New York Times bestselling author of SHACKING UP and I FLIPPING LOVE YOU Helena Hunting mixes humor and heart in this scandal-filled romantic comedy.HE WANTS TO LOSE CONTROL.Between his parents’ messed up marriage and his narcissistic younger brother, Lincoln Moorehead has spent the majority of his life avoiding his family. After the death of his father, Lincoln finds himself in the middle of the … death of his father, Lincoln finds himself in the middle of the drama. To top it all off, he’s been named CEO of Moorehead Media, much to his brother’s chagrin. But Lincoln’s bad attitude softens when he meets the no-nonsense, gorgeous woman who has been given the task of transforming him from the gruff, wilderness guy to a suave businessman
SHE’S TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.
Wren Sterling has been working double time to keep the indiscretions at Moorehead Media at bay, so when she’s presented with a new contract, with new responsibilities and additional incentives, she agrees. Working with the reclusive oldest son of a ridiculously entitled family is worth the hassle if it means she’s that much closer to pursuing her own dreams. What Wren doesn’t expect is to find herself attracted to him, or for it to be mutual. And she certainly doesn’t expect to fall for Lincoln. But when a shocking new Moorehead scandal comes to light, she’s forced to choose between her own family and the broody, cynical CEO.
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This was a light-hearted, witty story about two people finding each other unexpectedly through circumstances mostly out of their control. While I did enjoy it for the the aforementioned reasons of being light and fun I wasn’t overwhelmed by it at all. Nothing struck me as particularly unique and parts of were drug out. The humor made me laugh however and the main characters stories meshed really well with an obvious connection. It’s told from dual points of view and can be read a stand alone in the series. I have not read any book of this series prior to this and didn’t feel left out of anything in the story. Handle With Care was sweet romance with family drama mixed in that was entertaining as a nice, beachy type romance.
A hilariously funny, wonderful addition to the series
Book 5 of the Shacking Up series, this can easily be read as a standalone, but with interconnecting characters and common history—and to get the full impact of Armstrong hate, lol—consider reading the series in order.
While not quite an enemies to lovers story, there is antagonism between Lincoln and Wren to start off with, and it’s pretty funny watching them try to wind each other up. Wren has to be one of my favorite female leads ever. She’s smart, strong, and funny, and I love the the way she keeps Lincoln (and Armstrong!) inline. I loved Lincoln, too; intelligent, funny, caring, and very, very hot, he’s my idea of the perfect leading man (“All the things I thought I wanted are changing, and it’s all because of her.” ), and the two of them together had me absolutely swooning.
One of the great things about this author is she is roll-on-the-floor funny without ever going past the too over-the-top line (omg, Wren after Lincoln’s makeover! ) so I never have to worry about scenes that make me cringe instead of laugh like I do with some rom-coms. She also does a great job of balancing out the laughs with other feels (she had me in tears here more than once), just the right amount of heat, and enough plot twists to keep you guessing.
As for secondary characters, Griffin and Cosy had a nice cameo here, and Wren’s best friend Dani was a new character to love, while Armstrong was his usual a-hole self, though his mother actually gave him a run for his money.
Another hilariously funny, wonderful addition to the series, and a new favorite for me. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
Enemies to lovers, office romance, secrets, mysteries, a lot of *sigh*, a lot of “swoon”, a lot of *lol*, two amazing characters, a good story… Thank you Helena Hunting for this beautiful book!
I’M IN LOVE WITH LINCOLN ! He’s now my fav hero of the Shacking Up series!
At first he’s a grizzly bear… But behind his grumpiness and his facial hair he’s sooooo perfect! So humble, so generous, so honest, so caring, so sweet, so hot, so gentleman, so funny, so passionate… soooo PERFECT! And not a manwhore (thank you so so much Helena Hunting, again!)
I love how he handles his douche of a brother Armstrong. I love his relationship with his grand mother (the FABULOUS G-MOM). I love his fixation on Wren’s lipstick. I love the way he manages Moorehead media. I love his passion for helping those in need in poorer countries. Yes i love him!
As for WREN… She is a delight! And totally badass! The way she handles Armstrong… Soooo good! She is confident, she knows how to defend herself and her opinions, she knows how to inspire respect. The kind of women we all tend to be. I love her fixation on Lincoln’s chin dimple too.
She’s also honest to a fault and that’s what Lincoln needs. They both have a strong moral compass and a heart of gold. So perfect for each other. They challenged each other, are both stubborn and smart. Expect funny banter, passionate scenes, steamy scenes (but not too many, just the perfect amount).
Another thing i REALLY love with those two : they COMMUNICATE !!! Yes they are MATURE and HONEST enough to communicate, listen, support, and act like a team. That’s so refreshing.
Wren’s parents were a good surprise, they are flawed, human, selfless, supportive and handle issues as a team too.
The epilogue was everything i wanted 😀
“And i fall more in love with the woman who fits perfectly into my life, like she’s always been part of it, like she’s somehow been sewn into the fabric of who i am, without either of us realizing until now”.
Handle with care is book 5 in the Shacking up series. It can be read as a standalone but the four previous books are really good so you should give them a chance 😉 .
We meet a new character here who i hope to see later… maybe in her own book
This is the fifth book in the Shacking Up Series. This is a great Romantic Comedy, and Office Romance. Lincoln and Wren’story is hilarious, sexy, and beautiful. This is a great story with wonderful characters. The Epilogue is the perfect ending to this story. I loved it enough to purchase the audiobook version after reading it. Handle With Care is a great addition to the Series, and I highly recommend it.
Rate: 5 / 5 stars
Helena Hunting sure does know how to write an office romance. This book was impossible not to love. It had everything I enjoy and more. From the very first chapter, I feel in love with Lincoln. He is so different from all the other heros in the Shacking Up world. I loved that he hated his family because I think the whole world does too by now, so it was great to see a character feel the same way about them as me. And gosh I loved his friendship with Griffin, they were more like brothers than anything and I truly loved their bond and how even with all the distance they were always there for each other.
Lincoln and Wren were fun sinse the very beginning and watching them interact, banter with each other and try to fight off their attraction was so fun. I enjoyed it so much. But this book was different from the usual playful and fun Helena Hunting books because it had a lot more emotional moments. My heart hurt for Lincoln and what he found out about his family and how he’d never get a relationship with his father back and for Wren too when she was put between a rock and hard place. But gosh I loved that she didn’t act up and do something stupid and instead thought it through and discussed it with Lincoln. I loved that they had that kind of relationship and they worked everything out rationally and together. They were a power couple and loved watching them together and how their lives and passions just fit together so perfectly.
Handle With Care is a new favorite from HH and in the Shacking Up world. It was so fun and heartwarming to read but also emotional and a tearjerker at times. And those are my favorite kind of books. This one is a must read, specially if you’ve read any of the other books in this series.
I loved this contemporary romance with amazing characters and a smartly-written, fast-paced story that included mystery, secrets, scandal, family drama, heartwarming romance and so much more. Even though this is the fifth book in the Shacking Up series, it is the first I have read and I had no problem reading it as a standalone.
I really liked Wren Sterling, a no nonsense PR consultant for Moorehead Media and her dynamic with the other characters especially broody, cynical Lincoln Moorehead who is named CEO after his father dies of a heart attack and she has been given the task of transforming him from the gruff, wilderness mountain man to a suave business man. I loved their immediate attraction, repartee and undeniable chemistry as their story unfolded.
Ms. Hunting blew me away with this book and I want to go back and read the rest of the series. This can’t-put-down book is perfect for anyone who liked well-crafted romance.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Oh what a good read! It’s got everything! Humor (too many lol moments), passion, steaminess, family secrets and plenty of sexy alpha men! If you’ve read the other book in the Shacking Up series you’ll know how sexy alpha men the Mills and Moorheads are and Lincoln is no slouch in that department! Sexy with a sense of humor–melted panties! These cousins have found their matches and Linc’s choice of Wren is no different. Wren it hired as a PR consultant to contain Armstrong but when Linc comes back from his charitable work in South America to step into his recent;y deceased father’s position her duties were extended. The teasing and banter between Wren and Linc is so much fun! But when family secrets begin spilling out do their real feelings level up. Great read!
