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Billionaire Bossy Grump: A Forced Proximity Surprise Baby Romance
He isn’t a consultant.
He’s the CEO.
He’s undercover.
And he’s using our office as bait to catch a mole.
I just don’t know that yet.
All I know is the new guy in cheap hoodies and a borrowed title has been assigned to me — the employee who fixes everything, stays late, and gets overlooked anyway.
I train him.
Cover for him.
Let him shadow the parts of the job no one else notices I’m already doing.
He watches too closely and asks too many questions.
Keeps me near under the excuse of “training.”
Elevators turn into interrogations.
Conference rooms feel like battlefields.
Every glance lingers like he’s searching for something under my skin.
He’s off-limits in every way that matters.
I want him anyway.
One brutal week of audits and late nights shatters my last rule.
One reckless night in my apartment turns suspicion into heat I can’t forget.
Then my body betrays me.
Two pink lines.
No denying it.
Then the truth comes out—
and everything we shared becomes evidence.
He isn’t learning the company.
He’s hunting the traitor inside it.
And the person at the center of his investigation is someone I trust with my life.
Now every look between us feels like a lie.
Every question feels like a trap.
Because falling for the man investigating my world might destroy everything I have left.
He’s the CEO.
He’s undercover.
And he’s using our office as bait to catch a mole.
I just don’t know that yet.
All I know is the new guy in cheap hoodies and a borrowed title has been assigned to me — the employee who fixes everything, stays late, and gets overlooked anyway.
I train him.
Cover for him.
Let him shadow the parts of the job no one else notices I’m already doing.
He watches too closely and asks too many questions.
Keeps me near under the excuse of “training.”
Elevators turn into interrogations.
Conference rooms feel like battlefields.
Every glance lingers like he’s searching for something under my skin.
He’s off-limits in every way that matters.
I want him anyway.
One brutal week of audits and late nights shatters my last rule.
One reckless night in my apartment turns suspicion into heat I can’t forget.
Then my body betrays me.
Two pink lines.
No denying it.
Then the truth comes out—
and everything we shared becomes evidence.
He isn’t learning the company.
He’s hunting the traitor inside it.
And the person at the center of his investigation is someone I trust with my life.
Now every look between us feels like a lie.
Every question feels like a trap.
Because falling for the man investigating my world might destroy everything I have left.
- GenresForced Proximity
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was very intriguing and i enjoyed it more than I thought.
The paragraphs are very short so in terms of a 500 plus page book it went very quickly. I managed to just sit and read this all day !
Although its a romance book there is alot more depth to this book.Most Romance books tend to focus alot on the chemistry between the characters and the spicy elements, this has a combination of other things which i found kept my interest.
The main female character Madeline knows the danger of dating anyone in the workplace, they know its a always a no! Work is a big part of life and there is a element of realness in this book that we can all relate to e.g do i work hard enough , am i doing ok ? The forever ending problem solving and questionning whether your worthy. When Rowan enters the workplace he has to do this under false pretences and this puts everyone on edge as he looking very close at what staff are doing. He does focus on Madeline at first as she seems to be the key to the investigation , the mystery part of this worked really well, its like the cat and mouse chase. We are introduced to other characers as well and the best friend who is always just around making silly comments. Looks very effiecient and very in with management , always checking in and monitoring.
Madeline finds that she has to abide by Rowan whether she wants to her not and she feels targeted and other people have started to notice, hes abrupt sometimes and questions her constantly.
I think Madeline is a work place gem , shes is the sort of member of staff you would want a 100 of ,she brainy and shes genuine . Rowan can see this , he sees all the little things in her as he shadows her working. But deeper into the work place and company there is a bigger problem for Rowan and its not just Madeline that he needs as part of this, its the whole bigger picture.
The workplace romance is just dam right messy its everything that people would be like no thanks and walk away. Rowan knows its not a good idea and as you read through the chapters you get to know to why its not a good place to be in. He has to more to think about than just starting a relationship with staff in a workplace.
There are elements of betrayal , trust, damage limitation for all of the characters, will they rebuild and find a way through, will work ever look the same again.
Thanks to booksirens for this advanced reader copy.
The paragraphs are very short so in terms of a 500 plus page book it went very quickly. I managed to just sit and read this all day !
Although its a romance book there is alot more depth to this book.Most Romance books tend to focus alot on the chemistry between the characters and the spicy elements, this has a combination of other things which i found kept my interest.
The main female character Madeline knows the danger of dating anyone in the workplace, they know its a always a no! Work is a big part of life and there is a element of realness in this book that we can all relate to e.g do i work hard enough , am i doing ok ? The forever ending problem solving and questionning whether your worthy. When Rowan enters the workplace he has to do this under false pretences and this puts everyone on edge as he looking very close at what staff are doing. He does focus on Madeline at first as she seems to be the key to the investigation , the mystery part of this worked really well, its like the cat and mouse chase. We are introduced to other characers as well and the best friend who is always just around making silly comments. Looks very effiecient and very in with management , always checking in and monitoring.
Madeline finds that she has to abide by Rowan whether she wants to her not and she feels targeted and other people have started to notice, hes abrupt sometimes and questions her constantly.
I think Madeline is a work place gem , shes is the sort of member of staff you would want a 100 of ,she brainy and shes genuine . Rowan can see this , he sees all the little things in her as he shadows her working. But deeper into the work place and company there is a bigger problem for Rowan and its not just Madeline that he needs as part of this, its the whole bigger picture.
The workplace romance is just dam right messy its everything that people would be like no thanks and walk away. Rowan knows its not a good idea and as you read through the chapters you get to know to why its not a good place to be in. He has to more to think about than just starting a relationship with staff in a workplace.
There are elements of betrayal , trust, damage limitation for all of the characters, will they rebuild and find a way through, will work ever look the same again.
Thanks to booksirens for this advanced reader copy.
April 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3/5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first time reading a book by Ava St. Clair, and I did enjoy her writing style. It was engaging, and the mystery elements definitely pulled me in.
My main issue was that I wished there had been more character growth and connection between the two main characters. Their relationship felt a bit rushed, and I didn’t really see much buildup. One minute they’re just coworkers, and the next it’s like… boom… they’re together and suddenly a problem for HR. I would’ve loved more behind-the-scenes moments showing how they actually got to that point. Instead, some things felt like they escalated really quickly without enough development (like how HR seemed to know everything almost immediately).
I did see potential in them as a couple, especially with Rowan. You could tell he grew into someone Madeline could trust and rely on. But for me, I didn’t see as much growth from Madeline. It felt like she expected a lot from others while still choosing to stay in the background herself.
That being said, I’m definitely open to reading more from Ava St. Clair. Her writing and the way she builds intrigue in her stories is enough to keep me interested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first time reading a book by Ava St. Clair, and I did enjoy her writing style. It was engaging, and the mystery elements definitely pulled me in.
My main issue was that I wished there had been more character growth and connection between the two main characters. Their relationship felt a bit rushed, and I didn’t really see much buildup. One minute they’re just coworkers, and the next it’s like… boom… they’re together and suddenly a problem for HR. I would’ve loved more behind-the-scenes moments showing how they actually got to that point. Instead, some things felt like they escalated really quickly without enough development (like how HR seemed to know everything almost immediately).
I did see potential in them as a couple, especially with Rowan. You could tell he grew into someone Madeline could trust and rely on. But for me, I didn’t see as much growth from Madeline. It felt like she expected a lot from others while still choosing to stay in the background herself.
That being said, I’m definitely open to reading more from Ava St. Clair. Her writing and the way she builds intrigue in her stories is enough to keep me interested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2026
If you have plans or errands you are needing to get done you might consider doing them before you begin to read this book because Madeline and Rowan will hook you instantly. I really think Ava has done a marvelous job writing this book and I loved how the characters fit together like a puzzle being put together. I not only enjoyed reading this romance book, but I was engrossed with the storyline and the cover.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews