THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE is book three in Jessica Lemmon's
Billionaire Bad Boys series. This
is my favorite book
in the series. This story starts out with two alphas
butting heads when savvy businesswoman Isabella Sawyer
meets reluctant businessman, and grumpy wounded Marine,
Eli Crane. As the owner of an employment agency, she has
to take the place, and take on the challenge, of being
the only assistant not scared away by Eli and his
antisocial antics. I was worried at first that a big
chunk of the plot would involve Eli not knowing that
Isabella was hired by his family, but thankfully Jessica
Lemmon goes in a completely different direction with her
characters.
What starts out as a somewhat antagonistic relationship
at the very beginning, takes a sharp detour into the
realm of simmering sexual tension. Lemmon
definitely brings the heat in THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE.
Isabella and Eli begin a sexually charged game of tit for
tat that gets them both worked up. One of the things that
elevates this story for me, is the way that Eli and
Isabella quickly, yet very organically, grow to like each
other. Having the main characters have a friendship as
well as an attraction makes me like them more. Both
Isabella and Eli enjoy being independent, and that
independence is both one of their greatest assets as well
as something that they struggle with when it comes to
being in a romantic relationship. I like how the heroine
and hero both have some of the same struggles and baggage
from former relationships. These things they have in
common help stitch them together, and provide each other
with a rare confidant and somebody who understands them
like no other. Lemmon does an amazing job of
balancing the romance and relationship drama with Eli's
unresolved issues from when he was a soldier. I love how
Eli and Isabella are able to empathize with and respect each
other.
THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE has sparks, sizzle, and
sensational storytelling. Isabella's friend and Eli's
family try to encourage their fledgling relationship and
offer unsolicited, and often amusing, advice along the
way. Lemmon packs emotional punch along with the
red-hot romance. The ending of THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE
provides a satisfying cap on this fiery and deeply
enjoyable romance. As a fan of Jessica Lemmon and her
writing, I look forward to her next book.
Beauty and the Beastly Billionaire . . .
Eli Crane is one tough bastard. After an explosion left him
injured and honorably discharged from the Marines, all he
wants is to be left alone. Yet his brothers insist he take a
greater role in the family business. They've hired him ten
personal assistants-and Eli sent each one packing as fast as
possible. But when beautiful number eleven walks through the
door, Eli will do anything to make her stay.
Isabella Sawyer's employment agency can't afford to lose Eli
Crane's business. Her plan: to personally take on the role
of his PA, and secure her reputation with the wealthy elite
in Chicago. But this beauty and her hot billionaire bad boy
soon find themselves mixing business with pleasure in the
most delicious ways. And passionate, stubborn Isabella won't
rest until she tames this wicked beast . . .