I gazed through my living room window, toward his front door. In a wine-induced stupor, I stumbled along the razor’s edge that separated love from hate. Soon, I was bound to fall. It was anyone’s guess on which side I’d land. Braxton Rourke’s cell phone number was included in the contacts of Hollywood’s A-List actors and actresses, successful musicians, and professional athletes. When a problem … athletes. When a problem arose, Braxton fixed it. Receiving an “I need help with—” text from Selena Gomez, Ryan Gosling—or the police—was a common occurrence. A well-dressed protector who appeared like an actor himself, he was sickeningly handsome, confident, and spoke with an educated authority.
I met him while settling the estate of my deceased parents. Enamored by his tailored Italian suit, bravado gait, and undeniable charisma, I suggested the unthinkable.
A one-night stand.
He agreed, but only because I was leaving in three days. His life, he explained, couldn’t include a woman.
For the three days that followed, I watched him come and go, knowing we’d never be anything other than two people who shared a magical moment in the front seat of his Range Rover while parked outside a trendy Hollywood diner.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
A bizarre of series circumstances forced us to be neighbors.
The Man I Hate is a stand-alone full-length (90,000 word) novel with no cheating, no sex outside the relationship, no abuse, and an HEA. It depicts a friends to enemies to lovers relationship between two consenting adults. This is a very steamy contemporary romance novel. NOT recommended for juveniles, prudes, the close-minded, or the select few who enjoy seeing women treated like dirt. The romantic scenes in this book are smoking hot, but they’re consensual.
more
Scott Hildreth has done it again! What looked to be and started like a typical sexy romp / one night stand type of book quickly deepened into a story with amazingly complex and unexpected characters, deeper meanings and a truly thought provoking plot line with an underlying commentary focused current events.
Braxton Rourke is as cocky as they come. He’s a fixer for the Hollywood elite and makes problems disappear for the right amount of cash. He’s confident and set in his ways. And, he no longer does relationships after a failed marriage . . . a literal one and done type of guy.
Anna Wilson is a successful entrepreneur visiting LA after her parent’s deaths to decide what to do with their property. She’s sworn off men after a cheating ex-husband and instead is focused on herself. But, when her sexy as sin silver fox of a neighbor offers what she hasn’t had in over 2 years, she can’t resist, even knowing it will be a one night stand.
But, when the world starts changing in inconceivable ways, these neighbors will find themselves at a crossroads as individuals, as friends, as a couple and, most importantly, as humans.
Honestly, The Man I Hate was super unexpected. I had no idea what was coming my way and I loved every minute of it. It highlights so many thoughts and feelings that many people are struggling with right now and gives credence to the highs and lows that most readers have felt over the past few months. As a couple, Anna and Braxton shouldn’t work. And, it doesn’t seem like they are meant to at first. I loved watching them grow and connect, even when physical closeness isn’t an option. 5 stars for The Man I Hate. Which, for me, was one of my most relevant Hildreth reads to date.
Absolutely loved this book!!!
This book was absolutely amazing. The characters were perfectly imperfect and so completely relatable. There’s Braxton, the “one and done” player who never wants to settle down again and then there’s Anna, with her swearing off of men and her self imposed celibacy for the last two years. These two along with an excellent array of secondary characters will have you laughing, crying and everything in between. I totally enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it!
Oh. My. Freaking. God!! I absolutely loved this book!! I literally could not put this down!!
If you have read the Devils Disciples MC series, you will have met Braxton and his Dad, Hap already. Their banter had me laughing out loud! And in this book it’s no different.
Braxton is a fixer, you need something to disappear, he’s your man. Anna moves in next door to him whilst sorting out her parents estate.
After helping her out of a sticky situation, sparks fly but both are adamant that it’s a one time thing………until one of them changes their mind!!
What happens next just blows me away, it had me crying with laughter and crying because I was sad. The rollercoaster had me all over the place but it also help restore my faith in humanity. What a fantastic read!!
There are so many moments in this book that I could talk about in this review but I don’t want to give any spoilers!!
Honest to God, you really need to one click this book!!
The Man I Hate is a book that you will not be able to put down. Forget adulting for the day and get sucked into this one. With everything going on in the world right now this book is one that should be read. It is hot, sweet and before you know it you are all in with Braxton and Anna. I love Anna and how caring she is. She can hold her own that is for sure. Then you have Braxton who will make you wet and swoon all at the same time. I love seeing all the different sides of him as the Covid-19 affects his life. This book is more then the current pandemic. This book is bringing togetherness. It brings you love when you give up hope. It brings you family when you have none left. This book brings you Hap who will have you in stiches. Scott Hildreth does this beyond phenomenal job keeping you glued to the pages. I for one forgot all my responsibilities for the day and get swept up in The Man I Hate and I’m ready to re-read it all over again because it is just that good. If I could give it more then 5 stars I would. THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE ONE-CLICKED AND EXPERIENCED TODAY.
Scott Hildreth once again delivered…brilliantly.
Braxton Rourke is the ULTIMATE FIXER. He commands and wields his power silently and deliberately. That is apparent to Anna Wilson the day they meet. On that day, she has her world turned upside down.
Braxton answers to no one. He’s always in charge but Anna has wedged herself in his mind. There’s chemistry overflowing. He’s always been a one and done. Anna has nothing but disdain and hot attraction for him.
The couple face daunting events during a pandemic. She finds herself wanting to be the one taking care of Braxton. And Braxton soon learns that Anna is a safety blanket he wasn’t willing to use or need.
This couple gives us a beautiful ride. They’re simply trying to survive. Again, our heroine is a strong and independent woman. Our hero, even though a bit of a jerk, is honest, straightforward, and loyal. Add in a wise cracking old man and a sarcastic associate and we’ve got a brilliant storyline.
Give Braxton a chance. He’s hard but there’s a silent side you’ll fall in love with. Don’t judge too quickly.
Scott you just ticked most of the boxes On my list of best Eva book, with The Man I Hate.
I loved how it was set now in the time of Covid 19, older couple even older side characters in Hap and Madge, so much amazing information in regards to the Pandemic. You seem to tap in on most of the fears going about and the ignorance of many also, it won’t get me it’s just a flu
I felt I personally knew someone going through this illness, through Braxton.
It was great to have Braxton and Hap back from previous reads , the familiarity I got when reading about these two when Braxton visited Hap on his usual Sunday trip.
I loved how after a quick fling/romp in a carpark of all places Braxton went on about his “ normal life “ whilst we had Anna plotting another hook up as after being on a 2 year hiatus, Anna had realised she wanted to tap that piece again
The next thing we know we are fully into a lockdown of epic proportions never had been experienced before by 99% of us and how all of a sudden I was identifying with Anna in the days running into each other, not caring about ones appearance as we couldn’t go anywhere and the obsession of eating the news 24/7, and the aggravation and anxiety Anna and myself felt when seeing people flaunting the law by ignoring the lockdown laws as in Braxton
This story unfolded without our couple even being in actual physical contact and yet the change that they feel about themselves and each other after 7-8 days. But what happened in that time for Anna was enough for her to know.
I loved the relationship Anna formed with her neighbour like many of us have during this time
It was like Scott knew what we are all feeling atm. I for one have found new relationships with the people I work with and they have unfortunately for them become another part of my extended family
I put into context how many around the world, we have been feeling when having a loved one in hospital being treated for this deadly disease and not being able to find out what’s going on with them, mainly due to the craziness going on within our Medical Facilities and the tirelessly work of Medical staff to our loved ones in their care.
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend that you read it
Why wouldn’t you? It’s Scott Hildreth.
The man could write on a napkin at McDonalds and it would in my book, make the Best Sellers list in its first days of release.
Our world is forever changed and I for one will remember back to having had this book to love and enjoy during this time of uncertainty .
Thank you
Omg I just read for the 2nd time and it was so much better than the first
To look back a year and a half later from when the Covid Pandemic hit, you see this book again in a whole new perspective
You won’t understand unless you too have been able to do both
Braxton thinking at the time was what a lot of people had thought , we now know so much more and the difference today is , will you take the vaccine or not ?
If this was Braxton and co now “ today” I believe Yes they would
Thus book is a no nonsense read, I live the way Scott puts words together
Thank you again and I fir 1 cannot wait for you to put pen to paper again some day
Your too talented but to Scott Hildreth
So far I have read many of Scott’s books and they exceed my expectations. This book became hard for me when it came to the chapter where the characters began to experience the world breaking out with the Covid pandemic. I almost stopped reading. It was hard to go back and relive how it felt to be in the beginning of the pandemic. However Scott is such a strong author I felt I had to carry on reading, I am so glad I did or I would have missed an incredible journey of a love story.
Love this, then I have never not loved a book written my Scott Hildreth.
A must read I will read again.
PICTURE THIS: I’m sitting under a shade tree, reading, minding my own business, when several times that afternoon, my daughter bursts out laughing and then continues to read. After several of these interruptions, she says, “Mom you’ve got to read this book”. So I read, THE MAN I HATE, and I laughed and burst out laughing, just like my daughter. What I wasn’t ready for, was what was to take place to change their world …. something I didn’t see coming by reading the blurb. This is Anna’s story! This is how a series of events and Braxton rocked/changed her world. Wonderfully written, amazing characters and a little rubbing of elbows too! Am I the only one that pictured “Hap” played by Author Scott Hildreth, himself? LOL
I almost didn’t finish this when Covid-19 started in the book, I live with a news hound and I am sick of hearing about it. I kept at it and was very happy I did.
By the time I finished I could see myself cooking with Anna, arguing with Hap and trying to get Braxton to tell me anything to do with his job.
Amazing read with fantastic characters and great storyline.
I’ve anticipated Braxton’s story from the very moment he was introduced to us. I cannot say this enough…Scott Hildreth is an absolute amazing writer. His ability to capture you with real life events mixed with everything we want as readers is phenomenal. Braxton and Anna’s story hits so close to home right now you might as well be living it. Scary, frustrating, emotional and sexy as hell!
I knew this author was good but boy this book was fantastic!! Anna and Braxton were just awesome!! Funny, sexy, just a breath of fresh air. And the info about Covid 19 was just brilliant. He wrote about issues facing the world today!! This book is just awesome!! A definite must read by a brilliant author!!!
This was the first book by Scott Hildreth I have read and I wasn’t disappointed. Braxton is a 50 year old fixer for the rich and famous in Hollywood. He doesn’t do relationships after a failed marriage, is cocky and selfish. Anna is a 40 year old owner of an exotic car dealership in Oklahoma who has sworn off men after a cheating ex in a failed marriage. She comes to California after her parents suddenly pass away to take care of their estate. When circumstances throw the neighbors together, sparks fly and Braxton offers her what she hasn’t had in over two years, in the form of a one night stand.
The world begins to change and as this book is also focused on current events, so does this couple. Braxton, Anna and a cast of wonderful secondary characters, Hap, Marge and Pratt really take you on great journey. There is so much to offer with friendship, family, love, laughter, a little steam, and sass. Great read.
Love can bloom and be found in extrodinary places and circumstances. A one time thing turns into a lifelong thing with a family of sorts, in a matter of weeks. The characters have depth and a heart. I enjoyed watching Anna and Braxton’s story unfold. Their relationship went the full span of emotions, attraction, lust, hate, avoidance, annoyance, caring, all the way to love. A great read.
Scott Hildreth is one of my all-time favorite authors. When he announced this book’s release I was eager to get my hands on it. He claimed this was his best book yet, and I have to wholeheartedly agree.
I loved the chemistry and interaction between Braxton and Anna. The twist that I loved, were the circumstances that came up preventing her from returning home and the results of those circumstances. Then you throw in Hap and Marge, you never know quite where the story will go next. This book is definitely full of surprises.
This is one I absolutely will be reading again.
True self-discovery begins when your comfort zone ends…
Full disclosure, I was intrigued with the characters being older in age. Braxton Rourke is 50 and Anna Wilson is 40. There are not enough funny, sexy and romantic stories about couples beyond their 30’s. Once their story started I was hooked right away. This is only the second book I have read of Scott Hildreth and this is my favorite of the two. The man has amazing writing chops.
Braxton does what he wants when he wants. He is confident and arrogant with a wardrobe that matches him perfectly. He meets Anna. She drops into his life like a fresh breeze with the promise of a hurricane. She does not plan on staying long. A few days to clear up some personal matters. Braxton figures to get lucky with her, she is one gorgeous woman and the first one in a long time to put wind in his sails.
A series of events has them both reevaluating their lives, past and present. This story had quite an impact on me and I highly recommend you give it a read.