Hooking Up by Helena Hunting
Released: November 7, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

All I wanted was a nice wedding. Instead I end up with a husband who gets a blow job during our reception – and it’s broadcast to everyone attending.

I’ve enjoyed Helena Hunting’s voice in the past – she usually makes me giggle and highlight all of her over-the-top silly quotes. Her books are super fun. Hooking Up is also fun, and a great read, but it’s not as raunchy and goofy as some of her previous books. It has a really sweet hero and a heroine who wants an annulment! For good reason….

Amie was once a bit of a wild child. She likes a bad boy, she has gotten into some trouble – overall just causing her family a lot of stress. When she meets Armstrong at a party one night, he woos her. He comes from a very respectable family. He has a very good job. Her family is very happy she is dating him. A proposal and a wedding soon follow. She has the perfect life! Except when Armstrong is caught getting a blow job from someone who is not Amie – during their wedding reception.

Amie falls apart. She rips Armstrong a new one, cuts her wedding dress off and koala-bear hugs the first guy she sees – which happens to be Armstrong’s cousin, Lexington. Lex met Amie the same night she met Armstrong – but Armstrong won the flirting contest. Lex felt a lot of chemistry that night, but bowed out to let his cousin date her. Armstrong and Lex were very close growing up, but Armstrong has a dark side, and they are more enemies now. So when a distraught Amie starts humping him in the bridal suite – he knows things are seriously wrong.

Everyone goes home – and Amie is convinced to still take her honeymoon by herself to Bora Bora after demanding an annulment from Armstrong. Lex works for his father, and his father asks him to go to Bora Bora on a business trip to look over some of their resorts. Lex and Amie have no idea the other is scheduled on the same plane, both going to Bora Bora – until they arrive at the airport.

Throw in some champagne, and a very long airplane ride,and these two chat away. They end up very far away from all of Amie’s problems and instead of problems, she starts getting a lot of orgasms from Lex.

“I’m assuming you can feel that.” I roll my hips, just to be clear what that is.

“Yes.”

I lower my head so my lips are inches from hers. “What does that feel like to you, Amie?”

“It feels l-like—”

“—like I’m playing you?” I skim the length of her throat with my free hand.

“No.” It’s the softest whisper.

“Does it feel like I’m being nice?” I rest a finger under her chin and tip it up so she meets my gaze. “I assure you, there’s nothing nice about the things I want to do to you, the ways I want to have you.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good to know.” The wide eyes and innocent stare morph into the same wild look I caught a glimpse of in her bridal suite. “Because I’m pretty sick and fucking tired of nice, polite sex.”

But Armstrong is not done causing trouble. Over and over in this book. Armstrong is butt hurt that she dumps him and refuses to let it go. Enter Lex – the sweetest guy. He listens to Amie, he never takes advantage of her. While some feel like he is trying to get revenge on his cousin by sleeping with Amie, he truly isn’t. Bora Bora really was a coincidence, and he has had feelings for Amie for a long time. He gives her what she needs in Bora Bora – an escape. And then they come back home and have to figure out how to have a relationship in the real world.

“You’re going to be fine. You’re stronger than you realize.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know. I don’t want you to go either.” He tips my chin up. His eyes meet mine for the briefest moment before they fall closed, sealing his emotions behind them. Ones I recognize. Ones that feel all too familiar. He dips down to press a soft kiss to my lips.

I’m sure he means to keep it chaste, but the second we connect all the desperation comes bubbling to the surface, erupting like a volcano, and suddenly we’re devouring each other. I feel the loss of him in my chest already. I don’t want to walk away from this, but there’s no other choice.

Just stay on vacation forever!!

I loved Amie and how she refuses to listen to anymore bullshit coming from Armstrong’s mouth. And that she takes some time for herself, after getting back from Bora Bora to sort her life out and make sure Lex is truly the right one for her. She was hurt so much, and then Lex was thrust into her life so fast, I like that she has to question some things before making that committment.

Lex is charming and flirty – but not sleazy at all. He has manners, and is considerate, and is also a god in bed. *wink*

Really well done – highly recommend this one.

Grade: B+

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