From USA TODAY bestselling author Stefanie London comes the second book in the Melbourne After Dark series! Imogen Hargrove is done with playboys–until a kiss from a masked stranger turns her world upside down… For one night only, Imogen Hargrove is a sexy spy. She’s donned a mask for the Carmina Masquerade Ball, where she hopes to catch her sister’s cheating fiancé, Daniel, in the act. But … the act. But she’s the one who gets rumbled when she strays too close to her target–only to realize she’s been tailing the wrong man. A searing kiss makes her forget her mission altogether, and the mysterious stranger awakens something inside her: a burning passion she hasn’t felt since the brutal breakup of her last relationship.
Imogen is mortified to discover that the man behind the mask is her colleague, notorious womanizer Caleb Allbrook. He’s the last person she wants to get close to, and she doesn’t need another playboy in her life. But that kiss has her curious–besides, Caleb knows her sister’s fiancé and could prove very useful in digging up dirt.
She makes a deal: she’ll go on a date with Caleb in exchange for information on Daniel’s affair. But Caleb’s irresistible charm turns a casual conversation into a night of sultry seduction. Imogen knows Caleb is bad news–yet he makes her feel sexier than any man ever has. Can she pull herself away from yet another toxic relationship, or will Caleb prove there’s more to him than just sex appeal?
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Caleb & Imogen
I love when a couple has that witty, sassy sexy banter and this duo has it !
Imogen is the personal assistant to the CEO of a family company, she has always has her eye on the one brother since they are so much alike but never made it known . Caleb is the black sheep of the family working for his father is a struggle. He comes to work each day and just doesn’t feel fullfilled but getting a glimpse of his father’s lovely assistant and ruffling her feathers that makes it worth it . He knows that she may be secretly swooning over his by the book brother but he is making a play anyway!
Imogen finds Caleb, sexy handsome and oh so frustrating. He is mouthy, pushes her buttons and loves to rile her up. Unfortunately she finds that she needs his help and he wants a date as payment. Let the games begin !!
Hard Deal is a funny, sexy journey of two people that realize they each have so much to offer to themselves and others!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Hard Deal by Stefanie London is book Two in the Melbourne After Dark series. This is the story of Imogen Hargrove and Caleb Allbrook. I haven’t yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book.
Imogen still sore from a bad breakup from a cheating boyfriend looks to protect her sister from one. Thinking that her sister fiancé, Daniel might be one, Imogen goes ‘undercover’ at the Carmina Masquerade Ball to get the truth. But is sideline by her immediate attraction to an old college playboy named Caleb. Caleb is friends with Daniel and cuts a deal with him for a date if he looks into what Daniel is doing. But passion doesn’t take long for that date to go up in flames.
Exciting hot read!
I bow down to you MS London you steamed my glasses up and made me laugh in this fabulous instalment in this series, it is witty, funny and so very sensual it sizzles as Imogen Hargrove is seduced by the disreputable Caleb Allbrook in a journey to a HEA which left me so very happy, this is a story not to be missed.
Imogen works as PA to the head of The Allbrook company, she has been burnt badly by her ex-husband and finds it very hard to trust men, she can be very insecure, but at work she takes no nonsense from anyone even the boss’s son Caleb, he is one man she intends to stay away from even if her heart flutters at times when he is near. But when she suspects that her sister’s fiancé is two timing her Imogen makes it her business to do some investigating and this leads her to actually get help from non-other than Caleb.
Caleb has always been second best son in his family and seems to go out of his way to set his father off, the way he dresses, his socks are the best, and yes he has had many relationships none that have lasted but he is drawn to his father’s PA but she always seems to avoid him or has smarty pants answers, but one day he is determined to get to know her better, and when that chance happens at the masquerade ball when she literally falls at his feet, let the fun begin.
I savoured every word in this book, I laughed, I felt for Caleb at times with his position with his family, the emotions ran strong throughout, and the steamy, sensual seduction that played out as Caleb bought the insecure Imogen from grey to rainbow, and bought her back to what she was before her ex, got her to remember what enjoying life and sex is all about and to see them fall so much in love was such a pleasure woohoo I loved this story, I highly recommend this one, it just rocks, thank you MS London for another keeper.
HOT, HOT, HOT!!! I loved reading Hard Deal by Stefanie London, book two in the Melbourne After Dark series. At age eighteen Imogene married a man twelve years her senior only to discover he was a serial cheater. After divorcing him, she struggled with trust any man to be faithful. Imogene, assistant to the CEO, dressed all prim and proper especially for work. Caleb, younger son of the CEO, made it his mission to rile her up. Attending a Masquerade Ball, hoping to catch her sister’s fiancé cheating, she ends up following the wrong man. A hot kiss with this stranger makes her forget her mission and finds her sexuality awakened after a long drought. Imagine Imogene’s mortification to discover that it was Caleb, a notorious womanizer, who she shared that kiss with. Making a deal to go on a date with Caleb in exchange for information on her sister’s fiancé proves that Imogene is not immune to Caleb’s charm. Imogene and Caleb are perfect models of not judging a book by its cover. Caleb was not the womanizer he let people believe he was and Imogene needed to let go of her past and learn to trust others. I think my favorite part of this story was Caleb’s trait of wearing fun, novelty-like socks to keep from looking boring.
Ms. London wrote a very hot story; filled with sexual chemistry, fun dialogue, and endearing characters. Beware, the heat level is high as there’s a lot of sexy time between Imogene and Caleb. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Imogen’s world is a little colorless and tame when we first meet her. As the very capable assistant for her company’s CEO, she’s dedicated, hard working and a little monochromatic in her wardrobe and presumably her life. With her peculiar anti-swearing vocabulary and serious demeanor, you’d imagine she’d have no interest in the company good-time playboy.
But Caleb, with his irreverent personality and quirky, colorful socks and ties, has caught her eye, just like she caught his. He hasn’t asked her out, assuming she’d say no, but he loves pushing her buttons anyway. After a case of mistaken identity and a hot-as-hell kiss, each of their assumptions about the other are tested.
I loved these two characters right away, with fun loving and naughty Caleb being the perfect foil for the more uptight Imogen. I thought for a chapter or two that Caleb’s perfect older brother might make a play for Imogen…thankfully, I was mistaken. Each is dealing with their own demons, but Imogen’s are the ones that can derail their relationship almost before it starts.
Fun dialogue, engaging characters and a nicely paced storyline makes this a 5 star read for me. Hard Deal by Stephanie London is sure to be your next favorite book!
Stefanie London is the queen of sexy, flirtatious men with a heart of gold! She’s just delivered another winning heartthrob with Caleb Allbrook. He’s a major flirt, yet he’s kind to all and downright fun to watch interact with people. His humor had me grinning often, his sensitive side tugged at my heart strings more than once and his happily ever after melted my heart! This story has a section that takes place at the same masquerade ball as the first book in the Melbourne After Dark series, so you may recognize snippets of the plot, but we delve deeper into his and Imogen’s story. Really fun characters, several plot snippets going on to grab our interest at different times in the book and just an overall fun book to read. Really enjoyed it!
Imogen Hargrove never imagines a night of deception will turn into her own wonderland of sin, but that’s exactly what starts to happen! All she wanted was to sneak into the masquerade party of the year to spy on her sister’s fiancee Daniel because she’s afraid he’s cheating on her sister. The jokes on her when she realizes she’s following the wrong man and the guy she accuses of being a louse is actually her boss’s son, Caleb! A sizzling kiss between the two of them has her body reawakening from the deep freeze she put it into after a nasty split from her ex!
Caleb Allbrook is a ladies man, and he doesn’t deny it … but he’s not the man she thought she was following and resents her trying to push him aside when she discovers that. The kiss they share proves the sizzling attraction he’s always felt for her is no longer one sided, but can he get her to actually go out with him instead of continuing to hold him at arms length? It turns out he has an in with Daniel and promises to help her find out if he’s stepping out on her sister … but only if she promises him a genuine date!
Fireworks are definitely going off in this steamy novel.
Imogen sort of likes Caleb and he’s infatuated with her. There’s one or two issues. She’s super buttoned up and he’s a pill. No one thinks he can do his job because his father is hard on him. She refuses to let anyone in because she’s convinced they’ll leave her.
Conundrum, isn’t it?
I liked this story and read it in the course of an afternoon. It’s a quick read and the writing flows well. I felt like I was right there with the characters. Caleb is more than he seems and I liked seeing him grow through the book. Imogen was more of an issue for me. She’s a nice girl and a good character. I rooted for her to have her happy ending. The thing is, she can be incredibly distrusting and overthinks a lot. The overthinking was a bit much, but some people are like that. The scene in the club is hot, hot, hot. It’ll leave you with scorched fingers.
If you want a quick read to heat up a chilly night, then this one is for you. Check it out.
This was a pretty quick read for me, I liked it a lot. Don’t let your past define your future. That it pretty much what this book is all about. Both Imogen and Caleb have been through some crap. They are both trying to learn to be themselves and not rely or worry about what others thinks. I recommend this steamy read!