Well this book certainly helped me escape from the real world for a little while!.
I didnt realise this was a sequel, however that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. The characters were great, the storyline was fun and fiery, it was an all round great read.

Cait has been in love with Jackson ever since she fell into his lap 6 years ago, but Jackson has a strict rule of not mixing business with pleasure and as Cait is one of his clients of his exclusive club he must do his best to refuse the temptation that she is.
Now they are both at their best friends wedding, can they agree to a no strings attached friends with benefits deal for the duration of the wedding part, They think they can but after just one night Jackson finds himself panicking and fearing that he isn't good enough for Cait and so decides to seperate himself from Cait.
Four months later and Cait has had enough so dressed as a festive elf she decides to confront him but needs to get under his skin to find out what really makes Jackson tick.

I liked this. It did what it said on the tin. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it helped me to forget the Covid ridden world for an evening.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This was a bit more of a hot and steamy romance than is normal for M&B - in a good way - sometimes they can be a bit formulaic but this was great

I didn't realise this was a sequel but this didn't affect my enjoyment

Great characters and loved the story

What a hot and steamy holiday romance, perfect for this time of the year.

This book is the sequel to Getting Dirty, which I haven’t actually read (yet).

You cannot go wrong with a Mills & Boon, especially this one. The story is fast paced, you get enough detail of the characters but aren’t swamped in it. There is always a story as well as the sex and nothing is off limits.

The Male, Jackson, was your typical damaged bad boy and I did get a bit of a 50 shades vibe to the overall story, but I still really enjoyed it.

With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This was the first saucy M&B novel I'd read, and I was slightly taken aback by how explicit it was!

Caitlyn has had a crush on sex club owner Jackson for six years, and the night of their mutual best friends' wedding is when she makes her move. Much steamy action ensues within a friends-with-benefits, only-for-the-4-days-of-the-wedding-party scenario. But Jackson creeps out of the bedroom while Caitlyn is sleeping, and there is radio silence for the next 4 months, leaving Caitlyn nursing growing tender feelings and wondering what she did wrong.

There is a fair bit in Jackson's back story that kept reminding me of 50 Shades of Grey, with a similar background of abuse driving his damaged approach to relationships. I found Caitlyn a less believable character - a 26-year-old who behaves like a randy, irresponsible teenager at the beginning but turns into a mature, understanding woman suspiciously quickly after a few months.

But all ends well of course, with bonus Christmassiness which makes it a good read for this time of year. Maybe don't put it in granny's stocking!

Love and Christmas shenanigans
4 stars

I have read and enjoyed Rachael Stewart’s stories before but not, as it happens, the book that precedes this one, Getting Dirty. With that said, this one stands completely alone and follows a completely different couple to the first book so no need to have read that one first. But, like me, you're going to want to read it after!

In fact, this story takes place during the wedding of the couple from Getting Dirty - Ash and Coco. Our couple for this story - Caitlin and Jackson - are the best man and maid of honour at that wedding. And they’re also harbouring a not so secret crush on each other. Well, “crush” is probably too tame a word for what our pair feel.

Too much drink, a festive atmosphere and the freedom of wearing a kilt, lead to an explosion of pent up lust in the Highlands. I’m not sure if it’s because these characters were introduced in a previous novel - or just the style of the tale - but I liked the way we get right into the story and right into the action. With that said, the story, for me, really hit high gear once we’re back from in London and the fallout from the weekend begins.

After waiting for years to have a chance with Jackson, Cait is at first delighted by their encounter and then hurt by his behaviour afterwards. Jackson is appalled by the whole incident. Him losing control, his behaviour afterwards and the fact that he can’t stop wanting Cait. I half expected Jackson to be your usual “I’m not good enough for her”, character who was grumpy and emotionally cold. While he did exhibit grumpiness and coldness, he also had a lot of layers - which made me happy. He was good natured, kind, liked a laugh - and genuinely liked to be around Cait. Although I didn’t agree with his perception of the circumstances (and we’re not supposed to, I assume!), I very much liked him as a character.

Cait was also a good character. She was youthful and independent - but not in a negative way. She was carefree and sometimes acted first and thought afterwards. Yet she always came across as real and highly relatable, owning her mistakes when she needed to. Although personally, I didn't think the elf costume was a bad move. Neither did Jackson, it would seem!

I really felt a connection between our pair and the chemistry was electric. But as I mentioned, they also had a good friendship which I sometimes think is lacking in some stories. Of course I want our couple to lust after each other - but I also want them to like each other. Cait and Jackson fit that bill.

I used to complain that Dare novels were a little bit tepid compared to its predecessor, Blaze. This book blew that complaint clear out the water. Our first sex scene is an anal scene which is definitely a first for me in a Mills & Boon novel. It’s not my thing but there’s no shame here…and it was quite subtly done in any case. Jackson is the owner of a sex club in London yet we see little to nothing of this world, or at least the acts that presumably transpire in it - instead focussing more on the relationship between Cait and Jackson.

This was an enjoyable and fun story that had nice Christmassy touch to it. Rachael Stewart has a fantastic writing style that’s friendly and easy to read, with a wit and humour that I really relate to. The Dare tagline is ‘take control, feel the rush and explore fantasies’ - and for me, this book hit that descriptor and then some. Recommended.

A racy romance, bad boy gives into temptation at his best friend's wedding. A period of avoidance followed by sex marathon. The relationship moves forward, almost destroyed by a scheming old flame. Will they work it out?

Caitlin and Jackson have a connection which for the last 6 years has been firmly kept in check due to the rules of the club. Finding themselves miles away from London it is easy to justify why the rules shouldn’t apply and that they should make the most of breaking them.

The first bit of the book set the scene well and built up the sexual tension between the two of them whilst providing a bit of a back story. This is by no means a slow burning story as by chapter 3 they are already getting down and dirty. That being said this book does not just focus on the sex and there is more to the story than that.

Jackson has clearly been burned in the past which is why he has rules in place to keep him and his heart safe, only problem is Caitlin is keen to break those rules down as she can see how amazing they could be together.

I felt that Jackson owning a sex club was an unnecessary bit of titillation to try and make the story seem more exciting and risky and I did feel that more could have been made of Caitlin being an independent successful women which would have helped elevate her to someone who you could understand Jackson fearing he didn’t deserve.

There were bits of the story that I really liked, but there were just as much that I didn’t like. For me the initial sex scene was a bit much and I find it funny that an owner of a sex club felt so horrified by his behaviour. This is good for a giggle but not one I would keep on the bookshelf.

Caitlin fell in love with Jackson six years ago after she fell into his lap at his club in London. With a no-dating the clients rule he has self-imposed she has more or less kept her distance. But now that they are maid of honour and best man at their friends wedding in Scotland she is hoping that the rules don't apply.

Convincing him to a wedding fking wmeven though he insists that he isn't good enough for her they embark on a night of passion. With his conscious catching up to him whilst Cait sleeps he leaves and they don't speak for the rest of the trip or the four months following.

Dressed up as a naughty elf she ends up in his club with her friend. After getting drunk he takes her up to his flat to look after her. Feeling embarrassed the next morning, she has the talk about why he ran out on her four months ago. Sparking the passion between them. Following a couple of weeks of fun, but what happens when someone from Jackson's past comes back to haunt him? Can he really walk away from Cait?

steamy story of a man with darkness inside finds his soul mate in the form of his most loyal friend. This is from the the Mills and Boon Dare series.

I’m not sure what I expected but this wasn’t it. Very 50 shades which isn’t my bag at all. Not something I’d read.

A deep mutual attraction, unacted upon, as they behave in the still in the good, trusted friend mode.

The owner of a sex club, who has had an abusive relationship in the past, that has not been spoken about, let alone had professional help for.

A friend's wedding throws the pair together and the attraction becomes physical on a very temporary basis. But feelings of love on both sides cannot be ignored any longer. These feelings and the fallout of the past abuse, have to be worked through for love to win and emerge to its full potential.

With a happy ever after ending in this romantic story of love, commitment and everlasting happiness.

Received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I didn't like this one. I wasn't at all keen on the heroine Caitlin, who behaved more like an adolescent for the first half of the book, than an adult. The hero, Jackson, was more interesting and his back story really did underpin his need for control but he behaved like a jerk.

This author can write well, and I have read several of her books which I thoroughly enjoyed but this one left me cold I'm afraid.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book and loved everything about it. Well that dry spell is well and truly over.

“Wait until you see what naughtiness awaits you in this little bundle.”

Sometimes you just know when a book is going to be an absolute winner from the opening chapter, and with no shortage of fun, feeling and sexy shenanigans that was exactly the case here as Caitlin and Jackson venture down the bumpy path of friendship with benefits. Outspoken and more than capable of fighting her own battles, Cait is fabulous, strong-willed and hilarious in her quest to break down Jackson’s defences. And Jackson...Cait is unquestionably the light to his dark and whilst he has his demons and is guarded, he’s like a Tunnock’s Tea Cake—crack through the harder exterior and you discover a soft, yummy centre.

“I have a thousand wants and every one of them involves you and a shitload of debauched fun.”

This is Rachael Stewart at her best and if you love a sexy romance with the added bonus of festive flair, Unwrapping the Best Man is one you definitely don’t want to miss out on. And it’s worth mentioning that this Getting Dirty, although both can easily be read as standalones.

“I truly am a naughty elf...”

I don't really know how to rate this one. It definitely kept me reading and I've read it in about 2 hours. I really liked both Cait and Jackson, and their romance felt natural and developed. There was definite sizzle and some good banter that had me smiling a few times. I don't think I will lose the image of that Santa outfit for a while... especially with Christmas round the corner. It isn't the fat, bearded Santa I'd want in my chimney anymore.

The rating was hard because the plot has been done 181717 times. It didn't really offer anything new. But as a whole I enjoyed it.