A chance encounter at a bachelorette party gives Alex a second chance to find love.

A fast paced story with spice, steam and fun when Alex and Rafe figure out what they desire and want when life throws a curve ball.

This was such a fun read - it was quick, simple with the right amount of everything! It was well paced, enjoyable. Definitely will have to continue reading more from Nina Crespo!

At only two hundred and twenty pages, THE FIRST RULE OF HOOK-UPS, BREAKUP BASH #1 was a quick read. It’s a hot and steamy romance with lots of heat-up-the-sheet moments for Alexa, who gets jilted on her wedding day (as we find out in the prologue.)

The story begins six months later, with Alexa and her two best friends attending a Breakup Bash party at Club Escapade, owned by none other than Rafe. Rafe used to be a Hot Body Hunk and performed under the name of Raphael the Dream Maker. His and Alexa’s paths had crossed at her bachelorette party, and neither have forgotten the other. When their paths cross again, Alexa goes after what she wants, and things only get hotter from there, especially when they make a no-strings-attached agreement.

There is a lot going on in their lives, much of it job-related. And Alexa might have plans to leave the state. Both characters have emotional issues, and they keep their feelings from each other. The story is filled with family and friends and a heartfelt romance.

I felt that the sex sometimes overshadowed the story, taking me away from the romance. There is better closure than I expected that takes place in the epilogue a year later. There are definitely more stories to tell, since Alexa’s two best friends kept concentrating on her and her love life, but there were hints that not all was well in their lives.

All in all a satisfying read, but not one of her best since we didn’t really get to know the characters as well as I’d hoped, and there were still so many unanswered questions, which I hope get answered in a future story.

Ms.Crespo is an author whom I have read before, including the two books in THE KINGMAN BROTHERS series, FORGET YOU and FIGHT FOR YOU. I hope to read more of her books but would prefer the steaminess gets dialed back a notch.

An ex-stripper with a heart of gold for our male lead? Yes please! I really liked Raph and Alexa's story. This book has been sitting in my kindle for some time. I'm so glad that I finally got around to reading it!

Raph is sexy and hot, without being the typical manwhore. He's been hurt before, so he keeps his heart and emotions close. Alexa was left at the altar 6 months ago, but she's finally starting to open up again. Raph is the perfect man to help her get there! They are so right for each other. However, this wouldn't be a proper romance novel without some ups and downs. Thankfully everything works out at the end and they both get what they deserve!

Imagining you made the right decision by saying yes to get married and then everything changes. What you thought was the best choice turns out it wasn’t when you meet the one that gives your life a little more air in your lungs. Meeting Raphael will change everything and make you realize everything will be alright. A hook-up that would definitely keep your attention and make you hunger for more.

Confession time...The cover for Nina Crespo’s The First Rule of Hook-Ups had me doing a double-take. Yes. It's that nice. The blurb had me wanting to read the book. Seriously the cover is perfect for the story.

I love the story setup. Alexandra “Alexa” Cayne meets Raphael “Rafe” Dumond aka Raphael the Dream Maker, doing her bachelorette party at Club Escapade. After losing a bet, Rafe is fulfilling his end of the deal by getting back on stage as a member of the Hot Body Hunks. After his performance, he gives Alexa a kiss. Six months later, they meet again. Rafe stops himself from kissing her this time and walks away. Not having any of this, Alexa chases after him and demands her kiss. Rafe thinks she’s now married and still refuses. But when Alexa informs him of her disastrous wedding day, the two give into their desire. Neither is looking for anything serious. Alexa is planning on moving out of state in a matter of weeks. But Rafe convinces her to extend their one-night stand for as long as they each want to or until she leaves.

What starts out as a one-night stand slowly turns into more. Before each of them know it, they're in love. Past relationships, family, and perceptions play a role in keeping these two from what they truly want, which is each other, forever.

It took me a really long time to truly get into the story. It seemed as though Alexa and Rafe’s relationship was only about sex. I personally needed to get to know the characters, in order for me to become invested in them and their story. It wasn't until halfway through the book that I was able to get the true emotional connection I wanted. For me, at that point, the story got better.

In the end, Alexa and Rafe complement each other. He makes her happier than she's ever been. Alexa sees Rafe as a person who is smart and caring, and not just as a former stripper trying to be a business owner. Rafe makes her a stronger person and she helps him to overcome his past. Because I didn’t have that emotional connection immediately, I can't say that I was crazy about these two as characters, at least not Alexa. But I can say that by the end of the story, I understood her and liked her.

3 forgettable stars
I held off on writing this review, and then I forgot I even read the book. Something about this book rubbed me the wrong way. I can pinpoint it.

This was a quick read of care free hook ups and fun. Alexa and Rafe are likable characters and although their relationship started just for fun, I loved seeing it grow. And the hotness was 🔥🔥🔥🔥Was a solid entertaining read

The First Rule of Hook-Ups is the first installment of the Breakup-Bash series by Nina Crespo.

Rafe and Alexa met during one of his dancing numbers on the stage but was the bride. Now a few months later she re-encounters Rafe on the stage once again, but this time is completely unattached. As they rekindle a spark, they find themselves falling for each other. 

The First Rule of Hook-Ups was an interesting story, but what I enjoyed about it was the incredible chemistry between the two characters as well as the joy I found reading their story.

It's a quick read, so for all those romantics out there, you should check this one out!

Summary: Alexa has a very hot dance with a male dancer at her bachelorette party. After her fiance dumps her on the day of their wedding for another woman, she and her friends attend a break-up bash at the same club 7 months later where she encounters the same dancer. Rafe is a former male dancer, but now owns the club and was subbing in both times for special circumstances. They begin a very hot affair that eventually turns into a HEA.

I loved both characters and there wasn't a whole lot of angst. They work through their issues with their ex's before having a very satisfying HEA. I will say if I never hear the name Eden again I will be very happy (his ex).

Alexa's two friends (future books) also went through break-ups and are future stories. There are vague teasers that have me hooked for their books.

The First Rule of Hook-Ups by Nina Crespo is book number one in the Breakup Bash series.

This was a steamy romance of two people from very different backgrounds.

FYI, contains mature content. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The First Rule I’d Hook-up in the first book in the Breakup Bash series from Nina Crespo! And boy! does this book start off with a whammy! As our heroine, Alexa is dumped at the altar! And what is the ideal way to get over being hurt! Well going to Club Escapades Breakup Bash! But what Alexa found there was Raphael, the stripper from her bachelorette party, and she couldn’t forget!

I have to admit this book hit me in so many different ways, I loved the fact that the author took on breaking of stereotypes in this book, and the fact that Alexa had no issues with being seen with a retired stripper, and that is how it should be, I have a huge problem with the ex! And for more than just dumping Alexa! And on a side note to the author… I’m hoping that Karma gets her own book, cause Brad’s an a**e!

The First Rule of Hook-Up's was a very enjoyable read, and one I totally recommend to those of you who like it a little spicy!

Alexa and her bridesmaids are out at a male strip club when a dancer named Rafe, gets her and brings her to the stage. Now months later Rafe, really Raphael is also a co-owner of the club. He is finding out that the guys who were suppose dance are not showing up and his partner wants him to be on stage, once again. The last time was six months ago and he still can’t get her out of his mind. Later when he steps out on stage his eyes lock with Alexa who has been brought back here six months later, as her friends want her to get over her fiancé who ran off and did not show for the wedding. Once again being on stage and not kissed again. She follows Rafe back stage and when he finds out she never got married they do more than kiss. Ending up at his place now the two of them must decide what they want, and deal with past hurts they both have. This is a good fast paced story and shows Alexa as a strong woman when needs to be. I liked the characters and the sex scenes were hot, a good book.

A new-to-me author, but I definitely think I'd read her again. Started a little slow; the first few scenes could have been dumped so the story would start with a bigger grab. But I liked the characters and the book picked up after that. Not fond of the heroine constantly thinking she could improve hero's business or do his job better than he did, but I still liked the relationship. And for a steamy book, it was *just* steamy...not mega-hot or -sexy.

The First Rule of Hook-Ups was a great fast-paced romance. Alexa and Rafe are thrown together one too many times by fate. Alexa is working to get completely over her jerk ex-fiance. Who better to do that with than the exotic dancer she keeps seeing. But what was supposed to be fun became real and complicated.

I loved the writing and this plot. It was wonderfully steamy, perfectly complex, and beautifully romantic. Alexa and Rafe kept me either laughing (usually because of Alexas friends) or blushing. This was a great romance, one I am happy to recommend.

Fabulous, hot and heartfelt! Another winner from Nina Crespo. It reads like my favourite rom-com’s films, a definite must read.

It's surprisingly sweet for a story about a business woman hooking up with a stripper! This was a quick read with likable characters, great chemistry and a happy ending. What more could you want?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book! I had a lot of fun reading about Alexa and Rafe so, so much! This was also my first time reading a book by Nina Crespo and I was definitely not disappointed.

The First Rule Of Hook-Ups is a story of healing after a heartbreak, a really painful one. Alexa was dumped by her fiancé just minutes before they were supposed to be married, through a letter, while Rafe is holding on to a lot of childhood anger and disappointment towards his father, as well as what his ex did to him. The book starts off with Alexa and her best friends being happy and in love. And then all goes to hell.

Alexa was a fantastic heroine. She has a successful career, she's any employee's dream boss (or at least mine she was), she's super smart and she knows what she wants and what she deserves to get. She does however have a problem with expressing her feelings when her doing that might annoy or hurt other people, and I was very happy to see her finally get some stuff off her chest. She's also one of those people that have a hard time shutting off the work related part of their brain, so whenever Rafe would tell her about something going wrong at the club, she would automatically go into business mode and try to come up with solutions. Which isn't to say that it's a bad thing, but she does need to relax a little bit. I really liked how she stood up for herself, I loved the fact that she didn't allow her ex to just come back and act like nothing happened, and she didn't allow anyone to shame her for who she was dating.

Rafe was a sweetheart. I was really sad for him, both for his childhood and for the way his ex treated him. I also loved the fact that he didn't allow anyone to make him feel less worthy for his past job. I liked how relaxed he was around Alexa. They're both pretty guarded people, but they were definitely more relaxed around each other. And they also helped out each other. Rafe helped Alexa admit her pain over being left at the altar and betrayed by the person who should have loved her and treasured her, while Alexa helped Rafe accept his past and not be so jaded about life, but also how to learn to forgive. And, yes, I'll say it, Rafe was also hot. He was like a book version of a Magic Mike dancer and very swoony.

The story is pretty fast paced, and I read it quite fast. I was also really intrigued by Alexa's friends, Natalie and Corinne, as well as Shannon, Rafe's business partner. So hopefully their stories will be next in line in this new series. I did however want to spend a little more time with Rafe than with Alexa at times, but that's just because I was so intrigued by Rafe and his story, that we find out more about later in the book.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great first book in a series and I am very excited to read the next book in the series. I'm definitely keeping my eye out for more books by Nina Crespo.

I loved this book. As soon as i opened it, I read it cover to cover without putting it down. I loved seeing her redeem herself. Also, this book covers so many gambit. Love, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, humor. No matter your poison, it is between these pages.

I always enjoy reading books from Entangled Publishing’s Brazen. Every read so far has had a great balance of a well structured plot with some sexy times ;). However, this time around with The First Rule of Hook-Ups I didn't feel like I got a good amount of structured plot with sexy times.

Alexa and Rafe meet again and this time things are a little different since Alexa is no longer engaged. When Rafe sees her again he's honestly surprised but assumes she's now married and off limits. Alexa, now single and a little jaded decides that now is the time to finally give in to what she wants, Rafe. However, Rafe wants it to be just a hook-up and lets be honest that didn't work out they he wanted.

All in all The First Rule of Hook-Ups was a fast paced read, with some great sexy times, but I didn't find myself in love with how everything played out. I think this will be a series, so hopefully I'll have better luck with the next book!