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Happy Endings #2
Hired
For a man who makes his living pleasuring women, what happens when the only pay-out worth having is love?
Faith Abigail Charles has always done the right thing. So when her mother runs for mayor of New Orleans, Faith puts her law career on hold to help her win. But when tensions run high, Faith trades one kind of heat for another—in the arms of a hard-bodied stranger. He’s everything a woman dreams of in a lover. So much so that her one-night stand turns into two, then three, then four . . .
For Aiden Rios, meeting smart, sexy Faith feels like fate. After being ditched by his client in the Big Easy, the high-paid male escort needs a little company himself. Aiden knows he’ll have to come clean about his line of work, and he plans to—right after another taste of Faith’s sweetness—and another and another. . . . Until a chance meeting with his client leaves Aiden exposed—and Faith shocked and hurt. Now the hired hottie must show Faith that the love they share is bigger than the scandal threatening to destroy them . . .
Faith Abigail Charles has always done the right thing. So when her mother runs for mayor of New Orleans, Faith puts her law career on hold to help her win. But when tensions run high, Faith trades one kind of heat for another—in the arms of a hard-bodied stranger. He’s everything a woman dreams of in a lover. So much so that her one-night stand turns into two, then three, then four . . .
For Aiden Rios, meeting smart, sexy Faith feels like fate. After being ditched by his client in the Big Easy, the high-paid male escort needs a little company himself. Aiden knows he’ll have to come clean about his line of work, and he plans to—right after another taste of Faith’s sweetness—and another and another. . . . Until a chance meeting with his client leaves Aiden exposed—and Faith shocked and hurt. Now the hired hottie must show Faith that the love they share is bigger than the scandal threatening to destroy them . . .
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
38 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Zoey Castile
11 books152 followersZoey Castile was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. She started writing in her teens and pursued that love in her studies at Hunter College and the University of Montana. For nearly a decade, she worked as a bartender, hostess, and manager in New York City's nightlife. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ZoeyCastile. You can also email her at ZoeyCastile@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 21, 2019
i love love.
• Black MC who loves nature and is the sweetest bean in the world
• Colombian MC who was previously a stripper are slowly falling for each other in New Orleans
• Dual POV
• Amazing chemistry.
Hi, I’m in love.
• Black MC who loves nature and is the sweetest bean in the world
• Colombian MC who was previously a stripper are slowly falling for each other in New Orleans
• Dual POV
• Amazing chemistry.
Hi, I’m in love.
January 18, 2019
ARC received for review
Didn't know there was a first book, but I was in no way lost while reading it.
Aiden has had a hard life, but has made the best of it. He messed up with his "brothers" but in the end makes up with them. Faith's life is under a microscope due to her mother's run for Mayor. Love of course conquers all and so does lots of hot sex.
Plenty more of his "brothers" to get HEAs. I wouldn't even mind if Maribella gets a brother.
Didn't know there was a first book, but I was in no way lost while reading it.
Aiden has had a hard life, but has made the best of it. He messed up with his "brothers" but in the end makes up with them. Faith's life is under a microscope due to her mother's run for Mayor. Love of course conquers all and so does lots of hot sex.
Plenty more of his "brothers" to get HEAs. I wouldn't even mind if Maribella gets a brother.
January 30, 2019
I sadly DNF'd at 65%. I should have loved it - it had an irresistible combo of a male stripper, a politician's daughter, and New Orleans. But instead of a sexy, heady mix, I found myself bogged down and bored by this slow-moving, endless date between two indecisive, passive, whiny people. It looks like I'm totally in the minority about this (all other reviews are complete raves) so I guess this is a big case of "It's not you, it's me".
Aiden and Faith didn't light any sparks for me. It drove me crazy that Aiden was moping and feeling oh so sorry for himself but not enough to actually do anything about it. He had multiple chances to come clean to Faith, to his former business partner, his friend, even his current "client", but instead Aiden just stays on this endless date throughout New Orleans with Faith. Same for Faith: she didn't have a backbone or plan, just perpetual stress about being her politician mama's daughter.
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the world and I will read almost anything set in that fabulous city. Unfortunately, Aiden and Faith's long drawn out internal monologues about how Life Was Not Fair and If Only He/She Knew The Truth About Me kept me from enjoying glimpses of touristy New Orleans. I was surprised that Faith, as a lifelong resident, would drag Aiden to tourist traps like a swamp tour, voodoo tour, and live music at Preservation Hall (ok, that one is a must see, I admit) instead of the hidden secret places of New Orleans. I finally, reluctantly admitted to myself that I couldn't find the spark between Aiden and Faith when I was starting to be bored even with the descriptions of the city. And it takes a lot to turn me away from the Big Easy.
I had very high hopes for this, having heard a lot of buzz about the first in the series (still in my TBR). But sadly, I just have to let this one go.
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
Aiden and Faith didn't light any sparks for me. It drove me crazy that Aiden was moping and feeling oh so sorry for himself but not enough to actually do anything about it. He had multiple chances to come clean to Faith, to his former business partner, his friend, even his current "client", but instead Aiden just stays on this endless date throughout New Orleans with Faith. Same for Faith: she didn't have a backbone or plan, just perpetual stress about being her politician mama's daughter.
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the world and I will read almost anything set in that fabulous city. Unfortunately, Aiden and Faith's long drawn out internal monologues about how Life Was Not Fair and If Only He/She Knew The Truth About Me kept me from enjoying glimpses of touristy New Orleans. I was surprised that Faith, as a lifelong resident, would drag Aiden to tourist traps like a swamp tour, voodoo tour, and live music at Preservation Hall (ok, that one is a must see, I admit) instead of the hidden secret places of New Orleans. I finally, reluctantly admitted to myself that I couldn't find the spark between Aiden and Faith when I was starting to be bored even with the descriptions of the city. And it takes a lot to turn me away from the Big Easy.
I had very high hopes for this, having heard a lot of buzz about the first in the series (still in my TBR). But sadly, I just have to let this one go.
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
March 11, 2019
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*3.5 Stars!*
The first book in the Happy Endings series charmed my pants off so I was ready to devour the sequel once it landed on my kindle. I didn't even read the blurb beforehand, I just dove right in!
Down on his luck, Aiden Rios finds himself in a bar in the Big Easy after one of his clients ends up cancelling on him. But things take a turn when he meets Faith Charles and the two decide to indulge in a night of fun. But one night is not enough and Faith and Aiden find themselves making excuses just to see each other again. Things heat up between the pair and they become inseparable but when Aiden's secret threatens to break them apart, will this budding romance come to a screeching halt?
I think my main issue with this book was that I went into this book expecting to love it as much as the first book and I might have overhyped things a bit for myself. First things first, let's talk about what I liked. I loved both Faith and Aiden and I thought they were a perfect fit for one another because their kind of on similar paths of trying to figuring out their futures. Faith wants to break away from the role of being the dutiful daughter to her politician mother to pursue her own passions but she doesn't want to create a scandal so close to the election. Getting her mother to listen to her and to actually see how unhappy she was was not an easy task for Faith, but I loved the fact that she didn't give up. I also loved the fact that Aiden was so supportive of Faith even though he only knew her for a short time. That's the quality I loved most about Aiden, he's so supportive and protective of the people he cares for and is willing to go the mile to show them. Aiden too has his own personal struggles as he faces the repercussions of a risky mistake and now he doesn't know how to fix things. He soon learns that it's okay to lean on others when shit gets rough and that he doesn't have to do things alone anymore. While I do think Faith and Aiden made a great pair, the romance itself didn't work for me in this book. It just felt very insta-lovey and I'm not a fan of characters dropping I love yous after knowing each other for just a few days. Maybe if I had felt a stronger emotional connection between these two it would've worked but I just felt like something was missing for me. While Hired didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was still an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the final book in this series later this year.
*3.5 Stars!*
The first book in the Happy Endings series charmed my pants off so I was ready to devour the sequel once it landed on my kindle. I didn't even read the blurb beforehand, I just dove right in!
Down on his luck, Aiden Rios finds himself in a bar in the Big Easy after one of his clients ends up cancelling on him. But things take a turn when he meets Faith Charles and the two decide to indulge in a night of fun. But one night is not enough and Faith and Aiden find themselves making excuses just to see each other again. Things heat up between the pair and they become inseparable but when Aiden's secret threatens to break them apart, will this budding romance come to a screeching halt?
I think my main issue with this book was that I went into this book expecting to love it as much as the first book and I might have overhyped things a bit for myself. First things first, let's talk about what I liked. I loved both Faith and Aiden and I thought they were a perfect fit for one another because their kind of on similar paths of trying to figuring out their futures. Faith wants to break away from the role of being the dutiful daughter to her politician mother to pursue her own passions but she doesn't want to create a scandal so close to the election. Getting her mother to listen to her and to actually see how unhappy she was was not an easy task for Faith, but I loved the fact that she didn't give up. I also loved the fact that Aiden was so supportive of Faith even though he only knew her for a short time. That's the quality I loved most about Aiden, he's so supportive and protective of the people he cares for and is willing to go the mile to show them. Aiden too has his own personal struggles as he faces the repercussions of a risky mistake and now he doesn't know how to fix things. He soon learns that it's okay to lean on others when shit gets rough and that he doesn't have to do things alone anymore. While I do think Faith and Aiden made a great pair, the romance itself didn't work for me in this book. It just felt very insta-lovey and I'm not a fan of characters dropping I love yous after knowing each other for just a few days. Maybe if I had felt a stronger emotional connection between these two it would've worked but I just felt like something was missing for me. While Hired didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was still an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the final book in this series later this year.
Read
March 11, 2019I stopped reading this at about 50ish% cuz well.. i don't have problems with stripper jobs its rare for me to find stripper books or escort but hero was one.. if strippers aren't your cup just pass.. my problem was the whole keeping the secret for so long that when things blow up they blow up.. and both mcs for being whiney.. and couldn't connect with them.. i just rolled my eyes and felt bored.. :/ with the whole thing..
February 11, 2019
So sexy and fun. I loved Faith, Aiden, and New Orleans so much! I will never get tired of watching a playboy fall in love.
February 13, 2019
Aiden's rules existed for protection. They were there to keep him and the other party from getting hurt. Meeting Faith was a game changer, because he was willing to break all his rules for her, and now Aiden could become the injured party.
• Pro: I always love seeing one of those "never me" heroes fall for the woman he didn't know he was looking for. Obviously it started as physical attraction, but it was easy, and wonderful, to see the bond slowly forming and growing between Faith and Aiden. This was a fabulous pairing, and I was rooting for them from the start.
• Pro: I didn't expect them to make an appearance, but I was so happy the Mayhem family was back. Once again, they came to help one of their "brothers" find his HEA, and so, the bromance continues!
• Pro: Castile did an awesome job taking us on a tour of Louisiana. It was fantastic that she took us off the beaten path. I have read many books set in New Orleans before, but Castile featured sites I have not "visited" before, and that was a special treat.
• Pro: Call me nosy, but I loved learning Aiden's backstory. He by no means had it easy, but those trials really helped shape the best parts of him, and how can I not fall for a man, who loved his aunt and his mother that much?
• Pro: The campaign storyline added an interesting layer to this story, and it was fun rooting for Faith's mom.
• Pro: It was nice to see such a family focus in a contemporary romance. There were some really lovely moments all around between Faith and her family, Aiden and his family, as well as between the Mayhem brethren. Lots of warm fuzzies.
Overall: A fun and sexy addition to the Happy Endings series, and I say, keep 'em coming.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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• Pro: I always love seeing one of those "never me" heroes fall for the woman he didn't know he was looking for. Obviously it started as physical attraction, but it was easy, and wonderful, to see the bond slowly forming and growing between Faith and Aiden. This was a fabulous pairing, and I was rooting for them from the start.
• Pro: I didn't expect them to make an appearance, but I was so happy the Mayhem family was back. Once again, they came to help one of their "brothers" find his HEA, and so, the bromance continues!
• Pro: Castile did an awesome job taking us on a tour of Louisiana. It was fantastic that she took us off the beaten path. I have read many books set in New Orleans before, but Castile featured sites I have not "visited" before, and that was a special treat.
• Pro: Call me nosy, but I loved learning Aiden's backstory. He by no means had it easy, but those trials really helped shape the best parts of him, and how can I not fall for a man, who loved his aunt and his mother that much?
• Pro: The campaign storyline added an interesting layer to this story, and it was fun rooting for Faith's mom.
• Pro: It was nice to see such a family focus in a contemporary romance. There were some really lovely moments all around between Faith and her family, Aiden and his family, as well as between the Mayhem brethren. Lots of warm fuzzies.
Overall: A fun and sexy addition to the Happy Endings series, and I say, keep 'em coming.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 29, 2019
4.5/5 stars! review to come later! just know it was HOTTER AND BETTER THAN STRIPPED WAS!!! AMAZING!!
--
Full Review:
When Zoey Castile said that the hero in Hired was largely inspired by Maluma, I didn’t know what to expect. But Castile delivered on the missive and surpassed all expectations.
Hired is a sultry look at a sad and hot Colombian escort whose chance meeting with one Faith Charles. Abandoned by his employer in a swanky hotel in the heart of New Orleans, Aiden finds himself in the bottom of a hurricane glass… and in bed with the daughter of a mayoral candidate. Though he’s not exactly upset by the prospect, he finds himself drawn into Faith’s world.
Faith Charles is going through a rough spot. Her mother’s running for Mayor of New Orleans but Faith’s efforts aren’t being appreciated so she runs out of an event and into bed with Aiden. They’re awkward and messy, but their chemistry is stronger than an Organic Chemistry class.
Castile drew on the spirit of New Orleans, making it not just a setting but another character, seeing as everything the characters do revolves around the city. Though politics is a part of the subplot of the story, actual politics don’t really come into play in the book. We don’t really know much about the campaign, other than the sitting mayor is an abusive white man who doesn’t care about his constituents.
Other than that, Hired is a whirlwind romance that takes place during about two weeks, though the majority of it happens in one week. I’m personally more of a slow-burn romance kind of gal, so the fact that they were in love after a week left me exasperated. However, that was minor compared to the rest of the book’s content.
By which I mean, there are a LOT of steamy sex scenes, be they public with a side of exhibitionism, or private with a side of passion and mutual respect. These scenes made me sweat, more so than when I read Stripped (let me remind you there was a ferris wheel sex scene in Stripped). The sex scenes feel rushed and not at all at the same time, maintaining a balance that can be precarious when you have characters with so much sexual tension. These passages are also incredibly respectful and sex-positive; never do the characters feel pressured or imposed upon, they’re both game for whatever the other is game for. Faith and Aiden are open with each other, both forthcoming about their expectations and experiences. It was refreshing to see the way they talked about their lives, only Faith sometimes being distant about her family (with reason! She‘d just met this guy who apparently overshares everything about his childhood in Colombia).
The conflict of the story has more to do with the subplot of the campaign rather than anything to do with something the other has done. Aiden tortures himself over not telling Faith about his true employment as an escort, when he himself says he’s basically under contract and he wouldn’t openly say who his employer is. When the relationship between Aiden and Faith comes to a head it has more to do with misunderstandings (much better than miscommunication, in my opinion), mostly from Faith’s camp and, again, she has good reasons to be angry.
Overall, Hired was highly entertaining and delicious like a mango sorbet you eat while it’s hot and humid outside, all with scenes that will leave you hot and bothered for hours. You’ll keep thinking about Faith and Aiden until later, and you’ll find yourself rooting for them to get over their problems by the end. Castile truly delivered in this one.
(By the way, I made a playlist on Apple Music for your enjoyment while reading this book! You should listen to it!)
An ARC was provided by the author. Thank you, Zoey!
Release date: February 26th, 2019.
Read my review of Stripped here. Flashed , the third installment of this series, will come out in August 2019.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and tumblr @boricuareads, and make sure you check out my other reviews, as well as my book lists, edits, and more!
My blog post can be accessed here.
--
Full Review:
When Zoey Castile said that the hero in Hired was largely inspired by Maluma, I didn’t know what to expect. But Castile delivered on the missive and surpassed all expectations.
Hired is a sultry look at a sad and hot Colombian escort whose chance meeting with one Faith Charles. Abandoned by his employer in a swanky hotel in the heart of New Orleans, Aiden finds himself in the bottom of a hurricane glass… and in bed with the daughter of a mayoral candidate. Though he’s not exactly upset by the prospect, he finds himself drawn into Faith’s world.
Faith Charles is going through a rough spot. Her mother’s running for Mayor of New Orleans but Faith’s efforts aren’t being appreciated so she runs out of an event and into bed with Aiden. They’re awkward and messy, but their chemistry is stronger than an Organic Chemistry class.
Castile drew on the spirit of New Orleans, making it not just a setting but another character, seeing as everything the characters do revolves around the city. Though politics is a part of the subplot of the story, actual politics don’t really come into play in the book. We don’t really know much about the campaign, other than the sitting mayor is an abusive white man who doesn’t care about his constituents.
Other than that, Hired is a whirlwind romance that takes place during about two weeks, though the majority of it happens in one week. I’m personally more of a slow-burn romance kind of gal, so the fact that they were in love after a week left me exasperated. However, that was minor compared to the rest of the book’s content.
By which I mean, there are a LOT of steamy sex scenes, be they public with a side of exhibitionism, or private with a side of passion and mutual respect. These scenes made me sweat, more so than when I read Stripped (let me remind you there was a ferris wheel sex scene in Stripped). The sex scenes feel rushed and not at all at the same time, maintaining a balance that can be precarious when you have characters with so much sexual tension. These passages are also incredibly respectful and sex-positive; never do the characters feel pressured or imposed upon, they’re both game for whatever the other is game for. Faith and Aiden are open with each other, both forthcoming about their expectations and experiences. It was refreshing to see the way they talked about their lives, only Faith sometimes being distant about her family (with reason! She‘d just met this guy who apparently overshares everything about his childhood in Colombia).
The conflict of the story has more to do with the subplot of the campaign rather than anything to do with something the other has done. Aiden tortures himself over not telling Faith about his true employment as an escort, when he himself says he’s basically under contract and he wouldn’t openly say who his employer is. When the relationship between Aiden and Faith comes to a head it has more to do with misunderstandings (much better than miscommunication, in my opinion), mostly from Faith’s camp and, again, she has good reasons to be angry.
Overall, Hired was highly entertaining and delicious like a mango sorbet you eat while it’s hot and humid outside, all with scenes that will leave you hot and bothered for hours. You’ll keep thinking about Faith and Aiden until later, and you’ll find yourself rooting for them to get over their problems by the end. Castile truly delivered in this one.
(By the way, I made a playlist on Apple Music for your enjoyment while reading this book! You should listen to it!)
An ARC was provided by the author. Thank you, Zoey!
Release date: February 26th, 2019.
Read my review of Stripped here. Flashed , the third installment of this series, will come out in August 2019.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and tumblr @boricuareads, and make sure you check out my other reviews, as well as my book lists, edits, and more!
My blog post can be accessed here.
February 11, 2019
I'm really glad that Zoey Castile (a.k.a Zoraida Cordova) has taken the leap into writing adult romance books because her voice is very addictive. Hired, the second book in her Happy Endings series, was just as engrossing as her first romance book, Stripped. These books are full of steamy, delicious and romantic goodness.
Hired is the story of Aiden and Faith, two people who come from very different worlds. Aiden is a male escort and Faith is a campaign worker for her mother's mayoral run. These two meet under unusual circumstances and hit it right off. The characters in this book were interesting and well-rounded. I particularly liked how much thought was given to writing Aiden and his career choice. He was comfortable in his skin and his work. He also happened to be a kind and thoughtful person who looked out for others. Faith was equally kind. She was a smart and strong woman, entirely dedicated to her family. I loved the girl, especially when her more humorous side came out. She meets Aiden after a particularly rough day working on her mother's campaign and their chemistry was 100% undeniable.
The romance in Hired occurs in a short time frame, but it didn't feel rushed to me. Maybe, it was the steamy sexual tension, or perhaps it was the fact that Aiden and Faith were more or less open with each other emotionally. They clicked for me as a couple and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship. They were so soft with each other! And the steamy scenes? Ooh, baby! *fans self* These were some class A sex scenes, definitely some of the best I have read in the genre. You can imagine that their romance wasn't going to be a straightforward one, especially given their respective careers, but the journey towards understanding each other and becoming one was wonderful. By the end, my heart was soaring in happiness for them.
Hired was an excellent addition to the Happy Endings series. If you're looking for something fresh and fiery, I totally recommend these books.
February 17, 2019
It took me forever to get through this one. I thought about stopping it but I wanted to see it to the end. I really liked the first book. For some reason I just wasn’t all that thrilled with either Aiden or Faith. The beginning dragged on a bit and then it started to pick up. But by then I was losing steam and started skimming to get to the end. I really wanted to enjoy it but sadly I found it all meh. But that’s just me, it looks like a lot of others are really enjoying it which is cool too.
April 18, 2020
I haven't read much of this genre a friend calls "a book you judge by how many abs are on the cover".
The story was okay. It was sweet. But if I'm honest, I was hoping for less story. ;)
The story was okay. It was sweet. But if I'm honest, I was hoping for less story. ;)
February 24, 2019
4 HOT STARS
YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG https://antonellasbookworld.blogspot....
For a reason unknown to me, those past weeks I've been reading more and more books with male's pov.
I find interesting seeing a story unraveling under a male's pov and this one wasn't the exception.
One of the things I like most about this book is the hero, Aiden Rios. He is an escort and a stripper, he seems super confident and everything, but under all of it he is just this sweet little boy who lost his mother when he was a teen.
He falls in love with Faith, this girl whose mother is campaigning for the mayor elections in New Orleans.
The two of them hit it off from the start.
The only downside of this book, unfortunately, is the heroine, Faith. It's not like I don't like her, but I just couldn't connect with her. I don't know why, also because I felt connected with Aiden, not really as much as I usually would like to connect with the MC but still, compared with Faith, I felt something for what e was enduring.
Except for this, I enjoyed the book. The way the story went on was a little bit slow, but other than this it was a light read and it was really sweet and cute in certain parts.
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG https://antonellasbookworld.blogspot....
For a reason unknown to me, those past weeks I've been reading more and more books with male's pov.
I find interesting seeing a story unraveling under a male's pov and this one wasn't the exception.
One of the things I like most about this book is the hero, Aiden Rios. He is an escort and a stripper, he seems super confident and everything, but under all of it he is just this sweet little boy who lost his mother when he was a teen.
He falls in love with Faith, this girl whose mother is campaigning for the mayor elections in New Orleans.
The two of them hit it off from the start.
The only downside of this book, unfortunately, is the heroine, Faith. It's not like I don't like her, but I just couldn't connect with her. I don't know why, also because I felt connected with Aiden, not really as much as I usually would like to connect with the MC but still, compared with Faith, I felt something for what e was enduring.
Except for this, I enjoyed the book. The way the story went on was a little bit slow, but other than this it was a light read and it was really sweet and cute in certain parts.
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
January 15, 2019
This is the second book in this series and I will suggest you start with the first book so you get to understand who is who. This was Aiden's book, and at first he seems a little cocky and sure of himself and described as gorgeous, but as we read the story he literally breaks my heart. I enjoyed his relationship with Faith, and she didn't have it as easy as it would seem to others since she is living under her mothers shadow and having to maintain a clean image. Yet when Aiden and Faith meet they give into the chemistry and attraction that they have for each other, but unfortunately they are keeping secrets and these secrets could really hurt both of them. While not telling Faith the whole truth about him and his circumstances he is falling more and more for Faith, and she with him. When some of the secrets come out you understand the outcome, but your heart is rooting for them the whole time!..It was great to read of the past characters and that Fallon and Robyn are still going strong..Enjoy!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
February 25, 2019
This was such a fun, fluffy read! I enjoyed reading about Faith and Aiden. The conflict felt real and even though I was dying for Aiden to fess up, I could understand why he struggled to tell her the truth. Neither of them expected to have any feelings and it was really sweet to see them get caught up in one another, even though I knew the bottom would eventually fall out. Aiden did a great job atoning for his actions in the end. It was fun seeing the Mayhem men back in action (their found family is so pure!) and I loved the New Orleans setting. If you're looking for a good escape and a happy ending, Hired is a good call! I can't say it will be the most memorable book I read this year, hence why I'm rating it at 3 stars instead of 4, but it definitely hit the spot.
Disclosure: I won an ARC from the author in a giveaway.
Disclosure: I won an ARC from the author in a giveaway.
