Serviced: A Lighthearted Utensil Romance, book 4

A Lighthearted Utensil Romance #4

by Ruth Cardello

Utensils are for more than stirring up trouble.

Lauren gave up on love long ago. As an ER doctor, she saves lives daily and keeps her own life safe and predictable—until a set of antique silverware warms to her touch.

Suddenly, Lauren finds herself the unexpected heroine in a reverse harem tale, surrounded by three . . . no, eight World War II super soldiers who are as tempting as they are chaotic.

Falling in love with sentient spoons, forks, and knives? It’s absurd, testosterone-charged mayhem—and yet, love always finds a way.

This isn’t your typical sentient-object romance. Expect rom-com hilarity, Marvel-level action, and a poignant love story wrapped in a quirky utensil fantasy universe.

Cautionary Warning: Utensil dynamics are highly unconventional. There’s a battle brewing that can only be resolved with the elimination of Inkwell. There will be violence and heartbreak, but justice will finally be served.

Genres: Romance, Novella

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Ruth Cardello hit the NYTs and USA Today for the first time back in 2012. Millions of sales are evidence that her books are akin to potato chips, addictive from the first one. She has created a multi-series billionaire world with a combination of escapism and realism that has gained her a faithful following of readers.

What Kindle Reviewers write about her:

"Wow hot at every page. Heart stoping, fear raging, mind blowing wonderful."

"I'm a true fan of Ms. Cardello. I ran on to her first book a few years back and have been hooked ever since. I could go on and on about the story like of this book, but I'm not. All of her books are total page turners, unique, heart wrenching, and I love them all. There isn't two alike in the bunch and I feel like i know the characters personally. I personally read 97 authors books. And I buy every book they put out. This author is in my top 10. Great job and keep them coming."

"Love this series. Got me to start reading again. I look forward to the next book. Thank you for giving me the love of reading back."

Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York--then came full circle and moved back to New England. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.

She was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher. When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye toward her second love- writing and has never been happier. When she's not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small farm or connecting with her readers online.

Email Notice of New Releases: www.RuthCardello.com/Signup

You can find her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RuthCardello

Follow her at Twitter @RuthieCardello

If you'd like to email her directly, you may contact her via her website: www.ruthcardello.com

Lone Star Burn Series
Book 1: Taken, Not Spurred
Book 2: Tycoon Takedown
Book 3: Taken Home
Book 4: Taking Charge

Want to hear the song Charles proposed to Melanie with? https://youtu.be/SGZT5nVKfMs

The Legacy Collection
Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (FREE on Amazon!)
Book 2: For Love or Legacy
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 4: Saving the Sheikh
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire
Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption
Book 7: (Novella) A Corisi Christmas

The Andrades:
Book 1: Come Away With Me (FREE on Amazon)
Book 2: Home to Me
Book 3: Maximum Risk
Book 4: Somewhere Along the Way
Book 5: Loving Gigi
Christmas Novella: A Recipe for Love (Maddy and Richard)

The Barrington Billionaires:
Book 1: Always Mine
Book 2: Stolen Kisses
Book 3: Trade It All
Book 3.5: A Billionaire for Lexi
Book 4: Let It Burn
Book 5: More than Love
Book 6: Forever Now
Book 7: Never Goodbye
Book 8: Reluctantly Alpha
Book 9: Reluctantly Rescued
Book 10: Reluctantly Romanced
Book 11: Loving a Landon
Book 12: Loathing a Landon


For a more complete list visit her website at www.ruthcardello.com

Reviews

[zocharett Kolińska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Najgorsza z całej serii (dlaczego nikt tu nie sypia ze sztućcami?!)

[Youssra (semi ia- shelving books don't mind me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am being so serious when I say this, but this book with sentient robots and super soldiers from WWII who were turned into cutlery was so romantic and wholesome and funny!!!

I think this is my favorite book in the series I'm not even joking😅 Book 1 was by far the funniest but this one?? the found family? The humor? the cute romance? Why was this novella better than some full length romance books?🤣

This took a whole different direction than what I originally thought but I'm actually so not mad about it! I mean I expected a why choose with at least 3 men (who used to be a fork, a spoon and a knife🤣), but I got something else that made so much more sense and an actual well rounded plot for a novella?? Then tying everything back to her first ever novel??? If I had read that first novel, that reveal would have been so much more satisfying for me😅

I never in my life would have thought a 4 part cutlery romance would be one of the most entertaining experiences in my life, but Ruth Cardello one day looked at a fork and just said "Challenge Accepted." and I thank her for that 😅

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t sign on a for non utensil romance, dammit. I signed on for some reverse harem forking. Boo. 🍅🍅

[⋆˚°✩*˖ Gohnar23 (•˕ •マ.ᐟ ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 2 out of 5]

#️⃣4️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 💔🩸
Date : 🚀 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 🚫🔻❌
Word Count📃: 56k Words 🧨🔪🎈

⋆⭒𓆟⋆｡˚𖦹𓆜✩⋆ >-;;⁠;⁠;€ᐷ °‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡

( ˶°ㅁ°) !! My 29th read in "READING AS MANY BOOKS AS I CANNN 😢 cuz smth....happened.....irl.........😥" September ⚡

2️⃣🌟, at this point for now talking about utensils anymore, let's just becomes a normal typical romance, but the unhingeness of everything is still present
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗

I didn't know that i'd be reading the fourth and probably final installment of the utensil romance series. But i did notice that over time and book after book, we are now talking less about utensils and now more about humans... Would you goes against the entire plot and theme of this book which is ✨ romancing inanimate objects, more specifically utensils that is reincarnated to WWII war veterans ✨.

This book tries to be more crazier than the last one which is unnecessary because i really thought that the third book would be the last one in this series since that gave us a meaningful conclusion to the utensils/military veterans universe.. it becomes more as like a spin off more than a new installment, kinda like a cash grab? Because all the utensils here are shallow and poorly executed. On a 200 page book, the last thing that i expected is a book romancing EIGHT CHARACTERS. I didn't understand why it has to be specifically more characters at all, it just becomes messy and no one really gets to be the focus of the story since....THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

A book about romancing 8 men can be a great idea.........But not for a 200 page book as it comes across as rushed and reckless to be taken seriously 😐.

[Milo (if lost, return to hot fictional character) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unironically my favourite book in the series.

Wowza, Ruth you have done it again.

What a silly series, and what a joy it has been! The plot was solid even if it was about super soldiers and sentient robots. And i loved the way this book developed.

ugh guys, if you ever want a silly series to start as a way to escape the long af fantasy books or dark romances y’all are reading: read this one!!!

Thank you Ruth for gifting me and ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fancy reading something different this definitely ticks the boxes.
The next instalment of the fantasy utensil series and it’s a lot of fun.
This time it is Lauren an er doctor and a mother in charge of bringing back the remaining trapped soldiers. Only problem is they are all infatuated with her and they all love her. Lauren knows it is due to the treatment they had but they don’t leading to some fun encounters.
Lauren realises her heart is not with a utensil but with Braxton but must sort out Inkwell so everyone is settled.
This instalment is light hearted, funny and as well as changing utensils there are cute robots whizzing about.
It’s a book with a difference it’s not like anything else but it amused me and I thought it was great.

[Naemin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Muy decepcionada la verdad.

Y me gustaría poder mantener el tono de mis anteriores reseñas, pero no puedo hacerlo.

Escribo esta reseña enfadada, porque a pesar de que el libro y la saga en sí ya son una mierda, ha conseguido que lo odie.

Empezaré mencionando que el libro y la sinopsis plantean una trama que luego no es. Es más, te mienten en la cara. Y es que no hubiese habido nada de malo en la trama (todo en su contexto)si no fuese porque te lo venden como una cosa y luego es otra totalmente diferente.

El libro ha empezado bastante bien, tanto, que hasta yo me he sorprendido. Me estaba entreteniendo genuinamente y me había metido de lleno con la dinámica Pete-Elliot-Franklin. Y, salvo por un par de frases raras, me estaba pareciendo el mejor libro de la saga. Había podido ver como la protagonista es consistente y consigue que se empatice con ella. Creo que es porque la autora también refleja un poco su experiencia como madre y lo hace bastante bien. Es por eso que me da mucha rabia que tire por la borda todo lo que construye para acabar juntandola con Braxton, un personaje de mierda.

O sea, me estás diciendo que un tío, tu jefe, te lleva acosando y molestando proque le gustas durante MÁS DE 20 AÑOS y ahora, justo ahora, dices que le quieres solo porque se ha puesto las pilas???? No sé yo. He visto muchísima más conexión con Pete (la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho Pete, no irónicamente)

Para un puto personaje que se preocupa, que es un ser humano decente y con sentimientos chulos, y que se conforma con solo abrazarla... y escoges al pedazo de muermo ese????

No sé, me ha parecido súper forzado (y que luego encima le den poderes por la putísima cara...). Si hablo, me llevan presa.

Encima, una vez aparece Braxton de resto de personajes dejan de importar. No se soluciona nada, no hablan más. Y es que claro, me parece todo una mierda como una catedral.

No voy a hablar del despropósito de final, donde me meten en los dos últimos caps a un personaje random, que ni pincha ni corta, solo para promocionar su otra saga de libros. Es que hay que ser miserable.

Siento que esta reseña sea así de seria y esté tan llena de odio, pero me ha enfadado bastante que algo que se suponía que iba a ser gracioso y el final de una saga así termine tan mal.

