Member Reviews

There is nothing better than having to read two amazing stories in one book. This was a delight to read let me tell you.

We have Liam and Jackson who had a falling out way back in collage and being men they never fully disclosed why things ended the way they did.
They are both lawyers and can't stand each other. But they both have something that other wants – amazing and brilliant assistants in Aria and Mallory.

The first story starts when Liam wins company of Aria in a charity for the weekend. Liam is determent to prove to Aria hat he is more than what Jackson portraits him to be.
To say that they spent one hot weekend together is an understatement. Liam is very persuasive and manages to win Aria over even when she tells him that she will not give up her friendship with Jackson.

The second story starts whit Aria receiving text from Mallory telling her that her mystery date is Jackson. Jackson is determent to get back at Liam so he won Mallory at the same charity just to spike him. But the joke is on him because at this little getaway he sees something special in Mallory which doesn’t give him peace when they return to the city and Mallory discovers that maybe Liam was right all along about him.

This two stories had funny moments, swoony moments and of course hot-and-steamy moments.
I fricking loved then all.

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

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This is a great duo of novellas. Both stories are super sexy and the love scenes are beautiful and well-written. Each character is unique and I liked how the first story flowed effortlessly into the second story. I wish we could have gotten a little more out of the second story's epilogue, but that's really my only complaint.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

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This is an amazing two-part story that encompasses six completely different relationships among four principle characters. It sounds complex, but really it's a brilliantly written story full of heart and adventure, and more than its share of steamy, toe-curling sexy times.

The Players - Ex-best friends and now bitter rivals Liam and Jackson face off against current best friends and roommates Aria and Mallory.

The Set-Up - Aria and Liam have been fighting their mutual attraction for years because Aria cares deeply for her boss, Jackson, and doesn't want to rock their stable, platonic friendship by taking a chance on Liam, whose own PA is her bestie, Mallory.

The Trigger - Aria and Mallory agree to participate in a charity auction, where the winner gets a weekend with each lucky lady. Liam pounces on the opportunity to stake his claim on Aria, while Jackson quietly plots his revenge.

I wasn't kidding when I said there were six relationships at play here. We have best friends Aria and Mallory, enemies with history Liam and Jackson, boss with PA Liam and Mallory, and boss with PA, who are as close as siblings, Jackson and Aria. Then we have the two romances - Liam and Aria pair off first, then Jackson and Mallory have their story told.

I loved how the author didn't just stick to the love stories, as if a person's romantic relationship is the only one that matters. In this world each of the four has or develops a relationship with the other three. The author demonstrates that these relationships matter, and how they are affected by the budding romances adds tremendous depth to the overall story. I've never read a book quite like this one, and it's rare indeed to find any romance book so exquisitely detailed and emotionally rewarding. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

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3.5 Stars.

Bought by the Boss consists of 2 interconnected novellas, focusing on dates that result from a charity auction. This duet is full of friends turned enemies, enemies turned lovers, and plenty of hot, steamy scenes.

The first novella focuses on Liam & Aria, two people who have been denying their attraction for years. Liam's enemy, Jackson, is Aria's boss and good friend, and her devotion to him has kept her from following her heart. When a date with Aria is up at a charity auction, Liam finally has his chance to make him hers - even if it's only for a weekend. Will they finally be able to be together? And how will Jackson react?

The second novella focuses on Aria's best friend Mallory (and Liam's assistant), and her date from the auction. Where Aria knew exactly who bid on her at the auction, Mallory's date bid over the phone and is a complete mystery to her. When her date shows up she isn't happy to see it's Jackson, and realizes immediately this is his revenge on Liam. But Mallory is too smart to be played, and decides to play a game of her own.


Out of the two, I liked Jackson & Mallory's story the best. While I enjoyed reading about Liam & Aria, I felt like I was being thrown in to the middle of their story. They definitely had a lot of attraction & chemistry, but I enjoyed being able to see Mallory & Jackson actually develop from the very beginning. I loved the friendships portrayed, and the drama was definitely there, but not overwhelming. I would love for either of these to become full length novels, so I could get more out of them.

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I enjoyed both of these novellas, but the second was by far my favorite. The ending was very good.

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Hot and sweaty! 4.5 stars
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I don’t think there’s a book by Stacey Kennedy that I haven’t loved. This new release I was asked to review is a perfect example of why I continually pick up her stories to read.

This book is the perfect set up. Two stories that are inter-related combined into one book. No waiting for the second installment. No forgetting about what I read previously. Just two hot novellas you can read back to back for one full-size book.

If I have to pick as to which one is my favorite, it is definitely book one. Oh-my-God hot with two characters that blended together perfectly. A long time secret lust comes to fruition in a most exciting and sexy story.

Book 2 is the same theme with the other two characters in the series. For some reason these two did not click as well with me. Not that it wasn’t engaging and steamy as heck, but I just thoroughly enjoyed couple number one so much more.

Stacey Kennedy has brought together two awesome novellas into one dripping hot read that you don’t want to miss. Another winner!

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Jackson and Liam are in a feud. Liam has been in love with Aria who is Jackson’s assistant. He buys her at a charity auction. In retaliation Jackson buys Liam’s assistant Mallory. They each get to spend 2 days with their date. Liam and Aria fall in love. The unexpected happens between Jackson and Mallory. Can Jackson and Liam make up.? It was a great fast read.

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4.5 Stars

His Price – 5 stars
When Liam buys a weekend with Aria at a charity auction they both know this has been a long time coming. Three years to be exact. The only thing that has kept these two apart is the fact that Aria works for Liam’s nemesis and she refuses to be put in the middle between them. Jackson is like a brother to her and she absolutely will not hurt him, knowing that being with Liam will do that. However, they now have a weekend and they each use it to its full advantage. Aria to quench the desire she’s had for Liam and Liam to turn her loyalties.

For a novella this was richly written. The characters are fully developed and their emotions as well as the chemistry between them are easily recognized. This is not an over the top story because this relationship has been growing since they first met. I loved the deep determination that Liam had to win the woman he has craved even as he ultimately gives her the choice between the two men in her life.

Dirty Money – 4 stars
In retaliation against Liam purchasing Aria, Jackson buys Mallory. Other than making Liam suffer, he has no intention of using, abusing or hurting her. However, Mallory has plans of her own and they include tempting her own personal temptation. She’s been wanting Jackson since she first met him and now she has a chance. Their time together is ideal but when they return home, Mallory learns that Jackson hasn’t changed at all. His sights are still set on holding tight to the feud between himself and Liam. But when the cost of that feud is losing the woman he’s come to care about, he has no clue how to undo the damage he’s inflicted.

This portion of the book wasn’t quite as emotionally involved as the first. I think part of that was because Jackson had never looked at Mallory with any thought of wanting more with her. He’s known her for two years and he’s never desired her in any way. That caused a feeling of separation that had to be overcome and an unrealistic expectation that two days would be enough.

Together, these two novellas make up one very nice story. At the heart is the friendship that was damaged so many years ago and must now, for the sake of their women, be breeched and dealt with. I was a bit disappointed in Jackson’s explanation for his actions but I forced myself to just accept it for what it was despite my own feelings on the matter.

This is well written, fast paced and so dang steamy. These couples certainly know how to turn up the heat. I would’ve enjoyed a longer epilogue but it was enough to let me know where these characters are. Definitely worth a read!

This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Random House Loveswept.

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The blurb really had me sucked in wanting to read this. This was different for me to where its 2 novellas connected with an overall story. So I wanted to give it a try.

Both bosses who are long time nemesis buys each others secretaries for a charity auction. I like how Jackson acted as the big brother in the very first chapter. I felt all of the tension between him and Liam.

What I didn't like about this book was that I felt liked I walked into the middle of a story. It almost needed a prologue of either how the feud happened or of how the bosses interact with the secretaries to get a background of introduction. There's TONS of steamy scenes in this one, but unfortunately not really connecting with the characters made me skim most of them and therefore I only focused on the core story.

Side note: I wish the cover had 2 couples instead of one, because it IS about 2 couples.

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What would you be willing to do to get what you want?

Stacey Kennedy’s Bought by the Boss features two novellas, and you really can’t read the first (building up the conflict) without reading the second (getting everything resolved). Get ready for a war of the secretaries!

Liam has wanted Aria in his bed for a long time, but she’s the secretary of his long-time nemesis, Jackson. A charity auction provides the perfect opportunity for Liam to get Aria alone, but Aria's loyalties are tied between two completely different men.

I love a good enemies story, and I liked how these two bosses have secrets to tell. I enjoyed the first novella. The chemistry between Aria and Liam is so damn fierce that I couldn't look away. Liam's got a bit of a kinky side, too, which just meshed perfectly! Arai's divided loyalties keep her from fully committing, however, and the build up to book two is dynamite.

I loved, loved, loved the second novella!!! While Liam’s main purpose for the charity auction was getting to know Aria better, Jackson’s motives aren’t so altruistic. He’s getting back at Liam. Plain and simple. I shouldn’t have liked him, but hot damn, did I end up LOVING him!

It’s her. All of her. This woman I never saw coming.

Jackson's plan, however, backfires spectacularly. He buys Mallory, Aria's best friend, but also the secretary to Liam. Mallory knows what's up, though. What Jackson doesn't know? Mallory's lusted after him for a while, so why not get something she wants out of it, too?

Gosh golly gee, I forgot how much I love slow building awareness. Those first few meetings where you have to sit back and say, “where the heck did you come from?” This was superbly done here, and oh my god, I was hooked on these two. Bonus! Jackson has an even kinkier side than Liam. *Fingertips sizzle.*

The reveal of Jackson’s motives happens here too, and I must say that while I didn’t agree with what happened, I understood it. The resolution felt solid for me personally, but I feel like it might not be solid for everyone.

Overall, this was a great read full of epic banter and super sexy moments. It’s also all about friendship, and the way these two novellas were seamlessly woven together made this an experience I won’t soon forget.

4 stars!

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I love getting a two-fer. Both stories are very good and hot and sexy in their own right and definitely worth your time. Jackson and Liam used to be best friends, but no more. They are both attorneys but had a falling out back in law school when they were roommates.

In His Price, Liam has been lusting after Jackson’s assistant Aria for a long time. They flirt and laugh with each other but Aria’s sibling-like relationship with Jackson has stopped Liam from ever acting on his feelings. However, when the opportunity comes up to buy some time with her at a charity event, he jumps on it. They have beyond incredible chemistry and needless to say they are so hot together! Turns out they were meant for each other.

Meanwhile in Dirty Money, Jackson is secretly buying a weekend with Liam’s assistant Mallory, who is also Aria’s best friend, as pay back to Liam. Boy is he in for a surprise because Mallory wants to be with him and has for some time. Their chemistry is also sizzling hot and just so incredibly intense and they too are perfect for each other. He wants her now and he wants her never to leave.

So two HEAs in one, who could ask for more?

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3.75 stars.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this duet of dirty novella's a whole lot.
They had just the right combination of sexy and smutty that was balanced with an entertaining and witty storyline.
Stacey Kennedy writes these steamy romances with a hint of bdsm so well.
I would never hesitate to dip into a book by her.
The main characters in both have mutual ties and both storylines are interrelated.
The first one, HIS PRICE- about Liam and Aria was really sweet and the second one DIRTY MONEY-about Jackson and Mallory was the "bomb". I loved them together.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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Didn't care for this duet. I ended up skimming a lot, mainly the sex scenes, because I did t find them hot, and they added nothing. Further the issue and resolution between the guys, and the girls reactions, felt trite. I just couldn't buy it. And finally the epilogue, what was that? Not the book for me.

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Two office romances in one! The two stories occur one after the other, so you get to see what happens to the characters after the first story ends. Anyway, there's an epilogue, which I like a lot, because we get to see what happens to them 16 months down the road.

The first story deals with Liam and Aria, who were in lust with each other the first time they laid eyes on the other 3 years ago. However, Liam's ongoing feud with Jackson (Aria's boss) prevented them from getting together…until this charity auction. Meanwhile, Jackson was incensed when Liam bid and won Aria's time for the weekend, that he believed was for revenge because of the feud, so in retaliation, he bid and won Mallory, who is Liam's assistant. Aside from the fact that the characters knew each other, another thing that connected the two stories is the feud between the two male characters, a feud that was mentioned in the first story and was resolved in the second.

Both stories are well-written with dominant alpha males and you may want to get some water when smoke starts curling out of your Kindle due to the hotness of the sex scenes. That said, I like the second story better (Jackson and Mallory) because 1) they didn't make goo-goo eyes at each other at the start since Mallory wasn't even on Jackson's radar then as a potential date or lover, 2) I like that they have some interaction outside of sex or foreplay, that they conducted decent conversations as they got to know one another and decided eventually that yes, they'd like to get naked with the other.

I had an enjoyable afternoon with these two stories. Definitely worth reading!

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Bought by the Boss are two novellas in one! We have best friends who are both working as personal assistants to lawyers of different firms. The guys used to be the best of friends in law school, and after something happened, they have been feuding ever since.

When a charity auction is going on, Aria and Mallory, both agreed to be auctioned off for a weekend date. Both lawyers, Liam and Jackson, buy the others assistant hoping to get back at each other. Chaos is all around and the girls try to piece together what caused the rift between the men they work for. Their hope is to get them talking to clear the air between them.

Whew! What a ride!! I had a fun time reading this one! I am a fan of Stacey Kennedy's books and this is another enticing one to read! I liked all the characters and it was interesting to see what made them tick. The storyline was believable and the characters were everyday people. We all have problems-only these guys held grudges forever!

I was glad to see both sides of the rift and could understand why things went down as they did. I was happy to see a resolution of sorts and a start to mending fences! All in all a scintillating read I wholeheartedly recommend!

5 Stars/4 Flames

reviewed by Deb

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Bought by the Boss are two novellas in one! We have best friends who are both working as personal assistants to lawyers of different firms. The guys used to be the best of friends in law school, and after something happened, they have been feuding ever since.

When a charity auction is going on, Aria and Mallory, both agreed to be auctioned off for a weekend date. Both lawyers, Liam and Jackson, buy the others assistant hoping to get back at each other. Chaos is all around and the girls try to piece together what caused the rift between the men they work for. Their hope is to get them talking to clear the air between them.

Whew! What a ride!! I had a fun time reading this one! I am a fan of Stacey Kennedy's books and this is another enticing one to read! I liked all the characters and it was interesting to see what made them tick. The storyline was believable and the characters were everyday people. We all have problems-only these guys held grudges forever!

I was glad to see both sides of the rift and could understand why things went down as they did. I was happy to see a resolution of sorts and a start to mending fences! All in all a scintillating read I wholeheartedly recommend!

5 Stars/4 Flames

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This is a book with two separate stories that are intertwined.

Liam and Jackson had been college roommates and best friends until something happened and drove them apart. Today, they are both lawyers and adversaries. Aria and Mallory are friends and are personal assistants for Liam and Jackson. Liam and Aria have been flirting and sending out signals to each other for a while and Liam finally makes his move when he decides to "purchase" Aria at an auction.

Jackson "purchases" Mallory at the same auction, but for revenge more than anything to get back at Liam. Mallory, on the other hand, has been attracted to Jackson for a while. It doesn't take long for Jackson to fall for Mallory.

The stories are connected and we soon discover why Jackson and Liam haven't been friends for a long time.

If graphic love scenes aren't your thing, then skip this one. I would read another book by Ms. Kennedy.

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To be honest. I love Stacey Kennedy books, and there hasn't been anything like this that she has written. It was hard for me to read for some reason. I could not put faces on the characters like I have in the past. This was a hard read, it was too similar to C.L. Parker's Million Dollar Duet series. I am sitting here trying to figure out how to better explain it and I cannot. Once this book is published and our library purchases it for our customers, I will give it a try. I did not post a Goodread's review so it would not influence the ratings.

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I enjoyed the first story, it was cute, hot and had a good pace. I thought the second story was just silly and the premise juvenile.

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Two best friends end up on the winning end of a jealous boss bet. How will this work out?

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