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A review by vixdag
The Boss of Her: Office Romance Novellas by M. Ullrich, Aurora Rey, Julie Cannon
5.0
The Boss of Her is three unique novellas written in three distinctive voices. Julie Cannon, Aurora Rey and M. Ullrich are top-notch authors so it’s no surprise that this trio has produced a very satisfying compilation of workplace romances.
The first short story, Lead Counsel, by Aurora Rey takes the premise that opposites attract, but rather than have the two main characters out of step with each other, they are quite compatible once they realize that at their core, they want the same things. A civil lawsuit finds Elisa working with Parker, a woman from her past whom she had a brief hook-up with. Elisa doesn’t know what to make of it, but realizes that she is still drawn to Parker. Parker has changed a lot since law school and once the women reconnect not only do they find out they have great chemistry in the bedroom, but they also see their futures following the same path. Rey balances the task of writing a credible legal novella while making it sexy and relatable. She gives Elisa an honest vulnerability and Parker a sincere charm. Rey also writes a great bedroom scene that is anticipated from the very start. Kudos to Rey for including a woman of color as one of her main characters.
The second short story, For Your Eyes Only, by Julie Cannon is sexy from the get go and the slow burn is palpable. Although Riley Stephenson is a top-notch CFO who excels in the business sector, she is a shy and retiring wallflower away from her corporate life. She meets Jess, a stripper, at her best friend’s 50th birthday and she is mesmerized by her beauty and raw sexuality. Jess becomes a drug that Riley can’t put down and she starts scheduling private dances with Jess on a regular basis. Imagine Riley’s surprise (and chagrin) when she finds out that “Jess” is actually one of her new hires, Dana Mason. The story is broken into three parts. There is Riley’s portion, which is written from her point of view in the third person. Then, you get Jess/Dana’s point of view of the same events. Finally, the third portion of the story picks up after they come face to face. This story is the ultimate slow burn. For me, the most interesting aspect of the story is how Cannon convincingly portrays the two sides to Riley. Riley is both the picture of professionalism; totally in control and at home in her skin while she is at work, yet completely ill at ease in her social life.
The third story, Opportunity of a Lifetime, by M. Ullrich was my favorite. This story is all about character development and Ullrich does this with perfect pacing and her wonderful sense of humor. Luca Garner finds herself landing the Personal Assistant position for the most revered forensic accountant on the East Coast, Stephanie Austin. Unfortunately, Stephanie makes it perfectly clear that Luca’s presence is unwanted. Stephanie and Luca’s early interactions are more than awkward, but Ullrich infuses them with such humor that Stephanie doesn’t come across as a complete bitch. The character development in this story keeps this from becoming the typical “melting the ice queen” trope and the miscommunication that disrupts the budding relationship doesn’t feel forced as in many stories in this genre. This story has all the makings of a full-length novel and is the strongest in the group.
Due to the fact that these stories are novellas, there are times when information is told rather than shown, but this wasn’t so problematic that it kept me from enjoying them. Sure these shorts follow the typical formulas of this genre, but they are romances so they wouldn’t live up to our expectations if they didn’t. This is not an in depth look at the complicated dynamics of the workplace romance, but if you are looking for a satisfying romance about capable, professional women then this book is for you.
I received this book as an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
The first short story, Lead Counsel, by Aurora Rey takes the premise that opposites attract, but rather than have the two main characters out of step with each other, they are quite compatible once they realize that at their core, they want the same things. A civil lawsuit finds Elisa working with Parker, a woman from her past whom she had a brief hook-up with. Elisa doesn’t know what to make of it, but realizes that she is still drawn to Parker. Parker has changed a lot since law school and once the women reconnect not only do they find out they have great chemistry in the bedroom, but they also see their futures following the same path. Rey balances the task of writing a credible legal novella while making it sexy and relatable. She gives Elisa an honest vulnerability and Parker a sincere charm. Rey also writes a great bedroom scene that is anticipated from the very start. Kudos to Rey for including a woman of color as one of her main characters.
The second short story, For Your Eyes Only, by Julie Cannon is sexy from the get go and the slow burn is palpable. Although Riley Stephenson is a top-notch CFO who excels in the business sector, she is a shy and retiring wallflower away from her corporate life. She meets Jess, a stripper, at her best friend’s 50th birthday and she is mesmerized by her beauty and raw sexuality. Jess becomes a drug that Riley can’t put down and she starts scheduling private dances with Jess on a regular basis. Imagine Riley’s surprise (and chagrin) when she finds out that “Jess” is actually one of her new hires, Dana Mason. The story is broken into three parts. There is Riley’s portion, which is written from her point of view in the third person. Then, you get Jess/Dana’s point of view of the same events. Finally, the third portion of the story picks up after they come face to face. This story is the ultimate slow burn. For me, the most interesting aspect of the story is how Cannon convincingly portrays the two sides to Riley. Riley is both the picture of professionalism; totally in control and at home in her skin while she is at work, yet completely ill at ease in her social life.
The third story, Opportunity of a Lifetime, by M. Ullrich was my favorite. This story is all about character development and Ullrich does this with perfect pacing and her wonderful sense of humor. Luca Garner finds herself landing the Personal Assistant position for the most revered forensic accountant on the East Coast, Stephanie Austin. Unfortunately, Stephanie makes it perfectly clear that Luca’s presence is unwanted. Stephanie and Luca’s early interactions are more than awkward, but Ullrich infuses them with such humor that Stephanie doesn’t come across as a complete bitch. The character development in this story keeps this from becoming the typical “melting the ice queen” trope and the miscommunication that disrupts the budding relationship doesn’t feel forced as in many stories in this genre. This story has all the makings of a full-length novel and is the strongest in the group.
Due to the fact that these stories are novellas, there are times when information is told rather than shown, but this wasn’t so problematic that it kept me from enjoying them. Sure these shorts follow the typical formulas of this genre, but they are romances so they wouldn’t live up to our expectations if they didn’t. This is not an in depth look at the complicated dynamics of the workplace romance, but if you are looking for a satisfying romance about capable, professional women then this book is for you.
I received this book as an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.