Hook, Line, and Sinker

Fox Thornton is a known flirt in Port Jefferson, Long Island, working as a harbor pilot and living a carefree bachelor life. Hannah Bellinger, a Hollywood music producer, returns to Port Jefferson to film a documentary about the harbor where she spent meaningful summers in her youth. When Hannah needs a place to stay, Fox offers his spare room despite their complicated friendship and underlying attraction. Their proximity forces them to confront their assumptions about each other, as Hannah sees beyond Fox's playboy reputation and Fox recognizes Hannah's drive for career success. The port town setting shapes their story as Hannah works on her documentary and Fox navigates ships through treacherous waters. Their professional lives intersect with personal revelations as they spend time together both on and off camera. This romance examines themes of self-worth, the masks people wear to protect themselves, and the courage required to be vulnerable. The nautical backdrop serves as a metaphor for the uncertain waters of trust and intimacy.

Readers found this romance novel lighter and sweeter than Bailey's other works, with strong character development and emotional depth. The slow-burn romance and friends-to-lovers storyline resonated with fans. Liked: - Fox's vulnerability and growth as a character - Strong female friendship dynamics - Natural progression of the relationship - Text message exchanges between characters - Steam level appropriate to story Disliked: - Slower pacing compared to first book - Less steam than typical Bailey books - Some found Hannah's character frustrating - Plot felt predictable to romance readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (86,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (5,800+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (1,400+ ratings) Common reader quote: "The emotional connection between characters feels authentic rather than forced." Critics note the book works best for readers who enjoy character-driven romance rather than plot-heavy stories.

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🌟 This is Tessa Bailey's second book in the Bellinger Sisters series, following "It Happened One Summer," which was inspired by the TV show Schitt's Creek 🎣 The main character, Fox Thornton, is a commercial fisherman in the small town of Westport, Washington - a real fishing village known for its salmon and bottomfish catches 📱 The story began as a "friends with benefits" relationship conducted primarily through late-night phone calls, exploring modern dating dynamics in a small-town setting 👑 Author Tessa Bailey has been dubbed the "Queen of Steam" by romance readers for her signature style of writing intimate scenes, which continues in this novel 🏆 The book debuted at #10 on the New York Times bestseller list for mass-market & e-book fiction when it was released in March 2022