If you love your romance heroes big, grumpy, and soft on the inside, Duke Crawford will steal your heart! "Worked Up" delivers all the blue-collar, small-town charm with a side of sizzling chemistry. Tessa Bailey is at her best with her trademark dirty talk and heart-of-gold characters. The banter between Duke and Sam is genuinely funny and endearing, and the story wraps you in warmth, care, and a surprising amount of steam. Perfect for fans of caretaking heroes, fake relationship tropes, or anyone tired of the cookie-cutter alpha billionaire. If grumpy-sunshine and found-family dynamics make you swoon, this is your next must-read.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Those who aren’t into insta-love or prefer a slow-burn romance might find the fast-paced relationship and compact timeline a bit unbelievable. If you’re looking for a deeply intricate plot, you may find the story a little straightforward or light on external drama. Some readers also noted that the book is pretty steamy - so if you prefer your romance on the tame side, this might not be your vibe.

A steamy, feel-good contemporary romance with a lovable grump of a hero and quirky, artsy heroine. If you’re in the mood for comfort, laughter, and a hero who dotes, treat yourself to "Worked Up."

About:

'Worked Up' by Tessa Bailey is a contemporary romance novel set in the small town of Hook, focusing on the relationship between the blue-collar hero, Duke, and the artist heroine, Samantha. The book explores themes of insta-love, marriage of convenience, and features a hero described as a "Pouty Man Bear" with a heart of gold. The story is filled with steamy scenes, dirty talk, and adorable banter between the characters.

The book is praised for its delightful characters, especially Duke and Samantha, who are described as a perfect match with strong, quirky, and sassy personalities. The writing style is commended for its ability to create lovable characters, engaging chemistry, and a story that keeps readers wanting more, delivering happiness and steam in equal measure.

Characters:

The characters are well-defined, with Duke as a nurturing, broody hero and Samantha as a witty, artistic heroine, creating an endearing dynamic.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, blending humor with emotional resonance in both intimate and everyday moments.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around two characters who are reluctant to commit but find themselves drawn into a deeper relationship through a marriage of convenience.

Setting:

The small-town setting enhances the story's blue-collar vibe and community connections.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick, leading to rapid developments in the relationship that maintains reader interest.

As always, when Sam encountered a dose of inconvenient nerves—a frequent occurrence of late—she reached into her brown leather satchel and ran a thumb over the spiraling metal holding her sketchpad to...

Notes:

Duke is described as a 'Pouty Man Bear' - a big, gruff, blue-collar guy with a heart of gold.

He is a mechanic living with four divorced sisters who he takes care of.

Samantha, the female lead, is a children's book illustrator from Manhattan.

The story revolves around a fake marriage for convenience that leads to a deeper connection between the characters.

Duke's character is marked by possessiveness and protective instincts towards Samantha.

The book explores themes of love, family, and self-discovery.

It's recommended to read the books in Tessa Bailey's Made in Jersey series in order, though each can stand alone.

The book is praised for its humor, steamy scenes, and relatable characters.

Duke's dirty talk is highlighted as one of the most memorable aspects of the book, contributing to the chemistry between the leads.

Samantha's quirky personality and love for puns add a comedic element that contrasts with Duke's grumpy demeanor.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central focus throughout the narrative, showcasing the growth and development of Duke and Samantha's relationship.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn't provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can't deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly's brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke-for show, of course. She doesn't make promises-she knows too well how easily they can be broken-and this is no exception.

As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha's marriage is only for show...or is it?

July 2016

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240 pages

Ratings (7)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (4)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (24):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (5)

What can you read after
Worked Up?

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Worked Up

Tessa Bailey

Book 4 in the series:Made in Jersey

Who Would Like This Book: