy second book in the Prickle Island Zoo romantic comedy series. If you like grumpy-sunshine relationships, tons of humor, and emotional feels, then you’ll adore Ali K. Mulford’s steamy story.

Genres: Romance, Ebooks, Contemporary, Adult, Rom Com

460 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2024

About the author

Also writes as A.K. Mulford

Ali K. Mulford (also known by their bestselling fantasy pen name A.K. Mulford) is a rom-com author and former wildlife biologist who swapped rehabilitating monkeys for writing novels. A US and NZ citizen, Mulford now lives in Australia rearing two human primates, writing lovable characters, and making ridiculous TikToks (@akmulfordauthor).

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
This book gives you all the emotions. It’s super sweet, heartfelt, hilarious, and when Hawk cried, I cried! 😭

After I read the first book I was really excited for Hawk to get his own book. He’s the oldest sibling. He’s the caretaker and carries so much on his shoulders. I was really excited to see him get a HEA and it was absolutely everything I dreamed it could be. I love him. When he made pancakes on a Friday… 🥹 stop it. I was officially in love with him in that moment.
I related to Hannah always wanting a big close knit family. I also used to watch tv shows and find myself envious of the happy chaos mess of it all. I loved Hannah’s energy. I’d love to be her friend.

I loved Alfred. And Walter. And Sammy! 🥹 these books are so great because not only are the main characters likable but all the side characters and the animals are just as easy to love!

I highly recommend this book and this series if you’re looking for a book that’s like a big hug from a bunch monkeys and lions(in a safe and good way). I absolutely adore this series and can’t wait for the next! 💖
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All options are my own!

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eeee I am loving this series so much! I’m itching to get my hands on the rest!

Hannah was instantly such a loveable character. She just oozes light and I loved her so much. Everything about her was utterly wonderful from her pink hair to her love of Walter the crotchety old dog. I did hate that she let the lie go for as long as she did but I always knew that would happen. I know the formula.

I really loved getting to know Hawk better in this book. He was such a grump but has such a heard of gold, too. Their romance was so stupidly lovely I was completely sucked in.

[Erin Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trauma Rating: 1/2 ☠️


I LOVED this book. Easy Tiger is fast paced, slow burn romance (figure that one out), set out of Prickle Island Zoo, this time following Hawk and our clumsy, chaotic, FMC Hannah.

We have grumpy x sunshine, secret identities, planted spy’s, confused moral compasses, Walter the cocker spaniel, Colin the cow, lions, penguins and all the other amazing zoo animals.

I love the LGBT+ and the neurodivergence representation in this (and she’s a keeper) book, it’s refreshing to see a contemporary romance shine light on ADHD, and represent it in a way that is positive. I hope we get more stories from Pickle Island, I have loved every minute of this story.

[Bookish Selkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hawk Lachlan will lose the zoo over his dead body. Nothing is more important to him than saving the zoo that his family started on Prickle Island. But wishes don’t sign contracts and his family will have to come up with the money to buy the zoo from their patron. Hannah Murphy is desperate to earn enough money so her mom can retire. When she is offered a staggering amount of money to infiltrate the zoo for nefarious purposes, Hannah must put her journalism skills to the test. As the charming zoo and surprisingly hot zookeepers work their way into her heart, Hannah must decide whether she’s willing to hurt the zoo.

I love Hawk and Hannah!! Hawk is the strong, confident sibling who feels he always needs to have his emotions locked down. After tragically losing his dad, Hawk is laser-focused on keeping the zoo running and his siblings safe. Hannah is the delightful hurricane that sweeps in bringing chaos to Hawk’s well-ordered life. Hannah and Hawk really balance each other out and I loved how they helped each other grow.

Ali K. Mulford writes neurospicy heroines and the rep is always excellent. Hannah’s chaotic adventures were truly hilarious. I adore the Lachlan family, learning interesting animal facts, and the lovable sibling interactions. The Prickle Island Zoo is one of my favorite series and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Easy Tiger is the perfect book for readers looking for grump/sunshine, steamy romance, and adorable animals. I can’t wait to read Finch’s story next!

Thank you so much to Ali K. Mulford for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caro || readingtomyplants · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!
I’m so glad I got to visit Prickle Island Zoo again! After She’s a Keeper, I was so captivated by this quaint family-run zoo on a tiny island, with its loud characters and louder animals.

I was SO excited when I learned that this book would feature Hawk, the broody and serious eldest son. I loved the interactions between him and Hannah. The chemistry was electric!

I laughed out loud several times! Ali has such great references, witty dialogue, and hilarious names for her animals. Chicken Wing was my favourite!

I cannot wait for book three, coming in July!! 😊

Thank you so much to Ali for this ARC!

[Brontey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an early copy to review 💗

4.25 stars.

Another fun, charming, and easy read addition to the prickle island zoo series!
This one follows the oldest brother Hawk as he’s sent into chaos by the chaotic and sunshiny Hannah. Because he’s the oldest of the family and filling the patriarchal role his fathers death left, it gave me SERIOUS Anthony bridgerton vibes 😌😌
The spice was spicing, the plot was fun, and the animals were cute. It also has great neurodiversity rep.
Hannah did get on my nerves at times but absolutely loves everything else 🥰

[Mrs Moa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I love the whole Prickle Island Zoo setting. The characters, including the animals, make for a hilarious read.

Grumpy sunshine - false identity

I really enjoyed Hawk and Hannah’s interaction. I found their enemies to lovers transition a wee bit sudden. However, the tension of Hannah’s secret added a nice dose of suspense. And Walter, my heart swoons for the grumpy old man 😘

A must read series - add.to.T.B.R.immediately!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart. I absolutely love this family. I already don't want to let them go. How will I survive the end of the series later? Many rereads in my future.

Hawk will be my favorite forever. I'm a sucker for the grumpy but soft inside man. This book is a rollercoaster ride with so many emotions and events. You will be at the edge of your seat, giggling, wide-eyed, or hand on your forehead. I'm sad their story ended, but I can't wait to see more of them through their family's eyes.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute installment in the Prickle Island series. Perfect to read in one sitting. I love the banter between the siblings, but at this point I am not invested enough to continue (I think it may be a seven book series?). I enjoyed this up to the last chapter where my least favourite trope let it down. Still a cute read though!

[Jodie Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ - Easy Tiger is the second book in a Zookeeper rom-com series (don't worry each book can be read as a standalone so you can jump straight into it) and it had high expectations to live up to after 'She's a Keeper' was absolutely amazing.

I was surprised to find that book 2 was even better (...and this is coming from a reader who sticks to the Fantasy genre, a romcom needs to be epically amazing for me to like it!) with a gorgeous pairing of a quirky Neurodivergent ray of sunshine and her super serious, grumpy zookeeper boss.

Life with this zany family of Zookeepers is always interesting and I love that each book centres around the romantic relationship of one of the siblings, while letting us enjoy the company of all of them. I am here for all the sibling banter!

Easy Tiger had so many laugh out loud moments, (wait until you get to the lion scene, I was crying with laughter) coupled nicely with some real, deep and honest conversations which helped us to get to know each character. This is the biggest gift of The Prickle Island Zoo series, its ability to make every character feel like your best friend, one who you can laugh at their misfortunes, who you can celebrate their wins with and who you just want to hug and cry with them when they hurt.

It was the last 20% that really hit the feels for me. We need all the emotions in a good romcom, and Easy Tiger delivered.

Easy Tiger Includes:
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Neurodivergent character
- Queer normative
- Realistic portrayal of zookeeper life
- Hilarious animal stories
- Sibling banter
- Secret Identity
- Family commitment

Thank you to the Author for the eARC, all thoughts are my own and this review shared voluntarily.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Kalyn Hulten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali K Mulford does it again!! I received a copy of this for free from the publisher, but I'd buy it in a heartbeat! The Prickle Island crew has my heart and soul. This story was so sweet, twisty, heartbreaking, and low stakes love. I could have used a few more 🌶🌶🌶 scenes because these two are HOT. Can't wait for the next one!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawk and Hannah's story was just as much as a warm hug as the first book in the series. Although, I found Hannah to be a bit on the immature side, I really found Hawk and Hannah to be the perfect match!

