Girl Next Door Series Review

Friends with Benefits (Girl Next Door #1) by C.C. Wood

Book description...
Natalie York is done with relationships. D-O-N-E. After her latest loverboy hits on her best friend, she's tired of playing games and having her heart broken. From now on, she's keeping things casual.
When Nat meets her sexy new neighbor, Aidan Hart, she decides his offer to be friends with benefits is perfect. Soon, Nat discovers perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her ex reveals himself to be a slightly insane stalker, and, even worse, Nat discovers that keeping her heart locked up tight isn't working out like she planned. Either way, she's certain she's in for a bumpy ride.

I really liked Nat, she was fun, kind and loyal to her friends, and has a bit of a smart mouth.  After catching her boyfriend, who claims to love her, hitting on her best friend she decides no more relationships because she feels like she's got horrible taste in men.  In the case of her ex she did have pretty bad taste... but she didn't see that until after she broke up with him, when he comes banging on her door.  Because she refuses to answer her new neighbor comes to her rescue.... her very hot and very single new neighbor... Aidan.

Aidan is just... yum!  He's protective and is willing to give Nat exactly what she wants.  A no-strings, purely casual, relationship.  The chemistry between these two is thick and extremely hot.  I was sucked into their little... we'll call it "romance"... because Aidan is exactly what I like in a book hero.  He's protective, sweet, loving, and just wants to make the world a better place for his girl.

Their relationship begins just as the title proclaims... and it was explosive.  Although it's told entirely in Nat's POV... you can't help but to see the signs that Aidan is wanting more from Cat then what he has agreed to.  It's almost like he's just agreed to what she wants to get into her head so he can go for what he is actually seeking out of the relationship... pretty sly if you ask me!

Friends with Benefits (Girl Next Door #1) by C.C. Wood is a great short little read.  It was light and easy, there was enough of a suspenseful story that I couldn't quite put it down, and the romance was sweet but not overly so.  A definite read!

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Frenemies (Girl Next Door #2) by C.C. Wood

Book description...
Cat Johnson has been badly burned in the past and likes to keep her relationships simple and, usually, short. When her best friend, Nat, gets engaged, Cat meets Nat's future brother-in-law, Patrick Hart, and sparks fly. The only hitch is his fiancee, Anya. Angry and disillusioned, Cat spends the next six months trading barbs with Patrick.
All that changes after Nat and Aidan get hitched. During the newlywed's two week honeymoon, Cat offers to housesit, only to discover her now-single arch nemesis is living next door. He's persistent and sexy-as-hell in his pursuit of her and Cat discovers there's more to like, maybe even love, about Patrick Hart than she once thought. She wonders if she can trust this man with her heart or too afraid to try.

We meet Cat in book 1, Friends with Benefits, and I have to say I love her in that book... she's sassy, loves to have a good time, and when it comes down to it... she is just an absolutely amazing friend.  Even though Cat is still all of those things in Frenemies I have to admit her reluctance to get involved with the very yummy Patrick drove me insane.  I kind of understood it, but at the same time I didn't.  Other than that I loved her, her extremely smart mouth reminds me of myself and a few of my girls.

Patrick.... mmmm.... oh, I absolutely loved him.  Just like his brother Aidan, he was over protective and had that whole hot alpha male thing going on, which we all know makes my blood boil.  But he was also more than that.  He was sweet, understanding (to a point), and determined to make something special with Cat.

When they finally hook up... It. Is. Hot!  They have this chemistry between the two of them that is undeniable.  He is the nice guy she knows she could fall in love with but is afraid to give her heart to and she is the challenge he wants and needs to keep him on his toes.  On his toes, he was definitely kept... Cat doesn't exactly make it easy for Patrick.

Frenemies (Girl Next Door #2) by C.C. Wood is a great sequel to Friends with Benefits.  It's another easy little read... a little more "relationship" drama and no suspense but the drama between Cat and Patrick is more than enough to make up for it.  Another great read by C.C. Wood!  I look forward to reading more of her work!

Happy Reading!