Book Review: Handle With Care (Shacking Up #5) by Helena Hunting

Handle With Care (Shacking Up #5)
By: Helena Hunting
Release Date: August 27, 21019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review
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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 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.

My Thoughts:

I was thrilled to finally get Lincoln's story and is was such a fun and fabulous reading escape. We got a lot of his character in the previous book, Making Up, because it was his cousin/best friend Griffin's story, and the two of them are like brothers. 

Lincoln "Linc" Moorehead comes from a wealthy and powerful family.  However, he is not close to his parents or his younger brother, Armstrong.  Lincoln attended boarding school since he was ten years old, his father was a workaholic who never really participated with the family, his mother was cold and pretentious, and his younger bother was not a good person.  The only one that he could count on was his grandma "G Mom," and cousin Griffin.  

Lincoln had his MBA from Harvard, but spent all of his time going to impoverished countries and building homes, wells so the people could have fresh water, and doing all sorts of humanitarian work.  He was dedicated to his passion, and enjoyed the backbreaking hands-on hard work.  When Linc's father dies of a heart attack, he is called back to New York for the reading of his father's will.  He is shocked to discover that he has been named as CEO of Moorehead Media.  Linc's G Mom guilts him in to staying on as CEO of the company for six months, until they can find and train someone else to take his place.  

Enter the gorgeous and fearless "Wren Sterling." Wren was hired by Linc's mom, Penelope Moorehead, as a P.R. Handler to clean up indiscretions and bad press for Armstrong.  She took the position as a favor to her mother. Penelope asks Wren to stay on and handle Linc for the next six months, and she'll double her pay for working with both sons.  At the end of that time period, she'll give Wren a glowing reference so that she can get her dream job. While Wren would rather move on an d pursue her passion, she agree's because it is a good deal and she is trying to mend the fractured relationship that she has with her mom.  However, between suit and tux fittings, charity events, and press conferences, Wren and Linc never expect to fall in love.  How can these two navigate their sizzling chemistry, and growing feelings for one another, between business, and family pressures?

I love how strong Ms. Hunting's female characters are.  Wren is one of the strongest to date.  I enjoyed her confidence, assertiveness, strong moral compass, and her ability to not only verbally put people in place when they needed it, but utilize her strong verbal tongue lashings when needed, as well as her excellent self defense skills.  She could even bring Armstrong to his knees by putting him in a headlock when he stepped out of line! She was such a strong female role model and I couldn't have possibly loved her more!

Lincoln was gorgeous, brooding, loyal, (to those who deserved it,) down to earth, and had strong ethics.  He was a manly man, and I enjoyed his gruff, rugged nature!  It was so much fun watching Linc and Wren interact with one another.  The beginning of their story was hilarious!  I loved Wren's bossiness when she dug her heels in to do her job, and I loved the way that Linc pushed back and could expertly push her buttons.  Together these two were hilarious at times, combustible at other times, and adorable once they figured things out.

Handle With Care was another win for readers.  It balanced Hunting's usual humor and light heartedness, with a little bit of drama, and a whole lot of sizzle!  Romance readers, you are in for a delightful treat with this new addition to the Shaking Up Series, and don't worry if you haven't been following along, because each of these books can easily be read as a standalone.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound 

About the Author:

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.

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