REVIEW: The CEO Buys In by Nancy Herkness

The CEO Buys In (Wager of Hearts #1) by Nancy Herkness: Three billionaires, a football player, a novelist, and CEO Nathan Trainor, meet one night and make a wager to see who can find a woman they love, and who loves them rather than their money, first. Lucky for Nathan, the day after making this bet, in comes Chloe working in a temp position as Nathan’s assistant.

Just a day into the job, Nathan comes down with the flu and, in his feverish hallucinations, he forces Chloe to stay by his side for the next few days, despite her worries for her grandmother.

“The office door opened and the nurse put her head out, glancing around until she saw Chloe. ‘Mr. Trainor is asking for you,’ she said.
‘Me?’ Chloe’s fingers stilled on the keyboard.
‘He says you make him feel better,’ the nurse said.”

In their time alone, Chloe and Nathan fall into a deep attraction. However, with Chloe as his employee and being in a different economic sphere, and Nathan fearing her desire is focused on what he can buy rather than himself, they face a difficult time getting to know each other beyond the bedroom.

The CEO Buys In is a clichéd Cinderella story, only our Cinderella is upfront that she wants the paycheck he can give her. It’s a good change from the usual Cinderella heroine who refuses everything the Prince Charming offers, however this change works only to decrease the tension of “will they or won’t they.” Now, we all know they’re going to get together one way or another, but I like to be kept guessing how it will work out. Herkness didn’t keep me guessing.

And, in the bedroom, while they have a lot of chemistry, it becomes the biggest aspect of their relationship. Instead of developing what could have been a good conflict, the focus of their relationship is how hot for each other they are. I would recommend The CEO Buys In for readers more interested in the bedroom than the believable development of a relationship.

Book Info:

Published: July 21st, 2015 | Montlake Romance | Wager of Hearts #1

Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can’t find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Savvy office temp Chloe Russell is trying to scrape together the money she needs to support her grandmother. So when a flu epidemic strikes Trainor Electronics and she’s promoted to Nathan Trainor’s assistant, she jumps at the lucrative opportunity. But then Nathan himself falls ill, and he and Chloe must work from his penthouse while he recuperates. Before long, it’s clear there’s genuine heat between them, and it’s more than just a fever spike. Will Nathan win Chloe’s heart—and the bet? Or will their differences destroy any chance for love?