An unapologetic player and a reserved wallflower… one night would never be enoughGalan Black carries a burden he can’t share with anyone, least of all his two brothers. Not even after the blood, sweat and tears it took for them to open and make the Black Pearl Nightclub a raging success. He’s just glad his secret doesn’t haunt him half as much in the arms of the eager women he takes to bed. Yet … takes to bed.
Yet he can’t stop thinking about the plain Jane bartender and waitress, who he impulsively hired against his better judgement. Then she steps half-naked onto the stage for the club’s once-yearly charity auction, and he can’t keep his bidding paddle down, or his eyes off her. He’ll have her for the night, and get her out of his system once and for all.
Layla doesn’t trust men, yet her infatuation with the eldest Black brother is getting beyond a joke. She needs to experience a night in his bedroom, and get over her silly fixation. But then one night becomes two, with the heat between them showing no signs of cooling. Until Layla’s trust is put to the ultimate test and dirty little secrets are exposed.
more
I don’t know why I like the auction trope so much, but I do. Whether it’s the sweet; the ladies bring picnic baskets filled with their homemade specialties for a picnic lunch with the guy who places the highest bid and ends with a sweet relationship or the spicy hot where the ladies go with the highest bidder for an evening of… you can guess …that ends with a hot relationship, I just really enjoy this trope.
In this story Galan Black works with his two brothers who own the Black Pearl Nightclub. Galan is the ultimate commitment-phobe until he hires Layla Selvey. At the club’s yearly charity auction where the rich gather to bid on an evening with a beautiful lady Galan is shocked to see the always very conservatively dressed Layla on the stage wearing nothing much, pasties and a very short skirt made of peacock feathers with a feather train. Who knew Layla was hiding an absolutely gorgeous body under those conservative clothes. The men in the audience are going wild with bids. Galan has had Layla on his mind for six months, ever since he hired her as a waitress/bartender for the club. No one else was going to win an evening with Layla but him! Guess how much he bid. Mr. Commitment-Phobe Black has met his match.
Highest Bid by Mel Teshco is the first book in her Bachelor Brothers of Sydney series. This is a fun first book in the series. There are scenes that will make you chuckle and there are serious times too. I was fascinated with the author’s path for Layla and Galan to find happiness. Both these characters are complicated but interesting and I must say the sex scenes are scorching. Mel Teshco is a new author to me but I am glad I discovered her. I look forward to the stories of Galan’s brothers.
There was something about this book that had my attention from the start. Maybe it was the fact that Galan and Layla were both lost souls, not really looking for love but it sought them out in spite of themselves. Their story lines are both deep separate but alike in ways that connected in many levels. I always know when I see author Mel Teshco’s name that I am going to get a book that has heat down deep to the soul and when I finish it I will always want to re-visit it at a later date. And she did gave me a book did check all the boxes and more. I look forward to the next box in this series with baited breath or should i say auction paddle.
Highest Bid by Mel Teshco is book One in the Bachelor Brothers of Sydney Series. This is the story of Layla Selvey and Galan Black.
Galan, Aiden and Liam opened a very successful nightclub called the Black Pearl. Each year they have has a charity auction that is very successful too. This year shouldn’t be in different for Galan he thinks. Layla comes from a dysfunctional family where the father is a heavy drinker and her mom is a stripper but they seem to stick it out. But it has made Layla take a step back in relationships and being herself. Galan finds Layla a thorn in his side because he can’t get her off his mind. When he finds her part of the auction to be auctioned off he knows what he wants.
Quick Hot Read.
He was her boss and should have been off limits. But she couldn’t get him out her mind.
Galan Black, who owned the Black Pearl Nightclub with his brothers Aiden and Liam, had become obsessed with his new employee Layla Selvey. She was far from his type, but there was something about her that intrigued him. Then she came out on the stage of the Black Pearl’s charity auction, wearing next to nothing, and took Galan’s breath away. He had to have her. Let the bidding begin.
Layla had been working for a Galan for six months and had constantly fantasized about him. The charity auction was a way to get him to notice her. And notice her, he did. His winning be was one hundred thousand dollars. One night with Galan would not be enough. Layla wanted the whole package and wanted it forever.
This book might have been shorter than I expected, but it was packed with action, emotion and explosive intimate scenes. Layla and Galan were both basically broken characters, having lived through things no child should, but it made them stronger and provided an interesting background to the story. I enjoyed the way the author told the story. The book held my interest through the entire story. I can’t wait to read the books following this one so I can find out more about Galan’s brothers and the women they fall in love with.
Steamy Read.
Due to her family background Layla likes to ‘hide in plain sight’ and downplays her bodily assets (though I do think non-prescription glasses is going a bit too far). In order to get player boss Galen Black to notice her, she enters a charity auction half naked, which certainly gets his attention! There is a lot of lust and sex in this book but I am not sure what else they had in common other than attractive bodies and chemistry. They go from being boss and employee to engaged within 2-3 weeks.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 Stars for Highest Bid by Mel Teshco
This is Book 1 of The Bachelor Brothers of Sydney Series
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review- opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way …
WOW totally loved this book & will be adding this author to my TBR list. Mel Teshco’s writing style has humor – great romance & a have to work for it HEA!!
Galen & Layla are complex characters who I absolutely love together …
This book has it all for me :
Great characters
Awesome storyline
Really hoping Galan’s brothers get books
Unexpected plot twists
Great romance – with sizzling chemistry
Read in one sitting – loved it !!!