This book will get your libido started that is for sure. Unfortunately, the author uses the word fuck to many times, which for me, is a little off putting. I was not able to finish the book. Thanks for the opportunity and good luck!

This book was fine. It wasn't very memorable though, I finished it a week ago and can't recall a lot of details.

The first half was a bit slow and I couldn't get into the story. After that I was really rooting for Zac and Reagan. They were so cute and I loved their history together.. It was very clearly that they had known eachother for a very long time. You could see that in every interaction that they had.

Reagan was such a sweetheart. I really loved her character! She wasn't scared of a little challenge. Zac was great as well but a bit harder to get to know.

It was steamy but not very memorable. I still want to read the next book in the series though. I think the author has a lot of potential.

dirty tactics tackles the best friend's younger sister trope in steamy style, and reagan and zac have all kinds of chemistry. i have no objection to that, at all. i think there's all sorts of interesting conflicts to be had when you have all sorts of history and some real stakes in that friendships are not something people want to give up on or endanger. friend breakups are worse than romance breakups, after all.

this story was more character-driven than plot-driven, and it makes sense, but here's the thing. i am just not a flashback fan. and there were enough of them here that just pulled me out of the action. i don't see the point of "showing" me a whole scene that isn't actually pushing the plot forward. i don't know. this is a very personal pet peeve, and comes into play with books like this, where the characters have a lot of history.

**dirty tactics will publish on july 20, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

These titles are fun and easy reads. During the pandemic it's nice to be able to live in a romantic fantasy.

Dirty Tactics is one of the sexiest books I've read in a very long time. Like cold shower needed levels of steam and I am here for it. I was really surprised how quickly I fell in love with Reagan and Zac and their friends and family members. They felt like real people and I'd like to be real life best friends with Letty. I am immensely excited for her book and I hope it comes quickly. Despite the shorter length and focus on the intimacy between the two of them, I was shocked to find myself crying during the scenes with Reagan and her father and Zac and his mother. Their backstories were so full of pain that shaped their relationship so much and Salah did an exceptional job making that feel immediately real. I loved this one and I cannot wait to read the next in the series!

Friends to Lovers is my favourite trope and I was excited to read this.
Overall I enjoyed it but got a little frustrated with the constant "Yes!" to "We can't do this again!". I really wanted them to work something out and spend more time enjoying their time together instead of playing games and bets because I really loved them together.
I loved the other relationships in the book were fantastic. From her brothers, her dad and her friendship with Letty. Looking forward to Letty and Aidan's book and really want to know more about Callum!

4.5 stars - This read was a real treat. As one half of an interracial couple I appreciated an African American heroine who deals with the same issues as me. Also, I adore friends to lovers romances, so Dirty Tactics hit all the right notes for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A new author with a story of two childhood friends that shared a kiss when they were younger and have played it off liked it had meant nothing. Now years later as Regan Thomas who has been fighting her way through her family of male figures from her military father to her alpha brothers who are all pro athletes. She is dealing with her feelings for Zac Quinn who grew up with her family and plays pro hockey with her brother. Zac and she shared a kiss and other things, like video games and just an easy way to talk to each other. Now when the family gets together, they are starting to share more. She wants more from Zac but he wants to only have fun.
She comes up with an idea of dating for two weeks which he agrees with but after the first two dates she can tell something is up. She is also dealing with an issue at work as she is looking at becoming a sports agent she feels that the client she brought in is being taken away from her by a senior agent. Now needing to step up her game with not only work but with Zac as well, she also needs to show her family that she can take care of herself and it is up to her who she wants to be with.
Once she puts everything into action watch out, I really liked how her character grew in strength throughout the book. Also, for once you had a father tell his sons that it was better for her to like a friend that grew up around the family than some stranger, which is something as a father I always felt as well. I found this to be a really good story and she even got her issue with work solved in a way that was positive and strong. A very good book.

There was no build up- the characters were having sex within a few pages. The connection was weak at best

4⭐️.

Tropes: childhood friends to lovers; brothers’s best friend

🤩 Q: do you like the brother’s best friend trope?

I’m the oldest of my siblings & I always wanted an older brother. The idea of a big brother’s best friend wasn’t even on my radar then but now—I’m very happily married but I really like the trope 🤣.

Emma Salah’s Dirty Tactics puts a spin on it. The hero & heroine have known each other since adolescence & have secretly had feelings for each other since then. Before the book begins they’ve kissed a couple of times—once recently—& our heroine Reagan wants more but the hero Zac says no.

She’s going to make him want her. He wants to make her lose interest. Which one will win?

It took me some time to warm to Zac. Sometimes he comes across as have my cake & eat it too. But at least Reagan is aware of what a dick he occasionally is.

And let’s talk about Reagan for a sec. A sports agent who has to fight for her career, she pursues what she wants when it comes to Zac, too.

The family dynamics in this read are thoughtfully complicated & Zac’s inner conflict feels realistic. Zac wasn’t always my fave but he has a lot of work to do & by the end he understands & embraces that.

Dirty Tactics is steamy! & the heroine is a go-getter & that’s a thrilling combo in my book. Just check out the content warning before you dive in.



CW:



Past abuse of hero & his mom. The hero deals with fallout with both parents on the page.

Dirty Tactics is available now. Thanks to Carina Press & Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

This is a very steamy read with lots of feels. Because it touches on some sensitive topics such as spousal abuse and grief over the death of a loved one, have some tissues handy. While I liked Reagan’s tenacity, I felt she let Zac get away with too much. Yes, Zac was dealing with some childhood trauma, but I didn’t feel it warranted his hot and cold approach. Loved the family dynamics of Reagan’s family and her BFF, Letty. I teared up during the talk with Reagan and her dad as well as the scene where Zac confronts his mother. The book cover is hot!

I was actuallu quote ompreased with this debut book from this new author! It was so easy to connect with the charachters and become fully invested in them. I loveed Zac and Reagan and their long term secret romance. They each had their baggage and things they need to work through but I loved them together and was absolutely rooting for them! He was sexy and sweet and funny! I enjoyed this book and found myslef thinking ahead to the next books. I love the start of new series and I thought this was an excellent start!

I fell first and foremost for this cover. It's delightful, fun, and makes me want—no, scratch that, need—to know more about these characters. I was also drawn to the BIPOC heroine with an AOC, as I’m making a concerted effort to read, review, and promote more diverse books. There are countless talented and skilled BIPOC authors out there, and their voices have been silenced or overlooked for far too long. I refuse to sit on my white person privilege and do nothing any longer.

Okay, off that soap box and onto this delectable story. I was surprised to realize this was a debut, as the writing was tight and the dialogue witty. It flowed nicely and kept me engaged with minimal effort. I also adored the characters. Salah does a wonderful job of portraying a strong female lead without falling victim to any of the stereotypes, while also giving us a smexy male lead who is equal parts sweet and charming. On top of having strong leading characters, they also play off one another very well. There is palpable chemistry and I was rooting for them from the get-go.

This is a very character-driven work, which is my personal preference. I love conflict of any sort, but when I read my romance, I fall extra hard for the challenges characters face within themselves and as a couple as opposed to most of them coming from the external environment.

At the end of the day, there was really only one thing that stuck out as a “not for me” downfall. I’m just not a fan of having the main storyline interrupted by seemingly unnecessary flashbacks. Everything in the “past” depicted by the flashbacks could’ve easily been handled in the present without constantly taking the reader out of the moment. Again, this is just a personal pet peeve.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.

Reagan Thomas has been in love with Zac Quinn since she was fifteen, now she has two weeks to show him that she will always be the one who is there for him.

Zac Quinn doesn’t believe love is forever. Growing up in an abusive household, the only real example he’s had of family was what the Thomas family showed him. As the best friend of one of Reagan’s older brothers and indebt to her father for his kindness, Zac isn’t willing to put what he has with the Thomas family on the line for a romantic relationship with Reagan that won’t last. But after sharing stolen kisses with Reagan is it possible for them to go back to being just friends? When Reagan challenges Zac to date her for two weeks, he is determined to get things back on track towards friendship, but what he doesn’t count on is Reagan’s willingness to play dirty.

VERDICT is that this was a satisfying romance read. I think any avid reader of the contemporary romance genre will enjoy this friends-to-lovers style story. Reagan and Zac have good chemistry and the story moves along at a quick pace – it was exactly what I wanted in a weekend romance read! I am hopeful Emma Salah will continue writing books that feature the other Thomas brothers - I would love to read the Letty and Aidan story next!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance – friends-to-lovers

Reagan is a strong woman. She is good at her job and knows how to do it, loyal to her family and friends, and wants to find the all-consuming type of love. She has known Zac forever. He has always just been part of her family – a brother to her brothers and a crush for her. When she sees him at a party, she knows that he wants her just as much.

Zac knows that he should stay away from Reagan. Pursuing her could change his family dynamic. He loves her and her family, but also, he is attracted to Reagan. She has always been someone he could talk with, joke with, and hang out with. They banter easily and are fiercely protective of each other.

When the attraction between these two becomes too much, they combust. This was such an amazing story. It made me laugh and cry all within the same chapters. It's an emotional rollercoaster and leaves you with a feeling that they truly accomplish something. I cannot wait for the next one.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Reagan has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Zac, who is pretty much a member of her family, since she was 15. Now in their twenties, Reagan and Zac have always been good friends but lately they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Closets and cars seem to be a danger to them, and it is totally hot. I never knew going for it in a cleaning closet could be sexy. But Reagan wants Zac to fall in love with her, so she gets him to agree to date her for two weeks.

The two of them are trying to date, but he wants to get her out of his system and show her they are not a good pair, while her goal is love. The two of them dating was fun and there were times that I laughed out loud. I have to say the Thomas family game night was a highlight for me and a great idea. But even while I was having fun, I always had this uneasy feeling like it was headed for disaster. I was right and when things went off the rails, I was a crying mess.

I have to say this is a hard-earned romance for this couple and well worth it in the end. I love it when a story can make me laugh and cry and Dirty Tactics did both. This story left me so happy and very much looking forward to the next book in the series.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Friends-to-lovers romance that really works. The main twist is that Zac is Reagan's brother’s best friend. Zac practically grew up in Reagan's house until college.

Zac doesn't want his infatuation to ruin his relationship with the rest of her family, yet he can't seem to get Reagan out of his system. Reagan believes that she and Zac can have it all. She just has to convince him.

So I really appreciated the steam factor in this book but just couldn’t get into the story. The writing was a bit choppy and the dialogue felt awkward and unnatural at times. DNF at 40%.

So this was not my vibe. I enjoy slow burn romances and hooking up by the 13% mark didn't provide enough build up to their chemistry and longing that they've had for approximately 12 years.

Also the deal/agreement they had going on came across as nonsensical. It did not age well throughout the story and was lacklustre. I didn't get the big whoop of the deal in the first place. ⠀
⠀
So all in all it fell a bit flat for me and I just couldn't believe the longing they've had for each other for years because the reader was not a part of that longing. ⠀

Emma Salah knows how to write some hot romance.
I did NOT put the book down till I was through! Let's just say I can't wait to read all the books in this series.

Amazing work here!

I loved the Thomas family and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Reagan and Zac were great together and their friendship was just as compelling as their romance. Reagan was complex but relatable and Zac was a wonderful combination of swagger and vulnerability. There were a few things that were a little discordant, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment.

I really wanted to like this book, but I ran into a bunch of rocks along the way.
Firstly, the fact that this is promoted as a hockey romance, but there is not much mention about it. Secondly, the narrative was a bit confusing, I have nothing to say about the writing style, I really enjoyed it and it was easy to read, but books with lots of flashbacks are a bit distracting. and thirdly, the relationship. To be honest I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters and I didn't see much development in them either.

I think one of the things that I liked was the way the author built family ties. This book in particular was not to my liking and I know that debuts novels can be difficult, but I would read some of her next works again.