🔖 REVIEW 🔖 Charmed by the Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Charmed by the Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Release Date: March 2nd 2021 by Lemmon Ink

Series: Blue Collar Billionaires #2

Pages: 284

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

The day you overhear your best friend say she’d like to have sex with you is a damn good day. But, hey, Cris always takes care of me at work. What’s wrong with me taking care of one of her needs? Besides, it’s only temporary.

One breathless encounter later, I learn two things: 1) We are compatible in ways that exceed our working relationship and 2) She’s chosen me to be her first. Most guys might balk at the responsibility. Not me. Put me in, coach.

But when it comes time to wrap up our sextra-curricular activities, my heart is doing its first ever free-fall. Now I’m scrambling to convince her she’s found her Prince Charming—spoiler alert: it’s me—and that forever isn’t a fairy tale.

Amazon, B&N

My Review:

From the eye catching cover to the intriguing synopsis, Charmed by the Billionaire did not disappoint at all. Lemmon delivers an incredibly romantic and steamy friends-to-lovers story that will have you hooked from beginning to end.

At the beginning of the story we get to meet, Cris Gilbert, who works for her friend and boss, Benjamin “Benji” Owen. As his personal assistant or life coach as he likes to call her, Cris spends a lot of time with Benji. They have known each other for ten years and it’s in that time that she slowly developed feelings for the man that she can’t have. He doesn’t acknowledge her beyond her role and Cris is ready to move on. Not only is there pressure to meet the right guy, but there is also the fact that she is a virgin and not very experienced when it comes to being with a man/dating. It’s when Benji offers to give her the pleasure that she’s never experienced before that changes her life forever. No matter how much they both try to not let it affect their friendship, once crossing the line new feelings start to resurfaced and Cris has to decide if she willing to let go of what she truly wants in future just to have Benji at her side or let him go.

As the adoptive middle child of the Owens, Benjamin “Benji” Owen works for the family business, Owen Construction. Having the luxury to work from home, Benji has developed a lot of routines with his best friend and life coach, Cris Gilbert. She keeps him on track on and off work. Although they’ve known each other for a very long time, he sees her as more than a best friend but deep down Benji knows that Cris deserves better. He didn’t expect to overhear her say that she’d like to have sex with him, but she does and he offers to take care of her needs temporarily. Little did he know that it would turn out to be so much more and he would have to decide if he can settle down with her or let her go before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed reading Charmed by the Billionaire, the characters were relatable and the realistic. We have to characters who have been there for each other for a decade and they have a strong bond already. So it makes their chemistry that much more sizzling when they decide to cross the line between friends and lovers. We get more background into their personal lives and how that affects what they want in the future. This presents an obstacle for them because they both envision different futures, but they want to be with each other so they have to learn how to compromise if they want to make things work. Although the story can be read as a standalone, previous characters from the first book are very much present in Cris and Benji’s lives. We get a sweet ending, but I have a feeling that their story is will continue and be interconnected with the next book in the series. The ending is still satisfying and I would highly recommend checking it out as well as the first book in the series, Once Upon a Billionaire. :)

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.**

My Rating: 4.5/5

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🔖 REVIEW 🔖 Once Upon a Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Once Upon a Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Release Date: September 8th 2020 by Lemmon Ink

Series: Blue Collar Billionaires #1

Pages: 272

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

I never finish a project late. Ever. So, when sassy, stilettoed Vivian Vandemark swaggers in with a roll of red tape to shut down my construction site, you can imagine my reaction. Although, it involves a sledgehammer and perfectly good drywall, so maybe you can’t.

She doesn’t look or act like any government employee I’ve met and I’m determined to uncover her secrets. When I lean in, I lean in hard. But so does Vivian. Now that we’re incinerating the bedsheets, we’re in way over our heads.

What started out as physical infatuation quickly morphs into more. Vivian is staying at my place and I’m helping bury her father. She’s meeting my adoptive family and I’m hiring her fresh-out-of-rehab brother. With our checkered pasts, trust doesn’t come easily, but hell if I let that stop me from living happily ever after…

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, Library Thing

My Review:

It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by the author, so when I got the chance to read her latest book I jumped to the chance and it did not disappoint at all. Lemmon manages to deliver a sizzling romance with an interesting twist to it that I have not seen done a lot. Once Upon a Billionaire is a second chance romance that you hook you from beginning to end.

In the story we get to meet Vivian Vandermark a government employee who has recently moved to Ohio to start a new life. After her father tainted her name, she couldn’t stay in Chicago and face all the wrongs that he did to so many people. So she packed her things and moved away. Leaving her life of luxury was struggle, but she managed to do it and now she works for the Clear Ridge Bureau of Inspection. When she finds out that she needs to shut down a construction site owned by a billionaire, her guard goes up thinking that Nathaniel Owen is just like the billionaire she used to deal with. Little did she know that he would prove to be the total opposite. She has lived with the burden of her past for so long, yet having Nate with her makes her whole again and she is afraid of him breaking her heart in the end.

Nathaniel Owen might be a powerful billionaire, but he wasn’t born into the lifestyle he has now. But even then he still doesn’t act like a billionaire, he cares for the people who work for him and believes in celebrating every success with the people who have helped him along the way. Yet everything changes when Vivian walks in on his construction site ready to shut him down. She is feisty and beautiful. He is attracted to her right away and he will not stop until she gives him a chance. It’s clear that they both have pasts to overcome and he’ll have to figure out a way to make her his before it’s too late.

I absolutely loved reading Once Upon a Billionaire! Lemmon is able to capture the chemistry between the characters really well. Nate has a bit of a hero complex in him, he wants to be there for people and that doesn’t always help. Whereas, Vivian is headstrong and she thinks that her father’s past is somehow come down to her and that enables her from moving on with her life. Neither expected to need one another, but having to work through their pasts with each other has somehow made them righter than ever. One of the things that was missing from the book was an epilogue, but other than that it was a great read. I would highly recommend checking out this book as well as any others from the author. You will not regret it! ;)

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**

My Rating: 4.5/5

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REVIEW: If You Dare by Jessica Lemmon

If You Dare 
by Jessica Lemmon
Release Date: July 21st 2015 by Entangled: Lovestruck 
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks
Author's Links: Goodreads, Website, Twitter, Facebook

He'll make her a bet she can't refuse...

Lily McIntire is in the creepiest mansion in town. Alone. At night. Because she's an idiot-and can't ignore a dare from her cocky and infuriatingly hot co-worker, Marcus Black. But she'll be damned if she's going to give him the satisfaction of winning.

Marcus has had a thing for Lily for ages, and he has no intention of losing this bet. His plan? Scare her out of the house, and into his arms. Once there, scaring her turns into protecting her and soon after, into seducing her. And his plan is working...

Lily is having trouble relegating Marcus to the role of "asshat" as easily as before. He came to her rescue, and he's actually funny. Charming. Sexy as sin on a stick. But Lily has a strict no-love-in-the-workplace rule, and even one night of the best sex ever won't make her change her mind. So she's calling everything off...

Surviving a night in the mansion might just be the easy part. Surviving Marcus's increasingly convincing advances is going to take everything she has. Losing is not an option...

NOTE: This title was previously published November 2013 on Flaunt as a novella but has been significantly revised and lots of yummy new scenes added to give readers a full-length category romance full of humor and sizzle.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

If You Dare was such a quick entertaining read that had me laughing and rooting for the characters as I read the book. 

Their relationship started with a bet, and they were both ready to prove each other wrong. Lily McIntire has had her fair share of ups and downs, after ending a bad relationship and her job, she moves on to work for one of her friend's company in order to start again. Yet that doesn't end up going well after meeting one of her co-workers, Marcus Black. After winning a trip to Hawaii, Marcus and Lily go out to celebrate with their co-workers, but after having too many drink, Marcus bets Lily to stay the night at a well-known haunted mansion and he'll give her the tickets in return. What Lily didn't know was the Marcus had an ulterior plan behind the bet, and he was going to do whatever it takes to scare Lily right into his arms.

Ever since Marcus has been working at the same company as Lily, he has a connection that he can't deny. He knows that Lily has something against dating a co-worker ever since he asked her out, but he is determined to win her over by offering his trip to Hawaii to her. But it only too them one night in the haunted house to realize that their connection is bigger than they thought, and maybe giving each other a chance might work, only by keeping this a secret. As the two of them start to reveal things about their lives, Lily starts to see Marcus in a different way and that is starting to scare her, especially when she might be falling in love with him.

I really enjoyed reading If You Dare, it was fun and the characters are so competitive that they are willing to do whatever they can prove the other wrong. Marcus is charming and goofy, he was my favorite character in the story. Lily is all about work, and her past has gotten in the way for her to move on. Now that Marcus is willing to do anything to win her over, she has to decide if seconds chances are possible. The setting of the story was what attracted me to reading the book in the first place, not every story has a unique setting as this one and that made it that much more exciting and enjoyable to read. I have read other work by the author before and they do not disappoint. Her characters have fun personalities and it is easy to get into the story from the very start. The ending ties everything very well, I especially loved the epilogue. Overall, if you're looking for a fun and entertaining romantic story then I would highly recommend reading If You Dare. :)

***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. :)***

My Rating: 4.5/5

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★ BLOG TOUR ★ Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon ➳ {GIVEAWAY + EXCERPT}

Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon

Released Date: January 27th 2015 by Forever

Pages: 384

Series: Second Chance #1

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

View/Purchase: Amazon, B&N, BAM, IndieBound, Google Play, iTunes, Kobo

Creativity is his drug, painting is his escape, but she'll be the addiction that brings him to his knees. 

Evan Downey buried a part of his soul when put the love of his life in the ground. He knows he needs to get his shit together for the sake of their son, but escaping into his art is the only way he can begin to cope with Rae's death. When the chance to move back to Evergreen Cove, one of the few places that has ever felt right to him, he knows it's a chance he has to take. For his sake, and his sons. Charlotte Harris would give anything to have her best friend back. But if she can't have Rae, then she vows she'll at least be there to support the family Rae left behind. So when she learns that Evan is looking to move home, she does everything she can to help him and Lyon re-build their lives at the Cove. But when sparks start to fly between Charlotte and Evan it's the first glimpse of something bright and beautiful either of them has seen in far too long. And they start to wonder if fate has offered them a second chance at happiness-- if only their brave enough to take the risk and let love back into their lives. 

-*-EXCERPT-*-

“Know why I moved here?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

She wrenched her eyes from his and focused on a spot over his shoulder.

“Because you didn’t want to live in Columbus anymore.” That’s what he’d told her. That he wanted a change. That he and Lyon had outgrown the house. And, she imagined it’d be hard to live in the house where Rae had passed.

“But why here?”

“Um…”

His fingers grazed her jaw and turned her head, his palm moving to her neck where he cupped her nape and forced her eyes to his.

Reluctantly, she met them.

“Rae’s more alive when you’re around, Ace.”

Her heart, oh her heart. Kicking against her chest in a confusing, hectic rhythm.

“You bring her to life for Lyon—more than anyone else. I need him to remember her because he can’t remember her alive.” His hold stayed, his palm warming her neck, his gaze unwavering.

She tried to separate the two feelings she was having—one that she was now talking about Rae with Evan and two, that he was touching her while talking about Rae.

Before she could, his lips closed over hers.

Her thoughts short-circuited.

This wasn’t anything like a soft peck hello. This was his lips moving over hers, slanting over hers, warm and firm and then his mouth opened and—

Oh my gosh!

His wet, warm tongue slid along the seam of her lips and she stopped being passive and started kissing him back. When she would have touched her tongue to his, he relocated it, running along her bottom lip instead and tugging with his teeth.

If she’d been standing, her knees would have given out and dropped her right on her butt.

And then there was the palm on her neck, now spearing up through her hair and clutching onto a handful of it. He held her captive, his hand fisting her hair as he angled his mouth again. In response to the soft whimper escaping her throat, he swept his tongue into her mouth. He tangled his tongue with hers once, twice, and released her.

When he pulled his mouth away, a long, satisfied sigh escaped her lips. Because that was a kiss. A kiss to rival all other kisses.

She opened her eyes to realize A) she’d closed her eyes and B) she’d at some point wrapped both hands around his forearms where she was holding tight and C) Evan looked as please as she felt.

“God damn, Ace. Your mouth.” His eyes flicked to her lips. Lips still tingling from the rough scrape from the stubble surrounding his.

She concurred with that sentiment. Not that she said anything. She’d gone dumb; completely mute.

He backed away, but held onto her chin and tweaked it lightly with the rough pad of one thumb. “That’s the way this is gonna go from now on.”

Her breathing went shallow, her thoughts went muzzy and her head blurred as her heart palpated to the point of panic attack.

“Sorry, Rae.”

She didn’t mean to say it, and it had only been a whisper, but by the look twisting Evan’s face—the angry look twisting his face—he’d heard. And he hadn’t liked what he’d heard.

“Sorry,” she said to him this time. “I should go.”

Unbelievably, he leaned closer. She pulled her chin back until she realized she likely had a double chin, then settled her head on her neck in a more reasonable position.

Gosh. He was making her crazy.

-*-ABOUT THE AUTHOR-*-

Jessica Lemmon has always been a dreamer. At some point, she decided head-in-the-clouds thinking was childish, went out, and got herself a job . . . and then she got another one because that one was lousy. And when that one stopped being fulfilling, she went out and got another . . . and another. Soon it became apparent she'd only be truly happy doing what she loved. And since "eating potato chips" isn't a viable career, she opted to become a writer. With fire in her heart, she dusted off a book she'd started years prior, finished it, and submitted it. It may have been the worst book ever, but it didn't stop her from writing another one. Now she has several books finished, several more started, and even more marinating in her brain (which currently resides in the clouds, thankyouverymuch), and she couldn't be happier. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. (While eating potato chips.) 

Author's Links: Goodreads, Official Website, Twitter, Facebook

-*-GIVEAWAY-*-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon

Hard to Handle 
by Jessica Lemmon
Released Date: Published October 1st 2013 by Forever
Series: Love in the Balance #2
Pages: 260
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love . . . 

TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this story, from the very beginning there is a sexual tension between Sadie and Aiden that they can't deny. They have a past and secrets that makes it impossible for the two of them to see a future together. Saide, after being left by her ex-fiance is determined to move on and not date anyone more than once. Yet, when she meets Aiden, she can't resist the pull that they have towards each other and lets him into her heart. On the other hand, Aiden has always been the weaker one in his family. He ties to be successful, but chances to get what he wants stop as soon as his mother passes away. He takes the blame for not doing enough, but what torn him apart was ending his relationship with Sadie.

Now the two reunite and can't seem to stay from each other. This makes things complicated for the two of them and they will have to learn to keep their desires at bay if they don't want to get hurt again. 
I truly liked this book, it was very well-written and a page-turner. I loved the chemistry between Sadie and Aiden, they both want each other yet they can't seem to accept what they want. Overall, this book was great and I recommend everyone to try it out, and the first book of the series as well.

*ARC provided by Netgalley*

My Rating: