Usually I think of RVD's Wingmen Inc series as stupid simple romances where the snark-attitude-top dog personas for the dudes come off real clear. That series was sort of fun. I was thinking similarly with Liars Inc, but the first couple of sections were a toughie for me. I HATED Blaire and what she did for a living. Catching cheaters and being a PI -- no problem. Being pathetic and scarred after a divorce, putting oneself out for bait, propositioning oneself like a prostitute by baring chest and kissing on mouth a dude with ashtray lungs (ick, Isla): that says a lot about their low values. I had no respect for these gals. So how was I supposed to like them?

Things got better when Colin came on the scene. I was like, finally someone I think I could like.

But really, behind all this fluff, just really wish those early chapters were gone. I'm still revolted by them.

I loved this so much, I read it twice! I seriously need more in this series!
Only thing I need to say is the epilogue is confusing, It's supposed to be Colin's POV but it gets confusing when it randomly switches to Blair's POV on the last page in the middle of Colin talking/thinking from his... I don't think it was supposed to do that.

Title: Dirty Exes
Series: Liars, Inc. Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Blurb: Blaire has never quite gotten over Jessie Beckett, the ex–NFL star whose kisses were hot enough to ignite the entire Eastern Seaboard. When he chose work over her, Blaire was left brokenhearted. Why else would she have married a skeezy two-timer, just to divorce him less than a year later?
Now Blaire is getting even by becoming one half of Dirty Exes, a PI firm fully committed to humiliating cheating jerks. If only the new jerk she’s been hired to uncover wasn’t Jessie Beckett himself.
Exposing Jessie isn’t going to be easy, especially when she still daydreams about his sexy smile. Further complicating matters is Colin, Jessie’s best friend. He’s gorgeous, a little bit cunning, and willing to help Blaire get the inside scoop on Jessie—for a price.
Now caught between two men—one totally right and the other totally wrong—Blaire will need to decide just how much she’s willing to risk…and whom she’s willing to risk it for.
Favorite quote(s): “The life of a celebrity. God, can you even pee by yourself, or do camera flashes just beckon your penis?”
Thoughts: I wasn’t a fan of this book, which was shocking to me as I usually enjoy Rachel Van Dyken. There were so many little things that were wrong with it, that I just got nothing out of reading it. I felt like this was a waste of time to read for me. While Rachel is about 35 years old, it didn’t come across in the reading, particularly with the maturity level. She still had that much younger vibe, and mixed with her singlemindedness on catching out cheaters – and her inability to question herself and challenge her own beliefs with an open mind, just turned me off her character completely. It doesn’t take long before you kind of see where the story is going either – the ‘triangle’ becomes pretty apparent. But so does the fact that I just never got the true vibe that Jessie was in the running as a contender for Blaire’s heart – which to me, made Jessie completely unimportant in the storyline. He didn’t even seem like a character introduced to cause conflict. To be honest, I felt a bit angry that I was wasting time on characters that served no purpose. Not even as characters I would want to see again in future books. I couldn’t have felt less of a connection with this book. To me it seemed very thrown-together and disjointed.
Just not a recommended read from me – the only reason I’m not rating it lower is simply due to curiosity alone. I had to read to at least finish and see if things finished the way I imagine it was going to. I DO, however, recommend many other books by this author!
Rating: C

Dirty Exes is the first book in the Liars, Inc. series which is actually a spinoff from The Matchmaker's Playbook.  This is Blaire’s story (Ian's sister). I have not read The Matchmaker’s Playbook and had no issues following the story. With that being said….

I loved this book! It was funny and sexy with a side of drama! The prologue was hilarious! Blaire and Isla have been hurt by their cheating exes. They turn lemons into lemonade by starting Dirty Exes, a PI firm that goes after cheaters. They gather evidence and often times post it to Facebook live, humiliating the cheater. Although they are successful, they have anger and trust issues because they were cheated on.

"I was so focused on retribution, on not focusing on the past, that I was barely staying sane."

Things get interesting when they are hired by Veronica Beckett. She is married to ex-NFL player Jessie Beckett, Blaire’s first love. Jessie broke Blaire’s heart when he was traded by the NFL. He never asked her to come along. Brokenhearted, Blaire married a “safe” guy, who cheated on her. Blaire insists she can be professional and handle the situation with Jessie as a client. Jessie’s best friend, Colin, is an added piece of the puzzle, and nothing is what it seems! Is he friend or foe?

Rachel Van Dyken takes us on a wild ride! Husband’s, best friends, wives….cheater or not? The story takes a few turns that I did not expect. Perception versus reality. Fake versus real. Some really funny situations and some hot sexy time as well! There is also lots of banter between all of the characters. I was very surprised by the outcome.

“Let me make it up to you.”

“Sex won’t make this better.”

“Sex always makes things better, especially angry sex where I let you slap me.” He grinned."

"It was hard not to smile."

Next up…. Isla. Will Blaire’s tough-as-nails partner be able to move forward…..

Rachel Van Dyken writes great books!! I finished overnight that is how great the book was! I recommend this book to everyone!!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. I loved this book and can't wait for more from this series. This book is actually a spin off of Matchmakers Playbook but is a complete standalone and new series.
Blaire and her friend Isla own a business called Dirty Exes. It catches cheating spouses and blast them on Facebook.
Colin is beyond rich and is just looking for that one special woman to be his partner. He doesn't expect her to be on the floor of his bar hiding out.
This book was a very fun and entertaining easy read. It had me swooning over Colin hard and laughing at all the trouble Blaire gets into. Definitely recommend this book to everyone. Can't wait for more.

Revenge with a side of whiskey.

Blaire had a few love-struck weeks years ago with the ex-NFL star Jesse Beckett and has compared everyone to him ever since. She had all the feels but apparently he only had a few because when he was traded he walked away with a hug, smile and a "I'll miss you." Blaire propelled from that "in the publication eye" relationship into one where she could finally just be herself, be normal. Jason was it, hers, meant to be...or so she thought. What he was really meant to be was the best two-timing snake in the history of forever. Blaire was heartbroken with the realization that the common factor in each of these relationships was her. Something about her just wasn't good enough. Then there's the anger. She never got over her husband cheating on her but that lovely situation thrust her into a new career and a brand new best friend. Blaire and Isla both know firsthand how it feels to be on the losing side of a marriage. What better way to let that anger out than to help other people catch their spouses in the dirty lies they tell and the other beds they are falling in? Dirty Exes was born and they were serving up revenge on a gold platter with a side of humiliation for dessert. Life is moving along and Blaire is ok, maybe not happy but somewhat satisfied with her life's direction at least she was until sh finds out her latest client just so happens to be Jessie Beckett. The one guy she still holds a flame for and the one fire he has yet to be able to extinguish. There's no easy way to go about this case. And then Colin enters the picture. Hot, cocky and charming Colin, who is also Jessie's best friend and seems to be completely taken with Blaire. He's willing to help her expose Jessie... for a price, and a steep one at that. Blaire is now caught in a weird past/present love triangle that leaves her head spinning and her heart pounding with the choices she has to make. Is the past where she wants to be or is her future brighter with her present?

Rachel has once again knocked us off our feet with a story that grabs us from the very beginning, shakes us up and then spits us out with a giant grin slapped on our faces. There's just enough humor for a few chuckles and amusement at the situations that Blaire gets herself stuck in. From the very beginning, you think you know which way the story will go but Rachel surprises us with a few twists that leaves us second-guessing ourselves. I adore the connection to the Matchmaker's stories because I absolutely loved those and this left me longing for the next story in the series. Another 5+ story Rachel. Please don't ever stop!!

Rachel Van Dyken has become a new one-click author for me after this superb, entertaining and hilarious read.

Dirty Exes is the name of the company which is a PI business exposing dirty, cheating couples and Boy was it brilliantly put together. It’s run by two besties Blair’s and Isla, that I would love to have as my friends because they are scrumptiously classy in the most clumsy way that leaves you laughing your head off at times.

Blaire has a history of attracting the wrong guys. Her ex-husband cheated on her and Jessie, the one guy that got away that she really loved and cannot stop thinking about re-enters her life and everything just goes pear-shaped after that. You see, Jessie, is now one of the cheating men she needs to expose but all the facts have not been given to her about Jessie’s past.

Jessie is delicious. An ex-athlete and a body to die for, plus he is super sweet and really down to earth. Throw in his best friend Colin who is a hotel owner, and just as scrumptious, and available without the dramas of any exes hanging around. They do say when it rains it pours, so here lucky Blaire has a decision to make but who will the lucky man be.

You just have to read it to find out but I absolutely devoured this book. It’s definitely for the strong woman who has had enough of the bull that comes there way with men who are just not good enough for them.

I never thought I would say it but I’m liking this series better than Wingmen, INC. I know right? These characters! Geez, I totally fell in love with them. They are absolutely hilarious. Yes, there is heat. It’s sexy but y’all it’s extremely funny. Blair is a trip. I don’t want to give anything away just trust me, you are going to love this.

Two scorned women who go into business as PI’s, righting wrongs and busting out those who cheat. It’s priceless. The author gave us a fantastic story with phenomenal writing. I’ll definitely re-read this one.

Quick and fun! Mindless entertainment and I mean that in a good way! Overall I enjoyed it. I didn’t get the obsession with Jesse, and I felt like Blaire was more like 25 year old vs a 35 yo. But other than that! Grinned like an idiot the entire time I read it. And thank goodness for Colin.

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. This has been my typical experience with RVD books so far, even though I haven’t read too many as yet.

Dirty Exes was just so much fun. It has got some heavy undertones, but for me this book was more fun than anything. I wanted that happy ending, and I wanted it with the one particular guy out of the two choices that Blaire has.

I loved all the characters, apart from the ones we aren’t supposed to like. Colin is just a ball of fun but a great guy underneath, Jessie is intense and needs to work back to being himself, Blaire is a woman on a mission but just needs to believe in herself again and have some fun, and Isla is an awesome best friend and quite fun as well when you get down to that layer. The four of them make for an entertaining novel that I sped through really quickly.

I really look forward to the next book in this series, can October please hurry up?

Unless you've managed to maintain your first relationship as your only relationship I am sure we all have that one person that feels like unfinished business. The one that got away possibly or the timing was wrong; for Blaire, that person was Jessie Beckett!!!! Although they were only together for a few short weeks, it is Jessie that she has held on a pedestal and compared all other men to - including her ex-husband.

Blaire has a lot of insecurities surrounding her personal life because of Jessie and her ex-husband; not realising how truly special she is, Blaire believes she is 'not enough' for someone to want to truly be with her   Setting up her own business to catch cheating partners, following the implosion of her own marriage, only serves to validate Blaire's negativity towards relationships.

So when Jessie re-enters Blaire's life, Blaire is completely thrown off-course because she has been hired by Jessie's wife to find evidence of infidelity!!!! Could Blaire's perception of Jessie have been completely incorrect all of this time  and if she was how will this new knowledge impact her beliefs and identity 

While trailing Jessie, Blaire crosses paths with Colin who justs happens to be Jessie's best friend. To say the sparks fly would be an understatement, only adding to Blaire's confusion and lack of faith in her own judgement.

I adored Blaire even though she was a little gullible at times, she certainly appears a lot younger than her actual age. Blaire has a huge heart that she has kept under lock and key since her divorce. She is unbelievably clumsy which leads to some hilarious situations, as well as being self-critical, Blaire is slow to reach the level of self-awareness she is obviously capable of. At times it would seem as if she deliberately ignores the obvious in order to feed her self-doubt.

Told from three different perspectives; Blaire, Jessie and Colin, provides insight into their actions and emotions but also allows clarity to their backgrounds, although it is Blaire that is the main focus of the plot. It is a very fluffed up situation the trio find themselves in, exaggerated by the ghosts of the past.

I've got to say I didn't really like Jessie, I couldn't quite get to grips with his need to be someone he isn't in order to fit in. Surely that is something you grow out of as you mature. Maybe there will be more insight into Jessie in the second book - Dangerous Exes.

Now Colin I pretty much worshipped from the very first sip of whiskey (apart from the creepy tattoo). Colin is probably the most mature and self-aware person out of the group - he is comfortable with who he is - man bun included - and he exudes charm and confidence. Although he has also been badly burned in the past and tends to attract gold-diggers; Colin is immediately aware of just how special Blaire is and is determined to prove his worth to her. Let the swooning commence 

There were a few parts of the plot that I felt weren't explained in depth and as such lowered their impact. On the other hand, there was a part of Colin's history that personally, I would have preferred were omitted as it acted as overkill rather than enhancing his backstory.

Apart from the minor niggles I have stated, Dirty Exes is actual a quick, fun read with lots of sweet and sexy times mixed in, colourful characters and a fantastic friendship.

Yes yes and yes! This was fantastic!

I read this book in one sitting while on the plane on my way to New York (BookCon, post on that coming soon).

It follows the story of Blaire, a PI focused on exposing the cheaters of the world. She is good at it too.
Her new assignment however is on an old friend and flame, the boy from her dreams that left her in order to pursuit his football career. To treat him like any other client proves difficult, she loved him once and is still attracted to him. Luckily for her his best friend is willing to help her out a little. He is funny and friendly and she is captivated by him from the start. As he is with her... One impossible job, two men she is attracted to, a cheater to be exposed...

I loved this book!
I laughed and got goosebumps often.
Blaire was a hilarious character. Some of the situations she found herself in while doing her job where priceless. From the first to the last page she did not fail to make me smile.

Jessie, her ex, has a complicated life. Married but not married. It was hard to understand the guy and why he put up with the things he did. He cares a lot about Blaire but he also needs to get his affairs in order and that does not happen until the very end.

Collin, Jessies' best friend was a hoot. Everytime he talked I laughed. And the chemistry between him and Blaire was off the charts.

I cannot recommed this enough sunnies! Go Read!

Revenge is best served hot and dirty. Dirty Exes is the start of something fabulous. Van Dyken takes her smokin' style to satire. Blaire knows how to heal a broken heart. Don't get mad. Get even. She makes her living exposing lies. What happens when the biggest lie is the one she's told herself? The keeper of secrets is about to be exposed and it could be the best thing that ever happened to her. The thrill of the chase is only half of the fun.

Rachel Van Dyken did it again! She made me loveee a love triangle when I despise them wholeheartedly. The only time I have ever and I mean EVER loved a love triangle was when I read Fraternize by her 😍 I avoid love triangles like the plague and had no idea Fraternize as well as this book contained a love triangle. Sometimes going in blind is very rewarding.

Now lets talk about Dirty Exes. Dirty Exes is a spin off to the Wingmen series and I adored it! Believe it or not, this was the first time I have ever preferred a spin off to the original. I enjoyed The Matchmaker's Playbook (3.5 stars) I really did but this book...... this book was simply amazing!!!

Yes, theres a love triangle! Trust me you non love triangle readers you will enjoy this one! I dont want to spoil anything for you but I will say this-- I was #TeamColin the whole way through. Colin just made this book for me! He's so damn charming and the banter between him and Blaire was hillarious and entertaining AF to read. I was smitten just like a teen girl experiencing her first crush.

I was in a huge reading slump before this book but Rachel delivered a story that had the capability to pull me right out of it when all other books had failed 👏👏👏 I cant believe I only discovered her this year 😫
Im already a huge fan and have read 11 books since reading Fraternize in January. Did I mention I was HUGE fan of this author?! Yes?! Well let me shout it one more time for the people in the back row, I AM A HUGEEEE FAN OF RACHEL VAN DYKEN!❤️

"Don't ever apologize for eye-fucking, it's rude."

That quote right there is my new favorite. I laughed my ass off when I read it. I want a bumper sticker, a coffee mug, and a t-shirt, it's that awesome! I enjoyed the hell out of Dirty Exes. The dynamic duo, Blaire & Isla, started their PI firm to catch cheaters and help the jilted. Their fearless attempts to get the goods are creative and very successful. It doesn't hurt that they use Facebook Live to blast their evidence and embarrass the culprits, making them very popular on social media.

Yes, as I'm sure you've already guessed, the owners are victims of dirty exes and feel it's their duty to help others that don't deserve the same treatment. They've had a 100% success rate so far and feel very proud of their record and their service. It's not until they've already accepted a new client and are stalking the accused that Blaire finds out that he's her first love, Jessie Beckett, the ex–NFL star. The one that got away, the one she's never gotten over. The one that she compares all others to and they come up short. Surely he's not guilty, right? But she has a duty to find out the truth, so let the stalking commence.

I can't express how much fun I had reading this story. There were some awesome support characters that I loved and some others that made me wish for a voodoo doll and some pins. The witty banter was especially entertaining and the sweet love story had me swooning and reluctant to reach the end of the book. I'm thrilled that this is part of the Liars, Inc series and hope that means I will get to spend some more time with these incredible characters in future books. The line forms here...

RVD has done it again, she has brought us another series to be hooked on with characters that intrigue us and entice us into their worlds.

I loved the idea of this book, these scorned women starting up their own PI company to expose cheating spouses. Blaire had been in stiches with her #spygirl antics.

This book has me laughing out loud with the situations Blaire ended up in and the banter between her and Colin was so amusing to watch.

Even though there was a bit of a love triangle I have to say I was #TeamColin from the beginning even though Jessie was really sweet. Saying that I would have loved to be stuck in the middle between these hot AF men.

I cannot not wait for the next book in this series as I can only imagine the hilarious antics that are going to occur

ARC received in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley

If you are looking for a fun, romance that involves a love triangle or maybe even a quad ... then this is the book for you. I absolutely loved everything about Blaire's character and how she was such a fighter. We are introduced to Blaire after she finds her husband and best friend in a compromising position .... hence her new found business partnership in forming Dirty Exes ....
Before Blaire met her husband, she had a short-lived fling with Jessie Beckett, one of the hottest NFL stars in the country. After a few weeks of their love affair, Jessie moves away leaving Blaire to think about what if .... Jump a few years forward and Jessie's wife comes to Blaire for evidence that Jessie is cheating on her ... Old feelings emerge, questions of doubt start popping out .... and well so much more.

I found myself in hysterics at times reading this book .... then I found myself cheering ... and for whom ... don't ask. At first I was totally team Jessie then I jumped ship and starting cheering for team Colin ... and well it was a vicious circle. In the end I think that Blaire ended up with who she belonged with and loved the way it all happened. Rachel Van Dyken is an amazingly talented writer who has this ability to bring her readers right into the story line, feeling like it is happening right in front of their very eyes.

I absolutely loved the characters, the story line, the romance, the humour .... it was such a great read. I will be definitely picking up more books by Rachel Van Dyken and since this is the first book in the Liars Inc series, I can't wait to read the next one .... I am hoping it is about Isla and her love story as she definitely deserves a second chance of love! Make sure you read and add Dirty Exes to your To-Be-Read Shelf! Must read!

Premise - Blaire is a co-owner if Dirty Exes, a P.I. firm that exposes cheating spouses. She runs into the man that got away, Jessie, and discovers that Jessie is the cheating spouse of her newest client.


I think I would have DNF this book early on if it hadn’t been an arc, so guilt and obligation kept me reading. While the book did not go the direction I thought it would take, I can’t say I would recommend it.

Blaire goes into the PI business after her husband cheats on her with her best friend. She’s very insistent that she is over this and she has moved on. It feels like lies though.

“This job was everything I needed to focus on so I didn’t lose my mind and mentally consider all the reasons why I was in that small office stalking cheaters and trying to find as much dirt on them as possible. It was my vengeance. My goal. It was also lonely.”

I think she was supposed to come off empowered but she just felt bitter. Also I didn’t like the fact that she had a history with the guy she was trying to catch cheating. Seems like a moral dilemma.

“Jessie, our client’s husband? You have a history with our guy? I mean, what the hell, Blaire! We can’t take her on as a client.”
“Hell yes, we can.” I gritted my teeth.
Uber driver looked ready to drop me off at the nearest psych hospital.
“Isla, it’s a lot of money and it’s our job to expose cheaters for what they are! So yes, I have a history with Jessie. But this is business, not personal.”

Thank you Ilsa, voice of reason.

Colin, Jessie’s best friend, was great and called out Blaire on the fact she wasn’t over being cheated on.

I can’t say I would recommend it. It had a few funny moments but I was too aggravated at Blaire to appreciate them

This is the first book I have read by this author and I loved it. This story has an interesting premise and great characters. Blaire is a cool chick. Her job is to catch cheating spouses. She is bitter and insecure, though, 'cause guys have either cheated on her or left her without a reason why. On her last job she sees Jessie, her brother's friend and an old hookup. The guy that left her for a football career without a backward glance. Turns out this meeting has a purpose. Jessie is married now and his wife has hired Blaire to catch him cheating. During her stakeout on Jessie, she finds unexpected help in Colin, Jessie's friend and all together hot, bun wearing guy. Two guys vying for Blaire's attention. Lucky girl. The "will they, won't they" scenario between Jessie and Blaire kept me entertained. I definitely will check out the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.