Enemies Closer

Ready or Not #4

by Jayce Carter

They might fall in love—if they don’t kill each other first.

Charlie Hayes is desperate when she goes to win over a new client before her long-time rival can swoop in, and even more so after a snowstorm runs her car off the road and strands her in a small motel. When she’s forced to share the last available room with a sexy stranger, she thinks things might just be looking up. Too bad he isn’t exactly a stranger.

Ryder Carson can’t believe that the lawyer he’s been competing with for years is actually the same beautiful woman he’s sharing a room with, and what better way to pass the time than enjoying her warm and willing body? However, as he spends more time with her, he realizes she could be more than just a rival.

When the snow melts and real life—and their jobs—get in the way, they’ll have to choose between what they always thought they wanted…and the future they truly desire.

General Release Date: 29th December 2020

78 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2020

About the author

Jayce Carter lives in Southern California with her husband and two spawns. She originally wanted to take over the world but realized that would require wearing pants. This led her to choosing writing, a completely pants-free occupation. She has a fear of heights yet rock climbs for fun and enjoys making up excuses for not going out and socializing.

Reviews

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well written enemies to lovers romance. The reader understands why Charlie hates Ryder but we fall in love with him anyway. These rivals are trapped in a motel during a snowstorm and end up sharing the last room available. Being stuck together lets them get to know each other in a new capacitor but will it be enough for a HEA? I loved this book and recommend reading it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emilie van der Graaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m never much for an insta-love, but I do love me a forced proximity, only one bed, enemies to lovers situation

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Hayes was determined to win over a new client, the elusive author Skylar Tafferton, before her rival stole him away. So she flew to the mountains in the dead of winter, rented a car, and the client still looked at her as if the sweet young kid he saw was not capable. Now she is rushing to the next potential client, trying to see through the relentless snowfall and unhappy that, once again, she has to work harder to prove herself to her bosses, clients, and everyone else! And because her enemy may get to the next client soon, she refuses to pull off the slippery road and wait until the snow eases up. So thinking about her annoying enemy, the car slid once more on the ice and she was stuck at the side of the road. She could see a neon sign in the distance and decided to walk to what she hoped was a motel!

Arriving at the motel at the same time as another stranger, both of them were trying to get the last room. Since it was a honeymoon suite, Ryder Carson suggested they share it since it probably had enough room for two. She agreed, but wouldn’t exchange names with him. No need to get to know each other, right? She hadn’t dated in a year now and was thinking maybe a quick fling with this good-looking guy might be perfect. She wouldn’t see him again and didn’t care what he thought of her. So once inside the room, she stepped up between his legs and kissed him! Then all she could do was admire his skills as he quickly undressed her like an expert! He was far beyond anyone else she had ever dated. As things were quickly progressing, his cell phone rang and he identified himself…. “This is Ryder Carson” … and everything stopped dead!

Ryder had no idea why the beautiful woman sat up glaring at him, her actions telling him not to even try to touch her. So she finally gave him her name. He had assumed “Charlie Hayes” was a man all this time. He burst out laughing and she elbowed him in his side and left the room. But his mind kept thinking of the fire in her eyes. And she kept thinking that he was the first man she had ever responded to like this. They thought they knew what was important to them. But now both are having difficulty keeping their thoughts away from the other and wishing that phone call hadn’t interrupted so soon. When they cooled off, would they both wish for a second chance to start over, especially now that they were feeling the loss of what might have been?

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, charming story. This is a steamy, quite charming, enemies to lovers story that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. The author's technical writing skills, use of language and vocabulary, character description, and scene-appropriate, witty dialogue, along with good editing makes this book a pleasure to read. There is plenty of drama around Charlie and Ryder, two lawyers, both competing for the same client pool, stuck in a hotel room for a few days during a snow-storm. After their steamy encounter, then realising their ''enemy'' status, is, where their sparring really begins. However, there is no greater pull then love and our protagonists finally realise that they'd rather spar together than be apart. A short book, I would have liked to have read a full-length novel, however, it is a delightful tale which I can happily recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This enemies to lovers romance was worth reading because I liked how even when Charlie knew Ryder was her rival and “enemy”, she did pretend she wasn’t interested in how they could pass the time while sharing a room in a snowstorm. Her friend Darren told her, “You can hate someone, but as long as everyone’s parts line up, who cares?”

The had great chemistry making the betrayal hurt even more. When Ryder’s layers get peeled away, he is much more than he seemed. You’ll love this couple and you’ll love the ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and Ryder are rival lawyers who are stranded at the same motel during a snow storm. They don’t know they are rivals, just that they have an instant sexual attraction. Things get hot and heavy pretty quickly. It’s a quick read, about two hours. I enjoyed their wit and banter. I only had one issue with the writing and that was the use of the “c” word in describing the sex. Otherwise this was a good book. Charlie is a strong woman who is trying to prove her worth in a man’s world at work. Ryder didn’t have the best childhood but buys himself nice things to show he’s made it out of poverty. Both characters are shown with vulnerability. I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and Ryder are bitter competitors; he seems to win more clients than she does. They're stuck in a snowstorm, and forced to share a hotel room. I really enjoyed this book. Charlie drove me crazy - is she gonna take advantage and sleep with him or not? She can't seem to make up her mind, running hot and cold in her attitude toward him. He's slick, using every advantage he has, and the three most important things in his life are the three W's - work, women, whiskey. Still, I liked him - mostly. Just not when he "cheated" with her business information. Along the way, they discover that the other person isn't entirely who they thought.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Antonella - Happy Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worst? Falling for your enemy!
by Happy-Girl

I loved this story.
A snowstorm, a chance meeting, unique circumstances: an attractive stranger to share a hotel room... and Charlie, realize that Ryder is the lawyer she’s been competing with for years, the arrogant one who stole a lot of her sought after clients.
Ryder is focused on his career, avoiding any involvement, the only bond a sister he loves dearly. Now he sees Charlie; he admires her integrity and passion, not only in her job but also in her life. He loves when she focuses her passion on him and enjoys this stolen time together. But then some of Charlie's notes were really stolen by Ryder and used without him wanting it...
Charlie is every woman fighting for her place in a work environment, that knows which is the right thing in life.
Sex, tenderness and reality in a book full of humour, and a HEA at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rivalry between two lawyers competing for the same clients, this has a lot of angst on Charlie’s part as she is undervalued and not treated as an equal amongst her co-workers. While Ryder is the golden boy who gets the contracts and is given everything he wants on a silver platter or so it seems. I liked these characters as they both take a good long look at themselves and each other, and get a little insight into how they both view one another with some envy, but respect. Enjoyed this quick read as this intriguing connection unfolds.

I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.

[Evy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heart melting love story.
Charlie and Ryder are both attorneys and each others rival. They are forced to stay in a motel during a snow storm and that’s where the magic begins. I loved how they both had a totally different view of one another, how they misjudged each other and how they slowly fell for each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story. It was about two lawyers who would fight over winning clients to represent. They were forced to share a hotel room because of a snow storm before knowing exactly who the other was. Once finding out they were rivals they decided to get more intimate even though they knew better. The chemistry between these two was instantaneous and overwhelming. I really liked both the characters and was hooked on the story from the very start.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Secret Romance Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Ryder is simply all confidence and hotness. Charlie stole the show for me. Her strength of character drew me in. She was comfortable to understand and accept her desires for Ryder, despite being a rival and still hold true to her morales. But seriously who could deny chemistry like what existed between Ryder and Charlie. Which makes the betrayal hurt so much more. Luckily Ryder proves he is more than meets the eye.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not read any of the other Ready or Not books by Jayce Carter, but I wish I had. Ryder and Charlie are rival lawyers, fighting for the same clients, sometimes she wins, sometimes he wins. They've never met or seen each other and when they are snowbound in a hotel with only one room left, sparks fly..then daggers. The tension is great, the book super fast paced, and such a steamy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie and Ryder have an enemies to lovers romance. The characters were well developed however I could not connect with them. For a strong woman Charlie could not make up her mind and Ryder was to opportunistic for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is an enjoyable heart melting love story read that is an enemies to lovers romance. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea Dalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written and funny high-heat novella. There isn't much build-up to the sexual relationship, and the language is coarser than I prefer. That wasn't what I expected based on the description. But if you're looking for a super-steamy short rom com, this book should fit the bill perfectly.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies Closer was a typical enemies to lovers romance but I found it easily enjoyable and entertaining.
The author did a great job of weaving together personalities and chemistry between the main characters. and I love a good HEA.
I’d love to read more from Jayce Carter.
Great job!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rival Lawyers - Charlie (FMC) and Ryder are vying for the same client but as chances would have it they end up snowed in at the same hotel. In the last room there making them effectively roommates. Flirtation and attraction all lead to a very steamy lock in for them both. I loved their banter. It was funny on parts. This was a sweet and sexy read and i enjoyed reading it

[Helena Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great enemy to lovers story. Charlie and Ryder are enemies without even having met in person...when they do the chemistry is if the charts and they can't keep away from each other. Thos story is very well written and the way it is written brings a new feel to a well divulged plot. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryder Carson and Charlie Hayes are competing for the same client but when they are stranded together will they let their attraction stir them to go for more? I found the characters engaging and well developed with plenty of chemistry throughout the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were very interesting. Look forward to reading more books from this author.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Enemies to Lover Story
I enjoyed this enemies to lovers story. The author coupled winter snow and forced proximity to weave her tale. It made for a lovely, down-to-earth romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great enemies to lovers and force proximity romance. Charlie and Ryder have palpable chemistry. Well written with heat and humor. Characters are likable right away in this short rom com.

[evieo17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice addition to the series. I really enjoyed the banter between Charlie and Ryder. My heart broke when Ryder made the decision that the did but I liked that he made up for it in the end.