Wrenches, Regrets, & Reality Checks by L.A. Witt (2nd Edition)

L.A. Witt - Wrenches, Regrets, & Reality Checks CoverTitle: Wrenches, Regrets & Reality Checks

Series: Wrench Wars 03

Author: L.A. Witt

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short (67pgs)

ISBN: 978-1-63477-386-7

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (31st August 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 – 3 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie, Lisa & Aerin

Blurb: When Reggie’s garage became part of a popular reality show, business went through the roof. And he supposes having his shop in the black is a fair trade for jumping through the network’s hoops.

As the show’s lowest-ranking producer, Wes is tasked with proposing a new spin-off show to Reggie. The sexy mechanic makes him sweat on a normal day, but this time, Wes is holding cards he can’t show. With execs breathing down his neck, he’s expected to pitch a show Reggie will never agree to do, even if his rejection puts his existing show on the line.

The network is counting on Reggie refusing to sign. But they’re not counting on their messenger falling for the man they’re trying to fire.

First Edition published by Amber Quill Press, 2015.

Purchase Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/wrenches-regrets-reality-checks-by-la-witt-7394-b

Pixie’s Review: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts

Reggie has his own garage that appears on the popular reality show Wrench Wars, he’s happy with the way things are but whenever one of the TV producers turn up there’s usually gonna be a big headache in his future. Wes is the low ranking TV producer who has been tasked with giving Reggie the news that he has to take part in a spin-off show or his garage will get booted off the show, and he knows that his bosses are trying to stich Reggie up.

I liked this story and really enjoyed it, Reggie’s the macho man who just wants to be left alone to work on cars and Wes is the low key producer who wishes he wasn’t being used by his bosses to stich up the hunky garage owner. When these two meet the sparks fly and boy are they hot together! But Wes still has a job to do and Reggie has a contract he has to fulfil.

This is a cute story that brings to men together and begins something special between them, whether they’ll be able to make it work *shrugs* maybe we’ll find out how they’re doing in later books in the series. The actual storyline is pretty simple, Reggie is backed into a corner and he has to find a way out, Wes offers what advice he can (though he’s not supposed to) and Reggie comes up with an audacious plan that has the Networks plans backfiring.

I recommend this to those who love hot short stories, great characters, and a happy for now ending.   

Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

This really is a cute little story but one that I didn’t fall in love with. It is cute though. Reggie had been doing a popular reality show for a while however the ratings were going down. Due to the way his contract was written they could offer him a way to keep his show on line or breach of contract would make his show discontinued. He was totally lost with what to do, however the man who had brought him the spinoff show was someone that he had wanted to get to know, he just didn’t know Wes wanted the same thing.

Wes was told to offer Reggie the new spinoff show or tell him that his show that he was doing was going to be cancelled. The problem was Wes didn’t want to do it, although he did because it was his job. The major problem was he wants Reggie for himself. He knew Reggie wouldn’t do the show he was pitching to him; however he didn’t know it would be for the reason Reggie told the producers. Talk about shock of all shocks.  Although I do have to tell you when these two hook up it is full of passion and fire.  There is just a hint of true feelings in them.   

This story was like I said cute, however it left me hanging in a way I don’t like. I want the two to fall in love and live happily ever after and this story doesn’t do that exactly. I sure hope there is a book two to this, showing them going forward in their future.

Aerin’s Review: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Although it is part of a series, Wrenches, Regrets, & Reality Checks can be read as a standalone, much like the prior two books. Despite how much I loved the first book (and how much hope I had for this one as well), this was everything I know short stories to be: weak premise, underdeveloped characters, unconvincing romance between the main characters and worst of all… a barely there HFN.

Reggie and Wes’s story and interest in each other comes out of nowhere and ends pretty much in the same direction. The chemistry between them was unconvincing and underwhelming and although the sex was pretty hot, it didn’t blow me away because there were NO feelings involved.

I guess I needed more of everything; more character development, more interactions between Wes and Reggie, an epilogue or anything to show me these two have a future together and things worked out. To say I’m disappointed by that ending is putting it mildly.  

I’m not sure if this book puts an end to this series, but if there’s more in the future, they need to be more similar to the first book, because that I adored!