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Grumpy Boss #1
The Boss[hole]
There are a few things you absolutely don’t do in Adrian Terranova’s world.
You don’t question him. You don’t challenge him. You don’t call him by his first name.
You definitely don’t contradict him in front of his entire staff.
Unless you’re me, apparently.
I’d love to say I stood up to the bosshole from hell and walked away unscathed,
but that’d be a lie.
First he got me fired from the job I couldn’t afford to lose. Then he made sure the only position in the city I could get was working as his personal assistant.
He runs his office with iron buns and icy glares. Every day is cloudy with a chance of grumpy. Every moment is a test he expects me to fail, but I’ll happily disappoint him.
They say he’s impossible to please? That he never smiles? Well, I don’t run from challenges. I run into them. And then I make them attend office glitter parties with hot dogs.
Sometimes I also get scared on company flights and crash face first in my boss’ lap during turbulence. Or there was the time I wound up half-naked in his hotel room… But I know one thing for certain. No matter how many times I have to look at his obnoxiously attractive, insufferably arrogant rear end, I won’t break. I won’t even bend.
Adrian: I won’t break her, but she’s absolutely going to bend. Over my desk, I think. Or maybe the couch in reception?
You don’t question him. You don’t challenge him. You don’t call him by his first name.
You definitely don’t contradict him in front of his entire staff.
Unless you’re me, apparently.
I’d love to say I stood up to the bosshole from hell and walked away unscathed,
but that’d be a lie.
First he got me fired from the job I couldn’t afford to lose. Then he made sure the only position in the city I could get was working as his personal assistant.
He runs his office with iron buns and icy glares. Every day is cloudy with a chance of grumpy. Every moment is a test he expects me to fail, but I’ll happily disappoint him.
They say he’s impossible to please? That he never smiles? Well, I don’t run from challenges. I run into them. And then I make them attend office glitter parties with hot dogs.
Sometimes I also get scared on company flights and crash face first in my boss’ lap during turbulence. Or there was the time I wound up half-naked in his hotel room… But I know one thing for certain. No matter how many times I have to look at his obnoxiously attractive, insufferably arrogant rear end, I won’t break. I won’t even bend.
Adrian: I won’t break her, but she’s absolutely going to bend. Over my desk, I think. Or maybe the couch in reception?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2021
1575 people are currently reading
1318 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Bloom
69 books2,613 followersUSA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts Bestselling author Penelope Bloom is taking her first flight into romantasy—and yes, there are dragons. After years of contemporary romance, she's temporarily trading meet-cutes for magical academies and coffee shops for castles that reek of blood. She promises the banter is just as sharp, but now it comes with deadly consequences.
Fun fact: “Penelope Bloom” started as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the family dog, Penelope—never meant to be anything serious. But then the books took off, and the name stuck. Behind the scenes, Penelope Bloom is actually a husband-and-wife team. He handles the writing; she edits, helps with brainstorming, and runs the reader-facing side of things (like social media and messages). So if you’ve chatted with “Penelope” online, you’ve likely been talking to her—with the author chiming in whenever needed. Together, they’ve built the voice readers know and love.
Fun fact: “Penelope Bloom” started as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the family dog, Penelope—never meant to be anything serious. But then the books took off, and the name stuck. Behind the scenes, Penelope Bloom is actually a husband-and-wife team. He handles the writing; she edits, helps with brainstorming, and runs the reader-facing side of things (like social media and messages). So if you’ve chatted with “Penelope” online, you’ve likely been talking to her—with the author chiming in whenever needed. Together, they’ve built the voice readers know and love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
July 8, 2021
Not what I was expecting, but in a good way!
When I got this I thought it was gonna be the grumpy, slave driving, hard to please but super hot boss who falls for the quirky sassy personal assistant. And that was the trope in the very beginning before all the twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Adrian, was the sexy as sin, alphahole boss of a publishing arm of a large multi-business conglomerate. He's hard and exacting, but with the body and face of a God. He works relentlessly to get ahead and move up in the company. Needless to say he goes through employees like a hot knife through butter.
Jules, a sassy but naive breath of fresh air, bursts on the scene. She's there to do a design consult for her boss when she comes across a dragon of a bosshole berating and firing an firing an employee in front of the whole office. So of course she steps in and intervenes. And of course it doesn't go well. The fire breathing dragon is Adrian, the man she is to consult with. He of course turns down her bid, but does offer her a job as his assistant, since he knows her current job is caput.
From that point on, nothing really goes as I was expecting, which was really refreshing. Every time I was sure the story was gonna go one way, it totally went the opposite direction. Jules kept giving me surprise after surprise in her actions and reactions. I just totally fell in love with her. She didn't back down when it came to doing the right thing. Adrian had his own hidden depths and motivations, which just made him even sexier!
There are a few plot twists to catch you off guard and lots of hidden secrets. This story isn't gonna go the way you think it is. And I loved that. This was funny, it was entertaining, and definitely steamy. Jules and Adrian had off the charts chemistry. They were able to open up and tell each other their secrets and what could have ripped them apart, drew them closer than ever. I really enjoyed their story!
Even though this is an ARC review, I will always shoot you straight. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I got this I thought it was gonna be the grumpy, slave driving, hard to please but super hot boss who falls for the quirky sassy personal assistant. And that was the trope in the very beginning before all the twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Adrian, was the sexy as sin, alphahole boss of a publishing arm of a large multi-business conglomerate. He's hard and exacting, but with the body and face of a God. He works relentlessly to get ahead and move up in the company. Needless to say he goes through employees like a hot knife through butter.
Jules, a sassy but naive breath of fresh air, bursts on the scene. She's there to do a design consult for her boss when she comes across a dragon of a bosshole berating and firing an firing an employee in front of the whole office. So of course she steps in and intervenes. And of course it doesn't go well. The fire breathing dragon is Adrian, the man she is to consult with. He of course turns down her bid, but does offer her a job as his assistant, since he knows her current job is caput.
From that point on, nothing really goes as I was expecting, which was really refreshing. Every time I was sure the story was gonna go one way, it totally went the opposite direction. Jules kept giving me surprise after surprise in her actions and reactions. I just totally fell in love with her. She didn't back down when it came to doing the right thing. Adrian had his own hidden depths and motivations, which just made him even sexier!
There are a few plot twists to catch you off guard and lots of hidden secrets. This story isn't gonna go the way you think it is. And I loved that. This was funny, it was entertaining, and definitely steamy. Jules and Adrian had off the charts chemistry. They were able to open up and tell each other their secrets and what could have ripped them apart, drew them closer than ever. I really enjoyed their story!
Even though this is an ARC review, I will always shoot you straight. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2021
4 1/2 stars ⭐️
I really enjoyed this story. It turned into something I really wasn’t expecting. A man looking for revenge, and a woman looking to escape. A well written tale, full on action, romance, and wit. The camping 🏕 scene is a pearler. The ending with her father was abit of a fizzer, but it still worked. If the author had added more to that scene then this definitely would have been 5 stars ⭐️ for me.
I really enjoyed this story. It turned into something I really wasn’t expecting. A man looking for revenge, and a woman looking to escape. A well written tale, full on action, romance, and wit. The camping 🏕 scene is a pearler. The ending with her father was abit of a fizzer, but it still worked. If the author had added more to that scene then this definitely would have been 5 stars ⭐️ for me.
September 10, 2021
“Maybe he really did value the quality of work I was doing and was going to start downgrading his behavior from apocalyptic bosshole to just plain grumpy. That would be nice.”
I have to say I was a little let down by this book. It was well written and was overall pretty good but I feel like there was just no tension which is what I love. As soon as they get together, they are just together. There is really nothing that challenges them or their relationship. That lack of tension made the last half of the book a bit boring for me. There were some twists and turns and their were things that the pair had to do, there just wasn’t any tension in their relationship.
I have to say I was a little let down by this book. It was well written and was overall pretty good but I feel like there was just no tension which is what I love. As soon as they get together, they are just together. There is really nothing that challenges them or their relationship. That lack of tension made the last half of the book a bit boring for me. There were some twists and turns and their were things that the pair had to do, there just wasn’t any tension in their relationship.
October 16, 2022
I loved the romantic trope that forms the basis of the story. However, there’s just too much going on that’s way out there for me to really like the book. The first half of the book reads like a charm. I like the edgy twists thrown in. But then things start getting a little too unrealistic for me. Still, a lighthearted read worth picking up if you have nothing interesting around.
December 27, 2021
WHY DID WE HAVE TO HAVE SO MUCH UNNECESSARY DRAMA??? WITH HIM AND HER DOUCHE BAG FATHER? Honestly, this book was dumb too because of random acts like her getting herself into embarrassing situations. He was also such a major asshole it wasn't even cute lmao.
October 10, 2021
4 stars.
So here’s the deal.
This was very entertaining.
I’ve always loved this trope.
The asshole boss who hires a sassy assistant that isn’t afraid to stand up to him and ends up falling in love with her.
It’s a good one.
But.
You know sometimes you read a story and it sucks you completely in where you feel like you’re in it and you’re completely invested in the characters lives?
That just didn’t happen for me with this one and I was waiting for it.
It honestly just felt like there was a screen between me and the story.
I never really got attached to the characters.
And the story and sex were just sort of decent.
Nothing wrong.
Just also nothing that sucked me in.
I had a good time.
But I have a feeling It’ll completely blend into all the others by the time I open another book.
So here’s the deal.
This was very entertaining.
I’ve always loved this trope.
The asshole boss who hires a sassy assistant that isn’t afraid to stand up to him and ends up falling in love with her.
It’s a good one.
But.
You know sometimes you read a story and it sucks you completely in where you feel like you’re in it and you’re completely invested in the characters lives?
That just didn’t happen for me with this one and I was waiting for it.
It honestly just felt like there was a screen between me and the story.
I never really got attached to the characters.
And the story and sex were just sort of decent.
Nothing wrong.
Just also nothing that sucked me in.
I had a good time.
But I have a feeling It’ll completely blend into all the others by the time I open another book.
Read
May 14, 2022En Çılgın Takıntı öncesi okumuştum. Yani azıcık yetersiz olduğu kalmış aklımda..Sonrası puf😅
July 18, 2021
4.5 stars
July 9, 2021
Ok I usually love Penelope’s books but I’m really struggling to finish this one.
What is the deal with literally skipping over all of the sexy times??? We get paragraphs upon paragraphs describing the scenery when they are hiking (which is all from Adrian’s POV by the way and doesn’t sound at all how a man would describe things), but all a sex scene gets is “I had her against the wall” moving on… what the???
Is this meant to be a romance novel? Because there’s more time spent going into detail about Adrian’s plans for revenge and very little relationship development between the two love interests. Also she went from wanting her independence to basically being locked away to be used at Adrian’s disposal. What happened to her own ambitions? What happened to the whole essence of her character that we saw in the beginning? Seems like Adrian’s sizeable dick gave her a lobotomy.
Also (this is one of the only detailed sex scenes btw) he takes her virginity and somehow can slide his massive cock in with ease, and bend her over his desk like this isn’t her first rodeo? I call bullshit.
Anyways clearly this one just isn’t doing it for me 🤷🏼♀️ I’ll read on but honestly I can’t see things improving. I feel like ever since going into the whole vampire trope she has lost her way.
What is the deal with literally skipping over all of the sexy times??? We get paragraphs upon paragraphs describing the scenery when they are hiking (which is all from Adrian’s POV by the way and doesn’t sound at all how a man would describe things), but all a sex scene gets is “I had her against the wall” moving on… what the???
Is this meant to be a romance novel? Because there’s more time spent going into detail about Adrian’s plans for revenge and very little relationship development between the two love interests. Also she went from wanting her independence to basically being locked away to be used at Adrian’s disposal. What happened to her own ambitions? What happened to the whole essence of her character that we saw in the beginning? Seems like Adrian’s sizeable dick gave her a lobotomy.
Also (this is one of the only detailed sex scenes btw) he takes her virginity and somehow can slide his massive cock in with ease, and bend her over his desk like this isn’t her first rodeo? I call bullshit.
Anyways clearly this one just isn’t doing it for me 🤷🏼♀️ I’ll read on but honestly I can’t see things improving. I feel like ever since going into the whole vampire trope she has lost her way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2021
Okay so the only reason I read this was bc I kept seeing it every single freaking time I opened Kindle and I just wanted to see what the hype was about. I didn't like the story, but it could potentially be due to the fact that I read over the course of several (busy) days and not in one sitting (where you're less likely to be bothered by the little things bc you don't have time to process).
The first quarter/third of the book was actually decent, pretty funny, although a lot of the scenarios just made me go wtf. I thought the rest of the story would continue the same way, but boy, was I wrong. It just gets progressively more unbelievable from that point on, and it was already pretty whack to begin with. Things I had MAJOR problems with:
- lots and lots and lots of telling and literally no showing. The author just glosses over everything that's important and explains it in a dumbed-down version and nobody asked for that.
- the idealism - oh man oh man oh man, what the actual fuck was this story???????????? The dude - whatever his name is - tries to be in anti-hero but he's not? I don't even know how to classify him. He was an overgrown dumbass, that's all. The dudette wasn't much better, I actually understood her more but the dude was a whole lot of wtf, especially since he's supposed to be a 30-something year old (we don't get any ages, you kind of just have to make assumptions and that leads me to my next point - why is this 30-sthg y.o acting/talking like a 12y.o?).
- ALL of the characters are so damn flat. There's zero development from start to finish; they're stereotypes and placeholders and ain't nobody got time for that.
- the whole story just played out sooooooo perfectly, no angst, no trouble, no drama. I feel like the kind of story this was, it deserved/required at least a little of that.
Honestly, I was expecting a decent (3 stars) story bc I saw some of the reviews but it turned out to be a waste of time. SO simplistic, plot holes larger than freaking Jupiter and cringe protagonists = learn from my mistakes and don't waste your time.
The first quarter/third of the book was actually decent, pretty funny, although a lot of the scenarios just made me go wtf. I thought the rest of the story would continue the same way, but boy, was I wrong. It just gets progressively more unbelievable from that point on, and it was already pretty whack to begin with. Things I had MAJOR problems with:
- lots and lots and lots of telling and literally no showing. The author just glosses over everything that's important and explains it in a dumbed-down version and nobody asked for that.
- the idealism - oh man oh man oh man, what the actual fuck was this story???????????? The dude - whatever his name is - tries to be in anti-hero but he's not? I don't even know how to classify him. He was an overgrown dumbass, that's all. The dudette wasn't much better, I actually understood her more but the dude was a whole lot of wtf, especially since he's supposed to be a 30-something year old (we don't get any ages, you kind of just have to make assumptions and that leads me to my next point - why is this 30-sthg y.o acting/talking like a 12y.o?).
- ALL of the characters are so damn flat. There's zero development from start to finish; they're stereotypes and placeholders and ain't nobody got time for that.
- the whole story just played out sooooooo perfectly, no angst, no trouble, no drama. I feel like the kind of story this was, it deserved/required at least a little of that.
Honestly, I was expecting a decent (3 stars) story bc I saw some of the reviews but it turned out to be a waste of time. SO simplistic, plot holes larger than freaking Jupiter and cringe protagonists = learn from my mistakes and don't waste your time.
August 22, 2021
Mmm, it was just alright. I liked the first half pretty well, but then it took a blah turn.
I think I was a bit disappointed because I liked Jules, the FMC - I liked that she was trying to ditch the horrible gilded cage that she'd been raised in, and all the privilege it gave her (while taking away all her freedom). She was trying to make a life of her own, away from her shitty abusive father and brother. She was trying to prove - to herself, mostly - that she was capable of making her own life... that she was not just competent but clever, a hard worker who could more than pull her own weight.
And then she just ... allowed herself to be put back in the cage by Adrian. Gave up everything about the life she'd been building for herself.
That didn't work for me. And I think that was partially because I didn't buy their relationship. When did it happen? When she agreed to go back into a cage - his cage - they'd only known each other for 3 weeks. They'd just started connecting. That being enough for her to happily climb back into the princess in a tower life ... it made it seem like she never really wanted anything else, and this was just some petty tantrum against her father.
And that he'd ask her to do that made me not like him much either.
So I didn't buy their relationship. I didn't buy that she was really determined to be anything but a pampered rich girl - three weeks of work does not make her point that she's capable. I didn't understand why she wouldn't have just stayed in North Carolina while he did his thing in New York. Again, they'd only known each other 3 weeks. His NYC thing was temporary anyway, and they both knew it...and he'd be working his ass off for the duration. And it was dangerous for her to be in NYC, given that her father (we're told) had an army of PIs looking for her.
And about that. So ... how did an army of PIs not find her? She's using her mother's maiden name ... but she's employed, so there's some kind of papertrail. Either of her changing her name, or of her being paid with her real name. Signing a lease. Etc. Even worse, when she's complaining about none of her friends making any effort to reach out to her ... she says she KEPT HER PHONE, but just screened the calls and texts. Uhhhhhh... what? How was she not tracked? Who was in this army of PIs? Were they all toddlers? Her idiot brother was able to find her pretty easily - looking up her mother's maiden name - but they weren't?
Also, her brother was such a cartoonish asshole villain that just couldn't even.
So yeah. The 3 stars was kind of generous ... I am rounding it up from 2.5, but the more time I spend on this review, the more convinced I am that I rated it too high.
I think I was a bit disappointed because I liked Jules, the FMC - I liked that she was trying to ditch the horrible gilded cage that she'd been raised in, and all the privilege it gave her (while taking away all her freedom). She was trying to make a life of her own, away from her shitty abusive father and brother. She was trying to prove - to herself, mostly - that she was capable of making her own life... that she was not just competent but clever, a hard worker who could more than pull her own weight.
And then she just ... allowed herself to be put back in the cage by Adrian. Gave up everything about the life she'd been building for herself.
That didn't work for me. And I think that was partially because I didn't buy their relationship. When did it happen? When she agreed to go back into a cage - his cage - they'd only known each other for 3 weeks. They'd just started connecting. That being enough for her to happily climb back into the princess in a tower life ... it made it seem like she never really wanted anything else, and this was just some petty tantrum against her father.
And that he'd ask her to do that made me not like him much either.
So I didn't buy their relationship. I didn't buy that she was really determined to be anything but a pampered rich girl - three weeks of work does not make her point that she's capable. I didn't understand why she wouldn't have just stayed in North Carolina while he did his thing in New York. Again, they'd only known each other 3 weeks. His NYC thing was temporary anyway, and they both knew it...and he'd be working his ass off for the duration. And it was dangerous for her to be in NYC, given that her father (we're told) had an army of PIs looking for her.
And about that. So ... how did an army of PIs not find her? She's using her mother's maiden name ... but she's employed, so there's some kind of papertrail. Either of her changing her name, or of her being paid with her real name. Signing a lease. Etc. Even worse, when she's complaining about none of her friends making any effort to reach out to her ... she says she KEPT HER PHONE, but just screened the calls and texts. Uhhhhhh... what? How was she not tracked? Who was in this army of PIs? Were they all toddlers? Her idiot brother was able to find her pretty easily - looking up her mother's maiden name - but they weren't?
Also, her brother was such a cartoonish asshole villain that just couldn't even.
So yeah. The 3 stars was kind of generous ... I am rounding it up from 2.5, but the more time I spend on this review, the more convinced I am that I rated it too high.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2021
“My usually sunny disposition was cloudy with a chance of lightning strikes directly to the groin.”
This was my first time reading a Penelope Bloom book.
I’ve quite a few that I’ve bought, but still haven’t found the time to read. I love me a romcom author, but good ones are hard to find… and I’ve recently come across so many duds that I was on the fence about this one. Luckily I wasn’t disappointed.
This is, in every sense of the word, a laugh out loud romantic comedy!
“I could’ve looked at this guy’s ear and known he wasn’t born a mortal human. He was delivered to earth via a lightning bolt from some angry god’s ass. And, yes, that method of delivery almost definitely resulted in a face fit for Greek sculptures.”
Adrian White is the hero in our book and the guy is an asshole (well just look at the title, you get what I mean).
The first time he meets our heroine, the guy is literally ripping some employee a new one, because he made a mistake.
Adrian has a goal, to climb the corporate latter and he will stop at nothing to reach the top. After all he has been working non stop on that goal for 10 years…
“Oh, no,” I said, chuckling. “I only wanted you to know who was going to be making sure you never worked in this city again. We’re done. That stunt you pulled out there in front of my staff? I’ll be sure to tell Maxi exactly why she just lost her biggest client and is about to have to hire a publicist to salvage her reputation.”
…
“You’re a coward.”
I actually laughed in surprise. Definitely didn’t see that coming.
“You can’t handle being questioned, can you?” she asked. “Did I give your precious ego a boo boo when I stood up to you out there? Do you feel like you have to make an example of me so you can still stroke that swollen pride of yours when you go to bed tonight? Well, go ahead, asshole. Ruin my life if you want. I started over once. I’ll do it again if I have to.”
Juliette/Jules Adams Coleton is our heroine.
When Adrian first meets her, he thinks of her has a Disney Princess on the run… and he isn’t to far off. Jules is the oldest daughter of Russ Coleton, from Coleton Corporation. She is, indeed, royalty in her own way. And she’s on the run, from her father and the life he wants her to live.
Jules wants to be free and to prove her own worth and how she can stand on her own two feet without anyone’s help.
“Why do I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil?”
Adrian actually grinned at that. “Maybe because you’re more perceptive than you look.”
After the first animosity and exchange of words, Adrian sees value in Jules and decides to offer her a job as his PA.
She accepts his offer and then starts a series of problems and mishaps that are going to throw this couple in the most awkward of situations, making their already boiling attraction impossible to deny.
“Miss Adams.”
I turned, clutching his damp shirt that smelled disturbingly good, even with heavy overtones of spit out coffee now tainting the aroma. “Yes?”
“It tastes better if you swallow it.”
I absolutely loved this book.
In terms of humor, the comedic delivery, the scenes, the misadventures were delicious to read.
I really loved the plot twist. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting from the book and I loved that the story took a very different turn in terms of storyline.
There were some parts that were a little corny and some that needed a little more finesse and work, but overall I was pleasantly surprised with this author and will be sure to read more of her work.
This was my first time reading a Penelope Bloom book.
I’ve quite a few that I’ve bought, but still haven’t found the time to read. I love me a romcom author, but good ones are hard to find… and I’ve recently come across so many duds that I was on the fence about this one. Luckily I wasn’t disappointed.
This is, in every sense of the word, a laugh out loud romantic comedy!
“I could’ve looked at this guy’s ear and known he wasn’t born a mortal human. He was delivered to earth via a lightning bolt from some angry god’s ass. And, yes, that method of delivery almost definitely resulted in a face fit for Greek sculptures.”
Adrian White is the hero in our book and the guy is an asshole (well just look at the title, you get what I mean).
The first time he meets our heroine, the guy is literally ripping some employee a new one, because he made a mistake.
Adrian has a goal, to climb the corporate latter and he will stop at nothing to reach the top. After all he has been working non stop on that goal for 10 years…
“Oh, no,” I said, chuckling. “I only wanted you to know who was going to be making sure you never worked in this city again. We’re done. That stunt you pulled out there in front of my staff? I’ll be sure to tell Maxi exactly why she just lost her biggest client and is about to have to hire a publicist to salvage her reputation.”
…
“You’re a coward.”
I actually laughed in surprise. Definitely didn’t see that coming.
“You can’t handle being questioned, can you?” she asked. “Did I give your precious ego a boo boo when I stood up to you out there? Do you feel like you have to make an example of me so you can still stroke that swollen pride of yours when you go to bed tonight? Well, go ahead, asshole. Ruin my life if you want. I started over once. I’ll do it again if I have to.”
Juliette/Jules Adams Coleton is our heroine.
When Adrian first meets her, he thinks of her has a Disney Princess on the run… and he isn’t to far off. Jules is the oldest daughter of Russ Coleton, from Coleton Corporation. She is, indeed, royalty in her own way. And she’s on the run, from her father and the life he wants her to live.
Jules wants to be free and to prove her own worth and how she can stand on her own two feet without anyone’s help.
“Why do I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil?”
Adrian actually grinned at that. “Maybe because you’re more perceptive than you look.”
After the first animosity and exchange of words, Adrian sees value in Jules and decides to offer her a job as his PA.
She accepts his offer and then starts a series of problems and mishaps that are going to throw this couple in the most awkward of situations, making their already boiling attraction impossible to deny.
“Miss Adams.”
I turned, clutching his damp shirt that smelled disturbingly good, even with heavy overtones of spit out coffee now tainting the aroma. “Yes?”
“It tastes better if you swallow it.”
I absolutely loved this book.
In terms of humor, the comedic delivery, the scenes, the misadventures were delicious to read.
I really loved the plot twist. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting from the book and I loved that the story took a very different turn in terms of storyline.
There were some parts that were a little corny and some that needed a little more finesse and work, but overall I was pleasantly surprised with this author and will be sure to read more of her work.
August 1, 2022
Super cute and so fun! I don't think I've ever read anything by this author before and I think I'm going to have to change that in a big way very soon.
July 6, 2021
Juliette/Jules has changed her last name and is hiding from her billionaire dad who wants to arrange a beneficial marriage for her. At her job she is sent to deliver something to another company and confronts a man she hears berating an employee. It turns out this is Adrian, the handsome boss she was there to see, and after she is fired from her job Adrian basically blackmails her into taking a job as his assistant. Adrian terrorizes his employees and they all fear him but Jules never misses a chance for a sarcastic remark back to him. Adrian gives her nearly impossible tasks that she completes to prove she is capable and he secretly enjoys her sass and is attracted to her. Adrian is secretly working with 3 others to bring down a corrupt company and doesn’t want any distractions in his life. Will they admit their attraction and become involved despite Adrian’s focus at work and how will they react when they find that they are both hiding secrets?
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. It has everything I look for is story, romance, humor, and a hint of suspense. The author did a fantastic job developing the characters and letting you see how their pasts were still affecting their lives. I had laugh out loud moments at many of Jules’ comments to Adrian about his often gruff behavior at work and on their airplane trip. The epilogue was a fantastic ending for their story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. It has everything I look for is story, romance, humor, and a hint of suspense. The author did a fantastic job developing the characters and letting you see how their pasts were still affecting their lives. I had laugh out loud moments at many of Jules’ comments to Adrian about his often gruff behavior at work and on their airplane trip. The epilogue was a fantastic ending for their story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 8, 2021
I'm a sucker for a boss hole, enemies to lovers romance. Make it hilarious and I'm hooked. This one is no exception. I laughed out loud so much I had to keep explaining to my confused husband what was so funny. I loved the characters, loved the twists, and the unique story. This is a definite must read from Penelope Bloom!
July 9, 2021
"I never went out looking for the perfect ending, but it wound up bumping mouth-first into my erection in an airplane bathroom, just like I always imagined it would."
"My usually sunny disposition was cloudy with a chance of lightning strikes directly to the groin."
”I asked, trying not to take a deep rapturous breath of whatever scent he was wearing. Sex God? Naked on a horse? Black and white lumberjack?"
"My usually sunny disposition was cloudy with a chance of lightning strikes directly to the groin."
”I asked, trying not to take a deep rapturous breath of whatever scent he was wearing. Sex God? Naked on a horse? Black and white lumberjack?"
July 9, 2021
This book is really funny and readable. I really enjoyed it. It took me out of the reading funk. Thank you Penelope for this book.
I really loved Adrian and Juliette. Their chemistry was of the charts and both of them are great characters. Adrian is a demnading boss, but for a reason. Juliette had it really tough but she managed to make her life better on her own.
I received an earc and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I really loved Adrian and Juliette. Their chemistry was of the charts and both of them are great characters. Adrian is a demnading boss, but for a reason. Juliette had it really tough but she managed to make her life better on her own.
I received an earc and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 6, 2021
The Boss(hole) is a fast-paced, well written romance story with well developed characters and packed with plenty of drama, suspense, twists, secrets, attraction, deceit, sizzling chemistry, blackmail, a bit of humor, and of course, steamy scenes.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
July 12, 2021
Congratulations to Ms. Penelope Bloom for her latest publication, Bosshole.
Inside these pages, Adrian and Juliette are going to clash, as well as burn together as they fight their attraction and the villain of this storyline, Juliette's Father. I found this release to be highly entertaining and hard to put down. I enjoyed every single moment it took to read this book.
Should you be searching for a new and beautifully crafted romance, you've just found it here.
I was beyond fortunate to have requested an advanced reader's copy of Bosshole in exchange for my honest and voluntarily given opinion and I highly recommend reading this release.
Inside these pages, Adrian and Juliette are going to clash, as well as burn together as they fight their attraction and the villain of this storyline, Juliette's Father. I found this release to be highly entertaining and hard to put down. I enjoyed every single moment it took to read this book.
Should you be searching for a new and beautifully crafted romance, you've just found it here.
I was beyond fortunate to have requested an advanced reader's copy of Bosshole in exchange for my honest and voluntarily given opinion and I highly recommend reading this release.
July 25, 2021
4.4 stars
This was entertaining. This author can always make me laugh at how she phrases thoughts and is part of the reason that I enjoy her books.
The ending and confrontation with Jules' father was a bit over the top and pulled me out of the story but the epilogue and the rest of the story made me still rank this high.
This was entertaining. This author can always make me laugh at how she phrases thoughts and is part of the reason that I enjoy her books.
The ending and confrontation with Jules' father was a bit over the top and pulled me out of the story but the epilogue and the rest of the story made me still rank this high.
August 25, 2021
3.75 stars
October 2, 2021
Boss hole
Good read. There is more to these two that it first appears. The ending was very good I wasn't sure for a while
Good read. There is more to these two that it first appears. The ending was very good I wasn't sure for a while
November 6, 2024
3.5 Stars.
July 7, 2025
It's less rom-com and more, idk, rom-heist. Except it's not really a heist. But the vibes are similar.
September 27, 2021
3.75 stars 😜 I’m that petty.
I liked the plot and thought it was quite original, even if I did find the writing chaotic at times.
Best moment: choking the guard (let it happen, bud)
Worst moment: them being stupid and not realising there are going to be listening devices all over the place
Hotness rate: 🔥🔥🔥3/5
Will I read again?: probably not but it was a good enough one night stand
I liked the plot and thought it was quite original, even if I did find the writing chaotic at times.
Best moment: choking the guard (let it happen, bud)
Worst moment: them being stupid and not realising there are going to be listening devices all over the place
Hotness rate: 🔥🔥🔥3/5
Will I read again?: probably not but it was a good enough one night stand
July 11, 2021
OVERALL RATING –3 stars
RECOMMENDED FOR: those that like a easy read romance with lower steam
First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was not new to me
BOOK:
- Contemporary romance
- 1st person with dual POV
Star Ratings - 1 (poor) - 5(READ THIS BOOK)
· Writing Quality: 5 stars
· Story ingredient: 3.5 - 4 stars
· Ease of reading/Pace: 4 stars
· Plot strength: 3.5 stars
· Steam Level: 4 (open door scenes but not explicitly graphic)
Notes/Opinion (personal):
I enjoyed it mostly due to the snark at the first half. As one reviewer put it, I would not classify this as enemies to lovers, more as allies to lovers. There were parts that were completely unbelievable (but that's what makes fiction fun) and parts where I was okay with the story. It's a hard call for rating for me; I've read worse and better. This falls as somewhere for me to take it or leave it.
