What do you think?
Rate this book
New York City Billionaires #2
The Player + The Pact = I Do
I hate my boss. Like, loathe him. Two years ago, he semi-broke my heart and he still doesn’t remember who I am. Okay so I was covered in electric blue body paint, and wearing a wig, but is that a good excuse to not remember the girl you said was your destiny?
Now I’m stuck working for the jerk because only he can give me the job I really want—manager of his hotel.
When he needs a fake fiancé for business reasons, there’s an easy solution—blackmail. He has to give me a trial run as hotel manager in return for wearing his ring.
It’s a perfect plan until he remembers when we first met.
Things suddenly shift and now he’s looking at me with eyes that see straight through to the real me, touching me with hands that make me weak and kissing me with a mouth that threatens to do things to me they don’t even talk about in movies.
There’s just one wrinkle. I don’t trust him not to break my heart again.
A standalone marriage pact romance from USA Today bestselling author Louise Bay.
Now I’m stuck working for the jerk because only he can give me the job I really want—manager of his hotel.
When he needs a fake fiancé for business reasons, there’s an easy solution—blackmail. He has to give me a trial run as hotel manager in return for wearing his ring.
It’s a perfect plan until he remembers when we first met.
Things suddenly shift and now he’s looking at me with eyes that see straight through to the real me, touching me with hands that make me weak and kissing me with a mouth that threatens to do things to me they don’t even talk about in movies.
There’s just one wrinkle. I don’t trust him not to break my heart again.
A standalone marriage pact romance from USA Today bestselling author Louise Bay.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2024
2,176 people are currently reading
1,182 people want to read
About the author
Louise Bay
69 books7,250 followersInternational, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels that make you laugh - the kind she likes to read.
Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.
Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).
She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!
Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.
Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).
She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
October 2, 2024
4.75✨️
I genuinely can't believe how quickly i read this book! (I read it in two days) It was so much fun and such an easy read.
Our characters' chemistry was soooo good. Honestly, they are meant to be with each other. I love how Leo wasn't afraid to be soft and caring with her, not only in public for their fake relationship but in private too. I also love how Jules was patient and kind with Leo when he was explaining his past and was actually trying to help him get past that hurt he was feeling.
I also love the friend group in this book. You could see how much they really meant to each other, and honestly, it was refreshing.
I definitely want and need to read more from this author. If you are looking for a fun and easy time, then this is the book for you!
Tropes:
-Fake engagement
-Boss/Employee
-Roommates
-Billionaire
-Forced proximity
-City romance
-Fun meet cute
Release date: 10.10.24
Thank you so much, Louise Bay, for sending me an ARC❤️
I genuinely can't believe how quickly i read this book! (I read it in two days) It was so much fun and such an easy read.
Our characters' chemistry was soooo good. Honestly, they are meant to be with each other. I love how Leo wasn't afraid to be soft and caring with her, not only in public for their fake relationship but in private too. I also love how Jules was patient and kind with Leo when he was explaining his past and was actually trying to help him get past that hurt he was feeling.
I also love the friend group in this book. You could see how much they really meant to each other, and honestly, it was refreshing.
I definitely want and need to read more from this author. If you are looking for a fun and easy time, then this is the book for you!
Tropes:
-Fake engagement
-Boss/Employee
-Roommates
-Billionaire
-Forced proximity
-City romance
-Fun meet cute
Release date: 10.10.24
Thank you so much, Louise Bay, for sending me an ARC❤️
December 19, 2024
At this point all of Louise Bay’s stories and characters are interchangeable but there’s still some comfort in reading them so I will most definitely be reading the next book 💋
October 15, 2024
I honestly do not understand where some of these authors get their #WordWizardry but I mean they are outstanding! Louise Bay is one of these authors, always has been. I mean, how? Every time! How?
Soooooooo, I did a thing again! LOL I jumped right into the audiobook of The Player + The Pact = I Do on release day eve because I am, of course, ridiculous like that. THEN, it was soooooo well narrated that I knew I had to finish so I could do my thing on the “read vs. listen” in my review. So, here we are …
This story was so well crafted that I honestly do not know where to begin. I think by now, everyone that follows me knows that I love Louise Bay’s writing, but loving an author’s style and voice doesn’t automatically make the book they’ve written a great book. Feel me? Well, this is one of those times when it does, and it was glorious. The amount of joy, giddiness and just pure fun that I constantly felt when I read and listened to this story in unmeasurable. The chemistry between the two main characters sparked right off the pages from the very beginning and that’s something Louise Bay is very good at! The sizzle and the banter and wit were top notch, and I just had a smile on my face the whole time I read the story! That’s another thing that Louise Bay manages to accomplish with every one of her stories. They’re easy comedic relief and this was no exception.
Shane East & Erin Mallon elevated the entire story tenfold for me. I wasn’t just happy whilst listening, I was joyous and downright euphoric! Erin Mallon is one of the best narrators out there for “comedy” romances and she is an absolute blast and a half to listen to, every single time! Sometimes, she gets a little “speedy” with her inner monologues, but never to the point where it upsets the experience. Shane East is and always has been one of my all-time favorite male narrators so casting these two as the MCs was absolute gold for me!
Well, we are the point where I tell you the results of the thing I do and honestly, I had the time of my life reading and listening. Obviously, if you prefer one format over the other, you’re going to come out a winner. Those of us that prefer both formats, well, it’s going to be an exceptional story no matter which way you go!
Okay, those are my 2 cents. Don’t spend them all at once! LOL
Soooooooo, I did a thing again! LOL I jumped right into the audiobook of The Player + The Pact = I Do on release day eve because I am, of course, ridiculous like that. THEN, it was soooooo well narrated that I knew I had to finish so I could do my thing on the “read vs. listen” in my review. So, here we are …
This story was so well crafted that I honestly do not know where to begin. I think by now, everyone that follows me knows that I love Louise Bay’s writing, but loving an author’s style and voice doesn’t automatically make the book they’ve written a great book. Feel me? Well, this is one of those times when it does, and it was glorious. The amount of joy, giddiness and just pure fun that I constantly felt when I read and listened to this story in unmeasurable. The chemistry between the two main characters sparked right off the pages from the very beginning and that’s something Louise Bay is very good at! The sizzle and the banter and wit were top notch, and I just had a smile on my face the whole time I read the story! That’s another thing that Louise Bay manages to accomplish with every one of her stories. They’re easy comedic relief and this was no exception.
Shane East & Erin Mallon elevated the entire story tenfold for me. I wasn’t just happy whilst listening, I was joyous and downright euphoric! Erin Mallon is one of the best narrators out there for “comedy” romances and she is an absolute blast and a half to listen to, every single time! Sometimes, she gets a little “speedy” with her inner monologues, but never to the point where it upsets the experience. Shane East is and always has been one of my all-time favorite male narrators so casting these two as the MCs was absolute gold for me!
Well, we are the point where I tell you the results of the thing I do and honestly, I had the time of my life reading and listening. Obviously, if you prefer one format over the other, you’re going to come out a winner. Those of us that prefer both formats, well, it’s going to be an exceptional story no matter which way you go!
Okay, those are my 2 cents. Don’t spend them all at once! LOL
December 7, 2024
Acceptable in a very easygoing and low angst kind of way.
It’s chick lit, very very light.
The characters meet two years before the story starts, she is dressed as mystique and he talks with her at a party, even gives her his number. But as she goes to the toilet, she sees him giving his phone to another girl, and she leaves the party without saying anything.
Two years later, she’s hired as his pa, working for him for three months.
He’s rich, quite a manwhore.
She’s ambitious and wants to be the manager of one of his hotels.
He needs a fake fiance for a party where he will receive an award,and his ex fiance who dumped when he was poor, breaking his heart, will be present with her husband.
The heroine offers to be his fake fiance if he let her work as hotel manager for three month trial.
He accepts.
She moves in with him.
They become lovers.
They get emotionally involved.
Both have fears and insecurities, she had a father who left and came back, rinse repeat so she is now sure that every man will behave just like him.
He was dumped by his fiance first, then some months before he had another girl who used him to deceive one of his friends.
So he’s uncertain and commitment phobic.
She leaves him. He chases her and proposes.
So, low angst and quite nice.
Safety is not good, both had other partners during the two years they were separated, he didn’t even see her face properly though, since she was dressed as mystique. She says she loves sex, so it’s clear she had other boyfriends.
I didn’t like that in the beginning he thinks just like a big manwhore, thinking about how he would like to screw a waitress, how he has two women he sees for sex only, how the heroine is not his type, because she dresses granny style and wears glasses.
I found him quite distasteful and honestly it wasn’t like that when the heroine moved in with him so I don’t know why the author made it like he was unpleasant and disgusting.
But after she changed her looks, wearing contacts and dressing sexy, he was all into her.
Meh.
I wasn’t bothered though since it doesn’t look like the heroine ever pined for him.
About the party when they met, he was giving his number to his hairdresser who had just changed her location. Mmmm, ok. I found that the heroine left him high and dry without even knowing what he was doing. And he had a girlfriend for some months just before he hired the heroine. It isn’t said if he was celibate but I doubt that he was for the three months while he had the heroine as his oa.
It’s chick lit, very very light.
The characters meet two years before the story starts, she is dressed as mystique and he talks with her at a party, even gives her his number. But as she goes to the toilet, she sees him giving his phone to another girl, and she leaves the party without saying anything.
Two years later, she’s hired as his pa, working for him for three months.
He’s rich, quite a manwhore.
She’s ambitious and wants to be the manager of one of his hotels.
He needs a fake fiance for a party where he will receive an award,and his ex fiance who dumped when he was poor, breaking his heart, will be present with her husband.
The heroine offers to be his fake fiance if he let her work as hotel manager for three month trial.
He accepts.
She moves in with him.
They become lovers.
They get emotionally involved.
Both have fears and insecurities, she had a father who left and came back, rinse repeat so she is now sure that every man will behave just like him.
He was dumped by his fiance first, then some months before he had another girl who used him to deceive one of his friends.
So he’s uncertain and commitment phobic.
She leaves him. He chases her and proposes.
So, low angst and quite nice.
Safety is not good, both had other partners during the two years they were separated, he didn’t even see her face properly though, since she was dressed as mystique. She says she loves sex, so it’s clear she had other boyfriends.
I didn’t like that in the beginning he thinks just like a big manwhore, thinking about how he would like to screw a waitress, how he has two women he sees for sex only, how the heroine is not his type, because she dresses granny style and wears glasses.
I found him quite distasteful and honestly it wasn’t like that when the heroine moved in with him so I don’t know why the author made it like he was unpleasant and disgusting.
But after she changed her looks, wearing contacts and dressing sexy, he was all into her.
Meh.
I wasn’t bothered though since it doesn’t look like the heroine ever pined for him.
About the party when they met, he was giving his number to his hairdresser who had just changed her location. Mmmm, ok. I found that the heroine left him high and dry without even knowing what he was doing. And he had a girlfriend for some months just before he hired the heroine. It isn’t said if he was celibate but I doubt that he was for the three months while he had the heroine as his oa.
September 23, 2024
I will say it again! Louise Bay,knows how to writes a very cutesy romance,that get you hooked from first chapter,that will make you fall in love with the characters! After I read the doctors series ,she just because my favorite go to author for a good, romantic book and you won't be bored.
Leo and Jules are two awesome characters,they both had some things to deal with from their past,and how both of them overcame it couldn't be anymore perfect! I was in love,and Leo has the great friendship with his guy friends that is awesome and they can be one funny kind,but they could literally die for each other.
Most of all! F*ck Jules dad! He should have just remained in the past where he belongs. This book made me laugh,swoon,blush and most especially the giggles. This is what I call a perfect Rom com! This is a Romance book! Perfect! Straight to the point! I could write reviews,upon reviews from the particular book,but one thing you should know when getting into this book,you won't be disappointed,At all! If you love rom com vibes, amazing fmc and mc! If you love the MC,who is focused,rich asf! And loves to take care of her ! Leo hart literally takes care of Jules after they both had sex! And that scene alone deserve the 5 stars this book can get .
LOUISE BAY can do no wrong for me. And now I want Sophia's book ,am I seeing a romance with her and Byron,he gives this mysterious vibes and I want to know more about him,fingers crossed for his book to be with sophia
Leo and Jules are two awesome characters,they both had some things to deal with from their past,and how both of them overcame it couldn't be anymore perfect! I was in love,and Leo has the great friendship with his guy friends that is awesome and they can be one funny kind,but they could literally die for each other.
Most of all! F*ck Jules dad! He should have just remained in the past where he belongs. This book made me laugh,swoon,blush and most especially the giggles. This is what I call a perfect Rom com! This is a Romance book! Perfect! Straight to the point! I could write reviews,upon reviews from the particular book,but one thing you should know when getting into this book,you won't be disappointed,At all! If you love rom com vibes, amazing fmc and mc! If you love the MC,who is focused,rich asf! And loves to take care of her ! Leo hart literally takes care of Jules after they both had sex! And that scene alone deserve the 5 stars this book can get .
LOUISE BAY can do no wrong for me. And now I want Sophia's book ,am I seeing a romance with her and Byron,he gives this mysterious vibes and I want to know more about him,fingers crossed for his book to be with sophia
September 28, 2024
Jules went to a party to be the wingwoman for her friend. She was told it was a costume party. She went all out on her costume. Well to her shock it was not a costume party. So now she is standing in the corner trying to hide but that is kinda hard when her body is blue. Out of nowhere a gorgeous man came up to talk to her. She was enjoying her time with him and was hoping this was the start of something good. She had to use the restroom and before she left, he gave Jules his number and promise to be waiting for her. When she came out, she was looking for him and saw he was across the room giving his number to someone else at which point she left the party disappointed and heartbroken. Two years later, she is now the assistant to the owner of the hotel that she had worked at and wanted to become the manager of, but with no college degree she kept getting looked over.
Now two years later Jules is the assistant to Leo. The same man from the party. He is the owner of the motel she want to manage and he doesn’t know or remember they already met. Now he needs a fiancé for business reasons and she will become his fake fiancé but she wants something in return…..manage his hotel. What??? A little blackmail never hurt anyone. What is going to happen when she starts catching feeling for Leo? She is going to leave before he has a chance to break her heart again.
I really enjoy this book. I love the chemistry between Leo and Jules. Louise can’t write a bad book.
Now two years later Jules is the assistant to Leo. The same man from the party. He is the owner of the motel she want to manage and he doesn’t know or remember they already met. Now he needs a fiancé for business reasons and she will become his fake fiancé but she wants something in return…..manage his hotel. What??? A little blackmail never hurt anyone. What is going to happen when she starts catching feeling for Leo? She is going to leave before he has a chance to break her heart again.
I really enjoy this book. I love the chemistry between Leo and Jules. Louise can’t write a bad book.
September 29, 2024
Second book in this series of hot, rich men who find love. I'm all in, of course :-)
Exciting premise: a pact that will give him a fake fiancée while she gets her dream job. Easy peasy. Until secrets perk up, body language speaks and feelings conquer. Yay.
Such a memorable meet-cute. I was totally into it when the plot twist floored me out of nowhere. I felt so sad. Luckily, the boss-employee trope took me on a fun ride to cheer for. This fake relationship feels pretty real to me :-D Ardent and vital, too.
Like Superman, this woman is a hottie in disguise, and when he finds out, emotions spark and clothes fly!
Some romance, some heat, and lots to be giddy about. One of the reasons I'm loving the couples in this series is good ideas. Yes, the female character here is full of them! She is smart, driven. She's got this wonderful plan about her dream job that really got me excited. I loved her way of going after what she wants with brains and courage. Every scene at and about the hotel was so engaging.
He's a tough cookie though. So into his emotional dilemma that I feared he was going to miss the golden opportunity of love in front of him. No fear! He really steps up. The relationship takes off in fun, romantic, moving ways. Though their match is hot, they still have to face some emotional issues.
One of the important themes in this book is that when people have a bad experience, it's put in a cocoon where it remains unchanged and gains power over them. It's not until we face it after perhaps years that we can learn that it actually doesn't hold so much power over us because we have changed so much since then without realising it. This romance bonds two people through that realization and also trust and hope in an easy and open way. I really liked that.
Exciting premise: a pact that will give him a fake fiancée while she gets her dream job. Easy peasy. Until secrets perk up, body language speaks and feelings conquer. Yay.
Such a memorable meet-cute. I was totally into it when the plot twist floored me out of nowhere. I felt so sad. Luckily, the boss-employee trope took me on a fun ride to cheer for. This fake relationship feels pretty real to me :-D Ardent and vital, too.
Like Superman, this woman is a hottie in disguise, and when he finds out, emotions spark and clothes fly!
Some romance, some heat, and lots to be giddy about. One of the reasons I'm loving the couples in this series is good ideas. Yes, the female character here is full of them! She is smart, driven. She's got this wonderful plan about her dream job that really got me excited. I loved her way of going after what she wants with brains and courage. Every scene at and about the hotel was so engaging.
He's a tough cookie though. So into his emotional dilemma that I feared he was going to miss the golden opportunity of love in front of him. No fear! He really steps up. The relationship takes off in fun, romantic, moving ways. Though their match is hot, they still have to face some emotional issues.
One of the important themes in this book is that when people have a bad experience, it's put in a cocoon where it remains unchanged and gains power over them. It's not until we face it after perhaps years that we can learn that it actually doesn't hold so much power over us because we have changed so much since then without realising it. This romance bonds two people through that realization and also trust and hope in an easy and open way. I really liked that.
October 10, 2024
**Audio Review**
Swoon! The Player + The Pact = I Do by Louise Bay was a sweet and spicy billionaire romance that had me blushing and grinning from start to finish. Jules and Leo had an instant and undeniable attraction, and I am so glad these two were exactly what the other needed to go from fake to forever. Louise Bay has a way of creating memorable, loveable characters that just make you weak in the knees.
Erin Mallon and Shane East perform this audiobook in dual narration. I hadn’t listened to these two together in a while, and both were as magic as Jules and Leo. Erin’s vibrant tone matched Jules's hardworking, passionate personality as she went after her work goals and gave into her desires for Leo. Shane presented Leo with dignity and charm that made this billionaire playboy so easy to love and utterly irresistible. Both narrators create the perfect amount of heat and heart between Jules and Leo.
Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of a workplace romance with a hot British billionaire, a hardworking hotel manager, New York City, costume party meet-cutes, boss-employee vibes, fake engagement, close proximity, Pretty Woman moments, getting over exes, intimate conversations, daddy drama, penthouse spice, bed crashing, he takes care of her, speaking your truths, and a HEA that was meant to be, then you will love Jules and Leo’s story. I always look forward to more from Louise Bay.
Swoon! The Player + The Pact = I Do by Louise Bay was a sweet and spicy billionaire romance that had me blushing and grinning from start to finish. Jules and Leo had an instant and undeniable attraction, and I am so glad these two were exactly what the other needed to go from fake to forever. Louise Bay has a way of creating memorable, loveable characters that just make you weak in the knees.
Erin Mallon and Shane East perform this audiobook in dual narration. I hadn’t listened to these two together in a while, and both were as magic as Jules and Leo. Erin’s vibrant tone matched Jules's hardworking, passionate personality as she went after her work goals and gave into her desires for Leo. Shane presented Leo with dignity and charm that made this billionaire playboy so easy to love and utterly irresistible. Both narrators create the perfect amount of heat and heart between Jules and Leo.
Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of a workplace romance with a hot British billionaire, a hardworking hotel manager, New York City, costume party meet-cutes, boss-employee vibes, fake engagement, close proximity, Pretty Woman moments, getting over exes, intimate conversations, daddy drama, penthouse spice, bed crashing, he takes care of her, speaking your truths, and a HEA that was meant to be, then you will love Jules and Leo’s story. I always look forward to more from Louise Bay.
September 29, 2024
Leo & Jules, a British billionaire real estate mogul who loves NYC and a wannabe hotel manager temporarily working as his assistant. I never pass up the opportunity to read one of Louise Bay’s books. She effortlessly blends quirky characters with stuffy grumps and creates a wonderful romance story you can’t put down. Leo is so much more than I anticipated. He surprised me.
🧡 Fun meet cute.
🧡 Second chance
🧡 Boss/ employee
🧡 Sizzling chemistry
🧡 Fake engagement
🧡 Abandonment issues
That ending… gah! 🧡💛🩷🩷
Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🧡 Fun meet cute.
🧡 Second chance
🧡 Boss/ employee
🧡 Sizzling chemistry
🧡 Fake engagement
🧡 Abandonment issues
That ending… gah! 🧡💛🩷🩷
Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 17, 2024
Star Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 2.5/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Billionaire Romance
- Fake Engagement
- Boss/Employee
- Enemies to Lovers
- Roommates to Lovers
- Close Proximity
- Fun Meet Cute
- Slow Burn
I've read a couple of books by Louise Bay, and I love how the writing easily pulls me in. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. Make the MMC a billionaire and throw in a fun and memorable meet cute, and I am in. The story starts with Jules meeting Leo at a party where she is dressed in a full X-Men-themed costume. This sets the tone for their later, more complicated relationship when Leo fails to recognize Jules as she starts working as his assistant. Now, they both need something from each other. Leo needs a fake fiancée, and Jules wants to become the manager of one of Leo’s hotels. The deal? Jules will be Leo’s fake fiancée in exchange for an opportunity to show she is the best fit for the job.
I loved Jules and Leo. Although her efforts to get the job of her dreams had not been successful, she didn’t give up. When she saw an opportunity to get what she wanted, she didn’t hesitate to take the chance. I stan a confident go-getter! Jules and Leo’s undeniable chemistry, tension, and banter make for a fun slow-burn romance. This was a great story with entertaining characters, humor, and swoon-worthy moments that put a smile on my face. I loved the ending and can’t wait to read what comes next in this series.
Narration:
Erin Mallon and Shane East are two of my favorite narrators. Their performances were so good. Erin and Shane were the perfect voices for Jules and Leo, and really brought them to life. They are amazing storytellers who can do no wrong in my eyes. Their narration elevated my listening experience and made it easy to finish this in one sitting.
Thanks to Louise Bay, East House Productions, and Must Love Audio for the advanced listener copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
Heat Rating: 2.5/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Billionaire Romance
- Fake Engagement
- Boss/Employee
- Enemies to Lovers
- Roommates to Lovers
- Close Proximity
- Fun Meet Cute
- Slow Burn
I've read a couple of books by Louise Bay, and I love how the writing easily pulls me in. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. Make the MMC a billionaire and throw in a fun and memorable meet cute, and I am in. The story starts with Jules meeting Leo at a party where she is dressed in a full X-Men-themed costume. This sets the tone for their later, more complicated relationship when Leo fails to recognize Jules as she starts working as his assistant. Now, they both need something from each other. Leo needs a fake fiancée, and Jules wants to become the manager of one of Leo’s hotels. The deal? Jules will be Leo’s fake fiancée in exchange for an opportunity to show she is the best fit for the job.
I loved Jules and Leo. Although her efforts to get the job of her dreams had not been successful, she didn’t give up. When she saw an opportunity to get what she wanted, she didn’t hesitate to take the chance. I stan a confident go-getter! Jules and Leo’s undeniable chemistry, tension, and banter make for a fun slow-burn romance. This was a great story with entertaining characters, humor, and swoon-worthy moments that put a smile on my face. I loved the ending and can’t wait to read what comes next in this series.
Narration:
Erin Mallon and Shane East are two of my favorite narrators. Their performances were so good. Erin and Shane were the perfect voices for Jules and Leo, and really brought them to life. They are amazing storytellers who can do no wrong in my eyes. Their narration elevated my listening experience and made it easy to finish this in one sitting.
Thanks to Louise Bay, East House Productions, and Must Love Audio for the advanced listener copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
October 11, 2024
ALC AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Narrated By: Shane East & Erin Mallon
I am loving Louise Bay’s writing and this series,
It’s fun, light hearted, short and sweet.
The Player + The Pact = I Do follows Leo a Sexy British billionaire and Jules a sassy hardworking assistant to Leo. When Leo finds out a woman who broke his heart years ago is back In town he needs to step up his game and act like he’s got more going for him in the romance department than he does, insert Jules as his new fiancé. What I loved most about Jules in this book is she is not afraid to go after what she wants, sharing facts and being her sassy self, she makes a deal with Leo and the two of them begin to benefit from the “engagement”. As Leo and Jules spend more time together things begin to shift and Leo may not be the playboy, hard ass boss she thought he was and outside of the office, feelings start to get real. Shane East and Erin Mallon narrate in dual and what a fun match this was, Shane brings that extra bit of determination, fun, sarcasm, and spice to Leo, proving through his voice that he has a big heart under all those pressed suits and intense business deals. Erin Mallon also brings the smiles with her sweet voice, giving us Jules’ playful side and sassy personality as well as the vulnerable tones Jules needed to express the heartache she is faced with, the passion she has for her job and the true feelings she’s having for Leo.
🫶🏼Thank You @mustloveaudio for the opportunity to listen and review.
Narrated By: Shane East & Erin Mallon
I am loving Louise Bay’s writing and this series,
It’s fun, light hearted, short and sweet.
The Player + The Pact = I Do follows Leo a Sexy British billionaire and Jules a sassy hardworking assistant to Leo. When Leo finds out a woman who broke his heart years ago is back In town he needs to step up his game and act like he’s got more going for him in the romance department than he does, insert Jules as his new fiancé. What I loved most about Jules in this book is she is not afraid to go after what she wants, sharing facts and being her sassy self, she makes a deal with Leo and the two of them begin to benefit from the “engagement”. As Leo and Jules spend more time together things begin to shift and Leo may not be the playboy, hard ass boss she thought he was and outside of the office, feelings start to get real. Shane East and Erin Mallon narrate in dual and what a fun match this was, Shane brings that extra bit of determination, fun, sarcasm, and spice to Leo, proving through his voice that he has a big heart under all those pressed suits and intense business deals. Erin Mallon also brings the smiles with her sweet voice, giving us Jules’ playful side and sassy personality as well as the vulnerable tones Jules needed to express the heartache she is faced with, the passion she has for her job and the true feelings she’s having for Leo.
🫶🏼Thank You @mustloveaudio for the opportunity to listen and review.
September 30, 2024
The Player+ The Pact= I Do
Louise Bay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Naw, this was so sweet! From a humble party to forever love! When Leo and Jules first meet, she’s dressed in a ridiculous blue outfit complete with blue body paint, he’s taken by her, she knows she’s found the man for her, it not for love, he owns the incredibly beautiful Mayfair Hotel”, and where she has her heart set on managing.
Fast forward 2 years, Leo is now Jules's boss, she’s his assistant and she’s busy putting together a plan to take over the Mayfair. While she’s super excited, Leo doesn’t share that enthusiasm. But when Leo’s past rears its head, he needs an out quickly, that out being a fiancé to an awards dinner where his ex-girlfriend will be. After much back and forth, Jules wins her chance at hotel management, and kei had himself a doting fiancée…. It’s the perfect win- win!
I loved watching Leo and Jules follow their path, not seeing the chemistry that’s always been there, and when Leo discovers she’s the one from the party years earlier, their chemistry becomes scorching. Blurring the boundaries, the fake love story becomes real. He finds the woman in frumpy work clothes and the woman he’s now engaged to are one in the same, Jules is magic for Leo, bringing him from a past of hurt to a world of sunshine. Her look on life is beautiful, as beautiful as her… But it seems it’s not just Jules creating a brighter path from the past, Leo finds himself chasing Jules again, saving her, loving her.
Leo and Jules are a beautiful couple, I hope to see more of in future stories! ♥️
Louise Bay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Naw, this was so sweet! From a humble party to forever love! When Leo and Jules first meet, she’s dressed in a ridiculous blue outfit complete with blue body paint, he’s taken by her, she knows she’s found the man for her, it not for love, he owns the incredibly beautiful Mayfair Hotel”, and where she has her heart set on managing.
Fast forward 2 years, Leo is now Jules's boss, she’s his assistant and she’s busy putting together a plan to take over the Mayfair. While she’s super excited, Leo doesn’t share that enthusiasm. But when Leo’s past rears its head, he needs an out quickly, that out being a fiancé to an awards dinner where his ex-girlfriend will be. After much back and forth, Jules wins her chance at hotel management, and kei had himself a doting fiancée…. It’s the perfect win- win!
I loved watching Leo and Jules follow their path, not seeing the chemistry that’s always been there, and when Leo discovers she’s the one from the party years earlier, their chemistry becomes scorching. Blurring the boundaries, the fake love story becomes real. He finds the woman in frumpy work clothes and the woman he’s now engaged to are one in the same, Jules is magic for Leo, bringing him from a past of hurt to a world of sunshine. Her look on life is beautiful, as beautiful as her… But it seems it’s not just Jules creating a brighter path from the past, Leo finds himself chasing Jules again, saving her, loving her.
Leo and Jules are a beautiful couple, I hope to see more of in future stories! ♥️
September 30, 2024
I was so excited when this book hit my kindle and I couldn’t wait to start it. “The Player + The Pact = I Do” is a flirty, sweet and romantic fake fiance billionaire romance that was a great addition to the series.
To say Jules isn’t a fan of her boss is an understatement. They met two years prior but under different circumstances and also doesn’t remember their first meet. But her end game is to have Leo see that she’s made to manage one of his properties, The Mayfair. Leo is a self made billionaire and up for an important award in his field and needs a date. He decides a fake fiance is the way to go. And Jules volunteers with the Mayfair on her mind. However, as the two spend time together, they see different sides of each other.
I loved this story from start to finish. Jules is a breath of fresh air and I loved her spirit. She’s driven to work in the hospitality industry and wants to put her mark on the Mayfair which holds a special place in her heart. Leo is guarded with whom he keeps in his inner circle which is totally understandable. But once we get to know him, he’s kind, caring and will always help his friends no matter what. Jules and Leo had great banter and you could tell that there was more brewing underneath. I loved how they first met and even if Leo didn’t recognize her first (and for a good reason), it was the perfect foundation to start their story. The ending was so romantic and I can’t wait for the next book.
To say Jules isn’t a fan of her boss is an understatement. They met two years prior but under different circumstances and also doesn’t remember their first meet. But her end game is to have Leo see that she’s made to manage one of his properties, The Mayfair. Leo is a self made billionaire and up for an important award in his field and needs a date. He decides a fake fiance is the way to go. And Jules volunteers with the Mayfair on her mind. However, as the two spend time together, they see different sides of each other.
I loved this story from start to finish. Jules is a breath of fresh air and I loved her spirit. She’s driven to work in the hospitality industry and wants to put her mark on the Mayfair which holds a special place in her heart. Leo is guarded with whom he keeps in his inner circle which is totally understandable. But once we get to know him, he’s kind, caring and will always help his friends no matter what. Jules and Leo had great banter and you could tell that there was more brewing underneath. I loved how they first met and even if Leo didn’t recognize her first (and for a good reason), it was the perfect foundation to start their story. The ending was so romantic and I can’t wait for the next book.
October 10, 2024
I do this slow burn, too.
This isn't about hate nor loathing. This is an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn sweetness.
Why am I saying that? Because when you hate your boss but not because he's a bad boss but a good boss who's got a great appearance... I think you got where my mind's spinning.
I love the writing. It's fluid, easy to understand even for an non native reader.
The story is written from both POV's (Leo & Jules), which help me to get more invested in the characters' outline.
And in-between the lines and from the lines, you get the feelings.
I was secretly hoping for Leo's story, and I'm over the moon with this. It's realistic and relatable from both points of view.
First, I had a little struggle with Jules, but after getting to know her closer, all came into line, and I could relate better to her.
Leo is simply my guy. He's sweet and lovable from moment one. After everything he went through in the last book, it was more definitely worth this outcome.
This book isn't as spicy as the first one in the series, which increases the impact of the story. Yes, there's tension and spice, only a little more contempted.
Conclusion
A slow burn with enemies-to-lovers that will sweeten your heart to no end. I'm still swooning.
☆5/5☆
Information
This is book two of the stand-alone series of six New Yorker friends.
1. The boss + The maid = chemistry (Bennet & Efi)
2. The player + The pact = I do (Leo & Jules)
The third book is coming soon.
This isn't about hate nor loathing. This is an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn sweetness.
Why am I saying that? Because when you hate your boss but not because he's a bad boss but a good boss who's got a great appearance... I think you got where my mind's spinning.
I love the writing. It's fluid, easy to understand even for an non native reader.
The story is written from both POV's (Leo & Jules), which help me to get more invested in the characters' outline.
And in-between the lines and from the lines, you get the feelings.
I was secretly hoping for Leo's story, and I'm over the moon with this. It's realistic and relatable from both points of view.
First, I had a little struggle with Jules, but after getting to know her closer, all came into line, and I could relate better to her.
Leo is simply my guy. He's sweet and lovable from moment one. After everything he went through in the last book, it was more definitely worth this outcome.
This book isn't as spicy as the first one in the series, which increases the impact of the story. Yes, there's tension and spice, only a little more contempted.
Conclusion
A slow burn with enemies-to-lovers that will sweeten your heart to no end. I'm still swooning.
☆5/5☆
Information
This is book two of the stand-alone series of six New Yorker friends.
1. The boss + The maid = chemistry (Bennet & Efi)
2. The player + The pact = I do (Leo & Jules)
The third book is coming soon.
October 21, 2024
love hurts
Wow, Leo has been burnt before and is having a hard time letting it go. (Maybe a bit obsessed) He feels used and trust does not come easily. Jules worms her way into his life and they now have a transactional relationship. This was a fun read. Very enjoyable. I really loved Leo and Jules was perfect for him.
Wow, Leo has been burnt before and is having a hard time letting it go. (Maybe a bit obsessed) He feels used and trust does not come easily. Jules worms her way into his life and they now have a transactional relationship. This was a fun read. Very enjoyable. I really loved Leo and Jules was perfect for him.
October 9, 2024
Great story with such in depth characters. Leo had me swooning so much- a perfect book boyfriend IMHO!
October 10, 2024
Leo—The Player—needs a fake fiancé, and his PA, Jules, comes up with the perfect plan—the Pact—: she'll pretend to be his fiancée in exchange for something she truly wants🤫
From the first time they meet, there’s an easy connection between them, and they genuinely like each other. Leo isn’t the only person that falks gut Jules. From the first night of football she fits right into Leo’s friend group winning them over🙃
The story balances romance, friendship and found family nicely. Can’t wait to see what happens in Vegas 🫣✨ #BookReview #RomanceReads
From the first time they meet, there’s an easy connection between them, and they genuinely like each other. Leo isn’t the only person that falks gut Jules. From the first night of football she fits right into Leo’s friend group winning them over🙃
The story balances romance, friendship and found family nicely. Can’t wait to see what happens in Vegas 🫣✨ #BookReview #RomanceReads
October 12, 2024
'Call me a cab and take me downtown, Jules and Leo are dynamos in the hotel scene and are stepping up customer service in their own unique way. Louise Bay's latest read will have you running for your nearest hotel to experience what happens within the pages, in real life.' - The British Bibliophile
Thank you to Dani at Wildfire Marketing Solutions for sending me an ebook Advanced Reader Copy of this book for me to read and leave an honest review as part of Louise's ARC/Promo team
NOTE: This review does NOT contain spoilers, but makes references to aspects within the book's blurb. If you do not wish to know a thing about the book until you read it--blurb included--please exit my review now :)
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀📖 A R C ⠀ R E V I E W 📖
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
The Player + The Pact + I Do is the second standalone novel in Louise Bay's brand new series, the New York City Billionaires. This series is a branch off an already familiar and very much beloved one by readers, including myself, The Doctors. The characters in this new series are to some readers, already familiar, and though their stories are set in the same world--with mention of characters from the main series--, they take on a life of their own.
The small seed that was sown in book one, The Boss + The Maid = Chemistry, now has the potential to grow further and further, transforming into a blossoming tree. Appropriate for the Big Apple. But will the tree continue to bear juicy, fictional fruit? Only time will tell.
It's time now though, to check into a new hotel. Are you ready to check in?
'I hate my boss. Like, loathe him.', a cry in which many an employee of either man or a woman can relate to. This time, it is Jules Moore who makes that cry about her current boss and bane of her life. It would be a simple cut-and-shut case of an employee hating her boss if he was just that, her boss. But he isn't. Two years ago, he was the self-same man who semi-broke her heart. The Kicker? He doesn't remember that Jules is the woman whose heart he broke.
You should really remember someone, no matter how they look, when you tell them that they are your destiny. Granted at the time she was covered from head to toe in electric blue body paint, wearing a stellar wig but that's beside the point. Unfortunately, that memo to remember her regardless of that, skipped Leo Hart.
Now she sits outside of his office every single day, working for him as his assistant. Soon enough, she has new and higher pursuits set in her signs and much to her chagrin, Leo is the only man who can get her to the position she wants. The role as manager of his hotel.
All is not lost, for an opportunity is soon to knock at her door and wait for her to open it.
Leo needs a fiancé for business reasons and purely for business reasons only, and Jules recognises this as the perfect opportunity for some harmless blackmail. He's to give her a trial run as the manager of his hotel in exchange for her playing the part of his (fake) fiancé, wearing his ring for all to see in order to sell the lie believably--among the other things that crop up along the way.
With a plan firmly discussed, laid out and cemented, all seems to be going according to it without a hitch. That is, until Leo remembers where he has seen Jules before and where they first met.
As things begin to shift between them due to this new (to Leo) revelation, the eyes that once looked at Jules with a purely professional gaze now do so with eyes that see straight through her carefully crafted persona to see the real her. These all-seeing eyes are accompanied by willing, wandering hands and lips that kiss her in ways that will carry out things that all of her romance movies failed to warn her about.
There's just one spanner that threatens to throw itself into the works. Jules doesn't trust Leo not to break her heart all over again. After all, a leopard, even a handsome one, is unlikely to ever change his spots.
Starting a new series is as exciting as it is full of uncertainty. We're truly never going to know if we're going to like it, even if the new series if by an author we love and adore, until we settle in and get to grips with it. For some, they can tell right away at the start of the new series, others may take a book or two more depending on the length of said series. At no point was there ever a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't love something that Louise has written but instead, how would any new work live up to the adoration I have for the series that has just finished. Including two top reads/book boyfriends from it.
The Boss + The Maid = Chemistry set the series up pretty well with the introduction of Bennet and Efa, but I was looking forward to what was coming our way with the feedback we put forward in our reviews. This feedback wouldn't guarantee we'd steer things in the direction of our choosing--as ultimately its the author's decision where a story and its characters go--, but our words are always taken into consideration and I feel that this is what has happened here with this second book in the series.
In my review for book one, I gave feedback in my review as to what I would personally would like to see happen in future books within this series. For example, I outlined that I felt some aspects of the story--especially if they were major plot points or events--should happen on the page, even in brief, rather than talked about in abstract. Granted not everything can be put on the page, as books would be twice or sometimes three times as long as planned, but sometimes less is more. Little nuggets of detail or information go a long way if the author doesn't want to expand on it at-length.
I'm not sure if Louise personally read my review to make this change so that here in The Player + The Pact = I Do we got to see more on the page instead of things to be left wandering in the literary void, but I'm definitely seeing a major improvement--not that anything was initially wrong with book one--with this particular point from one book to the next. This is why I feel more connected to Jules and Leo because we were fed more to fuel our imaginations to paint that all important picture.
Right from the very first chapter, Jules and Leo delivered and kept on delivering until I finished reading the last word. I can't find a single thing to critique about them or their story, in all honesty. I can't give away anything without dropping a spoiler--which I'd never do--, but this story definitely shone and stood out to me and currently stands as my personal favourite out of the two.
Do I dislike book one any less after reading this one? Of course not! It's okay to like both and still have a favourite, and that is exactly what I have here. Louise gave us everything we wanted and more with Leo and Jules, and I'm sitting here writing this with the biggest and proudest smile on my face for all of her hard effort and what she produced.
Hopefully we'll get to see what happened in the later end of the book play out in the next book or two. Personally I feel that the epilogue could've been squished into the end of chapter 30 and instead show us the result of what happened in chapter 30 itself, but again I respect Louise's decision for what played out to do so the way it did. After all, I'm never going to say no to seeing more from her, or a series with so much potential to become a reader favourite as this one has.
4.5⭐️ for Leo and Jules!
----------------------
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 G E N R E S 📚
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Contemporary Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Workplace Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Enemies to Lovers
⠀⠀⠀↳ Billionaires & Millionaires
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R O P E S
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Fun Meet-Cute
⠀⠀⠀↳ Spicy
⠀⠀⠀↳ She Falls First, He Falls Harder
⠀⠀⠀↳ Billionaire
⠀⠀⠀↳ Big City Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Boss x Employee
⠀⠀⠀↳ British Hero
⠀⠀⠀↳ Protective Hero
⠀⠀⠀↳ Meant To Be
⠀⠀⠀↳ Roomates to Lovers
⠀⠀⠀↳ She Hates Him
⠀⠀⠀↳ Fake Relationship
⠀⠀⠀↳ Slow Burn
⠀⠀⠀↳ Forced Proximity
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀ ⠀ 🌶️ S T E A M Y/S P I C Y? 🌶️
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Definitely a bit of both!
⠀⠀⠀↳ Moderate steam/spice
⠀⠀⠀↳ 3.75/5 spice/steam
⠀⠀⠀↳ Hold onto that headboard, girl!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R I G G E R S?
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ NONE!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀M U S T ⠀ R E A D?
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Y.E.S
⠀⠀⠀↳ 4.5 with 5 star feels
⠀⠀⠀↳ Has my finger twitching to book a flight to NYC!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀F O R M A T S
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Ebook - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Player-Pact-I-Do-ebook/dp/B0DBJ1RGZ3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HikKe0-xnb0sCA4Bp7LmTw.WJWUJYddxYAf3Ihg0wLZ1adM4bLGXvFBWBHJem6xcWI&qid=1728684961&sr=8-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Paperback - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Player-Pact-I-Do/dp/1804560375/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HikKe0-xnb0sCA4Bp7LmTw.WJWUJYddxYAf3Ihg0wLZ1adM4bLGXvFBWBHJem6xcWI&qid=1728684961&sr=8-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Audiobook - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Player-the-Pact-I-Do-Audiobook/B0DHSPDPNT?eac_link=tuYcnrcrz0NV&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0DHSPDPNT&qid=71IINC9kUS&eac_id=262-9334404-4187537_71IINC9kUS&sr=1-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Louise Website - https://louisebay.com
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀F O L L O W ⠀ L O U I S E!
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorlouisebay
⠀⠀⠀↳ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorlouisebay
⠀⠀⠀↳ Pinterest - https://uk.pinterest.com/louisebay/
⠀⠀⠀↳ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlouisebay
Thank you to Dani at Wildfire Marketing Solutions for sending me an ebook Advanced Reader Copy of this book for me to read and leave an honest review as part of Louise's ARC/Promo team
NOTE: This review does NOT contain spoilers, but makes references to aspects within the book's blurb. If you do not wish to know a thing about the book until you read it--blurb included--please exit my review now :)
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀📖 A R C ⠀ R E V I E W 📖
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
The Player + The Pact + I Do is the second standalone novel in Louise Bay's brand new series, the New York City Billionaires. This series is a branch off an already familiar and very much beloved one by readers, including myself, The Doctors. The characters in this new series are to some readers, already familiar, and though their stories are set in the same world--with mention of characters from the main series--, they take on a life of their own.
The small seed that was sown in book one, The Boss + The Maid = Chemistry, now has the potential to grow further and further, transforming into a blossoming tree. Appropriate for the Big Apple. But will the tree continue to bear juicy, fictional fruit? Only time will tell.
It's time now though, to check into a new hotel. Are you ready to check in?
'I hate my boss. Like, loathe him.', a cry in which many an employee of either man or a woman can relate to. This time, it is Jules Moore who makes that cry about her current boss and bane of her life. It would be a simple cut-and-shut case of an employee hating her boss if he was just that, her boss. But he isn't. Two years ago, he was the self-same man who semi-broke her heart. The Kicker? He doesn't remember that Jules is the woman whose heart he broke.
You should really remember someone, no matter how they look, when you tell them that they are your destiny. Granted at the time she was covered from head to toe in electric blue body paint, wearing a stellar wig but that's beside the point. Unfortunately, that memo to remember her regardless of that, skipped Leo Hart.
Now she sits outside of his office every single day, working for him as his assistant. Soon enough, she has new and higher pursuits set in her signs and much to her chagrin, Leo is the only man who can get her to the position she wants. The role as manager of his hotel.
All is not lost, for an opportunity is soon to knock at her door and wait for her to open it.
Leo needs a fiancé for business reasons and purely for business reasons only, and Jules recognises this as the perfect opportunity for some harmless blackmail. He's to give her a trial run as the manager of his hotel in exchange for her playing the part of his (fake) fiancé, wearing his ring for all to see in order to sell the lie believably--among the other things that crop up along the way.
With a plan firmly discussed, laid out and cemented, all seems to be going according to it without a hitch. That is, until Leo remembers where he has seen Jules before and where they first met.
As things begin to shift between them due to this new (to Leo) revelation, the eyes that once looked at Jules with a purely professional gaze now do so with eyes that see straight through her carefully crafted persona to see the real her. These all-seeing eyes are accompanied by willing, wandering hands and lips that kiss her in ways that will carry out things that all of her romance movies failed to warn her about.
There's just one spanner that threatens to throw itself into the works. Jules doesn't trust Leo not to break her heart all over again. After all, a leopard, even a handsome one, is unlikely to ever change his spots.
Starting a new series is as exciting as it is full of uncertainty. We're truly never going to know if we're going to like it, even if the new series if by an author we love and adore, until we settle in and get to grips with it. For some, they can tell right away at the start of the new series, others may take a book or two more depending on the length of said series. At no point was there ever a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't love something that Louise has written but instead, how would any new work live up to the adoration I have for the series that has just finished. Including two top reads/book boyfriends from it.
The Boss + The Maid = Chemistry set the series up pretty well with the introduction of Bennet and Efa, but I was looking forward to what was coming our way with the feedback we put forward in our reviews. This feedback wouldn't guarantee we'd steer things in the direction of our choosing--as ultimately its the author's decision where a story and its characters go--, but our words are always taken into consideration and I feel that this is what has happened here with this second book in the series.
In my review for book one, I gave feedback in my review as to what I would personally would like to see happen in future books within this series. For example, I outlined that I felt some aspects of the story--especially if they were major plot points or events--should happen on the page, even in brief, rather than talked about in abstract. Granted not everything can be put on the page, as books would be twice or sometimes three times as long as planned, but sometimes less is more. Little nuggets of detail or information go a long way if the author doesn't want to expand on it at-length.
I'm not sure if Louise personally read my review to make this change so that here in The Player + The Pact = I Do we got to see more on the page instead of things to be left wandering in the literary void, but I'm definitely seeing a major improvement--not that anything was initially wrong with book one--with this particular point from one book to the next. This is why I feel more connected to Jules and Leo because we were fed more to fuel our imaginations to paint that all important picture.
Right from the very first chapter, Jules and Leo delivered and kept on delivering until I finished reading the last word. I can't find a single thing to critique about them or their story, in all honesty. I can't give away anything without dropping a spoiler--which I'd never do--, but this story definitely shone and stood out to me and currently stands as my personal favourite out of the two.
Do I dislike book one any less after reading this one? Of course not! It's okay to like both and still have a favourite, and that is exactly what I have here. Louise gave us everything we wanted and more with Leo and Jules, and I'm sitting here writing this with the biggest and proudest smile on my face for all of her hard effort and what she produced.
Hopefully we'll get to see what happened in the later end of the book play out in the next book or two. Personally I feel that the epilogue could've been squished into the end of chapter 30 and instead show us the result of what happened in chapter 30 itself, but again I respect Louise's decision for what played out to do so the way it did. After all, I'm never going to say no to seeing more from her, or a series with so much potential to become a reader favourite as this one has.
4.5⭐️ for Leo and Jules!
----------------------
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 G E N R E S 📚
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Contemporary Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Workplace Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Enemies to Lovers
⠀⠀⠀↳ Billionaires & Millionaires
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R O P E S
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Fun Meet-Cute
⠀⠀⠀↳ Spicy
⠀⠀⠀↳ She Falls First, He Falls Harder
⠀⠀⠀↳ Billionaire
⠀⠀⠀↳ Big City Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Boss x Employee
⠀⠀⠀↳ British Hero
⠀⠀⠀↳ Protective Hero
⠀⠀⠀↳ Meant To Be
⠀⠀⠀↳ Roomates to Lovers
⠀⠀⠀↳ She Hates Him
⠀⠀⠀↳ Fake Relationship
⠀⠀⠀↳ Slow Burn
⠀⠀⠀↳ Forced Proximity
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀ ⠀ 🌶️ S T E A M Y/S P I C Y? 🌶️
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Definitely a bit of both!
⠀⠀⠀↳ Moderate steam/spice
⠀⠀⠀↳ 3.75/5 spice/steam
⠀⠀⠀↳ Hold onto that headboard, girl!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R I G G E R S?
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ NONE!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀M U S T ⠀ R E A D?
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Y.E.S
⠀⠀⠀↳ 4.5 with 5 star feels
⠀⠀⠀↳ Has my finger twitching to book a flight to NYC!
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀F O R M A T S
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Ebook - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Player-Pact-I-Do-ebook/dp/B0DBJ1RGZ3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HikKe0-xnb0sCA4Bp7LmTw.WJWUJYddxYAf3Ihg0wLZ1adM4bLGXvFBWBHJem6xcWI&qid=1728684961&sr=8-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Paperback - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Player-Pact-I-Do/dp/1804560375/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HikKe0-xnb0sCA4Bp7LmTw.WJWUJYddxYAf3Ihg0wLZ1adM4bLGXvFBWBHJem6xcWI&qid=1728684961&sr=8-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Audiobook - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Player-the-Pact-I-Do-Audiobook/B0DHSPDPNT?eac_link=tuYcnrcrz0NV&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0DHSPDPNT&qid=71IINC9kUS&eac_id=262-9334404-4187537_71IINC9kUS&sr=1-1
⠀⠀⠀↳ Louise Website - https://louisebay.com
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀F O L L O W ⠀ L O U I S E!
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
⠀⠀⠀↳ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorlouisebay
⠀⠀⠀↳ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorlouisebay
⠀⠀⠀↳ Pinterest - https://uk.pinterest.com/louisebay/
⠀⠀⠀↳ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlouisebay
October 10, 2024
A frenemies to lovers' story for Leo Hart and Jules Moore after they’d had a meet cute years before after she went to a party looking like a smurf. Despite their mutual attraction and sizzling chemistry, that initial meeting had come to nothing when Jules had written him off as a bit of a player. Now and without him recognising her, she’s working as his PA but with a cunning plan to take over the management of his hotel. When he needs a fake fiancée for a business plan she sees her chance and grabs it.
This was a fast-paced, character-based romance featuring two characters suffering from trust issues which they both hide under confident exteriors. The hero Leo especially was a bit like an onion with many layers to him. On the surface he appeared the happy go lucky player Jules had thought he was, but the self-made man had been driven to succeed after having his heart and ego brutally crushed by a selfish girl using him as leverage over her father when he was only eighteen. That episode had pushed him into becoming the billionaire developer he was but he was now being honoured and hearing that the girl who had broken his heart would be in attendance had rocked his normal confidence especially after certain events in the previous book. Jules had her own issues with her father dropping in and out of her life since childhood, leaving her believing she couldn’t rely on anyone. The hotel had been the one constant in her life and was almost like her security blanket in a way. It had been where her mum had worked and she’d worked her way through pretty much every department learning the ropes on the ground. Despite these mutual trust issues a strong friendship developed between Leo and Jules over a devotion to a certain British baking show leading to some flirting and great dialogue, and leading Leo to a eureka moment when recognised Jules as the girl who had got away two years before. Another highlight was their relationships with their friends especially Jules and her bestie Sophia who was truly in the ‘ride and die’ category and hopefully if another of Jules’ cunning plans come to fruition, we’ll be hearing a lot more from her.
This was a fast-paced, character-based romance featuring two characters suffering from trust issues which they both hide under confident exteriors. The hero Leo especially was a bit like an onion with many layers to him. On the surface he appeared the happy go lucky player Jules had thought he was, but the self-made man had been driven to succeed after having his heart and ego brutally crushed by a selfish girl using him as leverage over her father when he was only eighteen. That episode had pushed him into becoming the billionaire developer he was but he was now being honoured and hearing that the girl who had broken his heart would be in attendance had rocked his normal confidence especially after certain events in the previous book. Jules had her own issues with her father dropping in and out of her life since childhood, leaving her believing she couldn’t rely on anyone. The hotel had been the one constant in her life and was almost like her security blanket in a way. It had been where her mum had worked and she’d worked her way through pretty much every department learning the ropes on the ground. Despite these mutual trust issues a strong friendship developed between Leo and Jules over a devotion to a certain British baking show leading to some flirting and great dialogue, and leading Leo to a eureka moment when recognised Jules as the girl who had got away two years before. Another highlight was their relationships with their friends especially Jules and her bestie Sophia who was truly in the ‘ride and die’ category and hopefully if another of Jules’ cunning plans come to fruition, we’ll be hearing a lot more from her.
October 6, 2024
In The Player + The Pact = I Do, the second book in Louise Bay’s latest series, we have a a unique meet cute that keeps our hero guessing as to who the mystery woman who captured his interest during a party could be. Us readers know of course, because we are clever like that, but it takes Leo a bit to catch on.
Leo is in the Billionaire Boys Club and I adore his group of friends and their antics to one up each other as to who has the most profitable hotel. Leo’s not even in the game until his assistant Jules comes to save the day. She is smart and savvy and I admired her drive and putting herself out there to get ahead in her career.
Leo and Jule’s both came from humble beginnings and both had the same work ethics and goals. Her mother worked at his hotel, The Mayfair, which is why it is so near and dear to her heart. But the Mayfair isn’t his only or primary business venture, and her sincerity and business acumen to save it after years of mismanagement won him over in no time.
Leo was a dreamy book boyfriend, always believing in her and building her up. Letting her fly and be independent, not micromanaging her, and defending her honor to those who questioned his decision to promote her.
This slow burn, forbidden romance (boss employee), and fake finance (they both do a little blackmailing which was fun), turned these enemies into lovers at just the right pace.
Leo was all in and proved it over and over, even asking her to move in for real, but he had to be patient as Jules wasn’t sure his affections were genuine, based on how their relationship started. And man-oh-man did she make him work for it. I give her props for protecting her heart and going after what she wanted career wise, and was so impressed with her business ideas and management style.
I just wish she didn’t tell him of a decision she made right before he was about to give a speech in front of all his friends and colleagues. It really shook him up and was not very considerate of her, especially how he asked her to talk several times prior to the event.
But I trust this author completely and was very pleased with how it all worked out and the ending. Louise Bay has been one of my favorite authors for many years and will keep you invested in her stories the entire time. She writes the best heroes, and I love the interconnected characters as well. Looking forward to book three.
Leo is in the Billionaire Boys Club and I adore his group of friends and their antics to one up each other as to who has the most profitable hotel. Leo’s not even in the game until his assistant Jules comes to save the day. She is smart and savvy and I admired her drive and putting herself out there to get ahead in her career.
Leo and Jule’s both came from humble beginnings and both had the same work ethics and goals. Her mother worked at his hotel, The Mayfair, which is why it is so near and dear to her heart. But the Mayfair isn’t his only or primary business venture, and her sincerity and business acumen to save it after years of mismanagement won him over in no time.
Leo was a dreamy book boyfriend, always believing in her and building her up. Letting her fly and be independent, not micromanaging her, and defending her honor to those who questioned his decision to promote her.
This slow burn, forbidden romance (boss employee), and fake finance (they both do a little blackmailing which was fun), turned these enemies into lovers at just the right pace.
Leo was all in and proved it over and over, even asking her to move in for real, but he had to be patient as Jules wasn’t sure his affections were genuine, based on how their relationship started. And man-oh-man did she make him work for it. I give her props for protecting her heart and going after what she wanted career wise, and was so impressed with her business ideas and management style.
I just wish she didn’t tell him of a decision she made right before he was about to give a speech in front of all his friends and colleagues. It really shook him up and was not very considerate of her, especially how he asked her to talk several times prior to the event.
But I trust this author completely and was very pleased with how it all worked out and the ending. Louise Bay has been one of my favorite authors for many years and will keep you invested in her stories the entire time. She writes the best heroes, and I love the interconnected characters as well. Looking forward to book three.
October 15, 2024
🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 + 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧 = 𝗜 𝗗𝗢
⏳ 𝟬𝟳𝗛 𝟯𝟳𝗠
🎙️ 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 & 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗻
🧡𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎
💍𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎-𝚒𝚜𝚑
🧡𝙱𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚡 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚎
💍𝙵𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝙴𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝
🧡𝚁𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
💭This was such a blast! It was my first Louise Bay’s, so I didn't really know what I was getting into. Right from their first meet-cute, I was hooked, it was so unique and fun! Things didn't exactly go smoothly for Jules after that first encounter, though, which just made me more invested in the story. But you know how fate works in these stories, it wasn't long before Jules got an offer to work as Leo's assistant. She wasn't thrilled about it at first, but she saw it as a stepping stone to boost her career, so she grudgingly accepted. And let me tell you, this girl is unstoppable when it comes to getting what she wants! She'll do whatever it takes, and I totally admire that about her.
What's even more entertaining is how she saw an opportunity to be a fake fiance for Leo and use that as leverage to sort of blackmail him? Haha! I just love a clever and crafty FMC who's not afraid to play the game. As for Leo, he starts off as your typical playboy billionaire and a bit of an ass, not exactly likable at first glance. But as the story unfolds, we get to see deeper into his character. Learning about his journey from nothing to becoming a billionaire and his abandonment issues really made me sympathize with him.
🔥The slow-burn tension between them is just off the charts. The chemistry is sizzling, and when things finally heat up, it's so satisfying. I had such a great time with this book, and I can't wait to read more from Louise Bay!
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Erin and Shane absolutely crushed it! They're two of my all-time favorite narrators, and it's always a blast listening to them. Their voices and storytelling style just make everything so enjoyable, and I always look forward to their work, definitely recommend the audio version!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰⭐️ | 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟮🌶️ | 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟱🎧
✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 MUST LOVE AUDIO & EASTHOUSE PRODUCTION 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨
October 6, 2024
This book gave me all the giggly warmth in the chest. Leo is absolutely adorable and Jules is hopeless in her fight against it.
This was an easy, fun read with make-you-grin dialogue between the characters, a nice flirtatious warmth, and some open-door sxy scenes.
The relationship between Leo and Jules develops so easily and nicely that it’s just like lounging in a warm bath to read this book - maybe that’s weird to say! But it was just comforting.
They are both great characters and the storyline moves along without too much angst or drama. Just a really nice romance book here. I also love the friend group/cast of characters. This book is billed as standalone but is part of an interconnected series. I liked Jules and Leo even more than Efa and Bennett in the last book.
There is a bit of conflict in the book but nothing too overwhelming or earth-shattering. I enjoy Louise’s writing style which is straightforward and makes the books just a delight to read.
Definitely recommend for a lovely, steamy romance!
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of this book and have left my honest, influence-free review.
This was an easy, fun read with make-you-grin dialogue between the characters, a nice flirtatious warmth, and some open-door sxy scenes.
The relationship between Leo and Jules develops so easily and nicely that it’s just like lounging in a warm bath to read this book - maybe that’s weird to say! But it was just comforting.
They are both great characters and the storyline moves along without too much angst or drama. Just a really nice romance book here. I also love the friend group/cast of characters. This book is billed as standalone but is part of an interconnected series. I liked Jules and Leo even more than Efa and Bennett in the last book.
There is a bit of conflict in the book but nothing too overwhelming or earth-shattering. I enjoy Louise’s writing style which is straightforward and makes the books just a delight to read.
Definitely recommend for a lovely, steamy romance!
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of this book and have left my honest, influence-free review.
October 10, 2024
I am in love with Leo! Jules will have to find someone else, I'm afraid. But seriously, this book is a delight. Both Jules and Leo are charming, witty, clever, and possess huge hearts. Their story, initially compromised by misunderstanding, takes a path that allows them to get to know each other, share their thoughts, ambitions and, slowly but surely, their hearts.
Louise Bay has again assembled a fabulous set of people who just must be together, as friends and as lovers/partners, in life. The affection and camaraderie of the male protagonists is warm, competitive and so much fun. Found family, only enhanced by the arrival of the loves of their lives.
Leo and Jules are couple cat nip. Their banter is both funny and infused with warmth. This book has given me a lovely big hug! Fabulous 💖💖💖💖💖
Louise Bay has again assembled a fabulous set of people who just must be together, as friends and as lovers/partners, in life. The affection and camaraderie of the male protagonists is warm, competitive and so much fun. Found family, only enhanced by the arrival of the loves of their lives.
Leo and Jules are couple cat nip. Their banter is both funny and infused with warmth. This book has given me a lovely big hug! Fabulous 💖💖💖💖💖
October 16, 2024
I so love a taboo romance! Leo & Jules are magnetic. They truly hit every trope along the way. Instant attraction, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, forced proximity. What did they miss? It’s chaotic, but in all the best ways. These are two individuals with bruised pasts messing them up, they need time to percolate. Their chemistry is bright as the night skyline of New York City and their energy just as bright. The friendships in this series are just as lovable as the romance. From the bro-bonded billionaires to Jules’ girls. This are the friends that’ll bury a body no questions asked (Not literally, but you get the point). All together it adds up to a fantastic story and I can’t wait for more. I have my suspicions on Sophia’s match and I don’t think things will go as Jules and Efa expect. 😉
October 22, 2024
5 EASY TO LIKE, EASY TO LOVE STARS !!! THIS IS STILL WITHOUT A DOUBT MY NEW FAVORITE LOUISE BAY SERIES !!!
Mr. Grumpy Boss is in need of a fake fiancé so that when we accepts the award of being the best developer for the past ten years . And that fiancé can be found in his fantastic assistant Ms. Future Mayfair Hotel Manager . These two have some of the best freaking banter!! which makes perfect sense because british men love a good bickering match lol ! But how long can everything stay fake when the two of them are so very clearly in love ? Literal perfection + I am craving book three !
This is book two in the New York City Billionaires series + it can be read as a complete standalone .
This audiobook was given to me for honest review by Must Love Audio .
Mr. Grumpy Boss is in need of a fake fiancé so that when we accepts the award of being the best developer for the past ten years . And that fiancé can be found in his fantastic assistant Ms. Future Mayfair Hotel Manager . These two have some of the best freaking banter!! which makes perfect sense because british men love a good bickering match lol ! But how long can everything stay fake when the two of them are so very clearly in love ? Literal perfection + I am craving book three !
This is book two in the New York City Billionaires series + it can be read as a complete standalone .
This audiobook was given to me for honest review by Must Love Audio .
October 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this latest installment of the New York City Billionaires series. Louise is a top favorite author of mine, so I always know I am going to get an amazing story. I loved Jules and Leo's story. These two met at what Jules thought was a costume party...that turned out to just be a regular party. But she was dressed up as Mystique from X-Men comic book. Leo was immediately smitten with her but a misunderstanding between them caused them not to see each other for 2 years. Now Jules is working as his assistant, but he still has no idea that she was the Mystique he met 2 years ago.
Jules is working for Leo to try and convince him to let her run a hotel that holds special meaning to her that Leo owns. Now Leo needs a fiancé, so they make a deal. She will be his fiancé for as long as he needs, and he will give her a trial run as the hotel manager. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Leo remembers who Jules really is.
Now things are shifting between them and what started out as a fake engagement turns into something more than they thought possible. Leo is still harboring some feelings regarding how his ex-girlfriend treated him a long time ago. He is very wary to start a real relationship, but he just can't seem to let Jules go.
Now I am so ready for the next book in this series.
Jules is working for Leo to try and convince him to let her run a hotel that holds special meaning to her that Leo owns. Now Leo needs a fiancé, so they make a deal. She will be his fiancé for as long as he needs, and he will give her a trial run as the hotel manager. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Leo remembers who Jules really is.
Now things are shifting between them and what started out as a fake engagement turns into something more than they thought possible. Leo is still harboring some feelings regarding how his ex-girlfriend treated him a long time ago. He is very wary to start a real relationship, but he just can't seem to let Jules go.
Now I am so ready for the next book in this series.
November 12, 2024
3.5
Honestly the whole issue towards the end seemed flimsy to me and not explained very well until the two were trying to process what happened. But even as outsiders, we could see that it was a conjured up reason for the sake of conflict. It was the deus ex machina for creating conflict instead of getting out of it.
After all the build up for Caroline and the dad, when they finally appeared, it all sort of fell flat. You already KNEW the woman was a a right beach (sp because of censorship), so it wasn’t a surprise to hear the words out of her mouth, but you’d think the author would give readers the satisfaction of her getting put in her place but NO. All of that happens in Leo’s head only.
You didn’t even expect the dad, so him showing up was a whole wtf where did you come from? Adding the dad in was totally useless to the plot. Even though it was explained away, the plot would have survived without the dad. It was just all wrong.
Idk. This was okay-written. That’s it.
Honestly the whole issue towards the end seemed flimsy to me and not explained very well until the two were trying to process what happened. But even as outsiders, we could see that it was a conjured up reason for the sake of conflict. It was the deus ex machina for creating conflict instead of getting out of it.
After all the build up for Caroline and the dad, when they finally appeared, it all sort of fell flat. You already KNEW the woman was a a right beach (sp because of censorship), so it wasn’t a surprise to hear the words out of her mouth, but you’d think the author would give readers the satisfaction of her getting put in her place but NO. All of that happens in Leo’s head only.
You didn’t even expect the dad, so him showing up was a whole wtf where did you come from? Adding the dad in was totally useless to the plot. Even though it was explained away, the plot would have survived without the dad. It was just all wrong.
Idk. This was okay-written. That’s it.
October 10, 2024
Sassy, funny and hot! Loved it!
"All I can think about is how she's the calm in this storm - the light in this darkness, the sun to my frozen heart."
When Jules Moore first met Leo Hart, she really thought they had a connection, but she was quickly disillusioned. Two years later, she's his assistant and he has no idea that they've met before, and she keeps her distance from him. When they strike up a bargain where each gets what they want, Jules unwillingly starts to see the Leo she got a glimpse of at their first meeting, but she's convinced he's a commitment-shy player, and she would never risk her heart with him.
"The idea of her and me hits me in the solar plexus and radiates out. Just her and me. We."
I absolutely loved the easy connection and fiery chemistry between Jules and Leo. No matter how hard she fought it, she couldn't help but be drawn to him. However, I loved also how she respected herself and knew the kind of guy she wanted and deserved. I liked that she put herself and her heart first. Both she and Leo had their vulnerabilities and tender spots, and I adored the ending - Leo totally won my heart as he put himself out there for her and I melted at his certainty.
This was another fab, amusing, sexy read from one of my faves.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
"All I can think about is how she's the calm in this storm - the light in this darkness, the sun to my frozen heart."
When Jules Moore first met Leo Hart, she really thought they had a connection, but she was quickly disillusioned. Two years later, she's his assistant and he has no idea that they've met before, and she keeps her distance from him. When they strike up a bargain where each gets what they want, Jules unwillingly starts to see the Leo she got a glimpse of at their first meeting, but she's convinced he's a commitment-shy player, and she would never risk her heart with him.
"The idea of her and me hits me in the solar plexus and radiates out. Just her and me. We."
I absolutely loved the easy connection and fiery chemistry between Jules and Leo. No matter how hard she fought it, she couldn't help but be drawn to him. However, I loved also how she respected herself and knew the kind of guy she wanted and deserved. I liked that she put herself and her heart first. Both she and Leo had their vulnerabilities and tender spots, and I adored the ending - Leo totally won my heart as he put himself out there for her and I melted at his certainty.
This was another fab, amusing, sexy read from one of my faves.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
October 18, 2024
4.5 stars
I loved the first book in this series, and thankfully, book 2 didn't disappoint! These characters are so fantastic and feel familiar somehow, like we're family! I loved the chemistry with these two from the start, and it just got better throughout! Can't wait to read book 3!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
I loved the first book in this series, and thankfully, book 2 didn't disappoint! These characters are so fantastic and feel familiar somehow, like we're family! I loved the chemistry with these two from the start, and it just got better throughout! Can't wait to read book 3!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews