My favorites in order ~ Enzo, Dom, Carm
*Many thanks to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for the books to review. These are my honest thoughts*
Sexy Filthy Boss ~ Annie & Enzo
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Featuring ~ boss/assistant, secret office romance, misogynist boss, alphahole until he meets the h and then ooey gooey
Release date ~ June 11, 2019
POV ~ dual ~ 1st person
Page count ~ 331
My rating ~ 4.5⭐
My review:
Annie is working in an advertising firm, a male dominated profession, as an assistant. She’s hoping to work her way up the ladder, but with a misogynist boss (not Enzo), it’s hard for her to prove herself. Luckily she gets a chance when she’s thrown into the roll of being Senior Executive Enzo’s assistant and she can help him work on a big campaign.
Enzo is on track to become partner, but can’t seem to keep an assistant to save his life, hence why he’s considered the work alphahole. He’s never had a relationship, let alone a date, but when Annie starts working with him it’s game over for this bachelor and it’s just what his Ma has been waiting for.
Yes, we can guess how their story will go six ways to Sunday dinner, but the journey there was great. They are both career focused, but as they spend more and more time together their attraction is undeniable. And just based on the cover and the title you know this one is going to be a steamy read and boy oh boy these two are scorching together.
I am not Italian, but I totally got the Italian family vibes. I really liked that family is everything to Enzo, he even tells his baby sister he loves her when they get off the phone. I enjoyed Annie’s relationship with her father and sister, and her friendship with Josh and Mae too.
A lovely, filthy start to a new series. I’m looking forward to Carm’s story next. I am so happy that he was involved in this book because I already feel like I know him.
Book blurb:
He’s the sexy alpha male in the corner office who goes through assistants faster than free donuts in the breakroom.
I’m the assistant who was chosen to cover for his last fire.
The owner of the company is clear–hook the biggest client in our firm’s history and there’s a partnership for him and a promotion for me. Stipulation–we do it together.
It doesn’t take a tarot card-reading psychic to figure out where our story is headed… late nights, trips out of town, and more than a few awkward moments filled with sexual tension.
No worries though. I pride myself on my willpower. I can totally ignore his sexy grin, his rock-hard body and his dreamy brown eyes. I will not become the woman other women hate.
But it turns out that Enzo Mancini has a lot of layers and if I don’t stop peeling, I’m going to lose everything, including my dignity.
Dirty Flirty Enemy ~ Bella & Carm
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Featuring ~ enemies to lovers, career rivals, no strings relationship, opposites attract
Release date ~ July 16, 2019
POV ~ dual ~ 1st person
Page count ~ 302
My rating ~ 4.25⭐
My review:
Real Estate Broker vs For Sale by Owner
Bella is branching out on her own and starts her own business focusing on For Sale By Owner. Is Carm a top real estate broker because of his shirtless billboards or is he really good at his job? We’ll see when they are thrown into a competition to see who can sell more condos in 3 months.
This one took me some time to warm up to. I agree with Annie ~ Carm is definitely giving off douchy vibes, more than he did in the last book, but that slowly turns into sweetness as these two spend more and more time together. There was some good steamage and banter.
“The thought of her with another man is as appealing as jarred spaghetti sauce” ~ spoken like a true Italian.
I love that Annie and Enzo are still heavily involved in this installment.
I’ve already read book 3 before I finished up my review here, so I want to add that Carm is my least favorite brother. Still lovable in his own way, but I hated that he was a big douche even if he turned out okay in the end.
Book blurb:
He’s the arrogant Manhattan realtor with billboards advertising his six-pack more than his expertise in negotiations.
I’m the competing broker who stupidly moved across the hall from his office.
From day one, I’ve been his sworn enemy. Okay, so I might have accidentally stolen one of his clients. Well, is it stealing if the client comes to me?
Even our vicious banter and loathing gazes can’t hide the chemistry between us. Who can blame me? He has enough charisma to make every hot-blooded woman in the city melt with a single word.
Just when I think a mutual respect could be born between us, the biggest developer in the city offers us an opportunity that pits us against each other.
Time to forget Carmelo Mancini’s dreamy eyes and tight abs.
Wild Steamy Hook-up ~ Valentina & Dom
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Featuring ~ Vegas wedding, childhood sweethearts, reunited lovers, second chance
Release date ~ August 26, 2019
POV ~ dual ~ 1st person
Page count ~ 296
My rating ~ 4.25⭐
My review:
Dom and Valentina’s history goes back two decades to when they were 16. They can never seem to get their act together and make their relationship work. When they drunkenly get hitched in Vegas they’re ready to get it annulled asap, but their Italian parents have another idea ~ take 3 months to try to make it work.
Dom is a workaholic, leaving no time for a social life. He only has one thing on his mind ~ making as much money as he can, leaving no time for a wife. But can forced proximity make him realize he can have both a career and a family?
As with Carm, in the previous book, it really took me a long time to warm up to Dom too. Finally hearing his full side of the story helped me fall in love with him. I’ll be honest though I did perk up when it was implied that he’s left handed ~ I have a weird thing about that. 😂 Is he really a southpaw Piper Rayne??
A steamy and emotional ride that was all was wrapped up with a neat little bow just as we knew it would be. It took a little longer than I would have liked for them to figure out what everyone knew all along, even though they each knew they were destined to be.
Happy to see there is a different series that begins with Blanca. I wouldn’t mind reading a story about Ryder either.
Book blurb:
It was never my plan to wake up in a Vegas hotel room as Dominic Mancini’s WIFE. The man has brought me nothing but heartache since I was sixteen.
At least we agree on one thing—a quickie annulment and we can both get on with our lives. I can go back to teaching little girls to dance and he can go back to making millions on Wall Street.
But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. It follows you right into an ambush by your Italian Mamas who deliver Oscar-worthy performances when heaping on the guilt.
So, we do what any good Italian kids would do. We secretly agree to pretend to give marriage a try.
But our easy solution morphs into a convoluted mess and leaves us wondering—is it safe to bet on each other?
This series sounds great. Thanks for sharing.
Definitely a new to me author I’ll read again and again 💖