3.5 Stars

I really enjoy Tessa Bailey’s books. I think they are fairly consistent and well-rounded and she does a great job of balancing sweetness, spiciness, and humor. That holds true with Tools of Engagement.

While it had all of the aforementioned components, I did find it a little (just a smidge) lacking. It started off strong, but the ending is where I felt a bit let down. The last 20% of the book felt a little rushed. The final “main” conflict felt a little weak and left me wanting more. I felt like both characters, especially Bethany, did a lot of growing during the course of the book and I think there were some missed opportunities to really show that off.

The reality show component of the story was also a little odd to me. It felt forced, unnecessary, and unrealistic. It’s fiction though and it was cute, I suppose. I just don’t think I’d have missed it if it weren’t there.

That being said, I really did enjoy the book. Wes especially was a great hero. I thought that he and Bethany had great chemistry and good banter and loved the semi-enemies to lovers trope.

I thought that his niece Laura added another very special element to the story, but I also think that had some room for improvement. Now that I think about it, I really missed the tying up of those loose ends. I could have used more detail as to how that relationship and situation ended up. Especially since she ended up being this really special part of the story and her relationship with Wes was really sweet. I got emotionally invested in that – would have been nice to have more resolution.

I hate that I am able to articulate my criticisms of this book more easily than I can what I enjoyed. It doesn’t totally represent how I felt about the story, because again, I really did like it, but here we are. I think this is a great light-hearted, sweet, slightly steamy “beach” read. When you need an escape from all of the heaviness of the world, this will definitely suffice.

I loved this so much. This was by far my favorite in the series. I feel so many things that Bethany feels, Wes also had a lot of things that I connected with. My only nit pick is that it happened on a very fast time line but everything else is so cute. Laura is such a fun little character as well.

This book is the third in the Hot and Hammered series. I went into reading this book with some pretty high expectations since the other books in the series were just wonderful. And I must say… expectations met and exceeded. Tessa Bailey’a ability to create a good story with strong believable characters is just top notch.
I loved the two main characters, Bethany and Wes. Bethany is an interior designer who wants to try her hand at flipping a house, while Wes is a transplanted Texan who is working construction and decides to help Bethany with her project. Obviously wonderful chaos ensues. Tessa Bailey’s ability to make her characters relatable and the fearlessness at including difficult topics in her books always blows me away and this book is no different. Bethany struggles with anxiety and perfectionism, Wes is currently the guardian of his young niece and to top it all off Tessa Bailey throws in a reverse age gap (Bethany is older than Wes)! I swear, each of her books get me in the feels every damn time… I just want to give her a thousand high fives!
There were was a subplot point that I thought was a bit unnecessary in this book: the tv show. It was barely talked about and to me it didn’t really add much to the story. Granted, it did not detract from it but it felt kind of pointless. I didn’t hate it but I also was wondering why it was included while I was reading the book, since there were plenty of motivating factors to move the plot along. Also, I wanted to throat punch Bethany’s brother and sister-in-law, holy crap. Ms. Bailey, my hats off to you on writing such a wide range of characters, likable and hate-able.
4.5/5 Stars

Tessa Bailey never disappoints! This book is filled with the witty banter, steamy goodness and happy ending we know and love from Tessa. Wes and Bethany are hilarious and adorable together. Their sexual tension was written so well. Tessa is the queen of making a reader laugh, swoon and everything in between. I loved the continuation of the Just Us League and how we get to see where Georgie and Rosie are at. I really connect with and enjoy Tessa’s writing!

Thank You Publisher for Sending me and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't get into it. I think it could have been really fun but I just couldn't get into the story. I think I have a difficult time when children are involved in stories. So it wasn't my fav.

Tools of Engagement is my favorite book in this series- maybe it's tied?

I love the banter and push and pull between the characters. I love how the age difference plays out. It is a funny, not super angsty, Tessa Bailey steamy story. Hard to put down!

I've been struggling to finish books lately *gestures at the world* and managed to pick this up at just the right time. It's not a perfect book, but it's highly readable and it was a comfort to go back to this little world with a flawed but loving family and a bit of Fixer Upper feels.


As usual, the banter and chemistry between Bailey's main characters pulled the book together for me and kept me flipping pages as they work together to flip a house. There were several plot choices that didn't make much sense to me, however. The whole book takes place over the course of a couple of weeks and we've got a man making some choices for him and his niece (he's her temporary guardian) that don't make a ton of sense given his background as a child in the foster care system.

Bethany is written as though she's struggling with anxiety and whew boy was her stuff relatable. A lot of her life is spent keeping up appearances for everyone else, worrying so much about things being perfect that she's making herself sick. She has a patch of skin on her neck that she rubs when she's having a particularly bad day and at one point Wes helps her through a panic attack. This seemed like really great rep to me (my spots are on my right shin and the back of my neck lolsob) but then she just works her way out of it without help from anyone. No mention of considering therapy at all or what she'd do when she and Wes had been together a while and the infatuation period wore off. I wanted her to seek out some help and maybe Wes, too. Love doesn't actually fix everything.

The choice to go on a house-flipping competition show was a pretty sudden plot development, seemingly on a whim and not especially in character for Bethany given her perfectionist tendencies. I get that it was a competition with her brother and siblings goad each other but this was her first flip so it felt weird. 

Still, I liked Tools of Engagement and if you enjoy Bailey's books you'll like this one. It's lower heat than some of her other books, but it's still got plenty of steam. It's not erotic romance but the chemistry between the characters is palpable and I wanted their HEA.

I didn't even mind that there's a child in the story. She's pretty great.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

2020 has completely killed my joy for reading. I have all of this extra time on my hands! You’d think I’d be spending it reading, and I’d be knocking out books left and right. That has not been the case so far. I’ve been in a complete rut.

So…thank goodness for you, Tessa Bailey. You’ve managed to nail yet another series where I’ve loved and adored every book.

I was so excited for Bethany and Wes’ story after devouring—and loving—Travis and Georgie’s book, and then Dominic and Rosie’s book. It’s usually the third book where the author loses me, but man, I have to admit that this one might be my favorite of the three. There’s just something about a bull-riding cowboy who gives good swoon…

Bethany Castle wants nothing to do with Wes Daniels. Not a single thing. Okay, maybe that’s not totally true, but Wes doesn’t fit into the perfect life Bethany’s created for herself. He wasn’t part of her plan. All she wants is to branch out from her current position in the family business as the staging guru and run her own flip.
She’s tired of doing the same old thing, and it isn’t until she discovers the new family flip is located directly across the street from her house that she finally gathers the courage to stand up for herself…and Wes (swoonily) becomes her Zellweger, that everything in Bethany’s life gets a bit…messy, because now she can’t avoid him, or the adorable niece he’s in town to help take care of... so what's a girl to do? Embrace the mess with Wes.

Oh, how I love and Enemies to Lovers romance and the snapping, heated, foreplay-fighting between Wes and Bethany was epically good. There were so many good things about this story. There is an age gap, with Bethany being 7 years older than Wes and I loved her insecurity about the gap. Wes has taken in his half-sister's daughter and he is beautifully inept as a first time parent. I love how these two stumble through adjusting to raising a child with his niece. Bethany has an anxiety disorder, which I just really appreciate in romance novels. Normalizing this issue and giving it to a strong, powerful, and smart female is the best sort of character writing.

Let me tell you, the steamy scenes between these two are freaking HOT. Kindle-melting hot. Dirty Talk for days and it's perfection.

My only qualm with this book (and I have this qualm often with books that feature small children) is that the child in this book is so very perfect. Besides waking before sunrise, she is the ultimate fantasy Kindergartner. It's just not possible. I always wish authors would throw in a tantrum, an eye roll, some back talk, some picky eating...anything to make this kid real and flawed as well. Instead we get wonderfully flawed adults and a completely unrealistic child.

Child perfection aside, this book is steamy, sweet, funny, sexy, and wonderful!

I really enjoyed this story and I can see why these characters are Bailey's favorites (she noted that she likes to save the best stories for last). As someone who is a perfectionist I could relate to Bethany's need to always have everything look picture perfect and I loved seeing her transformation as she begins to work with Wes.

I loved this entire series!!

Bethany is the perfectionist home-stager in the Castle house flipping family. She wants her brother to take her more seriously and so she takes on her own house flip. One of his crew members, Wes, who has STRONG sexual chemistry with Bethany is always giving her a hard time, goes with her.

This is a classic enemies to lovers with enough steam to peel your wallpaper off!

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.