Always You

It Was Always You #1

by Scarlett Avery

I agreed to the arrangement. No names.

I’ve never regretted anything more in my life because God knows I’d sell my soul to know his name...

It all started with a ball…

I never believed you could fall for someone at first sight until I locked eyes with him… a stranger who quickly becomes an addiction––a man I don’t want to walk away from.

Just like Cinderella, my time with my prince is measured in breaths.

Forced to return to the shipwreck that is my life, I escape in the shadows of the night, my heart bleeding, leaving behind the one man who ignited my body and my soul…

Life is unfair. I should know.

I don’t even know his name…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Amazon, Billionaires, Ebooks

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2021

About the author

Bestselling Amazon Author Scarlett Avery’s Book Boyfriends aren’t like ANY others you’ve ever cuddled to before.

These dirty-talking, DOMINEERING, saucy seducers will make you forget all the other ones. Yeah, Scarlett’s Alpha Males are that DANGEROUSLY HOT!

Be warned: Her books have been dubbed, “Epic & Mind-Blowing”! This Canadian romance author’s books will melt your e-readers and they will leave you on the edge of your seat!

I dare you to discover how SIZZLING they REALLY ARE...

P.S.: Once you 1-click Scarlett’s books, there’s NO going back!

Reviews

[Dora Koutsoukou]

Jules and Levi’s story was a modern retelling of Cinderella’s fairytale.
It was very well written and developed, with engaging characters and an interesting plot which was very well balanced with the occurring hot scenes.

There was really nothing wrong with this book, I simply was not in for a steamy journey at this moment. I think I would have given solid 4🌟s if I had not dnf it @ 47%.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Rags to Riches

You know the story of Cinderella, right? Well bring it to the 21st century, and you'll have the story of Jules Salinger.

An orphan, left with a wicked step-mother, two step-sisters, and a business that is sinking, fast.

At her lowest, Jules bumps into her knight in a sharp dressed suit. Only to find out, he (Levi Aldridge) was the same man, who gave her so much pleasure the night before, at a costume party, her best friend dragged her too.

From that point on, Levi did not let Jules go. Did not let her sink. He helped her save her business, by becoming a partner and bringing on 2 other partners. Together, they brought the Cycle Thonix to the masses, and it began to thrive, just as her father knew it would.

Getting rid of the evils in her life is a weight off her shoulders...

This book was a fun, sexy, exhilarating story to read. High praise to Miss Avery, she did not disappoint!!!

[Nonna 2K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise Stumble

Wow, am I ever glad I stumbled upon Certified Playboy-Levi’s story. From their first meetup, Levi and Jules had sparks flying. They had a shared grief that helped them bond. I loved how this story had an Alpha male, but not a relationship that had a big angst filled scene, that leas to a breakup, makeup, and HEA. It was nice to just read a steamy romance with an HEA. I have to admit that I am interested about all the other men that were mentioned in this story. After reading the info after the epilogues, I’m on my way to read about some cattlemen before I continue with Dom and Rod. Scarlett Avery’s words just flowed from start to finish and I am now a fan after 1 book.

[ChristiLovesBooks_smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always You is fantastic!

Always You, book 1 of the It Was Always You series, by Scarlett Avery @scarlettaveryauthor. This is a reread of this book, though when I read it before it was Levi, book 1 of the Billionaire Hotshot series.

I loved this book just as much this time as I did the first time! Scarlett does an amazing job with her billionaire romances! Tropes: MF, one-night stand, chance encounter, Cinderella retelling & spice!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/23/2021)! 🎁

[Tiblu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn’t .

I got thru the first two chapters ok,I guess, but I just had to stop. 🛑
Can’t give spoilers because that’s as far as I got.
So this is just for me mainly
Just to get what bothered me off my mind.

I only got a taste of the heroine Jules,her BFF Sydney and her sad caricature of a stepmother Hillary. But it was enough .
For me.
Hillary wasn’t there long with my very short stay and all but
She just seemed like a shallow knock off of your average shallow wannabe B. Maybe she’s fleshed out later but some how I doubt it.
Why ?
Because you’ve got two young girls ,yeah,yeah over 21 but still very young and VERY green.
Our h is 23 struggling with her fathers bushes left behind foe her to deal with while her steps try to spend it all away while treating her like dirt
And yet
She’s uber excited to go to a masquerade party at a sex club where they get to me “ domineering” men!
Yeah, you read that right.
They are excited domineering alpha types they might meet at the party.
Dominate and Domineering are NOT the same thing.
Dominate can be either good or bad or neither . Domineering is never good.
So,some who is domineering is usually dictatorial and a bully.
Basically,Yipeeeeeeee,so go find a sexy guy who acts like my stepmother!
I know it might sound small but I don’t want a book where the young green 23 year old girl who’s got so much supposedly weighing down on her is eager to go to a sex club for a night when the doesn’t even know the difference between a dominant man and a domineering one .
I feel like if the writer can’t be bothered to just go to a dictionary and get the right word for the kink her h is so happy to ignorantly jump into this isn’t worth my time .
I know writing isn’t easy,that’s why I’m giving three stars.
It didn’t seem to deserve less for what little I read.
But for that was a red flag 🚩,if something this early and this central to the story was off I decided I was out .
Also from what little we are given at first ,it just didn’t make since that Woe, is me i have to keep my fathers business going. I have to pay bills, but F let’s go a se. club to meet domineering men ?
W. T. F?

[Jillian Bondarchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I don't normally like it when the characters hook up right away, but it definitely worked in this book! I really enjoyed Avery's twist on the famous Cinderella, turning the prince into the bad boy with a teddy bear interior. and Hillary... oh boy I hated that evil stepmother!

Overall I enjoyed this story and will read the next one.

[Solana Guamani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like everything was just too sped up, they meet at the club, then like a week later run into eachother and the next day they are bf gf?? Idk it was just too “cutesy” and he also decides to invest in her dad’s company and help get her out of a hole the day they meet up? I feel like if this story was longer and not as rushed it would be better but i just wasn’t sold..

[Anne Young-Cronister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levi and Jules make a great couple

If your looking for a great story, look no further!
This has laughter, love and steamy chemistry. Scarlett Avery has a great series going with these Certified Playboys!

[Teresa Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book from this author and I’m hooked. I can tell that I will be binging all of her books!! ❤️

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't believe I finished it. Oof.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fire your arc readers and editor

DNF
The writing nicely put is horrible. At times I legitimately felt like a teen boy wrote this.

“Come for me,” he says and presses my clit like it’s a launch button. I let go.

A LAUNCH BUTTON?! Nope nope nope goodbye. If I read a book and 20% in I already feel it's painfully cringe then there's just no getting better from there.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 28% The dialogue and character actions were immature, Hillary is supposed to be the evil stepmother and her introduction reads like 5th graders being rude to an adult. Jules's life/business is falling apart and Levi asks her to explain what's wrong, he listens and then decides "we shouldn't talk about business anymore, let's just bone" (my words) and I had to put the book down.

[Andrzejewski Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levi
Certified Playboy series, #1
Scarlett Avery


I am thoroughly enjoying reading each of the books from the Certified Playboy series. This book was an absolute page turner and was hard to put down. The characters, backgrounds and environments held suck me in. This story was smoking hot & very steamy. I loved every bit of this story and fell head over heels for Levi.
When story started, Jules was living the life of Cinderella but it doesn't take long before Jules meets her knight in shining armor. Once Levi steps in the picture Jules life does a 180.

When Levi and Jules first set eyes on each other at one of Dark Compulsion's theme parties the sparks fly. When they part ways neither character knows anything about the other not even a first name.
After the pair hook up Jules does the walk of shame and goes about her sad life, trying to keep her father's failing company a float while appeasing her (evil) stepmother. The pair have an unexpected run in and get to know one another. Levi is the support Jules needs to bring her father's company around. With the help of Levi and his wonderful friends they are able to take her father's business and turn it into a gold mine. It doesn't take the 2 characters long find that a HEA is in the cards for them.

I found the one liners in the story funny. The stepmothers last name fit her to a "T". I can't wait to read the remaining books in this series.

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's better than a dirty talking alpha with no strings? Running into him accidentally and he wants to see you again and again. I loved this story of Jules whose a bit like Cinderella evil stepmother and all. Her father has passed and left a company thats on the verge of losing everything to her. Jules has a ton of pressure to succeed nit onky to support her stepmother but to prove that her father's vision is worth every cent he poured into it. Levi is captivated by her at first sight. The club he belongs to might be a bit unconventional since it has a strick no names policy. He has no way of discovering who she really is. Fate steps in though and has them run into each other the next day. His attraction hasnt changed and he will do whatever it takes to put a smile on Jules' face. Jules unwavering faith in what her father was trying to achieve is admirable even though she has no business sense to make it all happen. Levi has that in spades and is willing to help her in any possible. Her stepmother is a piece of work and recieves all that is coming to her. Levi and Jules have chemisrty that is off the charts. His dirty mouth combined with her finding her inner deepest wants leads to scenes that will scorch your ereader.

[Amy Crull · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was really weird reading this while knowing the outcome of all the others in the series. It was nice to see the innocence and frustration of Dom and Rod friendship in the beginning before knowing what happened in his book. Back to Levi and Jules.. Jules's life reminded me of Cinderella and I don't know if the author planned it or not. She had an evil stepmom who was only out for herself and her daughters. She treated Jules like complete garbage and gave her so much grief. Jules's life was in shambles and she was distraught over what to do. Enter her bestie and the party to get her out of her funk. This is when fate steps in and hands her so much more then she ever expected in life.. Levi just happened to be at the right place, right time and fate played right into it. He bought so much out of Jules. He got her to see the bigger package and bring out her inner slut.. Jules is sitting on a gold mine and just needs the right people to make it happen.. Enter Levi once again. He sees the product, get the investors and with the help of them makes Jules future a brighter one. He has had a rough life. He's hurting and shielding love away. His main focus is work and boy is a work-a-holic.. He juggles a lot in this book but with the help of all his friends and jules he makes it look so easy. These two have an instant connection and bring the sparks!!!! Despite moving somewhat fast, it works for them and their relationship. This book was so great to read and see all the characters before they fell in love and in the player ways.. Oh and spoiler alert, the evil stepmom doesn't win and get taken down to a level she hasn't been in a long time haha

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

While we wind up going back in time with this story, I wasn’t mad. Jules and Levi had a great thing going once they met in the real world. And boy, did they meet at the perfect time. Jules is at her lowest, yet Levi can’t walk away. He doesn’t want to just be her hero. He wants to be her everything, if he can just let go of his old fears. So when he hatches a plan to help Jules succeed, it’s not because he wants her in his bed. It’s because Levi can see that Jules is on the brink of something huge. Combined with some of Levi’s friends who see the same vision he and Jules hope for, they manage to bring it all together while giving Jules’s tormentor exactly what she deserves.

This is a bit insta-love, but there is still substance to Jules and Levi and their relationship beyond the super fast falling some authors write. Instead, we manage to get a front row seat to a relationship from the very first moment to the inevitable, if fast, conclusion that Levi and Jules are absolutely meant to be.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jules has lost both her parents and is stuck dealing with her evil stepmother while trying to keep her father’s business afloat. Her best friend is gifted an invitation to an exclusive club for a theme party. No names, one night free from her thoughts and struggles. Levi has attended the club parties before and hopes for a match for the night and nothing more. Will a chance meeting change their lives forever?

This was my first Scarlett Avery book and I was excited to jump right into the next in the series. Levi and his friends may be playboys but they are good, kind men too. Jules has been dealt such a crappy hand in life but she is tough and continues to fight for what she wants. Her story will break your heart just a bit but the author does an amazing job of healing it. I loved all these characters and am excited to get to know the rest of them better.

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a Cinderella Story. “You had me at cake, Levi.” We find Jules taking a risk with a one night appearance at Dark Compulsion, she’s paired up with Levi, it's only a one night show, but what a show it is. Total combustion between Levi and Jules, but they don’t know each other’s names. They go their separate ways. You’ve got an evil step-mother and step-sisters, a failing business and one prince charming and his hilarious side-kicks. This story is very fast paced and I got caught up in it right away. Hot scenes and hot guys, a car ride to remember, throw in a cute kid (Micah), and it’s one very fabulous story. I always enjoy this author’s stories, they are well thought out and you go through all of your emotions when you read her books. Absolutely love them.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levi and Jules

I like books loosely based around fairy tales and the elements from Cinderella used in LEVI are a good example of how to do this right. It doesn’t hurt that instead of going to a ball to meet the prince, Jules ends up going to an exclusive members only “adult” club. Since Levi meets the other “Certified Playboys” here, I am guessing we might see it again.

I don’t want to give away too much, but I enjoyed how Jules was going to ultimately get the better of her stepmother. She and Levi made a good team in several ways.

If you enjoy books where there is something a character has to overcome from their past to let themselves fall in love, you will like LEVI.

[Susanne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh WOW!

I've missed Ms. Avery. Brava..... another amazing page turning story. Overall quality of writing was really good with well rounded characters and storyline with no cheating or cliffhanger and you get some steamy intimacy scenes. The Certified series is revamped, and although I've read the others previously, I hadn't read Levi's. I'm not a fan of seeing Jesus or God used in a form of swearing. I was pleasantly surprised that this form was greatly decreased. There's a wee bit of a Cinderella twist with plenty of drama and you get the beginning of a happy ever after. Enjoy 🤓

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

They met at an adult event hosted at Dark Compulsion. She’s his Wild Strawberry because there are no names at these events. She asked him to help her forget but he goes way beyond that when they meet in real life. Levi is protecting his heart. If you don’t open yourself up to love you won’t get hurt again. Jules has had a rough time lately and Levi comes to her aid and salvages her dream. He has the connections and she has the product to revolutionize fitness equipment. There’s a wicked stepmother who deserves her karmic smack down. Everything moves quickly for this couple with immediate attraction and plenty of combustion.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loosely based on a Cinderella type story. Poor Jules is trying to hold on to her late fathers business but all the bills are in the red. Her horrid step mother is after the house and ended up with most of her fathers money. Trying to keep afloat Jules has a night off and at the encouragement of her friend goes to an exclusive ball where you also end up with a one night stand. Here she meets Levi, the 2 have an instant connection, and she gets to forget her life for a night. Real names aren’t exchanged so that’s the end of it.....until Jules literally runs into him a few days later and he, her Prince Charming, works on helping her out of her situation. Good first read in the series.

[Keatyn's Mommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levi Aldridge. Holy Hotness!!


This over the top Cinderella type story will have you cheering for Jules!

Beaten down and broke but not broken. Evil step mother from hell. A business inherited that’s slowing sinking. A knight in a bespoke suit to the rescue and you’ve got a recipe for a fun story where the underdog comes out on top.

A swift love affair and a bonus hot as hell alpha. Where can you go wrong. You can’t. Great story!!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

A real life Cinderella story but make it spicy. That is what Always You is about. Levi is a literal knight in shining armor/ a guardian angel. Jules has an evil stepmother & stepsisters. When Jules thinks she’s down & out & won’t be able to survive life, Levi comes to the rescue.

I can’t really say much about the storyline. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. There were some silly points in the book that did not seem realistic but what do I know 🤷🏽‍♀️

Overall, the book was ok.

[Kathy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jules is what I think of though as a modern day Cinderella with an absolutely horrible step-mother and two equally detestable step-sisters. Trying to keep her late fathers dream and company afloat, leave to her BFF to arrange for a night out to forget her troubles at the club Dark Compulsion and the party’s theme is Ruined. What starts off a night to escape Jule’s problems, turns into something so much more when she meets Levi. As I read their story, I was caught up in the fantasy where one does meet her Prince Charming. Fantastic new start to a series I have already fallen in love with.

[Danielle Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certified Playboy : Levi was another great read in the series. Levi was a sexy, swoony and possessive knight in shining armor! Jules was a sweet and sassy woman. Levi and Jules had explosive chemistry and were were just perfect for each other! Loved loved them. Looking forward to reading more!

[Sarah Gulyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure you have a fan handy when reading this! This book was HOT!!!!

Levi and Jules were so perfect together! He pushed her out of her comfort zone in the best way. He wasn't pushy, he just let her be and feel. He was dominating, but not. It was kind of refreshing.

Jules had been through so much and didn't know what she needed until Levi.

This book was spectacular!!

[Tortuga Miranda m · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book I love the whole series the whole alpha with a golden heart is so nice. The story is hot a sexy and all the above with a really nice tone of romance included. The way they meet and how the story progress was just so good love that is a standalone you do not need to read all the other book to understand this one. Cinderella story with a steamy modern twist.

[Jamie Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Masterpiece

I love how Scarlett Avery can take simple words and weave them into perfection. This is an amazing story, well written, and folds out as only Scarlett can do. This is a must read.