The Most Eligible Billionaire by Annika Martin

​ROMANTIC COMEDY

Note: (formerly titled Most Eligible Bastard)  
Publication date: 11/07/2017
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No

I don’t normally like billionaire romances. There. I’ve said it. I’m sorry if that offends all the Christian Grey fans out there, but I can’t help it. I think there are just entirely too many unrealistically gorgeous, young billionaire heroes in romance land. Let’s face it--real life super rich dudes aren’t usually hot. Like, at all. (Sorry Bezos and Zuckerberg and Gates. It’s nothing personal.) But, while I don’t normally go for billionaire heroes, I DO love an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I DO love Annika Martin. So when I got the BookBub email saying this one was free, I downloaded right away. And if I could figure out who was responsible at BookBub for sending me that email, I would kiss that person right now. (Not with tongue or anything, but still, right on the mouth. I’m that grateful.)

First of all, the premise is hilarious. I mean, what kind of nut-job would leave a billionaire dollar company to a dog and expect the dog to run the board? But after seeing a woman carrying a Chihuahua in a newborn sling into my son’s taekwondo class the other day, I started thinking maybe it wasn’t so ridiculous after all. But still, as a rom com premise, it’s hilarious and original and I appreciated the hell out of it.

Vicky is the kind of rom-com heroine other rom-com heroines should aspire to be. She’s hard-working, kind, smart, and has overcome a fairly horrific past with relatively few scars to show for it. Sure, she has moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, but she overcomes them and perseveres. She also refuses to let anyone bully her, which makes her rom-com role model material, in my not-so-humble opinion.

Henry starts off as a bit of an ass. He’s rude and arrogant and not afraid to throw his name and power around to get what he wants. But I never really held it against him because I understood where he was coming from. He’d grown up with a crappy mother who left a company he’d devoted his life to to her DOG. He had every reason to be angry and to not trust Vicky. But when he did start to trust her, he did a spectacular and somehow still totally realistic 180, and let Vicky (and me as a reader), see that he really was a great guy. Solid book boyfriend material. He was just angry and misunderstood and passionate about protecting a company he loved. Henry, like Vicky, was totally relatable.  

There are parts of the book that are laugh-out-loud hilarious, but there are plenty of serious, heartfelt moments, too. This is one of a precious few rom-coms that had the power to hit me in the feels a time or two. I really felt for Vicky and Henry, and it might have even gotten a little dusty in my reading room when these two finally found their happily ever after. (It was DUSTY, I tell you, because I DO NOT CRY.)

The sexual tension between Henry and Vicky was palpable, and the sex scenes were off-the-charts hot. (Henry is a bit of a sexy dirty-talker and definitely takes charge in the bedroom, but not in a bondage-y, gross way. It’s hot. Trust me. Ahem.)   

Smuckers the dog was adorable, too. In my opinion, all authors should write an adorable dog or two into their stories. What can it hurt?       

All in all, I’m super excited I got the book for free, but honestly, I wouldn’t have minded paying full price for it one little bit. It was an awesome read from an author I love. In fact, I don’t know why you’re still reading this review. Just go buy the book!        

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s clean and sober. No rehab needed.

Other reading suggestions
Everything Annika Martin does is magic. But be careful when you’re browsing, though. She also writes dark romance, which is awesome, but might not be your cuppa if you’re only into lighter reads. But for other laugh-out-loud contemporary romances, check out this “best of” list. Fans of funny meet-cutes like Vicky and Henry have in this book should also check out our “best of” meet-cutes list. You won’t regret it. ​

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