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Big Love
ASIN B01LBBQWMG moved to the more recent edition
From the bestselling authors who brought you More Than a Kiss and Crazy Little Thing!
What do you get when you add up one guardian angel with ADD; one human who’s texting when she should be watching where she’s walking; and one open manhole in the middle of the street? You get a cracked skull with sixteen stitches and a guilt-ridden guardian angel.
The guardian angel, Zing, comes to earth in human form to make it up to her charge, Nell Parker. What doesn’t add up is the internet romance Nell is having. Something (cat)fishy is happening, and now Zing feels obligated to protect Nell’s heart.
What Zing doesn’t count on is falling in love with Nell. Can Zing give up everything to follow her heart? Is her love big enough to overcome all obstacles?
Find out in this newest romantic comedy from Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennett!
From the bestselling authors who brought you More Than a Kiss and Crazy Little Thing!
What do you get when you add up one guardian angel with ADD; one human who’s texting when she should be watching where she’s walking; and one open manhole in the middle of the street? You get a cracked skull with sixteen stitches and a guilt-ridden guardian angel.
The guardian angel, Zing, comes to earth in human form to make it up to her charge, Nell Parker. What doesn’t add up is the internet romance Nell is having. Something (cat)fishy is happening, and now Zing feels obligated to protect Nell’s heart.
What Zing doesn’t count on is falling in love with Nell. Can Zing give up everything to follow her heart? Is her love big enough to overcome all obstacles?
Find out in this newest romantic comedy from Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennett!
219 pages, ebook
First published August 30, 2016
60 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Saxon Bennett
53 books180 followersSaxon Bennett is an admitted bibliophile and has the bookcases to prove it. Her favorite book is Harriet the Spy. She grew up among the pine trees of Washington where she learned to be a Keeper of Odd Knowledge with a special liking for new words - the queerer the better. She has a penchant for inspirational quotes - the more motivational the better. A serious aficionado of pie, she also drinks a lot of coffee and tea - especially when she’s writing, which she does every day. Saxon is a parent and a wife—two things she never thought she’d be - and she writes blogs about her family in the style of Erma Bombeck. In her next life she wants to be a professional snowboarder. She likes to grow flowers and tend to her pond. Jelly beans, gummy bears and licorice are her favorite candies. An avid walker with a goal to walk every street in her small town, she hits the pavement each morning. To keep herself limber, she does beginner yoga. She’d like to learn to meditate but her mind is as restless as a squirrel trapped in a box. As an amateur seamstress, she is endlessly trying to create the perfect butch purse. Her favorite quote is “Man plans, God laughs.” Saxon is the author of fifteen novels. Her book Family Affair won the Goldie for General Fiction in 2009. She won the Alice B. Reader Award for her body of work in 2012. Her second book in the Family Affair trilogy entitled Marching to a Different Accordion won a Golden Crown Literary Award for general fiction in 2012. Her book In the Unlikely Event is the final book in the Family Affair trilogy. All her books are available at Amazon and Bella Books in both print and electronic format. She has also written two books with her partner Layce Gardner and they are More than a Kiss and Crazy Little thing. Check them out on Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 23, 2016
Four things to note immediately:
1) This is neither my first guardian angel book, nor first lesbian fiction guardian angel book;
2) This book is somewhat . . . wildly insane - I can imagine opinions diverging similarly wildly (though I just looked and the vast majority of the people who have rated the book have given 5 stars - 64% of the readers have given 5 stars);
3) This is a very readable book - one so readable I gulped it down before I could even note on GoodReads that I was 'currently reading' it.;
4) This is my fourth book that I've read with Bennett on the 'by-line' and first that also includes Layce Gardner listed on the cover.
Right. So then. This is a silly, wacky, sweet, hilarious book about an easily distracted guardian angel and a specific human, her 'protectee' (plus Nell's (the human's) friends; also plus one or two of Zing's (the angel's) friends).
Zing, as noted, is easily distracted and Nell is kind of boring. So Zing was off playing with a 'footbag' (the phrase used is 'Hacky Sack', but that's technically a trademark name. It's like saying 'I went and made a xerox copy.' - though that's kind of a dated example).
Got distracted, see, I get distracted as well.
Okay then. Zing is Nell's guardian angel. One day while Nell is walking a city street while also texting her love, she fell down a manhole. Because Zing is easily distracted. And thought Nell was going to stay with the others until the light changed. But Nell was distracted by her phone and 'died'; while Zing was distracted by a hacky sack.
Bertha, Zing's boss, is quite pissed to find the human rubbing her head and looking around the field of marshmellows (I've this vague recollection that Nell ended up falling and falling and when she stopped, she landed on marshmellows - in an area adjacent to heaven; marshmellows might not have been involved though). Bertha's pissed because it wasn't Nell's 'time to die'.
Next thing Nell knows, she's in a hospital room waking up to two people talking - Annabelle and Zing, both angels. Though Zing's in a human body now. She's going to be there to make up for her mistake and try to help Nell.
Zing's been around for a while, but hasn't really paid too much attention to human things. So acts like she was 'born yesterday'. Taking things literally. Gobbling donuts, etc. Part of the wackiness is that Zing recalls that Annabelle's 'human' is the kind to help stray dogs and the like. So - she, Zing, needs help - as in a place to stay, a bath, some food, etc. So she wanders over to that person's place (once she's kicked out of the hospital, oh, didn't mention that). She wanders over by spotting an 'old wrinkly woman' sitting on a bench. And bluntly says something like 'old woman, does this bus . . .' go to . . . hmm, I forget how she worded it . . . higher class area. 'Old woman', who is dressed all in purple but for a red hat, takes Zing under her wing and leads her to where 'Miracle' (the name Annabelle and Zing use for Shelia, Annabelle's human) area.
I didn't mean to include all that above, but it's an example of the wackiness. The part where people just respond to her in a positive way. And just, for the most part, accepts when she, Zing, says things like 'I'm a guardian angel'. Which several in the story do - including Miracle, and Nell.
Right, so. Zing mingles with the humans (going to an amusement park, getting a job at a bakery - where Nell and Carol work, etc.) while the humans circle each other in both friend and romance ways. And Nell continues her longish relationship with 'Dove', the author who she's never meet in person, or talked to on the phone (they text, but not talk).
Bah. I'm not doing this review thingie correctly.
Book is good. Readable. Funny. Wacky. Romance occurs between more than one couple. Silliness occurs. I enjoyed the book.
September 22 2016
1) This is neither my first guardian angel book, nor first lesbian fiction guardian angel book;
2) This book is somewhat . . . wildly insane - I can imagine opinions diverging similarly wildly (though I just looked and the vast majority of the people who have rated the book have given 5 stars - 64% of the readers have given 5 stars);
3) This is a very readable book - one so readable I gulped it down before I could even note on GoodReads that I was 'currently reading' it.;
4) This is my fourth book that I've read with Bennett on the 'by-line' and first that also includes Layce Gardner listed on the cover.
Right. So then. This is a silly, wacky, sweet, hilarious book about an easily distracted guardian angel and a specific human, her 'protectee' (plus Nell's (the human's) friends; also plus one or two of Zing's (the angel's) friends).
Zing, as noted, is easily distracted and Nell is kind of boring. So Zing was off playing with a 'footbag' (the phrase used is 'Hacky Sack', but that's technically a trademark name. It's like saying 'I went and made a xerox copy.' - though that's kind of a dated example).
Got distracted, see, I get distracted as well.
Okay then. Zing is Nell's guardian angel. One day while Nell is walking a city street while also texting her love, she fell down a manhole. Because Zing is easily distracted. And thought Nell was going to stay with the others until the light changed. But Nell was distracted by her phone and 'died'; while Zing was distracted by a hacky sack.
Bertha, Zing's boss, is quite pissed to find the human rubbing her head and looking around the field of marshmellows (I've this vague recollection that Nell ended up falling and falling and when she stopped, she landed on marshmellows - in an area adjacent to heaven; marshmellows might not have been involved though). Bertha's pissed because it wasn't Nell's 'time to die'.
Next thing Nell knows, she's in a hospital room waking up to two people talking - Annabelle and Zing, both angels. Though Zing's in a human body now. She's going to be there to make up for her mistake and try to help Nell.
Zing's been around for a while, but hasn't really paid too much attention to human things. So acts like she was 'born yesterday'. Taking things literally. Gobbling donuts, etc. Part of the wackiness is that Zing recalls that Annabelle's 'human' is the kind to help stray dogs and the like. So - she, Zing, needs help - as in a place to stay, a bath, some food, etc. So she wanders over to that person's place (once she's kicked out of the hospital, oh, didn't mention that). She wanders over by spotting an 'old wrinkly woman' sitting on a bench. And bluntly says something like 'old woman, does this bus . . .' go to . . . hmm, I forget how she worded it . . . higher class area. 'Old woman', who is dressed all in purple but for a red hat, takes Zing under her wing and leads her to where 'Miracle' (the name Annabelle and Zing use for Shelia, Annabelle's human) area.
I didn't mean to include all that above, but it's an example of the wackiness. The part where people just respond to her in a positive way. And just, for the most part, accepts when she, Zing, says things like 'I'm a guardian angel'. Which several in the story do - including Miracle, and Nell.
Right, so. Zing mingles with the humans (going to an amusement park, getting a job at a bakery - where Nell and Carol work, etc.) while the humans circle each other in both friend and romance ways. And Nell continues her longish relationship with 'Dove', the author who she's never meet in person, or talked to on the phone (they text, but not talk).
Bah. I'm not doing this review thingie correctly.
Book is good. Readable. Funny. Wacky. Romance occurs between more than one couple. Silliness occurs. I enjoyed the book.
September 22 2016
May 28, 2017
A sweet,lighthearted read, a real palate cleanser. It's not hard to love Zing, a guardian angel who is easily distracted. After putting her human in danger while playing hacky sack she is sent to earth in human form as penance for her failures. Cue the fish-out-of-water moments when an angel with no wings learns to adapt to a life filled with donuts and lesbians. Amusing and at times heartfelt.
August 8, 2017
“Big Love” is a fun, silly book. The characters are in their 20s or 30s, but the romances are very lightweight and the sexual explicitness is fade-to-black level. Except for one or two wink-wink discussions, the book would be suitable for teens.
MC Zing is a lovable, dimwitted, big-hearted Guardian Angel with ADD who always says exactly what she’s thinking. Her human charge, MC Nell, lives such a boring life that Zing is distracted while playing hackey sack and doesn’t save her when she was supposed to. Zing spends the rest of the book trying to make up for her error, and in the process learns that she rather enjoys being human and tries to find a way to be human permanently.
Other characters, Nells’ friend and business partner Carol, Miracle the daredevil guarded by Angel Annabelle, homeless Tom and others are lots of silly fun. A typical conversation involves Zing’s love of all things sugary, or her confusion over words or phrases. For example:
Honestly, the book feels very YA - it’s cute but not riveting. What made the book really enjoyable for me was the absolutely terrific narration by co-author Layce Gardner - she is very enthusiastic and her energy level really works well with “Big Love”. She does a great job giving individual personalities to each of the characters.
I rate “Big Love” as 3.5* with an extra full star awarded for the narration (I immediately bought another book narrated by Layce….it sounds more adult in nature!). GR score rounded to 4* - recommended for a fun lightweight humorous listen.
MC Zing is a lovable, dimwitted, big-hearted Guardian Angel with ADD who always says exactly what she’s thinking. Her human charge, MC Nell, lives such a boring life that Zing is distracted while playing hackey sack and doesn’t save her when she was supposed to. Zing spends the rest of the book trying to make up for her error, and in the process learns that she rather enjoys being human and tries to find a way to be human permanently.
Other characters, Nells’ friend and business partner Carol, Miracle the daredevil guarded by Angel Annabelle, homeless Tom and others are lots of silly fun. A typical conversation involves Zing’s love of all things sugary, or her confusion over words or phrases. For example:
“They do seem to have a certain je ne sais quai [ed note: oui- s/b quoi] that people are drawn to,” Miracle said.
“What is that?” Zing asked.
“It’s French for I don’t know what,” Miracle answered.
“But you said it. So you must know what it is,” Zing said.
“I do know.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know what.”
“Why don’t you know?” Zing asked.
“I do know,” Miracle said.
“Then what is it?”
“Stop!” Carol said forcefully. “Just forget the whole thing, Zing, before I lose it.”
Honestly, the book feels very YA - it’s cute but not riveting. What made the book really enjoyable for me was the absolutely terrific narration by co-author Layce Gardner - she is very enthusiastic and her energy level really works well with “Big Love”. She does a great job giving individual personalities to each of the characters.
I rate “Big Love” as 3.5* with an extra full star awarded for the narration (I immediately bought another book narrated by Layce….it sounds more adult in nature!). GR score rounded to 4* - recommended for a fun lightweight humorous listen.
December 30, 2020
A romantic comedy with a twist!
Zing is a guardian angel, only she's not great at it. She has ADD and instead of watching (and stopping) her human charge, Nell, from falling into an open manhole, she was playing hackysack.
Zing gets a furlough on earth to take care of Nell in order to make it up to her, and protect her from a potential catfish love.
Zing's unique and naive outlook on the world is endearing and delightful. As are the amazing side-characters who are trying to look out for eachother.
A hilarious tale told tongue in cheek and very PG (no actual sex scenes on the pages).
Zing is a guardian angel, only she's not great at it. She has ADD and instead of watching (and stopping) her human charge, Nell, from falling into an open manhole, she was playing hackysack.
Zing gets a furlough on earth to take care of Nell in order to make it up to her, and protect her from a potential catfish love.
Zing's unique and naive outlook on the world is endearing and delightful. As are the amazing side-characters who are trying to look out for eachother.
A hilarious tale told tongue in cheek and very PG (no actual sex scenes on the pages).
October 18, 2016
Playing when you're supposed to work is not good. Especially when you're a guardian angel. Luckily for Zing her human was only injured and not killed.
And so Zing goes on a kind of field trip into humanity to find out that she's not good at being a guardian angel while being an angel. She's way better at that while being human.
And being human is way harder than it looks - with all these feelings, emotions and social stuff.
But Zing has friends. Humans and angels who help her to guard her designated person, Nell. And help her figuring out her meaning of life: to protect the heart of Nell by true love.
Trust the authors to make the field trip entertaining and diverting.
And so Zing goes on a kind of field trip into humanity to find out that she's not good at being a guardian angel while being an angel. She's way better at that while being human.
And being human is way harder than it looks - with all these feelings, emotions and social stuff.
But Zing has friends. Humans and angels who help her to guard her designated person, Nell. And help her figuring out her meaning of life: to protect the heart of Nell by true love.
Trust the authors to make the field trip entertaining and diverting.
October 21, 2016
Detailed score: 3.25
Wow. I like me some vanilla fluff and this was like extra sweet fairy floss.
Clearly I'm getting curmudgeonly in my old age - this was just too OTT and lacking in grit for me to enjoy
Wow. I like me some vanilla fluff and this was like extra sweet fairy floss.
Clearly I'm getting curmudgeonly in my old age - this was just too OTT and lacking in grit for me to enjoy
June 12, 2017
This is a fun read - a love story about a distracted guardian Angel called Zing. Her job is to look after Nell Parker but she wasn't watching properly when Nell had a near miss. As punishment, Zing was sent down to be in human form for a week, which later on ended up extending her stay for another month. Zing has to navigate through different emotions, cliques, friendships and even romance... Can Zing give in what her heart is telling her?
November 2, 2016
This book was full of innocence and laughs as we saw the world through the eyes of a guardian angel. I loved the observations of simple things that reflect the thoughts of a child. Nice and refreshing. i look forward to reading more.
June 9, 2019
This was a hilarious and sweet read. Zing's so quirky and you can't help but love her.
January 6, 2018
Good clean fun. The authors have a talent for humor and dialogue. Laugh out loud funny. I want these characters as my friends, and I want a sapphic shaman cleansing. Great plot with a fast pace, excellent character building, intriguing romance. I highly recommend this fluffy, goofy book.
May 27, 2017
4.5 Stars
Zing is a goofy guardian angel. When she fails to save her human, Nell Parker, from an manhole related accident, she's sent to earth in human form to make things right. Zing realises she has to save Nell's heart as well. But things get complicated when she falls utterly and hopelessly in love with her human.
I loved the writing style; light and sweet. Authors Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennette sure made a fan of me. Zing's unique blend of innocence and understanding was fresh and it engendered a lot of "Aww..." moments. And her first experience of physical love is more believable (although the sex is off the page).
This book falls in the nice end of the spectrum.
Zing is a goofy guardian angel. When she fails to save her human, Nell Parker, from an manhole related accident, she's sent to earth in human form to make things right. Zing realises she has to save Nell's heart as well. But things get complicated when she falls utterly and hopelessly in love with her human.
I loved the writing style; light and sweet. Authors Layce Gardner and Saxon Bennette sure made a fan of me. Zing's unique blend of innocence and understanding was fresh and it engendered a lot of "Aww..." moments. And her first experience of physical love is more believable (although the sex is off the page).
This book falls in the nice end of the spectrum.
May 30, 2017
This was a silly, sometimes-funny, romantic fantasy story about a female guardian angel who falls in love with "her human." Light, escapist reading, suitable for use as an antidepressant during the Age of Trump. Writing was decent, editing was okay. Pacing varied, but was okay. Characters were fun and charitably drawn.
September 23, 2017
This is a very cute little rom-com. I honestly can't say I ever thought a book could be a good, non-cliche rom-com, yet somehow Saxon did it. This book was undeniably cute, funny, silly, and darn right lovable. I won't say it's something you would sit down and read if you're in the mood for something more serious, but it's a great little read if you're in the mood for something light-hearted.
June 7, 2017
It was funny (sometimes even childish), but the plot was full of contradictions. In general, cute idea, poor execution.
I was also very annoyed but the excessive amount of product advertisement; why not say computer instead of MacBook, and so on? Seemed unnecessary to keep mentioning brands.
I was also very annoyed but the excessive amount of product advertisement; why not say computer instead of MacBook, and so on? Seemed unnecessary to keep mentioning brands.
January 10, 2018
What a sweet, silly guardian angel book! I laughed, caught feelings, and absolutely loved Zing and her eventual happy ending with Nell. As Miracle says, 'love conquers all'. Even with the comedic ensemble of Big Love. 4/4.5 🌟
June 28, 2017
This book got to laugh out loud and smile. Any book that does that is great! I highly recommend the read and getting to know these fabulous, funny and adventurous characters.
November 18, 2022
Sweet and romantic and and so so funny loved it
September 25, 2018
Not much to say about this book, the blurb pretty much sums up what the story is about. I do wish I could have gotten to know more about Nell. As Zing’s love interest, I felt that Nell floated in the background and was not an integral part of the story. As a result, Zing and Nell’s relationship did not feel believable despite the guardian angel fantasy angle. Overall, this book is a quick read with a touch of angst.
December 14, 2016
Like medicine for the soul...
This is the third book I have read by this duo, and have laughed so hard with each one. Reading their books is as smooth as a knife slicing through butter. The characters have such developed and colorful personalities. I can see the scenes in my mind as I read, and that is a treat. I have laughed so hard, that the tears I produce need a diaper to be controlled. Bennett and Gardner produce books that remind me of shows like, 'Mork and Mindy' and 'Laverne and Shirley' . What's better than that!
This is the third book I have read by this duo, and have laughed so hard with each one. Reading their books is as smooth as a knife slicing through butter. The characters have such developed and colorful personalities. I can see the scenes in my mind as I read, and that is a treat. I have laughed so hard, that the tears I produce need a diaper to be controlled. Bennett and Gardner produce books that remind me of shows like, 'Mork and Mindy' and 'Laverne and Shirley' . What's better than that!
October 17, 2016
Hilarious
Could not stop laughing. Wonderful characters. Great dialogue. What else is there to say? Give it a read. Laugh out loud and have a good time. Readers need books like this one. Well done and seriously funny.
Could not stop laughing. Wonderful characters. Great dialogue. What else is there to say? Give it a read. Laugh out loud and have a good time. Readers need books like this one. Well done and seriously funny.
September 6, 2016
Good book
You have to love a book about finding loop holes and donuts. Of course the women and angels are great too!
You have to love a book about finding loop holes and donuts. Of course the women and angels are great too!
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September 29, 2017not a fan of this book. Just couldn't find the hook.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews