Zarley, once on her way to an Olympic Gold in gymnastics, is now an exotic dancer at not-quite a strip club. She's there to pay her way to a new future, but doesn't know what she wants that future to look like.
When she stumbles across the passed out body of the broken down, drunk stranger who has been in the back booth at the club every night she works, she takes a chance and makes sure he gets home okay.
Turns out this stranger is Reid McGrath, the former CEO of the prestigious tech company Plus. He's on the skids after being forced to leave the company for breaking his own "no assholes" rule. He doesn't know what to do with himself as forming the company with his best friends has consumed his entire existence, so much so he's never had a relationship, or sex. He's now consumed with the woman he knew as "Lux" but who turns out to be so much more.
Zarley only meant for it to be about showing Reid the ropes, but as she falls for him, she struggles to not also lose her own search for identity.

I at turns LOVED and hated this story, but overall it kept me captivated. The first third was just steamy to die for great, but the conflicting plot points between Zarley's search for a career and Reid's struggle to get his job back and become a better person went on FOREVER. Plus, there were about five climatic fights between Zarley and Reid that caused them to break it off, but then quickly come back together. It grew a bit exhausting.

There are a couple scandalous moments in this book - including some voyeurism and the inclusion of a third participant (albeit briefly) that while hot, felt a bit out of place? Also, there is a brief question of cheating if that bothers anyone.

Overall, enjoyable and I'm definitely reading the next books in the series. I loved the friendships.

This book was recommended to me as part of November 2018 #RomBkLove fest online as a trope I find it difficult to find - a virgin hero.

Once a gymnast until she broke her spine, Cara now dreams of designing and creating sultry costumes perfect for stage performers like her best friend Zarley, but must make ends meet by working as an online IT support specialist. She got the job with a good word from her best friend's boyfriend Reid, who runs the company along with his three friends.

When Cara is brought in to an intervention for Owen, one of the founders and the current CEO of Plus, she worries that her job and livelihood will be on the line, especially when she has to tell his colleagues that he is addicted to pain medication after experiencing his own traumatic spine injury when he was in an accident with a drunk driver.

Reid is aghast he has become just like every other addict in his family, is at first upset with Cara, but after his months in rehab comes to find she is his perfect match in many ways. Unfortunately for Reid not only did his injuries leave him with chronic back pain and troubles, he also has not been able to have an erection due to nerve damage.

Worried that as they begin to flirt and fall for one another that he can never be fully enough for her, especially since Cara is a virgin, Reid must confront his own demons to realize love isn't just about sex.

Besides the characters exploration into intimacy, there were also plot points regarding other power imbalances, including wealth and opportunity.

This was the first time I've ever read a romance novel featuring a hero who could not get an erection. There have been a few featuring performance difficulties, but nothing like this. I loved how Paton explored how Reid could still make love to Cara despite this, and how Cara also explored how she could help Reid achieve orgasm in a different way.


SPOILER

Spoiler

I have to say I was kind of hoping Reid would never be able to get an erection, but he does at the end and it seemed to come out of the blue a little bit, and then seemed to be all 'fixed.' I wish there was more exploration of the medical side of his condition and how it would probably continue to effect him for his entire life.

Friends-to-lovers and baby tropes are not my favorite, so it isn't too surprising to me that I enjoyed Sold Short the least out of the three Sidelined books.

Sarina and Dev have been best friends since college when the literally ran into one another. Now years later, with an extremely profitable business they run together with their friends Reid and Owen, Sarina is finally tired of waiting. Waiting for Dev to give her any indication he wants more than friendship. Tired of dating. Tired of worrying about being too old to have a baby.

So, Sarina hires an escort to put some sexy back into her life, and tells her friends she's ready to have a baby, on her own. Dev reacts terribly while Owen and Reid are 100% on board with this new project.

Dev, who's been having sex with his other friend since childhood, Shush, is angry and baffled that Sarina didn't tell him first, didn't ask him, isn't going to at least try to find someone to do this with. Plus, Dev's youngest sister is pregnant after a wild night of sex with three different men. He's also starting to think he should be the one to give Sarina a baby, and maybe more.

As these two dance around their feelings, their families, and their careers, it becomes more and more clear they should just boink and be together already.

There was a lot going on in this book, and while it was still sexy, I didn't like how wrapped up Dev was with Shush and how he was kind of leading her on, but she was also telling him one thing and telling her family another thing. He knew he didn't want to marry her, she was hoping to change his mind? I did like how Sarina never slut-shamed Shush. Sarina's relationship with the male escort was cute and sexy, and he deserves his own book TBH. There was just so much conflict based on misunderstanding it grew a bit tiring, and then there seemed to be a lot of miraculous baby-making magic that also just irritates me a little.

That said I've utterly enjoyed reading this series, it is making me stay up way too late reading!

Essentially an extended Epilogue for the three couples of the Sidelined Series. Do not read this first, go back and start with Offensive Behavior or forever be spoiled!

I enjoyed seeing all three couples and loved how Reid and Sarina's shotgun last minute wedding caused everyone to come together.

What stressed me out was all the talk about babies, wanting them or not, and I just really didn't want to have to worry about my favs, especially Cara and Owen, and I did a little bit! Of course it all turns out well, but I was kept at the edge of my seat.

Also, I really was happy to see the mention of Owen sometimes still not being able to achieve an erection (from Book 2) and how he and Cara still make love all the time, with or without it.

When I stumbled upon this older woman hires younger man to be her nanny romance, I immediately wanted to read it thanks to Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon.

That said, this was darker and far angstier than Rafe, and while that is not usually a problem for me and this book came out a few years before Rafe, I think I just wasn't quite in the mood for Unsuitable.

I enjoyed the characters and really liked Audrey, who constantly has to justify her choices to everyone around her and does it in the best way she can. I also like Reece, who is just trying to make it as a nanny and eventually open his own daycare (or kindy, as it is called in the book), and have everyone take him seriously.

What I didn't like was how fast Reece went from falling out of love with his current girlfriend to being obsessed and in love with Audrey, as I felt they barely spent any time together before this occurred. And, once some of "secrets" came out, I found Audrey's judgment on what was scary and inappropriate for her and her young daughter to be a bit suspect.

So, Reece flipping out, getting in your face and storming off in a rage isn't dump-worthy, but him beating up six dudes who are trying to jump him are? I dunno. Reece's rage made me a bit anxious, and some of the scenes with Audrey's daughter also made me anxious and sad.

Stuff with kids is a trigger for me, so it kind of hurt my enjoyment of the story.

That said, I really liked the sparking romance between secondary characters and hope they have their own book, and overall Ainslie Paton has become an author I very much enjoy.

Content warning

Spoiler

for fighting, hints of infidelity (Reece wants Audrey while still with his current girlfriend, Reece makes out with one of Audrey's friends when they are broken up), child endangerment (Audrey contracts viral meningitis and Reece has to break into the house because Mia thinks her Audrey is dead and can't wake her up - she's three), fat jokes, but not mean spirited ones, about Audrey's best friend. Maybe some more?

I adore a "good best-friend's little sibling" romance and Fighting for What's His is a perfect addition to the trope!

Billy Parrish promised his army buddy that he'd do anything for him, even if it means letting his little sister, Shayna Curtis, move into his apartment as she starts her new job in Washington DC.

Letting anyone into his regimented life is especially difficult for this veteran, as Billy struggles with PTSD and the third degree burn scars that still cover much of his body, as well as trying to find meaning in his new life as a PI.

Not only is Shayna bubbly, outgoing, and kind of messy, she's also hot as hell and passionate about her career as a photojournalist. Basically, perfect for the man Billy used to be, but not touchable for the man Billy is now.

As these two dance around their attraction and try to stay simply roommates, they'll find it harder and harder as they also find they may just be perfect for each other, damages and all.

Another winner from the Warrior Fight Club series for Laura Kaye!

Interesting concept where a bookshop owner has a special secret backroom for erotica of all types, historic through contemporary, and the sexy college professor who wants to do research in the shop. Both the bookshop owner and the professor are widowers, with ensuing complications of grief and uncertainty.

The romance was well played out, there is a somewhat of a love triangle, but overall I found the story not as erotic as billed.

Also, Clara the shop owner is basically flabbergasted by the contents of the backroom as it was her dead husband's collection. I found it hard to believe girl wasn't in there perusing with her husband!

ARC received in exchange for a fair review.

Pre-Med student Honey is hot for her English Professor and sets out to seduce him. He says no, but is secretly obsessed with his 19 year old student. He says no until he accidentally kisses her in a dark closet at a party, and then they cannot keep their hands off of one another, no matter how wrong it is for both of them.

Of course, Ben messes things up, Honey runs home to Kentucky, he follows her, the reconnect in some super hot sexy times, then he fucks up again. Later, with not enough grovel in my opinion, they get their HEA.

The rare Tessa Bailey that didn't work for me. Too icky, didn't like the Lolita reference, and there's no way a 25 year old is a professor at Columbia University. Why couldn't Ben be a teaching assistant? Plus, the whole horrible letter Ben wrote to "pre-defend" Honey accusing him of sexual misconduct was gross, even if he didn't ever turn it in.

Still loved seeing references to some of the other characters and I did enjoy the first book in this series and the last book.

Wendy left her small North Carolina Outer Banks island home twelve years ago because the love of her young life, her forever love, cheated on her and got another girl pregnant. He ruined their plans and she wanted nothing but to get away.

Now a Navy SEAL, Wendy is finally returning home to visit her beloved Aunt for Christmas. She's coming home with backup, all of her Navy SEAL teammates, and is determined she'll not let Ethan knock her back.

But Ethan is now a widower, and he's still feeling it for Wendy, even though he's made at her for leaving all those years ago and never telling him where she went. Despite his anger, despite marrying and never really loving his now dead wife, Ethan kept nurturing the Christmas tree they planted all the years ago, the tree they were supposed to cut for their first Christmas as a married couple. And when he sees Wendy, battle scarred, but beautiful, he wants her back.

Ah, if only this was the story, if it was that simple. But this book tries to be all things. There's a gigantic cast of secondary slap-stick characters, including at least seven who live with Wendy's aunt, the entire SEAL team, some of whom are thinking of becoming modern day treasure hunters??, obvious set up for further books in the series, and so much more. Plus a Grinch contest, massive amounts of description of the small town, the bell factory, the architexture of the various homes, and so much more. I felt so bogged down in telling and description I had no time to buy Wendy and Ethan's rekindled romance.

I loved Wendy, I loved that she was a Navy SEAL. I hated that there is an apparently completely separate group for "female" Navy SEALs called "WEALs." Why? SEAL is a non-gendered acronym.

I loathed Ethan. There is never a real explanation besides "Wendy was away for a bit and he was jealous" so he had a drunk one night stand with a girl who ended up pregnant. Um, how long did it take Ethan to confess his error? You don't catch pregnant immediately, so um, no. Ethan never explained his actions to Wendy, and I never felt his anger at Wendy was justified in any way. He's totally free with letting his young daughter know he never loved her mother, whom he married, as much as he loved Wendy. He never really groveled enough for my satisfaction.

So, alas, this was not really for me, despite the great premise and the awesome Wendy.

Thank you for the ARC Avon!

A social worker/sexual assault advocate breaks her "one night only" rule with a sexy, kind of Jesus-y, tattoo artist.

Novella length with a Halloween theme and Princess Bride costumes, plus lots of sexy-times, this was a fun read most of the time, but also veered into somber territory regarding why Grace has her one night only rule. I really loved Josh and it was nice to see the hero fall so fast for the heroine and pursue her.

I'll definitely be reading more, but do want to include a content warning about some STD shaming and a kind of trans-phobic joke. In the first scene, Grace is about to hookup with someone but when she takes his pants off she discovers he's wearing essentially a condom that covers everything down below. He's having a herpes flare-up and she reacts badly, which makes sense because he didn't tell her about it before hand, but also veers a bit into okay, lots of people live with this issue so let's not shame them territory. Her friend makes a joke asking if Grace found out he wasn't "a man down there" when Grace is retelling the incident.

Other than that, I overall enjoyed!