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Billion-Dollar Ring Ruse: A Billionaire Boss Fake Engagement Contemporary Romance
A fake engagement, forced proximity, billionaire romance by Jadesola James.
A diamond deception...
too tempting to deny!
Having clawed his way out of poverty, billionaire Desmond Tesfay is on the cusp of a career-defining acquisition. So his client's alluring PA Valentina Montgomery is...distracting. And when their impossible-to-resist encounter is exposed there's only one solution to save the deal and Valentina's job--fake their engagement!
As Desmond's temporary fiancée, Val can open up her boss's exclusive world. Though after a disastrous marriage, she'll never invite anyone into hers again. Yet as their public charade continues, Valentina finds herself ever more tempted to explore their explosive connection behind closed doors...
A diamond deception...
too tempting to deny!
Having clawed his way out of poverty, billionaire Desmond Tesfay is on the cusp of a career-defining acquisition. So his client's alluring PA Valentina Montgomery is...distracting. And when their impossible-to-resist encounter is exposed there's only one solution to save the deal and Valentina's job--fake their engagement!
As Desmond's temporary fiancée, Val can open up her boss's exclusive world. Though after a disastrous marriage, she'll never invite anyone into hers again. Yet as their public charade continues, Valentina finds herself ever more tempted to explore their explosive connection behind closed doors...
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 10, 2025
Jadesola James is an underrated master of the category romance, and Billion-Dollar Ring Ruse not only has the kind of bonkers and extremely niche situation I want in a Harlequin Presents but the chemistry is INSANE and kudos to the author for writing a romance with an older woman and a proper age gap, and a lavish Middle Eastern setting that does not feel fetishistic.
British billionaire Desmond is trying to break into the Middle Eastern aviation market by sucking up to an influential sheikh, but finds himself minding said sheikh's teenage daughter along with her assistant Valentina. The build-up between him and Val over the course of one night is wildly erotic and quite soft, but in the best way. Desmond is charming and charismatic and Valentina is quite prim and proper, something of a defense mechanism. When Reasons compel them to pretend to be married after one night together, it's quite bittersweet because while the chemistry is THERE, both of them have their respective hang-ups and traumas to contend with. This is also something Jadesola handles really deftly— neither Desmond nor Val ever feel... cartoonish, if that makes sense, in their refusal to love or commit to one another. There's no dramatic confrontations, but the hurt within them runs deep and coming to terms with that takes some time, though not unreasonably so.
The sex scenes veer towards sensual, but that doesn't necessarily mean non-explicit. There are a handful of solid sex scenes sprinkled throughout including my favorite, their first time, ft. multiple? orgasms from nipple stimulation alone. Good for them.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: April 1st
British billionaire Desmond is trying to break into the Middle Eastern aviation market by sucking up to an influential sheikh, but finds himself minding said sheikh's teenage daughter along with her assistant Valentina. The build-up between him and Val over the course of one night is wildly erotic and quite soft, but in the best way. Desmond is charming and charismatic and Valentina is quite prim and proper, something of a defense mechanism. When Reasons compel them to pretend to be married after one night together, it's quite bittersweet because while the chemistry is THERE, both of them have their respective hang-ups and traumas to contend with. This is also something Jadesola handles really deftly— neither Desmond nor Val ever feel... cartoonish, if that makes sense, in their refusal to love or commit to one another. There's no dramatic confrontations, but the hurt within them runs deep and coming to terms with that takes some time, though not unreasonably so.
The sex scenes veer towards sensual, but that doesn't necessarily mean non-explicit. There are a handful of solid sex scenes sprinkled throughout including my favorite, their first time, ft. multiple? orgasms from nipple stimulation alone. Good for them.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: April 1st
March 16, 2025
Quick Summary: A tangled web romance
My Review: Billion-Dollar Ring Ruse by Jadesola James is a 2025 Harlequin Presents romance novel. It is scheduled for release on 4/1/25.
About the Book: [An] "impossible-to-resist encounter... [a] fake engagement... [an] explosive connection behind closed doors..."
In My Own Words: An American with a twisted past gets entangled with a billionaire with something to prove. When the two are found in a compromising situation, the solution of choice amounts to a fake relationship. Could there be even more to their story than they had anticipated?
My Final Say: This was a very surprising story. The tragic backstory for each character was heartbreaking. I genuinely felt for them both. The situation they found themselves in proved to be incredibly unrealistic in one respect, while at the same time it seemed totally realistic in another respect. I cannot say more than that, as I don't want to give spoilers. In the end, I confess that the giant elephant in the room influenced my rating. I did not care for the way the morality issue played out between the leads. Lastly, there were a few dangling threads that I needed/wanted to be addressed by the end that simply were not. I was left unsatisfied.
Other: This may appeal to readers who enjoy the following tropes ->
Fake engagement/marriage romances
ONS to forever romances
Work-related romances
In love with a billionaire romances
OWYM romances
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍💬
Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin - Romance | Harlequin Presents), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.
My Review: Billion-Dollar Ring Ruse by Jadesola James is a 2025 Harlequin Presents romance novel. It is scheduled for release on 4/1/25.
About the Book: [An] "impossible-to-resist encounter... [a] fake engagement... [an] explosive connection behind closed doors..."
In My Own Words: An American with a twisted past gets entangled with a billionaire with something to prove. When the two are found in a compromising situation, the solution of choice amounts to a fake relationship. Could there be even more to their story than they had anticipated?
My Final Say: This was a very surprising story. The tragic backstory for each character was heartbreaking. I genuinely felt for them both. The situation they found themselves in proved to be incredibly unrealistic in one respect, while at the same time it seemed totally realistic in another respect. I cannot say more than that, as I don't want to give spoilers. In the end, I confess that the giant elephant in the room influenced my rating. I did not care for the way the morality issue played out between the leads. Lastly, there were a few dangling threads that I needed/wanted to be addressed by the end that simply were not. I was left unsatisfied.
Other: This may appeal to readers who enjoy the following tropes ->
Fake engagement/marriage romances
ONS to forever romances
Work-related romances
In love with a billionaire romances
OWYM romances
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍💬
Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin - Romance | Harlequin Presents), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.
March 17, 2026
Val and Desmond met when he was trying to win a business contract from her employer. Things heat up between them and they spend the night together. Desmond gets caught leaving her room in the morning by her boss and spins this lie that the two of them are actually married. He was trying to protect his business interests and her job. They agree to keep the lie going so that he can close his deal and then he will help her out of a major financial jam. They both have pasts that have scarred them and they aren't sure they can really be together. But they end up falling in love anyway.
This was a really good book. There were layers to the characters that added to the story. I enjoyed this a lot.
This was a really good book. There were layers to the characters that added to the story. I enjoyed this a lot.
June 15, 2025
Not To Much Of A Romance, There Is Sex But You Don’t Perceive Any Chemistry Or Romance, Which Is Probably Why The Story Doesn’t Have A Happy Ending. The Writer Leave Any Happy Ending Hanging, And Personally I Would End The Relationship With Them Going Their Separate Ways.
August 21, 2025
Couldn't get through this, she was 39 so I thought great a sexy older man in his 40s but no he was a baby not even in his thirties. I read the last few pages and still didn't feel their connection. Very disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
This is a sizzling, emotionally rich romance featuring an older woman-younger man dynamic and a lavish Middle Eastern setting. British billionaire Desmond hopes to secure a major business deal by impressing a sheikh but ends up chaperoning the sheikh’s daughter alongside her assistant, Valentina. The attraction between Desmond and Valentina builds over one unforgettable night, leading to an unexpected fake marriage. Their chemistry is undeniable, but both must confront their emotional wounds before they can truly embrace love. With deftly handled character development, sensual romance, and a touch of opulence, this book delivers both heart and heat.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews