Kristie J’s review of Spite Club by Julie Kriss
Contemporary Romance published by Five Doors Creative 5 Jun 17
Heads up, all!! This one is a freebie at Amazon and very well worth the price. One of the things that beats a free book is a free book that’s really good, and I so enjoyed this one.
This book starts out with a real bang and I loved it from the first page. Our heroine, Evie, is wakened by a phone call in the middle of the night by a stranger telling her he’s going to beat the shit out of her boyfriend because said boyfriend and his girlfriend are boinking. And if she wants to be there for it, she better get going right away.
“There was a pause. Then the man’s voice came again, dark and cold. Look, Evie Bates, I realize this is probably bad news, but I’m about to go beat your boyfriend to a pulp.
For a second, the words didn’t compute. “Who is this?” I nearly shouted, standing up in the dark in my old pajama top.
“It’s going to be bloody. I just thought I should warn you first.”
……
“Yeah”, the man said. “I thought so. Bring bandages, a towel, maybe a mop.” Then he hung up.”
Talk about a hell of a start to a book, eh?
The ‘caller’ is Nick Mason and he is not a happy camper. While his girlfriend isn’t “The One,” he doesn’t think such a woman really exists. He’s still pretty pissed that he’s being cheated on. After he ‘lays one on’ Evie’s boyfriend, the two of them, Evie and Nick that is, go out for a quick drink. They run into each other again, and while Nick is attracted to Evie, he knows she’s too good for him. Plus, she’s looking for commitment and marriage and he’s just not into that. Instead he’s all about partying. He doesn’t work, but then he doesn’t have to as he’s inherited a lot of money from his family, money they gave him to keep him out of their lives.
But as we read along, we see another side of Nick. He’s actually a very good guy on the inside one who doesn’t work so he can take care of his disabled brother. One of the most touching things about this book is the love between the brothers and how well Ms. Kriss writes it.
And because Nick is such a good guy on the inside, when Evie runs into a touchy situation, namely the guy who cheated on her, Nick jumps in to let the ex know in no uncertain terms that he and Evie are now together. As she and Nick are total opposites, she’s a bit bemused but goes along with it. And you know the old saying, opposites attract. Well, that’s, of course, what happens between Nick and Evie. Nick opens up and lets Evie see inside his life.
Nick and Evie are such wonderfully written characters, both so very likable. The secondary characters are great – well, not so much the two exes. But Nick’s brother is more intriguing than many a secondary character, and I read on GoodReads that the author is contemplating a story for him. Fingers crossed she does.
As I said at the beginning, this is a freebie and there is no reason, none whatsoever, on giving this book a try if you like the bad boy, gritty, and kind of dirty type book. It’s the fourth book I’ve read by this author and I’ve been mostly very pleased.
Grade: B+
Summary:
First Rule of Spite Club: Don’t fall for your fake boyfriend.
Here’s what happened:
My boyfriend cheated on me with Nick Mason’s girlfriend.
We’re both angry. What better way to get revenge than to pretend to get together out of spite?
Nick is rude and rebellious and completely freaking gorgeous. He’s not my type, and I’m not his. There’s no way we would work outside of our little game of dirty sex and well kept secrets.
The problem is, he’s an addiction. Or maybe a plague. The more time I spend with him, the more I risk my good-girl image and my carefully built life.
I might want what’s bad for me. I might want Nick. And I might have to convince him – if I can survive him.
No excerpt available.
