What do you think?
Rate this book
Billion-Dollar Dating Game
There can only be one winner in their dating game. Will it be business or passion? Find out in this steamy fake relationship romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson.
It’s just business…
the pleasure’s a bonus!
If self-made billionaire Zane deMarco can go from one-date wonder to one-woman man this summer, he’ll acquire and dissolve the company that destroyed his childhood. Employee Skylar Bennet could be his final chess piece…
Innocent Skylar will help Zane win his wager by faking a romance for the cameras—if he’ll spare the company that saved her from destitution. Then a moment of uncontrolled passion takes them from boardroom to bedroom and Skylar can’t resist indulging! Yet when it uncovers an inescapable connection, surrendering again feels like the most dangerous game of all…
It’s just business…
the pleasure’s a bonus!
If self-made billionaire Zane deMarco can go from one-date wonder to one-woman man this summer, he’ll acquire and dissolve the company that destroyed his childhood. Employee Skylar Bennet could be his final chess piece…
Innocent Skylar will help Zane win his wager by faking a romance for the cameras—if he’ll spare the company that saved her from destitution. Then a moment of uncontrolled passion takes them from boardroom to bedroom and Skylar can’t resist indulging! Yet when it uncovers an inescapable connection, surrendering again feels like the most dangerous game of all…
- GenresRomance
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 20, 2024
41 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Anderson
615 books546 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 24, 2024
This started out good but about a third into the book it flatlined.
Picked up a little in the last quarter but seemed rushed with wrapping things up.
Hero and heroine grew up in the same apartment complex.
When Skylar, the heroines mother ran away she was found by the hero Zane crying and walking the streets. She was around 10 if I remember correctly. He was kind to her, gave her some candy and walked her back home.
She never forgot his kindness and was infatuated with him. She was always watching for him around their apartment complex. He always was aware of her and as she matured was attracted to her.
When she was around sixteen they ran into each other in the stairwell and made out. Her Father caught them and was not too happy.
We now fast forward to the MC as adults.
Zane is after the company that Skylar works for in the HR department. Zane is a billionaire and made a big name for himself in the business world. Skylar is aware that he's wanting to buy and break up the company she works at. She hasn't seen him for years but is determined to try and change his mind. She decides to attend a party that she believes he might attend.
She walking the outside of this property that the party is at and runs into Zane.
Lot's of spark, great dialogue and of course they have sex.
Side note here.... The first chapter is Zane and two other friends having a discussion about social media trend that is saying they are all one date wonders, which irritates them to no end.
And all three are interested in this Company (that is in trouble financially) they want to buy/takeover. So a bet was made to address which one of them will "win" the right to go after this company. Whoever can date one woman for a few months wins.
Back to Zane and Skylar..... The two make a deal for her to be his "girlfriend" for a few months. She with the hope that she can change Zanes mind about buying out and breaking up the company she works for.
Again the first couple chapters or so are pretty good. We have them getting to know each other and hashing out their plan for dating. Good dialogue and conversation between the two. Nice chemistry and sexual tension.
But then it flatlines. It then turns to Skylar deciding she wants Zane to teach her all about sex and him being more than happy to oblige. And there isn't much there for a while but their continued discussion on sex and having sex. What it needed was more emotion, depth and character growth. Sadly it was lacking. I skimmed some pages.
The last quarter of the book is Zane and Skylar both realizing that they are in love with each other. Zane is spooked and runs. Skylar is accepting and hopeful that he might have some feelings for her.
Zane realizes he needs her in his life and goes after her. The last chapter seemed rushed with everything packed into it. They both get their HEA and a nice epilogue.
Picked up a little in the last quarter but seemed rushed with wrapping things up.
Hero and heroine grew up in the same apartment complex.
When Skylar, the heroines mother ran away she was found by the hero Zane crying and walking the streets. She was around 10 if I remember correctly. He was kind to her, gave her some candy and walked her back home.
She never forgot his kindness and was infatuated with him. She was always watching for him around their apartment complex. He always was aware of her and as she matured was attracted to her.
When she was around sixteen they ran into each other in the stairwell and made out. Her Father caught them and was not too happy.
We now fast forward to the MC as adults.
Zane is after the company that Skylar works for in the HR department. Zane is a billionaire and made a big name for himself in the business world. Skylar is aware that he's wanting to buy and break up the company she works at. She hasn't seen him for years but is determined to try and change his mind. She decides to attend a party that she believes he might attend.
She walking the outside of this property that the party is at and runs into Zane.
Lot's of spark, great dialogue and of course they have sex.
Side note here.... The first chapter is Zane and two other friends having a discussion about social media trend that is saying they are all one date wonders, which irritates them to no end.
And all three are interested in this Company (that is in trouble financially) they want to buy/takeover. So a bet was made to address which one of them will "win" the right to go after this company. Whoever can date one woman for a few months wins.
Back to Zane and Skylar..... The two make a deal for her to be his "girlfriend" for a few months. She with the hope that she can change Zanes mind about buying out and breaking up the company she works for.
Again the first couple chapters or so are pretty good. We have them getting to know each other and hashing out their plan for dating. Good dialogue and conversation between the two. Nice chemistry and sexual tension.
But then it flatlines. It then turns to Skylar deciding she wants Zane to teach her all about sex and him being more than happy to oblige. And there isn't much there for a while but their continued discussion on sex and having sex. What it needed was more emotion, depth and character growth. Sadly it was lacking. I skimmed some pages.
The last quarter of the book is Zane and Skylar both realizing that they are in love with each other. Zane is spooked and runs. Skylar is accepting and hopeful that he might have some feelings for her.
Zane realizes he needs her in his life and goes after her. The last chapter seemed rushed with everything packed into it. They both get their HEA and a nice epilogue.
August 6, 2024
Fast paced and generally nice but includes the most irritating sentences:
‘It’s you, it’s always been you.’
‘But—’
‘I know there’ve been other women.’ He looked awkward. ‘And I know it sounds bad, but none of them meant anything much.’ She understood, actually. ‘You didn’t let them get near enough to matter.’
🤦🏻♀️
‘It’s you, it’s always been you.’
‘But—’
‘I know there’ve been other women.’ He looked awkward. ‘And I know it sounds bad, but none of them meant anything much.’ She understood, actually. ‘You didn’t let them get near enough to matter.’
🤦🏻♀️
August 20, 2024
Billion-Dollar Dating Game by Natalie Anderson is the first in the three part mini series Billion-Dollar Bets. The three main men, Zane, Adam and Cade are best friends and billionaires. All three have a reputation as one date wonders but excellent businessmen. All three, each for their own reason, want to purchase Helberg Holdings as Reed, the owner, died several months ago. Zane puts down a bet that if they can date one women between independence and Labour Day he will take all the shares that they have accumulated and have a free run at taking over Helberg Holdings. All three men agree.
Zane de Marco and Skylar Bennet grew up on the same estate. Neither had a happy childhood. She lived with her strict father, him with his mother. Zane slowly built his empire and Skylar is now an employee. After a night together he persuades her to have a fake relationship so he can win the bet and take over the business that destroyed his childhood. He/ they didn’t take into account that their fake relationship would develop into a true romance, but will their flaws and stubborn characters prevent their romance from being their HEA?
Full of passion and pent up emotions that can be traced back to childhood, both characters are clearly flawed but likeable. The reader can root for them and hope they get it together so their relationship survives because they are relatable characters that most readers can empathise with.
This is an enjoyable read, a bit of a slow start but the rest of the novel is well paced and full of chemistry. I would recommend and I am looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the series.
Zane de Marco and Skylar Bennet grew up on the same estate. Neither had a happy childhood. She lived with her strict father, him with his mother. Zane slowly built his empire and Skylar is now an employee. After a night together he persuades her to have a fake relationship so he can win the bet and take over the business that destroyed his childhood. He/ they didn’t take into account that their fake relationship would develop into a true romance, but will their flaws and stubborn characters prevent their romance from being their HEA?
Full of passion and pent up emotions that can be traced back to childhood, both characters are clearly flawed but likeable. The reader can root for them and hope they get it together so their relationship survives because they are relatable characters that most readers can empathise with.
This is an enjoyable read, a bit of a slow start but the rest of the novel is well paced and full of chemistry. I would recommend and I am looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the series.
August 28, 2024
If you love a classic of this contemporary harlequin genre, I suspect you will love this book. It has glitzy and glamorous locations; is rich in sizzling sexual attraction and is full of angst as both characters (Zane the billionaire corporate raider and Skylar the employee of one of Zane’s target corporations) work through the significant hang-ups from their youth – incidentally a youth that was very much connected. Zane is inconceivably successful professionally; typical of the sexually experienced ‘date them and leave them’ hero; seemingly incapable of feeling warm & love and hugely damaged by a childhood of rejection and physical injury. Skylar is typical of the good girl heroine: inexperienced romantically and sexually; much lower in economic and social status than Zane and restricted by a fear of rejection and a very constrained approach to life.
I dislike many of these tropes. The disparity in status between the heroine and hero really jars and I am not keen on characters with these particular emotional arcs (Zane moves from unfeeling to discovering he does have a heart and Skylar discovers her worth and vows to find herself) as they seem so one-dimensional. So this book was a very hard sell to me, as I prefer to be won over by the emotion of the journey and characters who just give me more.
That said, it was done very well and it was very easy to keep turning the pages and enjoy the sizzle of their romance. It is an excellent version of its genre, so whilst unsatisfying and easily forgettable for me, I an imagine it being just right for lovers of these tropes and genre.
I read an advance copy of this book.
I dislike many of these tropes. The disparity in status between the heroine and hero really jars and I am not keen on characters with these particular emotional arcs (Zane moves from unfeeling to discovering he does have a heart and Skylar discovers her worth and vows to find herself) as they seem so one-dimensional. So this book was a very hard sell to me, as I prefer to be won over by the emotion of the journey and characters who just give me more.
That said, it was done very well and it was very easy to keep turning the pages and enjoy the sizzle of their romance. It is an excellent version of its genre, so whilst unsatisfying and easily forgettable for me, I an imagine it being just right for lovers of these tropes and genre.
I read an advance copy of this book.
August 21, 2024
This is book one in The Billion-Dollar Bet Series and it is Zane and Skylar’s story. Zane is a self made billionaire and also a bit of a playboy because he doesn’t do relationships but revenge is what fuels him along with his biggest achievement so his best friends Adam and Cade work together and trust each other because they all have the same goal. Skylar works for Zane but they have previous history because they grew up together and both have baggage and are also stubborn but when they ended up having an explosive night together something changed between them. When Zane and Skylar decide to fake date things start to get even more complicated but what happens when suddenly fake starts to feel so real will it effect there friendship or will it make things even more special between them because they are so perfect for each other and together. I really enjoyed this book so much because it had a great storyline, characters and strong chemistry that will have you turning the pages and keep your attention. I recommend you read this book and I look forward to reading more books in the future.
August 17, 2024
I just finished reading the first book in the new Billion-Dollar Bet series from Harlequin Presents/Mills & Boon Modern. Self-made billionaire Zane deMarco, CEO Adam Courtney and billionaire bachelor Cade Landry have made a bet. Whoever remains a one-woman man all summer wins the company that all three are vying for. Zane and employee Skylar Bennet have a history together and after a night of passion Zane convinces Skylar to be his fake girlfriend for the cameras. I absolutely adored this book, Skylar and Zane share such passion and gradually their fake dating and real life relationship combine with both learning and growing. Skylar is such a wonderful character, she’s flawed and rigid but underneath she’s a passionate woman who cares about people and loyalty and respect. Zane has so many internal wounds from his childhood that he’s built a wall around his heart not letting anyone in to see the kind, loving man that he is. This one was fast paced and so, so passionate and full of emotion. I can’t wait to read the next book and the one after!
August 23, 2024
What’s not to love about a second chance romance that never was!
I feel saddened by the foreshadowing to Zane’s past that has him on a revenge path to buy a company only to sell it off in pieces. When he discovers his friends are out for the same company, he nudges them in to a bet, winner take all for the summer to see who can change their ways from the proverbial one night stand to undo the damage from a news article about them. Skylar knows Zane’s business acumen, so she comes up with a plan to meet up with him at her best friend’s party to persuade him that the company she has worked at forever is worth saving. Funny how their meetup actually works out and is one for the steamiest record books! Zane never forgot Skylar or her father’s words, but he needs a date for the summer so agrees to her stipulations! The two may both say they don’t want a relationship as tied to their jobs, but deep down there is something kindling in each of their hearts. How will it all end? You have to read to find out and will never expect the sudden turn of events!
I feel saddened by the foreshadowing to Zane’s past that has him on a revenge path to buy a company only to sell it off in pieces. When he discovers his friends are out for the same company, he nudges them in to a bet, winner take all for the summer to see who can change their ways from the proverbial one night stand to undo the damage from a news article about them. Skylar knows Zane’s business acumen, so she comes up with a plan to meet up with him at her best friend’s party to persuade him that the company she has worked at forever is worth saving. Funny how their meetup actually works out and is one for the steamiest record books! Zane never forgot Skylar or her father’s words, but he needs a date for the summer so agrees to her stipulations! The two may both say they don’t want a relationship as tied to their jobs, but deep down there is something kindling in each of their hearts. How will it all end? You have to read to find out and will never expect the sudden turn of events!
Read
January 17, 2026I can't in good conscience rate these anymore because I'm so over the genre and just trying to finish the backlog on my shelf. To be helpful in review form, it has lots of spice, lots of sexy looks cast at each other, lots of heat and arrogant billionaire energy and a woman who is very sexy and also inexplicably a virgin. If that's your jam then you'll like this.
Read
August 2, 2024Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Billion-Dollar Bet (Book #1)
Miniseries
Billion-Dollar Bet (Book #1)
Read
August 2, 2024Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Billion-Dollar Bet (Book #1)
Miniseries
Billion-Dollar Bet (Book #1)
September 21, 2024
Attraction burns bright even as emotions run deep. Billion Dollar Dating Game masters irony and temptation. Anderson seduces the soul with fire and sugar quite nicely.
February 16, 2025
It’s simply fantastic, was on my farm but couldn’t put it down. …amazing indeed
November 15, 2025
This was an absolutely gorgeous romance novel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews