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The Royals #1
King of Wall Street
THE KING OF WALL STREET IS BROUGHT TO HIS KNEES BY AN AMBITIOUS BOMBSHELL.
I keep my two worlds separate.
At work, I’m King of Wall Street. The heaviest hitters in Manhattan come to me to make money. They do whatever I say because I’m always right. I’m shrewd. Exacting. Some say ruthless.
At home, I’m a single dad trying to keep his fourteen year old daughter a kid for as long as possible. If my daughter does what I say, somewhere there’s a snowball surviving in hell. And nothing I say is ever right.
When Harper Jayne starts as a junior researcher at my firm, the barriers between my worlds begin to dissolve. She’s the most infuriating woman I’ve ever worked with.
I don’t like the way she bends over the photocopier—it makes my mouth water.
I hate the way she’s so eager to do a good job—it makes my dick twitch.
And I can’t stand the way she wears her hair up exposing her long neck. It makes me want to strip her naked, bend her over my desk and trail my tongue all over her body.
If my two worlds are going to collide, Harper Jayne will have to learn that I don't just rule the boardroom. I’m in charge of the bedroom, too.
I keep my two worlds separate.
At work, I’m King of Wall Street. The heaviest hitters in Manhattan come to me to make money. They do whatever I say because I’m always right. I’m shrewd. Exacting. Some say ruthless.
At home, I’m a single dad trying to keep his fourteen year old daughter a kid for as long as possible. If my daughter does what I say, somewhere there’s a snowball surviving in hell. And nothing I say is ever right.
When Harper Jayne starts as a junior researcher at my firm, the barriers between my worlds begin to dissolve. She’s the most infuriating woman I’ve ever worked with.
I don’t like the way she bends over the photocopier—it makes my mouth water.
I hate the way she’s so eager to do a good job—it makes my dick twitch.
And I can’t stand the way she wears her hair up exposing her long neck. It makes me want to strip her naked, bend her over my desk and trail my tongue all over her body.
If my two worlds are going to collide, Harper Jayne will have to learn that I don't just rule the boardroom. I’m in charge of the bedroom, too.
308 pages, ebook
First published August 24, 2016
About the author
Louise Bay
53 books6,528 followersInternational, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels - the kind she likes to read.
Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.
Louise loves the rain, the West Wing, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, being on her own, being with friends, elephants and champagne.
She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!
Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.
Louise loves the rain, the West Wing, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, being on her own, being with friends, elephants and champagne.
She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,928 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★★ ½! King of Wall Street (stand-alone). Max King, the ruler of the boardroom is brought to his knees in the bedroom!
“I groaned. “You can’t question me on stuff I say while I’m fucking.”
King of Wall Street (stand-alone) opens up to recent College grad Harper Jayne having moved to New York to work as a Junior researcher for her idol, The King of Wall Street, business mogul Max King.
But Harper finds herself increasingly frustrated by her hard-to-please boss.
The aloof Max King has managed to keep his business, dating and private lives separate to protect his daughter Amanda who has come to live with him full-time. He’s not looking to be distracted by lust nor love.
Growing tension at work is complicated further by a night of endless fucking!
Max finds himself ill prepared as his worlds are about to collide; The ruthless alpha mogul, the commanding dirty-mouth lover and the doting father. Strap on your seat belts! LOL!
“I pitied any girl dumb enough to fuck Max King. Which, apparently, included me.”
Seven words to describe Max King: Enigmatic, private, demanding, complex, ruthless, kinky and commanding.
Seven words to describe Harper Jayne: Smart, determined, loyal, stubborn, feisty, forgiving and charming.
King of Wall Street, told from dual POV, is fun and sexy forbidden romance with a fast-paced, interesting plot and excellent character development. Kudos for a 6-star ending!
“I’m fucking you. You’re not fucking me.” I nudged her knees wide with my legs and pushed into her.”
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 6 stars
**********************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author Louise Bay in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2016
3.5 Stars!!
Having never read a Louise Bay book before, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this, but after reading the blurb I was pretty excited to read “King” and Harper’s story…mainly because I love a good office romance. Fun and sexy, fast paced and with an interesting plot, 'King of Wall Street' was a pretty engaging read.
Harper had been desperate to work for Max King ‘The King of Wall Street’ since before she enrolled at business school. She had moved to New York only with the thought to work for the enigmatic King. She now works as a junior researcher for her idol, but surprisingly her job is nothing like she dreamed. Her boss is smart and driven, but unfortunately he’s a big a$$hole.
Max King is known to be ruthless when it comes to his business. He is challenging and demanding and the best in his line of work. At home he’s a single dad who’s trying to keep his fourteen years old daughter a kid for as long as possible. He also tries to keep his business separate from his private life, not looking for a long term relationship. Max had been irritated by Harper’s presence from the moment he met her. As much as sometimes she pisses him off, he can’t deny the fact that she’s a smart, beautiful woman or that he’s more attracted with her than he wants to be.
The dynamic between Max and Harper changes when they find out they are neighbors. Soon Harper realized that Max is a king not only in the boardroom, but also in the bedroom.
I enjoyed this one! The storytelling was pretty great, so even if I didn’t totally love this one, I’m looking forward to read more books by this author. Like I mentioned earlier, the plot was quite interesting. Both main characters were engaging and well portrayed and I have to say I was rooted for them from the very beginning.
Max was a great hero! He was enigmatic and commanding and yes, like I previously mentioned a little a$$hole in the beginning, but he never was mean or arrogant which I loved. He totally won me over as the story unfolded not only because he was sweet and caring with our heroine, but also because he has such a great, heartwarming relationship with his daughter. I loved their relationship. He was a great, sweet and loving father and his daughter was pretty awesome for a thirteen years old kid. I also liked Harper. She was smart and really great, both with Max and his daughter.
The story was pretty steamy which I loved and all the sexy scenes were hot as hell. I loved the two between the sheets and of course all the fantastic sexual tension as the story unfolded.
Overall, this was a great read! If you are looking for a sexy office romance, told in dual POV and low in angst and drama, then this is the perfect read for you!
Having never read a Louise Bay book before, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this, but after reading the blurb I was pretty excited to read “King” and Harper’s story…mainly because I love a good office romance. Fun and sexy, fast paced and with an interesting plot, 'King of Wall Street' was a pretty engaging read.
"She was like a drug. Every hit I took of her made me want more".
Harper had been desperate to work for Max King ‘The King of Wall Street’ since before she enrolled at business school. She had moved to New York only with the thought to work for the enigmatic King. She now works as a junior researcher for her idol, but surprisingly her job is nothing like she dreamed. Her boss is smart and driven, but unfortunately he’s a big a$$hole.
“I pitied any girl dumb enough to fuck Max King. Which, apparently, included me."
Max King is known to be ruthless when it comes to his business. He is challenging and demanding and the best in his line of work. At home he’s a single dad who’s trying to keep his fourteen years old daughter a kid for as long as possible. He also tries to keep his business separate from his private life, not looking for a long term relationship. Max had been irritated by Harper’s presence from the moment he met her. As much as sometimes she pisses him off, he can’t deny the fact that she’s a smart, beautiful woman or that he’s more attracted with her than he wants to be.
"This girl could end me. I'd suspected it the moment I saw her. Known it the moment I'd seen her work. Talented. Beautiful. Sharp. Sexy. I wanted it all."
The dynamic between Max and Harper changes when they find out they are neighbors. Soon Harper realized that Max is a king not only in the boardroom, but also in the bedroom.
I enjoyed this one! The storytelling was pretty great, so even if I didn’t totally love this one, I’m looking forward to read more books by this author. Like I mentioned earlier, the plot was quite interesting. Both main characters were engaging and well portrayed and I have to say I was rooted for them from the very beginning.
Max was a great hero! He was enigmatic and commanding and yes, like I previously mentioned a little a$$hole in the beginning, but he never was mean or arrogant which I loved. He totally won me over as the story unfolded not only because he was sweet and caring with our heroine, but also because he has such a great, heartwarming relationship with his daughter. I loved their relationship. He was a great, sweet and loving father and his daughter was pretty awesome for a thirteen years old kid. I also liked Harper. She was smart and really great, both with Max and his daughter.
The story was pretty steamy which I loved and all the sexy scenes were hot as hell. I loved the two between the sheets and of course all the fantastic sexual tension as the story unfolded.
“You’re beautiful. And sexy and—” I paused a second. I had to be careful I didn’t come first. “And you drive me crazy at work.” I thrust again. “Because I want to bend you over my desk and drive my cock into you. Just. Like. That.”
Overall, this was a great read! If you are looking for a sexy office romance, told in dual POV and low in angst and drama, then this is the perfect read for you!
October 19, 2016
'King of Wall Street' was just the type of sweet, straightforward love story that I was craving. I listened to the Audible version during my daily commute and it was a great way to pass the time. It had humor and plenty of heat. Even without big twists and surprises, this story held my attention.
Harper Jayne has idolized Max King for years. She's landed an entry-level research position working under the Wall Street business mogul, right out of grad school. She is determined to prove herself and stand on her own two feet, refusing the assistance of her wealthy father.
However, Max King is determined to prove something himself. He's dead set on proving to himself that he can avoid his attraction to the sexy new junior employee. He's never mixed business and pleasure before. He plans to stay far away from the likes of Ms. Harvey Jayne, lest he lose all control. Max King is not a man that ever loses control.
As Max tries to push Harper away, she manages to creep into his life. For her part, Harper cannot understand why Max is so nasty to her. She figures it is just her luck to end up having him infiltrate her life outside of work as well.
After a few chance encounters outside of the office, these two are going at it like bunnies. They try to keep work and private activities separate, but that can only last for so long. Despite their attempts to keep their outside relationship strictly sexual, their feelings only grow stronger.
I'm sure you can imagine how things play out, there's no big surprises here. However, I really enjoyed this predictable office romance. The characters were easy to relate to and I loved the fact that Max had a teenage daughter, Amanda. Her character gave a little different spin to the billionaire meets intern storyline.
Overall it was a highly enjoyable, straightforward and fun read. It was a nice way to pass the time. I listened to the Audible version and the narration was well done also.
Harper Jayne has idolized Max King for years. She's landed an entry-level research position working under the Wall Street business mogul, right out of grad school. She is determined to prove herself and stand on her own two feet, refusing the assistance of her wealthy father.
However, Max King is determined to prove something himself. He's dead set on proving to himself that he can avoid his attraction to the sexy new junior employee. He's never mixed business and pleasure before. He plans to stay far away from the likes of Ms. Harvey Jayne, lest he lose all control. Max King is not a man that ever loses control.
As Max tries to push Harper away, she manages to creep into his life. For her part, Harper cannot understand why Max is so nasty to her. She figures it is just her luck to end up having him infiltrate her life outside of work as well.
After a few chance encounters outside of the office, these two are going at it like bunnies. They try to keep work and private activities separate, but that can only last for so long. Despite their attempts to keep their outside relationship strictly sexual, their feelings only grow stronger.
I'm sure you can imagine how things play out, there's no big surprises here. However, I really enjoyed this predictable office romance. The characters were easy to relate to and I loved the fact that Max had a teenage daughter, Amanda. Her character gave a little different spin to the billionaire meets intern storyline.
