Of Winged Creatures & Nesting Grounds Review

Don’t let the Christmas lights or her name fool you, Happy Go Lucky is neither happy nor lucky. Plagued by time, an unpredictable disease, and a past ripped from the pages of a telenovela, Happy decides to take life by the reins and ensure her “awesome” future. The plan is simple enough: Stick to the mantras and goals scattered throughout her bird-doodled journal and try to forget. But after a chance encounter with hunky Hunt Hardick, a man obsessed with solving Happy’s puzzling past, her plans are soon foiled. Tackling intimacy issues, dude ranches, traumatic histories, ethically-questionable medical exams, and interesting breakfast choices (read: mayo/sprinkle combos), this steamy read will leave you smirking and cheering for a cheesy HEA.

Goodreads/Amazon

Of Winged Creatures & Nesting Grounds by A. Wilding Wells

 Title & Author: Of Winged Creatures & Nesting Grounds by A. Wilding Wells

Genre: Romance

 Release Date: October 17, 2016

 Publisher: Hypnotic Press

 Series Details: Standalone

Page Count: 156 Pages

 Description: “Happy
Trapped in a cage… I was running against time and desperate to conquer my fears with my “don’t forget to be awesome” plan. One night, I was sulking over my uglier-than-homemade-sin life and reeling from another painful loss. As I thought about my new life, a handsome gent named Hunt Hardick sat next to me. He looked like a good start and was likely a hell of a finish. Suddenly, my plan took on a life of its own.

Hunt
After a long day as one of San Francisco’s most prominent ob/gyns, I stopped at a bar for a bourbon and a mental break from my ex, who I couldn’t seem to bleach from my system. One glance at Happy’s tearstained angelic face and I was done. I’d never been a guy to turn down a stunning woman who also looked like a beautiful project. Hunt was a key in my locked cage that once opened meant I might fly away.

An emotionally charged, rich with feeling story about survival, triumph, and a girl named Happy Go Lucky who had a plan. A plan that didn’t include the ruggedly sexy gynecologist who inserted himself in her life.”

A smirk sits on my pout…

I’m not going to lie this book didn’t punch me in the feels, or leave me seeing sequined stars. It was, however, cheeky enough to keep me flipping through the pages. I enjoyed the snarky and sometimes lyrical writing style, and felt the scenes landed how they were intended. I’m guilty of blushing at Hunt’s quips and dirty talk, as well as chuckling during Happy’s internal dialogue despite the over-the-top theatrics and predictability of it all. Their instalove (is it still instalove if it’s one-sided?) won’t be making my top romances of the year, but I was invested enough to enjoy their NSFW journey.

I’m not sure I live in the same land of optimism you do…

Happy put it best when she uttered these words to Hunt. This scene aptly describes my feelings toward this book. “I more than like it, but I’m not convinced it’s love.” There are countless reviews gushing over this story, but it wouldn’t be my first choice off the shelf. Don’t get me wrong, the two leads do share some sizzling chemistry, but there were multiple elements that prevented me from fully committing to their relationship. Firstly, while he’s clearly confident and charismatic, Hunt also has some hard-to-overlook qualities. The “I come whenever I’m called” attitude he has toward his ex, Sela, really bothered me. I get that he’s a “good guy,” but I’m not keen on Happy giving her heart, or her v-card, to someone that says “it doesn’t matter” that they still love their ex because they have issues with goodbyes. Hunt also lost some points due to his abrasive reactions to stressful situations. These faults do, however, humanize our alpha male and make the narrative a little more believable.

 Overall…

Taken at face value this is an entertaining read that you can easily devour in one sitting. It’ll make you laugh, leave you flushed, and I can honestly say will change your opinion on strawberry ice cream forever.