REVIEW: The Billionaire takes a Bride by Jessica Clare

In The Billionaire takes a Bride (Billionaires and Bridesmaids #3) by Jessica Clare, Sebastian Cabral has better things to do with his time than acquiesce his mother’s obsession, for him to star more in the family’s reality TV show. Especially now that his ex-girlfriend, Lisa, is back in town looking to rekindle their relationship, and will use any means necessary to achieve her goal, including airing her pursuit of him on television. Since it’ll be the only way he’ll grant Lisa the opportunity to talk to him, because he’s forced to, due to a specific clause in his contract for the show.

Becoming an integral member of a roller derby team saved Chelsea Hall after a harrowing experience in her past. And helps her be the carefree, resilient woman she portrays by day, yet at night she’s the complete opposite. There’s a vulnerability to her, so much so that she has a serious fear of the dark, and a strong desire not to be alone. Meeting Sebastian at a party is just what she needs, because soon after their introduction, he becomes her safe harbor. Someone to help combat her panic any time it arises.

At first, I didn’t know what to think of this story, as Sebastian’s mother sounds a bit eccentric, but it turned out to be an incredible read, which I could not put down for even a second. The plot was fast-paced, emotional, highly compelling, and encompasses the marriage of convenience trope. Which proves to be a win-win solution to their problems, of Lisa and her loneliness.

She slid her hand around his waist and looped her fingers into one of his belt loops. “That sounds incredible. Thank you, Sebastian.”
“Hey, I benefit, too. The last thing I want is Sexy Cookie Monster showing up after three champagnes and wanting me to show her my Big Bird.”

I absolutely loved the teasing dialogue between Sebastian and Chelsea. He makes her feel so comfortable in his presence, which is exactly what she needs in the moment they meet. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been capable, of being around so many strangers without falling to pieces. However, the dialogue also gets very intense and emotional when Chelsea reveals what happened to her in the past that makes her so scared of the dark, and why she doesn’t like being alone. In that moment, I cried. There was no way I couldn’t, because what happened to her was heartbreaking. A double whammy that no woman deserves. Yet, telling Sebastian about it helped them both a lot. It aided the hero in understanding why she is the way she is, and made Chelsea see that she could trust him more as he didn’t judge her like her family did.

“Oh, I’m romantic enough, but only with the right incentive.” He wiggled his eyebrows and then leaned back in his chair, gaze thoughtful. “We could tell her you have a magic vagina.”
“A what?”
“Yep. Magic Vagina. Or one like a Venus Flytrap. My dick went inside and never came back out.”

Both main characters are riveting, and considering what happened to her in the past, Chelsea is so strong. Her love for roller derby is vivacious, and in the moments she’s playing, there’s no doubting how much the game saved her. Being together is good for both of them, as Sebastian has his own secret that he shares with her. And revealing that secret, which happens to be a hobby for him, really helps build more trust between them. Trust that helps the pair get one step closer to changing their relationship from platonic to physical. While Sebastian, he loves his family, but his mother is a real oddball, and I could understand his frustration towards her. He’s also benevolent and protective right from the moment he meets Chelsea, and becomes even more so the moment he comes to her rescue. As it makes him realize something really traumatic must have happened to her in the past, or could still be happening.

“That was good though,” he said. “Did you enjoy it?”
She bit her lip, thinking. “It was…all right?”
He rubbed a hand down his face. “Damn. I was going to say I needed a cold shower but I think all that praise effectively killed my erection.”

Sizzling sex scenes heat up the pages, and I loved how patient Sebastian was with Chelsea, since she believes she’s damaged goods. Uncertain whether she’ll ever be capable, of allowing their relationship to progress past a few steamy kisses and some fondling. Yet, they do get there in the end with a little role play.

This was a brilliant stand-alone addition to the Billionaires and Bridesmaids series by Ms. Clare, where the reason that tears the couple apart was also emotional. Yet, needed to happen, so justice could be served, for what happened to the heroine in the past.

In the end, this was an incredible story where the epilogue wrapped the story up nicely, and the skating puns made me laugh. I would recommend this to all romance readers, especially if you enjoy an emotional read where the hero will do anything to achieve happy ever after. Such as have a rather intense conversation with his mother about how actions come with consequences.

Book Info:

Publication: October 20th, 2015 | Intermix | Billionaires and Bridesmaids #3

A lie turns to love in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Taming of the Billionaire.

Billionaire Sebastian Cabral loves his family, he just doesn’t love their reality TV show, The Cabral Empire. So when his ex-girlfriend tries to rekindle their relationship on camera, Sebastian decides that drastic measures are in order.

By day, Chelsea Hall is a happy-go-lucky, rough and tumble roller derby skater. By night, she’s still living in fear of her past. Most of all, she just doesn’t want to be alone. And she really, really doesn’t want to date.

So when their mutual friends’ upcoming wedding turns Chelsea and Sebastian into fast friends, they realize they can solve both of their problems with one life-changing lie: a quick trip down the aisle.

But with one kiss, Chelsea and Sebastian suddenly realize that their pretend relationship is more real than either of them expected…