RECOMMENDED FOR: those that like a easy read romance with lower steam
First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was not new to me
BOOK:
- Contemporary romance
- 1st person with dual POV
Star Ratings - 1 (poor) - 5(READ THIS BOOK)
· Writing Quality: 5 stars
· Story ingredient: 3.5 - 4 stars
· Ease of reading/Pace: 4 stars
· Plot strength: 3.5 stars
· Steam Level: 4 (open door scenes but not explicitly graphic)
Notes/Opinion (personal):
I enjoyed it mostly due to the snark at the first half. As one reviewer put it, I would not classify this as enemies to lovers, more as allies to lovers. There were parts that were completely unbelievable (but that's what makes fiction fun) and parts where I was okay with the story. It's a hard call for rating for me; I've read worse and better. This falls as somewhere for me to take it or leave it.
August 22, 2021
Implausible
From a pure entertainment perspective, if I suspended all disbelief, this was an enjoyable read. However, I found myself regularly pulled out the story by nonsense.
Starting with the meet cute... Her first boss is an idiot if she was willing to lose a large account just to fire her. The original receptionist / PA (weird combo, btw) was ridiculous to not at least warn her that the person she was meeting was the one yelling. And his decision to hire the person who was the cause of him not using her company for business made absolutely no sense. How does any rational person say essentially 'I wouldn't trust you to do my design work, but come run my life and I'll pay you big for it?'
Then we go to the main non-romance portion of the plot... To avoid spoilers, let's just say, read up on what the SEC does, Ms Bloom!
And there were plenty of other little issues throughout.
So, what I'm ultimately saying is that Ms Bloom is talented at writing a story but clearly doesn't let reality interfere with her plots. If that's not an issue for you, read away.
From a pure entertainment perspective, if I suspended all disbelief, this was an enjoyable read. However, I found myself regularly pulled out the story by nonsense.
Starting with the meet cute... Her first boss is an idiot if she was willing to lose a large account just to fire her. The original receptionist / PA (weird combo, btw) was ridiculous to not at least warn her that the person she was meeting was the one yelling. And his decision to hire the person who was the cause of him not using her company for business made absolutely no sense. How does any rational person say essentially 'I wouldn't trust you to do my design work, but come run my life and I'll pay you big for it?'
Then we go to the main non-romance portion of the plot... To avoid spoilers, let's just say, read up on what the SEC does, Ms Bloom!
And there were plenty of other little issues throughout.
So, what I'm ultimately saying is that Ms Bloom is talented at writing a story but clearly doesn't let reality interfere with her plots. If that's not an issue for you, read away.
July 7, 2021
Adrian & Jules’s Enemies To Lovers Romance Will Have You Laughing Hysterically! The Second Half Becomes More Serious In Tone; It Is Vaguely Reminiscent Of The Movie Dark Waters Starring Mark Ruffalo, But With A Business Twist. Adrian’s Motivations & Methods Are Thought-Provoking, Pointing Out The Evils Of Unchecked Power. Don’t Forget To Download The Free Bonus Epilogue Via The Link At The Back Of The Book.
Jules Adams, twenty-five, left her overbearing family and life of privilege behind in the hopes of escaping her father’s plans for her. If he had his way, Jules would be married off in some sort of business arrangement. He sees her like a piece of property to barter with, and she finally got the courage to escape and leave everything behind with a fresh start. North Carolina is a much different pace than New York. In New York, people lined up to be her friend, but their motives could never be trusted thanks to her family name. In North Carolina, under her mother’s maiden name, Jules no longer has that problem. It turns out, though, that she had never developed great people skills since she had never needed them before. In the months since she arrived, though, she is happy to have made one good friend, Anastasia. They met at Maxi Designs, where Jules now works. But it seems Maxi, her boss, isn’t too thrilled with Jules and the writing is on the wall. Without her parents’ support, Jules cannot afford to lose her job. She doesn’t want to return home with her tail between her legs and face the punishment that her father will surely dish out.
Adrian White, about thirty-two, believes in keeping his employees on their toes. He turns on the charm when schmoozing with the higher-ups, but when it comes to his underlings he can be a holy terror. He hadn’t been that way before, but somewhere along the way he lost sight of who he had once been. Taken over by his ten year drive for revenge against Russ Coleton and Coleton Enterprises, his life is devoted to seeing the plan through to its end. His job is to rise to the top and get into position, and that has required him to devote his life to work. It has been many years since he had a relationship; he cannot afford the distraction. He had started Terranova Holdings after college. He made his money and had the leisure of turning his attention instead to revenge. Destruction. And the end is finally in sight. Things are lining up. His job at Coleton Publishing is paying off, and as long as he keeps his mind on the prize, nothing will stop him and his team.
When Jules shows up at Coleton Publishing for her meeting with Mr. White, she can’t help but speak out about the scene she walks in on. She gives the hunky Mr. Ego a piece of her mind, only to have him turn his ire on her. With her job on the line, she finds herself between a rock and a hard place. When Adrian gets Jules right where he wants her, he decides on the spot to hire her as his new personal assistant, and he knows how to make it happen. Someone so capable of standing up to him would certainly make a good addition to his team. But he is motivated by his incredible attraction to the Disney Princess, even though he tries to convince himself otherwise. She is a distraction, and if he isn’t careful he will lose everything his team has worked ten years for. The pair shares incredible banter, and Jules really puts Adrian’s patience to the test. But even if they can get past he office politics and take the risk of beginning a workplace romance, there are other obstacles to their happiness. They each have a secret that could derail everything. The couple eventually earns a happy ending.
Don’t forget to download the free bonus epilogue via the link at the back of the book.
Wow! There are some fabulous laugh out loud moments in this enemies to lovers workplace romance. Adrian is tough as nails as a boss and expects nothing less than perfection from his staff. He has been so focused on success that he has lost all perspective. His obsession with Jules makes his team a little nervous, and he owes them for their commitment to his goal. Jules feels alive with Adrian – a feeling she has never experienced before. But her father is looking for her, and the risk of discovery is real. If he gets his hands on Jules, her odds of escaping the family home again are slim. He will expect her to marry a man of his choosing and soon.
Adrian and Jules’s romance shifts in tone midway through the story. As they begin to admit to their attraction for one another, their secrets must be addressed. But Adrian has more riding on his secrets that does Jules. He has people relying upon him, too. The stakes are high, and as the his team enters the story things get serious. There are issues of trust that must be overcome, and insecurities come into play. Soon Jules finds herself locked away in a new kind of prison.
Adrian and Jules’s enemies to lovers romance will have you laughing hysterically in the first half of the book. The second half becomes more serious in tone; it is vaguely reminiscent of the movie Dark Waters starring Mark Ruffalo, but with a business twist. Adrian’s motivations and methods are thought-provoking, pointing out the evils of unchecked power. It is nicely written. There are some occasional typos in my ARC copy, as well as a few minor inconsistencies, but it is overall very good. The plot is somewhat complex; it takes some patience for it be completely laid out. I honestly loved the first half and would have enjoyed some more of that in the second half as well. Some of the team’s plans feel a little convenient; it is an aggressive plan but works generally. The characters are decently developed and are relatable. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Adrian and Jules (Juliette), with one brief chapter in Camper Carl’s POV. I rate this book four stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jules Adams, twenty-five, left her overbearing family and life of privilege behind in the hopes of escaping her father’s plans for her. If he had his way, Jules would be married off in some sort of business arrangement. He sees her like a piece of property to barter with, and she finally got the courage to escape and leave everything behind with a fresh start. North Carolina is a much different pace than New York. In New York, people lined up to be her friend, but their motives could never be trusted thanks to her family name. In North Carolina, under her mother’s maiden name, Jules no longer has that problem. It turns out, though, that she had never developed great people skills since she had never needed them before. In the months since she arrived, though, she is happy to have made one good friend, Anastasia. They met at Maxi Designs, where Jules now works. But it seems Maxi, her boss, isn’t too thrilled with Jules and the writing is on the wall. Without her parents’ support, Jules cannot afford to lose her job. She doesn’t want to return home with her tail between her legs and face the punishment that her father will surely dish out.
Adrian White, about thirty-two, believes in keeping his employees on their toes. He turns on the charm when schmoozing with the higher-ups, but when it comes to his underlings he can be a holy terror. He hadn’t been that way before, but somewhere along the way he lost sight of who he had once been. Taken over by his ten year drive for revenge against Russ Coleton and Coleton Enterprises, his life is devoted to seeing the plan through to its end. His job is to rise to the top and get into position, and that has required him to devote his life to work. It has been many years since he had a relationship; he cannot afford the distraction. He had started Terranova Holdings after college. He made his money and had the leisure of turning his attention instead to revenge. Destruction. And the end is finally in sight. Things are lining up. His job at Coleton Publishing is paying off, and as long as he keeps his mind on the prize, nothing will stop him and his team.
When Jules shows up at Coleton Publishing for her meeting with Mr. White, she can’t help but speak out about the scene she walks in on. She gives the hunky Mr. Ego a piece of her mind, only to have him turn his ire on her. With her job on the line, she finds herself between a rock and a hard place. When Adrian gets Jules right where he wants her, he decides on the spot to hire her as his new personal assistant, and he knows how to make it happen. Someone so capable of standing up to him would certainly make a good addition to his team. But he is motivated by his incredible attraction to the Disney Princess, even though he tries to convince himself otherwise. She is a distraction, and if he isn’t careful he will lose everything his team has worked ten years for. The pair shares incredible banter, and Jules really puts Adrian’s patience to the test. But even if they can get past he office politics and take the risk of beginning a workplace romance, there are other obstacles to their happiness. They each have a secret that could derail everything. The couple eventually earns a happy ending.
Don’t forget to download the free bonus epilogue via the link at the back of the book.
Wow! There are some fabulous laugh out loud moments in this enemies to lovers workplace romance. Adrian is tough as nails as a boss and expects nothing less than perfection from his staff. He has been so focused on success that he has lost all perspective. His obsession with Jules makes his team a little nervous, and he owes them for their commitment to his goal. Jules feels alive with Adrian – a feeling she has never experienced before. But her father is looking for her, and the risk of discovery is real. If he gets his hands on Jules, her odds of escaping the family home again are slim. He will expect her to marry a man of his choosing and soon.
Adrian and Jules’s romance shifts in tone midway through the story. As they begin to admit to their attraction for one another, their secrets must be addressed. But Adrian has more riding on his secrets that does Jules. He has people relying upon him, too. The stakes are high, and as the his team enters the story things get serious. There are issues of trust that must be overcome, and insecurities come into play. Soon Jules finds herself locked away in a new kind of prison.
Adrian and Jules’s enemies to lovers romance will have you laughing hysterically in the first half of the book. The second half becomes more serious in tone; it is vaguely reminiscent of the movie Dark Waters starring Mark Ruffalo, but with a business twist. Adrian’s motivations and methods are thought-provoking, pointing out the evils of unchecked power. It is nicely written. There are some occasional typos in my ARC copy, as well as a few minor inconsistencies, but it is overall very good. The plot is somewhat complex; it takes some patience for it be completely laid out. I honestly loved the first half and would have enjoyed some more of that in the second half as well. Some of the team’s plans feel a little convenient; it is an aggressive plan but works generally. The characters are decently developed and are relatable. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Adrian and Jules (Juliette), with one brief chapter in Camper Carl’s POV. I rate this book four stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 26, 2021
I really wanted to like this book, the plot holes ruined it for me.
Why would Jules turn her back on her family?
Ok the dad was a pos, but what else?
The brother finding her and having a shitty attitude but then giving her time?! Umm why?
I also wasn’t feeling the connection between Adrian and Jules.
She saw him and he saw her and bam?!
It did have funny parts, but I keep thinking of those pesky plot holes.
Why would Jules turn her back on her family?
Ok the dad was a pos, but what else?
The brother finding her and having a shitty attitude but then giving her time?! Umm why?
I also wasn’t feeling the connection between Adrian and Jules.
She saw him and he saw her and bam?!
It did have funny parts, but I keep thinking of those pesky plot holes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2021
I didn’t entirely hate the little game of cat and mouse he seemed intent on playing. I just hoped he didn’t mind finding out that if I was the mouse, I was the type of mouse who bit back.
