Gordon’s debut offers readers a winning combination of intrigue and romance, revealed slowly through the lens of opulent travel and luxurious living. Rose, desperate to make a name for herself apart from her father’s renown, is forced to travel with a security detail due to past kidnapping attempts, and her will-they-won’t-they chemistry with her “six foot-five man-of-steel chief of security” Troy adds heat to the mix. Meanwhile, Brianna’s brothers, Niall and Aedan, each pursue Rose in their own fashion: Niall is a steady admirer in the background, while Aedan sweeps Rose off to classy dinners and exotic locations to win her over. The brothers are surprisingly accepting of their dual pursuit, and Rose, despite her declarations of not being interested in a relationship, quickly becomes enamored with both.
All this becomes even more teasingly complicated when her ex unexpectedly shows up in Belfast. Gordon adds tension by mingling this escapist romantic fantasy of a rich, beautiful heiress striving to make her own name while pursued by luscious men with a slice of danger, as several ne’er-do-wells also are after Rose, and Brianna’s cousin is formulating her own racist plot to disrupt the exhibition. Fans of luxurious, globe-crossing love stories with wit and intrigue will be delighted.
Takeaway: This euphoric romance finds an heiress forced to choose between several dishy prospects.
Great for fans of: Denise Grover Swank’s The Player, Lauren Layne’s I Knew You Were Trouble.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
"An addictive, rollicking tale of friendship, love, and lust." — Kirkus Reviews
Gordon’s steamy romance follows a gorgeous and influential tech executive caught between two dashing Irish brothers.
Rose Ross is 32 years old and struggling to balance her obligations as the COO of her father’s tech company and her true passion for the art world. Because her father is the wealthiest Black man in the United States, Rose worries whether she can handle the pressure of Rick Ross Enterprises, as she has already given up a serious relationship to focus on work. To raise the stakes even higher, her father has asked her to succeed him as the next CEO. When her client Brianna Morrison asks if Rose can travel to Belfast to help curate an enormous charity art exhibition, Rose uses the opportunity to get away from work for a month to explore her passion. But she doesn’t anticipate the distractions that await her in Belfast, which come in the form of Brianna’s brothers, Niall and Aedan King. Equal parts charming and devilishly handsome, the brothers immediately take an interest in Rose. Since all three are staying in the family’s castle together, a tricky scenario ensues. On top of Rose’s demanding art schedule and her amorous run-ins with Niall and Aedan, there is continuous concern for her physical safety; plenty of unscrupulous outsiders are eager to see Rick Ross Enterprises fall should she disappear. When Rose’s ex-lover shows up on a whim, she must decide once and for all which man she wants—if any of them. Gordon’s novel will attract romance lovers of every stripe, especially those who prefer a bit of mystery and drama. The author’s love scenes sizzle, and her characters are well rounded in both a physical and psychological sense; she also doesn’t forget to expand on the history of Northern Ireland’s lush countryside. The book features a strong, ambitious female protagonist who is open to relationships but also knows that any love interest has to be compatible with her career—a favorable attribute in a modern romance. Despite moments when Rose has so many suitors that it can be difficult to keep track of them, this novel will likely keep its readers intellectually and emotionally engaged.
An addictive, rollicking tale of friendship, love, and lust.
" I loved the relationships between the characters, the storyline was heart warming and after a while, I couldn’t put it down. Would definitely recommend! " — LoveReading, starred review
Rose is a high-flying, strong, independent COO of her father's company. Her father gives her 3 weeks to decide if she wants to take over his role within the company. In the three weeks, Rose goes to help a friend suffering ill health in hosting an art exhibition which is something Rose is passionate about. With Rose being a strong black woman, whilst staying with her friend and looking at her artwork around the house, she spots a piece that resonates with her and decides that the exhibition theme will be based on underrepresented minorities.
Whilst organising all of this we are introduced to her friends 2 brothers. Both handsome and lovely characters and it was a guessing game to see who Rose would end up with in the end. I loved the relationships between the characters, the storyline was heart warming and after a while, I couldn’t put it down. Would definitely recommend!
Sophie Shield, A LoveReading Ambassador
LoveReading Ambassador
