The Billionaire's Courage

The Billionaire #10

by MacKenzie Stowe

“You are one hell of a kisser. I want to know what else you're good at.”



Working at Eric’s bar was supposed to be about an obligation.

A promise I made to a friend.

I never expected or wanted to be attracted to my best friend’s brother.

Too bad he doesn't want anything to do with me.

Until one night, one reckless kiss, changes everything,

Now, he's all I can think about.

And all that I want.





There is no one more off limits than Grace.

But that doesn’t make me want her any less.

Being with her should be wrong.

But it feels so right.

Now that she is in my arms.

I will do whatever I have to do to keep her safe.

Because I can’t lose another woman that I love.

The Billionaire’s Courage is a best friend's brother steamy military romance with plenty of heat with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhangers.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Amazon

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2023

About the author

MacKenzie Stowe began her love of reading and writing when she was very young. A hopeless romantic she likes to write stories about hot handsome men and the strong women who tame them. She loves her boyfriend, chocolate, wine and her animals but not always in that order. She is happily living in Sunny Southern California as she thinks up her next romantic story

Reviews

[Meenal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb is lackluster, but the last line is catchy. The trope is one of my favourites, but it isn't a good read. The cover isn't appealing. This is the ninth book in the Billionaire series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. The title isn't fitting because Eric is pretty courageous anyway. He needed to grow tenderness instead.

This is a slow-burn romance. It's bearable, but not enjoyable. The writing is good, but the plot isn't. There are several dialogues ending with "he/she/Logan said." Instead, synonyms for "said" could've been used. The character development feels incomplete. 

I'm mad at his friends for not letting Grace know Eric was behind her and goading her into confessing her feelings. I'd be furious in her position. I'd break up with Eric and block all the boys. That scene just didn't sit right with me.

It had the potential to be a decent story had the plot been more refined and the distracting secondary characters done away with. It felt very rushed and unrealistic. I wouldn't recommend it.

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

[H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story, no cliffhanger, and it has a HEA. It's dual point of views.
The main character are Eric (M) and Grace (F). Eric is Grace's best friend's brother.

Eric is a former Navy Seal that owns bar with his two best friends, Logan and Brody, who are also former Navy Seals. They opened up their bar in honour of Lauren, Eric's sister, who was murdered. Eric wanted to stay close to New York, where Lauren was murdered, so he would be up to date with any developments with her case. Unfortunately, there were no leads for over a year.

Grace works in Eric's bar because she recently got divorced. She's perfectly content with how her life is now. Grace works at Eric's bar as a bartender. Everybody in her life is kind of pushing her to be and do more than be a bartender even though she is doing what she wants.

Eric decides to hire a private investigator to see if they can dig up more information about what happened to Lauren. Eventually, they are able to get a lead on a guy who could have been involved in Lauren's case. The private investigators then notice that he had been following Grace around recently. So protecting Grace becomes everybody's top priority.

I didn't like the ending and I felt like it was rushed. There are still questions I have that were never answered. That's why I gave it a four star rating.

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

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Grace and Eric's story and the intensity between them is off the charts. However, their misguided belief that the unsolved murder of his sister, Lauren somehow stands between them stalls their relationship.

Grace, having divorced her no good professor husband, has come back home to lick her wounds. She takes the job as bartender to give her time to figure out what direction to take her life in and to feel closer to Lauren.

Grace is the opposite of Eric. She is chatty, open, sociable and easy to like. Excellent qualities for bar work and soon makes her a favourite. Eric, on the other hand, is the guarded, strong silent type. Grace takes his silent, intense glares as a dislike of her when in fact Eric just can't take his eyes off of her.

I love MacKenzie's world building and characters. This is a standalone but happily revisits some of her previous characters.

Another fantastic addition to MacKenzie's library.

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

[Floraljoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start:
There was quite a bit of crossover with prior books even though this was the first of the current series. I hadn't read all of these other books so some of the couples were new to me and at times I felt as if I was missing something. However it was still an enjoyable book and could technically be read as a standalone.
Grace and Eric were both quite stubborn and clashed, yet they made a cute couple and I was glad that they finally worked things out. It was a sweet romance with some drama and spice. Some of the dialogue felt stilted and I didn't feel as close a connection to the characters as I would have liked. Overall I enjoyed the suspense and mystery aspects and thought this added a necessary dimension to the story. However I thought the ending was rather abrupt and not everything was explained regarding the suspect which was a bit of a let down.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that I do think was a better read if you have read the previous books in the series if you hadn't you may have been lost at times. A wonderful read about two people Eric a former Navy Seal now bar owner who is obsessed with the murder of his sister Lauren and getting to the bottom of it The main female character is Grace is a newly divorced bartender in his bar There is an attraction between them but neither really act on it Until a PI discover a lead in the murder of Lauren and that the suspect is now following Grace. With Eric and his felloe bar owners (former Seals also) now in protection mode can they get answer and can Grace and Eric get a HEA You will have to read to see

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric and Grace face many obstacles in this story. Her best friend and his sister was killed which brings them together but keeps them apart. Guilt, fear, secrets, and danger make them fight for each other while building a relationship. Grace thinks he’s overprotective and overbearing: she’s also attracted to him. He feels the same attraction but feels unworthy.
MacKenzie does a wonderful job developing this complex story with great characters and settings. The use of characters from other books extends the family theme and builds on their world. She’s really good at orchestrating spicy explicit sex scenes!! Love this series.

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

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 10th book in this incredible series, and this is Grace and Eric’s journey. Eric and his seal friends opened a bar, and he is focused on finding the person responsible for his sister’s murder, and Grace has moved for a fresh start after her divorce, and she starts to work in the bar, and she was Eric’s sister’s best friend. When Grace could be in danger, Eric will do whatever he must to keep her safe and protected. This is a well written action packed, emotional roller coaster, with suspense, danger, intrigue, romance, family, friendships, drama, loss, grief, challenges, secrets, healing, and love, which leads to an entertaining and steamy addictive page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the narration of both AJ Clarke and JD Tomlinson

With his ex Navy Seal friends Eric opened a bar. Having the bar has not stoped him looking for the person who murdered his sister Lauren.
Grace was Lauren’s best friend is looking for a fresh start after her divorce, She finds herself working behind the bar in Eric’s bar and is getting her self sorted. Well that was until a kiss and danger comes knocking on her door. The alpha and protector in Eric comes out in full force when he finds out that Grace is in danger.
This book has action, suspense, danger, romance, family, drama, entertaining and steamy.

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

[MoonDust · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so boring, the writing was repetitive and uninspiring. There was no plot and the little plot that was there didn't make sense. Like how did he know about her ex when she never told him?? Why did Lauren get killed? The guy didn't even get caught for the murder? Very unsatisfying ending.

She also had entire chapters where the dialogue was the same thing but just said slightly different. Every time someone said something it was "grace said, Eric said, logan said" like come on be creative.

The third act break up was unnecessary as they were victim blaming her for almost getting killed.

And also this line "our tongues mated" should have just stopped after that.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace and Eric are drawn to each other in this heartfelt story. He is her friend's brother who owns a bar. They don't start off well but as time goes on, they become attracted to each other and when they share a kiss it takes things to a new level. He is determined to find out who killed his sister and when they get a new lead it looks like Grace is in danger. Will he be able to keep her safe and not fall victim like his sister.

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

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace had come back to NY to start over after her divorce. Eric had lost his sister and felt that he needed to move to NY to find her killer. So when Eric and his Navy SEALs brothers decided to open a bar, Grace knew she needed to work there to find herself and be to close to her best friends memory. But what they both got was so much more than they ever expected. Their love gave them a happily ever after and forever. Great book. Can't wait for more.

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

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I love these story. I couldn't put the book down. Great characters that will pull you into their story and pulls at your heart strings. Eric and Grace have great chemistry, and some emotional baggage. This story has drama, heart, love, passion, hope, forgiveness and family. The stories flows effortlessly with a few twists and turns that will keep you glued from start to finish.

[Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace works in a bar and has a crush on her brother's best friend Eric, and they are about to ignore that until they share a kiss.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Eric and Grace and how they are with each other. The push pull secrecy of their relationship was kind of fun but intense none the less.
Well written great characters And interesting. Great work!
This was an ARC and this is my honest review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and entertaining read. This is book ten in this series The Billionaire. The story is easy to follow, the characters are likeable and have a great connection. A good addition to this series.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Portia C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointment

This book was longer than it needed to be. It's full of family and protective friends. It lacks ending. Yes it had an epilogue but it sucked. The concept of the story was just brushed over. All of the chase for nothing except to say he was caught. Wow!!

[Ann-Sofie Hansson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easyread with nice twists and a good storyline. Slowly escaltating to a entertaining end. Good for a rainy day!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and mystery, leave their mark on an at times lackluster story. Stone brings the heartache to a head with Eric and Grace.

[Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

learning to love again

Eric and Grace seem to have a rocky relationship looking from the outside.
Unfortunately, they are very attracted to each other and just can not seem to get and stay on the same page.
Brody and Jared have tried talking to Eric but he is so focused on finding the man who killed his sister, he can not seem to focus on anything else until the unthinkable happens.

I read an early review copy of this book for an honest review.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Eric and Grace. The story keeps us turning the pages with suspense, connection, denial, danger and steam.

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