Melanie Marchande

This Time it’s HIS SECRETARY: UNVEILED

Hi there! Today I”m sharing a review for Melanie Marchande’s latest release, HIS SECRETARY: UNVEILED. I really enjoyed the first book, HIS SECRETARY: UNDONE and thought I’d take a go on this billionaire romance sequel. Glad I did!

His Secretary: Unveiled (A Billionaire Romance)About the book:
There’s a sexy, sarcastic billionaire in my bed, and he’s wearing a wedding ring.

How did this happen? Oh, right. Last year, I found out my insufferable boss was secretly a steamy romance author, and me? I was his unwitting muse. That kind of thing can really charm the pants off a girl – if she’s a little bit nuts. Thankfully, I’ve never had more than a passing interest in normalcy.

Next stop, marital bliss! I mean, what could go wrong? It’s not like I have any ambivalent feelings about hooking up with the guy who made my life hell for five years. And it’s not as if Adrian accumulated a long list of enemies in his rise to the top. And we’re *definitely* not so stubborn that it’ll be a struggle to put away our pride and make things work.

Okay, so maybe all those things are true. But at the end of the day, all you need is love…and spankings.

At least, I sure hope so.

My Review:
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. This is the second book in a series; it is best to read these in sequence.

Meg and Adrian are back–married this time. Adrian is a billionaire, owner of Risinger Industries, and taking a break from his CEO duties having resigned a few months back. He’s also a best selling erotica author whose books were a CEO/Secretary love affair based on Adrian’s own infatuation with his admin, Meg.

They had heat and clashes in book one, but resolved all of that to become Mr. and Mrs. On a whirlwind Hawaii vacation. Coming home to real life has been…stressful, however. Adrian isn’t used to sharing his personal space, and spend hours upon hours writing, and ignoring Meg.

Meg is confronted by her father, from whom she had been estranged, regarding the health of her love affair/marriage, and she doesn’t want to upset Adrian by discussing this advent in her life. He knows she’s keeping secrets, and he’s frustrated–and afraid she is getting too isolated from him.

Plus, one of Adrian’s former (male) employees is suing him for harassment and wrongful termination, and insinuating that Meg is a “beard” because she’s voluptuous and Adrian could clearly have a supermodel…

So, there’s a lot of conflict and not a lot of communication. We get some fun flashback insight, but the sexytimes are too few–which could be said of many marriages, perhaps. This is a “growing” book where the initial connecting passions have cooled and the”getting on with life together” phase is in full effect–which is not as exciting as a subject matter, but it’s still very real and approachable. I liked the way Meg and Adrian came together to work on their relationship, and how they made their lives more complete as a team. There is a clear resolution and a happy happy ending.

Interested? You can find HIS SECRETARY: UNVEILED on Goodreads,
Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

Melanie MarchandeAbout the Author:
Melanie Marchande claims she has “always been fascinated by that feeling, that little spark – that tingle – the way your stomach can flip-flop at just hearing someone’s name. We all remember what it’s like. With my books, I hope to make you remember that feeling, to experience that thrill one more time. And the best part is, you can always come back and experience it again, and again, and again…”

She is the author of the “I Married a Billionaire” trilogy. You can find Melanie on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

It Was HIS SECRETARY: UNDONE–A Review

Hi there! Today, I’m sharing a review for Melanie Marchande‘s sexy new release HIS SECRETARY: UNDONE. I reviewed one of Melanie’s books, ROMANCE IMPOSSIBLE, and loved it, so I couldn’t wait to read this one.

His Secretary: Undone (A Novel Deception, #1)About the book:

I’m about to throw an ashtray at my boss’s head.

Turns out, the mind behind my favorite, steamy romance novels…the ones I only read in private…the ones that are my only escape after a long day of dealing with The Boss From Hell? It’s not Natalie McBride, the sweet, rural housewife.

It’s him.

That’s right: my boss, Adrian Risinger, the thirty-three-year-old, maddeningly sexy, pissant billionaire “bad boy” who thinks he runs my life. He is also the author of all my deepest, most secret fantasies. And to make matters worse, he needs me to impersonate “Natalie” at a series of book signings and conventions. But, of course, that’s only if I want to keep my job.

On second thought, I’m going to need something heavier than an ashtray.