[Pandora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the entire Prickle Island Zoo family! Hawk and Hannah's story was absolutely adorable, complete with crazy animal shenanigans as befitting a zoo story. Hawk's grumpy to Hannah's sunshine was the perfect match and their chemistry together was delicious. I can't wait to see what comes next from this delightful family.

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this zoo and I LOVE Hawk! When he cried, I swear I almost cried with him! The best part of this series is that I get it for the spice, but end up loving the plot and characters just as much!

[Giselle DeSousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book and all opinions are my own. Easy Tiger is the second installment in the Prickle Island Zoo series and follows Hawk, the eldest child and almost headkeeper, and Hannah, an undercover journalist. Both Hawk and Hannah are trying their best to solve the biggest problems in their lives, the uncertain fate of the zoo and being self-sufficient enough for her mom to retire fully, respectively. Unfortunately for Hannah, the too-good-to-be-true situation she found herself in will ultimately hurt the zoo, and the man (and life) she is falling for. This story is filled with themes of responsibility, and grief while being funny and romantic with Hawk being stone cold and professional and Hannah a clumsy full of energy summer hire. This book was addictive and beautifully written (even the major miscommunication between the two central characters) and stands well on its own and as a part of the greater series. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Anneleen VdA · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐

I loved coming home to the Prickle Island zoo with this second book. This time we get to follow Hawk's story, who likes to be in controle and tries to save the zoo at all costs. Enter Hannah, a walking hazard who comes to work in the gift shop as a cover to spy on the Prickle Island zoo. She doesn't expect to develop new friendships and maybe even fall in love.
This story is once again very relatable and so funny, while also including some pretty heavy emotions (cry conunter: 2). The Lachlan family is so lovable, accepting and very quirky. So ready for the next book, luckily there are a lot of sibilngs.

[Gen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If ever you remember something about him, if ever you need someone to help you dust the cobwebs off those memories, I’m here for you.”

4.5 ⭐

Ali K. Mulford is quickly becoming one of my must read romance authors because this book was so great, it was funny and silly and emotional and romantic and sexy, it was everything I love in a good romcom. I knew from the second I finished She's a Keeper that I wanted to read Hawk's book and I am so glad I picked this up. Hawk is the oldest Lachlan sibling and head zookeeper, there is a lot of pressure riding on his shoulders, especially this year as he needs to prove to the wealthy benefactors who own the Prickle Island Zoo that his family has what it takes to own and run the zoo without the Wentworth's funds. The last thing he needs is a distraction or something that could affect their chances of getting the zoo. Hannah flits between jobs and never has much money in her savings account, she feels like a burden to her mother and needs to prove to her that she can make it on her own. When a job opportunity comes up to investigate Prickle Island Zoo for a wealthy investor, the chance to earn a lot of money and finally have some stability in her life, she knows she can't turn it down. But the zoo and the Lachlan family have a way of winning people over.

I love when a book can make me both laugh and cry, especially when it's a romcom, and this book did that for me. Hannah and Hawk were hilarious as the two love interests and main characters, their grumpy X sunshine dynamic felt really genuine and worked so well. I loved that Hannah has a way with people and animals that brings them out of their shell, she makes friends easily and even the most bitey dogs and aloof butlers like her. She's like a bright ray of sunshine that lit up the page every time she was present. I also really like that Hawk's grumpiness doesn't feel overdone, yes, he's emotionally closed off, gruff, grouchy and bossy but he's in a position where he feels he has to be since his father's passing and the weight of responsibility that rests in his hands. It was really beautiful watching Hannah draw the light out of him, the scene in the Peckish Peacock was one of the most heart-warming and touching scenes I have read in a while - from the Friday pancakes, to the way Hawk opens up and lets himself feel his feelings was just so lovely. The scene in the lion enclosure was also one of my favourites, it genuinely made me laugh out loud.

There really isn't much that I would say negative about this book, I try to not criticise romances too much because they're generally feel good fun and there's really no need to be super serious about how they're written, but thankfully Ali K. Mulford's writing is really good. I was drawn into the story immediately and could hardly put the book down, basically finishing it within one day. She has a way of connecting action packed or romance scenes with really fast paced filler scenes that actually carry the plot without feeling like it's just there to bulk up the word count. The spice was really well done too, the tension and passion between the love interests was built up so well, plus it never takes over the storyline so you're actually getting a book with a good plot that's not just all about sex. The only thing that I didn't like so much was that the ending felt very rushed. A HEA is obviously very important in this genre but when you get to the third act break up and you're already at 85% through the book, it becomes hard to come back from that quickly, especially when the reason is a tough one like this one was. I think the make up was handled really well, but I just think it felt too fast.

But overall, this was a really entertaining read, it had a good emotional rollercoaster and a really heart warming message about learning to accept help from others, about knowing when to tell people the truth, about the consequences of keep important information a secret and about staying true to your moral compass. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and I am definitely going to be picking up the third book in the new year - these books are so great as palette cleansers between the big fantasy books I have planned to read in the coming months, and I am excited to follow Finch's story in book three. These books have good neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ representation and I'm so glad that I found another must read romance author to add to my list! Definitely recommend everyone who loves spicy romcoms to give these a read.

[Jillsbooknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This going to hurt, isn't it?...There's no way I'm saying goodbye to you in two months unscathed."

4.5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Easy Tiger is the second novel in the adorably romantic comedy series, Prickle Island Zoo, which consist of a series of interconnected standalones following the Lachlans, an eclectic and delightful family that run a zoo in Connecticut. In this book we follow the eldest son, Hawk, and the wonderfully chaotic Hannah.

Hawk is feeling the heat and the stress; he has only one year to earn enough revenue at the zoo to save it from being sold. What he doesn't need on top of the weight of his father's legacy and keeping the zoo together is the entrance of the clumsy pink hair chaos of a summer employee...except he can't look away. Meanwhile, Hannah is desperate. Working at a magazine she hates, she is close to quitting even though the loss of income would ruin her until they offer her the deal of the lifetime - spy on the Prickle Island Zoo and dig up any dirt about the family and receive more money than she can dream. What she wasn't expected was the tall and stunning zookeeper with chemistry she has never experienced before. All is takes is a fall in the penguin pond and she knows things are going to be trouble...

Oh this book was wonderful chaos.

Hawk is stern and yet when he falls in love, he falls HARD! I loved seeing him try and fight it because the way he just admitted he was done for even though he was trying to resist had me squealing. I also really felt for him as he carried the burden of his family legacy. He is trying to so hard to do the right thing and the pressure he puts on himself is something I feel so many can connect to.

Hannah is a hot mess and I loved it! She is a prime example of a millennial trying to find their way I connected to this on so many levels. I found she was easy to relate to, filled with teasing quips, and had an effortlessness ability to find a space for herself wherever she goes. Watching her fall for Hawk, despite thinking he hates her, was a joy.

I also loved being able to connect with all the side characters from the addition summer staff that help Hannah find the ropes and provide her with advice on what to do with Hawk to the Lachlan family - Finch especially got a stronger role here that I liked exploring. The little cameos of Lark were perfect!

In terms of spice, I would place this at 1.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy pepper. This is not as spicy as the first book and I think it fit the movement of this romance. With the antagonism of the characters from the outset to the fight to keep apart, these two falling into bed needed to be times right and the build up of tension, steam, and connection was done so well for them. So expect spice towards the 80% mark and enjoy the ride of these two just being drawn to each other time and time again because the romance there was such fun.

