Un beso con el CEO (Los Hermanos Whitley)

The Whitley Brothers #2

by Layla Hagen

Después de conseguir el ascenso de mis sueños, me he empeñado en demostrarle a mi jefa que soy la persona ideal para el puesto. Destino gran parte de mi salario a ayudar a mis padres, y no puedo permitir que me despidan.

¿El primer paso? Ganar el premio a la mejor marca de café. Eso es pan comido. Hasta que me topo cara a cara con Cade Whitley. Éramos amigos en el instituto, hasta que un día desapareció sin decir palabra. Llevo años sin verlo, pero ha
envejecido como el buen vino…
¿Está increíblemente bueno? Sí.
¿Es descarado como él solo? También.
Además de arrogante, mandón y exasperante.
Pero no puedo resistirme a la tentación. La verdad es que ya estaba coladita por él en el instituto, aunque fue un flechazo no correspondido. A día de hoy, Cade Whitley sigue siendo mi kriptonita.

Cuando me besa y me confiesa que me desea, no puedo evitar rendirme a sus pies.
Estar con él es no solo porque podría romperme el corazón, sino porque mi jefe podría enterarse y despedirme.

Pero Cade tiene una especie de don para hacerme olvidarme de todo… excepto de él.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Second Chance, Billionaire Romance

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2023

About the author

Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)

Reviews

[Nate Brightman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m a guy who reads contemporary romance. Give me some romance, some sexy and a happily ever after and I’m fairly satisfied with a story. Throw in some crazy humor like Pippa Grant or Lucy Score or some magic and or paranormal like K.F. Breene or some danger and suspense like Jennifer Ryan and Lori Foster and I’m happy as a pig in slop. But being a guy I’m also tired of contemporary romance stories like this one where Cade Whitley, the male protagonist because his parents had bad marriage or some woman broke his heart has serious commitment issues. I mean historically half of all first marriages end in divorce and who hasn’t had their heart broken a time or two? If we all soured on love because of a few bad experiences where would the human race be? Would contemporary romance still be the largest selling genre in literature? I think not. Because most of us want to believe in true love and the chance for a happily ever after regardless of our life experiences. So yeah, the all too common male characters like Cade who swear they’re never falling in love, never settling down (even though they eventually do) tend to annoy me. Now that I’ve gotten that off of my broad manly chest, let’s talk about the story.
Cade’s father was a bigamist who led two lives. It wasn’t until Cade was a teenager that his older brother Jake discovered that their father had another family a state away. When his father’s duplicity was discovered, dad hightailed it to Australia abandoning both of his families and never looked back. So despite the fact that Cade’s paternal grandparents Jeannie and Abe whom he and his brothers are all extremely close to have enjoyed fifty plus years of wedded bliss, Cade’s parent’s experience has convinced him to never be in a serious relationship. Now at thirty one years old, Cade only does casual which is a euphemism for meaningless no strings sex.
Cade and Meredith attended the same high school until Cade left in the middle of his senior year. Meredith had tutored Cade in math. He considered them friends, but never considered Meredith any more than that. But Meredith had always had a crush on the handsome bad boy. Since she was never one of the cool kids being nerdy and chubby, she understood why Cade never showed any interest in her. She was upset that Cade never even told her he was planning on changing high schools and never contact her afterwards. Now it’s a dozen years after high school. Meredith has risen to the position of VP of Marketing for a small boutique coffee company. She owns the fact that she’s a curvy plus sized woman and isn’t afraid to flaunt her full figure. Her boss enters their company into a fair trade coffee competition where Cade’s much larger and longer established company is also competing. Meredith wants the greater market exposure winning the contest would bring. Unbeknownst to Meredith, her boss wants the exposure so she can sell the company and retire. Cade wants to restore his company’s reputation as an ethical coffee company that his father tarnished before running away. They meet on the first day of the contest in Harvard Square where the competition is taking place. Cade’s arrogance and know it all attitude upsets Meredith but she still is attracted to her high school crush. Cade recognizes Meredith as the beautiful sassy woman he didn’t see when they were in high school and is immediately attracted to her. Despite the fact that he only wants casual he can’t help flirting with and pursuing Meredith. Meredith’s boss shocks her when she reveals she’s interested in selling her company and retiring. She’d be more than happy to sell it to Cade. Meredith is worried that if the company is sold she will lose the job she needs to support herself and help her financially struggling parents.
It's nothing short of miraculous the way after a couple weeks of texting and talking and one steamy night together Cade goes from “Mr. I Only Do Casual” to, “You’re mine and only mine.” Unfortunately for all the things Cade says and does for Meredith its those three little words he doesn’t say that leave her feeling like she’s on shaky ground with him. I suspect part of the problem is that despite adult Meredith’s acquired self-confidence, part of her can’t help fearing that the handsome Cade is out of her league so there’s no way he can feel about her the way she feels about him. Meredith also finds herself feeling like she’s also on shaky ground with her job. Her boss whom she’d previously worshipped as a great boss and mentor seems like she’s not afraid of withholding crucial parts of her plan and using Meredith to accomplish her goals if it leads to helping her sell her company.
While Cade and Meredith are building their relationship they have lots of romantic dates and burn the house down hot sex. Cade’s grandparents Jeannie and Abe and all of his brothers and Natalie, Jake’s now fiancée make frequent appearances in this story as do Meredith’s parents and sister. Two books into this series the Whitney brothers only true redeeming feature seems to be their fierce family loyalty and drive to be successful in business. In their personal lives they come across like overgrown adolescent boys.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Author***