My Review:

Well! This one is a hoot. Imagine a secretary (let’s call her Meghan!) with an overbearing, pretentious boss, who shall be named: Adrian Risinger. Meghan finds herself addicted to a set of erotic books–about a secretary and her domineering boss, no less!–only to discover that Mr. Adrian Risinger actually wrote them. Under a pseudonym. Oh, and this is AFTER she fangirled and began an email correspondence with the “author” confessing all sorts of angst over her job, and how sexy, but utterly trying and ridiculous, her boss is…

Oy vey.

Meghan is right torqued off–but before she can even wrap her head around the nightmare of her gargantuan embarrassment, Adrian is offering her a huge bonus to pose as the author at literary events. See, the books are selling like hotcakes, and he can’t bring himself to reveal his Man-ful-ness to his adoring fans. Plus, he’s a bit nervous that his billionaire buddies won’t respect him if they realize he’s a smut-peddler. *shrugs*

Before they are even on the plane the sparks fly between Meghan and Mr. Risinger. She thinks it’s meant to be a fling, and frankly, she’s kinda desperate. In the five years she’s worked for Adrian she’s devoted herself to his managing all his issues, at the sacrifice of her own friendships. And boyfriends…there are none. Nonetheless, Meghan takes a rather pragmatic approach to their tryst. It seemed to me, the reader, that Adrian wanted more than a fling, but Meghan is sure this will fizzle when they return home.

Still, they are very playful:

“If you’re not going to eat the fruit, stop poking at it. I’ll finish it.”

“Fine.” He pushes the dish across the little table. “So is that an official thing, now? I can spank you at work?”

I grin at him, taking a bite of cantaloupe. “You’re my boss, Mr. Risinger. You can do whatever you want.”

He lets out a noise that’s half-laugh, half-groan. “I’ll end up arrested if you keep saying things like that. We both will.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s private property.” I lick my lips. “You could send everybody home and f— me on every single floor, every single room of that building, and not a law in the land could touch you.”

He raises his eyebrows slightly. “And once again, having too much money just robs me of all the usual thrills in life.” Moving lightning-fast, he snatches a grape out of my hand and pops it in his mouth. “What’s the fun of having sex at work if you can’t get in trouble for it?”

There are, of course, complications. Meghan and Adrian are lying to everyone–about his books and about their relationship–and Adrian’s agent seems to be a mite jealous of their “partnership”. The tension becomes too much to overcome, for a bit. It came down to the wire, regarding the HEA. Meghan was rather hurt by Adrian’s seeming nonchalance, and he’s a proud man. The necessary compromises were steep, and took awhile to bear fruit, but they were deliciously captured.

I liked this fun spin on the billionaire romance. Meghan was hysterical as a narrator. I think she got overly sensitive about 75% in, but she wasn’t obtuse, so I still liked her. Adrian was interesting. Who can’t love a man with a filthy imagination and the gumption to write best-selling fantasies about the woman he craves? He wanted Meghan from the time she was hired, and pined for FIVE years, knowing he couldn’t breach the sexual harassment clauses but desperate for all of Meghan’s attention. He had me at “I noticed you didn’t ride in on your broomstick today.” Okay, maybe not then. But, surely a few pages later. Adrian, once he reveals his literary side, has an almost transparent hunger for Meghan which sucked me in. I kept waiting for that light bulb to go off in her brain, and it took a LONG time for that to happen.

Interested? You can find HIS SECRETARY:  UNDONE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iTunes. I received an advanced reader copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Melanie MarchandeAbout the Author:
Melanie Marchande claims she has “always been fascinated by that feeling, that little spark – that tingle – the way your stomach can flip-flop at just hearing someone’s name. We all remember what it’s like. With my books, I hope to make you remember that feeling, to experience that thrill one more time. And the best part is, you can always come back and experience it again, and again, and again…”

She is the author of the “I Married a Billionaire” trilogy. You can find Melanie on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Is It ROMANCE IMPOSSIBLE?–A Review and Giveaway

Confession Time:  I’m a Food Network Junkie. I have been a huge fan of cooking shows since I was young–growing up watching The Frugal Gourmet, and Julia Child’s Kitchen on PBS. Then Dessert Circus and Jaques Pepin…into Mario Batali and Bobby Flay and the list goes on.

Romance ImpossibleI am also totally into food competition shows, and restaurant makeovers…which led me to Gordon Ramsay. Which led me to ROMANCE IMPOSSIBLE. This contemporary romance is a love story for foodies, like me.

Here’s what happens:

Jillian Brown is a chef. She has worked many kitchens around Boston, but is currently out of work due to so many restaurants failing in the depressed economy. Her bank account is nearly empty, and she’s desperate.

Chef Maxwell Dylan (undoubtedly inspired by Chef Gordon Ramsay) is a demanding prick. He’s brash and abrupt and honest. He is unflinchingly critical when it comes to cooking and has built a fortune through his hard work and exacting standards. He is opening a new restaurant. And he wants Jillian to be his sous chef.

Jill knows Chef Dylan, by reputation and by introduction. A few years ago he demanded to meet the chef who had prepared a meal he found lackluster. Jill never forgot that humiliation, and she’d rather eat her chef jacket that work for the notorious Chef Dylan, but that would likely be her last meal as broke and she is, so she accepts his job offer.

In the ramp up to opening the restaurant, Jill and Dylan develop a decent working relationship. She is submissive, as is to be expected, and he is steadfast in his resolve to not get involved with any woman–especially not Jill. He wants to stay focused on the restaurant, but doesn’t miss the quiet confidence Jill exudes. Her patience and attention to detail are just as attractive as her trim physique and pleasant face.

Jill is enamored with Dylan, after a time she is able to get over that horrifying initial meeting. She sees the man behind the frosty rep, and begins to appreciate his confidence and companionship. Over the course of the year there are aborted forays into romance. A kiss here, an embrace there, but each time Dylan pulls back–unsure of so many things. He’s never had a long-term relationship and won’t risk his stable work environment for what he’s sure will be a brief fling. Also, having amassed a fortune, he’s never sure if a woman is interested in him personally, or financially. This is a real fear, because Dylan’s personality is generally disagreeable.

Dylan seems to make extra effort to include Jill in his other endeavors, each time elevating her status and career. This includes recommending she be a part of a reality TV show to help ‘soften’ Dylan’s brash appeal. While on location in LA, Jill’s ex-fiance turns up. She and Eric had been together for 5 years and three weeks before their wedding she discovered he was dating another woman. Yet another humiliation, and one she had confessed to Dylan some months ago. With Eric trying to woo her back, Jill can only recognize how little she cares for him. He’s a cheater who hides all his treachery behind a nice demeanor, unlike Dylan. She’s about to tell all this to Eric, but another shoe had yet to drop, and Jill’s shattered once more.

Not long after, Dylan’s attempt to comfort Jill turns physical. Real physical. And Dylan panics. He’s not confident enough to risk his heart and tries to strike the best balance he can–to Jill’s great disappointment. She turns in her resignation and finds a new job as head chef in a prestigious restaurant. But fate isn’t finished with Jill. And one chance encounter leads these two to the place that were meant to be.

It’s a slow simmer of a romance, realistic in size and scope. Throughout there are tiny vignettes, excerpts of one of Dylan’s ‘cookbooks’, to illustrate his passion for food and cooking. The passion he contains for Jill is just as potent–and magnifies his fear of rejection by ten-fold. Then he sees how gracefully Jill accepts continued rejections and finally casts his whole heart on the line. It’s a joyful ending, and I really enjoyed the book. It’s told from alternating point of view so we can wallow deliciously in the tension between these two strong characters.

Interested? You can find this book on Goodreads, and Amazon. Right now it’s only available as a paperback, but the eBook will be out Feb 25th.

Melanie MarchandeMelanie Marchande is the author of the “I Married a Billionaire” trilogy.

In her own words:

“I’ve always been fascinated by that feeling, that little spark – that tingle – the way your stomach can flip-flop at just hearing someone’s name. We all remember what it’s like. With my books, I hope to make you remember that feeling, to experience that thrill one more time. And the best part is, you can always come back and experience it again, and again, and again…”

You can find Melanie on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

She’s hosting a GOURMET GIVEAWAY for the next five days on her website and Facebook. Click this link for your chance to enter.

Up for grabs: TWO bulbs of indulgent black garlic, ONE package of gourmet squid ink pasta, ONE Dylan’s Trattoria logo apron, and ONE $25 Amazon.com gift card

One can probably make quite a tasty meal with all those fixin’s.

Best of luck and keep reading my friends! 🙂