PD.: aquí la frase chula que iba a poner al principio, pero que ahora me niego.


"I survived by continuing on. I put one foot in front of the other and forced myself to keep going. People think I’m strong, but I’m not. If I let myself start to fall apart . . .”

He hauls me against his chest and tucks me beneath his chin.

“You can be afraid and be strong. Sometimes letting yourself break a little is the only way to heal.”

[Benyi Holstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerró bien, pero definitivamente esperaba otros resultados sexuales...

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Since I don’t want to spoil the story because it wouldn’t be any fun, I just want to give my compliments to the author and her ability to “connect the dots” and give an ending that was really unexpected. I love Lauren as a female character and her ability to reinvent herself and mostly to manage a really difficult situation. As for the other soldiers, well I’m really happy that they finally had the right to be free once again. This book is the perfect ending of an initially unusual but significant story. I advise the reading of the entire series, the reader won’t be deluded.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most bizarre and entertaining books I have read in a while. Considering there was a somewhat serious element to the book, it managed to be lighthearted and humorous.

I truly never expected the twists and turns when I started reading this 4th book. Nor did I expect the surprise appearance toward the end.

I also appreciated that everyone, super soldier, man, robot, and woman, came away with their own personal HEA.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable end to this series! Even though my heart ached for a Why Choose scenario for Lauren, Braxton was too good to begrudge her choosing him. (Although he should have just joined the harem. She deserves some major body worship after years of celibacy.) Lauren being an older single mother of adult children made this an interesting read, but I just feel that things were left too unfinished between her, Pete, Franklin, and Elliot.

Still, I am proud of myself for guessing that the robots would be the key to discovering the whereabouts of Inkwell!

[Christine Jalili · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and each book kept getting better. This is the last one and it ended great. Loved Lauren and how caring she was. Can they really help these soldiers? Will they be able to disable Inkwell? This story is very original and I couldn’t put the book down. I was really rooting for who Lauren ended up with, they were fantastic together. As usual, the robots were a lot of fun too. I really loved their happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book.

[Terri Tutor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fitting conclusion to the silverware “problem”. Lauren, who thought that romance and finding someone who stayed through thick and thin, would never find that person. Even when trying to find a solution for all the WWII soldiers trapped in a situation that they had no say in, finding that Braxton was that person that she never thought that she would find. Not many authors could write a book about a different type of romance but Ms Cardello pulled it off!

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serviced is book 4 in the Lighthearted Utensil Romance series by Ruth Cardello and what a book to end this series!

Back with the super soldiers, finding the solution to the soldiers being trapped in silverware, finding someone who will always be there,, funny little robots…read on to see how Lauren helps these soldiers, gets answers and finds love along the way…

I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anna Blakemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

[Athilah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a disappointing end to the series. Beginning this story, I thought all the books were light-hearted sex fiction about utensils. I was actually pleasantly surprised that there was a mystery plot on uncovering the story surrounding the WW2 soldiers and why and how they become cutlery.

I actually enjoyed that the previous book, Knifed, strayed away from the sex and focused more on the plot but I was hoping that this book would return back to its original writing and be this kooky, goofy story about the mom getting “serviced” by the three cutlery. This book turning into a romance felt like the series began to take itself too seriously for what it originally began as. I don’t care about Braxton. I care about the MFC getting it on with the hunky WW2 super soldier. I don’t care about this random billionaire, which also has his chapters in third person ? The first person to third person writing is jarring and inconsistent. I don’t like that the author used this book to promote another series because the story feels unfinished when it could have ended on a light hearted note. The mystery of Inkwell is never solved, there’s no closure.

I initially ranked this book a 2 but after writing this review, I’m dropping my ranking to a 1.

[Drz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great ending to a really fun series. I throughly enjoyed Lauren finding herself again and resolving her issues and life.

[Artemis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this was false advertisement. This isn't the RH/why-choose it kinda implied.....

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I’d be so invested in a robot with a porn addiction and robots with anxiety

[Michelle Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe we are at the end of this great and unique series. I have to say this author saved the best for last, my hands down favorite book of this series. I really like our heroine Lauren, who is older, but she’s impressive in her own right and I really appreciated how she took care of her silverware and even how she set everything up so when they changed, she helped them acclimate to what was happening. I have to say I really liked this group of super soldiers, especially Pete and then when we have our robot friends show up, it’s like the more the merrier. The scene with George and Pete is too funny. I’ll admit I didn’t expect what ended up happening with Braxton, I’ll admit I selfishly wanted something else to play out for Lauren, but in the long run it was a great move. I caught myself tearing up more than once while reading this book. I loved this book, and I so appreciated the major cameo that was brought in to help the super soldiers. I should know by now that everyone knows everyone in the Ruth Cardello book world. I’m beyond happy for Lauren and what a wonderful ending for everyone in this series. It would be fun to have a book down the road as a check-in of sorts to see how everyone is doing. Great book!!!

[Liz Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to the utensil series, and the Inkwell Project.
Lauren, the doctor and Ashley’s mum, has now got the remaining utensils. She has the task of “waking” up the remaining Supersoldiers. Lauren is also trying to deal with a work colleague, Braxton, who keeps phoning her. He flies back from Ireland to be with Lauren and helps her out. He arrives at his campground with his two brothers. After much explaining, there are all sorts of tasks to be done. Having got the answers that Lauren was looking for in the blood, Braxton says he knows someone who can help them out. I should have known that this friend of Braxton would turn out to be the one and only Mr Dominic Corisi. You certainly like DC to “come riding in on his white charger to save the day”, Ruth.
This has been a terrific series. There has been a great range of emotions within the books, and some really great laugh out loud moments for the readers.
Thank you Ruth for such a wonderful quartet of books in this series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last book in this series and what can I say. Ruth Cardello is an amazing author no matter the subject she writes about. I will not give anything away. I read the entire series and even though it’s different from her previous books, this series is so good. It is funny, lighthearted and still brings out emotions from the characters. Especially Lauren and the soldiers that have gone through it! It gives me Avengers vibes, which I love and enjoyed reading something different. Of course no book from Ruth can be without Dominic because he is the best. Great ending to the series and now I can’t wait to see what is next in the lineup for this author.

[Anne Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final book in a quirky series that brought us WW11 soldiers trapped in in silverware by project inkwell until they resumed human form through meeting women who loved them, it sounds more than unlikely but throw in some quirky curious robots, and a doctor determined to find a solution to help the soldiers and you are completely drawn in by the characters in this fun book with quite a few twists in the story and an appearance by a familiar and well known character to readers of other books written by Ruth Cardello . A really enjoyable book that brought the series to a perfect ending.

[Tabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite story from the series. Jack is my favorite character from the series but this is my favorite book because Lauren is the ultimate GOAT and honestly relatable .... George..... oh sweet little George.... let's face it, he was the real star though. I couldn't get enough of him. This book was sweet and wholesome honestly.... I doubt there will be another but if there is, I'd love to know what their lives are like currently and I want... sorry NEED more George and his little robot buddies pls pls pls 10/10 loved it

[&#x1065a; moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

And here’s the final book of this series. Honestly, it was really fun to read—I never thought I’d enjoy a romance about kitchen utensils, but here I am.
From beginning to end, there was a real story alongside the romance, and it was really cool to discover.
I just wish the ending had been a bit more developed to really see Inkwell run to his downfall. Other than that, I’m glad I read this series.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot stress how much fun this book was. There are hot sexy men, strong women who love them and a lot of laughter thrown in for good measure. This story made me laugh out loud, smile and I hated for the book to end. Yes it is a different kind of story but it was so well written, and I loved the dialogue which was at times hilarious. I’m not sure many authors have the talent to come up with a crazy story line such as this but Ruth Cardello did and I loved it!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serviced ends Ruth Cardello’s super fun fantasy series with a lot of unexpected surprises. The story while technically focusing on the remaining silverware also is a story about trust on many levels. Series fans will be thrilled that their favorite sentient mechanical characters aka the robots, continue to amuse. I voluntarily reviewed this book. Most highly recommend.

[Stephanie Villere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serviced: A light hearted utensil romance, book 4, written by Ruth Cardello. This book is short and fun and nothing like Ms Cardello’s usual work in that it’s a story about silverware, cutlery?…you know! Forks and spoons and such!! Yes! Those things! It’s an interesting story filled with wonder and unbelievable things! Last and BEST in the series!!

[Karen Lathbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book finalizes a rather unusual group of stories. While trying to actually imagine this happening Ruth was able to pull it off entertaining us. I liked them all but really enjoyed Lauren, a doctor who loves her daughter so much, put her medical career at risk to find a way to help these men that were trapped in utensils. Helping these men also made Lauren realize that it was time for her to love again and gave Braxton the chance he's wanted for years. It was a fun ride reading this series, a big kudo to Ruth for her awesome imagination and taking us with her.

[Wioletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, wow, I don't know where to start. Others in the series were awesome, but this one it takes up to another level.
Lauren is a doctor, she got a hold of three utensils, and she broth them back, but different way than other was brought back. So she decided to help few more and she asked for help one more person, person, who was in love with her for very long time.
This story is absolutely freaking amazing. Adding that one more person in the end, cleaver, very cleaver, but I'm still mad at Ruth for making me cry while reading. Kidding, kind of