I’m loving meeting the men from Hooked. Every one of these billionaires has a story to tell and it’s going to take someone very special to tame them. This is Grayson Tanner and Jovana Winter’s entertaining story and it’s book 2 in the Hooked Series.
Grayson only ever promises one night and he never expected to see social media influencer Jovana again but when a holiday he took on a yacht with 6 women goes viral he needs some help to same the business he started with his two best friends. How can he promote a dating app and a HEA when he doesn’t believe in love himself……
Jovana is brought in to have a fake relation for one year but from the moment she met Grayson on that one night she knew she wanted more. So can fake become real, can she convince him love is worth a chance.
Mr Wicked ticked all my boxes, i smiled, i swooned and i really cheered this couple on. I fell hard and fast for Grayson and i adored Jovana but it was the camaraderie this group of friends share that made this a great read. A wonderful addition to the series that has left me excited for the next book.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is the first book I've read by Marni Mann, and I really enjoyed it. Grayon has commitment issues stemming from his past, while Jovana is our sunshine heroine who believes in love and happy ever afters.

Their one-night stand brings them closer, and there's an instant connection, but Grayon, being a playboy, avoids accepting his feelings for Jovana. When Grayon finds himself in a scandal that affects his business, he needs to improve his reputation by faking a relationship. This brings Jovana and Grayon even closer as they get to know each other, and Jovana is determined to make Grayon fall in love with her. Of course, there's an unexpected twist towards the end.

Overall, this book was a decent read, and I liked it. I loved Grayon being grumpy while Jovana was his total opposite. Jovana's sassy side and how she pushed all of Grayon's buttons were highlights for me. If you're into billionaire grumpy x sunshine romance and insta-love, then this book is definitely for you

Some of the tropes include:

😈 Fake Relationship/Marriage
😈Grumpy/Sunshine
😈 Billionaire MMC
😈 Spicy Scenes
😈 Dual POV
😈 Sassy & Strong FMC
😈 Alpha Hero

This was my first Marni Mann book and I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Grayson and his antics. He's the founder of the marriage branch of a dating app on paper but an eternal bachelor at heart. Grayson has his own trauma and baggage to work through and Jovana was there to be his sunshine.

After Grayson and Jovana have a one night stand, he sticks his foot in his mouth, in more ways that one and is forced to fake date and marry an influencer to save not only his branch of the dating app but the entire dating app, and his best friend's portions as well. Jovana was disappointed in the ending of their one night together but was willing to help him out, after humbling him a little bit. Loved the dynamic of the couple as they blossomed from fake dating into real feelings territory.

Overall, this was a quick read and I look forward to reading more from Marni!

Mr. Wicked was sent to me via Netgalley for my honest review.

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann is the second book in the Hooked series.

Grayson Tanner, co-founder of Hooked has created a media @%it storm that is seriously impacting the business. His playboy eternal bachelor status is not playing well with his role in the dating app he owns. This relationship averse man is about to take extreme steps to repair his image: marriage.

Jovana Winters is pretty easy going, she's found her niche as an influencer and people would say she's a happy person. She was crushed by a one night stand she didn't see coming and is shocked she's still attracted to him. And now the proposition to spend a year with him after a whirlwind courtship, all to end divorce. But can she possibly have more and make it real?

“I told her I choose my wife.”

One night stand turned enemies to lovers-- Grayson + Jovana share a night of passion, but when Grayson makes his lines clear, Jovana is left a bit broken. Retaliating against his feelings, Grayson finds himself and "Hooked" in a huge PR scandal. The only way to fix it? Marry the one woman he can't stop thinking about.

NOBODY and I mean nobody does a grumpy Alphahole like my girl Marni.

Grayson EARNED every bit of his "Mr.Wicked" persona. That is until he meets "the one". I loved that even though Grayson pulled every stop to push Jovana away, she pushed even harder. Watching his walls crumble was just as good as the spice in this story. And speaking of spice.... It was SPICING. Watching Jovana conquer her dreams all while getting the guy was perfection.

I love the friendship with Grayson and the other guys (&gals) from hooked. It's definitely some of my favorite found family aspects.

CANNNOT wait for more from this group!

As Marni Mann says right in her dedication Mr. Wicked is for 'my ladies who love a filthy mouth and a wicked tongue'. Are you ready for Grayson?? He's the epitome of a rich bachelor, enjoying his money, success, women and freedom. But what happens when there is someone that makes him feel EVERYTHING and all he wants to feel is NOTHING?

Grayson is our second man of the Hooked series, but don't worry, this book completely stands on it's own and you can easily start with this one. He's seen what a woman can do to a man and the last thing he wants is more than one night with any woman. When he and his co-founders of Hooked are at their local bar, he spots a dark haired beauty that he knows he MUST have.

"From the moment I saw you across the bar....I couldn't stop thinking about how you would taste..."
"No date. No small talk. No wine, even. Just my body."
"I'll give you wine, if that's what you want."
"Is that another compromise?"
"For the record, I don't beat around the bush, Jovana. I stomp right through it."

Grayson is a man that knows what he wants and he goes after it. And even if he lets Jovana know exactly what HE wants, she also knows what SHE wants and she thinks she can get it. She's fiery and can go toe to toe with him in every way. When their one night is done, she's the one leaving, middle fingers in the air because although he was truthful, there was chemistry and there was passion between them that he could not deny. But deny it he did. Because that's what Grayson does. One night. No repeats. No attachments. But can Jovana play his game??

Shortly after their one night, Grayson puts his successful company in a bad predicament that is making their dating app tank. He is a PR nightmare because of a video gone viral claiming his allegiance to being a bachelor. The only thing his partners and PR company can come up with to change the narrative is for him to "find love" and get married. The ultimate bachelor that never wanted to marry is being forced into a life he never wanted for himself.

I had to laugh at the fact that Grayson's antics got him into something he never wanted, yet he was forced to play the game. And that game led him right back to Jovana. She was quite a bit younger than him, but I loved that Jovana knew what she wanted out of life and never gave up on Grayson or her ultimate goals. She basically forced his hand and made him open up to trust her and build a sort of friendship with her. I loved how easy their relationship became after he realized their chemistry was real and Jovana wasn't like anything he'd experienced before. Not only did they have sexual chemistry, they had an easy friendship. Jovana just had to melt the grumpy bachelor down. And to see the grump fall for the woman that always knew they had IT? Perfect!

Mr. Wicked has everything we've come to love in Marni Mann's books. The immediate attraction, the heat, the chemistry, the witty banter and the successful alpha male being brought to his knees by the equally powerful female. Jovana and Grayson are FIRE, but it was those in between times that melted me.

"We don't lose ourselves in women. We find ourselves."

There are times when the past haunts us or in Grayson’s case, bites us in the butt!! Grayson is a billionaire with the hottest dating app on the market. But he is the king of one night stands with no relationship in his future. That is until a one night stand forever changes the course of his life! Jovana fell for Grayson at first sight. She knows the stakes are high but can’t help but falling for him anyway. But Grayson being Grayson, he makes sure she wants nothing to do with him. But when Grayson becomes a PR nightmare for his company, Jovana may be the only one who can save him from himself!

This book is deliciously wicked! It’s an alpha, jaded billionaire and a sassy, independent woman! Sex is sinful, emotions abundant and love literally knows no bounds! This book will take you on a ride you won’t forget!!

This is book two in The Hooked series and it is Grayson and Jovana’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. Grayson and Jovana have history because they had a one night stand and neither forgot each other and that night. Grayson and his two friends created the Hook Up App which had a really successful launch which went international and to celebrate he ended up having a explosive one night stand and then everything started to fall apart when a video of him had gone viral which then put The Hook Up App in a bad light so now they need to sort it out and do damage control or else everything that they had worked for could be in jeopardy. Jovana is a social media influencer and also had a one night stand with Grayson but where as Grayson likes no strings attached because he doesn’t trust women or relationships where as Jovana believes in love so when it is suggested that they have a fake marriage to try and get ahead of the situation but first he would have to at least have a little bit of trust and faith with this working out in the end. The attraction, chemistry and connection is still as strong and explosive as ever but with Grayson’s attitude and how he feels about commitment and Jovana keeping a big secret will they ever be able to make this fake marriage into something real or is it just wishful thinking on Jovana’s part especially if the secret that she is keeping is revealed it could tear everything that they have worked for apart. Wow I absolutely loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down as it had you turning the pages to see what would happen next and also if Grayson and Jovana got the happiness and future that they both deserved. I read this book in one sitting and it kept my attention throughout the whole book and I can’t wait to read more books by this author in the future.

“No matter how many times he warned how our story was going to end, I wanted an epilogue.”

Mr. Wicked was a fun, enjoyable read that takes the reader on a humorous, spicy and emotional ride. From the moment Grayson and Jovana meet, the sparks fly, and both are instantly attracted to one another. While Jovana sees forever, Grayson only sees right now, but when Grayson needs Jovana’s help to save his company, she agrees to help tame Mr. Wicked.

“Jovana Winters made me a better person. She made me feel.”

Jovana was a spitfire. She was both sweet and caring while also being sharp with her tongue and independent. I loved how she stood up for herself and made Grayson see what was missing in his life. It took me a bit to warm up to Grayson. He was rude, arrogant and selfish, but Jovana softened him and made him a better person.

“Jovana was becoming the exception to everything.”

The banter between Jovana and Grayson is snarky, witty, and full of so many hidden meanings and so much heat. I loved watching them slowly develop a friendship that blossomed into more. The chemistry between them was electric and their emotional connection was fire. Full of heat, humor, and heart, Mr. Wicked was a great addition to the Hooked series and I’m excited for the next book in this series.

This author always knows how to bring the spice, and Mr. Wicked was incredibly hot! This was a fun read, and I devoured it in one sitting.

Grayson was a character that I loved to hate. He was such an egotistical alphahole. He first meets Jovana and the two spend the night together. She has feelings for him, but he doesn’t see women more than once. However, a PR nightmare with his company leads him to need to repair his playboy image. Jovana agrees to a fake relationship with him hoping to break through Grayson’s walls and make it real.

Grayson was so determined not to develop feelings for Jovana, which only made his simping after her even more delicious. Grayson is used to being in control of everything and he never saw Jovana coming. She was not going to let anything get in the way of her HEA even Grayson’s refusal to admit that there was more between them than chemistry and physical attraction.

The best parts of this book were definitely the snarky banter and all the spice. Mr. Wicked is the second book in the Hooked series, and I can’t wait for the next book!

5 Star review of Mr. Wicked (Hooked #2) by Marni Mann

eBook/Audio:

Having read the first book in the Hooked series, I could not wait to jump into
Mr. Wicked which is Grayson Tanner and Jovana Winters’ story.

The last thing Grayson expected was a video of him to go viral, it’s a PR nightmare and he and his partners are scrambling to stop their memberships from bottoming out.

Jovana and Grayson had a one-night stand that neither expected to continue. She is tasked with helping with the PR nightmare. These two could not be more different, but they have an intense connection that is impossible to ignore.

The narration by Andi Arndt and Ryan West brought all the passion of the relationship to life. Their voices are easy to listen to and I found myself drawn to their performances.

Mr. Wicked is a fast paced, second chance at love story that ticked all the boxes for me. Can a fake relationship become real? Can Jovana convince Grayson to trust and take a chance with her?

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Grayson is one of the co-founders of the dating app, Hooked and he gets himself into a bit of a PR nightmare.

Enter Jovana—the girl Grayson needs to fake marry to help with his PR scandal and the girl he just can’t stop thinking about. But Jovana doesn’t really care for him after they had a one-night-stand so she’s reluctant, to say the least.

I loved how Jovana stayed true to herself and her feelings throughout the book. There were times I wanted to reach through the pages and yell at Grayson to stop fighting his feelings and stop being such a stubborn alpha-hole lol.

These two had chemistry right from the get-go and hot dang did Marni make these two burn with desire!

Tropes:
One night stand
Fake marriage
Forced proximity
Billionaire
Grumpy x sunshine
Alpha hero

I have loved reading Mr.Wicked. Jovana is the ultimate no sh¡t taking, witty, hopeless romantic female lead that just makes you believe in love a little more. While, Grayson is this ass with a heart not willing to love. Until a massive sh¡t storm lands Grayson and his company in hot water. Jovana is propositioned into helping Grayson with his image and she does more than that. She tames the playboy and he figures out that he was capable of love all along.
This was an amazing book. One where I wanted to throw punches, but also swooned at the fact that things worked out

Marni just proves yet again that she’s an absolute queen of romance! This book just had a bit of everything good! A hot, grumpy billionaire who is determined to never fall in love. A gorgeous, smart, strong female lead who believes in attaining the happiness and love she was raised by.
Grayson is my new book boyfriend obsession and just go ahead and consider me color-blind because his red flags were looking very green to me. He’s grumpy and stubborn and the definition of an alpha-hole but when he falls he falls hard!
Jovana immediately knew who he was deep down and never gives up on him. She also doesn’t let him get away with his BS.
This book could have been 1,000 pages and I still would have devoured every single word!! If you want a HOT, fun, fake relationship romance then this is 100% the book for you!

Grayson Tanner was being labeled as Boston’s most eligible bachelor and pretty much unattainable. After a one night stand with a gorgeous waitress at a local bar, Jovana Winters, he tells her that she can’t expect anything from him besides the one night they had together. This doesn’t go over well. Months later after a successful international launch of Hooked, a cofounded dating app between Grayson and friends, some bad media of Grayson comes to a head. In order to fix this PR mess, Grayson’s friends have decided that he needs to date, get engaged and be married within a small timeframe to prove he is capable of a commitment and help with the rebuilding of their sales.

As they spend time together, can Grayson and Jovana become a real couple or is Jovana destined for heartbreak before they even get started?

This was one of my favorite reads from Marni Mann and some of my favorite tropes as well. I could feel the heartbreak and angst coming from both main characters and I definitely cried at least 2-3 times. I would recommend this book to people looking for a spicy yet somewhat quickish read. Some tropes include: forced proximity, insta-love (kind of from FMC), arranged marriage/marriage of convenience and strangers to lovers. Some TWs: neglect of a child (MMC), and parent death (talked about in past tense). There may be some I missed but be cautious of any TWs you may have. Your mental health matters. Take care of yourself.

4.5/5 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️
Mr wicked is book two of the hooked series by Marni mann . a billionaire romance with grumpy sunshine and alpha hero , fake dating, enemies to lovers tropes. This book was so good! The whole beginning before they started dating made me mad in the best way. Their chemistry was freaking fire. Their energy and the way they just vibed off each other I could feel it through the pages the entire book. This was dirty and sexy and I ate it up. I knew I was gonna dive deep into this book because the first one was good but it set it up for the next books in this series. I throughly enjoyed the grumpy ness of the mmc and his one eighty growth by the end. The title with the way his character was the whole book was just perfect. I fully was invested into their relationship and I was in my feelings during the last 20% of the book praying that they would stay together. The fmc was a badass and I loved that she set her standards and made the plans that fit her narrative and didn’t just take this opportunity because he needed her but made it so it fit her conditions and things as well. There is a couple things that happen that absolutely shocked me and made me gasp and tear up . Compared to the first book in the series this was 100% my favorite and I would choose this couple any day . A must read if you love fake dating or grumpy sunshine!

Discover the captivating world of the Hooked series by Marni Mann with "Mr. Wicked," the second book in the series. Follow Greyson Tanner, a 30-year-old co-owner of Hooked, an innovative online dating platform, as he navigates the challenges of modern dating. With the recent launch of a new feature designed for people seeking a serious relationship, Hooked is revolutionizing how people approach online dating. Join Greyson and his best friends and co-owners, Easton Jones and Holden Hayes, as they meet Jovana Winters, a waitress and influencer, at a bar. Greyson is immediately smitten and makes his move, but will he be able to convince Jovana that he's the real deal? Find out in "Mr. Wicked."

Marni Mann & the fake dating trope combined to make the perfect spicy novel. Grayson is the co-creator of one of the most popular dating apps, but he never been a fan of anything more than a one-night stand. When Jovana and Grayson meet, sparks fly but Grayson's stance on relationships stops anything further forming. Until Grayson needs a relationship to help mitigate the PR nightmare that came from videos promoting his bachelorhood. Jovana becomes the perfect option to stand in as Grayson's girlfriend, but as most fake relationship go they may have bitten off a bit more than they can chew. This book is the perfect blend of friendship and spice as it takes the reader on a journey as Grayson & Jovana navigate their relationship. I recommend this novel to any one who likes billionaire romances with spice and angst!

Man, Grayson doesn’t do things halfway, does he? Extreme heat? Check. Cold arrogance and cruel demeanor? Uh huh. Deliberately hurting someone because he’s still got some scared little boy deep inside? Yup. So he’s definitely a jerk. When he wants to be, that is. Because it bears repeating, he doesn’t do things halfway. Listen to Jovana and her true hopes? Yes. Build a future with her? He does. And fall head over heels in love, so much so that he listens to his friends for once before letting his temper take the wheel? Absolutely.

Jovana also doesn’t do things halfway. She loves completely. She cares about others. She falls for the man who said he’ll never fall in return. And she also shares her secret when the time comes. But these two are already laying the foundation for something great by then, so communication is first and foremost to lay all chips on the table.

I’m looking forward to a certain single dad next. I’m pretty sure he won’t fight falling as hard as Grayson did. I could be wrong, but I sorta doubt it.

Grayson is a love cynic but also the co creator of a dating app. After he screws up while on vacation, he is forced to find a wife to save his company. Jovana is one of his one night stands that he hasn’t been able to get off his mind. His PR manager thinks that Jovana would be a great fake wife. Grayson loathes everything about this idea and fights his growing attraction to Jovana.
I loved the chemistry between the two characters from the get go. You could feel the tension coming off the pages. I also enjoyed how feisty Jovana is and how she stands up to him, which isn’t normally how people reacts to his grumpiness. Jovana believes that Grayson is the one and she is willing to put herself through all of this on the off chance it will all work out. Honestly I had a hard time putting this book down.