REVIEW: Fling with the Reclusive Billionaire by Susan Meier

In Fling with the Reclusive Billionaire by Susan Meier, Lola Evans was hired to be the ghost writer for tech billionaire Grant Laningham. The idea was to
write and publish a book from Grant’s point of view in five weeks, to beat an unflattering one being written about him by a former employee. After being fired from the company he started and being injured in a hit-and-run accident, Grant had retreated to an island he owned and isolated himself, and it’s up to Lola to put a positive spin on the recluse and his life.

Lola, having bought a struggling ranch, needs the book to be a success to help pay for it. What she doesn’t count on is the fact that Grant is the opposite of the person portrayed in all the articles about him. And when a surprise son, Max, shows up on the island, she can’t help but fall for him as he accepts Max without question and tries to help the child navigate his new world after the death of his mother. But when it’s time for Lola to leave the island, will she be able to pull herself away from the two people who have come to mean the most to her?

The book, at times, comes across as a bit unrealistic. For example, when Max is dropped off on the island, Grant had no idea he existed, yet he immediately accepts him as his, without getting a DNA test. Considering Max had other family who could have potentially come after him for his money, I would have expected him to try to cover himself in that regard. It does eventually happen, but by that point, Grant was already acting like a father towards Max. At times it also felt like a lot of information was being thrown out at once, which makes the book feel rushed in some areas.

While I liked both Lola and Grant, I enjoyed the complexity of Grant’s character more. Grant was like an onion, with many layers to pull back to get to the bottom of who he actually was and the motivations behind his actions that led him to being kicked out of his company. He struggles with doing what’s best for Max while working on the book and attempting to start up a new company. Lola, on the other hand, is not as complex of a character. Her character stays the same through most of the book, with very little character growth.

Fling with the Reclusive Billionaire is a sweet story about overcoming the past, healing, redemption, and family. If you’re looking for a book with very little angst and enjoy billionaire or surprise fatherhood tropes, then this would be a book for you.

Book Info:

Publication: December 26th | Harlequin Romance |

Arriving on reclusive billionaire Grant Laningham’s private island, Lola’s hired to write the memoir of the allegedly grumpy workaholic. Yet Grant is nothing like she expects. The “genius with a hot temper” is charming—and good-looking! Their attraction is undeniable, but a fling with her boss is dangerous to her already-shattered heart. Especially as Grant’s recently discovered he has a son! Losing her family devastated Lola—dare she take a chance on another?