STRANDED WITH A BILLIONAIRE (BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB, BOOK #1) BY JESSICA CLARE: BOOK REVIEW

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3 Star rating
Stranded with a Billionaire
Billionaire Boys Club series, Book #1
By Jessica Clare
ISBN# 9781101621233
Author’s Website:   http://jillmyles.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Spoilers

stranded-with-a-billionaire-billionaire-boys-club-jessica-clareSynopsis:

The Billionaire Boys Club is a secret society of six men who have vowed success – at any cost. Not all of them are old money, but all of them are incredibly wealthy. They’re just not always as successful when it comes to love…

Billionaire Logan Hawkings needs a vacation.

He’s had a rough time after the death of his father and the betrayal of his fiancée. But with a visit to a recent business acquisition—a private island resort in the Bahamas—he has a chance to mend his broken heart.

When a hurricane blows in, a misplaced passport and a stalled elevator bring Logan together with an unusual woman named Bronte. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met—down to earth, incredibly sensual, and even quotes Plato.

She also has no clue that he’s rich…

Bronte Dawson, a waitress from the Midwest, is stranded with the hotel’s domineering yet sexy manager Logan. What’s the harm in a little fling when it’s just the two of them, alone in paradise? But after several steamy island nights in Logan’s arms, Bronte’s ready to give her heart—and her body—to the man in charge.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Logan than he’s told her…a billion times more. Now, Bronte’s caught in a whirlwind affair with one of the world’s most powerful men. But can their love endure their differences or will it all just blow over?

Review:

The story begins with brief introductions of both Logan (good looking billionaire, of course!) and Brontë (good looking waitress, of course!  – though that is not her whole story).  Logan, during one of the monthly poker games with his billionaire buddies, decides to invest in a resort hotel in the Bahamas.  Meanwhile, Brontë wins a vacation trip to the Bahamas … (a rare treat for a struggling waitress) to the resort hotel Logan has purchased.  As luck would have it, or should I say bad luck would have it, Brontë gets stuck in an elevator with Logan while evacuating the hotel as a result of an impending hurricane.  Predictably, the power goes off and the two are stuck, alone, in the elevator.  Eventually, they get out of the elevator to discover the hurricane has passed, leaving the hotel in shambles.  And the journey of discovery of each other begins.

At first, Logan appears arrogant and self-important.  But one does see chinks in his armor.  There are moments when the two connect in the elevator that lead the reader to believe Logan does have a caring side.  Brontë is a university graduate with a degree in philosophy, working as a waitress.  She takes what Logan says at face value…that he is the manager of the hotel.  So of course, we can see that problems will arise as any relationship that has a lie as its foundation is bound to run into trouble.

I enjoyed the slow beginnings in that the `sexy`part of the story was understated at the beginning.  As the romance intensified, so did the bluntness of the language.  In this readers opinion, it was tastefully done and for the most part, not over the top. Now if I had only NOT been riding the bus when some of the parts did get steamy…..oh well….

The romance unfolds for the first couple of days on the island.  I love the elevator portion where they are in the dark and getting to know each other.  The banter is natural for Brontë but you can feel the pain that Logan is going through… he is just not used to making small talk.  Though of course, discussing whether one wears boxers or briefs can be a little awkward, though the discussion did bring a giggle to this reader.  I like that her opinion of him changed when she introduced herself and Logan asks “Emily or Charlotte?”  Logan lets Brontë believe the assumption she has come up with that he is the manager of the resort. We see a light and loving side to Logan as they fall for each other during their time on the island.  And of course…their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS….predictable, but an enjoyable journey of their mutual discovery to read about.

There are some humorous parts throughout the book. Here is one example while on the island – the scene is as follows:  Brontë and Logan are cuddling while sleeping, Logan is awake and Brontë is just rousing to consciousness:

“Still sleepy, she mentally took stock of where she was. Her butt hurt from sitting on the concrete stairs, and a blanket was pooled around her legs, which were stretched out next to a man’s warm leg.  One hand was trapped against the man’s side, and the other was resting on a thick handlebar- She snatched her hand away, mortified. Oh, my God. That was not a handlebar.”  

The remainder of the dialogue finds Brontë mortified at what she had done in her sleep.  A smile erupted from this reader 🙂

When they get rescued a few days later, it does come out that he is buddies with the pilot of the helicopter and eventually (like it wouldn’t…really???) is in fact a billionaire.  And of course, Brontë takes the high road and declares this only a vacation fling…especially since he cannot be honest.  But by the time they are back on the mainland, she relents and they spend a few more days getting to know each other.

As expected, it is a rollercoaster ride for their romance.  Without giving more away, I want to say that the journey was a delight even if somewhat predictable.

I quite enjoyed learning tidbits about the remaining members of the billionaire boys club.  Of course, this is most likely the segway for the remainder of the series me thinks 🙂

One of the things I was pleased to read about is that they did practice safe sex, there was concern and respect for each other.

This is the first book in Ms. Clare`s Billionaire Boys Club series that I have read, but it will not be my last.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*