My favorite of the series! Loved the hate to love elements, the premise of the HGTV style reality show/ competition element, and this couple has ON FIRE chemistry. Many of the issues I had with the previous books were solved in Tools of Engagement. Both Wes and Bethany were well developed, complex characters with beleivable backstories and issues and I so enjoyed watching them navigate these issues first as reluctant partners, then friends, then more. My faith in Tessa Bailey is redeemed!

Tessa Bailey delivers another fun-filled ride! This book had heart, humor, and enough steam to fog your reading glasses! I would definitely recommend this book!

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey was actually my first read by her. There are two other books to this trilogy and you do want to read them in order mostly because Bailey sets them up so they are already introduced in the next books. I had tried reading Fix Her Up but my Kobo said it had 700 pages in it and I wasn’t ready to read a book that long but I knew I had to review this book by September.

So I decided to chance it and read it anyway. I don’t feel like I missed too much from the other books just because I read a bit of Fix Her Up and I knew who Travis and Georgina were already. I just was at the end of their romance plot of the series instead of the beginning. I also knew a little bit about Rosie, but not that much.

Tools of Engagement actually only made me more excited to read the first two books in the future since I have both of those books. I know, I’m weird for even reading them backwards in the first place.

What I liked:
I enjoyed this story because it had a good plot. Good characters that I could identify with. It had the enemies to lovers trope that I love so much. I don’t think the age difference between them was such a big deal. The guy was only six years younger. In high school that’s weird, but in adult life it’s not so much anymore.

I really loved the relationship Wes had with his niece. He understood her situation better than anybody else would have and he did his best to make her adapt to her situations and by the time the epilogue came around it was sweet.

The romance was also off the charts steamy.

The writing and pacing was also well done.

What I disliked:
There was nothing I didn’t like about this book.

I definitely recommend this for anybody who needs a bit of a pick me up. Tools of Engagement was a five star rating. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Long time, no see! I took a break in July to work on some personal education (getting my real estate license!) but I am back now, on a new schedule. And boy, do I have a great first review back for you.

Oml, I love Tessa Bailey! This series is magic, and this sequel I’ve long been awaiting did not disappoint! Wes and Bethany are my favorite characters so far.


If you’ve read any other Hot and Hammered novels, you’ll know that Wes and Bethany don’t exactly get along. Every time they’re in a room together, words start flying and attitudes can’t be kept in check. But for them, that’s half the fun…

As Bethany gets ready to do her first house flip on her own, apart from the family company, Wes “Zellweggers” and jumps on board as her foreman. Though they have a rocky start, the flip is bringing them together in ways they never imagined. Through the emotional pain of proving to herself that she doesn’t have to be perfect, and for him to raise his niece on his own, the two need one another.

I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories. After all, it is Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game that got me obsessed with this genre in the first place. Bailey absolutely nails this trope in the same way Thorne does: the banter is just witty enough to keep you smiling and on the edge of your seat, but the wholesome mix of support coming from the back is also what I’m here for. Particularly after this third novel of hers that I’ve read, I have so much respect for Bailey’s storytelling. It’s quick and cute, and a whole lot of fun to read.

I’m ALSO a huge sucker for kiddos in romance books. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before. *facepalm – because I should’ve known I couldn’t be unbiased about this book when it’s filled with ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS* Laura is the PERFECT distraction from tension and the most adorable of sidekicks for Wes. Her whole existence helps frame Wes and Bethany in different lights, and helps them overcome their faults just enough to be together. It’s perfect, she’s perfect, I’m here for it.

Getting to see Bailey’s other phenomenal characters (Georgie & Travis, and Rosie and Dominic) living their new lives together in the wake of their own stories was so sweet. I love being able to see beyond the traditional romance we get to be a part of. I hope this series continues, though I don’t know which characters we’d follow next (usually, you can kind of guess!).

Anyways, 100% recommend. Finished it in one night. Couldn’t stop myself. Love it. Highly, highly recommend the WHOLE stories!

A copy of Tools of Engagement was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It’ll be available September 22, 2020!

What a fantastic story! I rarely come across a romance novel that I would rate over 3 stars, but this is a 4! I loved Bethany and Wes. Fantastic pairing, witty banter, and solid love. I appreciated the look behind the curtain of the pressure women often put on themselves. If there hadn’t been the shortened time frame, pushing them together, I think I would have gone for 5 because women like Bethany need more time to trust than 3 weeks.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Don't get me wrong I love Tessa Baileys work, but this is my least favorite of this series. I didn't care nor could I connect with the characters. The story wasn't engaging for me that after 60%ish I fast forwarded to the end.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Hmmm... I'm not sure about this one. For one, if I hadn't read the first 2 books, I'd be absolutely LOST! I don't think I'd necessarily call this a standalone because we're introduced to the concept of Bethany and Wes in the previous book and then suddenly thrown in as if we're expected to just KNOW! I do appreciate that there are layers...complicated layers... to both of these characters. I will say however that I really couldn't seem to vibe with Bethany's character. Wes made a lot more sense to me and I enjoyed watching him grow... especially when it came to his relationship with little Laura. However, just once I'd love to read a Tessa Bailey novel where the love interest isn't an overly macho, alpha type. I did enjoy their banter and communication a lot. Age gaps just aren't my thing. At least not when we're beat over the head with the reminder. All that being said, this was my least favorite of the series. Steamy as all get out but ...still lacking.

Tessa Bailey wraps up the Hot & Hammered with a couple readers have been intrigued by since the start of the series.
It’s solidly written and we get to see both main characters grow. Bailey does a great job of checking in with characters from the previous heroes and heroines from the first two books in the series, without taking the focus away from both mains of this novel. She also provides readers with a real sense of the location. As a reader, I wish it was a little longer to allow for an ending that felt less rushed.
I would highly recommend for readers of the series and those looking for stories featuring family, friendship, and a peak into understanding how to cope with mental health challenges.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Hot & Hammered series. I was looking forward to perfect Bethany to get her comeuppance and she certainly did with the hot, handsome cowboy.
I actually had a hard time in the beginning of this story. I’m not sure if it was Bethany’s attitude or just the beginning not holding true to me. But I knew that even with a slow start for me, the story would pick up and grab my attention. And, it did. In a big way.
I loved Wes from the minute he was introduced in this series. He stepped up when he was needed, was fun yet responsible and had the most wonderful barbs for the perfect Bethany. And she gave it right back to him which only made him want her more. Leaving her brother’s crew to go work with her was a no-brainer. Until he saw the flip house ... until he realized she really had not idea what she was doing ... until he realized that he needed her more than for just a night in his bed. Facing his own past only helps him fall in love with the beautiful Bethany because he knows she’s facing hers right along with him.
Bethany is in a man hiatus. She’s had enough of cheating, lying men and does not need one to fulfill her dreams. She’s the perfect hostess, has the perfect clothes, the perfect house and the perfect life. Or does she? As soon as a man gets too close, she closes herself off. Inside she’s insecure and cold and can’t stand that someone may see her as imperfect. So, she’s on her own. Until Wes sees behind the wall she’s hiding in and steps up ... supports her, teaches her how to just be Bethany. And, she loves the feeling she gets just being around him. But, how long will he put up with her insecurities before he thinks that she is just too much of a challenge?
As I said, I had a slow start with this story. But, as it went on and the full storyline came into view, I truly enjoyed it. I loved Laura and how she was one of the threads that brought Wes and Bethany together. She was capricious and fun. She knew just what to do to bring both Wes and Bethany to their knees when neither one of them knew what to do with a 5-year-old little girl. I enjoyed the twists and turns,
the banter between Wes and Bethany and loved the way they banded together to bring stability to Laura’s life.
Yes, Tools of Engagement is a Romcom but it was also a very heartwarming story as well. A story of love not only between a man and a woman but of the love they had for a little girl who really needed them, of family and friends. Of finding your way through insecurities and allowing the people around you to see your true self. I laughed, I smiled and shed a tear or two.

Normally I don't have a problem jumping into the middle of series having not read the previous books. I struggled with this book as a standalone as it constantly felt like I was a beat behind while I read. Even by the time I finished this book I still didn't feel like I completely understood one of the characters. This is a simple romance novel, it should have been an easy read but it turned into a frustrating one.

Bethany Castle has put her dating life on hold as she attempts to strike out on her own in the real estate business and flip a house. Wes Daniels is new in town and gets on Bethany's nerves but he knows how to use a hammer so he will be helping Bethany out with the house. They will also be competing against Bethany's brother on a competitive reality show called Flip Off to see which team can do the best renovation. Again, Bethany has put her dating life on hold. Hmm... this is a romance novel, let's see how long that lasts.

Bethany and Wes had good chemistry. If you are looking for a steamy read, look no further as I consider myself a seasoned romance reader and a couple of their scenes made me blush. So the romance elements of the story worked well in my opinion.

The character I had a hard time with was Bethany. I didn't really get her personality and it seemed like most of her character development happened in previous books. If you are a fan of the other books in the series, I would imagine this would be a good read for you. But coming in without having any background info, was a challenge and that shouldn't have been the case. Needed a little more setup so both old and new readers could fully enjoy the story.

With that being said, I would like to go back and read the first two books as good chemistry is my number one requirement in a romance novel and the author definitely demonstrated in this novel that is one of her writing strengths.

Thank you to the Avon Romance newsletter and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy!

*Thank you Avon at HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC from Netgalley.

Bethany Castle has had enough of being overshadowed by her brother in the family business. Bethany has made a name for herself for her interior designs, but she is ready to set up and lead her own flip. When Bethany decides to part ways with her brother for her own home flip, a wager is made over who can do a better job. Bethany is a perfectionist who is not comfortable being out of her element. However, Bethany soon realizes that she is going to need help from the willing Wes Daniels for this new transition.

This book is another companion in the Hot & Hammered series. This companion book focuses on Georgie’s sister Bethany and her transition in creating her own business separate from their family. Overall, I liked Bethany and Wes’ story. I like how this book discusses other topics and brings good conversation. While we do see some of Bethany in the other companion books, the reader gets more of a sense of what Bethany is personally going through as well as her thoughts and feelings about different matters. The reader is able to see Bethany deal with stress, anxiety, and the role that it has on her. I found myself having a deeper appreciation for Bethany’s character as the plot progressed.

For Wes, he is probably my favorite male character so far out of all the books. I love how with his character we are able to see found family come into play. We are given such a small and pretty much misleading glimpse of Wes in the second book, but we get to see so much more as we grow with our understanding of Wes in this book. Wes emits a great positive male figure presence in this book. I loved seeing him become a father in this book. He was so sweet with his niece and I loved how much care he had for her and others.

I will say that the romance between Bethany and Wes made me feel a bit awkward at times. Sometimes the more intimate scenes seemed a little off at times and felt forced as well as kind of fake. I think that this one was the most intimate heavy than the other books as well. I was okay with it, but it seemed a little quick to form at times and out of place. I would have liked to see a bit more good conversation and discussion without it jumping straight into intimacy.

Overall, I really enjoy reading more from these characters. I love the empowerment group that the women have formed, and I would not mind reading more about other women from the group. I love seeing all the progress that the group makes in each meeting. I love how supportive the community has become for everyone.

Tools of Engagement is everything smoking hot, deeply emotional, and utterly satisfying. There is nothing that this story is missing when it comes to wrecking and demoliting my heart so completely. It gives no excuses or demands as it works on rebuilding a solid and unshakable foundation where a true and honest love can bloom and remain protected and cherished. This story is pure gold, and worthy of all the accolades in the world for its incredible heart and uncompromising soul.

I never knew what to expect when I began reading this story. I just knew it was written by Tessa Bailey, so I knew I was in for a huge treat. What I found was so far above and beyond my expectations! Bethany and Wes stole my heart and refused to give it back. They ruined me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I never wanted to leave this stunning world full of real people with real struggles. Finally, I found a place where even a broken, imperfect person like me felt at home. This story is perfect in its raw brokenness and real emotion. I savored every second, emotion, and word as I walked this hard yet wildly rewarding story.

Tessa Bailey has rocked my world so utterly and completely. She has shown me that we are all beautiful with our brokenness and quirks and anxiety. I can't thank her enough for her touching encouragment and huge heart. She will always be one of my all-time favorite authors because she is the type of person I admire and am grateful for their presence in my life no matter how fleeting it is.

Romance, flipping houses, TV competition and a hottie from Texas? Yes please!!!!

Tools of Engagement follows the glamorous and perfect life of Bethany Castle as she navigates her first solo flip. Previously, she worked for her family's very successful construction company as an interior designer and stager. And while her rooms are styled to perfection, she no longer gets satisfaction from them. After being rejected and scoffed at when she asked her older brother if she could run a flip, Bethany leaves the family company to venture out on her own to prove to her family and herself that she is capable. The only problem is that her brother currently has every good construction worker in town working on his flip.

Enter Wes. The devilishly handsome and charming Texan who works for Bethany's brother. Wes has been attracted to Bethany since the second she stepped out of her mercedes and on to the construction site. Wes finds that he will do almost anything to be able to interact more with Bethany. Including, volunteering to work with her on her first flip in hopes that he can convince her to give him a shot. To make the situation even more complicated, Bethany and Wes get dragged into a TV competition against her brother to see who's flip will come out on top.

I absolutely LOVED Bethany in this book. I'll be the first to admit that I thought she was stuck up and not relatable in the first two books in this series. But I found myself relating to her the most out of any other character. Bethany tends to hold herself up to impossible standards all the time at the risk of her own happiness and mental health. She is always trying to look put together and like being perfect comes naturally and easy to her when the opposite is true most of the time. I connected with her as I have struggled and continue to struggle with this myself.

And can we talk about Wes? He is the ultimate total package. Not only is good looking and he extremely charming with his Texan accent, but he is the only one who seems to see beyond Bethany's perfectly crafted facade to see her internal struggles.

While Tools of Engagement is a standalone novel and can definitely be read with out reading the other two books first, I highly suggest reading them in order as it is the third book in the hot and hammered series. Plus you get to see all of the characters grow through each book, and it will make much more sense. I highly recommend setting aside a rainy day to read this fabulous book!

“Construction was not neat . . . Real life was not HGTV.”

Tessa Bailey’s newest installment in the 'Hot & Hammered' series is just as fun and steamy as the rest. Bethany Castle, a perfectionist-turned-house-stager, is determined to break out of the family house-flipping business and do some demo of her own. Wes Daniels, a Texas cowboy who is in town to look after his young niece, can’t keep his eyes off of Bethany. He pulls a Zellweger (à la 'Jerry Maguire') and quits the Castle crew to be Bethany’s foreman . . . with hopes of becoming so much more. Throw in a reality TV competition and the ladies of the Just Us League, and you’ve got a flipping winner.

Forgive me, I couldn’t help myself. Bailey sure knows how to have a good time with her characters, and 'Tools of Engagement' is no exception. The sexual tension and barbed banter is off the charts: these two give as good as they get. I thought Bailey couldn’t possibly top the first two books in the series, 'Fix Her Up' and 'Love Her or Lose Her,' but she did it again.

Things I loved:
-The banter! So much clever banter. If you liked the glimpse of Bethany and Wes’ rivalry in previous H&H installments, just wait until you get your hands on this book.
-Seeing what previous H&H characters are up to, including Georgie, Rosie, and their smoking hot partners.
-The fact that each of these books includes actual character development and that the three main women in the series get to realize serious dreams of their own. (Not true of every romance novel. Bailey gets the balance right.)
-The sweet relationship between Wes and his niece, Laura.
-Let’s be honest: the sizzling sexy bits. You know what I mean.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are subject to change.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This one was hot hot HOT. I loved the first two and thought they were steamy, but it was like Tessa Bailey turned up the fire on this one. I loved it! I loved how Bethany finally found her love in Wes and my is he just what the doctor order for her!

This one was witty, sexy, laugh out loud funny, amazing, and just so so good. I can’t say enough good things about this one.

I can’t wait to read her other works.

This is the third and final book in the Hot & Hammered series by Tessa Bailey. I really felt a connection to the female character - Bethany, who tries and feels like she has to be perfect in all aspects of her life and hide her fears and worries. She grows up the middle child and oldest girl who only shows the world what she thinks they should know about her. Her life changes after meeting Wes, a Texas bullrider, who is struggling with his own history, and makes her challenge herself and how she sees herself. Throw in a sexy times in a house under renovation, laughter, and tears, you have a story that I will read again. I found a few typos which don't detract from the story, but made me stop for a minute and try to understand what the author meant.

I love when a couple lives up to the hype of how they were introduced in an earlier novel of a series. I’ve been watching these two for the first two bucks and it was so hysterical and enjoyable to see them have their own story.

Recently finished reading Tools of Engagement Do we love Wes? Yes. Such a sweet story about two people asking for what they need and getting comfortable with their own selves. I would have liked a bit more direct competition and interaction between Stephen and Bethany. Although the story is ultimately about Bethany's journey, part of that is reconciling her relationship with her family. All I want now is a prequel story about Stephen and Kristin.

I’m in love with this series from Tessa Bailey! The Queen if Dirty Talk does it again with a hero I could really root for and a string minded heroine I want to be Best friends with. I highly recommend this book.

A delightful enemies to lovers rom com that bursts with Bailey's trademark humor and smoking hot love scenes.