Romance Reviews: THE HOOKUP PLAN and LUCK & LAST RESORTS

Happy Friday! Well, we’ve made it through another week.  Between work being busy and my son starting back to school (10th grade!) this week, I am so ready for the weekend.  Today I’m back with a couple of romance reviews that I’m happy to share my thoughts on.  This was my first time reading Farrah Rochon so I’ll definitely be looking to check out her backlist, and I was already a big fan of Sarah Grunder Ruiz after her wonderful debut so it was a real treat to get another new book from her.

Author: Farrah Rochon

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

Publisher:  Forever

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  All opinions are my own.

The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon was such a fun and sexy read.  It follows London Kelley, a very successful pediatric surgeon who has been feeling stressed out lately and just needs to bring some balance and relaxation to her life.  According to her best friends, what she really needs is a casual hookup – a night of fun but with no strings attached.  No one is more shocked than London when the opportunity presents itself at her high school reunion in the form of Drew Sullivan, London’s high school arch nemesis and co-valedictorian.

I’m a big fan of the rivals-to-lovers trope so I was thoroughly entertained by the sparks that flew between London and Drew. It was hilarious learning about how competitive they were in high school and especially about how much Drew got under London’s skin.  It’s clear that whatever their relationship was back then, they are definitely attracted to each other present day and that Drew might be exactly the stress relief London has been looking for.

It’s not smooth sailing for the two of them, however.  In fact, it’s pretty darn rocky because it turns out that Drew isn’t just in town for the reunion.  He works for a company that is evaluating the state of the hospital London works at to determine its future, particularly if it should be sold.  London’s hospital is one that currently caters to lower income families, and she fears that what Drew and his company are doing could make it harder for those families to receive the care they need.  Is London’s arch nemesis from high school still her arch nemesis or can she believe him when he says he’s a good guy?  You’ll have to read the book to find out!

The Hookup Plan has a little something for everyone.  There’s plenty of steamy scenes between London and Drew, but then there are also some fabulous female friendships as well as some heartwarming scenes between London and her young patients.  It was just an all around fun and satisfying read and I highly recommend to fans of the rivals-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers tropes.  4 STARS.

Luck and Last Resorts (Love, Lists & Fancy Ships, #2) Goodreads

Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Publication Date: August 9, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  All opinions are my own.

Love, Lists & Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz was one of my favorite romance reads from last year.  Set aboard a luxury yacht, that book was sweet, witty, and just such a wonderful read. When I read it, I fell head over heels for the “found family” vibe of the yacht’s hilarious crew, particularly Nina and Ollie, two veteran crew members who bicker like an old married couple and just stole every scene they were in.  Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I realized that there was going to be a sequel, Luck & Last Resorts, and that it features Nina and Ollie.

The relationship between Nina and Ollie had a big “are they or aren’t they a couple?” vibe in the first book so I was thrilled that the author really explored it in depth in Luck & Last Resorts.  I was so thrilled when the novel opens with a grand gesture from Ollie.  He declares his love for Nina and wants her to commit to being with him.  He’s completely devoted to her, miserable when he isn’t around her, and has decided it’s time to wear his heart on his sleeve.  Unfortunately, Nina isn’t so convinced.  Yes, of course, she loves Ollie, but she’s a commitment-phobe at heart, has been hurt in the past, and only knows how to rely on herself.  Letting someone, even Ollie, all the way in is just too hard for her to even think about.

Nina’s scenes with Ollie still have all the sexiness and fun, and of course the hilarious banter from the first book. However, there’s an angsty undertone throughout because Ollie has decided that if Nina isn’t ready to commit to him after all these years, he can’t do it anymore and he’s moving back to Ireland.  I wanted to shake Nina but understood that she clearly needed to work through some things and figure out what and who she wanted in her life.  Nina’s journey really drives a lot of the story and I was completely invested in it.

I also loved that the author used a dual timeline in this story.  One timeline follows Nina and Ollie in the present as they work through their feelings for one another, while the other timeline takes us back to when they first met years ago and delivers a huge and unexpected plot twist that just made me love them even more.

I know I’m just rambling now, but I just love this series and all the characters so much.  If you’re in the mood for a beautifully written romance novel that is both fun and flirty, but also emotional and angsty, and that will leave you with a full heart and a smile on your face, I highly recommend both books in this series.  4.5 STARS