Serving the Mogul

by M.S. Parker

The Hotel King and the Decorator

That would be a fitting title if my life was a fairytale. But does getting pursued by a kinky billionaire mogul equal a fantasy? I'm still undecided.
One thing’s for sure, if I’d known the trouble I was heading toward, I never would have taken on the catering gig my sister offered.
Because that led to Maximus.
Now, I'm the center of a celebrity scandal in Houston with the notorious billionaire playboy James Maximus, the Hotel King of Texas.
I only hope to find a way out of this mess before my family discovers my newest and darkest secret.
Billionaire mogul, James Maximus has never been rejected by the many women he pursues, but when he meets the beautiful decorator Tina Siegler, he discovers that his charm has no effect on her.

Not one to give up easily, he enlists his sister to uncover Tina’s desires and wants, hoping to find the secret to her heart. Things look up when Tina agrees to work for Maximus, remodeling an old hotel back into its former glory.

But not everybody is excited about Maximus’ latest pursuit, and soon ex’s on both sides cause more trouble than anyone imagined.

Can they overcome the obstacles and find love, or will they crash and burn?

Find out in Serving the Mogul, a steamy and kinky romance by USA Today Bestselling Author, M. S. Parker.

Genres: Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Erotica

511 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2021

About the author

Step into the seductive and suspenseful world of M. S. Parker, a USA Today Bestselling author where dark romance meets thrilling suspense. If you crave stories that are both steamy and intricate, with characters that are as dangerous as they are desirable, you've found your next obsession.

M. S. Parker specializes in crafting addictive series that push boundaries and keep you guessing until the very last page. Expect to find dangerous mafia bosses and intense, grumpy billionaires clashing with smart, witty young women who, though perhaps out of their element, are quick to adapt and hold their own. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, where passion is a weapon and love is the ultimate prize. Dive into the darkness. You might just find your new favorite escape.

Connect with M. S. Parker on Facebook at http://facebook.com/msparkerauthor

Reviews

[Crazy About Love 💕 · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️ one star -

This is the second book I’ve tried by this author. I haven’t liked either of them, and both of them are a DNF. Both times I was lured by the premise (the blurb appealed to me - I’m a victim of marketing again!), the overall four and five star reviews (duped again!), and the scorching hot cover 🔥.

The writing here is what threw me off. It’s competent, but without depth to the story arc or character development. Characters read as caricatures rather than fleshed out people, and offer no emotional component to me.

I stopped reading this one at about 20% or so, skimmed a bit, then just didn’t even care, so shelved it to DNF.

Too many cliches to continue, and once a character called someone “sugar”, I was done. Too heavy on the cheese factor for me, and this reader is out.

One save yourself from this nonsense star.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Serving the Mogul Stars🌟

Serving the Mogul is the story of a wealthy man who is in the hotel business and if he says jump, whoever he asks, says how high? That is until he meets a woman by the name of Tina. Not only does she put him in his place….when she knows who he is and he asks her out, she says No😳 Suffice to say her rejection only spurs on his attention and intrigue until he finally wears her down for a date and then hires her for a decorating job😍

A great story that took on a life of its own but one that I really enjoyed❣️I hope we find out more about James’s family/siblings. I received an advanced copy via Booksprout and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️

[Rebecca Merlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0. Rated RRR Lots of kinky sex. Similar to 50 Shades of Gray. I learned some things about BDSM that I didn’t know before. Liked the characters. Interesting and smutty read.

[McKenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

just not my fav, book tok sucks

[Chanel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.50 Stars. In between the hundreds of pages of detailed sex scenes, there was a typical plot. The young career girl says she won’t, but of course does fall for the playboy Billionaire. So much so she because his Sub to his Dom.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billionaire James Maximus usually gets what he wants, but when he asks out Tina who is working an event at his hotel she shoots him down. He is intrigued by the woman who has an ease about her when handling difficult problems and when she asks him again it is another no. Maximus has women falling at his feet, he is rich and good looking but he does have a reputation for being a playboy. He is not relationship material.

Tina has been there and done that, have the burns to prove it which is why she said no to Maximus. She definitely feels the chemistry but she is trying to focus on her career but when he doesn't give up she agrees to one date, which leads to something more. For Maximus he can't get enough of Tina, he wants her more than he has ever wanted someone and when outside forces get involved, he is by her side even when she doesn't want it. Can he prove he is serious and she is everything he could hope for in a partner?

I enjoyed this one but there are layers of what is going on. I will say it got a bit confusing but made sense the James/Maximus name but it did throw me a couple of times. Great chemistry, I thought Tina was too agreeable at times but then she was curious in nature. Will read more in this series.

[Jess Morgan]

In a previous review, I asked if a heroine with a generally solid life would accept the entreaties of a dominant billionaire as readily as a heroine with nothing going on. M.S. Parker's Serving the Mogul is one of a very, very few books that attempts to settle the question. And the answer is: No, not as readily, but she will eventually. That said, it'll happen with enough genre subversions that the experience will be much more refreshing than you might expect. The heroine gets her HEA, the hero gets his spanky-spanks, the readers get a whole lot of tropes, and I get a story that doesn't make me want to hit Kindle Unlimited with a Russian cyberattack. Everybody wins!

Granted, it doesn't start out too promising. The hero's name is James Maximus. His real surname is Ryson, but he switched to using his estranged rich bio dad's name to enhance his credibility in the business world. Not working. Any man with who walks around with the name "Maximus" sounds like the star of multiple gay gladiator pornos. This one is het, of course, but not for the "easy" blonde failing to chat him up at the bar of one of his hotels. And that's why so many women avoid making the first move: because otherwise you're "easy" and therefore unworthy of the MMC. Sucks to be you, blondie!

James spots a different hot woman with a sultry voice and a great ass. The difference is that this one isn't paying any attention to him at all. She turns out to be Tina, who's assisting her caterer sister with some ex-wife drama at a wedding. When she asks James where she can find the kitchen manager, he's too busy looking at her mouth to answer. She's not impressed. We know from her commentary that she finds him equally tantalizing, but she cares more about getting the task at hand done, and her expression and voice make that clear. So do her polite but abrupt refusals to both of his invitations for a drink. So do her non-responses to multiple flower deliveries in the next few days. Most importantly, so does Subversion #1: The heroine is willing to believe the hero really is interested but doesn't let it sway her from her priorities.



What a relief. She does admit to having recently exited a bad relationship, but she's not thoroughly traumatized. Her business is struggling, but she has one, and it's not a bakery. What she does have is some self-confidence, plus some hobbies—namely, running and marksmanship. That's pretty cool.

Also, she prefers the vase one bunch of flowers came in over the flowers themselves. I like you, Tina. Let's go housewares shopping.

James relies on his half-sister Giana to do his background checks. M.S. only calls her "Giana" on her first mention, but she becomes "Gianni" after that. I'm sticking with Giana because Gianni is a man's name. She thinks running a check on Tina just because she shot James down is "overkill," which it absolutely is. She does a quick social media scan and discovers that Tina has won a couple of sharpshooting competitions in Texas. This gives her an idea:

"You know what I gathered from the information in that folder? You can't win her with flowers and wine... that sort of shit. She might appreciate the gesture, but that's not what speaks to her."

"Okay, genius. What would speak to her?"

"Well... something that fits her personality."


Brilliant! Appeal to an individual woman on an individual basis! Maybe that's news to James, but it seems pretty fucking obvious to this lady! I like you too, Giana. You can join us at the housewares store.

James shows up at Tina's office to invite her to Subversion #2: The first date is a fun activity that the heroine thoroughly enjoys. It's a murder mystery laser tag escape room. I repeat: MURDER MYSTERY LASER TAG ESCAPE ROOM.



Tina finds herself magnetized to James's confidence. Why? Because it matches hers. She's not bowled over, but she enjoys spending time with him, so much so that they go back to the hotel. Subversion #3: Their first round of sex is vanilla and has some banter, but it's still hot. He even uses a condom, which I respect. Not convinced that he'd actually cum twice in rapid succession, but that's a minor thing.

Tina returns to the hotel. Some blonde (the one from the bar? Hell if I know) taunts her that she and James are brunching together. Tina decides she's done with him. This is what separates Tina from icon status: She's WAY too willing to fall for whatever misunderstanding will get in the way of her relationship with James. It's going to happen a few more times, and it's not going to get less annoying.

Tina goes out to sample various wines with her sister, Dina. (Parents, NEVER do this to your children. They will loathe you for it.) Subversion #4: The heroine has an entire conversation with another woman in which neither brings up the hero once. Instead they talk about practical ways to support each other's small businesses. Dina, you're in for the Pottery Barn trip too, right? We'll go for tapas after. It'll be fun.

James has been trying the texts-and-flowers thing again, to no avail. He wants Giana to find out why she's been ignoring him. Giana refuses because it's none of her damn business. She tells him he needs to put the work in himself if he wants a serious relationship.



Here's what he comes up with: Subversion #5: The hero appreciates the heroine's professional ambitions and helps her see them through in a completely above-board way. More specifically, he invites her to see a derelict but storied hotel he's buying, with the possibility that she'll be awarded the contract to redesign the whole thing. Naturally, she's thrilled, and so am I. An FMC who refuses to center men AND loves architectural restoration? Does she love Iron Maiden too? Please say yes.

