How to Resist Your Boss: A Grumpy Sunshine Fake Engagement Romance

by Leslie North

The Hating Game meets Crazy Rich Asians—but he’s a grumpy hotel mogul, she’s the chaos-taming wedding planner who can’t stand him, and one viral scandal turns their feud into a fake engagement with sparks they definitely can’t fake.

From the moment I bumped into Drew Ashford I knew one I’d rather lick a subway pole than deal with him again.

Sure, he’s sexy as hell—in a hot movie-villain kind of way. Too bad he’s also obnoxious, arrogant, and worst of all, a dog hater.

Not my problem…if he didn’t own the hotel where the biggest wedding of my career is taking place.

Landing the wedding of a mega-famous reality star couple could make my career. All I need is everything to run no scandals, no drama, no Drew.

But when a very compromising, very viral video catches him with the bride, Drew decides to drag me into his mess. Announcing—to millions of the couple’s rabid fans—that we’re engaged!

Spoiler: we are not.

Now to protect the wedding (and our own reputations), Drew convinces me to play along. The ring? Fake. The backstory? Fabricated. The chemistry?

…Unfortunately, very real.

And somewhere between the forced smiles and infuriatingly hot kisses, I start to wonder… what if I hate him a little less than I should?

Genres: Romance

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2026

About the author

New to Leslie? Readers suggest starting with 'The Bossy One' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6BP3BBF) —Imagine a sunny Minnesotan Mary Poppins, employed by a grumpy Irish billionaire. The story is a blend of humor, revenge, passion, heartbreak, hope, and witty banter. As one reader put it, ‘This story had me squealing at the romantic moments and silly moments.’

Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!

In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!

Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.

She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!

I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books

Reviews

[Paula (in & out)]

Undecided if I want to read this or not so I skimmed to the scene with him & OW to see how bad it was and surprisingly it is safe.

MMC is a hotel owner 7 FMC is a wedding planner. He is a clueless nitwit that often comes across as an asshole but that's just because he's dumb (IMO). Anyhoo, he needs a celebrity wedding for his property to get out of the red or something and it so happens that the bride (an actress) happens to be an ex-girlfriend of his who is sweet and nice BTW. They dated several years ago and there is no lingering feelings (at least up to the 15% or so that I read) other than friendship.

But the scene in question, has him running after OW when he sees she is upset and offering a hug & a talk. That is it. There is a bit of reminiscing about the past where he met her Grandfather who threatened him if he hurt his baby girl but all in all, it is totally innocent and no kissing or making out which I was afraid of. The doofus forgot to take out his mic so the cameras caught them hugging & found out about their former relationship which is where the "scandal" comes into play and where MMC gets fake engaged to FMC to save his butt.

My only gripe is that I hate OP past info. Did we really need past history info about his & OW relationship and how sweet, pretty and nice she is and how they met the family? Nope. Not me.

To be continued if I decide to read it. For now, on hold.......

[Narci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumplestilskin’s and wedding planner… Wedding planner Emilia needs to secure her next gig with famous reality TV show couple when she accidentally crashes into most grumpy hotel worker on planet, grumplestilskin. Ashford Carmel CEO Drew needs to secure next big event after last scandal and is determined to secure reality star Carter and Kristen Wedding no matter the cost. However, Drew’s well laid out plans become a runaway train wreck in the making, lines are crossed and blurred. Drew must juggle Family issues, hotel craziness, and shipwreck crew that is determined to drive him insane. Emilia is a strong, sensible, determined, excellent wedding planner with a huge heart, but with an obscured way of thinking about couples she marries, and renovation drama. Drew is a conflicted, workaholic, lost soul in need of direction and love. Drew makes Emilia a proposition she can’t refuse and so the drama escalates to next level; bossman becomes Fiancée. I absolutely loved Winston and the banter between him with Emilia and also Drew. This story touches on many family and life issues and depicts our humanity in such a fun and entertaining way you can't help fall in love with the characters. I would have given this arc more than a five star if it weren’t for a few issues. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving ARC

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie has given us yet another brilliant story. Emilia is a wedding planner, working hard to build her business. Now she has the opportunity of a lifetime with handling a famous couples wedding. Drew has his hands full with running the hotel company, he's also trying to keep his dad from stressing after his recent ill health. Getting the high profile marriage reception could help rebuild the complexs reputation. But after the run in he had with the wedding planner, he knows she's definitely not his biggest fan. This is a brilliantly funny, heartwarming story that just keeps you reading. I'm looking forward to reading more on this series.

