Grumpy Boss

Grumpy #2

by B.B. Hamel

She’s trouble and I love it.

Millie Drake is supposed to fix my reputation. That’s the only reason I’d ever hire a woman like her: pretty in a quiet way, smart enough to see through my arrogance, and willing to call out all my BS.

I don’t need trouble like that. And yet when a business partner from my past resurfaces to try and destroy my latest venture, I need her help to prove I’m not some womanizing monster.

Millie thinks I don’t deserve it, but she’s fresh out of law school, her grandmother depends on her financially, and she’s too afraid to the take bar exam. I’m the only chance she’s got at making enough money to survive.

Except there are some minor flaws to my logic.
Flaw number one: we start making out in my office almost immediately.
Flaw number two: I want to take things to the next level, and she only wants to run away.
Flaw number three: I’m the man with a thousand plans—but I don’t know what I’m going to do about falling for her.

Once this deal is finalized, I’ll have to choose between the future of my business or the future of my love life.

And neither looks like it’s going to be easy.

Welcome to the Grumptastic grumpiest boss in the world! Rees gets his story, and I think he met his match in Millie. Grumpy Boss is fun and steamy and a little over the top! As always it's a full length novel with no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a happily-ever-after guaranteed. Enjoy! XO BB

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2021

About the author

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

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

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

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

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie has completed law school but hasn’t had the nerve to take the bar exam as of yet and needs money. She gets a job working for Rees and for his newest project, he needs a girlfriend and some good publicity. What will happen when sparks begin to fly between them? Fast-paced read with plenty of drama, loads of steam and an entertaining read. I liked it.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpy Boss is the second book in BB Hamel's Grumpy series- though the book is entirely self contained and can be read as a stand alone complete with a HEA.

Rees Court aka the grumpy boss is going through a little bit of a PR scandal. Millie Drake is a recent law school graduate (but is terrified to take the bar exam) and needs a job to pay the bills. Millie's friend Lori, who you might remember from book one Grumpy Doctor, recommends her for a job as an assistant for her extremely wealthy cousin, Rees. Only the job isn't exactly that of an assistant, but more like damage control of the ugly rumors surrounding Rees by way of a fake relationship and helping him save the business deal he was working on while also getting to the bottom of who is out to destroy his reputation and career.

I usually love BB's books and can sit down and read it all in one sitting, but I struggled a little with this one. The book had great moments of humor and the steamy moments between Rees and Millie were good enough- given that it felt like a slow burn relationship. I just didn't really feel all that connected with either of the characters. Like I know the facts of Millie's upbringing and how she struggled for everything which was somehow correlating to her being to nervous to take the bar exam, but I just didn't feel like I really understood her or could relate to how she was thinking or acting during the story. In Grumpy Doctor, where I first met Rees, he was this mystery of a man, that was a closed off workaholic and didn't do personal relationships outside of strict loyalties. But I didn't feel like I really learned anything new or more about him in this story- he still felt like mostly a mystery. Millie and Rees' relationship was a little disjointed- it felt like they went from keeping everything professional to all the sudden just being affectionate and proclaiming their love. Then the mystery of all of the bad press and marks against Rees' reputation just didn't quite do it for me. There was some good build up and there was definitely some mystery to it all but in the end but I felt a little let down with how it played out.

There are some good points to the story as well as some "eh" points. I still enjoyed the story, just not as much as I usually do with BB's books.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we get to read about Rees, who is a wealthy man that is not known to be a nice. Rees has been involved in false rumors that are negatively affecting his business so he looks to hire a new assistant. Millie is friends with Lori, Rees’s cousin and Millie is given a chance to interview for that position. Millie has just graduated law school at the top of her class only needing to take the bar exam to become a lawyer but is having mixed feelings about taking the test. When Millie is made aware this is not a normal assistant job she barters for a better deal that Rees is offering to help care for her grandmother and her student debts. Rees is happy to see that Millie has fight in her and knows she’s the right one to help him in this battle for his business. These two have an attraction towards one another and fight it until their circumstances bring them together and they know something good is developing between them. There are friends who don’t take that leap of faith with Rees fighting the rumors and he’s upset about it but is glad to have Millie there by his side. When theses two discover who is causing the rumors they deal with it in a respectful way and show others what friends should do. Along the way they meet some characters who only look out for themselves and how Rees and Millie move on from those interactions is one they should be proud of. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Renee Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Change Grumpy to Happy!

Rees is known for being grumpy & definitely hard to get along with so when he offers a job to Millie to be his new assistant, she gets more than what she's asked for in helping him. Someone is trying to sabotage his business as each prospective lead in investing into his SPAC endeavor, is believing the false gossip of his character & don't want to associate with him at all. Time is running out on raising money to make profits for SPAC so he finds out who the source is & confronts the person. Rees shows the other side of his personality & a lot has to do with Millie. Rees realizes money isn't what makes a person happy & he shows compassion. Once the truth is out about the false stories, there is change in the wind. The dark cloud above Rees' head has disappeared & his troubles have faded. The true colors of some friends showed how shallow they really are & not worth spending any more time with them. He has found a true friend & this one is a keeper!

I volunteered to read this ARC & leave an honest review.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie was afraid to take her bar exam, for her grandmother's well-being and their precarious financial situation. Opportunity knocked on her door with Rees's risky offer. An offer at odds with her beliefs and one that filled her even more with apprehension, doubts and fears, but even afraid she decided to take the risk. Rees had faith in his project and had put all his dedication into making it work at a profit for himself and his investors, but someone was moving the chips against him seeking to destroy him. Millie and Rees found themselves racing against the clock to find investors and launch SPAC, and it was not only the project that was important, but also the strong attraction that had developed between them. Interesting since not everything was black or white and there was a gray area with justifications that made me think. I liked the detailed descriptions, the intense emotions, the suspense, the drama that kept me intrigued the entire time. Millie was smart, skilled and a resource of support that kept Rees on his feet.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second novel from the Grumpy series, we get a more in depth look at Rees Court - Lori’s cousin from the first novel Grumpy Doctor. In the first novel, Rees was more remote and shall I shall a little more eccentric than he actually is in Grumpy Boss - I sometimes thought I was reading about a different character.

Millie Drake is Lori’s best friend from school and is referred to work with Rees by Lori since Millie needs money while waiting to write the Bar exam. Rees needs an assistant that will help him deal with the spreading rumours about his personal and professional life.

I liked Millie, she’s not afraid to tell Rees like it is and I grew to like Rees in Grumpy Boss. There are MANY outside sources that are trying to get in Rees’s way and derail his SPAC, can Rees fight them and will his and Millie’s relationship take a toll?

