Walk on the Wilder Side
by Serena Bell
(Wilder Adventures, #2)
Publication date: September 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
His best friend’s sister is rocking his boat. In the best way possible.
Brody: What’s a bad boy doing hosting a book club? Excellent question. All I can tell you is, it’s not going well. I forgot the bug wipes, the extra TP, and the hand sanitizer, we’re out of wine, and… well, I may have made some people angry, if the reviews are any indication. The only way to dig myself out of this hole is to redeem myself by offering the best girls’ nights out in town.
Enter my best friend’s sister. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid Rachel, since despite her good-girl rep, I can’t seem to get her out of my head. Now she’s in my boat… and if I don’t watch myself, soon she’ll be in my bed. Things are going surprisingly well between us… but I know myself, and I’m not this guy. I’m the guy you want for fantasy fulfillment, not the guy you want for forever.
But what if I need this time to be different?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58119904-walk-on-the-wilder-side
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Excerpt:
Ohhh, Brody Wilder, you are a work of art. A scowl-y, troubled, troubling work of art.
He’s wearing bad-ass motorcycle boots, a form-fitting black t-shirt that shows off spectacular pecs and ripped abs, leather cuff bracelets on both wrists—one braided, one looped with chain—and a pair of ripped jeans.
As he gets closer, I try not to track each and every rip, but it’s tough, and my eyes find the one at the top of his thigh, where the golden hair on his thick quads peeks through. My fingers itch to touch it. It’s tough to look away.
I discover Amanda is watching me drool over Brody, amused. She raises her eyebrows at me, and I mouth, Sorry.
“No worries,” she says. “I’m really fucking used to it.”
It’s possible I look alarmed, because she hastily adds, “I mean, not just him. All of them.
“Hey.”
Brody utters the monosyllable in a honey-rich voice that I feel somewhere right below my belly button. Or, say, six inches lower.
I’m somewhat shocked to discover that he seems to be addressing me, or at least my general vicinity.
Brody Wilder doesn’t talk much, and he never talks to me.
I got used to it during my long teen years when I pined for him and he seemed not to know I existed, except for the occasional, “Oh, hey, Rach,” when he was at our house and I was impossible to ignore. Like, standing right in front of him.
“Oh, hey, Rach,” Brody says, when he reaches Amanda’s side, which I guess means he wasn’t addressing me with the first “hey.” Big surprise there.
“How are things?” I ask him, because making conversation is the polite thing to do in situations like this.
He shrugs.
Right.
I don’t know if he hates me? Or just finds me so boring as to not be worth his time? Or…?
“Well,” says Brody. “Guess I’ll head into the backyard.”
“I’m surprised you showed up,” Amanda says. “Given that rumor has it Gabe’s gunning for you.”
Brody scowls. “He already laid into me. Figure I’m safe enough here with everyone around.”
In response to my raised eyebrow, Amanda says, “The guys are trying to revamp their business to change with the times, and it’s a better fit for some than others.”
I’d heard a little bit about this plan from my mom and Connor. Just about the time the Rush Creek rodeo failed, a hot spring popped to the surface—apparently, hot springs naturally come and go on their own. The arrival of this one ushered in a whole lot of wedding-and-spa businesses. And the Wilders are trying to win over those tourists, because outdoor adventuring has taken a big hit recently.
Brody’s permanent scowl deepens. “Book-club-on-a-boat,” he says, darkly, to me. It’s the most words he’s said to me in a decade.
“Sounds fun?” I hazard, and the scowl settles into permanence. Yeah. He doesn’t like me. I catalog the black-and-gray ink on his arms instead of sulking about his attitude. His tattoos are gorgeous, complex patterns—rain on a window, a school of interlocking fish, waves.
It must have taken someone hours to ink them—and it must have been a long, painful experience for Brody.
I bet he didn’t even flinch.
Why is that so unbelievably hot to imagine? Brody, grim-faced and stoic under the needle.
Why, Rachel? Why are you having underpants feelings for a man who doesn’t speak complete sentences to you?
Review:
A while back I heard a vicious rumor that *some people* might love Brody of Walk on the Wilder Side even more as a hero than they loved his older brother Gabe from Make Me Wilder . Surely, I thought, that cannot be. Better than Gabe? Sacrilege! Who could possibly be a better hero than Gabe Wilder?
Apparently, Brody Wilder, that’s who. I have become a convert.
I mean…
Let’s put aside the tattoos and the motorcycle and the bad boy scowl and focus instead on his fly tying (creating a type of fishing lure, for everyone who didn’t grow up with a dad like mine). His quick recovery when he realizes the girly sales party on his boat is actually selling “relationship enhancement products” (yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. Unless my grandma is reading this, in which case I have no idea what Rachel was selling). His diaper ninja abilities and how he knows his way around a Baby Bijorn. The way he is really trying his best for the family business, even as he’s convinced that no one–especially Brody, it turns out–believes his best can possibly be good enough.
And–OMFG–the way he notices–and loves!–all of the different “Rachel smiles”? So. Much. Swoon. I mean, I can’t even.
Rachel and Brody’s story is a brother’s-best-friend, starting over, good girl/bad boy, unrequited love (times two, it turns out–the absolute best kind!) story. It is sweet, and funny, and sexy as all heck, and if you don’t tear up just a little at least once or twice while reading it then I just don’t know if we can be friends. (Gah, that last bit right before the epilogue? I just about lost it. I can’t even say I’m staying unaffected right now while only writing about it. Darn you, Serena Bell!)
Walk on the Wilder Side is the second book in the Wilder Adventures series, and though it absolutely can be read as a standalone, I cannot stress enough how wonderful all of the Wilder siblings are. Do yourself a favor and plan on reading them all–Gabe and Brody’s are out now, and Clark’s is coming in April…though rumor has it there might just be a Wilder story in the upcoming Tinsel and Tatas: A Holiday Romantic Comedy Anthology too, which *might* tide us over while we wait for Ms Bell to finish the other brothers’ books… 😉
Maybe. I mean, at least she has a backlist…
…speaking of which, for longtime readers of Serena Bell–keep your eyes peeled for the teensiest of crossovers here with her Tierney Bay series. Blink and you might miss it, but it’s a fun little mention!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About the author:
USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.
Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.
When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.
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It sounds like a fun read, and I really like the cover.
Sounds like a good read.