Title: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Hot and Hammered Series Book Two
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length:347 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey returns with a unique, sexy romantic comedy about a young married couple whose rocky relationship needs a serious renovation…
Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp.
Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret… and it could demolish everything.
Review:
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey is a charming romance that is also quite steamy. Although this newest release is the second installment in the Hot and Hammered series, it can be read as a standalone.
Rosie Vega is done with her ten year marriage to Dominic. Childhood sweethearts who married right before Dominic’s first deployment, the couple share a sizzling hot passion but desire cannot sustain a marriage. Although it tears at her heart, Rosie moves out and tries to decide what to do about her dream of opening a restaurant. When Dominic persists in trying to get her to come back home, Rosie is willing to give their relationship one more chance. But only if Dominic will agree to see a marriage counselor. He shocks her by agreeing to her terms but is it too late to save their marriage?
Rosie is fed up with just about everything in her life. She absolutely abhors her job and her boss. Rosie loves Dominic but she can no longer live with their empty, too quiet life. Temporarily staying with her friend Bethany Castle, Rosie must decide what she wants her future to look like. With so many changes occurring in her life, will Rosie finally fulfill her goal of owning her own restaurant?
Dominic is a hard worker who loves his wife but he is emotionally closed off and epitomizes the “strong, silent” type. He is overprotective and wants only to fulfill Rosie’s every need. The only problem? Dominic does not ask Rosie what she wants or needs. He just does what he thinks is best for her. Overall, Dominic is a nice man but he comes across as a bit of a caveman when it comes to his wife.
Dominic and Rosie’s biggest issue is a complete and utter breakdown in communication. But the one thing that has sustained them is their once a week hot and sweaty sexy times. Dominic and Rosie’s have plenty of sexual chemistry but without anything else to sustain their relationship, it is little wonder Rosie finally walks out.
Despite their separation, Rosie and Dominic are still intensely attracted to one another. But their unorthodox, hippie counselor orders them to celibacy as they work on reconnecting with each other in their normal everyday lives. But a huge secret continues lurking underneath the surface of their reconciliation. Will Rosie and Dominic’s marriage survive once the truth is finally revealed?
Love Her or Lose Her is an entertaining romance with a cast of diverse, quirky characters. Both Rosie and Dominic have a strong circle of friends who are quite supportive. Changes in their strained relationship occur at a realistic pace. Rosie and Dominic undergo personal growth as they work on the problems in their marriage. The over the top sex scenes become a bit repetitive and are somewhat unrealistic in the face of Rosie and Dominic’s crumbling marriage. Despite a little predictability, Tessa Bailey brings this sexy romance to a sweet conclusion. Old and new fans of the Hot and Hammered series will enjoy this latest installment.
