Falling for Trouble by Carly Phillips
Dare to Fall #1
February 5, 2026
🔥Bad boy/good girl
🩷Brother’s best friend
🔥Office romance
🩷Opposites attract
🔥Billionaire
🩷He falls first
🔥Forbidden love
🩷Not good enough for her
🔥Alpha
🩷Protector
🔥1st person POV
He’s the bad boy my family warned me about—and the one man I can’t have.
I just landed the job of my dreams—planning the Miami Thunder football team’s 50th-anniversary celebration—and I can’t afford distractions. Especially not tattooed billionaire and reformed troublemaker Lucas Carras. He exudes alpha-hero intensity, but he’s been off limits for as long as I’ve known him.
But the kickoff party is happening at the nightclub he co-owns with my brother… and with my sibling out of town, I’m stuck working with Lucas.
Forced proximity ignites the desire we’ve both been pretending doesn’t exist. From bedrooms to storage rooms, the scorching tension causes us to cross every line we swore we wouldn’t. On paper, we’re complete opposites. In reality, the chemistry is undeniable.
This party is everything I’ve worked for—my moment to prove myself. Until the sabotage starts.
Orders vanish. Vendors back out. Someone is determined to ruin the anniversary… and my reputation along with it.
Suddenly Lucas isn’t just a distraction. He’s my protector, my anchor, and the only man I trust to stand by my side.
But when my brother finds out about us, family drama explodes. And I’m torn between being the good girl who plays by the rules… and falling for trouble.
Perfect for fans of Carly Phillips and high-heat sports romance, Falling for Trouble features a possessive hero, high-stakes suspense, and a guaranteed HEA.
Start reading today with KU: https://www.carlyphillips.com/books/falling-for-trouble/
EXCERPT
“We make quite a team,” I tell him.
“We do.” He grins at me and I’m drawn into his green-eyed gaze.
Rising to my feet, I act on impulse and wrap my arms around his neck. “Lucas Carras, I appreciate you.”
“Same goes, Ms. Dare.” Our lips meet, and the kiss isn’t hot and rushed, it’s more intense and real. There’s feeling beneath the physical act and butterflies take flight inside my belly.
I try reminding myself that we’re in a temporary arrangement that can’t go any further, but nothing about being around him, working with him, or even kissing him seems short term. He feels like a guy I can rely on. Like my guy.
Just as his tongue slides over my lips, I hear the tap of high heels and a chuckle. I step back from Lucas and glance toward the office entrance.
“Hello!” Kaylee places the four-cup coffee holder on her desk and waves. “No need to stop on my account. Wish I’d known you were here, Lucas. I’d have gotten you one.”
He chuckles. “I think I’ll let you ladies get back to work.” He leans in close. “I’ll pick you up for the gala on Saturday night. And I’ll text you the time, friend.” He stands tall and grins, then strides past Kaylee’s desk. “Bye, Kaylee.”
She treats him to another finger wave. “Bye, Lucas.”
“What was he doing here?” she asks me.
I blink and realize I don’t know. I’d just been having a mini meltdown, looked up, and there he was. “He was… in the neighborhood,” I tell her.
Across from me, Kaylee grins and busies herself with work on her desk.
My phone rings.
I see it’s Jack and groan but swipe to take the call and put the cell to my ear. “Hi, Jack. What’s up? Aren’t you in Nashville?” I ask.
“And that means I can’t call and say hi to my sister?” he asks.
I roll my eyes, knowing in Jack-speak that probably means checking up on me. “Of course not. How are you?”
“I’m good. Scoping out places, meeting new people,” he says. “How are things going there? Is Lucas taking good care of you?” he asks.
If only he knows just how good.
Falling for Trouble by Carly Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We’re finally getting the second generation of the Dare family, and I am so here for it.
Rainey and Lucas have had a thing for each other for a long time, but due to him being her brothers best friend, they never closed the line. But now life has pushed them together and they have to spend a lot of time together. Buried feelings start to show and soon they can’t stay away.
The reformed bad boy Lucas is sure he doesn’t deserve her due to his childhood. Add to that the promise he made to her brother, things are bound the get difficult. And when someone is out the get his girl, he’d stop at nothing to make sure she is safe. I absolutely loved these two together. After everything that has happened they both deserved HEA.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Meet Carly Phillips:
NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips is the queen of Alpha Heroes, at least according to The Harlequin Junkie Reviewer.. Carly married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her crazy dogs who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram pages. The author of over 75 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters and is now an empty nester. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as her first romance club pick. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers.
Connect with Carly Phillips: https://linktr.ee/carlyphillips
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