What do you think?
Rate this book
Calamity Montana #4
The Bully
Nellie Rivera is trading traffic for tranquility. When the quiet streets of small-town Montana beckon, she leaves Denver behind and moves to Calamity. It would be the perfect adventure if not for Cal Stark.
When her archnemesis dares to show his face one Saturday morning, declaring he is moving there too, she vows to make his life a misery. The town isn’t big enough for the both of them and besides . . .
She was here first.
Cal has been a thorn in her side since high school. He might have bullied her back then, but she’s not a modest teenager anymore and has learned a few plays of her own. If all goes to plan, she’ll run the former pro quarterback out of town within a month.
There’s only one problem. Cal has the same plan. He wants Calamity bad enough to pull out all the stops. And after one kiss, she realizes that he doesn’t play fair.
When her archnemesis dares to show his face one Saturday morning, declaring he is moving there too, she vows to make his life a misery. The town isn’t big enough for the both of them and besides . . .
She was here first.
Cal has been a thorn in her side since high school. He might have bullied her back then, but she’s not a modest teenager anymore and has learned a few plays of her own. If all goes to plan, she’ll run the former pro quarterback out of town within a month.
There’s only one problem. Cal has the same plan. He wants Calamity bad enough to pull out all the stops. And after one kiss, she realizes that he doesn’t play fair.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2022
About the author
Willa Nash
12 books2,132 followersWilla Nash is Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry’s alter ego, writing contemporary romance stories for Kindle Unlimited. Lover of Swedish Fish, hater of laundry, she lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons. She was born and raised in Montana and has a passion for writing books in the state she calls home.
Don’t miss out on Willa’s latest book news. Subscribe to her newsletter!
www.willanash.com
Devney loves hearing from her readers. Connect with her on social media!
Facebook
http://facebook.com/willanashbooks
Instagram
http://instagram.com/willanashbooks
Twitter
http://twitter.com/willanashbooks
Don’t miss out on Willa’s latest book news. Subscribe to her newsletter!
www.willanash.com
Devney loves hearing from her readers. Connect with her on social media!
http://facebook.com/willanashbooks
http://instagram.com/willanashbooks
http://twitter.com/willanashbooks
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,038 reviews
April 28, 2022
AHHHHHHHH‼️I devoured this series HAHAHA but it was just so easy and fun to read. I really enjoyed the comfort they brought me. I’d say for NOW this one is my fav but I have a feeling the ones to come will be even better. Cal & Nellie were so funny w their “hatred” for each other, and enemies w benefits? yes PLSSSS! i love how everyone in this series turned out to be one big found family. also this author does NOT PLAY when it comes to epilogues😍 cant wait for the next book to come out!
“tell me what you hate about me.” <3
“tell me what you hate about me.” <3
March 4, 2022
this is the weirdest enemies to lovers book i've read in my life.
they went from enemies, to secret fuck buddies to i love you marry me and i'm here like:
This was my highly anticipated book about Cal and Nellie.
they hate but secretly love each other since high school. Cal was the rich popular jock and Nellie was the poor girl on scholarship.
he treated her like crap, humiliated her, sabotaged her, got her dad fired from his job where they literally lost their livelihood.
Then in the present time Cal just retired from the NFL and moves to Calamity to be closer to his best friend Pierce (from the previous book) for whom Nellie works. They can't stand each other so both are on mission to drive the other out of the city.
And here comes the weird part.
So we find out everything about their past when Cal steals one of Nellie's diaries from high school where she described every awful thing he did to her. Also who gives you the right to read someones thoughts and secrets without pemission?? This was so intrusive!!
Normally Cal feels like shit but he does nothing to make things better in the present!!! This annoyed me so much.
He had a reputation as an asshole in the NFL, he's rude all the time, basically acts like a recluse and the author normally explained his piss poor behaviour with his childhood trauma or the fancy word for daddy issues.
So what his dad cheated on his mom, put a lot of pressure on him to succeed as an athlete and all of Cal's awful behaviour was just a fuck you to his dad and their perfect family picture?
OMG GROW THE FUCK UP. He was a 33 year old man ffs.
No one abused you or forced you to act like the rudest jerk in existence. Normally the author tried to explain all of that again just like a front to protect himself but i couldn't get past how terribly he treated everyone around him, i don't care if that's a front or not, imo he didn't do anything himself to explain his actions.
He did nothing period. He didn't apologized like he should, he didn't grovel enough, it was like none of it was his fault?
I get that they both have history together. Later it was revealed that for 4 years they have a fuck buddy situation where they have sex and then don't see each other for months or years. The only positive thing about this was that for 4 years they only had sex with each other.
However, there wasn't any romance. There wasn't any chemistry or cute moments. They literally insult each other all the time, than have sex, don't see each other for days, weeks, have sex, insult all over again.
I was so frustrated😤😤😤
I feel like they barely said two words that weren't some taunt or insult.
So the moment both realize they actually love each other?
In the end Nellie was the one who went and chased him. 😤
she deserved better.
they went from enemies, to secret fuck buddies to i love you marry me and i'm here like:
This was my highly anticipated book about Cal and Nellie.
they hate but secretly love each other since high school. Cal was the rich popular jock and Nellie was the poor girl on scholarship.
he treated her like crap, humiliated her, sabotaged her, got her dad fired from his job where they literally lost their livelihood.
Then in the present time Cal just retired from the NFL and moves to Calamity to be closer to his best friend Pierce (from the previous book) for whom Nellie works. They can't stand each other so both are on mission to drive the other out of the city.
And here comes the weird part.
So we find out everything about their past when Cal steals one of Nellie's diaries from high school where she described every awful thing he did to her. Also who gives you the right to read someones thoughts and secrets without pemission?? This was so intrusive!!
Normally Cal feels like shit but he does nothing to make things better in the present!!! This annoyed me so much.
He had a reputation as an asshole in the NFL, he's rude all the time, basically acts like a recluse and the author normally explained his piss poor behaviour with his childhood trauma or the fancy word for daddy issues.
So what his dad cheated on his mom, put a lot of pressure on him to succeed as an athlete and all of Cal's awful behaviour was just a fuck you to his dad and their perfect family picture?
OMG GROW THE FUCK UP. He was a 33 year old man ffs.
No one abused you or forced you to act like the rudest jerk in existence. Normally the author tried to explain all of that again just like a front to protect himself but i couldn't get past how terribly he treated everyone around him, i don't care if that's a front or not, imo he didn't do anything himself to explain his actions.
He did nothing period. He didn't apologized like he should, he didn't grovel enough, it was like none of it was his fault?
I get that they both have history together. Later it was revealed that for 4 years they have a fuck buddy situation where they have sex and then don't see each other for months or years. The only positive thing about this was that for 4 years they only had sex with each other.
However, there wasn't any romance. There wasn't any chemistry or cute moments. They literally insult each other all the time, than have sex, don't see each other for days, weeks, have sex, insult all over again.
I was so frustrated😤😤😤
I feel like they barely said two words that weren't some taunt or insult.
So the moment both realize they actually love each other?
In the end Nellie was the one who went and chased him. 😤
she deserved better.
March 3, 2022
Oh my gosh! The push and pull between Cal and Nellie was deliciously fun and smexy with moments of angst. Reflecting on this read, a roller-coaster ride is what comes to mind. This had me moving from one emotion to the next before gently easing me down and starting the whole thing over again. It was freaking wonderful! As soon as I finished, I wanted to do it all again.
This author has the ability to make me love tropes that I usually shy away from. She’s proven this to me repeatedly and yet I still was a bit anxious going into this one. And again, she completely won me over. In my opinion, this isn’t a dark bully story. Cal and Nellie gave as good as they got so it never felt as though one had more power emotionally over the other.
My heart was definitely softened towards both of them as I read about their pasts, the different events and incidents that inflicted pain upon them and their struggle to overcome it. They were on what I would consider an even playing field although neither realized it.
I loved watching this couple connect throughout the story, each time bringing them closer to something more than just a hookup. I couldn’t wait to learn what it was going to take to get them permanently together in the end. Insert a ridiculously adorable child saying, “Unka Cal” and I was a goner.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
This author has the ability to make me love tropes that I usually shy away from. She’s proven this to me repeatedly and yet I still was a bit anxious going into this one. And again, she completely won me over. In my opinion, this isn’t a dark bully story. Cal and Nellie gave as good as they got so it never felt as though one had more power emotionally over the other.
My heart was definitely softened towards both of them as I read about their pasts, the different events and incidents that inflicted pain upon them and their struggle to overcome it. They were on what I would consider an even playing field although neither realized it.
I loved watching this couple connect throughout the story, each time bringing them closer to something more than just a hookup. I couldn’t wait to learn what it was going to take to get them permanently together in the end. Insert a ridiculously adorable child saying, “Unka Cal” and I was a goner.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
May 23, 2023
4 stars
I love a well done enemies to lovers romance and this one was great. Nellie and Cal went to high school together and they weren't friends... and now as adults with a mutual friend (Nellie's boss/friend and Cal's bff) they end up spending more time together than they'd like. I loved seeing Nellie's diary entries and learning why Cal was the way he was when they were younger and I also loved watching his growth. They were great together and the ending left me with a big smile on my face.
I love a well done enemies to lovers romance and this one was great. Nellie and Cal went to high school together and they weren't friends... and now as adults with a mutual friend (Nellie's boss/friend and Cal's bff) they end up spending more time together than they'd like. I loved seeing Nellie's diary entries and learning why Cal was the way he was when they were younger and I also loved watching his growth. They were great together and the ending left me with a big smile on my face.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Cindy Kay & Connor Crais
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length:7h 30m
April 6, 2022
4 stars from me
this was a very different book from the rest of them. I enjoyed it all the same, but it was fun to kind of shake things up. I loved that both of these characters were side characters that were hinted at from specifically the third book. I really found myself wondering what was gonna happen next, I was kind of always on my toes so that was interesting. I feel like throughout the story I was equally irritated and in awe at the same time of what was happening. Like I adore Nellie, but she irritated me sometimes because she was like a pendulum always switching sides, same thing with Cal but I can appreciate his honesty with himself. I liked how we got to find out they were practically enemies with benefits, I was not expecting that at all and that definitely threw me for a loop and made the story 10 times more interesting. I’ve never read a book like this before so at first I didn’t know how to feel, but now that the story has kind of settled I did really enjoy it!
this was a very different book from the rest of them. I enjoyed it all the same, but it was fun to kind of shake things up. I loved that both of these characters were side characters that were hinted at from specifically the third book. I really found myself wondering what was gonna happen next, I was kind of always on my toes so that was interesting. I feel like throughout the story I was equally irritated and in awe at the same time of what was happening. Like I adore Nellie, but she irritated me sometimes because she was like a pendulum always switching sides, same thing with Cal but I can appreciate his honesty with himself. I liked how we got to find out they were practically enemies with benefits, I was not expecting that at all and that definitely threw me for a loop and made the story 10 times more interesting. I’ve never read a book like this before so at first I didn’t know how to feel, but now that the story has kind of settled I did really enjoy it!
March 4, 2022
4.5 STARS!
Enemies to lovers gold here, people! Loved it!
Full review to follow...
“Tell me what you hate about me.”
“Excuse me?” I spun around. Was he joking?
“Tell me what you hate about me,” he repeated.
“We don’t have that much time.”
Enemies to lovers gold here, people! Loved it!
Full review to follow...
March 3, 2022
5 'Tell me what you hate about me' Stars!
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
I swear this series keeps getting better with each book! Until now, the previous installment (The Brazen) was my absolute favorite but I have to say Cal and Nellie have stolen my heart completely with The Bully. This novel is the perfect mix of enemies-to-lovers / I-wanted-you-forever-but-never-told-you theme. I just couldn’t get enough of this couple! I loved the back and forth between past and present and reading how they finally act on their true feelings for one another.
So, The Bully is the fourth installment in Willa Nash’s Calamity Montana series, and it tells the story of Nellie Rivera and Cal Stark. These two know each other from high school, they had this weird mix of emotions between them, but Cal essentially decided it was better to act as a bully than saying what he really felt. Now Cal has retired, and he wants to start a new life in Calamity. But Nellie is not having it. She was there first and she wants him out. But what happens when we discover they have this secret passion and they are acting on it? Will that win or are the past experiences too painful for this couple?
This was us. Push and pull. Cold or hot. Off to on.
We were magnets, one flip and we’d repulse each other. But turned the other way, there was no ripping us apart.
Wow, wow, wow. I literally devoured this book. Like I could not stop reading. The story between Cal and Nellie is so addicting. I am a sucker for couples that secretly want each other and these two are the prime example of that. They try to mask everything as hate but it’s so obvious there is so much more to them. The connection and chemistry between these two! It was beautiful, heartbreaking at times and so freaking steamy. I loved seeing how their story develops and how they can’t stop themselves from finally accepting their true feelings. What an incredible roller coaster Willa Nash has written. You will not be disappointed; the wait has been totally worth it!
I’d rather spend a lifetime arguing with Cal Stark, than laughing with anyone else.
Therefore, I am rating The Bully with 5 STARS because Willa keeps making me fall in love with Calamity and the outstanding characters she is creating around this small town. I do have a new favorite couple (but I do love them all!) because Nellie and Cal’s story is so my jam. I love the theme and the troupe and how Willla developed it. I loved reading their whole story and how they finally get together after so many years apart. Any enemies-to-lovers fan will love this book so I highly recommend you read it (and the whole series!).
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
I swear this series keeps getting better with each book! Until now, the previous installment (The Brazen) was my absolute favorite but I have to say Cal and Nellie have stolen my heart completely with The Bully. This novel is the perfect mix of enemies-to-lovers / I-wanted-you-forever-but-never-told-you theme. I just couldn’t get enough of this couple! I loved the back and forth between past and present and reading how they finally act on their true feelings for one another.
So, The Bully is the fourth installment in Willa Nash’s Calamity Montana series, and it tells the story of Nellie Rivera and Cal Stark. These two know each other from high school, they had this weird mix of emotions between them, but Cal essentially decided it was better to act as a bully than saying what he really felt. Now Cal has retired, and he wants to start a new life in Calamity. But Nellie is not having it. She was there first and she wants him out. But what happens when we discover they have this secret passion and they are acting on it? Will that win or are the past experiences too painful for this couple?
This was us. Push and pull. Cold or hot. Off to on.
We were magnets, one flip and we’d repulse each other. But turned the other way, there was no ripping us apart.
Wow, wow, wow. I literally devoured this book. Like I could not stop reading. The story between Cal and Nellie is so addicting. I am a sucker for couples that secretly want each other and these two are the prime example of that. They try to mask everything as hate but it’s so obvious there is so much more to them. The connection and chemistry between these two! It was beautiful, heartbreaking at times and so freaking steamy. I loved seeing how their story develops and how they can’t stop themselves from finally accepting their true feelings. What an incredible roller coaster Willa Nash has written. You will not be disappointed; the wait has been totally worth it!
I’d rather spend a lifetime arguing with Cal Stark, than laughing with anyone else.
Therefore, I am rating The Bully with 5 STARS because Willa keeps making me fall in love with Calamity and the outstanding characters she is creating around this small town. I do have a new favorite couple (but I do love them all!) because Nellie and Cal’s story is so my jam. I love the theme and the troupe and how Willla developed it. I loved reading their whole story and how they finally get together after so many years apart. Any enemies-to-lovers fan will love this book so I highly recommend you read it (and the whole series!).
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
November 9, 2022
WHO LET ME GIVE THIS FIVE STARS. WHO.
my past dumbass did
September 8, 2023
The Bully certainly sweet. The enemy to lover trophe hits the right note. I do enjoy the slow and sexy banter and pranks between Nellie and Cal. They both sweet and so much head strong.
Miss Nash proves herself again in this NA romance.
I wish there is more drama on the story. More twist and turn. More secrets.
4 stars
Miss Nash proves herself again in this NA romance.
I wish there is more drama on the story. More twist and turn. More secrets.
4 stars
July 23, 2023
***OUT NOW - AUDIOBOOK***
5 STARS
I really loved this one from Willa Nash - enemies to lovers, small town, but how Nash told this story really sealed the deal for me.
What I loved:
1. Cal was a fantastic hero. Although her perception is that he bullied her (and he did) his reasoning for doing what he did and how it was revealed was so good and so unique.
2. I really loved that Nellie owned who she was and was proud of who she was. At times, her pride might have been a detriment to her happiness with Cal but she rectified it when it mattered.
3. Cal and Nellie had really great chemistry - physically and emotionally.
4. The narrators were amazing, as always.
5. Willa Nash crafted a great story!
There really wasn’t anything that I disliked. It was great and well crafted romance, one of my fave standalones from the series.
5 STARS
I really loved this one from Willa Nash - enemies to lovers, small town, but how Nash told this story really sealed the deal for me.
What I loved:
1. Cal was a fantastic hero. Although her perception is that he bullied her (and he did) his reasoning for doing what he did and how it was revealed was so good and so unique.
2. I really loved that Nellie owned who she was and was proud of who she was. At times, her pride might have been a detriment to her happiness with Cal but she rectified it when it mattered.
3. Cal and Nellie had really great chemistry - physically and emotionally.
4. The narrators were amazing, as always.
5. Willa Nash crafted a great story!
There really wasn’t anything that I disliked. It was great and well crafted romance, one of my fave standalones from the series.
March 11, 2022
TELL ME WHY YOU HATE ME! Cal + Nellie’s banter is electric and steamy. Ahhh, just pure perfection. 🥲
tropes: small town romance, enemies with benefits, and enemies to lovers!
I loved Nellie’s diary entries and Cal’s realization of how much pain he caused her. I don’t normally love bully to lover romances, but he falls first and he PINES FOR HER💖
tropes: small town romance, enemies with benefits, and enemies to lovers!
I loved Nellie’s diary entries and Cal’s realization of how much pain he caused her. I don’t normally love bully to lover romances, but he falls first and he PINES FOR HER💖
June 12, 2022
The Bribe - 3.75 stars
The Bluff - 4.25 stars
The Brazen - 4 stars
>> The Bully - 3.25–.5 stars
The Brawl - tbr/November 2022
WN/DP returns with another peek into the small town community of Calamity, Montana. This go-round, The Bully gives us/the reader the chance to get more acquainted with some of the newest residents, Nellie & Cal — The Brazen’s hero, Pierce’s two bffs. Both are like family to Pierce…separately. As expected since high school, however, these two are anything, BUT close or family-like to each other. It’s taken them almost two decades, but Nellie & Cal finally started putting the gloves away 🥊.
I’m going to level with you, a bully romance fan I am not . I absolutely love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, but this more particular riff(bully) of ETL just has never been my cuppa. HOWEVER, if bully romance is your jam, by all means, take my review with a big ass grain of salt 🧂lol. You probably will be more satisfied than me. Anyhoo, based on the little teases in The Brazen for this pairing & the fact I’ve enjoyed each of the previous books in the series so far, I was cautiously optimistic despite the title. So I think I actually did a pretty good job keeping an open mind all the way to the end. Even though his actions were ass-backwards in high school & sometimes in the present, I believed Cal’s intentions for the most part. His methods in their teens just particularly sucked. I bought into the magnetism that kept drawing them together… sort of. Generally, I didn’t dislike either h or H. I mean I gave a bully romance more than a star over 2 stars 😏, so it’s decent.
⛔️ spoilery side from here on ⛔️
AND tbh, while yeah, it still didn’t suddenly turn me into a fan of the trope, I’m not so sure that was what kept the story hovering at just above average throughout. What held it back more was the unanticipated addition of enemies-with-benefits. I don’t get the appeal in romance tbh, especially when it exists off-page before the book even begins(even if it’s only occasionally when he would come to visit Pierce, Nellie works for Pierce). They were unknowingly monogamous since it began happening a few years before, so I suppose that was the one positive of it 🤷🏻♀️. Still, one of the main reasons I continually gravitate to ETL is the growing anticipation & developing tension between the h & H. EWB undercuts both of those things like a slow leak. The romance becomes underdeveloped & unremarkable imho. It would be one thing if it had been only once in the past, then the tension might be more believable to recapture in time. But the latter wasn’t the case here. So since it wasn’t, I think that was one of the main reasons causing the holding pattern I felt with the story remaining status quo.
Also thought WN/DP cut corners a bit in some areas imo. i.e. For a long stretch, both characters were too isolated from others. It’s intentionally mentioned between this book & the last, that Pierce is like family to each of them. Also to a lesser extent, it seemed like Kerrigan(Pierce’s wife/The Brazen’s heroine) & Nellie clicked pretty quick, even before they met in person. I know My point with less availability & even if they didn’t spill all the beans to him, Pierce still would’ve been there for them, especially with Cal just getting there. & idk, maybe Cal could’ve made friends with Duke(The Bribe) or Hux (The Bluff) too. Nellie kinda made friends with Larke, Kerrigan’s sister, but she vanished for stretches.
So there it is 🤷🏻♀️. A little above average read. I still like the Calamity series a lot, so I’m not gonna stop now. The twist in the epilogue about Larke(the upcoming The Brawl heroine & Kerrigan’s sister) absolutely has me curious. November’s so far 😭.
The Bluff - 4.25 stars
The Brazen - 4 stars
>> The Bully - 3.25–.5 stars
The Brawl - tbr/November 2022
WN/DP returns with another peek into the small town community of Calamity, Montana. This go-round, The Bully gives us/the reader the chance to get more acquainted with some of the newest residents, Nellie & Cal — The Brazen’s hero, Pierce’s two bffs. Both are like family to Pierce…separately. As expected since high school, however, these two are anything, BUT close or family-like to each other. It’s taken them almost two decades, but Nellie & Cal finally started putting the gloves away 🥊.
