Title: Royal Flush
Author: Laurie Ryan
Genre: Billionaire contemporary romance
Book Blurb:
In a game of rivals, love and ambition collide.
In the high-stakes game of corporate finance, the only way the ambitious Rowan McCarthy can succeed is by going to work for her family’s competition. She hides her lineage in an effort to prove herself.
Gerard Barrett has been under constant fire from his company’s board ever since taking over upon his father’s retirement. When company losses soar, he must find a way to stop the carnage.
Coerced into working together by his wily sister, Gerard and Rowan must navigate not only the cutthroat financial market but also the undeniable chemistry that simmers beneath the surface.
Excerpt:
He opened the folder and scanned her resume so fast there was no way he could have read anything.
“I see you have master’s degrees in both business admin and finance. Yet you’ve never actually managed people.”
Okay, maybe he read that fast. But the remark was uttered in a slow, determined cadence with just the slightest hint of a patronizing tone that told Rowan everything she’d begun to suspect. He wasn’t happy about hiring her, and he expected her to fail.
This wasn’t her first rodeo, and she delivered her response in the same slow, determined cadence. “Mr. Barrett…” She emphasized the mister. “I eat, sleep, live, and breathe money management.”
He leaned back in his chair, telegraphing that he was the big dog in the room. “Why should I believe you?”
In that moment, Rowan threw away the last of any deference she might have brought into this encounter. “I’m hungry, Mr. Barrett, hungrier than anyone you know except maybe for you and your sister. I did not get to where I am without the knowledge, skills, and yes, instinct to back up that declaration.” In one fluid movement, she allowed herself to relax against the back of the chair and crossed her legs before sweeping her curly hair over her shoulder.
Emersyn had told her the job was pretty much hers, but clearly, this man had the final say.
Gerard Barrett drummed his fingers on the desk and glanced at them as if surprised. He moved her resume to the short stack of files on his desk. Had she been dismissed?
“I guess we’re going to find that out, aren’t we?”
With a slow, measured exhale, Rowan let go of the breath she’d been holding. It wasn’t easy when she wanted to scream, shout, and dance around the room. Emersyn had warned her about her brother, and Rowan had just passed the biggest hurdle.
Rowan knew Barrett Investment Group inside and out, or as closely as she could without being part of the executive board. She’d devoured everything she could find on the company. Studied them and lost sleep as she figured out how to get them to take her seriously. She needed this job to prove herself. With her sights set on an executive position, she’d put her plan into action.
Refocusing, Rowan realized the co-CEO and co-owner of Barrett Group had continued speaking, spouting the standard company overview and mission, all things she knew from her research.
“And we do not allow fraternizing with employees or clients.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/3GPyea
What makes your featured book a must-read?
The Billionaire Bachelor Pledge series is a sensual, big-city series set in San Francisco and can be read in any order. Poker takes on a whole new meaning when the bet is a two-year ban on dating…or anything else. Who will bluff the best and win the pot?
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Author Biography:
Laurie Ryan writes about resilient, independent women who might stumble, but they dust themselves off and get the job done. Their men, whether commanding alpha or endearing cinnamon roll heroes, will do whatever it takes to ensure the happiness of the women they cherish.
Laurie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her “he can fix anything” hubby, but is always willing to travel to visit their children and grandchildren. Her creativity isn’t limited to writing. She also scrap books and, when she really needs to disappear, she paints rocks and shells found on the beaches she walks at the ocean—her happy place.
Laurie has always had a deep connection to nature and the outdoors, which is reflected in her writing. She is a passionate writer who brings her love for nature, animals, and creativity into her work.
An avid cruiser, Laurie has visited many places. One of her favorites was a stop in Greenland, where the strength and endurance of the people living in those beautiful but harsh surroundings became an underlying thread in her stories. Her sensual romance novels are sure to warm the hearts of readers.
Social Media Links:
Email: laurieryanauthor@gmail.com
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