@IndieSagePromo Review: Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid (@reidromance)

Happily Ever Ninja


Knitting in the City, #5
Penny Reid


Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Caped Publishing
Date of Publication: January 19, 2016
Number of pages: 308

Available at the following retailers:
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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

Excerpt: 

I tucked my fingers under her chin and lifted her face to mine, stealing a kiss; true distress clawed at my chest, traveled like a spike down my spine. I didn’t want to guess, or entertain any possibilities. Inevitably, my mind always jumped to the worst possible conclusion whenever I saw her inexplicably sad (i.e. brain tumor).

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.

Review: 
I have adored this series since I first discovered it with Neanderthal Seeks Human. When I first read the book, I thought it was great and gave it 4 stars. If I had realized how much I was going to continue to contemplate and reminisce about the characters, I would have given it 5. Just saying. Janie, her knitting group, and the spin off Winston Brothers have landed near the top of my Must Read list and I can't help but get excited whenever a new book comes out.

I admit to wondering how the author was going to handle creating a romance for a married couple. After all, we have know that Fiona was married from book one. I wondered if there would be a divorce or death, something to create an opportunity for a romance. Ha! Shows what little imagination I had. This story was so, so, so much more than I could have hoped for. I mean, it had all the ups and downs of the first blush of love crossed with the comfort and familiarity of the old married couple. Plus kicking butt!  When the action started I couldn't read fast enough. Fiona is my hero!!

If you're unsure because you haven't read anything by the author yet, you can totally grab Ninja at First Sight for Free right now. It's the story of how Greg and Fiona met and fell in love while in college. It won't give any spoilers to the other books in the series. And if it doesn't hook you and make you ready to read on, I wash my hands of you. *rubs hands together symbolically* Seriously.

This was an outstanding addition to the series and I admit to staying up way to late to finish it the minute it hit my inbox. Let's just say, much caffeine was needed to function the next day and leave it at that. I am left wondering how Ms. Reid is going to top this story in her next installment. But I'm not truly worried, because I have faith that she will. 5 Ninja Stars for Happily Ever Ninja!

Thanks to Indie Sage Promotions and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

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. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. 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.

To connect with the author online:

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