When wild-child Aggie Corelissen shows up for an interview with the last person she’d ever want to work for, golden-boy entrepreneur Max Treadwell, she has one goal—to not be offered the position. While she hates to disappoint the two matchmaking grandmothers who’d pressed Max to hire her, she wants nothing to do with a pity job. Besides, the guy could easily win Mr. Pompous Ass of the year.
The last thing Max wants is to offer Aggie a job. The woman, a mixture of bizarre and annoying, has gone through at least a half-dozen employers this year already. He might’ve promised Grandmother he’d hire her, but if Aggie doesn’t take it because he’s more than a little un-charming, that won’t be his fault. After all, his company is on the brink of a major land acquisition, and the last thing he needs is a screw-up as a personal assistant.
With neither of them willing to disappoint their grandmothers, the interview becomes the stuff of legends, and somehow, before either can blink, they’re suddenly stuck working together.
Aggie’s determined the only way out is to be the worst assistant ever and get fired…
Max knows his grandmother would kill him if he fired Aggie, so he’ll just have to be so awful she quits…
But what happens next, no one could have seen coming.
About Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells writes romantic comedy with enough steam to fog your eyeglasses, your brain, and sometimes your Kindle screen. On the other hands, her eighty-year-old mother-in-law has read Lisa’s steamiest book and lived to offer her commentary. Which went something like this: You used words I’ve never heard of…
She lives in Missouri with her husband and slightly-chunky rescue dog. Lisa loves dark chocolate, red wine, and those rare mornings when her skinny jeans fit. Which isn’t often, considering the first two entries on her love-it list.
My truth is gone, stolen by a monster. The One who trades my father’s life for hers.
Brandon Montgomery is more than a psychopath. He’s the spawn of the Dark Circle Society and is determined to resurrect it.
Men of his kind have no conscience. No soul. No goodness left. Now, he’s taken my fiancée.
I’ll do anything to get her back.
Anything.
Even if it means I become the man I never wanted to be.
The kind who fights evil with bloody knuckles and shards of glass.
The man who’ll fight for her and keep on fighting.
But when I find the woman I love, something’s not quite right.
The spark in her eyes is gone and so are her memories.
When her captor makes a move we couldn’t predict, our world spirals out of control.
My battle to rescue her body is one thing … but the fight for her soul will be merciless.
Love & Retaliation is a dark, gritty, and emotional new adult novel. It’s recommended for readers who enjoy darker romance. May contain triggers for some readers. ** This is not a standalone novel and Love & Vengeance MUST be read first.
J.A. Owenby lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and cat.
She’s a published author of six short stories, and she is currently working on her ninth full-length novel. She also runs her own business as a professional resume writer and interview coach–she helps people find jobs they love.
J.A. is an avid reader of thrillers, romance, new adult, and young adult novels. She loves music, movies, and good wine. And call her crazy, but she loves the rainy Pacific Northwest; she gets her best story ideas while listening to the rain pattering against the windows in front of the fireplace.
Poppy Fynn gets bored easily, never staying with a job or relationship for long. After a year of cancer treatments, she’s in remission and ready for a change. Her new position as manager on an Idaho sheep ranch excites her as much as the neighboring, sexy, attitude-riddled rancher. Her encounters with Dakota Smith amuse her until he takes over her tour of his private club. Then, all she wants is more of him, any way she can get him.
Searching for the man Dakota Smith knows is responsible for his mother’s murder is his top priority, and he doesn’t have the time or patience for a relationship. So, why does he find himself concerned over one irritating redhead’s underweight appearance and the fatigue he sees on Poppy’s face when she pushes herself? Unable to resist getting involved, he vows nothing will keep him from avenging his mother, no matter how close he and Poppy become.
Thwarting an attempt on Poppy’s life shakes Dakota, but not as much as finally locating the man who killed his mother. Soon he’s forced to choose between honoring his vow of revenge or go to the only woman he’s ever loved when she needs him the most.
He was the only man who made her heart pound and her pulse jump, but would his quest for vengeance destroy their chance for anything more?
Her brazen personality and signs of poor health demanded his attention and threatened his vow to avenge his mother.
She never considered forever until him. He refused to get involved until her.
With a startled cry, Poppy toppled to the ground, getting the wind knocked out of her as she landed on her back. The approach of pounding horse hooves shook the earth under her, then a pair of broad shoulders and a glowering, drop-dead gorgeous face blocked the blue sky above her. Even while struggling to get her breath back, she couldn’t help smiling in giddy pleasure.
Hard hands helped her up as he rumbled in a deep voice, “Your sheep are trespassing.”
Since she caught a hint of concern in that annoyed statement, she dismissed his complaint with an equally inane comment. “Your cattle are mingling with my sheep.”
He seemed to get a good look at her as she stood, one hand keeping hold of her arm while he swept the other across her ribs and around to her back. “You,” he growled, his acknowledgement of their prior meeting sounding like an accusation.
“Yep, me. Oh.” Her breath caught as he brushed off her butt, then she leaned forward, widening her grin. “I think you missed a spot.” His huff of exasperation amused her, and she patted his rock-hard chest. “Lighten up. Life’s too short to go around wound up so tightly.”
“I wouldn’t be wound up so tightly if you didn’t keep showing up like a thorn in my side,” he bit out. “If you’re not hurt, I’ll help you gather your livestock. I’m Dakota Smith, in case old man Sanders hasn’t told you. And you are?”
“Poppy Finnegan,” she answered, stepping back and reaching for Hank’s reins when Dakota released her arm. “And, no, Jerry hasn’t mentioned you.”
“What the hell kind of name is Poppy?” he asked in derision.
Okay, that disparagement irked Poppy. His continued discourtesy chipped away at her good humor, and she snapped, “What the hell kind of name is Dakota?”
He thumbed the brim of his hat up enough for her to get a good look into his coal black eyes. “An honored family name, passed down through generations.”
So, she touched a raw nerve. At this point, she didn’t care. “Well, I’m a colorful flower.”
“You’re colorful, I’ll give you that. Come on, let’s get to work.”
He sighed, and her annoyance dropped away. “If we leave them long enough, we could start a livestock breed of doodles.”
“Don’t even think it.”
Poppy gave up trying to get a smile out of Dakota. Instead, she mounted Hank, making sure she kept a good grip on the reins, and rode toward the herd without another word or looking at him again.
Author of sizzling hot romance with a touch of suspense. Long and Short Reviews erotic romance of the month winner for Hannah and the Dom Next Door and gold star recipient for Amy’s Redemption. I live in the Midwest with my husband, love dogs and enjoy reading and working puzzles. We have traveled extensively throughout the states, Canada and just once overseas, but I now much prefer being homebody. My favorite genre to read is suspense.
