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Some Like It Rough: A standalone novella

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Luke Warner wants to chill out when he cashes in his stocks and returns to his hometown. But things heat up when he reunites with his best friends, Julia and Paul, and invites them both to share in a sexual adventure like they've never had before. . .

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

36 people are currently reading
535 people want to read

About the author

Kate Pearce

160 books1,842 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.

She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.

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5 stars
104 (23%)
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154 (34%)
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137 (31%)
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28 (6%)
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18 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Auntee.
1,356 reviews1,469 followers
March 2, 2010
This book was hot stuff! Three smokin' hot reads, and all pretty darn good. Don't look for a whole lot of plot or characterization (these are erotic novellas), but there is just enough given to make it seem like more than just three sexual romps. The book does live up to its title, since each story contains at least one "rough" sexual encounter.

In Some Like It Rough by Kate Pearce, three high school friends (Luke, Julia, Paul) get together again after Luke's long ten year separation from lovers Julia and Paul. Luke left town not knowing just what he wanted (sexually) from the relationship or from his life, but after 10 years of staying away things are clearer. He wants them both back in his life, but this time he wants more than what they shared ten years ago...Will they be game?

Wow, did these three cook together! At first I wasn't quite sure where KP was heading with this one. Did Luke want Julia for himself? Did Luke want Paul for himself? Or did Luke want both? Ay! I'm not the biggest fan of m/m reads, but somehow KP sold me on the Luke/Paul relationship. Maybe it was because they both adored Julia, but the three of them and the two of them (in any combination) were white hot!

Warning: This story contains explicit sex and language, including m/f oral, m/m oral, m/m anal, and m/f/m menage. (I think I got that right.) Not for the faint of heart!

In Private Eyes by Susan Lyons, Hayley is a mousy, buttoned-up administrative assistant with a secret thirst for adventure working at a private detective agency. The co-worker who she's been secretly in lust with for 6 months, PI Ry Montana, is working a case for a client who's suspicious of his wife. The client's wife is working as a stripper in a nightclub and is rarely home. The husband thinks she's either having an affair or into the drug scene. Ry has been following her but can't get the goods on her. He needs someone to go undercover as a stripper so they can get close to her. Shy Haley volunteers (she once took ballet!) for the job--maybe sexy Ry will finally notice her when she reveals what she's been hiding behind those buttoned up clothes.

Okay, even though this idea has been done before and it was a little preposterous, there's no denying it was still hot! Ry and Haley's first encounter outside in a public park? Yowza! Definitely some "rough" moments in this one! The whole suspense part turned out to be no big deal, and the story sort of fizzled near the end, but I liked Ms. Lyons writing style and I enjoyed the characters of Ry and Hayley. I can even imagine this turning into a series, since there's enough people working at the detective agency for their own stories. If you're looking for an easy to read hot story, and you want to learn a thing or two about the life of a stripper(!), then this one's for you.

Warning: Those book contains explicit language and sex, including oral, and some exhibitionism and voyeurism. Not for the faint of heart.

Finally, Cherry On Top by Anne Rainey is about recently divorced massage therapist Cherry Dubois and financial planner Dante Ricci. Cherry's just leased part of a building (for her massage business) that the object of her nightly fantasies (Dante) has had his eye on. He comes to her for a weekly massage to check her out and see if he can find some way to get her to give up the lease but finds more than he bargained for. Lots of heat and sexual kink goes on as both explore their fantasies.

Nothing too over the top in this one although I cringed when Dante brought out a dog collar and leash, sex toys, and wanted Cherry to call him Master---all in the name of Dante exploring his Dom/sub fantasy. Although there was some spanking too, at least there was no pain (in the form of welts) or humiliation. Some fast paced writing and explicit, dirty, dialogue made for one steamy hot, easy read.

Warning: This book contains explicit language and sex, including oral; some spanking, use of various sex toys, and some bdsm elements. Not for the faint of heart!

If you're looking for an anthology that packs plenty of heat, and is easy to read (not much concentration required here), then this tasty piece of mind candy is for you. 4 1/2 stars.
Profile Image for Joana.
899 reviews22 followers
August 18, 2025
The low rating is my fault again, I've been better in reading the first chapter to figure out the mood and the writing style, but I failed with this one...
I think the book had a good foundation for a romance novel, the second chance, the smalltown and the complicated feelings... but it really moves past that too fast, and it just becomes about sex, and like I've said before I don't really enjoy smut only for the sake of it, I need to have an attachment to them for me to care (and that's why I think smut works much better n fic!!!)
So yeah, I want more romance books than erotic romance, but I'll say the characters and relationships are really good and in a different genre, I would have loved this...
Profile Image for Lindy.
558 reviews26 followers
September 17, 2010
Three fantastic stories by three fantastic authors. Sometimes in anthologies you'll find some stories are better than others, but that's not the case with this book. This is HOT from cover to cover, and it's a must read.
Profile Image for Jane Stewart.
2,462 reviews964 followers
September 10, 2010
4 ½ 3 ½ and 2 ½ stars for three erotic romance stories. Worth buying for the first one – it was hot and memorable.

4 ½ stars for SOME LIKE IT ROUGH by Kate Pearce.

Good story. Very hot sex scenes. Some readers will be uncomfortable due to risqué sex scenes pushing the envelope.

Story Brief:
Luke, Paul and Julia grew up together in a small town. One night, the three of them had sex together. Right after that, Luke left town. Paul and Julia continued being a couple but never married and live apart. Paul runs a ranch. Julia manages the local bank. It is now ten years later, and Luke returns. He plans to renovate an old drugstore and turn it into an old-fashioned soda shop and ice cream parlor. Paul and Julia come to see him. The sparks are still there. The three of them have sex. This time, it’s a little different. Luke is in charge. He knows what he wants, and the others noddingly go along with it.

Reviewer’s Opinion:
This author writes great sex scenes. They are hot and emotionally draw me in. Some readers may be uncomfortable due to men with men and a quantity of rear door activity, but she does it well. The story is good too.

Data:
Story length: 71 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 9. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 18. Setting: current day Gulch Town, California. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.

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3 ½ stars for PRIVATE EYES by Susan Lyons.

Pretty good. A lot of stripping and sensual teasing which was ok, but I wanted a little more story and character development.

Story Brief:
When Paul lost his job, his wife Jennifer got a job as a stripper. Paul later found work, but Jennifer wouldn’t quit her stripping job. Paul hires The Private Eye (a detective agency) to find out if she is having an affair or into drugs. The story begins when the agency investigators go to the strip club to watch Jennifer before deciding what to do. Hayley is an administrative assistant for the agency. Ry is the investigator in charge of the case. Ry is surprised when Hayley comes to the club to watch with them. He had always seen Hayley as a prim, proper, and efficient office worker. For the first time, he sees something sensual as he watches her watch the strippers. After the show, Hayley volunteers to become a stripper so she can get close to Jennifer. The agency agrees since strippers become friends and talk with each other.

Hayley has desired Ry for months but never flirted or acted on it. In a prior job she had problems due to sexual advances. So when she got this job she decided to dress down to avoid those problems.

Reviewer’s Opinion:
The stripping and sensual teasing scenes were fine, but they took a lot of space, so there was less time for story. The characters were ok. But I think I wanted more character development, interesting conversation, and story. This is a short story so there’s not a lot of time for that, which is why I normally prefer longer books.

Data:
Story length: 101 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 2. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 20. Setting: Vancouver, British Columbia. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.

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2 ½ stars for CHERRY ON TOP by Anne Rainey.

I had trouble buying the actions of the characters. I wanted more relationship development. Sex scenes were just ok.

Reviewer’s Opinion:
Cherry has been fantasizing and desiring Dante for four months. When he finally asks her to dinner, she refuses. He continues asking her out for a month before she agrees to go. Her actions did not fit her feelings and motivations. Later Dante says “In all his years of dating, he’d never found a woman he could imagine spending his life with until now.” “Before I asked you to dinner, I knew you were the one.” I’m shaking my head saying “what?” There was no relationship development. I saw no interaction that would cause him to feel this way. All they did was have sex. I wanted to see some interesting reasons for him to feel this way. The sex scenes were ok but didn’t draw me in as much as other authors have. They were playing dom/sub games with a wink – including sex toys and rear door activity.

Story Brief:
Cherry has low self esteem due to her abusive ex-husband. They divorced, and Cherry moved to Zanesville to open a massage parlor. Dante is a financial planner next door. She has been fantasizing about him for months. Finally he comes to her for a massage and asks her out. He had wanted to expand his business by renting the space she was using which provided some conversational conflict.

Data:
Story length: 72 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 5. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 26. Setting: current day Zanesville, Ohio. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.
778 reviews57 followers
February 26, 2010
Some Like it Rough by Kate Pearce, Susan Lyons and Anne Rainey
Contemporary Romance- Anthology- Feb. 23rd, 2010
4 stars

'Some Like it Rough' is an anthology with three stories: 'Some Like it Rough' by Kate Pearce, 'Private Eyes' by Susan Lyons, 'Cherry on Top' by Anne Rainey. These three short stories are very hot and steamy so if that is what you go for, you will definitely enjoy these quick reads.

The first story is about an unconventional couple, Paul and Julia, who smoke up the sheets, but find their relationship lacking due to a past history with Paul's best friend, Luke who abruptly left town after their first threesome encounter. Luke has come back to town and with him, he's brought back a lot of memories of the two people who never forgot him. (As usual, Kate Pearce is never afraid to push the envelope!) I found this story a little risque for my own taste, but for those who live on the edge, this might be the correct amount of hotness for you.

The second story is more traditional one about a PI agent Ry, who is leading a team to find out the truth about one of the client’s wife who has found a new passion, stripping. In order to get to know her, (Hayley) his secretary, who he has not taken a second look at, offers to do some grunt work and join an amateur strip contest. And Ry sees Hayley in a whole new light after her dance! Of course, things get a lot more interesting after her makeover. This writing in this story was good, but the plot was pretty predictable. From chapter one, I could tell where the story was going.

The third story is one about a masseuse named Cherry who has moved into a new town, and has a new lease for her small business. Unfortunately, Dante Ricci, a financial advisor, wanted that space for his own business venture. However, his anger quickly dissipated when he made an appointment for a massage with Cherry, who he falls fast for. This was my favorite story out of the three, probably because it was a fast, fun read that was quick paced. And the characters were very likeable!

All in all, these books packed a lot of steam and got me hot under the collar! (But may be a bit racy for readers who like less heat in their books.) This book was a fun romp for those looking for a quick and sensually satisfying read.

Reviewed by Sophia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Profile Image for The Smutty Kitty.
326 reviews44 followers
June 15, 2013
As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly

Average 4 out of 5 Licks

"Some Like it Rough” by Kate Pearce

5 out of 5 Licks
Holy s**t what a way to start a book! This story got hot really fast. There is some seriously sexy m/m/f action going on in this one and I loved every second of it. Once I started this story I couldn't put the book down until I finished. Definitely started the book off right and left me with high expectations. Way to go Ms. Pearce!

“Private Eyes” by Susan Lyons

4 out of 5 Licks
I enjoyed Private Eyes but it didn't suck me in like the first story. I enjoyed the premise of the story. It was very focused around the sex (which was very hot), but I felt it was lacking a bit in the emotional part. Going undercover in a strip club isn't something I've read about yet so I did find the plot to be interesting. The description of the dancing and how Haley felt while doing it and how Ry felt watching was super sexy. I know this is short story but I felt like it was too focused on the sex and not enough on the characters. The ending was very cute and playful.

“Cherry On Top” by Anne Rainey

3 out of 5 Licks
This one just didn't connect with me. It was enjoyable but I didn't connect with the characters at all. The idea of the two of them getting together so fast without even knowing each other irked my too much I guess. Usually when that happens they spend the whole weekend getting to know each other or something like that but this time it was basically instant sex. They did eventually form the bond but I think the added BDSM element so fast was too much for me-there has to be a level of trust that I didn't feel could have developed so quickly. By the end of the story Cherry and Dante had developed more of a bond and I started to enjoy the book more.
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,394 reviews622 followers
February 27, 2024
You know what the sign of a good short story is? if it leaves you wanting to read a lot more about the characters yet leaves you satisfied. Well, THIS is a GREAT anthology!

UPDATE: FEB 2024

This story was just as deliciously sexy today then it was when I read it in August of 2016!
I fell in love with Kate’s words back in the day because of her beautiful storytelling when it came to ”explicit sexy romances” and my admiration for her word wizardry hasn’t diminished one bit since!

This is a hot one for sure but it’s also a little emotional, or at least it was to me, but mostly hot! LOLOL

I think if you’re new to Kate’s words, this might just be a good place to begin your journey! If you’re uncomfortable in any way over ”sexual freedom” then this might now be for you. Do with that information what you will!
Profile Image for Heron.
579 reviews17 followers
May 24, 2011
First story was awesome. Others kind of ruined the book for me. Worth getting for the first story, but stop before you get sad.
Profile Image for Donnajo.
2,327 reviews
May 21, 2010
This book is spicy hot. 3 stories.
Profile Image for Madoka Kamimura Mason.
328 reviews10 followers
March 9, 2024
Kate Pearce brings us the story of friends and lovers. We meet Luke Warner who has returned home and has decided to work on his family's drugstore. His two friends Paul and Julia hearing that their old friend has returned go pay him a visit to find out why he just left them without a backward glance. When they meet up again, questions rise up as the three of them restart their relationship. When the truth comes out and questions answered, will it be enough or just get in the way?

Kate Pearce brings us this novella that deals with the feelings and roles these three friends play in each other's lives. They get to play out their sexual fantasies with each other while trying to figure out how to deal with the appearance of their friend and how it might affect their relationship with each other. She brings to life their sexual encounters with each other. It is more focused on their sexual encounters with a bit of life thrown in. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank Kate Pearce for this privilege.
Profile Image for Glittergirl.
938 reviews16 followers
May 7, 2024
This is a second chance story between old friends, one of whom left ten years ago. It's also a ménage reunion between high school lovers. This is my favorite kind of book candy. I would love if someday she expands the story beyond a short story because there is a lot that could be explored between these three people.

Luke Warner has returned home to hopefully make amends to his best friends and rehab the family drug story into a coffee and juice bar. He left right after high school for reasons we'll discover in the book. He survived and then thrived while away. Now he wants to have a family and roots. He hopes to renew his relationship with his two best friends Julia Lowell and Paul. They confront him and they all realize the chemistry between them has evolved into something more. They decide to explore where it takes them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Greymalkin.
1,380 reviews
September 3, 2018
The first story was meh, it had some reasonably good sex scenes but the plot was ridiculously thin. With just a bit more thought it could have added a really nice layer of characterization onto the whole thing but instead it read a bit like token dialog between the screwing.

The second story was okay because the plot was much better, with some nice notes about women taking ownership over their sexuality and female friendships, but the actual pairing of the two leads was unconvincing. I kept hoping she'd get together with Kat instead, they had much better chemistry!

The third story I couldn't finish. The repeated violations of consent made the whole story feel very rapey until it turned into actual rape where she said no very clearly and he didn't stop. I couldn't stomach it. Just because she was "wet" doesn't mean she wants to have stuff shoved up her vagina. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
33 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2024
~~Some Like it Rough~~
Growing up in a small town where everyone knows everybody AND all their business, Julia, Paul and Luke were close, best friends through high school graduation but Luke up and disappeared at age 18. Story picks up 10 years later and in these post college years, Paul runs the family ranch and Julia works at the local bank when Luke makes his reappearance with plans to restore the old family drug store in town as a soda fountain shop. The 3 former close pals aren’t sure where they stand with each other in their adult lives now. How will Luke be able to finance this project he’s starting? Can these three pick up where things were 10 years ago, or has too much changed forever?
”Feel the heat pushing you to decide… … burning you up, ready or not!” Lusty novella!
Profile Image for JigsawGirl.
4,145 reviews
February 19, 2024
This was an ok read. If MMF erotic romance offends, take a pass on this one. If you are looking for a steamy read, this may be the one for you.

There really wasn't much story to this short story. Paul, Luke, and Julia had a past relationship. Although Luke was the one that left town, it seemed obvious to me that Paul was having the same type of issues that caused Luke to leave.

I would have been interested to see more aspects of the story detailed. But, I guess it would not have been an erotic romance short story if that had been done.

I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Janet.
5,173 reviews65 followers
February 20, 2024
Luke Warner wants to renovate his family’s dilapidated store when returns to his hometown after a decade away. He reunites with his best friends, Julia and Paul, who have dated but never married. Luke has a proposition for the couple but he’s in charge.
This was one hot read, three best friends from high school reunite & boy do sparks fly, all three are attracted to each other but who has Luke returned for? A quick read which I read in a sitting, I like Luke, Julia & Paul who all knew what they wanted. I also loved the twist about Luke at the end.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
64 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2024
Kate Pearce’s Some Like it Rough is a very short story of three friends. Luke comes back to open his grandfather’s old soda shop back up to discover Paul & Julia are still hot for one another & he’s hoping to pick up where they left off 10 years prior. Luke’s not sure if he’ll be welcomed back by them, but he soon learns they haven’t lost their lust or love for one another.
Warning, this book is very sexually explicit about 2 guys & a girl, so don’t read if that bothers you.
Frankly, the book was more sex than anything to me. I would’ve preferred it to be more story.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,618 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2024
Luke, Paul, and Julia have been friends since they were kids and more when they were teenagers but Luke left town leaving Paul and Julia behind. Luke is back to stay if Paul and Julia will have him. Their story may be shorter but it is packed with so much heat. This book contains group bedroom scenes between MM, FM, MMF, just in case that’s not something you'd enjoy. It's high on heat and quick read. It was previously published in an anthology. I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Lori.
95 reviews
January 7, 2019
The other reviewers are spot on in the delineation of enjoyment in the three shorts in this book. The first short, "Some Like it Rough," was definitely the way to start this book and I would have loved for it to be longer, to spend more time with Paul, Julia, and Luke. Once we got into the meat of "Private Eyes," I was along for the ride and enjoyed the beginnings of Ry and Hayley. "Cherry on Top" was a mess from the beginning and I had no interest in it at all.
1,948 reviews18 followers
February 18, 2024
I enjoyed the return of Luke to his hometown to find him rekindle a relationship with both Julia and Paul. It was good to see how the dynamics of three people in a relationship can work to everyone advantage. It’s a short story that is well written and entertaining. It’s a story worth reading and I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and are voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for FULVIA BELLINATO.
175 reviews10 followers
February 27, 2024
After 10 years, Luke returns to his hometown expecting to find his two best friends married to each other and with a score of children. Paul and Julia always wondered why Luke suddenly left all those years ago when they were sure something special was blooming among them. Now he’s back and they are more than ready for some answers and eager to rekindle that spark.
This is a short and steamy read and like all ms Pearce’s stories it’s enjoyable to read and with no dull moments.
118 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2024
This is an erotic novella involving Julia, Paul and Luke.
Ten years ago, they were all friends, but one day Luke disappeared. Now he is back and wants to reconnect with the others.
There are explicit sex scenes and Kate writes these really well. The characters are well described and you get the feel about each of them. Will they go through with the three of them together? Or will Luke be left on his own?
This was a quick and easy ARC and I have given my own honest opinion of the book.
133 reviews
March 19, 2024
NSFW or the faint of heart. This is a smoking hot m/f/m erotic novella. There's just enough exposition to introduce the characters, with a side story of a shady bank manager.

After years away from small Gulch Town, California, Luke returns to reopen the family drugstore and the love(s) he left behind in assistant bank manager, Julia, and rancher, Paul. A walk down memory lane has them sharing more than high school memories.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Sisi.
801 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2024
Só não levou 5 estrelas pq é novelinha, pense numa historinha adorável se tivesse rendido um pouquinho mais
Uiiiiii conte com Kate Pearce para ser realmente quente
Paul retorna p cidadezinha de onde fugiu aos 18 anos atrás de seu melhor amigo e da namorada q compartilhavam.
Eles quer os dois e ambos querem ele, novelinha mas deliciosa e fumegante
Tão boa e densa qto Dirty Duke a única outra novelinha de q realmente gostei.
Profile Image for Sarah.
582 reviews8 followers
March 6, 2024
Kate Pearce is one of the few authors that is on my auto-buy list. This story had an engaging storyline, interesting characters and lots of steam. Julia, Paul and Luke were best friends in high school and suddenly one day Luke left. Now he's back home. This story was a quick, super steamy read that I definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Christine Woinich.
2,777 reviews27 followers
February 28, 2024
This was a reunion/second chance for Julia, Paul, and Luke. When they were young, they found love with each other. Age, fear of feelings, and more separated this trio. After quite a few years, Luke returned, and all the feelings came back along with more doubts and misunderstandings. With plenty of steamy scenes and more misunderstandings, they realized what all of their hearts knew. They belonged together. Enjoyed this story.

This is my unsolicited review.
Profile Image for Zsa Zsa.
1,164 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2024
A quick steamy read that leaves nothing to the imagination. Julia, Paul and Luke were the best of friends. The bonds were broken when Luke left town. Now back Luke, Julia, and Paul explore the attractions and emotions that still exist. The story is sexy and easy with some emotion for good measure.
2 reviews
March 9, 2024
Very quick but delicious read. Story about friends/lovers reuniting. There was a good amount of spice in the book. I would totally love to read a longer story of the trio as they all seemed like very interesting characters and I think they would have made for a nice read.
Profile Image for Mel Teshco.
Author 182 books143 followers
December 3, 2018
3.5 stars. Enjoyed the first two stories. If you like no holds barred sex this book with three stories is for you :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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