4 stars

The last of a trilogy, and it feels like it—this was a nostalgic run through of this series' highlights and a long-awaited romance from two opposing characters. Bring on the tension, the drama, and the steam! (And a house-flip reality TV show?? I should probably mention that first.)

Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Standalone factor: ★
Romance: ★★★
Overall Enjoyment: ★★★★ 1/2

Tools of Engagement comes out on September 22!

So, real quick - NO, this is not a standalone despite what the marketing says. This is the third book in a trilogy of related characters in a small town and it feels like it. This was SO not a bad thing for me, a devoted reader to the series, but might be for you so please keep that in mind.

Bethany Castle lives a flawless life. No really, she totally does. Ignore the fact that she's hyperventilating in the corner and has a stress rash on her neck and is incapable of letting anyone know the crushing level of perfectionism that keeps her awake at night. Everything is fine, life is perfect, and she is a flawless 30 year old.

The only in Bethany's "perfect" life that upends her image is Wes Daniels.

A cowboy hat wearing, 23-year-old freewheeling guy who lived a spontaneous life until his half sister dumped her 5 year old niece in his lap, Wes Daniels works for Stephen Castle (Bethany's older brother) and flips houses. Wes has been circling Bethany for months and he thinks he's got her number: one day the tension will snap, and they're going to settle things in the sheets.

But then Wes sees the Perfect Life™ of Bethany's dreams is actually just a flimsy sheet in the wind and he realizes that this isn't a game—it's something bigger.

Now let's add in the fact that Bethany and her brother Stephen are asked to compete in a "Flip Off" HGTV reality show of epic sibling rivalry proportions and we've got ourselves some DRAMA.

Will Bethany and Wes get to the good stuff, or will Bethany's need for perfection collapse on top of them under the pressure of the film lights?

Ready, set, ACTION.

My thoughts:
What an ending to this trilogy! This installment takes the characters' careers (house building and flipping) to its most literal interpretation: an HGTV competition show. As someone who normally doesn't like the "movie set" life depicted in books, I could handle this one because it really didn't matter to the plot. This was very much a story about Bethany and Wes, and barely involved the "movie" element at all.

This was also the least steamy of the three books, which was interesting. Given the crackling dialogue between Wes and Bethany in the first books, I was ready for some serious steam. There was steam... but I'd almost call it tame compared to Fix Her Up and Love Her or Lose Her. Something to note for those who really enjoyed that element of Bailey's other books.

Like I said at the beginning, if you're new to this series this is NOT the book to start on. Wes and Bethany's plot line relies heavily on prior knowledge of their interactions in the previous books, and their side plots with the other characters are absolutely meaningless without that added background.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was another fantastic installment in the Hot and Hammered Series.
Bethany is finally breaking out on her own and is going to do her first house flip. After years of living in her brother Stephen's shadow, she's breaking rank and setting out on her own. When she tells her brother her plans, one of his crew members, Wes, decides to follow Bethany and work on her project instead. Wes moved to Port Jefferson to take care of his niece since his sister needs a break. Wes and Bethany definitely have chemistry but the argue about everything. Do they have what it takes to complete a better flip than Stephen?
I was very excited for this book since we had seen some moments between Wes and Bethany in the previous books. The chemistry between the two of them was fantastic. I love that Tessa Bailey creates fully formed characters with a lot of depth. Each of the characters in these books are so different yet feel so real.

So so so glad to finally have been able to read Bethany’s story! The Hot and Hammered series sucked me in with Georgie and Travis!

Wes is an out of town cowboy who is tasked with watching his niece while his sister gets her life together. My heart melted when he interacted with his niece and I even teared up at parts. The Just-Us League, which is headed by Bethany Castle, set up a schedule to help Wes with dinners and even babysitters while he is at work. And Wes’s favorite part about the arrangement? He gets to needle Bethany whenever he can. Talk about opposites attract! The constant bickering and banter with Bethany was so witty and full of sexual tension!

When Bethany finally decides to head her own house flip, she gets sucked into a Port Jefferson “Flip Off” against her brother, it’s televised and everything. With Wes’s help, she may be able to pull it off! As long as they can keep things professional.. which is harder said than done when Wes seems to know all of Bethany’s nervous ticks and anxieties.

This is a bit of an age gap but honestly, I felt like Wes was sometimes a little more mature than Bethany was at times. He seemed to match her wit at every turn and their chemistry was a straight inferno. I’ve said it before and I will say it again.. Tessa Bailey is the steam QUEEN! There is not a single book by her that I have not loved, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

This may be my favorite book in this series!

Wes and Bethany were teased as a couple pretty hard in book 2. This one has enemies to lovers, single parent romance, an age gap with a older female romance, and a reality TV element to it.

Bethany lives her life striving for perfection, while also constantly feeling that she is in the shadows of her family and older brother. When she decides to take on a complicated house flip, there are 2 things she wasn't counting on.

1. She wasn't expecting it to become a reality TV competition with her brother
2. She was not expecting the sexy Wes to volunteer to help her not only on the job, but to loosen up in general.

Wes has always drifted. Being raised in foster care, he was afraid to put down roots anywhere. When is half sister begs him to move into her house and take care of her daughter while she figures out her life, he doesn't expect to fall in love with the small town, his neice, or the sexy sister of his boss, who also happens to be 7 years older than him.

This book gave me everything I wanted and more. Bailey's steam factor is always high, and it did not disappoint. The dynamics and layers of the characters kept me going and guessing throughout the novel, as to how they would tackle their next challenge.

We also get the Georgie and Travis wedding, which was lovely!

Please check this one out! I loved it a lot!

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! It's a really cute story that is equal parts sweet, steamy and fun. On the surface Bethany and Wes don't seem like they could possibly fit, but like I said, that is just surface. Truth is, despite his alpha sort of cocky demeanor, Wes has the biggest heart and is just the sweetest man. He is 7 years younger than Bethany, and she seems to be the one having a problem with that, so she just can't understand why he would be interested in her and doesn't really believe he is. She is a 30 year old woman who comes off as having everything together, but underneath she is slowly unraveling. Wes usually doesn't stick to one place for long but is there to take care of his niece Laura who is in kindergarten. Bethany is branching off on her own no longer satisfied with working with her brother on house flips. Once she and Wes start working together everything else just falls into place (sometimes literally). Well, that may be making it sound easy, when it was anything but. I love their journey to a very satisfying HEA. This story is a great addition to this series.

Is there anything better than a great steamy Rom-Com to put a smile on a reader's face? Tools of Engagement is hilarious with chemistry that sizzles and pops. Bethany and Wes are almost exact opposites - perfect meets chaos - and when they start working together on a reality show about flipping houses . . . well, let's just say there's more than the competition heating up! Bethany is out to prove herself to her brother and family and Wes - Wes is out to prove he's more than a gorgeous cowboy.

Tools of Engagement is witty, electric with great chemistry. A brisk pace keeps the plot moving forward and the banter between these two is hilarious. I love the soft side of Wes brought out with the scenes between him and his niece Laura. I haven't read the first two books in this series, but the author includes enough background information that I was never lost. Having said that, it would have been nice to have known more about the other couples/characters. If you love witty, snarky, opposites attract romances, grab Tools of Engagement and swoon and laugh! One other thing - Narrator Charlotte North does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. She nails these characters making them authentic and adorable. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Tessa Bailey has quickly become an auto-buy for me as I wade my way through her backlist. I adored Georgie's story in Fix Her Up and was so thrilled to have a chance to read the newest addition to the Hot and Bothered series! Tools of Engagement gripped me right away. I am a sucker for enemies-to-lovers paired with forced-proximity. Adding in an age-gap, older heroine for good measure, and I'm absolutely pushing my TBR to the side to get my paws on the book. Those tropish delights delivered with Bailey's humor and heart had me reading late into the night and closing the book with a happy, if wistful, sigh. I didn't want to let Wes and Bethany go to be honest.

Wes was absolutely the sweetest uncle and beyond that, has his own issues from languishing in the foster care system as a child. His absolutely charming personality had just a hint of vulnerability that absolutely hooked me, and I don't normally find myself falling for fictional (or real) cowboys. Bethany's obsessive tendencies and severe anxiety under the perfectly cultivated mask of perfection made her an authentic, relatable character for me. Bailey's descriptions of her anxiety in particular felt uncomfortably familiar. Both were lovable on their own and a pleasure to cheer for. Of course, the insane chemistry between the two doesn't hurt.

I'm talking fire-alarm hot tension that had me blushing. The back-and-forth nips and jabs are a fascinating form of foreplay for Wes and Bethany. I do think Wes could use a bit of sprucing up with his dirty talk but it was easy to forgive given the chemistry between them. 

I do think the pacing could have slowed a bit to allow a bit more time during the flip. I would have loved to see more of Bethany getting her hands dirty rather than just references to it after the fact. I am happy to report that Kristin, Bethany's sister-in-law, is just as unhinged as ever. I am always torn between amusement and horror when she pulls nonsense on Stephen.

My highlight for this book has to be the "Just Us" club. The idea of a club with little to no drama, (Kristin's self-created nonsense doesn't count) creating a community of supportive women. A place for dreams to be willed into existence and they each lend what expertise they can hits me right in the feels. I absolutely love the concept!

Overall, Tools of Engagement was a wonderful, light-hearted read with some scorching chemistry. While I wish we had a bit more of the "house flip" construction included for Bethany's growth, I was absolutely engaged and invested in Wes and Bethany's happiness. If you are looking for an exceptional balance between humor, and angsty emotion then I highly recommend this contemporary romance.

CW: Bethany's anxiety could be triggering for some, so please read with care. 

**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As far as contemporary romance goes, I liked this story just fine. I especially liked Tessa Bailey's discussion on perfectionism and the toll it can take on the body, and I also liked that the heroine was older than the hero/love interest. Those aspects allowed for a fresh take on the genre, and I appreciated that. I would read more by the author.

Tools of Engagement is the third in Tessa Bailey's Hot & Hammered series. This is the story of Bethany Castle, a super organized, image orientated, internal mess, and Wes Daniels, alpha with a heart of gold who learns to become the person he wishes he had on his side growing up.

Bethany is the oldest of the two daughters in the Castle family, owners of Brick & Morty, a home construction company specializing in house flipping. She's always felt she had to try harder to be taken seriously in her family which makes her the super organized overachiever, but appearances can be deceiving. She's always wanted the responsibility of managing her own flip, not just staging the finished product, and in this book, she finally steps out of the family dynamic and pushes her own boundaries. She also ends up being the focus of an HGTV style house flipping show that pits brother against sister. Having not been taught anything about construction while growing up she quickly finds herself in over her head.

Enter Wes Daniels, who has had a thing for Bethany since he first rolled into town to help raise his half sister's daughter, Laura. Wes comes from the foster system and is not seeking a final landing place. He's waiting for his sister to get herself together so he can roll on to his next destination. He decides to work with Bethany on a whim because he doesn't like how her brother underestimates her. He takes on the role of foreman on her house project flipping and they both learn a thing or two about life's messes and imperfections.

This was a super cute book and a nice addition to the series. It was good to see Bethany achieve her goals and see Wes find the home he never knew he wanted.

I fell in love with Georgie and Travis, then I fell harder for Rosie and Dominic, but Bethany and Wes stole my heart and knocked me on my butt. I am not sure I have ever related to a heroine as much as I relate to Bethany. Especially during this time of life (i.e. COVID-19, Social Media etc.), when we are trying to do it all and keep it all together and see social media perfection all over the place. It was incredibly real to read about a character who looks like she has it all together but is overthinking everything on the inside.

Wes is all action and bravado he turns into confidence. His dedication and determination to support and take care of the people in his life is so admirable. He really sees Bethany in a way no one has before and my heart just about burst in two reading their story. They have a fiery chemistry and witty banter but also a softness and a sweetness between them that I couldn't get enough of.

Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite authors and this book only reinforces that fact!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily give my honest review.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the series! It's a lot less angsty than either of the previous two books, and I did feel that Wes was much more of a cinnamon roll of a hero. I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the way he supported Bethany without minimizing her feelings. Sweet, hot, and full of heart.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read early!
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That said, I was SO EXCITED to read Wes and Bethany's story! I loved this series so much and as amazing as the first 2 were, I think Tessa save the best for last!
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Wes and Bethany broke my heart over and over and their happily ever after moment was heartwarming!
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Funny, sweet and scorching hot, Tools of Engagement was almost impossible to put down! You do not want to miss this book, or this series!

My favorite romance of the three Hot & Hammered books! Just as steamy as any other Bailey book, but the relationship between Bethany and Wes really did me in. As a (working on becoming) former perfectionist, I feel so seen and love the path Bethany sledgehammered for herself. Kristen’s hilarious side plot was a delight.

“Expecting perfect can only lead to disappointment. Besides, it’s the flaws that give a person character. That’s where the beauty hides.”

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey is the third and final (I think) in the Hot & Hammered series and I think she saved the best for last. This book is all about Bethany and Wes.

Bethany has always had it all together. She is a hostess to her friends and family, house stager for her families business and a great friend. But what everyone don’t know is that she is a closet worrier and over thinker. She has always put up a front and had everyone fooled ... until Wes.

Wes was yanked from his carefree, partying lifestyle in Texas to live in Port Jefferson to care for his niece. It was always supposed to be a pit stop, temporary, while he helped his sister out. He never expected to find roots or his home there ... until Bethany.

“You don’t have to change everything about yourself. Sometimes you just have to add a little honesty and it makes the difference.”

I really liked this book, it is by far my favorite of the series. More than the witty banter or drama, I really liked Bethany. I think everyone has been her at some point, I know I have. Especially now when we are constantly inundated with others highlight reels, there is always comparison and thinking it is never enough. She felt authentic, and her inner monologue could have been anyone.

Tools of Engagement did not lack in banter between Wes and Bethany. Then throw in some family drama, flipping a house, a reality TV show competition and a five year old ... what could possibly go wrong. But don’t let all that fool you, in true Tessa Bailey fashion, there was still lots of steam. Tools of Engagement is out 9/22!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for this eARC to read and provide an honest review.

When Bethany decides to go rogue and head a house flip by herself (instead of the usual staging that she does), she gets roped into working with Wes—the in-town-for-now cowboy who is watching over his niece and who has incessantly been hitting on and annoying Bethany since the day they met. Apart from the pressures of a successful flip, Wes is not one to stick around, and Bethany is the over analytical ruminator. With all this forced proximity, hate, and sexual tension, how will these two fair?

In the first third of the book, it was all about the banter. I wasn’t a fan of the “baby” and “darlin’” pet names though, especially since this was an age-gap romance—our heroine was 30, our hero 23. I was skeptical with the connection (as we know, the maturity level of the male species at this age is questionable), but the chemistry screamed off the pages. The story, the characters all grew on me by the halfway point that I was so invested, and wanted to see how their relationship was going to blossom. The premise was solid. My heart swelled for Wes, having been a foster child and assuming temporary guardianship of his half-sister’s daughter. What a stud muffin. And if you’re familiar with Tessa Bailey, then you know to expect a load of steam.

Rivals to lovers is my favorite trope so I was very excited to dive into this one! It took me a few chapters to get in to the story but I really liked it once I did. This is the third book in a connected series, so we don't get to see the main characters meet since they already knew each other from previous story - I think that missing element makes the beginning slow.

Wes and Bethany have great banter and all their insult hurling made me smile. However, I did feel Bethany's growth was a bit too forced, as I didn't truly feel the emotional connection between them.

Overall, it was a fun and easy read that dishes out what you'd want from a rom-com so I'd recommend!

I've been waiting for this book since Bethany first met Wes, and I was absolutely not disappointed. The humor and emotion I would expect having read the first two books in the series was here as well as character growth for both Bethany and We as they learn to deal with their issues -as individuals and as a couple. I also very much appreciated that the character who could have very well become a fairly one-sided "bad' character did not follow stereotypical patterns for this type of character. I recommend for fans of the series, fans of Penny Reid, Laura Florand, Kristen Callihan, Christina Lauren and Helena Hunting.

Tools of Engagement By: Tessa Bailey

Rating - 3.5 / 5 Stars

Publication Date - 9/22/2020

** Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and of course, Tessa Bailey, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was for the most part, pretty awesome! I have been a huge fan of this series so to finally get Bethany and Wes’s story was great!

Bethany as a perfectionist is a great person to hear the inner monologue of. I loved seeing her evolve and still keep her quirky self. Her connection with her family is truly great. Wes, on the other hand, is a nomad of sorts. He moves with the flow and goes wherever he is supposed to go. This is how he ends up in Port Jefferson, NY - to take over as guardian for his niece, Laura.

I absolutely LOVED Wes and Laura’s connection and it was truly beautiful to see it evolve and how it changes Wes. I did expect to find a bit more conflict when Becky came back to town, but was happy to find that to be a nice conclusion as well.

Now, Bethany and Wes have a beautiful relationship. I did find it slightly frustrating to see their relationship did not truly begin until the last third of the book. I also found myself calling out realism since they were only together for 2 weeks before Wes proposed - Totally ok, each relationship has its own timeline and that is fine, but it was speedy, especially when it includes a 23-year-old. While I am not a huge fan of the younger man, older woman troupe - I did really enjoy this relationship.

My one major con of this story revolves around the reality tv show. First, as an avid watcher of HGTV - ha ha ha - these house flips are not possibly done in 2 or 3 weeks. But the entire reality show concept could have been removed from the story and it would still be great. The rivalry between Bethany and Stephan held enough weight to carry its own. I found that when the show was introduced, it was a kind of whaaaa? If that makes sense. It did not need to be included.

I also want to give a shout out to Ollie and Carl - I really wished we saw more of these two. I would have loved to see Wes have a convo with them about his relationship with Bethany - I think they would have given some great advice and funny commentary.

I have always been a fan of Tessa’s writing, so this book was a no brainer in my TBR pile. It did not disappoint! Great Job, Tessa!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I haven’t read the previous 2 books in the series, but based on the Goodreads reviews it’s safe to say people had very mixed opinions. But I should’ve known better. Tessa Bailey is an author I really want to read more of. I have half a dozen of her books on my Want-To-Read list because she writes stories with tropes I’m really interested in.

I’m not one for the older woman / younger man trope, and in fact I had no idea this story included this trope, but it really worked for me. Probably because Wes was very dominant with Bethany and didn’t act young or irresponsible at all. The sexy scenes were great, the enemies-to-lovers aspect was great, and Wes’s chase was great!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. Bethany's life is about organization and perfection, except in her dating life. She's ready to take on more challenge in her career, and tells her brother, who runs the company, that she wants to flip a house on her own. Wes, one of the crew members, is willing to help her with the flip. Things get complicated because sparks fly between them, on and off the work site. The book was fun, romantic and fast-paced. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.