3.5 stars rounded up

Emma is the second sorority sister to take part in the auction for her v-card, to help the rescue shelter and her sorority sis' brother with his medical bills. She's quite naive, though, and doesn't realize it's an actual auction for her v-card, and isn't thrilled when she finds out from her best friend, Evan, exactly what she's agreed to.

Evan and Emma have been best friends their whole lives. He knows she thinks he's a big playboy, and he is, but only to a certain point. He's been in love with Emma as long as he's known her, and when he finds out about this ridiculous auction, he's determined to rescue her from it. No one is going to take his girl's v-card, not if he can help it. And boy does he help it...

The Boy Next Door, like its predecessor, is exactly what Carina advertises it as - the dirty bits. It's short, hot, and entertaining in a cute, NA kind of way. I preferred the first one, Bidding for Keeps, but I like this one, too. This series is pretty fun so far, can't wait to read the rest of the stories.

For years they been friends then the feelings changed from friendship to more but they didnt expore those feelings until the auction threatens to take Emma and her gift and leave Even to let some other man get what he always known should been his, he might look like a player but he hasnt brought a girl to his bed and when he does its will alway be Emma forever.

This is a friends to lovers romance that packs a heated bunch. The author accomplishes a pretty great read in just 14 short chapters. The main characters have been best friends since age six. They're now in their 20s and may finally be ready to confess their true feelings. If you’re looking are a steamy quick read this one is pretty perfect.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review

The Boy Next Door is my first Stevie J. Cole book and it probably won't be my last. The book started out with a bang and was fast paced from there on out, I especially loved the sweet ending. It was a hot and quick friends to lovers story with a little angst and miscommunication to make it interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it! 3.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

Oh, my god. The Boy Next Door was my favorite novella from the series. I could devour this one all day and twice on Sunday. The Boy Next Door is a friends-to-lovers romance between Evan and Emma. The only way I could have loved this more would be if it was a full length book. I loved watching them butt heads. The chemistry and sexual tension between them was sizzling hot. Such a sexy novella!

3.5**** another in the sorority secrets series, I once again breezed over the virginity auction idea and really enjoyed this sexy short story. With both the main characters growing up together next door to each other, it takes the VA to make them come clean with each other about their true feelings. I'll be looking for more to read by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Carina Press for a copy in return for an honest review.

Yes, Yes, YES!!!!
Childhood best friend.
Sexy bad boy vibe.
Known man whore.
And the sweet God girl virgin.

The only thing better than these combined. The Truth!!!

The epitome of dreams come true, The Boy Next Door, is everything you wish for. It all comes true. Stevie J. Cole has left us with a satisfied smile on our faces and begging for a cigarette (even as a non-smoker)!

This was a quick, fun, steamy read. I have really enjoyed this series. I would definitely love to read more from these characters and from this author.

This is a Dirty Bits book from Carina and it's a cute, fun read. If you are a friends to lovers fan, then you will fall in love with Evan and Emma, I did!
Emma and Evan grew up next door neighbors and best friends. Both toted that line and never crossed it although both secretly pined for the other. Neither wanted to lose their friendship if a new relationship tanked.
Emma is signed up for a charity auction by her sorority. She's dumbfounded when she finds out it actually auctioning off her virginity! There is only one person she has saved it for-Evan, but what is she to do? She agreed to help out!
Evan finds out about the auction and goes ballistic. He takes measures to ensure Emma doesn't fall into the wrong hands! Only things do not go as planned!
This a quick read with just the right amount of heat! I really liked Emma and Evan together. They seemed like a very good fit. Why then only 4 stars you ask? There were a couple of loose ends that were never addressed. I wanted to know how they were resolved. So other than that, this is a fun book to read!

reviewed by Deb

Emma and her best friend have known each other for a long while and one of each other but not wanting to ruin they're good relationship. As a way to raise money for a good cause her sorority sisters are auctioning off their virginity.

This was an interesting little steamy contemporary novella and I thought was pretty good. There wasn't much to the book but what they was I thought was pretty good. Good for a quick read but not something I'd read outside because it's pretty steamy. Because it's so short it's hard to speak about it from what you got it is pretty good.

Emma has fantasized about Evan Drake but he is also her lifelong best friend. It was Evan’s fault she never got past third base with her H S boyfriend Matt or any other guy. She’s in college and still fantasizing about Evan at her sorority house. Emma had grown up with Evan as her next store neighbor. Emma had fantasized that Evan would be the one to take her virginity since eighth grade. Evan grew up to be a major player. Losing Evan was not a risk Emma wa swilling to take just to sleep with him. Emma was auctioning herself off in a charity auction for the animal shelter her Betta Kappa Nu sisters abd and she volunteers at caught on fire. Not only did the shelter need money to rebuild but one of her sorority sisters brother Sean had been severely burned and his medical bills were outrageous . Jesse came up with an online dating auction and emma let Jesse talk her into it. Betta Kappa Nu is know on campus as the good girls sorority. - they don’t really party, they have good grades, and volunteer at the local animal shelter and they are virgins. Emma has to stay focused on Jesse’s family needs help to cover the cost of Sean’s medical bills. But Emma hadn’t really paid attention to Jesse and she didn’t realize they were auctioning off their virginity. Then Evan told her he was outside. If he found out about the auction he’d be furious as he still did the big brother thing when it came to her as they had been friends for ten years. . Evan and Emma go to the Brew House where they work. Evan never needed playboy magazine while living across from Emma as he fantasized about her. Evan has been in love with Emma since he met her at the playground when they were six. That was the problem Evan loved his best friend and couldn’t risk freaking her out. Wiston is a rich boy and wants Emma and he tells Evan about the virginity auction and Emma will be his. What Emma doesn’t know is Evan is still a virgin he has done everything but have sex but he still has a bad boys reputation and that he is a player. Evan and Emma go to a party and both get drunk. Evan’s apartment is on the floor below. They go to his apartment and have sex. It was easy and something they both wanted. The next day Emma wakes up and is very worried but Evan tells her he has loved her since he met her at the playground when he was six. He also told her he had been a virgin also. She finds that hard to believe till she looks into his eyes and knows evan isn't lying.
I loved this book. It was a novella but it was an easy, nice, romantic read. I loved Evan and Emma together and how they interacted. I loved the plot and the pace. I read this in one setting. Even though a novella it isn’t lacking in anything. I loved how it turned out both Evan and emma were virgins and wee in love with each other. I thought it was really sweet how Evan made sure Emma didn’t get to far with Matt. i happily found nothing to criticize in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

The Boy Next Door is a super quick and steamy little read. Loved the bffs to lovers storyline. I’ve loved all of the Dirty Bits I’ve read so far!

Emma and Evan have been friends for years but when Evan learns she is going to auction her virginity he plans to make sure he wins. The story is fast-paced with plenty of drama and steam. The story is fun and entertaining just wish it was longer. I liked it.

This one was not a HUGE 'Wow' To me.
I usually devour friends to lovers books but... There am I despising Evan so much! He was doing almost everything with his body but in his eyes... Em should stay A nun thru Her Life...
This is one of my biggest turn-offs.
Nonetheless, the story was engaging and the style was captivating. Yet it had not won my heart due to Evan's character who was a just huge red flag.

Naw, this was a little sucky. the main dude was a douche, and I didn't like it. I really loved the first one. I love that these book are so short you can read them right before bed ;) * Wink*

I lover best friends to lovers story's and I was really excited about this. but sadly this one wasn't for me.

So this is part of a Sorority Secret Series it's about Evan and Emma and how these two neighbors/best friends give into temptation. It's a dirty quickie that will leave you feeling dirty and needing a shower.

This is the first story I've read by Stevie J. Cole and it was a really cute one. I read the first book in the Sorority Secrets series, so I knew a little bit about what to expect. Stevie's take on the virginity auction and her characters made this story hard to put down.

I'm a sucker for stories about friends that later end up as lovers, especially when both characters have been in denial for as long as Emma and Evan have been. And honestly, I don't know how the two of them put it off for so long. Their chemistry was undeniable and honestly, they were destined to be together.

Stevie is a great story teller and I love the bit of steam that she added to the mix. The writing was solid and kept my interest from start to finish. The whole idea behind this Sorority Secrets series is appealing and I love reading each author's take on the auction and cause. Short and sweet and certainly one I'd recommend.

*copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Boy Next Door tells the story of two best friends who have always loved one another secretly. Their secret feelings are suddenly blown out of water when Evan catches on that Emma has decided to auction off her virginity to one lucky bidder in hopes of helping her sorority sister's brother who was badly burned in a fire.

Throughout the novel we get both sides of the story. Emma views Evan as a playboy manwhore who sticks his wick into far too many candles and Evan views Emma as the good girl who he measures all conquests up too. When Evan learns that Emma has decided to auction off her virginity, he'll do whatever it takes to talk her out of it, even if it means exposing his own secrets...or outbidding the highest bidder.

To be honest, I felt like this novel should have been a full length novel instead of a sexy short. I wanted more of a connection between Evan and Emma and for that connection to evolve it must first have the ability to grow. There was so much potential for these two to mend and break hearts. Don't get me wrong, I loved the premise of this novel and I loved the sexual tension that exploded in an array of fireworks. I just wanted more from the friendship vibe. Something felt like it was missing.

Best friends, co-workers and party buddies. But when feelings become more than what is shown on the surface, how do you approach the other to increase the intimacy? All of the emotions with this short and dirty story about Emma and Evan. Will she express her desire to become more than just friends? Will he open up and grab what is so obvious to outsiders?

Not too bad for a super quick friends to lovers story. Like the rest of them, it dives right in and gets the job done. It’s cute and enjoyable.