Just This Once

King Family #1

by Lena Hendrix

In a rugged small town on the coast of Michigan where heartbreak lingers but love always finds a way, sparks fly between a fireman and the daughter of the fire chief after an unforgettable one night stand. Fans of Lucy Score’s Knockmeout Series, Elsie Silver, Carley Fortune, and B.K. Borison will swoon over book 1 in Lena Hendrix’s bestselling Kings Series!

*DELUXE LIMITED EDITION PAPERBACK featuring stenciled edges, holographic foil, designed interior covers, chapter headers, and full color special character art!*

Cocky, pierced firefighters are perfect for late-night rom-coms, but in real life they’re nothing but trouble. Especially when you find out they work for your dad—after you’ve already slept with them.

Moving to my parents’ small town was supposed to be the fresh start I was looking for. When a disastrous Valentine’s Day leads to an unexpected encounter with a sexy stranger, it ended with the hottest night of my life.

I didn’t think I would ever see Whip again.

Imagine my surprise when one of my sixth-grade students has a medical emergency and it’s Whip who shows up, looking hot as hell, to save the day. I should be embarrassed at how we left things, but instead I’m furious he doesn’t seem to remember me.

So I scrape my pride off the floor, lift my chin, and pretend there’s nothing between us. But that can last only so long. Stolen glances melt into forbidden touches, and once we give in to temptation, we can’t keep our hands off each other.

Nothing has ever felt so right, but my guarded heart won’t let me believe in happily ever after with a man like him. Opening up to Whip may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and every time we agree to one last time, we both know it’s a lie.

How many times can we keep telling ourselves just this once before we realize that, when it comes to love, once is never enough?

Genres: Romance, Small Town Romance, Firefighters, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Forbidden Romance, Enemies To Lovers

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2024

About the author

Lena Hendrix is a USA Today and Amazon Top 5 bestselling contemporary romance author living in the Midwest. Her love for romance started with sneaking racy Harlequin paperbacks as a teenager and now she writes her own hot-as-sin small town romance novels. Lena has a soft spot for strong alphas with marshmallow insides, heroines who clap back, and sizzling tension. Her novels pack in small town heart with a whole lotta heat.

When she's not writing or devouring new novels, you can find her hiking, camping, fishing, and sipping a spicy margarita!

Want to hang out? Find Lena on FB, Tiktok or IG!

Reviews

[sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 4.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: forbidden romance in a small town
🎶 Song: there she goes - the la's
📖 Favourite Quote: "After a lifetime of not belonging, Whip had an effortless way of making me feel seen."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a new small town fave!

In the package:
📦 one night stand
📦 secret relationship
📦 firefighter x teacher
📦 boss' daughter

Plot: Emily comes back to her small town looking for a fresh start. After a terrible Valentine's date, she runs into Whip who turns into a one night stand. Only for her to discover he works as a firefighter, for her father.

Thoughts: I loved this!! My first book from this author and I know I'm going to be obsessed with the whole series. I never read a book with a firefighter MMC but now I'm super into it 😏 Whip comes off cocky and a bit arrogant but my gosh is he ever a softy when it comes to Emily 😩 he just wants someone to finally choose him and it broke my heart. I am a sucker for vulnerable MCs so I ate this book up. And the love declaration at the end? SWOON.

Thank you Kensington and Lena Hendrix for the physical ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Olive · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was unnecessarily boring. There were so many chances for drama or interesting plot and it gave nothing. Not to mention the one central mystery kicks up around 80% but doesn’t get resolved because it’s one of those that requires you to read all the books in the series. Guess I’ll never know what actually happened to their mom! Oh well!

[Meagan✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coulda been more 🌶️ but I’m excited to continue this series and meet the other brothers 😍

What to expect-
🔥Firefighter Romance
🔥Boss’s Daughter
🔥Secret Relationship
🔥Small Town Romance

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

BETA READ
4.5 stars

Okay Whip is so much better than I was expecting (and thats saying a lot because I had some high hopes with this being the FIRST KING BOOK IN A NEW SERIES) AND I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT IT! Let's just say this man is so damn swoony, with a dirty mouth who knows how to use his pierced 🍆 & can grovel like nobody's business!! I love a fire daddyyyyy (aka hot firefighter)

I was not ready to leave the cute lil town of Outtatowner, it felt like coming home 😭😭. Getting to see all my favorite Sullivans, while also seeing so much more of the Kings, made me a very happy girl. *sigh* it was just so nice :')

Emily was so dang cute & I loved her as Whip’s person. Their meet-cute was everything & it’s fun to see opposites attract in such dramatic way. It was just everything I needed right now. YAY FOR SMALL TOWN SWOONY ROMANCES

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Type: ebook/computer

Tropes:
one night stand
small town
boss' daughter
forbidden romance
Firefighter x middle school teacher
Opposites attract

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so freaking excited for this series. I absolutely loved The Sullivan Series and I legit cannot wait to meet all of The Kings 👏🏻👏🏻

I enjoyed Whip and Emily’s fun flirty banter. I’m a sucker for forbidden romance so I knew I was going to enjoy this!

While I did enjoy a lot of parts in this - I have a feeling I’m going to really really love Abel & Royal (especially Royal idk why) 🫣

Fav quotes:
“My one night of rebellion and I fucked a walking red flag.”

“When you’re finally ready to be kissed again, I’m going to make you beg for it.”

“You’re my safe place, Prim.”

- first in the series
- small town
- firefighter x teacher
- forbidden
- one night stand
- bosses daughter
The King Family is the rival family in The Sullivan Series
3.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, we have arrived at the King's series. I have been greatly looking forward to getting back to Outtatowner and learning more about the Sullivan Family's rivals. We got a peek at them but I was ready to get into the nitty gritty.

This romance starts with Emily moving to town for a part time teaching job. She ends up meeting Whip King at a bar and their chemistry is a five-alarm emergency. Things get a bit spicy and then strangely... Emily bolts. Not quite the reaction Whip is used to but things become clear when he discovers Emily is the fire chief's daughter. The same fire chief who is his boss. So now we know.

Now they are stuck trying to resist each other and being a bit petty to keep from giving into their passion. This is a losing game, we all know; but it sure was fun to watch. That Jacob's ladder on his man bits was a REAL fun time. Also watching Em get a bit creative and ask for what she wants was very charming.

I enjoyed all the staples elements of this Lena Hendrix romance. Humor, spice and a good dash of heart. I teared up a few times, especially during some scenes with Em and her dad. Just beautiful. I love a man who didn't have to be a father but takes it head on. That makes my heart smile.

A tiny twinge for me came from why they even went the petty route after the one night stand? Like, they could have just agreed it wouldn't work and go about unsuccessfully ignoring each other. They felt a bit like children when we didn't need that.

Overall this was a great start to the series and I am ready for more Kings ASAP! Bring on that tattooed hunk.

4.5 stars
3 on the spice scale

*Thank you to the author for an early copy of this title.*

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, seriously, this King Family series kicked off with a bang! After loving the Sullivan Family books, I was pumped to meet Whip, and wow, he did not disappoint.

Whip came in HOT and I was not ready! He is basically the perfect mix of tattooed, confident firefighter and big softie with a past. Plus, he’s got a dirty mouth that just makes him even hotter.

Whip and Emily were complete opposites but clicked so fast and their chemistry was 🔥. Their banter had me grinning, and their adorable meet-cute sealed the deal.

The drama with Emily’s dad being Whip’s boss added just the right amount of spice, and don’t even get me started on the grovel. WHIP UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.

I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to keep reading the rest of the series!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️‍🔥 Firefighter MMC
❤️‍🔥 Small Town Setting
❤️‍🔥 Boss's Daughter
❤️‍🔥 Secret Relationship

🚨🚨 TW: Parental abandonment, Death of a parent, Infidelity (not between MCs)

[_blondebooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

JUST THIS ONCE… SAID NO ONE EVER 🚒🔥

First—thank you to NetGalley, Lena Hendrix, Hambright PR, and Kensington Publishing for the eARC. And yes… I am absolutely the hype girl for this one 💅📚

This book had me in a chokehold.

We open with a chaotic Valentine’s Day and one very hot stranger… and I was already sat 😌 But then life said “oh you thought that was it?” because Emily’s fresh start in a small town comes with a surprise:

the man from her unforgettable night is very much back in her life… as a firefighter… who works for her dad.

I—
The tension??? Immediate. Unrelenting. Delicious. 😭🔥

And Whip??
Cocky. Pierced. Firefighter. Secretly layered??
Respectfully, I folded.

🚨 THE ROMANCE 🚨

No insta-love here and THANK GOD.

Instead we get:
✨ stolen glances
✨ tension you could cut with a knife
✨ “just this once” (liars. all of them.)
✨ chemistry that builds and BUILDS until you’re emotionally compromised

It felt real. Messy in the best way. Like two people trying (and failing) to stay away from something that feels a little too right.

💔 EMILY & HER GUARDED HEART

Emily made you work for it—and I loved her for that.

Watching her slowly open up while fighting it every step of the way?
Painful. Beautiful. Worth it.

And Whip proving he’s more than the cocky exterior??
Yeah… that’s the good stuff. 😭

✨ VIBES ✨

💋 Elsie Silver energy
💋 Lucy Score vibes
💋 Small town romance + big feelings + tension = OBSESSION

If you know, you KNOW.

🛒 FINAL THOUGHTS

This deluxe edition is stunning and absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf.

Add to cart immediately. No hesitation. No questions.

“Just this once” was never going to be enough… and honestly? I didn’t want it to be. 😌🔥

Lena Hendrix??
Yeah… she did what needed to be DONE. 👏📚

[Jo Bennesch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️
3/5🌶

El argumento es super cliché, pero... siempre se le puede dar una vuelta de tuerca, no? Bueno, no pasa.

El libro es bastante lindo. pero no aporta una sola cosa original. para pasar el rato está bien y cumple, pero no mucho más.

Bombero, maestra hija del jefe. relación oculta, "solo pasamos el rato". Muchos clichés.

El final es muy cursi, me faltó profundidad en casi todo.
El drama no es creíble, no hay gran sacrificio, nunca se aclaran algunos puntos. Las cosas se acomodan para él, para ella no sé.

Entretiene y trae más luz sobre algunos misterios de la doble serie Sullivans/Kings.

Para desconectar funciona perfectamente.

[NMmomof4]

I got to the h squealing in her head at their first touch (of the hand) and then her later clapping when a song came on that she liked and forcing him to dance with her. The H was already saying (internally) that there was "something different" about the h too. Only 6% in and I could already tell it probably isn't for me. Or at least my book funk has me jaded...

[Ally Cee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book for a little while but that changed, mainly because of the unnecessary conflict between Emily and Whip due to her immaturity and inability to communicate. For example, the author has Emily telling Whip they are just casual while showing internally that she hopes he’ll tell her she’s wrong…he’s hasn’t done anything leading up to that moment to make her think they were just casual (once they solidified MULTIPLE times that it was more between them). Could he have handled her nonsense better? Sure. But also playing “fight for me” games for no reason with the guy wasn’t cute. This was unnecessary drama which to me just speaks to lazy writing. The author had enough hurdles to play with that would have made more sense for this couple to jump over, she didn’t need to throw in this at the end. And while I usually love a grovel moment, in this case I didn’t think he needed to be the one apologizing.

Also the storyline between Whip and his dad just stops. He doesn’t stand up to him. He doesn’t cut him off. He doesn’t get answers. He doesn’t call him out for what he did to Emily. It all felt unfinished and left Whip looking like a doormat.

I wanted to give this author another chance, even after recognizing that she essentially ripped off another series almost verbatim. But ultimately I don’t think her writing style is for me.

[Tori Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ | 3🌶️

LENA HENDRIX YOU MAGICAL MAGICAL PERSON I LOVE YOU AND YOUR BOOKS!

No I mean, seriously. Outtatowner is one of my favorite fictional towns to date. I will never be over this series. When the Sullivans ended I was distraught, but learning these people continued into another series??? I didn’t have to leave??? Thank goodness. I didn’t know how I would survive.

I absolutely adored this book. Emily & Whip were everything I wanted and it was the perfect introduction to this new series. It had the perfect balance of giving the readers who loved the last series something to grab and hold onto, but it was new enough that those who didn’t read Sullivan Family could slide on in and be introduced to this world without missing a bunch of information.

Emily has just moved to Outtatowner after something happens in her life, needing a fresh start. She meets Whip King and instantly finds attraction to him - but he’s her dad’s employee. Whoops. 🤭 yes yes our hot-as-sin firefighter is going for the boss’ daughter and I loved every. single. second.

The banter between Emily and Whip was TOO good. The one night stand turned enemies to lovers was amazing and grabbed me from the get go. But of course it wouldn’t be Outtatowner without a little mystery solving needed through the series. While the last plot connected the rival families, I’m not sure where this plot is going. Though Lena has me hooked and I absolutely am dying to know.

You’ll love this book if you like
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forbidden
✨ One night stand
✨ New to town
✨ Firefighter MMC
✨ Small town romance

[Abby (booksinthefreetime) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Lenaaa!! You have outdone yourself with this book!

I have fallen in love with Whip and Emily! They had such amazing banter and chemistry throughout the whole book 😍 I’m a huge fan of a firefighter romance book and this one has stolen my top spot. I already know this whole series is going to be so good. I’m ready for Abel’s book 🥵

If you love….

-Firefighter Romance
-Boss’s Daughter
-Secret Relationship
-Strangers to Enemies to Lovers
-Small Town Romance

READ THIS BOOK!!

[Judy Portelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love the Kings! I loved seeing past characters from the Sullivan series. All the banter and drama was so good! Whip and Emily’s chemistry was so freakin good. Whip is just so sweet and sexy! These two are so perfect for each other. I can’t wait for the next book.

Tropes:
✨First in the series
✨Small town
✨Firefighter x teacher
✨Forbidden
✨One night stand
✨Bosses daughter

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena has been on my radar for a while. So I was excited to be able to dive into this one and read about Whip King! Whip did not disappoint. This was a solid 4 stars for me. I liked that we got glimpses of the relationship between the Sullivans and Kings, but I also appreciated that I read this as a complete standalone. Whip and Emily kicked this one with a bang. Literally. I liked their meet cute. I liked their chemistry of the bat. I liked how Lena left us crumbs about the night but didn't go into detail. It was like we got a hint of a taste which left me wanting more! I liked the twist of fate- Whip worked for Emily's dad. The banter between these two was top notch. I liked how HARD they tried to fight each other while also constantly thinking about each other naked. I liked how Whip became a relationship person for Emily without even realizing it. I liked how he broke through Emily's walls. They were both just so cute together. They were good for each other. They became each other's safe place.

Whip King has his life in line. Well sort of. He is working towards a promotion at work. He is respected. He gets along with the ladies but hasn't really ever met one who caught his eye for long. Until her- Emily. He met here on Valentines Day and found himself wanting to treat her like a queen. He didn't think it would go beyond that, but it did. And it ROCKED his world. But then she freaked, and he hasn't seen her again. Until he *meets* her. At a work event because her dad is the chief aka his boss. How could he have missed this? Why is she being so different now? Fine- if she wants to play, he can play. He can make her life miserable, but he finds himself not really wanting to. He can't stop thinking about her. And the connection they very clearly had. Are they really going to ignore that because of her dad? He is game to go for it if she is, but she is in charge. And so he endures hanging out with her. He actually enjoys hanging out with her. He finds himself wanting to spoil her. He finds himself cooking for her. So when she gives in to the chemistry and said she is willing to do this if they keep it a secret, he is all in. There is just something about her that he can't walk away from. And so he doesn't. He finds himself going all in on Emily. He has never been like this with a woman before. She makes him want to be better. She makes him want more. So when her job and future in Outtatowner come into question, Whip finds himself that much more determined to show her this is where she belongs - with him in this town.

Emily has found herself moving yet again but this time for a different reason. She will never move for a man again. She won't let her life be dictated by one either. She is here in her parents town to lick her wounds and find her purpose again. And yet all of that is derailed when meets Whip King and has the best night of her life. She hasn't felt this connected to anyone before. But all of that comes crashing to a halt when she realizes he is a firefighter. Which means he works for her dad. She does what any sane women would do- she runs. And yet she can't stop thinking about their night together. It's not rational. Neither is how she acts when she sees him again at a work function. When she has her claws out and goes for blood. Whip makes her feel things. Right now it is a deep loathing of sorts, but the more times she sees him the sooner she realizes there is a lot more to Whip than meets the eye. Why couldn't they explore this connection? Is she really going to let her dad dictate this? No. She is a grown woman. And so she goes for it. And it is wonderful. It's better than she remembered. And now they are doing this in secret. He is making her dinner. It's like full on dating except in public which changes soon when the town calls them out on their secret. Emily finds herself investing in this town and in her man and how he makes her feel. But when she finds herself unemployed, she feels like she is back at square one. How can she know she is making the decision to stay for herself and not Whip? Does it matter? Maybe not when Whip makes her feel safe not like he is holding her back. He supports her which she finds meets the most.

I liked the sassy banter between these two. It made the bedroom scenes that much hotter. I liked watching Whip become a little whipped (LOL) by his leading lady. I liked how she helped him have the strength to stand up to his father. I also liked the little suspense aspect Lena left open for us! Emily was great too. She came into her own in Outtatowner because of the inviting atmosphere and the man who captured her heart. I definitely recommend this for a spicy easy read.

Thank you to Hambright PR and Lena for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just This Once by Lena Hendrix ✨

I think this might be my new favorite book from Lena! Emily is in need of a fresh start and returns to the small town her parents live in. On her first night back in town, she meets Whip and they end up having an unexpected date that turns into a night together. She doesn't expect to see him again, especially after learning he's a a firefighter when her dad is the chief. That is until they keep running in to each other. They both try to not give in to the temptation, but things feel so right it's hard to resist.

I really liked Whip and Emily. Whip is a small town firefighter who feels like he's better off on his own, not letting himself get too close to people despite that being something he'd love to have. Emily is the "good girl" who has always followed her set of rules but after coming back to the small town her parents live in deciding to step out of her comfort zone a little bit. They both have their hold ups as to why they don't think they should give in to the obvious tension between them. The forbiddeness they had made their budding relationship kind of fun. There were so many tense looks and secret touches.

I love how Whip and Emily communicated with each other. They would banter and tease each other but they'd also know when they needed to have those serious conversations. Whip especially was saying all the right things and had me melting. While some may think it's cheesy, this had one of those moments where she says that something is beautiful and he looks at her and says yes it is. Ahhh. I love reading that in a romance, I don't care how many times I see it.

Lena's books always have such good spice in it. There's a little tease at the beginning because there's the lead up to their one night stand but you don't get to actually see it. The first true spice scene comes later in the book. However Whip has what was so lovingly referred to as a glitter 🍆. Yes, it's what you're thinking.

All in all, an amazing start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next!

🏡 small town
🤫 forbidden
🤍 strangers to lovers
🔥 he’s a firefighter
🏫 she’s a teacher
😏 one night stand

dual POV
4.5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟, 3🌶️

This was such a fun little escape of a read.

Whip and Emily pull you in right away with their instant chemistry and playful tension, especially once you add in the complication of him working for her dad. Their banter really carries the story and makes their push and pull so entertaining to watch.

Whip was definitely the standout for me. Seeing him go from keeping things casual to being completely all in without even realizing it was so satisfying, and I loved how naturally he became Emily’s safe place. Emily’s arc felt relatable too, with her trying to rebuild her life on her own terms. Their connection felt genuine, even if I wished a couple of conflicts, especially around his dad, had a bit more weight.

Overall, this is a charming, flirty read with that cozy small town feel that makes it easy to breeze through. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, but the chemistry and sweet ending make up for it.

Definitely one I’d pick up again when I want something light and swoony.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Lena Hendrix & Hambright PR for this copy! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Liz Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was equally entertaining and frustrating simultaneously. Whip and Emily are a fine couple and the story was entertaining. Pretty spicy. I’m more annoyed that there’s clear familial drama on Whip’s side that just cuts off to be continued in the next book. I would definitely continue with the series because I want to know what happened but it doesn’t feel like a true standalone in that sense.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the advanced copy!

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This started off so adorable, and I was quickly hooked into Emily and Whip's love story! I loved that the miscommunication was early on - and within reason - and it spurred a great dynamic between the pair and ample chemistry as they eventually caved to each other.

I do wish Whip had a bit more of a backbone when it came to his father. I had a hard time understanding why he let him walk all over him, when he doesn't actually have any power in his life, and I felt like the solution to that in the end was a little strange - especially when it effected Emily. Otherwise it was a cute read that started off strong, had some slower moments in the middle, and a sweet and cheesy finish.

*****

I was sent a complimentary advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Brie | bookedbybrie]

I haven't read a Lena book yet, and while I know there another series prior to the Kings, I couldn't turn away jumping on this series with a gifted ARC.

I decided to make my gifted ARC into a beautiful pairing with an immersion read. Listened to this yesterday while getting things done and followed along on my phone.


I thoroughly enjoyed Whip and Emily’s fun flirty banter and their hot chemistry. Together they were fire, and I wasn't surprised with Whip being a firefighter.

“𝘔𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨.”

After their first encounter and ending in one very hot night, where they thought they'd never see each other again, oh how the universe laughed and had other plans. After a quick break away, they were brought back together with a fun forbidden aspect to it. I loved the forbidden factor of these two. Which brought the banter out and the fun I enjoyed with them fighting it. I’m always a sucker for forbidden romance so I thoroughly ate it up!

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵.”

What to expect:
small town romance
firefighter x teacher
forbidden romance
one night stand
bosses daughter

Thank you to Hambright PR and Lena Hendrix for gifting me with the ARC.

[bookishninaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “good girl” and spanking got me i fear.
The way the drama in these books got me hooked is unreal because it’s unlike me!! It takes a good drama to get me invested and Lena Hendrix knows how to write a good one and they’re always realistic so they hit and they’re relatable but what’s unrealistic is the hot fireman with pierced ding dong who cooks for her and IS RESPECTFUL.
Whip King got me whipped. This man was so good to be true indeed. Emily was such a real character that was easy to get into her shoes and relate to her.

The storyline was so good. Even tho i hate the one night stand trope because it feels rush and dull, this one’s pace was so good and took it’s time. The banter, the flirting and the spice. Everything was balanced.
I hated the 3rd act breakup. It was so real!!!! And for what? Just painful.
I read to escape so this one sure triggered me but what was so unreal is how mature the characters are and how they handle any conflict and that’s why it’s called fiction because where can i get one of these hot communicative kings?

Highly recommend for a one sitting read, quick, fun and spicy. And if your favorite tropes are: good girl, hot fireman but not a playboy???? He is so well mannered y’all, one night stand with your boss’s daughter and “we shouldn’t be doing this”, READ IT. A micro trope that Lena Hendrix will always master is the FMC looking at something and saying that “it’s gorgeous” and the MMC looking at her and saying “yeah it is”. SOMEBODY SEDATE ME.
Love the small town and the community. And I am so excited for Royal King!! I am afraid i will lose it when it comes to him.

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think those of you who read the Sullivan family series have been salivating to read more about the Kings. But for those of you who haven’t gotten into Lena Hendrix’s writing, you might want to get on this new series bandwagon with us this time…

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Just This Once by Lena Hendrix

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Kings, book 1.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: One night stand, forbidden romance, opposites attract, bad boy with tattoos, man in uniform.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Emily and Whip have an incredible night together, before they realize they can’t go forward with their connection because Whip works for Emily’s father. But the connection they share keeps bringing them back together, and the good girl can’t help but fall for the bad boy firefighter.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Man, was I happy to be back in Outtatowner.

Guys, I’m always raving about Lena Hendrix’s writing. I have a ridiculous amount of swag for her last series, and I was just SO excited to pick up this new character series.

Whip and Emily’s story was a great kickoff. It was spicy and romantic. And Whip was book boyfriend perfection - a tattooed, pierced firefighter who is so much more than just what he shows on the surface. I read the last two chapters with a hand over my heart.

To say I’m excited for the characters in this series is underselling it. I’m particularly pumped for Abel’s story next - the ex convict turned bar owner and his quirky employee. I’m already sold.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

Whip KING lives up to his last name! This man is now KING of my heart and my favorite Lena Hendrix book boyfriend! Hands down! I loved him so dang much!

