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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
4.5 stars
Billionaire CEO makes an indecent proposal to his employee… but with a twist.
I did not expect to find the femmedom / male sub dynamic this hot, but it really worked for me. There ended up being so much worshipping, spoiling, and caretaking - and the kink helped the characters emotionally connect as well.
I probably shouldn’t have been surprised because I love Heather Guerre’s books - I’ve read 6 now and they were all 4 stars or above for me, with several 5 stars. They are steamy but always have an emotional punch, which is a nice change from all the lighthearted books I usually read.
Also, this moment that made me think - oh, that would be heartbreaking in a different story:
When Kate was gone, Mikhail returned to his office and sat down at the chessboard again. He stared at the perfectly arranged pieces. After a moment, he started replaying the last game against Kate.
Not to study the gameplay. Not to develop better strategy. Just to remember. To bask in the echo of a strange warmth—a warmth that faded as soon as she was gone.
Billionaire CEO makes an indecent proposal to his employee… but with a twist.
I did not expect to find the femmedom / male sub dynamic this hot, but it really worked for me. There ended up being so much worshipping, spoiling, and caretaking - and the kink helped the characters emotionally connect as well.
I probably shouldn’t have been surprised because I love Heather Guerre’s books - I’ve read 6 now and they were all 4 stars or above for me, with several 5 stars. They are steamy but always have an emotional punch, which is a nice change from all the lighthearted books I usually read.
Also, this moment that made me think - oh, that would be heartbreaking in a different story:
Not to study the gameplay. Not to develop better strategy. Just to remember. To bask in the echo of a strange warmth—a warmth that faded as soon as she was gone.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Spoiler-Free Summary
As CEO of Domovoy Technologies, Mikhail Volkov is one of the wealthiest men in the world. Kate Pasternack works in the company’s logistics department, struggling to pay rent and her heaps of debt. After a chance encounter, Mikhail hires her as his Dom. Soon, what should have been a transactional relationship starts to feel a little too real.
What Worked (for me)
- The third-person limited POV helps Kate stand out as a strong-willed, independent character. I thought it was a clever narrative choice, and a refreshing change of pace.
- The external conflict does not rest on their secret relationship, its unconventional nature, or even miscommunication. I wouldn’t have faulted Guerre for relying on these easy tropes, but I appreciated that the story went a different direction.
- If you like (or suspect you might like) to read about a billionaire studmuffin with a Russian accent groveling naked on his knees, well. He also plays chess like a pro, which somehow makes it better.
- Bonus points for the photo scavenger hunt. Looking forward to trying this the next time my husband travels.
What Didn’t Work
- This is the first romance book I’ve read that prioritized the A Story (action) at the expense of the B Story. As a result, even when you see the connection between the main characters deepening, it doesn’t feel… convincing or stable. Also, any character development Kate experiences is superficial at best, which is sad, because homegirl is no better equipped for a real relationship at the end of the book than she was at the start.
- We’re shown the conflict in Kate’s life — all those things that need fixing — but we receive minimal context beyond her relationships with her mother and sister. How did Kate accumulate so much medical debt? How did she learn to fall so seamlessly into the role of dom?
- I acknowledge that this is 100% a me problem, but this woman cannot be trusted with her own finances. (I did laugh at the refrain of “guess I’m just materialistic.”) If irresponsible spending drives you bonkers, you’re going to spend a lot of time mad at Kate for dropping $4k on a coat when she’s almost $50k in debt with compounding interest.
- So. Much. Edging. It’s done well, but… maybe mix things up a bit?
Final Thoughts
Overall, this was a fun, surprisingly accessible, quick read and a great introduction to fem-dom with bonus boss/employee secret relationship and wholesome board game nights. I enjoyed the ride.
That said, I wanted more. More emotion. More growth. More backstory. More obstacles. It felt like Guerre was too busy setting up more books in the series to really let Kate and Mikhail have their moments.
That said, I wanted more. More emotion. More growth. More backstory. More obstacles. It felt like Guerre was too busy setting up more books in the series to really let Kate and Mikhail have their moments.
Recommendation
Come for the kinks, stay because it’s entertaining! Seriously, if you’re even a little bit intrigued by this, give it a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This isn't my usual kind of romance, but I still enjoyed it. I liked the story more than I thought I would and it wasn't predictable as most workplace/billionaire romances usually are.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Love! Hot femdom/findom goodness with interesting characters. I wish there was more.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
Despite this being an enjoyable, read that I could not put down; it is my least favorite book for Heather, whose books I usually read multiple times, this was not a home run for me and I don’t think I will be coming back to it; pain kink is not for me personally, and I am not sure the MCs jumping into the BDSM play from the first time they meet was realistic. I was more interested in Kate and Mikhail’s tender moments, banter and chess games. It was ok, but not the home run I’ve become used to.