Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Ukuleles & Scrums
SERIES: Mitch & Cian #4
AUTHOR: Helena Stone
PUBLISHER: self published
LENGTH: 68 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2019
BLURB:
Falling in love is easy. Building a life together takes more work.
Nine months after getting together, Mitch and Cian are studying in Dublin and sharing an apartment. For both, this is a dream come true and even boring household chores become fun when they do them side by side.
Tensions arise after Cian joins an inclusive rugby club and Mitch a ukulele orchestra. Insecurities, jealousy, and lack of relationship-experience soon lead to resentment, and each struggles to balance romance with their individual interests. After Cian and Mitch accept separate invitations to Halloween parties, hoping the other will accompany them, their doubts grow.
Will All Hallows’ Eve drive a wedge between them or could there be another miracle in the making?
Ukuleles and Scrums is the fourth novella in the Mitch & Cian series. While it could, possibly, be read as a stand-alone story, the reader will enjoy it more if they read A Miracle in the Library, Lessons in Love, and Pride of Place first.
REVIEW:
I have absolutely loved this series, for several reasons. One, the characters are so real. Two, the writing is amazing. But three, because it has been so awesome to see these boys flourish, grow and learn lessons in each other. Being in a relationship is hard as hell, I don’t care what anyone says. No matter the chemistry or whatever, it takes work. Especially when you’ve never been in a relationship and then go from not seeing each other a whole lot to living together. You have to learn the ins and outs, figure out schedules to see each other, learns likes and dislikes. And living together is not easy. You get on each others nerves, or need space, or someone flirts with your partner and there are jealousies and insecurities. It’s not easy. And these two had another few lessons to learn in this book and I love it. Because they did work it out. Even when they felt hopeless, they never gave up.
With Cian joining a rainbow rugby team, he was so excited. It felt good to be back on the field. But Mitch had his reservations. And for some reason, he couldn’t be happy about it as Cian wanted him to be. Especially when Cian comes home late at night drunk after a practice and doesn’t let Mitch know where he’s been or if he’s ok. So Mitch decides to join a group to occupy his time when Cian is at practice. When Mitch is late getting home the night he joins a uke group, Cian gets to see how Mitch felt. But because of their new groups and new friends, they’re both feeling jealous, especially when Cian mentions on of his mates has a crush on him and Cian is jealous of this person, Ro, Mitch keeps mentioning, thinking it’s a guy. They both want the other at their performances but neither seems willing to compromise, until a Halloween party where Cian wanted Mitch to join him for his team’s Halloween party. But Mitch had a performance. Little did they know they’d end up at the same place. Now can they put each other at ease and close the gap forming between them or will their jealousies get the better of them?
Like I said, relationships are hard as hell. But I have loved watching these two grow. It’s like watching my children. I want to smack them upside the head to get through their thick skulls and at other times I want to hug the stuffing out of them for being so proud they figured it out. They are basically doing all their firsts in life together and it’s hard. But they are finding their way through. They stumble and fall sometimes, but the important part is they get up and keep trying. They may fuss and fight and disagree, but they try to figure it out and make it right. They’re getting better at communicating. Although in this book they needed another lesson on it. Lol. But they’re young and they’re going to mess up. None of us are perfect. We screw up everyday. But they found out the important lessons early on. And that’s made all the difference. Hold tight to each other, and get up and keep trying.
I hope to see more of these boys as they continue to grow up and I feel privileged to get to meet and get to know them.
RATING: 
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