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Hired by the Brooding Billionaire
Billionaire Declan Grant has been a recluse since his wife’s death. But, when his garden needs taming, he reluctantly invites gardener Shelley Fairhill into his home. And, as he watches his garden come back to life, he feels his heart come back to life too…
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2015
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Kandy Shepherd
253 books110 followersKandy Shepherd left a fast-paced career as a magazine editor to write award-winning romantic fiction.
Kandy lives in a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter and a menagerie of four-legged friends.
She believes in love-at-first-sight and real-life romance—they worked for her!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 2, 2018
The joy in reading category romance can be found in the shorter word counts and hyper-aware focus on the romance. So pacing issues tend to stick out like a sore thumb and the first third of this book is kind of a slog thanks to Gardening Porn. So. Much. Gardening. Filler. Happily, I was charmed by the characters - a bubbly heroine smarting over a disastrous break-up and a broody hero who has closed himself off from the world out of grief and guilt. The Gardening Porn lightens up, the characters come into stronger focus, and I loved the ending. A B- on my personal rating scale.
June 29, 2015
I enjoyed this one. I'm not really into gardening but I liked that aspect of this story.
Content: fairly clean, some innuendo, maybe a word or two but can't remember anything, no sex (some talk of wanting it).
Content: fairly clean, some innuendo, maybe a word or two but can't remember anything, no sex (some talk of wanting it).
July 11, 2015
I read this book in one sitting – which doesn’t exactly surprise me because the same has happened with the other two books I’ve already read by the author (The Summer They Never Forgot & From Paradise to Pregnant).
The story seems straight-forward enough at first: You have a handsome, brooding billionaire hiding away in a mansion surrounded by a neglected garden (ah, the deeper meaning behind all this!), and you have a feisty gardener who happens to stumble upon him. Sparks fly, and we’re off into a glorious love story. But things stop being predictable and simple right after the first chapter, which by the way had me hook, line, and sinker. Instead of keeping things mostly physical, Shepherd adds layer upon layer to the protagonists and love story. Both of them seem so real you think you know them or are watching a movie with them. And both of them are just the right mix of flawed, relatable, gorgeous and authentic to make you live every moment with them.
The hero is simply perfect, and I bet I’m going to dream about him. “Devastating Declan”… oh yes, that fits! He certainly isn’t the average ‘tall, dark and handsome’ but more than that. Thoughtful, wounded, stubborn, a geek, generous, and did I mention hot. Then we have the heroine, Shelley, with her green thumb. She’s one of the first main characters I’ve come across in romance novels who’s physically strong and mentally strong too. I love her ‘rabbiting’ and endearing habit of putting her foot in her mouth, and her excitement for her work kept rubbing off on me. As heroines go, she’s refreshing, determined, beautiful and spirited, and I wish she were my friend. And I wish I could visit the mansion with its garden! It is positively noticeable throughout how fond the author herself is of gardening and how well she knows her topic. And I just LOVE the exotic dose of computer game mixed in!
As usual, not just the story itself – fast-paced, with a few twists, with a limited cast but a beautiful, alive setting – but also the author’s style made it a thoroughly enjoyable read. I love how effortlessly the language flows and how neatly it tiptoes the line between sophisticated and smooth, educated and entertaining. And I have tomorrow planned out for me: I’ll re-read the book and Google every single flower and tree the author has brought to life so wonderfully.
The story seems straight-forward enough at first: You have a handsome, brooding billionaire hiding away in a mansion surrounded by a neglected garden (ah, the deeper meaning behind all this!), and you have a feisty gardener who happens to stumble upon him. Sparks fly, and we’re off into a glorious love story. But things stop being predictable and simple right after the first chapter, which by the way had me hook, line, and sinker. Instead of keeping things mostly physical, Shepherd adds layer upon layer to the protagonists and love story. Both of them seem so real you think you know them or are watching a movie with them. And both of them are just the right mix of flawed, relatable, gorgeous and authentic to make you live every moment with them.
The hero is simply perfect, and I bet I’m going to dream about him. “Devastating Declan”… oh yes, that fits! He certainly isn’t the average ‘tall, dark and handsome’ but more than that. Thoughtful, wounded, stubborn, a geek, generous, and did I mention hot. Then we have the heroine, Shelley, with her green thumb. She’s one of the first main characters I’ve come across in romance novels who’s physically strong and mentally strong too. I love her ‘rabbiting’ and endearing habit of putting her foot in her mouth, and her excitement for her work kept rubbing off on me. As heroines go, she’s refreshing, determined, beautiful and spirited, and I wish she were my friend. And I wish I could visit the mansion with its garden! It is positively noticeable throughout how fond the author herself is of gardening and how well she knows her topic. And I just LOVE the exotic dose of computer game mixed in!
As usual, not just the story itself – fast-paced, with a few twists, with a limited cast but a beautiful, alive setting – but also the author’s style made it a thoroughly enjoyable read. I love how effortlessly the language flows and how neatly it tiptoes the line between sophisticated and smooth, educated and entertaining. And I have tomorrow planned out for me: I’ll re-read the book and Google every single flower and tree the author has brought to life so wonderfully.
July 22, 2015
Breathtaking, delightful and pleasurable! This book sucks you into the unfolding story from the onset. It will most certainly entice a newcomer to put Ms. Shepherd on the top of their must-read authors list after reading Declan and Shelley's story!
Never a disappointing moment with Ms. Shepherd!
HIRED BY THE BROODING BILLIONAIRE by Kandy Shepherd contains everything a Harlequin romance novel is…heartwarming, sensual and charming, it commands full reading devotion. If you picked up this particular paperback ( or e-book copy) then I suggest you clear your itinerary for the day, sit back, curl up and enjoy because this is a must-read novel you would want to read WITHOUT long breaks. IT IS THAT GREAT! The story brims with warm, evocative emotions. The romance in itself is mild but keeps the hero and heroine on edge even as their love blooms like the rosebuds as described within the pages. The characters cast, though few they are, enhance the plot and whilst doing so act out their roles with gracious perfection. I especially love the snippets of knowledge gained about gardening and flowers. I even now know the basics of rehabilitating an old fountain!
The story is about an isolated billionaire, a widower, Declan Grant, who lives in a huge mansion surrounded by an overgrown garden who hires a bold, cheerful, spirited and talkative horticulturist, Shelley Fairhill, to tend to his garden after his wealthy neighbors complain about its unkempt state. As Declan gets to know Shelley, he finds her an inspiration and sets to work on a new video game based on a warrior princess riding a white unicorn. Using Shelley as his muse, without her knowledge, Declan's once broody nature quickly evaporates and it is not long before Shelley brings laughter back into his life. He finds Shelley's companionship a welcoming distraction from the still raw memories of his wife and baby daughter's death two years ago. Small gestures, kind words and informative dialogues later and this gorgeous geek hero longs to start a whole new chapter in his life with Shelley by his side. However, one small calamity ensues between H/h and things go awry. In the end will Declan and Shelley get their deserving HEA?
Ms. Shepherd's descriptive writing oozes with an ease and tightness that makes writing a novel seem easy peasy!
Most Definitely Recommended
5/5 Stars
July 6, 2015
Kandy shepherd is the Cinderella author for romance . With her signature writing of love and happily ever afters , you will get more then just a pleasant read but a story that is , "emotionally satisfying" and optimistic with a realistic ending.
You'll turn the last page content, with a sigh, grin and love struck eyes and your heart happy and content .
Kandy 's books are romances about falling in love , emotions , commitments, and moving on from past, loss, demons or heartbreaks .
With every book she delivers she doesn't fail to disappoint any lover of romance.
Those who enjoy sweet and tasteful loving , but with enough sexual tension to have your heart a flutter will enjoy this story.
In this novel we see the authors past knowledge in her last chosen field . ( gardening editor )In which her knowledge - gave her story that depth and realist feel to it.
Hired by The Brooding Billionaire was a refreshing and enlightening read with never a dull moment . We see Declan's past loss, his future struggle and his inability to move forward.
Shelley brings light into not only an over ground hidden garden but a dark and miserable cloud that hangs over Declan's heart.
Declan brings forth feelings in Shelley she hoped would never resurface. But from day one the connection between the pair was evident and transparent.
This authors vivid descriptions within the pages are always well detailed right down to aromas wafting from the kitchen. They always have the heartfelt feel of sweet romance , anticipation struggles and a gradual build up . Without the wham bam thank you mam feel . (Lol)
The storyline was fluent , well written and certainly delightful, And delivered with the perfect amount of sexual tension, and genuine connection between Declan and Shelley .
I enjoyed both the characters , all there characteristics and traits. Even the grumpy Billionaire.
As a reader I love to read about devishsly handsome male characters , whom do come across brooding and hard but always soften with the help of a strong willed beautiful woman . Kandy always delivers.
Captivating , amorous, unputdownable ..
You'll turn the last page content, with a sigh, grin and love struck eyes and your heart happy and content .
Kandy 's books are romances about falling in love , emotions , commitments, and moving on from past, loss, demons or heartbreaks .
With every book she delivers she doesn't fail to disappoint any lover of romance.
Those who enjoy sweet and tasteful loving , but with enough sexual tension to have your heart a flutter will enjoy this story.
In this novel we see the authors past knowledge in her last chosen field . ( gardening editor )In which her knowledge - gave her story that depth and realist feel to it.
Hired by The Brooding Billionaire was a refreshing and enlightening read with never a dull moment . We see Declan's past loss, his future struggle and his inability to move forward.
Shelley brings light into not only an over ground hidden garden but a dark and miserable cloud that hangs over Declan's heart.
Declan brings forth feelings in Shelley she hoped would never resurface. But from day one the connection between the pair was evident and transparent.
This authors vivid descriptions within the pages are always well detailed right down to aromas wafting from the kitchen. They always have the heartfelt feel of sweet romance , anticipation struggles and a gradual build up . Without the wham bam thank you mam feel . (Lol)
The storyline was fluent , well written and certainly delightful, And delivered with the perfect amount of sexual tension, and genuine connection between Declan and Shelley .
I enjoyed both the characters , all there characteristics and traits. Even the grumpy Billionaire.
As a reader I love to read about devishsly handsome male characters , whom do come across brooding and hard but always soften with the help of a strong willed beautiful woman . Kandy always delivers.
Captivating , amorous, unputdownable ..
January 21, 2016
Wow, I am really torn on this book which makes it a bit difficult to rate. The last half of the book was a solid 4 stars but the first 50% was agonizingly slow and filled with not much more than gardening information. I could not give the first 50% anything higher than a 2 star rating.
Our Hero, Declan Grant, is a broken, brooding man living a solitary existence since his beloved wife and premature baby girl died in childbirth two years ago. He is a gorgeous man who is only 30 years young but he made a vow, on the day he lost his family, to never let another woman into his life, to never again love or be loved...and he was leading a celibate life never leaving his home. He had a great need to punish himself by not allowing happiness to enter his life...trying his best to atone for the guilt he carried because he blamed himself for their deaths. When neighbors began complaining of the lack of upkeep in his monstrous gardens he was forced to do something about the overgrown mess.
A horticulturalist, Shelley Fairhill, bravely stopped by the disheveled gardens at a mansion she passed by traveling to and from work to offer her gardening and landscaping services to the owner. The owner refused but after the neighbors filed a complaint with the city he had no choice. He contacts Shelley and she accepts the job, Shelley makes a strong impact on Declan and they are immediately attracted to one another. His walls begin to very slowly crumble bit by bit but he is still so heartbroken over the loss of his wife and baby it is next to impossible for him to move on. As time passes they are drawn closer and closer together but still he's struggling with his grief and self-induced punishment.
I consider this to be a fair read. The slowness of the first half had me on the cusp of not finishing this book several times and to move on to something else. It was somewhat dark with the negative thoughts and feelings Declan had for his deceased wife, baby and excessive guilt. It became very redundant to the point of choosing to skip over them.
Recommendation: Read this book and make your own decision. I, for one, would not read it again. It was too sad for me.
Our Hero, Declan Grant, is a broken, brooding man living a solitary existence since his beloved wife and premature baby girl died in childbirth two years ago. He is a gorgeous man who is only 30 years young but he made a vow, on the day he lost his family, to never let another woman into his life, to never again love or be loved...and he was leading a celibate life never leaving his home. He had a great need to punish himself by not allowing happiness to enter his life...trying his best to atone for the guilt he carried because he blamed himself for their deaths. When neighbors began complaining of the lack of upkeep in his monstrous gardens he was forced to do something about the overgrown mess.
A horticulturalist, Shelley Fairhill, bravely stopped by the disheveled gardens at a mansion she passed by traveling to and from work to offer her gardening and landscaping services to the owner. The owner refused but after the neighbors filed a complaint with the city he had no choice. He contacts Shelley and she accepts the job, Shelley makes a strong impact on Declan and they are immediately attracted to one another. His walls begin to very slowly crumble bit by bit but he is still so heartbroken over the loss of his wife and baby it is next to impossible for him to move on. As time passes they are drawn closer and closer together but still he's struggling with his grief and self-induced punishment.
I consider this to be a fair read. The slowness of the first half had me on the cusp of not finishing this book several times and to move on to something else. It was somewhat dark with the negative thoughts and feelings Declan had for his deceased wife, baby and excessive guilt. It became very redundant to the point of choosing to skip over them.
Recommendation: Read this book and make your own decision. I, for one, would not read it again. It was too sad for me.
March 25, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this. I thought the premise was fabulous and I really liked the h/H. Declan, the tragic widower, a recluse and still feeling guilt about the death of his wife and baby. Shelley, a bright beautiful gardener who came into his life and woke him up again.
I normally like a couple to have sex before the end of the book, but I could accept the author’s decision to have Shelley refuse to settle for what she thought would be a fling. However, her over the top, melodramatic and somewhat vicious response to finding out that Declan had created a character for a game based on her just made no sense to me whatsoever and her running away seemed simply a contrivance to create the dark moment before the happy resolution. Declan explained and apologised but she simply refused to acknowledge what he was saying. I was beyond irritated and frustrated by her behaviour.
Having written a very leisurely and somewhat uneventful story for much of the book, the ending felt incredibly rushed and unsatisfactory. I expected an epilogue because of that rushed ending but there wasn’t one.
I enjoyed the story but the ending disappointed. This author is new to me but I’ll be reading at least one more of her books to see how it goes as I really liked her style.
I normally like a couple to have sex before the end of the book, but I could accept the author’s decision to have Shelley refuse to settle for what she thought would be a fling. However, her over the top, melodramatic and somewhat vicious response to finding out that Declan had created a character for a game based on her just made no sense to me whatsoever and her running away seemed simply a contrivance to create the dark moment before the happy resolution. Declan explained and apologised but she simply refused to acknowledge what he was saying. I was beyond irritated and frustrated by her behaviour.
Having written a very leisurely and somewhat uneventful story for much of the book, the ending felt incredibly rushed and unsatisfactory. I expected an epilogue because of that rushed ending but there wasn’t one.
I enjoyed the story but the ending disappointed. This author is new to me but I’ll be reading at least one more of her books to see how it goes as I really liked her style.
July 4, 2015
Author Kandy Shepherd never fails to captivate me as a reader with her charming contemporary romance works. "Hired by the Brooding Billionaire" features a very appealing heroine who brings back to life the heart of a grieving widower much in the same way she restores the neglected garden of his mansion home. With elements of the past combined with modern day technology, this sweet "Beauty and the Beast" tale will delight lovers of romance. Shelley Fairhill is a dedicated horticulturist--knowledgeable, hard-working, and true to her own ideals and sense of purpose. Having walked by the grand old home on Bellevue Street in Sydney many times, and despairing over the magnificent garden and fountain left to ruination, Shelley finally gathers the nerve to approach the owner to offer her expertise. The man who answers the door is no shriveled old miser--he is a man of striking appearance and not much older than Shelley in age. Despite his good looks and vivid blue eyes, his manor is abrupt and forbidding, and he quickly dismisses Shelley and her offer to work to bring the garden back to its original splendor. Declan Grant amassed a fortune through his fantasy internet game creations, but no amount of money could replace the loss of his wife and infant daughter after the baby's birth. Shelley is shocked when Declan contacts her with an offer of employment as gardener for the estate--his neighbors are making costly complaints about the state of the grounds. Shelley accepts, and while Declan insists on keeping the sanctity of his reclusive privacy, circumstances and mutual attraction will draw the two of them together. Both of them have issues of abandonment from their childhood, and each of them has suffered a great hurt of the heart. Declan admires Shelley for her strength of character as well as her physical strength and strong work ethic. She is also beautiful and warm-hearted, and, often to her own embarrassment, she speaks her mind. Shelley sees Declan as quite complex, undeniably handsome, and much more human than he first seemed. She knows that beneath his sometimes sharp, stern exterior, there is a caring man with a wounded soul. Can true love take root and find the sunshine where there was once the gloom of pain and sadness? Will happiness bloom when tended with hope and encouragement? Kandy Shepherd is one of my favorite storytellers, and I recommend "Hired by the Brooding Billionaire" for readers who enjoy romances featuring a worthy heroine and a hero with the smarts to appreciate such a wonderful woman.
Review Copy Gratis Author
Review Copy Gratis Author
January 22, 2016
A story of a man in need of healing before he can move on and love another woman and form a family.
This is a sad but also sweet story. Declan is a man that lost the woman he loved and what was worse was she was pregnant. He felt guilt about their passing because he wanted a family and she wanted to wait. But something that his wife wanted to do never got done and that’s where Shelley comes in. She loves plants and she has had her eye on a garden that has not been maintained. She assumed that the house belonged to this old grumpy man or maybe an old woman but it ended up belonging to a very handsome obnoxious young man. I couldn’t believe how he ended up treating her but in the end he ends up making it up to her by hiring her to clean up the garden or suffer the consequences.
As he spies from his “high tower” he get this idea. He is a young man that creates video games and Shelley’s character her looks inspires him and he gets to work. Shelley knows that she is attracted to Declan but she has a plans and those plans include moving. But what Declan never thought would happen was happening and these feelings were different and he didn’t want them. Then the day happened when she was going out to look for a new place to live and he stopped her. Declan actually asked her to live in the apartment in the estate but what he needed to think about was those feelings and also the jealously he was feeling. But I could see that Declan was a different person and he was getting better at laughing and he was being very kind. Can Declan and Shelley live happily ever after?
Hired by the Brooding Billionaire was a great read. It is one of those reads that I enjoyed on a rainy day. The characters were well developed. This is my first read by Ms. Shepard and I absolutely loved her writing.
I totally recommend this read!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
This is a sad but also sweet story. Declan is a man that lost the woman he loved and what was worse was she was pregnant. He felt guilt about their passing because he wanted a family and she wanted to wait. But something that his wife wanted to do never got done and that’s where Shelley comes in. She loves plants and she has had her eye on a garden that has not been maintained. She assumed that the house belonged to this old grumpy man or maybe an old woman but it ended up belonging to a very handsome obnoxious young man. I couldn’t believe how he ended up treating her but in the end he ends up making it up to her by hiring her to clean up the garden or suffer the consequences.
As he spies from his “high tower” he get this idea. He is a young man that creates video games and Shelley’s character her looks inspires him and he gets to work. Shelley knows that she is attracted to Declan but she has a plans and those plans include moving. But what Declan never thought would happen was happening and these feelings were different and he didn’t want them. Then the day happened when she was going out to look for a new place to live and he stopped her. Declan actually asked her to live in the apartment in the estate but what he needed to think about was those feelings and also the jealously he was feeling. But I could see that Declan was a different person and he was getting better at laughing and he was being very kind. Can Declan and Shelley live happily ever after?
Hired by the Brooding Billionaire was a great read. It is one of those reads that I enjoyed on a rainy day. The characters were well developed. This is my first read by Ms. Shepard and I absolutely loved her writing.
I totally recommend this read!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
June 16, 2020
First of all , I am thankful to my friend for discovering this book.I usually go through her reads , because finding a book of your taste is so difficult. THERE ARE COUNTLESS UNPRODUCTIVE HOURS AND THEN I JUST DOZE OFF.. THEN THE FOLLOWING NIGHT ,SEARCH CONTINUES
THIS NOVEL WAS A DELIGHT. Declan and Shelley were both very well developed and let me say mature characters. There was so excess drama where hero blames the h for closure and stuff. And I love Shelley and her big mouth..i relate to her so much.... Declan was perfect.And the vampire/bat comments were the winner for me.
If only there had been an equally sweet epilogue to this sweet love story , it would have been perfect. Thank you .
THIS NOVEL WAS A DELIGHT. Declan and Shelley were both very well developed and let me say mature characters. There was so excess drama where hero blames the h for closure and stuff. And I love Shelley and her big mouth..i relate to her so much.... Declan was perfect.And the vampire/bat comments were the winner for me.
If only there had been an equally sweet epilogue to this sweet love story , it would have been perfect. Thank you .
September 29, 2015
Hired by the Brooding Billionaire (Harlequin Romance Large Print) by Kandy Shepherd
Shelley Fairhill walked past this very overgrown garden and it cried out to help it and she almost wanted to climb over the fence to help it. She approached the home’s owner Declan Grant and offered her gardening services but he refused. She left her card and went home.
He texted her a few weeks later and she responded. Yes he wanted her to tackles the weeds, then leave. He made her a monetary offer she could not refuse. She quit her job and started to find what was salvageable in the garden.
What she finds is much more beyond the garden. She finds a widower who is a billionaire, she finds that the neighbors have all complained about the gardens unkempt state and she finds that Declan is a video game creator.
If you pick this paperback to read snuggle in a perfect spot, and be prepared to read it all. It is that good of a story and Kandy Shepherd that good of an author that you can visualize the gardens; the video game character Declan creates resembling Shelley and more.
Declan lost not only his wife but his newborn daughter also and he blame himself for not being able to safe them. He has tried to hide in his house, taking delivery of anything he may need and keep everyone away from him. That is till he meets Shelley!
Beauty and the reclusive billionaire….
Shelley Fairhill walked past this very overgrown garden and it cried out to help it and she almost wanted to climb over the fence to help it. She approached the home’s owner Declan Grant and offered her gardening services but he refused. She left her card and went home.
He texted her a few weeks later and she responded. Yes he wanted her to tackles the weeds, then leave. He made her a monetary offer she could not refuse. She quit her job and started to find what was salvageable in the garden.
What she finds is much more beyond the garden. She finds a widower who is a billionaire, she finds that the neighbors have all complained about the gardens unkempt state and she finds that Declan is a video game creator.
If you pick this paperback to read snuggle in a perfect spot, and be prepared to read it all. It is that good of a story and Kandy Shepherd that good of an author that you can visualize the gardens; the video game character Declan creates resembling Shelley and more.
Declan lost not only his wife but his newborn daughter also and he blame himself for not being able to safe them. He has tried to hide in his house, taking delivery of anything he may need and keep everyone away from him. That is till he meets Shelley!
Beauty and the reclusive billionaire….
July 30, 2015
HIRED BY THE BROODING BILLIONAIRE by author Kandy Shepherd is August 2015 release by Harlequin Romance series.
Declan Grant, a millionaire at eighteen, a billionaire in his twenties, he was a brilliant man used to making things happen his way. Ye he had not been able to save his little family. Was Declan really ready to move forward? Would he ever be ready?
And did Shelley Fairhill have the strength to be the one to help him? To keep on shining her light in to the shadowy recesses of his soul?
HIRED BY THE BROODING BILLIONAIRE has a tortured grief-stricken hero who shut himself in his mansion. And a strong beautiful heroine who came to bring light in his overgrown garden and ended up bringing light in his life. A reader would be hooked from the first page till the end to find out it all ends for Declan and Shelley. Author Kandy Shepherd’s latest offering would touch every girl’s heart and make her root for Shelley to find her happy ending as well as happiness for Declan.
Highly recommended for all readers of romance.
Declan Grant, a millionaire at eighteen, a billionaire in his twenties, he was a brilliant man used to making things happen his way. Ye he had not been able to save his little family. Was Declan really ready to move forward? Would he ever be ready?
And did Shelley Fairhill have the strength to be the one to help him? To keep on shining her light in to the shadowy recesses of his soul?
HIRED BY THE BROODING BILLIONAIRE has a tortured grief-stricken hero who shut himself in his mansion. And a strong beautiful heroine who came to bring light in his overgrown garden and ended up bringing light in his life. A reader would be hooked from the first page till the end to find out it all ends for Declan and Shelley. Author Kandy Shepherd’s latest offering would touch every girl’s heart and make her root for Shelley to find her happy ending as well as happiness for Declan.
Highly recommended for all readers of romance.
July 15, 2015
Shelley has been betrayed many a times to have an easy time trusting the male of the species and she still goes head on to live her dream in a very male dominated profession.
Shelley is a horticulturist who dreams of working in the best of the European Gardens and even in Australia has an eye on a Garden she wishes to restore with all her heart.
That is where she meets Declan, a man who is more feeling guilty than grieving for a wife that dies in childbirth a couple of years ago along with his newborn daughter. Isolating himself, he has sort of become a grouch.
Shelley sets herself the task of not only restoring Declan's garden but also restore him to the man he was before. A man who was capable of love far beyond anything else.
Is she wise to again put her trust in a man who is broken into pieces which may scrape against Shelley's heart? The answer lies in the strength of what they feel fo one another but will that lead them to a happily ever after?
Shelley is a horticulturist who dreams of working in the best of the European Gardens and even in Australia has an eye on a Garden she wishes to restore with all her heart.
That is where she meets Declan, a man who is more feeling guilty than grieving for a wife that dies in childbirth a couple of years ago along with his newborn daughter. Isolating himself, he has sort of become a grouch.
Shelley sets herself the task of not only restoring Declan's garden but also restore him to the man he was before. A man who was capable of love far beyond anything else.
Is she wise to again put her trust in a man who is broken into pieces which may scrape against Shelley's heart? The answer lies in the strength of what they feel fo one another but will that lead them to a happily ever after?
July 22, 2015
Shelley Fairhill is a horticulturalist that passes an overgrown garden every day and finally decides she has to approach the owner and see if he will let her bring it back to former glory. So she meets Declan Grant who is not only not interested in fixing his garden he is arrogant and all things that would turn off Shelley. What she doesn't know is he is in pain over the loss of his wife and child so he is hiding away and doesn't care if the garden covers the house in darkness. When Shelley gets a message from him she is surprised so she goes and works on his garden. They both have hurt from the past but together they overcome. Its a lovely story which is something Kandy Shepherd always gives and a bonus is all the lovely flowers and plants and trees she writes about you feel like you are at Declans house. Kandy sent me this book for an honest review and that is so easy to do because its lovely and I hated to see it end except I love HEA. thank you loved it.
August 4, 2015
4 STARS
I would love to have the garden in my yard. The setting was described beautifully. It is Australia in a mansion with a garden that is out of control.
The characters were interesting and well balanced with good points and faults or trials that they had to get through. I really liked Delcan and Shelley.
Delcan is a billionaire who is hold up in his home and wants no one around. He is unhappy and grumpy. He is a widower and has a sad story.
Shelley is a hard worker. She wants to tame Delcan's garden. She is unlucky in her past boyfriends.
I would read more books by Kandy Shepherd based on Hired by the Brooding Billionaire.
It was entertaining romance that was a good story to get into.
I was given this ebook to read by Harlequin and Net Galley. In return I agreed to give a honest review to Hired by the Brooding Billionaire.
I would love to have the garden in my yard. The setting was described beautifully. It is Australia in a mansion with a garden that is out of control.
The characters were interesting and well balanced with good points and faults or trials that they had to get through. I really liked Delcan and Shelley.
Delcan is a billionaire who is hold up in his home and wants no one around. He is unhappy and grumpy. He is a widower and has a sad story.
Shelley is a hard worker. She wants to tame Delcan's garden. She is unlucky in her past boyfriends.
I would read more books by Kandy Shepherd based on Hired by the Brooding Billionaire.
It was entertaining romance that was a good story to get into.
I was given this ebook to read by Harlequin and Net Galley. In return I agreed to give a honest review to Hired by the Brooding Billionaire.
August 19, 2015
"Hired by the Brooding Billionaire" by Kandy Shepherd is classic romance at it's finest. Widower Declan Grant hires Shelley Fairhill to take care of his gardens after his neighbors complain of the deplorable state of his yard. Personally, Declan didn't much care after his wife died and he just wants to be left alone. This is more than a just a simple lust story of the gardener falling for the billionaire. The sexual tension between Declan and Shelley is between them from almost the start. Declan needs to learn to live again after the loss of his wife.
So much more to this quick, easy, and fantastic read.
So much more to this quick, easy, and fantastic read.
July 29, 2015
Read this book as a treat after been studying for an exam way too much, two days confining to the desk with lots of papers, pencils, erasers...
Reminds me a little bit of Rapunzel but this time it was the male character, Declan that has locked himself out from the world, blaming himself for the death of his wife and still-birth baby.
And somehow, Shelley, ultimately the heroine in this story, by just being herself, able to make Declan open up and face his fears and able to forgive himself as he fall in love with Shelley.
Reminds me a little bit of Rapunzel but this time it was the male character, Declan that has locked himself out from the world, blaming himself for the death of his wife and still-birth baby.
And somehow, Shelley, ultimately the heroine in this story, by just being herself, able to make Declan open up and face his fears and able to forgive himself as he fall in love with Shelley.
August 4, 2015
This is a lovely romance that keeps you reading and rooting for Declan Grant and Shelley Fairhill to get their happy ever after, because they're perfect for each other! I love gardens and flowers, so I thoroughly enjoyed how Shelley brings a magnificent garden that's out of control because of years of neglect, back to its former glory. At the same time, she brings her boss out of mourning into the light of a world filled with love and beauty. The perfect story for any lover of romance!
September 27, 2015
I was given a signed copy of this book at RWA this year, and found it to be a delightful story, which had me reaching for the tissues at one stage. I will be looking out for other books by Kandy Shepherd now I know she writes as beautifully as this!
June 24, 2016
Nice story about a widowed hero and his tangled garden in a swanky part of Sydney (yes, the one in Australia), and the landscaping heroine who tames both the garden and him. That's basically the plot, but it's a good story with some nicely handled angst. I liked it a lot.
July 3, 2015
Lovely and sweet.
February 17, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book, as gardening is not one of my thing, still it was fun to give a read.
December 26, 2017
Loved the setting in Australia and Europe. A tragic Shelley overcomes in her life that now puts her in the path of the brooding Declan. It takes a lot to overcome loss when you feel it was your fault but Shelley opens Declan'e eyes to life. A well written and perfectly paced story.
March 10, 2016
I was in the mood for a comforting romantic read and Kandy Shepherd's Hired by the Brooding Billionaire fit the bill, though there were some slightly broody moments which put a little bit of spice into the story as well.
So ... broody Declan. Can you say delicious? I'm not saying Ms Shepherd used Stephen Amell from Arrow as a model for the character but he certainly looked the part in my imagination, especially in the scene with the salmon pull ups. There's a video on YouTube of Stephen Amell / Arrow doing salmon pull ups bare chested that is super yummy. I'm wondering if Ms Shepherd had seen the video and used it as inspiration because it was the first thing I pictured when I read the scene. Hmmmm... might need to go and watch that video again!! Aside from all that yummy, poor Declan is a very tortured soul, having suffered a great loss and living with the guilt and self-incrimination of the loss. That's how bright and shiny Shelley finds him. Beneath all the darkness, Declan is a man who has loved and knows how to love, but he's in so much pain, none of that can come through, but he finds inspiration in Shelley and slowly, very slowly, opens himself up to the possibility of living and loving again. It's a slow process for Declan and there are setbacks. My heart aches for him as he tries but gets pulled back into the darkness that had become his life for so long. Fortunately, Declan is also a fighter and he takes some very positive steps towards healing.
Shelley is sunshine and light, especially to Declan. She brings light and life into Declan's rather dark world. Still, Shelley has her own demons to fight, and her own issues with trust and men. I liked Shelley's passion for her work and her quirky personality. She had a tendency to not filter her words and they were rather refreshing. It's a good thing Declan thought so too. :-) I thought at one point, she way overreacted when she discovered something Declan had done, but it was somewhat understandable too, given her issues. It was also a turning point for Declan to more actively pursue the healing he needed, so I guess it had to be done. Can't say I agreed with her though and it was probably the lowest moment of how I felt about her. I did admire her for recognizing when she was fighting a losing battle and decided to move on with her life.
As always, Ms Shepherd's stories revolves almost entirely on the couple with very few secondary characters and interruptions to their relationship building. I love that about a romance. For me, it's all about the couple and how they become a couple and Ms Shepherd does that particularly well.
Ms Shepherd also did a tremendous job in describing the garden and all the history surrounding the garden, and gardens in general. I'm certain a lot of research went into it as she really brought the gardens to life with her vivid descriptions, from the original state of disrepair, to the work needed to restore the garden, and the garden coming to life after all the work Shelley put into it. I also loved her description of the garden in London of the white flowers amidst the white of the snow. I imagined what it would look like in my mind and the white on white makes a stunning visual. I don't know if Ms Shepherd is a lover of gardens herself, but I'd hazard a guess to say she is with the detail she put into the gardens' descriptions.
This was a lovely story. I really need to take the time to read Ms Shepherd's stories more frequently and get to them a lot sooner than I do since I enjoy them so much. I'm looking forward to picking up another one of her stories soon.
So ... broody Declan. Can you say delicious? I'm not saying Ms Shepherd used Stephen Amell from Arrow as a model for the character but he certainly looked the part in my imagination, especially in the scene with the salmon pull ups. There's a video on YouTube of Stephen Amell / Arrow doing salmon pull ups bare chested that is super yummy. I'm wondering if Ms Shepherd had seen the video and used it as inspiration because it was the first thing I pictured when I read the scene. Hmmmm... might need to go and watch that video again!! Aside from all that yummy, poor Declan is a very tortured soul, having suffered a great loss and living with the guilt and self-incrimination of the loss. That's how bright and shiny Shelley finds him. Beneath all the darkness, Declan is a man who has loved and knows how to love, but he's in so much pain, none of that can come through, but he finds inspiration in Shelley and slowly, very slowly, opens himself up to the possibility of living and loving again. It's a slow process for Declan and there are setbacks. My heart aches for him as he tries but gets pulled back into the darkness that had become his life for so long. Fortunately, Declan is also a fighter and he takes some very positive steps towards healing.
Shelley is sunshine and light, especially to Declan. She brings light and life into Declan's rather dark world. Still, Shelley has her own demons to fight, and her own issues with trust and men. I liked Shelley's passion for her work and her quirky personality. She had a tendency to not filter her words and they were rather refreshing. It's a good thing Declan thought so too. :-) I thought at one point, she way overreacted when she discovered something Declan had done, but it was somewhat understandable too, given her issues. It was also a turning point for Declan to more actively pursue the healing he needed, so I guess it had to be done. Can't say I agreed with her though and it was probably the lowest moment of how I felt about her. I did admire her for recognizing when she was fighting a losing battle and decided to move on with her life.
As always, Ms Shepherd's stories revolves almost entirely on the couple with very few secondary characters and interruptions to their relationship building. I love that about a romance. For me, it's all about the couple and how they become a couple and Ms Shepherd does that particularly well.
Ms Shepherd also did a tremendous job in describing the garden and all the history surrounding the garden, and gardens in general. I'm certain a lot of research went into it as she really brought the gardens to life with her vivid descriptions, from the original state of disrepair, to the work needed to restore the garden, and the garden coming to life after all the work Shelley put into it. I also loved her description of the garden in London of the white flowers amidst the white of the snow. I imagined what it would look like in my mind and the white on white makes a stunning visual. I don't know if Ms Shepherd is a lover of gardens herself, but I'd hazard a guess to say she is with the detail she put into the gardens' descriptions.
This was a lovely story. I really need to take the time to read Ms Shepherd's stories more frequently and get to them a lot sooner than I do since I enjoy them so much. I'm looking forward to picking up another one of her stories soon.
July 27, 2016
One thing you can be certain of when you pick up a romance novel written by Kandy Shepherd, you’re in for a well-written, light-hearted read. It’s no accident Shepherd subtitles her website: “fun, feel-good fiction!” Her scenarios are fun; the inevitable happy ending is fun. Yet there are often surprising elements in the writing that adds an extra layer of enjoyment.
In Hired By the Brooding Billionaire, Shepherd rewrites the familiar and favourite trope of Beauty and the Beast. The “Beast” is Declan Grant, a man who has hidden himself away after the death of his beloved wife. He’s inordinately rich – hence the “billionaire” of the title – having made his fortune from a computer game. Despite his wealth, Declan doesn’t find life easy; he has shut himself away inside his Sydney-Eastern Suburbs mansion, rarely seeing daylight, and letting the garden his wife had once cherished grow unkempt.
Into his life walks Shelley Fairhill, not your usual “beauty”, but an amazon-like landscape gardener. The two meet when Shelley approaches Declan for work, wanting to bring his garden back to its former glory. She recognises it as having been designed by “probably Australia’s most famous landscape designer” of the 1920s, Enid Wilson, a woman Shelley wrote her dissertation on at uni. (It’s pretty clear Wilson is based on the real-life Australian landscape designer, Edna Walling, and this is the kind of gently feminist reference I’ve come to expect from Shepherd’s writing.) Despite his need for solitude, Declan is persuaded to let Shelley loose on the garden, and becomes increasingly attracted to her as a muse: he needs a model for his next female-starring computer game.
Shelley is passionate about her work and becomes equally passionate about her employer – this is a romance, after all; but more than Declan’s tragic past throws doubt on their chances for a “happy ever after”. For one thing, Shelley has a desire to work in the most famous gardens in England, and she’s not going to let a man stand in her way.
Don’t get me wrong: Hired By the Brooding Billionaire isn’t a feminist romance. In many ways, it’s a typical Mills and Boon novel: traditional, warm and sweet. But it does portray Shelley as strong-minded and independent; she doesn’t have to rely on a man for her success or happiness, though her “happy ever after” with Declan is welcome when it comes.
In Hired By the Brooding Billionaire, Shepherd rewrites the familiar and favourite trope of Beauty and the Beast. The “Beast” is Declan Grant, a man who has hidden himself away after the death of his beloved wife. He’s inordinately rich – hence the “billionaire” of the title – having made his fortune from a computer game. Despite his wealth, Declan doesn’t find life easy; he has shut himself away inside his Sydney-Eastern Suburbs mansion, rarely seeing daylight, and letting the garden his wife had once cherished grow unkempt.
Into his life walks Shelley Fairhill, not your usual “beauty”, but an amazon-like landscape gardener. The two meet when Shelley approaches Declan for work, wanting to bring his garden back to its former glory. She recognises it as having been designed by “probably Australia’s most famous landscape designer” of the 1920s, Enid Wilson, a woman Shelley wrote her dissertation on at uni. (It’s pretty clear Wilson is based on the real-life Australian landscape designer, Edna Walling, and this is the kind of gently feminist reference I’ve come to expect from Shepherd’s writing.) Despite his need for solitude, Declan is persuaded to let Shelley loose on the garden, and becomes increasingly attracted to her as a muse: he needs a model for his next female-starring computer game.
Shelley is passionate about her work and becomes equally passionate about her employer – this is a romance, after all; but more than Declan’s tragic past throws doubt on their chances for a “happy ever after”. For one thing, Shelley has a desire to work in the most famous gardens in England, and she’s not going to let a man stand in her way.
Don’t get me wrong: Hired By the Brooding Billionaire isn’t a feminist romance. In many ways, it’s a typical Mills and Boon novel: traditional, warm and sweet. But it does portray Shelley as strong-minded and independent; she doesn’t have to rely on a man for her success or happiness, though her “happy ever after” with Declan is welcome when it comes.
July 24, 2015
This story is a real treasure one that will be added to the keeper shelf and I am sure read many times over :) MS Shepherd has bought the hero and heroine to life on the pages the house and garden is a dream setting and getting to know Declan and Shelly was a fantastic trip.
Shelly Fairhill is a beautiful woman both inside and outside she has been through a bit in her life with heartache but she is positive and with a grandmother that taught her values she is now a horticulturalist and very enthusiastic about her work and what she wants to do so when on her way to work she is intrigued by a garden that is over run and very neglected she is determined to bring it back to life and is bold enough to knock on the door and offer her services.
Declan Grant is a geek a very rich one an only child and he had a very quiet and lonely childhood and is very reclusive these days never leaving his huge house with an over run garden after a tragedy that has left him devastated he works with his computers with very few visitors and very rarely opens the door to anyone but his life changes drastically when he opens that door one day.
This is an emotional beautiful story that will make you cry and smile as Shelly and Declan journey to a fantastic HEA the banter between them is wonderful and Shelly is very good at saying what she thinks and seeing Declan finally open up to what has happened and seeing the garden come to life and the joy that is brings Shelly and Declan smiling and talking so much about feelings and emotions, truly this is a story that you will treasure and read in one sitting don't miss this one MS Shepherd has done it again with another fantastic story.
Shelly Fairhill is a beautiful woman both inside and outside she has been through a bit in her life with heartache but she is positive and with a grandmother that taught her values she is now a horticulturalist and very enthusiastic about her work and what she wants to do so when on her way to work she is intrigued by a garden that is over run and very neglected she is determined to bring it back to life and is bold enough to knock on the door and offer her services.
Declan Grant is a geek a very rich one an only child and he had a very quiet and lonely childhood and is very reclusive these days never leaving his huge house with an over run garden after a tragedy that has left him devastated he works with his computers with very few visitors and very rarely opens the door to anyone but his life changes drastically when he opens that door one day.
This is an emotional beautiful story that will make you cry and smile as Shelly and Declan journey to a fantastic HEA the banter between them is wonderful and Shelly is very good at saying what she thinks and seeing Declan finally open up to what has happened and seeing the garden come to life and the joy that is brings Shelly and Declan smiling and talking so much about feelings and emotions, truly this is a story that you will treasure and read in one sitting don't miss this one MS Shepherd has done it again with another fantastic story.
August 2, 2016
Shelly is trying to get a bit more cash in her pocket in order to go on the trip of a lifetime that has been put off to long as it is because of a horrible ex. Which leads her to trying to get a job working on the garden that has captivated her interest for months.
Declan is living in a virtual prison. One that he created all by himself in order to atone for the loss of his beloved wife and his daughter. He hasn't even felt human touch besides his mother every once in a while. That is until he meets the pushy gardener that didn't want to take no for an answer. Now that his world has a little light in it will he be able to open himself to the possibility of happiness. Or will he sabotage it.
This was a great romance that I did not want to put down. The infusion of the gaming and the gardening jobs of the two characters made the elements of the story become so much more intense. And the scene of the gifted flowers touches the reader to the point that it is hard not to feel Declan's devotion to his late wife and daughter. This was a truly great read. There was no sex and very little bad language. This would be a great read for all age ranges.
~A Book Obsessed Chicks Books Bash Selection.
Declan is living in a virtual prison. One that he created all by himself in order to atone for the loss of his beloved wife and his daughter. He hasn't even felt human touch besides his mother every once in a while. That is until he meets the pushy gardener that didn't want to take no for an answer. Now that his world has a little light in it will he be able to open himself to the possibility of happiness. Or will he sabotage it.
This was a great romance that I did not want to put down. The infusion of the gaming and the gardening jobs of the two characters made the elements of the story become so much more intense. And the scene of the gifted flowers touches the reader to the point that it is hard not to feel Declan's devotion to his late wife and daughter. This was a truly great read. There was no sex and very little bad language. This would be a great read for all age ranges.
~A Book Obsessed Chicks Books Bash Selection.
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