Nerdy Dirty Valentine by Skylar M. Cates

A nerdy virgin professor wants a little dirty talk… but am I the right person to give it to him?

James assumed I was his bully in high school. In my drunken haze, I thought he was mine. We were both wrong. Starting over as tentative friends, I offer to help James with his dating techniques up until Valentine’s Day. I figure it can’t hurt. I’m sober and a proud firefighter, too busy to worry about romance. And James claims he only needs my help until he finds a real relationship. I don’t want to make a mistake or hurt him.

As February approaches, I find my long-buried crush on James resurfacing again. Only this time, I’m determined to do something about it. Will I have to let James go by Valentine’s Day or follow the feelings in my heart?

Nerdy Dirty Valentine is sweet and naughty. It contains hurt/comfort, practice dating, and friends-to-lovers tropes.

Note: For any mild triggers, please see a warning in the opening pages.

 

 

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~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
Nerdy Dirty Valentine is a fun, quick read, and it is definitely dirty. The first scene sees Phin sitting in a diner watching James on a disastrous date. It was very entertaining, and I knew from the beginning this was a story I was going to enjoy.

When Phin offered to help James improve his dating skills, I was excited but also a little apprehensive. I find sometimes fake dating leads to lots of angst but that wasn’t the case here. Phin and James were spending time together having fun. Both Phin and James grow emotionally during their journey, each of them offering the other support. It was lovely to see. Most of the story is on the lighter side, but there was one scene that was particularly serious, and I was surprised to find myself tearing up.

The intimate scenes in this story are dirty but they lacked polish and at times felt a little unrealistic, but I still enjoyed them. If you are looking for an easy, fast-paced, m/m romance starring two good, supportive men, then I think you will enjoy Nerdy Dirty Valentine.

 

 

SKYLAR M. CATES loves a good romance, especially ones that are both steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her novels feature strong, passionate characters who care about their friends and family. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic people are challenged with emotional situations. Although lately, the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from around the globe.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Nerdy Dirty Valentine by Skylar M. Cates to read and review.

Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates

Opposites who go together like country and rock ’n’ roll.

Long before he was a superstar, Remy Sean had a secret crush on Jed Riley. But Jed sees Remy as a spoiled pop rocker and an extension of his father’s control. Still, Jed is willing to let Remy hide from the press on his ranch—but only as a way to get his father out of his life and business for good.

Used to being admired and fawned over, Remy keenly feels the sting of Jed’s dismissal. Can he make Jed see him as more than a pain in the ass? Or is Jed too tangled up in his ranch to see past his old hurt?

Jed doesn’t believe someone desired by so many fans could want him, a simple cowboy. But Remy is determined to change Jed’s mind and steal his heart…

Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story takes two of my favourite m/m fantasies (cowboy and rock star) and puts them together in a story that manages to be sweet, fun, and just a little bit angsty.

Skylar M. Cates is a talented writer who manages to balance Harlequin-style romance tropes with characters who feel real and relatable. Dreamspun Desires isn’t a natural fit for this author, but I enjoyed the self-aware tribute to classic romance. Jed is a textbook strong, silent cowboy and Remy is a textbook disillusioned rocker. There’s a little bit of glamour and a whole lot of fantasy in this story but there isn’t much that is particularly original. However, both men are well written enough to feel human and their emotions are sweet and raw.

I loved the animals and enjoyed the characters in this story. This is an easy, fun, and slightly fluffy read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

SKYLAR M. CATES loves a good romance, especially ones that are both steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is quite happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her best-selling novels feature strong, passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic men are challenged with emotional situations. Skylar’s character-driven series will often feature close-knit families, animals, and loyal friendships being tested.

Skylar dreams about spending her days writing novels, walking along the beach, and listening to good live music. She also dreams of eating dessert without weight gain and robots cleaning her house. But she knows she can’t have it all… yet. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.

Connect with Skylar

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates to read and review.

Secrets of You by Skylar M. Cates

It’s never easy to find redemption.

Carrying scars and regrets, River Darcourt avoids too much intimate contact. Among his friends, he is known as a quiet loner. Forget about love. It’s not something he will consider… until sweet, young, and tempting Morgan Hayes becomes his housemate. River closed his heart long ago, but the attraction is impossible to deny.

Morgan Hayes needs a change. He is moving out of his critical father’s home and in with his friends, including his secret/not-so-secret crush, River. Having feelings for River is a terrible idea. But what is a guy to do when the annoyingly sexy mechanic is just across the hall?

While Morgan has overcome ugliness and is ready for love, he’s just not sure River ever will be. They have both experienced pain in their lives. So Morgan dares River to take a chance, and love will either break their fractured hearts in more pieces or, just possibly, make them whole again.

Book 4
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
The fourth book in the Sunshine and Happiness series belongs to secretive, bad boy mechanic River and his housemate Morgan. It is a darker and more challenging read than earlier books.

At the start, River is a frustrating character. Trapped in a past he won’t talk about or deal with, he is as irritating as he is handsome. It is only when his past is finally revealed that his silent brooding makes sense. It took me most of the book before I even liked River and there were several places where I struggled to understand Morgan’s attraction and his easy forgiveness.

In contrast, Morgan reads like an adorable, injured puppy. Initially, his perky rainbow twink persona is as irritating as River’s brooding but it doesn’t take long to understand the strength of character behind the glitter. I’m still not convinced that Morgan and River work as a couple. Their combined issues are huge – and there isn’t enough time in a single novel to sensitively unpack everything they’ve got going on. The result is a somewhat superficial treatment of life altering issues that didn’t quite work for me.

I really don’t understand why this book is included in a series called Sunshine and Happiness. Between Morgan’s horrific experiences and River’s heartbreaking past, the pain experienced by these two men is overwhelming. Add in River’s inability to communicate effectively and the story was sometimes too angsty for me.

This book does not stand alone. The cast of characters has been huge from the start of the series and the new couples have only added to the numbers. Readers reading the series back to back might be able to navigate through the characters without issue, but it’s been almost two years since I read the last one and I was a bit lost – especially in the beginning.

SKYLAR M. CATES loves a good romance, especially ones that are both steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is quite happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her best-selling novels feature strong, passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic men are challenged with emotional situations. Skylar’s character-driven series will often feature close-knit families, animals, and loyal friendships being tested.

Skylar dreams about spending her days writing novels, walking along the beach, and listening to good live music. She also dreams of eating dessert without weight gain and robots cleaning her house. But she knows she can’t have it all… yet. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.

Connect with Skylar

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Secrets of You (Sunshine and Happiness #4) by Skylar M. Cates to read and review.

Rim Shot by Skylar M. Cates

Can college roommates go from friends to lovers?

Kyle
I’m confident that with hard work, my position as point guard can carry me from rural Indiana to the NBA. I also know I’m attracted to guys, but admitting it might disappoint my father, who is all I have in this world. I have big dreams, so I’ll stay in the closet. As long as my life remains scandal-free, I have a shot.

Micah
My large family can’t spare the money to help with my education, but that won’t stop me from studying medicine. I needed to get out of the house I was sharing with my ex before I went insane. Luckily, I heard about a guy looking for a roommate. Living with a straight jock won’t be easy, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
Both Kyle and Micah are incredibly driven college students. Kyle’s goal is to play basketball in the NBA and Micah’s goal is to become a doctor. Even though their interests and experiences are very different, this focus and drive makes them a great match.

I feel like the premise of this story has more promise than the actual story delivers. Parts of this story dragged. The journey from roommates to friends to lovers feels very slow. At times, Kyle and Micah’s connection feels more convenient than fated – something Micah actually questions at one point.

There is a whole lot going on here beyond Kyle and Micah’s relationship and not all of it really helps the story. I struggled to engage with Kyle’s basketball teammates and their issues. Kyle and Micah’s family issues are touched on a few times but not ever fully resolved. And the drug testing storyline resolved too easily and had Micah acting out of character.

So, I loved the idea of this story but I wasn't as excited by the actual book.

SKYLAR M. CATES loves a good romance, especially ones that are both steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is quite happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her best-selling novels feature strong, passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic men are challenged with emotional situations. Skylar’s character-driven series will often feature close-knit families, animals, and loyal friendships being tested.

Skylar dreams about spending her days writing novels, walking along the beach, and listening to good live music. She also dreams of eating dessert without weight gain and robots cleaning her house. But she knows she can’t have it all… yet. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.

Connect with Skylar

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rim Shot by Skylar M. Cates to read and review.