There are some authors who never fail to make me feel happy while reading their books and R.S. Grey is one of those authors, as I’ve come to rely on her distinctive sense of humour and ability to pen sexy, light-hearted romances that make me swoon though fits of giggles time and time again, not to mention that she writes sexual tension like a boss. This story was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. Once I started reading it, I pretty much gobbled it down in a single sitting, glued to the pages and the feel-good vibe of the story, and I still catch myself smiling every time I think of these characters. A delightful, fun read start to finish that I recommend wholeheartedly.
“First, I needed a joke to break the tension between us. Why’d the chicken cross the hard body of Julian Lefray?
To get laid.
Which came first?
The chicken or me?
Shit. I was in trouble if I couldn’t think of a non-Julian related sex joke.”
Josephine Keller is twenty-three and broke. She left her small home town in Texas and moved to New York City to pursue her dream of working in the fashion industry, but her hopes and dreams slowly start withering as she struggles to find a job, thus facing the very real possibility of having to give up her ambitions and return home defeated, proving all those who did not believe in her right. A chance encounter at a Fashion Gala, however, proves to be the very opportunity she’s been hoping for, resulting in a job she desperately wanted, if only her new boss weren’t also one of the best looking men she’s ever laid eyes on.
“He didn’t even know the effect those dimples had on my girly parts. One word: Ijustgotpregnant. Yeah, that’s one word.”
Julian Lefray might come from money, heir to his family’s old-money fortune, but he’s worked hard to build his own wealth, loving the independence it gave him from his family’s tight strings. He loves power and responsibility, but finds no personal fulfilment in the monotony of the corporate world, craving for a challenge. And that very challenge comes in the form of a curvaceous brunette begging him for a job, a job she would be perfect for, if only he could keep his hands off her.
“Josephine was quickly becoming my favorite fantasy.”
As they commence their working relationship, their mutual attraction is at the forefront of both their minds, but the more they get to know one another, the more that attraction grows into something they cannot ignore. They fight it, pretend it is not there, but their every thought is consumed by that attraction and the feelings they fail to hide at every turn.
“The continuous tease of having to be around him the last few weeks had built up the desire in my veins. Each day the passion had built with no outlet for escape.”
Now, you might think this is just another repeat of the well-knows scenario of girl-falling-for-her-wealthy-boss, but everything about this story feels fresh and unique. We are given a modern Cinderella-style setup where the “Prince” could very well ride in on his white horse, sweep the heroine off her feet and thus save the day, but this heroine is no helpless damsel in distress. She is proud and independent, and most importantly, determined to pave her own way in life, at the cost of her own heart if needed. Even at her lowest point, she never loses her drive, bravely forging ahead, and eventually “saving” herself.
“A weaker woman would have thrown herself at him a long time ago. Me? I had goals. Goals that didn’t include seducing Julian Lefray, my one and only friend in New York City.”
A charming love story, heart-warming and engaging—there is truly nothing I did not love about it. I loved the quirky characters and the sexual tension between them, I loved the humour with which this author never fails to paint even the bluest of situations, I loved the depth of emotion driving this story forward, but I loved its positive outlook on life the most, never showing life as anything less than a glass half full.
“Do you always carry a t-ball in your pants?”
“Jesus, Jo. Can we not talk about youth sports while I’m aroused?”
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The Allure - Recommended Reading Order
(standalone stories with interconnected characters)
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