Sydney Blake is tired. Tired of trying to please her family
and always failing. Tired of being compared to the stick-thin
models that surround her in society. Tired of feeling like
a commodity instead of a person. If she had her choice she
would work fulltime with kids that need her, like those she
volunteers with. Instead, she finds herself at a charity
masquerade auction, engaged to a man her parents adore, in
what is sure to be a merger, not a marriage. With a mother who
criticises her every move and a father who ignores her, Sydney
struggles with self-confidence and self-belief. And with the
sins of her past always weighing heavy on her heart, Sydney
knows she will always do anything for her dismissive
father. So, pasting on a smile, she bids on her fiancé as the
auction begins.
Lucas Oliver is a successful businessman who has waited
fifteen years to get his revenge on Jason Blake, the man who
destroyed his father and devastated his life. Scarred deeply,
inside and out, Lucas finally has set into motion his plan,
and when Sydney bids on him, wrongly believing him to be her
fiancé, it all falls into place. With blackmail and secrets,
Lucas gives Sydney a choice - marry him, or he will destroy her
father's business. But what Sydney and Lucas did not expect
was the electrifying connection that erupts between them. As
Lucas learns the true Sydney, he wants her even more, but his
plans to take down her father go deeper than she knows. As
they both struggle with what happened in the past, is it
possible that the socialite beauty and the Beast of Bay Bridge
could find their happily ever after together?
BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR by Naima Simone is a sassy, steamy,
heartfelt romance that left me wanting more from this talented
author. Sydney is a compelling character who is soft yet
strong, vulnerable yet a fighter. At times I wanted to cry as
she struggles with the guilt she feels over her past, but it
was a joy to watch her come into her own and realise how
fabulous she truly is. Lucas is a powerful character who
sucks the reader in and confuses us. Bitter, angry and
determined to use Sydney to seek revenge, we should hate him.
We can't because the author weaves us into his story, and
as Lucas struggles with his deep feelings for Sydney, we fall
in love with him all over again. With plenty of secrets,
misconceptions, and passion that will take the roof off,
BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR by Naima Simone has got it all, and I
highly recommend it.
She may be the highest bidder, but this bachelor’s
price is blackmail and passion…
Billionaire Lucas Oliver is hell bent on revenge. And his
plan begins when Sydney Blake-the
stunning daughter of his enemy-is tricked into bidding on
Lucas at a bachelor auction. Then
he serves up a little blackmail…followed by a marriage
proposal Sydney has no choice but to
accept.
Sydney has been controlled by her family her
whole life. When Lucas threatens to
reveal her father’s shady business, she is once again
forced to do her duty for her family. But
worse-oh so much worse-is the rush of lust that Lucas
ignites in her blood.
Lucas is
determined to make Sydney suffer, but it’s tough when he
can’t keep from touching her-or
thinking about touching her-all the time. She’s not
fairing much better since she’s engaged
to a darkly handsome beast intent on destroying her
entire family…along with her heart.
Excerpt
“Regrets already, Sydney?” Lucas asked, the question a
low ripple in the silent room.
“No.” Once more Sydney studied him. The piercing green-
blue eyes that had blazed with scorching heat less than
an hour ago but were now shuddered, impassive. The almost
lush, sensual curve of his mouth that contrasted with the
sharply hewn planes of his face. The hard, strong line of
his jaw. The harsh imperfection of the scar that was
perfect on him.
Confusion commingled, mated with the blush of arousal.
Questions and concerns—she had dozens of those. But
regret? No.
“Does it bother you?” He plucked up a slice of chicken
and popped it into his mouth. God, it wasn’t fair that he
made eating with his fingers sexy, too.
She blinked, refocusing on their conversation. But
couldn’t follow. He’d lost her.
She frowned. “That we had sex?”
“No. The scar. You were staring at it. Does it bother
you?” No emotion or inflection in the question, just a
flat monotone that he could’ve used to ask the time of
day.
Like the first time he’d asked that question three weeks
ago—God, had it only been three weeks since he’d exploded
into her life?—the quick “Not at all” rose to her tongue,
hovered there. But at the last instant, she didn’t utter
the three words. Because they would be a lie.
“Yes,” she murmured. Something flared in his gaze—
something old and dark before it became as opaque as
before. “But not for the reasons you probably think.” She
turned more fully toward him, tucking her foot under her
thigh. “When I first met you, of course I noticed the
scar. But I wasn’t repulsed. I ached for you. For the
pain you must’ve endured. It bothered me that you
suffered.” A scowl started to crease his brow, and she
shot up her hand, palm out. “I don’t pity you. No one who
looks at you could ever feel sorry for you. You’re too…
dangerous for that.” She huffed out a short bark of
laughter. “I remember thinking you resembled a panther.
Dark. Stunning. But predatory. The mark isn’t a sign of
your weakness but your strength. Your power to fight and
survive. I find it…” She paused, weighed the judgment of
revealing this particular truth.
He watched her like the animal she’d mentioned, his
scrutiny steady, unblinking, as if searching her for any
hint of a lie. Sighing, she rose from the bed, careful
not to jostle the tray. She approached him, moved between
his legs, and cupped his face.
“I find it beautiful,” she whispered. Then laid a gentle
kiss to the ridged flesh beneath his right eye before
placing another on the twin scar that bisected his
eyebrow. “I find you beautiful,” she confessed against
his skin.
His hands clutched her waist. Other than the tiny flexing
of his fingers, he remained as still as a statue. No,
that wasn’t true. His eyes blazed with a fire that burned
her.
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