There were a lot of things I liked about The Bottom Line - the chemistry between Stella and Jameson; peripheral characters of her grandfather and best friend and I felt the author handled the mental health aspect of the storyline realistically. The only detractor for me was a couple of Jameson's behaviors with regard to the job competition. It didn't feel credible to me that a grown adult would do that and it be so easily overlooked by the FMC; it wasn't necessary or central to the plot, so could have been left out so as not to make him seem so immature. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I found it refreshing to read a story that is different from your typical romance with a non-mainstream plot/topics.

There were a lot of things I liked about The Bottom Line - the chemistry between Stella and Jameson; peripheral characters of her grandfather and best friend and I felt the author handled the mental health aspect of the storyline realistically. The only detractor for me was a couple of Jameson's behaviors with regard to the job competition. It didn't feel credible to me that a grown adult would do that and it be so easily overlooked by the FMC; it wasn't necessary or central to the plot, so could have been left out so as not to make him seem so immature. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I found it refreshing to read a story that is different from your typical romance with a non-mainstream plot/topics.

What a steamy and thought provoking read.
Really interesting read - equal parts romance, messy and realistic with 3 dimensional characters and complex situations.

Good combo of story with spice. Interesting main characters, especially Jameson with his well-represented mental health issues. Stella is working to help keep her family funeral home possibly the to the detriment of her career in finance. Loved the character of Pop-pop, funny and wise at the same time.

Yes, The Bottom Line has love and steamy scenes, but it's so much more. The author doesn't shy away from showing life in all it's beauty and ugliness. Her main characters - the enemies to lovers - are both flawed just like real people. They laugh, they get ticked off, they're not always at their best... they struggle with mental health issues. It's refreshing and affirming to read. And it's a compelling read. A page turner. I look forward to reading more from Tobie Carter!

I liked this spicy workplace enemies to lovers romance. It did become a little repetitive in moments where there could have been more details into the plot or other parts of the story. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Stella is helping her grandfather's struggling business, even at the expense of her own career. Of course, there is a run in with a sexy British man who ends up being competition for a potential promotion.

This was a super cute story - similar to a Lucy score novel. There was steam, banter, and family drama. I like that there was care taken with the mental health representation.

Toxic masculinity hurts everyone and Jameson has the scars to prove it. This book was tender, steamy, and healing. Some highlights: bad guys punished/hero’s rewarded, a Stella cry to make Tennessee Williams proud, any door that can be snooped at is snooped at.

This book was actually so interesting. It’s usually really hard to find a lead character who is a minority or who looks like me. So, I really felt a connection with this book. I really loved it. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers romance but this took the the cake for me. Stella, a young black women in the south, is a self-sacrificing women engaging in a finance career. I really connected with this main character who would do anything to help her family. At her family’s funeral home she meets Jamison who is a British man in finance whose mother died and ended up at Stella’s family funeral home. The many levels of this story is amazing and I really think the author, Tobie Carter, did amazing work on this. I received this book via NetGalley as an ARC. I hope you guys love it as much as I did and fellow black/brown girls could relate to it as I did.

Stella Daniels does all that she can to assist her grandfather with his struggling funeral business, even at the expense of her finance career. Determined to prevent the business closing, she is single-minded in obtaining a promotion. When she snaps a rude but handsome customer who hassles her grandfather, she is shocked to find he, Jameson Brooks, is also competing for the same promotion. Investment manager Jameson Brooks had all of life’s luxuries until news of his mother’s illness forced him to move to the States. In the wake of her death, Jameson’s estranged father offers him a job at his investment firm; however, he must tell no-one that he is the bastard son of the boss. Soon the pressure of the job and the feeling that nothing can please his father, Jameson’s mental health spirals, sending him back to old self-harming habits. This is all compounded by his drive and competition with Stella to obtain the promotion of Project Manager. Yet, despite finding themselves competing for the role, they are drawn to each other.
A steamy romance with two very dynamic characters. Stella is a strong-minded woman who is determined to clinch the promotion which alongside Jameson, makes for some intense scenes. Jameson presents himself as confident and brash, yet his vulnerability soon becomes apparent to Stella, making for an interesting read. The author handled Jameson’s mental health issue with sensitivity but didn’t shy away from the reality of the situation.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I really enjoyed this story and it’s so well written! I felt connected to Stella the entire time, I recognised myself so much in her and I love Pop-Pop and Jameson. I loved the part that she shows that men also can have mental health issues and that it’s ok for them to show their feelings to the persons they love.
I hope that we will see more books by Tobie Carter because I would:
1. really love that
2. really want to read more by this author
3. I think I found a new author to put on my favourite authors list 🤭
If you’re looking for a new enemies to lovers, workplace rivals this one is definitely for you (make sure you read the trigger warning before you start with reading). I recommend this books to everyone so please, read this one, I’m begging you!

I fell into this book easily, finishing it in less than 24 hours! The mental health representation is amazing, with strong-willed main characters. Stella, our FMC, strives to support her family, while Jameson, our MMC, is grumpy yet sweet, in need of a hug. Their journey of battling and falling for each other was a rollercoaster I loved. Both characters experience significant growth, though some moments broke my heart for good reasons. I'll definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of Lucy Score's style! 📚💕

This book is such a great debut! I love Stella and Jameson’s relationship. She’s headstrong and fiercely loyal. He’s a Brit with a past, competing for her promotion. Steam ensues (like fog your glasses steam). You’ll love this dual POV book with a love story at it’s heart, and deeper themes imbedded to keep it real.

The Bottom Line is a steamy workplace romance. I really enjoyed the banter between Jameson and Stella from the start. Messy family history. The plot was solid. The spice was a good five chili peppers.

I read a lot of romance but barely find a vulnerable MMC. His trauma made me feel so connected to him. I wanted to protect him from the world. Stella & Jameson had amazing chemistry and Stella helped Jameson notice his worth. The story is so good and I love the cover.

Tobie Carter's "The Bottom Line" is a tender and poignant romance that deftly examines the themes of self-discovery, love, and sacrifice.

Stella Daniels, a sympathetic young lady devoted to taking care of her ailing grandfather and running their financially troubled family funeral home, lies at the heart of the narrative. Stella sets aside her personal goals to help her family in times of need, even though she has aspirations of having a prosperous career in finance.

Conversely, Jameson Brooks is a guy weighed down by his past suffering and the weight of expectations. Jameson struggles with feelings of inadequacy and loneliness as he manages the demands of his work and the loss of his mother. He is forced to conceal his true identity as the illegitimate son of his boss.

Stella and Jameson are brought together by fate to compete for a desired promotion, but they quickly find great empathy and understanding in one another's hardships. Their mutual experiences and indisputable magnetism bring them closer together despite their early disagreements, sparking a sweet and passionate romance.

With deft storytelling, Tobie Carter crafts a nuanced, emotional tale full of promise. Jameson shows himself as a weak and sympathetic hero who needs love and acceptance, while Stella emerges as a strong and resolute heroine. Readers will be enthralled until the very end by their touching and inspirational journey of self-discovery and healing.

All things considered, "The Bottom Line" is a heartwarming and lovely story of love and redemption that will stay with readers long after they've closed the book. This is a must-read for anybody who believes in the transformational power of love because of Tobie Carter's masterful narrative and deep character development.

I loved this read! I don’t always connect with romance novels, but Jameson and Stella have firecracker chemistry and the sass to match. Both characters are so well-developed and their character arcs are perfect.

I loved that Stella was a strong woman who could take care of herself. Perfect leading lady!

Jameson was also like no leading man I’ve read. He’s so well-written, handsome but not unbelievably perfect. In fact, he really struggles with his past trauma and doing what he needs to for his mental health. I’m so impressed that the author explored these issues with a male character because I’ve rarely seen that done.

Five stars, easy.

Carter crafted a hot book with a steamy cover! I liked this story and the fire between the two main characters. I read it fast and couldn't put it down. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow 🥹, I finished reading it in 1day and I loved how different and unique this story is. It is rear to find a vulnerable MMC and I loved how raw it was.
I love that it shows that men go through mental health issues, abuse, and therapy too, and it should not be a measure of their “manliness”.

Jameson and Stella went through a lot, I love how strong and determined they are, they have my heart.

“Just because you can’t see his scars doesn’t mean they aren’t there”

“Healing Isn’t Linear”

A tangled web of lies and secrets woven around two driven and haunted work rivals. Both entwined with family, dysfunctional and not, and goals that may or may not be their own. No spoilers, there may be a HEA, but you likely know that already.