Fix Her Up

by Tessa Bailey

[Sam@WLABB]

This was my first Tessa Bailey book, but it certainly won't be my last! I loved the setup, I loved the execution, and I loved the ending to this fun and fabulous romance.

Who?

• Georgie Castle - A professional clown, who wanted nothing more than to be respected and regarded as an adult by her family and the rest of Port Jefferson.

• Travis Ford - Retired from professional baseball at the ripe age of 28 due to an injury, he returned to his hometown licking his wounds and feeling sorry for himself.

What?

Tired of his moping around, Georgie delivered a wake-up call to Travis via a one-sided food fight. After returning to life outside of his apartment, Travis discovered he was shortlisted for a sportscaster position, but they were not interested in his bad boy image. Seeing it as a win-win, Georgie suggested they embark on a fauxmance, which could clean up his image, while also making her look like a grown women to those inside and outside her circle. This may have simultaneously been Georgie's best and worst idea to date.

Why?

Bailey threw so many of my favorite romance things in this book, it was impossible for me to not love it.

I am always up for a good fauxmance, and this being between lifelong friends made it that much better. Georgie had been in love with Travis since she hit puberty, even if he had never noticed, because she was just his best friend's little sister. That moment, when he finally saw Georgie the grownup was a wonderful thing. I felt my mouth slowing curving up as the filter of the past cleared, and he recognized the Georgie, who was right in front of him.

And, can we talk about Georgie. I swear! I heard the dulcet tones of "Georgy Girl" every time she was on page. She was sunshine and rainbows, and I could not resist her charm. It was instant adoration, which only grew the more I got to know her. How could you not love someone, who wanted to bring joy to other people? I was very excited that Bailey allowed us to see her in action as a clown too, because it just made me love her more.

It was also fantastic seeing her and Travis form a team. I was very frustrated with the way Georgie's family treated her, therefore, when Travis stood beside her and stood up for her, I was cheering. Not only because it was nice to see someone fight for her, but because it was that little push, that led Georgie to tap into what was always inside of her. That little nudge helped her mend some relationships and start taking steps towards making her dreams a reality.

The partnership was not one-sided, though. Travis wasn't just wounded by the loss of his career, he was dealing with the baggage of his childhood, as well as the hurt of being treated as a "thing" there to amuse and entertain people. He was tired of the hurt, the hero worship, and of people not seeing him as worthy, but he was lucky, because he had Georgie by his side. She believed in him, loved him, and supported him.

I found this be a really wonderful story of two people, who were good on their own, but stupendous together. It was a great way to kick off this new series, and I am excited to return to Port Jeff for more of their stories.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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