Review – Crave (Billionaire Bachelors Club #1) by Monica Murphy

It’s hard not to love the enemies to lovers theme. They’ve fought and “hated” each other for years, however it’s truly been years of foreplay and one touch and they are all over each other.  ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
Billionaire Archer Bancroft always gets what he wants—and he’s wanted Ivy Emerson, his best friend’s sister, for far too long. Being forbidden and untouchable only makes her more tempting. When a million-dollar bet with his friends throws down a challenge—last bachelor standing takes all—Archer knows he can win. That is, until one enchanted evening with Ivy takes his heart for a ride.

Ivy knows Archer is nothing but bad news: Infuriating, arrogant…and completely intoxicating. But despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to keep away. When a stolen kiss leads to a night of heated passion, Ivy realizes she’s in trouble and in head over heels.

But in the light of day, everything seems clearer and Archer’s not so sure a one-night stand is all he wants. Concocting a plan to keep Ivy by his side, Archer might just be willing to lose this bet…and win the jackpot instead.

Being a huge fan of Karen Erickson, I’m excited about her new series under her Monica Murphy pen name. After reading Crave, I’m even more excited. The so called bachelors consist of Archer (freakin’ love that name), Gage, and Matt. Friends since high school and attending the wedding of another friend they make a million dollar bet on who will fall next and succumb to marriage.

Yes it’s totally cliché but Archer has the hots for his best friend Gage’s little sister Ivy. However, he knows Ivy wants a white picket fence life and he thinks he can’t give her that. Brought up in a household with cheating parents one who drinks and one who ignores, he doesn’t think happy marriages exist and he has no intentions of every going down that road. He’s wanted Ivy a long time but he thinks he’s not good for her and doesn’t want to hurt her. It’s hard not to love the the enemies to lovers theme. Problem is Ivy has had a crush on him forever and while they’ve fought and “hated” each other for years, it’s truly been years of foreplay and one touch and they are all over each other.

I really love these types of stories and it was fun to watch poor Archer fall so desperately head over heels for Ivy. Poor guy really had no clue what he was up against and despite being quite the ladies man has no idea how to talk to women especially one he wants to keep around. At times it was almost painful to watch him stick his foot in his mouth and then try and figure out a way to fix things. Personally, I think Ivy made it a little too easy for him. I would have liked to watch her make him suffer a little bit more but being that she’s been half way in love with him since she was 12, I guess it’s easier said than done.

Because they have history, their first encounter happens quickly and then blows up about as quickly as it started. However Archer finds a way to make Ivy a part of his life for a short time and they resume their relationship and it becomes way more than just sex between friends. As they are working on a project together, they discover each other as adults and become more than just someone to spend time with between the sheets. Don’t get me wrong though, their between the sheets time is explosive and sexy as hell. Ivy finds that she feels free when she’s in bed with Archer and he is absolutely okay with letting her explore her wilder side with him.

I have a feeling while Archer and Ivy are figuring their relationship out, things are going on simultaneously with Gage and Matt but I’ll have to wait until Torn comes out for my hunch to be confirmed. While the storyline isn’t new, I enjoyed the characters and their road to their happily ever after quite a bit. Crave is a good start to what should be a fun and entertaining series!