I love a good romantic comedy and this one made me laugh a lot. Kimbra’s family angst and her crazy idea to seize what she sees as a great opportunity make for a hilarious running monologue. Her boss practically jumps at the chance to be blackmailed because he’s been hot for her for years. The attraction is hot and mutual, but Kimbra doesn’t think this could ever be more than pretend.
The complexities of their professional relationship go way beyond the normal boss-employee issues. Kimbra dated a colleague from another department for months before catching him cheating on her, then later accidentally witnesses Duncan canoodling with the same woman in an employee bathroom. That’s great leverage to get her a fake boyfriend, but it also presents unique complications later on at work.
The whole fake boyfriend bit it nerve-wracking, but her outrageous family accepts Duncan immediately and they easily pull off the charade. This is a fast-paced story and fun to read. Kimbra is likable from the beginning although it took me a bit to warm up to Duncan. There’s something about the way he speaks that’s distracting, kind of stilted I guess, but I was able to ignore it eventually and enjoyed the story overall.
Plus One on Amazon
Plus One
by Alethea Romig
Lighter Ones book 1
Published 2017

Blackmailing my sexy boss, the one with a panty-melting smirk into being my plus-one for a wedding in my hometown while staying at my parents’ house for the long weekend—what could possibly go wrong?
Duncan Willis is sexy and confident, the kind of man every woman notices. You know, the one with the to-die-for body. And then there’s the way his designer suits drape over his broad shoulders and big…well, we’ve all heard the rumors, the ones that say he’s up for any challenge.
Men like him don’t notice women like me, and they don’t date them. Until that one time that I catch him in a compromising position when I’m also in need of a last-minute date for a wedding…and then it’s not a real one, simply a plus-one.
It’s blackmail.
***
That’s what Kimbra Jones thinks.
Letting her believe she blackmailed me may not be the most conventional way to get on her radar, but I didn’t get this far in business without knowing when to seize an opportunity. If this sexy, little firecracker with perfectly kissable lips thinks she can trick me into attending her cousin’s wedding, I’m going to jump at the chance to be her plus-one.