Ans let me tell you, if you can listen to this on audio DO IT! 🫠

TROPES ⬇️

✨ One Night Stand
✨ Firefighter MMC
✨ Boss’s Daughter
✨ Banter
✨ Secret Relationship

Whip King is as sexy as they freaking come, and I fell head over heels for him. I loved him and Emily so much, and their meeting and one night stand was peak perfection, especially their banter. But Emily runs out after because she realizes Whip works for her father and that’s a whole set of complications neither of them want. But they can’t stay away from each other and fighting their attraction is futile.

I loved the relationship between Emily and Whip, and I love that he teases her and calls her Prim as he tries to ruffle her feathers. They had such hot chemistry and Lena managed to make me fall in love with the King family (except for daddy king) in about 5 chapters.

The spice in this was freaking fantastic and I will forever STAN a pierced MMC, somehow it ups the hotness factor. But most of all I loved that Whip was just a good man willing to fight for the woman he fell so hard for.

I loved his relationship with Emily’s family and seeing him with his siblings as well! He was a great introduction to my King era and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

[Gigi · Rating 1 out of 5]

currently: brain rot mode

[Lovinmyshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star rating: ★★★★★
Spice rating: 3🥵🔥

It has been two weeks since I’ve read this… AND I STILL DANNOT STOP THINK ABOUT IT!!!

[Erin (erinsreadingroom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

— 4.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“You have to let someone in if you want them to know the real you. To love the woman you try to hide.”

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 329 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Lena Hendrix
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 15 April 2024

What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Small Town Romance
— First Person POV
— Dual POV
— Firefighter X Middle School Teacher
— One Night Stand
— She's His Boss's Daughter
— Opposites Attract
— Strangers-To-Lovers
— Small Town Rivalry
— Secret Relationship
— He's *ahem* Pierced

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: death of a parent (referenced, off-page), child abandonment, child neglect/abuse (suspected), and sexually explicit content.

Just This Once is the first instalment in the King Family series by author Lena Hendrix. Emily is in need of a fresh start. When a part-time teaching position opens up in the small town of Outtatowner where her parents call home, it seemed like the perfect place to start over. When a Valentine's Day date ends in disaster and she finds herself having an unexpected encounter with a sexy stranger, Emily is feeling good and never expects to see Whip King again. She has only one rule when it comes to men. No firefighters. Especially not firefighters that work for her father. When Emily discovers that Whip does exactly that... she hightails it out of there and never looks back. Months later when a medical emergency occurs in her classroom, the last person Emily expects to walk through the door acting hero is none other than Whip himself. Why are the hot-as-hell men always the ones that are forbidden? Emily can't go there again, and yet who could deny themselves the temptation and alluring forbidden touches? Will Whip and Emily succumb to their undeniable chemistry and realise that 'just this once' will never be enough, or will their relationship burn to flames before they ever begin?

I'm coming to very quickly realise that every single thing that author Lena Hendrix writes... I will not only read but love. I absolutely adored the Sullivan Family series and very quickly found myself hoping for a spin-off series featuring the Kings, and my god has my wish came true. Just This Once was an effortless read filled with a strong cast of characters and engaging interactions that made me unable to put the book down. I was well and truly a committed Sullivan girly until Whip King came into my life... and now I'm questioning my allegiance. I had an absolute blast seeing a snippet of the King/Sullivan feud from the other side of the dynamic, and I cannot wait to learn more in future instalments of the series.

“My one night of rebellion and I fucked a walking red flag.”

If Whip King is a walking red flag then red is suddenly my favourite colour. THIS MAN. Swoon. Whip's arrogant swagger and sinful smile had me swooning from beginning to end. This man knows how to seduce and I loved every single second of it. Most importantly, I loved to see the softer and more emotionally vulnerable side to his character that we hadn't otherwise been introduced to. This intimate insight enabled me as a reader to better connect with Whip emotionally outside of his superficial characteristics, and I loved being able to watch him grow and learn as we further divulge into the plot. Whip is the entire package with the... piercing to match. My Google search results looked dodgy-as whilst I was trying to figure out what, exactly, his piercing was. I consider myself educated and my eyes have well and truly been opened. The development between Whip and Emily was so sweet and I love how Whip became the champion for their relationship whilst Emily addressed her own fears and insecurities. I appreciated the efforts put into his grovelling near the end of the story, and honestly I don't think there's a single fault that I can find in that man. Whip and Emily are utterly perfect for one another and getting to follow their journey was a true joy, and I cannot wait to see what these two get up to with their cameos in future books.

Emily has carried her reputation as a "good girl" very close to her chest until she finally let go and allowed herself herself one forbidden night with a sexy stranger. Too bad she quickly discovered the hot and mysterious stranger was a firefighter who worked for her father and should have been entirely off limits. Honestly, I can understand Emily's hesitation and split-decision panic. After a disastrous end to her previous relationship left her feeling raw and emotionally vulnerable, I can understand her reluctance in letting somebody new in. I loved Whip's overall tenderness and care towards Emily which helped soften her tough exterior and allow the 'true' Emily to shine through. Their chemistry was magnetizing and alluring, and I was constantly left in stitches as a result of their banter-filled interactions. Emily and Whip have to be two of the most bull-headed and stubborn characters that I've ever read... and yet it worked. Their communications skills were slippery at some moments and I at times found myself wishing that I had the ability to reach into the page and shake some sense into them. Thankfully Emily and Whip ultimately realised what really mattered was being together and put in the work to improve their communication skills. I adore Emily’s parents, her father in particular, and I have the utmost respect for how her father reacted to the news of their relationship. Emily's flaws and complexities as a character only made me adore her more. Her need to emotionally protect herself is innately human and cannot be faulted, and I was really proud of the work she put into her own development.

I'm sorry Team Sullivan... it looks like I'm jumping ship to Team King. Just This Once is easily my favourite Lena Hendrix book yet, and I'm beyond excited for the future of this series!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

'The King Family' series:
1. Just This Once — 4.5 stars
2. Just My Luck — 4 stars
3. Just Between Us — 4 stars
4. Just Like That — 3 stars
5. Just Say Yes — 4.5 stars

[Eren Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @kensingtonbooks for the gifted e-arc.

I easily said yes to this book because of the first line of the blurb and was like Okay, I'm in. A COCKY, PIERCED FIRE FIGHTER?

Small town. Gossip spreads fast. School teacher. Fire fighter. I actually expected there to be drama but there really wasn't. This is entirely cozy. I definitely got a lot of laughs during this book because it's honestly pretty realistic in most situations. Whip and Emily's back and forth banter is great and it's a book I needed for sure when I live in a lot of darker themes most of the time. It was a breath of fresh air and definitely gave me a lot of laughter.

Now I will say that I originally only noticed the one fade to black moment and that was because it felt like a pivotal moment for the characters and the events of what was happening to them. Where the fade to black scene happened after a spicy scene and may have been a way to not overshadow what had already existed in that moment and when it was more so about her and what she was doing to feel confident. If you are a all spice or nothing, then this might not be for you. This does end up with 2 fades to black moments and in between those moments is more so development of their characters and their relationship. But yeah this book is a mix of both spice and fade to black moments.

If you enjoy a small town, cozy book that doesn't feature any real drama, but does show real relationship issues without a 3rd act break up and definitely a lot of laughter I'd recommend reading this one.

[Anna Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

secret relationship x small town x he falls first

My first Lena Hendrix book and I’m in love! Sometimes you’re in the mood for a small town romance and this one is perfect for that. With a firefighter MMC and a teacher FMC, it’s an easy to read romance. I read this in less than a day and can’t wait to read more of the series surrounding the King family! I think the series before this covers another family in the town and I probably should have started there but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

Read this if you’re in the mood for…
- secret relationship (her dad is his boss)
- firefighter MMC
- he falls first
- one night stand
- small town
- comfort
- dual pov

The dual pov really sold this book for me. Seeing both of them fall for each other (he falls first and so hard) and then struggle to keep a secret was so cute. There was a bit of miscommunication that leads to the smallest weekend 3rd act break up but it didn’t bother me!

Here are a few of my favorite things…
- teases her about being a librarian and then it actually happens lol
- a man who cooks is an immediate yes
- so glad the situation with her dad finding out wasn’t dragged out for too long
- Abel. Can’t wait to see more of him lol

Overall, I enjoyed and will be recommending!

[BookMarkedbyNicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in three hours. The banter between the two main characters as well as the family drama had me hooked. Loved the small town vibes in Michigan. Can’t wait for the second book.

Thank you NetGalley and HambrightPR for the ARC

[Bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK