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Bad Billionaires #2

Dirty Sweet Wild

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This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B01MU0YVZ8

The stripper who came to my door got the wrong apartment.

I was planning to tell her. But she kissed me first.


Max

You’d never know I’m a millionaire. I wear jeans and t-shirts. I’m a recluse. Afghanistan left me with scars inside and out. All I want is to be left alone.

I sure as hell didn’t order the stripper who showed up. All I know is that the hottest, sweetest woman I’ve ever seen is naked in my lap.

I don’t even know her name, but I want her. No good can come of this. And suddenly, I don’t care.

Gwen

I strip for money. It’s just a job. Until I meet Mr. Wrong Apartment.

He’s big and dangerous. Grumpy and damaged. Biceps that make me want to cry. One wrong house call, and suddenly I’m breaking my own rules.

Things are spinning out of control. We’re both broken. Maybe we can’t be fixed. Together we’re fire and gasoline. But I might let everything burn if he’ll just touch me one more time…

**Standalone full-length romance with no cliffhanger and no cheating.**

201 pages, ebook

First published January 4, 2017

256 people are currently reading
872 people want to read

About the author

Julie Kriss

39 books928 followers

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5 stars
396 (36%)
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200 (18%)
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40 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Profile Image for Isabella. R.
1,007 reviews2,215 followers
May 7, 2020
5 Fucking Adorable Stars ⭐

Max Reilly is ex marines trying to adjust back into civilian life. After partially losing a limb and now suffering from PTSD courtesy of Afghanistan, he spends his days in construction, working out and being a recluse in his shitty apartment.

When strip-o-gram Gwen turns up on Max's door step, it's a case of mistaken location. But Max isn't above missing the opportunity with this hot woman shaking her booty on his lap.

"I saw that he was smart and fascinated and turned on. I saw that he was unaware of how hot he was. I saw that he had some kind of sadness, deep behind his eyes, that had nothing to do with me."

Max isn't much of a people’s person, but Gwen won't be deterred, especially since sleeping with a random isn't her style. It makes her determined to explore her feelings for Max even if means pulling out the big guns to get him to concede.

“Here’s how it works,” I said, as if he’d spoken.

“You’re single. I’m single. We’re both free, and neither of us is gay.

I’m on the pill, and we’ve established we don’t have any diseases. So, we go on a date.

We have a few drinks. We talk, or something, and when you take me home, I give you a blow job.

See? Simple.”


Even though this book was humorous and downright sexy, there was so much more to their story. Both Max and Gwen have real issues that aren’t easily glossed over and their daily lives are a struggle just dealing with their pain and loneliness.

What I adored was the role reversal involving a confident, beautiful girl trying to convince the grumpy, jaded man to give them a go. But when our heroine flounders, Max steps up to lead them. It was heartwarming watching their journey, the back and forth and finally the acceptance that they could do this together.

"She said that it was a miracle, but she finally found someone more fucked up than she is."

Profile Image for Lana Reads.
477 reviews232 followers
May 8, 2020
This series is pretty good. I love how Ms. Kriss does not leave anything open at the end, every little detail is neatly resolved and put where it belongs at the end.

Our hero, Max, was darkly funny in the first book and I loved him here.

And when our eyes met, I saw everything. I saw that he was smart and fascinated and turned on. I saw that he was unaware of how hot he was. I saw that he had some kind of sadness, deep behind his eyes, that had nothing to do with me.

And I saw the raw fact that he really, really wanted to fuck me. Hard. And he was keeping himself in check.


The heroine, Gwen, was playful and sweet on the outside, yet damaged and crushed on the inside, she didn't know what to do with her life anymore - and I loved how mature she was about it. Yeah, sure, she's been avoiding her reality for quite some time up until now, but when she did open her eyes, it was a pleasure to watch how she dealt with everything.
I enjoyed those two together. There were some moments that I wasn't quite so happy about, but I can live with them.

Again, thank you, Isabella, for putting this author on my radar!
Profile Image for Birjis.
457 reviews303 followers
July 24, 2020
Max Reilly was a shy and broody man. Having being crippled in war and suffering from PTSD he prefers to stay alone and read.
Gwen Maplethorp is a stripper paid to visit peoples house and strip. She has a cold exterior and a conceited attitude. The result of her behaviour is of a past which she is not proud of.

A mis-information of the wrong house brings Gwen to Max's door. Imagine his surprise when a woman knocks his door and starts stripping. Both couldn't resist each other which leads to hot encounter that was unprofessional. Max was dangerous man when he needs to be. Gwen was complete opposite. I didn't like her much. She was mean and cold towards Max making a big deal of a little feeling. She expected Max to tell her about the millions of dollars he had. Why would a stranger tell a stanger about his bank balance? Gwen kind of felt undeserving and I cannot sympathize her past.

This book had a lot of drama, humor and sexiness. I enjoyed this books insta-everything.
Profile Image for Tink Magoo is bad at reviews.
1,296 reviews252 followers
August 18, 2020
4.5 Stars

Absolutely loved Max. He was grumpy, a little withdrawn and broken but oh so dirty with his words and quite frankly, a sex god. I wasn't too sure about Gwen because she came across like a bit of a princess and thought too much of herself at the start, but she grew on me and they were so good together.

For a short book this managed to fit hot times AND character growth in. Would definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Crystal .
974 reviews1,006 followers
December 31, 2020
Oh, Max, You dirty bird. How I love thee. Gwen and Max both broken in their own way, who fit perfectly together. On paper they should be a total disaster. Max is my favorite from Shady Oakes. Full review to follow. I am binge reading
Profile Image for Louise H's Book Thoughts.
2,042 reviews316 followers
July 24, 2020
This book had me hooked from the start of page 1, until the very last line. It didn't matter too much that I hadn't read book 1 (although there is a major spoiler just over half way through the book).

I loved the characters in this book, the hero and heroine were very likable, well written and believable. The plot was well thought through and had a good pace, without feeling like chunks had been missed out. I really felt the attraction between Gwen and Max, and loved how they helped each other without always knowing they were doing it.

I found the book easy to read in terms of writing style, the sex scenes were hot but not crude (thank you to the author who didn't feel the need for excessive obscenities), it had been well edited and the dialogue was not only natural but easy to follow.

I loved how we were teased with the follow on story, but that we got an ending to this one... and what an ending. If Max were real Gwen would need to watch out, I'd be trying to steal her man!

Just off to catch up on book 1 - I need to read more by this author.
Profile Image for Meredith is a hot mess.
808 reviews613 followers
August 29, 2019
One of the best contemporary romances I've read. I'm finicky when it comes to contemporary romance, it's not really my genre...but this one was a winner. Full review to come. Thank you thank you thank you Julie Kriss for writing a fun contemporary romance with heart. This contained excellent dialogue and a logical plot. The story had authenticity. Most of all this provided much needed stress relief. While reading I found myself grinning, laughing out loud, and even tearing up. This worked for me on so many levels and included many of my favorite tropes/character types.

I'm going to write a more cohesive review soon. #1 in this series, Bad Billionaire, is free on Amazon. It's also one of my favorite contemporary romances. Book 2 in this series was just as good. I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for ~ Cariad ~.
1,925 reviews54 followers
September 9, 2017
Okay, I'm obsessed with this series!

Straight into book 3...
Profile Image for Chris.
1,333 reviews38 followers
May 5, 2021
Max ♥ Gwen! Their story was dirty, sweet and wild for sure! I love Bad Billionaires! and I can't wait to read the next one. If it's going to be as good as this and the previous book, I'll be sooo happy!
Profile Image for Rain.
2,633 reviews21 followers
September 12, 2021
**3.5** Decent characters, not a lot of depth. There was surface level drama and some cheesy angst. I loved the first in this series, and I really like Max’s character, but this storyline did nothing for me. He deserved such a better story!

Gwen is a candy gram stripper with hidden insecurities that she covered up with snark. Max is a veteran dealing with medical issues, is a book worm, and a recluse. Their first meeting was excellent.

The story went downhill after they stumble into a relationship of sorts. There’s not a lot of real communication happening between them. The part when the book stumbled was when Gwen found out about Max’s millions and gets pissed off (after only three dates, mind you) that Max hadn’t told her, I was rolling my eyes. So silly.

It’s still a decent read with some hot spice, but it could have been SO much better. On to the next in the series!
Profile Image for kat.
617 reviews240 followers
September 8, 2022
reread, september 2022 · 3.5 stars.
read, march 2021 · 5 stars.

❛She said that it was a miracle, but she finally found someone more fucked up than she is.❜

dear max, you complete me.
Profile Image for hea booktubes.
1,711 reviews380 followers
October 21, 2020
Great addition to the first book. This is about the best friend and the sister of the first couple. I enjoyed watching them break through each other’s walls.
Profile Image for Jewlsbookblog.
2,222 reviews74 followers
April 23, 2018
This was one sexy read! I just flat out enjoyed Max and Gwen! They were both a little damaged yet found something in each other that sparked one heck of a fire keeping things steamy and sweet.
The opening scene took me by surprise, but I am glad I kept on because it turned out to be a good read.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
969 reviews82 followers
October 11, 2017
2.5
Just not my cup of tea and will stop with Max's story.
Profile Image for HankReadsRomance.
313 reviews54 followers
November 22, 2025
3.25 stars | I really enjoyed this. It was short (201 pages) and sweet with a unique premise (stripper FMC goes to the wrong apartment) but it wasn’t particularly deep or memorable. The villain was cliche and plot was far fetched but I didn’t mind.
Profile Image for Kristiej.
1,541 reviews100 followers
February 3, 2026

Ms. Kriss sites the best comfort books. Since I'm still feeling a great deal of stress lately, she is the best author to help me deal with it, she's keeping me from going into a reading slump and rereading this one is part of the treatment.


(:+:) (:+:) (:+:) (:+:) (:+:)


Having reread the first book of this series, of course I had to read the next book and to my astonishment discovered I hadn't posted a review here. So even though this is the 2nd time reading this book, I'm only now posting my review

I really enjoyed the first book, in fact reread it all over again, bought this one, didn’t get around to reading it and then forgot about this author and her books. Bad me, bad, bad me.

So this one is the story of Max who is best friend of Devon from the first book. They met as young lads and have been friends ever since.

Towards the end of Bad Billionaire, Devon who came into a pile of money, gave five million to Max and Max is not happy, not happy at all with this gift.

Max is my kind of hero. He’s a broken down war veteran. He was wounded pretty badly in Afghanistan, lost a leg and suffers from PTSD. He’s a loner and grouchy as all get out. He doesn’t handle change well and being given $5 million is something he struggles with. He can use some money sure as he doesn’t have enough to continue his therapy for either the loss of his leg or his PTSD but other than that he wants no part of the money and $5 million is overkill. He lives in a rather dangerous section of town and is perfectly fine living there. Other than Devin he bothers no one and no one bothers him. So he’s a bit surprised one evening when there is a knock at his door, he doesn’t get visitors, and this gorgeous young woman comes in and starts taking her clothes off.

Turns out she does strip-o-graming and she got apartments mixed up and went to the wrong one. Eventually Max gets around to telling her, but not before she does strip down some.

Gwen, who coincidentally is the sister of Olivia, Devon’s love interest from book #1, is rocked by her attraction to Max and though it’s very much against her style, she may strip for a living but she doesn’t ‘give it up’, she can’t resist Max. And being the hermit that he is, it’s been a long time and Max is open to work with her. After a blistering hot encounter, Gwen leaves.

But I really get a kick out of her because she can’t forget and comes back several days later to tell Max she’s not a slut and she just doesn’t do that kind of thing and Max believes her. Because the chemistry is so strong, they continue to see each other as Gwen slowly begins breaking down his walls. She’s a catalyst for Max starting to heal. And Max is equally good for Gwen.

This book has more humor and less angst than the first book. I really enjoyed the first book with its intensity and I really enjoyed this book with its wounded characters, especially grouchy bear Max. While I kind of lost track of Ms. Kriss and this series, I sure am glad I found them again.
Profile Image for Via_the_Book_Faerie.
104 reviews29 followers
March 6, 2017
2.5 stars

This was a good and interesting read. I was planning on giving this one 3 stars. However, the ending jumps ahead 3 months, and doesn't really get into how things are going in the main characters' lives (school, work, the charity). It's main purpose is just to connect this book to the next one in the series.
Profile Image for Soo.
2,928 reviews347 followers
June 8, 2017
Okay, okay. I give up! Today, I'm on a romance story roll. Dirty Sweet Wild isn't quite like the first book of the Bad Billionaires series. That one was a bit more serious and haunting. Forget the title of this one. It makes sense but it's not a good representation of the story that it holds.

Max is a hermit. He lost half a leg to an IED, came back to the States as a frightened mess and slowly pulling himself back together the best he can. Gwen is a vibrant blonde with lots of attitude and running from everything with all she's got. Together, the mismatched pair fit into a whole and all the jagged pieces seem to fall away from the other's touch.

The story is serious and has a lot of tough love, but there's a touch of instant familiarity that makes many of the moments really funny. The kind of funny where you may tear up because it's sad. The kind of funny that makes you grin with pride because you see through the character spilling out their guts on the page.

The sex is hot. The relationship a passionate crash of changes that shakes up both of their lives and it's good.

Personally, I could have done without the last chapter. That felt like a lame hook to get a reader to jump on the next book. I was going to read it anyway. =P

PS - My choice as a title for this book would have been: Real Heroes.
Profile Image for Karin.
2,178 reviews
January 5, 2017
After reading this story I want to go back and read the first one in the series about Devon & Olivia, even though there was no issue following this one without the ones prior. It just made me curious about the other characters.

Max is a retired vet who has been half living since he got back from Afghanistan. Due to severe injuries he has become a recluse, shy & meek person until he gets a unexpected knock on his door from Gwen a stripper who is at the wrong address. The have a instant attraction but, it ends after she leaves his apartment only to come back 2 days later.

Gwen had a past experience that's left her scarred and scared to let anyone in and even though she doesn't know what she's doing with Max she can't help but push him. It was nice seeing Max become who he was prior.

This story had a fair amount of drama, and a good amount of heat and humor. It was my first book by Julie Kriss but, won't be my last.

I voluntarily reviewed a ARC of this book
Profile Image for mara0b.
295 reviews
June 25, 2020
This was cute but not quite as charming as the first book, for some reason, even though I expected to love it more. I think the main characters weren't as magnetic and captivating as the ones in book #1.

All in all, I appreciated the fact that the male MC had to deal with PTSD and therapy sessions were on page, I think that's pretty good rep and I found the pace of his recovery was done well but I cannot really speak for the MH rep.

Profile Image for Reading with Robin.
288 reviews79 followers
January 7, 2021
3.7 swoony Hero star

I was always curious about Max from Devon's book, I didn't expect that he would have a book but I'm glad that he did.
I have to admit, his 4-year celibacy that was revealed in the last book, made it very tempting for me to want to read his book

This is the first book that I had ever read that has a disabled hero in it. Max was caught in a bomb on duty and had to have his left leg, from shin down, to be amputated. This had caused him to be a recluse and be cooped up in his house unless he had to get groceries or to the bar.

The story between Gwen and Max was very different and unorthodox, which is why I had loved their story so much. They were 2 opposing character, that just unexpectedly worked.
Though Gwen annoyed me a bit because of her attitude in the middle, it never seems to deter Max, and he is also no doormat to her attitude either.
He was just so man about it. It felt very different to all the obnoxious and loudmouth Heroes I am used too.
He gives off the rough around the edges, but soft like teddy bear kind of attitude.
I want my own Max so badlyyyyyyy.

Gwen wasn't as bad of a heroine when she wasn't trying to push him away, I got slightly annoyed at her about it because the H was so genuine, but she does apologize about her attitude, so I was like,' okay, fine, I guess you're alright, but don't hurt my sweet grumpy teddy bear again, or else I'll cut you.'

I fell in love with Max, and I'm sure you will too
Profile Image for Kady.
776 reviews17 followers
April 18, 2019
Don't let the cheesy "billionaire" theme scare you. This is my 3rd Julie Kriss book and I'm loving them. They are like a combination of Lauren Layne and Kristen Ashley - steamy and sweet with broody alphas and sassy heroines. The heroes in this series always just KNOW when they meet their "one" and even though they don't feel like they deserve her, they will do whatever it takes to keep her! These are perfect vacation books to read in between the deeper, longer, emotional reads. I love finding new-to-me authors!
Profile Image for Mo ♡.
625 reviews18 followers
July 26, 2024
This was definitely much better then the first in the series, I really enjoyed it. Max the MMC was 😫🫶 PHEWW ✋️✋️✋️, I think it can be guessed as to what I'm implying. I just loved both him and the FMC, Gwen. I just felt like the ending was rushed and I definitely wanted more of an insight into their future like a cute epilogue. But anyways on to the next.
Profile Image for Krys.
1,399 reviews8 followers
April 26, 2019
2.5 Stars. I did not like the fem protag very much. She spent too much time gaping at her boyfriend because he said/did something awsome, or acting very cold towards him because she was feeling insecure. I'm honestly not sure why the male protag is attracted to her other than the fact that she is the first woman he's let close to him after his accident. She 's not particularly smart or bookish and they've admitted to having little in common, the only thing that ties them together seems to be their mutual attraction towards one another which seems like a tenuous connection at best.

I also did not like how the author was still giving background on the characters at the end of the book. There were several events/people that I'm sure Kriss described in detail multiple times which became repetetive and I believed it was unnecessary.

Even the thoughts the fem protag had about her beu were repetetive and vapid. He's so hot, his leg is bothering him, he's such a hero and repeat. Eye roll. The fem protag lacked depth, and the bit about her youthful naïvete biting her in the butt when she was younger did not add to her depth because her bad experience with romance was not always directly connected to her rudeness/cold attitude. Several times she said something waspish to the male protag and admitted that she had no idea why she was behaving so. I was more told than shown that her behavior was justified, which made me doubtful and gave her few redeeming qualities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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