Grumpy Romance by Nia Arthurs Genres: Billionaire, Romance
Series: Billionaire Dads #1
Pages: 408
Published by Nia Arthurs on October 1, 2024
ASIN: B09NBFCR7F
ISBN: 9798788364865
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
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Buy on Amazon"Holland Alistair is the gorgeous computer prodigy who took the real estate game by storm. Arrogant. Surly. Eyes of steel. He meets me on the worst day of my life and gets his fern kicked. Literally. I'm sure I'm getting sued. Instead, I get a job offer. Turns out, managing Alistair's schedule--and temper--is actually his revenge. In the office, his eyes follow me everywhere. Is he going to fire me or devour me? I can't decide what I want either. I plan his death on my off-time. i kiss him senseless in my dreams. hate and want. Push and pull. All we do is tiptoe around what's between us. Until one chance meeting with his adorable daughter changes everything. Suddenly, I'm seeing the softer side of Alistair. But falling for him wasn't in my job description. And neither is stealing kisses in the office stairwell."--Page [4] of cover.
Thoughts on the book:
I borrowed this book through my Amazon Prime membership, and the blurb had me intrigued. I tend to love an arrogant, broody billionaire who’s a bit too alpha. Add in the fact that he’s set to be an overprotective father? Sign me up!
Kenya Jones, the main female character (MFC), has had her fair share of bad luck in love. Things get even worse when she meets Holland Alistair, the main male character (MMC), on what might be the worst day of her life. That first meeting instantly grabs Holland’s attention, but he’s left wondering why what he knows about Kenya doesn’t line up with how she acted. What follows is a clash of strong personalities that had me wondering if Kenya would ever admit to her feelings for Holland.
The romance is set mostly in the workplace, with Kenya being hired as Holland’s second assistant. Their professional relationship adds to the slow burn, as neither one wants to cross that employee/employer line. I loved how the MMC fell first and hated every minute of it! Kenya is headstrong and stubborn, standing her ground with Holland from the start, which I loved (I’m always here for a strong female lead). However, her stubbornness got a little repetitive, and I found myself wishing she’d soften toward Holland just a bit earlier—especially before meeting his daughter.
When Kenya does meet Holland’s daughter, she softens toward him almost too quickly, making it feel a bit unrealistic. Also, while this is a slow burn romance, the “fireworks” are pretty tame, with most of the steamy scenes fading to black. So, if you’re looking for something sizzling hot in the bedroom, this book may not be for you.
There’s also a subplot that drove me a little nuts! Kenya’s family is… well, a real piece of work. For a good portion of the book, her family dynamic adds to the emotional angst, but about two-thirds of the way through, it kind of vanishes after a big confrontation. I was disappointed not to see a resolution earlier on. Then, in the last chapter, it randomly resurfaces, which felt out of place. It gave me serious Cinderella vibes, but I ended up more annoyed than anything with that whole subplot.
The final chapter also briefly introduces the two main characters for the next book in the series. I didn’t mind that, but I wasn’t compelled to continue with the series. While I enjoyed this book and the characters, I know myself well enough to pass on the sequels.
In summary, if you’re looking for an angsty, emotional read with an enemies-to-lovers and billionaire trope, this one’s worth picking up. But if you’re in the mood for something super steamy or a light-hearted rom-com, you may want to pass on this one.
Recommended Reading if you’re look for:
- Billionaire Romance
- Grumpy Single Dad
- Workplace Romance
- Fiercely Independent Female
- BIPOC / BWWM
- Slow Burn – Light Steam
About Nia Arthurs
Nia Arthurs writes emotional BWWM and AMBW romances with diverse heroes and the strong women who drive them wild.
Her best known series are Make It Marriage and Doc’s Love Repair–both feature men of different races and the fierce yet vulnerable black women they fall in love with. She adores writing alphas with a soft side and three-dimensional female heroines.
Her weaknesses include K-pop, K-dramas, and natural hair tutorial videos. She is a fervent believer in love and happily ever afters.
