New York’s FinestBlogging as The SocialmedialiteApril 22LADIES AND GENTS! I have an announcement!You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable … The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy. Well, I have a confession to make…
THE HERMIT
Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York’s Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actual reality? Not so much.
THE HOOKER
Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media—social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite…
THE PLAN
When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggests pairing them together.
What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?
The Hooker and the Hermit is a collaboration between authors L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid, is a full length 110k word novel, and is a standalone.
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The Hooker And The Hermit is a fantastic contemporary romance by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid. Team Cosway/Reid have produced a book that is well-written and populated with spectacular characters. This book is written in first person, alternating point of view, my least favorite format, but I admit, these ladies totally made it work in this book. Annie is socially awkward, and knows it. Being a hermit in NYC isn’t easy, but she’s as close as you can get. Ronan is living in NYC after being suspended from playing rugby. Ronan and Annie’s story is loaded with drama, humor and sizzle. This book is hysterically funny in parts, so if you’re reading, don’t drink anything. Spraying happens when you ignore that rule, ask my poor kindle. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from team Cosway/Reid in the future. The Hooker And The Hermit is book 1 of the Rugby Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
You can never go wrong with Penny Reid! I love all of her books. This entire series will make you laugh!
So, let’s be honest. When I first read the title, I wasn’t sure about who the Hooker was, didn’t realize it was a term for a rugby player. So when the story started, I thought maybe Annie’s neighbor was the hooker since she was obviously the hermit. But then I learned who Ronan was and I was no longer confused about that. Now let me say, I LOVED the male narrator’s Irish accent. In fact I can still hear his voice in my head if I think about how he said her name. I did get really mad at her for being mad at him towards the end. But as I’ve mentioned many times, I know that is a part of romance so often. In the end I loved the story enough that I started to download and listen to the next book in the series, but it just wasn’t catching me so I gave up on it for now.
Loved this whole series!
*3.5-4 Stars*
I enjoyed reading this one, but not as much as my fave series so far from Penny, which is The Winston Brothers. This was fun to read and the characters were likeable, but I didn’t connect the way I would like to with them.
Definitely some fun secondary characters who would be great to see in future books.
Not my fave Penny read, but not terrible either.
I liked this book so much that I bought the 2nd one in this series. Very enjoyable!
If you haven’t read a book by L.H. Cosway yet, start now!! Go one click this one!! I promise you won’t be sorry! You will thank me later!
In the Hooker and the Hermit, we are introduced to Annie (the Hermit) and Ronan (the Hooker). Now before you get all excited thinking “hooker” as in prostitute, let me set ya straight. Hooker in this story is a term used in rugby; think QB for football. Got it?
Both Annie and Ronan are such endearing characters in their own way, you can’t help but fall in love with them. Annie is so painfully shy and suffers from social anixiety to the point that she can barely function, and for good reason. (You’ll have to read the book to find out why!) She develops an alter ego in the form of popular celebrity writing blogger the Socialmedialite.
Ronan is a portrayed as a “bad boy” rugby player in the media, and is one hawt smexxy talker! WOWZA!! Christian Gray can go feck himself! I’ll take Ronan any day!! I certainly think of him every time I put my seat belt on 😉
I highly recommend this one!!
There are so many great quotes in this book, but here are a couple of my favs:
“In real life, I could count on me. I could rely on me. I would never abandon myself. I would never go back on my word or lie to myself or let myself down. The way I saw it, everyone else was a wild card…”
“I feel like I could lose myself and find myself in you.”
I just finished this book and I am already clearing my schedule to read the next in the series. This is a cute love story about a young woman who is emotionally/physically isolated while being a master at social media. Her profession and skills as described by the authors makes for a fascinating learning experience. Ronan, her Irish love interest is a classic and a nice change from the American Football athlete/love interests. I’m from Australia and Rugby, especially International Rugby or Union as I know it, gives the story a different feel all together. The development of the relationship is at a good pace, and the two lead characters are not generic an any way. The love scenes are steamy, and there are some brilliant funny moments where Annie is clumsy or Ronan’s sense of humour shines. A very enjoyable read – I definitely recommend it.
A lot raunchier than most of Penny Reid’s stories. A continuity error that I can’t seem to put aside – Ronan had been sending Annie flowers and gifts to her apartment but on their first date he has to text her for her address?
Both main characters had difficult childhoods and have learnt to create a better life for themselves.
Im not sure that rugby players make the same money or have the some media interests as football (English/American).
3.5 stars
I guess I should start off by saying that I’ve read every solo book by Penny Reid but never read anything by L.H. Cosway.
I really wanted to like this a lot more than I did. It started out really promising. I was really excited cause I’ve only heard good things about this series. I won a print copy of this book in a contest and finally got around to reading it. I LOVE Penny’s books; she’s one of my all time favorite authors. But I guess every book can’t be a winner to every reader.
I liked how the authors explored an extreme introvert, hermit, commitment/relationship-phobe and self proclaimed coward. I felt like the backstory they wrote for Annie completely validated her behavior. I was never annoyed by her severe reactions to Ronan’s advances because it made total sense once you learned about how she grew up.
I liked the hero, Ronan. I liked how loyal he was, honorable, honest, trustworthy and that he loved his family. I wasn’t super crazy about his predatory nature when he first pursued her (he is the one who used the word ‘predator’ to describe himself) but I liked what kind of man he was overall. I liked him right up until the “kinky” sex tastes came out. This took away from the overall story and appeal of Ronan for me. I know that people do these things in real life, and that people enjoy them. I’m just not one of them. I have no desire to ever be restrained or be “punished” or be dominated so heavily in the bedroom. I don’t want to be taken from behind or degraded by my partner. I don’t understand it and that whole element took away from the romantic experience for me. I am glad that the authors wrote it in a way that Annie was completely agreeable to it and enjoyed it, even if I don’t understand the appeal. All the sex was consensual.
I liked the grand gesture ending and how Annie took responsibility and ownership for all her actions. I know that Penny Reid never writes the same thing twice and overall this was an extremely well written book, so I will be reading the rest of the series. I hope the next book is more enjoyable for me.
This was cute, fun, heartwarming and the flow of the story was right on point.
I’ve only read a few books by Penny Reid and I’ve experienced great beautiful characters. I could tell this book had her touch. I haven’t read any other books by L.H. Cosway.
Ronan was respectful, thoughtful and honorable. Aaaaw!!! He was such a hottie sweetheart too! I wanted to lick him, kiss him, grab him and keep him.
Annie was smart, kind and broken. I wanted to reach her, hug her and befriend her.
Ronan was Annie”s missing piece and they were perfect together.
I really enjoyed this
It’s very long. The dual story lines didn’t work for me. I just couldn’t get into it in any way. I really like PR, but I think I’ll stick with books she writes solo.
It was ok, but I didn’t make it all the way through. I wasn’t connecting with the characters, so I quit. I might try again later.
I liked how the characters brought out the best in each other. Loved the storyline and happily ever after. Didn’t think the kinky sex was needed but I guess I didn’t get that in the book description. Still, I would read this author again.
This book was amazing! I’ve never read anything by these 2 authors, although I do have a book for each one my tbr list. The very first thing I did was blow up the cover on my computer so I could see what was written on it. OMG that made me chuckle! I one-clicked it by what was on the cover alone. Right when I started reading the first page, it had me at the word kerfuffle. I love that word!! This book was well written, funny (I highlighted like crazy and I normally don’t do that) and sexy. I thought Ronan and Annie made a great couple. I really liked Ronan the best, I just wanted to hug him all the time. I do hope the authors write some more books about the secondary characters, I really enjoyed his sister and his friend. Side note- I watched a video on rugby players, I knew the sport existed, but not what they actually did. Holy crap those dudes are crazy! That is one intense sport.
Modern day fairy tale with a few twists.
Fun read lots of laughs.
i had fairly low Expectations for this book and was very pleasantly surprised at how we did it was and how invested I became in the characters
loved it – bought the next one right away
I cared about the characters in this book. Annie and Ronan were both beautifully flawed, and better for knowing each other.
Nice humor. Good tension throughout story. A great start to a series.