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Wicked Little Game
He is her bodyguard. She is the bane of his existence.
Closed-off, brooding, and dominant, Samuel Ryves likes his privacy, his weapons, and his rules. Like the one about never letting anyone close to his heart again.
Until a mission forces him to work as a bodyguard for the most annoying, infuriating, and unfortunately also most alluring woman he ever met: Ruby Barron.
He can't afford to let anyone distract him. Especially not now, with higher-ups who demand results and a captain who is sure that he needs a break after all that has happened last year.
Ruby is everything he doesn’t want, everything he shouldn’t want, and still, she gets him to break his rules … over and over.
****
Bold, clever, and born into a golden cage, Ruby Barron may have once been the perfect daughter, but that changed as soon as she stopped being a compliant puppet for her father.
Now, she’s living in a mansion that is nothing more than a pretty prison, guarded by frequently changing bodyguards who ensure she won’t try to run off and leave her father and his organization behind.
When her stern new bodyguard steps into her life, she is sure that she'll wrap him around her finger sooner or later.
Just to have a bit of fun.
The only problem: She's falling for him.
Wicked Little Game is a steamy forbidden bodyguard romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.
Closed-off, brooding, and dominant, Samuel Ryves likes his privacy, his weapons, and his rules. Like the one about never letting anyone close to his heart again.
Until a mission forces him to work as a bodyguard for the most annoying, infuriating, and unfortunately also most alluring woman he ever met: Ruby Barron.
He can't afford to let anyone distract him. Especially not now, with higher-ups who demand results and a captain who is sure that he needs a break after all that has happened last year.
Ruby is everything he doesn’t want, everything he shouldn’t want, and still, she gets him to break his rules … over and over.
****
Bold, clever, and born into a golden cage, Ruby Barron may have once been the perfect daughter, but that changed as soon as she stopped being a compliant puppet for her father.
Now, she’s living in a mansion that is nothing more than a pretty prison, guarded by frequently changing bodyguards who ensure she won’t try to run off and leave her father and his organization behind.
When her stern new bodyguard steps into her life, she is sure that she'll wrap him around her finger sooner or later.
Just to have a bit of fun.
The only problem: She's falling for him.
Wicked Little Game is a steamy forbidden bodyguard romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2024
142 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
June 9, 2024
⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
TW - toxic relationship (past, implied), alcohol consumption (lots, on page), drugs (cocaine, sc), military (ops + gore mentioned and recounted), imprisonment (sc, mentioned), bullying (past, mentioned), tracking (without consent), death of a parent (mentioned x1 heart attack, mentioned x1 murder), smoking (cigarettes), domestic abuse (parents, past, implied), minor accident requiring stitches, parental abandonment (mentioned), hunting of an endangered species (sc, mentioned), drug trade + human trafficking + weapons trade + forced prostitution (mentioned), bribery (mentioned), abuse (from a parent, verbal on page, gun violence on page), violence (incl stabbing, mentioned, gun violence, on page), murder, gambling (casino scene)
CW - hand necklaces / choking, spanking, degradation
Tropes - FMC X Bodyguard, age gap (6yrs), he (tries) to cook for her, 24F 30M, jealousy, forced proximity, rich FMC
Unfortunately, I really wasn't a fan of this book
Sam (MMC) has been tasked with being Ruby's (FMC) bodyguard and it is clear from the beginning that he is there under false pretences, we don't get the full story about his motives until about into the book.
Ruby is brat but not in a fun way, more of a wow you're so fucking annoying, pull yourself together kind of way and I was just waiting to like her character and I didn't get there. I knew her sob story had to be really good to redeem her character for me and it didn't do much.
My main issue with this book is that it felt like for a long time, nothing was really happening. The MCs were just playing house for a lot of it and there was no indicators to explain the point of him actually being there. We don't know for a while why Ruby's character is insufferable and the way she is and tbh, it made it hard not to DNF. The pacing was off for me 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
When Sam tries to deny himself Ruby, he comments that she is annoying and that is defo something I can agree with. I really think that Ruby should have been aged down from 24 to 18 for her character to make sense; I found it really hard to believe that a 24 year old would act the way she does.
Randomly, Sam wears a mask / balaclava to hide his face from Ruby when her dad, the man that hired him and the real reason why he's there, already know what he looks like. I was so confused as to why he thought he needed to wear a mask to do his job when Ruby isn't even allowed to leave the house. It was cringe and felt very trope-y from the author; like it was only there for the sake of labelling the book with 'masked MMC'.
Sam also had very little composure when it came to Ruby and I personally thought it was out of character given his occupation and how his character had been described when it came to his military career.
This just really didn't hit for me...
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List
TW - toxic relationship (past, implied), alcohol consumption (lots, on page), drugs (cocaine, sc), military (ops + gore mentioned and recounted), imprisonment (sc, mentioned), bullying (past, mentioned), tracking (without consent), death of a parent (mentioned x1 heart attack, mentioned x1 murder), smoking (cigarettes), domestic abuse (parents, past, implied), minor accident requiring stitches, parental abandonment (mentioned), hunting of an endangered species (sc, mentioned), drug trade + human trafficking + weapons trade + forced prostitution (mentioned), bribery (mentioned), abuse (from a parent, verbal on page, gun violence on page), violence (incl stabbing, mentioned, gun violence, on page), murder, gambling (casino scene)
CW - hand necklaces / choking, spanking, degradation
Tropes - FMC X Bodyguard, age gap (6yrs), he (tries) to cook for her, 24F 30M, jealousy, forced proximity, rich FMC
Unfortunately, I really wasn't a fan of this book
Sam (MMC) has been tasked with being Ruby's (FMC) bodyguard and it is clear from the beginning that he is there under false pretences, we don't get the full story about his motives until about into the book.
Ruby is brat but not in a fun way, more of a wow you're so fucking annoying, pull yourself together kind of way and I was just waiting to like her character and I didn't get there. I knew her sob story had to be really good to redeem her character for me and it didn't do much.
My main issue with this book is that it felt like for a long time, nothing was really happening. The MCs were just playing house for a lot of it and there was no indicators to explain the point of him actually being there. We don't know for a while why Ruby's character is insufferable and the way she is and tbh, it made it hard not to DNF. The pacing was off for me 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
When Sam tries to deny himself Ruby, he comments that she is annoying and that is defo something I can agree with. I really think that Ruby should have been aged down from 24 to 18 for her character to make sense; I found it really hard to believe that a 24 year old would act the way she does.
Randomly, Sam wears a mask / balaclava to hide his face from Ruby when her dad, the man that hired him and the real reason why he's there, already know what he looks like. I was so confused as to why he thought he needed to wear a mask to do his job when Ruby isn't even allowed to leave the house. It was cringe and felt very trope-y from the author; like it was only there for the sake of labelling the book with 'masked MMC'.
Sam also had very little composure when it came to Ruby and I personally thought it was out of character given his occupation and how his character had been described when it came to his military career.
This just really didn't hit for me...
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List
May 9, 2024
General: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦
Tropes:
🫦 annoyance to lovers
🫦 flirty banter
🫦 degradation & praise
🫦 idiots in love
🫦 forced proximity
🫦 touch her & die
🫦 mask
🫦 dual POV
I just finished this wonderful piece of spicy romance and I will deeply miss this freaky couple in my life.
I really loved the two MCs. Both of them have their secrets, which are only revealed slowly. Samuel is so broody and sarcastic as hell. When he trys to cook he fails everytime. Ruby puts up a show for her new bodyguard, but inside she is just lonely and is kept prisoner in her own house. The tension between the two of them is so strong, that you hope they just start to fuck it out already.
If you like your bookboyfriends broody and dominating combined with degradation and a good measure of praise, than you should grab this book and find some quality time for you both.
Wicked little game releases on May 28th, 2024 and I can't wait for you to meet Ruby and Sam!
Quotes:
"Good boy," she whispers in my ear, even though I cut her words off as I grab her neck. She isn't startled the slightest bit and I don't know what I need to do for her to understand a few things about me.
"There's only one hand that needs to look good around your throat, and that's mine," he growls.
"Shut your pretty mouth or I'll make you," he says condescendingly and I feel my legs giving out under me.
I push my middle and index finger down on her tongue, swiping up some of my cum.
"Swallow," | order, and she does as she's told.
Maybe I really found her magic switch.
"Such a good girl." I don't need to see his face to know there's a smirk on his lips. "Only nice and obedient when your holes are filled, am I right?"
Spice: 🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦
Tropes:
🫦 annoyance to lovers
🫦 flirty banter
🫦 degradation & praise
🫦 idiots in love
🫦 forced proximity
🫦 touch her & die
🫦 mask
🫦 dual POV
I just finished this wonderful piece of spicy romance and I will deeply miss this freaky couple in my life.
I really loved the two MCs. Both of them have their secrets, which are only revealed slowly. Samuel is so broody and sarcastic as hell. When he trys to cook he fails everytime. Ruby puts up a show for her new bodyguard, but inside she is just lonely and is kept prisoner in her own house. The tension between the two of them is so strong, that you hope they just start to fuck it out already.
If you like your bookboyfriends broody and dominating combined with degradation and a good measure of praise, than you should grab this book and find some quality time for you both.
Wicked little game releases on May 28th, 2024 and I can't wait for you to meet Ruby and Sam!
Quotes:
"Good boy," she whispers in my ear, even though I cut her words off as I grab her neck. She isn't startled the slightest bit and I don't know what I need to do for her to understand a few things about me.
"There's only one hand that needs to look good around your throat, and that's mine," he growls.
"Shut your pretty mouth or I'll make you," he says condescendingly and I feel my legs giving out under me.
I push my middle and index finger down on her tongue, swiping up some of my cum.
"Swallow," | order, and she does as she's told.
Maybe I really found her magic switch.
"Such a good girl." I don't need to see his face to know there's a smirk on his lips. "Only nice and obedient when your holes are filled, am I right?"
May 8, 2024
I couldn’t put this down from the moment I started it & honestly I wanted more after it finished! Definitely a page turner & without spoiling anything it definitely didn’t end the way I thought it would!
May 11, 2024
I aboutsley loved this book. It was funny , sexy an just amazing. The character development was written perfectly. This book pulls you in an keeps you hooked from the start 💕💕
May 28, 2024
Wicked little game by Ivy Porter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bodyguard romance? Masked men? Soldier? Enemies to lovers? Well Ivy Porter has ticked all those boxes and more!
This was a slow burn but well worth the wait and the tension/ build up was so well done.
“Despite that, thoughts about her started creeping into my mind. Thoughts that are so dirty that not even a pressure washer straight to my eye socket could get rid of them.”
This is a dual POV story between the MMC: Stephen, an undercover soldier hired to be a bodyguard to 24 year old FMC Ruby, who despite her age, he’s there to make sure she doesn’t leave the house.
I loved the back and forth insults between these two and that with every chapter you found yourself begging for the small little sweet moments that were built with tension to escalate. This book didn’t get predictable at any point as there was always a small spanner thrown into the mix.
I really hope we get another book focusing on either Max or Logan because despite them being side characters, they are so lovable and fun!
Also my favourite quote from the book:
“I make my way over to the gym, lifting weights until my muscles hurt. It’s a good pain, one that I can deal with. It doesn’t help to get Ruby out of my head, though. She already made herself a nice, cozy home in there. I don’t need a workout; I need a lobotomy. I could give Ruby my prefrontal cortex in a pretty cardboard box.”
Bodyguard romance? Masked men? Soldier? Enemies to lovers? Well Ivy Porter has ticked all those boxes and more!
This was a slow burn but well worth the wait and the tension/ build up was so well done.
“Despite that, thoughts about her started creeping into my mind. Thoughts that are so dirty that not even a pressure washer straight to my eye socket could get rid of them.”
