Category Archives: Tessa Bailey

May 16, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Title: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Bellinger Sisters Series Book Two
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?

Review:

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey is a charming friends to lovers romance. Although this novel is the second installment in the Bellinger Sisters series, it can be read as a standalone.

Hannah Bellinger lives with her wealthy family and works in L.A. as a production assistant. She has a long-term crush on co-worker and has her sights on moving to music production. After helping her sister Piper renovate the family bar in Westport, WA, Hannah has maintained a fun, music-filled texting relationship with fisherman, Fox Thornton. When the current project she is working on moves to Westport, Hannah and Fox discover there is more to their friendship but will they act on their simmering attraction?

Fox has a reputation as someone who likes to have a good time. He has also done everything he can to live up to his love ‘em and leave ‘em reputation. Fox’s friend and owner of the fishing boat he works on would like to give him more responsibility, but he fears his lifestyle will impact his ability to lead the crew.

Piper stays with Fox while in town which provides them to learn more about one another. Piper is surprisingly protective of Fox during some encounters with the townspeople. She also gathers her courage to assert herself more at work but whether or not this will alter her career path is up in the air. Meanwhile, Fox struggles to with low self-worth as he contemplates a future with Piper and possible opportunities at work.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is a marvelous slow-burn romance. Hannah and Fox are appealing characters with relatable flaws. The banter between the various characters is laugh out loud funny. The storyline is well-developed but a little slow paced at times. Although the conflict is somewhat predictable, this does not lessen the overall enjoyment of the story. Tessa Bailey brings this endearing romance to a completely satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under Avon, Bellinger Sisters Series Book Two, Contemporary, Hook Line and Sinker, Rated B, Review, Romance, Tessa Bailey

September 16, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

Title: Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey
Hot and Hammered Series Book Three
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 367 pages
Book Rating:

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

In Tessa Bailey’s latest rom-com, two enemies team up to flip a house… and the sparks between them might burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore! 

 

Hair, makeup, clothing, decor… everything in Bethany Castle’s world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family’s real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She’s on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother’s construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany’s skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It’s a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany’s perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

Review:

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey is a sweet and steamy contemporary romance. Although this newest release is the third romance in the Hot and Hammered series, it can be read as a standalone.

Bethany Castle finally gets up the courage to renovate the home she received from her sister’s fiancé. She is a perfectionist whose need to control everything dominates her thoughts and her life.  Although she is afraid of undertaking a project that she knows little about, Bethany is finally (mostly) ready to step out of her comfort zone.

Newcomer Wes Daniel surprises Bethany when he decides to leave her brother’s construction business to work with her. She and Wes have been trading barbs since he moved to town and she is a little hesitant to spend more time with him. Underlying their sarcastic banter lies an increasingly hard to ignore attraction.

Wes is caring for his five year old niece Laura while his sister Becky tries to get her life together after her marriage fell apart. Before coming to Becky’s rescue, the charming cowboy was living a footloose and fancy free life as a bull rider.  Wes is surprisingly settled into his new life and he is enjoying the challenges of working with Bethany.

Wes and Bethany gradually slide into a friendship and romance. Bethany is concerned that her old fears and insecurities will wreck their relationship but Wes is infinitely patient with her. She is beginning to relax and loosen her tight control. Growing up in foster care, Wes has learned to not count on anyone or put down roots. Laura has snuck into his heart and after he and Bethany become involved, Wes is starting to believe it might be time to settle down permanently. But as they enter a new phase of their relationship, will their respective emotional baggage ruin their future together?

Tools of Engagement is a captivating romance with appealing characters and an engaging storyline. Wes and Bethany are a fun and flirty couple who share some scorching hot love scenes. After a conflict threatens Wes and Bethany’s relationship, Tessa Bailey brings this marvelous romance to a heart-melting conclusion. A wonderful addition to the Hot and Hammered series that old and new readers are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Avon, Contemporary, Hot and Hammered Series, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Tessa Bailey, Tools of Engagement

January 13, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

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.

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Filed under Avon, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Tessa Bailey

June 16, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Title: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 397 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

A brand new romantic comedy from New York Times bestseller Tessa Bailey!

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World… whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite.

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there’s Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her…

Review:

The first installment in a promising new series, Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey is a sizzling hot romance.

Georgette “Georgie” Castle is the often overlooked and easily dismissed youngest daughter. At twenty-three, she has forged her own quirky path, but she is growing weary of not being taken seriously.  She is smart and sassy, but Georgie continues to let her familial role define her decisions. Her first unexpected step in making much-needed changes is forcing her longtime crush, former baseball player, Travis Ford, to snap out of his self-pity over losing his career to a shoulder injury.  While continuing to push him out of his misery, Georgie discovers that not only does she want, but deserves, more respect from her family.  Finding an unanticipated ally in her older sister, Bethany, they, along with their friend, Rosie, begin a club to help empower themselves. She also offers to help Travis repair his image in hopes of nabbing a sports commentator job. But will Georgie’s heart survive when it is time for their fake relationship to end?

Due to his dysfunctional childhood, baseball has always been Travis’s ticket to  a better life and a sense of  belonging.  In the aftermath of losing his career, he is depressed and certain his father’s predictions have come to fruition. Equally frustrating is how he is defined by his well-earned womanizing reputation.  Needless to say, Travis is caught in a downward spiral that shows no sign of ending until Georgie’s well-timed intervention. Now working construction with his best-friend and Georgie’s older brother, Stephen, Travis is reluctantly back in the land of the living.  Shocked by Georgie’s sudden transformation from his best friend’s sister to a vibrant, sexy woman, will Travis continue to resist his burning hot attraction to her?

Travis and Georgie’s interactions are an enticing blend of heart to heart conversations and off the charts sexual tension.  Their discussions are endearing and heartwarming but unfortunately, their emotional connection is overpowered by their simmering sexual attraction. The overly long and detailed extremely smutty fantasies become tedious and Travis’s nickname for Georgie and her reaction when he says it is distasteful in light of the changes she attempting to make.

Despite a few minor irritations,  Fix Her Up is a tantalizing, super steamy romance. Georgie is a delightful breath of fresh air and watching her come into her own is quite uplifting. Travis is an overall likeable character and it is immensely gratifying when he finally discovers his self-worth.  Travis and Georgie’s romance is believable but  just as Georgie and Travis are on the cusp of finding happiness, a misunderstanding and familial interference bring their romance to an abrupt end.  Tessa Bailey brings this charming romance to a swoon-worthy conclusion that is absolutely delightful.

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Filed under Avon, Contemporary, Fix Her Up, Rated B, Review, Tessa Bailey

January 12, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey

askingTitle: Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey
Line of Duty Series Book Four
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 279 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

The fighting was just foreplay…

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can’t stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich family’s charities. He’s a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it won’t be the last, as far as Brent’s concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father’s company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden’s marriage to the CEO’s wealthy son can secure the deal. If she’s to protect her family, she’ll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten.

The Review:

Do you like Alpha males? Do you like enemies to lovers romances? Do you like sex scenes that are deliciously down, dirty and smokin’ hawt? If you answered yes, then you are going to LOVE Tessa Bailey’s Asking for Trouble. This fourth novel in the Line of Duty series is a fast paced and engaging opposites attract romance that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead barely tolerate each other but since their mutual friends are in love, they are forced to spend lots of time together. They are from completely different backgrounds and they have (unfairly) judged each other based on their social standing. When Hayden decides it is time to firmly put Brent in his place, she issues a sexual gauntlet that Brent gladly accepts. Their night together leads to an explosive and extremely passionate encounter that leaves them with more questions than answers. Brent and Hayden continue to alternately fight and give into their smoldering attraction but will Hayden’s family obligations stand in the way of this volatile couple’s future?

Neither Hayden nor Brent has bothered to look beyond the surface of the other. Hayden is convinced Brent is a knuckle dragging Neanderthal while Brent thinks Hayden is a pampered princess who spends her days shopping. So it comes as a big surprise to both of them what they uncover once they look past superficial appearances. Brent is hardworking and loyal to his family whereas Hayden is just as dedicated to her charity work. Brent is secure in who he and what he wants but Hayden is nursing a few insecurities. Brent is more than happy to let Hayden explore her dominant side and they take turns giving up control to the other.

This lust-filled story borders on the erotic and nothing is off limits as Brent and Hayden explore their attraction. Dirty talking, a little bondage and spanking are just a few of the things this couple bring into the bedroom. There is no shortage of sexual tension between them and their sex scenes are scorching hot.

Witty banter, charming characters and delectably steamy sex scenes make Asking for Trouble a must read for anyone who enjoys contemporary romances. Although it is the fourth installment in Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty series, it can be read as a standalone story.

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Filed under Asking for Trouble, Brazen, Contemporary, Entagled Publishing, Line of Duty Series, Rated B, Review, Romance, Tessa Bailey