Humbugged by Pippa Grant and Lili Valente

I think it is probably better to read all of the books in this series closer together. I've forgotten some of the names and it made it hard to keep track of everyone. Also, the nutiness of a Grant and Valente book is better when it's sustained, still enjoyable when broken up, but better as one book after another. I liked that Grant set up a way for the two to have an HEA but I'm on a string of woman-giving-up-her-life-for-her-man books and I just wish one, ONE, were different. 

Noelle is a Marine Corps brat who was also a traveling photographer but she never managed to break into the big leagues. So she settled down in Atlanta with a "young Santa" and thought she was living her HEA. But then, just days before a romantic trip, he ghosted her. And took her favorite coffee mug. So, even though she attracted to the younger man, Clint, she is trying to put down roots in her new hometown, Happy Cat, and open a bakery devoted to cupcakes. It's just too bad that msot of her creations seem to be going wrong.

Clint is a fun-loving, over-the-top, Marine who truly believes he is a hero. And he is for a lot of people and especially Noelle. He is pretty much halfway in love (or at least to this reader's eyes) with the woman and doesn't even mind the ribbing he gets from his brothers on that score. He knows that she's been burned before but he's already all in on trying to make her change her mind. And good for her for calling him on it. But they do eventually figure out their relationship and make it work. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out December 10, 2019

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