Told from a dual POV. Reese is recently unemployed with a not so great track record in the dating department and a terrifying happening in her past. Chase is a self assured gorgeous business owner with a tragedy in his past. A chance meeting while on dates with other people has hilarious results and an instant attraction. Running into each other later while she's with a guy she's seeing has some unexpected results leading to a job at Chase's company unbeknownst to him. Reese's firm belief not to date anyone at work and Chase's directness to date has them in turmoil. A proposal not to sleep with each other but get to know each other has them both pushing each other to their limits. A relationship ensues but a dilemma from Chase's past drives a wedge between them and the question becomes is the relationship worth it or not. ( )

I laughed so much at "ugly kitty". I know somebody who has 2 of those expensive cats....just made me laugh the way they both talked about how ugly the cat was. ( )

On the whole I enjoyed this. It hit the spot for a hot contemporary. I liked both the hero and the heroine. There was a situation that kept them apart for just a little too long at the end but just when I was frustrated, the hero turned super sweet. Will definitely be up for the next in the series. ( )

While I read this 3 years ago-ish, there were actually things I remembered about an apparently extremely tired formula from my early contemporary days.

I mean seriously what was w/ late 30s Sam and liking the workplace romance (I *still* like some of them, they just gotta be right). And you know what, funny enough, it wasn't the wrkplace part of it that had me knowing I'd downgrade it. There's a couple of lines I'd throwaway, yes, but mostly there's absolutely no art to the way this story is told. There's just a straightforward, tell-tell-tell style.

I felt the workplace romance aspect of this was handled...fine? Fine. Seriously! Fine?! Chase is the boss, if it's not obvious, the memorable part of this book is absolutely the first meet cute/interaction, the slightly making-it-happen run-ins that are a little crazy but work, and then when Reese goes to apply at his company, he's not the one hiring her, nor has he recommended her. The only problematic aspect of this is that he knows he's hot for her and starts to hit on her immediately. I will say never in the relationship was it implied or was I worried that she was not in control of the interactions, and because the footing feels level somehow, it just ends up feeling more like a coworker romance than a romance with the boss. So, yay, I guess.

But the thing is, this is Vi Keeland, and so the characters have traumatic pasts. I didn't find this rewarding or interesting, and I wasn't really invested in them at all. Is it the new jaded romance reader in me? I doubt it, I really do. It was introduced for the conflict, and it wasn't compelling.

But still, I'm trending at a 3.

Until the end, which has Chase essentially rejecting but absolutely stalking Reese
At which point, it was a 2. The epilogue may have lifted it a bit, honestly, even though I'm not one for scenes like that but...

You may say "Sam, what are you doing to yourself? Why reread these?" Because how will i KNOW? That's why. Because I do indeed remember them fondly and wouldn't it be great when I find my favorites are my favorites? Look, I'm not crazy so I just sorted by author and look there I have a certain favorite with so many it's probably time to dive into one of hers, but really...this one was pretty close to "hey, I liked it," and on the other side, I know MANY of them I don't need to reevaluate and will just be a treat to reread.

So, 2016: 5*
2019: 2*
This is the 3rd book in my reread project. ( )

Great read

Really enjoyed Bossman, it was a captivating read from the beginning, loved the fact it was a slow building burn, Chase was delicious and Reece was such a strong character, was heartbroken when things seemed to go south between the two, so sad for Chase with the secrets revealed, but also so ready to give him a big kick up the behind for hurting his buttercup Reese, was silently cheering when he redeemed himself ,this was such a great read. ( )