I thought the first book in this series, Stripped, was a cute fun and steamy read. Unfortunately I've tried a few times to get through Hired and I'm struggling with it. It doesn't have the same fun meet cute that the first book sucked me in with. I do like the political aspect and New Orleans setting though!

Another good book that’s been sitting in my kindle for a while. The best thing about being quarantined is that I get to read all the book I haven’t yet! I believe that this is my first book from the author and a pretty good one for introductions!
The story is really enjoyable. There were times that I laughed and others where I felt the tension between them. These two are both so wrong and right for each other. The ending may be predictable, however the overall plot until then is very good!

"Maybe the reason we're magnets is because we're both hurting in different ways."

This is the second book I've read from the author, Zoey Castile, and I was once again blown away by the gorgeousness that is Hired.

Our love interest, Aiden, is a Columbian male escort who is sweet, thoughtful, and very much easy to like (adore, really), and root for. He goes out of his way to make his "clients" feel appreciated, wanted, and, most importantly, beautiful. The romance genre is very much in need of guys like Aiden, if I'm being completely honest, and I look forward to reading more titles with LIs who are just as strongly written and wonderfully characterized as Aiden. I also appreciated the fact that, even though his "job" is as intriguing as can be, the story didn't revolve around that too much. Instead, it heightened my overall reading experience and amplified a few scenes which, I thought, were impressively done.

What kept me on the edge of my seat, however, was the "waiting in anticipation" as Faith, our strong and independent heroine, discovered that Aiden's an escort. As the daughter of a mayoral candidate, being seen with someone like him might be a bit of a cause a ruckus, if you know what I mean. And to see confident and "comfortable in his own skin" Aiden cower at the thought of her knowing made me tear up a bit, I'm not gonna lie.

But anyway, yeah, if you're looking for a scorching hot, steamy romance with amazing leads who are each on their own a magnificent representation of strong and independent, along with fabulous support characters, then I suggest you give this book a try.

I sadly DNF'd. A male stripper, a politician's daughter, and New Orleans...... just not my cup of tea

Sadly this book was nothing like the first one. Aiden is in New Orleans for a client but is not happy and is mopping when Faith and he are introduced. She is having problems with her mother who is running for mayor and really feels that her mother’s assistant should be the daughter instead of her. Meeting Aiden brightens her night but that is it once they get to the room he does nothing because he feels an obligation to the client. So you now can chalk this up to the list of disappointments to both of their lists. What should have been a fun book like the first was not at least for me and I am sad for I liked the first one so very much. Maybe it is me and others will enjoy this read.

This book has a captivating storyline that grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and on edge throughout the whole book!

It is wrought with emotion, and so well written that I absolutely could not put it down!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The second in Zoey Castile's Happy Ending series had me laughing, smiling and on the edge of my seat! Our heroine Faith has dedicated a huge chunk of her working life to her family, and to her mother's political career, and so when she decides to take a break for the first time ever, and comes across Aiden, she really lets go. But she doesn't know that Aiden's been working as an escort, and that lie could be the thing that keeps the two of them apart.

This novel is as smart and sexy as its characters, and I was completely drawn in to the world that Castile sketches out for us. It's no small feat to take a controversial topic like sex work, and make the hero an escort, but she does it with intelligence and without judgement - a refreshing take. Both characters worked hard for an HEA that felt honest and more than well deserved. Put to the top of your TBR asap.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. While I did not have a chance to read this book before the release, I enjoyed it anyway. Zoey Castile is the pen name for Zoraida Cordova, who primarily writes fantasy YA under that name but also wrote s sexy romance series I enjoyed.

Faith Charles is working for her mother's mayoral campaign when she meets Aiden through a friend. There is instant chemistry, probably because they are both very attractive individuals. Aiden is a dancer and an escort on the side with rules he makes for his escort business. I did enjoy the book and it was a quick read.

Took me a while to get through this one.

I enjoyed it enough... not as much as the previous book in the series. There were parts that felt like they could be fleshed out better where Aiden was concerned.

The setting was great and it was a character within itself. I'll keep reading this series with the hope that the next one is as good as the first book.

Adrien’s sugar mama has been called away and he is left stranded in a paid-up luxury suite in NOLA, drinking his regrets down with copious hurricanes. Faith has had yet another frustrating confrontation in the waning days of her mother’s mayoral campaign. As much as she loves her mother can’t wait for it all to be over so she can go back to pursuing her own goals and dreams.



This book had a fabulously hot beginning with it is white-hot flirtation/hookup but when I had to bow out when Adrien kept delaying telling Faith a crucial piece of information, and I lost patience with the sight-seeing around NOLA with that hanging over the couple. Up to that point I had really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Once I put it down, I couldn’t motivate myself to try to read it backwards. I might revisit it someday but I just struggle with books where a big secret can lead to humiliation/embarrassment and that truth is withheld and one of the MCs delays/distracts with sex.

Ana received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.

I went to visit New Orleans last year and immediately wanted more books set there. I read the synopsis of this book and immediately knew I had to read it. It's a sexy, fun read that highlights the less well known side of New Orleans in a way that ignites wanderlust and provides a satisfying romance read.

The New Orleans locations used in this book are not the typical tourist hot spots that you would expect. They are more off the beaten path and showcase the heart of New Orleans. It's the kind of book that makes you immediately want to book a flight. New Orleans has a vibe all its own and Zoey Castile makes full use of this fact. It is also a setting I hope to see more of. Its rich history and culture make it an obvious choice, and this book makes full use of its many charms. It does manage to incorporate a few touristy traditions, like Aiden's love of Hurricanes, but those feel authentic to the story and not like a box being checked off.

Faith is a women who lives her life based on the expectations of others. Her mother is in politics and that comes with some clearly defined behaviour. Faith thinks of others before she considers what she wants. This book, in many ways, is her coming into her own. Her daring to make decisions and choices for herself. We get to see her take this journey that is inspired by the whirlwind romance she has with Aiden. She's a character who is instantly recognizable and I loved that she learns to do things on her own terms.

Aiden is a hot mess. He's lost his way and cannot seem to find the way back. He's the kind of guy who floats through life with everything kept at a surface level because anything more serious would crumble his carefully constructed defense mechanism. His brokenness reacts to Faith's own baggage and the sparks fly. Aiden's character arc to becoming a better man (with a little help from his Mayhem friends) is one of the best parts of this book and its heart.

The romance is steamy. There is a touch of exhibitionism at play with the couple unable to keep their hands off each other even in public. The all consuming, got to have you now, chemistry is matched by the genuine emotions that are written into their love story. Their banter adds another layer to their scorching chemistry. The end part of this novel is pretty predictable if you are familiar with romance tropes, but the characters made it feel fresh and fun.

Aiden and Faith both have side plots that are not connected to the main romance. It's their own personal baggage that they are bringing to the table. It impacts the romance, but mostly aids in the character arcs. Faith's relationship with her mother, and how it has impacted her life is the driving force behind her part of the story. Aiden's past mistakes weigh heavily on him and making right on those mistakes defines a large part of what he has to work through to find his happily ever after. This allowed both of the characters to feel more defined even though the primary focus is the romance.

Those who read romance know that this will end up in a happily ever after. Faith and Aiden's story wraps up in such a satisfying way. It is perfect for their story and who they are as characters. There are elements that needed to be included for them to have a happy ending with each other and I was thrilled to see them tied up just as nicely.

If you read and loved Stripped you'll definitely want to read Aiden and Faith's story. It is the kind of book that is a delight to read and I think will appeal to anyone who loves romance. It has got an incredible location, plenty of steamy scenes, and character side plots that only add to the romance being woven.

A contemporary romance with a twist. Aiden is a stripper turned escort who finds himself in New Orleans for a client who canceled on him at the last minute. She let him stay in the hotel room that she paid for. He doesn’t really know what to do with himself, so he heads to the bar. Aiden has a Colombian background and is close with his family, but doesn’t tell them everything including some of the mistakes he has made. Faith stops by the bar because she had a rough night. Faith works for her mom who is a prominent politician. She is well educated and proud of her African American heritage. Faith feels like she can’t please her mom and in order to do something for herself, hooks up with Aiden. They had a ton of chemistry and both ended up wanting to see more of each other. However, Faith does not really know what Aiden does for a living and she is not supposed to be doing anything that would tarnish her mom’s political campaign. Faith and Aiden really are perfect for each other, but they have to learn to accept and trust what each of them bring to the relationship. They had a strong emotional connection. The friendships in this story are worth nothing because they are strong and can persevere some bad choices. The setting was really great too and made me want to travel to New Orleans.

This book was so good. This was a surprise.

Faith is a good girl who have been working on her mother’s mayoral race campaign. She felt she had enough and decided to step outside her comfort zone and end up on a one night stand with Aiden who she met at a bar. Aiden is in New Orleans on an escort job and he is a stripper but something happen that led him being out of the group.

Faith and Aiden connect and even though they don’t want to fall in love that’s what happens. Over the course of a couple of weeks, they uncover secrets, they make amends and they discover new sites.

This book was set in New Orleans and it make me longed to go visit and enjoy a beignet or see the crocodiles in the swamp. This was a great treat.

This book will make it into my summer reading guide.

Zoey Castile does not disappoint with Hired! A male dancer/ escort and the daughter of a political candidate? Sign me up! She pulls off a masterful and complex book and made me want to immediately visit New Orleans!

Why I liked the book:
Aiden and Faith were both proud of their heritage and sharing it with one another. Him being Colombian and her being African American NOLA born and raised.
Faith was smart and held multiple post grad degrees.
Both loved their family and friends and it showed in how they acted.
Setting NOLA, I know want beignets and hurricanes.

Aiden and Faith were not a typical couple, they had to fight to be together and learn from each other. His meeting with her mom was classic.

This was a sweet romance with a quiet feel, It was very character focused and so most of the action happened internally, which I enjoyed. I also loved the diversity of the characters, as well as the unique jobs the hero and heroine had (hero was a stripper/escort, heroine an environmental lawyer). My only real critique is that the time line of the book was extremely fast, the hero professing to love the heroine after only seeing her three or four times. The heroines problems with her mother were likewise solved too quickly to feel genuine, but this did not take away much from the novel. It was a good read, and made me want to check out the authors other titles.

Aiden is a stripper turned escort, and he's in New Orleans with a client for a week when all of a sudden, the client has to leave. So he has a gorgeous hotel suite to himself, but it's clear from the very beginning that he feels . more than a little lost. Enter Faith, gorgeous and struggling with her own way in the world. She works for her mother who is running for mayor of New Orleans, but she feels underutilized and unhappy.

There was a lot of sexual chemistry between these 2, but the emotional connection wasn't quite there for me. It could be because Aiden never tells her the truth about escorting, and I don't really enjoy plots where one character lies to the other. Just not my cup of tea, although there is nothing wrong with the book!

I really liked this steamy read. Aiden and Faith were supposed to just have a one-night stand but it turns into more. What will happen when the truth comes out about Aiden? Fast-paced read with loads of drama and suspense. I really liked it.

"Maybe the reason we're magnets is because we're both hurting in different ways."

Hired was my introduction to the author, Zoey Castile. Yes, the synopsis was too intriguing to pass up. I confess, I was expecting to be given a behind the scenes taste of life as a male escort. And the author's play on her series title, 'happy endings' made me smile as well. While Aiden might be a high-paid male escort, the details of his 'career' aren't what the story focuses on. If, however, you are interested in New Orleans you are in luck. The local scene and cuisine are covered and made me want to try a beignet, it sounds yummy, right?

Aiden is very sweet, sexy and likable. He goes out of his way to make women feel beautiful and appreciated. And did I mention that he's Columbian? Wait till you hear him say 'mi reina' with that delicious accent in your imagination...sigh.

What kept me turning the pages was the anticipation of the big reveal when Faith finally discovered that Aiden is an escort. I was anxious, but at the same time afraid for that to happen. It's not exactly the most media-friendly career for the daughter of a mayoral candidate. And I think Aiden was even more nervous than I was for her to find out. So much so that he kept procrastinating about telling her.

If you are looking for a hot, steamy romance with some awesome support characters grab your copy of Hired today.

A new author for me and I enjoyed this book very much.
Aiden is a stripper and male escort. He ends up in New Orleans semi stranded in a luxury hotel awaiting instruction from his client. Meanwhile, Faith is helping her mother at a fundraiser for her political career. The two are at different places in their lives, but both are searching for meaning and purpose.
So begins an unconventional love story. Everyone seems to think they're wrong for each other, yet love manages to find a way.
What should be temporary, turns into an irresistible connection.

I really appreciated the no shame, straightforward way Aiden felt about being part of the sex industry.
I loved Faith's humor, kindness and compassion.

An excellent contemporary romance.