A Ruthless Proposition

Publisher's Summary

All that glitters may lead right to his heart....

The last thing Cleopatra Knight expects on her business trip to Tokyo is to fall into bed with her arrogant, irresistibly hot boss, Dante Damaso. It's a mistake - a steamy, mind-blowingly satisfying mistake. But a few nights of passion with the superwealthy bad boy prove to have long-term effects when Cleo's world is unexpectedly turned upside down.

Dante has cultivated an enviable, jet-setting lifestyle: beautiful women, exotic destinations, and luxury without limits. He's not looking to be domesticated, and certainly not by his assistant - even though he can't get her out of his mind. Still, he knows he has both the responsibility and the financial means to help Cleo.

Though Cleo has no interest in Dante's money, her lack of prospects gives her little choice but to accept his help. But living under the same roof, Dante discovers he wants more, and if Cleo lets down her guard, she just might find what her heart's wanted all along.

©2015 Natasha Anders (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

WOW.. WHAT A FIND,WHAT A BARGAIN & WHAT A STORY

This was one of those listens where the Hero and Heroine didn't fall in love at first, second or even third sight.... no, instead there was a lorry full of animosity between them because Dante, the gorgeous, arrogant, frustrating and heartless Spanish Billionaire relentlessly treated his poor Assistant Cleo like an unwanted incompetent nuisance. The Offices were based in Cape Town but Dante needed Cleo to assist him on a trip to Tokyo.... a trip that would bring the greatest joy, the most angst and the worst heartache imaginable - and this would change their lives forever.

Dante was a workaholic, a Playboy and a magnificent controlling bastard - he was cold, ruthless, heartless, arrogant and an emotionless empty person wrapped up in a handsome sexy shell. But whatever his failings were Cleo was somehow attracted and drawn to him.... no matter how he treated her and what impatient harsh words he said to her. So, even knowing that they were both making a mistake, they still got caught up in a sexual need for each other that should've lasted for one crazy night.... instead it lasted the whole week that they were in Tokyo (not very graphic sex). Cleo knew she was just an easy lay to him - he'd made that very clear and that she was just a way for him to relieve his sexual frustration - he'd even called her the wrong name afterwards, but she was fine with that and had no fluffy fairytale expectations when it came to her boss. However, if she thought after their brief intimate time together the animosity between them might warm a little, she was very wrong because he continued to micro-manage and anger Cleo with his actions, his words, his heartless manipulations and eventually his shocking rage filled reaction..... until then unthinkable happened and he slowly started to feel.

From completely disliking Dante right from the start, I began to understand, and eventually like him, as I got an insight into his loveless childhood and that this is what had created the aloof heartless businessman today who really didn't have a conscience and whose life motto is "play hard, work harder". I loved watching his character development as he revealed his deeply hidden passion filled feelings for Cleo and he gradually turned from beng a cold one dimensional caterpillar into an emotionally intense beautiful butterfly. Oh, it was honed out of angst, drama, tragedy, pain, devastation, loss, heartache, loneliness, forgiveness, redemption and love.... but it was still a beautiful transformation to witness. There were a few secondary characters weaving in and out of the plot but it was mainly Cleo and Dante's story - their long emotional roller-coaster of a relationship which was nicely paced.... going from rock bottom early on to sky high just in time for the touching Epilogue.

Dual POV's and Justine Eyre seamlessly, and very successfully, narrated all the characters voices.... a sexy male's Spanish accent and all the male/female South African accents - even though she's an English woman. And, because of her narration, the characters came to life so it was easy to visualize and feel all the scenes..... including the emotionally good, the emotionally bad and the emotionally ugly ones.

Worth a credit? IMO, this was a very addictive, a very enjoyable and definitely a very creditworthy listen..... but it's under $10 (and lucky me coz I got it even cheaper when it was on sale) so I just bought it and saved my credit for a costlier, but maybe not as enjoyable, listen.

21 of 23 people found this review helpful

Not the usual romance story. I enjoyed it but prepare for tears

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. The main character was hard and remote.and hard to like in the beginning. But the characters grew on you quickly and the book became difficult to put down.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Very sad and touching w/ a few funny moments

I laughed and cried a lot with this book...
She is quite insecure about herself and when her hot and cruel boss seduces her during a trip to Japan, she gave in and spent all nights in his bed.
After returning to South Africa, he turns into a bigger ass and things get very annoying with the way he threats her and she get screwed in more ways than one.
I can not give too many spoilers but I have to say that she getting pregnant so fast ruined the book for me. It made me cry a lot so, if you are in the mood for a light, funny, sweet romance, this is not it. I like to read to feel good and I will need some hours to get in a better mood after this...life is heavy and overwhelming enough - I didn't need this drama today!!!!!
The narrator made it very difficult for me to understand - the British accent always gets me...

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Tense unfortunate coupling (anglo) employee & boss

This story is about 2 people that live in south Africa (Afrikaana) Both anglo. One is the boss and the other is his assistant a former dancer that happen to be the baby sister of his best friend. This story made me cry. HARD.... I hated the lead male character.. The voice actor's accent was interesting..

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Half the book was di*k-n-doormat.

It's difficult for me to read about dominant jerks, and their meek females. This started as a dick-n-doormat, however that changes after listening to half the book. I bought this during a half price sale. It has a HEA, but it's still not my cup of tea.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

soap opera

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I' m a happy ending kind of girl so I would simply start all over. Way to much angst. I only want tissues when I laugh to hard.

If you’ve listened to books by Natasha Anders before, how does this one compare?

first of ms. Anders books.would not seek her books

Have you listened to any of Justine Eyre’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator was just fine.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

3.5 Stars but Could have been Great!

3.5 Stars - Let me start by saying that I really thought I'd LOVE this book. Unfortunately I was wrong! This was almost a DNF for me. And I don't fancy myself a quitter, so that's saying something. The hero, Dante was just too much of jerk for me early on. I couldn't possibly fathom how anyone would want to breath the same air as him, let alone sleep with him, or better yet fall in love with him. Seriously?? It couldn't have been me!

At any rate, I stuck with it and Dante eventually grew on me. Still not enough that I actually believed there was actual chemistry between him and Cleo. But more so that I questioned if I'd read two different books. He does a complete turnaround midway through. He starts out as a jerk of epic proportions and then transforms into the wonderfully sexy and generous alpha male I expected going in. Had Anders incorporated some of his redeeming qualities into the story earlier, this would be a solid 4.5*** for me. Even so, it was still a decent read or rather listen (I purchased the audible edition) and totally worth the price I paid.

Here's what worked well: The plot and pace were both good. I thought it'd be predictable, but it wasn't. There were some surprises that I really enjoyed. I felt the entire range of emotions while reading this book. Mostly anger, but there were also a few smiles and a couple tears. Overall, it's a solid read once you get to good part LOL

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Amazing Narraration

I had always heard that authors were supposed to write characters that people liked. This was the first time I openly hated one and I loved the book all that much more for it. This was a great story and I really found myself going OMG WHAT A JERK outloud. The emotion the writing pulls out of you while reading it, is great. I applaud the author for that.

As far as the narration goes, this was the first time I had heard a book read by Justine Eyre. I thought she was simply amazing.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Starts hot, Slows Waay Down and Becomes a Snooze

It started hot and interesting, slowed waay down and became a snooze story, Too bad. Dante was just too much of a #### to really care about.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Ridiculous attempt at writing a readable stroy

I struggled to finish this thinly veiled sex story, so much that I had to stop listening for a few days. I'd hoped it was just me being too critical. But, I have come to realize that, it was and still remains the most ludicrous story I've ever come across. The narrator was okay, at voicing the characters but, her voice was terrible as she narrated the story as a whole. I can't believe she got paid to read so poorly. The female character "Cleopatra" was a simple minded over sexed idiot, with no backbone and no real depth. The story was flimsy at vest. And I shall never, ever read another book by this author again. The best part about the book, was when I stopped torturing myself and stopped in the middle. The time wasted on this "tripe" I will never get back. Total waste of time. So, my suggestion is "Don't waste your time" I think I'll return it for a refund. I don't want it in my library.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Stubborn Men

Loved it but was a bit frustrated with them both I know it's difficult to loose a child As it happened in my family I could tell by his background that he was bottling everything up and she was also