She’s in high heels; he wears hiking boots. Can these two opposites make romance in Metlin work?Tayla McKinnon is not a small town girl. The fashion blogger moved to Metlin with two goals in mind: help her friend start a book store and have a little fun. A year later, Tayla has made new friends, successfully launched INK, and is ready for a new challenge. Too bad she can’t get a certain … certain rock-climbing, comic book geek off her mind.
Jeremy Allen has been playing the long game with Tayla, even though the avid outdoorsman was certain she was the one from the minute he set eyes on her. They may have different tastes, but their chemistry is undeniable.
When a job opportunity from a new fashion start-up lands in her inbox, Tayla takes it as a sign. She’s not meant for a small town, even though her best friend and her inconvenient crush are trying to convince her otherwise.
Jeremy can’t believe Tayla would be willing to leave her new life behind, but maybe he’s been playing it too cool. Summer in Metlin can sizzle, which gives Jeremy an excuse to turn up the heat.
Hooked is a stand-alone, opposites-attract romance in the Love Stories on 7th and Main series by Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today Bestselling author of INK.
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HOOKED is a lovely novel starring curvy Twyla and rock-climber Jeremy, two characters I came to love. Elizabeth Hunter’s snappy dialogue rings with honesty in this 7th and Main book set again in small town Melton. Twyla’s sassy and smart, and Jeremy’s a pretty wonderful fella—spending time with them was a treat. As I read, warm feelings wrapped around me, and when I turned the last page, I wanted more. So glad Hunter has continued the series with GRIT.
I absolutely loved it!
Elizabeth Hunter continues doing her thing, and bringing to life such amazing and complex characters. Tayla McKinnon, is just as fabulous, as we remember from the previous novel, “Ink!” And you just simply, cannot help but to fall in love with Jeremy Allen. Theirs is a story you do not want to miss. It’s a true treasure!
Anything by Elizabeth Hunter is a great read!
Totally would kill for a friend like Tayla and I’d totally try glamping for Jeremy lol. Maybe climbing a wall too who knows. Truly falling in love with the town of Metlin and those who are in it and I’d totally live there!
Another dandy little gem from Elizabeth Hunter. If you enjoyed Ink (the first book in this series) you will not be disappointed with Hooked. A sassy gal and a swoon worthy guy. A story about life and how it never turns out the way you think.
Hooked from the 7th main series was amazing. I love Jeremy and Tayla.
This pair were so much fun.
Tayla the girl who resisted commitment at every turn found herself falling for Jeremy the comic book shop owner.
Tayla came to realise that she had fallen hard and not just for Metlin when she started perusing her dream job that would take her back to San Francisco.
The genuine friendship was evident right from the start and then the slow buildup between these two was so hot!!
Jeremy is a totally sweet guy that every girl would swoon over. He’s a real gentleman.
We get to see past characters and some new, also a there are some scenes that hint at the next book in the series which I can’t wait to read.
I was given an early copy of this book for an honest review.
* * * 4.5 Stars * * *
I have been obsessed with Elizabeth Hunter’s Love Stories on 7th and Main series since Ink and seriously squealed when I saw that Tayla was going to get her very own story. I absolutely loved her and Jeremy. Their chemistry was sweet and sassy and the attraction and heat between them was amazing!!
When Tayla McKinnon, the best friend of Emmie, from Hunter’s first book in this series, feels like she may have outgrown the small town of Metlin, shock waves hit her circle of friends as she reevaluates her future. But she is conflicted when she sees that not only has she made great friends and memories living in Metlin this past year, but finds the small town’s warm hospitality and kindness to be a major draw and breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Not only that, but the mere mention and sight of her uber hot comic geek/mountain climber friend, Jeremy, has her all in a tizzy. She can deny their attraction and compatibility and fall back on her commitment phobic ways all she wants, but with her impending departure almost a reality, he makes it a mission to keep his city girl right where he needs her!
Gah! There is nothing I love more than opposites attract romance. Tayla and Jeremy were so different in personality styles but together they were fire! I love that Jeremy was so honest and forthright about his feelings for Tayla. He was so compelling and swoony that he stole my attention whenever he was on the page. I loved that he accepted Tayla for who she was and was proud of all her accomplishments even if it took her away from Metlin. He was charming, deliciously sexy and his charisma and subtle swagger had me swooning left and right. Tayla likewise was an absolute powerhouse in my eyes! She was confident and proud of who she was and her larger than life personality. I absolutely loved them together and how Tayla realizes that home is truly where your heart is. This was another amazing read in the series! Bravo! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula
I soooo loved Tayla and Jeremy’s story! I liked Tayla’s character in INK so I was excited to see her as the focus of this book. I wasn’t too sure how I would like Jeremy for her, but I have to say, I am definitely not disappointed! Elizabeth Hunter has succeeded, once again, in blowing my mind! I thought HOOKED was a wonderful follow up to INK and I am so glad E. Hunter chose Jeremy for this one. Jeremy is so sweet and sexy as hell! The chemistry between these two is outrageous and I could not be happier with this book! I will definitely be impatiently awaiting the next book in this series. If you love smart, sexy romance novels with great characters and just enough spice, give the 7th and Main series a try. You will not regret it!
I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book and it was exactly what I have come to expect from an Elizabeth Hunter book. It transports you to this charming town full of wonderful fun people that you want to be a part of. We came to love Metlin and it’s residents in Ink with Emmie and Ox but this time with Tayla and Jeremy we met even more. Especially Gus! He is so charming and such a character! He is someone you would love to spend time with, the stories he could tell..
As for Tayla and Jeremy, they are so adorable! So different from each other but yet so perfect together. Their attraction and friendship growing into a serious relationship was so much fun to witness and be apart of. This book will make you laugh, make you cry and put the biggest smile in your face. It is definitely a perfect addition to this series.
The perfect summer read: sweet and satisfying small-town romance
Normally I am not one for the sweet small-town romance, but the fictional town of Metlin, California has something that is quite irresistible.
Tayla only moved to Metlin to help her friend Emmie set up her dream bookstore and get it running and then she sort of lingered there (Emmie and Ox’ story is told in INK, the first book in the 7th and Main series). Tayla thinks she is a big city girl at heart and she has been eyeing job opportunities in San Francisco, and finally a great offer comes along. Only to realize that she has not only found lots of new friends, likes living in a tightly knit community where everybody seems to know everybody, has become involved in a number of local projects, but she has also fallen hard for geeky yet gorgeous comic bookstore owner and recreational climber Jeremy. So when the job offer of her dreams comes along she is all of a sudden not so keen to accept it if it means leaving behind all the things she didn’t know she would miss so much…
For all that this romance is light and fresh and sweet, without a lot of angst, I really liked that it reflects on the struggle (especially for women) to reconcile family and career. By being bold and going after what she wants, Tayla manages to get both in the end, despite having grown up in a dysfunctional family herself. On a broader perspective the novel also interrogates traditional narratives of what it means to be successful in your job and that you can only achieve that if you sacrifice your family life (like Tayla’s father did), or the implicit understanding that in a relationship it has been (and still largely is) the woman who has to move to where her male partner works. Here that assumption is undercut by Jeremy’s refusal to ask Tayla to stay (even though there is nothing he wants more) and to make her chose between him and her dream job.
More than even with the protagonists I fell in love with Metlin. In a world were more and more people live a life of alienation and anonymity, where communities grow increasingly more fragmented, the feeling of place, family and communality that Metlin evokes, satisfies a deep-seated, though unvoiced yearning that many people living in these times have. The utopia of a supportive community, of belonging, of having ties to a place is what we all secretly wish for and which in this novel plays just as important a role as finding fulfillment in romantic love.
A sweet and satisfying contemporary romance, with a side of naughtiness: The perfect summer read. 4.75 stars
I officially nominate Metlin for the Best, Quirkiest, Unique, Most Entertaining & Endearing small City/Town in the USA! I mean any town that has a Martian Taco Restaurant needs to be tops on that list!
This return to Metlin, CA featured Tayla – Emmie’s Best Friend and Big City Girl & Jeremy – Boomerang Local who runs the Comic & Game Emporium & doubles as “HOT” mountain-man yummy-ness on the side!
Loved Them! Loved Their Banter, the Tension and all the flawed, hot-mess-ness that made them perfect for each other.
Loved Jeremy’s Plan of Attack, his calm coolness on the out-side, His sneak attacks on Tayla’s protective walls. Loved that he was behind her 100% even if that meant they didn’t end up together.
Also, loved all the other characters that made this town so captivating and eclectic.
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest review.
Why would anyone leave Metlin?!
Hunter once again delivers a sensational story line, accessorized with the ever so fun, Jeremy, and fabulous, Tayla. These quirky characters are right at home in Hunter’s 7th and Main backdrop. The chemistry between them is off the charts. And, while there are some ups and downs, they are obviously a perfect match. I loved this book.
As is often the case when I pick up Ms. Hunter’s work, I laughed … I sighed … there may have been a happy tear or two. Highly recommended for anyone with feelings.
Hooked was a fantastic journey back to Metlin!
With the second book in the 7th and Main series we get to revisit all the wonderful characters we met in Emmie and Ox’s story while watching their friends Tayla and Jeremy fall slowly and sweetly in love.
They are total opposites with Tayla being a social-media savvy city girl and Jeremy an outdoors loving nerd. But just the like magnets they cannot stay away from each other. Their story is the relationship everyone wishes they could have full of adventure, understanding and pushing each other to grow in all the best ways.
I really enjoyed the story and getting to know both Tayla and Jeremy in this fantastic small-town romance. I’ve especially enjoyed this series because the problem I’ve found with a lot of small town romances is that the authors make the quirkiness too over the top and a bit unbelievable. But Elizabeth manages to find the perfect balance with the town and characters where they are quirky and lovable but still very real and I want them all to be my best friends.
The premise of this book seemed interesting: big city girl in a small town tries to deny that the small town is where she belongs. I loved Metlin, and I loved the residents. What I didn’t love was Tayla. She turned me off when she ignored Emmie regarding the costumes for the middle school book club, and she never really got back into my good graces after that. I found myself wishing for someone better for Jeremy. I’m sure other people will like how she realizes her love, but she rubbed me the wrong way, and it tainted the book for me. Three stars for Gus and the other residents of Metlin. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC.
Opposites attract and sometimes sparks fly. Jeremy and Tayla danced around one another in Inked but this time the focus is all on them. Tayla isn’t sure what she wants out of life until her dream opportunity is dropped in her lap and she needs to take a step back and decide what will make her happy. Jeremy knows he wants Tayla but getting her on the same page is frustrating. When her opportunity might take her back to San Francisco, he finally gets up the nerve to “reel her in” to his life goals.
This was a fun, flirty story of friends to lovers, slow burn attraction and a great end game where everyone wins. I am enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next installment.
Every single thing Elizabeth Hunter writes is pure gold. Hooked is Jeremy and Tayla’s story. I love these characters so much. Jeremy is loyal, loving, and hot! Tayla is also very loyal, confident in her own skin, but is missing some acceptance and love I think she desperately craves, but doesn’t realize it. There is a bit of push and pull, done in the best way. I loved that Tayla is a girly girl, but she is willing to try new things with Jeremy. She gives 100% in everything she does. She sees opportunities everywhere. I love her optimism. The same can be said for Jeremy. He knows anything with Tayla will be amazing and he is all in. He knows Tayla and is so in sync with her and what she is trying to do. One of my favorite characters is Jeremy’s pop. He is someone I could imagine having long conversations with. Another amazing read from Elizabeth Hunter, her books are always an automatic one click and I have never been disappointed, Hooked is no exception.
Classic opposites attract. Tayla and Jeremy’s romance is a witty, playful, and hot interracial romance updated to be relevant without being preachy. It hits romance junkies in all the right emotional places.
When I read the first book in the 7th and Main series Ink, I knew this was going to be a very good series. Hooked does not disappoint! Not only do we get to witness the chemistry (hot & off the charts) between Jeremy and Tayla we get drawn into their feelings of who they are and what they each want out of life. They are two very different people and the journey they take to get where they belong is entertaining and has you hoping they can find their HEA.
Getting to visit with Emme & Ox and some of the others from Ink was a bonus. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
5 stars
I simply adore this series. Elizabeth Hunter is able to create a world that you not only fall in love with, but want to jump inside and be a part of. I find myself wondering if the company Tayla works for exists and if the app is available, lol!
I think my favorite part is being from the Central Valley and relating to all of the places she is talking about. There are some great small towns around here and her references sprinkled throughout are like little gems. Now if only there were more Jeremy’s walking around…H-O-T!
These characters feel like friends and family. I simply cannot wait for the next book. (Review by Terri “Jane”)