From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author C.D. Reiss comes a new standalone romance…” Rules for my new job:1) Do not have sex with a man in the office (again).2) Do not break Rule #1 I’m playing it cool, clean, and professional…until I meet Roman Bianchi. He’s not an insecure nerd or an ego-hole like the other kings of Silicon Valley. He’s charming and handsome. He’s fun, funny, and … handsome. He’s fun, funny, and smart.
He’s also in the office across the hall.
Two broken rules waiting to happen.
I can’t lose this job over some guy.
But Roman’s not just some guy. Under that suit and cocky smile, he’s a prince.
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
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Like always C.D. Reiss’s heroines are sassy, smart mouths, confident and absolutely bold. They know what they want. A short read that totally captivated my mind and heart. Roman and Raven kept their desires and needs pretty straight forward. I loved how C.D. Reiss was able to bring to super sexy characters together and bind them together.
I loved how Raven promised herself not to repeat history with office romance, but she sort of ends up doing it and of course its the best one. I absolutely loved them.
I love CD Reiss books and her writing. They never disapoint and always are amazing. Love this book. Didn’t want to stop reading it
Roman . . . . What is it about Roman’s? Why are they all so damn sexy and irresistible?
Anywho, This novella is short and to the point, and in true Christine fashion, it is damn hot!
Raven wants stability in her life, she wants security, something she has never had, and with her new job position, she is on the right track.
She just needs to stick with her own set of rules.
Rule1: Do Not have sex with the man in the office – again.
Rule2: Do Not break rule 1.
Thankfully for her, her new job has a no fraternizing rule in place for its workers.
But when her eyes lock with Roman, her need to follow the rules aren’t as steadfast as they originally were.
Roman has his life planned out and he has every intention of getting what he wants, a partnership at Neuronet, and he is so close to that goal. That is until Raven walks in and makes him question what he really wants.
These two are thrown together to work side by side on a program for the company, and it doesn’t take too long for these two to break all the rules in what is meant to be “Just one night”, but when is one night ever enough when your heart (or there is a famous Reiss alpha) is involved?
So I have been told (after I finished this novella) that we meet Raven in King of Code, looks like that is being bumped up the TBR!
Prince Roman is a forbidden office romance. It’s a bit short, just when I was becoming emotionally invested the story slams into the climax and it’s over.
We’ve met Raven Crosby in King of Code. She’s moved on to a new company with a cutting-edge non-fraternization policy. She’s delighted by the policy that will force her to keep her skirt on. However on the very first day of work she finds herself tempted by one Mr. Roman Bianchi.
Roman Bianchi has a job to do. This is his opportunity to advance his career. What he hadn’t expected was Raven Crosby. Now he’s out to protect her. But can he protect her while following the rules?
Over all I enjoyed this quickie. I like Roman, he knows what he wants and goes for it. At the end he lays it all on the line for love. 4 Stars
“The heart wants what it wants even that which is worse for it” – Emily Dickinson
CAUTION…Intensely “Swoon inducing”. Take precautions!!!
I must state from the outset that I personally feel that C.D. Reiss is an author whose romantic writing often tips into the realm of important literature. I am a serious “fangirl” and enjoy the layers of meaning, wit and world-building on display in all of her works. This short novella in this “1001 Dark Nights” format is but a brief taste of the mastery that this author owns with language, character development, story telling and oh the many ways she can create that lovely tension upon which the reader of romance gobbles up and begs for more. Yes, even in this a short novella.
Reading this story was like eating a one of a kind uniquely crafted rich creamy dessert… deliciously decadent, silky on the tongue, lovely sugar rush and satisfying. No one ever passes up a delicacy such as this. The experience remembered for a very long time.
We first meet our heroine, Raven beginning her new job. She is determined to leave all the past mistakes she made at her previous employments behind. She wants to keep her work life free from any sexual or relationship entanglements. Yet, on her first day, she meets him, Roman Bianchi. He is startlingly beautiful, he dresses like an alpha male in tailor made clothing over a striking figure of a man. He is a smart lawyer with a commanding presence; and then there are those eyes:
“Green. Brown. Gray. Was that called hazel? Or had this man invented something completely new?”-Raven
The reader is immediately drawn into the internal struggle of Raven’s fierce sexual attraction and her resolve not to reveal it in any way or act impulsively on it. The attraction is mutual. Of course this new environment of “forbidden by company policy” creates the “must not touch or go there but my body and heart are screaming to go there” conundrum. Roman, apart from his uncontrollable attraction to Raven, also fancies himself having a hidden agenda in trying to get closer to her. Beyond this, the machinations of the top level of both their managements also create yet another layer of complexity.
Of course as delicious romances go…Raven and Roman do touch…do kiss..do all those other lovely things and in ways that the author keeps fresh, hot, hawt, hot, and so exciting. All the while keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. We fall in love with their love or is it simply “lust”?…as they fall. This heady feeling and ultimately the noble intent and actions of our main characters give the reader a thoroughly satisfying treat.
I could end my review here but I noticed that this read created some questions in my mind buried in the narrative and in the discussion of the project our two main characters were endeavoring to complete. These are good questions, relevant questions, questions answered as a society that would strengthen the fabric of our society for decades forward. I detected no particular political agenda hinted at by some reviewers. The first important question is pay equity between the genders. Paying a just and fair wage to all persons means food on the table, rent paid, family security to the woman who is the family bread winner. Endeavoring to accomplish this quantitatively is a fine and good thing.
The second question has really two parts. The first is not allowing any misogynistic bias or harassment against woman in the workplace by judging their intellect or ability solely on gender. This is a difficult one even in the current culture of Silicon Valley. The second part is distinguishing between genuine affection and respect that is inherent in a true attraction between employees from behaviors that can be misconstrued as “quid pr quo” sexual favors i.e. sexual harassment. Just as pay inequity issues leave a company vulnerable to lawsuit, so do patterns of sexual harassment. One solution is to adopt a zero tolerance fraternization policy. Seems like a simple solution but is this realistic? After all, “the heart wants what it wants.”
Discovering the questions and your answers along with the answer to this question found by Raven and Roman is part of all the sexy time and “feels” our author lays out in this wonderfully created tale of a 21st Century Prince among men (or really “boys” to be more accurate).
One click to meet him and his beautiful love, Raven.
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