REVIEW: The CEO Buys In by Nancy Herkness

The CEO Buys In 
by Nancy Herkness
Release Date: July 21st 2015 by Montlake Romance
Series: Wager of Hearts #1
Pages: 412
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Author's Links: Goodreads, Website, Twitter, Facebook
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can’t find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Savvy office temp Chloe Russell is trying to scrape together the money she needs to support her grandmother. So when a flu epidemic strikes Trainor Electronics and she’s promoted to Nathan Trainor’s assistant, she jumps at the lucrative opportunity. But then Nathan himself falls ill, and he and Chloe must work from his penthouse while he recuperates. Before long, it’s clear there’s genuine heat between them, and it’s more than just a fever spike. Will Nathan win Chloe’s heart—and the bet? Or will their differences destroy any chance for love?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

The CEO Buys In was such a great and addicting book to read. Not having read any other works by the author before, I did not know what to except of a book that seems to have a very common story line. As a contemporary romance reader, I love these types of books, yet there are too many and some might even have similar plots. Now with that said, I actually loved this book. Herkness does an amazing job creating a setting that is both unique in its own way, while keeping the reader guessing as to what it's going to happen next. 

At the beginning of the story we meet three men, all equally young, handsome, and wealthy. When they suddenly meet at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club, these men meet for the first time and they all decide to make a wager of the heart: they must find a women who love them for who they are, not their money. It all sounds easy, yet hard when they're all betting something that priceless to them. If they win, they will not be getting the women of their dreams, but if they lose they will be losing a lot more than just their hearts. The first one up to the challenge is self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor, whose job has made him a workaholic and devoted to his company more than anything else. When savvy office temp, Chloe Russell starts working at Trainor Electronics, she is determined to work hard in order to make enough money to hire help for her dear grandmother. So when the flu epidemic strikes the workers at the company, she gets temporarily promoted to being the CEO's assistant.

Not having met before, Chloe is immediately taken back at how handsome Nathan Trainor is, yet his cold attitude makes her see that a work relationship will never end up good. Now she has no choice but to make sure she works extra to keep her job. But just when she was getting used to her job, Nathan Trainor gets sick and ends up staying in his home, but with too much to do he requests that Chloe stays with him until he gets better. With her job on the line and a very fragile grandmother, she accepts. Soon his delirious moments make him weak, and a part of him wants Chloe close to make things better. As the two start to get to know each other, the more they start to realize that their chemistry is stronger than they thought, and that they can give a relationship a try.

Like I mentioned before, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is evident from the very beginning that they both have put themselves in a position where they have to protect their loved one over themselves. They have pasts that they need to move on from, and if they start to trust each other then things will get better for them in the future. Both of the characters have great personalities, Chloe is caring and a hard worker, so is Nathan. They are both driven by success, and when they're together they make great team. In the story, Chloe helps Nathan overcome his past, by helping him get a better relationship with hi father. On the other hand, Nathan is willing to do anything to impress Chloe's grandmother in order to get her to accept him as Chloe's boyfriend. Soon they face obstacles that they need to overcome together, leading the ending that I really enjoyed reading. Now, I loved overall plot, I just wished the author could have written a few scenes at the end that would have made the book so much better. At times the scenes felt rushed a bit, specially in the end, but the epilogue tied everything together very well. I highly recommend it, can't wait to read the next three books in the Wager of Hearts trilogy. :)

***A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.***

My Rating: 4.5/5

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RELEASE BLITZ: Truth & Temptation by Riley Edgewood {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

Truth & Temptation by Riley Edgewood

Release Date: July 23rd 2015

Series: Summer Love #3

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary

She's a liar. He knows the truth.

Teagan Walker gets around. Ask anyone—hell, ask her. She'll own it with a smile. But beneath that smile is a girl whose parents didn't want her. Whose grandparents raised her without affection. Whose struggle with a burning anger threatens to consume her, though she'd rather punch someone in the face than talk about it. With a new job looming, she's determined to work her way into a better life. When she meets the sexiest guy she's ever seen, she decides to kick it off with a bang. And she makes her move.

But he's got moves of his own, and before the night is out, he strips her of way more than she means to reveal—without removing a single piece of clothing. That comes, too, of course. He's gotten under her skin like nobody before him, and what's the harm in one night with a sexy stranger? Exposed or not, she never has to see him again.

Except she does.

On Monday morning, they come face-to-face. He's the son of her new CEO—and he threatens to bring her entire world crashing down, making her face every lie she's ever told.

Truth & Temptation is the third book in Riley Edgewood's Summer Love series, but can be read as a standalone.

Purchase: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

{EXCERPT}

"We should talk," he says, his tone serious enough to cancel out the pride I felt for my own a few seconds ago.

"About?" I keep my gaze on his for approximately half a second before I can't take it anymore and I study the mug in my hands instead. Tall and blue, ceramic. Probably not dishwasher safe.

"Last night."

My chest tightens. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who'll be pissed we didn't bang… But I don't strike him as the type of girl who's named Teagan. We all have our secrets.

"Listen," I say. "About that… Sorry I passed out. I don't usually make promises I can't keep."

"You didn't make me any promises last night." His voice is sharp, and I can't help but look up. There's a muscle clenched in his jaw, his sexy, sexy shadowed jaw. "You don't owe me—or anyone else—anything."

"No shit." I don't get where he's going with this, or why.

I'm not sure he does either, because it takes him a few moments—and a few sips of coffee—to speak again.

"You told me—wait." He breaks off, shaking his head, and nervousness swirls into panic in the pit of my stomach. I told him what? A fake name? Does he know? When he looks at me again, his gaze is so direct it's startling. "You don't even know my real name. Let's start there."

Oh my God, he does want to discuss names. He knows I lied.

Should I tell him the truth? Laugh it off like I thought he knew I was joking?

He walks toward me and my stomach clenches for too many reasons to name.

I grip my coffee mug like it'll shield me from any awkwardness.

It's not working.

At all.

And then he's in front of me, watching me so studiously I slide a hand across my face in case there's something stuck there.

"I'm Alec," he says, sticking out his hand. I check for, but don't find, any scars on this one.

Don't tell me, is what I mean to say. But what slips out is, "I thought the girl last night called you Alex?"

"Probably to irritate me. We hold no particular fondness for one another." He says it casually, like it weighs nothing in his mind. Still, I wonder why—and am tempted to ask—but then he continues with, "Anyway. I'm Alec Chambers."

And his full name echoes through my brain, bouncing around and, instead of fading, growing louder with every iteration.

It's officially worse.

So. Much. Worse.

I know his name.

I know who he is.

"Cool." I take his hand, offering the limpest shake of my life and letting go as soon as possible. "Do you have any headache meds or anything?" I gulp my coffee so fast it scalds my throat. "Got a crucial hangover."

Got a crucial hangover? What am I? Some teenage surfer? Why don't I throw up a hang ten sign while I'm at it?

But he takes the bait. "Probably somewhere upstairs—I'll go check."

I don't even wait for the relief to hit. I get the hell out of his condo the second he's far enough away not to hear his door shut.

The glass elevator seems so much more appropriate this morning. Almost like the universe is handing me a dose of the snide sarcasm I use so spectacularly on my own. Everything I wanted to keep hidden is about to be made clear, whether I like it or not.

Fuck.

I went after a fairy tale, but I didn't get it—and the stupid fucking clock just struck twelve anyway. Here's my Cinderella moment, fleeing before I return to tatters before his eyes.

But this time, the prince won't need a glass slipper to find me.

Because Alec Chambers?

His father is the CEO of Chambers & Britt.

I know this for a fact because my starting position at the company is to be the second assistant to the CEO's son, while he's home for the summer, studying for his MBA from fucking Harvard. And that son's name? Yep. It's Alec Chambers.

I'll see him again on Monday.

First six chapters:

Read the first six chapters for free!  http://smarturl.it/TT6

Bonus scenes:

Anyone who enjoys Truth & Temptation will receive two exclusive bonus scenes if they email a link to their review on an ebook vendor to truthandtemptationbook@gmail.com!

{GIVEAWAY!}

http://smarturl.it/TTreleasegiveaway

Author Profile:

Riley lives in the DC area and spends most of her time with her characters, playing with her toddler and husband, and pretending she knows how to be an adult. Former dancer. Current writer. Lifelong lover of accessories, books, and the beach. And cats. Can't forget the kitties. Of which she has two. 

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Group, Email, Website

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✯RELEASE DAY LAUNCH✯: Just a Kiss by Kate Kisset {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

Just a Kiss by Kate Kisset

Release Date: July 23rd 2015

Series: A Wine Country Romance Series #1

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

Three friends,

One Wine Country Villa

Six Santino Brothers

And lots of wine …

Reeling from the loss of her mother, Sarah Dupont catches her fiancé doing the nasty on top of her pastry table at their San Francisco Bakery.

Devastated, she calls her best friend, lifestyle reporter, Danica Vargas. Danica convinces Sarah to start fresh and move in with her at Bella Villa mansion in Sonoma Valley.

With two roommates who act like the sisters she never had,and a feisty landlord to stand in as the grandmother she always wanted, Sarah’s opens a café on the Sonoma Plaza.

Her life changes the moment the little bell on the door rings and the notoriously sexy actor Jamie Santino, swaggers in.

Jamie, one of the six Santino Brothers, of Napa Valley Winery fame, needs baking lessons for his new movie and Sarah is just the woman to teach him. Wine flows, their love affair heats up and a tempestuous femme fatale enters the scene.

How can Sarah trust that Jamie isn’t acting when everything he says seems too good to be true?

Purchase: Amazon 

{EXCERPT}

Help me get a grip, I’m melting into her eyes… He took a beat to compose himself.

“What would you like me to do Sarah?” he asked.

She moved closer and parted her lips. 

I’m going, going…

“I think I’d like you to kiss me now.” 

Gone…

On tiptoe and cradling the back of his head, she guided him to her. 

No one could surprise him in the love department except Sarah Dupont. He skimmed his hands over the outline of her soft curves and pulled her in tighter. She tasted like cabernet and cake, and he closed his eyes so he could savor her lips. 

A low moan escaped her, and hit him in the gut. He didn’t know where to start with his hands and moved them over the sexy arch of her back and pressed her closer to him. 

“The tree,” he said quickly, not wanting to be away from her mouth. “Does the tree hurt your back?” 

“Don’t stop kissing me,” she said. The need in Sarah’s voice surprised him, making him strain against his jeans. He fought to slow down, to wait, to catch a breath before he lost it.

He swept his lips across her cheek. “Sarah.” When he reached her earlobe, he nipped. She felt luscious and pliable in his arms. He almost couldn't handle listening to her quick breaths and the feeling of her heart pumping so fast against him. 

“Sarah.” He nuzzled behind her ear, kissing and sucking her neck. “Don’t make me stop.”
She groaned between breaths. 

He felt drunk, but he’d had only had a few glasses of wine. Touching, kissing and listening to her whimpers made him feel like he could tip over any minute and bury himself into her.

Kate Kisset Bio:

Former San Francisco Radio Disc Jockey Kate Kisset has a passion for telling great stories. After playing thousands of Hot AC, Country, Rock and Oldies tunes, for her primarily female fan base, she changed her tune and became an author.

Just a Kiss is the first book in her wine country romance series, The Single Girls Wine Club.

She lives in Northern California and Santa Barbara with her family and rescue pup “editor” Luciana Parmigiana, where she hikes, reads, listens to music, and drinks wine. 

Private Readers Club | Website | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

{GIVEAWAY!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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