Dominic & Rosie Vega were high school sweethearts, best friends, and madly in love, married for ten years and counting, then life happened. After Dominic return from his last deployment, things changed his caveman response of a grunt here and there, was Rosie's undoing. Not to mention Rosie gave up her dream of becoming a chef and owning a restaurant, to work in the mall as a perfume pusher. That is until Rosie had enough, up and left her husband and their marriage, as a last-ditch effort they went to a hippie marriage counselor only to be told their marriage would never work.

The blurb made this story sound funnier than what it is, and as with any story you read there is a take away this one is communication is key. In a way, this story reminded me of a Christmas story about a couple who had no money to purchase gifts for the other, they sold their prized possessions in order to purchase each other gifts that no longer matter. This story is chock full of reminiscent tales.

Holy feelings. Big, chest-seizing feelings.

I tell you what, the older I get the more profoundly I experience a well done Marriage-in-Trouble romance. I loved this book…but ouch. It did hurt.

I mean, don’t panic! It’s a Tessa Bailey romance. Everything works out (duh) and there’s HEA wonderfulness. But getting there. Phew. It was painful and raw and real. Seriously. Through the entire first confrontation scene my heart was in my throat. My chest was painfully tight.

But while this is a heavy story it’s also smoldering hot. Rosie and Dominic might have a communication problem but they never for one minute have a sexual chemistry problem. *fans self* And, as a fan of Fix Her Up, I was thrilled to check back in with Georgie and Travis. AND the set-up for Bethany’s book is perfection. I can’t wait.

Empowering female friendships, humor, and an angsty fight for true love… Love Her or Lose Her is fabulous. It’s mature and honest and emotional. Highly recommend!

Love Her or Lose Her is set to release in January of 2020. Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the chance to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sexy romance featuring characters with incredible chemistry! Rosie and Dominic have been together since middle school but they have become distant in the last few years. Rosie has had enough of Dominic's seemingly indifference toward her and has moved out. Before throwing in the towel, they enroll in intense marriage therapy. As the two receive lessons on communication and love languages their relationship starts to get back on track. However, Dominic has a secret that could derail all their progress. There's not many books that cover what happens after the characters fall in love and get their supposedly happy ever afters. I appreciate this book peeling the curtain back on a marriage and hopefully this will be a new trend!

Loved her and LOVED this book!!
The steam as always was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The story was fast based and constantly moving and engaging and amazing.
I loved the banter between the characters and the way that they both pushed each other and held each other just when they knew it was needed. I loved the way that the guy really struggled to get his shit together and he worked his ass off in his own to get his girl back.
Absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me!

This book is the story of Rosie and Dominic who we first met in Fix Her Up. I loved this book, and finished it within 1 day. Although there were times I wanted to smack both of them upside the head. I liked the look that we got into a marriage that was no longer working. I enjoyed getting both view points as the story progressed, it helped show you that Dominic is about as far from indifferent about his wife as possible even though that’s how she feels. I appreciated the logic of the couples different love languages and how that understanding could help their marriage. I think overall I loved this story because it is very relatable. My marriage is not troubled like theirs but I could still relate to some of the things they were going through and grow from reading it. #LoveHerOrLoseHer #Netgalley

I cannot wait until this book comes out! I loved this just as much as Fix Her Up or maybe even a little bit more.!

I love how authentic Rosie and Dominic's relationship feels. We all know a couple like this, so deep in love yet so far apart, I appreciate how the book normalizes therapy and marriage counseling.

Even though I didn’t really care for Fix Her Up, I was so hyped for this book because I was invested in Rosie and Dom from just the little bits I saw them in. This story is very different than any of the other romcoms I have read in the past as the main couple are already married, already in love, and already know each other – and I was so excited for this new dynamic. And Tessa Bailey delivered!

Reading about these two who have been in love with each other since middle school and have drifted so far apart emotionally was amazing and frustrating and so fascinating all at once. It was rough to see these two, who clearly loved each other, struggle throughout this book – but I loved it. I loved the flashbacks of their teenage years, I loved them making it work while Dom was deployed Marine, I loved their struggle to keep making it work when he came home and things changed so drastically, and loved how completely devoted they are to each other.
After five years of near silence, Rosie is done and tells Dominic that she is leaving. This seems to jolt him out of his normal and he realizes that he has to fight for his wife. Enter the best and most new age marriage counseling with a pot smoking hippy genius. I loved the counseling session and the homework assignments he gave them.
This relationship felt real in a way that most romance books don’t. It wasn’t just fixing or changing one thing and it was all happily ever after. As they worked on and improved one thing something else would come up and need to be addressed. I really enjoyed how different this is than so many other books I have read.

Rosie Vega is far from living the life she thought she'd have when she married her high school sweetheart 10 years ago. Working in a department store selling perfume and being completely ignored by her husband, except for Tuesday nights, isn't working for her anymore, she decides it's time to get her life back on track. The first step though is packing a suitcase and getting some space from her husband. Dominic Vega is loving Rosie the only way he knows how by providing for her and taking care of her with actions she doesn't even notice. Feeling blindsided, to say the least, by his wife's confession he's not sure what to do, but he'll do anything to get her back, including talking about his feelings with an old hippie.

This is such an incredible book. I absolutely adore it. I loved reading about a married couple, even though the marriage was failing, where no one was unfaithful. It was so realistic in how you can just co-exist together without having any real interaction, you're comfortable to the point you almost don't notice each other, and all of the feelings that eventually come up. Two chapters in and my heart was aching for them, but part of me was really irritated with Dominic thinking that he could win her back with nothing but sex initially, how he kept pushing it, I was so glad to see Rosie stand her ground. It was almost beautiful to see both Rosie and Dominic evolve and do the work, but it wasn't without it's setbacks. Even though based on a failing marriage, it definitely had moments of comic relief. This is such an amazing, well-written book, I'm so excited to see Bethany and Wes next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love Her or Lose Her is Tessa Bailey’s second book in the Hot and Hammered Series. Yes LHorLH can be read as a standalone. I have yet to read Fix Her Up but have added to my list.

While I know FHU was more rom/com, LHorLH was more emotional. It hit home personally for me. For those of you who are married with men in the military or retired, this may be the book for you. I especially would recommend that their spouse read this book as well.

Rosie and Dominic have known each other since childhood. Soulmates since junior high. High School sweethearts until Dominic enlisted into the Marines and both got married right after high school. Their love for each other was always their, even their passion, but those times whenever Dominic came home from the military, Rosie notice some changes, except the way Dominic provided for her.

But the years after leaving the military, things became a routine in the Vega household, even the day they would have sex. Rosie missed the way her husband use to be. Her aspirations for her dream restaurant on hold. Working a terrible job at the mall. Everyday a routine until she couldn’t take it anymore and wanted out. Dominic, he can’t live without his Rosie. His life’s mission is always to protect and provide for Rosie. Yes, very old fashioned, but that is how he was raised, but it didn’t make his love for woman any less. That man loved her, but the way he was going about it wasn’t what Rosie wanted nor needed. Until they see the strangest, hippiest therapist known to man.

As I mentioned above, this book was more emotionally charged. You will that although Dom was apprehension with the weird therapy sessions, he would do anything in his power to get his Rosie back. This book touched home personally and I will leave it at that. Sometimes communication with your significant others is key as you will see when reading. Hot damn the sexual tension was on fire and will not disappoint. Also, great job with the diversity! Tessa, you did your homework lady! I love when authors write diverse characters and get it right.

Great job Tessa Bailey! Come 2020, you are all in for emotional filled ride.

*An ARC was provided via Net Galley for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Rosie and Dominic’s story! A second chance romance with a couple that, after years of marriage, learn each other’s love language. It was real, relatable, funny, adorable and sexy all in one. I enjoyed the authors writing style and the way she was able to develop relatable characters you want to root for. Rosie and Dominic seemed like a lost cause at the start but through the book we see them fall in love all over again and come out stronger. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from the author.

Tessa Bailey brings it! This dirty talking hero broke my heart. Dom's past and how he was raised played such a huge roll in his marriage issues. He loved Rosie so much but did not know how to express it to her. At least where she realized what he was doing. He was such a sweetheart. And I loved Rosie and that she gave Dom a chance to prove himself, learning ways to communicate with Dom in his own love language. Can't wait for Bethany's story!

I cannot state enough how much I love the Hot & Hammered series!!! I haven’t had a chance to read her other series yet, but based of this one, she writes perspectives with such realism. Her characters don’t do overly stupid things, they are adult conflicted, and they want to do better. I cannot wait to see what happens next with ”Bethy” & Wes!

I should start by saying that marriage in trouble trope is not my thing. For me, most of the excitement of reading romance comes from watching the actual development of the relationship. In this book, the MC's are already married so I missed all the firsts and felt like I walked into the middle of a story. Rosie and Dominic's marriage is on the rocks, his inability to communicate, she believes, is the reason for their marriage falling apart. After years of living with a closed-off man who loves to give her orgasms but not much else, she leaves him. This is the kick in the pants he needs so he agrees to go to couples therapy and that's pretty much the whole book.

I've read almost everything Tessa Bailey has written and this one is probably one of my least favorite books of hers. I didn't connect with Dominic at all and as a hero-centric reader that's a big problem for me. He came off as a whiny man boy and I honestly didn't feel the love between them so everything felt superficial. I don't know if this is a by-product of being dropped into the middle of their story or what but I never cared enough about them as people as neither of them came alive for me.

Anyone who has read this author knows her sex scenes are often OTT and really steamy but in this book, they were kind of forced and not at all sexy. It might have to do with my lack of connection with either of them but I skimmed *gasp* through most of them. I also have to add that I think these covers are so misleading when it comes to her books. This cover screams light-hearted rom-com and it is definitely not that. It is heavy at times and the humor feels shoehorned in instead of organic. Previous characters make appearances and they were also lame and forced. I honestly don't think this should have been a full-length book, it might have worked better as a novella. There just wasn't enough material here so it was repetitive and the conflict at the end was really flimsy and stupid on the part of the hero. This is one of those books where everything could have been solved with a conversation. One thing I loved was that both MC's were POC and that's is rare to find in romance. So it is with a heavy heart that I give this a bare minimum of two stars.

I started this book yesterday morning and just finished it this morning. Tessa is a rock star. I loved this book. Love Her or Lose Her is the second book in the This series. It can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading Fix Her Up because this book community of family and friends is so awesome. I’ve loved every main character and supporting character in this series. I honestly cannot wait to read about the next couple in this series. It should be a fantastic enemies to lovers romance.

This story is about a couple that has been married ten years. The hero is the strong and silent, providing type. I’m obsessed with him. The heroine was feeling unsatisfied with life. She broke the monotonous cycle. That is how our story began. This story does highlight the importance of love languages. I found that fascinating and realistic. This is a Tessa Bailey book so there is plenty of fun and sexy times. I highly recommend this book.



I’m voluntarily read an early copy.

To say I loved this book would be downplaying it. This book was downright amazing!!

This book is so different because it centers on Rosie and Dominic who are childhood friends, who become teenage sweethearts, and then get married. They are totally in tune with each other until Dom goes overseas while in the military. Their marriage starts to get rocky when they stop talking to each other. Rosie gives Dom an ultimatum to save the marriage by having them go see a therapist. And that's where the book gets really interesting.

This book had so many great scenes that made me really examine my own marriage and what I can do to better communicate with my husband. The love between these two characters is so beautiful and I adored the way the author showed both points of view. This was one of those rare gems that I read all the way through without stopping at all.

Bravo Tessa Bailey!!

A funny sweet sexy read. Tessa's books are always entertaining. I can't wait to read more from her. Full review to come.

I absolutely LOVE Tessa Bailey! I've never been disappointed by one of her books before and I definitely wasn't disappointed this time either! I've never read a romance where the couple is married and is trying to fix their relationship and fall in love with each other all over again but now, I WANT MORE (🎶Ariel singing voice🎶)!!!

The entire time I read this book I kept thinking of my own relationship and the way life just changes the course of your love life. My boyfriend and I have been together for 7 years and have had ups and downs and I felt that sooo much while reading this book.

Bailey is able to capture that struggle! Because everyone in a relationship has experienced that strife and annoyance with their partner. Everyone has experienced that lack of interest in a partner at one point or another. And that strange instance in a relationship where you and your partner are just not on the same wave lengths. Building a relationship is difficult and Bailey shows you what happens when the you let your relationship slide a little. The way Rosie and Dom have to repair and rebuild their love life is completely relatable. And sooo freaking sweet!!!

Seriously, I loved every second of it! I'm now trying to figure out how to get my boyfriend to read it...

I LOVED this book.

Tessa Bailey does it again in Love Her or Lose Her, bringing fans (including me!) a steamy, romantic, and authentic portrait of a couple in love trying to stay in love.

There were so many things I loved about this book that I don't even know where to start. I read this over the course of two days and all I wanted to do while at work, stuck in traffic, cooking dinner, was get back to this sweet story and find out what would happen to this new couple I had grown so attached to.

When we meet them, Rosie and Dom have been married for a while, and that is one of my favorite things about this book. I enjoy a new romance story just as much as anyone, but it felt so original and refreshing to read a love story about a couple who was already together, but struggling. This was so relatable and raw and added a layer of unique and authentic depth to what is overall a fun and sexy little novel.

Another thing I loved so much about Love Her or Lose Her was the simple diversity in its central (and side) characters. Rosie, a biracial woman, and Dom, who's family is from Puerto Rico, feel fresh and modern for a new world in 2019. In addition to being racially diverse, the book also talks about economic disparity and how this can impact friendships and relationships too. This book touches on so many important topics and I appreciated the empathy used in every one of them: men's mental health, marriage struggles, financial reality vs. living your dream, and more.

I highly recommend this book and I look forward to anything else Tessa Bailey writes. As aware and engaged as it is, it is also light and funny and so so sweet, and I wanted these characters to find their happily ever after more than anything!

Do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a light, enjoyable read, but there were pieces of it I felt could have been done better.

Positive points: representation of a non-Anglo couple, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of the romance genre; steamy romantic scenes (including a lot of build-up/anticipation scenes); positive character growth; feel-good HEA ending.

Drawbacks: I had some issues with the fact that this couple has been married for 10 years, together even longer, yet they are so melodramatic about their feelings. Dude, at this point you should be dead inside, or at least way more apathetic about the whole thing. (Kidding, people.) But I did expect a greater level of emotional maturity from them. I also feel like it's a bit of a stretch to have them be so hot for each other when their marriage has been on the rocks for several years.

The focus on Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages is also kind of overdone. I've read the book and enjoyed it, and I do think he's onto something, but having his theory be the very obvious approach taken by the counselor feels off, especially since he doesn't ask them to read the book, nor does he mention it anywhere in the plot (that I can recall). In fact, the only place I can find that Bailey explicitly mentions the source and gives credit to Chapman for using his content to further her storyline is in the Acknowledgement section (which we know people rarely read).

I don’t think I’ll be reading anything else in the series. The couple to be featured in the next installment are already driving me crazy with their tendency toward drama. Plus, I’ve heard less-than-stellar things about the first book in the series. (Clown sex? No, thank you.)