Manhattan Kiss

by Louise Bay

Thirty-six, and somehow I'd become the supporting character in everyone else's love story.
I never left my village in England except for university. Never took the risk. Then one phone call from New York and one piece of news I couldn't outrun sent me across an ocean for a three-month trial at Hotel on Ninth Street. And my one shot at finally starring in my own life.
I lasted exactly six minutes before a gorgeous, glowering stranger slammed into me, drenched my shirt in coffee, and stalked off without so much as sorry.
Of course Deacon Black is the hotel's most important guest.
Of course he's there every week.
And of course he's a fiercely protective single dad whose entire life is built around never letting anything — or anyone — shake his daughter's world.
I'm leaving in three months. He doesn't do temporary. Falling for him is the worst possible use of my brand-new fresh start.
So why does it feel like walking away is the biggest risk of all?

A standalone, spicy, single dad, billionaire romance.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Found Family, Steamy

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

International and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes spicy contemporary romance novels, mainly about guys in suits (that always come off).

Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry meets Abbey Jimenez when she grows up.

Louise loves the rain, London, Bravo, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne. In. That. Exact. Order.

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

Reviews

[Wobilba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I did enjoy the story and liked all the characters, but it just didn't give me what I expected. This didn't give a billionaire romance vibes at all. The story was set in NYC but it felt like I was reading a small town romance. There was no glitz or glamour and Hotel on Ninth Street gave more of a bed and breakfast vibe.

Overall, this was a pretty decent read just wasn't what I was in the mood for or promised.

[Jen ♥]

self note:

it's really imposible to avoid hoes even in a single dad romance 😩

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I gave something 1 star but wtf was this. This man needs to be in deep therapy and the fact that he didn’t go in this book is insane. It’s like he had epiphany’s the whole book and that was that. He owes the mother of his child an apology.

[Ceebees · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but Deacon is vile! I didn't enjoy this book he gave me so many icks. I struggled to finish it. And Aurora hearing him with another women. No need for that all. Then she moves into his ex's house. WTAF!

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

It is so ridiculous how happy Louise Bay makes me with every one of her stories, because it always happens! She’s not the only author I have in my pocket I know will hit right with me all the time, but she genuinely makes my heart happy, and I always feel so content after reading one of her stories! It’s ridiculous and I love it so much!

It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what my favorite aspect of this story was but if I must, I would say it was the growth and development of both Aurora & Deacon. They had chemistry from all directions from the very beginning but were not going down the same life path when they met. But as their relationship began to evolve, so did their paths and before I knew it, they were indeed on the same path. It was good to read more mature in age characters facing choices that weren’t so clear-cut because real life rarely is and often times, something has to give in order for you to forge a new path. Deacon & Aurora faced such challenges and stepped outside their usual for the romance journey and it just made my heart very happy.

I loved all the cameos from previous books and if you’re a die-hard fan, you’ll remember Aurora from way back in the day! LOL

I’ll be back with more thoughts and the audio experience in a few days!

About this audiobook … So, it turns out that for my ears, Zara attempting to narrate British male voices, is the equivalent of something very very bad. LOL Sorry. I swear I have listened to her before with no issue so maybe it is just this once? *shrug* I dunno. I made it to Chapter 12 and I just can’t. She was doing great until she had to narrate Deacon. Everyone else she was doing great performances. Deacon, not so much. Shane East is of course, the King of all British narrators and I always love his work. So I am stopping my listening here and exiting stage left. Cheerio!

[bookjunkiejane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much of willow, it was just too irritating.. A romance book means the central focus for most of the book should be on the lead couple and no one else should overshadow them.

[Babel]

Gripping romance and hot chemistry. I'm a happy girl.

I'm in New York thanks to this wonderful story filled with charismatic characters and relatable issues.
What happens when the life you imagined is not happening and time is running out? You cross an ocean and make choices you never thought possible.

Sweet Aurora is my heroine. She's sweet, hard-working, and full of dreams. She's feeling a side character in her own life and decides to challenge her views in order to spark real change. Her plight is so relatable. Her situation echoed with me. Actually, both characters are at a crossroads and they resonated with me. Because Decon is also very set in his ways and doesn't realise how caging they really are. That gives extra depth to a romance beyond the beautiful love story and the exciting intimacy.

I must confess that I wasn't too keen on the first encounters between them. Yet those misunderstandings fuel a connection that suddenly felt intense, ardent and life-changing. I loved it. I also find the male character so intriguing. His thinking process and need for stability are actually endearing and made me feel for him. Also, his smoldering appeal made quite an impression :-)

The hotel setting and how work intertwines with the personal instances engaged my interest throughout the novel. I loved all the characters and how they support the plot and feel like real people. I really cheered for Aurora when she prioritises her well being and for Deacon when he finally learns his own truths and strives to do better. His heart was always at the right place. Beautiful couple.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was unfortunately not for me. I found the two characters connection a bit sudden, and I didn't really like the main characters all that much.
The idea of the book was definitely fun. But it just didn't work for me.

[Philippa - (The British Bibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ — Review to be updated

[Stefanie Kral · Rating 5 out of 5]

✯✯5 Deacon & Aurora Filled Stars!!✯✯

Home run Louise!!!! I was so mad when I started reading this book Bc I had gotten really sick and couldn’t read it for over a week and I wanted to get my hands back into it. So, once I was able to read it I wasn’t able to stop reading until I finished it and OMG it was as great as I had been anticipated.

Aurora is from a small village in England where she’s lived and worked at the same hotel her entire life. Her life is pretty much the same thing day and day out. She lives through her best friend and her life and she’s starting to feel like a secondary character even in her own story. When two sisters came to her hotel and spent some time they start trying to get her to relocate to New York City and take a good paying job with a good position at their new hotel and after a while, they finally get her to agree to take a temporary three month position at the hotel. Where she will come and try out every position, learn their hotel in the hopes that she will stay but won’t hold it against her if she doesn’t. Aurora was looking forward to the change of pace in hopes of getting out of the same daily routine. The last thing she was expecting was to walk to work on her first day and walk into a guy who dumped his coffee all over her and realizing a little while later, he is one of the hotels, VIP members.

Deacon surrounds his life around two things, his work and his daughter Willow. The relationship with her mother didn’t work out. They don’t have any bad blood. It’s just he put more work into his job than the relationship that I didn’t last. Even though they’re still on good terms and friendly, they’ll never be in a relationship again. So, they came up with a solution that works for all three of them. Deacon refuses to make his daughter go back-and-forth between house and house every week so he bought a house and he’s there part of the week and his ex is there the other half and when he’s not with his daughter, he’s at the hotel a few minutes away so he could be close in case she needs them.

They’ve been doing this for years now and it’s worked and he’s perfectly fine with it but when his ex gets engaged, he realizes that she might want to change things up and he’s not OK with it and then he runs into a girl and knocks his coffee all over her and for whatever reason he cannot get this girl out of his head so needless to say he was beyond shocked to find out that she was the newest employee at the hotel that he lives at half of the week.

These two cannot seem to keep each other out of their heads and when they run into each other one night and have dinner it’s obvious that they’re attracted to each other, but are definitely not looking for anything serious. But the more time that they spend together the harder it is to see them not working out even though Aurora insists that she’s not staying and Deacon doesn’t want to switch things up with his situation for his daughter.

I’m telling you I devoured this book and it’s an amazing first story for a new series and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Louise releases next.

[Thatgirl_joy64 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a love hate relationship with this story.
Maybe it's because I almost exclusively read dark romance, but I didn't connect with ANY of the characters.
I found Aurora whiny and childish in her narrative, and don't EVEN get me started on her carrying a halfhearted torch for the unrequited crush on her bffs brother she still goes on and on about AS A THIRTY-SIX YEAR OLD GROWN WOMAN. Genuinely, wtf my dude.

She DEFINITELY forgave Deacon too quickly. We needed more groveling for sure.
Speaking of Deacon, he was crazy pants. His inane parenting choices based on his own childhood trauma was ridiculous. His sister's suicide felt like added trauma for the sake of added trauma. It didn't make me sympathetic or understanding towards him at all. The claiming of his childhood army brat lifestyle being the main stated reason for his parenting choices was enough "conflict" for the story. The suicide was an unnecessary add-in.
Also I'm sorry, but flooding Aurora's workplace with flowers and then booking a room under a false name to catch her unaware is basically harassment and was not cute. At all. Sorry not sorry.

Her "best friend" was annoying and seemed fake AF to me.
Two stars are generous and mostly accredited to honorable mention side characters- the hotel owners were cute and funny, and Ryder was sweet in his protectiveness.
That's all.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series!

Deacon is a highly successful NYC business owner. Slightly obsessive. A wee bit uptight. And devilishly handsome. Aurora is in NYC for a short term business opportunity. Having been recruited to come and work at an up and coming hotel. Their meet cute feels familiar. I believe Bay used a similar tactic in another book. Still, it gets the job done.

I liked both of these characters. No one was manipulating another or the situation. They both had long standing issues that needed to be dealt with independently. Grief is a funny thing and everyone processes it differently. Thankfully Deacon didn’t let his pride or ego get in the way and actually listened to his young daughter.

Aurora finally stopped being a spectator and started living.
Don’t miss the bonus chapter!!

[Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, I loved Manhattan Kiss! Aurora and Deacon just melt your heart with their story. Aurora has always stayed in her small town in England and been there for her best friend through everything, but a phone call changes everything and has her taking a chance in New York. Aurora is set to make the most of her time at Hotel on Ninth Street and that means avoiding Deacon. Deacon is a no nonsense guy and does everything for his daughter. Deacon gets a jolt of something new when he meets Aurora. These two have a connection and it seems impossible to avoid each other and yet they somehow find each other more often than not. Deacon and Aurora had an understanding, enjoy their time because it has an end date. However, the more time they spend together the harder it is to ignore those feelings that start to grow and start to change how these two see their lives. Can Deacon and Aurora push aside their pasts and give themselves an actual chance or will it ruin things before they even get started?! I loved their story and Deacon’s daughter just steals the show.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manhattan Kiss

What happens when a single Dad, Billionaire runs into young British woman with his coffee! Yep, disaster in the worst-case. But of course it cannot end there, constantly run into each other at her new job, let the flirty banter between these two begin. This story will make you laugh, swoon, give you fluttering and hope for HEA.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a wonderful and exciting read. I really enjoy Louise Bay's books and this one did not disappoint. It has a great cast of characters and unique situations that intrigue. And of course a HEA.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon



Aurora has finally taken a step out of her comfort zone of the small village in England where she lives. Now she's spending the summer at trial run at a hotel in New York. It's where she meets one of the hotel's important guests, single dad, billionaire Deacon Black, who stays there while his ex moves into their home for the duration of her time with their daughter. Aurora knows she shouldn't get involved with him, but she simply can't resist. Now she's in it, and isn't sure she'll be able to leave Deacon and his daughter when her trial run is over.



Deacon devotes his time to being the best father to his daughter Willow. He moves out of his home during the days his ex moves in, all so Willow doesn't feel as if she's being shuttled back and forth, so that she has a stable place to call home. He loves Willow, and no one else. Then Aurora happens, and now he's starting to open up his heart to more than just his daughter. But will Aurora be able to get him to see they can have it all?



Wow, I so was not expecting the level of emotion Aurora and Deacon would bring. They both have pain in their pasts, and it's shaped them and their hearts in different, but equally heartbreaking ways. I love how Deacon was instantly fascinated and thrown off balance from their first meeting, and how Aurora's steady warmth helped him heal. And the found family aspect brings even more depth and heart - Aurora's new bosses and the fast friendship she develops with them are female friendship goals. I always love Louise's heartfelt love stories with layered, loveable characters, and I think Aurora and Deacon (and Willow too!) just might be her most heartwarming yet.



ARC provided by the author for an honest review.

Review: Live Through Books Blog.

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[Linda Ketter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manhattan Kiss is the first book in the new Manhattan Billionaires series and features Deacon as he falls for British transplant, Aurora.

Deacon grew up moving around since his father was in the Army. He is the middle child of three children, with an older sister and a younger sister. Growing up he experienced a lot of stress and anxiety. Always the new kid in school. Always on the outside. He was never truly happy. Then when a family trauma occurred, he never fully recovered.

Aurora has done the same thing her entire life. When she was a teenager she started working at the Rookery, a local hotel, part time. She went off to college, but when she came home for holidays and school breaks, she would work for the hotel again. After college, she started working for the hotel full time and has never left. She has watched her friends fall in love and start their own families, but she is still single. When she receives some bad news, instead of telling her best friend, Darcy, she keeps it to herself. It is deeply personal and she needs to process what the news means for her future.

Aurora has been avoiding phone calls from a hotel in New York City for weeks. But after everything that has recently happened to her, she decides it is time for her to live her life for her. She has been living her life around everyone else, so not it is her turn. She decides to take the phone call and makes arrangements to go to New York for the summer.

Aurora's summer of adventure begins by meeting Deacon Black, a regular at the Hotel on Ninth, and not in a meet cute way. Then she officially meets him at the hotel. Since he stays at the hotel every week, she is bound to run into him on a regular basis. But she is not prepared for the effects he has on her.

Deacon is a creature of habit. He works and he takes care of his daughter. He does not go out unless he has to for a business reason. He meets his one friend in the gym so that they can discuss matters while also working out. He is a self made billionaire, but his daughter is his top priority. He has a good relationship with his ex and their co-parenting arrangement is unique. But when he runs into Aurora, his world is turned upside down, and he does not know what to do about it.

Deacon does some firsts in his life with Aurora. But the biggest one of all it falling in love with her.

But as a single dad, Deacon believes changing his daughter's schedule will cause her stress. What he does not realize is that she is six years old and can go with the flow. Instead he appears to be projecting his issues from his childhood onto his daughter.

But Deacon's daughter is one smart cookie. She starts inadvertently dropping little hints to him. Even though Aurora and his ex, Gabby, have told him he is the one who has the problem, it takes a six year old to fully open his eyes.

But will it be too little too late when Deacon realizes what he wants? Aurora is only supposed to be in New York for the summer. Has she already gone back home to England? What grand gesture will it take for him to win her trust and her love back?

Although I did not like to reason behind the new Aurora, I loved that she decided to shake things up and do something out of character for herself. Finding out the news she did , given her lifelong dream, was heartbreaking. But she grabbed the bull by the horn and decided to take an adventure.

Deacon follows a set schedule. So when his schedule is completely shredded by the woman who has stolen his ability to concentrate, it is entertaining.

Watching Deacon fall in love with Aurora is a bit heartbreaking. He causes stress in her life when he makes a decision without really thinking it through. She has done nothing except be there when he is available, knowing that he is a single dad. Instead, he breaks both of their hearts.

God bless Deacon's daughter. Without realizing what she is doing, she starts asking to make changes that he is not prepared for. But it finally makes him think through the decision he has made. His history has left a definite impact on him, even today. And he finally realizes it is time to deal with the past so he can move on and be happy.

Finally, I love Avril and Poppy. They are the best friends a girl could have in a foreign land. Yes they are Aurora's bosses, but they are definitely her friends. They are there for her in her time of need with ice cream. Best friends ever!

Finally seeing Worth and Ryder make appearances in this book was lovely. I always love seeing characters from previous books make appearances and this was no exception. I cannot wait for the next book and who we might see in it.

[READ ME ROMANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always a fan of romances where the characters meet by chance, and that’s exactly how the hero and heroine first cross paths in Manhattan Kiss, the first book in English author Louise Bay’s new Manhattan Billionaires series. I was especially excited that both main characters are British transplants now living in New York, because we get a glimpse of both worlds, something this author does particularly well.

Aurora is 36, and I loved that she’s a slightly older heroine. After spending more than two decades working at the same hotel in her hometown in Southern England, she takes a rare leap of faith and accepts an opportunity to become the deputy manager of a luxury hotel in Manhattan, New York.

Aurora immediately won me over with her thoughtful, honest approach to life. She carefully considers her choices, values stability, and is incredibly relatable. While she’s been playing it safe for years, Deacon becomes the catalyst that helps her embrace new possibilities and truly come into her own.

Deacon Black is a billionaire and devoted single father whose life has settled into a comfortable routine. The moment he meets Aurora, there’s an undeniable spark between them. I loved watching her effortlessly disarm him. Used to being in control, Deacon finds himself drawn to Aurora’s warmth, authenticity, and quiet confidence. Their chemistry felt natural from the start, and I couldn’t help but smile every time they were together.

I also adored the two sisters, Avril and Poppy, who co-own the hotel. Their friendship with Aurora develops organically, and I appreciated how they empowered and supported her without being overbearing. The sisters’ bond, shared vision for the hotel, and unwavering faith in one another added another layer of warmth and “girl power” to the story.

Although Aurora only plans to spend the summer in New York, both her growing relationship with Deacon and the challenges of her new career force her to reconsider what she truly wants from life. Watching her navigate those difficult choices made me admire her even more, and I routed for her the entire time.

Deacon had many swoony moments and I loved how he wasn’t afraid to admit how he feels. While he prioritized being a dad and had a demanding career of his own (he is a billionaire after all), he made Aurora feel desired and special, and he never played games with her.

While the story does include a third-act breakup, I appreciated the maturity with which the conflict was handled. Louise Bay consistently writes characters who communicate respectfully and experience meaningful personal growth. His six-year-old daughter, Willow, was adorable and added so much to the story.

I also admired Deacon’s healthy co-parenting relationship with his daughter’s mother. Their mutual respect and commitment to their child felt refreshingly realistic and added depth to his character. Decon had something emotional happen when he was younger, and it was Gabby and Aurora who helped him realize that his past was stunting his future, especially with Willow.

The steamy moments between Aurora and Deacon develop naturally and strengthen their emotional connection rather than overshadow it. There’s very little unnecessary drama, allowing the romance to unfold at a believable and satisfying pace. Overall, Manhattan Kiss is a heartwarming, feel-good romance filled with mature characters, genuine chemistry, and plenty of charm.

Fans of Louise Bay’s previous books will enjoy seeing connections to familiar characters, including Worth Huntington, Logan and Darcy from The Early of London, and Scarlett and Ryder Westbury from Duke of Manhattan.

Looking forward to Avril and Ben’s story next in Fifth Avenue Flirt. I am hoping they run into Ethan and Anna from the Empire State Series which was one of my favorites!

[Dotti Elrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manhattan Kiss
Deacon and Aurora
Single dad, work place romance

If you have read this authors Royals series you’ve met Aurora before. (Not necessary to read that series) She was a character that, at the time I didn’t particularly care for. But she’s grown up into a very lovely complex character.
Overall I really liked this story. There were a few things that I didn’t really care for.
Aurora is tired of her predictable life. Living and working in her small village in England. She’s looking to step outside her comfort zone, live a little. So she decides to accept a temporary job offer from a New York hotel. Her first day does not go quite as planned when she bumps into a rude New Yorker who dumps his coffee all over her. Turns out he’s the hotel’s best and most frequent guest.
Deacon lives, eats and breathes for his six year old daughter. He literally does nothing without thinking how it will affect Willow. The last thing he ever wants is to upset Willow. When he spills his coffee on a woman on his way to the hotel, for the first time in a very long time, he is fascinated by a woman. He knows he needs to apologize and make amends.
Aurora and Deacon are instantly attracted to each other. The more they try to remain professional, the more they seem to need to be together. When they finally cross that line, they both know it can never go anywhere. She’s only in the states for three months. And Deacon will never put another person into his life that may take his time away from his daughter.
But try as they might, feelings get involved. But all the old issues are still there, plus a few that have yet to be disclosed. Add in his exes new fiancé and her pregnancy. His neatly slotted in world is about to implode.
I loved Willow. Deacon’s daughter. She was a ball of energy. And much more mature than her six years of age. She was cute, precocious and much smarter than anyone gave her credit for being.
Deacon was a great dad. A little misguided, but his heart was in a good place. He had a great relationship with his ex. And worked hard to keep things steady and calm for Willow.
Aurora was a lot stronger than she thought she was. She was finally able to step up and live for herself. Grow, and explore the world around her. She made new friends, took chances and stepped way outside her comfort zone. She learned to live.
Aurora’s bosses Poppy and Avril were a hoot, I think we’ll see them in upcoming books.
I loved seeing past characters pop up here and there. Like an old family reunion.
While I loved both Deacon and Aurora they had their down sides as well. Deacons refusal to change anything in Willows life was at times utterly ridiculous. He and his ex had a “nesting” custody agreement. Where the child never leaves their home, but the parents move out on their off days. (This is why he lives in the hotel four days a week). Even after his ex gets engaged and announced her pregnancy, he expected her to continue with their arrangement. Leaving her husband and child to sleep and care for Willow in her home. He wrapped her in cotton and put her into an ivory tower. I understand why, with what he dealt with in his own childhood. But seriously, he was almost like a spoiled brat who stomped his foot when he didn’t get his way.
And Aurora, assuming she would never be desirable to any man because of a medical condition, she pushed men away rather than explaining what was what. And never really heard what he was saying when Deacon tried to talk to her. She just pushed him away.
Good story, good character development. Dual points of view. No cheating once they get together.
I will read the next book.

[Kim Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to start this book. I thought Louise would go back to what I’ve known and enjoyed her books to be and for the most part, she delivered. There was a willingness to start a relationship and both Aurora and Deacon found themselves in a passionate fling. I can absolutely say that this really had fling vibes. It was fun, playful, flirty and had vacation vibes on top of the fling vibes bringing to it more of a casual kind of thing. It didn’t seem hurried but more like the feeling of jumping right in. The idea of heartbreak didn’t occur to them except for maybe Aurora had doubts. Deacon and Aurora weren’t being cautious, they were enjoying the moment and giving into their chemistry, connection and desire. As the book goes on, they embark in a relationship that has Deacon jumping the gun a little bit with Aurora by introducing her to his daughter and he has her staying at his house. Somewhere between then and the discussion between him and his ex regarding their daughter, he starts having doubts about the way things are going between him and Aurora so he immediately puts the breaks on. I have a teeny problem with the situation between Deacon and Aurora but mainly with Deacon. He was getting upset with his ex for uprooting their daughter’s life by introducing a new father figure and living situation as well as another sibling on the way when he himself was doing it to her too. It was hypocritical of him because he was throwing Aurora in the mix by having her come over while his daughter was home. Instead of easing her in with Aurora, he just places her in her radar and introduced Aurora to her right away. He didn’t once think about how it was also uprooting what she’s used to by adding another mother figure. To have him flip out on his ex is ridiculous. He should have thought about what he was doing too. It’s ok for him to do it, but not her? I didn’t understand that. Then, on the relationship aspect with him and Aurora, I felt like his comments when he’s getting intimate with Aurora felt a little cringey. There were some parts of his dirty talk that just kind of kills the mood I was hoping for. There was lots of talk about saying how his dick is hard, like no shit! Of course it is. When the hero thinks it, instead of saying it constantly, it hits differently. He could have said it less and it would have a different vibe and impact. When he says it verbally, and multiple times, then it just feels awkward. I got that more than I wanted in the story but when you take that part away the scenes were pretty spicy, passionate and tender. I also think that his need to control situations and outcomes was over the top. I agreed with what Aurora and his ex said about having a tight leash on the future and how it can’t run your life, you have to see how things happen and adjust accordingly. There is no way to plan for things that may or may not happen. His fear about having no stability and need to protect his daughter from things out of his control just wasn’t realistic to me. I don’t like change either, but no one is not adaptable or able to adjust. You can always find a way even when it seems impossible. I just wish Deacon had that thought going into this story because his micromanaging was over the top. When you blend that with the awkward comments he said to Aurora in the throes of passion you get a 4 from me. Everything else was good, but those two situations bothered me and brought my rating down from a 5 at the start of the book. The next story seems like it will be difficult to get through but I’m looking forward to it.

[vesreadsinthefuture · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some authors who feel like coming home, and Louise Bay will always be one of them for me.

From the moment I picked this up, I was completely invested in Aurora and Deacon’s story. What starts with an accidental coffee spill quickly becomes a heartfelt, emotional romance between two people who are both trying to figure out what they want their futures to look like.

If you’ve read Louise Bay’s Royals series, you’ll already know Aurora Reynolds. For years she’s been the friend cheering everyone else on from the sidelines while quietly putting her own dreams second. After receiving life-changing news, she decides it’s finally time to stop waiting for life to happen and take a chance on herself.

A temporary move from England to Manhattan is supposed to be exactly that—a fresh start.

Then she meets Deacon Black.

Deacon is a British billionaire and devoted single dad whose entire world revolves around his daughter, Willow. From the outside, he seems to have everything figured out. But beneath the surface, he’s spent years organising his life around being the best father he can be, never really stopping to consider what he wants for himself.

The chemistry between Aurora and Deacon is immediate, but what I loved most was how much emotional depth Louise brought to their story.

Aurora’s journey broke my heart. Watching her navigate the future she’d always imagined versus the reality she now faces was incredibly emotional. More than anything, this is a story about a woman learning that she deserves to be the main character in her own life.

And Deacon absolutely stole my heart.

He’s protective, thoughtful, completely devoted to Willow and utterly gone for Aurora before he even realises it himself. But what made his character so compelling was watching him come to understand that loving his daughter and wanting a future for himself aren’t opposing choices. Those two things can exist together.

The family dynamics in this book were beautiful. I adored Willow and loved seeing the connection that developed between her and Aurora. Some of the most memorable moments in the book came from those interactions.

While this is still very much a Louise Bay romance—full of chemistry, heart and swoon-worthy moments—I do think it’s one of her more emotional books.
The yearning is real, the slow burn is wonderfully paced, and the emotional payoff is absolutely worth every moment.

As a long-time Louise Bay reader, I also loved revisiting this world and seeing connections to characters I’ve adored for years. It felt like catching up with old friends while simultaneously falling in love with a brand-new couple.

And while I read this one, I couldn’t stop hearing Shane East and Zara Hampton-Brown’s voices in my head. They’re one of my favourite narrator pairings, and I already know they’re going to bring something special to Deacon and Aurora’s story.

Heartfelt, emotional and deeply romantic, Manhattan Kiss is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the biggest risk is finally choosing yourself.

💙 SINGLE DAD BILLIONAIRE
🩷 OFF-LIMITS TENSION
💙 SLOW BURN CHEMISTRY
🩷 HE FALLS HARDER
💙 FOUND FAMILY VIBES
🩷 MANHATTAN ROMANCE
💙 EMOTIONAL YEARNING
🩷 BILLIONAIRE HERO WITH A SECRETLY SOFT SIDE

[C_C · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

"Manhattan Kiss"
(Manhattan Billionaires, # 1)

by Louise Bay


This book follows Aurora and Deacon.

Both British, Deacon is a billionaire living in NYC for more than 20 years. He and his life are all his daughter and his business, in that order. And one different woman each night when he stays at the Hotel 4 nights a week, as he and his ex share a NYC townhouse where they raise their daughter separately.
Aurora lives in a small town in England, never left the country and is alone, while just receiving a terrible new concerning her life.

So when 2 women who own a NYC hotel offer her a management position in their hotel, after many hesitations, she decides to cross the Atlantic for 3 months to live an adventure.

What she wasn't expecting was to know a tall, handsome, rude man who is a regular in the hotel she now works.

They develop a mutual physical attraction that turns into a very hot 🔥 relationship. And while the encounters are steamy, the feelings evolve. And they see themselves in love. Helplessly and irredeemably in love.

A big shoutout to little 6 yo Willow. She is the glue to Deacon and Aurora.


Releasing June 16

Thank you to the author for this ARC.

---

some of my favorite quotes:

🗽
How could I be thirty-six and single with not even the faintest whiff of a happily ever after?
🏙️
the fact is, I don't have the life I want and I'm not the woman I want to be.
🍎
I don't know if it's his piercing blue eyes, his British accent, or the fact he's so rude that shocks me.
🚕
I'm too taken aback that anyone could be so obnoxious... and have such blue, blue eyes. He's like a cat.
🍕
I always think that New York is like a record. Until you get the needle in the groove, it's all scratchy and weird sounding and then, all of a sudden, the needle finds its place and it's beautiful.
🌆
He might possibly be the rudest man on the planet, but he also might be the best-looking man in the entire universe.
🗽
green eyes that seem to show everything in her head, like a ticker tape of emotion running across her face.
🏙️
I don't know if it's her long lashes or the unexpected brightness of the green of her eyes, but all I can think is that she's sultry and complicated and someone I'd like to know better.
🍎
It's like someone's struck a match and set me on fire.
🚕
It's like she's found my personalized manual and knows exactly how to turn me on.
🍕
No man had ever kissed me with such passion or intensity. It was like he couldn't not kiss me.
🌆
She's full of maybes. I want all her yeses.
🗽
I'm not under any illusion that Deacon is my someone. He's just a hot guy with a hard-on the size of the Empire State Building.
🏙️
Is booking out the entire rooftop for a first date too much?
🍎
"It's a beautiful view," she says, looking over my shoulder, toward the Empire State Building.
"It certainly is," I reply, not taking my eyes from her.
🚕
God, her laugh is like the warmth of a fire or the light in the dark.
🍕

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manhattan Kiss by Louise Bay is the first title in the author's new Manhattan Billionaires series and was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

As a steamy single dad, found family, he falls harder, billionaire romance with off limits tension and two characters in their thirties, it had me hooked from the start.
We follow the two main characters of Aurora Reynolds and Deacon Black, two Brits living in New York, as they unexpectedly meet, connect and long for more despite the predetermined length
of Aurora's visit to the city.
Aurora at thirty-six has drifted along in life both personally and professionally but has always longed for love and a family of her own but when a diagnosis dashes the hope of a family the opportunity of a three month work contract in a New York hotel it seems like the ideal time for an adventure and a fresh perspective on her life. Aurora has been a supporting participant in other peoples lives and a spectator of her own for so long it was time to take stock and make a change.
Deacon Black at thirty-seven is a single dad and has an unconventional joint custody arrangement of his daughter Willow with his ex. His life is centred around Willow when he is not running his highly successful business. He's a fiercely protective father planning and prioritising so that he can try and prevent anything or anyone disrupting Willow's world.
A chance situation on the street sees the two of them run into one another not leaving the best of first impressions but once at work Aurora quickly discovers that Deacon is an important regular guest and the possibility of anything else is off limits.
Regardless of the staff/guest situation circumstances align and the mutual attraction and undeniable chemistry is given the opportunity to ignite and both quickly find they can't get enough of one another.
Physically they're highly compatible but an inexplicable, deeper connection forms quickly and the temporariness of Aurora's stay is hard to forget as they separately try to wrangle their growing feelings.
Both Deacon and Aurora have some emotional baggage that they carry that has, and does, dictate the way they approach life but with them both coming to turning points in their lives, whether they want to or not, things are fundamentally changing for them and it was such a captivating read to see how the dynamic of their initial connection changed almost without them noticing and then, how they navigate the consequences and make the choices they do. They both come to realise that things can't and shouldn't go on as they have before.

Manhattan Kiss is a well-written, steamy and spicy romance that features engaging and likeable characters, heartfelt emotion and self reflection and easily had me turning the pages right to the very end for their well deserved HEA. I will happily say that this is one of the best books I have read by this author and eagerly look forward to the next title in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more than a steamy romance, MANHATTAN KISS is the latest story in the world that author Louise Bay has created and peopled with characters you would love to have as friends. Fans met Aurora Reynolds previously in THE DUKE OF MANHATTAN where she had the dubious role of Ryder’s sister Darcy’s best friend whose girlish crush on Ryder was not a secret. At the time, I remember feeling embarrassed for her blatant availability and was thoroughly surprised to discover that the author had elevated this particular side character to play the lead in her own story. And what a story it is!
After receiving dreadful news about her inability to have children, at 36 years old and single, Aurora realizes she had never been making real decisions about her future but just allowed life to happen to her. With much trepidation, she moves out of her comfort zone and accepts a temporary position at Hotel on Ninth in New York City. There, readers will be delighted to become reacquainted with Worth’s sisters Avril and Poppy from THE HERO + VEGAS = NO REGRETS, a smart and loveable pair of side characters who merit their own books, as well.
Deacon Black is a new and very interesting character in Bay’s universe. A successful and extremely wealthy businessman, Deacon is also a devoted single father with strict rules about his 9-year-old daughter’s living arrangements. Being the child of a father whose military assignments caused the family to be uprooted time and again, Deacon blamed his older sister’s suicide at age 14, on the lifestyle she’d been forced to live. Determined to never put that type of pressure on his own child, Deacon and his daughter’s mother take turns living with her in one residence rather than asking their daughter, Willow, to be the one to move between them. On the days that Deacon is not “at home” with Willow, he is living in room #325 of Hotel on Ninth.
Aurora’s “meet cute” with Deacon Black involves coffee and isn’t all that cute, but Deacon eventually redeems himself with readers and finally with Aurora. Aware of his handsome face and his stature, Aurora stoically maintains a professional distance while he begins to maneuver ways for them to be together. As they start to fall for one another, there are two huge obstacles to their truly making a go of it. First, Aurora is determined to return to her former job in England at the end of the summer. Second, Deacon is determined to provide stability for Willow by curtailing all possible changes to her life.
I loved this story so much! I loved watching these characters have their epiphanies, leading to the “HEA” (Happily Ever After) readers expect from author Louise Bay. I loved seeing characters that I’d met in previous books, and I always love the way that this author gently helps her characters to understand themselves and see ways to make things work in spite of obstacles. Five stars!
.

[Dawn Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Louise Bay has done it again，
she deserves all the plaudits this release gives her. The ability to create a world that makes reality disappear is truly phenomenal. As a romance reader I love being swept away by the magical words of a good book.

Im a huge fan of Louise Bay. Her books are so bingeable & I ate this one up.
She really has a knack for writing characters that you instantly love & root for & I can always count on her to make me feel lost between the pages.

Manhattan Kiss is an absolute must for every romance reader's shelf.
A page turning love story full of emotions, heart melting consuming storyline.


The build up to this relationship was perfection.

I loved the first time Aurora & Deacon literally bump into one another.

Aurora is thirty six years old, she has an idyllic home life in the uk countryside. She feels like she’s living her life in the shadows. She takes a leap to try to make a better life for herself, leaving the town and job she has spent her whole life in.
She’s stepping out of her ‘safe world’ & experiencing her first adventure
She reluctantly agreed to transfer to Manhattan for a six months hotel contract. She had the courage to step into the unknown, take risks by moving thousands of miles away. This made me admire her courage more, I too moved 100’s miles away from home. Away from everyone I knew, into a place where I didn’t know what the future held for me, so I could understand her apprehension. I too met my husband & got my HEA 🥰

Deacons is a devoted single Dad to his six year old daughter Willow. He shares custody with his ex girlfriend
Gabby. Willow is everything to him, she’s his whole world. Being a father is the most important thing in his life but he believes he’s not the best father he can be or she is worse off because she doesn’t have a ‘traditional family’
This hasn’t affected Willow in the slightest, she’s an incredible little girl. My heart completely melted, she’s utterly adorable.

Deacon is a strong powerful man in business but when it comes to his personal life he’s weak & fear full. He’s frightened of change .Unable to adjust to change he struggles, he has a much harder time learning to let go of his routines.
When Deacon meets Aurora, he slowly realises that his carefully controlled life isn't all he thought it was.

As Aurora spends more time in Manhattan, she really starts to love it. She begins to like the person she is, she’s allowing herself to grow, make new friends, discover herself & what she wants in life.

Her carefully structured plans to stay in New York for six months are becoming more blurred as her feelings for Deacon grow. Forcing her to reconsider what she truly wants.

Both are facing serious challenges in their personal lives
Aurora brings out a different side to Deacon, a more thoughtful, vulnerable side that he doesn’t show to others.

Their relationship completely stole my heart. I loved their connection, you could feel the emotional connection as well as their physical connection jumping off the pages. While there were a couple of times their wires got crossed, I thought they communicated with each other well.
I don’t know if this was due to Deacon & Aurora being more mature. Either way, I loved it ❤️

[Lara Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. First of all, how dare this book end.

No, seriously. How dare it.

Because I got to the last page and my first thought wasn’t “that was a good book.” It was, “wait, that’s it? Where are the rest of the pages?” 😭

And that’s honestly my biggest issue with this book. Not that it was bad. Not that the writing was bad. Not that the characters annoyed me. Nothing like that. I just wanted more.

More Aurora and Deacon. More Willow. More family moments. More of them figuring out life together. More of everything, honestly.

Aurora and Deacon felt so real to me. They both had their own baggage and their own fears, and while there were moments where I wanted to shake them a little and tell them to get it together, I also completely understood where they were coming from.

And can we talk about Gabby for a second?

Because usually, when there’s an ex in a romance book, I’m already preparing myself to be annoyed. But I actually loved her. Like, genuinely loved her. She wasn’t there to create drama. She wasn’t the evil ex. She was just… human. She cared about Willow, she cared about Deacon, and honestly, half the time I felt like she was the one trying to get him to open his eyes and stop seeing everything in black and white.

And speaking of Willow… that little girl had my whole heart.

The same goes for Poppy and Avril. The way they basically adopted Aurora into their little circle was everything. Every time they showed up with food, support, unsolicited opinions, or whatever else was needed, I was just sitting there thinking, “yes, these are my people. Where can I get them in my life ?” 😂

Now, there was one character that got on my nerves a little, and that was Darcy.

I don’t even dislike her. That’s the annoying part. I understand where she was coming from (sometimes 👀🙄), but there were moments where it felt like she underestimated Aurora so much that I wanted to reach through the pages and argue with her. Like, people change. People grow. Let the woman spread her wings a little.

But honestly? That’s a tiny complaint compared to everything else I loved.

This book also pulled me right out of a reading slump, which deserves a medal of its own. Because lately I’ve been starting books, putting them down, getting distracted, picking up another one, and repeating the cycle. With this one? I just read. No forcing myself. No convincing myself. I genuinely wanted to know what happened next.

And then the author had the audacity to let me get attached to everyone and end the book🤯🤯🤯

Rude.😫

Very rude.😤

Anyways, if you’re looking for a romance with characters that feel like actual people, found family vibes, a lovable little girl, and enough heart to make you wish the book was longer, I definitely recommend this one.

Just be prepared to finish it and immediately wish there was more. 😭😂 Consider yourself warned 💁🏼‍♀️😇

[Charly Murg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me stop rolling my eyes for a minute before I write this review.

This book started well, the characters had similar mindsets about being scared of change I liked seeing aurora take a risk even if it came out of nowhere. For the first half of the book it really feels like there is nothing deeper than sex between these characters, they fancy each other, that’s it. Even though they tell us that’s not all that’s happening, it definitely is. They have sex to the point where I was sick of hearing about it. We get it, also NOBODY is ready to go again that quick and I just refuse to believe that he’s that good in bed. I’m just not buying it.

The problem I have by the end of the book is that the timeline is FUCKING BONKERS. She has 3 months in New York and the speed at which these two move is mad. I don’t know why the 3 months was enforced by the author if she wanted all this to happen but here we are. Then there’s the fact that these two make decisions to move the plot along in the space of like, a page. One minute she’s moving home the next she’s not and even her internal monologue doesn’t know what the fuck is happening…. you literally have the ability to make this character think logically… why are you making it illogical. Literally, I was absolutely sick of “right I’m going, nope it’s an hour later I’m staying” and this guy just unpacking a life’s worth of therapy in a page. He is so problematic in so many ways but hey “he’s a good dad” so we’ll overlook all the misogyny and control issues.

These two are not going to last, it’s love bomby and it’s ridiculous. He can hire out an entire rooftop for a first date but just randomly proposes in a hotel room to manipulate her into staying because he doesn’t know the decision is already made 😂 stop it! And don’t get me started on the baby thing, god forbid anyone should ever be ok with a woman being infertile even the woman herself no there must be a way to complete her life, how could she ever possibly be happy and complete without a husband and a baby? 🤮

Look, as a childfree woman who doesn’t want to get married maybe I’m not the target audience of this but very often it feels like we’re dealing with some 50s ideals around relationships. Men are there to protect, women are there to have children she manages without him for a whole like 3 weeks or some shit?

What I will say is, plot aside, it read well and it was an easy read. Like I say, maybe I’m not the target audience and this is very much the reason I tend to avoid books with children involved. But everyone in this book needs to grow a spine, except the mother of his child who is the only one who seems capable of making thought out logical decisions and being genuinely happy rather than acting out happiness for a plot. Good for her.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

After receiving bad news from her doctor, thirty-six-year-old Aurora Reynolds is forced to take a hard look at her life. She has spent much of it working at the same hotel, living in the village where she grew up, and with no sign of the family she imagined she’d have. So, when an opportunity arises to work at a boutique hotel in New York with a three-month trial period, she decides to take a leap of faith perhaps for the first time in her life. However, her new adventure gets off to a rocky start when on her first day before she even reaches the hotel, she has an unfortunate encounter with long-term guest Deacon Black that leaves her drenched in coffee. Despite this first meeting being anything but friendly, the sparks between them soon develop into a romance that neither of them anticipated.

Although the story contains its share of conflict and emotional moments, the drama is relatively light. Much of the tension comes from Deacon’s role as a devoted father. He shares custody of his six-year-old daughter, Willow, with his ex, Gabbi, through an unconventional arrangement where they alternate living in the family home so Willow can enjoy stability and consistency. When that arrangement is threatened after Gabbi’s circumstances change, Deacon is thrown and his focus shifts entirely to protecting his daughter from further disruption. This determination leads to an inevitable third act break up with Aurora but, eventually he is forced to acknowledge that Willow will not remain a little girl forever and that adapting to change is a natural part of growing up. Aurora wasn’t always the easiest character to connect with. Despite taking a bold step by moving to New York, she spent much of the story treating the experience as temporary, counting down the weeks until she could return to the life she had left behind. Given how dissatisfied she seemed with that life, her resistance to embracing change annoyed me. However, her character growth was ultimately rewarding as she gradually came to understand that moving forward, rather than retreating to what was familiar, was the only way she’d really find happiness.

Overall, Manhattan Kiss is a sweet and heartwarming standalone romance that combines mature characters, emotional growth, and a satisfying love story. The connection between Aurora and Deacon was believable and engaging, delivering plenty of swoon worthy moments while exploring themes of change, family, and second chances. The supporting cast was also a highlight, especially Poppy and Avril who brought additional warmth and personality to the story, and longtime Louise Bay readers will appreciate the appearances from several familiar faces.

[Ramya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ARC provided by the author Louise Bay

I really enjoyed reading Manhattan Kiss. NYC is my favorite city and reading this book made me nostalgic for the time I spent there. The entire story takes place in New York, which made me like it more.


I could relate to Aurora. Like her, I moved away from my family to a new city and understood her struggle between wanting to go back home and wanting a change in her current life.


This is the fourth Louise Bay book I’ve read, and I ended up finishing it very quickly. I usually read multiple books at the same time and I tend to pause books and come back later when I am in the mood to read it, but I really couldn’t put this one down or pick another book before finishing this. There’s something about Louise Bay’s writing that works for me—it’s easy to read, the pacing is good, and the story never felt boring, even when it was dealing with heavier topics.

I also liked that both MCs are in their mid-thirties. Most of the romances I read are YA or NA, so it was refreshing to read about older characters. I liked how Deacon kept telling Aurora how beautiful she is ( more than 3 occasions I think )

I found myself relating to both characters in different ways. I could understand Deacon’s struggles as a parent, while Aurora’s infertility journey felt realistic and emotional.

One thing I really appreciated was how the book handled sensitive topics. It felt realistic without being overly pessimistic or offering false hope.

I also enjoyed the female friendships in this book and the way it showed how coworkers and even bosses can become important friends when you’re building a life in a new city. This happened to me too , I had the best lunches with my bosses and co workers.

Pick this one if you are looking for a mature romance that comes with lots of emotions , spice and also friendships and real life struggles.





Spoiler ( please skip if you haven’t read the book yet )

This is not much of a spoiler because we know of her fertility struggles early in the book but it’s more of a trigger for readers who are dealing with infertility themselves. They may find some parts of this book difficult to read, especially when Aurora feels like she doesn’t deserve her happy ending. Those moments were heartbreaking. At the same time, I loved that Deacon wanted her, and that they got their HEA

[Merrit Townsend (always1morebook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manhattan Kiss was such an emotional and heartfelt romance that completely pulled me into Aurora and Deacon's story.

Aurora is carrying the weight of fertility struggles and decides to take a chance on a fresh start by accepting a job at a boutique hotel in New York City. Deacon is a devoted single father who has spent so much time focusing on protecting his daughter from the fallout of his divorce that he's forgotten how to live for himself. Both of them are carrying wounds from their past, and neither is really looking for love when fate (and a spilled coffee) throws them together.

Their first meeting is anything but smooth, but when Deacon turns out to be the guest staying in room 325 every week at Aurora's hotel, it becomes impossible for them to avoid each other. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but this isn't a story where love magically fixes everything. Both Aurora and Deacon have real-life struggles they need to work through, and watching them slowly learn to trust each other and open their hearts was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I loved how authentic their emotional journeys felt. Aurora's fertility battle was handled with care and sensitivity, and Deacon's fierce love for his daughter made him impossible not to adore. He may have been living entirely for his daughter, but seeing Aurora remind him that he deserved happiness too was incredibly touching.

And we need to talk about the audio.... Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East were absolutely wonderful bringing this story to life. Their accents added an extra layer of charm to Aurora and Deacon's romance, making every emotional moment feel even more intimate. Zara beautifully captured Aurora's vulnerability, strength, and hope, while Shane perfectly portrayed Deacon's protective nature and the internal struggles he faced as a single father. Together, they made it easy to become completely immersed in the story.

This story has plenty of sweet moments and a romance that feels earned every step of the way. If you enjoy character-driven romances with mature themes, real-life struggles, and two people finding their way back to happiness together, Manhattan Kiss is definitely one to pick up. Aurora and Deacon's road to their HEA isn't easy, but it was absolutely worth the journey.