The Hookup by Kristen Ashley

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 through 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.

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
You know that scene in Sleepless in Seattle where Tom Hanks' sister is with him at dinner, describing An Affair to Remember and she breaks down into tears over how romantic the film is? That is how I was reading The Hookup. It is so romantic it had me crying and blubbering – but in a happy way.

Johnny Gamble is a pretty perfect hero as things go. The kind of perfect every girl dreams about, smart, handsome, rich, fabulous in bed, treats you like a Queen. Izzy is beautiful, intelligent, loving, hardworking, generous. She loves animals and knows how to make the most of what she has. I want to be like her.

We meet Izzy and Johnny the morning after their first hookup and follow them on their journey in what is one of the most romantic books I've read in a long time. Watching them work themselves out and fall in love was a joy, even during the tough times.

Their story is also super sexy. A lot of time is spent on their physical relationship, maybe a little too much. I think I'll need to do a second reading to really be sure. I think this is a book I'll fall more in love with every time I read it. And I will read it again.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have such a hard time writing reviews for Kristen Ashley books. I'm not sure if it's my fan-girl status, or the fact that I don't want to give anything away, but I can never find the words to do her books justice.

I love how this book starts! We find Izzy and Johnny in bed, after a one-night stand. The panic and nervousness of waking in a strange bed, in a strange place, next to a drop-dead stranger. Izzy is a calm, collected jumble of emotions (absolutely understandable). She is a strong, independent heroine. I love her! She's caring, compassionate, and intelligent. She deserves a happily-ever-after but doesn't know if she should expect it with Johnny.

I have to mention that the name Johnny threw me for a loop. I do NOT think of a strong, sexy, gentle, alpha male when I hear the name Johnny. I instantly thought of a small child. It took me a while to change my perception of this name. By the end of this book, I will never think of the name Johnny belonging to a small child.

Izzy and Johnny's story totally sucked me in, from page one right through the end, I was entranced. The realistic beginning, the cloudy middle, the perfect ending – this is a book worthy of reading and re-reading. The best part is there will be a second book in this series, and I can't wait to read about Adeline and Toby!

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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Shelby & Veronica reviewed their personal copies of The Hookup (Moonlight and Motor Oil #1) by Kristen Ashley for this post.