Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC! 💌

Okay, let me just say this upfront... I really WANTED to love this book. I went into it with high hopes — spicy forbidden romance? Bad boy artist? Sensible journalist? Sounds like a recipe for a guilty pleasure masterpiece, right? Sadly... nope. 😭

The romance was flatter than a week-old soda. Like, where was the tension? The buildup? The swoon?? Jess and Xander got together faster than I could blink, and I just didn't buy into their connection at all. 🙄 There was no slow burn, no real chemistry — just instalust that never quite convinced me they were actually falling in love. 💔

The characters? Meh. 😐 Jess was... fine, I guess? But she lacked any real depth, and Xander gave me more sleazy than sexy vibes for most of the book. I wanted to root for them, but instead, I kept side-eyeing their relationship, wondering when the spark was going to show up. Spoiler: it never did. 💥

Tropes & Themes:
🔥 Bad boy hero
🎨 Forced proximity
🔥 Opposites attract
🎨 Working together
🔥 Temptation
🎨 All the spice

But here's where things really went off the rails for me... 🚨 Towards the end, there's a scene that absolutely killed any remaining goodwill I had for this book. So, Xander, the MMC, is an artist, and Jess, the FMC, is a journalist trying to interview him. He agrees to the interview if she becomes his muse. Okay, fine, I can roll with that. But Jess suffers from body dysmorphia, and after they sleep together, she finds nude portraits of herself in his studio — her body covered in paint, her face in a provocative look. And when she confronts him, he acts confused like, “I thought you’d like it. You look amazing.” Sir... what?? Knowing she’s self-conscious, he still uses their most intimate moments for commercial gain without her consent. Then, when she says how violated she feels, his response is basically, "So what do you expect me to do? Pull them off? They’re my best work." EXCUSE ME?! 😡 The audacity!! 💥

Yes, he takes them down later, but the fact that he was so nonchalant about it made me absolutely sick. 🤢

So yeah... this book was pretty boring, and I was going to give it 3 stars, but that scene? Nope. Down to 2 stars. 👎

If you love cheesy, fast-paced romance and can overlook some... questionable consent issues, maybe this will work for you. But for me? Hard pass. 🚫

Jess is a journalist who is on the brink of losing her job. She gets a chance to prove herself when her boss gives her a piece to write about artist Xander Heaton. She has to go to his studio to interview him. Though when she gets there, she doesn’t get much. He invites her to Italy where he is going to get away and paint. This is out of the norm for her. She’s a bit reserved and conservative. However, her job is on the line, so she goes. While Xander is attractive, Jess needs to stay professional so she can write her story. Xander keeps flirting with her. She’s always had her walls built up and doesn’t break her rules, but maybe once won’t hurt.

This was such a cute novella! It’s described as being a “spicy forbidden romance” but I think this novella is so much more than that. Jess struggles with body image and confidence issues. McKellen doesn’t go into details about what exactly she doesn’t like about her body, but does state that she is uncomfortable showing it to anyone. Xander has some things he’s going through as well. He still has so much anger and so much hurt from his childhood. So even though these two characters that were seemingly very different, what they really needed was the same thing – someone to show them love, caring, understanding. And they find that in each other. Xander learns to put someone else before himself and Jess learns to let her inhibitions go a little bit, and accept that someone could find her as desirable as Xander does. For me, this was the best part about this book, and I could have read even more of it!

The book does have a little bit of spice in it, but honestly, it was done very tastefully and it made sense. It wasn’t just spice for the sake of having spice. I do feel like the ending was a tad bit abrupt. I would have liked to see it extended just a little longer.

I think romance readers will really enjoy this one!

This was a story that I definitely think would have benefitted from being a full length novel. I am not opposed to novella’s in anyway, but this one needed the room for character development and even pacing.

Whilst the story was a quick and easy read with a cute premise that ticked the spice required box in some areas, that was about all I felt I could enjoy. I didn’t connect with the characters and I wasn’t invested in their romance; taking opposites attract to the extreme in my opinion.

Being the first time I have read this author, I am definitely now intrigued to check out some of her other works and see how the land lies over there.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this one early!

I was so excited to pick up this book as forbidden workplace romances are one of my favourite romance tropes, but unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me.

