What do you think?
Rate this book
Executive Suite Secrets #3
The Arrangement
With just a kiss, he ruined my life.
I never wanted to see Rome Ashbridge again.
So, of course, I now need his help to save my job at the museum.
Rome has cooked up a scheme to torment me before he’s willing to make the job-saving donation to my department.
But this arrangement is poised to backfire and pull us together in the most unexpected way.
Can we move past the years of hate to find something even sweeter than the friendship we’d both cherished as children?
The Arrangement is the third full-length novel in the Executive Suite Secrets series, which includes a somewhat flighty billionaire librarian, an angry paleontologist, evil schemes, bisexual awakening, snark, teasing, stolen kisses, “helpful” friends, resolving a twenty-year-old argument, and a sweet, forever kind of love.
I never wanted to see Rome Ashbridge again.
So, of course, I now need his help to save my job at the museum.
Rome has cooked up a scheme to torment me before he’s willing to make the job-saving donation to my department.
But this arrangement is poised to backfire and pull us together in the most unexpected way.
Can we move past the years of hate to find something even sweeter than the friendship we’d both cherished as children?
The Arrangement is the third full-length novel in the Executive Suite Secrets series, which includes a somewhat flighty billionaire librarian, an angry paleontologist, evil schemes, bisexual awakening, snark, teasing, stolen kisses, “helpful” friends, resolving a twenty-year-old argument, and a sweet, forever kind of love.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2025
About the author
Jocelynn Drake
156 books2,917 followersNew York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
Read
August 23, 2025DNF @26%
No rating.
Homophobia was too prevalent in the plot. Then making it a rom-com just felt all the way wrong to me. Perhaps some other time I may read it, but not now.
No rating.
Homophobia was too prevalent in the plot. Then making it a rom-com just felt all the way wrong to me. Perhaps some other time I may read it, but not now.
Read
July 28, 2025Dear Lovely Readers,
We are just weeks away from the release of The Arrangement and I am so excited for you to meet Rome and Liam. The book is making its last steps through the proofing process.
I thought it was a good time to check in on some of the tropes you can look forward to in this book:
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
Bisexual awakening
Idiots in love
Found Family
Billionaire
Forced Proximity
Happy reading!
Jocelynn Drake
We are just weeks away from the release of The Arrangement and I am so excited for you to meet Rome and Liam. The book is making its last steps through the proofing process.
I thought it was a good time to check in on some of the tropes you can look forward to in this book:
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
Bisexual awakening
Idiots in love
Found Family
Billionaire
Forced Proximity
Happy reading!
Jocelynn Drake
August 26, 2025
My favourite one yet
Oh I loved this book.
Second chance romance is a definite favourite sub-genre for me and this had all the things I love - unexpected betrayal, all the hurt, hideous family who were to blame for a lot of the problem, revenge plots and all the feels which cannot be denied.
I really liked how this started as revenge, turned into friendship as both Rome and Liam remembered why they'd been inseparable as kids, and then switched onto an exploration of Liam's awakening sexual discovery.
Of course, the rest of the gang is on hand with helpful advice and teasing, and we get a hint of what's coming next with Simon and Pierce.
Oh I loved this book.
Second chance romance is a definite favourite sub-genre for me and this had all the things I love - unexpected betrayal, all the hurt, hideous family who were to blame for a lot of the problem, revenge plots and all the feels which cannot be denied.
I really liked how this started as revenge, turned into friendship as both Rome and Liam remembered why they'd been inseparable as kids, and then switched onto an exploration of Liam's awakening sexual discovery.
Of course, the rest of the gang is on hand with helpful advice and teasing, and we get a hint of what's coming next with Simon and Pierce.
August 12, 2025
I loved it so much. There's something really refreshing about Rome's boisterous personality that I really like, and Liam not only feels like he compliments him but also steadies him. So far Rome has also been the most down to earth of all the billionaires, which was a fun thing
November 4, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is the third book in Jocelynn Drake’s Executive Suite Secrets series, and happy-go-lucky, talkative Rome finally gets to fall in love. While this book is best enjoyed in order, it’s not strictly necessary, as the author gives all necessary background.
This story is antagonists to lovers, as the two men hate each other, but aren’t rivals. But really, it’s a misunderstanding and assumptions, along with a homophobic parent, that ruined both their lives when they were barely teens. The two men are opposites in a lot of ways, but at the same time, they both understand the other’s sense of humor and thought process. I truly enjoyed watching them work through the feelings that have plagued them for twenty years and find their way to each other again.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is the third book in Jocelynn Drake’s Executive Suite Secrets series, and happy-go-lucky, talkative Rome finally gets to fall in love. While this book is best enjoyed in order, it’s not strictly necessary, as the author gives all necessary background.
This story is antagonists to lovers, as the two men hate each other, but aren’t rivals. But really, it’s a misunderstanding and assumptions, along with a homophobic parent, that ruined both their lives when they were barely teens. The two men are opposites in a lot of ways, but at the same time, they both understand the other’s sense of humor and thought process. I truly enjoyed watching them work through the feelings that have plagued them for twenty years and find their way to each other again.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
August 12, 2025
I loved this. The story starts with Liam and Rome at the ages of 13-14. They were playing around and after stopping on the side of the house, Rome was thinking that since Liam was his best friend, he would give him a kiss. They were caught by Liam’s mother who started yelling. Fast forward 20 years and Rome was at a concert hall and went to get a drink. When at the bar, he sees Liam and all the angry feelings came back. This is the start of the story of how Rome came up with an arrangement of going out on 5 dates with Rome to give a donation to the museum. I loved how they slowly started working and talking about what happened all those years ago to finally getting together love this world and cannot wait to read Pierce’s book.
August 14, 2025
This is the third book and another winner in the Executive Suite Secrets series. I love this group of friends and their partners. Rome and Liam were best friends growing up until Liam’s homophobic mother witnessed a kiss and had a complete meltdown. They unexpectedly run into each other as adults at a concert at the museum where Liam works. Both still have strong feelings about what happened in their childhood. They end up being thrown together after Liam’s boss pressures him to get a donation for the museum from Rome. I loved seeing how happy they both were after re-connecting. Liam needs some time to come to terms with his new feelings, but I never doubted they would figure it out. I’m very much looking forward to Pierce and Simon’s story.
August 17, 2025
Okay, so I'm a little split on this. It starts with a pretty absurd premise where literally all that was required was for them to have a conversation and discuss an event that occurred when they were children. The level of vitriol they were spewing from each other just felt trumped up and over-the-top. Fortunately though, they eventually DID have that much-needed conversation and almost instantly got over that supposed 20 years of grudge (which just reinforced how forced that whole "enemies" set up was). I did really enjoy the back half of the book and how cute they were as a couple. Overall, it's my least favourite in the series so far, but I still enjoyed the read overall.
***
I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
***
I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
August 26, 2025
Book 3
I struggled abit with Liam and Rome's story, but as I gradually keep going I enjoyed their story.
I highly recommend this series.
I struggled abit with Liam and Rome's story, but as I gradually keep going I enjoyed their story.
I highly recommend this series.
March 29, 2026
I loved this book from start to finish as I was barracking for them to be together. Bi-awakening stories are my jam and this one was another winner in my books. I loved the way they came together at the ending. My Full Blog Review Link
August 26, 2025
ESTRANGED CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS!💕
In the third book of the series we finally get Rome’s story- how his past influenced his future…
I loved Rome’s character in all the other books the best by how down to earth he was and how he always tried to help his fellow billionaire friends and advise them with their love lives - and now he needs their help!
A mistaken kiss twenty years ago destroyed the most beautiful friendship and now their paths cross again- twice in Cincinnati!
Four year divorced straight Palaeontologist and anthropologist Dr. Liam Rose and pansexual serial dater Librarian and Philanthropist- Rome Ashbridge!
Rome sees his friends finding their true happiness with their partners and realises something is missing in his life…
A sweet bi- awakening twenty years later by a repressed and brainwashed soul and a beautiful friendship renewal leads to a second chance!
This is the sweet, romantic, funny story about how a revenge arrangement of five dates between two lost , broken souls becomes the catalyst to their happiness and wellbeing!
Pierce is next with a certain violinist ….
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.
In the third book of the series we finally get Rome’s story- how his past influenced his future…
I loved Rome’s character in all the other books the best by how down to earth he was and how he always tried to help his fellow billionaire friends and advise them with their love lives - and now he needs their help!
A mistaken kiss twenty years ago destroyed the most beautiful friendship and now their paths cross again- twice in Cincinnati!
Four year divorced straight Palaeontologist and anthropologist Dr. Liam Rose and pansexual serial dater Librarian and Philanthropist- Rome Ashbridge!
Rome sees his friends finding their true happiness with their partners and realises something is missing in his life…
A sweet bi- awakening twenty years later by a repressed and brainwashed soul and a beautiful friendship renewal leads to a second chance!
This is the sweet, romantic, funny story about how a revenge arrangement of five dates between two lost , broken souls becomes the catalyst to their happiness and wellbeing!
Pierce is next with a certain violinist ….
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.
April 16, 2026
The writing is objectively good, the spice is spicy, the characters are generally likable, and overall the series would be an enjoyable read, but it forever leaves me feeling icky due to the extreme soap opera level drama that seems to plague the friend groups' love interests, as well as the very heavy duty wealth and power disparities. This one especially hit that nerve pretty hard.
Rome is an overall good guy, who is pansexual, so parts mean less than the feelings towards another person. Liam is straight (?) with a big time homophobe mother, who turned into a shrieking harpy when she found Rome kissing Liam at the age of 13. No amounts of denial of being gay was sufficient for that hateful monster, so she made her son's life miserable until he managed to escape her and get to college, where he earned his degree in paleontology.
Now Liam's boss charged in, and all but threatened Liam's job if he can't convince Rome to come up with a $5 million cheque to save Liam's department at the museum.
The power dynamics in this series are pretty grody to begin with, but at least there's some balance sort of I guess? The first book has a CEO sleeping with his assistant. There was genuine love on both sides before they sleep together, so I can sort of let that slide. Meanwhile the assistant's mother is abusive, alcoholic, and a nasty one at that who frequently winds up getting the police called on her. His brother suffered a traumatic brain injury. Caring for both family members means that the assistant is spending down his 6 figure salary, and barely making ends meet. Soap opera style drama, right? Meanwhile there's a strict company policy against sleeping with a subordinate, but because the main character is the CEO, he stands to lose nothing while his assistant will lose his job, his reputation, and on and on and on. I was having a great time until the soap opera drama got turned to a 50 and the story got leaked to the press.
Next book, you've got the CFO of that same firm sleeping with a temp. In this one case it wasn't quite so grody because they'd met and been casually hooking up long before the temp came to work at the company. The spice was hot, the characters were fun to read. Then all of a sudden, the temp's best friend--for whom he donated sperm so she could be a single parent--gets run over by someone running a red light, and dies instantly. Now the daughter has to be taken care of by said temp, because he was the next of kin, and listed on the birth certificate. So instead of putting the child up for adoption or whatever, he takes her in. Then his apartment burns down. Sigh. Back to the full on greek tragedy levels of soap opera. Main character swoops in to try to save the day, misunderstandings abound, blah blah blah, they make up and things are fine. Again, I was having a good time until the heavy duty melodrama came out of nowhere.
Now on this book, I was having a decent time. OK, maybe the characters run into each other, have a bit of a spat, and then eventually see each other around town, and maybe learn that things aren't always what they seem, they make up and so on. NOPE. In comes Liam's boss with her weird demands that Liam go track down Rome to somehow make the guy cough up several million dollars in funding for the museum. I rolled my eyes so hard they fell out of my head, and I tossed the book aside and didn't finish. I should have stopped after book 2, because it seems like this sort of thing is standard for this series, and it annoyed me pretty hard in the first couple of books.
When there is that much of a severe wealth and power imbalance, and now the poor person has to grovel and beg for the money to help his livelihood, things feel really gross in reading it as a standard romance novel. I hated the melodrama that runs through the series to begin with, but the power imbalance felt genuinely disgusting, and I couldn't bring myself to keep going. In the past books, there's been a fair bit of hand-waving to get rid of the dubious consent issues, but this one would likely have been a road too far.
Like I said, the author is a good writer. I wish I could have gotten into the series more, because it had the sorts of things that make for a good story.
Rome is an overall good guy, who is pansexual, so parts mean less than the feelings towards another person. Liam is straight (?) with a big time homophobe mother, who turned into a shrieking harpy when she found Rome kissing Liam at the age of 13. No amounts of denial of being gay was sufficient for that hateful monster, so she made her son's life miserable until he managed to escape her and get to college, where he earned his degree in paleontology.
Now Liam's boss charged in, and all but threatened Liam's job if he can't convince Rome to come up with a $5 million cheque to save Liam's department at the museum.
The power dynamics in this series are pretty grody to begin with, but at least there's some balance sort of I guess? The first book has a CEO sleeping with his assistant. There was genuine love on both sides before they sleep together, so I can sort of let that slide. Meanwhile the assistant's mother is abusive, alcoholic, and a nasty one at that who frequently winds up getting the police called on her. His brother suffered a traumatic brain injury. Caring for both family members means that the assistant is spending down his 6 figure salary, and barely making ends meet. Soap opera style drama, right? Meanwhile there's a strict company policy against sleeping with a subordinate, but because the main character is the CEO, he stands to lose nothing while his assistant will lose his job, his reputation, and on and on and on. I was having a great time until the soap opera drama got turned to a 50 and the story got leaked to the press.
Next book, you've got the CFO of that same firm sleeping with a temp. In this one case it wasn't quite so grody because they'd met and been casually hooking up long before the temp came to work at the company. The spice was hot, the characters were fun to read. Then all of a sudden, the temp's best friend--for whom he donated sperm so she could be a single parent--gets run over by someone running a red light, and dies instantly. Now the daughter has to be taken care of by said temp, because he was the next of kin, and listed on the birth certificate. So instead of putting the child up for adoption or whatever, he takes her in. Then his apartment burns down. Sigh. Back to the full on greek tragedy levels of soap opera. Main character swoops in to try to save the day, misunderstandings abound, blah blah blah, they make up and things are fine. Again, I was having a good time until the heavy duty melodrama came out of nowhere.
Now on this book, I was having a decent time. OK, maybe the characters run into each other, have a bit of a spat, and then eventually see each other around town, and maybe learn that things aren't always what they seem, they make up and so on. NOPE. In comes Liam's boss with her weird demands that Liam go track down Rome to somehow make the guy cough up several million dollars in funding for the museum. I rolled my eyes so hard they fell out of my head, and I tossed the book aside and didn't finish. I should have stopped after book 2, because it seems like this sort of thing is standard for this series, and it annoyed me pretty hard in the first couple of books.
When there is that much of a severe wealth and power imbalance, and now the poor person has to grovel and beg for the money to help his livelihood, things feel really gross in reading it as a standard romance novel. I hated the melodrama that runs through the series to begin with, but the power imbalance felt genuinely disgusting, and I couldn't bring myself to keep going. In the past books, there's been a fair bit of hand-waving to get rid of the dubious consent issues, but this one would likely have been a road too far.
Like I said, the author is a good writer. I wish I could have gotten into the series more, because it had the sorts of things that make for a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
I really wish Goodreads would allow for half--or even quarter--stars. I felt guilty for giving this two stars but, to me, it didn't deserve three. I mean, I wasn't a fan of Sebastian doing the ten dates for ten million. Rome doing five dates for five million, where the five dates were basically to torment *checks notes* his....enemy? I mean, over twenty years since you last saw or spoke to the guy and you still consider him your enemy? Both of you? Really? And Rome knew the five million was a 'save-my-job' donation. He literally said this to Liam. And still....still he was this wretched person. Oh, but he knew he'd give him the money no matter what. Liam didn't know! Can you imagine the anxiety Liam felt because of this? The majority of this book was just so....icky. All they needed was one conversation. One talk, that's it. Seriously. This is proven by when they actually talk about what happened in the past and all is forgiven....after one talk. Twenty years of either not thinking of each other or hating each other (even that wasn't entirely clear) forgiven with one chat that...man oh man should've been had so much sooner! And, it's not like these boys were eight or ten when their friendship ended. They were thirteen and twelve. Rome saw how toxic and terrifying Liam's mother was firsthand, then had his parents explain to him what was happening and still....still he was angry at Liam for not standing up to her? Dude, he had to live with her for at least 5 more years! And Liam....I can kind of understand more, but, holding onto this, saying Rome ruined his life, like it was intentional, and he never let that go, despite wondering, at least at one point, if maybe Rome was gay and he was his first crush. And then, one of the first things Liam says to Rome is something like 'You ruined my life and you're not even gay'. Seriously? So wrong!
Yeah, after this series I think I'm done with billionaire books. I mean, Sebastian and Rome shouldn't have access to so much money; they're children in adult bodies. At least Declan's using his money mostly to spoil a child. The other two are manipulative and icky.
Also, points off for grammatical/editing/etc. errors. And, this series has kind of made me hate the word 'ridiculous'. This book wasn't anywhere near as bad as the last one with that word, but....yeah.
Yeah, after this series I think I'm done with billionaire books. I mean, Sebastian and Rome shouldn't have access to so much money; they're children in adult bodies. At least Declan's using his money mostly to spoil a child. The other two are manipulative and icky.
Also, points off for grammatical/editing/etc. errors. And, this series has kind of made me hate the word 'ridiculous'. This book wasn't anywhere near as bad as the last one with that word, but....yeah.
August 22, 2025
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The Arrangement was a cute, sweet, breezy addition to the Executive Suite Secrets series that, while adorable and full of delightful cameos from the earlier two installments, just didn't hit t h a t sweet spot like the others did before it.
For starters, the whole "you ruined my life" thing was understandable as kids because Liam's mum was a yucky homophobic a-hole and Liam (who had no idea what any of that meant really but suddenly encountering "shame" to the nth degree) took those hits to the face.
It was a torrid time for everyone…hormones, losing your bff, sexuality etc so I got w h y Liam was bent about the past and had some unresolved issues surrounding what went down.
But still.
Mid-thirties dudes (in this case) need to come correct in 2025.
If you can handle your disco stick, you can understand why your best mate at 13yo made a pass at you. I will not be elaborating further.
So, like the title implied, there w a s an "arrangement" that had all that transactional silliness we've come to expect of billionaire romances. And it w a s pretty fun exploring Cincinnati, and catching glimpses of their childhood shenanigans as Liam and Rome rekindled their friendship. And it was sweet and expected that their friendship would turn into something more.
I really loved the paleontologist/librarian vibe to this. I enjoyed the trips to the museum and the library's story-time events, which made the narrative buoyant with lighthearted fun energy.
And Rome and Liam's dates were actually super romantic, so The Arrangement had a lot of good things going for it. I just wasn't a fan of the first 50% of this story playing out as ott as it did.
But ymmv.
I do love this series though, and I'm already crazy for Simon and Pierce's story which can't come soon enough for me! This series is such a comfort read for me and I'm so happy that there's still more lovely squishy romance still to come! Can't wait!
The Arrangement was a cute, sweet, breezy addition to the Executive Suite Secrets series that, while adorable and full of delightful cameos from the earlier two installments, just didn't hit t h a t sweet spot like the others did before it.
For starters, the whole "you ruined my life" thing was understandable as kids because Liam's mum was a yucky homophobic a-hole and Liam (who had no idea what any of that meant really but suddenly encountering "shame" to the nth degree) took those hits to the face.
It was a torrid time for everyone…hormones, losing your bff, sexuality etc so I got w h y Liam was bent about the past and had some unresolved issues surrounding what went down.
But still.
Mid-thirties dudes (in this case) need to come correct in 2025.
If you can handle your disco stick, you can understand why your best mate at 13yo made a pass at you. I will not be elaborating further.
So, like the title implied, there w a s an "arrangement" that had all that transactional silliness we've come to expect of billionaire romances. And it w a s pretty fun exploring Cincinnati, and catching glimpses of their childhood shenanigans as Liam and Rome rekindled their friendship. And it was sweet and expected that their friendship would turn into something more.
I really loved the paleontologist/librarian vibe to this. I enjoyed the trips to the museum and the library's story-time events, which made the narrative buoyant with lighthearted fun energy.
And Rome and Liam's dates were actually super romantic, so The Arrangement had a lot of good things going for it. I just wasn't a fan of the first 50% of this story playing out as ott as it did.
But ymmv.
I do love this series though, and I'm already crazy for Simon and Pierce's story which can't come soon enough for me! This series is such a comfort read for me and I'm so happy that there's still more lovely squishy romance still to come! Can't wait!
August 18, 2025
Indiana Jones, "The Pengrooms" by Paul Castle, Fiona & Fritz, creamy white sauce, pinky swear, spiky blue turtle shell, CVG Zoo Festival of Lights, Pixy Stix
Boy, talk about holding a grudge! 20+ years? Really? Anyway, it's the start of this story. Boyhood best friends feel mutually betrayed by the other. The betrayal happened when they were 12 over a curious boy-boy kiss. Liam and Rome are now 34 when they bump into each other in an unlikely place.
Rome Ashbridge is a billionaire who volunteers at a public library. He wasn't interested in taking over the family business. Once he graduated college, he gained control of his trust fund. During his primary and secondary school years, his very best friend was Liam Rose. It didn't matter that Rome's family was wealthy and Liam's was low middle class. They did everything together. Until Liam's mother caught Rome trying an experimental kiss with Liam. Liam blamed Rome, but his mother didn't care. She's homophobic and hateful. She forbade Liam's friendship with Rome. Rome couldn't understand why his best friend would throw him under the bus.
Fast forward several years, Liam is a paleontolongist PhD in Cincinnati. He moved there to escape his overbearing parents and for a new job at a Cincinnati museum. He bumps into Rome at the museum's symphony concert. The same museum where Liam's job is. After all these years, both feel animosity towards each other.
We see Sebastian Courtland and Declan Foster from the previous books since Rome is a part of their close-knit friends circle. It includes both men's partners. All play a substantial role in Rome's and Liam's romance. For a bunch of billionaires, they sure so gossip a lot. lol
This is a wonderful and fantastic book. It meshes well with the series. I enjoyed myself very much and have no qualms in recommending it.
Boy, talk about holding a grudge! 20+ years? Really? Anyway, it's the start of this story. Boyhood best friends feel mutually betrayed by the other. The betrayal happened when they were 12 over a curious boy-boy kiss. Liam and Rome are now 34 when they bump into each other in an unlikely place.
Rome Ashbridge is a billionaire who volunteers at a public library. He wasn't interested in taking over the family business. Once he graduated college, he gained control of his trust fund. During his primary and secondary school years, his very best friend was Liam Rose. It didn't matter that Rome's family was wealthy and Liam's was low middle class. They did everything together. Until Liam's mother caught Rome trying an experimental kiss with Liam. Liam blamed Rome, but his mother didn't care. She's homophobic and hateful. She forbade Liam's friendship with Rome. Rome couldn't understand why his best friend would throw him under the bus.
Fast forward several years, Liam is a paleontolongist PhD in Cincinnati. He moved there to escape his overbearing parents and for a new job at a Cincinnati museum. He bumps into Rome at the museum's symphony concert. The same museum where Liam's job is. After all these years, both feel animosity towards each other.
We see Sebastian Courtland and Declan Foster from the previous books since Rome is a part of their close-knit friends circle. It includes both men's partners. All play a substantial role in Rome's and Liam's romance. For a bunch of billionaires, they sure so gossip a lot. lol
This is a wonderful and fantastic book. It meshes well with the series. I enjoyed myself very much and have no qualms in recommending it.
August 23, 2025
The Arrangement is the third book in the Executive Suite Secrets series, but you can easily read it as a standalone.
The story follows Rome and Liam, who were childhood best friends until a misunderstanding tore them apart in their early teens (they were 13 & 14 years old). Almost twenty years later, they accidentally cross paths at a business event. Liam’s boss notices they know each other and sends him to secure a donation from Rome. Rome, who is a billionaire librarian, has a generous, fun, and slightly chaotic personality. He is willing to help with a donation, but it is not without a catch. He comes up with a plan and will only agree to the donation if Liam goes on five (revenge) dates with him.
It was quite entertaining to watch their relationship evolve. They start off tense and prickly, both still holding on to old hurt and resentment, but I think Jocelynn did a great job showing us that these feelings evolved from miscommunication rather than malice or true dislike. Of course, the five dates become a great way to gradually rebuild their friendship, and the chemistry between them is what really makes the shift toward romance believable. Obviously this is more of a slow burn, but even with a lower spice, their chemistry really comes through.
For me, Rome is the more likable of the two. But Liam’s more reserved and closed-off nature makes his journey of opening up and discovering new aspects of himself really rewarding to see.
Also, I would have liked if Liam’s boss and mother faced some real consequences, but I guess you can't have it all. But I loved how the friend group brought a lot of warmth and humour to the story.
It was sweet, it was fun, and an easy read. And now I'm looking forward to read Simon and Pierce’s story next!
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
The story follows Rome and Liam, who were childhood best friends until a misunderstanding tore them apart in their early teens (they were 13 & 14 years old). Almost twenty years later, they accidentally cross paths at a business event. Liam’s boss notices they know each other and sends him to secure a donation from Rome. Rome, who is a billionaire librarian, has a generous, fun, and slightly chaotic personality. He is willing to help with a donation, but it is not without a catch. He comes up with a plan and will only agree to the donation if Liam goes on five (revenge) dates with him.
It was quite entertaining to watch their relationship evolve. They start off tense and prickly, both still holding on to old hurt and resentment, but I think Jocelynn did a great job showing us that these feelings evolved from miscommunication rather than malice or true dislike. Of course, the five dates become a great way to gradually rebuild their friendship, and the chemistry between them is what really makes the shift toward romance believable. Obviously this is more of a slow burn, but even with a lower spice, their chemistry really comes through.
For me, Rome is the more likable of the two. But Liam’s more reserved and closed-off nature makes his journey of opening up and discovering new aspects of himself really rewarding to see.
Also, I would have liked if Liam’s boss and mother faced some real consequences, but I guess you can't have it all. But I loved how the friend group brought a lot of warmth and humour to the story.
It was sweet, it was fun, and an easy read. And now I'm looking forward to read Simon and Pierce’s story next!
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
August 14, 2025
The Arrangement is the third book in the Executive Suite Secrets series and can be read as a standalone.
Rome and Liam used to be best friends as children until a misunderstanding, which is shown in the prologue. I wasn’t expecting what happened and was curious and excited about the premise and how it would be resolved.
Rome is 34, a billionaire and a librarian. He’s generous, funny and chaotic.
Liam is 33, a passionate palaeontologist who is reserved and closed off. I enjoyed seeing him fall and be protective of Rome. I definitely liked Rome more than Liam, but I didn’t love either of them.
They meet again twenty-one years later, since Liam has been instructed to get a donation from Rome by his boss, Rome proposes that Liam has to go on five dates with him. I liked how the five dates progressed and mended the friendship between them. I think the dates suited their personalities well.
This was kind of a slow burn and relatively low heat, however, the few scenes we did have were hot and the chemistry was blazing.
I very much disliked Liam’s mother and his boss, so I feel a bit disappointed neither had their comeuppance. I also felt like the story felt unfinished plot-wise.
I love this friendship group and how it keeps growing. I really enjoyed seeing so many glimpses of them. Looking forward to Simon and Pierce’s book as I have some theories now.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read I enjoyed. If you enjoyed the previous books in the series or the tropes below, then I would definitely give this one a try.
🦖 An awkward, spiky palaeontologist
📖 A chaotic, troublemaker billionaire that is also a librarian
😍 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🌈 Bi awakening
🤭 Revenge dates
🫶 Forced proximity
😂 Found family with “helpful” friends
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊
Rome and Liam used to be best friends as children until a misunderstanding, which is shown in the prologue. I wasn’t expecting what happened and was curious and excited about the premise and how it would be resolved.
Rome is 34, a billionaire and a librarian. He’s generous, funny and chaotic.
Liam is 33, a passionate palaeontologist who is reserved and closed off. I enjoyed seeing him fall and be protective of Rome. I definitely liked Rome more than Liam, but I didn’t love either of them.
They meet again twenty-one years later, since Liam has been instructed to get a donation from Rome by his boss, Rome proposes that Liam has to go on five dates with him. I liked how the five dates progressed and mended the friendship between them. I think the dates suited their personalities well.
This was kind of a slow burn and relatively low heat, however, the few scenes we did have were hot and the chemistry was blazing.
I very much disliked Liam’s mother and his boss, so I feel a bit disappointed neither had their comeuppance. I also felt like the story felt unfinished plot-wise.
I love this friendship group and how it keeps growing. I really enjoyed seeing so many glimpses of them. Looking forward to Simon and Pierce’s book as I have some theories now.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read I enjoyed. If you enjoyed the previous books in the series or the tropes below, then I would definitely give this one a try.
🦖 An awkward, spiky palaeontologist
📖 A chaotic, troublemaker billionaire that is also a librarian
😍 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🌈 Bi awakening
🤭 Revenge dates
🫶 Forced proximity
😂 Found family with “helpful” friends
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊
August 28, 2025
Rome and Liam's story was an entertaining ex-best friends to lovers romance. Their journey made me laugh, swoon, and fall in love with every facet of their relationship. Initially, Rome wanted nothing more than to torment Liam for the way their childhood friendship had self-destructed. He came up with the wacky idea of trading dates for a donation to Liam's work, and from there the story took off. I found it endlessly entertaining to watch as barely contained animosity morphed into a rekindling of friendship and eventually love. Liam had to navigate the uncertainty of discovering he wasn't as straight as he'd always assumed, and I was really proud of his growth throughout the book. It didn't take long before Liam and Rome felt like they'd never had a gap in their friendship, and what was even better was seeing how romantically invested they were in each other as well. It was easy for me to stay engaged with the highs and lows of their journey, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the rest of their friend group up to their usual antics in the background. By the time Rome and Liam reached their happy ending, I was fully under their spell, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see Pierce meet his match!
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 26, 2025
3.75 stars
“The Arrangement” by Jocelynn Drake is Book 3 in the ‘Executive Suite Secrets’ series and features Rome and Liam, whose past history still influences their lives. When Liam’s boss forces them into close proximity, they each must decide how to get past their hurts and whether they can find a way to have a future.
This adult contemporary gay romance is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story that is complicated by the past history of them having been friends and Liam’s conniving boss. I love the combination of nerdiness and passion for their vocations that each guy demonstrates. There are also multiple secondary characters who are woven through the series, and although this book reads fine as a stand-alone story, there are definitely threads that tempt one into reading the previous stories as well as look for the sequels. It took me a bit of time to warm up to these guys despite the cute scenes of awkwardness, but I did root for them to have their HEA, and of course I love libraries and science, so those elements, plus that place with the vintage games kept me invested. I look forward to learning what is going on with Simon and Pierce.
A copy of this title was provided for review
“The Arrangement” by Jocelynn Drake is Book 3 in the ‘Executive Suite Secrets’ series and features Rome and Liam, whose past history still influences their lives. When Liam’s boss forces them into close proximity, they each must decide how to get past their hurts and whether they can find a way to have a future.
This adult contemporary gay romance is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story that is complicated by the past history of them having been friends and Liam’s conniving boss. I love the combination of nerdiness and passion for their vocations that each guy demonstrates. There are also multiple secondary characters who are woven through the series, and although this book reads fine as a stand-alone story, there are definitely threads that tempt one into reading the previous stories as well as look for the sequels. It took me a bit of time to warm up to these guys despite the cute scenes of awkwardness, but I did root for them to have their HEA, and of course I love libraries and science, so those elements, plus that place with the vintage games kept me invested. I look forward to learning what is going on with Simon and Pierce.
A copy of this title was provided for review
August 24, 2025
Rome and Liam were best friends when children until 13 year old Rome kissed Liam. Unfortunately, Liam's homophobic mother caught Rome kissing Liam and freaked out. After that, they didn't see each other for 21 years. Rome is living in Cincinatti and even though he has a trust fund, he works as a librarian. Liam has recently moved to Cincinnati to work for the Museum of Natural History in their paleontology department.The two men meet again at a museum function and start sniping at each other. Each man blames the other for the demise of their friendship. Liam's boss observes him talking to Rome and pressures Liam to talk Rome into giving the museum a donation. When Liam approaches Rome for a donation, Rome agrees but only if Liam will go on five "dates" with him that Liam has to plan. As they go on their "dates", the two men rekindle their friendship and clear the air regarding the past kiss. Liam comes to realize that he may not be as straight as he always thought he was due to his newfound attraction to Rome. This was a sweet and mildly angsty friends to enemies to lovers story.
August 24, 2025
This is the 3rd book in the Executive Suite Secrets series about a group of friends and their partners. These can be read as a standalone.
Liam and Rome were childhood best friends but when 13-year-old Rome Kissed Liam and his very homophobic mother saw this, she forbids them from being friends. Liam was angry that Rome ruined everything.
Fast forward 20 years and Liam has started working for The Museum of Natural History and his boss sees him talking to Rome, a well-known billionaire. His boss Wants Liam talk Rome into give a donation to the Museum.
Rome agrees to the Donation, however he insists on making Liam work for it, by agreeing to five dates that Liam must plan.
They eventually talk about the childhood kiss and rekindle their friendship. Liam thought he was straight but is now thinking he may not be when he starts having an attraction to Rome.
This was a sweet Friends to Enemies- Enemies to Lovers romance.
Tropes: Childhood friends to enemies, Enemies to Lovers, Billionaire Librarian, Angry Paleontologists, Bi Awakening, Found Family, Forced Proximity,
Liam and Rome were childhood best friends but when 13-year-old Rome Kissed Liam and his very homophobic mother saw this, she forbids them from being friends. Liam was angry that Rome ruined everything.
Fast forward 20 years and Liam has started working for The Museum of Natural History and his boss sees him talking to Rome, a well-known billionaire. His boss Wants Liam talk Rome into give a donation to the Museum.
Rome agrees to the Donation, however he insists on making Liam work for it, by agreeing to five dates that Liam must plan.
They eventually talk about the childhood kiss and rekindle their friendship. Liam thought he was straight but is now thinking he may not be when he starts having an attraction to Rome.
This was a sweet Friends to Enemies- Enemies to Lovers romance.
Tropes: Childhood friends to enemies, Enemies to Lovers, Billionaire Librarian, Angry Paleontologists, Bi Awakening, Found Family, Forced Proximity,
March 29, 2026
Love this! It's so freaking easy to fall for Jocelynn Drake's characters. Every single one of them! Rome, an adorable billionaire, and dino doctor Liam, his long-lost friend, get the second chance they've been waiting for since 8th grade.
🔥: The anticipation is great with this one, especially since their second chance begins with forgiving each other for their pasts. We get medium-paced scenes with lots of details and so much love!
😆: I had a big, dumb smile on my face while reading this one. And at so many different points! They're just so sweet together, you won't be ROFL, but maybe SOFG. Swooning on the floor giggling. I have a feeling this won't catch on, but it's still true!
😭: Eyes watered with this one as Rome and Liam tried to work through their obstacles. They're so dang cute together!
Why don't we have THESE kinds of billionaires in real life? We don't even get the Batman kind, let alone the sweet, kind and generous ones in this series. It's totally unfair. I'm going to write a letter to all the billionaires and tag this series so they know exactly how they should be behaving!
CW: homophobia
🔥: The anticipation is great with this one, especially since their second chance begins with forgiving each other for their pasts. We get medium-paced scenes with lots of details and so much love!
😆: I had a big, dumb smile on my face while reading this one. And at so many different points! They're just so sweet together, you won't be ROFL, but maybe SOFG. Swooning on the floor giggling. I have a feeling this won't catch on, but it's still true!
😭: Eyes watered with this one as Rome and Liam tried to work through their obstacles. They're so dang cute together!
Why don't we have THESE kinds of billionaires in real life? We don't even get the Batman kind, let alone the sweet, kind and generous ones in this series. It's totally unfair. I'm going to write a letter to all the billionaires and tag this series so they know exactly how they should be behaving!
CW: homophobia
August 16, 2025
Third in series (Executive Suite Secrets), but can be read as a standalone. Former best friends. Adversarial to lovers. Pansexual representation. Mature characters. Slow burn. Dual POV.
One kiss and Rome ruined Liam’s life when they were kids. Now Liam is supposed to get the billionaire to donate to the museum where Liam works, but Rome is extorting five dates from him in exchange. Rome wants to annoy and torture Liam, but neither of them realize that their old bond is hard to forget.
I always like a story that has old friends unable to shake the closeness they shared, and Liam and Rome never forgot their time together twenty years ago. Even though both men have reason to resent the other, the time they spend together is actually sweet, and once they communicate about their past break-up they go full speed into a commitment to try and build something new. I enjoyed that Liam’s acceptance of his attraction to Rome wasn’t super angsty, and Rome has no hesitation in planning a future with Liam. 4.5 rounded up
One kiss and Rome ruined Liam’s life when they were kids. Now Liam is supposed to get the billionaire to donate to the museum where Liam works, but Rome is extorting five dates from him in exchange. Rome wants to annoy and torture Liam, but neither of them realize that their old bond is hard to forget.
I always like a story that has old friends unable to shake the closeness they shared, and Liam and Rome never forgot their time together twenty years ago. Even though both men have reason to resent the other, the time they spend together is actually sweet, and once they communicate about their past break-up they go full speed into a commitment to try and build something new. I enjoyed that Liam’s acceptance of his attraction to Rome wasn’t super angsty, and Rome has no hesitation in planning a future with Liam. 4.5 rounded up
August 17, 2025
3.75/5 I enjoyed this, but it wasn’t my favourite of the series. In part, this is no doubt because enemies to lovers isn’t my favourite trope. The rest of this plot really tugged at me, though, so I gave it a try. It starts with my least favourite iteration of enemies to lovers, where the two MCs are over-the-top mean and angry in a way that doesn’t seem realistic for something that happened so long ago and which ends up being resolved so quickly. But I’m so glad that they finally actually communicated with one another.
Rome was mostly really respectful or Liam’s boundaries, but I found that in a couple of spots I wish he’d kept better control or his impulses or given Liam the chance to express himself verbally.
I enjoyed the scheming friends, Emily, and all the kids excited about dinosaurs. I thought the grand gesture at the end was quite sweet.
I’m looking forward to finding out what on early is going on with Simon and Pierce.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
Rome was mostly really respectful or Liam’s boundaries, but I found that in a couple of spots I wish he’d kept better control or his impulses or given Liam the chance to express himself verbally.
I enjoyed the scheming friends, Emily, and all the kids excited about dinosaurs. I thought the grand gesture at the end was quite sweet.
I’m looking forward to finding out what on early is going on with Simon and Pierce.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
August 18, 2025
The Arrangement is the third story of the Executive Suite series that follows a group of friends as they each find their HEAs. This story follows Liam and Rome, ex-best friends from childhood, who reconnect 20 years later after running into each other by accident.
I've really enjoyed the found family aspect of this series, and this book keeps that going as the friends are all in each other's business and lives. They help Rome and Liam work through 20 years of hurt feelings after a kiss ruined their friendship as children.
Through a series of five dates, the friends first restart their friendship that turns into more. I found both Liam and Rome sweet together after they reconnected and had a much needed discussion on what actually happened all those years ago.
I enjoyed this series, but I am dying to know more about Pierce and Simon's stoy! Jocelynn has been keeping us waiting for the big reveal, and I am here for it!
I was provided this book by GRR in exchange for my honest review.
I've really enjoyed the found family aspect of this series, and this book keeps that going as the friends are all in each other's business and lives. They help Rome and Liam work through 20 years of hurt feelings after a kiss ruined their friendship as children.
Through a series of five dates, the friends first restart their friendship that turns into more. I found both Liam and Rome sweet together after they reconnected and had a much needed discussion on what actually happened all those years ago.
I enjoyed this series, but I am dying to know more about Pierce and Simon's stoy! Jocelynn has been keeping us waiting for the big reveal, and I am here for it!
I was provided this book by GRR in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2025
There is a lot to process in this one. We start in the past when Rome and Liam's friendship imploded. I liked how Rome's parents reacted, a healthy way for him, in comparison to Liam's, which was so bad! It's easy to see why the friendship ended. It would have been interesting get the "real" reaction to things, had both boys had parents that reacted in a good way.
So here we are 20 years later and Rome and Liam run into each other, both have unresolved questions with why their friendship ended. Both of them seem to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in to get answers. It was nice to see them talk about things, frankly and honestly, with reservations brought up and talked through. It was interesting what sent Liam spiraling, so not what I would have guessed. Both of them got great advice from friends about what to do and both of them were able to talk out those issues at the end. It was nice to see them end up on the same page and find their lost friendship and so much more.
So here we are 20 years later and Rome and Liam run into each other, both have unresolved questions with why their friendship ended. Both of them seem to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in to get answers. It was nice to see them talk about things, frankly and honestly, with reservations brought up and talked through. It was interesting what sent Liam spiraling, so not what I would have guessed. Both of them got great advice from friends about what to do and both of them were able to talk out those issues at the end. It was nice to see them end up on the same page and find their lost friendship and so much more.
August 29, 2025
This was a strange addition to the Executive Suite series.
I am all for experimenting going wrong, misunderstandings in teenage-hood but these two carry a hate for 20 years over a kiss and a homophobic mother? Come on.
They behave like spoiled children and not adults for at least the first half of the book. Rome sees life like a bit of a joke, getting revenge is more important than finding out what actually happened.
Liam's behaviour when meeting Rome again is just weird, it's 2025, being gay is not contagious and he behaves like a virgin on their first ball. I wasn't too keen on his character.
I like the dates, the slow move into being more relaxed with each other and then finally what they should have done on date 2 - talk about what has happened.
From there the story flows better, I like how Liam gets more comfortable with Rome, his sexuality and growing a backbone how to deal with his boss.
There is also too much similarity to the first book - dates for financial help.
I love how the author prepares the stage for the next book and I hope it will be a better one.
I am all for experimenting going wrong, misunderstandings in teenage-hood but these two carry a hate for 20 years over a kiss and a homophobic mother? Come on.
They behave like spoiled children and not adults for at least the first half of the book. Rome sees life like a bit of a joke, getting revenge is more important than finding out what actually happened.
Liam's behaviour when meeting Rome again is just weird, it's 2025, being gay is not contagious and he behaves like a virgin on their first ball. I wasn't too keen on his character.
I like the dates, the slow move into being more relaxed with each other and then finally what they should have done on date 2 - talk about what has happened.
From there the story flows better, I like how Liam gets more comfortable with Rome, his sexuality and growing a backbone how to deal with his boss.
There is also too much similarity to the first book - dates for financial help.
I love how the author prepares the stage for the next book and I hope it will be a better one.
September 2, 2025
I don’t really know what happened here, but I didn’t actually think Rome and Liam really had much chemistry. The whole childhood friends-turned-enemies storyline didn’t hold much weight behind it, and I don’t know, it felt a bit flimsy. The miscommunication was solved as soon as they actually talked and, although I could see a strong motivation on both sides for why they cut off contact, it wasn’t fleshed out enough to make me feel for either MC. I think it could have used more oomph behind their separation so that we knew they were missing something in their lives when they were apart.
Now, the saving grace for me is how wonderfully supportive both MCs were after they resolved their differences. Rome is incredibly patient with Liam, and for all his insecurities, Liam is receptive and equally affectionate with Rome. And the way they handle what could have been a major conflict in their relationship was done very well. I also just genuinely adore this world and this group of friends! I really need Pierce’s story now though!!
Now, the saving grace for me is how wonderfully supportive both MCs were after they resolved their differences. Rome is incredibly patient with Liam, and for all his insecurities, Liam is receptive and equally affectionate with Rome. And the way they handle what could have been a major conflict in their relationship was done very well. I also just genuinely adore this world and this group of friends! I really need Pierce’s story now though!!
August 28, 2025
How to review this? I get that what happened 20yrs ago was hurtful to both of them and that it pretty much spoiled a lot of Liam's childhood, but ..... These guys are in their 30's now and to continue to act as pre-teens is just ridiculous. I really didn't like Liam for the first half of this book and was rooting for Rome until he came up with his 'Arrangement' and then my opinion of him plummeted too. There were a couple of points where I wondered if it was worth continuing with these antagonistic a-holes. The second half of the book however, was fun, flirty and a little steamy. The friends from previous books excelled at talking them down and we get to spend some quality time with Simon in readiness for his story. So, this was a book in 2 halves. I hated the first half, but loved the second. A side note and not part of the rating - the editing is terrible. It's littered with mistakes and even moves from 1st to 3rd person in the middle of a sentence. I expected better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews