CAMERA READY

In this novel, a woman attempts to maintain a relationship and her career when her new boss turns out to be a former lover.

Jane Mercer has it all. Having worked her way up from receptionist, Jane is vice president at Warren Mitchell advertising agency, a company on the verge of an IPO, which could prove very lucrative for her. On the personal side, she has found the love of her life, Derek Lowell, a professional violinist. Derek’s main flaw seems to be his inability to handle Jane’s previous affair with rich, handsome, and married Craig Keller, owner of Keller Whitman Group, a competitor in the ad industry. Though the affair happened long before the couple got together, the thought of Jane sleeping with a married man is problematic for Derek. A chance meeting with Craig and the very public spectacle of the entrepreneur’s impending divorce have Derek on edge. Meanwhile, Jane starts questioning if she still has feelings for Craig, despite the humiliation of knowing she was just one of hundreds he seduced. As Craig begins to toy with Jane, alluding to the potential of a relationship redo, the very real issue of his company absorbing hers plays out, making him her new boss. Jane finds herself in the precarious position of trying to keep her job and resist his seductive charms. Royce has crafted a relatable story of a past relationship coming back to haunt and possibly threaten the new one, a conundrum many readers will no doubt have found themselves in a time or two. Though Jane does lie to preserve her relationship, one might excuse her decision, given her past is being unfairly held against her. Still, it’s not the main character’s deceit that raises flags, but the author’s characterization of Craig as a gorgeous, “dastardly” womanizer when he’s actually a narcissistic predator, preying on Jane’s inability to resist his toxic charms. Character depiction aside, Royce does a great job of developing the plot, culminating in a satisfying conclusion

An entertaining romance; the voice and writing will definitely keep the pages turning.