The Boss(Hole) is an all new standalone featuring the grumpy boss/office romance of Juliette Coleton & Adrian Terranova. Her first encounter with Adrian ended with her being fired from a job she couldn’t lose and blacklisted from pretty much any other company in the city…..it’s a good thing he offered her the position of his assistant, the bad thing? He’s grumpy, impossible to please, and he’s colder to his employees than the AC setting in their office. Too bad for him she doesn’t run from a challenge, instead she finds herself succeeding in everything he is sure she will fail at. Well almost everything…..you see, she fails at ignoring the sizzling chemistry and tension between them. She may have been able to survive her very own boss(hole) as his assistant, but once lines are crossed she will discover she never stood a chance.
“I value your backbone, Miss Adams. But that mouth of yours needs to be tamed.”
I’ve read two books from Penelope previously, both 5 star reads and books I absolutely loved. This one seemed different, I was intrigued to see just how she tackled the office romance genre and if she could make this different than all the others like it……well let me just tell y’all, take what you assume about this book and throw it out the window because it goes far beyond just a grumpy demanding boss and his strong willed assistant.
It has some twists and turns, diving below the surface level and becoming a really fascinating journey I never expected. It wasn’t quite 5 star worthy, but it was still one hell of a way to take a break from real life.
If I listened to my heart, I wanted to try. I wanted to let him kiss me and I wanted to live in this moment. This was exactly the reason I’d left New York and sought out a new life, wasn’t it? To find adventure? To make risky decisions?
The Lowdown:
Jules Coleton was a fun heroine, mainly because she had a backbone and wasn’t afraid to stand up to a man few seemed to be able to. She has a backstory that plays a big part in this book, make sure you are paying attention. Along with her fire, she had some moments that made me LOL as well…..the plane bathroom incident, the airport security check scene….it was the perfect amount of comedic relief. However, I felt as the story went on she became a little too needy and whiny, an immaturity I didn’t see previously shined through and she lost some of her shimmer.
Adrian Terranova is nothing like he seems, as the story progresses you are going to get to see him peel back the layers and get to who he really is. He is an asshole boss but it works for him……I can’t really go into detail when it comes to him because I don’t want to ruin the surprises that await you, just know he’s a male lead I had no issue rooting for.
As for the plot, this is where I refuse to spoil anything…..go in blind and just accept it’s so much more than the blurb suggests, you are in for a twisty ride (nothing dark). This goes far beyond an office romance.
As for their connection, it’s nothing that made me think these two were written to be each other’s forever but it wasn’t unbelievable either…..it was just one of those things that happened and it worked, I wasn’t deeply invested in their “love”.
Now what I WAS invested in was a lot of the support cast, there is PLENTY of opportunities there and I would one click every single one of them.
She gave us just enough of these characters to care about them and now I want more! Hopefully she has plans to make this happen!
The Verdict:
Boss(Hole) was a cute read with enough substance to keep me hooked til the end. It was nothing I expected and one I suggest anyone wanting to read to go in blind…..it makes for a more interesting experience. And while I enjoyed it, I did feel it just didn’t stack up to others I’ve read from Penelope. Nonetheless, it’s a nice little escape….one that won’t take too much out of you and still leave you with a satisfying HEA to walk away from. If you are looking for a lighter read, this one will be right up your alley.
I stopped and watched her for a little while. That was the girl who changed everything. I was glad to know she’d changed her own life, too.
The Boss(Hole) is an all new standalone featuring the grumpy boss/office romance of Juliette Coleton & Adrian Terranova. Her first encounter with Adrian ended with her being fired from a job she couldn’t lose and blacklisted from pretty much any other company in the city…..it’s a good thing he offered her the position of his assistant, the bad thing? He’s grumpy, impossible to please, and he’s colder to his employees than the AC setting in their office. Too bad for him she doesn’t run from a challenge, instead she finds herself succeeding in everything he is sure she will fail at. Well almost everything…..you see, she fails at ignoring the sizzling chemistry and tension between them. She may have been able to survive her very own boss(hole) as his assistant, but once lines are crossed she will discover she never stood a chance.
“I value your backbone, Miss Adams. But that mouth of yours needs to be tamed.”
I’ve read two books from Penelope previously, both 5 star reads and books I absolutely loved. This one seemed different, I was intrigued to see just how she tackled the office romance genre and if she could make this different than all the others like it……well let me just tell y’all, take what you assume about this book and throw it out the window because it goes far beyond just a grumpy demanding boss and his strong willed assistant.
It has some twists and turns, diving below the surface level and becoming a really fascinating journey I never expected. It wasn’t quite 5 star worthy, but it was still one hell of a way to take a break from real life.
If I listened to my heart, I wanted to try. I wanted to let him kiss me and I wanted to live in this moment. This was exactly the reason I’d left New York and sought out a new life, wasn’t it? To find adventure? To make risky decisions?
The Lowdown:
Jules Coleton was a fun heroine, mainly because she had a backbone and wasn’t afraid to stand up to a man few seemed to be able to. She has a backstory that plays a big part in this book, make sure you are paying attention. Along with her fire, she had some moments that made me LOL as well…..the plane bathroom incident, the airport security check scene….it was the perfect amount of comedic relief. However, I felt as the story went on she became a little too needy and whiny, an immaturity I didn’t see previously shined through and she lost some of her shimmer.
Adrian Terranova is nothing like he seems, as the story progresses you are going to get to see him peel back the layers and get to who he really is. He is an asshole boss but it works for him……I can’t really go into detail when it comes to him because I don’t want to ruin the surprises that await you, just know he’s a male lead I had no issue rooting for.
As for the plot, this is where I refuse to spoil anything…..go in blind and just accept it’s so much more than the blurb suggests, you are in for a twisty ride (nothing dark). This goes far beyond an office romance.
As for their connection, it’s nothing that made me think these two were written to be each other’s forever but it wasn’t unbelievable either…..it was just one of those things that happened and it worked, I wasn’t deeply invested in their “love”.
Now what I WAS invested in was a lot of the support cast, there is PLENTY of opportunities there and I would one click every single one of them.
She gave us just enough of these characters to care about them and now I want more! Hopefully she has plans to make this happen!
The Verdict:
Boss(Hole) was a cute read with enough substance to keep me hooked til the end. It was nothing I expected and one I suggest anyone wanting to read to go in blind…..it makes for a more interesting experience. And while I enjoyed it, I did feel it just didn’t stack up to others I’ve read from Penelope. Nonetheless, it’s a nice little escape….one that won’t take too much out of you and still leave you with a satisfying HEA to walk away from. If you are looking for a lighter read, this one will be right up your alley.
I stopped and watched her for a little while. That was the girl who changed everything. I was glad to know she’d changed her own life, too.
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