3.5 Stars

Layla Hagen is one of the authors I keep reading because I know I am going to get a solid book that I enjoy.

Meredith and Cade knew one another in high school, where she had a crush and he was a jerk. Fast forward a few years and they are rivals working for different coffee companies and competitors at a trade show. So, there is a little bit of a work rivalry mixed with second chance in this one, and I enjoyed it.

I believed in their chemistry and while Cade was a bit of a jerk in high school, it was more due to immaturity than anything else, so that was easy to overlook and believe in their attraction to one another.

There was a side character on Meredith's side who felt a little extraneous and I am not sure her presence really added to the story, although it didn't actively take me out of it either...I am just not sure she was really required.

That said, I enjoyed and recommend this title.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

This is my first introduction to author Layla Hagen and what a great introduction it is.

As Matchmaking the Rival is a romance full of heart, family feels and genuinely likable real characters.

As Cade Whitley, CEO of The Boston Coffee Expert is determined to restore his families and companies reputation by winning a prestigious coffee award.

But to do so, he must beat his closest competitors, including Sonyas Blends. Who's vice-president of marketing is his former math tutor, Meredith. A curvy, strong, sassy, family loving heroine. Who had a thing for Cade in school till he disappeared halfway through.

But now they're together once more. Thanks to the matchmaking efforts of Cade's sweet 90-year-old grandmother Jeannie. And the sparks soon fly.

However, they both have very different ideas of relationships and are in direct competition. Yet, they soon find they can't keep their hands off each other.

And with plenty of banter and heat. This was a really enjoyable and delightful read. That I'd happily recommend to others and I'll certainly be reading more of this series and author in the future.

I was kindly provided with an ARC by Wildfire Marketing Solutions in exchange for an honest review

[Chelsea Hockenberry ~ Author Groupies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking the Rival by Layla Hagen
Reviewer: Chelsea
Rating: 4.5 stars!

Grandma is at it again! I love a good second chance romance so I was super happy get into this book! As I previously stated grandma is determined to make sure she is getting great grandchildren while she has time to enjoy them!

Meredith had a crush on Cade in high school, but that has changed now that she is an adult. She can’t stand him, and now he’s the competition.

These two had so much chemistry! I loved their competitiveness with each other! Grandma is such a good matchmaker! All these family members will find love is she has any thing to say about it!

Love and Books
~Chelsea

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star review Matchmaking The Rival by Layla Hagen

Matchmaking the Rival was an entertaining read with witty banter and characters whose story you quickly become hooked on.

This is Cade and Meredith’s story and one that ticked a number of boxes for me. They were engaging and easy to relate to but for me it is Grandma Whitley who steals the show. She is such a fabulous character that you cannot help but love.

The chemistry between Cade and Meredith is intense and impossible to ignore. I enjoyed the push and pull dynamic of their relationship as it progressed.

This is a well written, romantic love story about finding love when you least expect it and one I enjoyed.

[Noemi S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layla Hagen è sempre una certezza, questo libro si merita ampiamente 4.5☆
In questa storia ci racconta di Cade, io fratello responsabile di dirigere l'azienda di famiglia dedicata al caffè.
A questo giro mi è piaciuto un po' meno il racconto per via del susseguirsi degli eventi, un po troppo veloci per essere credibili nella realtà; ma la storia è pur sempre super accattivante.
Penso di star innamorandomi della figura fantastica della nonna...

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a long time Layla Hagen fan. I really enjoy her books and the stories she tells. Her big complicated families have so much joy and chaos in them.

Meredith and Cade have know each other forever it seems. She had a crush. He was an ass.

They are now working for rival coffee companies and are in a competitors at a trade show.

These 2 characters do have chemistry, but they have to overcome hurt feels and their rivalry to make things happen.

Second Chance is not my favorite of tropes but this one did work being as Cade was immature in the past and had some growing up to do. A did feel the pages of this book were crowded and the character of Meredith was a distraction I did not need.

If you are looking for a quick and easy read I absolutely recommend this book. It just wasn't my favorite, but I think it comes down to tropes.

[Daisy Nijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winning a prestigious coffee award: that’s the goal for two competing companies.
CEO Cade Whitley is determined to win this award until he meets the vice-president of marketing of the competing company, Meredith.
But Meredith isn’t a stranger, she used to tutor him.
Meredith had a crush on Cade in high school. Being close to him while tutoring didn’t help to downsize that crush.
Now, the competition is on and they push each others button. But soon that turns into flirting, and flirting leads to kissing… but they are working in rival companies….
I love these books by Layla. She writes them full of banter, humor, romance, heat… You get addicted to these books. This was a quick and fun read, second chance romance.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cade & Meredith’s Story Is A Sweet Friends-To-Lovers Romance & A Perfect Read For Christmas & Coffee Lovers Alike! The Whitely Family Saga Continues As They Work Toward Healing The Old Wounds.


This is the second in what appears to be an eight-book series about the Whitley brothers.

So far, this (as of yet unnamed) series includes:
1. Matchmaking the CEO (Jake & Natalie’s story)
2. Matchmaking the Rival (Cade & Meredith’s story)

ABOUT THE WHITLEY FAMILY:

The Whitley family is complicated, to say the least. Abe and Jeannie Whitley head the family. They are grandparents. Abe, eighty-eight, had run Whitley Industries, a family company, until retiring and leaving it for his son Ryan to manage. Jeannie, eighty-nine, is a spirited grandmother. Her biggest hope is to finally become a great-grandmother, and she isn’t above a little meddling – a.k.a. matchmaking – to make it happen.

Colton Whitley, thirty-four, is a scientist and the CEO of the biotech branch of Whitley Industries. Serious and dedicated to his work, he has no social life. He has been working tirelessly on his latest project.

Jake Whitley, thirty-three, chose to follow a different path. He runs his own management consultancy firm in New York City. This is his story.

Cade and Spencer, fraternal twins, are thirty-one.

Cade Whitley is the prankster of the family, but he has a sensible side as well. He developed a love for coffee in high school and now runs Whitley Industries’ The Boston Coffee Expert. His grandmother appears to have a scheme in the works involving him and an old high school friend, Meredith.

Spencer Whitley runs the publishing branch of the family company. The perfect complement to his twin, Spencer is the pacifist of the family. That doesn’t mean he never finds trouble, though.

Gabe Whitley, the youngest, is twenty-nine. He might be the carefree brother, but he didn’t make things easy for his grandmother when she took him in for his senior year of high school. He runs the family’s craft distillery. He is sometimes recognized for his appearances in distillery commercials.

Ryan Whitley, the boys’ father, secretly had a second family. Jake discovered this life-altering fact when he was twenty and doing an internship for his father at Whitley Advertising. Jake and Colton witnessed their mother’s heartache upon learning about the betrayal. The younger three boys were sheltered from it; they suffered less trauma than Jake and Colton as a result. In the aftermath, tragically, their mother fell ill and died months later. At the time, Gabe was the only minor, so at seventeen, their grandparents took him in. Their father moved to Australia after the discovery, although he left no fans behind. His second family didn’t follow him, either. Ryan had never married Nancy, the other woman, but she had no knowledge about his wife and children. She rejected him when she learned the truth. Ryan has three sons with Nancy – Maddox, Nick, and Leo.

Abe and Jeannie have made an effort to bring Maddox, Nick, and Leo into the family. The boys all agreed to move to the Boston area where, like four of their half brothers, they now each run a branch under the Whitley Industries umbrella. Even though they have lived locally for years now, it is a bit wonky that they have not been fully incorporated into family events. The younger brothers seem to have fallen in with their half-brothers on the down-low, but Colton and Jake remain too traumatized to make the effort thirteen years later.

Maddox manages Whitley Office Designs. He seems uptight in some ways, yet relaxed in others. It is difficult to marry the difference. At this point, I don’t find him very likable due to the inconsistencies.

Nick oversees the fitness center branch of the family business. He recently opened an online security company as well. He and Maddox once had the same girlfriend.

Leo runs Whitley Real Estate.

FROM MATCHMAKING THE CEO, BOOK 1:

The story opens in Boston. It is late June.

Jake Whitley, thirty-three, is a self-made man. He is CEO of New York Management Consulting and is known for his ability to turn around troubled companies. Although he could easily have gone to work running one of his family’s companies after college, he wanted nothing to do with that legacy. His entire outlook on family was destroyed when he discovered that his father kept a second family. Childhood memories of his loving parents and of happy family moments were erased in that instant. That was when Jake was twenty and interning at Whitley Advertising. The discovery destroyed his family. His mother died with a broken heart months later. Two years later, Jake finished his B.A. and left Boston behind. He still valued his family, but he wanted nothing to do with the city and the company that reminded him of his two-timing father. There were too many painful memories associated with both.

Jake got a master’s degree at NYU’s Stern School of Business and made New York his home. He lives for work, devoting years of his life to eighteen-hour days. His employees wonder if he is really a robot. He isn’t much of a people person, though he knows how to turn on the charm when needed. Jake prefers working with numbers. He also likes schedules. He believes in strict discipline in every aspect of his life. He is confident, stubborn, and known for his difficult personality. He eventually recognized the need for a little downtime, so he has a monthly weekend retreat at his Martha’s Vineyard estate. It is a time to decompress and meditate. Back home in New York, he now makes time for dating and working out. Although he dates, he has never cared about a woman. He makes his grandparents and brothers a priority in his life, but Jake has no intention of having a family of his own.

Natalie Summers, thirty, was born with a wholesome and cheerful disposition. She is stubborn in a good way – her tenacity helps drive her success. She is undaunted in the face of life’s challenges. In fact, she enjoys a good challenge. She now finds herself in a financial bind, thanks to her ex-boyfriend Vince. She lost her job three months ago. Worse, her former employer is refusing to provide a letter of recommendation, hindering her job search. Natalie was the first in her family to earn a degree, something she is proud of, but the competition in her field is fierce. She earned a degree in computer science and spent five years working in predictive analytics. She is working with a recruiter, but the process takes a while. Her parents moved to Greece to live near her two sisters, so she doesn’t have family to lean on. Since Natalie spent years assisting her mother run a party planning business, when her funds begin to run dry, she opens up her own. Natalie’s Event Agency went live online days before when she gets her first call. Jeannie Whitley is turning ninety and wants to throw a big party – and she wants Natalie to manage the event.

Jeannie Whitley is a force to be reconned with. She listens to her intuition when she comes across Natalie’s website, and she begins to set the stage for a grand scheme. In addition to wanting great-grandchildren, she wants Jake to move back home to Boston. With that in mind, she plays matchmaker with him and the local woman.

When Jake’s grandmother asks him to host her birthday party at his Martha’s Vineyard estate, he doesn’t know how to say no to her. When she insists that he pick up her event planner and take her with him on his next trip to Martha’s Vineyard, he still cannot refuse her. Nevertheless, he wants nothing to do with the woman – Natalie Summers – and already hates her. But soon after meeting the somewhat naïve beauty, he finds himself amused by her banter. She is authentic and real in a way he hasn’t experienced in a woman before. When Natalie sees Jake for the first time, she is electrified. His powerful gaze captivates her, but he is just as difficult and stubborn as Jeannie had warned. He is proper and all business, never an unguarded moment. Still, she cannot help but admire his sense of command.

When Jake learns that his grandfather has stepped in to help run Whitley Advertising, he is concerned that his grandfather is overextending himself and unhappy that nobody had discussed it with him. With no CEO for months, the company is floundering. And when Jake takes a closer look, it appears his father left the company in worse shape than anyone realized. Since Jake is in the business of turning companies around, he is the perfect person to step in and take charge. The only problem is that Jake is already a CEO and has no intention of leaving New York. A medical emergency finally convinces Jake that he has no choice but to move to Boston temporarily. He plans to turn Whitley Advertising around and either sell it off or find a new CEO. The move also puts him in Natalie’s sphere. As the pair begin to spend time with one another, they know their time is limited. Jake must face his past when he returns home. As he spends time with Natalie, he begins to discover new things about himself and rethink his beliefs. Natalie struggles with the direction of her life as she tries to put the past behind her. She doesn’t want another relationship after things ended so badly with her ex, Vince. Jake and Natalie don’t have a future, but they decide to enjoy the little bit of time that they do have together. The couple eventually finds a happy ending.

IN THIS BOOK:

It was roughly mid-October when book one closed. The family had gathered at Jake’s home in Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate Abe’s eighty-ninth birthday.

As this story opens, one week has passed. It is late October in Boston.

Cade Whitely, thirty-one, doesn’t do relationships and doesn’t believe in love – not after seeing how it played out for his parents.
He has no idea what led to his father’s lies and his double life, but he’s learned his lesson. While he was a handful as a child, it was when his father’s lies famously came to light that Cade’s trail of trouble escalated to recklessness. As if the shame his father brought on the Whitely family name weren’t enough, Cade gave his ailing mother and his grandparents a run for their money as they struggled to keep him out of the system during his senior year of high school. He ended up switching schools midway through that year, leaving everyone he knew behind without a word, too ashamed of his own actions. Cade learned his lessons. Today he is all about family, and his biggest goal is to bring pride back to the Whitely family name.

Cade has always loved coffee. His discriminating taste dates back to his teen years, so it was natural that he would eventually take over the coffee branch of the Whitely Industries umbrella. As the CEO of The Boston Coffee Expert, Cade has his hands full. His industry is competitive, serving a variety of customers with increasingly sophisticated palettes. Fortunately, he loves his job. He is working hard to bring the company back from the damage done to the brand by his father, who had abandoned the fair-trade principle instituted by his grandfather. Cade is working to increase the company’s standards in sourcing and sustainability, and he has his sights set on winning The Fair-Trade Choice competition as a sign that The Boston Coffee Expert is back at the top.

Meredith Porter, thirty-one, is passionate about coffee. She has loved it since high school, so it was natural that she found employment in the industry after college. She began at Sonya’s Blends, a smaller company focused on higher-end specialty blends, as a marketing trainee six years ago and has worked her way up the ladder since. She just got promoted to VP of Marketing, and the timing couldn’t be better. Her parents recently lost their business and were left saddled in debt. Meredith has helped as much as possible, and the increase in salary will certainly help out. The Fair-Trade Choice competition is just around the corner. It is the perfect opportunity for Meredith to shine in her new position and prove her worth to her boss, Sonya.

When Cade and Meredith cross paths at the competition, the old high school friends instantly reconnect. Meredith had tutored Cade back in the day and harbored a secret crush on the heartbreaker. He had disappeared during their senior year, though, never to be heard from again. Cade had enjoyed his friendship with Meredith back in high school, but he never considered her more than a friend. He wonders why that was when he sees her working at the competition. He is drawn to her like no other, and it feels foreign to him. His grandmother has made a few odd comments about Meredith of late, apparently her latest attempt at matchmaking. It seems she and Meredith’s mother had recently run into one another and got to talking. Cade and Meredith decide to play along for some fun, but soon they find that they want more. The couple experiences a few challenges along the way, but they soon find a happy ending.

The story ends with a surprise twist for Cade’s fraternal twin, Spencer. Watch for his story to follow!

Cade and Meredith find love as they compete against one another in this light-hearted coffee-themed romance. The former high school friends find romance when they reconnect over a decade later. This is another great story about the Whitely family and the struggles they face to move on after their father scandalized the family about thirteen or so years ago.

There are a few issues that merit mention. First, Abe’s age does not line up with his age in book one, causing confusion. This book picks up a week after Abe’s birthday at the end of book one. There, he was eighty-eight turning eighty-nine. Here it is said that Abe Whitely just turned ninety. Second, the conversations don’t always feel fluid and authentic, rather, they seem stiff and disjointed at times. Third, this book puts Cade and Meredith at both eighteen and nineteen when they last saw one another, but that runs a little on the old side for midway through their senior year of high school. Fourth, Meredith initially shows animosity towards Cade, but it feels misplaced. Fifth, Cade’s character feels inconsistent at times, and Meredith’s does as well on at least one occasion. Sixth, sometimes the obvious isn’t obvious (when it should be obvious). For example, even though everyone knows that the grandmother is into matchmaking and has mentioned Meredith a few times, there is suddenly surprise at the notion that she might be playing matchmaker with Cade and Meredith. Seventh, it is said that the grandmother is using reverse psychology to get Cade and Meredith together. I think the reverse is true. Eighth, Meredith has a favorite Starbucks that she frequents. It seems a bit disloyal to be a regular at the competition’s store. Finally, there are several additional small issues that caused me to pause while reading.

Cade and Meredith’s story is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance and a perfect read for Christmas and coffee lovers alike. It is a story about family. The Whitely family saga continues as they work toward healing the old wounds. The story is nicely written. The plot is simple. The story is told in first person. The POV alternates between Cade and Meredith. I rate this book four stars.

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

[Kim Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I was excited to continue this series would be an understatement. This book seemed to flow more easily and didn’t have a slow start or drag out. Cade liked Meredith right away and did something about it. Though they start their relationship slow due to both being competitors and not wanting to give anyone ideas. From the get go, Cade was committed to her, though he never came out and said it. You see it in his actions and in the way he feels around her. She was the first thing he thinks about and work a close second. They respected each other for their coffee ties and how they feel about their jobs, not wanting to jeopardize it, hence why it took longer for Cade and Meredith to explore their relationship physically. I’m not even upset over this because the author provided enough teasing until they got to that point that I felt satisfied. Aside from that though, I enjoyed reading about how their relationship grows and the continued family ties. We see Cade unravel his tight emotions and how he embraces how he was feeling about Meredith. She does the same to him once she realizes she was feeling the same. The vulnerable moments between the two of them is always enjoyable to read. I love when relationships get to that point because it shows you trust them which is an important aspect of it. I’m only sorry I took so long to read this book. When you go on vacation during the start of a book it’s hard to find time to sit down and read. Anyway, to close this out, I’m finding that there will be a growing theme in this story and it’s how Jeannie (the grandmother) is silently pulling the strings in having all her boys find love. She’s doing so in a natural way where it didn’t feel formal and I think I mentioned this in the last review which is a definite new way of writing a romance. She’s letting them play their cards so it happens naturally but she is somehow drawing them to each other from the start to begin their journey to love. How she will end up doing it with Spencer, which is what the next book is alluding to is another question. It gives this series a bit of mystery that we have to figure out but with hints and guides from Jeannie during each story. Lastly, I’m loving the theme where the couple stays together throughout the whole book and talks things out as well as stick together, no matter the challenges and thankfully it isn’t too dramatic. I can’t wait to continue the series, whenever the next book is released.

[Shelf Indulgence · Rating 4 out of 5]

>>>_<<<
What’s that they say about the best laid plans? They are easily derailed.
Especially when my high school crush is the CEO of the competition, and his matchmaking grandmother is plotting to bring us together.

After getting the promotion of my dreams, I’m determined to prove to my boss that I’m the right person for the job. I’m using all the extra money to help my parents, so the last thing I need is to get fired.

The first step? Win the prize for the best coffee brand. Easy peasy.

Then I come face to face with Cade Whitley. We were friends in high school, until he disappeared without a word. I haven’t seen him in years, but he’s aged like fine wine:
Hot as hell? Check.
Shameless? Double check
Overconfident, bossy and infuriating? Check, check and check.

I can’t resist him. The truth is, I had a crush on Cade in high school, and it was completely unrequited. Cade Whitley is still my kryptonite.
When he kisses me, confessing that he needs me, I can’t help but give in.
This is dangerous. I could get my heart crushed. My boss could find out and fire me.

But Cade has a way of making me forget about everything… except him.

[Anna-Marie Buchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I mentioned how much I love Jeannie

So Kissing the CEO (was Matchmaking the Rival) is book #2 of the Whitley Brothers. I adored Cade and Meredith's story. I want to call this Friends to Lovers but it really wasn't. They were acquaintances in High School but Cade was so messed up he paid her no mind. Years later they meet at a competition and started off on the wrong foot so to speak. The banter back and forth was cute. But the stead fast no commitment no relationships Cade fell hook, line and sinker. Loved this read and I loved how the 3 stepbrothers are becoming a part of the family together. Warms my heart. I'm loving this series so far. I can't wait for all the rest of the brothers and step brothers books. I'm especially interested in Colten's and Maddox's books. Now on to the next Falling for the CEO Spencer's read. This should be interesting for sure. Especially how the epilogue in Cade's book ended. All I can say is OMG.

[Sarajane Garten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla Hagen writes books that i cannot put down. This one kept me up till 4am

No one writes great romantic fantasies better than Layla Hagen. The men are wealthy, the women are accomplished, and their love is heartfelt. All of the Whitley brothers, all four of them, have their own story.

This book is about Cade; who meets his best friend from high school and falls in love with her. They work in the same field; high end coffee. Cade is the CEO of one company, while Meredith works for a competitor. This book ends with them engaged. I'd put money down that somewhere in the series Meredith transitions to a stay at home Mom. But that's just me. Perhaps she'll leave her company to join her husband's?

Enjoy this Whitley brother brother romance. But I suggest you read them in order.

[Diane Heffner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

Any time I read a story. The most important part is that it's entertaining this story was. I love seeing the entire family, come in and out and make comets of course on what's happening with the current brother. His story was interesting. Of course, because a childhood romance who doesn't love them getting back together, especially when it was a crush. And of course, who doesn't love Christmas decorating? I fell in love with the female character just for that alone because she is my soul. Back to the story though I think I fell in love with this story because of the female character. She is just me. And the author knows how to keep you going. Putting the little tip for the next book. Right at the end, ha she's not dumb. That's for sure. Makes you wanna go right to the next story, which I am.

[EvyS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn in by the coffee

Although a pleasant tale, it all seemed a bit too smooth and I am still trying to figure out why it did not capture my interest. Perhaps it was the superficial characters; neither Case nor Meredith seemed to have any depth and the relationship never faced any challenges. It seemed a bit of boy meets girl, boy and girl start sleeping together, boy and girl buy a house and get married, living happily ever after. Never a conflict or question. Even fairy tales have villains, but I didn't find any believable ones within this story. Even the one character put forward was noted as punished in a side conversation at the end of the story. So, less exciting than a fairy tale.

[Jacqueline Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author doesn’t disappoint.

I love the way this author presents her characters as normal people with normal desires and problems. The family connections are always a plus because you do not lose contact with previous characters that you loved. After reading a few of the books you may start to feel a part of this huge family.
The 90year old grandmother has decided that matchmaking is her only way to get the great-grandchildren is wants. It is now Cade’s, a sworn bachelor’s turn. He meet’s Meredith and realizes she was his math tutor in high school. He didn’t realize she had a thing for him then. He was too into the of an active and angry teen boy.
They decide to pretend to have a relationship, just to stop grandmothers matchmaking, but then things start to change.

[KY Book Lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kissing the CEO is book 2 in the Whitley Brother's Series by Layla Hagen.

This second chance romance between Cade Whitley and his high school tutor Merideth. What appears to be the couple reuniting at a coffee competition turns out to be more matchmaking of Cade's grandmother. While there were some okay parts of this book, it was certainly not my favorite. The chemistry felt forced, the dialog odd at times. I also found the constant emphasis on Meredith’s size annoying (she is a size 14 and curvy). And don't get me started on that ridiculous 3rd act breakup/misunderstanding. What even was that?? I have read a lot of books by this author and will continue on to the next book in the series. Hopefully, it is better than this one.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was painful to get through. I really liked the first book, don’t know what happened with this one. Might just be a me problem. I was annoyed by both characters the whole time. They were weirdly clueless, surprised by everything and unaware of their surroundings.

And then all the gasping in of breaths, lip biting/licking and heaving chests. I’d think someone has asthma with the frequency that happened. Lots of over the top reactions to things that didn’t warrant it.

I could keep going with things that annoyed me, like the redundancies and contradictions/inconsistencies, but since I normally like reading this authors books, I’m hoping this was a fluke and that I’ll enjoy the next one. Although it’ll be a while before I’m gonna give it a try.

[Julie D (Audio and Book Jewels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So… it seems that grandma is at it again… her matchmaking skills excelled in the first book.. and she’s ready to make sure all of her grandsons are married an giving her grand babies while she’s still alive.

Cade and Meredith met in school when they were younger. Meredith tutored Cade to make sure he passed his classes. They both had a love for coffee that has carried over into adult-hood.. but they work for competing companies. When both of their companies are part of the same competition.. they re-acquaint themselves.. and a healthy competition ensues…..

And since I don’t spoil stories.. that’s all about the storyline I’m going to share.

I love the Grandmother matchmaker!! And I’m quite fond of all of these characters and how these stories are playing out. These brothers and half brothers.. with their wonderful grandmother’s help… just might end up happy after all!!

[Brittany IdealistPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok so…

This was by far the best book in this series I can’t wait to read more since this book made me hook line and sink and I got to admit after reading book I really didn’t want to read this since I was so excited for it like I was at first since I saw it was series I read the first book and that book made me hesitant on reading this one since I wasn’t so thrilled reading the other one and if you curious on what I though about the other one go read my review on it. Hopefully it will give you insight and clarity on what I said here but anyways I am so happy I read this book and I honestly can’t wait to read the other books especially the other brothers books too.

[Maegan Britain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy comfort romance read. I do appreciate that the author doesn’t add unnecessary drama to these stories. Kissing the CEO was a cute insta-love story and I’m obsessed with the Whitley family. “Some people met through fate, others because Jeannie Whitley decided it was time.”

Cade is the next Whitley brother in the series. He’s taken over the family’s coffee company as CEO and is trying to turn it around. He rekindles with Meredith, the girl from high school that had a crush on him but he never saw as a love interest. Now that’s all changed and he immediately wants her attention. Even though she works for a rival coffee company they are able to fall in love.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

actually i DNF, time is limited that don’t wNt to waste it. the book title indicates rival, means competition, yes, talking about who’s coffee is the best but it isn’t in return, talk about a man try to win a woman, this is not in sense that why he like her, then what the writer focuses is sex sex sex, yeah, some of them will colour the book well, but this one absolutely not.

felt disappointed, hers used to be fine, not the excellent one but above the standard, however not this one

with the repeated line again, a man becomes a single dad, what r u expect? no more for me

[ELC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking the Rival by Layla Hagen

I absolutely loved this one. We are back with The Whitely Family. I don’t know about you but I was missing the Whitely brothers so I’m happy we got Cade’s story. This is book two in the ser and it is Cade and Meredith’s story. Thanks to good old grandma we have some scheming and it involves Meredith. These two went to high school together and she had a crush on him but he disappeared back in their senior year of high school. Now they have crossed paths again at the The Fair-Trade Choice competition and thanks his grandma they go along but soon see there may be more. It was a fun and one o highly recommended.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking the Rival

What a wonderful story. The Whitley families have been creating business’s and starting to settle down, not without their grandmother doing a lot of pushing them on her own. They have been friends, but now Cade finds out Meredith is working with an opposing company, in a competition. Let the fun begin! Great story, full of laughter, excitement, and emotional feelings. Beautifully written, loved it

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee Break

Layla does it yet again.
Meredith and Cade were acquaintances in high school and now competitions in the market of gourmet coffee. With the help of a meddlesome grandmother they become friends and then more. This sweet store is made even more special by Meredith’ passion for everything Christmas.
Layla Hagen has become my go-to author for consistently romantic HEA’s.

[Ive Davila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cade and Meredith

Cade (twin) was CEO of the coffee branch of the family business, Meredith is VP of a small coffee brand. They are colleagues at high school, she's the tutor and he's her crush. When they finds each other in a coffee competition the sparks ignited a beautiful love story.
I enjoy reading this book and recommended it.
Waiting for Spencer (tne other twin) story.

[Edit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I have read this book before around when it came out first but for some reason it was not available for review at the time on goodreads and forget about it. Re-read it now, because I remember that I liked it.

* Hero(s) - 3/5
* Heroine(s) - 4/5
* Secondary Characters - 3/5

* Plot/Storyline - 4/5
* Romance/Steam - 4/5
* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 3/5
* Worldbuilding/Atmosphere - 3/5

* Writing Style - 3/5

[lovelover · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the storyline quite a bit! However, about 30% through the book I wanted to put it down. I tried to push through and got to about 60% but I dnf.

These characters are accomplished and educated people, and somehow their dialogue and train of thought was a bit immature or just didn’t make sense. Their dialogue made cringe quite a bit and was ultimately the reason I dnf.

I really wanted to love but I couldn’t!

[Heyyoray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this couple, and the series is really solid for romance with some spice. This book was actually really good for this time of year, it has a lot of Christmas and I love it. The story is childhood friends to lovers, a pinch of fake dating and a lot of cute MMC showing he loves his soon to be woman. Another short listen, perfect balance of slight drama and romance and story in between.

[Gloria Wenman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading

Jobs along at a good clip. Characters are likable, would have liked the two main characters to have more depth. Issues were over come very quickly and easily. I would have liked a little more nitty gritty added to the mix. Thrilled that Meredith was an ample sized woman instead of a skinny humourless stick like female.