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Bluewater Billionaires
The Price of Scandal
He didn't kiss me back like a gentleman. No, Derek Price slammed my back into the front door. A beast off his leash. Emily Stanton's perfect life just became a disaster. She has a trust fund brother looking for a handout, a father who is more board member than dad, and a mother who thinks she should give up on this whole billionaire CEO thing and meet a man with a pre-nup and a yacht. Oh, and then there's that "misunderstanding" with law enforcement witnessed by Miami's paparazzi. Now her billion-dollar deal is on the line, and there's a naked man in her bathtub who claims he's going to make all her problems disappear. Charming―and happy to bend the rules when necessary―Derek Price has made a living polishing the tarnished images of the rich and famous. He's never lost, and he never takes clients to bed. Until the dazzling Emily. Derek promised her a win and offered up a lifetime supply of orgasms as part of the deal. But if he can't stop her enemies, he'll end up losing much more than he bargained for. Author An enemies-to-allies-to-lovers workplace romcom with a meet-nude, four lady billionaire BFFs, a hero whose many talents include styling hair and picking pockets, the best dang drag queen brunch in Miami, and a shameless romance novelist cameo.
420 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2019
7315 people are currently reading
13720 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Score
62 books61.1k followersLucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism.
She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.
She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l....
She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.
She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,158 reviews
May 3, 2024
I loved the gender reversal. It’s such a unique idea, and makes for a fantastically refreshing storyline.
Emily is incredibly smart, a scientist and business woman. She wears so many different hats, and excels at all. But when things get dicey, she is hooked up with a babysitter, The Derek Price, think Scandal’s Olivia Pope only a male version of it.
Derek Price is probably the most unique hero I came across in a long time. He is charming, funny, sexy, efficient, a great listener, and gets things done. He is all over Emily’s business and I LOVED it! It’s hard to surprise me, but Derek managed to be unique again and again. He was turned on by Emily’s mind, and thought she was the most interesting puzzle to come his way in a long time.
The chemistry and banter between them was exactly what I love in a rom-com. Not too much, never over the top, just the right amount to make me chuckle and smile. It’s this fantastic balance that keeps me coming back, and also why this author is becoming a favorite of mine.
Now, the only complaint I have is that it took me 13% to get into the story. I actually considered giving up because I wasn’t feeling it. To prevent an actual DNF, I put it down, and picked it up again the next day, and that’s it. Afterwards I wasn’t able to stop thinking about it, much less putting it down. The last 87% were fantastic, and exactly what I hoped this book would be. Entertaining, fun, sexy, full of great characters, and a plot that delivered. A definite recommendation.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
Emily is incredibly smart, a scientist and business woman. She wears so many different hats, and excels at all. But when things get dicey, she is hooked up with a babysitter, The Derek Price, think Scandal’s Olivia Pope only a male version of it.
Derek Price is probably the most unique hero I came across in a long time. He is charming, funny, sexy, efficient, a great listener, and gets things done. He is all over Emily’s business and I LOVED it! It’s hard to surprise me, but Derek managed to be unique again and again. He was turned on by Emily’s mind, and thought she was the most interesting puzzle to come his way in a long time.
The chemistry and banter between them was exactly what I love in a rom-com. Not too much, never over the top, just the right amount to make me chuckle and smile. It’s this fantastic balance that keeps me coming back, and also why this author is becoming a favorite of mine.
Now, the only complaint I have is that it took me 13% to get into the story. I actually considered giving up because I wasn’t feeling it. To prevent an actual DNF, I put it down, and picked it up again the next day, and that’s it. Afterwards I wasn’t able to stop thinking about it, much less putting it down. The last 87% were fantastic, and exactly what I hoped this book would be. Entertaining, fun, sexy, full of great characters, and a plot that delivered. A definite recommendation.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
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November 24, 2021
R A T I N G: 4 stars to The Price of Scandal ★ ★ ★ ★
Emily glared at me. “Why are you here?”.
“If I’m being honest,” I said. “I find you annoyingly irresistible.”
“You can trust me, Emily Stanton, formidable boss, beautiful billionaire, and real live human being.” It wasn’t flowers or a love note but diarrhea medicine that made my heart do a slow, inevitable flip-flop in my chest. God help me. God help us both.
For the sake of all that is lost that might one day be found, I start this review with a minor anecdotal confection. The Price of Scandal was lost to me by fault of my very own deeply flawed book-marking system. I was reeled in by a book I couldn’t even remember the name of. And as the months passed with me hurriedly trying to catch sight of a book that was the equivalent of ‘the one that got away' among of an infinity of romance titles, my hope of ever finding it again crumbled like soft rock with every day without a fruit for my labour. This mini quest bled into the best part of a year. I’m a really excellent wallower (and one who forgets the many resources at her disposal). Very safe to say that I senselessly overlooked a very obvious solution: the reading community. I mustered myself and posted - with the sparse details in my memory bank - about said book on a Goodreads reading forum. Within the span of perhaps a day, a boon arrived in the form of another reader. She found my book. Not my book though I should mention, but one authored by Lucy Score. I had a name, a cover, an author, a premise, and a fully-developed story within. I relaxed a breath of relief and thanked my lucky stars for a mind that uncharacteristically squeezed out a solution; I must have more faith in it. I was grateful to have a neighbourly online community within reach, just a question away. But I have my book, I learned a lesson, I read my book, and now I’ll tell you about all that was found…
This lost-to-found book amounted to a brilliant lavishly-textured getaway that I woke up to thinking about, poring over even as I closed my kindle app for the day The Price of Scandal snared a daily deposit from me, and that was a firm itch to read that challenged a certain side character’s thirst to stun gun any potential adversary. I stand corrected if wrong, but the Bluewater Billionaires venture was dreamed up by a four-person romance novelist ensemble, and Lucy Score kicks off this four-book compendium with an elegant first instalment.
One that features an alpha heroine CEO, who’s both a billionaire powerhouse and a STEM advocate, a truly made-up-of-swoon roguish heartbreaker hero (A Price that certainly is as shamelessly suggestive as a scandal), a moneyed collective of dynamic girlbosses who master their respective disciplines, all laced with quirk, finery, sin, scandal and an entire innovated state-of-the-art neighbourhood dreamed up and realised by this fearless foursome. And all right under the Miami sun.
Lucy Score and her author collaboratives have fashioned a swanky, ritzy miniverse within this fictional pocket of Miami, and Score’s heroine is billionaire bosswoman Emily Stanton; a picture perfectly inaccessible heiress by consensus, a savvy, forbidding leader by trade and the agreeable daughter to an egocentric family. A multiplicity of responsibility comes under running a big, exorbitantly profitable empire and her every waking hour is committed to turning every cog, crossing every ‘t’ and tackling every item on her ruthlessly industrious schedule. Her life is a fine monopoly of carefully planned minutiae, a fast-paced succession of tirelessness.
To marshal the way of a top tier enterprise comes with a slew of sacrifice. But for this worrying workaholic, to stay fifty paces ahead might end her quicker than any other vice. She’s the professional equivalent of a truly busy bee, working herself to unbreathable limits, but when her resolute relationship with the most important thing in her life is challenged by a drug scandal, her undivided attention is about to become very divided. Hands cuffed and photographed by a barrage of the media’s finest during the most pivotal point of her company’s timeline, her attempt to boost visibility backfires. And the Flawless CEO sports a flawed mark against her.
Admittedly, it did take a few chapters to get into the story, but as soon as a trespassing man in the nude, lazily lounging in Emily’s prized tub like a feline content in its own offending comfort, I decided that from then on Derek Price had already snagged himself a seat In my gradually growing index of book boyfriends. I had also decided that meet-nude might just be the new (and favoured) meet-cute. Despite owning a business that caters to public stigma, he’s not quite a ‘cut from the book’ businessman, but it’s his style of damage control that stands between Emily and a potential business career collapse. He’s a transparent but calculating crisis management trader who intends to take the polished, put-together Emily and thaw her chill.
To embark on an edifying show of vulnerability is a very strong ask for someone who’s about as vulnerable as an empress of the wild. While most might crumble in the face of Emily Stanton, public relations maestro Derek Price, rises like a sky-piercing high-rise with every unstinting refusal. I really love that we have a mature romance with leading characters that are above the 30 age bracket. Emily and Derek are strong personalities with strong voices, bustling with stubborn opinion and their exchanges worked with a chemistry that was so satisfying to me. Outside of their personal lives, they’re the types to not be walked over, even with each other. And this book would not have been the same without this dashing gent, because Derek Price falls hard, fast and without an ounce of shame, and honestly, I think I love him a little bit for it.
Emily and Derek are both sharp, proud, confident, exceptionally business-minded characters and are (by every account) the perfect complement to the other. And as pushy and bossy Derek is, I loved the way he wore his self-importance - with swagger and without apology (a personal relish for me to read about such a one who pushes and prods, even as his fiery other dubs him as the enemy). He was also confidently unguarded with a laid-back charm, angsty about Emily’s well-being, and their stern on stern face-offs tightened the sharp hum. Score has whittled up a really well-matched love pair buzzing with chemistry and panache, with supporting cast members imbibed with style, flavour and flair. Emily’s billionaire girlfriends each have distinguishable personalities, and of course, the feminist within smiled proudly at their friendship fidelity and entrepreneurship.
I have a strong preference for heroes that are a debonair and devilishly rakish hybrid, but Derek Price one-ups this by bringing with him the multi-talent side stamp. One such man who takes care of his interest’s bowel needs, dabbles in emergency hairstyling, can pull an outfit together in seconds, and while both passionate and committed to his work, offers a flexible and informal professional environment. His company would be my choice pick over Emily’s Flawlessany day. I besottingly admire and desire a hero with patience, and I think that a willingness to challenge one another is a real character strength within a relationship dynamic. I’m not sure if it’s because these two succeed the NA age range but they’re beyond insecurity and diffidence, and maybe that’s why I relished the to and fro, the back and forth, the confident conversations, because they seem perfectly, suitably ok in their own skin (inner conflict aside).
The book does give us quite a bit to work with in the form of a busy narrative. Emily is a layered character, as is Derek. But for all the book’s expanse, I did find myself wishing for more depth, and the romance itself was in a hurry. The fact that Emily’s the impersonal and unsentimental type, coupled with her circumspect relationship with trust, their first kiss took place within perhaps a day of knowing each other. While the building element of trust offers a layer of intimacy between our leads, I think the author waives a deeper elbow into the story. But seeing as a rom-com isn’t quite the subgenre for depth, I have few complaints. I was also surprised that Emily was blindsided by the identity of the secret saboteur. If it was guessable to me from the start, and for all her tact and acumen, I’m unsure how she missed the betrayal in motion.
I can recall only two books with the reversal of a truly rich heroine as the narrative’s powerhouse, both of which were unsurprising and failed to magnetise. Lucy Score is currently the vessel to outcruise with her wealthy hero/wealthier heroine romance. Plushy, palatial locale, strong character voices, an ingenious billionaire businesswoman heroine who built an extravagant community for her wealth-end mutuals, her bossy handler who’s more tickled pink than intimidated by her billion-dollar big time and some high-society side spectacle that completes the eclectic scene. A real delight and I feel confident to dive into any other Lucy Score novel should my bookish travels take me there.
At the end of the book, the author writes: “If you loved Emily and Derek’s story, please feel free to shout your love to all your bookworm friends about it.” Well, my bookworm friends, I hereby feel a freeness to deliver a platter of candour and hope you take my review as long-distanced call and a media-shy murmur of said love through my pint-sized window. The Price of Scandal reminded me of Sex and the City (otherwise set in Miami) with mature, atmospheric hints of the latter-day 90210. Light, charismatic, elegant and (as our ravishing hero would dare to say with abandon) a delight that dazzles.
C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Swearing. Mentions drugs. Mentions cancer. Also mentions drink driving, alcohol consumption and theft. A few bedroom scenes.
E X T R A_T H O U G H T S:
1) To add on to the trigger warning, I’d like to point out to readers who don’t enjoy acts of invasion, that the male hero does have a characteristic habit of breaking into the heroine’s house. And the first time the heroine finds him in her house, he is very much in his birthday suit using her amenities. Something I also want to point out about that scene is (and while I really like Jane, Emily’s female bodyguard) I was disappointed by being too distracted by a very naked, good looking man to safeguard her charge right away.
2) The business talk does fly over my head but I'm putting that down to excellent research.
3) Also, the text conversation in chapter 38 between Derek and his family is hilarious. I would have enjoyed seeing more of his banter with his family, and I generally I felt that I didn’t get enough from his personal life.
4) I would have also preferred more smut, but what was on-page was really well done.
F A V O U R I T E_Q U O T E S!
Turning to me, she looked up. “Why did you carry my purse this morning?” I glanced down at her as she slid her sunglasses on. “In addition to being perfectly secure in my manhood—should you need an emergency tampon run, I’m your man—I was making sure the world knows who’s the boss.” She pursed her lips, but they fought back, curving ever so slightly. “Do you ever do anything without an ulterior motive?”
“I like to think of it as multi-tasking.”
By the time I was done cracking her lovely, hard-shelled exterior, I had a feeling the world would be falling for Ms. Emily Stanton. I just had to figure out where exactly she kept her humanity hidden.
My client was a motherfucking genius, and if she kept smiling like that, I was going to have a problem not falling hard for her.
“I haven’t made up my mind about you. Until I do, you’re on your own. The boss is plenty impressive on paper. But the real Emily? Beyond the bank statements and the business calendar? She’s the best person I know. And anyone who doesn’t see that doesn’t deserve her.”
“You’re a little mean on your night off. I quite like it.”
“Sometimes I really, really want to punch you. Just one shot in the middle of a sentence. I fantasize about it,” she mused.
Terrifying boss Emily was alluring. Competent CEO Emily was charming. Giddy-in-the-lab Emily was delightful. But this softer side was something entirely different. I was powerless against vulnerable Emily.
The woman was a manipulative liar, and I was already half in love with her. I just needed to be patient, give her enough time with my smoldering sexiness before her resolve shattered.
He grinned and my knees nearly went out from under me. A smiling Derek Price was dangerous, a weapon of mass destruction.
There was something very appealing about Emily Stanton, and it went far beyond her billions.
“Do you still steal?” A smile flickered across his face. “Only when absolutely necessary,” he said, slipping a hand into his suit jacket. Oh, God. “Is that my father’s…”
“Wallet. Yes. It seems he left it behind. Pity.”
“I’m not here to hold your hand through day-to-day operations. I’m here to make the public realize what an intelligent, savvy, interesting woman you are. You don’t invest in businesses, love. You invest in people...."
“I’m Derek Price. Age forty-three. Charming bachelor by choice. I dropped out of college to run a firm that specializes in fixing the damaged images of public figures. I charge exorbitant fees without the smallest measure of guilt because I’m confident that the service I provide is invaluable. I abhor anyone who can’t be bothered to be real. If you’re an asshole, be brave enough to be an asshole.”
She was another loyal follower of Emily’s, which meant there was an interesting woman who earned loyalty from her team under that very shiny layer of polish.
A cigarette dangled indolently from his lips. His hair was thick and dark, curling carelessly on top. The eyes that studied me were a glacier blue. His jaw was aristocratically carved, highlighted by delicate hollows just below breath-taking cheekbones. His lower half was covered under a frothy layer of my own damn Prosecco bubble bath.
A crisis management firm? I didn’t like it. And I really didn’t like anything about Derek Price. He was high-handed. Condescending. Take charge. Sure. Some women liked that. Some women would probably like the naked trespassing, too. But I wasn’t some women. I was Emily gosh darn Stanton, and I was hanging on by my fingernails. Shit. I needed to schedule a manicure.
“How do you feel about being a father?” “I’ll be thoroughly excited when the time comes,” he promised. “I want a family with you, Emily. I want to raise a new generation of pick-pocketing scientists.”
I’d taken a respectable number of women to bed. I thoroughly enjoyed sex. But never in all of my forty-three years had I seen anything as sexy as Emily Stanton, sweaty and victorious on top of me.
‘She shot me a bland look. “Don’t act like you’re not salivating over her.”
“She’s a fascinating woman,” I admitted.
“Said the man fighting boners all day every day.”
“I don’t want to be seen. And I don’t know if I want to be fucked into oblivion by you,” she said, destroying my world with her words.
“With all due respect, darling, you’re a shit liar.”
Her grin was devastating.
My office door opened, and I sensed Derek’s annoying presence. The man oozed some sort of unignorable energy. Daisy would call it Big Dick Energy. “Sleeping beauty,” Derek crooned. That slight accent, like he couldn’t quite commit to British or South Florida, made everything he said sexier. Which annoyed me further.
“No one wants to go up against Emily,” Jane explained. “She’s a shark.” It takes one to know one. And I’d recognized her the second she gave me that frosty ice queen look in her bathroom. That’s what we were. Two sharks circling each other.
“You, Emily Stanton, are one-of-a-kind. It would be a damn shame if you waste one more second of pretending to be something you’re not to make someone else more comfortable. Be yourself in all situations. Wear your red lipstick into the lab. Address your board in kickboxing gear. Take a day off. Cut your damn hair when you feel like it. You’re in charge. And you’re going to win.” I breathed him in. Feeling the sun on my skin. The breeze lifting my new hair. My body warmed at his touch. This all felt so new. There was an energy here. A momentum. A buzz of excitement for what was next.
He tasted like sin. Exactly how I’d predicted and yet somehow more. Everything was more. He didn’t kiss me back like a gentleman. No, Derek Price slammed my back into the front door. A beast off his leash.
“If everyone could see you like this now, they’d fall head over heels for you,” I said, running my fingers over the buttons of her lab coat. “Not everyone,” she said, giving me a pointed look. “Everyone,” I reiterated.
“There you were Friday night running around your house half-naked and needing me. And I forgot. It fell out of my head in a fog of lust and excitement and the egotistical boost of you letting me in. I’m only human, Emily. And the ‘you’ behind those monumental fucking walls is a goddamn miracle. You destroyed me.”
I’d surrounded myself with too many people who didn’t love me, didn’t have my best interests at heart. And that was the price I was paying. But I was finished with that mistake. And now that the purge had begun, I was ready for more. Rock bottom was nothing but a foundation. And I would rebuild. But this time, it would be the life that I wanted.
----------------------------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------
Emily glared at me. “Why are you here?”.
“If I’m being honest,” I said. “I find you annoyingly irresistible.”
“You can trust me, Emily Stanton, formidable boss, beautiful billionaire, and real live human being.” It wasn’t flowers or a love note but diarrhea medicine that made my heart do a slow, inevitable flip-flop in my chest. God help me. God help us both.
For the sake of all that is lost that might one day be found, I start this review with a minor anecdotal confection. The Price of Scandal was lost to me by fault of my very own deeply flawed book-marking system. I was reeled in by a book I couldn’t even remember the name of. And as the months passed with me hurriedly trying to catch sight of a book that was the equivalent of ‘the one that got away' among of an infinity of romance titles, my hope of ever finding it again crumbled like soft rock with every day without a fruit for my labour. This mini quest bled into the best part of a year. I’m a really excellent wallower (and one who forgets the many resources at her disposal). Very safe to say that I senselessly overlooked a very obvious solution: the reading community. I mustered myself and posted - with the sparse details in my memory bank - about said book on a Goodreads reading forum. Within the span of perhaps a day, a boon arrived in the form of another reader. She found my book. Not my book though I should mention, but one authored by Lucy Score. I had a name, a cover, an author, a premise, and a fully-developed story within. I relaxed a breath of relief and thanked my lucky stars for a mind that uncharacteristically squeezed out a solution; I must have more faith in it. I was grateful to have a neighbourly online community within reach, just a question away. But I have my book, I learned a lesson, I read my book, and now I’ll tell you about all that was found…
This lost-to-found book amounted to a brilliant lavishly-textured getaway that I woke up to thinking about, poring over even as I closed my kindle app for the day The Price of Scandal snared a daily deposit from me, and that was a firm itch to read that challenged a certain side character’s thirst to stun gun any potential adversary. I stand corrected if wrong, but the Bluewater Billionaires venture was dreamed up by a four-person romance novelist ensemble, and Lucy Score kicks off this four-book compendium with an elegant first instalment.
One that features an alpha heroine CEO, who’s both a billionaire powerhouse and a STEM advocate, a truly made-up-of-swoon roguish heartbreaker hero (A Price that certainly is as shamelessly suggestive as a scandal), a moneyed collective of dynamic girlbosses who master their respective disciplines, all laced with quirk, finery, sin, scandal and an entire innovated state-of-the-art neighbourhood dreamed up and realised by this fearless foursome. And all right under the Miami sun.
Lucy Score and her author collaboratives have fashioned a swanky, ritzy miniverse within this fictional pocket of Miami, and Score’s heroine is billionaire bosswoman Emily Stanton; a picture perfectly inaccessible heiress by consensus, a savvy, forbidding leader by trade and the agreeable daughter to an egocentric family. A multiplicity of responsibility comes under running a big, exorbitantly profitable empire and her every waking hour is committed to turning every cog, crossing every ‘t’ and tackling every item on her ruthlessly industrious schedule. Her life is a fine monopoly of carefully planned minutiae, a fast-paced succession of tirelessness.
To marshal the way of a top tier enterprise comes with a slew of sacrifice. But for this worrying workaholic, to stay fifty paces ahead might end her quicker than any other vice. She’s the professional equivalent of a truly busy bee, working herself to unbreathable limits, but when her resolute relationship with the most important thing in her life is challenged by a drug scandal, her undivided attention is about to become very divided. Hands cuffed and photographed by a barrage of the media’s finest during the most pivotal point of her company’s timeline, her attempt to boost visibility backfires. And the Flawless CEO sports a flawed mark against her.
Admittedly, it did take a few chapters to get into the story, but as soon as a trespassing man in the nude, lazily lounging in Emily’s prized tub like a feline content in its own offending comfort, I decided that from then on Derek Price had already snagged himself a seat In my gradually growing index of book boyfriends. I had also decided that meet-nude might just be the new (and favoured) meet-cute. Despite owning a business that caters to public stigma, he’s not quite a ‘cut from the book’ businessman, but it’s his style of damage control that stands between Emily and a potential business career collapse. He’s a transparent but calculating crisis management trader who intends to take the polished, put-together Emily and thaw her chill.
To embark on an edifying show of vulnerability is a very strong ask for someone who’s about as vulnerable as an empress of the wild. While most might crumble in the face of Emily Stanton, public relations maestro Derek Price, rises like a sky-piercing high-rise with every unstinting refusal. I really love that we have a mature romance with leading characters that are above the 30 age bracket. Emily and Derek are strong personalities with strong voices, bustling with stubborn opinion and their exchanges worked with a chemistry that was so satisfying to me. Outside of their personal lives, they’re the types to not be walked over, even with each other. And this book would not have been the same without this dashing gent, because Derek Price falls hard, fast and without an ounce of shame, and honestly, I think I love him a little bit for it.
Emily and Derek are both sharp, proud, confident, exceptionally business-minded characters and are (by every account) the perfect complement to the other. And as pushy and bossy Derek is, I loved the way he wore his self-importance - with swagger and without apology (a personal relish for me to read about such a one who pushes and prods, even as his fiery other dubs him as the enemy). He was also confidently unguarded with a laid-back charm, angsty about Emily’s well-being, and their stern on stern face-offs tightened the sharp hum. Score has whittled up a really well-matched love pair buzzing with chemistry and panache, with supporting cast members imbibed with style, flavour and flair. Emily’s billionaire girlfriends each have distinguishable personalities, and of course, the feminist within smiled proudly at their friendship fidelity and entrepreneurship.
I have a strong preference for heroes that are a debonair and devilishly rakish hybrid, but Derek Price one-ups this by bringing with him the multi-talent side stamp. One such man who takes care of his interest’s bowel needs, dabbles in emergency hairstyling, can pull an outfit together in seconds, and while both passionate and committed to his work, offers a flexible and informal professional environment. His company would be my choice pick over Emily’s Flawlessany day. I besottingly admire and desire a hero with patience, and I think that a willingness to challenge one another is a real character strength within a relationship dynamic. I’m not sure if it’s because these two succeed the NA age range but they’re beyond insecurity and diffidence, and maybe that’s why I relished the to and fro, the back and forth, the confident conversations, because they seem perfectly, suitably ok in their own skin (inner conflict aside).
The book does give us quite a bit to work with in the form of a busy narrative. Emily is a layered character, as is Derek. But for all the book’s expanse, I did find myself wishing for more depth, and the romance itself was in a hurry. The fact that Emily’s the impersonal and unsentimental type, coupled with her circumspect relationship with trust, their first kiss took place within perhaps a day of knowing each other. While the building element of trust offers a layer of intimacy between our leads, I think the author waives a deeper elbow into the story. But seeing as a rom-com isn’t quite the subgenre for depth, I have few complaints. I was also surprised that Emily was blindsided by the identity of the secret saboteur. If it was guessable to me from the start, and for all her tact and acumen, I’m unsure how she missed the betrayal in motion.
I can recall only two books with the reversal of a truly rich heroine as the narrative’s powerhouse, both of which were unsurprising and failed to magnetise. Lucy Score is currently the vessel to outcruise with her wealthy hero/wealthier heroine romance. Plushy, palatial locale, strong character voices, an ingenious billionaire businesswoman heroine who built an extravagant community for her wealth-end mutuals, her bossy handler who’s more tickled pink than intimidated by her billion-dollar big time and some high-society side spectacle that completes the eclectic scene. A real delight and I feel confident to dive into any other Lucy Score novel should my bookish travels take me there.
At the end of the book, the author writes: “If you loved Emily and Derek’s story, please feel free to shout your love to all your bookworm friends about it.” Well, my bookworm friends, I hereby feel a freeness to deliver a platter of candour and hope you take my review as long-distanced call and a media-shy murmur of said love through my pint-sized window. The Price of Scandal reminded me of Sex and the City (otherwise set in Miami) with mature, atmospheric hints of the latter-day 90210. Light, charismatic, elegant and (as our ravishing hero would dare to say with abandon) a delight that dazzles.
C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Swearing. Mentions drugs. Mentions cancer. Also mentions drink driving, alcohol consumption and theft. A few bedroom scenes.
E X T R A_T H O U G H T S:
1) To add on to the trigger warning, I’d like to point out to readers who don’t enjoy acts of invasion, that the male hero does have a characteristic habit of breaking into the heroine’s house. And the first time the heroine finds him in her house, he is very much in his birthday suit using her amenities. Something I also want to point out about that scene is (and while I really like Jane, Emily’s female bodyguard) I was disappointed by being too distracted by a very naked, good looking man to safeguard her charge right away.
2) The business talk does fly over my head but I'm putting that down to excellent research.
3) Also, the text conversation in chapter 38 between Derek and his family is hilarious. I would have enjoyed seeing more of his banter with his family, and I generally I felt that I didn’t get enough from his personal life.
4) I would have also preferred more smut, but what was on-page was really well done.
F A V O U R I T E_Q U O T E S!
Turning to me, she looked up. “Why did you carry my purse this morning?” I glanced down at her as she slid her sunglasses on. “In addition to being perfectly secure in my manhood—should you need an emergency tampon run, I’m your man—I was making sure the world knows who’s the boss.” She pursed her lips, but they fought back, curving ever so slightly. “Do you ever do anything without an ulterior motive?”
“I like to think of it as multi-tasking.”
By the time I was done cracking her lovely, hard-shelled exterior, I had a feeling the world would be falling for Ms. Emily Stanton. I just had to figure out where exactly she kept her humanity hidden.
My client was a motherfucking genius, and if she kept smiling like that, I was going to have a problem not falling hard for her.
“I haven’t made up my mind about you. Until I do, you’re on your own. The boss is plenty impressive on paper. But the real Emily? Beyond the bank statements and the business calendar? She’s the best person I know. And anyone who doesn’t see that doesn’t deserve her.”
“You’re a little mean on your night off. I quite like it.”
“Sometimes I really, really want to punch you. Just one shot in the middle of a sentence. I fantasize about it,” she mused.
Terrifying boss Emily was alluring. Competent CEO Emily was charming. Giddy-in-the-lab Emily was delightful. But this softer side was something entirely different. I was powerless against vulnerable Emily.
The woman was a manipulative liar, and I was already half in love with her. I just needed to be patient, give her enough time with my smoldering sexiness before her resolve shattered.
He grinned and my knees nearly went out from under me. A smiling Derek Price was dangerous, a weapon of mass destruction.
There was something very appealing about Emily Stanton, and it went far beyond her billions.
“Do you still steal?” A smile flickered across his face. “Only when absolutely necessary,” he said, slipping a hand into his suit jacket. Oh, God. “Is that my father’s…”
“Wallet. Yes. It seems he left it behind. Pity.”
“I’m not here to hold your hand through day-to-day operations. I’m here to make the public realize what an intelligent, savvy, interesting woman you are. You don’t invest in businesses, love. You invest in people...."
“I’m Derek Price. Age forty-three. Charming bachelor by choice. I dropped out of college to run a firm that specializes in fixing the damaged images of public figures. I charge exorbitant fees without the smallest measure of guilt because I’m confident that the service I provide is invaluable. I abhor anyone who can’t be bothered to be real. If you’re an asshole, be brave enough to be an asshole.”
She was another loyal follower of Emily’s, which meant there was an interesting woman who earned loyalty from her team under that very shiny layer of polish.
A cigarette dangled indolently from his lips. His hair was thick and dark, curling carelessly on top. The eyes that studied me were a glacier blue. His jaw was aristocratically carved, highlighted by delicate hollows just below breath-taking cheekbones. His lower half was covered under a frothy layer of my own damn Prosecco bubble bath.
A crisis management firm? I didn’t like it. And I really didn’t like anything about Derek Price. He was high-handed. Condescending. Take charge. Sure. Some women liked that. Some women would probably like the naked trespassing, too. But I wasn’t some women. I was Emily gosh darn Stanton, and I was hanging on by my fingernails. Shit. I needed to schedule a manicure.
“How do you feel about being a father?” “I’ll be thoroughly excited when the time comes,” he promised. “I want a family with you, Emily. I want to raise a new generation of pick-pocketing scientists.”
I’d taken a respectable number of women to bed. I thoroughly enjoyed sex. But never in all of my forty-three years had I seen anything as sexy as Emily Stanton, sweaty and victorious on top of me.
‘She shot me a bland look. “Don’t act like you’re not salivating over her.”
“She’s a fascinating woman,” I admitted.
“Said the man fighting boners all day every day.”
“I don’t want to be seen. And I don’t know if I want to be fucked into oblivion by you,” she said, destroying my world with her words.
“With all due respect, darling, you’re a shit liar.”
Her grin was devastating.
My office door opened, and I sensed Derek’s annoying presence. The man oozed some sort of unignorable energy. Daisy would call it Big Dick Energy. “Sleeping beauty,” Derek crooned. That slight accent, like he couldn’t quite commit to British or South Florida, made everything he said sexier. Which annoyed me further.
“No one wants to go up against Emily,” Jane explained. “She’s a shark.” It takes one to know one. And I’d recognized her the second she gave me that frosty ice queen look in her bathroom. That’s what we were. Two sharks circling each other.
“You, Emily Stanton, are one-of-a-kind. It would be a damn shame if you waste one more second of pretending to be something you’re not to make someone else more comfortable. Be yourself in all situations. Wear your red lipstick into the lab. Address your board in kickboxing gear. Take a day off. Cut your damn hair when you feel like it. You’re in charge. And you’re going to win.” I breathed him in. Feeling the sun on my skin. The breeze lifting my new hair. My body warmed at his touch. This all felt so new. There was an energy here. A momentum. A buzz of excitement for what was next.
He tasted like sin. Exactly how I’d predicted and yet somehow more. Everything was more. He didn’t kiss me back like a gentleman. No, Derek Price slammed my back into the front door. A beast off his leash.
“If everyone could see you like this now, they’d fall head over heels for you,” I said, running my fingers over the buttons of her lab coat. “Not everyone,” she said, giving me a pointed look. “Everyone,” I reiterated.
“There you were Friday night running around your house half-naked and needing me. And I forgot. It fell out of my head in a fog of lust and excitement and the egotistical boost of you letting me in. I’m only human, Emily. And the ‘you’ behind those monumental fucking walls is a goddamn miracle. You destroyed me.”
I’d surrounded myself with too many people who didn’t love me, didn’t have my best interests at heart. And that was the price I was paying. But I was finished with that mistake. And now that the purge had begun, I was ready for more. Rock bottom was nothing but a foundation. And I would rebuild. But this time, it would be the life that I wanted.
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Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @TheVicarious1
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts
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November 16, 2019
I knew who the bad "guy" was right off the bat which only made Emily's character seem weak.
I mean it's bad enough Score created a heroine who's nothing but an "academic" Barbie, but to also make her lacking in any sort of analytical and intuitive intelligence defeats the purpose of having a female "billionaire". To me, the entire plot was low-key ridiculous and could have been salvaged immediately without the constant "woe is me, my IPO will tank" redundancy.
*sighs*
October 2, 2019
I was completely DAZZLED
I wake up every morning at around 5:00 just to get an hour's reading time in before work. When my alarm went off at 6:00, I had 27 minutes to go. Do I rush to finish? - OR - Do I put it aside and do my weights and stretches? I'm sure most of you would think I'd rush to finish, wouldn't you? Well, my lovely friends, I'm shocked to say it...BUT I EXERCISED INSTEAD!! I know, completely shocking. So shocking that I advised hubby that I might be sick. But, there was a logical reason for my decision. For starters, exercising is good for me (it's taken me a LONG time to admit that). Secondly, if I did the rush job, I would be rushing the high and this book was so BLOODY GOOD and I didn't want to rush that feeling. Thirdly, if I rushed it, then I'd HAVE to write my review straight away and it would be rushed...and I would then be harried...late...stressed...a mess...which would take away my high.
The Price of Scandal was everything I hoped for and more. The characters were interesting, the storyline kept my attention from start to finish and the romance was exactly right for Emily and Derek. This story takes us on Emily Stanton's journey from Scandal to happy ever after.
I absolutely loved that the Bluewater Billionaires are the heroines of the story. It was made even better by having a supporting cast made up mainly of successful women. Now, these successful women are not all corporate high-flyers. Their successes varied from leading a company, to security/protection, science, law, IT... mixed with successful trophy wife-ing, fraudster-ing, sabotage-ing and being a HUMUNGOUS B-I-T-C-H. This story wasn't all about women stamping their feet and demanding equal rights, this was about women just doing it. Getting in there, working their butts off and controlling their destinies. I LOVED IT...if you hadn't cottoned on yet.
Derek Price was the perfect match for Emily. He's extremely arrogant and egotistical but I absolutely loved the way he did it. I'm a wee bit of a sucker for a man who has confidence and demands respect. When Emily faces a scandal, Derek offers his services to clean up the mess and put her reputation back on track. Well, he offered his services when he finally had her attention...when he was naked...in her bathtub...
Emily, her best friends Cam, Luna and Daisy, are a great bunch of women that I absolutely loved meeting. They all have very different personalities but are extremely loyal to each other. I also loved Emily's driver/security, Jane. I know there isn't a book dedicated to her because she's not a Bluewater Billionaire but I'm kind of hoping for a spin-off to give me more of the stun-gun toting, Jane.
It's a good thing Emily has such great friends because her family is an absolute waste of space. Her father is probably the best of the bunch but even he made my eye twitch. Such selfish people that did not deserve Emily's support and consideration. To be honest, such horrible family connections made Derek even better. He was everything that Emily's family wasn't by being supportive, loving and protective. We also get to meet Derek's family and I loved their easy acceptance of Emily.
If you're looking for something a little different, don't mind a chuckle, can handle a few ups and downs, and like your hero and heroine to be equally strong and confident (in their own ways), I highly recommend giving The Prince of Scandal a try.
Lucy Score, you have brightened my week with your wonderful story and I can't wait for your fellow authors to introduce their Bluewater Billionaires, to me.
I wake up every morning at around 5:00 just to get an hour's reading time in before work. When my alarm went off at 6:00, I had 27 minutes to go. Do I rush to finish? - OR - Do I put it aside and do my weights and stretches? I'm sure most of you would think I'd rush to finish, wouldn't you? Well, my lovely friends, I'm shocked to say it...BUT I EXERCISED INSTEAD!! I know, completely shocking. So shocking that I advised hubby that I might be sick. But, there was a logical reason for my decision. For starters, exercising is good for me (it's taken me a LONG time to admit that). Secondly, if I did the rush job, I would be rushing the high and this book was so BLOODY GOOD and I didn't want to rush that feeling. Thirdly, if I rushed it, then I'd HAVE to write my review straight away and it would be rushed...and I would then be harried...late...stressed...a mess...which would take away my high.
The Price of Scandal was everything I hoped for and more. The characters were interesting, the storyline kept my attention from start to finish and the romance was exactly right for Emily and Derek. This story takes us on Emily Stanton's journey from Scandal to happy ever after.
I absolutely loved that the Bluewater Billionaires are the heroines of the story. It was made even better by having a supporting cast made up mainly of successful women. Now, these successful women are not all corporate high-flyers. Their successes varied from leading a company, to security/protection, science, law, IT... mixed with successful trophy wife-ing, fraudster-ing, sabotage-ing and being a HUMUNGOUS B-I-T-C-H. This story wasn't all about women stamping their feet and demanding equal rights, this was about women just doing it. Getting in there, working their butts off and controlling their destinies. I LOVED IT...if you hadn't cottoned on yet.
Derek Price was the perfect match for Emily. He's extremely arrogant and egotistical but I absolutely loved the way he did it. I'm a wee bit of a sucker for a man who has confidence and demands respect. When Emily faces a scandal, Derek offers his services to clean up the mess and put her reputation back on track. Well, he offered his services when he finally had her attention...when he was naked...in her bathtub...
Emily, her best friends Cam, Luna and Daisy, are a great bunch of women that I absolutely loved meeting. They all have very different personalities but are extremely loyal to each other. I also loved Emily's driver/security, Jane. I know there isn't a book dedicated to her because she's not a Bluewater Billionaire but I'm kind of hoping for a spin-off to give me more of the stun-gun toting, Jane.
It's a good thing Emily has such great friends because her family is an absolute waste of space. Her father is probably the best of the bunch but even he made my eye twitch. Such selfish people that did not deserve Emily's support and consideration. To be honest, such horrible family connections made Derek even better. He was everything that Emily's family wasn't by being supportive, loving and protective. We also get to meet Derek's family and I loved their easy acceptance of Emily.
If you're looking for something a little different, don't mind a chuckle, can handle a few ups and downs, and like your hero and heroine to be equally strong and confident (in their own ways), I highly recommend giving The Prince of Scandal a try.
Lucy Score, you have brightened my week with your wonderful story and I can't wait for your fellow authors to introduce their Bluewater Billionaires, to me.
September 26, 2019
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an early copy of Lucy's Bluewater Billionaires novel and OMG. It's SO good.
Emily is struggling to hold together the quickly unraveling strands of her life. Sure she's a genius with a lot of zeroes in her bank account. But she also has a dysfunctional family, a multi-billion dollar company to run, and now a public scandal.
Derek is seriously one of the most swoony and charming heroes EVER. GAH! Slight British accent. Calls Emily "love." He's smooth and witty and you're absolutely going to fall head over heels for him.
Have I mentioned the heat level? SCORCHING.
This book is fun, funny, heartfelt, and steamy. You'll be on the edge of your seat. And the ending? Oh my swoon.
Seriously, you guys, this book is all the things. You're going to love it.
Emily is struggling to hold together the quickly unraveling strands of her life. Sure she's a genius with a lot of zeroes in her bank account. But she also has a dysfunctional family, a multi-billion dollar company to run, and now a public scandal.
Derek is seriously one of the most swoony and charming heroes EVER. GAH! Slight British accent. Calls Emily "love." He's smooth and witty and you're absolutely going to fall head over heels for him.
Have I mentioned the heat level? SCORCHING.
This book is fun, funny, heartfelt, and steamy. You'll be on the edge of your seat. And the ending? Oh my swoon.
Seriously, you guys, this book is all the things. You're going to love it.
March 4, 2020
This is my second book by Miss Score. Like the previous book, I like this one very much. The story is simple. Miss Score adds a twist to the story by reserving the billionaire status to the heroine. While the hero is the fixer. And I am surprise to find it works really well. And very refreshing.
Derek is loyal, sweet and vulnerable with his feeling. The chemistry between the hero and the heroine is explosive. It is slow burn relationship with a lot of seduction foreplay in between. The plot is also good in execution so I do not bored to death with a carbon copy of romance. Miss Score done a good job maintaining consistency with Emily's billionaire character.
Overall this is a good story.
4 stars
Derek is loyal, sweet and vulnerable with his feeling. The chemistry between the hero and the heroine is explosive. It is slow burn relationship with a lot of seduction foreplay in between. The plot is also good in execution so I do not bored to death with a carbon copy of romance. Miss Score done a good job maintaining consistency with Emily's billionaire character.
Overall this is a good story.
4 stars
September 15, 2019
Nerds are cool!
Secret science nerd Emily Stanton is an ice princess. Calm, cool and in control as CEO of her Flawless skin care company, working 24/7 to prove her worth. Seamlessly running her high-powered corporate job, and the exclusive enclave she created along with her best friends. Unruffled, that is, until she encounters corporate fixer Derek Price. Forced to work together to fix her image after a little kerfuffle, Derek and Emily butt heads in the most delightful way with Lucy Score’s signature banter and snark. Watching the fiery Derek melt the icy Emily is one of the best things I’ve ever read! And as usual, there is a lovely cast of side characters that you’ll love and hate equally!
Secret science nerd Emily Stanton is an ice princess. Calm, cool and in control as CEO of her Flawless skin care company, working 24/7 to prove her worth. Seamlessly running her high-powered corporate job, and the exclusive enclave she created along with her best friends. Unruffled, that is, until she encounters corporate fixer Derek Price. Forced to work together to fix her image after a little kerfuffle, Derek and Emily butt heads in the most delightful way with Lucy Score’s signature banter and snark. Watching the fiery Derek melt the icy Emily is one of the best things I’ve ever read! And as usual, there is a lovely cast of side characters that you’ll love and hate equally!
March 1, 2021
Why is it that if a woman is successful, she is always a witch(or the other word that starts with a "b")?
And why do most the romances have the man as the billionaire and the woman as the assistant?
Well, I am glad that Lucy and friends have changed the mold and created a series where the woman are the billionaires and the men are not. So if you want the dynamic to change, go out, run and buy this book!
Emily is a beautiful successful geek. She grew up as a trust fund child who didn't really fit into that mold. She was more interested in being in a lab and finding ways to help others and make a difference then having a man take care of her. She started a company with a formula that she created to reduce wrinkles with her college friend and turned it into a billion dollar company.
Derek is a fixer. He was hired to "fix" Emily's scandal. But there is more than meets the eye with Derek. Let me tell you ladies, he's your next book boyfriend! Not only is he scorching hot, but he can fix/cut your hair and is a bad boy on the side.
Emily does have a great support system in her 3 billionaire best friends who were each so different from each other as they could be. Cam is an aerospace mogul, Luna is a zen loving, vegan makeup company owner and Daisy is fun loving billionaire playgirl. They all created a community where they all live. The residents are as crazy and lovable, that you come to expect from any of Lucy Scores' books. There is a prosthetic wearing alligator, inappropriate parrot, and large nomad dog that add to fun.
The fun starts when Emily wants to move her company to the next level, but she needs to up her public appearances. So she agrees to a date with a son of an entrepreneur. The the date goes horribly wrong and they are arrested in front of paparazzi. In comes Derek to fix her image and help her loss her "masks" and became who she really wants to be.
There is a great "meet-naked", drag queen brunches, cameo's of our favorite authors, and tiny houses kind of story. A fun rom-com that changes our views on billionaire woman and the dynamic of relationships. hint...the man doesn't always have to be the bread winner to hold his alpha status.
And why do most the romances have the man as the billionaire and the woman as the assistant?
Well, I am glad that Lucy and friends have changed the mold and created a series where the woman are the billionaires and the men are not. So if you want the dynamic to change, go out, run and buy this book!
Emily is a beautiful successful geek. She grew up as a trust fund child who didn't really fit into that mold. She was more interested in being in a lab and finding ways to help others and make a difference then having a man take care of her. She started a company with a formula that she created to reduce wrinkles with her college friend and turned it into a billion dollar company.
Derek is a fixer. He was hired to "fix" Emily's scandal. But there is more than meets the eye with Derek. Let me tell you ladies, he's your next book boyfriend! Not only is he scorching hot, but he can fix/cut your hair and is a bad boy on the side.
Emily does have a great support system in her 3 billionaire best friends who were each so different from each other as they could be. Cam is an aerospace mogul, Luna is a zen loving, vegan makeup company owner and Daisy is fun loving billionaire playgirl. They all created a community where they all live. The residents are as crazy and lovable, that you come to expect from any of Lucy Scores' books. There is a prosthetic wearing alligator, inappropriate parrot, and large nomad dog that add to fun.
The fun starts when Emily wants to move her company to the next level, but she needs to up her public appearances. So she agrees to a date with a son of an entrepreneur. The the date goes horribly wrong and they are arrested in front of paparazzi. In comes Derek to fix her image and help her loss her "masks" and became who she really wants to be.
There is a great "meet-naked", drag queen brunches, cameo's of our favorite authors, and tiny houses kind of story. A fun rom-com that changes our views on billionaire woman and the dynamic of relationships. hint...the man doesn't always have to be the bread winner to hold his alpha status.
September 29, 2019
I started reading this book the same day it came out and finished it in less than 24 hours, that's how much I liked it. It was a refreshing, easy to read, cute and funny romcom.
I love that, for once, women were CEOs, and that these women weren't portrayed as a "bitch" just because they were successful and run a company. I loved Emily Stanton, she is smart, beautiful, successful, rich and driven. And also I loved that she boxed for fun and kick Derek's ass. I stan.
As for Derek, at first I didn't find anything new in him, just another charming and sexy alpha man but, as the story progressed, I could see that he was more than that... he was so smitten with Emily and ended up being a softie. And that's my favorite type of male characters, the loving and caring ones.
And the friendship between these four lady billionaires... please adopt me.
I really loved this book from the beginning to the extended epilogue and I can't wait for the rest of the books, especially Luna's story.
I love that, for once, women were CEOs, and that these women weren't portrayed as a "bitch" just because they were successful and run a company. I loved Emily Stanton, she is smart, beautiful, successful, rich and driven. And also I loved that she boxed for fun and kick Derek's ass. I stan.
As for Derek, at first I didn't find anything new in him, just another charming and sexy alpha man but, as the story progressed, I could see that he was more than that... he was so smitten with Emily and ended up being a softie. And that's my favorite type of male characters, the loving and caring ones.
And the friendship between these four lady billionaires... please adopt me.
I really loved this book from the beginning to the extended epilogue and I can't wait for the rest of the books, especially Luna's story.
February 1, 2025
1.5/5⭐️
2.5/5🌶
Hace mucho no leía algo tan malo.
Amo a Lucy Score, pero este libro??? WTF??
Los personajes son planos, los buenos buenísimos, los malos malísimos, ni un solo gris.
La historia se ve muy glamorousa, pero carece de sustento.
La protagonista es insufrible, exitosa, bella, buena, solidaria ...
El protagonista es tan, pero tan irreal. Lindo, sexy, inteligente. Pero también es super empatico, deconstruido y sabe cortar el pelo!!!! Omg!!!
El conflicto es obvio y su resolución también. Además de que no tiene mucho sentido la pelea entre ellos. Tampoco que nadie de su entorno le diga a la protagonista sus sospechas.
Espero que LS vuelva pronto a escribir esos romances small town que tan bien le salen.
Este no me enganchó ni para pasar el rato.
Incluso en la lectura más simple y pasatista necesito un poco de coherencia y credibilidad.
2.5/5🌶
Hace mucho no leía algo tan malo.
Amo a Lucy Score, pero este libro??? WTF??
Los personajes son planos, los buenos buenísimos, los malos malísimos, ni un solo gris.
La historia se ve muy glamorousa, pero carece de sustento.
La protagonista es insufrible, exitosa, bella, buena, solidaria ...
El protagonista es tan, pero tan irreal. Lindo, sexy, inteligente. Pero también es super empatico, deconstruido y sabe cortar el pelo!!!! Omg!!!
El conflicto es obvio y su resolución también. Además de que no tiene mucho sentido la pelea entre ellos. Tampoco que nadie de su entorno le diga a la protagonista sus sospechas.
Espero que LS vuelva pronto a escribir esos romances small town que tan bien le salen.
Este no me enganchó ni para pasar el rato.
Incluso en la lectura más simple y pasatista necesito un poco de coherencia y credibilidad.
April 24, 2024
I expected so much more from Lucy Score especially after the extremely refreshing, in the forefront feminism of The Worst Best Man.
The love interest actually commits an extremely disturbing literal crime against the MC that is played for laughs. Keep in mind that she’s never met or even heard of this man at this point. He breaks into her house, takes a bath in her tub, talks to the mc like she’s a stupid child when she catches this total stranger in her tub, something he has the audacity to do while he’s flagrantly committing a scary crime. He then fully exposes himself to her whiles she’s fucking scared of him (and ogling his hotness too which was a gag worthy combo), approaches her and tries to crowd into her space while he is fully naked. That’s 1000% a crime, not charming, and clearly not reciprocated by the mc who is cringing in fear and telling him not to touch her. And the book plays it for laughs.
We also get this painfully insipid thought from the mc:
“If I had to be murdered in my own home by a naked crazy man, at least he was the embodiment of the perfect male form.”
I could really have done without having read a sentence as dumb as that, but here we are.
Then, the love interest barks orders at her while naked and trespassing in her house. But of course because he’s so hot her security doesn’t even protect her from him, the security woman just makes insipid dick jokes and ogles him. The author makes the cool choice of having the head of security be a woman, and then have her act like that in this situation? What? All of it is just totally off the wall sexist and I would never have expected this from this author.
Then after that part it is literally this piece of shit condescendingly telling her what to do, “you will return my every call”, bossing her around like she’s a toddler and she just folds. No fucking thank you, the real world is run by bastards like this, I don’t go into fiction to watch them get romanticized.
I also don’t love the way the friend characters are described by their “long, long legs”, their award winning asses that they work out so, so hard for (boooorrring) or by how many hook ups they have. Yes, their careers were included too, which was good even though all of their careers were extremely insipid seeming, unfortunately, but so much emphasis was on how attractive they would be to men that it was a shallow way to describe who I’m assuming are substantive humans, and friends.
I did really like the beginning’s exploration of the mc’s relationship to her family, how she’s being forced to be someone she isn’t by being the face of a company that maybe goes against her values and how she was repulsed by her anti-wrinkle company trying to advertise to young people. I would definitely have stuck it out to see where all of that went, since it seemed like it could have been headed somewhere meaningful, but I just couldn’t with the love interest being patronizing and sexist non-stop.
I’ll probably read the next one because The Worst Best Man was so damn feminist and meaningful that I can’t believe/don’t want to believe that was just a one time thing.
Update after reading the next book, and years passing: I don't trust this author at all anymore, as she now has a repeated history of serious sexism in her work. Honestly looking back at this in 2024 this book is even more insulting, and dangerously sexist
The love interest actually commits an extremely disturbing literal crime against the MC that is played for laughs. Keep in mind that she’s never met or even heard of this man at this point. He breaks into her house, takes a bath in her tub, talks to the mc like she’s a stupid child when she catches this total stranger in her tub, something he has the audacity to do while he’s flagrantly committing a scary crime. He then fully exposes himself to her whiles she’s fucking scared of him (and ogling his hotness too which was a gag worthy combo), approaches her and tries to crowd into her space while he is fully naked. That’s 1000% a crime, not charming, and clearly not reciprocated by the mc who is cringing in fear and telling him not to touch her. And the book plays it for laughs.
We also get this painfully insipid thought from the mc:
“If I had to be murdered in my own home by a naked crazy man, at least he was the embodiment of the perfect male form.”
I could really have done without having read a sentence as dumb as that, but here we are.
Then, the love interest barks orders at her while naked and trespassing in her house. But of course because he’s so hot her security doesn’t even protect her from him, the security woman just makes insipid dick jokes and ogles him. The author makes the cool choice of having the head of security be a woman, and then have her act like that in this situation? What? All of it is just totally off the wall sexist and I would never have expected this from this author.
Then after that part it is literally this piece of shit condescendingly telling her what to do, “you will return my every call”, bossing her around like she’s a toddler and she just folds. No fucking thank you, the real world is run by bastards like this, I don’t go into fiction to watch them get romanticized.
I also don’t love the way the friend characters are described by their “long, long legs”, their award winning asses that they work out so, so hard for (boooorrring) or by how many hook ups they have. Yes, their careers were included too, which was good even though all of their careers were extremely insipid seeming, unfortunately, but so much emphasis was on how attractive they would be to men that it was a shallow way to describe who I’m assuming are substantive humans, and friends.
I did really like the beginning’s exploration of the mc’s relationship to her family, how she’s being forced to be someone she isn’t by being the face of a company that maybe goes against her values and how she was repulsed by her anti-wrinkle company trying to advertise to young people. I would definitely have stuck it out to see where all of that went, since it seemed like it could have been headed somewhere meaningful, but I just couldn’t with the love interest being patronizing and sexist non-stop.
I’ll probably read the next one because The Worst Best Man was so damn feminist and meaningful that I can’t believe/don’t want to believe that was just a one time thing.
Update after reading the next book, and years passing: I don't trust this author at all anymore, as she now has a repeated history of serious sexism in her work. Honestly looking back at this in 2024 this book is even more insulting, and dangerously sexist
December 5, 2019
Spoilers ahead
Emily the billionaire owner of her own company is advised to go on a PR date and disaster ensues, drugs are found in the car and Emily's IPO becomes in jeopardy....the solution Derek Price
*********
This was a fantastic concept! Female billonaires? Yes please
Emily was a pretty good h but I wanted her to tell her mom off long before she did
I knew who the bad guy was from her very first introduction which kinda made me side eye brilliant Emily and competent Dereck
The book was way too long, I skimmed quite a bit waiting for things to heat up
Great sexual tension, limited sexy times #notahappycamper
Derek was a pretty good H and I liked him well enough
All in all this was good but didn't quite live up to MY expectations especially from thus author, nonetheless I'm a Lucy Score fan so I'll count this one as a win and I'm definitely moving forward with this series
No cheating
No OW/OM drama
Both mcs were experienced
Emily the billionaire owner of her own company is advised to go on a PR date and disaster ensues, drugs are found in the car and Emily's IPO becomes in jeopardy....the solution Derek Price
*********
This was a fantastic concept! Female billonaires? Yes please
Emily was a pretty good h but I wanted her to tell her mom off long before she did
I knew who the bad guy was from her very first introduction which kinda made me side eye brilliant Emily and competent Dereck
The book was way too long, I skimmed quite a bit waiting for things to heat up
Great sexual tension, limited sexy times #notahappycamper
Derek was a pretty good H and I liked him well enough
All in all this was good but didn't quite live up to MY expectations especially from thus author, nonetheless I'm a Lucy Score fan so I'll count this one as a win and I'm definitely moving forward with this series
No cheating
No OW/OM drama
Both mcs were experienced
November 9, 2019
#1 The Price of Scandal ★★★★ 1/2
#2 The Mogul and the Muscle ★★★
#3 Wild Open Hearts ★★ 3/4
#4 Crazy For Loving You ★★★ 3/4
4.5 - Tea and Crumpets - Stars
This is my first Lucy Score book and I'm in love. How cool is it that this series is about FEMALE BADASS billionaires CEOs?! Usually it's the hero who is filthy rich, so having a female lead was super interesting and great.
I loved both the protagonists so much. Emily Stanton is a badass. She's fierce, smart, sassy, driven, geeky and has a heart of cold. She reminded me a lot of Rose Calloway form the Addicted Series who is one of my fav characters of all time. It's not surprising that I love Emily. She's the CEO of the company "Flawless", which she has built from the ground and is her baby. After an unfortunate event their board of management hired a "fixer" to polish up her reputation. That's when Derek enters the picture.
Derek was such a great hero and a perfect match for Emily! It was so funny how he was constantly in Emily's face and didn't give her the easy way out. Derek is not only there to fix Emily's image after a scandal but he can style and cut her hair as well?! Those scenes were so cute and soft. He had some really unique ways to get her attentions :D I loved it!
Emily and Derek together were great. Their witty banter was on point. Their chemistry was top notch. It was really great to see how Derek saw behind Emily's different facade and broke down her ice walls piece by piece. Honestly everything was just super cute!
The secondary characters in "The Price of Scandal" were phenomenal! I love the genuine friendship between Emily, Cameron, Luna and Daisy! They were there for her when she needed them and had her back 100%. It made so me so much more excited for each of their stories after seeing a glimps of their personality. I'm looking forward to Cam and Daisy's stories the most and I hope to see Emily and Derek in their stories as well!
Jane, Emily's "bodyguard", was hilarious with her stud gun. Her dry humour made reading this book so much fun. She had a great relationship with Emily and Derek and it's impossible not to love her! I'm so happy she could finally use her stud gun on someone! She was waiting for her moment for so long!
The reason I didn't give 5 stars is because it took me until like the 15% mark to get into the book. It's not even because it was boring or anything, it was more that I wasn't really in the right mindset and therefore not in the mood for rom-com. But after that I loved the remaining 85% of the books and the extended epilogues! That's why I think I may change my rating later one to 5 stars cause I really loved the characters and the story!
#2 The Mogul and the Muscle ★★★
#3 Wild Open Hearts ★★ 3/4
#4 Crazy For Loving You ★★★ 3/4
4.5 - Tea and Crumpets - Stars
I’m a badass, Price. I’m aggressive, very, very smart, and powerful. I’m intimidating. And if I don’t ‘tone it down,’ people start to whisper things like ‘bitch’ and ‘gird your loins’ when I walk past. I have things that I need to accomplish. And I can’t do them all if everyone is terrified of me or too busy cracking jokes about how I’m a Devil Wears Prada boss.”
This is my first Lucy Score book and I'm in love. How cool is it that this series is about FEMALE BADASS billionaires CEOs?! Usually it's the hero who is filthy rich, so having a female lead was super interesting and great.
I loved both the protagonists so much. Emily Stanton is a badass. She's fierce, smart, sassy, driven, geeky and has a heart of cold. She reminded me a lot of Rose Calloway form the Addicted Series who is one of my fav characters of all time. It's not surprising that I love Emily. She's the CEO of the company "Flawless", which she has built from the ground and is her baby. After an unfortunate event their board of management hired a "fixer" to polish up her reputation. That's when Derek enters the picture.
Derek was such a great hero and a perfect match for Emily! It was so funny how he was constantly in Emily's face and didn't give her the easy way out. Derek is not only there to fix Emily's image after a scandal but he can style and cut her hair as well?! Those scenes were so cute and soft. He had some really unique ways to get her attentions :D I loved it!
Emily and Derek together were great. Their witty banter was on point. Their chemistry was top notch. It was really great to see how Derek saw behind Emily's different facade and broke down her ice walls piece by piece. Honestly everything was just super cute!
The secondary characters in "The Price of Scandal" were phenomenal! I love the genuine friendship between Emily, Cameron, Luna and Daisy! They were there for her when she needed them and had her back 100%. It made so me so much more excited for each of their stories after seeing a glimps of their personality. I'm looking forward to Cam and Daisy's stories the most and I hope to see Emily and Derek in their stories as well!
Jane smirked in the driver seat and then tapped the brakes hard when an elderly man with a walker sauntered into the street from between two parked cars. “You don’t have much time left! Stay on the sidewalk,” Jane yelled through the open window.
Jane, Emily's "bodyguard", was hilarious with her stud gun. Her dry humour made reading this book so much fun. She had a great relationship with Emily and Derek and it's impossible not to love her! I'm so happy she could finally use her stud gun on someone! She was waiting for her moment for so long!
The reason I didn't give 5 stars is because it took me until like the 15% mark to get into the book. It's not even because it was boring or anything, it was more that I wasn't really in the right mindset and therefore not in the mood for rom-com. But after that I loved the remaining 85% of the books and the extended epilogues! That's why I think I may change my rating later one to 5 stars cause I really loved the characters and the story!
September 28, 2019
I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.
May 18, 2025
Emily has always been a hard worker, scientist, and business owner. This story is filled with humor, betrayal, entitlement, and romance. Never in her life had she ever expected to need a fixer. Then Derek is hired to help her out of a bad situation.
Lucy Score is a master at creating awesome supporting characters. The female lead's security guard, Jane, totally made this book worth reading, especially her interactions with Derek. I also like Derek - it was Emily that I had a hard time connecting with. She seemed really cold at the beginning, and it was too perfect. I know some of that was just her being a control freak and running every part of the company on her own, but she just didn't have much life or personality at the start. I did warm up to her as the book went on, but it still felt like Derek was all the warmth and humor, and Emily was sort of the stick-in-the-mud. I finally cheered for Emily when she put her mom and brother in their places, but that wasn't until almost 3/4 of the way through the book (which was disappointing - usually Lucy's female leads have more of a backbone than that). Emily's 3 best friends were...eclectic. I still can't decide whether I liked them or whether they annoyed me. They didn't play a major role, so I guess it doesn't really matter either way. In general, the Bluewater neighborhood was a little too far-fetched for my liking. Everyone living there was so spectacularly funny/crazy in different ways that it just felt hard to believe. I suppose that was part of the humor of the book, but it felt over the top. So overall, I'd give this a solid 3.5-4 stars. Wasn't my favorite Lucy Score book, but it was still worth reading.
A Bluewater Billionaires Romantic Comedy
Book 1 The Price of Scandal
Book 2 The Mogul and the Muscle
Book 3 Wild Open Hearts
Book 4 Crazy for Loving You
Lucy Score is a master at creating awesome supporting characters. The female lead's security guard, Jane, totally made this book worth reading, especially her interactions with Derek. I also like Derek - it was Emily that I had a hard time connecting with. She seemed really cold at the beginning, and it was too perfect. I know some of that was just her being a control freak and running every part of the company on her own, but she just didn't have much life or personality at the start. I did warm up to her as the book went on, but it still felt like Derek was all the warmth and humor, and Emily was sort of the stick-in-the-mud. I finally cheered for Emily when she put her mom and brother in their places, but that wasn't until almost 3/4 of the way through the book (which was disappointing - usually Lucy's female leads have more of a backbone than that). Emily's 3 best friends were...eclectic. I still can't decide whether I liked them or whether they annoyed me. They didn't play a major role, so I guess it doesn't really matter either way. In general, the Bluewater neighborhood was a little too far-fetched for my liking. Everyone living there was so spectacularly funny/crazy in different ways that it just felt hard to believe. I suppose that was part of the humor of the book, but it felt over the top. So overall, I'd give this a solid 3.5-4 stars. Wasn't my favorite Lucy Score book, but it was still worth reading.
A Bluewater Billionaires Romantic Comedy
Book 1 The Price of Scandal
Book 2 The Mogul and the Muscle
Book 3 Wild Open Hearts
Book 4 Crazy for Loving You
September 27, 2019
It was so refreshing to read a book about a strong- willed “lady billionaire!” I could not put this book down - finished it in less than 24 hours, as I do with all of Lucy’s books!
This book has everything - romance, friendship, and a scandal!!
This book has everything - romance, friendship, and a scandal!!
October 28, 2019
Maybe it was just me
I’m afraid I don’t understand a lot about this book. Like why being in the car for the first time ever, with a man arrested for drugs, could cause such ‘damage’ to a woman who supposedly runs a billion dollar business. Or why the man assigned to do damage control, broke into her house, and took a bath, as a means of introduction. Nor do I understand how the very idea of intentionally dressing her UNproffesionally, is somehow supposed to make her look MORE professional. Nor did I understand why two adult, single, successful business people, with such attraction to each other, refused repeatedly, to act on that attraction.
But the thing that most confused me, (aside from all the great reviews, of course)was when, after slogging along for hours, going nowhere with this ‘romance’, I looked down and saw I was STILL only to the 35% point, that I even hesitated before closing it out, and deleting it. Or why I hadn’t done so, even sooner.
This is not a book I would recommend.
I’m afraid I don’t understand a lot about this book. Like why being in the car for the first time ever, with a man arrested for drugs, could cause such ‘damage’ to a woman who supposedly runs a billion dollar business. Or why the man assigned to do damage control, broke into her house, and took a bath, as a means of introduction. Nor do I understand how the very idea of intentionally dressing her UNproffesionally, is somehow supposed to make her look MORE professional. Nor did I understand why two adult, single, successful business people, with such attraction to each other, refused repeatedly, to act on that attraction.
But the thing that most confused me, (aside from all the great reviews, of course)was when, after slogging along for hours, going nowhere with this ‘romance’, I looked down and saw I was STILL only to the 35% point, that I even hesitated before closing it out, and deleting it. Or why I hadn’t done so, even sooner.
This is not a book I would recommend.
September 16, 2019
Bluewater Billionaire Emily Stanton is the good girl who suddenly finds herself in the gossip columns. Derek Price runs a public relations company helping celebrities, politicans and anyone else who can afford him become accepted in the media world. When Derek is hired by Emily's board of directors he discovers that the Emily Stanton the public knows is not the entire story. When backstabbing and double crossing puts Emily back in the spot light in a bad way can Derek save her reputation and convince her he's fallen in love?
The Bluewater Billionaires is proving that it will be an AMAZING series by some amazing authors. Ms. Score's books just get better and better. I'm not a billionaire and I truly didn't expect to be able to relate to this story, however The Price of Scandal is written so that the reader WILL relate to Emily and Derek. The story line is the type of things that happen to everyone they are not billionaire problems they are people problems!!!
The Bluewater Billionaires is proving that it will be an AMAZING series by some amazing authors. Ms. Score's books just get better and better. I'm not a billionaire and I truly didn't expect to be able to relate to this story, however The Price of Scandal is written so that the reader WILL relate to Emily and Derek. The story line is the type of things that happen to everyone they are not billionaire problems they are people problems!!!
August 14, 2020
4.5 stars!
The Price of Scandal is a reverse take on the usual Billionaire Hero trope. this book features Emily Stanton, a crazy badass and STRONG billionaire CEO of her baby - Flawless, a skincare company. unfortunately, she's caught in a scandal that could potentially tarnish Flawless and her own reputation. Enter Derek Price, a 'fixer' to salvage their reputations.
I can't stress how hilarious this book can be, there's just so many LOL moments. Emily & Derek.. they're such a unique combination. Emily can be uptight at times and functions strictly according to her schedule, whereas Derek has that 'happy-go-lucky' vibe which I enjoyed.
“I’m going to cross a professional line here,” he warned me. “It’s your fault because that in there was like witnessing a miracle.”
once the line is crossed, there's no turning back. we are gifted with lots of steamy heat because their chemistry = 🔥🔥🔥
4.5 stars!
The Price of Scandal is a reverse take on the usual Billionaire Hero trope. this book features Emily Stanton, a crazy badass and STRONG billionaire CEO of her baby - Flawless, a skincare company. unfortunately, she's caught in a scandal that could potentially tarnish Flawless and her own reputation. Enter Derek Price, a 'fixer' to salvage their reputations.
I can't stress how hilarious this book can be, there's just so many LOL moments. Emily & Derek.. they're such a unique combination. Emily can be uptight at times and functions strictly according to her schedule, whereas Derek has that 'happy-go-lucky' vibe which I enjoyed.
“I’m going to cross a professional line here,” he warned me. “It’s your fault because that in there was like witnessing a miracle.”
once the line is crossed, there's no turning back. we are gifted with lots of steamy heat because their chemistry = 🔥🔥🔥
4.5 stars!
Want to read
March 27, 2024I heard “female billionaire” and came sprinting
October 9, 2019
Lucy Score goes for the gold in the first book of the new Bluewater Billionaires series. It's fantastic rom-com with all the bells and whistles -- a case of corporate espionage along with family drama and unrest. Outrageously funny, sizzling heat, filled with heart and soul feelings that will keep you laughing at the hysterical banter between Emily and Derek and the whole gang of Vagillionaires. The leads are adults -- she's 36 and he's 43, so expect some maturity and experience. Throw in a magnetic bodyguard and chauffeur named Jane, who can throw shade with the best while packing her own kind of "heat," and the addition of a few specialties from the animal kingdom and you've got yourself a wickedly entertaining romance set in the business world between two dynamic characters who were meant to save each other! A great treat from the author by way of an Extended Epilogue ten years forward (my favorite kind) that will absolutely leave you smiling ear-to-ear.
I absolutely LOVED this one! Bet you will, too.
I absolutely LOVED this one! Bet you will, too.
September 24, 2020
4 Scandalous Stars
* * * * IT WILL BE A SCANDAL, DON'T MISS 99 CENTS!!!
So maybe you think...
Only Male CEO's have problems...
Well, think again...
Because Emily Stanton...
Billionaire CEO has a "Situation"...
She needs help...
She needs a Paparazzi Problem...
Erased...
Derek Price is the Guru of Fixing...
Got a Scandal...
He can Turn it into An Asset...
Need an Image Cleaned Up...
If You have the Funds...
He has the "Sponge"...
Emily has the Need...
Derek is called...
But what does Derek's being...
In Emily's Tub Nude...
Have to do with this job...
Why it is only...
The Price Of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires)-September 27th 2019
The Price Of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Mogul and the Muscle (Bluewater Billionaires)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wild Open Hearts (Bluewater Billionaires)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crazy for Loving You (Bluewater Billionaires)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * IT WILL BE A SCANDAL, DON'T MISS 99 CENTS!!!
So maybe you think...
Only Male CEO's have problems...
Well, think again...
Because Emily Stanton...
Billionaire CEO has a "Situation"...
She needs help...
She needs a Paparazzi Problem...
Erased...
Derek Price is the Guru of Fixing...
Got a Scandal...
He can Turn it into An Asset...
Need an Image Cleaned Up...
If You have the Funds...
He has the "Sponge"...
Emily has the Need...
Derek is called...
But what does Derek's being...
In Emily's Tub Nude...
Have to do with this job...
Why it is only...
The Price Of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires)-September 27th 2019
The Price Of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Mogul and the Muscle (Bluewater Billionaires)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wild Open Hearts (Bluewater Billionaires)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crazy for Loving You (Bluewater Billionaires) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 27, 2019
The Price of Scandal was an incredibly entertaining read. It was 100% fun with all these crazy situations that were playing out. It was fast paced, flirty, and sexy! I enjoyed the overall storyline and had a great time reading it.
Derek and Emily had a hilarious first meeting. I liked their animosity, fantastic verbal sparring, and snarky banter. Emily is in a seriously messy situation and Derek is there to help her work it out. This creates a lot of laugh-out-loud situations because she's not down for that help. When it's all happening, feelings are building and it was an amazing ride. I really liked Emily really owning who she was and growing. Derek was such a sexy, likable guy and I loved their chemistry together and how they played off one another. They made me laugh, stressed me out, and had me rooting for them to get to their HEA.
I liked Emily's billionaire friends and I’m looking forward to their stories. Her bodyguard was the best! Her family was a piece of work creating a lot of tension, they totally stressed me out. I thought the build was really good though I did think some things were a bit fast paced. That being said, I could not stop reading. I was addicted to this outrageously exciting story and couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
This checked all of my boxes for a romantic comedy filled with fun antagonism, witty banter, and awesome flirting!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
Derek and Emily had a hilarious first meeting. I liked their animosity, fantastic verbal sparring, and snarky banter. Emily is in a seriously messy situation and Derek is there to help her work it out. This creates a lot of laugh-out-loud situations because she's not down for that help. When it's all happening, feelings are building and it was an amazing ride. I really liked Emily really owning who she was and growing. Derek was such a sexy, likable guy and I loved their chemistry together and how they played off one another. They made me laugh, stressed me out, and had me rooting for them to get to their HEA.
I liked Emily's billionaire friends and I’m looking forward to their stories. Her bodyguard was the best! Her family was a piece of work creating a lot of tension, they totally stressed me out. I thought the build was really good though I did think some things were a bit fast paced. That being said, I could not stop reading. I was addicted to this outrageously exciting story and couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
This checked all of my boxes for a romantic comedy filled with fun antagonism, witty banter, and awesome flirting!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
September 26, 2019
True to form, The Price of Scandal is captivating, humorous, original, steamy and lightly suspenseful masterpiece by the incredibly talented Lucy Score!
The Price of Scandal is the first standalone in a 4 book collaboration of amazing authors and tells the story of Emily Stanton, powerful CEO, secret science nerd, workaholic billionairess, who lives in Bluewater community in Miami, an exclusive neighborhood designed, build and managed by herself and her 3 best friends - Luna, Cam and Daisy, all fellow billionairesses.
Emily, the quintessential good girl finds herself in public relations nightmare due to no fault of her own and the board of directors of her company hires “THE” Derek Price, the best fixer in the business.
Derek is a man of many talents and as he works relentlessly to clean up Emily’s public image, he finds himself falling for her sweet, smart, fierce, generous and unassuming personality.
“I thought I’d made it abundantly clear that I plan to make love to you? Remind me to up my game.” - Derek Price
Will Derek succeed in navigating thought the intricate web of deception, family drama and insecurities to win Emily’s heart?
Pick up The Price of Scandal today to find out! An absolute must read!!!
The Price of Scandal is the first standalone in a 4 book collaboration of amazing authors and tells the story of Emily Stanton, powerful CEO, secret science nerd, workaholic billionairess, who lives in Bluewater community in Miami, an exclusive neighborhood designed, build and managed by herself and her 3 best friends - Luna, Cam and Daisy, all fellow billionairesses.
Emily, the quintessential good girl finds herself in public relations nightmare due to no fault of her own and the board of directors of her company hires “THE” Derek Price, the best fixer in the business.
Derek is a man of many talents and as he works relentlessly to clean up Emily’s public image, he finds himself falling for her sweet, smart, fierce, generous and unassuming personality.
“I thought I’d made it abundantly clear that I plan to make love to you? Remind me to up my game.” - Derek Price
Will Derek succeed in navigating thought the intricate web of deception, family drama and insecurities to win Emily’s heart?
Pick up The Price of Scandal today to find out! An absolute must read!!!
September 27, 2019
Emily is my spirit animal and Derek might just be the swooniest hero ever! I absolutely love Emily. She is smart, determined and ambitious. Derek is smooth, funny, and knows what he wants. I couldn’t get enough of the chemistry, build up, and the chemical reaction between the two of them.
This book was hot and hysterical. When our couple wasn’t steaming up my kindle I was either laughing out loud at some funny scene or on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what would come next.
There were little Easter eggs throughout the book that have me impatiently waiting for the rest of the books. It was so exciting to get glimpses of Luna, Daisy, and Cam! I absolutely love all four of these Billionaires and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I highly recommend this edge of your seat, laugh out loud, extra hot rom-com!
This book was hot and hysterical. When our couple wasn’t steaming up my kindle I was either laughing out loud at some funny scene or on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what would come next.
There were little Easter eggs throughout the book that have me impatiently waiting for the rest of the books. It was so exciting to get glimpses of Luna, Daisy, and Cam! I absolutely love all four of these Billionaires and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I highly recommend this edge of your seat, laugh out loud, extra hot rom-com!
July 20, 2020
DNFing this at around 30% because the "hero" breaks and enters the heroine's house two times, saunters naked (or half-naked) around her house and ignores her when she quite understandably tries to kick him out of her place. His lack of respect for the heroine's personal space and boundaries is something I don't find amusing and I don't want to read about it masked as romance. Emily is a delight and she deserves someone better as her love interest.
October 14, 2019
4 💖💖💖💖🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️
The female badass group of the Bluewater Billionaires series rocks!!!!
Emily and Derek were fabulous characters, strong, independent, successful and their story was very engaging.
I am forward for the other books in this amazing series!!! 🤩🤩🤩
The female badass group of the Bluewater Billionaires series rocks!!!!
Emily and Derek were fabulous characters, strong, independent, successful and their story was very engaging.
I am forward for the other books in this amazing series!!! 🤩🤩🤩
April 10, 2021
Pages: 422
My rating: 2.5
I did not like this book most of the time. But I like the final 25%, the showdown.
I could understand Emily, her love for the lab work and research, something I actually had in common with her. I also like her for being the tough business CEO, the loyal friend, trying to be a good daughter without meeting the parents expectations (because they never took their time to get to know their daughter). I like what she created: Flawless and Bluewater.
But I could not get on board with her love interest. I never warmed to Derek. He is described as hot, he also worked his way up form his family to his successful business. But what he said and how he acted annoyed me to no end. And it’s no fun to read a book where you can’t connect to one of the main characters.
I am one of those people, who have trouble to dnf a book, a film or other things once I have started (it is a psychological phenomenon 😉 you can find research papers on). So I read through it even though most of the time I asked myself why. This said, it explains my rating of 2.5 stars and to be generous, I round it up to three stars and if I could have connected with Derek, I might have rated it 3 stars.
The Characters: Names and descriptions of the persons
September 16, 2019
Lady billionaires who are smart, sexy, savvy and sassy?!? Leave it to Lucy Score to tackle a genre I didn't think existed and make it one of my favorites. In this first of a four book series in the Bluewater world, we meet Emily Stanton. She is the founder and owner of Flawless, a purveyor of high-end skin care products. After she finds herself embroiled in a bit of scandal enter Derek Price, a "fixer" hired by her own board to clean up her image. The dance these two do around each other is flammable. I was amazed at the many layers of Emily and how delicately Derek was able to peel them back to reveal the real woman underneath.
"Emily Stanton was a challenge. A razor-edged, high-walled challenge. And there wasn't anything in this life that I enjoyed more." - Derek Price
"A smiling Derek Price was dangerous, a weapon of mass destruction." - Emily Stanton
Besides the witty banter, we get a glimpse of some favorite past characters, some mystery cameos, fanciful free-range pets, and a drag queen brunch! Emily's three billionaire besties also make appearances and showcase what a genuine friendship entails. I can't wait to see how their individual stories unfold.
In the end this is a tale of how one small mistake can lead you on a journey you didn't know you needed to take. You will want, no, need to check out how his babysitting gig turned out to be the best decision for both. Emily and Derek are the embodiment of a happily ever after!
"Emily Stanton was a challenge. A razor-edged, high-walled challenge. And there wasn't anything in this life that I enjoyed more." - Derek Price
"A smiling Derek Price was dangerous, a weapon of mass destruction." - Emily Stanton
Besides the witty banter, we get a glimpse of some favorite past characters, some mystery cameos, fanciful free-range pets, and a drag queen brunch! Emily's three billionaire besties also make appearances and showcase what a genuine friendship entails. I can't wait to see how their individual stories unfold.
In the end this is a tale of how one small mistake can lead you on a journey you didn't know you needed to take. You will want, no, need to check out how his babysitting gig turned out to be the best decision for both. Emily and Derek are the embodiment of a happily ever after!
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