I Pucking Love You by Pippa Grant

Muffy Periwinkle was introduced in a previous book as the cousin of a heroine. She is a hapless matchmaker who never quite makes the right connection. In the previous book, Muffy even set up her cousin with the ex-boyfriend of one of the cousin's friend who was a complete douchebag. So, she's not doing well. Not helping? Her mother who keeps calling her fat and spends up her credit cards. In order to make ends meet, she's even working at a Long John Silver-esque fish and chips place. And it's at that second job that she again sees Tyler Jaeger.

Jaeger is a hockey player who is in a bit of a funk. His penis hasn't been working since he and Muffy hooked up. He's not thinking she's the forever-one but he's also sort of surprised to find himself volunteering to be Muffy's date for an upcoming... thing. He's not sure what it is but he finds himself wondering whether Muffy might be the answer to his problems.

So, there's a little bit of a road trip and enough of a glimpse of his brother West and West's wife Daisy to convince me to read Crazy for You but otherwise the zaniness of this book (that Pippa Grant does so well) overshadows the actual relationship growth in this book. It was worth a read and I will definitely re-read whenever I read the whole series again but not one of my favorites.

Three stars

This book came out April 8th, 2021

Follows Charming as Puck

Followed by The Secret Hook-Up

Copper Valley Thrusters #5

Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle ebook October 2024

The Nightingale Before Christmas by Donna Andrews

It's Christmas and Meg Lanslow has once again been talked into "being in charge." This time, she's coordinating interior designers in a show house. Of course, while they designers are all PITAs, there is one particular fella who's causing major problems for everyone. Is it a surprise when he turns up dead? Nope. As usual, Meg is solving a mystery while getting everything else on her list done. 

A fun read and enjoyable addition to the canon. Regular Langslow readers will enjoy.

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 21, 2014

Meg Langslow 

Follows The Good, the Bad, and the Emus

Followed by Lord of the Wings

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Reread as Audible December 2022,  August 2023, November 2024 as Audible book

The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews

Megan Langslow's newly discovered grandfather had decided to out local PI Stanley in the track of her grandmother. It turns out that she is dead but her cousin doesn't believe it was an accident as it has been declared. Meg's entire family becomes involved when an emu runs across the street on the way home from her first meeting with the cousin and that pulls in not only her entire family, but an army of volunteers who are willing to help her grandfather with a rescue.
A nice addition to the series. The regular cast expands a bit but otherwise regular readers will enjoy immensely.

Four stars

This book came out July 8th, 2014

Meg Langslow #17

Follows Duck the Halls

Followed by The Nightingale before Christmas

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Reread August 2023, November 2024 as Audible book

The Hot Mess and the Heartthrob by Pippa Grant

Levi Wilson is famous. First because he was in the boy band Bro Code but then because of his solo career. Eight years ago, his life changed because of a woman in the crowd of one of his performances. Since then, he's been working toward being a better human being. It doesn't always work (hello, he's a pampered rock star). Today, he's in his home town but still slightly lost. When it seems like some fans might get too rabid, his guard helps him duck into a nearby bookstore. And the owner of that store? The woman from the crowd. 

Ingrid Scott is astonished to see a famous person in her store. Especially since it seems like he's hiding. And then hitting on her. She's the single mom of three children who split with her husband because he was gone so much. How can she be falling for a man who's job description has him never at home?

A solid addition to the Grant canon. The end dragged a bit but I overall liked the kids, the adults as characters, and the kookiness involved with squirrels. 

Three and a half stars

Follows Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire

Bro Code #4

This book came out January 7th, 2021

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle ebook October 2024

The Hero and the Hacktivist by Pippa Grant

This book is... crazy. Just nuts. And yet... still sort of fun. The craziness palled after a little bit but it was still a good Grant book.

Rhett Elliot is the brother of a previous heroine in the Girl Band series. He is just looking for someone to hook up with for a night at his sister's wedding. Eloise Jayne (probably her name... well, maybe) is the only single bridesmaid and she seems like she might be down to... well. So they find a room and complete the deed. At least, she does. But then Parker (the sister/friend) comes in before Rhett can really get off. From there, it seems like their relationship should be over. It was a one night stand.

But Rhett is sort of hooked. He is used to chaos, as a Navy SEAL. But his team ran into a problem (that is sort of described but not really) and it seems like the life he loved is no longer attainable. Eloise, however, seems to create her own chaos. 

Eloise isn't as interested in a relationship but she could use the help of a SEAL. She is a hacker-activist (hactivist) who is going after an MLM marketer who is bilking women out of millions of dollars. But the marketer is fighting back and Rhett might be the only person who can help. 

Three stars

This book came out November 9th, 2018

Girl Band #4

Follows Rockaway Bride

Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle Unlimited October 2024

Beauty and the Beefcake by Pippa Grant

We've met Ares Berger in previous books in the series. He's tall. He's a brute. He doesn't talk very much. Nor do we see him talk a lot in this book. But Felicity Murphy talks enough for both of them. She's a talented ventriloquist and incredibly smart but (according to her parents) hasn't quite figured out what she wants to do with her life. Many Master's Degrees but she hasn't found a job. Partly because she hasn't found her niche but mostly because her life goal is to work for the Thrusters, the team her brother Nick and Ares both play for. Well, usually. Right now Ares is out with a severely sprained ankle. So Nick volunteers their grandmother's house as a place for him to recuperate knowing that, not only is Felicity studying to be a physical therapist thus being valuable to Ares, but she could use some muscle to protect her from a stalker-ish ex-boyfriend.
Not as good as other books in the series; Ares is fun and Felicity is fine but why the focus on the men that she attracts. So much attention paid to that. Still crazy pants on the Grant level but the fun just isn't quite there

Three and a half stars

Copper Valley Thrusters #3

Follows Royally Pucked

Followed by Charming as Puck

This book came out May 17th, 2018

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle Unlimited ebook October 2024

The Pilot & the Puck-Up by Pippa Grant

This book is... I'm having trouble describing it. It's the best kind of bat crap crazy. Zeus Berger is one of the famous Berger twins who tear up the hockey rink. We meet him as he enters a club wearing a tight skirt, high heels, and a girdle. I think it's because there's a bet? But it may just be that he wants to shock all of the people who are trying to show off how much money they've donated before participating in a golf tournament the next day. And Zeus, wearing heels, clocks in at over seven feet so he is a sight to behold. When he is dared to pick up a woman, his friends point out Joey Diamonte.

Introducing herself as Fireball, Joey is at this fundraiser under duress. She's not normally the front person for her zero gravity company, she's the pilot. But Peach has to be at her grandmother's surgery so Joey is at this incredibly boring charity event, trying to drum up an investor who will help take her company to the next level. And she thinks Chase Jett might be that man; but his friend Zeus keeps distracting her. The man is HOT.

The shenanigans in this book start from the opening page and just continue from there including ordering pizza in to the fundraiser, golfing with cans, and more. If you need something to read that is bananapants but still somehow makes you care about the character, this is your book.

Four stars

This book came out February 16th, 2018

The Copper Valley Thrusters #1

Followed by Royally Pucked

Ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Reread from Kindle Unlimited October 2024