Reckless Kisses

The Sterling Brothers #5

by Layla Hagen

I‘m Knox Sterling. Self-made billionaire. Playboy.
My whole life, I’ve chased women, thrills, and anything that keeps things uncomplicated.
Commitment? Not my style.
Except for Amy. My best friend is the only woman who’s ever been completely off-limits. She’s the one person who’s kept me grounded since the days when my bank account barely covered rent.

The one woman I’ve secretly wanted for years… but never touched.
But after a minor car crash reminds me how quickly life can change, waiting suddenly feels like the worst mistake.
So when Amy asks me to chaperone a school field trip and inspire her students with stories from my career, I say yes without hesitation. Any excuse to spend more time with her.
But the trip doesn’t go as planned. A freak accident leaves us stranded in a small town overnight.
Just the two of us.
One hotel room.
Years of tension finally snapping.
One reckless kiss turns into an unforgettable night.
Falling for my best friend might be the most dangerous move I’ve ever made…
But once I have her in my bed, there’s no way I’m letting her walk away.

Tropes in Forbidden Kisses:
Friends to lovers
Billionaire hero
Forced proximity
One hotel room

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Billionaire Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Slow Burn, Audiobook

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2026

About the author

Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)

Reviews

[Sarah | Sarahs.BookCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩

✦What to Expect✦
•Friends to lovers
•One bed
•Spicy
•Bossy billionaire
•Protective hero
•Forced proximity
•He falls first

✦Characters✦
•Knox Sterling
•Amy

✦Narrated By✦
•JF Harding
•Stella Hunter

✦Thoughts✦
Billionaire and friends to lovers?!
Why yes, yes please!!!

These two were super sweet & fun together!
This family of brothers had me wanting to go back & read their stories.

That ending was superrrrr cute!

•ARC Read•

✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable

[Amity Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration for this one was fantastic! I absolutely loved Stella Hunter & JF Harding together in this one. They put on a perfect performance that brought this story & characters so much emotion & made you feel everything along with them! Absolutely loved both of their parts!

This friends to lovers story by Layla was fun, cute, and swoony! I loved the added spice & the way these two, even though very different fit so perfectly! The chemistry with them was absolutely there & watching their friendship change to so much more was so heartwarming.

Amy is ready to settle down but hasn’t met the right person & Knox definitely tried to self sabotage with his playboy personality. The two of them & the dynamics of their friendship absolutely added depth to this story. This one had tension, angst, and a mix of emotion & swoony moments between him and Amy. Overall a charming friends to lovers romance with steamy moments & lovable characters!!

Thank you must love audio for this ALC!

[Selma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knox and Amy were such cute characters!
JF Harding always makes my heart melt when he narrates books! So I might be biased in saying him and Stella Hunter did a phenomenal job in bringing these characters together.
The billionaire aspect was so good yes he was an asshole but like Ong he was so good to her. I totally loved the friends to lovers trope in this one.
Thank you so much to must Love Audio for the ALC of this super cute spicy 🥵 one!

[♡︎ Kesa Subban ♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ꍏꋪꏳ ꋪꏂ꒦ꀤꏂꅐ
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - 𝖪𝗇𝗈𝗑
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝖠𝗆𝗒
4.5 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

Their friendship has been one for over a decade, they were head to head in college, but never held any resentment towards each other.

Crossing the line may have played on their minds but ruining a friendship kept them from doing so.
Amy, her career path was to be a teacher, it's her passion and life. To see her students grow and succeed is her ultimate goal.

Knox, he is a successful business man. And he worked extremely hard to get where he is, alongside his brothers.

