I’ve waited years for my drop-dead sexy boss, Tristan Hunter, to notice me as something other than his right-hand gal. But though his dog is deeply in love with me, Tristan and I seem doomed to the friend zone.Until the night we kiss…It’s all a ruse, of course–our make-out session is for the benefit of the two heartbreakers who dumped us–but very real sparks fly when his lips meet mine.At … his lips meet mine.
At least…they’re real for me.
***
She’s my employee, one of my best friends, my dog Luke’s not-so-secret crush, and totally off-limits.
So why am I suddenly unable to think of anything but Zoey Childers?
Two days into our fake engagement and I’m dying to take her to bed and show her just how real the heat could be between us. But crossing that line wouldn’t just be borderline unethical–it could be lethal to our friendship.
I should call this off before somebody gets hurt, but how to say “no” to something real with Zoey when every bone in my body is dying to say “yes”?
The Heartbreaker is a sexy, swoony STANDALONE romance.
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Ah, I love Lili Valente!! I mean, of course I do! We wrote a book together! And I love this solo book of hers! Lili is a master at rom-coms with heart and I love a great fake engagement story!
The Heartbreaker by Lili Valente is the third standalone romance in her latest smoking hot series, The Hunter Brothers . The story of the youngest Hunter brother, Tristan, and the woman that helps him run the shelter, Zoey.
Tristan had his heart ripped out of his chest when the woman he had been with since high school decided he wasn’t enough for her and disappeared to Australia leaving him heartbroken and lonely and picking up the pieces. It’s taken a quite a few months but he is almost back to center again. It helps that his job keeps him busy and that he has such a great support system there with Zoey helping him run things.
Zoey has been head over heels for Tristan for as long as she has known him. Liking him never affected their working relationship but now that he is single she could stand a chance at catching his eye – if only he wasn’t still hung up on his ex. When they are out celebrating his brothers wedding they run into not only his ex, but hers too. And lo and behold, their exes are together!
Queue fake engagement between Tristan and Zoey to stave off the weird vibe from Kim and Bear and you have another stellar romance novel by one of my most favorite authors. Pet humor, awkward situations, angst without too much angst, hot sex, anticipation – all of it! Enjoy!
This book in the Hunter brother series was a joy to read. Definitely the sweetest and the lightest. I loved every minute of Zoey and Tristan’s story and can’t wait to read the final installment of the Hunter Brother’s love stories.
I love these brothers. Audio books are awesome. Narrators were so good.
The Heartbreaker is the third book in the Hunter Brothers series by one of my favorite authors, Lili Valente! It is the third amazing book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. I do however recommend reading the previous books since I have loved them all. If you already have then you already met Tristan and Zoey. I have been excited for this book and it was so worth the wait.
It’s been sixteen months since Tristan’s high school sweetheart turned fiancée broke up with him and moved to Australia. He was broken-hearted for months and hasn’t dated anyone ever since. He is over Kim but he wasn’t ready to find love again if ever until he kisses his employee, Zoey Childers. His best employee. His friend. The shelter he ran wouldn’t be what it was without her. It was supposed to be a fake kiss. One to convince both of their exes that they were truly in love. That they have moved on since they broke their hearts. But the kiss was so much more. Was it the beginning or was it the start of a crumbling friendship?
Tristan didn’t want to ruin his friendship and professional relationship. Neither did Zoey even though she had been crushing on her boss for years. They were at a stand-still. Everyone knew Zoey looked at him with hearts in her eyes except for him. She didn’t want to give herself too much hope after their first kiss. Even after the second. They were mind-blowing to her but that didn’t mean, they were to him. Were they? Did they feel the same to him? And if he did…who will jump first into the unknown?
And why is Kim back in town now after all this time? Also, what is Bear thinking? He is too nice for a woman like her.
I love Tristan and Zoey! I mean…who wouldn’t? They take care of animals. They are beautiful inside and out. They are both so sweet. Together, they are even better! Their banter is fun and flirty. Their connection is sweet and sexy. And Zoey was right, Tristan really is jaw-dropping hot. And Tristan is right about Zoey, she really is mesmerizing.
Overall…it’s the perfect addition to this series. The Hunter Brothers are something else and their loves are too. I know when I open one of their books that I am in for a fun, sexy, and beautiful ride.
P.S. I Luke!!
Quotes:
“Come here, Childers. Dance with me.”
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay with not calling the shots?”
“Totally fine with it,” I promise her, unable to keep myself from adding, “At work, anyway.”
“Oh, man, Luke.” I scrunch my nose. “This is getting weird, buddy.”
This was such a sweet read! Sometimes we just have to go for what we really want!
fun read , fun series
Tristan Hunter and Zoey Childers have been friends for a few years. They worked together and spent a lot of time together but they never crossed the line of friendship or co-workers.
Tristan is the “sensitive” Hunter brother. Having had only one serious girlfriend in his past (and having only slept with that one serious girlfriend), he went through a difficult time after their breakup. When Tristan and Zoey are forced to fake a relationship, it becomes clear that they were always meant to be together.
I absolutely loved these two characters. They were perfect for each other. Lili’s books always make me laugh. The dialogue is so entertaining and original.
This one is my favorite of the 3 book series. I loved the story, the characters and the epilogue was PERFECT. Such a fun read.
The Heartbreaker is Lili Valente’s newest standalone in the Hunter Brothers series and my favorite of the series! Yes, it’s part of the series, but you can read it by itself and not miss a thing! I know it’s tough to pick favorites, but Tristan called to my heart in book one. He was bruised and heartbroken and needed some hugs! He was also missing what was right in front of him. Zoey. She is his closest friend, his trusted employee. He thinks she’s great, sweet, beautiful. But he never sees her as anything other than a friend. Until they have to pretend to be engaged for their exes. Then one kiss turns Tristan’s world upside down. In the best, sexiest way possible! Zoey has been in love with Tristan for years and she never thought anything would come of it. She’s been holding herself back from finding love because of her feelings for Tristan. But after that fake kiss that felt very, very real, she’s not sure what to think. Tristan is sweet and funny and he genuinely cares about Zoey. But can it be more than friends? After some hilarious happenings, Zoey ends up closer to Tristan than she ever thought possible. What happens when faking it becomes real? When pretending makes them want to try? When a few kisses ignite a passion that’s been brewing for years? Can they go from friends to lovers to something more? I LOVED this story! I knew Tristan and Zoey had something simmering between them and I loved the slow burn. The first kiss is perfection. Their banter is witty and hilarious. Their chemistry off the charts. Lili Valente knows how to write romance! The Heartbreaker is sexy, sweet, romantic, whimsical and my favorite of the series!
Ever since the set up for this book at the end of The Troublemaker I’ve been eagerly anticipating Tristan and Zoey’s story. And it was definitely as fun as I’d hoped.
The very last person Tristan wants to see at a wedding is the woman who broke his heart last year by calling off their own plans to get married. So when Zoey, his friend and best employee, begs him to hide her from her own ex, who turns out to be his ex’s new guy, Tristan does what any person in a romance novel would do- he kisses her and informs their exes that he and Zoey are engaged. Rather than fess up and embarrassingly admit that they were faking it, Tristan and Zoey decide to carry on their “relationship” until their exes leave town again.
Except Zoey has actually been infatuated with Tristan for years. And once he kissed her, Tristan can’t seem to get Zoey back into the just friends category. It doesn’t take long before fake engaged turns into real dating, and not just for the sake of their exes…
I really loved Zoey right from the very beginning. I found her sweet and kind, even to the people who weren’t kind to her, but all without her feeling like a doormat. I occasionally wavered on my affection for Tristan though. I had a bit of a hard time buying into Tristan never feeling a single bit of attraction for Zoey and then suddenly being head-over-heels after one spectacle of a kiss. But he definitely grew on me, and I started to appreciate how nice of a guy he could be.
The drama and conflict of The Heartbreaker was a bit over the top, but I feel like I should have anticipated that more considering the less than realistic plots of the first two books in this series. During most of the conflict of the book, I just wanted to shake both of them and tell them to just talk to each other and there were definitely times when the he said/she said and constant secrets and lies started to get a bit cringey. But all in all, the book made me laugh and made me smile and was overall a fun and enjoyable read.
Audiobook Review: The Heartbreaker (Hunter Brothers, #3) by Lili Valente (Author), Andi Arndt (Narrator), Sebastian York (Narrator)
Valente takes adorable and runs with it. Tristan, Zoe and Luke worm their way into the heart with clueless antics and heartfelt sweetness. The pairing of York and Arndt give the sugar, a blast of heat that works perfect, as we get to the heart of the matter. Precious!
Ok so I so loved this book!! I met the sexy Hunter brothers in The Baby Maker and you can’t help but fall in love with all of them!! I have to go back and read The Trouble Maker but I was not lost in any way these are definitely about a different brother each time even though they each are a part of the book because the brothers are a tight family. This book was about Tristian. The brother that can seem to give some really great advice and see things like they are, except for his self. Zoey his assistant has had a major crush for her boss the entire time she’s worked for him. But all Tristian sees them as is friends until the night his ex comes back into town hanging all over her new man which is Zoey ex. Next thing you know Tristian and Zoey are kissing and are fake engaged. But what happens when Tristian wants the fake engagement to become a real one? And why did it take him so long to realize Zoey was the perfect one for him? And why are both ex’s back in town? I loved this friends to lovers romance. It’s a real feel good, make your toes curl, with a dash of humor perfect book to curl up with!! And I highly recommend this book!!
*4.5 stars*
I can’t get enough of the Hunter Brothers!
Sweet, sexy, sensitive and loves animals! Tristan is the bomb and Zoey knows it! They’ve been co-workers for years but circumstances have them suddenly faking their way out of the friend zone. It is everything Zoey could have hoped for but Tristan… Well, he’s a little slower off the mark. He has his reasons but once they both realize their good friend and co-worker is also hot, that door can’t be closed…
“Chemistry is like toothpaste – one it’s out of the tube, it’s not going back in.”
Whew… The sparks that (finally) flew for Zoey and Tristan were off the charts! It took some persuading, and some ‘practice’ sessions but it didn’t take them both long to figure out they had something special. I loved how much they liked and respected each other before anything started between them. Not that Zoey would have minded that time be a lot shorter! I don’t blame her, Tristan is all that and more!
Throwing in animals with attitude and exes with suspicious motives, this was another delicious addition the series!
Oh, and the best character name, like, ever? Moodonna! Bahahahahaha…..
*4.5 Double Eggplant Stars*
This is the second series I’ve read by Lili Valente and I have to say I love this one!! The Hunter brothers are uniquely different and yet filled with such a charm that fills your heart with glee. From Dylan to Rafe and now Tristian, I can’t tell you who is my favorite. I simply love them all.
The chemistry between Tristan and Zoey was absolutely perfect. The work romance/fake engagement was so much fun. I loved how they were protective of one another as they discovered and embraced their attraction. The Heartbreaker contained what I look for in this sort of romance story: heat, heart, and humor.
I not only suggest you add The Heartbreaker to your reads, I encourage you to read the previous books:
Dylan: The Baby Maker
Rafe: The Troublemaker
I do hope Deacon gets a book. The older and wiser brother deserves a happily ever after… particularly a romance in a Violet color tone.
This is the third book in the Hunter Brother series and is centered on youngest brother Tristan. Tristan was the steadiest and most unselfish of the brothers. Tristan had been engaged to his high school sweetheart, Kim Khan, until she called it off in a pretty callous manner a little over a year ago. Zoey has worked for Tristan for three years, and has been infatuated with him from day one. At Tristan’s brother’s wedding reception, Kim shows up with Zoey’s ex. Zoey goes to Tristan and asks his help avoiding the woman who made her college life hell, coincidentally, Kim “Genghis” Khan. This of course leads them into a faux engagement. Both Zoey and Tristan are super sweet, and the romance progresses pretty easily. This is a light, fun summer read.
Ok so I so loved this book!! I met the sexy Hunter brothers in The Baby Maker and you can’t help but fall in love with all of them!! I have to go back and read The Trouble Maker but I was not lost in any way these are definitely about a different brother each time even though they each are a part of the book because the brothers are a tight family. This book was about Tristian. The brother that can seem to give some really great advice and see things like they are, except for his self. Zoey his assistant has had a major crush for her boss the entire time she’s worked for him. But all Tristian sees them as is friends until the night his ex comes back into town hanging all over her new man which is Zoey ex. Next thing you know Tristian and Zoey are kissing and are fake engaged. But what happens when Tristian wants the fake engagement to become a real one? And why did it take him so long to realize Zoey was the perfect one for him? And why are both ex’s back in town? I loved this friends to lovers romance. It’s a real feel good, make your toes curl, with a dash of humor perfect book to curl up with!! And I highly recommend this book!! – By Tina
Right off the bat I loved Zoey and Tristan because of their love animals and they work at an animal shelter. This book had exactly what I look forward to in a book by Lili Valente. It had heart, humor, and heat. I loved how much Tristan’s dog loves Zoey. It’s so adorable. Zoey and Tristan fake a relationship because their exes are back in town. What starts off as fake sure soon feels all too real. I loved Zoey and Tristan together. One of my favorite couples. I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers story. Once I started reading this book I had a hard time putting down to get things done. I just wanted to gobble this story up. This is definitely a book you’re sad to see end. I thought the epilogue was too adorable and perfect touch for this book.