Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey: Always the supporting actress but never the leading lady, this is 
how Hannah Bellinger has always felt and for the most part she has been happy to play the role of hype guy and to stay out of the spot light but something changed when Westport king crab fisherman and all round charmer Fox Thornton came into her life.
Now that Hannah is back in Westport to help film the next big movie with her long time crush director Sergio, she is determined to step out of the shadows and go after what she has always wanted a spot on the musical department and to finally get Sergio to notice her as more than a gofer. However it would seem that something has changed big time with Fox, somewhere along the past seven months her relationship with Fox has grown stronger and now that the two are staying together the chemistry is pretty much scorching. Looks like Hannah has finally found the real leading man in her fairytale story, the only question now is can she convince Fox that he is leading man material?
“Hannah realised she’d made a huge mistake. She was Eve in the Garden of Eden, and she’d just taken a bite from the apple.”
Manwhore, ladies man, skirt chaser, Casanova; these are all names that Fox is completely used to being associated with but are they really who he wants to be? I mean can he even really change now after all these years of living up to everyone’s expectations of him? After having a less than perfect childhood and then having his heart crushed in college Fox has pretty much resigned himself to never being more than a good time guy, well that is until Hannah Bellinger. Her unwavering fate in him is starting to stir up feelings that Fox never expected to be worthy of feeling but the question is can this brave fisherman let himself fall into these completely uncharted waters?
“There was never going to be a life away from you, because, Jesus, that’s no life at all. You, Hannah. Are my life.”
This book was pure perfection all wrapped up in one of the cutest friends to lovers bow. Hook, Line And Sinker was a compete siren call to my book loving heart, I pretty much ate up Hannah and Fox’s angst filled romance. We first got to meet Hannah and Fox as supporting characters in It Happened One Summer and let me just tell you these two sure did shine hot and bright in their own book with their slow burn friends to lovers romance.
Hannah was hands down one of my favourite female characters, I loved that she was genuinely a nice person that wanted to help make everyones life easier. I really liked that she would stand strong on a matter that mattered to her and that she did not back down even when her own insecurities surfaced. My heart really went out to her and the fact that she felt that she was missing that link to Cross that her sister was able to find so easily but once she found that link did it help open her up in a huge way. The entire bit to do with the sea shanties was incredibly heart moving. I loved getting to see the way she linked music to every aspect of her life, and how this love for music brought her closer to Fox. I absolutely loved getting to she her relationship with Fox grow from friends to lovers and getting to see them help give each other a push of confidence. Even with their underlying sexual tension ramping up I loved that they were first there for each other as friends and as a support system.
“You make me feel like I’m in the exact right place, Nothing to run or hide from. Nothing I want to avoid.”
As far as heroes go Fox is up there with the best of them. Good gosh did he just melt my heart while breaking it all at the same time. For all his showboating and trying to come off as a total player, he really was a broken soul looking for love and I just loved that Hannah was there to help him see that he is so much more than what everyone assumes of him. As much as this book was a romance to its core, Bailey wove in a beautiful story of self growth in the mix and let me just say getting to see Fox’s story will definitely bring a few tears to your eyes. I loved that not only did Hannah help show Fox that he is worthy of being loved but that he also has what it takes to be the best captain to his men on the Della Ray. The chemistry and connection between Fox and Hannah was pure slow burn goodness, I loved that Fox had already fallen for Hannah a year earlier and the close proximity now only heightened their already brewing feelings.
“They were on opposite ends of the bed, like two sides of the moon—one dark, one light,”
There is definitely something so alluring about Westport and all that fisherman goodness that keeps me wanting more and more, I love the way that Bailey captures the chilling essence of the lives of these fishermen and their loved ones while still keeping this light. Hook, Line And Sinker is definitely a book not to be missed, this sweet friends to lovers, slow burn romance will melt you heart while have you wanting your very own charming sea captain.
Book Info:
Publication: March 1, 2022 | Avon Books | Bellinger Sisters #2
King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time–in bed and out–and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.
Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.
Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?
