MUST HATE DOGS
Do you hate dogs? Only want to talk about yourself? Is having a sense of humor something you’ve never been accused of? Think eating for pleasure is a complete waste of time? Agree that tipping is for suckers? Then you’re the date for me.
Dixon Beckett is the kind of guy who loves his mama, treats women right, and never ever wants to fall in love again. That’s why he’ll do anything to win a bet to be the last single man standing by Christmas.
He’s got a plan, too. Create the most no-good, horrible, very bad dating profile in existence. Only someone actually responds to his ad…
The rules say he has to go on six dates with the first (or in his case, only) person who answers—even if that person is Fiona Hartigan: Hater of dogs, non-lover of any delicious food, and zero sense of humor.
But something feels off about this pariah. In fact, Dixon is almost positive Fiona is just pretending to be awful. Pretending to be the most horrible date in existence. And she’s most definitely pretending to not be as interested in him as he is in her.
The more Dixon Beckett starts to unravel the mystery of why Fiona answered his ad in the first place, the more he starts considering the most vile, awful, terrible idea ever…falling in love.
| Title: | Mama’s Boy |
| Author: | Avery Flynn |
| Series: | Last Man Standing (Book 1) |
| Pages: | 356 |
| Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Bet / Wager Enemies to Lovers |
| Point of View: | Third Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | US |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 27th September, 2021 |
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Silly premise – cute romance
I’m a huge fan of Avery Flynn and her writing but although it pains me to do it – I have to give this book 3 stars. It’s the first time I’ve not been raving about one of Ms. Flynn’s stories. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve not given one of her solo-written books 5 stars. Sigh.
This is the first in a new series (Last Man Standing) of 3 books featuring 3 cousins of which our hero, Dixon, is one. Each book features a different couple and completely stand alone complete with HEA. This also features Ms Flynn’s beloved Hartigan family and we do get plenty of cameos from said clan for those who have a special affection for them. For those that don’t know them – that’s fine, too – they just become a fun and quirky addition to the tale.
I’ll start with the premise for the whole series – a bet between the cousins. The prize (which I acknowledge is worthy of being won) is given to the last man standing (hence the series’ title) or the only person not married by Christmas time. But first, each man must date the first person who responds to their ad on a dating app, and then go on 6 dates organised by the other 2 men. For a premise it’s cute and quirky, sure, but it also MAKES NO BLOODY SENSE! My brain almost exploded every time it was mentioned because it was ridiculous. It would be so easy to not lose this bet (because it’s not possible to win it) and while I get that that’s the point – it still made my ass twitch.
“…it’s cute and quirky, sure, but it also MAKES NO BLOODY SENSE!”
And then there’s the fact that Fiona is pretending to be someone she’s not. Again for absolutely no reason. Dixon is up front with her when they meet and while I get that she didn’t want to admit her own reason for ‘swiping right’ on his dating ad, there was no reason for her to continue with her personality subterfuge. The fact that Dixon didn’t believe it for a minute is neither here nor there.
Once the bet was no longer at the forefront of the story, the tale definitely picked up. It was cute and funny and definitely a light read. I would have preferred if Dixon wasn’t so hell-bent on winning everything, and if Fiona wasn’t so down on herself, her looks and her (real) personality, but I did enjoy them together and believed that they were good for each other. And tent shenanigans never hurts any story, in my opinion.
It would seem I’m FIRMLY in the minority regarding my opinions with this book. Which is good because that means it’s more likely I was having a bad week than Ms Flynn! My advice – ignore me and give this book a go. I truly hope you love it where I could not. Just 3 stars from me.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review *
USA Today bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.
She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.
Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.
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Last Man Standing Series:
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