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Working Men #1
The Mechanic
His hands aren't the only things getting dirty.
Lily
I grew up with everything I ever wanted. Wealth and privilege, and an attitude that practically screamed “I’m better than you”. Only, things went wrong and now I have nothing. The people in this town don’t give a damn that I live in a broken-down trailer and am one sandwich away from starving. They figure I got what I deserve. They’re not wrong.
Now, I’m standing in front of the town’s sexy-as-sin mechanic, Jack Williams, and offering to let him… do things to me with those big, dirty hands of his, in exchange for car repairs. Things that the old me would be horrified by. I should be ashamed. Instead, all I can think about is how good it would feel to have Jack touch me.
Jack
I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Raised by a man who liked to talk to me with his fists and didn’t give a damn if I lived or died. Taking care of myself is my number one priority, and I’m not interested in other people’s troubles.
Especially trouble in the form of a stuck-up, former rich girl like Lily Carson. It’s not my problem her money, family and friends are gone. Only, she’s standing in my repair shop offering me something I’ve wanted for a very long time. One touch of her soft skin and I’m lost.
Lily belongs to me now, and I’ll make damn sure she and everyone else in this town knows it.
Author’s Note: This is the first in a series of stand-alone, short and dirty (So.Very.Dirty.) novellas of 20k or less. If you’re looking for quick, one-handed (ahem) reads with insta-love, over-the-top alpha, blue-collar men, then the trope-alicious Working Men series is for you!
Lily
I grew up with everything I ever wanted. Wealth and privilege, and an attitude that practically screamed “I’m better than you”. Only, things went wrong and now I have nothing. The people in this town don’t give a damn that I live in a broken-down trailer and am one sandwich away from starving. They figure I got what I deserve. They’re not wrong.
Now, I’m standing in front of the town’s sexy-as-sin mechanic, Jack Williams, and offering to let him… do things to me with those big, dirty hands of his, in exchange for car repairs. Things that the old me would be horrified by. I should be ashamed. Instead, all I can think about is how good it would feel to have Jack touch me.
Jack
I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Raised by a man who liked to talk to me with his fists and didn’t give a damn if I lived or died. Taking care of myself is my number one priority, and I’m not interested in other people’s troubles.
Especially trouble in the form of a stuck-up, former rich girl like Lily Carson. It’s not my problem her money, family and friends are gone. Only, she’s standing in my repair shop offering me something I’ve wanted for a very long time. One touch of her soft skin and I’m lost.
Lily belongs to me now, and I’ll make damn sure she and everyone else in this town knows it.
Author’s Note: This is the first in a series of stand-alone, short and dirty (So.Very.Dirty.) novellas of 20k or less. If you’re looking for quick, one-handed (ahem) reads with insta-love, over-the-top alpha, blue-collar men, then the trope-alicious Working Men series is for you!
64 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2018
214 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Ramona Gray
60 books259 followersRamona Gray is a Canadian romance author. She currently lives in Alberta with her awesome husband and her mutant Chihuahua. She loves bad reality television, good coffee, and reading and writing about the steamier moments in life.
She loves chatting with readers so feel free to send her an email at ramonagraybooks@gmail.com or check out her website at www.ramonagray.ca
She also writes paranormal and contemporary romance as her alter-ego "Elizabeth Kelly". Check out Elizabeth's books at www.elizabethkelly.ca
She loves chatting with readers so feel free to send her an email at ramonagraybooks@gmail.com or check out her website at www.ramonagray.ca
She also writes paranormal and contemporary romance as her alter-ego "Elizabeth Kelly". Check out Elizabeth's books at www.elizabethkelly.ca
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 12, 2024
4.25 smutty stars
Sometimes I just want a 64 page novella about a riches-to-rags ice princess, the rough mechanic she owes money to, and a transactional sex bargain. 😏 And OF COURSE he’s also fighting the urge to fix all of her problems the whole time.
Lots of steam, a touch of plot — everything I want from an OTT, insta-you’re-mine novella.
Sometimes I just want a 64 page novella about a riches-to-rags ice princess, the rough mechanic she owes money to, and a transactional sex bargain. 😏 And OF COURSE he’s also fighting the urge to fix all of her problems the whole time.
Lots of steam, a touch of plot — everything I want from an OTT, insta-you’re-mine novella.
