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The Hookup

Book 1 in the series:Moonlight and Motor Oil

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The Hookup by Kristen Ashley is the first book in the Moonlight and Motor Oil series, set in Matlock, Kentucky, USA. The story follows the main characters, 34-year-old Johnny Gamble and 31-year-old Eliza Izzy Forrester, who wake up together after a hookup. The book is written in non-alternating, dual POV, with Izzy's POV in first person and Johnny's in third person. The narrative explores their evolving relationship, struggles with intimacy, and personal growth as they navigate their pasts and build a future together.

Characters:

The characters, Johnny and Izzy, are relatable and flawed, with rich backgrounds that enhance their development throughout the story. Supporting characters also add depth to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines first-person and third-person perspectives, presenting relatable dialogue and rich emotional depth that enhances the character's development.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a transformative one-night stand between the main characters, leading to deeper emotional connections. It explores self-discovery and the challenges faced in overcoming their pasts.

Setting:

Set in the small town of Matlock, Kentucky, the vibrant and community-oriented locale, enriched by natural surroundings, plays a significant role in the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is steady, focusing on character development and everyday experiences, which allows readers to engage deeply with the characters.
I still had the same alarm clock that my mom bought me when I went to college. It was square, pale pink and had a mirrored face. Even though it was over a decade old and it had been super cheap, it wa...

Notes:

The book is set in Matlock, Kentucky, and features Johnny Gamble and Eliza 'Izzy' Forrester.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes themes related to past trauma and emotional struggles, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

The book prominently features romance as the central focus of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

When the new girl in town, Eliza "Izzy" Forrester decides to hit the local drinking hole, she's not ready to meet the town's good, solid guy. She's definitely not prepared to engage in her very first hookup with him.

Then Izzy wakes up the next morning in Johnny Gamble's bed and good girl Izzy finds she likes being bad for Johnny.

Even so, Izzy feels Johnny holding her at arm's length. But Johnny makes it clear he wants more and Izzy already knows she wants as much of hot-in-bed, sweet-out-of-it Johnny Gamble.

Floating on air thinking this is going somewhere, Izzy quickly learns why Johnny holds distant.

He's in love with someone else. Someone who left him and did it leaving him broken. Whoever was up next would be runner up, second best. Knowing the stakes, Izzy will take what she can get from the gentleman that's Johnny Gamble. And even knowing his heart might never mend, Johnny can't seem to stay away from Izzy.

Until out of nowhere, his lost love comes back to town. He's not going back, but Johnny still knows the right thing to do is let Izzy go.

And Izzy knew the stakes, so she makes it easy and slips though his fingers.

But that's before Johnny realizes Eliza moved to town to escape danger that's been swirling around her.

And that's why Johnny decides to wade in.

That and the fact Eliza Forrester makes breakfast with a canary singing on her shoulder and fills out tight dresses in a way Johnny Gamble cannot get out of his head.

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