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The Hitman and The Fixer #2

Fiona y el Encargo más Sucio

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Un mediador con fama de chico malo y una detective deslumbrante pueden trabajar juntos desde lados opuestos de la ley… o eso dicen.Soy un mediador agotado que necesita un descanso. Cuando me piden que cuide a un gato en Coal Springs, acepto sin unos días aburridos suenan perfectos.
Excepto que el descanso es un espejismo, y el aburrimiento no tiene cabida. O al menos no cuando entro a la tienda de conveniencia y me encuentro con una mujer imparable, adicta a la cafeína y con una determinación feroz, capaz de darle baja a un ladrón armado por sí sola.
Ahora tengo una nueva obsesió ella. Y cuando descubro que es agente del FBI, no puedo evitar soltar una carcajada. Yo rompo las reglas y ella las hace cumplir.
Por lo que sé, su presencia aquí podría estar limitada a investigarme a mí y a mi amigo sicario, y aunque debería mantenerme al margen, no puedo. Es audaz, descarada y me saca de mis casillas. Está sembrando el caos por toda la ciudad, poniendo en peligro su seguridad… y mi cordura.
Creí conocer mi mayor amenaza. No es un pueblo lleno de mujeres indomables encantadas de que, por ahora, dirija una librería de romance. Tampoco son los misteriosos dueños de la tienda de encurtidos. Es Fiona. Y no estoy seguro de que alguno de los dos salga con vida de Coal Springs.
¿Puede el villano enamorarse de la heroína y… vivir para contarlo?

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2025

146 people are currently reading
236 people want to read

About the author

Vanessa Vale

241 books2,545 followers
A USA Today bestseller, Vanessa Vale has written over 100 cowboy and small town romances. She lives in the American West where she's always finding inspiration for her next story.

You can find out more about Vanessa at VanessaValeAuthor.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
Profile Image for ReneeReads.
1,466 reviews122 followers
April 22, 2025
One thing about Vanessa's books is there will always be spice! This one had me laughing out loud and blushing with some of the naughty things coming out of Dax's mouth. Their chemistry was definitely one for the books (pun intended). There was one thing in this book that I don't remember from the first book and maybe I just blanked that out of my memory, but the fact that Hannah has bionic strength (or similar) because of the procedure she had and Fiona has a special talent as well. I think the "super power" is kind of cool but totally unexpected.

This was a fun, spicy read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series as I think the new couple will be interesting for sure!

Thank you to the author for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 4/22/25
Profile Image for Christina (stinarinareads).
418 reviews382 followers
April 8, 2025
4✨
2.25🌶️

This is an ARC review. Thanks to author Vanessa Vale + co for this opportunity!

A spicy and fun romp with a comedic criminal subplot and surprise superpowers that doesn't take itself too seriously, and doesn't expect you too, either.

🩷fbi agent fmc x fixer mmc
💜superpowered subplot
🩷he falls first and chases
💜sexy interrogation
🩷protective mmc
💜fmc with a guarded heart

Fiona and the Fixer by Vanessa Vale is Book 2 in The Hitman and The Fixer series. From the name it appears to be a duology, but I can see how this could spawn more books and become a legit series. We'll see was VV has in store!

Fiona Whitaker hasn't had the easiest life. Forced to live with a cruel father after he murdered her mother, she guarded her heart and toughened her skin, pushing herself to become the FBI agent that put him in prison for life. Fast forward a few years and Fiona has developed a reputation as the ice queen that put her own father away, which doesn't make her very well-liked around her department. However, she never expected in her career she would end up blackmailing her boss to frame her partner instead of her, but that's where she found herself.

She also never expected to develop super-hearing after a radiation machine glitch during her brain tumor surgery, either.

Deciding there was no better time for a (paid) vacation, she finds herself in Coal Springs tracking down another woman who had the same radiation treatment as her, Hannah, to see if she also had anything weird or super-power like afterwards.

Fiona's first welcome to Coal Springs is a convenience store robbery that she diffuses, while simultaneously getting the rapt attention of a certain fixer, Dax, that happened to be in town cat-sitting for a friend. The pair don't expect to see each other again except in spicy dreams, so when Fiona walks into a romance bookstore and sees Dax behind the counter, things get a little interesting. And sexy.

The unlikely duo team up to stop a pickle drug plot discovered right in the heart of Coal Springs, and Fiona must decide if trusting her own heart to Dax is the right choice, especially when she finds out exactly what he does for a living.

I was delighted to discover there was going to be another book to follow Hannah and the Hitman, and Fiona and the Fixer takes all the good in the first book and dials it up in this one! The callbacks to Hannah's book felt organic and natural to the plot, and didn't overshadow Fiona and Dax's story whatever. It actually played right into it, and gave the whole book a familiar setting and endearing cast of characters. I love, love, love the romance bookstore feature in this. It gave so many humorous (and spicy) moments and acted almost like a home base for both characters, aside from Fiona's rental.

Fiona and Dax had amazing chemistry, even from their first convenience story robbery meet-cute. Their bickering as flirting continued through the book, and most of those arguments would eventually bubble over into heated sessions of another kind. Fiona's past made her especially protective of her heart and of trusting others with it, but Dax continues to chase her, trying to prove his devotion. They had such fun dynamics, and I loved seeing this opposites-attract romance get its HEA.
Profile Image for Charlene (pageandplace).
324 reviews21 followers
April 21, 2025
This was so fun as a follow up to Hannah and the Hitman. I would definitely recommend reading book 1 so you are caught up with the storyline.

Fixer Dax is taking some much needed time off and doing his former Hitman friend, Jack, a favor by cat sitting. What could go wrong? 🐈‍⬛

On his way to Coal Springs, Dax makes a stop for coffee and encounters an armed robbery and the woman of his dreams ☕️
Of course Dax is going to take off before the heat is on- he’s trouble with a capital T! He later learns the amazing woman is an FBI agent!

How is this possible, he breaks the law and she enjoy it. A true opposites attract! 💓 As both Dax and Fiona get settled in Coal Springs their paths cross and things heat up! But the true question, will Dax survive Fiona or will he be the overcome by the feral women of Coal Springs who have come to enjoy Dax working the counter at Hannah’s bookstore. 📚

Dax getting his time to shine was such an added bonus! You got a taste of him in the first book and then Hannah and Jack are sprinkled throughout book 2.

There is a perfect mix of heat and laughs, plus we get to find out what happened to Fiona after her surgery👂 This is a small town, romcom, fixer/FBI, super hero crime solver fun read.

Thank you to author, Vanessa Vale, for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Betty.
504 reviews35 followers
April 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️. Super fun, low angst, with a twist of something different. I loved it just as much as the first! Crazy criminal shenanigans, fun banter, bionic hearing, sparks flying everywhere, a kick ass heroine and a hot possessive H.

-❤️no third act break up
-🗣️communication - no miscommunication bs. Any time a potential for miscommunication pops up, it’s handled easily and well. She doesn’t know he’s a “fixer” for most of the book, but they work it out easily
- 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼Fiona is 28? yr old FBI agent who had a traumatic upbringing and joined the FBI to put her criminal father and abuser behind bars. She meets the ‘fixer’ Dax when she stops for coffee and has to stop a convenience store heist w a pot of hot coffee. He is immediately smitten. And it’s super cute and hot.
- 🌶️🌶️- Spice starts quickly behind the stacks at Hannah’s HEA bookstore and is fun throughout. Just the right amount to make it fun.
- 🏡 found family - I loved Dottie and all her home cooked dinners, love and care for Fiona.
- 🫣 no OW/OM drama at all. No mention of anything really. All the ladies in town are feral for Dax but he’s scared of them and uses Fiona to protect him. lol. He only has eyes for her.
👥dual POV. HEA. No engagement but living together in same town, Coal Springs.

Fiona leaves her job at the FBI to find Hannah who had similar gamma radiation therapy. She runs into Dax at the convenience store and then again at the book store where he is filling in while Hannah and Jack are on vacation. He’s a good hearted fixer who gets rid of dead bodies and other ‘trouble’.

The plot revolves around them meeting and her sticking her nose into the local pickle business bc she senses that something is sketchy. Lots of food is eaten, bad guys die, and they fall in love. There’s cute and easy character growth for both. Is it believable? No. But who cares; it’s like a little fun twisted fairy tale. 🧚

I really love me a little crazy quirky romcom. I read so many books and I love it when an author dares to do something a little different.

I also REALLLLY love that while both h and H have trauma in their childhood, it doesn’t drive the story or make either character weak. A little wary maybe but still strong and functional.

I’m already looking forward to the next one. 💃
Profile Image for Anca A.
476 reviews39 followers
May 1, 2025
#Review: *Fiona and The Fixer* - Vanessa Vale - ARC [18+]
4.5/5✨
3.5/5🌶️

The cover and the blurb of this book have convinced me to read this book. I was lucky enough to be accepted by Vanessa to read this one in advance and I wanna thank her for that!🤗

Fiona is an FBI agent who had some health problems, but after following a treatment she gained an unique power. Fiona found out that someone else followed the same procedure and she wanted to meet her. She was searching for someone and ended up finding entirely something else, which involved an handsome man.

Dax wasn't on the good side of the law, doing some shady things from which he ended up being called 'The Fixer'. He had to take care of his best friend's cat and that's how Dax and Fiona ended up in the same small town. The rest is pretty much 'history'🤭.

They definitely had an unique first meet, which was interrupted by an attempting robbery. That's when Fiona put her FBI skills in action, something which stirred many feelings inside Dax. That incident momentarily broke the spell between them, but they were lucky enough to find their way to each other again. From that moment on, the tension between them became unbearable and their chemistry was just perfect. But could a good girl and a bad boy have something together?

OMG!! I laughed sooo much while reading this book! There were so many funny scenes, making it impossible not to giggle. Of course, there were multiple steamy parts too, Dax and Fiona barely being able to keep their hands to themselves🤭. The suspenseful scenes added another flavour to this book, something that I loved!

This book is definitely recommended for Meghan Quinn readers, giving me the same vibes of fun, chemistry between characters and level of spiciness 🤭. It's for sure one story which will relax the atmosphere and make you laugh a lot.

✨Tropes
#FoundFamily
#InstaLove
#GoodGirlBadBoy
#MorallyGreyHero
#StrangersToLovers
#HeFallsFirst
#LawEnforcement
#Spicy
Profile Image for Mary C. Saavedra.
415 reviews21 followers
December 13, 2025
¿Adivinen quién acaba de salir del Bloqueo Lector?

Exacto 😃

Ya había leído Hannah & The Hitman así que cuando supe de esta segunda entrega sabía que sería una buena opción para retomar mi hábito lector y divertirme un poco.

Vanessa Vale tiene una particularidad con sus libros y es que son absolutamente divertidos, llenos de momentos dramáticos pero sobretodo que te animan a seguir leyendo porque lo que pasa en Coal Springs es hilarante a más no poder.

Fiona y Dax son una pareja explosiva (incluso más que Hannah y Jack) y sobretodo con una química que podría hacer que cualquier persona arda en combustión.

Un ⭐⭐⭐⭐ para una novela, corta y divertida que puede ser incluso mejor que la primera de la serie.

¿Será que Brittany y Nitro también tendrán historia?
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
April 10, 2025
Such fun. Fiona and the fixer really tickled my humour. Coal springs is supposed to be a place to relax, but from the minute Fiona arrives she gets the vibe that the town isn’t a safe haven. Yes, people greet you in the street even though they don’t know you. No, not everyone there is a good guy.

When Fiona finds herself in the middle of a robbery she meets Dax. It isn’t the meet cute of little girls dreams. In fact he’s a hazard in her way of taking down the robber. Why is he interfering?

Dax is a fixer. He fixes things for the wrong kinds of people. He’s basically a criminal. When he meets Fiona he has an instant connection with her. Later he finds out she’s on the good side of the law, which might be a problem. Can he avoid getting caught by the FBI or will his antics finally land him in trouble? Maybe Fiona might have a soft spot for his kind of bad guy.

This is a rom/com with great banter.

✅ Rom/com
✅ Criminal/ FBI agent
✅ Spicy
8 reviews
May 30, 2025
The story is all about that age-old question: can a bad guy fall for a good girl—and can it actually work? That’s what hooked me right from the start. Dax is a bad-boy fixer, while Fiona is a detective—two people on completely opposite sides of the law. Both are burnt out and craving a break from their intense lives. But is a break even possible when you meet a detective and suspect she might be investigating you? And what if you not only fall for her... but develop an obsession? (That’s Dax’s situation.)

And Fiona? She’s an absolute badass—a coffee-loving detective who takes down an armed robber single-handedly. I just loved both characters so much! Their chemistry, their encounters, the tension��it’s all so well done. The author did a fantastic job bringing them to life.

But if you want to know whether their relationship actually works out... well, you’ll just have to read it and find out!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sharyn Stieglitz.
149 reviews4 followers
April 3, 2025
What a cute book! An FBI agent meets a fixer in this small town romance. Fiona decides to take a vacation to small town Coal Springs to escape her job for a month where she meets Dax, a fixer in town cat sitting for his friend. Fiona is a strong, independent woman, with IDGAF vibes. Dax can't keep his eyes off Fiona, but has secrets in his closet she doesn't know about.

