Expected publication date: February 1, 2018
Cover blurb:
With chemistry this hot, it’s worth getting burned…
Billionaire Jack Grant is totally off-limits to Gemma Picton. He’s wild, deliciously dangerous…and her boss. When working late turns X-rated, it’s better than her wildest imaginings—and Gemma’s imagined a lot! But Jack has major emotional baggage, so when Gemma starts wanting to heal his heart as well as enjoy his body, she knows she’s in big trouble…
**
I’ve read Harlequins for years, though I’ve always been particular about which lines I will read. Superromance, Intrigue and Romantic Suspense are my favorites, but I also like Special Edition and occasional Blaze and Western titles. The one I never read is Presents because I don’t care for the settings or storylines. This is the description from the HQN website:
You want alpha males, decadent glamour and jet-set lifestyles. Step into the sensational, sophisticated world of Harlequin Presents, where sinfully tempting heroes ignite a fierce and wickedly irresistible passion!
Obviously alpha males aren’t the problem, but the combination of the three just isn’t my cup of tea. Then again, I’m sure there are readers that dislike my favorites for different reasons but that’s why there are multiple lines offered. (Well, don’t get me started on them ending the SR line later this year…) I just wanted to mention this as it directly ties into why this book just didn’t work for me. This book was one of the first in HQN’s new Dare line which are basically Presents storylines with more graphic sex. (Of course, compared to some other books I’ve read, this is still tame!)
Lady Gemma Picton works as the in-house counsel/personal assistant for billionaire manwhore Jack Grant. (The start of the book makes his horndog reputation clear, so I’m not giving away anything here.) She is of course attracted to him though she has seen the evidence first hand, and he thinks she’s hot so he is more than ready to get her in his bed. Am I being unfair? Maybe, but this is just the type of ‘hero’ that I cannot stand. I had to work to finish the book because I just couldn’t stand him and couldn’t forget his reputation. Sure, there’s a backstory that explains why he is that way, but even after understanding him I just couldn’t like him or figure out why Gemma would choose him. Have some hot nooky, but move on girl! But we know since this is a romance the ending is guaranteed to be a HEA.
So this is why I was underwhelmed with the book. The writing was good and I don’t blame the author, it just ended up being a trope that I don’t like. I will continue to enjoy my other HQN reads though, at least until they are taken away!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the eARC!