"You need to understand something, Angel. Once you let me touch you, there's no going back."
Reed Walker, notorious playboy, is running for New York mayor. He wants to deflect attention away from his less-than-wholesome image. The past has no place when you're trying to win the people's vote.
So he propositions me: Pretend to be his girlfriend until election day. Help him to look dependable, trustworthy, and loving—someone people can relate to.
It should be easy. I've spent years playing a role. What's one more?
But slowly, I begin to glimpse the man beneath the suit and perfect smile. And what I discover takes my breath away.
There is more to Reed Walker than I ever dreamed. Good and bad. Light and dark. Everything I know is reversed.
Suddenly, I'm forced into making the hardest decision of my life. And his.
I thought I knew what I wanted. But I never factored in getting trapped with Mr. Walker.
Expect suits, spice, scandal, singing, pink fluff, houseplants, sloths, letting go of the past, healing, forgiveness, trusting your instincts, redemption, a love so deep it makes your eyes water, and, of course, a happy ever after because love always wins.
Super smexy emotional roller coaster of a ride! Trapped with Mr. Walker is the 6th book in The Men series by Elle Nicoll. It is a standalone, but best enjoyed when read in series order. We first meet playboy Reed Walker in Pleasing Mr. Parker (book 5) and I was super excited for his story. Reed has decided to make a foray into the political realm by running for the mayor of New York. He has important ideas, but they're worried his playboy past will undermine his attempts to be seen as a legitimate candidate. Enter Harley. Best friend to his best friend's wife. They come to a fake relationship agreement... how could anything go wrong, lol?
Trapped with Mr. Walker is beautifully written with characters you definitely fall in love with. Reed and Harley's relationship definitely has some ups and downs and be prepared for your heartstrings to be pulled. Tons of off the charts smexy times. Great writing with tons of witty banter. Overall, the book moves well with only a couple of lulls considering how girthy it is. Be warned there are some surprisingly heavy discussion topics that will break your heart, but trust you'll go away with all the feels. Can't recommend this book enough!
I don’t know why I simply cannot mind my business & leave books like these alone. I know I’m absolutely going to hate them and yet I pick them up time and time again. Where do I even start with this one? It was terrible.
The entire book is about Reed needing someone to pose as his fake significant other so that he garners more public support. That’s all fine and well but of ALL the people he chose he chose the woman who would go to bars to trap cheating men? Do explain how not one single bitter man came forward and called her out? They were being plastered all over the news papers and everything. Like if you’re looking for someone to clean up your image…she truly shouldn’t have even been a candidate.
Another thing that that got me was the Daddy kink. I am at a point in my life where I will kink shame especially when you offer up that information in a public setting when you’re meeting his ex & opponent for the first time? Harley seemed so juvenile and literally stupid. The whole setting him up with another woman plan? Girl RELAX? You’re making it obvious that you’re fake dating.
Honestly, I wanted to see more tension building throughout their dates. She went from hating him to moving in & saying “I love you” within 3 seconds. Where was the banter & hatred? The lack of these things ruined the one bed/I’m cold trope and that’s so hard to even mess up.
Reed was insufferable. The whole speech about him being a man and not caring that she used that cup to sterilise her menstrual cup? That is so gross man. YOU REALLY CANT EAT AT EVERYBODY’S HOUSE. Also he made a comment about how meaningless sex didn’t matter to him anymore…were we supposed to clap? You, as a grown man, finally realised women aren’t sexual objects and MIGHT have personality?
The misogyny was laughable. I hate a crazy ex girlfriend/fiancé trope. Why do women authors constantly need to add a crazy ex when Reed was evidently his own problem?
Overall, the writing is terrible, the characters are painfully basic and the spice was not even worth it. If I could rate this a .5 star I would.
Yes I stayed up late last night. Yes I've got a headache and yes I was a sobbing mess. Do I regret it? No not at all. I don't know where to start tbh. Reed is everything you expect him not to be. He is just beautiful inside and out. He's caring, loving, possessive and is pretty filthy. And Harley, what a stunningly amazing girl she is. She is everything and more. Together these pair are a perfect power couple. But my heart broke for them both. Like actually hurt for them. I wasn't expecting it as we saw a different side to Reed. A few tough subjects dealt with so beautifully, Elle your books get better and better! I absolutely bloody love your words lady 💗. And I can't wait to have him on my shelf!
