AN OFF-LIMITS MERGER

 

This deal requires one thing: not giving in to the irresistible woman across the negotiating table—only from USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone.

 

An Off-Limits Merger is the second book in author Naima Simone’s girl’s trip duet with the soon-to-be-defunct Harlequin Desire. It is a forbidden romance mingled with a secret relationship book, with the tiniest smidge of age gap, though the last one is less of a factor than the rest. However, it has lots of delicious butter sprinkled throughout, like motorcycle rides, late-night confessions, will-they-won’t-they-chemistry, and so much more.

 

BOOK REVIEW

Betrayal. Lies. Secrets. Grief. These are the things Tatum Haas is dealing with at the start of An Off-Limits Merger by Naima Simone. Yet, she also isn’t dealing with them, unable to reconcile what she feels with what she needs, or even what she knows. Then she meets sexy motorcycle executive Bran Holleran, who not only challenges her to say her truth but to live her own story. Which is vastly different than what her own family has done.

Bran is such a great romance hero. Older than our heroine, sure, but that never became a huge issue within the story. Because from the start, Bran and Tatum had great chemistry together. They challenged each other in ways that pushed the boundaries of their own comfort and safety levels, making them realize just how much they hadn’t been living for themselves. Bran was much better at doing that than Tatum, having had more time and space and safety factors in place, but at the same time, he was no less in need of the wakeup call their meeting caused.

This story was filled with some hard truths and great life lessons for its lead characters, and a ton of beautiful moments that will sweep readers up into their story right from the start. Bran and Tatum are rich, vibrant story people dealing with some big emotional minefields, but they do so in a way that is as honest as it is painful, leading them to both bond and grow as a couple and as their own people.

Personally, I loved how protective Bran was of Tatum, even as he challenged her to be honest and to confront her pain and the people who continued to cause it. He didn’t let her shy away from what she was feeling, but he also didn’t push her before she was ready. He let her set the pace and in doing so, he gave her a safe place to land when she needed it. And he taught her how to do the same thing for him, which speaks to his character and just how right he was for Tatum.

If you’re looking for a well-written and emotionally satisfying romance read, I highly recommend checking out An Off-Limits Merger by Naima Simone. It’s the second book in the author’s girl’s trip duet, taking place after Her Best Kept Secret (March 2023, Harlequin Desire), but each book in the duet can be read and enjoyed as a standalone romance.

 

RATING: 

 

 

 

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BOOK INFORMATION

 

An Off-Limits Merger by Naima Simone
Series: Girls Trip #2
Published by Harlequin, Harlequin Desire on October 24, 2023
Genres: Category Romance
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
Source: Harlequin Reader Service
Buy: Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Goodreads
RATING:

To seal the deal, it’s hands off the CEO’s daughter…

Motorcycle exec Bran Holleran is a heartbeat away from turning his company into a household name—if he can keep his hands off the daughter of his most important investor. An ill-fated affair could destroy everything, but how can he resist?

After a betrayal on the eve of her wedding, Boston socialite Tatum Haas is through trusting men. Love is for fairy tales, and Tatum wants her career, nothing more. But her family’s new business partner is shattering her resolve just as explosive revelations put everything on the line…

 

BOOK RATING