"I knew it. You are a fucking siren...I'm sure of it now. You walked straight out of the sea to ensnare my heart"

For the story and word, I really felt this book had a stronger pace than the first book and more detailed world building through Hannah's cover as a summer employee. We got to see more of the zoo while also move between the different conflicts so there was always this balance of fun and adventure but also the seriousness of what the characters were doing. In addition the chaos of zoo animals continued to captured my hearts. I would say the secret keeping ran a little long for me but I understood Hannah's hesitant and her character made sense in relation to the choices she makes. The ending was incredibly sweet...and I want a bonus chapter of these two as I don't want to be finished with them XD

Overall, this as another home run for delight zoo romcoms with banter, heart stopping romance, and animal shenanigans that I could not put down.

Thank you Ali for the arc!

[Lana | Libraryofabibliotaph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun romcom filled with humour and zoo animals, a personified walking hazard, a mini cow and an oldest sibling trying to do anything he can for his family. Welcome back to Prickle Island!

This entire series is about a diversified group of siblings and their mom, making their zoo a slice of paradise on earth for both animals and humans. All of this while struggling with their own demons and finding love when they least expect to. All these siblings are very loveable, and relatable, and also make you want to be part of their group. Even though it took me a bit longer to warm up to Hannah, her clumsiness was too relatable. That made it impossible not to like her.

If you liked She’s a keeper, you’ll adore this one too. It has the same animal shenanigans, you get to know all the siblings even better, and Hawk is definitely an interesting character. I also adored the friendship between Hannah, Mae and Tessa. You’ll even find the enemies-to-lovers and grumpy x sunshine tropes in this book. The title, Easy Tiger, makes an appearance at the best possible time. All things that make this story a very enjoyable read.

Still, I would have liked for the spying and sharing information part to happen a bit more on page, instead of in between. This combined with the chemistry that took a while to fully kick in, made the first 80 pages or so a little bit too slow. Nevertheless I really liked this book and can’t wait to discover Finch’s (love)story next.

So grab yourself a copy of this book, get comfortable, mute the microphone on your radio and enjoy the story 😉

[thebookishstephanie]

Hawk Lachlan is the big brother of all the Lachlan children, who will do anything to save the family zoo and his father's legacy. Hannah Murphy is desperate for stability and money so that her mother doesn't have to worry about her anymore. She squeezes his way past Hawk's defences, but as Hannah is falling for him, she's worried that her secret will ruin their chance at happiness together.

This is an EASY five star read. It gave me all the emotions (when Hawk cried I bawled 😭😭), but also gave me all the kick-my-feet cuteness that I need in a romance.

Hawk is the sweetest MMC: he cares so much for his family and for living up to everyone's expectations. He learns everything about Hannah and keeps it tucked away in his mind, never to forget it. He loves the animals so much too. It's all too cute, and the family antics ticked up a notch too! I love learning more about the Lachlan family.

Hannah is a goofy, neurodivergent ray of sunshine with bright pink hair. She's so caring but is prone to making mistakes - aren't we all? Coming from a small family, she's envious of the Lachlans and their close knit bonds. She's honestly so lovely and I loved her vibes.

For fans of:

🐯 Grumpy x sunshine
💛 Cute animals
🐯 Neurodivergent fmc
💛 Queer normative world
🐯 Zany zoo life
💛 Secret identity
🐯 Emotional reads
💛 Spicy romances

Thank you Ali Mulford for an earc of this one! I can't wait to read the read of this series. All opinions are my own.

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This one tore at my heartstrings and was so, so good! Hawk is the oldest Lachlan sibling and is in charge of the carnivores in the zoo. Hannah is a journalist sent to the zoo to find information about it for someone that's hired the Gazette to dig up dirt. Neither of them expected to end up being so distracted by one another that they could barely focus, though.

Hawk doesn't do dating, especially with a walking hazard with pink hair that works in the gift shop for the summer. But then they spend a little bit of time together and he can't keep his head on straight. Hannah can't believe that Hawk is even interested in her - she thought he hated her, especially with the way their first couple of meetings went. But when they keep finding themselves together, he reveals the reason he's being cautious, and it seems that reason in any form no longer has a place between them.

