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The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty
Genre: Multicultural Erotic Contemporary
Maryam James is a hard taskmaster. A balls-to-the-walls type of woman who started her company with nothing more than a strong idea and a loan and turned it into one of the Top Fortune 500 companies in America. There's only one person she trusts implicitly and that's her personal assistant Xavier Sun, who, much to her dismay, has just turned in his resignation.
Maryam is the one woman Xavier can't live without. She may be in command in the boardroom, but he's in control in the bedroom, and if he learned anything from being by her side for the last seven years it was Maryam doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer. So it's no surprise to him she basically forbids him to quit. Leaving is the last thing on Xavier mind, however. He's willing to put his job on the line, if it will get Maryam to realize the depths of her feelings for him.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2010
11 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Lena Matthews
61 books410 followersLena Matthews spends her days dreaming about handsome heroes and her nights with her own personal hero. Married to her college sweetheart, she is the proud mother of two children, three evil dogs, and a mess of ants that she can't seem to get rid of.
When not writing she can be found reading, watching movies, lifting up the cushions on the couch to look for batteries for the remote control and plotting different ways to bring Buffy back on the air.
When not writing she can be found reading, watching movies, lifting up the cushions on the couch to look for batteries for the remote control and plotting different ways to bring Buffy back on the air.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 27, 2010
This little ditty was really well done. My main complaint regarding ebooks lately is that they're too short, and when I purchased this one & saw that it was less than 100pgs, I was a little upset! However, this author did in less than 89pgs, what some authors have trouble doing in 300, (and yes I wrote & told her so)! The chemistry between the two main characters was palpable, and Ms. Matthews used the dialogue between the two to really move the story along! Hot, short read!
September 21, 2017
Not bad. Could have been little more in depth. I liked their banter. I couldn't really feel their love for each other. But overall not bad.
May 17, 2010
The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty by Lena Matthews
Contemporary Romance -April 6th, 2010
4 stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty is a quick read that would be perfect for hanging out by the pool because it is short novel (it's less than 100 pages). For a short story, Matthews does a good job of drawing the reader into the characters. I found the love story between Maryam and Xavier to be believable, especially since both these characters have a history with each other as best friends and trusted co-workers. I liked Xavier's attempts to get Maryam to see him for who he really is, not an assistant to her, but her hero.
I really liked Xavier's character because he is different from most alpha heroes in that he is extremely tender and responsive to every detail that surrounds Maryam. He knows his woman inside out and that quality makes him extremely appealing as he wages his war to win Maryam's heart. Also, this books doesn't go into detail about inter-racial relationships, but I thought the physical descriptions of the characters are very well done. I liked the fact that the heroes in this story were not the typical barbie and ken figures that appear a lot in contemporary works.
I thought the writing was solid and the love scenes were pretty hot, but not over the top which was an additional bonus. The story could have gone on for a little bit longer, but I still found the ending to be satisfactory and conclusive.
Reviewed by Sophia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Contemporary Romance -April 6th, 2010
4 stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty is a quick read that would be perfect for hanging out by the pool because it is short novel (it's less than 100 pages). For a short story, Matthews does a good job of drawing the reader into the characters. I found the love story between Maryam and Xavier to be believable, especially since both these characters have a history with each other as best friends and trusted co-workers. I liked Xavier's attempts to get Maryam to see him for who he really is, not an assistant to her, but her hero.
I really liked Xavier's character because he is different from most alpha heroes in that he is extremely tender and responsive to every detail that surrounds Maryam. He knows his woman inside out and that quality makes him extremely appealing as he wages his war to win Maryam's heart. Also, this books doesn't go into detail about inter-racial relationships, but I thought the physical descriptions of the characters are very well done. I liked the fact that the heroes in this story were not the typical barbie and ken figures that appear a lot in contemporary works.
I thought the writing was solid and the love scenes were pretty hot, but not over the top which was an additional bonus. The story could have gone on for a little bit longer, but I still found the ending to be satisfactory and conclusive.
Reviewed by Sophia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
December 17, 2021
Nothing Bad
This book was very enjoyable. Maryam is a dynamic boss with many irons in the fire. Her right hand man Xavier has put in a letter of resignation. How will she navigate without him? Will he be able to let her know that he wants more than to just be her right hand man? He wants her to take all of him....
This book was very enjoyable. Maryam is a dynamic boss with many irons in the fire. Her right hand man Xavier has put in a letter of resignation. How will she navigate without him? Will he be able to let her know that he wants more than to just be her right hand man? He wants her to take all of him....
July 5, 2024
Oldie but goody
I read this book years ago And just recently. So I searched for his name finally found it on Amazon and purchased it all over again. So glad that it still available. I would definitely recommend this book as well as anything written by this author.
I read this book years ago And just recently. So I searched for his name finally found it on Amazon and purchased it all over again. So glad that it still available. I would definitely recommend this book as well as anything written by this author.
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May 26, 2011
I knew going into this story that it would focus primarily on the sex. I just wasn’t expecting the sex to be the weakest part of the story.
Maryam James is a high-pressure designer with even higher standards, both for herself and for those around her. Few can put up with her, but her assistant/right-hand man Xavier Sun handles her better than she can handle herself. They’ve been working together for seven years, but now, Xavier has given his notice, and she has four weeks to find his replacement. She doesn’t want to. Nobody can replace Xavier, but he’s not budging in his decision. For Xavier, it’s a deliberate ploy. He wants Maryam to finally admit to herself that there’s something between them. Leaving is meant to force her hand. But his plans get fast-tracked when an impromptu kiss leaves them both breathless.
There was never any doubt this story was meant to focus on the erotic. I mean, it’s a het romance from Loose Id, written by Lena Matthews. I knew all this going in. I was prepared for it. What I wasn’t prepared for was being turned off by the eroticism rather than vice versa. This author has worked for me in the past, and I adore the hotness potential between the two leads – Maryam is African-American, and Xavier is Asian/European – but the actual execution left a lot to be desired. Its primary fault is that it ultimately tries too hard. For instance, in an effort to keep the prose as varied as possible (since so much of it is sex and repetitive), there are more euphemisms than I generally like. The sex pretty much lost me at “crinkled star” in the anal scene. The attempts at dirty talk always felt over-the-top and unrealistic, even within the context of such a fantasized scenario. That’s because the author had already set up a very realistic contemporary feel with the banter between her two protagonists in the non-erotic scenes. Their dialogue was often funny and unforced, flowing far better than anything created within the sexual escapades, and the contrast ultimately lowers any heat their coming together might have created for me.
It took me a while to warm to Maryam, too. Frankly put, she’s a bitch at the top of the story. She knows it. Xavier knows it. I didn’t like her. My opinion didn’t change until I got to see her through Xavier’s more knowing eyes. His perspective turned her from a harridan into someone human, and I could finally relax and enjoy their chemistry. Or at least, I could until they hit the sheets.
By the end of the story, I found myself wishing it had been done for a different publisher that didn’t have as much emphasis on the sex. Perhaps somewhere else, the characters could have spent more time outside of the bedroom (and the shower, and her desk…) and grown into the people they had the potential to be, but ultimately were not.
Maryam James is a high-pressure designer with even higher standards, both for herself and for those around her. Few can put up with her, but her assistant/right-hand man Xavier Sun handles her better than she can handle herself. They’ve been working together for seven years, but now, Xavier has given his notice, and she has four weeks to find his replacement. She doesn’t want to. Nobody can replace Xavier, but he’s not budging in his decision. For Xavier, it’s a deliberate ploy. He wants Maryam to finally admit to herself that there’s something between them. Leaving is meant to force her hand. But his plans get fast-tracked when an impromptu kiss leaves them both breathless.
There was never any doubt this story was meant to focus on the erotic. I mean, it’s a het romance from Loose Id, written by Lena Matthews. I knew all this going in. I was prepared for it. What I wasn’t prepared for was being turned off by the eroticism rather than vice versa. This author has worked for me in the past, and I adore the hotness potential between the two leads – Maryam is African-American, and Xavier is Asian/European – but the actual execution left a lot to be desired. Its primary fault is that it ultimately tries too hard. For instance, in an effort to keep the prose as varied as possible (since so much of it is sex and repetitive), there are more euphemisms than I generally like. The sex pretty much lost me at “crinkled star” in the anal scene. The attempts at dirty talk always felt over-the-top and unrealistic, even within the context of such a fantasized scenario. That’s because the author had already set up a very realistic contemporary feel with the banter between her two protagonists in the non-erotic scenes. Their dialogue was often funny and unforced, flowing far better than anything created within the sexual escapades, and the contrast ultimately lowers any heat their coming together might have created for me.
It took me a while to warm to Maryam, too. Frankly put, she’s a bitch at the top of the story. She knows it. Xavier knows it. I didn’t like her. My opinion didn’t change until I got to see her through Xavier’s more knowing eyes. His perspective turned her from a harridan into someone human, and I could finally relax and enjoy their chemistry. Or at least, I could until they hit the sheets.
By the end of the story, I found myself wishing it had been done for a different publisher that didn’t have as much emphasis on the sex. Perhaps somewhere else, the characters could have spent more time outside of the bedroom (and the shower, and her desk…) and grown into the people they had the potential to be, but ultimately were not.
February 3, 2022
The book is really hot and engaging. The set up is pretty basic but I was really here for the sex. Not suuuuuper comfortable w/ the lowkey lack of consent regarding Xavier getting his lil snack on in the office, but Maryam was written to be super into it which made me marginally more comfortable.
I read it twice mostly bc I felt as if the ending was rushed the first way through. The second read made me realize I was still riding on a high from the previous sex scene and I was still on an erotic roller coaster in the middle of a family dispute lol.
I really liked this short story, and even took some inspiration in it in terms of story circles. In terms of erotica I think it's short, sweet, and to the point but can do w/o a lot of superficial things like the usage of "exotic" and "dark temptress" or any other use of super objectifying language that can be seen as exclusionary for some (or just straight up outdated language when considering interracial relationships and how often people get fetishized and objectified in them--especially Black and east Asian people). I even liked how the ending was left to be determined in terms of their actual relationship on if it's going to remain sexual or if it will blossom into more since they're both on "that's my man/that's my woman" vibes.
I can stand to say I'm pretty interested in the rest of her bibliography just off of the strength of this book.
I read it twice mostly bc I felt as if the ending was rushed the first way through. The second read made me realize I was still riding on a high from the previous sex scene and I was still on an erotic roller coaster in the middle of a family dispute lol.
I really liked this short story, and even took some inspiration in it in terms of story circles. In terms of erotica I think it's short, sweet, and to the point but can do w/o a lot of superficial things like the usage of "exotic" and "dark temptress" or any other use of super objectifying language that can be seen as exclusionary for some (or just straight up outdated language when considering interracial relationships and how often people get fetishized and objectified in them--especially Black and east Asian people). I even liked how the ending was left to be determined in terms of their actual relationship on if it's going to remain sexual or if it will blossom into more since they're both on "that's my man/that's my woman" vibes.
I can stand to say I'm pretty interested in the rest of her bibliography just off of the strength of this book.
June 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this book as a whole. I liked that the heroine, Maryam, was strong female lead. I personally prefer stronger female leads who are headstrong and know who they are. I also like that the Hero, Xavier, could see through her facade and still managed to be an "alpha male" but without being so overbearing or misogynistic. IDK how to describe it...its one of those relationships where the man is more on the gentle side but still in charge, whereas the female is more outspoken but is actually really feminine...if that makes sense.
The downsides of this book is that I wish that there had been MORE between them. The book is pretty short so I understand there maybe wasn't much room to flesh the couple out some...but I would have really enjoyed more interactions with this pair. I also could have done without some of the sex. I enjoy a good erotic story as much as the next person...but given how short the book was I would have liked to read more about the couple outside the bedroom.
But overall it was a pretty good, steamy, and quick ambw read. I'd definitely recommend it.
The downsides of this book is that I wish that there had been MORE between them. The book is pretty short so I understand there maybe wasn't much room to flesh the couple out some...but I would have really enjoyed more interactions with this pair. I also could have done without some of the sex. I enjoy a good erotic story as much as the next person...but given how short the book was I would have liked to read more about the couple outside the bedroom.
But overall it was a pretty good, steamy, and quick ambw read. I'd definitely recommend it.
July 24, 2011
The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty was a novella and I was disappointed after reading it as I would have loved to read more on the story. The synopsis was interesting and I enjoyed reading the contrasting characters. Where Maryam was hotheaded, Xavier was cool and composed. This story had my kind of dialog and witty comebacks.
I liked to read novellas from time to time so that I can get to finish off a good story in a relatively short amount of time. This one proved to be too good for one. I haven't read a novella so good before.
The story progressed in a good way and it had surprising little turns in it, as well. Considering the anticipated turn around, the result was a little too fast in the making mainly because there it wasn't not implied as such. Overall, it was a fairly good read.
I liked to read novellas from time to time so that I can get to finish off a good story in a relatively short amount of time. This one proved to be too good for one. I haven't read a novella so good before.
The story progressed in a good way and it had surprising little turns in it, as well. Considering the anticipated turn around, the result was a little too fast in the making mainly because there it wasn't not implied as such. Overall, it was a fairly good read.
November 17, 2014
synopsis:
maryam is in control of her company and making a lot of money. she can't do it without the help of her assistant, xavier, but xavier has just given her two weeks notice. xavier wants maryam and will go to any length to get her, even if it means quitting his job. the only thing is, he wants to be the boss in the bedroom.
what i liked: the premise.
what i didn't like: the execution. i didn't like maryam or xavier or the story, really. it was really short and nothing was fleshed out.
maryam is in control of her company and making a lot of money. she can't do it without the help of her assistant, xavier, but xavier has just given her two weeks notice. xavier wants maryam and will go to any length to get her, even if it means quitting his job. the only thing is, he wants to be the boss in the bedroom.
what i liked: the premise.
what i didn't like: the execution. i didn't like maryam or xavier or the story, really. it was really short and nothing was fleshed out.
January 18, 2021
Felt unfinished
The book was fun with both a intelligent heroine and a secure hero. However the ending was completely rushed. I would have like to see their relationship work in real life. I’m sure that switching roles would be
tricky at times. Maryam being so high profile, I would have like to read about how they managed to navigate a public relationship.
The book was fun with both a intelligent heroine and a secure hero. However the ending was completely rushed. I would have like to see their relationship work in real life. I’m sure that switching roles would be
tricky at times. Maryam being so high profile, I would have like to read about how they managed to navigate a public relationship.
November 23, 2014
3.75 stars. Xavier Sun was employed by Maryam James as her assistant, the working relationship morphed into a friendship that developed into love. They had held these feelings for each other for most of the 7 years that they had worked together, ; but, neither of them expressed or acknowledged their feelings. Xavier decided to press the issue and to make Maryam acknowledge her feelings for him by threatening to quit his job. It worked out as he had hoped.
May 4, 2016
I heard of this book from a few people.
Man, it was nice!!!! Story is face paced, if you like to get to the "good parts" hehehe. I read this fast and I just had to see what was going to happen between lead characters.
Yeah an all time favorite, I recommend this one.
Thanks Lena Matthews.
Man, it was nice!!!! Story is face paced, if you like to get to the "good parts" hehehe. I read this fast and I just had to see what was going to happen between lead characters.
Yeah an all time favorite, I recommend this one.
Thanks Lena Matthews.
June 9, 2011
This short story was all about the sex becasuse she took pages describing it. The story surrounding the sex was really interesting though and I would have liked to read more on these characters, the company, and the supporting characters.
July 7, 2011
I thought this was a good read for the erotic genre. The heroine was well developed and hero was interesting. Be aware that the intimacy is certainly adult in nature and some of it is definately not for everyone. I still thought that was one of the better erotic reads I have red.
April 16, 2012
This is a very hot friends to lovers story. Interracial, which makes for an interesting background. There is no huge conflict, just a steady realization that they are in love. Did I mention the sex is very hot? I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
January 18, 2021
Sex was the goal
The main feature is the sex scenes. Personally, I wanted more of a plot and then gradually to sex but aye, it wasn't disappointing.
The main feature is the sex scenes. Personally, I wanted more of a plot and then gradually to sex but aye, it wasn't disappointing.
March 27, 2011
This was sweet. My only complaint is that it was too short to develop the characters.
September 27, 2013
Yep, I guess this is another nice quick read. It's steamy. Though somehow the character itself not developed enough, I understand because it's short.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews