TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT
Series: Hot and Hammered #3
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 22nd, 2020
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.
5 ‘You’re a F@cking Masterpiece’ Stars
My, oh my…. Tools on Engagement was enemies to lovers PERFECTION! The irresistible banter, the rawness of the emotions, the uber sexiness in its slow burn, and the ‘two faces of the same coin’ unforgettable love story… True romance perfection wrapping up a MUST read series!!!
I seldom watch tv, much less RTV, but I’ll say that if it was as emotion packed, hilarious and sexy as it in Ms. Bailey’s brand new release, Wes and Bethany’s love story, I’d dive right in.
“If you make a ‘nine inches’ joke, I’ll dump candle wax on your head.”
“Damn, girl, that’s kinky as hell.” He winked. “I like it.”
Oh my Lord, THE BANTER… Sweet baby jesus, I’m here for all this sexual innuendo filled, juicy and naughty banter, ALL. OF. IT! Beth and Wes sure gave us that in spades. Each of them gave as much as they got, and left me salivating for more. The way the sexual tension translates into the most delicious of banters?!Pure gold!
“Maybe I could be the one thing you don’t overthink, all right?”
“you’re going to feel my lack of fucks that you’re thirty and I’m twenty-three. Those seven years don’t mean a damn thing to me . . .” He trailed his open lips along her jaw. “If anything, they’ll make us moan a little louder, won’t they, darlin’?”
This age gap / enemies to lovers / opposites attract, romance was just what the doctor ordered. This extreme OCD’ed reader identified herself so very much in Bethany’s insecurities and flaws, her hurt was felt deep in my heart and soul, so every moment with Wes in their back and forth was life!
Not only did I see myself in our control freak heroine, but Wes, WOW! He blew my mind to no end. Funny, sexy, so sweet with his niece that it melted my heart right along with my panties, Wes was EVERYTHING!
“Besides, it’s the flaws that give a person character. That’s where the beauty hides.”
He was the Zellweger to her Cruise.
Love was open-heart surgery without anesthesia.
Tessa Bailey rocked my world so hard with Tools of Engagement, or should I say, this whole series, that it iconized ‘Zellwegering’ for-freaking-EVER! This is beyond a sexy rom-com, in its emotional complexity, it’s a truly unforgettable and rich love story! Epic, just EPIC!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
“You’re my first home, Bethany, and my last,”
“I am your destination.“You and me. In it together.” “Forever and ever.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Avon / Harper Collins for an honest review
Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.
Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.
She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.