I loved the small town vibe of this book! I couldn't resist Dottie, who you just want to adopt as your own grandmother, always coming with homemade food for Fiona and keeping an eye on her. This book gives all the small town romance vibes, and was such an enjoyable read!
Profile Image for Lora Smith.
79 reviews4 followers
May 8, 2025
It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love a story with a quirky twist, and Fiona and the Fixer checks that box so perfectly. Fiona is a FBI agent on leave who stumbles upon some pickle shop shenanigans and Dax is the man the bad guys call when they need someone to clean up their messes. Oh, and he’s cat sitting for Hannah and his hitman BFF Jack while they’re on vacation - and taking care of her romance bookstore in her absence. What could possibly go wrong?

This book is snappy, fast paced, and and spicy. I love love loved it- as expected since Vanessa Vale is one of my go-to authors when I’m need to find a book I’m guaranteed to enjoy.
Profile Image for Kelly  - Kelly's Book Blog.
468 reviews22 followers
April 30, 2025
RomCom, fake dating, opposites attract, he falls first and hard, slight paranormal aspect

This book had me laughing out loud, grinning like a fool and fanning myself from the incredibly hot moments...AMAZING!

You get opposites attract with an FBI agent and a fixer, fake dating, a MMC that falls first and hard and a sassy FMC who can't help to fall victim to dirty talk. So good.

You also get a hilarious RomCom with so many delicious moments that made me feel ALL while having an intriguing and interesting plot!
Profile Image for Laura.
42 reviews
August 13, 2025
*4.5
This book is hilarious and I basically couldn't put it down. It's definitely a feel-good book
Profile Image for book_nerd13.
342 reviews20 followers
April 15, 2025
Immediate I was intrigued by the tropes of this one, it’s nothing like I’ve heard before and I’m so glad I read it! It’s such a new and fun experience and the spice was UNEXPECTED. Overall a good read!
Profile Image for Mary Petrushko.
929 reviews29 followers
April 12, 2025
3.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Valentine PR for sending this arc!
I absolutely love Vanessa Vale’s books and thought this one was so cute! Insta love isn’t my favorite trope, but I really enjoyed this. Very quick read and I loved that we got Hannah and Jack back in this book. Hoping there’s more to come!
Profile Image for Kelsi.
532 reviews26 followers
April 18, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you’re looking for a grumpy, sassy, FBI agent FMC, an MMC who fixes all kinds of problems, fills in at a romance book store, and matches our FMCs grump, insta-lust spice, but a medium burn romance, hilarious banter, and a hallmarkesque small town drama, and a well deserved happily ever after than Fiona and the Fixer are a must for any TBR!!

Fiona is a FBI agent who has had to claw her way to her position and fight for respect and prove she deserves to be there. When she gets treated for a brain tumor though, with gamma knife radiation suddenly some weird side effects start popping up, in particular super hearing. Which leads Fiona on a mission to find the one other person who had a similar treatment to see if maybe she’s not alone in her new “superpowers.” Dax is a fixer, good or bad when people have a problem and they can’t or don’t want to involve the law they call Dax to fix it. Dax is taking a vacation though as his best friend needs a cat sitter, and Dax will do anything for the people in his close knit circle. Plus Dax has been a bit tired with the fixer life and a change of pace even for a little while might do him some good. That’s when he runs into Fiona… a woman that knocks him off his feet, literally, and becomes a man obsessed. And determined to win her over, even if his tactics are a bit questionable. But there’s something nefarious going on in this strange little town, will Dax and Fiona, people from two different sides of the law, be able to work together and figure out how to put a stop to it? I really enjoyed these characters! Fiona was sassy, and more than a bit reserved but with a backstory like hers what else could one expect? I loved that she never let that stop her from being kind to people even if they were quirky small town folks she didn’t totally understand, and she never let her past stop her from helping in fact she let it fuel her into helping more! As for Dax he was a crack-up! I loved how even as grumpy as he was and as lone wolf as he wanted/had to be because of his job he still chose to let a select few in and when he did he protected those people and cared for those people with everything he had. Plus his role as a romance book store fill-in was hilarious! And together their chemistry, romance, and spicy really made this story for me and it is one I would highly recommend!

HAPPY READING 📖
Profile Image for Nikki Brooks.
3,558 reviews54 followers
April 20, 2025
Fiona has had a bad run of luck lately. She's got an inept and downright corrupt partner, her boss is a misogynistic a-hole and she had a close call medically. When she finally snaps and uses a little bit of blackmail to get out from under a plan to have her take the fall for a bad bust - she takes herself off to a small town to find another patient from the botched cancer clinic.

On the way she stumbles across an armed robbery, tangles with a mysterious hottie and makes a new friend or three. All without breaking a sweat of dropping the coffee! #coffeeninja

Dax is a fixer and he's damn good at his job. But even fixer's need a break occasionally and when his hitman buddy asks him to cat-sit while he and Hannah are on holiday, he schleps himself towards Coal Springs. However he has a body or two to dispose of along the way! Meeting a sexy blonde in the petrol station was not on his list of things to do but watching her take down an armed assailant was better than p*rn to him. But he had to vamoose before the cops arrived and found a couple of dead guys in his car!

OMG Dax and Fiona are living a comedy of errors. I've never seen a grown man cower in a romance book store before. Mind you some of those women were terrifyingly forward! Once again Coal Springs townsfolk like to get involved in a little matchmaking. Fiona and Dex make an unlikely crime-fighting duo but they work and the chemistry between them is incendiary hot.

Fiona and Dex also both carry a lot of baggage with them and it's given them some tall walls to protect themselves. Fiona needs a man who can stop her from walking all over him but is sure enough in himself and more importantly her, to let her face her own battles. Fiona is a deadly weapon all on her own and she doesn't need anyone to protect her but she can definitely use someone in her corner! But as their little group of friends expands they find themselves drawn more and more to this weird but lovely little town.

I'm really hoping these books expand into a full grown series because I'm going to need Nitro's book to round out the set and then we could have MORE morally grey MMC's escaping the life and settling down in Coal Springs. Dax does not always get things right or say the right words but he's a man who is all in. Fiona needs to quite jumping to the conclusion that all men are out to belittle her and take a chance on an enigmatic bad guy who does bad things for the right reasons.

#Picklegate #HannahisDEFINITELYadaopted #runningjokes #cometolifebookboyfriend
Profile Image for Liz.
2,121 reviews16 followers
April 18, 2025
Well I suppose if a ‘by the book’ FBI agent and a badboy fixer were going to get together then over an armed robbery could almost be termed the perfect ‘meet cute’ although it’s got to be said Fiona made more of an impression on Dax than he did on her in Fiona and the Fixer, the second book in The Hitman and The Fixer series. Fiona was in Coal Springs specifically to meet Hannah from the first book in the hope that she could explain Fiona’s sudden new ability while Dax was reluctantly spending a few days cat sitting his friend’s pampered feline but almost before he could say here kitty he’s cajoled into playing a larger role than he wanted in the town. Between looking after Hannah’s book shop including holding story hour much to his embarrassment, just saying I’ve read Their Captured Bride and chapter three was HOT!!! and trying to keep Fiona out of trouble when she decides to investigate the Pickle Place when she smells something and it ain’t the pickle juice, he’ll be happy to get back to the big city for a rest,

With two complete opposites in Fiona and Dax, a quirky small-town setting complete with oddball residents, this was a fun and steamy read with plenty of Vanessa Vale’s customary sizzle and spicy banter. Yes, it’s a bit of bizarre plot with the whole idea of super powers resulting from radiation but then again the very definition of fiction is creative work portraying things that are imaginary so this story definitely does what it says on the tin and was pure escapism with a morally grey, dirty talking hero thrown in even if some of his chat was slightly cheesy. Despite that I did prefer that, compared to Hannah’s, Fiona’s superhero ability wasn’t quite as out there. With several comedic moments for good measure, mostly involving Dax and the bookstore and his fear of feral women this was an enjoyable read and I’m hoping this isn’t the last trip to Coal Springs. I can see this town working as the perfect lair for a league of irradiated superwomen.
Profile Image for Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour).
1,080 reviews8 followers
April 23, 2025
A romcom that is THE BEST mashup of smoking hot can't keep their hands off each other chemistry, gold standard comedy that has you rolling, suspense, drug dealing, and body dumping, oodles of smalltown charm, and opposite sides of the law going head-to-head and getting all twisted up! It's instalove with a side of armed robbery, cat sitting, nosy neighbors, a little B&E to sneak into the bed of your new obsession, spying, fake dating, superhuman hearing, catching feels you're not ready for, and finally knowing what it's like to be accepted as you are, in a fun as hell romance that comes with a bad ass FBI agent and a too fine for his own good Fixer who dish out threats like it's foreplay and steal every little piece of your heart.
This is just a blast to read and sheer genius in the way it puts together a plot with superpowers, zany, outrageous, and straight up hilarious comedy, instalove, heartbreaking back stories, quirky smalltown vibes, and two strong, wonderful main characters. It gives you all the laughs even as it gives you a woman with sky high walls who's questioning her whole life and looking for that feeling of belonging, a man who's burning out on his job and finding himself all twisted up over the girl who should be his enemy, and it does it so well, the flow is just so seamless from laughter to panic to reflection to love, it's incredible. Definitely a book I'd put on your must read list!
Profile Image for Sarah~Book Obsession Confessions .
1,309 reviews88 followers
May 14, 2025
4.5 STARS
This is such a fun, quirky story. It’s fast paced and original. It’s the second book in a duology, 𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙽𝙰𝙷 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙷𝙸𝚃𝙼𝙰𝙽 is the first book, this is the second. It can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading in order as they are interconnected and both are so enjoyable!
It’s an insta-lust/love romance and this author always makes it work for me, I usually don’t like insta-love however, it is such an entertaining part of this author’s style.
Fiona is a bad@ss, by the book FBI agent with a tragic past, Dax is a “fixer” who is feeling a bit off in life.
They are on opposite sides of the law, it makes for very interesting situations and moral questions. They have volcanic chemistry, it’s incredibly spicy. Their banter is so entertaining. I adore both of them so much. The humor is clever and quirky, I combination I love when it’s as good as this is.
There is an emotional connection between them and character growth for both Fiona and Dax. It’s not just s3x and laughs… but it is more of those things.
It is action filled and has an awesome cast of characters that are zany and so lovable.
Hannah and Jack from the first book make appearances and it fits perfectly into the storyline.
There’s a very mild supernatural element that was in the first book as well, it’s so smart and fun.
I laughed my way through this book and I’m hoping there might be more books in the future. It’s incredibly entertaining and so original. I love it!
Profile Image for Sara.
2,365 reviews15 followers
April 14, 2025
Reading this book was a guilty pleasure because it’s incredibly good and I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC!

This was an absolute blast to read. From beginning to end it had me glued to my kindle, laughing, grinning or fanning my face.

I loved the humor and I’ll admit to cackling multiple times as Fiona had Dax speechless with her actions. Fiona is a fantastic FMC - bold and sassy, but she was still in need of a hug and some love. Dax is a sinfully delicious MMC who immediately realized he’d met his perfect woman when he first laid eyes on her and that’s before he witnessed her take down a wanna-be armed robbed. Gotta say his cat sitting break in Coal Valley was an epic adventure.

Vanessa Vale books have always been on my shortlist as immediate ‘one-click’, ‘gotta read it’ books for me. This follow-up to Hannah and the Hitman just emphasized why this author deserves her place on my shortlist of favorite authors. This is true regardless of whatever romance tropes she’s writing about. I loved this laugh out loud, rom-com, fluffy yet spicy storyline.

I only wish this book would have been even longer because it was just that fun to read. I’d love more stories in this series.

I received a free ARC from the author; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Hannah.
172 reviews8 followers
April 19, 2025
thank you to Vanessa Vale for an arc!!


wow!! this was so good and I could not put it down!! the romance was amazing and the banter between the two was so good.

it was so fun to read a book about Jack's friend, Dax. Dax has to cat sit for Jack and Hannah as they are going to Hawaii for their vacation. he is immediately thrown into different things and ends up having to takeover the romance bookstore. women fall head over heals for him which makes the place super busy.

fiona joins the FBI to put her abusive father in prison. growing up, he was abusive and awful to her and even killed her mom after they tried to leave. now older, she's being made fun of at her job due to the fact that she is by the books and is always following the rules. her partner is even wanting to set her up. after visiting Coal Springs, she immediately jumps into action at a convenience store to stop a robbery in progress. it also feels like Dax and Fiona immediately don't like one another due to their clashing personalities.

it was cool to see fiona having something in common with Hannah. they both had radiation and that radiation gave them super powers.

further into the book, both Fiona and Dax soon bexome close and want nothing more than to be together.

the book ends amazingly and I can't wait to see what's next 💚
Profile Image for Hillary.
538 reviews16 followers
April 5, 2025
💜💖 Fiona and the Fixer ARC Review 💖💜

Thank you so much to Vanessa Vale for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Fiona and the Fixer is a standalone romance and book two in The Hitman and the Fixer series. Dax is a fixer for clients who aren’t necessarily on the legal side of the law. FBI agent, Fiona has escaped to a small town to find some answers about her health. But when she runs into a handsome stranger at a gas station, will this chance encounter change her life forever?

This was such a fun read! Fiona was a wonderful character and I enjoyed her strength in this book. Dax was a perfect match for her and I adored him in this story. The grumpy/grumpy dynamic was so fun and I loved the banter in this book. This book was a little insta-love for my personal tastes, but I did really enjoy the story otherwise.

Overall this book was a fun 5 star read! I enjoyed these characters and I really liked the small town world building of this series. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book was a fast burn and had some awesome smut scenes throughout, so overall three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of small town romance with grumpy/grumpy, opposites attract and fun banter, then absolutely pick this one up!
Profile Image for Amy.
1,487 reviews36 followers
April 14, 2025
“Can a good girl find it in her heart to be with a bad guy?”

Fiona and the Fixer was my first read by this author, and I can’t believe I waited so long—because I absolutely LOVED it! This story was pure fun, centered around two captivating characters who just couldn’t resist each other. Fiona, an FBI agent, and Dax, a fixer, were on opposite sides of the law, but the undeniable connection between them set the pages on fire.

“I’d known since the first second I saw her in the convenience store that she was different. That I was hooked.”

The "meet-cute" between Fiona and Dax was brilliantly original, hilariously unexpected, and so memorable. Their instant attraction was palpable, and when they crossed paths again, Dax was determined not to let Fiona slip away. Their flirty, snarky banter added playful charm, while the explosive chemistry between them made every interaction electric. Though neither Fiona nor Dax was seeking a relationship, the irresistible pull between them was impossible to ignore.

“Fiona was mine and I protected what was mine.”

To top it all off, the unexpected supernatural element added a unique twist, making this story delightfully surprising, full of heat, heart, and pure enjoyment.

Profile Image for Erin Collins.
675 reviews22 followers
April 22, 2025
✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨

ARC REVIEW

Fiona and the Fixer - Vanessa Vale

4/5⭐️

📚📚📚
This one was such a great fast paced read! This I felt instantly started in a way to consume you and not be able to put the book down. Fiona is a FBI agent on vacation in a small town and damn what a baddie she is. Well she crosses paths with Dax who is the fixer in town. These two are both so grumpy but gosh it made it so fun. The banter between them was great. It wouldn’t be a Vanessa Vale book without making me laugh and blush while reading. These two together were just great and I totally recommend!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Morally gray fixer
- Baddie FBI agent
- Small town
- Loathe to love
- Grumpy x grumpy
- Romcom
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words. #giftedcopy

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52 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2025
Fiona is an FBI agent taking sick leave after having a tumor removed from her head. Dax is a "fixer" who is taking off for two weeks to care for his friend's cat. He no sooner gets there than he finds out he has to run a Romance book store. He knows nothing about running a store or even how to use a cash register.

On the way into the town, he stops for coffee and runs into Fiona. She also is waiting for the coffee. She hear's a young man trying to rob the store. Dax didn't hear what was happening, but he could see by the security mirrors what was going on. He follows Fiona to help her and stop the robbery. She doesn't need help. She tells him to get down and takes out the robber. He is impressed, but leaves because he has two bodies in his car and the cops were coming.

He meets Fiona again at the bookstore he is trying to run and then the fun begins. How can a "Fixer" get involved with an FBI agent, how can an FBI agent get involved with a "Fixer"?

It's a good thing that I live alone. I was laughing so hard that tears were coming out of my eyes. My dog looked at me like I was nuts. With the way the state of the world is it was good to laugh and not have to think of the problems. If you want a story to take you away from reality for a while, this is the book for you.
Profile Image for Mona .
187 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2025
This book was so much fun. It’s been a while since I laugh so much while while reading.

It is also super cute, spicy, romantic and so so swoony. I definitely need to also read Jack and Hannah‘s story and I hope there is more coming in this series.

And while it is super cute and fun, this book has also a great depth of feeling.
Fiona is such a bad ass FBI agent. She’s strong, determined, independent and extremely competent. She’s also quite lonely in her life revolves around her job.

Dax is the biggest cinnamon roll fixer that ever “fixed”. He’s absolutely adorable and for a scary dude he sure gets easily roped in to help his friends with mundane things. He can also appreciate the heck out of a strong woman.

They really are the cutest couple. She’s completely freaked out that all of a sudden she’s got not only Dax but also other people in her corner. And he’s totally super protective of a woman that can handle herself quite well.

This book was a joy to read And all the quirky side characters are just the cherry on the cake.

I have received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily

5⭐️/3🌶️
Profile Image for Jenn the Readaholic.
2,181 reviews71 followers
April 5, 2025
Fiona is the keeper of many secrets. Dax may be the fixer, but Fiona is the person you need in your corner first and foremost! She’s here to meet Hannah and to hopefully get a few answers to…let’s say STRANGE…questions. But she isn’t counting on chaos ensuring, missing out on coffee, falling smack dab into the middle of something shady, and meeting the guy who could easily complete her world. But does he want to be that guy?

Yes. He sure does. Dax needs a break and somehow, he finds himself roped into Pancake-sitting, bookstore running, being shielded by someone who has no clue just how easily he could handle things for her, and a town that somehow fits. Add in Fiona and he’s ready to upend his entire existence just to have her by his side.

This is funny, full of secrets you may not be expecting, heartwarming, and a little bittersweet at times. Why? Well, let’s just say Fiona has found her true home and who she belongs with, and it’s not just Dax. It’s family. Friends. And everything both she and Dax deserve.
56 reviews9 followers
April 9, 2025
This book was an unexpected blast! The chemistry between Fiona and Dax crackles right from the start. It’s not sweet—it’s smart, sarcastic, and fiery. What I loved most is that their connection doesn’t rely on clichés. Fiona challenges Dax at every turn, and he low-key loves it. I did too. Their banter had me grinning. The tension? Deliciously drawn out. Every time they were on the page together, I was all in.

Fiona is everything I want in a romantic suspense heroine—bold, competent, and fiercely independent. There’s not a trace of damsel energy here. She owns every scene she’s in and easily ranks as one of my favorite female leads this year. Dax brings the broody, morally gray energy we love, but with layers. He’s hardened by his past and profession, yet there’s a softness he tries (and fails) to hide—especially when it comes to Fiona… and the cat.

The vibe of this book is a perfect blend of grit and wit. The suspense keeps the pages turning, and wraps with an ending that feels both earned and emotionally rewarding.

Rating -4.3
Profile Image for Juniper Grace.
168 reviews3 followers
April 20, 2025
This book was such a fun, laugh-out-loud, and spicy read — I couldn’t put it down!

Fiona is a by-the-book FBI agent on “vacation” after discovering her boss and partner were plotting to set her up. So, naturally, she flips the script and bribes her boss instead. Enter small town escape.

Dax is a Fixer—yes, that kind of fixer—burnt out and and in need of a break. He agrees to cat-sit for his friend, but a pit stop at a convenience store changes everything. The moment he sees Fiona take down a would-be robber like a total badass, he falls first and HARD!

Their chemistry is instant, magnetic, and absolutely irresistible. He finds out that she is an FBI agent, but hides his own profession.

These two keep running into each other, getting wrapped up in the most hilarious situations, and sparking serious heat along the way. But what will happen when she finds out who Dax really is?

This book had me laughing, swooning, and fanning myself in equal measure. Highly recommend if you love spicy rom-coms with a twist of action and a swoony alpha hero!
Profile Image for World Of Books 65.
3,241 reviews60 followers
April 22, 2025
Vanessa Vale, you did it again! Fiona and the Fixer, the second book in The Hitman and the Fixer series, delivers another heart-stopping, spicy romance packed with just the right balance of heat, humor, and suspense.

Can a bad boy fixer and a bombshell FBI agent work together when they’re on opposite sides of the law? In classic Vale style, the answer is a sizzling yes. Fiona hasn’t had it easy—driven by a need for justice after her mother’s murder, she joined the FBI with one mission: to bring down the man responsible. Now known as the “Ice Queen,” her icy persona might just be melting thanks to one dangerously charming fixer.

Dax knows he should stay far away from the determined agent—especially since his secrets are the kind no FBI badge should ever uncover. But passion has a mind of its own, and when their worlds collide, sparks fly, banter crackles, and the suspense keeps you turning the pages.

With twists and turns, snappy dialogue, and undeniable chemistry, Fiona and the Fixer is another addictive read from Vanessa Vale that romance and romantic suspense lovers won’t want to miss.
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