Handle with Care is the fifth book in the Shacking Up series by the talented and hilarious Helena Hunting. I love this series. So much. There are only a few authors who make me laugh out loud throughout the entire book and Helena is one of them! I’ve been waiting for Lincoln’s story since I met him. Something about his personality just called to me. I wanted to know what happened to him. Why he does what he does? What makes him tick? We meet him all surly and hairy and I was already dying. His man bun and his scruffy beard. His drunkenness. He’s back home after his father’s death and how he’s the CEO of his father’s company. His a**hole brother, Armstrong, is not happy and he meets Wren, who’s been hired to help turn him from bear to business mogul. Wren has no idea what Lincoln is going to be like? His father? His horrible brother? She was not expecting to be attracted to all the hair and the attitude and she about swallowed her tongue when she say him clean shaven, hair cut and a fine suit. Oh man was she in trouble. Lincoln doesn’t want to be in NY or running his company but there are not other options. He never thought he’d fall for Wren and her bossiness and the damn red lipstick that won’t come off. He hates it. While they are working together and getting to know each other, the attraction becomes too much to contain. It’s a bad idea. A very bad idea, but neither of them can say no. When a possible scandal and too many secrets threatens to tear them apart, they realize they are better as a team. Together they can fight for their families and each other. Wow! I knew I was going to love this book, but I didn’t realize how much! Lincoln is so hilarious, funny, sexy as sin, smart and romantic. Wren is bada**, smart, dedicated and Lincoln’s perfect match. I loved seeing Griffin again and Armstrong is always good for a laugh and a karma update. Overall, I laughed, smiled, cried, got mad, wanted to punch someone, got hot and bothered and laughed some more. I loved Lincoln and Wren’s fun banter and their explosive chemistry! I hope this isn’t the last time we see the Moorhead’s and Mills’.
I am loving this series of standalones! There is something about that sucks me in and I can’t help but love each and every character and their stories. I’ve always been slightly intrigued about Lincoln and his story with Wren didn’t disappoint. Their chemistry is unreal and has you loving every word of their story.
I have not read any other books in the Shacking Up series and it did not get in the way of me enjoying this gem, but now I want to read the rest of the stories in this world. Wren and Lincoln’s story is not just sexy alpha guy gets girl, we have moments of sweetness and moments of laughter.
When the opportunity came up to read this story early I just new I could not pass up this offer and I was not disappointed. I LOVED IT!! Absolutely a must read!!
UGH! This book is just perfect! The right amount of push-pull, give-take, and steamy office romance all wrapped up in a great cover! The Shacking Up Series all can be read as a standalone, but why would you want to!!! This is a total one-sitter for me, could not put it down!
I think this one is my favorite yet, I love Linc and his backwoods, beard, non-hair cutting ways. And poor Wren has to conform him into a corporate man. He fights every step of the way, wanting to leave the family business and go back to his charity work in the poor countries of the world! Until Grandma steps in and convinces him to just try!
What happens in the worlds of Helena Hunting are certainly the most funny, entertaining, and one-clickers ever.
Who is handling who? That was my thought about Evan and Kenzie.
Evan is sweet, good looking, smart and an all around nice guy. He wants to please everyone…and works so very hard to do that.
Kenzie is so on the fence about dating. With a little brother to raise and having just recently had her heart broken, she’s a little reluctant…until she’s not. But her emotions pingpong back and forth.
So who’s handling who? Evan is going slow, Kenzie is going slow…but there’s lots of fun along the way. The supporting characters are hilarious; Lila, Rachel, her brother David, Lila…
First let me say I loved the story; I HAD to keep reading this story to find out how screwed up these people really were! OMG, there was goodness and there was light however the ‘dark side’ was pretty ugly. The author had me guessing which characters were on what side and it really kept my interest throughout the entire book. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I will say that Wren Sterling and Lincoln Moorehood are such interesting characters. And I mean that in a good way. Lincoln first comes off as totally out of step with the rest of the world but we find out he really is a good guy…he’s just been out of civilization for a while. Wren is the epitome of a strong female lead – wait until you hear the terms of her first contract with Moorehead Media! It cracked me up. Even better, she could actually follow thru with those terms without breaking a sweat. Read it for yourself so you are surprised and amused.
There are great secondary characters with some of them smarmy but they all fit in the story. It’s the typical ‘characters you love to hate’ but whoa. There really are people like this in the world so it brings it home for me.
Enjoyed the book; kept me reading to find out what happens. Wren and Lincoln are great together, even when they aren’t together, or when they are fighting to not be together…it hit all ‘the feels’ I like in a book.
4.5*
Handle With Care is the 5th book in the Shaking Up world, but can definitely be read as a standalone- although I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to read the rest, as you’d be missing out on my favs Ruby & Bancroft, Lexi and Amalie, et al, and getting to know the bane of everyone’s existence, Armstrong Moorehead.
In HWC we’re finally treated to the story of the reclusive Moorehead brother, Lincoln. And oh my, my, what a story it was…he was definitely worth the wait! But as much as I was loving Lincoln, I have to say I had a major girl crush on Wren. She was awesome! I seriously want to be her when I grow up.
Wren started out as Armstrong’s handler, but when Lincoln returns to the city after his father’s death, she has to take him on as well. And let me tell you, girlfriend could hold her own up against these men- I loved her take no prisoner attitude! There was a bit of animosity at the start, but then things between Wren and Lincoln started to shift into more personal territory, and I was there for it! They had such sizzling hot chemistry, but you could tell how much they really cared for each other.
Considering their work relationship, things weren’t always so easy when it came to their personal lives- having to keep things on the “down-low” tends to start to weigh on a person. But I loved that these were 2 adults who talked through things and dealt with any issues as they came about.
I really enjoyed everything about Handle With Care. It was thoughtful, sexy, and funny. And there was a bit of mystery thrown in, which had an outcome I was not expecting! Overall, this book was a delight.
One of the things I love best about Helena Hunting is her ability to write such a wide range of characters and stories. From the Clipped Wings series, to the Pucked series, to the Shacking Up series, and everything in between, you never know what you’re going to get from her.
I’ve read 3 of Ms. Huntings books in the past month- all 3 were contemporary romances, which, if we’re being honest, can sometimes all start to run together. But in the talented hands, and mind, of Ms. Hunting, all 3 of these books were quite distinct.
Handle With Care is a feel-good, sexy story of Lincoln and his “handler” Wren, that had me laughing out loud, wishing for the best and plotting on how Armstrong will finally get his!
The Shacking Up Series is quickly becoming my favorite of all Helena’s work. The banter and chemistry between Wren and Lincoln, the family dynamics, the slow burn and the crazy way in which this story goes down has this book as my favorite of the series. The twists and turns that I NEVER expected had me on the edge of my seat! I could not get enough of Lincoln and Wren!!
4.5 Stars
Handle With Care is the latest installment in the Shacking Up series, and somehow this series just keeps getting more amazing!
Since the very beginning, I have been wanting Lincoln’s story, and the brief glimpses we’ve gotten throughout the series just left me wanting more. And he is even more incredible than I thought! Unlike his brother and cousins, Lincoln could care less about the fame and fortune that comes with their family names. He’d rather help the less fortunate than spend thousands of dollars on worthless possessions and prefers the quiet of underdeveloped countries than the hustle & bustle of NYC. But when his father suddenly passes away he flies home and is thrown right into the craziness of his family and everything that comes with the Moorhead name, no realizing just how drastically his life is about to change.
Wren has been working for Moorehead Media, attempting to keep Armstrong in line and the family name as pristine as possible. When she is asked to stay on and help with Lincoln’s transition back into the company – and media – she agrees, knowing it’s what she needs to do to achieve her goals. After dealing with Armstrong, Lincoln should be a walk in the park, right? Only this job is much harder than she ever thought – for her sanity and her heart.
I absolutely adored these characters! They were so genuine, both working towards future goals and putting their families first no matter the personal cost. The chemistry between Lincoln & Wren was almost palpable, and the flirty banter and steam levels were off the charts. I loved Lincoln’s grandmother, she was the perfect addition and I only wish we had met her sooner!
While there was definitely a healthy dose of drama thrown in, it wasn’t what I normally expect and definitely set this book apart from the others. Handle With Care is flirty & fun, and I couldn’t put it down! Here’s to hoping for more in this series, and these characters!
4 stars. Aww, this was a really cute, sweet and funny book! Handle with Care is Wren and Lincoln’s book. Lincoln is Armstrong’s brother, from previous books in the serious. When Lincoln and Armstrong’s father dies, Lincoln is summoned from his charity work in Guatemala to help out with the family company. Wren also works in PR for the company as Armstrong’s handler, keeping him from making any more embarrassing headlines. She meets Lincoln and sparks fly between them. She is also tasked with helping him get settled and keeping his image clean as he takes over running the company. As Wren and Lincoln spend time together, their relationship deepens and they fall for each other, all while navigating family drama.
I really liked Wren and Lincoln a lot. They had great chemistry and were a good match. Wren is no nonsense and career focused, but not hard or bitchy. Lincoln is wry and funny, sexy and sweet. There is no huge break up or pushing away, which I really appreciated. The main angst was from outside forces. This story is well written, fun and sexy. This book is my second favorite (after Shacking Up) in the series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Wren and Lincoln’s story is an entertaining, funny, sweet, sexy easy read. I look forward to more from this series and Ms. Hunting in the future.
5 Star Review
Finding love in unusual circumstances! Ashley @ Carolina Chic’s Read
My first book in the Shacking Up Series and I need to read the rest! Wren is the fixer and trying to take care of the Moorehead men and making sure all is well! Lincoln has stayed away from his family for years and but when he returns after his father’s death what he finds is nothing that he expected. Wren and Lincoln have chemistry and the banter is what you expect from Helena! This book has all the feels and keeps you wanting more! The family dynamics keep you hooked! Can’t wait to read more of this series!
Lincoln Moorehead: Bearded mountain man with no social skills forced to play the gentleman business tycoon.
Wren Sterling: Boss Lady with ruby red lips, a razor sharp whit and a take no shiz attitude.
She’s been playing babysitter to his younger brother and doesnt have much hope that Lincoln will be any different. He wants nothing to do with his family or their business, but out of obligation finds himself in New York with a fancy new title and a “handler” who’s supposed to teach him the ropes of polite society….only he can’t focus on anything but her red lipstick.
I friggin LOVED Lincoln( when she compares him to Jason Momoa……shut the door, he was mine) He is such a diamond in the rough and Wren makes him all shiny without taking away any of his appeal. Wren had her guard up but he works his way past them and pretty soon what was supposed to just be a job turns into so much more.
Wren is straight up bada@#$ and watching her handle Armstrong and put him in place was the bomb.com
When a secret from Lincolns family’s past surfaces, Wren has to choose between the man or the job.
**Recieved an ARC for an honest review**
Wren Sterling’s dream job is to work as a PR person for a big charity, preferably something to do with pediatrics. When Wren’s mom suggests working with her friend, Gwendolyn Moorehead at Moorehead Media, Wren thinks this could be just what she needs in the form of connections. What Wren didn’t expect was that her PR job was more of a babysitter for the younger, narcissistic Moorehead son, Armstrong. When the patriarch of the family suddenly dies, the oldest son, Lincoln, has to come back for the funeral.
Lincoln Moorehead has spent most of his life avoiding his entire family except for G-Mom, his father’s mother. When Linc gets blindsided by G-Mom that she wants him to be the acting CEO for 6 months until they can find a suitable replacement he is not happy but reluctantly agrees. Then he meets her…..his brother’s babysitter….and he is smitten!
The attraction between Wren and Linc is off the charts and they have a hard time keeping things platonic. When they finally give in to their feelings they both start to rethink things in their lives. Just when it looks like things are going wonderfully, secrets from both of their pasts come back to stir up trouble. It will take a strong faith in each other to get past these issues so they can find their happy ending.
I just adored Wren and Linc. Wren is such a fun, tough woman and she really knows how to handle anyone! Linc is the perfect guy. Tall, sexy and loyal! He really has his priorities on straight. Together these two just fit so well together and made this story such fun!