[Emily’s Review]: Work: Strictly Professional by Jesse H. Reign

“Not to worry, I’ll compensate you for your time and your… skill.”My boss is a walking red flag. He’s bolshy and rude. Impossible to please. A big, broody man with dark eyes that carry an unmistakable message – I am not manageable. Seriously, he’s the worst. If it’s not bad enough that he’s a nightmare in the office, he’s all but ordering me to be his date to his son’s wedding. He says it’s called ‘winning a divorce.’ I try telling him that’s not a real thing, but it falls on deaf ears. Not only that, he appears to be in the throes of a major personal awakening and is determined that I’m the man to guide him through it. I’m all for going above and beyond at work, but the man’s demands are becoming downright indecent. See what I mean? Red flags galore. So many red flags I can’t count them all. I might as well be playing a game of red flag bingo at this point. Just my luck, when it comes to Derek MacAvoy, I see a red flag…and instantly want to date it.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I do like Jesse H Reign so much.

Her characters are always so fun and there is always just enough humor to cut through all the angsty serious parts. Her books are always satisfying and the epilogues are always super cute (even if they include babies- barf).

I think my biggest issue is that sometimes her characters break the fourth wall.
I don’t know if this is an active choice for her writing style but it drives me crazy.
It’s not even Jesse’s fault. Really, it doesn’t matter what book it is or who wrote it, I literally can not stand when a character starts talking to the reader. I would rather set myself on fire than be spoken to by one of the characters in a novel.

ANYWAY
This was a sexy, funny sweet book.
A low angst read that is perfect for if you just want something cute and easy.
All the characters, main, side and otherwise were intensely likable and just good. Well written little guys, with good banter and super hot chemistry.

Grumpy Derek hires Sunshiney Wyn (whose name is literally unpronouncable apparently). Derek is the boss though- he’s been closeted for like……his whole life. He can’t be attracted to his new PA. BUT HE IS. His gay panic is non existent. He literally is like yep. This is the guy I’m going to come out for. Derek lives his truth and dives LITERALLY head first into the gayness living inside of his grouchy little heart.
WYN was a sweet baby angel with a little bite to him. I thought his character was absolutely hilarious and his snark was always perfectly timed. I thought he was a wonderful juxtaposition against Derek’s super intense macho man schtick. Wyn was confident and insecure and good at his job and also a little reckless. He was just a super super fun character to read.
The plot is a grumpy sunshine/fake dating/ gay awakening/ one bed on a tropical island situation and I was absolutely LIVING FOR IT.

I am a huge sucker for a fake dating book. Even though everyone and their mother knows how fake dating books end. I DON’T CARE! Fake Dating trope never, ever, fails to satisfy my romance novel craving. Like, book slump? NAH FAM gimme a fake dating trope and this bish is back in action.

I would have given five stars to this read easily… if the characters just would have stopped breaking the fourth wall.

Emily

Emily is a coffee loving, cat snuggling, hairstylist and book-a-holic.
Having always been a voracious reader and devouring books at a breakneck speed, joining the bookish and blogging community seemed like a natural next step. She loves giving recommendations to friends and family and then very gently (and not forcefully at all) asking for their opinions after they complete each chapter.
Her reviews tend to be goofy, a little sweary, on the more impassioned side and maybe sometimes a little self deprecating.
Emily typically enjoys reading almost every genre, including (but not limited to) monster romance, literary fiction, rom-com, contemporary, LGBTQ+, low/urban fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, sci-fi, gothic romance or basically any book that will make her cry.