What do you think?
Rate this book
Shaken #3
Small Packages
In Without Warning, they fell in love. In Aftershock, that love was tested and reaffirmed. Now Anna and Lily Kaklis face questions about family and future when a homeless woman is killed in San Francisco, leaving a four-year-old who happens to be Lily’s nephew in foster care.
Lily will not allow her birth mother to ruin another childhood, so she puts her skills as a family law attorney to work. She can’t speak up for what she really wants—to adopt him for herself—not when Anna is clearly terrified at the prospect of raising a child.
Anna is happy to let Lily do the temporary parenting necessary until a suitable adoption placement can be found. It won’t last long, and then their lives will go back to normal. At least that was the plan, then Lily is called away. Anna finds herself alone with her worst nightmare: a toddler.
In this third book of The Shaken Series, 2007 Lambda Literary winner KG MacGregor continues the compelling tale of two women who discover that real love has no limitations.
Lily will not allow her birth mother to ruin another childhood, so she puts her skills as a family law attorney to work. She can’t speak up for what she really wants—to adopt him for herself—not when Anna is clearly terrified at the prospect of raising a child.
Anna is happy to let Lily do the temporary parenting necessary until a suitable adoption placement can be found. It won’t last long, and then their lives will go back to normal. At least that was the plan, then Lily is called away. Anna finds herself alone with her worst nightmare: a toddler.
In this third book of The Shaken Series, 2007 Lambda Literary winner KG MacGregor continues the compelling tale of two women who discover that real love has no limitations.
207 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2009
19 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
K.G. MacGregor
39 books331 followersA former teacher and market research consultant, KG MacGregor holds a PhD in journalism and mass communication. Infatuation with Xena: Warrior Princess fanfiction prompted her to try her own hand at storytelling in 2002. In 2005, she signed with Bella Books, which published the Goldie Award finalist Just This Once. Her sixth Bella novel, Out of Love, won the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Women's Romance, and the 2008 Goldie Award in Lesbian Romance. In 2009, she picked up Goldies for Without Warning (Contemporary Romance) and Secrets So Deep (Romantic Suspense).
Other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of Bards, the Alice B. Readers Appreciation Medal, and several Readers Choice Awards. An avid supporter of queer literature, KG currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lambda Literary Foundation.
KG MacGregor divides her time between her homes in Miami and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she's either on a hiking trail, a golf course, or if she's really lucky, a cruise ship.
Other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of Bards, the Alice B. Readers Appreciation Medal, and several Readers Choice Awards. An avid supporter of queer literature, KG currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lambda Literary Foundation.
KG MacGregor divides her time between her homes in Miami and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she's either on a hiking trail, a golf course, or if she's really lucky, a cruise ship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 25, 2021
4.50 Stars. This is my new favorite book of the series. MacGregor mentioned that after all the angst that was in book 2, that she wanted to give the characters a sweeter book and she absolutely did. This is one of those books that made me feel good and put a smile on my face. While this didn’t have the angst book 2 did, there was still plenty going on so the book never felt like it slowed-down or dragged. I felt like I flew right through the story and I was sad when it ended. I’m now even more excited to read the next two books in the series. While this was written over a decade ago, the book holds up really well and doesn’t feel its age. I think this is a must for WLW fans that like feel good stories, especially if they like absolutely adorable kids.
May 24, 2021
This series got me Shaken again with a lifetime changing matter.
Parenting becomes a brave decision to make even if you decide for the negative. It will become a massive impact for the lifetime.
I’ve got caught in the special circumstances this story involved, and I loved the challenges that main characters went through.
I found so real the way Anna struggled around these issues..
This series has piqued my interest since book one and it have been difficult to put a book down so far.
I am taking half star out because I feel I’ve been having some trouble connecting with Lili’s character. Same thing happened to me in book 2, but I thought it was because Lili was struggling with huge personal difficulties then.
This circumstance does not decrease the enjoyment this series awoke in me, and I’m excited to have two more books ahead to enjoy.
4 Stars
Parenting becomes a brave decision to make even if you decide for the negative. It will become a massive impact for the lifetime.
I’ve got caught in the special circumstances this story involved, and I loved the challenges that main characters went through.
I found so real the way Anna struggled around these issues..
This series has piqued my interest since book one and it have been difficult to put a book down so far.
I am taking half star out because I feel I’ve been having some trouble connecting with Lili’s character. Same thing happened to me in book 2, but I thought it was because Lili was struggling with huge personal difficulties then.
This circumstance does not decrease the enjoyment this series awoke in me, and I’m excited to have two more books ahead to enjoy.
4 Stars
April 27, 2021
A classic.
December 28, 2017
I’m so angry. Stop giving me stories about women who say, over and over, that they don’t want children, and then changed their minds because they’re forced into it and are portrayed as monsters when they bring up their discomfort.
I don’t want kids. Kids make me uncomfortable. Kids are expensive. Being a mother is not the life I want, at all, and I already have to deal with people telling me I’ll change my mind or that it’s not normal for a woman to not want kids, and these fucking stories allow people to say that shit to me. No one respected what Anna wanted. Even when Lily claimed to, Anna clearly didn’t have a choice because saying she didn’t want to adopt the kid would have made her seem like a demon. She changed her mind because that’s what always happens in these narratives, and because in these situations, you’re not allowed to say no. She couldn’t have said no. And when people asked her how she was doing and she answered honestly, she was told over and over that her feelings were the least important.
WOMEN WHO DONT WANT CHILDREN ARE NOT MONSTERS.
I loved the first book in this series but I really wish I had stopped there.
I don’t want kids. Kids make me uncomfortable. Kids are expensive. Being a mother is not the life I want, at all, and I already have to deal with people telling me I’ll change my mind or that it’s not normal for a woman to not want kids, and these fucking stories allow people to say that shit to me. No one respected what Anna wanted. Even when Lily claimed to, Anna clearly didn’t have a choice because saying she didn’t want to adopt the kid would have made her seem like a demon. She changed her mind because that’s what always happens in these narratives, and because in these situations, you’re not allowed to say no. She couldn’t have said no. And when people asked her how she was doing and she answered honestly, she was told over and over that her feelings were the least important.
WOMEN WHO DONT WANT CHILDREN ARE NOT MONSTERS.
I loved the first book in this series but I really wish I had stopped there.
October 8, 2025
Very different from the online version. Enjoyed it but since I was reading all 4 books back to back, I was getting a little burned out by this time...
**Reread completed. I think I liked it more this time than the last.
7/19/14 - another reread.
**Reread completed. I think I liked it more this time than the last.
7/19/14 - another reread.
May 8, 2015
I totally understand Anna's dilemma here. In real life, such problem could break up couple easily.
Since this is a fictional work, it all worked out fine in the end. However, I kept thinking back about it... "What about Anna's wish?" or "What if she never be able to love Andy"? Yes, it is great that she's able to do it, but what I don't like is that everyone around Anna seems to force her to accept the fact that the child is gonna be there, whether she likes it or not.
Call me a heartless person, but this is a big deal. It happened, you can't love something just because you are supposed to. I mean Anna can love Andy, I'm glad she did, but it's the responsibility that come along with it. So at the very least, I wish Anna's family would give her an advice somewhere along the line of "compromise" instead of "you need to accept this or that."
As for the last name part, shouldn't Lily at least keep her Stewart last name as her middle name to honor her dead mother or something? Because Stewart is the name of the person who adopted her, It kinda feel weird that the name being excluded in the end. I mean I wouldn't even mind if Andy has a name like Andy Parker Stewart Kaklis (okay, that's a bit long but just my thought).
Since this is a fictional work, it all worked out fine in the end. However, I kept thinking back about it... "What about Anna's wish?" or "What if she never be able to love Andy"? Yes, it is great that she's able to do it, but what I don't like is that everyone around Anna seems to force her to accept the fact that the child is gonna be there, whether she likes it or not.
Call me a heartless person, but this is a big deal. It happened, you can't love something just because you are supposed to. I mean Anna can love Andy, I'm glad she did, but it's the responsibility that come along with it. So at the very least, I wish Anna's family would give her an advice somewhere along the line of "compromise" instead of "you need to accept this or that."
As for the last name part, shouldn't Lily at least keep her Stewart last name as her middle name to honor her dead mother or something? Because Stewart is the name of the person who adopted her, It kinda feel weird that the name being excluded in the end. I mean I wouldn't even mind if Andy has a name like Andy Parker Stewart Kaklis (okay, that's a bit long but just my thought).
October 23, 2013
Continuing to read through the entire series in a row, I am happy to see there two ladies have happier times. I love the ease in this author's writing. I love these two ladies. Ive mentioned in my review for book 2 in this series that i appreciate that the characters stay front and center. By the third book in most series, the main ladies are usually sidelined to happy moments while new characters or plot takes center stage. Not so with this series. As I've also said in my other reviews, I wish they had better communication. I feel we get a good handle on what they are thinking, but they both go to separate people to talk about their feelings, instead of each other. Still it is a great read. On to the last book in the series!
August 24, 2017
This writer is master story teller. She crafts her words so well I often feel as if I am reliving them. I have followed Anna and Lily's story so far and every additional book endears me more to their lives.
June 30, 2024
4.5 stars. I still find Lily to be so unlikable and selfish but she wasn't as annoying as she was in the previous book. I can't say that I'm a fan of hers just yet though. It's Anna for me honestly. She's wonderful and supportive and loving. I felt for her in this one because wow she went through my own definition of a nightmare. I love kids but I do not want any of my own and Anna was the same way.
After her sister she didn't even know she had dies Lily takes in her four year old nephew, Andy. I despised how demonized Anna was whenever she expressed her discomfort or how her wants were dismissed all because "she's 36 and the clock is ticking" yuck. Such a 1950s ass way of thinking of women. All of this to say that surprisingly this was my favorite book in the series. I loved the court and legal stuff about Andy's adoption between Lily and her biological mother. But what really sold me on this was little Andy himself. What a sweetie! He was so precious and what really got to me was the way he and Anna finally learned to bond with one another. It brought me to tears, not gonna lie. It was beautiful. I still despise when authors explicitly make their characters not want kids only to turn around and pretty much make them have them. I think it's kinda gross but it was done in a believable way here and I found it to be heartwarming. Great read.
After her sister she didn't even know she had dies Lily takes in her four year old nephew, Andy. I despised how demonized Anna was whenever she expressed her discomfort or how her wants were dismissed all because "she's 36 and the clock is ticking" yuck. Such a 1950s ass way of thinking of women. All of this to say that surprisingly this was my favorite book in the series. I loved the court and legal stuff about Andy's adoption between Lily and her biological mother. But what really sold me on this was little Andy himself. What a sweetie! He was so precious and what really got to me was the way he and Anna finally learned to bond with one another. It brought me to tears, not gonna lie. It was beautiful. I still despise when authors explicitly make their characters not want kids only to turn around and pretty much make them have them. I think it's kinda gross but it was done in a believable way here and I found it to be heartwarming. Great read.
February 1, 2021
I loved the beginning of this one and I enjoyed the the first two books in the series.
But towards the end not so much. There were good things in the book but all in all it didn't work for me.
What I enjoyed the most in the first two books were the dynamics of the couple and what each of them brought to the table, but towards the end of third book it kind of felt like f/f version of hetero romance or family drama. One's career takes precedence over the other - who is ready to sacrifice her career and all (at least partly)
Yes I get that children comes first but it felt like Lily had to put everything on hold while Anna goes about her career. And even the couple deciding to have kids on their own in the end too felt wierd. Because in the beginning it was Lily who was reluctant and Anna who wanted it. I know they acknowledge it and say what happened. But I don't buy it.
It was kind of disappointing to see the couple fall into predefined gender roles (though both are women here the career oriented and the nurturing one reminiscent of m/f couple) I can understand there are both type of people but the flip in attitudes for both characters compared to the first book is hard to grasp for me.
Was planning to pick up the next one. But may be not any time soon.
🙁
But towards the end not so much. There were good things in the book but all in all it didn't work for me.
What I enjoyed the most in the first two books were the dynamics of the couple and what each of them brought to the table, but towards the end of third book it kind of felt like f/f version of hetero romance or family drama. One's career takes precedence over the other - who is ready to sacrifice her career and all (at least partly)
Yes I get that children comes first but it felt like Lily had to put everything on hold while Anna goes about her career. And even the couple deciding to have kids on their own in the end too felt wierd. Because in the beginning it was Lily who was reluctant and Anna who wanted it. I know they acknowledge it and say what happened. But I don't buy it.
It was kind of disappointing to see the couple fall into predefined gender roles (though both are women here the career oriented and the nurturing one reminiscent of m/f couple) I can understand there are both type of people but the flip in attitudes for both characters compared to the first book is hard to grasp for me.
Was planning to pick up the next one. But may be not any time soon.
🙁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2023
Small Packages, the third in the Shaken Series, is an absolute joy to read. This book brings Anna and Lily even closer as they each work through the idea of adding Andy to their lives. Lily's seemingly effortless shift into parenting is counterpoint to Anna's obvious reluctance, but the journey they each take towards confidently stepping into an unplanned role is delightfully sweet. Anna's interactions with Andy are snapshots of chaotic joy.
And let me just say this right now...Kim, Anna's sister, is a beautiful, hilarious hoot! Her wit is almost unmatched. Thank you for her.
This was a perfect next step in this series.
And let me just say this right now...Kim, Anna's sister, is a beautiful, hilarious hoot! Her wit is almost unmatched. Thank you for her.
This was a perfect next step in this series.
January 23, 2019
Another great one
These characters have become apart of me. Fleshed out fictional folks. Each character are truly prime examples of what glorious yet flawed human beings can be... Can't wait to read the next book in this series. Thank u KG. You're epic !
These characters have become apart of me. Fleshed out fictional folks. Each character are truly prime examples of what glorious yet flawed human beings can be... Can't wait to read the next book in this series. Thank u KG. You're epic !
January 24, 2021
Loving, entertaining, emotional!
KG MACGREGOR never ceases to amaze. I'm thoroughly hooked on the Shaken series. I can't wait to indulge myself on another of her beautiful stories.
KG MACGREGOR never ceases to amaze. I'm thoroughly hooked on the Shaken series. I can't wait to indulge myself on another of her beautiful stories.
February 7, 2018
sin duda mucho mejor que el 2do.. pero no le llega al primero... ha bajado un poco el material de relleno.. pero igual le sigue sobrando paginas... espero que el ultimo sea muchooooo mejor....
May 21, 2020
I love books about children!
June 6, 2021
Great.
I really enjoyed Small Packages. This is a great series. It reminds us all that children add love to our lives.
I really enjoyed Small Packages. This is a great series. It reminds us all that children add love to our lives.
June 7, 2021
I love that in this series, the spotlight stays firmly on Anna and Lily, and we see their journey after marriage - a perspective not often found in lesfic romances.
July 2, 2022
Another touching, emotional, realistic love story.
July 7, 2023
Another solid entry in the series. Andy was adorable, and I was glad to see how transpired.
May 5, 2025
Women have the right to not love children, and even more so to not love other people's children. I hate the point of view these authors are conveying and feel unworthy for Anna.
March 1, 2010
This is the 3rd in the Shaken series and follows on from Aftershock.
MacGregor further develops the likeable characters and despite the predictable plotline, it's an enjoyable read.
MacGregor further develops the likeable characters and despite the predictable plotline, it's an enjoyable read.
July 15, 2015
Crap. I'm out of K.G. MacGregor novels for the moment.
January 11, 2014
Great story.
September 18, 2016
awww. Beautiful <3
February 7, 2017
Better than 2, not as good as 1.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews