Ambitious environmental attorney China Edwards pursues every goal with drive and dedication. Having a baby is no different. No husband? No problem--she'll find the perfect donor. Then one spontaneous passionate night with bachelor executive Alexander Kingsley leaves these two longtime friends with an unanticipated benefit, and throws China's future plans into turmoil.
China's brilliant legal mind and friendship are indispensable to Alexander and his multibillion-dollar oil firm. And the possibility of her moving on makes him realize how deep his feelings actually run. Then their all-business relationship takes a wildly erotic detour...until Alexander is drawn into a company scandal that rocks his life. With trust in tatters, can an unplanned bundle of joy lead them to become the family they never expected?
Lots of suspense, corporate espionage, betrayal and revenge in this one. Best friends COO Alexander Kingsley and In House Counsel, China Edwards are feeling each other but not enough to put a ring on it. She wants a baby. He doesn't. So it seems to be easier to just walk away until Alexander's enemies try to end China's life. The book ended abruptly and left too many loose ends.
I always like books with billionaire business tycoons and looked forward to reading the first book, Always My Baby, in the Kingsleys of Texas series by a new to me author. While I enjoyed the book it was missing some elements for me. The characters did not have a lot of depth to them although the potential was there and the ending was too abrupt with its happily ever ending that took place in the last few pages. I will read the other books in the series and get to know the Kingsleys and some of the other characters better but hope that the closure is more fitting even if the book is part of a series.
The Kingsleys are in defense mode since the EPA believes their company has not been following approved protocols in their oil and gas company and is looking into wrongdoing on their part. The Kingsleys, along with others in the firm including China, an environmental attorney and legal counsel to the firm, and best friend to Alexander, COO, are on the hot seat and are putting their all into getting their name and their company cleared. Alexander and China have chemistry but neither is willing to put a name to it outside of friendship since China wants to start a family and Alexander does not. Where will that leave them and China once she moves on? Her interactions with the dating service were very formal and a hoot as well. Watching their give and take and support from family and friends was heartwarming but often times heartbreaking as well especially when China isn't kept in the loop. Their missteps in communication almost cost them their best friend status as well or does it? When an outside firm is brought in to help them find out who is really involved it doesn't seem as if China is being trusted as part of the inner circle.
There are family, friends, business problems, meetings, undercover surveillance, some intrigue, parties, anger, mistrust, sadness, tears, illness, fear, hurt, laughter, happiness, loving and love. There are twists and turns to the story, some expected and others not. All the Kingsleys are forces to be reckoned with but especially their mother, Victoria, who is always with her sister, Elizabeth, who is also a part of the business. The Kingsleys are definitely a family you'd want on your side and not against you!
First, I have to make a comment on the cover image. The woman looks like JLo. So the whole time I'm reading this, I have an image of China looking like JLo. Yeah..I'm that kind of weird.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The style was very much like a Harlequin Desire, with your super wealthy, kinda alpha male. Alexander was super sexy, and its a given that China is hot. This is a friends to lovers trope and what a fabulous book it was.
Martha Kennerson, created a wide range of characters that you really get attached too, even if they are only secondary characters, and the story plays out like a fabulous soap opera that you can't turn off.
China is a great strong heroine that really knows what she wants. (A baby...with or without a husband) The only thing that this woman who was raised by older parents didn't like was how she was ashamed that her mom had her late in life and she looked more like a grandmother than a mother.
Along with the relationship that is changing, there is the mystery of who is sabotaging Alexander's company. The family business is in oil and someone is trying to bring the EPA down on them. That part of the story is enough to make you turn the pages, because it isn't easy to figure out who the baddie is here.
The relationship between Alexander and China is fabulous and hot. I don't think I've ever read a book where two characters belong together more. I also love that both characters were hardworking and career driven.
The baby reveal was brilliant too, though it was hard to believe that so many people seemed to know without saying except China.
Fabulous read! I definitely would read Martha Kennerson again.
Martha, I am so loving these series. First the Blake triplets and now the Kingsleys of Texas.
Alexander and China, a friendship that started in law school that was a great match made from the very beginning both knew but did not know how to handle their attraction and love for each other. China lost her mom and had a father that only provided for her monetarily. Alex introduced China to his mom who made China a honorary daughter and sibling to her 4 children.
China wanted a family and Alex did not for fearing of not being their for his family because it was not that his father was not their he was he died when Alex and siblings were young thus leaving Alex and his siblings behind a very young age.
So love that there were two powerful women in charge of multi billion dollar oil and gas conglomerate, Victoria Kingsley who was mother to brothers Alexander, Morgan, Brice and sister Kristen and her sister Elizabeth who both married brothers.
Waiting patient for Keylan "KJ" Kingsley who is a NBA star and heiress and Mia Ramirez in a "An Unexpected Holiday Gift" November 2017.
Talk about true friendships blossoming into "Real Love", then you're looking at Alexander Kingsley and China Edwards' relationship! Everyone around them can see the love they obviously have for one another, except for them...or shall I say they just never admitted it for a very long time!!! On this journey of trying to figure out who's trying to sabotage their company, they also embark on a journey of what they really mean to each other! Awesome love story and I am anxiously waiting to read about Morgan, K J, and Brice's stories as well!
This was a good story about Alexander and China. These two loved Rachel other for years but was too stubborn to admit it to each other until you know!! Sorry you have to get the book to find out what happened between these two. I can't wait to read the other brothers story and to find out what happens with the investigation. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoy reading about a good love story. Thank you Martha please keep them coming.
A fantastic start to the Kingsleys of Texas series. I live China Edwards drive, ambition and dedication. Alexander Kingsley is COO of his family's multi-billion dollar conglomerate and just as dedicated and driven as China, They've been close friends since law school, but their relationship is about to change. Excellent read, can't wait fir the next Kingsley book.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author . I really enjoyed it. Great story, just the right amount of suspense too. Enjoyed reading about the characters. I look forward to more from this author.
I enjoyed this book, but was disappointed that there isn’t s series waiting in the wind or that the story did not bring some of the matters to closure. Hopefully I/we won’t have wait too long for the story to continue; or do we have to put our own spin on it.😞🤔
I enjoyed this friends to lovers story! It's a great series opener I can't wait to see what the author has in store for me in the coming books in this series
Excellent read, I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Alex and China made a good couple once they admitted their feelings. I recommend this book.
Nothing like a good friends to lovers romance! Add in a little mystery and you get this great read! I look forward to more from the Kingsleys of Texas series.