Series: Riches and Royals #1
Published by Independently Published on September 7, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 268
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Temptation always leads to trouble...
Claire Lennox thought she could have it all-until trusting the wrong man destroyed her career, her reputation, and her heart. Now, as director of a literacy foundation, she has new ambitions. But when a sexy client tempts her to love again, does she dare?
Billionaire chocolatier Clayton McClaine risks everything-even his heart-when he goes incognito, hoping to overcome the dyslexia that haunts him and threatens to destroy his carefully crafted image.
They're perfect for each other, except for one little thing-the billion-dollar deception that lies between them.
Read My Lips is the first book in Riley’s new Riches and Royals series. I loved the Undercover Cat cozy series and was excited to dig in to some disguised billionaires.
I really enjoyed the dyslexia rep in the story. I’ve only come across it two or three times out of all the romances I’ve read so that was an intriguing, and educational, addition to the story. The scenes when Claire is actively helping Clayton learn are my favorite in the book. So much potential!
Unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble connecting to both characters and their romance. Both Claire and Clayton’s backgrounds felt shallow. I didn’t get a feeling of burning injustice on Claire’s behalf, Clayton’s reliance on lies was disconcerting, and the burning lust between the two distracted from the budding romance. I love sweaty, spicy romances but this connection felt forced and unnatural. The first sex scene came out of left field, even with the simmering lust that Claire was suffering from.
I know there need to be obstacles for the HEA to feel earned, but beyond his dyslexia and Claire’s past romantic betrayal, I was bored. While I enjoyed the instructional scenes, the romance left me shrugging.
Overall, this wasn’t my favorite read. It certainly delivered on the easy, breezy undercover billionaire romance but I didn’t connect with the story. I learned a bit about methods of learning for individuals reading with dyslexia it never developed into the emotional arc that I hoped for.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
