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Dynasties: The Jarrods #4
Taming Her Billionaire Boss
No one quit on Blake Jarrod! So when his devoted assistant suddenly turned in her resignation, the hotelier wanted answers. Though, Samantha Thompson wasn't talking. Turning her two-weeks' notice into four, Blake gave himself one month to seduce the truth from her. And despite his rule about business and pleasure never mixing, Blake intended to make the most of his endeavor….
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
9 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Sullivan
206 books78 followersI have to say that I pretty much blame my mother for all this. If my dear Mum wasn't an avid reader of romance, then I might not have fallen in love with romance novels myself. And then I wouldn't have decided to write my own romances. Thanks Mum!
Of course, I never thought it would take me 20 years before I saw my first piece de résistance in print. Perhaps I wouldn't even have tried, but you know, I think I still would have reached for my dream. Romance novels offer such wonderful affirmations about love and relationships that I can't imagine not wanting to share my stories with others.
I currently live in Melbourne, Australia but over the years have travelled to New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. In my own backyard, my husband’s job ensured we saw the diversity of the countryside, from the tropics to the outback, country towns to the cities. I find it very fitting that I sold my first manuscript on January 26th 2006, which is Australia Day in my country.
Since that fateful day I have had 12 books published, selling almost a million and a half copies worldwide in as many as 17 languages. I'm also published in short stories worldwide in national magazines.
I am married to Geoff, who has proven his hero status many times over the years. We have two handsome sons and an assortment of previously abandoned animals.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers. For me, it really is a pleasure to be here.
Of course, I never thought it would take me 20 years before I saw my first piece de résistance in print. Perhaps I wouldn't even have tried, but you know, I think I still would have reached for my dream. Romance novels offer such wonderful affirmations about love and relationships that I can't imagine not wanting to share my stories with others.
I currently live in Melbourne, Australia but over the years have travelled to New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. In my own backyard, my husband’s job ensured we saw the diversity of the countryside, from the tropics to the outback, country towns to the cities. I find it very fitting that I sold my first manuscript on January 26th 2006, which is Australia Day in my country.
Since that fateful day I have had 12 books published, selling almost a million and a half copies worldwide in as many as 17 languages. I'm also published in short stories worldwide in national magazines.
I am married to Geoff, who has proven his hero status many times over the years. We have two handsome sons and an assortment of previously abandoned animals.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers. For me, it really is a pleasure to be here.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 20, 2011
Samantha Thompson can no longer take working for her boss, Blake Jarrod, watching and waiting for him to finally take notice that she's a woman. But when she hands him her resignation he won't let her out of her contract. So for the next month she's stuck by his side.
Blake is totally thrown by Samantha's sudden attempt to leave. After two years of her being his secretary, he can't believe she would abandon him at a time like this when he is just taking over his father's resort and needs her, just like his mother did when she died because of that, which caused his father to back away emotionally from his children, Blake no longer gets close to any woman.
So he decides he is going to seduce her to his bed and convince her to stay. Well at least for a couple more months until the 'newness' wears off their affair.
Samantha decides to give making Blake jealous a try to see if that will draw his attention to her.
Luckily, both their plans work and after explaining this is purely physical to Samantha, their affair blooms.
As her notice days wear thin, Blake is the only one who cannot see the magic that is between him and Samantha. Despite his siblings attempts to make him open his eyes, it appears he isn't going to do anything to stop her from leaving. Especially when he realizes that Samantha quite possible is in love with him.
It takes his half-sister he just found out about to finally make his admit the feelings he's been fighting. Rushing after Samantha, he finally says the words he hasn't spoken since his mother died.
Blake is totally thrown by Samantha's sudden attempt to leave. After two years of her being his secretary, he can't believe she would abandon him at a time like this when he is just taking over his father's resort and needs her, just like his mother did when she died because of that, which caused his father to back away emotionally from his children, Blake no longer gets close to any woman.
So he decides he is going to seduce her to his bed and convince her to stay. Well at least for a couple more months until the 'newness' wears off their affair.
Samantha decides to give making Blake jealous a try to see if that will draw his attention to her.
Luckily, both their plans work and after explaining this is purely physical to Samantha, their affair blooms.
As her notice days wear thin, Blake is the only one who cannot see the magic that is between him and Samantha. Despite his siblings attempts to make him open his eyes, it appears he isn't going to do anything to stop her from leaving. Especially when he realizes that Samantha quite possible is in love with him.
It takes his half-sister he just found out about to finally make his admit the feelings he's been fighting. Rushing after Samantha, he finally says the words he hasn't spoken since his mother died.
April 1, 2020
More like 3.75. I just don't like it when people use other people to make someone jealous. It irks me. It only happened once, but ..... no. The writing was good, I found the rest of the story interesting and loved seeing all the characters again, even though they weren't in it as much as other books.
January 25, 2013
Oh I loved this book so much. Samantha has lusted after her boss Blake for two years but when she finally realizes her will never see her as more than just his assistant she decides to quit. Blake needs her and will not let her go that easy so he forces her to work out her last month as required. He turns up the heat just like she wanted but when they are together she realizes she loves him so she is more determined to leave knowing he can never lover her back. I love the point when Blake realizes he loves her and they get married that same day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2019
Again a family leader ruins commitment and love of their children making them afraid to love anyone in fear of abandonment. Blake feeling responsible for his siblings, and the Jarrod legacy at the expense of his happiness.
I gave this book 3 stars because Blake let this commitment not happening go on too long.
Samantha is feisty and I am proud of the way she stuck to not settling for less than what she deserved. Luckily it finally paid off when her bold move to leave woke up Blake. Also thank goodness for 1/2 sister Erica.
We will see how the other siblings find happiness.
I gave this book 3 stars because Blake let this commitment not happening go on too long.
Samantha is feisty and I am proud of the way she stuck to not settling for less than what she deserved. Luckily it finally paid off when her bold move to leave woke up Blake. Also thank goodness for 1/2 sister Erica.
We will see how the other siblings find happiness.
May 12, 2017
leído el 11/07/2012
September 11, 2019
Protagonistas: Blake & Samantha
Profesiones: Empresario & Secretaria
Pais: USA
Profesiones: Empresario & Secretaria
Pais: USA
January 6, 2022
I think I've read another Harlequin book like this last year with the exact same story line ...
Good book though.
Good book though.
May 14, 2025
Interesting story!!!!
June 28, 2025
The pace of this book was way too fast, and there was very little character development. It can be read as a standalone.
Read
December 15, 2025absolutely rubbish
December 23, 2025
Lengvai skaitosi, nuostabi knygą. Daug romantikos ir aistros, labai patiko
May 30, 2014
Just Okay For Me - Barely Reaching a 3-Star Review
This story was just okay for me, a book a day reading junkie.
Samantha Thompson is a beautifully, brilliant, sexy, and talented woman who is Blake Jarrod's devoted assistant. Without warning she tenders her resignation and Blake is shocked, upset and angry. She is an enormous asset to him and his businesses but, that is no longer enough for the gorgeous Samantha. She is crazy about her boss and he pays attention to every other woman on the planet but her. For two years she has endured all his other women who came in and out of his revolving bedroom door. The pain became too much. She cannot bear to continue working side by side with Blake as he continues to run her heart through the paper shredder regularly. She won't tell him why she is leaving and Blake is devastated and angry that she has chosen to leave him...after all, no one leaves Blake Jarrod - until he wants them to leave. Not so this time around.
Blake Jarrod is CEO of his family's empire and his own as well. He does not want to loose his assistant. She helps run his businesses and his personal life smoothly and what will he do without her. She leaves in four weeks and he develops a plan to seduce her and hopefully make her want to stay. He quickly learns that there may just be another reason he wants her to stay but the L word does not enter into it...ever or so he thinks. He was raised by a tough, unloving father who had loved and lost his wife. It was safer not to love because your heart would not be at risk. He and his siblings lived with this mentality for all their lives and it has had a very negative impact on them.
I love series that are about families and dynasties but this one missed the mark for me. The characters were unremarkable and did not hold my interest very well. They did not entice me to want get to know them better. I am uncertain about recommending this book as I have read others in this series and they were not as okay as this one. It was just not my cup of tea but, obviously others think and feel differently. Maybe you should decide for yourself.
This story was just okay for me, a book a day reading junkie.
Samantha Thompson is a beautifully, brilliant, sexy, and talented woman who is Blake Jarrod's devoted assistant. Without warning she tenders her resignation and Blake is shocked, upset and angry. She is an enormous asset to him and his businesses but, that is no longer enough for the gorgeous Samantha. She is crazy about her boss and he pays attention to every other woman on the planet but her. For two years she has endured all his other women who came in and out of his revolving bedroom door. The pain became too much. She cannot bear to continue working side by side with Blake as he continues to run her heart through the paper shredder regularly. She won't tell him why she is leaving and Blake is devastated and angry that she has chosen to leave him...after all, no one leaves Blake Jarrod - until he wants them to leave. Not so this time around.
Blake Jarrod is CEO of his family's empire and his own as well. He does not want to loose his assistant. She helps run his businesses and his personal life smoothly and what will he do without her. She leaves in four weeks and he develops a plan to seduce her and hopefully make her want to stay. He quickly learns that there may just be another reason he wants her to stay but the L word does not enter into it...ever or so he thinks. He was raised by a tough, unloving father who had loved and lost his wife. It was safer not to love because your heart would not be at risk. He and his siblings lived with this mentality for all their lives and it has had a very negative impact on them.
I love series that are about families and dynasties but this one missed the mark for me. The characters were unremarkable and did not hold my interest very well. They did not entice me to want get to know them better. I am uncertain about recommending this book as I have read others in this series and they were not as okay as this one. It was just not my cup of tea but, obviously others think and feel differently. Maybe you should decide for yourself.
March 4, 2017
This was a pretty decent story. It wasn't an OTT dramatic angst fest, nor was it ridiculously cheesy. So I give it a very solid three stars. It was entertaining, well-written and the characters were likeable enough at times. Blake was the cliche character who was traumatized by abandonment when his mother died and his father shut down, so he refuses to show his feelings or be in love. I respect the fact that he decided to let Samantha know how a relationship would be BEFORE he actually slept with her. I was skeptical about him at first when he decided he'd seduce her, enjoy her for a few months and then go their separate ways. I had more problems with Samantha actually, who was pretty damn delusional. She kept telling herself that she only wanted to have sex with Blake...all she wants is to be his one-night stand. And the fact that he won't make a move on her has her deciding to quit her job. Ummm. Okay. That's a bit weird. She'll give up a pretty decent gig as a PA just because her boss won't sexually harass her. And the fact that she turns in her resignation because she's jealous of time he spends with other women, pretty much reveals that she loves him but she's in denial. And then as soon as she sleeps with him she realizes she loves him. Duh. She's almost TSTL. She also does some pretty juvenile game playing, leading on guys in an attempt to make Blake jealous enough to make a move, and I'm never a fan of that kind of behavior.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2016
D2042 Oct10 The Jarrods #4 Blake Jarrod wants answers, why has his assistant, Samantha Thompson, given him her letter of resignation? She's been with him for for 2 yrs in Las Vegas and now at his families resort in Aspen. She knows she's in danger of falling in love with him and knows he doesn't love her. Blake demands she stay and work for a month to finish her job. He going to use the time to seduce the truth out of her. She later overhears him tell his brother "it was fun, but it's over. Marriage isn't part of his plan, he saw what his mother's death did to his father and he will not take that chance. Samantha leaves she deserves love and will not settle for less.
October 12, 2014
this was average, i much preferred guy's story. nothing much going on. blake and samantha did not move from dat lodge and spent most of the time either bickering or making love. it was obvious from the first page dat samantha had a huge crush on him!and wanted him for herself! this cud have been fun and it was until they had sex. things got boring from der. they were both so insecure and unsure of the other from dat point.
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December 23, 2014Miniseries: Dynasties: The Jarrods
February 21, 2011
I really enjoy Maxine's writing. She always grabs me and pulls me right into the story. I love the way she creates those sexy alpha heroes! She is an author I always watch for.
September 30, 2011
average, his character was poorly done, as he ranged between dictatorial and obtuse
February 19, 2013
I really liked it!
February 20, 2021
I always like the whole dating the boss trope, and this book is no exception! This was my favorite book in the series so far. Though predictable, the story was good.
January 22, 2015
Not the best book in this series. Neither party is willing to admit their feelings for each other. So, Samantha is willing to quit rather than to stay as Blake Jarrod's assistant.
January 8, 2011
Another good story from an author who hasn't disappointed yet.
Part 4 of 6 Jarrods' series.
Part 4 of 6 Jarrods' series.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews