Book Review for First Comes Loathe by Lilly Atlas

Title: First Comes Loathe

Series: Blue Collar Bensons #1

Author: Lilly Atlas

Genre: Contemporary/Steamy Romance

Release Date: March 23, 2021

Cover Design: Leah Suttle

Cover Model: Matthew Hosea 

Cover Photographer: Golden Czermak

Reviewed by Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

5 stars from us

Conceited. Harlot. Easy. Addict.

A-list Hollywood actress, Scarlett, has been called every name in the book. Most she’s earned with her attention-seeking antics, high-maintenance personality, and bed-hopping. But even the most glamorous and sought-after actress can have a vulnerable center hidden beneath the glittery exterior. Years in the spotlight have battered Scarlett into a woman she no longer recognizes. Hitting rock bottom in a humiliating public display finally wakes her up to the disaster her life has become. It’s time for Scarlett to hang up her stage name, move somewhere no one will find her, and start over as plain old Michaela Hudson.

If there’s one thing mechanic Keith Benson hates, it’s a rich woman who thinks the world should bow at her feet. Someone like that hot mess of an actress Scarlett, who can’t take a breath without wanting her adoring fans to shower her with love. Pretentious women make him sick. But he finds a doozy when he comes to the rescue of a standard motorist. Within five seconds, the gorgeous Michaela rubs him the wrong way. He wants no part of her, no matter how his body responds. Unfortunately, she moves onto his block and quickly befriends his siblings. He has enough problems, including an abusive father bent on screwing up Keith’s life. The last thing he needs is an uppity neighbor he hates but can’t get off his mind.

While settling into her new life is smoother than Michaela feared, it’s not all sunshine and smiles. She’s always worried someone will discover her true identity, and she can’t stop thinking about the grouchy neighbor she angered after long her first night in town. While she hopes to remain anonymous for as long as possible, she can’t avoid Keith forever. With a little work, they develop a tentative friendship, which turns complicated once they give into the scorching heat between them.

As they cautiously grow closer, Keith’s problems bleed into Michaela’s issues, wreaking havoc on an already tenuous connection. Is there any chance for the disgraced Hollywood star and the man who loathes her?

Wow! What a heartfelt story filled with a ton of emotion and a lot of drama. One thing to mention is that out of all the books we have read so far this year, this book and brand-new series has had the best cast of characters ever. We thought the characters were absolutely awesome! We loved the family unit of the Benson children they were a lot of fun, and they were engaging we loved their teasing their camaraderie some were full of sass others funny and one that had a grumpy and judgmental attitude. Considering this family had been to hell and back, we loved that they were so close and there was a lot of love there between them, and we loved that they always had each other's backs. Keith stood out as the protector of all of them.

One thing we loved most about the story, it, it felt very real. Scarlett aka Mickie was a bit of a train wreck when were first met her despite her fame and fortune she was very lost but, we loved how she took responsibility for her past and moved forward to create a band new life and left that toxic life behind that was killing her. We loved her determination and even though she was still a bit lost and insecure at times you could just tell she had one heck of a backbone, we also found her to be funny and sassy when the situation warranted it!

Keith was one of those characters you want to hate but, he makes it impossible and from the moment we met him our constant thoughts were this man needs a good a--kicking! We loved his love and devotion to his family and how he was all about protecting them but, his treatment from the moment he met Mickie was deplorable here Mickie was trying to move on from her past and here you had Keith letting his define his current action and deeds.

Talk about a couple having awesome chemistry because Keith and Mickie had that in spades. This couple had some rather fan worthy hot and sexy scenes, those two we like a moth to a flame. Smoking Hot together!

Overall, we really loved the story and could not put it down. The story was full of tons of drama and had a cast of some really awesome characters that were impossible not to fall in love with, and it was about all the messy bits' life throws your way. But, in the mix of all the crazy, sometimes something beautiful comes out of all those ashes...

Lilly Atlas is a contemporary romance author, proud Navy wife, and mother of two spunky girls. By day, she works as a physical therapist for a hospital in Virginia. Lilly is an avid romance reader, and expects her Kindle to beg for mercy every time she downloads a new e-book. Thankfully, it hasn’t happened yet, and she can often be found absorbed in a good book.