The Hooker

This Week's Trophy Boyfriend: Ronan Fitzpatrick

Sport: Rugby
Position: Hooker
Star Move: Falls first... and falls hard.
Signature Trait: Dirty talking.

Book of the Week:

The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway, Penny Reid

Book 1 in the Rugby series

The Book

Ronan Fitzpatrick is one of the biggest stars in rugby, but after a public relations disaster lands him in hot water, he's sent to New York to repair his image. Unfortunately for Ronan, the woman tasked with helping him clean up his reputation is Annie Catrel: a brilliant, painfully introverted social media expert who is hiding a very big secret of her own.

As Ronan and Annie spend more time together, what starts as a professional arrangement quickly becomes something much more complicated. The Hooker and the Hermit is sports romance at its most charming: secret identities, opposites attract chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and a rugby star who discovers that protecting his heart may be harder than rebuilding his reputation.

Vibe Check: Rugby. Romance. Ridiculous chemistry.

Ratings

Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hooker and the Hermit delivers exactly what I want from a sports romance: humor, heart, chemistry, and a hero who falls embarrassingly hard. Ronan may make some questionable decisions along the way, but he's charming enough that I was willing to forgive most of them. Annie, on the other hand, had me repeatedly shouting: JUST TALK TO HIM, DAMMIT!

Despite a few moments of frustration, this book is sexy, hilarious, and definitely worth the read.

Spice Level: 3.5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🍷

This book makes you wait until about the 60% mark before really diving into the spice, but don't worry, Ronan comes ready to make up for lost time. There's a touch of BDSM woven into the story, though it's far tamer than the book sometimes suggests. Think less shock and more kink-in-training. Between the dirty talk, the chemistry, and Ronan's enthusiasm, this one earns every flame.

Quote of the Week

Ronan:

Dearest Annie,

Roses are red. Violets are blue. I’m using my hand.  But I’m thinking of you.

- Ronan

P.S. Just to clarify, I’m using my hand to write this note… get your mind out of the gutter.

Fan Casting

Annie → Kat Dennings

Brilliant online. Painfully awkward in person.

Ronan → Thom Evans

Questionable reputation. Elite boyfriend potential.

Thom Evans: Retired Scottish Rugby player (last played for the Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic League)

Listen Now

Listen to Episode 33 Now

New episodes every Tuesday

Caution: Every episode contains spoilers.

Stay spicy!🔥

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Studies in Vengeance