Review: Dirty ~ Kylie Scott

Dirty
Kylie Scott
Contemporary Romance
Dive Bar/Book 1
St. Martin's Griffin/April 19, 2016

The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that comes with her.

Lydia Green doesn't know whether to burn down the church or sit and cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it's with his best man is another thing all together. She narrowly escapes tying the knot and meets Vaughan only hours later.

Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessman she thought she'd marry. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and unsettled. But she already tried Mr. Right and discovered he's all wrong-maybe it's time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what's wrong with getting dirty?

If you've read Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series, (loved it!), you might remember Vaughan from the warm up band for Stage Dive. If not, go read the Stage Dive series and then read Dirty. Okay, you don't have to read Stage Dive series to enjoy Dirty but seriously, it's a fantastic series.

Dirty starts out with a bang! Lydia Green is in desperate need of escape - from her own wedding. So what's a bride to do but climb a wall and break in to a stranger's house. Makes sense right? Lydia is a character I would love to be friends with. She's smart, funny and easy to be around. And this is with all the drama going on in her life. Loved Lydia's internal dialogue which showcased her intelligence and her smart-ass attitude.

Vaughan Hewson is an adorable, sexy tattooed tough guy with a heart of gold. He's also a musician without a band. When he finds a runaway bride in his bathtub, he's not sure what to make of her. He's only passing through town, trying to get his life back on track, kind of like Lydia. Vaughan is portrayed as a guy who gets along fine with everyone but doesn't need anyone. He doesn't want the complication of a relationship with a woman and that is what he tells Lydia. And here's where the old "it's just sex" arrangement comes into play.

Lydia and Vaughan have the types of personalities that simply "fit". It's obvious from the beginning there is an attraction between them and their banter, that give and take that I enjoy so much, is quite prevalent in their new relationship.They each show a soft spot for others while trying to act tough on the outside. They each have their own agendas and think those separate agendas will not mesh but their romance shows how wrong they both are. I got a kick out of seeing how they went from thinking their lives couldn't mesh to making them blend beautifully.

While the romance was kept at the forefront, the secondary characters created enough drama to sometimes overshadow the developing romance between Lydia and Vaughan It did make me want to know more about these secondary characters but at the same time wish their dramas were not taking up so much page time.

This first book gives this new series a strong start. It leaves me wanting to know more about this odd little family, brought together by blood and by friendships. The next book isn't due out until November and I'll be there waiting to see what's going on at the Dive Bar.

Rating: B

Dive Bar Series ~

Dirty
Twist (November 22, 2016)