Guestreview by Dan
TITLE: The Hookup
SERIES: Firsts and Forever Stories #13
AUTHOR: Alexa Land
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2025
BLURB:
My family has given me an ultimatum—get married or kiss my inheritance goodbye.
What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas
When Ryder and I met in Las Vegas, both of us were clear about one thing—this was just a hookup, nothing more.
Neither of us was looking for a relationship. Besides, we came from totally different worlds. I was an aspiring fashion designer from San Francisco, and he was a cowboy running a horse rescue in rural Texas.
Even so, that Sin City hookup led to another. And another.
We know we should stop before someone gets hurt. But every time we get together, every time he holds me and touches me and whispers my name, I find myself wondering—is there any world where Ryder and I could make this work? Or were we right from the start, and is an occasional hookup the best we can ever hope for?
This low-angst, opposites attract gay romance is part of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Stories collection. It features a dual point of view, and it can be read as a stand-alone.
REVIEW:
When Dani messaged me the other day and asked if I would review the latest Alexa Land book, she knew I’d cave and agree, even though I told her last time that it was the last time! I’ve never read anything by this woman that I didn’t like, and I was positive this wouldn’t be the first.
Another tale from that wacky found family in the Pink Victorian. This time we are focusing on Hal, who is nearly at the end of his fashion design degree but has absolutely no idea what to create for his final project. He needs to create a collection that will debut at a fashion show tied to the end of the program. His ideas are all stale and he has no idea how to move past the creative block. This story was running partially concurrent with the story in The Loophole, so what better way to move past a block than to take off Las Vegas with his roommate the fake groom in the previous story on an all-expense paid mini-vacation. Hal, though, isn’t a party animal. He is uncomfortable in crowded bars but is talked into going along for a wild night out. As fate would have it, that gay rugby club from Texas is in the club, and one of them sends a picture of them dancing with Hal and his friends to their team captain, Ryder, who also isn’t a bar guy. When Ryder sees the photo of the stunning ex-model, he quickly travels to the club and within minutes is wrapped up in a conversation with Hal, and then it is off to grab something to eat. Well, that didn’t work, and one thing leads to another. Was this supposed to be only a hookup? Not in Ms. Land’s stories!
No more spoilers. I totally enjoyed the long-distance relationship building between the two men, and as with all of Ms. Land’s stories, things magically work out and everyone always gets a happy ending. I really enjoyed this story. My only complaint… I’m missing Nana. I need more Nana D!
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
Thank you so much!