Friends Wanting Benefits

Friends with Benefits #0.5

by Luke Young

Victoria Wilde and Jillian Grayson meet while aboard a romantic Caribbean cruise with the men in their lives. The two become fast friends despite being in completely different relationships—Victoria, a young widow, is finally moving on with a new and exciting romance. Jillian, on the other hand, is struggling in a long marriage that’s barely hanging on by a thread.

But when Victoria offers Jillian advice on how to get the spark back between the sheets… things don't exactly go as planned. With a misunderstanding of international significance, all hell breaks loose in paradise. Can Victoria repair the damage that has been done? Will she truly help Jillian save her marriage?

Find out in Friends Wanting Benefits. A prequel series to the Friends With… Benefits series.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Erotica, Erotic Romance, Unfinished

Unknown Binding

First published February 5, 2014

About the author

Want a free book? Download the Luke Young Starter Library! Visit my website:
https://lukeyoungbooks.com

Luke Young is a #1 Amazon Comic Fiction best-selling author and writer of five iBookstore top 300 and Amazon Rom Com best-sellers. He’s a husband, father, dog dad and dark chocolate lover. He writes hilarious and sexy romances with characters his readers fall in love with—from his reverse age-gap Friends with Benefits series to standalone romantic comedies—he loves making his readers laugh out loud.

Luke's Friends With Benefits series has garnered more than 6000 5-Star reviews (between Amazon, Goodreads and the iBookstore). Friends with Partial Benefits, is the sexy and hilarious first book in the series, and it’s been downloaded over 2 million times.

His latest work, Blame it on Emerald, is a contemporary romance stand alone filled with laughter, a full range of emotions, tons of sexual tension and heat.

He loves to hear from readers:

Personal Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LukeYoungNewsletter

Website: https://lukeyoungbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LukeYoungAuthor

Reviews

[Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic · Rating 1 out of 5]

~~1 HEART~~

This book! Where do I start? It was horrible to me. Victoria got on my last nerves. She was portrayed as a ditzy schoolgirl and a horny teenager BUT she’s actually a 38 year old widow that is currently dating a 21 year old college boy. Their little sexcapades were a bit unbelievable and over the top. Her mind was constantly like a horny teenage boy. I just wanted to bang my head against the wall. Why did I continue on and complete the book you ask? Well hell I don’t even know why myself. I think I was hoping that it would get better and it was just a fluke on how Victoria was acting and carried herself. I had a constant eye roll going. I thought for a moment that it might just get stuck that way.

Friends Wanting Benefits is the prequel to the Friends With Benefits series. We learn the backstory of how Victoria & Jillian meets. Jillian’s relationship is hanging on by a thread while Victoria’s relationship is just getting started. These two different
couple meets on a cruise and Jillian & Victoria became fast friends. They get into a little trouble and all hell breaks loose.

Jullian & George’s marriage just seems like the flames has blown out ages ago and they were just going through the daily activities of life (without the sex). George was inconsiderate and I just imagined him as a big slob with flatulence issues which is not sexy at ALL. Should I continue on with this series???? IDK, I’m very hesitant but don’t want to write it off just yet. Maybe I’ll come back to this series later. Hopefully Victoria is not as annoying as she was in this book.

[Brandee - Brandee's Book Endings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hiQGgb

I had this series on my to read list for a while now and when i heard that there was a Prequel and I could jump in to this series and not spoiling any of the other books, I was easily sold. My only regret is that I did not pick it up sooner… now I can’t wait to continue reading all the rest! I had heard many great things about this series and now, I can tell you for myself how much I am looking forward to reading this whole series and EVERYTHING else like it by Luke!

Friends Wanting Benefits is the perfect mix of comedy with spice. I love that Luke Young had the ability to pull off this series in a genre dominated by women authors. Spicy and funny (but not being creepy LOL) all wrapped into one with a surprisingly accurate look into a lot of women’s minds (I kept forgetting that a man wrote the book as I was reading). I can’t wait to read MORE! I love Tara Sivec and Alice Clayton and Luke’s humor is certainly up there.

Another great thing about this book and series are that the women characters we are reading about are not in their teens or 20′ somethings…. well, we may get some eye candy that is, but the female leads are closer to my stage in life (as I am nearing 40). I believe they say that 40 is the new 20 or something like that! You will love these fantastic and hysterical ladies. I have to admit that I may know some ladies very much like them. Better yet, a little fun for the reader in us all, Jillian (one of the main characters) is an author and is on this cruise for an author signing event ~ which is what brings these two fab ladies, Jillian and Victoria, together in the first place.