Overall it was a highly enjoyable, straightforward and fun read. It was a nice way to pass the time. I listened to the Audible version and the narration was well done also.
July 14, 2017
This is the first book by this author that I've read....and I am so pleased to have discovered her. I enjoy her writing and King of Wall Street was an absolutely delightful read.
I loved the two main characters......especially Max King...he's hot, sexy, rich, smart and a fabulous single dad........
The chemistry between these two is sizzling hot, sexual tension abounded and I loved watching them fall for each other!!
Fabulous secondary characters - quirky, engaging and totally unforgettable!!
What I most enjoyed about this story was ........none of that dark and angst drama........it was a sweet and endearing love story with a great epilogue.
Louise Bay.............you're my new Queen of Romance.....
I loved the two main characters......especially Max King...he's hot, sexy, rich, smart and a fabulous single dad........
No way could Harper Jayne ever resist him for long!!!!
The chemistry between these two is sizzling hot, sexual tension abounded and I loved watching them fall for each other!!
Fabulous secondary characters - quirky, engaging and totally unforgettable!!
What I most enjoyed about this story was ........none of that dark and angst drama........it was a sweet and endearing love story with a great epilogue.
Louise Bay.............you're my new Queen of Romance.....
If you love romance, great characters and a HEA................this is one book I can so recommend.
I am definitely going to be reading more from this author and I can't wait for Grace, Harper's BFF's book, which I am going to start right away!!!
January 22, 2021
4 Seeing What's In Front Of You Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Sometimes we can have a preconceived notion of how things should be in our lives...We think if we touch all the bases and do all of the tests... then the outcomes should happen just the way we imagined it. Well, as we mature and experience life...we learn that isn't always the case. More often then not, the fantasy job, relationship, or goal does not match up with all the ideas we had...and this, I think, is the undercurrent of King on Wall Street by Louise Bay.
This book has every element to give the reader the fun, sexy ride it promises. It has the forbidden of a workplace romance...It has the "hate" passion to drive these two characters to outstanding encounters. It has the added benefit of a young teenage daughter and a loving relationship with her dad, so all of these parts factor perfectly to enjoy everything, no worries.
And I did...Max King was everything a King of Wall Street should be...but actually better. He had times when he was just as confused as a regular guy when it came to his love interest. She threw him for a loop.
He had no history of a man/woman relationship that worked outside of the one with his Daughter's Mom. That was a strong one and had been based on friendship from the start. It was their friendship and a goodbye night together that brought them their wonderful daughter. Instead of rushing to marry, when it never would have been smart, they stepped back and focused on just being the best parents for their child to come. Max remained part of his daughter's life from her first breath and now that the mom and her husband have a career opportunity in Switzerland, his daughter is now going to be staying with him full time. He does have his sisters, grandparents, and others to assist... but he has arranged his life from the start to be the best dad he could.
He keeps work, work...and the personal far away from work.
It was a system which worked brilliantly...until She arrived.
She, the Junior Researcher... the one which draws his eyes and mind anytime she is in the vicinity.
He has Thoughts...Naughty, Dirty Thoughts and that will not do.
She is Harper Jayne; her family life was nothing like Max's daughter. She was a product of love from her mother... but the father never fully made the commitment to her mother or her. He would sometimes come by but more than likely, Harper was told he couldn't make it for plays, recitals or graduations...or birthdays... Oh, he would send presents, pay for college, and set up a trust fund...but he was mostly absent in Harper's physical life.
But in Harper's mind...the actions of her father colored everything. She went to business school, got her masters, and purposely focused on working for Max King and Associates. By becoming the Junior Researcher she was on her way to be a force to be reckoned with...She had it all figured out...work at King's, become a full researcher, and throw it in her dad's face. For her father was the major player in the world she worked and after graduation, never receiving an offer for a position in his company, it left another bitter taste in her mouth.
So here we have Harper working for the company and the Mentor of her dreams... should be fantastic, right...
Not so much... seems Max King is an Assh@le...Yup, through and through...
Harper works on a project, proud as punch that she did everything she could for it to be perfect...Sits and watches Max go over it with a red pen and ask questions she can't answer quickly. He points out this is not the type of work he expects...
Harper is pissed and laments her experience to her best friend...Turns out she did have a typo and she could have done more research, so her friend points her to the correct conclusion...did she learn something ...begrudgingly, yes...point made.
Harper is still angry... and feels like Max should have been kinder in his corrections... but steels herself to do better. She is in her NYC studio which is too expensive to have such paper-thin walls and ceilings. She is trying to sleep and all she can hear is the stomping from above and the Bach playing at full blast at 11 PM. She checks her lease and knows they are not allowed to disturb any tenant after 10 PM.
Marching up to the floor above with lease in hand, clad in a silk robe from her bath...Harper bangs on the door...It takes a few bangs but finally, it swings open, revealing Max in only pajama bottoms.
This plays out as if we are in both of their heads... he is dying because he cannot get her out of his head, wanting to constantly have her in compromising positions involving desks, walls, and conference rooms...but knowing he is her boss...
Harper is confused and furious...first for the noise and then because her friggin boss lives in her building and she hates him... Because he is an Assh@le... But as much as that is the case...She cannot keep her hands off of him...
This is going to be a problem...
This story had many layers. It had steaming hot sex. It had a man who was all a woman could want but with some commitment issues due to the priority of his daughter. He felt he wouldn't be able to give his daughter everything she would need if he started to have a personal life. His business took up so much time and was too important.
Max makes huge strides in this because his interest in Harper is like nothing he's experienced before. He fumbles constantly on how to talk to her and what to say. He tries to do the right things but keeps messing up.
Harper was much more complicated. Because of her history with her father, she judges all men and finds them wanting. She assumes many things about Max instead of asking him outright. She projects her relationship with her dad unto Max when she finds out he never married the mother of his daughter. Her reactions are understandable to a degree but I would have liked her to have had not so many assumptions.
Overall, it worked and was full of moments to enjoy.
Louis Bay takes these two successful people and shows how education, success, and wealth do not mean they will be able to do relationships perfectly... in other words... they are just like anyone else.
Look for more smart, entertaining couples to come... A Prince and Princess of New York City should be coming soon...
King of Wall Street (The Royals Collection, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Duke of Manhattan (The Royals Collection, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Park Avenue Prince (The Royals Collection, #3)
The British Knight (The Royals Collection, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Earl of London (The Royals Collection, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Royals Series: King of Wall Street, Duke of Manhattan, The British Knight, The Earl of London, Park Avenue Prince (Kindle Edition)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free
Sometimes we can have a preconceived notion of how things should be in our lives...We think if we touch all the bases and do all of the tests... then the outcomes should happen just the way we imagined it. Well, as we mature and experience life...we learn that isn't always the case. More often then not, the fantasy job, relationship, or goal does not match up with all the ideas we had...and this, I think, is the undercurrent of King on Wall Street by Louise Bay.
This book has every element to give the reader the fun, sexy ride it promises. It has the forbidden of a workplace romance...It has the "hate" passion to drive these two characters to outstanding encounters. It has the added benefit of a young teenage daughter and a loving relationship with her dad, so all of these parts factor perfectly to enjoy everything, no worries.
And I did...Max King was everything a King of Wall Street should be...but actually better. He had times when he was just as confused as a regular guy when it came to his love interest. She threw him for a loop.
He had no history of a man/woman relationship that worked outside of the one with his Daughter's Mom. That was a strong one and had been based on friendship from the start. It was their friendship and a goodbye night together that brought them their wonderful daughter. Instead of rushing to marry, when it never would have been smart, they stepped back and focused on just being the best parents for their child to come. Max remained part of his daughter's life from her first breath and now that the mom and her husband have a career opportunity in Switzerland, his daughter is now going to be staying with him full time. He does have his sisters, grandparents, and others to assist... but he has arranged his life from the start to be the best dad he could.
He keeps work, work...and the personal far away from work.
It was a system which worked brilliantly...until She arrived.
She, the Junior Researcher... the one which draws his eyes and mind anytime she is in the vicinity.
He has Thoughts...Naughty, Dirty Thoughts and that will not do.
She is Harper Jayne; her family life was nothing like Max's daughter. She was a product of love from her mother... but the father never fully made the commitment to her mother or her. He would sometimes come by but more than likely, Harper was told he couldn't make it for plays, recitals or graduations...or birthdays... Oh, he would send presents, pay for college, and set up a trust fund...but he was mostly absent in Harper's physical life.
But in Harper's mind...the actions of her father colored everything. She went to business school, got her masters, and purposely focused on working for Max King and Associates. By becoming the Junior Researcher she was on her way to be a force to be reckoned with...She had it all figured out...work at King's, become a full researcher, and throw it in her dad's face. For her father was the major player in the world she worked and after graduation, never receiving an offer for a position in his company, it left another bitter taste in her mouth.
So here we have Harper working for the company and the Mentor of her dreams... should be fantastic, right...
Not so much... seems Max King is an Assh@le...Yup, through and through...
Harper works on a project, proud as punch that she did everything she could for it to be perfect...Sits and watches Max go over it with a red pen and ask questions she can't answer quickly. He points out this is not the type of work he expects...
Harper is pissed and laments her experience to her best friend...Turns out she did have a typo and she could have done more research, so her friend points her to the correct conclusion...did she learn something ...begrudgingly, yes...point made.
Harper is still angry... and feels like Max should have been kinder in his corrections... but steels herself to do better. She is in her NYC studio which is too expensive to have such paper-thin walls and ceilings. She is trying to sleep and all she can hear is the stomping from above and the Bach playing at full blast at 11 PM. She checks her lease and knows they are not allowed to disturb any tenant after 10 PM.
Marching up to the floor above with lease in hand, clad in a silk robe from her bath...Harper bangs on the door...It takes a few bangs but finally, it swings open, revealing Max in only pajama bottoms.
This plays out as if we are in both of their heads... he is dying because he cannot get her out of his head, wanting to constantly have her in compromising positions involving desks, walls, and conference rooms...but knowing he is her boss...
Harper is confused and furious...first for the noise and then because her friggin boss lives in her building and she hates him... Because he is an Assh@le... But as much as that is the case...She cannot keep her hands off of him...
This is going to be a problem...
This story had many layers. It had steaming hot sex. It had a man who was all a woman could want but with some commitment issues due to the priority of his daughter. He felt he wouldn't be able to give his daughter everything she would need if he started to have a personal life. His business took up so much time and was too important.
Max makes huge strides in this because his interest in Harper is like nothing he's experienced before. He fumbles constantly on how to talk to her and what to say. He tries to do the right things but keeps messing up.
Harper was much more complicated. Because of her history with her father, she judges all men and finds them wanting. She assumes many things about Max instead of asking him outright. She projects her relationship with her dad unto Max when she finds out he never married the mother of his daughter. Her reactions are understandable to a degree but I would have liked her to have had not so many assumptions.
Overall, it worked and was full of moments to enjoy.
Louis Bay takes these two successful people and shows how education, success, and wealth do not mean they will be able to do relationships perfectly... in other words... they are just like anyone else.
Look for more smart, entertaining couples to come... A Prince and Princess of New York City should be coming soon...
King of Wall Street (The Royals Collection, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Duke of Manhattan (The Royals Collection, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Park Avenue Prince (The Royals Collection, #3) The British Knight (The Royals Collection, #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Earl of London (The Royals Collection, #5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Royals Series: King of Wall Street, Duke of Manhattan, The British Knight, The Earl of London, Park Avenue Prince (Kindle Edition) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 24, 2016
https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Harper): annoying
Hero (Max): ok
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: h went on a date with OM after fucking H
HEA: DNF
Triggers: h heard H have sex with OW
Average score: 1/5
Best Line: “I pitied any girl dumb enough to fuck Max King. Which, apparently, included me.”
Worst Line: “My father had gotten my mother pregnant and then refused to do the right thing and marry her.” – why would it have been the ‘right’ thing to do?
Personal Review:
The h was one of the most annoying, bitchy heroines I have ever come across. Poor Max. DNF’d at chapter 7.
Random Ramblings
•I get that the h has daddy issues but I didn’t want her falling for the H because he is older
•Urgh…teenage girls
•It annoyed me that I didn’t know what the age difference was between them
•Why do romance authors do this to us?! I NEVER find it attractive to listen to a guy that I like having sex with another woman so why would any heroine like that? Leave it out of the story!!!
•The h’s decision making process was annoying
•This completely describes the h: “Jesus, woman, you go from zero to sixty in a millisecond.”
Overall Feeling:
Message to the h:
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Harper): annoying
Hero (Max): ok
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: h went on a date with OM after fucking H
HEA: DNF
Triggers: h heard H have sex with OW
Average score: 1/5
Best Line: “I pitied any girl dumb enough to fuck Max King. Which, apparently, included me.”
Worst Line: “My father had gotten my mother pregnant and then refused to do the right thing and marry her.” – why would it have been the ‘right’ thing to do?
Personal Review:
The h was one of the most annoying, bitchy heroines I have ever come across. Poor Max. DNF’d at chapter 7.
Random Ramblings
•I get that the h has daddy issues but I didn’t want her falling for the H because he is older
•Urgh…teenage girls
•It annoyed me that I didn’t know what the age difference was between them
•Why do romance authors do this to us?! I NEVER find it attractive to listen to a guy that I like having sex with another woman so why would any heroine like that? Leave it out of the story!!!
•The h’s decision making process was annoying
•This completely describes the h: “Jesus, woman, you go from zero to sixty in a millisecond.”
Overall Feeling:
Message to the h:
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
October 6, 2022
RATING 4.5 STARS
King of Wall Street is book one in The Royals series by Louise Bay. This is an enemies to lovers, office romance. Of course, I read book four first in this series, The British Knight, and loved it. I’ve had this one sitting on my e-reader forever so I figured it was time to finally read it as well and it was wonderful.
Max King is somewhere around thirty three years old and is owner and man in charge at King Associates. He is known in Manhattan as the King of Wall Street and he lives up to that reputation. At work he was cold, calculating and a shrewd businessman. But no one really knew the other half of Max. The single dad to his fourteen year old daughter that also has a home in Connecticut where at the moment, he was full time parent to his daughter while her mother was out of the country for her husband’s work. Max works hard to keep the two halves of his life separate and was doing so well at it, until Harper came into his life.
Harper Jayne has been dreaming of working for Max King for years, has done everything possible to insure that she would be a good fit when she finished graduate school. Now she is right where she wanted to me, a junior researcher for the company of her dreams. Except Max King is not the man or mentor she dreamed he would be. Most of the time he barely acknowledges her and when he does, he’s rude and cold. She can’t stand him. But at the same time, he seems to be taking up a lot of space in her head when he shouldn’t be.
One thing leads to another and all it takes is a touch and these two are on each other. They are like two magnets drawn together. It’s just sex, just getting it out of their system, right? Except it keeps happening. And then they talk and share things they never usually do. And then, completely by accident, Harper meets his daughter, and she sees who Max really is.
There’s a lot more to this but I don’t want to spoil anything. These two were so drawn to each other and both definitely had some adjusting to do to finally accept what their hearts already knew. I loved Max’s daughter, Amanda. She was just adorable and I loved Harper’s way with her. Max’s sisters were so much fun as well with their meddling ways. And I adored Harper’s best friend, Grace. She saw so much that Harper wasn’t able to recognize. Which brings me to book two, Park Avenue Prince, which will be Grace’s book.
If you enjoy lots of banter, lots of sexy dirty talk, and a pair of main characters that are trying to make sense of which side of the hate/love line they are on, then this book is for you.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
King of Wall Street is book one in The Royals series by Louise Bay. This is an enemies to lovers, office romance. Of course, I read book four first in this series, The British Knight, and loved it. I’ve had this one sitting on my e-reader forever so I figured it was time to finally read it as well and it was wonderful.
Max King is somewhere around thirty three years old and is owner and man in charge at King Associates. He is known in Manhattan as the King of Wall Street and he lives up to that reputation. At work he was cold, calculating and a shrewd businessman. But no one really knew the other half of Max. The single dad to his fourteen year old daughter that also has a home in Connecticut where at the moment, he was full time parent to his daughter while her mother was out of the country for her husband’s work. Max works hard to keep the two halves of his life separate and was doing so well at it, until Harper came into his life.
Harper Jayne has been dreaming of working for Max King for years, has done everything possible to insure that she would be a good fit when she finished graduate school. Now she is right where she wanted to me, a junior researcher for the company of her dreams. Except Max King is not the man or mentor she dreamed he would be. Most of the time he barely acknowledges her and when he does, he’s rude and cold. She can’t stand him. But at the same time, he seems to be taking up a lot of space in her head when he shouldn’t be.
One thing leads to another and all it takes is a touch and these two are on each other. They are like two magnets drawn together. It’s just sex, just getting it out of their system, right? Except it keeps happening. And then they talk and share things they never usually do. And then, completely by accident, Harper meets his daughter, and she sees who Max really is.
There’s a lot more to this but I don’t want to spoil anything. These two were so drawn to each other and both definitely had some adjusting to do to finally accept what their hearts already knew. I loved Max’s daughter, Amanda. She was just adorable and I loved Harper’s way with her. Max’s sisters were so much fun as well with their meddling ways. And I adored Harper’s best friend, Grace. She saw so much that Harper wasn’t able to recognize. Which brings me to book two, Park Avenue Prince, which will be Grace’s book.
If you enjoy lots of banter, lots of sexy dirty talk, and a pair of main characters that are trying to make sense of which side of the hate/love line they are on, then this book is for you.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August 28, 2016
3.5 STARS
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This is my first story read by this author and I was pleasantly pleased with the ease of the writing. I found the storytelling easy and light and the Harper Jayne’s fall for the King of Wall Street enjoyable.
Harper Jayne has a TON of daddy issues and these walls, insecurities and generalizations have her skeptical about her blossoming relationship with her boss, Max King. Thank goodness for her best friend Grace who constantly helps her see things for how they truly are without being jaded by how her financial mogul father treated her and her mother.
”He’s not my father.” But had I expected him to fail? Even looked for it?”
The story is told in dual povs of both characters as they give into their attraction to one another.
“Once is never enough with you. I need you all the time, forever.”
There’s a bit of drama as Harper’s father’s company may be King’s new client and then there’s the sweetheart of the story Max’s daughter, Amanda.
Overall, this was an easy, enjoyable, read that is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
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This is my first story read by this author and I was pleasantly pleased with the ease of the writing. I found the storytelling easy and light and the Harper Jayne’s fall for the King of Wall Street enjoyable.
Harper Jayne has a TON of daddy issues and these walls, insecurities and generalizations have her skeptical about her blossoming relationship with her boss, Max King. Thank goodness for her best friend Grace who constantly helps her see things for how they truly are without being jaded by how her financial mogul father treated her and her mother.
”He’s not my father.” But had I expected him to fail? Even looked for it?”
The story is told in dual povs of both characters as they give into their attraction to one another.
“Once is never enough with you. I need you all the time, forever.”
There’s a bit of drama as Harper’s father’s company may be King’s new client and then there’s the sweetheart of the story Max’s daughter, Amanda.
Overall, this was an easy, enjoyable, read that is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
September 8, 2016
Max King is ruthless when it comes to his business, and is known to be a tough man to work for. At home he's completely different, a single dad trying to give his teenage daughter a happy life. He doesn't want his two worlds to ever cross paths, but then Harper Jayne enters his life she starts to take over his thoughts both in work and at home. And when she moves in to his apartment building he loses his ability to stay away.
After reading this book I made a plan to move to New York, find a boss like Max King, and let him has his wicked way with me. I mean, if a man like Max King exists in this fictional world there has to at least be one of them out in real life, right? Just agree with my delusions.
Anyway, I really liked this story and the characters, especially Max if you couldn't already tell that. It wasn't boring at any time, and there was always something happening more than just attraction and sex. I liked how it threw a lot of story in the book and didn't just keep it a sexy book with no interesting parts.
Bottom line, read this book and you will love Max just as much as I do!
After reading this book I made a plan to move to New York, find a boss like Max King, and let him has his wicked way with me. I mean, if a man like Max King exists in this fictional world there has to at least be one of them out in real life, right? Just agree with my delusions.
Anyway, I really liked this story and the characters, especially Max if you couldn't already tell that. It wasn't boring at any time, and there was always something happening more than just attraction and sex. I liked how it threw a lot of story in the book and didn't just keep it a sexy book with no interesting parts.
Bottom line, read this book and you will love Max just as much as I do!
September 13, 2016
5 'THE King' Stars!
This gif basically describes Max King, ladies. Max, Max, Max.. you are a dirty sexy asshole! I been dying to read this book since I read the blurb and the good reviews about it. This is my first Louise Bay novel but now I can definitely assure you that it will not be the last!
King of Wall Street is a stand-alone work that tells the story of Max King (a really appropriate name for the hero of this book since he is the king of the boardroom, a man dedicated to his daughter and who is not ready to accept and act on his feelings towards the heroine) and Harper Jayne (a recently graduated woman who works for Max's business, who has worked very hard to be where she is and has the power to bring the the King to his knees).
I wanted to be successful but still a decent human being. Was I naïve to think that was possible on Wall Street?
I prided myself on being unemotional at work. I’d always been able to separate the different areas of my life, to shut one world down while I was in another. Harper blurred the lines.
I loved this book so much! Louse has created a story with a fantastic easy-to-follow plot, profound and very heartfelt characters and a couple who has magnificent chemistry in the workplace and especially in the bedroom! Holy hell, Max King is SO HOT!
I wanted to go farther, deeper, faster.
I needed to mark her, own her, climb inside her.
It was as if every inappropriate image I’d buried deep in my brain had escaped and come to life.
“See what a single touch does to you? See the power I have over your body?” He removed his fingers and disappointment caught my breath. I didn’t have to answer. “You came here to get fucked, and I’m not going to disappoint you.”
See what I mean? Fantastically written sex scenes and a dirty talking hero? Check, check, check! And I really love how an author is able to keep this chemistry and evolve that to an emotional relationship. I loved Max and Harper together, how they finally get to their HEA and I adored the relationship between him and his daughter Amanda, so freaking sweet it made my heart melt!
“You’re growing up so fast; you have to forgive me for wanting to keep you mine for longer than I should.”
Tears welled in my eyes. He sounded so genuine. So completely besotted with his daughter.
“Once is never enough with you. I need you all the time, forever.”
Therefore, my rating for King of Wall Street is 5 STARS because this story fulfilled everything that I need to love a good love story: great plot, deep and lovable characters and a couple who has off-the-charts chemistry! I cannot wait to read more of Louise's works because this made me fall in love with her writing so I highly recommend you check this one out!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
This gif basically describes Max King, ladies. Max, Max, Max.. you are a dirty sexy asshole! I been dying to read this book since I read the blurb and the good reviews about it. This is my first Louise Bay novel but now I can definitely assure you that it will not be the last!
King of Wall Street is a stand-alone work that tells the story of Max King (a really appropriate name for the hero of this book since he is the king of the boardroom, a man dedicated to his daughter and who is not ready to accept and act on his feelings towards the heroine) and Harper Jayne (a recently graduated woman who works for Max's business, who has worked very hard to be where she is and has the power to bring the the King to his knees).
I wanted to be successful but still a decent human being. Was I naïve to think that was possible on Wall Street?
I prided myself on being unemotional at work. I’d always been able to separate the different areas of my life, to shut one world down while I was in another. Harper blurred the lines.
I loved this book so much! Louse has created a story with a fantastic easy-to-follow plot, profound and very heartfelt characters and a couple who has magnificent chemistry in the workplace and especially in the bedroom! Holy hell, Max King is SO HOT!
I wanted to go farther, deeper, faster.
I needed to mark her, own her, climb inside her.
It was as if every inappropriate image I’d buried deep in my brain had escaped and come to life.
“See what a single touch does to you? See the power I have over your body?” He removed his fingers and disappointment caught my breath. I didn’t have to answer. “You came here to get fucked, and I’m not going to disappoint you.”
See what I mean? Fantastically written sex scenes and a dirty talking hero? Check, check, check! And I really love how an author is able to keep this chemistry and evolve that to an emotional relationship. I loved Max and Harper together, how they finally get to their HEA and I adored the relationship between him and his daughter Amanda, so freaking sweet it made my heart melt!
“You’re growing up so fast; you have to forgive me for wanting to keep you mine for longer than I should.”
Tears welled in my eyes. He sounded so genuine. So completely besotted with his daughter.
“Once is never enough with you. I need you all the time, forever.”
Therefore, my rating for King of Wall Street is 5 STARS because this story fulfilled everything that I need to love a good love story: great plot, deep and lovable characters and a couple who has off-the-charts chemistry! I cannot wait to read more of Louise's works because this made me fall in love with her writing so I highly recommend you check this one out!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
January 28, 2017
I'm more in love with my own state of New York thanks to this book and Louise Bay... **sighs**
Honestly, my heart took every single word out of this book and shoved inside, deeply so I don't forget it. Max and Harper in King of Wall Street are ultimately my favorite fictional couple located in New York. Louise Bay has just simply done it again!!
Well, well...
This book... Wooah! Max King is the definition of pure, New Yorker hotness and romantic. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! As a true New Yorker, I love this book way too much. He is a business man, she (Harper) is a junior business woman trying to make her way to the top. He is a single father of a fourteen year old, and he cannot stop fantasizing about his intern, Harper. Honestly, the combination of all these mentioned factors cannot get better. I have always loved Louise Bay's books, but this book has reached the limit of perfection in my dictionary.
The basic story starts with the whole, love-hate relationship. Harper hates Max for the lack of attention and kindness he implies to her at work. Respecting Max's decision of his actions, I agree why he would act towards those actions. The man is hooked! He can't stop thinking about Harper and how amazing, witty, absolutely beautiful, but most of all, how outstandingly brilliant she is. All those characteristics combined have the man hard all the time. I don't blame him... The way Louise Bay describes Harper, as a woman with a stunning bodice and a mindset full of independence and stubbornness, I would go gay for this business woman! Their chemistry... Dear lord... I had to hold on to the edge of my desk top from my work office when I was reading this. SEX with Max and Harper is dangerous for me. I almost knocked down my cup of vanilla mocha coffee on top of my lap from the amount of excitement my body radiated with the amount of loving and LUSTFULL chemistry these two have!
Max as a father is the most cutest and adorable thing I have read in a while. Even the Score and Fearless In Love are different to Max's scenario because Amanda (his daughter) is older than what the scenario of a child in a different story would be. Amanda is a growing teenager, wanting to do teenage things here and there, but Max is a father that does not want his daughter to keep growing up because she is slowly becoming a stubborn person just like him (in a good way) and he wants to get a hold of his baby for a while... Typical father figure hahaha!
One thing that did catch my attention, profusely was the mental comment Harper made after the intimidating elevator ride with the gorgeous blonde, about how when she (Harper) read about Max on the tabloids, she never read anything about a special someone in his life, which made her to think he was gay....
**cough cough** CHRISTIAN GREY! HAHAHAHA! (Sorry just had to point it out there...)
Max and Harper on the other hand of business, they try to recoup the JD Stanley Bank company in which the owner/ CEO is Harper's father who did not have anything to do with her life which is also something she resents... Max tries to help her, not only with the proposal of having JD as part of his business, but also help Harper with her emotional problems. They both conquer their emotional problems and love one another deeply and purely.
Louise Bay has made it to my favorites list once again, and I can't wait to read more of her books because my mind and my heart enjoy them more than expected! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Goodreads Rating: FIVE VEGAS AND SERENDIPITY RESTAURANT STARS
Honestly, my heart took every single word out of this book and shoved inside, deeply so I don't forget it. Max and Harper in King of Wall Street are ultimately my favorite fictional couple located in New York. Louise Bay has just simply done it again!!
Well, well...
This book... Wooah! Max King is the definition of pure, New Yorker hotness and romantic. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! As a true New Yorker, I love this book way too much. He is a business man, she (Harper) is a junior business woman trying to make her way to the top. He is a single father of a fourteen year old, and he cannot stop fantasizing about his intern, Harper. Honestly, the combination of all these mentioned factors cannot get better. I have always loved Louise Bay's books, but this book has reached the limit of perfection in my dictionary.
The basic story starts with the whole, love-hate relationship. Harper hates Max for the lack of attention and kindness he implies to her at work. Respecting Max's decision of his actions, I agree why he would act towards those actions. The man is hooked! He can't stop thinking about Harper and how amazing, witty, absolutely beautiful, but most of all, how outstandingly brilliant she is. All those characteristics combined have the man hard all the time. I don't blame him... The way Louise Bay describes Harper, as a woman with a stunning bodice and a mindset full of independence and stubbornness, I would go gay for this business woman! Their chemistry... Dear lord... I had to hold on to the edge of my desk top from my work office when I was reading this. SEX with Max and Harper is dangerous for me. I almost knocked down my cup of vanilla mocha coffee on top of my lap from the amount of excitement my body radiated with the amount of loving and LUSTFULL chemistry these two have!
Max as a father is the most cutest and adorable thing I have read in a while. Even the Score and Fearless In Love are different to Max's scenario because Amanda (his daughter) is older than what the scenario of a child in a different story would be. Amanda is a growing teenager, wanting to do teenage things here and there, but Max is a father that does not want his daughter to keep growing up because she is slowly becoming a stubborn person just like him (in a good way) and he wants to get a hold of his baby for a while... Typical father figure hahaha!
One thing that did catch my attention, profusely was the mental comment Harper made after the intimidating elevator ride with the gorgeous blonde, about how when she (Harper) read about Max on the tabloids, she never read anything about a special someone in his life, which made her to think he was gay....
**cough cough** CHRISTIAN GREY! HAHAHAHA! (Sorry just had to point it out there...)
Max and Harper on the other hand of business, they try to recoup the JD Stanley Bank company in which the owner/ CEO is Harper's father who did not have anything to do with her life which is also something she resents... Max tries to help her, not only with the proposal of having JD as part of his business, but also help Harper with her emotional problems. They both conquer their emotional problems and love one another deeply and purely.
Louise Bay has made it to my favorites list once again, and I can't wait to read more of her books because my mind and my heart enjoy them more than expected! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Goodreads Rating: FIVE VEGAS AND SERENDIPITY RESTAURANT STARS
November 3, 2020
This King found his Queen...
There wasn't really a chance I wouldn't enjoy listening to the King of Wall Street. After all, you mix a fantastic author with two very talented narrators, and you're bound to be entertained.
This was my first dip into the Audible Plus Catalogue now that Audible Escape has finished. If this catalogue is filled with stories of this calibre, I will be a very happy listener.
I'm definitely moving on in The Royals Collection, with the Park Avenue Prince meeting his Princess.
****************************************************
He is Dad first, King of Wall Street second...
I really liked King of Wall Street. I found myself sucked into the storyline from the first pages and the more I got to know Max, the more I liked him. First of all, he puts his daughter above everything. That's kind of refreshing as most books I read "say" that the hero or heroine put their children first, but Max "shows" that he does. He knows what's going on in Amanda's life and plays an active role in bringing her up. He has a good relationship with Amanda's mother, Pandora and Pandora's husband, Jason, as well. Like I said, refreshingly different. Max's work is a priority but only to support Amanda to the best of his ability.
Now, Max, he's no monk but he doesn't allow himself to have relationships because his life is full enough as it is. When Pandora and Jason head overseas for work, it's time for Max to become a full-time parent. This will definitely curtail his "play-time" and he has a wee bit of frustration that he needs to work out. See, there's this new woman in his office and he can't stop thinking about bending her over his desk.
Harper, hate to say it, but she's got some issues and those issues started at the hands of her neglectful dad. Any relationship she starts is guaranteed to be an uphill battle. So, with her "issues" added to the fact that she has the HOTS for her boss, I'm going to need a lot of convincing that this is a good idea.
I enjoyed King of Wall Street and finished with a big smile on my face. This was my first read by Louise Bay and will definitely not be my last. Her writing has a touch of humour, a touch of sweetness, mixed with a whole lot of spice. The characters were interesting, the storyline kept my attention and the connection between the couple was very easy to see.
If you're looking for a HOT and STEAMY office romance with a single father devoted to his family, then I definitely recommend King of Wall Street.
There wasn't really a chance I wouldn't enjoy listening to the King of Wall Street. After all, you mix a fantastic author with two very talented narrators, and you're bound to be entertained.
This was my first dip into the Audible Plus Catalogue now that Audible Escape has finished. If this catalogue is filled with stories of this calibre, I will be a very happy listener.
I'm definitely moving on in The Royals Collection, with the Park Avenue Prince meeting his Princess.
****************************************************
He is Dad first, King of Wall Street second...
I really liked King of Wall Street. I found myself sucked into the storyline from the first pages and the more I got to know Max, the more I liked him. First of all, he puts his daughter above everything. That's kind of refreshing as most books I read "say" that the hero or heroine put their children first, but Max "shows" that he does. He knows what's going on in Amanda's life and plays an active role in bringing her up. He has a good relationship with Amanda's mother, Pandora and Pandora's husband, Jason, as well. Like I said, refreshingly different. Max's work is a priority but only to support Amanda to the best of his ability.
Now, Max, he's no monk but he doesn't allow himself to have relationships because his life is full enough as it is. When Pandora and Jason head overseas for work, it's time for Max to become a full-time parent. This will definitely curtail his "play-time" and he has a wee bit of frustration that he needs to work out. See, there's this new woman in his office and he can't stop thinking about bending her over his desk.
Harper, hate to say it, but she's got some issues and those issues started at the hands of her neglectful dad. Any relationship she starts is guaranteed to be an uphill battle. So, with her "issues" added to the fact that she has the HOTS for her boss, I'm going to need a lot of convincing that this is a good idea.
I enjoyed King of Wall Street and finished with a big smile on my face. This was my first read by Louise Bay and will definitely not be my last. Her writing has a touch of humour, a touch of sweetness, mixed with a whole lot of spice. The characters were interesting, the storyline kept my attention and the connection between the couple was very easy to see.
If you're looking for a HOT and STEAMY office romance with a single father devoted to his family, then I definitely recommend King of Wall Street.
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November 18, 2022
R A T I N G: 3 stars to King of Wall Street ★ ★ ★
My second book from Louise Bay and King of Wall Street follows suit with its later written cousin in the Gentleman series, The Wrong Gentleman, apropos to the reading wake of both. This first instalment into the Royals series plated up an offer I couldn't refuse. With a medley of favourable tropes that embrace a single father storyline, a billionaire bossman at odds with a new hire and an enemies to lovers theme, one could call me athirst to mark another ripe romance off of my list of delectables. The flaring chemistry was fantastic, a hate energy already seemed to be established, the heat rating for it was just a degree short of 'give me more', and romancing friends, I do enjoy the tense push and pull of a hate to love romance when you just know what sits under the surface of the distaste or how easily that energy might shift in the right moments. In all the right ways. I'm saying all the best things because it can be that good. However, after reading a few enemies to lovers romances in my time, that fragile dynamic can also work the temperamental energy in unfavourable ways, and as such, It can also go just badly for me just as quickly.
This story was interesting from the start I admit, and before I get into why this fell out of favour in a few different ways, I must begin by saying that my aversion did eventually plateau when I felt a bit more comfortable with what I was reading and where things were going. It's definitely a swoony 'head over heels' notion to know that a hero is so affected by his heroine that she seems to infiltrate the barrier of even his strongest efforts to remain functional, but I don't like the idea of a hero using his attraction to the heroine as a reason for unprofessional prejudice. That's where Max's character initially went wrong. He has a solid reputation for being iron-clad and even unforgiving, and while I can deal with an abrasive boss who deigns to acknowledge his employees, one who pushes the onus of what he feels onto the apple of his eye by belittling her in the way of scraping at her professional performance because he can't deal with his feelings doesn't particularly receive well. I actually thought Max would have a semi-acceptable reason for his prejudice, but apparently, Harper's singled out by him because he doesn't know what to do with his attraction bar being beheld by the grudge of what that means for him.
While I didn't take to the 'I like you so I've decided to hate you' playground pecking approach in the space of a professional setting, I bring up something that never sits well in my romance-chasing soul. It's typically cause for rinsing my hands of a story almost immediately in most cases. Sexual scenarios involving a hero with other women, or even knowing that post-meeting the heroine the hero still maintains an active sex life - despite being extremely attracted to her (as Max was) - is a major deterrent for me. It also goes a long way in snuffing the root of anticipation I might have had brewing for the couple. There is no cheating here but Harper does once get a priority seat in hearing the rattling soundtrack of Max's vigorous lovemaking. For me? this representation is never something I relish. I never see it as a pleasurable route to satisfaction in any way. And despite Max's later comment about being lost to Harper from the start, I doubt he maintained celibacy for her, which always feels like a conflict of interest to me. While Max and Harper are presented similarly in the fact that they have little interest in relationships (much preferring the casual type), it's yet Max (the guy) who has a fragrant, frequent sex life, and yet Harper (the girl) who has one not worth mentioning. If it's a case of showing Max's sexual power and prowess for the desirability factor, that can be achieved through sexual situations with the heroine he's meant to be paired with. So in short, this acts as quite the quick repellent to me because I fail to see the worth in it, even if I gathered myself to soldier through.
This brings me to my neighbouring point. That a hero usually always has the claim to a rampant sexual history and the heroine has the right to an average/below average experience with past partners until one ultra-masculine specimen comes along to right the offense in his chest thumping way is something I've always wanted writers to challenge a bit more rather than staying rigid to the course of extreme inadequacy (or inexperience) and extreme perfectionism. The guy getting the best sex life and the girl getting the worst is something I really want writers to push up against rather than to blend into with the old male-centric grain. Not wanting to date, being love averse or celibate is absolutely reasonable because a character's relationship with sex is dependent on who they are as people, what's desired in life, the stories that have shaped them and what's wanted from it...
Harper has had past relationships but - and I'm speaking with many romances in mind - the representation generally and often feels entrenched in male power and female powerlessness. Harper's a great sexual match for the Wall Street King, and they both have a fantastic sexual experience with each other, but as I dismount my philosophical horse, it comes down to a simple question: why simply is the heroine made to wait rather than want for her own sexual awakening? Or to even have had a past where she's enjoyed building connections and sexual relationships with the people she's known? If the hero is the biggest, baddest most virile beast in the jungle, then I want the heroine to be the biggest baddest power-fulfilling feline in the forest just because she can be. I love an alpha male, but I also love an alpha female who has all the realistic/flawed/vulnerable traits we love to see in women but one who still shares an awareness with what she deserves, indulges her own instincts and enjoys what mother nature wouldn't fault her for enjoying. I think fiction should really try to emulate this a bit more. Or perhaps I'm wearing a bit thin reading about sexually free heroes and sexually frustrated heroines. Now that I've carved a space for these thoughts? I shall stop rambling before this point turns into a non-point.
Interestingly enough, the big bad of Wall Street is somebody who gradually grew on me and the further I made headway into the story, the more I began to see a man with integrity and who might have been poor with communication but who knew how to care. A family man who, outside the professional setting, felt just as lost as any other parent; a father who'd decided that his daughter would always be number one while struggling with both rephasing into a full-time parent and not easing well into her growth as a young woman. One such man who had the appeal of a squealing truck on the warpath turns out to be one such man who was made to be more smypathisable and likeable than I expected him to be. The other side of his life makes Max more accessible as a human being with his own personal life. His tendency to auditorially check out often with his sisters and daughter was quite funny. As mentioned I didn't like that he made a reasonable professional situation utterly personal - and Harper is guilty of the same in the final conflict - but underneath it all, I saw a good guy under that well-tailored suit and disinterest. Eloquent in the language of business but inarticulate in the personal land of love. But while Bay's hero grew on me, her heroine sadly did not.
Harper's Introduced as this truly career-focussed, career-driven woman who's deflated by the man she idolised during her educational years. Sounds great so far. And after finally making it into Max's company, the heroism dies when her fantasy swiftly wears off. Even better. Neither of the MCs sat well with me in turns, and while Harper found her boss to be disappointing and disenchanting, it was Harper that I found to be equally disappointing and disenchanting. She was really bothered by Max's coldness and rudeness (even dubbed him that non-affectionate eight letter word that starts with an 'a' ad nauseam), and instead of using the opportunity to focus on herself and how she might thrive, she's always in some way, desperate for his approval. I didn't understand why Max's distance became so problematic. He's a wealthy power suit and should probably be taken as such, but I think an inferiority complex tied to an absentee father and a misleading daydream is a strong thing in play. She's also tremendously complaint-prone. She boasted a picture of how much she hates her boss, which becomes meaningless when she continually melts in the presence of Max's sex appeal. It was that situation where one overlooks a hero's behaviour because his masculinity was too potent to spurn. Harper really felt like the human embodiment of a switch, as was the story in many ways. She constantly bemoaned how terrible and awful Max was but was eagerly quick to eat up the lust and sample the sex whenever it was on offer. So, I did struggle with her character because, whenever it came to Max, she felt like the female equivalent of 'the boy who cried wolf.'
I'm not a personal chaser of the 'i hate you but I'll still get my sexual jollies with you' interpretation of a romance. Unless it's done in a way I like. I'd rather the hate take time to turn and burn into something less hateful with a show of one's character before the protagonists actually give into the sexual draw. That's where the development is. The author, however, only pulls off an impulsive transition in place of one that phases into clean stages. Bar Harper's complicated relationship with her father, which really did imbue her with some depth and flawed importance, she wasn't particularly interesting. She had spunk, smarts, stubbornness and Independence (some great traits) but she didn't bring an awful lot of attraction to the story. Next to Max, who had a better trajectory, her representation felt very stroppy and I stopped humouring her back and forth struggle the more she cavilled. She had a lot to learn in a professional sense which pinpoints a great undercurrent, and it was nice to later see Max give her guidance, which really brought home her new newness Into the Industry. I was also disappointed that Harper's relationship with her mom isn't available for us to see. It would have delivered a nice comparative to her soured relationship with her father, and yet, even as her mother exists off-page, I'm left unaware of how strong or weak their mother/daughter relationship really is.
I did like that Max's resistance to a relationship fell on a very realistic, admirable reason. It wasn't particularly down to a deep-seated fear of being in one, but because he believes his daughter deserves the best of his time. And because he believes - like many a hero - his life is mighty fine just the way it is. Max makes quite some strides though, and even though the emotional current in this book is a very mild in-and-out shadow, Max's feelings felt more developed than Harper's. Grace was also a great secondary character, especially in the role of providing intervening judgement calls Harper needed to hear now and then. I don't expect flawless representations in a character but the heroine's tendency towards being pretense-prone, and even a bit unevolved in a personal growth and mindset sort of way, made her difficult to like as a leading lady. While the story can still be enjoyed because there's plenty of potential in the writing and the outline, the execution doesn't deliver with its best effort. All required components are on the page but as a personal opinion, I'm not sure it's tackled with the finest hands.
In terms of the romance, there's definitely room for development. The bedroom scenes are second to none but there is a lack of acute depth. While their relationship feels hateful and immediate to begin with, It's hard to really read into where the enmity comes from, especially on Harper's side (even if Max quote on quote is a bit of an alphahole initially), and their lack of experience with personal romantic relationships does show. As a couple, Max and Harper do sort of do things backwards, and the epilogue is a testament to that. But from a personal reading experience, an epilogue is much better received when there's an adequate emotional resolve and emotional engagement throughout the story, and that's what makes this feel like a 'scratch the surface' sort of romance with a hero and heroine who barely scratch the surface with each other. Everything feels very delayed. If the smut had been coupled with a more developed emotional chemistry, this would have been better. From Harper's telling, her career is a big cornerstone in her life, she wants a lot from it and the story talks a big game of how diehard she's been to be a functioning member of Max's company and to work along the Wall Street idol in person. That's why it was inconsistent to me that the author leaves out what becomes of Harper's professional aims when she departs from Max's company. This could have been cleared up with a few lines of what happens with her in that area of her life.
If you're looking for a hate-to-sex-to-love, horrible boss/stubborn employee with benefits romance that works in reverse, this is definitely for you! The dream-reaching afterglow doesn't last very long for a junior researcher when her romanticised hopes for a power-partners professional relationship with the Max King dies like a limp insect. The man, the myth and the Wall Street legend isn't the man Harper spent her schooling years shadowing from a distance, and while his lack of amiability changes the narrative quite quickly, she's still determined to do her best and be her best. But with two sides to every person, her demon boss has another of his own. The King of Wall Street, as the title rightly takes ownership of, is exactly what Max King is. He's cultivated a big name for himself in the financial district, and with a reputation for being a cut-throat but hugely profitable businessman, he knows his power and he knows his position. One can't be a moneyed man without a seat of power to house his mighty money-making tush, and his stands poised as any other pillar on a famed white-collared street, King & Associates. Not many realise that he's a single father among a family of women who keep pushing and pecking at him to find a life partner. While there might be some truth to never meeting your heroes, professional one's included, there might also be some truth in having some fun with them anyway. With easy writing, a potent sexual pull, a family dynamic and a fast-chemistry, slow-development romance, King of Wall Street is a standalone Royals romance with a HFN conclusion. Recommended to romance readers and Louise Bay fans who reckon this a reccomended read!
Content Warning: multiple detailed sex scenes, swearing and a situation where the heroine overhears the hero with an OW. No cheating.
-----------------------------------------------
Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @TheVicarious1
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts
-----------------------------------------------
My second book from Louise Bay and King of Wall Street follows suit with its later written cousin in the Gentleman series, The Wrong Gentleman, apropos to the reading wake of both. This first instalment into the Royals series plated up an offer I couldn't refuse. With a medley of favourable tropes that embrace a single father storyline, a billionaire bossman at odds with a new hire and an enemies to lovers theme, one could call me athirst to mark another ripe romance off of my list of delectables. The flaring chemistry was fantastic, a hate energy already seemed to be established, the heat rating for it was just a degree short of 'give me more', and romancing friends, I do enjoy the tense push and pull of a hate to love romance when you just know what sits under the surface of the distaste or how easily that energy might shift in the right moments. In all the right ways. I'm saying all the best things because it can be that good. However, after reading a few enemies to lovers romances in my time, that fragile dynamic can also work the temperamental energy in unfavourable ways, and as such, It can also go just badly for me just as quickly.
This story was interesting from the start I admit, and before I get into why this fell out of favour in a few different ways, I must begin by saying that my aversion did eventually plateau when I felt a bit more comfortable with what I was reading and where things were going. It's definitely a swoony 'head over heels' notion to know that a hero is so affected by his heroine that she seems to infiltrate the barrier of even his strongest efforts to remain functional, but I don't like the idea of a hero using his attraction to the heroine as a reason for unprofessional prejudice. That's where Max's character initially went wrong. He has a solid reputation for being iron-clad and even unforgiving, and while I can deal with an abrasive boss who deigns to acknowledge his employees, one who pushes the onus of what he feels onto the apple of his eye by belittling her in the way of scraping at her professional performance because he can't deal with his feelings doesn't particularly receive well. I actually thought Max would have a semi-acceptable reason for his prejudice, but apparently, Harper's singled out by him because he doesn't know what to do with his attraction bar being beheld by the grudge of what that means for him.
While I didn't take to the 'I like you so I've decided to hate you' playground pecking approach in the space of a professional setting, I bring up something that never sits well in my romance-chasing soul. It's typically cause for rinsing my hands of a story almost immediately in most cases. Sexual scenarios involving a hero with other women, or even knowing that post-meeting the heroine the hero still maintains an active sex life - despite being extremely attracted to her (as Max was) - is a major deterrent for me. It also goes a long way in snuffing the root of anticipation I might have had brewing for the couple. There is no cheating here but Harper does once get a priority seat in hearing the rattling soundtrack of Max's vigorous lovemaking. For me? this representation is never something I relish. I never see it as a pleasurable route to satisfaction in any way. And despite Max's later comment about being lost to Harper from the start, I doubt he maintained celibacy for her, which always feels like a conflict of interest to me. While Max and Harper are presented similarly in the fact that they have little interest in relationships (much preferring the casual type), it's yet Max (the guy) who has a fragrant, frequent sex life, and yet Harper (the girl) who has one not worth mentioning. If it's a case of showing Max's sexual power and prowess for the desirability factor, that can be achieved through sexual situations with the heroine he's meant to be paired with. So in short, this acts as quite the quick repellent to me because I fail to see the worth in it, even if I gathered myself to soldier through.
This brings me to my neighbouring point. That a hero usually always has the claim to a rampant sexual history and the heroine has the right to an average/below average experience with past partners until one ultra-masculine specimen comes along to right the offense in his chest thumping way is something I've always wanted writers to challenge a bit more rather than staying rigid to the course of extreme inadequacy (or inexperience) and extreme perfectionism. The guy getting the best sex life and the girl getting the worst is something I really want writers to push up against rather than to blend into with the old male-centric grain. Not wanting to date, being love averse or celibate is absolutely reasonable because a character's relationship with sex is dependent on who they are as people, what's desired in life, the stories that have shaped them and what's wanted from it...
Harper has had past relationships but - and I'm speaking with many romances in mind - the representation generally and often feels entrenched in male power and female powerlessness. Harper's a great sexual match for the Wall Street King, and they both have a fantastic sexual experience with each other, but as I dismount my philosophical horse, it comes down to a simple question: why simply is the heroine made to wait rather than want for her own sexual awakening? Or to even have had a past where she's enjoyed building connections and sexual relationships with the people she's known? If the hero is the biggest, baddest most virile beast in the jungle, then I want the heroine to be the biggest baddest power-fulfilling feline in the forest just because she can be. I love an alpha male, but I also love an alpha female who has all the realistic/flawed/vulnerable traits we love to see in women but one who still shares an awareness with what she deserves, indulges her own instincts and enjoys what mother nature wouldn't fault her for enjoying. I think fiction should really try to emulate this a bit more. Or perhaps I'm wearing a bit thin reading about sexually free heroes and sexually frustrated heroines. Now that I've carved a space for these thoughts? I shall stop rambling before this point turns into a non-point.
Interestingly enough, the big bad of Wall Street is somebody who gradually grew on me and the further I made headway into the story, the more I began to see a man with integrity and who might have been poor with communication but who knew how to care. A family man who, outside the professional setting, felt just as lost as any other parent; a father who'd decided that his daughter would always be number one while struggling with both rephasing into a full-time parent and not easing well into her growth as a young woman. One such man who had the appeal of a squealing truck on the warpath turns out to be one such man who was made to be more smypathisable and likeable than I expected him to be. The other side of his life makes Max more accessible as a human being with his own personal life. His tendency to auditorially check out often with his sisters and daughter was quite funny. As mentioned I didn't like that he made a reasonable professional situation utterly personal - and Harper is guilty of the same in the final conflict - but underneath it all, I saw a good guy under that well-tailored suit and disinterest. Eloquent in the language of business but inarticulate in the personal land of love. But while Bay's hero grew on me, her heroine sadly did not.
Harper's Introduced as this truly career-focussed, career-driven woman who's deflated by the man she idolised during her educational years. Sounds great so far. And after finally making it into Max's company, the heroism dies when her fantasy swiftly wears off. Even better. Neither of the MCs sat well with me in turns, and while Harper found her boss to be disappointing and disenchanting, it was Harper that I found to be equally disappointing and disenchanting. She was really bothered by Max's coldness and rudeness (even dubbed him that non-affectionate eight letter word that starts with an 'a' ad nauseam), and instead of using the opportunity to focus on herself and how she might thrive, she's always in some way, desperate for his approval. I didn't understand why Max's distance became so problematic. He's a wealthy power suit and should probably be taken as such, but I think an inferiority complex tied to an absentee father and a misleading daydream is a strong thing in play. She's also tremendously complaint-prone. She boasted a picture of how much she hates her boss, which becomes meaningless when she continually melts in the presence of Max's sex appeal. It was that situation where one overlooks a hero's behaviour because his masculinity was too potent to spurn. Harper really felt like the human embodiment of a switch, as was the story in many ways. She constantly bemoaned how terrible and awful Max was but was eagerly quick to eat up the lust and sample the sex whenever it was on offer. So, I did struggle with her character because, whenever it came to Max, she felt like the female equivalent of 'the boy who cried wolf.'
I'm not a personal chaser of the 'i hate you but I'll still get my sexual jollies with you' interpretation of a romance. Unless it's done in a way I like. I'd rather the hate take time to turn and burn into something less hateful with a show of one's character before the protagonists actually give into the sexual draw. That's where the development is. The author, however, only pulls off an impulsive transition in place of one that phases into clean stages. Bar Harper's complicated relationship with her father, which really did imbue her with some depth and flawed importance, she wasn't particularly interesting. She had spunk, smarts, stubbornness and Independence (some great traits) but she didn't bring an awful lot of attraction to the story. Next to Max, who had a better trajectory, her representation felt very stroppy and I stopped humouring her back and forth struggle the more she cavilled. She had a lot to learn in a professional sense which pinpoints a great undercurrent, and it was nice to later see Max give her guidance, which really brought home her new newness Into the Industry. I was also disappointed that Harper's relationship with her mom isn't available for us to see. It would have delivered a nice comparative to her soured relationship with her father, and yet, even as her mother exists off-page, I'm left unaware of how strong or weak their mother/daughter relationship really is.
I did like that Max's resistance to a relationship fell on a very realistic, admirable reason. It wasn't particularly down to a deep-seated fear of being in one, but because he believes his daughter deserves the best of his time. And because he believes - like many a hero - his life is mighty fine just the way it is. Max makes quite some strides though, and even though the emotional current in this book is a very mild in-and-out shadow, Max's feelings felt more developed than Harper's. Grace was also a great secondary character, especially in the role of providing intervening judgement calls Harper needed to hear now and then. I don't expect flawless representations in a character but the heroine's tendency towards being pretense-prone, and even a bit unevolved in a personal growth and mindset sort of way, made her difficult to like as a leading lady. While the story can still be enjoyed because there's plenty of potential in the writing and the outline, the execution doesn't deliver with its best effort. All required components are on the page but as a personal opinion, I'm not sure it's tackled with the finest hands.
In terms of the romance, there's definitely room for development. The bedroom scenes are second to none but there is a lack of acute depth. While their relationship feels hateful and immediate to begin with, It's hard to really read into where the enmity comes from, especially on Harper's side (even if Max quote on quote is a bit of an alphahole initially), and their lack of experience with personal romantic relationships does show. As a couple, Max and Harper do sort of do things backwards, and the epilogue is a testament to that. But from a personal reading experience, an epilogue is much better received when there's an adequate emotional resolve and emotional engagement throughout the story, and that's what makes this feel like a 'scratch the surface' sort of romance with a hero and heroine who barely scratch the surface with each other. Everything feels very delayed. If the smut had been coupled with a more developed emotional chemistry, this would have been better. From Harper's telling, her career is a big cornerstone in her life, she wants a lot from it and the story talks a big game of how diehard she's been to be a functioning member of Max's company and to work along the Wall Street idol in person. That's why it was inconsistent to me that the author leaves out what becomes of Harper's professional aims when she departs from Max's company. This could have been cleared up with a few lines of what happens with her in that area of her life.
