The Billionaire's Defiant Acquisition

by Sharon Kendrick

A very seductive kind of deal

Conall Devlin is a ruthless man ready to achieve ultimate success. So, to acquire the missing piece to his property portfolio, he's willing to accept an unusual term of the contract...taming his client's wayward daughter!

Party girl Amber Carter appears to live a life of luxurious frivolity, but deep down she feels lost and alone in her material world. Until one morning her new landlord turns up, every inch of him pinstriped-clad perfection, offering her an ultimatum: either Amber is thrown out onto the streets or she accepts her first ever job--being at his beck and call day and night...

Conveniently wedded, passionately bedded!

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance

1 pages, Audio CD

Published June 30, 2020

About the author

I was told off as a child for making up stories—little did I know that one day I’d earn my living by writing them!

To the horror of my parents, I left school at sixteen and held a bewildering variety of jobs: I was a London DJ (in the now-trendy Primrose Hill), a decorator and a singer. After that I became a cook, a photographer and, eventually, a nurse. I waitressed in the south of France, drove an ambulance in Australia, saw lots of beautiful sights but could never settle down. Everywhere I went I felt like a square peg—until one day I started writing again and then everything just fell into place. I felt like Cinderella must have when the glass slipper fit!

Today, I have the best job in the world, writing passionate romances for Harlequin. I like writing stories which are sexy and fast-paced, yet packed full of emotion—stories that readers will identify with, laugh and cry along with.

My interests are many and varied—chocolate and music, fresh flowers and bubble baths, films, cooking and trying to keep my home from looking burglarized! Simple pleasures—you can’t beat them!

I live in Winchester, one of the most stunning cities in the world, but don’t take my word for it—come see for yourself! I regularly visit London and Paris. Oh, and I love hearing from my readers all over the world…so I think it’s over to you!

Reviews

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a large number of books by this author, which I have found to be hit and miss at times.

The Billionaire’s Defiant Acquisition, her latest release was one of those “miss” for me, which surprised me …..because when I started page 1…………wow!!! What an opening!!! The stunning imagery!!! Hey, I’m totally “grabbed”!!

In the flesh, she looked more dangerous than beautiful. Conall’s mouth hardened. She was exquisite, yes…but faded. Like a rose that had been plucked fresh for a man’s buttonhole before a wild night of partying, but which now lay wilted and drooping across his chest.
Fast asleep, she lay sprawled on top of a white leather sofa. She was wearing a baggy T-shirt, which curved over her breasts and bottom, ending midway along amazingly tanned legs which seemed to go on for ever. Beside her lay an empty champagne glass – the finger marked crystal upended and glinting in the spring sunshine. A faint breeze drifted in from the open windows leading onto the balcony………..

But, sadly….by chapter 5 or 6, I was no longer “grabbed’!!! And I will try and be brief when I explain the reasons why I lost interest!!!

The heroine, Amber is portrayed as a modern day Paris Hilton…..poor little rich girl with horrible parents, her life is just partying, drinking and plastered over all the tabloids. Her father cuts off her funds; she tries to find work but has no qualifications.
The hero, Conall Devlin, rich businessman agrees Amber’s father’s request to get her “right”. He offers her a beyond totally idiotic job….really!!! He thinks that she’s a spoilt whore…yes, he calls her that to her face.

Conall, despite thinking of Amber’s whorish behavior, feels attracted to her. But he doesn’t do love or marriage or kids. He offers her sex!!! She says yes!!! Oh hell’s bells!!!! He discovers she’s a virgin. He tells her she must marry him until he gets tired of her then they will get divorced!! Wait…he will make sure she will receive a huge pay-out so she will not have to worry about money ever again…..What, you think I’m making this up??? I’m not!!! No, no…Amber wants love, marriage, kids…the whole thing!!! She leaves Conall and makes a new life for herself. Conall misses her sooooo much. He goes to Amber and proclaims his love for her!!! And she….OMG……….yes, she says!!! Hell, I wanted this man to grovel and go on his knees forever!!!!!

Too silly for words. The story…..lost me along the way……., the main characters………..shallow, lacking any depth, no chemistry.

The only reason for my 2 star rating is that I really liked Chapter 1. The remaining chapters……boring!!!

[StMargarets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I’m totally grading this one on a curve after reading the horror show that was Carides's Forgotten Wifeand because it reminded me of those old skool HP where the H/h aren’t real people and don’t pretend to be and the reader gets a front row seat to their romance.

This is a one act play of a plot.

Hero: Your father thinks you’re a waste of space so he’s frozen your bank account and credit cards and he’s sold this apartment building to me and I’m kicking you out. Oh, and I’m smoke-shaming you.

Heroine: Smoke-shaming me? Is that a thing?

Hero it’s a disgusting habit and I’m fastidious and enigmatic.

Heroine: What’s so great about being enigmatic?

Hero: It’s my super power along with my fabulous wealth.

Heroine: I’m going to defy you by giving up smoking and working in a night club for two nights.

Hero: You can be my hostess in my manor house while I sell some sequel bait prince a painting of his long-lost ancestor.

Heroine: Looking ornamental is my life’s calling!

Hero: You did a great job looking ornamental. Let’s have sex.

Heroine: Defies him by having sex.

Hero: You’re a virgin and I’m angry you’re the enigmatic one and not me.

Heroine: What?

Hero: We have to marry for three months and then I’ll divorce you.

Heroine: What?

Hero: And no sex.

Heroine: Great let’s talk instead.

Hero: I’ve told you that my mother was a below stairs servant and I was accused of stealing a diamond ring so I graffiti-ed their manor house. Your dad sprung me out of the clinker and vouched for me. That’s why I had to marry his waste of space daughter when I deflowered her. *gasps* Oh, no. You tricked me into telling my secrets. I’m no longer enigmatic . . . .Noooo

Heroine: Maybe I should get some sort of training since I’m married to a crazy person.

Hero: *showing up at her rented room a few months later* Let’s get married again. Here’s an emerald that looks like a “green ice cube” to match your eyes.

Heroine: Thank god he’s rich and I can chuck this working life into the bin.

Epilogue – preggers! I’m sure she’ll hire a nanny.

Honestly, I’m jealous of the heroine who must have a cat as her spirit animal. She just does what she does and someone else feeds and cares for her. I really don't recommend you seek this out, but your retinas won't burn if you do happen to run across it.

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netgalley for an honest the review. 1.5 Rating.

Paris Hilton type meets her sugar daddy.

Sorry but that really was the gist of this story. Heroine that had no depth of character. Poor little rich girl who grew up with a Mom and Dad who divorced and then proceeded to have many lovers/wives. And she played on her poor is me persona all her life, so she can be treated like a princess.Hero was asked by her Daddy (someone that helped him in his past) to straighten her out and help her do something with her life. Daddy cut off all her funds. Hero tries but instead as far as I'm concerned just enables her, give her a silly job (not really a job at all). Then he marries her and tells her he'll divorce her in a short time and then she has the money to live on from their divorce. Couple pages towards the end she decides to try and do something with her life, he realizes he loves her and their is their HEA.

Sorry, but this story had no depth, characters were shallow and unappealing. Story had no pull or emotion as far as I was concerned! Very disappointing.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish it. Heroine was a Paris Hilton type, spoiled immature party girl who smoked like a chimney. Disgusting and gross.

[Rgreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the first time I've read a book where the hero ruins it.
In the Billionaire's Defiant Acquisition, the hero makes assumptions about the heroine that are all wrong. It was so very annoying. The heroine is a Paris Hilton type but not really. She parties and smokes but is likeable. One gets why she is what she is. Her parents were dysfunctional.
What annoyed me more was her father who encouraged the heroine to be a Paris Hilton type suddenly cuts her off financially. He's wants her to be different but he doesn't admit to her his part in creating her.
He wanted her to change but he still lived the life which created her. Family therapy exists. Its something the heroine's dad and the heroine should've experienced first.

Another issue was the chemistry between the heroine and hero. There was none. The sex was so clinical. I didn't feel the romance tension at all.

The Billionaire's Defiant Acquisition began so interesting then went downhill because, hero was annoying; no sexual chemistry and stilted storytelling. Oh and the heroine's father he comes back into the story at the end and doesn't say a thing about his role as a dysfunctional parent...wtf...that was as annoying as the judgemental hero!

[Kiki]

Well...that cover! Ahem!

[Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Las novelas de Harlequin ya no son lo que eran. No sé qué es lo que pasa; incluso autoras que, menos o más, antes cumplían para mí, ahora se vuelven aburridas.
No hay tensión sexual, no hay desarrollo de personajes... O bien los personajes son planos, para nada queribles ni mucho menos gente con la que una se puede identificar.
La protagonista, Amber, es una party-girl que trata de solucionar el vacío de su vida en clubes nocturnos y el héroe, Conall, es un tipo que no sirve para nada. Es una novela llena de contradicciones sin resolver y no sé si es la traducción, pero queda todo en la nada.
A ella no le gustaban los hombres, sin embargo él ve unas fotos de ella arriba de los hombros de un tipo, tomando shampein del pico en una disco.
Él menciona tener una amante pero luego no se sabe qué pasó con ella.
Al final Sharon Kendrick trata de que estos personajes horribles te caigan bien y los hace cambiar radicalmente, pero para ese entonces ya estaba contenta de no tener que fumármelos más, así que mucho no me importó.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was better than okay, but just shy of really good. I liked it, however, I was not totally engaged with this couple. They had chemistry, yes. What they lacked was real conflict. By the time they bumped heads in a significant way, the book was ending.

About the Characters:
Conall-> Good boy turns bad boy turns rich and arrogant. A servant's son given a chance to change. Chip on shoulder. Dark & sexy. Wants what he wants.

Amber-> Pseudo party girl who is misunderstood. Silver spoon got taken. Troubled past with both parents. Low self-esteem covered with bravado.

What I Liked-> I liked how Conall finally came to his senses and went to make amends with Amber.

What I Did Not Like-> I did not like how Amber's final position made it seem like she needed Conall to complete her. Ugh! Her sense of accomplishment regarding her art should have been an affirming self-actualizing aha moment.

Rating: 3-/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: Adult
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: +/-
Family Dysfunction: Yes
HEA: Yes

Source: NetGalley

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was intersting till I reached chapter 8 where it started to not make sense.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This ARC was given to me on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 2.5 /5



Why my rating is that rating...

Okay, so i read this at least a week ago alongside with many other books but I'll try to remember an initial reaction I got when I finished this. My initial reaction would be this book was kind of weird. I couldn't pin down the characters to be whoever I thought they were at any giving moment and I felt that the characters changed a lot from the beginning all the way to the end. Of course, this isn't a bad thing because character development is essential but it was more like these characters didn't hold consistency in the way they were being showcased.

Amber was this wild female creature who parties, gets drunk, and catches the public's attention. But her character development was flawed in a way because Sharon Kendrick made it out that Amber only became the perfect character she is in the end when Conall walks into the picture. For example, Amber quit smoking because Conall insulted her saying that smoking was disgusting. First of all, no. Quitting smoking isn't that easy and it's kind of demeaning to women that a man has so much raw sexual tension that you can easily give up an addictive substance just by walking into the room.

Anyways, Conall was a basic character that you've probably seen in a lot of Harlequin novels. The story mostly focused on Amber's troubles and how Conall saw her in the wrong light.

Give it a read if you're kind of bored.

[Heather Chase · Rating 1 out of 5]

How can a woman fall in love with such a judgmental, verbally cruel and arrogant man? He calls her entitled, brat, princess, a whore, manipulative, a liar and useless, just a waste of space, MULTIPLE TIMES. Why on Earth would you jump into bed and then marry someone like that? This book just frustrated me. The Virginal Heroine (shocker) had no depth and the "Hero" was no hero, to me more of a zero with a HUGE chip on his shoulder so therefore was an asshole all the way until the end where he suddenly realized what a good thing he had.... OMFG, really?!! I sooo wanted her to just tell this dude multiple times to go F-himself and at least attempt to defend herself from his judgmental verbal garbage. And how in the hell does a father suddenly decide "Oh, she needs to learn to support and care for herself' even though he made her dependent on him and told her many times while in her youth that her aspirations were stupid. Then turns around and was all 'I'm so happy for your marriage'? Seriously.

I only finished the book because I listen to audiobooks while at work and hate to start one and not finish it. Me finishing actually says something... I didn't absolutely hate it, if I did I wouldn't have finished it. Just really wanted to shake some since into the Heroine and throat punch the zero, I mean Hero.

[Megz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to chapter three and I’m ready to give it up. The heroine starts out ready to take on the world and says she’s been through worse and the next thing you know, she’s in the “hero’s” office begging for scraps. Are you telling me the pampered rich girl doesn’t have any connections in her society where she could at least get a modeling gig or something to get by and earn a living? She says she doesn’t have any skills that employers want. She is a helpless wonder and I don’t enjoy wasting my time reading about damsels.

[Codi Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Billionaire's Defiant Acquisition had potential, but it fell a bit flat for me. While the chemistry between the characters was undeniable, their hot-and-cold dynamic was so drastic that I felt like I got whiplash from their mood swings. I was also hoping for more spice, but it didn’t deliver as much as I’d expected. The story rushed to its HEA, which, while satisfying, felt underwhelming. A decent read, but not a standout.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hardly ever label a book as DNF, especially Harlequin Presents books, whose crazy-sauce I love to ingest. But this one was just awful. The heroine was a poor little rich girl with a chip on her shoulder. I got why that chip was there, but she still could have made better choices. I *hated* the hero. He was a king-size jerk. After the first couple chapters, I skipped to the end, just to see what happened, and had no desire to go back and finish it.

Skip this book. You'll be happier for it.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOOOOOOOoooooo!!!! This was so close! But completely lost its way in the middle and end. Why did the hero come looking for her? 'I missed you'. Well us readers didn't get to see any of that longing so I don't believe it happened. Wish the heroine had found her niche, and the apartment meant something to her(her and her mom lived there happily or something). Grrr no, this was THERE. But just slipped away. Sadness. Eh read, I suppose.

[chhanak · Rating 1 out of 5]

i did not have high expectations from this and i was right. a very shallow, cliché, predictable story where the characters have no depth at all. at so many times in the novel, i was hoping that the heroine would tell him to fuck off because of the disparaging way he treated her but oh no, she was just so enraptured by him. no point in reading it unless you're extremely bored like i was

[Rachael OQuinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Okay

He's really a jerk and his sudden revelation that he loves her feels fake. It needed more depth than it had. He was really mean and her dad was a jerk who was nice to a strange kid, but treated her like last week's trash.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK
But I kept waiting for her to have a redeeming quality like charity. Im not sure. But yeah wasn't much but a spoilt damaged heiress...

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually like Sharon Kendrick's romances but this one was totally lame. She really missed the mark here.

[Andrea Wenger]

This is a fast-paced, high stakes book with bully vibes. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[ErinMickC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to preface this review with a few notes. 1) I’ve never, ever read a category romance before. 2) Billionaire romances aren’t my thing. That being said, I didn’t actually dislike everything about this billionaire book even though that was completely my expectation. I found the book to be witty and entertaining.

The Good
-I liked that both Conall and Amber had hidden talents that created some character depth. Conall had a passion for modern art and Amber had linguistic talents along with her unique artistic style. Most of the billionaire romances I’ve read in the past simply show the billionaire as a man who is good at making money. Honestly, the shallow billionaire hero doesn’t seem to interest me. Although Conall is certainly wealthy, he has made a good portion of his fortune dealing in the modern art he loves and cherishes. This facet of Conall’s persona kept me interested in him and the outcome of the story.
-A very satisfying epilogue. Getting a glimpse of the characters a few months or years into their HEA is the perfect ending of a book for me. This epilogue tied up the last few loose ends and allowed me to relax a bit seeing that the hero and heroine truly did commit to one another. And...baby!

The Bad
-Amber’s party-girl beginning was just bad, bad, bad. I almost stopped reading this book since I found everything about Amber to be so annoying for a decent part of the novel.
-I felt like there was a lot going on in this book. Billionaire, party-girl turned good-girl, virgin, fake marriage, friend’s sibling, heroine having to prove herself, hero working for heroine’s father...and on and on. There were certainly a lot of romance tropes represented here, almost too many for the storyline to handle!

The Unique
-In a lot of ways this book reminded me of the romances of yesteryear. It felt like a throwback to some “bodice rippers” I’ve read in the way the plot progressed, in the way the hero clearly had the upper hand in the situation and in the way the heroine’s virginity was presented.

[3houd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conall Devlin is a ruthless man ready to achieve ultimate success. So, to acquire the missing piece to his property portfolio, he's willing to accept an unusual term of the contract…taming his client's wayward daughter! 

Party girl Amber Carter appears to live a life of luxurious frivolity, but deep down she feels lost and alone in her material world. Until one morning her new landlord turns up, every inch of him pinstriped-clad perfection, offering her an ultimatum: either Amber is thrown out onto the streets or she accepts her first ever job—being at his beck and call day and night… 
This book was surprisingly good, I really expected it to be much worse. I kind of liked the lead male character and didn't hate the female lead.
Quite readable, I wouldn't be interested in re-reading it though. It lacked a lot of points to make it a book that one would actually want to read again.

[RomLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Her father tells him he has to reform her in order for him to agree to sell him some property and he accepts the challenge. Uses her to sell painting to a prince. A very seductive kind of deal

Conall Devlin is a ruthless man ready to achieve ultimate success. So, to acquire the missing piece to his property portfolio, he's willing to accept an unusual term of the contract…taming his client's wayward daughter!

Party girl Amber Carter appears to live a life of luxurious frivolity, but deep down she feels lost and alone in her material world. Until one morning her new landlord turns up, every inch of him pinstriped-clad perfection, offering her an ultimatum: either Amber is thrown out onto the streets or she accepts her first ever job—being at his beck and call day and night…

Conveniently wedded, passionately bedded!

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Kendrick always writes wonderful books and this is truly a great one. You have Amber Carter poor little rich girl who has lived with her Mom and Dad who divorced and had numerous affairs. Her Dad is concerned for her and so asks Conall Devlin to straighten her out so she can make something out of her life. Owning the place where she lives he forces her to either take the job he offers or be put out on the street. From her on you will become immersed in the story of these two and what a great story. Will they find their HEA, will she make something of herself, not spoiling it for you read the story its so worth it.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing subtle about Conall Devlin, ‘you know damned well what I mean.’ There was a pause. ‘I don’t want you flaunting your body and looking like a tramp.’ Good Christ Conall could be mean, rude and just not nice at times I didn't like that, he was so pig headed, "she was very persistent, he thought. ‘You ask too many questions, Amber,’ he said softly. ‘And a man doesn’t like to be interrogated straight after sex.’ Besides Conall frustrating me throughout the whole book I enjoyed it.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was better then I thought after reading the reviews. But maybe that's what did it. I began the book with low expectations so was pleasantly surprised? Anywhoo, the only difference between this book and other HP:s, is that instead of the H wrongly thinking that the h is a freeloader(when she's actually working with homeless children and curing cancer) in this story she really is a lazy bum, but she has her reasons.

[Karim Lalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The outstandingly talented Sharon Kendrick has proved her credentials, yet again as one of the finest writers of the romance genre. I have yet to be disappointed by her writing, but am running out of superlatives with which to describe her work. The same deftness of touch has been infused into Conal and Amber's story and it was a highly satisfying read. Absolutely Superb!!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I really enjoyed. It reminds me so much of the old fashioned Harlequin romances of rich alpha male and younger virgin lady who has a bad reputation. This is a more modern version with sex and royalty. A good story set in England, part of a series.

[Harlequin Books]

"Good characterization makes Kendrick’s novel interesting. Conall’s emotional detachment due to a difficult childhood is well depicted, as is Amber’s insecurity due to her own upbringing" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: Wedlocked!

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me a bit of the mills and boon of yesteryear. The heroine that has lost her way and is engulfed by the arrogant hero and swept into his world with no say in the matter - but in a modern way. Thoroughly enjoyable read from one of my favourite authors.