Just a Few Hot & Hammered Books I Read

This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books are all from the Hot & Hammered series by Tessa Bailey. I read them out of order, but I’m reviewing them in order for you.

Narrator note: All three books have the same narrator, Charlotte North. I enjoyed her narration, found her voices easy to follow. I listened at 2x speed and the narration was perfect!

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
Narrator: Charlotte North
Series: Hot & Hammered #1
Published by HarperAudio on June 11, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 9 hours 59 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

New York Times bestseller Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy new series featuring the blue collar men who work for a HGTV-esq house flipping business.
After an injury ends Travis Ford’s major league baseball career, he returns home to start over. He just wants to hammer out his frustrations at his new construction gig and forget all about his glory days. But he can’t even walk through town without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there’s Georgie, his buddy’s little sister, who is definitely not a kid anymore.
Georgette Castle has crushed on her older brother’s best friend for years. The grumpy, bear of a man working for her family’s house flipping business is a far cry from the charming sports star she used to know. But a moody scowl doesn’t scare her and Georgie’s determined to show Travis he’s more than a pretty face and a batting average, even if it means putting her feelings aside to be “just friends.”
Travis wants to brood in peace. But the girl he used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman who makes him feel whole again. And he wants her. So damn bad. Except Georgie’s off limits and he knows he can’t give her what she deserves. But she’s becoming the air he breathes and Travis can’t stay away, no matter how hard he tries...

I do wish I’d read this before Love Her or Lose Her, since it gives some great insight into Rosie, with the Just Us League. But it worked out of order too. I love the characters and it was great watching this friends-to-lovers play out. It has a bit of a makeover too, which I always seem to enjoy in books (and movies). While Love Her or Lose Her hit me in in the feels, this book had me laughing my butt off. Eager for book 3!

Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Narrator: Charlotte North
Series: Hot & Hammered #2
Published by HarperAudio on January 14, 2020
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 8 hours 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

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 10 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.
©2020 Tessa Bailey (P)2020 HarperAudio

OMG this book! Tessa Bailey’s best (that I’ve read). If you’re married, I think this book will speak to you – because who hasn’t had rough moments? Maybe you haven’t reached the breaking point like this couple, but their pain, the ways they show love – it resonates. Dominic reminds me so much of my own husband that his silent acts of unrecognized devotion to Rosie made me tear up. I immediately picked up the first book when I finished this one (wish I’d read it in order!), because I want more of these characters!

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey
Narrator: Charlotte North
Series: Hot & Hammered #3
Published by HarperAudio on September 22, 2020
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 9 hours
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

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.

Bethany is very relatable for me – she obsesses over projecting perfection to everyone around her and can’t stop and just enjoy because of it. She needs someone to see her for all her imperfections and love her anyway so she can learn to let her guard down (and she needs to watch Brene Brown’s Ted Talk about vulnerability, but I digress). Thankfully she finds that in Wes, the new guy in town. He moved in to take care of his half-sister’s daughter while she struggles to figure out her life and cope with addiction. He is a great guy clearly – has been carrying on a teasing flirtation with her, but he’s never had any kind of permanent home. Settling down is something that requires letting your guard down and trusting – something his childhood on foster homes hasn’t taught him. I loved watching them deal with their issues and fall in love, while flipping a house in a televised contest with her brother. The story is filled with humor and glimpses of the other characters we already love from the previous books.

I’ve really enjoyed all the characters in this series, I love the setting – a small town where they all know and support each other. I love the ladies group. – the Just Us League. And I love the couples.

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