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Ex-SEAL Billionaire

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Giving up your V-card to your fake fiancé might not be the best way to keep things professional.


One moment, I’m an up-and-coming influencer taking a solo hike.


The next, I'm face-to-face with a bear, my life flashing before my eyes.


Just then, a grouchy hero appears, sending the beast packing and my heart pumping.


Back in the city, I realize that my accidental protector is now my very new, very bad tempered boss.


Meet Jack Whitmore. Ex-SEAL. Billionaire. The man who outgrumped the bear.


And he’s got a proposal too good to refuse.


Pretend to be mine in exchange for a million dollars.


How hard could it be to wear a ring visible from outer space?


As it turns out, very.


Running hot and cold, Jack’a’licious pushes me away one day, then claims my V-card the next.


He thinks he’s too damaged for love.


And I think I’m smitten.


But that’s not my biggest problem.


Because now it also looks like I’m pregnant.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2024

357 people are currently reading
148 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Summers

31 books162 followers
A J Summers is a bestselling Amazon author. She writes steamy contemporary romance filled with skyscrapers and billionaires. Her stories are about grumpilicious silver foxes, enemies turned lovers, and happily ever afters.

A J Summers lives in New York City. When she’s not working, she enjoys roaming the city in search of the next love story.

Follow A J on Goodreads (click that “Follow Author” button!) and get her free novella when you join her steamy newsletter: https://bit.ly/42OZBV4

Follow A J on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3pzKT5R

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Janine.
1,123 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2024
4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

As a goodbye to her old influencer in college days, Maddie goes on a solo hike, only to be rescued from a bear by an ex-SEAL, Jack, who happens to stumble across their path. Sparks fly between Maddie and Jack although they don't "seal the deal" before Jack disappears before dawn. Only to show up in Maddie's life again as her boss at her new job with Whitmore Tech!

As much as Jack tries to stay away from Maddie (because of past trauma as a SEAL, and their age gap), he finds that he is super protective of her, and after threats from his father regarding taking over as CEO, decides to ask Maddie to be his fake fiance as a way to get his father off his back.

As Jack and Maddie navigate their fake engagement, their chemistry sizzles and they connect in a way Jack never could have imagined. But when he still tries to deny the connection, Maddie must protect her heart, until Jack's grand gesture, and promise for a future, wins her back.

I really enjoyed this story and didn't want to put it down while I was reading. I loved Maddie and Jack's HEA, and I'm silently hoping for a story for Grace and Cade.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,277 reviews12 followers
April 13, 2024
4.5 ⭐s Will they remain star-crossed lovers? 

Jack Whitmore and Maddie Emerson meet while both are doing solo hikes on the Appalachian Trail. She had encountered a black bear, and he was able to scare it away. They camped together that night. He was gone the next morning before she was awake. 

Maddie is an influencer and posts creative videos online. Those, along with working as a translator and interpreter, allow her to earn a decent salary. She and her younger sister, Aria, moved to NYC to be with their older sister, Grace, after their parents were killed in an accident. Aria is starting high school and was accepted into a prestigious public high school. Grace has a full-time day job and is writing a book at night. 

Maddie was hired by the PR department at Whitmore Tech to revamp the company's image on social media sites. Only after she's hired does she learn that Jack is her boss. His father, Walt, founded the company. On her first day, in front of a room filled with other employees, he rips into her and mocks her. So much for the man she thought she was interested in... 

Jack's last mission as a SEAL went terribly wrong. Most of his  team members were killed. Those who were captured were held prisoner and tortured. Only Jack, Cade, and Marc made it out alive. Marc was the most seriously injured, and a year later, he is still in the hospital. All three have PTSD, pain, and/or phantom pain. 

Witmore Tech is developing a virtual reality software to retrain trauma-scarred nerve pathways. To Jack and Cade, this is their baby. They've both been trying a prototype and see promise in its value. A large influx of investors with big bucks is necessary to bring this product to market. 

Walt wants Jack married and producing grandchildren. He keeps tempting Jack by saying if Jack was married, he'd step down and Jack could run the company. So, Jack asks Maddie to become his fake fiancée for six months in exchange for a million dollars. 

Things start out okay with their engagement. However, Maddie doesn't know very much at all about what's going on between Jack and Walt or at the company. Jack begins acting hot and then cold toward her. She's fallen in love with Jack, but she's not sure about him. After all, he told her not to get attached to him because he doesn't do relationships. When she overhears an argument between Jack and Walt where Jack refers to her as a "child bride", she's had enough! She leaves to go back with her sisters. 

She just didn't know how much worse her life would soon become...

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
888 reviews5 followers
April 19, 2024
Damaged SEAL finds healing and love.
Jack Whitmore comes from a rich and privileged family, but he chose to serve in the military for the greater good. While serving overseas as a SEAL he was one of a group of SEALs captured, tortured, and held for months. Only a few made it home and they suffered terrible mental and physical injuries. Jack’s experiences encouraged him to develop Virtual Reality tech which greatly helps those suffering PTSD trauma, like himself. Jack has been working as the CEO of his father’s company, Whitmore Tech, but it’s been a strain. His dad Walt is an “it’s my way or the highway” control freak in addition to being degrading to his son…and now…Walt has decided that Jack needs to marry and conceive a child to prove Jack’s stable enough to take over the company. I don’t like Walt at all.
Maddie Emerson is a free-spirited vivacious beauty. Her brainchild, as a successful TikTok influencer, is “MadeYaLookMaddie” where she dances and prances around interesting sights in New York. Her posts are very recognizable and followed by many. Maddie, older sister Grace, and younger sister Aria are on their own after recently losing their parents in an auto accident. Grace is a writer focusing on her first book, Aria is a high school freshman, so Maddie needs to get a job...and surprise ...that job is in the PR dept. at Whitmore Tech where she is surprised when she meets the big boss... who’s the hottie who saved her from a bear attack and then spent a night wrapped around her. Jack is very attracted to Maddie but pushes her away, he’s even rude to her, believing that she is too young for him and that he is too damaged for any relationship… then, Jack re-considers that Maddie could play his “fake” fiancée to gain control from his father.
Jack is a troubled man who feels that he doesn’t deserve love and Mattie is going to get hurt. I loved most of the characters, though there were a few bad guys in the mix. Maddie and Jack are wonderful characters, and they do get their well-deserved happy ending. I received an ARC for this story from Booksprout and these are my thoughts. Linda
Profile Image for Debbie Orazi.
1,755 reviews26 followers
May 24, 2024
This was an age gap fake relationship romance.

Maddie Emerson is a 22 year old social media influencer. Her parents are deceased. She and her younger sister Aria move to NYC to live with their older sister Grace.

Jack Whitmore is a former SEAL suffering from PTSD. He is the CEO of Whitmore Technology and his pet project is creating virtual reality software to help veterans. He is in his mid thirties.

They met hiking on the Appalachian trail when he saved her from a bear. They have a heavy petting session that night after dinner but he refused to go all the way with her. She gets hired as a social media marketing analyst at his company. His over controlling father demands he get married and have kids before he will turn over running the company to him. Jack decided to ask Maddie to be his pretend fiance and he will give her $1 million dollars. She moved into his brownstone and they finish what they started. Their relationship seems to be becoming real unti the night he has a flashback. He closed himself off until they reconnect on St. Maartens for a visit with his father. They end up breaking off their relationship and he quits his job. He starts his own company focusing on virtual reality software development. Maddie finds out she is pregnant, moves to Paris to live with her Aunt and starts her own social media consulting firm. Jack sees a Tik Tok video of her dancing and flies to Paris when he realizes she is pregnant. They reconcile and get their HEA.
Profile Image for Raecharmed.
9,306 reviews70 followers
May 19, 2024
Maddie and Jack meet when he saves her from a bear. They end up a spot to spend the night and things heat up between them. However, Jack spot short of sleeping with her because she was a virgin. Now Maddie is going in for a job interview and is stunned to see Jack there as her new boss. Sparks fly between them and soon he is asking her to be his fake fiancé. Some miscommunication causes some problems between them and someone else is after Maddie for himself. Will they admit to how they really feel for one another? Will the threat to her be dealt with?

