Hot & Hammered – Readaholic Book Reviews

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

Series: Hot & Hammered #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: September 22, 2020

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

Bethany Castle is always in her element. She is calm, collected and cool. After all, she is the interior decorator for her family’s business and that’s exactly what she does best. Put everyone else at ease and make them feel welcome. But what about her, who is going to be there for her when she doesn’t have the energy to always be “perfect”?

Wes Daniels, isn’t used to sticking around in one place for a long time. He’s used to jumping from one place or another; hence his career at being a bull rider. Life throws Wes a curve ball and he soon finds himself in Port Jefferson taking care of his five year old niece for the unforeseeable future.

I really enjoyed Fix Her Up (book #1 in the series), but Love Her or Lose Her (book #2 in the series) wasn’t one I connected with as much. Tools of Engagement might be my favorite of the series. I love a sweet (and dirty) talking, sexy cowboy and Wes was all of those things. The banter between Wes and Bethany was so perfect and the sexual tension was always simmering between these two. But more than that, I loved how Wes seemed to completely get Bethany. He pushed her when she needed it and backed off when she needed her space. He was affectionate and attentive and always so damn sweet.

His sweetness and desire to protect both this niece and Bethany was definitely what made me fall for Wes. The interactions between Wes and his niece were some of my favorites. They were so sweet together and I ended up falling for both of them. A lot of times the single parent trope doesn’t hold that much appeal to me, but these two were so perfect in this book!

I loved the interactions between Bethany and the Just Us League. I enjoyed revisiting with Georgie, Rosie and the rest of the gang. Watching Bethany transform and let go of her insecurities was perhaps my favorite part of this book. As Tessa states in her acknowledgements – we don’t always have to be that perfect person that’s thrown across our social media. It’s okay to just be who we are.

Tools of Engagement releases September 22, 2020 – add this to your TBR list!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Hot & Hammered Book #2

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: January 14, 2020

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I received a complimentary advance title of this book from the publisher.

When I read Fix Her Up last year I knew that I had to immediately read more of Tessa Bailey. I loved her grumpy alpha heroes with hearts of gold and was looking forward to Love Her or Lose Her. But sadly I was left feeling a bit disappointed after reading this book. I hard a hart time finding the connection between Dominic and Rosie.

Rosie and Dominic have been married for a few years, but are struggling with their failing marriage. The only time the two of them seem to be on the same page is if they are getting intimate with one another. Rosie finally has enough and decides that she needs time apart from Dominic.

This couple had so much history shared between them. They met in middle school and have been together ever since. Sometimes it feels like when you’ve been with a person so long, you don’t know how to be “alone” anymore and I really felt for Rosie. She needs time and space alone to shine by herself and that was very hard for Dominic to give to her. I really appreciated the fact that this couple chose to go to marriage counseling. That’s something that’s not often discussed in romance books, and I liked that this couple had real struggles and had a professional help them through their troubles.

I did enjoy the girl gang between Bethany, Georgie and Rosie and the Just Us League! But at times I was more invested in their story line than the one between Dominic and Rosie. The set up for the final book in the series is laid down in Love Her or Lose Her and I’m interested in what that story line will be when it is released.