Another great romance novel from Tessa Bailey. This one focuses on Wes and Bethany and their very steamy antagonist to romantic relationship that develops as they work on a flip together.

I thought Bethany's struggles with perfectionism were super relatable, and I thought her romance with Wes was very well done.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book once I got pretty far into it, but for some reason it took awhile to catch my attention. This whole series has been a fun, sexy, fluffy romance that I've enjoyed for light reading. Throughout the series though, despite the fact that the women are all strong and independent, there has been chauvinism in the plots that I've found frustrating. This third book is also a bit cheesier than the others. However, if a light, sexy romance is what you're looking for, this one is sure to satisfy you!

Super cute story of a woman coming into her own and falling in love! Read this is you enjoy HGTV and steamy romance!

I have been a huge fan of the Hot and Hammered series from Tessa Bailey, and this final book in the series is the icing on the cake. Tools of Engagement follows the story of Bethany Castle and Wes Daniels. And we all know I am into cowboys, so I was hooked from the beginning. This book has some great banter and is the classic enemies to lovers trope. What really sets the books apart is the exploration of their age gap. As well as Bethany's drive for perfection was so relateable to me! Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite romance writers, and this book definitely delivers the steamy scenes! Finally, I loved the setting of a renovation show. I'm a huge fan of HGTV so this was a ton of fun to read! If you have read this series yet, I highly recommend it!



Hair, makeup, clothing, decor... everything in Bethany Castle's world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family's real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She's on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother's construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany's skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It's a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany's perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

I really loved this third book in the Tools of Engagement series. Since we originally discovered Bethany and Wes's chemistry in the second book, I had been dying to read this one. Parts of it were a little too much for me (I mean, there's steamy and then there's STEAMY!) but I loved the romance storyline. Nothing can beat the hate to love trope, right?

I liked it and had a lot of fun with this book. The story is very fresh and light, there is not so much drama, although there are family problems they’re not so impossible to solve and the protagonists solve it in a way that does not even seem complicated. Another thing is the love part on Bethany's side, she is a girl with many insecurities and therefore finds it difficult to open up to others, so when Wes enters her life the clashes are inevitable because unlike her Wes is more determined and goes for what he wants. A project will bring them together and during all this they will delight us with situations that are very steamy and hot. Wes will not stop until he seduces her and what a way to do it, the boy from Texas knows very well how to seduce this perfectionist house designer and will make the girl jump at every encounter. I want to read the previous books because I've done a spoiler again to myself since this is book 3 of the series. If you like stories where the relationship comes up slowly and culminates in happily ever after, this is your book.
I received an ARC on exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to the author and #Netgalley

Yall, I was so excited when I was approved for Tools of Engagement. I'd been looking forward for this book since seeing Wes and Bethany meet in Love Her or Lose Her. I'm so excited to say that I was not dissapointed, this book lived up to the hype for me, and is my favorite book of the series!
Tools of Engagement follows Bethany, as she breaks away from her family's business to do her own thing because no one seems to take her seriously when she says she wants be more active in the demolition and rebuilding aspect of the business. Once she breaks away, Wes decides to join her and help her with the process. Even though they don't like each other (they totally do), they begin spending a lot of time together and learn more about each other.
Both Wes and Bethany have walls up and never like letting people in. Bethany shuts people out after a certain amount of time, and Wes doesn't stay anywhere long enough to get close to anyone. I loved seeing the two of them learn how to let down their walls and let each other in. Not only did they let their walls down with each other, but with everyone around them. Bethany loves her sister, her friends, and the Just Us League, but she still puts on an act with them and doesn't show her vulnerabilities. I also loved Wes and his niece's relationship, and him learning to open up with her, and be okay with staying in one place long term.
My one complaint about the book is that it's an age gap romance, with Bethany being older than Wes, and it was brought up so often throughout the book. I'm not complaining that it's an age gap, but that it had to be brought up over and over again.
Overall this was a fun book that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to read more from Tessa Bailey!

This book will absolutely sneak up on you and hit you right in the feels. Especially the relationship between Wes and his niece Laura. This book has so much heart, and I love how this series has followed up with the Just Us League, women supporting women.

Wes is 100% a good guy. While a little cocky, as any good looking 23 year old is, he stepped way the hell up. And I'm a complete sucker for this type of hero.

"You're a good man, Wes. Every time I think I'm finally giving you enough credit, you go beyond it."

I feel a lot of people will be able to see themselves in Bethany's character. Their banter definitely kept me on my toes, and as with most enemies to lovers story line, the chemistry was off the charts.

"Expecting perfect can only lead to disappointment. Besides, it's the flaw that give a person character. That's where the beauty hides."

Tools of Engagement is the third and final book in the Hot and Hammered series by @tessabaileyisanauthor and this one follows Bethany and Wes. After being introduced to Wes in the 2nd book and watching him and Bethany become frenemies then - I knew I was anticipating this book most of all! (We all know how I feel about hate to love 😈)

This one starts with Bethany continuing to want to branch out on her own with the family’s construction business. Her brother Stephen thinks she’s delusional until Wes leaves Stephen to help Bethany with her flip. Wes is in town as a temporary guardian to his niece and him and Bethany can’t go more than 5 minutes without trading jabs. Before she knows it Bethany finds herself competing against her brother Stephen on a flipping reality TV show where only the best can win. With Bethany’s obsession with being perfect and her annoyance with Wes...what could possibly go wrong?

I was so happy to finish this series with them. Their story was such a slow burn - (slowwwwww) but it pays off 10x in the end. I loved watching Wes with his niece and with Bethany. He was just so solid. Always reassuring her, believing in her and celebrating her faults as character traits that made him love her even more. This book was such a cute, hot, feel good romance and I couldn’t have picked a better book to get back into the game with! Tools of Engagement isn’t out until September 22, 2020 but you can preorder now!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️

It is rare for me to read romantic novels because I look for more unique story lines rather than generic ones. I picked up this book because of the relationship that looked unique. Older woman with a younger guy. Woman trying to run a business. There is an element of the guy taking care of a child. Those are the. elements of the book I really liked. But I wish there was a bit more focus on the uniqueness in their lives. More storyline with Wes and his niece Laura. I wish there was more exposure to why Wes and Bethany were attracted to each other than physical traits.

Tessa Bailey does it, and she does it well.
Witty, smart dialogue. Fun and flirty characters, And steamy sparks all around.

I couldn't put this down. This is a perfect read if you love the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Once again Tessa Bailey delivers a satisfying contemporary with snappy dialogue, likable characters, and steamy romance. Tools of Engagement is a fast, flirty read.

Swoony, sexy, sassy, fun and full of heart! Throw in an HGTV like contest and a lot of flirting, a women's support group of friends with the addition of an adorable little girl who needs her uncle, and you have all the makings of a fantastic contemporary read. Great characters and pacing, this grabbed me from the beginning and I need to read the first two in this series! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love and adore Tessa Bailey. Tools of Engagement is another wonderful addition to this series. Each of these characters are loveable and leave you wanting more!!

I am not familiar with this series and when I saw it on Edelweiss while reading the description I thought it looked like a fun read. Thank you to Avon/Harper Collins and NetGalley/Edelweiss for letting me read the ARC of this novel. I really, really enjoyed this story and was enchanted by Wes and Brittany. The book has the traditional trope expectations - younger guy/older woman, single parenting, fast & snappy dialogue, etc, etc.
I found myself laughing out loud in many spots with Wes' sweet & dirty talking as well as his cute manipulative ways to get his niece to do things or to eat the good food. This is definitely one I am talking up to with friends who enjoy contemporary romances.

Tools of Engagement just didn’t do it for me. I really did not care for it’s predecessor, but I did like Wes and Bethany so I figured a book centered around them should be good. Unfortunately, it still fell flat. I really liked that Bethany wanted to prove herself to her family that she could do more and do her own flip. The reality show competition it turned into was a bit boring.

The romance between Wes and Bethany was fine, but I thought it would be a bit more engaging. As was a major issue for me in the previous novel, I cannot get passed the possessive, alpha male trope Bailey seems to always have as the male love interest. However, I will say Wes did attempt to check himself, and Bethany called him out on it on several occasions. So improvement, I guess...

Overall, it was ok, but after three books by this author I’ve decided her style is not for me.

I recieved an ARC of Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey from NetGalley free of charge for my review. I read and adored the first book in the Hot & Hammered series and loved it. When I saw an ARC was available for request for the 3rd book, I didn't even hesitate to request it. I was thrilled to be picked.

This book can be read as a stand alone or in the series. If you've read the other books you'll be familiar with some of the goings on, but you can keep up reading out of order too. These books are categorized as rom-com. This one in particular is a hate to love. It features a slight age gap romance as well.

The main characters Wes and Bethany take on a home renovation project that ends up televised. Bethany has decided to go head to head with her brother/family's business. Wes and Bethany must learn to work together if they stand a chance to win.

This series is one of my favorite berkley series' and I'm so sad to see it end! I will definitely be checking out tessa bailey in the future :)

I think this is my favorite of the series. This book is everything I love in a book. It is hot and steamy, there is witty banter, and it made me cry.

I think Tessa tackled a series issue in this one. So many women doubt themselves and yet they put out an outward shell of perfection when they are actually falling apart inside. She did a great job of tackling what society has made us today.

I also loved the guardianship talk. That is hard but Tessa wrote about it with wit and grace. Nothing was ever too heavy but the reader was able to learn about things.

Tessa gets all the stars for tools of Engagement.

It's here! The third book in Tessa Bailey's Hot and Hammered series. This time it's Castle sister Bethany's turn and she's got her work cut out for her. She's leaving the family business to run a flip on her own. Enter Wes, a former rodeo star turned single dad to his 5-year-old niece. Wes has wanted Bethany since he saw her and when she storms onto her brother's job site to quit he decides to go with her and become her foreman.
Wes' moments with his niece will make your heart grow three sizes and Bethany's constant struggle with perfection will ring true to some degree for women struggling with society's ideals.

I loved loved loved Wes and Bethany's interactions. Wes might be the official perfect book boyfriend. The whole plot moves at a good pace especially since Bethany and her brother face off in a sibling rivalry HGVT type tv show. You definitely don't need to read books 1 and 2 to follow along with Bethany and Wes' and missing this story is not an option.