Thanks so much to NetGalley and Jelsba Media Group for giving me the opportunity to review an ARC of Hott Take by Serena Bell. This book was just delightful. I am a fan of Serena Bell (if you haven’t read her Wilde series, you should check it out). Her Hott brothers are top notch book boyfriends. In this book Shane is a big Hollywood actor and Ivy is a theatre artist (who was in a cult favorite sci fi series, think Firefly). She left LA to try and have a more quiet life. He has to organize a celebrity wedding to fulfill his grandfather’s will requirement. They of course have a fake relationship (though the were drawn to each other before). I won’t get into spoilers, but it hard, because I was so charmed by this book. The characters are fun and complex. The supporting characters are also written in such a full way. These people feel real, on in a rom com way. Seriously, I couldn’t put it down. Romance novels with actors are not usually my cup of tea, but this one? Chef’s kiss. (Don’t worry there is spicy times too). Read it!

Shane Hott is stuck between a rock and a Hott place. He must score a celebrity wedding or his sister will lose her wedding planning business—and the family’s land. He's a playboy movie star and knows Hollywood’s ins and outs. But it's more difficult to find two celebrities really in lothan it looks. He runs into Ivy Scofield, a former TV actress, who is hiding in Rush Creek and running a community theater program for troubled teens with her sister. She needs to borrow the family's wedding barn in order to save the program. So we come up with a solution: a fake marriage, social media-d to both of our groups of fans. What could go wrong?

This is the second book in the Hott family series (yes there are 3 more siblings!!) and it can be read alone, but it might help if you've read the first one and possibly the Wilder series as well, as these include some of the characters from those books. But it can be easily standalone.



I just reviewed Hott Take by Serena Bell. #HottTake #NetGalley
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Hott take
By: Serena Bell

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Celebrity to love? could it happen?

In book two in the Hott Springs eternal series and spin off from Wilder Adventure series we get Shane and Ivy’s book and it’s amazing. Let me first say that technically this could be a stand alone you will get more out of the book if you at minimum read book 1 in the series. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: The hard part isn’t acting like we’re falling for each other. It’s pretending we’re not.

Shane: My grandfather’s will has me between a rock and a Hott place. If I don’t score a celebrity wedding, my sister will lose her wedding planning business—and our family’s land. As a playboy movie star, I know Hollywood’s ins and outs. But finding two celebrities in love is tougher than it looks.

Enter Ivy Scofield—the beautiful star of one of TV’s most beloved failures. She’s hiding from her past in Rush Creek, running a community theater for troubled kids. She needs my family’s wedding barn to save her program. So we make a deal: I give her the barn—she gives me her hand in fake marriage. Lights, camera, action—and cut—right?

Not so fast. Planning our fake wedding is way more personal than I was expecting. I’m learning Ivy’s quirks, preferences, and pet peeves—and that’s before I walk in on her enjoying my most infamous on-camera scene. Plus she’s slowly peeling back my layers—the ones I’ve built up to protect myself. If someone doesn’t do something soon, we might discover that the only thing fake about this wedding is the way we keep pushing each other away.

A spicy, movie star, marriage of convenience, fake relationship standalone romantic comedy set in the beloved small town of Rush Creek.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

I’m a longtime fan of Serena Bell's books and Hott Take is sweet! It’s a relaxing comfort read and the second book in the Hott Springs Eternal series, a spinoff of the Wilder Adventure series that takes place at Hanna’s Hott Springs Spa in Rush Creek, Oregon.

This is Shane and Ivy’s story, both Hollywood actors that have returned home to Rush Creek. The story opens with the Hott family gathering together to hear what their granddad chose as a task for Shane. Their grandad’s will stipulates that each brother must complete a specific task to save the family's land and business from being sold to a mining company. Shane’s task is to organize a celebrity couple’s wedding at The Hott Springs Spa which is owned by the Hott family. The Spa was a working ranch until a few years ago when Hanna (Shane’s sister) and her granddad decided to convert it into a wedding venue and spa.

Shane and Ivy were both actors in different popular fantasy shows. Shane is very popular right now and has paparazzi following him all over. He’s trying to decide which part to choose for his next project. Ivy and her sister run a children’s theater in town. Shane is having trouble finding a celebrity couple willing to marry at the Hott Springs Spa and when he meets Ivy, and she needs a favor from him, he thinks she might be the perfect fake bride to help him with a celebrity wedding. In exchange for being his bride, Ivy and her sister can use the wedding venue for their children’s plays.

As they stage publicity shots their attraction builds and they make each other laugh. When they decide to be fake fiancés with benefits, they enjoy some spicy times together especially when they reenact some steamy scenes from their fantasy shows. Shane tells Ivy that he doesn’t believe he is made for love because of past relationships and he doesn’t think he can ever fall in love.

They are a perfect match together but they have some things to work through. Ivy has another reason to say yes to Shane’s scheme and I don’t want to say too much but she has an ex from her past that is pressuring her to return to Hollywood. She loves being near her family in Rush Creek and has no interest in returning to L.A. Meanwhile, Shane has issues with his father, who is acting as his manager.

While this book stands well on its own, I do think it’s helpful to have read the first book in the series, Hott Shot, to get familiar with Shane’s family first - plus it’s fun! It looks like the next one up is Preston’s story, Some Like it Hott. I think readers who like romcoms with weddings and those who enjoyed the Wilder Series will have fun reading Hott Take.

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

An usual happily ever after romance between two individuals who think that it would never happen to them until it did. I couldn't find anything novel or refreshing in the story. It was so run off the mill. The author focused more on the steamy romance that she failed to build or deepen the characters. Going with a 2-star.

3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Hott Take. This one was cute cute cute. I caught myself smiling on multiple occasions. I thought the way the characters came together worked well and there was enough spice to keep the fire going. Some parts were a bit cheesy but this was an easy and fun read. I will read the rest of the series.

Received as an ARC in return for my honest review.

Romantic comedy
Marriage of convenience
Fake relationship
Small town

I started this series with Hott Take which is the 2nd book so probably a bit of an arse about town way of doing things but I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC so that’s just the way the cookie crumbled in this case. I thoroughly enjoyed Serena’s writing style and flow, her ability to tell a story that captivates you from the get go and has you rushing through the pages to find out what happens next was exhilarating.

I loved the characters we met along the way. Shane and Ivy were absolutely perfect together and I spent my time chuckling along with them or swooning over how sweet they were. I now can’t wait to go back and read Hott Shot to learn all about Quinn and Sonya.

I really enjoyed this one!
I didn’t read the first book and I don’t think you need to read it to read this one. I love the grumpy x sunshine vibes from the two MCs as well as other tropes featured like marriage of convenience.
I do think some parts were a bit cheesy like the last name of the male love interest being “Hott”. Also, I wanted more of the theatre group using the barn being played out (the whole point of the marriage of convenience).
These can be pushed aside for the overall story.

In this book we follow our main characters Ivy and Shane. Ivy is an actor who moved to a small town to escape her ex and the annoyance of lala land, (Hollywood). Shane is also an actor but his life is put on hold to help his family save their home. With his sister's business also on the line Ivy is the only person who can help him keep things from falling apart. It turns out that he need her for more than her acting skills. He needs her heart.

While I do enjoy a fake dating trope, this one did not give the emotional pull I was looking for. I gave it an open mind but I still could not give it more than 2 stars. The book was rushed. The author's writing was simple. Almost too easy to predict. No surprises. No butterflies for the characters. Relationship relied heavily on sexual tension. Emotional connection felt like a throw away. Lost potential,

How I spent my Saturday. I adore Serena Bell's writing. Her stories always leaves me happy. In "Hott Take" both main characters are damaged, but the angst wasn't over the top. It didn't drag the story down in a pit of gloom. The damage was a vehicle for character growth. The feels remained rom-com, light and heart warming. The sexy times were fun, the humor laugh out loud funny on occasion and as always the side characters were a joy to revisit. Can't wait for Ms. Bell's next release!

*ARC review thanks to Netgalley and the publisher*

I have had the Wilder Adventures series by Serena Bell on my tbr for a while, but was still unfamiliar with her work, so this ARC was a good opportunity for me to start reading her work. I read Hott Shot before, because even for standalone I like to have all the background, but would say it’s not really needed and you wouldn’t be missing out on too much if you don’t want to.

After the death of their grand father, the Hott brothers are one by one left with a very specific request in his will, otherwise they will lose the family resort. All of the brothers have long left the place, but it’s the pride and joy of their sister and they won’t let her down. Shane is a successful actor, who is know just as much for his movies than for his looks and his reputation with women. Unfortunately for him, grandpa Hott has decided he now has 6 months to organise a celebrity wedding on the resort.

And it’s not as easy as Shane first think it will be. 5 months in and Shane is desperate, and suddenly the only solution is for him to marry Ivy, former celebrity who has been quietly living in Creek Rush for years and just so happen to need his family’s help for her job. It helps them both, but now they also need to sell that they are in love for the lawyer overseeing the will to validate the wedding…

In this book, I really liked both Shane and Ivy’s characters. They were both looking for something and they found it with each other, bringing themselves peace they didn’t know they needed. The book was entertaining, the story was nice, and I enjoyed it and will be reading Serena Bell’s other books in the future and will be looking forward to the next of the Hott brothers.

Shane & Ivy ❤️

💒Shane is the next Hott brother to be given a task to complete to save the family wedding venue property from being given to a nasty mining company. Find a celebrity couple, in love, to marry on the property within 6 months.

🎬You would think it would be easy finding a willing celebrity couple since Shane’s a hot movie star himself.

💍But when things go pear-shaped, the next option is to ask gorgeous actress Ivy to help out. Only problem with fake dating and fake marriages, oops catching all those feelings and attractions!

📚Serena Bell’s writing doesn’t disappoint in this fun celebrity couple, fake marriage romance. He’s the bigger star, she’s opted out of Hollywood for small town theatre life. And with a bunch of siblings that have no doubts about what’s happening, the pair are bound to find their - albeit bumpy -way to each other. It’s another cutie from this lovely series ❤️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of Netgalley and the author
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pub Date 16 Apr 2024

All of the Hott brothers will have to comply with the ridiculous demands in their grandfather's will in order to keep the family property and their sister Hannah's wedding business. Now it's Shane's turn... he had six months to find a celebrity couple truly in love and wanting to get married. Hannah is tasked with planning the wedding on the property. He thinks he's got it all under control when, a month before the wedding, his celebrity couple breaks up.
Ivy Scofield escaped the Hollywood lights after she's bumped off her TV show, and now she runs a theater group for kids or if Rush Creek. She's searching for a new place to hold rehearsals and comes to Hope Springs to ask to use their barn but Hannah needs it for weddings. Then Shane Hott proposes a deal: marry him and she can have the theater space. She's an actress, she can make this look real for a few months right? What could possibly go wrong?
I like these lighthearted and fun stand-alone stories and the world of the Hott brothers. These two go through all the rituals of wedding planning while pretending they're just acting and not feeling real chemistry. I love the part where Shane walks in on her watching "that scene" in his movie, lol! And in the inevitable third act breakup I just wanted to reach in and shake Shane into realizing the truth!! I can't wait to read the next book!
Thanks to Serena Bell and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

this was really fun and cute! i liked the idea of the two actors watching each other’s films, and the spice was spicing 🌶️ I could’ve done without a wedding ending but still cute

Hott Take is book 2 in the Hott Springs Eternal series, in which a grandfather leaves each grandson a task which must be fulfilled in order to keep the family ranch. Movie star Shane Hott must organise a celebrity wedding within 6 months. When his original plans fall through, Shane proposes a marriage of convenience with tv star Ivy Scofield. Will they make it down the aisle?

I've read a few of Serena Bell's books, and find them to be an enjoyable, light and cosy comfort read. Shane and Ivy were endearing and sweet, and had great chemistry. I loved their supporting (meddling) friends, and the drama of the off-again, on-again weddings.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a small town, marriage of convenience romance with found family, cosy vibes and low stakes. Having read the teaser at the end, I'm curious for Preston's story!

Thank you Author Collective 20 and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for letting me arc read this book. In Hott take you’ll find a fake engagement, romantic comedy tbe characters relationship with each other was amazing and i didn’t feel like it was forced like they had an obvious connection with each other. It was a bit slow at first and it got hard to stay focused but it did get better it’s dual pov and I absolutely love those :) anyone who loves romantic comedies and a marriage of convenience would like this

I hope it is some sort of twisted joke that we don’t get Preston’s book for a full year?!

Part of me wishes I just held off on this series until it was complete if I am going to wait that long between books. 😬😬😬

I love the town of Rush Creek and I am loving the Hott brothers just as I did the Wilder’s.

This was such a fun book to read—and I was happy to get more of the brothers together. Ivy was such a perfect heroine for Shane, and the fact she did not know who he was when they first met at the spa is fantastic.

Hott Take truly lives up to the romantic comedy genre. It is a cute, easy read full of characters you are bound to love. Highly recommend for anyone needing a smile 🥰🥰🥰

Dual POV
Fake engagement
Celebrity romance
Small town
Hott family fun

This is the second book in the Hott Springs Eternal series, with each book about another Hott brother who needs to complete a specific task as mentioned in their grandfather’s will. This book is about Shane and Ivy - I like it when the names are great! Actor Shane needs to find an actress to pretend to be in love with him and marry him, before the end of the month, in order to save his family’s land and his sister’s business. He gets Ivy to agree and so the story begins.
It’s an easy flowing story with easy banter. Shane is a sweet guy, very famous, attractive, but despite all his success he thinks he’s not capable of falling in love. Cue Ivy, a sweet, down to earth girl who isn’t impressed with Hollywood and everything it stands for. It’s a combination of the fantasy actor and actress combined with the people behind it, who start out fake dating turned into a real relationship.
There’s a lot of attraction and references to them lusting after the other, and several references to masturbation. Personally, I would have liked a bit more character development and less fantasy and steam.
I have to admit: I’m not that into the whole fantasy stuff, so you kind of lose me when grown ups play dress up like this. But I guess when you’re one of those fans who is into fantasy series, you will definitely love this storyline. And there are several sweet parts in the book. I loved the engagement ring in the shape of a flower. I totally pictured it in my head. I really liked that Ivy wasn’t impressed by fame, and just was herself around Shane. And it made Shane re-evaluate his life and his decisions.
The hookup happens soon after the fake dating, but what happens then? You will have to read the book to find out.
Thank you Netgalley, Author Collective 20, Jelsba Media Group and Serena Bell for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hot Take was an entertaining romcom about Shane and Ivy, two celebrities living their own lives.

Shane is desperate to save his families land by landing a celebrity wedding (the weirdest requirement right?!). This SHOULD be easy to do - but he keeps running into issues. There doesn’t appear to be any "real love" among the celebrities.

The only solution is for Shane and Ivy to get married themselves! They just have to be sneaky and prove to people that they are in love.

Watching this relationship bloom was SO amusing!

My only issue with this book was the pacing felt very slow sometimes, I felt like it slightly dragged on.

Overall, this was a cute read that I enjoyed and was heavily rooting for both Ivy and Shane!

Thank you NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.