#NZ Romance

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Juliette and the Billionaire Boss by Serenity Woods

A Boss in a Billion #9 - The Christchurch Billionaires

Definitely a SLOW burn romance but boy did it sizzle!

What I liked:

* Henry West: billionaire, divorced, computer savvy, in charge of human resources at company he and his friends established, great with people, strong, quiet, backstory explained a lot, a truly good person, was drawn to Juliette when he first met her

* Juliette Kumar: works with Henry at Kia Kaha, in a long-term relationship with Cam, responsible, sympathetic, giving, kind, has big issues to deal with in her relationship that is not what it should be, has always been attracted to Henry

* The Rubik’s cube and how it played a part in the story

* That both Henry and Juliette were not “cheaters” and did all they could to make their relationships work

* That though Henry seems a laid-back cool dude there are fires burning brightly in very alpha self

* Juliette’s ability to explore her beliefs, develop her own system of values, and how they impacted her life and choices

* The way the emotional impact of life experiences, actions taken, and choices made were explained and made real in this book

* The side-story of Henry’s nephew and thinking about the outcome and fallout for more than one

* Getting to see how the others in this series are doing

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about how difficult it must be to experience infertility, abuse, depression, being with the wrong person, and other subjects raised in this book

* Knowing that this is the last book in this series  and not knowing if the characters will ever be seen again

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

I’m pregnant by one man. And in love with another. I’m in ten kinds of trouble. I’ve always had a secret crush on Henry West. He’s my kinda guy. Tall. Big. Quiet. Gentle, but with muscles that tell you he could wrestle a bear for you if he had to. I met him when I was twenty-one, but he was engaged, and I was with Cam. So nothing has ever happened between us. Despite the fact that we work together. That when he thinks I’m not watching, he looks at me as if he’s picturing me naked. As if he’s debating what position to take me in. As if he’s thinking about how I might taste. Fast forward seven years. Henry was unable to give his wife the children she wanted so badly, and now they’re divorced. My miserable relationship with Cam has crumbled to dust. And, on Midsummer Eve, Henry and I finally give into the desire that’s been brewing between us for so long. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. But now I’m pregnant by one man. And in love with another. Cam wants to get back together for the child’s sake. He says we owe it to the baby to try and make a go of it. So I tell Henry I need time to decide what to do. He says if I expect him to sit back and let me go, I’m going to be disappointed. He says he wants me, and he’s going to have me if it’s the last thing he does. He says he loves me, and he’ll treat the baby as his own. Oh holy sh!t! What am I going to do? Tropes include: one-night stand, fling, billionaire, alpha hero, love triangle, forced proximity, surprise pregnancy

[sixstringpansy]

world's worst secretary

from @/tistragicaffair on tw (x)

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Alice and the Billionaire Boss by Serenity Woods

A Boss in a Billion #5

The Wellington Billionaires #2

Loved it ~ couldn’t put it down once I started reading because I *had* to find out how it all would work out! Every book I have read by this author has been wonderful!

What I liked:

* Alice: reminded me of myself at 25…and being in the same virginal boat even though I had dated a LOT more than Alice had! Kind, caring, protective, family oriented, responsible, knowledgeable but naïve, forthright, honest, a delight, really liked her

* Kip: a knight in shining armor, problem solver, alpha, billionaire, identical twin, gentle, kind, caring, “sweet”, good friend, kind, brilliant, responsible, definitely drawn to Alice

* Charlie: Alice’s younger sister, university student, loves her mother and sister, has a dilemma to deal with at the end of the story

* Penelope: Alice & Charlie’s mother, has MS, requires full-time care, feels she is a burden, positive person with periods of depression, wants a happy normal life for her daughters, feels she is an obstacle, liked her

* The allusions to Alice in Wonderland

* Learning more of both main characters’ backstories

* The first night that Kip and Alice spent together – it would be wonderful if all first times were like that

* Getting to see how Kip’s family is doing

* The dialogue and relationship between Kip and Alice – it made me smile :)

* The way everything is eventually resolved for a HEA

* Wondering who Damon will end up with in the next book of the series

What I didn’t like:

* Thinking about the difficulties and stresses that chronic illness places on the ill and their caregiving family members

* The friction caused by Craig at work and the impact it had on more than one person in his life

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

One night in Wonderland is just the start of my adventures… On my twenty-fifth birthday, I decide enough is enough. Family responsibilities have made dating impossible. Now I’m single and inexperienced. Like, completely . My virginity is a millstone around my neck. And I want to get rid of it. All I need is one night, with one stranger, so I don’t look like an idiot when I start dating for real. My sister convinces this country bumpkin to sign up for Tinder, and to head to the city. My first two matches are complete failures, and I’m about to give up. Then I see Kip’s profile. I swipe right, and so does he. We chat for ages, and agree to meet that evening for dinner. He’s gorgeous. Kind. Sexy. Wicked. Perfect. So I tell him I want him to teach me as much as he can before the sun comes up. I ask for one night. But it’s only the start of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland… * Contains no cheating, no cliffhangers, just a scorching romance and a heart-melting HEA :-) Tropes Fling, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, fairy-tale retelling, virgin heroine, one-night stand, instalove, soul mates, alpha hero, billionaire, he falls first

[haridraws]

Pink & purple || Panels from I Shall Never Fall in Love (out now)

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Cinderella and the Billionaire Boss by Serenity Woods

The Wellington Billionaires

A Boss in a Billion #4

 Serenity does it again…sweeps me into a steamy romance that I cannot put down and savor every moment of time spent with Catie & Saxon.

 What I liked:

* Catie: intelligent, resilient, strong, a survivor, difficult backstory, trust & self-esteem issues, wise, creative, dealing with a LOT and has nobody to rely on, rather taken with Saxon

* Saxon: brilliant, businessman, risk taker, self-assured, creative, leader, loves his family, supportive, caring, rather taken with Catie

* All of the interests that Catie and Saxon had in common

* The way Catie and Saxon were able to communicate mentally, physically, and emotionally

* Learning their backstories and how their past impacted who they became

* Saxon’s family: loving, kind, supportive, wealthy, grounded, wonderful, there for one another

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That I felt a part of the story, liked the characters, and cared about the ending

* The feel-good way I felt when I finished the story

* Knowing that Kip’s book is next

 What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like – especially the ugly stepsisters and their mother

* Thinking about how difficult Catie’s life was before she met Saxon.

 Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

 Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

BLURB

 A one-night stand with a sexy stranger seems like a great idea, until he turns out to be my new billionaire boss… When the gorgeous guy I meet in the bar on my last night in Auckland asks if I’d like to go back to his hotel room, I have to think about it. For a whole second. Tomorrow, I’m leaving the city. I’m finally escaping my calamitous life. So I throw caution to the winter wind. There’s no downside to a one-night stand with a hot young businessman, right? After the most intense and passionate night of my life, I do my Cinderella act and slip away. I’m disappointed to leave him behind, but desperate to start over. Unfortunately, disaster is determined to follow me across the country. I can’t find a permanent secretarial position in the whole of Wellington and have to resort to temping. The one room available for rent in the city is damp, the size of a matchbox, and beneath a herd of elephants. And my no-strings-attached fling results in a complication I’m totally unprepared for. Convinced I’ve reached rock bottom, I begin a new temp job. I walk into the office, and bump straight into my mystery man. The odd thing is that he doesn’t recognize me. He seems determined to act as if we’ve never met. And then he reveals he’s the CEO, and my new boss… * Contains no cheating, no cliffhangers, just a scorching romance and a heart-melting HEA :-) Tropes Cinderella, fairy-tale retelling, one-night stand, fling, soul mates, instalove, alpha hero, billionaire

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Faking Love with the Billionaire by Serenity Woods

The Auckland Billionaires/A Boss in a Billion #3

 Love, LOVE, L-O-V-E this author and series – enjoyed this one and can’t wait for the next…will it be Saxon or perhaps how Evie and Victoria find one another?

 What I liked:

* Heidi Rose Huxley: youngest sibling, from New Zealand moved to teach in England, has backstory issues to deal with, teacher of young entry level students, happy, thriving in England, loving, kind, loves history, difficult relationship with her father, had a Titus smooch to remember at sixteen

* Lawrence “Titus” Oates: wealthy, only child, on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence science, internationally known, humble, unassuming, has a difficult relationship with his father, a planner and problem solver who gets what he wants, BFF with Heidi’s brother Hux

* The plot, pacing, story, and flow of the story

* The connection between Heidi and Titus…and the slow burn that sizzled, steamed, and then ignited

* The communication between Titus and Heidi that was mature and the lack of angst and drama they managed to avoid

* The fun of going on balloon rides, visiting historical sites, learning more about IVF, weddings in spectacular sites, and so more

* Finding out how previous characters from the series are doing

* Meeting Saxon…I think this is his first mention…maybe not…and hoping he will get a book of his own

* Knowing that there will be another book in the series

* All of it really…except…

 What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about controlling, abusive and domineering men whoever they might be

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

 Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

     BLURB

 Faking love with your brother’s gorgeous best mate is never going to end well…   When Titus Oates calls to ask me if I’d do him a favor and accompany him on a visit to a potential investor in the UK, I hyperventilate and have to breathe into a brown paper bag.   Ever since I was sixteen and he kissed me at a birthday party, I’ve had a huge crush on him, so I’m not going to pass up on the chance to spend some time with him while he’s here. The wealthy investor owns a stately home in Devon, and the week promises to be great fun, with a murder-mystery night and even a fancy ball, so I’m excited to agree.   Titus intends for us to go as friends, but the problems start when the investor immediately assumes we’re a couple. Flummoxed, I don’t correct him, and we end up in that awkward situation where we can’t break the charade without embarrassing ourselves. So we decide the easiest option is to pretend to be an item.   Unfortunately, when we end up sharing a room, the sizzling attraction that’s always been between us inevitably turns faking love into making love. Titus is going back to New Zealand after his visit. And I work in the UK. We can’t possibly have a future together. But a short-term fling seems like a great idea, until it’s time to part…   *   Contains no cheating, no cliffhangers, just a scorching romance and a heart-melting HEA :-) Book 1: Talking Dirty with the Billionaire Boss Book 2: One Night with the Billionaire Boss ​Book 3: Faking Love with the Billionaire Boss ​Book 4: Cinderella and the Billionaire Boss

[bigdickwizard]

i’m sorry, do what in an airport bar?

[charlieism]

little man would NOT STAY STILL

[soup-is-nice-sometimes]

sooooo how are we all feeling

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

One Night with the Billionaire Boss by Serenity Woods

A Boss in A Billion #2

 This author is a favorite who provides wonderful characters in heartfelt steamy stories that draw me in, make me feel and care and hope the couple will find their happily ever after.

 Elizabeth and Huxley met in college, felt a connection after a couple of dates, and then a wrench in their potential relationship occurred that kept them apart even though they stayed friends for a decade. Huxley has known what he wants, and he wants Elizabeth, but he won’t push to get it…though he might nudge insistently. Elizabeth has experienced some bad relationships that ended up leaving her guarded and unwilling to trust again.  The sperm donor request is the catalyst that might break through her barriers and give Huxley the opportunity to finally get together with the woman he has wanted for ten long years.

 In this book the two do become lovers but both go into the encounter with different expectations. communication isn’t as open as it should be, and a huge secret that could possibly have made things easier years ago does not get shared till near the end of the story. As I think about this story I wonder if perhaps the decade apart could have been avoided and yet if Huxley and Elizabeth had gotten together when young, they might not have achieved the success and maturity that allows them to finally achieve their happily ever after.

 In the end, the two do manage to get it right and I believe they will have a happy successful relationship. I look forward to finding out how they are doing in the wrap-up of the series a few books from now.

 Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

      BLURB

 It’s not every day you ask your best friend to get you pregnant. Oliver Huxley has asked me out on a date every month for the last ten years. And every time, I’ve said no. Yes, he’s a billionaire. Okay, he’s heart-meltingly gorgeous. And it’s true that he has a great reputation in the bedroom. Look, I have my reasons. He’s already broken my heart once. And I know he wants me only because he can’t have me. If I sleep with him, I’ll just end up another notch on his bedpost, and my heart won’t survive a second break. Whoever said it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. However, I’m nearly thirty and, more than anything in the world, I want a baby. But there’s a three-year wait for a donor for single women at the clinic, and they suggest asking a friend. I might not want a relationship with Huxley, but there’s no doubt he’s a great dad to his eight-year-old daughter. So I ask him if he’ll help me out. He replies that he’s not doing anything in a cup. But he is prepared to try and get me pregnant the old-fashioned way. He says if I give him one night, we have a thirty percent chance of success, more than double what I could expect at the clinic. One night with my best friend. If we sate our hunger for each other, maybe we’ll be able to move on with our lives and put this ridiculous obsession behind us. I know he’s going to be great in bed. But he’s not going to be that good. Famous. Last. Words.

[do-you-have-a-flag]

normal intro for helena