Love Her or Lose Her

This romance, the second book in the Hot & Hammered series, interested me because I wanted a lighter book to listen to and I liked that it focuses on a couple fighting to save their withering marriage. But this book was less about love and so much more about lust, obsession, and possession.

Buckle up, my lovelies. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

I appreciate how the story focuses on the troubles of a married couple. Listeners get to see how Dom and Rosie felt inadequate and lost themselves within their marriage. BUT I could not stand Dom. I am so done with the leading man being a dominant, alpha male, knuckle-dragging, insecure Neanderthal! Can we all agree that bullying and dominance is not love?

This book was more about the sex scenes than a couple working on their relationship. These spicy scenes dominated the story, plot be damned, and included truly cringy sex talk. I wanted to believe Dom and Rosie had something to fight for, but to me all they had as a connection between the sheets.  

I realize this is a light romance, not a how-to on relationships, but I like some realistic themes and characters I can connect with, and this book just didn't have either. When you're yelling at the female lead to leave the guy you know it's not the romance for you. 

My Rating: 2 stars

Author: Tessa Bailey

Genre: Romance, Spicy

Series: #2 in Hot and Hammered series

Type and Source: eAudiobook from public library

Narrator: Charlotte North

Run Time: 8 hours, 40 min

Publisher: HarperAudio

First Published: January 14, 2020

Book Description from GoodReads: 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 10 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 hippie. 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.