If you're looking for a hate-to-sex-to-love, horrible boss/stubborn employee with benefits romance that works in reverse, this is definitely for you! The dream-reaching afterglow doesn't last very long for a junior researcher when her romanticised hopes for a power-partners professional relationship with the Max King dies like a limp insect. The man, the myth and the Wall Street legend isn't the man Harper spent her schooling years shadowing from a distance, and while his lack of amiability changes the narrative quite quickly, she's still determined to do her best and be her best. But with two sides to every person, her demon boss has another of his own. The King of Wall Street, as the title rightly takes ownership of, is exactly what Max King is. He's cultivated a big name for himself in the financial district, and with a reputation for being a cut-throat but hugely profitable businessman, he knows his power and he knows his position. One can't be a moneyed man without a seat of power to house his mighty money-making tush, and his stands poised as any other pillar on a famed white-collared street, King & Associates. Not many realise that he's a single father among a family of women who keep pushing and pecking at him to find a life partner. While there might be some truth to never meeting your heroes, professional one's included, there might also be some truth in having some fun with them anyway. With easy writing, a potent sexual pull, a family dynamic and a fast-chemistry, slow-development romance, King of Wall Street is a standalone Royals romance with a HFN conclusion. Recommended to romance readers and Louise Bay fans who reckon this a reccomended read!
Content Warning: multiple detailed sex scenes, swearing and a situation where the heroine overhears the hero with an OW. No cheating.
-----------------------------------------------
Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @TheVicarious1
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts
-----------------------------------------------
February 21, 2017
King of Wall Street
Louise Bay
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was intrigued what was the fuss between Harper and Max when I read Sam and Grace's story first. I kinda mixed the volumes up, so I read their story.
A guy's typical reaction when they see a woman they like, you know they turn cranky when they don't even notice them.
Max cannot control himself around Harper, and Harper has her eyes on the price, to work for Max King. The problem is they want each other so bad they cannot stand each other. You get me?
A very typical story run down, maybe what I liked about the story is it didn't have too many complications on it. Unlike Sam's and Grace story which is far more complicated given Sam's history. What I'm really getting at is if you wanted to read a walk-in-the-park read, no hard heartbreak, no cheating whatsoever you should read this. Max is downright sweet, plus he is a DILF. You cannot ask for more. LOL
Catch Louise Bay updates on her website Click Here to go to her website
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Louise Bay
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was intrigued what was the fuss between Harper and Max when I read Sam and Grace's story first. I kinda mixed the volumes up, so I read their story.
A guy's typical reaction when they see a woman they like, you know they turn cranky when they don't even notice them.
Max cannot control himself around Harper, and Harper has her eyes on the price, to work for Max King. The problem is they want each other so bad they cannot stand each other. You get me?
A very typical story run down, maybe what I liked about the story is it didn't have too many complications on it. Unlike Sam's and Grace story which is far more complicated given Sam's history. What I'm really getting at is if you wanted to read a walk-in-the-park read, no hard heartbreak, no cheating whatsoever you should read this. Max is downright sweet, plus he is a DILF. You cannot ask for more. LOL
Catch Louise Bay updates on her website Click Here to go to her website
November 22, 2016
The King of Wall St. Max King has a problem, he is lusting after one of his employee's the beautiful Harper Jayne the only thing is by trying to keep his distance from her it's only making his body temperature hotter and now he finds out that they live in the same building and she has struck up a friendship with his 14 year old daughter, now there is no escape from their mutual obvious attraction to each other. I really liked this book, the story line was engrossing, the sex was hot, the characters lovable and the family dynamics between Max, his daughter and his sisters was lovely. Narrated by Andi Arndt who has the most sexiest male voice and the sexy as sin voice of Sebastian York how can you ever go wrong with two of the best narrators on the planet Oh! My!.
September 5, 2016
**3.5 Stars **
Max King is the King of Wall Street. In Manhattan he's a force to be reckoned with. He's stable, no nonsense, go-getter that works hard for his company and to be the best. But in Connecticut he's a single dad trying to navigate life with his 14 year old daughter, Amanda.
Max lives two worlds, one as a top notch professional who gets the job done and the other as a patient loving father. I am a sucker for single dad love stories! And what I loved most about Max was I saw the tough side and the loving, sappy side of him.
Harper Jayne has always wanted to make it to the top and working at King and Associates has been her dream for a long time, but what she was not expecting was for her boss to be such an asshole.
Max and Harper are drawn together regardless of their less than cordial feelings toward each other. This was my first Louise Bay book and it was a refreshing, light and easy read. That perfect in between read for when you need something fun and not a lot of angst.
Max King is the King of Wall Street. In Manhattan he's a force to be reckoned with. He's stable, no nonsense, go-getter that works hard for his company and to be the best. But in Connecticut he's a single dad trying to navigate life with his 14 year old daughter, Amanda.
Max lives two worlds, one as a top notch professional who gets the job done and the other as a patient loving father. I am a sucker for single dad love stories! And what I loved most about Max was I saw the tough side and the loving, sappy side of him.
Harper Jayne has always wanted to make it to the top and working at King and Associates has been her dream for a long time, but what she was not expecting was for her boss to be such an asshole.
Max and Harper are drawn together regardless of their less than cordial feelings toward each other. This was my first Louise Bay book and it was a refreshing, light and easy read. That perfect in between read for when you need something fun and not a lot of angst.
March 16, 2021
I'm a sucker for good hot romance stories. 9 of 10 stars
October 15, 2020
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I was really digging the beginning of this book. While I did find the h a little annoying and immature even at first, I barreled through and was liking the way it was going. Then she just continued to bug and pretty much ruined the story for me. She was so immature and even rude! She kept on calling the H an as$hole, and while he could’ve worked on his communication and delivery at times, I feel like she was the as$hole! Then when her (self imposed) drama came to a head, she didn’t grovel like I feel like she needed to! The ending felt rushed and half as$ed to where we were thrown the ingredients to get an ‘HEA’, but I’m still not going to call it one because it didn’t feel like it. Super frustrating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Harper and Max’s story. Harper works for Max’s company as a lower level researcher. She is frustrated with his lack of encouragement and when he is tougher on her than it seems he is to anyone else. Max is just trying to fight the strong attraction he feels to Harper. This is hard for him with his job and his teen daughter that he newly has full custody of. They give in to their attraction and start a casual fling that turns into more. There are some sexy times, some sweet scenes with the daughter, and some work/family drama...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Harper and Max’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they are more like f-buddies to more.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Max. I liked him! I loved how he was with his daughter and I appreciated how he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 2 stars. Harper. She was tolerable for about half of the book and then she just acted way too immature for me.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: Not technically
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had alright closure with what I would call a HFN ending, but I’m sure others would be fine with calling this a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: I was really digging the beginning of this book. While I did find the h a little annoying and immature even at first, I barreled through and was liking the way it was going. Then she just continued to bug and pretty much ruined the story for me. She was so immature and even rude! She kept on calling the H an as$hole, and while he could’ve worked on his communication and delivery at times, I feel like she was the as$hole! Then when her (self imposed) drama came to a head, she didn’t grovel like I feel like she needed to! The ending felt rushed and half as$ed to where we were thrown the ingredients to get an ‘HEA’, but I’m still not going to call it one because it didn’t feel like it. Super frustrating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Harper and Max’s story. Harper works for Max’s company as a lower level researcher. She is frustrated with his lack of encouragement and when he is tougher on her than it seems he is to anyone else. Max is just trying to fight the strong attraction he feels to Harper. This is hard for him with his job and his teen daughter that he newly has full custody of. They give in to their attraction and start a casual fling that turns into more. There are some sexy times, some sweet scenes with the daughter, and some work/family drama...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Harper and Max’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they are more like f-buddies to more.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Max. I liked him! I loved how he was with his daughter and I appreciated how he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 2 stars. Harper. She was tolerable for about half of the book and then she just acted way too immature for me.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: Not technically
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had alright closure with what I would call a HFN ending, but I’m sure others would be fine with calling this a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
March 11, 2020
Review Edit: This was a horrible book that had no substance at all. I was going to try and skim through it again because I thought there was cheating involved but apparently there was not. I disliked the book so much that I deleted from my account as soon as I read it so I'm certainly not going to re-purchase it again to revise my review.
I'm not sure if I got it mixed up with another book I read so much But I certainly didn't want to give false info.
I'm not sure if I got it mixed up with another book I read so much But I certainly didn't want to give false info.
September 5, 2016
4* banging the king STARS!
My first read and I only have minor issues. This book was really hype in my facebook because ughh, that cover! Just love at the sexiness. I could say this all about power and money. I didn't read the blurb so surprised to know that the hero in this book is a father. I mean, he has a daughter and I rarely enjoyed single parent character but this one kinda blew me away. In good way.
Hard-ass boss? Yeah, that's who Harper Jayne working for. Working with Max King was one of her dreams but in reality it was sucks. Max isn't an easy boss to pleased. Basically, he's an ass. Max really proud of his job and achievement. Harper is one hell of distraction of temptation for him. He did everything he could to avoid Harper in any condition even when he founds out that her junior researcher is in the same building. As uncomfortable it seems, they really HOT for each other.
Office romance isn't a new thing for me. But this one includes as neighbor. Harper is a determined and hard-working woman. Yeah, I liked this girl. But she has bad judgement and kinda annoyed me. She did amazing job but horrible at relationship. Same applied with Max. Both of them has a lot DESPERATE sex almost everyday. I think it's hard to keep it as casual sex especially Harper banging her boss-slash-neighbor.
Max has separate lives between work and family. Family is his escape. Max did good job raising his daughter, Amanda. I enjoyed their times together. As a children, Amanda really independent and adorable. But, Max sometimes made me roll eyes. He's unprofessional towards Harper because he's boning around her since the first time. That's why he harsh with her but after he 'released' all his frustration, he became another person. Softer and patient. Honesty is the best quality and Max did everything he could to balance some problems with Harper.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Well-written and predictable plot. Nothing surprised me because that was obvious. They're in lust with each other and comfort turns into love. As the sex, no complaints. It has right amount of sexiness. I'm overly thinking about their age (Yeah, some reviewer managed to mention this) because it was confusing.
Towards the end, kinda disappointed to see how Harper and Max turns into cliche couple. Overly sentimental with everything. Also the daddy issue with Harper and her father. Based on her story, I don't like him. . This was an easy and enjoyable read. There is chemistry from the start and HEA in the end. Liked it but not enough to loved it.
We’d first touched, kissed, fucked when I’d only known him as a career driven, ruthless, arrogant egomaniac. And somehow, his life outside work made him all the more attractive. And I knew I had to fight it.
My first read and I only have minor issues. This book was really hype in my facebook because ughh, that cover! Just love at the sexiness. I could say this all about power and money. I didn't read the blurb so surprised to know that the hero in this book is a father. I mean, he has a daughter and I rarely enjoyed single parent character but this one kinda blew me away. In good way.
Hard-ass boss? Yeah, that's who Harper Jayne working for. Working with Max King was one of her dreams but in reality it was sucks. Max isn't an easy boss to pleased. Basically, he's an ass. Max really proud of his job and achievement. Harper is one hell of distraction of temptation for him. He did everything he could to avoid Harper in any condition even when he founds out that her junior researcher is in the same building. As uncomfortable it seems, they really HOT for each other.
Office romance isn't a new thing for me. But this one includes as neighbor. Harper is a determined and hard-working woman. Yeah, I liked this girl. But she has bad judgement and kinda annoyed me. She did amazing job but horrible at relationship. Same applied with Max. Both of them has a lot DESPERATE sex almost everyday. I think it's hard to keep it as casual sex especially Harper banging her boss-slash-neighbor.
“You’re beautiful. And sexy and—” I paused a second. I had to be careful I didn’t come first. “And you drive me crazy at work.” I thrust again. “Because I want to bend you over my desk and drive my cock into you. Just. Like. That.”
Max has separate lives between work and family. Family is his escape. Max did good job raising his daughter, Amanda. I enjoyed their times together. As a children, Amanda really independent and adorable. But, Max sometimes made me roll eyes. He's unprofessional towards Harper because he's boning around her since the first time. That's why he harsh with her but after he 'released' all his frustration, he became another person. Softer and patient. Honesty is the best quality and Max did everything he could to balance some problems with Harper.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Well-written and predictable plot. Nothing surprised me because that was obvious. They're in lust with each other and comfort turns into love. As the sex, no complaints. It has right amount of sexiness. I'm overly thinking about their age (Yeah, some reviewer managed to mention this) because it was confusing.
Towards the end, kinda disappointed to see how Harper and Max turns into cliche couple. Overly sentimental with everything. Also the daddy issue with Harper and her father. Based on her story, I don't like him. . This was an easy and enjoyable read. There is chemistry from the start and HEA in the end. Liked it but not enough to loved it.
March 24, 2017
Louise Bay is an author who I've been meaning to read for a while, and I have to say my first experience with her was a pretty good one.
I do love it when first impressions aren't all they seem and that is very much the case with Max King. Yes, he has that strong presence about him that goes hand-in-hand with being a wealthy, successful businessman, but he also has softer side, one where his family takes priority and he's just a dad wrangling life raising a teenage daughter which added a lovely angle to the overall story.
"Don’t get me wrong, I love my dad. He’s just not good with women."
Harper complimented him perfectly: she may be a little quick to judge and put her brain in gear after she speaks, but she's headstrong, determined and very independent. But when it comes to each other, she and Max are fighting a losing battle, there's only one place this boss/employee relationship is heading and it's in a very steamy direction.
"Forbes was right when they said you were talented."
It didn't hold any huge surprises to the storyline and I do think there was room for a little more development in certain areas, but that didn't detract from an easygoing, sexy, enjoyable read with fabulous characters and I'll certainly be reading more from Louise in the future.
I do love it when first impressions aren't all they seem and that is very much the case with Max King. Yes, he has that strong presence about him that goes hand-in-hand with being a wealthy, successful businessman, but he also has softer side, one where his family takes priority and he's just a dad wrangling life raising a teenage daughter which added a lovely angle to the overall story.
"Don’t get me wrong, I love my dad. He’s just not good with women."
Harper complimented him perfectly: she may be a little quick to judge and put her brain in gear after she speaks, but she's headstrong, determined and very independent. But when it comes to each other, she and Max are fighting a losing battle, there's only one place this boss/employee relationship is heading and it's in a very steamy direction.
"Forbes was right when they said you were talented."
It didn't hold any huge surprises to the storyline and I do think there was room for a little more development in certain areas, but that didn't detract from an easygoing, sexy, enjoyable read with fabulous characters and I'll certainly be reading more from Louise in the future.
April 12, 2021
Otra historia romántica mediocre, llena de tópicos y clichés y hasta pelin machista. Me ha costado creerme el romance entre ellos, para mí ha sido más un tema de lujuria desatada. Y no me ha gustado nada que la protagonista pase de considerar el trabajo como el pilar de su vida buena parte de la novela y sea comprometerse con Max e importarle tres bledos, lo he visto muy incongruente. Por decir algo bueno, la relación del protagonista con su hija me ha gustado.
April 27, 2020
April 2020
DNF @ 35%
O-fucking-kay!!! That’s it. I give up!
If I read the words “asshole” and “iritating” one more time, I’m going to tear my eyes out from my face.
What the hell? This book is so forced and clichè. Girl with an “asshole boss” who is attracted to her so he’s treating her badly. YADA YADA YADA.
I don’t like the characters. The girl is so judgemental and whiney. The guy is... I don’t know, an asshole? Maybe? Because out of the 35 percent I’ve read in this book, 15 percent is composed with the word “asshole”
Jeez. What a waste 🙄
DNF @ 35%
O-fucking-kay!!! That’s it. I give up!
If I read the words “asshole” and “iritating” one more time, I’m going to tear my eyes out from my face.
What the hell? This book is so forced and clichè. Girl with an “asshole boss” who is attracted to her so he’s treating her badly. YADA YADA YADA.
I don’t like the characters. The girl is so judgemental and whiney. The guy is... I don’t know, an asshole? Maybe? Because out of the 35 percent I’ve read in this book, 15 percent is composed with the word “asshole”
Jeez. What a waste 🙄
August 12, 2020
3.5* para una historia tipica, pero que se lee bien y entretiene.
Esperaba al típico borde de siempre, pero no, Max me ha gustado como protagonista, por fin!!
Harper tambien ha sido buena protagonista, asique como pareja me han convencido.
La historia como decía antes es típica jefe/empleada, pero me ha enganchado que es lo que busco sobre todo en una historia.
De ahí que mi puntuación no sea mayor ...
Esperaba al típico borde de siempre, pero no, Max me ha gustado como protagonista, por fin!!
Harper tambien ha sido buena protagonista, asique como pareja me han convencido.
La historia como decía antes es típica jefe/empleada, pero me ha enganchado que es lo que busco sobre todo en una historia.
De ahí que mi puntuación no sea mayor ...
November 23, 2022
3.5 stars! I listened to the Audible version and enjoyed this book from start to Finnish. Narrators Sebastian York and Andi Arndt did great as always by giving both characters personality and attitude.
May 20, 2017
This book is fire y'all.
September 18, 2016
I love me a good office romance and I am a sucker for single dads, and this story blended the two together perfectly!
“She was like a drug. Every hit I took of her made me want more. I was chasing the high—her high.”
Max King, the King of Wall Street, has it all—a million dollar company, an amazing daughter, loving sisters. And it isn’t until Harper Jayne enters his life that he realizes that something was missing…
Harper has made it her mission in life to work at King & Associates. And now that she is finally there, she can’t believe that her boss is such an asshole. Or is he? Years of resenting her own father makes it hard for Harper to trust any man.
“Her presence, like some kind of fog, clouded my brain and judgement.”
The chemistry between these two was electric! You could feel it coming through the pages. I was ready to visit ‘Vegas’ every time!
“I needed to mark her, own her, climb inside her.”
But this story had so much more than just heat. It was full of heart; love and laughter, family and friendship. I adored Amanda and her relationship with Max. I even loved how close Max was to Pandora and Jason. Grace was a fabulous best friend and always had the best advice. I can’t wait for her story to come next!
Louise Bay has definitely hit it out of the park with this one! ~ Tiffany, 4.5 stars
“She was like a drug. Every hit I took of her made me want more. I was chasing the high—her high.”
Max King, the King of Wall Street, has it all—a million dollar company, an amazing daughter, loving sisters. And it isn’t until Harper Jayne enters his life that he realizes that something was missing…
Harper has made it her mission in life to work at King & Associates. And now that she is finally there, she can’t believe that her boss is such an asshole. Or is he? Years of resenting her own father makes it hard for Harper to trust any man.
“Her presence, like some kind of fog, clouded my brain and judgement.”
The chemistry between these two was electric! You could feel it coming through the pages. I was ready to visit ‘Vegas’ every time!
“I needed to mark her, own her, climb inside her.”
But this story had so much more than just heat. It was full of heart; love and laughter, family and friendship. I adored Amanda and her relationship with Max. I even loved how close Max was to Pandora and Jason. Grace was a fabulous best friend and always had the best advice. I can’t wait for her story to come next!
Louise Bay has definitely hit it out of the park with this one! ~ Tiffany, 4.5 stars
February 21, 2017
I was actually on a roll with reading semi-decent books. But for every high, there must be a low right?
Context: typical asshole boss who treats the h like sh*t because he's attracted to her.
Type of book: Dad romance. Not my preference. 14 year old daughter. Got his pre-college "friend" pregnant by accident. No drama there.
Age demographic: H around the 32-33 mark. The h 25-26? Not specified.
Worst scene: The h hears some hot sex in the penthouse above her apartment: headboard rattling, loud cries, noises and slurs.
I squeezed my thighs together just as the man yelled out to God and she gave a final, sharp scream that echoed through my box-filled apartment.”
Jhee. Who this could be? Oh, just Max. Her boss. Because she just had to hear that. I found it a new level of cringe. Why couldn't she have an amazing sex life, and he hear her?
Best part of the book:
It made me feel better that she wasn't all goo-goo eyes over him, called him an asshole and he was a little stumped by her. He fell faster than she did.
His daughter likes her. They jump through some hoops. Get the HEA with some more kids. Wasn't feeling this book.
Context: typical asshole boss who treats the h like sh*t because he's attracted to her.
Type of book: Dad romance. Not my preference. 14 year old daughter. Got his pre-college "friend" pregnant by accident. No drama there.
Age demographic: H around the 32-33 mark. The h 25-26? Not specified.
Worst scene: The h hears some hot sex in the penthouse above her apartment: headboard rattling, loud cries, noises and slurs.
I squeezed my thighs together just as the man yelled out to God and she gave a final, sharp scream that echoed through my box-filled apartment.”
Jhee. Who this could be? Oh, just Max. Her boss. Because she just had to hear that. I found it a new level of cringe. Why couldn't she have an amazing sex life, and he hear her?
Best part of the book:
It made me feel better that she wasn't all goo-goo eyes over him, called him an asshole and he was a little stumped by her. He fell faster than she did.
His daughter likes her. They jump through some hoops. Get the HEA with some more kids. Wasn't feeling this book.
September 11, 2016
'King of Wall Street' by Louise Bay is the story of Harper Jayne and Max King.
Harper has started working for Max a few months ago and he is having a hard time fighting off his attraction to her. Which is making he be harder and harsher towards her. Harper has issue of her own...yes she does find Max attractive too...but she has Daddy issue. Her father is a rich man too who only came by once in awhile and set expensive gift when he forgot her and her birthday. So she has placed Max in that box with her Dad and that is the reason she is fighting her feelings. But things can't be fought long and it comes to the point they just go for it. But will Max be able to overcome Harper's ideal of him and will she learn that not everyone is her father?
Harper has started working for Max a few months ago and he is having a hard time fighting off his attraction to her. Which is making he be harder and harsher towards her. Harper has issue of her own...yes she does find Max attractive too...but she has Daddy issue. Her father is a rich man too who only came by once in awhile and set expensive gift when he forgot her and her birthday. So she has placed Max in that box with her Dad and that is the reason she is fighting her feelings. But things can't be fought long and it comes to the point they just go for it. But will Max be able to overcome Harper's ideal of him and will she learn that not everyone is her father?
February 16, 2017
I can't resist a single dad book. This is the first one I have read with an older child and I loved it even more. Max was an awesome hero!
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