Grayson and Jovana were just another couple added to my “Marni left no crumbs” list. one thing that Marni always does is write the best alphaholes that I am obsessed with. And let’s talk about how much of a badass Jovana is— I love how independent she is and how she stands up for herself. their chemistry was undeniable and it was such a clear connection between them too. one thing that Marni kills is the absolute mouth on these men. she has me obsessed with them and wanting more. I loved getting to see them get to know each other and their relationship grow. the audio of this was also fantastic— Andi and Ryan made me feel like I was right there with the characters. their voices were easy to listen to, and the production was great. I can’t wait to read more of this series!!!

tropes:
- one night stand
- billionaire
- fake relationship
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap

Grayson and his best friends started a dating app and Gravson's division is the marriage division. Grayson, a confirmed bachelor has no desire to ever get married.
Grayson is photographed by paparazzi aboard a yacht with six women which is harming his company's reputation. His business partners give him an ultimatum and he's forced to enter into an arranged marriage.
Jovana, the one woman he can't get off his mind is his new bride.
This book had an interesting plot but once the main characters got their second chance it was a little too Insta love for me. Overall I did enjoy the book and I will be reading more of her books in the future.

This book contained most of my preferred tropes. Age gap, fake dating, grumpyyyyyyy x sunshine, billionaire MMC, sassy influencer FMC. The tropes were so good. And the book was done so well! The pacing, the banter, the subcharacters, the development, all amazing. It was hard to put this book down. The extreme opposites definitely attracted in this story. I absolutely loved Jovana's desire for a fairytale romance like her parents - it's what so many contemporary romances are about. Grayson is a lifetime bachelor and loves to live that way. I was caught off guard by the slight plot twist with the third act conflict but it was done SO WELL, I am a huge critic of third act conflicts but I absolutely loved how Marni wrote this, tied everything together, and pushed us through to the end. The spice was definitely there and definitely spicin'! Whew girl! Great read, I read this without reading Easton's story but I will definitely be ready for Holdenn, and I would love to see more of Sloane... (fingers crossed!)

4.5/5

This author is the queen of extra spicy er0tic romance with billionaire Alpha’s who end up getting hooked on that one woman who can handle them.
Grayson and Jovana have an instant attraction and insanely hot chemistry. Grayson doesn’t “settle down” so it’s meant to be a single, brief encounter. It’s all kinds of hot and n@ughty.
Grayson brings negative attention to his company when a video of him goes viral that has his business in loads of trouble with bad PR. Enter the fake marriage to encourage trust in him and the dating App he and his friends created. Jovana is the lucky Mrs. for a year to help clean up his image.
There’s great banter, there is spice on top of extra spice and there’s a story with emotions.
If you want a super hot read about people living the luxurious life, this book is for you.

Happy Release Day!!

I love the Hooked Series so much, and binged Mr. Wicked over the weekend. There’s just something about a bad boy billionaire x good girl that gets me every time. Grayson and Jovana are opposites in so many ways, making the banter and tension so good! But they can’t deny their connection gets stronger and harder to resist.

*many thanks to Valentine PR and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

One statement can sometimes tell you everything you need to know about someone, and I loved that that was the case for Jovana. Her instant knowledge that Grayson was someone that she wanted to see more of may seem naive to some, but to me, it’s precious. When you know, you know, and all that. Jovana sees the roughness in Grayson but still sees him as worthy. Grayson can’t see the goodness in himself, but he learns to see himself as Jovana (as well as his friends) see him. This book was written as only Marni can write it: beautifully balanced.

Grayson is co founder of an online dating website that has soared in popularity. He has a one night stand and then ends up in the spotlight for some not so good reasons. To save his reputation and the website he has to show the world that he is in fact committed (even when it’s something he’s never wanted to deal with). In comes Jovana, a beautiful young girl that he had the one night stand with. If you love forced proximity, fake dating and spicy scenes- this one is for you! I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it was a little bit of a slow burn and that it had a twist I didn’t even see coming. I’m excited to read the other books in this series.

v3 stars

I’m a dedicated Marni Mann fan and really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was eager to dive into this one. This book had a recipe I love, he’s a grump, she’s sunshine; he’s a playboy, she’s the woman to turn him around, etc. I normally love a good fake relationship trope but sadly, even with all those things, this one just didn’t do it for me.

Although I liked Grayson’s character in the first book, I had a seriously difficult time connecting with his highly unlikable persona in this one. I get that he’s got some hangups around women but he’s a straight alpha hole, needlessly crass and hateful to the others around him in this book. In my opinion, the guys (his best friends that he created the Hooked app with) put up with an awful lot out of him.

I enjoyed Jovana but was really challenged by their relationship and the way he treated her. I loved her family and Sloan though. I understand why Jovana agreed to the proposition and appreciated her long-suffering and romantic heart but just couldn’t fall in love with him like she did. Sorry!

This is a series with interconnected characters but can be read as standalones. I am excited to read Holden’s book and know more about this single dad!

AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

"ɢʀᴀʏsᴏɴ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ɢᴀᴢᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ."

Ahhh Marni, what have you done to me!!! You made me fall head over heels in LOVEEE with Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Anti-Love......𝗠𝗿. 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱!

"ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ᴡᴇᴀᴋ. ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ғᴇᴇʟ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʟᴏsᴇ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɪɴ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ. ᴡᴇ ғɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs."

This book was equal parts steamy chemistry, spicy encounters, and witty banter. Grayson and Jovana had me 𝖧𝖮𝖮𝖪𝖤𝖣 from beginning to end with their grumpy/sunshine romance while navigating their new relationship, and I couldn't get enough!

"ᴛʜɪs ɢᴏʀɢᴇᴏᴜs, ᴋɪɴᴅ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴛ, ʙʟᴜᴇ-ᴇʏᴇᴅ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ. sʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ."

I absolutely loved Jovana she went after what she wanted and refused to let someone walk all over her. I loved seeing Grayson's anti-love demeanor melt with the realization of how much he cared for Jovana. These two truly left me with that giddy feeling, and I didn't want it to end!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Marni as it is my first book that I have read of hers, however I was blown away. There was just enough spice that it was overbearing and the plot had me in a chokehold. I wasn’t sure how it would end but I really liked the plot twist that appeared and it was so so good. I always love the grumpy- sunshine books and this one was a good one! I was not expecting Jovana’s secret but I am happy how it turned out and I loved it!

Two words: Greyson. Tanner. Who doesn’t love a good marriage of convenience romance between a charming brute who doesn’t believe in love and the girl who he couldn’t get his mind off of since the first night they met? Marni Mann always creates the hottest characters, and this includes both Greyson & Jovana 😍

Oh he’s a wicked indeed… Grayson the ultimate playboy, adamant he’s staying single and never the settling type…. loves steamy nights of passion but that’s where it always ends…
Bring in a fake marriage, the connection is undeniable between these two, their banter brings all the humour and at the end can they really end it like nothings happened ?!

Oh man. Grayson was Marni's meanest alpha hole that I've read. Lol the things he says hurts. 😅 There are time that I'm like, forget you dude. 😂 But Jovana was really persistent. She's definitely like "I can fix him (no really I can)". 👀 See what I did there? Lol ⁣
⁣
Congratulations to another amazing release Marni!!! 🫶 I totally devoured this one cause you know I love my heroes to be mean. Lol

Quick Summary: A player becomes a partner romance

My Review: Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann is book #2 in the Hooked series.

About the Book: A rather spicy ONS happens between a playboy bachelor and a good girl influencer. Both have an intense experience. One person wants to make a run for it, while the other simply wants more. After a scandal occurs, they decide to partner up and play. What happens when real feelings get involved?

My Final Say: This romance had the following components:

One Night Stand
Fake Dating
Enemies to Lovers
Beauty and a Beast
Differences (Rich Guy vs Working Girl)
Age Gap
Forced Relationship

Overall, this romance novel was an interesting read. There were times when both leads were liked and times when both leads were a bit much. In the end, however, it all worked out as it should. I really enjoyed meeting the other characters. I would definitely read their stories.

Other: This is one of those reads that you have to push through to get past some of the character nonsense. Readers who enjoy the aforementioned tropes will like this one.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍
Series: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Montlake), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Grayson, Grayson, Grayson.

Grayson and Jovana spend a 🔥 night together, but he makes it ABUNDANTLY clear afterward that whatever they shared was only for one night. Jovana blindsided by this leaves his condo waving 🖕🏼 at him.

Imagine her surprise when she finds out that Grayson, who by all accounts is basically deathly allergic to commitment, is responsible for the marriage arm of Hooked and is on a yacht with 6 women toasting “long live bachelorhood”. Not a good look for Hooked. And the only way to fix it and help the company…you guessed it, get married. To whom? I’ll give you one guess….

Idk how @marnimann does it but every book she writes I absolutely love! This is the second book in the Hooked Series- a series of interconnected standalones. And let me tell you, Grayson is the biggest alphahole, but Jovana doesn’t back down to him and I love it!! Thank you so much @marnimann and @valentine_pr_ for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely incredible. Grayson and Jovana were 1000% pure magic. I could not get enough of the banter, steam and love. Jovana and Grayson were fantastic and the perfect conclusion to the Hooked Series!

Loved the banter between Grayson and Jovana, I'm not much of a fake relationship trope reader but this one definitely made it believable. Grayson is an ahole and Jovana deals with him in stride that's were it makes it believable for me the push and pull these 2 have.

OMG this book is SO MUCH FUN! I’ve read many books from this author and loved every one of them.
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 flames: 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.
This book is addictive. I couldn’t stop reading. I´ve just finished an arrange marriage book the same day (which I loved) and wasn’t too happy about finding out this one had the same trope. But I was so wrong! I adored these two. They are funny, and definitely hot. SO HOT. Their first time is explosive! And when he falls, OMG he falls HARD. So good to see! I loved that the book surprised me a couple of times and made me smile a lot.
The dialogs are witty and I laugh out loud many many times. The secondary characters are really interesting and I need Holden’s story! And his little Belle!
I highly recommend this super-hot romance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jovana and Grayson's love story is unlike any other. The way they learn to love one another despite their differences is amazing!

In Marni Mann's book, 'Mr Wicked,' we see how two distinct characters attempt to make a marriage of convenience work. The book starts with us meeting Grayson, as he improves his side of the dating app, he and his friends are CEO of. During drinks with his friends at a local bar, Grayson sees Jovana for the first time and decides he needs to have her. Jovana and Grayson's chemistry is off the charts. Nevertheless, Grayson leaves Jovanna after their one night together. So when Grayson is in dire need of help, Jovanna is the only one who can save the day. Hence his need to win Jovana over and get her to become his fake wife. Consequently, he develops feelings for Jovana so will they last?

I truly loved this book. Grayson is a red flag with his trust issues and his need to be right. Yet I actually loved the contrast between Jovana and Grayson. Jovana is such a lovely soul, working hard to grow/maintain friendships & relationships, and all while working on her career. Grayson has never really experienced love from a woman before that isn't transactional. While their relationship starts as a transaction, it turns into a healthy, loving and nourishing relationship that they both need and deserve. I love the way Marni has written both characters, with the contrast between them but also the dynamic of our main love interests. Watching them build their relationship, while painful at times, was so appealing that everyone would love it. The other characters such as Holden are amazing to have supporting characters. I can't wait to read all of Marni's books!

This book does contain mentions of abuse/absent mothers, financial issues, dysfunctional families, toxic relationships and overall power issues. This book also has a very toxic love story, and while it's a great book, doesn't mean this isn't wrong in the real world. This may trigger people who have been in abusive relationships where power, control and finances were used. While I have experienced something similar, I didn't find it triggering. Doesn't mean that you won't so read at your own risk.

Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing read

Gosh every time I pick up a book by Marni, I find myself falling more in love with her characters. This story was no different! Grayson is our very day alpha billionaire that wants nothing to do with love or relationships. However, the moment that he sees Jovana across the bar he can't get enough of her.

I ate this book up and it was freaking great. The instant chemistry between these two was right from the very start. This was such a fun read and I was rooting for both of them! As per, every one of Marni's book, this book was sizzling with some super awesome spice in this book. If there is one thing that she is great at, it is writing spicy scenes.. phew.

Read if you like-

-Age Gap
-Arranged Marriage
-Alpha Billionaire
-Enemies to Lovers
-Spicy!