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Zealous Ruin: Every Betrayal Has a Price - A Morally Gray Corporate Romantic Suspense
Zealous Ruin - Every betryal has a price
When cybersecurity consultant Simone Delacroix walks into Morrison Capital Partners to investigate a data breach, she expects to find the usual corporate negligence. What she doesn't expect is Alex Morrison—the firm's CEO, a man trapped in a perfect marriage that stopped meaning anything years ago. He's polished, powerful, and completely unprepared for a woman who calls him a liability to his face before her first coffee goes cold.
As Simone pulls the threads of the breach, the evidence points somewhere no one saw coming—and someone inside the firm will do anything to make sure she stops looking. But the investigation isn't the only thing unraveling. Simone and Alex have crossed every professional line that exists, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous the lies become. Both of their marriages are fracturing. The people closest to them are watching. And the secrets Simone uncovers will force everyone in the building to choose a side.
Set against the steel-and-glass towers of Chicago's financial district, Zealous Ruin is a fast-burning romance thriller about two people who find each other at the worst possible time—and refuse to let go. It's a story about dead marriages, dangerous secrets, corporate betrayal, and the terrifying act of choosing honesty when it costs you everything.
Tropes and vibes
FORBIDDEN ROMANCEENEMIES TO LOVERSFORCED PROXIMITYAFFAIR ROMANCE / INFIDELITY ROMANCE (*Warning*)GRUMPY/SUNSHINE — REVERSEDWORKPLACE ROMANCEMORALLY GREY CHARACTERSLIMITED OPEN DOOR SCENES
When cybersecurity consultant Simone Delacroix walks into Morrison Capital Partners to investigate a data breach, she expects to find the usual corporate negligence. What she doesn't expect is Alex Morrison—the firm's CEO, a man trapped in a perfect marriage that stopped meaning anything years ago. He's polished, powerful, and completely unprepared for a woman who calls him a liability to his face before her first coffee goes cold.
As Simone pulls the threads of the breach, the evidence points somewhere no one saw coming—and someone inside the firm will do anything to make sure she stops looking. But the investigation isn't the only thing unraveling. Simone and Alex have crossed every professional line that exists, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous the lies become. Both of their marriages are fracturing. The people closest to them are watching. And the secrets Simone uncovers will force everyone in the building to choose a side.
Set against the steel-and-glass towers of Chicago's financial district, Zealous Ruin is a fast-burning romance thriller about two people who find each other at the worst possible time—and refuse to let go. It's a story about dead marriages, dangerous secrets, corporate betrayal, and the terrifying act of choosing honesty when it costs you everything.
Tropes and vibes
FORBIDDEN ROMANCEENEMIES TO LOVERSFORCED PROXIMITYAFFAIR ROMANCE / INFIDELITY ROMANCE (*Warning*)GRUMPY/SUNSHINE — REVERSEDWORKPLACE ROMANCEMORALLY GREY CHARACTERSLIMITED OPEN DOOR SCENES
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2026
About the author
Josh Steele
3 books63 followersJosh never planned to become a romance writer—until a muse named Emma whispered her story into his ear. Now he writes to remember, to relive, and to feel. His stories are confessions, fantasies, and sometimes, a little too real.
When he’s not writing, you’ll likely find him in the corner of a café pretending to work while eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations and over analyzing their body language like it’s a thesis on human desire. He tells himself it’s research.
The baristas are skeptical.
Check out his social-
IG - https://www.instagram.com/joshsteelea...
When he’s not writing, you’ll likely find him in the corner of a café pretending to work while eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations and over analyzing their body language like it’s a thesis on human desire. He tells himself it’s research.
The baristas are skeptical.
Check out his social-
IG - https://www.instagram.com/joshsteelea...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
At first, I wasn’t sure this book was my cup of tea. There is a lot of information that is hard to follow if you don’t understand much about the IT world. Another aspect was a trope that I tend to stay away from, but I continued to read despite these initial doubts. Let me tell you that I am happy with that decision.
