My first time coming across Marni Mann but absolutely not my last. I loved this super steamy read and watching the relationship between Grayson and Jovana develop. Will be going to read the prequel to this now and look forward to her future work as I can see this would be a trilogy series.

I couldn’t wait to read Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann after reading Mr. Hook-Up! Mr. Hook-Up was one of my favorite reads from 2023, so I will admit my expectations were high here. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this book like I did the first in the Hooked series. Each book is a standalone, and honestly the feel of this book was completely different to the first. While there were things I liked here, I just didn’t enjoy this story as much as Mr. Hook-Up.

I struggled to get into this story and that continued for the entire first half of the book. I felt like Grayson was just too much of an asshole. Usually I am able to find some redeeming qualities when a hero starts off this way, but honestly Grayson was just that bad. I didn’t understand why Jovanna felt the way she did. Her insta-love feelings didn’t make sense to me. She gave him so much leeway and he frankly didn’t deserve it. When he finally did make the switch, that didn’t make sense to me either. His reasoning for it didn’t seem believable to me.

Once things changed for these two, it was like a switch had flipped and all of a sudden things went into overdrive. The whole second half of the book things felt rushed. I just really couldn’t get on board with the flip to their relationship and things didn’t feel genuine. While these two had chemistry and it was clear the attraction was there from the start, I just really felt like the relationship didn’t feel authentic to me. The big secret fell a bit flat for me, with things exploding when the truth was learned to quickly be swept under the rug because of circumstances that felt a bit manufactured just to clear things up and put them into perspective. Usually Marni’s stories are some of my favorites, but this one just felt forced and as though each thing that happened was manufactured to drive something else. There wasn’t the natural flow I am used to from Marni and I had to keep picking this one back up. I wasn’t anxious to keep reading, but it was more of a mission to finish. I still love Marni’s books and am looking forward to the next one. Unfortunately Grayson and Jovanna’s story was a miss for me.

i love marni's books because you always know what you're going to get with them. a lot of spice, a little bit of drama, dreamy mmc, and a whole lot of fun. this was a very quick read that I ate up in 1 sitting. my go-to author for quick but still entertaining spicy reads

Grayson doesn't believe in marriage and it's ironic because him and his friends are founder of Hooked and app for dating and marriage. He has a one night stand with Jovana. He felt a connection with her but instead he ignore those feelings and he goes to vacation and he has a Pr scandal and now he has to fix it and that suggestion is he should get marry because they are losing clients.
Jovana want a love her parents have she is loving caring and when she meet Grayson she want everything with him.
Grayson break her heart. Now he asking her to marry and she want to changed his mind in love.
There a lot of laughter banter and discussion of childhood trauma.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Chapter one of this book was 12% of the whole book. First it should have been more than one chapter…second I absolutely cannot stand the MMC or the FMC. I mean maybe they had more character development but I couldn’t even get through the first couple chapters because he was an annoying frat boy and she doesn’t comprehend what a one night stand is without getting her feelings hurt? She took him home from a bar and expects a relationship? I couldn’t do it! This one wasn’t for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Grayson and Jovana have instant chemistry leading to a steamy night together. Grayson makes it very clear to Jovana that it's a one time thing. he doesn't date or do emotional relationships. A few months later. Grayson needs Jovana's help - to marry him. He's gotten into some trouble at work with his reputation and needs to be in a seemingly successful relationship to help build his brand back up. As they fake date. move in together. and "fake" build their relationship, Graysons walls start to come down and he starts to fully open up to Jovana about his past and why he doesn't date. Maybe this fake relationship could be the real deal afterall!

Once Grayson started opening up, I loved his character and saw how perfect he was for Jovana. Their chemistry was always off the charts but once he started being emotional with her it solidified their compatibility.

Definitely recommend - keep in mind that it is open door and very steamy!
Tropes: marriage of convenience

Want a spicy and funny book that deals with some bigger issues? Check out MR. WICKED by Marni Mann!

Greyson is a lifelong bachelor who loathes the idea of marriage. Jovana is a hard working influencer who is a romantic at heart. Our boy Greyson fell hard and fast for Jovana and turned into a simp so quickly!

Though parts of the book grated on me, this was a well paced and spicy book. I liked the growth of Greyson and his friendship group - and loved the 3rd act conflict!

READ FOR:
Marriage for convenience
Grumpy x sunshine
Spicy
3 stars

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC! Opinions are my own

#rochellereadsit

This was pretty good, but I found that the plot and sex scenes got repetitive. The writing was solid, though I did notice myself getting lost within scenes. (ie: where in the room are they? I thought his drink was empty and now he’s sipping it—did he get another somewhere?) There were a few times I had to reread because I felt like I missed some context in the scene/conversation. Overall I was entertained, but I don’t think I’d go running to find other books in this series. The character development/relationship growth felt like it happened at the flip of a switch and I think the MMC's self-reflection could be improved.

I really enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I felt like the blend of sweet and spicy was perfect, it could not have been done any better. I was left guessing if they would find true love or if it would be over at the end of the contract. I really enjoyed the banter and good humor. I felt like the TW ib the book were handled very delicately well.

Grayson and Jovana’s story was such a great story. Grayson is such a growls grump who doesn’t believe in marriage despite the fact that he created the marriage arm of Hooked. When his wicked says catch up to him, he’ll have to undergo a transformation to save the company he and his 2 best friends started in college. Can Jovana change his view on marriage or will his wicked ways stick around. The will he or won’t he in this story drive me batty. All I wanted to do was smack Grayson upside the head.

What more could you ask for in a novel? Romance, mystery, and sex all bottled up into one great read! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The writing style has a serious snap, and I really enjoyed it. I loved how we were just thrown in and expected to swim. I stopped after chapter 1 (9%), but I imagine it will be a solid three to four for the target audience, and five stars for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

The perfect steamy romance! You coudn't help but fall in love with both characters as you peeled back the layers on who they are.

I love an enemies to lovers, but Grayson was mostly just a dick. Maybe it was the fact that Jovana was in love with him from the start, for literally no reason other than he gave good D. To be fair, I’m sure people have fallen in love for less.

The spice was hot and kinda angsty, there wasn’t really a third act break up, fake dating/marriage of convenience vibes, billionaire playboy changing his ways. It was a nice, quick read that didn’t make me think too hard or get too emotionally invested in the plot.

Thanks to #NetGallery and the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

Mr. Wicked was a typical grumpy/sunshine romance. I’ll be honest and their chemistry didn’t do it for me but the side characters were fun and entertaining. I enjoyed the banter in this book though I felt like some of the emotions of the characters were all of the place. Overall this was a fairly quick read for when you are in the mood for that grumpy trope or a fake marriage trope. 3.5 stars for me.

Marni Mann has become the queen of romance. This book is another installment in the Hooked series, this time following Grayson.

The popularity of the Hooked app has made its founders some sort of celebs, which makes dating difficult. This suits Grayson as he is completely against commitment even though he is head of the marriage/long term relationship part of the dating app.

A chance meeting of a waitress and a PR crisis takes us through some of my all time favourite tropes.

Grumpy sunshine, fake dating, millionaire, and lots of spice.

Fans of Marni will really enjoy this.

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann
(Hooked #2)
(ARC - Release date 4/23/24)
My summary: Grayson Tanner is one of three founders of the super popular dating app, Hooked. Gorgeous, rich, and having built his life around nothing more than one night stands, he swore off love a long time ago. Other than a one night stand with the sweet and sassy Jovana Winters, who he can’t stop thinking about, he’s never had a desire to see the same girl twice. After celebrating the successful international rollout of their app, Grayson finds himself in a PR scandal that’s threatening his company’s profitability. The only way to save the company is to get married to prove the app works, even though this forever bachelor long ago decided he’d never get married—but the gorgeous and romantic-at-heart Jovana may just change his mind.
••••••••••••
Genre: Spicy, contemporary romance
My thoughts: Oh man. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. Grayson and Jovana made the pages sizzle. I ached for Grayson to give in to his feelings and was totally rooting for Jovana the entire time. This book was the perfect blend of sweetness and spice. Jovana’s charm and Grayson’s surliness was an enjoyable combination. And I can’t wait to get Holden’s story in the next book.
My rating: 4.3

What if your biggest nightmare becomes your reality?
Grayson Tanner wouldn't touch the words commitment and dating with ten foot pole let alone apply all that to himself. When a scandal that rocks all the hard work of the business that he created with his best friends he has no choice but to do things that he thought he would never do.
The ultimate bachelor has to pretend commit to a girl and just not that, he has to get engaged to her and then get married, all while the world watches all his moves. He has to become the walking talking advertisment of Hooked app.
The only saving grace is that the girl is his one night stand from months ago and he is low key obsessed with her body. But will they be able to pretend for one year or Jovana is going to fall in love with him while also keeping a secret from him that may or may not destroy everything.
A must read if you love age gap spicy romance, grumpy commitment phobe billionaire, obsessed with love heroine and making the guy fall in love, pretend relationship then this is your jam!

This book was a fun read if you’re into alpha-holes and grumpy/sunshine. Sometimes MMC’s that are that grumpy are annoying, but when I’m in the right mood, I eat it up! Grayson and Jovana meet while she’s waitressing at a bar, and have an instant connection. They have one hot night together, he tells her that he doesn’t want to see her again since he “doesn’t do relationships”, and she flips him off and walks out of his life. Months later something happens that requires him to ask her to be his fake wife for publicity, and as they navigate this, things begin to alter in their relationship.
I enjoyed this story, and give it a solid 3.5/5 stars.

Quick read - spicy and entertaining, but not a stand out for me. I preferred the first book of the series.

Grayson is part creator/owner of Hooked, a successful dating app. Despite being a chronic playboy and not believing in monogamy, he is responsible for the marriage branch of the app. So when a video of him goes viral claiming to not believe in marriage, the app takes a hit and the pressure is on to change his public image. Jovana believes in true love and feels instant sparks when she meets Grayson. But a one night stand leaves her feeling hurt and bitter. When approached by Grayson with the prospect of a mutually beneficial marriage, she can't say no. He warns her to not fall in love with him, but she just can't stop herself. Can she convince him to give love a try or will she end up with a broken heart again?

I think Grayson was a little too much of an asshole in contrast to the insta-love from Jovana. I wondered why she even liked him at all lol. Maybe if there had been more angst or jealousy on his part it would have felt more satisfying. Jovana was much too lenient with his behaviour. Overall, minimal angst in this story and the "secret" reveal at the end felt like a blip in the story.

Tropes:
- grumpy vs. sunshine
- marriage of convenience
- reformed playboy