May 27, 2019
2.5 stars
This was a well-written novel, and by well-written I mean, few grammatical errors or typos. However, the pacing of the story in the beginning didn't capture my attention, and I kept picking up and putting this down. This book , to me, read like a throwback romance novel. It hit the usual notes, but I didn't exactly feel the steam between the main characters. Their relationship was...nice, however a tad on the boring side. Aiden, despite not being completely truthful about his er...employment, was a good guy with a caring heart. Faith was sweet and independent, a good person. There weren't any problematic issues in terms of agency or consent so bonus points for that. Overall, it was an okay not really a standout book.
This was a well-written novel, and by well-written I mean, few grammatical errors or typos. However, the pacing of the story in the beginning didn't capture my attention, and I kept picking up and putting this down. This book , to me, read like a throwback romance novel. It hit the usual notes, but I didn't exactly feel the steam between the main characters. Their relationship was...nice, however a tad on the boring side. Aiden, despite not being completely truthful about his er...employment, was a good guy with a caring heart. Faith was sweet and independent, a good person. There weren't any problematic issues in terms of agency or consent so bonus points for that. Overall, it was an okay not really a standout book.
January 13, 2019
It took me maybe 3/4 of the book before I was really into Aiden and Faith's romance. For the longest I was really 'blah' about them as a couple, so it took me a while to read it but then all of a sudden it clicked. It clicked a bit late, but it did click. Same as with Stripped, I felt that the story could have used some more detail or description in places; feelings were beautifully descriptive but a lot of other things were pretty vague sometimes. All in all though, I loved both characters and their personalities and histories.
October 31, 2018
I won this copy from Zoey/Zoraida at Sirens Con and it's just so much fun. I haven't read the first book yet but I'm definitely getting it now! If you need a fun, frothy romance with beautiful New Orleans as the backdrop, this will do the trick.
June 18, 2019
An awesome Colombian/Louisianian romance!
did-not-finish
October 15, 2023DNF at 32%. This isn’t bad at all, but I’m feeling very meh about it, and life is too short to read books that don’t grab you and take you along for the ride.
January 2, 2019
Y’all are not ready for the PURE. INTENSE. HEAT. that is Aiden Rios and Faith Abigail Charles. It left me swooning for more.
February 6, 2019
I love this series so much.
January 13, 2019
I enjoyed the previous book in this series (Stripped), though I also thought it earned some valid criticism for its sex worker rep. I thought this one improved on all fronts. Aiden does what he does because he enjoys it and there's no shame in the actual work--not from him and not from his love interest, Faith.
I loved Faith. She's someone who's almost always done what was expected of her, who's finally busting out a little. Her complex relationship with her parents was well drawn and even painful at times. She also has a kick-ass best friend (who I hope we get to see in future books).
I haven't visited New Orleans in a long time, but I could still envision the place from the fantastic descriptions.
I was given an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Faith. She's someone who's almost always done what was expected of her, who's finally busting out a little. Her complex relationship with her parents was well drawn and even painful at times. She also has a kick-ass best friend (who I hope we get to see in future books).
I haven't visited New Orleans in a long time, but I could still envision the place from the fantastic descriptions.
I was given an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 9, 2019After booking a trip to New Orleans, I went on the hunt for NOLA romances and realized the second book in Zoey Castile’s Happy Endings series fit the bill. This book follows Aiden Rios, one of the dancers from Stripped, after he’s been stood up by the woman he was hired to be an escort for. While at the hotel bar, he meets Faith Abigail Charles and is instantly attracted and smitten in a way he’s never been before. The two have a whirlwind romance as she shows him an authentic New Orleans experience, which was my favorite part and made me so excited to visit the city. The end was filled with lots of drama as secrets came out and many characters from the first book showed up. I’m excited to pick up the third book in this series soon! —Dana (excerpted from Bookish's Staff Reads)
While visiting The Ripped Bodice, I picked up Stripped, the first book in Zoey Castile’s Happy Endings series. Upon finishing it, I immediately dove into the second installment: Hired. The story kicks off with Aiden Rios sitting in a bar on his birthday. After making mistakes he fears he can’t fix, he’s hiding from his friends and killing time until the woman who paid for his escort services returns. It’s there that he runs into Faith Charles, the daughter of a local mayoral candidate. The entire book is set in New Orleans and Castile perfectly captured the sights, sounds, and tastes of that incredible city. While I was reading I was instantly transported there and every time I closed the book I was itching to book a flight. But my favorite thing about this series is how characters often find themselves at moments of professional uncertainty—whether they’re no longer engaged with their work, at a loss of where to move next, or simply looking for the next challenge. It’s not only relatable, it’s a joy as a reader to watch characters you love and connect with discover new passions, purposes, and paths in their life. I’m already counting down the days until the next book hits shelves. —Kelly (excerpted from Bookish's Staff Reads)
While visiting The Ripped Bodice, I picked up Stripped, the first book in Zoey Castile’s Happy Endings series. Upon finishing it, I immediately dove into the second installment: Hired. The story kicks off with Aiden Rios sitting in a bar on his birthday. After making mistakes he fears he can’t fix, he’s hiding from his friends and killing time until the woman who paid for his escort services returns. It’s there that he runs into Faith Charles, the daughter of a local mayoral candidate. The entire book is set in New Orleans and Castile perfectly captured the sights, sounds, and tastes of that incredible city. While I was reading I was instantly transported there and every time I closed the book I was itching to book a flight. But my favorite thing about this series is how characters often find themselves at moments of professional uncertainty—whether they’re no longer engaged with their work, at a loss of where to move next, or simply looking for the next challenge. It’s not only relatable, it’s a joy as a reader to watch characters you love and connect with discover new passions, purposes, and paths in their life. I’m already counting down the days until the next book hits shelves. —Kelly (excerpted from Bookish's Staff Reads)
January 31, 2019
Aiden Rios is suddenly alone in New Orleans after his client needs to get back to her husband. Nursing a hurricane, loneliness, and some regrets at the posh hotel bar, he wasn't looking for a woman. But he meets Faith.
Daughter to an ambitious woman running for Mayor New Orleans and never feeling like enough, Faith Abigail Charles also isn't looking for anyone. She just needs a break from putting on the perfect image for the campaign, for trying to be what her mother wants her to be without ever really succeeding. But, oh how she wants Aiden.
Aiden plans on telling Faith why he's in New Orleans, but as what turns into a sexy, but kind of not completed one night stand turns into a whirlwind romance, the opportunity to come clean without hurt grows harder and harder.
Another fabulous book by Zoey Castile, I adored the handling of Aiden's career as a sex worker. He's not regretful of what he does, just of how Faith eventually finds out who his client was. And Castile does a wonderful job with her secondary characters, which I'll let you read to find out what I mean. No one is a caricature here.
That said, I did enjoy Stripped a bit more, mostly for the pacing. Aiden and Faith'r relationship forms over a pretty condensed amount of time and I just wanted more time for them both. That said, Castile is definitely one of my new favorite authors!
Daughter to an ambitious woman running for Mayor New Orleans and never feeling like enough, Faith Abigail Charles also isn't looking for anyone. She just needs a break from putting on the perfect image for the campaign, for trying to be what her mother wants her to be without ever really succeeding. But, oh how she wants Aiden.
Aiden plans on telling Faith why he's in New Orleans, but as what turns into a sexy, but kind of not completed one night stand turns into a whirlwind romance, the opportunity to come clean without hurt grows harder and harder.
Another fabulous book by Zoey Castile, I adored the handling of Aiden's career as a sex worker. He's not regretful of what he does, just of how Faith eventually finds out who his client was. And Castile does a wonderful job with her secondary characters, which I'll let you read to find out what I mean. No one is a caricature here.
That said, I did enjoy Stripped a bit more, mostly for the pacing. Aiden and Faith'r relationship forms over a pretty condensed amount of time and I just wanted more time for them both. That said, Castile is definitely one of my new favorite authors!
May 21, 2019
Took me a while to get through this one.
I enjoyed it enough... not as much as the previous book in the series. There were parts that felt like they could be fleshed out better where Aiden was concerned.
The setting was great and it was a character within itself. I'll keep reading this series with the hope that the next one is as good as the first book.
*Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley
I enjoyed it enough... not as much as the previous book in the series. There were parts that felt like they could be fleshed out better where Aiden was concerned.
The setting was great and it was a character within itself. I'll keep reading this series with the hope that the next one is as good as the first book.
*Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley
October 5, 2019
This one isn't as good as Stripped, but it was still super engaging and swoony. Also, I don't remember the sex scenes in Stripped being quite as intense or frequent.
The e-book of this seemed to have a lot of typos, which was a little irritating, but I find I just mentally correct it and move on.
The e-book of this seemed to have a lot of typos, which was a little irritating, but I find I just mentally correct it and move on.
January 30, 2024
I loved this novel just as much as the first one! I haven't read much adult romance, but Zoey Castile's books make me glad that I am now. I can't wait to read the next one!
Read
October 20, 2020Just didn’t grab me.
January 22, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Faith is a politician's daughter helping with a campaign and floating between what she feels obligated to do and what she wants to do. Aiden is a stripper/escort who never gets close enough to have a real relationship and has his own set of rules when it comes to women and sex and making sure no one gets hurt. When they meet by chance, a hook up is a definite but what about after the hookup? They'll both have to break some rules if they want more than that.
Here's the thing about this book: yes, it's a romance. But it didn't feel like every other romance novel out there. Zoey Castile is changing the game and here's why:
In between the chemistry of the characters and the incredibly hot sex, the social commentary in this book was phenomenal. It's not even in your face, and it's there hidden between the one-liners and the hard ons. But it's there. Even the back story of the characters actually added layers and dimensions and let us know WHY they are the way they are when it comes to sex and relationships. Aiden's background with his mother and father and his Tati were so interesting to learn about and then place with his personality. We got to see an immigrant family with a mother who was pregnant very young and how they had to make do. We saw a black family with successful professionals and hard working goal, orientated parents. We saw a black father who chose to stay at home with his children so his wife could reach her political goals. Honestly, it's so nice and so refreshing to see this kind of depth in a romance novel. It was still light and fun and sexy, but it was deeper than the sex and I really appreciated that.
When Aiden agonizes over contacting Faith after she tells him not to, his best friend does not do the unintelligent bro thing I see in so many romance novels. He tells him to respect her space and let her come to him. WOW. THANK YOU Zoey Castile for creating male characters who respect a woman's decision.
Honestly, if you're in it just for the sex, then yes by all means read this book. The sex is well written and Faith is absolutely in control of what she wants, which I love. But if you like a little depth with your romance, this book is definitely it.
Faith is a politician's daughter helping with a campaign and floating between what she feels obligated to do and what she wants to do. Aiden is a stripper/escort who never gets close enough to have a real relationship and has his own set of rules when it comes to women and sex and making sure no one gets hurt. When they meet by chance, a hook up is a definite but what about after the hookup? They'll both have to break some rules if they want more than that.
Here's the thing about this book: yes, it's a romance. But it didn't feel like every other romance novel out there. Zoey Castile is changing the game and here's why:
In between the chemistry of the characters and the incredibly hot sex, the social commentary in this book was phenomenal. It's not even in your face, and it's there hidden between the one-liners and the hard ons. But it's there. Even the back story of the characters actually added layers and dimensions and let us know WHY they are the way they are when it comes to sex and relationships. Aiden's background with his mother and father and his Tati were so interesting to learn about and then place with his personality. We got to see an immigrant family with a mother who was pregnant very young and how they had to make do. We saw a black family with successful professionals and hard working goal, orientated parents. We saw a black father who chose to stay at home with his children so his wife could reach her political goals. Honestly, it's so nice and so refreshing to see this kind of depth in a romance novel. It was still light and fun and sexy, but it was deeper than the sex and I really appreciated that.
When Aiden agonizes over contacting Faith after she tells him not to, his best friend does not do the unintelligent bro thing I see in so many romance novels. He tells him to respect her space and let her come to him. WOW. THANK YOU Zoey Castile for creating male characters who respect a woman's decision.
Honestly, if you're in it just for the sex, then yes by all means read this book. The sex is well written and Faith is absolutely in control of what she wants, which I love. But if you like a little depth with your romance, this book is definitely it.
June 23, 2019
I just read my review for the first book in the series, Stripped, and I am reminded why I originally planned not to read the following books. It's hard to pinpoint why I don't love these books, but at the same time I am drawn back to them again and again.
Maybe because I'm a contemporary romance lover and I just can't help myself? Is it because Zoey Castile expertly writes interracial/multicultural romances? I'm really not sure but, lo and behold. Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in!
I received a copy of Hired at a romance lovers event during #BookCon2019. I could have chosen something else but I just remembered being overwhelmed by all the free books that I just grabbed everything. Plus once I found out the heroine was black and the story took place in NOLA, I knew I had to dive in.
Having read this after a stressful week at work and after moving to a new apartment, this was a perfect was to escape the week I've had. The male escort/stripper world is at turns seedy and intriguing to me and wholly original in terms of romance books, so kudos to Zoey for turning the profession into a series. The New Orleans setting was amazing and made me regret not going to NOLA for the Essence fest. Seems like such an odd, but fun city. I guess I loved everything about this book except for the romance itself. Faith and Aiden were interesting characters, but certainly not memorable. If you ask me about this book months from now, I will recall the setting more than anything.
I enjoyed the story, while at the same time thankfully it was only 250 pages. In a way it seemed like a novella, but this is the hard part about romance series. one book is always much stronger than the others. After all this, I'm still intrigued by Patrick's story since he was pretty funny and vain in this book. Will I continue with this series? Who knows. But don't be surprised if there are more love-hate reviews.
Maybe because I'm a contemporary romance lover and I just can't help myself? Is it because Zoey Castile expertly writes interracial/multicultural romances? I'm really not sure but, lo and behold. Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in!
I received a copy of Hired at a romance lovers event during #BookCon2019. I could have chosen something else but I just remembered being overwhelmed by all the free books that I just grabbed everything. Plus once I found out the heroine was black and the story took place in NOLA, I knew I had to dive in.
Having read this after a stressful week at work and after moving to a new apartment, this was a perfect was to escape the week I've had. The male escort/stripper world is at turns seedy and intriguing to me and wholly original in terms of romance books, so kudos to Zoey for turning the profession into a series. The New Orleans setting was amazing and made me regret not going to NOLA for the Essence fest. Seems like such an odd, but fun city. I guess I loved everything about this book except for the romance itself. Faith and Aiden were interesting characters, but certainly not memorable. If you ask me about this book months from now, I will recall the setting more than anything.
I enjoyed the story, while at the same time thankfully it was only 250 pages. In a way it seemed like a novella, but this is the hard part about romance series. one book is always much stronger than the others. After all this, I'm still intrigued by Patrick's story since he was pretty funny and vain in this book. Will I continue with this series? Who knows. But don't be surprised if there are more love-hate reviews.
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