#ARC Review || Worked Up By Tessa Bailey || Warm and Fuzzy Feelings

Worked Up by Tessa Bailey
ARC via Entangled
This did not influence my review or opinion
Goodreads || Amazon 
Published August 1, 2016

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.


As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?

I’m a mood reader, and this book was exactly what I was looking for.

WORKED UP by Tessa Baily caught my eye first on NetGalley, then in the email I received from the publisher offering up a review copy. After reading the summary I was like COME TO MAMA. To put it lightly. I really, really enjoyed this book. That was also put lightly. Then I downloaded it onto my GORGEOUS aqua and purple Kindle and read the author’s note. . .safe to say that’s when I fell in love and decided that I needed all book ever written/ will be written by Tessa Bailey.

I would just like to say ma’am, you’re amazing. You deserve a theme song. I love you.

SO THE BOOK WAS AWESOME. LIKE SUPER CUTE AND INCREDIBLY LAUGHABLE. Duke and Samantha were characters that matched each other’s patters so well. Not like mirror, but as in their personalities complimented the others. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this many puns. It is actually the best thing ever. Duke and Samantha are incredibly well fleshed-out characters. I felt comfortable with them, and like I knew them.

So what is WORKED UP actually about?

Well, Samantha’s in Hook to meet her brother, head of the industry in town, but before she’s able to she runs into Duke. Duke is not the typical romance hero—not in looks (he’s a working guy who isn’t chiseled with a six-pack…. it’s about time), and not in personality. At first. As we get to know him more, we all realize that everyone in the world needs one. Samantha puts it very adequately when she mentions all the buses being packed if people knew that Duke was there. People would indeed flock.

(except for my best friend, who would find him let-me-help-you actions more offensive than anything else, even though she reminds me pretty much To A Tee of Samantha personality-wise)

Back to Duke and Samantha. So Duke is Duke (you’ll have to get to know more about when you read the book; I don’t want to reveal too much!) and Samantha is well…Samantha. They’re both afraid of commitment. Samantha is a children’s book illustrator who dreams of running her own business. She is actually the sweetest.

With the premise of the book—and yes, I’m talking the fake marriage—I expected her to be devious. At least a little bit. But she is actually the nicest human being on the planet. Another reason she compliments gruff yet romantic Duke. (can you hear my dreamy sigh. I heard my dreamy sigh.)

Say no to devious females, yes to a-typical romance heroes, and yes learning how to trust and love and what it means to have someone by your side. WORKED UP is all about getting up and putting yourself back together, and a little bit about figuring out what you really need. The steam fogging up my reading glasses due to the sexual tension radiating off of the two main characters wasn’t bad either.

So if you’re wondering if I could put my feeling for this book into song, well, I can. This book is dancing away with my heart. I recommend buying a copy ASAP. You won’t regret it.