Title: Love Her or Lose Her
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series: Hot & Hammered, Book 2
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Avon a HarperCollins Imprint
Publication: 1/14/2020
Read: January 2020
Format: Digital
Pages: 384
Rating: 3 1/2 Caffeinated Stars
Trigger Warnings: Marriage in trouble, mention of PTSD, mention of racism

Goodreads Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey returns with a unique, sexy romantic comedy about a young married couple whose rocky relationship needs a serious renovation.

Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp.

Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippy. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret… and it could demolish everything.

My Thoughts:

Love Her or Lose Her is the second book in the Hot and Hammered series by Tessa Bailey. I read the first one earlier in the year, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Georgie and Travis were so much fun, so I couldn’t wait to read about Dominic and Rosie. 

Dominic and Rosie sure had chemistry, but I have to say I just never felt fully invested in them. I liked both characters, but I honestly didn’t like them together. I just hated how one character seemed to take while one always gave continually, and I hated how they both didn’t communicate with each other. Communication is such a massive part of a relationship that it annoyed me with how little was present. 

The plot was quick-paced and straightforward. I obviously didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoyed Fix Her Up, but it is a solid book. The characters had chemistry, and there were some genuinely humorous parts. I just wish that I liked the two characters together. I never felt the need to root for them, which ruined the whole romance part for me. 

All in all, this book was cute, but I didn’t connect with them. I wanted more growth and more communication. All in all, it’s a solid 3 1/2 star book. 

Are you looking to take this book for a spin? Here are the buy links!

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Libro.FM, Goodreads