My goal is to make sure more people find out about this FANTASTIC series and I will do my best to help spread the word! So, pick up your copy today.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago, I read book one and found it an engaging blend of general fiction, hot romance, and comedy about two middle aged women who pursue what will make them happy. Jillian has ended a marriage of 20 years with a cheating husband and now must get her mojo back while the wild Victoria continues to live life large.

I was glad the author chose to go back in time and write how the two best friends met. I can't say I enjoyed learning what it was like for Jillian with George as their marriage died it's death, but I did enjoy seeing the friendship begin and the wild antics of the plot.

Even though things get pretty hot and spicy particularly for Victoria and her young college man, this is very much a women's fiction story.

[SandyL · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring!! Two couples go on a cruise, the scenes switch back and forth between the couples (one is having a fun time having sex all the time, the other is barely tolerating each other.) Based on the description in sounds like things do happen in this book, but I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to find out.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright read. The premise of the story was interesting to me. Two couples going on a cruise. Also, this is the backstory of the friendship between Victoria and Jillian. However, I think that the execution of the plot was lacking. I thought the main characters were good. However, I thought Victoria was just too preoccupied with Ethan and Jillian was too busy to spend time with her husband. I did like the friendship though. They were funny together and it was nice to see the friendship grow. I thought the book dragged and was boring at times. This is the prequel, so I hope the series gets better because I would like to see where this story goes. Overall, an okay read.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are books just published without editors anymore??? So many errors! The author has this obsession with bodily functions so I was quickly reminded that this was written by a guy. A romantic comedy that tries to be erotic but it's just so silly. Not sure if I'll read the rest of the series...maybe if I can get them for free like this book. I did like that this story took place on a cruise ship (I love cruises) even though in the author's notes he said that his wife convinced him to take a cruise and he didn't care for it.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book by Luke in the Friends With Benefits Series. I laughed aloud quite a bit this has a lot of humor- very sexy and steamy. Telling us how Victoria and Jillian met on a cruise. Too fun. Will keep reading more by Luke Young.

[Mary Jean Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super good book i loved every min of it

Super good loved every min of it read of all in one day could not put it down love it

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this prequel to the Friends With Benefits series, we really get a feel for Jillian and her relationship with George. Who are Ethan and Rebecca? What is Ethan's relationship to Victoria? How does she know him? I really do not like George I am figuring out. I think he's a complete jerk to Jillian. How long Jillian and Victoria have known one another and how they meet one another is found out in this book. Watching/reading the antics that Victoria gets up to with Ethan on a cruise ship and then they talk Jillian into trying that soon goes awry was a fun time. Can George and Jillian continue to make a go of this after 19 years of marriage? When there is a celebrity game on the ship one night for married couples, what is the outcome of that game? Where do we typically find George at? How does this make Jillian feel? Things that have been aluded to in books 1-3 are actually shown in this book. Interesting to get a backstory since I've already read the first 3 books.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favourite so far, this covers a short period of Jillian's marriage to George and how she met Victoria. I found it hard to pick it back up and keep delving in, really I think i was just missing Brian and Jim and their antics; also reading about Jillian as a sexless wife doesn't really add much to the general thrill of these books. Thank god for Brian I suppose!

[Kylie Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! I think it had a good mix of sexy spice, humor, and crazy unexpected scenes. Victoria was the highlight of this book! She has a very go with the flow, not afraid to take risk personality that gave the book the wild side that sometimes we all wish we can be in!

[Donna Boultwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly amusing!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I read the rest of the series so it took me a while to get caught up.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually enjoyed this a fair bit. Would read the next in the series. Likd the main charscter being a romance author and the candid conversations with the woman she meets and takes on as new bestie.

[Deb Diem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends Wanting Benefits by Luke Young is a well-written book. Mr. Young has given us a spicy but hilarious book that had me laughing out loud more than once while reading it. This is the story of Jillian and George, Victoria and Ethan and their developing friendship. There is plenty of drama, humor and sizzle as these two couples cruise together. The characters in this book are zany but lovable. I totally enjoyed reading Friends Wanting Benefits and look forward to reading more from Luke Young in the future. Friends Wanting Benefits is the prequel to the Friends With Benefits Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends Wanting Benefits is by Luke Young. It is the prequel to Friends With Benefits. The setting is on a cruise ship. I didn’t like this book too much at first but as the action heats up, the book becomes more interesting.
Jillian and George Grayson are on a cruise ship because Jillian is scheduled to sign autographs on the Author’s cruise. Jillian is a romance writer who writes under the name of Jaclyn West. They have a relatively happy marriage but Jillian is feeling ignored lately. Their sex life is nil and it seems that George ignores her completely unless she nags him. This does not bode well for a fun cruise.
Victoria Wilde and Ethan were also on the cruise. Victoria was single as was Ethan. However, they took this cruise together so they could spend a great deal of time together (in bed mostly). Victoria has a vivid imagination on when and where to have sex and Ethan is happy to oblige her.
Jillian becomes friends with Victoria and Ethan when Victoria approaches her and begins to tell her how to spice up the sex in her books. Jillian tells them that she and George are having problems in that area and Victoria pledges to help her. The first idea is for Jillian to sneak into the men’s steam room when George is there and surprise him with oral sex. She is wearing Victoria’s long robe with a hood so she will not be recognized. All does not go well as George leaves the steam room after Ethan has seen him in there alone and unknown to them, an elderly man has gone in. Jillian sneaks in and picks up “George’s” towel and is greatly surprised when the older gentleman screams out thinking he is being raped. Jillian manages to get out of the steam room and back to the women’s room where Victoria is waiting. The older man calls security and a ship wide search begins for the “man”. Things continue to warm up as Victoria continues to give Jillian ideas for Jillian and George. To stall the ship’s manhunt so Jillian is not identified, Victoria pretends to be an FBI agent and offers her help to the Captain. What else will happen? Lots! The action continues to heat up. Will Jillian and Victoria get out of this mess? What other ideas does Victoria have?

[Carol Cassada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was put off by the beginning of the story, which included mentions of farting and people using the bathroom. That's not what you want to think about when you're reading an erotic novel. But that's not the only cringe worthy part in the book, there are plenty more that I won't mention.

I liked how the story focuses on the different love lives of the main couples. Jillian and George are an older couple, who've been married for 20 years and are suffering a drought in the bedroom. I felt bad for Jillian because she's a romance writer, who can't ignite the spark in her marriage even though she tries. As for her husband George, I couldn't feel any sympathy for him, especially after the massage scene. George talks about how Jillian doesn't pay any attention to him, yet he does the same thing to her and during their trip he's always leaving her to go to the casino.

Unlike George and Jillian, Victoria and Ethan have an active love life. Victoria is a cougar and Ethan's her younger boyfriend, a majority of their scenes consist of them going at it in different places.

I liked how Victoria and Jillian's friendship comes about, and I like how Victoria tries to help Jillian add some spice to her marriage, even though her advice backfires. There are moments where Victoria comes across as ditzy and immature, for instance in one scene where she and Jillian are facing trouble all Victoria can talk about is sex and how she has a jailhouse fantasy.

The love scenes were great and the story was okay, but I felt like it could use some tweaking.

[Carol Nemecek · Rating 2 out of 5]

No story

I really thought the author would include a story along with all the sex, but almost the entire book was about one couple continually having sex and another not at all.

[S.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Young does it again! He had me laughing until I woke people up last night! That's the only major drawback to his books. If I read them in bed, people get upset with me.

I absolutely LOVE Victoria! Man, she boggles my mind! She has a sweetness, an intelligence & guts beyond what I can wrap my brain around. The stuff that comes out her mouth! In a strange way, it's almost an innocence. She can barely understand why people get so appalled by her.

Jillian is so real. So human. She's great in some ways. Sadly, I can related to her pain & frustration (all too well). Man, she has some bad luck when she tries to play the seductress.

Ethan is a trip! He seems perfect for Victoria! A sex-minded, yet sometimes childlike guy. I loved his honesty.
I HATE GEORGE! Man, is he a bad husband! He's oblivious & really irks me. I might have some issues....

The antics spiral so far & unexpectedly out of control in this story. OMG! It was so funny! What a cruise! Experiences like these could cement a friendship forever... or drive you apart for just as long!

I highly recommend this book... & the entire series, to anyone who has an open mind who likes some steam with their hilarity (or vice versa).

Great book, Luke Young! Keep on writing & I will keep on buying, laughing, panting & loving!!!!

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hotness Rating 3 out of 5

Review to come...

[Sandra Casile · Rating 5 out of 5]

One sexy read.

Loved your characters through the whole story. And Jillian what Victoria put her through laughed so hard. Really Enjoyed the whole story.

[larry marker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was not very good

The book was not very good book to read as it kept getting ready to tell you a different story

[Heidi 1820 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the Friends with Benefits series don't have to wait any longer to find out how Jillian and Victoria first crossed paths. Set in the background of a Caribbean cruise, we learn how these two very different women find a connection that binds them as instant friends and find out they have more in common than they think.
Jillian and Victoria are two of my favorite female characters. They are beautiful, strong-minded, funny and live life to its fullest. Author Luke Young has created a wonderful beginning to this series that is easy to get hooked on. The plot and storyline are a perfect way to introduce how Jillian came to a major crossroad in her life and gives us insight on how far Victoria will go to have a good time. This story is filled with laugh out loud scenes, hot sex, and provides the reader with a great tropical getaway. If you haven't begun this series yet, start with this one. You'll love it. I highly recommend Friends Wanting Benefits! along with the rest of this well-written series.

[Meka♥books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Friends Wanting Benefits was a bit of a letdown for me. The characters were forgettable, the storyline lacked depth, & the love scenes were subpar at best.

The book did showcase some humor which made it tolerable to read to the end. The shenanigans Victoria conjured up & convinced Jillian to try are pretty funny. The smell of the room during/after George’s upset stomach incident, and the whole couples cruise ship game was pretty hilarious too.

Because of the subject matter where one couple has minimum to no sex being together for over 18 years to a couple that has a 10+ year age gap between them with no problem in that area, I felt the author could have explored this phenomena more giving the reader a bit more grit. Despite the occasional laugh, I did not have an invested interest in the any of the characters. The 4 chapter preview for Friends with Partial Benefits provided at the end answered some of my lingering questions. My curiosity is not piqued enough to follow the other books in the series. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the series. It shows how/when/where Jillian meets Victoria. It also gives a little more background information about Victoria's life before the women became friends.

Surprisingly, she wasn't always so sexually promiscuous, her husband, David, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm, she was fiercely in love with him. It was only after she discovered David's infidelity with her former best friend, that she adopts the motto "life is short." That's when she decides to start living again; she's spent the past 18 months grieving, secluded from the world. Then she REALLY starts to live it up again. We read some of that from Jillian's POV in book #1, but in this book, the story is told from both woman's POV.

You also get to see what Jillian's marriage was like with George, and it was NOT a happy one. He was bitter man because she was a successful woman, so he sat home, drank, watched tv, and complained. Yet he reaped from her success!!

A must read!!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much more restrained story than expected but still raunchy.

[Leo]

Victoria Wilde and Jillian Grayson meet while aboard a romantic Caribbean cruise with the men in their lives. The two become fast friends despite being in completely different relationships—Victoria, a young widow, is finally moving on with a new and exciting romance. Jillian, on the other hand, is struggling in a long marriage that’s barely hanging on by a thread.

But when Victoria offers Jillian advice on how to get the spark back between the sheets… things don't exactly go as planned. With a misunderstanding of international significance, all hell breaks loose in paradise. Can Victoria repair the damage that has been done? Will she truly help Jillian save her marriage?

Find out in Friends Wanting Benefits. A prequel series to the Friends With… Benefits series.

[Shaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this prequel for free and let's face it people, many prequels out there are just plain crappy! They give you enough to get the ball rolling but most of the time its not enough for me, personally, to even buy the first book in the series.

While this is my first read by Luke Young, I must say he did a tremendous job with this prequel! It was hilarious! I loved Victoria's character, she was so free and lived life to the fullest! Jillian was a bit stuffy but I chalked that up to her unfulfilling marriage, in ALL its aspects, unfortunately...and sorry to say but her husband George...total pig...eww!

Overall it was a really great read, very funny, very sexual, a bit gross, and I love the whole older woman/younger man concept....

[Lauren Lascola-Lesczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book last after I read the series.......I must say it was super funny. I mean I pretty much laughed the whole time I was reading I mean when my jaw was not on the floor from the sexy scenes. Victoria is an absolute riot. I mean that part when she was "undercover" I could not stand it.......she sure is a fast on her feet thinker.......lol
I actually think it's better to read all the other books first then read this one last......it was a very fun look back at how the two friends met.

[Jeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!

Once again, Luke never fails to provide such an amazingly hilarious and wonderful story! The prequel to "Friends with Benefits" series sheds some light and sets the premise for our favorite characters beginning struggles. Most of us know what kind of lazy ass sleeze ball George is but seeing his character in action...Wow!
I laughed so much as Victoria never fails to shock you with her non filter of a mouth! LOL I just love her!
Thanks again Luke Young for your amazing stories!