Whoever said singles were missing out by not finding true love and getting married before the age of thirty had never experienced the sheer pleasure of nightly romantic comedy viewings in their underwear while eating one of Licked’s famous Crazy Cat Lady sundaes. Because life just doesn’t get better than that.
At least, it doesn’t for Shayne Callahan. It didn’t take more than a handful of broken … handful of broken hearts after college to solidify that she was better at pairing up those around her than herself. As a matchmaker at the elite HLS—Hook, Line, & Sinker Matchmaking Company—in the City of Angels, she has a knack for finding the other halves of even the most eccentric clients:
Sugar daddy with a foot fetish? Gross, but no problem.A severe case of nudophobia? Match made before lunch.
But even the most happily independent of women can find their best-laid plans screeching to a halt when they meet that guy. For Shayne, that guy comes in the form of boyishly handsome, suspender-lovin’, dimple-poppin’ Nate Ryan on a pantsless (we’ll get to that later) Metro ride.
Of course, relationships can never be easy. Before the destined lovers can ride off into the sunset, they must overcome a power-hungry and sexual-punning boss, a celebrity scandal and cover-up, and let’s not forget Shayne’s dreadful foot-in-mouth disease—with which there can never be a happily ever after.
Will fate throw Shayne a freakin’ bone? Or will she be destined to live out her life as sexy(ish), single(ish), and L.A.’s finest Hooker (upper)?
Hooker is Book Two in the L.A. Liaisons series, but each book can be read as a standalone novel.
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I have read all of Brooke’s books and I have loved them all but this series is my favorite. It has everything I could ever want in a series. Amazing friends, sexiness, great humor, hot men, drunken shenanigans, sweets, and an awesome sense of style. It also has love, heartbreak, life-changing events, and it gave me all the feels. Licked was Raleigh’s story, and now it’s time for Shayne’s…
Shayne is a single matchmaker in LA. You would think being a matchmaker she would believe in love at first sight, but she never did until she saw him. Maybe it wasn’t love but it was definitely something. It was electric, she saw the sparks. Too bad she was in her Star Wars underwear on the metro when she locks eyes with the stranger that makes her melt. Oh well, she will probably never see him again after she and her friends exit the train…Oh boy, was she wrong.
Shayne sees him just a few hours later. Still pantsless and now tipsy. When he comes to her rescue she finally gets to see him up close and personal and damn…Nate is hot! Lickable hot even. Damn dimples. But the convo is not so much. What Shayne didn’t realize was that Nate is persistent, he wants to get to know her with or without pants on even after she sets the challenge. Her mouthy attitude just turns him on more. He wants to prove to her he is not like every other guy. Nate is not making this easy. Resisting him is like a full-time job. One she wants to quit…
Shayne likes Nate. Really likes him but her job is getting in the way. A twist is fucking this up. She loves her career and what she offered to do for it has her twisted up inside. Is it worth it if she loses Nate in the process?
No joke. I love Shayne and Nate! His damn dimples, suspenders, and humor is a lethal combination. And Shayne, he’ll, she is funny as fuck. She might be a bit lost in the book but she doesn’t lose her humor. Together, their flirty, and witty banter is just wow. Perfect really. But deep down, there really is more to this couple.
Overall…I read this book in just a few hours and didn’t want it to end. I laughed out loud, teared up, swooned, and laughed more. I can’t wait for the next book. From what I can tell, it’s going to be a crazy ride.
Quotes:
“Cute, nerdy, and a klutz. An intriguing combination.”
“You like the challenge,” he said, stepping in front of me, his eyes flicking to my mouth. “And believe me, so do I.”
“I’m setting my timer, Romeo.”
“Success,” he said, giving me a broad smile. “And I don’t even have a curfew tonight.”
I loved the first book in the L.A. Liaisons series Licked. I was blown away by the writing and the phenomenal characters. The second book in the series Hooker was really good too. Not as amazing as Licked but still close.
The ladies in this series still got their sense of humor, spunky personality and their love for each other. That’s really what’s so amazing about this book as it was with Licked. These ladies’ personality felt so real and the humor spot on and funny as hell. Their bond was strong and nothing could or would come between them.
Shayne was so funny and I could see some things of her in me. Her chemistry with Nate was delicious and I would have loved more interaction between them because I enjoyed their connection. He was so sweet and sexy as hell with his suspenders. He was so good with Shayne and could see right through her. Their banter was hilarious as hell.
I would have appreciated less interaction with her boss. She took to much space but that was just because I was deeply invested in the ladies’ friendship and of course Shayne and Nate as a couple.
This was so damn good and entertaining as hell. Brooke Blaine knows her style and it works to perfection. I can’t wait to read Paige’s story and get back to these fabulous ladies.
4 BadAssSexySuspendersStars
This was such a funny book that hooked me in from the first chapter. So sweet, so nice, and love the girl power from supportive friends. I didn’t start with the first of the series and I didn’t feel lost.
Hooker was another entertaining read. I enjoyed the book, but I think I still like Licked a bit more. Shayne has a lot going on in her life and has some unpleasant people she has to deal with; I really hate Val and Nicole. She makes a lot of progress from the start of the book to the end of it, all in a good way. Nate is a sweet and persistent guy. He likes Shayne from the start and just can’t let her go. Their relationship is a cute one with several bumps in the road. I loved meeting Ace for the first time and seeing where he started (I’ve already read his series and where he ends up). While I love him, he does cause some problems in the book for the characters. The book can be slightly over the top at times, but it’s still funny and enjoyable. I think Paige’s book is also going to be an entertaining one.
*4 Stars*
I’m really enjoying this series and getting to read some books for myself in between blog signups.
I really enjoy being in the world of this group of friends, and this time around its Shayne’s turn. She meets the gorgeous Nate on the pantsless subway ride, and from then on he won’t take no for an answer. I mean, you’d think the guy would give up with the way she reacts towards him, but nope, he sees something he wants, and is determined to get it.
Shayne is still working for that cow of a woman, Val, at HLS and let me tell you, she’s the only one who can’t see how bad it is, and that she needs to get out. But suddenly, her personal life and her work life clash, and she’s left juggling guys like there’s no tomorrow.
I love her banter and chemistry with Nate, and Ace is really easygoing and a sweet guy. I just wanted her to come clean because you know this is all going to blow up in her face. I was just waiting and waiting for it to happen, and it when it all does, it goes down very differently to what I was expecting.
The last part of the book is really about characters coming into their own, putting on their big girl panties and taking ownership of their lives. I really loved the ending, and it rounded the book off nicely.
Of course we get our other fave characters who have been with us from the start in Licked, and they add to some really fun moments in the story.
I can’t wait to read more about these guys in P.I.T.A and then hopefully Quinn gets a book after that.
Definitely recommend.
And it happened again.
Finished the book in three hours start to finish (Thank God I learned my lesson after reading Licked and didn’t try to start it when I had things to do like work) And just like Licked absolutely loved Hooker! Shayne and Nate’s story brought out all the feels from sweet and sassy to heartbreaking as well as good dose of smexyness to round it all out.
Shayne was that character that was truly well rounded. Business woman/matchmaker Shayne was confident. She could read a situation, no matter how crazy it may be, and figure out a way to make it worth without breaking a sweat. Then there is Shayne not in business mode and I swear she is a hot mess, but still a sweet hot mess. She’s an adorbable klutz and if you were to look under the term ‘verbal vomit’ or as she labels it ‘foot in mouth disease’ her name and picture would be there, but she’s got such a great heart that she’ll do what needs to be done to make things go smoothly, even if it isn’t what she really wants to do.
Nate is patience and persistence personified. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and doesn’t get his feathers ruffled by the little things. His persistence has a the feel of an alpha male by going after what he wants regardless of the roadblocks his prey uses to deter him, but he isn’t a domineering a(s)(s)hat about it either. He’s sweet, sexy and I think I may now have a thing for suspenders.
I have to admit that I was just as mortified for Shayne as she was when she and Nate first meet, but it also had me doing the goofy grin at just how geeky cute part of it was. Shayne’s tendency to put her foot in her mouth rears it’s ugly head is what had me laughing while cringing but thank god it didn’t put Nate off wanting to get to know her. In fact I swear it made him want to get to know her more and since persistence is his middle name he didn’t give up, though as with all budding romances it can’t always smooth sailing and this particular bump in their road to their HEA was a heartbreaker. Remember what I said about Shayne’s heart? Well, that definitely comes into play here. The situation is one of those ‘you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t’ ones and quite honestly my heart hurt for all involved in it because there was no true villain. But things do work out and I loved how it came to be. It was very much in keeping with who Nate and Shayne really are at the deepest parts of their souls and showed why they deserve their HEA.
This book, and series, is just really a fun and well written read. The various twists and turns are well thought out and resolved in such a way that has me nodding my head in agreement. Ms. Blaine knows how to keep the good, the bad and the ugly well balanced so that it never truly tips one way or the other too much and the smexy moments are always well done. And I love all the characters we’ve met so far, well maybe not all I ~ could have done without Val *smirks*, and how they each have such distinct personalities that jump off the page at you that you feel like you know them.
The Bottom Line: Another great addition to the series and I can’t wait for P.I.T.A’s book!!
~ ARC provided by Between the Sheets PR in exchange for an honest review~