ARC Review: Rock Solid by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

I have really enjoyed this series from Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde. Each Book Boyfriend book is a standalone, though I recommend all of them. Rock Solid was just as good as if not better than all the previous books in this series. Everything that I have read from them has been something I've enjoyed and I think readers will really enjoy Connor and Katie's story. 

Connor Prescott doesn't do one night stands but when he gets snowed in at the airport and meets a sexy stranger, he makes an exception. But after a steamy night together, Connor wants more. When he discovers that she is gone, he never expects to see her again. Years later she shows back up and shocks him when she tells him that he is a dad. 

I loved the characters here. This series has had great characters from the start and Connor and Katie were no exception. They were easy to like and relate to. Both of their lives changed with one night together, and I loved seeing them figure things out. They definitely didn't have it easy, and there were ups and downs as they adjusted to their new lives. But I thought that they had great chemistry and enjoyed seeing them build a connection. I loved their little girl too. I didn't want to put this one down. 

Overall, this story was another great one from this duo. Carly and Erika write well together, and their stories are always seamless. It feels like thees two have been writing together forever, and I have loved everything I've read from them. It was great to catch up a bit with past characters and I always like to see familiar faces. This series is one that I have enjoyed from the very beginning, and I highly recommend these books. If you are looking for a solid romance read that is filled with well thought out and likable characters, Rock Solid and the rest of the Book Boyfriend series are ones you won't want to miss.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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ARC Review: Faking It by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Faking It is the second book in the Book Boyfriend series by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde. Each book is a standalone story and you do not need to read them in order to enjoy. I have yet to be disappointed by these two authors, and Faking It was just as good as I had been hoping for. I genuinely enjoyed reading this one from start to finish and I didn't want to put this book down once I had started. 

As a matchmaker for a living Hailey Ellison knows that she needs to project a certain image to be taken seriously by clients, which is why she wears an engagement ring while not actually being with anyone. Max Sterling is her real estate agent who has been drawn to her since they met, though he knows he needs to stay away believing that she is someone else's. But when he finds out that she is not actually engaged and needs his help in convincing a client that she is, he jumps at the opportunity to pretend that she is his fiance. Max has been trying to get rid of a persistent woman that won't take no for an answer, so he views it as the perfect chance for both of them to help each other out. He also knows that he won't be satisfied until they explore the connection and attraction between them that has been there from the start. But what happens when their fake relationship suddenly starts to feel very real? 

I really loved Max and Hailey! These two were perfect for one another and I loved that they had such a strong connection. Hailey had some insecurities that ran deep, and Max was exactly what she needed. Showing her that he found her attractive and that what they had was real helped her to see that she was beautiful just as she was. Max was sweet and sexy, and I loved that while he had been a bachelor for so long, it was just because he had been waiting for Hailey. He was all in with her and it was so refreshing to see him really embrace that. Hailey was sweet and caring and super easy to like. She was the kind of girl that you would love to be friends with in real life. She was just a good person that you couldn't help but root for! The chemistry between these two was so intense and it just made it that much more powerful because of the connection they shared. 

Overall, this one was so much fun to read and I just loved the characters. Sweet and sexy, this book had it all. I didn't want to put it down once I had started, and it was everything I had been hoping for and more. Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde make a fantastic writing team, and this book is one that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read more from these two, and I know that Faking It is one I will reread again in the future.

**ARC Provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Big Shot by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

I'm a Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde fan so I was excited to see these two authors team up. I wasn't sure about this specific book because it had a very contemporary romance feel and I like something with a little more grit but I should've known not to play these two authors short. This is total contemporary romance but I love the couple, I love the frienemy edge and I just enjoyed this story.

Wes and Natalie are real estate brokers and are constantly in competition with one another. Natalie has been getting the best of Wes so they decide to make things interesting with a bet. If Natalie loses the bet, she has to spend two weeks at Wes' beck and call. And of course Natalie loses the bet which is good for all of us. Once Natalie has to start spending time with Wes, neither of them can deny that underneath their rivalry has been a constant attraction. Natalie thinks Wes is just not into her. But in reality Wes has been repressing his feelings for Natalie because she is the little sister of his best friend. Natalie quickly finds out how wrong she is about Wes but she's not sure that he wants her for anything more than a fling. For Wes' part, he's convinced that Natalie doesn't think he could be the long term commitment family man that she is looking for. For the first time, Wes feels unsure of himself with a woman.

I always think romance stories are more interesting when the characters have realistic issues. I was fascinated by the way that Natalie's attempts to protect herself from getting hurt sent all the wrong messages to Wes. I also liked that for as cocky as Wes was, Natalie was able to get the best of him in business and in love. I was thoroughly entertained by this book. I recommend this one for a quick fun read.

**ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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ARC Review: Dirty Sexy Cuffed by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Dirty Sexy Cuffed is the third book in Dirty Sexy series by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone, but the books are connected. I haven't read the first book in the series, but I really enjoyed the second book and was excited to read more about these sexy Kincaids! This was another great book from these two, and I already can't wait for more from them! 

Levi Kincaid is known for being the quiet younger Kincaid brother and as a cop he prefers control in all aspects of his life. Then he meets Sarah Robins and she changes everything. Though Levi wants Sarah, her past has her not looking for anything more. But after Levi witnesses a hold up at her store, he ends up getting hurt while protecting her. After seeing how far Levi would go for her, Sarah agrees to go on a date with him. When Sarah starts to let her guard down and let Levi in, he becomes more determined than ever to show Sarah that there are good guys out there and that he is worth taking a chance on. But can he get her to see that she can trust him after all that she has been through?

I absolutely loved Levi! He is protective and alpha, but so caring and sweet. He was great with Sarah, and I really loved how he was understanding and so determined to show her what real men are like. Sarah was on the run and doing her best to move forward with her life. She was easy to like and I loved her for Levi. They had a great connection and the chemistry between them was off the charts. I loved that she was on board with Levi's desires and I thought that they were super sexy together! Levi knew when to push and when to back off, and I just couldn't get enough of them and the connection they were building. 

Overall, this was a great story. It had everything that you could want in a great romance story, with plenty of sweetness, heat, and action to keep you turning the pages. If you are a fan of the series already, there were some really great moments with familiar faces. If you are new to the series though, you can easily enjoy this one without feeling lost. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish, and I highly recommend it! I look forward to reading more from these two and I can't wait to read the next in the series as well as go back and read the first one.

**ARC Provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Dirty Sexy Inked by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Dirty Sexy Inked is the second book in the Dirty Sexy series from Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde. Each book is a standalone story with interconnected characters. I hadn't read the previous book in the series before starting this one, and I had no problems understanding anything. This book was a lot of fun and I really liked Katrina and Mason together. 

Katrina Sands is tired of watching her best friend Mason Kincaid go through an endless stream of women, and knows that as soon as they return home after the wedding of Mason's brother and Katrina's friend that she needs to make some changes to her life. But when a hot night in Vegas leads to them hooking up, both Katrina and Mason know that their relationship has been forever changed and that there is no going back to just being friends. 

I really liked these two. They had a strong connection right from the start, and I loved that they had so much history. Mason had always looked out for her and was determined to be her protector. I loved how close they were, and yet I hated that both of them had wanted more from each other but had always been too scared to admit their feelings. Katrina was smart and sweet, and I she was really easy to like and relate to. Mason and Katrina had so much chemistry between them, and their years of friendship while they each wanted more had built up so much tension between them. I couldn't believe that nothing had happened before with all the sparks flying between these two! 

While I did like the characters and the story, I did feel like Mason's complete transformation from manwhore to knowing Katrina was the one and only for him seemed to happen extremely fast. It was almost as if a switch had been flipped, and I just didn't find that realistic here. I still really liked the book though, and I can't wait to read Levi's story next as well as go back to read Clay's story also. If you like some steam with your contemporary romance, this is definitely a friends to lovers story worth taking a chance on! I look forward to reading more from Erika Wilde and Carly Phillips in the future.

**ARC Provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Dirty Sexy Saint by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

I’ve read a few of Carly Phillips books before and I know that she does not disappoint. One of the reasons that I enjoy her books so much is because her characters always have the best chemistry. I have to admit there have bene books where I did not love the story line but the tension between the characters made a big difference. Erika Wilde has been on my to-read list forever and just the busyness of life and a packed reviewing schedule have stopped me from reading her work, so needless to say when I saw “Dirty Sexy Saint” I jumped at the chance to review.

This story does not disappoint. I could not put it down and I loved both the hero and the heroine. Clay Kincaid was a great hero. He was intense and broken but easily very likeable. One of my huge pet peeves is when men are portrayed as bad boys and their really just immature jerks. Clay was the perfect combination of wounded but redeemable. I loved him and found him to be very sexy. Not do be outdone by Clay, Samantha Jamieson was a great heroine. I really liked her even though she was very rough around the edges. When Samantha stumbles into Clay’s bar he can’t turn his back on her. Clay is nicknamed “Saint” because he is known for always giving those in need a helping hand, and Samanth or “Cupcake” as she is nicknamed.

This book was intense and steamy and very, ultimately satisfying. I loved the creativity of the story and the very different backgrounds that brought Saint and cupcake together. This was the type of book where you can’t wait to finish it because you want to see how the story unfolds yet at the same time you can’t help but feel bummed because it’s finished and you miss the characters. The only compensation to this type of scenario is the knowledge that this sis the first in a series. Both Wilde and Phillips write a fantastic love story of triumph and perseverance. I can’t wait for “ Diry Sexy Inked” the next book!

**ARC Provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Playing with Seduction by Erika Wilde

This is book #3 in the Players Club series. I've read each of the two preceding books but you don't need to read them to read this one. Each book is a standalone and you can start anywhere in the series. Wilde's series is one of the most reliable ones that I've read. You can count on the books to deliver strong characters, an interesting relationship and some hot sex. This book definitely fits in the series.

This book is different than the other two in the series because it features a heroine, Kendall who is 8 years older than the Hero, Jase. Kendall is 35 years old and recovering from a significant betrayal by her ex-husband. Jase is a model who volunteers for sexy photo shoots in which Kendall is the photographer in the hopes that he can get closer to Kendall. Jase is ex-military and didn't really have a life plan until he met Kendall. The conflict between Kendall and Jase arises because Jase isn't sure about the long term and that's the only thing Kendall is sure about.

So you're probably asking, what about the club? Kendall gets an anonymous invitation to the club and in an interesting twist, she decides to go so she can get Jase out of her head. Luckily for us, Jase is actually the person who invites Kendall to the club and this is where things get really good. Kendall and Jase have an intensity to both their emotional and physical connection that really comes across in the author's writing. I really enjoyed watching Kendall and Jase both be caught of guard by the strength of their connection and to struggle through the implications of it.

The only reason this book wasn't more like 4 stars for me is because all of the intensity between Jase and Kendall that makes the story good was confined to the steamy scenes. When the two were not in hot and sweaty mode, I didn't really feel much of a connection between them and sometimes it wasn't even clear why they were together. I really liked both Kendall and Jase as characters. The author did a good job with both of them, the only problem is that I'm not sure I like them together as much as I like their individual depiction. The last reason I gave this book the rating that I did is because it had that thing that drives me crazy- an abrupt ending. There was conflict building in the book and then suddenly everything is just wrapped up neatly and the book ends. All of that being said, I still recommend this book. It is a fun fast read with a dominant male hero and a heroine who knows what the hell she wants. I enjoyed this book and will keep reading the series.

**ARC provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Playing With Pleasure by Erika Wilde

This is my second book by Erika Wilde and the second book in the Player's Club series. The books are total stand alones and you don't need to read Book #1 to read this one. For those of you who are just tuning in, the Player's Club is a sex club where...players go to do sex stuff, mkay. Paige goes to the Player's Club to snap herself out of the relationship funk she fell into after breaking up with Sawyer and who does she run into? You guessed it, Sawyer. Sawyer has regretted the clusterfuq that caused him to lose Paige and he's been using the club ever since for no strings attached kinky sex with strangers. When Sawyer sees Paige at the club he is immediately determined that if it's pleasure she wants, she's going to get it from him. As the book progresses Paige has to decide if she wants to trust Sawyer beyond just mere freaky hook ups. That's hard to do given the circumstances of the demise of their initial relationship.

I like the actual relationship between Sawyer and Paige. As they re-explore the possibilities of being together there seems to be a genuine connection between the two. Sawyer is committed to Paige and supports her in her professional endeavors. Paige also suffers from some self esteem issues that Sawyer is really good at dealing with. Sawyer offers Paige affirmation and helps her to see the things about herself that are good but that she seems to ignore.

The sex scenes in this book are also pretty good. Sawyer's particular kink involved ropes. I personally find all the ropes to be a little complicated. Like remember that cat's cradle game you played as kids? That's the visual I get from all the ropes, it just doesn't do anything for me but that's not the point. The sex scenes were still pretty good and enhanced the overall quality of the book.

Now, for what I really did not like. I did not like that Paige let her stepsister walk all over her without really standing up for herself. I just couldn't understand why after Paige's history with her stepsister she continued a relationship with her. I don't enjoy the punching bag type characters and that's the feeling Paige was giving me.

The other thing that I really don't like is that the situation which split Paige and Sawyer up was a criminal act but nobody in the book ever viewed it as such. There was no appropriate outrage over what happened and it really bothered me. If the roles had been reversed and Paige had been the one in the situation that Sawyer was in, I don't think anyone would have just overlooked it. I don't want to spoil what happens in the book even though it becomes clear pretty quickly. All I can tell you is that the depiction of the act and everyone's reaction to it really turned me off.

I think if the whole criminal thing had been depicted in a more serious way and not as just a random fluke, I could have given this book at least four stars. But because I hated how that issue was dealt with, I'm going with three stars. I still like this author, and other than that one issue I liked the book and I'm sure I'll read more by this author.

**ARC copy provided by RockStarLit PR**

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ARC Review: Playing With Temptation by Erika Wilde

PWT is a win for readers like me. This book has strong erotic content, an assertive female lead and an alpha male who knows how to bring out the best in her. To put the proverbial frosting on the cake, there is a mystery/suspense plot line that maybe isn't the most fleshed out but was still a good accompaniment to the plot. This is my first Erika Wilde book and I find myself wondering, where the hell have I been?

Brief summary: PWT is about Raina and Logan. Raina is the confident heroine who runs a successful business and a less than successful love life. Logan is my absolute favorite flavor of alpha man. Logan is an ex-marine who dominates in the bedroom but also provides security outside of the bedroom. More than just being passionate about his woman and sex life, Logan is passionate about and dedicated to his family and the people he loves. Logan and Raina meet and hook up at the Players Club, a sex club where Raina goes to spice up her decidedly unspicy life. Of course they connect sexually only to find out that Logan is assigned to protect Raina when a stalker threatens her safety. They then have to navigate between wanting to jump each others bones and the need to maintain a professional distance.

Ok, so normally I don't love sex club books. I don't like the idea of the leading couple having sexual interactions with other people. However, I can get past it when it's used in the plot the way it was in this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how mature the relationship between Raina and Logan was. Despite the...unusual beginning to their romance, Raina and Logan develop a real connection that is well depicted. Raina has some issues (who doesn't?) and often that can turn into a lot of unnecessary angst and melodrama in a plot line. That didn't happen here. Logan was the stabilizing force every woman dreams of when she is at the intersection of looney and bat shi% crazy.

I was expecting a book where Logan would free Raina in the bedroom. What I got was a book where that happened but he also had open and honest adult communication with Raina that helps us to understand the connection between the two characters. It was a little insta-lovey but I can totally deal with that when the relationship is actually developed throughout the book.

This was a really fast read for me because there was internal conflict in the relationship between Logan and Raina (they were holding back which unfolded through out the book) and external conflict in terms of the situation with the stalker. In both cases, there was something to keep you turning the pages.

I know you count on me to tell you about the sex scenes and I would not disappoint you. The sex scenes were smoking HAWT and well depicted. This is the first book in this series and I can guarantee you I will be back to see what comes next!

**ARC provided by RockStarLit PR**

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