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings us Millie Drake, an up and coming lawyer, if she'll only take the bar exam, and Rees Court, a millionaire wanting to find investors in his new SPAC adventure. He needs Millie to be his assistant and more to clean up his image. There have been several false rumors that involve him, and it is ruining his chances to get more investors in the SPAC. Millie has had a hard life, and has put herself through law school, and is also trying to take care of her elderly grandmother. When Rees offers her money to help him out, she takes him up on his offer. Rees only sees money, and Millie is trying to understand him and realizes that this is all he has, his job. He doesn't have very many friends, and is lonely. The more time they spend together, the realize that there is chemistry. This was a good read. I did receive an arc for an honest review.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie's friend Lori, convinces her to go for a job with her grumpy cousin Rees, who has a reputation which leaves most people trembling, and not volunteering to work as his assistant. Millie has been putting off sitting the bar exam, and the job seems just the thing to help pay those bills, but will she regret taking it? Rees seems to have someone out to get him with rumours starting up about him, is it someone he knows? Can he discredit the rumours? I like this page turning romance, it has lots of drama, betrayal, and made me wonder if they would get their happy ending or not. I liked the chemistry between them and I liked both Millie and Rees, although I can't say the same about some of his friends.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received, and giving my thoughts and opinions on it.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Millie is a law school graduate who, although seemingly brilliant, has yet to sit for the Bar for fear of failure. Instead, she has agreed to interview for an assistant position with her friend Lori’s cousin Rees. Rees is, as the title suggests, grumpy. After a scandal jeopardizes his business, he gives the impression that he is looking for an assistant when he is instead looking for something much different. Little do they both know, the arrangement that they agree on is only going to get much more complicated.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I found myself laughing out loud a few times and enjoyed this book overall. While I found entertainment within the pages, however, there was a lack of connection with the characters. I think that this could be a good read for others.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of the author, BB Hamel.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie is definitely not the type of lawyer I would want because she lacks integrity (she hustled Rees for monetary gain plus lying), but she eventually gets the job done. She was more interested in money than morality. Her putting off taking the bar exam seemed very irrational to me. All the intense interest from outsiders in the relationship between Rees and Millie seemed unnecessary and like overkill! Why?? Sour grapes? Pickled alcohol brain??
Potential investors seemed more interested in that tham the business opportunity Rees promoted. Smh??!! I had a huge problem with people so willing to believe the worst of another person with very little substance to back up false claims. .Wow! Does ignorance come with wealth? Seems true for most of these people.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good romance in the world of finance
4.5
I loved this story because while it sounds like a fake couple story to begin with, the originality comes from the characters who are far from smooth. Millie is always doubting enough to not pass the bar exam to be a lawyer despite having all her degrees, and Rees is a rich, obnoxious man who has just gained a bad reputation because of false rumors against him.
The story recounts their epic to convince investors, all against the backdrop of a conspiracy in finance.
The story is very well written, perhaps a little less hot than the previous BB Hamel stories as it is a slowly rising romance due to Millie's rejection of rich men.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rees is a wealthy man that is not known for being a nice man. Unfortunately he has been embroiled in false rumors that are negatively affecting his business and he needs to hire a new assistant, fast. Millie has just graduated law school and only need to take the bar exam, but is having mixed feelings about taking the test. When she takes the job and finds out this is so much more than the average assistant job, she negotiates a much better deal that will help her pay her student debt and help her care for her grandmother. What they discover is intense chemistry, surprises, twists, and turns, and plenty of steam. Another solid read by B.B.Hamel.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rees is known for being cold and all about business. When rumors start to impact his business he reaches out for help from Millie, the friend of his cousin. She's just graduated top of her class from law school but is too afraid of failing to take the bar exam. While she's not overly comfortable having to live a lie, the money she'll get by helping Rees will solve her financial woes and then some. Clearly both of these characters have issues that need to be addressed. This story takes us through their trials and tribulations as they try to win over new investors and stop the bad press that is causing so much trouble. A blend of drama, intrigue and romance. as this unlikely pair find something unexpected in each other.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.B. has done it again! This is a great read! Millie has had a pretty tough life but has accomplished quite a lot due to hard work and her grandmother. Rees is kind of a jerk with very few friends but he is loyal to those few. He has an old friend/colleague who is trying to destroy him and needs help. His cousin recommended Millie and he offers her quite a bit of money to help him. Sure its not very moral but she is at least doing it for good reasons. The more they get to know each other the more real things get. They really help each other with more than just the business side of things! I really enjoyed these characters and their story! Highly recommend. Received arc and am voluntarily leaving an honest review

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the grumpy series.. this one is Rees and Millie. Millies has had a hard life and worked hard to get where she is. Parents had died early on, raised my her now ailing grandma, got her self through law school but terrified to take the next step being the bar exam. So through her friend she goes to an interview at hers friends brothers office. Rees has had lots of tabloid bad luck but is financially ok. His bad luck has been aired tabloid wise and is looking to clean it up. Millie is a breath of fresh air for Rees as she is very honest. Love how they grow together... Millie brings out Rees feelings, and he gives her a self worth to be better!! Loved all the charcyers and how they grow together despite the setbacks. Well Done!!

[Susanh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without friends you have nothing

Millie has yet to take the Bar Exam. She’s graduated and all of her classmates have taken them but she’s hesitant. She’s never had any back up and if she doesn’t pass, she’s not sure she’ll get over it. So, when her best friend tells her that her cousin needs an assistant, Millie jumps at it. But he doesn’t need an assistant, what he needs is a girlfriend. Now what?

Rees has lost most of his friends because he thought success and the money that came with it was the most important thing. And it’s made him grumpy. But when he’s accused of having an affair with a married woman, he knows he needs damage control. What he doesn’t realize is that he needs a friend more than a girlfriend and Millie might just be the one to show him the error of his ways.

[Ellen Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Rees & Millie's story but I thought it started off a bit slow although once it got going I couldn't put it down. The agreement was that she would pretend to be his assistant/secret girlfriend to fend off the false adultery Playboy rumours that had been in the papers & in return she would get more money than she could ever want meaning she could pay off her debts, look after her Grandmom & take the bar.
However, things behind the rumors were not all they seemed & which saw him lose potential investors & friends but the relationship between the two of them became more than just business.
Millie believed in Rees & was determined to stand by him clear his name which ended up them confirming their feelings for each other.
This had serious sexual chemistry, fun, lies & hurt. I loved it.

[Jeanne Janik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, heartwarming and unexpected

Millie just graduated from law school, takes care of her grandmother and has a confidence problem. She is afraid to take her boards for fear of failing. She needs a job for now. Her friend sets up an interview for her with a very wealthy investor who's looking for an assistant, or so she thinks. What he needs is a pretend girlfriend to help clear his bad boy image. There initial encounter is intriguing and unexpected. How their journey to achieve their goals unfolds has many clever twists and turns. My heart hurt for them both but admired how much integrity they both had. Their chemistry is a slow burn at first but grows into a huge bonfire. Loved this book a lot.

[Jill K. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake relationship, real feelings

I greatly enjoyed this story, and while the title is "Grumpy Boss" and people described Rees that way, he seemed more focused than grumpy. I loved that once their relationship started to move forward, the hero didn't back off, but kept moving. He doesn't want to be vulnerable, but he does allow the heroine to see inside him a bit, and that helps, It was sad to see the number of fair-weather-friends, but the more money a person has, the more likely that becomes. Great characters, a good story, and I enjoyed my time in their world.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Rees and Millie’s story. Rees is a grumpy boss and when his cousin sent Millie for an interview with him, she proves that she is more than a match for him, and she challenges him at every turn. The chemistry between these two is intense and undeniable, and Rees needs Millie to improve his reputation that someone is going to great lengths to ruin, and they have many obstacles to overcome along the way. This is a well written intriguing storyline, which is a fast-paced read, and is a fun, entertaining, humorous, and addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Parusha Naickerparusha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two souls on different paths are joined together unexpectedly.
Millie is at a crossroads, she studied law at a top university but is afraid of taking the next step.
Enter the Grumpy Boss, Mr Rees Court. Everything he touches turns to gold. But his personal life is overshadowing his career, now his investors are pulling out and he needs to do some damage control.
Millie is procrastinating enough that she goes for an assistant interview instead of taking her bar exam.
Rees and Millie really needs each other, they just don't know it yet. Interesting read.
I received an ARC and I'm volunteering leaving my honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Known for being cold and all about the bottom line for business. Then rumors threaten to ruin his business. Millie comes to Dave the day (a friend of his cousin). She is super smart and just graduated top of her class but is scared to take the exam for fear of failing. Helping Rees out allows her the funds to stay afloat until she takes the test. Their relationship definitely has its ups and downs with his grumpy boss-ness and her efforts to rebuild and protect his reputation. You get some drama, romance, some steaminess, and a HEA while the opposites attract and come together.

I received this as an ARC. This was a voluntary review.

[Felicia Whited · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Millie had a rough life had to work hard for everything. As she meet Lori at a party and were friends ever since she told Millie about a job interview with her cousin since she knew Millie need money to Hellboy her grandmom.
Reed has made him self a billionaire thru the years. He was a grumpy person as ppl would say about him. He started the company with 2 guys back in the day he was doing good then all kinds of rumors were going around about him. So that is where Millie comes in he hired her and they went to work along the way they fell in love and he made sure she got everything she needed along with her grandmom. They got their happy ever

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet,funny,interesting,romantic, this book was totally addictive, the storyline flows well and is exceptionally written. Rees employs Millie because of her feistiness, he also hopes she will improve his reputation, the chemistry and physical attraction is instant but Millie has too much to loose in allowing things to become complicated. When an ex business associate of Ree’s tries to sabotage his business, they need to manage the damage control however there findings are not at all what they expected. Plenty of surprises to keep you engrossed. I was given this as an ARC by the author in exchange for a totally honest voluntary review which I was happy to provide.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For The Love Of Work -
I absolutely loved reading this fascinating book, as it kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to guess who was creating the issue, how Rees and Millie were going to resolve the issues they were encountering and how they were going to deal with the chemistry between them, that was evident throughout the pages. B. B. Hamel did a fantastic job with storyline, to ensure I would be captivated and entertained at the same,, whilst reading the book. You will definitely need to read this book over the weekend, as you won’t want to stop reading once you start.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving B.B.'s Grumpy series! Rees is Lori's cousin from the first book. He is the epitome of the grumpy unreasonable boss and par for the course he is in need of another new assistant. Millie got through college and law school, but she can't seem to pull the trigger on taking the bar exam. Her friend Lori says she has got the perfect job for her to get her out of her head. Millie figures she will never get the job, especially when her snark comes out at the interview! Rees is intrigued by her and despite her lack of experience he hires her on the spot. Their story is funny, snarky, sweet and sasssy, I loved it!

[Margery Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably good
Step One: Pick up book. Step Two: Start reading. Step Three: Try to put the book down. If you’re like me you only got step two done because you were absolutely compelled to finish it. Rees worked for Mills and became much much more than a simple employee. She was his biggest fan and went along with him on his journey to restore his reputation that had been ruined by former associates. (I was actually let down when I’d finished it.)
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Millie and Rees's story. Rees finds himself with a bad image in the news. While in the process of getting investors to close a deal. Millie has finished school and isn’t ready to take the bar exam yet. She get referred to Rees by her friend who is also his cousin. What she thinks the job is for, to be his assistant turns out to be more then that. A cover for him. Needing money she agrees. And starts to see the real side of Rees. Grumpy Boss was a good read that will keep you entertained and turning the pages.

[vicki zimmerman · Rating 1 out of 5]

May not be the MOST boring...

....book I’ve ever read, but it sure gives whatever is in 1st place a run for it’s money.
It seems to have just dragged on all afternoon...SPAC’s, bonds, loans, debts...an economists dream. I however, am not an economist. I was merely looking for a light afternoon romance.
I gave up just before the 25% point; uninterested in the finances this ‘romance’ seems to be wrapped around.
For me, boring doesn’t begin to describe this story.
All I can say, is I hope it picks up and gets better. For me, it didn’t soon enough.

[The Lushy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie and Rees are such cuties 🥰

This was a fast paced fun read that took these two around the country for business. They had sweet chemistry from the beginning and once they acted on it, the heat was sizzling.

Rees may be a grumpy alpha millionaire/billionaire, but from the beginning, he always treated Millie well. He protected her and always stood up for her. I’d love to see more of these two 💕