The Hook Up is the third novel is this silly, saucy, and sexy series. While all the novels in this series are standalones, you don’t have to read the first two to be able to grasp the storyline. (I would advise reading them because they are just as good.) This novel was laugh out loud funny with heart warming scenes. I loved both the heroine Ellie and the hero Ty. The merging from strangers to friends to “special friend” developed so authentically. Ellie is an admirable heroine who is so strong, while Ty is sweet hero that hold strong insecurities of being fated to repeat the mistakes of his father. Reading about Ty growing up and overcoming his misgivings for Ellie and her adorable little boy was so sweet. The progression of the novels development made the whole read enjoyable. I would give this novel 4.5 stars.

Tawna Fenske never ceases to surprise me. With how the story begins and my preconceived notions, this book had me thinking it was going to be a simple, sexy rom-com. Yet, as I began to read about Ty's internal struggle with his past along with a subsequent visit from aforementioned past, I was hit with all of the emotional "feels." My heart simply broke for him. Along with Ty's past comes Ellie's having to deal with her "dead-beat" ex-husband. Fenske wrote with such clarity and realism that I couldn't help but think she's writing from personal or a close second-hand perspective. Regardless, it made for compelling reading.

In true-to-Fenske form, this is a romantic comedy with a dose of real life relationship insecurities that ends with a sigh and smile-inducing finale. Her stories are ALWAYS a pleasure. (I voluntarily read an advanced copy via Netgalley of The Hook Up. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.)

the third book in tawna fenske's first impressions series, the hook up, pairs up single mom ellie sanders with video producer tyler hendrix. their meet-cute is one of those mix-ups you can see coming from a mile away and yet still manages to be so funny.

tyler thinks he's talking to l.e. birmingham owner of a bowling supply store, however he happens to be talking to ellie sanders owner of a sex toy shop. so, you can only imagine how the talking at cross-purposes and sexual innuendo goes with such ripe material. it's funny and sweet. both ellie and tyler are so embarrassed but also drawn to each other.

he keeps finding ways to get close to her. and she's happy that he's interested. but wary too, because she has a disinterested ex-husband and co-parent, and she's not really willing to put her heart on the line for someone who won't stick around. tyler isn't sure he knows how to stick around. he has a deadbeat dad and a youth filled with disappointing foster families. after his grandmother passed away no one looked out for him.

so how is he supposed to get involved with a single mom of all things? how can he be trusted to be around her kid? he definitely doesn't believe he's got it in him. and ellie doesn't deserve to be someone's tryout for commitment.

this romance is sweet and funny and a little bit sexy. tyler, for all his issues, is a good guy. and how he makes ellie and her son happy shows that he's better at the commitment thing than he thinks.

This is a great book; this book is the third book in the Firsst Impressions series written by Tawna Fenske. Ellie Sanders is over the fairytale, thank you very much. Content with her booming career as a purveyor of Madame Butterfly pleasure aids, she doesn’t need a man for anything—except maybe marketing tips. And, okay, a few fun nights with something that doesn’t require batteries.
Love, marriage, and family aren’t in the cards for Tyler Hendrix. Period. The Navy helped Ty put his tumultuous childhood behind him, but when a sexy single mom walks through the First Impressions door looking to take her business to the next level, he feels his carefully constructed “never-get-attached” walls crack. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

What a giggle out loud story this proved to be right from the start! This is one of those books where you laugh till you have tears streaming down your face - well, I did, anyway! For example, imagine a handsome hunk giving you tips on how to market 'pleasure toys' . . . . whilst he's actually thinking he's giving you tips on how to market bowling balls!! I had to read excerpts out loud to my husband Get ready for some hilarious accidental sexual innuendos, misunderstandings and laughs  from the very beginning and just keep on happening throughout this brilliant story!

The characters are well developed with sufficient angst and turmoil in their past to have a noticeable impact on their attitudes and behaviour in the present. There's also Ellie's son, the delightful Henry, what a sweetheart! If you're looking for a romance with characters who aren't looking for love but find it anyway, one where things don't go smoothly but keep you guessing (and laughing), then look no further - you'll hopefully love escaping into this romantic comedy as much as I did! When you've done that, I recommend you also seriously consider reading the first two books in this brilliant series - 'The Fix Up' and 'The Hang Up' as both are also great reads IMHO.

I requested and was lucky enough to receive a copy of this novel from the publishers via NetGalley. I chose to read and honestly review it.

