3.5 Building It Together Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
What do you get when you put together a sexy, swaggering cowboy with a fast-talking under-appreciated woman who has had to deal with men all her life...You get this book. Tessa Bailey takes the characters we were all curious about from the other part of the series and has them on a collision course to have the sext time relationships Bailey is known for.

She took Bethany who has been staging all the houses for her brother, making them look great, telling him what to do with his fixer-uppers, and have him tell her she is not doing her own flip as she wants. It is time, due her and he sort of laughs at the idea.

Well, hell no. That is not happening.

Instead, she takes on the project, gets roped into doing a Tv show about it, and lasso Wes, the new guy into helping her. Wes has been flirting and teasing her since he first got to town, so it was a no-brainer to help her with this project...

Because he has a [project of his own...Getting Bethany to see he is the one for her...and he will use any trick in the book, including dirty talking his way into her heart.

This had lots of sexy fun moments, conflicts to work out, and the usual Bailey happy ending. This series has been up and down for me, with me adoring Love Her or Lose Her. Bailey has a way and I will keep on reading her until she stops.

Tessa Bailey delivers once again with this cute, uber sexy, swoony romantic comedy. Tools of Engagement is easy to read with fun flirty banter, well developed characters and all the heat. It wouldn't be a Tessa Bailey book if it wasn't fan yourself steamy.

The Bethany we met in the previous two Hot and Hammered books was always so poised and proper. Seemingly perfect. I love that we get to know the real Bethany. The one riddled with insecurities and fear. This Bethany displayed so much growth. It was so great to see.

Wes is my favorite hero in this world. I don't think it's possible for me not to love him. From his Renée Zellweger in Jerry Maguire moment to how he stepped up for his niece, prepare yourself for all the heart eyes and swoons.

Tools of Engagement was such a fun sexy read with tons of heart. It was the perfect way to end the series. I highly recommend.

There are people who are going to like this book lot. But I am not one of them. The two main characters are clear and defined. Bethany Castle is 30 and a perfectionist. She is always seeking the approval of others and terrified she will fall short. Wes Daniels, has been in town a few months and works on her brothers construction crew. He is a 23 year old cowboy who comes to town to be responsibe for his 5 year old niece.

I do not love an alpha male who is sure that all the girl needs is a fast hard tumble. Seriously, if an employee was dripping with sexual inuendo and calling me "baby" all the time he would be fired. But that is the HR manager in me. Others will enjoy it as sexy banter.

Bethany wants to branch out from staging her brothers homes to doing her own house flip. Wes takes on the job of foreman. Somehow it ends up in a less than three week long tv show competition, pitting brother against sister. I don't want to go off on the logistics of the plot but her house is dilapidated and rat infested. There was not a lot of details on how the work manages to get done in such a short time. I think the plot should have focused on the niece or the flip. With two things going on there was no time to develop a relationship beyond lust. There are four sexual encounters and yet only time for one date.

I did like that there is growth for both characters. And the ending was sweet. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about chemistry! The build up to Bethany and Wes in previous books made me need this story. I love their banter. Seriously, these two together were so much fun. Wes made me swoon. It's like he just understands Bethany and is on her side even when she acts like she doesn't need him. Plus, him and his niece, DEAR LORD! And Bethany! I loved getting to know her in this book after seeing her in the previous books. Pretty much just enjoyed this whole book!

4.5 STARS!

The last hurrah for a series I have loved so much, Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey is the final book in her Hot & Hammered series 🔨. An age gap with a bit of enemies-to-lovers, Wes and Bethany's story is what I live for!!

It has become Wes Daniels' sole mission to antagonize Bethany and watch her light up like a firecracker. He can't fight the attraction he feels towards the beautiful blonde.

Bethany Castle is starting to feel the pressure. She's known to be nothing short of perfection, even her work as a house stager is immaculate. Bethany is a strong and intelligent woman but she treads close to the rules and has her doubts. She is pulling her first ever flip. In doing so, she's going against her family which has her fearing she will disappoint them in the end.

"It was almost as if he’d seen through the bravado that fooled everyone else, straight to the mess beneath."

I loved Wes but hated how insecure Bethany was. In the beginning, she constantly brought up the age difference. Bethany would seem hurt and Wes would amend the error. He pushes her out of her comfort zone and let's her see she's human, that she's allowed to make mistakes and be imperfect. Wes wasn't afraid to show Bethany that it's okay to let her hair loose and be wild for once.... All the consequences be d*mned.

Bethany needed a little bit more development of course before she got to that place that she believed in herself wholeheartedly. The back and forth banter and character dynamics made this book and was such a treat! I especially loved Wes' interactions with his adorable and witty 5 year old niece, Laura. Also, The Reality TV bit was so much fun to read about!

Tools of Engagement was funny, sexy, and the perfect romcom read!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Tools of Engagement is the third book in Tessa Bailey's Port Jefferson series. This installment follows Bethany, the overachieving interior designer for her family's construction company, and Wes, the younger, flirtatious foreman. A sibling disagreement between Stephen and Bethany gets out of hand when an HGTV style producer hears about her plan to flip a house by herself. Suddenly Bethany and Wes find themselves overwhelmed by a house flip that is more complicated than expected and filming a reality show pilot.

Like most of Tessa Bailey's books, Tools of Engagement is funny, super sexy, and has just a touch of angst. It doesn't disappoint.

Book three in the Hot & Hammered series and it just might be my favorite. This enemies to lovers story was full of witty innuendoes, playful banter and some oh so sweet moments.

“If people were good at everything on the first try, they wouldn’t appreciate the journey to getting better.”

These characters are so fantastic and easily relatable. Bethany personifies that need so many struggle with to keep up with certain appearances. She plays the part of a perfectionist ... well quite perfectly. She is anxious about every little detail and perception. This causes her to push people away and rarely ask for help. Until Wes rolls into town.

Wes is hands down my favorite beau in this series!! He has been suddenly thrown into the roll of a guardian for his young niece. The relationship these two share will warm your heart each and every scene. Wes’s responses to the inquisitive little girl made me laugh out loud so many times. Being passed around numerous foster homes himself, Wes feels more comfortable staying on the move and not setting down any roots. That is until he meets his soulmate.

Goodness, the chemistry between these two was sizzling and humorous and downright sweet all at the same time. They definitely knew how to push each other’s buttons in many ways. I loved the Jerry Maguire/ Zellweger nod as Bethany leaves the family business and ends up poaching Wes as she sets off to prove she can flip houses just as well as her brother. The whole Fixer Upper reality show vibe was a fun setting too.

This can easily be read as a stand alone, but I’d highly recommend starting with book 1 so you fully understand all of the fabulous side characters and their backstories. Love catching up with Georgie, Travis, Rosie, Dominic and of course the Just-Us-League members themselves. The ending definitely left me smiling.

This is book #3 in the Hot & Hammered series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader to enjoy and avoid spoilers, I would recommend reading the series in order.

Bethany likes to have her life in order. She prides herself on the ability to be the best at what she does. Then the one man who can spin her whole life out of control is the one who volunteers to help her when it counts.

Wes is glad to have a good job and be appreciated. He also has been trying to get Bethany to go out with him for so long. Now they must work together and dating and more is off the table. Better to help her get her business off the ground.

This story was a slow burn. The attraction between the characters is obvious from the beginning. The book picks up pace, and so does the main characters. Then they are invited to do more and add humor, and well I cannot spoil it.


***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley and its publishers.

This is the third book in Tessa Bailey's Hot and Hammered series. I read the first one, and found it to be a little too steamy for me, but I I enjoyed the overall story and family, so was up for reading Bethany's story. I don't know if there was less steam, or if I am getting used to more steam, but the steam level was not a factor for me! I really liked Bethany and getting into her head, and Wes can go on my book boyfriend list (he was great!).

If appearances were what counted, Bethany would get an A+. She works hard to portray a together persona, but inside she's always worried about what people are thinking about her and feeling like she's going to fail. Wes isn't used to having people care for him, but he's a born caretaker. He's also taking care of his 5 year old niece while his sister is away. Wes and his sister both grew up in foster care. The thought of staying in one place is scary for him.

Sparks have been flying between Bethany and Wes in the previous books of the series, and this is the book where they come together. Bethany is ready to flip her first house and ends up in a competition with her brother. Wes throws his (cowboy) hat in with Bethany. This is definitely a romance where there's lots of movie magic (Wes's niece is articulate and darling, and he has a huge rotation of great babysitters), and yet it all worked for me! I was totally rooting for Wes and Bethany and sneaking in a few pages whenever I could. Steam is an R rating. This started as an enemies-to-lovers trope. It was really nice watching the trust slowly build, so it almost felt more friends-to-lovers. Also, Bethany is 30 to Wes's 23, so just an FYI (it didn't bother me b/c Wes seems wise beyond his years).

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the final book in the Hot & Hammered series. It is a complete standalone. You do not need to read the other books to enjoy this one. Each book is about a different couple with interconnected characters. I'm a big Tessa Bailey fan, and I enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I was excited about this book. There are many things to love about this book…witty banter, older woman/younger man, sexual tension, adorable kid, swoony and steadfast hero, heroine with many real issues that we all experience. Bethany appears to have it all together, but in reality she's barely hanging on. Many of the struggles she has in this book I think every woman can relate to. I loved how Wes saw the real Bethany, and would always subtly help her when she needed it. He is rock solid, and who doesn't need a rock solid guy. Add in adorable 5 year old Laura, and you will fall in love with all of these characters. I definitely recommend this book!

This is the third and final book in the Hot and Hammered series, and now that I’ve read the entire trilogy I can definitely recommend them as a whole. The second book is my fave followed by this one and then the first. Just wanted to tell you guys that because before I start a series that’s already out I like to know if the whole thing is worth it!

This one follows Bethany and Wes as she begins to flip houses on her own without the help of her family company. You have a hot cowboy, a reality TV show and a single dad trope. For me, some of my favorite things/tropes so I was alllllll in. Bethany and Wes have great chemistry and an enemies to lovers thing going on with fun banter and sharp wit. This one is steamy but it takes awhile to heat up, wait was worth it for me though! Definitely recommend reading this series in order as the characters all overlap from book to book and I think you’ll get more out of it that way.

"Tools of Engagement" is author Tessa Bailey's second book in her "Hot and Hammered" series. "The MC in Tools of Engagement" is Bethany Castle, the sister of Georgette Castle, heroine of the first book. I had not read the first book and this was also my first read of a Tessa Bailey.

Unfortunately, this book didn't do it for me. I could not connect to (or like) the main characters, the plot felt a bit forced (at least to me), and the majority of the conflict was internal insecurity, narcissism, and second-guessing. What I did like was how this author opened each chapter with near perfect setting and POV; you always knew where (and who) you were. She's also extremely adept at moving from distant third POV into deep, deep POV and back out again without it feeling like exposition. If you're studying craft, this is definitely worth a read just for that seamlessness. I've rarely seen it done better.

This was super fun! I loved the chemistry between Wes and Bethany and the emotional support they provided to one another as their relationship built. I also loved the discussion of parental figures who are not biological parents but have stepped up to the parenting plate anyway--I thought that was really well done. As with some of Tessa Bailey's other books in general, I did tire a bit of her reliance on stereotypical (and occasionally misogynistic) views on gender, but that's also just the type of romance that she writes. I also thought, even though the characters had known each other for several months, that things just moved a bit too quickly in that last 15% and I wish that all had been dragged out a bit more. Additionally, I did love that we got to see some character development of Georgie and Bethany's brother Stephen, who truly was a terrible person in George's romance. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one even more than I enjoyed the first in this series, Fix Her Up, and I think fans of this series will find this to be a fantastic conclusion. Just an FYI though, Tessa Bailey is kind of all aboard the steam train in terms of the sexy times, so just be aware of if that's not your cup of tea!

Thank you to Avon for providing me with a free early e-copy of this work through Netgalley. Tools of Engagement is out September 22.

This series has been such a wonderful bright spot over the last year and a half! I've enjoyed each story individually, and as a series it is just stellar. Bethany and Wes closed out the series perfectly!

Bethany Castle is 30, and she's an anxious mess, but you would never know it to look at her, which is just how she likes it. Everything has to be just so: her look, her persona, her car, her house, and her job. She's been on a man hiatus for the last few months, as her track record with men is definitely NOT perfect. She works for the family business, a renovation company, and she stages the houses that her brother and his crew flip. But lately she's been wanting to run her own flip, and no one is taking her seriously. So, she's decided to strike out on her own and do it herself. When she tells her brother about it, on a job site, one of the crew, Wes Daniels, pulls a Zellweger (from Jerry Maguire) and says he'll go with her. She's shocked because all they've ever done since they met is snipe at each other.

Wes Daniels has come to Port Jefferson, from Texas, to take care of his 5-year-old niece, after his younger half-sister called to tell him she needed "a break". He's only 23 and has never had anything of permanence in his life, from foster care, to the rodeo circuit. It has been a month now, and he hasn't heard from his sister and he's starting to worry. But luckily his niece Laura seems happy with him there, and he's found a job in construction, where he's met the goddess known as Bethany Castle. He wants her, and he finds their sniping to be foreplay. When he decides to go with her to run her house flip, he's surprised to find that she thought they really didn't like each other, and she can't believe that he wants to help her. He needs to figure out how to get her to take his help, and his interest, seriously, and discount their age difference!

Wes and Bethany's chemistry has jumped off the page since book 2 when they first met. I absolutely loved their banter and quips, and they both gave as good as they got. But it was so interesting getting into their heads and seeing how differently they thought about their interactions, and what they were leading to. Bethany is a bit hung up on their age difference, but that was mostly because Wes teased her about it at first, not realizing he was digging his own grave. Once he figured out it actually bothered her, he did a great job of letting her know it really didn't mean anything to him. They really learned how to communicate and work together well, at work, and when they were alone, or with Laura.

The side characters here were mostly from the prior 2 books, and I adored seeing them all again! They bring so much joy and laughter with them, especially Georgie, and I loved seeing her and Travis get married! There were also some new side characters that came from the reality show subplot, which all started with meeting the producer at Georgie's wedding, and her getting wind of the Castle family rivalry and wanting to film their house flips. That plot was fun and engaging, and I loved the new crew members that Wes picks up at the hardware store. Those 2 retirees were hilarious with their complaining.

I was a bit stressed out every time I was in Bethany's head, as she was so high strung. I can't imagine how it must feel to be so anxious and constantly pressuring yourself to perfection, which is always unattainable. It was clearly exhausting for her, and I was so thrilled when she started to learn how unnecessary it was. Her friends and family loved her no matter what. Meanwhile Wes was always feeling that everything in life was just ephemeral, and not meant to last, as nothing ever had for him before. He couldn't imagine actually staying in Port Jeff with Laura, or with Bethany, until he realized there was no where else for him to be, but with these people he loves.

I really loved both of these characters so much, and watching them fall for each other was just the best. This book was such a delight, and as always for Tessa, Wes was a master of dirty talk, and the way he and Bethany interacted together was HOT, and so often funny too. I laughed out loud quite a few times! I highly recommend this book, and this entire series. I'm sad to see it end.

At this point, I should just expect that any time I pick up a new Tessa Bailey, I'm not going to be able to put it down until I finish it, and that's exactly what happened with the latest installment of this series. Bethany and Wes are a couple who have been dancing around each other tossing playfully snarky barbs at each other since the beginning, and it was really satisfying to watch that dynamic grow into something with more tension and romantic chemistry in addition to their physical connection. Bethany's type A personality against Wes' more laidback energy was a really nice balance overall, and really, there's nothing quite like a dirty-talking hero written by Tessa Bailey. This might have been more of a 4 for me in thinking back on the plot, but I'm rounding it up to a 5 solely because it was exactly the kind of book I wanted and even needed to read right now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

STEAMY! This was my first book by Tessa Bailey but I had no issues reading it as a stand-alone. Fun, fast paced and so steamy that my husband has offered to buy me all of her other books.

Will soon be published at Romance Reviews Today: http://romrevtoday.com/

TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT – Tessa Bailey
Hot & Hammered, Book 3
Avon
ISBN: 978-0062872937
September 22, 2020
Romantic Comedy

Port Jefferson, New York – Present Day

Home designer Bethany Castle is known in town for her beautiful and elaborate home designs, which has worked well with her working alongside her brother, Stephen, who flips houses. However, she has decided to branch out on her own flipping houses, which has turned into a competition that has caught the attention of a HGTV-style TV producer. Bethany has never swung a hammer into plaster, but she is hoping her newly hired foreman, Wes Daniels, can guide her. However, he’s not too happy to learn that she agreed to have their construction work filmed for the show. There are also the sparks that are flying hot and heavy between them. Bethany has no plans to get involved with Wes because he is six years younger than her. But sexual chemistry doesn’t care about the age difference if there’s smoking hot chemistry.

Wes is originally from Texas but came to Port Jefferson after his estranged half-sister contacted him for help. She then took off, leaving him with her four-year-old daughter, Laura. Family comes first for Wes, so while he wishes he was back in Texas, he has to make a temporary life for his niece until her mother comes back. He appreciates Bethany hiring him, though she is a bit of a pain in the ass. She prefers things around her to be perfect, which means she is set in her ways. As they argue about how to proceed with the house rehab, things get seriously hot between them. He wouldn’t mind a fling with his boss, but she wants to keep things business only. How can Bethany not see that their age difference doesn’t matter?

With his life in upheaval, Wes isn’t in a position to provide Bethany anything except being a good employee—and a potential roll between the bedsheets a couple of times. He has to be protective of his niece because his half-sister is not only a drug addict but unstable. The television show is being filmed as they work and is fast-paced because both houses (Bethany’s and Stephen’s) must be completed in one and a half weeks, after which a winner is chosen. With the help of two older men that Wes hired, they get to work. Along the way, there is plenty of interaction between Bethany and Wes, and the chemistry that’s been there for a while really begins to heat up, leading to some heavy petting. Will they end up making love? How can they be discreet about an affair without having others around them find out? Will the house get finished in time?

TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT is the third book in the Hot & Hammered series by Tessa Bailey. The others in the series are FIX HER UP and LOVE HER OR LOSE HER. While all the characters from those books appear a few times, you can read TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT without having read the others.

Sexy banter and a few chuckles along the way will have readers not wanting to put down TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT. Bethany and Wes prove that opposites do attract and fall in love. For a cute and engaging read, don’t miss this tale.

Patti Fischer

That was FUN! Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey was laugh out loud funny. I don't often giggle when I'm reading but, I couldn't help it with this book. A word of caution, if you don't like sex scenes, this book won't be one for you. I think they were handled with care. They weren't what I would call vulgar. This is after all a Rom-Com.

If you like to watch fixer uppers, design shows and whatnot, you will be drawn to this book like I was. Her characters were flawed and wonderful at the same time. I got a kick out of Wes. He called Bethany Baby and Darlin. His nod to being from Texas and living and working in Long Island, NY. Bethany is a messed up perfectionist. The two were partners in a TV flip show. There were lessons to be learned from her characters. It wasn't all fun and games for them.

This was the third book in a series and I didn't realize it when I picked it up. There were a couple of spots I wondered if I missed something but, when I finished the book, I noticed it was part of a series. That explained everything. It didn't really detract from the book. Read the whole series if you have time. I think it will be worth while.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

Oh my lanta what a way to end the series! I’m torn between Love Her or Lose Her and Tools of Engagement being my favorite of the trilogy! Check out my review of book 2 for all my feels for that one, but Wes absolutely stole my heart in this book! I instantly liked him when we met him in book 2, but learning more about his backstory and his relationship with Bethany and Laura just made me love him so much! And it was wonderful seeing another side to Bethany rather than just the prim and proper exterior we saw in the other 2 books. Wes and Bethany’s sass and banter and sexual tension was top notch and Tessa’s penchant for rough and tumble sexiness kept right up with what we were given in the first 2 books and SWOOOOOOOON!!!

All in all it is a great conclusion for the trilogy! I highly recommend reading all 3 together but you can read them individually and not feel like you’re missing anything. They can stand well on their own, but together they make each other better, much like each main couple and that’s what makes this trilogy so wonderful!

Tools of Engagement is the final book in Tessa Bailey’s Hot & Hammered trilogy about three best friends finding personal and professional success. This installment focuses on Bethany Castle and her tempestuous relationship with construction worker Wes Daniels. As Bethany breaks away from the family’s real estate business and manages her own house flip, she gets much needed help and guidance from Wes, while trying to juggle her feelings and expectations regarding herself and their budding relationship. Bethany begins to realize that trying to be perfect can get in the way of enjoying things in her life. I liked this entry into the series and have enjoyed the other books and the characters in them. I recommend all the books since they are very quick romantic reads with hilarious dialogue and steamy love scenes. Although this book has less sexy times than the other installments, Wes and Bethany’s relationship has been building up since the second book so the reader does not fell cheated in their relationship dynamics. This book is different in that it features a younger man and older woman dynamic, as well as putting Wes as the primary caretaker of his niece. This book is a very happy ending to the whole series. If you are looking for a sexy heartwarming read of a woman figuring out she is not perfect while falling in love, pick up Tools of Engagement. This book was provided by the publisher from Netgalley in September 2020 for an honest review.