Once Hunted, Twice Shy by NY Times & USA TODAY* from Bestselling Author Mandy M. RothWelcome to Everlasting, Maine, where there’s no such thing as normal.Wolf-shifter Hugh Lupine simply wants to make it through the month and win the bet he has with his best friend. He’s not looking to date anyone, or to solve a murder, but when a breathtaking beauty runs him over (literally), he’s left no … (literally), he’s left no choice but to take notice of the quirky, sassy newcomer. She’d be perfect if it wasn’t for the fact she’s the granddaughter of the local supernatural hunter. Even if he can set aside his feelings about her family, Penelope is his complete opposite in all ways.
Penelope Messing wanted to get away from the harsh reminder that her boyfriend of two years dumped her. Several pints of ice cream and one plane ticket to Maine later, she’s ready to forget her troubles. At least for a bit. When she arrives in the sleepy little fishing town of Everlasting for a surprise visit with her grandfather, she soon learns that outrunning one problem can lead to a whole mess of others. She finds herself the prime suspect in a double homicide. She doesn’t even kill spiders, let alone people, but local law enforcement has their eyes on her.
The secrets of Everlasting come to light and Penelope has to not only accept that things that go bump in the night are real, but apparently, she’s destined for a man who sprouts fur and has a bizarre obsession with fish sticks. Can they clear Penelope’s name and set aside their differences to find true love?
*Books in the Happily Everlasting series can be read in any order!
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Return to Everlasting
The crew is just as quirky as it ever was in Everlasting, now they have a new addition who fits right in no matter who her family is. This book is full of laughter, joy, family, friends, a little bit of mystery and love. A perfect addition to Everlasting! I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I adore Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, I rarely try to figure out whodunit (although I have my guesses along the way), I simply enjoy the story, the characters we meet, and the time being swept away, entertained, and often with a few good chuckles tossed in. It does not matter how new or how old the story or series is – it’s the first time I’m reading it so it’s fresh to me. (this is why I’m vague and careful about spoilers in reviews, you never know when someone’s reading a book for the first time)
‘Once Hunted, Twice Shy‘ is the second title in the multi-author series, ‘Happily Everlasting‘, and we’re about to meet some unique characters with, let’s say, unusual abilities beyond being a shifter or a witch. When multiple authors make up a series it’s always fun to watch how new characters are added, how familiar ones are included, and how each author has their own twist on the backstories.
Penelope really has no clue as to the magic that runs through her family, or the role her grandfather’s played in the lives or fate of many people who live in Everlasting, Maine. All she knows right now is that she’s been dumped, duped, and is running to the one man she can trust above all others… her grandfather. It doesn’t take long before odd things begin to happen, or accusations of murder will be tossed in her direction. She’s about to meet her mate, although she has no idea that shifters even exist, let alone intends to fall for a man who seems to have an unending need to show off his swearing abilities (although it is amusing to see those bad words become funny phrases as he tries, without success, to give a good cussing rant).
Hugh is such a sweetheart, well around his lady, even though he had no intention of ever settling down… fate had something else planned for him. But did the love of his life have to be Messing’s granddaughter? Fate and the magic abilities of the townsfolk prove to be quite insistent that Penelope and Hugh belong together.
I had such a good time watching a mystery be solved, meeting new residents of Everlasting, and watching two people who appear to be complete opposites at first glace find a happy ever after ending. If you love a really good Paranormal Cozy Mystery then you should be checking out the ‘Happily Everlasting‘ series, and especially ‘Once Hunted, Twice Shy‘.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
cant wait for more
Grimm Meets I Love Lucy
If you’ve seen the dramatic TV series, Grimm, you know it’s premise is that shape shifters live among us. If you haven’t seen any “I Love Lucy,” for heaven’s sake go YouTube it.
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No sex – we know it happens, but get zero detail
No harsh language – and for amusing reasons
No gory violence, but pretty good action sequences
Appropriate for middle school – adult
Plot no spoilers:
Penelope arrives in the town of Everlasting to visit her grandfather. She is almost immediately accused of murdering two strangers and also literally runs into the love of her life. Several of the town’s eccentric citizens immediately come to her aid to clear her name.
Light reading. I guessed whodunit, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment.
4 instead of 5 stars because I thought the 1st of the Everlasting series was better. 4+ stars because you don’t have to read the 1st one. This book could stand alone.
I imagine I will read book #3 someday.
Definitely recommended if you need an escape from reality today.
Once Hunted, Twice Shy was my second every cozy mystery as well as my second read in the Happily Everlasting Series (see how that worked?) and I probably couldn’t count what book it was of Mrs. Roth’s for me. I really enjoyed this little adventure, I must admit. I bought the first four books in this series because they were steeply discounted and 3 were by authors I know very well, so I figured I’d give them a go. Though I enjoyed the first book, it was very much mystery with only a touch of the paranormal (there was ghost, so it was definitely there, don’t get me wrong) and romance. This book did a good job of being all three.
Penelope’s character was fun in the way of most snarky heroines, and her initially completely oblivious nature when it came to supernaturals endeared her greatly to me. Hugh was just straight up amusing. I adored him, honestly. The whole profanity abuse that was such a big part of him reminded me of my mother (don’t let this scare you, they didn’t actually curse pretty much at all; such is the magic of writing). There was the main mystery in the story (who killed the two strange men by the shore), but there were a whole slew of smaller ones for our dear Penelope that I honestly found even more fun.
I think I really liked all of the characters. I mean really, the drunk Petey, the crazy Aunt Polly, Deputy March aka Jake, Jolene, Grandpa Will, Sigmund, Curt, and even Buster made for an amusing little romp that I really didn’t want to end. There’s pretty much no way I won’t be reading their stories when she makes them (eventually, anyhow).
If you enjoy cute romances with unlikely characters, mysteries in seaside towns, great friends, and tons of laughs, this book is totally your cup of tea! As a side note, I honestly didn’t know Mrs. Roth could manage a clean romance (not that I really WANT one), but she pulled it off here.
Penelope is returning to Everlasting and the comfort of her grandfather after her love life took a nosedive. She loves her job at an auction house but she needs space from Chicago and her ass of an ex.
Hugh struggles to even approach the shop that harbours Wilber Messing! He may be a werewolf but Wil is well known in the supernatural town as a hunter of all things spooky! But when he gets bowled over by Penelope (literally!) he realises he may be getting even closer to the curmudgeonly shop owner. But how can he break it to Penelope that a) he’s a werewolf b) her grandfather is not the lovable old man she thinks he is.
Add in some untimely deaths being linked to Penelope’s arrival and your have yourself a humdinger of a story. Hugh is the perfect alpha, strong, capable, loving and generous. Penelope is strong when she wants to be and generally unflappable, except when being told her ex neighbour and possible love interest is a werewolf!
Hugh’s friends Jake, Petey and Curt are great comic relief and I hope to heck the series surpasses the initial 4 books cos I needs ALL my favourite characters to get a HEA!!
Loved this book.
It’s just too cute, there were moments I just chuckled. The author’s natural talent is just as recognizable here as in her normal PNR books. Now we have a whole nother bunch of characters to grow to love, it was great fun and I want to read more.