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I read the second book in the Back to You series years ago, so when I saw the audiobooks for free on Spotify, I thought I would go back and read the entire series. Mira Lyn Kelly excels at writing light, fun, and smutty novels that are quick reads and provide a much-needed escape.
Series Title: Back to You
Author: Mira Lynn Kelly
Publisher: Self Published
Intended Audience: Adult
Genre: Romance
Hard Crush
“It doesn’t matter whether I’m the guy I was ten years ago or the guy I am today. Neither one of us can let you go.”
Hard Crush
Title: Hard Crush (#1)
Narrated by: Savannah Peachwood and Christian Fox
Published: February 27, 2018
Pages: 267
Pacing: Fast
Moods: Lighthearted
Tropes: Second Chance, Billionaire, Hero in STEM
Content Warnings: Parental Abandonment, Hospitalization
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Ten years ago, I was the geek with too many ideas and one girl I wanted forever. A billion dollars later, and one night with a soft body is as close to forever as I get. It’s all I want. Or it was. I never thought I’d see her again…
I never thought I’d see her again
Let alone find her in the same spot I left her ten years ago, teaching at the high school where we fell in love.
I should have kept walking
But I wanted that laugh. That smile.
I wanted five minutes before I got back to the life with no room for my past.
One kiss was all I meant to take
But then her fingers were in my hair, her breath hot against my lips.
My hands… everywhere.
Now I want more
I want her, but she only wants the guy I used to be.
And just like the first time… I can’t stay, and she won’t leave.
Hard Crush was a quick, light, and fun read, and the audiobook narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. Hank had this sexy, geeky charm, and Abby was a total small-town sweetheart. Her friendship with Helen was hilarious and sweet. The chemistry and tension between Hank and Abby were so well written and led to some great smut scenes. It was also obvious how much they cared for each other
The characters weren’t the most developed, and the plot was predictable, but the conflict and its resolution at the end were realistic and well done. Overall this was a very enjoyable read.
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Dirty Player
Her head drops forward into a low shake, but not before I see the smile I’d been hoping for.
Dirty Player
“Greg.”
This is my Julia, scolding me with a smile on her face and laughter in her eyes. This is the woman I can talk to about anything.
Title: Dirty Player (#2)
Narrated by: Savannah Peachwood and Jacob Morgan
Published: May 29, 2018
Pages: 197
Pacing: Fast
Moods: Lighthearted
Tropes: Sports Romance (Hockey), Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Romance
Content Warnings: Vomit, Sexual Manipulation Mentions
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
This NHL star isn’t afraid to play dirty to get his girl
It started as a joke… A throw away promise between friends. A dare for a single kiss at our reunion and nothing more.
But that kiss…
That kiss was no joking matter. It was hot and wet. A hands-everywhere, breathless kind of insanity that left us both teetering on the brink.
She’s got rules about dating guys like me…
Rules I respect the hell out of when they apply to any other pro athlete. But as they apply to me? Well, those rules are about to be broken.
I’ve read Dirty Player before, but listening to it on audiobook made it feel like a whole new book. The narrators did an amazing job bringing Julia and Greg to life and making you truly feel their sweet romance. I loved their genuine, supportive friendship and the teasing banter, both of which really amped up the obvious chemistry between them. I also loved Julia’s relationship with her sister and nephew.
The conflict at the end felt a little forced, but overall this was a fun, breezy read with just a little angst and some amazing spice.
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Dirty Bad Boy
“Laurel Matthews, you’ve been the thorn in my side since we were six years old.”
Dirty Bad Boy
Title: Dirty Bad Boy (#3)
Narrated by: Savannah Peachwood and Jacob Morgan
Published: November 13, 2018
Pages: 222
Pacing: Fast
Moods: Lighthearted
Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend, Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault Mention
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
I’m not a total dick…
Most days, I’m a damned decent guy. Just not around my buddy’s sister.
She’s sexy as sin, sharp as hell, and she’s also the lush little harpy who’s been rubbing me wrong since we were kids.
I don’t want to do her a favor…
If it had been any other damsel in distress looking to shake some unwanted attention, I’d have been the perfect fake boyfriend for all of five minutes.
But Laurel brings out the bastard in me, and five minutes hardly seemed enough time to make her squirm.
She wants to one-up me, and I want to win.
But maybe I need a favor too…
Last in the Back to You series is Dirty Bad Boy. This book was set up at the end of Dirty Player, which was really interesting to me, and I love when that happens in romance series. Jack and Laurel had so much tension and sizzling chemistry that led to a lot of scenes with great witty banter. I really enjoyed the unresolved history between the two of them, because it made for just a little bit of pining, which is one of my favorite tropes.
This wasn’t my favorite of the three, but I still enjoyed it. The characters were a little flat, but the plot was the best developed of the three. I loved how realistic and emotional the conflict felt and how it was resolved at the end. Overall, this was a fun, quick read and a great way to wrap up the series.
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