Photo credits: Gerd Altmann, Quang Nguyen (pixabay), Magda Ehlers (pexels) Edited by Vaishali Title: The Price of Scandal Series: Bluewater Billionaires Author: Lucy Score Publisher: That's What She Said Publishing Genre/Themes: Contemporary romance, rom-com, Adult fiction, Billionaire romance Year of Publication: 2019 Format: E-book copy ISBN: 978-1-945631-49-8 (ebook) ISBN: 978-1-945631-50-4 (paperback) R E V I E W... 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 an exceptional 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 Flawless any 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. I gave this book 4 stars - 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. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- 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: (Will contain profanity and adult content!) 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. 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. 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.” ‘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.” 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. I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK L E A V E A C O M M E N T A N D L E T' S T A L K A B O U T |
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