Devil's Contract

Dark Pen #1

by Alta Hensley, Livia Grant

She’ll regret the day she turned me into her enemy.

She’s the princess of The Whitney, the premier hotel in New York City.
Her empire is like a fairytale. But there is no happily ever after in this story. For there are consequences for breaking a decade old contract sealed with blood, and now she must pay the price. Because of my power, connections, and our past, the Manhattan royalty has no choice but to turn to me for help.

The villain in the story.

Dangerous. Vengeful. Possessive. I’m a man to be feared in the elite underground. I’m also the only person who can save her legacy.
Locked in my clutches, she must play my wicked game of revenge.
She’ll have no choice but to fall to her knees, beg, and pull out her dark pen to sign a contract with the Devil.

USA Today Bestselling authors Alta Hensley and Livia Grant join forces to bring you a dark billionaire STANDALONE enemies to lovers romance.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, BDSM

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2022

About the author

Alta Hensley is a NYT & USA Today bestselling author of dark romance where the villain always gets the happily ever after.

Twisted, clever, and occasionally unhinged, her books deliver morally gray anti-heroes, sharp-tongued heroines, and happily ever afters that taste even sweeter after a little ruin. With a signature blend of grit, wit, and heat, Alta’s stories prove one thing: Villains deserve love too.

Alta lives on the foggy coast of Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and a pair of dogs who think they’re in charge. When she’s not writing redemption for the irredeemable, she’s walking the coastline or sipping craft beer in eccentric little bars that feel like they belong in her books.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AltaHensleyA...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alta-Hensley/e...
Website: www.altahensley.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/altahensley
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alta-...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@altahensley
Join her mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Reviews

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

''This life is a chess game, and I always win''

Safety warnings:
- Cheating (not between MCs)
- No OW/OM drama
- Manipulation
- Voyeurism
- Blackmail
- D*ath
- HEA

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

If you are looking for a book that is friends to enemies to lovers to briefly enemies then back to lovers, well this is it.

This book had a lot of manipulation and revenge plots going around. Katja is married to Tristan, but it is all an arranged business marriage, they have no relationship and never have been intimate. Tristan is a rich man in his 40s who is having affairs all the time and is currently on number 11. I knew something would happen to him when he started talking about chest pains, but I didn't think it would actually HAPPEN. He died while having sex with his mistress of a heart attack. Good riddance to this bastard because wait till you hear what else he did during their ''marriage''.

BUT first let’s talk about the two MCs. Katja and Dex, these two have known each other all of their lives. Their fathers were business partners and friends. While Katja's father owned the grand hotel The Whitney, Dex's father dealt with more dark side of the business that brought in a lot of money, working with criminals to give them anything they wanted. This part is a bit vague to me as I didn't really understand WHAT they did for these criminals but it's fine.

Dex took over from his father but made a few mistakes with how he brought in the men to the hotel and Katja threw him out right after her father died. No warnings, nothing. Three years later Dex has a revenge plot waiting to happen but despite that he helps her with her husband’s untimely and embarrassing death.

We find out that Tristan had a lot of debt, and guess what? He faked her signature to sell her properties and place the hotel as his collateral for every debt he had AND the debtors are coming to collect. Katja has no way of paying any of it back, did I think she was blind to not see the shit hole Tristan dug them in? Yes, it was weird how this woman is known for noticing everything didn't see this coming but like she said, she was blind and chose to turn her mind away from what he was doing away from her.

I guessed pretty early on that the debtor is none other than Dex, he seemed all too eager to give her HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars to finish the debts while plotting his vengeance for how she humiliated him years ago.

These two get together and spend a great week as lovers rather than enemies but of course Katja finds out he was the debtor and manipulated her into giving him back the hotel as it was before, thought Dex has fallen in love and confesses he probably has loved her all along, they spend a night apart. They get back together pretty quickly once they realize how fucked up their games are and decide to really be partners. We also find out what happened to everything Tristan sold, and Dex bought them all.

This book had great smut, Dex was a dirty talker who liked to humiliate her in more ways than one. He liked to have her deal with ''consequences'' lol

It's a quick read and fast paced. The second book will deal with a close friend of Katja (who we briefly met) and Z who is another childhood friends of the Dex/Katja and Dex's right hand man aka ''The Cleaner''.

[Dora Koutsoukou]

Katja had no clue how to run The Whitney hotel. One of the few things she was expert at, was to document all naughty secrets she found out of every power player in New York in her infamous notebook.
She was full of arrogance and bitchiness, and the despicable way she threw out Dex from the hotel didn’t make her a likeable person.
Moreover, all those schemes and games between Dex and Katja didn’t thrill me at all.
Dnf @ 31%

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an astonishing and beautiful story!
This couple, Dex and Katja, have a past. They grew up together as their fathers were partners of The Whitney. When Katja’s father passed away she does the unforgivable to Dex and they each go their own way. Three years later Katja is in a very dire situation and needs help from Dex. They begin this waltz around each other, denying their feelings because of I trust, and treating each other as the enemy.
Livia and Alta are, in their own right, fabulous authors but when they come together they are sensational and their stories explode on the page.
A beautifully written story!

[Serialbookstarter:Marla]

DNF

I hate priveleged uppity fmc’s

[Maria11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to be in the minority on this. I just didn’t like it that much. I felt that Katja just took way too much for her errors. It was like all about getting back at her. The whole book was one big vengeful story. She made a mistake and even apologize many times. But it was always more and more done to her. Then at the end it was like really that is all going to happen and bang it’s over.

We have a secret diary that was there for props and didn’t even play into anything. I called what was going to happen to the husband. And for someone who started out so strong Katja turned into a wimp woman that needed a man because she couldn’t make it without one.

Nope not into this one at all. Received a copy from BookSprout

[mariasbookss_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only rating I'll give for this book is for the steamy scenes, because they were hot.
I honestly expected a lot from this book the second i read the synopsis i was so excited. Unfortunately, my excitement was in vain. I really hated Katja she was so snobby and characterless. Like honestly the highlight of her day was gathering as much gossip and scandals about people, like she even has a special notebook to document everything. Way to make a good character 🙂. And Dex was so i don't know how to describe him. There was literally no chemistry between the two of them except when they did it😏 they had chemistry then, but other than that it was bland. I tried to finish the book, but i couldn't i literally felt nothing towards the characters and the whole plot was meh.
Dnf 55%

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading my ARC copy of this book and it is so wonderful I started reading a few hourss ago and I did not want to put it down and I did not, instead I just kept reading unti I came to the Notes on the authors.

This is a really wonderful Enemies to Lovers Romance between Dex and Katja. They have known each other ever since they were kids as their fathers were business partners and they both lived at the Whitney Hotel. However they had a falling out when after Katja's Father died and left her the Whitney, Katja kicked Dex and his business partner to the curb.

You see Dex inherited his father's business from his father and their business was faciltating deals with the Underworld using the Whitney as their base of operation and their service was to offer a neutral and private and secure place to do business for a price. So of course Dex was upset when Katja made him and his business leave the Whitney.

However it turns out that Katja needs Dex's Help unexpectedly and Dex decides to avail himself of the opportunity. Katja and Dex have sizzling chemistry and there are a number of really hot scenes. Some of the scenes have a bit of spanking and I loved that and there was some power exchange.

Eventually they do admit to being totally into each other, but the path is not smooth. There is a great HEA at the end though.

I really loved every bit of this book, and I am looking forward to the next book "Dirty Ledger" by Livia Grant and Alta Hensley which involves two of the minor characters in Devil's Contract.

[Read What I Like Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Contract (Dark Pen series Book 1)
Stand-alone: [ ] YES [X] NO
Authors: Alta Hensley & Livia Grant
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Main Couple: Katja & Dex
Favorite Character: Z
Tropes: Dark romance; alpha hero; friends to enemies to lovers; blackmail; revenge.


Review:

Dex is the dangerous criminal who comes to the rescue of the almighty Karja when she keeps making mistakes and taking bad decisions. I really liked Dex, but couldn’t fantom what he saw in Katja. I admire a strong female heroine, never doubt it. However, this one took much time to recognize her mistakes and start acting like something other than a spoiled rich woman. I hope we can see more of her good qualities in the next book.

I received an ARC of this book through Give Me Books PR and I’d like to thank them and the authors for the opportunity.

[Literary Temptations · Rating 2 out of 5]

MY RATING: 2*
RELEASE DATE: 21 February 2022
CLIFFHANGER: No

ARC was kindly provided for an honest review

I really enjoyed Alta’s Secret Bride Trilogy, but Livia is a new to me author. So, I went into this giddy with anticipation. But I have to say, I’m in the minority with this one.

Katja and Dex are childhood friends raised to take over the business that their respective fathers started together. Somewhere along the line, Katja breaks what was supposed to be a lifelong contractual deal, leaving Dex out in the cold.

Dex is set on revenge, although deep, deep, very deep inside, revenge is probably not what he wants. He really just wants to come back to the only home he’s ever known. And an opportunity presents itself that allows him to get his foot through the door.

Yeah, I didn’t like Katja at all. She was entitled, self-righteous and in a lot of ways annoying. One of those people that everyone and their mother are doing the devil’s work and deserve to be hang- until she needs the rewards that come from the devil’s work. I found her to lack substance, and over-reaching in the perception of her intelligence. She had this notebook, that played no role at all in the story. Basically, Katja is



Dex on the other hand… I don’t know. He’s supposed to be this badboy, knee deep in all-things mafia and illegal. What were those things? We didn’t get to spend any time with him doing what he’s supposedly good at. He moved back, renovated and pretty much everything else happened off the pages.

I don’t know. It just didn’t do it for me.

[Leslie OBrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alta Hensley and Livia Grant’s new book, The Devil’s Contract, combines the strength of both authors (great storytelling with wonderful characters) into one book of what I generically refer to as “billionaires behaving badly” or B3 (that’s a thing now, I just made it so). So what does this story give us that you haven’t already read in the other reviews? Well, we are treated to the glitz and glamor and outright disdain that comes with being one of the rich and famous. And while these two aren’t rivals, they are most definitely adversaries and I was looking forward to the games they would play.

Dex and Katja are great foils the way they dance around each other. I will admit that I find Katja’s “past-time” a bit abhorrent, which made her that much more entertaining. And while Dex is technically, the worser of the two, he really isn’t. The back and forth between these two (the dance) was just so much fun and when they physically clashed (aka came together), it was that much hotter.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dex and Katja grew up together at The Whitney, their fathers were business partners and they were supposed to be as well. Katja chooses a different path and kicks Dex out. What will happen when she must go to Dex for help and what will he want in exchange? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, suspense and action. Sizzling chemistry and steamy scenes. I really liked it.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE DARK TO MY LIGHT

The story is a second chance, an enemies-to-lovers tale in New York. Dex Cohen and Katja Belov were raised at The Whitney—and their fathers were business partners. When Katja and Dex were grown and should have worked together, as their fathers had done, she kicks Dex and his cohorts out and marries Triston Miller. Now, that massive mistake of a cheater husband will haunt her with more than his sexual indiscretions; his business practices may ruin her.

"It’s been three years since I kicked the devil out of The Whitney, and in a few short minutes, he’s barged back in like he never left.”

“It was high time that our little hotel heiress learned a lesson of humility.”

The story has the good, the bad, and the ugly of people. Katja decided she would break the contract that had been between her father and Dex’s father. She will marry Triston, but that is a huge mistake. When the chips are down, the one person in her corner is Dex, but it isn’t going to be like before, no, this time, he holds the winning hand, and she will pay. The Whitney has suffered because of poor judgment. Agreements will be made, but it comes with consequences. Secrets, lies, betrayal, and greed all rear their ugly heads.

“You’ll find that I’m a firm believer in escalating consequences until they start to have the desired effect.”

“There’s one big difference between us. I’ve never pretended to be an angel because I’ve always had my eyes open about where the money comes from—you just preferred to believe the fairytale.”

“Does that mean you’re willing to make this a real partnership? Combine the light and the dark sides of the business, so we can work together to make The Whitney successful?”

The story keeps referring to the past, and I wished this book had a prologue to set up the scene and what had happened previously. I felt like I was outside looking in because of references to what we did not know. It was a third into the story before things were revealed, the past meeting the present.

The story is a mystery, suspense, danger, humiliation, secrets, betrayal, and second chances. While Dex and Katja struggle, compromise, and battle for king of the hill, eventually, they must face the past, unleash the present, and plan for the future. The story does have explicit scenes of power exchange, humiliation, coercion, dubious consent, and eventually lust to love.

[Booksta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing enemies to lovers romance story between Katja and Dex. They have known each other ever since they were kids since their fathers were business partners and they both lived at the Whitney Hotel.

As faith would have it, they had a falling out after Katja's father died and had left her the Whitney Hotel. She kicked Dax and his business partner out.

On the other side, Dex inherited his father's business and that business had connections to the Underworld.But, it happens that Katja ends up needing Dex's help, even tho she reallx can't stand him at the moment, unexpectedly and Dex decides to help her.

Their chemistry is *chef's kiss* 🥵 Spice scenes were very much so eventful and amazingly written. They started out as enemies in the book, but the chemistry was just to sizzling to ignore and they have to admite eventualy that they do like each other A LOT.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

[Kay Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so to start, I have to say that I love both Alta Hensley and Livia Grant's work as individuals. I think they make an excellent writing duo.
I admit, the first few pages of the story didn't really suck me in, which is unusual, so I'm going to put that down to OBC - Outside Book Circumstances. I am really glad that I continued reading as the characters are well-rounded with fabulous chemistry, and the storyline had a believable depth with some nifty little twists.
In spite of the initial OCB hiccup, I polished this book off in record time, and thoroughly enjoyed the journey these authors have begun.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow what a fantastic book, the authors have both done an awesome job writing this story. I was hooked from the first page, the rollercoaster ride of emotions, the adrenalin, the sorrow, the anger, the endorphins, the cheating, the lies and lots more of the emotions throughout the story.
The Whitney, the premier hotel in New York City was home to three children growing up Katja's father owned the hotel. The Devil Mr. Dex Cohen his father was running the Underground through the Whitney hotel and Z (Simon) the cleaner in the Underground and Dex's right-hand man, the three of them grew up together until Katja's father passed away so she pulled the pin on the agreement that their fathers had she ended up putting Dex and Z belongings in storage and kicked them out of the Whitney for good. Katja thought she could clean up the Whitney after her father passed she married Mr Tristan Miller the Rich Real Estate mogul, they have a loveless marriage it worked for them they put a front up in front of people he was sneaking around behind Katja's back, then he died one night when he left her alone at home. The solicitor rang and said it was urgent that he needed to see her, that was when things started falling apart around her.
I loved the excitement of surprise the twist and turns what will happen now? Will revenge play its course or stay the same and remain as enemies or could something out of the ordinary happen.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toni L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read both of these authors a number of times so I wasn't surprised when this presented as a thought out, well written and riveting story with interesting characters and an original storyline. It's also a standalone read with it's own HEA. This story had me engaged right from the start until I finished.
However, I just can't ignore the fact that I didn't like either of the main characters. Katja was arrogant, self-absorbed and casually cruel with a notebook in which she would write down all of the gossip on her 'friends'. Dex was manipulative, secretive and carried a grudge. Although he quite obviously wanted to be part of Katja's life, and wanted her in his, it didn't stop him from treatment almost guaranteed to reinforce her dislike of him.
There were also story points that didn't really go anywhere. Why the big deal about the notebook when nothing ever came of it? Considering Katja had been bought up in the hotel she seemed to not have done a very good job of it, with the state of the hotel noted. Why was Dex so hung up on having to be in the Whitney, to the extent of damaging his business by setting up in a much more low grade hotel at the start of the story.
All up, I'm undecided about how to rate this, so have a read and decide for yourself.

[Joy Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Heat: 🔥 🔥🔥🔥

Angst: 💣💣💣💣 Plot: 📚📚📚📚📚

Trigger Warnings: BEWARE

Do I recommend? Yes!

Tropes: dark billionaire, enemies-to-lovers, revenge, second chance

Dex Cohen and Katja Belov grew up together as their fathers ran The Whitney as partners. It was the premier of New York City. Dex's father facilitated business for the criminal Underground of the city through the hotel. When Katja's father passed, she kicked Dex to the curb. In doing so, she made an enemy out of him. As the years passed, she made numerous mistakes, bad decisions and put trust in the wrong people. When things fall apart, the only person that has the ability to give her the help she needs is the one she alienated. He has power, connections and a past they share. Dex is danger personified. The criminal Underground fear him and for good reason. He’s also possessive and vengeful. If she wants her legacy to survive and for her to survive figuratively and literally, she’ll have to play his game of revenge. Will she get on her knees, beg and use her dark pen to sign a contract with the Devil?
When I saw that the infamous Alta Hensley and Livia Grant were writing a series together, I was so excited to start reading. Dex and Katja have undeniable chemistry that was so magnetic I felt like they were pulling me in too. Their scenes together were oh so delicious and enticing. The emotions that were pulled from me put me on a relentless rollercoaster. The twists and turns had me perched on the edge of my seat. The experience of this book has me so excited for this series. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[Badh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Whitney is one of the premier hotels of New York, but she's showing her age a little bit, mostly since Katja sent Dex away and lost the income he brought into the hotel. It wasn't too bad until her circumstances drastically changed and she discovered she was in huge amounts of debt.

I'm not sure if I like Dex or hate him. I did both at various points in this book. I understand that he was hurt, and frankly, anyone would be after what happened, being kicked out of his home the way that he was, and I understand wanting to get revenge, that doesn't make me like him or hate him, you know? There were times that he was wrong, and that he lashed out. Of course, Katja had those times too.

I am kinda in the same boat with Katja. She lashed out a lot, and most of the time the person didn't deserve it. She would just lash out because she was scared or hurt.

Both characters feel very real and very organic, which is probably why I can't pin down my feelings about them one way or the other.

I can't wait for the next book.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a lot of promise- the premise, the cover, the intrigue and mafia vibes. Unfortunately, I didn't quite enjoy it like I had anticipated. Certainly worth the read for the steamy scenes. Yowzers. And the plot certainly was engaging and unique, but I just couldn't get past my dislike of some the characters. Katja is haughty, selfish, and narcissistic- and the way she sets out to be cruel to others. I can get behind an anti-heroine, but I felt she lacked substance beyond this deranged gossip girl vibe until it was too late for me to be invested in her. And Dex certainly has some great anti-hero, controlling vibes- but his grudge felt too much. And even despite an intriguing plot, I felt there were parts of the story that didn't carry though- not sure if they were unexplained elements or red herrings. Either way, might be a read others enjoy, just didn't quite have the characters and narrative focus I needed to go with the steam.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been a while since I read a Ms. Hensley book. They are just as great as I remember them. This story is filled with betrayal, kinkiness, and twisted love. Full disclosure, I didn't read the blurb. I saw Ms. Hensley's name on the book and picked it up. I went into this story cold and I'm glad I did. The plot is nicely done. The characters... I will leave that up to you to decide.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consequences



I couldn't put it down. Dex Cohen and Katja Belov have plenty of history. Some good, some bad. Their present is marred by deceit, hurt, and revenge.

While I wish the ending had an extra chapter or two with more groveling and making up, I really like the journey. They have plenty of chemistry, challenge one another, and get more wrong than right some days.

Dex Cohen pushes himself into my thoughts, sets up camp, and refuses to leave.
-- Katja Belov

Having read Alta's work previously, I expected this to be darker. There are still plenty of dark elements (and some triggers), but I was pleasantly surprised.

I received an author's copy of the audio book. The narrators are Lynn Barrington and Michael Gallagher. Both were fantastic with their respective primary characters, but when they did each other's character in dual narration... I really wish this had been duet. That is my only complaint.

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sure that if Alta Hensley and Livia Grant collaborated on a book it would be full of twists, turns, sizzle, and crazy steam. What I got was so much more! Dex and Katja although raised by fathers that were business partners and close friends, couldn't have brought up differently. When both their fathers die, they inherit their businesses, and Katja decides Dex's business associates are too unsavory for her. She throws him out of The Whitney, the hotel they both grew up in, but she now owns, and throws him out of her life. When her "husband of convenience" dies suddenly and she discovers the overwhelming pile of debt and various deceptions he left her, she goes to the only one that can help her, Dex. But he has a price. This book is very well paced, has intense sizzle, great steam, drama, and more. Absolutely a 5 star read!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mom2three · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this fabulous book and I'm struggling with how to express how much I loved it. It's not as dark as other books by these two authors but it does have some spanking scenes a dominant alpha male. The blend of heat and heart is perfect, the pace was perfect, the character development was perfect, and there was a HEA. Usually my heart connects to one of the main characters more than it does the other, but the pain, anger, fear, and passion these two each experience made that impossible with this one. They have each suffered and I formed emotional connections with each of them, equally. I loved that they were both very strong-willed and haughty, but that they were also able to heal each other. The one thing I wish there had been a little more of was interactions with the side characters. We get a glimpse of them in the preview to the next story, but there was very little interaction between them and the main characters. I'm hoping to see more of those relationships as well as the relationship between Rowan and Z in the next one.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is this book embodies the "enemies to lovers" trope perfectly! Dex and Katja have known each other since they were kids and they all lived at The Whitney but when her father died, Katja kicked Dex, his father and "Z" out! She married a jerk just for publicity but things go from good to bad in one night. Forced to go to Dex for help, she puts on her big girl panties and asks. Will she go along with what he wants in payment? Oh, this book was riveting from the first page. All is not what it seems at The Whitney and Dex is going to make her pay for what she did, but what he didn't count on was the feelings he developed for her. Lies, betrayal, danger, and all the hot steamy times I expect from these two authors is here. Can Dex and Katja get things sorted out or will they lose each other forever?

[Joyffree · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the better part of 54% of this story, I really did not like either of the main characters
Wait -- Hear me out
Katja was a spoiled egotistical woman who acted as though everyone was beneath her
Dex was a manipulative cold-hearted horses backside who acted as though he was saving Katja from herself (in a way he was but he wasn't)
*note the word ACTED*
The things he made her do - the humiliation he gleeful put her through
Her snobby attitude towards him and her compulsion to seem perfect to the world - at all cost
It did not take long for the lies to become toxic
For secrets to be exposed
Annnnd this is where things got interesting for me

I did enjoy these two - and am looking forward to the next in series
The smoldering angry desire between them
The revenge s -e -x if you can call it that
was HOT AS HADES!

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is amazingly well written. Really, too well written by half for my ultimate comfort. It digs deep into humiliation territory, and I spent too many years being raised to be a perfectionist to be able to handle that emotion easily. In fact, I spent two thirds of this book twisted in knots, the tension coiled tight like a spring in my body, because it was so easy to see myself in Katja’s place. For the most part I liked Dex. He's ruthless, but honorable in his own way. I felt singed by the chemistry between them even though it pushed me so far outside my comfort zone. Now, I'm very curious to see where this series is going to go next.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the authors.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katja is a spoiled brat and kind of hard to like. Dex was great. They both lived in the Whitney when their fathers were in business together. Once they died she kicked Dex out. When you husband dies she needs help and turns to Dex thinking he will help her and maybe a payout also. She thought she could manipulate him, she was wrong. Dex sees this as an opportunity to get back the hotel and revenge on Katja. This writing team creates some wonderful stories. This one has so many aspect to it and I could not stop reading. I am looking forward to more books from this team and individually.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Corinne Akers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil’s Contract

This is exactly what I needed to fall back in love with reading again. I’ve been having a bad year so far between books not measuring up to what I expected, and personal life devastations I just found no joy in reading over the past six weeks. But this book put the joy of reading back into my heart. I loved Katja and Dex’s story. This book was so compelling and so interesting that it kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what was gonna happen next. I love a good enemies to lovers story and this one paid off big. I had to recommend reading this book. I know I’m going to go and get booked too and read the next one in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hype over this book is genuine!
There are some books worth missing sleep over and this is one of them. Even when I put this book down late at night to go to sleep, my mind would not shut down thinking of all the ways Katja’s life becomes out of kilter with Dex at The Whitney. I love how the plot twists and weaves pulling you in to Katja and Dex’s story. If I could give this one more than 5 stars, I would most definitely!

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I decided on two things: that I was going to follow the authors Alta Hensley and Livia Grant from now until forever as I love their writing style, and that I am now obsessively waiting for the next book in the series - which continues an offshoot story of two of the minor characters. Oh and I love Dex - so that's three things.