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Tyler Hawk is a man with secrets and a dark past. A man who has known tragedy and betrayal. He wants for little, but what he wants is more power, a legacy that is his own, and not his father's. There are obstacles in his way, one of which is the scandal his father left behind and a will with certain demands.

Behind the scenes he is a man on edge, and only one woman sees the truth hidden beneath his strong will and dominant rule. Bella is somehow demanding and submissive, fiery and yet sweet. She can give him everything he wants, she just doesn't know it, not yet, but she will. If she'll just say yes and sign on the dotted line.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2022

547 people are currently reading
6565 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Renee Jones

373 books14.6k followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy - a modern girl we all can identify with.

In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin's Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,830 reviews464 followers
November 22, 2022
One long foreplay session!! 🤯4.5 Stars!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If there is one thing I love in my books it is a bad-boy billionaire and Tyler is the perfect candidate! Talk about a yummy character! This book felt like one long foreplay session!

He is hot for Bella and she is on fire for him. Together, sparks fly! However, all is not well in the land of Tyler Hawk and there is a definite line between friends and business associates. The line is drawn in the sand and surprise! We get to wait until book two to see how far these two can go.

Jones crafts a powerful story loaded with innuendo, steam, and straight-up lust. She brings on sizzling scenes that will make you sweat and keeps us on the hook once again as we wait for the next book to drop!

One thing of note is that while this can be read as a stand-alone, I feel there were certain areas that left me wondering about the prior books and connections built there. I felt like there was missing information that could have been developed a bit more for us in this story.

For me, Tyler is a fabulous character and these two are fire! Yesss!

* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/bastard-boss...
Profile Image for Lisa Jones.
Author 373 books14.6k followers
Want to read
November 21, 2022

ABOUT BASTARD BOSS
A sexy, dirty talking alpha. The beautiful, sweet, and fiery Bella. Her boss. A contract that forces him to marry. An arrangement that will change them forever. Meet Tyler Hawk...

Tyler Hawk is a man with secrets and a dark past. A man who has known tragedy and betrayal. He wants for little, but what he wants is more power, a legacy that is his own, and not his father's. There are obstacles in his way, one of which is the scandal his father left behind and a will with certain demands.
 
Behind the scenes he is a man on edge, and only one woman sees the truth hidden beneath his strong will and dominant rule. Bella is somehow demanding and submissive, fiery and yet sweet. She can give him everything he wants, she just doesn't know it, not yet, but she will. If she'll just say yes and sign on the dotted line.
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READ AN EXCERPT
“You’re going to have to share your room with me, sweetheart,” he says, and he doesn’t allow me time to object or even savor that endearment, not that objection is on my mind. I’m thinking of nothing but his mouth and hands on my body and this time, mine on his.
 
He opens the door and enters the room, maneuvering me along with him. The door slams shut behind us, and he’s already kissing me again. This time when his fingers find my hair, he gives the long strands an erotic tug and drags my gaze to his. “Control in all things, Bella. It’s who I am. It’s what I need, not a want.”
 
“And as you remember,” I say, my fingers curling on his chest, “I don’t like what I can’t control, which I guess actually means I like control, too.”
 
“And you have it with me,” he promises. “Always. All you have to say is no, and we find what feels like a yes to you. You asked if I trust you. I’m asking you now, if you trust me.”
 
I consider the complexity of the question. Do I trust him to listen when I say no? Yes. Do I trust him not to break my heart? I’m pretty sure that’s signed, sealed, and delivered, so, no. Do I trust him to make tonight all about pleasure? The kind of pleasure I’ll remember long after he is married off to his future fiancée. Yes. That’s a brutal yes because of where this is headed, which is nowhere but right here, right now, but one I can’t walk away from, either. “Yes,” I say. “I trust you.”
 
“I don’t think you do, Bella,” he murmurs, and the way he uses my name—it’s as if he wants me to know I’m not just sex to him. Or maybe I just want to believe that—even need to believe that—to be here with him, to be this intimate with him. Because I’m still me. I’m still not the “sex is sex” kind of girl, even if he aspires to change that in me. “But I want you to trust me so damn badly it’s insane,” he adds roughly, an edge of frustration in him, as if this statement somehow contradicts the control he so values.
 
It shakes me just how much I’m pleased that I’ve tormented him in some way, as if it’s selfish of me. I know this, but Lord also knows I’m tormented over this marriage agreement he’s obviously accepted. And if I think too hard about it, I will run. I will leave.
 
I don’t want to leave.
 
I press to my toes, desperate for his mouth and body, for that oblivion he’s shown me once that I crave once again.
 
His grip tightens gently round my hair, the act both arousing and brutal, as he denies me his mouth. “I’m going to make you trust me, Bella,” he declares, and then, thank you Lord, his mouth slants over my mouth, his tongue caressing my tongue. And it’s a toe-curling, deep, drugging kiss that leaves me breathless when his lips part mine. “Undress, baby,” he orders. “I want to watch.” 
Profile Image for Mindy Lou's Book Review.
3,005 reviews799 followers
November 22, 2022
We got to know Tyler and Bella in the Necklace trilogy, however, you don't have to read that first. This duet can be read as a standalone.

Tyler is a bit of a jerk, hence the title of this book, but he's got that controlling, hotness about him that you don't really mind that he's a jerk.

Bella is beautiful on the inside and out, but she's no pushover. She's definitely giving Tyler a run for his money.

The situation Tyler is in puts both of them in a bit of a situation that leaves book one off with a bit of a cliffhanger. The question is, will she or won't she? Will he find another way or will he convince her? I'm hoping he convinces her, but then I'm also curious to what would happen if he doesn't.
Profile Image for Carvanz.
2,379 reviews896 followers
November 21, 2022
Tyler and Bella are fire together!

Ms. Jones surprised me with the little twist and turns this couple stumbles on. There are a few things going on in the background as Tyler struggles with his desire for Bella. She, on the other hand, is fiery and independent. The clash of wills between these two is intense.


May be a black-and-white image of 1 person and footwear


The drama slowly unveils itself among scenes with favorite characters we've met along the way. The steam level is extreme and the cliffhanger at the end left me anxious for more.

Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Profile Image for Amy .
3,124 reviews
August 11, 2023
Great start to this series!

Tyler and Bella's story is compelling and their chemistry explodes off of the pages. Their banter is entertaining and will keep you on your toes. The title of this story certainly lives up to its name and the cliffhanger ending will leave you begging for more. I can't wait to find out what the rest of the series has in store for these two.

*I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
November 22, 2022
Tyler was extremely interesting and intriguing when we were first introduced to him in the Necklace Trilogy. There was a part of me that knew that Bella would somehow be involved with him even though Dash has warned both of them away from each other. Even though this is a recipe for disaster, the heart wants what it wants. As their worlds collide into a blazing inferno, both Bella and Tyler will have to take a step back and analyze what they are feeling and just what they want to do about it.

You will both hate and love Tyler. He has a way with words, just all of them aren’t dirty … some are scathingly hurtful. There were times I thought that he didn’t think through what he said. Then, I realize that he overanalyzes what he says and states exactly what he means. No matter the consequences or how it sounds. His past may be coming back to bite him but it may be the bite from Bella that finally brings him to his knees. Even though his heart may be black, it can also be broken and Bella could be the one to do it. It’s time for him to start overanalyzing what he feels when he is with her.

Bella is a force of nature. She can be sweet but, underneath it all, she’s a fighter. A woman who knows just how to handle the men that come into her life. Until it comes to Tyler. She sees past the façade that the rest of the world sees. She sees the broken man, the hurt caused by his father and she can’t help but reach for him. She knows the difference between being a bastard and being just a bastard. First he was just being the bastard then he turned into a bastard. Her heart is on the line and, with his latest proposal, it may just be broken.

Bastard Boss was a fantastic read. A forbidden romance, an intense storyline … you will not be able to put this book down wanting to see where it will lead. Waiting until March 2023 for the next book is going to be torture. The chemistry between the two characters is off the chart. When they do come together, it’s explosive. Lisa Renee Jones knows how to build characters, build a storyline and how to bring a story to an fiery cliff-hanger. She leaves you breathless and waiting.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Nadine Bookaholic.
3,727 reviews526 followers
November 23, 2022
I have been waiting for Tyler and Bella's story since I finished the NECKLACE TRILOGY in January and while that may not be that long it seems like forever ago because these two were throwing off sparks like fireworks and I knew their story would be a hot one, and it is!

Bella and Tyler have a complicated relationship to say the least. They are both attracted to one another but they are boss and employee and since that didn't work out for him the first time he tried it he's not too keen on trying again. Only this time he may not have an option...have I caught your attention? Want to know why that may not be an option? Well, you're going to have to read the book to find out. LOL

You're not going to want to miss this duet if you enjoy STEAMY Contemporary Office Romances or the Friends little Sister Trope.

Happy Reading!!!


Read an #Excerpt and find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/3i2ix0n

bastard boss by lisa renee jones

Nadine's Obsessed with Books **I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic



Profile Image for Lillie.
401 reviews4 followers
March 3, 2024
Thank you to Lisa Renee Jones and Booksprout for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. I loved this book, and it's not just because it's been a hot minute since I've read a workplace romance. The characters felt real and so well written, the atmosphere was great, and the story flowed very well. And how this book ended had me jumping into the second book IMMEDIATELY. Tyler also had me howling in laughter, and Bella was sassy and I loved it. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a steamy workplace romance.
Profile Image for Diana~ (Kiss Me Books).
453 reviews165 followers
March 13, 2023
We first met Tyler Hawk in Dash Black and Allie Wright's story from the Necklace Trilogy. He was a mysterious figure, ally, and sometimes a friend to the couple. This book takes place after the events of When I Say Yes, and Tyler is dealing with the ramifications of his father's crimes and what happened to the missing Allison. From the very beginning, I had a hard time figuring out Tyler's character and motivations. He was often broody, intense, serious, and there was almost a predator-like nature to him. I never expected him to be paired up with Bella Bailey—Dash Black's sister, but it turns out that they have always been attracted to each other. However, there are big obstacles to their blooming relationship and Tyler must be the one to figure out what and who he truly wants in order to be with Bella.

"I want to drown in everything that is this woman. My hands are all over her, and I want to be buried so deep in her, I'll never find a way out."


Tyler was such a fascinating character and it was refreshing to finally get inside his head. Tyler is haunted by what happened between Allison and Jack Hawk. There were consequences to his actions and he blamed himself for it. Tyler never knew what love was and who can blame him? He grew up in a loveless household with a father who hated him and is still torturing him after his death. It was also a pleasant surprise to find out that there was more to Tyler and Bella's relationship than meets the eye. They just never acted on it until now and what a pair they are. Bella was such a sweet character with a backbone of steel. Despite being more vulnerable with Tyler, she knew her worth and could stand the weight of his words. I loved their intense and forbidden relationship. This entire book felt like a foreplay session between the two and the moment they came together was everything I wanted and more. I can't wait to read more of their story in Sweet Sinner because this book does end with a brutal and heartbreaking cliffhanger.
Profile Image for SookandBooks.
536 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2023
I wasn’t really sure how to rate this. I usually don’t read duets until both books are published but I wasn’t aware of that going into this one.At this point, I’m not really compelled to see how it ends, so that puts it as a 3 for me.

I think if both books were released already and I could have read them back-to-back I would have. And I might look up some more by this author (especially if she has any stand-alone books!)

I think the story was well written and I like a good forced-proximity, marriage-of-convenience story which is what I thought this would be (both from the blurb and how things unfolded about 1/3 of the way in). I’m pretty sure that’s what it will eventually be, as a duet.

This first book spent most of the time, however, with both characters spending a great deal of energy convincing themselves and each other that being together would be a terrible idea.

They convinced me, too. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I see potential for them as a couple in a future book but in this one, not so much. And not wanting them together isn’t the best place to end a cliffhanger for me.
Profile Image for EpicRomanceReviews.
768 reviews142 followers
November 24, 2022
❤~🌟~❤ 4.5 SCANDALOUSLY SEXY STARS! ❤~🌟~❤

When I heard that romance writing extraordinaire, Lisa Renee Jones, was penning a spinoff duet featuring beloved characters Tyler Hawk and Bella Bailey from the Necklace Trilogy, I was all in. And WOW… did this author do Part One of their story justice!

PREMISE:
Powerhouse attorney Tyler Hawk’s entire life imploded when his father, founder of Hawk Legal, killed Tyler’s girlfriend then ended up murdered by a notorious assassin. This family tragedy/public scandal not only put him in an emotional freefall but left him ravaged with bitterness, guilt and rage. Now the reading of his father's will puts the newly appointed CEO of Hawk Legal in another tailspin, ripping open wounds that have barely begun to heal when he learns that one of the terms of the will is that he must marry or he will lose everything he has built over the years. Only one woman can take him back from the edge and soothe his ravaged soul. Legal Eagle/Hollywood agent Bella Bailey. His best bud’s baby sister is the port in his storm of chaos and arouses his passions like no other woman ever has. He wants her more than his next breath but being together can have serious ramifications that neither could envision..

Bella Bailey has been hopelessly drawn to her “bastard boss” for a long time but she knows he’s a man dueling with dangerous demons from his past. But when one night of forbidden lust unleashes a blazing hot passion that neither can deny, they both cross a line that neither can come back from. However, surrendering to their feelings can not only cause incredible peril to both their hearts but can put the future of Hawk legal—and their professional reputations--at stake. Unless Tyler can convince his sweet, fiery Bella to become his wife! But for as much as she’s falling in love with him can she say I do to a man whose heart is too tattered to truly ever be hers?

MY MUSINGS:
Holy Hot tamale! BASTARD BOSS has everything I love in Lisa Renee Jones novel. Passion and pathos. Spellbinding romance. Edge of your seat intrigue. And jaw dropping twists and turns! This story not only gave me emotional whiplash but put my heart through the wringer!

I adored the tantalizingly tempestuous boss/employee romance between Bella and Tyler with every beat of my heart. It’s teeming with so much angst and high-octane intensity I was hanging on for dear life at times! The erotic interludes are achingly intimate, sinfully delicious and scorching hot…and these two generate so much steam I almost sent out an SOS! Their combustible chemistry truly left me enraptured and begging for more!

As always the character development is to die for! Tyler is one dirty talking, woefully broken alphahole bearing the weight of the world on his impossibly broad shoulders. Gah this gorgeous CEO can not only rock a power suit but sure knows how to take control—in bed and out!

“The way he carries himself is pure dominance, with a touch of that arrogance of his that can be as irritating as it is sexy. It blasts a message that says I can f*ck you until you beg for more.”

Tyler’s a man on the verge, who is haunted by his past and was betrayed in the worst possible way by his own father. He’s consumed with so much guilt and regret it’s tearing him apart. And set him on the precipice of self-destruction. Yet one way he is able to cope is to control all aspects of his life. In fact, he’s so tightly wound up he’s like a walking timebomb! But he meets his match in Bella who is “a contradiction of sweet and bold,” savvy and vulnerable. For as powerfully drawn as he is to this woman who is “sweet like honey and pure fire at the same time,” the last thing he wants is to allow history to repeat itself. For this charming spitfire might be a pro at swimming with sharks in the boardroom as she wheels as deals for her A-lister clients, but her personal life is a different matter altogether. And while she might willingly submit to him between the sheets, she knows she’s playing a dangerous game with this player who is too jaded love.

Or IS he?

Nevertheless, she gravitates toward Tyler’s tormented spirit, power and dominance and aches to help put his shattered pieces back together again. But at the same time, she keeps her hot, ferociously sexy boss at an emotional arm’s length. And for good reason because a romantic entanglement between this boss and employee could be a train wreck of epic proportions. However, when circumstances beyond their control keep propelling them together again, the passion that ignites between them is too potent to resist. Yet the fallout could put them both on a collision course with devastation!

At its core, BASTARD BOSS is an explosive tale about passion and power, scandal and deception, healing and redemption… and a forbidden love that knows no bounds. As is this author’s MO, it ends on an excruciating cliffy that will leave you tied up in knots. I also loved how the secondary cast is woven into the storyline and it was a blast catching up with Bella’s big bro Dash and his finance Allison from the necklace trilogy.

Cannot wait for the riveting conclusion to his wildly addictive duet!
Profile Image for Donna.
1,398 reviews33 followers
September 19, 2025
Loved Tyler and Bella…. Perfect, they balanced each other out so well. Both had loads of money and both worked really hard. I am glad I read Dash’s story first, It made me so much more excited to read about Tyler. Tyler was one hero I could not wait to find out more about and this did not disappoint. I am not good with trilogies, but I had do trouble getting through this one!
Profile Image for mariana ⋆ [mixordialiteraria].
179 reviews61 followers
November 23, 2022
4,5*

Bastard Boss is the book I needed to wrap up The Necklace Trilogy and didn't know I wanted. I loved to read about Tyler and Bella's story, as much as I loved Allie and Dash's books 😍 maybe even more, which is shocking considering I enjoyed the other couple's storyline sooo much!!!

Both of the characters are very captivating and gotta say, the dynamics and chemistry between them are always on point - and I mean 😱 this book is hot, really hot. The sexual tension between the two MC *PFIUUU*🔥🥵🌶

Compared to the trilogy that precedes it, Bastard Boss is more insightful due to the double perspective writing style. The books are less repetitive than the previous ones in the same universe. I also love the fact that you can read this one as a stand-alone, though I don't recommend it.

Gotta say I miss the mystery subplot that The Necklace Trilogy added to the romance. But I feel that the relationship between Tyler and Bella is much more solid than the duo Dash/Allie, since Tyler/Bella know each other for a very long time and they have a history.

I must confess though: at the beginning of the book, I thought that their dynamics were weird, considering the other character that Tyler was attached to in the The Necklace Trilogy books. However, the way the author wrote the Tyler/Bella sold me out!

So I don't mind that the focus of this book is just the attraction/romance between the boss and employee (which, of course, brings the theme of sleeping her way to the top on the table)

Don't wanna say too much so I don't spoil you (BECAUSE YOU SHOULD PICK UP THIS BOOK), but I loved the plot about Tyler's father. Also, love the fact that sexy-hot writer Dash and his woman appear in this book!!! 🥵

In the next installment, I would love to know more about Tyler and Bella's backgrounds. Can't wait to put my hands on Sweet Sinner!! 👀

You should read Bastard Boss if you enjoy:
•Workplace romance
•CEO/employee romance
•Billionaire romances
•Spicy scenes level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
•Dominant alpha

Finally I would like to thank Lisa Renne Jones and her team for providing an e-arc to review this new release! 😍
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
November 23, 2022
I know without a shadow of a doubt that when I pick a book up by Lisa Renee Jones that I'm going to get a super sexy story with a suspense kicker, and Bastard Boss is no exception. Our resident Bastard Boss is Tyler Hawk, whose father was a real piece of work, and the latest terrible action by said piece of work father is now on every news cycle, so everything Tyler has worked hard for is at risk of collapsing. Bella is an attorney at Tyler's family firm, and she tends to deal with the Hollywood (famous etc) side for things, but she's also a beautiful woman inside & out. Tyler is attracted to her, but he's doing his best to not go there because he's afraid he would break her, but the sparks are intense every time they're near each other so it was only a matter of time. As the story goes on, twists are starting to come at us, and per usual, I'm not sure where all of this is going, and as I'm trying to figure that out, BAM! The book is over, and since it's a Duet, the cliffhanger ending is dropped so now the impatient wait begins. I CANNOT WAIT for more, and HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
12.2k reviews91 followers
November 22, 2022
After his father’s actions Tyler finds himself trying to overcome the legacy he left behind. This situation only become more difficult when it comes to one of the requirements his father had stipulated before he could inherit. He now needs Bella’s help however it is complicated as not only is she his lawyer, but her half brother is also his best friend.

Bella has always had feelings for Tyler however she never expected them to be returned. She knows his secrets and wants to be there for him but the one thing he wants from her is the one thing she may not be able to give.

Tyler and Bella are captivating characters who take us on an entertaining journey filled with angst, hot chemistry and surprises that escalate into a cliffhanger that leaves us wanting more.

Profile Image for Read.Review.Repeat Blog.
5,905 reviews101 followers
November 28, 2022
How does this author suck you in and keep you turning the page and never want to put the book down? This isn't the first time she has done this to me and I'm sure it won't be the last. I just love this couple and all of the obstacles they had to go through to find that HEA. A truly strong, fierce and oh so sexy couple! ~Jen


This is a strong start for a new duet. Tyler and Bella's story will hook you right away. They have chemistry you can feel coming off the pages but it's a slow burn in the best of ways. Tyler has a rough road ahead of him and Bella can be an understanding ear for him. You'll go through all the emotions in this one but we'll have to wait for the second book to get the epic conclusion! Definitely worth the read. ~Andrea
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,844 reviews60 followers
November 22, 2022
This is one fun forbidden romance. Tyler is not only Bella’s boss, but her brother’s best friend. A romance between them is all kinds of bad ideas. Good thing then that Tyler doesn’t believe in relationships.

Tyler and Bella are such a good combo and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. No one believes in Bella more than Tyler! I hate that Bella is so focused on protecting herself that she can’t see that Tyler is being earnest. Maybe he should have thought about that earlier, when he was trying to keep her at arms length!

A codicil in his dad’s will throws a wrench into Tyler’s life as he knows it. I just hope he’s strong enough to go after what he wants!!

Loving this so far!

I requested an early reader copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.
Profile Image for Cali Jewel.
5,249 reviews39 followers
November 22, 2022
Great reading from beginning to end. Edge of your seat, action packed, emotionally thrilling roller coaster adventure filled with passion, heart racing twists, engaging charters, witty banter and exciting twists and turns..
285 reviews
March 11, 2025
Read the first two books, and by the end of the second book, decided that I really didn’t care to find out what happens. It became monotonous.
Profile Image for Terra Drynan-Werder.
1,065 reviews
November 22, 2022
Oh my Tyler & Bella!!! This felt like one long, sizzling tease between them. The chemistry was off the charts. One of my favourite things about this author is her books go places I never saw coming and this was no exception. I cannot wait to see what happens with Bella & Tyler and if they can find a way to be together in the end. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
July 12, 2023
With this author I'm never disappointed. Bastard Boss is the first book in the Tyler & Bella Duet and this was sweet, hot & sexy, tough & tender, and supremely satisfying to me. Can't wait to read the conclusion. Overall rating: 4.5 stars! ❣️

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (1/31/2023)! 🎁
18 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2022
DNF'd at 25%. I really wanted to like this book but it's just too slow for me. At one point it felt like one day spanned over like 5 chapters and I just couldn't get into it.
Profile Image for bookjunkiejane.
983 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2022
There is a reason why I avoid duets and trilogies... And once again, this series proves it.. Bella is conniving, she plays mind games, she is so confused and she just spoilt this book headlong...
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,876 reviews213 followers
November 21, 2022


Amazon / Apple / Nook / Kobo / Google / Print / Hardback (w/ discreet cover) / Signed paperback and hardback



Brother's best friend (Dash from Necklace Trilogy), fellow lawyer, alpha boss. Yeah, Tyler Hawk can't be more off-limits to Bella, that's why she's crushed on him from afar. But when she gets her chance to be with him, will she take it? Even if a little addition to his father's will means he can't ever be with Bella permanently?



This author is so good at drawing readers in, then bam that cliffhanger, and now I'm so impatient to find out what Bella will do next. Will she take Tyler up on his proposal? Or will she do what she said she was going to at the end of this first installment? I have high hopes for this couple. They have serious chemistry and even though Tyler comes across as a jerk at first, I know he has layers that Bella just needs to peel back to find what I know is a good man beneath. Whatever happens, I'm going to be counting down the days very impatiently until Sweet Sinner is released!



ARC provided by author for an honest review.

Review: Live Through Books Blog.

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1,015 reviews
November 21, 2022
Before you start this review I have to warn you that this is a book with a cliffhanger. If you don't like cliffhangers then read this review but wait to read the book until the next book comes out because the cliffhanger at the end of this book will make you hit yourself with the book. Seriously, it's a doozy!

Tyler is trying to adjust to his life and family imploding. With his father dead and accused of killing a woman Tyler used to date, Tyler is left trying to hold Hawk Legal together. He doesn't want to be attracted to Bella because there would be major repercussions. Worse, he finds out that Bella is just as attracted as he is. When they find themselves in a situation where they have to work together to save a contract that would be a huge loss for the firm, they can no longer deny they want each other. Tyler's father has left behind landmines and Tyler knows that some of them might explode and destroy everything. Can he save Hawk Legal and find happiness with Bella and how much destruction will his father create from the grave?

This is a really good example of the author's writing style. Both characters are strong and independent. Both characters are smart and hard-working. Both characters have stuff in their backgrounds that make them think that they can't be a couple. The contract issue that Bella and Tyler have to work on is believable and a really good addition to the story. The attraction between Bella and Tyler is believable and their actions with each other make sense. The author sets up each character for where they are going in the future by having the characters consider what they want long term but it doesn't bog down the story. These little observations from the characters help to connect the characters to each other and explain their actions. There is also a little bit of background on each character to help explain how they got to where they are right now. I assume that Tyler will get a LOT of background in the next story. I'm not sure Bella needs quite as much background information. It was nice to have characters from the Necklace Trilogy make appearances.

I like to list my issues with the story as part of my review but this book doesn't have any huge issues that pulled me from the flow of the story. My biggest issue is that I don't really like cliffhangers so there's that. I did have a problem with the constant repetition that Bella had worked for years to earn her place at the company. Ok, I'm down except she's 27 so how many years are years? If she got a degree then at most 6 but probably more like 4 years. Yes, that's years but it's not a long time in the grand scheme of things. I think I wouldn't have had an issue if she had been 30. This issue tied into something else that bugged me. Tyler trained Bella when she first started so why would it be a big deal now for them to travel together? the only people that know that they are attracted to one another are the two of them. I never felt like I really understood how the pieces fit for that aspect of the story.

There are lots of questions left at the end of the story (for example, does Tyler have a drinking problem, I vote no). This is not a mystery like some of the author's other books. Instead, I see this as more of a contemporary romance that will have answers to some of the issues from the prior series (which was a mystery). You absolutely do not need to read the Necklace Series before you read this book. This book can be read as a contemporary romance. This book is set in Nashville and Los Angeles. I will absolutely read more from this author in the future.
Profile Image for Ria Alexander.
2,656 reviews51 followers
November 22, 2022
Intense, sexy, forbidden

If you've read Lisa Renee Jones' The Necklace Trilogy then you would have already met Tyler Hawk, CEO of Hawk Legal and best friend of Dash Black, and Bella Bailey, consultant attorney and Dash's sister. Tyler is also Bella's boss. BASTARD BOSS is the beginning of Tyler and Bella's story, one that is intense, sexy and involves a relationship that is deemed forbidden. Having a relationship with your employer is normally considered off limits, but Bella will bring Tyler to his knees.

" I have never wanted a woman more than I want her and yet I just walked away. Because I am trying to do right by her."

Tyler's world was turned upside down when his girlfriend was murdered, and his father was to blame. Jack Hawk is now deceased, and with the reading of his will Tyler finds that his father, even from the grave, still has the upper hand. If he does not agree to the terms of his father's will Tyler will lose everything he has worked for, including the one woman he cannot fall in love with. Bella is the only woman he has ever desired, the woman he wants more than anything, yet he knows if he has her he will break her, something he cannot do because he worships the ground she walks on. Bella has always felt an intense draw toward Tyler, but she can't do anything about it because of their professional relationship and because of her brother. A moment of weakness has her attempting to comfort him, yet Tyler pushes her away breaking her heart with his bluntness regarding his life and his ways. However, Bella cannot deny the continuing pull to him. Will Tyler and Bella be able to keep their relationship purely platonic?

"There's no escaping Tyler Hawk. Not anymore."

When reading The Necklace Trilogy I always thought Tyler Hawk was an enigma, a man who kept everything close to his chest, I wasn't wrong. Tyler is an alpha, dominating, a man who needs to be in control, he can be cruel and hurtful- especially with his words, he's direct and blunt, and goes after what he wants. Bella has a sweet nature, don't get me wrong though, she's also a fireball, tenacious, hardworking, and tough- she's got to be considering she works in a 'man's world'. She has a vulnerability that seems to only appear when Tyler is around, he unnerves her. When Tyler puts a proposal to Bella, that he hopes will help their situation, one that will also mean they will be risking their hearts and their lives, what will Bella do?

"I want you to trust me so damn badly it's insane."

BASTARD BOSS
is an intense and sexy read with two characters who are explosive together. The heat and chemistry between them are palpable, there is a battle for power, control, and all of it is simply stunning. LRJ knows how to draw her readers in with her magical words that elicit heat, fire, desire, temptation, obsession, and a storyline you simply can't get enough of. Speaking of, BASTARD BOSS ends on a cliffhanger that had me pulling my hair in frustration. I need more of Tyler and Bella NOW!!!!

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE INTENSELY HOT STARS ✨✨✨✨✨
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,245 reviews208 followers
November 18, 2022
4.25stars—BASTARD BOSS is the first instalment in Lisa Renee Jones’ contemporary, adult BASTARD BOSS erotic, romance duet focusing on attorneys thirty-four year old Tyler Hawk, and twenty-seven year old Bella Bailey. BASTARD BOSS is a spin off from the author’s THE NECKLACE TRILOGY focusing on author Dash Black. Bella is Dash Black’s half-sister.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tyler and Bella) BASTARD BOSS focuses on the tempestuous relationship between attorneys thirty-four year old Tyler Hawk, and twenty-seven year old Bella Bailey. Bella Bailey works as a contract attorney at Hawk Legal but months earlier, Tyler’s father, embittered and embroiled founder Jack Hawk murdered his girlfriend, and lost his own life in the fall-out. Fast forward three months, Tyler Hawk has yet to come to terms with the possible ramifications of what happened and why, when the reading of the will sends Tyler’s life into another unstoppable spiral. Conditions must be met, and if not, Tyler would lose everything he has accomplished including the woman he refuses to love. Enter attorney Bella Bailey, his best friend’s half-sister, and the woman he needs more than he could have ever imagined. What ensues is the back and forth, up and down relationship between Bella and Tyler, and the potential fall-out as jobs, lives and careers hang in the balance if Bella refuses to agree to Tyler’s demands.

Bella Bailey has always been attracted to her boss, her brother’s friend Tyler Hawk but Tyler’s demons run dangerous and dark, and he carries a burden of heavy guilt upon his shoulders-not the grief of a son losing his father but of a man who blames himself for the death of an innocent woman. When Bella offers ‘comfort’ Tyler’s outright refusal sends our heroine a message, a message she is about to take to heart but the terms of their friendship and work relationship are about to implode, and Bella is forced to run away with a broken heart.

The relationship between Bella and Tyler is a boss/employee, best friend’s sister, forbidden romance in which Tyler refuses to cross a line Dash Black has drawn in the proverbial sand but Tyler’s future and the future of everyone at Hawk Legal is spiralling the drain, unless Tyler can convince Bella to go along with his plans, in an effort to further curtail a scandal that could possibly end their lives. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Bella’s brother Dash and his fiance Allison Wright, attorney Gavin McCloud, and fixer Dierk Jordan.

BASTARD BOSS is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, obsession and struggle. The character driven premise is captivating and riveting; the romance is erotic and intense; the characters are broken, determined, desperate and destroyed. BASTARD BOSS end on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

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