Exclusive. Elite. Always Discreet: Welcome to the Billionaires Club. Ruthless billionaire Ash Evans finds the sexiest way to collect on a debt in the first installment in The Billionaire’s Club quartet! Notoriously ruthless property developer Ash Evans never forgives a debt. And I have two days to convince the former street fighter not to pull his investment in my father’s company. Taking a job … company. Taking a job as his chauffeur in Paris is the only way to get close enough to ask the bad-tempered billionaire for a favor.
With his sexy tattoo, scars and magnificently cut body, he’s as powerful, sleek and difficult to manage as the sports cars my family designs. And after meeting his electric-blue eyes in the rearview mirror all night, I’m more than happy to rev his engine and take the boss for a ride!
Take control. Feel the rush. Explore your fantasies – Harlequin Dare publishes sexy romances featuring powerful alpha males and bold, fearless heroines exploring their deepest fantasies.
Discover more wealthy, international heroes in the entire The Billionaires Club series;
The Debt by Jackie Ashenden
The Risk by Caitlin Crews
The Proposition by JC Harroway
The Deal by Clare Connelly
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He’s a notoriously ruthless property developer who never forgives a debt. And Ellie Little has two days to convince Ash Evans not to pull his investment in her father’s company. The only way to get close to the bad-tempered billionaire is to pose as his chauffeur but Ash turns the table and soon Ellie is posing as his girlfriend.
The first book in this new billionaire romance series is an emotional, gripping and engaging read that stirs and delights the senses. The chemistry between these two strong, vivid characters sizzles with an electrical charge that singes readers with the turn of every page, but the relationship between Ellie and Ash has sparks flying and takes a lot of hard work and even that doesn’t guarantee this HEA as the past could derail it forever.
The story is fast paced and full of flying sparks, heated clashes, and super-heated passion that delights readers while the emotional angst that flows from the pages as both the hero and the heroine have some issues to resolve but the hero in this case has some anger issues that threatens the romance even though he’s show his good side. And readers can’t help but become caught up in this romance and lose their hearts as Ash finds the sexiest way possible to collect on a debt and win the heart that he doesn’t know what to do with.
“I like arrogant and bossy and grumpy. And I really like sexy and hot and tattooed.”
Yeah, me too! Jackie Ashenden writes the best alpha a-holes. I can’t get enough. All it took was seeing her name on the cover for me to want to read this story, she knows how to push all my buttons, every time.
Ash is not only a billionaire, but he’s also broken. It was his pain that pushed him to succeed. To prove himself to all those that hurt him. He’s convinced that he doesn’t need anyone, at least not for any longer than a night. He’s used to people being intimidated by his size and his scars, but she’s not. She’s sweet and sassy he can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s determined to save her father’s company and talking to Ash Evans is the only way to make that happen. Yes, her approach is unconventional, but so is she. She was raised by her father and brothers so opinionated men don’t scare her. His bad temper and sharp tongue shouldn’t turn her on, but they do. Everyone always says not to poke the bear, but she can’t resist doing it every chance she gets.
This story was so entertaining. I kinda have a girl crush on her for how she handled Ash. Their banter was so much fun because she kept surprising him. He would purposely provoke her and she wouldn’t do what he expected. I loved it!
Jackie writes some of the best arseholes but with totally redeeming qualities. Ash definitely fits into the mold. I just loved him. Ellie is someone totally new to me, a car designer. Very cool job. Their interactions were off the charts sexy (fans self). I liked the premise of the book but wished there were more too it. It is a short read (one sitting) and would have liked to delve more into their backgrounds and what made them tick. I always consider Jackie an auto-read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
THE DEBT is the first instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporay,adult BILLIONAIRE’S CLUB erotic, romance series. This is billionaire property developer and investor Ash Evans, and car designer Ellie Little’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Ellie and Ash) THE DEBT follows the building relationship between billionaire property developer and investor Ash Evans, and Australian car designer Ellie Little. The loan has been called in on Ellie’s family business, and hoping for her father’s approval, Ellie heads to London, England in an effort to persuade their number one investor to pull back on the upcoming payments. Enter Ash Evans, and the man with whom Ellie will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ellie and Ash, and the potential fall-out as Ash is unable to let go of the past.
Ash Evans doesn’t do relationships, and believes he is not worthy of love but his need to succeed at all costs forces Ash to ‘blackmail’ Ellie LIttle into pretending to be his fake girlfriend. Determined to win the right to purchase a series of Caribbean islands Ash needs to present himself as a family man, and Ellie is desperate enough to go along with the ruse-pretend to be Ash’s girlfriend and Ash will hold off on calling in the loan. Ellie Little knows rejection first hand. Having lost her mother at an early age, and the ensuing dismissal by her father broke our heroine’s heart a long time ago. In an effort to be accepted Ellie heads to London to convince the man that will steal her heart.
The relationship between Ellie and Ash begins as a business arrangement. Ellie hires herself out as a limo driver in order to get closer to our story line hero. From the outset Ellie’s attraction to Ash is immediate and intense. Their first evening together finds our couple together but Ellie struggles with what has to be done. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
THE DEBT is a story of family, revenge, betrayal and acceptance. The premise is engaging; the romance is hot and seductive; the characters are desperate, colorful, and energetic. On the flip side I have to wonder if the author did enough research with regards to the travelling to Dubai. Our couple travel to Dubai in an effort to secure Ash’s purchase of the Caribbean island but the strict laws regarding the dos and don’ts of behavior do not appear to have been addressed, behavior that could landed our couple in some serious hot water.
This is a story about two broken people who in one another find their wholes
Ash Evan may be a billionaire but it is the fact that he was broken that made him such it gave him the drive to struggle for years until he made it and now he gives no quarter to anyone. Ellie Little needs him to give them time so that she can save her fathers automotive business and she will do whatever she needs to get a chance to state her case So she takes a job as his chauffeur and drives him around Paris When he realises who she is he automatically assumes she is trying to use her body to get what she wants and he has a counter offer pretend to be his girlfriend so he can exact revenge on his half brother Only problem it doesn’t feel like she is pretending and she could get her heart broken Will Ash also feel the pull of love and is there a chance of a future for these two broken souls
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/the-debt-jackie-ashenden/
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have hit a bump on my reading journey lately. The last books I have picked are more in the forgettable side of the spectrum. I was aware that my quest to get rid of the NetGalley ARCs I requested would bring some less interesting stories, but the last one I reviewd totally killed my reading mood. I needed something unexpected and that is what I have got with the next ARC on the list. Simple, direct, entertaining… less flourishes and more sustancial bites.
We follow the adventures of Ellie, a supercar designer (I guess that’s a thing…) who works in her family business. A company that is going through tough times and it is about to lose one of the most important investors. So, the resourceful designer comes with the plan to become the chauffeur of the investor to get some alone time with him to smooth things over. The investor is not other than Ash, the arrogant and sexy billionaire who eats princesses for breakfast…Thankfully, Ellie is far from one!!
The story is nothing new in Romance (hard to invent new plots in such a crowded genre), but it is presented alomost perfectly. The heroes have a clear mission, one to save the investment and the other to buy some islands. Both quests are important to them, so I am very glad that the author didn’t forget about those plot threads as soon as they get naked. Too many times, the story just become an excuse to just tell the romance. Reading otherwise makes me grateful for picking the book. Even though it is a short book, I have read even shorter ones that get stuck and are incapable of going forward. In this case, every single chapters takes us one step further, so there are no dull moments tempting my skipping skills. Perfect pace for a light reading!
I enjoyed the exchanges between the main characters, but I must admit I was expecting more fire. Ash is a pretty rude guy, with no filter who just say whatever he pleases without worrying about the receptor’s feelings. Due to his position, noone is brave enough to tell him to be gentler. But Ellie doesn’t take his bullshit and fights him every step of the way (which is what made him attracted to her). Taking that into account, I would have expected more banter, more funny or absurd conversations to proof who is tougher. I think the book misses too many chances of making us laugh. I know is not sold as a Romantic Comedy book, but the setting was so good for one that I am a bit sad that we didn’t get at least a couple of funny moments.
The anojoyable story could have been easily ruined with badly handle characters. But it is not the case. Both of them are pretty cool, with enough dark corners to keep us engaged, but not too much to make them unrealistic. Ash is what in the Romance genre is called a bully: arrogant, rude, insensitive, bossy… A cold-hearted bastard. That kind of character can be a pain to read if you are not careful, but this billionaire with the fighter body and the sexy facial scars (yes, those can be hot too… haven’t you met Geralt de Rivia?) is pretty well balanced and we soon learn that there is a heart beating inside that hardened surface. Enough to be able to sympathtize with him, because, in my book, 100% bullies don’t get my support. It helps that opposite him he has a strong woman who doesn’t take any of his bullshit just because he poops dollars.
They are not perfect. Actually, since the beginning I just wanted to yell at them due to the stupidity both of them were sporting proudly. Ash because he thinks the world spins around him and has wasted half of his life trying to avenge his mother’s trust… Have you heard the expression “hug it out“? Seriously, bro… way cheaper. And Ellie… How can a character with such strong persoanlity belive that she was the one to blame for the current money problems of the company? I know family is important, but her dad is pure poison and she should know it… being a modern woman and all. I’m glad she found Ash and someone was honest with her. Sometimes brutish is better than soft mannered.
All in all, the romance was great. With small steps at a time and a hopeful ending. Not the copy/paste I’m always afraid of. Also, the sex scenes are really great. Sweet when they need to be and naughty when they call for it. With a very soft dominant undertone that is thousands of time hotter than going full steam with the BDSM concept that is sadly horribly used in too many cases.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book that much. It has replenished my energy to face the ARCs that I have yet to read. I will have to check more books written by this factor, because I have truly enjoyed her direct way of telling the story.
First let me say I love love love Jackie Ashenden and anything that she turns out usually has my vote. Now that being said, The Debt is no exception. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the title. I don’t really think it fit in the long run of things but that’s just my opinion.
Ash Evans is a scarred, bad boy who takes zero attitude from anyone. Most people bend to his will pretty easily and he’s earned everything he’s gotten for himself in life. Much to the chagrin of his biological father and half brother. Yes, that little tit-bit through him for a small loop, especially after becoming good friends with his brother before knowing who he was. After that though reversal of fortune, all bets were off and Ash made a name for himself without them.
Ellie Little has been trying to get her father to see her great ideas to advance their company for years. Too bad he just thinks she is a good worker and nothing more. Being the youngest and the only girl, she’s had it rough since her mom died. She decides to take matters into her own hands and go undercover as the chauffer to the bigwig looking to take over the company. She can do this, save her family’s company and maybe her dad will give her the credit she is due, finally.
Ash isn’t fooled by Ellie’s little rouse and quickly realizes he needs her help to pull off a major blindside against his brother. They are both looking to buy an island property but the seller is looking for someone to raise they family there. Not a swinging bachelor like Ash. He convinces Ellie to pose as his girlfriend to secure his purchase of the islands from out of his brother’s grasp.
Over it all, Ellie and Ash realizes their attraction to one another. Ash figures out who she is and what her company is all about and helps her realize her dreams. They agree the arrangement is only temporary but when time is up, are they really over?
Another 5 star awesome read from Ms. Ashenden I voluntarily read and reviewed without expectations. Any and all opinions expressed, are my own.
This was a fairly quick book and if you are familiar with Jackie’s book you know that they are steamy. We meet Ash and he is an angry individual, his father never claimed him, his brother betrayed him and his mother who loves him dearly would never accept any of his gifts. On his quest for revenge he meets Ellie who is his replacement limo driver but what he doesn’t know is that Ellie is there to plead for her fathers company. These two have a steamy encounter and when Ellie explains what she needs he leaves her upset that she used him, but when he needs someone to go with him to show he is in a steady relationship to take something away that his brother also wants he makes a deal with her. You know how this will work, she falls in love he gets angry because no one will truly love him and when he comes to the realization he needs to grovel.
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
5 STARS for Jackie Ashenden’s The Debt
ARC received from Netgalley …..
Below is my honest review – my opinions have not been influenced in any way ….
Thrilled to be able to read this ARC from one of my favorite authors. I am a HUGE fan of the Dare Line – always an amazing read that can usually be finished in one sitting / 24 hour period.
The two main characters Ash Evans ( who I have to admit to not liking very much at first ) & Ellie Little are like fireworks ( together ) waIting to go off! Well it is getting closer to the 4th of July here in the states
Ellie is looking to find a way to secure financing for her family’s company Australis of which she is working on a prototype for a new model.
The only way she can coordinate trying to meet & talk to Ash a well known international billionaire property developer is by posing as his fill in chauffeur…. driving being one of her hobbies it’s not a stretch for her to show up as Ash’s limo driver.
Ash is described as ruthless – having a very bad temper & has “no” forgiveness for anyone in both his professional & personal life. The two make a deal to help each other Ellie will act as Ash’s long term girlfriend so he can pursue the purchase of these islands he wants to build a hotel chain on – in exchange for Ellie receiving an investment to pull her family business out of the red & build her much needed prototypes to attract new clients …
“His stare ( Ash’s ) skewered me like a pin thru the wings of a butterfly “ – OMG just loved that line !!! Ellie is a tough little fighter & does not back down at all when faced with Ash’s HORID behavior !!!
I absolutely loved this book & highly recommend this read !!
As typical for this author you are in for a real treat with an awesome HEA & great epilogue !!!
The Debt is the first Jackie Ashenden book I’ve read and WOW I’m impressed. This is one book that will hook you from page one. Excellent snappy dialogue, interesting yet flawed characters with off the charts chemistry. The DARE line of books definitely take romance to a new and steamy level. I was also glad to see a sassy fierce female character that could give as good as she gets and wasn’t overwhelmed by an alpha male. I give The Debt 5 stars and will be putting Ms. Ashenden on my “Must Read” list.
#TheDebt #NetGalley
Absolutely HOT HOT HOT! Fantastic page turner
For sure! Prepare to fall hard for this super sexy couple! WHO wouldn’t love a romance about a female chauffeur who falls for the angsty Billionaire?? Fabulous work yet once again by Ms Jackie Ashenden!
Another great read from Jackie Ashenden. Two very strong characters crash in this intense love story. A self-made billionaire and auto lover who needs a favor so she gets a job as a limo driver and hopes on good luck. But what she didn’t count on was that Ash will be so intense, that she will be drawn to her, that chemistry will explode between them. A great hot quick read for a hot summer night.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly
Ellie asks former fighter now billionaire Ash for a favor involving her family’s business. Ash is all too happy to help Ellie for a price. He wants her to pretend to be his girlfriend. She also ends up being a driver for him. These two had hot chemistry and it sparked like a wildfire. A really enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.
Ellie and Ash’s chemistry is off the charts from their very first encounter. I loved how Ellie was smart, strong, gave as good as she got and never backed down from a challenge. Even though I loved their story, I would’ve loved a longer drive There’s definitely things that need to be glossed over since it’s a short story and while I still felt connected to Ellie and Ash, I would’ve loved more.
Here’s to another night’s sleep lost to yet another un-put-downable novel by Jackie Ashenden, who kept me reading her latest Dare novel until 5:00 a.m., and even made me cry. I loved this novel and it’s characters and it gets 5+++++ stars from this reader.
Ellie Little, an Australian twenty-something, lost her mom at a young age, and with a distant and grieving, non-demonstrative father who hates the fact that his only daughter is the spitting image of his late wife simply ignores her, as do her four brothers, so Ellie puts away her dresses, heels and make-up, and tries to become the fifth brother, sharing their love of race cars, and helping her father to design and hand-build luxury supercars, as well as race cars, seeking to rival the finest European models on the market, but their company, Australis, is in a financial crisis. Mark, their top designer made an huge mistake by grabbing and groping Ellie from behind, and, in response, Ellie kneed him in his nether regions, and her father was forced to pay him off in order to prevent him from filing assault charges against Ellie. That payoff used up much of the venture capital he’d borrowed from one of the venture capital companies owned by notably rude, impatient, and arrogant billionaire, Ash Evans, and there was little time to recoup all that payoff money before their debt was due to be paid–and if they didn’t pay it back, that was the end of their company. There seemed to be no way out.
So, unbeknownst to her family, Ellie manages to get a job driving for a British limo service, and after a month of hoping she’d be assigned to Ash Evans, her wish came true as she was assigned to be his chauffeur during his trip to a gala charity event in Paris, at the rarified and elite Billionaire’s Club, replacing his regular, elderly chauffeur who is ill. When Ash sees petite, spunky, cheerful Ellie, he’s intrigued by her, shochked that she’s not cowed by him, rude to her, annoyed with her, yet also strangely attracted to her, as she is to him. Ellie is hoping for a moment of his time to beg Ash not to call in the debt quite so soon, but her window of opportunity is very slim. After Ash leaves the event with a gorgeous blonde who is all over him in the back seat of the limo, he’s more turned on by the fact that Ellie is watching him in her rear view mirror than he is by the blonde in the back seat, and Ellie is shocked when they drop off the blonde at her hotel, and Ellie and Ash, who have chemistry to burn, are soon both in the back seat of the limo, and I was surprised that the heat of their unexpected and incendiary coupling was enough to melt my e-reader. Yet, Ellie still hasn’t told him why she’s there and when she finally does, while driving him to the airport, he looks at her like every other gold-digger who’s wanted something from him, and treats her accordingly. At least until he realizes he may need her help.
Ash wants retribution. When his mother got involved with man she didn’t know was already married, resulting is her pregnancy with Ash, he spurned her, showing no interest in her or his son, and leaving her living in squalid housing and practically penniless, but she eventually convinces him to pay for their son and allow him to attend a private school. It’s there that he meets his half-brother, Sebastian Dumont, and the two become fast friends and eventually business partners, at least until Sebastian betrays Ash and ends up losing not only the money Ash put in to their business, but his mother’s life savings as well–and Ash wants revenge. Grappling his way from poverty to wealth, he has finally figured out a plan, a way to get back at his brother, but he’ll need Ellie to pose as his serious girlfriend to accomplish his goal, and hang on to your hats, because as you probably already know, best laid plans often go awry. Ellie eventually agrees to his plan but also extracts his promise to help out her father’s business, and the heat goes on.
Jackie Ashenden has, in this short novel, managed to deliver two fully fleshed-out, complex, broken and emotionally challenged characters, who are more alike than either of them realize at the outset, and this reader found them and their story deeply moving, searingly hot, and simply unforgettable. I think you will too, and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Ellie takes the chance to drive a billionaire around. He could be the key to saving her family’s business. If only she knew how attracted she would be to such a man.
Ash is a take no prisoners kind of billionaire. He says it like it is and his word is his bond. He is also a special kind of man. The kind who would fall for a beauty of a driver.
This book started out slow and I wondered how it would get there. Then I got a few chapters in and the pace not only picked up, but the story just about blasted off the page. I fell for these characters and could not put it down. I am excited for the next book in the series.
***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.
The Debt by Jackie Ashenden is the story of Ellie Little and Ash Evan.
Ellie is out to save her father’s business after her father helped her in a bad situation. To do so she goes to Ah who is a well off investor to et his help to keep her father business ruining. But what neither could count on was that their feelings would become engaged.
Hot quick read.
Ash and Ellie’s story was very entertaining to read. Ellie daughter of a businessman that is into luxury cars, Ash a billionaire that invests. They meet in Paris and sparks fly. They both have their demons, they both have baggage and they need to overcome obstacles they didn’t expect. I will be reading about Sebastian in The Risk as I really liked the author’s writing.
4 Stars
Reviewed by Allyson
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
The Debt by Jackie Ashenden is a story to be devoured by anyone and everyone! For a new author, I was interested in trying fresh material and I am happy I did.
The Debt revolves a girl, looking to save her family’s business and asks the one man she probably shouldn’t. She has no choice but to ask the overbearing, arrogant ex-fighter for help, but who would have thought their chemistry would be red hot and wild?! Get ready for a passionate ride.
As a new author for me and one to watch, I enjoyed how she wrote strong characters in their own dynamics. The details, settings, and romance were scripted perfectly… not wanting to skip a word. My only nudge is parts of the story, especially towards the end, did seem rushed. I wished Ashenden would have slowed down and truly gave these characters more time.
This is the first book from this author and I really did enjoy it. Ash and Ellie had such good chemistry and I really enjoyed their story. Ellie decides to pose as his driver just so she can get close to him. He decides he wants her to be more: his girlfriend for the purpose of helping with a business deal. The problem is that the longer they stay together, the more real feelings will get involved. Can they fight them or will they give in? If you want a quick read then this is for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.