Gray Bowie broke the code: he fell in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.For years, he hid his feelings¿until one terrible night it all came to a head.Knox Holliday has spent the years since that emotional devastation honing her skills as a couture wedding dress designer. But, just weeks before her debut, a freak accident wipes out her collection. The culprit: her ex’s former best friend, … Gray Bowie. Gray does everything he can to get her career back on track. As they work together, they find forgiveness and start to stitch together something that looks a lot like love. But, at the very moment they realize they have a chance for something real, her ex comes back to town, bringing opportunities Gray can’t provide. Gray’s not going to step aside this time, so he can only hope Knox will hold onto his heart.She’s his dream, but will he be hers?
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I loved the previous two books in the series and this was no different. Gray and Knox’s friends to lovers story was everything I’d hoped for. Gray has been in love with Knox his entire life but he couldn’t be with her because she dated his best friend. Erika Kelly has been my go-to author when I want a well written contemporary romance with a hero that will make me swoon. I highly recommend this series!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
You know – everything that happened to us as kids impacts how we act/react to our environment as adults. It’s true. It’s especially true for these characters. Yes, this is a work of fiction, but it’s one of those that deals with real life issues.
Knox, Gray, and Robert were all close friends growing up. Knox and Robert were a couple for years, a relationship Gray would love to have with her instead. Then one awful night Gray couldn’t take it anymore and just walked out and never looked back.
Fast forward 10 years and Gray comes crashing back into Knox’s life. Like literally. HA! To make up for the destruction they caused and ruined her creations he’s offered to help make things happen for her in a different way. A route she never thought about taking.
This, I thought was so sweet. Gray didn’t have to do any of this for her but his love for her is still so strong after being apart for a decade he’d do anything to help her. Now of course there’s some other stuff at play here. No spoilers, people! You’ll just have to read it. *smile* The biggest hurdle these two face is trust. In themselves and each other.
I think the author did a great job weaving in the real life torment along with the fantasy of their reality. That won’t make sense now but when you finish the book it’s likely to. I enjoyed reading their story. OH! This is book three in a series but you absolutely *do not* have to read the other two before you read this one. I wasn’t lost at all and moved through the story just fine.
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED this book! I literally couldn’t read it fast enough and I didn’t want to do anything (you know, like stop and eat) that took me away from it. Gray crashes into Knox’s life and completely turns her world upside down. I loved seeing these old friends find their way back to each other and watching their adult relationship evolve. Gray wants to be there for Knox and support her. She always saw him for who he was and he knew he could be himself around her. She was there for him when they were growing up and she stands up for him now. They have to get to know each other again, but they have a past they can’t forget. Some things are harder to let go than others. I enjoyed the support between the two of them and the respect they have for each other. They only want to help, not hinder. Gray is so sweet and caring and he gave me ALL.THE. FEELS. But the nefarious things happening made me SO MAD! I had to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the way Erika lets the reader know SOMETHING is up, but doesn’t give it all away. She hints at it, bit-by-bit. I love a good second-chance story and this one scooped me up and didn’t let me go. I think this is my new favorite book in this series! Please don’t let this book pass you by!
4 stars
Oh the pain of unrequited love, I’ve been there Gray, I feel ya! Maybe that’s why I liked this book so much because it feels so real!
Gray has been in love with Knox forever but as she’s his friend’s girl, she’s always been off limits. Desperately wanting to be there for her when he sees hardship coming is impossible for him. They’re reunited years later but as luck would have it, he’s just made her life harder, by accident. Working alongside her to try and repair her career, the feelings intensify for them both. Just when he thinks there’s a chance for them, her ex returns and puts them both in a tailspin. Will his love be enough?
Great book and Gray is the perfect loving hero. He’s the nice guy whose always finished last but Knox’s eyes are finally opening. I was a little frustrated that it took her so long to understand how amazing he was but he was precious. Enjoyed Careless Boyfriend and can’t wait to catch up on the rest of the series.
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Smart, sexy, and oh-so-fresh, I never pass up an Erika Kelly romance! Her books are a treat that you seriously don’t want to miss.
THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND is the third instalment in Erika Kelley’s contemporary, adult BAD BOYFRIEND erotic, romance series focusing on the Bowie brothers. This is extreme sport athlete Gray Bowie, and bridal gown designer Knox Holliday’s story line. THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Gray and Knox) THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND follows the rebuilding friendship and relationship between twenty-five year olds- extreme sport athlete Gray Bowie, and bridal gown designer Knox Holliday. The night of their senior prom Gray Bowie lost his two best friends as he witnessed one life spiral out of control, and another life pulled into the abyss of enabling. Fast forward to present day wherein a car accident would bring him face to face with the woman he has always loved. Enter bridal gown designer Knox Holliday, a woman whose enter future was destroyed by an accident not of her making. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and romance between Gray and Knox, and the potential fall-out as Knox’s business is sabotaged by someone from the past.
Years earlier, Knox Holliday was caught between the love of two friends but addiction destroyed said friendship sending the trio in opposite directions. With her business on the line, an upcoming bridal show featuring her designs hangs in the balance when a ‘freak’ car accident destroys a year’s worth of work in a matter of seconds. Gray Bowie knows a thing or two about business, and with his connections helps Knox repair and replenish that which was destroyed.
The relationship between Gray and Knox is one of second chances, of a sorts, between two people whose friendship was destroyed by addiction, miscommunication and loss. Knox struggles with issues of trust as Gray battles the memories from the past. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are reintroduced to Gray’s brothers Fin Bowie and Calli (The World’s Worst Boyfriend #1); Will Bowie, Delilah and Ruby (the Heartless Boyfriend #2), and Brodie Bowie; Knox’s ex boyfriend Robert Granger; her mentor Luc Bellerose; and an assortment of people who work for Gray Bowie.
THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND is a story of second chances; of friendship and family; of betrayal and heartbreak; of addiction and loss. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive and spicy; the characters are colorful, energetic and inspiring.
Oh my goodness. This series just keeps getting better and better. Well, maybe not better and better, but certainly it’s keeping my heart going with all the feels. Each story is the same, but very unique to whichever Bowie brother’s life is playing out to their HEA. The Very Thought of You is all about brother #3, Gray Bowie, and Knox Holliday. This isn’t a second chance story. Rather it’s a friends-to-lovers/soulmates story. Like Fin and Callie, Gray and Knox have known each other since they were six years old. She has been Gray’s heart since the moment he met her. But their history is very different. Both were busy trying to save their best friend, Robert. After years of playing odd man out, the fifth wheel, whatever you want to call it, Gray had enough and walked away from both Knox and Robert. The three friends lost track of one another and built their own lives.
Fast forward seven years. On his latest adventure, Gray is in a vehicle that accidentally takes a curve wrong and ends up in Knox’s living room. That’s bad enough. What’s worse is that Knox’s career is now potentially destroyed. Gray falls easily back into protector/fixer mode.
This story is another hit and a great addition to the Calamity Falls Small Town Romance series. When I finish one of these stories I have to immediately move on to the next brother. Seriously, these Bowie brothers don’t do anything by half measures.
Fantastic friends to lovers romance with fabulous characters. I liked Knox right from the start (except maybe her name) with her creativity and work ethic. She’s about to recover from a bad business relationship when Gray literally crashes into her life, ruining all her hard work. He comes to her rescue in a big way and she sees that there’s more to him than what she thought. Their previous connection through her ex prevented Gray from making a move but the circumstances change and the time is right. I love these two together and when he helps make all her dreams come true I was swooning. He’s such a hunk and a good guy. Yum! And when he proves he not only has the looks but brains too, double yum! Entertaining romance with terrific writing and wonderful characters. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Wow, The Careless Boyfriend was simply OUTSTANDINGLY! This second chance, friends to lovers romance is enchanting and entertaining. As Erika Kelly is still a relatively new author for me—the Bad Boyfriend series are the only books I have had the pleasure of reading to date—and yet I am finding that I not only love her words but with each story she writes, I love them more and more… Of the three books in the Bad Boyfriend series, this particular storyline, and Gray, are perhaps my favorite—although it’s an extremely tight race and I would highly recommend each book. With The Careless Boyfriend, I was sucked straight into an intriguing, angsty, upper sexy romance that was beautifully written. Gray and Knox were powerful together and their romance held me captive start to finish. It would be hard not to fine Gray irresistible so beware because this book boyfriend will sneak up on you and before you know it you will be crushing hard… But honestly, Knox, aww, I just LOVED this heroine. She overcomes obstacles that would keep most of us buried and does so with incredible style. I love her personality and strength, her perseverance and grit. Of all the things that stand out about this deeply romantic romance, I think there is one thing that bothered me… of all things, I struggled with the title of this one, as I don’t think it fits Gray in any capacity as the hero in this story is the perfect boyfriend in my opinion. He’s considerate, devoted, thoughtful, passionate and protective. He’s extremely giving, loyal and so much more, so where does the ‘careless boyfirend’ come into play? But regardless of whether the title is actually fitting or not, the book itself is fantastic and the title didn’t hold any sway in my review. The Bad Boyfriend series are interconnected standalones and while you do not need to read them in order, I always recommend you do so to get a full scope of the characters from each book within the series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series release. It’s sure to be every bit as entertaining as the rest of the series. In the meantime, buy The Careless Boyfriend now and get to reading!!!
Quotes:
He loved her with every molecule in his body… Knox Holliday was it for him. He’d known it since kindergarten.
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He was every good memory she had of home.
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Not only wouldn’t he be interested in her that way, if they were going to work together, they had to keep attraction— sex—out of it.
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Gray Bowie was just a ship carrying her to the next port on this dark stretch of night.
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No sixty-foot wave or twenty-two-foot halfpipe wall came close to the thrill he got from simply being with her.
The Careless Boyfriend was a captivating read. It was emotional and swoon-worthy. I loved the friends to lovers dynamic. Gray and Knox have been through so much. I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering how their story would turn out! I was definitely not disappointed!!
I loved this story! Knox and Gray have history, and that just makes the story more intriguing. There is so much that happens that makes me keep flipping the pages. The emotions in this story had my own on a roller coaster. This was my first Erika Kelly book and I can’t wait to go back and rad more!
Oh, Gray and Knox – I soooo enjoyed your story!
Another solid book from Erika Kelly. Gray and Knox are meant to be, but it doesn’t seem ever at the same time. Then….it happens at the same time….when fate brings them back together in the most unusual way!
I really enjoyed their love story. Nothing worth having is ever easy. Gray knew what he wanted from the moment he met Knox. Knox a true product of her upbringing and her past took a little longer to get there. There are a lot of feelings – said and unsaid. I don’t want to give away anything, but this is a great book and not to be missed!
The Bowie brothers are back and finally we have Grays story. I loved the way the were reunited and boy Knox is definitely not going to be easy gaining her love. The chemistry between them is all there but what made it so much loveable was that Gray sees the best in Knox never what she grew up. All in all this was more than just a reunion between friends but for Gray to finally have his chance at happiness.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
If you love the unrequited love angst books then this one is right up your street.
Gray has been in love with his best-friends girlfriend Knox for years. He respected his friendship so loved her from a distance but now they have been unexpectedly reunited maybe its time to get the girl.
The tension between Gray and Knox is palpable and is waiting for that spark that is going to set off a massive explosion. I will be honest and say that I struggled a bit with Knox and wanted to shake her everytime she rejected Gray. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her and my heart broke for him with each rejection.
It was lovely seeing the Bowie Brothers again and I liked watching Gray change his brothers opinions of him, finally getting the respect he deserves The brothers are being brought closer together.
Erika Kelly does it again with her newest release, The Careless Boyfriend. Book 3 in her Bad Boyfriend series, takes us from Hawaii to New Zealand and finally back to Calamity, Wyoming, Kelly’s fictional town that I absolutely adore. The Careless Boyfriend has everything that I’ve come to love about this series: strong family dynamics, a strong, yet feminine heroine, and a Bowie brother that is vulnerable, sexy, and dedicated to his family.
There is so much to love about The Careless Boyfriend. Both Gray Bowie and Knox Holliday are rich characters that shine through in a series already heavy with great ones. Gray, who has loved Knox since they were teenagers, feels invisible in a family filled with superstars, despite his successes on the slopes and on the waves. Knox is a success in the design world despite being raised by an absentee mother and undergoing the type of bullying that only a child raised in a trailer in a wealthy community can experience. Together with Robert Granger, they formed an unlikely trio held together by Robert’s addiction-which ultimately broke them apart.
I loved the clever way that Kelly brings Knox and Gray back together, which seemed unlikely, but I considered a tongue in cheek shout out to the “careless” in the book’s title. Gray doesn’t hesitate to step up and be Knox’s hero, showing readers right away who he is: a man who accepts responsibility but is also a pleaser, hoping to be seen by those he loves. Knox relishes being back in Gray’s life, but is hesitant to allow herself to be dependent on him again. In many ways it was heartbreaking to watch the two of them stumble around the things they never said to each other and the assumptions each made.
I loved how Gray got Knox back to Calamity in a heartbeat. One minute she’s never going back to the place that caused so much heartbreak, the next she’s setting up shop in the Bowie stables. It’s clear to readers where she belongs, especially as Gray chips away at the walls she’s put up with help from his future sisters-in-law. Deliah (still my absolute FAVORITE) and Callie do exactly what I’d expected and welcome Knox with open arms, making her feel welcome in her hometown for the first time in her life.
I loved watching Gray surprise his brothers. It would have been funny if it hadn’t been sort of sad watching Fin, Will, and Brodie finally see their brother with respect. In what I’ve come to expect from this series, this eye opening brings the brothers closer together, taking them one step further from just being Mack Bowie’s sons to ultimately being close knit brothers with more in common than just competing.
Finally, watching Knox fall in love with Gray was incredibly fun and everything I look for in romance novels. It didn’t take long for Gray to break through Knox’s initial defenses and convince her how amazing they’d be together. It took a little longer for Knox to believe that she really deserved Gray and that he was for real. Just as that’s happening, Robert Granger falls back into their lives, providing the catalyst for the angst I adore in Erika Kelly’s books. While his role was predictable, it didn’t lessen the heartache that followed, making Gray and Knox’s road to happily ever after that much better.
4.5 stars for The Careless Boyfriend. Heat level: 3
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for honest feedback.
I love a good forbidden storyline but loving your best friend’s girlfriend/boyfriend brings an Eeekkk layer in. That’s a hard thing to get around. That’s what Knox, Gray, and Robert all struggle with. Gray was insanely sweet and so patient with Knox. I wanted to kick her in the tush sometimes so she’d get a clue!!
Miss Kelly writes a vicious angsty emotional story. I’ve read the other two books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them both. They were not nearly as emotional as The Careless Boyfriend. All have been great stories with layered characters. My only struggle was really Knox. I felt like she was brain dead half the time. How can someone so smart be so out of it?!?!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
The Bowie Brothers are the exact opposite of Bad Boyfriends, Gray Bowie was in love with his best friends girlfriend, they were the three amigos in school growing up. Knox and Robert where together they were each other constantly. Knox was always trying to get Robert help and fix him, Gray was always there to save the day. After finally realizing somethings never change Gray leaves but he left his heart behind with Knox even though she has no idea.
Gray comes crashing back into Knox’s life and goes right back to save the day, He helps Knox get her career going, designing wedding gowns. With Robert back in the picture clean and ready to step it up, Knox must figure out where her heart lies.
I love the whole series, the family dynamics are the best, they are a tight family that always has each other back, and even the community is always stepping it up to help out. Gray Bowie was so good his character could melt you in a second. Knox, I liked her, she drove me a bit crazy, he was right there come on women, The ending was breathtaking I loved his surprise. Now to wait on Brodie…
I loved the previous two books in the series and this was no exception. Gray and Knox’s friends to lovers story was everything I’d hoped for and more.
The Careless Boyfriend is a beautifully written second chance romance. This is romantic comedy at its finest. Erika Kelly is definitely one of my go-to authors when I want a well written contemporary romance with a hero that will make me swoon.
I was immediately hooked in from the opening pages in this heartfelt story. I was completely invested in every page until the very end. The storyline is so well-crafted, well–paced and a variety of interesting and intelligent characters kept it captivating throughout.
The Careless Boyfriend by Erika Kelly was full of angst, chemistry and hope for more. Gray Bowie has been in love with his best friend’s ex for years. It devastated him when they were together, and he kept his feelings hidden and then she was forbidden as the ex of his friend. But now they are reunited, and he can help her fulfill her dreams.
Knox Kennedy is finally getting the chance to launch her career, but an accident puts it all in jeopardy. Gray is determined to help get back on track and as they spend time together, feelings begin to emerge. Just when things begin to look up, her ex returns. Gray knows he can do more for Knox then he ever could, but this time around he is ready to fight for what he wants.
The Careless Boyfriend by Erika Kelly had great characters and their journey, though not easy, was a captivating story. Gray has loved Knox for years and was ready to show her what she meant to him. Knox was frustrating at times, but as we learn their story, we understand why. Could Gray and Knox finally get it right or will it all blow up before they have a chance to see what they could be?
Read and reviewed for Reviews From the Heart.
Happy reading!
I loved this book, my first one by this author. Lots of emotion and action. Great characters. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series.