[Ioana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow..just wow! I devoured this story in one siting!
I expected a light rom-com, easy buildt characters..and..I was amazed how complex and intriguing this story was!
The MMC so beautiful contoured, the banter and the tension between them..their back stories..definitely my kind of enemies-to-lovers rom-com!
5 beautiful stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3🌶

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

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Resist Your Boss is the second book in the Ashford Brothers Series. A steamy full-length standalone romance with a guaranteed HEA. The stories are interconnected with individuals from the previous book making appearance and contributing to the story. Another great addition to the series. This is Drew and Emilia story which is told from a dual point of view. A beautifully written story with complex storyline that captures the reader attention from the start and keeps you riveted and turning the pages. An unputdownable and absorbing read. A fast paced, thrilling and gripping story. A definite page turner with enticing erotic scenes that draws the reader into the story and make you feel like you're a part of it.

Tropes:
💰💰Billionaire Romance
✔️Bosshole Romance
✔️Forced Proximity Romance
😂😃Witty Banter, Humor
✔️Angst, Tension, Emotions
✔️Rom-Com Romance
✔️Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
✔️Hate-to-Love Vibes Story
✔️Contemporary Romance
💍Fake Engagement Relationship
👰‍♂️🤵Wedding Planner Story
📃📝Romance-that's-started-on-a-contract
☀️🌞Grumpy Sunshine Romance
📸📽♨️Scandal, Heat, Drama
✔️Forbidden Romance
Sexy as fuck Drew Ashford is a handsome, grumpy sunshine billionaire hotel tycoon. He's obnoxious, arrogant, stoic, cold-hearted, commanding asshole and the most travesty is his hatred for dogs. Emilia Marino is the chaos-taming wedding planner who despises him the instant she meets him. She has just landed the wedding of a life time and the year of a mega famous reality star; which could make her career as a wedding planner as well as open up additional job and create more revenue. The wedding takes place at one of his family run hotel and will be filmed and televised nationally as part of a reality T.V. show. All only goal is to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch, and that everything to run smoothly without no scandals, no drama and definitely no Drew.
He wouldn't even be a problem if he didn't own the hotel where the biggest wedding of her career is taking place. Emilia is beautiful, strong-willed, driven, fierce and determined. Drew is the epitome of control in all things. So when he got caught in a scandal that went viral with the bride in a very compromising position. He drags her into his mess to help him clean it up, by announcing to the millions of the couple's rabid fans that they were engaged which they're not. And to protect the wedding as well as their own reputations, Drew convinced her to play along which would be beneficial for both of them. And with this fake engagement announcement comes the staged planted photos, steamy hot kisses for the camera, the crafting a relationship back story, the ring, unexpected electrifying chemistry, carefully crafted walls being broken down, laugh-out-loud-moments, forced proximity, unexpected feelings a response that he never expected nor could he control. It all was suppose to be fabricated but unfortunately it became very real. And somewhere between the forced smiles and infuriatingly hot kisses she started to wonder what if she hate him a little less than she should. A swoon-worthy story that unfolds within the pages with these enemies falling in love.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Emilia Marino and Andrew “Drew” Ashford have everything riding on one wedding—the wedding of reality TV stars Carter and Kristen. For Emilia, it’s a career-defining opportunity to elevate her wedding planning business. For Drew, it’s a chance to restore the tarnished reputation of his family’s luxury venue after a very public scandal. The stakes are sky-high. The chaos, absolutely guaranteed. Drew is a tightly wound, image-conscious CEO with a workaholic streak and enough family baggage to fill the honeymoon suite. The last thing he needs is a film crew documenting his every misstep. Emilia, on the other hand, is wildly talented, fiercely professional, and just a little unconventional in how she views the weddings she orchestrates. She may have her quirks, but she’s grounded, capable, and utterly committed to giving her clients their dream day, no matter how impossible they make it. From their first meeting, sparks fly and not the romantic kind. They clash over control, aesthetics, execution… basically everything. Both know this wedding cannot fail. Both know their reputations are on the line. And yet, they can’t seem to stop butting heads. Then comes the disaster: Drew is caught in a compromising situation with the bride and in a moment of blind panic—and in front of cameras—he blurts out that he’s in love with Emilia. His fiancée. The problem? They can barely stand each other. What follows is a delicious fake-dating spiral of staged affection, forced proximity, and selling the performance for reality TV. The chemistry between them is electric. Their banter snaps and crackles, perfectly capturing that irresistible grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Drew may be all control and composure, but Emilia rattles him in the best way—challenging him, calling him out, refusing to be steamrolled. And he can’t help but admire her competence, her passion, and the pride she takes in her work. Watching their relationship shift from reluctant allies to something achingly real is pure romantic gold. The tension simmers, their defenses slowly crumble, and those sharp edges soften in ways that feel organic and earned. There is, admittedly, a third-act breakup that feels a touch unnecessary, but it’s become a bit of a Leslie North trademark and ultimately makes the payoff that much sweeter. Packed with behind-the-scenes wedding drama, emotional angst, sharp humor, and enough twists to keep you guessing, this story is equal parts chaotic and heartwarming. It’s a sparkling, feel-good romance that delivers laughter, swoon-worthy tension, and a hard-won happily-ever-after you’ll absolutely cheer for.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hating Game meets Crazy Rich Asians—but he’s a grumpy hotel mogul, she’s the chaos-taming wedding planner who can’t stand him, and one viral scandal turns their feud into a fake engagement with sparks they definitely can’t fake.

From the moment I bumped into Drew Ashford, I knew one thing: I’d rather lick a subway pole than deal with him again.

Sure, he’s sexy as hell—in a hot movie-villain kind of way. Too bad he’s also obnoxious, arrogant, and worst of all, a dog hater.

Not my problem…if he didn’t own the hotel where the biggest wedding of my career is taking place.

Landing the wedding of a mega-famous reality star couple could make my career. All I need is everything to run smoothly: no scandals, no drama, no Drew.

But when a very compromising, very viral video catches him with the bride, Drew decides to drag me into his mess. Announcing—to millions of the couple’s rabid fans—that we’re engaged!

Spoiler: we are not.

Now to protect the wedding (and our own reputations), Drew convinces me to play along. The ring? Fake. The backstory? Fabricated. The chemistry?

…Unfortunately, very real.

And somewhere between the forced smiles and infuriatingly hot kisses, I start to wonder… what if I hate him a little less than I should?

This contemporary billionaire enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine fake engagement comedy romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building, and characters who are an alpha male exuding power/wealth a.k.a. billionaire hotel mogul, who is arrogant, grumpy, obnoxious, arrogant, and worst of all, a dog hater, a female heroine who is sunshine, and a chaos-taming wedding planner, who are both resilient, captivating, humorous, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with how to resist your boss, mature, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth, humor, chaos/drama, a grumpy/sunshine fake engagement, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with how to resist your boss and a billionaire enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, fake engagement romantic comedy that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly lustful, humorous, intriguing, and unforgettable.

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

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Resist Your Boss was a quick, easy binge and I flew through it!

It’s well written, the dialogue flows really nicely, and I loved the dual POV. Getting inside both Emilia and Drew’s heads definitely helped make them feel more layered. Especially Drew with his grumpy, anti-love energy.

The setup is fun: she’s a wedding planner, he owns the luxury resort hotel where the wedding is being held, and the bride and groom are reality TV stars. So there’s cameras, staged romance, forced affection “for the show” that starts feeling a little too real… honestly that part was my favourite.

Also there is a pet desert tortoise. A CUTE PET TORTOISE 🐢 His name is Winston. I will not be elaborating further except to say this automatically improves a book.

I was expecting more from the “boss” premise. There’s not really a differential power dynamic at all, they feel more like business equals. If you’re going in expecting forbidden boss/employee spice, it’s much more vanilla than that. The smut is there, but it feels more physical than emotional with lots of “just hooking up” energy and not enough internal monologue about what it means for them.

And some things didn’t land for me:
- The first kiss scene in the cream-furniture movie theatre room felt a bit icky. She’s asleep and dreaming and says his name and he takes that as consent.
- Drew is super cynical about marriage and love, but we don’t get enough backstory about why. I wanted more emotional depth there. When he finally decides he wants a real relationship, it feels very sudden and mostly influenced by someone else telling him to go for it. For someone so anti-love, the turnaround felt a bit light.
- Emilia also feels a little delulu at times (affectionately). She’s like “he’d work hard for us” and I’m sitting there wondering… has he actually done to show that?

Overall it’s a cute, easy, low-angst read with a reality TV wedding (sunflowers in the bouquet🌻), forced proximity, grumpy MMC softening slightly, and wedding chaos vibes. I wish there had been more emotional build-up and more tension around the “resist your boss” premise.

Also, in my personal opinion with no marketing expertise, I do think the cover should be cuter and more playful because this is way more wedding + tortoise-core than dark forbidden office romance energy.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Loverulesall_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐
2🌶️

Leslie does it again and has whipped up another delicious MMC to add to the billionaire collection of hers 🤭 HTRYB, second in series features Drew, CEO of Ashford Resorts and Emilia, wedding planner extraordinaire.

When reality TV celebrities Kristen and Carter decide to hold their upcoming nuptials in Carmel - specifically Ashford Luxe Resort and Spa. The wedding coverage is being featured on TV, with camera men and crews recording their every move. Drew and Emilia know their reputations are on the line and will do anything to make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch.

However, Drew is caught by Carter in a questionable situation with Kristen. Drew has to diffuse the problem quick and in a moment of panic declares that he only has eyes (and hands) for his fiancée.... None other than Emilia 😱

Drew and Emilia tolerate each other at best, due to an incident which saw them get off on the wrong foot... But now newly engaged? They're going to have to fake it if they want to pull off the wedding of their careers 🤭

I totally adored Drew and Emilia, who might not have given the best impressions during their first encounter, but their attraction was something undeniable. Emilia was such a beautiful character, with a big heart and who took pride in her work/job. She definitely threw Drew for a loop - a grumpy, workaholic man who thrived on control.
Together they were just perfect 🔥 and throw Winston in the mix? Gahhh... 🫠🥰

The main reasons why I knocked a star (or more) off was because I thought Drew and Emilia's relationship suddenly went from 0-60mph overnight, and I didn't know what made them change their minds so quick about each other.
The 3rd act break up was also very similar to Harrison's story (book 1) which felt repetitive and maybe unnecessary at this point. Fingers crossed, I just hope that Logan's story delivers us something new 🤞🏻.

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

[Mona M · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 Let’s get into it

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟚 in the Ashford Brothers Series

4.9 ⭐️ rounded up for GR

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Another Billionare Romance that’s keeping me wanting to read this trope.

In Book 2 we meet Emilia - a wedding planner who at first meet with Drew, they butt heads they are working together to make a wedding go smoothly at his resort and here’s the thing - it’s being filmed for reality tv and before Drew gets himself stuck in a scandal he enlists Emilia’s help and they fake an engagement while the show is being filmed.

Marriage of Convenience is one of my favourite tropes and the Fake engagement trope is starting to become another one I’ve been loving! I need more recommendations pls

I loved getting to see another Ashford and his story, (waiting on you Logan!)

I loved getting to see more of the family in this book and Harrison and Gwen especially. If you want more from Gwen and Harrison you’ll get a little more to their story in this book

Tropes:
Billionare Romance
Fake Engagement
Hotel Mogul x Wedding Planner
Grumpy x Sunshine

Quotes:

𝒩ℴ 𝓌ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇 𝒽ℯ 𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀ℯ 𝒽ℯ ℴ𝓌𝓃ℯ𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸ℯ. ℋℯ…𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒶 𝒹ℴℯ𝓈

𝑁𝑜 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑑. 𝑂𝑢𝑟
𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑎𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑, 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑒. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑦 𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘.

"Oh, so being fake-engaged to me is a sacrifice?"
“Yes! Obviously. Have you met you?"

"Don't worry, when the time comes I'm going to be so flirty that you'll start to believe it yourself. I'm in the wedding industry, and I'm an excellent actress. But for now? Back off, bossman."

Happy reading! 📚 - Mona

Thank you to Leslie and her team & BookSprouts for the ARC

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably contains spoilers…

Another gem from Leslie North! Drew runs a resort and Emilia is a wedding planner. They both need this celebrity couple to get married. Him so his result isn’t considered cursed (his last event planner ran off with the groom and ruined the wedding), and her so she can pick up more clients for her business.

Funny thing: Drew used to date the fiancee. When he is caught comforting her, the producer of her fiancé’s reality show makes it seem…not so innocent (it totally was). To keep the peace, Drew tells everyone that Emilia is his fiancée so there is no need to worry. He has no interest in Kristen because he has his love. Boom! Fake engagement story line.

Obviously, this is a romance…they “fake” it, but develop real feelings. If they didn’t, well, what would be the point of this book?
My favorite parts about the “fake” without giving too much away: -Drew’s conversation with Harrison 😍
-his mom’s first ring
-Winston
-spice that isn’t disgustingly descriptive
-the way Drew fake proposed
-Poppy

Unfortunately, there is the dreaded 3rd act break up (I really hate those) when Carter (Kristen’s idiot finance) acts like an idiot and thinks Drew and Kristen have been cheating. They haven’t. *eye roll*

That leads to the entire overreaction on Emilia’s part because she didn’t have the decency to actually communicate her feelings. They break up, which is stupid, and they’re both sad about it. Good. They deserve to be sad. They should have grown up and talked. I mean, they’re what - 30?

Grovel, grovel, grovel…HEA. The end.

Did I mention I hate the 3rd act breakup trope? Hate. Seriously.

Also…curmudgeon is overused.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might want to get comfortable with your favorite bottle of wine, and because you won’t put it down until the last page has been turned. Emilia has worked so hard trying to get her business off the ground as a wedding planner, now the opportunity of a lifetime handling a famous couple’s wedding, and it will feature TV with camera. Drew sexy as get out CEO of Ashford Resorts must work with his wedding planner extraordinaire; they must work together closely something he wasn’t sure he could handle, but he is determined to have a good reputation of his Ashford Resorts that ensured that his wedding planner’s business would also get exposure. However, when Drew is caught by the soon-to-be husband Carter in a position that is questionable, he had to come up with something to reassure Carter that nothing was going on so he told them both that he had eyes only for his fiancée who happened to be their wedding planner Emilia. But the thing is the two of them barely get along with one another so when he lies about them being engaged it forces them to fake being with each other but also forced them to get to know one another really get to know each other, Emilia loved what she did doing that that making other’s dream come true and Drew is a workaholic grump who needed control of everything around him but being forced to work with her they realized the magnetic pull was there trying to ignore couldn’t be ignored but is it enough for them to see past their differences, can he see for who she is past her job, can he show her he is more than just a grumpy workaholic, and will they find happiness along the way?

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Viral chaos, fake engagement, and enemies-to-lovers perfection

How to Resist Your Boss by Leslie North is sharp, funny, and packed with sizzling grumpy/sunshine tension from start to finish.

Emilia is an absolute force—competent, driven, and determined to make the biggest wedding of her career flawless. Her internal monologue about Drew Ashford is hilarious (the subway pole line? Iconic). She knows he’s trouble from the start: arrogant, polished, way too attractive, and—unforgivably—a dog hater.

Drew is peak grumpy billionaire energy. As a hotel mogul, he’s used to control, strategy, and keeping emotions out of business. So when a viral scandal explodes after he’s caught in a compromising moment with the bride, his solution is pure damage control genius… and complete chaos: announce a fake engagement to Emilia.

The fake engagement trope is executed perfectly here. The staged photos, the backstory crafting, the forced proximity—every scene crackles. And the chemistry? Absolutely not fake. Their banter is sharp, their frustration is delicious, and the tension between “we can’t” and “we definitely want to” keeps the pages flying.

What really elevates the story is how both characters have to soften. Emilia sees past the polished, controlling exterior. Drew learns that not everything can be handled like a PR crisis—especially feelings.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, workplace tension, viral scandal drama, and fake engagement stories where the sparks are very real, this one delivers in every way.

Smart, sexy, and so much fun. 💍🔥✨.

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

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the setting of a hotel owner and a wedding planner who both need to have this televised celebrity wedding go through without a hitch. So when Drew needs a fake fiancé to keep the wedding from falling apart, it was only natural for him to say that Emilia was his fiancé. But after a great start it lacked power and substance. There were some things that felt like the author was trying too hard to sell this relationship. For example Drew paying Emilia ten thousand dollar for agreeing to play his fake fiancé, while Emilia he had as much to lose from the bride and groom breaking up as Drew. And Drew becoming instantaneously irresistible because he talked to her tortoise. A millionaire CEO that didn’t understand computers, videoconferencing or texting, that’s not adorable but weird. The TV crew interviewing Drew and Emilia about their kinky sex life on camera, while the reality TV show was about this celebrity wedding and not the hired staff. Lots of swearing and trying to vamp things up with lots of lust and sex instead of building on the attraction by showing a caring main male character. Unfortunately it was more about insta lust between Drew and Emilia and I missed the little lovely things where you fall in love with these characters. More character building and relationship building, more romance. I did like the whole wedding planning tho and everything that comes along with that.
It’s a bit of a shame because this book had good bones, a good setup and I really see how it could have been great.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to be in the minority by not liking this book. It wasn't a good story at all. There was zero chemistry between the main characters and when they "break up" the fight is the most ridiculous part. Both characters are so dumb, I can't get past it

First we have Drew, he is running a chain of luxury resort hotels, is a billionaire but can't use a cell phone? Uh huh. He makes dumb decisions throughout this book and only gravitates towards Emilia because she's pretty.

Emilia is a train wreck of a character and is not likable at all. She is a wedding planner who is able to manage bridezillas with ease but lives in an active construction zone where she's constantly being fucked over by the contractors. Uh huh, make that one make sense. Also, don't get me started on the tortoise. The completely unnecessary to the plot tortoise who gets treated like the 3rd member in this fake relationship.

The book is full of telling rather than showing, especially in relation to Drew and his brothers. I didn't read book one so I don't have the context of why they drifted apart. But watching them come back together was painfully written. The author explained everything in detail instead of just letting me figure it out for myself that the brothers were rebuilding their relationship.

I got this book for free from Netgalley after the publication date and I appreciate that, but I won't read anymore books in this series.

[Abbygaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read packed with feelings. If you are familiar with the Lockhart universe, there are some cute Easter eggs to that series.
We have Drew a resort manager and Emilia a wedding planner whose worlds collide on a shared event.
I connected more with Drew than Harrison from the first book and at times felt like we might avoid the classic third act break up followed by a grand gesture because he seemed to be more in tune with the FMC emotions and needs. But… alas as with all her novels, they are the same plot points with different characters and subplots. I truly do eat these novels up because they are quick and fun but I would love a diversion. Maybe the FMC makes the grand gesture. Maybe the MMC ugly cries and realizes his errors instead of stewing alone for months. Idk. Just something a little different would be nice from this author.

This is my 6th book from this author (again, love them!) but the FMCs are always very similar, the same plot formula is used and it’s become a little mundane for me. I will read the next one! But after that idk. There are ways to evoke the heartbreak feeling without doing the same thing each time.

Regardless of that rant, what she does she does well! I did like the subplots being just the right amount of tension and entertainment. Excited for the next installment to the Ashford dynasty!

[Smutty Professor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie North is my go-to for grumpy bosshole romances! In this one, Emilia is a wedding planner who finally lands the kind of celebrity event that could change her whole career. Of course, it’s at a luxury resort owned by Drew Ashford, who she immediately clashes with. Their first meeting is definitely tense, awkward, and filled with mutual judgment. Naturally, they’re then forced to work side by side while cameras follow every move because the wedding is being filmed for reality TV. And then Drew makes a very impulsive decision and tells the world they’re engaged. To each other.

The fake engagement was honestly so well done. The staged affection, the forced proximity, and the energy of having to sell it for the cameras was so much fun! Their banter was really good, and the tension between them had that playfulness that I love in a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Emilia doesn’t back down from him and when Drew slowly realizes he might not be as emotionally untouchable as he thinks was lovely. Also, Winston deserves his own mention because he absolutely steals scenes.

This one is a bit dramatic, and has some classic billionaire romance vibes. But it’s a quick and entertaining read that's easy to get wrapped up in. If you like fake engagement, high-profile weddings, and brothers-with-their-own-books energy, this one would work for you! I can't wait for Logan's story!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Emilia is waiting for her bride to be to show up for a meeting, she encounters 3 rambunctious dachshunds being tormented (and tormenting) the hotel manager. The puppies elderly owner is the grandmother of her client so she tries to help the "sweet little old grandmother" by defending her and the dogs. In the melee, Emilia and the manager both drop their phones. They retrieve the phones and a little later realized they switched them. He has hers and she has his. So far it's a comedy of errors.

The hotel has been cursed with a string of bad luck recently. The hotel manager and the wedding planner join forces to try and pull off the perfect wedding. It seems that the bride and the manager have a history. When the groom finds out he accuses them of cheating. The manager claims that's impossible because he is engaged to the wedding planner.

The book continues on with them getting closer with each new disaster. Bonding over her tortoise, her grandfather, the wedding itself, etc. At the end, she finds out he doesn't believe in "happily ever after" so after they wedding they sever ties. But there's still several more chapters.
Is it really over for them? Will they get their happily ever after? I won't spoil the ending for you, but definitely read through to the end.

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

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wedding-planner Emily and billionaire Drew start of on the wrong foot and think the worst about each other. But when they are forced to work together on a wedding that is filmed for a reality show they get to know each other better. Turns out the other is not so bad after all...
This is the second book in "The Ashford Brothers" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. If you have read the first book in the series you are already familiar with the Ashford family and will be meeting them all again in this book which is something I really like about reading interconnected series.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it had interesting and relatable main characters, a lot of very quirky side-characters (the bride and groom - OMG) and a fast-paced and mostly believable storyline. There were some minor things that I didn't love, for instance that the beginning was very similar to the first book in the series. Also I thought Drew's complete change of hearts after one conversation with his brother was rather sudden and didn't completely convince me. Still it was a very entertaining and steamy romance book and I am already looking forward to reading Logan's story next.

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

[Renee Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for the Boss

The beginning banters back & forth between Drew & Emilia are so entertaining. Drew’s hotel has been blacklisted as bad luck based on a wedding gone bad. When an opportunity arises to change that, a ‘reality TV’ couple is searching for a wedding venue. Emilia is hired for this one time to do her magic as a wedding planner. The couple wants “the moon” & both Emilia & Drew bend over backwards to make their dream wedding come true. The couple are being videoed plus they have millions of followers so this can make or break the hotel’s reputation if anything goes awry. What isn’t planned is the enemy’s to lover’s story with Emilia & Drew! Plus, the producer is interested in catching them as a side story to the engaged couple’s wedding preparations. I like the extras twists with the family & friends knowing Emilia & Drew make a great couple. Even the fake romance feels so real. Will Drew realize his bah-humbug attitude towards marriage isn’t for everyone … falling in love & a HEA is for everyone! Leslie North has created a fun-loving novel. A great read & absolutely worth reading!

I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot of a reality TV show featuring a wedding between an actress and a fitness reality star shot in a beautiful resort run by CEO Drew Ashford while the Emilia Marino, the wedding planner should be the makings for a good romcom. It is so much more than that.

The characters are flawed, complicated and genuine. The storyline between Kristen and Carter, the couple getting married and having the whole process documented for television is a lesson in what love looks like from the inside out, not by how people perceive how they should love or be loved.

The romance between the main characters, Drew and Emilia is an emotional journey that neither of them expected. They begin as the grumpy/sunshine couple that needs to work together in order to save their professional careers. It morphs into a fake engagement when a huge misunderstanding occurs and needs to be remedied to save everyone's day. It's fun, sexy and the start of something real where emotions become involved until it gets uncomfortable for Drew in reality. It takes a great deal of thought and effort on his part to convince Emilia he listened and understands everything she needs.

This book is an incredible story that I thoroughly enjoyed and has one of the best redemption comebacks that I've read. It is a romance lover's dream read.

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

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

I thought the fake‑engagement angle would feel familiar, but the hotel/wedding‑planner chaos made it more fun than I was expecting.

The reality‑show couple’s nonstop demands, the fact the bride was one of Drew's exes, and the general wedding madness kept things moving in a way that actually worked for me. I’m not usually a reality‑show fan, but this setup would’ve been entertaining to watch play out had it been a real show showing the behind‑the‑scenes of planning a wedding for a reality couple while also trying to hide your feelings and thoughts from the cameras.

What surprised me most, though, was the family side of it. Having read the first book, I know Drew and his brothers are going through a transition in their family, with their dad leaving the company to the boys, selling the family home, and maybe even dating again. The story includes a whole different angle. It’s that real‑life shift where parents have to move forward, and the kids have to figure out how they feel about it. All of that made Drew and Emilia lean on each other more, and it made the book into something more than just the fake‑engagement chaos.

[Rebecca Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to resist your boss is part 2 of the Ashford brother series but can definitely be read as a standalone book. However, if you have read the first book it was good to see what has happened since it ended.
This was a quick read that was difficult to put down from the first chapter when the Emilia and Drew first meet each other. There was a great instant chemistry between the two. The main thing that I didn’t like was how quickly Emilia went from being super independent to kind of needy, however this does turn itself around again.
I really liked the inclusion of Winston and how he was able to bring people together and open up communication.
I enjoyed the subplot of the reality tv show and big wedding. It brought some fun to the book.
Overall, this book will be enjoyed by people who like a straightforward romance novel that follows the usual structure. I’m looking forward to book 3 in this series to learn more about Logan.
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

How To Resist Your Boss is the second standalone book in the Ashford Brothers series. In this book we read the story of Drew Ashford, a hotel CEO, and Emilia, a wedding planner. From the moment Drew and Emilia meet it's clear there is a certain chemistry between them. But they definitely don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. Unfortunately for them, they find themselves forced to work together.

Just like with a lot of other books I read by Leslie North, this book had a perfect combination of romance, chemistry, and humor. The characters are very fun to get to know, and there was also Winston.. Emilia's pet, he was simply adorable.

I really enjoyed the romance between Emilia and Drew. They started out as just fun, but they became a lot more. I loved reading their banters, which made me laugh several times. The setting in the Hotel made for a fun change of scenery, and I loved the whole wedding planning part.

How To Resist Your Boss was an entertaining romantic read. I can't wait to read what Leslie North has in store for us next. 

[Elia Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Resist Your Boss started off with the funniest meet-cute and I loved the banter between Emilia and Drew. The hilarious banter was a high point for me! I loved how Emilia and Drew were enemies to partners in crime to lovers. It was fun to see them have to call a truce to work together on the wedding of the reality tv stars and it caused some hilarious moments.

I was not the biggest fan of how quick they fell into bed together. I wish we saw more of their friendliness before that happened. And I also wish Drew didn’t give me whiplash. He was cold and hard and then friendly and loving to cold and hard again to cold and loving. I didn’t feel like I knew him enough to understand the quick switch in behavior.

When Drew was nice and caring, I loved him! And I loved Emilia. She went after why she wanted and took no prisoners! I also loved Drew’s family and Emilia’s poppy!

All in all it was a good story, just needed a little more friendship development and understanding of Drew!

I am looking forward to Logan’s story!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew needs his Caramel resort to do better after his events planner ran away with the groom. Emilia just wants to make sure all her couples have the weddings of their dreams and landing a celebrity couple will help her business go a long way. Too bad they want to have it at Drew's resort after they have a rocky meeting. They both need this wedding to go well and work to provide everything the couple needs.

So when the groom gets jealous that Drew has a past with the bride, Drew claims he's engaged to Emilia to smooth things over. Things go well between them until the night before the wedding when Drew makes his thoughts about relationships clear and Emilia sees that this relationship is going nowhere and breaks up with him.

Will Drew and Emilia be able to salvage their budding relationship? How To Resist Your Boss is the second book in Leslie North’s newest series and I’ve enjoyed reading both of the first two books. Leslie has a real way with bringing together great characters and plot points to move the story along.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘How to Resist Your Boss’ was entertaining. The delightful plot involved an uptight hotel/resort owner, an up-and-coming event planner, the nightmare of wedding planning for an influencer/celebrity in a reality show, a major misunderstanding, a fake relationship, a tortoise, a renovation project, filming galore, getting to know each other, a retiring high-powered businessman dad, getting through the wedding intact, taking the wrong approach, conferring with the brothers, making a grand gesture, and falling in love. Moreover, Emilia and Drew, the protagonists, worked overboard to try to reach their HEA. Additionally, I liked the author’s vivid descriptions including figurative language, imagery, hilarity, and right-on word choices that created an upbeat and humorous tone such as, “All of the scaffolding that had been holding me up until this point seemed to collapse at the same moment. I felt like I needed to take a year-long nap.” In addition, I received a copy for free and am giving my honest review voluntarily. Overall, I liked the exuberant and humor-filled narrative.

[Fi W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book well definitely similar to other billionaire fake dating romances still I felt held its own. With good depth to its main characters showcasing who they are and how they fit together very well.

I have to say some of my favourite moments throughout the book were the ones blurring the lines between pretending and real feelings, the readers and/or characters catching a glimpse through their facades. I must add though that when they slept together for the first time it caught be a bit off guard. I was expecting it to happen at some point, but the way it started felt thrown in to kickstart the possibility of adding more like it I did get over it pretty quickly and went back to enjoying the story.

Emilia and Drew’s story definitely had a lot of cute and complicated moments that they powered through, even if I expect it to happen I always am so happy with a happy ending. Speaking of happy couples I can definitely see myself picking up Harrison and Gwen’s book at some point after getting those snippets into their lives.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3.5⭐
Spice Level: 3 – explicit, but the first scene felt abrupt in transition

Overall Thoughts:
This worked well for me as a standalone and had a fun premise, but the tone sometimes felt uneven between the over-the-top reality show setup, the fake engagement and the deeper emotional family/relationship dynamics happening

What Worked for Me:
Winston the tortoise was adorable
Strong emotional moments between the main characters
Fake engagement created some entertaining scenes

What Didn’t Work for Me:
Repetitive grumpy nicknames early on
FMC felt inconsistent in maturity
First intimate scene felt disorienting in its transition

Romance / Characters:
The emotional connection was stronger than the physical buildup for me, and the maturity level of the characters didn’t always match the depth of their relationship.

Who This Is For:
Readers who enjoy grumpy/sunshine dynamics, high-drama reality show settings, and open-door contemporary romance.

Final Line
An entertaining romance with a unique premise that didn’t fully land for me but will definitely find its audience.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Ashford Brothers Series but can be read as a standalone. If you've read book one, you'll enjoy seeing Gwen and Harrison again and his other brother Logan. They're all heirs to the Ashford Family Conglomerate with each brother running a different division. Drew runs the resort division. You'll love Emelia and Drew's story. She's the wedding planner for a celebrity couple having a 'real' reality TV wedding at his resort. It was hate at first sight for them. No shortage of drama, angst or twists. Throw in a fake engagement, commitment issues, a remodeling disaster, a tortoise named Winston, A TV director who continually stirs the pot, paparazzi, jealousy and more twists than you can imagine. An emotional roller coaster that has a happy ending and no cliffhanger. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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