‘He used a nasty attitude so no one could penetrate his exterior; he spit venom so no one would even get close enough to try.’

This pretty much sums up Grayson Tanner when we first meet him. Let’s just say it did take me some time to warm to him and his ways. There have been many single Bachelor’s I’ve read and met over the years, but Grayson and his Alpha Asshole Attitude (AAA) oooh boy, did I want to throttle him at times. I was like thinking, oh Grayson you have to really win me over…and he did eventually. He’s built so many walls around him, he’s literally oblivious to what’s in front of him or actually feeling anything. But he soon learns.

When we first meet Grayson, he has his wicked eyes set on the beautiful waitress/ social media influencer, Jovana the moment he sees her. Sparks fly between them and yes they spend one hot night together. But that is all for Grayson, he certainly makes his feeling clear the next morning. It’s just one night, no more, no commitment. Of course Jovana is bruised by his attitude, as she was actually having feelings for him.

“For the record, I don’t beat around the bush, Jovana. I stomp right through it.”

A publicity scandal soon hits Grayson’s company that he developed with his best friends back at college. ‘Hooked’ is one of the best online dating Apps in the world, so this particular scandal does not help the company at all and it’s all down to Grayson and his wicked, bachelor ways.

Grayson now has to show the world that he’s not the ultimate bachelor, that he does indeed take marriage and commitment seriously. This PR scandal has to be dealt with pronto. In comes Jovana and shes offered a deal that she can’t refuse. A fake relationship and marriage with Grayson. How will they get on, well you have to read this and find out!

Again, this was an enjoyable read from Marni. It was actually quite an interesting insight into the whole social media world, behind the scenes and of course about those fake PR relationships, which deep down we know they do happen. Grayson definitely won me over and there was a cracking twist too!

Oh and the food, can I just mention the food as always in a Marni book. I’m literally salivating when she writes about all the gorgeous food, especially the sushi! 🍣

A very enjoyable 4⭐️

This was a truly delicious read. I loved the tension, spark and heat that blazed between Grayson and Jovana. I thought Jovana was awesome, and boy did she have her work cut out for her. Grayson may be very hot, but he didn't start off very likable, at least in my opinion. Still, the story is a lot of fun and I really liked these two together, so the roller coaster ride they took me on was well worth it.

Mr Wicked by Marni Mann

Rating: 4⭐
Spice: 3🌶️

This is the second installment in the 'Hooked' series, and I was definitely reeled in from the get go! Grayson meets his match in Jovana, and wow... Were they explosive!

Grayson is renowned as a playboy.. the bachelor... the one that doesn't do love nor commitment, despite him being the founder of the marriage arm of Hooked. When he's caught in a scandal that seriously jeopardizes Hooked's reputation, damage control is underway. Grayson is given an ultimatum - to clean up his act by settling down and getting married, in hope that he finally 'practises what he preaches' (Amen).

Jovana is roped into Grayson's crazy scheme to help him save Hooked - consisting of a year long contract of fake dating/relationship. Jovana agrees and makes it her mission to change Grayson's morbid view on love. Grayson can't help the feelings Jovana evokes in him and tries to push her away at every turn... But what he doesn't know is that this love is inevitable, and the heart wants what it wants.

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Book #2 in Marni Mann’s Hooked series follows the second of the Hooked boys Grayson after a paparazzi scandal. With the company in jeopardy due to his poor choice of words, he’s forced to face his biggest fear: commitment. In order to restore his reputation, his business partners decide he needs to get married. They hire an image consultant who picks the perfect fake wife. Too bad Jovana also happens to be one of his infamous one night stands. And the one night seems to have an impression on both of them.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was flirty, funny, sexy and absolutely HOT 🔥. Grayson is a complete 🍆 most of the time, and I think it’s great how Jovana not only doesn’t put it up with it, but she sets him straight. She’s convinced she’s going to be the one who changes the forever bachelor.
I loved the twist at the end (didn’t see that one coming) when it turns out Jovana is also hiding a secret of her own.

With a HEA and the promise of Holden’s story in book 3, Mr. Wicked won’t disappoint. Bonus: both the ebook and audio are available in KU!

💖Fake Marriage

💖Billionaire Romance

💖Grumpy vs. Sunshine

💖Forced Proximity

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Montlake and the author Marni Mann for the ARC copy of this book.

I .hate givinga a books a little stars rating, but what can I say I just didn't feel this one.
I didn't connect to the MCs, to the storyline.
It was cute, but not for me.
2.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Very interesting characters and fantastic plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.

Grayson Tanner is a man who doesn’t believe in commitment. He is bachelor through and through. He and his two best friends recently launched an app Hooked that matches people based on what they want. He definitely wouldn’t be using his own app any time soon. After a one-night stand with a gorgeous waitress, Jovana there rises a scandal surrounding Grayson.

His PR team tells him that he needs to get married to prove that he is ready for commitment and marriage. Jovana happens to be a social media influencer. He can’t forget about her. But he is determined to make one year as a couple believable as possible. Jovana is determined to change his mind and make it work. And so lies and games begin. I loved their banter and chemistry. They are perfect for each other.

Overall I loved this book very much. If you’re a fan of fake relationship/marriage, billionaire romance then you are definitely going to love it.

This was a charming story about a grumpy, slightly childish 30 year old man (Grayson) and a sensible if idealistic 22 year old woman (Jovana).
Grayson is also breathtakingly gorgeous and obviously great at sex. Jovana is beautiful, intelligent and empathetic.
After a one-night stand Grayson's standard reaction is similar to 'that was great, now I'll book you a ride-share'.
How this book would get him to a HEA I had no idea, but the author managed it quite spectacularly with a blended forced proximity/grumpy sunshine trope.

Marni Mann's elusive billionaire men are my kryptonite because she ALWAYS Kills it while writing strong ass females.

Greyson is the hothead billionaire ladies want to take home. He's a head CEO for Hooked, a popular dating/hookup app. He's also currently involved in a scandal thanks to his mouth, letting everyone know marriage is a scam. Jovana is a bartender and social media influencer. After a one night stand with Greyson, she swears him off. Yet, she can't deny the opportunity he presents her that'll change her life... all she has to do is push past his wicked ways.

I was immediately "hooked" with Greyson and Jovana's story, although somewhat predictable. The spice definitely was spicing and you could tell that Greyson had it BAD for Jovana. It was fun reading and seeing where the other characters from the first of the series were and how those relationships had flourished. Overall, those looking for a quick paced, spicy read that'll transport them away from life's troubles should pick up Mr. Wicked!

This is the second book in the Hooked series. This one follows Grayson, who is a self-proclaimed bachelor for life.

Jovana, who is a hopeless romantic, hooks up with him not knowing that he doesn’t do relationships.

After some tabloids post pictures and videos from a vacation he took with six women, his company is now dealing with a PR nightmare and takes a huge hit, since his bachelor ways go against the company’s new marriage division.

This PR nightmare turns into a marriage of convenience. Do you think Jovana can convince Grayson that he feels more for her?

Marni doesn’t skip on the smut and you know she does it well!

Listen.. Marni Mann.. I am happily married stop flaunting these men in front of meeee
This was clichy, cheesy, raunchy.. and AMAZZZIIING.
We get it.. who doesn’t love a marriage of convenience with a bad ass female character and a hotter than sin man who is allergic to the word relationship. This novel is based around a one night stand that goes perfectly well until the next day before coffee is served she is sent packing and told to never come back because he doesn’t do relationships. What I loved is we have two adults.. who talk and act like adults (what a relieffff). Jovanna who is a bartender by night and social media influencer by day (or vise versa I don’t know if it matters) who meets Grayson who created the marriage arm of the app Hooked and due to a PR disaster the two come crashing back together. What happens next is refreshingly real.

Tropes: age-gap, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, billionaire

I can always can count on Marni Mann for a steamy romance. Mr. Wicked was a billionaire romance that will leave you wanting more. I always love the romance that is built between the characters.

Grayson is a playboy and Jovana is a social influencer. These two end up in a fake relationship and when the real feelings develop is when things get good.

Mr Wicked is the second book in the Hooked series by Marni Mann. This is a marriage of convenience contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone.
A little background and context, Hooked is an online dating service founded by three college bachelor best friends. Each one of these books delves into the lives of one of these three founders and how they found their one through their program. This is Grayson and Jovana's story.
Now imagine being a co-founder of one of the hottest dating apps that has just launched. The idea of the app is to hook you up with finding your soulmate. Grayson is a bachelor who doesn't do relationships and when he finds himself in a PR nightmare, causing sales to plummet, his team give him an ultimatum. Settle down so that the media will see that he believes in whar he is trying to sell. So the hunt is on to find himself a bride.
Enter Jovana, an influencer who could help improve Grayson's reputation and the one woman he also had a hot one night stand with and hasn't been able to shake her. And so the games begin. Fake dating, turns into engagement and so on. Fake starts to become real. But can Grayson change his ways and commit?
Great story with lots of witty banter, antics, spice, steam, attraction, and so much more. Marni Mann did a great job writing this story and I can't wait to see what she brings next to this series.

This book was so delicious! I absolutely love the way this author writes her heroes. They're sexy and confident and know exactly what to do to please a woman.

Grayson is all those things, but he's also got a messed up past that has him claiming eternal bachelorhood. With no monogamy in sight, he crosses paths with Jovana one night and they share a chemistry-filled evening together.

When fate brings them back together for a marriage-of-convenience they're both left fighting that chemistry from their first time together.

I loved his transformation, and I loved her fierceness. She's independent and witty, and she matxhee up with Grayson's personality perfectly. I can't help but recommend this author's recent releases enough!

The BEST!

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann is the second book in the Hooked series and it was phenomenal! Seriously, days after finishing, I am still thinking about this story. Full of steam, banter, and friendship Mr. Wicked takes you on one wild ride that you’ll never want to end.

Grayson totally and completely stole my heart! I knew beneath his gruff exterior was a heart of gold. Jovana was pure perfection. I had the biggest girl crush on her. The way she handled Grayson had me laughing out loud at some parts and totally swooning at others. I devoured their story never wanting it to end. I loved every single second of it and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I will admit, while I loved this book, it for some reason was hard for me to get into.

I feel like our FMC didn’t push enough when it came to the arrangement. Especially after their first encounter which ended up with her thinking he was an A hole and she waffled between being pissed and thinking she could change him.

In a way that’s relatable though, as I think we have all been there at some point.

Overall this was a good story and had great character development on the part of the MMC.

✨My Thoughts✨

This was my first read with Marni Mann and I’m thinking of reading more from her books because I jived with her writing style, mostly. However in this book:

* Given that I liked all the tropes associated with the book I’m disappointed. Grumpy x Sunshine is more of a Asshole x Manipulative.
* Jovana’s entire POV is excruciating. I did not have any connection to her at all.
* Instalove in Jovana’s part is so unbelievable. The couple has tension and chemistry at the beginning but as the story progresses it felt forced.
* Grayson is such an asshole with his colleagues and friends. Like the conversation is full of swear words like they’re frat boys and not grown ass men.

On the positive side! This was an easy read and there were no 3rd act break up! Hooray for Easton and Holden! I can’t wait for Holden’s book!

Mr. Wicked is the big bad wolf of anti-love. Not buying it, not believing in it but he sure is selling it as the head of Hooked's marriage division. But this fisherman isn't fishing off the marriage pier, he avoids it at all costs! No licenses or permits required. No ever afters in his future.

Until Celebrity Alerts gets a video of him trash talking marriage surrounded by attractive women. Now Mr. Wicked is in damage control mode- whether or not he wants to be. The catch is his extremely memorable one night stand. Oh is this going to be fun! He's been Hooked. He can't get off the line and there are wedding bells in his future.

What's a guy to do!?!?!

Falling for her wasn't an option. Keeping her wasn't a choice. Loving her was as easy as breathing. Fighting his feelings though, those were battles worth watching!

Grayson Tanner, co-owner of Hooked, an online-dating / hookup app, is very upfront with women that he’s only looking for no strings attached pleasure, doesn’t do love or commitments, or even have the same woman more than once. His recent celebration of bachelorhood on a yacht with 6 women did not bode well for him and Hooked seeing as Grayson founded the marriage arm of the company. The one of the 3 partners who is the most against the idea of marriage and commitment. As Hooked finds themselves in a PR nightmare and losing memberships after this ordeal, a plan is devised against Grayson’s will to have him fake marry someone and publicize that the marriage started on the Hooked app.

Jovana is a rising social influencer who also works at a bar with her roommate and best friend. Grayson frequents this bar and they hook up one night, only Jovana feels a pull to Grayson that she can’t let go of after one night. So when Grayson and his partners return to the bar to figure out a marriage plan for him they see the strong chemistry between Grayson and Jovana and a light bulb goes off.

Book Rating: 4.5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- billionaire romance
- age gap
- alpha hero / alphahole
- fake marriage / fake relationship
- bad boy / good girl
- grumpy / sunshine
- fear of commitment (MMC)
- falls fast & hard (FMC)

Final Thoughts: Grayson truly is an alphahole. At one point I was thinking this book should be called Mr. Asshole because of how he was during the first half of the book. I loved that Jovana had a backbone and didn’t give into his antics or let him succeed in the many times he tried to push her away. She slowly broke down his walls that were sealed for a lifetime that never had the intention of breaking down for anyone. I really enjoy Marni Mann’s billionaire men. Grayson was so different from the others. He was not your average dirty talking billionaire who has a soft spot for the FMC. I loved their chemistry and watching their personal struggles throughout and his final realization of the love he feels for her was well worth the wait.

Another great addition to the Hooked series! Once again Marni Mann proves she is the queen of spice! I’d love a lot of spice in your romances you won’t be disappointed one bit! I loved Grayson and Jovana!! I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to put it down! If you are a fan of age gap, alpha hero, bad boy/good girl, fake relationship, grumpy sunshine you won’t want to miss out on this one! This is a true standalone in the series! Overall a great read that I definitely recommend!!

If you love audios you’re going to want to make sure that you check this one out! The narrators were so good! They did such a great job bringing Grayson and Jovana to life!!

Received an arc and alc for a honest review.

Grayson and Jovana were just another couple added to my “Marni left no crumbs” list. one thing that Marni always does is write the best alphaholes that I am obsessed with. And let’s talk about how much of a badass Jovana is— I love how independent she is and how she stands up for herself. their chemistry was undeniable and it was such a clear connection between them too. one thing that Marni kills is the absolute mouth on these men. she has me obsessed with them and wanting more. I loved getting to see them get to know each other and their relationship grow. the audio of this was also fantastic— Andi and Ryan made me feel like I was right there with the characters. their voices were easy to listen to, and the production was great. I can’t wait to read more of this series!!!

tropes:
- one night stand
- billionaire
- fake relationship
- grumpy x sunshine
- age gap