I love Tawna Fenske's writing style and her witty banter between her characters. The beginning of this book started out with a HILARIOUS misunderstanding that neither Ty or Ellie got at first. I was getting strange looks while reading this in public. Tawna always has me laughing at loud throughout her books. There was a realness to both Ty and Ellie that I think any reader can relate to. They're down to earth and neither one of them are looking for a relationship. Ellie is a single mom and dealing with raising her son, Henry. (And Henry is the cutest little guy!) Due to her job, she's become more aware of herself than she was in the past, but her ex-husband has made her want to stay away from relationships.
Ty had a difficult childhood. He hasn't thought of kids or a relationship with a single mom. They've been a hard no for him. However, he finds himself pulled toward Ellie. It's a learning curve for him, too. I liked watching their relationship grow and seeing how sweet Ty could be. I loved the laugh out loud moments and their tender ones. I enjoyed their story from page one. It was fast paced and I didn't want it to be over. If you are into funny, sweet, passionate reads, then go ahead and one-click it!

**ARC provided for my honest review.**

I LOVED Ty and Ellie and Henry too. I laughed so hard in the first chapter that I cried and had to compose myself before I could continue reading. The chemistry between the characters is electric and jumps off the page. It also helps that the characters are real - they have real life backstories, real life cringe-worthy moments, and real life pain - that makes them feel as if they could be the couple next door or your best friends. The story is tight, moves easily, and has SO MANY laughable moments. I read this book in one sitting, and it was worth ignoring everything in life for a few hours. From bowling balls to leaky pipes to Batman tattoos...this is a must read, especially if you like a hot hero, a strong heroine, and a ton of laughter with your romance.

A pure laugh out sexy romance from the first page. Single mom, Ellie sells sex toys when she meets Ty, a marketing guy from First Impressions. Neither are into lasting relationships but a casual hook up would be perfect, or is it. Ellie's son, Henry is just a hoot. Adds so much to the story.

Great characters with flaws but they work it out together. Great chemistry!! Still in love with Henry. I highly recommend this fun romance

I absolutely loved this book! I was smiling almost the whole book. Several parts even had me laughing. The first meeting of Ty & Ellie was just hysterical and really started the book of on a great note. It was a great start to a fabulous book. Even though Ty & Ellie had issues in there past, childhood or divorces, I didn't feel like they brought the story to a sad level. They were able to move through those issues and the end of the story was just icing on the cake. Really wonderful epilogue. Couldn't have asked for a better ending.

A fun single mom romance with a sexy teasing undertone!

The Hook Up is a fun single mom romance with a sexy teasing undertone! The book is full of humorous laugh out loud moments with the sexy and witty undertone switching seamlessly at times from light-hearted to serious when required. While this is part of a series, this is the first book I have read in it and I followed along no problem to make this a true standalone with a sweet HEA.

Told from dual perspective, there was a great chemistry between the two characters, Ty and Ellie. Ty, a successful videographer, has dark demons from his past that risk impacting on him for any potential HEA’s. Ellie has been scorned by love before and is determined to focus on making her sex toys business a success and raising her son. However, the instant attraction sizzles between these two from the moment they meet (it’s a hilarious introduction that really sets the tone) and evolves to some scorching hot levels! I loved the strength in character of Ellie, who needed a push in the right direction to embrace her own desires, despite her career in selling sex aids. Ty was a guy you felt for because his past was impacting greatly on him and seeing his warring emotions tugs at you at times. Both Ty and Ellie were very likeable characters and the pacing (although overall it’s fairly fast-paced) and development of a relationship between the pair was well written, allowing for foundations to be established given their pasts and adapting to new feelings. For both it is about not letting the demons of their pasts destroy the happiness in their future. There were some wonderful warm-hearted sub-characters but I adored the relationship Ellie’s son, Henry, had with both Ellie and Ty throughout the book and the important role he played.

I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted and sexy read and would highly recommend it!

We first encountered Ellie in The Hang Up as Jason's younger sister. Ellie hasn't had an easy time of things especially in her personal life, an ex who left when their son was very little and having to navigate life with a small child suffering from cancer. Ellie is a strong, independent woman taking charge of her life and forging a career for herself selling sex toys ;)

Ty is a new partner in First Impressions, tech guru and online marketing specialist. Miriam, Ellie's sister-in-law and another partner in the business, enlists Ty to give Ellie advice on expanding her online presence. A hilarious first encounter between Ellie and Ty ensues due to crossed wires in communication and double meaning when the conversation is misconstrued. The attraction between Ellie and Ty is sizzling from their first words, however, Ty has a number of emotional barriers that prevent him from pursuing Ellie. 

Ty's upbringing did a number on his perception of himself where relationships and commitment are concerned. I really felt for him and his low opinion of himself in this regard especially as Ty's actions contradict his thoughts at every turn. His time in the foster care system only served to add to his abandonment issues, leading Ty to keep himself closed off in order to avoid further hurt.

The Hook Up examines aspects of nature versus nurture within the narrative, especially the idea that we are genetically predisposition to become our parents - the notion of learnt behaviour overshadowing our natural instincts or becoming or natural instinct whether we want it to or not. Reprogramming our thought patterns and in particular the way we view ourselves can be challenging. 

Ty and Ellie's relationship is heart-warming and naturally occurring. While there are thought provoking elements within the narrative, the angst is kept to a minimum. The narrative has a sassy feel to it which maintains a light, fun feel to the story throughout.

Favorite Quotes:

Juice, goldfish crackers, and a stash of porn… It’s what’s in every man’s briefcase.

This is where I make my exit. My nephew and I are going to go do man stuff like scratching ourselves and belching and watching Batman.

He’d had a spirited grandmother once upon a time. She’d taught him to skip rocks and spit off bridges and curse like a thesaurus-wielding sailor.

Ty had behaved like the consummate professional. He’d been respectful, composed, and dignified. She might have been grateful if it weren’t for the fact that she wanted to hump his leg like a feral poodle.

“You fixed my kitchen sink with a condom, bondage tape, and my son’s building blocks.” Ty nodded and wiped his hands down the front of his jeans. “Should we post it to the do-it-yourself page on Home Depot’s website?”

I told the babysitter I had a penis, and Uncle Jason said I needed to keep my pirate parts to myself.

My Review:

The Hook Up kept a gleeful smirk on my face for the duration and provided a fun read filled with clever and saucy humor and an adorable couple. I have savored each and every book in this cleverly written series and relished their unique and highly amusing meet cute introductions. Ms. Fenske excels at naughty euphemisms, crisp banter, and salty wit, and I can’t seem to get enough of her crafty wordplay. I giggle-snorted several times during this couple’s initial meeting, which involved a mistaken identity and confused subject matter. He believed they were discussing bowling products rather than her adult sales line of personal pleasure enhancing products; so when he used terms such as angle of entry, proper hole drilling, and ball cleaning, well, I may have barked aloud.

'Had any woman ever made him this dizzy, this crazy with need? Hell, no. It was all her. Only her.'

When I read the first book in the First Impressions series, I'd never read a Tawna Fenske book before. I devoured it, then actively began searching out her other titles. Since then, I've read several (and have more on my Kindle), and guys, I swear I love her more and more with each new one I open.

It's simple, really. Ms. Fenske writes the books *I* want to read. Books that are funny—hilariously so—and sexy, that have feeling and heat. Books that are addictive. The Hook Upwas one such book.

You guys, It. Was. Adorable. Quite putting aside the fact that I was nearly crying with laughter within the first few pages (I will never think of ball cleaning the same way), this book was actually an incredibly sweet, charming read. I mean… HENRY. I adored him in The Hang Up, but here he was even cuter. Which, how is that even possible?! Pirate parts = me flailing somewhere between wanting to cry with laughter and wanting to wrap up the nearest kid in a big, smooshy hug. (You'll probably be pleased to know that I refrained, as the nearest kid at the time was not one of mine.)

There's something else you have to factor in, though. Henry on his own is adorable; Henry with Ty is... oof. Ty, sexy, smart, swoony, sinful, (insert any and all positive ‘s’ words here you want to; they're bound to fit him) Ty interacting with a six year old was basically FATAL to my ovaries. And to my heart.

But… did I melt, or did I explode? Actually is was both. Because in addition to Ty with Henry, there's also Ty with Ellie. Hol-ee Mol-ee. Ellie was Ty’s perfect match, and she's pretty perfect to boot. Strong, sassy but not bitchy, and immensely likable—the best kind of heroine. Their banter, their chemistry, their everything made me smile and laugh, and made my heart so damn happy. Ahhh, that meet-cute—from there, I couldn't help but devour them, and this book.

Much like I've devoured every other book I've read by Ms. Fenske, and am sure to devour the ones yet to come. Because not only does she make a great First Impression(s series), she leaves a lasting one, too.

P.S. The Goddamn egg-whacking piss-wizard swearing in this book is brilliant. I couldn't figure out how to work it into the review, so I'm adding it here because it needs to be recognized for being so bloody creative.

“I can’t tell if he’s interested in me.”
“His hand on your boob and his tongue in your mouth weren’t an indication?”

~ FIVE Squirrelly STARS ~

This book is over the top fantastic! I really want to meet Tawna because I need to sit with her and see what makes her tick! Her sense of humor is over the top crazy and that made this book absolutely fabulous. Aside from the bowling ball scene, there were many downright crazed moments. What I loved so much was Ellie's comfort with her own body. Ty is trying to set her up with a different kind of mic that involved a bit of clothing rearrangement (another crazy moment) and she's completely at ease with him.

I loved Ellie and Ty both, and her son! He was a pisser in his own right. Ty was raised by his Grandmother until she passed away and Grandma was very creative with her curse words, which Ty picked up and of course when he let loose a string of these inane expletives you can't help but laugh.
So nonsensical you want to memorize them for future use.

