I really enjoyed watching Isabella and Eli fall in love in The Bastard Billionaire. This is the first book I read in the series but I really want to go back and read the other two now!

Sexy. Sweet. Unforgettable. I love this author and the stories she writes. Great chemistry. Undeniable attraction. Smoldering tension. Characters that make you feel everything. Highly recommended this book y'all!

The last Billionaire Bad Boys book, The Billionaire Next Door, gave us readers a brief introduction to the middle Crane brother who has been practically absent from the series. Eli Crane came in like a wrecking ball and refused to leave my mind. I knew this veteran would be trouble in the grumpiest sense. Oh, was I right.

Where the last book was a bit more playful, this third book deals with a subject I feel strongly about, the treatment of our veterans who make it home after serving our country so we can enjoy the freedoms we have. Eli is an injured Marine returning home after being honorably discharged, having survived an explosion when others did not survive. He’s bitter, a bit lost, and whole lot of grumpy. He wants to be left alone to do his own thing. His family is pushing him to return to the family business, Crane Hotels, but the last thing Eli wants to do is return to normalcy and be surrounded by people.

His oldest brother, Reese, sends a personal assistant to Eli’s house to help him stay connected to Crane Hotels. One after the other, each new personal assistant scrambles away in tears or anger (or both) from “scary” Eli. Eli doesn’t have time for this, he has his own pet project to work on.

Enter Isabella Sawyer, the owner of the company that employs all the personal assistants that have been “expelled” from Eli’s house. With her fledgling company’s reputation at stake, she just can’t have another failure. She needs Reese Crane’s endorsement to grow her personal assistant company. So as a last resort, Isa goes in to meet the guy who took down all her personal assistants.

Some romances just take you for a nice little ride and dump you off at the door and say goodnight. The Bastard Billionaire was an exciting ride in a Jeep in the desert where I got to see lots of sights, got a bit of “action” (wink, wink), and was fully satisfied having learned a little about where I’ve been and had some fun along the way. That is to say, this wasn’t a boring blah, blah romance. My metaphors get clunky sometimes.

Two things stuck out for me with this story. First was Isabella’s character. I am such a sucker for a heroine (or protagonist – I never know what to call her) who recognizes she isn’t in a good situation and she takes her life in her own hands and sets her life to rights. And she was a one smart cookie. Hmmmm… cookies…

Second, the pet project that Eli was working on was actually a brilliant idea and I had never thought about that “angle” for returning veterans. There are so many things in my normal day that I take for granted that our veterans have to adjust to when they return home. It could be mental or physical adjustments, but our veterans need help and too often, they are overlooked by our “me, me, me” society. I know I need reminders often.

OH, and hey, Ms. Lemmon writes some fantastic sex scenes so there’s always that 😉

This one sadly just didn't work out for me, I could not get into the story or connect with the characters. I don't know if it was my mood when I originally read the book or if it was the book itself but I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I had wished that I had.

Review: I originally read Ms. Lemmon’s Bad Boy book one, Bringing Home the Bad Boy, and I liked it. When I saw that one of her Billionaire books was up to review, I decided to request it, and boy has her writing gotten even better since her first series. The Bastard Billionaire is the third in the Billionaire series. Reading the other books isn’t imperative as each books stands on their own, but I know I want to read the other books.

This book was fast paced, it was funny, and it was just so darn good.

Eli was a wonderfully complex character. He’s had so much to deal with since coming home from war. Ms. Lemmon dealt with what he was going through with sensitivity, tact, and the reader could understand the Veteran’s viewpoint and how they most likely feel.

I’m glad that more and more authors are touching on Veterans and their struggles to fit back into civilian life after coming home from war. It isn’t easy to just get on with life after being overseas and I know I never understood what these brave men and women were struggling with, until authors started implementing their viewpoint into their stories and it made me have a better understanding.

Isa is his perfect counterpoint to deal with his stubborn bullheadedness, and boy, was it fun to watch the sparks fly across the page. She was smart, sassy, classy, and sexy too. She was not afraid to be feminine, but tough as nails as well. She didn’t put up with Eli’s games and didn’t tolerate Eli’s rudeness. I laughed and I laughed.

I loved Eli’s brothers, and their significant others, as they were funny and had to put up with Eli’s moodiness because they loved him and wanted to help. I like that family and helping each other even when we’re not at our best is paramount to Ms. Lemmon’s stories. Family is important, and she thinks so too.

Give The Bastard Billionaire a look see, and I hope you read it and like it as well.

This was an amazing end to this series. I've been waiting for Eli's story since the beginning, and Jessica Lemmon did not disappoint!
Eli was everything I'd hoped he'd be - a grumpy workaholic who didn't have time for anyone but was being forced into socializing by his family.
And Isa was amazing. I love a woman who knows what she's doing and is good at her job. She didn't have time for any of Eli's bullshit, and she wasn't afraid to tell him that. She needed him in order for her business to continue to do well. She wasn't about to let him derail everything she'd worked so hard for.
This might end up being my favorite of Jessica Lemmon's, and that's saying a lot.

The Bastards strike again. This story was one that I knew going in would cause me some serious sadness and I was reluctant a long time to bite the bullet and read it, but sooner than later the pull to the Crane boys became irresistible. I picked up this series on a lark when I found it on netgalley because the first story looked like a quick and easy read, but boy was I wrong. Eli Crane returned from the war in the previous novel and was obviously damaged both from before the war and the events that led to his early return. While his brothers have both found love, he doesn’t really believe in love and he surely doesn’t need the sexy Isabelle around him every moment, digging into his secrets, and sharing his day to day activities with his brothers. He has managed to successfully run off all the other personal assistants sent his way by his meddling family, but Isa just won’t give up and leave him in the peace he swears he needs. Isa has never backed down from a task and she isn’t about to let Eli Crane get in the way of her business becoming a booming success. The heat between these two is not something either of them are prepared for but it is certainly undeniable, and when they finally give in to the passion, they quickly discover that the heat might not be the only thing between them. But they only have a chance at a future if they can both admit that what they really want can’t be found outside of their relationship, only between the two of them can they truly find happiness everlasting. Let’s face it, the lifestyles of the rich and famous have always given those of us that are nowhere near millionaires, much less billionaires, a special kind of entertainment and these billionaires have become the new trope all over the world of romance. That being said, the best way that I can relate to these stories is to understand that having money doesn’t make them better or different than us, just gives them a whole different set of problems to deal with day in and day out. I truly loved seeing Eli begin to come out of his shell and show his family and Isabelle just what kind of man he really is and has always been. If you are looking for an amazing story of two people changing for the better by coming together and finding love, then The Bastard Billionaire is the perfect story for you. I am looking forward to whatever comes next for Ms. Lemmon and can’t wait to see where she takes us on our next journey.
p.s. I loved Jessica’s take on the challenges that Eli and Isa faced as a couple with the damage done in the war. So often stories focus only on the challenges faced by the injured warrior, but it never hurts to remember that these things affect everyone in the warrior’s life including anyone they try to bring into their lives after the fact. Being a proud military brat and a great supporter of our military men and women, I felt a special kind of warmth in reading this story and seeing that Jessica doesn’t shy away from those issues, instead bringing them into the light and allowing her couple to move past them together.

http://kimmyloves2read.blogspot.com/2017/03/blog-tour-5-star-review-giveaway.html

The Bastard Billionaire is the final book in the Billionaire Bad Boys series and Eli Crane's story did not disappoint! It was absolutely fantastic!

The Bastard Billionaire is a wholly unexpected and wonderfully brilliant story that will melt your heart and sizzle your ereader! This is a heart-stopping, whirlwind adventure that will challenge you in ways you never saw coming. Just opening your heart to this book could spell total disaster or unspeakable bliss. The outcome depends on the path you take and the choices that rule your heart. Nothing worth having or fighting for is ever easy, and this story is no exception. In fact, it will threaten to shatter your heart more times than you can possibly imagine. Do you have the strength and the courage for fight for who and what you want despite life’s cruel unpredictability?

My words cannot do this incredible story the true justice it deserves in flowing and powerful words of adoration and admiration, but I will do my best to convey the depth of the impact that this story and its wonderful characters have had on me. I am left in awe as to the beautiful diversity of the fantastic characters that punched numerous holes in my defenses as I welcomed and embraced each one. My heart was stretched and transformed in so many ways that I didn’t recognize it in the end. I feel very privileged and honored to be able to cherish and savor every word of this magnificent work of art! What a true treasure and a literary jewel!

Jessica Lemmon is a new author to me, but now I can’t wait to read more of her books. The series that The Bastard Billionaire is in sounds absolutely amazing! The world that she built is wonderfully enticing and enthrallingly addicting. Seeing one part of it has only made me hungrier and more impatient to explore the rest of it. This is an author that you do not want to miss out on! She is wondrously talented, and I can’t wait to see what she creates next.

This is the third book in the Billionaire Bad Boys series and the second that I have read of Jessica Lemmon's. After reading "The Billionaire Bachelor" I was hooked with the series and ready to read the rest. So when I had the opportunity to read this new book I jumped at the chance. Jessica did a great job of creating well developed main characters whose pasts helped shaped the story from the very first chapter all the way to the end. In particular for the characters I really enjoyed seeing how Jessica developed Isabella Sawyer as a strong willed woman who could hold her own both in a mans and women's world. It is always cool to me to see strong female leads in stories that I read because it shows to women of all age groups that you can be strong with and without a man.

In addition to the characters she also did a great job of setting the scenes in the book. She did a great job of being descriptive enough for the readers to be able to imagine being in the location but does not go over board where it makes the story drag on. Another aspect that I liked in both this book and Jessica's first book in the series that I read was how she incorporated humor. It was humor that was written in very well to the story and made sense in the parts that she put it in.

Lastly, it was interesting to see how Jessica incorporated Eli's injury into the story and how his attitude truly changed from the start of the book to the end. It was written very realistic and truthful on how it would take someone injured time to get accustom to not only their family but a woman.

Can't wait to read more books by Jessica.

The last Crane brother finally succumbs to love! The Bastard Billionaire was such a fun read with a bit of “beauty and the beast” flair. I loved the “beastly” Eli and the feisty beauty Isabella. When Eli returns from the war one limb less and unsure of what he wants in life, his family can’t seem to stop pestering him. And that makes him a bit of a grouch. Isabella is trying to run her top-notch business of providing the best personal assistance, but with 10 assistance already fired by Eli, Isa is stepping in and stepping up to handle the situation.

I love the spark between Eli and Isa! They have a fantastic hate-to-love banter. There’s something about a grouchy hero that I can’t help but love and to boot, throw in a sassy heroine who doesn’t take any crap from him and you have irresistibly delicious tension. There was so many layers to their attraction, from unwanted, to sizzling sexual chemistry to real feelings! You can’t help but be invested in them every step in the way.

"“Did you forget for a second I had a handicap? Is that why you kissed me back?”
“By handicap, I assume you mean your horrible attitude.”"

I also really liked seeing Eli and Isa grow throughout the story. Eli is struggling to figure out the next steps are in his life, to deal with the guilt of losing his men, to how he can contribute now that he’s discharged from the marines. Isa is trying to prove to parents and the rich elite that she doesn’t need their money or status to be successful. They both show vulnerability and strength. I also loved that the Crane family and their loves are a part of the story, causing trouble and providing advice.

Overall this was a fun and sexy read and fantastic addition to the Billionaire Bad Boys series. I’m happy to see all the Crane boys get their happily ever after. If you love grumpy heroes and strong heroines and awesome chemsitry, this is the book for you.

{*Thanks to Forever & Edelweiss for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book! I definitely had tears in my eyes several times, especially when Eli was being idiotic and Isa's heart was breaking. There were fun times too; in the beginning the banter and barbs were awesome. I thought there might be more to the story with her parents, but it wasn't really pursued. I'm intrigued enough about the Crane brothers to go back and read the previous books in the series.

Super sexy, super fun, and HOT HOT HOT, The Bastard Billionaire is a stupendous romance with lovable characters, a sizzling plot, and a romance that will sure to make you swoon! I LOVED how irresistible this story was. Jessica Lemmon is a "GO TO'' author for fabulous romance. Her writing style draws in her readers and keeps them coming back for more!

Originally Reviewed By: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Reviewer: Ariel

The thrilling conclusion to the Billionaire Bad Boy trilogy, The Bastard Billionaire is full of family, drama, and of course, romance. It’s not necessary to read the first two in the series to enjoy Eli and Isa’s story. If you’re into romance with two equally strong leads rather than one alpha, I would highly recommend picking this one up!

Eli Crane has come home from the war a different man than when he left. He lost two of his friends, as well as part of his right leg. His family wants him to step into the role of COO of Crane Hotels, but Eli simply isn’t ready to go back to the way things were. He chooses to work from home, on a project he hasn’t told his family anything about. When Eli chases away every assistant his brother sends him, the owner of Sable Concierge decides to take matters into her own hands.

Isabella Sawyer has built Sable Concierge from the ground up completely by herself. Groomed to take over her parents’ company, they weren’t thrilled when Isa decided to strike out on her own and start her own company. Her now ex-boyfriend wasn’t thrilled either. Still being a fairly new business, Isa is dependent on her networking skills to build her clientele, and the Cranes would be a great benefit to her company. So when Eli Crane scares off the last employee she has, she has no choice but to become his assistant herself.

What I loved about this book was that I really felt as though Isa and Eli were equals. Isa makes it clear from the get go that she won’t take any crap from Eli, and she won’t be as easily scared away as his past assistants. The two share an amusing banter throughout the book, and it only gets messy once hearts start getting involved. Eli had trouble going all in with relationships before he went off to war, and the things he saw didn’t help in the slightest. He deals with a lot of survivor’s guilt throughout the book, which is heartbreaking. The two friends he lost each had a wife, and one of his friends had two young children. It makes it hard for Eli to justify only losing a leg when two men had their entire futures ripped from them.

Isa, on the other hand, is ready to throw herself into a relationship after having put all of her time and energy on her business for so long. While she sympathizes with what Eli is going through, she needs someone who is ready for a commitment, not someone who can only give part of himself. She’s been burned in the past by her ex, who was only using her to climb the ladder in her family’s company. Now, she has no patience for people who can’t accept her for who she is, and who can’t support her dreams.

You’ll find yourself rooting for these two to get past their individual issues and finally be together like we know they should be. You’ll fall in love with Eli’s family, if you haven’t already from the previous two books. The book is well written, both funny and heartbreaking at times. I give The Bastard Billionaire 4 out of 5. An enjoyable read with wonderful characters.

I was introduced to Jessica Lemmon's writing when I read her book, The Billionaire Bachelor which is also the first book in Billionaire Bad Boys series. I absolutely loved her book and her writing style and the rest is history.

The Bastard Billionaire is the third book in Billionaire Bad Boys series and narrates the story of Eli Crane, the middle Crane sibling we all heard about repeatedly in the previous two books but meet as a hero first hand only in this story.

Eli Crane got wounded on duty and is now a honourably discharged Marine trying to piece together his life which does not involve getting a desk job in Crane Hotels but his family is relentless in their pursuit to draw him in the family business.

I laughed, cried and wholeheartedly enjoyed Eli's gruff beastly behaviour to get all his family-appointed secretaries to flee and loved how the latest secretary and our heroine, Isabella Sawyer stood up to him.

Their chemistry is instant, hot and explosive. I absolutely loved this couple and enjoyed each and every twist and turn in their love story. Being a huge admirer of protagonists who brave all challenges and setbacks to make the best of their situation, I rooted for both Eli and Isabella.

Meeting the Crane family again was a pleasure and a delight to see all my favourite couples from this series living their dream life.

The plot is expertly executed and the pace is racy, engaging and had me turning pages eagerly to know what happened next!

All in all, The Bastard Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon is the best book in this series and a real entertainer that I know I'll reread. 5 out of 5 stars to it from me and strongly recommended to all adult lovers of romance. Jessica Lemmon is a talented writer and an author whose writing I want to read more and more in the future.

I received an ARC from the author and the publishers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

I've enjoyed this series by Jessica Lemmon. These Crane brothers have put their women through the wringer. LOL. This book features Eli Crane. He's a war veteran - amputee and appointed COO of Crane Hotels. He's not big on doing what he's been told now that he's out of the service and really just wants to wallow in his pity. Eli's brother, the CEO, hires a temp firm to fill the spot of Eli's Assistant. Being a difficult - on purpose - individual results in the owner of the temp agency to try her magic against the brooding billionaire.

Isabelle Sawyer is determined to win with this difficult client. Being recommended by Crane Hotels could change the status of her already successful business to mega successful. How hard could this guy be right? HA! Jokes on her I think. Though Isabelle (Sable as Eli refers to her) is successful at staying more than one day; Eli sure does know how to push her buttons.

Their attraction is evident in the way they react around each other. Though Eli is rather gun shy to even consider a relationship. Who would want an amputee, right? Sometimes people can't see what's right in front of them because they're too stuck in their own heads!

This love story has quite a few trials. It was worth it in the end. I hope you will find Eli and Sable's love story as enjoyable as I did.

I absolutely LOVED this one!It was realistic and this make me love it even more!Another part that I love in this story is the hero who was stubborn,sexy and omg so many things!!I loved him so much!!

The Bastard Billionaire turned out to be better than I could have expected. Why better?, because Jessica Lemmon took a story-line that could have been dark and angsty and made it the total opposite without fluffing the issues. Let me explain ... Our hero, Eli Crane, has serious PTSD. Not only does he have physical scars from his tours with the military, but emotional ones as well. Deep emotional ones. But the story didn't focus or zero in in on this. No, the story focused on Eli and Isa's journey. But she also didn't dismiss it or gloss over it. It was there. It was dealt with.

Now lets talk about these two crazy kids LOL I loved their characters hard. Their banter was addictive. They had chemistry and spark from the moment they met. I was sucked into this story quickly by them. Eli was developed so thoroughly that I could feel my heart both hurt and smile for him. And Isa was such a great match for him. She was fierce and independent and just plain strong! They were just perfect :) so it made for a one and done read (that's what I call it when I read a book in one sitting LOL).

I've enjoyed the story of these three brothers immensely. Each one of their stories can be read on their own, but together you not only get really good love stories, but also a very powerful family read. So read them all #TRUST