Hailey Mitchel wants one thing. Her boss. The only problem is he’s never looked at her as more than a loyal employee. At least, not until his charming business rival, Caleb, drops into her life with an offer she can’t refuse. He’s willing to bet he can make her fall in love with him in a month, and if he’s wrong, he’ll help her find the keys to her boss’s heart.
Caleb Langston wants one thing. Revenge. Hailey is his ticket to finally evening the score with his old adversary. There’s just one problem. The more time he spends with her, the less he cares about his grand plans for payback. But love is always a gamble, and soon he’ll have to choose between his past and his future. And pray Hailey never discovers the secret he’s been hiding from her.
Titles in the Sexy Billionaires series include: Right Billionaire, Wrong Wedding – The Billionaire’s Bet
Title: The Billionaire’s Bet
Series: Sexy Billionaires #2
Author: Victoria Davies
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 23, 2017
Publisher: Entangled – Indulgence
My Rating: 4 stars
When a romance involves trickery and deceit it’s always a bit “ify” for me, for I absolutely hate those things in real life. Yet, I can acknowledge that such things happen in real life and fiction all the time. When it’s presented right it can be an additional tension between the couple who are truly falling in love – and that was exactly the case for Hailey and Caleb in The Billionaire’s Bet.
An event in their past destroyed the strong friendship between Caleb and Alec. Neither talks about it, no details are ever given easily but it’s been brewing, festering beneath the surface of their business’s rivalry for years now. Caleb has been searching for a dent in Alec’s armor for quite some time, and he believes he’s finally found the way to deliver a crushing blow to his former friend’s ego. It really is too bad that a lovely woman will end up hating them both by the final reveal.
Hailey has been crushing on her boss, Alec, almost from the beginning of their three years working closely together. But he sees her as a valued employee and a friend. She’s convinced there could be more between them if he’d only notice her. Unfortunately, Caleb, her company’s arch rival has been after her for a long time trying to entice her away to his own company. On this day she’s handed him that final clue that will change everything for all three people. She’s let her feelings toward Alec slip and Caleb sweeps in with a devil’s bargain… one she’s crazy to take, but then crazy can be good.
As I mentioned, I went into this story with a careful eye. And was pleasantly surprised that almost from the beginning of their bet, Caleb was feeling badly, a bit remorseful and definitely personally interested in Hailey as a woman he’d want in his own life. Hailey blossoms under Caleb’s careful care. She’s a strong, intelligent, independent woman in her own right but Caleb brings more to her and it’s not long before she begins to wonder which man she truly does want for life. Of course, everything will blow up in their faces and Hailey’s left hurt, bitter and questioning everything about her own judgement. She’s not one to run, but it’s very tempting right now. It was sad to finally get to the bottom of the reasons for the destruction of Alec and Caleb’s friendship. More proof that actions taken in anger will have long ranged consequences.
By the ending of The Billionaire’s Bet I was completely satisfied with the end results of the romance and very glad that I had taken a chance on a story that could have turned out quite differently. I know that there are many readers who will bypass any romance that is built on a lie – to those readers I’d like to say take a chance on this one, I think you’ll find a good, solid story and come to think differently of Caleb by the story’s end. I enjoyed myself very much in this world. And I’ve realized that somehow I missed the first story in this series – which I’m heading over to Amazon to fix right now.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Available for the Kindle
See, the whole “falling in love while carrying out trickery and deceit” storyline is actually one of my favorites, IF (and only if) there is a proper amount of groveling after the trickery is revealed. So, without getting spoiler-y, would you say there is sufficient post-trickery groveling/redemption in this book?
Oh Definitely. Almost as soon as he put his plans in action he was regretting and second guessing himself. And in the end, the groveling, explaining and guilt over his actions quite made up for them.
I enjoyed this one. Twists and turns make the reasons very heartbreaking, but totally satisfying in the end.
Take a chance – if these are the stories you enjoy, then I believe this fits in perfectly with what you’d have a good time reading 🙂 I know I did – and I was “ify” at the start.