Vaughn is the rugged, single dad CEO who’s ready to get down and dirty to get what he wants. And what he wants…is her.
I used to live a life of leisure, with caviar, champagne, and a closet full of designer clothes. Now I’m working two minimum-wage jobs, wondering if I’ll make rent next month.
And it’s my own fault.
The last thing I need?
Some self-important patron at the restaurant where I work to look me up and down with those ice-blue eyes, lift an arrogant eyebrow, and tell me to run along and fetch him his sandwich.
Especially not when he’s wearing a terrible cheap suit and obviously got rejected by the investor he was courting. He’s oh-so-rough around the edges, impossibly handsome, and he has no idea what kind of world he’s trying to break into.
I do. That world used to be my own—before I got thrown out of it.
So when he hires me to coach him in the ways of the rich and privileged, I know I’m stepping onto a dangerous path.
It’s the love affair I never wanted. The kind of man I never deserved. And the surprise pregnancy I never expected.
Now I have to know…
Will Vaughn choose me and our unborn baby? Or will he turn his back on us for the chance to finally step into the glitzy, glamorous world of Manhattan’s elite?
Lilian Monroe lives in a luxurious jungle treehouse surrounded by lush greenery, with an army of scantily-clad men with rippling abdominal muscles ready to attend to her every need.
No, wait. That's not true.
Lilian Monroe spends her days dangling her feet into her pool, while a scantily-clad pool boy with rippling abdominal muscles feeds her chocolate-covered strawberries and massages her back.
Okay, okay. You got me. That's not true, either. Let's try again.
Lilian Monroe lives at home with her two children, three dogs, and twelve chickens. Her husband likes to work shirtless in the back yard. His sweaty, gleaming abdominal muscles ripple with every movement and he—
I'm sorry. I have to stop. Fine, I'll admit it. That one isn't true either.
How about this: Lilian Monroe loves thinking about men with rippling abdominal muscles serving her hand and foot, and she wants you to think about them too! She is an avid reader, writer, and lover of all things romance.
She loves everything from bad boys to billionaires. Her books are packed with sizzling-hot heat, action, suspense, and everything from second chances to single dads. She hates cheating and loves a good happily ever after (and rippling abs).
Lilian had done it again writing this book! I Loved this book so much and can't wait to read more. This is book #7 in the Manhattan Billionaires Series.
Alba use to be part of the elite and found out fast what happens when you defy your family. She really though she was choosing love until the man she wants to be with drops her when he finds out that she has not money. Now she is struggling with making ends meat and learning how to do things she took for granted her whole life.
Vaugh grew up with a dad who was always chasing the next big thing causing his childhood to be unstable. He literally starts at the bottom and now is a business owner. Due to his childhood he never thinks he has enough. This has caused him allot of trouble. Now he is divorced, and hardly see's his daughter.
Vaugh needs an investor who better to help him than Alba who grew up in that world. Now Alba is coaching him on how to act in society and he is slowly helping her see she is safe with him. Everything comes to a head and Vaugh is going to have to decide what is more important his company or his daughter and Alba.
Thank you Lilian and Pelican Promotion for this ARC I loved this book and can't wait to read more.
I enjoyed this book so much. 4.5 stars It has a different type of plot that I don’t think I’ve seen before, so I really appreciate that. (Possible spoilers ahead)
h was a spoiled, rich girl who was cut off from her parents/money 14 months previously. Her parents had her in an arrangement to be married (they didn’t love each other) and she was seeing another man on the side (who she did have feelings for) Everybody found out and her engagement ended, her parents disowned her, and the other man broke her heart (he was only with her for the money) Now she’s broke, living in the slums, and works 2 jobs.
H is a single dad who is considered “new money” He is already a billionaire, but he’s trying hard to break into the rich people’s circle. He co-parents with his ex. Their relationship is strained because his ex thinks he puts work before his kid. He’s a green flag, mostly.
