**”**Narrators Muffy Newtown and Jacob Morgan will make listeners blush and laugh their way through this Las Vegas-based romantic comedy in which the sin extends beyond the city…Newtown is great at emphasizing character individuality and sneaking humor into her delivery. Morgan, with his swoon-inducing, even-toned, perfectly paced voice, is everything listeners want in a hero.” — AudioFile Magazine
A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.
Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.
Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.
As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.
Griffin Mills and Cosy Felton’s hilarious meet-cute is a whole lot awkward with a good amount of embarrassment, and its setting is definitely not a place most would go to find unless they were looking for a kinky someone who would love to use any of the sex toys that fill the shelves of Cosy’s place of employment, Sex Toy Warehouse.
And, let me tell you, the sales mask that Cosy wears along with her required ‘uniform’ enable her to ‘sell sexy toys like nobody’s business,’ even if she doesn’t have a lot of experience in the actual act of sex. So the fact that Griffin drew the short straw and had to venture into a adult toy store to pick up the necessary gag gifts for a bachelor party is actually quite fortuitous because Cosy and Griffin never would have met if he didn’t have to embarrass himself by venturing into Sex Toy Warehouse and learning about the many different types and sizes of dildos.
The best thing about Griffin and Cosy is how much they seem to own their awkwardness and make fun of themselves as they try to figure out exactly what’s between them. And, the fact that they are opposites in almost every facet of their lives, but still find a common ground and extremely enjoy being in each other’s company prove that age is just a number, baggage can be let go of, and that life doesn’t always have to be planned out – spontaneity might actually make their lives fuller.
Cosy was my girl from the start – I adored her quirks, her wanderlust, her easy going spirit, and the fact that she lived her life according to her own dictates, no one else’s. She’s quite an amazing heroine, and while she’s not into staying in one place too long, moving on to her next adventure on a whim, as well as living as uncomplicated a life as possible, there’s something about Griffin that makes her want to be where he is, giving into a lifestyle that she’s never had and a plethora of surprises, which she never enjoyed.
Griffin, just like the other Mills men readers have met, is totally swoon worthy, and even though he’s a bit jaded and has quite a bit of baggage due to his previous relationship, it’s clear that his an upstanding guy who deserves to be happy and despite their age difference, the fact that he lives in New York, and Cosy’s need for things to be uncomplicated, Griffin can’t help but love spending time with her and like who he is with her, which means that when his time in Vegas is over, he’ll have to hope Cosy isn’t afraid of complicating things.
Making Up is a sweet, steamy, and humorous read with a bit of drama in the mix as well, which is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Helena Hunting’s stories and characters, making her one of my absolute faves!
4.5 Poison Apples
I first fell in love with Helena Hunting’s writing in 2015 and have not stopped reading and loving it since. My love affair with her books continues with MAKING UP, the fourth book in her Shacking Up Series. This book features Griffin, the eldest Mills brother, the serious numbers guy who travels a lot. However, he just might be my favorite Mills sibling of all.
Griffin is a hunk, and so sexy. Not just because he’s described as having a six pack and an enviable physique, but because he’s smart too. Most off all I find him beyond attractive for how kind and caring he is when it comes not only to Cosy, but also doing the right thing. I adored the way he was with Cosy. They seemed like mirror opposites on the outside but were twins on the inside.
Cosy might seem like a young woman, but at 22 her exterior does not match her personality and character. She displays maturity uncommon for women her age, but she’s not jaded. She’s both lively and sensible. I loved how she pulled Griffin out of his usual routine and also supported him. I loved how Cosy didn’t fixate on their age gap, when women get more flack for being in relationships with men significantly older than them, which was not the case here.
A Helena Hunting novel has a few hallmarks-well developed characters, steamy chemistry, a great story, laughter, and substance. Her stories never fail to make me smile and laugh, as well as swoon and fall in love. MAKING UP is funny, but it’s also as real as it is dramatic. This book had so many twists I didn’t see coming and I didn’t want the book to end! I loved seeing the other Mills men again and seeing how they handled Griffin not only being in a relationship, but also in love. MAKING UP is the perfect summer read, and is another great addition to the Shacking Up Series!
A wonderful contemporary romance. I loved griffin and Cosy’s Story. I could not put this book down until I found out what was going to happen to this couple before they reached their HEA. I hope that Cosy’s sister will have her own story. Looking forward to reading more in this series
Making Up by Helena Hunting
Shacking Up #4
Cosy Felton is a college student working in an adult toy shop to make ends meet. When Griffin Mills stops by the store to buy a list of items for a bachelor party Cosy makes a less than fun shopping trip a lot less embarrassing. As Griffin is drawn to Cosy he returns later to ask her on a date…and though she says no they do eventually go out. For awhile the eleven year age difference seems it might be a stumbling block but not for long…nope…soon other things seem to pop up that cause problems. There are ups and downs in their relationship but throughout the story it is impossible NOT to see them together.
What I liked:
* Griffin: WONDERFUL book boyfriend!
* Cosy: a nice balance to Griffin and his soul mate
* The meet cute
* The way the two usually ended up talking things out rather than giving up
* The steamy scenes
* Griffin’s family
* Knowing how the characters were feeling and what they were thinking – first person dual points of view
* How it all worked out
What I did not like:
* Imogen – Griffin’s Ex-fiance
* Armstrong – Griffin’s cousin
* The drama of the ups and downs though they did allow for a lot of making up
* All the comments about the age difference although there were times Cosy seemed younger than 22
Did I like this book? Yes
Will I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
This book will make you laugh out loud and then aw all in sitting. Making Up is a sweet, hilarious and sexy romance wrapped into one delicious book.
The story and the characters are so easy to fall in love with and I truly enjoyed Cosy and Griffin (their meet cute is uh-mazing).
Cosy, Cosy, Cosy – young, laid-back, self-aware and ready to take on the world. She is charming, funny and hasn’t become jaded about the world. Instead, she sees life as the adventure that it is and she couldn’t care less of what people think about her and that is so refreshing.
Griffin Mills, my goodness he deserved his HEA. He was damaged, thus becoming a mix of possessive and vulnerable. He has no game whatsoever, which made him so real.
These two had so many great scenes together and their chemistry is amazing, they clicked and just make so much sense together. Like most Helena Hunting rom-coms, you are in for a treat, what with sweet, hilarious and steamy scenes.
Read this if you’re looking for a sweet, sexy and funny story. It can be read as a standalone, but do yourself a favor and read the other ones in the Shacking Up world.
I have so much love for this book. At first, I wasn’t sure about it, but it was epic. There were so many twists and turns that I know I’m going to have a killer emotional book hangover, but it was wonderful because of romance and sweetness and the brilliant communication between Cosy and Griffin, even when the going got tough.
Love, love, love! I love her crazy hockey stories, but this new series that is a little less hilarious and a little more angsty are just fantastic. I love her characters: Cosy who is spunky, friendly, outspoken and just a bit snarky. Griffin is a billionaire heir, works in his father’s hotel empire, has all the merits to be an entitled jerk, and yet he’s a nice guy with a big dose of humility. A recent break up has broken him a little and he feels a tad loveless.
Griffin and Cosy initially meet when he goes to a sex toy store where Cosy is a clerk. He’s a little shy and embarrassed, Cosy is helpful and gets him his shopping list for a bachelor party complete. She’s so charming and entertaining he’s hooked but she won’t date customers. One, they may be kinky, and two, it might affect future sales. But Griffin is insistent and off they go into a fantastic love affair. Lots of yummy sex, cheeseburgers with lots of onion and great conversations. They get along like a house on fire, and pretty soon, what should have been a two-month affair, turns a bit more serious and both don’t want to let go….
Griffin has secrets and they come out one after the other. Cosy is understanding but not that much. When she hits her limit, her heart breaks but she breaks up with Griffin. Then it’s up to Griffin to make things right.
I loved how Cosy handled Griffin! She kept him on his toes, she made his life brighter and happier, and he loved to pamper her. Cosy is a wanderer at heart, and Griffin understands her and accepts her and even panders to the wanderer in her. I also loved seeing old friends, Lex and Amie, and meet new Nevah, Cosy’s sister. I hope to see more books in this series!
As with HH’s books, there is always family, both the nice ones and the douche ones, plus always a witch to throw a wrench in the works. It was entertaining, lovely, warmhearted. I loved the story, the characters, enjoyed reading this so much, I totally recommend!
Loving this series by Helena Hunting!!! Each Mills brother gets a little more yummier than the one before him.
Griffin is this stable, strong, dependable, filthy mouthed surprise that has a touch of awkward on occasion that just makes him so damn sexy and endearing. He’s been this enigma since Shacking Up and it was such a treat to get to see all the awesomeness that makes up the oldest Mills brother.
Cosy is this sassy, independent take no sh** lady. She has goals and dreams and has no intention of letting anyone…especially the sexy older guy that keeps popping up get in the way of them. Eventually all that is Griffin breaks her down and they start out on what’s supposed to be a casual fling, quicker than either of them expect it turns into more though.
They both have things to overcome and that get in the way, but their connection can not be denied.
Making Up is a great addition to the Shacking Up series and Cosy and Griffin definitely steal your heart!!!
This book had me rolling from the first page! It had a lot of ups and downs, sexy scenes and sweet scenes as well. If you know me, you know I am normally not a fan of the older man stories. I personally prefer a younger man myself, so a lot of times I just can’t enjoy the opposite. However, when it is Helena Hunting, she can pretty much write any story and it seems I will be sucked in and love it. There were so many issues that Cosy and Griffin had to overcome, some having to do with that very age difference, but then others having to do with Griffin’s past dalliances, and even Cosy’s own sister threw a wrench into their relationship! But I like the way all of the obstacles were handled, realistically in my opinion, but with enough drama and even romance to make it worth reading. I’ve only read one other in this series, but I seriously need to go back and read all the rest!
A sassy heroine and a damaged hero? Yes, please. Helena Hunting writes the BEST romance!
Making Up was my first book by Helena Hunting and I wasn’t disappointed. I’d say it’s a good sign when a romantic comedy makes you laugh after reading only a couple of pages! That wasn’t the last time that happened while reading this story and I’m sure I got some weird looks while reading on the train when I was laughing out loud.
Cosy works at an adult toy store and how she describes it makes you cringe, but laugh as well. Hopefully there aren’t too many Eugenes out there! I really enjoyed Cosy as a character. She may take her time finishing her college classes, but she’s doing what makes her happy! Getting her degree and traveling in between semesters. Cosy is an independent woman and works hard for what she wants. She’s not really open to relationships after seeing her sister experience things and of course, because of the few experiences she had herself.
Griffin is an interesting character. I think he’s really sweet and even though he has a lot of money, he’s not arrogant. He may not think of what he spends, but he doesn’t make it known to everyone how rich he is. On top of that, he’s kind of a number nerd. Griffin works for his family’s business and loves what he does. He hasn’t had the best record in relationships even though he’s more of the serious relationship type. One night stands aren’t his thing.
Their relationship is pretty interesting, but what do we expect when you meet the person you’re attracted to at an adult toy store. I love the connection they have from the start and how they flirt with each other I also love all of the awkward moments they experience that you could definitely relate to if it happened to you. I couldn’t put this book down, because I was enjoying this so much. They have a lot of amazing moments to read about and I love the romance and steamy moments.
For me the only reason this wasn’t a five star read, because I thought there was just a bit too much drama. I mean in a romance I expect some ups and downs and bumps in the road, but there was just a bit too much. I mean for me only so much can go wrong before it doesn’t feel real anymore. Besides that I loved every aspect of the this story!
All in all, a fun read with an amazing couple! There are plenty of laugh out loud moments and I came to really care for these characters. Even though this is a standalone, it did feel like there were a few things that came from previous books (like little updates). I will definitely have to pick up the first three books in this series!
MAKING UP is a deliciously sexy, brilliantly funny must have!!!
If you’re looking for that one book that will keep you utterly engaged and busting at the seams with laughter then look no further!
Seriously, I’m not a Romcon fan normally but Griffin and Cosy storyline just had me from the start!!! Just over the top joy is what I got from this read!!
I absolutely love Cosy and Griffin! Helena packs this with her humor and perfect angst/drama. Another win!
This book will have you in tears from laughter, literally from the first page! Helena Hunting is one of my favorite RomCom authors – while I love how witty and charming her characters are, the best part is they don’t have a filter, and that’s a rare treasure these days. Cosy and Griffin are from very different worlds, with a remarkable age difference, and yet, it’s clear to everyone but them how perfect they suit each other. If you’re looking for a feel good book, look no further than Making Up!
This book is AMAZING!!! Get ready to fall in love with another Mills brother. Griffin is all sorts of wonderful. And Cosy is awesome. And together they are perfection, despite the odds stacked against them. I love the way they met and their banter and their chemistry. Helena has a way of making each book fresh and unique with an unforgettable cast of characters, and this one is no exception. It’s full of humor and steam and drama and all the things that makes a great book. I adore the Shacking Up world and all the Mills boys and the women who capture their hearts. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll definitely enjoy this latest installment. This is a top read for me this year.
The rom com queen strikes again with her latest installment of the Shacking Up series, MAKING UP! A Vegas marriage. Age gap. Awkward alpha (as only Helena could write him!) And a sassy heroine who’ll make him work for it!
YOU NEED THIS ONE!!
Once again Helena Hunting does not disappoint! Making Up is a standalone story within her Shacking Up world.
Cosy Felton is a twenty two year old college student working in an adult store to make ends meet.
Griffin Mills, a hotel mogul, temporarily relocates to Vegas after a painful breakup to check on his family’s hotel. He never expected to find a date while shopping for a bachelor party…but can he convince her to give him a chance?
There may be eleven years between them, but Cosy may just be what Griffin needs. Griffin’s finally breaks through Cosy’s resistance & she agrees to go out with him. Why shouldn’t she?!? He’s only in town for a month or so, so there’s no way she’ll get attached.
I can’t tell you more without giving you spoilers, but the feelings I experienced while reading were all over the board…smiles, frustration, love, so many laughs & yes, just a couple of tears. And I can’t forget to say that it was also smoking HOT!!
I love this “world” that Helena has given us, the friendships & relationships she has created are some of my all-time favorites! I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!
rom their ridiculously adorable meet-cute, to the first date asking attempt, through the very end, I absolutely adored the romance between Cosy and Griffin in Making Up.
Cosy’s a bit of a free bird—she makes her own way, forges her own path—and doesn’t let much stop her from her destination. She’s young, smart, sexy, and can handle herself in just about any situation with grace—even with the skeeviest of customers at the adult toy store.
Griffin is trying to find his way through life and work in the family business. He’s a bit jaded in the love department and is definitely caught by surprise at his attraction to Cosy.
I loved these two together. Cosy is the unpretentious, vibrant, laidback woman that the somewhat uptight, stiff, possessive Griffin needs to balance him and his life. I loved their banter, their easy and comfortable relationship. Sure there were issues, big issues, that wanted to keep them apart, but Cosy and Griffin got it together in the end. And what an ending!
You can never go wrong with a Helena Hunting read. She never fails to deliver a fun, sexy read full of witty humor and all the heat! Making Up gave me everything I was expecting and so so much more.
Griffin and Cosy has me rooting for them from the start. Cosy is totally someone I could be friends with and Griffin had me falling head over heals in love. I stayed glued to my kindle, needing to how their story played out.
I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend you one-click now!
Making Up is the perfect summer read! This is Helena at her best! Damaged hero meets feisty heroine = so many laughs. Don’t miss this one!