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Man Cave #1-4
The Man Cave Collection
MANSERVANT - I just wanted an easy summer job… That didn’t happen. Now, I’m in a living nightmare as I work alongside this monster of a man with mesmerizing emerald eyes that look at me inappropriately every time I see him. To add insult to injury, he has a tan I just want to lick, and a butt worth drooling over every time he purposefully walks by me. But, he's an asshat, and looks are everything. I mean, aren't. LOOKS. ARE. NOT. EVERYTHING. Why do I have to keep reminding myself of this?
His job is to clean, cook, and tend to the house we work in. That's why I call him the manservant. Oh, and because it drives him nuts. That's what he gets for torturing me.
MAN FLU - I was trying to live every woman's dream, except my reality has been nothing but a nightmare job and a divorce at the age of thirty-two. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, my ex-husband, Rick, moved in next door with his life-size Barbie doll. So, that's been fun.
Then, life pitched me a curve-ball in the form of a retired major-league baseball player, Logan Grier. With his panty-dropping smile, he’s like an expertly photoshopped version of David Beckham, and he's single. Could life be perfect after all? Of course not. As always, there had to be a catch. Logan had a secret, and I couldn’t help feeling like the truth was dangling right in front of my face.
Meanwhile, the “man flu” has come out of nowhere and hit both Logan and Rick with a virus they’re claiming to be worse than childbirth. In fact, they’re pretty sure their end is near.
MAN HANDLER - I’m a Boston girl through and through, but when I was given an ultimatum that would determine whether I’d have income or not, I opted for the option with a roof over my head. The only problem was, I had to move down to a small town in South Carolina, leaving behind the only place I’ve ever called home.
Some may not consider my move to be a big deal, but it turns out that having a big mouth and being mildly impatient isn’t quite acceptable in small town. In other words, I pretty much stick out like a sore thumb, which is great when unknowingly attracting the most eligible bachelor in town.
There’s nothing quite like being mistaken for a damsel in distress and fainting in this man’s arms ... then saying a whole bunch of stupid things I’d regret later.
Thankfully, Austin isn’t like the other kind-natured locals; he’s a little dirty, kind of arrogant, and a way too good-looking for his own good. In fact, we’re a bit like-minded with our attitudes, which causes a futile encounter that leads to a pair of handcuffs in a restaurant.
MAN BUNS - I got out of the Marine Corps to give my daughter a better life. I’m a strong and capable single dad. I got this, right? Not so much.
The one thing my daughter wants is the hardest to find—a mom. It’s not like they’re selling hot intelligent women at Walmart these days, and with the amount of baggage I’m carrying around, I might be out of luck.
Yeah, so.
We moved from Oahu to Maui. I needed a job, a place to live, and to get us settled. I thought it would be simple, but let’s just say ... mistakes have been made.
· Mistake #1: I took the first job I was offered. (Should’ve probably asked a couple more questions about the required uniform.)
· Mistake #2: I flirted with Kai, the first attractive woman who crossed my path. (So far out of my league she might as well be a Hawaiian princess.)
·Mistake #3: I fell head over heels for that woman. (See Mistake #2.)
Now I’m standing here showing my butt—no, literally.
His job is to clean, cook, and tend to the house we work in. That's why I call him the manservant. Oh, and because it drives him nuts. That's what he gets for torturing me.
MAN FLU - I was trying to live every woman's dream, except my reality has been nothing but a nightmare job and a divorce at the age of thirty-two. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, my ex-husband, Rick, moved in next door with his life-size Barbie doll. So, that's been fun.
Then, life pitched me a curve-ball in the form of a retired major-league baseball player, Logan Grier. With his panty-dropping smile, he’s like an expertly photoshopped version of David Beckham, and he's single. Could life be perfect after all? Of course not. As always, there had to be a catch. Logan had a secret, and I couldn’t help feeling like the truth was dangling right in front of my face.
Meanwhile, the “man flu” has come out of nowhere and hit both Logan and Rick with a virus they’re claiming to be worse than childbirth. In fact, they’re pretty sure their end is near.
MAN HANDLER - I’m a Boston girl through and through, but when I was given an ultimatum that would determine whether I’d have income or not, I opted for the option with a roof over my head. The only problem was, I had to move down to a small town in South Carolina, leaving behind the only place I’ve ever called home.
Some may not consider my move to be a big deal, but it turns out that having a big mouth and being mildly impatient isn’t quite acceptable in small town. In other words, I pretty much stick out like a sore thumb, which is great when unknowingly attracting the most eligible bachelor in town.
There’s nothing quite like being mistaken for a damsel in distress and fainting in this man’s arms ... then saying a whole bunch of stupid things I’d regret later.
Thankfully, Austin isn’t like the other kind-natured locals; he’s a little dirty, kind of arrogant, and a way too good-looking for his own good. In fact, we’re a bit like-minded with our attitudes, which causes a futile encounter that leads to a pair of handcuffs in a restaurant.
MAN BUNS - I got out of the Marine Corps to give my daughter a better life. I’m a strong and capable single dad. I got this, right? Not so much.
The one thing my daughter wants is the hardest to find—a mom. It’s not like they’re selling hot intelligent women at Walmart these days, and with the amount of baggage I’m carrying around, I might be out of luck.
Yeah, so.
We moved from Oahu to Maui. I needed a job, a place to live, and to get us settled. I thought it would be simple, but let’s just say ... mistakes have been made.
· Mistake #1: I took the first job I was offered. (Should’ve probably asked a couple more questions about the required uniform.)
· Mistake #2: I flirted with Kai, the first attractive woman who crossed my path. (So far out of my league she might as well be a Hawaiian princess.)
·Mistake #3: I fell head over heels for that woman. (See Mistake #2.)
Now I’m standing here showing my butt—no, literally.
1257 pages, ebook
First published November 17, 2018
77 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
64 books2,010 followersShari J. Ryan is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 9, 2019
~ Manservant (bk #1)
I absolutely adored this hilarious enemies to lovers romance! Julia has just graduated college and is off for a summer of fun with her best friend to work as nannies and hang out at the beach. Jules has taken a job with a family who also has a 'hot' Man Servant. Which is too bad since she has sworn off good looking men because they have always broken her heart. It doesn't seem to matter anyway since Liam doesn't like her at first sight and sets out to make her life miserable. Jules is not one to back down from a challenge and gives as good as she gets. But the problem at times is that Jules is a bit of a clutz and jumps to conclusions that set her up for some high hilarity. There are so many laugh out loud moments and others that I just want to cover my eyes and yell at Jules to stop before she digs herself in too deep! I really loved Jules and Liam. Their back and forth lead to some crazy sexual tension and explosive chemistry. When they get beyond the surface they find they are both smart, loyal, and loving people who would do anything for those they care about. I loved all the secondary characters who added fun, warmth, and mystery to the story as well. This fast paced story is filled with heartwarming, sweet, sexy and hilarious moments and is a must read!
~ Man Flu (bk #2)
4.5 Beefcake Batman Stars!
Wow, Ms Ryan delivers another hilarious, heartfelt and amazing story. Hannah is still struggling after a year, to find her footing after divorcing her cheating husband. She is a single, working mother with an adorable 5 year old mini-me, Cora. She has had the chance to date, but is not ready to put herself out there. That is until sexy, retired baseball hottie, Logan, starts working as her 'temp'. The sparks fly between them right from the start, but everything that could go wrong, does, and then some. From her frustration to her douchebag husband and his barbi doll mistress living next door, to buttons popping at the worst time, to embarrassing projectile flu symptoms, life could not get any crazier. Hannah is unorganized, and exhausted but Logan sees her for the smart, funny, loving mother she is. But perfect Logan just might have his own flaws, which might make him perfect for her. This is a great story that is full of hilarious, real life moments, moments that have truly happened to each and every one of us. No matter how wacky and crazy the direction of this story would go, Ms Ryan would allow us to see honest and genuine reactions and emotions. I really cared for both Hannah and Logan and was cheering for them to make it thru these outrageous dilemmas. The story took some turns I didn't see coming and kept me totally engaged to the very end. This fast paced story is filled with hilarious and embarrassing predicaments but is also heartwarming, and sweet & sexy. I definitely recommend this must read romance!
~ Man Handler (bk #3)
Man Handler is a wonderfully charming, hilarious, and steamy romance! Scarlett is a brazen city girl from Boston who needs to live for the moment and be in control of her life. Because of her job, she is forced to move to a small town in South Carolina. This city girl is not prepared for country living and her high heels land her in the ER where she meets sexy RN, Austin. Austin is sweet, charming and the perfect southern gentleman. They seem to be opposites but actually fit perfectly together. They both have a past that made them want to protect their hearts. But their competitive nature, and some hilarious and awkward events, keep bringing them together. Soon their fiery attraction begins to crack those walls. This story is filled with witty banter, lovably quirky characters, awkward moments and lots of heart. Don't miss this latest standalone romcom in the Man Cave series!
~ Man Buns (bk #4)
4.5 Wonder Buns Stars!
I absolutely adored this hilarious and heartfelt single Dad romance! Denver has left the marines to focus on raising his adorable little girl, Aya. An ex marine buddy has offered him a job and a place to live until he finds what he wants. Well neither are what he expected, but they did lead them to a sexy lifeguard. Kai has put her life on hold for ten years to raise her younger sister, since the sudden death of their parents. She doesn't know how to be anything else but responsible and steadfast. Denver brings out a wildness in her that she never knew existed. After a rocky start, Denver, and Kai, with the help of a precocious little Aya, begin to find a love they never dreamed of. I fell so hard for Denver. He was so sweet and attentive with Aya, and the way he brought out the real Kai only made me swoon more. I loved Denver and Kai together, they were kind, funny, and their chemistry was explosive. Their family and friends only added to the fun and quirkiness of this story.
Man Buns had everything I crave in a romantic comedy. It has fascinating and quirky characters, witty banter, hilariously awkward moments, many sweet and heartfelt scenes, is delicious hot and steamy, and all in an exotic location! The ending was so perfect and romantic, it had me in tears. You definitely need some Man Buns!
~ Milkman (bk #5)
Milkman is another wonderfully charming, hilarious, and steamy romance in Ryan's Man Cave series! Both Wesley and Madelyn have career and life goals that keep alluding them. Madelyn is living with a friend who uses her to start up new businesses and Wesley had a mom who forced him to use his looks instead of his brain. They are stuck on a path that is frustrating and they don't know how to change directions. No matter how hard they try to fix their situations, things just never work the way they want them to. But that path lead them to each other. Despite the awkward reason, they are very attracted to each other. Their back and forth lead to some crazy sexual tension and explosive chemistry. This steamy, slow burn romance is sweet, hilarious, awkward, and heartfelt. It is filled with witty banter, lovably, quirky characters, awkward moments and lots of heart. Don't miss this latest standalone rom-com in the Man Cave series!
I absolutely adored this hilarious enemies to lovers romance! Julia has just graduated college and is off for a summer of fun with her best friend to work as nannies and hang out at the beach. Jules has taken a job with a family who also has a 'hot' Man Servant. Which is too bad since she has sworn off good looking men because they have always broken her heart. It doesn't seem to matter anyway since Liam doesn't like her at first sight and sets out to make her life miserable. Jules is not one to back down from a challenge and gives as good as she gets. But the problem at times is that Jules is a bit of a clutz and jumps to conclusions that set her up for some high hilarity. There are so many laugh out loud moments and others that I just want to cover my eyes and yell at Jules to stop before she digs herself in too deep! I really loved Jules and Liam. Their back and forth lead to some crazy sexual tension and explosive chemistry. When they get beyond the surface they find they are both smart, loyal, and loving people who would do anything for those they care about. I loved all the secondary characters who added fun, warmth, and mystery to the story as well. This fast paced story is filled with heartwarming, sweet, sexy and hilarious moments and is a must read!
~ Man Flu (bk #2)
4.5 Beefcake Batman Stars!
Wow, Ms Ryan delivers another hilarious, heartfelt and amazing story. Hannah is still struggling after a year, to find her footing after divorcing her cheating husband. She is a single, working mother with an adorable 5 year old mini-me, Cora. She has had the chance to date, but is not ready to put herself out there. That is until sexy, retired baseball hottie, Logan, starts working as her 'temp'. The sparks fly between them right from the start, but everything that could go wrong, does, and then some. From her frustration to her douchebag husband and his barbi doll mistress living next door, to buttons popping at the worst time, to embarrassing projectile flu symptoms, life could not get any crazier. Hannah is unorganized, and exhausted but Logan sees her for the smart, funny, loving mother she is. But perfect Logan just might have his own flaws, which might make him perfect for her. This is a great story that is full of hilarious, real life moments, moments that have truly happened to each and every one of us. No matter how wacky and crazy the direction of this story would go, Ms Ryan would allow us to see honest and genuine reactions and emotions. I really cared for both Hannah and Logan and was cheering for them to make it thru these outrageous dilemmas. The story took some turns I didn't see coming and kept me totally engaged to the very end. This fast paced story is filled with hilarious and embarrassing predicaments but is also heartwarming, and sweet & sexy. I definitely recommend this must read romance!
~ Man Handler (bk #3)
Man Handler is a wonderfully charming, hilarious, and steamy romance! Scarlett is a brazen city girl from Boston who needs to live for the moment and be in control of her life. Because of her job, she is forced to move to a small town in South Carolina. This city girl is not prepared for country living and her high heels land her in the ER where she meets sexy RN, Austin. Austin is sweet, charming and the perfect southern gentleman. They seem to be opposites but actually fit perfectly together. They both have a past that made them want to protect their hearts. But their competitive nature, and some hilarious and awkward events, keep bringing them together. Soon their fiery attraction begins to crack those walls. This story is filled with witty banter, lovably quirky characters, awkward moments and lots of heart. Don't miss this latest standalone romcom in the Man Cave series!
~ Man Buns (bk #4)
4.5 Wonder Buns Stars!
I absolutely adored this hilarious and heartfelt single Dad romance! Denver has left the marines to focus on raising his adorable little girl, Aya. An ex marine buddy has offered him a job and a place to live until he finds what he wants. Well neither are what he expected, but they did lead them to a sexy lifeguard. Kai has put her life on hold for ten years to raise her younger sister, since the sudden death of their parents. She doesn't know how to be anything else but responsible and steadfast. Denver brings out a wildness in her that she never knew existed. After a rocky start, Denver, and Kai, with the help of a precocious little Aya, begin to find a love they never dreamed of. I fell so hard for Denver. He was so sweet and attentive with Aya, and the way he brought out the real Kai only made me swoon more. I loved Denver and Kai together, they were kind, funny, and their chemistry was explosive. Their family and friends only added to the fun and quirkiness of this story.
Man Buns had everything I crave in a romantic comedy. It has fascinating and quirky characters, witty banter, hilariously awkward moments, many sweet and heartfelt scenes, is delicious hot and steamy, and all in an exotic location! The ending was so perfect and romantic, it had me in tears. You definitely need some Man Buns!
~ Milkman (bk #5)
Milkman is another wonderfully charming, hilarious, and steamy romance in Ryan's Man Cave series! Both Wesley and Madelyn have career and life goals that keep alluding them. Madelyn is living with a friend who uses her to start up new businesses and Wesley had a mom who forced him to use his looks instead of his brain. They are stuck on a path that is frustrating and they don't know how to change directions. No matter how hard they try to fix their situations, things just never work the way they want them to. But that path lead them to each other. Despite the awkward reason, they are very attracted to each other. Their back and forth lead to some crazy sexual tension and explosive chemistry. This steamy, slow burn romance is sweet, hilarious, awkward, and heartfelt. It is filled with witty banter, lovably, quirky characters, awkward moments and lots of heart. Don't miss this latest standalone rom-com in the Man Cave series!
January 9, 2019
Man Flu by Shari Ryan is one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading this year. Cover to cover Ryan causes readers to relate, hope and laugh!
Douchebag cheating Ex ☑️, child determined to make daily visits to the school nurse ☑️, and a hot ex baseball playing temp located just on the other side of her Pepto bismol pink office☑️, Ryan throws all this and more to single working mom, Hannah, as she just tries to get through each hour of the day. Ryan makes us laugh, clap and take pride in her journey through the worst plague ever to hit a household.
I'm not sure what I expected going into this story. I knew Ryan could make any woman identify with dealing with the dreaded Man Flu. What I didn't expect was the interesting, sweet love story that happens along the way.
By far, Man Flu will be one of my top reads for this year. It's a fun, light-hearted, LOL, unique read and so worth your one click. If you are new to Ryan's work, I highly suggest you start here and work your way through each incredible story she has written. She is an author worth your investment.
Douchebag cheating Ex ☑️, child determined to make daily visits to the school nurse ☑️, and a hot ex baseball playing temp located just on the other side of her Pepto bismol pink office☑️, Ryan throws all this and more to single working mom, Hannah, as she just tries to get through each hour of the day. Ryan makes us laugh, clap and take pride in her journey through the worst plague ever to hit a household.
I'm not sure what I expected going into this story. I knew Ryan could make any woman identify with dealing with the dreaded Man Flu. What I didn't expect was the interesting, sweet love story that happens along the way.
By far, Man Flu will be one of my top reads for this year. It's a fun, light-hearted, LOL, unique read and so worth your one click. If you are new to Ryan's work, I highly suggest you start here and work your way through each incredible story she has written. She is an author worth your investment.
December 17, 2018
The Man Cave Collection
What an eclectic mix of wonderfully heartwarming stories! Each one was funny, sweet, and a pinch of steamy. If I had to choose just one, I’d have to say Man Buns was my favorite of the four. I loved the storyline and laughed and teared up throughout it. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
What an eclectic mix of wonderfully heartwarming stories! Each one was funny, sweet, and a pinch of steamy. If I had to choose just one, I’d have to say Man Buns was my favorite of the four. I loved the storyline and laughed and teared up throughout it. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
January 5, 2019
Good read, but confusing.
Each story was good on its own, but I didn't understand why there were excerpts of the same stories between each book. That was confusing and unnecessary. There were also a lot of grammatical errors. I liked how the stories linked to one another in odd ways too.
Each story was good on its own, but I didn't understand why there were excerpts of the same stories between each book. That was confusing and unnecessary. There were also a lot of grammatical errors. I liked how the stories linked to one another in odd ways too.
November 28, 2018
Great quick reads
Great quick reads super funny and some even emotional great quirky characters that keep you entertained my favourite from this box set was man buns light hearted emotional the characters kept me gripped
Great quick reads super funny and some even emotional great quirky characters that keep you entertained my favourite from this box set was man buns light hearted emotional the characters kept me gripped
January 15, 2019
Unexpected
I listened to this boxed set at work. Loved the humor! Very well written. My co workers may or may not have enjoyed my laugh out loud moments.
They were great books. I loved them all.
I listened to this boxed set at work. Loved the humor! Very well written. My co workers may or may not have enjoyed my laugh out loud moments.
They were great books. I loved them all.
November 24, 2018
Great reads
These four stories were funny, entertaining, well written, with awesome characters. The men were incredible and the women were terrific.
These four stories were funny, entertaining, well written, with awesome characters. The men were incredible and the women were terrific.
March 5, 2019
Nothing Earth Shattering
The collection will get you through a dry spell while you wait on books to come out. I feel like this person could be a great writer in time.
The collection will get you through a dry spell while you wait on books to come out. I feel like this person could be a great writer in time.
March 18, 2019
Manservant was fun and witty. Great romantic moments.
I'll get to the other ASAP.
I'll get to the other ASAP.
April 11, 2019
Fun reads
Thank you Shari Ryan for five fun, sexy, roller coaster ride reads. I definitely look forward to more in the future.
Thank you Shari Ryan for five fun, sexy, roller coaster ride reads. I definitely look forward to more in the future.
January 10, 2019
Manservant
I'm seriously torn here. I'm dragging a bunch of baggage along behind me that made it extremely difficult to even like Liam until the eleventh hour. Pretty much up until the last couple of chapters, I would have happily killed him for Jules if she'd asked for it. But that's my baggage talking. My jerk-tolerance level is really low nowadays. I'm still not sure I've forgiven Sterling for his behavior either. And as a Canadian myself, that's really saying something. This tells me that the author is a master at her craft. If I'm having this kind of visceral reaction to fictional characters, she has exceeded any expectations I started this book with. Julia is a quirky, funny, klutzy, geeky, young woman that I connected with almost immediately. (See the earlier comments about baggage - been there, done that, burned the T-shirt.) I have always been a fan of the absurd and this book has more than it's fair share of Murphy's Law and WTF moments that had me laughing so hard that I'm sure the people around me thought I'd lost my mind. I'm also really grateful that the triangular nature of Julia's love interests was kept really low key. She had two options and a choice to make but she wasn't trying to play them off each other. (Again, personal history affecting my perceptions of the story.) To say that this book inadvertently hit on a bunch of my own triggers is a bit of an understatement. But in spite of the negative place this could have taken me to, the whole plot was handled with a master's deft touch that left me in love with the book instead.
Man Flu
Most of what I’ve read from Shari Ryan has left me a sodden heap at the end of the book, rolled under by a wave of powerful emotions that left the tears pouring from my eyes. Well, this one still left me crying, but this time it was because I was laughing so hard. It was love at first paragraph. As soon as I met Hannah, I knew she was my kind of woman. From the vindictive sarcasm she lavishes on her ex-husband to her constant battle with Murphy’s Law, Hannah could be me in an alternate dimension. So, yeah, I really connected with her character. As much as I love Logan, I have to say that he’s pretty much the textbook definition of “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. Not that this is an entirely bad thing, just that face value isn’t always accurate. I saw one of his twists coming fairly early on, but the other one came at me from out of left field – and I will likely be researching the validity of it later. It’s so wild and outlandish that either it’s completely true or could only be fiction.
Man Handler
I loved this story; the writing is fantastic. I absolutely adored Austin, and Brendan, and Kalvin, and pretty much everyone else in the book except Scarlett. There is something about her attitude that just rubs me the wrong way. She starts the book behaving like an immature, self-centered, entitled ‘mean girl’. As the book progresses, we learn more about what’s caused her to develop this attitude, and a lot of the ‘mean girl’ gets worn off. But the rest of that attitude is still in force and she irritated me all the way through to the end. (Which, really, to have this kind of a visceral reaction to a character is a credit to the author.) Austin is a self-proclaimed Southern non-gentleman. He’s polite, but nice is just too much work for him these days. He may say he’s not nice, but his actions speak so much louder and he’s got sweet, kind-hearted care-giver down pat. The thing I loved most about this book is the brilliant, snarky banter between Scarlett and Austin. I think there was a couple of times I was left bleeding from their exchanges.
Man Buns
This was a beautiful tribute to a lady with an amazing sense of humor. I’m still gasping for breath because I laughed so hard through this book. Denver and Kai have enough chemistry together to power a city. And their extended families play such an integral role in this story. I don’t know if I want to find this restaurant or run screaming in the other direction. Either way, the snappy, snarky banter and innuendo-filled one-liners it generated were just something else. I’m not ready to let these characters go yet.
I'm seriously torn here. I'm dragging a bunch of baggage along behind me that made it extremely difficult to even like Liam until the eleventh hour. Pretty much up until the last couple of chapters, I would have happily killed him for Jules if she'd asked for it. But that's my baggage talking. My jerk-tolerance level is really low nowadays. I'm still not sure I've forgiven Sterling for his behavior either. And as a Canadian myself, that's really saying something. This tells me that the author is a master at her craft. If I'm having this kind of visceral reaction to fictional characters, she has exceeded any expectations I started this book with. Julia is a quirky, funny, klutzy, geeky, young woman that I connected with almost immediately. (See the earlier comments about baggage - been there, done that, burned the T-shirt.) I have always been a fan of the absurd and this book has more than it's fair share of Murphy's Law and WTF moments that had me laughing so hard that I'm sure the people around me thought I'd lost my mind. I'm also really grateful that the triangular nature of Julia's love interests was kept really low key. She had two options and a choice to make but she wasn't trying to play them off each other. (Again, personal history affecting my perceptions of the story.) To say that this book inadvertently hit on a bunch of my own triggers is a bit of an understatement. But in spite of the negative place this could have taken me to, the whole plot was handled with a master's deft touch that left me in love with the book instead.
Man Flu
Most of what I’ve read from Shari Ryan has left me a sodden heap at the end of the book, rolled under by a wave of powerful emotions that left the tears pouring from my eyes. Well, this one still left me crying, but this time it was because I was laughing so hard. It was love at first paragraph. As soon as I met Hannah, I knew she was my kind of woman. From the vindictive sarcasm she lavishes on her ex-husband to her constant battle with Murphy’s Law, Hannah could be me in an alternate dimension. So, yeah, I really connected with her character. As much as I love Logan, I have to say that he’s pretty much the textbook definition of “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. Not that this is an entirely bad thing, just that face value isn’t always accurate. I saw one of his twists coming fairly early on, but the other one came at me from out of left field – and I will likely be researching the validity of it later. It’s so wild and outlandish that either it’s completely true or could only be fiction.
Man Handler
I loved this story; the writing is fantastic. I absolutely adored Austin, and Brendan, and Kalvin, and pretty much everyone else in the book except Scarlett. There is something about her attitude that just rubs me the wrong way. She starts the book behaving like an immature, self-centered, entitled ‘mean girl’. As the book progresses, we learn more about what’s caused her to develop this attitude, and a lot of the ‘mean girl’ gets worn off. But the rest of that attitude is still in force and she irritated me all the way through to the end. (Which, really, to have this kind of a visceral reaction to a character is a credit to the author.) Austin is a self-proclaimed Southern non-gentleman. He’s polite, but nice is just too much work for him these days. He may say he’s not nice, but his actions speak so much louder and he’s got sweet, kind-hearted care-giver down pat. The thing I loved most about this book is the brilliant, snarky banter between Scarlett and Austin. I think there was a couple of times I was left bleeding from their exchanges.
Man Buns
This was a beautiful tribute to a lady with an amazing sense of humor. I’m still gasping for breath because I laughed so hard through this book. Denver and Kai have enough chemistry together to power a city. And their extended families play such an integral role in this story. I don’t know if I want to find this restaurant or run screaming in the other direction. Either way, the snappy, snarky banter and innuendo-filled one-liners it generated were just something else. I’m not ready to let these characters go yet.
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