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My Bossy Valentine
Cupid will have to work overtime to get one jealous billionaire and his flirtatious assistant together. Will his arrow hit its mark or blow up in both of their faces?
Justin
Stress is an understatement. With my dad stepping down and to take my rightful place, I just have to get this VIP client to sign. Which means I must pull off the most spectacular Valentine Masquerade Gala yet.
Gabe is the best event coordinator in our agency, but I can’t help it. The more I spend time with him, the more I need to show him he’s special.
I’m not good at playing second to anyone when he turns on the charm to everyone for the gala. Not when he’s mine… and only mine.
Gabe
With another failed relationship in my rear-view mirror, I’m back on the market.
Strangely, after starting my next work assignment planning the agency’s gala event, I’ve started getting notes from a secret admirer. And it’s killing me not knowing who it is?
I find working closely with my boss’ boss, the agency’s billionaire VP Justin Merrick, that I desire his warm body and mouth on mine.
Even though I’ve started seeing Justin, I’m still getting these notes. But every time I try finding who the author is, Justin gets upset.
I’m not sure I can take much more of his jealousy and lack of trust.
Things can’t go on the way they are. I have a choice to make… my job or my relationship with Justin?
"My Bossy Valentine" is a billionaire office, alpha, mistaken identity M/M romance novel involving one jealous executive and one flirtatious assistant. The story has steamy, passionate scenes and bursts of emotion with a very HEA ending.
Justin
Stress is an understatement. With my dad stepping down and to take my rightful place, I just have to get this VIP client to sign. Which means I must pull off the most spectacular Valentine Masquerade Gala yet.
Gabe is the best event coordinator in our agency, but I can’t help it. The more I spend time with him, the more I need to show him he’s special.
I’m not good at playing second to anyone when he turns on the charm to everyone for the gala. Not when he’s mine… and only mine.
Gabe
With another failed relationship in my rear-view mirror, I’m back on the market.
Strangely, after starting my next work assignment planning the agency’s gala event, I’ve started getting notes from a secret admirer. And it’s killing me not knowing who it is?
I find working closely with my boss’ boss, the agency’s billionaire VP Justin Merrick, that I desire his warm body and mouth on mine.
Even though I’ve started seeing Justin, I’m still getting these notes. But every time I try finding who the author is, Justin gets upset.
I’m not sure I can take much more of his jealousy and lack of trust.
Things can’t go on the way they are. I have a choice to make… my job or my relationship with Justin?
"My Bossy Valentine" is a billionaire office, alpha, mistaken identity M/M romance novel involving one jealous executive and one flirtatious assistant. The story has steamy, passionate scenes and bursts of emotion with a very HEA ending.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2023
43 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 2, 2023
Oh goodness...
Ever read a romance where you like one MC better than the other? This is how I felt about this one.
In here we have Justin, a billionaire who is a very jealous person and Gabe, someone who works for him who Justin clicks with. I actually liked Justin, jealousy and all but Gabe...
Gabe was hard for me to root for. He was the one who used jealousy to punish/get what he wanted and I hated that.
These two had chemistry and the whole jealousy thing could have been left out and this would have been a great Valentine's story.
Regardless, I still liked the writing and will read more by this writer.
Ever read a romance where you like one MC better than the other? This is how I felt about this one.
In here we have Justin, a billionaire who is a very jealous person and Gabe, someone who works for him who Justin clicks with. I actually liked Justin, jealousy and all but Gabe...
Gabe was hard for me to root for. He was the one who used jealousy to punish/get what he wanted and I hated that.
These two had chemistry and the whole jealousy thing could have been left out and this would have been a great Valentine's story.
Regardless, I still liked the writing and will read more by this writer.
February 12, 2023
Dnf @ 57%
Gabriel is so annoying? He is dating justin but asking "help" aka a lift when he could call a cab from his ex who clearly wants him back and has made his intentions clear to Justin to this ain't even jealousy anyone would be mad if u paid this much attention to ur EX who wants u back especially when u just started dating justin? Even with eric dude was making out with him one minute then having sex with justin next bcuz justin is hotter & richer in his own words. He is incredibly shallow and tells justin not to sl^t shame him when he took him to a party filled with his exes and got drunk and flirted with everyone? No one who is not extremely manipulative does that. I feel so bad for justin he deserves better. Dropping the book after the drunk party flirting with all the men so that he can blame justin for being jealous while flirting with his exes lol. Manipulation 101.
Oh also marrissa is incredibly annoying btw ex gf n best friend who f^cks ur super rich dad after u came out as gay and barges in ur house every morning to scare ur hookups into thinking she is ur wife??? Justin is surrounded by weird toxic people lol.
Gabriel is so annoying? He is dating justin but asking "help" aka a lift when he could call a cab from his ex who clearly wants him back and has made his intentions clear to Justin to this ain't even jealousy anyone would be mad if u paid this much attention to ur EX who wants u back especially when u just started dating justin? Even with eric dude was making out with him one minute then having sex with justin next bcuz justin is hotter & richer in his own words. He is incredibly shallow and tells justin not to sl^t shame him when he took him to a party filled with his exes and got drunk and flirted with everyone? No one who is not extremely manipulative does that. I feel so bad for justin he deserves better. Dropping the book after the drunk party flirting with all the men so that he can blame justin for being jealous while flirting with his exes lol. Manipulation 101.
Oh also marrissa is incredibly annoying btw ex gf n best friend who f^cks ur super rich dad after u came out as gay and barges in ur house every morning to scare ur hookups into thinking she is ur wife??? Justin is surrounded by weird toxic people lol.
January 29, 2023
This was my first book by Caleb Marks. I would be open to reading more from this author. I thought the story was well-written and there was definite chemistry between Gabe and Justin. They also were also real in their messiness and trying to figure out how to build a relationship between the two of them.
My biggest issue was actually one of the main characters: Gabe. Gabe was fresh off of a break-up, attractive, and had a flirty, fun personality. Justin had only been in one relationship and it was not a healthy relationship. He mainly stuck to hook-ups after that ended until he met Gabe.
Justin was a jealous person. He clearly admitted that. It was an unhealthy attitude, but I also felt like Gabe used that to "punish" Justin when he was not behaving like he wanted. For instance, after they became official, Gabe's car broke down. Instead of calling his boyfriend, he called an ex to come and get him claiming he was closer and then did not tell Justin. Justin found out from the ex. He even came in late to work the next day, but didn't let Justin know he was going to be late? Gabe actually didn't do anything wrong except not telling Justin. He was keeping things secret and that made him look guilty (even though he wasn't).
Then he took Justin to a poker party (where he had 3 exes) and didn't tell Justin. When Justin questioned him and became angry, Gabe proceeded to flirt inappropriately with all the men and threatened to leave with them. It felt icky. Gabe was pushing Justin's buttons because he was angry with Justin questioning him. I actually thought Justin made some good points. He wasn't sl*t shaming Gabe, he just wanted to be aware of what he was walking into.
Then the whole note thing? That was straight up manipulation on Gabe's part. He knew Justin wrote them, but told Justin he thought Eric (who had been trying to get together with Gabe the entire book) wrote them. Then when Justin got mad, it was his fault? Gabe said that he was trying to see what Justin would write after he said that. Gross.
I think the most frustrating part was that Gabe never really apologized for how he treated Justin. Sean called him out on it and said everything that I was thinking. But he never apologized. Instead, we have Justin begging Gabe to come back to him. They both had issues and things to fix, but Justin was the only one that seemed to want to fix it.
Like I said, they had chemistry, but goodness. I felt like Justin deserved someone who would meet him halfway. Also, there were several storylines that didn't really get resolved: Justin's mom and Justin's dad and ex. I assume everything worked out.
I feel like I'm in the minority here. Most people seem to love the book, but I just could not get past Gabe's unpleasant personality.
I received an ARC for my honest review
My biggest issue was actually one of the main characters: Gabe. Gabe was fresh off of a break-up, attractive, and had a flirty, fun personality. Justin had only been in one relationship and it was not a healthy relationship. He mainly stuck to hook-ups after that ended until he met Gabe.
Justin was a jealous person. He clearly admitted that. It was an unhealthy attitude, but I also felt like Gabe used that to "punish" Justin when he was not behaving like he wanted. For instance, after they became official, Gabe's car broke down. Instead of calling his boyfriend, he called an ex to come and get him claiming he was closer and then did not tell Justin. Justin found out from the ex. He even came in late to work the next day, but didn't let Justin know he was going to be late? Gabe actually didn't do anything wrong except not telling Justin. He was keeping things secret and that made him look guilty (even though he wasn't).
Then he took Justin to a poker party (where he had 3 exes) and didn't tell Justin. When Justin questioned him and became angry, Gabe proceeded to flirt inappropriately with all the men and threatened to leave with them. It felt icky. Gabe was pushing Justin's buttons because he was angry with Justin questioning him. I actually thought Justin made some good points. He wasn't sl*t shaming Gabe, he just wanted to be aware of what he was walking into.
Then the whole note thing? That was straight up manipulation on Gabe's part. He knew Justin wrote them, but told Justin he thought Eric (who had been trying to get together with Gabe the entire book) wrote them. Then when Justin got mad, it was his fault? Gabe said that he was trying to see what Justin would write after he said that. Gross.
I think the most frustrating part was that Gabe never really apologized for how he treated Justin. Sean called him out on it and said everything that I was thinking. But he never apologized. Instead, we have Justin begging Gabe to come back to him. They both had issues and things to fix, but Justin was the only one that seemed to want to fix it.
Like I said, they had chemistry, but goodness. I felt like Justin deserved someone who would meet him halfway. Also, there were several storylines that didn't really get resolved: Justin's mom and Justin's dad and ex. I assume everything worked out.
I feel like I'm in the minority here. Most people seem to love the book, but I just could not get past Gabe's unpleasant personality.
I received an ARC for my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
DNFd but skimmed to the end... I HATED Gabe! He knew how jealous and insecure Justin was so he used it against him the WHOLE book. He would flirted with everyone just to hurt Justin. 😔 It just pissed me off too much.
Spoliers:
💥 Justin's high school ex, Marissa, was engaged to his dad but was constantly at Justin's place....The first scene was her walking into his bedroom?!?! Creepy as fuck because his hook up was there and she acted like his wife, screaming that he was cheating... Justin told Gabe sometimes she forgets which family member she is marrying. 🤮🤮
💥 Before they become official Gabe took Justin to a art gallery where his naked painting was on display. At that time Gabe thought Marissa and Justin were a couple......Justin bought the picture. 😬
💥 Gabe's ex boyfriend is new client so Justin tried keeping them apart during meeting...KNOWING how much it hurt Justin, Gabe still flirted relentlessly even agreeing to have dinner with the guy to reminisce old times.
💥Eric is a venue owner that kept trying to get in Gabe's pants...encouraging him to dump Justin....Gabe flirted, and even alone with him for a period of time, maybe dinner?! I cant recall, to let Eric know he wasn't available. 😳😳 THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TEXT!! Justin showed up and kissed Gabe in front of him.
DRAMA , DRAMA, DRAMA
Spoliers:
💥 Justin's high school ex, Marissa, was engaged to his dad but was constantly at Justin's place....The first scene was her walking into his bedroom?!?! Creepy as fuck because his hook up was there and she acted like his wife, screaming that he was cheating... Justin told Gabe sometimes she forgets which family member she is marrying. 🤮🤮
💥 Before they become official Gabe took Justin to a art gallery where his naked painting was on display. At that time Gabe thought Marissa and Justin were a couple......Justin bought the picture. 😬
💥 Gabe's ex boyfriend is new client so Justin tried keeping them apart during meeting...KNOWING how much it hurt Justin, Gabe still flirted relentlessly even agreeing to have dinner with the guy to reminisce old times.
💥Eric is a venue owner that kept trying to get in Gabe's pants...encouraging him to dump Justin....Gabe flirted, and even alone with him for a period of time, maybe dinner?! I cant recall, to let Eric know he wasn't available. 😳😳 THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TEXT!! Justin showed up and kissed Gabe in front of him.
DRAMA , DRAMA, DRAMA
January 26, 2023
Justin wants to run the company when his Dad retires. Gabriel has worked for the company for three years and Justin just noticed him and wants to to make it more than work. I loved the flirtation level of this book and I know its naughty but I loved most of Justin's jealousy. Both had issues to work on but they fit together as a couple. I really enjoyed this book and the notes angle. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.
March 30, 2023
3.5⭐️
Insecurities, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, Passionate Love, relationship dedication
I love the Jusin effort to save the relationship/ love and Gabriel effort to change his nature is commendable
These days no one take efforts in relationship so i personally enjoyed it
Enjoyable 💃
Insecurities, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, Passionate Love, relationship dedication
I love the Jusin effort to save the relationship/ love and Gabriel effort to change his nature is commendable
These days no one take efforts in relationship so i personally enjoyed it
Enjoyable 💃
July 25, 2023
3.5 stars - This was a quick read though there was some communication issues and jealousy moments that brought it down a bit.
Justin is up for a promotion to take over his father's company but has to pull off a Valentines Gala. He has to work with Gabe to make it happen. While he only has casual hookups after coming out he wants to give it a go with Gabe.
Gabe however is a huge flirt and made us of Justin's jealousy to make him do what he wanted which was a little disappointing. Even taking him to a party with three of his exes and proceeding to overtly flirt with all to punish Justin which was very childish.
There was some fun moments too though so it wasn't a bad read.
Justin is up for a promotion to take over his father's company but has to pull off a Valentines Gala. He has to work with Gabe to make it happen. While he only has casual hookups after coming out he wants to give it a go with Gabe.
Gabe however is a huge flirt and made us of Justin's jealousy to make him do what he wanted which was a little disappointing. Even taking him to a party with three of his exes and proceeding to overtly flirt with all to punish Justin which was very childish.
There was some fun moments too though so it wasn't a bad read.
December 5, 2023
✰ 3 stars ✰
“There’s no way he’s hot, rich, and smart."
“When a man hits all the trifecta, you’d better cling on.”
Neither here, nor there....That's the feeling I had when I was reading My Bossy Valentine. It served as a quick okay read, that didn't make it stand out in any way for me. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Justin and Gabriel, nor did I very much like their personalities. I didn't like how so readily jealous Justin was with Gabriel's behavior, and I didn't like how Gabriel unconsciously behaved like a flirt with everyone, even if he never intended to do anything more than just play with words.
I RESPECT that with their relationship and their openness, the two of them found a way to somewhat change how they would behave with each other, but yeah, I don't know. There were certainly valid reasons to their behavior, which were explained towards the end, but I just didn't connect with them - I didn't care...And I hate that feeling. 😢😢
The spice factor also was quite restrained - many of the sex scenes were very fade to black, which maybe was an author's choice, but then, I never really understood how instantly they fell for each other so quickly. And Justin's father dating and then marrying his son's classmate, the girl he lost his virginity, too!! Like, that...REALLY rubbed me the wrong way, but maybe that's okay for some people. I'm certainly not the one to judge.
There were a few points that I did appreciated. I liked how Justin helped Gabriel overcome his family's unwillingness to accept him. I liked the little touch of secret admirer notes being left in Gabriel's pocket. I do sense that some of the supporting characters may have their own stories to them, but it didn't really draw me to find out more about them. Overall, it served as a very simple quick read that didn't really leave a substantial mark in my journey through MM romances. 💔💔
“There’s no way he’s hot, rich, and smart."
“When a man hits all the trifecta, you’d better cling on.”
Neither here, nor there....That's the feeling I had when I was reading My Bossy Valentine. It served as a quick okay read, that didn't make it stand out in any way for me. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Justin and Gabriel, nor did I very much like their personalities. I didn't like how so readily jealous Justin was with Gabriel's behavior, and I didn't like how Gabriel unconsciously behaved like a flirt with everyone, even if he never intended to do anything more than just play with words.
I RESPECT that with their relationship and their openness, the two of them found a way to somewhat change how they would behave with each other, but yeah, I don't know. There were certainly valid reasons to their behavior, which were explained towards the end, but I just didn't connect with them - I didn't care...And I hate that feeling. 😢😢
The spice factor also was quite restrained - many of the sex scenes were very fade to black, which maybe was an author's choice, but then, I never really understood how instantly they fell for each other so quickly. And Justin's father dating and then marrying his son's classmate, the girl he lost his virginity, too!! Like, that...REALLY rubbed me the wrong way, but maybe that's okay for some people. I'm certainly not the one to judge.
There were a few points that I did appreciated. I liked how Justin helped Gabriel overcome his family's unwillingness to accept him. I liked the little touch of secret admirer notes being left in Gabriel's pocket. I do sense that some of the supporting characters may have their own stories to them, but it didn't really draw me to find out more about them. Overall, it served as a very simple quick read that didn't really leave a substantial mark in my journey through MM romances. 💔💔
January 23, 2023
My Bossy Valentine: A Billionaire Office MM Romance by Caleb Marx is the story of a somewhat insecure in love boss and his confident sassy employee. Justin is the boss and second in command at his father’s marketing company in Chicago. He knows his father is going to retire and that he will take over but when he is called into his office he is told that the company needs to get some more high level accounts and that their Valentine’s Day Masquerade Gala has to go off without a hitch and guess what? Justin is going to be in charge. He panics and goes to the head of operations who passes it on to her assistant Gabriel. When Justin and Gabriel meet there is an instant spark but not a lot of trust between them because Justin doesn’t think Gabriel has enough experience to handle the gala and Gabriel thinks Justin is judging him without taking the time to know what he can do. As time goes on they find themselves so attracted to each other that all the do is think about what could happen. Justin finally makes a move and the rest is history. They slowly get to know each other before have some very hot love scenes. Of course there is some angst in that others in their group are finding Gabriel very attractive and pursuing him and Justin is over the top jealous, even when Gabriel tries to explain what is happening, which causes trouble with their relationship. Gabriel also has some family problems because he is gay yet because of who he is he keeps trying to get through to them, often with disastrous results. Luckily Justin is able to help him through this. Everything comes to a head at the Gala with hopes that after what they have been through and learned about each other their relationship can survive. This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The characters are realistic and you can feel their happiness as well as their angst. The banter between Justin and Gabriel is often hilarious and the many side characters add to the fun. I also liked the ending and how it brought closure to the whole story. This is the first book that I have read by Mr. Marks and I plan to read more from him. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like boss/employee stories.
February 1, 2023
Plot: 💙💙💙💙💙
Steam: ❤️🔥❤️���
Angst: 🥺🥺
Swoon: 💞💞💞
Tropes:
💙 Boss/employee
💙 Opposites attract
💙 Jealousy
💙 Trust issues
💙 Homophobia
💙 Past Trauma
“I don’t understand you, Justin. You expect me to do whatever you ask me to without question, yet you don’t trust me at all. A relationship means you have to trust me.”
What happens when an over-the-top flirt starts dating his overly jealous boss?
That is what the author Caleb Marks sets out to explore in this novel and it is not boring.
I’m not usually a big fan of office romances since they often turn into silly cinderella stories where the innocent assistent is wooed by a power alpha. Not my thing.
But this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I hadn’t expected to love it this much but I think it has to do with the following:
💙 the main trope trust issues is explored amazingly. We really get to experience Justin’s (the boss) issues with being in a relationship. He even says it himself that he doesn’t do relationships - but what he really means is that he’s afraid to get hurt.
💙 I was blown away by the chemistry between the two MCs. Even though it is pretty much insta attraction for the both of them, they both have issues to deal with. Justin’s jealousy nearly destroys their love
💙 the exploration of the line between flirting and emotional cheating was spot on. Is it okay to be overly flirtatious like Gabriel (the employee) is when you are trying to be in a committed relationship?
The author manages to balance the seriousness with the sexy banter and chemistry between the MCs.
In addition, the author does not fall into the trap of an overly clicheed office romance. If anything, it is Gabriel who is the boss! There’s no playing with abuse of power - Justin is if anything an anti-boss 😉
So, a great read which really appealed to my love for hurt/comfort novels. The swoon was amazing and I really wanted these two to get their HEA!
*I rcvd an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
January 27, 2023
4.5 a great read
Justin is the son of a very wealthy man and works for his company in the hopes of taking over when he retires. He’s generally used to hooking up with guys as he’s not overly interested in relationships. And a unique way of getting these men out of his penthouse suite in the morning is to have his ex-girlfriend come over and pretend to be his wife and believe me the men soon leave. And his ex is now dating his father.
when he’s put in charge of a Valentine gala he meets Gabriel. And he wants him from the very first meet
Gabriel can’t believe he’s been put in charge of the gala , he wasn’t sure he could do it but his boss thought he could so he went full steam ahead and that is when he met Justin, the son of the boss who was overall in charged of the gala. It isn’t long to see that these two have chemistry but because of the rumours he assumes that Justin is straight so when the vendor Eric and him hit it off when he goes to see where the gala will be held it isn’t long before those two are flirting. Gabriel certainly has some sass about him and handsdown is one of the biggest flirts I’ve ever read. It isn’t long before him and Justin start a thing but do they have a future when lots of Gabes exes keep coming on the scene.
I enjoyed this book and with the storyline there were times when I wasn’t so sure on Gabriel which is really hard to say because I did like his character it’s just sometimes I thought he pushed it a bit too far with Justin. But these two certainly have chemistry they have passion and they have a future but not when things are put in the way. I did feel for Justin in his book. I was trying to put myself in his place I don’t think I’d like it either but I did enjoy the read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Justin is the son of a very wealthy man and works for his company in the hopes of taking over when he retires. He’s generally used to hooking up with guys as he’s not overly interested in relationships. And a unique way of getting these men out of his penthouse suite in the morning is to have his ex-girlfriend come over and pretend to be his wife and believe me the men soon leave. And his ex is now dating his father.
when he’s put in charge of a Valentine gala he meets Gabriel. And he wants him from the very first meet
Gabriel can’t believe he’s been put in charge of the gala , he wasn’t sure he could do it but his boss thought he could so he went full steam ahead and that is when he met Justin, the son of the boss who was overall in charged of the gala. It isn’t long to see that these two have chemistry but because of the rumours he assumes that Justin is straight so when the vendor Eric and him hit it off when he goes to see where the gala will be held it isn’t long before those two are flirting. Gabriel certainly has some sass about him and handsdown is one of the biggest flirts I’ve ever read. It isn’t long before him and Justin start a thing but do they have a future when lots of Gabes exes keep coming on the scene.
I enjoyed this book and with the storyline there were times when I wasn’t so sure on Gabriel which is really hard to say because I did like his character it’s just sometimes I thought he pushed it a bit too far with Justin. But these two certainly have chemistry they have passion and they have a future but not when things are put in the way. I did feel for Justin in his book. I was trying to put myself in his place I don’t think I’d like it either but I did enjoy the read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2023
Justin is the kind of guy who has his ex (from that time he tried dating women) bust in the morning after his one-night stands and act as thought they’re married to scare off the guy warming his bed. He doesn’t do relationships.
Gabe is the kind of guy who is flirty friends with everyone, gets numbers from nearly everyone he meets, is roommates with his female bestie and, while he enjoys hooking up, wants more. He does relationships, sadly they don’t do him.
Justin is Gabe’s boss’ boss. When Justin’s father announces his intent to retire, but needs Justin to bring in some more solid business and take over the Valentine’s gala first, Gabe’s boss puts Gabe on the job with Justin.
What starts as boss-employee, moves into friends, then lovers, then nothing. Why nothing? Justin, it turns out is quite the jealous boyfriend and lacks a lot of trust. Gabe already deals with a horribly homophobic family. He doesn’t need a boyfriend who doesn’t trust him and makes him feel like he’s less than he is simply by being himself, too. He is 100% a relationship guy. He might flirt, but he isn’t a cheater. Does it break his heart to walk away from Justin? Absolutely. Does changing who he is to make someone else less jealous hurt more? 100%. Gabe takes a new job and fully walks away from Justin. Full-stop.
Do the two men have a chance at reuniting? That’s entirely dependent upon Justin and his ability to tamp down his jealousy, accepting that Gabe loves him and only him. If he fell in love with Gabe as he is, then he should love all of him, not just the bits that make him comfortable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid.
Gabe is the kind of guy who is flirty friends with everyone, gets numbers from nearly everyone he meets, is roommates with his female bestie and, while he enjoys hooking up, wants more. He does relationships, sadly they don’t do him.
Justin is Gabe’s boss’ boss. When Justin’s father announces his intent to retire, but needs Justin to bring in some more solid business and take over the Valentine’s gala first, Gabe’s boss puts Gabe on the job with Justin.
What starts as boss-employee, moves into friends, then lovers, then nothing. Why nothing? Justin, it turns out is quite the jealous boyfriend and lacks a lot of trust. Gabe already deals with a horribly homophobic family. He doesn’t need a boyfriend who doesn’t trust him and makes him feel like he’s less than he is simply by being himself, too. He is 100% a relationship guy. He might flirt, but he isn’t a cheater. Does it break his heart to walk away from Justin? Absolutely. Does changing who he is to make someone else less jealous hurt more? 100%. Gabe takes a new job and fully walks away from Justin. Full-stop.
Do the two men have a chance at reuniting? That’s entirely dependent upon Justin and his ability to tamp down his jealousy, accepting that Gabe loves him and only him. If he fell in love with Gabe as he is, then he should love all of him, not just the bits that make him comfortable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid.
February 2, 2023
Justin is the VP of his father’s marketing company, and he is hoping to take over for his dad soon. After being tasked with heading up the annual Valentine’s charity gala, Justin needs to work with Gabe, a cute and flirty employee that he never noticed, even though his desk was close to Justin’s and having worked there for three years. Justin is instantly in lust with Gabe but is reluctant to start anything with an employee. It does not take much for them to realize their attraction and connection is very mutual, although Justin gets jealous and possessive, and Gabe is not having any of that. You never know how much someone means until you lose them, so when they break up, it means that much more when they get back together.
I absolutely loved this book. This book was so well written. It had tender moments, it was so funny at times, and the romance was so lovely. I loved watching their budding relationship bloom into something very special. I liked how fiercely independent and confident Gabe was. I loved how down to earth Justin was, and even though he was very wealthy, he did not use his money to manipulate the situation. It was hard to watch when Justin got jealous, but I could also see where he was coming from, because Gabe was an unrepentant flirt. I am so glad they worked everything out and they get to have their very own HEA. They really did belong together. I highly recommend this book and this author.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved this book. This book was so well written. It had tender moments, it was so funny at times, and the romance was so lovely. I loved watching their budding relationship bloom into something very special. I liked how fiercely independent and confident Gabe was. I loved how down to earth Justin was, and even though he was very wealthy, he did not use his money to manipulate the situation. It was hard to watch when Justin got jealous, but I could also see where he was coming from, because Gabe was an unrepentant flirt. I am so glad they worked everything out and they get to have their very own HEA. They really did belong together. I highly recommend this book and this author.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 27, 2023
I really enjoyed My Bossy Valentine, by new to me author, Caleb Marks.
Justin, the son of the boss at a large marketing firm is ready to take over the company as his father wants to step back and enjoy life more. However, his father wants Justin to prove he is ready by landing a big client, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Gabe, and planning the annual Masquerade Gala the company hosts every year.
Gabe, a flirty, snarky marketing assistant, has worked within eye-site of Justin's office for the last three years, but Justin doesn't notice him until Gabe is assigned to assist Justin on the Gala. Once the two men meet, sparks fly as Justin goes after what he wants.
There was a depth to both Justin and Gabe than began to come out as the two men got to know each other. Gabe had trust issues and a jealousy problem and Gabe went out of his way to flirt with every man he met which caused some problems between the men. I loved how Justin handled Gabe's parents and said all the things that needed to be said to them.
My Bossy Valentine was full of heat and just enough angst to keep the story interesting. The secret notes were a nice addition to the story and kept things exciting.
I look forward to reading more books by Caleb Marks.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Justin, the son of the boss at a large marketing firm is ready to take over the company as his father wants to step back and enjoy life more. However, his father wants Justin to prove he is ready by landing a big client, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Gabe, and planning the annual Masquerade Gala the company hosts every year.
Gabe, a flirty, snarky marketing assistant, has worked within eye-site of Justin's office for the last three years, but Justin doesn't notice him until Gabe is assigned to assist Justin on the Gala. Once the two men meet, sparks fly as Justin goes after what he wants.
There was a depth to both Justin and Gabe than began to come out as the two men got to know each other. Gabe had trust issues and a jealousy problem and Gabe went out of his way to flirt with every man he met which caused some problems between the men. I loved how Justin handled Gabe's parents and said all the things that needed to be said to them.
My Bossy Valentine was full of heat and just enough angst to keep the story interesting. The secret notes were a nice addition to the story and kept things exciting.
I look forward to reading more books by Caleb Marks.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2023
4.5 stars
Justin is the kind of guy who does one-night stands and has his ex-girlfriend bust in the next morning to scare off that guy. He doesn't do relationships. Gabriel is a notorious flirt who connects with everyone he meets, and while he enjoys hooking up, he wants more. I liked Justin better than Gabe despite his penchant for jealousy. Justin is a bit insecure, which is what fuels his jealousy, and at times Gabe plays into that to rile up Justin. Gabe is great at his job, but the rest of his life is a bit self-destructive. Gabe deals with an extremely homophobic family that we get a peak at during the book, and I wish we got a moment where he confronts them and reads them the riot act. We do get Justin standing up for him, and that's when I realized that his whole family is horrible people. Justin's relationship with his mother has really affected him because he lived his life in the shadow of his brother, and that caused the rift between them. Gabe really played up the flirting which gets annoying at points, and his connection with Eric was abrupt, and the weird fixation Eric was really desperate. But overall, the romance and HEA were what gave the book the extra .5 above the four stars I was planning on giving the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Justin is the kind of guy who does one-night stands and has his ex-girlfriend bust in the next morning to scare off that guy. He doesn't do relationships. Gabriel is a notorious flirt who connects with everyone he meets, and while he enjoys hooking up, he wants more. I liked Justin better than Gabe despite his penchant for jealousy. Justin is a bit insecure, which is what fuels his jealousy, and at times Gabe plays into that to rile up Justin. Gabe is great at his job, but the rest of his life is a bit self-destructive. Gabe deals with an extremely homophobic family that we get a peak at during the book, and I wish we got a moment where he confronts them and reads them the riot act. We do get Justin standing up for him, and that's when I realized that his whole family is horrible people. Justin's relationship with his mother has really affected him because he lived his life in the shadow of his brother, and that caused the rift between them. Gabe really played up the flirting which gets annoying at points, and his connection with Eric was abrupt, and the weird fixation Eric was really desperate. But overall, the romance and HEA were what gave the book the extra .5 above the four stars I was planning on giving the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2023
I love a boss/assistant office romance and this one checks all the boxes. You have the sweet notes that come from a secret admire, the angst, the jealousy and lots of heat.
Justin is getting ready to take over for his dad but before that can happen a few things have tk happen. He will have to land a big client and the perfect Valentine's gala. What Justin doesn't expect is Gabriel who is put in charge to help him plan the gala. These guys have heat sizzling from their first official meeting. Gabe has noticed Justin before but some how Justin failed to see Gabe in the 3 yrs they worked right across from each other. I love how instant their connection is but they definitely have to work the whole time for their relationship. I really loved the secret admire notes. There was definitely a few times when i wanted to shake them both! I absolutely loved when Justin stands up for Gabe with his family.
Over all I really enjoyed the characters and their story. It has some laugh out loud moments, some what the hell moments and some definitely swoon worthy moments.
Caleb Marks is a new to me author and will be following for more reads.
I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Justin is getting ready to take over for his dad but before that can happen a few things have tk happen. He will have to land a big client and the perfect Valentine's gala. What Justin doesn't expect is Gabriel who is put in charge to help him plan the gala. These guys have heat sizzling from their first official meeting. Gabe has noticed Justin before but some how Justin failed to see Gabe in the 3 yrs they worked right across from each other. I love how instant their connection is but they definitely have to work the whole time for their relationship. I really loved the secret admire notes. There was definitely a few times when i wanted to shake them both! I absolutely loved when Justin stands up for Gabe with his family.
Over all I really enjoyed the characters and their story. It has some laugh out loud moments, some what the hell moments and some definitely swoon worthy moments.
Caleb Marks is a new to me author and will be following for more reads.
I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 22, 2023
High Expectations Of A Very Underwhelming Book.
I have read this book via Kindle Unlimited after it appeared on my suggestions list.
After reading the blurb, I was looking forward to reading the novel.
Basically, it's a gay office romance.
The two main characters:
Justin - arrogant, conceited, and ruled by jealousy.
Gabriel - arrogant, obnoxious, and flirts with any male with a pulse.
Both are unlikeable. Though the author tries to give justifiable rationale as to why their personalities are like that.
Yet again, in my opinion, another author who seems that you can only be gay if you've gone through some traumatic life experience or disowned by your family.
The author is focused on the jealousy aspect by Justin as the main plot, not the over flirtatious gaslighting by Gabriel.
Overall, the whole dynamic between Justin and Gabriel is a very toxic relationship.
It's constantly very anti Justin and very pro Gabriel. Even though Gabriel knowingly caused Justin's reactions. A few times Gabriel lies through omission to get a response from Justin, then when Justin responds with his jealousy, Gabriel acts like the victim.
This plays on every negative gay tropes and stereotypes.
I won't be following this author works any further.
I have read this book via Kindle Unlimited after it appeared on my suggestions list.
After reading the blurb, I was looking forward to reading the novel.
Basically, it's a gay office romance.
The two main characters:
Justin - arrogant, conceited, and ruled by jealousy.
Gabriel - arrogant, obnoxious, and flirts with any male with a pulse.
Both are unlikeable. Though the author tries to give justifiable rationale as to why their personalities are like that.
Yet again, in my opinion, another author who seems that you can only be gay if you've gone through some traumatic life experience or disowned by your family.
The author is focused on the jealousy aspect by Justin as the main plot, not the over flirtatious gaslighting by Gabriel.
Overall, the whole dynamic between Justin and Gabriel is a very toxic relationship.
It's constantly very anti Justin and very pro Gabriel. Even though Gabriel knowingly caused Justin's reactions. A few times Gabriel lies through omission to get a response from Justin, then when Justin responds with his jealousy, Gabriel acts like the victim.
This plays on every negative gay tropes and stereotypes.
I won't be following this author works any further.
January 20, 2023
My favourite trope is boss/assistant it never gets old. This was so well written, the snarky arguments were hilarious and got Mr Boss so grumpy and jealous, you could almost feel his heart rate rising. As per usual the boss tends to have a different persona when you get to know him. I absolutely felt the sexual chemistry between these two MC's they were so hot for each other and the scenes were steamy. There is some angst but more linked to family issues than the main characters; although their relationship isn't plain sailing and self discovery does have to happen. There were a lot more layers to the characters, which really deepened the narrative; Gabe is so flirty and is so magnetic that he draws people towards him, but, he has a lot of emotional hurt that makes you wonder whether he flashes his bright white smile as a facade to keep his pain hidden. This is my first read by this author, but I will definitely be checking out their other work. 5 stars because I was so hooked on these two characters and I got totally absorbed by the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2023
Working Together . . .
Justin Merrick’s father will be retiring soon and handing the business over to Justin. But before that will happen, he tasks Justin with winning a huge client which will start at their Valentine’s Day Masquerade Gala. The pressure is on to make that Gala perfect, and Justin will be in charge of making it happen… or else!
Gabe is a flirt, but he is an awesome event coordinator and can definitely get the job done when Justin asks for his help. But Justin has trust issues and isn’t sure Gabe can manage this. They finally give in to their attraction as they work closely together, but Justin gets unreasonably jealous as others show interest in Gabe. Will the Gala’s success set Justin at ease? Will they learn to trust each other? Will he and Gabe move forward with a relationship? Or will Justin’s insecurities push Gabe away?
The characters are fascinating to watch as they interact with each other. I enjoyed the bits of humor and seeing how they begin to communicate and help each other. Will they find their HEA? Grab your copy and see how their story will resolve.
Justin Merrick’s father will be retiring soon and handing the business over to Justin. But before that will happen, he tasks Justin with winning a huge client which will start at their Valentine’s Day Masquerade Gala. The pressure is on to make that Gala perfect, and Justin will be in charge of making it happen… or else!
Gabe is a flirt, but he is an awesome event coordinator and can definitely get the job done when Justin asks for his help. But Justin has trust issues and isn’t sure Gabe can manage this. They finally give in to their attraction as they work closely together, but Justin gets unreasonably jealous as others show interest in Gabe. Will the Gala’s success set Justin at ease? Will they learn to trust each other? Will he and Gabe move forward with a relationship? Or will Justin’s insecurities push Gabe away?
The characters are fascinating to watch as they interact with each other. I enjoyed the bits of humor and seeing how they begin to communicate and help each other. Will they find their HEA? Grab your copy and see how their story will resolve.
January 24, 2023
4.5 stars
Justin is a bit aloof, a definite playboy, wealthy, and has trust issues. Gabriel is feisty and flirty, recently out of a relationship with a cheater, and has family homophobia issues.
Forced proximity brings on an instant attraction for both men which leaves Justin feeling flustered, while Gabe has a tendency to call Justin out on his bs - often in a funny way, despite Justin being his boss.
Justin and Gabe have a bumpy journey ahead that is filled with a mix of emotions, doubts, and angst. Only when they learn to fully open up, communicate, and trust can they have the love they both deserve.
I really enjoyed this book, the main characters are flawed but loveable, secondary characters add flavour to the story, there was just the right amount of drama, and it flowed smoothly.
In this book you will find family issues, trust issues, low angst, communication is key, escessive flirting, feistiness, many laughs, sizzling chemisty, a hard earned love, and a sweet and satisfying HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Justin is a bit aloof, a definite playboy, wealthy, and has trust issues. Gabriel is feisty and flirty, recently out of a relationship with a cheater, and has family homophobia issues.
Forced proximity brings on an instant attraction for both men which leaves Justin feeling flustered, while Gabe has a tendency to call Justin out on his bs - often in a funny way, despite Justin being his boss.
Justin and Gabe have a bumpy journey ahead that is filled with a mix of emotions, doubts, and angst. Only when they learn to fully open up, communicate, and trust can they have the love they both deserve.
I really enjoyed this book, the main characters are flawed but loveable, secondary characters add flavour to the story, there was just the right amount of drama, and it flowed smoothly.
In this book you will find family issues, trust issues, low angst, communication is key, escessive flirting, feistiness, many laughs, sizzling chemisty, a hard earned love, and a sweet and satisfying HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 26, 2023
I had a hard time putting this one down!
I really liked both main characters, but there were a lot of things that frustrated me as well. I didn’t like how Lucy ignored Gabe’s boundaries, how he punished himself for years going to silent dinners, and how unfair he was toward Justin in their disagreements. Then there’s Justin’s family and best friend, who also all treat him poorly in different ways. I strongly disliked Marissa. She was nosy, mean, and selfish. I know there have to be conflicts to move a story along sometimes, but I just felt like so many of the problems were swept under the rug instead of being confronted and dealt with.
All that being said…. I did love Gabe and Justin. I loved their chemistry, the fact that there weren’t any big fights over money/class differences, and the ways they encouraged each other and built each other up (when they weren’t fighting and making assumptions about each other). The ending was sweet and made me happy! I’d rate this as moderate heat and angst.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really liked both main characters, but there were a lot of things that frustrated me as well. I didn’t like how Lucy ignored Gabe’s boundaries, how he punished himself for years going to silent dinners, and how unfair he was toward Justin in their disagreements. Then there’s Justin’s family and best friend, who also all treat him poorly in different ways. I strongly disliked Marissa. She was nosy, mean, and selfish. I know there have to be conflicts to move a story along sometimes, but I just felt like so many of the problems were swept under the rug instead of being confronted and dealt with.
All that being said…. I did love Gabe and Justin. I loved their chemistry, the fact that there weren’t any big fights over money/class differences, and the ways they encouraged each other and built each other up (when they weren’t fighting and making assumptions about each other). The ending was sweet and made me happy! I’d rate this as moderate heat and angst.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 15, 2023
An office romance full of flirting, jealousy, fun banter and steam. Justin works for his father waiting to take over the reins and constantly trying to prove his worth. He has been burned in the past so he foregoes meaningful relationships and connections. Gabe is an employee that believes Justin is straight and doesn’t know he exists. He enjoys life, is looking for “the one” and is trying to get his family to accept who he is – gay and fabulous. When Justin and Gabe are forced to work together, it is only a matter of time before fireworks explode between the two. But can the relationship survive when flirting, old boyfriends, and jealousy are involved? Justin and Gabe will have to learn to communicate better, to make compromises and understand how their past has influenced who they are presently. I loved the banter between them and the fact that Gabe wouldn't let Justin excuse his behavior because of wealth. This book was an introduction to a new author for me and I look forward to reading more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 24, 2023
Oh, these two men! There is Gabe, hardworking, good at his job, is a notorious/unrepentant flirt and has a family that hates him. Justin is also hardworking but is in line for the top job at the office when his father retires and has an absent mother who hurt him deeply when his brother passed away. When these two begin working together on the Valentine Gala, sparks fly. There is so much both of them are working on within their own families and the past that it keeps popping up and causing issues with their budding relationship. Gabe flirts with any and everyone which makes Justin's jealous side come to the surface. This is a good story that brings together two men who must put their pasts behind them as well as changing themselves for the better in order to move forward to a HEA of their own. Get this book and ride the waves with these two strong men, you will enjoy it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 25, 2023
I absolutely loved Gabe and Justin’s story! Justin is in line for CEO of his family’s marketing firm and needs to bring in a vital client before his father retires. He’s also paired with Gabe to ensure the firm’s Valentine’s Day gala is a success. Everyone assumes Justin’s straight because of his strange relationship with his ex-girlfriend who is now sleeping with his dad, and he’s got that rich boss entitled tendency. But as the story progresses and their attraction grows, we learn that both he and Gabe have some tragedy in their past that makes it difficult for them to build strong relationships. They mature through the story and fall in low, and how they get to their HEA is a really thoughtful and fun story, with plenty of heat, laughter, and drama (but not too much). And there are many well-developed secondary characters that add to the richness of the story. I would give this more stars if I could!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
February 22, 2023After a lot of thought I've decided not to rate this book. I really struggled with it and almost DNF'd it many times. I read on hoping it would get better and in some ways it did but I just couldn't get past how much Justin and Gabe fought. There were some sweet moments but not enough for me.
It may have been my mood or it may be the story but either way, sadly, this one didn't work for me.
QUICK THOUGHTS
** Holiday/Valentines
** Office romance
** Some sweet moments but not enough for me
** WAY too much arguing
** I didn't really like either MC
** I REALLY disliked Marissa
** One family was just horrible
** Unfortunately this story irritated me
** Kudos to the author if the story was meant to be irritating
** I like angst and or drama but there's a limit
** Satisfying enough ending I guess
** Maybe it's me and not the story
** This one left me scratching my head
January 29, 2023
Can relationships starting in stressful situations, last? Justin, is ready to step into his Dad's shoes when he retires. He just needs to do one little last job of signing a big client. Justin works with Gabe, the best evenet coordinator to whom he's also attracted. Gabe, is coming off another failed relationship is attracted to Justin. This relationship should be a slam dunk, but for all the roadblocks. Dysfunctional families, work relationship, miscommunications, interfering co-workers all make for a bumpy ride for a relationship. Justin and Gabe are a fun couple who keep missing the mark. Will the Gala be fantastic? Will Justin sign the VIP client? Will Dad step down? Will Gabe continue to work for the company? Good story, nice flow with a bit of a kick. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 24, 2023
I would definitely recommend this book! What to say about Justin...bossy, serious, dramatic, possessive, romantic, complicated. Gabe flirtatious, falls too easy. Justin works for his father's company and will take over as soon as his father retires. Gabe works for the same company in a different department, they meet when Gabe is put in charge of the company valentine masquerade ball. There is an attraction between them, but neither says anything. Justin leaves romantic notes on Gabe's desk and doesn't sign them. Gabe is always flirting with everyone, and Justin is extremely jealous. Must read to see how they navigate their attraction.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 27, 2023
4.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed this book! There was steam, some conflict, and a lot of heart in this book!
There was something about Justin and Gabe together that just felt so right. I adored Gabe and Lucy’s friendship. I found Justin and Marissa’s friendship interesting and a bit peculiar. Justin dredged up some interesting points during his outburst with his dad about Marissa that I wanted to know more about, but unfortunately I didn’t get answers.
Gabe’s family was absolutely horrible! My heart broke for him and all he’d dealt with! I nearly melted when Justin stood up for him at the family dinner. At first, I wanted Gabe to really have it out with them, but his indifference was so fitting!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book! There was steam, some conflict, and a lot of heart in this book!
There was something about Justin and Gabe together that just felt so right. I adored Gabe and Lucy’s friendship. I found Justin and Marissa’s friendship interesting and a bit peculiar. Justin dredged up some interesting points during his outburst with his dad about Marissa that I wanted to know more about, but unfortunately I didn’t get answers.
Gabe’s family was absolutely horrible! My heart broke for him and all he’d dealt with! I nearly melted when Justin stood up for him at the family dinner. At first, I wanted Gabe to really have it out with them, but his indifference was so fitting!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 18, 2023
My Review
I received a copy of this book from book sirens. This book is already out. Two sexy, hot guys. Lots of jealousy. A bit of miscommunication and misunderstanding. Add that all together and I’d stay Cupid’s got his work cut out for him to get Gabe and Justin to fall for each other. This book was a lot of fun and the perfect read for valentines. I adore office romances because of the added drama they bring to story and Gabe and Justin didn’t disappoint. While there isn’t a rule in the office about dating coworkers, there is drama because Justin is technically Gabe’s boss.
My Bossy Valentine was one hot and steamy book. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy book with great characters, then you would love this book.
Until next time, peace and happy reading.
I received a copy of this book from book sirens. This book is already out. Two sexy, hot guys. Lots of jealousy. A bit of miscommunication and misunderstanding. Add that all together and I’d stay Cupid’s got his work cut out for him to get Gabe and Justin to fall for each other. This book was a lot of fun and the perfect read for valentines. I adore office romances because of the added drama they bring to story and Gabe and Justin didn’t disappoint. While there isn’t a rule in the office about dating coworkers, there is drama because Justin is technically Gabe’s boss.
My Bossy Valentine was one hot and steamy book. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy book with great characters, then you would love this book.
Until next time, peace and happy reading.
January 25, 2023
Justin's father is ready to step down as CEO only he thinks Justin should prove his readiness to be CEO by producing the perfect Valentine's gala and landing the next big client. Easy. If Justin can manage not to fall in love with Gabe, the man who is producing the gala, or explode with jealousy whenever anyone speaks to Gabe. But Gabe is a flirt, not to upset Justin, but because it is his personality. And Justin's objections to his flirtations might be a little too close to controlling for Gabe's tastes. Are we sure this will make it to a HEA?.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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