H brings a client to the restaurant where h works. H doesn’t make a good impression on the client. He doesn’t know how to navigate with rich people. h gives him a couple pieces of advice. There’s good banter between them
While all that is going on, h also cleans an office building at night and she’s frustrated that the owner keeps leaving his dirty boots on the carpet, so she leaves him a snarky letter. No surprise, it is H. Anyway, they eventually figure all this out and he decides to hire her to help him enter the rich people’s playground. 🤪 She’s good at showing him how to dress, get his hair styled, dance, which silverware to use, and basically, just act rich/confident.
The banter and chemistry is instant, so it’s not long before they are shagging. H has a filthy mouth on him😂 whooo (I knew as soon as they had unprotected smex there was going to be a pregnancy………and well, he also straight up told her he was putting a baby in her 😂) That’s why I was so mad at him after their 3rd act breakup for not once going to see her. Did he forget about that?
Now mentioning that… The ONE issue I did have with this book and the reason I deducted 1/2 star was their make up after the 3rd act breakup. They were separated for months. He didn’t know she was pregnant during all these months. I didn’t like that they got back together at the same time he found out she was pregnant. It always makes me think they wouldn’t even be together if it wasn’t for the baby.
The 3rd breakup was mainly because h’s ex lover stirred up some drama and told H some lies. Since both MCs are so insecure, it ended. The last couple of chapters expand over months. Not sure how long but she already has a round belly and knows she’s having a son when they reunite. H is already retired….so I would assume maybe 6+months 🤷♀️
Another thing I noticed was there is a lot of inner dialogue during the last few chapters. I GET that it’s to show the characters self reflection, but it was a lot. Not a big deal, it’s just something I noticed.
I really did like how the author wrote about H and his ex trying to co-parent together. Usually people try to make the ex “the bad guy” (and I thought for a minute she might be in this book) but it ended up working out in a relatable way.
I loved this story because Vaughan was a true diamond in the rough. A product of his unstable upbringing he would end up being the person that made Alba feel over and safe but still be battling his own insecurities.
If you love strong women way out of their comfort zone, you’ll love Alba. The entitled rich girl had the rug pulled out from under her when her parents cut her off from her life of privilege. Tossed into waitressing and cleaning offices to barely survive, she meets Vaughan, a man who has the means to give her the life she’s accustomed to.
I enjoyed reading an early copy of this book and found the romance to be a page turner.
I’ve been in a reading slump for months. I’ve started and DNFed more than a dozen books but I’m grateful to say that this one immediately gripped me and held my interest. Hopefully the slump is over!
Great book full of emotions and twists that keep you interested until the very end wondering what is going to happen next. I loved seeing Alba come back from a low point and the banter between her and Vaughn is great.
Alba’s privileged life has blown up. She finds herself living in a tiny, crappy apartment, standing on her own for the first time in her entire life. Cleaning offices and waiting tables, barely getting by, Alba’s eyes are opened to a life opposite to what she was use to. She’s angry and she’s finding it hard to let things go. She. She meets Vaughn, she immediately sees that he wants to be a part of the world from her past, full of people who tossed her aside. He loves her sass. She reluctantly agrees to coach him. To clean up his image so he can have access to the people who can help his business. They quickly fall for each other but continue to deny it. Vaughn doesn’t want to be a part of that stuffy, fake world, but he thinks that’s the only way to grow his business and take care of his daughter. Along the way, he realizes that all the work may just be costing him more than it’s worth. Loved Alba and Vaughn from the start.
2.5 stars About 60% i couldn’t keep myself interested. I was enjoying and then just didn’t want to continue. I skipped to the HEA which was great. I think the book should have been shorter.
Dirty Boss Vaughn and Alba Single dad, boss and employee
When I found out that this book had Alba as the heroine, I was not really looking forward to a story featuring her. I really did not care for her in the last book. But, that being said I did enjoy the story, and Alba redeemed herself.
