Photo Credits: Free-Photos (pixabay), pixabay (pixabay), PublicDomainPictures (pixabay), engin akyurt (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: Cheesy On The Eyes Series: Slice #5 Author: Teagan Hunter Publisher: Self published Year of Publication: 2020 Format: E-book/kindle app Genre/Themes: Contemporary romance, Adult fiction, Romantic comedy, small-town romance Review... Sometimes a reader just needs a book to make her smile. It's a need. For the fun and feisty feel-good to make her feel good. To be washed over wave upon wave of wit, brass, sass and cheek. To be pulled upon a shore that stations a cramped houseboat owned by a private ocean-loving hunk. To feel that she's in good hands with a book well-chosen. And to laugh. To laugh a dozen times over with (and at) characters who are just absurdly their own kind of people. And arrive at a story outfitted with the spry glad rags of comical fun. That's why every reader who loves a fictional fun time should read this. But then again, perhaps I should really have anticipated customary excellence from Teagan Hunter. The universe must have paid nimble attention to my fictional heroine wishes because, as a female mechanic, Thea fit into one of the many gender-challenging roles I love to read about; ones that cut the cord of expected behaviour. She represents the cohort of us who don't quite assume the cliche form or fit into a required typecast. To borrow a phrase from her mother, 'she's her own person'. A mirror to my own thoughts, and for that reason, I loved Thea. As an unrepentant sass master, she's fully realised in her own Thea way. And Sully? By my own authoritative definition, he's nothing short of bookworm boyfriend material and I want him on my book boyfriend shelf. Immediately. If you love the energy of Hunter's Textual series, and admittedly I do only have Let's Get Textual to form my measure, I'm pleased to challenge that you're going to love this. Maybe even more. Definitely even more. Like the first in the Textual series, Cheesy On The Eyes has a comically confident personality and an addictive charisma. The banter, the humour, the attitude, and the fun-laced relations finely qualify as prime reading time. I was just gleefully filing away all the similarities between Zach and Delia's relationship in Let's Get Textual and Thea and Sully's relationship in Cheesy On The Eyes. When the story opened up with Thea's POV< I realised I already loved her and her irreverent charm. And as soon as Sully entered the scene, my first thought was he's the best book boyfriend… and the story hadn’t even begun. I had big love for them from the earliest beginnings of their romance, and that isn't always the case for me. Comparatively,Let's Get Textual wasn't particularly high-heat, and unlike Zach and Delia's romance, this wasn't a strangers to text pals to daters to lovers to romance romance. This was more fake couple to 'friends' to maybe-sex buddies to actual sex buddies to romance romance. Far from my umbrage and much to my relish, Cheesy on the Eyes does dial up the heat, and even rises a bit in depth in addition. This story echoes what I loved about the former, just with more added goodness. Thea started going to Slice for her own set of reasons altogether, and unlike most, it's not because of their small-town pizzeria's well-loved dish. Much to the affront of the owner, it's also because she's not the least bit tempted by his cheesy baked goods, which of course, is exactly what every restaurant owner wants to hear. To keep her waistline from further risk of expanding, it's Thea's fixation for her real food-stuff obsession that she's not willing to succumb to; the sweet stuff. Little to do with the quality of the food and everything to do with her dislike for a global favourite is the talk of whoever confronts her controversial food choice. More to the current point though, Slice is her hiding place and her productive space. Even more to the point, while it might be easy for the administers of heartache to walk away without much trouble, it's the heartbroken that are left to continue with life not quite feeling whole. And as openly spirited as Thea is, there's a side of her that's just as limited by her own self-doubt. So when she sees her ex with his new girlfriend, she ropes in an unsuspecting Slice goer to be her fake other, and while Sullivan Scott decides to help out a not-so-damsel in distress on a trustful whim, he doesn't know that he's about to eat his fake famous last words to her because "fate [really] is that sure of them, baby." While Thea's an island purist with no plans of ever leaving, Sully's a relative newbie. After wading through his own personal - and domestic - difficulties a few years prior, he finally found himself in a place that feels like home. He also found himself a brotherhood in his crazy coastal gang. As I mentally scan through my inventory of 'read' romance novels, I can't recall ever reading about a hero equipped with a strong Intuition. No leading man before Sully has ever carried that elusive trait (I believe), which in my eyes, makes him cut from a decidedly tempting cloth entirely. And again, proves to be another example of gender-challenging profiling that stretches and disrupts the limits of gender-expectancy with leading male representation that I'm fully in favour of. It was a private, joyful novelty not only to consider him the more grounded, retiring hero who likes his own space, but that he trusted his senses when it came to people. Again, similar to Thea, I existed in a space where I could resonate with him in my own way. But despite being the more reserved and watchful of his friends (which he gets all the extra points for), he's in no way any less of an entertaining double to equal his unabashed heroine, nor a lesser important hero in his own right. Sully's quiet confidence paired with his silent alpha simplicity made him a match that never backed down from his love interest. While Sully has that extra presentiment with reading people, I won't lie and say that his not being able to read Thea at all completely gave me Bella and Edward vibes (which was a nice callback to my Twilight-obsessed days). As is really quite common with 'mated' paranormal romance, I often find that a hero who has a fated 'other' in addition to that Intuitive knowing when he's met with the identity of his heroine usually reasons away the actual Importance of properly developing a real romantic connection. The 'it's meant to be from first sight' trope usually substitutes the place of a real stages and pieces relationship evolution. I'm definitely pleased that - while this isn't a PR romance by any factual means - that this doesn't follow the same example. Sully's inability to cast a knowing eye over Thea easily allows them, and him especially, to organically let things between them travel as they may. And although they had an easy familiarity, that he couldn't suss her out really works in favour of the romance because his lack of knowing allowed them to be as they were without an intuitive 'compass' to get in the way. But you never know, if Cheesy on the Eyes ever decided to cross-breed itself with the paranormal field, let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if, after a firm bite and blood-suck from the cold ones, Thea'd resurface with the very same of Bella's shielding gifts. I think I'd place this into the slow burn pile, and while I was hoping for the romance to reach a certain height (because I felt that it tapered off and withdrew) and the ending could have used more attention, this was full of such joy that the 'com' part of this rom-com eclipses any fallback. Teagan Hunter makes the best out of every included trope and I was just all bright eyes and silly smiles for Cheesy On The Eyes. Perhaps fitting though, considering the title. Thea and Sully are great as represented singletons, and dare I say even more wonderful together. There is an element of opposites attract but there's also so much familiarity, affinity and reflective repartee that these two come together better than perhaps even a well-made pizza. (I think it's a fundamental rule to insert at least one unplanned pizza pun as a homage to the rom-com so I place onus on review-writing dictum). I was a bit tired of my usual tropes and character profiles, and as soon as I started to read this I knew I'd changed things up with the right book. The author's wit easily carries across and into each book, and I was pleased to see that Teagan Hunter's funny gene showed no signs of dwindling, dying or tailing off to a forgettable mist. The banter, the bickering, the silliness, the small-town setting, the brilliantly bantersome but loyal Schwartz tribe, Simon (because every story/series needs a no-nonsense staple), it was a rich but real vibe. A fake relationship romantic comedy with a magnificent overlay and overlap of badinage. Being challenged with the idea that everything you are and know about yourself is a strike against you is really what's holding Thea back in life. As was being told by someone she loved that she was not enough by being too much. While she stands out without shrinking, her insecurity reduces her in ways that many - besides her family - can't see. Thea was easily a brazen lead and you could call me happy as a hummingbird to read from a heroine I really liked. The idea of a leading lady who was raised to want and be nothing other than she is - it's positively refreshing. In a lot of ways, Thea’s the girl many of us would want to be, strive to be, without a worry of wondering if we’re too much or too little to be accepted. And that even she can’t always be impervious to have that sense of self threatened. Even without having read the prior books in the series, I boldly claim that Sully would still be my favourite hero of the series. A curvy girl heroine with a raging sweet tooth, Thea's a lovely homage to those of us who have been brought up to know ourselves without an ounce of desire to lose ourselves, who never quite fit in with the expected and decided she never wanted to. To be her difference. And simply speaking, Thea's family are an addictive brood and I fully recommend experiencing fictional space with them at least once a day. Part of me wishes I could walk into Simon's pizzeria, sit my tush comfortably in an alcoved booth (without being seen) and eavesdrop on the steady stream of entertaining conversations this crazy crowd seem to have, because I have to of course protect those socially awkward sensibilities, fretfully overwrought creature that I am. To round up, Thea and Sully can get cheesy on me any time. With a sun-kissed, keep-to-himself sort of guy who lives life the way he wants to live it; riding the waves, fixing up his boathouse and hitting the gab with his guy gang, a confection-hungry heroine who operates on a steady diet of sass, undwindling Thea-ness and bold claims, a salt-of-the-earth couple, there's sweet and savoury goodness from start to HEA. A flavoursome rom-com with all the fun, flavour and Hunter fruitiness that generously tickles and tackles the funny bone. I gave this book 4.25 stars - Content Listing: Mentions domestic abuse/physical abuse. Swearing. A few sex scenes. Mentions drinking. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________ R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● BOOK REVIEW: Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter ____________________________________________________ Some Favourite Quotes: (Some will contain profanity and aduly content!) “Ugh,” I groan. “Get a room, you two.” My parents pull themselves apart, my mom tucking her lips together and burying her face in my dad’s neck. At least she bothers to look embarrassed. My dad just rolls his eyes, saying, “Last I checked, you don’t live here. This whole house is our room, cockblock.” “Oh my god!” I cover my ears. “What did I tell you about calling me that?” “What?” His voice is full of unwarranted innocence. “It’s what you are. It’s what you’ve been since the day you were born. I’m surprised we even found the time to sneak away and make your brother.” “One of these days, Thea, I’m gonna give you the boot if you keep coming here and spreading out like you do while still refusing to eat my cooking.” “I am eating your cooking,” I argue, grabbing a fry from the basket he just placed in front of me and popping it into my mouth. He shakes his head, arms now crossed over his thick chest. “That is not my cooking. Any idiot can toss a couple fries into the fryer.” “Well, you’re my favorite idiot, if it makes you feel any better.” He huffs out a laugh. “You wanna compliment me? Order some damn pizza next time.” “Gross. Why would I do that?” “Because”—he gestures around the space—“in case you haven’t noticed, this is a pizzeria!” I scrunch my nose. “Is that what the awful smell is?” I chuckle, lifting my glass. “Thank you.” “That right there”—he points at me—“is why you’re my favorite, Sully.” “I’m your son. I should be your favorite.” “It’s for that very reason you’re my least favorite. I’ve spent way too many years with you already. I need a change.” “That’s not how parenting works!” Winston complains to his retreating back. “God, I love that old asshole,” he mutters, stealing Foster’s straw from his cup. “Anyway, just thought you’d maybe want to go say hi to your girl since you’ve come in here every day looking for her.” My eyes widen, and he laughs. “I know you like my pizza, but not that much. Plus, it was really funny when you ordered a dessert pizza, then looked around like she would come running at the sound of sugar.” I glare at him, because I didn’t look that desperate, I’m sure. “You’re not acting like it’s nothing.” His lips pull into a toothy grin. “Are you holding out on us, dude? Do you have a girlfriend you haven’t told us about?” “It wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case,” Foster says. “Guy’s a fucking steel trap.” He snorts. “He could work for the CIA he’s so damn good at keeping shit secret.” “Foster touches himself to furry and cartoon porn. I caught him once when he was staying with me and Winston.” “What the fuck, Sully?!” “How’s that for keeping secrets?” I smirk at him. “Babysitter?” Jonas stops in his tracks. “What babysitter?” He looks at me wildly. “What are they talking about, Thea? You’re older—do you remember a babysitter?” “There was our neighbor, Miss Marr…” His eyes widen more, if that’s even possible at this point, and he rushes from the room. “Frank! Promise we’re never letting any strangers watch our baby, especially if they try to buy it.” “Who will want to buy our baby?” “Probably a lot of people. He’s gonna be so cute.” I look at my parents. “If I wasn’t adopted, at least tell me Jonas was, because I’m not sure I want to share DNA with that moron.” “We’ll never tell. Right, Harvey?” My dad zips his lips, tossing away the key, and then they cackle like they just told the best joke ever. “Oh. Well.” Her eyes light up, and I can already see her planning my wedding too. “I look forward to meeting this boy.” “What if it’s a girl?” “Please.” My mother rolls her eyes. “Like I’d give a shit. I just want my children to be happy.” “And that, Mom, is why you’re my favorite mother.” My dad snorts. “She’s your only mother.” “So you say.” I shrug. “I’m still convinced I’m adopted.” “You too?” Jonas asks. “I thought I was the only one hoping that was the case.” “Is it illegal to sell your children?” my dad mutters. “Believable, I heard you.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Maybe we should make a couple lists of basics and exchange them. You know, things we should know about each other, like the fact that you’re a walking abomination who doesn’t like pizza.” “I’ll break up with you right here, I swear it.” “Liar. You need me too much.” “Shit,” she mumbles. “Good point. Okay, so the last rule I can think of for now is—” “What? I can’t add another rule?” “If you interrupt me one more time, I swear…” She mutters something I can’t quite make out, then looks at me pointedly. “Do you have another rule to add?” “No.” She growls, and it’s so cute coming out of her tiny frame that it takes my all not to laugh “You don’t like Christmas?” She turns on me the moment I step over the threshold. “I can do without it.” “What?!” she cries. She screws up her irritated eyes. “‘Can do without it.’ You’re an animal.” “Only in the sheets.” “I’m starving,” Thea complains. We’ve been wrapped together in euphoria for I don’t even know how long, just lying here talking, both too afraid to move for fear it’ll break this spell we’re under. “You know where the kitchen is,” I tell her. “That is not what you’re supposed to say. You’re supposed to jump up and bring me breakfast in bed or some shit. You know, be romantic after I let you defile me.” “Defiling you would imply there was something good there to taint.” She pinches at my nipple and I yelp, pulling away from her tight grasp. “Hey, you shit! That is not being romantic at all, especially after I let you—” “Don’t you dare say defile you.” She shakes her head. “I heard every word you whispered in my ear last night—you were obviously defiled long ago.” “Yeah? Well I’m just trying to figure out how you can be so damn sexy and also be the absolute worst person to sleep next to.” Her lips pull into a lazy, sleepy grin. “You might be hating on me right now, but all I’m hearing is how sexy you think I am.” “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” I tell her. “I am?” She points to her stomach. “Is it this jelly roll or this one that gets you going?” I splay my hand over her stomach, loving the feel of her under my touch: soft and silky. “Hmm…it’s gotta be this one.” “Ah, the cinnamon bun one. Makes sense you’d like it the most since you’re the one who keeps me in healthy supply.” As I lock it, she says, “Oh, good call. I hear there are people out here just randomly walking onto people’s boats.” “I heard that rumor too. The suspect is about five foot two, cute, and sassy as shit.” “So you’re saying you think I’m cute?” “I don’t not like what I see.” “What?” I ask, wiping at my lips. “Something on my face?” “I’m just trying to figure you out.” “Are you doing that mind-reading crap?” He grins. “It’s not mind-reading. I’m just…intuitive. And no. I was meaning more along the lines of trying to figure out when you got so damn crazy.” “My mother claims birth. I think it happened when I was about five or so and she forgot to pick me up from school. It’s all trauma-related.” “Don’t worry, Thea, I know you’re not ready. But when you are, and when I finally grow some balls and ask for your hand in marriage, you’ll say yes before I can even get the full sentence out.” He leans across the table, smirking at me, that same smirk as always. The one I love so fucking much it makes my heart ache. “Fate is that sure of us, baby.” “Hey, Sully?” I turn his way. “Love her enough for both of you until she’s not scared anymore. Then love her some more.” “Oh, don’t give me that look,” I say. “You don’t even like Sully.” “I like him.” I stop tinkering with the radiator I’m only half-ass working on and peel myself out from under the hood, looking at him. “What? Since when? The first time you met him, you were all grumpy and dismissive.” “Oh, Thea.” He chuckles. “That’s because of how he was looking at you.” I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest. “And how was that?” I didn’t even know Sully when my parents first met him. Hell, it was only my second time meeting him. “Like his soul knew yours.” He refills Sully’s glass. “Your pies will be out in about five minutes. Try not to maul each other in the meantime.” “What’s the fun in that?” “Yeah, Simon, what’s the fun in that?” He looks at Sully with hard eyes. “Is her smartass mouth rubbing off on you? You used to be the quiet one. I liked you more then.” Sully grunts out at a laugh as Simon walks away. “You sayin’ I’m nothing special to look at?” Oh, Sullivan Scott, you’re more than something special. “Eh, you’re okay. I’d still bang the shit out of you though.” “You’re not exactly quiet yourself,” I point out. “I don’t hear you complaining.” “Oh, I definitely am not. Speaking of your bedroom activities…I didn’t expect you to be so…commanding in bed.” “Why? Just because I’m…what did you call me? The quiet, soulful one?” “Honestly? Yeah.” “Don’t judge a book by its cover, Thea.” “What are you thinkin’ tonight? Want to get the Brookies & Cream again? Or do you want to try something new?” “That Mint Chocolate Melt looked bomb last time. I think I’ll get that. What are you having?” “Are we not sharing?” I blink at him. “Please tell me you’re kidding.” “I…am?” “That sounds strangely question-like.” “Only because I’m afraid to answer you honestly. You take your sweets very seriously.” “Then you should know I have zero intentions of sharing the pie.” “They only come in large.” “I said what I said, Sully.” He tucks his lips together, nodding. “Fine. Mint Chocolate Melt for you, and I’ll do a Cheesecake Quake.” “The names he comes up with are so damn ridiculous.” “One might even say they’re”—he leans into me—“cheesy.” “Someone should have told me not to come a-knockin’, because clearly the boat’s a-rockin’.” He waggles his brows. “Hey, Thea. Good to see you again. How’ve you been?” “Oh, you know. Same old, same old. Just making cash and smashing ass.” Winston’s mouth drops open; she’s rendered him speechless, which makes me laugh. He opens the door for me, and I hop in. In the four years I was with him, Jaden never once opened my door for me. I’ll be honest, I never put much stock in the gesture before and couldn’t understand why women went nuts over it, but now that I’ve experienced it, I can see the appeal. It’s sweet in an understated sort of way, and there’s something about it that makes my heart go haywire. I like that Sully puts me first, like I matter to him. Being together is so easy, so natural. Why does it feel like he’s everything I’ve been missing, especially when he wasn’t supposed to mean anything at all? “No, seriously. You’re killing me. It’s not that I don’t want to bang your brains out again, but I. Am. Starving.” She sinks into me, and I laugh. “Well get up then. I’ll find us something to eat.” She hops off me faster than ever and grabs for my discarded shirt, pulling it down over her head like it belongs to her. She’s so damn short it nearly falls to her knees. “I’m going pee. When I get done, there better be food.” “And if there’s not?” I challenge. “Then at least the sharks will get to eat.” “Let me guess—now that you’re living here, you can’t imagine being anywhere else.” I nod. “The moment I crossed into this town, I knew I wouldn’t be leaving.” “That’s how I’ve always felt about it. Some people grow up hating where they come from and can’t wait to leave. Most don’t feel strongly one way or the other, but they never leave because it’s comfortable and familiar. Then there are a few who are like me—their roots feel entwined with the soil, and they wouldn’t dare rip a plant from its home.” “As wild as that is, it’s not even the craziest part of it. No, the crazy part is that I fell in love with him too.” She gulps. “Big-time. Like the kind of love you see in the movies or read about in books…the kind of love that makes you realize fate did have a hand in it all along.” Thea looks right at me, and my heart starts to work overtime. “Hey, Sully? I’m ready to leap.” “Stop looking at me like that,” I say when I can’t take it anymore. “Like what?” “Like you’re…I don’t know…annoyed or something.” “Annoyed?” “Yeah, with me.” “Oh, Thea. I’m not annoyed. If anything, I’m intrigued. You remind me of the ocean.” “What? How?” “You’re…unpredictable.” I tuck my hair behind my ear, trying to ignore the way my hands are starting to shake as he continues to stare at me. “Is…is that bad?” “No.” He wets his lips and finally peels his eyes away from me, shifting them back down to the list in front of him. “I happen to love the ocean.” I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
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