Hook, Line, & Sinker

4.5 out of 5 stars
Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second book in the Hard Hats series but can be read as a standalone; although you’d miss bits and pieces of Blake, and also sexy Aaron, and Malachi if you skip Wood, Screw, and Nails.
What do you do when your mom’s pushing you toward your childhood arch-nemesis? Well, if you are Blake, who happens to be stuck at his mom’s, recovering, you give in? This is what lands him next door to ‘help’ Castor McCormick after he moves into his grandmother’s home. Blake and Cas had a love/hate relationship growing up. They were rivals who loved to get under the other’s skin. What neither of them knew was that their rivalry hid a growing attraction that both weren’t willing or ready to admit. So they buried it by ‘hating’ each other. They grew and each moved on with their lives, until life brings them full circle back to their grandparents’ homes.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Cas and Blake, so much so that I didn’t like one main character over the other. The frenemies to lovers to couple stories are one of my favorite types of romance. It’s always intriguing to see how the author will work around the characters’ hatred/loathing/disdain for each other in order to move into a relationship. Sometimes that change is explosive, and sometimes it’s smooth and easy. Blake and Cas straddled the line between the two, quite well I might add. Their first time having sex was so explosive I was waiting for my Kindle to burn my fingers. Holy hot dirty talking, Blake is beyond sexy, and Cas, with those sweet expressive eyes and that tousled hair… I had to tell myself a few times, they’re just characters, not real.
Piper Vaughn has always had the ability to make me fall in love with her characters; no matter what book, what setting, or back-story they have, her skills slay me dead. Every. Single. Time. This book was absolutely no different. The further I got into the story, the more I was cheering Blake and Cas on, the more I wanted to see them overcome their issues and make it for the long run. Then, of course, we have a few secondary characters that slipped in, and I wanted more of them, too. Riley and Gavin kind of snuck in, and I’m hoping to see them get a story, either together or separately, in the near future.
All in all Hook, Line, & Sinker is one of those well written comfort reads that I’ll pull out again and again because the characters are so perfect for the story. I’d highly recommend this book to those who love a dirty talking, sexy, willing to admit he’s wrong alpha. Also, for those who love a good, solid frenemies to lovers story.

I give this book 4.5 stars.
This book, while part of a series, is standalone. You do not need to read the first one to read this one. It was a fun read.
The story revolves around two men who have not seen each other since high school. Blake is stuck staying with his mother while recuperating from a nasty leg fracture. Castor has just moved into his grandmother's house across the street. These two both thought the other was hot in high school, but the competed as rivals and got each other into trouble instead.
Castor has been traveling a lot for his job the last decade and wants to settle down. Blake just wants to heal up and get back to his work as a contractor. He's going nuts at his mother's house with nothing to do, on top of not being able to drive himself anywhere.
Castor's grandmother and Blake's mom conspire to get Blake and Castor together. They are both on their better behavior and start to get along. Their road to a relationship was rocky though, as Blake makes some bad assumptions here and there and let's his green-eyed monster lose. They have to work at the relationship part. The sex part is easy for them and it's very hot.
Both characters have to learn to accept what they want and learn to communicate better. It was fun to watch them sort out their feelings now from 20 years ago and move past them. They work really well together. The conflict at the end was harsh. Neither of them reacted very well to the situation. I wanted to smack Blake and then as time went on Castor needed that smack even more than Blake.The resolution and forgiveness seemed a little fast considering the time scale, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I'll be rereading this book.
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest, unbiased review.*

I truly liked the premise of the story, the great characters and their love / hate / \"oh my goodness\" hot as hell relationship. The meddling family and the background were the perfect set up and the story had a good, logical, and believable plot and steady flow which kept me reading from beginning to end. I really look forward to the next instalment from this fantastic author.

Well, well, well...where to begin with this hot little number- cause Piper Vaughn has done it again! This is a just a fun, sexy enemies to lovers story!
Growing up Blake and Cas were complete sh*ts to each other- they way teenage boys can be. After the meddling of a couple family members the two reunite and the story takes off from there. This was the perfect mixture of feel good without being sappy. Of course we had some angst and the sex was dirty. Freakin' loved it! {hehehe}
I loved the chemistry between the two men. They just fit so well together. I think Piper Vaughn did an excellent job with this pairing. The way their relationship progressed was very natural and flowed well. I appreciated that the story was told from a dual POV giving us an insight on how each felt. My only complaint would be there was no epilogue. I am a big fan of them. As dorky as it sounds, when I read a book I grow to love the characters I'm reading about and I like to know they're happy down the road.
This was a solid 4.5 Star read rounded up. This is a story I most definitely recommend.

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book for review prior to it's release, and I can honestly say I enjoyed it.
The story revolves around 2 mc's Blake and Castor (Cas). They have known each other all their lives and were sworn enemies.
The story picks up, with them both in their thirties and Cas has moved into his grandmothers old house, making him one of Blake's mothers neighbours. It just so happens that Blake is living at his mums temporarily due to a broken leg.
After lots of not so subtle, but still endearing, match making, Blake and Cas get together.
Blake and Cas' relationship starts off as hot as hell fucking, but it soon grows to mean a lot more to each man. Blake's domination of Cas, particularly in the early scenes, even made me want to switch places with Cas lol.
Inevitably, in the final chapters, I grew frustrated with both MCs as their lack of proper communication nearly prevented them from staying together. But in true Piper Vaughn style she gave me what I wanted.
I have only just discovered that this is book 2 in the series- this is certainly not an issue as it can be read as a stand alone book. I will definitely be looking up book 1 though and catching up on my missing read.
Would I recommend this book? HELL YES!
I'd recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a simple not too brain taxing, hot as heck read.