June 25, 2018
Too Short
I really enjoyed this Novella, but I wanted just one more chapter. I wanted a chapter after they moved in together. Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this Novella, but I wanted just one more chapter. I wanted a chapter after they moved in together. Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
October 3, 2023
Quick spicy read. Insta lust and HFN ending. The town's rich mean girl has fallen from grace and is barely scraping by, the local mechanic isn't above taking advantage of her bad luck by accepting her proposal to pay for work on her car with sex. Hot, filthy, and surprisingly sweet at times.
For fans of Jessa Kane and the Tessa Bailey of old.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🔥🔥🔥
Tropes
Cinderella/rescue trope
Class difference
Blue collar mmc
For fans of Jessa Kane and the Tessa Bailey of old.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🔥🔥🔥
Tropes
Cinderella/rescue trope
Class difference
Blue collar mmc
October 9, 2025
Was this crude? Yes. Was it sweet? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes!
I was surprised by this novella. We get thrown into the story and quickly learn about the characters. I thought they were surprisingly sweet to one another, given their past. He seemed to have always liked her. But she was a bit stuck up. She liked him but never thought he would like her too. I like that she has remained in town and was willing to own up to her past.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I was surprised by this novella. We get thrown into the story and quickly learn about the characters. I thought they were surprisingly sweet to one another, given their past. He seemed to have always liked her. But she was a bit stuck up. She liked him but never thought he would like her too. I like that she has remained in town and was willing to own up to her past.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 27, 2018
The Mechanic is a quick, sexy read that I couldn’t put down. The characters are three dimensional and not without flaw. They are real or feel that way lol. There is a perfect combination of naughtiness and dominant alpha male without crossing over into the no fly zone of too dominating. I really can’t recommend this quickie enough.
Merged review:
The Mechanic is a quick, sexy read that I couldn’t put down. The characters are three dimensional and not without flaw. They are real or feel that way lol. There is a perfect combination of naughtiness and dominant alpha male without crossing over into the no fly zone of too dominating. I really can’t recommend this quickie enough.
Merged review:
The Mechanic is a quick, sexy read that I couldn’t put down. The characters are three dimensional and not without flaw. They are real or feel that way lol. There is a perfect combination of naughtiness and dominant alpha male without crossing over into the no fly zone of too dominating. I really can’t recommend this quickie enough.
March 29, 2018
A great beginning to a cool clutch of sexy stories! This is a tightly written, fast read that will leave your head spinning with all of the sexiness and fast moving action. The characters were easy to understand and root for. Lily was an outsider in her own home town, she used to be a mean girl, and then, Karma hit her hard. Her story made me wonder what a person would do out of desperation just to survive, and then imagine that even that was not enough to save themselves from the crap that they have fallen into. I thought that Lily and Jack were people that needed to fill in the empty spots in the other one's lives. I didn't like Jack at first, his agenda was pretty cold. The heat level was pretty high I loved the intensity of this novella, and the way the author made you feel the feels and yet still told a satisfyingly concise story is also important to note.
September 17, 2025
short, quick, and DIRTY. Possessive alpha male saves the high school rich bitch after she loses everything and falls from the social ladder.
January 3, 2023
This was my first book from the author. It’s short and smutty. It’s more lust than romance, but it’s a quick fun read. I’ve been looking for a new novella author since I made my way through Jessa Kane’s backlog. This one has potential.
No virgins, a few steamy scenes, very cocky alphahole male, sort of enemies to lovers?, not really kinky or spicy, but it was very steamy.
No virgins, a few steamy scenes, very cocky alphahole male, sort of enemies to lovers?, not really kinky or spicy, but it was very steamy.
September 24, 2023
Well this was some coarse and smexy fast-action fun. It's only about 50 pages long so don't expect a fully executed back-story or build-up, this is just straight to the good stuff. And it's pretty smoking.
The characters aren't anything new: Poor like rich girl hits hard times, and a protective, slightly alpha, blue-collar guy who always lusted after her from afar but thought he wasn't good enough. But there is chemistry, some unexpected comedy, and a cameo from a big ginger cat called Gary.
The author describes this book, and others in the series as:
I think this sums up The Mechanic perfectly. It was a great palate cleanser between darker and more involved books and was some quick, seriously smutty fun.
The characters aren't anything new: Poor like rich girl hits hard times, and a protective, slightly alpha, blue-collar guy who always lusted after her from afar but thought he wasn't good enough. But there is chemistry, some unexpected comedy, and a cameo from a big ginger cat called Gary.
The author describes this book, and others in the series as:
"a series of stand-alone, short and dirty (So.Very.Dirty.) novellas. If you’re looking for quick, one-handed (ahem) reads with insta-love, over-the-top alpha, blue-collar men, then the trope-alicious Working Men series is for you!"
I think this sums up The Mechanic perfectly. It was a great palate cleanser between darker and more involved books and was some quick, seriously smutty fun.
September 29, 2022
Lily's family had it all but somethings don't always last she used to treat people like she was better now though she can hardly hold her head up but she manages her car breaks down and she is at the Garage of someone she went to school and barely remembers. Jack owns his own Garage and he does pretty well he knows Lily is broke and he tells her that he will fix her car but payment would be his choice Lily thinks that he could do nothing that my encourage her to date him or even talk to him, except she needs help. Jack realizes remembers her and how she acted before and how she is now and he likes her seems he is only one who might be willing to help her. Book 1 in the series. Short stories of instalove. An interesting storyline and characters. I purchased book. I volunteered an honest review.
May 6, 2019
A hot, fast read. I really enjoyed this novella and feel that it had potential to be turned into a full length novel - or actually it is just my wish that it was longer.
Lily is a case of riches to rags and when she doesn't have money to pay for car repairs, she makes an offer that shocks the mechanic. Jack has known Lily since school, knows her story and can't seem to stop the sudden feel of protectiveness, possessiveness and jealously.
Fast burn, fast read but still long enough for the hero to show JP traits. Can be read as a standalone. As I said before, wish this book could have gone on just a couple more chapters.
Lily is a case of riches to rags and when she doesn't have money to pay for car repairs, she makes an offer that shocks the mechanic. Jack has known Lily since school, knows her story and can't seem to stop the sudden feel of protectiveness, possessiveness and jealously.
Fast burn, fast read but still long enough for the hero to show JP traits. Can be read as a standalone. As I said before, wish this book could have gone on just a couple more chapters.
March 18, 2024
Jack and Lily get into an agreement
Jack and Lily get into an agreement so she can pay off a debt to fix her car.
Jack has had the hots for Lily since high school when she was a stuck-up rich girl. Now that he has a chance to be with her, he's taking it.
Lily's life is in shambles. Her father's in jail, and her mother went off with the nest egg they had put away. She has no way to pay for her car and suggests their exchange that includes sexual favors.
This is a hot read! I enjoyed this read 📚! I did wish Lily got the chance to confront her selfish mother.
Jack and Lily get into an agreement so she can pay off a debt to fix her car.
Jack has had the hots for Lily since high school when she was a stuck-up rich girl. Now that he has a chance to be with her, he's taking it.
Lily's life is in shambles. Her father's in jail, and her mother went off with the nest egg they had put away. She has no way to pay for her car and suggests their exchange that includes sexual favors.
This is a hot read! I enjoyed this read 📚! I did wish Lily got the chance to confront her selfish mother.
January 1, 2024
a little rushed
The story could be so promising. I didnt realize it was a short story though. It’s basically all smut, which I do not mind at all. Except this piece has a few of my personal ick’s… tiny hands, “cum” as a verb, seems rushed and not at all like the characters have much depth. This could be good if it were a full-length book. But to me the writing wasn’t what I expected or admire.
The story could be so promising. I didnt realize it was a short story though. It’s basically all smut, which I do not mind at all. Except this piece has a few of my personal ick’s… tiny hands, “cum” as a verb, seems rushed and not at all like the characters have much depth. This could be good if it were a full-length book. But to me the writing wasn’t what I expected or admire.
June 20, 2025
Short, spicy, and deeply committed to two things: the word “princess” and the relentless handling of a single breast. If he touched it one more time I was going to throw my Kindle into traffic. The plot was barely a suggestion, the dialogue was 90% grunting or pet names, and yet somehow…I finished it.
April 18, 2018
This is a great fun and quick read. Even tho its short the characters are well developed and well written. It has a sexy protective alpha in Jack. And a strong yet vulnerable heroine in Lily. Loved their chemistry.
June 23, 2018
Jacks a bit of an ass. He just decides what is and then takes it. It works with their dynamic though, Lily is a little lost and in need of someone decisive. They’re actually very sweet together and this is a great start to this series. I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
January 19, 2020
I super enjoyed this book. That being said the few books in this series I’ve read all have the same fault, they end so freaking abruptly that it feels like a non ending. Also, I really wanted the H to publicly humiliate the h’s ex.
September 24, 2023
Exactly as advertised. This is a quick sexy read with a little sweetness sprinkled in. The story is simple but well written and the spicy bits are fun. If I have a complaint it’s that the sex is fairly vanilla, but that’s more about me being a kinkster than about the book. 😆
Read
October 21, 2023Mechanics are HOT!
Even I had a mechanic once! He really new how to use his tool! I think they all do. Lily and Jack came up with a nice little arrangement. You'll learn more when you read this story. It's worth it!
Pamela S.
Even I had a mechanic once! He really new how to use his tool! I think they all do. Lily and Jack came up with a nice little arrangement. You'll learn more when you read this story. It's worth it!
Pamela S.
January 29, 2024
😍 TY to girlwithhearteyes for her great review that put this on my radar!
This is slightly closer to 4⭐, here's why I'm rounding up to 5⭐:
» 💋 It's a kissing book!!! Do you know how rare it is to find a book with the 'transactional sex' trope that also has kissing?? They always have the stupid no-kissing rule. I hate the no-kissing rule. So I was very happy here.
» 📖 A bite that felt like a full snack. This story is only ~17k. That's not even a novella - that's a novelette. And yet the plot had small but believable story + character arcs. It's not easy for writers to do this - I honestly don't even expect it with short books, so I was really impressed.
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 + 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
| small town | working class mcs | transactional sex-ish | fmc riches to rags | fmc former bully | fmc bullied/damsel in distress | sketchy mmc | mmc skeptical to savior | protective/possessive mmc | mmc caregiving scenes | insta-ish | couple angst: low | condoms | nascent hfn | dual 1st pov |
| no audiobook | ebook free on Kindle + Kobo | standalone in series | ~17k words - ends 88% / pg 56 |
⚠ note: The FMC used to be a 'mean girl', but we never see any of it. We just see other people bullying her back as 'revenge'. You can't help but feel awful for her because of this. She also works at a rundown bar where drunk guys sexual harass her (verbally & physically).
This is slightly closer to 4⭐, here's why I'm rounding up to 5⭐:
» 💋 It's a kissing book!!! Do you know how rare it is to find a book with the 'transactional sex' trope that also has kissing?? They always have the stupid no-kissing rule. I hate the no-kissing rule. So I was very happy here.
» 📖 A bite that felt like a full snack. This story is only ~17k. That's not even a novella - that's a novelette. And yet the plot had small but believable story + character arcs. It's not easy for writers to do this - I honestly don't even expect it with short books, so I was really impressed.
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 + 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
| small town | working class mcs | transactional sex-ish | fmc riches to rags | fmc former bully | fmc bullied/damsel in distress | sketchy mmc | mmc skeptical to savior | protective/possessive mmc | mmc caregiving scenes | insta-ish | couple angst: low | condoms | nascent hfn | dual 1st pov |
| no audiobook | ebook free on Kindle + Kobo | standalone in series | ~17k words - ends 88% / pg 56 |
⚠ note: The FMC used to be a 'mean girl', but we never see any of it. We just see other people bullying her back as 'revenge'. You can't help but feel awful for her because of this. She also works at a rundown bar where drunk guys sexual harass her (verbally & physically).
February 10, 2024
Yess a short and sweet straight up smut with a good ol' crude dirty talking hero and an "ice princess" who was an ex-high school bully. Hero does some caretaking but otherwise a total alphahole, I loveee.
November 9, 2024
A quick read
The book is a 2/5 stars it's mainly just sex but thats fine as I wanted something that I didn't have to think about to read and this was it..did I also get the second book..also yes lol
The book is a 2/5 stars it's mainly just sex but thats fine as I wanted something that I didn't have to think about to read and this was it..did I also get the second book..also yes lol
April 2, 2018
3.75 stars
May 28, 2018
I loved that it was sweet and to the point. It is a great book if you want a quick read that's very sexy.
August 27, 2018
what a sexy fun read, I liked it so much I'm off to buy the 2nd book about another smoking hot working man.
March 7, 2019
Everyone deserves a second chance. You just have to find the one willing to give it to you. Lily was lucky enough to find that man.
added-it
July 5, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/5/2022)! 🎁
August 9, 2022
Saucy read!
Superficial and silly, really. Enjoyable, though. Especially, loved Greg the cat! Not a bad way to spend a lazy couple hours.
Superficial and silly, really. Enjoyable, though. Especially, loved Greg the cat! Not a bad way to spend a lazy couple hours.
August 13, 2022
Review of The Mechanic
Yet another unbelievably hunky guy meeting a frigid near-virgin and melting her. No credibility. Moderately hot sex scenes. Quick read.
Yet another unbelievably hunky guy meeting a frigid near-virgin and melting her. No credibility. Moderately hot sex scenes. Quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews