Title: Phenomenal X
Series: Hard Knocks #1
Author: Michelle A Valentine
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.
From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and women lose their minds with desire.
Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist.
One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.
From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and women lose their minds with desire.
Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist.
One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.
What can I say about Phenomenal X by Michelle A. Valentine except for you had me at the cover. When I first saw the cover I thought, "YES another fighter book!". I have to admit I was shocked when I got a few pages in and realized it was a form of fighting that I had never read before in a romance novel. Wrestling.....we have all watched it at some time or another. I was a HUGE wrestling fan, even went to a certain Monday Night show on my honeymoon...*cough RAW cough*
I don't like spoilers, so with that being said...falling in love with Xavier was easy and that happened for me as soon as he stepped on the plane.
As I read the book I got to know more about Xavier. His tough exterior makes him bad ass and then you get a glimpse of what it was like for him growing up and your heart just breaks for him. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I felt like the Michelle kept me interested throughout the entire book.
This is one of my favorite quotes from Xavier. "I could do things to your body that most women only dream about while reading their dirty romance novels, and I promise you'd fucking enjoy it."
Of course, the end came way to soon and I was left thinking "What the hell?!" The second book can 't come soon enough for me. I give Phenomenal X 5 bad ass stars.
If you like sports romance you will love this book!
~ Review by Stacey
4.5 Phenomenal-No-Frowning-Allowed Stars!
I’ve never been a fan of wrestling or find wrestlers attractive (except for The Rock). I never could stand watching it for more than a minute when my younger brother has his eyes glued on the TV with wrestling on. But holy moly, Xavier “Phenomenal X” Cold is one fine wrestler of a man!
Not even halfway through the first chapter and I was smiling like a goof already. X is a flirty, charming man who oozes sex appeal with his words and actions. He is not without a troubled, painful past which he tries very hard to block out of his mind. I admire the way Ms. Valentine intrigued me with X’s past. I keep guessing what could have happened to him when he was younger. There were clues and hints thrown in every now and then and that kept me hooked to X’s story even more. And when finally, I found about what happened to him when he was 8-years old, it broke my heart. It made me happy that he found Anna and that he took a risk with her and made her a part of his life even though he was hesitant for an actual relationship.
Anna is a good girl from Portland on her way to Detroit when she spotted him on the plane, good looking, sexy, and gorgeous, Xavier Cold. Their first meeting was a cute and funny one. I couldn’t help smiling hard even now just remembering how charming X was to Anna and how Anna responded to his advances. Anna annoyed me at times though which is why .5 was missing on my rating. Her curiosity and genuine interest to know more about X and his past was cute at first, like she’s really a good, somewhat naive girl who believes in the goodness of everyone, but then it’s like she can’t think of anything else but X’s past.
Anna and X’s relationship which started from being strangers to friends and being "official" was a delight to read. I relish the feeling of Anna and X’s discovery of themselves and eventually the road to their “phenomenal love”.
The passion, love, and protectiveness that they have for each other is phenomenal indeed. It’s wondrous and somehow that is why X did what he did and… now I cannot wait for the second book!
You will be left awestruck from Anna and X’s story and how Ms. Michelle Valentine wrote it for us and you will definitely be asking for more!
Stars: 4.5 stars!
Recommended to: Everyone!!!!
POV: First person. Dual POV. Although mostly it’s Anna’s.
Series: Yes.
Cliffhanger: Somewhat, yes.
Extra Comment: Aunt Dee and Quinn and even Brock are such lovable side characters and I’m seeing a possible book for Quinn and Brock. Those two look like they have a really good story to share with us!
~ Review by Mara
Let me start by saying I am a HUGE fan of professional wrestling and the WWE. It's a weekly ritual in my house. When I saw Phenomenal X was going to be about a pro wrestler I had to have it! It was everything I thought it was going to be and more!
Xavier Cold, mmm, even his name is yummy, but this hero is anything but cold, he is smokin' hot! Who wouldn't want wrestling's bad boy popping up around town just to hang out with them? Anna is one lucky chick! From the initial meet cute on a plane, these two are a great pairing. Although he pushes her away and she pulls him right back in, you know that these two are just going to be combustible when they do come together. Dayum, seriously, how long do I have to wait for the next one? I'm craving more X!
Fun, sexy and an ending that will leave you reeling, Phenomenal X gets 5 Phenomenal Stars from this reader!
~ Review by Erin
I love everything about this book! I have been waiting for this and when I finally got it, I was over the moon ecstatic! We all know that Alpha Males are oh so hot and I have to admit that while I was reading Phenomenal X I couldn't stop picturing the character in my head :) . This was a fun and quick read, with lots of drama, angst, tension and I was thoroughly captivated and entertained throughout the story.
Anna the innocent girl who just up and let her family because of her abusive x-boyfriend. She was ready to move to a place where she is away from a very strict father. She ends up living with her cousin Quinn and gets a job at a diner.
After quitting the job at the diner she becomes Phenomenal X's PA, she should've known better than to ever get involved with a famous wrestler, but he pursues her relentlessly and she agrees to go to work for him.
Xavier aka Phenomenal X, and while one might expect him to be a player, being used to getting everything he wants, I am truly surprised with what a real guy he ends up to be, how honest and true, he is to Anna, except for the part where he can say the important word she wants him to say..."I LOVE YOU". The connection, bond and instant attraction are real and as the story progresses, I fell in love with him even more.
I was sad because of the CLIFFY and happy because I got to read another hot Alpha Male. I love LOVE this book! Awesome job, Michelle A. Valentine. It's my first one to read by her.❤️
This is a new series and I am very much looking forward to the stories that come in the second book. I am a sucker for HEA! I am looking forward to reading more of Michelle A. Valentine books. Book two please come now!
After quitting the job at the diner she becomes Phenomenal X's PA, she should've known better than to ever get involved with a famous wrestler, but he pursues her relentlessly and she agrees to go to work for him.
Xavier aka Phenomenal X, and while one might expect him to be a player, being used to getting everything he wants, I am truly surprised with what a real guy he ends up to be, how honest and true, he is to Anna, except for the part where he can say the important word she wants him to say..."I LOVE YOU". The connection, bond and instant attraction are real and as the story progresses, I fell in love with him even more.
I was sad because of the CLIFFY and happy because I got to read another hot Alpha Male. I love LOVE this book! Awesome job, Michelle A. Valentine. It's my first one to read by her.❤️
This is a new series and I am very much looking forward to the stories that come in the second book. I am a sucker for HEA! I am looking forward to reading more of Michelle A. Valentine books. Book two please come now!
~ Review by Kathleen
I think I'm speechless...
I've never read a book with a wrestler as the main character, but I have watched a lot of wrestling. I knew what to expect in some ways but was blindsided, in the best possible way, in others. Phenomenal X was a great book. I finished in a few measly hours because I didn't want to put it down. Wow, yeah. Loved it.
Anna Cortez is out on her own for the first time, having left behind an overbearing father and an undesired fiancé. Flying to Detroit to start afresh with her cousin and aunt, she meets Xavier Cold, aka Phenomenal X, when he gives her an assist on the airplane. He's a sexy, built and famous professional wrestler but she has no idea who or what he is. All she knows is he has an affect on her like no-one else. She really doesn't need to start her new life by hooking up with a cocky, womanizing star. But X isn't all he seems. He knows he's bad news for a good girl like Anna but is drawn to her innocence and sincerity. Anna shouldn't want X. X doesn't want to hurt or taint her. But when she accepts a job as his assistant and winds up in a hotel room with him, suddenly it's hard to reason why they shouldn't be together.
Did I mention I loved this book? I was hooked from the first page. The writing was fantastic - the alternating POV between Anna and Xavier was used to brilliant effect. Michelle A. Valentine gives glimpses in X's psyche without going overboard. He's damaged, but a wonderful character. Anna is a little simplistic at times, but given that she has lived a sheltered life, it works. I enjoyed the tension between them as they learned each other and built their relationship. It's hard, however, not to feel a little flattened by the end. It's not a laugh-a-minute book and it has some definite heavy moments. Although it's well handled, the scenes from Xavier's past made me ache a little. My poor heart can only take so much and I'm not typically a fan of angst. In addition to that, the book ends with a cliffhanger. A. Cliff. Hanger. Grr! Now I have to deal with angst AND impatience for the next book. Is it any wonder I'm speechless??
This is not a standalone book, closes with a cliffhanger - obviously.
~ Review by Beth
Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series.
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