REVIEW: Billionaire’s Bride Bargain by Millie Adams

In Billionaire’s Bride Bargain by Millie Adams (pen name for Maisey Yates), Auggie Fremont is glad that her time as hired assistant to Matias Balcazar is almost over. She sees past the golden retriever playboy persona that the billionaire puts on, sure that she can see only icy ruthlessness underneath the surface. But when she tries to warn him that his current fling may be involved in some corporate espionage, he dismisses her, an act he ends up regretting when news breaks the next day that he is stealing clients from his hated father. The two decide to enter into a marriage of convenience in a desperate attempt to throw off the media and have them focus instead on the surprise engagement.

I have to admit that I was extremely disappointed to be told I had a hero who had a “devil-may-care” attitude in the cover copy but then did not get one at all in the actual book. Matias was honestly a very flat, standard alpha. I never felt like I got below the surface with him, even with his struggle to let go of his guilt and grief of his sister’s death. Without this depth, a lot of his actions ended up feeling selfish and a little bit mean. This selfishness was never overcome which ultimately left me feeling as if the couple would not be a forever success.

Unfortunately Auggie wasn’t much better. She had a backstory and trauma to work through, but not a lot of actual character traits, and no fatal flaw that I could identify. I did love that she was a normal person from Oregon who started a successful business with her friends rather than a down on her luck girl in a big city but this wasn’t quite enough to keep me invested in her journey.

I also could not identify what was keeping the two apart. There were some minor things that got introduced as the book went along but not a main driver that consistently threw up hurdles. I also struggled to feel the chemistry between the two characters and wish more time had been spent helping this romance really bloom.

I will say, however, that I am really excited for the other books hinted at for this series. Auggie and her “work wives” were my favorite part of this book and I really enjoyed the sisterhood aspect that was established with the four of them. We were given a preview of what their books would involve and those look like they’ll be a lot of fun.

I also want to give a shout out to the grand gesture in this book. Some Presents have had meh grand gestures recently and I was really happy to see one that lived up to its name.

If you love a marriage of convenience, sisterhood, or are a fan of Maisey Yates, then Billionaire’s Bargain may be just the book for you!

Book Info:

Publication: January 21, 2025 | Harlequin Presents | Work Wives to Billionaires’ Wives #1

Billionaire’s Bride Bargain is a fake relationship, engagement of convenience, billionaire boss romance by Millie Adams (pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates).

“I have to get married.
And I think I should marry you.”

Set the London tabloids ablaze with an engagement announcement! This is publicist Auggie Fremont’s pitch to save her boss, Matias Balcazar, from a media frenzy. She never imagined he’d insist she become his convenient bride-to-be.

If she wears his ostentatious diamond, Matias promises to secure the future of Auggie’s company. Yet, while their relationship is for show, every staged touch from the sinfully attractive billionaire leaves Auggie breathless. And as she unravels the layers of his devil-may-care facade, their faked passion begins to feel achingly and irresistibly real…