Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid Series: Knitting in the City #5
Published by Caped Publishing on January 19th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
From the USA Today Best Selling Author of ‘Truth or Beard’
There are three things you need to know about Fiona Archer… I would tell you what they are, but then I’d have to kill you.
But I can tell you that Fiona’s husband—the always irrepressible and often cantankerous Greg Archer—is desperately in love with his wife. He aches for her when they are apart, and is insatiable when they are together. Yet as the years pass, Greg has begun to suspect that Fiona is a ninja. A ninja mom. A ninja wife. A ninja friend. After fourteen years of marriage, Greg is trying not to panic. Because Fiona’s talent for blending in is starting to resemble fading away.
However, when unexpected events mean Fiona must take center stage to keep her family safe, her response stuns everyone—Greg most of all. It seems like Greg’s wish has come true.
Except… not.
When all is said and done, can Greg handle this new version of his wife? Will his irrepressible cantankerousness push her away? Or can the couple find a way forward without either being forced to step back into the shadows?
This is a full length, 100k word novel, and is the 5th book in the Knitting in the City Series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone except book #1.5
My love affair with Penny Reid began with the first story I read and grew with each book. I started this series happily because I loved her other books and I love knitting. After reading the first book, I signed up to be on the blog tour for Happily Ever Ninja choosing a date just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Happily Ever Ninja is the epitome of fantasy and real life in unison. The real life is cunningly encased in rainbows and unicorns. There are unbelievable money and skills and actions, all entertaining while also bringing forth the realness of a long-term love with its issues, trials, pleasures, and comforts.
THIS, people, is the incredible talent of Penny Reid. She makes you laugh and think and feel. It’s perfection. I may not like every concept or enjoy every hero but I can appreciate the intellectual facets and the feels.
The couple in this story has been married fourteen years. They have always loved each other. They are very different people and this has created challenges. Plus Greg’s work keeps him away from home much of the time.
I didn’t know or understand before this because Fiona is always so capable and taking care of others. I certainly don’t have her level of control physically or emotionally. Fiona does an amazing job of juggling priorities and balancing any negative feelings with her love and patience. So finally, we get to know her adult self in Happily Ever Ninja.
I do recommend reading the whole series in order, both because it is AWESOME and because you get the characters stories and lives as they go along without being confused or spoiled. See my review of the series here. As I suspected, Ninja at First Sight is a prequel which gives you a bit of Greg and Fiona when they met in college. It is way too short.
I was actually frightened this might be the last book in the series. I shouldn’t have worried. There are at least three more. Besides, how could we not find out what happens to Kat or Marie?
Giggle worthy quote:
“Are we going to have sex tonight? I have stuff to do and it’s already nine thirty.”
Even so, I attempted to keep my tone level and calm. “What could be too important for the greeting card aisle? It’s the perfect place to tell me anything and everything. There’s likely a card we can buy afterward for the occasion.”
She huffed a laugh, laughed a bit more, and then began crying again.
Her laughter was a good sign, so I went with it.
“Let’s see . . .” I shuffled us both to the rack and plucked a greeting card from it. “You tell me if this one describes your situation.” I cleared my throat and began to read, “Dear Brother, Many blessings on your fortieth birthday. May your girlfriend bring home that hot girl she works with and suggest a three-way.”
Fiona began laughing in earnest, burying her face against my chest.
I returned the original card, walked us a few steps farther down the aisle, and selected another card at random. “Here’s another. Dear Friend, Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I am so lucky to have you in my life, especially after that time I hit you with my car and salted the earth around your house.
I cracked a smile as I grabbed another card. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
“Dear Co-worker, Get well soon. Sorry about the scorpions in your bed. And the leprosy. And the chlamydia.”
“Stop! I can’t- I can’t breathe.” Fiona gripped the front of my shirt as though she needed my solid frame to remain upright.
I took one more step and picked a new card. “Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I know I’m not your favorite child, but I hope you will . . . you will . . .” I stopped reading because Fiona had stopped laughing.
In fact, she’d grown eerily still, though her fists remained anchored in my shirt. I don’t think she was even breathing.
“Fe?”
She released an audible exhale—as though bracing herself—and titled her head back. New tears shone in her eyes and she looked . . . emotional.
Not sad. Not worried or scared. Just emotional.
And I knew.
“I’m going to be a dad,” I said.
She nodded, her mouth wanting to smile but her eyes betraying the disordered chaos of her thoughts.
I had no idea what she was thinking.
I had no idea what I was thinking.
But I felt like I’d just been punched, slapped across the face. And it felt scary. And good.
I felt like I was the king of the universe, the luckiest man alive.
I felt panic, because I didn’t know how to be a dad, at least not the kind I wanted to be.
I felt a bizarre surge of pride, of accomplishment.
I felt a heady wave of possessiveness, for this woman I loved, for the child we’d made. I felt responsible.
But I did not feel burdened.
And I knew nothing would ever be the same.
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About Penny Reid
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US.
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I wish I liked contemporary romance more. I think I will put this one on my “expand my likes’ reads. I don’t dislike the genre I just really don’t read it much (pretty much just Animal Magnetism, Fool’s Gold, and The Kowalskis are the extent of my reading in that area).
Felicia – If I was going to pick one contemporary romance that is funny this is it. I also like Jill Shalvis and the others you mentioned. But this is the funniest. Anne
Everyone is mad raving about this author, I should definitely try her at some point. I need to dedicate a month for these “first try” reads
Braine Talk Supe – You need to try this FOR SURE. It’s funny. The first book in some of the series are or have been free! Anne