Someone once told me there are worse things than being left at the altar. Well, not many, in my experience. That was six months ago, though, and my life has moved on. Heck, I have a new job lined up and I’m leaving town. But I can’t deny that my love life kind of sucks. That’s why I let my friends convince me to join them for Club Escapade’s Breakup Bash. And we might just be disillusioned … disillusioned enough to actually enjoy it. Last time we were here, it was for my bachelorette party. That night, I met one of the dancers–Raphael–and when he flirted with me, I almost forgot I was engaged. And there’s a part of me that never forgot him.
Now, it seems my friends have wandered off and I’m thinking about calling it a night. Until the music begins and I see Raphael, my secret fantasy, on stage. And this time, I’m definitely not engaged…
Each book in the Breakup Bash series is STANDALONE:
* The First Rule of Hook-Ups
* Rules of a Rebound
* The Last Rule of Makeups
more
To me this book was about never defining a person by the career choices they make. I enjoyed reading how the sex with no strings hookup grew into a true love connection. The chemistry between Raphael and Alexa was out of this world. I enjoyed how they banded together and stood strong against other people’s unsolicited advice. Sometimes we all find a love worth fighting for. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Burning hot sex with romance, and humor. You don’t want to miss this book.
Get out the fan because this book is sizzling hot! It’s so good I got nothing else done but listening. The narrator did a wonderful job at breathing life into already engaging characters.
I can’t wait to read Alexa’s friend’s stories.
I highly recommend this book to any who likes a lot of heat with their romance and a smidgen of humor. Okay, maybe more than a smidgen. Either way this book rocks.
After being jilted at the alter, our heroine and her best friends go out to “celebrate”… Nina does a great job with this sexy contemporary! Worth a read… 🙂
Alexa met Rafe when her bachelorette party was at the club. She almost forgot she was engaged. Now they meet again and all bets are off. A hook-up happens and things get wild from there. I enjoyed this well written book. A winner from this author.
An ex-stripper with a heart of gold for our male lead? Yes please! I really liked Raph and Alexa’s story. This book has been sitting in my kindle for some time. I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading it!
Raph is sexy and hot, without being the typical manwhore. He’s been hurt before, so he keeps his heart and emotions close. Alexa was left at the altar 6 months ago, but she’s finally starting to open up again. Raph is the perfect man to help her get there! They are so right for each other. However, this wouldn’t be a proper romance novel without some ups and downs. Thankfully everything works out at the end and they both get what they deserve!
Loved the characters couldn’t put the book down until I was finished
When Alexa’s friends take her to Club Escapade for some fun before she moves, and to help get over being dumped at the altar, she is taken aback to see that Rafe, the hot dancer from her bachelorette party, is there again. Maybe this time they can actually act on the attraction that sparked back then. After all, she’s single now, so there are no obstacles in the way of them having some fun, right?
If you are in the mood for something sexy with an entertaining storyline and some great characters, The First Rule of Hook-Ups should be on your TBR list.
I have to say this book had me laughing so hard at points. I mean Alexa and her friends were a hoot! Poor Alexa was left at the altar and she is devastated but decides to move on by leaving town and getting a new job. Her love life sucks and she is ready to move on because no man in town is good enough for her.
So her friends decide they should have one last good time before she goes. So they decide they are going to go to Club Escapade’s break up bash and have one hell of a night. But when they get there they separate and leave Alexa by herself so she is just sitting there when the music starts and out comes Raphael.
She remembers Raphael because the night of her bachelorette party he came out and she flirted with him but she was engaged so it couldn’t go anywhere but tonight she is single and ready to mingle with Raphael. What will happen when Raphael sees Alexa again? Will they hit it off or will they just flirt again and go nowhere? This is a must read that will have you laughing and lusting after Raphael because he is so damn gorgeous!
My first read by this author, The First Rule of Hook-Ups is an engaging read with wonderful characters and sizzle that is sure to fog the glasses. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to exploring more by this author
Alexandra Cayne is jilted at the altar. The night before at her bachelorette party she shares a kiss with Raphael the Dream Maker at Club Escapade during a show. He has retired and is just filling in. He is actually Rafe Dumond, the club owner. She comes back six months after her botched wedding and sees him again. They both have issues and are gun shy. They agree to a temporary sleeping arrangement. But can they find their happily ever after? Or will their exes play a part in their breakup? This was a really fun, cute read. Loved the hero and the heroine. 5 stars
The First Rule of Hook-Ups was my first read by Nina Crespo and I honestly enjoyed it. I mean, it’s got a Magic Mike feel to it with a smart stripper who is successful and knows how to care for a woman. So yeah, I’m going to gobble that up.
Here’s what I’m going to start off with. This story is told in 3rd person and I have to be honest, the story has to really blow me away in order for me to get past that. I think there are only a handful of authors that I will continue to read their stories written in that POV style. It’s a personal preference and something in the story has to stand out or connect to me in order for me to really get past it. Fair or not fair, it’s the truth. So with that all being said, I found myself wanting to get back to The First Rule of Hook-Ups as soon as possible after anytime I had to put it down to do something else.
Alexa just went through being left at the alter and let’s just say that it’s left her a bit jaded. When her friends convince her to enjoy herself and just hookup, she’s not really feeling it. Until she seems him again. Rafe. The man at her bachelorette party that had her thinking about him way more than she should be. The man she still thought about when it came to that night. Now that she’s single, who’s to say they can’t have a little bit of fun.
Rafe can’t believe he’s seeing Alexa again. He’s never forgotten about her but she’s off limits. She’s married, right? So imagine his surprise when he finds out she isn’t. He tried to push her away but it didn’t work. He’s drawn to her. He has also been hurt in the past so they make a deal. Strictly a hook up. No feelings involved. Yeah, right. That never works out.
The closer Rafe and Alexa get, the more they realize that they can’t live without each other. Things seems to be moving quickly and they didn’t even realize it. People keep trying to get in their way so when they finally discover how much they mean to each other, they have to fight for it.
Overall, I had a good time with this book. I’m glad that I kept going and didn’t let the 3rd person POV distract me because I did become invested and I wanted to know if they get their HEA. I look forward to reading more books from Crespo in the future.
The First Rule Of Hook-Ups was the first book I’ve read by author Nina Crespo. It’s the first in the new ‘Break-Up Bash’ series. It’s told in 3rd POV, which isn’t my favorite but I managed to ignore it and enjoy the story.
Alexa first met Rafe during her bachelorette party at the club he co-owns with his friend Shannon. The former stripper had to step in at the last minute and dance that night. He and Alexa made a connection even though they only kissed.
Six months later, Alexa is back, but she’s not celebrating new wedded bliss. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Rafe is annoyed when he’s forced to cover for members of the male revue who are meant to be entertaining at ‘The Break-Up Bash’ a client is hosting at his club, but when he catches a glimpse of Alexa, he changes his mind. She’ll all he’s been able to think about since he first met her. Now, he wants another chance. Maybe this time he’ll get what he wants.
Alexa can’t believe the same guy is here, and she’s up onstage with him again. This time, she wants to take things a step further and is more than happy to follow Rafe to his room.
What started as a one night stand soon becomes more, but what happens when more isn’t enough?
Can the guy from the wrong side of the tracks be just what little Miss Rich girl needs?
This was a steamy little number and had a good story behind it.
ARC provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
4.5* Alexa couldn’t get Raphael (Rafe) out of her head after seeing him dance. When she ends up right back there for the Breakup Bash she couldn’t believe her eyes when he was there again. Boy howdy does the man know how to move his body.
With the sheets heating up between these two, their pasts come back to throw a wrench in their non-relationship. It wasn’t supposed to be more than them sleeping together, no relationship, just hot, hot steamy moments between the sheets. She was leaving, they both knew that but what happens when you start second guessing yourself? What happens when you figure out it’s more than just sex?
They had obstacles to overcome if they were going to give a relationship a shot. Would they be able to tell all the naysayers to just let it be?
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see who is next!
