Dirty Trick (A Perfectly Matched Novel Book 1)

Patrick (Trick) has been falling for Grace for a year but he has been friendzoned. When Grace attends a Halloweenparty he is able to seduce her into a wild night of passion BUT she does not know it is him, as he has a costume and is unrecognizable.

I like the friend-to-lovers trope and the sex was hot. BUT it seemed a bit unlikely Grace would not recognize Patrick at all when even her best friend and business partner did. Another obstacle for me was the fact Patrick kept seeing other women during the time he was supposed to be in love with Grace. Ofcourse he was totally into Grace during the story, but it bugged me.

SWAT officer and resident playboy Trick Mathews blew his chance to be with Grace Love when he first met her but he’s been patient since then, being her best friend and waiting for her to see that he’s not the same guy he was before. Grace runs a matchmaking business and has a secret sixth sense that has made her business a success. She usually trusts her sixth sense implicitly but when it comes to Trick and the tingles he causes, she’s not sure she wants to risk their friendship. Then Halloween comes rolling around and Trick takes the opportunity to don a mask at the hottest party in Salem and show Grace just how good they can be together. Unfortunately the masquerade lasts longer than Trick planned and when Grace finally finds out he may end up losing her completely.

Dirty Trick opens up after Trick and Grace have been friends for about a year so you really don’t get to see him as the playboy he used to be. He’s described as a drop dead gorgeous guy but Trick doesn’t act like a stud. He’s just a guy, in love with a girl, who uses Halloween as a chance to get closer to said girl. I loved Trick’s sense of humor and the way he longed for Grace to see him as more than a friend.

Grace has this sixth sense that tingles whenever two people who are “meant” for each other are in the same room, even if it’s just a picture and that’s what helped her run a successful business. She’s had a bad experience in her personal life and that’s why she prefers to focus on other people’s happiness. I liked Grace, she was kind but at the same time she was afraid of getting hurt again, not to mention she has a hidden attraction to Trick that she just refuses to act on because he’s her best friend and she loves having him around. I could understand that. But she’s also this intelligent, fun, good friend and it was easy to see why Trick was head over heels over her.

Trick and Grace have such a great, solid friendship in the first half of the book and I really enjoyed it. There was this synchronicity to their friendship that made them so much fun and I could see why Grace was hesitant to risk it. Trick had her back and was her support system in life but at the same time, there was a flirty undertone to the friendship, at least on Trick’s side. Later, when things changed it was like all the lust that was buried deep exploded and their friendship changed a lot. They tiptoed around each other for awhile because Grace wasn’t aware of why things had changed, just that they had. It made things a little awkward and Christine Bell made sure that the reader felt the change. I certainly felt that change!

Towards the end though, Trick and Grace just make more sense as a couple. There’s plenty of chemistry, plenty of fun, and plenty of heat once Grace gets over her fear of losing Trick and realizes he means business about being with her long term. There was no over the top drama but Grace didn’t just say “Oh okay, I forgive you” either. All in all, a nice balance of friendship, lust, and love in a fast paced, addictive romance.

Final Verdict: Dirty Trick is sexy, fun, and romantic. Also, I dare anyone not to fall in love with Trick.

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.

Grace Love finds love for everyone else but herself. Her BFF Trick is a hottie, but she doesn't want to take the leap. What if he doesn't feel the same way as her. Instead she'll just admire and flirt with him from afar and sleep with a stranger.

Trick is tired of Grace not seeing him as a potential lover, boyfriend, husband, anything. He wants her and he will have her. Things backfire and his plan is ruined, because he wasn't truthful.

Grace has trust issues, so I'm trying to figure out why Trick would think it would be a good idea to lie to her from the beginning. I get that he wants her, but as an Alpha male, he'd just step in and be like, Yo, I'm hot to trot for you, let's get it on like Donkey Kong. I liked Serena better than Grace, she had more of personality. Where Grace was living in the past because of what Vic did to her. Move on. Do yourself a favor and move on. Release the demons and be free!

The sex in this book was quick and then Trick would run out on her. If he did it once, I'd be done. I don't care how good it was, ok, maybe not, I'd give it another round just to be sure that it was great. Then I'd shut the door and the possibility of anything with him.

