Bargaining with the Boss

Accidentally Yours #1

by Jennifer Shirk

Kinsley just wanted to have some fun for a change. Then she wakes up in a stranger’s bed, with her bridesmaid dress on backward and a hazy memory of what happened at her friend’s wedding. With a quick escape, she can get back to her predictable life. But then she meets her new boss—the same guy she’d woken up next to—and seeing him with a clear head doesn’t make him any less attractive.

Mixing business with pleasure has never been Damon’s style, and easily avoided, but the hotel he just bought comes with an unexpected perk—its manager. “Sensible” Kinsley today is as alluring as “impulsive” Kinsley was the night before, and she talks him into a deal. If she can turn around the hotel by the end of summer, he won’t tear it down to put up more profitable condominiums.

Their plan is simple…until falling for each other becomes more than they bargained for.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Humor, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Workplace Romance

Paperback

First published March 15, 2018

About the author

Jennifer Shirk is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, funny, closed-door rom-coms. If you love witty banter, swoony heroes, and happily-ever-afters that feel like Hallmark movies with a playful twist, her books are for you.

Her award-winning romances have topped Amazon charts in both holiday and series romance, making her stories a go-to escape for readers who want all the laughs and feels—without the steam.

Jennifer lives at the Jersey Shore with her husband, daughter, and two grateful rescue dogs. She’s also president of her local library board—proof that she’s happiest surrounded by stories.

Add her books to your shelves, follow her here on Goodreads, and join her newsletter for sneak peeks and fun extras: https://mailchi.mp/jennifershirk/jenn...

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but this is exactly one reason why I don't drink--I don't want to wake up, not knowing if I did something dumb or not, haha. Kinsley throws caution to the wind at a friend's wedding, trying to get over her ex fiance, and finds herself in that situation--what a nightmare, but sooo hilarious.

I don't think people should change to fit the ideal mold of someone else and that's what caused Kinsley's breakup. And it leaves her with a lack of self confidence. I loved watching her work to regain her identity and become who she truly is--a kind and genuine person. Of course, Damon is a part of that journey and he has his own demons to overcome and stand up to.

There is some snappy chemistry going on in this small, charming, old-fashioned town and it really makes me want to visit a place like this, where magic seems to drift through the air.

For my squeaky clean reading friends, you can obviously tell from the description that it isn't squeaky, but it is still clean and so much fun. I was laughing at times, blushing at others, and swooning throughout.

Content: mild-moderate romance (kissing, innuendo, talk of sex--nothing graphic at all); a handful of scattered mild-moderate language

*I received a copy through Netgalley, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions*

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, lighthearted read.

Waking up in a strangers bed would be quite the shock. Finding out he is your new boss...yeah, not fun. Well, it's definitely fun for readers! Kinsley and Damon had great chemistry right from the start. Kind of an unconventional way to start a working relationship, but it did add some fun tension. I actually really enjoyed how their relationship unfolded. Kinsley and Damon were both likable characters. I loved the setting and thought the plot was fun. Overall, this was a fun escape. I look forward to more in this series!

Content
Romance: Clean, mild innuendo and kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: None
Religious: None
Series: Accidentally Yours, Book One

Source: Netgalley

Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U

[Kathy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinsley has had a rough couple of years. With the passing of her father, her fiance calling off their wedding because she's too "sensible", and now her family's hotel being sold out from under her, she's in need of a little impulsive behavior.

So when the hottie from her friend's wedding reception starts chatting with her she decides to throw caution to the wind and allow him to buy her a drink or two. With a little liquid courage, she finds herself relaxing and letting loose. So what if she ends up kissing a perfect stranger... she's "impulsive" Kinsley tonight! And did I mention that he's a total hottie?!

But when she wakes up the next morning in a hotel room, with said hottie from the night before, "sensible" Kinsley makes an appearance and makes a mad dash to get the heck out of dodge! Little did she know that "impulsive" Kinsley from the night before had opened a big ol' can of worms!

From the moment Damon first saw Kinsley at the wedding reception, he was instantly drawn to her. There was a sadness in her eyes that he's all too familiar with. What's the harm in having a little fun? But they're both in for the shock of their lives. Kinsley meet Damon... your new boss. Damon meet Kinsley... your new General Manager for the hotel you just bought.

Business. It's not personal, It's business. But with Kinsley begging Damon for a chance to turn the hotel around and his dad and the board pushing Damon to sell, he's torn. He doesn't want to disappoint either one of them, but he knows eventually he will. Time. Damon just needs to buy a little time for Kinsley to work her magic and prove to his dad that he's not the failure he seems to think he is.

But when outside forces start rearing their ugly heads, trying to ruin the plans Damon has set in motion, he will have to choose. Business or his own happiness and love. Can he just walk away from Kinsley and move on with his life? Or will he stay and fight for happiness and love? He's never seen himself as a happily ever after kind of guy. But from the moment he laid eyes on Kinsley, he's never wanted something so bad in his life... even if he didn't see it at first.

*dreamy sigh*

What a great start to a fun new series! I have a feeling I know who the other books are going to be about and I can't wait! If you are looking for a book that can make you laugh out loud, let out little dreamy sighs and have you cheering for love to win then this book is definitely for you!

Have I mentioned before how much I love Ms. Shirk's books?! If not, then allow me to tell you now... I love her books! She's another one that can suck me in from the very beginning and I end up devouring her books in one sitting! And if you haven't guessed... I love it when that happens!

As for my casting... I have to admit I saw these two from the very beginning! I love them!



Content: Mild swearing and mild innuendo.

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*

Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

Whenever I’m in the mood for a sweet romance I know that Jennifer Shirk will deliver. I’ve enjoyed several of her books and Bargaining with the Boss is no exception.

I was a little nervous about this one at first based on the synopsis. If you are familiar with my reviews at all, you know that I don’t like the graphic stuff in my romance books and I was a little afraid this one would have more content than Shirk’s previous books. Thankfully, not everything is what it seems. Romance fans who prefer sweet and swoony to hot and heavy will definitely appreciate this one.

I liked both Kinsley and Damon. I liked how their working relationship was highlighted, along with the romance. I thought they worked really well together and I liked to see them become friends first instead of jumping straight into a relationship. I also liked Kinsley’s brother, Wade, and wish we would’ve got a little more of him.

Overall, I enjoyed Bargaining with the Boss. I liked how sweet the romance was, the characters, and the humor. The only thing I didn’t really like was that I thought the pace was a little on the slower side. It took me a little while to get into the story because I didn’t feel like there was much happening. I’m looking forward to reading more from Shirk.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars

[Jennifer Shirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, all. Yes, I'm cheating by reviewing my own book. :)
But I thought I'd tell you why I really love this story...
Two Reasons: Damon and the town of Cape Harmony.
Damon is my hero. He's had a traumatic past. (Haven't they all?) However, he still manages to be super charming and quite funny (if I do say so myself) in his interactions with my heroine, Kinsley.
I hope you love him too!
Cape Harmony is the fictional town I set for this new series but it is loosely based off my real hometown of Ocean City, NJ (America's Greatest Family Resort)
I always tell people it's easy to write romances when you actually live in a romance novel setting. Want to know more about it? Visit http://www.oceancityvacation.com/
Thanks for reading!!!

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, sweet, romantic comedy that is heart warming and leaves you smiling! Bridesmaid Kinsley decides to have some fun at the wedding reception but is unsure just what happened when she wakes up in the bed of the handsome man she’d been flirting with - so she make a run for it! Certain she’s left that all behind her, she’s shocked to discover that he is the new owner of what had been her family’s hotel, the hotel she is the manager for! She’d already been devastated to discover her brother had sold the hotel but now she’s determined to help it remain in business . . . . if only she can convince her boss to give her the chance to do so!

Her boss is Damon. He’s also working in his family business and is striving to prove his worth to his father - much to the chagrin of some other ambitious and manipulative board members. The last thing he needs is to be distracted from his goal to demolish the hotel, but Kinsley talks him into giving her a chance . . . . Can he convince her to give him a chance with her heart?

The story has a lovely, easy-going pace. There are plenty of twists and turns to thwart the potential romance to keep the reader page turning. The coastal community has some brilliant secondary characters and I really enjoyed how Kinsley had they working together for their mutual good. A lovely story with an endearing conclusion to keep you smiling! I hadn't realised this was the start of a new series until I came to write my review but I'm very happy to discover that - I can't wait to read the sequels and hope they'll share some of the same characters.

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5*

After Sabine Durrant's LIE WITH ME I needed something sweet and fluffy, and I thought Jennifer Shirk's BARGAINING WITH THE BOSS would be the perfect choice. As it turns out, I was one hundred percent correct!

Throughout the entirety of BARGAINING WITH THE BOSS I was grinning from ear to ear! It's downright adorable.

Kinsley and Damon have a "rough" start - a start that I found endearing as well as hilarious. Goodness, I wouldn't have wanted to be in Kinsley's shoes. I felt that their start also helped establish who they were.

Kinsley has always been the good girl and a rule follower; however, after being told she's boring she tries to bring some excitement to her life with a one-night fling. The result? It's an utter disaster. I found Kinsley to be charming and likable. I especially loved that she was a bookworm. Plus as someone who's been called boring before, I could definitely relate to her need to prove her haters wrong. Damon, on the other hand, is mischievous, charming, and kind-hearted. He always had the ability to get Kinsley going with his teasing, which I found hilarious.

I also loved the build-up between Kinsley and Damon. It felt natural and never rushed. Plus they had some great banter! Besides the romance I enjoyed the focus on families and friendships. Both Damon and Kinsley deal with some change, and I thought both situations brought about a lot of heart and development. The NJ beach setting was also a lot of fun.

Overall, Jennifer Shirk's BARGAINING WITH THE BOSS is simply adorable! I can't wait to see which couple is featured next. I'm hoping for Kinsley's brother and best friend!

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[Ayekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Kinsley returns home to her family's hotel to find her brother has sold it after the death of her father. She's come back home to recover; herself and her past, leaving behind a lousy ex of 8 years. She's crushed her brother has sold the hotel. She also finds herself a bridesmaid at a friends wedding where she meets Damon. After a few drinks they leave and she wakes up the next morning, to her overwhelming dismay in his bed. Her dress is askew, her phone is buzzing and this stranger is sound asleep. The call is from her brother reminding her they're meeting the new owner of her family's beachside hotel for brunch. She gets him to push it back an hour, hungover and she can't remember what exactly happened the night before. Getting to the restaurant for brunch she meets her brother and the man who will be her new boss. It's Damon, the man she spent the night with.
Damon's got his own issues. He's up against the "I don't measure up" in the eyes of his father. He's never had a relationship and doesn't want one, yet he's drawn to Kinsley. Kinsley is a breath of fresh air and she's a house on fire. I loved her and how great is it to have such a strong, resilient female lead!! I loved it. She could counter every negative that rolled out of Damon's yap-almost.
Things are going well until they hit a few bumps and a skid. Damon does Damon very well.
Kinsley is so open and just plain lovable. She's the perfect female lead to her counterpart.
Her friends in this small beachside town were great! Local color is always a plus! The imagery is so vivid I want to visit the place!
All in all this is a great story and a yes you should read this book! Jennifer always writes a great story.
This one tops my list.

4.5 stars

**I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

arc from NetGalley and Entangled

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters Kinsley and Damon!! Such a heartfelt and humorous read. The charming seaside town backdrop is a plus.
All of Ms. Shirk's books are such a treat.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another dee-lightful, romantic, sweet tale!

[J.M. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man cocked his head, his blue eyes dancing. “I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not Chris Hemsworth.” ~ Bargaining with the Boss
This book had me hooked from the first paragraph. The story opens with Kinsley, a quirky woman, dressed in a puffy pink bridesmaid dress. Her best friend nudges her to make the way across the reception hall to introduce herself to a Chris Hemsworth look-alike. Kinsley, determined to step out of her “boring and predictable” persona, finally musters up the courage. Kinsley is far from boring, but her ex-fiancé really slammed on the brakes of her self-esteem eight months prior.

So…back to the reception. Hemsworth dude is named Damon. Their initial conversation is giggle-worthy. (As above quote implies.) They end up sharing several shots of tequila. Their banter is witty. (Plethora of giggles from this reader.) The morning after, Kinsley awakes in Damon’s hotel room, dress and memory askew. She slams into full-blown panic mode. (She even shoves her fist in her mouth to keep from screaming. I loved this visual!)

A call from her brother Wade has her hiding in Damon’s bathroom begging Wade to push an important meeting up an hour so she can … well, at least change out of a disheveled bridesmaid dress. The dreaded meeting is with the new owner of the family business—the hotel that has been her birthright until now. Hungover, confused and dismayed, she had to collect her wits and sit across the table with the damn owner. Great. Could things get worse?
In a word, YES.
Before she can attempt a sneaky getaway, Damon’s phone dings moments after she ends the call with her brother.
She peeks at the text on Damon’s phone—a request to push up the meeting up an hour.

Kinsley just woke up in her new boss’s bed.

What a great hook. I adore how Kinsley meets this and many more obstacles head on. She may waver at times, but she does not back down once. She tries everything possible to better the run-down hotel, and in the process, redeems her self-doubt.

Damon, on the other hand, does not have the confidence to follow through, and at times seems downright broken inside. His long-held guilt over his brother’s death is heartbreaking. His mind deems Kinsley remain on a professional basis, but his heart slowly realizes how he needs so much more from her.

Kinsley, an open soul with her heart on the proverbial sleeve, does her best to uphold the friendship agreement, which was hard when he keeps kissing her…and she keeps kissing him back.

While Kinsley was diligent in the quest to improve both herself and the hotel, Damon is stuck in the past. And right when Kinsley’s hopes are within reach—Damon basically disappears. Yeah, he had other business to tend to, but the way he distanced himself personally was disheartening to say the least. I wanted to hate him, but like Kinsley, I couldn’t.

This left me asking several questions. Why, when Kinsley finally trusts him, does he let her down? What the hell is Damon thinking? Will Damon allow the hotel to go to the highest bidder? How will Kinsley survive losing everything, including him? Does she even have him? Is it all a game to pull the hotel out from under her?

This book is full of twists, turns and, tribulations. It’s also filled with giggles, grit and growth. The author, Jennifer Shirk, does a wonderful job of storytelling. I don’t want to divulge any more about this book, because I want readers to enjoy the surprise ending yourself. But let me assure everyone, Bargaining with the Boss is well worth the read.

(Book provided by author)

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were to ask me to rate Bargaining with the Boss immediately after reading it, I would have given the book 3 stars. For me, that would have been an unfair rating. My low rating would have stemmed from the fact that I didn’t like the childishness of the heroine, Kinsley Roberts. However, part of that child-like behavior makes her pushy and determined. It’s that determination that drove the storyline.

After getting dumped by her fiance for being too “sensible”, Kinsley has returned to her hometown of Cape Harmony to manage her family’s hotel. The hotel means a lot to her and holds fun and cherished memories. Unfortunately, the hotel is in financial crisis and her brother is forced to sell it.

As a favor to a former college roommate and friend, Damon St. James agrees to have the St. James Corporation purchase the financially strapped hotel. The hotel is in desperate need of some TLC and a makeover; all of which requires cash that the hotel doesn’t have and Damon’s board may not approve. Even before meeting Damon, Kinsley is upset and believes the new owners plan on tearing down the hotel, thus making Damon public enemy number one. Over the course of a month, Damon and Kinsley work together and ultimately strike a deal that allows her the opportunity to make the hotel profitable. With the two already having an attraction to each other, their time together allows their personal relationship to grow. Things are looking good until Damon’s business rival steps into the picture. When all seems lost, Damon finds a surprising ally and finally opens up about his past.

I wanted to read Bargaining with the Boss because I loved the sound of the plot. With my initial misgivings aside, Jennifer Shirk has written a nice story with fun and playful characters. I didn’t expect to find myself laughing at some of the characters’ antics. I also didn’t expect to have my heart ache for the hero. I loved the ending, which had my heart doing little flips. If who I think is going to be the focus of the next book in the It Happened One Night series, I’m definitely looking forward to reading it.

**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the author and I voluntarily reviewed it.**

[C.E. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bargaining with the Boss, by Jennifer Shirk, is so much fun. It’s a quirky, laugh-out-loud, swoony type of love story.

If you asked Kinsley’s ex-fiancé, he’d say she was “boring and predictable.” After she becomes single again, she somehow dives headfirst into a never-ending pool of embarrassing situations in an attempt to break free from her predictability mold.

Damon (total stranger guy) disarms her with his drool-worthy, leading-man handsomeness. In turn, Kinsley manages to humiliate herself by blurting whatever comes to mind. In spite of the initial awkward meeting, they hit it off. Well—until morning, when tequila-infused Kinsley awakens in his hotel room. Yikes. Panic. A prompt getaway later, Kinsley manages to stumble directly into another all-but-predictable-or-boring-situation.

The buyer of her family hotel is in town. A-n-d…of course, it is no one else but…you guessed it—Damon. She had somehow spent the night with her new boss? Kinsley’s emotions and self-confidence rise and dip like the ocean in a hurricane. Trying to keep afloat, she does everything imaginable to salvage the run-down hotel.

Kinsley is anything but boring, in my book, and emotionally wounded and guilt-ridden Damon certainly didn’t bargain on falling for her.

I enjoyed the fast-paced third-person narration and witty dialogue. It allowed me to sit back and ‘watch’ as the characters entertained me. The story posed so many questions, and I quickly turned the pages on a mission for answers. Kinsley and Damon’s predicaments had me enjoying every twist and turn. And, just when I thought I had all the answers—well, I’ll end it here and allow you to ride the waves of this wonderful story for yourself.

Cover: Love
Title: Like
Publisher: CreateSpace
Series: Accidentally Yours Volume One
Pages: 220
First Lines: Kinsley was on her second piece of wedding cake, still mulling over her friend’s idea of walking up and introducing herself to a total stranger. The situation couldn’t be entered into lightly. After all, the stranger was a man.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful sweet read that will touch your heart and leave you smiling. The writing and characters are excellent with a nice easy pace to the story. Perfect for a relaxing afternoon read.

Damon has spent years trying to prove himself to his father. Buying this hotel property is his latest attempt. All he needs to do is flip this property into condos for a huge profit. Doing so would be much easier if the very tempting Kinsley wouldn't keep trying to get him to change his mind. When they agree on a one month deal it should be easy for him to bide his time but when feelings begin to develop Damon knows he is in way over his head.

This is a book I highly recommend to everyone.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Kinsley her biggest mistake could turn out to be her greatest gift. Jennifer Shirk can lift a heart and impart wisdom as easily as she can spin a good yarn. Bargaining with the Boss is romantic comedy at it's sweetest. A naughty mistake lands responsible Kinsley in an awkward position. How can the night she can't completely remember, keep coming back to haunt her everyday life? Damon is the man who has a far more intimate knowledge of his employee than he ever thought possible, but can hardly resist wanting more. The surprises in life are what keeps the world interesting and Ms. Shirk takes that advice to heart with a hilariously heartwarming spin on falling in love.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinsley has always been seen as the 'sensible' one, so waking up next to Mr. Gorgeous the morning after attending a wedding is the most irresponsible thing she's ever done, especially once she discovers he's also her new boss. Even worse, the hotel that once belonged to her family is now owned by him, and unless she can find a way to turn things around, she could lose it forever. Will bargaining with the boss be a good thing, or will Damon St. James break her heart?

What a very entertaining, fast-paced read Ms. Shirk has delivered in this first book of her new Accidentally Yours series, which I read from start to finish in one sitting because of the main characters that had interesting back stories and made me sympathize with their decision in not wanting another relationship; the dialogue had me smiling because of the challenge the heroine provides the hero, as she does everything she can to convince him to allow her to save the hotel with the ideas she has; and the storyline had me loving the obstacles these two have to overcome to be together, especially since it seems the hero holds the heroine's future in her hands and falling in love with him could end in disaster if she's not careful.

The way this story started introduces the heroine and part of her back story really well, and it's true that she can't let what her fiancé did keep her from finding happiness again. Really, why should she let her ex-fiancé's words continue to hold her back? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time in this story that completely drew me in, as the hero is charming and definitely brings out a little flirtatious side in the heroine, which had me laughing at the heroine's dialogue in this moment.

Both the main characters were relatable, likeable and kept me entertained from start to finish with their back stories, their growing relationship and their strong chemistry, which just keeps getting stronger and stronger as the heroine challenges the hero to give her a chance before he makes any big decisions that could impact her life. Moreover, the heroine is strong and brave with everything she's through, especially when it comes to the things her fiancé said to her. Yet, in saying that, I liked that she didn't allow his words to continue to hold her back and that she would do anything to prove her fiancé wrong, which is proven in the moment when she finally faces her past. While the hero, he's been through a lot in his life too and I could understand why he has such guilt because of what happened to his brother. Yet, in saying that, I liked that he finally faced his past too, so he and his father could have a better relationship. I also liked how determined the hero was to give the heroine what she wanted, especially after things go awry between them and he has to fight for their relationship.

Overall, Ms. Shirk has delivered a wonderful read in this book where the ending had me loving what the hero does to win back the heroine after their relationship goes awry. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up brilliantly, as Damon has such a great surprise for the heroine. I would recommend Bargaining with the Boss by Jennifer Shirk, if you enjoy books by authors LE Rico, Jody Holford, Annie Seaton and Sonya Weiss.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bargaining with the Boss! Is one of the best books I have read this year. It is an enemy to friends love story with two damaged protagonists. Damon St. James, is the disappointing son of business magnate Joseph St. James. Joseph youngest son died as a result of an accident that Joseph feels that Damon could have prevented his brother's death. Since his son's death, Joseph has been completely disappointed in his oldest boy and he makes no bones about it. Damon now feels that he can no longer do anything right in his father eyes.

Kinsley Roberts' fiancée dumps her because according to him she is boring and predictable. Kinsley has returned home to save her families ailing beachside hotel only to find out that her brother has sold her birthright to Damon's father's development company. Kinsley uses all of her persuasive power to convince Damon to give her a chance to revitalize the hotel and change it into a profitable enterprise. On one hand Damon is very impressed with Kinsley's determination to succeed but on the other hand, his need to win his father's admiration is in direct opposition to Kinsley's goals.

What will Damon choose: Kinsley need to save he family's legacy or his need to convince his father that he is not a screw-up and can bring in the big bucks even-though it will destroy his chances with Kinsley. Ms. Shirk has written absorbing romance novel that just won't quit. This a great story that I totally enjoyed and so will you.

I received this advanced copy and I am freely posting this fair and balanced review.

[Annie Bartok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us have, at some point in our lives, had a bit too much to drink. Now imagine that you had been dumped for being....well...boring. Now here you are at a friend's wedding contemplating devouring even more wedding cake to make up for all your recent disappointments. Your friends have told you to mingle, to let loose, be anything other than boring......enter the most drop dead gorgeous guy, who seems to find you quite interesting and who manages to get you to set aside the usual glass of wine for tequila shots. You are off and running now.......ummm but where did you end up? What exactly happened? Embarrassing to not remember but then the kicker. He is your new boss.

I loved this book from beginning to end. I was never a big drinker and could totally relate to Kinsley's uncomfortable situation of not quite remembering what all happened the night before. The complications of finding out that the man that she appears to have spent the night with is in fact the man who represents the company that her brother sold the family's hotel to. In short, her new boss. The awkwardness, the preconceived ideas on both sides keep the book interesting as they get to know each other beyond the public face.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning home after experiencing a bad break up with her fiancé, Kinsley hopes to bring her family's hotel back to its former glory. Upon returning, she finds out that her brother sold the hotel to St. James Corporation. Kinsley realizes the hotel is in need of repairs, renovations, and ideas to draw customers into visiting. Kinsley hopes her ideas will be enough to keep the hotel from demolition.

Damon St. James doesn't feel. Everything is business to him, nothing more. He has spent most of his adult years trying to gain his father's approval, to no avail. Prior to a meeting with the former owners, Damon attends a wedding where he meets Kinsley. He has an amazing evening with her, only to realize she's Wade's sister AND a former owner of the hotel his family just purchased. Eager to please his father, he arrives at the hotel with ideas on how to turn a profit. Ideas that suddenly don't seem so important.

This story had all the feels. It was a sweet, touching, funny, and somewhat sad trip down memory lane. It was difficult to see Damon struggle so much with the death of his brother and feeling as though he continuously lets his family down. Kinsley's kind heart and patience was the balm to his soul. Kinsley's determination to save her family's hotel was honorable. I truly enjoyed seeing them find their way. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be one of the sweetest, cleanest love stories I have read. Kinsley (cute name) was quirky, totally loving, wears her heart on her sleeve, finds ways to get things done, and gives back to her community. I truly liked her throughout the whole story. She is the kind of character you cannot help but like. Then there is Damon, whose name for some reason always make me think of a nefarious person. But we come to know he is not that way at all. He is vulnerable beneath his hard exterior, has a soft spot for our Kinsley, and generally wants to do right by people but feels he is not enough. My heart broke for him as he told his story. But I loved the scene between him and his father, totally healed everything. And the epilogue - hello swooning. I so want more from these characters, especially Kinsley's brother Wade and her friend Arden.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and clean book – there is no cursing and no sex, so if those things bother you, you do not have to worry with this one.

This book had me laughing from start to finish, which is something that I absolutely love in a book. Damon and Kinsley had a funny and sweet relationship from the very start, and I loved the way that it blossomed as the book went on. This wasn't a case of ridiculously over-the-top insta-love and there were absolutely no “he's the boss, she's in a vulnerable position” power plays, Damon and Kinsley developed a relationship that felt real and made me want to keep reading.

Also, the tension between Arden and Wade was ridiculously awesome and I cannot wait for their book because they are obviously meant to be, even if they don't want to admit it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written romantic comedy about two people who just flat out belong together.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you chasing a great romance read that has it all but is not over the top in the steamy department then this one is for you, this fun filled romance will have you laughing at times and giving you the warm feeling at others.

Kinsley was a charming character who you will definitely like she wears her heart on her sleeve and she is a fun-loving girl. Damon has a past and has something to prove. These two characters and the heart and soul of this book and the fun sparring between them will have you laughing out loud.
Can Damon make the right decisions? Can Kinsley open her heart to love again?

Jennifer is a great author and is one I can turn to for some fun-loving romance, and some great characters that you can relate too.

This book has my recommendation, if you love a sweet romance novel then put this on your TBR list and then make sure you read it.

Read more reviews here: Book in One Hand Coffee in Another

[Pamela Devereux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beach

Kinsley Roberts was on a downward spiral till she ended up at a wedding in a big pink frufru dress. There she met a perfect stranger, who she ended up doing shots of tequila with. Damon St James was here for business and crashed the wedding. There was an instant spark. Only to find out he was her new boss. She has a no Fraternization policy with the boss. It seems that they both are having a problem with that. You can't get to a HEA without some angst. Love the ending. This book had me craving a walk on the beach, boardwalk, eating some saltwater taffy and some ice cream.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Shirk but it won’t be the last I really enjoyed Bargaining with the Boss. I fell in love with the charming seaside town of Cape Harmony and what can I say about Damon if you like a hero who is charming and funny despite his past then this is the book for you. This author has a way with words, she made me feel like I was visiting friends and that I was part of the community of Cape Harmony, her characters have depth, the story is believable and it has the perfect mix of romance and humour. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

[BookSnuggle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bargaining with the Boss (Accidentally Yours) by Jennifer Shirk
This is Kinsley Roberts and Damon St. James’ story.

This is a sweet and fun romance with great chemistry between Kinsley and Damon. I fell in love with Kinsley and Damon.

The story grabbed my attention from the beginning to the end. I love how reading her stories are so much fun and are a refreshing break from everyday life. This author never disappoints and really enjoyed this read. I’m hoping Kinsley’s brother Wade gets his story.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful story about two people , Kinsley Roberts and Damon St. James, who meet at a wedding. Later Kinsley discovers that Damon is the new owner of her family's hotel, The Harbor Light. Dreams come true and past hurts begin to heal in this story by Jennifer Shirk. I enjoyed watching the characters grow in this story as individuals and then as a couple. It is a fun story. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Chiquita Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Romance!

A sweet, delightful romance between Kinsley, a young woman who has sworn off relationships after her fiancé ends their wedding plans and Damon, an emotionally stunted businessman who closed off his heart more than ten years ago. While the book is rather predictable, I didn’t mind it, because it left me with a light-hearted feeling.

[Deanna Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story with well developed characters. Kinsley is fighting to keep her families hotel open even though it has already been sold! Enter the hot guy she met at a wedding and he is now her boss! There are some expected fireworks between them. It was an entertaining read!

[Talking Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinsley and Damon are such entertaining characters in Jennifer Shirk’s latest novel Bargaining With The Boss. It is a sweet, hilarious and emotional turbulent read that did not disappoint. A beautiful story that was a great series starter.
Review copy received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley

[Mommy Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love funny Hallmark movie type of love stories, then you NEED to pick this one up.
**drops mic and walks away**