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The 21st Century Gentleman's Club #1
Poder & Atração
A virgin in the lion's den...
Tonight at the gaming tables of the impossibly exclusive gentleman's club Q Virtus ruthless billionaire Narciso Valentino is finally about to destroy his enemy. But one look at the club's curvaceous hostess assigned to see to his every need and he's willing to delay the moment of satisfaction--for another kind altogether....
Talented chef Ruby Trevelli is there to force Narciso to save her business--not give him her virginity. Yet beneath that lethally sexy exterior is a tortured man who believes himself beyond redemption, and Ruby is soon facing the ultimate temptation--with the ultimate playboy!
Tonight at the gaming tables of the impossibly exclusive gentleman's club Q Virtus ruthless billionaire Narciso Valentino is finally about to destroy his enemy. But one look at the club's curvaceous hostess assigned to see to his every need and he's willing to delay the moment of satisfaction--for another kind altogether....
Talented chef Ruby Trevelli is there to force Narciso to save her business--not give him her virginity. Yet beneath that lethally sexy exterior is a tortured man who believes himself beyond redemption, and Ruby is soon facing the ultimate temptation--with the ultimate playboy!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
42 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 13, 2014
The first book in The 21st Century Gentleman’s Club Mini-Series – 3 interlinked stories of three powerful, rich and passionate friends, set in exotic and fabulous locations, written by 3 Mills & Boon authors.
Narciso Valentino, a rich and powerful playboy has accepted the invitation to the club’s quarterly conference being held in Macau,
where he plans to finally destroy the man who caused him pain and heartbreak in his life.
Ruby Trevelli is a chef and wants to open her own restaurant and after dumping her boyfriend/partner who she discovered was married and just using her parent’s fame, as the chefs of the very successful and long running reality food show called The Ricardo & Paloma Trevelli Show, which Ruby has no intentions of being part of.
Finding herself without a man and money (yes, the bastardo….ran off with the money she had received as the winner of a TV food competition but thank heavens she retain her virtue…yes of course, Ruby is a virgin!!!!!!), she has no other option but to beg the owner of the television show to invest in her restaurant venture. But she’s unable to pin him down, so after she’s told that he’s going to Q Virtus, she applies for the job of a Petit Q hostess, where she will be able to show him her proposal.
Amid the masked opulence (yes, everyone has to wear a specially designed mask….
you remember…secrets, secrets) Narciso soon begins losing track of the reason he’s there when he locks eyes with the delicious Ruby.
A lot smoldering looks…and yes, sexy Narciso
quickly does away with Ruby’s virginity with some hot and erotic sex!!!
Some twists and turns, witty dialogue and naturally loads of obstacles in front to these two that just keep them going hot and cold, yes and no…..but finally we get to see both overcoming their “daddy” issues and go off to their HEA…………..
I enjoyed the story plot with all its intrigues and secrets and fabulous locations – Macau just sounds so exotic doesn’t it?
and interesting characters.
Q Virtus, the most secret and exclusive club, where only the invited members of power and wealth meet to network and play. A private world of money and pleasure.
Narciso Valentino, a rich and powerful playboy has accepted the invitation to the club’s quarterly conference being held in Macau,
where he plans to finally destroy the man who caused him pain and heartbreak in his life.Ruby Trevelli is a chef and wants to open her own restaurant and after dumping her boyfriend/partner who she discovered was married and just using her parent’s fame, as the chefs of the very successful and long running reality food show called The Ricardo & Paloma Trevelli Show, which Ruby has no intentions of being part of.
Finding herself without a man and money (yes, the bastardo….ran off with the money she had received as the winner of a TV food competition but thank heavens she retain her virtue…yes of course, Ruby is a virgin!!!!!!), she has no other option but to beg the owner of the television show to invest in her restaurant venture. But she’s unable to pin him down, so after she’s told that he’s going to Q Virtus, she applies for the job of a Petit Q hostess, where she will be able to show him her proposal.
Amid the masked opulence (yes, everyone has to wear a specially designed mask….
you remember…secrets, secrets) Narciso soon begins losing track of the reason he’s there when he locks eyes with the delicious Ruby.A lot smoldering looks…and yes, sexy Narciso
quickly does away with Ruby’s virginity with some hot and erotic sex!!!Some twists and turns, witty dialogue and naturally loads of obstacles in front to these two that just keep them going hot and cold, yes and no…..but finally we get to see both overcoming their “daddy” issues and go off to their HEA…………..
I enjoyed the story plot with all its intrigues and secrets and fabulous locations – Macau just sounds so exotic doesn’t it?
and interesting characters.
December 29, 2016
Chef and budding restaurant owner Ruby is stalking sexy media billionaire Narciso. One of his companies ran a televised cooking competition, Ruby won, and she can’t get anyone to pay up. She needs the money. Her business partner and almost lover turned out to be married with a baby on the way, and when she ditched him he sold her out to a loan shark.
Narciso isn’t all that difficult to track down, but Ruby just misses him when she turns up at a swish nightclub. She’s just in time to see him squeeze some lady bottom on his way into a limo, but she discovers that he’ll be at some super-secret billionaire do in Macao. She just has to get accepted as a waitress at the event, and find him amongst all the other masked billionaires, and make him pay up and she’s set.
I am totally in love with the secret billionaires club, where they all go to exotic lockdown locations and wear masks and play cards while sexy hospitality staff serve them drinks and snuggles. I’m really open to this set up happening a whole lot. It’s got this kind of James Bond vibe, and it’s posh and exclusive and I’m down for people wearing masks, and I’m down for sneering at them for being kind of wankers as well. As far as I’m concerned, this is a perfect setup.
Narciso and Ruby share an immediate attraction and push some HP boundaries with a tiny bit of bondage. It’s a more erotically charged and a little edgier for the brand, but still comfortably tame. Their flirting and their banter was a strength of the book. However the really promising start to their sexy interplay gets bogged down with parental baggage.
Ruby’s parents were celebrity chefs who turned their lives into reality TV fodder when Ruby’s dad started having affairs and Ruby’s mother started forgiving him. Narciso’s dad has hated him since birth (hence saddling his son with that difficult name), and Narciso is at the secret billionaire’s thing with a plan to take a few whacks at Daddy’s bank balance.
While I liked the more modern touches, and I appreciated Ruby’s drive and ingenuity in tracking down her quarry, the parent angle felt a little tired and forced. It also meant that the more traditional HP elements didn't gel quite so well with the rest of the plot. Still, the first half of the book was lovely and made this well worth the read.
July 19, 2018
3.5 stars
I don't even know where to start. I had lots of things to write last night but my sloth won. Well, Dianna and Alex is The Romance Fox describe the story so I'll just point out what I liked and didn't like.
I didn't want to waste twenty lines rambling about the hero's name so I'll keep it short. Narciso Mendoza was a child that fired a cannon to distract the Spanish so the insurgents could escape the other way, one of the escapees was the second most important person in Mexico's independence war, so the kid was a hero. I learned that in elementary school and that's the only Narciso I know, so that's what I pictured when I first read the hero's name. Also, the name is horrible. But then I read he wasItalian Sicilian, with that pronunciation the name sounds even more awful. But I let it go when I learned the name had a purpose three quarters on the way.
I didn't care for the story or the heroine at the beginning, I was actually planning to not finish but when H and h met things got interesting. I loved their interactions, they were so unwillingly open about their daddy issues. They both learned and changed, especially the H.
The sexy bits were sexier than your average HP and I liked it but I think they took too much space and so when the final pages arrived everything was too easily solved in a couple of lines. And I don't think the Giacomo-Narciso relationship should ever be mended, sorry but there are times when I don't want the pink fluffy ending.
Another thing about the ending, I liked there was separation time so they both could fix their issues on their own but I don't understand why he had to grovel. After the whole book of her understanding every gesture/thought he made and especially after learning what Giacomo did to Narciso, she was too stupid to fall for Giacomo's trap and was offended that he told her to leave because he had just been deeply hurt by her actions. Narciso's groveling was way too much for a single HP hero that actually didn't need it (sending thoughtful gifts, losing weight, emotional and physical decline). Narciso should give seminars to the alpha-assholes of Harleyland.
I don't even know where to start. I had lots of things to write last night but my sloth won. Well, Dianna and Alex is The Romance Fox describe the story so I'll just point out what I liked and didn't like.
I didn't want to waste twenty lines rambling about the hero's name so I'll keep it short. Narciso Mendoza was a child that fired a cannon to distract the Spanish so the insurgents could escape the other way, one of the escapees was the second most important person in Mexico's independence war, so the kid was a hero. I learned that in elementary school and that's the only Narciso I know, so that's what I pictured when I first read the hero's name. Also, the name is horrible. But then I read he was
I didn't care for the story or the heroine at the beginning, I was actually planning to not finish but when H and h met things got interesting. I loved their interactions, they were so unwillingly open about their daddy issues. They both learned and changed, especially the H.
The sexy bits were sexier than your average HP and I liked it but I think they took too much space and so when the final pages arrived everything was too easily solved in a couple of lines. And I don't think the Giacomo-Narciso relationship should ever be mended, sorry but there are times when I don't want the pink fluffy ending.
Another thing about the ending, I liked there was separation time so they both could fix their issues on their own but I don't understand why he had to grovel. After the whole book of her understanding every gesture/thought he made and especially after learning what Giacomo did to Narciso, she was too stupid to fall for Giacomo's trap and was offended that he told her to leave because he had just been deeply hurt by her actions. Narciso's groveling was way too much for a single HP hero that actually didn't need it (sending thoughtful gifts, losing weight, emotional and physical decline). Narciso should give seminars to the alpha-assholes of Harleyland.
November 30, 2016
Me encantó esta novelita. Le pongo cinco estrellas porque, a pesar de ser una Harlequin, es todo lo que espero en las novelas románticas que leo: pasar tan buen momento entretenida que no quería terminarla.
Los personajes me hicieron pensar en los primeros libros de Lynne Graham, esos que me encantaban y que aun hoy releo. Tienen una química impresionante y se ven tan, tan bien juntos~No hay hijos jodiendo para hacer un buen epílogo, es una lectura fresca y novedosa en cuanto a playboys y no le encontré muchas fallas, la protagonista no fue una tonta en ningún momento, ambos me gustaron mucho <3
Me declaro fan de Maya Blake y espero que sus próximos libros sean igual de atrapantes y buenos.
Los personajes me hicieron pensar en los primeros libros de Lynne Graham, esos que me encantaban y que aun hoy releo. Tienen una química impresionante y se ven tan, tan bien juntos~No hay hijos jodiendo para hacer un buen epílogo, es una lectura fresca y novedosa en cuanto a playboys y no le encontré muchas fallas, la protagonista no fue una tonta en ningún momento, ambos me gustaron mucho <3
Me declaro fan de Maya Blake y espero que sus próximos libros sean igual de atrapantes y buenos.
June 18, 2014
The Ultimate Playboy is one of those rare HPs where the focus stays on building the story and what a compelling romance that was built.
What I liked- the story. Hero and heroine both had parental issues. This story dealt with it and their slow burn romance. The romance. I liked the instalust and also I liked they didn't have instasex too early. The hero. I loved how he handled the heroine. He didn't let her tendency to argue take away his manly bits. He was wealthy, powerful and badass alpha. The heroine. At first she was annoyingly arguementative then stopped which I loved. She was a virgin. Liked that. She actually conversed with the hero. A big plus.
What I didn't like. The last few chapters where the heroine allows the hero's bad dad to use her as a pawn against the hero. That caused this book to lose a star. I didn't like the hero groveled when the heroine created the situation. That annoyed me greatly. Last, I hated the hero's bad dad got a chance at redemption after emotionally abusing him for years. There are some acts that don't deserve a chance at redemption and what the hero's bad dad did means he deserves no happiness.
So, I liked the Ultimate Playboy. It had depth and erotic chemistry.
One last thing. I didn't like the hero kept asking permission in almost every intimate encounter. Just too politically correct for me. What next a sex contract before doing the deed?!
What I liked- the story. Hero and heroine both had parental issues. This story dealt with it and their slow burn romance. The romance. I liked the instalust and also I liked they didn't have instasex too early. The hero. I loved how he handled the heroine. He didn't let her tendency to argue take away his manly bits. He was wealthy, powerful and badass alpha. The heroine. At first she was annoyingly arguementative then stopped which I loved. She was a virgin. Liked that. She actually conversed with the hero. A big plus.
What I didn't like. The last few chapters where the heroine allows the hero's bad dad to use her as a pawn against the hero. That caused this book to lose a star. I didn't like the hero groveled when the heroine created the situation. That annoyed me greatly. Last, I hated the hero's bad dad got a chance at redemption after emotionally abusing him for years. There are some acts that don't deserve a chance at redemption and what the hero's bad dad did means he deserves no happiness.
So, I liked the Ultimate Playboy. It had depth and erotic chemistry.
One last thing. I didn't like the hero kept asking permission in almost every intimate encounter. Just too politically correct for me. What next a sex contract before doing the deed?!
June 5, 2014
Hero was a very sexy man and heroine warm and strong. Enjoyable read.
July 17, 2014
I thought it was pretty good. I enjoyed their relationship and how it evolved. They definetaly had chemistry for sure nod it was a hot read.
June 5, 2014
This follows the lines of a traditional Mills&Boon although the author adds in a bit of a modern twist by having Ruby's parents be stars of a Reality Show and Ruby herself entering a Reality TV show to win money to set herself up with a Restaurant (her and her parents are Chefs).
Ruby has to track Narciso down as the TV show went back on their word. The initial interactions with Narciso and Ruby were good and quite witty. Then we learn they both have 'Daddy' issues. Narciso's in particular seemed a bit OTT. Ruby is wary on men seeing as her father has always been unfaithful so of course she's the usual Mills & Boon virgin who then falls for the hero and gives him her virginity without putting up much of a fight!
The first half of the book I was enjoying the story but the 'love story' part takes place over only a few days and I don't like that in romance novels. The usual misunderstanding that causes them to part was poorly executed and then the ending felt rushed and left me feeling disappointed in a story that had potential but didn't live up to it.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
Ruby has to track Narciso down as the TV show went back on their word. The initial interactions with Narciso and Ruby were good and quite witty. Then we learn they both have 'Daddy' issues. Narciso's in particular seemed a bit OTT. Ruby is wary on men seeing as her father has always been unfaithful so of course she's the usual Mills & Boon virgin who then falls for the hero and gives him her virginity without putting up much of a fight!
The first half of the book I was enjoying the story but the 'love story' part takes place over only a few days and I don't like that in romance novels. The usual misunderstanding that causes them to part was poorly executed and then the ending felt rushed and left me feeling disappointed in a story that had potential but didn't live up to it.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
December 4, 2024
This was... more in line with what I was expecting with the other 3 books in this bundle. Wild melodrama. Billionaire main character. Awful pacing. Repetitive structure. Etc, etc.
January 23, 2015
Una historia de amor instantáneo pero atrapa y entretiene bastante, con tórridas escenas sensuales. No es la gran cosa, pero la disfruté.
June 20, 2014
Paige‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
2 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I love the premise of the book but this fell a bit short for me.
I had a hard time getting into the book and subsequently finishing it. I didn’t feel a connection between Ruby and Narcisco. They played the cat and mouse game a bit to long. Then it was a race to the end.
I didn’t see the player in Narcisco. He didn’t flaunt his conquests. He was rather tame when it came to womanizing.
I understand that a books need drama and conflict. This book had both but it didn’t work for me.
2 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I love the premise of the book but this fell a bit short for me.
I had a hard time getting into the book and subsequently finishing it. I didn’t feel a connection between Ruby and Narcisco. They played the cat and mouse game a bit to long. Then it was a race to the end.
I didn’t see the player in Narcisco. He didn’t flaunt his conquests. He was rather tame when it came to womanizing.
I understand that a books need drama and conflict. This book had both but it didn’t work for me.
July 20, 2014
(Note: Read this awhile ago and have yet to do the review on it so this review is me reflecting on what I can remember from when I read this book and the notes that I had made on the book might have forgotten some of the things I felt when reading this book originally since I read it a long time ago. So I am doing my best to write this review to the best of my recollection and feelings I had for the book. And I am going to try to keep this short since this book is just the general feeling I got for the book and it isn't quite fresh in my mind. Hopefully you enjoy anyway.)
Let me tell you this book was very close to a five stars. I really loved this book so much for so many reasons. One it was just a very sexy read with lots of sexual tension to follow that made me anticipating what was going to come next between the characters. I was ready to see them get down and to business and just waiting with bated breath until that finally did happen because they just had mad chemistry going on that I knew that when they came together it would truly be a hot passionate read and I couldn't wait to see it. And their chemistry was apparent from the moment they met until the end of the book and never seemed to stopped and I just loved seeing their story play out. It was just a lot a fun and filled not only with passion but deep emotions along the way making it a great love story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Narcisco was just an alpha male in the truest sense of the word and I loved him so much. He just had everything going for him. He was hot and sexy and definitely made my pulse race just like it did for Ruby and I can't blame her. He just oozed sex appeal, and he had this darkest about that just made him that much more interesting and just loved him so much. There's not much I can say that I didn't love about him. Despite the fact that he had this darkest about him and the fact he was relentless in his pursuit (because he wanted her no matter the consequences of it all and he got what he wanted. Always and that included Ruby) of Ruby at first, he was never cruel or jerk even when he found that Ruby deceived him, though he was angry and understandably and I couldn't fault him for that.
And even though in the beginning he was portrayed as this sex machine playboy, who only cared about himself and was this selfish guy, I could tell there was so much more to him and there was. He was this deep guy with a tortured soul, who yearned for love especially his father's which he never got, but never admit it until Ruby came into his life. It was nice to see that change in him and just show what was beneath that shell that he surrounded himself in so he wouldn't get hurt so he played the role of playboy only interested in sex to a tee and lived his life that way accordingly. But when Ruby came into his life, he began to question the way he lived and realized that he couldn't just be this selfish jerk that took what he wanted mainly Ruby's virginity just because he wanted her. He didn't think that was fair to her so he refused to make love to her at first despite the fact he was aching for he. He was beginning to care for her and wanting her love and she brought that side out of him. He was very sweet and loving towards her and began thinking of her instead of himself. I just loved seeing that side of him and the man that he could be especially with a woman that he loved. He was even willing to give up the year building vendetta against his father because of her. She taught him to forgive and move on so he could just be happy. And I loved how he saw light early on and it was all due to the fact that he was falling in love with her. I just loved him.
In fact they helped each other deal with issues that they had surrounding their parents and help them push to the other side. Their love made them stronger and help them through the tough times, and I just loved seeing that and just how their love changed one another and just made them stronger. And it was nice to see how they supported one another and showed that their relationship was more than just making love. They cared about one another and what happened to one another wanting the best for one another.
It was just great to see their relationship develop and grow as the book went on and just how love made them stronger. It was a nice pace and build up. I like how it began as this intense attraction that they had one another, but they didn't give in to their passions until later on, making me anticipate what their love scene was going to be like and create that anticipation and passion and hotness between them. I liked that they didn't sleep together right away and they got to know each other before doing the deed and emotions had started to develop between them. I don't like when heroes or heroines sleep together after knowing each other for one day, it just doesn't sit well with me and I would like to see the build up, and that's exactly what Maya Blake did in this book and just made it that much more of an enjoyable ride.
I also liked the concept of how they came to meet because it was new and definitely different and something fresh that added to the Harlequin Presents series. Just whole masquerade ball theme just made the story that much more interesting and drew me in from the moment Ruby entered Q Vitus and being immersed in that world as well as added a bit of mystery to the story especially since they were wearing masks when they met. I just loved it. Not only adding to the mystery behind their first meeting it also added to the tension between them because they couldn't see each other's faces that were hidden behind masks and made them wonder what the other looked liked and wondering if they were as attractive in their masks as they were out of it, which just added another dimension to their romance. It was intriguing and very interesting to watch that whole scene play out, and I loved it. I wish more Presents would do this because just added that edge to it.
Just the whole book was hot and not just the love scenes but the entire book because it was dripping with sexual tension and I just loved it. And there really wasn't a moment when they were together that wasn't charged not just physical but emotionally as well and it was just great to witness and see it all played out and made my heart beat fast for most of the book. I can't complain how the love story was portrayed because everything about it was great.
There wasn't much about this book that I didn't love. There was just a perfect melding of sexual tension, raw/high emotions, angst, and character development that made this the perfect portrayal of a love story. This is what I want to see from a romance novel and especially a Presents novel. It just had a perfect balance to it. It had mystery. It had intrigue. It had a rawness to it. It had tension. It had everything. I loved both Ruby and Narciso and I just loved their relationship. There's not really a bad thing I can say about this book, I am hoping the other books in this series are just as good as this one.
Bravo Maya Blake on another winner of a love story filled with hot passion as well as a hot hero and lots of great deep emotions accompanied to make this truly a rootable love story and one I would root for any day of the week for these truly rootable characters. Maya Blake you are becoming a new favorite author of mine and look forward to reading many more of your releases in the future and hopefully you will keep making them because I want to keep reading them.
Let me tell you this book was very close to a five stars. I really loved this book so much for so many reasons. One it was just a very sexy read with lots of sexual tension to follow that made me anticipating what was going to come next between the characters. I was ready to see them get down and to business and just waiting with bated breath until that finally did happen because they just had mad chemistry going on that I knew that when they came together it would truly be a hot passionate read and I couldn't wait to see it. And their chemistry was apparent from the moment they met until the end of the book and never seemed to stopped and I just loved seeing their story play out. It was just a lot a fun and filled not only with passion but deep emotions along the way making it a great love story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Narcisco was just an alpha male in the truest sense of the word and I loved him so much. He just had everything going for him. He was hot and sexy and definitely made my pulse race just like it did for Ruby and I can't blame her. He just oozed sex appeal, and he had this darkest about that just made him that much more interesting and just loved him so much. There's not much I can say that I didn't love about him. Despite the fact that he had this darkest about him and the fact he was relentless in his pursuit (because he wanted her no matter the consequences of it all and he got what he wanted. Always and that included Ruby) of Ruby at first, he was never cruel or jerk even when he found that Ruby deceived him, though he was angry and understandably and I couldn't fault him for that.
And even though in the beginning he was portrayed as this sex machine playboy, who only cared about himself and was this selfish guy, I could tell there was so much more to him and there was. He was this deep guy with a tortured soul, who yearned for love especially his father's which he never got, but never admit it until Ruby came into his life. It was nice to see that change in him and just show what was beneath that shell that he surrounded himself in so he wouldn't get hurt so he played the role of playboy only interested in sex to a tee and lived his life that way accordingly. But when Ruby came into his life, he began to question the way he lived and realized that he couldn't just be this selfish jerk that took what he wanted mainly Ruby's virginity just because he wanted her. He didn't think that was fair to her so he refused to make love to her at first despite the fact he was aching for he. He was beginning to care for her and wanting her love and she brought that side out of him. He was very sweet and loving towards her and began thinking of her instead of himself. I just loved seeing that side of him and the man that he could be especially with a woman that he loved. He was even willing to give up the year building vendetta against his father because of her. She taught him to forgive and move on so he could just be happy. And I loved how he saw light early on and it was all due to the fact that he was falling in love with her. I just loved him.
In fact they helped each other deal with issues that they had surrounding their parents and help them push to the other side. Their love made them stronger and help them through the tough times, and I just loved seeing that and just how their love changed one another and just made them stronger. And it was nice to see how they supported one another and showed that their relationship was more than just making love. They cared about one another and what happened to one another wanting the best for one another.
It was just great to see their relationship develop and grow as the book went on and just how love made them stronger. It was a nice pace and build up. I like how it began as this intense attraction that they had one another, but they didn't give in to their passions until later on, making me anticipate what their love scene was going to be like and create that anticipation and passion and hotness between them. I liked that they didn't sleep together right away and they got to know each other before doing the deed and emotions had started to develop between them. I don't like when heroes or heroines sleep together after knowing each other for one day, it just doesn't sit well with me and I would like to see the build up, and that's exactly what Maya Blake did in this book and just made it that much more of an enjoyable ride.
I also liked the concept of how they came to meet because it was new and definitely different and something fresh that added to the Harlequin Presents series. Just whole masquerade ball theme just made the story that much more interesting and drew me in from the moment Ruby entered Q Vitus and being immersed in that world as well as added a bit of mystery to the story especially since they were wearing masks when they met. I just loved it. Not only adding to the mystery behind their first meeting it also added to the tension between them because they couldn't see each other's faces that were hidden behind masks and made them wonder what the other looked liked and wondering if they were as attractive in their masks as they were out of it, which just added another dimension to their romance. It was intriguing and very interesting to watch that whole scene play out, and I loved it. I wish more Presents would do this because just added that edge to it.
Just the whole book was hot and not just the love scenes but the entire book because it was dripping with sexual tension and I just loved it. And there really wasn't a moment when they were together that wasn't charged not just physical but emotionally as well and it was just great to witness and see it all played out and made my heart beat fast for most of the book. I can't complain how the love story was portrayed because everything about it was great.
There wasn't much about this book that I didn't love. There was just a perfect melding of sexual tension, raw/high emotions, angst, and character development that made this the perfect portrayal of a love story. This is what I want to see from a romance novel and especially a Presents novel. It just had a perfect balance to it. It had mystery. It had intrigue. It had a rawness to it. It had tension. It had everything. I loved both Ruby and Narciso and I just loved their relationship. There's not really a bad thing I can say about this book, I am hoping the other books in this series are just as good as this one.
Bravo Maya Blake on another winner of a love story filled with hot passion as well as a hot hero and lots of great deep emotions accompanied to make this truly a rootable love story and one I would root for any day of the week for these truly rootable characters. Maya Blake you are becoming a new favorite author of mine and look forward to reading many more of your releases in the future and hopefully you will keep making them because I want to keep reading them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2019
A good story. I like the way Ruby went after what was here. She fought long and hard to escape family drama and to become a success on her own.
November 19, 2020
Protagonistas: Narciso & Ruby
Profesiones: Empresario & Chef
Países: Macao, Belice, USA & Venezuela
Profesiones: Empresario & Chef
Países: Macao, Belice, USA & Venezuela
August 21, 2025
Nice book
February 15, 2017
"Wal-Mart inspi"
solo porque compre el libro, la portada llamo mi atención en la fila del super...
valió la pena, es como esas historias Cinderella...
pero quiero los que siguen
Narciso de la portada es muy atractivo.
La historia es la típica ~chica virgen persiguiendo sus sueños, se topa con el multimillonario joven -ademas de atormentado y despiadado... se enamora de la inocencia de la chica virgen -sexo de por medio- la ayuda con su sueño y terminan siendo felices. FIN~
solo porque compre el libro, la portada llamo mi atención en la fila del super...
valió la pena, es como esas historias Cinderella...
pero quiero los que siguen
Narciso de la portada es muy atractivo.
La historia es la típica ~chica virgen persiguiendo sus sueños, se topa con el multimillonario joven -ademas de atormentado y despiadado... se enamora de la inocencia de la chica virgen -sexo de por medio- la ayuda con su sueño y terminan siendo felices. FIN~
April 11, 2021
A virgin in the lion's den...
Tonight at the gaming tables of the impossibly exclusive gentleman's club Q Virtus ruthless billionaire Narciso Valentino is finally about to destroy his enemy. But one look at the club's curvaceous hostess assigned to see to his every need and he's willing to delay the moment of satisfaction--for another kind altogether....
Talented chef Ruby Trevelli is there to force Narciso to save her business--not give him her virginity. Yet beneath that lethally sexy exterior is a tortured man who believes himself beyond redemption, and Ruby is soon facing the ultimate temptation--with the ultimate playboy! (
Tonight at the gaming tables of the impossibly exclusive gentleman's club Q Virtus ruthless billionaire Narciso Valentino is finally about to destroy his enemy. But one look at the club's curvaceous hostess assigned to see to his every need and he's willing to delay the moment of satisfaction--for another kind altogether....
Talented chef Ruby Trevelli is there to force Narciso to save her business--not give him her virginity. Yet beneath that lethally sexy exterior is a tortured man who believes himself beyond redemption, and Ruby is soon facing the ultimate temptation--with the ultimate playboy! (
February 17, 2015
A quick easy Harlequin read. I liked Ruby. She's a budding chef who won a cooking reality show with a prize of her own restaurant. When the show reneges, she's forced to track down the company's owner for help.
Narcisco, the owner, is a complete overbearing alpha male. He and Ruby bump heads from the first. She's sassy and doesn't take any of his crap. All she wants is what the show promised her. But that is not all she gets.
The Ultimate Playboy was an enjoyable read. There are 2 more books in the series. I look forward to them.
Narcisco, the owner, is a complete overbearing alpha male. He and Ruby bump heads from the first. She's sassy and doesn't take any of his crap. All she wants is what the show promised her. But that is not all she gets.
The Ultimate Playboy was an enjoyable read. There are 2 more books in the series. I look forward to them.
April 9, 2014
I feel like this book had so much potential for greatness but it just fell short. The initial interactions between Ruby & Narciso at club Q Virtus was really great, but I feel like after that it sort of went down hill. Both Ruby & Narciso were constantly running hot then cold & I found it kind of annoying. Maybe I went into it with too high of expectations, but I found myself disappointed.
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January 12, 2016"Blake’s romance between this implausible couple is mystifying and exciting. The chemistry between her vengeful, überplayboy hero and her innocent, mistrusting heroine is palpable. The ultra-lavishness fits, the lovemaking is fiery and the honest dialogue between the couple is tangible" (RT Book Reviews). 4 1/2 stars
Miniseries: The 21st Century Gentleman's Club
Miniseries: The 21st Century Gentleman's Club
March 30, 2016
Narciso and Ruby... 3.5 sexy stars!
Some twists and turns, witty dialogue and loads of obstacles that keeps these two going hot and cold, yes and no…....
The unusual misunderstanding that causes them to part was a bit unbelievable to me and the ending felt rushed? I expected so much more..
What I CAN say though is that the intimate scenes were hot and well written.
Some twists and turns, witty dialogue and loads of obstacles that keeps these two going hot and cold, yes and no…....
The unusual misunderstanding that causes them to part was a bit unbelievable to me and the ending felt rushed? I expected so much more..
What I CAN say though is that the intimate scenes were hot and well written.
March 18, 2025
Ruby stalks Narisco Valentino to make him honor his company's contract with her. Narisco is determined to get his "pound of flesh" before he fulfills it. Decent start to the series centering around an exclusive club and the guests that enjoy & scheme. Narisco has been working on the demise of his enemy for years and will let nothing get in his way.
May 15, 2014
The story started off great but then just kind of fizzled off. The ending and climax were very predictable, and that was disappointing because Narciso and Ruby's relationship war pretty strong until the end. For some reason they both started pulling away.
January 8, 2015
Was it just 192 pages long?...(deep sigh) Because it felt much much longer and endless.
So long, so tedious...I got real tired reading it
I hope this is not the author's usual writing style, otherwise I'll have to consider ignoring her at all in the future.
So long, so tedious...I got real tired reading it
I hope this is not the author's usual writing style, otherwise I'll have to consider ignoring her at all in the future.
March 28, 2016
That was a very very good read. What I really loved about the hero is the total change of his feeling when he fell in love he could no longer hate his father... That's one of love beauties and magic
This is my second book of Maya Blake and she proves to be a great writer
This is my second book of Maya Blake and she proves to be a great writer
September 6, 2014
I enjoyed the story especially the emotions shown by the narciso and ruby.
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January 12, 2016received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The 21st Century Gentleman's Club
Miniseries: The 21st Century Gentleman's Club
June 23, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed.
November 30, 2015
Not bad for a quick, light read. Utterly unbelievable at some points though. Both the MCs were not memorable at all and the ending was definitely too abrupt.
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