I enjoyed this modern romance, which is full of conflict and spice and explores some serious issues with emotion and sensitivity. Jess is a driven young journalist needing a big story and a unique angle to boost her career. Xander is a successful artist with a playboy reputation who needs his next exhibition to satisfy his critics. It's a contemporary romance with opposites attract and forbidden romance tropes. Despite their differences, Jess and Xander have a definite connection, and as they begin to connect emotionally in romantic Lake Garda, their similarities draw them together. I like the emotional journey the couple experiences, the passionate romance, and the dramatic, romantic conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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

Here Comes Trouble was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked getting to know Jess and Xander and following their time at the villa. Their chemistry was evident from the start, though I expected Jess to be more hesitant given Xander’s bad-boy reputation and her past relationship struggles. Their connection developed a bit faster than I anticipated.

I also wished they had ventured outside the villa more to explore the setting, but that may just be personal preference. Additionally, the editor’s demand for insider knowledge to publish Jess’s article felt a bit extreme, and her surprise at Xander’s artwork seemed somewhat out of place.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but certain aspects didn’t fully come together for me.

The bad boy meets the shy, usually overlooked girl. He's deeper than he looks, she's spicier than she seems. Together they bring out new parts of each other and their love story ensues.

My only issue with this book is how quickly the end came together.

I would have liked it to be a little more fleshed out. I definitely recommend anyway!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

The characters in this book were not relatable to me. I did not sense any chemistry after 20% and did not even particularly like the characters. I DNF'd at that point.

This was my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it. I loved where the majority of the book was set in Italy and I feel like books that have a good setting read so much better. I loved the character development throughout the book as sometimes this can be rushed but not with this one. I would of liked the book to last a little longer as I did find the ending a little rushed but overall I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Overall, a really nice and quick page turner if you are in a reading slump or in need of a palate cleanser.

The book tried to do too much in too short of a time. Everything felt rushed so I didn’t comment with the characters.

It's a cute novella, but I feel like it was lacking a little in every aspect because of the books short length.
With just under 200 pages, there wasn't enough room for character development, a build-up to their relationship, or any opportunity for the reader to fully connect to the characters and their story. Everything was just a little too fast-paced.
I didn't hate this book at all, I still liked it. I saw the potential, but I do think that with another 100 pages or so, this could have been a more enjoyable and convincing read.
There was chemistry present between the characters, but it only felt like lust rather than love between these two - which is a shame.
Overall, it's an ideal read if you're looking for something short and spicy, but it definitely would have been better as a full-length novel.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This quirky standalone romance follows Jess and Xander, unique story - highly strung journalist meets bad boy artist.

Sparks are bound to fly!

What a really intriguing personality mix with these two. I loved how Jess was relatable to me and how she was battling to make her mark in the industry she loves so much.

Xander was your aloof, yet a loveable, bad boy who wants to plan a magnificent comeback, so he asks Jess to follow him... naturally, she does.

Christy has a great way of telling her story, and it was good to see how both the characters developed individually over the course of the book but also the romance and their relationship as a whole!

This is a fun romance and one for romance lovers or for anyone fancying something a little different.

I like Christy McKellen but this book fell a bit flat for me. It feels like the relationship between Xander and Jess was rushed. There wasn't really an buildup or tension. It seemed a bit over the top.

The book tells the story of a straitlaced journalist on the verge of losing her job, who seizes the opportunity to keep it by interviewing a notorious bad-boy artist. He agrees, on the condition that she poses for one of his paintings and go with him on a trip to Italy for a few days.

I should have paid attention to the number of pages before requesting it, because I’m really not into books with less than 200 pages. My main problem with the book was that it’s short, and we don’t really get to know the characters. They are kinda flat and don’t develop throughout the story. I liked the premise, but I wasn’t convinced by their romance and relationship. To me, it felt like just a brief affair that would end within a few weeks.

Maybe those who enjoy short novellas will find it fun, but I prefer longer books that develop the characters more deeply. It wasn't bad, just kind of boring for my taste!

Did I read this book in one day?! Hell yeah I did, it’s a short book of 185 pages but the chemistry, the spice and story behind this novel is amazing. @christymckellen doesn’t disappoint when it comes to spicy romance.

@boldwoodeverafter thank you for this amazing opportunity for the ARC!

Another fabulous story, brilliantly written and the best in escapist romance. I read it in one sitting and loved every moment. Jess and Xander have enough issues to make their route to each other a dramatic one that keeps the pages turning. The setting in Italy is divine and you feel transported right to its heart. Perfect for fans of Maxine Morley, Phoebe McLeod and Sophia Money-Coutts

Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me the arc! All thoughts are my own!

I enjoyed this! There were scenes that made me giggle and smile. Xander was very funny, and Jess, while being very uptight, was super sweet and caring.

I really enjoyed the story and the writing was good. I do wish there had been more passion, more build-up of tension between Xander and Jess. Their relationship felt very rushed. However, I did find there to be a lot of descriptions and it was written well in 3rd person. It was a novella and had a pretty great plot even though it was a shorter book!

Here Comes Trouble is a fun, flirty, and feel-good romance that delivers exactly what you'd want from a lighthearted read. Christy McKellen brings charm and chemistry to the forefront with engaging characters, witty banter, and just the right dose of emotional depth. The story sparkles with humor and heart, making it an easy page-turner perfect for a cozy afternoon. If you're in the mood for a swoon-worthy escape with a touch of sass, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

A slow-burn romance that perfectly balances spice, sass, and heartfelt emotion. Jess is determined to maintain her perfect good-girl image, while Xander fully embraces his bad-boy era. As they slowly unpack their past trauma, their sharp banter adds warmth and lightness, turning even the toughest conversations into moments of connection. With every sarcastic remark and stolen glance, their walls start to crumble, making it impossible to ignore the pull between them.

I really enjoy this author’s storytelling and writing style. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between the hero and heroine, beyond a superficial physical attraction. The audiobook narration is well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

“Here Comes Trouble” is a fun light-hearted story between Jess, journalist who is seeking a story to make her mark in the world and Xander, an artist who has an attitude problem. Together, Jess will learn with Xander how to let go and be more spontaneous, while Xander learns how to be more sensitive and navigate his feelings.

This was cute, fun and really enjoyable. Jess is the type of woman we read in books about being “not fun” and the ex complained she was too boring. But seriously, we all know the ex was actually the problem. She focuses on her career because she wants to thrive, but everything is against her. Except Xander sees something in her and he invites her to visit him in Italy for the interview. Their banter is really fun to watch and Xander is a major a**hole sometimes. The guy is infuriating, but that’s what makes them cute. Jess is very uncomfortable with her body image, and Xander tries to help her. He sees a wonderful woman with an impressive body, but she does not. He tries to convince her that her body is amazing and she also explores his demons and his insecurities from his past. Even though he’s a beloved artist, he still has things from his past that haunt him, especially his relationship with his dad.

Together they can learn a lot about each other’s faults and try to build a steady relationship.

“Here Comes Trouble” is a nice novella that deals with a lot of emotions, especially with traumas, in a light-hearted way. It has a little of spice, it’s fast-paced and it hits just right in all the spots.

Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

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.

But it’s not long before Jess realizes that Xander spells trouble with a capital T and is living up to his tempting reputation! Trying to keep her distance, Jess decides that maybe she could break her golden rule, just this once to get Xander out of her system and her job back on track. But one night is never enough! And she learns that actually breaking her rules once in a while can lead to more fun than sticking to them!

My Opinion

Previously published as Lessons in Rule Breaking.

Jess seizes an opportunity to further her career in this entertaining read. At less than 200 pages this was a quick read. Both Jess and Xander are likable characters. Christy McKellen has once again written a charming novella.

Rating 4/5

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.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The characters were stereotypes of an artist and a journalist. From looking at the other reviews I’m glad I didn’t keep reading.