In hindsight, I don’t know why I requested this one from @netgalley when I didn’t even like the first book I read from this author??? I got click happy and overeager, I think! It’s a true romance with little plot and much steaminess and that’s just not my jam. The storyline that was there felt 100% cliche and laughable and I couldn’t buy into any of it. If you’re into that kinda thing, you’d love this one, especially since it’s the story of side characters from the other books in the three-part Fix Her Up series so you can keep reading afterward, too!

Yes! The third in this series does not disappoint! This made me laugh out loud, brought tears to my eyes, and made me fan myself because this was hot hot hot! I loved that Wes stood his ground and proved he would be there and I was overjoyed that there wasn’t any kind of crazy issue that threw a wrench into the works. And good job Bethany for recognising your issues and taking charge of how you wanted to change. Loved this!!!

This is the third book in the series and I am pretty sure the last since this is the last of the founders of the "Just Us league" I always liked Bethany she was funny and to the points and definitely there for her friends. Bethany had met Wes in the last book so I hope you guys have read it if not stop go read it you want to know the characters better and their back story. Wes is 7 years younger than Bethany and not someone she probably would have gone for and you love him he does not let Bethany use her sarcasm of put downs at him. Their banter was funny and even though they are different we know opposites attrack and these two have that. I loved reading about he previous couple!! I love Georgie and Travis, love them and still can't stand Kristen, I wish she would have been put in her place they placated her too much, however I was happy they stopped her from getting the microphone, wondering what I am talking about? Grab a copy and find out!!

I have been waiting for Tools of Engagement since the moment I finished Love Her or Lose Her. I got a glimpse of the dynamic between Wes and Bethany and was so excited for their story. It didn't let me down. Tools of Engagement was my favorite in the Hot & Hammered series.

What made Hot & Hammered so good? Quite a few things. First, I LOVED the banter. There was a whole I'm going to be mean to you because I actually like you thing going on. It was childish, but totally worked. It made the banter super fun because I could appreciate how ridiculous Wes and Bethany were being. Bethany especially. The banter made their swoon worthy relationship that much more fun.

The next thing that stood out to me was Bethany's character. I don't have much in common with her, but I could see a lot of women in her. She strove for perfection to the point where she couldn't let loose or be herself. She had everything the way she thought it should have been, but was missing the big picture. I loved how she figured out the perfection was required.

Then, there was Wes. He would definitely make my list of favorite male characters. He might have only been 23, but he came across much older and more mature. I loved how he antagonized Bethany. It wasn't done to be mean, but to light a fire under her. I also loved how he was with his niece, Laura. That relationship showed what a good person he was.

I can't leave out the group of women and how they come together to support each other. That's been one of the coolest aspects of this series. It wasn't quite as heavily featured in this book, but it was there to support Bethany when she needed it.

Finally, there was the whole competition between Bethany and her brother Stephen. I liked not only what it did for Bethany's relationship with Wes, but with Stephen as well.

Tools of Engagement was truly a fun romantic read filled great banter, humor, the sweetest of romances. If you're a fan of this series, you won't want to miss out on it.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good opposites attract romance with a hot, funny, wicked cowboy and a straitlaced woman desperate to keep it together. Bethany feels a lot of pressure to prove how perfectly she can make things even when the reality is a different picture. Wes is a trailblazing cowboy who comes to town to take care of his niece after her mother bails. He ends up working with Bethany as she attempts to fix and flip a wrecked house. Their love and hate relationship made for some delicious banter. He learns her quirks and goes out of his way to make her feel at ease. Had my heart melting with how supportive he was of her.
That is until he develops deeper feelings for her that turns a bit possessive and raunchy. It was a bit unexpected since up to that moment he seemed to allow her to take the reins but her insecurities get so out of hand that in order not to lose her he steps up and becomes more demanding. The sex turns raunchy as well and the ending felt like a last act of desperation between two people desperately wanting to make it to work but scared that it might fail.
Overall, the beginning was great but the ending failed to convince me that in fact their love could last.

I have been *obsessed* with Tessa Bailey's Hot & Hammered series since I first read Fix Her Up last year, so when I got approved yesterday to read the 3rd and (final?😭) book in the series, Tools of Engagement, I was ECSTATIC.

Bethany and Wes are complete and total opposites in this hate-to-love story and that is what makes them such a good match. She's the small town equivalent of Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. He is the new-to-town rodeo cowboy from Texas who was born to run. But when they reluctantly team up on a renovation project the walls they're hiding behind start to come down and they find themselves building more together than just a house.

This book was so good! I did find Bethany to be annoying at times, but that is probably because crazy recognizes crazy. 😂 I'm so sad to see this series ending, but it is ending with a bang!
If you haven't read Fix Her Up and Love Her or Lose Her yet, what are you waiting for?!

Why? I'm so freaking sad that this series is over but Bethany and Wes's story was the perfect way to end this series. Bethany and Wes were like fire and Ice, Total opposites, but meant for each other. The chemistry between these two characters were HAWT!!!! The sweet moments made me swoon, and I definitely want a Wes of my own. This series was so good and despite being sad its over, Im happy I got to read each of these couples stories.

Brr! Bethany Castle’s fashionable look and perfectionist attitude leave her labeled as an ice queen. No one knows that that chilly perfect picture is a veneer. Riddled with anxiety and low confidence, Bethany wants more from her job in the family business, but is shut down when her brother doesn’t support her.

The only one who wants to help is her worst enemy, the new guy in town, a Texan with a perpetual cowboy hat and smirk on his face. A few years younger and with his own baggage (in the form of a five-year-old ward), Wes Daniels finds himself drawn to the Elsa look-alike but soon finds himself falling hard as their rivalry melts away into something even hotter.

While the trope is enemies-to-lovers, the angst level is low and the sweet level is high. The two find common group pretty quickly and the love that inevitably follows is a given rather than a pride-shattering obstacle. This was definitely my favorite book in the Hot & Hammered series and Bethany and Wes are a couple you really root for.

Just finished my free ARC from @netgalley @tessabaileyisanauthor @avonbooks. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for me, romance books are a little out of my comfort zone but this one hit it out of the park. If anyone is a big fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines, you will love this one! Frenemies Wes and Bethany team up to flip a home in Long Island against Bethany’s brother Stephen, and somehow end up on a reality competition show. This one is very steamy, FYI 🔥 #reading #bookstagram #books #book #booklover #bookworm #read #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #bookaddict #instabook #bookstagrammer #reader #love #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #readersofinstagram #bookshelf #writing #booklove #bookphotography #literature #b #readingtime #library #igreads #bookblogger #instabooks #bhfyp

While I admit that the second book in this series, Love Her or Lose Her, was definitely the steamiest, this one did not disappoint and I stayed up all night to finish it. I also really liked the character development of Bethany, even as I found Wes' guardianship plot line rushed at best. I still can't wait to see what's next from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Tools of Engagement is a classic enemies to lovers romance. It was full of banter and steamy exchanges between an anxious-perfectionist home stager, Bethany, and an overly confident, cowboy constructionist, Wes. The overarching plot consists of these two having to accomplish the goal of a successful house-flip that’ll outshine our leading female’s brother.

This novel was the first Tessa Baily book I’d ever read, and there were some elements I enjoyed. For instance, I was very intrigued about Wes’ character and his backstory. I truly enjoyed scenes from his point of view where we learned more of his background, his sister, and his niece who’d been placed under his care. I believe his character was very strong, although I would have enjoyed his “southern cowboy” personality to be better represented. I had to keep reminding myself he was southern. Having grown up in the south, I would’ve expected at least one or two “aint’s” or “yall’s” to be spoken. This man is supposed to be a bull-riding cowboy from Texas, but the most southern he got was occasionally calling Bethany, “Darlin’.” I would’ve appreciated this aspect of his character been more representative of reality.

When it comes to Bethany’s character, I have to say I did not care very much for her. Her tendency for overthinking was very relatable, but I had a hard time understanding it. I felt that her character could have been given more depth so the readers could understand more on why she grew to be such an insecure and anxious individual, beyond just sibling rivalry for a parent’s attention.

While I cannot deny the steaminess of the novel, I have to admit I felt the romance between Bethany and Wes to be lacking. We can tell Wes cares deeply for Bethany, but I honestly do not understand why. The novel felt more of a story of lust than it did love. The tender moments, when they occurred, were sweet! But those moments were too few and it made the romance between them a bit unbelievable. Had the author toned down the sexual thoughts and added a few more moments of honest vulnerability, it likely would’ve been a better love story. Wes’ possessiveness over Bethany was also very off-putting (and honestly a warning sign if this was real life) for me. It came of as a bit creepy, annoying, and more old-fashioned than I would prefer. This may be a bit more of a personal preference, but I felt it worth mentioning.

Overall, I felt this story has a lot of potential. There were most definitely entertaining moments where I didn’t want to put the novel down, particularly in Wes’ story. However, as a whole I felt it was lacking a decent amount of depth. Depth to the overarching plot, Bethany’s character, and the romance. However, this book will be perfect if you are looking for a quick and steamy read and depth isn’t a major concern.

Another hit in this series! I was looking forward to this story! All I can say is I would want a guy like Wes!
If you have ever dated someone younger than you or if you're thinking about it,this can prove to you that it can work!

This was super cute. The sexual tension between Bethany and Wes made me squeal but the stand out relationship is Wes and his niece Laura. I normally don’t like romance novels where children are involved but I ended up loving Laura and may or may not have cried on several occasions.

