Luxe

The Baxter Billionaires #1

by Daisy Allen

Impending, inevitable heartbreak never felt so good...

The first time I met Damien Baxter it ended in me telling him to go eff himself.

The second time I met him, I almost slapped him across the face after he made me cry.

Third time’s a charm, right?

Wrong.

But I have no choice, I’m stuck shadowing him for the next two months. And if I want to achieve my dream of getting into the Ph.D. program I've worked toward my whole life, then I’m going to have to suck him up.

It.

Suck it up.

If he has his way though, the only thing I’m going to be learning from him is how to have my body ravaged and my heart broken.

Then why can't I just say no?

Luxe is the first book in Daisy Allen's hot new billionaire romance series - The Baxter Billionaire.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Smut

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2022

Reviews

[Morgann Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

this gets a no from me...

the storyline was all over the place and I just never connected with the plot or characters.

also, I was not expecting that level of smut... holy. don't get me wrong, i find it very entertaining to read, but this book was excessively smutty. i feel like they had sex more than they talked.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 15%. It’s the overly peppy and “I can tell you off without consequences” heroine and asshole billionaire who yells at everyone. Ugh.

Add that he’s a total manwhore who touches himself in public and can’t go one day without getting laid, even when he’s attracted to the heroine.

It’s just not worth continuing.

[livy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite comfort reads❤️‍🔥

Billionaire romance, grumpy x sunshine, boss x worker…this book was so good I couldn’t stop! I love the betrayal scenes, I love how she stands her ground and doesn’t take his crap, and I love how the book starts out! It has you IMMEDIATELY HOOKED.

One of my favorite things in this book were their “emails” to each other, like HOW CUTE!! If you love love love Billionaire romance, give this book a read:)

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an overused category (billionaire romance), but I liked the h, who consistently stood up for herself. The H was obsessed and besotted and did at least one idiotic thing at the end, but he groveled convincingly. I give it 3.75 stars.

[Kirstin Culp · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book made me want to pull my hair out. now don't get me wrong I've read books that were so boring I've almost fallen asleep. I've also read books that weren't very good but kept me thoroughly entertained.

this book though? I CRINGED every time the male character said anything, or thought anything, or breathed. the female main character? If I was her friend I would have slapped her in the face. the only characters I liked were the brothers, her friends, and her coworker.

the romance? GAVE ME NOTHING.

the smut? EVEN THAT DIDNT GIVE ME ANYTHING, because even when I was like "here we go" THEY SPOKE AND I WANTED TO GAG.

I couldn't do it, but I finished this book anyways mainly so I could count it towards my reading goal.

the conflict? PISSED ME OFF. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

I am so disappointed, I wasn't even expecting this to be good and it STILL DISAPPOINTED ME.

[evelynn kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my 2nd book in a row where the MMC has been named Damien and also sucked🤦🏼‍♀️

Plot ⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Vibes 👏🏻👏🏻
Dual 1st person POV - My-Linh & Damien

TLDR review: the MMC sucked and the plot was all over the place. Not enough groveling. Had to hate-finish the book to see how certain things ended up. Probably should've just DNFd.

Full review: Like I said, I hate-finished this book. The MMC absolutely sucked. He didn't see our FMC as something other than a sexual object for over half the book. His mommy issues could power a small country and ofc can't have a relationship and has to put the business first, always, and avoid a relationship bc of said mommy issues. He's got a bad temper and thinks he can disrespect anyone beneath him because his time is worth more than theirs - this doesn't change for the entire book. He's selfish, egotistical, and needs a therapist BADLY. I could keep going or you can scroll through my highlights for a laugh if you want.

The final conflict was frustrating and My-Linh was absolutely correct at calling his bullshit - if he wanted her, he'd fight harder and figure out a different solution. Then after a month of separation (which is about how long they were together for🙄), he fixes the 3rd act issue, throws a romantic gesture, and proposes. As if that fucking fixes everything. I'm mad but not so mad about this as I was about Deadly Illusions (the other Damian book I reviewed yesterday) because My-Linh is kick-ass and way too good for Damien. This is a book where I absolutely think after 6 months, she's dumping his ass for someone who knows how to properly communicate and not act like a child when things don't go his way.

Lastly, there are so many punctuation errors and missing commas. Like way too fucking many, it was very annoying.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, smutty little story.

Messy structure and so many random plot twists, but what can I say I’m a sucker for them!
Easy quick read, love me some billionaire office love stories.

**UPDATED REVIEW** 02/JAN/24
I wrote my first review, hungover from NYE and extremely tired - but now I've been able to think on it more here are my actual thoughts.

I still stand by the messy structure, and so many different plots coming into play that were just thrown in and then disappeared. Like... give me some background, some context?
Though these little reads, are sometimes what gets be through reading slumps (I am still currently in a massive one)

It was strange having a book set in Australia (where I am from) because reading about the suburbs and street names made this book feel too real and the one reason I read is for the stories to take me to another place and pretend I can live that life.

The growth Damien had; was one super cute and super needed. I will also stand by the fact that people need love in their lives and not to just be a workaholic and live and breath the corporate world and making sure you stay at the top. The right emotional support through life can really make a person strive.

My-Linh was sweet and a unique character, she did give a little vibe of trying to fix him but also trying to show him the love he deserves. I'm glad she did have the right attitude to walk away from things when she knew they would hurt her (mostly, but we are all human).

Also the plot twist with who the professor was, that was completely underplayed and I wanted more context around it - so random, but also like coincidence?

I may potentially read the other Baxter Boy stories later on when I have nothing else to read (which is rare because my TBR is skyrocketing) but again I feel like these types of stories just repeat themselves but just have other peoples names.

[anna. ׂׂૢ · Rating 2 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ⋆ ⋆ ´ˎ˗

﹌﹌﹌
2 stars! My-Linh is unique in every way. I adore her demeanor because she has a personality that brightens the space. She was courageous because, when necessary, she stood up for herself. Damien was stubborn and occasionally an idiot, but I suppose he made up for it. I wouldn't read this book again because it was so monotonous, but there were some interesting sections as well.

﹌﹌﹌

[Danielle Lashmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to connect with this book, but once I did - I was hooked. I’m not a huge fan of billionaire romances but I truly enjoyed this one. I really liked that there ended up being a lot of depth to the Alphahole MMC and I love the snarky, original, realistic FMC.

My-Linh is a student looking to apply to the PhD program but her ideas lack the “bigger-picture” that her professor believes she needs so he recommends her towards a paid internship for a few months at Baxter Enterprises under the leadership of one of the Baxter Brothers, Damien.

Tropes:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Insta-love
Opposites Attract

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

This is the first of the Baxter Billionaires series but can be read as a stand-alone. If you like Billionaire romances and SMUT, I recommend this! I will be reading the next book and can’t wait to find out which Baxter brother it will be next.

Special thanks to the Author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Samama Reza · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, someone pat me on the back. I can't believe I finished the whole book even after it made me cringe so many times - every time Damien called My-linn Kitten specifically. Although the story was all smut and bad decisions, I kind of enjoyed it?

I hated Damien Baxter's temper though - but loved his money. hehe. And of course, his personality and expressions of love blah blah blah.

The ending was shocking and adorable, I enjoyed it so... 2.7 stars.

[Air Loves to Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 44%

I was interested and planning on finishing the book and then he called her a slut and my interest was gone. I get being jealous and even using ‘slut’ in a sexual manner (some people like that), but never in a derogatory way.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 36% - I just couldn’t read this anymore…

[Neni]

Dnf at 28%

I couldn’t do it.I couldn’t keep reading about a h who gets insulted and humiliated by her boss and she is “angry” with him yet she asks him to fuck her every damn second.Also the h was engaged to some douche before and she found out he’d been sexting with another girl for six months and what did she do?Instead of punching him and breaking up with him instantly she stayed with him FOR FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED HE CHANGED meanwhile the second chapter of the book is about her going out with her friends and coming across the ex-fiancé who was out with that girl he’d been sexting.Not only that but after finally breaking up with him the fmc felt GUILTY because she felt like she was the one that had given up on their relationship.Like.What.The.Fuck?Don’t you have any ounce of self respect and can’t you fucking see what was going on around you???Last but not least the first time the main characters met the H gets super interested and attracted in the h and then after insulting her and offering her a thousand dollars just to make up for it he asks her to go out on a date saying that “He’ll eat her for dessert.”.(cringe)The h took the money however that date never happened.Then they meet a year after that and the h starts working at his company and after THREE WEEKS or maybe more I’m not sure the mmc still haven’t remembered her.He thinks that she’s familiar but he can’t figure out when he met her.Then the h finally tells him about the time they first met and he tells her that he has been imagining her and wanting her like crazy ever since.If that’s true then why on earth didn’t he realize who she was???

[anonym · Rating 1 out of 5]

zero stars. but that’s not possible so one star.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance: ★★★☆☆
Spice: ★★★☆☆
Story/Plot: ★★☆☆☆
Trope: Grumpy × Sunshine, Boss × Employee

Not as good as I thought it would be.

I saw this book being recommended by a certain user on TikTok and I got interested with the FL and ML banters but when I started reading the book— uh... no.

─•~❉᯽❉~•──•~❉᯽❉~•──•~❉᯽❉~•─
Characters:
Hero : Damien Baxter
Heroine : My-Linh Tran

Dr. Baxter's student My-Linh Tran was sent to Baxter Enterprises to improve her skills. Her first meeting with the CEO did not go well, prompting her to refer to him as a twinckled*ck. Without much of a choice, they eventually came to an agreement and sealed it with a pinky promise. She returns to the company and works as a good intern for two months.

Damien Baxter is a cold-blooded, grumpy CEO. Everyone is afraid of him, except My-Linh. Her confidence aroused him. She even surprised him by joining him on the elevator, which no one else does in the building. He can't stop the growing lust in him with each encounter they had. He wanted to own her and use her body in every way possible. He likes her and desires her.

With this and his booty calls, they used each other’s body to release heat. She agrees to go wherever and whenever he wants. But he made it clear that the one thing he does not want is monogamy. What happens between them goes on for months until it has to be stopped one day. My-Linh needed to choose and Damien’s not brave enough.
─•~❉᯽❉~•──•~❉᯽❉~•──•~❉᯽❉~•─

The book is told from different points of view, but as I previously stated, it is not as good as I had hoped. It lacks plot and excitement, and Damien's only concern is s*x, whereas My-Linh wants a serious relationship. In public, he even touches himself! He's a manwhore who can't go a day without getting laid. If this is well written, and if the character connects with the reader, I would've given it a four.

[Samantha Mercer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book but it did start to drag on and become a bit monotonous to read. But then at the end everything was very rushed. I kept looking at how many pages were left and wondered how they were going manage to wrap up the story. The answer is we didn’t get to see a lot of it happen, we just got Damien’s cliff notes version of what happened. I don’t feel like there was a satisfying conclusion.

Potential spoiler, but when Damien found out that Adam was her ex-fiancé, it was over very quick and was unsatisfying. I also felt that she took him back way to quick at the end. His grand gesture was great but I don’t think it made up for leaving her the way that he did.

Also, him calling her a slut because she was dancing with her friends almost made me DNF the book. Trying to slut shame her, particularly when they weren’t even exclusive yet, was a bit much for me.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing for this was pretty good. I really liked Damien and My-Linh’s relationship, and My-Linh’s quirky personality. I did feel like the story kinda jumped around a bit but it was still enjoyable. Thank you to the author for letting me read this!

[Sho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be very clear: this gets a 4 from me because of the smut. There are an insane amount of typos and grammatical errors. I’m left wondering: who edited this book? And did they not have access to basic spellcheck? Who is this editor living in the dark ages?

[Cass_saag · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated this book

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

enemies to lovers>>>>>>

[Larissa Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all of the books in this series. They all have me gripped to my seat and trying to figure out what's gonna happen next!

[Libby Mokrycki · Rating 1 out of 5]

The heck is this. DNF.

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Ellisha Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this was just a filler book for me. Not the best book or story, but not the worst either! There were some parts of the story that I liked, but overall I found it quite drawn out and long-winded! The story probably could’ve finished around the 60% mark and we wouldn’t have lost much :/. I knew this book was going to be smutty, but I felt like some of these parts were unnecessary and quite unoriginal. Each one was almost a copy of each other - the only thing that changed was the dialogue and location!

Regardless of this, if you are looking for an « easy » reader or a book to fill the gap between more challenging books, this will be right up your street!

[Neve Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as i expected. I was a little underwhelmed. I loved how the plot was brought together at the end however it wasn’t a book that i couldn’t put down. I have read romances which I have engaged with more. Although saying that it was a good book, and had some spice.

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like how Damien neglected to at least text her & say that the weekend trip was off - but now he's moaning & groaning w/a fever & she's taking care of him like what he neglected to was is a good enough excuse? Yeah, no, not cool. She's being too forgiving for his behavior -

Good, she ditched his ass - well deserved honeslty- he'll have to do some much needed groveling to get her back.

Wow, seriously, pulling the catty blackmailing ex back in to force his hand into literal marriage, not cool yall, not coll. Poor my ling

Glad he pulled his head out of his ass but really, he went along w/engagement to his ex for that long before having his family kick his assnback into gear?

[kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf at 48%

[allysbookalley · Rating 2 out of 5]

All that pain, and he gets forgiven in two chapters? Nope. 🙅‍♀️

I started Luxe by Daisy Allen enjoying it. The vibes were great, the banter was fun, and I was fully invested in My-Linh’s story. I laughed, I smiled, I even swooned a little—but by the end? I was just angry. Like, full-on growling-through-my-teeth-just-trying-to-finish-it angry.

Let’s talk about My-Linh first—because this woman went through a lot, in the final stretch of the book. Out of nowhere, it felt like the author just decided to throw every dramatic twist possible at her all at once. One thing after another, and I was just there feeling appalled at what was suddenly going on but trying to push through.

And then there’s Damien. Near the ending, this man. Disappears for ONE MONTH. No texts, no calls—nothing. Just absolute radio silence while My-Linh is falling apart. And we’re expected to just accept that he was doing stuff “behind the scenes” for her? No. Sorry. Big no from me. She trusted him, and he left her to pick up the pieces alone. No behind-the-scenes planning excuses that. She was hurting, and he was nowhere.

Sure, he bought the apartment she ended up living in with him probably (and she didn’t even know it until the end when he gave her the key and all his little notes and apologise to her for what he did). Sweet? Maybe. Too little too late? Absolutely. And yes, he also bought the house My-Linh’s parents were renting and tried to give it to them—which, kudos to her parents for rejecting it and saying they wanted to earn it. Respect to them. But still—Damien’s not off the hook for me.

What really pushed me over the edge though? The lack of groveling. The man shows up, explains himself, says sorry, drops a few grand gestures, and then proposes (it seemed like it based on the description, and I’m severely hoping I am wrong). Just like that. TWO CHAPTERS. That’s all it took. And suddenly everything’s forgiven, and we’re back to sunshine and rainbows? What the actual hell?

Also—don’t even get me started on the “he would have chosen My-Linh if he had a choice.” He did have options! And he chose his company. He had choices and still didn’t choose her. Don’t rewrite that choice just because you regret it now, Damien. His talk with his father being an eye-opener for him afterwards not even enough to making me forgive him.

Honestly, I would’ve been fine—really fine—if we had seen a proper grovel journey. Something stretched out. Something meaningful. Something that actually made me believe he earned her back. But we didn’t get that. Instead, we got a rushed, one-scene “I’m sorry,” and suddenly we’re all supposed to be okay?

Well, I’m not okay. I’m annoyed. Frustrated. Disappointed.

I laughed during this book, and I genuinely enjoyed a good chunk of it. But that ending soured the whole thing. The way My-Linh’s pain was brushed aside like it barely mattered? The way Damien just got everything handed to him in a neat little bow without truly working for it? It didn’t sit right with me.

So yeah, it’s a 2-star read for me. Not because the whole book was bad—it wasn’t—but because the ending made me feel like My-Linh’s hurt was nothing. And I can’t just smile and move on when the book ends like that. I wanted closure. I got a rushed apology and a ring.

And now I’m closing the book still fuming.

[Jessica Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Up and Down

I was so up and down with this book.


Spoilers ahead!!!!






So first, he didn't even remember her from a year ago, which annoyed me mostly since he seemed so enthralled by her. Then, he only wants her body essentially.

I don't like that red flag as it was, but I kept reading, cause there's redemption in greed.

Then, he finally declared how he felt for her all because of her near death experience. Which was cute, but sooooo cliche.

But I was happy. I was like, yeah. It's nearly over, they get a HEA after their work finds out.

Wrong.

Freaking Clarissa. Ugh.

That was a red flag. The queen of red flags. He took her deal without even asking for time to consider it. Like ask for time, talk to ML and then go from there. But Nooooooooo!!! God forbid he thinks of her and asks for her help in something that affects them both!!!!

I almost rage quit at this point. I don't like that he did that so easily. The business coming before his love just pissed me off.


But then he somehow, SOMEHOW, won my heart back. I'm annoyed with it. Royally.

Also, loved the plot twist at the end.


Spoilers over.


Overall, I liked this book and highly recommend it if you like feeling rage for men only to forgive them completely in the end and live HEA. :)

[Khushi Saha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm almost finished with this book and I have to say, it took me a bit to get into it because I was so annoyed by how cheesy the FMC character is. I wanted to push through bc I wanted to read a grumpy sunshine, but my goodness, some of her thoughts or one-liners were a little cringe-worthy. I do really like the emotional perspective - how the author pulled out and developed the MMC as he gets to know the FMC.
I do enjoy the Asian representation. Though, there is one point that really annoyed me: When the FMC says no self-respecting Asian would eat rice on a plate, or only in a bowl, or something like that. Um, hello, Asia is huge. I'm South Asian and we eat our rice on a plate. So, to the author, please make a distinction. Just say, "no self-respecting Vietnamese person would eat rice off a plate, or whatever." That to me was a little offensive and the author could have strived to do a little better in that area. IF not, then don't write about Asian representation.
Anyway, I'm almost finished. I will update my review once finished if it changes.
Ok I forgot to mention that the mmf knows fragrances … how does he know fragrances/women perfumes? Did his company work with a beauty company that made them in the past? I thought those little tidbits made absolutely no sense when the author sprinkled them in.