Overall an ok read, it's quick and some parts are funny. I liked Trick, but felt like he should know better than to trick Grace into seeing he's perfect for her.

Ok, the author immediately won me over simply by describing Trick as a Chris Hemsworth look alike. It was not a chore to imagine him in this role and add to that, Trick is a member of the SWAT team. Yep, I was sold!

Joking aside, this was a really cute and short read. I loved Trick and Grace as our main MC's. I really like the pairing of a reformed playboy and the beautiful, but down to earth heroine. Albeit a bit unrealistic, I liked that Grace and her best friend owned a matchmaking business that was completely successful based off of Grace's tingles she receives when she finds two souls that were a match. The best part is when the mighty fall. Trick, once being a playboy, changes his ways when he recognizes Grace as his own soul mate. It's too bad Grace has placed him firmly in the friend zone when they first meet, after seeing the steady stream of girls coming and going from his home. It doesn't take Trick long to realize Grace is special, but by then it's too late to make a move. He knows he will have to prove to her that he has changed. When that isn't enough, he takes the next step to open her eyes. Problem is, it may not be the right step.

The author teases us with a segue into the next book that will be on Serena, the best friend and one of the new clients of their matchmaking business. Serena was a bit too forward in this book and I am intrigued to read her story to see if her match will tame her wild ways. ARC provided by NetGalley.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book, given by Netgalley.

[...]

I LOVED this book, there’s just no other way to explain how I felt about it! I read it on Halloween so the timing couldn’t have been better.

I liked the characters from the start, Trick and his plan were the best part of the book, and I laughed a lot picturing him speaking as Christian Bale on a Human-tiger costume.

The lie was a really big problem, I knew it would be bad when it unraveled, but it was really fun to watch.

Grace is a beautiful, lovely and smart woman, but her self-esteem has suffered a big blow and she is not herself anymore, she is scared and this big lie might be just what she needs to finally free herself.

It’s a story about true love, about getting back to your own self and loving yourself without doubts and inhibitions. To feel free to be who you really are and never feel afraid of asking for what you want.

The anonymity provided them with the perfect opportunity to forget about what people would think and just feel, the raw passion that assaulted them when they were together was so good I couldn’t put down the book for the whole day. I kept walking into walls and people, that’s how good it was.

Overall an amazing and fun read, there’s nothing that’s just okay in this book, everything exceeded my expectations.

I can’t wait for Serena’s and the bachelor story!!

Dirty trick is the perfect sweet dirty read. Grace Love is a match maker who is perfect at her job she knows when someone is ment to be with someone else but her mojo doesnt work on her, the only person she gets the tingles for is her best friend Trick Mathews but he a player theres no way he is her soul mate. Trick has fallen in love with Grace and has tried to show her he is a changed man but she will just not see it. So when he spots the perfect opportunity to finally get her to see they are perfect for eachother her pulls a dirty trick on her. Dressing up for a Halloween party and pretending to be someone else seemed like the perfect idea at first until he realised he lied to her. But he keeps going hoping he will get her to see. I loved this book and Grace and Trick together was so hott. I cant wait for the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance review Copy of this book given to me by the Publisher through Netgalley.

Dirty Trick by Christine Bell is the first book in the Perfectly Matched series, and my first Entangled Brazen book. I read and fell in love with the Entangled Bliss line, but I'm not usually into the super sexy, sexy-time overload books, and with a title like Dirty Trick, this one promised to be far out of my comfort zone. But it was also based on one of my favorite romantic tropes, friends to lovers, and a great story is a great story, so I loosened my granny panties a bit and dug in.

18403068Grace Love is a matchmaker who can pick a match for anyone with her "sixth sense tingle." She and best friend Serena have finally gotten their fledgling business, Love Will Find a Way, some real exposure, and they plan to capitalize on it at an annual Halloween party thrown by a famous bachelor they hope will be their most influential client to date. While her business is booming, Grace's love life is fizzling. She hasn't done a great job of picking men in the past, and the only man who gets her tingling is Trick Matthews.

Patrick "Trick" Matthews is Grace's neighbor of nearly two years. A former playboy, he has fallen for Grace in a way he never has before. He's stopped his sleepovers with a revolving door of women and tries to convince Grace that he's a changed man, but he was friend zoned by Grace a long time ago. Trick knows they could be so much more. They already function as a couple without the sex, walking their dogs together, watching movies on the couch with her cold feet tucked under his butt. But how does he get her to see him as more than a friend?

Trick wants to accompany Grace to the Halloween party thrown by a potential client, but she turns him down. That's when he comes up with a brilliant plan: he'll go to the party in disguise, charm Grace, and show her how good they could be together. But the plan gets out of hand, and now Grace is really into this mystery man. How can he find a way to reveal his identity and his feelings for her without losing her trust forever?

I loved Dirty Trick! I didn't think that I would like Grace and Trick so much, but the characters were so well developed and so perfect for each other. I love how Trick cared about her feelings and encouraged and supported her, even when she said and did the silliest things.

I liked how Ms. Bell developed the conflict and obstacles in their path to a loving relationship, and I felt that she did a great job of helping Trick reveal his feelings for Grace. The supporting characters were fun as well, and I hope that we get to read Serena's story next. Then the big fish client, Chaz's story next. I really liked how she developed the background characters and used them as more than a catalyst for this even or that event.

One thing I didn't like about Dirty Trick was that she didn't know it was him. Come on! I know why she didn't know, but this is her best friend we're talking about. At some point she had to know. But this added a frustration that made me like the book more. I was shaking my kindle going "hello! How can you not see this?!" I love when a book engages me. The cursing was a bit of overkill, but it was usually presented in realistic dialogue. The naughty bits are a little racy for my tastes in this one, but I muddled through because Ms. Bell has a great story here that just happens to have naughty bits, and not naughty bits that happen to have a little story mixed in.

The short version: Dirty Trick by Christine Bells combines likeable characters you actually want to see together with a complicated situation that takes a little ingenuity and a lot of risks to overcome. The supporting characters are people rather than plot pieces, and any breath holding done while reading the naughty bits can be exhaled in a happily ever after sigh in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers romance with lots of spice, a little deception, and the potential for a great series.

Dirty Trick is a perfect Halloween treat for romance lovers! Chrisitne Bell has created a spicy friends to lovers romance with a super hot SWAT team hero and a down to earth heroine that anyone would want to be friends with and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Trick has always been a player but he is starting to think it is time to settle down and there is only one woman who he wants to claim - his best friend and neighbour Grace. They have been friends for over a year now and spend nearly every spare minute together but Grace hasn't noticed that he's changed his womanising ways and she has him parked firmly in the friends zone so Trick devises the perfect plan to show her how good things could be between them. With Halloween approaching he decides to don a disguise to seduce her at a costume party and prove what amazing chemistry they have. Grace has always had strong feelings about Trick, after being emotionally abused by her ex she is low on confidence and self esteem but Trick is the one man she feels close to and that she can trust 100%. She would never risk losing their friendship by acting on her attraction to him though, especially when she is certain she would never be able to keep the attention of someone so gorgeous.

I have to say from the moment Trick stepped onto the page in his SWAT uniform he had me swooning! What is it about a guy in uniform that turns so many girls knees to mush? Not only is he incredibly sexy but he is also a great guy, he's caring, protective, loving and he adores Grace. I loved seeing them spend time together as a couple but I also enjoyed seeing the incredible passion between them when Trick dons is catman disguise. I have to admit that I couldn't understand why Grace didn't recognise him but you just have to go with that. I also found myself getting a little annoyed with Trick for keeping the deception going on quite as long as he did but because you see things from his point of view you get a full look at his male logic and can understand why he does what he does. Grace was a sweet heroine and it was good to see her gain confidence with Trick's help, as much as I didn't agree with the way he went about things it did help bring her out of her shell and show her just how much her ex had messed with her head.

Dirty Trick is a sexy story and one that has some fantastic passionate encounters (the cinema scene was HAWT!), it's a quick read and one I'd highly recommend. I'm definitely going to have to start working my way through Christine Bell's back list!

