Protégé King is book one in the new series Wall Street Empire: Strictly Business.

Lisa Renee Jones likes to suck you in with twists and turns, and usually, several cliffhangers, you've been warned.

There are a series of let's call them mishaps or misinterpretations that take two best friends to no communication for years at a time. We get some flashbacks to explain some things, but as per usual for the author there is far more left unexplained.

Alana is so promising and had her future laid out in front of her. It's kinda crushing to see she caved, and really, she comes off as naive at best and inept at worst. Why give up your dreams and make a devils bargain to save people who truly don't deserve to be saved? And then to judge the one person who truly sees her? I'm hoping her backbone grows in the next book cause right now she's hard to connect with.

Damian has gotten more hidden under the surface that I expect will very slowly be revealed. Even with the brief snippets into his psyche, you can feel Alana has been his to protect. Now he's finally doing something more tangible about it. And it doesn't hurt that they can catch a room in fire. Always keep your friends close, and ultimately, I hope whatever machinism he has at work don't push them too far apart. Let's watch the king fall and the Protégé take the helm.

Get ready for some very steamy times. This is a quick read and will leave you with questions and in need of resolutions...

Protege King is book 1 in the Wall Street Empire series by Lisa Renee Jones.
I’ve read and really enjoyed Jones thriller titles. This is my first time reading her erotic romance novel.
I thought she did a really good creating this story.
It kept my attention and the characters kept me glued to the pages.
The romance and spice is just the right amount to keep me turning those pages.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading book two.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Protege King by Lisa Renee Jones

Tropes: Second chance (x 4), previous past together, forced proximity due to planned arrangement, fake fiancée, no HEA (cliffhanger ending)

*Spoilers Below*

Alana and Damion had the ‘neighbor-next-door’ love story down until Damian kept messing it up. He loved her longer than she ever knew but always jumped the gun and believed the worst in him. Until one day, he really left and became the bad guy she always thought he was. He thought he was saving her and her family and would do so at the expense of being the bad guy in her eyes and losing her forever. Eventually, as fate would have it, or should I say DAMION - acquired the TV Show company she works for with his family company. He propositions her by calling in a favor she owes him in order to help him acquire another major asset. Thee exact favor - becoming his fiancée. It will serve as a mutually beneficial arrangement with both of their goals being to take down Damions father. Although, Mr. West Sr. has other plans.

Liked: I loved Damion’s character in the beginning of the book. You could tell that he loved her before even Alana realize it herself. He was always protective yet gentle with her. I also liked that Alana was an ambitious woman who ended up being successful at anything she touched. Even if life did not work out how she had planned it - she redefined what success could look like.

Disliked: I wasn’t a fan of Damion’s personality in the second half of the book. He was going major douchey and arrogant vibes. I saw the author’s vision, but needed a little more of that super sweet Damion back.

Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.

🌟🌟/5

What can I say about this book.
It was a quick read with a lot of potential. I liked the idea of two friends growing up together and having life (and his father) divide them and them always find their way back to each other.
The execution though…. Questionable ❓❓
I think this book needs more editing. The flashback chapters could have been spread along the main storyline to let the reader discover their past slowly. Also it wasn’t clear to me how the chapters were divided and why they were sometimes.

Alana, the protagonist, was a little too shallow for me. I understand the love that she always had for Damion, but come on girl… a little self respect. Also all her family story and secrets could have been explained better (maybe with a flashback chapter since this model was already introduced in the book).
Damion was supposed to give this alpha vibe and I guess the ground work is there but what comes through is just a spoiled man that wants his candy.

Also the dialogues between the two were really superficial. I needed a little more honesty and let asking ‘what is this? What are we doing?’ Five times in a row every second chapter.

I gave two star because even though it was an ok book and I read in two sitting, it has flaws but also a lot of potential.
The story ends abruptly with a small plot twist and I don’t know how long book two will be but I hope the editing improves. Also if book two is also on the short side maybe it is with it to keep them as one book.
Also there are A LOT OF TYPOS! At some point I couldn’t understand the meeting of some phrases. (Therefore better editing)

Friends to enemies to lovers! They started out as childhood best friends, but he keeps breaking her heart. He's back, but is it for more of the same or is he back to stake his claim! Family rivalries, gambling, dirty deals and more are floating around the plot to complicate the romance even more. It's a dark, but fun read with ample steam, however, be aware it ends in a major cliffhanger as this book falls over into the next so if that isn't your cup of tea you need to know that now. I personally like a series so I don't mind the cliffhanger, although it is abrupt. Curious to see what happens next and whether a happily ever after is coming or just more angst and heartache.

I’m obsessed with the characters in this book! This is my first erotic/smutty book, and I’m obsessed. It’s friendship to lovers/enemies to lovers, and I love the dynamic between damion and Alana, and the dominant nature of their relationship. I love the fact we hear about their childhood, and follow them throughout the years and see how their relationship changes, but throughout the book we get highlights of that childhood being brought up in the present day. I can’t wait for the next book. This had a good amount of spicy scenes, mixed with emotional content

I loved this book! Read it in just a few hours. Could not get enough. Didn’t see the ending coming. Would definitely read again and buy it.

Protege King by Lisa Renee Jones
This is my first read and I absolutely enjoy it. It's sexy and well-written. Will not disappoint.

This is a quick, fun book that can be read in one setting. I liked going back and seeing a glimpse of Alana and Damien in the past. Their chemistry sizzled in the present. I just wish the story was longer and a little more fleshed out.

4.5 Stars - Lisa Renee Jones does it again with bringing us a book that's hard to put down. I read this in one sitting and looking forward to the next installment. Damion and Alana's story is told mostly through Alana's POV but we do hear from Damion in a few chapters. I always like when we get both POV's so we can see exactly what the characters are thinking.

The books starts out going between present and past pretty smoothly. Overall this was a fast read with shorter chapters which I liked. There is some drama but it's not over the top and I don't know how to explain it because it's part of the mystery left open-ended. Damion's background is wealthy and Alana's childhood started out nextdoor to him but things happened with her parents. There's definitely some questions left which impact the current relationship between Alana and Damion. Spice level was just enough with some heated scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm honestly a little confused with this book, there's alot going on, but also not alot going on if that makes sense. It went from present day, to when they were seven, and ages up a couple years a few times before its back to present time. I really did not like how they separated ... the first time, then the second, by the third it was overkill. It had so much potential to be a second chance romance, but it just flopped alittle for me.
The whole thing with the owing back money, debt, gambling, and the deal to pretend to be fiancees was what confused me. He makes her feel like someone who owes him, but says she doesn't owe him and back and forth.

I can see the potential for this to be a great book, since we love an alpha-hole, but it just wasn't for me.

If ever 2 characters needed a good shake and a kumbaya moment it's Alana and Damion.. Off the charts chemistry, a feral attraction to each other, both deeply in love, both stubborn and prideful as hell....

These childhood friends adjoined by a silver thread, battle threats from some very unsavoury characters in their lives, namely their ruthless and wicked parents. Damion the god like adonis is waiting to take his rightful place as the head of his father's multi billionaire mergers and acquisitions company as the only heir. His Machiavellian father will do anything to block his son and as the story unfolds we see how closely linked Alana's and Damion's family really are.

Alana, feisty but also unfailingly insecure constructs an impenetrable armour around her bruised heart and despite several physical mergers with the love of her life fights to keep him at a distance.

This is a brilliantly written book, well crafted with characters you really start to care about. It is a cliff hanger so be warned and what is very disappointing us that that book too will not be out until mid next year. That's a hell of a wait.

We have hints that Damion is not all he seems and we end with his father threatening to... well no spoilers. Read it but beware of the long wait for the next fix.

Quick Summary: A friends to lovers to enemies to lovers story

My Review: Protege King by Lisa Renee Jones was a pop up surprise. I was completely drawn into this story from the start. It held my attention until the very end.

About the Book: This book features childhood friends, Damion and Alana. They are so close and quite obviously have strong feelings for one another. Needless to say, they have chosen not act on those feelings...until they do. However, some things occur that prevent them from being together in the way that they deserve. It is much bigger than Alana knows and more than Damion is willing to tell her. How far are they each willing to go to bring about true reconciliation? Will outside forces tip their hand before they have a chance at real love?

About the Conflict: There is a lot going on in this book. The dysfunction, co-dependency, and treachery are rampant. Throughout, there is a dark undercurrent that taints the reunion between the two friends. Damion and Alana are being pressed from all sides.

My Final Say: Protege King has earned a gold star from this reader. This story and its continuation are must reads.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Series: Yes
Status: M
Level: ⭐
Chemistry: +++
Angst: +++
Sizzle: +++

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I voluntarily shared are my own.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

DNF, I felt like I was missing key information almost immediately. It was not marketed as a series so I am not sure why it was like that. I just couldn't get past the all of the things I could not understand

A very angsty, fast paced read. I didn’t snap this book ends on a cliffy so just be prepared for that. It’s part of I think a duet but it’s a very intriguing read.

The book does have some time jumps to help us understand the dynamic and intense connection between Damion and Alana.

Caught in a modern day Romeo and Juliet scenario both Damion and Alana have to navigate not only their work lives but the hate that exists between the two families. So many twists and turns but trust is all they can rely on. Trust that Damion is there to protect her and trust that Alana won’t run and will know Damion has her back.

I was really getting into the book when that cliffy came along and I can not wait to see what finally happens because my gosh Damion’s dad is the worst.

I liked this short fiery romance book, that does end in a cliff hanger to be prepared to wait for the next in the series.

This is short and does end abruptly which did annoy me, as i do dislike cliff hangers in books as well as tv dramas

I was grabbed by the lead characters and unlike so many other romance books that have lead characters that have a past and you are given a small glimpse of what that is, this book actually goes back to certain life points in the characters history so we can see and feel what went wrong and why.

As with most short stories things will happen quicker then i feel would happen in real life but this is fiction and i expect that, unlike some reviewers who say problems would be solved if that only talked about it, thats easy to say but then life is full problems that in hindsight yeah we should of talked but the where would a good story be, I’m sorry but in a good romance with characters that have a fiery disposition there need to be arguments so we can have Great make up sex.

I will look forward to the next book in the series i do hope there is more fiery episodes and plenty of great make up sex

Thank you Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

this is a pretty short book and for it being so short, its not the worst but also not the greatest. the book felt lifeless, i can tell there was an attempt at past chapters for some history but the reasons for their fighting felt very childish and really dumb. all the angst couldve been resolved with some basic communication. this just wasn't for me. i feel like if it were a longer book maybe i couldve connected with it more but it didn't work. thanks to netgalley for the arc.