This is a dual POV story between the MMC: Stephen, an undercover soldier hired to be a bodyguard to 24 year old FMC Ruby, who despite her age, he’s there to make sure she doesn’t leave the house.
I loved the back and forth insults between these two and that with every chapter you found yourself begging for the small little sweet moments that were built with tension to escalate. This book didn’t get predictable at any point as there was always a small spanner thrown into the mix.
I really hope we get another book focusing on either Max or Logan because despite them being side characters, they are so lovable and fun!
Also my favourite quote from the book:
“I make my way over to the gym, lifting weights until my muscles hurt. It’s a good pain, one that I can deal with. It doesn’t help to get Ruby out of my head, though. She already made herself a nice, cozy home in there. I don’t need a workout; I need a lobotomy. I could give Ruby my prefrontal cortex in a pretty cardboard box.”
July 18, 2024
3.5 ☆
it was an okay read overall but they started to like eachother too fast, i wanted to see more of a slowburn, and the big plot of her father got resolved in a snap of fingers (i expected more consequences). but it was fine and not a boring book 🫧
it was an okay read overall but they started to like eachother too fast, i wanted to see more of a slowburn, and the big plot of her father got resolved in a snap of fingers (i expected more consequences). but it was fine and not a boring book 🫧
May 13, 2024
Loved this story, full of spice! The characters Sam and Ruby were brilliant, their banter was brilliant. Aside from the spice, the actual plot is also very interesting. Very well wrote, enjoyed.
May 27, 2025
“Wicked Little Games” by Ivy Porter is the first book in the Wicked Love series and follows the story of Samuel Ryves and Ruby Barron. Inspired by COD’s Ghost, Samuel is sent on a special mission to pose as Ruby’s bodyguard and gather information about her criminal father. Forced together in a house in the middle of nowhere, Ruby taunts him with her wit and banter, and Samuel quickly finds himself intrigued by his bratty protégé. But some lines shouldn’t be crossed… or should they?
Have I ever in my life played COD? No. Did I get stuck on MaskTok/COD cosplay on TikTok and develop a weird obsession with those characters? Yes. And that’s basically the story behind my motivation to pick up a book marketed as COD-inspired.
At first, I was quite intrigued by the story and its set of characters. Samuel and Ruby’s dynamic was fun, full of teasing and bickering. There was the promise of uncovering secrets on the horizon, keeping me curious about where the plot would go. Unfortunately, despite tickling my domesticity kink, the story started thinning out pretty quickly. Overall, I’d say there was a lack of depth and tension in both Samuel’s mission and the criminal activities surrounding Ruby’s father. I would’ve loved a stronger focus on the suspense and military side of the novel.
Some parts also didn’t quite make sense within the context of the main plot. For example, I get that Samuel is supposed to be inspired by COD’s Ghost — but him wearing a mask while posing as a bodyguard after already showing his face to Ruby’s father didn’t really add up for me, to be honest.
That said, I do think this novel can be a fun read if you’re not looking for something too intense, but still want a little darkness lurking in the background.
Have I ever in my life played COD? No. Did I get stuck on MaskTok/COD cosplay on TikTok and develop a weird obsession with those characters? Yes. And that’s basically the story behind my motivation to pick up a book marketed as COD-inspired.
At first, I was quite intrigued by the story and its set of characters. Samuel and Ruby’s dynamic was fun, full of teasing and bickering. There was the promise of uncovering secrets on the horizon, keeping me curious about where the plot would go. Unfortunately, despite tickling my domesticity kink, the story started thinning out pretty quickly. Overall, I’d say there was a lack of depth and tension in both Samuel’s mission and the criminal activities surrounding Ruby’s father. I would’ve loved a stronger focus on the suspense and military side of the novel.
Some parts also didn’t quite make sense within the context of the main plot. For example, I get that Samuel is supposed to be inspired by COD’s Ghost — but him wearing a mask while posing as a bodyguard after already showing his face to Ruby’s father didn’t really add up for me, to be honest.
That said, I do think this novel can be a fun read if you’re not looking for something too intense, but still want a little darkness lurking in the background.
June 3, 2024
Ruby is everything he doesn’t want, everything he shouldn’t want, and still, she gets him to break his rules … over and over.
"There's only one hand that needs to look good around your throat, and that's mine," he growls.
I absolutely live for books with good banter, and this delivered! Sam and Ruby's story had me captivated despite a slow start, I was so into their story, their backgrounds, the plot.... this was all so well written and entwined beautifully.
It's so great to read another debut novel that ticks all the boxes, and Ivy has done that with Wicked Little Game.
Tropes:
- Forced proximity
- Touch her and d!e
- Banter
- Praise
- Enemies to lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
"There's only one hand that needs to look good around your throat, and that's mine," he growls.
I absolutely live for books with good banter, and this delivered! Sam and Ruby's story had me captivated despite a slow start, I was so into their story, their backgrounds, the plot.... this was all so well written and entwined beautifully.
It's so great to read another debut novel that ticks all the boxes, and Ivy has done that with Wicked Little Game.
Tropes:
- Forced proximity
- Touch her and d!e
- Banter
- Praise
- Enemies to lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
May 22, 2024
4 ⭐️
3🌶️
All you need to know is he calls her dipshit or darling, and if that doesn't make you want to read this book then I don't know what will 🤷🏻♀️ lol. Honestly though, I loved their banter! The banter is pretty much the reason I liked this book as much as I did! I was leaning towards 3 stars until the banter really picked up and then I was just hooked and couldn't wait to see what they'd say to each other next. I do wish there was more action in this book, but overall it was good!!
Wicked Little Game comes out May 28th so make sure you pre-order today!
3🌶️
All you need to know is he calls her dipshit or darling, and if that doesn't make you want to read this book then I don't know what will 🤷🏻♀️ lol. Honestly though, I loved their banter! The banter is pretty much the reason I liked this book as much as I did! I was leaning towards 3 stars until the banter really picked up and then I was just hooked and couldn't wait to see what they'd say to each other next. I do wish there was more action in this book, but overall it was good!!
Wicked Little Game comes out May 28th so make sure you pre-order today!
May 12, 2024
I’m gona be honest, this book had a little slow start for my liking, but I’m so glad I finished it! Holy cow, once things started to pick up for me, I could not put the book down! I started thinking about how some situations would pan out and then BAM, Ivy blows my mind with what actually happens. And the spice level, sheeeeesh.
May 31, 2024
This book was so good honestly I found ruby and Samuel so easy to fall into as a couple and their jokey flirting was the best I was so there for it! I'm putting this book at four stars because I felt like in the first half of the book there wasn't much of a plot beyond the couple and I understand that it was a forced proximity confined area sort of thing however not much was explained as a storyline early on it was only really focused on the characters interactions rather than their individual backgrounds. That being said, in the second half of the book everything was explained and the plot picked up and I got so sucked in! I loved how ruby went against her father's business and how everything went down ahh!
Ruby made me laugh so many times I lost count she is that girl i swear, leaving her underwear on the floor knowing he would have to pick it up was hilarious and her confidence was admirable like girl I wish I was there too🤭😂
Sam was the dose of hot bodyguard that I needed woww😩 The things he said were just ughhh, I also found it refreshing to have a mmc where he shows his jokey side and caring nature rather than my usual icy morally grey men (don't get me wrong they're still number one and Sam is also morally grey)
I have to talk about when she fell down the stairs and he had to help her because I'm just a suckr for whole fmc gets injured and the mmc gets all worried about her thing ahh🤭 they were so cute in this scene!
Overall I think the book was really well written and the bodyguard trope hit every mark😩 I loved the couple and their dynamic so much and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the arc 💗
Ruby made me laugh so many times I lost count she is that girl i swear, leaving her underwear on the floor knowing he would have to pick it up was hilarious and her confidence was admirable like girl I wish I was there too🤭😂
Sam was the dose of hot bodyguard that I needed woww😩 The things he said were just ughhh, I also found it refreshing to have a mmc where he shows his jokey side and caring nature rather than my usual icy morally grey men (don't get me wrong they're still number one and Sam is also morally grey)
I have to talk about when she fell down the stairs and he had to help her because I'm just a suckr for whole fmc gets injured and the mmc gets all worried about her thing ahh🤭 they were so cute in this scene!
Overall I think the book was really well written and the bodyguard trope hit every mark😩 I loved the couple and their dynamic so much and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the arc 💗
May 13, 2024
ARC review for Wicked Little Game by Ivy Porter 📚🖤
✨SYNOPSIS✨
Closed-off. Brooding. Dominant. Samuel Ryves likes his peace & quiet, his weapons and his rules. Like the one about never letting anyone close to his heart again. Until a mission forces him to work as a bodyguard for the most annoying, infuriating and unfortunately also the most alluring woman he has ever met: Ruby Barron.
•••
Bold, clever and born into a golden cage, Ruby Barron may have once been the perfect daughter, but that changed when she stopped being a compliant puppet for her father. Now she's living in a mansion that is nothing more than a pretty prison, guarded by frequently changing bodyguards who ensure she won't try to run off & leave her father and his organization behind.
✨TROPES✨
Grumpy x Sunshine.
Forced proximity.
Bodyguard romance.
Dual POV.
Good girl.
✨TRIGGER WARNINGS✨
Death of a parent (off page; not during the events of the book).
Alchohol use.
Explicit sexual content.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Implied domestic abuse (not between the main characters; brief mention).
Gun violence (on page).
••• ••• •••
4/5 ⭐️
Just over 300 pages- a steamy, fast read.
A masked bodyguard, who secretly is fawning after his appointed task? Sigh. 🥰 I fell in love with the banter between Samuel & Ruby quickly. The dedication was true, love between two dipshits- both sour and sweet. I absolutely loved this read. Thank you Ivy for letting me be part of your ARC team!
✨SYNOPSIS✨
Closed-off. Brooding. Dominant. Samuel Ryves likes his peace & quiet, his weapons and his rules. Like the one about never letting anyone close to his heart again. Until a mission forces him to work as a bodyguard for the most annoying, infuriating and unfortunately also the most alluring woman he has ever met: Ruby Barron.
•••
Bold, clever and born into a golden cage, Ruby Barron may have once been the perfect daughter, but that changed when she stopped being a compliant puppet for her father. Now she's living in a mansion that is nothing more than a pretty prison, guarded by frequently changing bodyguards who ensure she won't try to run off & leave her father and his organization behind.
✨TROPES✨
Grumpy x Sunshine.
Forced proximity.
Bodyguard romance.
Dual POV.
Good girl.
✨TRIGGER WARNINGS✨
Death of a parent (off page; not during the events of the book).
Alchohol use.
Explicit sexual content.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Implied domestic abuse (not between the main characters; brief mention).
Gun violence (on page).
••• ••• •••
4/5 ⭐️
Just over 300 pages- a steamy, fast read.
A masked bodyguard, who secretly is fawning after his appointed task? Sigh. 🥰 I fell in love with the banter between Samuel & Ruby quickly. The dedication was true, love between two dipshits- both sour and sweet. I absolutely loved this read. Thank you Ivy for letting me be part of your ARC team!
May 9, 2024
This is the first book I have read from this author I believe it’s ivys debut novel and I was expecting something stumbled through and something that the kinks needed to be worked through. This book was none of that this book was very well written and the character development was there this book wasn’t just all about spice if you don’t like a slow burn book then this one isn’t for you but the book works with the slow burn and the sexual tension before the spice is worth the wait for the eventual spicy scenes and the way the book ends it leaves it open for possible future books in the same bookverse so I was very happy I’m giving this book a 4⭐️ and I think the spice is worth 4🌶️ and I would definitely recommend this to my friends and I will definitely be buying so I can reread
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
I am fully sobbing as I write this, oh my god this book was genuinely perfect. I have nothing bad to say about it. not a single thing!!!!!!
these two bitches will always have a place in my heart🥹 i love Ruby so so so much, she is such a funny and fierce person and just her whole vibe was so cool🫶 Sam is truly one of my fav bodyguards I have ever met; his whole demeanor was what made me really curious about him and his grumpiness was 10/10 perfection😋 their stupidity and their humor really complete eachother's person, and I don't doubt they are soulmates in every single universe there is🥰 the bracelets and the gun scenes were some of my favs, along with one with the ducks at the lake and the epilogue🥹🥹🥹
honorable mention of Max, Logan, and Rockwell!!!! even though they didn't have much page time, they surely left a mark on my heart🫶🫶 found family trope hits every time
these two bitches will always have a place in my heart🥹 i love Ruby so so so much, she is such a funny and fierce person and just her whole vibe was so cool🫶 Sam is truly one of my fav bodyguards I have ever met; his whole demeanor was what made me really curious about him and his grumpiness was 10/10 perfection😋 their stupidity and their humor really complete eachother's person, and I don't doubt they are soulmates in every single universe there is🥰 the bracelets and the gun scenes were some of my favs, along with one with the ducks at the lake and the epilogue🥹🥹🥹
honorable mention of Max, Logan, and Rockwell!!!! even though they didn't have much page time, they surely left a mark on my heart🫶🫶 found family trope hits every time
September 9, 2025
This book was satisfying. It was what I would call a dark romance, but on the other side of things, the writing was leaving me wanting. I did enjoy the story, but I think the writing and the plot holes need to be fixed. Well, I didn’t find traditional typos. I did feel like the writing was very poor. It jumped around a lot and left a lot unspoken on the page. I also did not like that. The incredibly intimate on page scenes were cut off and not finished essentially so they start out very spicy and very explicit and then fade to black.
May 27, 2024
"He is her bodyguard. She is the bane of his existence."
The book was amazing. It took me out of my reading slump. A bodyguard who falls for his client. The banter, the teasing, their chemistry, everything was perfect. He calls her his dipshit. 😭 I mean sir what-. Anyway, I'm not going to spoil it for you guys, but this book was so cute and funny. 🤌. The way they kept going for each other's throats was chef's kiss. 🤌😭He "tries" to cook for her. 🥹✋️🫂 Swoon 🦋
The book was amazing. It took me out of my reading slump. A bodyguard who falls for his client. The banter, the teasing, their chemistry, everything was perfect. He calls her his dipshit. 😭 I mean sir what-. Anyway, I'm not going to spoil it for you guys, but this book was so cute and funny. 🤌. The way they kept going for each other's throats was chef's kiss. 🤌😭He "tries" to cook for her. 🥹✋️🫂 Swoon 🦋
June 20, 2024
⭐️ 3.5
I can't bring myself to keep my distance. I'm too touch-starved, too desperate for his affection to tear myself away. I don't care if it kills me in the end.
Listen, I flew through this book and to be honest with you, I was in the mood for a book to match my freak, and LORRRDDD did Samuel deliver...🥵🥵
I can't bring myself to keep my distance. I'm too touch-starved, too desperate for his affection to tear myself away. I don't care if it kills me in the end.
Listen, I flew through this book and to be honest with you, I was in the mood for a book to match my freak, and LORRRDDD did Samuel deliver...🥵🥵
February 3, 2025
yeah so I need me a 6’2, buff, military man like yesterday. Samuel has me in a chokehold 😀
April 23, 2025
1.5⭐️ ... 🤷🏻♀️ about 75% of this was them playing house ... chilling , watching movies, cuddling, sleeping all effin day (her) and eating. Nothing really happened.
June 18, 2025
Loved this book it was an easy read with a good plot, the main character reminded me of Ghost from COD if you know you know and that was hot. Loved the female character and the ending was great.
June 26, 2025
3.5⭐️
A quick, easy read. I liked it.
A quick, easy read. I liked it.
August 11, 2024
the beginning of the book threw me off a little bc why is this grown ass man wearing a ski mask as a bodyguard like genuinely don’t get why he does that and the fact the main girl doesn’t know what his face looks like for a good chunk of the book is a little insane to me like it didn’t affect the book much bc i forgot he was wearing the mask but that’s the randomest shit ever hello. but the book is cute after a bit idk something about this book at first rubbed me the wrong way bc it just felt random bc the main girl needs a body guard when she’s 24 and it’s not explained why and the main girl doesn’t really have much going on in her life which i wasn’t a fan of yk. i feel like w these socialite rich daughter characters in order to give them depth they need to have a passion and a lot of times it’s something w fashion bc they’re rich but the main girl doesn’t even have that. i just personally like when the female lead has a drive for something and it’s not really shown throughout the whole book like it’s mentioned how she has a ba in business and she used to work for her dad and i’m like where was this before but it made sense to mention in during that scene for the plot purposes but idk i’m just like damn why were u hiding this even from the reader like i get the main guy not knowing it but come on i want to know more about this girl bc all she has is like sad family issues and not many friends. like i just feel bad for her and the main guy is kinda the only consistent person in her life like free my girl and give her some friends. but yeah besides that tho i did enjoy the main couple’s relationship. i was eh about them at first bc i’m like she’s done this w her past bodyguards that i’m like what makes him different but seeing their relationship progress i think it’s sweet how she’s able to talk to him about stuff and he listens which is something the girly isn’t used to bc she has terrible friends and all that like i wish she went off on her ex bestie who got w her ex like hello girl idk how she held herself back but yeah i enjoy the simple dynamic between the two of them. the main guy he’s interesting like i’m not sure if i like him on his own bc he’s a bit whiplashy for me bc he’s like i can’t be w you i’m your bodyguard blah blah but let’s the main girl go down on him and then acts like it never happened i feel like if you’re gonna do one thing you better commit and not try to play it off as it didn’t happen. but i will say i ate up his jealousy scene like yes steal her away from her date. but tbh i was confused w his whole mission of exposing the main girl’s dad i was like when was this a thing but yk he did it and the main girl was hurt bc he slept w her and then literally ghosted in person to focus on the mission you’re actually terrible and she found out about the mission well he told her bc she overheard a conversation about something else but she’s hurt ofc bc why tf you gonna sleep w her when you’re going to kill her dad basically but whatever they make up and all that and they get the dad blah blah blah. bro what got me mad was his ass was doing all this pda w her just for him to leave her when the mission is over and it’s bc she said she loved him before going to confront her dad but she took it back. i get it but also let’s communicate babe bc you love her but you’re gonna leave her? but it’s whatever he came back two weeks later and they’re all happy and yay. idk this book isn’t anything outstanding but it was enjoyable i liked it so it gets like a 7/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
[For full disclosure, I was actually coming into this book after ‘rebelliously’ reading the second one first, so I had already encountered all these characters at a later stage.]
Wicked Little Game is a forbidden romance between a bodyguard and his employer’s daughter he’s been hired to guard, though his real intentions for being there is to gather intel on the man who selected him, her father.
I quickly decided that I was in Sam’s corner a few pages in; I just loved his crabby, sarcastic sense of humour. Ivy has a real knack for writing funny narratives for these grumpy MMCs and his inner monologue (like Logan’s in the second book) had me chuckling. His reluctant attitude towards the whole situation creates a very amusing opening to the book.
On finding out who Sam’s meant to be bodyguard for, you can guess that we’re going to have some clashes in personality – a slightly surly bodyguard and a rebellious rich girl who feels stifled in her own home – and what follows between the pair, after an unsuccessful first meeting, is some hilarious banter laced with underlying attraction, which Sam is resolutely trying to ignore. I loved their dynamic together; they really seemed to bounce off one another, and this produced some entertaining scenes between them as their connection grew.
I also really liked Ruby - she's strong and feisty, and when it comes down to it, she chooses to do the right thing over siding with the person who has always treated her more like a possession than a person. After being neglected and isolated by her father, she’s desperately seeking attention and craves someone to love and will love her in return. She manages to worm her way into Sam’s affections quite sneakily.
I have to add that I really loved that Samuel’s nickname for Ruby was “dipsh*t” and how it evolves from a mild insult to being incredibly affectionate; it was just so accurate for her at the time and I thought it just suited them as a couple and their style of relationship perfectly.
I also really enjoyed seeing snippets of Max and Logan (who are the MMCs in the second book) from Sam’s point of view; they are great supporting characters, and knowing them as I do now, these titbits were such accurate teasers of them.
Wicked Little Game is a forbidden romance between a bodyguard and his employer’s daughter he’s been hired to guard, though his real intentions for being there is to gather intel on the man who selected him, her father.
I quickly decided that I was in Sam’s corner a few pages in; I just loved his crabby, sarcastic sense of humour. Ivy has a real knack for writing funny narratives for these grumpy MMCs and his inner monologue (like Logan’s in the second book) had me chuckling. His reluctant attitude towards the whole situation creates a very amusing opening to the book.
On finding out who Sam’s meant to be bodyguard for, you can guess that we’re going to have some clashes in personality – a slightly surly bodyguard and a rebellious rich girl who feels stifled in her own home – and what follows between the pair, after an unsuccessful first meeting, is some hilarious banter laced with underlying attraction, which Sam is resolutely trying to ignore. I loved their dynamic together; they really seemed to bounce off one another, and this produced some entertaining scenes between them as their connection grew.
I also really liked Ruby - she's strong and feisty, and when it comes down to it, she chooses to do the right thing over siding with the person who has always treated her more like a possession than a person. After being neglected and isolated by her father, she’s desperately seeking attention and craves someone to love and will love her in return. She manages to worm her way into Sam’s affections quite sneakily.
I have to add that I really loved that Samuel’s nickname for Ruby was “dipsh*t” and how it evolves from a mild insult to being incredibly affectionate; it was just so accurate for her at the time and I thought it just suited them as a couple and their style of relationship perfectly.
I also really enjoyed seeing snippets of Max and Logan (who are the MMCs in the second book) from Sam’s point of view; they are great supporting characters, and knowing them as I do now, these titbits were such accurate teasers of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
General: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 💥💥💥💥💥
Wow. W O W.
I really messed up my sleep schedule for this book, I could NOT put it down! It was everything I need in a book; exciting, charismatic characters, interesting and often surprising plot, character development, humour, emotional scenes... you can find that all here!
Ivy has a way of hitting a spot in your brain with very little words. There's one sentence (with only four words) on page 251 that immediately turns on the water works... wild. There's so many layers to her characters, more than you'd initially think.
I'm sure we can expect great things from Ivy in the future!
! spoilers below !
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.
.
.
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I love and appreciate a good slow burn, and this was perfectly level. You would think the spice comes quickly, but it actually takes them some time to warm up to each other, so when they get at it, it's sooo satisfying. ''You wanted me to see. Then let me see.'' WHOOOAAA, WHOA WHOA!!!????
Sometimes I felt like screaming at Sam and Ruby for being idiots (idiots in ✨love✨), which is definitely a good thing! I like characters that pull you in like that. Even the side characters are so well thought through, it's almost impossible to dislike them (well, we don't like four certain someone's obviously), everyone is introduced at the right time and place in the story. The changes the main characters go through are realistic and gripping, and by the end you're 99% gonna cry happy tears. I love Ruby and Sam, definitely characters that are impossible to forget.
The plot moves in a really nice pace, twists are revealed at the right times and it's easy to follow. The way problems are solved works really well!
Spice: 💥💥💥💥💥
Wow. W O W.
I really messed up my sleep schedule for this book, I could NOT put it down! It was everything I need in a book; exciting, charismatic characters, interesting and often surprising plot, character development, humour, emotional scenes... you can find that all here!
Ivy has a way of hitting a spot in your brain with very little words. There's one sentence (with only four words) on page 251 that immediately turns on the water works... wild. There's so many layers to her characters, more than you'd initially think.
I'm sure we can expect great things from Ivy in the future!
! spoilers below !
.
.
.
.
.
I love and appreciate a good slow burn, and this was perfectly level. You would think the spice comes quickly, but it actually takes them some time to warm up to each other, so when they get at it, it's sooo satisfying. ''You wanted me to see. Then let me see.'' WHOOOAAA, WHOA WHOA!!!????
Sometimes I felt like screaming at Sam and Ruby for being idiots (idiots in ✨love✨), which is definitely a good thing! I like characters that pull you in like that. Even the side characters are so well thought through, it's almost impossible to dislike them (well, we don't like four certain someone's obviously), everyone is introduced at the right time and place in the story. The changes the main characters go through are realistic and gripping, and by the end you're 99% gonna cry happy tears. I love Ruby and Sam, definitely characters that are impossible to forget.
The plot moves in a really nice pace, twists are revealed at the right times and it's easy to follow. The way problems are solved works really well!
May 21, 2024
Spoiler Free Review!!!
I expected an absolute banger of a book but this blew even my expectations out of the water!
My favorite author for a reason <3
So yes, my review might be slightly biased through the rose colored lovey dovey glasses I have on, regarding the wonderful human who wrote this book, just as a warning :)
This book was an absolute page turner for me, I had a hard time putting it down despite being busy with my finals.
I also don’t remember ever having to laugh and smile as much while reading any other book, my lips hurt at some point because the humor was just top notch. Very well written, the humor was very fitting considering Sam’s military career and Ruby’s upbringing, it felt natural and believable.
Also regarding Sam: “choices have consequences” SIMON GHOST RILEY IS THAT YOU??
Seriously, a lot of the things came off as suspicious, dear Ivy Porter, especially considering your fan fiction origins 👀 (love you)
This book included all of my favorite tropes and scenarios, such as him taking care of her, picking her up, comforting her yet also having an inner battle with his attraction towards her, the dual POV was an amazing choice!
So in short; This book will be an amazing read if you love the bodyguard trope with the banter between him and a woman who knows how to give a proper comeback and spicy scenes that do not disppoint!
The spice also appears rather early in the book, which is perfect for me.
I expected an absolute banger of a book but this blew even my expectations out of the water!
My favorite author for a reason <3
So yes, my review might be slightly biased through the rose colored lovey dovey glasses I have on, regarding the wonderful human who wrote this book, just as a warning :)
This book was an absolute page turner for me, I had a hard time putting it down despite being busy with my finals.
I also don’t remember ever having to laugh and smile as much while reading any other book, my lips hurt at some point because the humor was just top notch. Very well written, the humor was very fitting considering Sam’s military career and Ruby’s upbringing, it felt natural and believable.
Also regarding Sam: “choices have consequences” SIMON GHOST RILEY IS THAT YOU??
Seriously, a lot of the things came off as suspicious, dear Ivy Porter, especially considering your fan fiction origins 👀 (love you)
This book included all of my favorite tropes and scenarios, such as him taking care of her, picking her up, comforting her yet also having an inner battle with his attraction towards her, the dual POV was an amazing choice!
So in short; This book will be an amazing read if you love the bodyguard trope with the banter between him and a woman who knows how to give a proper comeback and spicy scenes that do not disppoint!
The spice also appears rather early in the book, which is perfect for me.
November 17, 2024
Wicked Little Game - Ivy Porter - 3.5⭐️
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BOOK OVERVIEW
awwwwwee is all I have to say about this book this is a pure escapism book and I enjoyed every second of it. bodyguard Sam and bratty Ruby were so fun to read about. it was just a really sweet, light, and quirky read. really predictable, but when have I ever cared about that. no really deep messages or character development, but there’s something about just reading some crazy unrealistic love story that I can escape in for a little while. it just sounds so fun to me. Also the writing wasn’t even bad, and this book was funny without being cringy. it wasn’t incredible either, but I still enjoyed her descriptive take on things.
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WHAT I LIKED
- againnn the lightness of this book, I usually read romances that are either dark or have a lot of feeling but this one was a nice little break from that. super simple, but one i’ll think of for sure.
- This book was veryyy character driven so I just feel really attached to them like awww. we spent the entire book focusing on them, I really care about both of them which, even while being really cliche, I wanted to see them get their happy ending.
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WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- my only complaints is that there wasn’t much plot, mostly I didn’t mind, but there was a couple points where i’m really questioning if that would actually happen. like it’s a stretch at some parts. and a little absurd.
———————————————————————-
BOOK OVERVIEW
awwwwwee is all I have to say about this book this is a pure escapism book and I enjoyed every second of it. bodyguard Sam and bratty Ruby were so fun to read about. it was just a really sweet, light, and quirky read. really predictable, but when have I ever cared about that. no really deep messages or character development, but there’s something about just reading some crazy unrealistic love story that I can escape in for a little while. it just sounds so fun to me. Also the writing wasn’t even bad, and this book was funny without being cringy. it wasn’t incredible either, but I still enjoyed her descriptive take on things.
———————————————————————-
WHAT I LIKED
- againnn the lightness of this book, I usually read romances that are either dark or have a lot of feeling but this one was a nice little break from that. super simple, but one i’ll think of for sure.
- This book was veryyy character driven so I just feel really attached to them like awww. we spent the entire book focusing on them, I really care about both of them which, even while being really cliche, I wanted to see them get their happy ending.
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WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- my only complaints is that there wasn’t much plot, mostly I didn’t mind, but there was a couple points where i’m really questioning if that would actually happen. like it’s a stretch at some parts. and a little absurd.
April 20, 2025
*spoilers*
I'm going to keep going but am a hairsbreadth away from DNFing.
The FMC is insufferable. She is supposed to be bratty, I get that, but has gone above and beyond, she needs to be rewritten as a 16 year old, no 24yr old would act like that.
The MMC is so disconnected to who we're supposed to believe he is. He's 30 but can't even cook eggs? He's supposed to be there as a professional bodyguard but is constantly drinking? He's ex military and buff but lives off candy and alcohol? There's been one mention of a protein shake in there, but I'm not believing who he is at all.
So far absolutely nothing of note is happening aside from them playing house and I can see the author doing her best to build some chemistry between the two of them but it is falling completely flat.
This girl is supposed to be spoilt rotten rich and yet there are no staff on premises.
She's not allowed to leave the house at all but manages to talk the MMC into taking her to the mall to pick up some jewellery she had ordered? Ok if you aren't allowed to leave the house when were you planning on getting this custom jewellery it if he had stuck to his guns to not take you off grounds?
And that jewellery by the way are fucking FrIeNdShIp BrAcElEts, but for boyfriends and girlfriends.
He's fucking thirty! And they've known each other less than two weeks!
It's just sloppy writing, the whole thing is sloppy writing. I'm giving it one more chance to get better, but honestly my hopes are not high.
EDIT: Finished and my opinion hasn't changed. Wish I had DNFd. It doesn't get any better, the characters and all of their decisions make no sense. It has the emotional maturity and character base of an author who is still making their barbies kiss.
I'm going to keep going but am a hairsbreadth away from DNFing.
The FMC is insufferable. She is supposed to be bratty, I get that, but has gone above and beyond, she needs to be rewritten as a 16 year old, no 24yr old would act like that.
The MMC is so disconnected to who we're supposed to believe he is. He's 30 but can't even cook eggs? He's supposed to be there as a professional bodyguard but is constantly drinking? He's ex military and buff but lives off candy and alcohol? There's been one mention of a protein shake in there, but I'm not believing who he is at all.
So far absolutely nothing of note is happening aside from them playing house and I can see the author doing her best to build some chemistry between the two of them but it is falling completely flat.
This girl is supposed to be spoilt rotten rich and yet there are no staff on premises.
She's not allowed to leave the house at all but manages to talk the MMC into taking her to the mall to pick up some jewellery she had ordered? Ok if you aren't allowed to leave the house when were you planning on getting this custom jewellery it if he had stuck to his guns to not take you off grounds?
And that jewellery by the way are fucking FrIeNdShIp BrAcElEts, but for boyfriends and girlfriends.
He's fucking thirty! And they've known each other less than two weeks!
It's just sloppy writing, the whole thing is sloppy writing. I'm giving it one more chance to get better, but honestly my hopes are not high.
EDIT: Finished and my opinion hasn't changed. Wish I had DNFd. It doesn't get any better, the characters and all of their decisions make no sense. It has the emotional maturity and character base of an author who is still making their barbies kiss.
May 16, 2024
Wicked Little Game by Ivy Porter kept me fully engaged, primarily because it had so much happening between the characters of Samuel Ryves and Ruby Barron.
Pair a very broody bodyguard with a slighly spoiled female, you’re in for all kinds of snarky banter. Samuel, who’s on assignment to dig into illegal dealings of the elusive Mr. Barron, who in his efforts to keep his daughter under lock and key, is hired to “baby-sit” her while he’s away.
Samuel instantly has his hands full with making sure Ruby doesn’t sneak off and Ruby, fed up with being controlled, does everything in her power to push Samuel’s buttons.
Ruby, despite her antics to get under Samuel’s skin, finds herself drawn to him, while Sam, who is there for the greater mission at hand, tries in vain to ignore her advances.
While I loved their chemistry, at times, I felt like his insults or name calling was at times unwarranted. I am all for barbs and snarky comebacks, but at times, it was done too often.
Regardless of that slight critique, I loved these two characters. Ruby, as I read the book, was smarter than she wanted Sam to see and Samuel, no matter how hard he wanted to be tough, had sweet soft spot for her.
Is this worth the read? Absolutely. Wonderful job, Ivy.
Pair a very broody bodyguard with a slighly spoiled female, you’re in for all kinds of snarky banter. Samuel, who’s on assignment to dig into illegal dealings of the elusive Mr. Barron, who in his efforts to keep his daughter under lock and key, is hired to “baby-sit” her while he’s away.
Samuel instantly has his hands full with making sure Ruby doesn’t sneak off and Ruby, fed up with being controlled, does everything in her power to push Samuel’s buttons.
Ruby, despite her antics to get under Samuel’s skin, finds herself drawn to him, while Sam, who is there for the greater mission at hand, tries in vain to ignore her advances.
While I loved their chemistry, at times, I felt like his insults or name calling was at times unwarranted. I am all for barbs and snarky comebacks, but at times, it was done too often.
Regardless of that slight critique, I loved these two characters. Ruby, as I read the book, was smarter than she wanted Sam to see and Samuel, no matter how hard he wanted to be tough, had sweet soft spot for her.
Is this worth the read? Absolutely. Wonderful job, Ivy.
June 20, 2025
Oh my. Sam... I need a Sam shaped bodyguard in my life. Hired by Ruby's dad as her guard, he begins his role under a mask. Ruby is a closeted 24 year old rich girl, who is being kept under lock and key. She's a brat, he's an impatient soldier. Both are keeping secrets. Annoyance turns to banter, which turns to flirting, and finally things get spicy. If you don't like a slow burn, this is not the book for you. I was so invested in Sam and Ruby's relationship throughout this novel, and their journey from brusque enforcer and spoilt brat who drive each other nuts, to the fierce protector and gooey centred smart girl who fall for each other.
My one real criticism of the plot is the use of the mask. Ruby's dad knows what Sam looks like when he hires him, so why does he wear it for so long in front of Ruby? It's a strange plot point that doesn't necessarily work for me, but the rest of the story had me engrossed.
I would recommend checking the trigger/content warnings for this novel, as there is a LOT going on, both on page and off.
Wicked Little Game is a brilliant Bodyguard romance with a slow burn that leaves you utterly hooked! Great stuff!
My one real criticism of the plot is the use of the mask. Ruby's dad knows what Sam looks like when he hires him, so why does he wear it for so long in front of Ruby? It's a strange plot point that doesn't necessarily work for me, but the rest of the story had me engrossed.
I would recommend checking the trigger/content warnings for this novel, as there is a LOT going on, both on page and off.
Wicked Little Game is a brilliant Bodyguard romance with a slow burn that leaves you utterly hooked! Great stuff!
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