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Tough & Dirty Billionaire

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I get everything I want. It’s been that way for a long, long time.

So when my best pal challenges me to hide among the normies and get a regular apartment and a regular job for a month, it sounds like a new kind of adventure. I’m up for the challenge. Did I mention that he put his Lamborghini on the line? I’ll happily be taking that off his hands. Oh, and he thinks he's getting my boat. Fat chance.

And a girlfriend - I have to get a girlfriend. She can't know who I really am. She'll just have to like me for the simple shmuck I’ll be playing. Sounds like a piece of cake, really…

But, then I meet Sasha.

She's short, with chocolate-smooth skin and big, innocent eyes. She's wearing a tight black tank top and a pair of cutoff denim shorts, with a messenger bag slung across her shoulder, her purple-tinted lips full and pursed. Her hair radiates around her face like a curly halo. And she's not just playing hard to get - she's playing hard to find. But I'm going to find her. And I'm going to get what I want. I always do.

This is a 39,000 + word stand alone novella with lots of heat, a conflicted woman and a hot, rich man who can make all her dreams come true, and the HEA we all love. Enjoy the sweet, sweet love!

WARNING! This eBook contains mature themes and scenes that are not suitable for all readers. Discretion is advised!
*originally published as The Hidden Billionaire

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2018

181 people are currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Astrid Lee Donovan

75 books24 followers

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5 stars
68 (40%)
4 stars
58 (34%)
3 stars
34 (20%)
2 stars
7 (4%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews71 followers
May 18, 2018
SOMEBODY IS ABOUT TO LOSE!!!
You want feisty, spicy and spoiled. Well don't look now, but you're knocking on the door. Come on in and sit a spell. Things are about to get interesting. Donovan does a 380 here and just keeps on spinning. A crazy storyline that takes on a whole new level of entertainment. You have your humor, attitude, off the charts steamy with a side order of lies and deict. Yep! You heard me. Now lets see how this rough and tumble couple handles all the twists, turns and unexpected surprises thats going to do a real number on this relationship. No lie. Fireworks are about to blow this deception out of the water. The characters were intriguing and complex with few flaws to keep it real. The scenes were so realistic and believable you can sink right in. Donovan weaves a web that grabs our attention from the start and holds it until the rest of the world disappears. She pulls us right into her imagination with her talents and insight for detail that brings this read together smoothly. Incredible job Donovan, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Profile Image for CLorraine.
1,785 reviews21 followers
July 27, 2025
In Tough & Dirty Billionaire, Astrid Lee Donovan gives readers a cute and sultry retelling of the “prince and the commoner” romantic trope. Wealthy and jaded, Sam makes a bet with his friends that he can survive on a typical salary for a person of his age AND find a girlfriend. He is not allowed to use his fortune or tell his would-be girlfriend about his circumstances. Easy-peasy, right? Soon in this social experiment, Sam meets Sasha and all bets are off. She is bold, compassionate, funny and everything he didn’t know was missing in his life. Sasha is reluctantly taken with Sam, even though she finds him to be a contradiction: oddly innocent about everyday life but generous and slightly extravagant. What will happen when Sasha hears the circumstances behind his entry into her life, will she forgive, or will she forget…. about Sam? I enjoyed this easy-going book and both MCs were intriguing and likable; so, like genuinely good stories I was sorry to see it end.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/tough-...
4,145 reviews25 followers
May 20, 2018
Nice well written romance story with some fun parts. I loved the way the hero Sam has to adapted to his life in Brooklyn, where he can’t take the subway because he’s afraid to, or when he discovers what is a buffet. The part of the story, in high society part, is more dramatic, and the heroes need to choose between love or social standing or make compromises.
Sam is a billionaire and he bets with his friend that he can live a month like everyone in a small rent, with a job, and maybe finds a girl. When he meets Sasha, he has to woo her, and it’s a first for him. He has to be careful of what he spends, but can’t be in the subway so he takes cabs. Each steps in Brooklyn, is lived like if he’s in a foreign country, and even the girls don’t react like he's use to.
When finally Sasha knows the truth, new challenges appear to the couple.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kelly  DeMarco.
1,927 reviews4 followers
May 17, 2018
A fun read of much needed humble pie

Tough and Dirty Billionaire by Astrid Lee Donovan has an interesting storyline of how physical distance has nothing to do with economic distance. The lead characters demonstrate this quite accurately.
Sasha is the humble, down to earth hard working , pay check to pay check “normie”, while Sam is spoiled, privileged & blind to every day reality for the majority.
I loved when Sam squirmed, navigating culture shock. It was kind of hilarious and adorable.
Sam embraces his temporary lifestyle change and even develops a conscience about keeping his secret from Sasha.
This book has great chemistry, interesting characters and a storyline that kept me captivated. Sasha is awesome, doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. Sam, while super pretentious and shallow upon introduction, evolves into a great guy & Sasha perfect man.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
37 reviews
May 20, 2018
Sam, a bored billionaire, is convinced by his friend to accept a bet of living as a "normie" for one month. In this time he must get a job, a girlfriend and live within a budget. Sasha, a young black bartender, is saving to go to college and has no time for the opposite sex. Sam however is persistent and even manages to get a job through a friend of Sasha. When Sasha finds out who he really is she is not happy and leaves. Sam, being stubborn, persists and wins the girl. This is not the end of the story as Astrid challenges stereotypes regarding race and colour as well as the different attitudes of the circle of rich friends belonging to Sam that they both have to deal with.

