Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Fakers with Benefits

SERIES:  Crimson Club

AUTHOR:  Willow Dixon

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  336 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 4, 2023

BLURB:  

Just when I think my life can’t get any weirder, a mysterious stranger comes to the club and offers me a crap-ton of cash to pose as his boyfriend for ninety days.

The job sounds simple enough. Evan is as rich as he is hot, and he says he doesn’t expect anything from me other than my acting skills. If we can pull it off and fool his friends and family, he gets his inheritance. I get a new wardrobe, a huge payout, and a chance to see how the other half lives.

But as time goes on and I find myself becoming more involved in Evan’s world, I realize things aren’t always as they seem.

On the outside Evan is a buttoned-up, boring businessman. But when he starts receiving letters threatening not only himself, but also me, I find out who he truly is.

Ruthless.

Possessive.

And the only person who’s ever made me feel seen.

Nick and Evan’s story is a fake relationship with benefits romance between a wealthy business mogul and a younger stripper with a heart of gold. Expect lots of heat, tons of banter, and all the feels as these two men realize that sometimes opposites really do attract. It is the second book in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW:

Note:  This is the second book in this series and the timelines overlap.  It does contain spoilers for the first book and some of the context is shared in more detail in the first book.  I recommend reading in order, but it can be read as a standalone.

Nick is a young guy who works as a stripper at Crimson.  He also has a day job at a cafe.  He lives with his lifelong bestie, Aiden, and his coworkers or his found family.  He’s bi and out and likes his work.  One night at a the club, a bachelorette party is there.  Nick focuses on the party and in particular a very good looking guy who is tipping him a ridiculous amount.  After the show is over, Nick tries to give the guy back his money saying it’s too much.

Evan, said good looking guy who is also a good tipper tells Nick he has a proposition for him.  When Nick is offended thinking the guy wants to pay him for sex, Evan quickly clarifies.  He’s has a business deal for Nick.  But Nick’s wary.  This seems pretty shady.  He talks to one of the other other dances, who also happens to be a very popular porn star, and together they go to meet Evan to hear about the deal.

Evan wants to pay Nick a LOT of money to pose as his boyfriend for 90 days.  This will get his family off his back and get him his inheritance.  Nick is skeptical.  Oh and there is the little issue of someone threatening Evan as well.  And when they start threatening Nick as well that is a big big mistake.  Evan’s bestie/head of security Vlado will make sure that nothing happens on his watch.

I loved Nick from the first book.  He’s clearly a sweetheart.  Evan was a bit of a mystery at first.  What did he really want with Nick?  Well he wants what he doesn’t think he can have in the end.  But he’s not willing to give Nick up – for anything as it turns out 🙂  Their relationship went from strangers to eventual friends to lovers in a pretty believable timeline.  Nick is much more than meets the eye and those who underestimate him will regret it.  Luckily Evan pulls himself together and realizes what he’s found in Nick – an unlikely forever love.  The sexy times were plentiful and hot.  The best friend relationships in this between Nick and Aiden and Gray and Evan and Vlado were really special.  Emily, Evan’s sister is also not to be trifled with and I loved how she came into her own.  The parents in this one were not so great.  Did I know who the bad guy was early on?  Yes.  Did it matter?  No.  I really enjoyed this lovely romance that started off really unconventionally but ended very very sweetly.  Highly recommended.  Can’t wait for the next dancer to find his HEA.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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