Provoke: A High-Stakes Workplace Romance

by Mia Sparrow

I gave up my safe life for my dream job, but now my boss is MIA and my future hangs in the balance.

Burlesque lounge Titter is in financial ruin, but I’m only a bartender turned costume designer; I can’t fix it without Ms. P, Titter’s owner and resident house mother. After being MIA for months, I receive word she’s never coming back; the lounge now belongs to her nephew, M. Petrova. The uncertainty of a crumbling future has me hanging by one glittery thread.

A night down the block at our local watering hole is just what I need to temper the stress. And if my carefree escapade happens to serve up a side of sexy stranger? All the better to forget, even if for just one night.

Except my one night romp is unintentionally with the lounge’s sexy new owner, and we can’t keep our hands or our conflicting ideas to ourselves. One little bet to save everything I love, and I’ve got a sinking feeling Mischa Petrova spells curtains for both Titter and my heart.

Fans of Burlesque with Cher and Christina Aguilera will fall in love with this steamy contemporary romance series. One-click now and binge-read to your heart’s content.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2024

Reviews

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia Sparrow’s Provoke is a deliciously spunky, emotionally charged novel that grips you by the heart—and maybe a few other places—right from the start. I loved how you free-fall into the story! It has themes of love, power, and vulnerability, balancing raw passion with sharp tension in a way that kept me turning pages. I may or may not have burned dinner because of the second half of chapter 2 🥵

It’s a fun and easy read; witty, engaging, and wonderfully descriptive. I don’t know if I’d necessarily call it dark, light grey maybe.

The characters are awesome. Sparrow doesn’t shy away from flawed, complicated people, and that’s what makes them compelling. Their internal battles feel so real, and the love interest? Delicious. Brooding, fun, and layered like a fine dessert. You’ll be cheering for them and/or screaming at them right until the last page.

Sparrow’s writing style is sensual and evocative, and manages to be funny at the same time. The emotional depth of the story is just enough to make it 3D without getting heavy. It balances out perfectly you with its brief, steamy, toe-curling moments. It’s definitely not all about the heat; the plot twists and pacing will keep you on your toes!

If enemies to lovers is your jam, Provoke is for you. This book played with my emotions in the best of ways, and I’m not above begging for a sequel.

Final Verdict:
🌶️ 1 / 5
💀 0.5 / 5
⭐️ 4.5 / 5

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and spicy read that had many twists and turns. The fmc was strong and independent. The family group was fantastic. Great support.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Mia Sparrow book. I really enjoyed Provoke. It was spunky, emotionally charged, and just delicious. I found that from early on, it gripped my heart and another place, and I fell into it freely. I loved the themes of love, power, vulnerability, and the balancing of raw passion with a sharp tension that had me turning the pages quickly.

This is one of those quick and easy reads that you can burn through easily. It is so wonderfully descriptive. It's not light or dark. It's more in shades of grey. It is so well done that you don't care that it's not light or dark.

Our characters in Provoke are so amazing. I just loved them.

Mia doesn't shy away from the flawed or complicated people. That's one of the things that makes her an amazing author. And it's one of the things that makes her characters stunning. Their internal battles feel real, the love they feel, and you can taste their interest. It's just delicious. They are brooding, fun, and layered. Like a finely crafted dessert. You want to cheer for them and scream at them at the same time. All until the last page.

Mia Sparrow has this sensual and evocative writing style that not only manages to be sensual but also funny at the same time. It is amazing the emotional depth her stories have; she manages to make it a 3D story without it getting overly heavy. There is this perfect balance that has brief, steamy, toe-curling, hot spicy moments. It isn't all about the spice, though. It's a balance between the spice and the story.

If you like enemies to lovers, this book is for you. This book is going to play with your emotions in all the best ways, and I am just begging for a sequel.

[Twisted Haus Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Provoke: A High-Stakes Workplace Romance, Mia Sparrow delivers a charming slow-burn romance full of drama, passion, sparkles–and a bit of danger. Eleanor Jones, a redheaded siren with amber eyes and a keen knack for working behind the scenes as a costume designer, heads to a local pub to blow off steam after learning of the potential demise of the burlesque club she’s been managing in owner Ksenia’s absence. What begins as an impulsive (and spicy) encounter quickly spirals into a whirlwind of twists and turns that have the life-changing potential to upend her career and personal life.

Sparrow invites readers into a fast-paced world where feathers, glitter, ornate costumes, and feisty burlesque dancers take center stage, all the while a spicy and sometimes tumultuous love affair unfolds behind the scenes. She offers readers a rare glimpse into the burlesque world, showcasing the unexpected mishaps, wardrobe malfunctions, and sometimes relationship dramas that are all part of having a stage family. Eleanor shines as a strong, fearless protagonist—unapologetically bold, unafraid to get her hands dirty, and fiercely protective of her “framily” at Titter. Her grit and determination are incredibly relatable and will have you cheering for her throughout the entire book.

With a fearless, curvy female main character and a smoldering, angst-filled romance, Provoke will have you hooked from the first spark to the literal final curtain call.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining romance book that captivate your attention and hold it from beginning to end. The storyline is intriguing as the elements unfold. Characters are well written with steamy magnetic chemistry. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I'm honest I found this book hard to get into at the start, but after sticking with it I'm glad Im I did. It has some plot twists that I didn't see coming, a great friendship group, who I'm secretly hoping get their own stories. Both main characters have good character development. All in all a good read for a long journey

[Kristen Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pulled me in, and I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen. Two people come together in the most unconventional way and seem to turn the story around. Some spice and thrill kept me reading, but I wish there was more! I would definitely recommend this to a friend and hope there will be a sequel.

[Milly Ly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won't give it away, but Provoke is a steamy and electric story of mistaken identity between El, a young woman navigating through life's changes, and a gorgeous man she shares a one night stand with, who unbeknownst to her, is her new hot boss.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a page turner I couldn't put I down. It was so great getting to meet El and where she hung out and in her role at Titter from the previous story. I enjoyed the instant clash of sexual tension between El and Mischa. Totally would recommend this book.

[Kristina Schurmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really grabbed me and drew me in. The relationship between El and Mischa kept me practically yelling at my kindle. Good Lord. The tension and banter between the 2 main character was top notch. I did not want to put this book down. I definitely recommend!!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the storyline held my attention so well and I couldn’t put it down.
Loved the banter between the characters.
Looking forward to reading Mia’s next book!
Definitely recommend ⭐️.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brandi Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! The characters had great depth and personality. I loved the plot and the growth from the characters.

[Kymmie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good recommend couldn't stop reading, good writing, this author knows how to bring in her readers to keep reading.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

El works for a burlesque club and when the owner takes off for a bit she is the the one to take over.

She has a one night to blow some steam off because the club Titter was about to get a new owner and wasn't doing doing so hot in the financial department.

Of course El ends up sleeping with Mischa the new owner of the club and that's where their love story begins.

I have never read anything that was based off a burlesque club and I thought it was such a cool idea. The staff at Titter were all family and had each other's back.

This book was a definitely a feel good book and had some surprises in the story line. I really enjoyed!

[Peachluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc copy of Provoke which I enjoyed the story. Mia Sparrow's writing style makes this an easy read filled with spice and action packed plot. I recommend this book if you are looking for a racy contemporary work place romance with a strong FMC and an enemies to loves, one night stand trope.

[Louise J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

El is a passionate clothing designer who has been left in charge of Titter, a burlesque lounge, by Ms P., a dear friend who had created a safe space and family for her there. El loves her work and everyone she works with and is fiercely protective of it all. She’s not always on top of things but there’s a lot to manage. However, when she finds out that Ms P. is not coming back, and that the lounge has passed to the next of kin, El is knocked sideways and struggles with what this could mean. Looking for a distraction from what could happen, she meets and spends an intense and steamy night with a stranger. The next day she finds out that that stranger is Mischa, the enemy who wants to close down Titter, and she steels herself for the fight of her life.

The author has created two complex and intriguing main characters who are supported by a very entertaining cast of characters from Titter and beyond. El and Mischa’s attraction is intense and deep and, whilst they try to remain focussed on their own goals, they are constantly drawn to each other, wanting to become more intimate in every way. Provoke is a story full of emotion, drama, wit and satisfying steam – highly recommended for readers who love a story that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.