One Quick Obsession

I’ve loved the Cage family from the start and Hudson was no exception. This story pulls you in from the beginning and is a page turner. As always we get our HEA between Hudson and Scarlett and I’m excited for more. Love this family and these stories.

Grumpy Hudson Cage and Cage resort manager Scarlet have a long-standing love-hate relationship. After an incident where Hudson walks in on Scarlet, things begin to shift ever so slightly. Both Scarlet and Hudson have secrets in their past that make them very distrusting that causes a lot of strain and obstacles for the two of them to be a couple. However, there is a fine line between love and hate in this couple likes to toe the line. Once the two start to both give slightly, they are able to move towards a relationship where neither of them know what they’re doing. The past comes back for both of them, causing a lot of strife between the two, but as always with every Carrie Ann read, we’re guaranteed a HEA.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of One Quick Obsession by Carrie Ann Ryan, the fourth book in The Cage Family, and is an enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, small town romance. Narrated by Lance Greenfield and Kit Swarnn, they brought Hudson Cage and Scarlett to life for me. This can be read as a standalone, however, I have loved the series as a whole and highly recommend it. Hudson is the grumpy Cage sibling. He is reserved and stays to himself as much as he can. But he also loves his family and is aways there for them. Even with everything that has happened with his family the last few years. Scarlett wants to prove her value to the resort she works for, which happens to be owned by the Cage family. She is determined and strong but also carries so much on her shoulders. Their journey was emotional, heartfelt and suspenseful. I loved watching them connect and fall. Happy listening!

One Quick Obsession is the fourth book in the brand-new The Cage Family Series and I just absolutely had so much fun getting to reenter this world. This story goes back and forth between the main characters. I’m normally okay with different character perspectives for this one; it just didn’t sit well with me. I'm not sure exactly why I wasn’t all for it, maybe because the characters just didn’t grab my interest quick enough. This story started really slow in my opinion and it just took a lot for me to continue reading. It did eventually pick up and I started to enjoy more of the story and characters. It had so much depth to it and once it picked up you couldn’t help but be totally involved in the characters lives and their journey. Just a heads up so you’re not confused like I was, the last chapter is a completely different character point of view from the main characters of this story and it’s basically an introduction into this character's upcoming story. This character's story sounds interesting. I just wish this chapter would have been better separated from this story so it wouldn’t cause confusion. Other than those few things overall this was a really enjoyable book and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Enemies to lovers is not my favorite trope, but I adored this book. I would also argue that it’s a grumpy/sunshine book, because frankly, Scarlet could be grumpy herself. Maybe not as much as Hudson, the taciturn, almost recluse of the Cage family. But she definitely got some grumps to her at times. Maybe that’s what makes them the perfect pair. There are more than like the not and likely which is likely as why they are enemies at the beginning. Both have some dark demons in their past, and not so distant past. Those come out little by little, as the feelings grow, and their relationship develops. I do love Scarlett strength. She is very much a woman to admire, and I think that Hudson admire her even when they don’t necessarily like each other. On the other hand, I think Hudson just annoys the bejesus out of Scarlet, lol. Put the man has both hidden talents and hidden depths. I always love the grumpy ones, I think that’s why this book is my favorite, so far at least, of the series.

One Quick Obsession is book 4 in the Cage Family series by Carrie Ann Ryan and what a read! Between growing up surrounded by domestic violence and then getting in a relationship that tends in that direction, Scarlett is trying to get out on her own but knows she needs help. When Hudson accidentally sees her bruises, he’s determined to help. There’s more to their story…she works for his family’s resort, he’s her neighbor, past issues, learning to trust each other, enemies to lovers, chemistry, emotional rollercoaster ride that keeps you reading way into the night to see where it all ends… I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hudson came back to his family after serving in the military, but he's pretty reclusive. He's there for the required dinners, and there if they ever need him, but he isn't the most social guy, preferring to remain in his studio, concentrating on his art. But there's someone, his neighbor and the manager of one his family's businesses, who keeps getting under his skin. When he sees something she never wanted him to see, and her ex won't leave her alone, his naturally protective tendencies flare to life. Even though their vibe has been decidedly enemies, now Hudson is going to claim her heart, even if she pushes back. Scarlett, like Hudson, doesn't let many people get close. She has good reason to keep her defenses up and her heart guarded, but when Hudson and she become entwined, she's having a hard time keeping him distant the way she does with most people. The tension keeps building and things are bound to come to a head. If ever two people deserve happiness, it's these two, but with the scars they each carry, it won't be easy. I'm going to say it right off the bat - I love the big Cage family! The way the two parts had to find about each other was brutal, but they've been making it work, so well. They've had growing pains for sure but they have their routine down now, have gotten to know and love, each other, and have welcomed everyone that comes with them, all their partners and children, making a large family even bigger and more loving. Hudson and Scarlett couldn't have been more distrustful of each other at first, but his grumpy but protective soul didn't stand a chance of not falling in love with Scarlett's sassy, independent ray of sunshine. I can't wait for the next Cage to fall in love next, when Sophia's story arrives, Pretend It's Forever.

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Length: 410 Pages Pace: Fast Moods: Emotional, Tense, Happily Ever After Release Date: March 9, 2026 With One Quick Obsession, Carrie Ann Ryan has given us an emotional but realistic perspective of generational domestic violence. The main character grew up in a family with a domestic abuser only to find herself in a relationship with a man with violent tendencies. Ryan's approach gives the reader insight into the trauma, both physical and mental, a victim can live with for years after initially experiencing abuse but Ryan also shows the reader how an individual can overcome their past experience, empowering themselves to live a normal life. Synopsis: Hudson Cage has done his best to remain under the radar but with his extremely wealthy and well-known family recently making headline news he finds it harder and harder to live a quiet life. As the manager of the Cage Resort, Scarlett Blair finds herself constantly having to interact with the extremely moody Hudson. To make matters worse, he is her next door neighbor. When Hudson walks in on Scarlett during a private moment and sees the bruises on her body he immediately demands to know who hurt her. Scarlett doesn't want to let Hudson in but as events start to unravel and escalate, she finds herself leaning on him more and more often. What I Loved: The Family: Out of all of Carrie Ann Ryan's book families, the Cages are my absolute favorite. Their unique backstory makes for entertaining storylines. The Cage siblings are the result of a philandering father who had two families, eleven children, none of which were aware of the other until their father died and his will was read. Scarlett: As part of the story, we learn that Scarlett's mom was the victim of domestic abuse. Because of this, Scarlett's mom experiences a shattered sense of safety. Scarlett does what she can to help her mom live a normal life but it can sometimes be difficult when she experiences and has to learn to deal with her own demons. I love that Scarlett doesn't let her fear rule her and that she has taken steps to make herself stronger both physically and mentally. Cage Lake: The Cage family has their own town. Founded by a family member many generations ago, the Cage siblings have sworn to make the town a better place then their ancestors and their father have left it. They believe in preserving the environment and giving back to the local economy. Reoccurring Characters: To me, books within a series that have reoccurring characters feel like visiting old friends. There already is a familiarity with each character before reading their book. I knew Hudson and Scarlett before One Quick Obsession. I didn't know everything about them, this book was for discovering that, but Ryan provided just enough in the prior books to tease what these characters would become. Wrap Up: One Quick Obsession is a story with a lot of depth. If you are not familiar with domestic violence, Ryan presents the topic in a respectful manner, showing the reader two unique perspectives, Scarlett and her mom. But this story is so much more. Hudson has his own past to deal with and with Scarlett by his side the two of them add strength to one another.

When you've been in survival mode for most of your life, you tend to want to have control over every aspect of your existence. Scarlett Blair grew up with domestic violence. Her mother didn't do anything to keep herself and her daughters safe. That made Scarlett uber independent and wanting everything to be perfect. She's the manager of the Cage Resort and always has to make sure everything is running smoothly. Hudson Cage has lived through horrors of war during his time in the military. He's content to stay home and paint in his studio, away from the meddling and overly vivacious family members. The Cages are not your typical family. Eleven siblings share the same father and two mothers; one set not knowing about the other until their father's death. It's been a very trying couple of years getting to know new siblings and finding a happy medium. Scarlett and Hudson have lived next door to each other but have kept out of each other's way. Until her ex wouldn't leave her alone. Suddenly Hudson is very aware of Scarlett. They're circling each other, but it's inevitable that they're going to end up together. They both have fractured parts of themselves that only the other can understand. It's not an easy road that they walk on, but together those little fissures repair themselves the more they spend time together. Kit Swann and Lance Greenfield were wickedly good narrators for these characters. The nuances in their voices brought out all the emotions and gave depth to every character in this story. The Cages are a complicated family, but with each sibling falling in love and welcoming a partner into the fold, they heal more and more as time passes. I received an advance copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

If you enjoy these tropes, you will love this book. Tropes: • Enemies to lovers • Opposites attract • Second chances • Small town • Grumpy/Sunshine Scarlotte is determined to show people that she is much more than what they have heard. Taking over the Cage Resort, she begins to carve out a new her! Hudson has his own dark past which has made him the man that we have met in the previous books. The chemistry between Scarlotte and Hudson keeps you guessing and is off the charts!