Tina joins James for the initial meeting. (He's going to be "Maximus" for the rest of the book, but he's "James" here. Live with it.) She tries to keep the focus on the project, but he finally gets her to admit why she's been out of touch. He assures her that the blonde was someone he briefly dated before he met her and hasn't been interested in since. Tina lets that go, but she still refuses to date him because she'd rather get the job, and she'd rather not try to have both due to past experience. And so Subversion #6: The hero deputizes someone to work closely with Tina so whatever relationship they have doesn't muddy the professional waters. They'd still be muddy enough for me, but at least we'll get some design porn out of this.

Unfortunately, James likes spanky-spanks, and Tina's going to discover that she likes them too. I say "unfortunately" because THIS BOOK SO DOESN'T NEED A BDSM SUBPLOT. But, whatever. Nothing I haven't been through before.



That said, Subversion #7: The heroine has an IUD. Hallelujah. Someone remembered those exist.

Things would go better from here if not for some gossip rag snapping pics of James and Tina at his favorite spanky-spank club. They toss in some lies about how James loves private lap dances and orgies, which infuriates him. He has "unusual proclivities," sure, but when he says "unusual," he means "actually very usual for Kindle Unlimited readers, not, like, WEIRD stuff." For her part, Tina is so humiliated that she wants to drop the hotel project, and she may already lose business as a result. I'm pissed off on her behalf that people are turning on her for having a completely legal sex life. But, let's be honest, that's more realistic than the alternative.

James insists he wants to keep Tina on the hotel project. But because Subversion #8: The hero listens to the heroine's thoughtful and rational account of the double standard they face and decides to take it seriously, he agrees to keep his distance. He sends Giana and a security goon named Lenny to check on her and "keep [her] safe." 1. Nobody's been threatening to kill her (yet), so that seems like overkill. 2. Having a security goon deal with paparazzi will just create more coverage.

Somehow this leads to James and Tina negotiating their spanky-spank limits. Subversion #9: It's just a bedroom thing for the hero; he doesn't want to take over the heroine's entire life.



So she's in. It's good for them both. Yay. Now SOMEONE think of some other kink for the MCs to discover.

James visits Tina at the construction site, where Subversion #10: The heroine performs traditionally male manual labor:

"...I like the physical aspect of the job as much as the other aspects."

I [James] thought of a hundred things that could go wrong. I almost told Tina not to get physically involved, but I stopped myself. Trying to control how she did her job was a good way to fuck things up quickly.

FUCKING RIGHT IT WAS! James, meet us for tapas later. We'll order those stuffed mussels you like.

By the way, guess who supplied the gossip.



But James and Giana get her to confess out loud, record the confession, and threaten to ruin her unless she gets the rag to publish a retraction. All tidied up. That sure was pointless.

Tina's smarmy ex, Cecil Golden, shows up. First a Cecil Golden, now a Maximus. I hope she never has a son; that poor kid will get his ass kicked on the playground first recess after first roll call. He doesn't reveal what he came to discuss and leaves as soon as James appears. Why didn't he just find a number 4 and have it cast a shadow on her front walk? It would have been more subtle.

Tina and Dina have been on the outs over the gossip until right about now. Dina claims she's just worried about what being with James will do for Tina's reputation. Hard to believe when Dina was the one using words like "slut." But they make up. No need to disinvite Dina from Pottery Barn. I was getting close.

James arranges for Tina to get a dress for a gala they're attending.



Where the hell is my design porn?! I've just sat through five or six spanky-spank scenes AND a dress/gala scene! You've given the people what I want, M.S., now give THIS person what SHE wants! Don't make me try to endure The Fountainhead again!

James brings Tina to his annual family picnic, where she overhears him saying this to a different half-sister:

"...I am grateful to you for designing the dress for her.... It was one less thing I had to worry about. I can't imagine Tina would ever have owned an outfit like th—"

Mmmm... not great. Pretty judgmental. Enough for Tina to freak out and leave, which she does? I'm not so sure about that. James can't figure out how to apologize, so they're on a break now or something. Come on, you two, you were doing so well until now. There's no need for this.

Holy shit. Am I actually rooting for a pair of MCs?



Oh, look, Cecil's back. He apologizes for their broken engagement, which I'm given to understand resulted from his verbal abuse. But he's a designer too, and he wants to see what she's been working on, if only as a pretext to ask her to dinner. James chooses this moment to turn up and try apologizing to Tina's face. Novel! She informs him that she's dining with Cecil, NYAAAAAH.

Tina, we really need to talk about your occasional middle-schooler streak. It's unbecoming. And please save some of the chorizo bites for the rest of us.

Luckily for James, Cecil behaves like such an ass at dinner that Tina immediately remembers how much she hates him. She tries to duck out. He catches her and starts hurling insults. She hurls one back. And then Subversion #11: The heroine physically fights off the creep without any intervention from the hero or his goons:

Rage lit his eyes, and he reached for me. I sidestepped and lifted my arm, striking the inside of his wrist as he tried to catch me, using enough force to send a good, numbing jolt straight up to his shoulder.

We know she's pretty toned from all that manual labor, so there's a possibility that she really did cause him some pain. Well done, Tina! Has anyone designed a self-defense course built specifically around blocking creepy arm grabs? Because I think I've spotted another business opportunity for her.

James finally apologizes. They make up, so much so that James wants to have a "collaring" ceremony at the club with her. M.S. writes it as basically a wedding, with an exchange of a golden padlock pendant for her and matching key for him instead of wedding bands. Kinksters, is this a thing?

With their internal drama involved, it's time for some external drama to show back up. How?



At Tina's house, specifically. Gee. I wonder who did it. Could it be Cecil? The blonde? Cecil and the blonde in cahoots? Someone who we thought was harmless but turns out to have hated James and/or Tina the entire time? Mrs. Peacock in the sex dungeon with a candlestick?

Tina is rightfully unsettled, but not so much that she and James can't have more spanky-spanks that night. He nonetheless decides that she's going to take the next day off to recover. She'd rather not, for the sake of the project. They argue and she storms off. Oh, you two.

Thankfully we have Giana to break it down for James:

"You can't treat her like she's a subordinate who works for you.... She's independent. And it seems like she's worked damn hard to get where she is. If you care for her at all, respect her for that. If not, you two won't last."

YES! FUCKING YES! Subversion #12, or at least Welcome Respite from My Last Alannah Carbonneau Review #1: The hero's sister sides with the heroine who takes pride in her independence and wants to keep it!



James and Tina make up again. The police reveal that the fire may have been arson. :O Most importantly, some long-awaited design porn:

Two workers were busy polishing the mahogany wood of the counter to a high gloss shine.... On the landing, halfway to the mezzanine, there was a table placed exactly under an elaborate crystal chandelier. A tall vase, filled with roses, was centered on the table, completing the look and tying it together with the rich mahogany of the railing and check-in counter.

Okay, it's not MUCH design porn, but I'll take it. I hope Tina makes room on the first three floors for a barbershop with a wonderful hot lather shave, an elegant tea room for the ladies, and a classic American bistro with a good list of single malts. And free newspaper service. They absolutely must offer free newspaper service.

Back to the villains. It's Cecil and the blonde in cahoots. They knock out Tina, zip-tie her, and take her somewhere desolate. Subversion #13: The heroine uses previous knowledge to free herself. And she knocks out Cecil, steals his gun, and threatens the blonde into zip-tying him.

AWESOME.

Tina's fine. She makes it back to James. He's so relieved to find her safe that he has some gifts waiting for her at his place: a blender and book of cocktail recipes, some new cookware, an upgraded treadmill and punching bag, a chair and chaise, all her favorite bathroom products, extra shelves in the bedroom closet, a few new items of clothing, and—best of all—a private office with a swimming-pool view.



And even though we end on yet another Christmas proposal scene... y'all, I actually kind of liked this one.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torrid romance
4.5
I liked this steamy story that rises in power because the heroine Tina is definitely not a fragile and innocent young girl who allows herself to be manipulated by the handsome rich man, James. She tries to stay strong, to save her business.
The story also has a lot of twists and turns due to jealousies, the pasts of the 2 heroes, but also the preferences of James, towards which he seeks to convince Tina to follow him, which creates steamy scenes.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters and a beautiful love story between Tina and James. The author does a great job building the story and pulled me in and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. She moves the story fluidly with her perfectly painted scenes and delivers a wonderful story. Highly recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Mar-Mar bookaholic]

DNF 41%

So much miscommunication, break up, make up etc. I mean I know people who thrives in this mess but oh boy, just not for me.

Definitely for drama lama people

Ow/om drama
Dom/sub
Experienced (also anally) h
Manwhore H
No cheating
Drama scale 10

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

James & Tina’s Romance Is A Steamy Standalone About A Hotel Mogul’s Obsession With A Strong & Confident Woman Who Has No Problem Telling Him No! The Couple Has Fantastic Chemistry & They Heat Up The Pages Together. James Is A Dom Looking For A Sub, & He Thinks He Might Have Found One In Tina, The Beautiful Woman With The Take-Charge Attitude, But Soon He Finds Himself Losing Control.


This story opens in late spring. It takes place in Houston.

Tina Siegler, fiercely independent, moved back home to Houston some years ago after an ugly breakup. She had worked at a design firm in San Francisco (San Diego is referenced later in the book) where she had a promising career. She had made the unfortunate mistake of becoming involved with a colleague, however, and when the relationship began to crumble, she knew she had to get away. Working with Cecil Golden was simply no longer an option. Her natural self-confidence had taken a gigantic hit, and she has only just begun to heal. She credits much of that to the support of her family, and her sister Dina in particular.

Tina decided to step out on her own a few years ago, opening her design firm. Clients have been few and far between, though, and the bills are piling up. If she weren’t so stubborn and determined, she might have already given up on it, but Tina isn’t a quitter. She is one tough cookie. She runs five miles a day, knows how to shoot a gun, and took five years of karate. Many men are intimidated by her confidence which doesn’t bother her at all. She isn’t ready to start dating again, but that doesn’t matter since she needs her entire focus to be on making her company a success. She even grabs some shifts occasionally at her sister’s catering company just to help make ends meet.

James Maximus, a.k.a. James Ryson, is well-known in Houston as a hotelier and playboy. At thirty-three or so, he is nicknamed the hotel king of Texas. He was the son of a struggling single mom, whom he lost when he was just thirteen. That was when he learned that his father was one of the richest men in Texas. When Connor Maximus took him in, seeing the wealth and opulence stung a little after the poverty he had been raised in. He rebelled through high school, but he eventually got his act together.

James respects women, but that doesn’t mean he is the relationship type. Simone Eastman was the latest in a long line of women to come and go from his life. He bores easily and doesn’t make empty promises, so short-lived liaisons are more his style. What most don’t know is that he has been a member of an exclusive club for years, a place where the wealthy go to play. He isn’t ashamed, but then again, it isn’t anybody’s business but his own. He likes to be in control in the bedroom, and The Black Star offers both entertainment and the chance to work with subs. It is a great outlet for when he isn’t immersed in work.

James has a powerful presence and is known to intimidate with just a glance. He lacks patience and his employees walk on eggshells around him. One of the only persons in his life that he considers a friend is his half-sister, Gianna/Giana Eckerle. Her patience and determination to befriend him are the only reason that particular relationship worked out. James may be a powerful businessman, and women may line up for him, but there is a reason he isn’t good with relationships beyond just the casual fling or casual acquaintances. He lacks social skills. He isn’t good with words or expressing himself, so for him, the less said is better. He is direct and to the point, and that usually works out well for him.

When James spots a beautiful woman with a confident stride breezing through his new hotel, he cannot resist asking her out for drinks. What he doesn’t expect is to be told no. Tina gives him the complete brushoff, something he isn’t used to receiving. But James gets whatever he sets his mind on, and somehow her refusals only make him want her more. Soon his attraction to her becomes an obsession. He doesn’t plan on letting her get away, but if he really wants her, he will first need to learn a few lessons about relationships.

When James and Tina cross paths, neither is open to the idea of a relationship. They are both focused on their businesses with little time for anything else. But as James begins to chip away at Tina’s walls, little by little they come down. The problem is that James still cannot seem to get enough of her, and soon they find themselves in something that resembles a relationship. Things get serious when exes enter the picture, forcing them to recognize their feelings for one another. They face some uphill challenges, but the couple eventually finds a happy ending.

James and Tina’s steamy story grabs you from the first page and keeps your attention through the end. There are several obstacles that the couple must face, either individually or together. It is a big book. It could have ended as a relatively sweet story after one of the earlier obstacles, but I am so glad it didn’t. It allows the reader to experience more with the couple and to become more attached. James is brash, but once you get to know a little about the man underneath, it is easy to feel compassion for him. He struggles with foot in the mouth syndrome. Things are not easy for him, and Tina is not the type to put up with any nonsense. She is smart and quick-thinking. She isn’t afraid to call him out, unlike almost everyone else in his life. Normally he wouldn’t care, but his obsession with Tina has him spinning his wheels and doing cartwheels just to get her attention. It is a mental exercise for him as well as he attempts to learn about women and relationships.

There are a few issues that merit mention. First, the timeline doesn’t feel realistic in terms of Tina’s work on the old Biscayne Hotel. James had to finalize the purchase before she got started. There would have been contracts, designs, approvals, and permits to apply for, not to mention such things as ordering and scheduling delays. The roughly six weeks it took for completion doesn’t seem right, particularly when dealing with a historical property. Sourcing the materials for such a project would take time and research, and some items would conceivably be special order. Next, both James and Tina have vague histories. Their ages are not given, though James’s can roughly be determined. His dating history is a bit confusing. It isn’t even clear if he really did have dates, although he mentions dating. It initially seems he finds women the normal way, but then we learn he uses escorts, and then we learn he gets hooked up with subs at the club. All three seems a little much, and it just felt like the story shifted without notice. Similarly, Tina had worked at a design firm in San Francisco, which later was referenced as a firm in San Diego. There are also some names that change spelling – and the occasional typo. That leads me to suspect that the dating history was not purposely all over the place, but probably just an oversight. There is more. He supposedly doesn’t do relationships, but the implication was that he had indeed spent some time with Simone. Finally, he put a lot of thought and planning into the idea of having a permanent sub at some point, which flies in the face of the notion that he does not do relationships. Regardless of these issues, this story is still very worthwhile.

James and Tina’s romance is about a hotel mogul’s obsession with a strong and confident woman who has no problem telling him no. The couple has fantastic chemistry and they heat up the pages together. There is plenty of steam in this book. James is a Dom looking for a sub, and he thinks he might have found one in the beautiful woman with the take-charge attitude. He finds himself losing control with Tina, but he always gets what he wants. Their story is nicely written, with an occasional typo. The plot is fairly simple. Much of the time, it feels very realistic. The characters feel real. James really grows on you. The story is told in first person. The POV alternates between James and Tina. I rate this book four stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monik88 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worst book I’ve read so far

This book was good in the beginning , then it went downhill ! The main character called himself a dom but didn’t feel like it, and when they did a ceremony for him to put a collar on her , as his sub, that was the stupidest thing I ever herd, it did not serve the plot or anything for that matter! The couple did not do anything else but screw each other , so not sure how they connected so well as they barely spoke to each other! It was also always him shoving his d**k in her mouth or ass, and that was the way he was showing her he was a Dom ! I seriously regret reading this book as it was super cringey and I skimmed a lot of it as there was not much plot just sex!

[Loda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

The plot was predictable and uneventful. Three quarters of the book was just sex and their marriage to the BDSM lifestyle. It was repetitious and boring. Do you want me to punish you and hurt you my pet? Yes, please Sir! And so on and so on. Couldn’t connect with the characters. I did like the cover. He looks hot but I didn’t picture him that way. Whenever they were together all they did was have sex and and didn’t build their relationship. No deep connection other than sexual.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book under the ARC system.
I read it in under three days and liked it a lot.
Plenty of action, well-written, here and there a few missing words, but nothing very serious. Looking forward to read more books for reviewing with this ARC system...

[Fina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maximus & Tinna
I like the story but i don’t feel the chemistry between them. But i like their relationship with their siblings

[Reed Daylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - For those who love it when the guy has to work to get the girl

POV: dual
HUMOR: yes
F BOMBS: yes
CHEATING: no
CLIFFHANGER: no
NEW AUTHOR FOR ME: yes
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: BDSM, toys, spanking, lots of explicit sex scenes and graphic language, fifth base, playboy reputation, toxic/belittling ex-boyfriend, verbal abuse, abduction/kidnapping for ransom, physical abuse, nonconsensual groping, held captive

CHARACTERS:
Maximus (confident, sexy, rich, hot Dom playboy, not a sadist) and Tina (attractive, fit, confident in her work, loyal, assertive when necessary, new to BDSM) have off-the-charts chemistry, intense attraction, and dirty talk.

PROS:
1) For those who love it when the guy has to work to get the girl, this one's got it, and it's fun reading it.
2) Full-length book at over 500 pages. But I was afraid it would be stuffed with fillers, lack of contractions, detailed descriptions of every furniture, plant, clothing, and room in the hotel. There were a few repetitions, but they were used as a reminder at chapter beginnings or when someone was concentrating on a statement that made an impact. It was a solid story.
3) No cheating / No cliffhanger
4) Tina is a really tough/strong heroine
5) This one has it all: romance, mystery, humor, erotica, suspense, a bit of action/violence, and HEA

CONS:
1) 3/4 of way in, Tina gets upset and her reactions were reckless and impulsive. This issue segued into the next problem - Seemed more fitting for a teenager than an intelligent adult, especially one who was liberated from a toxic Ex.
2) The ARC version had typos/punctuation and two characters' names changed about 3/4 of the way through the story.
3) Tina flushed and blushed (a lot).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well …Well he finally has met his match in this one James is a sex as all get out ladies man who usually gets who/what he wants without much effort until he meets a women who definitely challenges him in every way. See James wasn’t always a man with money he started with humble beginnings with a mother who was a waitress who passed away while he was young from cancer and of course she didn’t tell him much about his father what little he did know helped them find him and that is where he went to live until he was old enough but his father only took him so he wouldn’t be in foster care they didn’t have a father /son relationship. Tina is strong, independent, wants nothing to do with relationships really because she just walked away from one that wasn’t any good while helping her sister doing a catering job for a party. This is when fate steps in James is there doing a walkthrough of his luxury hotel, he meets Tina (well nearly knocking her down is more like it ). But his reputation proceeds him so meeting James was just that a chance meeting, she wants nothing to do with him. But James for some reason he is determined to just get her to go out with him but she has him tied all up in knots, but he is determined to win her over at any cost and the shenanigans he gets into well lets say will you laughing so hard. The attraction is immediately even if she doesn’t or won’t acknowledge it yet also, with the past coming for them well will they sick together or will they allow the past to pull them apart?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Knight Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

James started out as the son of a waitress, until she passed of cancer, when he was ten years old at that time he discovered who his father was. Social Services contacted his father and he took James to prevent him from going into foster care. James was never close with his father or his many half-siblings. He was opening a new luxury hotel in Houston, Texas doing a walk through on the first day checking on all parties, when he first saw Tina Siegle, who was helping her sister out with catering a wedding rehearsal dinner. He was captivated by her from the moment he almost ran into her and even more so with each interaction, but she was not impressed by him as she turned him down both times he asked her out that night. James had a reputation with the ladies was one reason Tina would not go out with him and second he was known for weird sexual habits. Once James finally managed to convince Tina to go out with him, shortly after all kinds of strange things started to happen. Are James and Tina really a match? Enjoy this story of discovery as Tina tries to decide if she was made for the life of a Sub with James being her Dom, including lots of mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your chair.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy Billionaire Dom

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Tropes: Billionaire, BDSM Club, Dom/sub relationship, Crazy ex, Kidnapping

Damaged Billionaire Dom meets beautiful struggling business owner while working an event for her sister. The MMC has never been told no before and of course cannot accept that. This man has never been in love before, never had a real relationship and is more of a loner even though he has a large family filled with issues. The MFC is a strong kick ass woman who once caught, only allows a dominate relationship in the bedroom, but never outside of it, which is why I love her.

The story is loaded with sex, family issues on both sides, jealous exes, a kidnapping, and finally...love.

Very well written. The one thing i did not like about the story, which to me felt out of character for the FC, was allowing her billionaire boyfriend to collar her, before either one of them were in love. I know they trusted each other, but a commitment of this type with someone you've only known for a few weeks and she was new to the scene, didn't play well to me. I almost gave the book 4 stars because of it.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

James is a playboy and has no intentions of settling for just one woman. Tina doesn't have time to think about a relationship. After getting out of a bad relationship she certainly isn't even really interested in dating. James begins a campaign to get her to go out with him. James has never had to work hard to get a woman and he makes mistakes left and right. Tina is an independent woman and won't put up with being any shenanigans. Tina is drawn into his alternate sexual lifestyle and find that it suits her with James. Then trouble begins. Old lovers crop up to cause trouble and test the tentative bonds that James and Tina are forming. Great read. Lots of hurdles to overcome. I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I saw a couple of places where the character's names were wrong like cut and paste gone bad.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. James is a billionaire hotel owner. His past has colored his view on women and relationships. He has never wanted to settle down, preferring to play things his way. One look at Tina, along with the word no, and she has captivated him. Never let it be said that he did not go after what he wanted full steam. Tina on the other hand wants to get her life in order and that starts with herself and her business. She is not interested in being another of his conquests no matter how much she is attracted to him. James wears her down finally and they discover more that they like about each other. They have plenty of drama, struggles, deceit, villains, strength, stubbornness, lust and love. I was glad that I dove into their story. I really enjoyed how the characters interacted and how well developed the story was.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serving the Mogul (Serving Him)

Such an incredibly erotic book! I have read quite a few of MS Parker's books, but this one is insane with the amount of erotica in the book.
One of the reasons I love these books is that they have amazing storylines. This one does not let me down. Multiple storylines that interweave into each other.
The story focuses on 2 characters, James Maximus and Tina ? . James known as Maximus to everyone is arrogant, collects women. Basically he beds themselves and sends them on their way. Sometimes he sees them for a couple times. He doesn't date. He meets Tina and chases her until he can see her, something he has never done. Also he is very much into BDSM. He is a Dom. But he has never found the perfect sub.
Until he met Tina. Totally independent except in the bedroom.
I don't want to give too much away.
I highly recommend this book if you are interested.

10/10++

[Tracie Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy wow James Maximus is one sexy alpha male. He is a rich billionaire who buys hotels. He just opened one and when he is in the kitchen checking on things Tina walks in. Hes stunned by her, shes feisty and beautiful. After being rejected hes now on a mission to get her to go out with him. Tina is not looking for a relationship. Shes been hurt by her ex who tore her down but just as shes getting to where she wants to be mentally she meets the oh so sexy James. Hes relentless on his quest to get her to go out. She finally breaks down and oh what a man he is. This book is soo good. With just the right about of drama and suspense in it. With two crazy "exes" out to keep them apart. This book really has all the feels. You so will want to read this amazing story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Trina Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad it was in Texas!

Tina is barely making ends meet with her new business in Houston. She does a side job for her sister’s catering company just to keep food on the table and the bills paid. Playing waitress isn’t her thing and dealing with irritating people just magnifies that feeling. When an offending non-invited woman decides to cause a ruckus, she goes looking for help in solving the situation. That’s when things begin to get interesting.

James is the cool, confident owner of a newly opened hotel that is even busier than he had imagined. Parties of all kinds are going on everywhere, the place is bustling! He sees an attractive woman but she disappears before he can get to her. Now he is getting a dressing down from the same woman … a waitress?!?

And the fun begins! Sit down and get comfortable and enjoy the book. It’s definitely worth it.

[Jacqueline M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book. I had to put it down a few times. It seems like the plot was a filler to the sex scenes, instead of the other way around. Therefore the character development was rathe shallow. I'm not a big fan of insta-love plots, and a pairing that started with rejection and goes to love and can't live without in 6 weeks, almost always feels suspicious, since there are so many things you can't know about a person on such a short acquaintance. The pshco ex girlfriend and money hungry ex boyfriend plotting a house torching and kidnapping stretches credibility. Not my first M S Parker book, so I know to expect a lot of sex, but this one had a plot that felt forced and false, like the author had to come up with something or anything to put in between the sex scenes.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is never a dull moment in SERVING THE MOGUL. It combines steam, love and some unexpected intrigue when playboy and hotelier James “Maximus” encounters independent, no-nonsense interior designer, Tina.

James is unapologetic about his preferences in the bedroom. When he decides to introduce Tina to this world he, she takes to it and to him. He becomes protective of her. Even when she is threatened she expects him to respect her ability to take care of herself and no rely on him.

It’s a good book that makes me wonder what is next because James has this really disjointed family that could make things interesting.

I was able to read an advance copy of this book I received. This is my voluntary review of SERVING THE MOGUL.

[Shannon Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I expected. A domineering sexy boss who isn't used to hearing the word "No" and a sassy vixen who puts him in his place. I love the way the chemistry between James and Tina builds. There's just enough tension between them that you know she will cave eventually but maybe he'll learn a thing or two about respect along the way.

As you expect from anything written by M. S. Parker there is a bit more risky content that dips into BDSM, the scenes are explicit but not overbearing. I found it had the right amount of spice and sass with enough drama to keep you from putting it down. It was a nonstop read for me.

I received an advanced copy of this story through BookSprout and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

[Arin Baur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much I couldn’t put it down until I finished it and now that I have I want more!!! :) this story has a lot in it like some kidnapping and two people getting to know each other and so much more.The guy character doesn’t do relationships at all just one night stands that all might change when he comes face to face with Tina. He does know what is going on in his head when it comes to this woman. To find out what happens in the story or should read it for yourself it’s awesome and in my opinion won’t regret it. I loved every page and at least for me it’s a keeper for sure!!! :) don’t worry there are no cliffhangers if anyone is worried just one awesome story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I’m sorry but this just wasn’t it for me. I hate giving bad reviews to an author because I feel they work hard. The story is well written, I liked the idea that the main character was not a weak, naive character, and there was very few errors. But I couldn’t tell what the story was about. No story line or plots. The only thing I can say is that I were definitely educated in BDSM. And if you’re into this then this book is definitely for you. Almost every charters after first date is nothing but having sex. I wanted to diss this book so badly but I’m the type of person I will always complete a book to the end no matter how bad it is, but I were bored, I skipped pages

[Gladys Rodríguez Pitre · Rating 4 out of 5]

D/s done well ❤️‍🩹⛓️

Overall great read until... Almost the last section of the book. I felt the kidnapping parts were just a bit ... I don't know... tedious or something. I actually skipped most of it till they reunited again. Outside of that part I enjoyed it

I felt he introduced her into the kink lifestyle too early in their relationship but he ALWAYS did aftercare and kept her safety and pleasure in the forefront. That is how it should be.

If you want smut... Half the book is smutty scenes. So... Have fun!

I will continue to the next book to see if it is kink based or not. It's not required for me but I always find it interesting on how authors weave in great character development with love making of all shades.

Happy reading.