Hating My New Boss

Hate Love #1

by B.B. Hamel

He ruined my life.
Now he really wants to screw me.

Justin Hayes was my best friend up until the day he broke my heart and disappeared.

When I find out he’s my new boss, I’m about to leave with my middle fingers held high. Instead, I stop dead in my tracks as soon as he steps into my office.

Justin’s all grown up, and he’s even more gorgeous than I remembered. He was always handsome but now he’s the kind of man I really want to… get to know.

But it doesn’t matter. I despise him.

He says he wants to work together very, very closely, but I can’t let him anywhere near me. I’m afraid I might slap him right before I kiss his soft, full lips.

He says he remembers everything we went through, and he wants to make it right.

I think he just wants to taste the one girl that got away.

I don’t know what to do. This is my dream job and “quitter” isn’t in my vocabulary, but the sight of Justin makes me want to run my nails down his bare back, nice and rough.

I hate my new boss.

But I want him so badly it hurts.

Hating My New Boss is a super steamy, over the top, hate to love office romance with adult themes and lots of laughs. It’s only for readers 18+.

Hating My New Boss is a full length standalone novel. No cliffhanger. Guaranteed HEA!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2018

About the author

I'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.

Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter

Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup

Reviews

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 2 out of 5]

R A T I N G: 2 stars to Hating My New Boss ★ ★

‘I don’t know which Justin is bigger in my mind. The one I hate or the one I want. Maybe it doesn’t matter. That old Justin is gone, buried in the past. There’s just the way we are now, the people we are now.’

‘He hates that I have the power to screw him over.
And I hate that he has the job I deserve.’

Hating my New Boss is an angsty, enemies-to-lovers office romance presented as a second chance trope. We’ve got Remi Brooks as the leading lady who is monopolised by a childhood grudge so when Justin Hayes, the man she had once shared her best childhood years with once upon a time, replaces her respected boss as Creative Director of their advertising agency, her idle hate blooms into an ire that’s not cowed into silence.

Justin wants Remi’s professional cooperation and bears guilt over the way he severed their friendship with just one phone call, but she lets him know who’s boss even though he’s now hers. When an eccentric client forces them to work side by side, they’re left to find ways to work around famed bad blood between them and it doesn’t take long before heat overwhelms history when two sides of the passion coin plays enmity against desire, and Remi and Justin are left dangling between both.

This book bothered me in ways other readers haven’t expressed and it’s clear that I’m one of a minority that rode a different reading train. This book was…odd, for lack of a better word? It’s not fluid or formed evenly through. It’s also not entirely a romance in the way it explores the phases of Remi and Justin’s relationship. That’s how I felt, at least.

The characters have some depth but it’s not processed well through either dialogue or action. It’s halting and fitful. Remi and Justin’s conversations are either short, plain or unexciting and I just couldn’t catch the characters through the negative space. The potential is right there between the lines but pans out inauthentically. They jarringly switch from reminiscent nostalgia to sharp, dominant and dirty bone-jumping. I have special affinity for exciting and propulsive angst but this book doesn't have that. Sadly, It’s repetitively banal and unmoving.

There was an instance where Remi was trying to bring up Justin’s past and that scene obscenely pushed away an important topic in favour of an erotic office romp. It seemed odd to have that conservation during foreplay. It seemed even more odd that they gloss over everything that clearly needs to be said.

Perhaps this is more erotica than romance? That’s an issue I had. They don’t carefully discuss the heavy stuff and actually, we don’t get very much out of them besides naughty talk, work or the past. I could have looked over the broken and flighty development if this story were more fully-considered with characters better-formed.

Almost everything about this story is too brisk and choppy to forge depth. I’m aware that shorter books have that hallmark, but the length of this story did have the space to do more. It emulates sharp and intense rapids as opposed to shaping a fluent, exciting something-to-enjoy story. I didn’t break ice with the characters because aside from feeling I didn’t have the opportunity to, my indifference toward them told a different story. Or rather, I did initially break the ice but it soon sealed back up. It hurts me to say this but the protagonists are delivered in a very pedestrian, exchangeable way. Whether that’s because of the way they were written or the measure of how much we get from them, I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s both and all of the above.

The run-and-dash nature of the book made this a difficult and watered down read. I just didn’t enjoy it. Some parts were interesting and I especially liked Blair because I knew what I was getting with her. She’s refreshing and her world is a madcap escape but the trip to Hawaii seemed unnatural and not where I saw this story going. It appeared that the story took a certain route because things had to happen to push those pieces in to place.

I’m partial to the dom/sub dynamic but it didn’t work for me here. As a personal opinion, I only enjoy that affinity if the dominant exposes the softer, encouraging and gentler sides of themselves outside of the bedroom, even during. That he can be more than just that for Remi, not just tell her ‘you’re mine’ during hanky panky and all the other authoritative, testosterone-filled rhetoric without seeing some creditable lines of communication between them. I think it’s mostly disjointed because the pace is off-kilter.

The problem is, I don’t feel as If I know these characters enough to believe they are more than what we see. Or maybe I could see more and was disappointing that I didn’t get that. Again, another reason where everything integrates ineffectively, unevenly and too swiftly. Justin can soften his tone, tease and grin his way through, but he dazzles as unexcitingly as Remi. I had an odd relationship with the protagonists and in the face of that, I was tether-less and uninvolved.

I really was disappointed that my first B.B. Hamel pushed me down the wrong hill, but as other readers debate the opposite, I’d encourage you to give it a try. I’m a staunch believer that all books take effort and hard work so don’t let my opinion pour water on your parade! I had planned for a 3.5 star rating but when the story and I really started to part ways, I lowered my rating to 2. Unmemorable, but an ok read.

C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Alcoholism/child abuse. Profanity Mentions depression. The sex scenes (which include dom/sub dynamic) are unprotected.

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[Simran . · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 ”Loving my boss” stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

”You shouldn’t have kissed me,” she says. “You’re my boss, remember?”
“I remember. I think about it all the time.”
“About what?”
“About being your boss. Ordering you into my office, stripping off your clothes…” I trail off, speaking softly.

You know sometimes you start reading a book with certain assumptions how it’s going to be but then you get it turns so much better, this was one of those reads. I thought it was going to be a typical office romance with some dirty times instead it was emotional with some laugh out loud moments. The characters had more depth than I expected. BB hamel for sure knows how to write a smutty as well as emotional read.

Remi is super upset when she finds out that her boss is getting replaced and instead of giving her the open position the company is choosing someone from outside and it soon turns into anger when she learns her new boss is none other than Justin Hayes, her childhood friend turned enemy when his father destroyed her father’s life.

I’ve been hit on before. I’ve had guys give me looks in bars, I’m sure most women have. But I’ve never seen someone look at me with such incredible intense desire like he was staring at me. It was like he would’ve done anything to have me, right then and there, right in front of the cameras.

Now that’s a lot to handle, the angst is always there in their interactions which soon turns into thick lust. You can tell it’s going to be sizzling when they give in. I liked that it wasn’t rushed.

Fact is, I want her around because I’m stupidly attracted to her. I’ve always been into her, for a very, very long time. And now finally I’m close enough to do something about it, and I’m not about to waste my chance.
I ruined what we had when we were younger, but I won’t make that mistake a second time.

Justin knows that he hurt her real bad years ago and the hurt and anger is still there but there’s more behind his actions. Since he’s knew in the company and an outsider, he needs Remi’s support to build trust and support between his team, after much convincing she agrees. When an opportunity arises which forces them to work together, they are a bit reluctant but the client i.e Blair (who honestly was the best thing in this story ) is adamant they work together. This leads to power games between them, I could see Justin trying but Remi always kept him out of the loop.

Soon they learn if they want to really impress this client they are gonna have to work together so when they offered a getaway to got the headquarters, they jump right now. Instead of actually working, they either spend their fucking or fighting.

The company whose advertising they are doing is a virtual gaming program and the headquarters itself is turned exactly like the game’s virtual world, it kept the plot lively. Blair was the best part, I liked her robotic personality and the way she held herself. She reminded me of King azekiel from the walking dead, living in her own world. She played the role of Cupid in their lives, at least that’s what I felt. I laughed out loud when she acted as the queen and had them give her presentation at the same time.

He’s my husband, my first true love, the boss I hated, the boss I loved.
With him, it’s never really work.
It’s always play, always amazing.

Back to the MCs, the trip definitely did them good. After returning, Remi tries to distance but Justin doesn’t let her, it was hot how he reminded her of that. The more time they spent and talked, more truths came to the surface which made Remi realised that Justin was as much a victim and that he truly loved her. I rooted for them since the beginning.

”I think you want me to fuck you like an object,” he whispers. “You want me to fuck your lips, your ass, your tight little pussy and come wherever I please. I think that’s what you need.”
“Yes, Justin,” I whisper. “Whatever you want.”
“Good girl.” His voice is delicious and his kiss tastes even better.

It was one of hottest book I have read in 2020. I loved how dirty and intense they were in the bedroom. My favourite was the scenes at the altar near the pool. Like I said, the author knows how to write delicious smut. This I feel is the perfect series for enemies to lovers romance with forbidden thrown in the mix. ♥️

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/15/2019)! 🎁

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the beginning, I liked it. But it was weird, and there were some annoyingly stupid plot twists, like the H's father coming to Hawaii. What kind of business-minded person would think it was appropriate to come visit his estranged son when he's working with a client?

I had some trouble liking the h sometimes. She was bitchy and unprofessional. She hated her boss (with good reason, I guess), and felt like she should have been promoted to his job, so she willfully ignores him for a month when they're supposed to working on an account together. She won't update him on the progress of the campaign they were required to collaborate on, and in so doing, she completely ignores the client's demands, which results in the client flatly rejecting the proposal. She was insubordinate and probably should have been fired. Yet, she thinks she that a leadership job should have been hers?

I was also quite frustrated with both of them refusing to address their past and for Justin to explain why he turned on Remi all those years ago. The stalling made zero sense, since it probably would have resulted in her forgiving him.

But then, amazingly, when he finally does tell her, somehow it all becomes her fault! Her fault that she didn't realize he had lied about childhood injuries and hid his dad's abuse. Her fault that she didn't realize that he abandoned her because his dad ordered him to, and then threatened him if he didn't! Her fault that she was hurt and angry, and so she probably wouldn't have talked to him years later when his father was no longer a threat! Aargh!

[Jamie Paciorek · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Just WOW. This book was not what I thought it was going to like. The H and h have known each other since they were 5 year olds they grew up together as best friends. Their fathers were friends, Basically one father screwed the other father over. Caused a rift between the kids when they were teenagers. There is also some deep seated shit that has to do with the H father.
This crazy, mysterious woman named Blair gets involved wanting them to do a project for her but they have to work together or else she won't hire them, but she's a sneaky little shit with how she goes about trying to get them together. But holy hell when they get together it's explosive. I freaking love B.B. Hamel

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Justin and Remi

Romance trope: office romance, enemies to lovers
Series: Hate Love
Length: 232 pages

Plot: Justin and Remi were childhood friends, but now that he has the job that should have been hers, that friendship can't overcome her dislike for him. They may not be able to resolve what led to Justin ditching her with a callous phone call when they were younger, but in order to get the job done for an important client, they'll have to work together. Maybe they can begin to forgive and forget?

Commentary: I think it's me, that I don't particularly like the enemies-to-lovers trope. In this case, there was no communication, as is often the case in romance novels, and so neither character knew the whole story of what had happened. Turns out that Justin's dad was abusive and threatened him, so he had to "break-up" with Remi all those years ago and while I understand why he felt he couldn't tell her that then, maybe he could have reached out at some point after that? At the very least, she shouldn't be made to feel like it was her fault for not noticing, especially as a kid - they're not responsible for noticing and reporting the abuse an adult does. It felt like some of the blame was transferred to Remi. While you might ask, "why are you so mad, Remi?" anything beyond that ventures into the inappropriate transfer of blame. Anyways, once Remi decided to act as a responsible employee who actually wanted the company to succeed, and they both started working together, it was easier to see that they made a good team.

Next book in the series: Hating the Rich Bastard

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused because my kindle said this was book one.. and gr tells me it's book two.
I have trust issues.

Hating My New Boss was an okay kind of book. The romance was cute but nothing really memorable. Plus, I feel like I've already read a book with the same story line.. and I am pretty sure I hated it then too.

In this book, you will meet Remi and Justin. Now they dated each other in the past.. but it obviously didn't end on good terms. They are back in each other's lives again because Justin somehow stole Remi's job. He's now her boss.. and they definitely still have feelings for one another. Whether it's hate or love.. it was bound to make things interesting.

Honestly, it was okay. I was definitely bored throughout the book. Remi had a right, I guess, to be mad at Justin.. but she acted highly unprofessional in the beginning. Plus the whole reason for Remi not to get the position was a bit ridiculous.

Then there's Justin and eh, he was okay too. I feel like their bantering was a highlight at times but then they kind of just jumped into a relationship rather quickly. The chemistry was there and completely obvious but it wasn't necessarily my favorite.

Overall, it was cute and predictable enemies to lovers kind of book. I just wish I liked the storyline a bit better.

[Thelma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced book but with a good story and a good HEA.

The story of Remi and Justin started a long time ago when they were just kids, they were best friend with strong feelings but life and circumstances separate them.. not knowing what happened Remi feels like Justin broke her heart and betray her in some way.. she doesn't know exactly what happened, she just knows that he doesn't want her anymore and that she has to move on far away from him.

life goes by, she has a new life and a new project that apparently she is about to lose to the person she loves/hates the most. she didn't count to see him again, to feel what she feels and to want him as much as the first time. she didn't count he is the want stealing her dreams. a roller coaster of emotions, an enemy to lovers story that will keep you enjoying this story from the very first moments and lines..

The narrations by Meghan Kelly were good and Overall the story and book were good.

AudioBookObsession.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star Review Hating My New Boss (Hate Love #2) by B.B. Hamel
Audio:
B.B. Hamel is a new author to me and I have no idea why.

Remi Brooks is shocked to find out that her boss has been pushed out of the company she has been working for. Even worse, she herself has been passed over to replace her and her new boss is Justin Hayes, a man she hates.

Justin’s father ruined her father and Justin himself, once her best Freda, backed away an deserted her. Now she hates Justin and his family with a passion.

I was intrigued with the premise of this story and couldn’t wait to dive in. I really loved Justin although Remi did annoy me at times. There were so many layers to Justin and I just wanted to hug the little boy he was.

I must say that Blair was an unusual character but one that I actually liked. I enjoyed this smoking hot and sizzling story and the narration from Meghan Kelly was fantastic.

[Jenny Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.

In this book we meet Remi Brooks and Justin Hayes. These two were together in the past but when the heart is broken all bets are off. Now that Justin has been called in to become the new creative director. The job Remi thought would be hers. She has no desire to let him take one more thing from her. However she does still want him in other ways. Justin knows he screwed up with Remi all those years ago and he wants another chance. Can they find a HEA or will it all blow up in their faces?

This is another amazing hit from this author. It has its ups and downs that I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will have you hooked from the first word to the very end. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[Tai Nelson-Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I did enjoy the storyline, it really is an enemy to lover kind of story. I didn't feel the BDSM thing was something for this story.

Remi fights for everything that she wants in life. Justin is the total opposite. He is given everything by his father he wants for nothing and he feels really no shame about it. Even when he walks into his new office and Remi is there in what should have been her new office. Needless, to say Remi is NOT a happy person.

For me, if Remi is that mad or not in tune with Justin at work and doesn't like him, why would she let him do anything in the BDSM line. You have to trust that person. Sex is one thing, but when it comes to being tied up and so on that takes a huge set trust.

I would recommend this story but it wasn't one of my favs of B.B. Hamels

[Hart's Reader Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was frustrating, but at least it was entertaining enough to keep my attention.

I was surprised by this BB Hamel book, which had more...substance than her other tales.

A solid effort, but it fell flat in the push-pull arena. The H/h were much too eager to end up in bed together, and it felt too...easy. Where was the heroine's personal strength against this man she hated? It seemed to disappear as soon as she imagined his cock. Ugh.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was interesting. You get pulled in like all BB Hamel stories. Justin and remi make you want to know more. Turn each page yearning to know why they stopped being best friends what happened between the families. And to see their relationship unfold. The book is good and has that added tension between two people who are attracted to one another but also have a lot of unresolved issues. Loved watching it unfold and change as they were forced to work together.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like second chance romances then you will love this one. Because of something that happened when they were younger, these two have been on the other side of the fence with each other but because of a meddling client, they find their way back together. Very nice book that keeps you interested throughout.
Narration was done beautifully as always when I hear a book by Meghan Kelly.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

From friends to enemies then to lovers Remi & Justin were best friends until their families had a falling out, now years later they are reunited when Justin becomes Remi’s boss. Great story, I enjoyed the characters and the connection that they still have after all those years.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

I've been both less and more bored before.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Remi & Justin's story. I enjoy second chance romances. Things are a bit complicated between these two & I loved it. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am being generous in giving this one two stars. Frankly, the only thing I liked about the audible version was the narration. Meghan Kelly is always a delight to listen to. I didn't care for any of these characters, and I felt the plot was very thin and a bit unfeasible.

The client and the whole visit to her compound was too far out there to be believable, and I felt the whole involvement with her company was a useless plot point created for the sole purpose of bringing the h/h to a strange place and forcing them to work together. The whole plot seemed very unreal to me.

All of the sex scenes and talk were so repetitive and very near ridiculous. I'm sure there are people out there who like that sort of thing, but not for me. I can't understand why this book has so many 4-5 star reviews.

[vicki zimmerman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not AT ALL what I was looking for

I rarely get an afternoon free, just to read. Today was the perfect day for that - rainy, dark, cozy, nobody home but me. And this 'romance'. I read ten of the slowest moving, going nowhere chapters it has been my misfortune to come across in a while.
Then I realized just how much of my afternoon I have wasted. Ten chapters, yet not a kiss, not a kind word, not a hint of the mere possibility of a potential budding romance, somewhere off in the distance. Nothing. Just ten chapters of round and round, going nowhere. That's when I deleted it from my kindle, (more than a little miffed), and moved on, hoping to have another hour to read something worth my time. Sadly, this is not it.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Does an author need to reveal a more accurate synopsis? Stating "adult themes or may trigger" is not enough!
The last few books I have read is Dom's, spankings, hand on the neck tightening, hair pulling, ass penetration, crawling across the floor to their master and other things I don't associate with pleasure between a partner I would want. Made a new shelf for BSDM LITE but please warn me so I don't waste my time with reads that make me regret.
I feel alone. The ratings are high on this book.
Beyond the sex that makes me not want to finish reading, this book didn't flow well, rather boring.
Btw ....and lots of laughs synopsis, NOT.
Cheers

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hating My New Boss by B. B. Hamel is a hate to love office romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Meghan Kelly. This is the first book of B.B. Hamel's that I have read and look forward to reading or listening to more books from her in the future. Meghan did a great job narrating with the different voices she used for the multiple characters. I can't wait to discover more books that she has narrated. I liked that the book switched between Justin and Remy points of views so you could really get into each of their heads. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves office romances, second chance romances, or enemies to lovers.

#audiobookobsession #audiobookobsessionreviewer

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really should have stop listening when the client lady Blair said she wanted to be a rat and scurry around in trash.. I don’t even know what to say about this confusing weird book. I dnt know if it office romance, an erotica or Bdsm.. it had no direction and was all over the place. The heroine was mad at the hero for somehow dad did in the past so she is still mad because her family is rich….. The hero was abused and didn’t tell her and he took forever to tell her that was the reason they lost contact. As the book go on repeating and repeating I just wanted to take a shot every time the heroine says “Asshole” … she is so stupid. I wish I could reclaim my time

[Mary Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite an intriguing story to read and I enjoyed it immensely. Remi and Justin have history that cannot be ignored. Remi is holding onto unjustified anger, thinking Justin had abandoned her, when, in fact, all he had done all those years ago was choose self-preservation. Blair sees something in Remi and Justin and forces them to work together on her project; in a virtual reality, there is more to Blair than meets the eye as the two will soon discover. A very interesting and unusual story, but enjoyable nonetheless. This is a book I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending.

The Agency were bringing in a new hire, Justin Hayes, to lead the department. For 4-years Remi has worked at Optimum and she was supposed to become the next Creative Director; the youngest in the company’s history. Remi doesn’t know how Justin got the job or why the Board thinks he deserves it, but one way or another Remi is going to take it from him. Remi knows Justin because they grew up together, and she hates every single thing about him; he had ruined her life and her family’s life a long time ago and she will never forgive him for that. It is Justin’s first day and the staff are already sceptical of him; they think he is too young to take over from one of the most respected Creative Directors ever. When Justin applied and interviewed for the job, he never thought he would get it; now he hates the fact his father had been involved somehow. Justin hasn’t seen Remi since high school, but thought about her a lot, remembering her as an awkward teenager; he had abandoned her, all because he was a scared kid afraid of his abusive father. Justin thought Remi would have gotten over her childish animosity; he knows exactly why she despises him and she has every right, but she is also someone from his past that he has always had regrets about. Justin ruined what they had when they were younger, but he won’t make the same mistake again. Justin announces that he will be personally bringing in a very sizeable account, Spine, a fast rising tech company out of Hawaii, led by Blair Ashton. All of Blair’s idiosyncrasies and weird rumours, are giving her company more attention; she is the product as much as her actual products are and people buy because they are fascinated by her. It is only when Justin got this job that Blair suddenly decides to take him up on his many offers to take care of her company and it is all because she liked his father’s movie Amazing; even if there was talk that Remi’s father was the real brains behind it. This movie changed Blair’s life and because of it she believes Justin might be able to bring her vision to life; but there is more to Blair than they realise. Blair is offering their company potentially millions of dollars in billing, but the money is entirely contingent on Remi and Justin working together; she wants them reunited, but how can they put aside the history between them that has had such a profound effect on their lives? A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long time ago, when Remi and Justin were much younger, they were the best of friends. Their fathers worked on a movie together, and all was right in the world. Sounds like the perfect beginning to a fairy tale. Except this fairy tale has a badly abused child, a father who was a drunk and a thief, and a friendship that was torn in two.

Remi is hearing the news that her boss is being let go, to make room for some hot-shot new boss coming in. The fact that Remi didn’t get the position is upsetting enough. Now her soon to be former boss tells her the name of the new guy. It can’t be THE very one who shattered her world those years ago.

Justin knows that his taking over this company is going to take transition time; he tries to come in and win them over with patience and charm. The moment he arrives his theory of a smooth transition is sunk. He sees HER, the one he never forgot and wants back more than anything.

Anger rules Remi, she isn’t afraid to show and use it. Understanding and yearning rules Justin, he does use and show it to Remi. What happened between their father’s years ago is the base for this anger. Justin doesn’t skirt around it though, it is brought out into the open between the two.

An important client requests Justin and Remi to work together on a monumental project. The two work separately, and it shows. The client turns it down and states the project is to be worked between both of them and states the new time limit. Justin starts to break the wall Remi has put between them, and he starts to succeed. They have worked together, but the project is turned down again. Now the client brings them to her part of the world.

Here is where the magic and more magic shines. There is little work and more breaking barriers and coming together. There is also a part of their past that shows up. That past brings back the anger and hurt. However neither allows this to win over the progress they have made. They arrive back to their lives; a sudden event takes Justin away for a little bit. When Remi finds out what that event was, she is torn.

Secrets from their past are revealed, and healing begins. The project comes together and is finally accepted as well. This moves Remi into the position she wanted and Justin moves to another place, one of his own. This also moves these two into their forever after with a lot of the sweet rewards being collected as they go.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hating My New Boss is another fabulous masterpiece by B. B. Hamel that will rock your world and transforms every part of your heart! This story will utterly shatter you and yet give you a beautiful hope that you can hold onto the entire time. Nothing is quiet as it seems and yet it is so much more then you could ever imagine. This story is hope and love in the form of a story that will allow us to easily understand and wholly appreciate and savor it as it deserves. I adore every part of this book especially the hard parts. It not only makes you feel everything, but it also lays the groundwork for a stunning future and births a magnificent hope that will sweep you off your feet and leave you in a wonderfully blissful state. This story is too beautiful and breathtaking for mere words. My heart is completely lost to it, and I hated to see it end.

B. B. Hamel writes her brilliantly entertaining and stirringly heartfelt stories with her incredible life-altering heart and the tears and sweat from her spectacular creativity talent. I have found her books to be so much more then mere romance. They are full of precious life, heartfelt emotions, and real life issues. She is nothing if not real and true in every part of her amazing storylines, and her wonderful characters will seer themselves into your very soul. Her books are very difficult to put down, and they change you in every way possible. You won't walk away the same. You will walk away better and fulfilled and happier. She breathes life into my heart and soul every time I pick up one her fabulous books. She will surpass any expectation that you have, and you will find yourself going back to her stories more and more often. You simply can't go wrong by picking up a B. B. Hamel book!

Meghan Kelly has created a no holds barred hit with this incredible audio performance! She highlighted the genius of this wonderful story with her amazing narrator creativity and heart. I couldn't get over just how much more she added to the brilliant story line and enhanced the wonderful characters. My heart sung as I listened along and savored each second of this fantastic performance! I encourage everyone to buy this audio book and experience the beauty of this story along with the absolute power wielded by the human voice.

[MJM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remi and Justin's family were neighbours and they were best friends.  Until they weren't. She didn't know that his father had cheated her dad out of a deal worth millions of dollars or that he had blackmailed Justin into choosing either to stay friends with her or else.  He left and she doesn't hear from him for ten years when her boss, Diane, gets fired and the promotion she was going for is given to Justin.  Now Justin didn't realise how heartbroken Remi was when he dumped her but he can tell by her  attitude towards him that she hates him and he doesn't want that at all!  He never forgot her and as he discovers she is even more gorgeous than she was before, he knows that he must get her to see him in another light - with him as the starring role hero for her.  B.B. Hamel is a fabulous author who creates fascinating storylines with characters that I'd love to know. With feisty heroines and gorgeous heroes that will do everything they can to make their soul mate happy.   With great attention to detail to make these people come 'alive'.  I loved the twist and witty banter between the two of them and how they had to overcome the mistrust and hurt from the past.  Certainly the new client is interesting to say the very least!  As for Justin and Remi  - steam heat.  The chemistry between them is off the charts and cannot be ignored no matter how much Remi tries to at the beginning.  You will know if you've read anything by B.B. Hamel before that she writes with real passion and her love scenes get steamy so you may well need to turn on your fans /ac. This story was wonderful and I lost some sleep so that I could finish reading it. But it was well worth it. It was engaging, fast paced, with great banter and plenty of twists and love to keep the reader fully focussed  story and will be re-reading it in the future as it was so good.  I received a reader's copy of this book and voluntarily leave my honest opinion of it here.

Definitely Recommended

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series and can be read as a standalone story. The storyline is ia former best friend’s to enemies angle. This is Justin and Remi’s story.

Remi and Justin grew up together and were best friends up until he decided to no longer acknowledge her existence one day. Their father’s worked together and Remi’s dad got burned pretty badly by Justin’s dad. Lots of time has passed since then, but the hurt turned to hatred has not lessened. Now they are all grown up and Remi has to see Justin again because he is now her new boss.

They truly were inseparable growing up so their separation due to their father’s actions was sad for them. Justin’s reasons come out in the story and it is heartbreaking. Remi is not really nice to him which is totally understandable. She is hurt and confused all at the same time. Once she finds out the why, her whole demeanor towards him changes. Warning this is about abuse and could be a sensitive topic.

The background story of the business plan they are working on together was weird. The virtual reality, Blair and that whole storyline with the compound was confusing. How everything she was doing was to bring them together? How did she even know any of their past…just strange?

Remi and Justin went from her hating him to allowing him all these liberties with her body from kissing and sex. They were steamy together for sure, but he seemed like a totally different person in the bedroom and his personality didn’t jive with that at all. I almost found it off putting and not romantic or sexy at all. It was like a dom/sub scenario when this book didn’t even have that vibe…again confusing.

Overall this was an ok read with a few subplots, one of which confused me. The storyline was a bit disjointed. The sexy time was good, but also didn’t mesh with the way the characters were built. I liked both of the main characters and in the end they got their HEA. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin And Remi Are Torn Apart By Their Warring Fathers And Brought Back Together By Fate And Virtual Reality

Twenty-six year old Remi Brooks expects be named the new, and youngest in the company's history, Creative Director of Optimum Agency when her mentor and industry legend is forced out. Instead, she finds herself face to face with her new boss and childhood best friend - the same best friend that announced he wanted nothing more to do with her when they were both fourteen.

Justin Hayes finds himself named the new and yougest Creative Director of Optimum Agency. He isn't sure he really deserves the job. He suspects his famous father influenced the board's decision, despite Justin's insistence that he not interfere. He pieces together that the board was afraid to offer the job to Remi because of her loyalty to her mentor, and he knows he has his work cut out for him by coming into the position as an outsider. Earning respect from his employees will be a big challenge, and he turns to a reluctant Remi for help.

Justin brings a new big client to the company, too, in hopes of impressing the board. The client, creator of a Virtual Reality gaming system, proves to be strange and unpredictable. The client turns out to be a huge fan of Remi and Justin's fathers, who co-wrote a successful script that was eventually sold to Pixar, after Justin's father cheated Remi's father out of his share of the profit. The client insists that Justin and Remi work together on her campaign, forcing the two to work through their history together and their undeniable attraction, despite their huge differences. The pair does eventually earn a HEA.

[natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know what? I read this till the very end and I think that was what made me dislike it more. If I hadn't stuck out till the end, my opinion of this book would simply stay at four stars, but noo, because I had to stick till the end, this ended up being 2 stars.

[what I have to say]:
- first off, no to the bdsm. it ruined this story for me (even though I normally don't mind dom/sub elements) so it deserves a big, fat NO

- secondly, it threw me off how this became more of an erotica than romance, especially when the bdsm roles started so maybe this belongs to the first point rather than having its own separate point?

- thirdly, I don't hate the book and I don't hate the characters either, but I just felt like this story was rather choppy and the flow of the story wasn't really good? it felt kind of separated for me, and it was less enjoyable in a sense?

- after thinking this through and deleting tons of paragraphs, I decided to settle with this. I think the bdsm elements really was the thing that made this book a 2 star rating in my mind.

- yeah, I don't really understand how a bdsm thing can function between the two and it came out as a surprise for me. if I had known that they were going to be a dom/sub couple at the start, this review probably would've emerged as a 3 star or 3.5 star review.

[in conclusion]:
- I didn't really enjoy it that much, but you should give it a try if you want to.
- I mean, I've given you the bdsm couple spoiler now (not really sorry, oops?), so you can probably enjoy it a bit better?
- dunno. you never really know if you don't try, right?

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful story by BB about childhood friends Remi and Justin who we something special to one another. They grew up as neighbors and were best friends until one day Justin’s Dad forced Justin to stop being friends or else! Justin’s Dad also cheated Remi’s Dad out of a movie deal which caused some issue for her family. Years later Remi is working her dream job and hoping to be promoted and instead comes face to face with her new boss, Justin. Let’s just say if looks could kill Justin would have been gone. Remi has so much hatred for Justin and she tries to use that to her advantage. Justin knows he deserves it but Remi doesn’t know his side. Justin gives in to Remi’s demand for a raise and vacation time so she’ll stay and to handle the work for keep new client. Boy does this new crazy client see more than she lets on but she gets Justin and a Remi to see what they mean to one another! What they do with that information is up to them. Can they work through the past and move forward for a beautiful future? Will Justin ever be able to explain the past and move forward? I loved these two and how they learned about each other! I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.