Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Billionaires of Boston #4

Black Sheep Bargain

Rate this book
When revenge is on the agenda, anything can happen in this Billionaires of Boston novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone.

The family bad boy is about to make good

But he needs his ex’s help!

Outsider CEO Nico Morgan vowed to avenge his mother, who was left brokenhearted when his father abandoned them years ago. Teaming up with his ex, Athena Evans, to infiltrate his father’s high society circles is the first step. But their partnership unleashes long-buried emotions…and something more. Athena worries Nico’s quest to take down his father’s company won’t fill the painful void in his heart. But what if Athena can…

From Harlequin A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

You’ll be swept away by this bold, sizzling romance, part of the Billionaires of Boston

Book 1: Vows in Name Only
Book 2: Secrets of a One Night Stand
Book 3: The Perfect Fake Date
Book 4: Black Sheep Bargain

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2022

21 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Naima Simone

168 books2,129 followers
Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing “crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil.”

She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
57 (47%)
4 stars
36 (30%)
3 stars
23 (19%)
2 stars
4 (3%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Brandy.
1,260 reviews56 followers
August 23, 2022
I literally ditched work to read this the day it came out (today!) and I’m pretty sure that’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. This book is FILLED with brilliant, thoughtful, flawed, hurting characters who are struggling to find themselves and their place in the world. Yes, I sobbed. Like, full on ugly cry. Totally worth it. Every star I have goes to this book. Now I need to go reread the series and have my heart broken and mended all over again!!
Profile Image for Lacey.
405 reviews137 followers
November 4, 2023
She knocked it out of the park with this one. The plot in this book worked much better than the last Naima Simone title I read. Novellas and short categories are perfect for second-chance romance stories. I also really loved the relationship between the brothers. I really wished that plotline had a stronger conclusion. A four-book storyline and they don't even get an epilogue. 😭
71 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2022
So what happens when the love of your life comes back with a bargain you can't refuse?

Althena is faced with trying to forget loving Nico and winning the love of her family. Nico's bid to destroy the family he resents leads to him making a bargain with her to deceive them.

While playing "pretend" both realize there is nothing fake about the feelings they have for each other.

I have really enjoyed this series and this was the perfect way to wrap it up! What I liked most is that Ms. Simone allowed the brothers to show genuine emotion and love for each other other and the women they fell in love with .

I also love that she showed some of the complex relationships that people have with their families, and how sometimes we struggle with "not being enough."

I took a star off because I felt like since it was the end of he series I needed an epilogue for all of the characters, and because I just don't think anyone not in their early teens should be called "baby girl." ha ha

I always enjoy this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2,740 reviews127 followers
August 20, 2022
Whoa, baby.

Naima Simone’s Black Sheep Billionaire is the fourth and final story in the Billionaires of Boston series from Harlequin Desire. And boy does Ms Simone bring her A-game!

Nico Morgan essentially blackmails his ex-girlfriend into being his current fake fiancée so he can ultimately avenge his mother’s untimely death. But we all know that Nico and Athena Evans still harbor some deep feelings for each other, despite their vehement declarations to the contrary. And their backstories? Ms Simone rips our hearts out and brings allllllll the feels!

Black Sheep Billionaire is a fantastic read. Ms Simone immerses readers in the majestic and glittering world of the wealthy and fabulous, and the heated passions that drive them. And the incredible satisfaction when love does illuminate the truth and gives them hope and freedom and everything their hearts have desired…. Naima Simone can really bring the best (and worst) of families vividly to life, and Black Sheep Billionaire encompasses it all! Don’t miss this series or this read! This one is a winner!
Profile Image for Nadia Latai (Nadiasbookishworld86).
614 reviews58 followers
October 27, 2022
Black Sheep Bargain - Naima Simone ❤️❤️💋💋🔥

Nico has a score to settle. Pain and abandonment has pushed him to unthinkable heights. Athena is his ex that broke his heart but also the one he can’t stay away from. When they team up with a plan to help both of their dilemmas can they save their hearts from falling back into familiar territory?


This series was absolutely needed and well written ! Book 4 was full of the drama and emotion and love that I needed. I loved Nico so much! The wounded, angsty business man who’s tough of the outside, a big softy on the inside. Each story digs into each Billionaire and their own personal journeys filled with turmoil. Deception and heartbreak make for an incredible story and I ate it up with a spoon….

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Profile Image for Mel.
1,694 reviews4 followers
October 6, 2022
I liked this book well enough but I do think it needed an epilogue, especially for being the book to wrap up a 4 book series. I liked the 2 MCs but I wanted more of a resolution with Athena and her family situation and the bakery that could've been addressed in a down the line epilogue that sort of touched on all the couples featured in this series. Otherwise it was good, just the ending felt a little bit incomplete.
Profile Image for Aly.
2,920 reviews86 followers
October 6, 2022
3.5

I want to start with the cover because how refreshing to see again a male model with body hair on his chest (can't remember the last it happened🤣).

