Shacking Up

By: Helena Hunting

Narrated by: Jacob Morgan, Rose Dioro

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ruby Scott is months behind on rent and can't seem to land a steady job. She has one chance to turn things around with a big audition. But instead of getting her big break, she gets sick as a dog and completely bombs it in the most humiliating fashion. All thanks to a mysterious, gorgeous guy who kissed - and then coughed on - her at a party the night before. 

Luckily, her best friend might have found the perfect opportunity: a job staying at the lavish penthouse apartment of hotel magnate Bancroft Mills while he's out of town, taking care of his exotic pets. But when the newly evicted Ruby arrives to meet her new employer, it turns out Bane is the same guy who got her sick. Seeing his role in Ruby's dilemma, Bane offers her a permanent job as his live-in pet sitter until she can get back on her feet. 

Filled with hilariously awkward encounters and enough sexual tension to heat a New York City block, Shacking Up, from NYT and USA Today best-selling author Helena Hunting, is sure to keep you laughing and swooning all night long. 

©2017 Helena Hunting (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

So good and not not so good

What did you like best about Shacking Up? What did you like least?

I liked least the narrator for...I can't even remember the the main girl characters name, but Rose Dioro not a particular fan. The book did have many funny moments, sexy moments and a wanting Bain to be nonfictional.

If you’ve listened to books by Helena Hunting before, how does this one compare?

I think her writing is very well at making the characters in the books charming, funny, and very hot hot moments. The main character in this did have a lot of inner dialog which did get a little bothersome, but Hunting still made it delightful to listen to.

What aspect of Jacob Morgan and Rose Dioro ’s performance would you have changed?

Rose Dioro's pauses between sentences, her whiny voice, and horrible man voice I just can't handle. It became more tolerable because I love, love, love Jacob Morgan's voice and can listen to him all day. I would rather listen to Morgan's woman voice then Rose's man voice. She makes men sound not confident and apathetic.

Was Shacking Up worth the listening time?

It was okay, couldn't totally finish it.

Returned it because of the reader

I love Helena Hunting! I am sure this book is great but the female reader - Rose Dioro - makes me so unhappy, I want to return it. Currently I sped her reading up to 1.25-1.5, which has helped I know the male reader and like his style of reading and his voice. Unless speeding up Ms. Dioro helps, I will return this book. I have no enjoyment listening to her try to read with feeling. She slows down and I can't hear her, she speaks like the character and I think it might be ok but 30 min into it and I want to stop and go onto another book. Too bad.

female narrator was kryptonite to my ears

I love audio books and have LOVED Huntings' books - but this was my first experience with Rose Dioro as narrator. I was cringing and had that 'the sun is blinding me' look on my face or 'someone just coughed in my face' look as the narrator's made me hate every second. I couldn't concentrate oh the storyline or premise. I tried to convince myself that I just needed to give it an hour to settle into the story.... and then I ripped the ear buds out of my head. I can't take the whiny, slow voice. whiny ama pathetic is a no-go.

Sometime there's a narrator you love and Will purchase an unknown book BASED on their skills, some you will go out of your way to never hear again. I will never again purchase a Rose Dioro narration. period.

Glad I didn't go with the bad reviews.

Loved it. I didn't really like the female narrator but she wasn't so bad that I didn't enjoy the book. Definitely worth the credit.

Not very likeable characters

Everyone that Ruby knows is incredibly shallow, except her. Bane repeatedly mentions having to "rub one out". Ruby disparages people who get their jobs thru family connections but overlooks that Bane works for his Dad. I probably wouldn't listen to another book by this author.

The Church of Bane Cock

This was the perfect lighthearted and hilarious book that I needed! I switched back and forth between the ebook and audiobook (yay for whispersync!) and enjoyed both immensely. I absolutely loved Bane and Ruby and couldn't get enough of their crazy innuendo and banter. This is the first full length book by Helena Hunting that I have read, but it certainly won't be my last! I was introduced to Ruby and Bane in her novella Getting Down, which is part of the Eye Candy anthology. I fell so in love with them, that I knew I had to find out how it all started in Shacking Up.

I was laughing so hard while reading/listening to this book! Ruby's inner dialogue is especially hysterical! Everything from the unconventional meeting with Bane, to her adventures while following her dream (I was dying from her initial audition while she was sick!) was fresh and hilarious! I loved all the build up and will they/won't they between Bane and Ruby. Yes, they flirted and skirted the line between friendship and something more while he was away, but it only made their relationship feel more real and honest. It gave them the time to truly get to know each other and allowed the chemistry to get to explosive levels. And explode it did!

Of course, the icing on the cake was the delicious narration of Bane by Jacob Morgan! I would have loved more Bane chapters just to hear more of his voice! I'm glad Hooking Up is releasing soon, because I can't wait to read Amie's story next!

Loved the premise, only liked the listen 3.5 stars

I really wanted a book that I could delve into .... and this was not the book. The premise of the story started out great ... mistaken identity, mutual attraction .... and then it falls flat. Ruby was not a character I could like or even relate to. Bane was an attractive character, but seemed too (weak???) to be an athlete and businessman. Over all the story was an okay listen. I used a credit and am not asking for it back .... this is an okay book if you do not have lofty expectations.

Horrible book... zero stars

This was by far the worst book I've listened to in a long time. The narrator was terrible. I didn't even finish listening to this book. The story line was weak. Absolutely nothing exciting happened. I just wanted a book that would give me the, I cannot sleep till this book is finished, feeling. Failure

Now she's mine to love

This book was so swoon worthy and hilarious.

Bancroft meets Ruby at the engagement party. He mistakes Ruby for his date and kisses her. While it's a kiss to remember, it's not good that he's got the flu!! Ruby gets sick and blows her chances at a much needed paid actress job. She finds herself in a bind...and needs a place to stay. Bancroft feels bad and offers her a live in job.

Bancroft was such a protector but not in a brooding way. He protected Ruby's feeling and makes sure she is taken care of when she lost her apartment, when someone tries to bad mouth her or when her dad is not being as supportive. He was such a gentleman and showed self-control and restraint as her roommate... until he couldn't take it anymore which just made the book so much better.

Ruby was hilarious I laughed so hard. She was artsy and fun. She balanced Bancroft so well who seemed to be ocd at times but overall down to earth in comparison to his rich circle of snooty people.

I love the kind of book I can get lost in and forget that I am actually sitting on the train as opposed to sitting in the character's living room. Definitely worth the credit !

I would love to see a book regarding the people who were engaged... there's a story there.

Cute story

Cute story that builds up the burn. Can't go wrong with hot big rugby players either.

amazing

I loved how the people reading this book to me was lilly and randy it made the book just that more fun for me ❤

Shacking

Absolutely brilliant I couldn’t stop listening write more please I love it although I read a lot as well I love listening to so thank you xx

The Female Narrator Was Terrible

I'm so sorry to give such a low rating for narration, because Jacob Morgan was stellar as always, however Rose Dioro was so bad that I paid for the Kindle version and started reading the chapters that she was voicing then switching to narration for Jacob Morgan's (Bane) chapters. Objectively the book was really good, but having the role of Ruby be voiced by this particular female narrator really took a lot away from a good story. I would advise that readers stick to the actual book or listen to the other books in the series narrated by Jacob Morgan and Muffy Newtown, you'll have a way better time.

Cute

loved the story it was sweet but oh so sexy! only issue I had was the females narration of male voices! not good but worth it for the story

First time I've heard this author

I felt that the story was disappointing and dragged out,it could have been better.I'm not sure if I'll try this author again I was disappointed

Loved it!

What a great story, I love the characters and the entire wit and sass each of them bring to make this book so enjoyable, funny and sexy! The narrators were perfect also. Can’t wait to listen to book no 2!

really enjoyed it

i really klliked this book 😁i will read the next one for sure. good reader and good story .

Nasal narration

The book was ok enough, kept my attention. I liked the lead male character a lot and the narrator but the female narrators voice set my teeth on edge. She was so nasally it was painful to listen to - it didn’t help that her character wasn’t that likeable in the first place but I shall be steering clear of this particular narrator in the future

Good story annoying narration

The story was a lovely play between man and woman and love developing. Advise you read this rather than listen as the female voice is okay but gets loud and then soft a lot which is hard to hear clearly in the car or with background noise. The male voice is just annoying. He reads the story like he doesn't care.... Like he is reading out a shopping list or technical manual. I fully expected him to say "blah blah blah" as he reads like he is bored. This doesn't enhance the listening experience so not a great audio book.

First full audible book

I've 'read' Helena Hunting previously but this is the first time I have heard her book... (not sure what the ettequete is for audio book
reviewing!!!?? It was a fab easy listen... definitely recommended!!!