I’m going to level with you, a bully romance fan I am not . I absolutely love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, but this more particular riff(bully) of ETL just has never been my cuppa. HOWEVER, if bully romance is your jam, by all means, take my review with a big ass grain of salt 🧂lol. You probably will be more satisfied than me. Anyhoo, based on the little teases in The Brazen for this pairing & the fact I’ve enjoyed each of the previous books in the series so far, I was cautiously optimistic despite the title. So I think I actually did a pretty good job keeping an open mind all the way to the end. Even though his actions were ass-backwards in high school & sometimes in the present, I believed Cal’s intentions for the most part. His methods in their teens just particularly sucked. I bought into the magnetism that kept drawing them together… sort of. Generally, I didn’t dislike either h or H. I mean I gave a bully romance more than a star over 2 stars 😏, so it’s decent.
⛔️ spoilery side from here on ⛔️
AND tbh, while yeah, it still didn’t suddenly turn me into a fan of the trope, I’m not so sure that was what kept the story hovering at just above average throughout. What held it back more was the unanticipated addition of enemies-with-benefits. I don’t get the appeal in romance tbh, especially when it exists off-page before the book even begins(even if it’s only occasionally when he would come to visit Pierce, Nellie works for Pierce). They were unknowingly monogamous since it began happening a few years before, so I suppose that was the one positive of it 🤷🏻♀️. Still, one of the main reasons I continually gravitate to ETL is the growing anticipation & developing tension between the h & H. EWB undercuts both of those things like a slow leak. The romance becomes underdeveloped & unremarkable imho. It would be one thing if it had been only once in the past, then the tension might be more believable to recapture in time. But the latter wasn’t the case here. So since it wasn’t, I think that was one of the main reasons causing the holding pattern I felt with the story remaining status quo.
Also thought WN/DP cut corners a bit in some areas imo. i.e. For a long stretch, both characters were too isolated from others. It’s intentionally mentioned between this book & the last, that Pierce is like family to each of them. Also to a lesser extent, it seemed like Kerrigan(Pierce’s wife/The Brazen’s heroine) & Nellie clicked pretty quick, even before they met in person. I know My point with less availability & even if they didn’t spill all the beans to him, Pierce still would’ve been there for them, especially with Cal just getting there. & idk, maybe Cal could’ve made friends with Duke(The Bribe) or Hux (The Bluff) too. Nellie kinda made friends with Larke, Kerrigan’s sister, but she vanished for stretches.
So there it is 🤷🏻♀️. A little above average read. I still like the Calamity series a lot, so I’m not gonna stop now. The twist in the epilogue about Larke(the upcoming The Brawl heroine & Kerrigan’s sister) absolutely has me curious. November’s so far 😭.
March 5, 2022
4.5 Stars
March 3, 2022
4.5 ★
The only thing better than enemies to lovers is enemies with benefits. I live for characters who can’t stand to be around each other but deep down it’s because they can’t get the other person out of their head. Top tier.
Cal & Nellie went to high school together, and now years later they both end up in the same small town in Montana. They never got along in high school, Nellie was the poor, nerdy girl, Cal was the rich, hot jock. Now they’re forced to be around each other and those feelings from their teenage years can’t stay buried long.
This is very much a “I hate you but I want you” situation, and I loved it. They definitely have lots of pent up feelings for each other, both good and bad. Honestly some of the insults they hurled at each other hurt my feelings at times lol. But it was very obvious they had both been hiding feelings and putting up walls to keep the other out for years. I loved how their history of why they “hated” each other so much unfolds through Nellie’s diary entries. It gave so much necessary insight into their past without having to break up the momentum of the plot with tons of flash backs.
I think this was my favorite of the series so far! It’s always so fun to see characters from the other books in the series make appearances. And i love how the epilogue of each book gives a tiny hint about the next one in the series!
The only thing better than enemies to lovers is enemies with benefits. I live for characters who can’t stand to be around each other but deep down it’s because they can’t get the other person out of their head. Top tier.
Cal & Nellie went to high school together, and now years later they both end up in the same small town in Montana. They never got along in high school, Nellie was the poor, nerdy girl, Cal was the rich, hot jock. Now they’re forced to be around each other and those feelings from their teenage years can’t stay buried long.
This is very much a “I hate you but I want you” situation, and I loved it. They definitely have lots of pent up feelings for each other, both good and bad. Honestly some of the insults they hurled at each other hurt my feelings at times lol. But it was very obvious they had both been hiding feelings and putting up walls to keep the other out for years. I loved how their history of why they “hated” each other so much unfolds through Nellie’s diary entries. It gave so much necessary insight into their past without having to break up the momentum of the plot with tons of flash backs.
I think this was my favorite of the series so far! It’s always so fun to see characters from the other books in the series make appearances. And i love how the epilogue of each book gives a tiny hint about the next one in the series!
August 3, 2022
2.5⭑
Tropes;
Enemies to Lovers
Enemies with Benefits
Small Town Romance
Dual POV
Probably my least favourite of the series so far. Nellie and Cal have pretty much been enemies since high school, when he used to bully her.
Fast forward, they are now in their 30s and still hate each other. Cal moves to the town where Nellie lives and all they do is argue or insult each other. They also have an enemies with benefits situation going on and then next thing you know they’re in love with each other. I’m sorry????????
There was no development from being enemies to being lovers except for the sex. There were no cute, heartwarming or tender moments between them so how the hell did they fall in love?
The only good thing was seeing the characters from the other books lmao
Tropes;
Enemies to Lovers
Enemies with Benefits
Small Town Romance
Dual POV
Probably my least favourite of the series so far. Nellie and Cal have pretty much been enemies since high school, when he used to bully her.
Fast forward, they are now in their 30s and still hate each other. Cal moves to the town where Nellie lives and all they do is argue or insult each other. They also have an enemies with benefits situation going on and then next thing you know they’re in love with each other. I’m sorry????????
There was no development from being enemies to being lovers except for the sex. There were no cute, heartwarming or tender moments between them so how the hell did they fall in love?
The only good thing was seeing the characters from the other books lmao
March 7, 2022
4 Nellie and Cal Stars
The Calamity Montana series has been so enjoyable and it's not over yet. This fourth book in the series can read as a standalone but this is a great series that I would highly recommend if you love small town romances. I wish I lived in Calamity!
My musical muse for The Bully is 'You Should Probably Leave' by Chris Stapleton
Cal and Nellie both appear in the third book , The Brazen. Cal is Pierce's best friend and Nellie is Pierce's friend and his second in command of his company. The three of them know each other from school. Pierce and Cal are both from wealthy families and Nellie was a scholarship student. All the rich kids gave her a hard time or ignored her. School was a hellish experience.