This is book made me laugh and cry at different times but it was well worth the read. enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
875 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2018
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sasha is a barmaid working in a dive bar saving up money so she can attend college. Sam is a billionaire, can get any girl he wants and parties every day. He makes a bet with his best mate to live like a normie for a month. The rules are to get a job, live on $5000.00 for the month and get a girlfriend. He runs into Sasha at a coffee shop and shouts her a coffee. There is something about Sasha and he tracks her down to the bar she works at. He goes to the bar every night to get her to go on a date. She is falling for him but does his secret tear them apart?
Profile Image for Caroline Doig.
5,463 reviews49 followers
May 22, 2018
Sam is a spoiled billionaire who makes a bet with his friend to live a normal life and have a girlfriend for one month. Sam goes to a bar and meets Sasha and he decides that she will be his girlfriend but Sasha isn’t interested so that spurs him on to chase her. Sam eventually breaks down Sasha’s walls and they start a relationship but what will happen when Sasha finds out that Sam has lied to her and only pursued her because of a bet?. I enjoyed this story but I didn’t like Sam he is such a spoiled brat, it doesn’t matter how much money you have there’s no reason to be that way. Fantastic read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
Profile Image for La Vida Rose.
605 reviews22 followers
July 18, 2018
I really liked Sasha and Sam. I thought this was a really cute novella and I especially enjoyed the georgraphical references in the book regarding Brooklyn. I totally miss living in NYC. This was just short and sweet and had great love scenes as well. I was waiting for them to address their different not only socioeconomic backgrounds, but also their different racial backgrounds. It happened and I guess it resolved, but honestly, I thought Sam fell way too hard for Sasha too quickly. He was already saying he loved her after like two weeks and one date haha It's fine though, it's all in good fun and that is what this erotic novella was.
Profile Image for Mawgan Dipple.
1,706 reviews
May 15, 2018
9/5/18 - 10/5/18 4 stars
I received this book as an arc and this is my volunteered review. I really enjoyed this book it was a true how the other half lives. Sam a rich boy bored with life makes a bet with his best friend to live like a normal person for a month, get a job friends n a girlfriend. Sasha poor girl saving for collage no time for men. The 2 meet and he finally realises what his life is missing, when she finds out who he is it's not a happy ending they move in different circles, great story and funny too.
Profile Image for Darlene  Fessenden .
357 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2018

Astrid has written another amazing book that I couldn’t put down until the very last word. Sasha was a bartender from Brooklyn saving money to be able to go to college without having to take a loan. Sam was a multi billionaire who took a bet that he could live the life of working people for a month. When they meet their lives are changed. This is a wonderfully written story that I would highly recommend to all romance enthusiasts. I reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kay.
247 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2018
I get it...your rich

I tried to read this book, I really did. But the “hero” had to say exactly how rich he was every single time he opened his mouth! There was nothing remotely appealing about who he was as a person (think yuppie jack@$$). The chapter I read about Sasha was good but it just couldn’t overcome the male lead’s negatives.
562 reviews
August 14, 2018
This book had a little bit of funny, not much drama, but it was good none the less.

It is a happily ever after book, no cliffhanger.

It is about a woman who has no one sparking her interests, a rich spoiled guy with nothing better to do, and a bet between him and his best friend.

It is not a super short read, but only a day read.
583 reviews
April 9, 2024
Tell It Like It Is

Sasha, was a hard working woman, living in a two bedroom apartment with her best friend Andrea ( love her) Sam was a rich billionaire, living the time if his life, he thought and his best friend Brad was there to help. Sasha and Sam met after a bet, but their struggle to make their relationship work was worth it.
Profile Image for Tisha 'Gardner' Clark.
368 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2018
What a great story of 2 completely opposites attracting to one another. This story between Sam and Sasha was beautiful. I really enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
107 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2018
This was an ARC but I'm voluntarily leaving this review. Good book about an billionaire falling in love with a bartender. Great characters. Sam takes a bet but doesn't plan on meeting Sasha. The sparks fly the first time they lay eyes on each other.I would read it again.
612 reviews
October 19, 2023
Tough & Dirty Billionaire

Down to earth 🌍 & Living like a normie! It was refreshing for Sam to work on the blue collar side! The subway riding had me laughing 😆 & re-reading! Loved their HEA
Profile Image for Nicole.
312 reviews
June 20, 2024
4⭐️

One of the few short stories that didn’t feel rushed and you really connected with Sam and Sasha. It was humorous and a quick light hearted read. Pleasantly surprised doesn’t begin to describe how happy I am that I read this book.
Profile Image for JH.
28 reviews
January 5, 2025
no

Nothing about the title fits the words within. There’s no alpha, no tough, and if by dirty they mean the lackluster intimate parts then I guess. This isn’t a book I’d recommend to anyone over 20. I finished it only because I wanted to meet my reading goals for the year.
99 reviews
May 25, 2018
Worth the read

I love it when a bet turns into love and romance and a very happily ever. A nice read that I enjoyed.
243 reviews
May 30, 2018
So good

O my what a very good book And a big thanks for the extra book at the end it coukd have been longer but it was really good to
95 reviews
June 13, 2018
How often does a girl really get a prince charming story? It may not happen often in real life but I still love reading them.
306 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2018
I just loved it

I just loved it. I need more in the series. I just couldn't get enough. I'm speechless. I just loved it
Profile Image for Deona.
83 reviews
November 27, 2024
Amazing Part 2 please

I love this book I just hate that there are never part 2s, I seem to always want more! And that’s a good thing for writers!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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