To be fair (even though I hate to admit this), I’ve never read a Harlequin series romance before so I really didn’t know what to expect. All Night With the Boss is Natalie Anderson’s first book, and I must say I think she holds promise.
Lissa Coleman is a temp employee from New Zealand working in London until her visa runs out in two months. Burned by a past relationship with her employer, she swears off any type of office romance. That’s until she meets her new boss, Rory Baxter, renowned for his good looks, great personality, and avoidance of office affairs. Unfortunately for Lissa’s plans, Rory can’t resist her.
Determined to avoid an office romance, Lissa rebukes all of Rory’s advances even though she doesn’t really want to. However, Rory successfully arranges for Lissa to be assigned to his team for two weeks to complete a project that could win the firm a major client. The sexual tension builds until things are almost taken too far for Lissa’s comfort. The attraction can’t be denied, but they agree not to act on it until the project is finished. Upon the project’s completion, Lissa gets the flu and Rory takes the opportunity to nurse her, since she has no family and is quite alone. On her way back to health, while staying at Rory’s apartment, the relationship is taken to the next level - one that Lissa wants to brush off as a weekend fling but Rory is determined to continue. All I could think was “Eewww...she’s sick, it’s flu, it’s contagious - gross!”
Despite the excellent chemistry, Lissa wants to avoid the heartbreak she’s convinced will soon come, either by him manipulating her career or through her eventual departure. In his managerial style, however, Rory is determined to hold on. Since antibiotics can make birth control ineffective, they have to face some pretty tough decisions. (This is no spoiler; the book is part of the "pregnant mistresses" miniseries.
While I enjoyed the book, I found myself getting frustrated with the characters. Lissa, influenced by her mother’s mistakes and her own, holds back from Rory even though he gives her no real reason to mistrust him. Rory is dictatorial in his management of situations to the point where I wanted to tell him to back off and give her some room. Yet, at the same time I liked his protectiveness of Lissa. The sexual tension between the couple is the best part of this book, although I would have liked it to move a little faster.
I enjoyed All Night With the Boss for the quick and sexy entertainment it provided and now realize what I’ve been missing. Gosh, let's hope my personal book budget can take the heat.
Sensuality: Hot
Publication Date: 2008/01
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