This is an amazing story that will captivate you from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. Its a book that any book lover would enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Merry Jelks-Emmanuel.
13.5k reviews155 followers
April 16, 2024
Jack and Maddie meet on a trail when he scares away a bear and it will start his path with Maddie. Maddie can't believe that the man on the trail who looked after her is now her boss, one with a lucrative proposition. After accepting the proposition, Jack and Maddie find themselves immersed in each other with feelings beginning to grow. Jack still has issues with PTSD and his being captured by the enemy in the navy. Will he be able to put it all aside when an incident almost endangers Maddie? This story kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Danee.
4,921 reviews
April 19, 2024
This was a wonderful story that captivated you from the first page. We follow Maddie and Jack. He saves her from a bear they encounter while walking. He is an ex-seal who suffers from PTSD and makes her a proposal. They gradually grow closer and he is also still dealing with the traumatic event during his captivity by the enemy during his time in the navy. Do they have a chance and can Jack keep Maddie safe when her life is in danger? This is a must read and you hope that they will get out of it and he can deal with his PTSD with her help.

I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review..
1,348 reviews6 followers
April 22, 2024
Jack is hiking when he spots a woman, Maddie, with a bear threatening her and an Ex-Navy Seal he startles the bear with loud noises with the bear leaving. They spend the rest of the day together. Jack leaves before Maddie wakes up since he doesn't feel that he would be good for her. Surprise, surprise when Maddie shows up as the new hire for social media for his family tech corporation! His father wants Jack to be engaged for 6 months or married to be made CEO of the corporation. He asks Maddie to his 'fake' fiancé for 6 months for $1 million; she agrees. Read the roller coaster road to possible future together.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for casvec.
7,458 reviews76 followers
April 23, 2024
Jake has taken over his father's business. Since his time in the SEAL has broken him. While on a hike he comes across Maddie, and they spend a night they both can't forget.

Maddie needed a job that would provide her with a steady income. When she walked in the last person she expected to see was the one she could not stop thinking of.

Good fake relationship romance with a lot of passion and heat as Maddie and Jake navigate around their hearts and feelings, as wells as the troubles of their past.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,444 reviews18 followers
May 2, 2024
Ex-Seal Billionaire is a fake fiancé romance between Jack and Maddie who he saves from a wild animal while on a hike. They end up having a one time fling with Jack leaving her before she wakes. They are both shocked to find she is his new employee but Jack offers Maddie a million dollars to be his fake fiancé for six months so he can become the CEO of his family’s business. This enjoyable romance has relationship ups and downs, deceit, drama, and steamy chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara .
6,730 reviews25 followers
August 19, 2024
Be prepared to read this book that is going to have you not only stay up all night reading it but glued to the pages. This book was such a CAPTIVATING and INTENSE read. I loved how this book was filled with mystery and hot hungry sex. A J writes books that you fall in LOVE with and just can't seem to get enough of. This author is going to some very high places in her writing career like Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts and many other authors. So, start reading Ex-Seal Billionaire and you will lust and swoon over Jack.

Profile Image for L KQ.
5,707 reviews22 followers
April 20, 2024
Fake Fiancé for the Ex-SEAL

There is a lot to unravel with Jack and Maddie's story but to begin with, their age-gap and his mental health play a big part in the decisions that are made. A happy ending for these two was not easy and many obstacles tried to prevent it from occurring. It was an interesting read to navigate through their journey.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
20.2k reviews257 followers
April 27, 2024
This is Jack and Maddie’s story.
This is a well written easy to read, emotional roller coaster, with an age gap, fake relationships, romance, engaging and realistic characters, drama, angst, humor, witty banter, healing, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and steamy addictive page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Natalie Ascencio.
14 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2024
I liked the story line. As a military spouse I liked the military aspect. I just didn’t love Maddie’s character. But that’s my personal opinion based off of her response to finding out she was pregnant. I don’t like characters who selfishly want to not tell the father of their child about the child. While it ended wonderfully. I didn’t like that she could have even fathomed keeping her child from having a father as she was without her own father. Just didn’t sit well with me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,073 reviews
April 17, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. The story line is well written and will keep you intrigued. You will find yourself so entranced that the next thing you know you're on the last page. This is a dramatic and emotional story and deserves more than 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Linda Lavoie.
1,193 reviews11 followers
April 19, 2024
You will enjoyed this book for sure, One encounter that keeps on giving, a broken soldier, a wonderful woman who live with and for her sisters, you will find yourself part of a complicated family party. A funny fake relationship that is not so fake, for our greatest reader pleasure. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Charmaine Nouwen.
5,468 reviews23 followers
April 27, 2024
Ex-SEAL Billionaire: An Age Gap Fake Relationship Romance story of Jack and Maddie..An EX-Seal,a damage billionaire with a overbearing parent..A young woman,strong,sweet,sassy and a media influencer and his fake fiance who healed and tamed his heart..A wonderful,interesting,steamy,with some drama,angst and romance..

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
7 reviews
June 3, 2024
wonderful

Are you ready for the entrancing story of a military veterans challenging return to real civilian life, standing up for his values, working through his fears of ‘not being good enough’ as a beautiful, energetic, wise younger woman teaches him what love is ?? Then this is a book you will not be able to put down…..
17 reviews
January 14, 2025
Innovative

Sisters supporting each other is essential to the storyline and a refreshing change of pace. Did not miss the back stabbing jealousy written into many stories today. PTSD is an unseen life altering repercussion for many of our Veterans. It was refreshing to read about innovative ideas. The understanding and support
24 reviews
February 24, 2025
Ridiculous nicknames that made me cringe. Ridiculous adjectives that no one uses. Felt like the author picked up a dictionary and was just including random words. Tropes just for the sake of tropes. The ending felt forced to me, and wrapped up much too quickly. Fears that she had most of the book just disappeared.
216 reviews
October 10, 2025
It was a good book. A lot of spice and romance. I was just a little turn off by final break up part. I don't mind, that the H has to beg, but they want each other, but neither did any thing. It was just frustrating because it wasn't explaind properly. Based on that, it's four stars. It would be five, with a little bit different ending.
423 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2024
I really enjoyed reading it
It was a very good story
And I really enjoyed the characters and their friendship and the drama
I really want to now if grace and cade will be more please.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nate.
24.2k reviews19 followers
May 2, 2024
I enjoyed Jack and Maddie‘s story. Jack Whitmore. Ex-SEAL. Billionaire. The man who outgrumped a bear. While she was walking on a solo hike a bear surprised her. An intriguing read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for Brandy Rice.
1,817 reviews19 followers
May 6, 2024
This is a. fantastic fake fiance romance. Jack and Maddie are great together. They go through a lot on their way to HEA. The storyline is emotional with plenty of drama, angst, and steam. I really enjoyed this read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
282 reviews
May 22, 2024
Can I have more?

This story was absolutely beautiful, I laughed, I cried and I loved it. Maddie and Jack were an amazing couple. There was just enough give and take between the two. The amount of drama was perfect.
Profile Image for BooksWithRook.
205 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2024
Little Bird and Soldier

Ex-seal works on his demons and learning to allow love in. Great quick story. The ending was a little fast, but all-in-all, I enjoyed the read. Hope to see Cade get a book.
649 reviews5 followers
May 4, 2024
Wow, this was a fantastic romance novel! It left me with all kinds of good feels, and I highly recommend this book. I will be looking for more of Ms. Summers' books!
Profile Image for Sandra.
79 reviews
May 6, 2024
Absolutely loved this book, it has a great story line and character development. I was hooked from page 1 and could not put it down.

4,310 reviews21 followers
May 8, 2024
I found this storyline entertaining with drama, chemistry, and defined MCs who are engaging. I liked this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4 reviews
June 2, 2024
A must read

I love age gap romances. I think this book is one of my favorite reads. If you don’t believe me then read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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