Review: Phenomenal X (Hard Knocks #1) by Michelle A. Valentine

Phenomenal X (Hard Knocks #1)

by Michelle A. Valentine

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and woman lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist. One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.

Two Book Series from NYT & USA TODAY Bestselling author, Michelle A. Valentine

4 out of 5 stars

Once I saw the cover and read the synopsis I knew I had to read this book. The first two chapters had me hooked! Excellent read!

I thought Anna and Xavier had a fun first meeting and I got a good feel for their personalities. There is definitely an instant connection and attraction between the two of them. Anna is so naive and sheltered. Some thing's really made me shake my head because she seemed to be living in a bubble. She was definitely drawn to Xavier since he was the opposite of all she had ever known. Who doesn’t love a sexy bad boy?! Xavier was pretty fantastic! The more I got to know him, the more I liked him. He was so sweet and protective and really drawn to Anna. Learning about his past was really sad, he had to overcome a lot.

They had a slow building relationship, the anticipation of them getting together just about killed me because you could feel how much they were attracted to one another but they kept fighting it. When they finally connect, it is extremely hot… it did not disappoint! Them coming together, Anna getting stronger and Xavier opening up made for a great story.

I liked the secondary characters in the story as well. I really enjoyed Xavier's "family" at the diner. The situations with Deena stressed me out and everything with Rex was nerve-racking but the situations with both of them made for really good drama.

The end had me excited and stressed and crossing my fingers for X to hold it together, such an intense build and then… cliffhanger. The kind of cliffhanger where I yell at my Kindle. I was not prepared for it at all. Need. Book. 2. Now.

This was my first Michelle Valentine book and I really enjoyed it. There were fun parts, sweet parts, and sexy parts too. I *loved* when it switched to X’s POV, I really wish there would have been more of those. Great story! Can't wait to see what happens next!