Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback
Review
4.5 stars!
Once again Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward have given us a fun, sexy, swoony, deliciously romantic story with some great twists and turns that had me captivated from start to finish. And I loved it!
Our hero and heroine meet in an elevator which becomes stuck, and from their very first interaction, the banter is sizzling and absolutely hilarious!
“Put your hand out.”
“You’re going to put my phone in it, right?”
“No I have taken down my pants and I’m going to stick my dick in it.”
And this…
“Sorry. It’s a technique I use to fend off the panic — screaming at the top of my lungs.”
“That’s the best technique you have?”
“I have a few different techniques. I can also massage my balls.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have balls. Massaging them really helps.”
“Your… balls? You looked like a woman to me, pretty damn shapely from the back, at least.”
“They’re Boading balls. Metal meditation balls. I massage them against each other in a circular motion in my palm. It helps calm me down.” I began to frantically search through my purse.
“What’s all that rustling?” he asked.
“I’m trying to find them. They’re somewhere in my bag.” Without light, I wasn’t able to easily locate them. “Shit, where are they?”
He chuckled. “I have some balls you could massage if you’re in a pickle.”
LMAO! God, I was completely sold just after the first chapter!
Bianca is a journalist who is in the building to interview the enigmatic billionaire CEO, Dexter Truitt, who she has written off as being a snobby, entitled asshole, and has nicknamed ‘Mister Moneybags’ – not realising that the man in question is trapped in the elevator with her.
Dex has taken an instant liking to Bianca, before he learns her misconstrued opinion of him, and doesn’t want her thinking of him that way so he invents an alter-ego on the spot – Jay Reed, bike messenger. Bianca and ‘Jay’ chat and banter some more, and when they are finally released from their entrapment, Dex sees to it that their interview is cancelled, and he makes a date with Bianca to spend the day together – more chatting and bantering, and a very desperate Dex pulling out all the stops to create a real life for Jay (I’m still chuckling just thinking about it).
Dex knows that he can’t keep up the charade forever, so he gets in touch with Bianca – this time as himself – offering to conduct the interview over email. She accepts, and once again there is fantastic conversation and bantering as they chat back and forth and get to know each other – this time with the real Dex.
It’s complicated as Dex tries to keep his two identities straight, and Bianca finds herself torn between two men that she is seriously falling for – never realising that they are both actually one person. It’s funny and a little bit angsty, and the anticipation builds as we wait for it all to hit the fan.
Jay had a date with Bianca for two nights from now, and Dex was gearing up for his 11PM chat. What had this woman done to me?
Dex was pissed at Jay for even thinking about fucking her. And Jay was annoyed at Dex for judging him for thoughts that came naturally. Perhaps Dex and Jay should have both called ahead to secure some space at the insane asylum.
I loved watching it all play out, and it all happens with so much more intensity than I thought. But it provides the perfect opportunity for feelings to be shared and declarations to be made as the way is paved for their fresh start.
“Be with me. Yell at me. Scream at me. Be angry with me… but be with me.”
And then there’s that shift. Right when you think you know what is coming, you get something else entirely, and I love how these authors are able to do that. It turns this fun, light-hearted, laugh-out-loud read into an emotional, dramatic, angsty story that is nothing like what you expect. There’s still that sense of fun, and that wonderful connection that Dex and Bianca share, but it’s explored in new ways and with a deeper intensity, and I loved the way their situation forced them to really confront their feelings. These two fell hard for each other, they had to fight for each other, and they did, because they both knew it would be worth it. And when they did, it was natural and easy. They had challenges to face, but the whole way through they stayed functional and honest, and they never held back what they were feeling for each other and the swoon was off the freaking charts!
“No matter what, you are the love of my life. No one will ever replace you.”
Swooooooon!
I love a hero who fights for his girl, and Dexter’s determination to win Bianca was absolutely gorgeous! From his efforts as ‘Jay’ to his grovelling as Dex, and the way he poured his heart out to her over and over again, I absolutely fell in love with him. And Bianca was a wonderful heroine. I could absolutely understand where she was coming from, and again, her strength and bravery in dealing with all that she is faced with is fantastic!
The story is a rollercoaster, and I really enjoyed the ride. It’s funny, sweet, and gorgeously romantic, not as sexy as I was expecting, but what is there is pretty hot, but this one is more about the feels, and that part of the story is wonderfully written. The book is a complete standalone (though I loved the cameo from a certain Australian and his goat), and I can’t wait to see what these two authors come up with next.
I loved it – 4.5 stars
Check out our Penelope Ward Author Spotlight and Vi Keeland Author Spotlight for more books by these authors
And our Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward Author Spotlight for their co-written work