Received as an ARC in return for my honest review.

❤️ Alpha hero
❤️ Fake marriage
❤️ Bad boy x Good girl
❤️ Age gap
❤️ Billionaire
❤️ Grumpy x Sunshine

And we’re back for round 2 of the Hooked series, this time with Grayson and his former one night stand now fake wife Jovana. The chemistry on the page between these 2 if very much there, even if they’re the definition of opposites attract. The banter they have is top notch and kept me chuckling throughout.

For a book that is nearly 400 pages long it was a surprisingly quick read for me so I guess that’s testament to a well written story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Marni Mann for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Grayson, one night stand kind of man, no strings attached and no “I’ll call you later”. Him and his best friends have gained a lot of popularity since creating a dating app called Hooked which matches you with your “soulmate”.
Enters Jovana, traditional girl who doesn’t do one night stands and only wants her happily ever after just like her parents.
But what happens when these two meet? And Grayson convinces Jovana to spend the night? Jovana thinks there’s something there, Grayson also thinks that but kicks her out.
Now after Grayson made a big mistake, Hooked is on the line and the only way to help it is to prove to the world that he is a loveable man and not the dark broody prick everyone sees him as, he needs to “marry” someone. That someone being Jovana.
The book follows the couple as they deal with a fake relationship and fake marriage to help Hooked regain its popularity, but nothing is ever that simple.


I enjoyed reading this book, the family and friendship in it made me swoon more than the romance if I’m being honest. The beginning was a bit slow in my opinion, however once the fake dating starts it does pick up more.
I found the characters somewhat loveable, Grayson was not it unfortunately I didn’t like how he was and how he said things, same with Jovana, I didn’t really like how she was quite needy and was saying “I am going to change this man”. I appreciate her confidence and tenacity, however I didn’t like how it was portrayed in the book.

I do recommend it for people who enjoy the fake dating trope and the broody guy meets sunshine girl.

Another perfect example of why Marni Mann is at the very top of my favorite authors list. Every new release outdoes the ones before with the steam, with the daring-ness of what levels she’s willing to go to with the storyline, and how incredible everything is in the end. I could not put this book down and think I need to read it again!

It’s the second in the Hooked series and while book one blew me away with originality and boundaries, Mr. Wicked is truly stunning! I totally and completely fell for Jovana, right from the first pages - she’s such a strong woman who knows what she’s looking for. She just picked the wrong man in Grayson who only does one nighters, and lead her astray with his intentions (and the blow-off after their night is brutal).

When he totally gets in over his head and can’t stop thinking about her, and then gets into hot water with the company from a viral video going against the entire point of his job (and losing subscribers exodus’ing when saying bachelorhood is the best but he’s selling a marriage matchmaking app…), the PR folks are convincing him to prove he can commit and marry, so she’s the only person he could bring to mind.

The fake dating trope is my favorite and how Jovana makes Grayson work so hard for it, because of his terrible behavior - this book is just so perfectly crafted! It’s a few other great tropes worked in, like the one night stand to more, enemies to lovers, billionaire and social media influencer. I completely love every single one of Mann’s books, but I think this one has got to be my favorite, or at least at the very top of pile. I absolutely recommend this to all, especially those of you who love a great steamy romance! Can definitely be read standalone.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley, Montlake, and Valentine PR, and this is my honest feedback.

Billionaire. Spicy. Spunky female character. All a great combination in this romance. Second book I’ve read by this author and she definitely keeps you engaged and wanting to read more.

Top tier grumpy/sunshine and marriage of convenience! I really liked the first book in this series, and I loved this one even more! I couldn’t get enough of this couple, the tension and chemistry was fantastic and I loved how their relationship evolved. I’m hopeful there will be more books in this “Hooked” universe.

This was my first Marni Mann book - who knew what I was missing.

Jovana is a recent college graduate, buried in college debt, trying to grow her online influencer account and working at a bar waitressing just to get by. One night Grayson goes to the bar with his two friends and instantly knows he must have her. They have a one night stand - he never has the same woman twice and he lets her know that.

Grayson’s playboy life style makes front page news - this is a problem when you are in change of a world wide dating app to help you find happily ever after. The solution - get married - Jovana it is.

This was a great story. The growth of Graysons character was beautiful. Spicy, suspenseful and the HEAT we all love.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and author Marni Mann for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

"An alpha billionaire dedicated to no-strings pleasure. A woman committed to changing his wicked mind. Together they ignite a steaming-hot romance by the USA Today bestselling author of Mr. Hook-up.

Grayson Tanner has had better days. Coming off the successful international launch of Hooked, the hook-up app he cofounded with his two best friends, and a night with one of the sexiest women he’s ever met, he’s now in a PR nightmare. A video of him has gone viral—a toast to the indulgence of bachelorhood. It’s a bad look for the creator of the app’s marriage arm. As memberships plummet amid a media firestorm, his PR firm has a new narrative to quell the Grayson has to get married. Fast.

Hello, Jovana Winters—social media influencer and Grayson’s former one-night stand. The one-night stand he has yet to move on from mentally. Their immediate connection is undeniable. In front of the camera, they’re charismatic and passionate, and social media is calling them the It couple. But off camera, Grayson doesn’t trust women or believe in commitment.

Jovana is the opposite, a believer in love who knows what she wants. Now she’s on a mission to turn this fake marriage into the real deal, even though she’s hiding the biggest secret of them all.

But with a man like Mr. Wicked, it won’t come easy."

I love reading this book. I also lve the banter between Grayson and Jovana. I devoured this book.

A marriage of convenience at its finest. Both Grayson and Joavana have an instant attraction that led to a one night stand with one party leaving angry. Later we find a marriage will fix the pr nightmare Grayson has found himself in, with Joavana being the ideal wife candidate. A pleasant read, although the insta love was a little to hard to believe, both sides give in immediately. There was little to no angst between them to feel believable.

Just started but unsure if I should I’ll read this. Don’t like how it mentions MMC talking about women & FMC’s body. She takes no shit but haven’t liked the last few MMC in this series

Already mentioned MMC “roar”

3.5 ⭐️

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have others from Marni, and i'll tell you why.

• Grayson was too much of an arsehole at the start. Normally, I can forgive that because we all love a dick but there was no charm or allure to him. He was just a knob.

• Jovana gave me the ick. She was so obsessed with her one night stand being * shock* just that. It really wound me up. It was as if that was her whole personality for the first part of the book.

• The attraction between these two was obvious, but it all felt a tad rushed to me. It was if once the flip was switched everything, it went from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye. There was no build-up, and it was unbelievable.

It's such a shame that Grayson and Jovana's story was a miss for me because I generally enjoy Marni's books. But hey, you can't win them all.

Whew! What an absolute phenomenal story. Gahh….I honestly couldn’t get enough of these two. Grumpy/Sunshine trope for the win!! This is what romance is about. Turning the bad boy into a big pile of goo!!

Extended review coming closer to release day!

NetGalley read.

I am a fan of this author and having enjoyed book 1 I was looking forward to this one. Overall it was a good story but Grayson was a character that was hard to like and Jovanna came across as a bit shrill. I am not a fan of the fake relationship premise

Omg I loved this one!!!!

The humor of this author is amazing and I really loved the first one and now this!!
If love steamy romances and funny MCs you will LOVE LOVE this one!!

It was so enjoyable!!

I read the first book in this series and dove right into this one. The storyline felt a little generic, nothing that sucked me in and kept me interested. Both books are easy (fast/quick) reads but they weren't for me. These books not being for me could be the timing (I'm struggling through a very real Fourth Wing hangover), or Marni Mann isn't the author for me (and I'm in the minority). There are very steamy and explicit sexual encounters/situations throughout both books (if that's not for you, be advised and/or skip over them).

This was my first time reading a book by Marni Mann and I enjoyed it.

From one night stand to marriage of convenience. This book tells the story of Grayson, an alpha-billionaire dating app CEO—Hooked, and Jovana, an influencer.

They meet at a club. At first sight, Grayson falls for Jovana and wants to have a one-night stand right then. It was an insta-lust for Grayson.

But not Jovana, she felt more for Grayson. Which is scary for him, because he can't compromise with one woman. And because of his past, Grayson doesn't believe in love.

Throughout this book, my heart ached for Jovana. How many times Grayson rejected her and said that he couldn't compromise.

He was an asshole in this book. Despite this, Jovana did not give up and tried to be patient with Grayson. This is what I like about her.

Jovana tries to prove that deep down Grayson has the same feelings as her. And she won't leave him.

That's why she agreed to the contractual agreement between herself and Grayson, to fake dating and marry him for one year.

Thank god, no third-act breakup! That was my first reaction to this book. This book felt long at the beginning, and rushed at the end. Even so, I enjoyed this book. And will read more books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date 4/23.

Grayson Tanner is very up-front about feelings when it comes to commitment and never spends more than a night with a woman. But when Grayson meets Jovana, there’s something different about her. The pull he feels is intense, yet not enough to break his one-night rule. After riding the high of the successful international launch of the dating app he cofounded, Grayson takes a much-needed vacation. What he didn’t plan on was becoming a PR nightmare. When a video of him celebrating his bachelorhood goes viral, his partners have no choice but to bring in a PR firm and change his narrative. Unfortunately for Grayson, changing his narriative comes with the worst possible solution: marriage…

Mr. Wicked is the second book in the Hooked series and it does not disappoint. Grayson is the ultimate playboy. He doesn’t do commitments and lives for one-night stands. But, when he meets Jovana, all bets are off. She is the plot twist he never saw coming. Jovana’s bright attitude and witty banter are a force to be reckoned with and Jovana isn’t afraid to go after what she wants.

Together, Grayson and Jovana had the most incredible and explosive chemistry. But, don’t let that fool you, because Jovana isn’t going to fall for Grayson’s charms a second time around. If he wants more from her than what they give to the public eye, he’s gonna have to work for it. And boy did I love seeing Grayson work for it.

Marni Mann never disappoints with her sinful alpha male characters and the women who tame them. Mr. Wicked provided the perfect blend of steam and spice. If I had to make one complaint, it would be about the whole marriage of convenience aspect of this story. I do feel like that solution was a bit drastic and that there could have been other solutions for the PR nightmare Grayson created. That being said, it did the job and added some great tension to this story.

All in all, Mr. Wicked was a terrific read from beginning to end. I loved getting lost in these characters and can not wait to read the next book in this series. If you’re looking for a sexy, alpha billionaire, grumpy sunshine romance, you’re definitely going to want to get your hands on this book.

Mr. Wicked is a spicy marriage of convenience novel following a billionaire CEO, Grayson, and a fiery influencer, Jovana. This is book two in the Hooked series, but it can be read as a standalone.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I usually don’t care for the marriage of convenience trope, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. Jovana is such a fun FMC. I love how sassy and determined she is. Grayson was a bit questionable at first but he redeemed himself after learning his backstory. Jovana’s parents were such a wonderful part of this story and I love the parallels between the two couples. Their relationship was a bit too insta-love for me, but it was still an amazing book nonetheless. Overall this book was so good and I can’t wait to read more from Marni Mann. Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for sending me an advanced copy of Mr. Wicked.

I have to admit this was a challenge to get through. I’m a fan of her books but she dragged on Grayson’s meanness too long. And Johana’s willingness to take it, thinking that he will change even if time and time again, he failed. Towards the end, I started skimming because I didn’t like either character much and that is a problem for a character driven reader like me. The switch to loving person was rapid and abrupt and wholly unbelievable. The end was good but no redemption in my mind.

Grayson and Jovana… loved their story. Love Marni Mann and how she writes. He’s the playboy, never settling down. He has a one night stand with Jovana and makes it clear- that’s all it is. She’s amazing and strong and knows what she wants in life and wants a true love. He finds himself in trouble with his company Hooked and needs her help.
I loved watching their relationship grow. Him wanting her and falling for her then he didn’t want too. Her challenging him. Their connection is real, they’ve got great chemistry. I love when the man thinks he knows what he wants but falls for an amazing woman.

An alpha billionaire dedicated to no-strings pleasure. A woman committed to changing his wicked mind.

Grayson has had better days. Coming off the successful international launch of Hooked, the hook-up app he cofounded with his two best friends, and a night with one of the sexiest women he’s ever met, he’s now in a PR nightmare. A video of him has gone viral—a toast to the indulgence of bachelorhood. It’s a bad look for the creator of the app’s marriage arm. As memberships plummet amid a media firestorm, his PR firm has a new narrative to quell the Grayson has to get married. Fast.

Hello, Jovana—social media influencer and Grayson’s former one-night stand. The one-night stand he has yet to move on from mentally. Grayson doesn’t trust women or believe in commitment. Jovana is the opposite, a believer in love who knows what she wants. Now she’s on a mission to turn this fake marriage into the real deal, even though she’s hiding the biggest secret of them all.

I enjoyed this second book in the series a lot! The characters are great, and the story is fun and sexy. You do not need to read the first book in the series, but there is some character overlap.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.