When I beat Pierce for valedictorian, I was so proud. So smug. Yet as I stood at the podium, getting ready to deliver my speech, all of my arrogance evaporated. Because I was staring at a crowd of people who would never accept me. Ace every test. Get a full ride to a prestigious university. Be smart. Be kind. None of it mattered. To them, I would always be less
This is an enemies to lovers trope that has a lot of push and pull in it. There clearly had been a strong physical attraction between them from the very beginning. Even aged 14 they felt a pull to each other but for various reasons, the relationship fractured and eventually the entire thing imploded. Lines were drawn and after school they went their separate ways until their late 20's when they meet again through Pierce. The animosity is bubbling constantly but it's a thin line between love and hate and when emotions are heightened , passion can no longer be ignored and so Cal and Nellie develop an enemies with benefits relationship of sorts.
His mouth was an addiction. The softness of his lips. The bite of his teeth. The wet heat of his wicked tongue.
He kissed the way he played football.
He kissed the way he fucked.
Without restraint.
I loved lots about this book but the constant push and pull between Cal and Nellie went on a little longer than I wanted it to and at times I got a bit irritated with Nellie but then I learnt another snippet of their history and I fully understood why she was behaving the way she did.
Cal is a very lovable Hero. He is a cocky , arrogant athlete but his career has ended and I felt sorry for him as he struggled to manage the transition from NFL Pro Quarterback to someone searching for purpose. He was so in love with Nellie and he did everything to try and earn her forgiveness - again , I wanted Nellie to be less stubborn.
The ending is done beautifully and when Cal finally wins Nell , I had a little tear in my eye. Fab epilogue too that leads beautifully into the next book The Brawl which focuses on Larke, Kerrigan's sister. Roll on November...I'm impatient for more Calamity.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No. Once they start their hookups , neither has sex with anyone else.
The Calamity Montana series has been so enjoyable and it's not over yet. This fourth book in the series can read as a standalone but this is a great series that I would highly recommend if you love small town romances. I wish I lived in Calamity!
My musical muse for The Bully is 'You Should Probably Leave' by Chris Stapleton
Cal and Nellie both appear in the third book , The Brazen. Cal is Pierce's best friend and Nellie is Pierce's friend and his second in command of his company. The three of them know each other from school. Pierce and Cal are both from wealthy families and Nellie was a scholarship student. All the rich kids gave her a hard time or ignored her. School was a hellish experience.
When I beat Pierce for valedictorian, I was so proud. So smug. Yet as I stood at the podium, getting ready to deliver my speech, all of my arrogance evaporated. Because I was staring at a crowd of people who would never accept me. Ace every test. Get a full ride to a prestigious university. Be smart. Be kind. None of it mattered. To them, I would always be less
This is an enemies to lovers trope that has a lot of push and pull in it. There clearly had been a strong physical attraction between them from the very beginning. Even aged 14 they felt a pull to each other but for various reasons, the relationship fractured and eventually the entire thing imploded. Lines were drawn and after school they went their separate ways until their late 20's when they meet again through Pierce. The animosity is bubbling constantly but it's a thin line between love and hate and when emotions are heightened , passion can no longer be ignored and so Cal and Nellie develop an enemies with benefits relationship of sorts.
His mouth was an addiction. The softness of his lips. The bite of his teeth. The wet heat of his wicked tongue.
He kissed the way he played football.
He kissed the way he fucked.
Without restraint.
I loved lots about this book but the constant push and pull between Cal and Nellie went on a little longer than I wanted it to and at times I got a bit irritated with Nellie but then I learnt another snippet of their history and I fully understood why she was behaving the way she did.
Cal is a very lovable Hero. He is a cocky , arrogant athlete but his career has ended and I felt sorry for him as he struggled to manage the transition from NFL Pro Quarterback to someone searching for purpose. He was so in love with Nellie and he did everything to try and earn her forgiveness - again , I wanted Nellie to be less stubborn.
The ending is done beautifully and when Cal finally wins Nell , I had a little tear in my eye. Fab epilogue too that leads beautifully into the next book The Brawl which focuses on Larke, Kerrigan's sister. Roll on November...I'm impatient for more Calamity.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No. Once they start their hookups , neither has sex with anyone else.
March 12, 2022
4 So Good Star
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Willa Nash came up with an idea for a winning series and she has continued to make it happen. No matter how she puts her couples together, the chemistry jumps off the page and takes you on the type of romance journey you want.
How she has been able to do it with every single entry is a delight.
The Bribe (Calamity Montana #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Booty (Calamity Montana #1.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bluff (Calamity Montana, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Brazen (Calamity Montana, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bully (Calamity Montana, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 7, 2021
Whatever Happened Oh So Long Ago...
Left Its Mark On Nellie And Cal...
Fireworks Are Gonna Blow...
When Nellie And Cal Are In The Same Town...
The Question Is Cal Really...
The Bully (Calamity Montana, #4)-March 3, 2022
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Willa Nash came up with an idea for a winning series and she has continued to make it happen. No matter how she puts her couples together, the chemistry jumps off the page and takes you on the type of romance journey you want.
How she has been able to do it with every single entry is a delight.
The Bribe (Calamity Montana #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Booty (Calamity Montana #1.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bluff (Calamity Montana, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Brazen (Calamity Montana, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bully (Calamity Montana, #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 7, 2021
Whatever Happened Oh So Long Ago...
Left Its Mark On Nellie And Cal...
Fireworks Are Gonna Blow...
When Nellie And Cal Are In The Same Town...
The Question Is Cal Really...
The Bully (Calamity Montana, #4)-March 3, 2022
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
March 7, 2022
What I hate about this book? It has to end
This is the ultimate enemies to lovers romance. Holy Moly! Does the heroine hold grudge :0
Nellie and Cal have known each other since high school. They both attended a prestige private high school where Nellie was a scholarship kid and Cal is a rich and famous star. Nellie was always an outcas, and she was bullied quite a bit by Cal. Nellie vowed to stay away from boys like Cal and never fall for his antics. One innocent kiss by the pool changed their life forever. Cal became a star in all Nellie’s journal, and not in a good way :0
Years later, Nellie moved to small town Montana to start a new life with one of their mutual friend’s company. What happen when said mutual friend also invited Cal to move there too since Cal is retiring from pro football?
I like that the heroine is feisty and strong will. The hero is portrayed as a heartless bad boy extraordinaire but Cal is any but … if anything Cal is misunderstood, mainly because he chose the outer image he wants people to see. These two is hellbent on hating each other but physical attraction is a bitch. They can’t stay away from each other even if they tried. Their relationship is all angsts, push and pull, love and hate … so what we have is all heat and explosive chemistry. I like the idea of the diary which give us a glimpse of their past. The HAE ending is long time coming but so worth it. There is a bonus epilogue you don’t want to miss either. Make sure you download it after you are done with the book – super cute. This small town, enemy-to-lover is a wonderful addition to Calamity Montana series and just might be my favorite. Lovely read!!!
This is the ultimate enemies to lovers romance. Holy Moly! Does the heroine hold grudge :0
Nellie and Cal have known each other since high school. They both attended a prestige private high school where Nellie was a scholarship kid and Cal is a rich and famous star. Nellie was always an outcas, and she was bullied quite a bit by Cal. Nellie vowed to stay away from boys like Cal and never fall for his antics. One innocent kiss by the pool changed their life forever. Cal became a star in all Nellie’s journal, and not in a good way :0
Years later, Nellie moved to small town Montana to start a new life with one of their mutual friend’s company. What happen when said mutual friend also invited Cal to move there too since Cal is retiring from pro football?
I like that the heroine is feisty and strong will. The hero is portrayed as a heartless bad boy extraordinaire but Cal is any but … if anything Cal is misunderstood, mainly because he chose the outer image he wants people to see. These two is hellbent on hating each other but physical attraction is a bitch. They can’t stay away from each other even if they tried. Their relationship is all angsts, push and pull, love and hate … so what we have is all heat and explosive chemistry. I like the idea of the diary which give us a glimpse of their past. The HAE ending is long time coming but so worth it. There is a bonus epilogue you don’t want to miss either. Make sure you download it after you are done with the book – super cute. This small town, enemy-to-lover is a wonderful addition to Calamity Montana series and just might be my favorite. Lovely read!!!
August 10, 2022
Nellie really got on my nerves. Her total hatred of anything and everything Cal got old really fast. She was so stuck in the past, and thinking she knew exactly how Cal operated that she refused to see him in any way but her Bully. Her reactions to him as an adult was just horrible.
March 15, 2022
I’ve usually managed to finish each book in this series in a single day, usually in just a few hours really, they’re such easy, comfort reads.
March 31, 2022
Holding a grudge for 20 years even when you are both 33…
May 26, 2023
4.5/5⭐️
August 25, 2022
Oh my, I really loved this visit to the Calamity Montana world! I was so curious how Willa would take on a "bully" type story while maintaining her charismatic swoony tone, but this veered more into enemies to lovers with a past and present dynamic that made it all really work.
Nellie and Cal have lives that are intersected, and long complicated history with each other. And history that means these two just do not get along, at all. So much so that Nellie wants to push Cal right on out of town. Willa gives this story so much emotional complexity and depth. I loved them peeling back each other's layers and discovering the truth about one another- the real person beneath the veneer AND the way that veneer has impacted the other. The diary aspect in particular was such a great narrative touch- it helped us (and Cal) learn so much about Nellie. Plus I adored seeing Cal step away from his jerkish facade and exposing more of his heart. He's just alone in so many ways.
The banter, the heart, the sizzle, the steam, the chemistry- ah, I just loved them. And love this series.
Nellie and Cal have lives that are intersected, and long complicated history with each other. And history that means these two just do not get along, at all. So much so that Nellie wants to push Cal right on out of town. Willa gives this story so much emotional complexity and depth. I loved them peeling back each other's layers and discovering the truth about one another- the real person beneath the veneer AND the way that veneer has impacted the other. The diary aspect in particular was such a great narrative touch- it helped us (and Cal) learn so much about Nellie. Plus I adored seeing Cal step away from his jerkish facade and exposing more of his heart. He's just alone in so many ways.
The banter, the heart, the sizzle, the steam, the chemistry- ah, I just loved them. And love this series.
April 14, 2022
3⭐⭐⭐
🖤Follow me on Instagram for more edits🖤
I don't know how should I rate this one to be honest, so im going with a rounded 3 stars, because even if i disliked many points I also enjoyed being back in Calamity Montana world.. I loved the first book in this series and then it kinda lost me on the way here.
It was ... boring and dull.. I went in expecting a steamy enemies to lovers romance, what I got was a hero who steals personal diaries and reads them unapologetically and a heroine who from the bullied becomes a bully herself.
How old are these people again?! I thought I'm reading about teenagers, when she dropped her coffee in his pants for no reason whatsoever , ( beside things he did to her freaking 15 year ago when in highschool ) and other shenanigans that were meant to be funny but came across immature as fuck. And the sleeping together on and off for like 4 years? Not sexy when their treated each other like shit the rest of the time.
I liked the girl gang and how welcoming this little town is, also Cal's ornery neighbor. The fact that we get snippets into the others couples hea was a bonus.
🖤Follow me on Instagram for more edits🖤
I don't know how should I rate this one to be honest, so im going with a rounded 3 stars, because even if i disliked many points I also enjoyed being back in Calamity Montana world.. I loved the first book in this series and then it kinda lost me on the way here.
It was ... boring and dull.. I went in expecting a steamy enemies to lovers romance, what I got was a hero who steals personal diaries and reads them unapologetically and a heroine who from the bullied becomes a bully herself.
How old are these people again?! I thought I'm reading about teenagers, when she dropped her coffee in his pants for no reason whatsoever , ( beside things he did to her freaking 15 year ago when in highschool ) and other shenanigans that were meant to be funny but came across immature as fuck. And the sleeping together on and off for like 4 years? Not sexy when their treated each other like shit the rest of the time.
I liked the girl gang and how welcoming this little town is, also Cal's ornery neighbor. The fact that we get snippets into the others couples hea was a bonus.
April 7, 2022
My fave
This book is my favorite our of the series so far. I do so love the enemies to lovers trope and Cal and Nellie have hated each other for twenty years since they were high school freshman. Both have decided to move to Calamity, Montana, because their friend Pierce (one of the main characters from the previous book) has decided to settle here. However, the town isn't big enough for both Cal and Nellie.
This book is my favorite our of the series so far. I do so love the enemies to lovers trope and Cal and Nellie have hated each other for twenty years since they were high school freshman. Both have decided to move to Calamity, Montana, because their friend Pierce (one of the main characters from the previous book) has decided to settle here. However, the town isn't big enough for both Cal and Nellie.
March 5, 2022
a lot better than the previous book.
back in high school, she hated him, and now years later they leave in the same small town.
is hate to frenemies to lovers.
the romance development is a bit fast, but it was so good that i couldn't care
back in high school, she hated him, and now years later they leave in the same small town.
is hate to frenemies to lovers.
the romance development is a bit fast, but it was so good that i couldn't care
January 13, 2023
#1 The Bribe — 3.5 stars
#2 The Bluff — 3.75 stars
#3 The Brazen — 3.25 stars
#4 The Bully — 2.5 stars
the enemies to lovers was too childish and petty for my liking, and the “with benefits/fuck buddies” part shouldnt have been included imo cause it only ruined the angst and the tension.
i just thought it odd that they had sex once in a blue moon, but never talked about it after and just went on with their lives; then, they suddenly lived in the same town and constantly run into each other, but all they did was argue and insult each other. it was fun at first, and i was really feeling the angst (especially bcs of the double POVs). but i grew tired of the H with his daddy issues and the h with her persistent villainization of the H (even though its been more than a DECADE since he was her bully). so much for a #glowup. 😭
there was too much unnecessary hostility and not enough sweet, emotional “lovers” moments. plus, it was the h who had to chase after the H in the end... yeah, not my cuppa.
(read as an audiobook)
#2 The Bluff — 3.75 stars
#3 The Brazen — 3.25 stars
#4 The Bully — 2.5 stars
the enemies to lovers was too childish and petty for my liking, and the “with benefits/fuck buddies” part shouldnt have been included imo cause it only ruined the angst and the tension.
i just thought it odd that they had sex once in a blue moon, but never talked about it after and just went on with their lives; then, they suddenly lived in the same town and constantly run into each other, but all they did was argue and insult each other. it was fun at first, and i was really feeling the angst (especially bcs of the double POVs). but i grew tired of the H with his daddy issues and the h with her persistent villainization of the H (even though its been more than a DECADE since he was her bully). so much for a #glowup. 😭
there was too much unnecessary hostility and not enough sweet, emotional “lovers” moments. plus, it was the h who had to chase after the H in the end... yeah, not my cuppa.
(read as an audiobook)
March 4, 2022
4.5 Stars
‘The walls we’d built as shields were so thick that it was hard to see where mine ended and his began.’
The Bully by Willa Nash (Devney Perry) is the first book we have read in the Calamity Montana series. We know…. we know , we should have started from the beginning and yes, we are normally sticklers for reading in order, despite being a series of standalones. However, we were in a huge book funk, so we went for it. The wonderful thing that has come out of this is that we loved The Bully and it completely stood on its own, we met some great characters and, we’ve now got three books in this series to add to our kindles. It is a win-win!
‘If Nellie deemed me unworthy, it would destroy me.’
The Bully is about the complex and slightly toxic ‘relationship’ -spanning years- between Nellie Rivera and Cal Stark. We say toxic but really that is just the top layer of their connection. It is a fabulous mix of enemies to lovers and small-town romance. This Author sure knows how to write character tension. That dramatic push-pull attraction we all know and love. Our affection for Nellie and Cal was akin to a game of table tennis. One second, we were on Nellie’s side, the next on Cal’s. That is until that moment of revelation when we realised that we loved and understood them both respectively.
‘He was tangled in my heart. And it was only a matter of time before he’d break it.’
We loved how we jumped into the high school past of Cal and Nellie through diary entries. It gave us a perspective of the how and why’s of this intense chemistry that spurred on an almost hostile relationship that had fiery passionate consequences. Can anyone say, “enemies with benefits?!” There were moments when Cal’s story broke our hearts…“Tell me what you hate about me.” So heart-breaking what spurred on these questions. We felt that the strength of character rested with Nellie. She was a fighter, her battles from her teenage years shaping her relationships as an adult. It’s all about perspective and interpretation. Not everything is as it seems, and there are always two sides to every story, somewhere in which lies the actual truth.
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’ll ruin her.”
When you pick up a book penned by Devney Perry, you know what you’re going to get. Character depth, angst, swoon, passion, and heat, as well as that heart-warming small-town feeling. Every moment we spent in Calamity was pretty wonderful. A special mention must go to Harry, we all need a Harry in our lives!
‘He looked at peace, his face relaxed…He looked like a man who’d needed to sleep for a decade but had been waiting to find the right place to rest and had finally found it in my bed.’
Ebook
Paperback
Audio
Come and say hi, at:
✲ TotallyBookedBlog
✲ TBB on Facebook
✲ TBB on Instagram
✲ TBB on Twitter
✲ TBB on Pinterest
February 25, 2022
5 stars!
Devney Perry (writing as Willa Nash) takes us back to the town of Calamity, Montana for an emotional enemies-to-lovers romance with red-hot chemistry, sizzling passion and a beautiful slow-burning love story. This story owned my heart, and I loved it so much.
We met Cal and Nellie in the last book of the series, The Brazen. Cal is the best friend of Pierce, the hero from The Brazen, Nellie is a close friend of Piece’s, and the VP of his company. The three of them attended their exclusive high school together, but while Cal and Pierce were there because their parents paid for them to be, Nellie was the recipient of a scholarship, and was constantly looked down on by the other students. Cal was mostly the one who made her school life so hellish, and she has hated him ever since.
With a shared close friend, Cal and Nellie have run into each other numerous times over the years, and their animosity has only grown. It consumes them whenever they are together, and now things are about to get really difficult. Nellie has left the city to move to Calamity to work with Pierce, they are setting up a new headquarters, and she is looking forward to embracing the quiet life and finally escaping her lonely life and making some friends. The problem is that newly-required NFL star, Cal, has the same idea. Known as a hot-tempered a**hole, he wants to escape the constant scrutiny of life in front of the camera and knowing that his body won’t hold up for much longer, he’s keen for a quiet life near his best friend.
But when Nellie and Cal discover each other in their new home town… sparks fly.
There is palpable hostility between these two. You can feel it. They are shocked and horrified to see each other, and Nellie immediately sets out to claim the town as hers and get rid of Cal, and in an entertaining series of events, she tries really damn hard. So hard, in fact, that I actually felt for Cal. Here’s a very misunderstood guy trying to get used to retirement and figure out what he wants to do with his life, and Nellie is so mean to him. I figured she must have her reasons, and we come to learn those as glimpses of the past are revealed.
But underneath all of that aggression, there is attraction. Neither of them actually want to be feeling it, but it’s there nevertheless, leading to chemistry-filled hate sex.
Holy freaking hotness, these two are on fire! The sexy times are sizzling and intense, full of everything that they feel for each other, and I gleefully fanned myself whenever all of that chemistry became too much to resist.
And we soon learn that their tangled history is so much more complex than we knew, and with that comes a whole heap of emotion. I won’t go into detail, because you just need to read and experience it, but the feels are intense as the full extent of Cal and Nellie’s pasts unfold.
Their dynamic is twisted, and they have both been struggling with their emotions towards each other for a long time, but being in each other’s lives consistently for the first time since high school forces them to finally confront their past and what they feel for each other, and it’s an emotional journey for both of them.
OMG, I love these characters, and my heart ached with them as they fought so hard to figure out exactly what they are to each other. We see them go from laugh-out-loud hostility to steamy hate-sex to confusion, grief and more. They’ve got issues that they need to deal with, and as they slowly come to accept what we’ve known all along – that they are actually deeply in love with the other – they still have to figure out what to do with all of those feelings. It’s a little bit angsty, but so beautifully heartfelt, and I loved watching them slowly find their way to each other.
This is such a great read, and what I particularly love about it was the way the story unfolded. It was unexpected and masterfully written, with reveals coming at moments of peak impact, and it made the reading experience so much more engaging and enjoyable.
Cal and Nellie’s story is absolutely gorgeous, and make sure you download that bonus epilogue, which provides the additional closure that I wanted so badly for these two.
Characters from the previous books appear, though this one can easily standalone – but this series has become a firm favourite for me, so don’t miss out on the earlier books! There’s a hint at Larke’s story up next, and I cannot wait for that one!
Absolutely fantastic – 5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Devney Perry (writing as Willa Nash) takes us back to the town of Calamity, Montana for an emotional enemies-to-lovers romance with red-hot chemistry, sizzling passion and a beautiful slow-burning love story. This story owned my heart, and I loved it so much.
We met Cal and Nellie in the last book of the series, The Brazen. Cal is the best friend of Pierce, the hero from The Brazen, Nellie is a close friend of Piece’s, and the VP of his company. The three of them attended their exclusive high school together, but while Cal and Pierce were there because their parents paid for them to be, Nellie was the recipient of a scholarship, and was constantly looked down on by the other students. Cal was mostly the one who made her school life so hellish, and she has hated him ever since.
With a shared close friend, Cal and Nellie have run into each other numerous times over the years, and their animosity has only grown. It consumes them whenever they are together, and now things are about to get really difficult. Nellie has left the city to move to Calamity to work with Pierce, they are setting up a new headquarters, and she is looking forward to embracing the quiet life and finally escaping her lonely life and making some friends. The problem is that newly-required NFL star, Cal, has the same idea. Known as a hot-tempered a**hole, he wants to escape the constant scrutiny of life in front of the camera and knowing that his body won’t hold up for much longer, he’s keen for a quiet life near his best friend.
But when Nellie and Cal discover each other in their new home town… sparks fly.
This was my home now.
And Calamity wasn’t big enough for us both.
There is palpable hostility between these two. You can feel it. They are shocked and horrified to see each other, and Nellie immediately sets out to claim the town as hers and get rid of Cal, and in an entertaining series of events, she tries really damn hard. So hard, in fact, that I actually felt for Cal. Here’s a very misunderstood guy trying to get used to retirement and figure out what he wants to do with his life, and Nellie is so mean to him. I figured she must have her reasons, and we come to learn those as glimpses of the past are revealed.
But underneath all of that aggression, there is attraction. Neither of them actually want to be feeling it, but it’s there nevertheless, leading to chemistry-filled hate sex.
There was a constant hate simmering beneath the surface. Attraction was its constant companion. And fuck, but we were hot together.
Holy freaking hotness, these two are on fire! The sexy times are sizzling and intense, full of everything that they feel for each other, and I gleefully fanned myself whenever all of that chemistry became too much to resist.
I tore my mouth away, the two of us panting for breath.
His eyes locked with mine, searching for my decision. Searching for an answer. Anything that might explain this chemistry. “Don’t answer the fucking door with your blouse unbuttoned.”
I raised my chin, my hand tightening even tighter on his shirt. “What are you going to do about it?”
Cal gripped the collar of my shirt and pulled. Whoosh. Buttons went flying as the sound of shredding seams filled the room.
And we soon learn that their tangled history is so much more complex than we knew, and with that comes a whole heap of emotion. I won’t go into detail, because you just need to read and experience it, but the feels are intense as the full extent of Cal and Nellie’s pasts unfold.
He was tangled in my heart. And it was only a matter of time before he’d break it.
Their dynamic is twisted, and they have both been struggling with their emotions towards each other for a long time, but being in each other’s lives consistently for the first time since high school forces them to finally confront their past and what they feel for each other, and it’s an emotional journey for both of them.
I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I don’t.”
OMG, I love these characters, and my heart ached with them as they fought so hard to figure out exactly what they are to each other. We see them go from laugh-out-loud hostility to steamy hate-sex to confusion, grief and more. They’ve got issues that they need to deal with, and as they slowly come to accept what we’ve known all along – that they are actually deeply in love with the other – they still have to figure out what to do with all of those feelings. It’s a little bit angsty, but so beautifully heartfelt, and I loved watching them slowly find their way to each other.
“I need you to say the words because I’m scared. Because I don’t even know where to start. Show me where to start. Show me how to do this.”
This is such a great read, and what I particularly love about it was the way the story unfolded. It was unexpected and masterfully written, with reveals coming at moments of peak impact, and it made the reading experience so much more engaging and enjoyable.
Cal and Nellie’s story is absolutely gorgeous, and make sure you download that bonus epilogue, which provides the additional closure that I wanted so badly for these two.
Characters from the previous books appear, though this one can easily standalone – but this series has become a firm favourite for me, so don’t miss out on the earlier books! There’s a hint at Larke’s story up next, and I cannot wait for that one!
Absolutely fantastic – 5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2022
This book is so different from all the other Willa books. its unique & jarring, in the sense that it paints the hero himself as a bully. When all he was doing was generally being a jackass & a hormone driven teen.
"In nearly two decades, we’d perfected our hate-hate relationship. The reasons for our mutual disdain were as plentiful as the dust particles floating in the air, catching the afternoon glow."
I was Hooked from the first page. this book has it all - Heat, passion, lust, love and guilt. The story moves through well crafted gauntlet of Obsession, compulsion and redemption. An emotional journey of a damned boy who is drifting unmoored through life, looking for a place to call home.
The masterful prose is poignant and real. It's raw honesty makes it a sensitive read throughout. I'm a die hard fan of willa style of storytelling, so this book was highly anticipated. But after having gone through this hearttouching story, my love for her books has grown deeper.this already has jumped straight to the top as BEST BOOK of Calamity Series
I was so invested in Cal Stark & Nellie Rivera's love/hate relationship from the get go.
"This was us. Push and pull. Cold or hot. Off to on.
We were magnets, one flip and we’d repulse each other. But turned the other way, there was no ripping us apart. "
Can't live WITH each other, can't live WITHOUT too.
Set on a timeline of at least a decade, they've known each other since the dreaded High School years. He's the quintessential rich boy/dumb jock prince of HS. She's the scholarship kid with tattered backpack and hand me down life. Their social standards couldn't be more opposite.
I loved how Willa navigates the intricate matters of a teen heart where appearances matter so much that they build their personalities up, complete with callous behaviour and nonchalant exterior. In truth they're both hurting...A LOT!
"He was in there somewhere. That nice boy who confided in me with his secrets. Maybe it was foolish of me to believe that there was a kind, honest version of Cal buried beneath the layers of arrogance and insolence. "
This story touched me more than I had thought it would. Esp Cal and his loneliness just haunted me the most.
And what floored me the most was Nellie tried being equally mean but somewhere deep in her heart, her bruised ego saw its mirror soul in Cal's. Too tender!!
I've been teary eyed at times and hopefully optimistic at most.
Ended with a B-I-G smile on my face as is the norm whenever I pick a Willa book.
She manages to surprise me everytime and I LOVE IT
Everybody MUST READ this book.
5 stars for Winnebago Musings
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
"In nearly two decades, we’d perfected our hate-hate relationship. The reasons for our mutual disdain were as plentiful as the dust particles floating in the air, catching the afternoon glow."
I was Hooked from the first page. this book has it all - Heat, passion, lust, love and guilt. The story moves through well crafted gauntlet of Obsession, compulsion and redemption. An emotional journey of a damned boy who is drifting unmoored through life, looking for a place to call home.
The masterful prose is poignant and real. It's raw honesty makes it a sensitive read throughout. I'm a die hard fan of willa style of storytelling, so this book was highly anticipated. But after having gone through this hearttouching story, my love for her books has grown deeper.this already has jumped straight to the top as BEST BOOK of Calamity Series
I was so invested in Cal Stark & Nellie Rivera's love/hate relationship from the get go.
"This was us. Push and pull. Cold or hot. Off to on.
We were magnets, one flip and we’d repulse each other. But turned the other way, there was no ripping us apart. "
Can't live WITH each other, can't live WITHOUT too.
Set on a timeline of at least a decade, they've known each other since the dreaded High School years. He's the quintessential rich boy/dumb jock prince of HS. She's the scholarship kid with tattered backpack and hand me down life. Their social standards couldn't be more opposite.
I loved how Willa navigates the intricate matters of a teen heart where appearances matter so much that they build their personalities up, complete with callous behaviour and nonchalant exterior. In truth they're both hurting...A LOT!
"He was in there somewhere. That nice boy who confided in me with his secrets. Maybe it was foolish of me to believe that there was a kind, honest version of Cal buried beneath the layers of arrogance and insolence. "
This story touched me more than I had thought it would. Esp Cal and his loneliness just haunted me the most.
And what floored me the most was Nellie tried being equally mean but somewhere deep in her heart, her bruised ego saw its mirror soul in Cal's. Too tender!!
I've been teary eyed at times and hopefully optimistic at most.
Ended with a B-I-G smile on my face as is the norm whenever I pick a Willa book.
She manages to surprise me everytime and I LOVE IT
Everybody MUST READ this book.
5 stars for Winnebago Musings
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,038 reviews