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Hot Work
Violet Thomas has everything figured out.
Fearless and over forty, she’s been a commercial diver for almost two decades and has mastered work at dark and dangerous depths. Cutting, welding, and inspecting offshore platforms and power dams with flawless execution, there isn’t much that fazes her anymore.
Except Cooper Brooks.
Bold, bright, and larger than life, he’s full of youth and BDE (Big Diver Energy). He’s the last thing the lone female on the dive team expects to find on a derelict oil platform set for decommission.
In the high-stakes world of diving, the pressure is intense, and safety is paramount. But maybe it’s time for risk-averse Violet to take a few chances. In a place where lives and careers are so easily set adrift, will the biggest plunge she takes be one she makes with her heart?
Fearless and over forty, she’s been a commercial diver for almost two decades and has mastered work at dark and dangerous depths. Cutting, welding, and inspecting offshore platforms and power dams with flawless execution, there isn’t much that fazes her anymore.
Except Cooper Brooks.
Bold, bright, and larger than life, he’s full of youth and BDE (Big Diver Energy). He’s the last thing the lone female on the dive team expects to find on a derelict oil platform set for decommission.
In the high-stakes world of diving, the pressure is intense, and safety is paramount. But maybe it’s time for risk-averse Violet to take a few chances. In a place where lives and careers are so easily set adrift, will the biggest plunge she takes be one she makes with her heart?
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2025
2 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Kate Cole
3 books70 followersSince meeting Mr. Darcy in English 101, Kate Cole hasn’t managed to shake her obsession with all things happily ever after. A sucker for romance, this Canadian bibliophile is a buttoned-up bureaucrat in the street, spicy romcom writer in her desk seat. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s also a wife and mom in suburbia who can’t get enough of Duran Duran or pedicures that match her current reads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 23, 2025
If you’re looking to read a unique story with fascinating, realistic characters, definitely grab this one 😍 I was hooked from start to finish!
Thank you Kate Cole for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
🤿 commercial divers/workplace
✨ age gap (he’s 30, she’s 40)
🫶🏼 friends to lovers
🤪 he’s silly, she’s serious
🧶 knitting as a love language
✨ childless by choice
🫶🏼 found family
🔗 close proximity
🧠 PTSD rep
💗 single 1st person pov
*check for trigger warnings! for me one of the toughest to read was an underwater scene that got dangerous
This book also tackles topics like reproductive autonomy/male doctors not listening to their female patients, being a woman in a male-dominated field, & homophobia
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 ebook | ⭐️: 4.75 | 🌶️: 3 |
The characters Kate creates are just so REAL
I loved the way Violet’s brain worked, so many of her thoughts were relatable & realistic.
She was also such a fascinating FMC as an underwater welder!
Kate has this way of writing that makes it so incredibly interesting, without having the information be too overwhelming. She weaves complex information into the story and makes it incredibly interesting 🥰
As for the romance, I LOVED the tension between them, the way Cooper teases Violet & the tension that continues to build between them.
The spice was just perfect - that shower scene, the mirror… 😮💨
I adored them knitting together as well 🧶
My only tiny hesitation on giving this a full 5 stars is that I felt like I didn’t get to know Cooper as well as I’d like - I wanted MORE of him 🥰
📖 Hot Work by Kate Cole
📚 book 2 • Women in Trades series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
Thank you Kate Cole for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
🤿 commercial divers/workplace
✨ age gap (he’s 30, she’s 40)
🫶🏼 friends to lovers
🤪 he’s silly, she’s serious
🧶 knitting as a love language
✨ childless by choice
🫶🏼 found family
🔗 close proximity
🧠 PTSD rep
💗 single 1st person pov
*check for trigger warnings! for me one of the toughest to read was an underwater scene that got dangerous
This book also tackles topics like reproductive autonomy/male doctors not listening to their female patients, being a woman in a male-dominated field, & homophobia
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 ebook | ⭐️: 4.75 | 🌶️: 3 |
The characters Kate creates are just so REAL
I loved the way Violet’s brain worked, so many of her thoughts were relatable & realistic.
She was also such a fascinating FMC as an underwater welder!
Kate has this way of writing that makes it so incredibly interesting, without having the information be too overwhelming. She weaves complex information into the story and makes it incredibly interesting 🥰
As for the romance, I LOVED the tension between them, the way Cooper teases Violet & the tension that continues to build between them.
The spice was just perfect - that shower scene, the mirror… 😮💨
I adored them knitting together as well 🧶
My only tiny hesitation on giving this a full 5 stars is that I felt like I didn’t get to know Cooper as well as I’d like - I wanted MORE of him 🥰
📖 Hot Work by Kate Cole
📚 book 2 • Women in Trades series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
July 5, 2025
As soon as Kate mentioned that book 2 would be coming out this summer, I *begged* for an ARC. I fell head over heels for Under Construction, the first Women in Trades romance, and I just knew I'd feel the same way about book 2.
Spoiler - I totally do. I think this is my most-highlighted book in my Kindle.
Hot Work focuses on Violet, a commercial diver and welder who is 40ish, and firmly set in her ways (despite a rather lacklustre relationship). She arrives at her next rotation, only to find one of the crew has gone on his paternity leave, and a new, younger diver has temporarily taken his place.
Enter: Cooper Brooks. He has double entendres for days, a body that won't quit, and a way of heating up Violet's blood that she didn't expect.
These two are like oil and water right from the start, bickering and picking on one another. Violet is annoyed by him being younger, and Cooper likes to poke the bear as much as he can. I absolutely loved the chemistry between these two, and how Cooper seamlessly fit into their close-knit team - like he'd always been there. Once the fireworks hit, I was done. If I thought I had been devouring the book before, I was REALLY devouring it now! Phew!
A couple of the sub-plots really hit home for me, and I am grateful to Kate for including them (LGBTQ+, and childfree by choice, specifically). It really hit home that these are real situations and based on real people and real experiences. I would love to be friends with all of them.
Kate sets each scene masterfully, explaining how things work without it taking over the story and becoming laborious. She blends the intricacies of oil platform life with the characters and story so seamlessly, that by the end, I was convinced I could go out there and do it myself, despite having zero knowledge about oil platforms or diving or welding outside of this book. Don't worry, I won't.... I think.
Oh, and eff you Bob. You know what you did.
I was generously given an eARC from Kate. My opinions are my own.
Spoiler - I totally do. I think this is my most-highlighted book in my Kindle.
Hot Work focuses on Violet, a commercial diver and welder who is 40ish, and firmly set in her ways (despite a rather lacklustre relationship). She arrives at her next rotation, only to find one of the crew has gone on his paternity leave, and a new, younger diver has temporarily taken his place.
Enter: Cooper Brooks. He has double entendres for days, a body that won't quit, and a way of heating up Violet's blood that she didn't expect.
These two are like oil and water right from the start, bickering and picking on one another. Violet is annoyed by him being younger, and Cooper likes to poke the bear as much as he can. I absolutely loved the chemistry between these two, and how Cooper seamlessly fit into their close-knit team - like he'd always been there. Once the fireworks hit, I was done. If I thought I had been devouring the book before, I was REALLY devouring it now! Phew!
A couple of the sub-plots really hit home for me, and I am grateful to Kate for including them (LGBTQ+, and childfree by choice, specifically). It really hit home that these are real situations and based on real people and real experiences. I would love to be friends with all of them.
Kate sets each scene masterfully, explaining how things work without it taking over the story and becoming laborious. She blends the intricacies of oil platform life with the characters and story so seamlessly, that by the end, I was convinced I could go out there and do it myself, despite having zero knowledge about oil platforms or diving or welding outside of this book. Don't worry, I won't.... I think.
Oh, and eff you Bob. You know what you did.
I was generously given an eARC from Kate. My opinions are my own.
July 26, 2025
Loved every second of this book! I really had a hard time putting it down.
I giggled and gasped the whole way through!
I giggled and gasped the whole way through!
July 6, 2025
Kate’s done it again! I was so lucky to receive this ARC (mostly because I couldn’t wait a second longer to read the next book in this series).
This book was the absolute perfect slow burn with laugh out loud one liners and the steamiest of steamy scenes.
I love the way Kate writes dialogue. I love her strong female leads who are human and flawed. I love a book where I get to learn a little something real despite a fictional world (thank you, women in trades).
I devoured this book in a single beach session and I already can’t wait to see who’s next.
This book was the absolute perfect slow burn with laugh out loud one liners and the steamiest of steamy scenes.
I love the way Kate writes dialogue. I love her strong female leads who are human and flawed. I love a book where I get to learn a little something real despite a fictional world (thank you, women in trades).
I devoured this book in a single beach session and I already can’t wait to see who’s next.
July 23, 2025
This is Kate’s BEST work yet!
Cooper is loving.
Violet is a freaking badass.
I laughed (a lot).
I screamed.
I teared up.
I swooned.
It was amazing!
Cooper is loving.
Violet is a freaking badass.
I laughed (a lot).
I screamed.
I teared up.
I swooned.
It was amazing!
January 24, 2026
Hot Work is the second book in the Women In Trades standalone series.
Violet Thomas is a badass commercial diver. At forty years old, she has fifteen years of experience and loves the work that she does. On her latest oil platform decommission job, she doesn't expect to be working with a new crew member named Cooper and she especially doesn't expect to get hot and bothered every time she sees him. Violet is ten years older than Cooper and their age gap is amongst many reasons why she can't be thinking of him in that way. As much as she fights it, working closely with him for two weeks at a time slowly wears down her resistance.
This book was MAGNIFICENT!!! I almost immediately knew that this book was going to be a five-star read for me. There was something so captivating about Kate Cole's voice that made me want to read more. The dialogue in this book had me laughing out loud. The witty banter between all the characters was so fun!
The concept of this series is intriguing. The female main characters are women in trades. The world of commercial diving was fascinating and I really enjoyed learning more about it. Violet was a truly special main character. I loved that she was passionate about what she does and that despite the sometimes discouraging reactions of others to what she does for a living, it never made her feel like what she did wasn't important.
Cooper was a swoon-worthy book boyfriend. He was positive, optimistic, and eager like a puppy. I loved his charming personality and how he came off immediately as a good man. He was genuine, earnest, and seemed to see the best in people. It was no wonder that he was able to bond with his crewmates so quickly.
I loved the supporting characters in this book. JT was HILARIOUS!!! And the rest of the crew - I loved how they worked together so seamlessly and were like a family.
This is going to be a book I'll be shouting from the rooftops about. Pick this one up for a slow burn age-gap workplace romance that will put a smile on your face and get you in your feels!
Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥¼
Violet Thomas is a badass commercial diver. At forty years old, she has fifteen years of experience and loves the work that she does. On her latest oil platform decommission job, she doesn't expect to be working with a new crew member named Cooper and she especially doesn't expect to get hot and bothered every time she sees him. Violet is ten years older than Cooper and their age gap is amongst many reasons why she can't be thinking of him in that way. As much as she fights it, working closely with him for two weeks at a time slowly wears down her resistance.
This book was MAGNIFICENT!!! I almost immediately knew that this book was going to be a five-star read for me. There was something so captivating about Kate Cole's voice that made me want to read more. The dialogue in this book had me laughing out loud. The witty banter between all the characters was so fun!
The concept of this series is intriguing. The female main characters are women in trades. The world of commercial diving was fascinating and I really enjoyed learning more about it. Violet was a truly special main character. I loved that she was passionate about what she does and that despite the sometimes discouraging reactions of others to what she does for a living, it never made her feel like what she did wasn't important.
Cooper was a swoon-worthy book boyfriend. He was positive, optimistic, and eager like a puppy. I loved his charming personality and how he came off immediately as a good man. He was genuine, earnest, and seemed to see the best in people. It was no wonder that he was able to bond with his crewmates so quickly.
I loved the supporting characters in this book. JT was HILARIOUS!!! And the rest of the crew - I loved how they worked together so seamlessly and were like a family.
This is going to be a book I'll be shouting from the rooftops about. Pick this one up for a slow burn age-gap workplace romance that will put a smile on your face and get you in your feels!
Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥¼
July 3, 2025
STEM MCs: commercial diving welders.
Y'all. I don't even know where to start. This book was so good from start to finish, and just so relatable on every level for me! I devoured it in less than a day because I couldn't put it down. (TL;DR it's a must read, you should put it on your TBR pile ASAP!)
I'll start with the setting: oil rigs out in the water. If you've lived in Southeast Louisiana or worked in oil and gas, this will be a very familiar setting to you. The way it works if you are unaware, due to how isolated it is from everything, everyone works 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. Because of that setup, it feels a bit more like the Navy in terms of work atmosphere. As a former Navy MilSpo, the descriptions of a lot of rig life felt so similar to me. It's kind of like a training workup cycle leading up to a deployment... you're always in and out, and trying to reacclimatize to being home for such a short time is challenging and sometimes straining with your life partners. Meanwhile, when you're on the rig/ship, your crew mates are your family, and nobody bats an eye when a lifesaving event goes down, it's all hands on deck. 10 minutes later, you're back to giving each other shit... the banter was perfect in this book to capture that. Kate captured rig life/life isolated on the water perfectly.
On to the work: underwater welding and inspections. You don't need to know anything about this topic to enjoy the book, I'll say that first. However, if you do know some things about welding underwater, you'll know that she did her research on it and described some of the techniques used in this profession quite well. It's a really cool but especially dangerous job to have, and she gives you some welding tech nerdiness and a bit of that drama in the book as well.
The reverse age gap is perfectly done in this book. I feel like sometimes we see the immaturity of the MMC come through with this trope, but not here, and I couldn't be happier about that. Cooper was so emotionally mature, and I think his family situation really helped with that. Violet was out here just being every woman, a regular low-maintenance girl in a male dominated field with wavering self confidence personally but a total badass professionally. I identified with her so much! All of the characters were incredibly lovable (except you, Bob)!
As an added bonus for me, the MCs were childfree and stayed that way. As a childfree person, when I find a romance that doesn't end with babies, I jump for joy! There are scenes in this book that hit the target on what it's like choosing to be childfree and trying to make that permanent. I felt so seen in those moments.
Overall the book was well written, the plot was excellent, and the spice was spicy! It's a slow burn, but once it catches fire, it doesn't stop burning! I need more books like this! This was my first book that I've read by Kate, so I can tell you that you will have zero issues reading this as a stand alone even though it's the second book in the series. I will be going back to read the first book, and I can't wait for the next one, too!
Y'all. I don't even know where to start. This book was so good from start to finish, and just so relatable on every level for me! I devoured it in less than a day because I couldn't put it down. (TL;DR it's a must read, you should put it on your TBR pile ASAP!)
I'll start with the setting: oil rigs out in the water. If you've lived in Southeast Louisiana or worked in oil and gas, this will be a very familiar setting to you. The way it works if you are unaware, due to how isolated it is from everything, everyone works 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. Because of that setup, it feels a bit more like the Navy in terms of work atmosphere. As a former Navy MilSpo, the descriptions of a lot of rig life felt so similar to me. It's kind of like a training workup cycle leading up to a deployment... you're always in and out, and trying to reacclimatize to being home for such a short time is challenging and sometimes straining with your life partners. Meanwhile, when you're on the rig/ship, your crew mates are your family, and nobody bats an eye when a lifesaving event goes down, it's all hands on deck. 10 minutes later, you're back to giving each other shit... the banter was perfect in this book to capture that. Kate captured rig life/life isolated on the water perfectly.
On to the work: underwater welding and inspections. You don't need to know anything about this topic to enjoy the book, I'll say that first. However, if you do know some things about welding underwater, you'll know that she did her research on it and described some of the techniques used in this profession quite well. It's a really cool but especially dangerous job to have, and she gives you some welding tech nerdiness and a bit of that drama in the book as well.
The reverse age gap is perfectly done in this book. I feel like sometimes we see the immaturity of the MMC come through with this trope, but not here, and I couldn't be happier about that. Cooper was so emotionally mature, and I think his family situation really helped with that. Violet was out here just being every woman, a regular low-maintenance girl in a male dominated field with wavering self confidence personally but a total badass professionally. I identified with her so much! All of the characters were incredibly lovable (except you, Bob)!
As an added bonus for me, the MCs were childfree and stayed that way. As a childfree person, when I find a romance that doesn't end with babies, I jump for joy! There are scenes in this book that hit the target on what it's like choosing to be childfree and trying to make that permanent. I felt so seen in those moments.
Overall the book was well written, the plot was excellent, and the spice was spicy! It's a slow burn, but once it catches fire, it doesn't stop burning! I need more books like this! This was my first book that I've read by Kate, so I can tell you that you will have zero issues reading this as a stand alone even though it's the second book in the series. I will be going back to read the first book, and I can't wait for the next one, too!
July 3, 2025
OMG IM CRYING! 😭 😍 full ARC review soon!
ARC read: Digital copy of the book provided by the author.
Thank you Kate!
this book has some great messages:
-childless by choice
-Bigots are the worst
-blue collar /women in "male professions"
-dating in your 40'
-standing up to male doctors who don't listen to their patients.
-PTSD representation
-bi representation
big tropes:
-diver/wetsuits
-age gap (she's 10 years older)
-friends to lovers
micro tropes:
-knitting as a love language
-accidental erection
-she wears the gray sweatpants
-he drools over her abs
-fourth wing and smut lover (bookish)
-GUACAMOLE
content notes:
-underwater life-threatening scenes (this got my heart RACING!)
-PTSD
-mental health impacted from the work place
-reproductive autonomy
-depictions of homophobia
This was a fast and lovely read. Perfect for anyone looking for something lite with fast pacing.
Violet and her work besty JT are on the job and welcome the new guy, Cooper. Tanned Cali boy in his 30's who's an immediate flirt.
We get to see violet's life from on shore and offshore platform. She got a messy life, and takes us through all of it. The work, the stress, the de-stressing methods and more.
Violet is going through a lot of life changes, but Cooper keeps the flirting turned up to the max (and JT won't let her ignore it) When a work incident lands the friend group on shore together, they make the most of it! MEOW!!!
Additional notes:
the cover is beautiful and I loved the chapter art.
A MUST READ!
ARC read: Digital copy of the book provided by the author.
Thank you Kate!
this book has some great messages:
-childless by choice
-Bigots are the worst
-blue collar /women in "male professions"
-dating in your 40'
-standing up to male doctors who don't listen to their patients.
-PTSD representation
-bi representation
big tropes:
-diver/wetsuits
-age gap (she's 10 years older)
-friends to lovers
micro tropes:
-knitting as a love language
-accidental erection
-she wears the gray sweatpants
-he drools over her abs
-fourth wing and smut lover (bookish)
-GUACAMOLE
content notes:
-underwater life-threatening scenes (this got my heart RACING!)
-PTSD
-mental health impacted from the work place
-reproductive autonomy
-depictions of homophobia
This was a fast and lovely read. Perfect for anyone looking for something lite with fast pacing.
Violet and her work besty JT are on the job and welcome the new guy, Cooper. Tanned Cali boy in his 30's who's an immediate flirt.
We get to see violet's life from on shore and offshore platform. She got a messy life, and takes us through all of it. The work, the stress, the de-stressing methods and more.
Violet is going through a lot of life changes, but Cooper keeps the flirting turned up to the max (and JT won't let her ignore it) When a work incident lands the friend group on shore together, they make the most of it! MEOW!!!
Additional notes:
the cover is beautiful and I loved the chapter art.
A MUST READ!
July 15, 2025
Hot girl summer reading Hot Work by Kate Cole!
I was beyond thrilled to get the chance to read Hot Work, the second book in the Women In Trades Roamance series, by Kate Cole! Especially after absolutely flying through her debut - Under Construction!
Kate specializes in putting the spotlight on women SMEs in Trade industries- industries not often romanticized. Which is wild because I can't think of anything sexier than being out at sea with a competent, and dreamy, drink of water like Cooper (even 10 years my junior)...
Violet (our badass FMC) seems to have the same train of thought - but a distraction in one of the most dangerous jobs in the world is not what she needs. But sometimes we need someone to show us what we can have to know what we need (and want).
Cooper is a breathe of fresh air wrapped in a Van Halen t-shirt; maybe just maybe... more than just a distraction.
Between obtuse vampire accountants, looking at "him" like you look at your guac, and needing good fingering- Hot Work has it all. Single POV that reads so naturally it is almost like your glimpsing into Violets diary; spice in unconventionally hot ways (tatted girls this is for you!!!), and genuine frustration and empathy for both V and C as they navigate the waters of Hot Work!
Preorder Hot Work today (and dive in July 26) and pick up Under Construction to be ready for some familiar names later!
Thank you Kate - I had so much fun chatting with you about these two and can't wait for what's next!
I was beyond thrilled to get the chance to read Hot Work, the second book in the Women In Trades Roamance series, by Kate Cole! Especially after absolutely flying through her debut - Under Construction!
Kate specializes in putting the spotlight on women SMEs in Trade industries- industries not often romanticized. Which is wild because I can't think of anything sexier than being out at sea with a competent, and dreamy, drink of water like Cooper (even 10 years my junior)...
Violet (our badass FMC) seems to have the same train of thought - but a distraction in one of the most dangerous jobs in the world is not what she needs. But sometimes we need someone to show us what we can have to know what we need (and want).
Cooper is a breathe of fresh air wrapped in a Van Halen t-shirt; maybe just maybe... more than just a distraction.
Between obtuse vampire accountants, looking at "him" like you look at your guac, and needing good fingering- Hot Work has it all. Single POV that reads so naturally it is almost like your glimpsing into Violets diary; spice in unconventionally hot ways (tatted girls this is for you!!!), and genuine frustration and empathy for both V and C as they navigate the waters of Hot Work!
Preorder Hot Work today (and dive in July 26) and pick up Under Construction to be ready for some familiar names later!
Thank you Kate - I had so much fun chatting with you about these two and can't wait for what's next!
July 20, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Where do I even start? Kate Cole just knows how to write smart, strong, female characters in male dominated professions, while also giving the reader insight into what these professions entail and what life is like for employees, particularly women and people of the LGBTQ+ community. I ate this book up! I think I even read it faster than I did with Under Construction and I even impressed myself with that one! I love Violet and Cooper so so much. While V is very aware of their age difference (we love an age gap) and the changes she is noticing as she ages, Cooper does NOT. This man worships this woman. This book has banter, flirty texts, hot and beautiful spice, tension, and even a little suspense. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I absolutely loved everything about this book. Violet and Cooper will live rent free in my mind for a very long time. Kate Cole has officially become an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what we get in the future. I’m crossing my fingers for a story about Greta! 432 (IYKYK)
Thank you to Kate Cole for sending over an eARC!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Where do I even start? Kate Cole just knows how to write smart, strong, female characters in male dominated professions, while also giving the reader insight into what these professions entail and what life is like for employees, particularly women and people of the LGBTQ+ community. I ate this book up! I think I even read it faster than I did with Under Construction and I even impressed myself with that one! I love Violet and Cooper so so much. While V is very aware of their age difference (we love an age gap) and the changes she is noticing as she ages, Cooper does NOT. This man worships this woman. This book has banter, flirty texts, hot and beautiful spice, tension, and even a little suspense. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I absolutely loved everything about this book. Violet and Cooper will live rent free in my mind for a very long time. Kate Cole has officially become an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what we get in the future. I’m crossing my fingers for a story about Greta! 432 (IYKYK)
Thank you to Kate Cole for sending over an eARC!!
July 9, 2025
I absolutely LOVED V and Cooper's story. This was easily devoured. I was left wanting more... Even though there was plenty of spice 🌶️. There was excellent plot development and some really tough situations. The trades work was done so well.
I cannot recommend this book enough!!!
I cannot recommend this book enough!!!
August 5, 2025
A strong female lead, a unique off-shore setting, and a slow burn love story with a spicy payoff. I laughed, I swooned, and I was absolutely rooting for this unconventional pair to get their happy ending. I'll be looking for the next book in this series!
July 5, 2025
The way I loved this book 🥰
Firstly, reading about strong, independent women working in male dominated industries, makes my heart sing! Then to see that the women are written in ways that reflect real women, not just fictional women, gives me life!
Violet is a 40 year old woman working in a male dominated industry but she has done this for 15 years. She has proven she is exceptional in her work and professionalism and she isn’t treated like just a girl. The men in her team respect her and see her for the person she is. She has good working friendships with her team and that’s necessary in such a potentially dangerous profession.
Violets partner is a jerk. To me he sounds like the typical gaslighting narcissist who wants to mould a woman to be who he needs her to be and cannot see the wonderful woman that she is. But she accepts the bare minimum and his dreadful attitude toward her, not seeing her worth despite how amazing she really is.
Along comes Cooper, tall, sexy, tanned and 10 years her junior. Not only is he gorgeous but he’s fun too. He loves to banter and joke, he’s playful, he’s great at his job and a shameless flirt. They build a friendship over knitting. The slow burn and constant flirting and banter is definitely with the wait!
Eventually Violet has a gutful of her shitty boyfriend and ends it with him and has zero regrets. Over time the friendship with Cooper starts to shift and the chemistry that builds is explosive.
The age gap for Violet is constantly on her mind, she doesn’t want to hold him back from a life of making a family that she just doesn’t want. She can’t see that he’s fallen for her, for real, and she pushed him away.
The way this story ended was beautiful and very much like the ending of a romcom movie and it pulled on all the heartstrings. For me this was entirely relatable, having been in an age gap relationship once with a man 9 years my junior and I let him go for the same reasons she was afraid of. Seeing this happy ending, was really heartwarming because Violet ended up doing what she ultimately wanted to do and she didn’t let the doubts kill what they had.
Highly recommend this book! The banter and flirtatious nature of the characters was fun and kept me laughing the whole way through. I struggled to put it down. Special mention to JT, the Co Star we all need in our lives!
Thank you Kate for writing about women in the way that you do and for helping some of us older women to feel seen ♥️
Firstly, reading about strong, independent women working in male dominated industries, makes my heart sing! Then to see that the women are written in ways that reflect real women, not just fictional women, gives me life!
Violet is a 40 year old woman working in a male dominated industry but she has done this for 15 years. She has proven she is exceptional in her work and professionalism and she isn’t treated like just a girl. The men in her team respect her and see her for the person she is. She has good working friendships with her team and that’s necessary in such a potentially dangerous profession.
Violets partner is a jerk. To me he sounds like the typical gaslighting narcissist who wants to mould a woman to be who he needs her to be and cannot see the wonderful woman that she is. But she accepts the bare minimum and his dreadful attitude toward her, not seeing her worth despite how amazing she really is.
Along comes Cooper, tall, sexy, tanned and 10 years her junior. Not only is he gorgeous but he’s fun too. He loves to banter and joke, he’s playful, he’s great at his job and a shameless flirt. They build a friendship over knitting. The slow burn and constant flirting and banter is definitely with the wait!
Eventually Violet has a gutful of her shitty boyfriend and ends it with him and has zero regrets. Over time the friendship with Cooper starts to shift and the chemistry that builds is explosive.
The age gap for Violet is constantly on her mind, she doesn’t want to hold him back from a life of making a family that she just doesn’t want. She can’t see that he’s fallen for her, for real, and she pushed him away.
The way this story ended was beautiful and very much like the ending of a romcom movie and it pulled on all the heartstrings. For me this was entirely relatable, having been in an age gap relationship once with a man 9 years my junior and I let him go for the same reasons she was afraid of. Seeing this happy ending, was really heartwarming because Violet ended up doing what she ultimately wanted to do and she didn’t let the doubts kill what they had.
Highly recommend this book! The banter and flirtatious nature of the characters was fun and kept me laughing the whole way through. I struggled to put it down. Special mention to JT, the Co Star we all need in our lives!
Thank you Kate for writing about women in the way that you do and for helping some of us older women to feel seen ♥️
July 16, 2025
I completely devoured this book!! From the very first page to the last, I was hooked. I annoyingly didn’t get a lot of reading time this week so only really got to read properly on an evening; I just couldn’t stop and had to force myself to get some sleep. The witty banter and inner dialogue was bloody brilliant and often had me laughing out loud!! This is an absolute masterpiece!! One I will be recommending to anyone who will listen. Hats off to commercial divers too!!
Tropes - ▪️forced proximity ▪️age gap ▪️friends-to-lovers▪️fiercely independent FMC▪️Commercial diving ▪️ High Stakes ▪️ Women In Trades ▪️ Slow Burn
Hot work focuses on Violet, a 40 year old, fiercly independent, commercial diver who has had to work her butt off to be recognised as the best as what she does. At home she is in a relationship with a man (the douchey vampire accountant) who spent 3 years trying to change her and to hide who she really is. When she arrives at her next rotation she finds a new, hot, younger diver who is covering for one of the divers who is on paternity leave.
Aaaand ENTER - Cooper Brookes, a young jock type, a bit of a jokester. Newer in the trade but no less brilliant. He fits in with the team effortlessly. It doesn’t take long for their chemistry to begin to sizzle and attraction heats up and Violet soon realises she shouldn’t be settling in a relationship where she cannot truly be herself. Cooper has a heart of gold and absolutely dazzled by ‘V’. He is completely adorable and swoonwothy too.
The angst and slow burn is delivered impeccably. Each scene is expertly thought out and the work they do is explained in enough detail to understand their profession, without only being centred around that. The spice was perfect, and the plot was exciting, and educational too. I never realised how interesting yet dangerous life on an offshore platform was.
I loved the inclusivity Kate included with LGBTQ+ references and showing that sadly homophobia still exists and people still use homophobic slurs (something my daughter is sadly dealing with from the kids at school she she came out) Kate also raised awareness for a womans right to choose (not all women want to be mothers and that should be ok but sadly a lot of women have to go through this with doctors and family members which is so wrong).
Tropes - ▪️forced proximity ▪️age gap ▪️friends-to-lovers▪️fiercely independent FMC▪️Commercial diving ▪️ High Stakes ▪️ Women In Trades ▪️ Slow Burn
Hot work focuses on Violet, a 40 year old, fiercly independent, commercial diver who has had to work her butt off to be recognised as the best as what she does. At home she is in a relationship with a man (the douchey vampire accountant) who spent 3 years trying to change her and to hide who she really is. When she arrives at her next rotation she finds a new, hot, younger diver who is covering for one of the divers who is on paternity leave.
Aaaand ENTER - Cooper Brookes, a young jock type, a bit of a jokester. Newer in the trade but no less brilliant. He fits in with the team effortlessly. It doesn’t take long for their chemistry to begin to sizzle and attraction heats up and Violet soon realises she shouldn’t be settling in a relationship where she cannot truly be herself. Cooper has a heart of gold and absolutely dazzled by ‘V’. He is completely adorable and swoonwothy too.
The angst and slow burn is delivered impeccably. Each scene is expertly thought out and the work they do is explained in enough detail to understand their profession, without only being centred around that. The spice was perfect, and the plot was exciting, and educational too. I never realised how interesting yet dangerous life on an offshore platform was.
I loved the inclusivity Kate included with LGBTQ+ references and showing that sadly homophobia still exists and people still use homophobic slurs (something my daughter is sadly dealing with from the kids at school she she came out) Kate also raised awareness for a womans right to choose (not all women want to be mothers and that should be ok but sadly a lot of women have to go through this with doctors and family members which is so wrong).
July 30, 2025
SHE DOES IT AGAIN FOLKS
In the same witty and relatable tone as Under Construction, Hot Work had me hooked from the start and genuinely blushing through to the end.
Kate relies more heavily on her character development, and I personally loved getting to know more about Violet's desires, piss-offs, and strengths, and focus on the development of her own self-image in tandem with her relationship with Cooper, rather than have conflict after conflict being thrown in for action's sake. I love an uncomplicated plot! I just want it to make sense amidst all the smooching!
Kate definitely meant it when she said SLOW burn but my goodness...it was worth it, and the timing felt so right when it all went down! (Anyone know of any pink cabins for rent?) I also adored the links to Under Construction and the introduction of friend Greta, made me want to text my girls just to say I love them.
My only wish is that there was more of a back and forth between Cooper and Charles in the beginning. While we clearly established that Charles was NOT the vibe, the jump in her attraction to Cooper felt too quick. And while her defense of Charles to her friends was flimsy at best (and rightfully so, I'm not in the business of defending men that don't deserve it), I suppose I was looking for some sort of internal dialogue on how Violet's attraction to Cooper wasn't "appropriate" just because of the age gap or workplace proximity, but also because she has someone back home and she's an honest woman.
Otherwise, spicy and smart, everything I could have wanted from a summer read. Time to stare longingly out a window until I can be graced with more Kate Cole content.
In the same witty and relatable tone as Under Construction, Hot Work had me hooked from the start and genuinely blushing through to the end.
Kate relies more heavily on her character development, and I personally loved getting to know more about Violet's desires, piss-offs, and strengths, and focus on the development of her own self-image in tandem with her relationship with Cooper, rather than have conflict after conflict being thrown in for action's sake. I love an uncomplicated plot! I just want it to make sense amidst all the smooching!
Kate definitely meant it when she said SLOW burn but my goodness...it was worth it, and the timing felt so right when it all went down! (Anyone know of any pink cabins for rent?) I also adored the links to Under Construction and the introduction of friend Greta, made me want to text my girls just to say I love them.
My only wish is that there was more of a back and forth between Cooper and Charles in the beginning. While we clearly established that Charles was NOT the vibe, the jump in her attraction to Cooper felt too quick. And while her defense of Charles to her friends was flimsy at best (and rightfully so, I'm not in the business of defending men that don't deserve it), I suppose I was looking for some sort of internal dialogue on how Violet's attraction to Cooper wasn't "appropriate" just because of the age gap or workplace proximity, but also because she has someone back home and she's an honest woman.
Otherwise, spicy and smart, everything I could have wanted from a summer read. Time to stare longingly out a window until I can be graced with more Kate Cole content.
July 3, 2025
📚 Book Review: Hot Work by Kate Cole 🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
"Hot Work" is a must-read for fans of mature, slow-burn romances with real grit, sharp wit, and sizzling chemistry. Kate Cole delivers a compelling and refreshing love story set in the rugged world of offshore commercial diving, something you don’t see every day in romance.
The story centers on Violet Thomas, a fearless, seasoned diver in her 40s who’s made a name for herself in a male-dominated field. Violet is competent, confident, and used to handling the pressure until Cooper Brooks shows up on her dive team. Young, charismatic, and full of that unmistakable Big Diver Energy, Cooper challenges Violet in ways she never expected.
What makes Hot Work stand out is its authenticity and emotional depth. The underwater setting is thrilling and immersive, while the characters feel raw and real. Violet's internal conflict, balancing professional control with personal vulnerability and is beautifully written. And Cooper? He’s more than just a pretty face with a charming smirk and he’s respectful, persistent, and emotionally available. Swoon.
The tension between them is magnetic, and their dynamic is full of snappy banter, smoldering glances, and those just-one-bed moments that keep you turning the pages way past bedtime. And while the romance heats up, the emotional payoff is just as strong. This is about second chances, personal growth, and taking the plunge even when it terrifies you.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plenty of steam and slow-building passion, but done with class, emotional connection, and just the right amount of heat.
If you're craving a romance that celebrates strong women, age-positive love, and the thrill of taking risks, Hot Work will leave you breathless in and out of the water. 💙
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
"Hot Work" is a must-read for fans of mature, slow-burn romances with real grit, sharp wit, and sizzling chemistry. Kate Cole delivers a compelling and refreshing love story set in the rugged world of offshore commercial diving, something you don’t see every day in romance.
The story centers on Violet Thomas, a fearless, seasoned diver in her 40s who’s made a name for herself in a male-dominated field. Violet is competent, confident, and used to handling the pressure until Cooper Brooks shows up on her dive team. Young, charismatic, and full of that unmistakable Big Diver Energy, Cooper challenges Violet in ways she never expected.
What makes Hot Work stand out is its authenticity and emotional depth. The underwater setting is thrilling and immersive, while the characters feel raw and real. Violet's internal conflict, balancing professional control with personal vulnerability and is beautifully written. And Cooper? He’s more than just a pretty face with a charming smirk and he’s respectful, persistent, and emotionally available. Swoon.
The tension between them is magnetic, and their dynamic is full of snappy banter, smoldering glances, and those just-one-bed moments that keep you turning the pages way past bedtime. And while the romance heats up, the emotional payoff is just as strong. This is about second chances, personal growth, and taking the plunge even when it terrifies you.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plenty of steam and slow-building passion, but done with class, emotional connection, and just the right amount of heat.
If you're craving a romance that celebrates strong women, age-positive love, and the thrill of taking risks, Hot Work will leave you breathless in and out of the water. 💙
July 8, 2025
I was so unbelievably privileged to receive an ARC copy of ‘Hot Work’.
Let me start by saying, from the off, Cooper had my heart. 😍
If you love romance, slow-burns, strong female characters and a beautiful plot, this is definitely the book for you!
-Slow Burn
-Reverse Age Gap (She’s 10 years older)
-Accidental Erection (Amazing)
-Wetsuits are HOT
-JT is the best friend EVERYONE NEEDS. (My favourite character. I need a JT in my life).
From the first page, I was hooked and I have never related to a character as much as Violet. She is perfectly strong and flawed and there were times when she was frustrating, but that was because she was SO REAL.
Violet is older than your usual FMC: a 40 year old commercial diver, covered in some badass tattoos, who is in a long-term relationship with a huge emotionally unavailable D-bag. Who has inadvertently changed her, chipping away at her confidence and making her hide the vibrant personality that she once had.
When one of her crew goes on paternity leave, his replacement is the one and only Cooper Brooks, who reignites something inside Violet.
With his bright yellow speaker, his band tees and his washboard abs, Cooper is swoon-worthy. (I SWOONED HARD over this man.)
The slow burn in this book was everything I wanted it to be. There was so much tension, there was laughter, there were tense moments.
The SPICE in this book was steamyAF and was so well written with no levels of crass description, it was one of the hottest books I have read this year.
It does deal with some difficult topics,
-PTSD
-Mental health
-Life-threatening underwater scenes
-Reproductive health/bodily autonomy
-Depictions of homophobia.
Every single topic that Kate Cole touches upon was so well written. My heart was racing at certain scenes, sitting on the edge of my seat, feeling the fear that the characters were feeling. Feeling the frustration and abhorrent sexism in medical settings.
This book had EVERYTHING that I love in a good story, I couldn’t put it down. From start to finish, I couldn’t get enough.
Thank you Kate Cole for writing such an amazing set of characters <3
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Let me start by saying, from the off, Cooper had my heart. 😍
If you love romance, slow-burns, strong female characters and a beautiful plot, this is definitely the book for you!
-Slow Burn
-Reverse Age Gap (She’s 10 years older)
-Accidental Erection (Amazing)
-Wetsuits are HOT
-JT is the best friend EVERYONE NEEDS. (My favourite character. I need a JT in my life).
From the first page, I was hooked and I have never related to a character as much as Violet. She is perfectly strong and flawed and there were times when she was frustrating, but that was because she was SO REAL.
Violet is older than your usual FMC: a 40 year old commercial diver, covered in some badass tattoos, who is in a long-term relationship with a huge emotionally unavailable D-bag. Who has inadvertently changed her, chipping away at her confidence and making her hide the vibrant personality that she once had.
When one of her crew goes on paternity leave, his replacement is the one and only Cooper Brooks, who reignites something inside Violet.
With his bright yellow speaker, his band tees and his washboard abs, Cooper is swoon-worthy. (I SWOONED HARD over this man.)
The slow burn in this book was everything I wanted it to be. There was so much tension, there was laughter, there were tense moments.
The SPICE in this book was steamyAF and was so well written with no levels of crass description, it was one of the hottest books I have read this year.
It does deal with some difficult topics,
-PTSD
-Mental health
-Life-threatening underwater scenes
-Reproductive health/bodily autonomy
-Depictions of homophobia.
Every single topic that Kate Cole touches upon was so well written. My heart was racing at certain scenes, sitting on the edge of my seat, feeling the fear that the characters were feeling. Feeling the frustration and abhorrent sexism in medical settings.
This book had EVERYTHING that I love in a good story, I couldn’t put it down. From start to finish, I couldn’t get enough.
Thank you Kate Cole for writing such an amazing set of characters <3
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
July 23, 2025
Some books are steamy. Hot Work is something else. It’s simmering. The tension lives in the pauses, the glances, the weight of everything that goes unsaid. And somehow, that’s exactly what makes it such an unputdownable read.
Violet is a commercial diver who’s good at her job and bad at her feelings (haha, I am too violet girl). She’s tough, emotionally guarded, and painfully self-aware—and she’s also one of the most compelling romance heroines I’ve read in a while. Enter Cooper, a quiet fellow diver who doesn’t say much but somehow sees everything. Their dynamic is slow-burn perfection. There’s no big “alpha” energy here (but there is BDE—Big Diver Energy for you gutter minded folks 😂🫣), no over-the-top declarations. Just two people navigating work, desire, fear, and connection on their own terms.
Kate Cole writes like someone who understands that the hottest parts of a romance aren’t always in the bedroom. They’re in the restraint. The near-misses. The subtle shift when someone starts to feel safe enough to want more.
There’s one scene involving a stubborn lock, a bad mood, and a totally deadpan line about lubricant that had me fully obsessed—and not even for the reasons you’d think 🫣😭😂😂😂 .
Hot Work is smart, tense, sexy, and surprisingly tender. If you’re into emotionally complicated characters, high-stakes jobs, and slow burns that pay off in big ways, what are you waiting for? RUN 🏃🏽♀️ 🏃🏽🏃🏻♂️💨Go start reading the book now!!
Violet is a commercial diver who’s good at her job and bad at her feelings (haha, I am too violet girl). She’s tough, emotionally guarded, and painfully self-aware—and she’s also one of the most compelling romance heroines I’ve read in a while. Enter Cooper, a quiet fellow diver who doesn’t say much but somehow sees everything. Their dynamic is slow-burn perfection. There’s no big “alpha” energy here (but there is BDE—Big Diver Energy for you gutter minded folks 😂🫣), no over-the-top declarations. Just two people navigating work, desire, fear, and connection on their own terms.
Kate Cole writes like someone who understands that the hottest parts of a romance aren’t always in the bedroom. They’re in the restraint. The near-misses. The subtle shift when someone starts to feel safe enough to want more.
There’s one scene involving a stubborn lock, a bad mood, and a totally deadpan line about lubricant that had me fully obsessed—and not even for the reasons you’d think 🫣😭😂😂😂 .
Hot Work is smart, tense, sexy, and surprisingly tender. If you’re into emotionally complicated characters, high-stakes jobs, and slow burns that pay off in big ways, what are you waiting for? RUN 🏃🏽♀️ 🏃🏽🏃🏻♂️💨Go start reading the book now!!
July 6, 2025
Hot Work is the 2nd in Kate Cole's excellent Women in Trades series, and it does not leave the reader wanting! It's a smart romance for clever women (and men) and absolutely worth the read!
Violet is an experienced commercial diver (think underwater welding) stuck in a brackish (I had to. Sorry, not sorry.) relationship, until she meets Cooper, the younger, paternity-leave-fill-in diver, who makes her question if she is still the person she's wanted to be. From the unique setting (on numerous oil rigs) to the main characters' unusual occupation, to the lovely prose and character development, there is so much to love about this book.
What to expect: friends to lovers, FMC is 40!, age gap (he's 10yrs younger), tattooed FMC, he falls first, knitting as a love language, close proximity, BDE (Big diver energy), accidental erections, grey sweat pants (they are hers and she wears them --- and now I need some too), childless by choice... steamy, steamy intemacy scenes.
TW/CW: a character is accidentally outed, homophobia, dismissal by a male doctor of FMC reproductive choices, discussion of PTSD, storms on an oil rig.
Favorite Quote: "...the words just keep coming. Smutty sonnets inked in sin, marking me like the tattoos on my skin."
** Thank you, Kate Cole, for an advanced copy of the book!
Violet is an experienced commercial diver (think underwater welding) stuck in a brackish (I had to. Sorry, not sorry.) relationship, until she meets Cooper, the younger, paternity-leave-fill-in diver, who makes her question if she is still the person she's wanted to be. From the unique setting (on numerous oil rigs) to the main characters' unusual occupation, to the lovely prose and character development, there is so much to love about this book.
What to expect: friends to lovers, FMC is 40!, age gap (he's 10yrs younger), tattooed FMC, he falls first, knitting as a love language, close proximity, BDE (Big diver energy), accidental erections, grey sweat pants (they are hers and she wears them --- and now I need some too), childless by choice... steamy, steamy intemacy scenes.
TW/CW: a character is accidentally outed, homophobia, dismissal by a male doctor of FMC reproductive choices, discussion of PTSD, storms on an oil rig.
Favorite Quote: "...the words just keep coming. Smutty sonnets inked in sin, marking me like the tattoos on my skin."
** Thank you, Kate Cole, for an advanced copy of the book!
July 19, 2025
📚 ARC: Hot Work by Kate Cole
💀(DNF) 🎭⭐️🌶 Book Unrated
First, I want to acknowledge the uniqueness of Kate Cole’s storytelling and thank her for the opportunityto read her work. Her focus on strong, capable women thriving in skilled trades is refreshing and much needed in the romance genre. I was genuinely excited to dive into Hot Work, and there’s no doubt that the author’s respect for this world shines through in the details.
That said, this one didn’t quite land for me. Like opening a bottle of wine with a beautiful label and promising notes on the nose, I was intrigued right away. But as I sipped further, it just didn’t hit all the right flavors. The plot moved, the characters had potential, but I never quite connected. I found myself putting the book down more often than picking it back up, and ultimately, I didn’t finish it.
It’s always disappointing when a book doesn’t fully pull you in—especially one with such a strong premise. But reading, like wine, is deeply personal. What falls flat for one reader might be the perfect pour for another.
While Hot Work didn’t end up being my perfect match, I still appreciate the craftsmanship behind it and the voice Cole brings to the page. I’d absolutely recommend her work to anyone looking for empowering heroines and fresh, underrepresented settings.
💀(DNF) 🎭⭐️🌶 Book Unrated
First, I want to acknowledge the uniqueness of Kate Cole’s storytelling and thank her for the opportunityto read her work. Her focus on strong, capable women thriving in skilled trades is refreshing and much needed in the romance genre. I was genuinely excited to dive into Hot Work, and there’s no doubt that the author’s respect for this world shines through in the details.
That said, this one didn’t quite land for me. Like opening a bottle of wine with a beautiful label and promising notes on the nose, I was intrigued right away. But as I sipped further, it just didn’t hit all the right flavors. The plot moved, the characters had potential, but I never quite connected. I found myself putting the book down more often than picking it back up, and ultimately, I didn’t finish it.
It’s always disappointing when a book doesn’t fully pull you in—especially one with such a strong premise. But reading, like wine, is deeply personal. What falls flat for one reader might be the perfect pour for another.
While Hot Work didn’t end up being my perfect match, I still appreciate the craftsmanship behind it and the voice Cole brings to the page. I’d absolutely recommend her work to anyone looking for empowering heroines and fresh, underrepresented settings.
July 27, 2025
I love love loved the first book in this series, Under Construction, so I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC of this book.
Violet is a badass commercial diver who has made work her life due to the tough schedule and crappy boyfriend. As the only woman on the platform, she's used to being tough, brave, and getting the job done. Cooper is the young new addition to the team that waltzes in like a hot ray of sunshine and has Violet all wound up.
What I liked:
Violet's character is dynamic and relatable while being exciting. I enjoyed learning a lot about commercial diving without it being a chore, things were just described in an engaging way that made what they do both understandable and terrifying. I loved how the story unfolded, especially how Cooper seems to know from the beginning what Violet needs and especially that she needs to be herself and independent. The spice was hot and spicy, but only added to the plot, which I always enjoy.
What I didn't like:
Honestly... I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy. I would have liked some of the story in Cooper's POV, but that's just because I was dying to know what he was thinking, not because there was anything lacking in Violet's perspective.
I can tell that the series is going to have at least one more book and I can't wait to see what @katecoleauthor brings in the next one.
Violet is a badass commercial diver who has made work her life due to the tough schedule and crappy boyfriend. As the only woman on the platform, she's used to being tough, brave, and getting the job done. Cooper is the young new addition to the team that waltzes in like a hot ray of sunshine and has Violet all wound up.
What I liked:
Violet's character is dynamic and relatable while being exciting. I enjoyed learning a lot about commercial diving without it being a chore, things were just described in an engaging way that made what they do both understandable and terrifying. I loved how the story unfolded, especially how Cooper seems to know from the beginning what Violet needs and especially that she needs to be herself and independent. The spice was hot and spicy, but only added to the plot, which I always enjoy.
What I didn't like:
Honestly... I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy. I would have liked some of the story in Cooper's POV, but that's just because I was dying to know what he was thinking, not because there was anything lacking in Violet's perspective.
I can tell that the series is going to have at least one more book and I can't wait to see what @katecoleauthor brings in the next one.
July 8, 2025
I have loved this book!
Ok, I'm definitely biased because, as a diver (not commercial diver) I've been on the hunt for women friendly equipment all my life and reading about Violet and her striving in commercial diving was amazing per se. Then...she's 40! She's not the usual young woman in the 20s trying to figure out her life- she knows what she wants and she's still learning how to cope with relationships and personal emotional growth as well.
Then a hot (frat) boy in his 30s comes into the picture and it honestly feels good to read about a jounger guy appreciating a woman regardless her age (finally!!!!!).
I personally found fascinating the life those commercial divers were conducting with 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off work which is an organizational challenge by itself.
I read this book while I was away diving myself, hence I found the story very relatable- I felt like I was there with V and C.
Only "con" of this book is....it ended too soon! I would have read about them and how their story evolved for another 200 pages easily.
Thank you to the autor Kate Cole for the ARC- this was my honest review.
Ok, I'm definitely biased because, as a diver (not commercial diver) I've been on the hunt for women friendly equipment all my life and reading about Violet and her striving in commercial diving was amazing per se. Then...she's 40! She's not the usual young woman in the 20s trying to figure out her life- she knows what she wants and she's still learning how to cope with relationships and personal emotional growth as well.
Then a hot (frat) boy in his 30s comes into the picture and it honestly feels good to read about a jounger guy appreciating a woman regardless her age (finally!!!!!).
I personally found fascinating the life those commercial divers were conducting with 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off work which is an organizational challenge by itself.
I read this book while I was away diving myself, hence I found the story very relatable- I felt like I was there with V and C.
Only "con" of this book is....it ended too soon! I would have read about them and how their story evolved for another 200 pages easily.
Thank you to the autor Kate Cole for the ARC- this was my honest review.
July 28, 2025
“Competence kink is most definitely a thing.” Yes it is Violet, and you made me realize it’s one of my kinks as well.
Here’s the thing I’m realizing about Kate Cole: she’s a romance author that writes such incredible plots that I sometimes forget that I’m reading a romance… until the steamy spice happens and then I quickly remember.
But seriously - construction diver FMC and MMC. Underwater welding. In the ocean. It doesn’t get much cooler than that for a workplace romance. Do you like your workplace romances with a little forced proximity? Because Violet and Cooper are on a small oil structure in the middle of the ocean. The proximity literally cannot get much more forced.
I was obsessed with the technical details she adds in to teach the reader about what underwater welding is. There’s one particular scene with Steve (no spoilers) that had my heart beating so fast, I almost ended up with high blood pressure medication.
If you’ve read Under Construction, this book takes place during that same time. I remember when I was reading Under Construction, Greta mentioned Charles and I my interest was immediately piqued by Violet and Bella’s reactions. Now I know why.
Here’s the thing I’m realizing about Kate Cole: she’s a romance author that writes such incredible plots that I sometimes forget that I’m reading a romance… until the steamy spice happens and then I quickly remember.
But seriously - construction diver FMC and MMC. Underwater welding. In the ocean. It doesn’t get much cooler than that for a workplace romance. Do you like your workplace romances with a little forced proximity? Because Violet and Cooper are on a small oil structure in the middle of the ocean. The proximity literally cannot get much more forced.
I was obsessed with the technical details she adds in to teach the reader about what underwater welding is. There’s one particular scene with Steve (no spoilers) that had my heart beating so fast, I almost ended up with high blood pressure medication.
If you’ve read Under Construction, this book takes place during that same time. I remember when I was reading Under Construction, Greta mentioned Charles and I my interest was immediately piqued by Violet and Bella’s reactions. Now I know why.
August 2, 2025
I already want to reread this book!
I loved Under Construction, the author's debut, and absolutely appreciated it but this one is now my favourite. I loved that the author takes us out of our confort zone, on an offshore platform and the way she explains the daily life on it, the job of a commercial diver could make us think she is a diver herself!
Violet is a strong woman, working in a male-dominated field. She masters her job and all the aspects of it. She lives a very different life with a weird rythm between sea and land but she loves it. She is bold, friendly and... she knits!
And there is Cooper. He is the perfect book boyfriend! Respectful, funny, serious when it comes to his job, not negociating his human values... The only thing we can regret about him is... he is not real! (Or is he but the author won't tell us?)
Many topics are discussed in this book and always in a very smart and relatable way. I won't tell more because I don't want to spoil anything but... Yeah, read this book. You won't regret it. And you'll think twice when looking at your guacamole! (nothing gross happens to it, don't be scared)
I loved Under Construction, the author's debut, and absolutely appreciated it but this one is now my favourite. I loved that the author takes us out of our confort zone, on an offshore platform and the way she explains the daily life on it, the job of a commercial diver could make us think she is a diver herself!
Violet is a strong woman, working in a male-dominated field. She masters her job and all the aspects of it. She lives a very different life with a weird rythm between sea and land but she loves it. She is bold, friendly and... she knits!
And there is Cooper. He is the perfect book boyfriend! Respectful, funny, serious when it comes to his job, not negociating his human values... The only thing we can regret about him is... he is not real! (Or is he but the author won't tell us?)
Many topics are discussed in this book and always in a very smart and relatable way. I won't tell more because I don't want to spoil anything but... Yeah, read this book. You won't regret it. And you'll think twice when looking at your guacamole! (nothing gross happens to it, don't be scared)
November 25, 2025
Thank you Kate Cole for the digital ARC of Hot Work!
I freaking love seeing a woman kick butt in a male dominated field. This was a romance novel with a woman in a trade field. I loved it!
Violet is a tough, tattooed, 40 year old woman who has been in the wrong relationship for the past 3 years. She works as a commercial diver, where she is on an oil rig for 2 weeks at a time.
When another diver is out on paternity leave, she meets Cooper. He's a 30 year old golden retriever. Handsome, considerate, and just fun.
I enjoyed their banter. I loved seeing a woman closer to my age be the FMC. Her character development was beautiful. I enjoyed reading as she refound herself.
I wish there would have been another scene or two while they were diving. I wanted to see her crush it.
"I’ve got a fellow female to work with this time around. Correction: I have a badass woman in STEM alongside me to geek out on tech and show these men how it’s done."
"And while I know everybody, every body, is beautiful…when I say it about myself, I struggle sometimes to believe it."
I added Kate's other book, Under Construction to my Amazon wishlist. I can't wait to read this one soon!
I freaking love seeing a woman kick butt in a male dominated field. This was a romance novel with a woman in a trade field. I loved it!
Violet is a tough, tattooed, 40 year old woman who has been in the wrong relationship for the past 3 years. She works as a commercial diver, where she is on an oil rig for 2 weeks at a time.
When another diver is out on paternity leave, she meets Cooper. He's a 30 year old golden retriever. Handsome, considerate, and just fun.
I enjoyed their banter. I loved seeing a woman closer to my age be the FMC. Her character development was beautiful. I enjoyed reading as she refound herself.
I wish there would have been another scene or two while they were diving. I wanted to see her crush it.
"I’ve got a fellow female to work with this time around. Correction: I have a badass woman in STEM alongside me to geek out on tech and show these men how it’s done."
"And while I know everybody, every body, is beautiful…when I say it about myself, I struggle sometimes to believe it."
I added Kate's other book, Under Construction to my Amazon wishlist. I can't wait to read this one soon!
June 28, 2025
Having enjoyed Under Construction I was excited to read the next installment in the Women in Trades romance series and I was not disappointed!
In Violet we have a FMC who is strong, confident and unafraid of standing up for what she believes in. Violet is realistic too. She might be strong but that doesn't mean she isn't vulnerable and Kate conveys both of these qualities perfectly.
Cooper has to be the most chilled out MMC I have ever read. Laid back without being aloof, he is the ultimate golden retriever, adoring Violet from the get go, but patiently waiting for her to be on the same page.
The tension between them is perfect, the banter, the longing looks.
And this deliciously slow burn plays out against a setting unfamiliar to me and probably most of Kate's readers- an oil rig!
I knew nothing about commercial diving before reading this book and it's hard to believe that Kate isn't a diver herself having read it.
if you're looking for a unique setting, and a slow burn that will make you cheer when it ignites, this is the one for you!
In Violet we have a FMC who is strong, confident and unafraid of standing up for what she believes in. Violet is realistic too. She might be strong but that doesn't mean she isn't vulnerable and Kate conveys both of these qualities perfectly.
Cooper has to be the most chilled out MMC I have ever read. Laid back without being aloof, he is the ultimate golden retriever, adoring Violet from the get go, but patiently waiting for her to be on the same page.
The tension between them is perfect, the banter, the longing looks.
And this deliciously slow burn plays out against a setting unfamiliar to me and probably most of Kate's readers- an oil rig!
I knew nothing about commercial diving before reading this book and it's hard to believe that Kate isn't a diver herself having read it.
if you're looking for a unique setting, and a slow burn that will make you cheer when it ignites, this is the one for you!
July 10, 2025
"The deeper she dove, the easier it was to breathe—until he came along and rewrote her every instinct."
Hot Work is a heart-melting, reverse age gap romance that shines a light on women in trade—specifically the high-stakes world of commercial diving. Violet, a seasoned diver in her forties, is strong, skilled, and fiercely independent. But when Cooper, a younger, charismatic welder with golden retriever energy, joins the dive crew, he helps her reconnect with the passion and parts of herself she’d long tucked away.
The underwater setting felt fresh and immersive, offering real insight into the physical demands and danger of the job. Violet’s emotional journey was just as compelling as the romance, and her chemistry with Cooper was magnetic from the start.
I loved this story's balance of grit, vulnerability, and heat. I’m definitely going back to read book one while I eagerly wait for the next in the series!
Read if you enjoy
🔧 Workplace Romance
🌊 Forced Proximity
🔥 Reberse Age Gap
💪 Grumpy/Sunshine
💘 Slow Burn
🧯She’s the expert, he’s the wildcard
Hot Work is a heart-melting, reverse age gap romance that shines a light on women in trade—specifically the high-stakes world of commercial diving. Violet, a seasoned diver in her forties, is strong, skilled, and fiercely independent. But when Cooper, a younger, charismatic welder with golden retriever energy, joins the dive crew, he helps her reconnect with the passion and parts of herself she’d long tucked away.
The underwater setting felt fresh and immersive, offering real insight into the physical demands and danger of the job. Violet’s emotional journey was just as compelling as the romance, and her chemistry with Cooper was magnetic from the start.
I loved this story's balance of grit, vulnerability, and heat. I’m definitely going back to read book one while I eagerly wait for the next in the series!
Read if you enjoy
🔧 Workplace Romance
🌊 Forced Proximity
🔥 Reberse Age Gap
💪 Grumpy/Sunshine
💘 Slow Burn
🧯She’s the expert, he’s the wildcard
July 7, 2025
Love that the FMC is not only 40 but a badass commercial diver in a field where testosterone dominates. Violet has settled with a boring man who doesn’t serve her in the beginning of this novel. She finally comes to reality and breaks it off with the borning account who never supported or served her.
Cooper is a breath of fresh air and hotness. He exudes confidence but just the right amount. He is lovable and a flirt which makes the banter epic. He appears as a replacement on the offshore rig and makes things interesting.
The will they won’t they is perfect as JT pushes violet and cooper together. (For the drama maybe?)
The spice is just right and Cooper is a perfect example of if he wanted to he would. He continues to show up for Violet even when she isn’t sure she can show up for herself.
Love that knitting is what brought them closer together as a downtime project. Just so cute and wholesome.
Cooper is a breath of fresh air and hotness. He exudes confidence but just the right amount. He is lovable and a flirt which makes the banter epic. He appears as a replacement on the offshore rig and makes things interesting.
The will they won’t they is perfect as JT pushes violet and cooper together. (For the drama maybe?)
The spice is just right and Cooper is a perfect example of if he wanted to he would. He continues to show up for Violet even when she isn’t sure she can show up for herself.
Love that knitting is what brought them closer together as a downtime project. Just so cute and wholesome.
July 26, 2025
Hot Work
What a great read. It was so enjoyable to read a romance book where the FMC is older than the MMC and it not be played off as a joke. Violet is a real woman, a strong woman who just happens to be 10 years older than Cooper, her love interest.
Their banter was fun and witty but at the same time we see Violet struggle about letting herself have this relationship. This is a consistant thread throughout the book and it shows us that this biased outlook is still here. No one bats an eyelid is the ages were reversed.
Violet and Cooper are perfect for each other and they face the reality of their situation with strength and honesty.
If you love strong women who are making a difference in a male dominated world and who are discovering who they really are, this book is for you. Also, it doesn't hurt that Cooper is one of those swoon-worthy men that we all dream about. It's a big yes from me. ❤️ 😍
Grab it as soon as you can.
What a great read. It was so enjoyable to read a romance book where the FMC is older than the MMC and it not be played off as a joke. Violet is a real woman, a strong woman who just happens to be 10 years older than Cooper, her love interest.
Their banter was fun and witty but at the same time we see Violet struggle about letting herself have this relationship. This is a consistant thread throughout the book and it shows us that this biased outlook is still here. No one bats an eyelid is the ages were reversed.
Violet and Cooper are perfect for each other and they face the reality of their situation with strength and honesty.
If you love strong women who are making a difference in a male dominated world and who are discovering who they really are, this book is for you. Also, it doesn't hurt that Cooper is one of those swoon-worthy men that we all dream about. It's a big yes from me. ❤️ 😍
Grab it as soon as you can.
August 21, 2025
What truly sets this novel apart is its willingness to embrace vulnerability and transformation at any stage of life. The author crafts nuanced characters whose desires, fears, and quirks breathe authenticity onto every page. The chemistry between the leads sizzles with anticipation yet is rooted in mutual respect and gentle self-discovery. Subtle humor—particularly surrounding the unlikely joys of knitting—adds warmth and charm to the narrative, making it as cozy as it is passionate.
This is a story for anyone who has ever felt constrained by others’ expectations or doubted the possibility of new beginnings. The prose is engaging, the pacing brisk, and the emotional resonance lingers long after the final page is turned. Highly recommended for readers seeking romance that is both tender and empowering, reminding us all that it is never too late to embrace who we truly are.
Remember sometimes we don't need flowers we need some guacamole.
This is a story for anyone who has ever felt constrained by others’ expectations or doubted the possibility of new beginnings. The prose is engaging, the pacing brisk, and the emotional resonance lingers long after the final page is turned. Highly recommended for readers seeking romance that is both tender and empowering, reminding us all that it is never too late to embrace who we truly are.
Remember sometimes we don't need flowers we need some guacamole.
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