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?
My Review:
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey is the second book in her Bellinger Sisters series and can be read as a stand-alone, however, it’s best to read these in order. I knew from the first pages, where the two main characters are texting each other that I would love this book. And I will say I just loved this delightful, sexy, romance.
Hannah is a lowly production assistant in Los Angeles with aspirations to work on movie musical scores. She has a crush on her director Sergei, but he hasn’t noticed her in the two years they’ve been working together. When he doesn’t like the location of the current movie he’s woking on, Hannah suggests they move the location to Westport, WA, which coincidentally is where her sister now lives with her fiance Brendan.
King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has quite a reputation for always having a good time. Growing up in Westport, he always had a way with women, and his reputation was justly earned. But when he met Hannah, last summer, he wanted more with her, even if he knew he could never have it. Nobody wants to risk a relationship with a ladies man. But, when she returns to work on the movie and she happens to move into his spare room, will their decision to stay friends work in such close quarters?
I recently saw a meme that said “The problem with a good book is you want to finish the book, but you don’t want the book to end.” And that’s exactly what I thought of this book. This slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance was a joy to read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun, sexy romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Tessa Bailey
New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
Yayyy, so glad you loved this one. I read the first one and besides the steamy scenes, I really enjoyed it. I recently got an ARC of the audiobook and it is coming up this week.
Fantastic review Wendy. I wasn’t sure about this one. The first in the series just fell a bit short for me. But I think you just convinced me to give it a try!🤩💖📚
Yayyy, so glad you loved this one. I read the first one and besides the steamy scenes, I really enjoyed it. I recently got an ARC of the audiobook and it is coming up this week.
I’m so glad you got this one. I think there are fewer steamy scenes in this second book.
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I haven’t read anything by this author, but I’m very intrigued by this series. I may need to give it a try. 😉 Great review!
Thank you, Dedra. I enjoyed it.
Sounds cute, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m getting a little burned out on romance books. I might need to take a break for a little bit.
I read mostly romance, but I’m slowly adding more genre’s.
This sounds like a cute series and I’m glad you had fun reading this one. 🙂
Thank you, Jenni!
Glad you enjoyed this one! I wasn’t a fan of one of her other books so I don’t know if I will check this one out but the cover is great!
I understand! It’s a lot like her other books…
I loved the first book so I’m really looking forward to this one. Nice to see you loved it!
I hope you like it as much as I did!
This book sounds so good. I love that meme you quoted. It’s so true and you associating it with this book definitely sold me on it. Excellent review!
Thank you, Tessa!
It sounds like you had a wonderful time with this one. Great review.
Thank you, Nadene! It was a good one!
Fantastic review Wendy. I wasn’t sure about this one. The first in the series just fell a bit short for me. But I think you just convinced me to give it a try!🤩💖📚
I hope you enjoy it, when you get to it.
The meme quote is perfect! That is indeed the sign of a good book.
Thank you, Linda!
I love the sound of this 💕
Thank you, Jenny!
I think I would love this one, too!
Thank you, Lark!
It’s the sign of a good book if you don’t want it to end.
I agree, Rosie! Thank you.
This sounds lovely and that title is catchy. Great review, Wendy!
Thank you, Yesha!
Glad you enjoyed this one Wendy🙂
Thank you, Mallika!
I love Tessa Bailey books. I call her the queen of steam. I’m excited for this one.
It was just as good as her first book IMO. Hope you enjoy it!