The Hookup by Kristen Ashley
Series: Moonlight and Motor Oil, #1
Contemporary Romance
December 19, 2017
Self Published

Favorite Quote:
“You named your cats after Charlie’s Angels?”

“They don’t fight crime. They mostly just shed, eat, nap and make me feel inferior.”

Reviewed by Tori

Johnny Gamble is a well-known mechanic/gas station owner in Matlock, KY whose ex-girlfriend who left him three years ago. Johnny shut down after that, becoming distant, indifferent, and unemotional. Meeting Izzy is the first spark of light the town has seen from him since Shandra left and they aren’t sure whether to be happy or upset the “legend” coming to an end.

Eliza “Izzy “ Forrester recently moved to Matlock to escape an abusive ex. Smart and sexy with a whimsical style and an inner innocence that shines all around her, Izzy charms most everyone that meets her. Content with her life as it is, Izzy is pleasantly surprised when a surprise trip to the local watering hole introduces her to a sexy man who presses all her buttons.

Johnny takes Izzy home and they share a hookup that has Izzy floating on air. That is until she hears the local gossip and learns that all she’ll ever have of Johnny is his body because his heart is already taken. When Johnny’s ex-reappears, looking for a second chance, Izzy walks away to make Johnny’s choice easier. Only, Johnny isn’t ready to let her go. Especially when he learns why she moved here.

As Johnny slips further into Izzy’s life and heart, the danger Izzy fears would follow her to Matlock may be closer then she thinks. And may not have anything to do with Izzy at all.

The Hookup is the first in a new series-Moonlight and Motor Oil-based on a pair of wealthy alphas and the women who tame them. Set in the small town of Matlock, KY, the premise is classic Ashley. An overprotective quiet alpha whose heart was trampled meets and reluctantly falls for a sweet and sassy woman whose innocence and joy of life helps to glue his broken heart back together. Family, redemption, loyalty, and second chances are the themes on which this story is built as Johnny learns to love again while Izzy learns she is worth loving.

The beginning reminded me a little of Complicated. A random hookup feels a little too serious so the hero pulls away due to a previous relationship. In here though, Johnny isn’t as big an arse as Hix was. He realizes his mistake almost instantly and goes after her. From here on out, it becomes its own story as Johnny and Izzy work towards their HEA as they try to convince the town, family, and friends that they are the real deal. Fron there though, the similarities end.  The Hookup is very low key and exceptionally chatty; we spend a majority of the book watching our couple have sex and get to know one another. The secondary cast is introduced, giving Izzy and Johnny a personable posse of friends and family who pop in and out as Ashley uses them to introduce the conflict(s) to come and to create some mild drama and background to this couple’s journey.

I admit to getting more bored as I got further into the story. There isn’t much happening beyond Ashley telling us just how awesome and perfect Izzy is and watching Johnny fall deeper in love. Lots of explicit sex but very little depth.  I wanted more interaction with the town and its residents. More of Izzy and Johnny doing mundane things that had nothing to do with their relationship. I felt there was no Izzy and no Johnny -only Izzy AND Johnny. Nothing serious happens until the very end and even that is resolved with minimal fuss. After the deliciousness of Complicated, I have to say this hookup was disappointing. 

Grade: C-

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