Capturing Happiness

The Six Pack #5

by Erica Lee

It didn’t matter how much she tried to convince everyone else otherwise - Maggie McBride wasn’t happy. Her job wasn’t fulfilling, she had no time to herself, and her passions were seriously lacking.

At a wedding, she meets the woman who will change all of that. Stacey Cahill is a free spirit. She believes a life without passion isn’t a life worth living. That’s why she lives every day to the fullest with her two boys.

Can Stacey convince Maggie to follow her dreams (and her heart) or will Maggie’s need to succeed tear them apart?

This 22k novella is book five in the Six Pack series

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Novella, Queer, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2022

About the author

Erica Lee finished writing her first book, Dear Santa: I’m Gay, in December 2016. Erica currently lives in Pennsylvania with her wife, dog, chinchilla, and bunny. She spends her days working as an optometrist and her nights snuggled up on the couch with her furry family, binging on netflix or youtube.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Loek Krancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

The Six Pack is a beautiful series about six friends. Despite the life's ups and downs, together they are able to face up all the challenges. It was great to watch these friends as they fall in love after a few bumps in the road. The first 5 books were very entertaining and easy to read. Lucky for us readers, a new installment comes out every month.

[Judy - JC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of sad. This is the first novelette I didn't connect with. I mean I liked it but not as much as I did with Hannah or Amelia’s stories.

So, this story follows: Maggie McBride, she’s part of The Six Pack clan, she’s a nerdy, Type-A personality, thoughtful friend who during most of her life has made all academic and professional decisions based on what society expects - in a very traditional way but things start to change when she met Stacey. Stacey Cahill is mom of two beautiful boys, life has been hard on her but despite all of the challenges she has faced she’s willing to live life, she’s outgoing and truly believes that you must do what makes you happy. When their worlds clash, fireworks lead the way.

There was a moment where I felt that Stacey was too pushy. As described in previous books, Maggie’s personality is very rational, the way she sees life is more structured, so to expect someone like her to overcome fears related to the way she sees her future can’t be easy but Stacey kept pressuring her.

Still I think it is a nice plot with the expected ups and downs..
I hope this story gets its second book so I can't wait for it because I’m pretty sure I’m gonna love it.

[Sleady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is another book on this series that I love. When I first get into this series, I never thought that Maggie and I actually have a lot in common, from some of our mindset and to our lack of interest in sci-fi. It's fun to read a story where the MC remind you a lot of yourself and I am happy for Maggie to finally found her happiness and not so stuck anymore (I am still tho lol I need my Stacey).

I am looking forward for update in Maggie's career in next books of the series with high hope the author did include it (I need to know this one).

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying this series! It’s so cute. This is book five and gives us Maggies story. I really liked this adorable novella! Can’t wait to read the next one.

Written in third person with a single POV. Single mother, friends with benefits. And 2x spicy scenes.

[XR · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are way too short!
Stacey is definitely a keeper though, and Maggie finally allowing herself to be happy is a perf!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first story in the Six Pack series that I feel like the novella is a bit too short to tell this story and Maggie just needs a couple more pages in the least. The baggage people carry and expectations people have for themselves are definitely subjects that in most cases need more space to be a full story. This is no exception. I do guess that this being part of a series is that it doesn’t just end here, which is actually good. It’s life, it’s messy and you need to work on things and yourself.

Anyway, first one I wish had a couple more pages to figure things out, but still enjoyable.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Six Pack novella series continues. This one focuses on Magnolia (Maggie) McBride. She graduates top of her law class and has the big city job but she isn't happy. At her friend's wedding she meets up with Stacy a single mom with two boys. Stacy is understanding about her work that takes up too much time. But she also pushes her to see what makes her happy. Erica Lee puts a lot of story into less than 100 pages. I like where it left things but didn't feel Maggie's future is totally resolved.

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute and heartwarming entry to this series of novellas. Similar to the previous entries, this one was relatively simple and straightforward, but satisfying! Very hallmark-style, not a lot happened and yet I have zero issues with that fact. Stacey’s kids were adorable, and they all fit together so nicely.

I liked the central theme/message of this novella, which was essentially just that you should choose the things in your life that make you happy (read it for more detail!). This is a simple message, but a really good one. I look forward to what else this couple has in store for us through the rest of the series.

The protagonists were good together. Their very different lives fit together surprisingly well, and I could easily see a relationship like this working in real life. The relationship progression truly worked in a realistic way; I believed what I was reading without needing suspension of disbelief. It was a little insta-love-ish considering the page count, but the novella timeline did stretch over a decent length of time so it didn’t bother me. I absolutely loved that the only “conflict” that these characters had was Stacey being unhappy at Maggie doing things that made herself unhappy; what a loving and supportive conflict!

I am LOVING how we get to see the other characters doing their thing in the background, and setting up their eventual entries into the series. By the time the other characters get their novels there will be quite the foundation of background set up which I absolutely LOVE! There seems to be quite a trend going on of one night stand’s turning into true love relationships; I wonder if that was intentional or just a coincidence for this series?

My Rating: "A-"
GoodReads: 5-Stars

[Scruffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm absolutely loving the whole six pack series of novellas, this one doing a great job of reminding us to prioritise what makes us happy.

[Alicia Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capturing Happiness (The Six Pack Book 5)

Author Erica Lee

MC Maggie McBride & Stacey Cahill





This is a story about Maggie who is going through the motions of life.  She really doesn’t enjoy her job and does not remember the last time she had any true fun. Well here comes a fire cracker named  Stacy and her two handsome boys. From the very beginning the little one steals her heart with his sweet face and big blue eyes. It begins as a one night stand,  so they say,  but turns into a love neither one knew they needed. Maggie found her joy and passion for life, because Stacey made her take a closer look at her life.  



I highly recommend this series. It’s  a wonderful quick read, plus it’s available on KU! This is my first book by the author, definitely not my last.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie is the first of the six pack characters I’ve really struggled with. I get most aspects of her personality and her life; I just can’t fathom how she pushes to exclude literally everything good to excel at the job she hates. So… thank goodness for Stacey and her kids, who can bring some sanity back to Maggie’s life! Actually, Stacey is the bomb — she pretty much spoke exactly what was on my mind, and more eloquently too. Plus, she had my heart with “kids are an adventure, not an excuse to stop living”.

So I did enjoy the story… it was sweet and funny like the rest of the series… I mean yes I was grinding my teeth a little every time Maggie would go a month without seeing Stacey because she was “busy with work,” but hey. What I have to say is: thank you Stacey for not being easily discouraged, thank you Kiera for attempting to knock some sense into your sister, thank you to the whole bunch in fact since I think to took looking around the room at all of them for Maggie to eventually “get it.”

By the end of this I think I was looking forward to the installments for Kiera, Sarah, and Ryann, in that order. But I gather they’re not in that order. Oh well, more reading for me. :)

[Gina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Six Pack Story!

I love this series. Erica Lee is a genius. I am not normally a series person as I read so much and I seem to mash stories which causes me to reread the books in the series if I don’t remember something. I love Maggie and Stacy. The banter back and forth was sexy and flirty and supportive that she couldn’t help but cheer for them. The added cuteness of Stacey’s sons added the softness that Maggie the serious lawyer needed. Loved how they came together and how even though they weren’t in a relationship they were. Sweet,tender and exciting. Another great one from Erica. Next!

[Reader Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustrating

I enjoy Erica Lee’s story telling but was frustrated with a major part which is the cover. The lead character,Maggie, is on the cover and her and her younger sister being women of color has never been mentioned. I went back and checked. It’s enough that it should have been mentioned. The spectrum is made up of many different types from all over the rainbow. It should have been mentioned.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Title!

When free spirit Stacey involves her two young sons with Maggie, the transformation in Maggie is undeniable. Always the most dedicated worker and serious lawyer, this softer side of her melted my heart, and the heart of Stacey. What a great cast of characters. The Six Pack friends are the best. What a fun series!

[Carolyn G. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Photo In Time

Maggie McBride is a lawyer working herself to death in a job she hates. She meets Stacy Cahill and her two sons at Hannah and CeCe’s wedding. What starts as a one night stand becomes a friends with benefits relationship. Can a wild child lead Maggie to choose life over career? Sweet romance.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Love with Maggie and Stacey

I think Maggie is my character of the Six Pack series. Her focus on a job that doesn't make her happy is very relatable. Stacey is determined to bring some happiness into Maggie's world.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the title makes sense

This is one where the title clearly told us the story but we didn't know until you start reading it. I can't believe how amazing all these stories are. This one has to be my favorite though!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet

I loved this sweet love story. All of the stories in the Six Pack series are very interesting and well written. The main characters are so sweet together.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

I have enjoyed this short sweet heartfelt story of Maggie finely realise that if she not happy at her job she need to find some how to be happy.

[Rebecca Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun read

Aside from the many grammatical errors, I enjoyed the story and character reunion. This series is light hearted fun reading.

[Robert M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Like all the six pack books so far

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Maggie and this was cute and nice.

[Isabella Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

single mom? workaholic? aaaaaa i didn’t know I needed this until I read it, I really enjoyed every page, super cute

[Taylor Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet:)

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Nik · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters in this book!

Its amazing how the author focuses on each character in each book. Each character has a story to tell. I highly recommend this book series!