Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two people who drive each other crazy partner up to flip a house and sparks fly! (Book 3 of Hot and Hammered)
Publication date: September 22, 2020
Tessa Bailey is a favorite for me and with her “Hot and Hammered” series she’s getting the recognition she so rightly deserves. “Tools of Engagement”, the final book of the series is absolutely delicious. We were introduced to Bethany and Wes’ hot hate-ship at the end of (“Love Her or Lose Her”) Rosie and Dominic’s book and this Enemies-to-Lovers relationship is hot as hell.
Bethany Castle is a stager for her family’s renovation/flip business. Her designs have to be perfect, however, and this has started to impact every aspect of her life and is holding her back. Tessa Bailey’s treatment of Bethany’s insecurities and doubt is moving, wonderfully layered and eye-opening but I don’t want to say too much about this aspect of the story because it was such a pleasure to come into blind. Bethany wants to tackle more in her life but her brother, Stephen, the head “flipper” of the business, keeps blocking her aspirations. Enter, Wes Daniels, her partner in smack talk to … each other. He’s just recently arrived in town in order to care for his five-year-old niece and started working for Bethany and Stephen’s family business. Bethany and Wes end up partnering up on a flip and in a crazy turn of events, on a reality TV show in a competition against Stephen.
As I mentioned, I went into this book blind and it was an absolute delight. I think it’s my new favorite of the series. To me, Tessa Bailey is the queen of hot and dirty romance. This book is a little more restrained than the other two books in the series due to the presence (perhaps) of a five-year-old. It’s a bit more of a slow burn as well. Wes is an ex-rodeo rider thrust into the situation of caring for his niece for the “foreseeable future” and no longer and even though there is an age difference (Wes’ eventual dirty talk about their age difference is palpitation-inducing) he is the one man who understands the way Bethany ticks. His protectiveness and understanding towards Bethany and (no spoiler) his “Zelwegger” move at the beginning of the book makes you fall for him. His back story and his growing relationship with Laura, his niece, makes him a wonderful character.
We also get to catch up with Georgie and Travis (“Fix Her Up”) and Rosie and Dominic and the Just Us League which is a treat. I promise you a hot and steamy, fun read with a smidgen of HGTV-type shenanigans, a worthy romantic male lead and heartwarming romance. I highly recommend “Tools of Engagement’.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5
My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.