... superbly steamy ... (so far) my favorite romance of 2019. The novel features well-drawn protagonists, who are as incredibly likable as they are lovable, and endearing secondary characters that jump off the page and into your heart ... appropriately paced ... The author beautifully captures the euphoria of new romance with heartwarming speeches and sweet gestures that are sure to satisfy even the most cynical of romantics ... The sex scenes, especially the ones I’ve dubbed ‘grand slam sex’ and ‘lusty limo ride’ are deliciously detailed without crossing the line into hardcore erotic romance. Kudos to Bailey on her superior talent for writing titillating prose and naturalistic dialogue that organically shifts from humor to romantic effusion ... an authentic romance with humor, heart, incredible sex, and a refreshing depiction of female friendship. This is a must-read for all romance fans.
With the small-town vibe, the local-boy-makes-good-hero story, the second-chance romance and the best-friend’s-sister trope all coming together, you may think you know where Fix Her Up is going, especially when Travis and Georgie concoct a plan to fake a relationship to boost their reputations. If you’re certain it’ll inevitably lead to hijinks, misunderstandings, personal resolutions not to get attached and irresistible attraction that makes the fake romance real in spite of everything . . . well, you’re right. So what? You know where a rollercoaster is going before you get on. That doesn’t stop it from being an amazingly fun ride. And this story has more than enough heat and excitement and sweetness and charm to keep you glued to the page ... With a couple this fresh, engaging and endearing, a happy ending seems like an inescapable conclusion. But in the hands of Tessa Bailey, it feels more like a justly earned reward for everything Travis and Georgie have done to make us fall in love with them along the way.
Bailey creates fireworks in this steamy novel as Georgie and Travis quickly break their own rules about their fake relationship. The story moves fluidly from one situation to the next, with lots of hot sex in between, and Bailey will keep readers on their toes as the 'couple' starts to realize this might be the real thing. Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Helena Hunting.
The fact that Georgie thinks her 'worth' to other people will increase by dating the town celebrity, despite her family being well-known for their construction business, is a bummer on its own, though that wasn’t my main difficulty with the book. I felt incredibly bad for Georgie. She suffers terribly with feelings of inadequacy and never received the same attention as her two older siblings ... The way both Travis and Stephen see Georgie, as this infantilized, perpetual young teen is, well…gross ... Georgie is more than just someone’s sister but rather than seeing her as an individual, Travis sees her as an extension of his friend. In a general sense, men commenting on how a woman has filled out or the physical changes our bodies go through from teen to adulthood has always bothered me. There’s a lecherousness to the phrase that makes it feel like a vocal leer. In this specific instance, it’s doubly revolting because Travis insists on seeing Georgie as if she’s part of her brother ... I don’t want to say this romance wasn’t believable in its HEA, but I did have concerns about the longevity of Georgie and Travis’ relationship. Travis is older by several years and they’re at different places in their lives ... Yes, they have great chemistry and awesome sex. However, they had rather polarizing opinions on very important things ... I’m still a Tessa Bailey fan, though I’m uncertain if I’ll continue with this series.
Bailey populates the novel with a lovable cast of meddling secondary characters who help and hinder Georgie and Travis. A charming subplot describes how Georgie and her friends create the Just Us League, which is dedicated to helping women reach their goals ... The sexual relationship between Travis and Georgie is sizzling, but the emotional journey from fake relationship to true love is just as compelling ... Don’t let the cover fool you: This romance is as steamy as it is self-empowering.