Knox and Amy's book was filled with banter, laughter and spice. With such intense chemistry.
After years of "just" being friends, and an undeniable connections, these two finally "finally" gave in and when they do there is NO turning back.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 💻🥧💻🥧💻
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 🥧📖🥧📖🥧
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 🥵🌶️
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 📚📚📚📚.5

[readwith.zendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, my first ever Advance Listening Copy and it did NOT disappoint! 🎧

We’re following Knox Sterling, one of the Sterling brothers, and let me just say… these brothers are walking GREEN FLAGS. 😮‍💨💚

When I signed up for Reckless Kisses, I had absolutely no idea there were four books before it 😂 But honestly? Catching up was a breeze, and I’m so glad I did because I fell in love with this whole family along the way.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the focus on school lunches and giving kids more opportunities. 🥹 Any man willing to step up and help kids? Knox instantly became 10x hotter in my book.
This was such an easy, fun listen with lovable characters, the perfect amount of spice, and a family you can’t help but get attached to.

5 stars from me! If you love interconnected romance series and a whole family of green-flag men, definitely give the Sterling Brothers a try!
Now I’ll just be over here impatiently waiting for book 6.

In the meantime, you can find the audiobooks through Kindle Unlimited and Audible! 🎧📚

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I freaking loveeee friends to lovers romances!! Especially when he is a playboy and she gives off good girl energy but somehow would be the best match.

Knox gets in a car accident that changes his perspective on a few things. His best friend Amy has always been around but now is showing up more and BOOM things start to shift in their relationship. Now it’s a matter of it will work out or not between these two friends 🤪

Type: audio (thanks for the ALC)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
💋Friends to lovers
💋playboy x good girl
💋Billionaire hero
💋Forced proximity
💋One hotel room
💋 he takes care of her when she’s hurt

[Laura Fitz narratedspicyandnice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, swoony friends-to-lovers romance with great banter and plenty of heat. Knox and Amy have been best friends for years, but a wake-up-call after a car accident finally pushes them past the friend zone. I loved that this was an easy listen packed with fun family dynamics and a solid happily ever after. The audiobook was also really enjoyable with it narrated by JF Harding & Stella Hunter two of the industries best.

I received a free copy MLA and I'm leaving an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
🌶️🌶️

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

RECKLESS KISSES

Wow! Such an exciting story about two people who find themselves together after having been friends for years. After not seeing her for a yr
He is shocked at how beautifully attractive she is. How had he not noticed. They realize no matter how much they try to ignore it, the chemistry/ feelings for each other are too great. Beautiful story ❤️.

[Michaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page]

- billionaire romance
- friends to lovers
- reformed playboy
- forced proximity (only one bed)
- 🌶️🌶️.5/5
- dual pov

[Sophia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @mustloveaudio for this gifted ALC 💋❤️

#AudiobookReview

Narration:
This was dual narrated and both the male and female voices were perfect for their characters, a great listen!

Book description:
Billionaire Knox has never shied away from his playboy ways. He never wanted to settle down, do the whole marriage kids thing like his best friend Amy. After experiencing a near death car accident,  Knox is recouping with Amy by his side and suddenly he can't see past her. All he wants to do is spend more time together. As Knox makes an effort to show up for Amy the dynamics slowly start to shift. But how can Amy let herself fall for a guy who doesn't want the same future?

Review:
This novel is part of an interconnected series but can be read as a standalone.

The chemistry between Amy and Knox was off the charts from the start. I really enjoyed how straightforward the novel was, the characters were self aware and just went for what they wanted, no ping-ponging between will they or won't they. Light and uncomplicated. They went with the flow of their friendship progressing into more, without all the back and forth inner monologues of self doubt.  It was really focused on the main romantic storyline without much outside drama. I loved Knox's family and now I want to go back and read all the other brothers' stories!

[Anne Wehmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute love story. I wonder where she gets the inspiration for the sex scenes 🍷

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

friends to lovers perfection <3

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Universal / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU



After an accident, Knox is seeing things, especially a certain someone, in a whole new light. Suddenly he wants more than friendship with his friend Amy. He's always liked spending time with Amy, even if they haven't really been hanging out for awhile, but now he wants a lot more than just hanging out as friends. He's never before wanted the things she's looking for, though - marriage and kids, so maybe they can just be friends with benefits? Or maybe not...



Amy and Knox may have been friends since college, but they haven't really seen each other much in awhile. But when she hears he's been in accident, there's no way she's not rushing to the hospital to see him. That single visit sparks something new (not really new) between them, though, and now a kiss has opened up a new side to their friendship. But is it simply something casual, to be enjoyed til it ends? Or will the forever playboy realize he and Amy want the same thing?



Knox and Amy are a sweet friends to lovers couple. I have to admit I didn't really see their friendship as being that strong, couldn't get a strong connection with that aspect. But the way they evolved to more is where their story kept me reading. Knox didn't waste a lot of time denying feelings changing, if anything, he was the one who fell first. He was down sooo bad that I'm surprised Amy couldn't see that's where they were at. The Sterling Brothers have fallen in love in entertaining fashion, and I'm glad the perma bachelor Knox finally figured out what had been in front of him for so long. Finn's up next in Sinful Kisses, and I can't wait!



ARC provided by the author for an honest review.

Review: Live Through Books Blog.

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[Kim Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited about this story only to end up enjoying it but not loving it. It was a very feel good, typical friends to lovers story but it lacked some substance. Not much happened in the story. If anything Knox and Amy just added attraction and desire to their relationship. Man becomes friends with woman, doesn’t want to ruin the friendship until now kind of thing. I think what I was a little annoyed by was some of the cheesy thoughts that Amy had about Knox. A lot of unnecessary ooh la la’s and over use of the word sexy. It felt very young adult to me. I appreciated her not denying her feelings for Knox. I also liked how they didn’t wait too long to get together. Adding on to that, I liked how she was more bold than normal once she realized Knox was attracted to her. There was more spice than I remember in previous Sterling Brother stories so I enjoyed how there was more emphasis on this during the book but not overly stimulated. There wasn’t a ton of layers to unlock with Knox and Amy. They were open and honest with each other, nobody was holding back feelings or thoughts. They read each other well and knew if something was bothering the other. It didn’t feel secretive or like someone was hiding something which made the book easy to follow and I didn’t have to analyze anything resulting in this very simplified review. There was nothing to unpack nor was there anything that felt off. I didn’t know what to do with myself when I could just read the book as is and not think about motives or deeper meanings. I think this is what I meant when I said earlier in this review that there was a lack of substance. When a book is just an easy read and there is nothing to really think about, it just feels off to me. This is welcome but sometimes I find myself thinking I guess this is really it. There is no threat or anticipation in the story nor did it feel like a shoe was going to drop. The closest thing I got to drama was when Amy has it out with a woman from one of Knox’s past flings. Amy basically shuts her down resulting putting her in her place and standing up for herself and Knox. I liked that for her and the confidence Knox made her feel. She didn’t cower or overthink Knox’s intentions. Normally in books this is when the heroine has second thoughts and thinks she doesn’t belong so she leaves or ends things. Amy didn’t do that and I loved her for that. Overall, because of the lack of substance and some of the thoughts Amy had about Knox, I had to settle on a 4. Those annoyances unfortunately did bring the rating down a notch for me. There was no preview for Finn’s book but something tells me we revisit him and the woman he was briefly involved with that gets mentioned. Under what cause or circumstance, I guess I’ll find out.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received an ARC for this book)

Trigger Warnings include:
car accident involving main character described on page resulting in injuries and repercussions, sexist comments towards fmc, on page snake bite

The goodness I want to point out, because I did in fact enjoy the vast majority of this book: the slow build from friendship to more between Knox and Amy was so sweet. The flirting that was mostly ribbing, that can only happen between friends. Amy called him her sounding board and that was the best way to describe Knox. He listened, he appreciated, he understood. He wasn’t afraid of being there for Amy. The Sterling playboy was absolutely on the path to being reformed before he even realized it! And as always, I loved every moment with his family. Looking forward to the last brother, and the woman who flips his world upside down!

I’ve held this review until now because it’s not usually something I would share as an ARC reader until after release. Especially for an author I love, a series I have enjoyed, and a book I was looking forward to. No one is sadder than me to say…this one wasn’t for me. It could be a case of “wrong book wrong time” or the even worse case of “I expected a certain thing from a certain book and that’s not what happened”. Usually, my star rating is based on MY vibes. But this one is rated based on what it truly deserves, because it was NOT a bad book! I want to emphasize that! I just didn’t meld with…well, the third act really. I was all in. ALL in! Reconnected friends, the gentleness and raw trust in their bond, the closeness between the brothers across the series. The third act just wasn’t something I agreed with. If you take it out, it absolutely stands on its own two feet without it. It wasn’t quite miscommunication, it was more of a….assumption gone wrong because a conversation that should have been had prior.

Just to make sure I’m very clear: I DO recommend this book!

My Favorite Quotes:
• “I can’t stay away from you. And I don’t want to.”
• “I missed kissing you.”
• “I can’t control myself around you.”
• “I want everyone to know how lucky I am that you’re mine.”
• “I want you to surrender to me every damn night.”

7/10 Dirty Birdy
8/10 Friends to Lovers
5/10 Second Chance
4/10 Slow Burn
7/10 Series

This is my review for Stolen Kisses
This is my review for Forbidden Kisses
This is my review for Secret Kisses
This is my review for Midnight Kisses

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Story & Narration🎧 Alluring & Captivating!

Reckless Kisses
The Sterling Brothers, Book 5
By: Layla Hagen
Narrated by: JF Harding, Stella Hunter

It is great to be back in Layla Hagen’s Sterling Brothers’ world again for another fabulous novel, an enthralling friends-to-lovers romance that captivates your attention and warms your heart throughout. Hagen created something very special when she created this world and the Sterling family, and for her fifth book of the series she brings us Knox’s story. Knox, along with his brothers, is a self-made billionaire, and he is also a player with the ladies with no interest in commitment or settling down. A wake-up call after an accident has him reflecting on life, and there has always been one thing he wanted, or rather person, Amy, but never went there because their friendship made her off-limits despite her being his person and not having seen her in a while. Amy, a school teacher, has been thinking of settling down, but hasn’t met the right man yet, or has she? Amy visited him while he was in the hospital and afterwards the two spend together, with him helping show up for her students. The two grew even closer, and it is clear there is an undeniable chemistry between them, and it was great to watch their friendship morph into something so much more. They were a perfect match, yet Knox’s self-sabotage nearly ruined what they had, but thankfully his mother, a wise woman, set him right and steered him back to where he belonged, with Amy. This beautifully written and plotted story is entertaining and has the perfect balance of drama, angst, charming and heartwarming moments, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. I love the camaraderie among the brothers, their bond, and how supportive they are of each other, and their parents and family dynamics are fantastic too. Layla Hagen, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧Stella Hunter and J.F. Harding, a perfect pairing and cast, did a fantastic job bringing the characters and story to life. They embodied their roles completely, grasping every facet of their personalities, not only nailing as the two leads, but as the side/secondary characters too. Their expressive delivery conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. It is always a pleasure listening to these superbly talented voice artists perform, a performance that has you hooked while taking the already fabulous story to another level.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC/ARC Review

One of my favorite tropes is friends-to-more and Knox (MMC) and Amy (MFC) did not disappoint!

Knox and Amy have been friends for a long time but haven’t really “seen” each other in a while but then there’s the accident and of course Amy is going to rush to him and things evolve from there. I say of course because you know that saying that goes something like “it doesn’t matter if you “see” your friend every year or every ten years, if they are true, you’ll see them when it counts”. I think that sentiment (however it goes) is truer as we get older. People move thru life and changes happen, but true friendships never sever. No matter where you are in life, a true friend will always find you when you need them most or when scary things happen. Knox’s accident was that scary thing and Amy came running. And so it goes from there …

I was thoroughly entertained by Reckless Kisses from the very beginning and 🎤Stella Hunter & JF Harding🎤 were an absolute dream team as Amy & Knox! So much so that I didn’t want to pause my audio, so I didn’t! LOL I listened thru my commute to work, my workday and my commute home and was done before I knew it. The entertainment factor in this story was top notch and Stella & JF made it even better! I don’t really have the “words” to describe the feeling of a story when it is narrated by the perfect narrators but it happened with this story. I’ll be putting this audio in the re-listen collum because of it! Well done to both of them!

This is one of those stories that just flows thru the lives of two people with very little outside forces to overly dramatize the story or to segue way away from the romance journey. Which, coincidentally, is my very #happyplace when it comes to romance fiction. Sometimes, I just want to read a story of two people that journey to a HEA. That’s it. LOL Well, Layla Hagen delivered! That’s not to say that there were no hiccups or twists along the way, because there were, but they moved the story and relationship forward rather than dramatize it. Feel me?

I did more of a listen rather than read with this story but how could I not with Stella & JF at the helm? However, even though I don’t know the exact feeling the story would provoke in me had I read it, I do know the story is very good so either way you enjoy your stories, you will be very happy with Reckless Kisses!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a quick, fun, steamy yet sweet friends-to-lovers romance, add this to your TBR!

The book is pretty short at a little over 6.5 hours on audio, so it honestly feels more like a novella than a full-length novel. But despite its size, it still packs a punch, and anyone who likes hot billionaires who yearn after their college best friend will have a good time with it.

This is actually the fifth book in an interconnected series—none of which I've read yet—but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. The series follows the Sterling brothers, and in this one, we meet Knox Sterling. After getting hurt in a car accident, Knox and Amy start spending more time together (just as friends, right? 😉).

While the two have always secretly found each other attractive, they've hesitated to act on it—they didn't want to risk their friendship, and they want different things. Knox doesn't want a serious commitment, but Amy wants it all—a house, three kids, and a white picket fence.

This time is different, though, because the more Amy and Knox spend together, the more they can't resist each other and the secret feelings they've been harboring.

And if you love a good rich boy/working-class pairing, Knox and Amy definitely deliver. One of my favorite things about their relationship was how consistently Knox showed up for Amy, despite being busy running his billion-dollar companies. Whether she simply needed someone in her corner, someone to take care of her, or just someone to bring her a margarita, Knox was there. Their relationship also has some fun romance tropes mixed in—a reformed playboy, a one-bed moment, and close proximity, just to name a few.

As I mentioned, this book does move quickly, and I wish it was longer so we could have spent more time with Knox and Amy, diving deeper into both their relationship and their characters. I'm used to romance books that feel a bit more fleshed out than this, and as a result, the story felt rushed. That doesn't mean I didn't like it—I just wanted more out of it.

Audiobook
I listened to the audiobook, which was dual narrated by JF Harding and Stella Hunter. While I think the book would have been even stronger with duet narration, both narrators did a great job and kept me focused on the story. I've listened to them both before, and they always deliver a solid performance.

So, would I recommend it? Yes! But mostly if you're looking for something fast, fun, and easy. If that's what you want, you won't be disappointed.

3.5 stars, rounded up!

Thank you to Must Love Audio and Layla Hagen for a gifted copy of the audiobook.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic friends to lovers story.

Knox and Amy have been friends since college. They are opposites in every way except they fit together perfectly. He’s a self-proclaimed billionaire playboy with no intention of ever settling down. She’s an inspiring schoolteacher with a heart of gold and just wants to settle down and start a family. Despite his attraction, Knox has always kept Amy in the friend zone.

These two are the type of friends that can go for long periods without communication but pick right back up when they do see each other. They are reunited after a year when Knox is in a car accident. Amy visits him in the hospital and home while he’s recovering. They continue to spend more time together when he agrees to guest lecture at the school and later help chaperone a class field trip. Unexpected events lead to a shared hotel room and more.

JF Harding and Stella Hunter were fantastic. They elevated the story and brought these two to life. You felt the kinship, adoration, and respect for each other. They delivered the easiness of Knox and Amy’s friendship and the longing when it became more.

Although this is book 5, it can be read as a standalone. I wish there was just a little more of Knox and Amy’s history and friendship, but I really enjoyed their journey. It’s filled with big family dynamics and interfering brothers that had me grinning ear to ear. Between uncomfortable dates from a dating app, jealous business associates, nosy family members, inquisitive students, and two people finding out the one was right in front of them the whole time, this had a little bit of everything, and I look forward to the final book in the series.

[Franci N (Franci's Fabulous Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 He’s Not Going to Let Her Ago Stars!

This is the fifth book in this series and I loved being back in San Diego. This is my favorite from this series and I LOVED it so, so much!

Knox Sterling is a man of action and once he gets over himself and his preconceived thoughts about never getting married and having children AND realizing that Amy is the person who he needs he’s going to do everything he can to get her to be on the same page as him… and they have a ton of fun in the process!

One of the best things about a friends-to-lovers book is the innate comfortableness with each other even if it’s while they finally give in to the feelings they’ve held inside for so many years. These two are combustible and I needed to turn my fan up a notch LOL.

Even though Knox knew what his end game was, there are moments that I truly wanted to have a stern conversation with him. Thankfully his brothers did it for me LOL. This family is so involved in each other’s lives, and this just enriches the story for me. I’m a huge fan of this family and any time I can be in their midst I’ve got a huge smile on my face.

I was lucky enough to read this listen to this book and Stella Hunter and JF Harding are exceptional at bringing each and every scene to life. They made the steamy moments hotter, family meetings funnier and Knox and Amy’s love story everything I was looking forward to!

[Lynsey ❤️‍ Hot Flashes Hot Listens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: Audio
Dual Narration by: Stella Hunter & JF Harding
Tropes: Friends-to-Lovers, Billionaire, Only One Bed, He's a Playboy, She Wants a Husband

Recap Quickie
Amy and Knox have been best friends since they met in college ten years ago but it’s been about a year since they’ve seen each other. Reunited after Knox is in a car accident, they each wonder why the other looks SO good! It’s distracting!

But Knox has never planned to settle down and Amy has dreams of a husband and three kids. One night one thing leads to another and their relationship takes a “new direction.” But will that change things for better or worse?

My Thoughts & Narrator Vibes
This was fun! It reminded me of a TL Swan novel (especially with the margaritas!). The characters were traditional and cute and I enjoyed their flirty friendship leading up to when that dynamic changed! The burn was a good pace- I was definitely READY for them to cross the line when they did but didn’t feel like it took too long.

The narration was fantastic! I love Stella Hunter and it had been ages since I’d listened to her! Her masc voice is very sexy too! JF Harding was wonderful! There are a lot of male characters in this one and he differentiated them nicely!

For more 40+ audio romance takes, check me out on Instagram @HotFlashesHotListens!

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're back with the Sterling Brothers, and it's finally Knox's turn to fall—and I absolutely loved it!
I'm a huge fan of friends-to-lovers romance, and this story delivered everything I was hoping for. Knox and Amy have known each other since college, but neither has wanted to risk crossing that line. The chemistry, history, and connection between them made their journey feel so authentic and satisfying. Amy was such a fantastic heroine. She's strong, confident, knows exactly what she wants, and isn't afraid to go after it. I loved her determination and the way she challenged Knox when he needed it most. One of my favourite things about this series is how it explores the impact of the Sterling parents' marriage breakdown on each brother. Knox's vulnerabilities really shine through in this book, and it felt so fitting that the person meant for him had been by his side all along. As always, I loved spending time with this family. The Sterling brothers' bond is one of my favourite parts of the series, and the uncle moments with Jeremy completely melted my heart.
I am so in love with this family and these characters. It's hard to believe there's only one book left, but after this story, I cannot wait to see how the series ends. A wonderful friends-to-lovers romance filled with heart, family, and all the feels!

[Marlee Elizabeth]

DNF at 35% ~ 95 pages

They kissed on page 68.

The blurb of the book leads you to believe that Knox has always been attracted to his "best friend" but that didnt come across to me. There was alot of back and forth in his POV from "I wanted to devour her, plain and simple. I couldn’t hide from my own thoughts and desires." to being confused by his own feelings a few pages later. I didnt feel any of the yearning or tension I was hoping to feel and some of their interactions felt awkward for supposed "best friends" since they hadnt seen eachother in a year and then ended up kissing out of the blue not even 100 pages into the book.

Also the FMC is a high school teacher and uses her first name with her students. Immediate cringe.

However, I am not ready to write off the series yet and I think I might enjoy some of the brothers books for sure.

The audiobook narration was also a tad dissapointing. I LOVE Stella Hunter I think she did a fantastic job, however JF Hardings narration felt lacking. I have loved his past narrations but I didnt feel like he did enough to change his voice or tone when speaking for other characters, specifically the FMC. It was hard to follow along with who was speaking in heavy dialogue sections on Knoxs POV.

Thank you to Must Love Audio for this ALC 💕

[Stacie Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm Knox Sterling. Self-made billionaire. Playboy.
My whole life, I’ve chased women, thrills, and anything that keeps things uncomplicated.
Commitment? Not my style.
Except for Amy. My best friend is the only woman who’s ever been completely off-limits. She’s the one person who’s kept me grounded since the days when my bank account barely covered rent.

The one woman I’ve secretly wanted for years… but never touched.
But after a minor car crash reminds me how quickly life can change, waiting suddenly feels like the worst mistake.
So when Amy asks me to chaperone a school field trip and inspire her students with stories from my career, I say yes without hesitation. Any excuse to spend more time with her.
But the trip doesn’t go as planned. A freak accident leaves us stranded in a small town overnight.
Just the two of us.
One hotel room.
Years of tension finally snapping.
One reckless kiss turns into an unforgettable night.
Falling for my best friend might be the most dangerous move I’ve ever made…
But once I have her in my bed, there’s no way I’m letting her walk away.

Loved Knox and Amy's story. I was hooked within the first few pages. If you love a friends to lovers trope with a Billionaire hero, this book is for you. Great summer read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back to the world of the Sterling Brothers and it's Knox's turn to learn that letting a woman in and falling in love can be so much better than his playboy ways. A sweet friend to lovers story as Knox reconnects with his college friend Amy. Their is lots of emotions in this one.

The attraction was always there with Knox and Amy but they made it pretty clear in the beginning that they were looking for different things. She wanted the marriage, house and three kids. Knox was determined that he didn't want any of that. In the sake of keeping a solid friendship they never crossed the line. Now all these years later, seeing her for the first time in a year, Knox is having some troubles keeping his thoughts aligned.

Will they cross the line and see if there could be something more? Will their fears get in the way of something that could be wonderful? Has another Sterling man found his perfect match?

Grab your copy and find out. I am patiently waiting over here for Sinful Kisses and Finn's story.

Audio review, the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing the story and characters to life. Giving the listener a full view of the emotions as the story unfolds.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

[ash.reads.romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reckless Kisses is book 5 in The Sterling Brothers Series but can be read as a standalone.

This was a sweet and fun story about Knox and Amy.
This story features:
💗 Friends to Lovers
💗 Playboy/ Good Girl
💗 Billionaire MMC
💗 Forced Proximity

Knox is a billionaire with playboy tendencies. When he finds himself in the hospital after an accident, this has him re-evaluating life, particularly his long time friend, Amy.
Amy is a teacher. She’s sweet and caring. When Knox is hurt, she is instantly there to be that caring friend.
When Knox and Amy reconnect, they soon find their friendship blurring the lines due to their magnetic connection.

When the roles reverse and Amy is unexpectedly hurt while on a school camping trip in which they are both chaperoning, Knox is there to help her get the care she needs even though it means sharing a hotel room in this tiny town.

I absolutely loved these two together. They were so different but complimented each other so well. I loved watching them evolve from friends to lovers.
Their chemistry was explosive and I loved watching their connection evolve.

I listened to this on Audio and it was great. Dual narration from Stella Hunter and JF Harding brought this story to life and breathed life into these characters.

Thank you Must Love Audio and Layla Hagen for the ALC!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC REVIEW : Reckless Kisses by Layla Hagen (The Sterling Brothers 5)

What to expect:
🩷Best Friends to Lovers
💚Billionaire Romance
🩷He Falls First
💚One Hotel Room
🩷Forced Proximity
💚Slow Burn with Plenty of Steam

Narration:
JF Harding as Knox
Stella Hunter as Amy

Layla is a new to me author and I went into this audiobook completely blind— and boy am I glad I did! Now I cannot wait to go back and read the entire Sterling Brothers series.

Knox is a self-made billionaire with a bachelor streak a mile wide. But when he reconnects with his best friend Amy, his childhood crush comes roaring back to life and he changes his playboy ways.

I absolutely adored both Knox and Amy. I loved how he was always willing to help her with anything she needed. Whether it be sucking out the venom from a snake bite or volunteering as a speaker for her students. He knew how to make her feel special and loved. Amy brought the best out of Knox; teaching him that love is always worth the challenge. They were the perfect pair because they were the best of friends who became so much more.

I absolutely adored Knox’s family and cannot wait to meet the other brothers when I read the rest of the series.

This audiobook was such a fun listen. The narration by JF and Stella was perfection. They brought Knox and Stella’s characters to life.

Thank you to Layla and MLA for the Audiobook.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Knox gets into a non-serious car accident, he suddenly has a lot of visitors in his hospital room but he’s especially excited when his college best friend, Amy, shows up. The two had a falling out years ago because of distance, but the second they see each other, it’s like no time has passed.

Since Knox was laying low from work due to his concussion, him and Amy reconnect over drinks, phone calls, and even Knox saving Amy from a very bad date. When Amy asks if he’ll speak to her high school students about what he does for work, he agrees, and the more time they spend together, the more they realize there might be something between them.

The problem? Knox has no interest in settling down, while Amy has always wanted the whole forever thing.

When Amy’s students go on a camping trip, Knox offers to help chaperone and between a snake bite, a rainstorm, and a B&B stay, things between them definitely heat up. Eventually, they both admit they want to be together, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still a few bumps in the road.

And JF Harding & Stella Hunter are THE exact voices I pictured for Knox and Amy!

Tropes:
College Best Friends
Reformed Playboy
Close Family
Forced Proximity

[Maggie2u2000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this series and was looking forward to Knox's story. It didn't disappoint. All the other brothers are paired up, but Knox and Finn, and they both swear they will be eternal bachelors. Oh how the mighty will fall. Famous last words. Knox and Amy have been best friends since college. They have never crossed the line. Knox gets into a car crash and has a concussion, so the hospital keeps him over night. The entire family comes to check on him, and so does Amy. Amy stays a little longer and Knox starts noticing things about Amy, that he's refused to let him self notice for years.
Her beautiful hair, her shapely body. He's confused about his feelings and tries to shut them down. Amy keeps saying that Knox is sexy, and he questions her about it. "You think I'm sexy", she replies with "Knox, you know you are." Amy wants the soulmate and three kids, Knox wants to have friends with benefits. The question is, will they get what they want. You really need to read this book! It's original, funny, and romantic. This family is a must read! The entire series is the bomb!!!!! Great Job Layla Hagen! Another one hit out the park!