https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2097983684?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

He's big bad and sexy. Loved this book. such an alpha

As a boy Rafe DeSantis was a hero to Ella Hart, but it didn't last long and Ella quickly learned to hate Rafe after he was sent away to live with his grandfather. Rafe never understood what changed with Ella, as a young girl she chased him around but given his families disdain for him he was not surprised especially after Ella's parents died and his father became her guardian.

Rafe waited patiently though to get his revenge and he got in all ways that matter. He took his fathers company and now has become Ella's guardian. Rafe wants Ella, Ella fears Rafe but when they begin to spend time together it confuses Ella. Can Rafe keep his hard exterior where Ella is concerned but have her too or will she get under his skin and give him a life he never imagined?

I liked this. Fun retelling of a classic and Rafe oozes charisma. Fast paced and entertaining

The line between courting and stalking is very thin and sometimes not easy to recognize, so I had mixed feelings about this book even if in the end everybody got their happy ending.

La linea tra il corteggiamento e lo stalking a volte é molto sottile, questa é la ragione per cui questo libro mi ha lasciato sentimenti contrastanti anche se alla fine, come da copione, c'é stato il lieto fine.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

"I'm going to see a man about a wolf."

As readers we all have our checklist, right? Well, it seems that Jackie Ashenden has the same taste in alpha males as I do because I find hers irresistible. It doesn't matter if they are bikers, billionaires or bounty hunters, they are all bossy and badass. They all speak caveman and know what to do once they get what they want. And if they are broken bad boys, even better.

Rafe is broken, but he hides it well. He's personable and charming. Sexy in a suit and convincing in a boardroom. He makes things happen and he always has a plan. He's stacked the deck in his favor when it comes to Ella. He's made sure that she has no choice in the matter when the time comes for him to deal the cards. He's holding what she needs, and there's only one way she can get it.

Ella lives to dance, ballet is her life. Focusing on her dancing brings her peace and fills the lonely hours. Since she lost her parents, it's been her salvation. When she learns that Rafe has become her guardian and holds the purse strings she is confused and frustrated. She's never had trouble accessing her trust fund before, so why is he being such a jerk and insisting that she negotiate when it's something that is reasonable and not frivolous? She'd never admit it, even to herself, but she feels a connection to him. She feels his presence in the room before she sees him. And when she does see him, he takes her breath away. He reminds her of the big bad wolf in the ballet she's dancing in. With him she felt afraid and yet brave at the same time."

The chemistry between Rafe & Ella is off the charts and it was exciting to experience his relentless pursuit of her. He challenged her and aroused her with his words, making her crave his touch. She resisted, finding a strength in herself she wasn't aware of previously as she stood up for herself. It was wine and popcorn entertainment for this reader as I waited for them to finally meet in the middle and pop my kernels with the heat of their passion.

And to get back to the broken part. Rafe's painful past is heartbreaking and explains his need for control. He's closed off his heart and reinforced his armor for a reason. Will his 'Little Red' run from the 'Wolf' or will she save him?

This was my first Billionaire Fairy Tale, but it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to meeting the author's next alpha billionaire. The line forms here...

this is a retelling of the Big Bad Wolf... vs Little Red Riding Hood- The man is feared by all due to power and wealth... The real pain stems from his childhood...
She remembers a boy to hide from... and now this powerful man is holding her in the palm of his hand... can she release his pain and love him as he loves her

Can you find your way home? Rafe has it all, he has taken the company form his father and now he is going for the one person that never judged him. Ella can't believe what he is telling her she has to stay away from him even now but he has a hold over her. She really has no choice but to do what he says even though she won't make it easy. Ella doesn't remember too much about her time spent with Rafe she was still really small and she was told by her parents to stay away.
Rafe needs her and he won't allow her to leave him ever but he is scaring her and that makes her run but that won't stop him. The more time they spend together the harder it is for them both, Rafe wants her but he can't love her and Ella loves him and she is scared that he only wants her for now.
Can they ever work out their differences before it is too late and words can be taken back?
A great intense read not my favorite though. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Big, Bad Billionaire is book four in the Billionaire Fairy Tales series by Jackie Ashenden. This is a re-telling of the Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale. In this re-telling, Little Red Riding Hood is a sweet, innocent ballerina and the big bad wolf, Rafael de Santis, is most definitely to be feared.

Rafael or Rafe as he prefers to be called, is thirty-two years old. As a young child, he had trouble controlling his emotions and easily fell into temper tantrums or rages. His parents could not be troubled with a “broken” child, so they sent him off to his grandfather. His grandfather told him he would “fix” him. And he did. But his methods were barbaric and horrible. And Rafe bears the scars as proof. He knows that he is still broken, can never really be fixed. But he has learned through pain to control his emotions. To only let others see what he wants them to see.

“He was a chameleon, who showed people only what they wanted to see or what he wanted them to see, all the while keeping his real self hidden. Who was the real Rafael de Santis? Did he himself even know?”

When Rafe was returned to his parents, he vowed he would get his revenge on his father. Over the years he slowly planed the takeover of his father’s corporation, DS Corp, the biggest weapons and security company in the States. He has succeeded in this endeavor and now he wants the woman he has yearned for, obsessed over since he was a boy and she a toddler. The only person that seemed to accept him, like him even, as he was, until she was turned against him. He would have her no matter what, his Ella Hart.

Ella was the daughter of one of Rafe’s father’s oldest friends. She was twenty years old and a ballerina with a minor New York dance company. Rafe had known her since she was two years old. But since his return to his parents, had only occasionally seen her. Ella lost both her parents years ago and Rafe’s father was guardian of her inheritance. Now Rafe has assumed guardianship. Ella desperately wants to attend a summer dance program in Paris and needs the funds approved and Rafe is the only one that can approve it. Rafe has very specific terms for what he wants in exchange for this approval.

Ever since the first time Rafe saw Ella dance, it calmed the beast within him. He couldn’t explain it but it was the only time he was completely quiet, calm. Ella suffers from anxiety. Her parents were so quickly taken from her. All she has left is her grandmother. The only time her fears are quiet is when she dances. But somehow, when she is near to Rafe, she forgets her fears. She feels so many other things instead. Things that are equally terrifying and thrilling at the same time.

Rafe and Ella do butt heads from the beginning. But Rafe likes it when he sees her straighten her spine in anger, sees the fire in her eyes. It takes away that wary look, the fear he saw there before.

“Run, little Red,” Rafe murmured, watching her walk fast up the steps to her front door. “Run while you can. But one day I’ll catch you, make no mistake. And you’re going to love it when I do.”

This is a pretty dark story. Rafe is a man who is powered by revenge for the wrongs he has suffered. Ella is frightened and lonely. Together these two fill in the missing pieces each of them need. But can they truly accept each other, open themselves the way they need to in order to make the relationship work? Can they truly love each other?

This is my second Jackie Ashenden book. I was a little surprised at my reaction to it. I knew Rafe would be a bit dark but the way he manipulated everyone still bothered me a bit. He was completely dedicated to Elle. But only on his terms. Or so he thought. I wanted to love him anyway but did have a little trouble finding enough redeeming qualities to make my heart warm to him. I think the true question here was, who held the true power? Was it Rafe as he thought, or was it little Ella, Little Red? You will have to decide for yourself if you read this.

“You’re mine. You always have been. And now I have you, I’m not giving you up.”

3.5 stars

Little Red Riding Hood meets the Big Bad Wolf.

There's a lot of ways this could have gone...

I had imagined this would be a little more of the alpha wolf chases and captures the unknowing red riding hood storyline. Instead, it is a rather broken man chasing the young woman he thought he could never have. For me, it bordered on the creepy...or maybe it was that my expectations were too different from how this was really written. My imagination of how this could go didn't fit either character. Their relationship seemed disconnected - I didn't really feel like they truly were that invested. Without giving the story away, let me just say that the reasons for them being together just didn't ring true - a little more like two desperate people with lots of demons to face before they could truly develop a real relationship with one another.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Swerve, for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jackie Ashenden can do no wrong in my eyes . I love all her titles and this one is no exception. She has great talent developing characters and writing steamy scenes! They are never boring and never repetitive. Read the big bad billionaire if you like alpha males and enjoy reading a books by a talented author. It’s a no brainer really!

Rafe is used to overcoming obstacles. He's had to deal with the label of uncontrollable since he was a boy. As ruthless as he can be in business he's also known as the charmer. Who better to be the wolf in this reimagined interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood.
Ella is the ballerina who is scared of her own shadow, the perfect prey for Rafe. But when confronted she shows her own claws. Will Rafe tame Little Red and keep her for his own or will they be torn apart...

The Big, Bad Billionaire is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling that follows two characters, Rafe and Ella who are each broken in their own way. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I loved the banter between these two characters as well as the sexual tension. I think the author did a good job creating it, it kept you wanting more but not to the point where it became frustrating. It was done just right.

I definitely recommend it to fans of fairytale retellings that are hot dirty.

Rafe shares a bond with Ella when they were kids. But because of his anger issues he was sent away to his grandfather. And when he is back, Ella is wary of him.
Rafe has been planning his revenge from his father, and now after getting the CEO position from his father, the next things he wants is Ella. He takes over her guardianship from her father, and blackmails her to spend time with him in exchange of releasing funds for an internship she wants to attend. Will this Red Ridding hood be able to tame the Wolf ?
The big bad billionaire held me captive from the start. There was a lot of angst, passion, drama and sadness in Rafe and Ella’s lives and towards the end they both turned out to be each others strength. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from Jackie Ashenden in the future.

I didn’t care for this story all that much. Both characters were too neurotic for me. I didn’t connect with the characters at all.

Ms. Ashenden has done it again. A hot solid story with an interesting twist on the fairy tale.

I loved this book - another really great read by Jackie Ashenden!! This is the 4th book in the Billionaire modern day fairytale series based on Little Red Riding Hood. I think this one is my fav but they are all SO GOOD!! Could not put it down - reading well into the early morning to those last words THE END 👍

Rafael ie Rafe is the big bad wolf to Ella’s - Red (aka Red Riding Hood) Jackie’s writing is so descriptive u feel these characters emotions of pain- loss -attraction & strength.

Rafe takes over as Ella’s guardian & she needs to convince him to release funds for her to attend a prestigious summer internship with a world famous ballet company in Paris. Rafe uses his attraction to Ella to bargain with her - both discovering a lot about themselves & finding ❤️ In the process. This was my ideal story as I am kind of a sucker for older / rich handsome guy - young virginial / ward !!
Rated 5 +++++✨

This book is phenomenal just like it’s author. I was so taking in by this book that I just lost all time around me as I was so engrossed in this fantastic story that I couldn’t put it down nor tell you what else I did that day. You really have to give this series ago as it’s just as fantastic as any of Jackie Ashenden series. Love this author and I love her books, highly recommend both of them.

3 1/2 Star Review.....

The Big, Bad Billionaire is an interesting take on an old favourite fairy tale with Rafe as the Big Bad Billionaire and Ella as the wolf’s prey. An easy, fast read that kept me entertained throughout, even though some parts were a little choppy and didn’t have the easy flow of previous books by Ms Ashenden. The characters were good and the overall story was enjoyable.

3.5stars
Familly de Saints has another broken, possessive and domineering hero this time Rafale is going after family friend daughter Ella. This book was for me a drama whit some intense sex and in the end with HEA. But story holds a lot of pain, fear, and tragedy. I didn't understand Ella because in one moment she was so against Rafael but in another, she just surrendered and leave him to control her life. Rafael is an interesting character he did everything to have Ella but in the end, let her go and I think because he was ashamed of himself and wouldn't admit that he needed someone to care about him because until Ella no one truly did.I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly