Pulling Her Resources

by Mia Sivan

Dafna is wealthy, stunning, and accomplished in her chosen career.
She presents a shiny façade to the world. But the shameful truth is that she hasn't been able to become intimate with any man since her divorce, six years ago. Buoyed by drinks and her best friends she indulges in a thrilling one-night encounter with a young, tattooed barman she plans to never see again.

However, fate twists the game when that same man reappears. He is an accountant hired to scrutinize her company for influential investors. Now, with the stakes higher than ever, Dafna must maintain decorum and ethics. She can’t let the lines blur and risk everything she's worked so hard to achieve.

If only her body would listen to reason.

Pulling Her Resources is a steamy later in life romance with a side dish of financial intrigue, set in Tel Aviv.

Genres: Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Mia Sivan lives, works and loves in Tel Aviv. The city is as much a part of her books as any other character.
Mia has worked as a senior investment manager for many years, and the books she writes draws much from her personal experience, as well as real-life scams that took place in financial markets.
When not writing her HEAs or dreaming up steamy scenes, she lives with her handsome husband and even handsomer two sons, and enjoys long walks by the beach (it’s Tel Aviv, it’s never too cold).

Reviews

[Dawn McGill Dalrymple · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was happy to read a "steamy later in life romance" sometimes it gets old reading about all these 20-somethings when you're not one!! Dafna and Erez meet under flase circumstances and plan to only have a one night stand...little do they know!! Dafna gets her world rocked that night then is surprised to have Erez show up at her work as the CPA who's going to save her company. This book had lots of spice, some misunderstandings and miscommunications and a whole lot more! Def recommend for a fun, steamy, fast, short read!

[Lauren | TransportedLFL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Kate Rock Book Tours for the complimentary book. These opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this later in life romance. Dafna is in her mid-forties, and her friends want to see her move on after her divorce. So she agrees to hit on the younger bartender. But Erez is just filling in for his brother for the evening. Dafna and Erez have immediate and intense chemistry. But they agreed to one night only.

The story transitions to a workplace romance, as they realize he will be auditing the start up where she works. I found myself especially interested in the storylines that revolved around her work and potential corruption there. Both Dafna and Erez needed a lot of growth around how they approached work, and that aspect was so well written. And I loved seeing her as the self-made, successful, and competent woman.

I also enjoyed the Jewish representation, fun surfing and paddle boarding lessons, and that both were single parents. In particular, Erez's interactions with his daughter, Gal, added great depth to the plot.

This was a fascinating and steamy romance.

3.5 stars rounded up

[Milena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewish rep
Age gap romance
Mature successful heroine
Single parents
Workplace romance

Pulling Her Resources is a low angst/high-steam romance set in Tel Aviv, one of my favorite cities. I was excited to read this book because it has many tropes I usually enjoy. I liked both MCs, Dafna and Erez, and how their relationship progressed. Both were mature emotionally. They communicated well when problems arose and made the right decisions for the most part. The main conflict centered around office/work ethics. It was very nice to read a low-angst romance for a change.

Pulling My Resources is a quick read. The short chapters kept my attention on the story. Also, I enjoyed the Tel Aviv setting very much. I am very familiar with the city, so it was exciting to recognize the streets and landmarks and imagine Erez and Dafna's romance unfolding.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Bonita Soley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong and diverse group of characters and multiple subplots give this romance a bit more substance, and a real feel. Added interest being set in Israel, giving it a lush environment. A bit of intrigue added in keeps things interesting.

[Em Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was okay but i DNF’d around 70% through. the writing was a little choppy, and i found the dialogue to be a little unnatural and hard to follow (tho this might be due to a language barrier). the family dynamic was good, and i liked that the FMC maintained a healthy relationship with her ex husband.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Pulling Her Resources is a stand-alone later-in-life SMART steamy romance featuring a forbidden workplace affair, financial intrigue and a Happy Ever After.

TW: contains explicit content for mature audiences only.

This one doesn’t waste any time getting to the steam! A mix up turns out to be a very fortunate mix up turned match.

1 one night stand leads to…many more encounters.

Something that I really appreciated in this book was the realistic characters. The main character is 45 and her counterpart was much younger. So there is a bit of awkwardness that gets resolved pretty quickly but it was so relatable.

This was my 1st time reading a “steamy later in life romance” but I liked it because the main character was strong and knew exactly what she wanted in her career and in the bedroom, even if things seemed a bit awkward at first.

[Yarden | mad with books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to for the book. I enjoy it so much ❤️
I could not stop reading, so much fun.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not against reading in third person, but it does become a problem when the author doesn’t specify who is saying what and I have to stop, reread and rethink it before continuing. Couldn’t get through this sadly…

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from Mia, and I can honestly say it’s so good, really amazing perspective of a later in life romance. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of Dafna and Erez’s story.

Both MC’s are divorced they have kids from their previous relationships. But struggle to find someone new. So a one night stand sounds like the perfect way to get back out there, right?
Only it’s more than that; and in comes a lot of misunderstandings and confusion surrounding them, hence a little drama.
But their encounters are fun, spicy and light, with some exceptions of course.

Gotta say that I loved that Dafna was very strong and powerful on her own, but he emboldened her even more, and that was the best part of their story.

[Abhinav Atul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Mia Sivan’s third book in The Women of Tel Aviv series, Pulling Her Resources, has her signature blend of accounting and finances with love and sex. The not-so-subtle references to characters from her other book gives the added, strong flavours of nostalgia and fanservice.

Pulling her resources is a later-in-life romance novel set in the financial landscape of the city of Tel Aviv. The story revolves around Dafna working with an ambitious startup. The baggage of her past defines her as much as her professional success. In Erez, she finds a companion younger than her and a mature partner who helps her get over her past.

But Erez is also the accountant hired for the due diligence of Dafna’s firm – a fact the both of them learn only after they have made a connection and crossed the thresholds of their respective comfort zones.

With a clear conflict of interest, Erez’s ethics are on the line, as is his dream job. And with this starts a narrative of internal struggle, emotions and love. The author treats us to some of the raunchiest encounters put on the page in this genre. (*Wink Wink: Whisky Tasting!)

Dafna’s past play a huge role in the story. So much so that one might say this was more Dafna’s story than Erez’s. Dafna’s family life is complicated even if you take out her divorce. And it helps that she is rich and she has maintained her body even in her forties.

So, this novel not only veers into the later-in-life romance trope but also a reversed-age-gap. And this is a unique aspect of Mia Siva’s writing. In her first book she ventured in the oft misunderstood area of BDSM, in the second, she took on the body image issue with her plus size protagonist. Here in her third book we have an older woman testing the waters with love that follows a ridiculous formula that tells her what is the lowest age of a man she is allowed to date!

I loved the narrative as a whole but there was a certain, understandable element of predictability in the second half of the novel. Even though the climactic confrontation of the good guys and the bad guys was an elaborate set piece like a movie, it still didn’t send my heart racing.

But the book did provide several avenues which can send anyone’s heart in overdrive with the steam it packed in its pages. And kudos to the character of Erez! It takes a certain level of maturity and self confidence to be with a woman who is not only older and with her own scars, but also rich and earning a lot more.

So, overall, Pulling Her Resources is a fun to read steamy romance worth your time.

[Heather Heineman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several years out from her divorce but with her ex-husband still fairly entwined in her life in more ways than just their children, Dafna seeks to proposition a younger bartender—who is known to show older divorcees a good time—for a one-night stand. Instead, she accidentally propositions his brother and sets the wheels in motion for what amounts to be a daring yet undeniable romance between two people who find each other to be worth the risk and sacrifice. Dafna and Erez’s story is sweet and spicy and a great story of two people who find love after already experiencing marriage and children prior to meeting each other. A quick and great read!

[Priscilla | Books Imperfect Condition · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review ↝ if I could review this book in one word it would be “whirlwind”. You know those encounters that scoop you right up out of your routine and change your world forever. Dafna mature divorcee feels that whirlwind romance with Erez instantly. As readers we get to experience them both going through all the emotions while navigating life and all its stressors. Ch 18 is super memorable as it was a testament to the power of a whirlwind romance and how easily a persons inhibitions can change based on their need to connect. Pulling Her Resources is definitely a steamy later in life romance and I need more stories like this in my collection.

If you enjoy stories that are
-reverse age gap
-workplace rivals
-fast paced
Add this to your TBR!

[Sherrie Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from Mia, and I can honestly say it will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Dafna and Erez’s story. Both are divorced with kids from their previous marriage, But struggle with new relationships. So a one night stand sounds like the perfect way to get back into the dating scene, right? Only it’s more and in comes with a lot of misunderstandings, hence a little drama. But they're having fun and it's spicy and light, with some bumps along the way. I loved that Dafna was very strong and knew her worth. Can't wait to Read more from this Author! Definitely Your Next 5⭐ Read..

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for More . . .

Dafna is working at a start-up company that is floundering. She is convinced by a friend that she should have a one-night-stand, and she finds the perfect guy at a bar. Erez Ben Ami is a younger, single dad. But the two of them have an enjoyable time together. But things turn awkward when he arrives at her office and she realizes he is the CPA who has been hired to go over their books looking for problems! Will the two of them be able to tamp down their attraction for each other? And what will he do if he finds discrepancies in the books that could ruin any chance he has with Dafna?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt calling this a "later in life romance" wasn't too fair because that makes me think she's never found love before.. But the FMC was married before and had two kids. I'm not sure how I would categorize it otherwise though.

I don't read much age gap romances but usually the MMC is older... That's not a deal breaker though.

This has spice (almost right away) but a lot of the other storyline is unethical business practices by the CEO of the company Dafna works for.

[Lisa J Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story - first one I have read by this author and trope. Loved it Mia, looking forward to reading more of your work.

[Paula Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stand-alone, later-in-life steamy romance with a forbidden workplace affair, financial intrigue & a Happy Ever After.

I love that it’s set in Tel Aviv! I got to experience through the pages, a new culture & setting I’ve never read before. Dafna & Erez’s love story is spicy & realistic, with hurdles to cross along the way.

AND THE COVER! It’s perfect!!! It has such wonderful details from the book!

If, like me, you like to read romantic love later in life, this is perfect! I’m adding the other #WomenofTelAviv books to my list to read!

[Dawn (noladawnreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

PULLING HER RESOURCES
Mɪᴀ Sɪᴠᴀɴ
Oᴜᴛ Nᴏᴡ- EBᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ 3/15


🌶️Tʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
This was an enjoyable read. It’s refreshing to read a romance involving mature characters.
[As an aside: this is labeled as a “later-in-life” steamy romance. As a 53yo, I’d like to argue that 45 & 36 aren’t exactly later-in-life but comparatively to the norm I suppose it works.]
First off, I’ve never read a book set in Tel Aviv so this was wholly new. I love learning about new places and new language. Told in dual POV we get both Dafna and Erez’ thoughts and feelings as they navigate this situationship. That is a nice touch. It is written in third person so it takes a little getting used to and some rereading every now and then.
I really loved the communication throughout the book, in all the relationships. Showing that even after divorce families can still continue to work together and depend on each other when needed is a highlight for me. (Someone send this to my ex 🤪)

🧉RIYL
Age gap
She’s the boss
Workplace romance
Tattoos
HEA
Single dad
Jewish rep


Thank you @katerockbooktours and @miasivan.author for including me on the tour.

[Edie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling Her Resources - Mia Sivan.

You guys I really enjoyed this one. I loved that it’s a older couple and not some twenty something one because let’s face it life gets up there in age and well at least for me I like seeing that there is live and hope for us women in our 40s or older. I mean when I read originally the blurb I was expecting a couple in their sixty’s because of the way they described later in life but i guess for the couple it can be that way. I enjoyed the story it was refreshing and one I would recommend.

[Katie Wascisin Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much! Especially fun to read if you have been through a divorce!!!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in an interconnected series but can be read as a standalone. I always enjoy reading stories about older characters.

Dafna is 45 and has a one-night stand with Erez, 36, after a night out with friends. I liked that the FMC is older, and both characters have their own baggage to work through. Dafna plans to see him again, but that plan is ruined when Erez shows up at her job to review the company's books.

There is a decent amount of spice, which starts pretty early since it's a one-night stand turned into more.

I'm not a huge fan of 3rd person, but it was easy to get back into the flow. Sometimes, the dialog felt off, and I'm not sure why. Overall, neither of these things changed my opinion of the story, and I will be checking out the other stories in the series.

[J.p · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s such a pleasant change reading about older characters getting their second chance and particularly the FMC being the older one, these characters are well established, well developed and know what they want. The FMC has been divorced for years but hasn’t had a relationship since, but needs must and is persuaded to have a one night only thing with the bar owner who only does one nighters except this particular night it’s his older brother! Glad this doesn’t drag along as he’s honest with her but their chemistry is undeniable, second chance at love for both with great family network and heat. Enjoyed.

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a later-in-life romance, which I don’t read too often, but it had me thinking that I should! Erez and Dafna were fun, and it was steamy. From the very beginning, they just kind of flowed well together. I liked how Dafna had a good relationship with her ex-husband. I liked how she overcame her own internal problems. Erez was great at not being too pushy. This took place in Israel. Which was new for me. There was a bit of a learning curve with different names and how something was pronounced. (I probably said them wrong in my head.) I highly enjoyed so many aspects of this book and am interested in reading more from Mia Sivan.

[Thaimelly Rigobello · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a nice story and well written. Main couple is older and on their second chance. It was easy to read and it is really cool get to know other places through her book. Dafna and Erez get to know each other in a bar. They have a one-night stand but little they know they are about to work together. It has lots of chemistry and fire. Thanks for the arc copy.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book presents an intriguing exploration into the startup world, weaving a narrative that piques curiosity, especially regarding the protagonist’s millionaire status—a detail that remained somewhat elusive, adding to the intrigue. However, the third-person narration introduces complexity and confusion, often making it difficult to discern the speaker and diluting the expression of characters’ emotions and sentiments. The narrative is marred by abrupt temporal jumps, which, while aiming to add dynamism, end up causing disorientation. Notably, the story rushes towards its conclusion, employing time leaps not previously seen, missing potential enriching encounters—like meeting Ori and Tom, or Gal. These elements could have deepened the narrative, offering a more rounded experience. Despite these pitfalls, the core concept of the book remains compelling. A slight shift in narrative style could have significantly enhanced its readability and emotional impact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

✨✨✨

Este libro ofrece una exploración intrigante del mundo de las startups, tejiendo una narrativa que despierta curiosidad, especialmente acerca del estatus de millonaria de la protagonista, un detalle que se mantuvo algo elusivo, sumando al misterio. Sin embargo, la narración en tercera persona introduce complejidad y confusión, dificultando a menudo discernir quién habla y diluyendo la expresión de las emociones y sentimientos de los personajes. La narrativa se ve afectada por saltos temporales abruptos, que, aunque buscan añadir dinamismo, terminan causando desorientación. Notablemente, la historia se apresura hacia su conclusión, empleando saltos en el tiempo no vistos previamente, perdiendo encuentros potencialmente enriquecedores, como conocer a Ori y Tom, o a Gal. Estos elementos podrían haber profundizado la narrativa, ofreciendo una experiencia más redondeada. A pesar de estos obstáculos, el concepto central del libro sigue siendo atractivo. Un ligero cambio en el estilo narrativo podría haber mejorado significativamente su legibilidad e impacto emocional.

Gracias a NetGalley y a la autora por darme una copia gratuita de este libro. Las opiniones expresadas en esta revisión son completamente mías.

[Crystal Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an age gap romance. I really liked the short chapters. It’s also a later in life romance, which is not something I normally get to read. I really liked Dafna’s character and thought her struggles were shown in a real way. It’s very relatable and the progress of the relationship was very natural.

[P Bafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dafna, 45yo, divorced with two boys. Has financial stability( althought it is not clearly mentioned why), holds a good position as HR in a high-tech startup and has a polite friendly relationship with her ex-husband who is also in a relationship with someone else. From what we get, she has been sexually more introvert during the relationship with her ex and she lacks confidence.
The book starts with her having a drink with her friends at a bar and them suggesting her to go for a one-eighty stand with the cute guy supposedly bartender of the bar. When she refuses and leaves for the toilet, the friends abandon her in the bar and she immediately does a one-eighty and goes for the guy explicitly requesting him a ONS.

The guy in question is the MMC of the story. Erez, 36yo, divorced with a daughter and who also has a good relationship with his ex-wife who is married to someone else. Both exes are supportive couples to their significant exes and involved in their lives. He's an accountant and occasionally helps his brother out bartending at his bar.

* AGE GAP
* LATER IN LIFE ROMANCE

After both having the most amazing magical night using all the condoms of the box (yes, the book is steamy-ish - I'd say 2/5🌶️) they both part different ways. Until destiny, coincidentally, tasks Erez to perform a due diligence for the company where Dafna works.

* FORCED PROXIMITY - sort of
* ROMANCE AT WORK

The book has a cute story, but the fact that it's hard to believe how is goes from a person who lacks confidence to one who asks a totally stranger for a ONS and then all is perfect, failed to capture my attention. In my opinion, it lacked realism, I felt that the scenes where not gripping me enough and were kind of too perfect or I just didn't feel connected to the characters.
It's written in third person, with every chapter alternating from Dafna to Erez's perspective, which I liked, but sometimes it gets lost describing too many details that are irrelevant to the story instead of going to the point and giving details that are important or would make the story more engaging. Also, I had to reread some fragments because I was unsure of who was saying what. Had it not been for the pronouns, I would have lost myself in the story more than once.

Another point I enjoyed reading, is the later in life romance..I can't believe I'm saying these words as I'm almost the same age as Erez and I don't consider myself as "later in life", but let's go with this term. I don't usually get the chance to read books where the couple involved in the romance are older than 30 so this was something I appreciated. He states that he never felt love for his ex-wife, but I do get the feeling at some points that Dafna is not 100% over her ex-husband, so I don't know if it is a later-in-life romance for her too, maybe a second love or something in those lines.

I do appreciate the author writing about the Jewish community and Tel Aviv, the language is easy to follow and the book is well written.

I appreciate NetGallery and Xpresso Book Club for the advanced copy of this book and this review has been written voluntarily in all honesty.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents an intriguing exploration into the startup world, weaving a narrative that piques curiosity, especially regarding the protagonist’s millionaire status—a detail that remained somewhat elusive, adding to the intrigue.

However, the third-person narration introduces complexity and confusion, often making it difficult to discern the speaker and diluting the expression of characters’ emotions and sentiments. The narrative is marred by abrupt temporal jumps, which, while aiming to add dynamism, end up causing disorientation. Notably, the story rushes towards its conclusion, employing time leaps not previously seen, missing potential enriching encounters—like the meeting between the kids.

These elements could have deepened the narrative, offering a more rounded experience. Despite these pitfalls, the core concept of the book remains compelling. A slight shift in narrative style could have significantly enhanced its readability and emotional impact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

✨✨✨

Este libro ofrece una exploración intrigante del mundo de las startups, tejiendo una narrativa que despierta curiosidad, especialmente acerca del estatus de millonaria de la protagonista, un detalle que se mantuvo algo elusivo, sumando al misterio.

Sin embargo, la narración en tercera persona introduce complejidad y confusión, dificultando a menudo discernir quién habla y diluyendo la expresión de las emociones y sentimientos de los personajes. La narrativa se ve afectada por saltos temporales abruptos, que, aunque buscan añadir dinamismo, terminan causando desorientación. Notablemente, la historia se apresura hacia su conclusión, empleando saltos en el tiempo no vistos previamente, perdiendo encuentros potencialmente enriquecedores, como cuando se conocieron los hijos de los protagonistas. Estos elementos podrían haber profundizado la narrativa, ofreciendo una experiencia más redondeada.

A pesar de estos obstáculos, el concepto central del libro sigue siendo atractivo. Un ligero cambio en el estilo narrativo podría haber mejorado significativamente su legibilidad e impacto emocional.

Gracias a NetGalley y a la autora por darme una copia gratuita de este libro. Las opiniones expresadas en esta revisión son completamente mías.

[R Huiszoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia Sivan, Pulling her Resources.
A Steamy Later in Life Workplace Romance (A Women of Tel Aviv book).

As an ARC reader I received this book and promised an honest review. Here it is.

Rating:
4,5 (of 5 stars).

Main characters:
- Erez (39), an employee in Real Estate. He applies for a position in G&L Tractus, the accountancy’s prestigious consultancy. His boss will help him to get the job if he investigates a new group of investors, old army buddies of his boss. He’s a single dad with a 13 year old daughter, Gal, who is a great singer of classical music.

- Dafna (45). She’s a successful, rich accountant in G&L accountancy, married to Ilan. Six years before she divorced from Ilan, because the sex wasn’t satisfying for both. Ilan recently met a new lover, the beautiful Kelly. (The story of Kelly and Ilan is told in another fascinating book, ’Crunching her Numbers’ of Mia Sivan.)

Dafna and Erez meet when Erez works in his brother’s bar, visited by Dafna and some girlfriends. Dafna’s friends encourage her to a one-night-stand with the charming barman, thinking that the barman was Erez’ brother who had a great reputation as a lover without attachments. When they arrived in her home the brother/barkeeper explains who he really is. For Dafna it isn’t important; for the sex is very good for both.
Their relationship becomes complicated when it appears that Dafna is a leading employee at Tractus; Erez cannot be an objective investigating accountant when he’s Dafna’s lover; but the firm needs Erez’ knowledge to get new investors. So they decide to stop their love affair, but often working close together it’s difficult to forget their feelings.
And after giving dubious business information to potential investors, revealed by Erez’ investigations, there was a lot of mutual quarelling within the company about the question of guilt. It caused stress in the relationship between Erez and Dafna, but ended finally in an HEA.

The author, Mia Sivan, describes with great expertise the business financial complications and has a sharp insight in the feelings of the main characters. That resulted in a book that - for me - was a pleasure to read.

R. J. Huiszoon.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @Katerockbooktours and @MiaSivan.author for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

I’m not sure I’ve read a romance set in Israel before, so I was really excited to dive into this one.

Dafna is a woman who works in HR at a start-up company. She’s raising two boys and has been in a bit of a dry spell since her divorce six years ago. At the prompting of a friend, Dafna goes to a bar to hook up with a guy for a one-night stand. She finds Erez, a hot, younger, single dad. It's a good thing this is only a one-night fling, or Dafna’s emotions could get in the way.

Until Erez shows up at her office as the CPA hired to review their books - this could get messy.

There were many refreshing elements in this romance, which made it a delight to read. Dafna is smart and confident, and she does not let age define her. The Jewish rep is fantastic. As I said, having not read a romance set in Israel, I loved traveling to Tel Aviv and other cities with these two.

If you enjoy a workplace romance that gets a bit steamy and has some family drama that adds to the characters' depth, you’ll enjoy this one.