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The Billionaire's Club #1
The Billion Dollar Bachelor
The Billionaire's New York by Jackie a fabulously sexy contemporary series about some of the world's wealthiest, most powerful men and the women they claim...and keep. Jax Morrow is a dangerously handsome, spectacularly wealthy entrepreneur whose world is turned upside down when Pandora Garret walks into a dark, smoky bar one night-a stunning combination of sex and innocence. He knows she's trouble at first sight, but Jax can't let her leave...unless she's leaving with him.Pandora has had enough. Kept under lock and key by her powerful, controlling father, she aches for freedom. When she briefly escapes and meets Jax she knows he is just what she has been looking forbidden, unforgettable passion. After one night in Jax's arms, Pandora knows she can never go back to living under one man's domination. Determined to control her own life she tries to resist Jax, but a dangerous desire rises between them-one that threatens to destroy them. But both Pandora and Jax discover that they just can't be pulled away... in The Billion Dollar Bachelor.Don't miss Donovan's story in The Billion Dollar Bad Boy coming in March 2014 and Sean's story in The Billionaire Biker coming in April 2014.
100 pages, ebook
First published February 11, 2014
24 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Ashenden
487 books976 followersJackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 5, 2015
Surprise, surprise!!! This was a random pick from my stack of books on my tablet...and boy,
did i get smth in return...ha!
this heroine is called SNOW, again! is that a sign or what?!
from now on, I'm gonna pick the books that have my name in it...LMAO! i wonder how many books like that are there, hmmm?!
anyway, this is light, sexy read with stemy hot alpha billioniare and sassy, young woman with awaken sexual apetite...you can make it from there on your own, right?
March 22, 2014
ARC provided by St. Martins Press, through NetGalley for an honest review.
3.5 FAIRY TALE STARS
Started off a bit slow, and I was anxious for the author to get to the point. But once it did, it took of and was emotional and really HOT.
Though Pandora Garret is a beautiful woman, she's sheltered by her mob boss father. Not because he loves her, but because he thinks of her as a commodity. A bargaining tool. When Pandora realizes that her father is about the give her to someone who can make his position stronger, she uses an opportunity of lapse in security to sneak away.
With no money and no friends who aren't loyal to her father, she walks into a bar where she has an immediate chemistry with mogul, Jax Marrow. Neither knowing who the other is, they begin an affair that sets off an series of events where Jax feels the need to protect Pandora and get her away from her father's machinations.
The Good:
The moment they connected, the chemistry was HOT and Pandora liked it rough. The story was short and sweet. I wanted her safe and I knew he needed something in his life other than work.
The Bad:
Because this was a short novel, the rough and was not really explained. Also the beginning dragged a bit. There was this need for them to get moving and the reasons they didn't weren't really valid in my opinion. Also the family dynamics were a bit vague. I don't understand what was going on with Jax and his younger brother Donovan, which I guess is a good reason to read the next book int he series.
It was definitely good enough to keep reading the series, but needed some editing and maybe a few more plausible situations.
3.5 FAIRY TALE STARS
Started off a bit slow, and I was anxious for the author to get to the point. But once it did, it took of and was emotional and really HOT.
Though Pandora Garret is a beautiful woman, she's sheltered by her mob boss father. Not because he loves her, but because he thinks of her as a commodity. A bargaining tool. When Pandora realizes that her father is about the give her to someone who can make his position stronger, she uses an opportunity of lapse in security to sneak away.
With no money and no friends who aren't loyal to her father, she walks into a bar where she has an immediate chemistry with mogul, Jax Marrow. Neither knowing who the other is, they begin an affair that sets off an series of events where Jax feels the need to protect Pandora and get her away from her father's machinations.
The Good:
The moment they connected, the chemistry was HOT and Pandora liked it rough. The story was short and sweet. I wanted her safe and I knew he needed something in his life other than work.
The Bad:
Because this was a short novel, the rough and was not really explained. Also the beginning dragged a bit. There was this need for them to get moving and the reasons they didn't weren't really valid in my opinion. Also the family dynamics were a bit vague. I don't understand what was going on with Jax and his younger brother Donovan, which I guess is a good reason to read the next book int he series.
It was definitely good enough to keep reading the series, but needed some editing and maybe a few more plausible situations.
February 7, 2017
Two strangers meet on a beautiful night.
One is escaping her father's clutches.
Other is trying to escape his company's public humiliation.
They bang hard- her mob boss dad intrudes the post coital bliss- and she realizes her hero is connected to the same world she wanted to escape.
She is into him.
He pushes her away.
He Is finally into her.
She pushes him away.
and abrupt end.
Uh.. big empty.. pfft
Safe
2/5
One is escaping her father's clutches.
Other is trying to escape his company's public humiliation.
They bang hard- her mob boss dad intrudes the post coital bliss- and she realizes her hero is connected to the same world she wanted to escape.
She is into him.
He pushes her away.
He Is finally into her.
She pushes him away.
and abrupt end.
Uh.. big empty.. pfft
Safe
2/5
February 17, 2014
In the beginning when we meet poor Pandora, we immediately get a sense of who she is and how she was raised. She has bodyguards that seem a bit overbearing, she has a father who uses her to his advantage and it appears she is to be married off to someone that in the long run would help out her father's "business". When she gets away from them and makes a run for it, I just knew she was going to make an incredible getaway that I would be proud of....not so much...she only went into a bar..??? Yes, this is me confused...personally if I were trying to make a miraculous getaway I would go far, far away not down the way and into a bar. Anyway, here is where we meet the incredibly gorgeous Jax....just his name makes you want to lick him up and down! I swear I had to wipe my chin to clean off the drool. These authors sure do have some amazing imaginations and their characters can make you sweat lol. As I was saying, in the bar is where we meet Jax, he seems to be the ultra alpha male and I could understand Pandora's instant attraction to him. I would have run off with him too. Sensing he is just what she needs to get away for awhile she chooses to leave with him and go back to his place.
I'm skipping ahead here because ***sigh*** you are going to want to read this yourselves. After a night of pleasure, our characters awaken to find something horrible has happened. Again, I'm not blowing what is going on by telling you...but I will say that I started rubbing my hands together with glee.....
Skipping ahead again, here is where our main character Pandora gets on my nerves...she knows she has feelings for Jax, we know he has feelings for her, he more or less shouted in her face after she goes through the trouble of breaking through his barriers....only to decide herself it is too risky and too constricting for her newly freed self. I was about ready to smack the bitch and it was then I would have thrown a paperback book against the wall...however since I was on my tablet that wasn't an option lol. Continuing to read the book, she does earn her way back into my good graces and I really would have to say I did enjoy the ending but I feel there should have been a bit more.
I am rating this book in at 3 1/2 stars, but since there isn't a half option, I'm rounding up to 4 stars!!!
I'm skipping ahead here because ***sigh*** you are going to want to read this yourselves. After a night of pleasure, our characters awaken to find something horrible has happened. Again, I'm not blowing what is going on by telling you...but I will say that I started rubbing my hands together with glee.....
Skipping ahead again, here is where our main character Pandora gets on my nerves...she knows she has feelings for Jax, we know he has feelings for her, he more or less shouted in her face after she goes through the trouble of breaking through his barriers....only to decide herself it is too risky and too constricting for her newly freed self. I was about ready to smack the bitch and it was then I would have thrown a paperback book against the wall...however since I was on my tablet that wasn't an option lol. Continuing to read the book, she does earn her way back into my good graces and I really would have to say I did enjoy the ending but I feel there should have been a bit more.
I am rating this book in at 3 1/2 stars, but since there isn't a half option, I'm rounding up to 4 stars!!!
July 20, 2014
ARC received on behalf of St. Martin's Press from NetGalley.
Pandora Garret has been a prisoner her whole life. Daughter to a crime lord, she’s never anything beyond the world her father controls. But she’s had enough. Escaping into the night, grasping her first taste of freedom. Jax Morrow is the CEO of one of New York’s most successful companies. His life is all about control and ensuring that he never loses it. But when Pandora walks into that bar, that night. His grip begins to slip. One night was all it was supposed to be...
I enjoy these little novellas that get right to the point and the quick of the story. There was a few times when things felt a little repetitive, which with a novella can often times just seem to take up space, especially since the timeline to create a full story is so limited.
I liked the concept of this story. Mob daughter meets powerful CEO that tries to harness his more wild side. The one thing that I enjoyed I think the most, which is normally not the case with other books was the inner thoughts. Both Pandora and Jax had an inner struggle with how they felt and what they were too afraid to admit. There was a lot of these little one line arguments and aha moments that took place within the character’s head.
It was a quick little guilty pleasure read that was enjoyed. I’ve never read anything by this particular author before and have a few of her other books on standby. I am interested to see what she can do with a full length story.
Pandora Garret has been a prisoner her whole life. Daughter to a crime lord, she’s never anything beyond the world her father controls. But she’s had enough. Escaping into the night, grasping her first taste of freedom. Jax Morrow is the CEO of one of New York’s most successful companies. His life is all about control and ensuring that he never loses it. But when Pandora walks into that bar, that night. His grip begins to slip. One night was all it was supposed to be...
I enjoy these little novellas that get right to the point and the quick of the story. There was a few times when things felt a little repetitive, which with a novella can often times just seem to take up space, especially since the timeline to create a full story is so limited.
I liked the concept of this story. Mob daughter meets powerful CEO that tries to harness his more wild side. The one thing that I enjoyed I think the most, which is normally not the case with other books was the inner thoughts. Both Pandora and Jax had an inner struggle with how they felt and what they were too afraid to admit. There was a lot of these little one line arguments and aha moments that took place within the character’s head.
It was a quick little guilty pleasure read that was enjoyed. I’ve never read anything by this particular author before and have a few of her other books on standby. I am interested to see what she can do with a full length story.
March 30, 2014
Pandora didn't have a box. She was living inside one.
Her father, the terrible Nick Garrett, was the modern and most famous gangster in town. There were no politician or police officer who has not been bought by him. His business, always vested, were kept out of the spotlight. Just like his daughter.
However, now he intends to use her as a weapon to gain new allies. Pandora would birthday the next day. Twenty-five years within a very well staffed and armed to the teeth box. And on the day of her birthday he would announce her engagement to Sergei. A purely political move.
But that was not what Pandora wanted to her life. Leave the hands of a master and go to others. She wanted to meet people beyond the virtual.
When her bodyguard - she calls Thing One - out of the car, on account of some event of fire in the surroundings, to check for delays in traffic, she finds herself alone for the first time in years. The Thing Two was not working that day and the driver was more interested in going to text his girlfriend than her. She grabbed the opportunity and fled.
With nowhere to go, and with some heels that were already killing her feet, she decided to enter a bar. A chic place, a "noir" atmosphere, when she came across the most enigmatic pair of blue eyes she had ever seen ...
Jax Morrow was drowning his sorrows in glass of anything that had enough alcohol to let him KO. Full of problems in the family business ... I would say more in the billion dollar conglomerate that now he was responsible since his father fell ill. In addition , he needed to improve the relationship he had with his brother Donovan, the PR company, and try to find Sean, who had fled five years ago with a biker gang and never been seen.
He thought he was almost getting his intent in relation to drink when he saw her ...
She was standing there at the entrance of the bar, looking happy to see something for the first time. An awesome view, with her black hair and her short red dress shaping the body, leaving little to the imagination of anyone there.
Their eyes met and she walked to sit beside him.
Her voice was pure velvet and he decided he could take advantage of. He was not a man one night only, but could have risk this time. For her, he would be willing to do so. A night of wild sex in anonymity ..
The night was perfect and everything could remain if he would not find out in the next morning whose she was the daughter ...
A little drama, please!
Nick Garret uses his daughter as a commodity, and as he felt injured he offered to Jax the perfect solution: a wedding. The Morrow name would give credibility to the shady dealings of Garret, and in return, he would not let go the secrets that Morrow would like to keep under the rug. Pure and simple blackmail. Or of course, there was still the option to bring Pandora home and keep the plan to make her marry Sergei.
Someone heard the bell of possessiveness ringing?
The proposal was accepted.... but Jax would not let Pandora out of his sight . At least while they would pretend to be engaged. He did not trust her father. Moreover, she had no friends, family, even own money to maintain herself. Everything was regulated by her father. And the fake engagement began ...
The time they spend together, Jax tried to stay away from Pandora. Everything was just fake act to journalists. But Pandora did not want commitment. She wanted sex. She wanted freedom, and on this kid way of being she got entangled Jax a situation a thousand times worse than just being the daughter of his family's archenemy ...
A short story - only 100 pages - that keeps you stuck from start to finish .
The pace is great, the characters engage the reader and you wonder what will happen to each of them, in particular with each Morrow brother (still have Donovan and Sean's stories) .
Another good thing: No cliffhanger. Each story has its end.
5 STARS
Bilingual Review (Portuguese/English) on my blog: http://aborboletaquele.blogspot.com.b...
Her father, the terrible Nick Garrett, was the modern and most famous gangster in town. There were no politician or police officer who has not been bought by him. His business, always vested, were kept out of the spotlight. Just like his daughter.
However, now he intends to use her as a weapon to gain new allies. Pandora would birthday the next day. Twenty-five years within a very well staffed and armed to the teeth box. And on the day of her birthday he would announce her engagement to Sergei. A purely political move.
But that was not what Pandora wanted to her life. Leave the hands of a master and go to others. She wanted to meet people beyond the virtual.
When her bodyguard - she calls Thing One - out of the car, on account of some event of fire in the surroundings, to check for delays in traffic, she finds herself alone for the first time in years. The Thing Two was not working that day and the driver was more interested in going to text his girlfriend than her. She grabbed the opportunity and fled.
With nowhere to go, and with some heels that were already killing her feet, she decided to enter a bar. A chic place, a "noir" atmosphere, when she came across the most enigmatic pair of blue eyes she had ever seen ...
Jax Morrow was drowning his sorrows in glass of anything that had enough alcohol to let him KO. Full of problems in the family business ... I would say more in the billion dollar conglomerate that now he was responsible since his father fell ill. In addition , he needed to improve the relationship he had with his brother Donovan, the PR company, and try to find Sean, who had fled five years ago with a biker gang and never been seen.
He thought he was almost getting his intent in relation to drink when he saw her ...
She was standing there at the entrance of the bar, looking happy to see something for the first time. An awesome view, with her black hair and her short red dress shaping the body, leaving little to the imagination of anyone there.
Their eyes met and she walked to sit beside him.
Her voice was pure velvet and he decided he could take advantage of. He was not a man one night only, but could have risk this time. For her, he would be willing to do so. A night of wild sex in anonymity ..
The night was perfect and everything could remain if he would not find out in the next morning whose she was the daughter ...
A little drama, please!
Nick Garret uses his daughter as a commodity, and as he felt injured he offered to Jax the perfect solution: a wedding. The Morrow name would give credibility to the shady dealings of Garret, and in return, he would not let go the secrets that Morrow would like to keep under the rug. Pure and simple blackmail. Or of course, there was still the option to bring Pandora home and keep the plan to make her marry Sergei.
Someone heard the bell of possessiveness ringing?
The proposal was accepted.... but Jax would not let Pandora out of his sight . At least while they would pretend to be engaged. He did not trust her father. Moreover, she had no friends, family, even own money to maintain herself. Everything was regulated by her father. And the fake engagement began ...
The time they spend together, Jax tried to stay away from Pandora. Everything was just fake act to journalists. But Pandora did not want commitment. She wanted sex. She wanted freedom, and on this kid way of being she got entangled Jax a situation a thousand times worse than just being the daughter of his family's archenemy ...
A short story - only 100 pages - that keeps you stuck from start to finish .
The pace is great, the characters engage the reader and you wonder what will happen to each of them, in particular with each Morrow brother (still have Donovan and Sean's stories) .
Another good thing: No cliffhanger. Each story has its end.
5 STARS
Bilingual Review (Portuguese/English) on my blog: http://aborboletaquele.blogspot.com.b...
March 21, 2014
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is the first book in author Jackie Ashenden’s The Billionaire’s Club. This is a novella length story (100 pages) told from alternating POV’s of the two main characters, Jax and Pandora. Pandora’s father is a powerful and dangerous criminal and has kept her on a tight rope, a virtual prisoner, with no friends and no family. One night she seizes on the opportunity to just walk away, at least for the night…and she happens to walk into the bar where billionaire Jax is working on drinking his bad mood away.
…the moment his gaze locked with hers, all his cool, calm logic vanished. The company ceased to exist. The scandal currently rocking it utterly forgotten, his family gone along with it. The only thing he was aware of was the fact that for the first time in his life, he wanted.
And what he wanted was her.
After the intial meeting and some sexy time together, Jax and Pandora are discovered by her father and are forced into a pretend public relationship. Their strong chemistry poses an issue as they try to work together to prevent her father from blackmailing them into getting married.
This was a short, sexy read. There wasn't much room for development because of the shorter length but the writing was okay and it seemed to flow pretty well. The steam level was medium. I was rolling my eyes on a few different occasions. This book rates high on the unbelieveable scale, everything from Pandora's computer skills to Jax and Pandora's first sexual encounter were just hard to believe. The characters also ran hot then cold, especially towards the end. Either you're in or you're out. The back and forth and then extreme changes took away from my overall enjoyment.
In the end, this was a three star read for me. I'd recommend for fans that enjoy novella length contemporary romances, billionaire hero's, or coerced relationships/marriages. I don't think this is book is a great fit for me and most likely won't continue on with the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
…the moment his gaze locked with hers, all his cool, calm logic vanished. The company ceased to exist. The scandal currently rocking it utterly forgotten, his family gone along with it. The only thing he was aware of was the fact that for the first time in his life, he wanted.
And what he wanted was her.
After the intial meeting and some sexy time together, Jax and Pandora are discovered by her father and are forced into a pretend public relationship. Their strong chemistry poses an issue as they try to work together to prevent her father from blackmailing them into getting married.
This was a short, sexy read. There wasn't much room for development because of the shorter length but the writing was okay and it seemed to flow pretty well. The steam level was medium. I was rolling my eyes on a few different occasions. This book rates high on the unbelieveable scale, everything from Pandora's computer skills to Jax and Pandora's first sexual encounter were just hard to believe. The characters also ran hot then cold, especially towards the end. Either you're in or you're out. The back and forth and then extreme changes took away from my overall enjoyment.
In the end, this was a three star read for me. I'd recommend for fans that enjoy novella length contemporary romances, billionaire hero's, or coerced relationships/marriages. I don't think this is book is a great fit for me and most likely won't continue on with the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
September 16, 2014
Also wrote a review about this book on my new fb page https://www.facebook.com/bookwormzzz
This is the first book of the author that I've read and I have to say, I'm fairly impressed. Her writing style has that easy flow that makes the general readers really comfortable and in zone with the story. I was no different. I finished it in one go :D
Plot: The story starts with Pandora Garret ditching her bodyguards to enter a bar where she meets her handsome, dark Prince Charming with blue eyes, Jax Morrow. At this point, the usual happened, like we read in common romance books, lust at first sight, and then sex and then in the morning the heroine tries to flee. And this is where the actual story starts cause this where they find out some shocking truths about each other. And suspense begins. Don't worry my fellow bookworms, that's as far as I go. Not gonna spoil the story for you.
So yes, enjoyed it immensely. 10/10 for sizzling hot chemistry between the characters. Though still felt that the book ended abruptly (no cliffhanger though), only for that reason I give it 4/5 stars.
As I like the author's style, I think I'm gonna give the rest of the books in the series a go too.
This is the first book of the author that I've read and I have to say, I'm fairly impressed. Her writing style has that easy flow that makes the general readers really comfortable and in zone with the story. I was no different. I finished it in one go :D
Plot: The story starts with Pandora Garret ditching her bodyguards to enter a bar where she meets her handsome, dark Prince Charming with blue eyes, Jax Morrow. At this point, the usual happened, like we read in common romance books, lust at first sight, and then sex and then in the morning the heroine tries to flee. And this is where the actual story starts cause this where they find out some shocking truths about each other. And suspense begins. Don't worry my fellow bookworms, that's as far as I go. Not gonna spoil the story for you.
So yes, enjoyed it immensely. 10/10 for sizzling hot chemistry between the characters. Though still felt that the book ended abruptly (no cliffhanger though), only for that reason I give it 4/5 stars.
As I like the author's style, I think I'm gonna give the rest of the books in the series a go too.
February 4, 2014
It must have been Fate. She walked in that bar, he looked at her, and the rest was history. Jax had never felt this kind of attraction and need to protect a woman before. No matter what she had to be his.
And so begins the story of Jax and Pandora. Their pasts have dove-tailed and they never realized their future would be a done deal.
I have read other books by Jackie Ahsenden. This one in particular was memorable. The love scenes between these two characters are unforgettable. I love Pandora and her newly found freedom. Her need to decide her future has been kept contained for 25 years and she will not stand by anymore.
I wish there would have been more of this story after Pandora decided. I was left wanting more. Perhaps our dear author will gift us with more about Pandora and Jax. I think they can be an explosive duo worth reading about.
And so begins the story of Jax and Pandora. Their pasts have dove-tailed and they never realized their future would be a done deal.
I have read other books by Jackie Ahsenden. This one in particular was memorable. The love scenes between these two characters are unforgettable. I love Pandora and her newly found freedom. Her need to decide her future has been kept contained for 25 years and she will not stand by anymore.
I wish there would have been more of this story after Pandora decided. I was left wanting more. Perhaps our dear author will gift us with more about Pandora and Jax. I think they can be an explosive duo worth reading about.
Read
November 5, 2020Can I just tell you how much I love Jackie Ashenden's books? A LOT...and then some.
This was quite a quick read but it still felt whole and satisfying, the love scenes were super sexy and the characters really leap off the page. The heroine was basically a prisoner of mob-boss father - I felt like this was a modern twist on a fairytale.
I loved that Pandora was a strong character despite her upbringing and family situation. She took charge all through the story and I was definitely cheering her and Jax on at the end.
This was quite a quick read but it still felt whole and satisfying, the love scenes were super sexy and the characters really leap off the page. The heroine was basically a prisoner of mob-boss father - I felt like this was a modern twist on a fairytale.
I loved that Pandora was a strong character despite her upbringing and family situation. She took charge all through the story and I was definitely cheering her and Jax on at the end.
September 12, 2016
Really liked this one. It was a bit on the short side for me - I wanted a lot more story but overall, a good read! It's really well written with unforgettable characters and all the elements of a good story. It's the first book I've read by Jackie Ashenden and I'm looking forward to more!
March 7, 2016
Gosh this book was soo boring. I just couldn't wait for it to be over .
October 1, 2020
I'll admit up front that I am a huge Jackie Ashenden fan, but will also admit that in short novellas like this one, I am always left wanting more--which was where I found myself at 5:00 a.m. this morning, read it in one sitting, thoroughly enjoyed it, but wanted more, and for that reason, I'm giving The Billion Dollar Bachelor 4 stars rather than 5.
Pandora is the daughter of the most notorious mob boss in New York, and is one day shy of her 25th birthday. After spending hours standing in spike heels at a gallery opening, surrounded by her two bodyguards (Thing One and Thing Two), who never, ever leave her side, she's been driven home in the family limo, and suddenly finds herself completely alone in the back seat for the first time. She only has the clothes she's wearing (slinky red silk dress), her painful shoes, and a small purse carrying a lipstick her cell phone, and her father's credit card. She's also convinced that at her birthday celebration the next day, her father is going to announce her engagement to another mobster, twice her age (Sergei) who is totally unappealing. Pandora is tired of being alone, tired of being a pawn in her father's illegal games, has no friends, has never been on a date, is still a virgin, and is sick to death of her life of isolation. So, while the chauffeur is in front of the limo texting, she manages to sneak away without anyone noticing--yet, and she's smart enough to turn off her phone.
She eventually enters a rather run of the mill bar, and soon spots a man (Jax) who is anything but run of the mill--he's tall, drop-dead gorgeous, dressed in an expensive handmade suit, and the moment they make eye contact, the electricity between these two is off the charts. After gulping the first Scotch the man orders at her request, and slowly sipping the refill, they decide not to use their own names for what is apparently going to be a one-nighter. Although Jax doesn't know she's a virgin, he aptly names her Snow White, and he calls himself The Huntsman, and what follows as they end up in his brownstone, is smoking hot. What these two don't know about each other is a lot--but they are soon about to find out, the very next morning, in fact.
To tell you more would ruin it for you, so I'll simply say that if you enjoy steamy but short, insta-lust romances, with well-crafted characters, a couple of plot twists, and an HEA ending, I think you'll enjoy this short read as much as I did, and I'm guessing it will leave you wanting more too. I've discovered over the years, that I can never get enough of Ms. Ashenden's books, and, as luck would have it, Jax has two brothers, and this is the first book in a series.
Pandora is the daughter of the most notorious mob boss in New York, and is one day shy of her 25th birthday. After spending hours standing in spike heels at a gallery opening, surrounded by her two bodyguards (Thing One and Thing Two), who never, ever leave her side, she's been driven home in the family limo, and suddenly finds herself completely alone in the back seat for the first time. She only has the clothes she's wearing (slinky red silk dress), her painful shoes, and a small purse carrying a lipstick her cell phone, and her father's credit card. She's also convinced that at her birthday celebration the next day, her father is going to announce her engagement to another mobster, twice her age (Sergei) who is totally unappealing. Pandora is tired of being alone, tired of being a pawn in her father's illegal games, has no friends, has never been on a date, is still a virgin, and is sick to death of her life of isolation. So, while the chauffeur is in front of the limo texting, she manages to sneak away without anyone noticing--yet, and she's smart enough to turn off her phone.
She eventually enters a rather run of the mill bar, and soon spots a man (Jax) who is anything but run of the mill--he's tall, drop-dead gorgeous, dressed in an expensive handmade suit, and the moment they make eye contact, the electricity between these two is off the charts. After gulping the first Scotch the man orders at her request, and slowly sipping the refill, they decide not to use their own names for what is apparently going to be a one-nighter. Although Jax doesn't know she's a virgin, he aptly names her Snow White, and he calls himself The Huntsman, and what follows as they end up in his brownstone, is smoking hot. What these two don't know about each other is a lot--but they are soon about to find out, the very next morning, in fact.
To tell you more would ruin it for you, so I'll simply say that if you enjoy steamy but short, insta-lust romances, with well-crafted characters, a couple of plot twists, and an HEA ending, I think you'll enjoy this short read as much as I did, and I'm guessing it will leave you wanting more too. I've discovered over the years, that I can never get enough of Ms. Ashenden's books, and, as luck would have it, Jax has two brothers, and this is the first book in a series.
August 28, 2019
I loved this - Jackie draws you in from the very beginning and keeps you riveted to the story to the end. Great characters and a super story. Jackie writes fabulously sexy and erotic sex scenes and this book is no exception. Loved Ajax and Pandora and loved the way they got their happy ending. Great read.
August 22, 2017
Enjoyable, easy read with plenty of heat. I liked how the heroine took charge of her life.
January 13, 2022
Too short, ended too abruptly...has sooo much potential!!
March 25, 2014
ARC Provided by NetGalley and the publishers for an honest review.
Summary:
The Billionaire’s Club: a fabulously sexy contemporary series about some of the world’s wealthiest, most powerful men and the women they claim…and keep.
Review:
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is the first book in Jakie Ashenden’s The Billionaire’s Club. And boy was it a good beginning! While it was a little on the short side, 105 pages on my device, I found the novella to be exciting and just enough to give me a sense of what this author’s writing style was about. I have to say, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out more of her work.
From the very first page, I was swept up in Jax and Pandora’s world. The tension, chemistry, sex, and even just their everyday interactions were steamy and flowed well with the plot. Pandora has been sheltered her whole life by her daddy, a crime lord, and used as a pawn in his schemes. She’s twenty-five years old and has barely had a life that she can call her own. Just after finding out she’s going to be engaged to a man she doesn’t love, let alone even know, she decides to make a break for it when the opportunity arrives.
After leaving the so called safety of her father’s limo and bodyguards, she finds herself with nowhere to go and nothing other than the fancy dress on her back to call her own. She just so happens to wonder into a bar that’s currently housing the handsome Jax Morrow, Billionaire CEO of Morrow Enterprises. From this point on, things take a turn and go at breakneck speed. They flirt, have insane chemistry, and eventually end up leaving for his Brownstone together.
Let me just say, for a twenty-five year old woman who’s a virgin and has led a relatively sheltered life, she sure has some delicious ideas for what to do in the bedroom!
Anyway, in typical fashion, mob boss daddy comes looking for her and strikes up a deal with Jax. Marry his daughter or lose his company and everything he’s worked so hard for. Naturally, he makes the smart decision and decides to marry Pandora. Although there’s a catch. He and Pandora have a plan of their own…
I won’t give anything else away, but I will say that it ends with a happily ever after for our Snow and the Huntsman turned Prince Charming. Yay! No cliffhangers!
Overall, I would highly recommend this novella to others along with the rest of Jackie Ashenden’s work. Keep on doing what you’re doing, Mrs. Ashenden! Although maybe making your stories longer? They are just wonderful.
Favorite Quotes:
“As long as you give me an orgasm before you kill me, I don’t care.” – Pandora
She wasn’t Snow White lying in her coffin, helpless and sleeping. Hell no. She was the fucking prince.
Shit, she wasn’t a princess. She was a fucking queen. – Jax
“I thought love meant being a cage…Then I met you. And you let me make my own choices. My own decisions. You didn’t keep me in a cage. You gave me everything that was missing in my life, and when I wanted to go, you let me.”
“You know why, don’t you?”
“Yeah, Jax, I do.”
“Because I love you.”
“Me, Pandora? Are you sure? You know what I want. That’s you. Forever. And once I have you, I’ll never let you go. Understand?”
“But I don’t want you to let me go, Jax. Because being with you, loving you, is freedom.”
“Well, what do you kow? Turns out you’re Prince Charming after all.”
4.5 Fast passed, fantastic, fun filled stars!
Summary:
The Billionaire’s Club: a fabulously sexy contemporary series about some of the world’s wealthiest, most powerful men and the women they claim…and keep.
Jax Morrow is a dangerously handsome, spectacularly wealthy entrepreneur whose world is turned upside down when Pandora Garret walks into a dark, smoky bar one night—a stunning combination of sex and innocence. He knows she’s trouble at first sight, but Jax can’t let her leave…unless she’s leaving with him. Pandora has had enough. Kept under lock and key by her powerful, controlling father, she aches for freedom. When she briefly escapes and meets Jax she knows he is just what she has been looking for: forbidden, unforgettable passion. After one night in Jax’s arms, Pandora knows she can never go back to living under one man’s domination. Determined to control her own life she tries to resist Jax, but a dangerous desire rises between them—one that threatens to destroy them. But both Pandora and Jax discover that they just can’t be pulled away…,
Review:
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is the first book in Jakie Ashenden’s The Billionaire’s Club. And boy was it a good beginning! While it was a little on the short side, 105 pages on my device, I found the novella to be exciting and just enough to give me a sense of what this author’s writing style was about. I have to say, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out more of her work.
From the very first page, I was swept up in Jax and Pandora’s world. The tension, chemistry, sex, and even just their everyday interactions were steamy and flowed well with the plot. Pandora has been sheltered her whole life by her daddy, a crime lord, and used as a pawn in his schemes. She’s twenty-five years old and has barely had a life that she can call her own. Just after finding out she’s going to be engaged to a man she doesn’t love, let alone even know, she decides to make a break for it when the opportunity arrives.
After leaving the so called safety of her father’s limo and bodyguards, she finds herself with nowhere to go and nothing other than the fancy dress on her back to call her own. She just so happens to wonder into a bar that’s currently housing the handsome Jax Morrow, Billionaire CEO of Morrow Enterprises. From this point on, things take a turn and go at breakneck speed. They flirt, have insane chemistry, and eventually end up leaving for his Brownstone together.
Let me just say, for a twenty-five year old woman who’s a virgin and has led a relatively sheltered life, she sure has some delicious ideas for what to do in the bedroom!
Anyway, in typical fashion, mob boss daddy comes looking for her and strikes up a deal with Jax. Marry his daughter or lose his company and everything he’s worked so hard for. Naturally, he makes the smart decision and decides to marry Pandora. Although there’s a catch. He and Pandora have a plan of their own…
I won’t give anything else away, but I will say that it ends with a happily ever after for our Snow and the Huntsman turned Prince Charming. Yay! No cliffhangers!
Overall, I would highly recommend this novella to others along with the rest of Jackie Ashenden’s work. Keep on doing what you’re doing, Mrs. Ashenden! Although maybe making your stories longer? They are just wonderful.
Favorite Quotes:
“As long as you give me an orgasm before you kill me, I don’t care.” – Pandora
She wasn’t Snow White lying in her coffin, helpless and sleeping. Hell no. She was the fucking prince.
Shit, she wasn’t a princess. She was a fucking queen. – Jax
“I thought love meant being a cage…Then I met you. And you let me make my own choices. My own decisions. You didn’t keep me in a cage. You gave me everything that was missing in my life, and when I wanted to go, you let me.”
“You know why, don’t you?”
“Yeah, Jax, I do.”
“Because I love you.”
“Me, Pandora? Are you sure? You know what I want. That’s you. Forever. And once I have you, I’ll never let you go. Understand?”
“But I don’t want you to let me go, Jax. Because being with you, loving you, is freedom.”
“Well, what do you kow? Turns out you’re Prince Charming after all.”
July 27, 2014
Love, what is love? Love is when you can’t see yourself without that one person, that one person that makes you lose your control. Love is when you love them so much you know that you need to let them go, let them be free to choose to be with you.
I’ve had this book downloaded into my kindle for a while now and I don’t know why I have taken so long to read it. It was such a short read and such a captivating read I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. I loved how it seemed that a young woman had not been able to live a normal life. That she had been imprisoned by her own father but I would have thought she would have been naïve and scared of the unknown but instead she embraced it and took what she wanted and what she wanted was the sexy, dangerous man that she met at a bar.
Jax Morrow and Pandora Garret had chemistry from the moment that they laid eyes on each other. He could see that she was hiding something and the last thing he needed was trouble. Pandora for the first time is making her own decision and she wants this man that calls her Snow White and he refers to himself as the Huntsmen.
They end up back at his brownstone and they have one night of intense passion but that all goes to hell when her father shows up at his place. He can’t believe that he slept with his family’s enemy’s daughter. Now he is being blackmailed to marrying Pandora but he will not have it, he is not going to marry her. Pandora can’t believe that they are treating her like an object, something that her father can just sell. Jax knows that he can’t have his families named dragged through the mud plus he feels a little possessive of Pandora so he agrees to marry her.
Things get a little steamy between Pandora and Jax but he loses control with her. It seems that she is able to make him feel too much and he loses it with her in the bedroom. He can’t stop himself so he distances from her and she will not have it. Pandora knows that she wants to be with Jax and she will do anything to have him in her bed or should I say in his bed. Only that when he gets to possessive and tells her how he truly feels it seems it’s her that runs away. Will she be able to give him what he wants? Will he be able to give her what she wants?
The Billion Dollar Bachelor was a great read and a great start to a series. I loved the storyline and the characters were well developed. I would have loved for the story to be a little longer but hey at least I get to see some of the characters again the coming books. The chemistry between Jax and Pandora is hot and steamy. Ms. Ashenden’s writing is clear and beautifully written.
I totally recommend this read to all readers that love to read erotic genre.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
I’ve had this book downloaded into my kindle for a while now and I don’t know why I have taken so long to read it. It was such a short read and such a captivating read I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. I loved how it seemed that a young woman had not been able to live a normal life. That she had been imprisoned by her own father but I would have thought she would have been naïve and scared of the unknown but instead she embraced it and took what she wanted and what she wanted was the sexy, dangerous man that she met at a bar.
Jax Morrow and Pandora Garret had chemistry from the moment that they laid eyes on each other. He could see that she was hiding something and the last thing he needed was trouble. Pandora for the first time is making her own decision and she wants this man that calls her Snow White and he refers to himself as the Huntsmen.
They end up back at his brownstone and they have one night of intense passion but that all goes to hell when her father shows up at his place. He can’t believe that he slept with his family’s enemy’s daughter. Now he is being blackmailed to marrying Pandora but he will not have it, he is not going to marry her. Pandora can’t believe that they are treating her like an object, something that her father can just sell. Jax knows that he can’t have his families named dragged through the mud plus he feels a little possessive of Pandora so he agrees to marry her.
Things get a little steamy between Pandora and Jax but he loses control with her. It seems that she is able to make him feel too much and he loses it with her in the bedroom. He can’t stop himself so he distances from her and she will not have it. Pandora knows that she wants to be with Jax and she will do anything to have him in her bed or should I say in his bed. Only that when he gets to possessive and tells her how he truly feels it seems it’s her that runs away. Will she be able to give him what he wants? Will he be able to give her what she wants?
The Billion Dollar Bachelor was a great read and a great start to a series. I loved the storyline and the characters were well developed. I would have loved for the story to be a little longer but hey at least I get to see some of the characters again the coming books. The chemistry between Jax and Pandora is hot and steamy. Ms. Ashenden’s writing is clear and beautifully written.
I totally recommend this read to all readers that love to read erotic genre.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
July 24, 2016
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Anytime I see "Billion Dollar" or "Billionaire" in the title of a book, I'm almost always interested. Maybe that makes me shallow. I just like the novels I read to take me off to an easier world. Money makes the world a bit easier to navigate. I like when a heroine is swept off of her feet, through romance and also through the hero showing her a good time too. So I had high hopes for this book and I'm sorry to say that I finished it disappointed.
Pandora's the heroine in this book and I thought she was okay. She wasn't awful but I didn't love her. I thought some of her reactions to the situation around her were a little ridiculous and immature at times. But I also found myself rooting her at other times. Breaking away from her criminal underworld boss for a father who keeps her safe by keeping her trapped seems like a great thing to do so I was really on her side. But she's supposed to be a virgin. And after her first sexual experience, she's more forward than most characters I've read. I just thought that her jump from virgin to vixen was completely unbelievable.
Jax was a pretty decent hero but there is so little back story on him that I felt like I didn't know enough about him to like him any better. There's some thing in his past about his dad being a philanderer and that Jax has two brothers. But I think the 3 of them all have different moms? And he blames himself for his mom not liking one of his brothers? I don't know - it just all seemed too far fetched and not even close to being fleshed out. He also has a bit of an unbelievable personality switch. He pushes Pandora away continuously but then all at once he decides he loves her and can't live without her. It almost feels like he's groveling or begging her to not leave. I just didn't like it.
Pandora and Jax had some seriously hot sex but the story just didn't elevate the sex enough. Pandora's dad is some kind of serious bad guy and blackmails Jax but then at the end, it's all solved and wrapped up in a little bow and it's completely not believable. If her dad was so easy to circumvent, what was the point of having him be in the story at all? I also though the character names were a little out there and they took me out of the story over and over. Lastly, this was entirely too short. Instead of making a trilogy out of novellas, I think this story would have been better if it was fleshed out more and the characters were developed more.
This wasn't a bad read but it wasn't a lot of fun and there wasn't really anything remarkable about it. I almost didn't finish it but I didn't have anything else to do so I figured why not. I may attempt this author again but I don't think I would continue on with this series.
Anytime I see "Billion Dollar" or "Billionaire" in the title of a book, I'm almost always interested. Maybe that makes me shallow. I just like the novels I read to take me off to an easier world. Money makes the world a bit easier to navigate. I like when a heroine is swept off of her feet, through romance and also through the hero showing her a good time too. So I had high hopes for this book and I'm sorry to say that I finished it disappointed.
Pandora's the heroine in this book and I thought she was okay. She wasn't awful but I didn't love her. I thought some of her reactions to the situation around her were a little ridiculous and immature at times. But I also found myself rooting her at other times. Breaking away from her criminal underworld boss for a father who keeps her safe by keeping her trapped seems like a great thing to do so I was really on her side. But she's supposed to be a virgin. And after her first sexual experience, she's more forward than most characters I've read. I just thought that her jump from virgin to vixen was completely unbelievable.
Jax was a pretty decent hero but there is so little back story on him that I felt like I didn't know enough about him to like him any better. There's some thing in his past about his dad being a philanderer and that Jax has two brothers. But I think the 3 of them all have different moms? And he blames himself for his mom not liking one of his brothers? I don't know - it just all seemed too far fetched and not even close to being fleshed out. He also has a bit of an unbelievable personality switch. He pushes Pandora away continuously but then all at once he decides he loves her and can't live without her. It almost feels like he's groveling or begging her to not leave. I just didn't like it.
Pandora and Jax had some seriously hot sex but the story just didn't elevate the sex enough. Pandora's dad is some kind of serious bad guy and blackmails Jax but then at the end, it's all solved and wrapped up in a little bow and it's completely not believable. If her dad was so easy to circumvent, what was the point of having him be in the story at all? I also though the character names were a little out there and they took me out of the story over and over. Lastly, this was entirely too short. Instead of making a trilogy out of novellas, I think this story would have been better if it was fleshed out more and the characters were developed more.
This wasn't a bad read but it wasn't a lot of fun and there wasn't really anything remarkable about it. I almost didn't finish it but I didn't have anything else to do so I figured why not. I may attempt this author again but I don't think I would continue on with this series.
September 16, 2015
Sometimes you just need a quick read that will not only help pass some hours but also be entertaining. Jackie Ashenden’s The Billion Dollar Bachelor certainly fit the bill. While it was a short story/e-novella, you weren’t short change on the story.
The story was nicely written and while the book involved the familiar plot of “pretend relationship/engagement”, it wasn’t boring. In a romance such as this, the book is made or broken depending on the leading couple and their chemistry, and fortunately, Jax and Pandora (I’m a little uncertain about the choice of a name, but that’s just me) had plenty of chemistry. You weren’t left in doubt that there was something tangible between them. I appreciated how the foundation was laid in the beginning, taking the time to build the tension. It made their connection and chemistry very credible and tangible. The book wouldn’t have worked if you didn’t believe in them. Furthermore, I liked how they were on a level playing field with each other. They both had their own personal issues, so not one person was left being the “savior”. I have to give credit to Ashenden for the way she written Pandora. Considering her background, a sheltered daughter of a crime boss, it would’ve been easy to have Pandora come off as being waif-like, seemingly weak and helpless and in a certain way she was. However, she also carried an inner fire and courage that balanced the vulnerable side of her. Much credit is given to Ashenden’s writing. She didn’t overdramatized Pandora’s life under her father’s control. She used her experiences with Jax to illustrate a picture of her life previous to meeting Jax. Pandora comes off as a sympathetic figure and a likeable heroine. On the other side, Jax is a good example of the tall, dark and brooding leading male with a protective streak that is both noble and at times be frustrating. But like Pandora, he’s a likeable character whom you can understand why Pandora would fall for him.
You get a lot for a short story: drama, blackmail, romance and of course some hot sex. The writing was very well done, building up tension and chemistry between the couple. While it did have familiar story concepts/plot, it still managed to entertain and sometimes that’s all that matters. This is the first book in the Billionaire’s Club series and it provided enough of a sneak peak into the story of the other men involved. If they are like this book, then those stories will be just as entertaining and hot as this one was.
*Received edition from NetGalley
The story was nicely written and while the book involved the familiar plot of “pretend relationship/engagement”, it wasn’t boring. In a romance such as this, the book is made or broken depending on the leading couple and their chemistry, and fortunately, Jax and Pandora (I’m a little uncertain about the choice of a name, but that’s just me) had plenty of chemistry. You weren’t left in doubt that there was something tangible between them. I appreciated how the foundation was laid in the beginning, taking the time to build the tension. It made their connection and chemistry very credible and tangible. The book wouldn’t have worked if you didn’t believe in them. Furthermore, I liked how they were on a level playing field with each other. They both had their own personal issues, so not one person was left being the “savior”. I have to give credit to Ashenden for the way she written Pandora. Considering her background, a sheltered daughter of a crime boss, it would’ve been easy to have Pandora come off as being waif-like, seemingly weak and helpless and in a certain way she was. However, she also carried an inner fire and courage that balanced the vulnerable side of her. Much credit is given to Ashenden’s writing. She didn’t overdramatized Pandora’s life under her father’s control. She used her experiences with Jax to illustrate a picture of her life previous to meeting Jax. Pandora comes off as a sympathetic figure and a likeable heroine. On the other side, Jax is a good example of the tall, dark and brooding leading male with a protective streak that is both noble and at times be frustrating. But like Pandora, he’s a likeable character whom you can understand why Pandora would fall for him.
You get a lot for a short story: drama, blackmail, romance and of course some hot sex. The writing was very well done, building up tension and chemistry between the couple. While it did have familiar story concepts/plot, it still managed to entertain and sometimes that’s all that matters. This is the first book in the Billionaire’s Club series and it provided enough of a sneak peak into the story of the other men involved. If they are like this book, then those stories will be just as entertaining and hot as this one was.
*Received edition from NetGalley
February 12, 2014
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: D+
At the very start, I was intrigued by this couple, Jax and Pandora, who meet in a bar and Pandora, desperate for a taste of freedom from her overbearing, powerful father, wants a one night stand. Jax takes her up on her offer, not knowing her real name, who her father is or that the woman he’s going to take home from a bar is a virgin, but they share a sexy night together only to be caught by Pandora’s father the next morning. Now, this is where I started having issues with the story.
The story, page count wise, is on the shorter side. Not normally a huge issue for me, but it felt too short to really get into these characters complex lives and this relationship that needed more page time to be brought to life and to feel like it makes sense. I just didn’t feel like there was enough that happened and developed on page for me to buy into Jax and Pandora’s relationship. There were a lot of interesting layers introduced for each of the characters individually and together as a couple that just were barely explored in the short number of pages.
Pandora as a virgin, well she sure didn’t seem to be very virginal. Within days of giving it up, she’s all on board for some public sex…ok. It’s not that I expect virgins to be all meek and inhibited, but for someone who has no friends, has a life that’s been completely isolated and controlled by her father, I can understand wanting to let loose finally. But it went from one extreme, being locked up and alone, to another, sex in a restaurant. She also came across very immature and didn’t seem like a woman that would match the powerful, dominant Jax. She had moments where she’d say or do something that seemed childish and made me cringe. But again, it could just be because only the surface of her character was brought to life and nothing deeper was explored.
I can’t see myself continuing with this series. Sure, The Billion Dollar Bachelor, has some sexy moments, but overall the characters needed to be more developed for the story to work for me. Things played out too quickly, were resolved too easily and it wasn’t a story that I was able to buy into and enjoy, start to finish.
Blog rating: D+
At the very start, I was intrigued by this couple, Jax and Pandora, who meet in a bar and Pandora, desperate for a taste of freedom from her overbearing, powerful father, wants a one night stand. Jax takes her up on her offer, not knowing her real name, who her father is or that the woman he’s going to take home from a bar is a virgin, but they share a sexy night together only to be caught by Pandora’s father the next morning. Now, this is where I started having issues with the story.
The story, page count wise, is on the shorter side. Not normally a huge issue for me, but it felt too short to really get into these characters complex lives and this relationship that needed more page time to be brought to life and to feel like it makes sense. I just didn’t feel like there was enough that happened and developed on page for me to buy into Jax and Pandora’s relationship. There were a lot of interesting layers introduced for each of the characters individually and together as a couple that just were barely explored in the short number of pages.
Pandora as a virgin, well she sure didn’t seem to be very virginal. Within days of giving it up, she’s all on board for some public sex…ok. It’s not that I expect virgins to be all meek and inhibited, but for someone who has no friends, has a life that’s been completely isolated and controlled by her father, I can understand wanting to let loose finally. But it went from one extreme, being locked up and alone, to another, sex in a restaurant. She also came across very immature and didn’t seem like a woman that would match the powerful, dominant Jax. She had moments where she’d say or do something that seemed childish and made me cringe. But again, it could just be because only the surface of her character was brought to life and nothing deeper was explored.
I can’t see myself continuing with this series. Sure, The Billion Dollar Bachelor, has some sexy moments, but overall the characters needed to be more developed for the story to work for me. Things played out too quickly, were resolved too easily and it wasn’t a story that I was able to buy into and enjoy, start to finish.
February 10, 2014
I've never read a book by Jackie Ashenden and it's books like hers that make me so glad I do the whole NetGalley thing. I've been introduced to so many books/authors that I never would have read otherwise. So yay!
Pandora - an interesting character, to say the least. She's been kept cloistered away by her mobster/gangster father her entire life (supposedly "for her own protection") and has realized she is about to be married off to a vile man, Sergie, who serves as one of her father's flunkies. Desperate to avoid that fate, she takes advantage of a momentary distraction in her guards' attention and runs...straight into the bar where Jax is having a drink, trying to forget the impending doom hanging over his and his company's head.
Jax's family business, Morrow, has a reputation for being honest, upstanding, and a generally good company. Unfortunately, a few decades back, the family wasn't quite so honest and upstanding, having been paired with (as it turns out) Pandora's family. Unfortunately, that past is about to come to light and Jax is trying to avert disaster. Then this bombshell woman walks into a bar and he wants her. Bad.
Unfortunately, Pandora's father finds them after they've had their night of passion and they find themselves pushed into a fake engagement (well, it's supposedly real, but Jax promises Pandora it's just fake while he tries to get the goods on Pandora's father to get him to stop blackmailing Jax). There's a lot of interesting push and pull between Pandora and Jax.
Jax fights his attraction to Pandora every inch of the way because he's afraid of the fact that she makes him want to lose control. Control to him is everything, because he's convinced if he loses it, people get hurt (he's got a very scarred past at least when it comes to the control thing, thanks to the lens of a child's perspective on events). Pandora on the other hand, is completely honest and makes no bones that she wants Jax and tries to tempt him into losing control with her again.
I like how the author chose to end it, using little details about Pandora's character that had been sprinkled in so it didn't just come out of left field. These two deserved their HEA ending and I can't wait to read Donovan's story (which better be coming soon!).
Four stars all the way and thank you, Ms. Ashenden!
Pandora - an interesting character, to say the least. She's been kept cloistered away by her mobster/gangster father her entire life (supposedly "for her own protection") and has realized she is about to be married off to a vile man, Sergie, who serves as one of her father's flunkies. Desperate to avoid that fate, she takes advantage of a momentary distraction in her guards' attention and runs...straight into the bar where Jax is having a drink, trying to forget the impending doom hanging over his and his company's head.
Jax's family business, Morrow, has a reputation for being honest, upstanding, and a generally good company. Unfortunately, a few decades back, the family wasn't quite so honest and upstanding, having been paired with (as it turns out) Pandora's family. Unfortunately, that past is about to come to light and Jax is trying to avert disaster. Then this bombshell woman walks into a bar and he wants her. Bad.
Unfortunately, Pandora's father finds them after they've had their night of passion and they find themselves pushed into a fake engagement (well, it's supposedly real, but Jax promises Pandora it's just fake while he tries to get the goods on Pandora's father to get him to stop blackmailing Jax). There's a lot of interesting push and pull between Pandora and Jax.
Jax fights his attraction to Pandora every inch of the way because he's afraid of the fact that she makes him want to lose control. Control to him is everything, because he's convinced if he loses it, people get hurt (he's got a very scarred past at least when it comes to the control thing, thanks to the lens of a child's perspective on events). Pandora on the other hand, is completely honest and makes no bones that she wants Jax and tries to tempt him into losing control with her again.
I like how the author chose to end it, using little details about Pandora's character that had been sprinkled in so it didn't just come out of left field. These two deserved their HEA ending and I can't wait to read Donovan's story (which better be coming soon!).
Four stars all the way and thank you, Ms. Ashenden!
February 9, 2014
The Billion Dollar Bachelor
Jackie Ashedon
I received this story in exchange for an honest review.
Pandora Garrett is turning twenty five years old. She does not like her life. Finds it kind of stifling actually. Her bodyguards Thing One and Thing Two as she affectionately calls them keep a close eye on her for her father, crime lord boss Nick Garret.
One night while Thing One leaves her to investigate a fire alarm going off Pandora makes her escape. Finally she is free. She knows it will not last long but she can go somewhere and just be herself.
She finds herself in a bar flirting with a stranger. He is Jax Morrow of Morrow Incorparated. He calls her Snowwhite and she refers to him as The Huntsman as they are not exchanging names. It feels great to just be. Somehow this twenty five year old virgin finds herself back at the apartment for a night of passion. A night to discover herself and let herself feel, to be a women, to make her own decisions for once. Some where that her father is not watching her, plotting her marriage to his business associate.
Jax is the perfect man to introduce her to the world of passion. He is screaming sex appeal. He makes her feel things that she only dreamed on. Only read about.
However, when morning breaks her father finds her and now things get interesting. Daddy and Jax know each other. They don't like each other and Jax is not prepared to just hand her over to him. He feels the need to protect her, to show her what real life can be like.
This quick romantic read had all the elements of a great story. It had a hot, sexy male that knew how to steam up the sheets. The way he took control of the night of lovemaking was serioulsy hot stuff, reading about her putting on her first condom was very entertaining. The spanking scene was very hot and I got goosebumps just thinking about usages for the scarves that she bought. He makes her feel things that she has never dreamt about and discover more about herself than she thought possible. I loved the character that her father was, okay I hated him but he was very well done, a very believable evil man. The scowling Thing One and Thing Two body guards added alot of humour to the storyline.
I would rate this story a 5/5. It was a fresh clean story and I enjoyed reading it.
June 5, 2014
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is a fun read starring a scary, potentially violent mob boss, his sheltered hacker daughter and a billionaire bachelor with PR problems. In a whirlwind one night stand, Pandora and Jax discover their intense attraction, but their circumstances quickly go south when Pandora's father shows up. Then, . Pride and fear take turns here separating the protagonists in a way that always felt believable to me.
Jackie Ashenden turns the billionaire book on its head here. Where most readers will probably expect our shy young virgin to be a shrinking violet, she proves very early on that she's making the calls now and no one is going to get in her way. Not her bodyguards, her scary father or her newly acquired billionaire boyfriend. Rather than getting caught up in their games, she pushes for games of her own. Instead of getting rescued all the time, she does some rescuing too.
I couldn't help but draw some parallels to Fifty Shades of Grey as I was reading this quick book, even though any shades of bondage or dominance are extremely light ones. Where Anastasia knuckled under in every case (and not just as a submissive), Pandora consistently resists the temptation to let other people handle her problems, which had me rooting for her the whole time. And while virgin heroines in contemporary romances usually drive me up a wall, it felt realistic in this one.
Plus, Pandora and Jax have enormously good chemistry. Ashenden never disappoints in the hotness department and this book was no exception.
I already bought The Billionaire Bad Boy, the next book in this series, so I can't wait for (hopefully) more glimpses of Jax and Pandora.
**I was gifted this book by the author with no expectation of a review, good or otherwise.**
Jackie Ashenden turns the billionaire book on its head here. Where most readers will probably expect our shy young virgin to be a shrinking violet, she proves very early on that she's making the calls now and no one is going to get in her way. Not her bodyguards, her scary father or her newly acquired billionaire boyfriend. Rather than getting caught up in their games, she pushes for games of her own. Instead of getting rescued all the time, she does some rescuing too.
I couldn't help but draw some parallels to Fifty Shades of Grey as I was reading this quick book, even though any shades of bondage or dominance are extremely light ones. Where Anastasia knuckled under in every case (and not just as a submissive), Pandora consistently resists the temptation to let other people handle her problems, which had me rooting for her the whole time. And while virgin heroines in contemporary romances usually drive me up a wall, it felt realistic in this one.
Plus, Pandora and Jax have enormously good chemistry. Ashenden never disappoints in the hotness department and this book was no exception.
I already bought The Billionaire Bad Boy, the next book in this series, so I can't wait for (hopefully) more glimpses of Jax and Pandora.
**I was gifted this book by the author with no expectation of a review, good or otherwise.**
March 2, 2014
Although The Billion Dollar Bachelor had a few minor bumps along the way, the story was both extremely sexy and tender, and I was quite happy to read Jax and Pandora's story.
I wish this novella had been longer, of course, and I felt like the jump to love was rushed, as was the ending. I don't believe that the major issues with Pandora's father could be that easily resolved.
I also felt like both Pandora and Jax were just barely introduced, and there was not enough time to peel back the various layers of their characters. At times, Pandora was a bit annoying, acting more like a child than anything else. Other times, I could see the start of a backbone, and I wanted more of that!
One scene stuck out – the restaurant scene. I just couldn't wrap my mind around them having wild sex in the restaurant with only a curtain separating their table from the rest of the crowd. And no one heard? No one peeked? I find that hard to believe, especially since the hero is such a big name in the city! Was it sexy? Sure. But I just couldn't get into it completely.
I'm curious to see Jax's brothers, especially the mysterious bad boy, Sean. I think I'll come back to this series in the future. I've read a few of Ashenden's books and I find that her voice is easy to read and her stories are filled with sexy alpha men who love to talk dirty. It's a win-win!
For a quick romp that starts as a hot one-night stand and winds through a fake engagement before ending in a HEA, The Billion Dollar Bachelor is sure to please!
3 1/2 STARS!
~ * ~ * ~
For my full review, including favorite book quotes, please visit my blog, TBQ's Book Palace.
I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
TheBookQueen
I wish this novella had been longer, of course, and I felt like the jump to love was rushed, as was the ending. I don't believe that the major issues with Pandora's father could be that easily resolved.
I also felt like both Pandora and Jax were just barely introduced, and there was not enough time to peel back the various layers of their characters. At times, Pandora was a bit annoying, acting more like a child than anything else. Other times, I could see the start of a backbone, and I wanted more of that!
One scene stuck out – the restaurant scene. I just couldn't wrap my mind around them having wild sex in the restaurant with only a curtain separating their table from the rest of the crowd. And no one heard? No one peeked? I find that hard to believe, especially since the hero is such a big name in the city! Was it sexy? Sure. But I just couldn't get into it completely.
I'm curious to see Jax's brothers, especially the mysterious bad boy, Sean. I think I'll come back to this series in the future. I've read a few of Ashenden's books and I find that her voice is easy to read and her stories are filled with sexy alpha men who love to talk dirty. It's a win-win!
For a quick romp that starts as a hot one-night stand and winds through a fake engagement before ending in a HEA, The Billion Dollar Bachelor is sure to please!
3 1/2 STARS!
~ * ~ * ~
For my full review, including favorite book quotes, please visit my blog, TBQ's Book Palace.
I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
TheBookQueen
January 5, 2015
Just when I'm all prepared to be un-impressed by another billionaire/virgin lust story... somebody comes along and takes me by surprise. This is a novella... around 100 pages or so... and it doesn't end on a cliffy! A big thumbs up already. It was very engaging, amusing, well written and very steamy. And, I think I might have teared up a little at the end. (Shhhhhh... don't tell!) I really loved the whole Snow White and the Huntsman references... very fun.
"Oh, I'm not Prince Charming, baby. I'm the huntsman!." He had me at hello... :)
I don't think that the title suits the story, however... it should be titled... "Virgin gone wild"!! Seriously... Pandora acted a bit like how an animal might act after being cooped up inside a kennel for a while. You know, doing crazy stuff like chasing their own tails, jumping and running around with their tongues hanging out begging for attention. Especially when she finally had a chance to pluck the V card. But, you see Pandora is the daughter of a crime lord... kept locked away in a tower like a Princess. So, her behavior was understandable. And, I don't think Jax was complaining... too much... just surprised.
Jax is the son of an ex-crime lord... yep, a match made in heaven. He got a little more than he bargained for when he took this gorgeous, anonymous woman home with him for what he thought was a one night stand. Daddy crime lord wasn't too happy... insert chaos.
This is a good choice if you're looking for some reading to fill up a couple of hours that also doesn't leave you hanging. I really enjoyed it. This is the first of a series of novellas that will make up the Billionaire Club series. I like that they are all stand alones. I'll definitely pick up the next one.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press
www.ktbookreviews.com
"Oh, I'm not Prince Charming, baby. I'm the huntsman!." He had me at hello... :)
I don't think that the title suits the story, however... it should be titled... "Virgin gone wild"!! Seriously... Pandora acted a bit like how an animal might act after being cooped up inside a kennel for a while. You know, doing crazy stuff like chasing their own tails, jumping and running around with their tongues hanging out begging for attention. Especially when she finally had a chance to pluck the V card. But, you see Pandora is the daughter of a crime lord... kept locked away in a tower like a Princess. So, her behavior was understandable. And, I don't think Jax was complaining... too much... just surprised.
Jax is the son of an ex-crime lord... yep, a match made in heaven. He got a little more than he bargained for when he took this gorgeous, anonymous woman home with him for what he thought was a one night stand. Daddy crime lord wasn't too happy... insert chaos.
This is a good choice if you're looking for some reading to fill up a couple of hours that also doesn't leave you hanging. I really enjoyed it. This is the first of a series of novellas that will make up the Billionaire Club series. I like that they are all stand alones. I'll definitely pick up the next one.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press
www.ktbookreviews.com
February 9, 2014
Arc provided by Netgalley for an honest review!
" Oh, I'm not Prince Charming baby, I'm the huntsman!". By this point into the story I knew that Jax Morrow was going to be one of those , hot panty wetting heroes; and Pandora Garrett pretty much new it too! Pandora is on the run from her father who happens to be on of the biggest mob bosses in NYC. Pandora has been kept a virtual prisoner in her home all under the guise of it being for her safety but what has caused her to run is that her father had just placed his business before her well being , he just arranged a marriage to a business cronie with no thought to Pandora, so when the opportunity to run turns up she does, in her search to get off the streets before her fathers goons find her Pandora, walks into the a bar and Jax.
Jax is the CEO of Morrow industries a business his grandfather and father did everything to bring this business to th top and make it legitimate , so dating is limited, drinking at a bar also ,but the events of the week brought him to the bar and the highlight of his night walked through it.
Pandora needs someplace to hide, she has no money on her and just the clothes on her back, so the invitation to Jax place besides the fact that she is so aroused fits with her needs to a tee!
These two are hot together and just get hotter, Jax has never felt this way before but when her father shows up at his part men trying to drag her out his possessiveness kicks in, next thing he is agreeing to marry pandora to keep his secrets just that , secrets . The marriage is a ruse to buy them time to dig up dirt on Pandora's father and at the same time, gain Pandora her freedom.
Well you know how things like this go; lots of time together, lots of incredible sex and conflicting feelings male for a great read! I can't wait for the next book!
" Oh, I'm not Prince Charming baby, I'm the huntsman!". By this point into the story I knew that Jax Morrow was going to be one of those , hot panty wetting heroes; and Pandora Garrett pretty much new it too! Pandora is on the run from her father who happens to be on of the biggest mob bosses in NYC. Pandora has been kept a virtual prisoner in her home all under the guise of it being for her safety but what has caused her to run is that her father had just placed his business before her well being , he just arranged a marriage to a business cronie with no thought to Pandora, so when the opportunity to run turns up she does, in her search to get off the streets before her fathers goons find her Pandora, walks into the a bar and Jax.
Jax is the CEO of Morrow industries a business his grandfather and father did everything to bring this business to th top and make it legitimate , so dating is limited, drinking at a bar also ,but the events of the week brought him to the bar and the highlight of his night walked through it.
Pandora needs someplace to hide, she has no money on her and just the clothes on her back, so the invitation to Jax place besides the fact that she is so aroused fits with her needs to a tee!
These two are hot together and just get hotter, Jax has never felt this way before but when her father shows up at his part men trying to drag her out his possessiveness kicks in, next thing he is agreeing to marry pandora to keep his secrets just that , secrets . The marriage is a ruse to buy them time to dig up dirt on Pandora's father and at the same time, gain Pandora her freedom.
Well you know how things like this go; lots of time together, lots of incredible sex and conflicting feelings male for a great read! I can't wait for the next book!
September 8, 2016
One thing I always enjoy when reading a book is when the smuttiness of the book doesn’t overtake the rest of the story. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case with this book. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of smut in there for you, but that wasn’t the only thing that was happening throughout the book.
Pandora’s character, I almost felt sorry for her to an extent because of what she had been though in her life. But once she had gained her freedom, I started to lose respect for her just because of her actions and almost temper tantrums she would throw. There was also the issue I had with her talking about her “online friends” who were brought up a couple times, yet we don’t really know anything about them. To me, with her character it just felt like she was playing a game with everyone hoping to win.
Jax’s character, I felt sorry for him in the beginning of the story (when you read you will understand why that is) but as the story progressed, I started to not like him at all. I thought that he turned from a really great guy to a complete jerk.
The story is short yes, but at the same time there was a lot of information given to you and you were left wondering what was going to happen next. I think that the author could have extended the story just a bit so that we could have found out what was going to happen to the couple. When it came to background on the different characters, there really wasn’t that much given on Jax’s. Granted, we did learn a bit about his past, but not a lot. I was left with a few questions concerning that.
I do understand that this is the first book in a new series, so I will give the series another try. Hopefully the next book will help answer some questions I still have.
Reviewed by Crystal for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for honest review*
Pandora’s character, I almost felt sorry for her to an extent because of what she had been though in her life. But once she had gained her freedom, I started to lose respect for her just because of her actions and almost temper tantrums she would throw. There was also the issue I had with her talking about her “online friends” who were brought up a couple times, yet we don’t really know anything about them. To me, with her character it just felt like she was playing a game with everyone hoping to win.
Jax’s character, I felt sorry for him in the beginning of the story (when you read you will understand why that is) but as the story progressed, I started to not like him at all. I thought that he turned from a really great guy to a complete jerk.
The story is short yes, but at the same time there was a lot of information given to you and you were left wondering what was going to happen next. I think that the author could have extended the story just a bit so that we could have found out what was going to happen to the couple. When it came to background on the different characters, there really wasn’t that much given on Jax’s. Granted, we did learn a bit about his past, but not a lot. I was left with a few questions concerning that.
I do understand that this is the first book in a new series, so I will give the series another try. Hopefully the next book will help answer some questions I still have.
Reviewed by Crystal for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for honest review*
January 31, 2014
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
Pandora Garret has only wanted some time by herself and to have some friends. Her dad is one of the head bosses in New York. His life is crime and Pandora knows it. She also knows that she has been giving a chance to run away. Seems her dad has only left her with one guard and there is an alarn going off at her apartment. She hurries and sneaks off while the driver is playing on his phone. She runs as fast as her heels will let her. She goes into a bar and that is when she meets Jax Marrow.
Jax has some family secrets that have came out and it is hurting his business. Jax is a man that remains in control at all times. All that goes out of the window when he see's a woman in red come in the bar. When their eyes meet it is over. He doesn't know who she is but he knows he has to have her. Maybe if he had known he might have changed his mind or maybe not.
I loved this story and I really enjoyed the names that had for each other. It is one of my favorite Disney movies. She is Snow White and he is the Huntsman. It was great to see a man that is so in control lose it with a woman that has always been in a cage. This story was so hot and exciting. I can't wait to read the other two. I haven't had the chance to read anything from this author before.
I will warn you that there is a little BDSM in this story but it is so worth it. I want my own Jax.
Pandora Garret has only wanted some time by herself and to have some friends. Her dad is one of the head bosses in New York. His life is crime and Pandora knows it. She also knows that she has been giving a chance to run away. Seems her dad has only left her with one guard and there is an alarn going off at her apartment. She hurries and sneaks off while the driver is playing on his phone. She runs as fast as her heels will let her. She goes into a bar and that is when she meets Jax Marrow.
Jax has some family secrets that have came out and it is hurting his business. Jax is a man that remains in control at all times. All that goes out of the window when he see's a woman in red come in the bar. When their eyes meet it is over. He doesn't know who she is but he knows he has to have her. Maybe if he had known he might have changed his mind or maybe not.
I loved this story and I really enjoyed the names that had for each other. It is one of my favorite Disney movies. She is Snow White and he is the Huntsman. It was great to see a man that is so in control lose it with a woman that has always been in a cage. This story was so hot and exciting. I can't wait to read the other two. I haven't had the chance to read anything from this author before.
I will warn you that there is a little BDSM in this story but it is so worth it. I want my own Jax.
June 26, 2016
I am always drawn to all books and novellas that have some form of the word "Billionaire" in their title. So after reading the book blurb, I just had to read The Billion Dollar Bachelor by Jackie Ashenden. I seem to devour ANYTHING written by Ms. Ashenden, so I was super excited to hear about her new series, The Billionaire's Club. The Billion Dollar Bachelor is the first novella in the series and it is well-written, hot and sexy.
Jax Morrow is CEO of the largest company in New York City. Many years ago, his company used to be tied to the mob, but he as well as his father and grandfather have worked diligently to transform their business into complete legitimacy. He doesn't date much because he is always working. He has a dangerous foreboding about him that most women find enticing.
Twenty-five year old Pandora Garret is the beautiful daughter of one of the primary mob bosses in NYC. She has led a sheltered life, in order to remain safe from her father's enemies. When she finally escapes from all things mob related, she steps into a bar where Jax is drowning his sorrows. Their eyes meet and from that moment on they are each others soul-mates.
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is a steamy, fast-paced novella. The characters are well-defined, likeable and exciting. I am truly looking forward to the next book in the series that is due out next month.
I received this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jax Morrow is CEO of the largest company in New York City. Many years ago, his company used to be tied to the mob, but he as well as his father and grandfather have worked diligently to transform their business into complete legitimacy. He doesn't date much because he is always working. He has a dangerous foreboding about him that most women find enticing.
Twenty-five year old Pandora Garret is the beautiful daughter of one of the primary mob bosses in NYC. She has led a sheltered life, in order to remain safe from her father's enemies. When she finally escapes from all things mob related, she steps into a bar where Jax is drowning his sorrows. Their eyes meet and from that moment on they are each others soul-mates.
The Billion Dollar Bachelor is a steamy, fast-paced novella. The characters are well-defined, likeable and exciting. I am truly looking forward to the next book in the series that is due out next month.
I received this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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