Handle With Care

This is the the final book in the Shacking Up series and it is about Lincoln & Wren! The saying, “the best is last” was so true with this series! This was my favorite book of all 5! I don’t know which man I love more, Lincoln or Pierce!Lincoln’s father has died unexpectedly and since his brother is a pos, their family business has been left for him to run. Since he hasn’t spent more than a few days in the city in years his mother has hired a woman to help transform him. Not only has he been left with the company, but he has discovered some major family secrets.Wren has been working for Lincoln’s family for years and recently has been helping transform Armstrong. Now she has the job to transform Lincoln as well. She thinks he’s going to be as difficult as Armstrong but what she finds is he’s very attractive and he is kind. He is nothing like Armstrong.With these two spending almost 24/7 together it’s kind of hard to not fall in love. I love the chemistry between Wren & Lincoln!

We never met Lincoln Moorehead when we got to see what a piece of work Armstrong Moorehead was in Hooking Up. Lincoln knows what a screw up family he has so he stayed away for the longest time. Lincoln spends his time working on projects and building things for the less fortunate and in 3rd world countries. Unfortunately Lincoln had to come home for his father's funeral. Lincoln has a very low opinion of his father and knows that his father had cheated on his mother, even though Lincoln doesn't care for his mother either. Now he loves his grandmother and it is that love that guilts him into staying in NY to help out with the family company until his grandmother can find a replacement for the CEO position. This definitely does not make Lincoln happy and to make matters worse, he finds out that his mother has hired a handler for him to help make him look presentable as CEO and to also help him get up to speed on the company.What's a love story without having Armstrong involved to make life more difficult for Lincoln and to show us that Armstrong is still a spoiled brat who thinks he can get away with anything he wants and he will somehow get bailed out by his family. Which also makes him believe that nothing is his fault and it is everyone else's fault. The first time we get formally introduced to Wren Sterling is in the conference where the will is being read for Lincoln and Armstrong's father and we see her in action when Armstrong throws his fits. I applaud Wren for being able to put Armstrong in a headlock, make him be scared of her, and puts him in his place. Lincoln also sees this and wants to know more about this woman that can handle Armstrong. However when Lincoln finds out she's his handler, he is not too happy about it.As the 2 spend more time together because Wren is just in his face and space about everything, the two of them try to irritate each other and get on each other's nerves. They are secretly fighting the attraction that they have for each other until they finally crack and act on it. I love how Wren is so strong and can handle herself when it comes to dealing with both Lincoln and Armstrong. She knows what she wants and goes after it. Lincoln and Wren work together and play together and loves each other's company. Their relationship makes it more bearable for Lincoln to be in NY. However, when Lincoln gets too close to finding out more about his father's life away from the family, his mother decides to blackmail Wren for her to make him stop investigating. Wren must decide what she has to do in order to protect both her, her family and Lincoln. Once she lets Lincoln know about the situation with his mother, the 2 of them are determined to find out the big secret and what they find out shocks Lincoln. Lincoln finds out more about his parent's relationship and what type of person his mother truly is. With the help of his grandmother once he tells her what he uncovers, they confront his mother with some shocking results.Throughout the story, Armstrong is his typical self and never really changes. It is not until the end and with the most unlikely person that Wren and Lincoln could imagine that could make Armstrong slightly behave but still can't make him change his ways. Wren and Lincoln find that they have the same passion in helping people and want to pursue that while Lincoln continues to be the CEO of the company, which Lincoln realizes he can restructure the company to what he wants it to be going forward. Lincoln and Wren are just the perfect couple for each other once they get to relax and be who they really are with each other and can show their true feelings to the world.Also, the Mills family were mentioned during the book so we got a little update on what's going on with them. We also found out that Lincoln and Griffin were close and kept in touch even though they don't get to see each other much.

Lincoln may have an a$$wipe for a brother, and parents who always appeared cold, but he finds himself wanting to help save the world. That may be taken away from him after his father dies and he finds himself the interim head of his family's media conglomerate. Not only is he required to take over this company he doesn't want, but he also finds himself the center of Wren's attention. Wren has been hired to "handle" his brother and himself so they look as good as possible in the spotlight. However, he finds that he soon cannot keep away from this sassy, take-no-prisoners type of a personality. Wren is smart, kind, and witty, and together, these two lovebirds may just have a special kind of relationship. Until past secrets are brought to the surface, threatening to ruin anything they may have.Handle With Care is fun, funny, sexy, and you will find yourself laughing throughout the entire book. I adored the chemistry between these two, and am completely jealous of this family and their seemingly impeccable gene pool. While this is the 5th in the Shacking Up series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Definitely not one you want to miss!

I have reread this book countless times. I've recommended and gifted it to many friends. This is the book that started my obsession with Helena's writing and I fall in love with Linc and Wren more each time I read it. Wren is a take-charge woman and found an equally strong partner in Lincoln. One of the things I loved so much about their story is how they communicated with one another. Linc can be grumpy, he is not happy to have to leave his normal life to put on a suit and handle his brother. Wren is not thrilled to be the "handler" to both Lincoln and his brother, but she's good at her job and knows this position will help her in the future. Together, they just fit.

I have seriously enjoyed this series and can't begin to explain the giddiness I feel over the prospect of perhaps getting one or two more books in the Shacking Up world. I was already a true fan of Helena Hunting from the Pucked series, but these books (in addition to Meet Cute) have really displayed her range and ability to draw the reader in and keep them captivated without the irresistible pull of hockey :) The mystery of Lincoln (and the source of Armstrong's untenable douchery) were revealed superbly and as expected, the woman to heel is true girl squad material. Handle with Care had plot twists and turns that I was not expecting and the heat, humor, and heart that are requisites with this author. I'm really looking forward to her Pucked series spinoff and hope that we do see more in this world as well. But honestly, I'm on board to read whatever she writes! 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.