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Brook Brothers #2

Against All Odds

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He thinks she’s trouble. She thinks he’s a dick.

Laurella Ricci did not move halfway across the world to ruin this career opportunity over a little work place hostility. No one will stand in her way, not even sexy-as-sin Calum Brook.

His runway-model good looks might appeal to others, but not to her. Not with his hostile attitude and fierce determination to have her fired.

Calum Brook doesn't play well with others, and this feisty little imposter has got to go. She's messing up his day-to-day objectives with her argumentative strategies and drop dead gorgeous assets.

He's determined to ruin her, at least until he learns about a secret from her past. Then he'll stop at nothing to save her...

Against All Odds is an enemies to lovers romance that explodes with heat and hate! Pick up your copy today.



The Brook Brothers Series
The Blame Game – Jax and Indie
Against All Odds – Calum and Laurella
His To Protect – Cole and Millie
Web of Lies – Nate and Dex

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2018

66 people are currently reading
173 people want to read

About the author

Tracie Delaney

74 books731 followers
Tracie Delaney writes billionaire romance where the men fall hard and the women make them work for it. Even though she has more than 35 novels published across many different series, Tracie still considers herself a reader first and foremost and loves fangirling over her favorite authors.

At night she likes to curl up on the sofa with her two furbabies, Murphy & Cooper, and binge-watch shows on Netflix. There may be wine involved.

Stalk Tracie at:

Reader group: https://bit.ly/39f4sZz
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/3yhM5N9
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Nj1kJW
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3tZZEye
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Oz11f4
Website: www.authortraciedelaney.com

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
June 2, 2020
How is this my first Tracie Delaney book! I was hooked from the start. I love a feisty enemies to lovers read and this did not disappoint.

Against all odds is an office romance. Laurella is new to the office and Callum doesn’t like the ambition she brings for changing this. The pair get off to a rock start. When they need to go away on business together things heat up.

Could Callum have misunderstood Laurella? Maybe all that hate is heat for something more.

KU read. There were some good twists to the story and I loved the heated romance.
Profile Image for Kathi Defranc.
1,182 reviews498 followers
September 12, 2018
A scintillating story containing romance, sarcasm, fear, hard work,travel and betrayal all combined with a skilled sales manager and new director of marketing who push each others buttons before they even meet! What a great next book of the amazing Brook Brothers,after meeting Jax and his brothers in the first story we now go in depth with Calum, great looking and a little too sure of himself. When his best friend Zane hires a marketing director for his firm, where they both have toiled for five years getting up in a tough market, Calum immediately wants nothing to do with the idea! They have been able to put their business into the money-making journey and Calum does not believe any marketing help is needed.
Enter Laurella,an Italian woman who has risen quickly to the top and joined this small business for a new start with a promising company. Her first idea presented knocks Calum off his seat, he wasn't here and Zane has lost his mind.
The fun and games continue as the two opponents try to work together, always with an edge of danger between them. The author, Tracie Delaney , has done an outstanding job bringing conflict and sad situations together in an amazing story. A BIG 5 STARS to a wonderful adventure, I could not put this book down, staying up last night to finish. I received an ARC from author Tracie Delaney who I thank for headache and need for coffee this morning ( only kidding!!!), a great read, and I put my thoughts in this review so you will take interest and grab this book when it comes out!!!
Profile Image for Louise.
434 reviews16 followers
October 10, 2018
This is the one I’ve been waiting for. The book with the alpha a-hole.

Boy was it worth the wait.

Calum Brook is a cocky SOB. He has the swagger, the charm and an aura that oozes entitled. Not entitled in the sense of wealth but in personality. Luckily he’s one hot tamale so he tends to get away with it.

Until now.

Enter Laurella, she is one feisty Italian. She matches Calum in the workplace and in the bedroom. She doesn’t take his BS and his attitude towards her. During their initial meeting Calum believes he’s able to get rid of her, he doesn’t want her working with him, probably because subconsciously he knows that she can do the job better than him, and that rattles his alpha cage more than anything.

They have a tumultuous meeting and it continues to be filled with tension until, like a volcano, their attraction erupts.

Holy hotness. Talk about burning loins!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It gave me everything I didn’t know I was looking for but really wanted.

This author has a way of writing her characters with believability. They don’t feel fake and her writing is very down to earth. I love that.

I cannot wait for the next instalment. That’s two down, two to go and if the first two are anything to go by, I have a feeling I’m going to love the last two.

Highly recommend!
Profile Image for M.A. Comley.
Author 176 books817 followers
October 12, 2018
What can I say except I devoured this book over the weekend. What a page -turner. The second book in the Brook brothers series is even better than the first. Calum is a bad-ass character who readers will call in love with immediately. His world is about to turbulence down when Laurella arrives at his place of work and threatens to override his decisions, decisions he's been making for the company for years. Let the battle commence.

But is Laurella's fraught past about to catch up with her?

To say more would give away too much of the plot.

Needless to say, I loved this book and the characters will remain with me for a while.
Profile Image for Excessive~Reader.
201 reviews20 followers
August 5, 2018
Calum trumps all my expectations. Author Tracie Delaney has out done herself with this book. I hate to say it but Calum is even more heart than I thought he was capable of. Seriously I loved him, and my god is he romantic!

Laurella is in a new place starting a new job. Then in walks Calum, he has swagger that no woman can fight. On the other hand he can be a gigantic jerk, and Laurella doesn’t like being on his bad side. What can she do? They are totally opposites, While Calum Lives and learns, Laurella is learning to live.
Like his older brother, Jax from The Blame Game, Calum is all about protecting what’s his. So when he feels his job, or friends are threatened he’s going to swing first and ask questions later. He won’t hit a girl but he will crush her. Only thing that might save either of them is eachother. Her past and his future is depending on it.
Profile Image for K-BRC.
1,027 reviews
August 12, 2020
This enemies to lovers story is a tender story. The chemistry was palpable and the story divine. This is definitely a five star read. I’m hooked.
Profile Image for Liv.
471 reviews43 followers
October 5, 2018
A perfect mix of intriguing characters, lots of heated emotions and strong characteristics. Asshole hero and unyielding heroine make for a sizzling story. A woman who stood strong to the arrogance and big ego of a man with hard edges but a soft core. It was like watching two competitors seizing each other up for flaws just to strike at the right moment. It was explosive!

There were a few ups and downs for me in the first half of the book which was why it took some time for me to warm up to the characters, especially to Laurella, but the second half was full on awesome, hot and captivating.

Laurella and Calum ran hot and cold while constantly butting heads and trying to get one up on the other. Both weren't willing to step down and give in even if it meant to go behind the other's back. Their boss wasn't happy with it as you can imagine as they needed to work as a team to be successful in the growth of the company.
‘”When someone who doesn’t even know me or the company I work for stands up at a board meeting and basically tells us all how wrong we’ve been running things for the past five years, forgive me if I don’t just bend over and take it up the ass.’”

Personally, some quarrelling was fun but I wasn't really into them being angry and mean to each other. I was very smitten though when they finally got along and their feelings turned into something positive. Suffice to say that I absolutely loved the second half of the book when the romance blossomed and their growing feelings were put to the test.

Laurella was a strong woman but had her fair share of ugly in life which is why she looked a lot stronger on the outside as to what she was really feeling inside.

Although one could say that Calum was cold-blooded and wicked, I actually found his character very refreshing. I also didn’t have the feeling of him being a big bad wolf but rather a softie in wolf skin. He had a warm heart and was as loving and caring as one would wish their partner to be. I think that he came across as harsh because he was only trying to protect himself from getting hurt. I'm sure that the loss of their parents was still hurting the Brook brothers even if they would deny it.

Give this story a go especially when you like hot-headed characters that have to work to find to each other, and even then need to learn how to juggle their feelings in the highs and lows of life.

The Story:
Calum was hotheaded and stubborn as hell especially when it came to his territory where he always had the last words to say and people following his orders. So, it was no wonder that he butted head with the spirited Italian woman who blew into his bubble like a hurricane and challenged him at every turn he took for granted until now. Laurella didn’t shy away from the cold stares Calum shot her way because she knew that the company needed her expertise to grow and she loved this new experience after having been so long in the same company.
For the success of Necron they both eventually had to find a way to get along. Did they get their act together in time or did it all blow up in their faces?
‘Something told him that getting rid of Laurella Ricci wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d first imagined. Still, understanding the enemy was the first step. Next step? Get creative.’

Thoughts:
I would have given this book a full star rating if the first half of it wasn’t such an up and down for me.
Was it wrong of me that I took Calum’s side in the beginning instead of hers?! I was rather pissed at Laurella how she treated him and went behind his back. Her cursing him made her very unattractive and I did not understand why she stooped so low. Regardless, I felt bad for what happened to her in the past. I grew to like how those two riled each other up and rooted for them eventually.
What bothered me was a certain scene with Indie. I’m sorry but no matter what Calum said to her gave her the right to react that way. Honestly, I get where he was coming from because of what she did. But that’s the story of book one so if you want to know what happened you have to read that one.
I just wanted to mention that I liked that the anger Calum felt toward Indie because of what happened in the first book was still present and not just swept under the table. I really liked this detail. But don’t worry, you don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy Calum’s story.

Anyway, the chemistry between Calum and Laurella was explosive to say the least. Work enemies that felt threatened by the other but at the same time were attracted to each other physically. Imagine the sexual tension there. For a brief time it felt like they were both playing childish games and I was rather annoyed by that, especially when they went and threw very angry and hurting words at each other. There was a time or two when it was all a bit too harsh for me but after they sorted everything out I fell head over heels in love with the characters. Their dynamic after they called a truce was electrifying because all their suppressed attraction finally broke out and that was when the story finally got juicier. They put all their energy into flirting with each other which was so fun to read about.
‘You’re attractive enough on the outside, I suppose, but so are dragon fruit, yet bit into one of those pretty little things, and they’re the biggest disappointment.’

I still feel spent after reading this book. The second half of it was just so perfect and I loved every bit of it. It could have gone on forever but I am also excited for Cole’s story because I have a soft spot for men in uniform.

-- I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given by the author. --
Profile Image for Delphine.
316 reviews
October 15, 2018
The second book in the Brook Brothers series focuses on Calum, or “the evil twin” as I like to think of him.

Ah, Calum, what can I say? He is certainly complex, that’s for sure. He also has the tendency to behave like a small child throwing his teddies out of the pram and you frequently want to slap him. But don’t let that put you off. In fact, Calum’s idiotic behaviour makes for addictive reading because you cannot believe the things this man does, and gets away with. He is full on entertainment value.

His love interest is Laurella. Can someone please give this woman a medal? She is amazing—kind, clever, mature and worth a dozen of him. He is boxing so far out of his division with her it’s untrue, and he needs to learn the principle of “you catch more bees with honey” because this one has clearly passed him by. She has the patience of a saint, and if Calum had behaved towards me like that, he would be missing a vital body part.

Despite all of the Calumishness of this novel, believe it or not, there is still a big bad to contend with. And he is vile. He is so incredibly vile and he makes my skin crawl just to think about him. I can’t even call him deliciously vile, you know, like Joffrey or Ramsey Bolton, because he isn’t.

But this is where this author is so talented. She is truly on form in this book—she has written an additive page-turner, which is sexy and fast-paced. I love it when she adds a thriller element to her novels because it makes them so much more interesting, and the last time we really saw her do that was in Mismatch (my personal favourite until Against All Odds).

I can’t wait for Cole’s instalment. Roll on the next book please. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Dawn Higgins.
907 reviews16 followers
October 8, 2018
Well what the hell do i say about this second book in this series,loved it, 'BUT' ,to start with i though Callam Brook was a total dick and a huge a-hole.But saying that it was a big 'but',he did grow on me but he is not my favourite brother,looking forward to Cole,but then REALY looking forwards to NATE.

I loved Laurella right from the off her character was feisty,but saying that she was a Italian so that says it all.How she put up with Callam's attitude towards her in the beginning i would of given her a medal as all he did was put her down constantly.

As Callam and Laurella are pushed together to work as a team the feelings between these two escalate,but Callam doesn't want to admit that she is damn good at her job.Laurella is hiding a secret which exposes her vulnerable side that she does not want Callam to find out.

I love this author's style of writing as she brings to life the characters that make the story believable to us the reader.There was lots of chemistry between these two in the end where there attraction towards each other exploded,it was hot and sexy as hell!!.

I now can't wait for the next installment in this series, as if they are anything like the first two books i know i am in for a fantastic ride.Four half sexy stars.
145 reviews
March 22, 2019
Seriously asshole "hero" with split-personality disorder behavior that made it difficult to believe in his seemingly "good guy underneath it all" characteristic. The heroine isn't strong like other readers claim. Yes she does fight with him but she barely wins any of the fights because he's a massive dick and she's just so attracted to him that she brushes his disgusting behavior off.
I've read many enemies-to-lovers tropes (it's my favorite), and what differs between an amazing hero to just a plain dick is the author not crossing certain lines and building a well-rounded character. This wasn't the case here. Instead a gradual growth the hero just spastically switched from being extremely mean to extremely sweet, which is to me very reminiscent of an abusive relationship.
Beyond the fact that he didn't convince me and therefore I wasn't rooting for him, it is troubling that authors write these sort of relationships (essentially condoning women in emotional and verbal abusive relationships) and that so many readers enjoy this.
He wasn't teasing when he was mean, he was just downright revolting.
Profile Image for Sue Kitt.
456 reviews17 followers
September 20, 2018
Holey Moley .... Tracie Delaney sure knows how to turn up the heat, and boy did she take it up a knotch in Against All Odds.

Of the four Brook brothers, Calum is definitely the bad boy, and in real life, the sensible thing to do is run a mile..... until Calum meets the sexy and feisty Italian Laurella who matches Calum’s temper and can stand up for herself. At times I hated Calum and felt he did not know how to respect women, after a one night stand his behaviour to an old flame was disgusting, and thought I would much rather be with his elder brother Jax from the first book in this series, The Blame Game, but he did kind of win me over, but not as much as Jax.

The Brook brothers are all about family loyalty, and although they almost come to blows on occasion they will protect one another and those they love.

I found the first half of this book, as we got to know more about Calum and Laurella went along at a steady pace, and then bang, things really took off.

A great read and I can’t wait to read more about Cole and Nate in the next two books.
Profile Image for Katrina.
186 reviews2 followers
December 2, 2018
When I started this one, I wasn't sure I could like Callum. He was a brash @$$ and one I just wasn't sure I would like him. He's that character you love to hate, and I definitely felt that way at times with him. Brash and far beyond self-assured he was that guy that makes me want to scream.

That is exactly how Laurella felt about him at the start as well. They mixed as well as oil and water. She is strong, driven, and knows what she wants. Callum is NOT that person. She is exactly what she strives to avoid. But they are forced to work together.

Just as they make headway another lynchpin gets thrown into the mix. There are ups and downs, twists and turns. Can they overcome their angst, their differences, and allow the chemistry to flow? Will secrets from Laurella's past (and a growing sense of homesickness) tear them apart? Definitely a compelling and fun read. I definitely recommend it!
Profile Image for Carley Lord .
119 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2018
Wow! Tracie has done it again. This book made me laugh and cry for all the right reasons. I love how the relationship between Callum and Laurella starts out and watching it evolve as they untangle their feelings towards each other. Very seductive and sexy scenes were out of this world. I love the character of Laurella it’s great to have an inspiring female lead who has overcome the worst demons and come out the other side at her best. It definitely brings more to the story with the underlying issues in her life. Callum is hot as hell but the most arrogant man alive it will take someone amazing to tame him and as a fiery Italian Laurella is the woman for the job. I am now eagerly awaiting book number 3 and can’t wait to meet the next Brook brother.
209 reviews
January 16, 2021
Another Great Story

When I first started reading Callum & Laurella’s story Callum came across as a bully and an a grade ahole. Laurella was beautiful, kind and professional. As the story progressed it becomes clear Callum was struggling with his feelings for her, hence his unacceptable behaviour. Laurella gives back as good as she gets and things between them get hot, hot, hot! When Laurella’s terrifying past comes back to haunt her and her papa has a medical emergency she immediately leaves NYC and flies back to her family in Italy without a word to anybody. Will her past catch up with he again? Will Callum chase after her? Loving the Brook Brothers series. Can’t wait to read Cole’s story.
Profile Image for Julia Butterfield - Stevens.
905 reviews9 followers
October 2, 2018
What two fantastic characters in Calum Brook and Laurella Ricci, Tracie Delaney has created, I loved them both. I've been eagerly anticipating book two in the Brook Brothers series and I was not disappointed!
We met Calum in the previous book and he was a definite mix of traits. Loyal and protective to those he loves, charming, hard working, cocky, arrogant and at times a total and utter dick, but oh those eyes! Laurella feels the full extent of his a-holeness when he returns to work after looking after his injured brother, to find her newly employed as the director of marketing at his best friends company (where he is sales director) and to his annoyance is sitting in his seat. Let battle begin!!
Oh these two....Feisty Italian Laurella can certainly hold her own against Calum and he doesn't hold back. At times he is shockingly rude, there's nothing subtle about him, but is it all just a cover to hide what he is beginning to feel? Forced to work together for the good of the company, slowly they start to appreciate each other's *ahem* talents. For all his faults Calum can and does admit when he's wrong and slowly he learns that Laurella is hiding a secret that exposes the vulnerabilities she desperately wants to bury and could tear their growing relationship apart.

Another great story from this author, where enemies grow to lovers in the best but at times heart breaking way. Both characters had a lot of depth and I loved how their layers were revealed throughout. Their chemistry burned brightly, even through their hate! Very much looking forward to the next Brook brother in this series.
114 reviews4 followers
September 19, 2018
After the Blame Game I was really looking forward to reading more about Calum, the a-hole of the family and, boy,isn't he a world class SOB. Enter Laurella, his match made in hell, stir in a large pot of sexual tension and bingo, you have one amazing book. But Tracie didn't just stick to the traditional office enemies to lovers story. So much else was woven in and around these two as they go on a tumultuous journey, their feelings for each other slowly creeping up on them without them really being aware. A fantastic book and I can't wait to read about Cole next.
1,412 reviews
September 30, 2018
Cracking. Ms Delaney has created the absolute bad boy hero. The one you want to hate but you don’t not. In fact you love to love him, he’s way too loveable. He just needs to be bought down a bit. And we have the Italian girl to do that.

I liked him way more than Jax but the first story in this series has a more intricate story, so it’s probably not a fair comparison.

ms Delaney gets the office intrigue and the sense of a start up operation absolutely spot on. As for that fiery Italian and her family - bravo!

550 reviews10 followers
September 15, 2018
This is the 2nd book in the Brook Brothers series.
Hot headed Calum works with his best friend Zane as a sales manager. Zane introduces a new director of marketing; Laurella Ricci, a beautiful Italian lady.
Their first meeting is not successful at all; can they work together successfully or will their tempestuous relationship destroy the company?
A book that has secrets, love, laughter, friendship and some adults scenes.
I can't wait to read book number 3.
222 reviews7 followers
September 22, 2018
This book has to be one of the greatest that this author has written so far.
The second in the Brooks Brothers series, Calum Brook is anything but easygoing. Arrogant,know it all and downright irritating come to mind in the first chapter. He soon finds that he's met his match in a fiery Italian female colleague who definitely gets under his skin. All hell soon breaks loose when he finds he can't get his own way. Brilliant read, I can't wait for her next book.
Profile Image for Lesley Robson.
826 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2018
It is the age old adage .... If a boy picks on you and says he hates you what he really means is he likes you.... Well that saying definately goes for Calum and Laurella. They really do know how to pull each other’s strings. Their road to happiness may have been a rocky one but it’s a path definately worth reading. There was loads of chemistry between the pair right from the very start and it’s packed full off of emotion, family, friendship and love and I am looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Tabetha Waite.
Author 96 books812 followers
January 25, 2019
Calum is a world class douche - to begin with. He is completely irrational when it comes to a new hire in the company, Laurella. I liked the diversity, as she is from Italy, plus she’s strong and goes toe to toe with Calum. While the story progresses well and the sex scenes are steamy, the hate-to-lovers transition seemed too quick, with Calum suddenly professing his love. A different alpha hero and I am completely on board!
Profile Image for Shaileen.
110 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2021
What can I say about Calum and Laurella without giving anything away?? Wow their story left me with my jaw wide open. Their relationship started out rocky as Calum thought she was stepping on his toes at work but all those heated discussions in the boardroom made you feel the heat. She’s hiding something and her past comes back when she least expects it. When it all comes crashing down: Calum doesn’t tune his back as she thought.
Profile Image for Kelly Palmer.
877 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2020
Brilliant

Laurella and Calum's story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Strong personalities that challenge each other all the time. A book for finding yourself and holding on to who you are.
Profile Image for Kim (Chipperbooks) .
1,301 reviews26 followers
August 9, 2022
Calum and Laurella

Wow. That was intense. Take heed of the trigger warnings as there are some tough things to read through. Aside from that, it was fun to see the grouchy Calum get taken down by Laurella. Loved the banter.
Profile Image for Angela.
424 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2018
We meet up to Callum .Great looking and very handsome .
When he’s best friend Zane hikes a marketing help Callum doesn’t need it.
I had an ARC from Tracie Delaney
Profile Image for Chasidy Martin.
43 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2018
This is a MUST Read!! Tracie Delaney is in my top five...she should be in yours also!!! Oh and I want my own Brook Brother!!
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,401 reviews140 followers
November 29, 2018
Against all odds by Tracie Delaney.
This was a fantastic read with great characters. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the next part. I hope there is more to come. 5*.
Profile Image for Bobbie.
1,560 reviews
May 12, 2019
Great storyline with intriguing characters. Fantastic series.
620 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2024
Brook brothers

This is the second book in the series and was another great book. I can't wait to read Cole's story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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