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Wicked
“She’s mine. She will always be mine. You want her, you fight for her.”
Nail and bail, that’s me, Ryker Conway. A relationship is a complication I don’t need, the last thing on my radar. I’m too close to making my dream of playing ball professionally come true.
When a bet is thrown down—nail and bail on a girl I wouldn’t look at once, much less twice, and I’ll get my chance with the coed of my wet dreams—I readily agree.
What I’m not expecting is to get tangled in Harper Garrix’s messed-up life. Or for her to get under my skin in this hot and dangerous way no girl’s done before.
But the bet and my football dreams are the least of my worries. Something wicked from Harper’s past is coming for her, threatening my place at her side. I’m not having it. To get to her, the wicked of the world will have to go through me.
Nail and bail, that’s me, Ryker Conway. A relationship is a complication I don’t need, the last thing on my radar. I’m too close to making my dream of playing ball professionally come true.
When a bet is thrown down—nail and bail on a girl I wouldn’t look at once, much less twice, and I’ll get my chance with the coed of my wet dreams—I readily agree.
What I’m not expecting is to get tangled in Harper Garrix’s messed-up life. Or for her to get under my skin in this hot and dangerous way no girl’s done before.
But the bet and my football dreams are the least of my worries. Something wicked from Harper’s past is coming for her, threatening my place at her side. I’m not having it. To get to her, the wicked of the world will have to go through me.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2020
342 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn Mathews
50 books132 followersI'm an author of paranormal and contemporary romances. Blessed or cursed, depending on my mood and where I'm at on my current WIP, my overactive imagination guides my muse.
A big fan of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I incorporate various weapons in my paranormal romances and use out of this world names just because I can.
You can find more about me and my books at https://www.ashlynmathewsauthor.com.
A big fan of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I incorporate various weapons in my paranormal romances and use out of this world names just because I can.
You can find more about me and my books at https://www.ashlynmathewsauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 8, 2021
2.5
This one was meh for me. I didn’t really care about the characters because they felt very underdeveloped. I didn’t know much about either Ryker or Harper, and we didn’t really get to see much below the surface of either character. I especially wish that Harper’s mental state had been more explored while she was dealing with all these past traumas and secrets and navigating a new relationship.
The plot itself seemed to move very quickly and with little build up or development. Things just kind of seemed to happen quickly and then be done. The climax of the story was anti-climactic because it felt like there was all this fear being built up throughout the book only for it to last maybe 3 pages and for nothing to happen.
I also couldn’t really buy into the relationship between Ryker and Harper. It moved way too fast, and they didn’t know each other at all. Ryker is a self confessed douchebag, and yet Harper is constantly telling the reader how sweet and amazing he is even though he wasn’t really doing much. And Harper was originally supposed to be the girl who had zero interest in Ryker, and yet a couple of cheesy lines from him had her doing a one-eighty.
Overall the characters, plot, and relationship all needed more development.
This one was meh for me. I didn’t really care about the characters because they felt very underdeveloped. I didn’t know much about either Ryker or Harper, and we didn’t really get to see much below the surface of either character. I especially wish that Harper’s mental state had been more explored while she was dealing with all these past traumas and secrets and navigating a new relationship.
The plot itself seemed to move very quickly and with little build up or development. Things just kind of seemed to happen quickly and then be done. The climax of the story was anti-climactic because it felt like there was all this fear being built up throughout the book only for it to last maybe 3 pages and for nothing to happen.
I also couldn’t really buy into the relationship between Ryker and Harper. It moved way too fast, and they didn’t know each other at all. Ryker is a self confessed douchebag, and yet Harper is constantly telling the reader how sweet and amazing he is even though he wasn’t really doing much. And Harper was originally supposed to be the girl who had zero interest in Ryker, and yet a couple of cheesy lines from him had her doing a one-eighty.
Overall the characters, plot, and relationship all needed more development.
August 24, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Some parts were a little hard to follow... but overall good!
Want to read
July 9, 2025🎁FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (4/4/2021)!🎁
January 16, 2022
I expected this book to have normal romance clichés but this plot was borderline juvenile. The female, Harper, was violently beaten and raped. It's hinted to, but she doesn't tell the main male character, Ryker, until they're literally stripping each other down to have sex. Apparently it's sexy foreplay to talk about how you were beaten and violated.
Harper, herself, is a messed up character. That'd be okay but at no point could I relate to any of her actions. She wanted a man (Shepherd) seven years older than her, she dated his younger brother to get to entice Shepherd who then decided he wanted Harper. She was only seventeen at the time, he would've been 25, but that was okay? Meanwhile, her own dad is a raging lunatic who is obsessed with his wife to the point he writes poems about how they'll only have each other and never anyone else. Surprise! She falls in love with his BFF and he comes home and kills her. Somehow this all ties back into each other because Shepherd's brother is sent to jail, Harper's dad is sent to the same jail for murder and is later killed by Shepherd's brother as a form of revenge on Harper.
Ryker comes from a rich, upper class family, and is on his way to becoming drafted by the NFL but he's willing to give that up for Harper because he loves her. Oh, but he gave up going to an Ivy League school for his HS sweetheart who then dumped him and made him only engage in open relationships until he met Harper.
For the life of me I couldn't figure out why Harper and Shepherd took place in Chicago, but the story was in Oregon and one of the girlfriend's of Shepherd's brother friend knew Harper first hand, ended up in school with Harper in Oregon, yet never said anything about Harper to anyone until Harper openly started to date Ryker.
There was a dead uncle, a blood stained oath, fear of open windows and Harper was a virgin thrown into the story details to just make this entire thing an atomic train wreck.
I would not recommend this story to would-be readers, nor would I wish to read more in this series.
Harper, herself, is a messed up character. That'd be okay but at no point could I relate to any of her actions. She wanted a man (Shepherd) seven years older than her, she dated his younger brother to get to entice Shepherd who then decided he wanted Harper. She was only seventeen at the time, he would've been 25, but that was okay? Meanwhile, her own dad is a raging lunatic who is obsessed with his wife to the point he writes poems about how they'll only have each other and never anyone else. Surprise! She falls in love with his BFF and he comes home and kills her. Somehow this all ties back into each other because Shepherd's brother is sent to jail, Harper's dad is sent to the same jail for murder and is later killed by Shepherd's brother as a form of revenge on Harper.
Ryker comes from a rich, upper class family, and is on his way to becoming drafted by the NFL but he's willing to give that up for Harper because he loves her. Oh, but he gave up going to an Ivy League school for his HS sweetheart who then dumped him and made him only engage in open relationships until he met Harper.
For the life of me I couldn't figure out why Harper and Shepherd took place in Chicago, but the story was in Oregon and one of the girlfriend's of Shepherd's brother friend knew Harper first hand, ended up in school with Harper in Oregon, yet never said anything about Harper to anyone until Harper openly started to date Ryker.
There was a dead uncle, a blood stained oath, fear of open windows and Harper was a virgin thrown into the story details to just make this entire thing an atomic train wreck.
I would not recommend this story to would-be readers, nor would I wish to read more in this series.
April 7, 2021
This book was a disaster. It started with a fun and interesting premise and then went way, way off the rails. So much extra plot and suspense that was just garbage. I’m disappointed in myself for even finishing it. Also include unnecessary allusions to sexual assault and domestic violence.
June 9, 2020
Harper is a young woman that has a very complicated and troubled pass. When she was a young girl, her parents had a loving marriage, and as she got older she noticed the changes in her mother. Her father became possessive and jealous. He followed her mother every where she went. Her father eventually killed her mother and his best friend and is in prison servicing time.
Ryker Conway is a star football player that loves the ladies. He always has open relationships and he nails and bails them.
At a party her noticed Harper. She’s not the type of girl that he would talk to, she’s thin, wears all black with boots, and she has long black hair. But there is something about her blue eyes that draws him in.
Ryker and Harper meet and they start to build a friendship with him going skating and playing dodgeball ball with some children that Harper watches on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. She learns to trust him and she starts to open up and reveal her troubled past, and gives him the chance to stop seeing her . She tells him that the wicked will be here soon. But Ryker will do anything to help her and will not leave. It’s not about sex, there something about Harper that’s different from other girls.
This is a wonderful story. They’re other characters that help the story move along. Harper and Ryker learn to love one another through some of the most difficult things, her past. He stands up and she looks at him with different eyes and she learns to trust. It’s filled with some crime, death, mystery and lots of heat. You will not be disappointed. This was my first time reading Ashlyn Mathews work, and I’m sure I’ll be reading more.
Ryker Conway is a star football player that loves the ladies. He always has open relationships and he nails and bails them.
At a party her noticed Harper. She’s not the type of girl that he would talk to, she’s thin, wears all black with boots, and she has long black hair. But there is something about her blue eyes that draws him in.
Ryker and Harper meet and they start to build a friendship with him going skating and playing dodgeball ball with some children that Harper watches on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. She learns to trust him and she starts to open up and reveal her troubled past, and gives him the chance to stop seeing her . She tells him that the wicked will be here soon. But Ryker will do anything to help her and will not leave. It’s not about sex, there something about Harper that’s different from other girls.
This is a wonderful story. They’re other characters that help the story move along. Harper and Ryker learn to love one another through some of the most difficult things, her past. He stands up and she looks at him with different eyes and she learns to trust. It’s filled with some crime, death, mystery and lots of heat. You will not be disappointed. This was my first time reading Ashlyn Mathews work, and I’m sure I’ll be reading more.
May 31, 2020
I received this book via the author through Voracious Readers to give an honest review of the book!
**Potential trigger warning!- in the book there are some discussions about kidnap and rape as well as drug abuse**
This is the first book I have read from Ashlyn and I must say I enjoyed it and will be looking into reading her other work!
This book is a dual perspective between Ryker and Harper, where for the majority of 'part 1' we see things from Ryker's perspective, through 'part 2' it is mostly Harper and for the 3rd 'part' of the book it flips between them both!
I loved this book, at first I thought it was going to be your average a** of a guy thinking he can get the girl who noone can! But you soon see that Ryker isn't like that!
At first I was a little confused about what Harper's character was all about.. she was unapproachable in the first meeting of her yet very soon after she seems the complete opposite.
The introduction of Shephard was interesting and at one point, I didn't know how to feel about it, it seemed 'love triangle-y' (if there's such a word!) His character is intense and definitely needs exploring further! But near the end of the book, you kind of see a 'softer' side to him, where he does truly care about Harper and her safety, feeling and life in general.
This is definitely a HEA book for sure!
**Potential trigger warning!- in the book there are some discussions about kidnap and rape as well as drug abuse**
This is the first book I have read from Ashlyn and I must say I enjoyed it and will be looking into reading her other work!
This book is a dual perspective between Ryker and Harper, where for the majority of 'part 1' we see things from Ryker's perspective, through 'part 2' it is mostly Harper and for the 3rd 'part' of the book it flips between them both!
I loved this book, at first I thought it was going to be your average a** of a guy thinking he can get the girl who noone can! But you soon see that Ryker isn't like that!
At first I was a little confused about what Harper's character was all about.. she was unapproachable in the first meeting of her yet very soon after she seems the complete opposite.
The introduction of Shephard was interesting and at one point, I didn't know how to feel about it, it seemed 'love triangle-y' (if there's such a word!) His character is intense and definitely needs exploring further! But near the end of the book, you kind of see a 'softer' side to him, where he does truly care about Harper and her safety, feeling and life in general.