Vaughn needs an investor. He wants to add new money into his existing business. His one and only concern is to provide for his daughter. He’s always looking to go bigger and add more. He doesn’t see what he has, just that he needs more. The last thing he wants is to leave his daughter in the same situation that his father left him in. Alba has learned a hard lesson about disobeying her parents. Trying to stand on her own. She’s broken off her engagement to the ideal partner (according to her parents). She’s fallen in love with a common, blue collar man. And refuses to go back. So now, a year later, her parents have disowned her, cut off her money, the man she loved dumped her when her money went away. Slowly all of her friends and acquaintances have backed away from her. She’s struggling to survive in a world she never knew existed. The working class. When she sees Vaughn failing, yet again to gain an in with a wealthy man, her snark comes out and she tells him exactly why his investor walked away. He’s shocked she can read him so well. This leads to an unlikely working relationship. She’s going to teach him how to be rich. How to dress, how to eat, how to dance anything and everything to fit into the world she was tossed out of. Of course working so close together feelings get involved, lines get crossed and they both are hesitant to see a future together. They have both been burned badly by people who were supposed to love them. It’s hard to trust again. I actually liked both characters. Getting Albas side of the story helped a lot. Vaughn was a good dad, just needed to refocus and see the bigger picture. His daughter didn’t need more money, she just needed more time with her dad. I’m hoping Deena will get a story. Dual points of view, no cheating. They do end up together in the end.
Alba grew up with more privilege than she ever imagined. When her parents overstepped to force her into a loveless marriage, she decided to venture into the world on her own. The simple things we learned are not coming easily to Alba. To earn money, she works as a waitress and as a cleaning lady. She watches the handsome customer try to interest an investor in his company. As he sits there after the proposal fails, she interjects some advice. Unsolicited, yes, but helpful, or so she believes. The handsome customer dismisses her at first, but after following her advice, he discovers she has good instincts. He is drawn to her, her advice, and especially her sassy attitude.
On her cleaning job, Alba becomes frustrated as she cleans up another mess left by the boss of this firm. She leaves him a note with suggestions on how to leave his office less messy. The boss enjoys the sarcastic humor of his cleaning lady and begins trading notes with her.
Who appeals to Alba more?
Lilian Monroe's book is fun. The characters are well-crafted and the story moves quickly. As a reader, I enjoyed Alba's snarky brand of humor. She had lived the high life and understood the undercurrent of every interaction. Now, as a "normal" person, she is learning again. Her desire to find someone understanding, supportive, and loving entertains and frustrates. We want Alba to find love, and as she takes steps toward that future, she also finds that love can involve steamy sexiness, too! This book is perfect for chilly fall nights and people who love a good sexy romance!
Thank you, Lilian Monroe, and Method and Madness Publishing for the ARC.
Alba lived a life of luxury until the day she rejected the loveless marriage her parents chose for her. Choosing to follow her heart instead, she was disowned by her elite and wealthy family. Once the man she loved found out she was no longer wealthy, he abandoned her too. Left to pick up the pieces, Alba finds herself waiting tables at a restaurant and working as a cleaning lady to make ends meet.
Vaughn is a well to do divorced dad. Determined to build a financially secure future for his daughter, he is looking for investors to expand his company. He sets up a business lunch which does not go as he hoped. When he is paying the tab, his waitress, Alba, gives him a few pointers that soon pay off. Looking to build on that, Vaughn hires Alba to teach him the inner workings of the high-end business world so he can be set for success.
The chemistry between Alba and Vaughn is spot on and their witty banter had me laughing throughout the book. Some of their exchanges were simply priceless!
Lillian Monroe does an exceptional job creating characters that are both believable and loveable. I truly loved Vaughn’s character, and the opportunity to watch him develop and grow was delightful. I loved Alba’s character just as much. She was strong and saucy, and I could not help but root for from the very start.
This book is well paced and is complete with wit, charm, humor, spice and plenty of emotion that will leave you feeling cozy and satisfied. It is book number 7 in the Manhattan Billionaire Series. Looks like I have 6 more books to add to my TBR list!
Thank you so much to Lillian Monroe for the ARC of this book. It was an absolute delight to read, and I can’t wait to see what you have in the pipeline next!
🖤 Single dad 🖤 Boss/employee 🖤 Age Gap 🖤 Slow Burn 🖤 Steamy
I love reading new-to-me authors, so when I was given the chance to read an arc of this, I jumped on the opportunity! It took me a little longer than anticipated to finish Dirty Boss (thanks, life), but honestly, the wait was worth it.
Alba has a wonderful period of growth in the book. To be honest, I didn’t like her at first. I felt she was a little whiney, quite spoiled, and fairly entitled. However, I also recognized that she was raised that way and presenting her as such was necessary for her character arc. Boy, does she turn around. I was so proud of who she was at the end of the book, and she’s not even my character. Hahahaha
Vaughn is precious. He definitely has his flaws and insecurities just like Alba, but it helps readers relate when the characters feel so real. All he wants is to take care of his daughter and see Alba happy. It’s so sweet, even if he messes up a few times. Vaughn also has a really nice arc, and the growth that they both experience throughout the book is just beautiful.
The book was a little slow for my liking, but it really worked for these characters and this story. I was annoyed at first, but then I realized that jumping right into the spicy bits would so have not worked for these characters. They’re written perfectly for a slow burn. I really enjoyed Lilian’s writing style.
Overall, I’d give it 4/5 stars and 1/5 spice. I really need to go back and read the others in the series now!
I did receive an advance copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
Another great read from this talented author! If you haven't read any of the Manhattan Billionaires yet - what are you waiting for!?! Grab this one, and dive in.
I really enjoyed the way Alba chose to deal with her fall from grace. While she did the right thing overall, she certainly didn't feel like she had made the right choice. Her waitress and cleaning jobs weren't where she saw her life going, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. The last thing she needs is aggravation from her customers, but the sassy banter and snarky comments back and forth with Vaughn was to hard for her to resist. Their steamy chemistry and flirty fun was easy to connect with, and enjoy.
There was a tiny hint of a reverse My Fair Lady, with the way Vaughn's transformation went, but neither of them ultimately got what they wanted from that exchange. The relationship that each of them deserved from one another took a few wrong turns until the reached their forever, but it was a roller coaster ride, and I flew through the pages... soo good!!
This author never fails to deliver addictive and engaging characters and storylines to fall in love with, and that's exactly what happened here!! Please consider diving into her catalog of creative works... you'll be happy you did!
I thank the author for my ARC, and happily leave my review.
Well, 3rd act breakups are usually so annoying but this one didn’t really take me out of the story like they usually do. Both Alba and Vaughn needed to work on themselves before they could be together. Alba had a victim mentality that Vaughn had a hard time handling. Vaughn was overscheduled and stressed. Both have low self esteem. They have this deep connection but feel like they aren’t in the same place emotionally.
It’s a very relatable story in that they’re both juggling time, money, family dysfunction and how they each fit in their future plans.
Some side characters are from other previous books in this series but you don’t have to read them to understand what’s going on. It was just nice to see some couples together again.
I love their growth together. I didn’t like that they had to separate to realize they belonged together. I don’t think Vaughn groveled or apologized enough after he massively messed up and he hurt Alba. The pacing was good and the dialogue was crisp. I’ve only read 1 or 2 books in this series and might go back and read the rest.
Lilian does it again! The next Manhattan Billionaires story is the tale of Vaughn and Alba and what a tale it is! He’s trying to find an investor for his business and she’s working as a waitress after her wealthy parents disowned her when she refused to go through with the wedding they arranged for her. She is sassy and snarky with him from the get go and I absolutely love how their interactions always seem to go. Vaughn loves how she gives as good as she gets and it draws him to her. I love the notes the two share between them when she is cleaning his office in the beginning! Finding out Alba is his cleaning lady as well as his new favorite waitress will lead him to ask her for help preparing to fit into high society for a Gala will bring them even closer and feelings begin to grow. But there are a few bumps along the way and it will push them apart before they finally find their way back to each other for their happily ever after!
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
Dirty Boss is single dad and CEO Vaughn and Alba’s entertaining and engaging story. It’s book seven in the Manhattan Billionaires but as it’s the first book I have read by this author so I’m prove it can be read as a standalone. It’s well written with characters I soon became invested in and it won’t be the last book I read by this author. Vaughn is a workaholic who is on the hunt for investors, even though he really could carry on with his own money and he comes across Alba in the restaurant he is meeting men he thinks would be likely to invest in his company. Problem is no one is taking him up on his offer. Alba comes from a rich New York family but a disagreement over an arranged marriage has her disowned and working as a waitress. So could she be the woman to show Vaughn how to entice an investor……. I loved this book, it’s full of love, passion and sarcastic witty banter. I fell hard and fast for Vaughan and I would love Alba in my corner but what took this book to another level was the tests and turns I didn’t see coming.
This book surprised me in the best way! I went in thinking it was going to be your typical grumpy boss / down-on-her-luck rich girl story, but it had so much more heart and depth than I expected.
Alba might’ve started off spoiled, but watching her adapt and fight to survive gave her this gritty, admirable edge. And Vaughan? Broody, complicated, and totally irresistible. Their chemistry was 🔥 but it was the personal growth and emotional tension that really hit.
Lilian Monroe is totally new to me, but now I have to dive into her backlist because this book gave drama, humor, heartfelt moments, and just enough chaos to keep me hooked. The ending wrapped up everything so satisfyingly too.
📖 Reading mood: messy beginnings, emotional growth, and a little spice on the side
This is the seventh book in this series which can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the previous books in this series. I enjoyed this author's writing skills and attention to details that brought life to the story as well as the characters. This is a well written story where the characters are written with alot of heart and steam. They are strong, connectable, relateable characters that add so much to the story. They made it easy and enterteraining to read. They had me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. Vaughn is a great character that ends up having a choice to make his unborn child or his chance to get into the Manhattan's elite. This is a story that you don't want to miss what happens to Vaughn. I found this book to be fast paced, engaging and hard to put down. This is a great story that I highly recommend.
Dirty Boss (Manhattan Billionaires Book 7) by Lillian Monroe follows Vaughn, a hardworking billionaire, and Alba, a former socialite seeking independence through two jobs. Their connection grows as Alba becomes Vaughn’s image coach to help him secure an investor for his construction project. As Vaughn and Alba spend time together, they grow close, but Vaughn is weighed down by insecurities stemming from his unstable home environment during childhood. As a single dad sharing custody with his ex-wife, Vaughn has become obsessed with working until he feels he must amass another fortune to secure his little girl’s future, despite being worth millions already. Alba, on the other hand, grew up in an influential family but never really had a parent to demonstrate affection towards her and was only given criticism, which also left scars on her heart. Reconciling their differences and finding common ground on the way to their HEA is what makes this romance story a wonderful read. Lillian Monroe shines in Dirty Boss (Manhattan Billionaires Book 7), which will soon be a favorite read among her fans.
Another incredible read from Lilian Monroe. She can pull the heartstrings on my heart like few others can. Alba grew up a rich girl with all her parents’ aspirations for her, but when she didn’t marry the guy they wanted for her, they threw her out with nothing. She had no skills and as the story begins she has been trying to keep her head above water in her living and financial skills. Vaughn has made his fortune by getting a patent on something he made, but is truly a construction worker at heart. He hires Alba to help his image as he is trys to secure more funding for his business. Of course, sparks fly but they both have major trust issues that make their romance very rocky. This was a fun story to read as well as a very good romance.
4 Star Review Dirty Boss (Manhattan Billionaires #7) by Lilian Monroe
Lilian Monroe is a new author to me and I am surprised I have not come across her books before.
This is CEO and single dad Vaughn and Alba’s story. Vaughn is a man who gets what he wants and he wants Alba and it was interesting to watch as he persued her.
I enjoyed the snark and witty banter between Vaughn and Alba; so entertaining. The chemistry sizzled and as their relationship developed it made for a good read.
This was a roller coaster of a read and there were some unexpected twists and turns. It may have been my first book but it won’t be my last and when time permits I will look at other books from this author.
I voluntatily reviewed "DIRTY BOSS" I truly enjoyed this intriguing, interesting, delightful story full of emotional turmoil, insecurites, privilege, steamy chemistry, the characters really pull you into their journey. Vaughn wanting to learn the ways of rich & privileged because he came from hardship & wants more for himself. Alba a rich girl who had her life ripped away is now working two jobs to make ends meet, she meets Vaughn who wants the life she had ripped away. Vaughn & Alba's chemistry sizzles but deny one another in the beginning, he wants to grow his business & asks Alba for help causing some issues between them. Will Alba & Vaughn find their way back to one another & get their HEA you have read this page turner to see what happens.
In three days, the extremely wealthy Alba had lost everything. She barely recognized herself when she looked in the mirror.
She worked tirelessly, holding down two jobs to get back on her feet. The problem was that she was rather touchy and clumsy...
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I really enjoyed this beautiful, surprising story, which was very gripping to read.
Don't be fooled by the title of the book, which actually only reflects a small aspect of the novel. I really liked the two main characters, Alba and Vaughn, who were quite moving.
I also really liked the plot.
I recommend this beautiful, entertaining, moving romance, which completely takes you away from the daily worries.
Another great installment in the 'Manhattan Billionaires' series. I loved this story of 'fallen' socialite, Alba and former blue collar entrepreneur Vaughn. Alba is sassy and feisty, a true survivor waiting tables to survive after being rejected by her upper class parents. I liked how she is totally at ease sassing customers and telling Vaughn why he is not succeeding in getting financing to expand his business. They make a deal and Vaughn engages her as his 'style' consultant - to enable him to fit in with 'the great & the good'! I really enjoyed this romp as Vaughn is the one who really falls first and is determined to keep this unique woman who has crashed into his life. Another really enjoyable romance from Lilian Monroe.
Holy cow!!! The spice was spicing First off I’m jealous of this love story, I did have a slight heart attack towards the end, but that was all fixed. I loved the resilience and the growth between both main characters. I would say there is a micro trope of miscommunication, but not really at the same time. I saw from both point of views and made sense. I will say the fact that I read this entire book in six hours kind of blows my mind. I haven’t found a book to be able to completely distract myself with in a couple weeks and this was a good one to read. Now this is the only book I’ve read by the Author but now I have to go and at least read the other billionaire books.
Alba had so many layers, going from a life of privilege to working two jobs and learning how to stand on her own two feet, she had so much strength and the way she started to view life was inspiring.
Vaughn is a single dad, trying to build his company into something that can be left for his daughter. He was sweet and the way he is with Alba is amazing. He doesn’t want to be a part of the life she left behind but he feels it is the only way to open doors.
The way these two are together as she coaches him to fit in with the privileged people brings so much joy. They have an undeniable attraction that gets to a point they can’t fight.
Vaughn and Alba's story. This has some humor and spice and everything nice in it. I enjoyed reading this story. The 3rd act "breakup" didn't make much sense to me--at least the time frame and zero contact then all of a sudden BAM, back together. The "deep thoughts" got repetitive throughout the book and as much as I hate to do it I skimmed those. Vaughn and Alba made a great couple once together and that was the joy of the read. He came off as a really good guy and she was finding her real self while helping him to act in her old world. A light read, not overly full of angst. I would recommend.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, they felt relatable and engaging, and I wanted to know what happened to them. That said, the story relied too heavily on repetitive inner thoughts and flashbacks to the past. It often pulled me away from the present story, especially since the real action didn’t kick in until the last few chapters. Those final chapters were fast-paced and exciting, but they felt rushed. I wish Lilian had given more space to that part of the story and focused the inner reflections there instead of circling back so much to before the characters met. Still, the ending showed real potential.