Mismatched in Mayhem by L.E. Rico – a Review

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Description:
Welcome to Mayhem, Minnesota, with its sweater-wearing cats and ultra-competitive trivia nights. Where love really does conquer all…if you’ll let it.

Walker O’Halloran is finally ready to shed her “wild child” persona. Bartending at her family’s pub, babysitting her adorable niece and nephews, and getting her degree during the day. What she doesn’t do is date–or even think about dating. Ever. Until he walks into her bar, looking like a former Mr. Quarterback of the Football Team and Student Council President all rolled into one. No, thank you.

Mason Stevens has a secret—and it prevents him from knowing if someone is truly interested in him, or just what he can do for them. Until he meets Walker. She’s the first person in ages who doesn’t recognize him, and her grouchy attitude feels like the greatest challenge of his life. And he’s ready for it.

But the more time they spend together, the more he’s desperate to come clean—it’s just never the right time. Until the paparazzi do it for him…

Review:

Mismatched in Mayhem begins with Walker O’Halloran working in the family pub.  She lives with one of her sisters, works, and adores her niece and nephews.  While closing up one night, Walker sees that a young man, Mason Stevens, has been left behind by his friends.  When Mason tries to secure a ride home, Walker tells him he’ll never get an Uber out that far to take him back to the university, and offers to give him a ride.  While on the trip home, they make small talk and Walker sees Mason as a person she would never be attracted to.  Walker is in a self imposed exile, if you will, from dating.  To say she’s surprised to find herself thinking about him after she drops him off is a bit of an understatement.

Mason finds himself almost immediately attracted to Walker, and also finds himself happy that she doesn’t recognize him.  When Mason sets out to get to know Walker better, she throws up all kinds of walls, but eventually relents and meets him for a ‘picnic’.  In Mayhem, Minnesota.  In the winter.  When she arrives at the picnic, what she finds leaves her surprised and enchanted.  While the two of them spend time together, she finds herself wondering….what if…..

Walker has blamed herself for her father’s death and doesn’t think she is entitled to be happy.  Mason knows she’s hiding something and sets out to break down her walls.  However, when Mason’s true identity is later revealed and misunderstandings arise, Walker does what she always does.  She shuts down and shuts everyone out.  Mason finds himself miserable not being with Walker, until, surprisingly, his parents give him a pep talk that will change their lives forever.  Mason then makes it his mission to get Walker back and to prove to her that they are indeed not mismatched.

Mismatched in Mayhem is a nicely written story.  Walker is snarky and sassy and loyal.  Mason has struggled his entire life wondering if people like him for him, or for what he can offer them.  Mason also has a brother with special needs that Walker helps out in a big way, which only makes Mason love her more.  The secondary characters are awesome and quirky and leave you laughing out loud at times.  I also had no idea that this was part of a series, so this can totally be read as a stand alone.  I will, however, go back and read the others in the series.  It’s that good.  If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with some steam and a lot of humor, you won’t go wrong with this one.  Well done, Lauren Rico!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher