He’s the world’s most alpha Marine and the last man I should be letting jingle my bells this holiday season. So why does Clint O’Dell keep running through my thoughts wearing nothing but a Santa hat? And why do I stupidly agree that we should be Christmas friends with benefits?Someone must have spiked my eggnog. I don’t do Marines. Or Santas. I learned my lesson about both the hard way. But when …
I learned my lesson about both the hard way.
But when Clint steps in to rescue me—from a murderous goose, a rogue reindeer, and the ghost of Christmas Right Now causing trouble in my bakery—I can’t help but wonder if we’re meant to be more than friends.
If maybe Clint is the holiday miracle I’ve been praying for…or if all the magic will disappear with the season.
Humbugged is a laugh out loud holiday romp featuring a Marine with a heart of gold and a baker in need of a hero. Complete with the world’s most awkward Christmas caroling, a photoshoot with furry friends, and more naughty baked goods than is good or decent.
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What can I say about Clint O’Dell? He might just be my new favorite Book Boyfriend. Noelle Alwyn just my be a long lost sister of mine. And the hilarity that ensues when these two deny their feelings for each other is just like the rest of the Happy Cat Books. Pippa and Lili nailed this book, just when you think this series can’t get any better, they throw another mystery at you with a side of animal characters and an elderly community you wish was in your town. Clint has the perfect amount of Alpha male, he’s not pushy but he’s there when you need him to lean on. Noelle is new to town and convinced she’s going to make it despite her heartbreak. There’s more family texts that will have you laughing so hard you will cry. Again this writing duo knocks it out of the Happy Cat Park.
I received and ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
*** 4.5 Stars ***
Humbugged by Pippa Grant and Lili Valente is a contemporary, holiday, romantic comedy told in first person, dual POV. It is book four in the Happy Cat series and can be read as a standalone. Although it’s unnecessary to read Hosed, Hammered, or Hitched first, doing so enhances the reading experience when previous characters reappear.
Clint O’Dell is heroic, kind, sexy, funny, and has a reputation of near perfection – so much so that the townsfolk of Happy Cat make memes about it. His latest assignment from the Marines has him home working as a recruiter, and he’s happy to spend the holidays with his family after being overseas for so long.
Heartbreak brought Noelle Alwyn to Happy Cat to open a bakery. When Clint meets her, he’s instantly smitten. Despite his charm and a mutual attraction, Noelle’s not interested in a relationship with Clint but she agrees to a holiday friends with benefits arrangement. But it’s hard to avoid catching feelings when strange things keep happening around her bakery and Clint keeps coming to the rescue.
What’s going on at the bakery? Is there a ghost? Is somebody trying to harm Noelle, scare her, or run her out of town? And how long will she be able to resist Clint’s meme-tastic charms? Read the book to find out!
I had been looking forward to Clint’s story and was not disappointed at all. It was filled with all the things we love about Happy Cat: quirky residents, animal hijinks, the O’Dell brothers, and their significant others. I loved all the characters, but I think Clint may be my favorite in this series. This story was funny, sweet, and romantic with a mystery that hinted at the paranormal. A fun, recommended read.
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC ***
Humbugged is my new favorite Christmas tradition. I promise that spending the holidays with the Characters in the town of Happy Cat is the most fun that you’ll have all season. There are gingerbread mishaps, animal hijinks, and even a ghost of Christmas Present. Topping that is a warm and fuzzy romantic and insanely funny romance that you will want to snuggle into over and over again.
Noel moves to Happy Cat because she wants to put her past behind her. She doesn’t want any distractions from making her first Christmas alone merry and bright. However, she can’t help falling under the spell of Clint O’Dell along with the rest of the town.
Clint is enjoying his family and friends while on leave from the Marines. When he rescues the petite little baker from the furious honking of a troubled Christmas goose, he knows that he wants to be more than just her knight in shining armor.
The chemistry between Noel and Clint runs hotter than a steaming cup of hot chocolate, while the story line is sweeter than fruitcake with a hint of suspense.
I laughed till I cried! Debra @ Janise’s Jivin’ Book Blog
Almost from the first page I was laughing and the book just got better and better after that! It is not all laughs but there are so many moments that laughter is just the thing to do. The characters and not all of those are human are just the best! The people of the town are crazy as well as fun and loving!
Humbugged is a light small town romp that you won’t be able to stop yourself from falling in love with. I didn’t feel lost because I hadn’t read any of the others in the Happy Cat Series. Although it did make me want to go and read the others. Especially if they are as funny as this one was.
The read is fast paced and you get through it so quickly it makes you want to read it again just because it is that good. You won’t experience the holiday blues with this wonderful story.
Welcome back to Happy Cat! I love this town where crazy is normal and everyone looks out for their fellow neighbor or fellow pets. In Humbugged Pippa and Lili bring the funny mixed with steamy romance and this time add in a lot of holiday flair to make the perfect Christmas story.
Noelle has decided to have a happy Christmas this year. Her life hasn’t exactly given her the best memories surrounding this particular holiday. So, this year she is forcing the happy no matter what goes wrong or what gorgeous marine keeps popping up and tempting her to keep her focus on her business and not on other distractions.
Clint O’Dell is home and he loves spending time with his family. For the past six years since he signed up with the marines he hasn’t had as many chances to spend long times with them, but his favorite part about being home is one sweet baker, Noelle.
As much as these two circle each other it isn’t long before their chemistry is just too combustible and they finally give in, but can it last? Clint is a marine and he doesn’t protect his country from his living room couch and Noelle’s is a small business owner with everything she owns invested in her bakery, so long term and long distance is that really sustainable?
I love Clint’s all American heroness and his ability to make fun of himself, but he’s also humble when he makes a mistake. He is just too delicious and my Christmas wish would be that we carbon copy him to put in everyone’s stocking.
Loved this story. Many +’s. Here are the bullet points.
Animal High jinks
Whimsical fun
Mystery
Personal angst
Romance
Steam
HEA
As always with Pippa Grant and Lili Valente, fun, humor and sarcasm abounds. Don’t miss this one. Top of TBR list.
I love Noelle and Clint, and Happy Cat and all the crazy critters!! Humbugged was a fabulous conclusion to the O’Dell brothers series. Nutquacker, and all the Chuck Norris-esque memes about Clint had me LOLing within the first 5 minutes. Pippa and Lili have created a fabulous world in Happy Cat with marvelous characters; I hope we get more from Happy Cat soon.
Back to Happy Cat and the O’Dell family!
I loved this 4th book in the series! Clint is larger than life and dreamy as heck. Noelle is a little bit of sweet and sassy. Together they are amazing. Once again the animals come out to play and add so much depth to the story. I hope this isn’t the end of Happy Cat!
I read an advanced copy for an honest review.
Clint O’Dell is a tall glass of Eggnog that every single woman wants to spike and drink! He is freakishly handsome. Memes are created about him and being the youngest in his family as well as a Marine, he sometimes buys into the hype.
Several months ago, he laid eyes on Noelle, the newest resident in town. She is a baker, who can’t seem to get any of her recipes to go right, but Clint still wants to eat her cupcakes! Problem is, she has serious issues with men, especially MARINES, and wants nothing to do with Clint, no matter how yummy he may seem.
Incidents and a ghost at her bakery, bring these two together and they decide to be friends with benefits for the holiday season only.
Will they be able to give each other up when their time is over?
What’s going on at the bakery? Who is sabatoging it?
Are you ready to laugh to hard that people will either look at you funny or come into the room, where you are reading and find out what is so funny?
This story is an absolute delight, that will have you smiling until the very end!
Clint and Noelle’s story is so real to life. Clint is a Marine who has been stationed as a recruiter and Noelle moved to Happy Cat after her boyfriend walks out on her. Noelle owns a bakery and there are some odd things happening in her shop. Clint wants to make sure that Noelle is safe and he also wants her to follow her dreams. Noelle doesn’t want a relationship with a Marine, her father is a Marine, who will spend most of his time away from her. Clint wants a relationship. Will they be able to meet in the middle and make a relationship work?
Humbugged is my favorite story in the Happy Cat series, however I highly recommend the entire series. I love the updates on where the other characters are in their lives and relationships and nothing beats Christmas in Happy Cat!!!
Buckle up and settle in for the wackiest, most hilarious, heart-warming Christmas you’ll ever spend as we return to Happy Cat, GA, with the loveable O’Dell family and their delightful, domesticated animal menagerie. The favorite younger brother, Clint, is home from the Marines for a short period, and just in time for all the family and town’s festive traditions.
Noelle Alwyn, daughter of a career military father, thought she had finally settled down with her boyfriend of two years, until he leaves abruptly to seek greener pastures. After a night of self-pity and too much alcohol, Noelle wakes to find that she’s purchased a piece of commercial real estate in Happy Cat. Figuring that’s as good a place as any to escape her imploded life and lick her wounds, Noelle opens a cupcake bakery in her newly-acquired Happy Cat property.
Noelle is not exactly in the mood to make friends, but the O’Dell women make it all but impossible, with their gentle coaxing, open hearts and judgement-free acceptance. Despite a manic goose that seems to have a vendetta against her and a reindeer that seems love struck where she’s concerned, Noelle finds herself softening. Especially when it comes to Clint O’Dell, which is bad. Very bad. Not only is he younger than her and too charming for his own good, but she’s done her time with career military, so no thank you.
I can’t even explain how much I adore these O’Dell brothers, but Clint? Clint takes not only the cupcake but the entire bakery. He’s everybody’s hero but still a regular guy, and he loves his family, both the one he was born into as well as his brothers in arms. But as much as he loves the O’Dells and the Marines, he loves Noelle more, and with that huge of a heart on a hunk of a mortal man, just stick a fork in me. I’m done. I’m Team Clint all the way, and both he and Noelle own my heart!
It wouldn’t be Happy Cat without the quirky, charming residents or outrageous critter antics, and this writing team doesn’t disappoint with plenty of zany, hilarious shenanigans. With book world’s favorite masked bandit family (the raccoons here take offense to the term “trash panda” because they eat from bowls and plates, TYVM), llamas we all love and a couple of new additions, it’s never a dull moment, although the humans certainly give them a run for their money.
You’ll spew your drink and laugh out loud. You’ll “aww” and “squee!” because, O’Dell babies! Your Kindle will get too hot to handle from the steam on the pages and your heart will be squeezed in the best of ways, leaving you with a big, goofy, satisfied grin. Grab your copy today, because this will be one of your very best reading experiences, and it is unforgettable!