Here’s the problem: when Rox was hired, she told her smoking-hot boss Cash that she was married, but she’s not. Now, three years later, she’s kind of accidentally living with him, and he’s being a perfect gentleman, dang it.
Everybody in the office said that Cash was a heartbreaker, that he’d bump her and dump her, so Rox decided not to become a statistic. She went out and bought herself some … went out and bought herself some rings of the finest cubic zirconia so that she could work with Cash, who was several inches over six feet tall, emerald-eyed, ripped, gorgeous, his tailored suit clinging to his athletic body, sporting a British accent, and loaded.
It had seemed like such a good idea at the time.
But now, three years later, she and Cash have become friends. They travel together for work often, and they’re the best of buddies. When Rox gets thrown out of her apartment, Cash insists that she come live with him until they can find her a place because that’s what friends do.
Now, even though everyone insists that Cash never goes after married women, something about him has changed. There are little touches, little slips, and Rox is more and more tempted to tell hunky, gorgeous Cash that she never was married.
And then he’ll take her and break her, and then he’ll walk away, and then she’ll lose her job, and she still hasn’t found a place to live.
And yet, every time he looks at her with mischief in his dark green eyes, every time they’re teasing and it somehow turns into tickling, every time she swats at him and somehow ends up in his arms, she wants so much to risk everything.
What’s a working stiff to do when she falls in love with her friend, the boss?
more
12/10/19 Edited to add my comments on the audiobook performed by Joe Arden.
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
I read and reviewed the ebook of Working Stiff when it was first released back in 2016. That’s over 3 years, and about 800 books, ago. So, while I still remembered bits of it, I was very excited to listen to the just-released audiobook performed by Joe Arden.
This is a long audiobook, coming in at over 12 hours, and I devoured it in one day! I managed to get a bit of laundry done while I was listening to it but otherwise, I was focused totally on the wonderful sounds coming through my headphones. It’s the first audiobook I’ve listened to by Joe Arden and now I know why he’s so popular. A quick search of Audible show he has over 340 titles there!
I read over my original review and there isn’t anything I’d change. I sill continue to love the books she’s written and look forward to listening to more of them as audiobooks.
Below is a copy of my original review written back in May of 2016:
* * * * * * * * *
I’ve been in love with Blair Babylon’s books for quite a while now. Each time I read a new one her stories continue to captivate me.
Working Stiff is the latest addition to her Billionaires in Disguise (BID) world but it’s also the start of a new series she’s titled Runaway Billionaires. This book is a standalone – no cliffhanger. Yay!! You don’t need to have read any of her other BID books to enjoy this one but you really should because they are great.
Rox doesn’t want to become another notch on her boss’s infamous belt so she tells him she’s married when he hires her.
Cash doesn’t mess with married women – ever – but being around Rox is sorely testing his resolve.
Fate throws the two of them together in more than just a day-to-day business way and the sparks fly (in more ways than one).
Blair has penned a captivating story filled with romance, mystery, intrigue and no small amount of humor. You will be more than satisfied with the conclusion of this story (there truly is no cliffhanger) but I think you will also be curious to read the upcoming stories for Cash’s friends Arthur and Maxence.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
P.S.
Don’t let anyone tell you romance novels are a bunch of crap written at grade school reading levels. Here are a few of the words I had to look up as I read this book:
teester
aesthete
musth
**UPDATED TO ALSO INCLUDE MY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW**
An Exciting, Enjoyable, Sexy & Explosive Story! A 4.5 Star Listen
11 December 2019
Working Stiff
Runaway Billionaires, Book 1
By: Blair Babylon
Narrated by: Joe Arden
Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
Audiobook by Audible
This is one of my most favourite books to read! The chance to listen it come to life in another’s voice, other than the ones in my head, was too exciting to pass up!
Cash & Rox have a fabulous working relationship, he’s a hotshot L.A Lawyer & she’s his Paralegal. In fact, due to his dating practices & her very ‘fake marriage’ she was the only Paralegal he’d work with & she was safe from his lady killer ways precisely because of her fake wedding rings – he NEVER touched married women! So although Rox lusted after him privately it could never amount to anything even if his gaze ever happened to swing her way! They were the perfect Work Husband & Wife but that was all ….. Right??
One immediate eviction notice, one kindly offer from a dear friend and one car accident later things had become a LOT more complicated!!Boy, does Cash/ Casimir/ Caz have some secrets! His two bestfriends, Arthur & Maxence, really set the ‘cat amongst the pigeons’ for this couple too. I loved those two guys!
Nefarious & deadly plots are in play, can our pair survive & become more?
I thought, overall, the Narrator did a really good job. His ‘Rox’ & ‘Maxence’ voices were particularly good He mispronounced a number of words which dragged me out of the story, much like a bad spelling mistake or big grammatical error might in a written book! However, they are fairly obscure-ish words & I’m English so we may just pronounce them differently?!
One thing I noticed in the Audiobook, that I hadn’t really noticed whilst I was reading it, was how many times Rox put herself down regarding her weight. I knew it was an issue about herself that she was dealing with. It certainly didn’t impact her professional standing in any way, but I suppose having the same problem myself, but it made me wince internally every time she called herself ‘Chubby’!! I hasten to add, No one else ever mentioned it, it was definitely her own internal problem! This is just a personal observation!
I really enjoyed hearing this book! I haven’t re-read it in a while so it was perfect timing for me for this release! For anyone who hasn’t read any books by this Author before, this is probably one of the best ones to start with. It’s not quite as interlinked as the ‘Billionaires in Disguise’ & ‘Rockstars in Disguise’ books. It still does have interlinked characters though, for sure!!
I highly recommend this Audiobook.
Debbie, 1970, UK
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *
This Book Is Outstanding!!
17 May 2016
Ebook Version:
I’ve read all of Blair’s books & I have to say Working Stiff is now one of my top two favourites, Tryp is the other one!! It’s an outstanding read.
It’s funny, heart warming & heart bruising, action packed & so very touching and one of my favourite things is that it’s a full length novel & not split into multiple parts!!
Both Cash & Roxy are both very likeable & lovable characters who have flaws but are amazing friends & colleagues. She is hilarious when she’s annoyed, I loved her rants. Their friends are brilliant additions to this story & I look forward to reading more about them in future books!!
I honestly loved this book. I enjoyed every page, no part of it felt overwritten or put in as filler, it’s full of great writing, an exciting & extremely enjoyable story. It has depths, secrets & a darkness that surprises! I highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed!!
Debbie, 1970, UK
Working Stiff is such a wonderfully intriguing and beautifully touching story of two people who long to be loved and seen for who they truly are. The tremendous emotion that flows through these pages is delightfully offset by the warm humor that finds its way into the most intense situations at times. While I have loved each of Blair Babylon’s books, this one had a very different yet vibrant feel to it. It was rich, decadent, and yet still very much down to earth and true to the author’s heart. I honestly couldn’t get enough of the amazing characters found throughout this journey. They all played a necessary role that transformed this story into so much more and literally made it come alive.
Rox has her life mostly planned out. She has worked hard and attained her dream job. She enjoys her co-workers and even enjoys working with her boss Cash. No matter how much she longs for more with her boss Cash, she knows she is much better off with the strong and beautiful friendship they share. Cash has secretly longed for so much more then friendship from the breathtaking Rox. She has turned his world upside down and yet he isn’t able to show her what she means to him because she has placed solid boundaries between them. He chooses to cherish her friendship if that is all he is allowed to have. When unforeseen danger comes looking for them, they must decide if hiding their heart from the other is really the best thing for both of them. Can they walk away from something that could be better than their wildest dreams for fear of having their heart torn apart, or will the danger that hunts them take that opportunity out of their hands?
Rox and Cash were completely amazing! They are unlike any other characters that I had read from this author, and I completely enjoyed getting to know them. Watching the stumble around each other while their heart slowly withered in their iron grasp nearly tore my own heart apart. Lies and lies by omission never did anyone any good. I think if we are to even attempt to be happy, we need to lay our hearts on the line and take a chance since it could be the best decision that you ever made. If not, then you live and learn, but to not even take that chance is almost criminal to both parties.
Blair Babylon never fails to surprise and entertain. The infusion of her heart into each of her books is what transforms them into a living and breathing masterpiece. They will hold you captive while they make you evaluate the more important things in your life. Above all else, they will make you fee. You can’t walk away and not be effected by some part of her incredible story. It will haunt your waking thoughts and seep into your heart until you surrender to it. This is one author that has stolen my heart, and I never want it back.
If I own a hard copy of a book, I very seldom purchase the audio. My theory is, why own two of the same book? However, this is one of my favorite authors, so decided to take a chance and I now own both. There is a difference in reading and listening. When you read, sometimes you miss parts of the story, when you listen to a book, it is up close and personal. Blair Babylon writes hot, steamy books, with the addition of a storyline that grabs the reader and yanks them into the story. This is one hot, steamy, involved listen. Add this to your down load list.
Very enjoyable and a good story with steam. I am caught up in these stories and look forward to the next. Some new titles were posted at the end of this book so must be future stories.
I’ve enjoyed every single one of Ms. Babylon’s books. This was no exception. In fact, this book solidified my reasons even more. This book had it all, mystery, intrigue and of course fantastic chemistry between Cash and Rox. Oh…there was action that had my heart racing and me clutching my Kindle hoping that everything would turn out alright. If you are already a fan, then this book is definitely on your list. If you’re new, then you will love discovering The Billionaire Series. I know everyone will enjoy it as much as I did!!
***It is a book review, it may contain spoilers.***
At the beginning of the book, I was not so sure about it. I recalled Casimir being mentioned once in a previous book but it was fleeting so I had no emotional attachment to him… yet.
Con:I am kind of confused to the timeline line of Cash. He is a lawyer and he mentioned that Killer Valentine are only just making an entrance on the scene and that Flicka is not yet married.
Pro: Everything else!
Once I got to reading, he really grows on you. He has a great story and everything he does (or doesn’t do) just made me want to learn more about him. Blair has a way of writing that makes her characters seem like they could be real people instead of insanely rich, gorgeous, fictional characters.
I suppose I should mention Rox also since she kind of plays an important part. She is smart when it comes to being friends with her boss instead (before?) hooking up with him. She learns everything about him that he would otherwise try to hide if in a relationship. Knowing his personality and quirks and realizing she still likes him is a big deal.
Rox pretended she was married and always hid from her boss emotionally since she knew he was a player and in the end he was only a player because the one person he wanted was married. Except not really.
After fiascos with legal documents getting screwed up, too much alcohol, and Hollywood style drama (no pun intended), everyone in the end gets what and who they want.
Wow!
A Review of Working Stiff: Casimir (Runaway Billionaire) by Blair Babylon
A hot new billionaire with royal bloodlines – 5++++ stars
Blair has done it again. She has delivered a new set of characters to us that we will fall in love with. Casimir, nicknamed Cash, is an entertainment lawyer and Rox is his paralegal. When she was first hired, she heard all the talk about what a heartbreaker he was and that he liked to hump and dump, which is what she calls ghosting. With her past history, she wants nothing whatsoever to do with someone ghosting on her, so she buys herself some rings and tells everyone that she is married.
Since Cash never goes after married women, she ends up being the only paralegal that can safely work with him and the law-firm does everything to keep her happy and working with him. During the last three years, they have become very tight friends and travel together constantly. Rox’s career is going great and she just bought herself a sweet little sports car with the money she had been saving for a house down payment.
When Rox finds a lock-out box and an eviction notice on her front door, she uses redneck ingenuity to keep the door open and packs up her clothes and cats before leaving her home. When Cash finds her three rescue cats in her office and learns that she had spent the night in her car after being evicted, he insists that she come and stay with him until she can find a new place to live. She tells him that her husband is out of the country for a month (since he’s a stuntman).
There are lots of twists, turns, intrigue, mystery and murder attempts to keep you on the edge of your seat. We also get a short trip to The Devilhouse. How does one curvy woman deal with all the secrets that have been kept by her friend and will she be able to overcome her own hang-ups? You definitely want to grab this one if you enjoy any of Blair’s other books. ABSOfeakingLUTELY awesome!
**Complimentary Copy provided by Author for an honest review.**