How did Athena Evans ended up saying yes to playing fake fiancé for her ex for the next 3 months ? Because he made her an offer she tried to refuse first😉, but thanks to the selfish brother who inherited the bakery that she manages from A to Z, if she wants to pay the debts and keep the business, she had to became a part of Nico's plot for revenge on his late father's company.

For the most part I enjoyed Athena and Nico's story but with the bitter feelings about their past history, I found the ending and their profession of love a bit rushed (and there was no epilogue).
45 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2024
The book was overall fine, but lacked depth. I agree with another poster that Athena ends up being a lot less of a doormat than expected from the blurb, but everything about the book felt like it could have been taken a layer deeper. The deepest and most full of feeling conversation happens between Athena and her mother at the bakery and I wish this book had a lot more of that. It’s not a bad book, just could have been better with some more details.
Profile Image for Lori Byrd.
681 reviews26 followers
December 11, 2022
Nico is damaged as he feels abandoned by his dad. Athena is damaged as she was adopted and will never really be part of the family. Between the 2, sparks fly and they just need to fit in. Can they find it together? What do they need to do to repair themselves? Maybe both together can figure it out in this really great read. I loved it.
824 reviews5 followers
May 1, 2023
Nico and his brothers and his love, Athena

Great book! One man, Barron Farrell, produced 4 sons, all brothers, basically unknown to each other except when Barron died and the will was read. But it still didn’t mention the “Black Sheep” of the book, Nico.
Nico loved Athena but didn’t know how to love Athena because he was still trying to get even with the dead, his father.
Profile Image for Aisha.
475 reviews17 followers
October 27, 2022
4.5 stars.

FULL REVIEW HERE:
https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-bl...

A Revenge/Blackmail/Fake engagement story? I’m in!!

Nico Morgan is about to fulfill his goal, avenge his mother by destroying his late father’s company, and he needs a fiancée to convince his half brothers that he’s a good, settled man while he anonymously buys stocks to gain control of the company. Enters Athena Evans, his ex, as part of the plan. But how would he convince her to be his fake fiancée? By blackmail!!

Part of Nico and Athena’s issues had its roots in Nico’s resolve to not let anybody in and Athena’s loyalty towards her adoptive family. Once they’re back together as a fake couple, sparks fly between them. At first, it’s a very palpable animosity, then a scorching passion. You can relate to every emotion these two shows through the plot. And that’s the best of this book—a so hot, intense and credible romance capable of making you feel it as your own.

The fourth and final installment of the Billionaires of Boston is a roller coaster of emotions as you travel through the main characters’ feelings and struggles. I loved Nico and Athena’s journey to happily-ever-after. This complex characters with their flaws and virtues having the happiness they deserve is a must read for every romance books lover.
Profile Image for BreakingtheEpigraph.
1,282 reviews14 followers
December 17, 2022
What a bargain he made.

The final book of Naima Simone’s 𝐵𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛 series is a fake relationship romance. Nico Morgan mind is on revenge and to pull off his plan he needs a fiancée. Who better than his ex-girlfriend, Athena Evans. Nico plans to kill two birds at one time. However, things aren’t going to go as planned. Nico will obtain more than he bargained for when he's confronted and accepted by Achilles, then Cain and Kenan.

Barron Farrell was a rotten person; however, the men he left behind have proved to be far greater than him. Athena has given her all for her family when they have not given her one thought. This second time around with Nico might shed some light on what Athena has kept in the dark. A great read, and from my perspective, Nico and Athena balanced each other.
156 reviews
November 3, 2022
The fourth and final story in the Billionaires of Boston and it didn't disappoint, and Naima Simone never does. The main focus here is Nico Morgan and his ex-lover Athena Evans. Nico desperately wants to get back at his estranged father who he felt wronged him and his mother even though that father is now dead. So, he approaches his ex-Athena with a proposal help him get revenge or the family will lose their business. What I liked most about this story is that both Athena and Nico learned to get out of there on way for Athena growing a backbone and standing up to her family not taking Randall's crap anymore and Nico no longer being scared to love and let love in and leave the past in the past.
Profile Image for Mattie.
1,982 reviews8 followers
November 26, 2022
It was ok, the chemistry between hero and heroine was very believable. I liked the hero and how no matter how much he didn't want to fall for heroine again he couldn't help himself. I liked that hero was celibate for the 3 year separation. Heroine was nice and a good person, however I could not stand the heroine letting her family take advantage of her constantly. Oddly I felt hero deserved so much better than her (usually it's the other way around), his recall of how she treated him and put her horrid family first every time. It ended good but wish there was an epilogue. Np.
Profile Image for Dar.
4,529 reviews92 followers
February 11, 2023
Ah, the wonderful second chance-fate relationship to carry out revenge! Nico and Athena had more chemistry then they knew how to contain, but the hurts they caused each other still sting. Worse than that, family issues, for both of them, in different ways, have jaded how they view love. Watching them open up only to shut down again had me aching for them, and even when it all seemed to be working out, it still fell apart. Once these two got their own emotions in order, then they were able to make the commitment to each other they so desperately wanted <3
8 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2022
Loved the fourth book in this series. It was so about the story of Nico and Athena’s relationship but also about families. This was a great ending to the series - Billionaires of Boston.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.