This is definitely a HEA book for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
This book was really odd. This had the premise of sports romance, yet there was really very little of a sports angle. For some reason there was a bet. It made no sense why there was a bet made, and the bet almost seemed like a red herring, since the bet was really just an excuse for Ryker to go after Harper. Which for some reason, she also was completely fine with, even though she knew about the bet. That’s when things get super weird. Harper has this crazy past with an ex that SA’ed her, degraded her and killed her uncle. Oh, and also her dad killed her mom. Um… what? Why? What the heck am I reading?? So we go from a frat house status bet to a weird “I’ll do anything for you, because you’re a mysteriously hot woman who has a cabal of kids that you selflessly hang out with every week, and you’re beyond amazing”, yet she’s “wicked” (the author kept pushing the title on us in this super disingenuous and borderline creepy way… she was attacked and made a mistake when she was too young to know what she was doing… but she’s wicked???). Of course, there was continued drama with the guy who attacked her, and with no real bonding involved, Ryker was wholly insta-love obsessed with Harper. Yes, I read this, but I wish I hadn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2020
Ryker Conway is a college Football player who has been hurt before by a girlfriend so now he is just a player so he does not get hurt again. On a bet he tries to date Harper Garrix, well sleep with her in a month so he can get into bed with another woman that is his normal type. In the process of her terms of being around her he ends up actually liking her and gets to know her better. Harper has a bit of a past and it is trying to catch up with her. Things get complicated and Ryker ends up wanting to protect her from her past.
I did not think this was going to be about people in college and it was a little darker than I expected. It was a decent quick read. It was written well enough that I wanted to slap a few people a couple of times for being evil and mean.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
I did not think this was going to be about people in college and it was a little darker than I expected. It was a decent quick read. It was written well enough that I wanted to slap a few people a couple of times for being evil and mean.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
July 9, 2020
Wicked is not the kind of book I would normally read, but I was nevertheless hooked by it in spite of myself. Although the writing style is fairly crude, it has a good plot, is suspenseful and romantic. Initially, I did not like Ryker, but as one gets to know his character better I found myself falling in love with his caring and protective nature as well as his ability to set aside his previous attitude to put Harper and her needs first. Harper is a complicated girl with a traumatic history. She has fought her way free of the past but when it races to catch up with her, she needs more than one person on her team to keep her safe. This novel is well written and engrossing and comes to a successful conclusion. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
July 16, 2020
Harper is a young lady with a troubled past. She witnessed her father killing her mother when she was a kid. She also got involved with a bad guy who is obsessed with her and doesn't want to let her go, he abducted and abused her before she was rescued and he's still after her.
Ryker is a college footballer whose dream of playing professionally is almost a reality. He's a big time player. He met Harper, and based on a bet, he went after her, with the notion of having her and dumping her but he didn't bargain to fall in love with her. But will their love be able to withstand her troubled past and the danger ahead? Grab your copy and find out. "I received this book from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review".
Ryker is a college footballer whose dream of playing professionally is almost a reality. He's a big time player. He met Harper, and based on a bet, he went after her, with the notion of having her and dumping her but he didn't bargain to fall in love with her. But will their love be able to withstand her troubled past and the danger ahead? Grab your copy and find out. "I received this book from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review".
April 12, 2021
Wicked (Dangerous Liaisons Book 1) by Ashlyn Mathews
Four full stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍
Characters. 👍👍👍👍👍
Storyline ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️
Romance 💕💕💕💕💕
HEA
WARNING: Triggers of a sexual nature
The beginning of Wicked is a slow burn but then builds up tempo as the storyline goes along. I first thought it was going to be an ok story and predictable, but as you go deeper into the story, you find that that isn’t so. Predictability flys out the window as the story has many layers to it.
Ryker and Harper at first seem so mismatched, but as they get to know each other, and as we get to know them better, you find out that this isn’t the case. I loved Wicked, and purchased the next in the series, even though Wicked can be read as a stand alone.
Four full stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍
Characters. 👍👍👍👍👍
Storyline ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️
Romance 💕💕💕💕💕
HEA
WARNING: Triggers of a sexual nature
The beginning of Wicked is a slow burn but then builds up tempo as the storyline goes along. I first thought it was going to be an ok story and predictable, but as you go deeper into the story, you find that that isn’t so. Predictability flys out the window as the story has many layers to it.
Ryker and Harper at first seem so mismatched, but as they get to know each other, and as we get to know them better, you find out that this isn’t the case. I loved Wicked, and purchased the next in the series, even though Wicked can be read as a stand alone.
April 3, 2024
This is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Wicked surprised me. Some parts of the story are confusing, I felt like information was left out which made it difficult to figure out for a while. However, it was not a consistent thing. It is also about college students, which isn’t usually my jam. Yet, these characters are not your typical college-age students. They have a much deeper side and are more self-aware than most their age. This is a story you are easily sucked into and is filled with heart, intrigue, and some very dark stuff. You delve into a world that most people know nothing about. But it is still a hopeful and upbeat story.
July 11, 2025
Free Will ❤️🥊🏈💙
Harper and Ryker meet in unusual circumstances. He’s not the nicest of guys and he makes a bet with a teammate. What he doesn’t know is how much this decision will change his life. It’s no longer football and easy women.
Harper has a lot of trauma in her life. TW for violence and violation. She’s strong, in body and spirit.
There were parts of the book that confused me, but I would catch on. Shepard, her friend and protector, plays a big part in the book and gets his own story next.
Harper and Ryker meet in unusual circumstances. He’s not the nicest of guys and he makes a bet with a teammate. What he doesn’t know is how much this decision will change his life. It’s no longer football and easy women.
Harper has a lot of trauma in her life. TW for violence and violation. She’s strong, in body and spirit.
There were parts of the book that confused me, but I would catch on. Shepard, her friend and protector, plays a big part in the book and gets his own story next.
July 22, 2025
Got this book a while back it was free on Amazon. Finally got to it. So let's get to it.
I rate it 3.5 stars. At first it seemed like a slow burn but some parts got meh and meh. Harper has a very complicated past, Ryker has a "set" future so it seemed but they never got to the point where. What happens now? after every thing Finally got cleared. The whole plot and her relationship with Shepard was confusing and boring at some points. Oh yeah Shepard was her crush/boyfriend/bestfriend/big brother or whatever else she considered him.
I rate it 3.5 stars. At first it seemed like a slow burn but some parts got meh and meh. Harper has a very complicated past, Ryker has a "set" future so it seemed but they never got to the point where. What happens now? after every thing Finally got cleared. The whole plot and her relationship with Shepard was confusing and boring at some points. Oh yeah Shepard was her crush/boyfriend/bestfriend/big brother or whatever else she considered him.
July 15, 2020
Ryker Conner's focus is only on football.
He knows what being heartbroken feels like, and prefers not to go there again.
He makes a bet, that he will date Harper Garrix, and finds out she is a likeable person and more.
Harper has a past that may come back and haunt her. Even though Ryker is skeptical, he becomes very protective of Harper.
I received this book for free from ebook discovery. I volunteered to review it and this is my honest review.
He knows what being heartbroken feels like, and prefers not to go there again.
He makes a bet, that he will date Harper Garrix, and finds out she is a likeable person and more.
Harper has a past that may come back and haunt her. Even though Ryker is skeptical, he becomes very protective of Harper.
I received this book for free from ebook discovery. I volunteered to review it and this is my honest review.
April 10, 2021
Ok quick read. Unpolished. Unclear.
Good story. Poorly written in some aspects. Tenses changing constantly, frequently hard to tell who is saying what, details of hidden backstory very confusing. Beats to death the issues the main characters have with committing to each other. I started skimming those parts. So. Repetitive.
I still enjoyed the story, but it was wearing on me at the end. I wouldn’t read it again.
Good story. Poorly written in some aspects. Tenses changing constantly, frequently hard to tell who is saying what, details of hidden backstory very confusing. Beats to death the issues the main characters have with committing to each other. I started skimming those parts. So. Repetitive.
I still enjoyed the story, but it was wearing on me at the end. I wouldn’t read it again.
April 19, 2022
I'm not usually into college romances, but this was one gripping and a very interesting read. The storyline is very dark and has some difficult subjects, but is written very well and covers the topics well. It does have a CLIFFHANGER (pet peeve), and I wasn't interested enough to purchase the 2nd book, but there is enough of a HFN that I didn't feel as cheated as I usually do with cliffhangers. (Book 2 apparently only has a bit more of the story and focuses more on Shepard).
June 2, 2020
Good story, well developed, relatable characters. What’s not to like? Had trouble putting it down. Read it in a few hours. The only thing that brought it down in my estimation was that I found it a little shallow in the emotional areas. It didn’t grab my heart and make me reach for the tissues. But anyway a good read and I recommend giving this book a read.
June 7, 2020
I received a copy of this book from voracious readers and I liked reading it. It was easy to read and it just flowed perfectly, so much so that I finished the book in no time. The characters were all unique and so were the relationships that they all held. I would recommend this book to people who are open-minded and like saucy romances.
April 8, 2021
Well
I was not expecting this storyline. It was a pleasant surprise. However, I found the plot confusing. The writer, I think, was trying to slowly expose the characters' past but it ended up being confusing. There was no "who done it" but more " who is this guy again?" Feeling . the timeline was also weird but this is fiction and anything can happen.
I was not expecting this storyline. It was a pleasant surprise. However, I found the plot confusing. The writer, I think, was trying to slowly expose the characters' past but it ended up being confusing. There was no "who done it" but more " who is this guy again?" Feeling . the timeline was also weird but this is fiction and anything can happen.
November 17, 2022
Read this book for no hype November 2022, a bookstagram challenge where you read books that don't have that many ratings or reviews.
I loved this book. It was an easy read. Kept me hooked. I loved the dual pov of Ryker and Harper. I also loved seeing how Ryker's character developed and how the truth slowly unfolded!
Cant wait to read book 2 ((:
I loved this book. It was an easy read. Kept me hooked. I loved the dual pov of Ryker and Harper. I also loved seeing how Ryker's character developed and how the truth slowly unfolded!
Cant wait to read book 2 ((:
September 14, 2020
The writing style was very different, not a bad or good different just different. It was written almost similar to a play/fairytale. I liked the story as a whole and I read it fairly quickly. The development of the characters was good, however, I found it unnecessarily wordy.
April 8, 2021
Painful
I couldn't take to any of the characters in the book. It felt like there was at least 4 different stories rolled into one, and I didn't like any of them. I found the plot confusing and confused. Really struggled to finish this book.
I couldn't take to any of the characters in the book. It felt like there was at least 4 different stories rolled into one, and I didn't like any of them. I found the plot confusing and confused. Really struggled to finish this book.
July 7, 2021
Intense
So so very intense. There are a lot of triggers in this book. A lot of drama in this book. A little too much I think. We could have done without the that confession. And yet this is a romance. But it’s very hard won.
So so very intense. There are a lot of triggers in this book. A lot of drama in this book. A little too much I think. We could have done without the that confession. And yet this is a romance. But it’s very hard won.
July 31, 2025
Wicked
This story was definitely wicked. I was sad to realize how evil some people can be especially at a young age, also their home life played a large part in that, but it's empowering for them to find a strong love to conquer their past together.
This story was definitely wicked. I was sad to realize how evil some people can be especially at a young age, also their home life played a large part in that, but it's empowering for them to find a strong love to conquer their past together.
June 2, 2020
A great story of that had me from the start. Well written. A story that made me think.
June 3, 2020
A good read... Although I got confused a little through out the book... I love that there was humor and drama, love triangle and some heat.. Ryker and Harper what a pair lol....
June 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
June 8, 2020
Another great book.
Loved the story and characters.
Would recommend.
Loved the story and characters.
Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews