No one knows how new members are selected to the board of Hale Banking and Holding. But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation.Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom.This time, that woman will be me.The Hale family owns everything—the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in our town, even the mortgage on my parents’ mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own … now Royce Hale wants to own me.
He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he’s the prince of lies. My body may tighten with white-hot desire under his penetrating gaze, but I refuse to enjoy it.
I’ll make a deal with the devil to save my family and sell myself to the Hales. But Royce will never own my heart.
more
I’m not sure what i expected when I picked this book up but it certainly wasn’t that I would ignore my own writing in favor of finishing it, buying the second book and then pre ordering number three. The Initiation is twisted and gripping with characters I’m invested in. Dark and complex, it’s simply unputdownable.
Okay, wow. Like seriously holy crap, what the heck did I just read? Please oh please you all need to read this too, so we can talk about this crazy book! Let’s start our talk with the cover, that I can’t stop obsessing over. It’s so freakin gorgeous. And perfect. I couldn’t be more excited that this is a trilogy, aside from my impatience for the next book.
Marist is the nobody sister, the extra, awkward, unsocial one. Royce comes from a rich family that are all into power games. And they’re endless, and surprising. And devious. What’s the truth and what’s the front? Marist is like the strongest person there, doing what needs to be done, while risking her heart. She does have a little bit of a kinky side, though!
I am so addicted to this twisted story and can’t wait to see where it leads.
What. Just. Happened.
Nikki Sloane just OWNED me with this book!! It has everything you could possibly ever want in a book.
Secrets.. Check.
Drama.. Check.
Sexy times.. CHECK.
The Initiation was unique and completely captivating. I started reading and I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep!! I have always been a fan of Nikki’s writing, but this one took the cake. This has to be one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
The Initiation is unlike any book you have ever read.. I PROMISE YOU THAT.
A twisty, sexy story I couldn’t put down and then needed to devour the rest of the series.
THIS BOOK. Really, this SERIES. It’s downright wicked. Manipulation and temptation and coercion. This series is single-handedly responsible for convincing me that I’m into father-in-law stuff, because GOOD LORD.
All this to say, if you’re looking for something a little dark, a lot dirty, and completely unputdownable, the Filthy Rich Americans series will hit the spot!
OMG! I’m still recovering from this book. The blurb gives a glimpse, but Nikki Sloane has gone to a whole other level with the seductive twists this story takes. This is truly masterful storytelling, and I was immediately drawn in by the visuals created on the first pages. The unexpected plot twists, the incredible characters, the emotion and eroticism…all brilliantly executed.
Marist, the quiet and virginal black sheep of one of Atlanta’s prominent families, becomes a pawn in a wicked corporate game that involves her nemesis, the arrogant and sinfully attractive Royce Hale. He’s controlled her social life for the past few years, and it looks like her future also belongs to the Hale family.
I won’t give anything away, but this is one memorable line: “They say when someone shows you who they really are, you should believe them.” Secrets and lies abound, and Marist has to find out who she can trust. Gah!! There’s a cliffhanger, but the story is way too intense and engaging to be upset about the wait for book 2!
OM Freaking GOD!!!! I can’t believe she did that!! Nikki how could you leave us just hanging like that???
This book? It was beyond what I was expecting and having been written by Nikki Sloane you know it’s gonna be something! But, this. The Initiation was… out of this world. I loved it. Every decedent, filthy sexy minute of it. Or, well most of it. Macalister Hale was a creepy, dirty old man whom I want to hurt, very, very badly. Thankfully he wasn’t the male lead here, that award fell to his oldest son Royce.
Royce and Marist were the perfect pairing in this edgy, angsty, hot story. They both come from wealthy families, but whilst Royce’s is at the top of the pecking order, Marist’s family is hiding a secret, one she ends up baring the brunt of. Machinations, lies and betrayals abound in this book and just when you think they have reached the worst and the end is nigh, so you can relax your way to a happy ending!
That happens!
I can’t tell you what, that is but I will say I was on the edge of my seat for the last 10% of the story, praying for a different outcome from what seemed to be zooming down the barrel of a ‘novel’s’ shotgun at me. I’m stunned and shocked, utterly shocked, in fact. I don’t want this ending. I can’t take it. Royce seemed so, so… genuine when he was with Marist, but he warned her. He warned us all!!! I just wanna curl up and cry it out. So, that’s what I’m going to do, and pray the next book gets here soon and maybe, just maybe puts me out of my misery.
HOLY MOLY!!!!! This book sucked me in! I couldn’t put it down. This is my first full length book I have read by Nikki and I’m blown away! I have a few others that I own and I’m going to have to move them up my tbr! Shes has a way with words and storytelling that makes me feel like I’m actually in the book.
So onto The Initiation part….OMG and what the heck is Royce doing! Even though this was predicable for me, the story was still a consuming read. This has some serious secret society and vc andrews (<---its not what you think) vibes! So watch out!!! I also love the name Marist...very unique. With that dang cliffhanger, I need to add the other 2 books in the trilogy to my tbr right now! Can you see my excitement with how many !!! I have already used LOL.
The Initiation is the first book in the Filthy Rich Americans series. I haven’t read many books by this author. But I will now be searching them out!
OMG! What an ending!!! The Initiation held me enthralled to every word! I need The Obsession now!
The Initiation is Marist and Royce’s story or is it? There are twists and turns. There is greed involved. There is a hotness factor times 10+. There is Powerplay and I loved reading this book.
This book turned me into a grump. Why is when you are so engrossed in a book and everyone wants to talk to you? Go away. I just want to read!
Who will be the winner? Marist. Royce. Macalister? I hope to find out in the next book The Obsession! 10+ stars. Now bring on the – next. book.
RATING: .5
STEAM:
Marist Northcutt has been sold to the powerful Hale Family as the eldest son Royce’s betrothed after she finds out that her seemingly wealthy family is deep in debt. Her parents are materialistic idiots who cannot manage money, and her sister sabotages her opportunity to be a Hale Stepford wife.
It is now up to Marist to save her family’s legacy and reputation, and her only currency is to marry Royce.
Before that could even happen, she and Royce must make their case with the Hale Banking and Holding board, and the board has some * demanding* list of requirements.
As an avid romance reader, I have an absolutely no kink-shaming rule. I’ve been surprised at what or what doesn’t interest me so I try to keep an open mind.
I say that, because while some people might not think this is their cup of tea, I really liked this book. It pushes the boundaries of dark romance and makes a compelling social commentary on how some rules do not apply to the super-rich.
Besides, Royce and Marist are just hot together. The tension in moments they share together is at times so consuming that you just want them to get on with it. As someone who roots for anti-heroes, I love that you see glimpses of Royce’s vulnerability and humanity as he struggles between being a Hale and being himself.
That said, is it bad that I also ship Marist with Macalister Hale, Royce’s dad? Dude has hot daddy evil villain vibes, and I am kinda digging it.
There are triggering scenes in this book, so be mindful of the TWs below. All-in-all, this was a fantastic start to the series, and I cannot wait to dive into Book 2.
TW: Coerced public sex with dubious consent, emotionally abusive parents
I had downloaded this as a freebie from Amazon not fully realizing what the story was and forgot about it. Recently this was being talk about all over in book groups, podcasts, etc., so I went to purchase it seeing I already owned it (happy surprise). Based on the discussions I heard, I knew that I was taking change on reading something I wouldn’t enjoy. I tend to DNF or not even go for stories like this, but I devoured this book. If it wasn’t for some other projects that I’m committed to, I would be reading the second book.
Is this story crazy and outlandish? Yes. Are you going to hate, like really hate a lot of the characters? Yup. However, the sexy times are fan yourself hot and there is so much I want to say, but I don’t want to ruin the story. The writing is descriptive and the story flows well and everyone isn’t as they seem. I love that the heroine is quirky and awkward, she knows it and embraces it. The comparisons the author makes with her characters to mythology were clever and as of lately, everyone seems loves a good Hades and Persephone-esque story. All I have to say is that I’m so glad and I didn’t start this until all the books were out because I couldn’t imagine waiting for months for the next one.
The Initiation was a real page turner that I could not put down! Buckle up for a bumpy ride with the Filthy Rich Americans series! Wonderful, on the edge of your seat plot line!
I saw this book description and I was like oh this sounds interesting. Understatement of the year. I started reading it during my lunch hour and didn’t put it down until I was done. Then it was done and I was distraught. I needed more. I need to know what happens next. I bought the first two books in paperback from Amazon because I am hooked and obsessed and I know once I finish all three I will want to reread them. I will purchase the 3rd as soon as its released. Amazing. Just wow wow wow.
This is the first book in the Filthy Rich Americans Series by Nikki Sloane. An enemies to lovers novel, this story is amazing and gets you desperate to read The Obsession, the next book in this series
Sweet Mother of all that’s Holy!! This book is ah-may-zing!! What a ride you are in for.
Take the second daughter of a seemingly well-connected couple. The invisible one. The bookworm. Add to that the first son of the unofficial ‘King’ of local high society. The heir apparent. The arrogant prince. The one everyone wants. Except her.
Now throw in financial woes, a promise, a dark, dark secret, enough twists and turns to make your head spin and an author who can weave all of this into a spellbinding tale and you have The Initiation.
My goodness, it had me on the edge of my seat. I read the book and I still don’t know who’s agenda will win, who’s telling the truth and who’s playing a game. The book is the start of a series and obviously ends on a cliffhanger that I did not see coming. At. All. This is going to be an EPIC series.
What a read! In the world of the rich, there are just the way things are done and no one asks questions. Marist has always been a shadow behind her older sister, Emily, who was slated to marry Royce Hale. Royce is the son of the most powerful man of the area who can have what he wants for a price. Due to a change in circumstances, Marist is now charged with marrying Royce but she is entering into an allegiance of deception and lies. As the pages turn the reader gets a glimpse into how far Marist and Royce will go to get what they want but at what cost? It does end in a cliffhanger and the reader is left chomping at the bit to see where this story will go next.
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
Have I been hiding under a rock, or what?!? This is my read by Nikki Sloane and I’ve been blown away by it. I was drawn to this book by cover, that dress is stunning, and has a significant meaning/role in the plot.
Emily and Marist are sisters, and often mistaken as twins. But that is where the similarities end. Emily is outgoing and the life of the party. Marist is an introvert and can be found hiding, reading a book at parties. Emily has been promised to Royce Hale for as long as she can remember. What happens when that plan goes south? It’s Marist to the rescue, literally.
Royce Hale has it all. Wealth, intelligence and looks. His plan is in motion, he has his sights set on a certain sister. But at what cost? His father rules everything & what he wants next is unthinkable to one of them.
I devoured every filthy inch of this book!!!!! It has left me obsessed and wanting The Obsession like right now!!!!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
An author friend of mine recommended this book to me so when I was given an opportunity to review I jumped! Not knowing what I was in for this book is a total roller coaster. There’s some things you might not see coming but oh what a doozy it is!
Marist & Royce, the main characters, are in for a wild ride. Nothing is really as it seems in this book. Once you arrive at The Initiation there’s no going back. I have to say Marist is a champ for continuing on.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens next! Jump on board with me, people. Let’s see if we can figure out these Filty Rich Americans together.
SWEET JESUS! …….. so that happened *blink*
Seriously, what just happened …………. #sendhelp
Okay, so I thought about expanding on my review (the two lines up there ^^^ LOL) like 100 times and every time I changed my mind. It’s not that there isn’t anything to say because there most certainly is , but almost anything I say about the story-line will take away from the what the ever loving fuck just happened feeling I want all of you to experience (insert evil laugh)!!
I can talk a bit about the writing itself. Nikki Sloane is filthy in the most delicious way. She is unbelievable with the sexual drive of her books. Honestly, every single book I’ve read by her has been ridiculously on point in that regard. She didn’t hold back with this story. Not even a little bit! She captured my girly parts attention from the very beginning and then my mind joined them and them WOW, the story happened … or began to happen I should say, and then it exploded. Seriously, everything just exploded.
This story has more than just twists, it has decadent layers of fuckery that you can’t even imagine. And you will love them #TRUST
WOW! YUP another WOW!
The Initiation is without a doubt one lusty read that will destroy you!
Lord the emotions, the heat and OMG the twisted web!
If this is the first book in the Filthy Rich Americans trilogy then I’m all about it!!
Just call me dazed and needing a drink!!