Tanked

Eastside Brewery #3

by Mia Hopkins

A fighter without a purpose. A crusader with nothing to lose. Can she trust him with her heart, or is he just another lost cause?

Angel
By day, I do all the grunt work at my family’s struggling L.A. brewery. By night, I blow off steam at an underground fight club. I never thought the pandemic would bring Deanna Delgado back into my life—the woman who ghosted me three years ago after one unforgettable night. But the brewery needs a miracle to survive. And that miracle could cost me the only person who’s ever had faith in me.

Deanna
My family calls me an idealistic do-gooder, but I see a better, brighter future for my community. My biggest problem? I’ve just lost the job I love. To ease my pain, I’ve hooked up with Angel Rosas, the filthy-sweet one-night stand who’s somehow dropped back into my life. There’s so much more to Angel than he lets on. Is he the man I can trust with my body and my heart? Or is he just another lost cause?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Erotic Romance, Sports Romance, Audiobook

ebook

Published April 26, 2022

About the author

Mia Hopkins writes lush romances starring fun, sexy characters who love to get down and dirty. Her award-winning books have been featured by many publications including The Washington Post, USA Today and Entertainment Weekly. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Reviews

[Talia Hibbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning! Fabulous! Forever reread! I've been head-over-heels for every Eastside Brewery book, which made me both excited and nervous about the final Rosas brother’s story. I was not disappointed. In fact, this book OVERDELIVERED. I could never have expected something this perfect.

It was so emotionally driven, so atmospheric and real and relatable, so (so so SO) hot. I had to force myself not to reread it immediately after finishing. Tanked is a 6-star read for me, and yes, I do realise that’s not technically a thing. Angel Rosas just made it a thing.

Read for:
- sweet angel boy (literally)
- badass heroine
- relatable, realistic, but ultimately optimistic portrayal of life's struggles, especially the take on the pandemic
- just absolutely burning hot dangerous chemistry
- coziness and healthy love
- the whole extended Rosas family sticking together and being fantastic!

[b.andherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh that Angel Rosas, Mr. I'm so awkward I'm going to text you okay? and also completely rail you into next Tuesday. And Deanna, burnt out public servant, laid off, trying to do her best. Love her.

Hopkins has a way with her sentences that just pull you into the narrative and won't let your mind or heart go until you've made it through to the HEA. Her vision of LA is so vibrant and alive, yet not idealized. Her characters work, they work really hard, they have worries, and wow do they have heat.

I love the "we had one amazing night" second-chance style romances so much - and this one fit the bill so nicely. I need to re-read again, as I never know how to properly put down a review for the author's work. I'm just so invested, I dunno.

A triumphant trilogy of brothers. Every one a masterpiece.

read along with the #RosasRead22 friends over on Twitter.

[el · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH MY GOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDD. going from sanitized commercial romance to this small, raw, original world where two totally normal people of color who love their community and all of its scratches and scuff marks get to rediscover pleasure together is EVERYTHING TO MEEEEEE. mia hopkins, what have you done to my brain chemistry?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?!? a romance novel that hasn't been scrubbed clean of character? that feels like it could be real? that refuses to pretend we live in a perfectly utopian sociopolitical reality? that acknowledges the existence of the carceral state? colorism??? class?????????? AND THE MALE LOVE INTEREST HAS A BONDAGE KINK??????? AS IN....HE LIKES BEING TIED UP!??!?!?!?!>?>#?@>1?@.31?@>#!@?.3!@?.3!@?#>12?>#1

this book has altered who i am. if you have ever read smutty commercial romance and thought to yourself, JUST SAY PUSSY!!!!!!!!! JUST SAY IT!!!! SAY IT! SAY COCK!, you need to read this. read it for the smut alone. but also read it because it's a tender love story that doesn't shy away from the ugliness of our world. and the male love interest is a dom top puppy with a small subby streak. AND HE'S LIKE SEVEN YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE FMC. YEAH. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOME SEXY, SEXY TROPE SUBVERSION GOING ON HERE. FINALLY. FINALLY WE BEGIN TO APPROACH THE MILF REPRESENTATION I CRAVE.

i love this book. oh my god. so much self-indulgence. thank you to talia hibbert for the recommendation. i have never read a barrio romance like this and will now be making my way through the rest of this series. i can only hope that the first two books live up to this one 😫🫣

[Agla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved books 1 and 2 of this series but I'm afraid to re-read them after reading this one. I liked it but didn't love it. It really was a mixed bag: I really liked the end but the beginning was bad, especially the prologue, the 2 MCs meet in a bar and he comes to rescue her when her friend is being harassed by drunk jerk. They immediately kiss and go back to her place, we don't see hat happens and then it's 3 years later. We then learn she ghosted him and they meet again by chance and resume a relationship straight away, without much explanation to each other or to us. Now it is later revealed why she ghosted him and the reason was kind of valid but still. The age gap between the 2 is at first used as reason for the ghosting (not the actual reason thank goodness) but then it has no bearing on the rest of the story. The characterization was inconsistent for both MCs, they lacked depth and their personality seemed to change when they got to bed which is never good. TBH I skimmed some of the sex scene because they were also weirdly placed. When they talked and opened up to each other it was great, they really supported each other but it took a while, it was insta-all consuming lust and then we say 2 words to each other which is never the best. There were a lot of secondary plot lines that lacked depth as well: both MCs' relationship to their respective families, her job... All in all not bad but I needed something more that I can't quite put my finger on.

[Imane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
I think the cover properly indicates how ridiculously horny this book is, but it's so much more than that. I don't necessarily read romance for sociopolitical commentary (though I draw the line at the egregious tone-deaf bullshit that's everpresent in most rom-coms) but this one seamlessly wove in real-world issues into a believable romance (if you forget the timeline) with no contrived drama or neatly fixed situations. I think the world we live in is bleak enough to avoid forced conflicts and silly arguments and I'm so glad this book leaned into that while simultaneously bearing a note of hope in the end. And you know what? I really don't give a shit about beer and breweries but this book had me invested in the Eastside Brewery business, which says a lot about the quality of the writing for the genre. It's not a perfect book by any means but it's one with a lot of heart. And a lot of smut. But mostly a lot of soul! I'm excited to dive into more of Mia Hopkins's books <3 Always good to find an author with whom you vibe intrinsically.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb has Deanna asking if she can trust Angel with her heart even though he is obviously all in from the moment they meet. Why do romance authors do this? If you call the hero a playboy, MAKE HIM ONE. Angel is very polite and loving and laser focused on Deanna from jump. I mean, he asks her if he can kiss her after they've exchanged a few sentences, telling her he couldn't focus on his job cuz she was so beautiful. I had been ready for build up and tension and the lead up to the first kiss; it was like a balloon deflating.
She doesn't believe he's serious but says yes anyway? Huh? I would've loved if she said, "What? No!" and then he would've had to prove his interest. But nah. Angel and Deanna just start having sex immediately and not in like, a "let's get this out of our systems" kind of way but in this very weird kind of unnecessarily intense way. I rolled my eyes through most of it. Who ARE these people and why do I care that they're bumping uglies?
I began to skim after the 34823598239th sex scene.
This seems to be Hopkins' style though, immediate and continuous detailed sex between the leads but little to no development of a relationship outside of that. Cool that these heroes have permanent erections and insane libidos, cool that they're hot and the heroines are hot, everyone's hot... but I want to FEEL the chemistry between the leads when I read romance! It's gotta be palpable. Gimme tension, gimme angst! This book didn't have any of that, sadly.

[Regina Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirsty was one of the first romances I picked up after a long break from reading and writing this genre, and it completely blew me away. These books are blazingly hot and beautifully written. They also deal with issues romance doesn't tackle often, like housing insecurity, gentrification, PTSD, reentry after incarceration. But it's the characters who really shine for me. The Rosas brothers will break parts of your heart you didn't know existed. Angel is no exception, and his love story with Deanna might be my favorite of all the brothers. If you haven't read this series, I can't recommend it enough.

[Arzum · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO. I know i gave 4 stars to this book but I couldn’t stop thinking about it since I read it so… I’m rating it up to 5. LIKE LITERALLY WHY CANT I STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM?! MIA HOPKINS WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mia Hopkins voice in this series! I haven't found much that is comparable to it and was so glad to see that Tanked was consistent with her voice and writing style.

Angel is the youngest brother of the Rosa family and I love the role that he was given both within the family, and the actual Brewery. The Rosa family is such a real family - in that it's complicated and nuanced but also full of love. One thing I hadn't thought of going into this book was COVID and I really appreciated how it was handled. The community and the neighborhood is another aspect that just makes this book feel so realistic, all of the minor characters feel like they could just walk off the page.

And the ROMANCE...🔥 🔥 🔥 It was so goddamn hot, I increased my rating by a full star because the sex was so steamy but also was integral to the plot in most cases (and really, even if it's not - who cares?)

Deanna was fully fleshed out as well and I loved how Angel slowly drew her out. The two together even had some kink toward the end and again...PHEW 🔥 🔥 🔥

CW: past domestic abuse, postpartum depression, COVID, mentions of death (not on page or of main or secondary characters)

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://smexybooks.com/2022/04/review...

[Emmalita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanked is gorgeous. I had high expectations after I devoured the first two books in the series in 2 days, and I was still unprepared for Tanked. It is full of longing. The sex is plentiful, hot, and evolves as Angel and Deanna’s relationship evolves. The attention to detail is excellent. There are little hummingbird silhouettes in the breaks, and yes, they are meaningful.

The third book in Mia Hopkins’ Eastside Brewery series, is set smack in the pandemic. The loneliness, isolation, and economic hardship are integral, but I felt validated more than traumatized by the setting.

Angel, the youngest Rosas brother, and Deanna (formerly Eddie’s caseworker) are the stars of Tanked and they tell the story in a dual POV. Other than some flashbacks, Angel has not been seen in the series. He was sent to live with his maternal grandmother and uncle after their mother and young sister died. Away from the neighborhood, he avoided joining the East Side Hollenbeck gang, but away from his family, with his father gone and his brothers in prison, he experienced abuse and homelessness. When Tanked begins in earnest, Angel is working for (not with) his brothers at Eastside Brewery and sleeping on the couch at Sal and Vanessa’s house while they all try to stay afloat in the pandemic. The brewery is barely getting by and may not survive. Deanna is also overwhelmed at work, trying to do more for clients with even less than the little she had before.

They start off as a stress relieving good time, except that Angel is always finding ways to take care of Deanna. The way they see and support each other was swoon inducing. Honestly, I reread the first “I love you” scene a few times before I was ready to move on.

The Eastside Brewery series is about roots – familial, cultural, and community – and second chances. The Rosas have grown and deepened their roots, building their families and their business in the community that is important to them. Without making the series “a very special episode,” Hopkins contrasts the growth and strength of the Rosas family with the shallow roots of the gangs, and the culture erasing “revival” of gentrification.

Tanked has so much heart and was a delight to read. I stayed up too late, I read while I was supposed to be doing other things. I could not put it down.

CW: pandemic, off page past deaths from Covid-19, past domestic violence, diet talk and body shaming by a family member, implied colorism, post-partum depression.

I received this advance reader copy from Little Stone Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year, while poking around in my TBR pile (it’s quite massive), I came across Mia Hopkins’ Thirsty, the first book in her Eastside Brewery series. I started reading it and was totally absorbed, cursing myself for not having read it sooner. In short order, I read book two, Trashed, and then to my delight, discovered that Tanked, book three was being released this spring. So it turned out to be a fortuitous initial choice to start the series this year as I didn’t have to wait long for the final installment. The series follows the romantic lives and life altering decisions made by the Rosas brothers, and Tanked sees the youngest, Angel, joining his brothers in their quest to make the Eastside Brewery popular and profitable.

Angel Rosas hasn’t followed the same path as his two older brothers Sal and Eddie. For one, he hasn’t been in jail. He didn’t join a gang, like they did, following in their father’s footsteps while living in L.A.. Instead, after the death of his mother and young sister in a car accident, he was sent off to to live with relatives in Salinas, supposedly to keep him on the straight and narrow. Now twenty-four, he’s been back for the three years, riding out the pandemic with his family, helping to keep his brothers’ brewery afloat. With no place of his own, he bunks in Sal’s house and unknown to them, participates in an underground illegal fight club. The one bright memory of late is the one night stand he had when he first arrived back in L.A., with Deanna Delgado, a patron at the brewery. When he runs into her again at a vaccination clinic, it’s as if fate is stepping in to remind them of how good they were together.

Deanna is an overworked, underpaid, perpetually tired social worker. Having been assigned as Eddie’s case worker when he got out of jail, she’s gotten to know the Rosas brothers, but after the night she spent with Angel, she’d never called him back. At that time, he’d been twenty-one to her twenty-eight and she just couldn’t see anything real happening between them, so she’d ghosted him. But with their new chance encounter, things look a little different. Twenty-four isn’t so young now. And she’s just found out that she’ll be laid off in a few weeks. So maybe it’s time to let off a little steam and forget about the world in Angel’s arms. But this time, can it lead to something more?

For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

A copy of this story was provided by the author.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series, but Tanked was just okay for me. It had a lot of potential at the start and my heart ached for sad puppy Angel, but the emotional punch was tempered quite a lot by unnecessary plot points. I would have cut a lot of the superfluous stuff (like the weird deal with Deanna's client Art, why? Also, Angel getting arrested and released 12 hours later and it's no big deal after all, why?) and spent more time on the relationship elements. I actually really enjoyed the scenes where it's just Deanna and Angel getting to know each other and the sex scenes are hot! But I wanted to see more of Deanna working through her relationship with her family, more of Angel figuring out where he fits in to the Rosas family he spent most of his life separate from, just more of that introspective stuff that makes a romance really rich for me.

The best part of this book, IMO, was the handling of the COVID pandemic. It was real and present without taking over where it shouldn't and never used simply to add drama. It's just a part of the world we live in and part of the world we're reading about. However, it may be triggering to read about for some people so proceed with caution.

This is nit-picky of me, but I was also confused by Deanna's professional role. Is she an unlicensed case worker? A graduate licensed social worker? Should she have slept with the brother of one of her former clients? These are questions I wish I could gloss over but as someone working in mental health/social services, it bothers me when there's potentially questionable representation of the field. Would most people care? No. But I do.

Overall rating: 3.5
Hannah Angst Scale™ rating: 2
Content notes: COVID pandemic (including references to death due to COVID, secondary characters test positive later in the book, vaccinations/booster shots, masks, quarantine, economic difficulties), FMC had past abusive relationship and ex hit her, FMC's mom is fatphobic, MMC's uncle was physically abusive and MMC remembers getting hit with belt, secondary character with post-partum depression, underground fight club including descriptions of a fight and injuries, interactions with legal system/law enforcement (MMC gets arrested, FMC has a client who violated parole and conversations with parole officer), mentions of gangs and gang violence, unemployment, references to Catholic church and Christian ideology, on-page alcohol use

[Ellie]

Dnf at 40%
I loved the first two books when I read them over 3 years ago but this one was not working for me at all. It is set during the pandemic and all the details felt too raw for me to enjoy the story. I was not sold on the romance either. It was little details here and there that added up and made me annoyed and frustrated.
I can't say how different or similar it is to the previous books. It is hitting differently for me at present and it's definitely not the book for me but it might work better for other fans of the series.

[N.G. Peltier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really happy to get approved for an ARC of this. I loved the previous books in the series.

Before I jump into talking about this one I want to point out that in the beginning of the book the heroine does make reference twice to "lady parts" Begging authors once again to be mindful of this phrasing. It can be very hurtful to your trans readers. It's 2022, if you've been paying attention you should know by now why you should just jettison this from your vocab.

Now, I absolutely adored Angel, my big softy! He was sweet and sexy. I get Deanna, I really do. She couldn't help but fall for him.

I really liked the MCs together. They felt like real, multi-faceted people with flaws and anxieties and fears. The scenes where they just talk things out really stood out to me. They let the other know the things they didn't like and worked out their boundaries.

I think this maybe my first book where the setting is in the midst of covid and I think the author handled this well.

Everything wrapped up perfectly in the end!

[Felicia Davin]

I haven’t read very many contemporaries that deal with the pandemic—as far as I can remember, just this one and Jodie Slaughter’s To Be Alone With You—but it makes sense that Mia Hopkins would do it and do it right. So much of this series, set in East Los Angeles, is about how people survive and thrive in this specific Latinx community, and while the focus is on joy, Hopkins doesn’t elide the hardships. The presentation of the pandemic feels very real. Angel and Deanna both remake their lives over the course of the book, finding themselves and each other and new ways to be with their families, and it’s really wonderful and wholesome. And yes, I am deliberately using the word “wholesome” about a book that includes a lot of beautifully written kinky sex, because this book’s outlook on love—caring for yourself and others, making the world a little bit better however you can—deserves exactly that description.

Content guidance: My memory isn’t good enough at the moment to make a complete list, just wanted to note that there is past physical abuse by family members and intimate partners.

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Y'all I really liked Thirsty and Trashed. And I can't tell you the number of times I've looked for updates on when Tanked would be released. I mean, I read Trashed in the summer of 2019 and we got a snippet of Deanna and Angel then, so it's been years that I've been looking for their book to be released. So of course I immediately bought it when I saw there was a release date. I was so excited to read it, but I have had to push myself to get through this book. The story itself isn't bad, but I guess for me books are an escape. This is the first contemporary romance I've picked up that really dealt with covid in the storyline and it made it so hard for me to read this book (and maybe that's because I work it healthcare, idk). Everytime, I'd start to get into it there was a reminder of the pandemic and it'd just ruin it for me. I mean I think the whole covid aspect could be wiped and that I would have enjoyed the book more. Sal and Vanessa could have gotten a stomach bug and missed the conference. It didn't have to be covid. Carmen's parents could have passed from anything, it again didn't have to be covid. The meet cute reunion didn't have to be about covid vaccines. I also felt like we should have heard and seen more of Deanna's family. I felt like her family drama was built up, but never really played out to the full extent that it could have been. I would definitely read another book by Mia Hopkins in the future as long as she doesn't resort to using covid for conflict. I really hope other authors aren't doing this either, cause I need my escapes! 😥

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanked by Mia Hopkins
Eastside Brewery #3

Loved sliding back seamlessly into this series! Stayed up after the electricity cut to start it because…I could not put it down!

What I liked:
* Angel Rosas: fighter, survivor, brother, hard worker, reads people well, story teller, empathetic, caring, community and family oriented, HOT, caring, great for and with Deanna
* Deanna Delgado: social worker, community and people oriented, believes in what she does, strong, independent, caring, sees needs of others, great for and with Angel
* Seeing how Angel’s brothers and their families are doing
* The Pandemic aspect of the story and how it impacts the characters in the story
* The setting – I grew up in Los Angeles County and all the places were familiar
* Watching the relationship develop between Angel and Deanna
* The family presence and importance in the story
* The supporting characters that added flavor and substance
* The cultural aspects
* The diversity of characters
* Getting to know a bit more about fighting and underground fight clubs
* The way the age gap was dealt with in the story
* The fortuitous meeting of both Jules Carlos and how it impacted the outcome of the story
* That potential triggers were mentioned in the beginning to readers would be aware
* Wondering if there might be another book in the series – it is the Eastside Brewery and not the Rosas series so???

What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about the all too real backstories of some of the characters and how much they had to contend with
* Having to say goodbye to the characters

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sad that this is the last book in this series. I liked seeing how these guys took the second chance they were given and made something of it. I really liked Angel from the start, but thought he was getting shafted by his brothers. They used him as a work horse, called him family, but he was just outside that circle, not really brought in. I don't think any of them realized it or did it intentionally, it's just how things worked out when covid hit their world.

I really appreciated the real world view of covid in this book, the struggle of keeping the business alive was real and made me wish I could help. I also liked seeing how Deanna's family business dealt with covid, again it seemed real and made you wish you could shop there to help.

I wasn't sure about Deanna and Angel together, they seemed to not match, but as things went on they were perfect for each other. The other was able to boost each other up, they were there for them, showed them a different way to see things.

The ending made me happy, loved seeing the Brewery thrive and become such an integral part of the community, also loved seeing Angel and Deanna living their lives happy.

[Debbie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. 6 stars.

This is the best COVID-19 representation I have seen in a book. By far. It’s not even close really. The fact that the underground fight club was checking vaccination status!! Like this super alpha men did not want to fuck with COVID.

COVID in this book is also serious. It’s heavy. Many lives in this Latino family have been lost to COVID. It made me think about my hometown in Belen, NM and how hard Belen was hit by COVID. I appreciate the care Mia Hopkins took writing about COVID.

This is also a beautiful book about generations trauma and family bonds.

I was so impressed by the growth of Deanna in this book. Her experience with Angel allowed her to right by her former social worker clients.

I absolutely loved the romance here. It felt so natural.

Notes: Takes please in East LA, CA. Deanna is middle class and Latina. Angel is a poor formerly incarcerated Latino.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, that was H-O-T. I adored returning to the Eastside Brewery world (this is book 3 in the series!) although given the time gap between the first two books and this one, I do feel like this could be read as a standalone. The pandemic setting of Tanked make this unique in the romance world in that the pandemic was depicted so sensitively and realistically with zero drama, but all of the complications and nuance. Hopkins does an excellent job throughout the series highlighting the shades of gray in our society when it comes to the law vs. humanity and I adored how that was drawn out in this book as well. Please note that this book has a lot of complex emotional and societal themes but it's also STEAMY. If you are a shy bedroom reader, just be prepared!

Source: Purchased Kindle copy

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hard to rate. I loved Angel and his character arc especially. However, the plot revolves around the COVID pandemic and it was really hard to read. Every time they put on a mask or took a rapid test, it pulled me out of the story, and it started feeling performative.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mia Hopkins. RTC

[Maida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series ender is very current and relevant and worth the three-year wait. Mia's integration of the pandemic in Angel and Deanna's story is super realistic and seamless in a way that enriches the background and provides tension without being too heavy to cause distress in the reader. Tanked tells an incredibly sexy, edgy yet soft, and highly evocative wrap-up to the Rosas Brothers saga. With its dual PoV, a departure from the two previous books, this is my favorite of the series.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked on this book. I binged this in one setting. I love all the characters and there relationships between them. I loved Angel and Deanna relationship.I loved how it was a present day romance that talked and dealt with Covid. You don’t see that in romance. I really enjoyed this read and recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Mia Hopkins for this ARC

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So great to be back in the world of Eastside Brewery! This installment marks a departure from the series in two important ways: it’s dual POV and it’s set during the pandemic.

Angel and Deanna were compelling characters, both feeling lonely and a bit desperate due to their humdrum current circumstances. There was great angst potential but the story quickly lost that thread once their paths crossed again, three years after Deanna ghosted him post-one night stand. She’s a little reticent and wary at first but before long, it’s chemistry and steam city and the book became more focused on external conflicts.

Whereas the first two books had solely male POV, this book is dual and I found Deanna’s perspective to be underdeveloped. There are a lot of threads that either don’t go anywhere or remain unresolved. I wanted more interiority, more about their hunger and loneliness, more focus on their emotional arcs, but I ultimately really enjoyed both characters. Angel’s characterization remained strong, even if he got put into situations that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. (The resolution of the warrant issue was ridiculous.) I at least had a good sense of who he was and what he wanted.

As excited as I was about the next book in this series, I wasn’t sure how it would work for me, given that it’s set during the pandemic. I’ve read several romances that have acknowledged COVID-19 in some way and this is by far the best, by a landslide. Deanna and Angel reconnect when he goes to get his booster shot, which happens to be a clinic held in the building where Deanna works. The story does not shy away from the many ways these characters have been affected, from the way restrictions affect the bar (quickly needing to develop a patio for outdoor seating) to the death of loved ones to the flurry of activity when someone (not the MCs) tests positive. It also examines the way racism factors into these conditions, since the pandemic has hit communities very differently. Angel and Deanna are both vaccinated but they’re also in the world, whether at work or going to grab a drink, and so we get references to them putting their masks on, feeling nervous about being in crowds, and showing proof of vaccination. It was helpful to read a story that reflected our lived reality. (However, COVID wasn’t capitalized in the book, which goes against all style guide recommendations. I would have even accepted Covid, which is wrong but frequently used. That really bothered me every time it appeared on page.)

One concern I had was never fully addressed—it may not matter to many others but I used to be a licensed clinical social worker so it matters to me. It’s not clear whether Deanna is a social worker or caseworker. The terms are used interchangeably but they’re very different jobs. Deanna has an MSW but she doesn’t seem to be licensed, in which case she’s not a social worker. Her job title matters because it’s important to know what professional ethics guidelines she’s following, since she used to be the caseworker for Angel’s brother. She isn’t anymore but it’s not clear how long ago that was. I wish the story had at least acknowledged the professional ethics of sleeping with former client’s brother or frequenting his bar. Even as a caseworker, it’s probably not a great idea, not without explicit boundary setting and possibly even a conversation with Eddie about his comfort level. There’s a real power differential in place and that needed to be addressed. There’s enough gray area that I was able to go with it but I still wanted to take Deanna aside and do some clinical supervision.

Lastly, it’s worth noting Deanna’s neighbor is trans. Unfortunately, this book contained a lot of gender essentialism. I enjoyed her character but I’m cis and the gender essentialism was jarring for me, making for an odd contrast. I would advise trans nonbinary readers to exercise caution as a result.

Characters: Deanna is a 31 year old Mexican American employment office caseworker who wears glasses. She has two bulldogs named Funfetti and Meatball. Angel is a 24 year old Mexican American cellarperson and production assistant at the family brewery and a boxer/underground fighter. This is set in LA.

Content notes: COVID-19 (including family members getting mild cases), past intimate partner violence (FMC left the first time he hit her and hasn’t seen him since; he does not reappear in this story), needles (vaccination shot), postpartum depression (secondary character), body shame (countered), fatshaming by FMC’s mom (not really called out), toxic mother, interaction with law enforcement/legal system (MMC is arrested for trespassing and then released. He learns the outstanding warrant on him that caused him to leave town was minor. FMC is contacted by agent about a former client who is on the run), car break-in (FMC’s former client breaks into her car in order to talk to her undetected), underground fighting/illegal fight club, past child physical abuse (MMC’s uncle was his caregiver), past teen homelessness (MMC left home at 17 so he wouldn’t have to deal with his uncle anymore), past death of MMC’s mom and sister (car accident), past microaggressions, classism, FMC works with formerly incarcerated clients, trans secondary character who had recent facial feminization surgery, unemployment (FMC is laid off), vomit (anxiety), past death of secondary character’s parents (COVID and pneumonia), past juvenile delinquent, past death of grandmother/caregiver, past substance abuse (father), workplace vandalism, illegal fireworks (no injuries), on page sex, bondage, impact play, anal play, phone sex, edging, sex toys, unprotected sex (he doesn’t finish in her; no pregnancy results), alcohol, inebriation, cigar, marijuana (secondary character), drug references, “lady parts” as euphemism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, mention of human trafficking (secondary character smuggled two families over the US border), reference to secondary character whose grandma has cancer, reference to pregnant secondary character, reference to past robberies at work


*Buddy read with Hannah!

[Felicia Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really, really liked this book. Angel and Deanna had a one-night stand in the prologue (though you only get to witness them meeting, not sex, but that is very much made up for later which some fabulously hot and sexy sex scenes, full of chemistry passion, experimentation and fire, like you could expect anything less than Mia Hopkins--like seriously, amazing sex. Not the only amazing part of the book but amazing).

Anyway, story, back to story. It's a one night stand, not by his choice by hers. Later we learn she was just getting out of an abusive relationships (though she's scared to admit it and initially tells him everything from the seven year age difference--she's older--to the idea that they are in different places in their lives etc.). Anyway, they run into each other when they are getting their vaccine doses and she passes out. He takes care of her, and, after learning that she is being laid off with the only immediate job offer meaning leaving the community she loves and believes in helping, she turns to him.

Angel works for his Eastside Brewery older brothers. They didn't grow up together and in certain ways they don't know him and see him more as young and unseasoned. But he is a strong survivor with amazing instincts and a few secrets in his past (ones which are not his fault but he fears). He is perceptive and strong and exactly right for Deanna as they each grow into themselves and the relationship.

There's a bit of heavy stuff in this book (see the content warnings) but it's handled well and mixed in to the story in a way that is natural, i.e., it shows their lives and their world and makes them more real. The world and the choices they and their families make (and who they become because of them and the different paths they take) are well drawn and again, add to who they are and how they navigate their lives and each other, grounding the story and making it fuller. The characters and couples from earlier in the series do not cloud, they add.

Anyway, I thought this book was just excellent. Hot and intense and real, and just really well-done. Highly, highly, recommended. Thank you NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

They found love in a hopeless place...

In the long wait since Trashed, there was every reason to believe Angel's story wouldn't live up to Eddie (Trashed) or Sal (Thirsty). We'd only seen a hint of the younger brother, and the years since the Rosas brothers' stories have been hell on the world, not to mention authors. Mia Hopkins did something truly amazing with Angel: she made the covid-19 pandemic its own character, one that refused to be ignored as it battered the Rosas family. It was already an ugly, harsh, unfair world when Angel and Deanna had their first one-night stand three years ago, then the pandemic tried to break down everything around them. That Angel and Deanna found each other again, when both were at their most beaten and vulnerable, that they found strength to hold onto something tender, beautiful, and worth fighting made this more than a romance - it was an ode to survival. They found love in a hopeless place, and it was a wonderful final chapter for the Rosas.

See the full review on my blog Lucky Reads Romance.

5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[T. Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I enjoyed the first two books in this series and have waited patiently for the third and final book. Tanked focused on Sal and Eddie's baby brother, Angel. He was the brother that was sent away to live with relatives after their mother died. The story utilized one of my favorite tropes (ym/ow) and Angel was the lovely younger man.

It's inevitable to want to compare books in a series, but especially stories that are tightly connected like these books via family, community, and careers. What was different in Angel's story was his background. It was still fraught with some disadvantages, but he sidestepped the gang affiliations and incarcerations that his brothers endured. Sal and Eddie's stories were strong because of their histories and overcoming, but their romances were lacking a bit. Angel's romantic storyline was stronger and had two developed narratives between him and Deanna. I did enjoy seeing the brothers and their families regularly inserted into the story, as well as also witnessing Deanna's family dynamics.

Surprisingly, the age difference wasn't really a conflict in the story. Their separate conflicts were between them and their families. The separate conflicts were similar and therefore, Angel and Deanna could relate to and advocate for each other. This made for an easier and lighter angst romance.

My only real issue with this book was the sex scenes. Of course, this is subjective, but I want those scenes to feel organic and they didn't always feel like that here.

In the end, this story was lighter in tone than the previous books, but the overall story felt more developed between both Angel and Deanna, as well as their separate narratives. I really enjoyed the ending.

[mood_reading_maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

－ＢＯＯＫ ＲＥＶＩＥＷ－
Tanked by Mia Hopkins

This series 😍 The last of the Rosas brothers! While Thirsty and Trashed emphasized redemption stories for Sal and Eddie, Tanked focuses on visibility through Angel and Deanna. Taking place in the same East LA neighborhood as the previous books, the most significant difference is the active COVID landscape. And with that comes a lot of weight, grief, sadness, and yearning. The brewery is struggling financially. Concerns over safety protocols are ever present. Sickness and death have left an indelible impression on all these characters. What I appreciated most was all of this was treated with care.

Angel and Deanna had a sizzling one night stand three years prior to their unexpected reunion at a community vaccination clinic. Together they forge paths forward - reimagining their professional ambitions and navigating both physical and emotional connections. They are also both striving for visibility, Angel with his brothers as a contributor to the business, and Deanna as more than just a do good social worker to her family. Their relationship progresses naturally and with great communication. While they experience conflict, they work through it with maturity. This is grown folks romance and I am here for it!