Tawna writes a strong female and I loved that about Ellie and how she handled herself as a business owner, Mom and then with Ty, a woman. One who had totally written off men after her experience with Henry's father who was a real jerk. She handled everything with such finesse no matter how she felt. Her brother and his wife, who was Ty's business partner were also great additions to the book.
Ty was pretty hard on himself, having a rough childhood he pretty much wrote himself off. But Ellie brought something out in him that even he mostly felt good about. Mostly. When the rubber hits the road with these two Ellie handles it like a champ with Ty. Despite her inner turmoil, she never lets them see her sweat. You absolutely have to read this book to get the whole story. It's a smooth and fun read, with plenty of steam and a lot going on yet it flows perfectly.
Add this to your TBR, it's a MUST read!!!

Tawna, you rocked this one in a huge way! I loved it!


**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**

Tawna Fenske got me hooked right from the first chapter with her hilarious tale of two people who were destined for one another. I absolutely loved Ellie Sanders, a women who knew what she wanted and went for it. Ellie does not have a typical career and the first time that she met Tyler Hendrix, it was a comedy in the making. The banter back and forth was one for the history books and Fenske has the ability to make something so innocent as bowling balls be something oh so dirty.

Fenske writing style is such a pleasure to read, her story line flows so easily and the characters are very well developed. Nothing in the story felt out of place or forced, the characters had amazing depth and the connection between the two of them was phenomenal. I absolutely loved Ellie and Tyler's story and there was never a dull moment. One of my very favorite parts of the book is when Tyler comes over to Ellie's house for the first time and ends up being the "plumber" and using random household items to fix her leak. Fenske will leave you in fits of laughter with her story telling.

If you are looking for a hot and sexy romance novel that will leave a permanent smile on your face while reading, then The Hook Up is for you. I could not put the book down and I think I read it one sitting before I had to go to work, as it was that good. The Hook Up is a great summer read, as it will leave you feeling refreshed and smiling and ready for a new adventure! Make sure you add The Hook Up to your To-Be-Read Shelf as it is a must read for any contemporary romance lovers out there.

Too often, writers put children in books and don’t write them age appropriately, but Tawna gets it right with little Henry. He’s so delightful, it’s no wonder Ty loved him so much. The Hook Up is funny, witty, and heart felt and a great addition to my Fenske collection. It’s a perfect summer read. If you haven’t read any of Tawna’s books, you’re definitely missing out!

Tawna Fenske never takes herself too seriously and it shines through in her sweetly written, sappy tales of love and spontaneity. Her adorable characters and humorous scenarios are entertaining but they also are relayed from the heart and a person would have to be made of ice not to find the appeal in that. No, romance does not always consist of starry eyes and sad goodbyes but The Hook Up balances the good and the bad into a welcome surprise.

Wow, this book is so funny. Ty and Ellie's first meeting was so original, it took me a hour to quit laughing. This book was perfect from beginning to end. I would love to see this sweet, steamy comedy be made into a movie, it was that good. Thank you Tawna Fenske for a book that I have added to my favorites list where I plan to read it again & again.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy provided by Entangled Publishing/NetGalley.

Cute, flirty rom-com about a single mom selling sex toys and the emo guy with one heck of a daddy issue. Heavy on the sweet but light on the substance. Sex toys are involved but aren't featured quite as much or as dirty as you'd expect.

In a word, this was cute. Reading it felt like watching those 1950s romantic comedies with interchangeable good-looking actors prancing around flirting with meetcutes and misunderstood double entendres, and everyone in the film knows the guy will get the girl in the end except the guy and the girl. The book opens with a meetcute you can spot a mile away: Ty think he's meeting the owner of a bowling ball company named "L.E." but instead is face to face with "Ellie", the spunky single mom selling sex toys. It was cute in that 1950s style but the jokes about cleaning balls went on longer than needed. And of course, there's the scene where Ty has to help Ellie wire a mic to her dress, but they both fumble and end up with his hands on her body. I'm pretty sure that was a Doris Day movie at some point. There's also a sex toy sales party which Ty somehow decides to stay for and ends up shirtless, as you do. I'm pretty sure that was in a Cary Grant movie.

Ty and Ellie are a good mix - they both are instantly attracted to each other but don't want messy emotions or hurt feelings, so they embark on a sweet, respectful fling. Ty, though, refuses to do anything serious because he doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of his abusive felon dad. This goes on far too long, even with Ellie, his sister, and Ellie's meddling relatives telling him the same thing: Ty, you are not your daddy!

Like any good rom-com, Ty finally Gets A Clue and then rushes to perform a Grand Gesture to Get The Girl Back. There is a sweet epilogue and Ty, Ellie and her son Henry sail off into the sunset.