Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, & HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

This next installment in the Hot & Hammered series was a solid addition to the series and was an enjoyable read. I didn't connect with it as strongly as I did the second in the series (Love Her or Lose Her), but I liked it more than the first (Fix Her Up).

The premise of this one was really fun, and I liked the character development of both Bethany & Wes. Bethany was hard to get a bead on in the first two books, but she really came into her own in this book. Wes absolutely had a heart of gold and was such a dream to read about.

Ultimately I did like this one and look forward to any others that Tessa Bailey may write in this series.

Tools of Engagement is the third book in the Hot & Hammered series. This book can be read as a standalone. This book is told from dual points of view from Wes and Bethany.

Wes was a bull rider and Bethany helped her family real estate business design houses they flip. Wes half sister asked him to watch her 5 year old daughter because she couldn’t "handle" it. Wes grew up in foster care and hasn't had people there for him, so he went to take care of his niece. Once there Bethany told her brother that she was flipping her own house. Her brother didn't take it well, and Wes left her brothers crew to go help her.

They didn't always get a long in the past so there was a lot of bickering back and fourth. A tv show hears about Bethany and her brother both fixing up a different house in the same town and decides to turn it into a tv show of them battling each other.

During the course of the three week show, Bethany and Wes both discover things about themselves as their characters grow.

I enjoyed this book.

Bethany wants to break away from being “only” an interior decorator for her family’s home renovation company. So she leaves and decides to flip a house completely on her own, but it just so happens Bethany knows little to nothing about fixing up a house. One of her brother’s best employees, Wes, leaves to work with Bethany because he’s insanely attracted to her. The only problem? Bethany can’t stand Wes. And even if she wanted him too, he’s 7-years younger than him and she isn’t looking to rob the cradle.

Somehow a tv producer gets wind of the two siblings and their house flipping rivalry and decides to turn it into a reality tv-show. This is finally Bethany’s chance to break free of her family’s expectations and have creative freedom once and for all. But to finally make a name for herself, she has to lean on Wes, and in turn, she may even fall for him...

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey is the third and final book in the Hot & Hammered series. This series has been fun and steamy thus far, but Wes & Bethany’s romance didn’t quite work for me. Bethany is a perfectionist and while I sympathized with her, her insecurities sabotaged her happiness most of the time. Wes being an uncle and guardian to his niece Laura was one of my favorite aspects of this story and seeing Bethany open up to the possibility of being a parent was sweet too. But that wasn’t enough to make me fall in love with the rest of the story. I’m happy to lay this series to rest! 3/5 stars.

I had a difficult time getting into this book. I feel like the pacing at the beginning was incredibly slow. The initial description of the heroine kinda made her sound annoying! Due to this pacing issue, it was difficult for me to remain engaged. I ended up pushing this book back to my TBR and finishing it later. Once I finished it, I felt like the story was just okay. I like this trope, but due to the earlier difficulty I had, I felt I didn't get as much enjoyment.

I love this series by Tessa Bailey! Bethany might be my favorite character so far, because I can relate so well to her. I loved her sibling rivalry, close friends, and her chemistry with Wes. Can't wait to read the next book from this author!

I really enjoyed Tools of Engagement, it was a funny and steamy read (thx to the publisher for the gifted copy)! I still think the second book in this series was my favorite but this was right up there. Seeing Bethany push herself to move forward and face her fears (and imposter syndrome, perhaps?) was really great and hope it inspires people to take charge and go after a dream that scares them. I loved the chemistry between her and Wes, so steamy! The only thing that kind of threw me (and made me laugh bc it was a little ridiculous) was his weird possessive/jealous comments. IRL I would laugh at any guy who did that and throw a “bitch, please” in there as well.

I like how the show provided the platform to keep things moving along which in turn also fueled some of the drama and excitement. I will say, I’m a sucker for a book that has a kid in it. It just adds that additional layer of feels!

Overall, this book did literally make me laugh, cry, and fan myself 😂

I am a fan of any Tessa Bailey book, so this was one I knew I'd love. A cute story with a lot of steam and likable characters. Definitely a good finale to the trio of stories. Definitely recommend.

My Review:

I don't have any higher expectations on this book, but still, it manages to disappoint me in a way I couldn't finish it even. It may be me, but the book didn't engage me in any way. From the beginning, there are no depth feelings and the romance parts are just a spark and lust category. There is no real relationship developed up to 70% of the story. The same pattern of self-conscious feelings and aromatic encounter bored me a lot. I heard the first two books in the series are good, but I don't have the heart to try them after reading this. I didn't finish the book, but I think it is just me, not in a mood for a light meaningless very shallow romantic book. I still recommend it for a light casual read.

FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION
The final book in the Hot & Hammered series by Tessa Bailey, TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT is a sexy, fun, and enjoyable contemporary romance. Bethany and Wes have been making fun of each other since book 2, LOVE HER OR LOSE HER, and it is finally their time to shine. Bethany has always wanted to put forth the perfect persona--pulled together, calm in any situation, and completely satisfied with her life. . . until it feels like her life is passing her by with each precisely placed throw pillow. Wes is in unfamiliar territory, taking on the guardianship of his half-sister’s daughter, in a new town, and trying to figure out what he wants to do next. There’s a lot of what could be described as "filler" in this book--a renovation competition show subplot that is mostly glossed over, Georgie and Travis’s wedding (the couple from Book 1, FIX HER UP) that felt rushed through, and Wes’s sister’s inevitable return wasn’t as fleshed out as much as it needed to be to make sense. Also, anything and everything that could keep these two from finally getting together happens--babysitters canceling, accidents on the job site, nosy family members, etc. And instead of creating sexy tension, it became tiresome. That being said, when Bethany and Wes are together, exploring both their feelings and their off-the-charts chemistry, TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT really works. The major conflict between Bethany and Wes is internal, and they both have to grow as characters to get to their happily-ever-after. As expected, Tessa Bailey's sex scenes are scorching hot! Additionally, the glimpses of the previous Hot & Hammered couples were very cute, and this book brings the series to a satisfying end.

Tools of Engagement is the final book in Tessa Bailey's Hot and Hammered series and it was my favorite of the three. After reading them, I realized that each one was a different romance trope! Tools of Engagement, an enemies to lovers trope with an age gap romance, focuses on Bethany and Wes. Their witty banter in Love Her or Lose Her set up the story so well for book three.

30 year old Bethany is part of a family business that flips houses. She perfectly stages every home at the end of a flip and decides she wants to do a full flip from start to finish. Her brother is not on board with the idea, forcing Bethany to start a competing flip. 23 year old Wes decides he's Team Bethany and joins her side. He's new to town, having moved there to care for his 6 year old niece, Laura. Wes and Bethany initially do not get along; she's on a man hiatus and doesn't take his advances seriously, he can't get enough of her snarky remarks and is determined to make her fall for him. They have so much ridiculous witty banter that I loved, and it was one of my favorite parts of the book!

Bethany felt like a relatable character, striving for perfection in every aspect of her life and terrified if people were to see through her portrayed image. Both characters had vulnerabilities and growth, and I loved their relationships with Laura!

I really enjoyed this book. I love how her characters all fit together. I also love that she shows her characters flaws so they aren't perfect. There so many great laugh out loud moments in this books. I couldn't put this book down.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't finish it. I don't have a problem with the older woman/younger man trope, but this didn't work. I didn't ever really feel like there was a relationship between them. It's like they went from having sex to being in love instantly. Wes likes to aggravate her, which I guess is like when you're kids and a boy pulls your hair because he likes you. Bethany has issues, and although I get people struggle with anxiety daily, this became exhausting reading her thoughts constantly. I thought Bethany wanting to prove to her family that she could do more than stage a home was going to be awesome. What really happened was she had NO CLUE what she was doing and I could understand why her family only let her stage homes. Could she learn? Absolutely. Should that have been stuff she knew before stomping off in a huff? Yes, yes it should. This was a first for me from this author, and although I didn't love this one, I will be reading her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

This was a good book, it was a light-hearted read that brought some light and fun into this crazy world right now!

i liked this book but there was something about the way the two main characters stopped being enemies so fast that i didn’t like. i love tessa bailey’s work and i’m sad to see this trilogy end but i cant wait to see what she does next

Tessa Bailey continues to delight with the third (and final?) book in the Hot & Hammered series. The relationship dynamic between Bethany and Wes is more lighthearted than in the previous installment—which is essential, because both characters are dealing with very serious personal issues. Neither character's issues are sidelined by the other, and as they grow closer together they begin to support each other through these problems.

I was less interested in the reality competition plotline, but the narrative didn't focus much on that, instead using it as a tool to delve into Bethany and Wes's relationship. Wes's niece was a particular joy—a character in her own right, as well as an important plot prompter.

A fantastic combination of sweet and emotionally sensitive as well as incredibly fun and sexy.

I received a digital advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 Stars**

Ummm, I loved this book. I don’t miss sleep for many things, but I started TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT right before bed, stayed up too late reading, then woke up early so I could finish before work. WORTH IT! If you’ve read the two previous standalone books in the series as I have, you’ve been waiting with bated breath for this book. Wes and Bethany have been sniping at each other for long enough – the sexual tension between them was about to explode! It totally did, just not in exactly the way I was expecting.

Bethany was such a relatable heroine. Her anxiety-laced, must-be-perfect persona had major cracks, and Wes saw each one of them. I think Wes’ backstory was perfectly executed to explain his maturity at 23 years old, and his objection to commitment (one of my least favorite hero traits). The way he understood Bethany made me totally swoony in the best way. Their interactions quickly went from snarky to emotional as they were forced to work together in close proximity.

Dare I say, this might be one of Tessa Bailey’s most romantic heroes?? Wes was wonderful. His absolute adoration of Bethany was everything I needed to read. He had some beautiful lines, and I highlighted quotes from him a lot more often than I usually do. Wes also mastered the Tessa Bailey signature dirty talk.

I really appreciated the focus on Wes and Bethany. Many outside plot elements could have easily taken away from the romance, but their relationship development always felt center-stage, even as they battled their individual demons. Masterfully done! All our favorite secondary characters are featured but didn’t overwhelm, including Wes’ adorable niece and his sister.

The whole reality tv-aspect threw me for a loop, and that subplot felt like a significant dangling plotline, which is why I knocked off half a star. How was the premiere? How did the show do? Are Bethany and Wes going to be HGTV stars? I mean, I would watch that show.

Overall, this book classic Tessa Bailey – aka, wonderful! The funny moments were well-balanced with the serious and emotional ones, the plot was intricate and interesting, and the secondary characters tied everything together. The best part? This can easily be read as a stand alone novel if you want to dive in right here.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

This is the third book in Tessa Bailey’s “Hot and Hammered” series.

In this book, we get Bethany Castle’s romance. Bethany is a perfectionist, and seems to have it all together, but she is secretly very insecure. One source of Bethany’s insecurity is her brother. She desperately wants to do more than design, she wants to flip houses, but her brother is dismissive.

Bethany decides that she is going to strike out on her own, and do her own flips. When Wes hears that Bethany doesn’t have a crew, he offers to join her, and help her put together a crew. Wes and his niece are fairly new to town and in his short time working for her brother, Wes knows how to get under skin. Despite this, Bethany has no choice but to accept. When a television show hears about the sibling rivalry, they invite the siblings to a tv competition around their individual flips.

As Wes and Bethany work together on their flip, Wes starts to really see Bethany. She isn’t the confident and can do anything woman she portrays to everyone. He sees her weakness, anxiety and insecurity. She feels safe letting him see her faults. Wes and Bethany embark on a romantic relationship, eventually moving in together. Wes who thought his time in town was going to short is rethinking leaving, but when home inspection related to full custody of his niece doesn’t go the way they hope, Bethany’s insecurities resurface.

I really enjoyed this series. I think Wes may be my favorite hero in this series. This was a great read with an enjoyable hero and heroine, and entertaining characters from the previous books in the series.

The series has come to an end and it ended on such a wholesome and sweet note. I loved Bethany and Wes’ relationship. The banter and quips in the beginning were fun and flirty. And then as it transitioned into something more, the trust, fear, hope, and angst both characters, but especially Bethany, felt made the new tentative relationship feel very real. I relate to Bethany’s anxiety and perfectionism to a certain degree and it’s scary to show vulnerability with others when you’ve worked so hard to put up a perfect facade all your life. I loved that trusting another with your emotions and feelings of security was a prominent theme throughout the book.

There were some aspects that brought my rating down to a 3.5 from a 4. First, Wes was a bit too macho cowboy for me. There were times when he spoke to Bethany that felt too stuck in traditional gendered roles or descriptions. It never got to misogynistic levels because he practically worshipped at Bethany’s feet but some lines made me uncomfortable and took me out of the moment.

My biggest gripe was the post-conflict declaration of love moment. It was just way too cheesy for me. It’s one of those grand moments in front of people and filled with tears. I’m sorry but maybe 2020 has just turned my heart cold but I could not help rolling my eyes multiple times. I did love the ending where we got to see how Bethany, Wes, and Wes’s niece Laura were living their lives because the moments with Laura were one of my favorite parts of the book. She really brought out the best in both Wes and Bethany.

I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in the series, enjoyed the second book, and then really enjoyed this one ... the best was saved for last here! I think I enjoyed it so much because of the enemies to lovers trope, as well as all the banter that happened between Wes & Bethany leading up to this book. Their relationship was very entertaining with the constant back and forth, but also was very sweet in the moments where it needed to be. Bethany was so relatable with her continual efforts at perfection, and I enjoyed getting to see how she evolved & grew throughout the story.

HOT and HAMMERED... indeed! This is the third installment in Tessa Bailey’s sassy and steamy series. I would strongly encourage you to read the prior books in the series before picking this one up. Not only will you want to know the backstories of the secondary characters, but you will also want to have read about the sizzling banter between Bethany and Wes leading up to this book. Bethany is so tired of her family thinking that all she is good for is interior decorating. It is now her time to prove to them that she can swing a hammer too. when Bethany breaks the news to her brother Steven that she will not be decorating his recent flip because she is busting out on her own she is conflicted when Wes steps up to work with her. no one gets under her skin and on her nerves like this cocky cowboy. But beggars can’t be choosers. SO Bethany and Wes end up working side-by-side day after day and I am sure you can guess what happens.

Tessa Bailey always turns up the steam and she definitely did in this book! Bethany and Wes like the dirty talk and the heat! I really like these two characters together and was looking forward to their story especially after the previous book. I think something I didn’t realize is that Wes is so young. I truly have no problem with an older woman dating a younger man, but in this case Wes is the same age as my oldest son and that just was a little... awkward. I mean this guy is so smooth and has such a filthy mouth on him, all I could think was I truly hope these words have never come out of my son’s mouth.😳 I guess going forward I’m going to need to check the male love interest’s age before I read or block it out. at least if they are like our cowboy Wes. Bethany‘s insecurities really came out in this book and I liked seeing her really battle them. Wes really was a good guy (when he wasn’t talking dirty) he had the sweetest relationship with his niece. The reality TV portion of the story was fun and not over done. I’m not sure this is the last book in the series I just received a copy of her next book and it looks like she’s headed in a different direction.🛠

*** Big thank you to Avon for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***