Never mix pleasure with work, right?

Synopsis

Mixing business with pleasure… what could possibly go wrong?

Maya Darlington-Hume is the life of the party, used to turning heads—and getting her way. But behind the champagne and charm is a woman chasing something real, especially from the one man who’s never taken her seriously: her father. So when she discovers the gorgeous stranger who caught her mid-bath is actually her father’s business partner—and her new boss—Maya decides to have a little fun.

Benedict Chivers has worked hard to get where he is, and he’s not about to risk it all for a fling. Especially not with his investor’s irresistible daughter. But Maya is hard to ignore… and even harder to resist.

Their connection is electric, their chemistry off the charts—but with so much at stake falling into bed might be the easy part. Staying out of trouble? That’s another story.

My review

Maya Darlington-Hume has a reputation, she is a really party girl, and is used getting things done her way. And she knows how to have fun! But what nobody knows is that behind the façade, Maya wants to chase her own dream jewelry making. But nobody believes in Maya’s intentions, and her father least of all… So obviously Maya enjoys taunting her father! But when she is enjoying her bath one evening, and the stranger who enters the bathroom and sees her having a good time, Maya did not expect that gorgeous man to be her father’s business partner and her new boss. As she has no choice in accepting working for Benedict Chivers, she decides to have some fun with him. But Benedict has worked too hard to get where he is, and he won’t jeopardize it all for a fling, no matter how much Maya tries to seduce him, even at the office. Until he cannot resist her anymore… But while things are meant to be just fun, there is a lot at stake for the both of them. And is it worth the risk?

When I started reading this book, I knew things would be getting hot and steamy. And I knew that Maya would appear as a brat somehow, but I also knew that slowly we would get to know the real Maya, and we would learn that she is not who everyone thinks she is.

While several of her actions are provoking, I could also see right from the start that she is free – spirited in a way. She does as she pleases, she enjoys her no – strings – attached ‘relationships. And of course it is fun to read how she feels no embarrassment at all, and accepts her own sexuality, there were moments that I thought “Hell no, I would never do that!!!” 😊. But that is also the fun of reading books, isn’t it? Because you can see characters doing things you would never do yourself!

On the other hand, it is also clear that Maya is ‘acting up’ for a reason. And reading how she is being dismissed that easily by her father and even her sister, it angered me. Okay, Maya have done some stupid things in the past, but shouldn’t be family always supporting you, helping you even in the darkest moments?

And because her own family doesn’t have a high opinion of it, that also reflects on others. Because Benedict has also seen and heard of Maya’s behaviour, and he doesn’t believe that Maya will be an asset.

I could understand Benedict’s reluctance, because someone who appears not to be fitting in your business, is always a liability. But I also found that Maya deserved an honest chance… And there are several moments that she for sure shows her worth and what an asset she can truly be!

It may sound a bit weird, but I liked to read how Benedict is trying to keep his composure yet cannot resist Maya. As the boss, he had to be respected by his employees, but Maya is just impossible to resist.

There are several spicy and even cheeky moments in this book. And yes, I enjoyed reading them 😊. But there is also depth in this book, even if it is a rather short story, compared to other books. Because we see that no matter how different Benedict and Maya are, they not only connect on a physical way, but also on an emotional level. Benedict starts to see Maya for the young woman she truly is, a confident woman, a determined woman, but also a wounded woman, an insecure woman.

And Maya starts to see Benedict no longer as the strict, stoic man he shows at the office. But she sees a gentler side, a fierce side, an Alpha side. But she also sees a man that wants to be successful, and more important, a man that learns to stand up for himself, what he wants, and will not be used for other people’s gain.

This was a steamy story, but also a sweet one at the same time. We see two people with their own dreams and hopes, but also own issues and troubles. And where they wouldn’t be a match at all, we see here that there can be deeper connection based on the real emotions and feelings. And that connection can make you find the courage to find the unexpected and can change everything…