This book has it all in terms of contemporary romance. A sweet and wonderful story of friends-turned-lovers. An awkward, yet adorable female lead. A sexy-as-hell guy who is not only kind, but knows what he's doing in bed. Add on all the sizzling sexy times and you've got yourself a killer Brazen title right there. Dirty Trick as easily made it into my favorites list in this imprint. While I enjoy mostly all of the Brazen books, they all fall into the "4 star" category, with the exception of Tessa Bailey's books (Line of Duty series). This one, however, is right up there with Tessa's. I'm a sucker for the friends-turned-lovers plot and I think Bell did a great job with it. I'm also a sucker for the adorably awkward, which is one of the main reasons why I loved this book so much.

Grace is awkward and a bit insecure, but thankfully, not in an annoying way. More like a hilarious and cute way. I really liked her. The owner of a successful match-making service, I loved how she always got "the tingles" whenever she knew a couple was meant to be. That kind of plays into the story a little, and I thought it was a clever little quirk that Bell added to the story. Once she started loosening up and seeing how amazing she was, I really loved her personality. For a romance novel, I think Bell did good with Grace's character development and I really felt like there was a story there.

Trick was the perfect amount of sweet and sexy. I loved how sincere and caring he was towards Grace. You could really tell that he loves her. I have to tell you, I would love a guy like Trick in real life! One thing I that enjoyed most about his character was the fact that he wanted to open Grace up to new experiences and get her to let herself go and realize how amazing she is and what she's capable of as a sexy, independent woman. He gave her confidence and the courage to try new things; helped her get out of her shell. Now, we all know I'm opposed to lying, but the way that he did it, it wasn't conniving or bad at all, and he really had the best intentions. I really liked how the plot progressed, how things unraveled, and how everything was eventually resolved.

By now, I'd like to consider myself somewhat of an expert on Brazen books, so believe me when I tell you this one stands out above quite a few of them and if you're anything like me, you'll devour this book within hours. The characters really sold this book for me and I was left with a smile on my face in the end. You've made a fan of me, Bell, and I can't wait to read what you write next!

This is Book 1 in the "Perfectly Matched" Series and I really enjoyed this funny and sexy friends to lovers tale!

Grace Love is partner in a matchmaking service called “Love Will Find a Way”with her best friend Serena. Although she is great at finding perfect partners for her clients, she fails when she needs to find her own perfect match.

She has her friend, SWAT officer Patrick Matthews and although she spends her time pinning for him in secret, they are only friends.

Patrick is also attracted for Grace since the first day he saw her.

The story is entertaining and the characters are very well done.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Reviewed by Kim
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews

What would you do for a chance to be with the one person who refuses to give you a chance? The person you know is right for you. If you're Patrick "Trick" Matthews, you pretend to be someone else. A masked stranger at a Halloween party.

Trick Mathews and Grace Love have known each other for a little over a year, ever since she moved next door to him. Without question, Trick is a player and when he first saw Grace through her window, his player instincts kicked in. But when he actually laid eyes on Grace in the flesh, his heart soared. It's taken him a while to change his ways, but he has. The problem is....Grace hasn't noticed.

Grace knows Trick is attractive. She knows that he's a great guy. Heck, he's even her best friend. He knows her better than almost anyone. She also knows that he's a player and she isn't going to risk getting hurt again, after her cheating, two-timing ex-fiance broke her heart and her spirit. But, when a masked stranger comes on to her at a Halloween party, maybe just maybe it's time to have a little fun.

Catman, aka Trick got down and dirty with Grace at the Halloween party. The problem now, how is he going to get her to give him, the actual Trick a chance. Just when Trick is on the verge of coming clean, things blow up in his face. Now, Grace isn't talking to him. In fact, she's avoiding him like the plague.

At any given time, Trick's job as a SWAT officer can put his life in jeopardy. The possibility that she might lose Trick forever, is the wake up call Grace needs. But it seems that Trick has decided to forgo the hot steamy passion they shared. In classic Christine Bell form, she has her hero Trick melting your heart in the end.

I loved this book and could NOT get enough of it. Trick and Grace are so great together as friends and then as more. Their intimate moments are hot and steamy and oh my God, did that just happen. I still can't believe what Grace did at the Halloween party and afterwards for that matter. I can't wait to find out what's in store for the next book in this series!!!!

Rating: 4.5

Source: Entangled Publishing

Entangled Brazen is preparing for Halloween a bit early with Christine Bell's Dirty Trick and what better locale to set this holiday-themed story than Salem, Massachusetts? Dirty Trick is the first book in Bell's new Perfectly Matched series, following resident matchmaker Grace Love as she attempts to find her own perfect match. The narrative features a romance between best friends with a bit of a twist, pairing a reformed womanizer with his sexually repressed girl-next-door. The book is equal parts sweet and steamy, with an intense connection between the two protagonists built on chemistry and friendship.
SWAT Officer Trick Matthews is Grace's longtime friend who isn't exactly pleased with his friend-zone status. I don't blame Grace for being skeptical about Trick's would-be romantic intentions towards her, yet his devious response to proving their mutual attraction is just asking for trouble. Under the guise of a Halloween costume, Trick lures an unsuspecting Grace into his arms. There is an element of the forbidden with all their clandestine meetings, but at the same time, there's a sense of security knowing the identity of the man behind the mask, at least in the reader's case.

Grace and Trick's messy predicament reminded me of You've Got Mail after Tom Hanks finds out Meg Ryan's character is his online pen pal. All that's left is for her to learn the truth and once she does, it's only a matter of time before the crap hits the fan. I felt a mixture of amusement and trepidation, anticipating the blowup but delighting in the stolen moments of passion leading up to the inevitable moment of truth.

Dirty Trick is the perfect introduction to Christine Bell's new series because it establishes a connection between readers and a group of characters that will appear in upcoming books. The matchmaking aspect will be a recurring trope, bringing together new couples in the comfort of a familiar setting. Bell smartly sets up a new narrative for the matchmaking agency even as she concludes Trick and Grace's story. I'm excited to see what the author does next with this series.

There are some publishing houses that I've come to believe are always "safe bets" -- they have great editors and super writers - and the Entangled Brazen line is one of those sure things. At this point, I've yet to pick up ANY Entangled version that has disappointed... and DIRTY TRICK is a great example of how dependable the Entangled Brazen line is for readers. Now I admit - I did receive a copy of this from their Publicity Department in the hopes that I'd write an *unbiased* review - but that isn't why I feel this is such a great book!

First of all, is it really possible to go wrong with the formula of best friends who come to realize they mean more to, and want more from, each other than just friendship? Grace is a professional matchmaker who gets "tingles" when she finds a pair that would be a great match. Since she's notorious for having bad relationships, she ignores the tingles she gets around her best friend, Patrick, especially since she considers him a man-whore. (Her penchant for calling him a male slut in various terms is actually quite funny.) Patrick who admits to his man-whoredom, has decided that it is an empty life - and his life would only be full with Grace in it. However, the only way he knows to make that happen is to approach her as someone else so she can see how good it would be between them.

Secondly, I really like how at the end of September, Entangled Brazen is releasing books that have Halloween themes to them - really, how FUN!

Third - it's obvious that Christine Bell had fun with this novel. Patrick, also known as Trick, plays this "trick" on Grace. Grace is a matchmaker whose last name is... wait for it... Love. There are just little twists throughout the story that make you think the author is probably standing back with a wink, wink, nudge, nudge going on.

And last, here's the basic answers everyone always seems to want. 250-ish pages for $2.99? Price is fair. Info on the author, Christine Bell? Right here. Any sex? Yes, but nothing too outrageous or explicit. Worth the read? YES.

I love a good friends to lovers novel--especially when unrequited love is thrown into the mix--and while I was interested to read how the trope unfolds in DIRTY TRICK, I found that the story lacked the depth and fully formed plot of which I'd hoped.

Patrick "Trick" Mathews has been in love with matchmaker Gracie Love since he first laid eyes on her. Interested in making her another notch on his bedpost, once he meets his new neighbor, he views her as more than just an object for his lust. For her part, Grace is equally attracted to Trick, but is fresh off a divorce from a similar playboy scoundrel and doesn't think her SWAT officer best friend would be interested in more than one night. Trick, figuring that there has to be a way to get his Gracie to see that his feelings are real and that they'd be perfect for one another, uses the talk-of-the-town Halloween party (and a mask) as his means for seduction. Gracie and "Catman" become an explosive item while Trick and Grace are left grappling with their relationship.

Again, I was all for the plot, but the execution wasn't my cup-of-tea. The writing wasn't horrendous, but both the prose and dialogue between the characters seemed elementary. In some of the scenes, I felt like this was how the author "thought" men spoke to one another, which made the characters sound like high schoolers trying to be cool. Same for the conversations between the female characters. I found myself skipping paragraphs that were unnecessary, but there to pad the story so that it wouldn't only consist of a few pages of nothing. I didn't feel any sense of anything between any of the characters or have any interest in their relationships. The whole story was "meh," but that's only my perspective.

Overall Dirty Trick was an awesome read!! A Friends to Lovers story that has some smoking sexy scenes.

I loved Trick & Grace & loved that they finally got together. The only issue I had was that even knowing Grace had trust issues Trick "tricked" her into getting together with him. I wish he would have gotten her to realize how good they would be together in a different way.

Other than that issue I loved Dirty Trick. Christine Bell is a favorite author & I can't wait to read Serena's story!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

My Thoughts:

Dirty Trick by Christine Bell was such a fun and fast-paced read. It was told from the main characters, Patrick (Trick) and Gracie's point of views. Gracie and Trick are friends and next-door neighbors. Gracie has been attracted to Trick since she first met him, but quickly put him in the "friend zone," when she realized that he was a player, who didn't do serious relationships. Gracie owns a matchmaking business called, "Love Will Find A Way," with her beautiful and wealthy best friend, Serena. Gracie is known for having the ability to find perfect matches for others, but when it comes to herself, she's not so lucky.

Trick is a gorgeous Swat Officer. All the ladies flock to him, but he only has eyes for Gracie. He stopped his womanizing ways over a year ago, and has tried to win Gracie over. However, no matter what he has done, he can't seem to get out of the "friend zone." So, when Trick learns that Gracie is going to a large Halloween Bash, he decides to disguise himself with an intricate mask, as the "Cat Man." He puts contacts in his eyes, uses different soap so Gracie won't recognize his scent, and disguises his voice. His ultimate plan is to seduce Gracie, and then reveal his real identity, so that she will see how great the two of them could be together. However, not everything goes as planned, and it makes for an interesting conundrum.

I really enjoyed Dirty Trick! This book flew by. It was a fun and refreshing book that was a great escape from the angst-filled books I've been reading lately. Ms. Bell brought the steam in this story! The sex scenes were hot!!! Trick made me swoon over and over again. Who doesn't love a bad boy that decides to become a one woman man when he falls in love? Trick stole the show for me, and let me tell you ladies, he will get your blood pumping, and your palms sweating!

My Rating:

I give Dirty Trick by Christine Bell 3.5 Fun, Flirty, Fantasy-Filled Stars! This story was one hot and steamy fast-paced read. The swoon factor that the Brazen name is known for was off the charts! Read Dirty Trick if your looking for a fun, easy, light, and sexy read!

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I love Christine Bell's writing, she has a wonderfully captivating voice that puts you right in the middle of her stories. In Dirty Trick, Bell weaves a story of best friends turned lovers through a sexy Halloween trick that turns into the most delicious of treats.

Grace Love is a match maker, however, her skills haven't worked so well for herself. After a devastating breakup that shattered her self esteem, she has stuck to the safe...and somewhat boring. The only man who seems to make her tingle is her playboy best friend and neighbor, Trick Matthews, but she knows messing around with him will only lead to another broken heart.
Trick has been lusting after his neighbor since the first day she moved in, but when Grace quickly friend-zoned him, he took the hint. Hanging out with her day after day though has only strengthened his initial attraction for Grace until he can no longer picture his life without her and wants more then just friendship. Trick knows that Grace will never give him the chance to show her how right they are together. But when an opportunity arises at Halloween to show her just how good they can be together without her even knowing it is him, he takes it. The trouble is, once the lies start Trick finds it hard to dig himself out of the pile he makes until he risks loosing any chance with Grace, as a friend and lover.

I enjoyed Dirty Trick start to finish. Grace is a fun, feisty, and relate-able heroine. I understood her hesitance in even thinking about more then just friendship with Trick. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to shake her occasionally for her inability to see what was right in front of her. Uber hot and sweet SWAT guy who was head over heels in love with her. But, I got it. Trick made me melt right from the get-go. Did you miss the part about uber hot SWAT guy? *melts again* This was a man that was just trying to find a way to be with the woman he loved and took an opportunity that landed in his lap to make it happen. Does that make his deceitfulness okay? I'll let you decide. I'll tell you one thing though, Trick's road to redemption was a heartrendingly good ride! And did I mention the sultry and inventive love scenes? Have a glass of ice ready ladies!
If you love contemporary romance with a little hot trickery involved I recommend you picking up Dirty Trick for a quick and satisfying read perfect for the fall season!

***A copy of this book was received in exchange for an honest review. No monies or compensation was exchanged.

3.5 stars

Grace & Trick are friends... only friends. But he's wanted more since the day he met her.

Grace Love is a matchmaker, and she can match anyone and everyone. Except herself. The only guy she's had that tingle for is Trick. But Trick and Grace are friends. She's watched her playboy womanizing neighbor since she moved in and despite those tingling feelings he causes she's not going to risk their friendship.

Trick has wanted Grace since the first day she moved in. But somehow he slipped into the friend zone. He's been patient, biding his time to make his move, but Grace just won't see him as anything more than a friend. He puts a plan in place to change her mind for good.

First... let me just say, I'm not a fan of this cover. Normally I love the Brazen covers, but this one ... I don't know if it's the green or the couple or what, but the only thing appealing about it to me were the biceps.

Don't let that deter you though, because I'm a big fan of Christine Bell. I love her Dare Me Series and this is another one to add to the list of books I enjoyed.

I really liked Grace, and while the plot of the book is predictable, Bell makes the characters incredibly likable and the writing fresh and fun. I found myself enjoying Grace and Tricks story, mostly because Bell writes Grace in a way that makes her incredibly relatable. She's not perfect and she has some personal hang-ups, but she's successful and intelligent, and I can completely appreciate that!

And Trick - of course he's a SWAT guy, which immediately makes him sexy, but add in the idea that he knows what he wants and he's changing his ways just for the chance to have this amazing woman in his life. While he was deceitful in getting the opportunity, I could understand why he did it, and I found myself cheering him on from their very first interaction.

And Bell can write some amazingly passionate scenes. These two just fit together perfectly and even though Grace couldn't see it, I could feel it with every word written.

If you're looking for a fun, quick, read filled with friendship, lust and some naughty naughty sex, then Dirty Trick is the book you're looking for. I'm excited to see which characters Bell brings us next!

: DIRTY TRICK is the first storyline in Christine Bell's new contemporary romance Perfectly Matched Series. This is Grace and (Pa)Trick's -a friends to lovers story-with a twist.

The premise follows Grace Love, the co-owner of a matchmaking business and her personal struggles to find her soul-mate. Grace has the uncanny ability to match up couples-whereby she gets a `tingly feeling' when a match is perfect. But for some reason, she is unable to find the perfect match for herself, and in this she believes she is a failure -with a last name like Love how could she miss. The only person with whom she gets any sort of feeling is her long time friend SWAT officer Trick Matthews. Not understanding the reason for this feeling Grace continues to search for the one person meant especially for her. When she believes she has found her perfect match, Grace is unsure as to what to do when the person refuses to reveal his true identity.

The storyline is a friends to lovers. Trick has felt the pull towards Grace since the first day they met, but Grace has always kept Trick in the friend column believing she was not worthy of anything beyond what they already had. And to complicate matters, Grace's self esteem when it came to her personal love life had been shattered by a previous relationship that had all but destroyed Grace's ability to allow herself to let go.

Dirty Trick is also a story of betrayal and deceit. Although Trick had never intended to betray or deceive Grace, he maneuvers certain situations until at one point, he has passed the boundary of no return and knows that when he finally reveals the truth to Grace, he may lose more than his chance to tell her how he feels-he may lose his friend as well. Some people are idiots and Trick certainly fits that category.

Christine Bell writes a wonderful and unique storyline that is definitely fiction-the premise is slightly unbelievable and an accident waiting to happen. It is a story with some humor, some deceit, some betrayal, some heartbreak and in the end-a happily ever after.

Title: Dirty Trick
Series: Perfectly Matched Book #1
Author: Christine Bell
Rating: A
Review: This is just such a sweet, feel-good kinda read. When Trick and Grace first met, Trick was just a player looking for some fun. But Grace took one look at him, pegged him for what he was, and they became just friends instead. Unfortunately, it took awhile for Trick to realize that he was actually in love with her - and by the time he did, he was firmly in the "friend zone" - with no hope in sight of getting Grace to see him as more than that.
Desperate times call for desperate measures - and Trick certainly has those in spades! When the opportunity presents itself to get Grace to see him with new eyes (well, sort of - he is wearing a mask at the time) he jumps at the chance. He figures if he can just open her eyes what they have together, she'll see him differently. But the longer he plays the game, the more he rationalizes it in his head - and he keeps delaying telling her the truth. But what happens when Grace finally realizes the truth?
Just a fun, fun read that you won't want to miss!

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In a word, this book is "delightful." The story revolves around Grace Love and Trick Matthews, two friends who are perfect for each other. Unfortunately, Grace is terrified of risking a relationship with Trick - she has been burned by love before and Trick has a bad track record as a reformed player that makes her wary. All this adds up to him desperately willing to do anything, and we mean anything, for Grace to see him as serious boyfriend material. Let's just say, he embarks on a mission that is sexy but certainly risky, to finally get her attention. (Hint - it involves a hot Halloween costume and a disguised voice). The writing is snappy and at times laugh out loud funny. I love Autumn and Halloween and it doesn't get much more fun and seasonally appropriate than Dirty Trick.

Their best friend and Grace's business partner, Serena, plays a key role and may be one of my favorite female characters in as long as I can remember. She is funny, sassy and a player in her own right. It looks like hers will be the next book and I am dying for the day her story comes out!

I love Brazen titles and this book is a wonderful addition to the line. Grace is part owner of a popular matchmaking company. The only problem is everyone else is finding the love and she isn't. Neither is her business partner Serena. (I suspect this will be in a future book.) Trick is one of Grace's best friends and her neighbor and she has harbored a unfulfilled desire for him for a long time. Scars from the past prevent her from acting on the impulse.

Trick is beside himself for wanting Grace. He centers his life around her and his job and when the chance comes up for him to prove his love, he crafts a plan and at a Halloween party he sets it into action. This book features a very naughty Trick and some early Halloween treats for all. I loved it!

4/5

A great beginning of a new series! I love friends to lovers stories! Even though they seem to be the trend to write about lately, it's always interesting to read how each author makes the magic happen!! And with this story...magic happens!! An enjoyable story!!

Thanks to Entangled Publishing LLC via NetGalley for a copy of this book! Can't wait to see where this series goes!!

Ok I loved this book thought it was funny, sweet, and hella sexy! I loved Grace because she was totally down to earth and very much a "normal" girl looking for that perfect guy! I also fell in love with Trick he was a sweet, alpha male who was totally in love with Grace! Grace and Trick were best friends and neighbors they quietly loved each other too afraid to act on their impulses because Grace had been hurt in a past relationship and Trick well he was a complete player! But it all came down to a Halloween party and a cat mask(that is all I am going to say about that). The chemistry and the sex in this book was way hot and I would definitely read more books by this author again!

I found this story contrived, too contrived. The whole idea of the Hero tricking the heroine, who is lovely, into having sex with him and not revealing his identity until the last chapter of the book, and even then he is found out, went on for a little too long. The heroine came off as dumb because she just had no clue and I could not understand that at all, they were good friends after all. In the end the making up with so quick and short, so there was hardly anytime spent with these two people as a real couple. It was not a good read for me at all.