Phenomenal X (Hard Knocks #1) by Michelle A. Valentine

Phenomenal X was a good read if you like the Real Series by Katy Evans. The books are very similar but do have their differences. I liked this book just as much as I like Real. There is a sexy, frustrating, bad boy, pro wrestler that think he doesn't deserve anything good in his life. There is a good girl that wants to prove him wrong. There are chapters from Xavier's point of view but mostly the book is told from Anna's eyes. The book was a little slow to get to the good parts for my liking. I didn't like the build up too much. It seemed to drag on forever and then the book was over a chapter later. That sucked.

Anna is a good girl and has done everything her father has told her to do her whole life. She decides to leave town and meets Xavier also known as Phenomenal X on a plane. Anna wants to be independent and make her own way in life. Xavier is super sexy and turns her life upside down in the best way possible. He makes her feel things she has never felt before. She also can't seem to get him out of her head.

Xavier is taking a break from pro wrestling to figure so things out. He is on his way home when he meets Anna. He can tell she is good and innocent. He is instantly drawn to her goodness. He craves it. Xavier had a horrible childhood and doesn't let people in. 

 "There’s darkness inside me that no one should have to experience, and that’s what I’m trying to protect you from"

He doesn't want to get involved with Anna but he just can't stay away from her. She is different than all the other women he has ever met. She shows him it's okay to let his guard down.

Their chemistry was amazing. You could tell they both wanted each other and it was only a matter of chapters before they got together. They started out as friends. Anna doesn't want to be just another girl to Xavier. They decide friends is the best way to go while Xavier is in town for the week. They want to hang out together and be in each other presence. They make these silly rules up so they can stay just friends.

"You know, some basic rules so we don't give each other any mixed signals about moving past the friend zone."

The rules seemed like a good idea but those rules were broken within a day by Anna. I like the rule thing, but they didn't need it. I wanted them together from the second chapter and the friends rules prolong that from happening.

I think what bothered me the most about the story was Xavier constantly told Anna he wasn't good enough for her. For more than half the book, a weeks time to Anna and Xavier, he tells her countless times, he's not a good person, he doesn't deserve someone like her, he was too dangerous and he would destroy her goodness.

 "I'm the most undeserving motherfucker in the world...which is why I'm best suited to protect you from pricks like me."

However, right when he knows he's about to get it in, he tells her he will be a good man to her. He didn't care that he could potentially hurt her.

"I'll be a good man to you, Anna."

How can his mood change that fast? Did he have some kind of epiphany and decided he would be a good guy for a sweet girl like Anna? I don't see how he could just realized all of a sudden he could be with Anna and she would be enough. He warned her off of him like 2 days before.