The BEST!

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann is the second book in the Hooked series and it was phenomenal! Seriously, days after finishing, I am still thinking about this story. Full of steam, banter, and friendship Mr. Wicked takes you on one wild ride that you’ll never want to end.

Grayson totally and completely stole my heart! I knew beneath his gruff exterior was a heart of gold. Jovana was pure perfection. I had the biggest girl crush on her. The way she handled Grayson had me laughing out loud at some parts and totally swooning at others. I devoured their story never wanting it to end. I loved every single second of it and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I will admit, while I loved this book, it for some reason was hard for me to get into.

I feel like our FMC didn’t push enough when it came to the arrangement. Especially after their first encounter which ended up with her thinking he was an A hole and she waffled between being pissed and thinking she could change him.

In a way that’s relatable though, as I think we have all been there at some point.

Overall this was a good story and had great character development on the part of the MMC.

✨My Thoughts✨

This was my first read with Marni Mann and I’m thinking of reading more from her books because I jived with her writing style, mostly. However in this book:

* Given that I liked all the tropes associated with the book I’m disappointed. Grumpy x Sunshine is more of a Asshole x Manipulative.
* Jovana’s entire POV is excruciating. I did not have any connection to her at all.
* Instalove in Jovana’s part is so unbelievable. The couple has tension and chemistry at the beginning but as the story progresses it felt forced.
* Grayson is such an asshole with his colleagues and friends. Like the conversation is full of swear words like they’re frat boys and not grown ass men.

On the positive side! This was an easy read and there were no 3rd act break up! Hooray for Easton and Holden! I can’t wait for Holden’s book!

Mr. Wicked is the big bad wolf of anti-love. Not buying it, not believing in it but he sure is selling it as the head of Hooked's marriage division. But this fisherman isn't fishing off the marriage pier, he avoids it at all costs! No licenses or permits required. No ever afters in his future.

Until Celebrity Alerts gets a video of him trash talking marriage surrounded by attractive women. Now Mr. Wicked is in damage control mode- whether or not he wants to be. The catch is his extremely memorable one night stand. Oh is this going to be fun! He's been Hooked. He can't get off the line and there are wedding bells in his future.

What's a guy to do!?!?!

Falling for her wasn't an option. Keeping her wasn't a choice. Loving her was as easy as breathing. Fighting his feelings though, those were battles worth watching!

Grayson Tanner, co-owner of Hooked, an online-dating / hookup app, is very upfront with women that he’s only looking for no strings attached pleasure, doesn’t do love or commitments, or even have the same woman more than once. His recent celebration of bachelorhood on a yacht with 6 women did not bode well for him and Hooked seeing as Grayson founded the marriage arm of the company. The one of the 3 partners who is the most against the idea of marriage and commitment. As Hooked finds themselves in a PR nightmare and losing memberships after this ordeal, a plan is devised against Grayson’s will to have him fake marry someone and publicize that the marriage started on the Hooked app.

Jovana is a rising social influencer who also works at a bar with her roommate and best friend. Grayson frequents this bar and they hook up one night, only Jovana feels a pull to Grayson that she can’t let go of after one night. So when Grayson and his partners return to the bar to figure out a marriage plan for him they see the strong chemistry between Grayson and Jovana and a light bulb goes off.

Book Rating: 4.5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- billionaire romance
- age gap
- alpha hero / alphahole
- fake marriage / fake relationship
- bad boy / good girl
- grumpy / sunshine
- fear of commitment (MMC)
- falls fast & hard (FMC)

Final Thoughts: Grayson truly is an alphahole. At one point I was thinking this book should be called Mr. Asshole because of how he was during the first half of the book. I loved that Jovana had a backbone and didn’t give into his antics or let him succeed in the many times he tried to push her away. She slowly broke down his walls that were sealed for a lifetime that never had the intention of breaking down for anyone. I really enjoy Marni Mann’s billionaire men. Grayson was so different from the others. He was not your average dirty talking billionaire who has a soft spot for the FMC. I loved their chemistry and watching their personal struggles throughout and his final realization of the love he feels for her was well worth the wait.

Another great addition to the Hooked series! Once again Marni Mann proves she is the queen of spice! I’d love a lot of spice in your romances you won’t be disappointed one bit! I loved Grayson and Jovana!! I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to put it down! If you are a fan of age gap, alpha hero, bad boy/good girl, fake relationship, grumpy sunshine you won’t want to miss out on this one! This is a true standalone in the series! Overall a great read that I definitely recommend!!

