Tag Archives: Corporate / Legal

Dirty Headlines

By L J Shen

Synopsis

Célian Laurent.
Manhattan royalty.
Notorious playboy.
Heir to a media empire.
…And my new boss.
I could have impressed him, if not for last month’s unforgettable one-night stand.
I left it with more than orgasms and a pleasant memory—namely, his wallet.
Now he’s staring me down like I’m the dirt under his Italian loafers, and I’m supposed to take it.
But the thing about being Judith “Jude” Humphry is I have nothing to lose.
Brooklyn girl.
Infamously quirky.
Heir to a stack of medical bills and a tattered couch.
When he looks at me from across the room, I see the glint in his eyes, and that makes us rivals.
He knows it.
So do I.
Every day in the newsroom is a battle.
Every night in his bed, war.
But it’s my heart at stake, and I fear I’ll be raising the white flag.

Review

Jude was a beautiful character, she was vulnerable yet fierce. Her relationship with her dad and the ability to make friends was lovely. Her journey in the newsroom simply made her shine, she was a good person fighting her way through hardship but making the most of life.

Celian goes through a multitude of changes as a man. This was one of my favourite parts of this story and the way he follows Jude’s colourful chuck selections. You can be forgiven for hating him at the beginning but by the end, he becomes a warrior. Celian becomes courageous and the man for Jude. He is unashamedly stubborn and arrogant but to his inner circle, he is alpha and protective.

Dirty Headlines has an epic chapter for me being chapter 20. It had that moment when I had lumps in my throat and could not breathe. When I turned those pages, my heart breaking for Celian and yet yelling “Go Jude”!, don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.

Dirty Headlines has a perfect closure and you are left with a heart full of hope and happiness. I now have another standalone story by this author I will be reading again and again.

Dirty Headlines

My Rating:

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Mogul

By Katy Evans

Synopsis

A brand new contemporary romance from New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Katy Evans.

He’s my most delicious secret.
The hot Suit I had a one-night stand with one evening.
I didn’t know anything about him, not even his name.
Only that we shared a taxi, and he was staying at the hotel where I worked.
We met in room 1103. Where he commanded not only my body but my soul.
The next day he was gone and I only had a memory of him.
I could still taste his kisses, feel his demanding touch.
I searched for him for months. Daydreaming about him. Wondering if I’d ever find him.
Until the day I find myself staring face to face with his jeweled black eyes again.
He says lets keep it casual, and my heart knows that falling for this workaholic in a three-thousand-dollar suit is off the table.
Because he has a secret. One that’s a deal breaker for me.
My Suit has a name.
Ian Ford.
And this is our story.

*Mogul contains characters from Tycoon, but is written to be read as a standalone

Review

Mogul began with heat, passion and two characters, in particular, Ian who I immediately felt a connection to. I admit I struggled with Sara and by the end, I found her annoying.

This is mostly told from Sara’s perspective and when we were given moments of Ian’s thoughts it helped the story, perhaps if it had been more balanced with POV I may have connected more to this story.

Firstly by the end, I began skipping the sex scenes as it seemed that is all they did. I wanted more emotional moments between Ian and Sara as we built to the ending and we did not get that. The last few chapters I really enjoyed as finally, I saw the interaction between Cordelia, Ian and also Sara which created some drama.

I would have liked Ian to be more dominant, at the beginning I felt him and thought this was going to be a hot read and then he lost his fizz just like his whole divorce proceedings.

The terms of endearment like Dancer and Suit were classy and relevant to their characters. The other nicknames for Ian were awful and ruined the story for me.

Mogul

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Order of Protection (A Courting Justice Novel)

By Lexi Blake

Synopsis

To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes–born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This trial could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win’s entire life is upended, she must look to the people she’s closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…

Review

Order of Protection takes us on an emotional journey. Two people who are very successful but are both missing pieces of their lives.

Henry meets Win and falls for her but doesn’t really know who she is. Win meets this incredible guy who she has great chemistry with but knows that there is an expiration date on their relationship. When she is charged with murder Henry is there to save her. Even if he can’t trust her again.

I loved this story. The characters are well developed. I definitely have a true sense of who Win and Henry are and why they rushed to judgement. I also love that this series has a connection to the Lawless series. Noah another sibling of the Lawless clan shows that he is just as brilliant as the rest of the family.

This story also had a definite theme that everyone’s vision of perfect is different. And I liked the fact that Win suffered with an eating disorder challenged her perception of what perfect is. This part of the story took more personal turn for me but didn’t dominate the rest of the story lines.

I really found this story to be fast paced and full of surprises. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Order of Protection

My Rating:

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Bought by the Boss

By Stacey Kennedy

Synopsis

HIS PRICE
I’ve wanted Aria Finley from the moment I met her.
We flirt, we laugh, we connect. It could be perfect.
She’s even best friends with my assistant.
Problem is, she works for my archnemesis—Jackson Keller—and she’s the kind of girl who stays loyal unless you give her a reason not to.
Besides my hard-on there’s something hot between us, and I won’t rest until I put my finger on it.
So when I get the chance to buy Aria for the weekend at a charity auction, there’s no limit.
I’m going to take her home and take what I want because I’ll make her want it too.
And by Monday, she’ll know she’s mine.

DIRTY MONEY
Liam Maxwell thinks he can get to me through my assistant.
Well, two can play that game.
Now Mallory Beckett—Liam’s assistant—is mine for the weekend.
Only she has no idea who bought her at the charity auction.
This is going to be worth every penny.
But soon I realize that Mallory has been waiting for my touch all along.
What starts as a fling turns into something more.
From the beginning, I was so focused on stealing her away.
I never thought about the fact that I’d drown if I lost her.
Now the game has changed. And she needs to know that she belongs to me.

Review

BOUGHT BY THE BOSS is made up of two novellas: His Price (Liam and Aria) and Dirty Money (Jackson and Mallory). Once upon a time, Liam and Jackson were best friends and college roommates, but the actions of one destroyed their friendship. Several years later, they’re both very successful corporate lawyers who hate each other with a passion and are always trying to one-up the other. Their rivalry comes to a head when they each bid on the other’s assistant at a charity auction.

Being novellas, both stories are very short, with lots of sex and not a great deal of character development. Despite all the parties knowing each other for at least two years, each story is an insta-love. Both stories are told in dual POVs and while the ending was a little abrupt, it does come with a HEA for both couples.

BOUGHT BY THE BOSS was a good way to spend a couple of hours, but I am glad I got this on sale. I almost never comment on the price of a book, and I know that the author has no say in the sale price, but I do think $4.99 for two novellas totaling less than 200 pages is a bit much.

Bought by the Boss

My Rating:

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The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters & Mercenaries #1)

By Lexi Blake

Synopsis

A routine mission…

Sean Taggart is hunting a deadly terrorist, and his only lead is the lovely Grace Hawthorne. She’s the executive assistant for an employment agency Sean suspects is a front for illegal activities. To get the truth, he is going to have to get very close to Grace, a task he is all too eager to undertake when he discovers her deliciously submissive nature.

…turns into a dangerous seduction.

Soon, Grace Hawthorne is living a double life. By day, she is the widowed mother of two college-aged sons. By night, she submits to Sean’s every dark desire. She’s living out her wildest fantasies of pleasure—intimate acts of trust she’s only read about. As passion engulfs her, a murderer strikes, and Grace learns that Sean has a deeply hidden agenda. Will Sean choose his mission and break her heart or be the Master of her dreams?

Review

The Masters & Mercenaries series was recommended to me by a friend. I also wanted to know more about the McKay-Taggart group having read the Lawless Series by this author.

I could believe the attraction with the age difference between Sean & Grace. Sean Taggert has seen a lot in his 32 years. A favourite part for me was their connection and growing relationship. Sean is creative and nurturing yet dominating and highly intelligent and I loved him.

A pivotal moment for me was when Grace mentions that word “Elephant”. After this period her strength and determination shine through. She was such a strong and integral character in this story. She changed peoples perceptions including Ian Taggart whose dominance just beats below the surface of this story.

Following their romance story is the mystery intelligence operation. We get to meet the many characters who make up the McKay-Taggart group. The double-crossing within the story is by no means finished at the conclusion.

I look forward to seeing more of this couple in the coming books.

The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters & Mercenaries #1)

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The Pecker Briefs (Legal Affairs # 7)

By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

I never thought a pecker would get me in so much trouble.

I mean, sure… if you’re talking about a certain anatomical feature of mine that the ladies just love. Given my bachelor status and appreciation for all things curvy and feminine, I could absolutely see that. But a different pecker is making my life much harder than it needs to be.

My name is Ford Daniels, partner at the law firm of Knight & Payne, and my latest case has me wading through the finer points of peckers—woodpeckers that is. Specifically, the red-cockaded woodpecker. I swear, I can’t make this stuff up but that’s what the sexy-as-hell blonde chained to a tree told me this morning.

Her name is Viveka Jones and she is so much more than a pretty face. She’s got wit, charm, and razor-sharp smarts. Turns out my client is looking to bulldoze the red-cockaded woodpecker’s natural habitat in favor of a multimillion-dollar subdivision and the sexy attorney with legs for days (and days), just happens to be counsel for an animal rights group looking to put a halt to construction.

My client’s pissed, but all I can think about is getting Viveka across the table from me. And then on the table underneath me. Perhaps up against the wall. And then—

Well, let’s just say when it’s all said and done, I’m hoping the red-cockaded woodpecker isn’t the only pecker that gets some attention from Miss Viveka Jones.

Review

I liked everything about THE PECKER BRIEFS, from its characters to its story, from its beginning to its end.

I liked the chemistry between Ford and Viveka and that neither of them was afraid of following wherever that chemistry took them. I liked that they were both honest and up front about their intentions and expectations—from their case to their relationship—and that what they said was truly what they meant. I also liked that they were both older than what I’m used to reading, with Ford being forty-three and Viveka being thirty-six. The case was an enjoyable element to the story for sure, but it will be Ford and Viveka that I remember most about this story.

THE PECKER BRIEFS is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I’ve read a few of the other books in this series and though I can’t remember much about the previous characters/couples, I never felt like I was missing something.

The Pecker Briefs (Legal Affairs # 7)

My Rating:

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Triplets Make Five

By Nicole Elliot

Synopsis

Delilah hates me. But I’m going to marry her anyway. Delilah is different. Quiet. Reserved. Smart.
But she doesn’t want anything to do with me.
So, of course, I have to have her.
She’s got the sultry librarian look, full lips, all those curves, I can’t get enough.
I’ll convince her to be mine. Just one night. And I never fail.
But I’m her new boss. And if anyone at the office found out about our one night stand, we would both be ruined.
So we’ll keep it to one night of passion.
Then we’ll go our separate ways.
That was the plan anyway.
But now I can’t let her go.
Because she’s carrying my babies.
All three of them.
And I won’t let her do this alone.

Review

Deliah is one of those wallflowers that you immediately connect to and want her to find her true love and place in life. As a reader, I felt every emotion as the author took us on her journey to happy ever after. Her anxiety and the way she protected herself yet still shone in her professional life spoke to me on a personal level.

Triplets Make Five is such an easy and light read and will make you smile and believe in true love and happily ever after. This has all the elements of romance that enable you to believe in magic and beautiful moments, that men see beyond the facade and to the true person.

The flow of the story is perfect and kept me engaged and the supporting characters provided more light-hearted moments and helped cement this couple. Deliah’s parents were strange and I actually thought they had ulterior motives but then they just disappeared which made me happy.

Preston was a great character, he was alpha but also respectful of Deliah and slowly pulled her walls down. I appreciated that he acknowledged her integrity and how smart she was on a professional level and respected that. I would have loved to have had a chapter on work finding out about their relationship and all those employees that just overlooked Deliah and the wonderful person she was.

A wonderful surprise was the extra stories with this book, there are eight other romance stories to enjoy.

Triplets Make Five

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The Charmer’s Gambit (Mershano Empire #2)

By Lexi C Foss

Synopsis

He set his sights on the wrong girl.
Me.

Law school taught me a lot of things, but nothing prepared me to deal with this determined, hotter-than-Hell millionaire. Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered. But resisting Will Mershano is harder than passing the bar. He’s everything: sexy, confident, intelligent. And he wants me.

When he hires my firm to represent Mershano Vineyards, I’m left with no choice but to work right alongside him—or forfeit my job. There’s only one problem. He doesn’t know about my past or how it stalks me at every turn. All he wants is a little flirtatious fun, but Will’s playing a dangerous game.

And there’s more at stake than just my heart. . .

**Although this book is part of a series, it is a standalone novel that can be enjoyed without reading the other Mershano Empire books**

Review

I have not read the first book and you do not need to, this is standalone. Will Mershano hooked me from the first chapter. He has this remarkable strength and integrity and when you meet Rachel you know he will be her warrior in the end.

The build-up with Ryan playing his games is intense and I was simply so stressed as each chapter progresses as you know there is going to be some explosive moments in this story.

Chapter 16 is a standout when the dynamic changes between Will and Rachel and his perceptiveness that something is amiss in Rachel’s life.

The author wove a tale of taking a chance on new love despite barriers no woman wants to endure. The first half of this book I was on tenterhooks waiting for the past to collide with her future.

Will was perfect for her, his ability to read her body language and slowly bring her to the belief she could face her demons with his trust was brilliant.

So many moments of happiness in this book but also despair that made you appreciate the light. Rachel was so intelligent and her banter with Will in the professional sense was integral to this story and their growth as a couple.

Towards the end when her brother and his friend join the story it definitely made me want to continue the journey with all these characters. Upon finishing I immediately went and added the next two books in this series along with a new story on Kincaid.

Charmer’s Gambit (Mershano Emire #2)

My Rating:

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Strip Me Bare

By M. Never

Synopsis

“I may have had more lovers than you, and I may take my clothes off for countless women, but you are the only one who can strip me bare.”

Do you ever stop loving someone just because they’re gone?

Five years ago, Ryan Pierce disappeared from Alana Remington’s life without a trace. He was the one she gave her heart to, her soul to — and her virginity to. So, imagine her surprise when she finds him dancing at one of NYC’s hottest male revues as ‘Jack the Stripper.’

Ryan never stopped loving Alana, and now that she has serendipitously dropped back into his life, he’s vowed never to lose her again. But being together has its costs, and challenges Alana isn’t sure she can handle. She finally has Ryan back. But how in the world is she supposed to share the love of her life with half of the women in New York City?

Strip Me Bare is a second chance, standalone romance. It contains angst, heat, humor, heartbreak, and one seductive male stripper who will not only have you handing over your panties, but also your heart.

You’ve been warned.

Review

I’ve been wondering how to rate STRIP ME BARE for a few days now, and in the end I decided to give it 3❤️, because while I liked the story and its characters, there were some things I didn’t like.

I’ll start with Ryan and Alana, who I did like and I thought they fit as a couple. What I didn’t like about Ryan was how he sacrificed his freedom for someone who didn’t deserve it the first time, let alone a second time. What I didn’t like about Alana was how she folded to her father’s demands because she wanted his money to pay for her education and lifestyle. It made her seem like she was a doormat and a user. I also didn’t like that Alana never slept with anyone else in the five years they were apart, but of course Ryan had no problem sleeping with dozens of women while still being in love with Alana.

Moving on to the story, it took me a while to get into it because it was a little slow. So slow that I considered not finish it. But I’m very glad I kept with it, because it did pick up towards the end and became a more enjoyable read. Despite being slow, there’s quite a bit happening throughout the story, and as I got closer to the end, I thought for sure the author was going to leave a few of these things unresolved. So colour me pleasantly surprised when she tidied everything up, and did so in believable ways.

One other issue I had with the story were the skips in time; the story takes place over several years, with the epilogue taking place another six years later. I don’t think the gaps took away anything from the story, rather my frustration stemmed from not knowing that time had elapsed because it wasn’t a header at the beginning of the chapter. I’d get this sense that something wasn’t right, that I felt like I was missing something, and it would be several paragraphs into a chapter that Alana would say or think about how much time had passed.

I know I seem to have only listed the bad stuff, and it may sound like I didn’t enjoy STRIP ME BARE, but I did. It comes with a lovely HEA that brings the story together and left me feeling very happy. It is told only in Alana’s POV and is a stand-alone.

Strip Me Bare

My Rating:

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Thirty Day Boyfriend

By Whitney G.

Synopsis

I should’ve never agreed to this arrangement…

Thirty days ago, my boss–Mr. Wolf of Wall Street, came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse: Sign my name on the dotted line and pretend to be his fiancée for one month. If I agreed, he would let me out of my employment contract with a “very generous” severance package.

The rules were pretty simple: No intimate kissing, no actual sex. Just pretend to love each other for the press, even though I’ve secretly wanted to knock that sexy smirk off his face since the first day we met.

I definitely didn’t need to think twice about this. I signed my name and started counting down the seconds to when I would never have to deal with his special brand of ass-holery again.

I only made it to one minute…

We argued the entire four-hour flight to his hometown, failed to make a convincing impression with the welcoming press, and right when I was about to knock that arrogant look off his face in real life? He purposely dropped his bath towel in front of me, distracting me with his nine-inch cock to “show me who the bigger person was” in our relationship. Then he gave me his trademark smirk once again and asked if I wanted to consummate our marriage.

Tragically, this is only day one.
We still have 29 more days to go…

Review

THIRTY DAY BOYFRIEND was a very quick and entertaining read that will grab you from the first chapter and won’t let go.

“Are you checking to make sure I haven’t broken away from my chains today?”
“You’ve fantasised about me putting you in chains? Let’s discuss that.”

Emily is the Executive Assistant to one of the most powerful men in New York, and one does not get—and hold—that position by being weak or a pushover. She’s not afraid to go head-to-head with Nicholas, and she’s very good at negotiating to get what she wants. As much as she “hates” her boss and her job, it’s clear that she’s very well respected by Nicholas and by all those that deal with her.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know why Emily “hated” Nicholas so much. Sure, he’s a little cold and detached, but he’s a high-powered CEO, so that kind of behavior is to be expected within the workplace. Sure, he’s also a little bullish, but I found some of his bullish ways to be very entertaining. But deep down, underneath the cold and aloof exterior, lies a man who’s a total sweetheart…for the right woman.

THIRTY DAY BOYFRIEND is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Nicholas and Emily. It’s a stand-alone novella, and the only complaint I have with it is that the ending is rushed.

Thirty Day Boyfriend

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