The start to a sexy new series from New York Times bestselling author, Kendall Ryan.She’s much too innocent for me, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting the sweet, young librarian. I’m dominating and possessive, and my control streak runs a mile wide. The way she looks at me—like I’m one of the heroes in the books she loves, like I’m broken, and she wants to be the one to piece me back … and she wants to be the one to piece me back together—it only complicates things further. I’m nobody’s hero.
But there’s no denying my tragic past reads like one of her favorite literary classics. It’s raw. Visceral. Captivating. And together, we’re a perfect mess.
How can I resist when the sexual sparks zapping between us set me on fire? The need to control, and claim her force my walls to come tumbling down, but when she learns about my dirty little secret, will my world come crashing down with it?
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Have you ever had a crush on one of your brothers friend’s? I’m an only child, so I was spared that, but I did have cousin’s and their friend’s yeh been there done that. This is a slow burn story that led to some of the hottest sex scenes I’d read in awhile phew.
Olivia has always had a crush on her brothers best friend Aiden and he’d been warned off by her brother, so she’s off limits, but thing’s are about to change as they start working around each other.
Will Aiden be able to stay away from Olivia who’s all to willing to risk it? You’ll just have to one click this lil jewel and find out. I definitely would recommend picking this up.
3.5 stars–DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is the first installment in Kendall Ryan’s contemporary, adult FORBIDDEN DESIRES erotic, romance series. This is successful businessmen Gavin Kingsley, his brother Cooper, and thirty year old librarian Emma Bell’s story line.
Told from three first person perspectives (Gavin, Cooper, Emma) DIRTY LITTLE SECRET follows the building relationships between librarian Emma Bell, and two brothers who battle for our heroine’s affections. For months Emma Bell has ‘stalked’ a man she will come to know as successful businessman Gavin Kingsley- a man who keeps secret his past buried beneath a cold façade of professionalism and formality; an intense and arrogant, emotionally withdrawn alpha male. A wayward business card finds our heroine researching the man with whom she will fall in love but not before facing a life altering decision to ‘work’ for the men in charge. What ensues is the building romance between Gavin and Emma, and the potential fall out as Emma discovers the truth about his past.
On the surface DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is a love triangle but a triangle where two people become lovers leaving the third to clean up when everything goes wrong. Both men ‘need’ Emma’ for personal and professional reasons but it is Emma and Gavin’s overwhelming obsession with one another that pushes Cooper to side, only to be pulled back in when Emma’s life spirals out of control. An ex seeking a second chance; a past mired in dark secrets; a family history of heartbreak and pain finds our couple battling emotional highs and lows, as well as a potential relationship where only one half of the couple is willing to take a chance on something more.
We are introduced to Gavin’s brothers-Cooper and Quinn- three brothers who own and operate a successful business that caters to the rich and famous; Gavin’s PA Alyssa; as well as Emma’s co-worker and friend Bethany.
I am purposely keeping ‘secret’ the more intricate details of Kendall Ryan’s DIRTY LITTLE SECRET including the business of which the Kingsley brothers own. As Emma and Gavin’s relationship begins to build, Cooper knows that his feelings for Emma will never be returned but saying that Emma’s dependence upon Cooper continuously gives Cooper a glimmer of hope-a glimmer that dims time and again.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is a slow building story line as Gavin struggles with his feelings for Emma Bell but saying that I had a difficult time ‘feeling’ the attraction; there was no palpable sexual energy between our leading couple but I did feel something more for Cooper Kingsley. Looking back, I think I am struggling with Emma and Gavin’s relationship due to the cold persona and arrogant attitude offered as a result of Gavin’s darkened past- a past that has yet to come fully into the light. There was just something missing; I couldn’t connect with the story line couple, and in this my emotional attachment is uncertain. Cooper knew his brother Gavin was attracted to Emma Bell, and knowing this he continued to push Gavin after every encounter. The premise is dramatic; I felt somewhat ambivalent and neutral about the leading characters (Gavin and Emma), and Emma’s lack of personality is disconcerting; the romance struggled with Gavin’s inability to move on from the past.
I rarely give 5 stars, and I hesitated on this one because the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and that’s always a let down. BUT this story had so many wonderful elements, and the writing was so good, that I had to give it my full support. The main character is a lonely librarian and her love interest, who she’s watched from afar for a year, runs a high end escort service. Our librarian is looking for a bit of excitement, so agrees to be “advertising” for the agency, attending parties as arm candy on the arm of her crush and his brother, a hunky and sweet character who is just as swoon-worthy as his brother. There’s a little bit of love triangle tension, which was so well done, and a scandal from the past, which ends up playing a big part and adds intrigue and will definitely make me go on to purchase the next book. So the ending isn’t your typical HEA but I think in the end we’ll get there.
A triangle of love. We have Emma who has mooned over Gaven who she sees getting extra expresso. Them Emma decides to seek out Gaven when she does she find he and brothers Cooper and Quinn own an escort service. Cooper brings a deal she will be his and Havens escort to events. Cooper falls for her too. Gaven being him takes awhile. But in the end will the past and secrets mess up a future.
First of all, I would like to say that I am fan of Kendall Ryan. I have enjoyed all of the her books so far, but this one was just ok to me. Gavin was a jerk, he had some issues but come on he acted like a child. Emma was just a doormat, she was in an abusive relationship prior to all of this and seemed like whatever Gavin did she pushed it aside because she wanted him so much. Gavin told her to jump, she did it no questions asked. She could have been with Sweet, Caring, Adorable Cooper but the bad boy was what intrigued her. Then top it all of it ends in a cliffhanger. This one just did nothing for me, other than make me frustrated. Sorry!
