TOUCHING THE BOSS (Billionaires in the City #5) by Mallory Crowe-Review and Book Tour
TOUCHING THE BOSS
Billionaires in the City #5
by Mallory Crowe
Release Date: September 10, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 10, 2015
He’s tall.
He’s sexy.
He’s a criminal.
And he’s her boss.
Lacking enough evidence to go the police and not enough money in her bank account to quit on a moral basis, Lori Briggs is stuck, and it’s quite clear that her boss, the criminal mastermind, intends to start mixing business with pleasure.
Michael Devereaux will do anything to protect his family’s interests–even if it means posing as a criminal for an undercover FBI operation. He’s got to keep Lori close, and his enemies closer. But when the intimacy with Lori deepens, Michael must decide what’s more important: his family or his heart?
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REVIEW: TOUCHING THE BOSS is the fifth installment in Mallory Crowe’s contemporary, adult Billionaires in the City erotic romance series. This is billionaire businessman Michael Devereaux, and IT specialist Lori Briggs’s storyline. TOUCHING THE BOSS can be read as a stand alone without any difficult although there is a continuing premise running throughout the series involving Michael’s cousin Joslyn Devereaux whose escapades have placed everyone in danger and the potential for financial ruin.
Told from dual third person perspectives TOUCHING THE BOSS is a storyline of forbidden romance and suspense. Lori has worked three weeks for Michael Devereaux’s corporation DevX when a mysterious assignment finds Lori caught between breaking the law or following the boss’s orders. She knows she is in over her head especially when the she is unable to discern the bad guys from the good, and with it comes threats from another player in a game where the FBI will place Lori at the center of a financial disaster where people will die, and Lori will go missing. What ensues is Michael’s need to protect his employee, but also the woman with whom he is falling in love.
The relationship between Michael and Lori is one of forbidden love. Michael is Lori’s boss, but he is the one who has pulled Lori into a high stakes investigation involving the FBI, dangerous criminals, and missing funds. Lori knows that to enter into an office romance could mean the ruination of her career but Michael’s pull is unlike anything she has ever had before. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense. Michael is a man determined to keep Lori by his side both in and out of the bedroom.
The secondary characters include Michael’s brother Luke- a man with a reputation for the ladies; we are also reintroduced to FBI special agent Evelyn who may or may not have an attraction to Michael’s brother Luke; and Ken Kemmerling, a man who connections to both Michael and Lori go much deeper than a friendly business arrangement.
The world building continues to focus the investigation into a high stakes financial scheme where several of the players are in jail or found dead by either their own hand or by assistance from an outside source. The FBI and the Devereaux brothers have firmly planted themselves into the mix hoping to bring down the people involved and return the missing money to its rightful owners.
BILLIONAIRES IN THE CITY is a series with mystery, suspense and intrigue. TOUCHING THE BOSS continues to look at the business of illegal investments, money schemes and missing funds in the wake of profits and losses. There are moments of heartbreak and loss; friendship and family; falling in love and happily ever after. Mallory Crowe’s Billionaires in the City series is addicting with exceptional characters and intoxicating couples.
Copy supplied by the tour promoter through Netgalley.
Reviewed by Sandy
“Lori Briggs?”
“Hunter just showed up at my apartment, thanks to you. I don’t like random guys knowing where I live. How would you like it if I blasted your address to anyone who wanted it?”
He sat up straighter and rubbed his temple. “I didn’t give him any of your information.”
“I know that! But they wouldn’t even know who I am if it weren’t for you! This is all your fault.”
“Hunter came to your apartment and threatened you?”
“Not exactly…but that’s not the point.”
He clenched his jaw. He knew her point. Hell, he probably got her need for privacy more than most. Thanks to his high profile in the city, his cell number and address were things that very few people knew. Which brought up the question… “How did you get my number?”
“Oh, you have no idea how much I could find out about you if I really wanted to. All I need is some Wi-Fi and a computer.”
“Hold on. Don’t do anything rash.” The last thing he needed was some crazy woman who knew her way around firewalls with a vendetta against him. Funny, since he hadn’t gotten the crazy vibe from Lori. She’d seemed more innocent and freaked out by what he was asking her to do.
“Rash like accepting a job offer from an international crime syndicate? Or rash like setting up a dating profile for you with your private cell number and address listed?”
Mother fucker. “Are you serious?”
“So it is an international crime syndicate? I was taking a shot in the dark there…”
“No, it’s not an intern—” He cursed under his breath. This wasn’t going anywhere. “Where are you? This would be better discussed in person.”
“So you can threaten me again?”
“So I can talk some sense into you. I can explain everything that happened today.”
There was a pause on the line. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Michael was already up and grabbing his keys and wallet from the table in the foyer and heading out the door. “Where are you? I’m already on my way.”
“You can’t come here. I’m in my pajamas.”
He frowned. “I’m sure you’ll have time to change.”
“But I’m not home.”
She was in pajamas and not home? “Are you at your boyfriend’s place?”
She snorted through the phone. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
A rush of satisfaction shot through him at her admission, but he didn’t let himself dwell on the unexpected feeling. “I’m officially confused.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re not coming here.”
“Fine. You can come to me then. You know my address already, right?”
“I can’t go to your place like this! I know that building! The doorman will laugh me right out of the lobby!”
He rolled his eyes. Why was this so difficult? “The doormen are paid lots of money to not laugh at anyone. Just come over and we can sort this all out. I’ll pay your cab fare.”
“I’m not meeting you alone somewhere. You could kill me.”
Michael paced in front of the elevator, still not sure whether he was leaving or not. “I promise I’m not going to kill you.”
“That sounds like something a murderer would say.”
And now he had the sudden urge to hit a wall. “Lori! There will be at least three people who see you coming into the building. You’ll be safe.” There was another pause and Michael held his breath. Was he finally getting through to her?
“Okay, but you better not judge me for wearing pajamas over.”
This woman couldn’t be serious. “This is a joke, right? Is Luke behind this?”
“Do I sound like I’m laughing?”
“Just…get over here.”
TEACHING THE BOSS
(Billionaires in the City #1)
by Mallory Crowe
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 11, 2015
FREE ebook: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /
STAND ALONE CONTEMPORARY BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE
Business-school student April Morgan is ready to graduate–from school, from the secretary pool, and from never-gonna-happen fantasies involving Sam Hunt, her hunky billionaire boss. But when Sam’s girlfriend of the week pushes her too far, April finds herself quitting on the spot with only a mountain of student loan debt to keep her company. In steps Sam’s worst enemy, his father, with a job offer she can’t refuse.
Sam was born into privilege, but refused to live life with a silver spoon in his mouth. After a decade of hard work, he’s on the verge of taking his business public and proving to his tyrannical family that he can make it without their help. When he finds out that April is working for his father, he knows she’s been turned into a pawn in his father’s twisted games.
Despite Sam’s warnings, April is determined to prove she doesn’t need him to make in New York City. But when she finds documents that could lead to Sam losing everything he’s worked for, April realizes that she and Sam have to work together to save the empire they’ve both worked to build.
______________
TEASING THE BOSS
(Billionaires in the City #2)
by Mallory Crowe
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date March 11, 2015
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /
STAND ALONE CONTEMPORARY BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE
Premier business consultant Simon West can turn around any struggling billion dollar corporation in New York City, but he can’t get what he wants most: revenge against Mark DuFord. The slick investment banker’s shady dealing led to Simon’s best friend’s suicide. Wealthy, and well-protected by the political influence he’s been able to purchase, DuFord has become untouchable—or so he thinks. But when DuFord’s former girlfriend asks Simon for help, he knows that Grace Bell is the weapon he needs to finally destroy his enemy completely. All Simon has to do is pretend to love her.
Grace Bell knows that approaching hot-shot Simon West to save her business is a long shot, but she’s desperate. After growing up with a family that expected her to be a happy housewife, she’d proved them all wrong when she became the go-to event-coordinator in New York City. But after the tabloids took a completely innocent picture of her with a married senator and misinterpreted the situation, she’s losing clients left and right. When she approaches Simon and begs for his help to resuscitate the business she put her heart and soul into, she never expects him to agree. Or that the payment would be posing as his lover as an excuse to get close to her ex.
Simon knows if he goes forward with his plan, it’s only a matter of time before Mark realizes what they’re up to and Mark’s enemies have a way ending up broke, in jail or six feet under. As Simon and Grace grow closer, Simon must decide if putting her in the line of fire is worth avenging the past.
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TEMPTING THE BOSS
(Billionaires in the City #3)
by Mallory Crowe
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2015
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /
As the CEO of a multi-billion dollar retail chain, Victoria Green isn’t used to asking for help, especially not from too attractive for their own good repairmen like Dean Carey. After Victoria is attacked at her own party and Dean fights off the culprit, she’s forced to tell him her secret: Victoria’s father is on his deathbed, and her brother, who nearly ran the company into the ground, might be willing to do anything to make sure controlling interest goes to him.
Dean wants nothing to do with the ice princess CEO, even if he can’t keep his eyes off certain… assets of hers. He’s got enough on his plate between trying to get enough work to pay the bills and raising his little sister who’s growing up much too fast for his liking. Despite his misgivings, when Victoria offers him a blank check if he will keep his mouth shut about what he saw and shadow her until she can hire a more qualified bodyguard, he can’t bring himself to turn down that kind of cash.
Over the next few days, Dean learns Victoria isn’t as cold as he first thought and Victoria realizes that Dean is so much more than a handyman. But someone wants her dead and if they don’t figure out who and stop them, they might never get their happily ever after.
______________
Trusting the Boss
Billionaires in the City #4
by Mallory Crowe
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
Release Date: June 19, 2015
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /
TRUSTING THE BOSS (Billionaires in the City #4) by Mallory Crowe
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 19, 2015
Billionaire heiress Emma Devaroux has been living a safe-yet-mundane existence in Georgia for too long, but when she learns her sister, Joslyn, has been arrested, she heads to New York City to find out what really happened. Unfortunately, as an unemployed debutante, she’s not exactly qualified to be leading an investigation. But help is at hand in the form of the handsome, former military man Jace Lance who happens to be the one who got her sister arrested in the first place.
Jace thinks Emma is crazy for even considering working with him since he’s the one who stopped Joslyn from killing his former client. However, he can’t deny that the sexy southerner is in over her head when her tycoon cousins try to hire him to make sure Emma doesn’t find out the truth about what really caused her sister’s murderous actions.
As they begin to uncover the truth together –and get to know each other intimately – it becomes clear that the more answers they get, the more danger Emma is in. Jace is determined to protect her, but how can he keep her safe when her whole family is in on the conspiracy?
Mallory Crowe has lived in Michigan her whole life and has been in love with romance ever since she’d skip to the end of every novel, just to make sure the hero and heroine survived and ended up together. She lives with her husband and three dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s spending too much time in front of the TV, hiking, or working with various animal rescues.
Website: http://www.mallorycrowe.com/home.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/croweink
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005600806967&fref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13623321.Mallory_Crowe
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$50 Amazon Gift Card
Great review, Sandy. Sounds like a good story, and series.
Sounds like a great series Sandy. Alway love a little suspense and intrigue with my romance stories.
Wonderful review. This looks very good. I will check it out.
Great review, Sandy. Sounds like a good series.
Wonderful review Sandy. Looks like a great series. I have book 1 on my TBR. Congratulations to Mallory on the new release.
Thanks for the fabulous review. Sounds like a great series.
Looks like a very good series, and sexy, too. Thanks, Sandy.
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