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Love for Hire
Not yet published
Expected 23 Feb 26
She’s an escort.
He’s the professional athlete who hired her.
With every date, the lines are blurring.
Scarlett Adler was nineteen when she boarded a train for a better life. New York City was supposed to be the place where she’d finally become her own person. But three years later, she’s working as an escort, numb to the world and still struggling with the issues of her past. Until her newest client walks through the door.
Nico Price is feeling aimless. Even with a loving family and successful career as an MMA fighter, he’s desperate to find a purpose. No one is more surprised than him when the first spark of desire comes at the hands of an escort. One date turns into two, then three, and before long, he’s asking her out for real.
But after a lifetime of distrusting men, it’s not easy for Scarlett to accept Nico’s intentions. While she works to overcome her fears, Nico has to balance his feelings for Scarlett with finding new purpose in a world she’s shaken up.
Will Scarlett and Nico give themselves a chance to fall in love? Or will their initial arrangement sow the doubt that ends it all?
He’s the professional athlete who hired her.
With every date, the lines are blurring.
Scarlett Adler was nineteen when she boarded a train for a better life. New York City was supposed to be the place where she’d finally become her own person. But three years later, she’s working as an escort, numb to the world and still struggling with the issues of her past. Until her newest client walks through the door.
Nico Price is feeling aimless. Even with a loving family and successful career as an MMA fighter, he’s desperate to find a purpose. No one is more surprised than him when the first spark of desire comes at the hands of an escort. One date turns into two, then three, and before long, he’s asking her out for real.
But after a lifetime of distrusting men, it’s not easy for Scarlett to accept Nico’s intentions. While she works to overcome her fears, Nico has to balance his feelings for Scarlett with finding new purpose in a world she’s shaken up.
Will Scarlett and Nico give themselves a chance to fall in love? Or will their initial arrangement sow the doubt that ends it all?
11 pages, Audiobook
Expected publication February 23, 2026
62 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Castle
10 books1,266 followersNikki Castle is a wife and dog mom from Philadelphia who writes spicy love stories about alpha MMA fighters and the women that melt their badass, playboy hearts. She's a full-time romance author during the day and spends her evenings running a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym with her husband, who is also a retired fighter.
Nikki has been writing in one way or another since she was a teenager. She pursued an English and Philosophy degree in college, and finally decided to sit down and fulfill her longtime dream of writing a novel when quarantine began in 2020. “5 Rounds” was her first book—and it was supposed to be her only book. Now, she’s a full-time author who can’t imagine a life in which she’s not crafting love stories.
Nikki has been writing in one way or another since she was a teenager. She pursued an English and Philosophy degree in college, and finally decided to sit down and fulfill her longtime dream of writing a novel when quarantine began in 2020. “5 Rounds” was her first book—and it was supposed to be her only book. Now, she’s a full-time author who can’t imagine a life in which she’s not crafting love stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
February 12, 2026
No cookie cutter BS here!
🙌🙌
MMA Fighter & client x Escort
I ate this up.
Nico: I absolutely adored him
The biggest sweetheart
I mean green flags all day with this man
Boy obsessed
Scarlett: gosh her story just pulled at my heartstrings
Broken girl
And I loved the risqué job
Reverse slow burn? Is that a thing?
That’s what I’m going to go with here
Age gap 22 x 30
Grovel anyone because yes he does
I binged this. This is what I want to read. Something original and not basic.
Arc review ✨
🙌🙌
MMA Fighter & client x Escort
I ate this up.
Nico: I absolutely adored him
The biggest sweetheart
I mean green flags all day with this man
Boy obsessed
Scarlett: gosh her story just pulled at my heartstrings
Broken girl
And I loved the risqué job
Reverse slow burn? Is that a thing?
That’s what I’m going to go with here
Age gap 22 x 30
Grovel anyone because yes he does
I binged this. This is what I want to read. Something original and not basic.
Arc review ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ahhh this was everything 👏👏 Nico is a sweet angel baby of a man and Scarlett made my heart ache. 🥹🥹 It was so nice seeing their moments together and watching a real, authentic love grow from a unique circumstance.
I LOVEEEE that their entire relationship wasn't based around sex, especially considering her career.. Nico wanted to prove to her that it wasn't all he wanted, even if that was hard for Scarlett to accept.
The third act seemed necessary in my opinion. It needed to happen in order for both of them to really open up about their feelings.
I'm pumped for the other 2 Price brothers too. I loved the scenes with them in it and can't wait to get to know them more.
I LOVEEEE that their entire relationship wasn't based around sex, especially considering her career.. Nico wanted to prove to her that it wasn't all he wanted, even if that was hard for Scarlett to accept.
The third act seemed necessary in my opinion. It needed to happen in order for both of them to really open up about their feelings.
I'm pumped for the other 2 Price brothers too. I loved the scenes with them in it and can't wait to get to know them more.
February 9, 2026
WOW!
I have to be completely honest- I was sceptical, this is the first escort romance I’ve read and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it but Nikki absolutely nailed this, it massively exceeded any expectations I had.
At one point in the book Nico is described as a walking green flag and that’s the perfect way to explain his character. It’s still early in the year but I expect we will be seeing him on plenty of 2026 top book boyfriend lists! He’s an MMA fighter training for a huge fight when a fellow fighter tells him about a discreet, high end escort service. The last thing Nico expects after calling them is to meet someone he develops genuine feelings for, but the minute he lays eyes on Scarlett, all bets are off.
‘With Nico, I can’t fake anything. I don’t want to.’
Oh Scarlett. She is such a deep, complex character, and I felt for her immediately. She’s incredibly likeable and I loved watching her come to terms with her feelings for Nico and start to believe her worth. She has had a rough past but by taking back her power she is able to start overcoming it, she just needs a little encouragement from Nico. When it gets messy….ouch, it’s really messy, but you know all along these 2 are meant to be.
I couldn’t put this down and I can’t wait to see more of these 2 in the rest of the series. Both fantastic characters with a beautiful story and HEA. Yet again, Nikki shows how talented she is at storytelling and writing emotional depth- there’s nothing surface level about this book. An absolutely fantastic read.
Thank you so much Nikki for this ARC.
I have to be completely honest- I was sceptical, this is the first escort romance I’ve read and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it but Nikki absolutely nailed this, it massively exceeded any expectations I had.
At one point in the book Nico is described as a walking green flag and that’s the perfect way to explain his character. It’s still early in the year but I expect we will be seeing him on plenty of 2026 top book boyfriend lists! He’s an MMA fighter training for a huge fight when a fellow fighter tells him about a discreet, high end escort service. The last thing Nico expects after calling them is to meet someone he develops genuine feelings for, but the minute he lays eyes on Scarlett, all bets are off.
‘With Nico, I can’t fake anything. I don’t want to.’
Oh Scarlett. She is such a deep, complex character, and I felt for her immediately. She’s incredibly likeable and I loved watching her come to terms with her feelings for Nico and start to believe her worth. She has had a rough past but by taking back her power she is able to start overcoming it, she just needs a little encouragement from Nico. When it gets messy….ouch, it’s really messy, but you know all along these 2 are meant to be.
I couldn’t put this down and I can’t wait to see more of these 2 in the rest of the series. Both fantastic characters with a beautiful story and HEA. Yet again, Nikki shows how talented she is at storytelling and writing emotional depth- there’s nothing surface level about this book. An absolutely fantastic read.
Thank you so much Nikki for this ARC.
February 17, 2026
This book is addictive, all of the stars!
Nico is feeling a little bit out of sorts and doesn’t really know how to get out of this funk so, he takes some advice from a fellow MMA fighter and hires an escort. Boy was he in for a gut punch when he opened the door, and Red walked in.
“This guy is way too hot to be hiring an escort. I knew what he looked like, of course, but I wasn’t prepared for what he looked like. I wasn’t prepared for the way he would look at me.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🪭
OMFG this book was so hot yet so romantic, I ate it up!
I don’t really know how to explain to you how, while neither Nico nor Scarlett are “innocent“ in anyway, yet the moment they see each other, there’s this swoon level, just innocence or shyness that overtakes them both equally, as if they are both just so awestruck by each other.
Absolutely this has Pretty Woman meets MMA vibes and obviously they have sex but then Nico drops the bomb that sex is OFF the table. He just can’t get enough of Scarlet. He wants to see her outside of this profession. He wants to see the real her and if he has to keep paying her for conversation and dates without sex to convince her how real and authentic he is, he’s going to do it.
I am not articulate enough to explain to you the level of swoon and lust and love I felt for this book. How does Nikki continue to write these characters that I fall in love with and that I root for and they just have me begging for more?
And Nico‘s brothers Lucas and Alexander? I need those Price brothers immediately.
“I brush my thumb over her hand that I’m still holding. “Because I like you,” I say softly. “Because it’s not your body I’m after, but you.”
“I’m going to make you come all over my hand, baby.” I move my thumb to press a kiss to her clit and add in a murmur, “And then I’m going to lick it off like the sweetest fucking dessert.”
__________________
The following is a long ass voice memo that I left to myself while I was driving home from work because I could not stop thinking about this damn book
While, Scarlett does have all of this experience with the physical aspect of being with men. She truly is very innocent and naïve when it comes to the emotional and relationship sides of being with men. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be in a healthy relationship with a man and how a man could want her for anything other than her body, or being a good little housewife so this is something that Eco is really helping her learn. And she has a hard time, trusting that Nico wants her for something other than her body because no man has ever wanted her for anything other than her body. And she’s been brought up in this small minded family home that a woman’s worth is only in the kitchen or in the bedroom, and that a man doesn’t want your opinion so sit down, shut up or get on your back and spread your legs. So Nico just really has a hard time getting her to trust him but the moment she stops accepting money from him it’s just you know it’s real and they’re both so sweet and shy with each other even though you know, they aren’t innocent by any means they still have this just essence or quality of innocence and naivety when it comes to each other because they’ve never had these big feelings for anyone before.
Yes, this book was very sexy and the Sexy times start immediately but then they come to a screeching heart and ego refuses to have sex with Scarlet because he wants her to see how serious he is about getting to know the real her so then we edged a little bit. It’s a little bit of slow burn and we start getting frustrated right alongside Scarlet because she wants to go so bad and this is the first time she’s ever wanted a man before, but he refuses to give into her until she sees that he wants her for her not for her body
Nico is feeling a little bit out of sorts and doesn’t really know how to get out of this funk so, he takes some advice from a fellow MMA fighter and hires an escort. Boy was he in for a gut punch when he opened the door, and Red walked in.
“This guy is way too hot to be hiring an escort. I knew what he looked like, of course, but I wasn’t prepared for what he looked like. I wasn’t prepared for the way he would look at me.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🪭
OMFG this book was so hot yet so romantic, I ate it up!
I don’t really know how to explain to you how, while neither Nico nor Scarlett are “innocent“ in anyway, yet the moment they see each other, there’s this swoon level, just innocence or shyness that overtakes them both equally, as if they are both just so awestruck by each other.
Absolutely this has Pretty Woman meets MMA vibes and obviously they have sex but then Nico drops the bomb that sex is OFF the table. He just can’t get enough of Scarlet. He wants to see her outside of this profession. He wants to see the real her and if he has to keep paying her for conversation and dates without sex to convince her how real and authentic he is, he’s going to do it.
I am not articulate enough to explain to you the level of swoon and lust and love I felt for this book. How does Nikki continue to write these characters that I fall in love with and that I root for and they just have me begging for more?
And Nico‘s brothers Lucas and Alexander? I need those Price brothers immediately.
“I brush my thumb over her hand that I’m still holding. “Because I like you,” I say softly. “Because it’s not your body I’m after, but you.”
“I’m going to make you come all over my hand, baby.” I move my thumb to press a kiss to her clit and add in a murmur, “And then I’m going to lick it off like the sweetest fucking dessert.”
__________________
The following is a long ass voice memo that I left to myself while I was driving home from work because I could not stop thinking about this damn book
While, Scarlett does have all of this experience with the physical aspect of being with men. She truly is very innocent and naïve when it comes to the emotional and relationship sides of being with men. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be in a healthy relationship with a man and how a man could want her for anything other than her body, or being a good little housewife so this is something that Eco is really helping her learn. And she has a hard time, trusting that Nico wants her for something other than her body because no man has ever wanted her for anything other than her body. And she’s been brought up in this small minded family home that a woman’s worth is only in the kitchen or in the bedroom, and that a man doesn’t want your opinion so sit down, shut up or get on your back and spread your legs. So Nico just really has a hard time getting her to trust him but the moment she stops accepting money from him it’s just you know it’s real and they’re both so sweet and shy with each other even though you know, they aren’t innocent by any means they still have this just essence or quality of innocence and naivety when it comes to each other because they’ve never had these big feelings for anyone before.
Yes, this book was very sexy and the Sexy times start immediately but then they come to a screeching heart and ego refuses to have sex with Scarlet because he wants her to see how serious he is about getting to know the real her so then we edged a little bit. It’s a little bit of slow burn and we start getting frustrated right alongside Scarlet because she wants to go so bad and this is the first time she’s ever wanted a man before, but he refuses to give into her until she sees that he wants her for her not for her body
Review of advance copy
I was enthralled by Pretty Woman, so when I got the opportunity to listen to an audiobook with these tropes, I signed up quicker than you can say "slippery little suckers."
TROPES ✨
💋 Escort x client
🥊 Sports romance (MMA)
❤️🩹 Broken girl
😍 Obsessed cinnamon roll
😘 He falls first
And let me tell you, Nikki Castle delivered ♡
A guarded young escort meets a successful but aimless MMA fighter seeking a no-strings escape before his next fight.
But you know what they say about best laid plans...
When a transaction feels like....more, he falls fast & wants to help her feel again.
Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas amp the chemistry up as dual narrators in this spicy romance ♡
Mark February 23 as unavailable. You’ve got plans 🥊💋
Thank you so much, @hambright_pr for the ALC ♡ This audiobook hit all the right spots ❤️🔥
TROPES ✨
💋 Escort x client
🥊 Sports romance (MMA)
❤️🩹 Broken girl
😍 Obsessed cinnamon roll
😘 He falls first
And let me tell you, Nikki Castle delivered ♡
A guarded young escort meets a successful but aimless MMA fighter seeking a no-strings escape before his next fight.
But you know what they say about best laid plans...
When a transaction feels like....more, he falls fast & wants to help her feel again.
Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas amp the chemistry up as dual narrators in this spicy romance ♡
Mark February 23 as unavailable. You’ve got plans 🥊💋
Thank you so much, @hambright_pr for the ALC ♡ This audiobook hit all the right spots ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
• Escort x Client
• Professional UFC fighter
• Age gap 22 x 30
• Broken girl
• Shy but cocky MMC
• He falls first
• Caretaking
• Absolutely obsessed MMC
OBSESSED doesn’t even begin to describe how much I loved these two characters and this beautiful book! Nikki seriously writes some of the BEST FMCs with down bad MMCs. The relationship between them hooks me every single time. I just adore her writing.
I’m an absolute sucker for an escort romance and Nikki absolutely nailed this one, giving us all the tension and vulnerability that makes this trope so addictive. I was instantly hooked!
Scarlett was such a strong and confident FMC, especially given everything she had been through. Watching her come alive with the beautiful way Nico could read her and knew exactly what was running through her head without her even having to say it, and even when she tried to hide it from him, was EVERRRYYYTHING! I absolutely loved how intelligent she was. Her character had so many beautiful layers.
Nico. MY GOSH. The MMC of all MMCs. This man just made it onto my top MMC list! I absolutely adored his character. I loved how quietly observant he was, especially when it came to Scarlett. Nothing went unnoticed by him. Even when she tried to close herself off from the rest of the world, he caught every little detail she tried to hide. I also loved that even as a professional UFC fighter he still had his shy moments. It was so endearing.
If you love strong FMCs, quietly obsessed MMCs, and escort romances packed with so much tension, you need this one on your TBR.
🎧 Audiobook review 🎧
Duet narration
Narrated by Savannah Thomas and Gideon Frost
This book was INCREDIBLE, but the narration seriously took it to a whole new level. It honestly is a must listen. Both Savannah and Gideon did such an outstanding job bringing Scarlett and Nico to life. The second I hit play I didn’t want to turn it off.
Savannah did such a beautiful job capturing every part of Scarlett’s character. From her bold personality to her vulnerable side, it was all so perfectly delivered. You could feel both the softness and strength in Scarlett so clearly.
Gideon absolutely nailed the performance as Nico. He brought out all my favorite parts of him so well, especially that cocky yet shy energy. He captured Nico’s quiet confidence and those softer, more vulnerable moments so effortlessly. It made Nico even more endearing and completely stole my heart.
I will be recommending this audiobook every chance I get!
• Professional UFC fighter
• Age gap 22 x 30
• Broken girl
• Shy but cocky MMC
• He falls first
• Caretaking
• Absolutely obsessed MMC
OBSESSED doesn’t even begin to describe how much I loved these two characters and this beautiful book! Nikki seriously writes some of the BEST FMCs with down bad MMCs. The relationship between them hooks me every single time. I just adore her writing.
I’m an absolute sucker for an escort romance and Nikki absolutely nailed this one, giving us all the tension and vulnerability that makes this trope so addictive. I was instantly hooked!
Scarlett was such a strong and confident FMC, especially given everything she had been through. Watching her come alive with the beautiful way Nico could read her and knew exactly what was running through her head without her even having to say it, and even when she tried to hide it from him, was EVERRRYYYTHING! I absolutely loved how intelligent she was. Her character had so many beautiful layers.
Nico. MY GOSH. The MMC of all MMCs. This man just made it onto my top MMC list! I absolutely adored his character. I loved how quietly observant he was, especially when it came to Scarlett. Nothing went unnoticed by him. Even when she tried to close herself off from the rest of the world, he caught every little detail she tried to hide. I also loved that even as a professional UFC fighter he still had his shy moments. It was so endearing.
If you love strong FMCs, quietly obsessed MMCs, and escort romances packed with so much tension, you need this one on your TBR.
🎧 Audiobook review 🎧
Duet narration
Narrated by Savannah Thomas and Gideon Frost
This book was INCREDIBLE, but the narration seriously took it to a whole new level. It honestly is a must listen. Both Savannah and Gideon did such an outstanding job bringing Scarlett and Nico to life. The second I hit play I didn’t want to turn it off.
Savannah did such a beautiful job capturing every part of Scarlett’s character. From her bold personality to her vulnerable side, it was all so perfectly delivered. You could feel both the softness and strength in Scarlett so clearly.
Gideon absolutely nailed the performance as Nico. He brought out all my favorite parts of him so well, especially that cocky yet shy energy. He captured Nico’s quiet confidence and those softer, more vulnerable moments so effortlessly. It made Nico even more endearing and completely stole my heart.
I will be recommending this audiobook every chance I get!
February 12, 2026
Tropes:
Escort x Client
Sports Romance (MMA)
Broken Girl
He Falls First
Boy Obsessed
One of my most anticipated reads of the year and boy did it deliver. I have loved everything I've read by Nikki so The odds were high that I would enjoy this, but I was even more excited that I knew it would be a bit different than her previous books.
Love for Hire is book one in the brand-new series, The Price Brothers by Nikki Castle. It is about an MMC named Nico who decides to seek an escort service after being advised by his coach that he needs a "no strings attached" relief while he is committed to his fights/training. In walks Scarlett, the FMC, and the escort he hires for a good night. What is supposed to be a transactional situation slowly develops into so much more...
