Book Reviews

Charming Him (Met His Match 2) by Louisa Masters

Genre Gay / Contemporary / Romance
Reviewed by Serena Yates on 14-December-2019

Book Blurb

Hardworking Australian nurse Ben Adams inherits a substantial sum and decides to tour Europe. In Monaco, the home of glamour and the idle rich, he meets French billionaire playboy Léo Artois.

After getting off on the wrong foot—as happens when one accuses a stranger of being part of the Albanian mafia—their attraction blazes.

Léo, born to the top tier of society, has never known limits, and Ben, used to budgeting every cent, finds it difficult to adjust to not only Léo's world, but also the changes wealth brings to his own life.

As they make allowances for each other's foibles, Ben gradually appreciates the finer things, and Léo widens his perspective.

They both know one thing: this is not a typical holiday romance and they're not ready to say goodbye.



First edition published under the title 'The Bunny and the Billionaire' by Dreamspinner Press, October 2017.


Book Review

‘Charming Him’ is built around the billionaire trope so often found in all kinds of romances – but with a twist. In this case, the second main character is not a pauper, but someone who has inherited millions and is trying to get used to them. It makes money and how to deal with it without letting it ruin your life the central topic of this novel – aside from the super sweet romance, that is.

Ben is a hardworking nurse from Australia, and that is all I knew about him for quite a while. But as the story develops while he tours Europe, it turns out he has a few secrets. Secrets that make him an interesting conundrum, almost a split personality, and I wanted to find out what made him behave the way he did. It’s clear from the beginning that he has inherited some money and that it’s enough for him to travel. But the way he behaves, still frugal and not spending anything “just for fun”, I thought it must have been a relatively small sum. You know, enough to let him treat himself to a few extras, take a bit of a break, but not a life-changing event. As it turns out, Ben is one of the very few people who do not let an excessive amount of money tempt them into irresponsible spending patterns. His frugality is so ingrained that he cannot let go of years of behavior – which leads to some very interesting situations.

Léo has been born into the pinnacle of society: with a Saudi princess as a mother and a French father, he grew up wanting for nothing. He has never known limits other than the slight unpleasantness when he informed his parents he was not interested in their plans for him to get married. So running into Ben, who defines and refuses to exceed his own limits, is an eye-opening experience for Léo. He falls for Ben with immediate and irrevocable effect, and is endearingly determined to show him how the other side lives.

Both men have a lot to learn from each other, and while there are no huge issues, their story still makes for a very entertaining read, including the slow reveal of exactly how much money Ben has inherited, why he was lucky enough to do so, and how difficult he finds it to adjust to his new perspective on life. Léo is, for the first time in his life, confronted with a man who is not impressed by the wealth he constantly – if inadvertently – displays, and it baffles and fascinates him in equal measure. I had a great time watching these guys deal with their attraction, take advice – or not, in some cases - from various friends and family members, and figure out whether and how they might have a relationship beyond the – very extravagant – holiday fling that is their starting point.

If you like billionaires and their lifestyle, if you think two men from the opposite ends of the poor/rich spectrum can learn how to deal with each other’s preconceived notions, and if you’re looking for a read that is not realistic in the least, but instead sweet, entertaining, funny, and totally fabulous, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I think it’s wonderful and it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format ebook and print
Length Novel, 204 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date 11-December-2019
Price $0.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link https://www.amazon.com/Charming-Him-Met-Match-Novel-ebook/dp/B081C7R8D2