Coldhearted Boss is a standalone romance novel by R.S. Grey. This review will be spoiler-free.

I’m desperate and destitute when Lockwood Construction rolls into my small town with an offer too good to pass up: high wages to any able-bodied man willing to join their crew.

Say no more. I throw on baggy clothes, tuck my long hair under a baseball hat, and apply for a job. Unfortunately, my half-baked idea of disguising myself as a guy is flawed from the beginning. As Shakira says, these hips don’t lie. Still, I like to think I might have pulled the whole thing off save for one thing:

I know my boss.

Last month, we met at a bar, and after a fiery first encounter, it seems we’re destined to be sworn enemies. Ethan Stone is ruthless and arrogant, a man I never would have crossed had I known how much he likes to toy with his prey. He should just fire me and be done with it. Instead, he decides to make me his personal slave. Oh right, I think they’re calling it personal “assistant” these days. It’s torture, all of it-his bad attitude, his ruggedly chiseled face, his desire to grind me into dust.

Every one of our friction-filled battles burns hotter than the last. A girl can only hold out for so long. Soon, I’m bound to go up in flames. My objective? Survive the heat long enough to send home a paycheck. My real objective? Stop having X-rated fantasies about my coldhearted boss.

Adorable. Funny. Sweet. The perfect summer read.

The concept of this book was great. I love the idea of that one moment coming back to bite you in the behind. Sometimes people get desperate and make a mistake, but they can’t hide from the consequences forever.

Taylor and Ethan were an adorable couple. Taylor is a strong, determined, hard-working woman, who will do anything to take care of the people she cares about. Ethan is an independent, focused, caring man, who struggles to open himself up to new possibilities. They balance each other out and make a great team. But they also bitter constantly. They get under each other’s skin.

The setting of this novel is probably one of my favorite things about it since I haven’t really read anything else like it. I’m not talking about Texas. I’m talking about the construction site. It raised tensions and forced Taylor and Ethan into situations that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise.

This was a really fun, easy read. I sat down and read the entire story without pause. I was able to get lost in this whirlwind romance for a few hours. I wasn’t left wanting more or with unanswered questions. But I also wasn’t shocked or left feeling something.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a quick romance, this is the book for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