The starting was interesting (that's why i gave 2 stars), and i liked the main characters. But after they did it for the first time, I was bored, like there's nothing much left to read now. It's all smut. I love smut but not this much. I need a book with a good storyline, interesting side characters, a decent amount of smut and some plot twists, and yeah, not to forget some dark shit.
3 stars ⭐️ I felt like the 3rd act break up lasted for too long and wish the problem had been resolved much sooner. There was a lot of other woman drama because she kept inserting herself into his life and their relationship, which definitely annoyed me. A kinky and smutty read, however.
tropes: fake dating, acquaintances to lovers, forced proximity Heavy tw for rape and sexual assault.
I almost DNF’d at about 60 percent- the “conflict” between the main characters is so dumb and lazy that I had to take a break in reading. I ended up finishing the book, but honestly I wish I hadn’t read it at all. The first 30 percent or so is pretty cute, but the lack of any sort of content or trigger warning, when the entire plot of the book is based around the after effects of one character's sexual assault, is astonishing in a book published in 2022. The author attempts to say some thoughtful things about living with the after math of an assault, but it falls flat. And by failing to warn people about both the rape and the suicidal ideation mentioned in the book, she takes away from her readers’ agency in the same way she has her main characters making choices for other people, rather than empowering her readers to make their own choices. Probably won’t read any of her other books. Not the worst book I’ve read, but took off a star for the lack of CW/TW.
The two stars are for the first 3rd of the book where the characters were built, the storyline started..... After that it was pretty much all unbelievable drivel, with repetitive storyline and then topped off with the most awful ending I've ever read.... No no no no no, not for me. These types of books get a bad rep.... This is why... They are tricky to do well enough not to be laughable!
Elle brings us the fake dating trope with Harley and Reed.
These two are EVERYTHING. Elle had me eating out of the palm of her hand with every scene that these two were in.
The banter is top tier, the spice is SO YUM.
The serious themes in this story are not common in romance, and they should be talked about more. Elle did a great job of writing about a specific theme and shedding light on it where the real world really doesn't acknowledge these things very much.
This is my favorite in the The Men series so far and I am early on claiming Reed as MINE
Wow what a book, trapped with Mr Walker is fantastic read, you have everything in this book banter, chemistry, and tears. The main characters Reed and Harley are are delight to read it a book you will find hard to put down. Warning hot steamy scenes I recommend a cold flannel 😂🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥 No spoilers as it will ruin it for you definitely a must read 5 huge ⭐️
My first experience with Elle Nicoll and I was smitten with Trapped with Mr. Walker! Heartwarming and emotional! Throw in a little humor and suspense, and it made for an amazing and entertaining story! Explosive yet sensual! Fantastic book!
I've always been a person who'd quietly dnf a book without a bad review. But I can't help it. I really can't.
First of all dnf @ 35%
Secondly WT Actual F I just read. This book wasn't just bad. It was terrible. I can't seem to believe that somebody read the same thing as i did and thought this, THIS was a five star read. God nowadays booktok and bookstagram can't be trusted for giving good recommendations. Utterly disappointed That this is considered as romance nowadays!!!
What's with authors and their obsession with making a man's " D" massive , i get it , it's fictional but don't you think the " balls " can't be hold by the palm of an adult woman a lil too much? Now let's talk about Harley , she is not " quirky " she's utterly childish and really dumb , don't forget to mention annoying. And even if Reed was trying to " clear his image " and trying to appear more responsible who is the best choice to act as his girlfriend , of course a honeytrapper !!!!! I'm not trying to drag a occupation but it's common sense, come on !!! Harley jumping into conclusions a million times and trying to help wounded souls . THE ONLY PART OF THE STORY THAT SOMEWHAT MADE SENSE. That says something doesn't it.
No matter how much you" love " the women you recently started having s€x with , you won't be okay with drinking from the cup she uses to STERILE HER MENSTRUAL CUP!!!! And it's not hot it's disgusting. Yes we should accept periods as a natural occurrence, but not like this NEVER like this . This was my breaking point i just couldn't take it anymore.
To the author I'm really sorry to say something bad about a book that you worked hard for years. But this is just bad can't help it.
I devoured this book! Couldn’t put it down, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The banter and chemistry between Reed and Harley is fantastic. I thought Pleasing Mr Parker was Elle’s best book yet but this one topped it!
Ugh, this book pissed me all the way off. I skimmed the last 47% because I couldn’t handle how the FMC was acting.
- Extreme miscommunication, see below: - Blackmailing the FMC with a past video of the MMC’s SA - SHE DOESN’T TELL HIM AND BREAKS UP WITH HIM - The breakup lasts foreverrrr because she refuses to tell him - She continues to ignore him and blatantly misunderstands his attempts to let her know that it’s okay and he has a plan - Other woman drama fueling alllllll of this; luckily the MMC knows she’s full of shit the whole time (guess who is partially behind the blackmailing?)
This is the 6th book in the Men Series each book is a stand-alone but I would say for the best experience you need to read them in order as the characters overlap, I will put the reading order at the bottom of my review.
Well, what can I say about this book? ELLE, you did it. You knocked my grumpy Griff off his pedestal. I didn't think you could, but you have. ❤️❤️
Reed Walker is the hot Best friend of Griffen Parker, he's the playboy who's running for New York Mayor, he needs a girlfriend to help improve his image and help him win the votes he needs to win the election.
Harley Jacobs is Griffen Parkers PA and is good at her job she keeps herself to herself talks to her plants and wears fluffy slippers and caticorn PJ's, she hasn't had it easy but will do what ever she has to get by and does not rely on anyone.
Harley agrees to a fake relationship. She even moves in with Reed. This is where the fun and games begin. It's not a slow burn romance it's a full-on and really deep love story that contains triggers for some, but this book is so beautiful.
Elle goes into so much detail, and she has written it in a way where you lose yourself in the story and feel all the emotions that are written in the words. I'm not sure how many pages there is, but there are over 40 chapters of pure perfection.
Well done Elle You absolutely nailed this book absolutely brilliant. You should be so proud of what you have achieved. Thank you for letting me be a part of your amazing journey. 😘😘❤️❤️
I can't wait for Mr Silver 😍😍
Reading Order is Meeting Mr Anderson Discovering Mr X Drawn to Mr King Captured by Mr Wild Pleasing Mr Parker Once you have read these, you are ready to read. Trapped with Mr Walker.
I have been a fan of the Men Series by Elle Nicoll since book one (Discovering MR X and Drawn to Mr King are still my favourites) but Trapped with Mr. Walker is definitely up there, maybe number four as lets not forget Griffin and the pigeons!
So Reed Walker who we met in Pleasing Mr Parker is running independently for Mayor of New York and to help his image he needs to find a partner. In rolls Harley Jacobs who we met also in Pleasing MR Parker, she is the quirky and fun loving PA and best friend to Walker's best friends fiancé (yes that was a mouthful).
Reed Walker propositions her, fake date him and help him become Mayor and he will pay her $4K a month for the pleasure. There are rules in place though. No funny business, they sleep in separate rooms, she only helps out on public events - trouble is things start to become blurred the more time they spend with each other.
This book is definitely he falls first, Reed Walker is besotted with Harley, you can tell this from book 5. There are some spicy scenes in this book that you might want to read on your own, oh and if you are listening via audiobook make sure your earphones are working (just saying).
This book sees them fake date, but as we all know how fake dating ends we get some 🌶️🌶️scenes. I loved this book, Reed and Harley’s journey is not easy and this book does tackle some sensitive subjects but you can see the love they have for each other. It was also hilarious in places and we got to see some old favourites and a glimpse of what’s to come.
If you haven't already I highly recommend this series by Elle Nicoll, you can read them all as a standalone but I would say read them in order as the stories interconnect and you don't want to miss some really good scenes between the characters.
*PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Massive thanks to Elle Nicoll for sending my an eARC of the book to read and review. All my thoughts and opinions on this review are my own.
I'm not sure where, to begin with, this book other than to say it's a heavy topic book. The way Ms. Nicoll dealt with the topic and how it was handled was done beautifully. I don't think many authors have tackled the topic but I understand why. These two, Harley and Reed, were great for each other. Harley was a loveable person, especially as a heroine. Reed was a little hard to understand until the book went on but when his soft side came out it was wow. Reed worshiped Harley and it was perfect. Be prepared for the angst also but it made the book what it was. While this is a standalone know that this is a series. I have adored the men in the series. I look forward to the next book.
A very good and interesting book like both the main characters he's so obsessed I love it! But the third act separation/break up lasted a good 20 percent of the book and it was filled with just easily solvable miscommunications that annoyed the hell out of me. And those same miscommunications were also placed throughout the book and it was really the fmc assuming something and being wrong but interrupting the mc to talk about what she thought was going on and I was like girl, not you interrupting him and being wrong just ask him a question then shut up. Now that makes it sound like i don't like the book but it was honestly really good it would be like a 3.7 if I could give it that but the only thing that held it off from the four was what I previously stated.
Reed and Harley were one of my most anticipated reads ever since I knew they were being written. To finally read their story and share the love they have and all the in between moments was really wonderful. They have so much to overcome individually and as a couple but they do it. Harley’s humour had me weak and all her quirks were perfection. Also can we just take a moment to appreciate Reed’s filthy mouth? Is there anything better? I think not. Adored these two so so much!
This book was everything! It gave everything from romance, to heartbreak bur was so funny at times as well. Reed is one of the best MMCs I have read in a while. He is so strong especially with what has happened in his life and I am so glad he found Harley who is just as amazing as he is. I honestly loved every part of this book❤️
DNF @60 liked up until she decides to leave instead of telling him about the video, didn't even read the breakup that I assume is coming after she said she "has to say goodbye".. She knows how what happened in this video haunted him and she's even considering keeping it from him? Nope. Sorry, a character keeping a huge secret and is dumb, it just kills it for me.
4.5 stars the main flaw is that HOMEGIRL JUST NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM 😭😭😭😭😭😭 but besides that reed got that higher level intellectual swag you know ⁉️he know what HES DOING in the office and out & i love fake dating so 🤪
but also just so you know there is sexual assault mentioned in the book
first book of the year bby. And I wasn't dissappointed, this book felt like 3 books in one.
Harley was fun, she was cute and I liked how she really put her whole ass into being Reed's fake girlfriend. There was none of that hesitation shit, she just went, "if we're doing this, we're getting an oscar." I really liked the friendship she had with the girls and was glad she had a good support system. During the climax of the story, I thought her actions made sense. She was fun, didn't scream for her but that's okay.
Reed, oh you lovely man. Going to get the big thing out of the way first, and not his dick He was all in from the get go, I wish we got a bit more of him being in love with her like before the fake dating, or at least make it more obvious but oh well. Also, the fact he knew something was wrong and fought for her was great. Like use ur high IQ sir, don't be dumb. I wish there were politicians like him everywhere, but alas corruption runs ramped.
Elle's writing just keeps on getting better and better and this book really showcases how wonderful an author Ms Nicoll truly is.
I devoured Trapped with Mr. Walker. I cried, laughed, laughed some more and swooned.
The book was the perfect cocktail of everything I love in a book; heat, emotion, laughter and of course the bedroom scenes were scorching hot.
I never wanted their story to end.
The banter between Harls and Reed was brilliantly crafted, as was the story line, which was most unexpected, I don't want to give anything away, but so incredibly well written, I was completely invested from the get-go.
Just sheer perfection.
Well done Elle! What an epic love story. An easy peasy 5-stars.
Marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes, but it really fell flat here. I can see how much effort the author put in, but the book just did not work for me.
I noped out at 6% the talk of serving her friends coffee in the same cup she uses to sanitize her menstrual cup was enough for me.
I get it, we all have a period until we don't but there is nothing sexy or romantic about discussing the details of it. Just a reminder you can't eat at everyone's house!
Also the point of them fake dating was to make it seem he was in a long term committed relationship. No hardship on his part because he hasn't seen anyone in 9 months, but our h was actually working as a honey trap in that time so there are multiple men who can come forward when they see the new mayor is dating a girl they picked up in a bar. It is possible they would blame her for the demise of their current situation and be more than happy to go to the press about it. So not the smartest plan.
2⭐ Prepare yourselves, this is just a rant and don’t take this seriously in your choice to judge the book. 🤗
Listen, I truly hate leaving bad reviews on books because I respect authors and their craft. But wow. I truly did start liking this book and I truly liked the characters. Now, keep in mind I’ve never read the other books in the series so don’t take me seriously , but whatever.
I can’t believe that I liked the mmc far more than the fmc. Harley (fmc) seemed to cool in the beginning but after the whole blacking mailing thing started, she just became insufferable to me. I know that she was dealing with trying to protect the man she loved and blah blah blah, but truly, did she ever stop and think about the fact that maybe Reed would want to control how the video would get out and the blackmail?!? The video was about him, not Harley and frankly, I found it childish how she dealt with everything. The situation wasn’t hers. It was about Reed and finally healing from the past.
All she did was ASSUME ASSUME ASSUME. Oh and cry…
Now, I am no one judge because I’ve honestly read books with far worse characters, but she really pissed me off so much that I ended up rating this books 2 stars when I originally wanted to rate it 5 starts before the blackmail. Why was it so hard to understand that Reed cared about her?!? Like girl. 😒That wonderful mad had to reassure her like twenty times that he wanted her and didn’t care about the video. When he told her to stop trying to make him the victim, I literally cackled because I was thinking the same thing. It was as if she wanted him to be a sad victim even after he healed and I don’t think she truly understood that Reed wanted to heal and gaining control of something taken from you or something that depicts your pain is a form of healing.
The fact that the video wasn’t even his further pissed me off because what the fuck.
Also, the length of the book?!? No business being so damn long. I truly felt like the plot was droning on and I felt like the pages full of Harley crying could have been about the political campaign and Reed. It was the reason I was interested in this book, so I was left disappointed with the lack of political details.
I also felt like the author used sex as a way to fill the pages because instead of growing the characters and creating meaningful interactions between them, she wrote them having sex constantly instead of properly communicating their feelings?!? Like when one wanted to discuss something serious, the other would be like “I need you” and that’s it. Insert sex. Cool I guess but I was sooo over it.
ALSO OMG. Why did it take them soooo long to even suspect Bea had a role behind the blackmail?!?? Idiots the lot of them. And the Daddy kink?!?😟 I normally don’t care but it felt so unnatural and weird here like why were they constantly calling each other that.
I will say that I did appreciate how she handled Reed’s SA experience because I went through a similar situation and I think that she perfectly described how one feels and how their identity shifts completely after. I was not expecting the topic of rape, and I felt like it was thrown in towards the middle of the book to play the big part of the conflict but maybe that’s just me. I really did love Reed and he was the best part of this book🥲🫶🏻 he was the sweetest and I literally would die for him.
Omg I know this is a rant and I feel so bad because I hate leaving all this on the author’s page, but I truly need to express myself lol. This book was just too much going back and forth.
If you actually read this whole thing, you deserve to sleep with a cold pillow and always have a full chocolate stash 🫶🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I wanted a bit more of that fake dating I was promised. They got together at like before I got to half of the book and had a third-act break-up that occupied the rest??? Also where the fuck did the enemies to lovers go?? The math isn't adding up.
Where was the yearning and jealousy and denial? I wanted more unintentional moments of kindness between the two.
Instead, we got Harley jumping from one conclusion to another and Reed swooping in to fix everything, apologising to her every time and swearing to protect her. She argues she doesn't want to burden him but the healthier option would have been to go to him with the problem and face it together as a couple.
What's frustrating is that the concept is so juicy too. Like fake dating the mayoral candidate of New York??The political drama?? Not to mention how emotionally intense that job could be?? It would have opened up so many scenarios for this story and now it just feels like lost potential.