A tragedy sends my New Zealand workplace into chaos. Enter Neil Kingston: the new CEO, more stealth assassin than stuffy bigshot. Guarded, prickly, and enigmatic, he swiftly cuts half the team—including me, Milly Cross.
At twenty-seven, I've lost my parents, dropped out of med school, and now I'm jobless. My world is crumbling, but Mr. Kingston isn't done with me yet.
Thrown back into his orbit, I find myself fascinated by the man I used to despise. He's infuriating, charming… and totally off-limits. As circumstances force us to work closely together, I discover layers to Neil that both surprise and delight me. But the closer we become, the more dangerous the stakes.
Can I trust a man with so many walls? And what about the shadowy forces that threaten to tear us apart?
'Clashing with the CEO' is a slow-burn office romance full of blush-inducing moments. Experience the push and pull of forbidden attraction, set against a backdrop of corporate politics and succession schemes.
This is actually one of the best books I have read in awhile. Funny, cringey, sad, sexy… this book has it all.
Milly, our protagonist is every woman as she is trying to find her way in the world. The book begins as Milly is bidding farewell to a date she found on a dating app; the man was a dud. This totally relatable situation epitomizes Milly’s life. It is like a comedy of errors and I couldn’t stop reading. When Neil becomes Milly’s boss, even her wins end up seeming like losses. As Milly and Neil get to know each other, it becomes clear they have a connection. The “will they, won’t they” trope plays out hilariously throughout the story with multiple subplots beneath.
I really enjoyed the suspense built throughout this story. While we know Milly and Neil are going to get together eventually, that moment is pushed so far into the story that I was easily drawn into the subplots. While the sexual tension heightens throughout the book, so too does the conflict Neil has with the company for which he and Milly are working. When they finally do get together it is so natural.
I didn’t love the ending, although it makes sense and follows from the rest of the story. It just seemed a little too contrived and stood in contrast to the rest of the story.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable novel. I found myself trying to read more slowly, trying to draw it out. 😃
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was super excited to receive this book in a StoryGraph giveaway, and wow, it totally blew me away! From the get-go, I felt a real connection with Amelia “Milly” Cross. Her story was so engaging that I just got lost in her world. The mix of romance and corporate drama was spot on. Milly’s interactions with Neil Kingston, the CEO, were full of tension and chemistry. I mean it was predictable in parts but the slow-burn romance kept me hooked, and I loved seeing their relationship develop. Milly’s strength and determination were really inspiring. She felt like a real person, and I was genuinely sad when the book ended because I didn’t want to leave her story behind. Honestly it’s a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good romance with a strong, relatable heroine. Big thanks to Sara Martin for this amazing escape!
Amelia works in communications but with a run in with the CEO at her company, Neil, lives a mark on him. She soon becomes his secretary and while things go well, even though he is grumpy, they start to develop feelings. However, the company seems in trouble and anyone that is close to Neil could be a target. Neil and Amelia must get through some danger in order to be together.
While I really wanted to love this book there was just some disconnection for me.I didn't feel entirely connected to the characters and while the characters liked each other I felt like they could have expressed their feelings a bit better. I would recommend if you like a thriller and romance combined.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Martin and Westwell Press for allowing me to review this ARC!
✨ ARC Review | Clashing with the CEO | 3.5⭐ @adasbookreview
Talk about misfortune. Lord, if it's not one with Milly, it's another—girl cannot catch a break 😩 When bad luck keeps knocking on her door, apparently it also drags in a broody CEO she can’t stop clashing with 😏 Enemies-to-lovers in the office?? And the mistaken identity twist on top? Ohhh, the drama. I was living for it! And then throw in a murder mystery? SIGN. ME. UP. 🙌
Milly's messy, resilient, determined, and just trying to survive made me root for her so hard 💖 And then we have Neil—our cold, closed-off, impossible-to-please CEO. But once that loyal, protective side peeked through? Had me melting 🥹
Put them in the same room, and the banter? Sharp. The tension? Delicious. Their push and pull? Addictive. The slow-burn sparks? Worth every page 😏🔥 I never knew if they were about to fight or finally kiss 👀 PERFECTION.
The mistaken identity reveals added just the right amount of drama, awkward tension, and “oh nooo what now??” moments that had me laughing out loud 👏.
I just wish we got more communication between them—a few heart-to-hearts where they really saw each other beyond the banter and spicy would’ve made it even stronger 💔. The murder mystery and company drama also felt a little rushed.
Overall, though, this one was a nice palate cleanser and a quick read!
Romantic suspense Grumpy heroes Slow Burn Single POV International intrigue
So back in the 90s, I was all over Harlequin’s Silhouette Suspense series. Justine Davis and Beverly Barton were my go-tos and I would happily follow them through Central American jungles or back alleys, saving people and putting the bad guys away. It was thrilling, so much tension and angst because of course the hero had a tragic backstory and didn’t deserve the heroine. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any romantic suspense novels but apparently I still love it.
Milly Cross is having a tough couple of months: her company is going through a restructuring and as one of the newest hires, she knows her job is in danger. But after losing one job, she finds herself accepting the position as the assistant to the interim-CEO, Neil Kingston. Neil is the definition of grumpy boss, but as Milly begins to work closely with him, she sees the softness underneath the hard exterior. And as intrigue at their company grows, the pair realizes that both their lives and their hearts are in danger.
Look, I love me an office romance, especially with an older, grumpy millionaire CEO. And this one dude loves dogs and cats and is dying to take care of his assistant, even though he knows he shouldn’t cross that line. There is a lot of good angst along with the slowly simmering sexual tension. The payoff was worth the wait. I also liked the corporate espionage elements. Was it realistic? Goodness no. Does it take away from the story? Also no. This was just a very enjoyable ride (double entendre intended)
This is a delicious hybrid of a romantic suspense and a romcom. With some intrigue and shenanigans set in Auckland, Milly ends up being the PA the new CEO Neil Kingston at Luxmore Appliances.
Milly is a smart cookie and she’s adapting quickly. She’s smart and resourceful, quick thinking and hard working too, but also accident-prone and clumsy in front of Neil. There’s plenty of comedy in their early interactions. Neil is more of a mystery, especially as it’s all from Milly’s point of view. He’s surly, secretive and focused, but surprisingly in touch with himself and not afraid to be vulnerable.
There’s a mystery - did the previous CEO jump, or was he pushed? - and plenty of drama, with action in Auckland, Singapore and London. It’s a bit long and very sequential, I’d love to chop a few of the incidentals (no need for dry cleaners or take aways, or even house cleaners 😮)
It’s a slow burn 🌶️ and I was invested in these two by the end, and it’s quite a ride!
Thank you NetGalley, Westwell Press and Sara Martin for the ARC.
Clashing with the CEO was good, but mid-tier for me. There wasn't really anything stand out about it, but it was an enjoyable read regardless of that. I wasn't mad about reading it, but it isn't one that I would pick up and read again. However, if you like slowburns, you will certainly get that here!
And there have been books that I've been upset about having wasted my time reading them. Don't worry, this is not one of them.
Milly and Neil are cute characters. There's not really anything that makes them shine, but they are likable. I like Neil's gruff exterior and then his softer side. And we love Archie. And Winston. Archie and Winston are loved here.
The plotline was a little unexpected, not where I figured this type of book was going to go, so there was that. It felt a little weird for me, but that could just be a personal thing.
Overall, good read. Not one that I would pick up again to read, but still good.
After thinking over how I would rate this book, I decided on 3.5 stars. This book included some of my favorite tropes such as forbidden love, has a little one-bed moment, and is a very very slow burn. The only thing that knocked this book down from a four-star read was the pacing. There were moments when the book felt very fast and easily kept my attention and then other moments where it dragged a bit and was hard to get through. That did not deter me from finishing the book and I overall enjoyed reading this. I loved how there was a bit of a plot twist towards the end because I love being caught off guard when reading a book. I did receive this book as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed reading the story about Neil and Amelia. It had a couple good twists within the story. I liked how Amelia was trying to make it on her own with no help because she had to and even when she had help she still did it the way she wanted to during her travel. Amelia is hard worker. Neil has a good heart but doesn't want anyone to know about it and tries to do what's best in his round and about way. This was a good quick read for me. I didn't want to set it down I wanted to know what happened in the end which kept me interested and invested in the story about Amelia and Neil. Thank you for the great read
Clashing with the CEO by Sara Martin is an entertaining and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this amazing romance story. I always enjoy a well-written enemies to lovers story. Author Sara Martin continues to write amazing stories that captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning all the way to the end. Clashing with the CEO is a suspenseful and page-turner of a story. I found that the characters in this story to be quite relatable and engaging. I would encourage readers to checkout Clashing with the CEO. I’m looking forward to seeing what author Sara Martin comes up with next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The main characters are well developed and you can feel the tension between Milly and Neil throughout the book. The descriptions of scenery and mood can easily place you in Milly's POV and I love that. It's an easy read that keeps you intrigued and left me wanting a second book! I had a love/hate relationship with Neil but in the end, I loved how devoted he was to Milly. There were a couple times I saw how things would turn out but the anticipation for the characters figuring it out kept me going. Although I did wish for more details in the year gap and the kidnapping, I did really enjoy this book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I won this book in a giveaway through another platform, and my opinions are my own.
I loved the synopsis of this book, and it included a few of my favorite tropes: workplace romance, slow burn romance, and grumpy hero. The tease of a succession crisis also had me intrigued.
Though I'm more of a fan of dual POV, this was one of the best single POV books I've read. I loved the angst, the slow burn, and when they finally got together, it was everything you wanted.
Neil brought all the grumpy but is such a teddy bear, and the way he loves Amelia gave plenty of swoon worthy moments.
I instantly got sucked into the story and didn't want to put it down! Amelia and Neil are both very likeable characters. I appreciate that all the characters act normally and don't fall into a lot of the ridiculous tropes one often sees in romance novels. The romance moved along at an appropriate, believable slow pace and while it was the focus of the book, there was also just enough intrigue/mystery going on to keep things interesting. Overall, just a great, enjoyable read.
My thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC.
If you’re looking for a light and easy romance read this is for you. The story was well written and so interesting and the slow-burn will drive you CRAZY. It’s THAT good. Also, I love the FMC. She’s one of those that stands her ground and I love that. The interactions with the MMC (her boss) are always so funny and interesting like it really got me giggling and kicking my feet!! In general this was an amazing read and I definitely recommend it to anyone reading this review!!
Thank you Netgally, Sara Martin and Westwell Press for giving me an opportunity to review this ARC!
Surprisingly intriguing for what I took for a pretty standard romance.
I liked the characters and the slow burn, but the action near the end could use some work. Everything from the final twist just felt rushed and a little flat -even the epilogue- and I hate that I didn’t get so see the story wrap up as nicely as I had hoped. I also really want to know what happened with Millie’s 2 friends from the beginning.
I would read another book from this author, for sure!
I won this in a Story Graph giveaway and my opinions are my own.
I think it may've been because of what I read this on, but I never saw any of the text messages between the characters, which made it difficult for me to understand what was going on during those scenes. All and all, this story was good! Despite not being able to see the messages, this was very well written. At times there were surprising moments and twists, some of which I was able to assume before they happened.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a really good read. It is a very slow burn. I do not normally like slower burns but I really liked this storyline.
This book has a little bit of everything in it. Romance, mystery, great FMC and MMC storyline with their histories explaining why they were the way they were.
I really liked this read!
Thank you NetGalley and Westwell Press for providing this ARC for my honest review!
This was definitely a good book! The writing style is different than what I’m used to but that isn’t a bad thing! I appreciated the slow burn romance! Amelia is my hero! She has a good head on her shoulders and knows what she wants! I was a little irritated with Neil at first but then he slowly started to come around!
For my first ARC I was pleasantly surprised! Looking forward to more ARC opportunities in the future!
I enjoyed reading this book. Once I started reading Clashing with the CEO, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to keep reading so I could see what was going to happen next. The characters are great and the storyline hooked me from the start. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, so I won't go into details. Please read the book blurb for some information about the book. I recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book for a fair review. I had a tough time reading this book. Without giving too much away, the main story plot was still not evident about a quarter of the way through. Just when I thought I would get some clarity, there was another meeting that had to happen.
Character development could have been a bit tighter. I think the author would do well to review the characters and polish them a bit more.
Don't think I didn't like this book because I did. My biggest issue with it was that it was 490 pages when 290 would have been perfect. After a while there was just too much explanation and not enough showing. I liked the single POV. I liked the story - it was interesting - I wish Amelia had of been more involved so we could have known more. The slow burn wasn't bad just sloooooooooow. The characters were likeable.
This book is just what I needed. I don’t understand why we needed to read about Natasha, felt like a pointless sub plot. This book was easy to understand and enjoy, a really slow burn with just 2 spicy scenes from 75% of the way through but I really needed a silly romance book. I do think that Neil could have had a sexier name. I don’t know a sexy Neil..
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review this book. 3.5⭐️
She is about to lose her job after losing her parents and she is about to meet him again. Things will become more complicated when she has to work with him. Life is going to get interesting. What is going to happen? How will it all end? See what will happen next I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
This is a slow burn romance with lots of build up and a touch of intrigue in the background. The will they won't they between Amelia and Neil and the question of what is he up to and what is he hiding keeps you turning the pages. The hint that Amelia is in danger by being with him adds to the steam when they do finally get together. There is a HEA ending.
I absolutely loved Sara Martins book Clashing with the CEO. It was so enjoyable to read, i couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more of her books. I did receive a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers, however it didn't sway my review, i truely enjoyed reading her book, and recommend you take the time to read it too!
Amelia and Neil start out as CEO and secretary and then things progress. I really enjoyed this story as it wasn’t your usual sex fest (although nothing wrong with that at all) but a really thought out story with many twists and turns along the way. I hope Archie is loving his best life on the homestead with all the others! Thank you Sara for a gripping read. I loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is a cozy book to read. When I started to read , I expected this to be a typical office romance cliche but was pleasantly surprised. Liked both female and male lead characters. Has a good storyline but the mid chapters are little dragged on. Would have been more entertaining if there were POVs of Neil as well. It's a good read and enjoyed it.
If you’re a fan of slow burn with a grumpy CEO, then this a book for you. Milly and Neil had a great partnership going - he was her boss and she was ready to prove she could do her job. Throw in plenty of sexual tension, grumpiness and suspense and you’ve got a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A new author to me and it was really good to read a story set in New Zealand and the bonus was that I enjoyed the story, it kept me shaking my head at times and constantly turning the pages. The time I spent reading this story I considered time well spent and I look forward to reading more from this author. I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Milly has had no luck in love so when she feels attracted to her boss, Neil, she pushes it aside. Neil also feels an attraction for Molly but neither make a move. The longer they work together, the clearer it is that they should be together. Will one of them finally make their move and share how they feel?