I can’t decide if this is the epitome of romance novel silliness or if it’s actually the ultimate romance. Either way, it’s pretty juicy. And chock-full of clichés, to the point where I was practically rolling my eyes (even though that makes reading quite difficult). The juicy-ness however makes it worth it. Maybe.
What I liked: This is a very well-written story which is absolutely interesting and entertaining. There’s also quite a bit of smut if you’re so inclined.
What I didn’t like: This is fiction, I get it. But I have certain expectations of contemporary romance. One of them being some sort of plausibility to the story and also that it won’t be day-time soap-opera material. However, the clichés in this read negates both of those requirements: There’s the filthy rich and sexy alpha-male with Casanovian sexual experience who acts like an insensitive jerk most of the time. There’s the sheltered, beautiful and sexy (but unaware of that fact) good-girl who gets super infatuated in said jerk. There are encounters where just a look from the stud makes the heroine sopping wet. There’s sex where the guy knows more about what the woman enjoys than she does herself. Of course, since I couldn’t bring myself to care about either Emma or Gavin, it’s hard for me to appreciate the story. I wasn’t convinced by their supposed obsession with each other, I perceived Emma as meek, without a back-bone, and Gavin as an overbearing a**hole. No wonder I couldn’t see past the abundance of clichés. And oh, it’s also a cliff-hanger.
Smut-factor: If you don’t require actual emotion involved in the narrative, the smut’s actually pretty good.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
Three brothers Quinn, Gavin, and Cooper Kingsley raised by a single mom, in south Boston. Since their father left, their mom did what she needed to do to make money and take care of her family. The brothers had seen so much and decided to make it there business and opened an Escort Agency.
Emma Bell a librarian goes to a coffee cafe every morning where she notices a very handsome sexy man who orders a double espresso. He doesn’t acknowledge her presence but she dreams about him every night. Until one morning he drops a business card in the jar instead of a tip. She obtains the card and her life as she knows it changes but is it for the better? This is the first book of a series. It’s angsty, sexy and so far very similar to so many other stories. Not sure if I’m going to continue with the series, will see if time allows.
Audible has the four book series as a single set available for one credit. Plus, it’s Zachary Webber & Joe Arden (I wasn’t familiar with either female narrator.)
This first book ends in a cliffhanger, and so far ~ I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. Gavin is a jerk, plain and simple. He has his reasons and since it’s alternating POV, we get insight into that so it’s somewhat understandable and he does sort of attempt to let Emma know he’s trying to get his act together. However Emma is a bit irritating in her inability to really stand up for herself for quite some time despite Gavin’s disrespect & gruff demeanor.
As always, Zachary Webber is amazing ~ but I think the fact that he voiced Christian in Grey served to further heighten the similarities between the Gavin and Christian characters. This is my first time listening to Megan Tusing and I mostly enjoyed her take on the character, but she came off overly whiny at times I didn’t feel it was called for.
3 stars for a solid start ~ hoping that the second half “Dirty Little Promise” elevates the characters and story a bit higher.
I’m also anxiously awaiting Cooper’s book and I think there’s something to be said for creating an intriguing secondary character.
4*
Aiden has been up to his old tricks therefore he’s looking for temporary work. Hoping to get some answers he applies for a handyman job at the Morgan estate.
Olivia is Grayson’s younger sister & the best friend rules apply to Aiden.
When the two are thrown together the chemistry between them is fierce.
Aiden really drew me to his character the never feeling good enough but determined to get it right.
I liked how Olivia always tried to see the best in everything and totally turned Aiden in knots.
I’m happy to see Carter & Eve get a book “Dirty little thing”
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Dirty Little Tease is addictive. Emma is the sweet and sexy librarian who was curious about a man she’d only ever seen in a coffee shop, that was until he left his business card behind for her to find. As Emma’s curiosity gets the best of her, she finds herself agreeing to work for the brothers, as their shared companion. Gavin and Cooper are mixture of sexy and sweet but totally professional. Dirty Little Tease takes you on a nice little ride and I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Emma and all three of these brothers.
Love Gabe! The things he does to prove his love. Sweet sexy hot
I FLOVED DIRTY LITTLE SECRET! Emma is caught between two brothers- Cooper, treats her like a princess and Gavin, is cold and closed off. I know there’s more to Gavin then meets the eye and I can’t wait to carve out time to read the next book. My heart goes out to Cooper because 1- no matter what, Gavin is always at the front of Emma’s mind and 2- I have a feeling this nice guy will finish last.
Emma has been watching the handsome stranger at the coffee shop she goes to for quite some time but doesn’t have the courage to speak to him. When he leaves his card as a tip, Emma knows he did it for her. She learns his name is Gavin Kingsley and when she finds out what he does for a living, she decides to be daring for once and go to his office.
What she wasn’t expecting was his equally handsome brother Cooper, or the proposal that they offer her. She wants to know more about Gavin but his walls are stone and his secrets plenty.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book with these characters. The authors writing style is great and her characters are complex and suck you in to the story.
Reviewer for Bloggin With M. Brennan
enjoyed it
Absolutely amazing book! Love this author!
Loved it!
Good tead
Great story! I couldn’t put it down!
Loved this book
Cliffhanger at the end made me reserve the follow up book from the library.