If you love audios you’re going to want to make sure that you check this one out! The narrators were so good! They did such a great job bringing Grayson and Jovana to life!!

Received an arc and alc for a honest review.

Grayson and Jovana were just another couple added to my “Marni left no crumbs” list. one thing that Marni always does is write the best alphaholes that I am obsessed with. And let’s talk about how much of a badass Jovana is— I love how independent she is and how she stands up for herself. their chemistry was undeniable and it was such a clear connection between them too. one thing that Marni kills is the absolute mouth on these men. she has me obsessed with them and wanting more. I loved getting to see them get to know each other and their relationship grow. the audio of this was also fantastic— Andi and Ryan made me feel like I was right there with the characters. their voices were easy to listen to, and the production was great. I can’t wait to read more of this series!!!

tropes:
- one night stand
- billionaire
- fake relationship
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap

Grayson and his best friends started a dating app and Gravson's division is the marriage division. Grayson, a confirmed bachelor has no desire to ever get married.
Grayson is photographed by paparazzi aboard a yacht with six women which is harming his company's reputation. His business partners give him an ultimatum and he's forced to enter into an arranged marriage.
Jovana, the one woman he can't get off his mind is his new bride.
This book had an interesting plot but once the main characters got their second chance it was a little too Insta love for me. Overall I did enjoy the book and I will be reading more of her books in the future.

This book contained most of my preferred tropes. Age gap, fake dating, grumpyyyyyyy x sunshine, billionaire MMC, sassy influencer FMC. The tropes were so good. And the book was done so well! The pacing, the banter, the subcharacters, the development, all amazing. It was hard to put this book down. The extreme opposites definitely attracted in this story. I absolutely loved Jovana's desire for a fairytale romance like her parents - it's what so many contemporary romances are about. Grayson is a lifetime bachelor and loves to live that way. I was caught off guard by the slight plot twist with the third act conflict but it was done SO WELL, I am a huge critic of third act conflicts but I absolutely loved how Marni wrote this, tied everything together, and pushed us through to the end. The spice was definitely there and definitely spicin'! Whew girl! Great read, I read this without reading Easton's story but I will definitely be ready for Holdenn, and I would love to see more of Sloane... (fingers crossed!)

4.5/5

This author is the queen of extra spicy er0tic romance with billionaire Alpha’s who end up getting hooked on that one woman who can handle them.
Grayson and Jovana have an instant attraction and insanely hot chemistry. Grayson doesn’t “settle down” so it’s meant to be a single, brief encounter. It’s all kinds of hot and n@ughty.
Grayson brings negative attention to his company when a video of him goes viral that has his business in loads of trouble with bad PR. Enter the fake marriage to encourage trust in him and the dating App he and his friends created. Jovana is the lucky Mrs. for a year to help clean up his image.
There’s great banter, there is spice on top of extra spice and there’s a story with emotions.
If you want a super hot read about people living the luxurious life, this book is for you.

Happy Release Day!!

I love the Hooked Series so much, and binged Mr. Wicked over the weekend. There’s just something about a bad boy billionaire x good girl that gets me every time. Grayson and Jovana are opposites in so many ways, making the banter and tension so good! But they can’t deny their connection gets stronger and harder to resist.

*many thanks to Valentine PR and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

One statement can sometimes tell you everything you need to know about someone, and I loved that that was the case for Jovana. Her instant knowledge that Grayson was someone that she wanted to see more of may seem naive to some, but to me, it’s precious. When you know, you know, and all that. Jovana sees the roughness in Grayson but still sees him as worthy. Grayson can’t see the goodness in himself, but he learns to see himself as Jovana (as well as his friends) see him. This book was written as only Marni can write it: beautifully balanced.

Grayson is co founder of an online dating website that has soared in popularity. He has a one night stand and then ends up in the spotlight for some not so good reasons. To save his reputation and the website he has to show the world that he is in fact committed (even when it’s something he’s never wanted to deal with). In comes Jovana, a beautiful young girl that he had the one night stand with. If you love forced proximity, fake dating and spicy scenes- this one is for you! I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it was a little bit of a slow burn and that it had a twist I didn’t even see coming. I’m excited to read the other books in this series.

v3 stars

I’m a dedicated Marni Mann fan and really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was eager to dive into this one. This book had a recipe I love, he’s a grump, she’s sunshine; he’s a playboy, she’s the woman to turn him around, etc. I normally love a good fake relationship trope but sadly, even with all those things, this one just didn’t do it for me.

Although I liked Grayson’s character in the first book, I had a seriously difficult time connecting with his highly unlikable persona in this one. I get that he’s got some hangups around women but he’s a straight alpha hole, needlessly crass and hateful to the others around him in this book. In my opinion, the guys (his best friends that he created the Hooked app with) put up with an awful lot out of him.

I enjoyed Jovana but was really challenged by their relationship and the way he treated her. I loved her family and Sloan though. I understand why Jovana agreed to the proposition and appreciated her long-suffering and romantic heart but just couldn’t fall in love with him like she did. Sorry!

This is a series with interconnected characters but can be read as standalones. I am excited to read Holden’s book and know more about this single dad!

AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

"ɢʀᴀʏsᴏɴ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ɢᴀᴢᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ."

Ahhh Marni, what have you done to me!!! You made me fall head over heels in LOVEEE with Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Anti-Love......𝗠𝗿. 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱!

"ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ᴡᴇᴀᴋ. ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ғᴇᴇʟ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʟᴏsᴇ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɪɴ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ. ᴡᴇ ғɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs."

This book was equal parts steamy chemistry, spicy encounters, and witty banter. Grayson and Jovana had me 𝖧𝖮𝖮𝖪𝖤𝖣 from beginning to end with their grumpy/sunshine romance while navigating their new relationship, and I couldn't get enough!

"ᴛʜɪs ɢᴏʀɢᴇᴏᴜs, ᴋɪɴᴅ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴛ, ʙʟᴜᴇ-ᴇʏᴇᴅ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ. sʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ."

I absolutely loved Jovana she went after what she wanted and refused to let someone walk all over her. I loved seeing Grayson's anti-love demeanor melt with the realization of how much he cared for Jovana. These two truly left me with that giddy feeling, and I didn't want it to end!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Marni as it is my first book that I have read of hers, however I was blown away. There was just enough spice that it was overbearing and the plot had me in a chokehold. I wasn’t sure how it would end but I really liked the plot twist that appeared and it was so so good. I always love the grumpy- sunshine books and this one was a good one! I was not expecting Jovana’s secret but I am happy how it turned out and I loved it!

Two words: Greyson. Tanner. Who doesn’t love a good marriage of convenience romance between a charming brute who doesn’t believe in love and the girl who he couldn’t get his mind off of since the first night they met? Marni Mann always creates the hottest characters, and this includes both Greyson & Jovana 😍

Oh he’s a wicked indeed… Grayson the ultimate playboy, adamant he’s staying single and never the settling type…. loves steamy nights of passion but that’s where it always ends…
Bring in a fake marriage, the connection is undeniable between these two, their banter brings all the humour and at the end can they really end it like nothings happened ?!

Oh man. Grayson was Marni's meanest alpha hole that I've read. Lol the things he says hurts. 😅 There are time that I'm like, forget you dude. 😂 But Jovana was really persistent. She's definitely like "I can fix him (no really I can)". 👀 See what I did there? Lol ⁣
⁣
Congratulations to another amazing release Marni!!! 🫶 I totally devoured this one cause you know I love my heroes to be mean. Lol

Quick Summary: A player becomes a partner romance

My Review: Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann is book #2 in the Hooked series.

About the Book: A rather spicy ONS happens between a playboy bachelor and a good girl influencer. Both have an intense experience. One person wants to make a run for it, while the other simply wants more. After a scandal occurs, they decide to partner up and play. What happens when real feelings get involved?

My Final Say: This romance had the following components:

One Night Stand
Fake Dating
Enemies to Lovers
Beauty and a Beast
Differences (Rich Guy vs Working Girl)
Age Gap
Forced Relationship

Overall, this romance novel was an interesting read. There were times when both leads were liked and times when both leads were a bit much. In the end, however, it all worked out as it should. I really enjoyed meeting the other characters. I would definitely read their stories.

Other: This is one of those reads that you have to push through to get past some of the character nonsense. Readers who enjoy the aforementioned tropes will like this one.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍
Series: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Montlake), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.