The characters Simone, Alex, Charlotte, and even Marcus felt incredibly real and had flaws that made you feel like you were watching someone’s life rather than reading words. The plot and build up are intense and live up to the Author’s hype on the ARC review application. I feel that this book has exceeded the 5 stars I’ve given it. I absolutely devoured this book and I hope to be on future ARC teams!
The characters Simone, Alex, Charlotte, and even Marcus felt incredibly real and had flaws that made you feel like you were watching someone’s life rather than reading words. The plot and build up are intense and live up to the Author’s hype on the ARC review application. I feel that this book has exceeded the 5 stars I’ve given it. I absolutely devoured this book and I hope to be on future ARC teams!
Review of advance copy received from Author
As an ARC reader, I was lucky enough to get an early look at this book and I can already tell it is going to consume readers the second it releases.
This story had me completely hooked. The tension was immaculate, the suspense relentless, and the chemistry between Simone and Alex simmered with the kind of danger that makes every interaction feel like a countdown to disaster. What starts as a corporate investigation quickly spirals into something far messier, sharper, and infinitely more addictive.
Simone was an incredible FMC. Intelligent, emotionally guarded, and absolutely uncompromising, she carried this fierce energy through every chapter. Alex was equally compelling, balancing power, pressure, and unraveling truths in a way that made him impossible not to root for, even when everything around him was collapsing like glass under pressure.
The cybersecurity and forensic investigation elements gave this story such a fresh, polished edge. It felt sleek and sophisticated while still delivering emotionally charged moments, betrayals that genuinely shocked me, and tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Every chapter peeled back another layer of deception and I genuinely could not stop reading.
This was intense, clever, seductive, and wildly compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it and already know this book is going to leave readers feral once it’s published.
This story had me completely hooked. The tension was immaculate, the suspense relentless, and the chemistry between Simone and Alex simmered with the kind of danger that makes every interaction feel like a countdown to disaster. What starts as a corporate investigation quickly spirals into something far messier, sharper, and infinitely more addictive.
Simone was an incredible FMC. Intelligent, emotionally guarded, and absolutely uncompromising, she carried this fierce energy through every chapter. Alex was equally compelling, balancing power, pressure, and unraveling truths in a way that made him impossible not to root for, even when everything around him was collapsing like glass under pressure.
The cybersecurity and forensic investigation elements gave this story such a fresh, polished edge. It felt sleek and sophisticated while still delivering emotionally charged moments, betrayals that genuinely shocked me, and tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Every chapter peeled back another layer of deception and I genuinely could not stop reading.
This was intense, clever, seductive, and wildly compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it and already know this book is going to leave readers feral once it’s published.
May 8, 2026
Great book. Really enjoyed and really was rooting for the characters. Would recommend
May 31, 2026
3.75🌟, 3🌶️
I went into this book with some hesitation, but I'm honestly so glad I didn't skip it.
I'll admit, the heavy corporate jargon and the forbidden affair trope usually aren't my thing, as I generally steer clear of infidelity storylines. However, the execution here was so compelling that I couldn't help but get sucked in. Once l let go of my initial doubts and settled into the plot, I was completely hooked by the intense, high-stakes drama.
The dynamic between Simone and Alex is the real heart of the story, especially as they navigate the fallout of a major corporate breach alongside their own dangerous connection. I appreciated how much the narrative leaned into the emotional consequences and the messy, human reality of their choices rather than just focusing on the thrill of the affair. While the romance focuses more on tension and internal unraveling than pure spice, it feels raw and authentic in a way that kept me deeply invested.
While the emotional pacing felt a little uneven at times, the overall experience was still incredibly absorbing. It is a clever, morally complicated journey that left me in that specific, hollow post-book state where you're left to process the weight of everyone's decisions.
The multiple perspectives at the end provided the perfect closure, making this a messy, thought-provoking read I’m truly glad I experienced.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the author, Josh Steele, for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I went into this book with some hesitation, but I'm honestly so glad I didn't skip it.
I'll admit, the heavy corporate jargon and the forbidden affair trope usually aren't my thing, as I generally steer clear of infidelity storylines. However, the execution here was so compelling that I couldn't help but get sucked in. Once l let go of my initial doubts and settled into the plot, I was completely hooked by the intense, high-stakes drama.
The dynamic between Simone and Alex is the real heart of the story, especially as they navigate the fallout of a major corporate breach alongside their own dangerous connection. I appreciated how much the narrative leaned into the emotional consequences and the messy, human reality of their choices rather than just focusing on the thrill of the affair. While the romance focuses more on tension and internal unraveling than pure spice, it feels raw and authentic in a way that kept me deeply invested.
While the emotional pacing felt a little uneven at times, the overall experience was still incredibly absorbing. It is a clever, morally complicated journey that left me in that specific, hollow post-book state where you're left to process the weight of everyone's decisions.
The multiple perspectives at the end provided the perfect closure, making this a messy, thought-provoking read I’m truly glad I experienced.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the author, Josh Steele, for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 10, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY PROVIDED BY AUTHOR
If you like to read books by authors like John Grisham (who happens to be one of my all time favorite authors), you’re going to want to grab this one!! Alex’s company gets breached, or so they think, exposing their largest clients private information. Simone is a forensic accountant hired to figure out how the breach occurred and who was responsible. There’s a forbidden affair, which threatens to destroy two marriages as well as compromise the investigation into the breach. The story is well written and captivating. I’m looking forward to reading more from Josh Steele!
If you like to read books by authors like John Grisham (who happens to be one of my all time favorite authors), you’re going to want to grab this one!! Alex’s company gets breached, or so they think, exposing their largest clients private information. Simone is a forensic accountant hired to figure out how the breach occurred and who was responsible. There’s a forbidden affair, which threatens to destroy two marriages as well as compromise the investigation into the breach. The story is well written and captivating. I’m looking forward to reading more from Josh Steele!
May 8, 2026
It's a tangled web of mystery and secrets and betrayals. This had so many twists and turns!
The scenes are so beautifully set and the tension was palpable.
The scenes are so beautifully set and the tension was palpable.
May 14, 2026
Love love love this book!!! The mystery of the data breach kept me guessing. The character growth fantastic.
May 5, 2026
Advance reader copy provided by author
I’m usually not a huge thriller person, even when there’s romance mixed in, but this story was genuinely so captivating. I wouldn’t say I was hooked from page one, but I got invested pretty early on and once I did, I really wanted to know how everything was going to play out.
At the beginning and especially through the early middle parts, Simone was giving MAJOR Olivia Pope vibes from Scandal and I was absolutely eating that up. The intensity, the control, the energy of it all just really worked for me.
I honestly thought there was going to be some huge betrayal at the end, like Charlotte secretly being involved with Thomas the whole time, so I kept waiting for another massive twist. But instead, the ending was actually pretty simple in a really beautiful way.
What I appreciated most about this book was how real it felt underneath all the tension and drama. It really captured the idea that life isn’t always clean or pretty. People make mistakes even when they think they’re doing the right thing, and sometimes the person you thought was “the one” ends up not being who you expected at all.
Overall, this was such an interesting and emotional read, and it definitely made me want to explore more thrillers like this.
I’m usually not a huge thriller person, even when there’s romance mixed in, but this story was genuinely so captivating. I wouldn’t say I was hooked from page one, but I got invested pretty early on and once I did, I really wanted to know how everything was going to play out.
At the beginning and especially through the early middle parts, Simone was giving MAJOR Olivia Pope vibes from Scandal and I was absolutely eating that up. The intensity, the control, the energy of it all just really worked for me.
I honestly thought there was going to be some huge betrayal at the end, like Charlotte secretly being involved with Thomas the whole time, so I kept waiting for another massive twist. But instead, the ending was actually pretty simple in a really beautiful way.
What I appreciated most about this book was how real it felt underneath all the tension and drama. It really captured the idea that life isn’t always clean or pretty. People make mistakes even when they think they’re doing the right thing, and sometimes the person you thought was “the one” ends up not being who you expected at all.
Overall, this was such an interesting and emotional read, and it definitely made me want to explore more thrillers like this.
June 4, 2026
well done.
For starters I LOATHE a cheating trope. This is probably the best one I’ve read though. The main characters cheat on their spouses for each other….which somehow makes it acceptable? I’m questioning my morals right now. 😅
I really enjoyed reading this book. The story progressed perfectly and I enjoyed the few twists as things were unraveling.
For starters I LOATHE a cheating trope. This is probably the best one I’ve read though. The main characters cheat on their spouses for each other….which somehow makes it acceptable? I’m questioning my morals right now. 😅
I really enjoyed reading this book. The story progressed perfectly and I enjoyed the few twists as things were unraveling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! This was a really good book! So many secrets and twists!! Kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the deeper into the book I got. There is forbidden romance and infidelity in this book, so be warned if that's a trigger for you. Definitely recommend!!
May 21, 2026
I did receive an advanced reading copy and although it is outside my normal reading trends, I kept an open mind.
The author did a fantastic job of creating a story fictional or not, I don’t know but it reads like someone’s actual life. I devoured the book in a day and I mean devoured! I could not put it down! It was hook, line and sinker! 🎣
The characters had so many personal flaws that I could easily associate to them. There is some spice but I would say maybe 1/2 🌶️. The characters of Simone, Charlotte, Alex and Marcus are all very relatable almost too relatable if you know what I mean.
The ending was predictable but the author kept you guessing the entire way with his play of the characters.
I would totally read another book from this author, for the sheer suspense, relatable characters and excellent writing style!
The author did a fantastic job of creating a story fictional or not, I don’t know but it reads like someone’s actual life. I devoured the book in a day and I mean devoured! I could not put it down! It was hook, line and sinker! 🎣
The characters had so many personal flaws that I could easily associate to them. There is some spice but I would say maybe 1/2 🌶️. The characters of Simone, Charlotte, Alex and Marcus are all very relatable almost too relatable if you know what I mean.
The ending was predictable but the author kept you guessing the entire way with his play of the characters.
I would totally read another book from this author, for the sheer suspense, relatable characters and excellent writing style!
May 29, 2026
I found myself rooting for a couple I had no business rooting for lol.
Fast paced
Easy read
Overall great read. A little repetitive slightly in the beginning and middle but overall I enjoyed it.
Fast paced
Easy read
Overall great read. A little repetitive slightly in the beginning and middle but overall I enjoyed it.
May 17, 2026
Wow I don’t even know what to say. It was brilliant, it was one of the best books I’ve read! I can’t remember the last time I was so hooked on a book. The suspense of wanting to know what was happening next and how it all came together in the end was written so well. Alex and Simone how they came together and just completed each other was magical. FYI I didn’t like charlotte!
June 2, 2026
“Every betrayal has a price.”
Zealous Ruin is the kind of book that pulls you in from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. Blending romance, suspense, and corporate intrigue, Josh Steele delivers a story packed with tension, secrets, and impossible choices.
Simone Delacroix is a strong, intelligent heroine who isn't afraid to challenge those around her, and her first interactions with Alex Morrison spark immediately. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the circumstances surrounding them make every moment feel forbidden and risky. As the investigation into a major data breach unfolds, the stakes continue to rise, creating a perfect balance between the romance and the thriller elements.
I loved how the story explored complicated relationships and morally grey characters without shying away from the consequences of their actions. The corporate setting added a unique layer to the plot, and the mystery surrounding the breach kept me guessing as new secrets and betrayals came to light. The tension—both romantic and suspenseful—builds steadily throughout the book, making it impossible to put down.
Alex and Simone find themselves at the center of a storm of lies, fractured marriages, and dangerous truths, and watching their journey unfold was both captivating and emotional. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and far from perfect, which made it feel all the more realistic.
If you enjoy forbidden romance, workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, morally grey characters, and romantic suspense filled with twists and corporate drama, Zealous Ruin is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes & Themes: 💼 Workplace Romance
🔥 Forbidden Romance
⚡ Enemies to Lovers
🏢 Forced Proximity
🖤 Morally Grey Characters
💔 Affair/Infidelity Romance
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine (Reversed)
🔍 Romantic Suspense
💻 Corporate Intrigue
A gripping blend of romance and suspense that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their romance with a healthy dose of mystery and danger. 📚🔥❤️
Zealous Ruin is the kind of book that pulls you in from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. Blending romance, suspense, and corporate intrigue, Josh Steele delivers a story packed with tension, secrets, and impossible choices.
Simone Delacroix is a strong, intelligent heroine who isn't afraid to challenge those around her, and her first interactions with Alex Morrison spark immediately. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the circumstances surrounding them make every moment feel forbidden and risky. As the investigation into a major data breach unfolds, the stakes continue to rise, creating a perfect balance between the romance and the thriller elements.
I loved how the story explored complicated relationships and morally grey characters without shying away from the consequences of their actions. The corporate setting added a unique layer to the plot, and the mystery surrounding the breach kept me guessing as new secrets and betrayals came to light. The tension—both romantic and suspenseful—builds steadily throughout the book, making it impossible to put down.
Alex and Simone find themselves at the center of a storm of lies, fractured marriages, and dangerous truths, and watching their journey unfold was both captivating and emotional. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and far from perfect, which made it feel all the more realistic.
If you enjoy forbidden romance, workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, morally grey characters, and romantic suspense filled with twists and corporate drama, Zealous Ruin is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes & Themes: 💼 Workplace Romance
🔥 Forbidden Romance
⚡ Enemies to Lovers
🏢 Forced Proximity
🖤 Morally Grey Characters
💔 Affair/Infidelity Romance
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine (Reversed)
🔍 Romantic Suspense
💻 Corporate Intrigue
A gripping blend of romance and suspense that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their romance with a healthy dose of mystery and danger. 📚🔥❤️
June 10, 2026
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This book contains infidelity. If cheating is a hard no for you, this may not be the right read.
Zealous Ruin by Josh Steele is one of those books that really makes you think about relationships, happiness, and what it means to truly feel loved. While I'm not a fan of infidelity and don't typically enjoy it in my books, I found myself understanding and acknowledging the emotions of the main characters.
Neither of them were in healthy, fulfilling marriages, and it became clear that they had ended up with people who simply weren't right for them. Despite the circumstances, I couldn't help but root for their relationship because of the genuine connection they shared. This story serves as a reminder that life is too short to spend it merely going through the motions or feeling unseen by the person you're with.
What I loved most was how the book highlights the importance of being with someone who truly gets you—someone who makes you excited about life and looks at you like you're the best thing in the world. That's something I think many people can relate to, and it's a big reason why this story resonated with me.
One thing to note: there is quite a bit of IT and computer-related discussion throughout the book. If you're not at least somewhat computer savvy, some of those sections may be harder to connect with.
Thank you, Josh Steele, for sharing this story. I wish you continued success with your writing and look forward to seeing what you create next!
Zealous Ruin by Josh Steele is one of those books that really makes you think about relationships, happiness, and what it means to truly feel loved. While I'm not a fan of infidelity and don't typically enjoy it in my books, I found myself understanding and acknowledging the emotions of the main characters.
Neither of them were in healthy, fulfilling marriages, and it became clear that they had ended up with people who simply weren't right for them. Despite the circumstances, I couldn't help but root for their relationship because of the genuine connection they shared. This story serves as a reminder that life is too short to spend it merely going through the motions or feeling unseen by the person you're with.
What I loved most was how the book highlights the importance of being with someone who truly gets you—someone who makes you excited about life and looks at you like you're the best thing in the world. That's something I think many people can relate to, and it's a big reason why this story resonated with me.
One thing to note: there is quite a bit of IT and computer-related discussion throughout the book. If you're not at least somewhat computer savvy, some of those sections may be harder to connect with.
Thank you, Josh Steele, for sharing this story. I wish you continued success with your writing and look forward to seeing what you create next!
June 3, 2026
I received this book and found that it was very easy to get into. It read very well and the characters felt complex without being over complicated.
The business that Alex owns ends up having a data breech that compromised three of his highest client’s businesses. In order to figure out who hacked in and why, he’s recommended a specialist.
Simone finds answers that seem impossible for those that hire her. When she’s tasked with traveling to Chicago for an elite business man, she finds more than her career has ever called for.
I truly loved this book. Each character had a life completely made for themselves with a spouse and a set life. From the outside it all looked perfect, yet to them they saw all the cracks and flaws. Neither were happy in their relationships and even viewed them as more of a performance for others than true love. I don’t come across many books that have this, so it remains very special to me.
The business that Alex owns ends up having a data breech that compromised three of his highest client’s businesses. In order to figure out who hacked in and why, he’s recommended a specialist.
Simone finds answers that seem impossible for those that hire her. When she’s tasked with traveling to Chicago for an elite business man, she finds more than her career has ever called for.
I truly loved this book. Each character had a life completely made for themselves with a spouse and a set life. From the outside it all looked perfect, yet to them they saw all the cracks and flaws. Neither were happy in their relationships and even viewed them as more of a performance for others than true love. I don’t come across many books that have this, so it remains very special to me.
July 21, 2026
“I’m still scared."
“I know, stay scared with me anyway.”
This was an interesting read. I find that I don't love third person POV and would rather it be first-person dual POV, but that is a personal preference not a negative towards the book. Some of the "computer speak" was a little too in-depth but was also easy enough to follow along while realizing that it didn't really need to be the main focal point of the story.
Alex Morrison and Simone Delacroix are both married to other people. They are both surviving their respective marriages in a way that they know that the marriage is over but are staying in the comfortability of it all. Alex owns the tech firm that has a breach of client data. Simone is hired to investigate that breach. Simone is a very blunt woman who demands what she needs while in the workplace. She calls Alex an idiot and a liability in their first meeting.
I definitely recommend for those who aren't triggered by infidelity and OMD/OWD.
“I know, stay scared with me anyway.”
This was an interesting read. I find that I don't love third person POV and would rather it be first-person dual POV, but that is a personal preference not a negative towards the book. Some of the "computer speak" was a little too in-depth but was also easy enough to follow along while realizing that it didn't really need to be the main focal point of the story.
Alex Morrison and Simone Delacroix are both married to other people. They are both surviving their respective marriages in a way that they know that the marriage is over but are staying in the comfortability of it all. Alex owns the tech firm that has a breach of client data. Simone is hired to investigate that breach. Simone is a very blunt woman who demands what she needs while in the workplace. She calls Alex an idiot and a liability in their first meeting.
I definitely recommend for those who aren't triggered by infidelity and OMD/OWD.
June 2, 2026
Zealous Ruin - how can I describe this book in the best way possible.
The writing style is very fluid; like a lyrical writer or poet.
Beautiful, emotional, intelligent; the amount of emotional detail was written as if they endured it. Familiar territory for anyone who may have gone through the same.
The amount of intellectual capacity to create such detailed characteristics of each person and their positions within the story, without having wasted filler spots was top notch.
This story was easy to get invested into. Right from the beginning I knew this wasn't going to be a fluffy story.
It actually had me stop and take in moments of similarity.
As I followed the ride ; I watched many changes happen within characters and where this story was going. Foreshadowing was present but not blatant.
Overall I enjoyed this story and the writing style.
The writing style is very fluid; like a lyrical writer or poet.
Beautiful, emotional, intelligent; the amount of emotional detail was written as if they endured it. Familiar territory for anyone who may have gone through the same.
The amount of intellectual capacity to create such detailed characteristics of each person and their positions within the story, without having wasted filler spots was top notch.
This story was easy to get invested into. Right from the beginning I knew this wasn't going to be a fluffy story.
It actually had me stop and take in moments of similarity.
As I followed the ride ; I watched many changes happen within characters and where this story was going. Foreshadowing was present but not blatant.
Overall I enjoyed this story and the writing style.
June 3, 2026
Simone and Alex. I didn’t expect this type of thriller to grab me. Afraid the IT would throw me off and confuse me. But that wasn’t the case at all. This story was written with an amazing depth that kept me fully immersed in this story. Both Simone and Alex come together when Simone is tasked to find out who breached their compliant system. Both in marriages that just aren’t working anymore, they find themselves being pulled to one another, even though they know they shouldn’t. But in the midst of things getting steamy between them, someone is trying to stop Simone from getting to the end of what happened. They don’t want her to reach her end goal. But why? This was seriously hot and thrilling. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved every single moment of this one.
June 2, 2026
Alex
A breach in the security systems of three of his companies forces him to hire a consultant to investigate what happened.
Simone
She is the consultant hired to investigate the breach.
They are both married and feeling unfulfilled with their marriages. They start an affair while she is investigating his business and things unravel from there.
I read this book in one setting because it was that well written. It was a different read from what I have been reading lately and for me it was something that was refreshing. This was just a normal story about two normal and flawed people trying to find their place in the world. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
A breach in the security systems of three of his companies forces him to hire a consultant to investigate what happened.
Simone
She is the consultant hired to investigate the breach.
They are both married and feeling unfulfilled with their marriages. They start an affair while she is investigating his business and things unravel from there.
I read this book in one setting because it was that well written. It was a different read from what I have been reading lately and for me it was something that was refreshing. This was just a normal story about two normal and flawed people trying to find their place in the world. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
June 3, 2026
There is a wide range of characters in this book. Each one felt well thought out and brought something very important to the story.
If your into IT, investigating, strong characters, drama and personal growth the this is for you. One thing to note there is infidelity so if that is a trigger be warned.
Simone does cybersecurity and forensic investigations. She is direct and blunt.
Alex made his company from nothing. When a data breach happens he hires Simone and that is just the start of it. This story was very compelling and grabbed my attention from the get go. From the company issues to the main characters issues this was like unwrapping a present! A surprise at every turn.
If your into IT, investigating, strong characters, drama and personal growth the this is for you. One thing to note there is infidelity so if that is a trigger be warned.
Simone does cybersecurity and forensic investigations. She is direct and blunt.
Alex made his company from nothing. When a data breach happens he hires Simone and that is just the start of it. This story was very compelling and grabbed my attention from the get go. From the company issues to the main characters issues this was like unwrapping a present! A surprise at every turn.
June 13, 2026
Corporate espionage. Infidelity between two people who are both in dead marriages. Loved the deep dark innards of embezzlement and corporate espionage- not something I’d read before. The push and pull between the two main characters was well described- the falling for each other, the fight to control it, the different marriages they both lived within and how they were both discovering how wrong those relationships were for them, albeit while still within those commitments. And the fallout from all of it. Well written!
June 23, 2026
This is a really intense and exciting workplace romance. It’s suspenseful, riveting, fast paced and even contains cheating. But the main characters are cheating with each other so that’s cool. I didn’t know exactly where the plot was going at times but that added to my excitement and kept me turning pages. Definitely a great story!
July 22, 2026
What a story! I was pulled in from the first line- could barely put it down. Love the tech aspects. Love the turmoil. The story pulls you in and you feel like part of the story. The characters were all well developed and and the intensity was awesome. New author for me and I would give more stars if I could. Great read! Spice is 🌶️🌶️ and stars are 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 1, 2026
This was absolutely amazing 🤩 the plot was incredibly written and the characters were amazing , I can’t wait to see what else the author has to offer in future books 😍 this book was beyond incredible would definitely recommend
June 1, 2026
This was such an addictive read. The suspense was strong, the twists kept me guessing, and the chemistry between the characters made everything even more intense. I liked that it felt dramatic and emotional without dragging, and it definitely kept me invested the whole way through!
June 23, 2026
This will keep twisting your emotions until the last page! This has the good, the bad and the ugly! Steamy, with twists and turns. Simone and Alex have a gravitational pull to each other. I would love another book about the other characters.
♥️Cheating
♥️Boss
♥️Suspense
♥️HEA
🌶️🌶️
📍 IL
♥️Cheating
♥️Boss
♥️Suspense
♥️HEA
🌶️🌶️
📍 IL
May 21, 2026
Such a great book! It kept me wanting to know more and know what is going to happen. I liked the writing style too, it was so easy to read! A must read for sure!
June 11, 2026
Received as an ARC for an honest review. This book has affairs, true love but real life, and corporate cheating. It has it all.
June 9, 2026
This definitely was a forbidden romance if I ever did read one! The idea of what the FMC and MMC eventually bonded over and fell in love was a bit unorthodox, but I do get the idea behind it all. It goes to show that no matter how long you’ve known someone or been with someone, if you aren’t being fulfilled? It just might not be for you. 4⭐️. I definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a real life scenario playing out !
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