I loved Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive series and the Dive Bar series is a spin-off to that series, so I was excited to read it. I first read Dirty by Kylie Scott back in 2016 but realized I never reviewed it, so I decided it was time for a reread, especially since I need to finish reading this series.

This book is told solely from the FMC’s POV, which, generally, I prefer dual POV with romance books, but I didn’t mind with this book. It actually made me love the FMC, Lydia Green, even more, only having her POV, especially when she met the MMC, Vaughan Hewson, who helped her get over her jerk of a fiancé who cheated on her.

Yes, this book has cheating in it, but it doesn’t involve the main characters, so don’t worry. It consists of the guy that Lydia was supposed to marry, and that is how she meets Vaughan. Well, she breaks into Vaughan’s home, and he finds her in her wedding dress, crying in his shower.

I enjoyed both characters in this one, especially the female main character, Lydia, who just had her life flipped upside down. You would think she would want revenge for what happened with her ex-fiance, but she just wanted to move on from it and plan her future. Thankfully, she met Vaughan, and they became instant friends, even after breaking into his home. I loved the slow build when it came to their relationship, from strangers to friends to lovers. Vaughan was only back in his town temporarily because he planned on getting back out there for his music since he used to be in a band until they broke up. His sister and the friends he left behind are upset that he’s back and will be leaving again, especially with his sister dealing with issues at her bar. But Vaughan has made up his mind about going again, even if Lydia is falling for the guy. Lydia, in the meantime, is finding new friends and possibly family, which is definitely what she needed after heartbreak.

This was a fun read from Kylie Scott and it was much different from her Stage Dive series, which I absolutely loved. I loved that she had a character from that series appear in this book, which so happened to be my favorite character from that series.

I’m definitely planning on reading the other two books in this series, especially since Kylie opened up so many different storylines that need to be addressed. There was some family and friend drama in this one, and I need answers. I need to know if certain characters will have their own happily ever afters like Vaughan and Lydia did in Dirty.

I give this book four stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy reading fun, steamy stories about a runaway bride who meets a sexy, tattooed guitarist who treats her better than her ex-fiancé would have ever done.

Trope(s)/Element(s):
✓Runaway Bride
✓Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✓Slow Burn
✓Guitarist Hero

I enjoyed the book the plot and character entertaining and it kept me interested the whole time would read this author again

Kylie Scott’s books are very easy to read with not alot of imagination as to what will happen next.
I found I was bored with Dirty and just wanted it to be over.

Vaughn's career as a musician had taken a nosedive and he's unfortunately back to a place he wished he'd return to, to regroup, only to find a stranger in his bathtub in a wedding dress. Lydia had just gotten a video from an anonymous person of her soon-to-be-husband having sex with another man, and she realizes he'd only ever wanted to marry her as his beard.

I was a big fan of the Stage Dive series when I first read it in 2014. So, when I found out there was a spinoff series with Vaughn; I was more than excited for it! Problem was, I got sidetracked and completely forgot to read and review this book before it came out.

Fast forward to 2022 and I decide I need to read and review it, so I go back to Stage Dive (honestly because I was craving me some Jimmy and Lena vibes) and decided to go through the entire series before getting to this book. As much as I still loved Jimmy and Lena's story and even Mal and Anne's, Ben and Liz's story didn't age well at all for me. Though I do recall not enjoying it the first time around, but I legit hated it, as well as both Ben and Liz as characters. It was one of those times where I was like 'they're so blekh they deserve each other'. This gave me pause, because despite enjoying Vaughn in that book, I was so disappointed I worried this would be a similar disappointment. THANKFULLY, that was not the case. AT ALL.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Lydia and Vaughn, their friendship, their banter. Even with everything she'd been through that day, she was still witty, and quirky, and infusing humor into things. Even the moments where she was upset or hurt or even uncomfortable.


"Vaugh?"
Nostrils flared on a deep breath. "Huh?"
"You're staring."
"What?"
"My breasts." I waved a hand around the pertinent parts of my anatomy. Though I'm reasonably certain he already knew where they were. "These things, Vaughn. The baby feeders and pillows of sin. You're staring at them."
His startled gaze jumped to my face.
"I wouldn't mention it, but it's been a while now and I'm beginning to get a little uncomfortable."

Lydia had such a nice outlook, giving excuses to people, but ultimately wanting to help and be of service. I liked how she decided to change her life after the debacle with her ex, from the fact that she stopped being a people pleaser or being pushed around, to learning to love herself and trust herself again. Learning her worth was such a fun journey. At the same time, there's Vaughn, who is haunted by his hometown. He misses it, but is convinced being a famous musician was his goal in life that he won't sacrifice it by staying at home. It's a struggle as he deals with his demons, but also how he supports Lydia and can't help falling for her. The story was just so nice.

There was also a nice cast of side characters with so much going on I can't wait to learn more about!

4.75 stars!

I needed a pick me up, and this book was perfect! It's everything I had hoped it would be, funny, hot, and inspirational. Yes I said inspirational, not in the get closer to God way, but in showing characters and real life situations and women at their best. That's amazing.

The story is told from Lydia's point of view and I can't gush over how much I loved her! She's got a mouth on her, and balls of brass. I admired the heck out of her for handling things the way she did! I only wish there'd been more in the book showing those who wronged her how she got over them.

Vaughan is totally delicious. If he wasn't fictional, I'd probably do something stupid over him. I loved how he was with Lydia and even though he wasn't the best when it came to staying in touch, I loved how he was with his sister and friends.

I also can't say how much I loved Coeur D'Alene. Yes it's a small town and people are in everyone else's business, but that also means the friendships are longer and deeper. I loved meeting Andre, Eric, Joe, Nell, Pat, and the others. I really loved the interesting dynamics between them all and I can't wait to read more about them in the succeeding books in this series. There's some serious forces at work and I want more!

The book is basically perfect as is. Would I like more? Always. There were a few details I felt weren't handled with enough depth, but I'm hoping Kylie Scott will deal with them along the line. I'd love more Lydia and Vaughan and I loved her nod to the Stage Dive series. I hope to see more of them too.

If you're looking for a great read, you'll be unable to put down, this one is for you! Kudos and brava to Kylie Scott for doing what she does best, emotion, humor, and romance!

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Vaughn and Lydia are great characters. Lydia has been through a traumatizing experience, so to see the way her and Vaughn meet was pretty priceless. I love their connection they have and how they got to know each other very well, really fast. I do think Lydia was a bit naive to move to a new place and get engaged so quickly - she obviously didn't know her fiance very well, but wanted to dive into that lifestyle and that secure feeling a bit too soon, but I get it.

I also love Lydia's personality and how she is always helping the ones around her. I wish we could have gotten Vaughn's viewpoint a few times to see what he was thinking and feeling throughout the novel, but I still enjoyed him overall.

I'm glad I got around to reading this novel!

I'm a fan of the worlds and intertwining relationships that Kylie Scott builds, and this book is no exception! This was a fantastic start to a series that I love.

Lydia is quite upset, to say the least, when she is getting ready to walk down the aisle, literally, and she’s sent a video showing her bridegroom having sex with his best man. She makes an instant decision to run rather than face her fiance’s snobbish and judgmental family. She heads out the back door, crosses the lawn and climbs over the back fence. She finds the yard she’s fallen into has a house with an open window. She climbs in – gets into the tub and cries her eyes out. Yes, she’s distraught about the wedding but when she thinks about it there were clues to this and she ignored them.

A while later the homeowner, Vaughan Hewson, arrives and starts the shower. When he pulls back the curtain and finds Lydia he’s shocked but handles it well. After hearing her story he ends up taking care of her a bit and even eventually offers her a place to stay while she finds a place to stay.

Vaughan is recovering from a band tour that ended with his band breaking up. He’s trying to get a new one back together so that he can continue his music career but needs the money from the sale of the house to support himself. Lydia being a real estate agent helps him and they both end up helping his sister in her bar/restaurant, The Dive Bar. While Vaughan and Lydia are getting back on their feet their finding themselves crazy about each other but both with the thought that what they’ve started will end soon as she’ll be moving and he’ll be back in LA with a new band. Neither of them are thrilled with that thought but they know that it will happen eventually.

Meanwhile, Nell, Vaughan’s sister, has her own share of problems. She’s separated from her husband but he owns a third of The Dive Bar along with her friend Eric. She wants to buy him out but doesn’t have the money. She’s slept with the third owner, Eric, and that’s made both Vaughan and Nell’s husband, Pat (yes, they’re still technically married) pissed off. Then there’s co-worker and friend Joe who’s got something up his sleeve but we never find out what that is.

The story is fun and funny as well as heart-wrenching in places. Vaughan’s parents had died and he had never come to terms with it all. He was avoiding dealing with it emotionally as it was just too hard for him. That was one of the things that Lydia helped him with and I loved seeing her bluntness with him about it. It was what he needed to hear as everyone else had just beat around the bush and avoided the subject with him.

The relationship with Lydia and Vaughan happens very quickly. Major life decisions are made on the basis of knowing each other for a week. While you would think that it couldn’t happen – it really did – and Kylie Scott made me believe that it could. The story ended with what most would say was an HEA but I liked to think of it more of a HFN with a definite HEA on the horizon. The pair knew where they were going and planned it together but they knew that life wasn’t easy and there were be obstacles. They just planned on tackling them together.

Dirty is a great book and while I did have a few questions about Lydia that were never answered, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Absolutely loved Dirty!!!
Fell in love with the characters, witty banter and plot.
Vaughn and Lydia work off each other and click in so many wants.
Must read more of Kylie Scott’s awesome writings.

First I feel in love with the men of the Stage Dive series I knew I would love this just as well. This series was so worth the wait and the hype it was getting. These characters surpassed my expectations Ms. Scott know how to write one hot read their.
Lydia and Vaughan had a very rocky start by how they first meet I mean what a first impression. They happened to find each other in the right place right time I think. They were both done with their past and ready to move forward with in their lives. They happened to be exactly what each other needed to make one another happy.
These two kept me entertained throughout the read never once did I get bored of them. This is a great start to a new series the author did an incredible job. Can't wait to read about the upcoming books in this series.

Good start to a new series, with characters that are entertaining and interesting, and a slow burning but sexy romance.

I loved this first book in the spin off series of Stage Dive. This one tells the story of Vaughan and Carrie, and it is a good one! The steaming hot chemistry between these two is offset by the sweet romance. I thought it was a great start to the new series, and can't wait for more!

My review was posted at Hypable.com!

Kylie Scott never disappoints and this book is exactly what I was looking for in a book written by here. I laughed until my stomach hurt! I connected with the characters easily and the storyline flowed really well.