Not only did I love my first ever Nina Crespo book, she set up the Breakup Bash series so well that I can’t wait to read the next books and find out what was going on with Alexa’s friends – Nat and Corinne. Alexa and Rafe’s story was so sexy and sweet. I really enjoyed that while their connection was largely based on sexual attraction in the beginning, they were able to delve deeper and to see each other for who they were and appreciate each other in a way that they both really needed. Their relationship grew into more than just a physical thing; they were each the support the other needed and the catalyst for growth and healing after they both suffered through disastrous breakups. In fact, as hot as the sexy times were (and they were HAWT), my favorite part of The First Rule of Hook-Ups is how much real support and encouragement Alexa and Rafe offered to each other. It gave me hope – and besides solid entertainment, what more can ask for in a book? 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
Alexa is a woman done wrong, she was dumped by her fiance mere minutes before they were supposed to say “I do,” and now she is doing all she can to move on and ease the sting in her heart. Her friends decide what she needs is a night on the town, so they hit up a club, with the intention of having a few drinks, doing a little dancing, and take in the male entertainment. Their hoping it will help Alexa get her groove back… and she does alright, with a sexy dancer named Raph!
The First Rule of Hook-Ups is a sultry little tale that will squeeze your heart and weaken your knees!! This was a fun one to watch unfold, a jilted ex bride-to-be on a quest to get her mojo back and put her cheating ex behind her in the rear view mirror. Alexa found a lot more than her mojo that night at the club, she met a man that set her world on fire, and awakened her hibernating heart. Watching her finding her way back was inspiring, her and Raph brought life to the pages, as well as lots of smoldering heat!! Highly recommend this one, these two will keep you captivated from start to finish!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Rage and Alexa feel sparks fly on their first encounter. On the second they take it to the next level as she tries to get over being jilted. This sets up the start of a steamily charged relationship. As things continue to heat up in the bedroom they realize that they have a lot more in common. With help from some well meaning friends they finally realize that they are meant for a lifetime together.
What a wonderful story of heartbreak and love by Nina Crespo. The story of Alexa Cayne and Rafe Dumond takes them through the pain of relationships past and the joy and pain of a new relationship. Alexa was dumped and the alter and Rafe was dumped because he wasn’t good enough – getting through that baggage to make it work between the is the joy in story itself.
I loved this book! Alexa and Rafe and both extremely likeable characters, the story was good, the writing was good, and everything unfolded perfectly. Quick, fun and super sexy.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Alexa was stood up on her wedding day by her cheating fiance Brian. She decides to go to a break up bash where six months ago while she was the bride to be at her bachelor party she met Rafael and it was instant lust, they had a hot kiss but kept it at that because she didn’t want to cheat, come to find out that is exactly what her scum of a fiance was doing. Rafael could not forget that hot kiss he had gotten six months ago so when he is at this break up bash he couldn’t believe it was Alexa and when he finds out that she is single and she wasn’t cheating they have a hot one night stand which turns into many nights. Alexa’s ex comes back and wants to get back together with her and she is getting pressured (rich people) do these instead of love. Alexa has fallen in love with Rafe, but even though he also loves her he is holding some baggage from his last girlfriend and he is comparing Alexa’s situation to his ex and he almost almost loses her.Enjoy!
What a fun and sexy book this was. Even if it started out where the female lead was a little bit in the dumps.
I felt I could really relate in some ways to Alexa. She was left at the alter and even though she was a strong and independent woman, she didn’t want to be anywhere near her ex when he returned to work. So she took another job and decided to try out a new location. She loved her family and her friends and for the most part was an upbeat person. She wasn’t totally on board going to the Breakup bash but she was hoping to get a glimpse of the hot dancer there.
Rafe now is the owner of Club Escapade and no longer takes off his clothes for a living. However there was one woman, months ago that he can’t get off his mind. When she shows up at the Breakup Bash and Rafe is required to fill in for a sick dancer, these two are brought back together.
I loved these two together. There was spark, chemistry, laughter and just an easy understanding between them. I had to pump my fists in the air when after seeing Rafe again, she follows him back to his office and demands he kisses her. I was so jealous of her being able to do that.
I would highly recommend this book.