Thursday 6 July 2017

BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: THE HOOK UP by TAWNA FENSKE


 

About the Book:


Ellie Sanders is over the fairytale, thank you very much. Content with her booming career as a purveyor of Madame Butterfly pleasure aids, she doesn’t need a man for anything—except maybe marketing tips. And, okay, a few fun nights with something that doesn’t require batteries.

Love, marriage, and family aren’t in the cards for Tyler Hendrix. Period. The Navy helped Ty put his tumultuous childhood behind him, but when a sexy single mom walks through the First Impressions door looking to take her business to the next level, he feels his carefully constructed “never-get-attached” walls crack.

As Ty and Ellie maneuver through a minefield of wardrobe malfunctions, plumbing mishaps, and the world’s most awkward accidental dirty talk, discovering they have more in common than scorching sexual attraction threatens to crumble Ty’s walls for good…

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In The Hook Up (First Impressions #3) by Tawna Fenske, Tyler Hendrix is adamant he'll never settle down and get married, but the moment he meets single mom Ellie Sanders he's questioning his objection to love, family and marriage. However, Ellie has already been let down before by her ex, and isn't interested in giving happy ever after another try. Can Ty convince her to take a chance on him, or will their chance at forever love not happen?

Ms. Fenske delivers a story that's engrossing, fast-paced and provides plenty of moments that had me laughing or smiling in this book, especially with the way it started. Ellie is looking for ways to help her business be more successful and the tips Tyler gives her are beneficial once they get on the same track of what sort of business she runs. Let's just say -- do sex toys and bowling balls really have so much in common?   

As for the dialogue, it was well-written and had me hooked due to the combination of intense and teasing banter. Everything about it -- the main characters back stories, the interactions Ty and Ellie had with the secondary characters and the growing relationship between this couple entertained me from start to finish. So much so that I could not put this book down, because I wanted to discover more about the main characters and whether Ty would be able win Ellie over since her ex did so wrong by her and doesn't make it easy for her to put her trust in another man, especially a man that doesn't believe happy ever after is for him after his tumultuous childhood.

Both the main characters are relatable, likeable and I loved every moment they conversed, most especially the moment they met and the confusion there is about what they're discussing. Moreover, the heroine is strong, brave and I liked her determination to make her business a success. I also liked her enthusiasm and that she was willing to help Ty when he needed it. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is how she went after what she wanted and what she wanted was Ty, even knowing that he didn't believe happy ever after was for him. While the hero, he had a tough childhood and it's understandable why he doesn't do relationships and why he doesn't like to talk about his past. I also liked the growing bond between Ty and the heroine's son. They were adorable together, especially when Ty does his best not to cuss in front of the young boy and says some very interesting phrases instead. Yet, what I liked most about the hero was how determined he was to give a relationship between him and Ellie a chance. Certainly, she was good for him.

Overall, Ms. Fenske has penned a delightful read in this book where the chemistry was strong, the romance sizzling and the ending had me completely charmed by what Ty did to win Ellie back, even though the hero doesn't enjoy standing up in front of people and speaking. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped everything up perfectly, because of how far Ty and Ellie have come in their relationship. What a wonderful surprise! I would recommend The Hook Up by Tawna Fenske, if you enjoy second chance romances or books by authors Jennifer Blackwood, Kadie Scott, Teri Anne Stanley or Donna Michaels.


 
“Uh-huh,” Ellie said, not sure where this was headed.
“Ever think about dating again?”
Ellie shrugged and tried to keep her expression casual. “Sometimes. Starting a relationship is tough when you have a kid.”
“Who said anything about a relationship? I’m talking about a hookup.”
“You mean like a fling?” Ellie noticed her voice sounded more intrigued than scandalized.
“Sure! Just dipping your toe in the water again.”
She smiled and glanced down at her hands. “It’s not my toe that’s out of practice.”
Miriam laughed and sipped her grape juice. “When’s the last time you tried the casual thing?”
“Um, that would be never.”
“Ever?”
“Nope.” Ellie shook her head and tried not to be embarrassed. “Not even before I met Chuck.”
“Seriously?” Miriam gaped at her. “Girl, we’ve gotta get you laid!”
Ellie rolled her eyes, even though the idea shot tiny little sparks of excitement through her veins. “Why do you think I sell vibrators for a living?”
“Good point.” Miriam grinned. “But the toys you use with a partner are a lot more fun.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Miriam studied her, her expression calculating. “You’re not interested in a relationship?”
“Not really.” Ellie shook her head and tried not to let her smile falter. Not to let her mind wander too far down the path that started with her ex-husband leaving and ended with Ellie swearing she’d never go through that kind of heartache again.
She shrugged and met her sister-in-law’s gaze. “I don’t think I’m ready for a boyfriend. Even that word sounds so stupid. Like I’m in fourth grade expecting someone to pull my pigtails or hand me a note with little checkboxes.”
Miriam laughed. “Don’t knock hair-pulling as a sign of affection.”
“Please don’t feel like you need to elaborate,” Ellie said. “That’s my brother you’re getting kinky with.”
“Who said anything about kink? He spent the whole first trimester holding my hair back while I hurled.”
“Oh.” Not for the first time, Ellie wondered if she spent entirely too much time immersed in the language of sexual aids. “Well, anyway, I’m not after a relationship. Not after what I went through with Chuck.”
“But you’d be game for a fling?”
Ellie glanced down the hall. Even though she heard Jason and Henry singing the Batman theme song at full volume, she still lowered her voice to answer the question. “Maybe a fling.”
Miriam grinned. “So you want me to keep an eye out for a suitable candidate?”
Ellie eyed her sister-in-law with a growing sense of wariness. And a tiny bit of giddiness. But mostly wariness. “Why do I sense you’ve already got someone in mind?”
Miriam’s grin turned to a smirk, and Ellie didn’t have to ask what she was thinking. She had a hunch. And she had a hunch she’d be seeing him on Tuesday evening.
 
 
Meet the Author:
When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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1 comment:

  1. I just bought my copy of this. I love Ms. Fenske's books. She's hilarious!

    ReplyDelete