Favourite Authors
Release Day Blitz
Review
Teaser
Live : The Billionaire And His Castaway By Alexa Riley
13:23
Synopsis :
with all of our usual overthetop alphas and sweet cheesy goodness.
These short books will focus on traditional and classic tropes while sticking to the Alexa Riley
code: no cheating and always with an HEA. That’s our Promise to you.
The Billionaire and His Castaway
Kenton Monroe has wanted her for far too long. But Madeline Caldwell isn’t giving him the time
of day.
Madeline is looking to break out of her innocent shell, but Kenton definitely isn’t the guy to
experiment with. She needs a nice guy, not one who makes her lady business glitter like
diamonds.
Kenton has been patient for months, but she won’t bend. Getting her alone on a deserted island
is the only way. Keeping her stranded and all to himself will make her see reason. Right?
Warning: If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain…then maybe this dirty summer
read is just for you. If you like making love at midnight, put this book down and wake your
partner up!
Excerpt :
Madeline
“Is it always this dead around here?” I ask the bartender, glancing at the empty restaurant as I
take another sip of my bubbly strawberry drink. Maybe I should’ve gone to the Italian place
instead, but this one is supposed to be the best restaurant at the resort. Looking around at all
the empty chairs, it makes me think maybe the website lied.
“Just a slow week,” he says, drawing my eyes back to him. Just like everyone else around here
he has an incredible tan, making his bright blue eyes seem even brighter in the dimly lit
restaurant.
I guess working on an island would give anyone a tan. I had lain by the pool half the day and just
turned red, but luckily it faded fast and I wasn’t burnt. I never tan. I go from pale white to
cherry red and then back to pale again.
“I noticed the pool was empty, too,” I tell him. In fact, everything has been kind of dead. I’d
only got in this morning, but there doesn’t really seem to be anyone around except for people
who work here. Maybe that’s why they’re giving out free trips to anyone who would participate
in a free survey that had taken me twenty minutes to fill out. It had the silliest and most
ridiculous questions, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The resort might be
deserted, but it’s beautiful.
“No one to keep you company?” he teases, leaning over the bar and shooting me a crooked
smile.
A little pink hits my cheeks when I realize he’s flirting with me.
“Unless you count my book or the poolside server, then no.” I smile back.
I’m not used to being flirted with. I’d gone to an allgirls liberal arts college in New York,
graduating only three months ago. Afterwards, my brothers forced me back home. The four of
them own a private security firm together, and men aren’t allowed within ten feet of me.
Normally it’s not a problem because my brothers look kind of scary unless you know them. All
of them have been in some form of service at one time or another. They’re probably losing
their shit right now after finding out I’m not tucked away at home. I can’t help but giggle
internally as I think about how I gave them the slip. Finally a point for the little sister.
“Well I’m off tomorrow so if you”
“She’s busy,” I hear an alltoofamiliar voice say from behind me, making my heart skip a beat.
Turning my head slowly, I see the man who stars in my dreams every night. He’s been there for
the last three months, since I first met his arrogant handsome self at a fundraiser. It was a
charity event one of my brothers had taken me to. They had an extra ticket since their firm was
covering the security.
The event’s honorary guest was none other than Kenton Monroe, one of the richest men in
New York. No, scratch that, one of the richest men in the world. I’d only known that because of
my brothers. I don’t pay much attention to people of wealth or the society pages in New York.
It isn’t my scene, but in all fairness, I don’t really have a scene. And now that I’ve graduated, I
feel even more adrift.
It didn’t take much to realize how powerful he was.
Everyone in the room seemed to notice him. Then his eyes had trained on me with a look of
distaste and his jaw had hardened. His eyes narrowed exactly like the look he’s giving me right
now. Only this time, his eyes are on the bartender.
“Mr. Monroe. I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t know she was one of yours.”
One of his? How many does the man have? Probably a lot with how many women fell all over
him the night of the fundraiser. Those women looked nothing like me. They actually looked like
they belonged there and hadn’t pulled a discount dress out of the back of their closet. Worse,
they didn’t get the look that I’d gotten.
“I’m not his,” I finally protest, catching my bearings. I’m so far from his. I would never be his, no
matter what my body wants, regardless of that fact that my brain keeps pulling him to the
surface every time I close my eyes.
“Keep telling yourself that, sweets,” Kenton says smoothly as he finally pulls his dark blue eyes
to mine. I freeze as he leans in and kisses my bare shoulder. I move away slightly, pretending I
don’t like it, even though my body wants to lean into the soft touch.
“Stop calling me that,” I grit out as he slides onto the bar stool next to mine, casually throwing
one of his arms along the back of my seat. His other arm rests on the bar in front of me. It’s as if
he’s trying to cage me in. If anyone walked into this area of the restaurant, I don’t think they’d
even be able to see me. His size and his position block me from view.
what I just said.I hate that stupid name. It makes me feel young, and that’s not why I came here. I came to havea little adventure and to maybe finally lose my virginity. I don’t want to be sweet. I want to be
sexy. Maybe even sinful. Or any other “S” word that makes me feel more like a woman. Not just
the Caldwell brothers’ sweet little sister.“What are you doing here? Did my brothers send you? What did they say?” I fire off the
questions in agitation. They can’t make me leave. “I can’t believe them. I’m 22years old, for
God’s sake. Oh, just wait until I get back. I’m getting my own place. See how much they like
that,” I huff out.A slow smile starts to spread across Kenton’s face, making him look even more stupidlyhandsome. A man should not get to look that good, and look good he does. From his short
black hair, dark blue eyes, and his large, muscular frame, he looks like Adonis come to life. Isn’t
he supposed to be, like, sitting behind a desk, not lifting weights or whatever men do to look
like that? Oh God, I bet he doesn’t even have to try. He’s just built like that“I actually own the place,” he says with a little laugh, as if he finds my little tantrum funny.
I roll my eyes at that. Or course he owns the place. I would be surprised, but he’s so rich, it’s
easy to believe he owns just about everything he touches. He leans in a little more, and I try to
pretend I don’t notice his closeness. I pick up my drink and take a few big gulps. The bubbles
burn the back of my throat.“Of course you do.” I try to look anywhere but at him as I put my glass back down on the bar
with a hard click.“I knew that wouldn’t impress you. Not even in the least.” His words are lazy, and I can tell he’ssaying them with a smile, but I keep my eyes on the bartender as he makes his way back overwith Kenton’s drink. He sets it down and tells us our food will be out shortly.
“Stop looking at him,” he growls next to my ear, making me jump. I finally pull my eyes to his,
and I can’t read his expression.
“Do they know?” I ask, wanting to know if my brothers sent him here to check on me because
he’s close to them. I wonder if they want to make sure, once again, that a man isn’t within ten
feet of me. But Kenton is. He’s so close I can feel the heat of his body. Smell the sun on his skin.
“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time, but no, I didn’t tell them, if that’s what you’re are asking.”
I relax a little at that. I’d left them a note telling them I was going away for a few days and not
to worry. But nothing I could’ve done would make them not worry. I’m their little sister by a
good ten years, a whoops my parents had late in life.
Their overprotectiveness was cute when I was younger, but it took on a whole new form when
our parents died. I was fifteen and had been left in their care. It would be a lie if
I said I didn’t sometimes like it. It’s sweet, and I know they’re only trying to protect me, but it has been
starting to wear me down since I left school.
“Is there something you need? Or can I eat in peace?” I cock my head towards him.
I still can’t get a feel for him. The first few times I’d met him, he made me feel out of place, like
he didn’t want me around. Then he’d started trying to talk to me. I just gave him the same icy
coldness he’d given me, and I actually think that might have blown up in my face. Now he acts
like he wants a piece of me. Boys want what they can’t have, and the saying rang loud in my
head. It’s ringing now, and for some reason, I want to hold on to it, because Kenton is cocky. He
looked at me like I didn’t belong, but I wouldn’t give him the time of day, and now he’s
interested. This feels like a small piece of revenge, and I’m probably enjoying it a little too
much.“Can’t I enjoy the company of a beautiful woman?” He gives me that half smirk again.
“I’m sure there are plenty of beautiful women to keep you company, Mr. Monroe, but I’m not
among them.” I run my eyes over him. “And you’re not my type,” I lie, and I feel his body stiffen
around me.I don’t even know what my type is, regardless of what my latenight dreams tell me.
The bartender comes back, placing our plates in front of us. “Can I get a togo box, please?” I
ask him. He nods and heads towards the back once again. I’m not up for a verbal sparring
match with a man like Kenton.“Don’t go.” His tone is different now. It’s soft and sweet and almost sounds like a plea.I push my stool back and stand, and he makes no move to get up himself. His arm is still on thebar in front of me, but the other’s fallen off the back of my chair.
“I don’t know what’s going on here. One minute you’re kind of a jerk and dismiss me, then the
next you're doing this weird flirtwithme thing,” I say, shaking my head. At least, I think it’s
flirting. My experience with men is almost zero, after all. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. It’s not
happening. This,” I motion between us, “would never work. I mean, think about the first night
we met. You could barely stand the sight of me.”“That’s not true. I”
I hold my hand up, cutting him off.“Let me just be frank so we can stop this. My brothers work for you, and we keep running intoeach other. I don’t want it to be weird, and I don’t want them to lose your business, but yoand I can’t happen. You’d break my heart.” I grip the edge of the bar, my nails digging into thewood. “When I fall in love, it’s going to be with a sweet man who doesn't scare the bejesus out
of me.”I stress love instead of sex, because for some reason I don't want him to know I’m a virgin. I
want to lose my virginity to someone who isn’t going to break my heart in the process.
Thankfully, the bartender comes back at the end of my little speech and starts packing up my
food. Kenton just stares at me while I just watch the bartender box up the food and grab the
bag.“I got it,” Kenton says, grabbing the check from the bar top.
“Thank you.” I give him a tight smile, like a part of me isn’t aching from shutting down what
could’ve been. That I hadn’t thought for a minute that maybe, just maybe, I could spend a few
sexy nights with this man in paradise. But the aftermath would be too painful. I’m just like he
said, sweet. I have no idea how to begin to be sexy.
I’d have to see him again in New York. And what would it be like if, after all that, I’d have to see
him with another woman? Heck, I’d been jealous that night at the charity event and we’d said
maybe two words to each other.
“It’s always a pleasure,” he says, standing and moving his own chair out a little so I can easily
get by.“Goodnight, Mr. Monroe.”
Review :
3.5 Castaway Stars
As per usual when the duo Alexa Riley have a new release i spring up to the opportunity to read it!
By now im sure most of you are familiar with the AR writing recipe that works , the insta-love couple ,virgin hero/heroine ,the grunty apha male!,together with all of these they've been known to create the perfect insta love stories we all know to adore and love but sadly **The Billionaire And His Castaway** did not work for me this time!
Maybe i've read too many of these type of stories recently? i found TBAHC to be rather boring and totally predictable , i felt during this book that i could see what was coming nothing suprised me! Basically i felt like i've been there done that its just different names and scenery.
After finishing this i was quite upset with myself , like how could i not love an AR book i've been a fan or their work for almost a year now but i guess thats the beauty of books ,no two people ever read the same way.
3.5 Stars because even though i was bored at some parts i still found the story to be quite cute!
*ARC provided for an honest review ,so grateful to Ardent Prose and Alexa Riley*
Buy Links :
★✩★
About :
Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!
Author Links :
0 comments