Nico is the greenest of flags man. Honestly, him hiring an escort was so on a whim for him and even then, he never once degraded or treated Scarlett poorly. He is so respectful and attentive to Scarlett when it comes to her feelings and making her feel wanted and safe. I loved him. He was the perfect mix of the gentleman you want in public but an absolute freak in the sheets. The way he worshiped her was downright sinful and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Scarlett was such a troubled FMC through no fault of her own. She has a rough family life and unfortunately that impacted her adult life. I really enjoyed her character development especially later on in the book. I felt so proud and happy for her to finally be standing up for herself and doing what made her happy instead of doing the things she made herself believe she needed to do in order to be wanted especially by men.
There is no way these two weren't meant to meet and be together. Nico healed parts of Scarlett and allowed her to realize her potential and put herself first and finally do what makes her happy. I think all of the obstacles they faced throughout their journey were necessary for their growth both together and individually. They had great chemistry and everything about them being together just felt right. I absolutely love how Nico treated her and in return Scarlett was a great partner to him while remaining true to herself.
I cannot wait to read more in The Price Brothers series. Thank you so much Nikki for the ARC.
Escort x Client
Sports Romance (MMA)
Broken Girl
He Falls First
Boy Obsessed
One of my most anticipated reads of the year and boy did it deliver. I have loved everything I've read by Nikki so The odds were high that I would enjoy this, but I was even more excited that I knew it would be a bit different than her previous books.
Love for Hire is book one in the brand-new series, The Price Brothers by Nikki Castle. It is about an MMC named Nico who decides to seek an escort service after being advised by his coach that he needs a "no strings attached" relief while he is committed to his fights/training. In walks Scarlett, the FMC, and the escort he hires for a good night. What is supposed to be a transactional situation slowly develops into so much more...
Nico is the greenest of flags man. Honestly, him hiring an escort was so on a whim for him and even then, he never once degraded or treated Scarlett poorly. He is so respectful and attentive to Scarlett when it comes to her feelings and making her feel wanted and safe. I loved him. He was the perfect mix of the gentleman you want in public but an absolute freak in the sheets. The way he worshiped her was downright sinful and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Scarlett was such a troubled FMC through no fault of her own. She has a rough family life and unfortunately that impacted her adult life. I really enjoyed her character development especially later on in the book. I felt so proud and happy for her to finally be standing up for herself and doing what made her happy instead of doing the things she made herself believe she needed to do in order to be wanted especially by men.
There is no way these two weren't meant to meet and be together. Nico healed parts of Scarlett and allowed her to realize her potential and put herself first and finally do what makes her happy. I think all of the obstacles they faced throughout their journey were necessary for their growth both together and individually. They had great chemistry and everything about them being together just felt right. I absolutely love how Nico treated her and in return Scarlett was a great partner to him while remaining true to herself.
I cannot wait to read more in The Price Brothers series. Thank you so much Nikki for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Scarlett has been living and working in New York City as an escort for the past three years. Her newest client, Nico, is a professional MMA fighter preparing for his next big fight and neither of them expects the instant connection that follows. From the start, Scarlett can tell Nico is different. He goes out of his way to show her she’s more than her job, and together they bring out the very best in each other. I couldn’t help but fall completely in love with them.
The narration by Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas was absolutely incredible. They captured the tension and chemistry between Nico and Scarlett in every interaction, elevating the story to a new level. I loved it and this is definitely a must listen!
Thank you, Nikki Castle for the ALC/ARC.
The narration by Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas was absolutely incredible. They captured the tension and chemistry between Nico and Scarlett in every interaction, elevating the story to a new level. I loved it and this is definitely a must listen!
Thank you, Nikki Castle for the ALC/ARC.
February 18, 2026
I did enjoy this audio. The narrator’s were really good and it was a good twist on the story line about a professional fighter who hires an escort and basically falls for her. The only thing I didn’t care for was the while listening to the FMC and all of the things she says, does, experiences/ her maturity level and add in the voice of the narrator - it seems she would be older than 22 years old- more like early 30’s.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - February 23, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- Escort x MMA Fighter
- Client to Lovers
- Emotional Slow Burn
- Protective Hero
- he Falls First
- Healing Romance
- Touch Her and You’re Gone Energy
- found Self-Worth
- Fight Night Glory
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This story follows Nico Price, a professional MMA fighter who feels restless even after having success in his career. He hires Scarlett, a high-end escort, thinking it will be just a simple arrangement during fight camp. Scarlett lives a perfectly controlled life where everything is professional and emotionless. What starts as a paid agreement slowly turns into something real, something neither of them planned for.
Okay but this book… it healed something in me.
I loved how this was not just about attraction. It was about two lonely people finding warmth in each other. Nico was such a soft but strong hero. He respected her job. He never tried to control her. He chose her again and again without shame. That kind of quiet loyalty made my heart melt.
Scarlett’s character touched me deeply. She was not weak. She was just tired of being seen as an object her whole life. Watching her slowly feel again, slowly believe she deserves love, was so beautiful. Her growth felt real and not rushed.
The slow burn was perfect. The tension was emotional before it was physical. And when they finally crossed that line, it felt meaningful and intimate, not just spicy for the sake of it.
The fight night scene gave me literal goosebumps. Him looking for her in the crowd broke me a little. And the way he showed up for her at the end without forcing or saving her, just choosing her… that was everything.
This book is about respect, healing, and choosing love without shame. It is soft but powerful at the same time.
I am giving this five stars because it made me feel calm, warm, and understood.
Thank you so much hambrightpr for the free ARC!
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - February 23, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- Escort x MMA Fighter
- Client to Lovers
- Emotional Slow Burn
- Protective Hero
- he Falls First
- Healing Romance
- Touch Her and You’re Gone Energy
- found Self-Worth
- Fight Night Glory
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This story follows Nico Price, a professional MMA fighter who feels restless even after having success in his career. He hires Scarlett, a high-end escort, thinking it will be just a simple arrangement during fight camp. Scarlett lives a perfectly controlled life where everything is professional and emotionless. What starts as a paid agreement slowly turns into something real, something neither of them planned for.
Okay but this book… it healed something in me.
I loved how this was not just about attraction. It was about two lonely people finding warmth in each other. Nico was such a soft but strong hero. He respected her job. He never tried to control her. He chose her again and again without shame. That kind of quiet loyalty made my heart melt.
Scarlett’s character touched me deeply. She was not weak. She was just tired of being seen as an object her whole life. Watching her slowly feel again, slowly believe she deserves love, was so beautiful. Her growth felt real and not rushed.
The slow burn was perfect. The tension was emotional before it was physical. And when they finally crossed that line, it felt meaningful and intimate, not just spicy for the sake of it.
The fight night scene gave me literal goosebumps. Him looking for her in the crowd broke me a little. And the way he showed up for her at the end without forcing or saving her, just choosing her… that was everything.
This book is about respect, healing, and choosing love without shame. It is soft but powerful at the same time.
I am giving this five stars because it made me feel calm, warm, and understood.
Thank you so much hambrightpr for the free ARC!
February 13, 2026
I know I won’t get over how much I loved this story, these characters and how deeply I felt for both of them for a long while. I loved the writing-It was easy to connect to and I truly did not want it to end.
I really enjoyed the uniqueness and how beautifully Scarlett’s history and experiences were told. She was an amazing character. One you not only wanted more of, wanted to hug, but truly wanted the best for. Her growth was fantastic and each layer I discovered had me wanting more.
Nico-this man is everything! Beyond swoony, kind, protective, supportive and the best kind of book boyfriend. He can do no wrong because even when he gets stuck in his head-the way he makes up for it is next level!
I loved them both-such depth to their characters and relationship. They were adorable together, each moment was so sweet and filled with this intense connection and high chemistry from the instant they met. I throughly enjoyed watching them uncover the changing dynamic of their relationship.
Finding your person makes you the best version of yourself and gives you the space to learn, grow and be who you want to be. I love that Nico gave Scarlett that safe space-and celebrated each part of her that makes her so much more than the front of perfection she portrayed and to believe all the good things about herself. I loved that Scarlett gave him direction as well. She was the missing piece of his life he had been searching for without even realizing it. I was fully invested in these two!
Their story unfolded exactly how it should, and I loved the ending so much!
I am so excited for the other Prince brother’s books, they have the best dynamic, brought some wonderful brotherly laughs and support and I enjoyed their time on the pages!
4.75⭐️
**thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review and its opinions are my own
I really enjoyed the uniqueness and how beautifully Scarlett’s history and experiences were told. She was an amazing character. One you not only wanted more of, wanted to hug, but truly wanted the best for. Her growth was fantastic and each layer I discovered had me wanting more.
Nico-this man is everything! Beyond swoony, kind, protective, supportive and the best kind of book boyfriend. He can do no wrong because even when he gets stuck in his head-the way he makes up for it is next level!
I loved them both-such depth to their characters and relationship. They were adorable together, each moment was so sweet and filled with this intense connection and high chemistry from the instant they met. I throughly enjoyed watching them uncover the changing dynamic of their relationship.
Finding your person makes you the best version of yourself and gives you the space to learn, grow and be who you want to be. I love that Nico gave Scarlett that safe space-and celebrated each part of her that makes her so much more than the front of perfection she portrayed and to believe all the good things about herself. I loved that Scarlett gave him direction as well. She was the missing piece of his life he had been searching for without even realizing it. I was fully invested in these two!
Their story unfolded exactly how it should, and I loved the ending so much!
I am so excited for the other Prince brother’s books, they have the best dynamic, brought some wonderful brotherly laughs and support and I enjoyed their time on the pages!
4.75⭐️
**thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review and its opinions are my own
February 15, 2026
Nikki did it again. She made me obsessed over yet another one of her many fictional men and this one is a sweetheart with a heart of gold 🥹 Thank you Nikki for the audio early copy! I couldn’t put it down!
Nico is such a great character. I loved seeing how two lonely people who feel a bit lost in the world get together and get to know each other in depth. Even though Nico hires Scarlett as an escort to simply chat and keep him company. The how have a fiery attraction that can’t be tamed.
Scarlett usually doesn’t enjoy what she does, she simply got good at it and makes decent money. But when she meets Nico he ignites something in her, passion, Desire and a want to be known by someone on a deep level.
Their chemistry is off the charts. Their time spend together is so precious. I love how Nico for most parts saw past Scarlett’s job and wanted her for “her”not what she can do in the bedroom. Their growth, personal and together is so enjoyable to watch. I like that their relationship wasn’t superficial. It was raw, real and emotional. I also like how the topic of an escort was handled. The things that come with it and how a working woman can feel during specific situations.
I feel like every new book I read by Nikki she just improves. Her writing is more exceptional, her story telling to easy to get lost in.
I just loved these two so much. I cannot wait for the next man in the series 😏 Nikki has hit gold with another series and I’m ready for all of it.
5⭐️ 3🌶️ 5🎧
Nico is such a great character. I loved seeing how two lonely people who feel a bit lost in the world get together and get to know each other in depth. Even though Nico hires Scarlett as an escort to simply chat and keep him company. The how have a fiery attraction that can’t be tamed.
Scarlett usually doesn’t enjoy what she does, she simply got good at it and makes decent money. But when she meets Nico he ignites something in her, passion, Desire and a want to be known by someone on a deep level.
Their chemistry is off the charts. Their time spend together is so precious. I love how Nico for most parts saw past Scarlett’s job and wanted her for “her”not what she can do in the bedroom. Their growth, personal and together is so enjoyable to watch. I like that their relationship wasn’t superficial. It was raw, real and emotional. I also like how the topic of an escort was handled. The things that come with it and how a working woman can feel during specific situations.
I feel like every new book I read by Nikki she just improves. Her writing is more exceptional, her story telling to easy to get lost in.
I just loved these two so much. I cannot wait for the next man in the series 😏 Nikki has hit gold with another series and I’m ready for all of it.
5⭐️ 3🌶️ 5🎧
January 27, 2026
Nico is the book boyfriend version of that Green Flag guy! He is patient and persistent and he goes out of his way to show Scarlett that he wants her for HER and not (just) for sex. He’s a professional MMA fighter who has lost the fire a bit and isn’t sure what he wants for his life after retirement. Scarlett is an escort who has been broken and beaten down by her family and upbringing, she doesn’t trust anyone - let alone men. Nico sees the best in her, sees her full potential, and notices when things aren’t… real and calls her on it. Scarlett notices all the ways Nico is different from other guys and despite all her hang-ups finds herself learning to trust him.
This is the first book in a new series (featuring the Price brothers) and it did a really good job setting the family dynamic and establishing the brothers’ very different personalities. Love For Hire deals with some heavy topics as get to know Scarlett little by little; CW for unhealthy relationships with food and body weight/image, arranged marriages, and infidelity (between FMC and her ex, nothing with the MCs and nothing on page)… Also, keep in mind that Scarlett is an escort, so there are sexual acts with other men on page. Nikki handles it all well, but just wanted people to be aware before reading!
Thank you Nikki for the ALC, Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas were great narrators!
This is the first book in a new series (featuring the Price brothers) and it did a really good job setting the family dynamic and establishing the brothers’ very different personalities. Love For Hire deals with some heavy topics as get to know Scarlett little by little; CW for unhealthy relationships with food and body weight/image, arranged marriages, and infidelity (between FMC and her ex, nothing with the MCs and nothing on page)… Also, keep in mind that Scarlett is an escort, so there are sexual acts with other men on page. Nikki handles it all well, but just wanted people to be aware before reading!
Thank you Nikki for the ALC, Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas were great narrators!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love for Hire: ★ ★ ★ ★
Nikki Castle (The Price Brothers, #1)
“I don’t just dream of you, Red. I daydream of you. I’m constantly thinking about you. Whether I’m training, sleeping, resting, anything, you’re on my mind. In every sense of the word.”
When Nico hires Scarlett as an escort for a night, he is not expecting the chemistry to be off the charts. So he keeps hiring her again and again, for a chance to prove to her that there's something more.
Tropes:
– Escort x client
– Sports romance (MMA)
– Broken girl
– Boy obsessed
– He falls first
I loved this book and I devoured it in one sitting. Nico is the ideal book boyfriend who is so patient and so kind and so loving. He is the absolute star of the show for me and I adored him to the moon and back. All he wanted was to make sure that Scarlett felt cherished as a person, and he loved her with every fiber of his being. Scarlet is so strong and independent, and it took her a really long time to bring her walls down and trust people after what she’s been through, but Nico makes it all worth it. This story is so surprisingly, sweet and romantic and adorable. Cannot wait for more Price brothers books!
Thank you Nikki Castle for the ARC!
Nikki Castle (The Price Brothers, #1)
“I don’t just dream of you, Red. I daydream of you. I’m constantly thinking about you. Whether I’m training, sleeping, resting, anything, you’re on my mind. In every sense of the word.”
When Nico hires Scarlett as an escort for a night, he is not expecting the chemistry to be off the charts. So he keeps hiring her again and again, for a chance to prove to her that there's something more.
Tropes:
– Escort x client
– Sports romance (MMA)
– Broken girl
– Boy obsessed
– He falls first
I loved this book and I devoured it in one sitting. Nico is the ideal book boyfriend who is so patient and so kind and so loving. He is the absolute star of the show for me and I adored him to the moon and back. All he wanted was to make sure that Scarlett felt cherished as a person, and he loved her with every fiber of his being. Scarlet is so strong and independent, and it took her a really long time to bring her walls down and trust people after what she’s been through, but Nico makes it all worth it. This story is so surprisingly, sweet and romantic and adorable. Cannot wait for more Price brothers books!
Thank you Nikki Castle for the ARC!
February 20, 2026
ALC Review : Love for Hire by Nikki Castle - Releasing 2.23.26
What to Expect:
Sports Romance - MMA
Escort x Client
Broken Girl
Boy Obsessed
He Falls First
Duet narration by: Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas
This was my first Nikki book and will certainly not be my last; I absolutely devoured this audiobook.
Let’s be honest, Nico was the real MVP of this story. He is a badass MMA fighter who is starting to wonder if there is more to life. For a man with such a tough exterior, his heart was the biggest green flag. Nico is everything sweet and kind in this world.
After deciding to blow off some no strings attached steam, Nico hires Scarlett through a high class escort service. He is INSTANTLY taken by her and makes it his mission to let her know.
Scarlett is a bit broken. She has trouble letting others in and uses her job as a crutch. She slowly lets down her walls and allows Nico to show her, her worth.
The love between Nico and Scarlett grows so organically, despite starting from an unusual circumstance. But once the roots take hold it is so beautiful.
Overall, I loved this book and the unique story. Fingers crossed there are books for the remaining Price brothers.
The narration of the audiobook was fantastic. I really enjoyed the way in which the narrators made the story their own.
Thank you Hambright PR and Nikki for the early listen.
What to Expect:
Sports Romance - MMA
Escort x Client
Broken Girl
Boy Obsessed
He Falls First
Duet narration by: Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas
This was my first Nikki book and will certainly not be my last; I absolutely devoured this audiobook.
Let’s be honest, Nico was the real MVP of this story. He is a badass MMA fighter who is starting to wonder if there is more to life. For a man with such a tough exterior, his heart was the biggest green flag. Nico is everything sweet and kind in this world.
After deciding to blow off some no strings attached steam, Nico hires Scarlett through a high class escort service. He is INSTANTLY taken by her and makes it his mission to let her know.
Scarlett is a bit broken. She has trouble letting others in and uses her job as a crutch. She slowly lets down her walls and allows Nico to show her, her worth.
The love between Nico and Scarlett grows so organically, despite starting from an unusual circumstance. But once the roots take hold it is so beautiful.
Overall, I loved this book and the unique story. Fingers crossed there are books for the remaining Price brothers.
The narration of the audiobook was fantastic. I really enjoyed the way in which the narrators made the story their own.
Thank you Hambright PR and Nikki for the early listen.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐ 3.5 🌶️ 5 🎧
It's been a minute since I've read a Nikki story and what a way to dive back in. I absolutely adored these two—Nico and Scarlett were so sweet and perfect together and their story was so much fun. Nico was down bad from the very start and while he is occasionally oblivious thanks to some outside sources... I still loved him to bits.
The spice was perfect—their chemistry was off the charts and I couldn't get enough of them. From the very start they had me melting and steaming, especially when Nico opened his filthy mouth. I really enjoyed watching Scarlett find comfort in Nico and seeing her slowly start to pull back from clients too.
I'm thinking Lucas is next and I can't waittttt.
The audio was fantastic. Audio Sorceress always puts on an amazing production and I thought Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas did a wonderful job with these characters. This was such a great listen. Thank you so much to Nikki for the advanced copy!
It's been a minute since I've read a Nikki story and what a way to dive back in. I absolutely adored these two—Nico and Scarlett were so sweet and perfect together and their story was so much fun. Nico was down bad from the very start and while he is occasionally oblivious thanks to some outside sources... I still loved him to bits.
The spice was perfect—their chemistry was off the charts and I couldn't get enough of them. From the very start they had me melting and steaming, especially when Nico opened his filthy mouth. I really enjoyed watching Scarlett find comfort in Nico and seeing her slowly start to pull back from clients too.
I'm thinking Lucas is next and I can't waittttt.
The audio was fantastic. Audio Sorceress always puts on an amazing production and I thought Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas did a wonderful job with these characters. This was such a great listen. Thank you so much to Nikki for the advanced copy!
February 13, 2026
ARC review:
4.5⭐️: Loved it! Wasn’t too sure about the escort x client trope but Nikki nailed it. I absolutely loved the Pretty Woman vibes. Nico was the greenest flag! There was something so sweet and endearing about him. The way he was so attentive and thoughtful was 😍😍😍. The chemistry between Nico and Scarlett was so so good. The spice was 🥵🔥. Loved that Scarlett was a smart FMC but there was something a bit frustrating with her in the beginning and I chalk it up to her being 22yo. The third act break-up was expected and the winning her back was top tier. You couldn’t help but root for their HEA. The audio was fantastic with duet narration 👌🏻. Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas, knocked it out of the park! Made for a great immersion experience. This was my first full length book by Nikki and now I’m itching to go through her backlist. Can’t wait for book 2 of the series!
4.5⭐️: Loved it! Wasn’t too sure about the escort x client trope but Nikki nailed it. I absolutely loved the Pretty Woman vibes. Nico was the greenest flag! There was something so sweet and endearing about him. The way he was so attentive and thoughtful was 😍😍😍. The chemistry between Nico and Scarlett was so so good. The spice was 🥵🔥. Loved that Scarlett was a smart FMC but there was something a bit frustrating with her in the beginning and I chalk it up to her being 22yo. The third act break-up was expected and the winning her back was top tier. You couldn’t help but root for their HEA. The audio was fantastic with duet narration 👌🏻. Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas, knocked it out of the park! Made for a great immersion experience. This was my first full length book by Nikki and now I’m itching to go through her backlist. Can’t wait for book 2 of the series!
February 14, 2026
Thank you #HambrightPR and #NikkiCastle for the ARC!
I ate this up, left zero crumbs, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of this. ❤️
The entire story is swoon worthy, you have a badass MMA fighter he is essentially a golden retriever and an escort who you’d think is a ‘take no names’ woman, but really is complex and layered with so many endearing qualities that its nearly impossible not to love.
The set up for the other brothers is so exciting too, I literally need the rest of this series now!!
New Fan here Nikki! ❤️
An easy 🌶️🌶️
I ate this up, left zero crumbs, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of this. ❤️
The entire story is swoon worthy, you have a badass MMA fighter he is essentially a golden retriever and an escort who you’d think is a ‘take no names’ woman, but really is complex and layered with so many endearing qualities that its nearly impossible not to love.
The set up for the other brothers is so exciting too, I literally need the rest of this series now!!
New Fan here Nikki! ❤️
An easy 🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well....I didnt know what to expect but Scarlett & Nico weren't it. Nico was the best walking and talking green flag and was simply a beautiful soul. And Scarlett, the broken girl - all she needed was love and care from the right man and Nico was it. What i didnt expect though was to have wet eyes.... IYKYK. My heart hurt for them. The way he grovelled 🫠.
Another perfect book from the master @nikkicastleauthor ❤️
Im excited for the rest of this series!
Another perfect book from the master @nikkicastleauthor ❤️
Im excited for the rest of this series!
February 17, 2026
A book that properly described MMA? YAYYYYYYYYY.
I really liked this one.
Escort/mma- both were searching for things they didn’t know they could have. Loved Nico & Scarlett aka Red 🌶️❤️🔥 spicy but also the shit Nico would say? SWOON
I really liked this one.
Escort/mma- both were searching for things they didn’t know they could have. Loved Nico & Scarlett aka Red 🌶️❤️🔥 spicy but also the shit Nico would say? SWOON
November 17, 2025
beta read (not fully finished)
SOO FREAKING GOOD !!
i absolutely blew up Nikki’s phone while reading this - i read it in one sitting
i’m kinda mad at myself for reading it in the car with family because i couldn’t physically react how i wanted too ! i wanted to kick and scream
Nico was done for the second he laid eyes on Scarlett & boy was he swoony and obsessed with her
it took Scarlett a bit to open up (understandable) but when she did !!
also her background made me tear up and upset
& of course Nikki had rip my heart out with that third act breakup but she made up for it with the makeup
can’t wait to read the final product
SOO FREAKING GOOD !!
i absolutely blew up Nikki’s phone while reading this - i read it in one sitting
i’m kinda mad at myself for reading it in the car with family because i couldn’t physically react how i wanted too ! i wanted to kick and scream
Nico was done for the second he laid eyes on Scarlett & boy was he swoony and obsessed with her
it took Scarlett a bit to open up (understandable) but when she did !!
also her background made me tear up and upset
& of course Nikki had rip my heart out with that third act breakup but she made up for it with the makeup
can’t wait to read the final product
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love for Hire – Nikki Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nico Price is a Philly MMA fighter stuck in a slump, not just professionally, but personally. He's aimless, frustrated, and clearly searching for something he can't quite name. After an encounter with another fighter, he ends up with a card for an escort service... which is how he meets "Daisy".
I'll be honest - the escort trope isn't usually my favorite. It can feel predictable or stereotype-heavy. And for a good portion of this book, I really didn't like Daisy(Scarlett). Not because she's an escort, but because of how she handled things emotionally. At times she felt immature and reactive, and it was hard not to get frustrated with her.
As we peel back the layers, Scarlett makes a lot more sense.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
She's only 23. A young divorcee from the South who didn't really exactly have a healthy or traditional upbringing. Her mom drilled into her that a woman's purpose was to be a housewife: cook, clean, look good, and "service" the man in her life. That kind of messaging sticks - which is probably why when Amara found her floundering in the streets of NYC, she fell right into step with the escort service. Scarlett internalized a lot of it. She's deeply insecure, hiding behind the polished, confident escort persona of "Daisy".
She’s only 23 — a young divorcee from the South who grew up being told that a woman’s role was to cook, clean, stay thin, and “service” the men in her life. That messaging shaped everything about her. Scarlett is deeply insecure, even though she masks it behind the confident, controlled persona of “Daisy.” You see it in her unhealthy relationship with food (thanks to a mother who convinced her carbs were evil), in the way she equates desirability with worth, and in how she struggles to believe she deserves real love.
What kept me invested was how Nikki didn't romantize her trauma. Scarlett's flaws aren't glossed over. Her insecurity affects her choices. Her defensiveness pushes people away, but it also makes her growth meaningful.
Nico on the other hand is actually pretty well rounded. He's steady and he's kind. He's not emotionally shattered -- just lonely and craving connection in a way he doesn't fully admit at first. I appreciated that he wasn't written as a sterostypical tortured fighter. He knows who he is.
Of course… this is romance, so we get the infamous third-act breakup (everyone’s favorite… not). And this one? It stung. Nico makes a mistake — not out of cruelty, but out of fear and miscommunication — and it felt frustrating in a very real way. But it also made the reconciliation feel earned instead of rushed.
Because HELLO. Nikki Castle knows how to write it. The tension? Top tier. The chemistry? Immediate and electric. The intimate scenes aren’t just thrown in for shock value — they’re charged, emotional, and actually move the relationship forward. You can feel the difference between Daisy the persona and Scarlett the woman in those moments, and that contrast makes the scenes even hotter. It’s not just physical — it’s layered with vulnerability, power shifts, and longing.
If you’re picking this up for the spice alone, you will not be disappointed. It’s explicit, yes — but it’s also intentional and character-driven.
Overall, this ended up being a story about unlearning toxic conditioning, reclaiming self-worth, and choosing to be seen beyond the roles you’ve been told to play. I didn’t love Scarlett at first — but by the end, I understood Scarlett. And that made all the difference.
Nico Price is a Philly MMA fighter stuck in a slump, not just professionally, but personally. He's aimless, frustrated, and clearly searching for something he can't quite name. After an encounter with another fighter, he ends up with a card for an escort service... which is how he meets "Daisy".
I'll be honest - the escort trope isn't usually my favorite. It can feel predictable or stereotype-heavy. And for a good portion of this book, I really didn't like Daisy(Scarlett). Not because she's an escort, but because of how she handled things emotionally. At times she felt immature and reactive, and it was hard not to get frustrated with her.
As we peel back the layers, Scarlett makes a lot more sense.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
She's only 23. A young divorcee from the South who didn't really exactly have a healthy or traditional upbringing. Her mom drilled into her that a woman's purpose was to be a housewife: cook, clean, look good, and "service" the man in her life. That kind of messaging sticks - which is probably why when Amara found her floundering in the streets of NYC, she fell right into step with the escort service. Scarlett internalized a lot of it. She's deeply insecure, hiding behind the polished, confident escort persona of "Daisy".
She’s only 23 — a young divorcee from the South who grew up being told that a woman’s role was to cook, clean, stay thin, and “service” the men in her life. That messaging shaped everything about her. Scarlett is deeply insecure, even though she masks it behind the confident, controlled persona of “Daisy.” You see it in her unhealthy relationship with food (thanks to a mother who convinced her carbs were evil), in the way she equates desirability with worth, and in how she struggles to believe she deserves real love.
What kept me invested was how Nikki didn't romantize her trauma. Scarlett's flaws aren't glossed over. Her insecurity affects her choices. Her defensiveness pushes people away, but it also makes her growth meaningful.
Nico on the other hand is actually pretty well rounded. He's steady and he's kind. He's not emotionally shattered -- just lonely and craving connection in a way he doesn't fully admit at first. I appreciated that he wasn't written as a sterostypical tortured fighter. He knows who he is.
Of course… this is romance, so we get the infamous third-act breakup (everyone’s favorite… not). And this one? It stung. Nico makes a mistake — not out of cruelty, but out of fear and miscommunication — and it felt frustrating in a very real way. But it also made the reconciliation feel earned instead of rushed.
Because HELLO. Nikki Castle knows how to write it. The tension? Top tier. The chemistry? Immediate and electric. The intimate scenes aren’t just thrown in for shock value — they’re charged, emotional, and actually move the relationship forward. You can feel the difference between Daisy the persona and Scarlett the woman in those moments, and that contrast makes the scenes even hotter. It’s not just physical — it’s layered with vulnerability, power shifts, and longing.
If you’re picking this up for the spice alone, you will not be disappointed. It’s explicit, yes — but it’s also intentional and character-driven.
Overall, this ended up being a story about unlearning toxic conditioning, reclaiming self-worth, and choosing to be seen beyond the roles you’ve been told to play. I didn’t love Scarlett at first — but by the end, I understood Scarlett. And that made all the difference.
Review of advance copy
Great Story, Narration & Listen🎧 Engaging & Heartfelt!
Love for Hire
By: Nikki Castle
Narrated by: Gideon Frost, Savannah Thomas
While I don’t know how this is my first Nikki Castle book, it certainly won’t be my last. She is a gifted author with a wonderful writing style, and her engaging story immediately captured my attention and held it straight to the end. The character development and growth are fantastic, complex yet relatable, and easy to connect with and fall for. Nicholas “Nico” Price, an MMA fighter, has had no luck with romance or finding his special someone. When one of his buddies mentioned he should hire an escort and passed a business card to him, he gave it some thought. Scarlett Adler left her unhappy life behind for a better life when she was nineteen, and not having much experience, it was her looks and demeanor that landed her the job as a high-end escort. The money was good, so was the agency she worked for, which vetted the clients and provided security. Nikko is training for his next fight, and wanting some company, he calls the service and has his first date. Scarlett, who goes by Daisy when with a client, keeps things professional with them, trying to give them what they want, but Nikko reads her and turns things around on her, asking to do what she wants. He also knows Daisy is not her real name, so he calls her Red, which is fitting, not just for her red lips, but close to her real name. It was fabulous watching these two get to know each other, she trying to keep up her walls, he trying to break them down. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out, with the perfect balance of drama, angst, some charming and heartwarming moments, lots of heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Besides the two amazing lead characters, there are some equally amazing and intriguing side/secondary characters too, especially Nikko’s brother, and I am looking forward to their stories. Nikki Castle, thank you for this wonderfully entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas were fantastic at bringing the characters to life, giving them voices that were fitting for a perfect portrayal of each. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Ms. Thomas is a natural in Scarlet’s role, grasping every aspect of her personality, from her vulnerabilities to her strength and determination, growing as her character grew. Frost is just as fabulous in Nikko’s role, also showcasing every aspect of his personality, including his kindness, understanding, and perceptiveness. Both are fantastic at performing the roles of side and secondary characters too. They set the ideal tone for the story, and their expressive performance conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two are a perfect pairing, with voices and talent that complement each other and a captivating performance that hooks you to the story. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.
Love for Hire
By: Nikki Castle
Narrated by: Gideon Frost, Savannah Thomas
While I don’t know how this is my first Nikki Castle book, it certainly won’t be my last. She is a gifted author with a wonderful writing style, and her engaging story immediately captured my attention and held it straight to the end. The character development and growth are fantastic, complex yet relatable, and easy to connect with and fall for. Nicholas “Nico” Price, an MMA fighter, has had no luck with romance or finding his special someone. When one of his buddies mentioned he should hire an escort and passed a business card to him, he gave it some thought. Scarlett Adler left her unhappy life behind for a better life when she was nineteen, and not having much experience, it was her looks and demeanor that landed her the job as a high-end escort. The money was good, so was the agency she worked for, which vetted the clients and provided security. Nikko is training for his next fight, and wanting some company, he calls the service and has his first date. Scarlett, who goes by Daisy when with a client, keeps things professional with them, trying to give them what they want, but Nikko reads her and turns things around on her, asking to do what she wants. He also knows Daisy is not her real name, so he calls her Red, which is fitting, not just for her red lips, but close to her real name. It was fabulous watching these two get to know each other, she trying to keep up her walls, he trying to break them down. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out, with the perfect balance of drama, angst, some charming and heartwarming moments, lots of heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Besides the two amazing lead characters, there are some equally amazing and intriguing side/secondary characters too, especially Nikko’s brother, and I am looking forward to their stories. Nikki Castle, thank you for this wonderfully entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧Gideon Frost and Savannah Thomas were fantastic at bringing the characters to life, giving them voices that were fitting for a perfect portrayal of each. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Ms. Thomas is a natural in Scarlet’s role, grasping every aspect of her personality, from her vulnerabilities to her strength and determination, growing as her character grew. Frost is just as fabulous in Nikko’s role, also showcasing every aspect of his personality, including his kindness, understanding, and perceptiveness. Both are fantastic at performing the roles of side and secondary characters too. They set the ideal tone for the story, and their expressive performance conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two are a perfect pairing, with voices and talent that complement each other and a captivating performance that hooks you to the story. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nikki Castle has done it again! I have loved every book she has put out and this is no exception to that. I have the privilege to be on her ARC and ALC teams, so I was able to both read and listen to this masterpiece already! And I must say, for the audiobook, she picked the perfect narrators!
I wanna start by saying the storyline and details in this book were absolutely phenomenal. In this book, Nikki made our main characters personal development the story. And she did it in such a way that I became invested very quickly in how our MCs would learn to live their best lives. I rather enjoyed that there was no major external plot point outside our characters, making them the focal point captivated me in their journeys more. Now don’t take that wrong, I am not very eloquent with my reviews unfortunately (no matter how hard I try). There are still plot points outside of our characters, but their character development was the biggest factor in driving the book and their relationship along.
Now, for our characters, Nikki has a way of writing them with depth that pulls at your heartstrings. Let’s look at Scarlett. On the surface, she is a stunning escort that make sure her clients get a great experience. But underneath the confident facade, she is a young woman wishing for a different life. Scarlet was brought up to believe women were only good at pleasing men and looking pretty. And her adult life she internally fights between what she wants and what she knows. It was amazing to see her gain, true confidence, and learn what unconditional love truly looks like.
Who helped her along this journey? None other than our fighter Nico. Throughout the story, we saw him in a similar battle between his current life, and the life he desires. Nico loves fighting, but there was something missing for him. Like he helped Scarlett, she helped him see what that missing piece was. To me, it was also beautiful to see him learn to love Scarlett in the way she needed, while also learning about the importance of trust and communication.
I absolutely loved these two together. Each of them were able to balance one another, both physically and emotionally. Nico could be such a gentleman to Scarlett…while also being very ungentlemanly at times (in a good way). Scarlett was able to be vulnerable with him, which is something new for her. They each learn and respect one another’s boundaries, building their foundation of love.
Overall, I am so grateful to have been able to listen and review this book. I was entertained from cover to cover, wanting Scarlett and Nico to hurry up and get to their HEA. I highly recommend this book and all other Nikki Castle stories!
🌶️🌶️
Pepper percentage:
8.6% of the pages contain spicy content
14% of the chapters contain spicy content
I wanna start by saying the storyline and details in this book were absolutely phenomenal. In this book, Nikki made our main characters personal development the story. And she did it in such a way that I became invested very quickly in how our MCs would learn to live their best lives. I rather enjoyed that there was no major external plot point outside our characters, making them the focal point captivated me in their journeys more. Now don’t take that wrong, I am not very eloquent with my reviews unfortunately (no matter how hard I try). There are still plot points outside of our characters, but their character development was the biggest factor in driving the book and their relationship along.
Now, for our characters, Nikki has a way of writing them with depth that pulls at your heartstrings. Let’s look at Scarlett. On the surface, she is a stunning escort that make sure her clients get a great experience. But underneath the confident facade, she is a young woman wishing for a different life. Scarlet was brought up to believe women were only good at pleasing men and looking pretty. And her adult life she internally fights between what she wants and what she knows. It was amazing to see her gain, true confidence, and learn what unconditional love truly looks like.
Who helped her along this journey? None other than our fighter Nico. Throughout the story, we saw him in a similar battle between his current life, and the life he desires. Nico loves fighting, but there was something missing for him. Like he helped Scarlett, she helped him see what that missing piece was. To me, it was also beautiful to see him learn to love Scarlett in the way she needed, while also learning about the importance of trust and communication.
I absolutely loved these two together. Each of them were able to balance one another, both physically and emotionally. Nico could be such a gentleman to Scarlett…while also being very ungentlemanly at times (in a good way). Scarlett was able to be vulnerable with him, which is something new for her. They each learn and respect one another’s boundaries, building their foundation of love.
Overall, I am so grateful to have been able to listen and review this book. I was entertained from cover to cover, wanting Scarlett and Nico to hurry up and get to their HEA. I highly recommend this book and all other Nikki Castle stories!
🌶️🌶️
Pepper percentage:
8.6% of the pages contain spicy content
14% of the chapters contain spicy content
Review of advance copy
Love for Hire by Nikki Castle is a contemporary sports romance, the first book in the Price Brothers series. Thank you to Author Nikki Castle and Hambright PR for the gifted ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.
This book can be described as:
🥊 Sports Romance (MMA)
🖤 Escort x Client
🥊 He Falls First
🖤 Broken Girl
🥊 Found Family
My honest opinions:
This book was a bit deceiving, but in the best way possible! I was expecting more of a taboo romance, being that the FMC is an escort, however it really was quite the opposite and ended up coming across as a truly sweet, romantic story with a good amount of spice! It starts off pretty HOT and heavy with some spicy scenes, then mellows out in the middle as the couple gets to know each other. I would describe it as a “tentative slow burn” in the best way. Then when the yearning comes full circle, there’s an incredible spicy scene that was even HOTTER! The character’s chemistry was amazing and there were some really great spicy microtropes that were so fun! I would give this 4🌶️’s.
Next, the story was a tiny bit predictable as there’s little to this story other than the romance, yet it was definitely a breath of fresh air to just read about two people falling in love. I would say it is a great palate cleanser! Also, ‘never-have-I-ever’ said, “I love a 3rd act break-up!”… but when it’s followed up by the most perfect groveling… chef’s kiss!!! It was exactly the right amount of drama that this book needed and only made it better!
I was fortunate to do an immersive read with the audiobook. Overall I did enjoy the audio. The only thing I felt was slightly off was that the male narrator’s voice seemed a little too mature for this character and the low growly tone in the spice scenes came across a little unnatural for me. However, there was great distinction between the other male characters he voiced throughout the audio and I really liked that. Well done! I enjoyed the female narrator’s voice quite a bit. I was impressed with how seamlessly she could go from the “escort voice” to her character’s “natural voice,” transitioning from sultry $ex-worker to unsure young woman, in the same paragraph, was really smooth! Bravo!
Finally, this book exceed my expectations and surprised me in so many ways. It was a fantastic read! I also really liked getting to know the Price brothers and I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in this series! Overall I would rate this book 5⭐️’s.
This book can be described as:
🥊 Sports Romance (MMA)
🖤 Escort x Client
🥊 He Falls First
🖤 Broken Girl
🥊 Found Family
My honest opinions:
This book was a bit deceiving, but in the best way possible! I was expecting more of a taboo romance, being that the FMC is an escort, however it really was quite the opposite and ended up coming across as a truly sweet, romantic story with a good amount of spice! It starts off pretty HOT and heavy with some spicy scenes, then mellows out in the middle as the couple gets to know each other. I would describe it as a “tentative slow burn” in the best way. Then when the yearning comes full circle, there’s an incredible spicy scene that was even HOTTER! The character’s chemistry was amazing and there were some really great spicy microtropes that were so fun! I would give this 4🌶️’s.
Next, the story was a tiny bit predictable as there’s little to this story other than the romance, yet it was definitely a breath of fresh air to just read about two people falling in love. I would say it is a great palate cleanser! Also, ‘never-have-I-ever’ said, “I love a 3rd act break-up!”… but when it’s followed up by the most perfect groveling… chef’s kiss!!! It was exactly the right amount of drama that this book needed and only made it better!
I was fortunate to do an immersive read with the audiobook. Overall I did enjoy the audio. The only thing I felt was slightly off was that the male narrator’s voice seemed a little too mature for this character and the low growly tone in the spice scenes came across a little unnatural for me. However, there was great distinction between the other male characters he voiced throughout the audio and I really liked that. Well done! I enjoyed the female narrator’s voice quite a bit. I was impressed with how seamlessly she could go from the “escort voice” to her character’s “natural voice,” transitioning from sultry $ex-worker to unsure young woman, in the same paragraph, was really smooth! Bravo!
Finally, this book exceed my expectations and surprised me in so many ways. It was a fantastic read! I also really liked getting to know the Price brothers and I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in this series! Overall I would rate this book 5⭐️’s.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love for Hire is the first book in Nikki Castle’s new series, The Price Brothers, and saying that I loved it doesn’t quite capture what I felt while reading this story.
“I don’t just dream of you, Red. I daydream of you.”
Nico and Scarlett were absolutely stunning to read. What each of them made me feel is exactly why I read books.
“I love you because you’re the smartest person I know.”
Scarlett is a very smart and amazing young woman, raised with very low self-esteem, who finds herself alone in a big city and becomes an escort. She deals with everyday issues related to her body, her weight, and how perfect she believes she needs to appear to the world. She struggles to trust men, but most importantly, she seems incapable of believing in herself. Until she meets Nicole, an MMA fighter who feels half empty and is searching for a new spark in his life. The sweetest MMC you’ll ever know. The perfect book boyfriend who will make you want to pull him out of the pages and into real life. He is patient, non-judgmental, the perfect shoulder to lean on, and the way he respects our girl is simply unbelievable to witness.
“Part of me wants to get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness. But…another part of me is proud of you for telling me no.” ❤️
The pain, the sorrow, the trauma, and the mistakes made throughout their journey toward the most beautiful and pure love made me yearn for them in a way that had me cursing, crying, and smiling while reading. And the steam? It was hot, amazingly hot, but also beautiful to read. Definitely the perfect balance between steam and plot.
“Feel me,” I whisper against her lips. “Feel only me. Feel how gone I am for you.”
Side characters? Nico’s brothers, Lucas and Alexander? Well, I have absolutely no doubt that I’m going to love them in their own stories. I’m already eagerly waiting for Love Decoded, Lucas’s book.
Thank you, Nikki Castle, for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this amazing book!
And to you, who might be reading this: just go and pre-order it, add it to your TBR, or your Goodreads Want to Read list, you won’t regret it. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Why you’ll love this book:
• Escort x client
• Sports romance (MMA)
• Broken girl
• He falls first
• Boy obsessed
“I don’t just dream of you, Red. I daydream of you.”
Nico and Scarlett were absolutely stunning to read. What each of them made me feel is exactly why I read books.
“I love you because you’re the smartest person I know.”
Scarlett is a very smart and amazing young woman, raised with very low self-esteem, who finds herself alone in a big city and becomes an escort. She deals with everyday issues related to her body, her weight, and how perfect she believes she needs to appear to the world. She struggles to trust men, but most importantly, she seems incapable of believing in herself. Until she meets Nicole, an MMA fighter who feels half empty and is searching for a new spark in his life. The sweetest MMC you’ll ever know. The perfect book boyfriend who will make you want to pull him out of the pages and into real life. He is patient, non-judgmental, the perfect shoulder to lean on, and the way he respects our girl is simply unbelievable to witness.
“Part of me wants to get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness. But…another part of me is proud of you for telling me no.” ❤️
The pain, the sorrow, the trauma, and the mistakes made throughout their journey toward the most beautiful and pure love made me yearn for them in a way that had me cursing, crying, and smiling while reading. And the steam? It was hot, amazingly hot, but also beautiful to read. Definitely the perfect balance between steam and plot.
“Feel me,” I whisper against her lips. “Feel only me. Feel how gone I am for you.”
Side characters? Nico’s brothers, Lucas and Alexander? Well, I have absolutely no doubt that I’m going to love them in their own stories. I’m already eagerly waiting for Love Decoded, Lucas’s book.
Thank you, Nikki Castle, for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this amazing book!
And to you, who might be reading this: just go and pre-order it, add it to your TBR, or your Goodreads Want to Read list, you won’t regret it. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Why you’ll love this book:
• Escort x client
• Sports romance (MMA)
• Broken girl
• He falls first
• Boy obsessed
February 14, 2026
Nikki Castle just doing Nikki Castle things and blowing this escort x client trope out of the water with a 5 star read. I try my hardest to hold back when I read one of her books but me devouring them cannot be helped and Scarlett and Nico were so freaking perfect.
Scarlett and Nico are both feeling the same way in life at the exact same time. Both have jobs that their hearts aren’t into and are both lonely. Scarlett is an escort and she does her day to day while being numb from what her job entails. Nico is an MMA fighter who is realizing he’s restless and doesn’t know if MMA is fulfilling his life anymore. When these two meet, they know it’s something different, even though the circumstances aren’t the best, with Nico hiring Scarlett.
Scarlett in this book made my heart hurt so much. She didn’t know how to act if she wasn’t pleasing a man, whether it was just for conversation or sexually. I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to hug her through the pages. I was so happy when she was finally growing a backbone to figure out what she wanted in life because it was HER decision to make, not any mans. But when she called him baby for the first time, it hit harder than when he did that was for sure.
Nico Price was perfect. We love a man who respect boundaries and pays attention. This man knew he was fighting for something real and just kept swinging. He knew there was more to Scarlett than her beauty and what she could do for him. He just was so patient with her and I love a scene where he takes care of her when she’s sick. Gets me right in the feels every time.
I will say I did love the spice in this book. But what I loved more is how backwards it was. He did hire her as an escort at first but when he starts to date her and being intimate was off the table, I thought that was so special of him. It was the action of showing her his intentions and asking those questions no one asked her before that I really loved. He wanted to know her for her. And he wanted to show her what a man who is truly interested in her could be like. He was all in from the git go that I was so giddy from smiling the entire time.
Thank you to Nikki Castle for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
💋Escort x client
💋Sports romance (MMA)
💋Broken girl
💋He falls first
💋Boy obsessed
Scarlett and Nico are both feeling the same way in life at the exact same time. Both have jobs that their hearts aren’t into and are both lonely. Scarlett is an escort and she does her day to day while being numb from what her job entails. Nico is an MMA fighter who is realizing he’s restless and doesn’t know if MMA is fulfilling his life anymore. When these two meet, they know it’s something different, even though the circumstances aren’t the best, with Nico hiring Scarlett.
Scarlett in this book made my heart hurt so much. She didn’t know how to act if she wasn’t pleasing a man, whether it was just for conversation or sexually. I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to hug her through the pages. I was so happy when she was finally growing a backbone to figure out what she wanted in life because it was HER decision to make, not any mans. But when she called him baby for the first time, it hit harder than when he did that was for sure.
Nico Price was perfect. We love a man who respect boundaries and pays attention. This man knew he was fighting for something real and just kept swinging. He knew there was more to Scarlett than her beauty and what she could do for him. He just was so patient with her and I love a scene where he takes care of her when she’s sick. Gets me right in the feels every time.
I will say I did love the spice in this book. But what I loved more is how backwards it was. He did hire her as an escort at first but when he starts to date her and being intimate was off the table, I thought that was so special of him. It was the action of showing her his intentions and asking those questions no one asked her before that I really loved. He wanted to know her for her. And he wanted to show her what a man who is truly interested in her could be like. He was all in from the git go that I was so giddy from smiling the entire time.
Thank you to Nikki Castle for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
💋Escort x client
💋Sports romance (MMA)
💋Broken girl
💋He falls first
💋Boy obsessed
February 13, 2026
ALC Review
Nikki Castle writes delicious men, and Nico Price is certainly a top contender in and out of the ring. Though in this story, it was Scarlett who stole my breath, left me flustered, and had me in a chokehold from start to finish. Love For Hire is performed in duet by Savannah Thomas and Gideon Frost and they fit the bill as Scarlett and Nico
This book is for women who are craving to be seen as more than what their circumstances dictate for them; and that women are truly in control of their own sexual and body autonomy. And it’s also for the hope that intuitive and sensitive men like Nico exist.
Savannah is a smart seductress behind the microphone as the FMC. As a young twenty-two year old high end escort, Scarlett has a list of clients who appreciate her body and how her body can serve them. Beyond the stereotypical expectations of her occupation, she is also an intellectual student and has aspirations far beyond her current status. Savannah gives Scarlett a perfect duality; when she is in escort mode she is seductive and calculated…and Scarlett’s strength is balanced by her insecurities.
Savannah is exceptionally powerful when confronting the mental and emotional gymnastics Scarlett encounters once she realizes Nico is more than a client. The strength and vision Scarlett finds within herself as the story develops is mirrored in Savannah’s performance — there is so much depth to her perceived pleasure and profound pain.
Gideon’s take on Nico is surrounded by green flags. Nico is looking for something more, and as an MMA fighter he has always abided by the rules set before him. When he’s encouraged to try the high-end escort service for companionship, he is cautious a such a gentleman.
Gideon is remarkable and showing the care and observational skills of Nico — his voice is gritty and gravelly, like he’s been hustling the rings in Philly his entire life. Nico is perceptive and his connection with Scarlett blossoms as they become more comfortable with each other.
What I appreciated so much about this story, and consequently the performances, is that there was a chance for healing, discovery and redemption for both characters. It is about damn time that female mental health is represented without stigma and discrimination; Scarlett goes through it and both Nikki and Savannah give her the story she deserves.
Nikki Castle writes delicious men, and Nico Price is certainly a top contender in and out of the ring. Though in this story, it was Scarlett who stole my breath, left me flustered, and had me in a chokehold from start to finish. Love For Hire is performed in duet by Savannah Thomas and Gideon Frost and they fit the bill as Scarlett and Nico
This book is for women who are craving to be seen as more than what their circumstances dictate for them; and that women are truly in control of their own sexual and body autonomy. And it’s also for the hope that intuitive and sensitive men like Nico exist.
Savannah is a smart seductress behind the microphone as the FMC. As a young twenty-two year old high end escort, Scarlett has a list of clients who appreciate her body and how her body can serve them. Beyond the stereotypical expectations of her occupation, she is also an intellectual student and has aspirations far beyond her current status. Savannah gives Scarlett a perfect duality; when she is in escort mode she is seductive and calculated…and Scarlett’s strength is balanced by her insecurities.
Savannah is exceptionally powerful when confronting the mental and emotional gymnastics Scarlett encounters once she realizes Nico is more than a client. The strength and vision Scarlett finds within herself as the story develops is mirrored in Savannah’s performance — there is so much depth to her perceived pleasure and profound pain.
Gideon’s take on Nico is surrounded by green flags. Nico is looking for something more, and as an MMA fighter he has always abided by the rules set before him. When he’s encouraged to try the high-end escort service for companionship, he is cautious a such a gentleman.
Gideon is remarkable and showing the care and observational skills of Nico — his voice is gritty and gravelly, like he’s been hustling the rings in Philly his entire life. Nico is perceptive and his connection with Scarlett blossoms as they become more comfortable with each other.
What I appreciated so much about this story, and consequently the performances, is that there was a chance for healing, discovery and redemption for both characters. It is about damn time that female mental health is represented without stigma and discrimination; Scarlett goes through it and both Nikki and Savannah give her the story she deserves.
Review of advance copy
Let me start this review by saying that I never knew there were different levels when it came to nice guys, but Nico the male main character here totally took the definition of a good guy up a notch! Instead of being just a perfect book boyfriend, Nico was literally a walking green flag. As a professional MMA fighter, he completely broke the stereotype most people might have about those muscular alpha males by showing us what a big softie with golden retriever personality he actually was. *teary heart eyes*
The amount of respect, awe, and even a touch of feminism he had for Scarlett, an escort he hired to help him find the purpose in life, was out of this world. This book was the first escort/client story I'd ever read about and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Scarlett's story reminded me of a documentary/interview about a brothel madam I once watched, which shared the experiences of the courtesans regarding the why and how they decided to do what they did. Needless to say, Scarlett had her reasons to become an escort and I appreciated that the author shed light on not only the darker side of such career but also the struggle Scarlett encountered when real feelings were caught.
Much to my astonishment, Nico and Scarlett's story turned out to be beyond satisfying and heartfelt. Nico managed to see Scarlett's worth despite the fact that she had such a thick layer of self-doubt, self-deprecation, and sense of insecurity. I loved the way Nico slowly guided her through those difficulties and helped her come out of the shell by never giving up on the possibility of "them". He was indeed the most ideal boyfriend material!
In short, please go add this book to your TBR and preorder it right away! Love for Hire was such an enjoyable read and I actually devoured it in one sitting. Better yet, Nico's lawyer brother's, Lucas', story is coming next and I can't be more excited! This book is my first by Nikki Castle and it surely will not be the last. :D
***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for kindly providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
The amount of respect, awe, and even a touch of feminism he had for Scarlett, an escort he hired to help him find the purpose in life, was out of this world. This book was the first escort/client story I'd ever read about and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Scarlett's story reminded me of a documentary/interview about a brothel madam I once watched, which shared the experiences of the courtesans regarding the why and how they decided to do what they did. Needless to say, Scarlett had her reasons to become an escort and I appreciated that the author shed light on not only the darker side of such career but also the struggle Scarlett encountered when real feelings were caught.
Much to my astonishment, Nico and Scarlett's story turned out to be beyond satisfying and heartfelt. Nico managed to see Scarlett's worth despite the fact that she had such a thick layer of self-doubt, self-deprecation, and sense of insecurity. I loved the way Nico slowly guided her through those difficulties and helped her come out of the shell by never giving up on the possibility of "them". He was indeed the most ideal boyfriend material!
In short, please go add this book to your TBR and preorder it right away! Love for Hire was such an enjoyable read and I actually devoured it in one sitting. Better yet, Nico's lawyer brother's, Lucas', story is coming next and I can't be more excited! This book is my first by Nikki Castle and it surely will not be the last. :D
***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for kindly providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Review of advance copy
I am soft. I am emotional. I am staring at the ceiling rethinking my life because Love for Hire by Nikki Castle just wrapped my heart in velvet gloves and squeezed.
Scarlett Adler broke me in the quietest way. Nineteen years old, stepping off a train into New York City with hope tucked in her pocket… and three years later she is surviving instead of living. There is this numbness around her at the start, like she has carefully folded herself smaller to endure the world. Watching her slowly unfold again felt intimate. Tender. Earned.
And then Nico Price walks in.
Listen. I love a professional athlete romance, but Nico? Nico is different. He is an MMA fighter, yes. Strong. Focused. Disciplined. But beneath that? He is searching. Restless in a life that looks perfect from the outside. The way he sees Scarlett, not the escort, not the arrangement, but her, had me clutching my chest.
What starts as a transaction slowly turns into something fragile and terrifyingly real. One date becomes two. Two becomes a rhythm. And every time he asks her out for real, I wanted to stand up and cheer. The tension is not just physical. It is emotional. It is Scarlett trying to unlearn years of distrust. It is Nico trying to prove that wanting her is not a fleeting impulse but a choice.
Their chemistry is beautiful, but it is the vulnerability that made this five stars for me. Nico is patient without being patronizing. Protective without being controlling. And Scarlett’s journey toward trusting someone with her heart felt raw and authentic. She does not just fall. She fights it. She questions it. She risks it anyway.
I absolutely loved Scarlett and Nico. Loved the way he finds new purpose through loving her. Loved the way she rediscovers her worth in his steady gaze. Loved that their relationship grows from something transactional into something sacred.
This book feels like standing in the middle of a crowded city and suddenly realizing someone chose you. Not for an hour. Not for a night. But for keeps.
Scarlett Adler broke me in the quietest way. Nineteen years old, stepping off a train into New York City with hope tucked in her pocket… and three years later she is surviving instead of living. There is this numbness around her at the start, like she has carefully folded herself smaller to endure the world. Watching her slowly unfold again felt intimate. Tender. Earned.
And then Nico Price walks in.
Listen. I love a professional athlete romance, but Nico? Nico is different. He is an MMA fighter, yes. Strong. Focused. Disciplined. But beneath that? He is searching. Restless in a life that looks perfect from the outside. The way he sees Scarlett, not the escort, not the arrangement, but her, had me clutching my chest.
What starts as a transaction slowly turns into something fragile and terrifyingly real. One date becomes two. Two becomes a rhythm. And every time he asks her out for real, I wanted to stand up and cheer. The tension is not just physical. It is emotional. It is Scarlett trying to unlearn years of distrust. It is Nico trying to prove that wanting her is not a fleeting impulse but a choice.
Their chemistry is beautiful, but it is the vulnerability that made this five stars for me. Nico is patient without being patronizing. Protective without being controlling. And Scarlett’s journey toward trusting someone with her heart felt raw and authentic. She does not just fall. She fights it. She questions it. She risks it anyway.
I absolutely loved Scarlett and Nico. Loved the way he finds new purpose through loving her. Loved the way she rediscovers her worth in his steady gaze. Loved that their relationship grows from something transactional into something sacred.
This book feels like standing in the middle of a crowded city and suddenly realizing someone chose you. Not for an hour. Not for a night. But for keeps.
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