Stuffy journalist Jess is close to losing her job at a magazine when she's presented with the chance to interview bad boy artist Xander. Xander's last exhibition gained a lot of negative attention and is keen to find a new muse to create something to prove the critics wrong. The two seemingly need each other to get their careers back on track - but their whirlwind romance must have an expiration date - must it?

I struggled to connect with the characters in this book from the beginning and both felt pretty stereotypical. Jess was quite pathetic in places and I was willing her to grow a backbone through the book which didn't happen, and Xander often came across as sleazy rather than sexy, especially in the first 2/3 of the book. I didn't find myself rooting for their story because I simply didn't like them.

Both of the main characters have a lot of baggage from their childhoods which explains their characteristics, and I felt like the hard topics were dealt with well, but there wasn't enough time in the book to completely unpack it all, and the resolutions to them felt rushed. It was also so fast that some of the decisions Jess made towards the end of the book felt totally out of character and gave me a bit of whiplash.

All in all, it was an okay quick read at under 200 pages. Will I remember it in a month, no. Was it a quick, easy read to keep me occupied for a couple of hours? I guess so.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc! It was a quick fun read even if it seemed quite rushed. Xander really annoyed me but since the story was short, it was bearable.

Thank you so much to NerGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it turned out to be an engaging and entertaining read! The story moves quickly, keeping the energy high, and the characters feel refreshingly unique and easy to root for.

Jess is thrown into unfamiliar territory, which pushes her to grow in ways she never anticipated. Meanwhile, Xander is willing to step outside his own expectations, adapting as he realizes what (or rather, who) he truly wants—Jess. Their chemistry builds as they spend more time together, and watching their relationship develop is both compelling and heartwarming.

Despite their clear attraction, their differences made me question whether they could actually make things work. The tension between them kept me flipping pages, and when things heated up, it was definitely worth the wait!

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced romance with fiery personalities, undeniable attraction, and an irresistible forced-proximity setup, this book is a great pick!
4.25 Stars!
#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #HereComestrouble, #ChristyMcKellen

I really enjoyed this book, although I would have loved it if the book was longer, especially the ending as it felt a bit rushed and it would have been nice to see Jess and Xander get to know each other more, I loved the dynamic between Jess and Xander and how they grow together almost. Overall, this was an enjoyable and easy short read and I would definitely recommend this book to lighthearted romance lovers who like to read shorter books.

I received this book as an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to net galley, the publisher and Christy McKellen for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: "Here Comes Trouble" by Christy McKellen – 4 Stars

"Here Comes Trouble" is a fun, flirty romance with plenty of chemistry and a touch of emotional depth. The story follows Jess, a by-the-book journalist, who is determined to land an exclusive interview with the elusive artist Xander Heaton. Sparks fly as their personalities clash, and their forced proximity brings undeniable tension.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was how relatable Jess felt. She struggles with insecurities that many readers can connect with, and her journey toward self-confidence adds an extra layer to the romance. Xander, on the other hand, is the perfect mix of brooding and charming, making their interactions both frustrating and entertaining in the best way.

The romance itself is steamy and engaging, though at times I wished for a bit more depth in their conversations. The story moves quickly, which makes it a great, easy read, but I found myself wanting just a little more development in certain areas—especially toward the end.

Overall, Here Comes Trouble is a light, spicy romance with characters you can root for. If you love opposites-attract stories with tension, banter, and emotional growth, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Check out my profile on Goodreads!

First I want to say a big thank you to NetGalley, Christy McKellen and Boldwood for allowing me to read this book as it’s my first arc!🥹

This was a cute little novella rom com with a little spice, the relationship between Jess and Xander was a cute little opposites attract but it was super short and sweet and I’d love to see more from them!💝

Sometimes it’s fun to kiss and tell!

Sensible journalist Jess is not a rule breaker, especially where her career is involved. But trying to extract a tell-all interview from notorious artist and bad boy Xander Heaton is going to test her patience… and self-control. Because she must, at all costs remain professional, respectable and stay focused on the job at hand.

Thank you Net Galley and author Christy McKellen for an ARC of your new book.

The book was a fun romance novella, just shy of 200 pages. Being so short the characters romance didn’t have lots of opportunity to grow. It had a little too long of a slow start for a novella in my opinion.

Once things heated up and I started to get to know the characters I couldn’t put it down. It was a good read and overall I enjoyed it

I really loved this story but I felt it could've been a hundred times better if it were fleshed out more. Yes it's a fast read but it's too fast in parts and so we the readers don't get much of a chance to build a connection with these characters. I loved all the spice and forced proximity though!!

Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen is a fun, flirty romance that follows Jess, a sensible journalist, and Xander, a notorious bad boy artist. Jess is assigned to get a tell-all interview from Xander, but she finds herself drawn to his charm and rebellious nature. As they spend more time together, their chemistry sizzles, and Jess discovers that Xander is more than just trouble. The story explores themes of breaking rules, stepping out of comfort zones, and the excitement of opposites attracting. The pacing of the book is fast, making it a quick read, but some readers might feel that the story could have benefited from a bit more development. The characters are engaging, with Jess's growth and Xander's surprising depth adding to the appeal. The novel also touches on themes of body image and eating disorders, though these topics could have been explored more thoroughly. Overall, this is a delightful, heartwarming read for romance lovers, with dynamic characters and an entertaining plot that leaves readers wanting more.

This book wasn't for me at all. I disliked FMC from the beginning, especially her reaction to seeing MMC. Do we seriously have every female character shivering at the thought of meeting MMC and dripping like a melted candle when she finally meets him? For once I want to read about FMC who's not impressed with MMC or his looks no matter how hot he is. Just once, give me FMC who doesn't care about MMC or his looks, who is able to talk in his presence, and not someone who's hot and bothered the second she meets him. Stop with insta-lust! The blurb promised be a professional and adult woman, not a bumbling teenager who can't handle a handsome man and who's throwing herself for him in a vain hope he'll notice her.

MMC wasn't better either. I'm supposed to feel sorry for him because he's struggling when he's behaving like a child who can't find a favourite toy? And the rest of the book wasn't much better.

I didn't like the writing, nor the plot, nor the characters.

Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen is a fast-paced, spicy romance with surprising emotional depth that gives its characters room to grow. Jess, a junior journalist trying to save her job, is assigned to interview Xander, a notorious bad-boy artist with a reputation for partying hard. Though Jess tries to keep things professional, Xander pushes her to step outside her comfort zone—and into a whirlwind of self-discovery and passion.

Jess is a relatable and likable protagonist, struggling with self-doubt and anxiety, while Xander, though a “bad boy” archetype, sees something extraordinary in her and is determined to bring it out. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the romance progresses with plenty of tension and intimate moments. However, Xander’s history of treating women poorly and some of his behavior during the story make him a challenging hero to root for. A key conflict, where Jess discovers he’s using her as an intimate subject for his art without her consent, feels particularly insensitive, especially given Jess’s insecurities and her battle with an eating disorder.

The novel’s pacing is brisk, but at times, it feels rushed. The professional aspects of the story—Jess’s article and Xander’s art—often take a backseat to the romance, leaving some plot points underdeveloped. Additionally, the ethical complications of Jess’s relationship with her subject are glossed over, which could have added a richer layer to the story.

Despite these flaws, Here Comes Trouble is an engaging read with a compelling main character and steamy romance. While Xander’s actions may not sit well with all readers, the overall story of two people finding purpose and self-worth through each other is satisfying. If you enjoy fiery chemistry and character growth, this one is worth checking out. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

Was definitely a short and spicy read. Could have used a few more pages to develop the characters more as everything moved very fast between them however still an easy and fun read for a novella

This was meh for me. I didn't feel a strong connection to either character and it was not that spicy for how much it claims to be so spicy. It was a quick novella and an easy read but just left me wanting a lot more out of it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for providing me an e-arc in change for a honest review.

This is a nice and short read, found this a face paced book that attempted to touch on sensitive topics, I enjoyed the storyline but also felt there could have been more depth to it as it was missing that bit more to get into the story and characters

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This book was a light easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Christy McKellen for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is short and sweet and it’s a really quick read. It’s a cute opposites attract Rom-Com about Jess and Xander who both struggle with issues from their past. I think it is worth noting that the FMC mentions her issues with an eating disorder.

Overall, I thought it was a cute story. I liked the relationship between Jess and Xander, but I would have liked more time to see their relationship grow.

Expected Publication Date - March 9, 2025