Awkward, heated, and romantic situations lead to a whirlwind romance that is fighting against lions and birds to survive, and is almost torn apart by embarrassment and secrets before Hannah can just spill the beans to Hawk. One mistake leads to another and everything starts to fall apart. Will they ever be able to reconcile, and will the zoo be able to get the funding they so desperately need? Find out in Easy Tiger!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There’s no way I’m saying goodbye to you in two moths unscathed.”
“ Ditto.”

* Dual POV
* ADHD MFC
* Up-Tight / Clumsy
* Big Family / Single Child
* He Gives Her A Nickname
* Fake Identity

This is the second book in the Prickle Island Zoo series by Ali K. Mulford. It’s Hawk’s turn in the spotlight as he falls for Hazard Hannah, a pink-haired and neuro-spicy summer zoo employee. What Hawk doesn’t know, is that Hannah’s a journalist who has been hired by a mysterious patron looking for dirt on the Prickle Island Zoo.

I really loved Hawk’s character arc in this book! His story was deeply emotional and moving. I also enjoyed Hannah’s character, especially the way her ADHD came across on the page.

The pacing did feel fairly rushed to me. I felt like there was something missing in the building of their relationship that left their intensity seeming a bit unbelievable. The second third of the book did redeem this a bit for me though.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with scenes that will make you laugh and others that will threaten to make tears spill. While this is the second in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

Big thank you to Ali K. Mulford for the ARC! <3

@TheManicuredReviewer on IG

[Maldi_200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Tiger
di @akmulford che ringrazio per la copia ARC
.
🐯"She was going to be the death of me by the end of the summer"
.
Hawk Lachlan è il fratello maggiore e quest’estate deve dimostrare che la famiglia può mantenere lo zoo.
Ad Hannah viene assegnato il compito di trovare irregolarità e scheletri nell’armadio dello zoo.
💰"This money was life-changing, morals be damned"
Quando lei si innamora i suoi segreti rovineranno tutto?
🦁"Sometimes life happens and you don't have a choice"
.
Secondo libro nella serie romance Prickle Island Zoo in cui ogni libro segue un fratello diverso.
Purtroppo questo libro mi ha delusa e non mi è piaciuto. La parte iniziale è fin troppo lenta, con eventi randomici relativamente utili. Solo nella seconda parte la storia si riprende e la chimica tra i personaggi si rafforza. Anche per quanto riguarda la trama non sono eccessivamente convinta, ci sono infatti pezzi pendenti e mezzi buchi di trama. Se i due personaggi funzionano bene insieme e hanno chimica la trama è invece il tasto dolente di questo libro.
Come nel precedente volume lo zoo non è solo in uno sfondo casuale ma il contesto in cui i personaggi agiscono, causa di loro incontri e iterazioni nonchè punto focale della trama.
I fratelli e coprotagonisti li ho davvero apprezzati e rendono il tutto più vivace.
Personalmente ho nettamente preferito il primo volume ma credo che continuerò la saga
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy x sunshine
ADHD rep
LGBTIAQ+ rep
Zoo romance

This is the perfect romcom read, I loved returning to Prickle Island! Hannah needs to get her life together so that her mother can have the retirement that she deserves. She is offered a life-changing amount of money to spy on the Prickle Island Zoo. Hawk is the eldest Lachlan sibling and big cat keeper, racing against the clock to prove that his family can afford to buy the zoo that their family have managed for generations. Hilarity and heartache ensues when clumsy Hannah stumbles across Hawk’s path. This story is lighthearted and full of green flags, but also beautifully emotional in parts. I really connected to the main characters and their relationship was believable and super cute. As always, the other Lachlan siblings were funny and entertaining. I rarely give romcoms 5 stars, but this one was well written, well paced, with great characters (human and animal) and great romance, as well as some tugging at the heartstrings.

[Kei ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure that the Prickle Island Zoo Crew are my new favourite family! In Easy Tiger we meet Hawk, eldest of the Lachlans, hell bent on saving the zoo. But that is until he meets clumsy Hannah, the journalist who takes on a mysterious job to help her mum retire in the way that she deserves. But Hannah has a secret and she now has to decide whether it's all worth it to break the hot zookeepers heart.

Hawk give the typical big brother vibes. The head of the family, the level headed, strong and confident one. He has one focus and that is saving the zoo. Our Hannah is a clumsy hurricane, the complete opposite to Hawk, yet the absolute compliment to him. I loved the banter, the cute gestures (Friday pancakes anyone?) and the spice was feisty. I'm loving every single minute I'm reading the Prickle Island Zoo Crew, I can't wait for more.

A special thank you to Ali for a place on her ARC team, Easy Tiger is book two in the Prickle Island Zoo series, set for release March 29th 2024. Make sure you read them along in order for the best reading experience.

[The Cajun Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Ali for an eARC of Easy Tiger! Here is my honest review!

I am LOVING the Pricke Island Zoo series! This is the second installment and things just keep getting better and better!

Hannah Murphy is a journalist who has the chance to change her and her mother’s life. All she has to do is go incognito and dig some dirt up on the Lachlans, the family who runs Prickle Island Zoo. What she didn’t expect though, was grumpy, hot Hawk Lachlan.

Hawk just wants to get through the summer and make enough money to save his families zoo. But that task becomes even harder with the addition of Hazard Hannah to the gift shop staff. The pink haired, mermaid-esque woman drives him mad. But he can’t deny that life is much more interesting with her around.

Can Hannah find a way to tell Hawk the truth? And if she does, can Hawk forgive her?

Ugh, I LOVED everything about this book and I honestly related so much to Hawk as an older sibling who grew up on the family farm.

I can’t wait for more of the Lachlan family and their adventures!

[Psyckers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed with the chance to read this in advance before its release to the world.
This is the fantastic second book of the Prickle Island Zoo series, that enhances all the feel good feelings and humour from the first book and dial it all the way to eleven.
As Hawk grapples with the very real threat of the zoo being sold off, the stoic and steadfast 'patriach' of the Lachlan suddenly develops feelings for a new and fresh-faced Hannah that has started working at the zoo.
I certainly enjoyed reading this book after the stunning first book. Most of the main characters are back in this book, even 'Chicken Wing' from the short story 'Winging It' makes an appearance.
Secrets and intrigue are abound in this book, so is heartfelt love and betrayal. If the romance doesn't get you hooked, the humour certainly will.
This excellent crafted book was devoured by my new obsession that lives on Prickle Island.

[Have you seen Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a whirlwind of emotions.
Hawk and Hannah made for a fantastic grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract romance full of entertaining shenanigans and laugh out loud moments. The zoo vibes and animal antics make for a fantastic background to the story and the family dynamic is something I really love about the Lachlan troupe and this series. The dialogue and the humour are great and feel so effortless. I really enjoy the authors writing style and overall voice.
However, I'd be lying if I said my morals weren't challenged during this story. For me there were one too many bad decisions made by the FMC which made me view her in a negative light and had me yelling at my kindle. I did eventually warm back up to Hannah by the end of the book, which I believe is a real testament to the clever character development and storytelling.
I can't wait to see where this series goes from here.

[WenDeeDeeDee36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it this series gets better with each book?! I’m OBSESSED with the Lachlan family and I genuinely wish I could visit Prickle Island. I dreamed of being a zookeeper or vet my whole life so I was super intrigued by this series from the get go and I fall in love with the series as it continues. Hannah is fun because she is particularly relatable for me….from ADHD hyper fixation projects to obscure cultural references that absolutely show my age. I am in fact the 30+ yo front side employee at my local zoo every Christmas, who realizes the difference between 20 and 28 is bigger than you think, yet still loves the jobs and the friends I make in spite of age gaps. I cannot say I ever expected to find that tie to a book. Hannah and Hawk’s relationship melts my heart and I smiled like an idiot for a lot of this book. I do love a good Grumpy x Sunshine trope. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment and hopefully we will get more answers about the Madigans.