Definitely an interesting story that is rarely on my reading list. Explicit and bold, this book abounds with a great mix of darkness and light. And a storm of emotions that overwhelms the reader.
An interesting theme that will draw you in from the very beginning and colorful characters that will intrigue you.

HOLY VOYEURISTIC HOTNESS!!!

I have no shame in saying this book is beyond sexy. Wickedly hot and all kinds of naughty fun, Watch Me is erotic, sensuality with a love story brought on by healing.

If you wear glasses, are reading on a e-device, or are in public beware of steam rising, foggy glasses, and turning into molten desire.

I was pleased that this story dealt with heavy topics but focused on the healing after. The author made sure to show on Rhys and his friends not only one good man, but many. Men that are thrust worthy and are so sure of themselves that they don't need to put down a woman to be great. On the contrary, Rhys manages to lift Zoey up with simple gestures. With care that makes her feel safe. And in return, we read about an already strong woman having unlimited support, being validated and taking control.

An all new and extremely sensual story begins where a group of amazing and sensual men have come together to create a safe place for people to live out their fantasies and we begin at the top with the owner of the Phoenix club breaking every rule for the woman that steals his heart. Stacey Kennedy always manages to find the most unique way to look at the world and brings us along for the ride as she explore the sexuality of non-mainstream lovers and folks just living their lives the way that makes them happy in a safe way. Zoey was destroyed when a couple of punks tried to break her in her senior year of college and she spent the last year trying to find a way to get her justice, but she never thought it would entail giving away her virginity in front of a group of people to a sexy stranger. Rhys has owned the Phoenix club for several years, using it as his escape and solace since his world imploded, but when he takes the sexy masked woman into his arms his world changes irrevocably. Together Zoey and Rhys embark on a forbidden affair and at the same time the truth of the depth of her attackers depravity begins to put her into a precarious spot. In the end they have to decide if they are both willing to let go of their past hurts in order to have the future that they both want and need—together. I loved Rhys from the moment he stepped onto the scene, his sexiness and power were undeniable and I found him magnetic, but my favorite moments were the simple ones when he was sharing quiet time getting to know Zoey. He was sweet, loving, and devoted to her happiness and giving her everything she needed. Zoey obviously has some serious issues but she is working with them as best she can and with the assumptions of what will make her happy, but meeting Rhys changes all of that in a second. She was smart, sassy, and when she unleashed on Rhys it was obvious she was the perfect match for him. Together they will conquer any fear and beat any challenge that comes their way. I am dying for the next book in the series and cannot wait, because I think I already know how each of the men and women will be paired off and those combinations are going to be explosive. Awesome beginning and I foresee great things to come for this series.

Zoey Parker has a three-step plan for revenge. First, gain entrance to the ultra-exclusive, upscale sex club, Phoenix. Second, act out her wildest fantasy in front of powerful old rivals, proving that they didn’t break her. Third, disappear and never return. The only kink in her plan? Rhys Harrington, the owner of Phoenix and the one man she needs to stay away from…
It’s her choice to play his game. If she says yes, there will be more on the line than just her pleasure.

4.5 stars

Very steamy/erotic romance with engaging characters and a solid story line to keep the plot moving that invokes a strong emotional reaction from the reader. Some of the subjects touched on in this book might be considered sensitive (Zoey, the h, is a sexual assault survivor), so be advised. I would definitely recommend this book!

That moment when a book that everyone else enjoyed, you didn't.
*looks around uncomfortably*

The blurb to this book immediately hooked me. I'm a sucker for a sexy story with some kink. And while this book certainly had that, it sadly just didn't work for me.

I think ultimately, I just couldn't connect to the story. It felt entirely too contrived for me.

Some minor spoilers below

[The heroine gets sexually assaulted in college at a party. So to get her power back, she decides that losing her virginity in a public sex show at an exclusive club with a stranger where the two men who assault her are in attendance is the way to go. This was just the beginning of the end for me. I couldn't connect to this to save my life. (hide spoiler)]

The mysterious stranger who has sex with her happens to be the owner of said exclusive and secret club and feels an immediate connection to her. He offers her a no strings relationship and his protection. It takes Zoey the entire book to really find her power and do something about what happened to her in college. But that wasn't even my issue. My main issue is that I never felt the connection to them as a couple. The chemistry just wasn't there. It read like a bunch of sex filler with some sweet and swoony moments, but it never really clicked for me.

Clearly I'm the odd duck out here and plenty still loved it. I wish I loved it as well but alas, it just didn't work for me. Personal preference is a beoch sometimes. But hey, read it for yourself and see. You may just love it.

Very very hot. It drew me in almost inmediately and I ended up reading it in one sitting. Perfect read for a glass a wine and a relaxing evening.

Rhys owns the Phoenix Club, an exclusive sex club where the motto is Watch, Don't Touch. Zoey goes there to exact revenge on two members that stole her innocence but not her virginity. Rhys volunteers to be Zoey's first, but what should have been a night of only sex turns out to be much more. Rhys helps Zoey overcome her past and the two fall in love.

A great behind the scenes look into the fantasy world of exclusive New York City sex clubs. Characters are well written and you are feel that you can root for a happy ending for the characters.

"Watch Me" by Stacey Kennedy centers around Zoey Parker getting revenge on those who wronged her. What she didn't expect in the process was meeting Rhys Harrington. Zoey suffered a past trauma, and because of it and her experience, she wants to show those who wronged her that they don't hold anything over her. With help from her friends, she was able to get into the private upscale club, Phoenix.

At that club, she meets Rhys and is able to prove to those who hurt her, and to herself for that matter, that she holds the cards and is powerful and has ownership of herself. She didn't plan on meeting and falling in love with Rhys in the process.

Stacey Kennedy did a good job writing about difficult topics. The story and plot was okay, the book good. It just wasn't a book that I will remember or that particularly stood out to me.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was my very first taste of Stacey Kennedy.

This book is what happens when a virgin walks into a sex club
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/kg6XH4xijDkumw1DFW/giphy.gif" width="400" height="200" alt="description"/>
the scene she stars in is amazing. I also loved the role reversal where the man is actually obsessed with the female. I would say this book did waver a bit and I can totally see why people rated it 4 stars. It got a bit bleh in the middle but I really liked the promise of this series.. and I will be reading all of them!

Watch Me is the first book in the Phoenix series by Stacey Kennedy. Zoey Parker has a three-step plan for revenge. First, gain entrance to the ultra-exclusive, upscale sex club, Phoenix. Second, act out her wildest fantasy in front of powerful old rivals, proving that they didn’t break her. Third, disappear and never return. The only kink in her plan? Rhys Harrington, the owner of Phoenix and the one man she needs to stay away from. Rhys’ high-end clients pay extravagant amounts to watch his stars indulge their desires. Rhys’ only rule? Watch, don’t touch. But one look at Zoey and Rhys decides to participate in the show himself. And when an undeniable passion ignites between them, Rhys knows he wants more. Except Zoey is determined to run and he is determined to find out why. When Rhys discovers Zoey’s secret, he shocks her by offering his protection… and a no-strings-attached relationship. But Zoey knows there will be more on the line than just her pleasure. Because Rhys’ sizzling touch doesn’t only capture her body, it also commands her heart.

Watch Me is seriously steamy, but knowing one of the main characters owns a sex club should give all readers a clue to that before they even open the book. However, it is also emotionally engaging and is about healing and hope as much as the heat. Zoey has been hurt, and is working on reclaiming her life and confidence. She is not completely sure of her path, but she has plans to find her way and is determined to have a better future. Rhys did not intend to be part of that plan, but after unwittingly finding himself a major play he discovers that he wants to help he continue her healing. I love that these two strong, intelligent individuals work to heal themselves and each other. I love that found and blood family have their roles to play, and that the importance to people you can trust is so important to the characters and the story. The secondary characters, and the communities of friends in this story made me happy and stayed with me as I read the story and after I read the last page. I look forward to continuing the series and finding out how the others make their way to their own happy ever afters.

Watch Me is a steamy romance that has all the feels. Fans of Kennedy will want to dive into this series starter.

Zoey Parker is ready for revenge after what happened to her a year ago at college. With the help of her two best friends, Hazel and Elise, Zoey has the perfect plan to get back at the two guys who humiliated her and she was now ready to execute it. All she has to do is let someone take her virginity on a stage at the exclusive sex club, Phoenix. Her performance is perfect and she just watches as Jake Grant and Scott Ross realize it's her. They both quickly get up and leave the club but this catches the attention of Rhys Harrington, owner of Phoenix, and the man who just claimed her virginity.

Rhys has a rule of not being with the same woman more than once but something in Zoey's eyes is reaching him on an emotional level. Rhys has his friend, Archer, look into Zoey's background and see if he can figure out what that scene was all about. When Rhys finds out Zoey's secret, he offers her protection. He also offers her a proposition...spend the next month with him exploring what connection they have...at least until Zoey moves back to California as planned. Zoey decides to jump in with both feet! As her time in New York is dwindling down, she realizes she is starting to have real feelings for Rhys. Just when it looks like she has finally found some peace with Rhys, her past comes crashing down on her so she decides to just flee back to California. Of course this doesn't settle well with Rhys and he decides to do everything in his power to get Zoey back and he does it in grand fashion.

I just loved this story. Great characters, great story, great topics. I loved all the secondary characters and really can't wait for Archer and Elise's story!

Stacey Kennedy always writes such sexy characters and storylines that grab you pretty quickly in the story. Watch me was just the kind of "different" story line I was looking for to get me out of my current book funk. I loved that there was depth and emotions to these characters and the storyline and it wasn't just all about BDSM and sex!!

I look forward to reading more from this series and from Stacey!

This had a super intriguing blurb and I knew I just had to read it. What I was not expecting was the strength of Zoey. Her constant state of "the victim," was destroying her life. She was done and had a plan. Surrounding herself with friends that had her back 100% and were intertwined in her plans. The plan is set; get in, show them they didn't break her, then get out and never come back. Seems simple, that is until Rhys Harrington, is an unknowing participant. Owning the exclusive club, he has a set of rules Look but don't touch, until he lays eyes on Zoey. Little does he know her plan is in full swing when he decides to take matters into his own hands. Once was not enough for Rhys, he is going to find out about Zoey, secrets and all.
I thought I would have a hard time with her being so willing to go to a sex club with her assault past, but the author gave us a time gap that worked so well. The relationship that developed between Ryhs and Zoey was one out of respect and wanting to make sure she was supported in her decisions when it came to the assault. Rhys really was the bright spot for me. He wasn't pushy or dominate over Zoey, he went at her speed and that was so refreshing. Zoey, regardless of her feelings for him, Zoey is leaving and going back to California to reclaim her life. The one thing standing in her way of happiness, is New York. It holds too many bad memories, even if lately she is seeing a new side and she wants as far away as possible, Rhys or not, she has to go.
I enjoyed this story and will be back for more.

Watch Me' is a standalone book by Stacey Kennedy. Told in dual Perspectives , this book was the perfect mix of Kink and swoony moments!

This author is new to me. The book was great and I really loved the storyline , but what seemed to be lacking was the connection between the characters. I mean, yeah there were parts that I loved and enjoyed a lot , but I just couldn't connect to the characters , which made the whole book a little bit flat for me.

Rhys is the owner of a club. He usually stays away from his clients , but something about Zoey draws him towards her. He offers her protection and soon their professional relationship turns into so much more. There are a lot of hardships that these two have to face and I loved the connection they had.

A definite recommendation to all the contemporary with a bit of kink Romance lovers out there!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
What do you do when you are wronged, and you want to gain control of your life? You make a plan, get revenge, and leave town.

That is what Zoey Parker had planned until she met Rhys Harrington. With the help of her BFFs, they were able to get her into the upscale private club, Phoenix. There she was able to act out her wildest fantasy with Rhys, in front of those that hurt her, to show them that they did not destroy her. She thought her plan was good until Rhys came after her and offered his protection and a no-attachment agreement. But what they both don't know, is that neither of them wants to be without the other for very long. They are made for each other. Rhys and his security guys will do all they can to help Zoey bring down those that hurt her.

I love Stacey Kennedy and her writing style. She has a way of telling a story to keep you so involved that you don't realize that the end is near until you are there and wondering when the next book is coming out. This story is filled with the pain Zoey goes through and the love it takes to help her heal. I highly recommend this one to anyone who has or has not read this author before. You will not be disappointed. I can't wait for book two.

This was a surprisingly sweet book. I've read this author before and she always handles sensitive subjects well. When I read the premise, I was expecting typical alphaholes but the men in this book were so dang nice. There was definitely reasons for all the trigger warnings but the heroines journey was an empowering one to read.

This book was just average. The plot was weak and didn't make much sense, but the characters were decent. I actually liked Rhys more than Zoey. He was kind, selfless, and loyal to his friends while she was just kind of there. It's not a bad story but I struggled to finish it because there was nothing really special about it.

4⭐️ for me! I really enjoyed Watch Me. It’s not my typical genre (think 50 Shades). I decided to mix things up a bit and I’m glad I did! The cover caught my eye and then when I read the book description, I immediately wanted to know more about this secret club - The Phoenix.

It’s definitely a steamy story that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how things will play out! The two main characters Zoey & Rhys have chemistry from the very beginning and it’s fun to watch their relationship unfold and heat up! I kept thinking who would I cast as their characters for a movie version! I mentioned 50 Shades above, but I enjoyed this book more. It dealt with voyeurism (vs BDSM) and I liked that it lacked all the “Gray issues” (contracts, going too far, emotional/physical pain, etc). Rhys was protective and a gentleman throughout the story.

Will there be a sequel? It looks like there will be a next book (Keep Me) following two other intriguing characters from Watch Me (Archer & Elise), also set in the Phoenix Club. I look forward to reading this second book in the series and more books by this author!

Thanks to Stacey Kennedy and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!