Making Up by Helena Hunting Blog Tour

Welcome to the MAKING UP Blog Tour!

Synopsis

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.

Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Buy-Book Link: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250253378

Excerpt

We’re a couple of minutes away from my apartment, which also means we’re almost at the end of our date. End-of-date protocol often means a goodnight kiss.

And I’ve eaten onions. Lots of them. What the hell was I thinking? I feel around in my shorts pocket, hoping I have a random stick of gum. I find a tiny square packet and pull it out, along with an old tissue. I shove that back in my pocket and sigh with relief as I carefully open the Listerine Pocketpak. There’s one strip left. I pop it in my mouth, wishing I had water since my mouth is dry and I’m suddenly super nervous.

Griffin pulls up in front of my apartment building. I swallow a bunch of times, trying to get the strip to dissolve on my tongue and glance out the tinted window, seeing it from his perspective. I don’t live in a bad part of town, but I sure as hell wouldn’t leave this car sitting out here for any length of time unless I wanted it keyed or stripped down.

Griffin shifts into park and turns to me, one hand resting on the back of my seat near the headrest. 

“I had a great time, Cosy.”

“Me too, thanks for dinner.” I tried to fork over my share, but he was quick on the credit card draw.

“It was my pleasure.” He leans in the tiniest bit, a nonverbal cue that he’s going in for a kiss.

I mirror the movement, giving him the go ahead. My stomach flutters in anticipation. I exhale slowly through my nose. Even though the Listerine strip should be doing its job to mask the onions, I don’t want to ruin the moment by breathing that in his face.

His fingertips skim my jaw, and I close my eyes. And then his lips brush my cheek. I wait for them to move a couple of inches to the right, but after what feels like a lot of seconds—and is probably only a few—I crack a lid.

Griffin is still close, a wry smile on his lips and a smolder in his eyes.

“Seriously, that’s it? A kiss on the cheek?”

His smile widens, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. He’s nothing like the guys I usually end up on dates with. College boys don’t take things slow. If I were out with one of the guys from school, I’d be sitting in a beat-up Civic with some stupid music playing, and he’d be all over me with his tongue halfway down my throat, copping a feel.

“I thought all the onions you ate were the equivalent to garlic for vampires.” Griffin fingers my hair near my shoulder. I’d really like him to finger something else. Wait. I mean I’d like to feel his hands on me. Not in my pants. Okay, maybe I’d like them in my pants, but not after date number one.

“I wasn’t thinking, and I really like onions. A lot. In hindsight, it’s not a great date food. I feel kinda dumb. And I guess at first I wasn’t so sure about you. How was I supposed to know you’d actually be kind of normalish?”

“Normalish?”

“Well, you drink club soda on purpose, so you can’t be all there.” I tap his temple.

Griffin circles my wrist with his fingers and drops his head, lips brushing over my knuckle. “We can’t all be perfect, now, can we?”

“I suppose not, and perfect is boring.”

“That it is.” He hums against my skin, and I feel it through my entire body. “I would like to try that kiss again, if you’re still interested.”

Making Up (London Celebrities #3) by Lucy Parker

* * * *

Author of Act Like It and Pretty Face Lucy Parker returns readers to the West End, where it’s fireworks onstage and off in a sexy enemies-to-lovers showdown. 

Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved…difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.

Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser. 

To Leo, something about Trix is…different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.

When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.

It seems hopeless.

Utterly impossible. 

And yet…

Source: audiobook borrowed from Hoopla


Trix has been through a rough, confusing patch lately. First, she breaks it off with a controlling boyfriend. Now she finds herself in the spotlight after the star of the Festival of Masks is out due to a freak accident. The sudden thrust into the limelight is disconcerting for her. Trix was always full of life and game for trying new things but since the debacle of her relationship, she's been apprehensive about everything. Even Leo, her former love, who has appeared on the scene again can see that she's behaving differently. Her confidence has taken a knock and she can't seem to get out of her own head. Leo coming back to work at the Festival of Masks only aggravates her more. They've always managed to push each other's buttons while simultaneously wanting to get naked with each other. Conundrum indeed. Leo has his own plans though. He's hoping to win a contest for special effects makeup that will open doors for him in the industry. Now that they're back and sharing the same air space stirs up all sorts of memories and feelings but two things are for sure: they're both hurting and they can see through each other.

Making Up is the more angsty of the three London Celebrities books so far. I think Trix and Leo's shared history lends itself to more tension between them. Something happened to both of them that makes them more reserved and overly cautious about stepping into another relationship, especially Trix. 

As I was listening to it, it struck me that a cynical view would be to see Leo as a sort of saviour coming in to sweep Trix off her feet. I don't see him that way at all. If anything, he's a good friend who's constantly thinking of her and always encouraging her and never mincing his words. Trix, who's feisty, fiery, and always ready to start a battle of words with Leo, is never treated like a delicate flower. This is why I like this story so much. I can totally relate to what Trix is going through where someone close to her that she placed her trust in robbed her of her confidence. It's hard to cast away the gnawing, critical voice that seems to override self-belief. We could all do with someone like Leo who gently reminds her that she strong enough, she is worthy of good things and she deserves that happiness. It does go both ways because Trix looks out for Leo as well, wanting to see him make good on his own career aspirations. She notices a side of him that many don't know about and she also helps him find his footing.

"Nobody is magically immune to having their emotions messed with. It's not a question of moral strength. ... Strong, smart people make mistakes. And if the worst thing you ever do is believe in someone who doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as you, I think you're doing okay."

~ Leo, Making Up

I knew I already loved this series but Making Up cinched it for me. It gave me a favourite new quote that resonated with me at my core. Its sensitive theme doesn't take away from the fact that this is a sweet romance full of optimism and love. 

~ Bel

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

* * * 3/4

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

You know, everything about this screams absurd until you remember that the popularity contest is alive and well every day, in every school, everywhere. Compound that with the fact that these days these things seem to be starting at an earlier age (my first is in 6^th grade and oh, all that drama!) and The Break-Up Artist just may be a little insightful.

I started off having mixed feelings about Becca. She’s been hurt and holds a grudge against her ex-bestie Huxley. Their falling out is one of the reasons behind her skepticism of being in love. The other is the abrupt cancellation of her sister’s wedding at the 11^th hour. Seeing her sister become a shadow of herself, Becca has come to see love as the ultimate death knell to happiness. She thinks of herself as a hero to the many couples she has already broken up. While I was taken aback by her pessimistic view on love, I was also impressed with how she ingeniously set up her business, advertised herself and went about her way.

Things get tricky when her current bestfriend  Val starts making googly eyes at Ezra. She’s torn between wanting Val to be happy but is also apprehensive about what changes this could bring. Then there is her latest assignment: to break up the golden couple at school, Huxley and Steve. I was wondering the whole time how Becca was going to keep things straight between befriending Huxley again and maintaining her changing friendship with Val. There's also the that risk of being exposed publicly which becomes very possible as the story moves along. 

What comes as a pleasant surprise is when the dynamics begin shifting and Becca becomes caught up in the tangled webs of her own creation. In befriending Huxley because of her assignment, she has actually come to know Huxley again. Becca’s attraction to Val's boyfriend catches her off-guard, putting her in a precarious predicament where she must now reexamine her own principles about friendships and relationships.

In reading The Break-Up Artist I was hoping for a whimsical story about the ups and downs of friendships but I didn’t expect it to go deeper than that. Becca was all “bitter and revenge” until she had to do some soul-searching to reconsider her own well-meaning but misguided intentions. I was hell bent on disliking Huxley  -- the many outlandish PDAs and declarations of eternal, undying love had my eyes rolling so often they were doing cartwheels -- but then she opened up to Becca and there was a real person behind the show. I still couldn’t wrap my head around Huxley’s and Steve's intensity but it was nice to see her character develop. But what I really appreciate about the book, is how Becca manages to turn things around by the end. She seizes an unexpected opportunity that makes me wonder if there's a possible sequel. I'll just put in my two cents and say, yes please!!

~ Bel