The timeline requires some serious suspension of disbelief but hey, it was a fun and heartwarming story so I’m okay with it. I also really enjoyed the depiction and evolution of Bethany’s anxiety. I think Tessa Bailey handles mental health issues pretty well (I haven’t read Love Her or Lose Her but I loved Fix Her Up).

Part of a series, can be read as a standalone. Bethany works for her family real estate company staging houses, but wants to do more, and be taken more seriously. Wes, is on the construction crew. He is in town looking after his niece, and waiting for his sister to return. Bethany and Wes wind up competing against her brother and the family company, on a reality show about flipping houses. Forced to work together, and rely on each other, Bethany & Wes become close. But time is short, and life is also throwing them curveballs. Totally enjoyable read, funny and heartwarming. Definitely will read more by this author.

I've anxiously been awaiting for Wes and Brittany's love story since he walked on to the jobsite. I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and I was not disappointed. This is by far my favorite of the series and I loved both Fix Her Up and Love Her or Lose Her.

I enjoyed this fun, light, sexy romcom so much that I went back and requested the first two in the series from the library. The main characters started out as quickly sketched archetypes, but their stories deepened as the narrative progressed. The story moved quickly and the resolution was satisfying. Definitely a good choice for a rainy afternoon.

Got a copy of this ebook from net galley. It was very good. Loved the story. People from different social classes, different upbringings and ages come together and fall in love. They quickly move their relationship along to living together to raise his niece. I wish there was more of a relationship besides a lot of sexy times but it is what it is. The only thing that aggravated me was how many times he called her baby. Ugh, find a new word Wes!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, and the third did not disappoint! This book tells Bethany's story. Bethany, the perfectionist who handles the interior design and staging for the Castle family flips, decides to prove to everyone that she is capable of handling her own flip. Joining her is Wes, who is seven years younger than Bethany, living in town temporarily to care for his young niece, and constantly arguing with Bethany. Wes was introduced in the second book of the series, and had instant sparks with Bethany. But are they good sparks or bad sparks? Throw in a reality TV show, the complications of a seven year age gap, and lots of personal insecurities, and you have a recipe for a great book!

Like the other books in this series, the romance is steamy, the characters are funny, and the story moves quickly. Great for rom-com fans, and with the love-hate relationship perfect for those who enjoyed Sally Thorne's The Hating Game.

I enjoyed this last book in Tessa Bailey's Hot and Hammered series. I liked the older woman/younger man aspect of the romance. I feel like I don't see that lot in romance books and it was a refreshing change of pace. The kind of HGTV spin was fun as well. I like a good love/hate trope and this one was fun and Bailey is an expert at writing dirty talk. Wes and Bethany had good chemistry and seeing Wes take care of his niece was adorable. I enjoyed this whole series so much!

Wes is a former rodeo bull-rider who hung up his spurs when he was thrust into sudden fatherhood at 23 after his sister bailed on her daughter. Now he's working construction and providing 7 year-old Laura with a stable home, trying to give her the opposite of what he had growing up in foster care. In his limited spare time, he enjoys trading verbal barbs with Bethany, the sexy stager who shows up on all his job sites. Not that she's willing to give him the time of day, obsessed as she is with their age difference. But the stamina of a younger man might be just what he needs to get past her many defenses. Bethany has always had high expectations for herself, and the pressure of always looking like she has it together is starting to take its toll. When she decides to strike out on her own and flip a house solo, the fear of failure threatens to get in her way before she's even started. Luckily, when Wes joins the project and riles her up, she's able to forget all the mistakes she might make and just go for it. Despite her best efforts, she finds herself falling for the young cowboy AND his adorable niece. Will Wes be able to convince her she doesn't need to be perfect for them to be perfect together? Or will Bethany's fear of failing him and their new little family convince her that they're better off without her?

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but the second one was a little bit of a let-down for me. I approached this one with some reservations because I so enjoyed the little glimpses of Bethany and Wes in the previous books, and I really, really wanted to love their story. And I absolutely did. Their antagonistic back-and-forth was hilarious and hot. It's always so fun when couples that think they hate each other discover that they really don't.

There is plenty of humor here, to be sure, as well as banter and swoon and dirty talk, but there are also real issues like the fear that no one really wants you and protecting yourself by never letting anyone get close enough to see the real you. The addition of little Laura provided great comic relief (it cracks me up that she initially thinks Bethany is the real Elsa from Frozen), and watching both Wes and Bethany fear they suck at parenting but totally knock it out of the park because they care so much was so heartwarming!

This was a great finale to a really fun series, but I'm so sad that it has come to an end! Does it really have to? Perhaps one of the other members of the "Just Us League" (the group of women who get together to celebrate each other's accomplishments and help each other through problems) needs her own story? Or one of Wes' many babysitters? Let's Color or Faded Calf Tattoo? Come on....please?

**Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**