Longing

Billionaire Venture Capitalist #7

by Ainsley St. Claire

She's a biotech researcher in race with time for a cure. If she pauses to have a life, will she lose the race?

Bella works horrific hours to find a cure for the disease that is killing her father. She doesn't have time for a social life or love. When a hacker threatens to tank the business, she turns to the one man she thinks can help. But, is he the one distraction she can't afford?

With his future riding on this deal, Christopher will pull out all the stops. But venture capital is all about risk and reward. He knows the reward of Bella is worth the risk to his job. When her life crumbles, he must somehow find a way to save her, regardless of the consequences.

As Bella and Christopher navigate illness, chaos, and a stalker, can they find the cure together?

Longing is is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It’s the eighth book in the Billionaire Venture Capitalist series and reveals more about SHN. You can read it on its own, everything you need to know is explained, but once you get a taste you'll want to binge the rest ;}

Buy Longing to tap into rich romance today!

Genres: Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2019

About the author

Ainsley St Claire is a Romantic Suspense Contemporary Romance Author and Adventurer on a lifelong mission to craft sultry storylines and steamy love scenes that captivate her readers.

An avid reader since the age of four, Ainsley’s love of books knew no genre. After reading, came her love of writing, fully immersing herself in the colorful, impassioned world of contemporary romance.

When she isn’t being a bookworm or typing away her next story on her computer, Ainsley enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones. She is happily married to her incredible soulmate and is a proud mother of two rambunctious boys. A scotch aficionada and lover of good food (especially melt-in-your-mouth, velvety chocolate) St Claire has an appreciation for the finer things without pretention. Travel and adventure have taken her around the world, getting inspiration for many of her stories from the characters she meets and observes along the way.

To find out more about Ainsley St Claire both creatively and personally, feel free to visit her official website at www.ainsleystclaire.com or follow her on social media (@ainsleystclaire). St Claire always loves to hear from her readers so feel free to reach out via ainsley@ainsleystclaire.com

Reviews

[Anne Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only one gripe about the Venture Capitalist books; they leave me desperate for the next in the series. Longing is no exception to this. Focus here moves to Christopher, who’s looking for another deal for the company and who is considering a revolutionary dementia drug – being developed by a company co-partnered by Bella, who is stretching herself too thin with work, teaching, and her grad work. She has a night off – and meets Christopher, with instant mutual lust. But Bella is facing deception and fraud at work, and this affects the application to SHN, as well as threatening both her life and Christopher’s. We meet characters from the previous books, the hacker is still at large and threatening, and more hints are thrown out. While this can be read as a standalone, it is richer if you know the history behind the hacking and the characters. That’s another thing about this series; the characters are relatable, the kind of people you’d like to know. I can’t wait for the next in series …. And who are the hackers?

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story!!! Best book of the series so far. The characters felt so real. I can't wait for the next book!

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book get so hot you may need a cold shower I absolutely could not get enough of this I was hooked from the first page great writing job bravo loved it and if anyone is looking a steamy wonderful read then add this one to your list you will not be disappointed I was not, I loved it

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. Bella is trying to get a cure up and running. However, the man she has helping her is not who she thinks. She meets Christopher when she comes to his company for help. They end up falling for each other. They did have a rough time but in the end they got their HEA.

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say, without a doubt that this is one of my FAVORITE series and AUTHORS!!

This is the story of Christopher and Bella. They meet one night at a club when some jerk can’t get a hint that Bella is just not interested in him. They can’t fight the magnetic pull they have towards each other but end up going their separate ways. As luck will have it, they run into each other a few weeks later when Christopher does a surprise visit on a company SHN might fund. Now that he has seen Bella again he refuses to let her go this time. But when odd things start happening and Bella’s world collapses she realizes she made a mistake. Will it be too late to fix it or will it all work out in the end??

This is the seventh book in this series and I’m sure I’ve said this before but each one has me on the edge of my seat while rooting for the main characters. I love how we get updates on all of the characters from the previous stories. This one had a few moments where my jaw was on the floor from my shock. I can’t wait for the next email notification from Ainsley St Claire telling me when the next book in this series will be live because after reading the teaser I’m definitely looking forward to it!! 🖤🖤

[Terry Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a compelling page turner, flawlessly written, flawed but fabulous characters that give energy & passion to this beautifully crafted story. Hot as hades but a tender tale also that speaks to treachery & danger underpinned by deep respect & honour & caring & true love. Can the good guys win & live to love & hopefully not need to fight another day? Read & feel the full gamut of emotions, this will not disappoint. I received an arc & this is my honest & voluntary review.

[Susan L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am totally enraptured by Ms St Claire’s Venture Capitalist Series! I’ve read 6 out of the 7 books (I will get the missed one) and many other books by this author, all of which I’ve greatly enjoyed. . The stories revolve around the venture capitalist group, SHN. Each one is a stand-alone and can be enjoyed as such, however, there is a common thread that keeps building. There are no cliffhangers and each one is nicely tied up with an HEA. Longing centers around one of the newer partners at SHN, Christopher, who is extremely hot and likes to have a good time with the ladies. He’s not actually a player but is not seeking out a relationship. He meets the heroine, Bella at a bar where he helps her get rid of a sleazy guy who won’t leave her alone. But things don’t always happen as planned. Bella is a doctoral student at Berkeley and rarely goes out socially. She was persuaded by her best friend, Ellie, who was celebrating her birthday. Bella’s life is almost at the breaking point while teaching a few classes, and working 50 hours a week at a lab gathering data for her thesis which would ultimately produce a cure for Parkinson’s Disease, a battle her beloved father is fighting. She rarely gets more than a few hours of sleep. She is definitely not looking for a relationship. In addition to her workload she is dealing with an advisor who is not only extremely intimidating and shady but also a manipulator who causes a lot of anxiety. There is a lot of conflict and frustration in Bella’s life especially when she has to deal with her attraction to Christopher, which is mutual, and also deal with her family and life in general. . There are many roadblocks that take place that move the story along in a way that makes you not want to put the book down. It has some angst and twists and turns throughout the book but all become resolved. Bella and Christopher are both very likeable, are well-developed and have great chemistry. Their coming together was somewhat insta-love, however it was exciting to watch their relationship develop. I love all the interaction among the partners at SHN and their significant others whom they met in the series. It’s really great to “reconnect” with the other characters, but you won’t feel lost if this is your first time reading a book in the series; all is explained. The common thread of suspense reappears in Longing that runs throughout the series and has yet to be resolved. I don’t want to include spoilers in this review so I won’t go into more detail. I just want to encourage everyone to read this book and this series, I highly recommend it for its well-developed characters, its intrigue, and the great chemistry between the H and h. I would not hesitate to read this again!

[anita.thebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC was given to me by Author through Booksprout. My review is given voluntarily.

🔅Longing🔅 by Ainsley St Claire this is book #7 of her series " Venture Capitalist ".

I gave this book 5 🌟 star's. Ainsley is such a fantastic author, she's one of my favorites author's . I will read ALL her books, and she didn't disappoint with this one either..... I love the way that she always incorporates steamy sex, romance, emotional subjects, strong smart woman & hot guys with a bit of mystery suspense in all of her novels, amazing!!!
I am in love with all of these characters in the SHN family......I feel like I am part of the group 😍.
This book was about Christopher and Isabella she is a doctoral candidate at the University of California in Berkley, and is studying for biochemistry.” She is developing a med to help patient with Parkinson's. We all know Christopher he works at SHN he is the newest business development analyst and partner. He is looking for some strong biotech companies for them to invest in. His goal is to get an up-and-coming drug companies to help finance and get it on to the public and here is how he met Bella who's looking for a company to help her project get financial assistance and come to the people tgat need it. Here is were all the fun and crazy stuff started.... lovely and sad story all at once her dad has Parkinson's.
I loved these two and their story, struggles- they got a special place in my heart. It was so much fun to revisit with the whole family again, and I can't wait to hear about some babies starting to coming along into the SHN's group😂😉.
This was a standalone, with no cliffhangers, but I strongly do recommend you read her other books in the series, they're all fabulous.
Epilogue could be a little longer for me, but that's it!
CeCe has to end up with Mason pleaseeeee???OMG I've been waiting for her HEA, I can't wait for their story ♥️

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC directly from the author in exchange for my review. Needless to say, I am a big fan of this author and the series. Each book could be read on their own, but I would recommend reading them as a series. Individually the books concentrate on a different couple, but they are all surrounding the venture capital firm, SHN in San Francisco. Being in the financial services industry, I can appreciate the way these characters’ careers are a major focus and the time they spend focused on their careers. It also explains how the strong relationships are built within the firm.
This book takes a slight turn within the venture capital space, as it is focused on the bio tech industry and medical research. It is the story of Bella, a hardworking PhD candidate who is running a firm to develop a new Parkinson’s drug and delivery system. On a rare night out with her friends she meets Christopher, who later is revealed to work for SHN in the biotechnologies investing area. They are reintroduced a bit later as they meet accidentally through their work.
This story is very interesting, and the characters are quite compelling. What I enjoy most about this author is her characters feel a bit more real because of their struggles and passion for their work. The connection between the characters seem more than just an insta-attraction/love, but a genuine similarity in their backgrounds. They had great chemistry and I enjoyed the path their relationship took.

[Chris Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, I absolutely loved this book. I wish I could give it 10 stars. It’s the 7th book of the Venture Capital series and I think the best one yet. Of course, I thought the last one was the best too, so maybe I’m just a little bit biased. “Longing” tells the story of Christopher and Bella. He’s a partner in SHN and Bella is trying to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. They meet at a club and experience instant connection and attraction. Their relationship runs anything but smoothly and they must decide whether they want their happy ever after enough to fight for it. Ainsley St Claire writes in a style that has the reader totally engrossed in the lives of the characters. I felt their fears, frustration, anger and attraction deeply. I haven’t read all seven books and I think I need to read all the ones that I’ve missed because I enjoy the author’s writing so much. Honestly, this is one of the most absorbing books that I’ve read lately.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE MESMERIZING TREAT!!!
Oh fudgesicle! All the twists and turns really bring this little gem bursting to life perfectly. A churning votex of surprising revelations and staggering mishaps that launch a full range of swirling emotions blasting into play. An amazing wild ride that keeps you on a razors edge as everything falls into place with such perfection it totally rocked. The characters are authentic, engaging and so realistic with depth and individualism that blend and play off one another in such a smooth flowing rhythm. The scenes are so graphic and detailed it paints a fantastic backdrop that really makes the storyline pop. Fantastic job Ainsley, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.

[Cynthia L. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some of the other books in this series and love them all. I look forward to reading the ones I didn't ready in this series. I like the SHN group and they are all interesting to read about. Christopher loves his job but his family has other plans for him. Christopher and Bella meet for one night and then see each other again their relationship begins. *Christopher tries to help Bella but when she learns that she was not included in the contracts for the company that she was majority owner*. Bella leaves Christopher and doesn't want to see him or talk to him. Christopher doesn't give up and finally they get together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Each Other
by Korkoi

When I read Flawless, I was captivated from the beginning and reading Longing didn’t disappoint either. The storyline starts slowly, then builds up with suspense, then it grabs hold and doesn’t let go, until you are so hooked that you just want more. The writing is exquisite, the characters are witty, the drama is entertaining and the chemistry between Christopher and Isabelle, gets your motor running at full speed. Get this book and take a journey of adventure and romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will re-read over and over again.
This is a really good addition to her Venture Capitalist Series it was a fine stand-alone story, but you will find a common theme threading through all the books. This one has a bit of danger and suspense along with some hot chemistry with Bella and Christopher. The story was well-developed very good writing. This is a book that you would want to re-read over and over again. Maybe I should say series is one you will return to over and over again. I really enjoyed this piece you will not go wrong picking this one up. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ainsley St Claire does it again with another great book in the Billionaire Venture Capitalist series. Romance, suspense, a bit of danger and twists and turns make for a fantastic read! Bella and Christopher are the main characters in the book and the chemistry between them is great. This is the final book in the series but can be read as a stand along. Of course if this is the first book in the series that you have read, you'll be purchasing the remainder of the series when you finish this one because you'll want to know about all the characters in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Longing. Bella is someone I was routing for from the beginning as her "boss"/ whatever you wanna call him....jerk kept acting like he could push her around at work.
But after finally giving herself a well deserved night out with the girls, we meet the charming Christopher. A pleasant surprise of Christopher possibly stepping in with helping not only in work but creating a hot relationship with busy Bella! Well, you'll have to read it to find out if she gets funding for a possible cure to Parkinson also what happens with her and Christopher. Great book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this will work as a stand-alone, I think you’ll get more out of it you read the previous books in the series.

This entire series and this book specifically have featured amazingly compatible couples that manage to bridge their differences and work together to reach an HEA. The characters have great chemistry, the storyline is intriguing as well as having enough twists and turns for a story you won’t be able to put down. The only bad part of the story is that it ends and you have to wait for the next book. Definitely worth reading but plan to read it in one sitting—it’s a page turner. (I voluntarily reviewed an ARC).

[Lady M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire series so far and have loved it as a whole, some books more than others. I love how there's always more than just the romance going on, that there's work drama also. This book we not only had a double dose of that, but family stuff too. With so much going on, I flew through this book in no time. My only complaint is the sex scenes, some of the word choice just didn't appeal to me. I'm not a prude, but the p word was a little overused for my taste. I loved Christopher though. He might be one of my favorite guys in this whole series.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh and final book in the Billionaire Venture Capitalist Series but is read as a standalone. Bella and Christopher will take you on an emotional roller coaster. Well-written with strong, likable characters and an entertaining storyline. Steamy and page-turning. Beware, once you start reading you will find this book hard to put down. I read an arc via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review.

[Gaynor Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passion

Bella is a woman running on passion, the passion to find a cure. There are family pressures, work pressures and self impossed pressures.
Christopher is as passionate about his job as well.
This author did a great job with the chemistry, mystery and intruige through this story. I found the characters engaging and over all the story caputured your interest and held it to the last page!

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a thrill ride! It is intense, spellbinding and you won't be able to put it down. It grabs you from the start with its dynamic characters Christopher and Bella and the writing is superb! Bella has a lot going on with a stalker to boot Christopher is her love interest but will he be able to come in and save the day before danger sets in?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bill Jakobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

I loved this story. Sometimes it's like seeing old friends when people from other books are brought into the current book. This book certainly contains what all the other books, intrigue, bad guys, good guy, wonderful friends and families, and love. You get to see other areas in San Francisco from the descriptions. This book was up to the high standards of all the others. Thank you for such good storylines. Written by Cindy :)

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Bella and Christopher. I loved this book. It is written wonderfully and I love the characters. They have a real and believable feel. The story is written beautifully and emotional with just enough twists and turns to keep you from putting it down. I definitely recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Bella is a Biotech researcher, Bella has a stalker, Christopher helps Bella, do they get along really well for a happy ending.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monique Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book was a great read. This book is similar to the other books in the series with more suspense. I enjoyed this couple, their chemistry and their love story. Their story is beautiful and I really liked their intimate moments together. It's always pleasant to read about the other characters from earlier books in the series.

[PAT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book!!! Christopher & Bella go through a lot of turmoil to get to their happy ending. Bella works all the time & through no fault of her own & finally makes some time to finally fall in love & has no idea of his status. Really enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Martie Jordaan Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book to read, great story line. Lots of drama, danger and love. Christopher and Bella meets when he comes and meet her and her partner as a venture capitist. He feels something is wrong with the set up. Her partner is a very bad man. He helps her to uncover what is happening .They fall in love, gets married in style. Five stars from me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers here. A medical researcher goes through trials and tribulations to start a company that means the world to her and her family. She meets an investor and you get to watch a professional and personal relationship bloom. They have HUGE setbacks and obstacles but in the end find their HEA. Loved this book!

[Melissa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and steamy - love and medicine

She is a researcher. He works for a venture capitalist looking to fund her work. It's a conflict of interest, and her business partner looks a little off. Will her research get done? Will the relationship survive?

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written book to the series. It's an interesting story with strong characters who have a strong connection and chemistry. It's an intriguing story and I enjoyed reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.